-Sombir Kaushik
At present, the world is witnessing two major conflicts – the Russia-Ukraine War and the Israel-Hamas War. While the former has divided the world into two parts, the latter has resulted in a divergence of opinions among Muslim nations. There is no apparent unity among Islamic countries during this war, with no consensus on any particular point.
The recent summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has clarified a crucial aspect. Despite all the diplomatic claims, no major Arab nation stands in solidarity with the Palestinians. Algeria proposed measures within the OIC to impose sanctions on all political and economic relations with Israel, close Arab airspace to Israeli flights, and create pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza.
However, consensus was not achieved on this proposal, and the countries opposing it might surprise you. These are not insignificant nations; they either share a border with Israel or are major Islamic nations, and their economic ties remain intact. Countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, influential players in the Arab world, rejected the proposal. Jordan, with a significant Palestinian population, strongly criticizes Israel.
Egypt, a large Arab nation greatly affected by events in Gaza, and Sudan, previously accused of harboring Al-Qaeda with Bahrain, Morocco, etc., also opposed the proposal. Even non-Arab Muslim nations like Turkey and Indonesia refrained from taking a stand.
This opposition reveals that the Israel-Hamas conflict has completely divided the Islamic world into distinct ideological perspectives. It raises questions about whether this opposition to Israel or support for the Palestinians is merely symbolic for Islamic nations and if India stands to benefit from this ideological division.
India plays a crucial role in mediating between Israel and Middle Eastern nations, along with maintaining economic and diplomatic ties with Islamic countries. While the Gaza tragedy garners serious attention from Muslim nations, primarily Shia, such as the Houthi rebels in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iran, other Sunni nations seem to prioritize their own national interests over overt support for the Palestinians.
In conclusion, the varying stances adopted by nations reveal that support for Palestine might be more driven by self-interest than genuine unity for Islamic causes.
