The conflict has taken a drastic geopolitical turn over the last two years, shifting from a localized war to a major regional crisis involving multiple state and non-state actors across the Middle East. For UPSC aspirants, understanding these recent turning points is crucial for Prelims and International Relations (GS Paper 2).
- The International Court of Justice (ICJ) Ruling: In early 2024, the ICJ instituted provisional measures following South Africa’s genocide case against Israel, directing Israel to prevent acts of genocide and ensure the flow of basic services and humanitarian aid into Gaza.
- The Red Sea Crisis & Houthis: Yemen’s Houthi rebels initiated drone and missile attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea aligned with Israel, severely disrupting global maritime trade and forcing the US-led coalition to launch Operation Prosperity Guardian.
- Expanding Regional Conflict (2025-2026): The friction escalated into direct military confrontations beyond Gaza, including airstrikes between Israel and Iran, alongside intense cross-border warfare involving Hezbollah in Lebanon.
- Humanitarian Aid and Pier Initiatives: Throughout 2024 and 2025, international organizations raised catastrophic alarms over famine in Gaza, leading to initiatives like the temporary US military-built floating pier and air-drops to bypass restricted land routes.
Important for UPSC Prelims
- Philadelphi Corridor: A 14-kilometer-long narrow strip of land situated along the entire border between Gaza and Egypt. It remains a strategic military flashpoint.
- Netzarim Corridor: A security corridor built by the Israeli military that splits the Gaza Strip into northern and southern zones, controlling the movement of people and aid.
- Rafah Crossing: The southernmost exit point from the Gaza Strip, bordering Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, serving as the primary civilian evacuation and aid gateway.
13th Oct 2023 Updates:
- Israeli army tells more than 1 million Palestinians living in the north of besieged enclave to move south within 24 hours ahead of expected ground offensive.
- UN says mass relocation “impossible”, could have devastating consequences. Hamas calls Israeli warning “fake propaganda”.
12th October 2023: Israel was warned by Egypt of potential violence three days before Hamas’ deadly cross-border raid, a US congressional panel chairman has said. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu described the reports as “absolutely false”.
The scale and complexity of 7th October 2023 attacks by Hamas shocked leaders across the world, but they came after decades of a relentless and deadly conflict that has killed thousands of people, forced entire generations to grow up under occupation, or created constant anxiety of impending rocket fire or bombings.
More than 200 Israelis died in a surprise large-scale attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7, 2023 the Israeli Army said, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to reduce the group’s Gaza hideouts to “rubble”.
Practice MCQs For UPSC, State PSC
1. Consider the following pairs of strategic locations often seen in the news recently:
- Philadelphi Corridor — Border between Gaza and Israel
- Netzarim Corridor — Security route dividing Northern and Southern Gaza
- Rafah Crossing — Border checkpoint between Gaza and Egypt
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans. b
Explanation: Pair 1 is incorrectly matched. The Philadelphi Corridor is a 14-km strip of land along the border between Gaza and Egypt, not Israel.
2. In the context of the Middle East crisis, what was “Operation Prosperity Guardian” primarily launched for?
(a) To provide emergency humanitarian aid to civilian populations in Gaza.
(b) A multinational security initiative to counter Houthi threats to maritime commerce in the Red Sea.
(c) A UN peacekeeping mission dispatched to the Lebanon-Israel border.
(d) An evacuation operation launched by India to rescue its citizens from the war zone.
Ans. b
Explanation: Operation Prosperity Guardian is a US-led military coalition formed in December 2023/2024 to safeguard commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea from Houthi rebel attacks.