WHILE the world is spending time worrying over the conflict in Iran, the killing of Palestinians by the Zionists has been going largely unnoticed. A few deaths every single day are clearly not enough to jolt the conscience of the so-called civilised world. Apparently, global media needs some more excitement, like bombers dropping tonnes of bombs, lighting up night skies and killing hundreds of schoolchildren, or hundreds of drones being chased by anti-drone fireworks, to deserve coverage. The world seems to have forgotten Gaza already, which is such a pity.
There are no major protests in European countries against Israeli brutalities. The Muslim world has been largely silent from day one except for campaigns against the so-called Israeli-owned business houses. These campaigns have often ended up benefitting local manufacturers who have introduce their own substandard alternatives. Did the beneficiaries of such campaigns in the Muslim world donate anything to the Palestinians in Gaza? Not to my knowledge. Have the businesses considered having links with Israel been actually closed down? No. It was largely a futile exercise that benefitted only some manufacturers, not the people of Gaza.
Coming back to the global response, apart from a few resolutions, the United Nations has done little, and even those resolutions have largely gone unenforced. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. Since then, Netanyahu has visited Hungary, which, during his visit, announced that it would withdraw from the ICC. This was despite the fact that any country seeking to withdraw from the ICC does not leave its obligations overnight. Under the Rome Statute, withdrawal takes effect only after one year. Until then, Hungary, which is also a founding member of the ICC, remains bound by its obligations. Deif, however, must not dare visit any country. We know what could happen to him.
The fact is that the UN has become a toothless world body, much like the League of Nations, and will perhaps ultimately meet the same fate as did its predecessor.
Malik ul Quddoos
Karachi
Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026
