Israeli forces bombed a mosque in Gaza, killing twenty-seven Palestinians and injuring dozens. Meanwhile, a major Israeli airstrike in Lebanon’s Mount province took the lives of 23 civilians, including seven children. The acting head of the UN Human Rights Council denounced violence in Gaza that has been going on for days, with the independent expert accusing Israel of international crime. In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu made the straightforward threat that if it were to attack Israel, there is a chance that it may impact Iranian oil facilities.
Coupled with the fact that no political solution has been found, since it is engaged in constant confrontations with a number of countries, Israel’s shadow keeps the Middle East in its clutches. It continues to expand through the occupation of disputed Arab territories and makes the two-state solution impossible. It depends very much on the Israeli government that has bombed the Palestinian Gaza Strip, smashed it to pieces and has enforced total blockade against water supply, food supplies, and medical supplies.
For thirteen months now, Israel has been waging aerial and maritime attacks, with the United States, Britain, the European Union, and their supporters mostly responsible. These countries are not only endorsing Israeli occupation and assaults but also promoting Israeli rhetoric on “right to self-defense” while turning a blind eye to the similar rights of Palestinians.
The right of the Palestinians to return to their homes with dignity as enshrined in international law is a basic human right that any civilized nation must support. However, the pragmatic realities of global imperialist efforts characteristically portray Palestinians in negative light as terrorists, so when such violence and propaganda escalate further, the treatment gets even worse.
The civil and human rights of the Palestinians were scraped off by a government that has actually become even more extreme and discriminatory, dealing with Palestinians as less than second-class citizens—or not even as humans. The proper response to such oppression lies in the imposition of sanctions on the oppressors and the application of continuous pressure for justice on the oppressed. The urgent need now is the re-activation of negotiations among active parties, as the current policy will make things only worse if it continues to persist.
Though the debate has yet to move from condemnation and statements, great events are already unfolding. For instance, the Arab Muslim Leadership Summit in Riyadh on 11 November saw such an apparent change of policy from Saudi Arabia into their policy towards Israel. The declaration signed by the summit was different from all previous declarations; it demanded a cessation of arms sales to Israel, an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon, the end of Israel’s occupation of Gaza, opening all crossings, and quick, safe, and reliable access to humanitarian aid.
The Arab and Muslim leaders are being squeezed every which way on the issue of Israel. The increased anti-Israeli sentiments and protests within the Muslim countries are internal forces that cannot be suppressed for too long. Most governments, especially monarchies, have felt vulnerable since the Arab Spring, knowing what befell the likes of Libya, Iraq, and Syria.
The main pressure came from the United States, particularly the Biden administration, which was not only Israel’s largest supporter but its open supporter for every step taken. Dread of Israel and fear of offending the U.S. have prompted Arab nations to engage in talks with Israel, which led to recognition. These talks were in their final stages before the Hamas operation of 7 October 2023 rolled them entirely over. Hamas was able to forcefully return the Palestinian question, thereby forcing the Muslim nations to abandon their softer stance towards Israel.
During the tenure of Biden, the Muslim nations did not form a rigid policy towards Israel. However, with Donald Trump likely to regain his seat in the White House, the Arab states, especially Saudi Arabia, believe that the new government would reassess its stand on Israeli matters. Since there has been good ties between Trump and the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in contrast to Trump’s declaring Jerusalem the capital of Israel, the Arab countries feel that they can exercise leverage over the new US administration.
Secretary-General of the Arab League: “There is no solution other than the two-state formula, with a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip based on the 1967 borders, and East Jerusalem as its capital.” This two-state formula has been an issue for so long that stands to be something Israel has been hesitant to accept. Indeed, however, admitting this formula would be equivalent to assuming that Arab and Muslim countries recognize Israel, which is a sensitive issue.
For ages, Muslim countries have been saying that Israel cannot be allowed to be recognized. Is Arab’s decision to discuss it an abandonment of this stance? How many Muslim countries can agree to recognize Israel even unwillingly? For example, will Iran? Could it be done that all Muslim countries reach a consensus on this position? Even if everybody agrees with this formula, will this really bring an end to the Arab-Israel conflict once and for all? Will that Israel, openly attacking Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, cease aggression against its Palestinian neighbor? The two-state formula does not ensure eternal peace in the region. But this summit is an important turning point.
It has blockaded the Palestinians with global imperial powers, imprisoned thousands, subjected them to torture cells, blocked roads, discriminated against them, and deprived them of their inherent rights to their own state.
It would be naive to hope that this oppression, injustice, and occupation might not provoke the Palestinians. This right of resistance Palestinians undeniably enjoy is entirely in accordance with international law. The provocations continued by the current Israeli government are more intensified than those of the preceding governments, making the West Bank and East Jerusalem hotbeds of tensions, and the lives of millions in Gaza appear like a slaughterhouse and an open-air prison.
The relevant question is, therefore, how peace may be restored in this region, more so for Gaza, where Israel’s strict measures have affected supplies of foodstuffs, water, and medicines. All parties must see to it that a major humanitarian disaster is averted; time is fast running out for all of them.