Rayhan Ahmed Tapadar
The new Middle East that will emerge after the end of Gaza conflict
The opposition between the United States and Israel is now apparent. President Joe Biden has cautioned that Israel is losing international support in its campaign against Hamas. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly rejected the U.S. plan regarding post-war Gaza. This division has been veiled under the curtain for quite some time. Occasionally, news has emerged suggesting strains in the relationship between the two staunch allies due to extensive civilian casualties in Gaza. However, despite the claims of the American president, support from a significant portion of the world still stands with Israel.
Ukraine: Two years in the web of trust and mistrust amid war
Two years ago, Russia began a full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine. This war is still ongoing. Russian President Vladimir Putin still believes he can win the Ukraine war. Western analysts have been discussing this in a new assessment of the conflict. In the two years of the Ukraine war, more than five million people have been displaced. Western analysts say that Putin's efforts to defeat Ukraine and expand dominance in Ukraine are still ongoing. Rather, compared to a year ago, Putin is now significantly more optimistic about this war victory. Behind Putin's optimism lies the failure of the United States' $60 billion military aid bill for Ukraine, limited success on the battlefield, and recent incursions into Ukraine's strategically important eastern city of Avdiivka. After taking control of Avdiivka, Putin directed his defense minister to launch further attacks.
What is the strategy behind the military actions of the US and UK?
The Houthis have attacked commercial vessels in the Red Sea. They claim to be expressing solidarity with the Palestinians. However, there is no doubt whatsoever that the Houthis are attempting to gain legitimacy in the Arab world. At the same time, they are trying to restore their eroding support within the country through acts of aggression like attacking ships. On average, 68 vessels pass through the Suez Canal daily. Twelve percent of the world's total commercial goods are transported through this route. Hence, the recent targeting of commercial vessels by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea over the past two months is not something the international community can overlook.
The concerns of the West regarding Iran
Another important waterway for transporting energy and goods through the Middle East is the Bab El Mandeb Strait of the Red Sea. Yemen's Houthis have gained massive support and popularity among the Muslim world by attacking Israeli and Western-owned commercial ships there. The United States and the United Kingdom are now conducting airstrikes against Houthi rebels, who are supported by Iran. The Houthis are not backing down. Hundreds of thousands of Yemenis, along with the capital Sanaa, have risen in protest against these attacks. The united people have expressed solidarity with Palestine. Houthi leaders have stated that if Israeli killings in Gaza do not cease, they will continue their attacks unabated in the Red Sea. No amount of force will deter them. In Syria, fighters from the Revolutionary Guards have joined hands with members of Iran's proxy Hezbollah in support of Bashar al-Assad in the civil war. Many undercover agents of the Revolutionary Guards have been deployed throughout the Middle East.
To what extent is Israel bound to accept the ICJ verdict on genocide charges?
The Genocide Convention was enacted in 1948 in response to the extermination of Jews by the German Nazis during World War II. According to that convention, genocide is an act committed with the intention of completely or partially wiping out an ethnic group, caste or religious group. Even if the ICJ has granted an interim order, it may take years to reach a full verdict on the case. There is no opportunity to appeal against the judgment given by this court. However, the court does not have the power to enforce or compel compliance with that judgment. Although Israel is a signatory to the Genocide Convention, it is obliged to obey ICJ orders.
EU interested in strengthening partnership with Bangladesh
The European Union (EU) expressed interest in strengthening partnership with Bangladesh in the coming days.
Red Sea crisis poses threat to Bangladesh's exports
The global daily transportation of crude oil faces a significant disruption through the Red Sea due to ongoing conflicts. International market analysts view this as a substantial setback in the global supply chain of crude oil, with shipping vessels coming to a halt, particularly along the connection route of the Arabian Sea, Red Sea, and the Suez Canal. Unfortunately, this route is currently under threat due to ongoing attacks by Houthi rebels originating from Yemen. As a result, major shipping companies worldwide are diverting their routes through alternative paths across the Atlantic Ocean and around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa. This takes two weeks longer to ship goods from Asia to Europe and the East Coast of the United States. So the shipping companies have announced to charge the extra cost for this from the customers. The impact of additional duty imposed by shipping companies is also affecting Bangladesh because most of the export products from Bangladesh are transported through this route. However, one-tenth of the imported goods are brought using this route.
Why Houthis attacking commercial ships in Red Sea?
The Houthis have been targeting ships in the Red Sea since mid-November last year. The US sends warships there to provide security for international shipping. The US is sending its best warships to destroy missiles and drones launched by the Houthi rebels and to assist in rescuing commercial ships in distress. The British also sent their best warships for this. However, as the situation has changed, the US and the UK have now launched attacks on Houthi military installations. As the Houthi rebels launched a series of drone and missile attacks, both the United Kingdom and the United States raised doubts about how well their warships would respond to such attacks.
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