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Defense & Security

Silence and shadows: The West’s Quiet Stance on Gaza’s Agony

the flag of Palestine on the mountain on the background of the houses in the city. the war in the Middle East. explosion with black smoke in the city.

Image Source : Shutterstock

by Muhammad Younus , Bhimo Widyo Andoko , Bambang Irawan

First Published in: Mar.16,2026

Mar.16, 2026

In a world connected by the flicker of screens and the hum of digital voices, the silence of the West on the Gaza war echoes louder than any bomb that shatters the night sky. It is a silence heavy with the weight of choices unmade and words unsaid, a stillness that cloaks the suffering of people in the guise of political neutrality and strategic interests. This quiet complicity whispers louder than a roar, raising questions about morality, humanity, and the real cost of silence in the face of injustice. The Gaza Strip, a narrow enclave hemmed in by borders and blockades, has long been a crucible of pain and resilience. It is a place where life and death coexist in precarious balance, where every breath is a defiance of the suffocating conditions imposed by a siege that has lasted for decades. Here, children play among the rubble, their laughter a brittle thread of hope that stands in stark contrast to the backdrop of destruction. Families cling to each other amid the darkness of power cuts, their stories woven into the fabric of a daily struggle for survival. The people of Gaza are not merely statistics or headlines; they are fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters whose lives are marked by an enduring quest for dignity amid dehumanizing conditions. And yet, the West remains curiously quiet. The silence is not a lack of awareness—news outlets beam images of devastated buildings, grieving families, and wounded children into living rooms around the globe. It is not a lack of information—diplomatic channels are flooded with reports of humanitarian crises, violations of international law, and calls for action from activists and organizations. No, this silence is something more deliberate, a calculated choice that reveals as much about those who wield power as it does about those who suffer under it. This silence is layered and complex, often justified under the banners of political pragmatism and national interests. Governments in the West, whether by default or design, often tiptoe around the issue, their diplomatic language carefully crafted to avoid outright condemnation or clear support. Statements of concern are issued, and calls for restraint are made, but these words often fall short of genuine action or meaningful intervention. They echo through the chambers of power, hollow and unfulfilled, a reminder of the chasm between rhetoric and reality. For many, this muted response is not just a political stance but a moral failing. To remain silent in the face of clear and ongoing human suffering is to be complicit in that suffering. It is to prioritize strategic alliances and geopolitical calculations over the lives of innocent civilians. It is to turn a blind eye to the cries of those who have lost everything, to the pleas of a mother searching through rubble for her child, to the desperate hope of a father clinging to the belief that tomorrow might bring a semblance of peace. It is to allow the narrative of one side to dominate, to let the story of the oppressor drown out the voices of the oppressed. The West's silence on Gaza is also a reflection of broader global dynamics, where power often trumps principle and where the lives of some are deemed more valuable than others. It highlights the uneven scales of justice and the selective application of human rights, where the suffering of one group can be overshadowed by the strategic importance of another. This silence feeds into a cycle of despair and resentment, where each day of inaction deepens the wounds and hardens the hearts of those who feel abandoned by the very international community that claims to stand for justice and human dignity. Yet, amid this silence, there is a quiet but persistent call for change. It comes from the streets of cities around the world, where ordinary people march and rally, refusing to be silent themselves. It comes from the voices of activists, journalists, and humanitarians who risk much to bear witness to the truth. It comes from the survivors in Gaza who, despite everything, continue to hope and dream of a life beyond the siege, a life where their voices are heard, and their humanity recognized. The challenge before the West is not simply to break its silence but to confront the deeper questions that this silence raises. What does it mean to stand by in the face of suffering? How do we reconcile our values with our actions, our words with our deeds? And most importantly, what kind of world do we wish to build — a world where justice is selectively applied and where silence is a shield for the comfortable, or a world where every life, no matter how distant or different, is treated with the dignity it deserves? The answer lies not in grandiose statements or symbolic gestures but in a genuine commitment to empathy, equity, and accountability. It lies in the courage to listen, to speak, and to act in ways that honor the shared humanity of us all. For in the end, it is not the bombs or the bullets that define our world, but the choices we make in the face of them. And in the silence of the West on Gaza, there is a choice yet to be made — a choice between complicity and courage, between indifference and action. It is a choice that will echo far beyond the borders of Gaza, reverberating through the conscience of a world that must decide what it truly stands for.

First published in :

World & New World Journal

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Muhammad Younus

Muhammad Younus graduated in 2019 from the Karachi Institute of Economics and Technology University in Karachi, Pakistan, and got a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. The four-year undergraduate program in Computer Science formed the basis of my perseverance towards achieving an in-depth knowledge in the field. After graduation, I worked for the past few years as a business IT analyst in the product and research development team of TPL Logistics, a logistics startup in Pakistan. We aim to Digitize Logistics Operations in Pakistan from the First Mile to the Last Mile. After this, I graduated in 2024 from Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and got a Master’s Degree in Government Science. My research interest is in transforming governance and the public sector through the use of technology. This Experience has given me confidence and also kindled a desire to do research. The interdisciplinary nature has convinced me to take this decision as it is the ideal choice for an exciting research career. At the same time, I am confident of contributing to the ongoing work. By working under the guidance of a distinguished Team, I will certainly be able to exploit my potential fully. Muhammad Younus is a doctoral researcher in Government Science at Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY), Indonesia, with a background in Computer Science and Public Administration. His work focuses on digital governance, citizen participation, and sustainable public service innovation across Southeast and South Asia. He has authored over 60 international publications.

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Bhimo Widyo Andoko

 

Head of Bureau for Organization and HR: Appointed to this role within the newly restructured Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology in February 2025. Head of BPKU at ISI Yogyakarta: Since December 2025, he has also served as the Head of the Bureau of Finance, Personnel, and General Affairs (BPKU) at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISI) Yogyakarta. Acting Director of Institutional Affairs: He was given the additional responsibility of Acting Director of Institutional Affairs (Plt. Direktur Kelembagaan) within the Directorate General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology. Before his current ministerial appointments, Dr. Bhimo was widely known for his leadership in regional education services: Head of LLDIKTI Region VI: He served as the Head of the Higher Education Service Institution (LLDIKTI) Region VI in Central Java for several years, where he oversaw the development and quality assurance of private universities in the region. Educational Milestone: He completed his Doctoral Degree (S3) in Management Science in mid-2024, adding to his existing legal expertise (S.H., M.H.).

 

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Bambang Irawan

 

Specialization: He is a lecturer in the Public Administration program. His research interests include E-Government, Management & Public Policy, and Public Administration. Current Leadership: He serves as the Chairman of the Regional Board (DPD) of the Indonesian Association for Public Administration (IAPA) for the East Kalimantan and North Kalimantan (Kaltimtara) region for the 2025–2028 period. Educational Background: He completed his undergraduate studies (S1) at Universitas Mulawarman and later earned his doctoral degree (S3) at Universitas Brawijaya. Professor Status: He was officially inaugurated as a Professor (Guru Besar) on September 27, 2024, delivering a scientific oration titled "Creating Digital Governance through Agile Leadership". Impact: His scholarly work is well-recognized, with nearly 1,000 citations recorded on Google Scholar.

 

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