by Jude Amory
In the annals of history, the moral compass has often pointed Westward, where nations like the United States have clad themselves in the armour of democracy and justice and positioned themselves as the arbiters of global virtue. Yet, as the fires of conflict blaze anew between Israel and Gaza, a disquieting paradox emerges. The West, so long the self-appointed custodian of human rights, now stands accused of a profound hypocrisy. In its unwavering support for Israel amidst harrowing allegations of war crimes, the West reveals a selective morality that threatens to erode its standing as the world’s moral authority. It is in this stark juxtaposition of proclaimed ideals and realpolitik that we find the clearest reflection of our current geopolitical epoch, one where the silence and complicity of Western powers lay bare the dissonance between their rhetoric and actions.
October 7th 2023 marked a day of bloodshed and chaos when Hamas orchestrated a deadly attack on Israel, leading to the tragic killing of roughly 1,200 Israeli and foreign civilians. The Hamas attack follows a series of massacres and attacks perpetrated by both sides of the conflict since the declaration of the State of Israel in 1948. Following Hamas’s deadly attack, Israel’s retaliatory strike, including aerial bombardment and a ground assault, has claimed the lives of over 30,000 civilians in Gaza. The alleged deliberate targeting of civilians, obliteration of aid convoys, and ruination of sacred sites have sparked international outrage and even allegations of genocide against Israeli leaders.
In Gaza, the devastation is not just a statistic; it is a haunting reality. The relentless bombardment has left thousands dead, turned homes into dust, and razed essential infrastructure. Given the continued and sustained strikes within Gaza, the International Criminal Court (ICC), after careful consideration, stepped in with the issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, alongside Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Ibrahim al-Masri, and Ismail Haniyeh – a sobering reminder of the severity of these accusations for both sides. The charges against the Israeli leaders read like a horror novella: starvation of civilians, willfully causing great suffering, and intentional attacks on civilian populations, amongst others. Likewise, Hamas leaders are charged with taking hostages, extermination, and murder, amongst others. It is a grim ledger of human misery and violation of international law, underscoring the grotesque reality of modern warfare.
In addition to the arrest warrants, the ICC issued a statement urging Israel to cease its attacks on Rafah, a neighbourhood in Gaza, due to the risk of loss of civilian life. Notwithstanding this request, the Israeli military continued its strike on Rafah, which led to the deaths of over 45 civilians in horrible fires that ensued. The supposed ‘mistake’ at Rafah, where the airstrike killed over 45 civilians, only scratches the surface of this human tragedy. And yet, the West’s response has been a symphony of silence and inaction – a far cry from the drums of justice they so fervently beat in other parts of the world.
The response from the United States and most of its allies has been a masterclass in diplomatic contortionism. The US has threatened to sanction the ICC for daring to hold Israeli leaders accountable, showcasing an alliance that prioritises strategic interests over the bedrock principles of justice and human rights. The repeated vetoes of ceasefire proposals in the UN Security Council by the US are less about peace and more about preserving a geopolitical status quo, regardless of the human cost.
This unwavering support for Israel by Western nations, despite documented evidence of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, lays bare a hypocrisy as glaring as the noon sun. The West, particularly the US, has long anointed itself the global arbiter of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Yet, in the case of Israel, these lofty ideals seem conveniently malleable, bending and twisting to accommodate political expediency. In the US, this does not seem to be a party issue, as the vast majority of politicians and presidential candidates on both sides of the political spectrum, closely – or perhaps even blindly – support the State of Israel, possibly due to the powerful Israeli lobby within the United States.
The extent of the devastation in Gaza and the widespread suffering of its civilians cannot be overstated. Homes, schools, hospitals, and essential infrastructure have been obliterated in the relentless bombings. The World Health Organisation (WHO) have warned that critical health infrastructure is collapsing within Gaza, and the over 2 million people in Gaza may have to solely rely on makeshift hospitals along the beach. Likewise, the United Nations aid workers were allegedly targeted by Israeli strikes within Gaza. The blockade and restrictions on humanitarian aid have left the population with limited access to food, water, and medical supplies, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. The images of children injured or killed, families torn apart, and entire neighbourhoods reduced to rubble have evoked global outrage and calls for immediate action. Despite these harrowing realities, the West’s response has been predominantly characterised by diplomatic inertia and a failure to hold Israel accountable for its actions.
The majority of people ignoring or tolerating the conflict in Palestine seems to be often fuelled by a pervasive sense of Islamophobia. This bias not only distorts perceptions but also devalues the lives of Palestinians, who are not all Muslim, despite some leaders framing the conflict as a religious war. In reality, Gaza houses some of the world’s oldest churches, and Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, lies within Palestine. This historical and cultural richness underscores that the conflict transcends religious lines. Our collective humanity is compromised when prejudice dictates our compassion. To uphold the principles of justice and equality, it is imperative to transcend these biases and recognize the universal value of life, demanding our attention and action wherever injustice occurs.
This moral schizophrenia has not gone unnoticed on the global stage. Countries in the Global South, often on the receiving end of Western economic sanctions and military interventions under the banner of human rights, now see these actions as hypocritical and neo-imperialistic. The glaring disparity between Western rhetoric and action, especially in the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict, is a neon sign flashing ‘double standards’. The West’s inability to walk its own talk erodes its credibility and diminishes its role as a global moral compass.
Consider the case of Sri Lanka. The Western narrative around the Sri Lankan war against terror and the influence of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) lobby in Western politics is a testament to this selective morality. Despite being a recognised terrorist organisation, the LTTE international network of supporters and sympathisers has found sympathetic ears in Western corridors of power, leading to unsubstantiated claims of genocide and war crimes against Sri Lanka. Politicians such as Canada’s Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown have repeated these unsubstantiated and completely outrageous claims of a genocide in Sri Lanka, which is completely a different picture to the vast majority of Tamils, Sinhalese and Muslims who live peacefully in Sri Lanka after the war. Likewise, American politicians such as Congressman Danny K. Davis made an LTTE-funded trip to LTTE territory in Sri Lanka in 2005 and met with top terrorist leaders such as LTTE’s Nadesan. Davis was even investigated by the FBI for links to terrorism. In addition, numerous US politicians have proposed pro-LTTE resolutions to the US Congress in recent years, mainly on topics relating to LTTE talking points such as separatism, and separatism due to claims of genocide, war crimes and the like. The most recent Resolution H-RES 1230 by US Congressman Wiley Nickel (NC-13) and his colleagues calls for an Independence Referendum for a separate state in Sri Lanka – latest gambit by the LTTE’s international network to revive their separatist vision through the halls of the US Congress. Even with the most conservative estimates, the allegations against the Sri Lanka during its war against terror are nowhere close to the allegations levied against Israel in the ongoing conflict. However, Western leaders seem to completely shut themselves to the actions of Israel and choose to listen to remnants of a known terror group to berate Sri Lanka for foreign geopolitical gain and domestic electoral gain. The actions of these nations stand in stark contrast to the muted response to Israel’s documented atrocities in Gaza, revealing a pattern of geopolitical motivations over genuine human rights advocacy.
The erosion of Western moral authority has profound implications for international relations. Nations that once relied on Western support for so-called legitimacy and protection may begin to question the reliability and consistency of this support. Conversely, countries targeted by Western criticism and sanctions may find new allies in global powers like China and Russia, who present themselves as counterweights to Western hegemony. This has begun to herald a more multipolar world order, diminishing the West’s influence and reshaping the global balance of power. By going out of its way to support and protect the Israeli government, America is sacrificing her image, influence and history.
To restore its position as a global moral authority, the West must confront these glaring inconsistencies. This requires a genuine commitment to human rights and international law, devoid of geopolitical biases. A balanced and principled approach to conflicts and human rights abuses is essential to rebuilding trust and credibility on the global stage. Without such a commitment, the West risks continued decline in its global influence.
The ICC’s involvement marks a critical step towards seeking justice for the victims of the conflict and in extension an end to the conflict. However, the US reaction to the ICC’s actions has revealed a profound double standard. By threatening to sanction the ICC, the US has shown a blatant disregard for the principles of international law and accountability that it purports to uphold. This stance not only undermines the authority of the ICC but also sends a dangerous message that certain states are above the law. The repeated vetoes of ceasefire proposals in the UN Security Council further demonstrate a willingness to prioritise strategic alliances over the protection of human lives and the upholding of international peace.
As the conflict in Gaza continues, the calls for a reassessment of Western foreign policy grow louder. The massive protests in American universities on the conflict in Gaza, the protests in Paris and other Western capitals and the global boycotting of several companies that support Israel’s military establishment has grown exponentially in recent weeks. The US credibility as a global moral leader is at stake, and its ability to influence and shape international norms and policies is increasingly questioned – even US allies such as Spain, Ireland and Norway have declared their recognition of a Palestinian State. To regain its moral authority, the US must adopt a more consistent and principled approach to international conflicts and human rights issues. This means holding all parties accountable for their actions, irrespective of strategic alliances, and ensuring that justice and human rights are upheld universally.
Amidst the conflict between Israel and Palestine, it is imperative to quash any surge of anti-Semitism or Islamophobia that may arise across the globe. Opposition to the actions of the State of Israel or the terror group Hamas must never translate into attacks against Jews or Muslims based on their religious views. The ethical critique of political actions and military operations should remain distinct from religious and cultural identities. Allowing such conflicts to fuel religious hatred undermines the very principles of justice and humanity we strive to uphold. It is crucial to ensure that discourse remains respectful and that communities do not become scapegoats for political and military actions over which they have no control.
In the grand theatre of international relations, where ideals often collide with the stark realities of power, the current chapter involving Israel and Gaza unveils a profound ethical dilemma for the West. The unwavering support for Israel, despite overwhelming claims of egregious human rights violations, casts a long, troubling shadow over the moral high ground the West has long claimed to occupy. This selective application of justice reveals a chasm between the principles that Western nations espouse and the policies they pursue, undermining their credibility and diminishing their influence on the global stage. As history marches forward, the West stands at a crossroads: it can either reconcile its actions with its professed values or continue down a path of selective morality that risks alienating the very global community it seeks to lead. The true measure of a civilization’s greatness lies not in its rhetoric but in its actions, and it is in this crucible of crisis that the West must rediscover its moral compass to navigate the complex landscape of modern geopolitics with integrity and honour.
Jude Amory is a national security analyst [judeamory@gmail.com].
