Global Divide Over Israel-Gaza Spotlights Western Double Standards

After the announcement of “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” by Hamas, involving ground and aerial attacks on Israel and led by a senior Hamas military commander, several Western countries have declared their support for Israel. Notably, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Norway, and Austria have expressed solidarity with Israel, emphasizing its right to self-defense.

The United States, and India have pledged military assistance to Israel, bolstering its defensive capabilities. President Joe Biden had discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, assuring additional support in the days to come.

Meanwhile, Muslim-majority countries have extended their support to Hamas in its operations against Israel. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s advisor, Yahya Rahim Safavi, conveyed best wishes to Palestinian fighters, declaring Iran’s commitment to stand with them until the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem.

In Afghanistan, the Islamic Emirate expressed full support for Hamas’ “Operation Al-Aqsa Field” and urged Muslim nations to unite against Israeli aggression. They emphasized that combating Israeli terrorism requires a unified voice from all Muslim countries.

Qatar has accused Israel of being responsible for the ongoing conflict, criticizing its excessive use of force. The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry has demanded immediate action from the international community to protect Palestinian civilians and exert pressure on Israel to halt its provocations, particularly around the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Kuwait City witnessed a gathering in support of Hamas’ resistance movement, where Kuwaitis and foreigners raised Palestinian flags to condemn Israeli actions.

In a significant development, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas responded to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by asserting the Palestinian people’s right to defend themselves against the atrocities committed by Jewish settlers and Israeli occupying forces.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah group, also expressed support for Hamas, stating they maintain direct contact with Palestinian resistance leadership. They pledged to respond decisively to Israel’s continued occupation.

Amid the international responses to the conflict between Hamas and Israel, many observers and commentators have raised concerns about what they perceive as Western hypocrisy in their approach to conflicts around the world. They argue that Western nations, including the United States and European countries, have shown inconsistent stances when it comes to conflicts involving territorial disputes and occupations.

Specifically, critics have pointed out that these Western countries have voiced strong support for Israel’s right to self-defense and its stance in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, despite Israel’s occupation and as oppression of Palestinians. In contrast, the same Western countries have taken a different approach in other conflicts, such as the situation in Ukraine. Western nations, including the United States and European Union members, have shown strong support for Ukraine in its struggle against Russia’s invasion and encroachment on Ukrainian territory. This support has included economic sanctions against Russia and military aid to Ukraine.

Critics have highlighted the perceived inconsistency in Western policies, suggesting that they are more willing to take a firm stance against territorial disputes and occupations in some regions while being less vocal or proactive in others. They argue that these double standards have raised questions about the ethical and moral consistency of Western foreign policies and their commitment to addressing conflicts and human rights violations on a global scale.