Standing by Palestinians

The Palestinians are enduring brutalities at the hands of Israeli forces, resulting in the loss of countless lives. The recent launching of missiles on Gaza has destroyed the area. A hospital has been flattened killing nearly 500 people including children, women and elderly people. It is heart-wrenching. Despite the bloodshed, Western countries such as the UK, France, Germany and the US seem to endorse these brutalities being committed against the Palestinians in Gaza . It raises the question of whether they would show sympathy for Israel if faced with a similar situation. The US has already declared unwavering support for Israel, terming its tyrannical practices as 'self-defence' and also vetoed against Palestine in the UN Security Council.

Many Muslim countries have spoken out against Israel. Bangladesh has recently observed a day of state mourning for the Palestinians killed in recent Israeli attacks, making it one of a few countries in the world to do so. However, a concrete plan to liberate the Palestinians from the shackles of the Israeli regime is still elusive. It is a high time for the Muslim states to stand in solidarity with Palestine, extending a helping hand to their brothers suffering under miserable circumstances. Organisations like the OIC can play a pivotal role in uniting Muslims for a collective response against Israel.

Sirazi Shahjahan,

Malibagh, Dhaka,

mshaju001@gmail.com