In a powerful display of solidarity, over two thousand Arab intellectuals have come together to sign a joint statement condemning the ongoing atrocities in Gaza and the systematic oppression faced by the Palestinian people. These intellectuals, hailing from diverse backgrounds, geographical locations, and professional affiliations, have set aside their differences to address a common cause – the plight of Palestine.
For 75 years, the occupying Zionist entity has spared no ethical value, violated every civilized principle, and trampled upon every aspect of human sanctity with the blood-stained boots of its soldiers. This time, it has gone even further in its tyranny, exploiting the complicity and bias of the international community.
The statement, penned by these prominent Arab figures, transcends professional affiliations and political allegiances. It is a resounding affirmation of the Palestinian cause, which has suffered under the relentless expansion of Israeli colonialism and the darkness it has cast upon the region. As Lebanese writer and researcher Huda Fakhreddine, a professor of Arabic literature at the University of Pennsylvania, eloquently puts it, “The Palestinian issue is a humanitarian cause, higher and more noble than any corrupt regime or political agenda.”
This unified stance against ethnic cleansing, borne out of collective anguish for Gaza and Palestine, is symbolic in nature. It brings together individuals from various countries, races, and political backgrounds, all united in their condemnation of the ongoing savage aggression against Gaza and Palestine, a tragedy that has persisted for 75 years.
The joint statement addresses a range of pressing concerns, including attacks on sacred sites, the expansion of settlements, the incitement of violence among settlers, the blockade of Gaza, and the deliberate targeting of innocent Palestinian lives. It also highlights the insidious projects of normalization, aimed at liquidating the Palestinian cause and stripping Arabs of their dignity, while condemning the growing number of supporters of such endeavors.
What is truly remarkable in this statement is the diversity of its signatories. These are intellectuals who have long been known for their political rivalries and ideological differences. Yet, when it comes to the central issue of Palestine, they have cast aside all disagreements, recognizing it as a humanitarian, ethical, historical, and cultural imperative.
As Kuwaiti novelist Bathaina Al-Eissa, one of the signatories, observes, “We see the names of individuals with histories of political rivalries and both declared and undeclared ideological differences standing side by side. Yet, all these differences have been set aside in the face of our central, humanitarian, ethical, historical, and cultural cause. It’s worth noting that this unity is not a coincidence; it’s the nature of Palestine.”
This united front of Arab intellectuals sends a clear message to the world that the Palestinian cause transcends politics and divisions. It is a cause that unites all free and honorable people around the globe. However, as the statement aptly concludes, “No statement is sufficient, and no language can fully encompass the magnitude of what is happening in Gaza and Palestine.” The struggle continues, and the world must heed this call for justice.
