Israel's impunity

Yet another UN report has confirmed the genocide in Gaza shows no signs of abating, even though the Israeli government had agreed to a ceasefire several months ago. But while most of the Middle East recognises that Israeli government's word has no value under its current regime - which is also facing elections - the countries that can force Israel to stop have blankly refused to do so, in some cases even actively supporting the genocide.

This is why the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry's latest report is being called a searing indictment of a state that has placed itself above international law, and the world is letting it happen. The Commission concludes that Israel has committed genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza, including extermination, persecution, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence. It finds that Israeli authorities have demonstrated a "consistent intent" to establish permanent military control over Gaza and to change its demographic composition. The killing and harming of Palestinian children and sexual violence are identified as elements establishing specific intent to commit genocide.

But don't tell the Americans or the Germans because they have been playing defence for Israel for decades, refusing to take any steps that might accidentally cause them to look like countries that actually value human rights. The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2024 for alleged war crimes, yet he still freely enters and leaves the US and other allied Western capitals. Human Rights Watch has documented Israeli-backed settler violence driving mass displacement, and Amnesty International has repeatedly warned of genocide and apartheid.

Israel unsurprisingly rejects these findings as "propaganda". But in the face of overwhelming evidence, for the rest of the world, the legal conclusions are unambiguous. Every state that continues to arm, trade with and shield Israel is complicit in the slaughter.