In terms of justice and finding a diplomatic end to the war, there are fewer and fewer options. The International Criminal Court could have provided both justice and a diplomatic end to the war in Gaza, but they are proving more and more to only take action against countries that the US selects as criminal.
There was once hope that the ICC would charge Israel and the Prime Minister of Israel, along with other members of the Israeli government, with war crimes, just as it did with Russia. The charges against President Putin gave everyone hope, and the speed of the charges also added to the possibility that Israel could be charged similarly.
However, this hope has faded into the grim reality that the ICC is being directly influenced by the US. Former President Trump’s sanctions against ICC prosecutors as a means to protect Israel from investigations, probably has a major factor in that shift. For years now, the ICC has been investigating Israeli war crimes against Palestinians and collecting evidence. Nothing has come from these years of investigation.
Palestinian rights groups refused to meet with the ICC this last week because they know the outcome, nothing will come from the meeting. The ICC falls back on the claims that Israel makes, in which Israel allegedly already prosecutes these crimes in their court system, which is why the ICC cannot prosecute since the matter has already gone to court. Not only does this lack any logic, but it is incredibly unjust for Palestinians to seek out fair trials against their perpetrators. The bias is in existence with an Israeli led court having the power to rule over their own abuses against Palestinians. It makes no sense, and yet the Palestinians are forced to have this biased court as their sole recourse of crimes against Israel.
The ICC could review the Israeli court cases to easily prove that Palestinians are not receiving justice that they deserve, but they have been attacked by a US president. If the ICC truly stood for justice, this would not deter charging Israel, but they are not. Now the ICC plays ball with the US instead of doing the job it was created to do- serve blind justice.
If you want the war in Gaza to end, we all must call for embargoes against Israel and the US.
The ICC will do nothing. They keep repeating to the press over and over that there is an ongoing investigation, but no charges follow. This investigation has gone on for years. Human rights groups have asked for investigations into the war crimes and genocide that Israel is perpetrating against Palestine, but the only response is that they will collect evidence and testimony.
There is more than enough evidence to convict Israel. If Russia could be charged so swiftly, then Israel should have been charged at this point because the atrocities are unprecedented and extreme.
DEMAND AN EMBARGO AND SANCTIONS AGAINST ISRAEL AND THE US. DEMAND A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE.
Both Israel and the US will respond quickly to an economic abatement from other countries. It will make a difference. This is why the US often sanctions and embargoes other countries as well. To date, the only country that is sanctioning Israel is Belgium. We need more countries to take this same step with a complete embargo and sanctioning individuals and military companies.
DEMAND AN EMBARGO AND SANCTIONS AGAINST ISRAEL AND THE US. DEMAND A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE.
An embargo is the last diplomatic option that can be utilized. If leaders do not take this step, all Palestinians in Gaza will die. We cannot give up. We have a means to end this war, we need leaders to be bold and embargo.
From the river to the sea, may Palestine be free. May the whole world be free.
DEMAND AN EMBARGO. Protest. Boycott. BE UNGOVERNABLE. Vote 3rd party. Contact elected officials. Donate. Volunteer. Share the stories from Palestine. Share the news from Palestine. Share the history of Palestine. Please extend the same energy to other areas/people facing atrocities and genocide- Sudan, the Congo, Rohingyans, West Papua, Armenians, and the Uyghurs.