The Israeli military has reached new levels of brutality by dropping thousands of pounds of bombs on Palestinians praying, resulting in the deaths of 100 individuals, including women and children, and injuring many others. Meanwhile, survivors of an attack on Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar have reported that over 200 people have been killed. The Rohingya minority faces extreme oppression in Myanmar.
In the civilized world, it is almost inconceivable to imagine bombing hospitals, schools, or unarmed convoys leaving their areas, or dropping bombs on refugee camps. Such acts represent the peak of cruelty, barbarism, and brutality, which can even be considered as an attempt at the genocide of Palestinians. Israeli cruelty and brutality do not stop there; Israeli planes are also targeting those fleeing Gaza. Thousands of homes and buildings in Gaza have been reduced to rubble.
The Israeli military has targeted multiple hospitals in Gaza. According to the United Nations, over a million Palestinians have been displaced from Gaza due to Israeli bombings, while the blockade of Gaza has led to shortages of water, food, and all types of aid supplies.
Since October of last year, Israeli attacks on Gaza have resulted in the deaths of 39,700 Palestinians and injuries to over 91,700 others. This detailed account of Israeli atrocities and brutality is no less tragic, shameful, and horrifying because, as usual, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and other European countries remain steadfast in their support of Israel. Joe Biden has exonerated Israel for its brutal attacks on Gaza, holding Hamas responsible instead and reaffirming the commitment to support Israel in every way.
History records the savagery of the Tatars and Mongols from Central Asia, with rulers like Genghis Khan and Hulagu Khan who not only defeated their enemies but also massacred them, making towers of skulls from their severed heads and reducing conquered lands and settlements to rubble. The destruction of Baghdad, a center of civilization, knowledge, and culture, by Hulagu Khan is well-documented.
Although such acts of savagery and barbarism belong to the past, it is extremely unfortunate and distressing to say that the actions of the Israeli Zionist government in Gaza and the occupied territories of the West Bank exceed even the barbarity of the Tatars and Mongols.
The recent brutality and savagery demonstrated by Israel in Gaza are not even a fraction of the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany against Jews during World War II. The aggression, brutality, and support for Israel from its backers are undoubtedly highly shameful and distressing. It is even more painful and troubling that the Muslim Ummah has failed to address this situation effectively.
With over 55 Islamic countries and a population exceeding 1.5 billion, these countries have their own organizations and forums to address Muslim issues, yet they have not been able to provide any concrete solutions. In the past, nearly all Islamic countries were part of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and Arab countries in Asia and Africa had established the Arab League. Though Islamic countries are still part of the OIC, it has transformed into the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The Gulf Cooperation Council has replaced the Arab League.
It is regrettable that these organizations or forums have not succeeded in finding a solid solution to the problems faced by Islamic countries. On the other hand, India has historically supported Israel on the Palestinian issue. Beyond political and economic support, India has now become a defender of Israel in the defense sector as well. In 1947, India voted against the partition of Palestine at the United Nations and became the first non-Arab country to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization as the legitimate representative of the Palestinians. Although India recognized Israel in 1950, diplomatic relations between the two countries did not begin until 1992.
Contrary to past traditions, during Operation Protective Edge, India began its political support for Israel. Narendra Modi and India’s Foreign Minister were among the global leaders who condemned the Palestinian attack following Operation Protective Edge. Instead of taking a stand against the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, Narendra Modi has repeatedly referred to the Israeli Prime Minister as his friend.
India’s support for Israel has grown to the extent that on October 27, India abstained from voting in favor of a ceasefire in Gaza at the United Nations. Modi’s government’s action faced criticism in India. Adopting a biased stance towards Israel has caused political rifts in India.
The ruling party under Modi supports Israel, while the largest opposition party, Congress, reaffirms its support for Palestine. In recent decades, defense relations between the two countries have also increased. Since Modi’s government came to power, India has purchased $662 million worth of weapons from Israel.
Israeli settlements are being built on Palestinian lands, with thousands of Indian workers involved in their construction. Indians are getting jobs, although thousands have had to leave the area due to the Gaza conflict. Indian soldiers are also implicated in the genocide of Palestinians by Israeli forces and express satisfaction over the atrocities. In reality, Israeli authorities are demonstrating systematic discriminatory treatment against Palestinians to maintain their control.
Israeli institutional discrimination against Palestinians includes laws allowing the effective removal of Palestinians from hundreds of Jewish towns and budgets that allocate far fewer resources to Palestinian schools compared to Jewish Israeli schools. The occupied territories are governed by a brutal military system, while Jewish Israelis in these areas have full rights under civil law. These forms of severe state oppression equate to systematic repression and fit the definition of racial discrimination.
Similarly, the issue of international economic sanctions against Myanmar for its treatment of Rohingya Muslims is the responsibility of the Security Council member states. Rohingya Muslims face some of the worst genocides and racial discrimination in human history. The Myanmar military has exhibited state terrorism by ruthlessly killing thousands of innocent Rohingya Muslims and raping thousands of women. Muslim countries, the international community, and the United Nations have all failed to protect the oppressed Rohingya Muslims from the terrorist Myanmar government and military.
Powerful states should condition their arms sales and military and security assistance to Israel on the requirement that Israeli authorities take concrete and verifiable steps to cease these crimes. States need to carefully review their agreements, cooperation plans, and all forms of trade and relations with Israel to determine which activities are directly involved in committing crimes, affecting human rights, and where possible, eliminate such activities and funding that are found to be aiding these serious crimes.