Sikandar Noorani
It would be erroneous to link the recent bloodbath in Gaza only with the surprising attacks launched on Kipoor Day by Hamas. Illegal occupation by Israel on Palestinian territories and never-ending atrocities spread over seven decades is the real source of Middle Eastern cancer. Western world, the so-called champion of fundamental human rights, has always applied a different scale for oppressed Palestinians. Israeli strikes on unarmed Palestinians after Saturday’s blitz of Hamas can never be justified.
Brutal use of military might against non-combatant civilians is a serious war crime of the extremist Israeli government. Western moral and material support to blood thirsty Israeli state is shocking proof of biased approach. The Muslim world is rightly distressed over the pro-Israel stance of the Western quarters. While creating hype about the Hamas attack on Israel, no questions were raised about the alarming plight of Palestinians by Western media. Brutal Israel has gone mad and is reacting like an injured beast amid an unprecedented dent in her invincibility. For years, Tel Aviv has been acting as an unaccountable state by portraying its war machinery as an undefeatable force in the region.
Multi-front surprise attacks by Hamas have busted the myth of Israel’s invincibility. The brutal response of Israel against the Palestinian non-combatant population is the outcome of the unexpected dent to its over-projected military superiority. Supportive message from the West, especially traditional backing of the USA, is a constant force backing Israel in all inhuman and illegitimate violent maneuvers against Palestinians. Tele Aviv has started taking the inaction of the UN as a permanent license to kill the Palestinians with impunity. The surprise assault of Hamas is a natural retaliation against the brutal Israeli regime. The irony is that the plight of Palestinians carries no meaning for influential global powers and dominating media giants. Systematic oppression has compelled Hamas to retaliate against the rogue Tel Aviv to regain the illegally occupied territories. Saner minds have started asking that why did the Ukrainian resistance against Russia got every sort of support, but legitimate Palestinian resistance against occupational Israel continues to be portrayed as terrorism.
Gaza has been under siege since 2007 in violation of international laws and universally acknowledged humanitarian standards. Israel is such a rogue state which feels no hesitation in killing the unarmed civilian population without giving any allowance or concession, even to the innocent kids. Israel is committing genocide of Palestinians with full impunity. Systematic annihilation of Palestinians in the garb of an absolutely misinterpreted right of defence is bound to sow the seeds of stronger retaliation. Though, the UN has termed the ‘complete siege’ of Gaza as an illegitimate act but, Tel Aviv is in no mood to alter the brutal course. Prior to any durable solution to the Palestine issue, an immediate end of Israeli atrocities is essential. Major Muslim countries, including KSA, Pakistan, and Turkey, have strongly condemned the disproportionate inhuman response of Israel against innocent civilians.
Pakistan continues to emphasis a durable two-state solution to revive regional peace. Restoration of Palestinian state sovereignty according to pre-1967 borders with its capital in Jerusalem and unconditional opening of Al-Aqsa Mosque is a unanimous demand of Muslim countries. Pakistan traditionally maintains a principle-based stance to grant the right of ownership to genuine sons of soil. This principle is equally applicable to oppressed Palestinians and Kashmiris striving against the illegal occupation of Israel and India, respectively. Swift and firm expression of Indian solidarity with oppressor Israel has amply exposed the common brutal traits of Modi and Netanyahu regimes. It is an undeniable fact that the extremist BJP government has been following the Israeli Model in IIOJK.
Extrajudicial killings, HRVs, custodial tortures, brutal crackdowns, and alteration of demography are common traits of New Delhi and Tel Aviv. Orchestrated pro-Israel campaign on Indian media is another sign of New Delhi’s strategy of condemning the victims of oppression. While supporting the inhuman bombardment and illegitimate siege of Gaza, India is actually trying to justify the war crimes committed against the Kashmiris. Indian whole hearted support for the brutal war crimes of the Zionist extremist regime is also a reflection of the BJP’s sharp alignment with the extremist anti-Muslim ideology of RSS.
Brutalities of racist Zionist Israel are the root cause of wider unrest in the Middle East. Saudi efforts for the emergent end of atrocities and subsequent solution of the issue through the restoration of the Palestinian state need to be unanimously pursued by the Muslim countries at all international forums.
Carpet bombing on the besieged unarmed population in Gaza should be immediately finished through the intervention of influential global players. Persistent arrogant rejection of UN resolutions and pursuance of violent strategy by Israel is destined to worsen the peace matrix in the Middle East. One-sided blaming of Palestinians without paying any attention to their genuine concerns would trigger more human tragedies in besieged Gaza. Palestinian resistance against illegal occupation and the inhuman brutalities of Israel is legitimate.
UN, Human Rights watchdogs, and international media should loudly support the oppressed Palestinians in their rightful resistance against a rogue extremist state.
(The writer is a freelance columnist and can be reached at [email protected].)
