GAZA, (PIC)
More than a year after Israel began its campaign of genocide against the innocent residents of Gaza, the world seems to have grown desensitized to the sight of massacres. Protests that once filled the streets in solidarity with Palestine and against Israeli aggression have dwindled into silence over the past year.
The Arab response has been no better. Arab nations, particularly their governments, appear impotent in the face of Israeli arrogance. Some Arab populations, too, have shifted to the sidelines, leaving Gaza’s people and resistance fighters to face their fate alone on the battlefield.
Helplessness or complicity?
Journalist and researcher Hesham Jaafar, in an article, attributed Arab inaction on Gaza’s genocide to a fractured and disoriented official Arab stance. He explained that some Arab regimes not only failed in their duty to support the Palestinians but actively provided material and moral support to the Israeli regime—sometimes overtly.
Jaafar argued that these regimes prioritized narrow national and economic interests over shared values, justifying this under the guise of pragmatism, thereby disregarding the aspirations of their people.
Despite this, Jaafar pointed out a stark contrast between the actions of Arab governments—limited to verbal statements and modest aid—and the general solidarity of Arab populations with the Palestinians.
However, he noted a parallel inability of Arab citizens to provide meaningful support for Palestine, attributing this to their governments, which suppress public expression of solidarity. Economic and political pressures also compel many Arabs to focus on their immediate needs, leaving less room for activism, especially amid internal conflicts and wars that divert attention from the Palestinian cause.
Partners in genocide
While global silence continues over the genocide of Gaza’s innocent, some countries have gone beyond passive observation to actively supporting Israeli aggression. Chief among these is the United Kingdom, which journalist Matt Kennard described as the third partner in the assault after Israel and its primary backer, the United States.
Kennard highlighted evidence of Britain’s involvement, such as military flights from the UK to Cyprus early in the conflict. These flights carried heavy weaponry and intelligence equipment, with missions over Gaza lasting up to six hours daily to gather intelligence shared with Israel.
Reports, including a leak published by The New York Times last summer, revealed that Britain sent a spy team to assist Israel in its war on Gaza.
Palestinian political analyst Farhan Alqam attributed global inaction to complicity, stating, “The world is not merely silent; it is a partner in these crimes, providing Israel with financial, military, and political support while silencing Palestinian narratives.” Alqam criticized the U.S., Europe, Australia, and Canada for sustaining Israeli aggression.
Calls to break the silence
The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor issued a statement warning of the catastrophic Israeli campaign in northern Gaza, accusing Israel of seeking to empty the area despite its official denials. The statement cited leaflets dropped by the Israeli military urging evacuation from shelters in Jabalia and Beit Hanoun to the south.
The Monitor condemned international inaction, stressing that “the entire population of northern Gaza is on the brink of death from disease, hunger, and violence,” with conditions resembling apocalyptic horror, as described by top UN officials.
It called on the International Criminal Court to take responsibility by moving from silence to action, issuing arrest warrants, and holding Israel accountable for its crimes, all of which fall within the court’s jurisdiction.
The Monitor urged the UN and the global community to intervene immediately to save hundreds of thousands of northern Gaza residents, halt the ongoing genocide, impose a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel, and ensure accountability for its crimes.
Meanwhile, Hamas Movement called on the international community, the UN, and Arab and Islamic governments to break their silence and helplessness in the face of Israel’s crimes against Gaza’s people.
In a statement, Hamas urged swift global action to stop the ongoing massacres, including a recent atrocity in Beit Lahia that claimed 72 lives and injured dozens.
Hamas emphasized that “the continuation of brutal massacres, genocidal wars, and starvation campaigns aimed at displacing our people and eliminating our national cause will not achieve their goals or break our people’s will.”
