Gaza and the Future of Global Accountability

In the months following Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel, the scale of Israel’s retaliation has been devastating, with unprecedented levels of violence and civilian casualties. The crossroads at which Hamas and the Israeli government now stand has been paved by decades of struggle, with a perilous ceasefire hanging in the balance as the world watches with bated breath. As a result of Israel’s relentless response, Gaza has witnessed civilian casualties and international law violations by the IDF on an unprecedented scale.

The long-awaited imposition of an elusive ceasefire on January 19 has mobilized world leaders and intergovernmental organizations to provide aid, engage in negotiations, and map the future of the war-torn city. While the ceasefire was celebrated worldwide, the devastation left in Gaza serves as a harrowing reminder of the failures of governments and international organizations to respond decisively, allowing a 15-month bombing campaign to devastate a city barely the size of Singapore. The lack of decisive intervention in Gaza is a shared culpability among international stakeholders, which has weakened the very institutions designed to uphold justice and set dangerous precedents for international law and human rights.

The world’s failure to adequately intervene in Palestine echoes the tragic fates of those who suffered under genocidal regimes in Rwanda and Bosnia – crises that might have been mitigated had world leaders and organizations like the United Nations (UN) taken prompt action. It is damning that the sanctity of human life, enshrined in state constitutions, religious scriptures, and the Geneva Conventions, has become the mere subject of political maneuvering and debates over semantics. Reflecting on the inaction in Gaza, one thing is clear: we have yet to learn from the painful lessons of Rwanda, Srebrenica, and even the Holocaust. One pressing question remains: where were the United Nations’ billion-dollar peacekeeping efforts during 15 months of indiscriminate bombing and hybrid warfare?

Indiscriminate bombing, prohibited by international humanitarian law, has killed over 17,400 documented Palestinian children since October 2023. Prior to the current ceasefire, the United Nations estimated that Israel’s kill rate stood at approximately one child every 30 minutes in Gaza. The protection of children – an uncontroversial, fundamental principle – has been abandoned. Beyond geopolitics, Israel’s military campaign reflects a blatant disregard for international law and humanitarian principles. Its repeated violations of UN resolutions without consequence send a clear message: with unwavering U.S. support, Israel remains beyond the reach of accountability.

It is inconceivable that ‘hostile’ countries like Iran or Iraq could commit atrocities of similar magnitude without facing swift, coordinated global action. Consider Iraq’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait, which led to the immediate adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 665, imposing a naval blockade and economic sanctions. The international community, save for Iraq’s key allies China and Russia, swiftly acted to isolate the aggressor. Yet, when it comes to Israel, a stark double standard persists. The selective enforcement of international law diminishes its legitimacy and fuels instability. This hypocrisy also explains the lack of decisive intervention in Ukraine, even after North Korean troop involvement was confirmed. The reality is that U.S. strategic interests dictate where and when intervention occurs, exposing the fragility of the so-called rules-based order.

While the UN would be a convenient scapegoat, those who should be held most accountable for the continued atrocities in Palestine are none other than Israel’s key allies: the US, Germany and Italy. Perhaps as a form of reparations, Germany believes itself to be indebted to Israel for its own historical transgressions, which would somewhat explain the unconditional support and aid provided to the Jewish state. However, in what can be considered as violations of their own constitution and laws against arming states presently at war, the US and Italy have respectively ramped up their military aid to Israel since October 7. If major powers can flout their own legal frameworks without consequence, they set a dangerous precedent: that human rights and international law are secondary to geopolitical interests. If Western leaders continue to prioritize alliances over principles, they risk dismantling the post-WWII global order.

In an even more acerbic twist, U.S. Senator Tom Cotton recently dismissed the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a “kangaroo court” for its issuance of arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant for suspected war crimes The irony is indeed lost on him, given that the ICC was established upon principles enshrined in the Nuremberg trials, which held war criminals accountable for atrocities committed during the Holocaust. The very legal institution that lent justifiability to Israel’s creation is now being completely disregarded to shield its leaders from accountability.

Non-state actors, particularly Western media, have played a pivotal role in shaping (or distorting) perceptions of the war. Despite the prevalence of real-time documentation, mainstream outlets have failed to adequately report on the IDF’s actions, including targeted attacks on journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists estimates that at least 170 journalists and media workers have been killed in the war – making 2024 the deadliest year for journalism since the Iraq War in 2003.

Yet, critical stories remain buried. The horrific circumstances surrounding the death of prominent Palestinian surgeon Adnan al-Bursh – reportedly raped and tortured – have been wholly omitted from major news reports. Meanwhile, Western outlets readily published unverified claims of Hamas beheading babies, amplifying a pro-Israel narrative while downplaying Palestinian suffering. Such selective coverage warps public perception and policy, legitimizing continued Western support for Israel’s military campaign. The media must be held accountable for its complicity in perpetuating bias and misinformation. The murder of journalists should not be a footnote – it should be a global scandal.

The international community now faces a choice: uphold the principles of justice and human rights or allow political convenience to dictate accountability. The first step must be a decisive, independent investigation into Israeli war crimes that can bring about tangible, enforceable consequences, not just token condemnations. Institutions like the ICC and the UN must be empowered, not undermined, in their pursuit of accountability from individuals and states alike. Israel and its allies must not be exempt from the scrutiny applied to African warlords and Islamist militants by parroting the distinction of “antisemitism” to suppress legitimate discourse on their actions in Gaza. Global leaders must also move beyond performative diplomacy, as it is imperative for the US, EU, and other powerful state actors to condition military aid and trade agreements on adherence to international humanitarian law. Sanctions and arms embargoes were swiftly imposed on Russia for invading Ukraine; why should Gaza be treated differently? The credibility of Western democracies depends on a foreign policy that aligns with the very values they claim to champion.

The Gaza war is more than a regional conflict – it is a litmus test for the international order. If powerful states continue to act with impunity, decades of progress in human rights protections and international law will unravel. The erosion of accountability in Gaza emboldens future aggressors, sending a chilling message: the rules-based order applies only to the weak.

History has repeatedly shown that silence is complicity. The international community cannot afford another Rwanda, another Srebrenica. If world leaders fail to act now, they are not just enabling war crimes; they are shaping a world where lawlessness prevails over justice. It is time to stop watching with “bated breath” – it is time to act.