COMBATING ISLAMOPHOBIA AFTER THE AL-AQSA FLOOD

Abstract

The present study aims to examine the increasingly widespread phenomenon of Islamophobia linked to the Al-Aqsa Flood in 2023. National practices worldwide convincingly demonstrate that Islamophobia has increased since Israel launched its war on the Gaza Strip, breaking international laws egregiously and depriving Palestinians of their rights. In addition to this, cases of hate crimes directed at Muslims have now hit peak levels. Therefore, the current study aims to discuss the origin, motivation, and consequences of Islamophobia, probing international efforts to stop it and analytically examining the impact of the war in Gaza on the worldwide diffusion process of Islamophobia. In other words, a critical reading of Islamophobia is presented in line with a descriptive-analytical and historical approach, asserting that incidents of attack, hatred, and incitement against Muslims related to Islamophobia have risen abruptly since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza, heating the anti-Muslim sentiment and raising transnational Islamophobia. Ultimately, the study found that effectively combating Islamophobia associated with the recent war in Gaza requires taking all necessary steps to end the war and shielding Palestinian people from Israeli strikes. Accordingly, the study recommends suggestions for effective strategies to deal with, counter, and lessen Islamophobia’s negative consequences in a manner that complies with international law standards.

Keywords Gaza War, Human Rights, International Law, Islamophobia, Israel-Palestine conflict