As we are approaching the first anniversary of the ‘prison break-out’ in Gaza and the invasion of Israel by the Palestinians, where 1200 have been killed - many by the IDF’s indiscriminate firing by fighter jets and armoured tanks - we need to take stock of how these actions have impacted the world.
Israel - who mistakenly calls its defence forces the most humane has a population of 9.5 million people comprising a mere 0.1% of the total population of the world - has during the past year invaded and attacked the sovereign states of Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iran killed tens of thousands of innocent men, women and children. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been injured and maimed.
Ironically, the United Nations General Assembly (UN GA) was responsible for the creation of the State of Israel. It was the UN GA that also adopted the Genocide Convention in December 1948 that criminalizes genocides and compels state parties to ensure the enforcement of its prohibition. Yet, Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu declared UN’s chief, António Gutteres “persona non grata”, banning him from visiting Israel. How disrespectful and pathetic!
The supposedly mighty Israel could not eradicate Hamas over a year in Gaza, a strip that Israel has controlled for the past 17 years. Hamas members run on foot and have no fighter jets or armoured tanks. Instead of using diplomacy, Israel opted to use its military might to eradicate Hamas. Still, it failed dismally, and after a year the IDF has also been unable to free the hostages taken by Hamas.
International law has solely been legislated to prevent a recurrence of the atrocities witnessed during the Second World War, yet Prime Minister Netanyahu has turned a blind eye to many of these laws. Israel has also disregarded numerous resolutions issued by the UN's Security Council, as well as the landmark ruling by the International Court of Justice on 19 July 2024 that Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank was illegal.
The IDF has bombed 24 hospitals, 399 schools, 19 universities and 1000 mosques. To date, the IDF killed 128 media reporters, 103 academics and 500 healthcare professionals in Gaza. More than 42,500 Palestinians have been killed during the past year.
In addition, Prime Minister Netanyahu has ignored several red lines drawn by President Biden which has now resulted in President Macron of France halting arms delivery to Israel for use in Gaza.
Will the leaders of the West allow a tiny country that comprises a measly 0.1% of the total global population to start the Third World War that will lead to the destruction of the entire world?’
You be the judge.
* Adiel Ismail, Mountview.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
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