ISRAEL’s barbarism and senseless slaughter, as being displayed in Gaza, will surprise even the wolves in the jungle. While it is the belief of all three monotheistic religions, including the Jews, in the commandment ‘Thou shalt not kill’, hatred and greed blind the Zionists and their supporters in the West who never miss an opportunity to lecture the world on human rights.

Hypocrisy at its worst is what we witness when the so-called leaders of the free world justify the barbaric bombardment of Palestinians by one of the most powerful armies in the Middle East under the guise of Israel’s right to self-defence in response to stones and obsolete rockets from the other side and that, too, after Israel initiated a string of provocative actions, including throwing out Palestinians from their homes.

The Israeli Defence Force’s much-boasted missile defence system, the Iron Dome, neutralises the rockets fired by helpless Palestinians, while the Arab countries seem unmoved by the enormity of the tragedy that afflicts over two million Palestinians living in one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

What could be more comical than the claim by Israel that Hamas uses humans as shields, to justify the bombing and collateral damage inflicted, resulting in the death of scores of Palestinian women and children and unarmed men?

The Zionists are the biggest threat to the safety of the world’s Jews. The extremist Zionists rejoicing the slaughter and suffering of Palestinians will only invite the wrath of the Almighty. If the ruthless extermination and ethnic cleansing in history did not succeed against the Jews themselves, similar efforts by the Zionists against the Palestinians will also not succeed. They will emerge as a more united and stronger people.

One only hopes that, unlike the Jews, who were persecuted against, but have chosen to be perpetrators themselves, this cycle of violence will cease and peace will prevail in the land where the holy sites of all three monotheistic faiths exist.

Malik Tariq Ali

Lahore

(2)

ISRAEL’s brutalities against the innocent Palestinians have continued with impunity unabated and unchecked. Regrettably, even the heart-wrenching cries of children and women being massacred beyond words have so far failed to jolt the conscience of the world.

Let it be known to all that Palestinian lives and rights do matter, and Israel has no right to snatch or deprive them of their inalienable right to live in peace and security with complete freedom.

Though the Muslim world is unified in the condemnation of Israel’s high-handedness and irrational use of force, the response is merely rhetorical so far. It is time for action, not words, to save our Muslim brothers and sisters in Palestine from further cruelty, inequality and discrimination in all forms and manifestations.

Unless the world realises the fact that injustice anywhere is a threat to peace everywhere, and acts accordingly, peace and equality will remain a distant dream for the mankind. Global unity is required to end all forms of suffering to let human beings live in peace.

When we can act together to end a pandemic, we can also be united against all forms of injustice, oppression and discrimination.

The Israeli prime minister must not be allowed to pursue his nefarious designs against the Palestinians by marginalising and demonising them. The saner element of the world must condemn the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements and force Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian lands.

US President Joe Biden has a role to play in resolving this longstanding issue. It is hoped that he will not disappoint the world, especially the Muslim community.

Khadim Hussain Subhpoto

Hyderabad

(3)

ALTHOUGH Muslims and their leaders have condemned the state terrorism by Israel in Gaza, there are no signs of a plan for joint action by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The leaders should not be afraid of standing against the mighty. They should not be terrorised by the fear of damage to their economies because of Western sanctions or embargoes. The Muslim nations can economically bolster each other if they unite against the threats of the West. We have to answer the Palestinian plea for help. They have suffered on their own for long, but this should not be allowed anymore.

Dr Zainab Riaz Hussain Waggan

Larkana

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2021