Press Release
Advice to the Netherland Muslims Regarding the Palestinian Issue
(Translated)

Since the beginning of the brutal attack by the Jewish state on Gaza, the Palestinian issue has become the subject of discussion by many countries, organizations, and individuals. Everyone addresses it according to their specific viewpoint like Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, for example, has expressed his support to the so-called "Israel" in its war on Gaza, and that it has the right to defend itself and protect its citizens. While former Dutch Prime Minister Dries Van Agt has supported the Palestinian issue but from a humanitarian point of view, as for other politicians and public opinion makers, they have expressed their opinion regarding Palestine through various media outlets and statements. It was noticeable that some have supported "Israel" and others have supported the Palestinian issue.

In this context, many non-Muslims have taken positions on what is taking place in Gaza and carried out actions condemning what the Jewish state is committing against the unarmed people of Gaza. Based on this the Muslims sensed that non-Muslims support the Palestinian issue, and that there is no problem in joining with them to hold conferences and demonstrations as long as they share a common concern.

It is not wrong to create a public opinion among the non-Muslims regarding the "Israeli" brutality and to find compassion towards the hardships faced by the Palestinian people, but there is a stark difference between establishing public opinion and depending on the non-Muslims' platforms to establish the public opinion.

In the first case, we work on influencing the others with the thoughts that we carry. Whereas in the second case, we are the ones who become influenced by the thoughts of the others. This is why we must be cautious and aware about two very important issues: the first is: What are the thoughts related to the Palestinian issue that can be taken and those which cannot be taken, and the second is: What is the correct solution for this issue and where can we find such a solution? What can be seen tangibly is that there is a consensus over some of the erroneous and deceiving thoughts related to the Palestinian issue between the non-Muslims sponsoring and supporting it, for example:

Calling the Palestinian struggle as an "Israeli"-Palestinian conflict.

The conflict in Palestine has been reduced to a nationalistic one; as a result it became a conflict between the Palestinians and the "Israelis" only, when the Palestinian issue is primarily an Islamic Issue. Palestine occupies a special place in the hearts of the Islamic Ummah for many reasons, including: it is a blessed Islamic land, home to the first two Qiblas, and the third of the holy mosques which is under military occupation. Due to this occupation, the Muslims over there have suffered severe oppression for over sixty years, Allah Almighty says,

[وَمَا لَكُمْ لَا تُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَالْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ وَالنِّسَاءِ وَالْوِلْدَانِ الَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا أَخْرِجْنَا مِنْ هَٰذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ الظَّالِمِ أَهْلُهَا وَاجْعَلْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ وَلِيًّا وَاجْعَلْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ نَصِيرًا]

"And what is [the matter] with you that you fight not in the cause of Allah and [for] the oppressed among men, women, and children who say, "Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper?"" [An-Nisa: 75]

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (saw) as saying,

«لا تحاسدوا، ولا تناجشوا، ولا تباغضوا، ولا تدابروا، ولا يبع بعضكم على بيع بعض، وكونوا عباد الله إخوانا، المسلم أخو المسلم، لا يظلمه ولا يخذله ولا يحقره، التقوى ها هنا - ويشير إلى صدره ثلاث مرات - بحسب امرئ من الشر أن يحقر أخاه المسلم، كل المسلم على المسلم حرام، دمه وماله وعرضه» رواه مسلم.

"Don't nurse grudge and don't bid him out for raising the price and don't nurse aversion or enmity and don't enter into a transaction when the others have entered into that transaction and be as fellow-brothers and servants of Allah. A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He neither oppresses him nor humiliates him nor looks down upon him.

The piety is here, (and while saying so) he pointed towards his chest thrice. It is a serious evil for a Muslim that he should look down upon his brother Muslim. All things of a Muslim are inviolable for his brother in faith: his blood, his wealth and his honour." (Sahih Muslim Book 31, Number 6219)

All the above-mentioned reasons are Shariah reasons as to why the conflict in Palestine is not considered an "Israeli"-Palestinian conflict; but a conflict of creed between the Jews and the Muslim Ummah, this is why the Palestinian issue is distinctly an Islamic issue.

Recognition of "Israel":

Recognition of "Israel" is considered by the non-Muslims supporting the Palestinian issue as an essential part of the solution. In reality some of them say that the occupiers are the owners of that land. Therefore it must be recognized as the owner of the land of the 1967 borders, while those under occupation believe that they have the right to resist the occupation with all available means to expel it.

Two State Solution:

The so-called two state solution is nothing but an incorrect solution that forsake a major part of Palestine- which belongs to the Muslim Ummah- to the occupiers, recognizing as a result the legitimacy of the occupying entity. This recognition from the Islamic viewpoint is a betrayal to Allah (swt), His Messenger (saw), and to the believers.

Searching for solutions from the West or the United Nations:

Searching for solutions for the Palestinian issue from the West or by knocking at the doors of the United Nations is impossible, because it was the West who was responsible for the loss of Palestine and is the one who surrendered it to the Jews giving them the right to establish their state in Palestine through the Belfour Declaration. And how many times did the politicians head to the UN begging for solutions, what was the result?

And those who anticipate solutions from the UN, do they not see that the UN resolutions will always protect the Jewish state and ensure its existence, even when they pretend to sympathize with the Palestinian issue?!

The West has worked for many years to achieve all what is mentioned above and made it acceptable in Palestine and among the Arabs, even though it contradicts with Islam and the interests of the Muslims.

The real and practical solution for the Palestinian issue can never be from the West, or from Western thoughts, or by waving the so called Palestinian flag, or painting the faces with the colours of the Palestinian flag, this flag in origin is a symbol that belongs to the Kaffir occupier who destroyed the political unity of the Muslims, and divided the Muslim countries into weak entities unable to expel an occupying enemy like the Jews!

The solution for the Palestinian issue can only be from Islam, that Palestine, its people and sanctities must be liberated from the occupation by the Muslim Armies, and then re-united with the rest of the Islamic land where both Muslims and non-Muslims live in peace and tranquility.

Finally, the Muslim community in the Netherlands has proven that they will not remain silent over the oppression and that they will stand in solidarity with their brothers and sisters in Palestine at all times; we ask Allah (swt) to reward you on behalf of the Muslims the best of reward, and to give you strength to continue in support of your brothers. We remind you that all steps we take must be through the teachings of Islam and its objectives without being influenced by the deviating Western thoughts and solutions; all effort and all actions will contribute towards finding the true solution for the Palestinian issue.

Okay Pala
Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir
in The Netherlands