Getting the Insight Out
This article examines the erosion of Raphael Lemkin’s principles of genocide in the context of Gaza, highlighting the disjunction between legal definitions and geopolitical responses. Despite clear international legal assessments characterizing Israel’s actions as genocidal, political alliances and military aid persist. This reveals a troubling shift in how genocide is understood, applied, and contested today.
Just weeks ago, all eyes were on Lebanon. As the US reported Israel and Hezbollah were close to a ceasefire, Western politicians saw this as the first step toward peace in the Middle East. However, as rebels storm into the Syrian capital and Iran abandons its sworn allies, the region now teeters on the brink of a new and even deadlier conflict.
On October 26th 2024, the Director-General of the World Health Organization characterized the situation in Northern Gaza as “catastrophic.” Over this past year, numerous organizations have issued repeated warnings about the severe risks to humanitarian assistance posed by the use of non-discriminate war tactics.