U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a stern warning to Israel to limit its military operations in the Gaza Strip and avoid triggering a wider war. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has turned a deaf ear and is still confronting the Islamic world on multiple fronts, with Israel **threatening to use nuclear weapons**.
Since the outbreak of the new round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Israel has always received the full support of the United States and other Western countries, and has not only received a large amount of military assistance, but also diplomatic protection. However, Israel's military action has been strongly condemned by the international community, especially by the Islamic world. Israel's indiscriminate bombardment of the Gaza Strip has caused tens of thousands of civilians** and triggered a humanitarian crisis. Israel has also blockaded the Gaza Strip and prevented the entry of international relief supplies.
These developments have put pressure and concern on the United States, which does not want to be an enemy of the Islamic world in the Middle East, nor does it want to intervene in conflicts in multiple strategic directions around the world at the same time. The strength of the United States is no longer enough to support its position of global hegemony, and in the event of a large-scale war with the Islamic world, American interests will be seriously damaged.
Therefore, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin asked Israel to exercise restraint and refrain from going to war with the arc of resistance of the Islamic world in order to avoid further escalation of the situation. The Arc of Resistance refers to an anti-Israel coalition of Iran, Syria, Allah in Lebanon, Hamas, and others. These countries and organizations have all expressed strong dissatisfaction with Israel in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and even engaged in small-scale firefights with Israel.
Iran has played an important role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, not only providing the resistance in the Gaza Strip with funds but also gaining diplomatic support for it. Raisi visited Saudi Arabia on the 11th to attend a joint extraordinary summit of Arab-Islamic leaders to discuss the situation in Gaza. This is Iran's first visit to Saudi Arabia since 2012 and an important rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran means that Israel has completely lost Saudi Arabia as an important ally in the Middle East, and it also means that the Islamic world's position in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is more consistent.
The unity of the Islamic world is a great threat and a great challenge for Israel. Israel has been isolated in the Middle East, facing unprecedented pressure not only militarily, but also economically, diplomatically, geopolitically. Israel's repeated victories in previous wars in the Middle East are largely due to the support of Arab countries and the United States. But now, Arab countries have realized the importance of unity, and the United States no longer supports Israel unconditionally.
In general, the situation in the Middle East is once again mired in tension and crisis, with the United States facing a major test and Israel in a difficult position. The direction of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict depends on the decisions and actions of all parties, but in any case, a peaceful settlement of the conflict and the avoidance of an escalation of the war are the best choices in the interests of all parties. It is hoped that all parties will remain calm and exercise restraint, seek a peaceful solution through dialogue and consultation, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.