Introduction Israel categorically pointed to Iran’s involvement in the October 7, 2023 multi-pronged attack by Hamas (a militant Palestinian group which governs Gaza

Israel categorically pointed to Iran’s involvement in the October 7, 2023 multi-pronged attack by 

a militant Palestinian group which governs Gaza) on Israel -- which has led to the current conflagration between Israel and Palestine. There has been strong retaliation by Israel ever since the October 7 attack, and the total number of casualties are estimated at over 

 on October 23, 2023. The total toll includes 4,651 Palestinians in Gaza, 

Biden visit to the Middle East and aid for Palestinian civilians

US President, Joe Biden visited the Middle East on October 18, 2023. Biden met with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and extended US support, but his summit with leaders from Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority, to be held at Amman (Jordan) was 

 after a massive blast in a Gaza hospital. The attack on the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza on October 18, 2023 resulted in the killing 

 of Palestinians. While Hamas blamed an Israeli 

, the Israelis stated that this was the result of a misdirected rocket attack by Palestinian militants.

 on October 21, 2023 several countries have provided humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians. In a conversation on October 22, 2023 both Biden and Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to a 

, denied any direct role in the October 7 attacks. US officials also did not find any substantial evidence linking Iran to the attacks, while highlighting US support to Hamas in a 

” – via funding and training. In the first few days of the Israel-Palestine conflict, it was believed that the conflict will not spread to other parts of the Middle East – especially Iran.

Iran has taken a more aggressive stance pushing for an embargo on Israel in the aftermath of the October 18 attack on the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza. During an emergency meeting of Organisation Islamic Countries (OIC) members, held at Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) last week,  

, Hossein Amirabdollahian had asked all other members to impose an oil embargo and remove all Israeli diplomats. Both the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi asked all Muslim nations to unite. Said 

“All the Islamic and Arab countries… must reach serious convergence and cooperation on the path of stopping the crimes of the Zionist regime against the oppressed Palestinian nation,"

 also issued a warning to Israel and US, that if strikes in Gaza do not stop, the “region will go out of control”.

Escalation of tensions between Iran and US?

On Sunday, October 22, 2023 US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken 

“We are concerned at the possibility of Iranian proxies escalating their attacks against our own personnel, our own people,”

  US Senator Lindsay Graham, who visited Tel Aviv as part of a 

 of US senators, was more aggressive blaming Iran for the conflict and issuing a warning 

“..If this war grows, it’s coming to your backyard,’”

It remains to be seen if Iran will become part of the conflict, but the scope for any sort of détente between US and Iran which seemed probable after the swap of 

 now seems unlikely. Apart from exchanging hostages, Biden Administration had also released Iranian assets of 

 which had been frozen. This decision had drawn flak from the Republicans who said that this would give Iran the opportunity to 

 to Hamas. Post the October 7 attack by Hamas, US has decided to freeze these assets.

Significantly, while one of the initial reasons for strains between the Biden Administration and the Saudis was the overtures by the former towards Iran, ties between 

 have strengthened in the aftermath of a China brokered agreement signed in March 2023.The current conflict has also led to 

Iran being on the same page as Saudi Arabia

 and other Gulf countries. The possibility of normalisation of ties between 

l is also bleak. US President Joe Biden in an address said that one of the aims of the October 7, 2023 attack was to reduce the chances of the normalisation of ties between

 have asked Beijing to intervene in the current conflict by using its 

“influence” in the region --  especially vis-à-vis Iran.

 Beijing has been guarded in its response so far. While criticising violence on civilians, China has supported the 

In conclusion, while Iran’s ties with the west are likely to deteriorate the current crisis has resulted in Iran moving closer to the Gulf countries, and if tensions between the US and Iran escalate, Beijing which till now has taken a guarded position may need to step in and leverage the clout it has vis-à-vis Iran. The geopolitical landscape of the Middle East is likely to change significantly, as a result of the current Israel-Palestine conflict and will have strong global ramifications.

Israel-Palestine conflict and the Iran factor: Will Beijing step in?

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