Israel is accused of the gravest war crimes in Gaza : Jeremy Bowen / BBC

Shared by Gautam Banerji

Jeremy Bowen’s InDepth on BBC is a must read, coming as it does from a veteran journalist who has seen it all spanning through his career. A well balanced and nuanced approach, which cautions us nevertheless to be on the right side of history, lest we be complicit in some of the gravest crimes against humanity that’s on the verge of being condemned as a deliberate act of genocide.

Bowen deserves the pride of place among war reporters and journalists who uphold the freedom with which he has spoken on what is today more than a humanitarian disaster in a conflict zone. Expert opinions point towards a deliberate act of extermination of targeted civilian population groups that cannot be overlooked as collateral damage, given its scale and magnitude. It’s time to speak. Silence itself could be construed as a support for the unjust. No one should remain above the law.
Gautam

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Summary

Jeremy Bowen reports that Israel is now accused of committing the gravest war crimes in Gaza, including actions that may constitute genocide. 

Despite rules under the Geneva Conventions requiring the protection of civilians in war, Bowen argues those rules are being systematically violated. The article cites testimonies from legal experts, diplomats, and humanitarian leaders who believe Israel’s conduct — including widespread civilian killings, starvation, and denial of aid — breaches international law. The United States continues to shield Israel diplomatically, but a growing number of European allies are publicly breaking ranks, calling the Israeli response disproportionate and inhumane. 

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu and his former defense minister, while the International Court of Justice is investigating charges of genocide brought by South Africa. Lawyers and humanitarians argue that the evidence of intentional harm to civilians, including the use of hunger as a weapon, makes the case increasingly hard to ignore.

Quotes

"Humanity is failing in Gaza. It is failing. We cannot continue to watch what is happening. It's surpassing any acceptable, legal, moral, and humane standard." — Mirjana Spoljaric, President of the ICRC

“Statements by Netanyahu and his ministers suggest that the object of current operations is to force the Arab population of Gaza to leave by killing and starving them if they stay. These things make genocide the most plausible explanation for what is now happening.” — Lord Jonathan Sumption, former UK Supreme Court Justice

"You have to conduct a war according to law... and I'm afraid that we're not seeing that." — Helena Kennedy KC

“I haven’t seen a population like this being so trapped for such a long period... It is only comparable to the besieged areas of Syria during the Assad regime.” — Jan Egeland, Norwegian Refugee Council

“The terrible Jewish experience of persecution and mass killing in the past should give Israel a horror of inflicting the same things on other peoples.” — Lord Sumption