Gaza: A Mirror for Our Times

1st October 2025

The cries from Gaza today are not just news headlines. They are voices that touch every heart. Homes reduced to rubble, families torn apart, children carrying a pain far beyond their age. How much longer will the world stay silent, as if the lives of some people matter less than others?

Gaza is not just a piece of land under siege. It has become a symbol of dignity that refuses to bend, of faith that survives when the world turns away, of people who stand with nothing in their hands against tanks and bombs, yet still do not give up. For Muslims, it is tied to Al-Quds and a sacred trust. For all of humanity, it is the biggest test of conscience.

When we look at Gaza, we don’t only see politics. We see mothers burying their children but refusing to lose hope. We see youth who have never tasted freedom, yet still dream of justice. We see a nation that the world abandoned, but who still resist, showing us that their very existence is defiance.

And yet, in the middle of this pain, something else is unfolding. The tide is turning. It feels as if events are being written beyond human planning.

India’s aggression against Pakistan in the skies proved useless — failing not only in battle but also in diplomacy and even in the credibility of its media. What was meant to weaken Pakistan has instead brought it into the world’s spotlight.

Meanwhile, Israel has stretched its aggression beyond Gaza — targeting Iran, an independent nation that stands firm against the powers of today. Then came the attack on Qatar — a close ally of the US. That move forced every Arab nation into a defensive corner. Saudi Arabia, which not long ago celebrated a defense pact with Washington, suddenly saw the reality of such alliances exposed — and turned towards, small but now visible – Pakistan!

Here rises a bigger question: Can Pakistan, as a nuclear power, rise above being just a player in defense? Can it become a unifying force for the Ummah?

The test now lies with Pakistan. At a time when divine decisions seem to have drawn Pakistan back into the global spotlight, any betrayal or negligence from its side would not just be a political failure — it would be an intense neglect of the responsibility it has been entrusted with.

At the UN General Assembly, the sight of leaders leaving the hall as the Israeli President spoke filled social media, proving to be the apartheid’s humiliation at the world’s largest stage. One after another, nations spoke against Israel’s injustice. The silence and support of the powerful was more obvious than ever, but so was the courage of others. The words of Colombian President Gustavo Petro stood out, calling openly for the world to resist Israel’s crimes. Who could have imagined Western nations taking such a stand against injustice?

At the same time, flotillas from across the globe are once more on their way to Gaza with aid. These unarmed volunteers from every nation, caste, and creed carry nothing but the strength of human conscience, united by a single cry: “Free, Free Palestine!” The world now waits for this convoy to reach Gaza — and any act of aggression against these peacemakers and their humanitarian mission may ignite an even greater wave of momentum against Israel.

Another fold has appeared in global politics with Trump presenting his 20-point peace plan for Palestine. It has already drawn intense criticism across the world, even as governments, out of fear of the powerful and fear of economic pressures, move to endorse it. The plan carries no representation of Palestinians — their future once again being decided by others, echoing the colonial mentality of the past where outside powers carved destinies to protect their own interests. The Nimrods and Pharaohs of current times continue to play their games of propaganda, while the humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains ignored.

Any agreement that Palestinians might be compelled to accept with the powerful may only lend a temporary pause in conflict, a borrowed time of peace. But such an agreement must be offered with dignity — not as a slave’s choice under the ultimatum of “accept or ready to die.” Only then can it create space for revival — the revival of broken bodies, of shattered infrastructure, of a city that refuses to die. 

The world is tired. People are fed up with the double standards — one kind of justice for the weak, another for the powerful. They are weary of the inequality between nations. The world has tested every -ism, and all promised solutions have failed. A vacuum now hangs in the air, waiting to be filled.

That vacuum can only be filled by justice that is fair, equal, and lasting. And this is the justice system that Islam offers — not just for Muslims, but for all of humanity. Justice that is not limited by race or class, not controlled by wealth or power, but given to every human being simply because they are human. Maybe this is the moment when the world will finally see that Gaza’s cries are not only about Palestine — they are about the failure of man-made systems, and the readiness for something greater.

Piece by piece, the Ummah seems to be waking up. Not because of speeches of rulers, but through protests in the streets, voices in parliaments, and new alliances being formed. Pakistan’s defense understandings with Saudi Arabia no longer look like ordinary deals, but part of a much bigger shift — something beyond politics, something that feels written by the divine hand.

But beyond politics and agreements, Gaza is not only testing governments — it is testing us. Do we remain quiet in our comforts while children sleep under bombs? Do we allow fear of economies and borders to silence us, even when our faith calls us to stand for justice?

The Quran reminds us that blessings come with trials. Gaza is showing us those trials every day. Its people have carried theirs with strength and patience. The question is, will we carry ours?

Gaza is not only Palestine’s story — it is the story of humanity, a test for us all. In its broken buildings and shattered streets, yet unbroken hearts, lies a promise: justice may be delayed, but it will never be denied.