International law and the Gaza conflict require more attention from all the nations around the world. The United Nations’ special rapporteur for Gaza and the West Bank called for genocide in Gaza. It is time for countries around the world to take action to stop what she called the genocide in Gaza.
Developing nations attended the two-day conference organised by the governments of Colombia and South Africa. The gathering comes as the European Union weighs various measures against Israel. It includes a ban on imports from Israeli settlements and an arms embargo.
International Law and the Gaza Conflict: Stop Israel’s Military Offensive
The United Nations’ special rapporteur for Gaza and the West Bank called for genocide in Gaza. It is time for nations around the world to take action to stop what she called the genocide in Gaza. Francesca Albanese spoke to delegates from 30 countries meeting in Colombia’s capital. They discussed the Israel-Hamas war and ways that nations can try to stop Israel’s military offensive in the territory. Many of the participating countries have described the violence as genocide against the Palestinians.
Albanese said each state must immediately review and suspend all ties with the State of Israel. Moreover, they must ensure that the private sector does the same. Interestingly, the U.S. sanctioned Albanese earlier this month. He said the Israeli economy is structured to sustain the occupation that has now turned genocidal.
Colombia and South Africa Conference: Israel Kills Civilians
Developing nations attended the two-day conference organised by the governments of Colombia and South Africa. However, the governments of Spain, Ireland, and China have also sent delegates. In contrast, Israel has adamantly rejected genocide allegations against it as an antisemitic “blood libel.”
Analysts say it’s not clear whether the conference’s participating countries have enough leverage over Israel to force it to change its policies in Gaza. Israeli military operations have killed more than 58,000 people following a deadly Hamas attack on Israel in 2023. The death toll comes from the health ministry, which is under Gaza’s Hamas government. It does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. The U.N. and other international organisations consider their figures to be the most reliable statistics on war casualties.
International Law and the Gaza Conflict: Nations of the Global South Against Israel
Sandra Borda stated that the United States has thus far failed to influence Israel’s behaviour. Therefore, it is naive to think that this group of countries can have any influence over Netanyahu’s behaviour. Notably, Sandra is a professor of international relations at Bogota’s Universidad de Los Andes. Additionally, she said the conference will enable some nations of the Global South to clarify their position toward the conflict and have their voices heard.
Considering International Law and the Gaza Conflict, the governments of South Africa and Colombia co-chair the conference. Last year, they suspended coal exports to Israeli power plants. It also includes the participation of members of The Hague Group, a coalition of eight nations. Earlier this year, they pledged to cut military ties with Israel and to comply with an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Netanyahu.
Israel’s Occupation of Palestinian Territories is Illegal
International law and the Gaza Conflict require the attention of all nations. Participating nations have stated that they are attempting to comply with an opinion issued by the International Court of Justice last year. The opinion said Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories is illegal. There is also a U.N. General Assembly resolution from September. It wants Israel to withdraw its military from Palestinian territories and calls on member nations to stop selling weapons to Israel.
Chrispin Phiri, a spokesman for South Africa’s Department of International Relations, is attending the conference in Bogota. He said It is essential that we stand up for the rule of law in a meaningful way. It is not correct to believe that international law applies only to countries in the Global South.
Measures against Israel: Banning Imports and Entering
The gathering comes as the European Union weighs various measures against Israel. It includes a ban on imports from Israeli settlements and an arms embargo. It also includes individual sanctions against Israeli officials found to be blocking a peaceful solution to the conflict. In the last few weeks, several Western countries have sanctioned Israeli government ministers. The United Kingdom, France, and Canada issued a joint statement condemning the intolerable level of human suffering in Gaza. Slovenia barred Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering its territory. It happened after the European Union disagreed on measures to address charges of human rights abuses against Israel.
Colombia’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mauricio Jaramillo, said the nations, including Qatar and Turkey, participated in the Bogota meeting. They will be discussing diplomatic and judicial measures to put more pressure on Israel to cease its attacks. The Colombian official described Israel’s conduct in the Gaza Strip and West Bank as an affront to the international order. Jaramillo said in a press conference that this is not just about Palestine. It is about defending international law and the right to self-determination.
Punish Israel for Genocide: UK Must Act
The UK must consider international law and the Gaza conflict. Ex-supreme court judge says ‘arguable case’ Israel’s conduct in Gaza is genocidal. A former UK Supreme Court judge has described Israel’s assault on Gaza as grossly disproportionate. He said there was at least an arguable case that it was genocidal. The International Criminal Court (ICC) must urgently update its crime list and add the genocide of Israel. Moreover, all states must act legally to ensure justice for perpetrators. No one can commit genocide and live long without punishment. Amnesty International is also calling for all civilian hostages to be released unconditionally.
Lord Sumption served on the UK’s highest court from 2012 to 2018. He was one of the highest-profile signatories of a letter last year warning that the UK government was breaching international law by arming Israel. The Labour government suspended some arms export licenses to Israel. However, it made an exception for parts for F-35 jets, a contentious decision that is being challenged in the courts. Sumption believes the conduct of Israel in Gaza is grossly disproportionate and genocidal.
Palestinians are Not Subhuman: They are Human
Amnesty International’s research has found enough evidence concluding that Israel is breaking international laws. The research said Israel has committed and is continuing to commit genocide against Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip. Additionally, the organisation released its results in a landmark new report. The report is titled “You Feel Like You Are Subhuman’: Israel’s Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza. It documents how Israel has made life a hell and destruction for Palestinians in Gaza, without any stop, and with total impunity.
Amnesty International’s report has proven that Israel is carrying out acts that are forbidden under the Genocide Convention. Israel specifically intends to destroy Palestinians in Gaza. The acts include killing people and inflicting deadly bodily or mental harm. Israel is deliberately causing challenging conditions for Palestinians in Gaza. Physical destruction is the primary purpose of Israel. Month after month, Israel’s acts against Palestinians show that Israel sees them as a subhuman group who do not deserve to benefit from human rights and dignity. Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, said the actions state Israel’s intent to destroy Palestinians physically.
