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After almost a month of violence in Israel and Palestine, there is no ceasefire in sight. The deeply complex and sensitive conflict has seen politicians divided – and civilians left to their fate, as, once more, they are abandoned by the international community that had vowed to protect them.
Photo by Ömer Yıldız
Since October 7th, devastating images have been broadcasted both on TV and social media; newspaper headlines have recounted the horrors that have almost become routine and, for most people, the current situation in the Middle East has made constant appearances in daily conversations. After 76 years of conflict – and suffering –, Israel and Palestine are on the front page. The ‘unprecedented attack’ on Israel by Hamas, in which 1,400 people were killed and 200 taken hostage, has transformed the long-lasting conflict into everyone’s business once again – as if the decades of everyday violence and oppression experienced had not been worth the spotlight before. Reactions, however, have been vastly different across countries. Even those who had aimed to present a united front – such as the European Union – have left a trail of public contradictions in times of crisis. How can the international response be understood?
Historically speaking, the weight of the international community in the Israel-Palestine issue is undisputed. Going back to the very creation of Israel as a State, the UN Partition Plan in 1947 voiced the two-state-solution, in which more than half of the original lands of the Mandate of Palestine were given to the Jewish community – who only made up a third of the total population (and owned less than 7% of the land). The plan was opposed by the Arab Higher Committee but accepted after 33 out of 56 UN members voted in favour. Therefore, the resolution not only granted legitimacy to Israel as a State but also legitimised the conflict and oppression that followed, including the 750,000 Palestinians who were forced to abandon their homes as a consequence (1947-1949).
Third States’ involvement, however, did not stop at the UN Partition plan. Over the years, different States’ actions — or inaction — have painted a clear map of alliances and interests. A starting point might be to analyse the recognition — or lack of it — of Palestine as a State among countries. While most European and Northern American countries do not recognise its status as a State, 138 States do, mainly Asian, African and Southern American countries. Moreover, since 2012, Palestine has enjoyed the non-member observer State status in the UN.
Among the countries that do not recognise Palestine as a State, the US can be highlighted as one of Israel’s closest allies. Although, when Israel was first established, their relationship was not ‘particularly remarkable’ (Narea, 2023), US interests — keeping in mind e.g., the context of the Cold War — soon made a close collaboration desirable. After the 1967 war, Israel had proven to be a force to be reckoned with in the Middle East, and a possible relationship between both States appeared most beneficial to Americans. Since then, the US has become Israel’s number one trading partner and has spent billions on military aid. Hence, the unwavering support that the US has expressed in recent days does not come as a surprise.
“We stand with Israel… And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself, and respond to this attack.” (Biden, 2023)
Nonetheless, the recent attacks against civilians in Gaza have provoked US officials to urge caution and protection of innocent lives – with no substantial success.
Meanwhile, the European Union’s response has been anything but consistent. Newspaper headlines have witnessed the contradictions among EU representatives, such as the supposed suspension of aid to Palestinians announced by Oliver Varhelyi, which was retracted several hours later. Furthermore, the president of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, expressed ‘unqualified support’ for Israel’s response — although the Commission is not in charge of the external representation of the EU in common foreign and security policy. While included in the joint statement issued later, initially, Von der Leyen did not call for the respect of International Humanitarian Law, for which she was criticised not only by EU leaders, but also by EU staff in a letter with over 800 signatures.
“Yes, we condemn those terrible terrorist attacks, but we must also condemn the civilian deaths – the civilian victims – in Gaza [...] Because speaking out against one tragedy should not prevent us from speaking out against another. Extending our sympathy to the dead, the victims of terrorist attacks, should not – and does not – prevent us from also expressing our sympathy for other victims.” (Borrell, 2023)
The sympathy for Palestinian victims (since October 7th, over 9.000 killed, according to Gaza’s health ministry), however, has not only been expressed reluctantly, but has been criminalised in several European countries. As such, France has banned pro-Palestinian protests on the grounds of rising antisemitism. This decision has been criticised, for example, by the French President of Amnesty International, reminding that “it is important that civil society actors can mobilise peacefully and publicly, in particular, those calling on those engaged in the conflict to respect the rights of civilian populations” (Jean-Claude Samouiller, 2023). The ban on pro-Palestinian protests has also been implemented in parts of Germany — e.g., Berlin and Frankfurt. Interestingly, both countries — France and Germany — were among those that showed support for Israeli victims by lighting up national monuments (Eiffel Tower and Brandenburg Gate) with the Israeli flag.
Far from being isolated cases, the double standard observed regarding the condemnation of deaths of innocent civilians has also been prominent in the everyday language used by, for instance, newspapers. In an X (formerly known as Twitter) post from the 9th of October, BBC reported that “more than 500 people have died in Gaza”, while “more than 700 people have been killed in Israel”. Other sources have spoken of an “unprovoked attack” by Hamas or have defended a narrative in which both — Israel and Palestine — are presented “through a false equivalence” that “hides the massive asymmetry of power”, according to The Guardian.
At the Cairo peace summit celebrated on the 21st of October, the division between States remained. Although concern was expressed regarding the human rights violations, countries failed to issue a joint statement. Thus, even if, over the last couple of days, preoccupation around the suffering in Gaza might have shifted the rhetoric, the message perpetuated — mainly — by Western media seems to be clear.
“The message the Arab world is hearing is loud and clear. [...] Palestinian lives matter less than Israeli ones. Our lives matter less than other lives. The application of international law is optional, and human rights have boundaries — they stop at borders, they stop at races and they stop at religions.” (King Abdullah II of Jordan, 2023)
This line of thought, the idea that, somehow, the Palestinians killed are not victims, has also been strengthened by the comments of Israeli officials, intended to dehumanise Palestinian lives. “We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly,” were the words used by Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant to announce the complete siege on Gaza. Despite the fact that he was probably referring to Hamas and not to the whole Palestinian population, Israel’s siege on Gaza as an act of collective punishment speaks louder than words.
This view was also shared by the Chinese Foreign Minister, who argued that Israel “should stop collective punishment of the people of Gaza”. China, as well as Russia, is among the countries that have recognised Palestine as a State. Unsurprisingly, both have called for a ceasefire, as it aligns with their ambitions of closer ties with countries such as Saudi Arabia or Iran. In fact, Russia presented a resolution calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” which, however, was rejected by the UN Security Council.
“Every day we call for a two-state solution, but as the Palestinian representative told me at the United Nations during the General Assembly: ‘But, apart from calling for it, what are you actually doing to get it?’” (Borrell, 2023)
As the death toll rises with each passing moment, world leaders call for peace and an end to the suffering. Nonetheless, they forget that the ‘Israeli-Palestinian’ question is not new, just ignored. After 76 years of complicity, we are enraged and saddened by the news, but, apart from hollow words and prayers, little has been offered. As UN experts warn against violations of international law and ethnic cleansing, the world is largely silent in the face of a humanitarian disaster, and a feasible solution for peace is yet to come.
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the BAES Gazette's editorial stance.
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