Alexis Galovich / Pennsylvania —

People worldwide are celebrating last month’s ruling by the International Court of Justice in favor of South Africa, condemning Israel’s most recent bombardment of Gaza and ordering the state to cease the commission of acts of genocide in Palestine. This is a mark of progress for the global movement for the national liberation of Palestine, and although the ICJ is without the means to enforce this ruling, the hearing has set a precedent of establishing mass condemnation of the state of Israel’s actions. As a result, other states are taking action in their own ways.

On Jan. 26 in the case of Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel), 15 of the 17 Justices ruled against Israel, declaring that some of Israel’s current actions against the Palestinian people of Gaza constitute acts of genocide. 

This ruling is good news for the Palestinian people as a sign of the growing support and strength of the struggle for national liberation, and it also serves as a means of exposing Israel’s crimes in a more formal way. The movement to end the Israeli occupation of Palestine continues to gain momentum; even ten years ago something like this would have been unimaginable, and this ruling acts as a milestone for the development of the cause. The victory of progressive forces over those of imperialism and reaction is inevitable. By legally acknowledging Israel’s crimes for the first time since the country’s birth, the Palestinian resistance against Zionism is given international legitimacy.

The ICJ lacks the means to enforce this ruling, although it does serve as a line drawn in the sand, putting the choice of whether and how to act into the hands of the governments of each country. On the same day as the ICJ hearing, the US suspended funding to the UNRWA, the primary agency providing relief for Palestinian refugees, further cementing its support for the state of Israel. Meanwhile, other countries have acted in support of the ICJ ruling against Israel. Most notably, Spain has suspended all arms sales and exports to Israel, demanding a “permanent solution” to the ongoing genocide which includes international recognition of Palestinian statehood, and urging compliance with the ICJ. One country with the potential ability and economic influence to significantly disrupt the economies of Israel and its imperialist allies, the People’s Republic of China, has echoed calls for a ceasefire. However, the supposed socialist republic has numerous business interests in Israel through its Belt and Road Initiative, and has so far failed to act to end the genocide of a people it claims to support in their struggle for national liberation.

We who struggle in solidarity with the people of Palestine against imperialism, Zionism, and reaction must remember that this struggle is far from over. Palestine will not be freed by the bourgeoisie who amass wealth from the sales of arms and from using Israel as an outpost of imperialism in the region, but only by the might of the international working class and progressive forces.

We must not rest on our laurels with this ruling, but rather take it as a sign to continue our attack against the inhumane forces of reaction. The world is watching and these recent developments have ever more clarified that the masses will not ignore genocide. Because it is in the interest of capital to keep a boot upon the necks of the Palestinian people, we the people must continue to organize globally until Palestine is free.

Categories: International, Palestine

Tags: Zionism