Can anyone intervene? Ending the genocide in Palestine

AS I reflect on the relentless suffering of the Palestinian people, my sister's poignant question lingers: ‘Can anyone stop the genocide in Palestine?’

The world has been witnessing this atrocity for much longer than October 7, 2023. The evidence is unmistakable, a genocide is unfolding before our eyes.

This is not a moment for so-called balanced views or diplomatic ambiguity; the urgency for action is palpable. As academics, policymakers, and engaged global citizens, we must confront the painful truth: who possesses the capacity or will to halt this genocide, and if they do, why is there such a deafening silence?

For far too long, Palestinians have endured mass casualties, displacement, and the obliteration of their homes and livelihoods, experiences that echo the most devastating humanitarian crises in history.

However, unlike natural disasters, this catastrophe is fuelled by deliberate human actions. The Israeli military has been systematically attacking civilians, children, women, the elderly, journalists, and medics. Why are we allowing a brutal assault on those who pose no threat?

This targeted violence is not collateral damage; it is a calculated strategy aimed at erasing an entire population. The Palestinians are outmatched militarily and politically, yet they are the ones who pay the ultimate price. This grotesque reality demands our outrage and action.

Any meaningful analysis of this genocide must confront this glaring power disparity. In an asymmetrical conflict, the narrative often shifts blame onto the victims, recasting their suffering as the “cost of war.” This warped rhetoric diminishes the moral and political urgency of their plight, allowing aggressors to evade accountability.

The frameworks of international law, designed to protect populations from genocide, have proven ineffective - mere paper tigers in the face of such brutality. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has condemned Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories, demanding an end to its illegal actions and reparations for its wrongs.

Yet, Israel remains unfazed, treating these rulings with blatant disregard. While grassroots protests against these atrocities have surged worldwide, those in higher positions of power largely remain silent or inactive.

Despite frameworks like the 1948 Genocide Convention and the Rome Statute, enforcement is inconsistent, often undermined by powerful nations that either turn a blind eye or actively support Israel’s actions. This hypocrisy is glaring; when international principles are applied selectively, they become meaningless.

As the genocide continues, the complicity of the international community becomes evident, not through the voices of the people, but through the silence of those who hold the power to effect change.

Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, exemplifies this troubling trend.

On Aug 22, 2024, she reaffirmed her support for Israel's military actions at the Democratic National Convention, effectively endorsing the violence that has claimed over 40,000 Palestinian lives. Her recent remarks at a campaign event on Oct 19 further illustrate this two-faced approach.

When confronted by a protester who accused the US of complicity in genocide, Harris acknowledged, “What he’s talking about, it’s real.”

However, she has never explicitly labelled Israel’s actions as genocide, opting instead for vague calls for increased humanitarian aid while avoiding accountability. The absence of Palestinian voices in her discourse underscores a systemic silencing of those most affected by this conflict.

While grassroots protests demand an end to arms sales to Israel, those in power remain indifferent, perpetuating a cycle of violence. Ultimately, Harris’s statements reflect a continuation of the status quo: US policy that prioritizes military support for Israel over Palestinian rights.

If the Democratic Party is serious about addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, it must stop using this issue as a political tool and confront the harsh realities of occupation and violence. The silence from those in power is complicit in this genocide, and without significant pressure, the cycle of brutality will persist.

But perhaps the most damning factor contributing to this genocide is the pervasive apathy. Some nations, especially in the Global North, adopt a stance of calculated indifference, cloaking the Palestinian struggle under a guise of “neutrality” and “non-intervention.”

Their refusal to act sends a clear signal to aggressors: accountability is unlikely. This passive stance alienates the Palestinian people further, leaving them to endure violence alongside a profound sense of abandonment by the world. The cost of global indifference is immeasurable; history will judge us by our silence as much as by our actions.

On the other hand, the media's portrayal of Palestinians perpetuates genocide by dehumanising victims and rationalising violence. Mainstream Western media often prioritise the perspectives of powerful nations, reframing or underreporting Palestinian suffering to minimise its severity. How often must we correct these narratives?

The use of passive language obscures the brutal reality, undermining the gravity of actions that result in loss of life and destruction. This bias shapes public opinion and enables policymakers to prolong or escalate the crisis. A press that distorts reality or remains silent in the face of atrocity is complicit in this genocide. As global awareness of these injustices grows, the media must hold itself to a higher standard, acknowledging the urgency and severity of the situation.

So, can anyone stop the genocide in Palestine? The answer lies not in our capacity but in our willingness to act. It is morally and politically unconscionable to assume that this genocide must “play out” before the world finally intervenes.

The time for sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and meaningful accountability is now. This is not a battle between equals but a state-sponsored extermination demanding a response from every level of global governance, media, and civil society.

The right question may not be whether anyone can stop this genocide but whether anyone will. If not, we must reflect on what this reveals about our global order, our moral frameworks, and ultimately, our humanity.

Dr Siti Nurnadilla Mohamad Jamil is from the Department of English Language and Literature, Abdul Hamid Abu Sulayman Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences (AHAS KIKRHS), International Islamic University Malaysia. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of Sinar Daily.