FOR the love of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Palestinians have a special place in the hearts of every Muslim. On the other hand, Jerusalem is also a holy land for the Jews and the Christians, who sympathize with Israel. Therefore, the Arab-Israeli conflict divides humanity all over the world. Israel is very strong militarily, and its propaganda machinery dominates the world view. In the words of a famous spiritual scholar, Syed Sarfraz Ahmed Shah, Israel shows weeping women and children in the funerals of its people killed in the violence to win sympathy, while Palestinians make cries of vengeance and carry arms in the funerals to demonstrate aggression. Hence, the world ignores the excesses of Israel against Palestinians in the propaganda war. In the current situation, Israel’s bombing in Gaza and the plight of Palestinian Muslims have disturbed every human and the international community has rejected Israeli propaganda to equate Hamas with ISIS, a terrorist organization.
Muslim countries are in the front to help Palestinians in Gaza; they have frustrated Israel’s efforts to designate Hamas as a terrorist organization by the international community. To the contrary, Al-Qaeda and ISIS are actually helping Israel by promoting terrorism over this issue. As a matter of fact, many non-Muslim countries are condemning Israel for collective punishment of Palestinians and creating a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The international community is demanding a ceasefire and some countries have also degraded diplomatic relations to pressurize Israel. Perhaps for the first time in history, Jews and Christians are organizing pro-Palestinian rallies in Europe and the Americas and college and university campuses are very vocal against Israel and its war of persecution in Gaza. Unfortunately, terrorist outfits like Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and TTP are exploiting the sentiments of Muslims over the Gaza bombing to promote terrorist attacks on innocent Jews and Christians around the world. It is a serious deviation from the Islamic legal doctrine; terrorism has no place as a tactic of war because of its murderous nature. Islam’s humanitarian aspects remain valid even in legitimate Jihad; therefore, a terrorist attack on an Israeli citizen would be a shear violation of Shariah.
The occupation of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the grievances of Palestinians are a cause of pain for Muslims all over the world. Many groups and leaders have exploited it for their vested political interests as well. Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein created hype about the same conflict and attacked Kuwait in 1990. All Arab States and their rulers turned against Saddam’s aggression. Slain Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden created hype over Muslim Palestinians to win the sympathies of Arab masses, but he did nothing for them in his life. But some Palestinians were also overwhelmed by his rhetoric, and there were limited celebrations in Palestine over the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Hence, Al-Qaeda only damaged the just cause of Palestinians by framing it with these attacks.
It is a usual tactic of Al-Qaeda ISIS, and TTP to exploit the grievances of Muslims for propaganda, and they have oppressed the just cause of Palestinian Muslims by making it a part of terrorist ideologies. These militants have made efforts to subvert the legitimate struggle of Muslims in Palestine for a separate homeland by linking it with international terrorism. Al-Qaeda-inspired terrorism defamed Muslims, and anti-terrorism mechanisms adopted by the international community put Muslim humanitarian groups under strict observation, limiting help for Palestinians. On the other hand, the governments of Islamic countries have provided true help to Muslims in Palestine. They made the UN recognize the Palestinians’ right to self-determination, and the international community adopted the principle of a two-state solution for the creation of a separate homeland for Muslims in Palestine. As a result, many non-Muslim states are also supporting Palestinians, and UNGA has passed resolutions to condemn Israel’s excesses in Gaza repeatedly. An immediate ceasefire would be the only relief for Gazans, and all Muslim countries and some non-Muslim states are working hard to achieve it. The general public should support these efforts, and Muslims should refute propaganda to promote violence by the militant outfits.
Al-Qaeda, ISIS and TTP are misleading Muslims to attack non-Muslims for vengeance over atrocities in Gaza. Under the Shariah laws, Islamic countries and their citizens are bound to protect non-Muslims and their places of worship in their lands; therefore, harming them is against the teachings of the Quran-o-Sunnat. Similarly, Islam also prohibits the killing of foreign diplomats, and an attack on a diplomatic mission is a violation of Shariah. The people of Gaza need humanitarian aid, and Muslims should appreciate those non-Muslims who are making efforts to alleviate the woes of Palestinians. Terrorism is not a solution, and terrorist outfits should be rejected for their non-Islamic nature and oppression of Palestinians through random acts of violence against innocent people. Finally, terrorist outfits misuse the cause of Palestine to generate funds for attacks as well. Therefore, individual Muslims and Islamic groups should make sure that they provide financial support only to non-violent entities in this regard.
—The Islamabad-based writer is a contributing columnist on the issues of violent extremism and military.
views expressed are writer’s own.
