On October 28, 2023, the United Nations strongly called for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, acknowledging the urgent need to address the escalating situation. It came after a recent night of ground incursions and intense bombardment by Israeli forces that resulted in healthcare facilities being deprived of electricity. It also left innocent civilians trapped in a destroyed community that is isolated and disconnected from the rest of the world.
Secretary-General António Guterres said: “I reiterate my strong appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, together with the unconditional release of hostages and the delivery of relief at a level corresponding to the dramatic needs of the people in Gaza, where a humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in front of our eyes.”
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a condescending attack on anyone calling for a ceasefire, which is mainly human rights organizations and experts.
“People who are calling for a ceasefire now do not understand Hamas, that is not possible,” Clinton said. “It would be such a gift to Hamas because they would spend whatever time there was a ceasefire in effect rebuilding their armaments, creating stronger positions to be able to fend off an eventual assault by the Israelis.”
According to reports, Hamas was able to carry out this recent terrorist attack and murder so many innocent people since the majority of Israel’s armed forces were stationed in the West Bank to defend illegal settlers from possible retaliation.
Given the heightened focus of Israel on Gaza, the probability of Hamas executing another successful terrorist operation in the near future appears quite low. This is especially evident considering the substantial number of over 6,000 bombs that have been launched by Israel within the small region of Gaza during a span of merely six days.
Clinton demonstrates a tendency to engage in dichotomous thinking, in which she fails to recognize the subtleties and complexities inherent in the scenario. Alternatively, it is possible that she simply exhibits a lack of concern for the innocent individuals residing in Gaza.
The entire population of Gaza is “being dehumanized,” the head of the primary United Nations agency operating there told the UN Security Council.
According to reports, over 8,000 people have been killed in Gaza, predominantly women and children. This figure was provided by the Gaza Health Ministry and has not yet been independently verified, but the vast majority of experts concur that the death toll is likely to be extremely high. The UN humanitarian office has said tens of thousands of people in Gaza, mostly civilians, have also been injured.
It seems fair to conclude Clinton has no significant regard for the innocent civilians who comprise the majority of casualties and injured, according to reports.
In a remarkable display of global solidarity last week, the United Nations Assembly has overwhelmingly adopted the resolution titled “Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations” (document A/ES-10/L.25). With a recorded vote of 120 in favor to 14 against, and 45 abstentions, this resolution sends a powerful message to all parties involved, urging them to promptly and wholeheartedly fulfill their responsibilities under international law, including the vital principles of international humanitarian law. This resolution is considered a cease-fire.
Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), fervently emphasized to the Security Council that the tragic loss of thousands of innocent children’s lives in Gaza due to Israeli airstrikes cannot be dismissed as mere collateral damage.
“An immediate humanitarian ceasefire has become a matter of life and death for millions,” Lazzarini said.
Lisa Doughten, the director of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), told the UN Security Council that the “scale of the horror” Gazans are undergoing is “hard to convey.”
“We simply do not have enough essential supplies to provide for the survival of internally displaced people at this scale,” Doughten said.
After these recent terrorist attacks, Israel has every right to respond and defend itself from Hamas. However, it has no authority to commit war crimes. International humanitarian law (IHL), also known as the laws of war, was primarily established in the Geneva Conventions of 1949. According to IHL, the deliberate targeting of civilians or the implementation of collective punishment cannot ever be justified on the grounds that another party has violated the law or that there are power imbalances or injustices of any kind.
The use of laws of war is limited to particular circumstances, specifically those occurring within the context of an armed conflict or an occupation. Various legal frameworks, including international human rights law, are universally applicable, establishing the obligations of all nations to safeguard the rights of individuals inside territories under their jurisdiction or influence.
IHL pertains to the regulation of hostilities and is separate from the legal framework that controls the determination to employ force. Regardless of the legal justification for the use of military force, it is imperative that all involved parties adhere to IHL.
This legal framework additionally regulates the administration of territories in cases where a state exercises effective control over a region without obtaining agreement, despite lacking sovereign title. An example of this can be observed in the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory.
Irrespective of the number of claims made regarding annexation, according to IHL, the state that occupies a territory does not obtain sovereignty over the region being occupied. It is imperative for the occupying authority to guarantee the provision of humane treatment to the populace under its control, while also addressing their fundamental requirements such as access to food and medical assistance.
In early October, a number of progressive Democratic lawmakers also proposed a resolution advocating for rapid de-escalation, thus proposing a ceasefire. Representatives Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), André Carson (D-Ind.), Summer Lee (D-Pa.), and Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) are spearheading the initiative to endorse the resolution.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) also called for a ceasefire but made it clear Israel has the right to strike back against Hamas.
“I think what is important, in terms of response, is Israel does have a right to self-defense. I think what we need to take a look at in this situation is if collective punishment qualifies as defense, if the blockade on water, food, electricity, if the dropping of white phosphorus, which is an indiscriminate weapon, qualifies,” AOC said.
The United States was one of the 14 countries to vote against the UN truce or ceasefire resolution.
President Joe Biden has shown unconditional backing for Israel and has called on Congress to allocate $14 billion in military assistance to the state of Israel. He has emphasized that Hamas does not accurately reflect the overwhelming majority of the Palestinian population, while still advocating for the supply of humanitarian aid. Yet, he does not support a ceasefire.
Despite Biden’s gentle request for Prime Minister Netanyahu to adhere to international legal norms, it seems that Netanyahu holds the belief that the United States will provide financial support and political backing for Israel’s military actions, irrespective of compliance with international law.
Human rights advocates accused Netanyahu of an “explicit call to genocide” after he spoke at a televised address calling Israel’s invasion of Gaza a “holy mission” and referenced an ancient mythical enemy whom the God of the Hebrew Bible commanded the Israelites to exterminate.
Other top officials in Israel have also used dehumanizing and genocidal language about the Palestinians. In a particular instance, an open letter was signed by more than 800 lawyers, scholars, and practitioners who possess a wide array of perspectives from both academia and professional practice. This statement served as a cautionary measure, highlighting the potential occurrence of genocide in the region of Gaza, Palestine.
The resolution of this conflict remains uncertain, with a regrettable anticipation of further casualties among the innocent population.
Currently, the most viable course of action is to implement a ceasefire in order to temporarily halt the conflict. However, a significant portion of the U.S. foreign policy establishment, including Clinton, holds the belief that terrorists are not susceptible to negotiation or persuasion, but rather must be eradicated by force regardless of the potential consequences for civilian casualties.
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