Opinion | From the ashes of Gaza, the Global South must build another world

As US global leadership declines, the devastation of Gaza should prompt emerging nations to work towards a shared future for humankind

Reading Time:4 minutes

Protesters hold placards denouncing US President Donald Trump’s Gaza policy in front of the US embassy in Seoul, South Korea, on February 5. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 8:30pm, 20 Feb 2025

The inhumane destruction of Gaza is a stark reminder of the failures of a crumbling world order led by the United States. The Global South must seize the moment to pull together and work towards realising a shared future for humankind.

Donald Trump’s proposal to forcibly relocate Palestinians and transform Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East” has sparked global outrage. Many condemned the plan as a potential second Nakba, echoing the catastrophic displacement of Palestinians from their homeland in 1948.

In 1945, spearheaded by the US and other Allied powers, the United Nations was established with a solemn mission of never repeating the horrors of the second world war, including the Holocaust. This was enshrined in 1948 with the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which affirmed the inherent dignity and equal rights of every human being as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace.

For many, the ongoing annihilation of Gaza has exposed the post-war illusion of common humanity. This tragedy is underscored by a profound irony: the key parties to the atrocities in Gaza include Israel – born from the ashes of the Holocaust – and the US, one of the World War II victors that ostensibly vowed never to support genocide.

The Gaza war has significantly damaged the US global standing. According to a 2024 survey led by researchers from the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, the conflict was identified as a top geopolitical concern for Southeast Asian professionals in politics and business, which could explain why more respondents favoured China over the US.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has been a vocal critic of the war. Malaysia has joined the Hague Group as a founding member to help hold Israel accountable through the International Court of Justice. Anwar has also said Malaysia will work with Japan to promote a fund supporting Gaza’s reconstruction.