Approximately one month subsequent to the assault by Hamas on Israel, dated October 7, 2023, indications emerged which pointed towards the possibility of the Israeli defense engaging in activities classifiable as war crimes during their retaliatory offensive in Gaza. A short while later, by May of 2024, directives had been issued by the Israel Defense Forces instructing close to a million Palestinian inhabitants of the southernmost Gaza Strip city of Rafah, to relocate to Mawasi, an area with scarce shelter provisions. A subsequent consequence of this was the significant decimation of Rafah.
Concerted reflections on the statements put forth by top-tier Israelis soon after the attack by Hamas, with the rendition of expressions like ‘reducing Gaza to ruins’, triggered suspicions about the potential incidence of systematic extermination or genocide. The state of South Africa has been at the forefront of mounting a lawsuit alleging Israel of genocide to the International Court of Justice.
A persistent denial of these alleged crimes by various global states and organisations carries with it the risk of undermining the very structure and authority of international law. The United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPCG) outlines the concept of genocide as a deliberate intent to annihilate, entirely or in part, a community based on nationality, ethnicity, race, or religion. This act of mass extermination sets it apart from other serious transgressions, such as war crimes and crimes against humanity, as it implies the extermination of individuals contingent upon their group membership.
The official consensus within the International Court of Justice that a genocide has taken place can invoke harsh sanctions. Regardless of these claims, Israel maintains that they adhere strictly to laws of war and routinely issue forewarning to non-combatant residents to evacuate areas earmarked for military strike.
The extensive infrastructure destruction throughout Gaza caused by the conflict heavily impedes the prospects of a residential and economic resurgence. The relentless bombings coupled with scarcity of essential necessities have taken a significant toll on Palestinian livelihoods. As per available data, approximately 174,000 buildings, amounting to nearly 70% of all structures in the Strip, stand decimated or severely damaged.
Our current death toll estimate surpasses 58,000, as reported by the Gazan health department, with more than 17,000 being minor victims. A distressing statistic reflective of the gravity of the situation is that Gaza now hosts the largest per capita population of amputee children in the world.
The ongoing turmoil in Gaza, frequently labelled as a war, is progressively morphing into a systematic campaign of large-scale demolition and purging based on ethnic differentiation. An official cessation of hostilities, under the influence of Donald Trump, was enacted as of January 19, but sadly, was later violated by Israel, dated March 18.
The global community holds its breath in anticipation of an eventual cessation of the continuous bloodshed. The key to resolving this dispute lies undoubtedly in the Israeli-Palestinian acceptance of co-habitation within their shared lands. However, there seems to be lack of significant internal motivations for altering the course of events, and external pressure for change from allied nations remains uncertain.
This status quo unfortunately nurtures valid apprehensions that Israel may continue on its grave trajectory. The aftermath of the prevalent catastrophe also interconnects with the commemoration and education of the Holocaust. Scholars exploring comparative genocide or the genocides in human history are showing an inclination towards classifying the occurrences in Gaza as genocide.
The discord between historians of the Holocaust and genocide scholars could potentially introduce potent ramifications, even within the realms of politics and education. The tragic situation unfolding in Gaza strikes a resounding chord within genocide studies, a discipline that has traditionally drawn from the Holocaust events to impart lessons on tolerance, multicultural inclusivity, antiracism, and support towards migrant and refugee populations.
The lingering effects of the Gazan genocide might introduce significant influences into educational methodologies and research focus concerning the Holocaust. There’s a looming possibility that the communal memory constructed around the Holocaust may withdraw into an ethnic isolation of its own creation.
Furthermore, genocide studies as an academic field might bear the brunt of antisemitism allegations, thereby causing a concerning gap in the scholarly community dedicated to safeguarding human rights values. These events have set in motion a new era of Israeli youth who will inevitability, bear the scars of the Gazan genocide.
Nevertheless, this difficult phase could potentially serve as a catalyst guiding Israel to a future founded on more rational and less violent principles. An Israel absolved from the historical burden of the Holocaust may possibly reconcile with the necessity of coexisting with Palestinians in an environment of peace, mutual respect, and dignity.
The post Allegations Point to Potential War Crimes in Israeli Retaliation appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
