By : Zaheer ud din Babar
The relentless series of brutal bombings by Israel on Gaza has not only shocked the world but has also raised serious concerns about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region. In the latest development, the United States’ decision to veto a ceasefire resolution in the United Nations has once again brought into question the international community’s commitment to addressing the plight of the Palestinian people. Addressing the Doha Forum in Qatar, the Secretary-General of the United Nations expressed deep regret over the failure of the ceasefire resolution in the Security Council. In unequivocal terms, he stated, “The United Nations is paralyzed; it is regrettable that they failed to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza through the Security Council.” This statement comes at a critical juncture, with the Secretary-General invoking Charter Article 99, historically reserved for matters posing a significant threat to international peace and security. As the diplomatic efforts falter, the situation on the ground worsens. The Israeli military’s widespread killings and looting in Gaza have created a dire humanitarian crisis. Shockingly, Israel has directed over two million oppressed and impoverished Palestinians to “seek shelter in humanitarian zones.” It is alarming to note that this designated zone is a mere eight square kilometers, smaller than London’s Heathrow Airport. The scale of the atrocities is staggering, with over 17,000 Palestinians, including more than 7,000 children, having lost their lives in Israeli attacks. The recent wave of violence has exposed the world to the distressing reality of extremist actions perpetrated by some factions within Israel. The indiscriminate killing of Palestinians has drawn attention to the urgent need for a global response to prevent further loss of innocent lives. Equally troubling is the perceived silence of the Muslim world in the face of such brutality. Self-proclaimed Muslim leaders, particularly those in the Islamic world and Muslim Brotherhood, are accused of doing little to address the crisis. The author argues that only a handful of Muslim countries out of more than fifty have shown a willingness to take concrete steps to halt Israeli atrocities. Drawing a parallel to historical events, it suggests that, akin to the long-term impacts of the Nine-Eleven incident, Israeli atrocities could have far-reaching consequences. The fear is that extremist elements in Muslim countries may gain strength in the aftermath of such violence. The Muslim ruling elite is portrayed as being acutely aware of the negative exposure brought about by social media, which has fueled resentment against them in Western countries supporting Israel. The comparison is drawn to the transformative impact of the Nine-Eleven incident, implying that recent events, including the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, have the potential to reshape the global political landscape.
