Standing for Justice in Palestine is Simpler Than You Think, it's not complicated - let's spread the word

I try to refrain from sharing distressing videos of people being slaughtered to spare others from the emotional burden, but I find myself compelled to address the prevailing notion that supporting the Palestinians is complicated due to the intricacies of the conflict. Atrocities and crimes against humanity are not complex; they demand our attention and action.

Distressing video showing a man waving white flag shot by a sniper to death, captured by ITV.

Let’s simplify:

War crimes against civilians & disproportionate attacks on them - a clear violation:

The targeting of civilians is a war crime under International Humanitarian Law, outlined in the Geneva Conventions post-WWII to protect civilians. The evidence is undeniable, as witnessed in numerous distressing videos, including the one shared above.

Israel's disproportionate attacks on citizens, hospitals, journalists, and children are well-documented by reputable organizations such as the UN and the World Health Organization. The numbers speak for themselves, questioning the effectiveness of such brutality in achieving peace.

"A siege can be considered a war crime if it targets civilians, rather than a legitimate means to undermine Hamas' military capabilities, or if found to be disproportionate. Directly targeting civilians or civilian objects is strictly forbidden under the laws of armed conflict. However there are instances in which otherwise civilian objects can become legitimate military targets. Even then, attacks on military objectives have to be proportional, meaning they must not lead to excessive loss of civilian life or damage to civilian objects."

It's explained here?

Racial discrimination and segregation - unquestionable wrongs:

Israel's long-standing discriminatory practices, including:

-??????? Military laws that allow the imprisonment of children (as young as 12? years old): “An estimated 10,000 Palestinian children have been held in military detention over the past 20 years, with Save the Children noting that they are “the only children in the world who are systematically prosecuted in military courts.” As of Nov. 20, Israeli forces had arrested as many as 880 Palestinian children this year, a practice made possible under Israel’s draconian military laws.” Read more here;

-??????? The Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law (2003) prohibits Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza who are married to Israeli citizens from obtaining Israeli citizenship or residency;

-??????? The military occupation, the wall and the presence of checkpoints in the West Bank restrict the movement of Palestinians, affecting their daily lives and economic activities;

-??????? Palestinians have no right to return to their homes that have been stolen by settlers, whilst any Jewish person anywhere on the planet can get an Israeli passport and live there.

-??????? Not mentioning Gaza, where 2 million people live ‘freely’ under complete control land, sea and air by Isra?l.

This situation characterizes a disturbing form of racial discrimination and segregation supported by the Netherlands and other Western nations that just stand by and watch this happen. Read more about this here in a statement made by a respectable Dutch ex-ambassador, scholar and author on the Middle East Nikolaos (Koos) Van Dam .

Regrettably, this notable absence of condemnation, has led many in the global south to perceive it as an extension of our colonial legacy. For a comprehensive understanding of this long lasting apartheid read more here.

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Illegal settlements - A breach of International Law:

The UN resolutions (242 and 338) and the ICJ have declared Israel's expansion of settlements illegal. The International Court of Justice's advisory opinion in 2004 categorically stated that these settlements were established in breach of international law: “the Court, citing statements by the Security Council in that regard in relation to the Fourth Geneva Convention, recalled that those settlements had been established in breach of international law”

Meanwhile, Israel's claims of biblical right, the Six-Day war of 1967, security reasons and the Oslo Accords do not justify the continued expansion of settlements. Rather, it fuels further conflict. The Oslo Accords, signed in 1990s between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization, did not explicitly prohibit settlements, creating a prolonged and painful political process that needs to be aided by international community, not looked away from.

The Netherlands and other western countries must reevaluate their stance, as supporting racial discrimination, colonization, and the murder of civilians contradicts our historical values, contributes to a continuation of a colonial past and are detrimental to peace.

International pressure for a two-state solution, recognition of violations of International Humanitarian Law, and condemnation of actions that hinder peace are vital.

We all can support this cause by:

-??????? Sharing information to raise awareness (it helps!).

-??????? Urging our governments to uphold International Humanitarian Law through petitions:

Netherlands Petitions: https://www.planteenolijfboom.nl/petities ?

Global Petitions:

-??????? https://www.amnesty.org/en/petition/demand-a-ceasefire-by-all-parties-to-end-civilian-suffering/

-??????? https://www.oxfam.org/en/open-call-immediate-ceasefire-occupied-palestinian-territory

-??????? https://viacampesina.org/en/urgent-call-for-solidarity-with-palestine-sign-the-petition/