Day: October 12, 2023
The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip has shattered any hopes of a lasting peace in the Middle East, as the Arab countries that signed the Abraham Accords with Israel in 2020 have denounced the Israeli aggression and expressed solidarity with the Palestinians.
The Abraham Accords, brokered by the United States under former President Donald Trump, were a series of agreements to normalize relations between Israel and several Arab states, namely the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. The accords were hailed as a historic breakthrough that would usher in a new era of cooperation and stability in the region.
However, the accords were also criticized by many as a betrayal of the Palestinian cause and a violation of the Arab Peace Initiative, which stipulated that normalization with Israel would only come after the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The recent escalation of violence in Gaza, triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has exposed the fragility of the Abraham Accords and the deep divisions among the Arab states. While Israel has unleashed a devastating aerial and ground campaign on Gaza, killing over 1,100 people and injuring over 5,0003, Hamas has fired thousands of rockets at Israeli cities, killing over 1,200 people and taking dozens of hostages.
The Arab signatories of the Abraham Accords have condemned Israel’s actions as disproportionate and inhumane, and have called for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid to Gaza. They have also suspended or downgraded their diplomatic ties with Israel, and have reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian right to self-determination.
Abraham Accords were doomed from the start, as they did not address the core issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, such as the occupation, the settlements, the refugees, and the status of Jerusalem.
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