Growing Outrage: Israel's Allies Condemned for Gaza Hospital Blast
Outrage is growing in the Arab world over the Israeli assault on Gaza, particularly after the bombing of al-Ahli Arab Hospital. Protesters in Beirut, Tunis, and Cairo are confronting tear gas and water cannons as they express anger towards the West and its unwavering support for Israel. Activists argue that Western soft power in the region, including cultural influence and funding civil society, is being rejected due to perceived Western hypocrisy in prioritizing Israeli lives over Palestinian lives. Western influence in Tunisia and the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is facing pushback, with NGOs refusing US funding and a proposed law limiting NGO independence gaining traction. The perception of double standards and Western support for Israel is undermining the West's credibility in promoting liberal democracy and human rights in the region. European soft power in the Middle East may decline further as people see it disregarding its professed values.