Dr. Raed Abu Badawiya: Lifting the Western political cover from Israel is the basic condition for enabling international institutions to work in Gaza, and this is something unexpected

Dr. Hussein Al-Deek: The lack of political will among major powers is the main obstacle to taking actual steps to deter Israel from its crimes

Talal Okal: The United Nations has become a hostage to the United States, which hinders any real progress in stopping the war and Israeli crimes in Gaza

Dr. Dalal Erekat: Transforming written documentation into direct action is the best way to hold Israel accountable for its crimes and ensure justice for the Palestinian people

Dr. Aql Salah: International laws are now tailored to serve the powerful and have no place for the weak, which reflects the need to reform the international system and ensure its justice.

Amidst the escalation of the Israeli aggression and the war of extermination on the Gaza Strip, voices of international demands to stop the war and stop the bloodshed are rising, but the facts on the ground confirm the inability of the international system to take practical steps to stop the crimes committed against the Palestinians.

Every now and then, the voices of UN rapporteurs rise, the latest of which were the statements of the Senior Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs and Reconstruction in Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, on Tuesday evening in New York, after listening to her briefing in a closed session held by the Security Council to discuss the humanitarian situation in Gaza, in which she confirmed that the Palestinians in the Strip feel that everyone has abandoned them, and they wonder where is the international community? When will there be a ceasefire? They also expressed their concern that the world has forgotten them, but those statements by Sigrid Kaag come in the context of a series of statements that have not found anyone to listen to them as long as the criminal Israel is in clear international inability to rein in the occupying state.

This deficit, according to writers, analysts, experts and university professors, in separate interviews with “I”, is not only a reflection of the weakness of international institutions, but a direct result of the dominance of Western interests that have formed the cornerstone of this system since its establishment.

They stress that what is happening in Gaza today represents a new test of the effectiveness of the international system, which seems to be shackled by political balances that prevent the implementation of UN resolutions. While international bodies document the serious violations against civilians, these reports remain locked in drawers due to the lack of political will among major countries. This dilemma raises questions about the ability of the international community to overcome the double standards that have long dominated dealing with the Palestinian issue.

They believe that Western dominance over the United Nations and its institutions reinforces Israel’s policy of impunity, which weakens any efforts to deter it from committing further crimes. This reality places the international community before a moral and legal responsibility to reactivate the role of these institutions and achieve justice, especially in light of the escalation of Palestinian demands for a more daring diplomatic move to impose political and economic isolation on Israel.

Despite the issuance of UN resolutions condemning the Israeli occupation, the implementation of these resolutions remains subject to real Western political pressure, which is something that writers, analysts, experts and university professors see as unlikely in light of the strategic alliances between Israel and the major powers. This predicament reflects the failure of the international system to meet the aspirations of oppressed peoples, and opens the door to questions about the effectiveness of the international system in light of the ongoing aggression on Gaza.

In the face of this bleak scene, experts, writers and university professors stress the importance of uniting the Palestinian ranks and intensifying Arab and international diplomatic efforts to draw attention to Israeli violations. This movement must aim to break the diplomatic and economic siege imposed on the Palestinian cause and redefine the rules of the international game to ensure that war criminals do not escape punishment.

Decisions that hit the political will barrier of influential Western countries

Dr. Raed Abu Badawi, Professor of International Law and International Relations at the Arab American University, explains that the international system, including the United Nations and its agencies and bodies, represents a reflection of the Western capitalist vision that was established after World War II to organize international relations.

According to Abu Badawiya, these UN bodies were built to reflect the balance of international power at that time, making them tools to achieve the interests of major Western countries, such as the United States, Canada, Western European countries, and their allies around the world.

Dr. Abu Badawiya believes that this Western dominance over international institutions means that the decisions issued by them, whether related to the introduction of humanitarian aid or the cessation of wars, require Western political will to be implemented.

Abu Badawiya points out that Israel, as a strategic ally of the West, does not care about these decisions unless they are supported by clear American and European political pressure.

Abu Badawiya explains that UN resolutions related to the Palestinian issue often encounter the political will of influential Western countries, which leads to their freezing or disruption.

Abu Badawiya points out that Israel benefits from this situation because its interests are linked to Western countries that consider it a strategic ally in the region.

Abu Badawiya asserts that Western countries have so far shown no serious intention to use coercive tools such as economic sanctions or political pressure to force Israel to comply with international resolutions.

Abu Badawiya points out that some Western countries have taken symbolic political decisions, such as recognizing the State of Palestine or stopping the export of some weapons to Israel, but they have not risen to the level of coercive decisions that fundamentally affect the policies of the Israeli occupation.

Abu Badawiya points out that these steps show an attempt to ease internal and international political pressures on these countries, but in the end they remain of limited effect.

Abu Badawiya believes that the current regional and international situation requires pressure from Arab and Islamic countries on Western countries to use their common interests with these countries to pressure Israel.

But Abu Badawiya points out that regional moves, such as summits and international meetings, have not translated into substantive decisions or real pressure tools, such as economic or diplomatic sanctions, that might force Israel to change its policies.

Abu Badawiya believes that the continuation of Western hegemony makes it difficult for international institutions to implement their humanitarian, relief, or ceasefire decisions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Abu Badawiya explains that lifting the Western political cover from Israel is the basic condition for enabling these international institutions to work in the occupied Palestinian territories, especially in the Gaza Strip, which is unexpected in light of the connection between the interests of the United States and Europe and Israel as a tool of the West in the Middle East.

Despite Abu Badawiya's pessimism about the role of international institutions, he points to the possibility of taking action within the United Nations General Assembly, which is a fertile arena for solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

Abu Badawiya stresses that Palestinian diplomacy must develop an international strategy aimed at depriving Israel of benefiting from its relations with many countries, by issuing decisions aimed at besieging Israel diplomatically and economically.

Abu Badawiya asserts that this strategy can achieve two main goals: the first is to punish Israeli war criminals and ensure that they do not escape punishment, and the second is to activate the role of international and regional institutions to besiege Israeli policies at various levels.

Dr. Abu Badawiya explains that efforts to declare Israel a rogue state in the UN General Assembly are one possible step, but they face major political obstacles due to the US control of the Security Council.

Abu Badawiya stresses that there is a need to activate international pressure tools in many of the UN General Assembly’s bodies, such as suspending Israel’s activities or severing diplomatic relations with it, even partially, to send clear messages that the occupation’s policies have consequences and that Israel must lose in order to stop its crimes and abide by the laws of the international system.

Abu Badawiya points out that developing countries and Third World member states can exert increasing pressure within the UN General Assembly, but this effort requires tight Palestinian and Arab diplomatic coordination.

Abu Badawiya calls for working to issue resolutions that support the Palestinian cause and impose political and economic isolation on Israel, even partially, to achieve tangible progress in holding the occupation accountable and stopping its violations.

Lack of international political will to transform this evidence into executive decisions

The writer and political analyst specializing in American affairs, Dr. Hussein Al-Deek, confirms that the testimonies and evidence available regarding the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces in the Gaza Strip, including war crimes and genocide against civilians and targeting civilian objects, are considered an important step towards documenting these violations and collecting the necessary evidence to prove them.

However, Al-Deek stresses that the main problem does not lie in the lack of evidence, but in the absence of international political will to transform this evidence into executive decisions that are implemented on the ground.

Al-Deek explains that international institutions and bodies, despite the reports and decisions they issue regarding Israeli violations, have not yet been able to move to the stage of practical implementation of these decisions, whether by deterring the occupation or holding its leaders accountable.

Al-Deek attributes this to international collusion and the political cover provided to Israel by major countries, such as the United States, Britain and some European countries.

Al-Deek points out that this international protection has reinforced the policy of impunity enjoyed by the occupation leaders for decades, which has encouraged them to commit more crimes against the Palestinian people and others, such as the Lebanese people.

Regarding the role of the UN special rapporteurs, Al-Deek explains that they often provide an accurate description of the situation in the Gaza Strip and warn of its seriousness, but they do not receive any actual international response.

Al-Deek asserts that this situation reflects the policy of double standards adopted by the international community in dealing with issues of human rights and international humanitarian law.

Al-Deek points out that the application of these laws now depends on the nationality of the victim and the perpetrator, and not on the size and seriousness of the violations.

“This blatant bias shows the great shortcomings of the international legal system and international legitimacy, and reinforces Israel’s immunity from any real accountability,” Al-Deek said.

Al-Deek points out that the lack of political will among major powers, especially the permanent members of the Security Council, represents the main obstacle to taking actual steps to deter Israel from its crimes.

Al-Deek asserts that these countries, which have controlled the international system since World War II, designed international organizations, including the United Nations, to be tools to achieve their interests and the interests of their allies.

Al-Deek says: “When these institutions issue reports or decisions that conflict with the interests of the major powers or their allies, they remain on paper and are not implemented on the ground.”

Al-Deek believes that this international collusion reflects a clear identification with the occupation’s crimes against the Palestinian people, which reinforces the state of impunity.

Al-Deek stresses that these international bodies must uphold the principles of the United Nations Charter and abide by their moral and legal responsibilities towards human rights and international law.

Al-Deek explains that the testimonies and evidence collected about the crimes of the Israeli occupation remain of great importance, but they will not lead to real change unless there is a real international political will to prosecute the Israeli leaders and generals responsible for these crimes, or at least take effective steps to force Israel to stop its ongoing aggression against civilians and civilian objects in the Gaza Strip, while Al-Deek expresses that achieving this goal remains unlikely in light of the current international political reality.

A wave of condemnation and concern at the international and regional levels

Writer and political analyst Talal Okal asserts that the crimes committed against the Gaza Strip have sparked a wave of condemnation and concern at the international and regional levels, but this has not been translated into practical steps to stop the Israeli aggression or hold accountable those responsible for war crimes and genocide.

Awkal asserts that various international institutions, including the UN General Assembly, the International Court of Justice, and the International Criminal Court, in addition to prominent figures from various institutions, have expressed their condemnation of what is happening in Gaza, but that “the United Nations has become hostage to the United States,” which hinders any real progress in stopping the war and Israeli crimes in the Gaza Strip.

Awkal believes that the absence of an effective role from Arab countries and their use of their power cards, in addition to the continued Palestinian division, exacerbates the inability of the international community to take tangible measures to stop the crimes or pressure Israel.

Awkal points out that the Palestinian National Authority is facing intense Israeli pressures that prevent it from playing any role in the Gaza Strip, which increases the complexity of the internal Palestinian scene.

Awkal stresses that the Palestinians are in dire need of ending the state of division and uniting their ranks to present an alternative vision to the one that the occupation seeks to impose for the post-war period.

Awkal stresses the importance of this being accompanied by active international action to demand accountability for those accused of committing war crimes.

Awkal points out that the Israeli war on Gaza is about to come to an end, but unless a clear plan is agreed upon by the Palestinians for the post-war period, the occupation will exploit the opportunity to impose its agenda and continue its plans aimed at undermining the Palestinian cause.

Awkal calls for activating legal and diplomatic efforts at the international level to prosecute those responsible for the crimes, with a focus on investing the current momentum of international condemnations and decisions to bring about real change, and not just verbal condemnation.

Awkal warns of the danger of the continued state of international and Arab inability to address what is happening, pointing out that this gives Israel more time to implement its policies without deterrence.

The importance of international efforts to document testimonies related to Israeli crimes

Dr. Dalal Erekat, Professor of Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution at the Arab American University, stresses the importance of the efforts made by international bodies to document testimonies related to Israeli crimes against Palestinians, emphasizing that these efforts represent a decisive step in the process of holding the occupation accountable.

Erekat explains that the reports issued by UN rapporteurs and periodic briefings play a pivotal role in documenting violations, calling for not underestimating their importance, while stressing that these efforts require practical escalation through activating field investigation committees on the ground in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Erekat stresses that the written briefings and documentation must be followed by concrete steps through which stronger decisions are issued that clearly criminalize Israel.

Erekat points out that these investigations should focus on crimes of genocide and crimes against humanity, including torture, rape, ill-treatment of prisoners, and other violations that occur in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Erekat stresses that we must move from statements, documentation and supportive decisions to sending UN investigation committees to the occupied Palestinian territories to investigate the violations on the ground.

Erekat stresses that this measure will ensure the transition from the stage of theoretical statements and reports to the stage of field action.

Erekat points out that direct action on the ground can present the world with compelling facts, which will contribute to strengthening international resolutions aimed at holding Israel accountable.

Erekat explains that the United Nations General Assembly issues repeated resolutions related to the Palestinian issue, but what is required now is to activate these resolutions on the ground, instead of being satisfied with theoretical texts.

Erekat calls on the international community to assume its responsibilities by sending field investigation committees capable of collecting evidence and presenting it to international courts.

Erekat stresses that transforming written documentation into direct action is the best way to hold Israel accountable for its crimes and ensure justice for the Palestinian people.

The need for a comprehensive review of international laws related to war crimes and genocide

Writer and political researcher Dr. Aql Salah confirms that the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces in the Gaza Strip, which include genocide, starvation war, and daily violations against civilians, require a comprehensive review of international laws related to war crimes and genocide, and work to ensure their activation to hold the leaders of the Israeli occupation accountable for their brutal actions.

Salah explains that these crimes, which have been ongoing since the occupation of Palestine, are escalating in intensity, leading to a war of genocide in the Gaza Strip as a result of the international bias towards Israel and preventing it from being held accountable, which has encouraged it to persist and increase its crimes.

Salah points out that international institutions, despite having clear evidence of these crimes, are unable to hold Israel accountable due to the obstacles that prevent war criminals from being brought to justice, most notably the United States’ use of its veto power in the Security Council to prevent the adoption of resolutions to cease fire.

Salah explains that the continued American support for Israel represents a major obstacle to implementing the UN resolutions calling for an end to the war and a halt to the daily massacres that the Palestinian people are being subjected to in Gaza.

Salah explains that UN rapporteurs often provide accurate descriptions of the situation in Gaza, but American and Western bias prevents these positions from being translated into action.

Salah says: “The United States deals with international positions, statements and laws within UN bodies in a way that serves Israel’s interests, which makes it a primary partner in the war of extermination that Israel is carrying out against the Palestinians.” Salah believes that the Western system in general encourages the Israeli occupation to carry out these crimes through its political and military support and its disregard for Israeli violations.

Salah calls for the need to stimulate international positions and activate legal and moral mechanisms to ensure that the occupation leaders are held accountable for their crimes.

Salah stresses that the continued use of the veto by the United States in the Security Council is the main reason preventing the cessation of the massacres and the implementation of international resolutions related to the crimes of the occupation.

Salah says: “International laws are now tailored to serve the powerful, while there is no place for the weak, which reflects the urgent need to reform the international system and ensure its justice.”

Salah calls for unifying the Palestinian ranks, considering that the internal division constitutes a weak point that the occupation exploits to strengthen its hegemony and commit more crimes.

Salah calls for unifying the Arab position and working with friendly countries in the West to form a pressure force on the international community, as South Africa did with its positions supporting rights, justice and the Palestinian cause, in order to restore respect for international law and end the policy of double standards that treats Israel as a state above the law.

Salah stresses that exposing the occupation’s practices and violations that have continued for 76 years, with a focus on its refusal to abide by international laws, is a pivotal step in gaining international support and achieving justice.

Salah points out that the occupation relies on American and Western support to continue its crimes, which makes pressuring the United States to stop this support a strategic necessity to deter Israel and end its occupation of Palestine.

Salah stresses the importance of concerted international efforts to lift the United States' hand from supporting Israel, and to activate international laws to ensure that the occupation leaders are tried and held accountable for the crimes they committed against the Palestinian people.

Salah stresses that continued international silence will only lead to strengthening the occupation and perpetuating injustice against the Palestinians, which requires unified efforts to confront this reality.