Jerusalem: The deliberate shooting and killing by Israeli soldiers of unarmed Palestinian civilians awaiting humanitarian aid at food distribution points in Gaza amounts to genocide, legal experts told Anadolu.
According to Anadolu Agency, a report in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz revealed that Israeli commanders ordered soldiers to deliberately open fire on Palestinians arriving at aid distribution points. Experts argue that this action is a continuation of Israel's long-standing crimes against Palestinians. Martin Shaw, a British sociologist and academic, highlighted that Israel has used heavy weapons against Palestinian civilians for the past 20 months, severely impacting their livelihoods and making them reliant on humanitarian aid.
Shaw emphasized that Israel blocks aid, leading to starvation, and restricts genuine humanitarian efforts, forcing dependency on an inadequate US body. He criticized Israel's actions, describing them as a clear pattern of genocide under the guise of "humanitarian camouflage," echoing comments by UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese. Shaw also noted the lack of serious investigations into potential war crimes by the Israel Defense Forces, suggesting that these are part of a genocidal strategy against Palestinians in Gaza.
Luigi Daniele, an associate professor at Italy's University of Molise, described the shootings as some of the most blatant war crimes witnessed in recent decades, asserting that they are direct attacks on civilians. He stated that such crimes are opposed globally and should be prosecuted in The Hague and beyond. Daniele expressed confidence that Israel will face repercussions at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and criticized the Israeli executive for its extremist ideology.
Daniele remarked that Israel's nearly 60-year occupation has reached an extreme disregard for international law, creating immense suffering for Palestinians. He highlighted the obligation of third states to act when the risk of genocide is evident, pointing to multiple provisional measures orders by the ICJ. Daniele called for international isolation of the Israeli government as both a moral and legal duty.
Ata Hindi, from Tulane University in the US, stressed the necessity for Israel to unconditionally withdraw from occupied territories, in line with the ICJ's advisory opinion. Hindi criticized the role of the US, accusing it of facilitating violations and contributing to the genocide and forced transfer of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. He highlighted the US's direct responsibility in these actions.
The conflict has resulted in over 56,500 Palestinian deaths in Gaza since October 2023. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel also faces a genocide case at the ICJ for its actions in the enclave.