LAHORE: Experts on Sunday said that the people of Palestine, the land of prophets, have been subjected to persecution by the Zionists for around a century.
Speaking at a forum, held here at COMSATS university campus, they asked why the world could not deal with the problem for such a long period of time. In order to educate the young generation about the background of the conflict and the current tragic situation, a discussion on ‘Palestine issue and Gaza crisis’ was held here, in which experts on international affairs shed light on various aspects. Among the speakers were Brigadier (retd) Syed Ghazanfar Ali, former principal of Township College and international affairs expert Dr. Muhammad Ijaz Butt, chief news editor of daily Nawa-i-Waqt Dilawar Chaudhry, and senior analyst Salman Abid. Organised by Media and Communication Studies Department, the forum started with the words of Allah.
Dr. Mohammad Ijaz Butt shed light on the historical, religious, economic and political aspects of the Palestine issue. He
said in his speech that Israel had been persecuting innocent Palestinians, including women and children, for decades, adding the recent Israeli brutality in Gaza had highlighted the Palestinian issue anew.
The truce, which began in October, has blocked the way for Arab countries to recognise Israel. He said that the problem of Palestine and Gaza is the biggest problem in the world. This is not only a problem of the Palestinians, but of the world of Islam and humanity, he added. He said the third holiest site for Muslims is Qiblah-Awwal, located in Bait-al-Maqdas in Palestine, adding, Palestine is the land of prophets.
Palestine has been ruled by Muslims for several hundred years and was part of the Ottoman Empire for nearly four hundred years. Under the Balfour Agreement in 1948, the establishment of an illegal state called Israel was announced in the territory of Palestine, he said. The OIC consisting of fifty-seven Islamic countries and the Arab League consisting of twenty-two countries also appear helple
ss on the issue of Israel, he said.
Brigadier Syed Ghazanfar said that the concept of Zionism is based on oppression and violence. International organisations give them licence to kill. The United Nations Charter is being openly violated in Palestine. The charter states that humanity will be saved from wars and a peaceful environment will be provided to future generations, he added. But alas, all generations of Palestinians are growing up in an environment of war. Sixteen thousand Palestinians, including innocent children and women, have been martyred in the recent war, Ghazanfar said. Hospitals and schools are also being bombed, he said adding that there is no good condition of the injured. During his address, Brigadier Ghazanfar also recited a poem about Palestinian children, which moved the audience. These innocents are testifying with their blood, Ghazanfar said.
Dilawar Chaudhry, the chief news editor of daily Nawa-i Waqt, said that Jews are not oppressing in Palestine, but the Zionists are oppressing.
“We have to identify our real enemy to solve the problem. Right now, he said many Jews are protesting against the persecution of Palestinians.”
He further said that the concept of Muslim Ummah is a very weak concept. He stressed the need of unity among Muslims countries.