Al-Aqsa tragedy: Deceptive and cowardly by Senator A. Rehman Malik

 


Unfortunately, the dreadful cries of Palestinian women and children are going unheard by the heads of Muslim countries and the relevant forums. The voiceless, helpless, and oppressed Palestinians and Kashmiris both are being massacred and the world remains a silent spectator with a dead conscience. The Muslim world is hesitant to get its act together to give some befitting and result-oriented response to Israel, while non-Muslim associates of Israel including the US have openly extended full support to Israel undertaking to protect it.

The poor and unarmed Palestinians are termed to be a security threat to mighty Israel whereas Israel is using highly modern weaponry; how can the poor children and unarmed Palestinians be a security threat while Israel has invaded their territory and assaulted their dignity and honour?

Last week alone, more than 60 children were killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza, yet the world, including the United States, is supporting this worst atrocity.

A ten-year-old Khalid while crying told a reporter, “Every time there’s an airstrike we become scared. Every time we try to go out when we get to the front door, there’s another airstrike and we run back inside as fast as we can. Every time I put my head on the pillow, there’s another airstrike.”

Health authorities have confirmed that so far, the Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 220 Palestinians including 63 children and 36 women, with 1,530 people wounded. Reportedly on the other side, so far 12 people were killed in Israel with no casualty of the minor. The number of casualties on both sides shows as to who is involved in aggression and cruelty against the humanity. I do not even like the killing of the other side as no killing of a human can be justified in any religion. The question is; what is the solution to halt this ongoing war, why has the UN not acted to a ceasefire?

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan called Israel a “terror state” and claimed that Ankara had launched initiatives to mobilise international institutions. Speaking at an event in Istanbul, Erdogan called on all Muslim countries and the international community to take “effective” steps against Israel. The question arises my dear President, what measures will you announce to de-recognise Israel and will you block your export of billions of dollars to Israel? Announcing the measures and acting in reality is altogether different. Mr President, here the question arises; why has Turkey not announced to stop the export of billions of dollars to give a strong setback to Israel? Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has urged all nations to condemn Israel’s “brutal and cruel crime” against Palestinians in the wake of the latest Mideast escalation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that the current escalation between Israel and Palestine poses a direct threat to Russia’s security. Russian Foreign Minister said that this development of events is received with deep concern in Moscow and “we strongly condemn attacks against civilians, we call on all parties to refrain from any steps fraught with the escalation of violence.”

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called on the UN Security Council to seek an early de-escalation of violence between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers. He also blamed the US for the council’s lack of action so far. “Regrettably, the council has so far failed to reach an agreement, with the United States standing on the opposite side of international justice.”

“We condemn the Israeli takeover of Palestinian homes in Jerusalem,” Prince Faisal said in his opening speech during the emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). He said “East Jerusalem is Palestinian land that we do not accept harm to. The international community must intervene urgently to put an end to Israeli practices.” The OIC statement came after a virtual meeting in which Saudi Arabia condemned the violation of the sanctity of Muslim holy sites and evictions of Palestinians from their homes in East Jerusalem. There have only been statements condemning Israel’s aggression but no practical move.

The analysis of the above statements shows not more than lip service to the Palestinians and they have come under false hopes wherein there have been no collective solid moves to halt Israel to stop genocide. Why are the Muslim leaders not daring to take aggressive steps? Neighbouring countries like Jordan, Egypt, and others are not even closing their borders with Israel. Why Turkey has has not yet denounced the recognition of Israel as Turkey was the first Muslim-majority country to recognise Israel in 1949.

Let there be the following resolution by OIC: “OIC is hereby resolute that Israel is warned to halt the killing of innocent Palestinians with immediate effect, otherwise OIC will be forced to move the force under the OIC charter and member Muslims will be asked for their troops to place at the disposal of the OIC, enabling it to bring peace and stop the mass killings.”

The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide approved and proposed for signature and ratification or accession by General Assembly resolution 260 A (III) of 9 December 1948 that came into force on 12 January 1951, in accordance with article XIII. The Contracting Parties, having considered the declaration made by the General Assembly of the United Nations in its resolution 96 (I) dated 11 December 1946 that genocide is a crime under international law, contrary to the spirit and aims of the United Nations and condemned by the civilised world, recognising that at all periods of history genocide has inflicted great losses on humanity, and being convinced that, in order to liberate mankind from such an odious scourge, international co-operation is required.

Article 2 of the Convention defines genocide as “any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such:

Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;

The above crimes against oppressed Palestinians are continued by Israel and liable to be punished under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of genocide. Is Israel not guilty of genocide like India in Kashmir?

Pakistan calls for deployment of international protection force in Palestine: FM Qureshi

But, sadly as earlier, since 1972, the US has vetoed more than 40 UNSC resolutions critical to Israel and this time again the US twice blocked resolutions over the last week that would have condemned Israel’s atrocities and the genocide of Palestinians and called for a ceasefire.

The women and children under aggression are asking Almighty Allah that is Israel mightier than UN and the world as a whole. If the Muslim world has failed to halt the killings, then at least they should make a peace effort with the help of the international community. A peace delegation should visit Masjid Al-Aqsa and Gaza with the following mandate and proposal to Israel and Hamas:

To halt the inter-fight forthwith; no more land grabbing by Israel; working out a corridor allowing the stakeholders to perform their religious duties; A Kartarpur type corridor should be built around the Masjid Al-Aqsa with separate entrances duly agreed by the stakeholders; no arms of any kind will be allowed in Masjid Al-Aqsa; and UN peacekeepers will provide security for the mosque till special security by actual stakeholders in place.

In addition, some respectable and international dignitaries of repute may be added. Let it be done as soon as possible to give relief to both sides and to end the miseries of victims. This delegation shall visit under the ownership of the UN via official notification.


The Article was published in The Nation on May 21, 2021 with link.. https://nation.com.pk/21-May-2021/al-aqsa-tragedy-deceptive-and-cowardly

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