Key Summary
- Israeli soldiers open fire on Palestinian crowds in Rafah, resulting in over 100 deaths
- The incident highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine and deep-seated tensions with Israel
- Use of disproportionate force raises concerns about civilian protection and peace prospects
- Escalation of violence coincides with Israeli attacks in Gaza City and heightened tensions in East Jerusalem
- International condemnation prompts calls for accountability and justice
This week, Israeli soldiers enclosed on Rafah, Palestine’s southernmost and last standing major city where witnesses and victims claim to have encountered Israeli forces opening fire on large Palestinian crowds waiting for aid from the international community. The recent incident underscores Palestine’s ongoing humanitarian crisis within its borders and the deep-seated tensions between the governments of both Israel and Palestine. Israel presented a rather contradicting statement, with its military first claiming that “dozens were killed and injured from pushing, trampling and being run over by the trucks”, while its officials admitted that Israeli troops were instructed to open fire after believing that the crowd approached its on-the-ground military in a threatening manner.
The core of the problem lies in the indiscriminate and disproportionate use of brute force against innocent Palestinian civilians, further fueling general violence and instability in the region. This incident continues to raise serious concerns about the protection of Palestinian civilians, prospects for peace and reconciliation, and especially how Israel’s security forces choose to conduct itself.
The recent escalation of violence comes amidst Israel’s launching of ground, air, and sea attacks in Gaza City and its northern surrounding area, as well as heightened tensions present in East Jerusalem after Hamas’ initial attack. To avoid rising death numbers, a great majority of Palestinians fled Israel’s military response in the north. Those who remained in the area to either wait for aid packages or recover loved ones lost in the rubble suffered widespread devastation and have continued to remain largely isolated throughout the conflict. Considering the 4-month length of the conflict, food and water trucks finally attempted to reach the residents of Gaza City, to which they were met with more fire and casualties.
Palestine’s Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra stated Israel’s actions as a “massacre’, with the current death tolls reaching over 100, along with over 760 being injured. Against this backdrop, the use of live ammunition against unarmed civilians finally receiving aid has elicited international condemnation, with demands for justice, accountability, and an end to immorality from the Israeli military.
The security, human rights, and political implications of Israel’s recent and unjust actions on Palestinian civilians finally receiving aid are profound and far-reaching. The tragic killing of the undeniably desperate population in Gaza City just yesterday will likely further inflame the already high tensions in the region. This incident underscores the appeal of many countries like South Africa, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who have voiced the vulnerabilities of Gazan residents under blockade and Israeli military rule since the commencement of the conflict. Additionally, It highlights the lack of both Israel’s government and forces to depend on lethal force against helpless civilians. This latest sequence of violence will most likely spur further resistance and humanitarian unrest from those living in the affected areas while diminishing possibilities for government collaboration toward a political solution.
For hundreds of families, the actions of Israel’s forces highlight yet another unjust loss of life. In a more general sense, this occurrence reflects not only the powerlessness of Gaza’s population, but also a lack of recognition of their basic rights and protections. Inversely, Israel’s main target, Hamas and other militant groups may seek to exploit the status quo and justify future attacks against Israel and label their actions as necessary resistance. Israel can also expect that the severity of the incident will bolster global activism and solidarity demanding an end to the high death rate of Palestinians and its occupation of the Gaza Strip.
The incident will also further complicate negotiation efforts between Palestine, Israel, and the United States. Palestine leaders and Arab officials in the region immediately shared their unified condemnation of Israel’s actions, with the Palestinian authority citing it as a “heinous act”. The Israeli government, on the other hand, will likely continue to defend its actions as necessary for its national security, already linking the deaths to trampling as a result of the large crowds. When asked if the use of excessive force against an occupied population might compromise negotiation efforts initiated by the United States, President Joe Biden simply stated “I know it will”. Moreover, the status quo may widen divisions between those seeking a two-state solution and those favoring a West Bank annexation. As Israel’s biggest and most powerful Western ally, the event will also test the United States’ defense of Israel during a United Nations assembly.
This rather unfortunate sequence of events requires an immediate response by the international community to address international law and prevent further loss of life. Israel’s government must first conduct a swift investigation, share its findings transparently, and prosecute those involved in the unjust shooting. Some officials shared with the media that the “incident is under review”, although critics believe it is merely a tactic to unwind the situation. Legislative experts also believe that the lethal use of force likely violated both the rule of law and the internal rules of engagement. To combat this, Israel should reaffirm and enforce human rights protections in its military protocols for Palestine’s civilians uninvolved in the conflict. In the short-term, Israel’s forces must establish non-lethal capabilities for border security, while installing organized systems whereby Gaza’s population can receive foreign aid without facing prejudice.
Despite the high levels of injustice against its innocent civilian population, Palestinian leaders must also prevent taking impulsive actions to escalate the situation further. Previous occurrences have shown that a lack of restraint and an uncalculated response leads to extremist reactions, such as Hamas’ attack on October 7. Therefore, declaring a commitment to nonviolence sends an indication of moral authority to the global scene. Therefore, civilians and journalists in these highly controlled areas must continue documenting and publicizing the mounting cases of Israel’s reliance on excessive force.
Additionally, Israel can help mitigate the pressure it will face from the global community and international justice institutions by conducting independent investigations and prosecuting those responsible for the unlawful use of deadly force against unarmed civilians. In practicality, Israel’s security forces must be held accountable while ensuring access to foreign aid and reparations for individuals and communities affected by the shooting.
Finally, Israel, in collaboration with the United States, can explore broader solutions to end both the political tension and economic chokehold fueling desperation and unrest within Gaza’s borders. This means President Biden should advise Israel’s current Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu to lift regulations restricting movement and development within Gaza. The United States believes that Israel requires security reassurances as much as Palestinians need self-determination. In other words, while Israel removed its restrictions, the Palestinian Authority should also consider renewing a mandate to govern through democratic elections.
This incident sheds light on the desperate need for a renewed commitment to justice, peace, and human rights within the disputed territories in the Israeli-Palestinian region. The constant reliance on brute force against unarmed civilians undermines efforts by regional and non-regional allies to de-escalate building tensions and cooperate toward peaceful solutions to end the pattern of violence. There is undoubtedly no easy solution to this decade-long conflict, however, temporary moments of coexistence have proven that the progress toward a reality of peace requires great leadership and cooperation between both governments and armed forces. In other words, all parties must be deterred from the idea of armed conflicts, and must instead reflect deeply on their responsibility to allyship and upholding the key elements of international law.
Author: Kay Adu-Gyamfi
