Israel has turned Gaza into a heap of rubble with its relentless bombing for 39 days. Despite the thousands of innocent Palestinian lives lost and the heinous acts of Israeli aggression, it is disheartening that the international community, despite protests worldwide, has failed to bring Israel to account for its atrocities.
The injustices committed by Israel are not new, nor are they hidden from anyone. However, the silence of the international community continues to encourage Israel, despite the bloodshed of thousands of innocent lives and the strong protests of millions of people.
Israel did not reach this point suddenly; it has a history of 100 years of its oppression. It is noteworthy that for the first time, Jewish people residing in other countries are standing shoulder to shoulder against Israel’s atrocities. Still, the Zionist state remains unyielding in its oppression of Palestinians.
When the foundation of Zionism was laid in 1897, the Zionist lobby strategically spread its influence globally, impacting the world’s economy, media, and political institutions. Those aspiring to participate in elections in the United States are often required to sign an undertaking supporting Israel in exchange for financial support, ensuring they work against any successful campaigns opposing Israel’s perpetual hostility.
The streets of Gaza are filled with the debris of buildings that once stood tall, echoing with the cries of silent women and innocent children. People from Muslim and non-Muslim nations alike have joined in solidarity against the injustices, demonstrating a unified front against Israel’s inhumane actions.
In many influential countries, including Britain, people are well aware that humanity is being trampled in Israel, violating human rights worldwide. The current wave of protests in the West suggests that public pressure may sway those in power. A similar example is seen in the 2011 global protests.
During the rise of tensions in Iraq, people took to the streets, and today, thousands continue to protest for the rights of Palestinians. Those supporting Israel’s aggression in the upcoming American elections may face challenging circumstances.
The Security Council Resolution 242 clearly states that Israel should end its unlawful occupation of Palestine, but since 1967, there has been no practical implementation of this resolution. Israel has not acted on the peace formula provided, and despite the roadmap provided by the Security Council for this project, Israel has not taken any action.
Surprisingly, despite sitting in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the United Nations, 57 Islamic countries have only expressed condemnation, even though international law empowers the OIC to take practical steps.
The shocking reality is that while OIC countries alternate between UN sessions and pursuing prosecutors in international courts, they have not taken any concrete action. This is partly because the leaders of most Islamic countries are closely tied to the West, limiting the OIC’s platform from playing its actual role.
Turkey, Iran, Lebanon, and other countries have boycotted Israel, but the OIC, despite this, has not made a clear decision. In 2019, when Israel was transferring its capital to Jerusalem, similar decisions were made in OIC meetings, but no practical steps were taken. The OIC meeting on November 11 did not mention any practical actions in various resolutions.
Despite the loss of more than 11,000 human lives in Gaza, the Islamic Cooperation Organization has been limited to mere sitting, talking, and issuing statements. It has not taken any concrete actions, as the poet says:
سر منبر وہ خوابوں کے محل تعمیر کرتے ہیں
علاج غم نہیں کرتے ،فقط تقریر کرتے ہیں
Under Article 8 of the United Nations Charter, the OIC and the Islamic Cooperation Organization have the authority to pass resolutions themselves and call for the trial of Israel’s war crimes in the International Criminal Court. However, this has not happened. Instead, they have appealed to the heads of Islamic countries to request action from the United Nations.
If any of the 57 OIC countries wanted, they could have gone to court with evidence of Israel’s war crimes, but this field has not been explored. Article 1 of the OIC Charter states that members will help Palestinians, give them rights, and act under the Security Council’s resolution. Still, no action has been taken in this regard.
Due to the Islamic countries’ neglect, Israel is pushing all laws aside like a rogue elephant, and the intensity of Hezbollah’s attacks has not been as severe. On the one hand, Israel-friendly countries have maritime agreements with Hezbollah, and on the other hand, Israel has deployed tank convoys against Hezbollah.
The situation suggests that Israel, which began the Greater Israel project in 1897, is gradually moving forward with its condemned intentions, and there seems to be no shortage of oppression from its stories of tyranny and oppression.
It is heartening that this time, Jews are also standing against the Zionist government of Israel, urging them not to commit murder and looting in their name. However, it is essential for oil-rich Islamic countries’ leaders to show a little courage and step into the field to take practical action on the OIC Charter. If they do, the people of the world who sympathize with their pain can stand beside them, else according to Iqbal,
تمہاری داستاں تک بھی نہ ہوگی داستانوں میں
