Leaders | The war between Israel and Hamas

How to end the Middle East’s agony

War is spreading across the region. There is an alternative

Illustration: Klawe Rzeczy/Shutterstock/Getty Images

IN THE MONTHS after Hamas committed the worst atrocity against Jews since the Holocaust, conflict has spread across the Middle East. In all, ten countries are now caught up in fighting. In Gaza Israeli soldiers and Hamas are still killing each other, even as 2m people face famine. Across the border with Lebanon, Hizbullah and Israel are in a low-grade war. The Houthis in Yemen are attacking cargo ships, aggravating a financial crisis in Egypt and triggering retaliation by America and Britain. The killing of three GIs in Jordan on January 28th by militias in Iraq could spark a clash between America and Iran, which sponsors the “axis of resistance”.

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This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “Ending the Middle East’s agony”

From the February 3rd 2024 edition

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