Every day, as you power up your TV, mobile, laptop, and other internet devices, the news pouring in from Gaza turns your stomach. The mutilated bodies beneath the rubble, the cries of injured children and elderly, grieving mothers, lifeless forms wrapped in makeshift coffins of aid blankets, and the overwhelmed hospitals—all paint a haunting picture of the agony inflicted by the Netanyahu-led atrocities on innocent Palestinians.
For decades, I remained indifferent to the Israel-Palestine
Conflict until my Masters (MSc) days at Quaid-I-Azam University in Islamabad.
In a course titled "Politics of the Middle East," I gained an
academically informed and realistic perspective on the conflict. While many
ordinary Pakistanis perceive Jews as enemies of Islam, this course revealed the
dissent within the Jewish community itself. Orthodox Jews opposed the creation
of Israel, protesting the Balfour Declaration in 1917, as they believed it
contradicted their scriptures, foreseeing Jews scattered worldwide until the
day of judgment.
It's crucial to distinguish between Zionism—a political
philosophy advocating a separate Jewish state—and Judaism. Many Muslims
worldwide struggle to differentiate between Zionists and Jews. Islam and
Judaism share similarities in teachings, history, and scriptures, and
historically, Muslim empires provided refuge to Jews escaping persecution.
The geopolitical stance of the UK and US in the Middle East,
driven by pragmatism for their interests, has often supported oppressive
regimes. This, in turn, suppressed democratic transitions, fostering dissent
that eventually erupted in events like the Arab Spring and protests in Tahrir
Square.
The atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7, 2023, were
undeniably horrific, particularly against non-combatants, women, children, and
the differently-abled. While these actions invite foreign intervention, it's
essential to recognize that many extremist movements result from the policies
of major global players.
The current conflict between Israel and Hamas shatters the
notion that the 21st century heralds an era of growth, peace, and progress. It
exposes the moral weakness of humanity, still grappling for common ground to
prevent war and misery. It challenges the narrative of American resolve for
democracy, human rights, and peace, revealing the influence of the
military-industrial complex. To move towards peace, a united global effort to
ban arms sales and support corporations profiting from war is imperative.
The war also dispels the myth of Muslims as a unified
"Ummah." Cultural bonds, rather than religious identity, prove
stronger in fostering cooperation and peace. The cries of bruised babies,
mourning mothers, and devastated families in Gaza demand the attention of the
world. How long can the civilized world justify this war, even in the face of
Hamas using hospitals as sanctuaries? While Israel's actions are oppressive,
expressing love, respect, and acceptance for Jews is essential. In a world
consumed by talk of war, there must be voices championing peace, no matter how
seemingly unrealistic in the contemporary world. As Lisa Fishman aptly put it,
'Mad world, mad kings, mad composition.'
Author: Zaheer Abbas Maseed, Chairperson @
HEELA
Institute for Research and Development Islamabad
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