ISLAMABAD, Oct 7: The Gaza conflict has exposed deep weaknesses in the global order, affected the credibility of international institutions, reshaped regional security dynamics and renewed focus on the Palestine question, experts said at a seminar organised by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad.
The seminar, titled “Beyond the Battlefield: What Has Gaza Changed?”, brought together academics, analysts and human rights voices to discuss the wider implications of the conflict for Palestine, Pakistan, the Muslim world and global politics.
The speakers included Dr Khuram Iqbal, associate professor, NIISS, Quaid-i-Azam University; Brig (r) Said Nazir, defence and security analyst; Dr Salma Malik, associate professor, DSS, Quaid-i-Azam University; and Dr Zarni, human rights activist, who joined online. The session was chaired by Khalid Rahman, chairman IPS, and also featured Amb (r) Syed Abrar Hussain, vice chairman IPS.
In his opening remarks, Amb (r) Abrar Hussain said the consequences of the Gaza conflict could not be confined to the geographical boundaries of the territory. He identified three major areas of change: the weakening credibility of international law and institutions, shifts in regional and global geopolitical dynamics, and the renewed centrality of the Palestine question.
He observed that the selective application of international law had generated growing distrust, particularly in the Global South.
Dr Khuram Iqbal said three major developments had emerged from the conflict. He said longstanding bipartisan political support for Israel in Western capitals, particularly in the United States, had come under significant pressure due to changing public opinion.
He also discussed the regional consequences of the conflict, noting that the process associated with the Abraham Accords had been disrupted and that new interactions between West Asian and South Asian security dynamics were emerging. He further highlighted the implications of closer Israel-India relations for Pakistan, particularly amid evolving regional security alignments.
Brig (r) Said Nazir examined Gaza from humanitarian, military, regional and international perspectives. He referred to the destruction of Gaza, political and security challenges surrounding reconstruction, Palestinian political divisions and continuing uncertainty around the peace process.
He said the conflict had shattered perceptions of Israel’s military invincibility and highlighted the limitations of military power when it was not supported by political and diplomatic objectives. At the regional level, he discussed changing deterrence dynamics, energy security, and the importance of strategic chokepoints and regional security arrangements.
Dr Salma Malik focused on the implications of the Gaza conflict for the rules-based international order. She said the crisis had exposed the selective application of international law and raised questions about the credibility of global institutions.
She described the conflict as a broader test of the international system and said repeated violations of ceasefires and humanitarian norms had demonstrated the inadequacy of existing mechanisms. She also discussed the implications of the Gaza conflict for Pakistan, particularly in relation to governance, social cohesion and the country’s diplomatic role in international forums.
Joining the session online, Dr Zarni said Gaza had generated a wider reassessment of the international political order. He said the conflict had exposed contradictions in the application of international law and highlighted the growing role of civil society in shaping global perceptions of Palestine.
He added that the Gaza experience had challenged established perceptions of Israel’s military and political image and had created greater awareness of the continuing influence of colonial legacies in contemporary international relations.
In his concluding remarks, Khalid Rahman said complex international problems could not be resolved through shortcuts and required sustained, step-by-step efforts. He said the Gaza conflict was connected to broader transformations in the global system and urged that contemporary developments be viewed in their wider historical and international context.
He emphasised the interconnected nature of regional and global challenges and called for long-term thinking rather than quick solutions.
