Sumanity is on holiday. Empathy, the ability to understand other people’s loss and suffering, has become a rare and prized commodity. International law has been missing in action. Yet, aside from the brutality and inhumanity on display, international leadership represents perhaps the most shocking absence.
That the US gives unequivocal, unalloyed support for Israel on such occasions is nothing new. The examples are legion and the US has always given Israel diplomatic protection at the UN Security Council from any attempt to hold it accountable for its violations of international law.
But what is most striking about this past week is the way so many European states have lost sight of their legal and ethical obligations. All understandably condemned the Hamas attacks. Did any European leader not? Yet, when it came to handling Israeli crimes against Palestinian civilians, it was not just silence but active support for Israel to carry out its collective punishment and bombing of civilians.
The Quint statement of Oct. 9 was typical. The grouping of the US, France, Germany, Italy and the UK offered total support for Israel, total blame for Hamas, and expressed no reservations or qualms about international law.
Take Britain. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he would give “unequivocal support” to Israel. Support after those attacks, yes; but to give unequivocal support to a state that has a record of violations of international law and war crimes is something else. Such language represents the brightest of green lights to Israeli leaders to do whatever they wish. They clearly noticed. But following him into this position was the leader of the Labour Party, the progressive party of British politics, and probably future prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer. All the initial statements failed to make any reference to international law, a huge break from the past when Israel had bombed Gaza.
President Emmanuel Macron of France was slightly better. “Israel has the right to defend itself by eliminating terrorist groups, including Hamas, through targeted actions, but also by preserving civilian populations because that is the duty of democracies.” He made no reference to obligations under international law.
Many states have also criminalized aspects of showing support for Palestinians. In France, pro-Palestinian marches have been banned and also in Germany. So much for freedom of expression. In Britain the home secretary has tried to ban the waving of Palestinian flags under certain circumstances.
One of the most bizarre and despicable responses was from Oliver Varhelyi, the EU commissioner for neighborhood and enlargement. On Oct. 9, he suspended all EU payments to the Palestinian Authority. This was reversed after many member states protested. But here was the EU about to cut aid to Palestinian civilians just when they needed it most. Rather than suspend or cut, the EU should be looking to increase aid given the need.
What is most striking about this past week is the way so many European states have lost sight of their legal and ethical obligations.
The monumental scale of Israel’s bombardment also caused no rethink. Whole neighborhoods were flattened. The Israeli military said it had dropped 6,000 bombs in five days. Palestinians in Gaza told me that the 2014 war on Gaza was a cakewalk compared with this conflict. More than 580 children have been killed in Israel’s bombardment of Gaza in less than one week. This is more than the 551 killed in the 51-day 2014 assault. Israel’s alleged use of white phosphorus shells, a claim made by a human rights group, has also not been condemned.
Ignoring the plight of Palestinians in Gaza reached new levels in the EU responses to the Israeli announcement of a siege of Gaza. Remember, Israel had been blockading it for 16 years to zero international protest or concern, but a siege is far worse. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said: “I ordered a complete siege of the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel; everything is closed. We are at war with ‘human animals’ and act accordingly.”
A siege. Surely international leaders would condemn or even criticize the imposition of what is a brutal medieval tactic redolent of the era of the Crusades and the Hundred Years’ War? Not at all. British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Labour leader Starmer both refused to condemn the imposition of this siege. The Labour Party did revise its position, but not the British government, which has just doubled down on this. Foreign Office sources tell me it is all driven by ministers, not officials.
As for the EU, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the EU Commission, had no hesitation last year in stating that “Russia’s attacks on civilian infrastructure, especially electricity, are war crimes. Cutting off men, women, children of water, electricity and heating with winter coming — these are acts of pure terror.” She was right, but has gone all coy and shy when it comes to Israel doing the same.
Chris Doyle is director of the London-based Council for Arab-British Understanding
Source: Arab News
