Muscat: The Observer Round Table discussion held recently condemned the attacks in Gaza and Palestine, which are the biggest aggression on humanity.
Just as the nation expressed its resentment toward the ICJ and the UN, the people registered their strongest protest against such barbaric acts.
The participants at the Round Table urged the urgent intervention of the world into the ‘life or death’ situation prevailing in the Gaza Strip.
They expressed concern at the ‘catastrophic conditions’ existing at southern Gaza Hospital which was staring the world of mass death due to famine and as humanitarian aid was stopped for four days.
The discussions came in the wake of the recent visit that the UN delegation paid to the only remaining hospital, Al Amal Hospital in Khan Younis, to inspect the damage caused by Israeli forces and the heavy artillery shelling to the hospital.
The UN delegation was convinced of the catastrophic conditions inside due to severe shortages in food, drinkable water, medical supplies, and medication.
“What is making the situation even worse is that they are killing civilians and innocent people who are not part of any conflict and that is making the situation even pathetic. Is there any end to this war? Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?,” asked Abdullah al Shueili, Editor-in-Chief, Observer.
“The conflicts are claiming even more lives day by day and global intervention in this matter is the need of the hour. Although there have been many international interventions in the past, there is no respite to the issue. All high-level talks were in place to resolve the decades-long issue but ‘unintended consequences’ led to an inability to gain control over the issue for several years. But today, the situation is getting even worse and a quick stoppage of aggression is what we, as humans, need the most,” said Ahmed al Mukhaini, a political analyst who proposed solutions to the existing Israel–Palestine issue.
Fatma al Araimi, a Strategic Information Navigator who specializes in navigating the complex landscape of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and Observer journalists were present at the debate that delved into various facets of the long-pending issue of Israeli aggression on Palestine.
“The fact that even the ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) could not bring an end to the murders is appalling. Israel has the guts not to heed the cries of other nations to stop violence because it has unconditional support from the US and the same goes with the UK and Germany. I feel that cutting the unconditional support and supply of necessary materials to Israel will not end the conflict,” said Fatma, who is affiliated with several regional and international think tanks and research centres, where she collaborates with teams of researchers and analysts working on key issues affecting the MENA region.
Al Mukhaini also mentioned that there is a credibility crisis and there is no system where you can go.
As a researcher, policy analyst, author, interlocutor, public speaker, and lecturer with over 25 years of experience in policy analysis and development, he said, “There is no international legitimacy to depend upon, nor international law or bilateral treaty to seek help from. There is no one to approach and that is making the scenario worse.” Al Mukhaini reiterated that the conflict is not a religious one but a political and ideological one and what is happening now is a blatant violation of international laws, humanitarian laws, and other laws of the land. “It is important to recognize this because we should not use religious discourse while seeking a solution to the issue,” adds Al Mukhaini.
“Palestinians are starving because of the Israeli siege. Hundreds of thousands of people in the north are hungry due to Israel’s blockade. The UN’s World Food Programme said it had paused delivering aid to northern Gaza, and cited Israeli gunfire as well as complete chaos and violence due to the collapse of civil order in the area. The safety and security to deliver critical food aid and for people receiving it must be ensured,” mentioned Fatma.
Ahmed’s proposed road map for peace between Palestinians and Israelis is a four-phase road map the first of which is confidence-building measures, ceasefire, and an end to violence where both sides should commit to an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, ending all acts of violence and acts of terrorism and enhance security cooperation to prevent attacks and maintain order.
He also mentioned mutual recognition and renunciation of violence because of mutual recognition of the right to exist and the legitimacy of each other's national aspirations.
“Both sides, including Hamas, should renounce violence as a means to achieve their political objectives. All my proposals on the Palestinian issue are ideas inspired by the Omani governance systems case, which coincided or coexisted for most of the known history of Oman, with brief periods of centralization or a unified state system,” he added.
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