Although the history of Israeli war crimes in Gaza predates the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, October 7 has marked the completion of one year of persistent Israeli massacre in the Gaza Strip.
Since October 7, 2023, terrifying scenes have been reported from Gaza due to Israel’s war crimes against the civilian population of the native Palestinians. This Israeli massacre started in an alleged retaliation to Hamas’ Operation Al Aqsa Flood, which resulted in the deaths of around 1140 people and 240 Israeli citizens were taken hostage. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) indiscriminately bombarded Gaza on the same day. This further tightened the relentless siege of the Gaza Strip since October 2007. Over the past year, more than 43000 Palestinians, 70 percent of which are women and children, have been killed by the Israeli forces.
International Law Violations
The illegitimate Zionist state started this war alleging to eliminate Hamas. However, its indiscriminate bombing of the civilian population and infrastructure depicts that it seeks to cleanse the Gaza Strip from the native Palestinian population ethnically. Israeli forces have bombed and demolished hospitals, churches, mosques, and schools in its genocidal operation in Gaza. Despite multiple global pleas and condemnations, Israel has killed entire multi-generation families. More than 97300 people have been injured in the ongoing Israeli massacre in Palestine. The World Health Organization report suggests that around 22500 injured people have life-changing injuries and are unable to get rehabilitating treatment. Moreover, almost 10 children lose one or both legs, with an inability to gain the required treatment.
Approximately, 10000 people are estimated to be buried under the rubble of the buildings demolished due to the 75000 tonnes of explosives dropped by the Zionist forces in the Gaza enclave. In violation of international law, Israeli forces have even attacked hospitals and ambulances. Gaza Media Office has reported that 80 health centers and 34 hospitals have been attacked by the Israeli forces, along with 131 ambulances. Over 986 medical workers have also been killed in the indiscriminate attacks of the Israeli Defense Forces. Experts hold that this is a war crime under the international humanitarian law.
The Broader Implications of Regional Conflict
The so-called limited operation launched by the IDF in Gaza has now engulfed four countries, including Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon. It appears that the actual motive of the Zionist state was to pursue its ambition of “Greater Israel”. Israel has also started indiscriminate bombing in Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon. Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, has become the victim of indiscriminate Israeli airstrikes. This has ignited mass migrations from Lebanon to Syria. According to the Lebanese Prime Minister, more than 1 million people have been displaced across the country due to Israeli airstrikes. Israel has also launched a ground invasion of Lebanon under the pretense of eliminating Hezbollah. However, its indiscriminate bombing demonstrates that it has ulterior motives.
Israel has long been seeking to expand the war to the whole Middle Eastern region. It has even violated the Iranian sovereignty by attacking its embassy in Damascus. Moreover, it also assassinated significant Iranian military commanders and the Political Bureau Chief of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, in the Iranian capital, Tehran. These were attempts to expand the war into the whole region and beyond. Iran has recently retaliated to these Israeli attacks, increasing the threats of a mini world war in the region.
In all these violations of international law and war crimes, some Western nations, including the United States, are also Israel’s accomplices. They have been following a paradoxical approach to this conflict; sympathizing with the civilians of Gaza in some instances while providing military aid and arms to Israel. Israel is the largest recipient of US aid since its creation. The United States has provided $22.7 billion in aid to Israel to support its genocidal operations in Gaza. The US has also vetoed multiple UN resolutions seeking a peaceful ceasefire in Gaza.
The US is also supporting Israel’s indiscriminate bombings in Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon. Israel is the United States’ biggest regional proxy. It serves the US by safeguarding its regional interests and fighting against regional groups fighting for their sovereignty and independence. The Middle Eastern region holds the largest energy and fuel reserves. The US seeks to establish its control over all the Middle Eastern oil reserves. For this purpose, it unconditionally supports Israel in all its war crimes in the ongoing regional war. Reports even suggest that the US was also planning to assist Israel in attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities. However, Iran’s warnings and its alleged atomic tests have forced both the belligerent states to show restraint. This one year of the Israeli genocide in Gaza has exposed the reality behind the US’ advocacy for human rights and democracy. It has expedited the decline of the US hegemony around the globe. Moreover, the Palestinian cause has once again gained momentum and support from the majority population around the world.
Abbas Hashemite – is a political observer and research analyst for regional and global geopolitical issues. He is currently working as an independent researcher and journalist, exclusively for “New Eastern Outlook”
