Resistance axis and people of West Asia shatter Western hegemony’s unholy plots

By Marzieh Hashemi

“Those people” over there just love to fight. They are always looking for trouble. This is what I was told growing up in the United States, particularly about the region referred to as the “Middle East.”

This narrative was a constant drumbeat in the nightly news and reinforced in classrooms and at home.  Well, they must be right. After all, how could it be wrong when so many voices repeated it?

I had heard this from so many sources and the reality is that usually when I would watch the news, it would focus on some type of conflict or chaos in the “Middle East” or caused by the “Middle East.”

From the Arab-Israeli wars in the 1970s to the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, and the oil crises that those “troublemakers” were causing for Americans in the 1970s and 80s, the “Middle East” dominated headlines as a source of disruption that threatened American prosperity.

This portrayal shaped how Americans viewed West Asia—an unstable, chaotic place. But to truly understand the complexities of the region, one must delve into the hidden backstories and recognize the role of imperialist powers in fueling these events.

For instance, Americans were not told how the Palestinians’ land had been stolen from them, in a sinister plot initiated by the British. We were not taught how European Zionists, with British support, displaced native Palestinians, stripping them of their homes and lives.

The Nakba – the “catastrophe” – when Palestinian land and lives were obliterated and continue to be obliterated, to clear space for Zionist settlers, was never part of the story we were told.

Instead, we were taught that, after the Holocaust, Jews needed a safe homeland and simply returned to their “ancient” land, which was supposedly empty. What was omitted was that most Zionist settlers were of European descent, not Semitic, and the land they claimed was far from uninhabited.

We did not know that Palestine was a thriving country, with a rich history, culture and where people had been living for thousands of years. They had their lives and land stolen from them by colonial powers and the United Nations, which gave the stamp of approval for the historic injustice.

So, on October 7, 2023, after Palestinians had faced at least 74 years of murder, theft and displacement by the Israeli regime and its Western and Arab supporters, the Palestinian resistance decided to fight back and break out of the largest open-air concentration camp in the world.

In the process, Israeli soldiers and settlers were killed or taken hostage. The response from mainstream media was swift and frenzied, portraying Palestinian resistance fighters—and even ordinary Palestinians—as “wild animals” and “murderers” devoid of humanity or respect for peace.

Reports of mass rapes, babies being baked, and other grotesque fabrications began to circulate, designed to vilify the resistance. These accusations fit seamlessly into a long-standing narrative fed to Americans: that “those people” simply don’t value peace or life.

But this time, the script began to crack. The horrors unfolding in Gaza were broadcast live, in real-time, for the world. Little by little, citizens of the world began to awaken and question the many narratives they had heard for so long, about the people of this region and their faith.

For years, stories had painted Muslim men as tyrannical, incapable of love or tenderness toward their wives, and children—especially daughters. But then the world saw husbands clawing through rubble with their bare hands, desperately searching for their missing spouses.

We saw people devastated by the grief of losing their loved ones. We saw fathers and grandfathers cradling the lifeless bodies of their daughters and granddaughters. We saw a grandfather gently kissing and caressing the face of his granddaughter Reem, the “soul of my soul”, who had been killed.

But we had been told something quite different about Muslim men back in the United States.

Other paradoxes emerged too, shattering the narratives we had long been taught. As Americans, we were told that Muslim women were oppressed and weak, controlled by their men, and stripped of agency. Yet during the genocide in Gaza, we witnessed something strikingly different. Women spoke of choosing to sleep in their hijabs so that, if killed, they would die in dignity, fully adhering to their faith.

We saw a female doctor, undeterred by indiscriminate Zionist gunfire, rushing from the hospital to treat a wounded patient lying in the street. We saw the way Palestinian mothers have raised their children under siege, instilled in them values of resilience. Many children have memorized the Holy Quran and recited its verses while undergoing surgery without anesthesia.

We saw Palestinian women displaying exceptional courage and determination in front of their occupiers, showing no fear and putting their affairs in the hands of their Creator in line with Quranic teachings.

As corporate Western media's biased narratives began to crumble, a global awakening took root. Social media became a platform for uncovering hidden truths and mobilizing people against the ongoing genocidal war against Palestinians.

Some even converted to Islam after witnessing how the religion, demonized by the West, actually empowered its followers with unwavering faith and strength.

As international solidarity grew for the Palestinian cause, so did the desperation of the hegemonic powers led by the US. For them, this solidarity between the East and West was too dangerous for the powers that be. And so, they turned to their age-old tactic: divide and conquer.                                

Many resistance leaders were assassinated in a string of cowardly attacks, and the divisive issue of Syria was reignited, ironically, amid the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.

For almost 13 years, the collective West and its regional cohorts had sought to overthrow the democratically-elected Syrian government due to its unflinching support for the Axis of Resistance and the Palestinian cause.

The Assad government was overthrown and the same corporate mass media, which had “taught” Americans about the “Middle East” for so many decades, continued to do so, by portraying Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as one of the worst tyrants that ever existed.

Of course, we have seen how the collective West and its regional allies really care about human rights. These so-called champions of human rights have stood by, complicit, as Palestinians were slaughtered in Gaza by the Tel Aviv regime using US-made bombs. They not only did nothing to stop it but actually participated in the genocide.

The fall of Syria’s government fractured the Ummah once again, diverting attention from Palestinian solidarity amid the genocide to endless debates and divisions over Syria.

As if this wasn’t enough to divide us and keep us occupied with insignificant things, the Palestinian Authority resumed its crackdowns on resistance forces in the occupied West Bank. The fragile unity forged during Gaza’s darkest hours was now fractured, replaced by internal and trivial feuds.

Despite the growing global momentum for the cause of Palestinian liberation and the mounting condemnation of Zionist atrocities worldwide, confusion spread as these other crises resurfaced.

How could anyone view Takfiri terrorists as legitimate democratic leaders in Syria? How could they overlook Syria’s crucial role in supporting the Palestinian cause? The tragedy lies not only in the loss of life but also in the erosion of a once-powerful solidarity, as the struggle for justice splintered into myriad distractions and divisions.

Others wonder why the Palestinian Authority (PA) chooses now to crack down on the resistance. This question arises only for those unaware of the PA’s true allegiance. It serves Israeli interests, operating under their pay and supervision. The PA would sooner turn its weapons on a fellow Palestinian than confront a Zionist occupier.

Meanwhile, a parallel plot unfolds to discredit Iran’s unwavering support for Palestine and the broader resistance front, while minimizing Hezbollah’s sacrifices. Once again, the sectarian card is played to deepen divisions.

Some ignore the stark reality: when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was asked to name Israel’s greatest threats, he repeated one name three times—"Iran, Iran, Iran."

Others turn a blind eye to Hezbollah’s bold move in opening a second front against the Zionists on October 8, 2023, easing the burden on Gaza’s besieged people and fighters.

Hezbollah’s dedication is evident, offering its best—including its revered Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, as well as Sayyed Hashem Saffiedine and many others —although Hezbollah is Shia and most Palestinians are Sunni.

Then there’s the unsettling silence about certain Muslim states—staunch US allies—actively undermining the Palestinian cause.

These same voices often vilify the Yemenis, who, despite relentless pressure, stand firm in their unwavering support for Palestine, declaring they will fight until either victory or martyrdom. Their resilience has inflicted significant damage on the Zionist regime, yet this is conveniently overlooked.

Even with these clear examples of unity and sacrifice from the Resistance Front, many in the Ummah still fall prey to Western and regional propaganda. They swallow the narrative that the region’s people inherently reject peace when the truth is far more sinister.

It’s not the people but the Western hegemonic powers and their Zionist proxies who destabilize the region to control its resources. By perpetuating division and chaos, they secure their strategic dominance, using the Zionist entity as a foothold while exploiting the indigenous people of West Asia.

The reality is that the Western hegemonic front and its Zionist proxy want to control the resources of this region. They want to have a strategic presence in this region and the best way to do this is with total support for the Zionist entity and by keeping the indigenous people of West Asia divided.

However, the tide is shifting. Like the rest of the world, the region’s people are waking up to these plots. These are communities that cherish life, family, peace, and security. But the powers that be deny them this peace, determined to rob them of their resources while sowing discord.

The methods of the Western hegemonic powers are brazen and clear: supporting their Zionist proxy and collaborating with Takfiri extremists to spread chaos

On a side note, let’s not forget how these same Takfiri terrorists who were fighting against Syria were treated in Israeli hospitals, under the guise of "humanitarian aid.” the same regime that has slaughtered over 46,000 children, women, and men in Gaza. Their hypocrisy speaks volumes.

The people of this region know how to live and thrive—if only the hegemonic forces would cease their interference. Yet, just as the resistance awakened the world to Palestine’s decades-long plight, it remains the guiding force in exposing the truth about West Asia.

Despite the evil plots of imperial powers and their Zionist allies, the resistance continues to inspire hope, pride, and courage, fostering the unwavering belief that victory is not just possible but inevitable.

Marzieh Hashemi is a US-born, Iran-based journalist, commentator and documentary filmmaker.

(The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Press TV.)

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