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Not enough

Not Enough — Why the Muslim World Must Move from Words to Action

Introduction

The editorial “Not Enough” (September 17, 2025) underscores the widening gulf between rhetoric and reality in the Muslim world’s response to Israel’s continued assault on Gaza. While summits and statements abound, genuine action remains absent. This inertia weakens the moral authority of Muslim leadership, frustrates public opinion, and deepens the plight of the oppressed.

The Setting: Summits without Substance

The Arab-Islamic summit in Doha once again highlighted the contradiction between powerful condemnations and vague proposals. Calls for reviewing economic ties, reconsidering diplomatic relations, and forming joint security mechanisms sounded promising but lacked concrete timelines and enforcement. Such outcomes create the perception that summits are ritualistic rather than transformative.

Gaza: A Crisis That Demands More Than Words

The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza has intensified with Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza City. Thousands of lives are at stake, and the UN has already warned of potential genocide. In such circumstances, mere condemnations offer little relief to suffering civilians. The gap between the magnitude of the crisis and the weakness of the response reveals a leadership deficit in the Muslim world.

The Editorial’s Core Argument: Action over Rhetoric

The essence of the editorial is clear: rhetoric is no longer enough. Muslim states must employ their collective strength in three key dimensions:

• Diplomatic Pressure: Withdraw ambassadors, suspend normalization agreements, and isolate Israel diplomatically.

• Economic Leverage: Utilize oil, trade, and financial instruments as bargaining chips to compel compliance.

• Collective Security: Develop regional security cooperation independent of Western patronage, demonstrating both self-reliance and unity.

Why Rhetoric Fails

Words without deeds embolden aggressors, weaken public faith, and reveal disunity. Israel continues its onslaught because it knows that statements of condemnation carry no cost. Repeated inaction risks delegitimizing Muslim leadership in the eyes of both their citizens and the international community.

Pathways to Real Change

1. Binding Resolutions with Deadlines
   Leaders must establish enforceable commitments such as trade suspensions or diplomatic withdrawals within set timelines.

2. Humanitarian Support
   Safe corridors, humanitarian aid, and funding for relief must be immediate and visible to address urgent needs.

3. Civil Society Mobilization
   Media, NGOs, and youth organizations should be empowered to apply pressure on governments for accountability.

4. Strategic Unity
   A fragmented approach reduces impact; a unified strategy can alter the balance of power and create real consequences.

Conclusion

The “Not Enough” editorial serves as a wake-up call. The Muslim world must choose between remaining trapped in a cycle of empty declarations or asserting genuine influence through decisive action. History will not remember speeches — it will remember whether leaders turned solidarity into policies that changed outcomes.

Vocabulary for CSS Aspirants

Important CSS Questions

1. Analytical Questions

   • Why has the Muslim world failed to convert strong rhetoric into meaningful action on Palestine?

   • How can economic and diplomatic tools be effectively used to counter Israeli aggression?

   • What lessons can be drawn from the Doha summit for future Muslim unity?

2. Essay-Type Questions

   • “Rhetoric without action undermines credibility.” Discuss in the context of Muslim world responses to the Gaza crisis.

   • “Humanitarian catastrophes demand decisive leadership, not symbolic declarations.” Analyze with reference to Palestine.

   • Examine the role of economic leverage in shaping global conflicts, with a focus on Muslim states and Palestine.