Distractions for ICJ Ruling
The International Court of Justice issued their ruling in the provisional measures in the the genocide case against Israel. The ICJ concluded that they do have jurisdiction over the case and that all allegations against Israel are deemed “plausible” and not baseless as Israel had argued. The Court did not order a ceasefire, as South Africa had requested, but did provide some orders against Israel in their attacks on Gaza and other cities in the Occupied Territories. Of the six measures, two included the order that Israel shall take any and all measures to prevent genocide and that in one month they shall submit a report to the court showing their compliance to the orders. There have been mixed emotions regarding these rulings, with many disappointed that the court did not deliberately order a ceasefire even though UN numbers now estimate that 100,000 Palestinians have been killed, injured, or are missing in Gaza. However, the case itself is a milestone and many supporters of Israel are taking their own measures to undermine it.
[As of 6 February 2024]
The ICJ issued their ruling that genocide allegations against Israel are plausible and that they must do all they can to prevent an ongoing genocide on Friday January 26th. Later that day, the United States and other zionist-ruled countries issued their own rulings that will only exacerbate the violence and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israel has alleged that some employees within the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) were involved with Hamas on October 7th. The agency has stated that they will investigate these claims and take measures against the accused employees. Western nations have decided to take a more aggressive approach, and the timing cannot go unnoticed. Amidst these allegations, it is vital to recognize the pivotal role UNRWA plays in the broader Palestinian landscape. The agency recognizes that the Palestinians displaced as a result of the Nakba in 1948 as refugees entitled to specific services until they can return to their homeland. The UNRWA asserts Palestinians’ right to return, and Israel has repeatedly made it clear that dismantling the agency is a goal.
At the time of this article, 18 countries have announced that they are suspending funding for the agency, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Finland, Scotland, Iceland, Lithuania, Sweden, Japan, Latvia, Austria, Estonia, Romania, and Germany. On the other hand, Ireland, Norway, and Spain have expressed their continued support for UNRWA, acknowledging the organization's vital work in assisting Palestinians displaced and in desperate need of aid in Gaza and have reiterated their continued support and donations to the UNRWA. The UNRWA offers humanitarian aid to almost 6 million Palestinian refugees living in the occupied West Bank and Gaza as well as Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. UNRWA Director of External Relations and Communications highlighted that UNRWA has the largest footprint in Gaza and that there is no humanitarian actor that can replace it. Without funding, the agency has warned that it would be forced to shut down. Since October 7th, their facilities and shelters have been attacked multiple times by Israeli air forces and at least 130 employees have been killed. Little has been said regarding UN workers being killed by Israeli forces, yet western nations deem it necessary to take abrupt action due to Israel alleging that the agency has six people, out of the 13,000 UNRWA workers in Gaza, who could be connected to Hamas. Israel has released the six page dossier of the allegations, but has provided no evidence to back it up. A six page allegation is all the west needs to decide that humanitarian aid must be paused.
Suspending humanitarian aid in the middle of a dire humanitarian crisis is beyond heinous. The ICJ specifically called for more humanitarian aid to be let into Gaza and on that same day suspension was announced. No support or assistance to Israel has been paused by these countries even though as a result of their bombardement nearly 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 11,500 children, miscarriages in Gaza have increased by 300%, white phosphorus bombs have been dropped, people have had to have amputations and other operations with no anesthesia, journalists and their families have been targeted outright, universities have been bombed, UN staff have been killed, and so much more. The UN has stated that 100,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, injured, or are missing. In spite of this, Israel has been allowed to go completely unchecked in their military assault while the world simply watches. The suspension of funding for UNRWA by western nations represents yet another instance of employing brutal collective punishment, a recurring pattern that extends beyond the current situation, as seen in the suspension of the World Food Programme (WFP) in Yemen after Houthis’ resistance attacks on Israeli ships in the Red Sea. Notably, this decision was made after consultations with their major donors, with the USA being the top contributor, followed by the UK and Canada. The common thread in these instances is the use of famine and starvation as tools of collective punishment rather than advocating for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. The decisions Israel and its western entourage make often have further implications. Not only would these allegations suspend and possibly dismantle the UNRWA, but something would have to replace it. Many are now seeing moves from Israel to advocate for replacing the UNRWA with the WFP and USAID, two organizations that the U.S. has great influence in.
In essence, the reactions to the ICJ’s ruling shows how threatened many zionists are starting to feel. Millions of people around the world have protested for Palestine, calling for a ceasefire and a complete end to the occupation. These cries for liberation are threats to oppressors, and they are showing just how scared they are to lose power. Former U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi stated in an interview that pro-Palestine activists calling for a ceasefire may have ties to Russia. She called on the FBI to investigate these activists for potential Russian ties. She has swiftly been condemned by many for these fascist-like comments. The United States has a long history of weaponizing the FBI in response to any dissidents. While Pelosi’s claims are completely unsubstantiated and outright authoritarian, they are not surprising. Zionists staunchly opposed the case of genocide against Israel yet they knew the outcome would likely not be in their favor. As a result, they have made plans to suspend mass aid as a result of an allegation and call supporters of Palestine traitors, essentially.
While this is all frustrating and barbaric, it is worth noting that these leaders would not be taking action if they weren’t scared that they were losing. Zionists have noticed that the tide is shifting. The calls for a free Palestine and ceasefire are only growing in size and momentum. More people are boycotting. More people are resisting. Palestine is not fighting this alone and zionists are now relying on distractions in an attempt to pull awareness away. Announcing suspension of aid and allegations of ties to Hamas on the same day the ICJ issued their rulings is not a coincidence. It is a purposeful attempt to distract and dissuade attention on the rulings. It is a way for them to try and maintain beliefs that Israel is the victim and they must defend themselves. In the words of Franz Fanon, “Colonialism only loosens its hold when the knife is at its throat.” Israel has long worked to dismantle UNRWA and these latest efforts come at a time that deliberately violates the ICJ’s order that aid must be let in. Genocide is maintained by eliminating any efforts to prevent it. All countries who have agreed to eliminate vital aid are complicit in preventing life from going on in Gaza, and we strongly encourage them to reconsider their decision to suspend aid at a time that it is needed the most.
Additional Sources:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/12/18/israel-gaza-war-journalist-killings/
https://cpj.org/2024/01/journalist-casualties-in-the-israel-gaza-conflict/
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/28/which-countries-have-cut-funding-to-unrwa-and-why
