Dr. Muhammad Shabbir
In the complex world of international relations, power dynamics often take precedence over moral considerations. States leverage their influence, employing economic, military, diplomatic, and information-based strategies to advance their strategic interests, even if it means disregarding ethical values. This realpolitik approach frequently leads to a system where power and interests triumph over morality and legality, prompting profound ethical questions. The tragic example of Gaza underscores how the perception of legality is wielded to justify actions that are morally indefensible.
The Israel – Palestine conflict stands as a stark example of power dynamics overriding moral considerations. Even though numerous United Nations resolutions affirm the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, their enforcement is hampered by political maneuvering. The United States’ veto power in the UN Security Council frequently thwarts resolutions that are unfavorable to Israel, leaving the Palestinian territories under occupation and annexation. The US supports Israel for many reasons including a very strong Jewish lobby in the US, as well as “critical components of leading American high-tech products are invented and designed in Israel, making these American companies more competitive and more profitable globally. Cisco, Intel, Motorola, Applied Materials, and HP are just a few examples”.
The recent Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank has taken a devastating toll, with the death toll surpassing 19,088 and over 54,450 individuals wounded. The casualties include over 300 healthcare workers 86 journalists, 35 civil defense personnel, and 135 UNRWA (The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) staff. Despite these dire circumstances, Israel maintains a perception of legality through powerful alliances and support.
The question is how Israel gets away with the human rights’ abuses? The answer is with the support of US, manipulation of laws of war and use of propaganda and technologies. Just consider, since 1945, a total of 36 UNSC draft resolutions related to Israel-Palestine have been vetoed, out of these, 34 were vetoed by the US and two by Russia and China. Another noteworthy factor is Israel’s adept manipulation of the laws of war, exploiting ambiguities and exceptions to favour states over non-state actors. This manipulation, coupled with a colonial narrative depicting Palestinians as “human animals” ignorant of the laws of war, constructs a narrative that frames Palestinians as immoral aggressors deserving the violence inflicted uopon them..
Israel strategically disseminates these narratives to its domestic and Western audience to justify its actions. It has also run advertisement campaign on X, YouTube, Facebook and other print and digital media platforms against Palestine. The paid content is aimed at adults over 25 in France, Germany, England, USA, and other countries. The content portrayed Hamas as a “vicious terrorist group”, similar to the Islamic State, and showed the scale and type of abuse, including gruesome images like that of a lifeless, naked women in a pickup truck. Another paid video posted to X, with text alternating between “ISIS” and “Hamas”, has disturbing imagery that gradually speeds up until the names of the two terrorist organizations blend into one. “The world defeated ISIS. The world will defeat Hamas”, the advertisement ends.
The tragic events in Gaza expose a glaring moral bankruptcy of world leaders. The United States, employing its veto power, obstructs ceasefire calls in the UN Security Council and votes against the humanitarian truce in the General Assembly. Israel openly expresses disdain for the UN through its actions, while the Islamic World, despite sporadic voices by Turkey, Iran and Pakistan against the slaughter, remains silent on multilateral forums such as Arab League and OIC, indicating a troubling indifference in the Arab and Islamic world.
This indifference becomes even more perplexing when examining the response of Western powers. These nations, quick to condemn human rights abuses in Ukraine, Uiqhers or globally, adopt double standards when it comes to human rights abuses of Israel against Palestinian people, even children too. The question arises: Are Palestinians viewed as lesser children of God, undeserving of the same protection and empathy? Do they not have the same fundamental human rights to live in peace, safety, and with dignity? Why Israel is allowed to get away with slaughtering of women, children, and the elderly by the so called protectors of human rights? How do world leaders reconcile their lofty principles of justice and human rights with their seemingly indifferent response to the suffering of humanity in Gaza?
There is also a puzzling acceptance of Israel’s actions despite disproportionate and lethal violence. The acceptance of Israel’s actions in Ghaza, despite their disproportional and lethal nature, underscores the challenge of navigating a global landscape where powerful states wield their influence to shape perceptions. This strategic manipulation of the narrative showcases the lengths to which states will go to maintain the veneer of legality, even when their actions may be morally questionable. At the same time, it proves when powerful states commit immoral acts, they maintain the perception of legality to justify their actions, atleast to their own audience.
Writer is senior analyst and he can be reached at [email protected]