Is a ceasefire where one side keeps on firing to sustain its illegal occupation and genocide really even worth being called a ceasefire? Since the October 10 ceasefire meant to bring peace to the Gaza Strip came into effect, it is estimated that the Israelis have violated the ceasefire hundreds of times and killed over 200 Palestinians. This Monday saw Israel adding to its grisly total with at least three Palestinians killed for allegedly crossing the yellow line, which marks areas the army still occupies. This is what the Israeli forces claim. But why are there Israeli forces still in Gaza deciding where Palestinians can and cannot go? Has the UN General Assembly not passed a resolution over a year ago calling for an end to its illegal occupation? When exactly do we reach the stage where Israeli forces are compelled to follow international law and withdraw from the Strip, or is their permanent presence in Gaza the new status quo? One thing is clear, however, the seven major Muslim countries that met in Istanbul on Monday are decidedly against the latter outcome. After a meeting in Istanbul involving the foreign ministers/top diplomats of Turkiye, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Indonesia, Jordan and the UAE, the Muslim countries said that Gaza’s future must be Palestinian-led and avoid any new system of tutelage.
The countries have said that Palestinians should govern the Palestinians, a statement issued by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs after the talk backing this sentiment, saying “leaders jointly called for urgent humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, condemned Israeli ceasefire violations, demanded Israel’s withdrawal from the Occupied Palestinian Territory and emphasised the rebuilding of Gaza”. An earlier statement after Foreign Minister Dar met his Turkish counterpart on the sidelines of the main meeting also said that Israel must respect the ceasefire. The Muslim countries are right to push things in the direction of Palestinian autonomy and sovereignty in light of what Israel is doing, but, as with all things Israel, the crucial question remains whether the US and the Zionist state’s other Western allies will have the nerve to make it do what is right. As concerns the question of an ‘International Stabilisation Force’ that will supposedly monitor the Gaza ceasefire under Trump's plan, the Turkish foreign minister made clear that any such force should have a “mandate defined by a UN Security Council resolution and a framework for legitimacy”.
Whether Pakistan will be a part of any such force remains unclear, with the ISPR DG saying on Monday that the decision would be taken by the government and parliament. This is, indeed, where the decision belongs. It is important for any international force not to become just another vehicle of Israeli control and there are major concerns regarding this, given reports that Israel possesses a veto over who can and cannot join it. The ultimate goal must always be kept in mind: a Palestine free from occupation and under Palestinian control. While much of the focus right now is on Gaza, this also includes the West Bank, where the Israelis have only accelerated their illegal settlement schemes. In this context, a joint Muslim response calling for what is only right is quite encouraging.
