As the death toll of Palestinians in Gaza climbs to a staggering number, reaching nearly eleven thousand in the wake of Israel’s relentless military offensive, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has openly acknowledged that something is “clearly wrong” with Israel’s ongoing military operations. However, the question remains: who will put an end to these wrongs.
The failure of world organizations, including the United Nations, to effectively bring an end to the hostilities in the region has raised serious questions about the efficacy of diplomatic efforts and the need for concrete action to protect the lives of innocent civilians. Despite calls for peace and appeals for restraint, the international community’s response has fallen short of addressing the urgent and dire situation on the ground. Recent developments, including the calls by top diplomats from the Group of Seven (G7) for a “humanitarian pause” in Israel’s bombardment to facilitate the delivery of aid to desperate Palestinian civilians, underscore the gravity of the crisis. It is imperative for world leaders to move beyond rhetoric and take decisive actions to halt the escalating hostilities and prevent further loss of life. Mere calls for humanitarian pauses, while a step in the right direction, are insufficient in the face of the overwhelming humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza. The reckless statements being made by the Israeli leaders such as the use of nuclear bomb on the Palestinians is something which should not go unnoticed. The Israeli actions clearly speak volume of its complete disregard to humanity.
A comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire, coupled with concrete measures to address the conflict, is important to ensure the peace and stability in the Middle Eastern region. Whilst reining in Israel, important capitals will have to shun their double standards and they need play their role to facilitate meaningful dialogue and negotiation, with the aim of reaching a just and lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This requires a concerted commitment to upholding international law, respecting human rights and addressing the legitimate grievances of the Palestinian people.
An extraordinary summit of the OIC taking place in Jeddah on the 12th November must also send a loud and lucid message of solidarity both in words and actions with the oppressed Palestinian people.
