Gaza War 2023–2024 and Reactions from Neighboring Countries: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria

This chapter analyzes the impact of the Gaza war on the neighboring countries, namely Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, which are located in the immediate ring of fire if the war expands beyond Gaza. The analyses of each state's reaction and engagement in the current conflict draw on various factors such as their established foreign diplomacy, the existence or absence of a peace agreement with Israel, the adherence to Arab solidarity around the Palestinian cause, and their sensitivity to the public mainstream sympathy with the Palestinians cause. Egypt and Jordan have so far been abiding by the strategic alliance with the United States and are in a profound position to maintain the current peace treaties with Israel. On the other hand, Lebanon's caretaking government's public position is against war with Israel, while Hizbullah is carrying out daily attacks on Israel's northern borders in support of Hamas in Gaza. Syria, on the other hand, continues to provide logistical support to Hizbullah as part of the Axis of Resistance. The equation must also include a perspective of Hamas, in terms of the present and its future, especially with respect to its recent collaboration with Iran, Hizbullah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen. Jordan and Syria alike have a sensitive relationship with Hamas political leadership, although for different reasons. Finally, the public pressure in most Arab countries is increasing; as is evident in the public dissatisfaction with government policy, increasing socio-economic pressure, and the raging sympathy with Palestinians expressed in public demonstrations in Egypt and Jordan.