Maroc - EURASIAREVIEW.COM - A la une - 08/Aug 19:14

We Must Oppose Israel’s Dangerous Gamble Before It’s Too Late – OpEd

Following World War II, Albert Camusposeda "formidable gamble" to those who had survived a tragedy of immense proportions. "We're in history up to our necks," he observed, yet we must wager that "words are more powerful than munitions." "Leave or die" are the horrid words threatening largely unprotected Palestinian civilians in Gaza as dismayed populations around the world demand moral decency, or at least some indication of sanity, from their non-responsive governments. The stakes couldn't be higher. For decades, Israel has flouted international norms byrefusingto acknowledge its nuclear weapons arsenal. Nor has it signed relevant treaties governing the biological weapons it possesses.For years, Israel has flagrantlyviolatedthe Geneva Conventions and basic principles of customary international law through its forcible acquisition of territories in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and through its transfer ofIsraeli settlersinto the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Now, Israel's genocidal attacks against Palestinians living in Gaza havecost the livesof at least 39,677 people. Tens of thousands more are believed to be buried beneath the rubble, with at least 90,000 wounded and the overwhelming majority of its displaced 1.9 million population facing starvation. Israel's failure to comply with international treaties and humanitarian law signal an acute need for other countries to organize weapons embargoes, cease trade deals, and provide supportfor civilian peacekeepers to bring about a permanent ceasefire. Instead of unwavering adherence to international law, the United Statescontinues to armand protect Israel's genocidal campaign against Palestinians, which now includesusing starvationas a weapon of war. We must try to absorb what it means to live as a refugee in an open-air concentration camp—already one of the most densely populated areas on Earth, even before 70 percent of its housing wasdestroyed. More than 341mosquesand three churches have been destroyed.2,000-pound bombshave been dropped on tents in places deemed safe areas. Innocent civilians are being killed by snipers. Thirty-one out of thirty-sixhospitalshave been damaged or destroyed. Escape routes are cut off. Persistentrestrictionson the flow of humanitarian aid into and around Gaza are driving a desperate shortage of food, fuel, and medicine. As access to humanitarian relief is deliberately choked off, children are being collectively punished while Israeli leaders denounce them asanimals. The world watches in horror as surgeons are forced toamputate the limbsof wounded children with no available anesthetics. A newpolio epidemicemerges whileIsrael vaccinates its soldiersbut leaves the Palestinian civilian population vulnerable. Newly released prisoners have said they weresubjected totorture, including being waterboarded and raped. Rather than bring suspects before international courts, Israel has resorted toassassinationsof the very negotiators with which it purports to be seeking peace, and in a manner clearly intended to expand the conflict into a global war involving multiple nuclear-armed nations. In its July 19, 2024, authoritativeAdvisory Opinion on Israel's Settlement Policy and Practices, the World Court clearlydeclaredthe Israeli settlement project in the Occupied Territories to be illegal. The Courtoutlined the obligation of all parties to the Geneva Convention and the Genocide Convention to discontinue any economic or trade dealings with Israel which might help perpetuate Israel's occupation and unlawfulpresencein the territory.Countries that signed or ratified these agreements are obligated to immediately stop arms exports to Israel and to use political, military, and economic influence to stop Israel's flagrant, escalating violations of international humanitarian law. The World Court has provided strong, clear words denouncing Israel's genocide against Palestinians. As during the Vietnam War, ordinary citizens can no longer abide with the lawless barbarism of continuing assaults against Palestinians."Rolling the bones" is a slang expression for gambling. With a regional war perhaps now unavoidable in the Middle East, the genocidal derangement of the United States and Europe over Israel's actions may well lead to a nuclear war that ends the human species. Failing to use our words at this most crucial juncture for humanity would be, as Camus said, a formidable gamble indeed. This article first appeared inThe Progressive.