By Ishaaq Muhammad Jaami’u
The Israel-Gaza conflict has remained protracted and complicated with deep historical, political and religious dimensions.
Historically, the region, Palestine – Israel has been inhabited by various cultures and empires: the ancient Israelites, Romans, Ottoman and British inclusive.
In 1948, the illegal State of Israel was established, leading to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. This incident is known as the Nakba (catastrophe).
The Gaza strip, a coastal region bordering Egypt and Israel, has been a focus of conflict since the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, during which the Israelis mercilessly dealt with the Arabs within just six days.
The Gaza strip is the home of around 2 million Palestinians, who are mostly descendants of refugees from the 1948 war.
Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza since 2007, when the Islamist group, Hamas took control of the territory. The blockade restricts the movement of people and goods, leading to high level of poverty, unemployment, and dart of humanitarian needs.
Israel has launched several military operations in Gaza, including, Operation Cast Lead, a three-week conflict that killed over 1,400 Palestinians and just 13 Israelis in 2008-2009, Operation Pillars of Defence, an eight-day conflict that killed over 150 Palestinians and just 6 Israelis in 2012, Operation Protective Edge,a 50 -day conflict that killed over 2,200 Palestinians and just 67 Israelis in 2014, and Operation Guardians of the Walls,an 11-day conflict that killed over 250 Palestinians and just 12 Israelis in 2021 inclusive.
The October 7, 2023, war in Gaza was precipitated by a devastating and a surprise attack on Israel by Hamas, resulting in about 1,400 deaths mostly Israeli citizens while over 4,000 were said to have been injured, making it the deadliest day for Israel since its establishment in 1948. The attack also led to the capture of over 240 hostages, including Israeli citizens and foreign nationals.
In response, Israel declared a state of war and launched air strikes on the Gaza Strip, and a ground invasion. The conflict has led to a severe humanitarian crisis, with over 41,000 citizens of Gaza killed and two-thirds of the buildings in the Gaza Strip demolished or destroyed by October 2024.
Over the past year, Israel has pounced on the Hamas leadership one by one, ranging from Mohammed Daif, the former head of the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, who was matyred in an air strike in Gaza,Saleh Al-Arouri, a founding commander of Al-Qassam Brigades, who was matyred in an explosion in Daniyeh,a southern suburb Beirut, which is a stronghold of Hezbollah, and Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas’ political wing last July while on visitation to Tehran, among others.
The raised-dust is far from getting settled after a year. The two sides are beating war drums, neither any side retreating nor surrendering. The actors and supporters of both sides are ready to sacrifice their valuables and utmost in defence of their own side.
Britain on Monday rejected Emmanuel Macron’s call for an arms embargo on Israel. Defence Secretary, John Healey, made clear that the UK was not going to join the stance from France amid the escalating Middle East conflict.
Asked whether Britain backed the French president’s move, Mr. Healey said: “No, we work a different system. We as a government don’t supply anything directly to Israel. But where there are export licences that have a clear risk that may breach international law, then we suspended those licences where they could affect lives in Gaza.”
The cabinet minister added on Sky News: “The most important thing for all of us today is that we redouble our efforts, the Middle East simply can’t afford another year like the last. We must redouble our efforts now to reduce the risk of wider war of an escalation.”
He explained further: “We must secure a ceasefire in Lebanon that allows the UN plan for a separation zone between the Israelis and Lebanese Hezbollah to be put in place, and a ceasefire in Gaza so we can get all of the hostages out, we can flood the area with aid, and we can start to see the sort of dialogue that could lead in the long term, to a long-term settlement and peace, a two-state solution so Palestinians do have their own state and Israeli can live also in peace and security “. What a double standard!
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu spoke via phone with Mr. Macron on Sunday, his office said, and told him that placing restrictions on Israel will just serve Iran and its proxies.
Recall that the French president said on Saturday that shipments of arms to Israel used in the war in Gaza should be stopped as part of a broader effort to find a political solution to the conflict.
“Just as Iran supports all parts of the Iranian terror axis, so are Israel’s friends expected support it, and not impose restrictions that will only strengthen the Iranian axis of evil,” Mr. Netanyahu told Mr. Macron, according to a statement from his office.
Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said a review conducted by the UK Government could not “arbitrate on whether or not Israel has breached international humanitarian law” in Gaza, but ministers have a legal duty to review export licences.
Mr. Lammy stressed that the criteria state the Government will not issue export licences if there is a “clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law.”
The suspension of around 30 arms export licences was from a total of approximately 350 to Israel.
On the anniversary of the October 7 attacks, resistance groups in Gaza fired missiles that directly struck TelAviv. It is a thing of joy that 365 days since the war began, resistance groups in Gaza are still capable of launching long range missiles.
In the same vein, Hezbollah launched rockets at Haifa, Israel’s third-largest city early Monday. This was in addition to the group’s firing of “Fadl 1” missiles at a military base south of Haifa, also targeting Tiberias, located 65 kilometers away. O Allaah! Strengthen Your soldiers, grant them succour and victory.
The Rich also cry. Zionist official numbers on the first anniversary of the war claimed that 728 soldiers lost their lives, 4,576 wounded and 696 in serious condition. Analysts claimed they surely forgot to add a zero at the end of each number.
Admittedly, the Chief of General Staff of the Zionist Army was reported to have said: “A full year has passed since October 7th, an operation in which we failed to fulfill our mission to defend our citizens”.
From Ghassan Alian, Maya Golan, Yitzhak Herzog, Yoav Gallant, Tally Gotliv, Ezra Yachin, Ariel Kallner, Daniel Hagari to Netanyahu himself, it has been roaring like lions.
Israel and his Western-nation-allies have been fighting tooth and nail to deal with Hamas and its supporters, free its men taken hostages, actualize its aim to dine and wine on Gaza oil, and entrench its hegemony and take control of Palestine and beyond.
On the other hand, Hezbollah of Lebanon, Houthis of Yemen, Our brothers in Iraq, Syria and Jordan, Hamas itself, among others, have queued behind Iran to leverage the multifaceted attacks and put a stop to Israeli aggressions once and for all. May Allaah make them triumphant.
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The pertinent question to ask and answer objectively, is where do you belong? Or where does everyone of us belong?
No one can afford to be neither with any of the two sides. You can’t sit on the fence. Anybody can say whatever he or she likes, but history shall not forget the fact that while no Muslim nation is proudly supporting the Hamas, Iran has decided to take the lead in the tackling-the-West struggle on behalf of the global Muslims.
Every Muslim should realize the fact that if Netanyahu succeds in defeating the resistance, may Allaah forbid, other Muslim countries are not safe.
It behooves you and I therefore, to always assist our resilient brothers in our silent and open prayers, spread the message, raise the consciousness of the sleeping Muslims, shun frivolities and be more dedicated to the reason for which you were created.
O Allaah, honour us with being the instruments of humiliation of Your enemies, and do not belittle or disgrace us in the process of defending Your cause.
‘Ishaaq Muhammad Jaami’u writes from Osogbo-Nigeria.
4th Rabiiuth-Thaani 1446(7th October 2024).
