Pakistan’s unwavering support for Gaza, though the road ahead is long
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Pakistani support for Palestinian rights is nearly as old as its own creation and the establishment of Israel in 1948. Its founding father, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, stated unequivocally that a Jewish state should not be established in Palestine bypassing the national rights of the Palestinian people. That unqualified support continues to this day, as made clear by Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, while he addressed the Security Council last week. This latest round of hostilities is a clarion call to the world that the Middle East stands on the edge of a precipice.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani has described the Israeli bombing of Gaza, killing over 7,000 innocent civilians, as a genocide. What is most appalling is that almost half of the casualties are children. Western countries, led by the US, are taking shelter behind the narrative that Hamas asked for this destruction by provoking Israel on October 7. The argument is flimsy on two counts. First, a people under occupation have the right to resist under international law and secondly, the people of Gaza and Hamas cannot be treated as one.
The world has witnessed overflowing sympathy for the Palestinians. In the Muslim world, enormous rallies were held in Karachi, Baghdad, and Beirut. But pro-Palestinian demonstrations were even bigger in London, Rome and New York. The Palestinian problem has two dimensions to it; for Muslims, the occupation of Jerusalem (Al Quds) is painful and for others the continued denial of Palestinian rights, UN resolutions and Oslo Accords notwithstanding, is appalling. In a recent vote at the General Assembly on the Jordanian resolution,120 member states firmly stand behind the Palestinian people while only 14 sided with Israel.
It is essential that Saudi Arabia lead the charge and collaborate and consult with countries in the region, like Pakistan, in the larger interest of the Muslim world and the Palestinian people.
Javed Hafeez
Starting from the UN Resolution 242 of 1967 until the one mentioned above, Pakistan has been a staunch supporter of a two-state solution. But the legitimate national rights of Palestinians were sacrificed at the alter of geo-politics and under the disproportionate influence that the Israeli lobby wields in the United States.
Appalled by the atrocities wreaked on the innocent people of Gaza, most of whom have no association with Hamas, Pakistan was one of the first countries to send humanitarian assistance via Egypt. Islamabad also participated actively in the ministerial session of the Organization of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) that has called for an immediate end to the attacks on Gaza. Pakistan’s foreign minister has been in touch with his counterparts in Tehran, Abu Dhabi, Ankara and Cairo discussing ways and means to de-escalate the current dangerous situation.
Though Pakistan has always been known for its popular support of just international causes, this time major political parties have not taken out rallies in support of the people of Gaza-- politically distracted as they are by their own election rallying. This is a failure of Pakistan’s mainstream politics. The demonstration in Karachi was organized by a right-wing party which also called an All Parties Conference in Islamabad, to discuss ways and means of urgent help to the people of Gaza under complete Israeli blockade and relentless bombing.
In Jeddah, the OIC ministerial meeting called by Saudi Arabia declared the Islamic world stood solidly behind the Palestinians. Saudi Arabia, according to credible media reports, has sent a clear message to the US that an Israeli ground incursion into Gaza would be catastrophic.
Unfortunately, geopolitics is not guided by moral principles. In the given scenario, it is essential that Saudi Arabia lead the charge and collaborate and consult with countries in the region, like Pakistan, in the larger interest of the Muslim world and the Palestinian people. Time is running out, and much more needs to be done.
- Javed Hafeez is a former Pakistani diplomat with much experience of the Middle East. He writes weekly columns in Pakistani and Gulf newspapers and appears regularly on satellite TV channels as a defense and political analyst.
Twitter: @JavedHafiz8
