The Islamic Arab Summit Conference took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where every concern and effort related to the situation in Palestine and Gaza were focused. In the declaration of the conference, it appealed to all nations to impose an arms embargo on Israel.
On the topic, during the summit, efforts to bring about a ceasefire were articulated and the importance of coordinating efforts was stressed. The declaration had sent the international community a clear message that Israeli steps are extremely dangerous and dire consequences would likely follow. It stated that it is not just the Muslim world but the entire world standing with Palestine. The Palestinian issue once more has put it at the center of Middle Eastern and Arab politics. It was seen that the achievement and sacrifices of the Palestinians in Gaza have, owing to the loss of over 43,000 lives, gone down into the pages of history as a “golden chapter.”.
In this regard, Israel’s moves would look more of a sequence of the policies adopted by previous colonial powers, who after leaving the Middle East region had left Israel as a proxy to ensure their interests. Although Egypt, Syria, and Jordan have been significant warring countries of Israel in the past, most of the countries in the world that are Muslims are at peace with Israel.
Today, the balance is on the other end. Military supremacy that Israel boasted of is now a thing of the past, and diplomatically, it faces worldwide isolation. Israel’s aggression stretches far beyond Palestinian territories to place neighboring countries in disarray, like Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon.
UN Secretary-General reacted to the relentless bombings in Gaza, while the EU’s Foreign Affairs Chief termed the destruction unacceptable. Demands for an immediate ceasefire have come from several European countries, with French President Emmanuel Macron asking European nations to ban arms exports to Israel.
South Africa took the issue to the International Court of Justice, filing a genocide case against Israel, asserting that it was committing genocide in Gaza. The court advised Israel to desist from its actions; however, Israel, supported by the U.S. and Western nations, including Germany and the U.K., continues unabated.
The United States has vetoed a UN Security Council resolution for a ceasefire four times in defending Israel and has offered significant military and financial aid throughout the conflict, including deploying naval fleets to deter other nations from intervening against Israel.
Besides the genocide case, 52 countries have filed a separate case in the International Court to stop Israel’s occupation of Gaza, West Bank, and Jerusalem. That this initiative was undertaken primarily by non-Muslim countries and no Muslim or Arab state has taken such a stance is unfortunate. Non-Muslim countries have even cut diplomatic ties with Israel because of its aggression in Gaza, though some Arab countries still secretly support Israel despite public disapproval of Israel in the Arab world.
This declaration marked growing worldwide support among Palestinians, which could be seen in the U.S. and other Western nations protesting Israeli aggression. For the first time, there is a very visible division between the state’s interests and people’s feelings on this issue. In the realm of human rights, liberty, and self-determination, Palestinians and Kashmiris are still among the unlucky lot chained in gilded prisons. Palestinians have been made aliens in their own land through decades of foreign interference.
The Palestinian issue has remained as one of the longest missions of the United Nations since it was established in 1945. Still, like the Kashmir conflict, it remains unsolved with years of efforts involving international leaders, in such a way that neither region has been able to permanently find peace. Violations on the aspect of human rights remain evident in these regions with world leaders appearing to have less genuine interest in solving them.
From the war of 1947 over Palestine to the Six-Day War of 1967, and finally to the Oslo Accords of 1993, Israel proceeds with its policy of repression and expansionist expectations without let or hindrance. Several countries, including some in Islam, have accepted Israel as a lawfully established state. However, the U.S. and other states are even at a higher rung as it has declared Jerusalem to be its capital.
Indeed, for the past seventy years, Pakistan has been in favor of Palestine. Events like the fourth Arab-Israeli war (1973-74) and the Arab oil embargo have indeed seen Pakistan in solidarity with the Arab nations, forming a rather important chapter in Pakistan-Arab relations. A further important illustration of this solidarity occurred during the 1974 Islamic Summit Conference held in Lahore.
Israel wants to send the Gazans to Egypt’s Sinai Desert with such heavy bombardment and blockade of food resources that would end the problem of Gaza once and for all. But, Gazans have even sacrificed their lives to prevent this plan from happening. Because of Israel’s blockade, grave lack of food and medicines has made the people starve to death and kill hundreds of children. Most of the hospitals are destroyed, and many closed in. Israel has expelled about 1.3 million Gazans from their homes to be housed in southern Gaza near Rafah, on the border with Egypt, but they are still at risk of being attacked by Israelis.
Israel has been attacking hospitals, schools, refugee camps, and even ambulances. Though Israel argues it is targeting Hamas, it is in effect displacing the population of Palestinians from Gaza.
With Israel’s formula to establish itself as the region’s enforcer, and with it successfully completing its goals according to plans made in consultation with global powers, it now comfortably counts thousands of Palestinian lives lost and their yearning for a peaceful existence going largely unnoticed. It is a need of the hour that the Muslim world comes up with a clear position regarding Israel and their aggressive attitude must gain more vociferous voices across the globe to such an extent that Israel does not have the courage to repeat similar incidents again.