Why is it hard to apply international law on the ongoing conflict/war between

Israel and Palestine?

Conflict resolution and peacemaking are political rather than legal exercises.What
matters for the achievement and sustainability of a peace accord is that it not leave any of th
e parties with a deep sense of having been victimized by a one sided and unjust agreement.
International law – particularly its
most fundamental norms, known as “peremptory norms” – needs to be taken into account by
would be peacemakers, not for “legalistic” reasons, too often seen as irrelevant to the
political dynamics of the conflict, but because
they embody quintessential principles of fairness and justice. The ongoing conflict between
Israel and Palestine has been a longstanding and deeply entrenched issue, marked by
historical grievances, territorial disputes, and competing national aspirations. While
international law provides a framework for resolving conflicts and ensuring the protection of
human rights, applying it to the Israel-Palestine conflict proves to be an arduous task.
Several factors contribute to the challenges in implementing international law in this complex
and multifaceted conflict.

The Israel-Palestine conflict continue to stand as a regional issue that affects

the relationship of the Arabs and Jewish communities in the Middle East. With
Israel‘s continuous settlement in the occupied territories, and the change in the status
of Jerusalem at Israel‘s advantage, it is clear that resolution for peace is subjective
to a change in Israel‘s attitude with the emergence of the new alliance. If Israel truly seeks
a final solution to the protracted conflict. In addition to that, the paradigm shift in the
GCC‘s policy and diplomatic alliance with Israel could also serve as a yardstick for progress
in the dispute resolution or a hardline in negotiation if Israel and the United States does not
open up its policies to be fair towards the Palestinian. The GCC‘s attitude towards Israel
can be seen as a framework for progress although the Palestinian feels otherwise as
Israel proves to show no remorse in its oppression of the Palestinian. Evidence since
the Egyptian and Jordanian cooperative alliance for peace with Israel.

Looking at our discussion so far, there are numerous logical reasons as to why the
GCC have decided to embark on this new journey. First is the convergent security
interest it has with Israel to help counter the regional influence of Iran and its proxy states
in the region. Second is the growth and development in the area of economy
(agriculture, trade, tourism, and technology) to further protect the region from its
geographical shortfall and over reliance on oil as a dominant source of state revenue.
Last but not the list is to further strengthen her relation with the United States giving
its overwhelming diplomacy and foreign policy in the Middle East as a super power.
Meanwhile, it is unlikely whether Iran would be silent or neutral about this allied threat
to her regional interest without a respond. Especially after the killing of its supreme
military commander Qassim Suleiman by Washington and the recent assassination of
its nuclear scientist Moshen Fahkrizadeh with allegation on Israel.

In the GCC camp, as far as the Israel-Palestine conflict is concerned, it would be

difficult for the GCC capitals to eat its cake and have it. A divergent interest on regional and
strategic issue will continue to hunt her foreign policy interest especially now that she
enjoins a diplomatic relation with Israel amidst a diplomatic fall out with Qatar. Such bond
with Israel however cannot be easily broken, neither will common interest be outweighed by
lesser issues.

If that is the case, the Palestinian interest have been overshadowed by the
GCC-Israeli interest towards strategic issue. The new diplomatic alliance showed that the
Palestinian statelessness as a regional issue is no longer an impediment for the GCC
and Israel relation. Such will be negatively received by the Palestinian leadership. With
a view as being counterproductive to her national struggle. Within this confinement,
Palestinian has already been stripped off their future capital as Washington declares
Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel. Which was followed by the subsequent
declaration that the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories as no longer in
conflict with international law. Such development again is a setback for the Palestinian
interest. More awful and worrisome is the declaration of further annexation of
Palestinian land (West Bank) by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu which
was meant with political silent in the GCC capitals. Only to have dramatically unveiled
their diplomatic relation with Israel.

The study finds that the new diplomatic relations between Israel and the GCC
states is towards common interest as the latter becomes more dependent on Israel in
the area of economy and regional security all tied to Washington‘s diplomacy, and
against threat from Iran. Also, Palestinian would hold a negative perception of the GCC
with regards to her national interest as it feels threatened by this diplomatic alliance.
Additionally, it would be difficult for all the states to come to terms with Israel even though
such possibility is not completely over-ruled. Thus, the GCC capital will continue to one way
or another pursue their interest simultaneously and divergently especially as state like
Qatar is unlikely to live under the shadows of Saudi dominance. Neither is Kuwait ready
to recognize Israel as it failed to end its occupation and settlement on the Palestinians
territories. Such inconsistency and divergent interest will continue to implicate the
Palestinian making her more vulnerable to Israel. And the GCC in trying to survive
under single policy and approach. Consequently, the GCC capital will persist in pursuing its
interests concurrently and differently, particularly as a state such as Qatar is unlikely to exist
in the shadow of Saudi supremacy. Kuwait is also not prepared to acknowledge Israel
because Israel has not stopped occupying and settling on Palestinian territory. The
Palestinian will continue to be implicated by these inconsistencies and divergent interests,
which will increase her vulnerability to Israel. and the GCC's attempt to endure under a
unified strategy and set of rules.
The focus of this paper is to examine the implications of the new diplomatic alliance
between the GCC and Israel and the political dynamics in the GCC toward regional issue
like the Israel-Palestine conflict. The Israel-Palestine conflict is an intricate issue
affecting the political strands in the GCC and the entire Middle East. Its implications are
overwhelming and cannot be overemphasized.
This article aims to investigate the political dynamics in the Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC) regarding regional issues such as the Israel-Palestine conflict, as well as the
ramifications of the new diplomatic partnership between the GCC and Israel. The Middle
East's political currents, particularly those in the Gulf Cooperation Council, are impacted by
the complex topic of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Its consequences are far-reaching and
should not be understated.
The first is the security partnership that the GCC and Israel formed to oppose Iran's
dominance in the area. If the GCC is prepared to accept Israel's offer as represented by the
current status quo, then containment could enable Israel to exert pressure on other nations
and further its imperial ambition. Israel continues to pursue an assertive foreign policy rooted
in its past.
Second, it is frequently perceived by Palestinians as a threat to their future state's
survival. It is a fact that, in my opinion, any observer would recognize. Given that the Arab
kings are thrilled about material and economic achievement, Israel has demonstrated its
relevance in creating those things and supplying the tools and resources needed to make
them happen. In fact, it could not be too much longer before the GCC countries formally
form a diplomatic partnership with Israel. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has claimed tens of
thousands of lives and displaced many millions of people and has its roots in a colonial act
carried out more than a century ago. With Israel declaring war on the Gaza Strip after an
unprecedented attack by the armed Palestinian group Hamas on Saturday, the world’s eyes
are again sharply focused on what might come next. Hamas fighters have killed more than
800 Israelis in assaults on multiple towns in southern Israel. In response, Israel has
launched a bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip, killing more than 500 Palestinians. It has
mobilised troops along the Gaza border, apparently in preparation for a ground attack. And
on Monday, it announced a “total blockade” of the Gaza Strip, stopping the supply of food,
fuel and other essential commodities to the already besieged enclave in an act that under
international law amounts to a war crime. Tragically, in the zero sum game, the Palestinian
continues to be the sufferer. It will always feel betrayed by its Gulf counterpart, who seems
to have given up on her fight for their country's Finally, in view of this new development, the
GCC governments must offer a thorough to alleviate the situation of the Palestinian people.
Instead of striking an open deal with Israel that excluded all Palestinian interests, this is what
ought to have happened. In this manner, Palestinians would probably accept the truth of
Arab weakness in order to defeat Israel, their unavoidable arch foe.

References:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
348961337_Israel_Palestine_Conflict_Implications_of_the_Political_Dynamics_in_the_GCC
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Delivery.cfm/SSRN_ID1621382_code1482120.pdf?
abstractid=1621382
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/9/whats-the-israel-palestine-conflict-about-
a-simple-guide

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