What Can Be Done in the Face of Genocide in Gaza? An Arab Dialogue in Britain seeks the possibilities
In a conversation within an Arab WhatsApp group in Britain, Bahraini academic and former Member of Parliament Dr. Mohammad Jalah Firouz posed a painful and urgent question in light of the ongoing killing and destruction in Gaza. He wrote:
“I feel my heart breaking from our inability to stop the genocide and annihilation of Gaza and its people—our people.
I keep asking myself: What can be done?!!!?!!
What can I,before anyone else, do???!!
Does anyone have an answer???”
This wasn’t a search for a ready-made solution, but an attempt to spark a collective dialogue, rearrange priorities, and explore the boundaries of possible action.
Anas Altikriti: Patience, Persistence, and Prayer Are Essential
Anas Altikriti, President of the Cordoba Foundation, responded:
“We are all in that boat, dear Dr. Jalal.
We must continue to do everything within our capacity—each in their own field, specialty, and position—with immense patience, perseverance, and the ability to withstand harm.
We need to turn away from distractions and trivialities, and focus our hearts and efforts on supporting our people in Gaza and across Palestine—accompanied by constant prayer.
And before and after all of that: absolute belief that God is capable.”
Adnan Hmidan: Feeling Helpless Doesn’t Lift Our Responsibility
Adnan Hmidan, Editor-in-Chief of AlArab in UK, added:
“Feeling Helpless Doesn’t Absolve Our Responsibility, there’s a small light within each of us: the light of duty, the light of faith that we are not completely powerless.
Taking action means refusing to stay silent, refusing to surrender, refusing to give up hope.
We must continue doing what we can; writing, protesting, organizing, resisting with words, sounds and images, as well as givinin charity and raising awareness.
We must believe there is something that we can do every day; organizing a protest, writing an article or contacting an MP.
Not because I think my effort alone will make a difference, but because every small act helps build momentum toward justice.”
Mohammed Amin: Depression Is a Privilege in Times of Genocide
Mohammed Amin, Editor-in-Chief of Arab London, commented:
“Feeling powerless is natural—but it must not lead to paralysis.
Depression is a luxury we cannot afford in times like these.
Each person should offer what they can: writing, speaking, donating, protesting, applying political pressure.
Everyone knows their own capacity, but we must honestly ask ourselves: Have we truly done all we can?”
Mohammad Kozbar: Our Enemies Count on Our Despair
Mohammad Kozbar, former Vice President of the Muslim Council of Britain, emphasized the danger of giving up:
“Our enemies are counting on us to give in and raise the white flag.
But the people of Gaza have taught us to live and think differently—even under constant bombing and siege.
We cannot abandon them while they are performing miracles with their resilience.
Every act of support we offer is a lifeline to them.”
Fares Al-Kindi: Resistance Is Life, Not Suicide
Yemeni political figure and Director of Moral Guidance at Yemen’s Ministry of Interior, Fares Al-Kindi, stated:
“Resistance is life—not suicide.
Losing one round does not mean the resistance is over. We must gather our wounds and prepare, stronger and more equipped, for the next round.
As for the role of national elites, it is to continue spreading awareness of the Zionist enemy and to avoid discrediting others who may differ in their approach—especially when it comes to the Palestinian cause, which unites us despite our differing views.”
Dr. Mohammad Jalah Firouz: We Need Implementation, Evaluation, and Development
Returning to the discussion, Dr. Firouz — Director of External Relations at the Moral Guidance Department — concluded:
“Your responses have illuminated the path forward.
What we need now is implementation—followed by continuous evaluation and improvement of our methods, each according to their role and capabilities.
Willpower is the beginning. The rest are details we can overcome.”
This discussion comes as Israel’s bombardment of Gaza continues without pause, with an ongoing genocide targeting civilians amid a shameful international failure to halt the violence or lift the siege.
Tens of thousands have been killed or injured. Infrastructure lies in ruins. The humanitarian situation deteriorates by the hour.
The question Dr. Firouz posed still hangs in the air—a cry in the face of global silence:
What can be done? And can the individual, amid such horrors, still play a meaningful role?
Perhaps the answer lies in the conversation itself:
We do what we can… and we do not stop.
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