By Qamar Bashir
The tides of global diplomacy are shifting rapidly, and two nations once seen as pillars of
regional dominance—India and Israel—are finding themselves increasingly isolated on
the world stage. After India’s recent war with Pakistan, the global community united in
its condemnation of Indian aggression. The overwhelming silence from the world in
support of India, except a few isolated voices, exposed New Delhi’s overestimation of its
diplomatic capital. Now, as Israel intensifies its brutal military campaign in Gaza and the
West Bank, it too is heading down a path of growing international alienation.
On Monday, an unprecedented joint statement from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer,
French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney sharply
rebuked the Israeli government. The leaders declared their opposition to Israel’s
expansion of military operations in Gaza, condemned the intolerable human suffering,
and denounced the deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid. They warned Prime
Minister Netanyahu that if Israel does not cease hostilities and lift restrictions on aid,
“further concrete actions,” including targeted sanctions, would follow.
The statement also reaffirmed the illegality of permanent displacement and settlement
expansions, calling them direct violations of international humanitarian law. The call for
an immediate ceasefire and the revival of efforts for a two-state solution echoed
growing consensus from across the globe. Yet, in this chorus of international outrage,
one nation remains conspicuously silent—India. Far from condemning the assault, India
appears to be tacitly encouraging Israel’s savage military campaign, drawing disturbing
parallels between their treatment of Palestinians and India’s own conduct toward Pakistan
and Kashmir.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded with fury, accusing the Western
leaders of offering a “prize” for terrorism by pressuring Israel to halt its “defensive war.”
Rejecting the joint statement, Netanyahu claimed that calling for a Palestinian state
rewarded Hamas for its October 7 attack and insisted that Israel would instead adhere to
President Donald Trump’s plan—a controversial proposal involving the expulsion of
Gaza’s population and its redevelopment, widely dismissed by the international
community as ethnic cleansing.
Yet even Israel’s closest allies are beginning to distance themselves. Reports surfaced
that Trump’s envoys engaged in direct talks with Hamas for the release of American
hostages without informing Tel Aviv—a stark deviation from established protocol. Israel
was reportedly blindsided, learning of the negotiations through its own intelligence
services, not Washington. Similarly, Trump’s recent decision to launch nuclear
negotiations with Iran—without prior notice to Netanyahu—reflects a changing strategic
calculus in Washington, even under a pro-Israel U.S. administration.
This growing defiance of Israeli overreach by traditional allies marks a turning point. Just
as India was humiliated by the international community after its failed military
aggression against Pakistan, Israel now faces global condemnation for its indiscriminate
bombing, blockade, and mass displacement of Palestinians. From targeted airstrikes on
hospitals and schools to the systematic denial of food and medicine, Israel’s actions have
shocked the conscience of the world.
What India failed to learn from its diplomatic downfall, Israel seems determined to
repeat. Its arrogance, belief in military impunity, and dismissal of international norms are
reminiscent of India’s posturing in South Asia. Both nations, driven by hyper-nationalist
ideologies, have mistaken silence for consent and economic strength for moral
legitimacy. But the world is no longer willing to look away.
The new regional dynamics are also working against Israel. The clout of Gulf
nations—Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE—has surged, and their diplomatic and financial
influence is shaping the future of the Middle East. Turkey is asserting its regional role,
Syria is reemerging from isolation, and Iran has weathered decades of sanctions to remain
a formidable power. The Arab world is no longer a passive observer; it is an active
participant in reshaping the region’s geopolitical reality.
Countries across the Muslim world—from Malaysia to Indonesia—are rising as
economic and military powers, building alliances and advocating for justice in Palestine.
The momentum for a just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is accelerating. The
June 18 conference in New York, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, will further
solidify global consensus toward a two-state solution.
Even European countries long considered Israel’s allies are now proposing recognition of
a Palestinian state. France has already hinted at such a move, while Canada and the UK
are signaling that continued aggression will come at a diplomatic and economic cost.
Israel, much like India after its debacle with Pakistan, is staring down the prospect of
diplomatic isolation. The message is clear: the world will no longer tolerate unchecked
aggression disguised as self-defense. The era of impunity is drawing to a close.
Israel must now choose between perpetuating its cycle of violence or joining the
international community in earnest efforts for peace. Its military dominance may buy
time, but it cannot buy legitimacy. The writing is on the wall—tyranny has a shelf life.
And if the Netanyahu government does not heed the warnings of its allies and adversaries
alike, it risks leading Israel into an era of irreversible isolation and decline.
The Palestinian cause, long suppressed under the weight of occupation, bloodshed, and
despair, is finding renewed strength—not just through armed resistance but through
diplomacy, moral clarity, and international unity. Pakistan has shown how a smaller
nation can defeat aggression with strategy and resilience. Iran has shown how endurance
and defiance can outlast decades of coercion. The Middle East is changing, and the world
is watching.
The future belongs to justice, not might; to coexistence, not conquest. Just as India was
forced to face the consequences of its arrogance, Israel too must prepare to be held
accountable. Liberation of Palestine is no longer a distant dream—it is becoming an
urgent global demand. And sooner or later, it will be a geopolitical inevitability.
-Press Secretary to the President (Rtd)
Former Press Minister at the Embassy of Pakistan to France
Former MD, SRBC
Macomb, Michigan, USA
