While in Italy people are competing to see who can shout “genocide!” the loudest between a talk show and an indignant post, a much more concrete and much less ideological scene unfolded in New York: the Arab League – yes, that’s right – condemned the 7 October attacks for the first time, asked Hamas to lay down its arms and leave Gaza, and supported the birth of a non-aggressive Palestinian state under the control of the Palestinian National Authority.
And no, in the document signed by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan and 17 other countries, there is no trace of the term ‘genocide’. Not even a hint. No exterminating intent imputed to Israel. No request for criminal indictment. Only a firm condemnation of the civilian deaths (on both sides) and a very clear invitation: Hamas must step aside, forever.

The only real news: the Arab world takes a stand

This is the real news. And it tells much more than the daily parade of improvised analysts who, on this side of the Mediterranean, rush to interpret international justice even before international justice has spoken. If it were up to them, Israel would already be on trial for crimes against humanity, without even the effort of a trial. Outrage would be enough.
But while we play the game of who is more ‘on the right side of history’ here, the Arab world has taken a surprisingly pragmatic stance: the number one problem today is Hamas. Not Israel. Not colonialism. Not the West. Hamas.

The Arab League document is clear

The New York document makes it clear: the Islamist group must disarm, release the hostages, cede control of Gaza to the PNA, and make way for the construction of a sovereign, demilitarised, regionally integrated Palestinian state. Full stop. End of the story of the ‘two resistances’.

Israel’s predictable reaction

Israel – or rather, the Netanyahu government – reacted as expected: total rejection. Why? Because there is no punishment planned for Hamas, no guarantee that its leaders will be caught, and above all because this proposal takes away Israel’s only real remaining ‘bargaining power’: military force. If Hamas does indeed withdraw (and that remains a huge “if”), Netanyahu loses his narrative of eternal war, and with it much of his political legitimacy.
But beware: Israel is not just Netanyahu. It is a country that in a few months will go back to the polls. And it will be the Israeli citizens who will decide whether they want to continue down the road of endless military occupation, or take this Arab proposal seriously, which for once speaks the language of realpolitik rather than that of rhetoric.

The Hamas crossroads

Meanwhile, the real game is played elsewhere. Hamas is at a crossroads: continue using civilians as human shields, or leave the political scene in exchange for the concrete possibility – for the Palestinians – of finally having a state. Not perfect, not immediate, but possible.

The irony of history: those who demanded cover now want the end

The most ironic thing? This turn of events has been led by the same states that used to be accused of ‘covering up for Hamas’. Now they are the first to call for its end. And while they do so, they carefully avoid uttering heavy words like ‘genocide’, preferring to work on a political, concrete and measurable proposal.
Perhaps, in these parts, someone should take notes.