Author: Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan, Founding Chair GSRRA, Sinologist, Diplomat, Editor, Analyst, Consultant, Advisor, and Non-Resident Fellow of CCG. (E-mail: awanzamir@yahoo.com).
Israel’s Systematic Assault on the Oppressed
For decades, the world has witnessed a seemingly unending cycle of violence and devastation wrought by Israel against Palestine and its neighboring countries. The scale of atrocities committed, particularly in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran, is staggering, raising serious questions about Israel's commitment to international law, human rights, and basic human decency.
Gaza: A Humanitarian Catastrophe
The Gaza Strip has become synonymous with suffering. Israeli military operations have repeatedly turned this small, densely populated area into a war zone. According to the United Nations, over 2,200 Palestinians, including more than 500 children, were killed during the 2014 Gaza War alone. Residential buildings, hospitals, schools, and UN shelters were bombarded, leaving entire neighborhoods in ruins. The destruction of power plants and water treatment facilities created a humanitarian disaster, cutting off essential services to an already impoverished population.
The blockade imposed by Israel since 2007 has strangled Gaza's economy, leading to widespread unemployment and poverty. The World Bank estimates that Gaza's unemployment rate stands at over 50%, with youth unemployment exceeding 70%. Basic necessities, including food, medicine, and clean water, are scarce, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The Israeli blockade, combined with periodic military offensives, has turned Gaza into what many describe as the world's largest open-air prison.
Lebanon: A History of Destruction
Israel's military campaigns have not been limited to Palestine. Lebanon has suffered immensely from Israeli aggression, particularly during the 2006 Lebanon War. Over 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, were killed in the month-long conflict, and more than 1 million people were displaced. Israel's indiscriminate bombing campaigns targeted civilian infrastructure, including bridges, power plants, and residential areas. The deliberate destruction of these essential services plunged Lebanon into a severe humanitarian crisis.
The 2006 war also saw the widespread use of cluster munitions by Israel, which continue to pose a deadly threat to civilians, especially children, years after the conflict ended. Human Rights Watch documented that Israel fired an estimated 4 million cluster bombs into southern Lebanon, leaving behind millions of unexploded bomblets. This is a clear violation of international law, particularly the prohibition against the use of weapons that cause indiscriminate harm to civilians.
Syria and Beyond: Expanding the Circle of Suffering
Israel's military reach extends beyond its immediate neighbors. In Syria, Israeli airstrikes have repeatedly targeted Iranian and Hezbollah forces, often hitting civilian infrastructure in the process. These strikes have exacerbated the suffering of the Syrian people, who have already endured years of civil war. While Israel claims to be acting in self-defense, the impact of its actions on Syrian civilians cannot be ignored.
In Yemen and Iran, Israel's role is more indirect but no less damaging. Through arms sales and military support to certain regional actors, Israel has contributed to the ongoing conflicts in these countries. The war in Yemen, often described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis, has seen over 230,000 deaths, the majority of which are due to famine, disease, and lack of medical care resulting from the conflict. Israel's involvement, although less direct, plays a part in the perpetuation of this devastating war.
Violations of Human Rights and International Law
Israel's actions in these conflicts constitute clear violations of human rights and international law. The United Nations has repeatedly condemned Israel for its excessive use of force, the targeting of civilians, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. These actions violate the Geneva Conventions, which protect civilians in times of war, and the UN Charter, which calls for the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
Moreover, the systematic targeting of civilians, the blockade of Gaza, and the destruction of essential services amount to collective punishment, a practice explicitly prohibited under international law. These acts, when viewed in their entirety, fit the definition of genocide as outlined in the Genocide Convention, which includes acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group.
Gaza: A Modern Genocide, Palestine: A Holocaust Unfolding
The situation in Gaza can only be described as a modern-day genocide. The deliberate targeting of civilians, the destruction of homes, schools, and hospitals, and the blockade that starves the population of essential resources all point to a calculated attempt to dismantle Palestinian society. This is not merely a conflict; it is an orchestrated campaign to annihilate the Palestinian people.
In a broader sense, what is happening in Palestine can be likened to a holocaust. The term "holocaust" is often reserved for the Nazi genocide of Jews during World War II, but the systematic nature of Israel's actions against Palestinians mirrors the same intent to destroy a people. The world vowed "Never Again" after the horrors of the 20th century, yet we are witnessing the slow, deliberate destruction of a people before our eyes.
Israel's War Crimes and the Imperative of ICJ Judgment Implementation
Israel’s actions in occupied territories and beyond have increasingly drawn the world’s attention as blatant violations of international law. The consistent targeting of civilians, destruction of essential infrastructure, and the blockade of Gaza are not mere excesses of military conflict but constitute clear war crimes under the Geneva Conventions. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has rendered judgments that unequivocally recognize Israel's violations and the illegality of its actions.
The ICJ, as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, has a mandate to adjudicate disputes in accordance with international law. Its judgments are not mere recommendations; they are binding legal decisions that reflect the consensus of the international community on matters of grave concern. The ICJ’s rulings regarding Israel's construction of the separation wall, its settlement activities, and its military operations in occupied territories leave no room for ambiguity—these actions are illegal under international law and must be halted immediately.
The entire civilized world, committed to upholding the rule of law and human rights, recognizes the authority of the ICJ’s decisions. The refusal to comply with these judgments not only undermines international law but also erodes the moral fabric of global governance. Israel’s continued defiance sets a dangerous precedent, encouraging impunity and threatening the stability of international order.
Implementing the ICJ's judgments is not just a legal obligation but a moral imperative. The international community must ensure that Israel is held accountable for its actions, and that justice is served for the victims of its war crimes. Failure to do so would not only be a disservice to those suffering under occupation but would also weaken the very foundation of international law and justice that the ICJ represents.
The Assassination of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran – A Dangerous Precedent
The assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran marks a perilous escalation in the use of advanced technology in targeted killings. This act, carried out through a combination of cyber warfare, artificial intelligence, spyware, and other high-tech methods, not only violated international laws but also set a dangerous precedent that could lead to a new and more deadly era of global conflict.
Haniyeh's assassination in a third country, far from the conflict zones of Gaza, underscores the audacity of those who believe they can act with impunity, disregarding the sovereignty of nations and the principles of international law. The use of cyber warfare and AI in this assassination introduces a new dimension to global conflict, where technological superiority can be leveraged to eliminate targets without accountability.
This operation raises critical questions about the erosion of international norms. The extrajudicial killing of a political figure in a foreign country violates numerous international laws, including the UN Charter, which upholds the sovereignty of states and the prohibition of the use of force except in self-defense or under a UN mandate. Such actions also contravene the principles of the Geneva Conventions, which are designed to protect human life and dignity even in times of war.
The global community must recognize the profound implications of this event. If left unchallenged, it could open the floodgates for other nations to deploy similar tactics, leading to a cascade of retaliatory assassinations and a new form of warfare where no one is safe. The potential for widespread abuse of these technologies is immense, threatening global stability and peace.
The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh must be condemned in the strongest terms. The United Nations, the UN Security Council, and the broader international community must take proactive measures to address this dangerous trend. Passing resolutions alone has proven ineffective in the past, particularly in cases involving Israel. New, robust initiatives are urgently needed to ensure that such acts are not repeated and that those responsible are held accountable.
Without decisive action, the world could be on the brink of a new crisis, one that could be far more disastrous and dangerous than any we have faced before. It is imperative that the global community comes together to find a sustainable and enforceable solution to prevent the onset of this new era of warfare. The involvement of major powers like Russia and China, along with a renewed commitment to international law, will be crucial in averting a catastrophe that could threaten all of humanity. It is strongly urged that all peace-loving nations, countries, organizations and individuals must stand up and end Israeli aggressions immediately.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)