This week, the occupying state of Israel remotely detonated and blew up hundreds of pagers in Lebanon, supposedly to target Hezbollah members. But the attacks indiscriminately killed nearly a dozen of people, and injured thousands more, including civilians at home, in grocery stores, in their cars, and everywhere in between – an act of terrorism by any standard.
A day later, more deadly explosions rocked Beirut and other cities in Lebanon. The complicity and silence of Western nations regarding the attacks on Lebanon, alongside the yearlong genocide in Gaza, make clear that the fight for Palestinian liberation is not just about Palestine.
Rather, it is emblematic of a larger struggle for Arab and Muslim independence from Western imperialism. Today, more than ever, unity across Arab and Muslim nations is crucial in confronting the forces that seek to divide and dominate the Middle East.
Historically, the Arab world has been fragmented by colonial powers, weakened through economic and political interventions, and manipulated by promises of security and technological aid from the West.
Divide and conquer
The United States and its allies have long utilised the strategy of divide and conquer to pit Arab states against each other, creating a fractured region unable to mount a cohesive resistance. Now, as the violence in Gaza continues, this fragmentation remains a significant obstacle to liberation. The pursuit of Palestinian independence is a fight not just for Palestine, but for the sovereignty and dignity of the entire Arab and Muslim world.
Many people already understand this. Since October, millions across the Muslim and Arab world have been protesting against Israel’s atrocities and demanding that their governments do more to stop the war on Gaza.
To say that Palestine would be much further along in our liberation struggle if Arab and Muslim nations committed to unifying for its cause, is an understatement.
The failure of major Arab states to take a firm stand against Israel’s aggression is glaring. Arab nations with enormous economic power and international influence have remained largely ineffective as Israel continues its relentless genocide.
Many have been drawn into negotiations that could lead to the normalization of relations with Israel, often placing Palestinian sovereignty as a secondary concern. Critics say the US has enticed some Gulf states with promises of advanced fighter jets, nuclear technology and defence pacts in exchange for turning a blind eye to Palestine’s plight.
These normalisation efforts are seen not only as a betrayal of the Palestinian people, but also as a serious miscalculation of the wider geopolitical implications for the region.
For true liberation to take place, the Arab world must reject these divisive tactics and instead champion a unified, collective front.
The Bahrain Declaration, which called in May for an international conference under the United Nations to resolve the Palestinian issue, shows that Arab unity is possible. While diplomatic efforts like these are necessary, they must be backed by a commitment from Arab nations to resist Western economic incentives that compromise regional sovereignty. (TRT WORLD)
By allowing themselves to be swayed by such incentives, these states betray not only Palestine but the broader Arab world’s struggle for independence.
Uniting around a common goal
The Arab and Muslim world must now rally together in ways that transcend sectarian lines, outdated political divisions, and external pressures.
Collectively, Arab and Muslim countries from North Africa to the Gulf to Southeast Asia hold strong economic ties and treaties with Western nations, and this influence should be leveraged to ensure that Israel cannot commit their crimes with impunity. (TRT WORLD)
