PORTLAND – There is no doubt that Israel committed genocide in the Gaza Strip. For the human and physical impact, see the results on the ground and read the South African case filed at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). And for intent (which is important in proving genocide), listen to and read statements from Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, Defense Minister Gallant, military leaders, and others.
On December 29, 2023, South Africa invoked the “Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide” to bring a case against Israel to the International Court of Justice, the world’s highest court of the United Nations. South Africa accused Israel of committing and continuing to commit acts of genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa’s_genocide_case_against_Israel)
After a two-day hearing, the court was persuaded to accept the case and proceed with the case based on the evidence and arguments presented, but it could literally take years before a final judgment is rendered. Approximately 14 countries, including 3 Islamic countries, have intervened to express political or public support for this event, and more countries, including approximately 14 Islamic countries, have supported this event with political or public support, while Israel continues to commit acts of genocide.
A few observations reveal the current state of morality in our world. Only three European countries have intervened to support the case: Belgium, Ireland, and Spain. Most Muslim-majority countries have been silent or only expressed support through the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The United States, which claims to be the defender of the international rule of law, is in the midst of a complete fraud. Instead of allowing the case to proceed in an orderly manner, the United States has sought to crush it in every way possible. The United States called the lawsuit “futile, counterproductive, and entirely without merit.” More than 200 members of the US Congress condemned the incident. Other members of Congress have introduced bills to overhaul the relationship between the United States and South Africa.
Students who have peacefully supported the Palestinian struggle have been expelled from universities or deported from the country. Many people have been fired from their jobs or had job offers rescinded from those who spoke out against Israel’s genocide. All this in a country where freedom of speech is sacrosanct! And these are only publicly known measures.
Most important is the behind-the-scenes arm-twisting and intimidation of foreign leaders and officials who might support the case. At the same time, the United States went completely off the rails in another case, sanctioning four International Criminal Court (ICC) judges who prosecuted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and two other senior Israeli officials.
The United States has cooperated fully with Israel in diplomatic and political support, but on a practical level it has done even more to enable Israel to carry out genocide in Gaza. The United States has supplied Israel with money, weapons (particularly large bombs designed to obliterate entire neighborhoods), and intelligence. Without such American support, Israel would not have been able to carry out the genocide.
Could any country or leader have stopped this genocide? yes. The list is long. First of all, while European countries could have put pressure on the United States as a group, and Ireland and Spain did indeed speak out, they did not represent a united Europe. Arab countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, have economic influence and may have been able to persuade President Trump to tell Israel to stop its genocide. Islamic countries with more than 2 billion followers could have united to pressure President Trump to do the right thing. The list is long, but “the flesh is weak.” Most disappointingly, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have acquiesced. True, the rulers, Al Saud in Saudi Arabia and Al Nahyan in the UAE, don’t like the Palestinians very much, but they rely on US support to maintain control, wield absolute power, and take everything they want from the treasury. For these unelected rulers who buy American support and live lavish lives, it’s all a matter of self-preservation. All the while, the majority of ordinary Arabs and Muslims around the world hate and suffer from what they see on the news.
There is a clear way to show the United States and everything it has done and is doing to enable Israel’s genocide and stop it along the way. It is clear that the United States is fully complicit in everything Israel does. A courageous UN member state could expose the United States as an accomplice in the ongoing Gaza massacre at the ICJ. The South African case is uncontroversial. A handful of astute legal minds could adapt the same events depicting American complicity and prove beyond doubt that this genocide would not have gotten this far without the complete acquiescence of the United States in providing arms, money, and intelligence.
It takes a little courage to confront America’s complicity in the ongoing genocide.
Will Muslims or Arab countries take that position?
Hossein Askari is Professor Emeritus of Business and International Affairs at George Washington University.