Muslim communities united by Israel's brutal onslaught

Dubai: If the ongoing Israeli brutal assault on Gaza shows anything, it proves that no other issue can match the Palestinian crisis in its capability of moving masses around the globe, mainly in Muslim and Arab countries, analysts in the region stressed.

The coastal city of Gaza, they added, also refutes the beliefs of some western circles that other issues, especially the "Iranian threat" warrant more attention at present.

Israeli gruesome attacks on the improvised and populous Gaza were accompanied from the first day with demonstrations, angry slogans and chantings, and donations to campaigns in support of the Palestinians in almost every Muslim and Arab country, and in many non-Muslim countries as well, ranging from Sydney and South Korea to the East to Mexico city in the West.

"The world's reaction is unbelievable," Jordanian analyst Arab Al Rentawi said. "I don't recall a similar expression of solidarity with the Palestinian people in such a way."

Rentawi, director of the Amman-based Al Quds Research Centre, said: "The first Israeli raid opened the floodgates (of people's anger)... No other issue in the world is capable of moving the Arab and Muslim masses like the Palestinian question," which he said was the longest unsolved conflict in modern history.

Rentawi said the "unexpected" reaction of people to Israel's war on Gaza "had proven without doubt that this conflict, even if it battlefields are limited, and its parties' weapons are unequal, has great moral and ethical appeal unmatched with any other conflict."

Some Western attempts to accuse Tehran of aggravating the situation in the Palestinian territories were, according to analysts, part of a campaign to undermine the Palestinian question has on peoples and shift focus to other issues like the US-coined 'axis of evil' led allegedly by Iran.

"Was Iran behind the motivation of millions of people who took to the streets in Turkey and Morocco?" Rentawi asked rhetorically, before answering himself. "Surely not," he said.

Iran, which doesn't recognise Israel, is a staunch supporter of Hamas and other groups fighting Israel in the region, especially the Lebanese group of Hezbollah.

Tehran backs Hamas morally and financially. However, it rejects allegations that it supplies arms to Hamas.

Iranian leaders have been harsh in their condemnation of Israeli attacks and outspoken in their support to Hamas. They have criticised the lack of action in helping Palestinians.

Iran also expressed readiness to treat wounded Palestinians, and also asked for permission to set up a field hospital in Egypt.

Hamas has lambasted those who critical of Iran's support to the group and said "they are trying to justify their hostile opposition to resistance."

"We are concerned about having all forms of support to our cause, and when any country or political force gives its support we can't say no to them. On the contrary, we will be grateful," Hamas spokesperson Usama Hamdan said.

Other analysts believe, meanwhile, that increasing influence in Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine is part of a message it seeks to deliver to Washington to encourage dialogue between the two countries. Tehran's support to Hamas was also interpreted by some analysts and observers as a way to contain any fears and concerns in Arab countries from a Shiite-Sunni divisions in the region.

"In case of Hamas elimination," said Lebanese retired Brigadier-General Elias Hanna in an interview. "Iran is losing an ally and an extension of its influence in the region."

"Israel can't eliminate Hamas in the political sense. What Israel wants is to root out Hamas military canine teeth. Its presence in the political playground is important (to Israel), because it is the opposite to the Palestinian Authority, (then) the Palestinians will be divided to two contradicting parties."

Warning

But at the same time, some analysts warn against augmenting the size of the Iranian influence in the region at present.

"To say that Iran has that influence is proof that there is (certain) vacuum in the region," Rentawi said.

The escalation between Hamas and Israel is "related to the (general) Arab-Israeli situation which has not been dealt with in a positive way at all in the past eight years," said Paul Salem, director of the Carnegie Middle East Centre in Beirut.