This article highlights common challenges in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and Palestine, including the denial of self-determination, human rights violations, and the impact of religious nationalism. Both regions grapple with limited international recognition amid their struggle against occupation forces, heightened repression, and maintain the right to resist oppression according to international law. The influence of Hindutva and Zionism shapes the framing of conflicts, accentuating external threats and justifying repressive actions, a stance that holds no ground given the prevailing situation.

The similarities are striking. Both the peoples of Palestine and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) were promised self-determination by the United Nations (UN) in 1948. The Palestinians are yet to achieve statehood and face the looming threat of genocide, while the Kashmiris have not been afforded the opportunity to express their preference for independence through a plebiscite.
A series of inflammatory statements from Israeli officials seeks to establish an intent tied to genocide. These statements involve dehumanizing Palestinians as "human animals," expressing a commitment to "eliminate everything," and emphasizing a priority on damage. While in India, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s rhetoric is driven by an agenda to redefine and narrow concepts of identity and citizenship exclusively for Hindus. This includes repeatedly labeling Muslims as "foreigners," "invaders," and employing dehumanizing terms like "termites”, while the government has been complicit in the marginalization of religious minorities in the country.
In India, videos of BJP politicians and right-wing Hindu religious leaders encouraging Hindus to bear arms against Muslims have become a routine. This is prevalent in Modi's India, where the Prime Minister has failed to condemn these voices or address the growing instability and societal divisions.
This unfolds within an atmosphere characterized by a continuous and escalating daily stream of Islamophobic rhetoric from Hindu religious leaders, right-wing media, and BJP politicians. They persistently utilize their platforms to call for the exclusion, forced expulsion, and even the elimination of Indian Muslims.
The homes of Palestinians have been obliterated, and loved ones lost to airstrikes. Families are resorting to splitting children among parents, a desperate measure to enhance the chances of survival if one group faces casualties.  Over two-thirds of the city's hospitals have closed due to fuel shortages or damage from airstrikes, as reported by Gaza's health ministry. As per the ReliefWeb report, there is only enough water for each person to have three litres of water per person per day, far less than the 15 litres that is typically necessary to survive. Gaza's streets are inundated with sewage, and the presence of dead bodies under the rubble increases the risk of infectious diseases.

A series of inflammatory statements from Israeli officials seeks to establish an intent tied to genocide. These statements involve dehumanizing Palestinians as "human animals," expressing a commitment to "eliminate everything," and emphasizing a priority on damage. While in India, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s rhetoric is driven by an agenda to redefine and narrow concepts of identity and citizenship exclusively for Hindus. This includes repeatedly labeling Muslims as "foreigners," "invaders," and employing dehumanizing terms like "termites”. 

According to a report titled, Palestine: Preventing a Genocide in Gaza and a New 'Nakba', by the UN Regional Information Centre for Western Europe, more than twenty United Nations independent experts have restated their concerns regarding an ongoing genocide and the potential for a second Nakba, referring to the mass exodus of Palestinians after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.¹
The experts expressed alarm at grave violations committed by Israel against Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, indicating a potential genocide in the making. They presented evidence of increasing genocidal incitement, explicit intent to "destroy the Palestinian people under occupation," and calls for a 'second Nakba.'
Furthermore, the experts condemned the use of powerful weaponry with indiscriminate impacts, leading to a significant death toll and the destruction of critical infrastructure. They expressed deep distress at Israel's refusal to agree to an immediate ceasefire and the international community's unwillingness to press more decisively for one, warning that the failure to urgently implement a ceasefire could escalate the situation towards a genocide conducted with 21^st-century means and methods of warfare.
In Gaza, which has suffered under an illegal Israeli blockade for the past ten years, unemployment is at an incredible 63 percent², the highest official rate in the world. All export industries have been shut down. Spanning decades, these incidents aim to establish a pattern of Israeli aggression amid the ongoing occupation, deemed illegal under international law. On top of the indignity of statelessness, poverty, unemployment, lack of opportunities, and the misery and destruction of war, both the Palestinian and Kashmiri people are made to suffer human rights violations on almost a daily basis. 

In Gaza, which has suffered under an illegal Israeli blockade for the past ten years, unemployment is at an incredible 63 percent , the highest official rate in the world. All export industries have been shut down. Spanning decades, these incidents aim to establish a pattern of Israeli aggression amid the ongoing occupation, deemed illegal under international law.

Palestine presents as a valuable crossroads between Africa and Asia. It is also religiously valuable to the three major monotheistic religions of the world: Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. In Occupied Palestine, Palestinians are routinely killed almost every day. Eight thousand Palestinians, including hundreds of women and children, are kept as political prisoners in Israeli jails. Armed Israeli settlers on the West Bank terrorize local Palestinians, setting fire to olive groves and farmhouses and beating up Palestinian youth.
In IIOJK, there have been over hundred recorded deaths and at least 15,000 injuries of Kashmiris since July 8, 2023³. Many of these injuries are caused by the occupation forces firing pellet guns at crowds, causing over thousand eye injuries alone to persons as young as eight years old. It is no wonder, then, that the Palestinians and Kashmiris resist so fiercely against their illegal occupations. 
In IIOJK and Palestine, where conflicts have entangled external actors, the local populations view opposition as a means to safeguard their basic human rights and dignity. This aligns with international legal doctrines that uphold the principle of self-determination and emphasize the importance of protecting individuals and communities from arbitrary actions that infringe upon their inherent rights.
Over the last decade, India has emerged as one of Israel's prominent arms export clients, investing approximately USD 10 billion.⁴ Notably, Indian law enforcement agencies have undergone training in Israel specifically focused on "anti-terror" operations, mirroring the tactics employed by Israel in conflicts involving Palestinians.
Following decades of persistent struggle, both Kashmir and Palestine have exhibited resolute resistance against oppression. Despite possessing governmental structures, these entities have regrettably received limited international recognition. The revocation of Article 370 and 35A by India shattered any semblance of special status and autonomy for IIOJK, extinguishing visible signs of Kashmiri authority. Regrettably, any form of protest by locals is categorically labeled as a terrorist act, met with severe aggression, plunging a significant portion of the population into a perpetual state of trauma.
Right-wing politicians such as the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi are constantly visible on television and social media, promoting harmful narratives against the respective repressed Muslim populations. IIOJK and Palestine are being strong armed into giving up their territorial rights and are being targeted over their identity as Muslim-majority regions. 
In the contemporary era of social media, the plight of ordinary Kashmiris and Palestinians, subjected to the actions of Indian and Israeli forces respectively, cannot easily be overlooked. The pervasive reach of social platforms makes it increasingly challenging to ignore the harrowing stories unfolding in these regions. As information and awareness become more accessible, there is a growing potential for transnational solidarity and alliance building between Kashmiris and Palestinians. Recognizing the shared challenges and experiences of each population, this interconnectedness has the power to foster a global understanding and support network, transcending geographical boundaries and amplifying the voices of those facing similar struggles.
Hindutva, a form of Hindu nationalism, serves as the official ideology of India's ruling BJP. Adherents of Hindutva contend that the strength of the Hindu nation has been undermined by Muslims and secularists. Notably, Hindutva nationalists and Zionists frequently attempt to recast conflicts, shifting the focus away from discussions on human and political rights, sovereignty, consent, and self-determination. Instead, they portray these issues as stemming from perceived irrational and implacable threats posed by Muslims and Islamists, suggesting an impending global dominance if not confronted. This framing justifies widespread repression and state violence as essential measures in the name of counterterrorism, defending democracy, and upholding civilized values.
The shared security interests between the aggressive religious nationalism of Zionism and Hindutva form the foundation of their strategic alliance. Prime Minister Modi, aligned with Hindutva ideology, notably refrains from condemning the persecution faced by Muslims and Christians. His apparent alignment with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu further underscores this shared approach. Netanyahu's military actions, particularly in Gaza, have garnered international attention for acts of genocide against Palestinian Muslims. 
In conclusion, the common challenges experienced by IIOJK and Palestine—marked by the denial of self-determination, human rights violations, and the repercussions of religious nationalism—underscore the imperative for global attention and solidarity. As these regions persist in their resistance against occupation, it is crucial for the international community to condemn such actions and stand in support of their legitimate quest for self-determination.

1.   itfff. 2023. “Palestine: Preventing a Genocide in Gaza and a New ‘Nakba.’” United Nations Western Europe. November 21, 2023. https://unric.org/en/palestine-preventing-a-genocide-in-gaza-and-a-new-nakba/.
2.   “Similarities between Occupation of Kashmir and Palestine.” n.d. Lisauk.org. Accessed November 22, 2023. https://lisauk.org/articles/detail/similarities-between-occupation-of-kashmir-and-palestine.
3.   Ibid.
4.   Osuri, Goldie. n.d. “Kashmir and Palestine: The Story of Two Occupations.” Www.aljazeera.com. https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2016/8/24/kashmir-and-palestine-the-story-of-two-occupations.