Mehmood-Ul-Hassan Khan
Most recently, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has published a poem on Gaza. In which HH. Muhammad strongly criticized Israel’s blockade causing unlimited human tragedies and uncountable human agonies and sufferings. He also urged the Arabs World to come to the rescue and assistance of the incarcerated territory of Gaza because the poet/writer thinks that tyranny is curse and conspiracy of silence is the biggest sin.
The poem shows the high levels of human spirits and moralities of the writer who felt ugly on the Gaza peace flotilla massacre. It also reflects vast horizon of HH. Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s thinking which got disturbed by the lack of concerted response to the barbaric attack on civilians by the so called human right champions and highly projected democratic countries. The selection of words is excellent with human attraction. It is also reflection of Homer’s Iliad and the siege of Troy too.
In “Gaza’s Iliad, Shaikh Mohammed has strongly condemned Israel’s deadly attack last month in which nine many people lost their lives. In his recently published poem Shaikh Mohammed demands acts of bravery, determination, courage and heroism and collective unity in the Arab World to help the needy and struggling people living under the siege of Israel as shown by the warrior Achilles in the human history. By saying “Gaza is an exam,” “A test of the times for us” he actually tries to encourage the revival of ancient history of Arab World full of impossible mission accomplished and human dignity.
He further writes “They turned the aid ship into fire,” and adds that “history will remember that we let down Arabs like ourselves when they called for help.” In another stanza he questions the refusal to face the bitter fact.
“Wherefore denial and the keeping of the blind eye?
Oh, people of the world, give an ear to their plight”
H.H. Mohammed also mentioned the “call for peace without taking action a lie,” and strongly criticised what the UN Security Council took steps after Israel’s inhumane arrogant attack on unarmed volunteers. He termed it death of humanity and black spot on the conscious of so-called civilized world.
He masterly portrayers the unending human sufferings of the Palestine people living in Gaza
“What cardinal sin has Gaza committed…
…without any pretence a people are ruined…
the call of peace is made but no action follows it”
“What is going on, Security Council? Why the silence?” he further elaborates. The above mentioned stanza projected many serious unanswered questions to the people, international community at large and especially the continued disappointed and dissatisfied conduct of the UNO and moreover, disconcerted and unconcerned attitude of big powers.
He also mentions that
Else:
“History shall show we let them down,
They are Arabs like us and they need our protection”
This is clearly a clarion call for action, both collective and concerted.
Bloody Sunday and the universal lessons of a civilian massacre
Actually, the above motioned selected important parts of the highly appreciated poem indicates the writer’s desires to do something meaningful in order to put an end to the suffering of the Gaza people. It also suggests the collective plan of action to rescue the struggling people of Palestine from the Israel government. It also provokes spirits of struggle and encourages deeds over merely words.
The timely conceived and published poem “Gaza Iliad” carries hope for liberalization, conveying everlasting message of fight against all odds, indicating desire of ARAB UNITY, showing determination of survival, portraying unlimited suffering of the Palestine people living for years under siege, disrespect, displeasure, disaffection and insult. The poem also successfully unearths the double standards of the UNO, and big powers. It is the true reflection of a true poet, a brave ruler and a great scholar and visionary His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.