RAHNUMA (HYDERABAD) In a recent statement to The Rahnuma-E-Deccan, Mr. Adnan Abu Alhaija, the Palestinian Ambassador to New Delhi, expressed his concern regarding the renewed conflict between Israel and Palestine triggered by Hamas’ engagement in terrorist attacks against Israel.
Ambassador Alhaija called for urgent United Nations intervention in the Israel-Palestine war, emphasizing the importance of the Security Council convening promptly. He urged Israel to respect previous U.N. resolutions and vacate the occupied Palestinian territory, highlighting that this struggle extends beyond the Palestinian people; it is a fight for humanity, justice, and the future world governed by law rather than brute force. He called upon the international community to stand with the oppressed people of Palestine.
Interestingly, the Palestinian Authority has not outright condemned and rejected the terrorist attacks by Hamas wherein civilians, not Israeli defense forces, were attacked, and that is being seen as problematic by many supporters in Hyderabad.
This seems to be the official initial reaction by the Palestinian Authority.
During an interview with CNN’s Cristiane Amanpour, the Palestinian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Husan Zomlot, only grudgingly condemned the terrorist attacks by Hamas against innocent civilians but ensured to make clear Amanpour also recognize the atrocities carried out by Israeli armed forces’ illegally against the occupied Palestinians.
Zomlot did however check-mate Amanpour when he reiterated the Palestinian Authority’s historic willingness to recognize the State of Israel, contingent on Israel’s compliance with international law.
Ambassador Zomlot noted that Israel’s consistent disregard for these principles is the root of the conflict, not the terrorist attacks Israel is subject to carried out by Hamas.
However, Ambassador Zomlot’s explanation overlooks a significant issue – the calls for the destruction of Israel, rather than the Two-State Solution endorsed by his government.
Many Hamas-supporting Palestinians, as well as militias like Hizbollah, the Houthis, and their sponsoring countries like Iran, advocate for the genocide of the Jewish people and the destruction of Israel.
This poses a major hindrance to the Palestinian Authority’s efforts, especially considering that 56% of Palestinians, according to polls, favor Hamas over Fatah, a significant failure on the part of the Palestinian Authority.
In the broader Arab world, as in Hyderabad, there is growing frustration with the recurrent conflicts in Palestine that seemingly overshadow the region’s potential for growth and innovation.
Many argue that the Arab world should no longer be held hostage to this ongoing land dispute.
Instead, they advocate for focusing on ensuring the safety of Haram Sharif Masjid Al Aqsa from extremist attacks within Israel. They propose that the Arab world, like the West, should continue their regular activities, avoiding knee-jerk reactions to these recurring conflicts.
Instead, they suggest maintaining pressure on the international community to compel Israel to abide by international law and protect the human rights of its occupied Palestinian population. Simultaneously, they urge the Palestinian Authority to rein in Hamas and work towards deradicalizing its population, preventing narratives that call for genocide and the destruction of Israel.
For lasting peace and normalization, Israel must undergo significant reforms and engage constructively with its neighbors. Israel needs to recognize that the world is aware of certain presumptions within Zionism that view others through a Pre-Adamism theology, and it must expedite its reform efforts.
Israel’s definition of Gentiles, non-Israelis, as subhuman has been an embarrassing and divisive issue for it, isolating the Jewish State from the international community, including Europe in the past, and its West Asian neighbors presently.
In conclusion, the Israel-Palestine conflict is deeply entrenched and multifaceted. To address this issue comprehensively, we must respect the sanctity of religious sites, acknowledge shared history, consider principles of inheritance, and uphold international law.
The international community must take swift action to remove barriers to justice and peace, ensuring that both Israelis and Arabs can coexist with dignity and security.
This is the path that the conflict should follow – one guided by principles of law and justice without racial exclusion.
