In an article in the Saudi daily Okaz, journalist Hamoud Abu Taleb accused Iran's supporters and proxies in the region of fomenting war and destroying the Middle East instead of promoting progress and prosperity by peaceful means. Abu Taleb wrote that the Hamas October 7, 2023 attack on Israel did unprecedented harm to the Palestinian cause and undermined the diplomatic efforts to promote it. The attack also brought complete devastation upon Gaza and led to tens of thousands of innocent victims without yielding any benefit. Those who call to continue the sacrifice until victory is achieved, he said, are insulting people's intelligence and displaying callous contempt for human life.
Abu Taleb warned of escalation in the region, "which is plagued by illness, paranoia and extremist ideologies," and added that a conflict between Israel and Iran could "turn the region into a volcano, with lava flying in every direction."
Hamoud Abu Taleb (Image: X.com/hamoodabutalib)
The following are translated excerpts from his article:[1]
"The following burning question should preoccupy every reasonable person in this world: What is the crime of innocent people who [only] want to live in peace and fulfill their minimal human aspiration of [staying] alive, yet find themselves victims of unnecessary wars that brutally rob them of their souls, or turn them into lost refugees without shelter, food or medicine? They become mere numbers reported daily or statistics appearing in the media, as if they were not human beings. Meanwhile, the decisionmakers responsible for these wars appear on the news, in all their health and glory, to speak of [the need for] steadfastness regardless of the price in casualties.
"This is true of people everywhere on this wounded planet, regardless of any other considerations. However, since the pressing issue at the moment is the tragedy of Gaza, which has given rise to another tragedy affecting Lebanon, human conscience must pose the following question about those who celebrate the anniversary [of October 7] and speak of the need to continue sacrificing lives for victory: By what logic and by what right do they speak so disdainfully about human life? Who appointed them to drag people into Hell, when the result is immense destruction, complete devastation, and millions of people dead, wounded, disabled and displaced? Not only is this disrespect for the lives of the victims; it is also an insult to intelligence, understanding and the very logic of life.
[As a result of the October 7 attack] the Palestinian issue sustained damage unprecedented in its history, [precisely] when the intense international campaign for recognition of the rights of the Palestinian people and their state was yielding positive outcomes. What occurred [on October 7] not only undermined these positive efforts but also enabled Israel to punish the Palestinian people with extreme cruelty and barbarism. There was no achievement, and in retaliation for the death of a limited number of Israelis that day, we have witnessed a year of bloodshed for the Palestinians, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and millions of people displaced, and Gaza being turned into a place unfit for habitation.
"[Today,] we also see Lebanon burning around the clock, after Hizbullah 'rushed' [to Gaza's aid] despite knowing very well that Israel was waiting for such an opportunity. Worse still is the potential conflict looming between Israel and Iran, which could turn the region into a volcano, with lava flying in every direction. Meanwhile, the international community, and the U.S. in particular, are not interested in intervening to prevent the war for good, but [only] in controlling its pace and managing it according to their long-term strategic plans for the region.
"The [Arab] states that believe in moderation, in building the universe and in human welfare sought to turn the region into a place of growth, development and prosperity. They wanted the region's problems, chief of them the Palestinian issue, to be resolved through diplomatic channels using effective political bargaining chips. However, there are always elements whose sole objective is to harm the peoples of the region, complicate their problems, destroy their achievements, justify the presence of foreign forces, and militarize their vital [shipping] routes, causing extensive damage to their economies, security and stability.
"This world is plagued by fools, with people suffering from paranoia and epidemics of extreme ideologies everywhere – but it seems that our region has a particularly high number of them, unfortunately.”
[1] Okaz (Saudi Arabia), October 10, 2024.
