President,
There is never any justification for targeting civilians during hostilities. International humanitarian law is clear: atrocities by one side do not justify atrocities by the other.
When efforts to achieve accountability are contingent on the identity of the abusers and the victims rather than the nature of the abuses, the credibility of the international community is tarnished, and the framework of international justice is jeopardized.
As we approach one year since the Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel, if we have learnt anything from those attacks and Israel’s conduct in Gaza, it is that impunity breeds more abuses. Civilians in Palestine, Israel and Lebanon are at risk of serious harm.
Governments should abide by the World Court’s historic July 2024 ruling on Israel’s decades-long occupation, including by suspending arms transfers to Israel given the clear risk they will be used to commit abuses against Palestinians across the occupied territory. The ruling found, that Israeli authorities are responsible for apartheid and racial segregation, and called on all states and the United Nations to take action to end Israel’s abuses.
Governments should urgently use all forms of leverage, including sanctions, to press Israel to comply with the World Court’s binding orders in South Africa’s genocide case, ordering Israel to ensure unhindered provision of humanitarian aid in Gaza.
Urgent steps to protect people deprived of their liberty across the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel are also crucial. The International Committee of the Red Cross must be granted immediate and unfettered access to all detainees and hostages, to the full extent required by international humanitarian law.
