[OPINION] Palestine: Hope in the shadow of annexation
https://international.astroawani.com/global-news/opinion-palestine-hope-shadow-annexation-515515
AWANI Columnist
07/04/2025 16:28 MYT
The two-state solution has long been seen as the key to peace in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Yet, as Muslims welcome the blessings of Syawal—a time of reflection, unity, and renewal—Palestinians continue to endure relentless oppression.
Israel’s unchecked expansion of illegal settlements, backed by unwavering US support, has all but shattered hopes of making this solution a reality. Israel’s illegal settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem have been widely condemned as violations of international law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Nevertheless, US support has emboldened Israel to continue this agenda, further weakening efforts toward peace.
Israel’s Political Strategy and Settlement Expansion The Israeli government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has aggressively expanded settlements in the West Bank as part of a long-term strategy to dominate the occupied territories. Netanyahu’s coalition government includes right-wing politicians who openly reject the two-state solution and advocate for the full annexation of Palestinian land.
In 2024, Israel’s Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, announced the establishment of new settlements and the large-scale seizure of Palestinian land, yet another move to eliminate any possibility of a Palestinian state.
Additionally, Israel’s security policies—including the construction of separation walls and strict military checkpoints—have further restricted the movement of Palestinians and denied them access to basic necessities, worsening the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Legal and International Reactions Despite Israel’s continued settlement expansion, the international community has repeatedly condemned these actions. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has passed several resolutions affirming that Israeli settlements violate international law. UNSC Resolution 2334 (2016) explicitly states that Israel’s settlements are illegal and constitute a flagrant violation of international law.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has also reaffirmed this position. In 2024, the ICJ reiterated that Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are unlawful and demanded an immediate halt to their construction. The European Union, along with countries such as France and the United Kingdom, has also criticised Israel’s policies and called for the preservation of the two-state solution.
Impact on Palestinian Statehood and Human Rights The expansion of Israel’s illegal settlements has severely damaged the prospects for a future Palestinian state. By fragmenting Palestinian territories, these settlements hinder economic development, restrict access to natural resources, and make centralised Palestinian governance nearly impossible.
Palestinians living near illegal settlements frequently face land confiscation, forced displacement, and attacks from Israeli settlers, who are often protected by the Israeli military. Strict restrictions on Palestinian movement and access to essential services such as healthcare and education have further deteriorated their living conditions. In Gaza and the West Bank, the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, with millions of Palestinians suffering economic hardship and increasing restrictions on their rights due to the occupation.
US Policy and Its Implications The Biden administration initially sought to balance US policy on the Israel-Palestine conflict by reversing some of Trump’s policies. However, political realities in Washington and pressure from pro-Israel lobby groups have prevented the US from taking decisive action against Israel’s settlement expansion.
Although Biden imposed sanctions on some Israeli settlers involved in violence, his administration has not taken concrete steps to halt illegal settlement activities.
Following Donald Trump’s return as President, Israeli settlements have expanded even more rapidly, given his previous unwavering support for Israel’s annexation efforts. If the US continues to provide diplomatic cover for Israel, hopes for a two-state solution will further diminish, escalating tensions in the region.
The Future of the Two-State Solution Given the current situation, the two-state solution is becoming increasingly unattainable. With Israel’s ongoing settlement expansion, the physical and political conditions for establishing a sovereign Palestinian state are rapidly disappearing.
International efforts to pressure Israel often fail due to the US veto in the UN Security Council and divisions among major global powers. If the international community does not take firm action, the Israel-Palestine conflict will persist, with dire consequences for regional stability.
The world cannot remain silent. Concrete actions such as economic sanctions and legal measures must be taken to pressure Israel into complying with international law. Failure to act will not only eliminate the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination but will also perpetuate a cycle of violence and instability that threatens global peace.
History Repeats: From Palestine to the Indigenous Lands of America, Canada, and Australia What is happening in Palestine is not new in world history. Forced displacement, land confiscation, and cultural destruction have occurred against Indigenous communities in various parts of the world, including in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
In the United States, the Indian Removal Act of 1830 led to the forced relocation of thousands of Indigenous people from their ancestral lands to designated areas known as the Trail of Tears. Cherokee, Choctaw, Seminole, and many other Indigenous tribes lost their lands due to state-backed seizures supported by European settlers.
In Canada, Indigenous people suffered a similar fate when the British and later the Canadian government implemented unjust treaty systems to expropriate their lands. Systematic land separation left many Indigenous communities without access to their ancestral territories.
In Australia, British colonisers declared the continent as terra nullius—uninhabited land—and denied the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to their ancestral lands. This policy justified large-scale land seizures that lasted for centuries, leading to the loss of land and invaluable cultural heritage.
Non-indigenous communities, too, had a fair share of being systematically displaced. For instance, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 severely restricted Chinese immigration to the United States, causing displacement and racial violence. Chinese immigrants faced property confiscation and economic exclusion, particularly during events like the 1871 Chinese Massacre in Los Angeles, reflecting widespread anti-Chinese sentiment and discriminatory laws.
In addition, Chinese labourers in 19th-century Peru faced exploitation, displacement, and racial persecution during anti-immigrant riots, with properties seized.
Just as minority communities in these countries have suffered, Palestinians are facing the same fate—their lands are being taken, their rights trampled, and they are being forcibly displaced from their ancestral territories.
Conclusion As Muslims around the world celebrate Hari Raya, embracing the spirit of unity, compassion, and renewal, Palestine remains in the shadow of relentless occupation. Israel’s continuous expansion of illegal settlements, emboldened by unwavering US support, has pushed the two-state solution to the brink of collapse. Every new settlement in occupied Palestinian territories is not just another violation of international law—it is another nail in the coffin of Palestine’s dream of independence.
As the current ASEAN chair, Malaysia must continue to strengthen its diplomatic efforts through ASEAN and the OIC, while increasing humanitarian support for Palestinians. The international community must act decisively to preserve the dream of an independent Palestine and work towards a peaceful and stable future for the region.
The world stands at a crossroads, where the fate of Palestine hangs in the balance. If the silence continues, the hopes of millions will be extinguished, and the chance for justice and peace will slip further out of reach. The time to act is now—before this moment is lost forever. ______________________________________________________________________________________
The article is written by Murad Abu Murad, Dr. Fareed Mohd Hassan & Dr. Hazmi Rusli. They are researchers at the Faculty of Syariah and Law, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia.