The Arab response to the unfolding Palestinian catastrophe has been underwhelming. Palestinian intellectuals, journalists, activists, and the wider Palestinian public have had no illusions as to what to expect of the US political and military elites. They did, however, expect more of Arab governments.

The hope was that, with Israel’s barbaric conduct in Gaza glaringly obvious, Arab leaders would seek to apply maximum pressure on Israel and its Western backers. Little of this has eventuated, provoking among Palestinians anger, frustration, and above all a deep sense of betrayal.

Perhaps the two best placed countries to exert pressure, namely Egypt and Saudi Arabia, have been at best guarded – the occasional strong word and feeble deeds.

Arab governments as well as the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Conference have been content to condemn and exhort. They have called for an immediate, permanent and sustainable humanitarian truce leading to the cessation of all hostilities.

They have also repeated their previously stated objective of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace based on the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Arab officialdom, however, has steadfastly refused to explain how any of these objectives can be realised, how Israel can be persuaded to stop its armed offensive, or what practical steps the Arab world will take to overcome Israeli intransigence.

A notable exception has been the Houthi targeting of ships in the Red Sea, forcing large container shipping companies to send their vessels on much longer journeys around Africa. Retaliatory UK and US strikes have followed but are unlikely to guarantee safe passage anytime soon.

A few other governments have made small........

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