This is why the Sunday meeting of the League comes as a pleasant surprise. That the Arab leaders have decided to break the aid blockade imposed on the Palestinian Territories by Israel and the US is most welcome. Although the Cairo meeting did not suggest any measures to deal with Israel’s continuing persecution of Palestinians, it was not a totally pointless exercise.

While the Arab governments have decided to ‘find means of getting aid’ directly to Palestinians, they have also managed to end the political stalemate between Hamas and Fatah. The two parties have agreed to form a unity government with Mohammad Shbair, the US-educated former head of Islamic University in Gaza who has close ties with both Hamas and Fatah, is likely to be the new prime minister.

Although a little late in the day, the League’s effective intervention to end the suffering of Palestinian people is laudable. This only goes to show that the Arabs can help themselves, if they want to. The proactive role played by Qatar, UAE and others made it possible. Let us hope that with Hamas and Fatah joining hands, the aid blockade by Israel and Western powers will go too. The Palestinians have suffered long enough. Any more injustice to them could have dangerous consequences.