New Delhi : Amid intensifying geopolitical shifts in the Middle East, Dr. Fazal Rahman, a senior fellow at the Indian Council of World Affairs and expert on Middle Eastern affairs, has warned that the Palestinian issue is being deliberately erased from regional priorities. He was speaking at a public seminar organized by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) under the theme “Changing Landscape of the Middle East and Future Possibilities.”
Presiding over the event, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind’s Vice President Malik Moatasim Khan stressed the importance of the issue and noted that Muslims must remain hopeful and steadfast in the face of such crises.
Dr. Rahman gave an in-depth overview of the current situation, stating that resistance forces fighting Israel are being systematically dismantled while the genocide in Gaza has become a routine occurrence. “Israel is trying to normalize an otherwise abnormal situation,” he said, adding that Gulf countries no longer prioritize the Palestinian cause and are now deeply divided based on self-interest.
He pointed out that during former U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit, Palestine was conspicuously omitted from discussions. “While Trump was visiting, Israeli attacks on Gaza intensified. Contrary to media narratives suggesting differences between Trump and Netanyahu over Gaza, no such disagreement has ever existed between the U.S. and Israel on this issue,” he asserted.
He further remarked that modern diplomacy has become starkly black and white. “There is no longer a grey zone. Everything is happening in broad daylight. Gulf rulers are working to erase Palestine from the Muslim consciousness to normalize the atrocities in Gaza,” he said.
On the future of the region, Dr. Rahman warned that Israel is systematically weakening neighboring Arab nations and pressuring them to join the Abraham Accords. “Israel already controls half of Syria, and there’s an ongoing plan to place the entire region under Israeli dominance,” he claimed.
He expressed grave concern over the forced displacement of Palestinians, saying that no Arab nation is prepared to openly support Palestine anymore. “Countries like Egypt, Jordan, and Syria—once active in defending Palestine—have been rendered powerless. The time ahead will be extremely difficult for Palestinians,” he warned.
In his presidential address, Malik Moatasim Khan highlighted the spiritual and global importance of the issue, referencing the Qur’an to emphasize the need for hope and resilience among Muslims. “We must overcome our internal weaknesses and live by the teachings of Islam,” he said.
The event concluded with a lively Q&A session where participants engaged with the speaker on various aspects of the Palestinian crisis and Middle Eastern politics. Among the attendees were JIH Vice President Prof. Engineer Saleem, Secretaries Muhammad Ahmed and Shabbir Ahmed, and Radiance Chief Editor Ejaz Aslam. The session was moderated by Zaheer Ahmed and attended by students, youth, and prominent citizens from the city.
