Israel / Gaza
THE WORD COURT WEIGHTS IN
On the 19th of July 2024, the International Court of Justice pronounced in its advisory opinion that the occupation of the Palestinian territories was illegal, and therefore Israel should desist from creating new settlements, and evacuates those already established. This echoes the ruling on provisional measures issued by the Court as early as January 2024 and repeated in March 2024. Israel’s on-going disregard for these decisions which are integral parts of international law, constitute a clear breach of the state’s obligations.
In line with the resolutions of the international court of justice, both parties must adhere to international legal standards to guarantee unhindered access for humanitarian relief and workers in Gaza, as well as to permit full and unrestricted access for UN independent experts to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories to investigate violations of international law, particularly concerning arbitrary killings, enforced disappearances, and torture.
Additionally, the immediate and unconditional return of hostages from both sides, along with the remains of deceased individuals held by the parties to the conflict—including hundreds of Palestinian bodies withheld for decades—represents a crucial step toward de-escalating the situation.
ONE YEAR LATER, THE INTERNATIONAL LAW DISREGARDED IN IMPUNITY
The Israeli military assault on Gaza has inflicted devastating human costs, with approximately, as of October 6, 2024, 42,000 Palestinians killed, including 17,000 children, and over 97,000 wounded, many with permanent disabilities, while an estimated 10,000 Palestinian bodies remain trapped under rubble, denying families even the basic dignity of burying their dead. Beyond Gaza, Israeli forces have conducted repetitive targeted attack in occupied territories. These attacks resulted in the killing of nearly 700 Palestinians, including 176 children.
Reports from numerous trusted NGOs show that the military has not respected the most basics rules of war and have been seen to target healthcare and humanitarian workers resulting in an estimate of 986 people killed in this field alone, to which can be added the 129 journalists who have perished under Israeli fires. They have systematically destroyed hospitals, schools, and refugee camps, leaving civilians nowhere safe to shelter.
Israeli forces stand accused of grave breaches of international law through their actions since October 2023: deliberate killing of civilians, intentional targeting of civilian infrastructure, disproportionate and indiscriminate attacks, starvation as a weapon, forced displacement, sexual violence, persecution, and outrages against human dignity – including desecration of the dead. These actions constitute war crimes and potentially crimes against humanity. The severity of these violations led the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to warn of an imminent risk of genocide against the Palestinian people.
7TH OCTOBER 2023, THE TIPPING POINT
On October 7, 2023, the military branched of Hamas carried out an attack in Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, of this at least 809 civilians, among them women, children, and elderly individuals. As the group draw back to Gaza, 252 individuals were taken hostage, with nearly 100 of them still being held in captivity after one year.
Horrendous crimes were committed on that day. The murders, hostage-taking, and sexual violence against women and girls, represent grave violations of international law and constitute war crimes, with the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Mr. Khan even describing them as potentially rising to the level of crimes against humanity. Israel’s response came swiftly, with IDF airstrikes hitting both civilian and military targets indiscriminately. Humanitarian concerns are mounting as the prospect of a ceasefire continues to fade.
The violence on October 7 did not occur in isolation. It is shrouded in misleading narratives and the longstanding discrimination, racial segregation, and apartheid inflicted upon the Palestinian people, as acknowledged by the ICJ on July 19, 2024. This conflict threatens to erase the Palestinian presence in the occupied territories and could result in a perpetuation of insecurity and immense suffering for both the Palestinian and Israeli populations.