Political and Israel's military leadership demonstrated greater ruthlessness and determination than its Western partners expected. No one wants or intends to solve the dilemma of the war in the Gaza Strip, otherwise it would have already been overcome and a lasting peace achieved.

However, now the situation is close to the brink of an abyss, believes Emil Hokaem, an expert on the Middle East at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, whose article was published by the British newspaper Financial Times.

Fears of extra regional escalation are growing as global diplomacy stalls in resolving the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

As the analyst writes, in the Middle East, wars rarely remain within the state borders of the parties to the conflict. Lurking emotions and grievances, foreign interference, the absence of a regional security process, and the persistent weakness of local diplomacy combine to make an unwanted side effect more likely than avoidable.

It is not surprising that Iran and Israel will decide whether the conflict escalates into full-scale war or remains a rivalry for regional influence.

Twenty years ago, the Western invasion of Iraq tipped the regional balance in favor of Iran, catalyzing a new era of transnational jihadism. A decade ago, Syria plunged into a devastating civil war involving major powers and extremist militants. In recent months, in addition to the enormous loss of life among Palestinians, the regional fallout from the ongoing war in Gaza is likely to be even more devastating.

So far, the parties are not going to stop. Israel has switched to the tactics of destroying enemy leaders, without particularly moving through the territories of different countries in which its intelligence services operate. His opponents are also acting without regard for the approaching edge of the abyss, Hokaem believes.

The military defeat of Hamas was an achievable goal through patient and measured force. Instead, Israel has articulated broader goals and adopted dubious military practices, creating a humanitarian tragedy and increasing the likelihood of strategic failure.

"His enemy seeks cathartic revenge, biding his time to win a show-off battle. Both adversaries care little about Palestinian suffering," writes an analyst.  

Unfortunately, all these obvious factors are ignored by world leaders, allowing the fire of conflict to flare up. An illusion of control over the situation is created (the confrontation in the region has been going on for decades), which is why few of those who could and should have put an end to the violence are taking any measures.

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