By Ahmad Shuaibu Isa

 

A few days ago, I came across a poignant story on Aljazeera, chronicling the life of 77-year-old Mohammed al-Nabahin, who, like thousands of others in Gaza, now calls a tent his home. Once a symbol of stability, the tent is now a mere shelter for someone whose world has been reduced to ruins. Meanwhile, Israel’s government has announced plans for a “voluntary” migration office, seemingly offering Palestinians a way out of Gaza.

However, this so-called “voluntary” migration scheme is far from voluntary. In truth, it reflects a broader effort to forcibly displace a population that has resided in the region for centuries. Rather than providing a solution, this policy tragically seeks to strip people of their homes, their heritage, and their very identity.

According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, over 50,000 individuals have perished in the ongoing conflict, more than 15,000, many of whom are children. This genocide is not a concealed atrocity; it is an open, visible tragedy, documented through countless photographs and videos circulating globally. The violence that targets the Palestinian population in Gaza is all too evident, yet the international community has largely remained passive, with few offering tangible solutions or intervention.

The forced removal of people from their ancestral lands is an unequivocal violation of basic human rights. For generations, Palestinian families have lived, worked, and thrived on the lands they call home. Displacement is not just a geographical relocation; it is an attempt to erase their culture, history, and identity. The very foundation of their existence is under attack, extending beyond the mere loss of territory to the obliteration of their connection to the land, to their roots.

The rightful owners of Gaza’s lands—Palestinians—are deeply connected to these territories, with historical, cultural, and emotional ties. To displace them is not only a grave injustice but also an affront to their fundamental right to self-determination and sovereignty. No political or military agenda can justify the uprooting of a people from their homeland. This policy of forced migration is a direct assault on their dignity and their future.

Such mass displacement is more than just a tragedy—it is a violation of international law. History repeatedly teaches us that actions of this magnitude lead only to suffering, resistance, and eventual reckoning. The world cannot afford to stand idle; it must actively work to protect those facing displacement and hold those responsible accountable. The land that has been the birthplace of generations should be recognised as the birthright of Palestinians, and no one should be denied the right to call it home.

On December 5, 2024, Amnesty International released a harrowing report, unequivocally labelling Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide. The report outlines a systematic campaign of violence and destruction, aimed at the annihilation of the Palestinian people. The actions detailed in this report go beyond military objectives, focusing on mass killings, causing severe physical and mental harm, and creating conditions that lead to the destruction of an entire people. What began as a military operation has escalated into a genocidal campaign, reducing Palestinians to a subhuman status.

Despite the weight of these findings, the international community has failed to respond with the urgency the situation demands. Amnesty’s report is a stark call for action, emphasising that countries such as the USA, Germany, and the UK, which continue to supply arms to Israel, are complicit in these atrocities. The silence of global powers in the face of such widespread violence is no longer acceptable. Should the international community continue to ignore these crimes, it risks becoming an accomplice in the massacre. History has shown that no regime, regardless of its power, can escape the consequences of its actions indefinitely.

Sadly, the global response to this genocide has been characterised by indifference. Nations that claim to advocate for human rights have turned a blind eye, placing political and economic interests above the preservation of innocent lives. Genocide is not merely the destruction of individuals; it is the annihilation of hope, justice, and humanity itself. While the global elite pursue their selfish agendas, entire families are being wiped out before our eyes. This tragic reality reflects a world where economic and political interests override moral imperatives.

The Palestinian people’s land must be returned to them, as it is their ancestral homeland, with deep historical, cultural, and emotional significance. For generations, Palestinians have lived, cultivated, and built their communities on this land. Denying them this land violates their basic right to self-determination and sovereignty. The land is at the core of their identity, heritage, and future, and recognising Palestinian ownership would uphold international law and promote peace, justice, and reconciliation in the region.

History has proven a fundamental truth: no oppressor, no matter how powerful, can indefinitely escape the consequences of their actions. The fall of empires and the rise of justice have always followed the abuse of power. The greed and indifference of global powers have perpetuated cycles of violence, but time is not on the side of those who perpetuate such horrors. The forces of oppression will eventually face justice. The reckoning is inevitable, and no political or military might will shield the oppressors from the inevitable collapse that awaits them.

 

Isa wrote through ahmadeesir214@gmail.com