As it was Arfaa, the last day Of Ramadan here, While it was Eid ul Fitr in Palestine. I was just surfing the Social media. Instantly, I blinked a video in nanosecond. I saw a video—no longer than a fleeting nanosecond—from Palestine.
In that single, heart-wrenching moment, I glimpsed a little girl,
She was lifeless, yet wore a delicate, beautiful bracelet on her tiny wrist.
Perhaps she had worn it to celebrate Eid, not knowing that her last Eid would come so soon.
That image… that nanosecond….it has carved itself into my soul.
It haunts me.
I can’t sleep. I can’t breathe the same.
Her innocent face keeps flashing before my eyes—again and again.
How brutally her childhood was stolen.
How mercilessly her dreams were shattered.
Israel didn’t just bomb buildings
They crushed a little girl’s laughter, her future, her right to live.
And the world? It watches in silence.
But my heart… it mourns endlessly for that child I never knew.
and yet will never forget.
In a world that is increasingly connected and informed, where every image of injustice can be shared within seconds, it is not ignorance that keeps nations silent — it is choice. Among the many heartbreaking conflicts of our time, the plight of Palestine stands as a wound that refuses to heal. Decades of occupation, displacement, and violence have not only scarred generations of Palestinians but also exposed the glaring apathy of those who claim to stand for justice and brotherhood — the Muslim world included.
The recent aggressions, bombings, and human rights violations in Gaza and the West Bank have once again drawn global attention. Social media platforms are flooded with disturbing images of children under rubble, grieving mothers, and decimated hospitals. And yet, amid this storm of suffering, the political leaders of many Muslim countries offer little more than carefully worded statements, diplomatic ambiguity, or worse — complete silence. This silence is not neutral. It is loud. It is deafening. And it echoes louder than the very cries of the oppressed.
A Shared Faith, A Forgotten Responsibility
Palestine holds immense religious and emotional significance for Muslims around the world. The Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, resides in the heart of Jerusalem — a city constantly under threat. One would imagine that such spiritual and historical ties would be enough to inspire unified, bold action from Muslim nations. Instead, what we see is fragmentation, hesitation, and in some cases, normalization of relations with the very state responsible for the ongoing occupation.
This betrayal is not just political; it is deeply moral. The concept of ummah — the global Muslim brotherhood — is a pillar of Islamic thought. It stands for unity, support, and shared struggle. But when bombs fall over Gaza and children die in their sleep, where is that unity? Where is the spirit of the ummah?
Economic Interests Over Ethical Stances.
Many Muslim-majority countries today are entangled in economic dependencies and political alliances that make it “inconvenient” to speak out against injustice. Trade deals, defense contracts, and diplomatic pressures have become more valuable than the lives of Palestinian civilians. Instead of leading the moral charge for justice, these nations are often found compromising — walking the tightrope between appeasing powerful allies and maintaining a neutral image.
The result? Lip service,Empty condemnations,Symbolic gestures that do little to ease the pain on the ground. When billions are spent on global summits and extravagant projects, yet not a single unified action is taken to hold oppressors accountable, it speaks volumes.
The People vs. the Powers
It is important to differentiate between the governments and the people. Across the Muslim world, ordinary citizens have consistently shown solidarity with Palestine — through protests, humanitarian aid, and social media advocacy. From Istanbul to Jakarta, Cairo to Karachi, the streets have echoed with slogans of support, tears, and prayers. Yet, this groundswell of empathy rarely translates into policy. The disconnect between the will of the people and the decisions of their rulers has never been more apparent.
Why is there no joint Muslim military force for humanitarian protection? Why are there no economic sanctions or diplomatic boycotts? Why are resolutions passed in symbolic meetings without any real-world consequences?
The answer lies in fear, in political calculations, and in the erosion of collective will.
Global Silence, but Muslim Silence Hurts More
The international community’s double standards are nothing new. Powerful nations pick and choose which human rights violations to condemn. But the silence of 57 Muslim countries is more painful because it is a silence from within. It is a silence that comes despite shared beliefs, shared histories, and shared struggles. It is a silence that betrays not only the Palestinians but the very values that Islam teaches — justice, courage, and standing against tyranny.
A Call to Conscience
This is not a call for war. It is a call for conscience. For diplomatic courage. For unity rooted in values rather than politics. Muslim nations must understand that their silence today writes the history of tomorrow. Future generations will ask: Where were you when Palestine cried out for help?
If not now, when? If not for Palestine, then for whom? If not by those who share the faith, then who else?
True solidarity demands sacrifice. It demands action. It demands that Muslim nations rise above their fears and fulfill their moral and religious duty. The silence must end — because every moment of inaction costs another life, another dream, another child.
End Note
The silence of 57 Muslim countries does not reflect a lack of awareness. It reflects a lack of will. And in times of injustice, silence is complicity. The world watches, and history records. Will the Muslim world choose to be remembered as silent spectators — or as voices that rose when it mattered the most?
The Author can be mailed at umairulumar77@gmail.com
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