Translated by Irene Cecchi
Gaza genocide: International accusations and controversial defence
The Gaza strip, scenario of a decades-long conflict that's been affecting inhabitants lives, recently came back under the international spotlight accusing Israel of genocide. The debate fired up after the brutal Hamas attack on October 7th 2023 that provoked a military response on a large scale by Israel. This escalation led the South African government to report Israel to The Hague International Court of Justice (ICJ) with the accusation of violating the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
South Africa, backed by several organizations like Amnesty International, brought to the Court a dossier with documented charges for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Among the proofs, there are the indiscriminate bombing on civilians, forced displacement of people and the obstruction to humanitarian aid. Amnesty International described this oppression with the word “apartheid” and accused Israel of treating Palestinians like “non-humans”, forcing them in unbearable life conditions. The report also includes civilians’ testimonies, like the Mohamed one, a Palestinian dad that explains the apocalyptic situation in Deir al-Balah, telling about the incessant bombing, lack of drinkable water and sanitaries, in a total despair.
As a consequence, on January 26th the International Court took precautionary measures: Israel has to stop any action that might be placed as genocide or might foster it. In addition, Israel has to guarantee humanitarian aid and preserve any crime proof to present, in a month's time, a detailed report on the enacted measures. Although this decision is a big step forward, the complete analysis on the genocide accusation will take long.
The publication of a detailed report by Amnesty International, “You Feel Like You Are Subhuman’: Israel’s Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza”, fired up even more the debate. The report, published on December 5th 2024, accuses Israel of intentionally bombing civilians and infrastructures in Palestine, aiming to physically destroy the population. The charges also include deliberate attacks to hospitals, schools and shelters, among the public speeches of governmental and military actors inciting Gaza’s total destruction.
Amnesty also called out the forced displacement of about 90% of the population living in the Gaza Strip and defined the Israeli operation a “total siege” that leads civilians to a slow and calculated death. Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International Secretary General, claimed that all these actions can file for genocide and made a urgent plea to the international community to intervene. Moreover, she warned the countries that keep giving arms to Israel that it is a violation of international duty and that they are accomplices of a genocide.
On the other hand, Israel firmly rejects these accusations saying that they are unfounded and false. The Israeli government claims that they act for self-defense from Hamas who uses civilians as a human shield. A spokesperson from the Israeli army underlined that military operations are led respecting the international law and that all possible measures to restrain civil casualties are taken. Anyways, Israel Foreign Minister reiterated that the October 7th Hamas attack, called “genocidal massacre”, started a series of self-defence operations to protect the Israeli population.
The genocide accusation also fired up internal controversy. The organization Director of the Israel section resigned, accusing the report to be predetermined and not objective. This episode underlines who polarizing the issue is, not only on an international level but also within human rights organizations.
While the debate fires up, the situation in the Gaza Strip is still desperate. The testimony of people living under the crossfire tell about an unheard humanitarian crisis with thousands of deaths, millions of displaced and a population that lacks fundamental services. The international community has to act now, not only to light on the responsibilities of what happened but also to prevent any more suffering.
The International Court measures are certainly a big step forward but they do not tackle the root causes. The path towards justice is still long and difficult, the chance to find a fair and long lasting solution to the conflict seems, today more than ever, an epochal challenge.
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