Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah said that global inaction and indifference have not only led to atrocities in Gaza but have also fueled the resurgence of hatred worldwide.
اضافة اعلان
“Time and again,” Her Majesty stated, “experts warned that Gaza was facing mass displacement, famine, and impending genocide. In recent months, both independent and UN-affiliated bodies have confirmed these realities. The world saw it coming but failed to act to stop it.”
Speaking at the opening of the annual One Young World Summit held this year in Munich, Her Majesty said, “This isn’t just about Gaza. Across the world, we see hatred creeping back into the foundations of our global community. The danger lies not only in what hatred destroys, but in how it reshapes our moral compass and our sense of humanity.”
Her Majesty recounted Gaza’s devastating transformation since 2023, where entire families were wiped out, and thousands of children were killed, orphaned, injured, starved, or traumatized.
“The monumental task of rebuilding still lies ahead,” she said. “The illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine continues, the oppression of the Palestinian people persists, and a just resolution to this decades-long conflict remains elusive.”
Addressing an audience of around 5,000 young people from over 190 countries, Queen Rania noted that Gaza’s impact extends beyond the Middle East, evoking deep emotional and instinctive responses worldwide. “Perhaps because we have now seen hatred in its purest form—when it transforms from feeling, to words, to action.”
She warned that hatred has resurfaced in recent years under new disguises: “racism cloaked in patriotism, ethnic supremacy dressed as cultural pride.”
“Hatred has consequences,” Her Majesty added. “Dismissing it as ‘just words’ ignores how every genocide began — with words.”
She highlighted how dehumanizing rhetoric has paved the way for some of humanity’s darkest chapters:
“‘Just words,’ until hate speech lays the groundwork for unspeakable violence,” she said.
Referring to the aftermath of October 7, Queen Rania recalled when an Israeli official declared a total siege on Gaza, describing its residents as ‘human animals’. “It followed an old, familiar script: convince people they’re dealing with monsters, and violence becomes not only acceptable but necessary.”
Her Majesty stressed that hatred cannot advance without its silent ally — indifference. “Hatred gains legitimacy from those who avoid difficult issues, saying ‘It’s complicated,’ when what they really mean is ‘We don’t want to bother.’ But indifference isn’t innocent either — it prolongs injustice. One small concession after another leads us quietly into moral decline.”
She noted that many around the world have been disillusioned by the war on Gaza, but that the past two years have also witnessed the rise of what she described as “the largest spontaneous global pro-Palestinian movement in modern memory.”
“To all of you,” she told the young audience, “know that hope is not naïve optimism; it’s courage in the face of despair. It’s what drives people to demand freedom for a nation they’ve never met. Love takes greater strength than hate. Bearing witness to atrocities is painful—but heartbreak is the price of awareness.”
The One Young World Summit is a global platform that connects and empowers young leaders from across the globe. The summit, held annually in a different city, is among the world’s largest youth leadership gatherings, featuring speeches, workshops, and networking opportunities with influential figures in fields such as international development, human rights, business, politics, and technology.
This year’s summit is taking place over four days in Munich, with participation from prominent global figures and experts across multiple disciplines.
