2024-03-02 03:00:00
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands, issued a provisional injunction against Israel requiring it to prevent genocide and improve the humanitarian situation over the fighting in the Palestinian autonomous region of Gaza. A month has passed. However, the situation is only worsening, with the death toll in Gaza exceeding 30,000. This month, Japan will assume the presidency of the United Nations Security Council. Is it okay to just sit idle? (Yuichiro Yamada, Ikuko Kihara)
◆“Even if I tell you not to kill children, they won’t listen.”
Citizens perform a “die-in” by lying dead in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in protest against Israel’s attack on Gaza, February 15th.
On February 26, which marked one month since the ICJ’s provisional injunction, a rally was held at the House of Representatives’ Second Chamber to call for an end to the blockade of Gaza and an immediate ceasefire. Numan (28), a Palestinian living in Japan, lamented as he took to the podium in front of participating opposition party members and citizens. “We’re just asking for a ceasefire, but we’re being treated as if we don’t exist.”
Numan has repeatedly demonstrated in front of the National Diet and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since October last year, when the fighting began. “They listen when we talk about our families, and they applaud us at symposiums. But why don’t they listen when we ask for a ceasefire and not to kill children?” He expressed his earnest feelings to the people of Japan.
◆“I can receive education because of UNRWA”
Numan urges rally participants to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, February 26, at the House of Representatives Building 2 in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.
In late January of this year, more than 10 countries, including the United States and Japan, joined in suspending funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). UNRWA plays an important role in providing education, food and medical aid in Gaza, after several of its staff were suspected of being involved in a surprise attack by Hamas.
Numan said strongly, “Children can receive education because of UNRWA.It is contradictory to call me and applaud me, but at the same time deprive children of education.We don’t need politicians like that.” He called on lawmakers to work toward the immediate resumption of funding.
◆Silence “kills the people of Gaza twice”
Anhar al-Raith, 29, from Gaza, who came to Japan two years ago and worked at Shifa Hospital, which was the target of the attack, said, “My siblings and friends are starving to death in northern Gaza. It has become”. Revealing that this day was the birthday of one of her three sisters, she tearfully said, “I can’t say it’s a happy birthday. I’m definitely not in a happy situation.”
Palestinians walk through the Jabaliya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, which was reduced to rubble after an Israeli attack on the 29th (AP)
Her husband, Muhammad Hajjaj (37), said, “What Japan can do is demand peace from the international community and the United Nations.What kind of efforts has Japan made in the face of this situation?” ” he asked. “We are killing the people of Gaza twice after their lives were taken by bombs and bullets by remaining silent and acting as if nothing happened. We do not want them to send weapons or join the fighting. No. They’re just looking for the bare necessities to survive, such as water, food, and medicine.”
◆70% of deaths are women and children
The rally was organized by students and civil society groups opposed to the arms trade. The organizers will work to urge members of Congress to “retract statements made by Prime Minister Kishida and others who supported Israel’s military actions as an exercise of the right of self-defense,” “comply with the ICJ’s provisional injunction,” and “resume contributions to UNRWA.” I have submitted a request for this.
Also at the rally, Soru Takahashi, a professor of international human rights law at Osaka Jogakuin University who is an expert on the Palestinian issue, sent a video message saying, “70% of the deaths in the Gaza Strip are non-combatants, such as women and children. What is happening in Gaza right now is definitely genocide.” She explained Japan’s responsibility as follows. “I hope that they will exercise their diplomatic power and make their utmost efforts to achieve a cease-fire, a permanent solution based on international law, and peace.”
◆The deterioration of the humanitarian situation continues unabated
A child calls for a ceasefire and support for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in Beirut on the 29th (AP)
According to Israeli media, Israel submitted a report to the ICJ on February 26 stating that it is complying with the interim injunction. However, Human Rights Watch, an international human rights organization, criticized in a statement that “the government has not complied with the provisional injunction and continues to carry out acts of collective punishment.” Gaza health authorities announced on the 29th that the death toll since the fighting began has exceeded 30,000, and the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate.
Although there are moves by the United States and others to seek a ceasefire before the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, which begins around the 10th of this month, Israel has not abandoned its policy of invading Rafah, the southernmost part of Gaza.
◆Japan has lost its “image as a neutral humanitarian aid country”
In light of Israel’s move southward, Professor Hidemitsu Kuroki (Middle East Studies) at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies said, “It appears that they are proceeding with a plan to expel residents to Egypt.The same thing is happening when Israel was founded in 1948.” It’s genocide itself.” He coldly observes, “The United States is merely assisting Israel in buying time.”
Referring to the suspension of funding to UNRWA, Kuroki said, “What is serious is that advanced democracies are not only unable to do anything about genocide, but are supporting it.” “UNRWA staff stopped aid to starving people and cut their lifelines even though there was no evidence that they were involved in the attack. They should realize that they were complicit in a foolish act. They are following the lead of the United States and other countries. By suspending contributions, Japan immediately lost its image as a neutral humanitarian aid country.
◆ Criticism of Israel increases at the American citizen level
A person calls for “no supporter” in the Michigan primary on February 27th = AP
The US government will continue to provide strong support to Israel. However, criticism appears to be growing at the citizen level. Seiko Mimaki, an associate professor at Doshisha University who is familiar with U.S. political diplomacy, focuses on the new developments.
The presidential primary election was held on February 27th in the US state of Michigan. In the Democratic primary, the number of “no supporter” votes exceeded 100,000. It was an expression of the voters’ will to protest against Israel’s invasion of Gaza.
◆ICJ is working to improve the situation…
Mr. Mimaki said, “Even if we make our protests visible through demonstrations or appeal to Congress, nothing will change.It is noteworthy that we decided to take advantage of America’s unique system of local primaries to make changes.” “It’s worth it. 100,000 votes in a close state is a voice that even President Biden cannot ignore.”
Yota Negishi, associate professor of international law at Seinan Gakuin University, said, “From the ICJ’s standpoint, Israel’s ground attack on Rafah would be inconsistent with the provisional measures (provisional disposition) order.” Even if the Security Council moves to implement the ICJ’s order, if the United States uses its veto power, there is no hope that it will be implemented.”
◆Japan’s “steering” attracting attention
However, he pointed out, “The ICJ’s determination that it is necessary to protect the people of Gaza from genocide has thrown a wrench in the international community.” In light of the situation where humanity and the state of the world order are being reconsidered, he emphasized that “Japan is required to act in a manner that respects international legal norms.”
Citizens perform a “die-in” by lying dead in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to protest Israel’s attack on Gaza.
Japan will hold the presidency of the United Nations Security Council for a period of one month from the 1st. Attention will be focused not only on the US government’s attitude, but also on whether it will be able to coordinate the opinions of each country and adopt a clearer cease-fire resolution.
◆Can the US be involved in the ceasefire resolution?
Hiroyuki Banzai, a professor of international law at Waseda University, turns his attention to two English words related to Gaza that mean a cessation of fighting.
The Security Council resolution, which was adopted with the United States’ consent, used the word “pause,” which is similar to a temporary truce, while the General Assembly resolution used the word “ceasefire,” which goes a little further and is more long-term. “As Japan’s chairman of the Security Council, it is important for Japan to involve the United States in its multilateral diplomacy and to be able to come up with a resolution that will lead to an effective ceasefire,” Manzai said.
“Although opinions differ around the world on how to establish a ceasefire, we all agree on the need to improve the humanitarian situation,” he said, adding, “As the country’s president, we will continue to pursue compliance with international humanitarian law and humanitarian assistance.” insisted.
◆Desk memo
According to local health authorities, more than 30,000 people have died in Gaza, a city of about 2.3 million people. It is estimated that 1 in 70 people died. United Nations figures show that a quarter of the population is on the verge of starvation. This appalling situation is happening in the same world and is getting worse. There is no way we can ignore this as something that happened in a far away place. (North)
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