Iran-Israel war diverting attention from Gaza catastrophe

Arab News

5 hours ago

https://arab.news/2bzak
As the world turns its eyes to the explosive confrontation between Iran and Israel, another tragedy continues to unfold — largely amid international silence. Israel's war on Gaza, already one of the most destructive military campaigns in recent history, is now becoming a footnote in the global news cycle. Airstrikes, famine and mass displacement have not ended, they have merely been pushed out of the spotlight. This shift in attention is not merely coincidental — it is politically convenient. The question we must ask is: at what cost?
The Iran-Israel conflict, which has drawn in regional actors and sparked fears of a wider war, is undoubtedly significant. It has serious implications for global oil markets, international security and the delicate balance of power in the Middle East. But while diplomats scramble to contain this geopolitical wildfire, a slower, deadlier burn continues in Gaza — one that threatens the lives of millions, especially children, trapped in a war zone with no escape, no food and little hope.
Since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, more than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to local health authorities. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble, hospitals have been bombed and the Strip's already fragile infrastructure has collapsed under the weight of a sustained siege. The World Food Programme and other agencies have repeatedly warned of an impending famine, exacerbated by Israel's restrictions on humanitarian aid and targeted destruction of civilian resources.
And yet, with missiles now flying between Iran and Israel, the human catastrophe in Gaza is being relegated to the margins of global diplomacy. The shift is palpable: once-vocal international condemnation has softened into diplomatic murmurs. UN debates on war crimes and humanitarian aid have slowed, while the coverage from major Western news outlets has thinned dramatically. We are witnessing, in real-time, how one conflict can serve as a smokescreen for another.
The shift is palpable: once-vocal international condemnation has softened into diplomatic murmurs
Hani Hazaimeh
This diversion is not just a matter of journalistic bandwidth — it is a calculated political maneuver. As Israel frames itself once again as a victim under existential threat from a regional rival, it reclaims a position of moral high ground in Western narratives. The Iran confrontation allows Israel to recast its military aggression in Gaza as part of a broader defensive strategy against a hostile axis, linking Hamas, Hezbollah and Tehran under a single 'terror' umbrella. In doing so, it deflects international criticism and stalls momentum for accountability, including mounting allegations of war crimes.
Moreover, the Iran-Israel escalation has proven a convenient excuse for Washington and its European allies to delay or downplay tough decisions on Gaza. Calls for a ceasefire, arms embargoes or investigations into violations of international law are being drowned out by appeals for 'regional de-escalation' and the need to prevent 'a wider war.' But for the people of Gaza, the war is already wide enough. Their suffering does not pause simply because the West is worried about oil prices or the Strait of Hormuz.
The timing of Israel's intensified military operations in Gaza often appears to coincide with moments of high international distraction. In recent months, several large-scale offensives, particularly in Rafah and northern Gaza, have been launched just as global attention veered toward diplomatic flashpoints involving Iran. Whether this is by design or not, the result is the same: reduced scrutiny, minimal outrage and a delay in any form of international pressure.
This diversion also has devastating consequences on the ground. Humanitarian organizations have reported significant delays in aid delivery due to shifting political priorities among donor states. Media outlets that once dispatched special correspondents to Gaza have now redeployed them to Tel Aviv or Beirut. Even social media algorithms, driven by trending topics, have contributed to a sharp decline in visibility for Gaza-related content.
The timing of Israel's intensified military operations in Gaza often appears to coincide with moments of high international distraction
Hani Hazaimeh
But this is not just a failure of media or politics — it is a moral failure. The world cannot afford to normalize genocide simply because something more 'geopolitically urgent' has arisen. The scale of suffering in Gaza demands sustained, focused international attention. It is not a side note. It is not a collateral issue. It is a core crisis that reflects the failure of the international system to uphold the very principles it claims to defend: the protection of civilians, the rule of law and the universal value of human life.
To ignore Gaza now is to send a dangerous message — that some lives are more dispensable than others. That justice can be paused. That impunity is acceptable if the perpetrator is powerful enough or the timing is convenient. We must resist this logic. Civil society, journalists and humanitarian advocates must redouble their efforts to keep Gaza in the public consciousness. The same institutions and voices that were courageous enough to speak out months ago must not go silent now.
Furthermore, governments must stop using the Iran-Israel war as a diplomatic excuse. They must continue to support investigations into violations of international law in Gaza, push for unimpeded humanitarian access and condition military support on adherence to human rights. The conflict with Iran cannot become a moral fig leaf for the obliteration of Gaza.
Political convenience or media attention spans should not constrain the human capacity for empathy and justice. If we truly care about peace, stability and human dignity in the Middle East, then we must care about Gaza — no matter what else is burning.
The road to peace in the region cannot be paved over mass graves in Gaza. And until the world reclaims its moral clarity and refuses to be distracted by the convenient theater of geopolitics, the suffering will continue — silently, but no less tragically.