The moral betrayal of Gaza

As airstrikes ravage Gaza, destroying homes and killing civilians, the Muslim world’s silence is distressing. While politicians voice rhetorical anger, actual action is lacking, leaving Palestinians to face a relentless military onslaught alone. This disparity between words and behaviour contradicts the ideas that are supposed to unify us.

The cognitive dissonance that has come to characterise Muslim-majority countries’ reactions to Israel’s prolonged assault on Gaza is startling. On the one hand, nations throughout the Muslim world have publicly condemned Israel’s conduct, offering professions of support for the Palestinian cause. On the other hand, these states continue to conduct diplomatic and commercial relations with Israel. This inconsistency reveals a deeper disease at the heart of our political institutions — one in which self-interest trumps humanity.

How can nations claiming to support Islam and justice criticise Israeli brutality while normalising relations with the same state? This discrepancy is morally wrong and politically irresponsible. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, among others, have grown closer to Israel in recent years, despite Israel’s continuous occupation of Palestinian areas. For these regimes, practical politics has surpassed meaningful action to challenge Israel’s military might or assist Gazans.

This leadership failure is not only a betrayal of the Palestinian struggle; it is also a rejection of Islam’s core ideals of justice and human dignity. Governments that claim to promote these ideals must be consistent in their foreign policy, not just when it benefits their geopolitical interests.

Western powers frequently identify groups like Hamas and Hezbollah as “terrorists” in global narratives, and many Muslim-majority countries accept this name without question. Rather than confronting such depictions, these leaders prioritise political expediency and distance themselves from organisations that oppose Israeli occupation.

While contentious, Hamas is a prominent actor in the resistance against Israeli occupation, yet its methods and role remain highly disputed. Rather than confronting these realities, Muslim leaders have mostly chosen denunciation, agreeing with labels that free Israel of responsibility.

The relationship between Muslim-majority countries and Israel is frequently motivated by self-interest and the desire of economic or strategic ties. For example, the UAE’s decision to normalise relations with Israel in 2020 was driven mostly by shared concerns over Iran’s regional influence. Saudi Arabia, too, is rumoured to be moving towards similar normalisation. However, while these partnerships may benefit short-term political and economic interests, they have a heavy moral cost.

Muslim governments must question themselves: at what cost are these relationships made? Is it worth risking Palestinian lives for economic deals, defence accords or regional power plays? The lack of genuine pressure on Israel, or even the refusal to cut connections with the state, demonstrates a troubling prioritisation of political expediency over the lives of those living under occupation.

Former Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser and former Pakistani President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto exemplified pan-Islamic sympathy with Palestine some decades ago. These leaders took strong positions against Israel, often at significant political cost. Today, such leadership has evaporated, replaced by governments more concerned with appeasing Western powers and protecting the status quo than with taking significant steps to alleviate Palestinian suffering.

The absence of leadership in the Muslim world is more than a political failure; it is also a moral failure. When Muslim leaders act in self-interest, disregarding the millions of suffering Palestinians, they violate the very ideals that should define their leadership. Declaring denunciation is insufficient; real action is required.

In the absence of strong government leadership, ordinary Muslims must stand up. People who stand in solidarity with Palestine must put their words into action. This necessitates campaigning within families and communities, as well as sustained pressure on governments to implement policies that are consistent with the ideals of justice, dignity and humanity. It entails persuading governments to halt their role in Israeli apartheid and to provide meaningful support to the Palestinian people, rather than merely hollow promises.

Beyond political activism, there are several avenues to provide actual aid to the Palestinian people, including humanitarian organisations and grassroots groups. The global Muslim community must mobilise, not simply in solidarity, but also in action. We must hold our leaders accountable for their inaction while simultaneously acknowledging that we have the ability to make a change.

Palestinians face not only Israeli aggression but also the indifference of Muslim-majority countries. The hush must stop. Leaders and grassroots activists must work together to pressure governments to end their complicity and stand firm for justice. Gaza’s survival, as well as the moral integrity of our global community, is at stake. Cognitive dissonance must be resolved.

The Muslim world must make a choice: will it continue to sell its soul for political gain, or will it stand firm in defence of justice, humanity and the ideals that Islam so dearly cherishes?

Now is the time to speak up and act. Gaza’s survival is dependent on the courage of Muslims worldwide to stand up and demand a better, more just world.

[Syed Salman Mehdi is an IT specialist and political analyst who studies international relations, geopolitics and social justice. He has written extensively on global issues, particularly those impacting Muslim-majority countries.]