We stand firmly against injustice in all its forms. Nothing can justify the current war crimes committed by Israel in occupied Palestine. Equally, nothing can excuse the continued support offered by other nations to this apartheid regime. If you believe in human rights, dignity, and justice, then we urge you to boycott this rogue state. Silence is complicity, do what’s right.
The poem refers to the ban Israel imposed on an advertisement B'Tselem, where it listed the names of the children killed during Israel bombing in Gaza in 2014.
Israel’s warfare in Gaza is consistent with the characteristics of genocide, with mass civilian casualties and life-threatening conditions intentionally imposed on Palestinians there, the UN Special Committee to investigate Israeli practices* said in a new reportreleased today.
“Since the beginning of the war, Israeli officials have publicly supported policies that strip Palestinians of the very necessities required to sustain life — food, water, and fuel,” the Committee said. “These statements along with the systematic and unlawful interference of humanitarian aid make clear Israel’s intent to instrumentalise life-saving supplies for political and military gains.”
Covering the period from October 2023 to July 2024, the report examines developments across the occupied Palestinian territory and the occupied Syrian Golan but focuses on the catastrophic impact of the current war in Gaza on the rights of Palestinians.
“Through its siege over Gaza, obstruction of humanitarian aid, alongside targeted attacks and killing of civilians and aid workers, despite repeated UN appeals, binding orders from the International Court of Justice and resolutions of the Security Council, Israel is intentionally causing death, starvation and serious injury, using starvation as a method of war and inflicting collective punishment on the Palestinian population,” the Committee said.
The report documents how Israel’s extensive bombing campaign in Gaza has decimated essential services and unleashed an environmental catastrophe that will have lasting health impacts. By early 2024, over 25,000 tons of explosives—equivalent to two nuclear bombs—had been dropped on Gaza, causing massive destruction and the collapse of water and sanitation systems, agricultural devastation, and toxic pollution.
“By destroying vital water, sanitation and food systems, and contaminating the environment, Israel has created a lethal mix of crises that will inflict severe harm on generations to come,” the Committee said.
The report raises serious concerns about Israel’s use of AI-enhanced targeting systems in directing its military operations, and the impact it has had on civilians, particularly evident in the overwhelming number of women and children among the casualties.
“The Israeli military’s use of AI-assisted targeting, with minimal human oversight, combined with heavy bombs, underscores Israel’s disregard of its obligation to distinguish between civilians and combatants and take adequate safeguards to prevent civilian deaths,” the Committee said.
Amid the devastation in Gaza, Israel’s escalating media censorship, suppression of dissent, and targeting of journalists are deliberate efforts to block global access to information, the Committee found. It also noted how social media companies disproportionately removed “pro-Palestinian content” in comparison with posts inciting violence against Palestinians.
The Committee condemned the ongoing smear campaign and other attacks against UNRWA and the UN at large.
“This deliberate silencing of reporting, combined with disinformation and attacks on humanitarian workers, is a clear strategy to undermine the vital work of the UN, sever the lifeline of aid still reaching Gaza, and dismantle the international legal order,” the Committee said.
The Committee called on all Member States to uphold their legal obligations to prevent and stop Israel’s violations of international law and hold it accountable.
“It is the collective responsibility of every State to stop supporting the assault on Gaza and the apartheid system in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem,” the Committee said.
“Upholding international law and ensuring accountability for violations rests squarely on Member States. A failure to do so weakens the very core of the international legal system and sets a dangerous precedent, allowing atrocities to go unchecked.”
The Committee’s report will be presented to the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly on 18 November 2024
Sir Kid Starver stands with words sharp and sly, A human rights lawyer, a mask, a lie. In Gaza, two million, starved and confined, Children and mothers left shattered, maligned.
He denies the siege, turns away from the cries, Beneath falling rubble and bomb-stricken skies. “We defend the just,” he proclaims with pride, Yet supplies the arms that fuel genocide.
Israeli occupation’s steel in his hand, Feeds the flames that consume a lost land. But truth rises fierce, though silenced and blurred; No lie can hold back the reckoning stirred.
Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, criticised British Foreign Secretary David Lammy for refusing to label the Israeli war on Gaza as genocide during his address in the UK Parliament last month. pic.twitter.com/JSpBxHJ0Vm
Forgive me, but I’ve sworn quite a lot in this at @Keir_Starmer today as he had the brass neck to sit in parliament and not call what’s happening in Gaza a genocide.
Western governments, particularly the United Kingdom, often present themselves as defenders of democracy and human rights. However, their policies, especially regarding the Israeli occupation, reveal a striking inconsistency between rhetoric and action. This double standard has profound implications for their credibility and the well-being of those affected by the conflict.
The Inconsistent Approach to Human Rights
The British government, like many of its Western counterparts, vocally supports human rights in international forums. Yet, this commitment is inconsistently applied when addressing issues in occupied Palestine. While acts of resistance by Palestinians are swiftly condemned, Israeli atrocities of killing innocent civilians and violating international law, are often met with muted responses or are justified under the banner of self-defense. This disparity illustrates a prioritization of political alliances over the consistent application of human rights principles.
Selective Condemnation and Political Interests
The UK’s reluctance to criticize the racist Israeli policies, including illegal settlement, separation wall, starvation and genocide in Gaza, contrasts sharply with its approach to similar actions by other nations. This selective condemnation often aligns with strategic interests, reinforcing a double standard that undermines the UK’s credibility as an impartial advocate for human rights.
Media and Public Perception
The British media’s portrayal of the Israeli apartheid frequently reflects these double standards, shaping public perception. Coverage tends to emphasize Israeli security concerns while downplaying or contextualizing the suffering of Palestinians. This biased narrative further entrenches the unequal treatment and limits public scrutiny of government policies.
The UK’s approach to the Israeli occupation exemplifies the double standards that mar Western foreign policy. To rebuild trust and credibility, the British government must apply its stated principles of human rights consistently, ensuring that its actions align with its values. Only then can it hope to foster a fair and lasting resolution for the indigenous Palestinian people.
