The U.S. and the genocide of Palestinians
Last November, I wrote a column about the violence in Gaza and Israel. At that time, about 1,200 Israelis had been killed, the great majority by Hamas and an unknown number by Israeli forces in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. In Gaza, Israeli forces indiscriminately attacked Gaza and had already killed over 10,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and the number was increasing daily. Israel had also imposed a total siege on Gaza, blocking food, water, medicine, fuel and power from entering into Gaza.
The loss of lives, both Israelis and Palestinians, was shocking and an abomination. I was especially outraged, though, by the lack of humanity shown by the U.S. political leaders towards the Palestinians and their suffering.
Here we are, four months later and the U.S. is still supporting the genocide. Instead of working to bring about an end to the destruction and slaughter — Israel has now killed over 32,600 Palestinians and wounded over 75,000 — the U.S. has continued to provide more offensive weapons to Israel. For example, the U.S. just announced it was sending among other weapons 1,800 two-thousand-pound bombs in addition to 25 F-35 jet fighters.
This U.S. provision of offensive weapons flies in the face of the Jan. 26 International Court of Justice (ICJ) finding that Israel is committing plausible genocide. In effect, this finding calls for an arms embargo of Israel. In addition, until March 25 the U.S. had prevented the UN from demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Through its actions, the U.S. made itself a partner in the genocide of Palestinians.
Where is the humanity of the U.S. political leadership? These politicians provide even more military aid to Israel while Israel uses starvation as a weapon. Making matters even worse, Israel has sometimes attacked and killed Palestinians who were waiting for the very limited food aid that Israel now begrudgingly allows into Gaza. One can understand why activists call President Biden ‘Genocide Joe’ and some refer to our local representative, Joe Neguse, as ‘Genocide Joe,’ too, for his failure to support attempts to stop this slaughter.
This leadership, both Democrats and Republicans, is out of touch with the U.S. public and world opinion. For example, a U.S. Gallup poll released on March 27 showed the majority of respondents oppose Israeli actions in Gaza. According to another U.S. Gallup poll, only 27% of the respondents approve of the Biden administration’s handling of the situation. Unfortunately, Donald Trump would unlikely to be any better on this issue. For example, in a March 25 interview he suggested he would have acted very similarly to the Israeli government after the Hamas attack.
In its Jan. 26 finding, the ICJ said it is plausible Israel is committing genocide and called on Israel to enact six provisional measures. One of these provisions said Israel must take “immediate and effective” measures to ensure the provision of urgently needed humanitarian aid and basic services. Clearly, Israel has not complied with this provision and famine is already setting in. Therefore, on March 28 the ICJ unanimously ordered Israel without delay to allow the uncontested supply of aid into Gaza to prevent a famine in the territory.
After previously vetoing three UN Security Council resolutions calling for a ceasefire, on March 25, the U.S. finally abstained on another resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire during the month of Ramadan and for the immediate release of hostages. By abstaining, the U.S. allowed the resolution to pass by a vote of 14 to 0. However, the Israeli Foreign Minister immediately responded that Israel would not abide by the resolution.
It is amazing that Israeli and U.S. leaders don’t appear to understand how damaging to their images this genocide is. It is doubtful that Israel’s image will ever recover and the U.S. image in the Global South is taking another severe hit. The U.S. hypocrisy is so blatant to all now. The U.S. can no longer say that it supports human rights or international law and be taken seriously.
End this genocide now, release all the Israeli and Palestinian hostages, fund the cleanup and rebuilding of a new Gaza and support international law in the West Bank.