The Hague (Netherlands), Sep 23 (AP) - A rising chorus of experts, including UN body-commissioned analysts, are asserting that Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip constitute genocide. This development is further isolating Israel and could gravely impact its international standing, even among traditional allies.
Israel denies these claims emphatically, having been established partially as a sanctuary for Jews post-Holocaust. Others have either dismissed the accusation or suggested that only a judicial court can officially determine its validity.
The global indignation surrounding Israel's military strategies has intensified recently, especially as heart-wrenching images of malnourished children circulate. These images amplify the humanitarian crisis unfolding throughout the 23-month conflict, which has resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths and vast devastation across Gaza.
Israel's offensive in Gaza's largest city has further escalated concerns, drawing condemnation from some European allies. Nonetheless, the genocide accusation introduces a complex ethical dilemma about whether a state born from the ashes of such a crime could now be perpetrating it.
Israeli officials dismiss this argument as veiled antisemitism, claiming adherence to international law while urging civilian evacuations in Gaza before significant military operations. They also highlight the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks as genocidal, given the roughly 1,200 civilian deaths and the kidnapping of 251 individuals.
Israel’s military response has ravaged much of Gaza, causing famine and discussions about the forced relocation of Palestinians—a move critics argue could be considered expulsion. Gaza's Health Ministry, operated by Hamas, reports over 65,000 Palestinian casualties, with women and children comprising about half of these figures.
The Definition of Genocide - Genocide, defined in a 1948 convention post-Holocaust, includes acts meant to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group. Such acts include killing, inflicting serious bodily or mental harm, and enforcing life conditions intended to bring about the group's physical destruction.
Experts and Rights Groups - Recently, independent experts commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council concluded that Israel's war efforts aim to annihilate Gaza’s Palestinian population, constituting genocide. Although this group doesn’t officially speak for the UN, their findings hinge on factors like Israel's "total siege" of Gaza and widespread destruction. Israel argues that Hamas utilizes civilian facilities for military purposes.
Globally recognized genocide experts, at least two dozen, have echoed this sentiment in the last year. Notably, Omer Bartov of Brown University shifted his stance, now labeling Israel's actions as a "genocidal operation" following the takeover of Rafah city.
Prominent voices like Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and two Israeli rights groups describe Israel’s actions as genocidal. Meanwhile, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch also express similar conclusions based on recent developments.
Dissenting Opinions - For Israel, where the Holocaust holds fundamental national significance, accusations akin to these challenge its legitimacy. Israel blames Hamas for prolonging the conflict by refusing to surrender or release hostages.
Critics of the genocide claim argue it’s decision awaits a judicial review. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and others argue that only courts can adjudicate such accusations. The European Union and the Auschwitz memorial voice comparable positions.
Judicial Proceedings - South Africa charged Israel with genocide at the UN's International Court of Justice. With support from several nations, the final verdict may take years. Evidence, including comments from Israeli leaders casting Palestinians in derogatory terms, must demonstrate intent for the claim to hold.
Despite potential court rulings against Israel, enforcement relies on the UN Security Council, where the US has historically blocked resolutions critical of Israel. Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court has accused Israeli leaders of using starvation as warfare, not explicitly of genocide.
Mounting Pressures - Globally, external pressures on Israel are mounting. Even without explicitly labeling its actions as genocide, countries are restricting cultural or trade engagements with Israel. Calls for partial trade suspensions and military export restrictions underline the growing diplomatic rift.
Expert Norman Goda acknowledges the heavily charged implications of the term "genocide," stressing its powerful political and cultural repercussions beyond legal confines. A nation attributed with such a crime can never entirely escape its shadow.
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