PEOPLE across the Islamic world as well as in just-minded societies are expressing their complete solidarity with Palestinians who are facing prospects of total annihilation at the hands of the Zionist aggressors. Protest demonstrations were held across Pakistan on Friday as well as in many other countries denouncing Israeli atrocities against defenseless people and calling upon the UN to act swiftly to save the lives and properties of 2.3 million people living in Gaza. From Jordan to Yemen, people poured onto the streets after Friday prayers while protests were reported from Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Venezuela, Japan, and Australia reflecting anger in public opinion. The protestors criticized the US and the European Union for their naked support of Tel Aviv and demanded that the Muslim countries should come together for the Palestinian cause.

It is, however, regrettable that contrary to the aspirations of the majority of the world community, neither the United Nations nor the OIC are showing urgency to stop the bloodshed of Palestinians, who are at greater risk after Israel announced it is poised to launch the ground offensive. Israel dropped thousands of leaflets in Gaza warning residents to leave their homes within 24 hours to save their lives and according to reports, thousands left the area on Friday while others have expressed their firm resolve not to leave their homeland. Israeli warning and preparations for a ground assault against a territory they bombed ceaselessly after October 07 guerrilla operations by Hamas fighters is an indication that Tel Aviv has plans to occupy more land as part of its greater Israel plan. There is also a viewpoint that Israel is planning to take control of Palestinian territory to use it as a bargaining chip for the release of the hostages taken by Hamas during its lightning operation against Israel. However, countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia view mass evacuation as a plan to dispossess Palestinians from their territory and that is why they are urging the residents of Gaza not to leave the area as it could spell the end of their cause. The United Nations described the immediate movement of some 1.1 million people — nearly half of the 2.4 million in the Gaza Strip — as “impossible”. It urgently appealed for the order to be rescinded. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Israel risked waging an “unacceptable” siege in Gaza comparable to the Nazi blockade of Leningrad during World War II, and called for mediation. Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit has denounced Israel’s evacuation order and called it a “forced transfer” that constitutes “a crime”. As thousands of Palestinians fled to southern Gaza in search of refuge, the Shia group Hezbollah in Lebanon said it was ready to join the Sunni group Hamas at the right time. Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas said it would be “tantamount to a second Nakba” or “catastrophe”. UNRWA, the UN’s Palestine refugee agency, warns Gaza is quickly becoming a “hell hole”. It is, however, unfortunate that some powerful countries are not listening to the voices of reason and are becoming a party to the conflict because of their illegal and immoral support to the Zionist State. The United States has deployed a carrier strike group led by the world’s largest warship, USS Gerald R Ford, which can operate for years without a refuel and aircraft onboard the carrier includes F-35 stealth fighter jets, radar-guided missiles, and laser-guided bombs, along with attack helicopters and tactical surveillance aircraft. This is obviously aimed at browbeating Iran and other countries that might be contemplating extending some sort of assistance to besieged Palestinians. And what a pity that countries like the United Kingdom, which consider themselves as champions of human rights, have announced to expel foreigners showing solidarity with Palestinians! All this makes it quite obvious why Israel is persisting with its occupation of Arab lands and committing war crimes against Palestinians in the presence of scores of UN resolutions. As against this, pro-Palestinian nations are just extending moral support and expressing hollow solidarity with the oppressed people, not to speak of providing arms and ammunition to Palestinians for defense, they have shown no muscles to ensure even direly needed humanitarian assistance to the besieged region. Are they waiting for the catastrophe?