As Israel turns its military incursion in Gaza to Rafah, pro-Palestinian groups politically focused worldwide need to distance themselves from Islamic organisations. They need to request that these religious bodies refrain from attending marches and commenting about Gaza or the broader Palestine question. There are different reasons for this.

 A minor one relates to the Western public perception of Islam and its relationship with Israel. Muslims living in Europe,the US, New Zealand, and other parts of the world are viewed as part of the irrespective countries and play an intrinsic role in local communities. Still,like it or not, amongst a majority of these non-Muslim populations in the West, there is a view that Arab Muslims in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA)  are more fanatical than followers of other religions, be they Jews, Christians, Hindus, et al.

Unfortunately for the Palestinians, Israel has used a sectarian divide as a tool to help garner support from the West. A Jewish state surrounded by Arab Muslim enemies with the sole aim of wiping it out has allowed Tel Aviv to portray itself as having no recourse but to defend itself in any way, shape or form. It now does this with impunity in the knowledge that although not everyone is comfortable with unfolding events the“Israel has the right to defend itself” mantra continues to prevail.

 Israel is somewhat equivalent to a school bully protected by a bigger, stronger ally who can step in when anyone retaliates. But, even the US appears fed up with Israeli antics.

When our TV screens show a young Palestinian man pulled from the rubble and a mother raising her arms to the heavens screaming: “Martyr,” it does not attract sympathy from viewers. They are immune. Martyr is the wrong word. Religion had nothing to do with the killing; it was his land that mattered. One more dead Palestinian should free up a little more land. Now, if the mother had looked into the camera recording the incident and screamed: “Murderers,” it would have instiled much more sympathy from the viewer.  

It is a harsh truth, but to emphasise this point, it was first and foremost a dead Palestinian that was pulled from the rubble and not a dead Muslim. His religion should not supersede his nationality.

Palestine’s history

Accusations that Israel is committing acts of genocide are wide of the mark. Israel is not explicitly seeking to wipe out the Palestinian people. It is about geography, not race. If it were Serbians, Chinese, Americans or any other nationality based in Gaza or the West Bank,they would be targeted for removal, too.

Given Israel and Palestine’s history, it has always been about politics, including before Israel’s establishment in1948. Fifteen years prior, Hitler’s Nazi regime signed an agreement with the Germany-based Zionist organisation, The Jewish Agency. The Haavara Transfer Agreement signed in 1933 saw a “transfer” agreement introduced that benefited both sides.

It allowed the Nazis a crucial means by which Germany could bypass the international trading boycott that was in place because of, ironically, its antisemitic policies. As part of the deal, The Jewish Agency transferred people and capital to what was then the British Mandate Palestine. Jewish immigrants would receive their rightful value of assets by being placed in an escrow account in Germany in exchange for exported German goods.

Around 50,000 Jews entered Palestine through this agreement, free from persecution.

Then, the Balfour Declaration was part of Britain’s support for establishing a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine. From the geographical layout at the time, it appears that Israel is actually in Palestine.

 Staying with Britain, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak finds himself in an awkward predicament today. One of his wife’s family’s companies, the Indian-headquartered IT firm, Infosys, signed a USD1.5 billion deal with BP last year. The oil major then won a gas exploration deal with the Israeli government covering the country’s coastal waters in the Mediterranean Sea. However, it is unclear if it is in Gazan waters upon establishing at two-state solution.

On and on it goes. It is a shambles, and throughout the historical colonial moves and countermoves, nobody thought to ask the people of Palestine what they wanted. They still have no input.      

It is up to the Palestinians to force the political issue. While we are fast approaching the introduction of a ceasefire,it will be for nought unless proper diplomatic talks are held.

 We live in a world where positive branding and public relations are crucial for any organisation or company to prosper.Palestinians need to think this way, and the first thing required is to distinguish the religious agenda—Palestinian first and Muslim second. In the eyes of the West, it appears to be the opposite.

Removing Islam from the equation completely twists Israel’s narrative that it is the only Jewish country in the world and needs to defend itself from Muslim terrorists. “We do not care if Israel is Jewish or any other religion. We can live as neighbours, but give us back our land first and stop stealing more,” should be the call.  

A two-state solution is possible but is unlikely as long as Muslim bodies attend marches and continually talk about Palestine at every opportunity.

Photo: A candle for peace burns in Gaza (Adobe)