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Half a year later, the world is witnessing the supposed “safe zone” - the city of Rafah - be raided, bombarded and on the brink of famine, while international powers seem not to have much influence on the Israeli Government establishing a ceasefire, or legitimately hold it accountable for its human rights violations.
Palestine Protest Helsinki Finland 2024 | Students for Palestine Finland | Wikimedia Commons
Over the last six months, the world has been a witness to the progressing escalation of the bombardment of Gaza by the Israel Defence Force in response to Hamas’ infiltration of Israel and the killing of 1600 Israeli and foreign nationals.
Israel was backed by numerous countries in its actions, in solidarity to the devastating event which occurred on the 7th of October, and justified as their right to self defence. However, half a year later this support has wavered due to the disproportionate number of Gazans murdered, mostly women and children, because of the targeting of civilian infrastructure under the reasoning that Hamas members are mixed in with regular civilians. The current death toll has been reported to be 32000, however it is impossible in current conditions to confirm whether this is indeed the accurate number, and it is predicted to be significantly higher.
The 2 million Gazans, of which 1.5 million have been cornered into the southern border town of Rafah, have been receiving limited humanitarian aid and disrupted distribution. Human Rights Watch has stated that Israel has been deliberately blocking the delivery of basic human necessities, and has in some instances attacked civilians who were in the process of receiving the aid. The United Nations Relief and Work Agency chief Philippe Lazzarini has reported the continuous attack on its food distribution facilities.
In regards to the role of International Law and Institutions, the direct influence has been weak. The International Court of Justice provides non-binding rulings, thus its order for immediate and effective measures to protect Gazans from the high risk of genocide, and allow effective receival of humanitarian aid, has had no compliance by Israel. This has caused continuous international outrage from governments, civilians and human rights organisations around the world. This Month, twelve of Israel’s human rights groups have signed an open letter accusing the government of this failure to comply with the rulings and general lack of facilitating action to prevent hunger.
While the negotiations of a ceasefire consist of specific trade-offs between Hamas, Israel and third parties, the severity and prevention of further humanitarian disaster, loss of life and destruction of livelihoods should be the primary focus, not anything else. Regardless of one’s initial stance on the matter or affiliation to a country or belief, the level of destruction cannot be rationally denied, justified or brushed off as simple disinformation. Oxfam has stated that the daily death rate in Gaza is higher than any other major 21st-century conflict. As one of the strongest military powers in the world, Israel has the competencies for pin-pointed attacks. However, according to Amnesty International and Forensic Architecture, there has been strong evidence of some attacks being indiscriminate, especially in refuge and residential areas, as well as humanitarian aid pick-up points. Experts from the Office of the United Nations Higher Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), have been condemning these actions since October 7th and urges an immediate end to the international humanitarian and human rights law violations.
On the 21st of March, all EU leaders called for “an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire”, after Hungary finally subscribed to the statement since the war began. In their statement, they urged Israel for land-based aid corridors in order to deliver and distribute humanitarian aid, and that the introduced maritime corridor is insufficient and cannot replace land corridors.
On the 22nd of March, the U.S.-sponsored United Nations draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire was blocked by Russia and China, based on it being an ambiguous measure and not a direct demand to end the fighting.
References
Israel: Starvation Used as Weapon of War in Gaza. Human Rights Watch, 15 Jan. 2024, www.hrw.org/news/2023/12/18/israel-starvation-used-weapon-war-gaza.
‘Heinous’: Deadly Israeli Attack on Gaza Aid Seekers Condemned. Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 29 Feb. 2024, www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/29/heinous-deadly-israeli-attack-on-gaza-aid-seekers-condemned.
Gritten, David. Gaza War: UNRWA Says Rafah Aid Centre Hit by Israeli Forces.
BBC News, BBC, 13 Mar. 2024, www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68557035.
Fletcher, Elaine Ruth. All Eyes on Rafah - Says Head of WHO Office for Occupied Palestinian Territory.” Health Policy Watch, 14 Feb. 2024, healthpolicy-watch.news/all-eyes-on-rafah-says-head-of-who-office-for-occupied-palestine-territories/.
Bateman, Tom. Gaza’s Entire Population Facing Acute Food Insecurity, Blinken Warns. BBC News, BBC, 19 Mar. 2024, www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68605401.
“New Evidence of Unlawful Israeli Attacks in Rafah Causing Mass Civilian Casualties.” Amnesty International, 12 Feb. 2024, www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/02/israel-opt-new-evidence-of-unlawful-israeli-attacks-in-gaza-causing-mass-civilian-casualties-amid-real-risk-of-genocide/.
Dallison, Paul, et al. “EU Leaders Call for Gaza Cease-Fire amid ‘Humanitarian Tragedy.’” POLITICO, 21 Mar. 2024, www.politico.eu/article/eu-leaders-charles-michel-council-call-immediate-humanitarian-pause-leading-sustainable-ceasefire-gaza/. Accessed 22 Mar. 2024.
“Israel Defying ICJ Ruling to Prevent Genocide by Failing to Allow Aid into Gaza.” Amnesty International, 26 Feb. 2024, www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/02/israel-defying-icj-ruling-to-prevent-genocide-by-failing-to-allow-adequate-humanitarian-aid-to-reach-gaza/. Accessed 22 Mar. 2024.
“Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territory: UN Experts Deplore Attacks ...” OHCHR , United Nations, 12 Oct. 2023, www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/10/israeloccupied-palestinian-territory-un-experts-deplore-attacks-civilians. Accessed 22 Mar. 2024.
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