For more than a month, Israel has been wreaking havoc on Gaza, which is still ongoing. Already (November 13, 2023) 11,000 Palestinians—about half of them children—have been martyred. So far, the leaders of Arab and other Muslim countries have finally had the opportunity to sit together on this issue.

The first meeting of these leaders on the Gaza crisis and ongoing issues was held in Saudi Arabia on November 12. However, as always, their meeting was stereotyped. Their speeches were merely formalities, devoid of any social responsibility. They could do nothing more than issue a joint statement, a message of condemnation, and some demands.

Such inaction on their part is fueling Israel's terrorist activities. After saying a couple of words expressing sympathy for the Palestinians, the Muslim leaders left them at the mercy of Israel. Meanwhile, they have conveyed the message to the victims of Gaza that, they should not expect anything from them. On the other hand, they have sent another message to America, Britain, and other European countries that they will not let them down and they will remain silent despite all the tortures of the oppressor Israel. In fact, the leaders of the Muslim world have ensured the oppressor Israel and its terrorist supporters America, Britain, and Europe that, we cannot displease you. So our all actions will be limited to lip service only.

In reality, we will neither sever ties with Israel nor stop doing business with them. We will continue to supply them with oil and gas. Israeli products will still be delivered to Muslim countries and we will not boycott them. The only thing the Palestinians will get from us is lip service. We will neither prepare an army nor send any weapons to defend them.

For the past one month, all the rulers of Muslim countries have remained silent regarding the barbaric attacks by Israelis on Palestinians.  Muslims worldwide have been cursing them for their inaction. After this prolonged period, they finally convened, raising hopes that perhaps they would take action this time. Unfortunately, they did nothing, ultimately disappointing 200 million Muslims all over the world.

If they desired, they could have demanded an end to the destruction. They could have proposed an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and negotiated a settlement to permanently halt Israeli aggression. Additionally, they had the option to open a channel for sending services and aid to the victims in Gaza or demand an arms embargo on Zionist groups. At the very least, they could have rejected Israel's deceptive campaign under the guise of self-defense.

Moreover, if they wanted, they could have arranged a political solution for Gaza and the West Bank. They could have brought a proposal that the UN Security Council must pass a final law to stop Israeli aggression.

The leaders participating in the conference rejected the legality of the Israeli attack on Gaza, based on international law. They asserted that Israel has no right to attack Palestinians. However, these statements seem to be mere lip service, as they were unable to decide on any further practical actions.

It has been reported that, in the proposed resolution of the conference, some countries demanded to stop oil supply to Israel and its allies as well as to impose a ban on the airspace by Arab states so that the US cannot supply weapons to Israel. However, some of the participant countries vetoed it, so the resolution could not pass.

Hamas called on Arab and Muslim leaders to sever all diplomatic ties with Israel, establish a legal committee to prosecute Israelis for war crimes, and raise a financial fund to rebuild Gaza. But those so-called Muslim and Arab leaders didn't keep a single request of Hamas.

If I tell the truth, I have no option other than to say that the leaders of the Arab and Muslim world have supported Israel instead of supporting Gaza and Palestine. They have strengthened the oppressors' hands. They did not do what they were supposed to do. They have shamed and humiliated the Muslim Ummah. Their action has disappointed the Muslims all over the world.

They have betrayed the children of Gaza, strengthening relations with the occupier Israel and its supporting countries. If that was their intention, it would have been better if they had stayed at home. What was the need to incur the curse of the entire world? Their suffering does not end here; instead, through this, their hereafter is also ruined!

[Daily Jang, November 13, 2023.]

Translation: MD. Arif Billah