This week’s mess in the Middle East

The Israeli regime-change war against Iran has brought us new evidence of how disruptive and confusing Trump 2.0’s truly incompetent diplomacy can be.

With all the theatrics, some of them much deadlier than others, it’s easy to lose focus on some central issues.

One is that the Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza continues. And it is spreading to the West Bank to a smaller but still deadly degree. (1)

Another is that the United States in the form of “Peace President” Trump’s administration is fully supportive of the genocide. And, through its “humanitarian” aid operation that displaced its, is orchestrating the seemingly daily murders of starving Palestinians coming to attempt to get even a small amount of food. The BBC reports that on June 25 alone, a minimum of 46 people were killed by the Israeli Defenses Forces (IDF), aka, “the world’s most moral army.”

UN agencies have condemned the US and Israel-backed food distribution system, with one official calling it "an abomination" and "a death trap".

Such deadly incidents have recently become a near daily occurrence but have attracted relatively little attention outside Gaza since Israel attacked Iran more than a week ago.

Without including the latest deaths, the UN has said that more than 410 Palestinians are reported to have been killed by Israeli gunfire or shelling since the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began work in late May. (2)

Trump’s lack of self-discipline and his impulsivity only make it harder for the public to understand what US policy is and further reduce what is left of his credibility as a negotiator with Israel and Iran.

It’s understandable that Trump and his administration would want to make it sound like Trump can direct Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to do what they want and get Israel’s compliance. In fact, Netanyahu has been able to get Trump to do what he wants, including directly entering Israel’s regime change war against Iran with a bombing strike that probably was the final blow to any reasonable hope that a new nuclear arms-control treaty with Iran can be negotiated. The small differences on timing and Trump’s public grumping about Israel are reality-TV fluff.

Given Netanyahu’s decades-long obsession with overthrowing the Iranian government, he cannot be expected to stop trying to get the US further involved in his war with Iran. He also has the added personal imperative that he needs to keep war going to stay in power, facing as he is an almost certain prison term for corruption charges if he leaves the Prime Minister’s office and its immunity protections.

Expanding war is in the self-perceived interest of “Ahab” Netanyahu. But it has wide-ranging implications:

The conflict between the two countries drew Türkiye into what became a complex regional crisis. Ankara emphasized Iran’s right to self-defense, and supported the resumption of the U.S.-led nuclear talks while urging Israel to halt its military actions.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned Israel’s strikes on Iran, calling them a “clear provocation and a blatant violation of international law.” He accused the Netanyahu government of dragging the region, and the world, toward a catastrophe through its “aggressive, unlawful, and irresponsible” actions.

As the Iran-Israel conflict escalates, some political leaders and analysts in Türkiye have voiced concerns that their country could be the next target of Israeli aggression. (3)

And Netanyahu’s government keeps doubling down on the genocidal intent and actions:

Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has called the humanitarian aid currently entering Gaza "an absolute disgrace,” calling for “not a temporary halt to ‘humanitarian’ aid, but a complete stop.”

The minister's comments came after the Israeli government accused Hamas of seizing aid and halted aid deliveries to Gaza until the Israeli military presents a plan, according to a report by Israel’s Channel 12 news.

“When I warned repeatedly, and was unfortunately the only one who voted a month and a half ago against bringing aid, I was certain it would grant Hamas a lifeline,” the far-right, often incendiary minister said in a post on X.

“Halting aid will expedite reaching victory. I will demand that the prime minister bring the issue of introducing aid to the sector to a vote again in the next cabinet session.” (4)Middle East Eye also reported in the early morning of June 26: “Fourteen people have been killed in Israeli attacks this morning across Gaza, Al Jazeera Arabic reported citing citing sources in the enclave.” (5) In the same report: “The Palestinian Health Ministry said three people were killed and seven others were injured by Israeli settlers who stormed the town of Kafr Malik near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank and set homes and cars on fire on Wednesday.” (5)

And, oh, by the way: the Iranian and Russian defence ministers are visiting China.

Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun framed Thursday's meeting of officials in Qingdao, home to a major Chinese naval base, as a counterweight to a world in "chaos and instability".

"As momentous changes of the century accelerate, unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise," Dong said as he welcomed defence chiefs from Russia, Iran, Pakistan, Belarus and elsewhere on Wednesday, according to state news agency Xinhua.

"Hegemonic, domineering and bullying acts severely undermine the international order," he warned. …

And meeting Dong on the sidelines of the summit, Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov hailed ties between the two countries as being "at an unprecedentedly high level". (6)

To close, here’s a June 23 interview with Über-Realist John Mearsheimer on the situation: (7)

Notes:

(1) Khoury, Jack & Shzaf, Hagar (2025): Israeli Settlers Rampage Through West Bank Village; Three Palestinians Killed by IDF Fire. Haaretz 06/25/2025. <https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-06-25/ty-article/.premium/israeli-settlers-rampage-through-west-bank-village-three-palestinians-killed-by-idf-fire/00000197-a892-d6b3-abf7-e8f3f6740000> (Accessed: 2025-26-06).

(2) Knell, Yolande (2025): UN condemns Gaza aid 'death trap' as dozens reported killed by Israeli fire. BBC News 06/25/2025. <https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c15wz2ee05do> (Accessed: 2025-26-06).

(3) Isbasaran, Volkan (2025): The Key Diplomatic Role Türkiye Played in the Israel-Iran Conflict. Informed Comment 06/25/2025. <https://www.juancole.com/2025/06/trkiye-played-conflict.html> (Accessed: 2025-26-06).

(4) Israel suspends Gaza aid, far-right minister calls for complete halt. Middle East Eye 06/26/2025. <https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israel-suspends-aid-delivery-gaza-security-minister-calls-complete-halt> (Accessed: 2025-26-06).

(5) Live Updates. Middle East Eye 10:00am ECT 06/26/2025. <https://www.middleeasteye.net/live/live-dozens-killed-and-injured-israeli-shooting-aid-site-gaza> (Accessed: 2025-26-06).

(6) AFP (2025): China hosts Iranian, Russian defence ministers against backdrop of 'momentous change'. FRANCE 24 06/26/2025. <https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250626-china-hosts-iranian-russian-defence-ministers-against-backdrop-of-momentous-change> (Accessed: 2025-26-06).

(7) John Mearsheimer EXPOSES Israel Lobby's Push For Iran War. Breaking Points YouTube channel 06/23/2025. <https://youtu.be/g_3UTLMLIfw?si=Hx1nypSrAplNFpIN> (Accessed: 2025-26-06).