Despite thousands of miles away geographically, Palestinians and Kashmiris have a lot in common.

The protracted conflicts in Palestine and Kashmir symbolize not only the persistent failures of global diplomacy but also the profound human suffering that has ensued in their wake. Although geographically distant, these regions are bound by a tapestry of anguish, and an unyielding drive toward self-determination.

These areas represent more than mere geopolitical quagmires; they are vivid illustrations of the human cost of indifference. In recent years, a disconcerting synergy has emerged in the policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi. Their administrations are marked by a resolute embrace of aggression and control, and an ‘othering.’ In the case of Netanyahu, this involves the Palestinians, and for Modi, this involves Muslims.

Accusations that cast India and Israel as collaborators in the repression of the Kashmiri and Palestinian peoples are not without foundation. They highlight a narrative that places these states at the heart of what could be termed crimes against humanity, necessitating a candid examination of their actions.

Tracing the genesis of these conflicts requires us to delve into the colonial legacies of the British Empire, which sowed the seeds of sectarian discord that persist to this day. The remnants of ‘divide and rule’ have etched a permanent scar across the historical and prospective landscapes of Palestine and Kashmir.

The present-day “rules-based international order” — often touted in geopolitical rhetoric — has done little to dismantle the edifice of civilizational animosity, particularly against Muslims. The international community is left to reckon with an order that perpetuates injustice.

For Palestinians and Kashmiris alike, the battle for autonomy transcends political contention, touching the very core of their moral and social existence. The stark parallelism between their plights is undeniable: Kashmiris persist under the shadow of Indian hostility, while Palestinians persevere against the backdrop of harsh Israeli occupation.

The narrative of the West Bank and Gaza mirrors the agony of Kashmiris. Both communities have endured protracted sufferings — their aspirations for peace met with a hollow echo of progress. The religious dichotomy — Muslims under the yoke of non-Muslim dominion — cannot be ignored, underlining a historical pattern birthed in colonial times.

The British Empire’s imperial designs have bequeathed a legacy where Israel and India appear to advance a common agenda, targeting Muslim communities in their pursuits. In Kashmir, this manifests as egregious human rights violations by Indian forces, culminating in a harrowing toll of death and disappearance. Similarly, Netanyahu’s expansionist drives in the West Bank, paralleled by Modi’s abrogation of Article 370, crystallize a joint stance rooted in far-reaching implications.

Yet, amidst this bleak tableau, there is an emergence of a global conscience — protests in Western capitals and dissent within diplomatic ranks reflect a burgeoning awareness and demand for justice.

The plea for prioritizing self-determination within the United Nations Security Council is more than a diplomatic overture; it is a call for rectitude in an international system plagued by double standards and skewed political motives of leading powers, betraying the aspirational charters that founded the modern global order.

The journey toward enduring peace in the Middle East and South Asia is irreversibly bound to the honor of United Nations resolutions. The relentless Israeli military campaigns in Gaza, marked by the indiscriminate destruction of civilian homes and the grievous loss of life, have breached the threshold of the global Muslim community’s forbearance.