The case for military intervention in Gaza
The so-called Israel Defense Forces is behind this ongoing genocide, but who makes up the real Zionist Defence Force?
https://www.islam21c.com/opinion/case-for-gaza-palestine-military-intervention/
BY ABDUL WAHID13 HIJ 45 ◦︎ 19 JUN 24
This week, we witnessed an escalation of atrocities as Rafah yet again came under intense shelling in a “safe haven”. [1]
Contents
Double standards so clear, they hardly need mentionRegimes in the Muslim world are helping ZionistsWho makes up the real Zionist Defence Force?This is why military intervention is necessaryHelping and rescuing peoplePeople in Gaza are asking for military supportThe only geopolitical solution to this situation
The images of death and traumatic dislocation continue to disturb anyone with a caring heart. At the same time, the images of how much occupying troops relished their impending assault reflect the genocidal rhetoric of their leaders. And it also reflects their genocidal actions over the past seven months.
Double standards so clear, they hardly need mention
The international double standard is so stark, it’s almost too obvious to talk about.
As well the as military aid and political cover from the US, UK, and EU for the “plausible genocide” in Palestine, there is a blind eye turned to British-“Israelis” travelling to participate in that slaughter.
In any other theatre of conflict where a civilian population was being slaughtered by a belligerent occupying power, it would be a no-brainer to argue that there needed to be economic and trade sanctions.
In addition, diplomatic isolation, military intervention, arrest of war criminals, and even regime change would be championed!
Yet, when it comes to Palestine and the Zionist occupying force, there is no such call.
Regimes in the Muslim world are helping Zionists
The images of Zionist occupiers raising their flags in areas supposedly under Egyptian control by the Rafah Border Crossing is disturbing for two reasons:
Firstly, the control of the border crossing presents a greater humanitarian threat (if that was even possible).
Secondly, the seeming indifference of the Egyptian regime to that move reflects their appeasement of the occupying force.
Likewise, Jordan and Iraq allowed their airspace to defend the Zionist occupiers from Iran’s symbolic response to their embassy being targeted. And rumours persist that the Saudi regime will “normalise” relations.
In addition, until recently, Turkey maintained full trade and diplomatic relations with the Zionist regime. The decision to limit these is the “stick” to the Saudi “carrot” as part of the US policy to influence the Zionist occupiers.
Who makes up the real Zionist Defence Force?
The abovementioned examples, along with those from other Arab and Muslim regimes, are evidence of those who comprise the true Zionist armament. We may call this the “Zionist Defence Force”.
Egypt alone was capable of halting the genocide — but it did not.
And on their own, each one of: Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, Iran, and Egypt are stronger on paper than the Zionist entity.
This is why military intervention is necessary
Given the level of betrayal and indifference of these Arab and Muslim regimes, you may ask why I am wasting my time talking about military intervention by the official armies of these countries.
There are three reasons.
Helping and rescuing people
Firstly, from an Islamic perspective, military intervention is the method to help and rescue these people, and establish a more just system than the apartheid occupation — like the civilisation that presided over justice and harmony for Jews, Muslims, and Christians for twelve centuries.
When Allah (subḥānahu wa ta’āla) says:
وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُقَـٰتِلُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ ٱلرِّجَالِ وَٱلنِّسَآءِ وَٱلْوِلْدَٰنِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ أَخْرِجْنَا مِنْ هَـٰذِهِ ٱلْقَرْيَةِ ٱلظَّالِمِ أَهْلُهَا وَٱجْعَل لَّنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ وَلِيًّۭا وَٱجْعَل لَّنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ نَصِيرًا ٧٥
“And what is the matter with you? You do not fight in the cause of Allah and for mustaḍafīn (oppressed) men, women, and children who cry out, ‘Our Lord! Deliver us from this land of oppressors! Appoint for us a saviour; appoint for us a helper — all by Your grace’.” [2]
He (subḥānahu wa ta’āla) is addressing those who are capable of rescuing the mustaḍafīn men, women, and children.
Those being addressed are the official armies of countries who are capable of actually ending the slaughter.
Resistance groups who stand up to the aggressor without exceeding limits are to be respected. But not only are they incapable of ending the occupation — I don’t think they claim to be aiming to do that — they are themselves from the occupied and oppressed. And as such, they are less responsible than those who are not occupied!
So, to remind people of this ruling and responsibility is important, regardless of whether it is likely or unlikely to occur. It is the standard that should be worked towards.
People in Gaza are asking for military support
Secondly, it is a repeated plea from those in Gaza.
The words that Allah (subḥānahu wa ta’āla) first conveyed to us fourteen centuries ago in the noble āyah above are regularly paraphrased on the lips of men and women on social media crying out from the ruins of Gaza.
Should it not be our duty, then, to amplify their calls, by applying pressure for change within those countries where the help should be coming from?
The only geopolitical solution to this situation
Thirdly, it is the only geopolitical solution that can rescue these people.
As I have said before, it is the obvious solution that people look to in any other equivalent situation. So why isn’t it voiced in respect to the desolation of Gaza and the ethnic cleansing of Palestine?
Yes, the rulers in certain Muslim countries are traitors and the real Zionist Defence Force. But a single word calling for the correct solution and a real resolution to the problem is better, in my view, than a thousand words that call for other things that change nothing.
Source: Islam21c
Notes
[1] https://www.islam21c.com/news/israel-seizure-rafah-crossing-worsens-gaza-crisis/
[2] al-Qur’ān, 4:75
BY ABDUL WAHID
Abdul Wahid has been active in Muslim affairs in the UK for over 25 years. He has been published on the websites of Foreign Policy, Open Democracy, the Times Higher Educational Supplement, and Prospect Magazine. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AbdulWahid_X.
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