Upon completion of one year of Israeli military aggression on Palestinians, there has been no worthwhile response from the international community. Rather stopping the massive human rights violations (genocide of the Palestinians), the international community including Muslim world was largely seems inclined and supportive of Israel which encouraged the Zionist State to open another front; war against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
It is very unfortunate that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has not acted in accordance with its mandate over the Israeli aggression and killing of Palestinians both in Gaza and West Bank. By October 6, 2024 the number of Palestinians’ deaths had risen to almost 42000 with over 120,000 wounded in Gaza and West Bank. Besides, there are thousands who are still missing and buried under debris of destroyed buildings since entire Gaza and some parts of the West Bank have been ruined since October 7, 2023.
The United States repeatedly vetoed the UNSC resolutions, demanding stoppage of Israeli attack on Gaza. Indeed, the one-sided Israeli aggression and attacks on Palestinians is a blatant violation of human rights and an open act of terrorism, UNSC could have stopped in the last one year.
Unfortunately, the entire western world has supported Israeli aggression and terrorism at all levels; militarily, politically, financially and morally. This unjustified support of western world speaks of the western moral and political values and western standards of human rights leaving aside the emotionless Muslim world.
Indeed, more than Israel, this one sided war has exposed the west; European and Americans. Unfortunately, since the end of world war-II, these states and their unions have been lecturing the world on human rights, human values and humanity. Whereas, United States, UK and France have fully backed the Israeli aggression and terrorism, the other two members of the UNSC remained insensitive over the massive killings and genocide of the Palestinians at the hand of Israel. Their silence and callousness can be clearly attributed as a support for Israeli acts of Palestinian genocide.
Since the entire functioning of the United Nations revolves around five permanent members of the UNSC and Europe and America, this world body has become hostage to a few powerful states. Indeed, it has lost its relevance for the global South. Since its establishment in 1945, the UN has consistently made biased decisions that favour powerful states and their vested interests. It has not addressed real issues, especially in Asia and Africa.
The colonial legacies affecting contemporary states and communities, such as Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir, remain unresolved. These issues, the oldest on the UN’s agenda, are deliberately prolonged due to the geopolitical influence of Israel and India, followers of Zionism and Hindutva. Both disputes were created by Britain as a colonial power, and now enjoy full support from the US, UK, and European Union.
A particularly controversial statement by US President Joe Biden during a visit to Israel reaffirmed this: “I come to Israel with a single message; you’re not alone. As long as the United States stands, we will not let you ever be alone.” His words underscored the unwavering US support for Israel, which remains strong.
In the last one year, Mr Blinken, US Secretary of State, repeatedly visited Israel and neighbouring Muslim states and assured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of full US support. The dedicated US support to Israeli genocide of Palestinians is indicative of the fact that, it (US) supports Israeli aggression and terrorism against Palestine and creation of a Greater Zionist State in the heart of Arab.
This Israeli aggression under US patronage is going-on systematically for decades. Indeed, the Biden Administration has started supporting the Israeli state from where the Trump Administration left it. During the four years rule of President Trump, the US secured unprecedented gains for the illegal State of Israel. To name a few; in March 2019 US President Donald Trump officially announced recognition of Golan Heights as sovereign part of the state of Israel. Golan Heights, the Syrian territory is under occupation of Israel since 1967, occupied during Six Days War. In December2017 President Trump formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and later shifted American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Besides the US-led western world, the Muslim world has been mysteriously silent. Except Iran, there has been no voice from entire Muslim world against Israeli aggression and genocide of the Palestinians. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has virtually become a tool of the west. Since the start of Israeli military aggression over Palestinians on October 7, 2023, there have been no attempts from OIC and its members to reach over to the US and Western world to stop supporting Israeli attacks on Palestinians.
The US and West provide all war munitions to Israel for bombing Palestinians and Lebanese too. It appears that most of the ruling elites in the Arab world are in a race to develop closer ties while walking over the graves of Palestinians.
The contemporary Muslim world clearly protects the US and Israeli interests more than their own. Securing the Palestinians rights and sovereignty of their state is the responsibility of Muslim world under OIC. Unfortunately, Arab ruling elites have not learnt a lesson from Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen. They forget that, it is a matter of time and they may meet the same fate in the days to come.
Moreover, backed by the US and West, Israel is heading for a Greater Israel in the Greater Middle East; a Zionist dream seemingly coming true through a phased strategy where neighbouring Arab states will be under imperialism of Zionist State of Israel.
The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
