The Middle East Needs Sustainable Peace And Stability

After 11 days of Israeli aggression against Palestine, finally, the ceasefire has been reached. 11 days of bombing of Gaza cost 250 precious human lives, including around 70 innocent children. Thousands of houses were destroyed, even hospitals and schools were targeted deliberately. Infrastructure was damaged, causing a shortage of electricity and water supply. Thousands of Palestinians were made homeless and forced to move into temporary camps to live a miserable life.

Achieving ceasefire was not an easy task as the Israeli ambitions were to completely wipe out Gaza, and few countries were proactively supporting Israel and advocating for Israeli justification of targeting civilians. However, most of the world was standing with Palestinians; mainly, the public opinion was pro-Palestine. Worldwide protests and agitations forced some Governments to put pressure on Israel to stop its acts of extreme brutalities.

Russia was behind the ceasefire. Russians presence in the Middle East, especially in Syria and Lebanon, and its interests in Iran & the region were an essential element for achieving a ceasefire. The frank and open meeting between the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was held on 19 May 2021, was a vital platform for achieving ceasefire too.

Russian revival is crucial for balancing geopolitics. The US’s role in the unipolar world proved a disaster for a human being, particularly for the Muslim world. The emergence of Russia as a new pillar of power was welcomed generally and significantly for the Muslim world. The Muslim world seeks close cooperation and collaboration with Russia.

After the ceasefire, it is desired that sustainable peace and stability may maintain in the whole region. Israel is the aggressive state in the region with excessive ambitions. Israel is occupying Arab land and pushing Arabs out of their land. Millions of Palestinians were killed, forced to immigrate to other countries, or limited to live in refugee camps. Israel keeps the extra military and spent a huge amount of its defense budget. Israel is equipped with high-tech, advanced and lethal weapons. Israel is getting exceptional aid from the US for its military and economy. Israel’s access to modern weapons made it aggressive. Israel maintains hegemony in the region and primary cause of unrest in the whole region.

There is a dire need to address the Israeli over ambitions and need to find a permanent solution. Israel is following the German and Japanese footprints of the World wars. However, after the world wars, both Germany and Japan were bowed down to a treaty, where they were held responsible for war crimes and asked for war compensations. To date, both Germany and Japan are paying for war compensations. Additional, under the treaty, they were caped to limit their defense budget, just sufficient for self-defense. Their aggressive capabilities were caped and put under control.

It is strongly recommended that in the case of Israel, a similar approach may be followed. Israel may be the trial for war crimes and asked for compensation. Israeli aggressive capabilities may be put under limits, and only self-defense capabilities are allowed. All this is possible under the UN charter and leading powers like Russia and China, who may become guarantors.

Pakistan strongly condemns the Israeli aggression that resulted in deaths and injuries to hundreds of Palestinians, including women and children, and also condemn the assault on Al-Aqsa Holy Mosque during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the forced eviction of Palestinians from different neighborhoods of Al-Quds Al-Sharif. All these actions are blatant violations of international law and international humanitarian law.

Pakistani Foreign Minister said, “I reaffirm Pakistan’s consistent and unstinted support to the Palestinian cause, which has always been a defining principle of Pakistan’s foreign policy.”

It is desired that the international community must do more to protect the lives and fundamental rights of the Palestinian people, who continue to suffer under foreign occupation. It should also not condone the violations of international law that underpin global and regional security.

For durable peace in the region, it is imperative that the Palestinian people are granted their inalienable right to self-determination. It is believed that a viable, independent, and contiguous Palestinian State, with the pre-1967 borders, and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, is the only just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the Palestine issue, in accordance with the relevant United Nations and OIC resolutions.

It is desired that Russia and Pakistan, along with other Muslim countries, join hands under the umbrella of the United Nations and reach a permanent solution, which can guarantee permanent peace and stability in the Middle East region and the whole world.

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