As violence and political tensions escalate in the Middle East, the global community watches in silence, grappling with fear and uncertainty over the consequences of unchecked military aggression. Humra Quraishi writes…

The Middle East conflict is rapidly escalating, extending beyond Palestine and into Lebanon, with increasing violence and civilian casualties. As bombings and terror attacks destabilize the region, questions about the role of global powers and unchecked military aggression continue to rise. Despite the refugee crisis and ongoing turmoil, world leaders remain silent, leaving the international community to grapple with the humanitarian consequences. This article explores the expansion of the Middle East conflict, its broader implications, and the urgent need for global intervention. Stay informed on Middle East violence, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and Lebanon crisis updates.

The Expanding Crisis in the Middle East: Fear and Silence

The war in the Middle East is expanding rapidly, with targets extending beyond Palestine's borders into Lebanon. This week, explosions rocked Beirut and several other areas in Lebanon, marking a new wave of electronic device detonations. Walkie-talkies, solar equipment, and hundreds of pagers have been destroyed. The result: many killed, many more wounded, and a population gripped by fear. Civilians see this as a new form of warfare allegedly unleashed by Israeli forces, further compounding the anxiety already pervasive among the masses.

If this warfare isn't contained immediately, it could escalate, dragging the entire Middle East into a deeper conflict. The political web and military forces are gaining ground, unsettling hundreds of innocent lives not only in and around the West Bank but far beyond, threatening a much wider region.

Yet, we hesitate to confront the harsh truths of this grim situation. Fear of speaking out against the powerful stifles our voices. I recall attending an international meeting on humanitarian law in New Delhi, where I met a professor from an international university. After listening to speeches on the "great legal remedies" available for human rights abuses, I asked the professor about the atrocities committed by powerful nations, which intrude into smaller countries under flimsy pretexts, killing and terrorizing civilians. The professor’s response was chilling: a dazed look and the words, “Surely you don’t expect me to answer these questions. You know it’s dangerous for both of us.”

This silence in the face of growing violence in the Middle East is terrifying. The region is spiralling into chaos, and the world watches in passive horror. The refugee crisis, an extended consequence of internal strife and civil wars fuelled by the vested interests of powerful nations, continues to spill over into Europe. The bombardments and suicide attacks in Iraq, Syria, Libya, and Palestine devastate entire populations, yet we remain subdued, too frightened to question: Who is masterminding these killings? Why aren’t world leaders speaking out? Why are we so silent in the face of this human catastrophe?

In the midst of this, news broke that India abstained from voting in the United Nations General Assembly on a resolution demanding Israel withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territories within 12 months. The resolution passed with 124 votes in favour, 14 against, and 43 abstentions. This abstention underlines the political complexities that deter nations from taking decisive stands. 

Voices of Resistance in a Time of Terror

While civilians in the region live in terror, state-sponsored terrorism continues to thrive, fed by a global system that seems reluctant to acknowledge or address the deeper issues at play. Only a few voices are willing to speak up. One of them is Professor V.K. Tripathi, a former physics professor at IIT Delhi, who has been holding discussions with students on the political polarization and terrorism sweeping the world. During one cold December evening, I joined him and his students near the Aravalli hostel at IIT. Tripathi was seated on a faded piece of cloth, passionately explaining that to resist terror, we must first understand it in all its forms. He emphasized that imperialism is the deadliest form of terrorism, providing insights into how discontent among people leads to terrorism, referencing the situation in Punjab, the North East, and Kashmir.

Tripathi’s courage to speak openly is rare in today's India. Few are willing to address the political realities and complexities behind these barbaric tactics of expanding political powers. His approach to terrorism is not biased or politically charged, but a call for responsible understanding and action.

The Wisdom of Kahlil Gibran: A Call for Compassion

While reflecting on the escalating conflict in Lebanon, I found myself returning to the works of Kahlil Gibran, the celebrated Lebanese poet and philosopher. Though Gibran lived most of his life in New York, his heart remained in his homeland, Lebanon. He was born in the mountain town of Bsharreh in 1883, and despite his relocation to America, he never forgot his Lebanese roots. In fact, Gibran willed the royalties from his books to benefit the people of his hometown. 

Gibran’s timeless wisdom offers solace in these troubling times. His words on love, children, joy, sorrow, crime, and religion resonate deeply, reminding us of the interconnectedness of humanity. In The Prophet, Gibran writes about love: “When love beckons you, follow him, though his ways are hard and steep...And when he speaks to you believe in him, though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.” On children, he says: “Your children are not your children...They come through you but not from you, and though they are with you yet they belong not to you.”

On joy and sorrow, he writes: “Your joy is your sorrow unmasked...Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember the other is asleep upon your bed.” His reflections on crime and punishment emphasize the moral complexities of justice: “You cannot separate the just from the unjust and the good from the wicked...When the black thread breaks, the weaver shall look into the whole cloth and examine the loom also.”

Gibran’s insights provide a deeper understanding of the human condition. In his exploration of crime and punishment, he challenges us to see beyond surface-level judgments, urging us to consider the deeper roots of wrongdoing. His views on religion remind us that true spirituality lies not in rituals, but in our everyday deeds: “Your daily life is your temple and your religion...And if you would know God, be not therefore a solver of riddles. Rather, look about you and you shall see Him playing with your children...You shall see Him smiling in flowers, then rising and waving His hands in trees.”

The path ahead is steep, but we must not shy away from speaking the truth and seeking justice.