As Gaza’s skies turn crimson with smoke and fire, as hospitals collapse under air raids, and children’s cries echo through the rubble, we can no longer dismiss this as a distant conflict. This is not merely a regional war in a corner of the Middle East—it is a global test of humanity, justice, and the very foundations of civilization. Today, under the name of the “Gaza Exhibition,” we light lamps of memory in cities around the world—from London to Cairo, from Kuala Lumpur to Cape Town, from Istanbul to Jakarta—and we cry out: See Gaza. Remember Gaza. Save Gaza!
I. Gaza in Blood and Fire: The Harsh Reality of the Latest Developments
As of early November 2025, the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip has reached unprecedented levels. According to the latest report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), tens of thousands have been killed since the latest round of conflict began, with over 70% being women and children. Medical facilities are on the verge of total collapse, with the few remaining hospitals struggling to operate amid power outages, medicine shortages, and lack of clean water. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Gaza is facing “the worst public health catastrophe in modern history.”
Recent Israeli military operations in southern Gaza, particularly in Khan Younis, have forced hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee once again amid relentless bombardment. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reports that over one million people are suffering from “catastrophic hunger,” with infants dying of malnutrition in makeshift clinics. Even more distressing, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has begun hearings in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel. While a final ruling is pending, substantial evidence indicates that systematic deprivation of essential resources, widespread bombing of civilian infrastructure, and the blockade of humanitarian aid may constitute grave violations of international humanitarian law.
Just last week, the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor announced sufficient evidence to proceed with war crimes charges against senior officials from both Israel and Hamas. This news has sent shockwaves across the globe, marking a critical shift from moral condemnation to tangible legal accountability.
II. The Gaza Exhibition: More Than an Exhibition—A Rallying Cry of Conscience
The “Gaza Exhibition,” held simultaneously in dozens of cities worldwide, is far more than an art or photo display. It is a collective act of remembrance, a rebellion against silence, and a humanitarian cry that transcends borders and faiths.
At London’s Southbank Centre, the exhibition titled “Broken Olive Branches” showcases war drawings by Gazan children: distorted homes, burning schools, silhouettes of mothers holding lifeless infants. One child’s drawing bears the words: “I want to live, even if just one day without fear.” At the Islamic Arts Museum in Kuala Lumpur, curators have projected images of Gaza’s ruins onto the museum’s dome, allowing visitors to look upward into a sky filled with destroyed mosques and homes. In Cairo’s Tahrir Square, rows of empty shoes stand at the exhibition’s entrance—symbolizing the children who will never walk again.
The core message of these exhibitions is a refusal to accept dehumanization. Western mainstream media often reduces Gaza’s suffering to “a tragedy on both sides,” deliberately obscuring the historical roots of occupation, blockade, and systemic oppression. In contrast, the “Gaza Exhibition” uses real footage, survivor testimonies, UN reports, and satellite imagery to reveal the truth: this is the continuation of 77 years of colonial subjugation and national dispossession—a microcosm of the Palestinian people’s struggle to survive under siege and war.
III. The Islamic World’s Response: From Moral Solidarity to Active Awakening
As a scholar deeply engaged with the Islamic world, I feel profoundly that this global wave of Gaza exhibitions marks a transformative shift in Muslim collective consciousness. In the past, our support was often expressed through religious sentiment, lacking systematic and sustained international action. Today, however, we see compassion turning into organization and anger into responsibility.
From Indonesian university students organizing “Voices for Gaza” lecture tours, to the Turkish Red Crescent launching the “Lifeline Corridor” humanitarian transport initiative with multiple countries, from UAE civil groups launching the “A Light for Gaza” donation campaign, to Pakistani youth holding “Virtual Siege of Gaza” experiential events at borders—solidarity is evolving into structured action.
Encouragingly, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) recently proposed the “Gaza Reconstruction Initiative” during a special session, calling on member states to establish a dedicated fund for post-war infrastructure and psychological recovery. This is not just political rhetoric, but a fulfillment of the Ummah’s (global Muslim community) sacred duty.
Yet, we must also be clear: moral support cannot replace political resolve. Some Islamic nations still adopt ambiguous positions in UN votes, or remain silent on Israel’s military actions due to geopolitical interests. This “diplomatic apathy” is eroding the moral authority of the Muslim world. We must ask: when our brothers and sisters are fighting for survival in the rubble, have we fulfilled our duty as one Ummah?
IV. The Test of Global Conscience: Can Human Civilization Withstand This Trial?
The tragedy of Gaza is not only the suffering of the Palestinian people—it is a shame upon all humanity. It exposes the deep crisis of the current international order: power overriding law, interests trumping justice, and humanitarian principles constantly compromised in geopolitical games.
Yet, there is hope. The Global South is increasingly forming a new moral alliance. South Africa’s case at the ICJ, Brazil’s recognition of Palestine, and Colombia’s suspension of military ties with Israel demonstrate a rising demand for post-colonial justice. Meanwhile, massive protests, university encampments, and open letters from artists and intellectuals in the West reveal a younger generation’s exhaustion with “selective justice.”
The “Gaza Exhibition” symbolizes this awakening. It tells us: conscience knows no borders; justice allows no exceptions. When a people are systematically denied the right to live, every person of conscience must become their witness and their voice.
V. Beyond the Cry: What Can We Do?
Exhibitions may end, but our responsibility does not. We call upon the world to:
1.
Urgent action at the UN Security Council to pass a legally binding ceasefire resolution, with an independent monitoring mechanism to ensure unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza;
2.
Full support for the ICC’s investigation and prosecution of war crimes, holding all perpetrators accountable, regardless of affiliation;
3.
Establish a “Gaza Reconstruction Alliance” within the global Muslim community, pooling funds, medical aid, educational resources, and psychological support for long-term recovery;
4.
Integrate the truth of Gaza into media and education, breaking information blockades and cultivating a new generation’s sense of justice;
5.
Empower every individual to be a light—through petitions, peaceful protests, ethical consumer choices, and sharing verified information, each of us can ignite a spark in the darkness.
Conclusion: Rebuilding Hope Upon the Rubble
Gaza’s land has been reduced to ruins, but the hearts of its people still burn with longing for freedom and dignity. Every photo, every recording, every gaze in the Gaza Exhibition carries the same message: We see you. We have not forgotten you. We stand with you.
As one Gazan mother said in a video shown at the exhibition: “They can destroy my home, but they cannot destroy my memories. My child has the right to know that they once had a garden, a school, and sunlight.”
Today, in the name of this exhibition, we carry Gaza’s cry to every corner of the earth. This is not an end, but a beginning—an awakening. Let us be guided by conscience, walk the path of justice, and together, rebuild a more equitable and humane world upon the ruins.
For when the children of Gaza can finally sleep in peace, then, and only then, can the conscience of humanity rest.
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