- Israel’s actions in Gaza described as violating humanitarian law
- US unwaveringly supports Israel, risking international backlash
- US aims to reassert dominance amid global multipolarity discussions
It has been nearly ten months since Israel launched a horrific war in Gaza. Its army has broken practically every aspect of international humanitarian law in its relentless attack on an unimaginably vulnerable populace.
Israel has denied the Gaza concentration camp the bare essentials of life, including food, water, medication, sanitation, electricity, and fuel. And its attacks on civilian infrastructure have rendered the bulk of Gaza inhabitants homeless.
No Israeli military purpose necessitates the destruction of Gaza. Killing 40,000 Palestinians and injuring many more serves no apparent strategic purpose, with some estimates putting the death toll as high as 186,000. Neither does the systematic and widespread damage to Gaza’s universities, schools, hospitals, and neighbourhoods. If Israel wants to invade and absorb Gaza, it should expect to inherit more than just a bombed-out area.
And, although Israel’s actions appear unreasonable, so does the unquestioning support offered by its closest ally, the United States. Washington’s “ironclad” support for Israel’s genocide undermines its international legitimacy and claim to protect the global rules-based system.
Many attribute Israel’s irrationality to a sense of shame caused by Hamas‘ October 7 strike. That hyperemotionality has hastened Israel’s rightward turn, with the country today openly celebrating genocidal exploits. The language of “peaceful coexistence” has vanished, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now vows “total victory.
History can help us understand what he means by that remark. It is frighteningly similar to the German phrase Endsieg, which literally means “final victory” and refers to the full realisation of the Nazi regime’s murderous aims. The analogies are unsettling.
While October 7 may explain Israel’s actions, it does little to reveal American cooperation. Sure, the United States is a dependable Israeli ally and bankroller. Still, due to its numerous international considerations, it has always been cautious to market itself as an impartial broker between Israelis and Palestinians. That caution has evaporated. The United States has firmly supported Israel’s disastrous campaign in Gaza despite rhetorical calls for “restraint” or “ceasefire”.
Washington’s devotion is striking. Since the offensive began, President Joe Biden has consistently supported Israel. However, the United States and Israel are two distinct societies with often conflicting agendas. Indeed, the American and Israeli viewpoints on the war differ at least slightly.
Could it be that the Israeli lobby controls American foreign policy? Groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) are undeniably influential. However, they are just one of several lobbies vying for power in Washington.
Perhaps the United States has a personal interest in Gaza. The evidence for this is weak.
Maybe America wants the gas deposits right off Gaza’s coast? But Washington would not have to support a genocide to obtain that gas. A completely calm, although inequitable, negotiation would suffice.
Indeed, none of the preceding explains why the United States is risking international opprobrium by supporting Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians.
What if American support for Israel’s killing has nothing to do with Gaza? What if the United States is attempting to demonstrate its dominance?
In recent years, there has been increased discussion of multipolarity. Many observers believe that the United States will no longer be the world’s hegemon.
During this discussion, the United States suffered a defeat and a stalemate with Russia in Ukraine and Syria, respectively. It abruptly withdrew from Afghanistan, allowing the Taliban to regain power. Various Latin American administrations have turned to the left, causing friction in “America’s backyard”.
Meanwhile, China, the United States’ principal adversary, has been expanding its worldwide influence. BRICS, an intergovernmental group in which Beijing plays a significant role, evolved into BRICS+ after Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, and Egypt joined forces.
The People’s Republic also made its Middle Eastern debut, serving as a mediator between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2023 and ensuring a cessation of hostilities in Yemen.
In sum, America appeared to be on the back foot, with its status as the world’s leading superpower looking increasingly precarious. Gaza sees an opportunity to reassert itself.
That is how we should understand America’s participation in Gaza. Why else would the US significantly increase its military presence in the Middle East in reaction to a single strike by a lightly equipped Hamas? It is an insecure superpower trying to demonstrate its ongoing dominance. And it is violating even the most fundamental principles of international humanitarian law to prove that no one will stop it.
There has been some pushback. Iranian allies have challenged US and Israeli soldiers in the region. Tehran unleashed a substantial aerial attack on Israel in response to the death of senior Iranian leaders in Syria. It is likely to do the same following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
Hezbollah also conducted a series of attacks in response to Israel’s fatal bombings on Lebanese territory. It is likely to do the same with the assassination of Fuad Shukr.
Yemen’s Houthis have blocked critical shipping lines in the Red Sea, firing drones and missiles towards Israel in response to its atrocities in Gaza.
South Africa filed a lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing it of genocide; the court has made a preliminary decision that Israeli activities are likely to constitute genocide.
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Despite Israeli and American pressure to defund the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), China has backed the institution and pledged emergency assistance. It has also advocated for the construction and recognition of an independent Palestinian state, as well as facilitating a Fatah-Hamas unity agreement.
However, none of this has challenged the US’s seemingly endless resources and diplomatic cover for Israel.
The goal of BRICS+ is to challenge Western hegemony. Nonetheless, China, its leader and most excellent economy has been no more daring than some actors within hegemonic groups such as the European Union. It has limited itself to supportive rhetoric and diplomatic endeavours, but Russia has been conspicuously silent, and India has openly backed Israel.
BRICS+ could have done a lot more to help stop the genocide. They could have done a lot more to help the people of Gaza during this difficult time. But they didn’t.
America is calling BRICS+’s bluff and revealing it as a paper tiger. With the exception of South Africa and Iran, the bloc has yet to rise to the occasion. This signifies that the United States has made its point. It remains the world’s superpower until BRICS+ can demonstrate differently.
