Vietnam holds a special place in my heart as one of my favorite countries, as I visit here for the second time after 10 years. Its stunning beaches, archipelagos, mountains, and jungles, combined with a vibrant cultural spirit, rich cuisine, and above all, wonderfully welcoming and courageous people, make Vietnam feel complete.
The Vietnamese have long embodied courage, particularly in their struggles against colonial powers—from the French to the Americans. During the Vietnam War (1954–1975), an estimated 2 million Vietnamese lost their lives, while the U.S. suffered 58,279 military casualties in its campaign against Vietnamese resistance. Through innovative guerrilla warfare with tunnel systems, among the first of their kind used in a major war and later adapted by resistance movements in Gaza, Yemen, and Lebanon—the Vietnamese expelled imperial forces, embodying Ho Chi Minh’s words: “Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom.”
This spirit of defiance resonates deeply with the Palestinian struggle in Gaza. Like the Vietnamese, Gazans employ guerrilla tactics, including extensive tunnel networks, against overwhelming odds. Both peoples have endured immense suffering yet remain steadfast in their pursuit of sovereignty, united by their defiance of oppression.
Recently, someone asked me if I’ve grown indifferent to the Palestinian cause because I write about it less often. On the contrary, I’ve come to a painful realization: much of the Middle East, particularly the Arab world, is led by self-interested and often cowardly rulers who prioritize regime survival over the dignity of their people, truth, and justice. After all, leadership is ultimately a reflection of the collective consciousness of the population it governs.
As of March 24, 2025, Palestinian health authorities reported over 50,000 deaths in Gaza, with nearly a third under the age of 18. While people in Gaza are being killed daily by Israeli forces, many populations across the Arab world seem too self absorbed in daily life to act meaningfully, showing little sympathy or solidarity—too often preoccupied with eating kebabs and smoking hookahs.
If we critically examine the situation, how many mass protests have we actually witnessed across Arab countries in the Middle East in solidarity of Palestine? Compare this to the thousands—indeed, millions—who marched in countries from Indonesia to Europe, Latin America, and Canada. In many cases, those who expressed solidarity in Arab countries were met with repression or dismissal by their governments, with notable exceptions like Algeria and Qatar.
New research cited by The Economist (May 2025) suggests the true death toll in Gaza could be between 77,000 and 109,000, accounting for underreporting. While innocent people are being killed—some standing in food queues, evoking images reminiscent of Holocaust films—support has often come from Shia-majority groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Iran, despite their own heavy sacrifices and losses that can’t be imagined.
Some might ask why Iran supports Palestine when much of the Arab world does not. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) supported Iran’s revolution, with Yasser Arafat even visiting Tehran in 1979 as a gesture of solidarity.Yet some continue to ignorantly blame Iran for events like the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran—a claim that ignores their longstanding alliance. Historical context effectively debunks assertions that Iran is responsible for regional unrest. Before Iran’s 1979 revolution, the Middle East had already been scarred by multiple conflicts. Furthermore, it is shared religious principles and bonds of solidarity that unite Iran and Palestine, while some Arab nations remain divided by tribal and sectarian divisions.
A classic “divide and rule” strategy, exploited by Zionists and some Arab monarchies, has propagated fear of Shia influence to maintain control. This has fractured Palestine itself, pitting Fatah, which administers the West Bank, against Hamas, which governs Gaza. Mahmoud Abbas, Yasser Arafat’s aging successor, has effectively demilitarized the West Bank, acting as a passive partner to Israeli policies, leaving Palestinians there to endure conditions akin to apartheid—treated as second-class citizens without dignity or rights.
The genocide in Gaza could have ended swiftly if Egypt had withdrawn from the Camp David Accords or if Morocco, Jordan, the UAE, Sudan, and Bahrain had revoked their participation in the Abraham Accords in solidarity with Palestine. In contrast, Egypt and Jordan, in particular, have compromised their autonomy. Egypt receives $1.3 billion annually in U.S. military aid and $250 million in economic aid, tied to its 1979 treaty with Israel. Jordan, a Major Non-NATO Ally since 1996, receives over $1 billion annually in U.S. economic and military assistance and is set to receive $1.035–$1.65 billion annually through a $10.15 billion package from 2023 to 2029. Jordan’s King Abdullah II, a British puppet, prioritizes regime stability over national dignity, despite over 60% of Jordan’s population being of Palestinian origin. Zionists ensure that Israel remains the dominant power in the Middle East, guaranteeing that no Arab state stands up with dignity against their dominance and atrocities.
In contrast, the bravery of Gaza, Yemen, and Lebanon echoes Vietnam’s spirit and other liberation movements, such as India’s under Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who declared, “Freedom is not given; it is taken.” Charles Bukowski’s words ring true for much of the Middle East: “The only time most people think about injustice is when it happens to them.” The courage of Gaza, like Vietnam, reminds us that true independence is hard-won—but always worth fighting for.
faznotes.com 
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