NST Leader: Shared patterns of persecution make Rohingya and Gaza two sides of same coin

For decades, the world's conscientious majority, Malaysia included, have condemned and sanctioned Israel's occupation, bombing and genocide of Palestine. Yet, similar persecution is occurring in Malaysia's regional backyard: Myanmar's annihilation and displacement of the Rohingya.

This stateless Muslim minority populate Myanmar's Rakhine state, on the country's northwestern coast bordering Bangladesh.

Rohingya and Palestinians share uncanny patterns of persecution and state-sanctioned aggression, contrasted only by historical and political circumstances.

The two groups face severe, systemic crises of massive displacement, widespread destruction of homes and strict restrictions on movement.

Both are devoid of state sovereignty and citizenship, attracting critical international scrutiny.

The outcome is international legal action on alleged genocide and human rights violations before the International Court of Justice.

Still, there are differences: the persecution of the Rohingya is ethnic and citizenship-based on a minority within Myanmar. The 2017 military campaign leading to mass killings and village destruction forced 700,000 Rohingya to seek refuge in Bangladesh. On the flip side, the Palestinian nakbah is intertwined with national conflict over territory, sovereignty, occupation, security and competing claims to self-determination.

Plus, the Palestinian nakbah has geographical dimensions, encompassing Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees and Palestinians who are citizens of Israel.

Yet, the outcome is the same: human suffering, violence, and killings stemming from military interventions.

In Rohingya, the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army are responsible while Israeli state and military actions are central to the Palestinian occupation, displacement and genocide.

While Malaysia has assisted Palestinians through foreign aid and international backing, the Rohingya situation squarely hits home.

Now, Malaysia has called for more global backing to support countries hosting Rohingya refugees. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, in outlining the call in New York, implored for a sustainable solution, including pressing Myanmar to implement the Asean Five-Point Consensus.

He articulated that international assistance to host countries is pertinent, but a sustainable solution must address the root causes of displacement. This means resolving citizenship purgatory and formalising conditions for refugees to return safely, voluntarily and with dignity to Rakhine.

Yet, the broader question would be: how long can the crisis be defined as a refugee problem when its basic antagonism remains? Malaysia and fellow host nations cannot bear indefinitely the financial, humanitarian and social responsibilities of the Rohingya crisis.

In their immediacy, the Rohingya and Palestinians' crises are two sides of the same coin.