Israel never imagined, even in its worst nightmares, that it would stand before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accused of committing “genocide”. South Africa’s decision to file a lawsuit against Israel, accusing it of genocide against the Palestinian people, has shocked the Israeli leadership. This shock stems not only from their denial of such actions but also from the sensitivity of the issue, particularly in light of Jewish history during World War II, where they were subjected to genocide by the Nazis, who executed mass extermination of Jews, Romani people, and others in what is known as the Holocaust. The irony lies in the fact that the ICJ accepted the case presented by South Africa, implying that there is a substantial basis for the accusation. The court even decided to compel Israel to implement a series of measures to protect Palestinian civilians, just one day before the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The term “genocide” was reportedly coined by a Jewish lawyer named Raphael Lemkin in 1944 to describe the Nazi crimes primarily against the Jews. He combined the Greek word “Geno-” (meaning race or tribe) with the Latin “-cide” (meaning killing) to form the term “genocide.” In December 1948, the United Nations adopted the International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, recognizing genocide as an international crime that signatory states are committed to preventing and punishing. Jews played a significant role in pushing for this convention to criminalize and hold the Nazis accountable.
This historical context perhaps explains the anger of Israeli leaders who considered themselves immune from such accusations, especially since they were once victims of “genocide.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the ICJ’s decision as an indelible stain, referring to the United Nations, which many Israelis perceive as practicing anti-Semitic policies against Israel, considering any criticism of Israel as rooted in hatred towards Jews rather than as a response to Israeli actions that are unrelated to the Jewish community. Israelis insist that their war against Palestinians is just, and their military is the most moral in the world.
Anyone observing Israeli media will notice a near-consensus that the events in the Gaza envelope on October 7th were catastrophic, viewed as the most severe event since the Holocaust. Around 1,200 civilians and security personnel were killed, although this figure is not accurate and was later reduced after it was found that some of the counted dead were Palestinians. Additionally, a significant portion of the Israeli casualties were killed by Israeli forces, according to surviving Israeli witnesses of the events. Regardless, the number is undoubtedly large, and what happened was a profound shock to Israeli society, which believed it was protected and far from such devastating losses. Despite this, Israelis do not see the actions of their occupation forces as war crimes or genocide but rather as a natural response to Hamas’s attack, to the extent that the entire Gaza Strip has been criminalized, and punishing it has become a legitimate and integral part of Israel’s war against Hamas.
The desire for revenge against Palestinian civilians in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels, with some even calling for the use of nuclear weapons against them and punishing them with something worse than death. The prevailing view is that “there are no innocent civilians in Gaza,” and that water, food, fuel, and all means of life should be cut off from them. This is in addition to the actual policy implemented by the Israeli army, which leads to the collective killing of people, resulting in massive numbers of martyrs and injured, and systematic destruction of infrastructure, housing, and almost everything, with over 70% of residential buildings and most public institutions and facilities destroyed. These crimes are invisible to Israelis, who even denounce anyone who speaks about them. They are outraged by the significant shift in international public opinion against Israel and its crimes, a state that has largely succeeded in portraying itself as the only democracy in the Middle East and a country of law and human rights.
Most Israelis see no issue in continuing their occupation of Palestinian land, seizing Palestinian rights, and oppressing them. They believe that Palestinians are responsible because they do not want peace, resist the occupation (which they equate with “terrorism”), and reject the offers made to them. Palestinians are seen as an ungrateful people who never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. Therefore, they must prove that they are a docile and peaceful people who accept the Israeli occupation and praise the occupiers who are willing to grant them a few privileges, not rights. This land, after all, is entirely Israel’s, a right exclusively for Jews, and out of their generosity, they are willing to give Palestinians the chance to live here.
The ICJ has now slapped Israel in the face, exposing it as a racist state committing crimes against Palestinians. The question is: will Israelis wake up and look in the mirror to see the ugly truth of what they are doing against humanity and against themselves?
Author: Ashraf Ajrami