There can't be a victor in this competition of violence, said Israeli author Yuval Harari
What is happening in Israel and Palestine could spread all over the world, and even lead to a third world war, Israeli author Yuval Noah Harari said in an exclusive interview with NDTV's Sonia Singh today, adding that India should use its leverage with countries, like Iran, to help de-escalate the situation.
The comment comes as Israel, reeling from the deadliest attack in its history, prepares for a ground offensive in Gaza.
"Order is collapsing and is replaced by chaos. This has been happening for the last five to ten years. We see it in more and more places. The pandemic was part of it. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is part of it. What's happening now in Israel and Palestine is part of it. If we don't rebuild order, it will only become worse. It will spread all over the world. It could lead to the Third World War. And with the type of weapons and technology now available, it could lead to the annihilation of humankind itself," the author told NDTV referring to various conflicts and the Russia-Ukraine war, which has caused a great deal of human suffering.
Israel declared war on the Islamist group after waves of its fighters broke through the heavily fortified border on October 7, shooting, stabbing, and burning to death more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians. The country has likened the attack to its 9/11.
Iran hailed the Palestinian attack calling it a "proud operation" and a "great victory". It does not recognise Israel and has made support for the Palestinian cause a centrepiece of its foreign policy ever since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
The bestselling Israeli author told NDTV that Hamas doesn't care about human suffering at all and urged people to not take sides and make an effort to see the complexity of the situation.
"The problem is that Hamas just doesn't care about human suffering at all, whether Israeli or Palestinian, because we are talking about religious fanatics who believe that by what they're doing, by murdering people, when they die, they will get to heaven and enjoy everlasting bliss for their souls. And it's impossible to have any chance for peace with people who hold such beliefs," the bestselling author of Sapiens told NDTV, adding his "many friends and family" in the communities have been attacked and massacred.
"This kind of religious fanaticism that we see with ISIS and now with Hamas is terrible for humanity," he stressed.
"I wouldn't focus on only one religion. Their (Hamas') focus is not on human suffering in this world, their focus is on another world - this is a problem," he said, adding Hamas did not try through this attack to restart the peace process but to make sure that there will never ever be peace by planting scenes of terrible, terrible hatred and pain in the minds of millions of people.
Israel was on the verge of a historic peace treaty with Saudi Arabia, which was also supposed to alleviate the suffering of millions of Palestinians in the occupied territories and to restart the peace process, said the author.
Talking about de-escalating the tensions and India's role in it, the bestselling author of Sapiens said, "It is a democracy. It is committed, unlike Russia or China. It is committed to democratic ideals. But it has good relations with many of these countries and also with Iran. So hopefully India will use whatever leverage it has on countries like Iran to de-escalate, first of all, to prevent further escalation of the conflict."
"Anybody who has any ability, should rebuild order. The first step is to release all hostages. This is important not only in itself but because this will give hope and will perhaps be the first step towards peace," he added.
Israel has responded with relentless bombing, killing around 2,750 people, the majority ordinary Palestinians, in the long-blockaded and impoverished Gaza Strip.
"There can't be a victor in this competition of violence. All the horrible images that are circulating online, I would recommend you not to watch such horror. By watching, you're doing what the terrorist wants. You are just feeding your mind with terrible hatred and fear. So, instead do something practical - by donating, by joining some peace initiatives," said Mr Harari.
"You know, in almost every major conflict in history, the situation is complex. People, nations are usually at the same time, both victims and perpetrators. Nations usually don't want to admit it. People like simple narratives. We are completely good. All evil is on the other side. And the other side says the same thing. We are pure, completely good. We never done anything wrong to anybody," he added.
The Israeli military on Monday raised the figure to 199 people confirmed to have been kidnapped by Hamas, adding it would refrain from striking two roads in the Gaza Strip marked for residents to move south and out of the way of a possible ground offensive.
Iran, which is accused of supporting Hamas, on Sunday warned that any Israeli ground offensive in the Gaza Strip could expand the scope of the conflict elsewhere in the Middle East. Western countries that support Israel have warned against a regional spillover of the conflict.
"It's difficult but not impossible to wage war against Hamas while preserving the rights of civilians. Hamas has kept hostage not only Israelis but also many Palestinians. It is preventing civilians to leave, so that they can use them," he said.
Some 9,700 people have also been injured as Israel continued its withering air campaign on targets in the Palestinian coastal enclave, the Hamas-controlled ministry added.