A man-made famine is a war crime!
The accusations against Israel include the use of starvation as a weapon against the Palestinian population in Gaza. According to the ICC’s indictment, this strategy has led to malnutrition, dehydration and an increasing number of deaths among innocent civilians, including infants and children. It is completely and utterly inhumane and unacceptable if it has happened. A man-made famine is a war crime because it affects the innocent. A request for an arrest warrant for Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, has come very late. Only a legal system needs this much time to come up with such an obvious accusation after what the world has witnessed in horror. By bombing Gaza while deliberately denying civilians access to emergency aid and thereby causing suffering and death, Israel has violated humanitarian morality. No doubt about it and these horrific deeds cannot be excused, forgiven or explained away by the heinous evil acts of Hamas on October 7th. Those responsible in the government of Israel can be punished with up to 30 years in prison if they are found guilty at the ICC in The Hague. It is a long sentence, but also serious to completely destroy a country and create an artificial famine and prevent medical care.
The international community must stand firm and ensure that justice is done, regardless of which nation is behind the crimes. Nor can there be one court for powerful nations and another for less powerful ones. Crimes committed in Gaza must be prosecuted regardless of the perpetrators. The suffering and death of the population cannot be justified by military objectives.
Human rights impose an obligation on all nations and individuals to respect human dignity and life. Also Israel. Utilitarianism, an ethical theory that seeks the greatest good for the greatest number, emphasizes the importance of minimizing suffering and maximizing well-being for all people. When states, regardless of their power or political system, commit acts that cause massive suffering, they must be held accountable. This not only ensures justice for the victims, but also sets a precedent that deters future war crimes and protects humanity as a whole. That is the point of having an international court
Justice and equality before the law must apply without exception. International laws and human rights must be strictly enforced to protect the innocent and preserve a just world. The international community has a duty to stand together against injustice, wherever it occurs.