New Delhi: The present situation in Gaza and its historical underpinnings were reviewed comprehensively by Dr. Zafar Ul Islam Khan, the former Chairman of the Delhi Minority Commission, in his address delivered at the weekly program at Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) on Saturday. ‘Current Situation of Palestine and its Future’ was the topic of Dr. Khan’s address, which outlined the grim humanitarian crisis that is afflicting Gaza and blamed the international community’s response to the conflict.
Dr. Khan began his talk by evoking the historical Islamic contexts to compare and contrast the present suffering of the people in Gaza. He said, “Though grim it is in Gaza, with severe shortages of food, acute shortages of water, and medical supplies, and infrastructural damages, it is still filled with people with that resilient spirit.”. Against this relentless blockade and repeated onslaughts, Dr. Khan has claimed that Hamas’s military strength remains formidable and the capability of sustaining the resistance by the group remains intact.
A major part of the speech delivered by Dr. Khan dwelled upon the historical perspective of the Israel-Palestine conflict. He explained how the creation of Israel was not a result of a desire by the Jews to have a home but was actually inspired by centuries of persecution in Europe, coupled with geopolitical manoeuvring. Dr. Khan criticized the Balfour Declaration and other Western policies through which a Jewish state was allowed to be created on the soil of Palestine and termed these moves as part of a larger conspiracy on the part of the European powers to establish a foothold in the region.
The changing nature of regional politics and a balance of power was also discussed by Dr. Khan, who noted new players had come into view. He identified these as Hezbollah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad, which have completely changed the strategic perspective. For him, these forces became strong enough to take on Israeli hegemony, therefore invalidating the Western design for the maintenance of Israeli supremacy over the area. He talked about the transformation of traditional Arab opposition to Israel into a number of Arab states moving towards normalization of relations, which, as Dr. Khan mentioned, weakens the collective resistance against Israeli actions.
Dr. Khan turned to the international response to the crisis in Gaza at this very moment. He exclaimed in frustration about the utter lack of meaningful intervention by the countries of the Muslim world and any relevant international bodies. Dr. Khan surmised that coalition forces would probably try sending troops into Gaza without success, since, as he truly believes, no external forces could change the dynamics unless there is some kind of sea change in the geopolitical environment.
The religious dimensions of the war were also touched upon in Dr.Khan’s speech, where he quoted Quranic verses to implement his argument of belief in the ultimate fall of the yoke of oppression. He strongly held in his conviction that injustices perpetrated by the State of Israel will then be brought about by the will of God, as foretold by religious texts. He said, “I hope that a just solution to the conflict will emerge, believing that there will be a forthcoming shift in the balance of power in favour of righteousness and justice.”

He finally called upon the international community to revisit their attitude and policies toward the Palestinian cause and requested a far stronger, more humanitarian response against the agony of the people in Gaza. His address finally concluded with an appeal for greater solidarity and support for the Palestinian cause.
Dr Khan’s lecture was followed by an interactive session wherein participants raised their concerns and sought clarity on points.