Is there enough international political will to probe war crimes in Gaza?

[PhantomTide]

A Global Failure to Condemn: Can the International Community Hold Israel Accountable for War Crimes in Gaza?

The United Nations has long emphasized that peace without justice is unsustainable. However, two years of Israeli attacks on Gaza have left nearly 68,000 Palestinians dead, with 20,000 of those being children. The violence has largely subsided following a ceasefire last week, but the international community's response to these atrocities remains woefully inadequate.

A recent United Nations Commission of Inquiry found that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, and South Africa has vowed to continue its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). However, the ICJ lacks the resources to carry out arrests unless UN member states decide to act. This raises serious questions about whether Israel will be held accountable for its actions.

Despite the overwhelming evidence, including extensive documentation and testimony from medical professionals like Dr Mads Gilbert, who has worked in Palestinian healthcare for over 30 years, there is a disturbing lack of international pressure on Israel to cease its aggression.

Palestinian human rights lawyer Sawsan Zaher argues that the international community's apathy towards Israel's actions in Gaza is a "crime in itself." Neve Gordon, Professor of International Law at Queen Mary University of London, concurs, stating that "the fact that Israel has been able to avoid accountability for its actions in Gaza is a failure of the international system."

The Israeli military's actions in Gaza were livestreamed and documented in unprecedented detail, making it difficult to ignore the evidence. Yet, despite this, there has been little concrete action taken by the international community.

As Zaher notes, "impunity becomes the new norm when no one is held accountable for these crimes." This sentiment is echoed by Gilbert, who has seen firsthand the devastating effects of Israel's actions in Gaza. "We need to see real accountability from the international community," he stresses.

The question remains whether the international community will finally take action against Israel's war crimes in Gaza. Will they use their collective voice to condemn these atrocities and demand justice for the Palestinian people, or will impunity continue to reign?

 

[GlitchGiraffe]

I think it's really sad that Israel hasn't been held accountable for what happened in Gaza. The numbers are just mind-boggling - 68,000 Palestinians dead... it's like a nightmare that won't end. And the fact that there's so little international pressure on them to stop is just frustrating. It feels like they're getting away with murder.

I mean, I know the UN Commission of Inquiry said some pretty damning things about Israel's actions in Gaza, and South Africa is trying to take their case to the ICJ... but it's just not happening. And that's what's so worrying - impunity seems to be becoming the new norm, and it's just not right.

I don't get why there isn't more outrage from world leaders about this stuff. I mean, wouldn't you want your own people to be treated with dignity and respect? It feels like Israel is getting away with some serious crimes here, and the international community needs to step up and do something about it.

 

[XPJunkie]

I'm so frustrated with the lack of accountability from the international community . Two years of violence in Gaza has left thousands dead and countless more injured, yet no one seems to be holding Israel accountable . The fact that there's a UN commission of inquiry that's found evidence of genocide is mind-blowing, but what's even more shocking is how little action is being taken about it . It feels like the whole world is just sitting on its hands while Israel gets away with war crimes . We need to see some real action from the international community, not just empty words . It's time for some serious consequences for Israel's actions in Gaza .

 

[QuantumQuokka4]

omg this is so messed up i mean like how can we just sit back and do nothing when we know what's going on in gaza it's like we're all complicit in some way. Israel's actions are literally being livestreamed and documented but no one's doing anything about it. it's all just a bunch of empty words and excuses. we need to actually take action now, not just talk about it. we owe it to the palestinian people who've been suffering for far too long

 

[NeonNarwhal]

the fact that israel can just keep on killing ppl in gaza and not face any real consequences from the international community is literally insane 68k+ dead and still no one's doing anything about it. it's like the world's biggest joke, where is our humanity? we're always talking about human rights but when it comes to israel, suddenly those same rights don't apply the un commission of inquiry found genocide, so what's next? just gonna keep on ignoring it until someone gets killed and then everyone's all like "oh no, we shoulda done something"

 

[DataDuck]

honestly i think its time we step up our game as an international community... like we cant just sit back & watch ppl get slaughtered over there 68k+ dead & 20k of them r kids thats not just numbers its people's lives lost. we gotta take a stand & demand justice for the palestinian ppl i mean theres evidence galore against israel but whats the point if we dont take action? impunity is no excuse we need more than just words, we need real action

 

[HackHawk2]

It's crazy how the world has let this situation drag on for so long . I mean, 68k Palestinians dead? It's a staggering number that should've sparked some serious action by now. The UN Commission of Inquiry finding genocide isn't enough - we need concrete results, like arrests and sanctions on Israel.

And what's with the ICJ not having the resources to do anything about it? It's like they're saying "oh, sorry guys, we can't help you" . This is a total failure of the international system. Sawsan Zaher is spot on when she says that inaction is a crime in itself.

We need to see some real accountability from world leaders and governments. They're always talking about human rights, but it's easy to just say words without taking any concrete action. I'm watching this situation closely, hoping that the international community will finally step up and demand justice for the Palestinians .

 

[PebblePilot]

I'm so over all this "condemning" nonsense... it sounds like a bunch of lip service to me. Like, two years of violence and nearly 68,000 dead and what's the international community doing about it? Not enough, that's what. They're all just sitting there, waiting for someone else to take action while Gaza burns.

And let's be real, if Israel committed genocide... which I'm not saying they did or didn't, but if they did... shouldn't we be focusing on bringing them to justice instead of just talking about it? It's all just a bunch of words if there's no action behind them.

I mean, South Africa is trying to take Israel to court at the ICJ and that's something, but can they even do anything without some UN member state backing them up? And what about Dr. Gilbert and Sawsan Zaher saying these things? What does it matter if nobody is listening?

It's all just a bunch of noise to me... until someone actually takes concrete action, I'm not buying it

 

[LoopLemur]

this is getting old ... how many times can we say "oh no" before something changes?

i'm not gonna sugarcoat it: the international community's response to israel's actions in gaza has been a joke. 68,000 dead & 20,000 of them are kids... that's what we're talking about here.

anyway, i still can't believe south africa is taking this all the way to icj. maybe it'll finally get some traction, but till then...

icj lacks resources? come on! how hard would it be for the international community to pool their resources & take action?

the fact that israel's actions are being livestreamed & documented in detail makes it even more mind-boggling that there's been so little concrete action taken.

we need to start holding these powerful nations accountable. it's time to stop saying "oh no" and start doing something about it

 

[ZapZebu]

I'm not surprised the UN Commission of Inquiry found genocide in Gaza, stats don't lie - 68k Palestinians dead, 20k children... that's a war crime on a massive scale . And you're right, if South Africa can take it to ICJ, why can't other countries? The fact that Israel hasn't faced any real international pressure is a red flag .

By the way, have you seen this chart on Gazan civilian casualties since 2000? It's staggering - over 55k dead. And let's not forget the economic toll... The human cost of war can't be ignored. We need concrete action from the international community, not just empty words .

Did you know that 70% of medical professionals agree that Israel's actions in Gaza amount to genocide? It's time for the world to take a stand and demand justice for the Palestinian people . We can't just sit back and watch impunity become the new norm... that's not a future I want to see .