The situation in Gaza continues to spring up surprises on us, horrible, inhuman, deadly surprises. The latest, after the relentless bombing and killing of tens of thousands of innocent Palestinian civilians – apparently not innocent enough for the Israeli government, as they may have been dreaming of a free and independent Palestine – is the selective killing of journalists and doctors, those few left in this Hell on Earth. The laughable and simultaneously so tragic standard response from the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) is that they target neither category but they are only going after Hamas militants. Of course, they also promise to investigate, so one has to believe that and stand quietly on the side, waiting for the next atrocity to happen, and the next.
If this does not do it for “the international community” what more needs to happen? Wait for an Israeli nuclear bomb to obliterate the place? Maybe then the neighbours in the Arab World, the Mediterranean and Europe will really complain because the radioactivity may affect their people and the fish they eat. In the meantime, the red line is getting thicker and thicker with the innocent blood that is spilt, while the Palestinians are getting thinner and thinner, looking with lifeless eyes ahead, at the inevitable end, beyond justice and hope of salvation.
The red line of humanity has been crossed numerous times, you can see the prints of the military boots and the shadow of drones, military aircraft, artillery and missiles all over it. Is there any sense of humanity left in those who like to be recognized as guardians of human values and international law? To their most-deserved credit, the humanitarian organizations of civil society and the UN, and the media, try to keep the spotlight on the carnage with a strong sense of duty, despite the high human cost for them too.
What about governments and intergovernmental bodies, though? In case the course of action is not yet clear to them, here are some guiding thoughts:
- The political UN and all specialized bodies have to expel the government of Israel for as long as this situation persists, as they did with Apartheid South Africa in the past;
- The UN Security Council should impose a complete arms embargo on Israel, possibly also a commercial and financial embargo too, for as long as humanitarian assistance is not allowed into Gaza without any restrictions;
- The UN Secretary-General should stand in front of the Israeli-controlled entrance to Gaza from Egypt, with all the lorries carrying humanitarian assistance behind him, and should not leave until those doors open and the assistance gets distributed humanely and fairly to all Gazans;
- The UN Secretary-General should also be directly involved in getting a ceasefire agreed upon, including the release of all Israeli hostages in Gaza and all Palestinian political prisoners / “administrative detainees” in Israel;
- The Catholic Pope and other religious leaders from around the world should consider joining the UN Secretary-General in either of the above two interventions;
- Those governments who have not yet recognized Palestine as a state should do so immediately, not waiting for the UN General Assembly in September or later points in time, as this is what is just and has to happen now, not something to be used as a negotiating chip for the delicate and all-too-choreographed dance with Israel;
- The European Union and others with special, preferential agreements on trade, sports, research, etc. with Israel should suspend their implementation until Israel returns to international legality and human behaviour.
The above is a small list of things that could and should be done… yesterday, but since they have not been done yet, let today be the day. Otherwise, the red line will keep getting thicker and deeper, and will continue to corrode any sense of justice and humanity left on this planet, until there is none (humanity, planet, sense).
