As We Celebrate, Gaza is Disappointed with ICJ Ruling – This is Why

By Ramzy Baroud  

The next feedback have been offered by Dr. Ramzy Baroud, editor-in-chief of The Palestine Chronicle, at a non-public convention on the Israeli genocide in Gaza, held in London on January 27. The London Convention was attended by main authorized students and politicians from all over the world, particularly the International South. 

I had the possibility to suppose extra concerning the ruling by the Worldwide Court docket of Justice relating to the continuing genocide in Gaza. And, whereas I nonetheless consider that the choice is historic, I absolutely perceive and share the frustration of those that will not be celebrating the result of the listening to. 

I feel a few of us have approached this case with completely different expectations than others. 

Personally, like thousands and thousands of Palestinians in Gaza, I hoped that there could be some sort of a direct reference to a ceasefire that can not be misinterpreted by the US and Israel. 

Sadly, that didn’t occur. Now, the Israelis and their American companions are saying that for the reason that Court docket didn’t deny us the suitable to self-defense and didn’t name for a right away ceasefire, from a global regulation perspective, we’re not underneath the duty to cease the struggle. 

Even John Kirby, the Coordinator for Strategic Communications on the Nationwide Safety Council within the White Home, has discovered within the ruling a possibility to assert that, in some elements, the ICJ choice is in step with the US place: that Israel ought to conduct itself rigorously in Gaza to reduce civilian casualties, ought to permit for higher entry to humanitarian help, and that kind of factor. 

True, the US has been saying this as of late, however its declared political place didn’t forestall it from financing and absolutely backing the Israeli genocide. 

Even the Israeli choose on the ICJ voted in favor of two of the rulings that demanded the facilitation of humanitarian help and ending the genocidal rhetoric inside Israel itself. 

The reality is Palestinians don’t have any religion within the worldwide and authorized system, and I don’t suppose that the ICJ ruling has basically altered this place. 

What the ruling has achieved is, per the phrases of a pricey pal of mine, ushered in a brand new historic chapter during which Israel is now not proof against authorized accountability. This explains Netanyahu’s indignant stance yesterday when he known as the ICJ’s ruling shameful for generations to return. 

However that’s not what Gaza wished. Gaza wished a right away halt to the genocide, which has, sadly, not been achieved. 

Now, the dialogue will return to the UN Safety Council, the place the US and Israel, and probably a few of their lackeys, e.i. The UK might argue {that a} draft decision for a right away ceasefire has no authorized justification for the reason that ICJ didn’t name for one straight. And that’s the actual disgrace and disappointment for the ICJ ruling, which created this gray space that might be used, abused and manipulated by Israel to proceed with this genocide. 

I’m sorry for my individuals, household and buddies in Gaza who have been hoping to listen to the phrase ‘ceasefire’, which might have began an actual dialogue about ending the struggle. 

It goes with out saying that, to this point, nothing has been efficient in influencing the occasions from the bottom, other than the Palestinian Resistance itself and the resilience, persistence, and religion of the Palestinian individuals, inside the Gaza Strip. 

So the place can we go from right here? 

I feel the Palestinian individuals know precisely what they need to do. They don’t seem to be going to be sitting and ready for the following UNSC debate, or holding their breath that perhaps, maybe, years from now, some choice could be declared by the ICJ that would obtain a measure of justice – and that that call could be revered and never blocked by Israel and its Western allies.

That, nevertheless, shouldn’t discourage us from shifting ahead with our solidarity with the Palestinians. On the contrary, now that we’ve some authorized foundation that implies that Israel is perhaps finishing up a genocide in Gaza, we have to be sure that our particular person governments, parliaments, metropolis councils, church buildings, mosques, synagogues, civil society organizations and all the remainder are mobilized to take a stance in opposition to Israel, every in its personal capability. 

We must always now not undergo the direct accusation that boycotting Israel is an act of antisemitism. On the contrary, boycotting Israel now has some critical and bonafide authorized foundation in worldwide regulation. 

Any nation that enables for exports or imports to and from Israel must be prevented from doing so by its personal civil societies, once more, who are actually armed with a authorized precedent. 

The political context that led to the ICJ ruling proves what we’ve been saying for a few years, that probably the most real and sensible solidarity with the Palestinian individuals will at all times come from the International South. 

Virtually, which means that whereas we should proceed our advocacy and stress on Western governments, we should always put money into rooted and long-term alliances with International South governments, civil societies, and any political, authorized, tutorial, or social construction that might permit us to acquire and provide solidarity to our comrades within the International South. This isn’t only a long-term technique however one that may instantly bear fruits, as a result of robust bases for solidarity exist already. 

It goes with out saying that any condemnation of the armed wrestle of the Palestinian individuals is, to say the least, unhelpful if not proper insidious, as it’s the equal of denying the Palestinians their final line of protection.

Within the International North, we should activate all of our choices, beginning with boycott in any respect ranges, of all governments, firms and people that straight or not directly contribute to the Israeli genocide in Gaza, and the Israeli occupation and apartheid usually. 

Whereas it’s important that we stay dedicated to holding Israel accountable when it comes to its violations of worldwide regulation, we should not permit ourselves to be happy with and distracted by the ICJ ruling and the controversy round it.

We should return to the mission at hand. Ceasefire now and full accountability for Israeli struggle crimes and criminals on the ICJ, the ICC, and each different worldwide and home authorized establishment.

– Ramzy Baroud is a journalist and the Editor of The Palestine Chronicle. He’s the creator of six books. His newest ebook, co-edited with Ilan Pappé, is “Our Imaginative and prescient for Liberation: Engaged Palestinian Leaders and Intellectuals Converse out”. Dr. Baroud is a Non-resident Senior Analysis Fellow on the Heart for Islam and International Affairs (CIGA). His web site is www.ramzybaroud.internet