Forgotten Voices: The Sultanate of Muscat and Oman’s Response to the Palestine Question, 1936–48

This study examines the response of the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman to the Palestine Question between the Arab Revolt in Palestine (1936–39) and Israel’s establishment in 1948. Drawing on British archival records, regional press reports, oral testimonies, and local sources, the paper reconstructs diplomatic, political, and popular reactions within the Sultanate and among Omani communities abroad, particularly in Zanzibar. While the Sultanate is often portrayed as politically isolated, this research reveals significant engagement that extended beyond official diplomatic caution to include grassroots activism and financial contributions. Omani communities in Zanzibar played crucial roles in sustaining pro-Palestinian solidarity, while oral testimonies suggest limited individual Omani participation alongside Arab volunteer forces in the 1947–48 conflict. The study demonstrates how imperial structures shaped yet could not entirely contain expressions of solidarity with Palestine, challenging narratives of Gulf isolation in the pre-oil era and contributing to broader discussions on Arab responses to the Palestine Question.