IN the midst of unspeakable tragedy, hope remains for a better tomorrow for the Palestinian people. As Israel continues its genocidal campaign in Gaza, unfazed by global censure and warnings from international courts to stop its monstrous campaign, there is growing consensus within the comity of nations that legal recognition must be extended to Palestine as a sovereign state.

After Ireland, Spain and Norway recognised Palestine last month, the central European state of Slovenia earlier this week did the same. This brings to 147 the number of countries that recognise Palestine as a state, confirming the fact that the global majority is in favour of granting the Arab nation its legitimate, and long-denied, rights.

But while such international solidarity must bring some solace to the people of Palestine, the troubling question of stopping Israel’s campaign of extermination remains. The fact is that the international community’s solidarity must result in a long-term ceasefire so that Tel Aviv’s eight-month-old pogrom in Gaza is brought to a halt.

This can only happen when those states that recognise Palestine put pressure on Israel’s powerful benefactors — primarily the US — not to sabotage ceasefire efforts, especially within the UN Security Council. When Israel’s warmongers know that America will defend them at every international forum that counts, why will they stop? Moreover, Palestine’s allies must translate their gestures of support into concrete actions, for example enforcing a trade and arms embargo against Israel until it stops the bloodbath. Words enough will not be enough to bring Tel Aviv to its senses.

All states that value human life, and hundreds of thousands of ordinary people marching against genocide in cities across the world, have called for an end to the butchery in Gaza. But Israel remains unrepentant. The latest atrocity came in the shape of the Israeli attack on a UN school in which nearly 40 people were killed. Many of the victims were children.

Unfortunately, the list of atrocities Israel has committed in Gaza since Oct 7 is a long one, and each fresh act of barbarism eclipses the previous action. Yet, despite the global outcry, Tel Aviv insists on ‘finishing’ the job in Gaza, which presumably means eradicating all signs of life in this forsaken territory. Moreover, Tel Aviv’s warmongers are now eyeing Lebanon, with the possibility of their exchanges with Hezbollah mutating into a full-blown war.

Therefore, recognition of Palestine is only the first step. The need is for the international community to endorse an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in Gaza. Unhindered humanitarian aid must simultaneously be made available to the occupied territory’s traumatised population. At a later date, the comity of nations must hold Israel and its backers to account for the murderous rampage Gaza has been subjected to.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2024