Mideast: Two-state solution remains a far cry

The invasion of the Gaza Strip is the second time Israeli defence forces have entered into the Gaza Strip since they withdrew from there in 2005.
 The invasion of the Gaza Strip has arisen out of the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used this as a pretext to attack the Gaza Strip without ascertaining who were the real culprits. Meanwhile, a Palestinian teenager was killed by Israeli settlers in revenge against the killing of three Israeli teenagers which has equally caused Palestinians' anger against Israel. On the other hand, Israeli administration has begun witch hunting in Gaza Strip and arrested several Hamas militants in spite of the fact that Hamas has denied responsibility for the deaths of three teenagers of Israeli. A spokesman of Hamas accused Israeli authority for finding an issue to make way for aggression against us.
It is now learnt that the Palestinian security forces attributed the abduction to the Qawasmeh clan of Mount Hebron for abduction and killing of Israeli teenagers in June.
The Palestinian security forces informed the Israeli intelligence about this matter. The murder incident took place just two weeks after the establishment of a Palestinian Unity government. The formation of Unity government by the Palestinian Authority has become a sore to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
So, instead of attacking Qawasmeh clan in Mount Hebron Israeli administration has begun orchestrating attack against the Hamas for the crime. It is understood that this clan is identified with Hamas, but it has a reputation of a troublemaker.
While barrage of rockets and air strikes are exchanged between Israel and Hamas, Hezbollah from Lebanon has assured Hamas of extending support to fight against Israel. If two fronts are opened, the war between Hamas and Israel may spread over to Lebanon.
The other side of the coin is that hectic diplomacy for imposing a permanent ceasefire is going on. While Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestine's Unity government, has been in Cairo to discuss with Egyptian authorities to strengthen ceasefire, the Secretary of State John Kerry of the United States of America is offering mediation in consultation with Egyptian authorities. President Mahmoud Abbas also discussed the situation in the Gaza  Strip with members of the Arab League to mediate in the crisis. Hamas, however, agreed to cease-fire if it is brokered by international community without Egypt.  Hamas has had bad relations with the present Egyptian government of General Abdul Fattah Sisi which considers Hamas a terrorist organisation since Cairo banned Muslim Brotherhood. Hamas had good relations with the Muslim Brotherhood. Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, on the other hand, has had talks separately with Qatar, Turkey and Kuwait to bring ceasefire.
Israeli Prime Minister's action against Hamas is uncalled-for if the story of the involvement of Qawasmeh clan in kidnapping and killing three Jewish teenagers is true. Hamas has always been the target of Israeli defence forces without rhyme or reason.
The UN Security Council in an emergency meeting held on July 20 expressed concern over the growing casualties in the present conflict in the Gaza Strip. About 83,000 Palestinians have taken shelter in UN facilities. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has condemned the Israeli latest incursion into Gaza as "atrocious".
This being the situation in conflict-ridden region in the Middle East, one does not see any light at the end of the tunnel. The two-state solution of the Palestine crisis - a sovereign, independent state of Palestine and Israel - remains a far cry.
The writer is retired                        Bangladeshi diplomat. amjad.21@gmail.com