Israeli exceptionalism and Global South

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Two events in the past week provided yet another glimpse of the global political shifts and growing inter-state tensions. One was a meeting in Bogota, Colombia, convened by the Hague Group, which is expressly opposed to the Israeli-US exceptionalism in the Middle East (read Palestine) — an issue that has already caused ripples in Europe too. The other event revolved around Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's extensive visit to China, with a message that Sino-Australia relations remain unaffected by the intense tariffs' wars that the US President Donald Trump is waging.

The Hague Group is an alliance of eight countries committed to cutting military ties with Israel and which insists on compliance with the arrest warrants for the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued by the International Criminal Court. The group consists of Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Honduras, Malaysia, Namibia, Senegal, and South Africa.

A joint statement issued after the meeting of nearly 30 countries — including China, Malaysia, Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Turkey, Iraq, Qatar, i.a. — demanded enforcement of international rulings to halt what they described as genocide in Gaza.

The Bogota declaration called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, unrestricted access for humanitarian aid and the international prosecution of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The Hague Group declared after the meeting that the international community has "a legal and moral obligation to act".

"This includes suspending all military trade with Israel and ensuring that the orders of the ICJ (International Court of Justice) are fully respected and implemented," it said.

However, only 12 of the participating countries — including six founding members (Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Malaysia, Namibia, and South Africa), plus Indonesia, Iraq, Libya, Nicaragua, Oman, and Saint?Vincent and the Grenadines — formally signed the joint declaration to underscore their commitment to the six specific measures (such as arms embargoes and port restrictions).

Pakistan's absence was conspicuous if viewed it against the presence of almost all the heavy-weights of the Islamic fraternity - Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkiye, Bangladesh, and Qatar invited.

Reportedly, the diplomat assigned to attend got his visa "very late" and hence missed the event, but one wonders if that was the only reason for one of the lead Muslim countries to miss such an important event in support of the Palestinian and against the Israeli aggression?

Yet, the formal declaration, and its literal endorsement by a dozen countries marked the strongest joint statement yet by the group as well leading nations of the Global South. The Hague has aligned itself with South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. While the court has issued provisional measures ordering Israel to prevent acts of genocide, critics say those rulings have been largely ignored.

Also present was Francesca Albanese, the United Nations' special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories. She warned that the world is facing a "critical test".

"The events in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide," she said. "This is not just a legal matter — it is a moral one. The time for action is now."

Now to the Australian PM Albanese's weeklong discussions and meetings in Shanghai. The visit carried two distinct messages; despite being the core member of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) and the Australia, United Kingdom, and the United States (AUKUS) partnership, the country's PM is ready to defy Trump's aggressive posturing in general, and the unjustified US campaign focused on China containment. This geo-political alignment cast its shadow also on the Sino-Aussie relations, leading to unnecessary tensions since 2017.

The second message centred on Australia's resolve to maintain economic autonomy — national interest — and steer its trade relations with China clear of the partnership with the US and other allies.

Bilateral relations have been on the mend since Albanese took office in 2022 as Australia's 31st prime minister. In an apparent thaw, China lifted its import restrictions on Australian lobsters in December last year. That is why PM Albanese chose to engage with Premier Li Qiang — a meeting that coincided with the 10th anniversary of the implementation of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement.

Both vowed to ramp up economic cooperation, and work for greater market and industrial integration - something that is sweet music to the Chinese ears because of Beijing's non-aggressive approach rooted in geo-economic relationships. And these are rapidly expanding under the Belt and Road Initiative.

In a world riven with turmoil and uncertainties all around, it is indeed a welcome sign that as a key ally of the United States, Australia realizes the long-term hazards associated with political brinkmanship and economic coercion. It probably realizes that the Global South probably offers more economic and trade cooperation dividends than the partnership in geopolitically driven alliances. As political and economic centres gravitate towards China — and very soon to India too — the future belongs to Asia: a reality that the Global North needs to realise sooner than later instead of peddling narratives that blatantly paint China and its allies in bad light.