A week has passed with the world community watching in horror at the revelations of the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas against Israel, which now risk triggering a humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Hamas militants launched a surprise airborne and rare ground onslaught on Israel last Saturday, which gave Israeli forces no choice but to retaliate against them in the Gaza Strip.
This is the deadliest conflict for Israel since the Yom Kippur War in 1973 -- and some are calling the Hamas attack the most deadly day for Jews since the Holocaust.
At least 1,300 Israelis were killed in the vicious attack. The slain victims included defenceless civilians -- women, babies, and the elderly. Some 150 are believed to be held hostage in Gaza by Hamas -- with 16 of them Thai labourers. Twenty-one Thai workers were also killed in the brutal assault.
Hamas' evil and carefully planned attack against innocent and defenceless people warrants all the condemnation it has received.
However, the violence in Israel and Gaza is deepening the world's political divide. The US and the UK immediately promised support for Israel -- which has set up a rare "war cabinet" -- while some Islamic nations and Islamic groups have pledged unity with the Palestinians. It seems the ancient "eye for an eye" ethos has come back to haunt the world.
As a result, world leaders need to address problems at the structural level. Apart from Hamas, one glaring fact is that Israel, under its right-wing leader Benjamin Netanyahu, is perceived by some as part of the problem and not the solution to this conflict. It should be noted that not all Israelis endorse Mr Netanyahu's tactics.
In an article published by Project Syndicate, former Israeli foreign minister Shlomo Ben-Ami pinpointed Mr Netanyahu's role in "inviting violence". He accused him of allowing unfair land grabs and expanding illegal settlements.
Several still have vivid memories of Israeli raids at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa mosque -- Islam's third holiest site -- in 2021, which enraged the Arab and Muslim world. There are concerns about potential plans to reconstruct the biblical temple in Jerusalem, which, in Mr Ben-Ami's words, could be "a recipe for what could be the mother of all Muslim Jihads".
What is going on will likely lead to a setback for the Abraham Accords -- the normalisation of ties between Israel and some Arab states, including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco, in late 2020. The attack on Saturday has only served to diminish the momentum of the accords.
Needless to say, the brutality displayed by Hamas during its onslaught makes peace negotiations seem impossible. And Israel's justified retaliation will make peace even less likely. The Israeli army has already bombarded Gaza, cutting food and other supplies. There are reports that over 300,000 are now homeless. It is expected that a ground invasion by Israel will ensue, meaning even more casualties.
This escalating conflict is a threat not only to the Middle East. If prolonged, the world may have to deal with a new round of terrorism as militant Muslim groups may use it as an excuse to take action. While supposedly wise men are figuring out how to douse this new conflict, it's a must that the warring factions allow for immediate humanitarian missions in Gaza.
All countries must do their best to contain the violence and to find long-term solutions for this toughest of issues. Despite all the terrible violence, peace must be given a chance. This is the only way forward.
