Gaza: The world’s most documented, unchecked genocide

I never envisioned my words venturing beyond the realms of business, economics, social advancement and the captivating world of marketing. Yet, the unfolding horror in Gaza, a relentless symphony of human suffering, demands a voice that cannot remain silent. This isn’t merely a conflict; it’s a meticulously documented genocide, a macabre spectacle playing out in real-time while the world, seemingly paralyzed, averts its gaze.

As we bear witness to this unfolding tragedy, the US emerges not as a neutral observer but as an active enabler, arming and diplomatically shielding Israel, a silent accomplice in this systematic eradication of a people. Each harrowing video emerging from the besieged Gaza Strip is a searing testament to the relentless brutality inflicted upon its inhabitants, a chilling visual record of unimaginable suffering.

The legal term “genocide,” enshrined in the Rome Statute and Genocide Convention, necessitates both intent and action. Israeli officials and military figures have not only voiced their chilling genocidal intentions with alarming clarity but have also methodically fulfilled three out of five criteria for genocide: the calculated killing of group members, the infliction of severe physical and mental harm, and the deliberate imposition of conditions meticulously designed to bring about their destruction.

Even if not a single bomb had fallen from the sky, Israel’s suffocating siege on Gaza, a cruel act of deprivation denying 2.3 million residents access to the most basic necessities of life — food, water, and electricity — would in itself constitute a textbook case of genocide. Yet, they have not only imposed this inhumane siege but unleashed a relentless, indiscriminate bombardment that has raged for over seven agonizing months.

This is not a matter of personal opinion or subjective interpretation. Over 800 genocide scholars, experts in their field, have sounded the alarm, recognizing this as a clear and present case of imminent genocide, while 47 state crime scholars have identified it as the horrifying annihilation phase. Furthermore, Israel stands accused of perpetrating the heinous crime against humanity of forced displacement, uprooting two million Gazans from their homes and leaving over half of all buildings in ruins, a landscape scarred by devastation.

As Gaza burns, the haunting question lingers: what remains of international law when the most  meticulously documented genocide in history is met with silence and inaction?

Israel’s disdain for international law is not merely evident; it is brazen and unapologetic. Its disregard for proportionality, its failure to distinguish between civilians and combatants, and its utter contempt for the protection of civilian infrastructure paint a chilling picture of a regime operating outside the bounds of human decency. It wages war not only against the people of Gaza but against the very principles upon which the UN was founded, systematically ignoring resolutions aimed at holding it accountable.

This culture of impunity, nurtured and emboldened over 75 years, has reached a horrifying crescendo. Israel now commits genocide openly, without fear of reprisal, confident in its ability to evade consequences. The International Criminal Court, the institution tasked with preventing and punishing such atrocities, has remained conspicuously silent, revealing its true allegiance to Western powers rather than the pursuit of justice.

Amid this ongoing genocide, a grotesque irony unfolds. Israel has awarded gas exploration licenses in Gaza to leading global companies, including BP. This brazen violation of international law, as natural resources on occupied land belong unequivocally to the occupied people, underscores Israel’s unwavering confidence in its ability to act with impunity, further eroding the already fragile foundations of international law.

Each time Israel escapes accountability, the pillars of international law crumble, setting dangerous precedents that other states may exploit. This poses an existential threat not only to the Palestinian people but to the stability and security of the entire world. As Gaza burns, the haunting question lingers: what remains of international law when the most meticulously documented genocide in history is met with silence and inaction?

• Abdulelah S. Al-Nahari is a business and MarCom partner at a marketing solutions firm and leads strategic growth initiatives in line with Saudi Arabia’s digital-first vision. He has multisector awareness, strategic digital foresight and a range of industry experience.