Yossi Schwartz ISL (The RCIT section in Israel/Occupied Palestine), 26.01.2024
The injunctions by the ICJ in Hague is a diplomatic victory for the Palestinians even though the Court did not issue an injunction for a total cease fire. However, the injunctions that were issued will make it more difficult for Israel to continue with the massacres in Gaza as it was ordered to provide in one month the information what has been done to protect the lives of the Palestinians. The court did not order the release of the captive Israelis.
It is important to pay attention that only one or two judges opposed the injunctions against Israel Barak and another judge some times. Morocco, Lebanon, Somalia, China, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Slovakia, Uganda, India and Jamaica, Russia and the U.S each have a judge on the court. Even the judge from Germany went with the majority.
The real problem is that the ICJ does not have the force to enforce the injunctions. Only the Security Council of the UN can enforce the injunctions and the U.S most likely will veto a resolution calling for the enforcement of the Court injunctions.
Never the less the verdict described the genocide by Israel and will encourage more people to protest and put pressures on many states to boycott Israel.
It will take some time, maybe a few years for the court to come with the final verdict on the claim against Israel. At the same time the injunction will influence the outcome of the trial against Israel in the ICC.
The Zionist mass media is saying that the decision of the ICJ is a victory for Israel because the Court did not order a full ceasefire. However, it is clear by the reaction of the Zionist MKs that they know that Hamas has a limited victory and that Israel has lost.
“Israel will continue to defend itself against Hamas, a genocidal terror organization,” Netanyahu said in a message from Jerusalem. He stressed that “Israel’s commitment to international law is unwavering. Equally unwavering is our sacred commitment to continue to defend our country and defend our people. Like every country, Israel has an inherent right to defend itself.
“The vile attempt to deny Israel this fundamental right is blatant discrimination against the Jewish state, and it was justly rejected. The charge of genocide leveled against Israel is not only false, it’s outrageous, and decent people everywhere should reject it,” Netanyahu said.
He noted that the 17-member tribunal issued its first statements on the case, on Friday, just two days before International Remembrance Day, an event that was marked already on Friday by the United Nations. Both events, the one marking Holocaust Remembrance Day and the reading out of the initial ICJ action on the genocide case, could be viewed on the UN’s web page.
Netanyahu stated, “On the eve of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, I again pledge as Prime Minister of Israel – Never Again.” He referenced the Hamas-led October 7 attack against Israel in which 1,200 people were killed and some 253 seized as hostages, of which 136 are still in captivity.
“On October 7, Hamas perpetrated the most horrific atrocities against the Jewish people since the Holocaust, and it vows to repeat these atrocities again and again and again. Our war is against Hamas terrorists, not against Palestinian civilians,” Netanyahu stated. We will continue to facilitate humanitarian assistance, and to do our utmost to keep civilians out of harm’s way, even as Hamas uses civilians as human shields,” he said.
We will continue to do what is necessary to defend our country and defend our people,” Netanyahu said” [1]
To whom does he speak? Clearly only to the Zionists and to some of the western imperialist governments that still support the Zionist genocide.
Israel’s fascist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir mocked the World Court on Friday after it ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide against the Palestinians and do more to help civilians in Gaza.
“Hague shmague,” the minister wrote on X. “The antisemitic court ruling in the Hague proves what has already been known: This court does not seek justice, but rather the persecution of the Jewish people. They were silent during the Holocaust, and today, they stepped up a level in their hypocrisy,” Ben-Gvir continued. “We cannot adhere to such dangerous rulings that risk the future existence of the State of Israel, and we must continue destroying the enemy until total victory is achieved” [2]
Benny Gantz the infantile commented on the ruling saying “When Israel was founded, we vowed, “never again”. Now, we deliver on our promise and fulfill our national and historic duty. In accordance with international law, Jewish heritage, and the values of the IDF. We will continue to honor that historic duty, and abide by strict moral and legal standards – both of them” [3]
War Minister Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, in a statement, said Israel “does not need anyone to preach morals in order to differentiate between terrorists and Gaza’s civilian population.”Those who seek justice, will not find it on leather seats in the Hague,” Gallant wrote. “They will find it in the Gaza terror tunnels, where 136 hostages are being held” [4]
Foreign Minister Israel Katz posted to X saying “Israel’s commitment to international law is firm, and exists regardless of the proceedings at the International Court of Justice in The Hague,” and “I thank our excellent legal team. You represented Israel and the Jewish people with honor. We are proud of you!”
The fascist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said “Indeed, there was an attempt at genocide – of the Jewish people, at the hands of the barbaric Nazis of Hamas,” followed by “Hague judges who care about the situation of the Gazans are invited to call on the countries of the world to open their doors and assist in the reception and rehabilitation of the residents of Gaza” [5]
Opposition leader Yair Lapid said: “The Hague Court should have rejected South Africa’s bogus petition outright” [6]
If indeed the Zionists were happy with the decision of the ICJ they would celebrate, not attack the court. The only ones who fully supported with no criticism the decision of the ICJ were the leaders of Hadash.
Hadash MK Ofer Cassif posted to X saying like a true Zionist patriot: “The statement of the International Court of Justice casts a heavy moral stain on the Israeli government. As I have argued several times: being moral is not only an imperative in itself but also our interest as a country and as a society,” and “The time has come to change direction, for the sake of both nations” [7]
Hadash MK Ayman Odeh also posted to X saying: “There is no solution other than the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders alongside Israel. Only in this way can we achieve peace, security, and prosperity for both nations.”
This put Hadash and Biden in the same wagon as to the false political solution, at a time when the masses are saying: “Palestine from the river to the sea will be free!”
Down with the Zionist apartheid state!
For Palestine red and free from the river to the sea!
Endnotes:
[1] https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-783877
[2] Ibid
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
[5] Ibid
[6] Ibid