More than a year has passed, and Israel’s atrocities against Palestine continue relentlessly. The scope of aggression is now extending into other Muslim nations and even reaching our neighboring country, Iran. The world has limited itself to mere condemnations over the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza; no nation has actively intervened to halt Israel’s hand.
The United Nations and the Security Council have passed resolutions but have neither enforced them nor taken disciplinary action for Israel’s blatant violations. Nearly 50,000 innocent Palestinians have been martyred, including a large number of children under ten years of age, yet not a single tear has been shed for them.
The Islamic nations, representing a population of nearly two billion, seem paralyzed by fear, hesitating to take any action against Israel. It appears they worry that if the conflict reaches their own borders, they won’t be able to withstand it. Their citizens cannot bear a catastrophe like that happening in Palestine.
Everyone seems absorbed in their own concerns. No one realizes that death is inevitable for every person, if not today, then tomorrow. No one knows what tomorrow may hold. Israel, surrounded on all sides by Muslim countries, attacks Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran with brazen defiance, knowing there is no one to restrain it. It understands that the former unity and honor once present in Muslim nations are no longer there. Israel disregards UN resolutions, fully aware that the world cannot stop it.
Had any other Muslim country committed such acts, the UN would have likely intervened militarily to enforce its resolutions. We witnessed similar actions in Afghanistan and Iraq under the pretext of fighting terrorism. But today, a small nation like Israel is beyond control, simply because it has the backing of a powerful ally, the United States.
For the past few decades, the United States has dominated the world single-handedly, and this control over Islamic nations is no secret. America knows that no one dares challenge it. The world functions as it dictates. Israel’s might is essentially an extension of American power. America does not want to wage wars on its own soil. All its wars have been fought on foreign lands, following policies that are structured to control and subjugate other nations.
Today, there is not a single Muslim country left that can stand against these policies or raise its voice. America has clipped everyone’s wings. Pakistan, a poor and struggling country, can do little on its own, nor can the wealthier Islamic countries go against its wishes. The boldness of Israel stems largely from America’s unwavering support. No Islamic country has the courage to confront it alone, nor do they have the resolve to unite and devise a counter-strategy.
We also know little about the governance in Palestine itself—whether it’s Hamas or Mahmoud Abbas. Similarly, Lebanon’s leadership is scarcely mentioned; we only hear about Hezbollah. These two organizations are Israel’s main targets. Many of their leaders have been assassinated, and Gaza has been reduced to rubble. Hospitals are not spared, jobs have disappeared, and the very means of survival are scarce for the people of Gaza.
Israel’s aggression has even reached Iran, and it wouldn’t be surprising if it eventually encroaches upon our own borders. Even the smallest excuse could provide justification for an attack. Israel targets any country it perceives as a future threat. Just imagine: if Israel started bombing us tomorrow, what would we do? Would we remain silent or prepare to face devastation like Gaza?
We have never experienced the horrors that the people of Palestine and Gaza have endured for years. If, God forbid, we face such a time, where will we stand? Like the people of Gaza, we have no safe haven. We would either succumb to death in silence or fight and attain martyrdom. The wealthy among us would likely escape to other countries with their resources. Many politicians already have arrangements to reside abroad.
It is the poor people of this country who would be left to die. They wouldn’t be able to flee or migrate. Lacking weapons or resources, they would either perish in bombings or die from hunger and deprivation. The world would witness their suffering in silence. Are we prepared for this scenario? A people’s destruction does not always mean they have committed sins deserving of such punishment.
What crime did the Muslims of Gaza commit to deserve this agonizing fate? Our ‘crime’ is simply being connected to Islam. Perhaps if we became indifferent and apathetic, we could avoid Israeli and American aggression. But if we resist, the outcome would be the same. It is up to us to choose our path. Death is inevitable—today or tomorrow. Whether we die in fear or attain the honor of martyrdom in the path of God is for us to decide.