The international community should take immediate and effective steps to solve this crisis without further delay
Even though the ongoing Israeli assaults on Palestinians have made headlines in the media tens of thousands of times, raised political and academic debates, triggered rallies and processions, and prompted Facebook profiles and statuses around the world to show solidarity with the Palestinians, the predicament of the Palestinians remains the same. But who will actually protect the helpless, unarmed civilians and the innocent children in Gaza? Whose responsibility is it to prevent the gross violations of human rights and preserve the “principle of non-intervention?”
The ongoing Israeli attacks through sustained rocket launching and bombings in Gaza have already resulted in at least 280 deaths, including children and pregnant women, injured more than 1900 Palestinians, and created tens of thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs) in the last few days alone.
On the contrary, at least 10 Israelis have been injured by rockets fired from Gaza, and one Israeli fatality has been recorded. Each and every day, the number of casualties is increasing drastically. The beginning of Israeli ground invasion is a grave concern for the peace, prosperity, and security of the civilians in Gaza. Unfortunately, Israeli assaults in Gaza have become routine. According to Al Jazeera reports, this is the third war between Hamas and Israel since 2009.
How long will such atrocities last? Where is the so-called international community now? Where is the UN Charter’s principle of non-intervention? How long will this injustice and atrocities dominate? It’s time to raise our voices and put an end to this carnage. The world cannot be a silent spectator anymore.
Furthermore, the UN Charter focuses on the importance of protecting human rights. For instance, the Charter’s preamble and Articles 1(3), 55, and 56, all highlight the importance of human rights. It is the moral responsibility of the international community to protect the civilians in Gaza from Israeli atrocities. Every individual has the right to protect him/herself from any kind of repression.
The Israel-Hamas conflict may escalate throughout the region, becoming a threat to international peace and security. Hence, it is the responsibility of the international community, including the United States and the European Union, to stop Israeli atrocities in Gaza and work towards a reasonable, peaceful, and permanent solution.
It must be taken into account that after the 30 years of War (1618-1648), through the Treaty of Westphalia, the state system came into being. To a larger extent, inter-state conflict came to an end and the world found stability and order. But, if in the name of “self-defense” other states start to intervene on the weak, developing states, this might lead to the pre-Westphalian anarchic situation just as Wheeler argued in 2000. So, what’s the point if the chaotic situation is back again?
If the recurring Israeli military operations in Palestine are justified and no exemplary action is taken, this might provide an example to the stronger countries to intervene on the weaker ones to uphold national interests, which might give birth to the chaotic situations prevalent in the 16th and 17th centuries. Therefore, there is no alternative but to preserve the nation-state system and territorial integrity to avoid anarchy. This merits preventing Israeli military assaults and protecting Palestinians.
We are in the 21st century, but we keep going back to the sages of warfare where the preferred means of achieving peace is still violence. I seriously doubt this stance where people fight to achieve peace. We should not forget the goals which we entrust upon ourselves to fulfil, which also corresponds to the preamble of the United Nations’ charter which promises to “save the future generation from the scrouge of war.”
Still, after almost 70 years of formation of the global platform to discuss and put forth agendas and resolve disputes, the practice of Israeli military intervention in Palestine is quite irrational. Notably, the United Nations came up with a response in 1945 to wars and conflicts for a more stable, secure, and peaceful world which gave the state the principle of “non-intervention.”
Finally, in this critical situation, the international community, and above all, every humanitarian organisation, should come forward to handle the Israel-Palestine crisis with a firm hand. If no one can revolt against this crucial crisis, if like ostriches we only bury our heads in the sands of the mythic past, and bind ourselves into their own time, it cannot be made certain that what is happening in Gaza today will not happen in other countries as well.
As the proverb goes – when Rome was burning, Nero played the flute. The international community should take immediate and effective steps to solve this crisis without further delay.
So, in order to uphold basic human dignity, we need to preserve the principle of “non-intervention” and save the innocent civilians in Gaza. The peaceful settlements that have been developed over time from diplomacy and negotiation should be used to resolve all conflicts. War is not the answer.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
