The world seems blind to history repeating itself, as one after another, Israel, the new age bully, chooses playgrounds to bury human rights. Although fears of an expanding conflict in the Middle East have been palpable for more than a year, the situation appears disastrously spiralling out of control after Israel finally delivered on its menacing threat and sent a wave of missiles Tehran’s way. Sensing the urgency of intervention, condemnations are pouring in from all corners as leaders urge restraint, terrified by the impacts on the security and stability of the entire region. That Pentagon still stands firm in its support of Israel’s much-touted self-defence speaks volumes about its hypocritical commitment to peace and is something worthy of an uproar by the global peacekeeping organisations. Many would point fingers at Iran’s barrage of missiles on October 2, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to issue a stern warning. Quite interestingly and very conveniently, they overlook a long list of red lines Israeli has crossed in international politics in the last couple of months by attacks on Irani counsellates, massacres in Lebanon, Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination in what can only be decried as a violation of Iran’s sovereignty and raging buzz about targetting crude oil reserves and even nuclear sites. Regardless of the motivations, one thing is clear: the consequences of these strikes have been devastating. For all those giving the Netanyahu doctrine a gold star for deliberate precise strikes, leaving open the room for de-escalation, might do well to remember that he is on a mission to obliterate Gaza, send a clear message with colonial violence throughout the region and raze down anyone who attempts to intervene. The question on everyone’s mind is: What would happen next? Answers, however, remain elusive as both nations offer conflicting narratives and justifications for their actions. It does not require defence expertise to see the Middle East standing at a crossroads, with the potential for peace slipping further out of reach. The international community must come together to broker a ceasefire, which can only succeed if the Western lobby holds Israel accountable for its war crimes. Any other alternative is too grim to contemplate, with the spectre of unprecedented bloodshed looming large over us all. *