Global developments in Ukraine and Gaza are changing the course of international events. Un-declared “Third World War” is leading to paradigm-changed geo-strategic and geo-political trends.
One may recall that the retreat of the Soviet Union from Afghanistan on 15 Feb 1989 created a unipolar world allowing the first Iraq war in 1990. The world witnessed the 9/11 incident, in Sep 2001 and this catastrophe’ led to the UN-sponsored invasion of Afghanistan, censuring all agencies’ financial and economic support to Afghanistan. Another UN-sponsored invasion of Iraq was also approved in 2003 under the pretext of destroying “Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)”. The rise of the “Arab Spring” in Tunisia in 2010 and the change of regime in Libya followed the course. A series of these incidents imposed an undeclared terrorist’ label on Muslims on earth. One wonders why Muslim states only? It is confusing to define a terrorist today. Keeping all the elaborated explanations, can George Washington and Nelson Mandela be called a terrorist? Or Ireland, Scotland, Catalonia and Texas be imprinted terrorists’ states?
Brutalities in Gaza through carpet bombing are considered right to defend but Palestinians molested, displaced and killed over the last 75 years are appreciated and supported under the pretext of sponsoring terror groups. One may debate the action of Al-Qassam brigade on Oct 7, 2023, but the mass holocaust of Palestinians of Gaza and the West Bank is not the solution. Thinkers know, the Al-Qassam attack couldn’t be sustained beyond one day and their probable trap has halted acceptance of Israel in the Arab world. Nonetheless, the loss of 20000 civilians (70% are kids and women) wasn’t a dream by Hamas. Arabs need to convince the globe that the “Human blood is not to be spilt anywhere, especially the Arab blood”. Israeli response to Al-Qassam is escalating day by day and worldly sympathies are tilting towards Hamas now. Rhetoric “Hamas will be eliminated” is impracticable. Religious circles may recall Moses was saved by the Almighty despite the mass holocaust of Bani-Israel. In pursuance, Gazan mothers may flow in their newly borne at the Mediterranean Sea at the mercy of Allah.
A large number of Muslims and Christians were expelled from the Jewish-controlled areas of Mandatory Palestine during the 1948 Arab-Israel war. A small number also left during the period (1948–1967) to Jordanian control of the West Bank. To represent Palestinians’ cause, Al-Fateh was established in Kuwait in the late 1950s after the displacement and dispossession of more than 70,000 both Muslims and Christians. The secular nationalist organization was established by numerous people, the key founder was Yasser Arafat. Fatah’s objective initially was an armed struggle against Israel to liberate Palestine.
PLO was also formed on 2 Jun 1964 by Ahmed Shukeiri. In 1968 Al-Fateh became part of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) aiming to help Palestine attain statehood through armed resistance. George Habbash a Christian by birth and faith was another Palestinian politician and physician who founded the Marxist–Leninist organization named “Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) on 11 Dec, 1967. PFLP also joined PLO in 1968 for a joint struggle for the Palestinian cause. One must know, that the Palestinian cause may be attributed to a combined struggle both by Muslims and Christians. Laila Khalid the first lady hijacker was a non-Muslim, likewise, Hannan Ashravi (former spokesperson for PLO) is also a Christian by birth and faith. Today a half-truth is propagated by mentioning Amalqa’s destruction by Jews and comparing it with Gaza’s Palestinians. The fact is descendants of Moses refused to fight with Amalqas, till prophet Samuel appointed Jaluit as commander of the forces and David killed Goliath in the battlefield. Amalqas were a strong army with long heights and strong bodies. Nowhere, the thin and empty-handed Gazans can be compared to those Amalqas. In fact, reverse suits the order of battle. Let’s see when another David arrives on the scene.
In November 1974, the PLO was recognized as competent on all matters concerning Palestine by the UN General Assembly granting them an observer status as a “non-state entity”. After the 1988 Declaration of Independence, the UN General Assembly officially “acknowledged” the proclamation and decided to use the designation “Palestine” instead of “Palestine Liberation Organization” in the UN. In the 1990s, Fatah-led PLO officially announced they would renounce their armed resistance and later signed the “Oslo Accord” that established the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), or Palestinian Authority (PA), an interim self-governing body meant to lead to an independent Palestinian State. Currently, Fatah heads the PA, which governs the majority about 40% of the occupied West Bank. In 2006, it lost control of the Gaza Strip after losing to the political wing of the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the democratic elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC).
The displacement of both Christians and Muslims of Palestine has forced these dispersed identities to a struggle for an independent state within a two-state theory concept, accepted by UNO in 1993 under the Oslo Accord. Today this two-state confirmation appears a bygone story and expansionist designs are becoming more and more vivid. The fission effect may encroach Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Syria. One wonders if an immediate military block is formed against Russia for invading Ukraine, declaring Russia an aggressor: However, no voice is heard for attacking the hospitals, schools, churches and unarmed civilians in Gaza. Response to Israeli attacks on Gaza will lead to an unending brawl and aggression will pave the way for a global future. That may be Armageddon as per Jewish preachings and the arrival of Jesus as considered both by Muslims and Christians. Only time will prove, which preachings prevail.
Three out of five VETO powers at UNO have shown solidarity with Israel at this critical juncture of global politics. It is also evident, that none of the VETO powers perceive, Muslims’ ideology and point of view, which is a continuation of the message of Abrah (Alaehi-ssalam). The fact remains VETO powers are still following the same ideology formed and substantiated 75 years ago. These powers do not know,
“A Muslim cannot be a Muslim, till the time he believes in all the previous Prophets, Divine books, Angels and day of Judgment”.
Muslims recite prayers for the followers of Abraham (PBUH) five times a day. Hence the main religious groups i.e., Jews, Christians and Muslims are siblings of the same prophet Abraham. That’s’ why the accord between Israel and UAE, Bahrain and Morocco, was named the Abraham accord on 15 Sep 2020. The accord is projected as a breakthrough in the Arab world without a mention of Muslim viewpoints in the international media and at any forum inclusive of UNO. The World Organization passed immediate resolutions for the independence of East Timur from Muslim Indonesia in 1999, which was encouraged by the USA to be acceded by Indonesia in 1975. Darfur was promised independence from Muslim Sudan in 2011, but independence was not granted to various states of the UK, USA and France.
Till the time UNO grants the right of VETO to Muslims, all the discussed scenarios over the last 75 years will keep surfacing again and again. There may be a question as to who would represent the Muslims’ point of view at the UNO and get a VETO power. The answer can be the existing Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) or the head of the state where its session is being held. OIC is the second biggest organization in the world with 57 member states formed to safeguard Muslim interests in economic, social and political areas.
It may not be an easy proposition and Muslim countries have to join hands for a thorough debate.