ONE year after the harrowing Israeli assault on Palestine, the region remains engulfed in suffering and despair. About 45,000 Palestinians were killed during the attacks, including majority of children leaving countless families grieving and communities shattered. Gaza, already under siege, has descended into deeper despair with homes destroyed, infrastructure obliterated, and basic necessities severely restricted.
What had remained are the ongoing plight of the Palestinians, while the role of Arab nations, the failure of international institutions, and recent actions by Iran in retaliation for the sustained violence in Palestine need to further examine.
Palestinians continue to experience unimaginable hardships. Gaza, often referred to as the world’s largest open-air prison, has become even more isolated. The Israeli blockade has suffocated the strip for over a decade, and the recent attacks only exacerbated the deprivation. The blockade has restricted the import of essential items like food, fuel, and medical supplies. This has plunged two million people into a humanitarian crisis. According to UN reports, nearly 90 per cent of Gaza’s water is unsafe to drink, and electricity is available for only a few hours each day. Hospitals remain overwhelmed, understaffed, and undersupplied, unable to cope with the influx of the wounded and those with chronic conditions exacerbated by the lack of medical resources.
The psychological impact is staggering. Entire generations of Palestinians, particularly children, are growing up in a landscape marked by violence, trauma, and hopelessness. According to a report by Save the Children, over 90 per cent of children in Gaza suffer from trauma-related symptoms, including intense anxiety, nightmares, and fears about their safety. These young lives, shaped by destruction and loss, are the most poignant testament to the ongoing genocide.
Additionally, education, a critical tool for Palestinian resilience, has been devastated. Schools in Gaza have been destroyed, and many now serve as makeshift shelters for displaced families. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), responsible for providing education to over half a million Palestinian children, has struggled to maintain even basic operations. The psychological and educational toll on the population is profound, as children are deprived not only of security but of the opportunity to learn and envision a brighter future.
Iran’s Retaliation and the Shifting Regional Dynamics
In the aftermath of the genocide, Iran has emerged as one of the most vocal and active supporters of Palestine. In recent months, Iran has openly retaliated against Israeli aggression by supporting Palestinian resistance movements and condemning the Arab world’s silence on the matter. Iran’s support of Hamas and Islamic Jihad factions in Gaza has increased, with Tehran supplying advanced weapons systems and military technology to Palestinian forces.
Furthermore, in early 2024, Iran carried out several strategic retaliatory strikes on Israeli military outposts and key infrastructure sites. Iranian leaders have framed these actions as not only a response to Israeli violence but also a message to the broader Arab world. Tehran seeks to present itself as the true defender of the Palestinian cause, contrasting its stance with the normalization deals struck by other Arab nations with Israel under the Abraham Accords.
Iran’s involvement has shifted regional dynamics, putting pressure on other Arab countries, particularly those in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), to take a firmer stance on Palestine. However, this has also raised the stakes in the region, heightening tensions between Israel, the U.S., and Iran. Many fear that further escalation between these powers could lead to another regional conflict, further exacerbating the Palestinian crisis.
The Way Forward: Justice, Accountability, and Sovereignty
The humanitarian toll on Palestinians cannot be ignored, but the path forward must also focus on justice and accountability. The international community, especially bodies like the International Criminal Court (ICC), must intensify efforts to hold Israel accountable for the war crimes committed during the assault. However, the ICC has thus far made limited progress due to political barriers, particularly pressure from the U.S. and non-cooperation from Israel, which refuses to recognize the court’s jurisdiction.
Legal frameworks such as the Rome Statute and international humanitarian law are clear in their definition of crimes against humanity, including apartheid, collective punishment, and the targeting of civilians, all of which have been documented in Israeli actions. Yet, without enforcement mechanisms or meaningful international pressure, these laws remain little more than symbolic gestures.
The Two-State Solution: A Distant Dream?
The political solution to the conflict has traditionally centered around the two-state solution, which envisions a sovereign Palestinian state alongside Israel. However, the reality on the ground is far from conducive to this outcome. Israeli settlements in the West Bank continue to expand, with over 700,000 settlers now living in Palestinian territories. These settlements, combined with the separation wall and military checkpoints, have fragmented the West Bank, making it nearly impossible for Palestinians to envision a contiguous state.
For Palestinians, sovereignty must include the recognition of East Jerusalem as the capital of their state, the dismantling of illegal settlements, and the right of return for refugees displaced in the 1948 Nakba. These demands are non-negotiable, yet they are continually sidelined in international negotiations. As the situation stands, the two-state solution seems less attainable than ever, prompting some to call for a new political framework that ensures justice and equality for both Israelis and Palestinians.
The Abraham Accords: Complicity in Silence
The Abraham Accords, initially hailed as a peace initiative, have instead served to weaken the Palestinian position on the global stage. Signed between Israel and several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, the accords represent a fundamental shift in regional alliances. These countries chose economic and diplomatic normalization with Israel without securing any concessions for Palestine.
This has emboldened Israel to continue its policies of occupation and settlement expansion. The normalization process, driven largely by economic interests and security cooperation, has shifted the focus away from the Palestinian cause, eroding Arab unity on the issue. Critics argue that by abandoning the longstanding Arab Peace Initiative, which conditioned normalization on the establishment of a Palestinian state, these nations have effectively legitimized Israel’s occupation.
The Silence of Saudi Arabia and the GCC
Perhaps more alarming is the silence from Saudi Arabia and the broader Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). While Saudi Arabia has not officially normalized relations with Israel, its muted response to the genocide has sparked outrage among Palestinians and their supporters. Once a staunch advocate for Palestinian rights, Saudi Arabia now seems more concerned with its strategic goals, including countering Iran and securing economic deals with the West.
The lack of unified Arab opposition to Israeli actions has left Palestinians isolated. GCC nations have prioritized their own geopolitical interests over solidarity with Palestine, a shift that has caused a deep sense of betrayal among Palestinians. Saudi Arabia’s evolving relations with Israel, while not formalized, signal a broader trend in the Arab world toward realpolitik over moral responsibility.
The Failure of the United Nations
The United Nations, meant to be the guardian of global peace and security, has again failed the Palestinian people. The UN Security Council, hamstrung by the veto power of the United States, has been unable to pass resolutions that hold Israel accountable for its actions. While the General Assembly has issued several resolutions supporting Palestinian sovereignty, these measures lack enforcement power, rendering them largely symbolic.
The UN’s credibility has been further eroded by its inability to protect civilians during the conflict. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which provides essential services to millions of Palestinians, faces chronic underfunding and political attacks. The U.S. cut its funding to UNRWA in 2018, creating a financial crisis that has severely hampered the agency’s ability to deliver food, medical care, and education.
Conclusion: The Road Ahead
The Zionist genocide in Palestine has left deep wounds, and the path to justice and peace remains fraught with challenges. Palestinians continue to suffer under occupation, with their rights systematically denied and their voices marginalized. The silence of key Arab nations, the failure of international institutions like the UN and ICC, and the regional shift toward normalization with Israel have compounded their plight.
Yet, amidst the despair, global solidarity for the Palestinian cause endures. Movements like Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) continue to gain traction, reminding the world that justice for Palestine is not only possible but necessary for lasting peace in the Middle East. The international community must rise to the occasion, prioritizing Palestinian sovereignty, justice, and dignity in its approach to the conflict. Only then can we begin to address the injustices that have plagued Palestine for decades.
Mohd Azmir and Afi Roshezry are political analysts with Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of Sinar Daily.