Khaberni - Queen Rania Al Abdullah spoke about the consequences of Israel's war on Gaza, and how the global negligence and apathy led not only to the atrocities in Gaza but also contributed to the resurgence of global hatred.
Her Majesty said, "Time and again, experts have warned that Gaza is experiencing massive displacement, famine, and imminent genocide. In recent months, famine and genocide have been confirmed by independent global bodies and those affiliated with the United Nations. The world saw this coming, but failed to act to prevent it."
In her speech yesterday at the opening of the annual "One Young World" summit held this year in Munich, Her Majesty added, "It's not just about Gaza. All over the world, we see hatred creeping back into the foundations of our global society. The danger is not only in what hatred destroys, but also in what it reshapes in our moral compass and our sense of humanity."
Her Majesty reviewed some of the harsh transformations that Gaza has experienced since 2023, where entire families were wiped out, thousands of children killed or orphaned, and many left hungry, injured, or traumatized.
Her Majesty said, "The massive task of rebuilding is still awaiting. The illegitimate Israeli occupation of Palestine still continues. The repression of the Palestinian people is still ongoing. And finding a fair solution to this decades-long conflict, for Palestinians and Israelis, remains elusive."
During her address to an audience of about 5,000 young men and women from over 190 countries, the Queen noted that Gaza's impact extended beyond the Middle East, eliciting emotional and instinctual reactions worldwide.
She said, "Perhaps because we have witnessed—currently—the stark reality of hatred when it transitions from feeling to words, and then to actions."
She noted that hatred has returned under different names in recent years, "racism cloaked in the guise of nationalism... ethnocentric supremacy under the guise of cultural pride."
She added, "Hatred has its consequences; to minimize it as 'just words' is to ignore how every genocide began: with words."
Her Majesty highlighted the role of dehumanizing rhetoric in some of the darkest chapters of human history. Her Majesty said, "'Just words'... until hate speech paves the way for unspeakable violence."
She added, "In the aftermath of the attacks on October 7, when an Israeli official declared a complete siege on Gaza, describing the people as 'human animals'. It was an old, tried and true approach: convince the public you are dealing with monsters, then not only does violence become acceptable, but necessary."
Her Majesty emphasized that hatred cannot advance without its silent ally, indifference, and added, "Hate is legitimized by those who refuse to address difficult issues, saying 'it's complicated,' but what they really mean is: 'we don't want to bother ourselves.' But indifference is also not innocent. It prolongs the life of injustice. One concession after another leads us to a silent surrender to moral decay."
Pointing out that many around the world were disappointed by the war on Gaza, Her Majesty explained that the past two years have witnessed the birth of a global movement in support of the Palestinians, described as "the biggest spontaneous popular movement the world has known in modern memory."
Addressing the audience, she said, "Know that hope is not merely naive optimism; it is the courage to defy despair. It is what drives people to demand freedom for a people they have never met"... and added, "Love requires more strength than hatred. Being a witness to atrocities is not without pain, but heartache is the price of alertness."
It should be noted that "One Young World" is a global platform that connects and promotes young leaders from all around the world and hosts an annual summit held in a different city each year. It is one of the largest youth leadership summits in the world, where participants are invited to make speeches, participate in workshops, and have opportunities for networking, in addition to receiving advice from influential figures present at the summit.
The summit this year spans four days in Munich and is attended by several prominent global figures, including experts from the fields of international development, human rights, business, politics, and technology.
