NEARLY two years have passed since the war in Gaza erupted in October 2023, and yet the violence and suffering continue unabated. Images of devastation and the slaughter of civilians dominate our news feeds, igniting worldwide outrage including here in Malaysia.
Malaysians, like many across the Muslim world, speak of the ummah as a global Muslim community, and we lament the absence of collective action to end the atrocities in Gaza. We question why wealthy Gulf states, despite their resources, have done so little beyond issuing statements of concern.
Part of the answer, while uncomfortable, is straightforward: political structure determines outcomes.
Authoritarian monarchies in the Arab world are not beholden to public opinion. When I hear of people claiming the tides are changing in the Arab world, I can’t help but remind them of this fact. Authoritarian Arab leaders of either monarchies or republics are insulated from popular sentiment, which limits their response even if their populations strongly empathise with the plight of Palestinians.
No doubt, surveys confirm the people’s empathy.
A 2024 study by the Arab Center in Washington found that 92 per cent of Arabs view the Palestinian cause as a regional concern instead of just a Palestinian one with near-unanimous agreement in Gulf states like Saudi Arabia. Arab Barometer data further reveal that 86 per cent of respondents consider Israel’s occupation a threat to their own national security. And yet, despite this overwhelming support for Palestine among ordinary Arabs, their governments remain largely unresponsive.
The reason is clear: authoritarian regimes only react when their own power is threatened and not when their people demand moral clarity or regional solidarity.
Paradoxically, the fate of Gaza may not rest with leaders in Muslim-majority nations, but rather with public opinion in democratic societies of major world powers where elected officials must answer to voters.
In the United States, public attitudes have shifted significantly. A 2025 Pew Research Center survey showed that a majority of Americans (53 per cent) now hold unfavorable views of Israel, with Democratic support sharply declining. Gallup reports that 55 per centof USadults now favor the establishment of a Palestinian state, with 76 per centof Democrats and 53 per centof independents backing the idea. A Brookings Institution analysis notes that Democratic sympathy for Palestinians rose from just 16 per centin 2001 to 59 per centin 2025, while sympathy for Israel plummeted to 21 per cent.
These shifts are not just academic; they are impacting politics.
In New York’s recent Democratic primary, progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani ran on a clear pro-Palestine platform, among other social issuesand defeated establishment-backed former Governor Andrew Cuomo (who is now running as an independent). This victory wasn’t just symbolic. It was proof that voter sentiment is reshaping political realities.
Protests in US cities further demonstrate the strength of this movement. Harvard’s Nonviolent Action Lab recorded over one million Americans participating in pro-Palestinian rallies across more than 2,600 events compared to only 442 pro-Israel events. Ceasefire resolutions have been passed in over 100 local governments, with about 65 per centof Americans supporting an immediate “ceasefire now.”
Similar democratic dynamics are unfolding across Europe. Massive protests in Spain, Ireland, Germanyand the UK have not only influenced public discourse but have also nudged governments toward calling for ceasefires and reassessing their unconditional support for Israel.
In democracies, where public sentiment cannot be ignored forever, moral convictions can evolve into concrete policy change.
Importantly, this momentum is being driven by young people.
Across campuses in the United States and Europe, students are demanding institutional divestment from Israel and challenging political complacency. Youth-led movements have forced university boards to debate Gaza-related policies and compelled lawmakers to clarify their positions.
The same energy exists in Malaysia although not as structured as counterparts in the West. Instead, our youth has been vocal through social media campaigns, boycotts, forumsand even street protests to play their part in advocating for justice in Palestine.
In a hyper-connected world, we should not discount Malaysian voices. With support from the government, our calls for peace in Gaza are amplified.
Young Malaysians do have power. Even if not in positions of foreign policy leadership, the youth do influence the moral direction of our country.
We have our electoral system to thank for that as the government cannot ignore voters’ demands if they wish to stay in power. Through sustained advocacy, education and solidarity movements, Malaysian youth can actually strengthen Malaysia’s diplomatic voice and join the growing global pressure that is reshaping narratives and, potentially, outcomes.
Will the war in Gaza end soon? We cannot say. But one thing is clear: democratic public opinion matters, especially in nations where policies can shift with the electorate’s will. It is this grassroots pressure that may finally tip the balance.
The silence of Arab leaders, unfortunately, is louder than the wishes of ordinary Muslims in the Middle East.
The youth in democratic nations need to remember they stand on the right side of history. While authoritarian regimes remain silent, democracies can - and increasingly do - respond.
That is our hope. That is our leverage. And that may be how this war finally ends.
Syaza Shukri, PhD, is an associate professor and the current Head at the Department of Political Science, IIUM. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of Sinar Daily.