Grave violations unveiled: IDF’s lethal force against unarmed Gazans captured on film

March 30th, 2024

Awake Goy

Al Jazeera’s recent broadcast has sent shockwaves across the globe, revealing harrowing footage of Israeli soldiers fatally shooting two Palestinians on the northern Gaza coast. The video captures one individual, seemingly in a gesture of surrender, approaching an Israeli military vehicle with hands raised, only to be met with gunfire. The subsequent act of burying the bodies with a bulldozer adds a chilling finality to the already grim scene.

This incident, occurring near a World Central Kitchen food aid drop-off, not only exacerbates the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza but also challenges the proclaimed ethical standards of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera’s chief political analyst, remarked on the footage, suggesting the need for new lexicon to describe such actions that starkly contrast with the IDF’s self-styled image as the “world’s most moral army.”

Richard Falk, former United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, provided a grave assessment of the footage. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Falk underscored the video as “vivid confirmation of continuing Israeli atrocities,” highlighting the routine nature of such violent acts against Palestinians. Falk’s commentary sheds light on the disturbing regularity of such incidents, underscoring a dire need for international scrutiny and intervention.

The backdrop of this incident is a conflict that has claimed over 32,500 Palestinian lives since October 7, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry. The sheer scale of loss and devastation underscores the urgent humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, further compounded by Israel’s disregard for international pleas for ceasefire and aid facilitation.

The United Nations Security Council’s recent resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, albeit abstained by the U.S., Israel’s primary arms supplier, underscores the international community’s growing impatience with the continued hostilities. However, Israel’s immediate indication to disregard the resolution mirrors its previous dismissals of International Court of Justice orders, raising critical questions about the efficacy of international legal and diplomatic efforts to curb the violence.

Human rights campaigners, such as Sophie McNeill, have expressed horror at the footage, emphasizing the necessity for the International Criminal Court to take swift action against those responsible for war crimes in Gaza. McNeill’s poignant inquiry, “What are we not seeing?” highlights the potential for untold atrocities occurring beyond the camera’s reach, stressing the imperative to end the prevailing impunity.

The international community stands at a crossroads, faced with undeniable evidence of grave human rights violations. The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor’s documentation of field executions and the comprehensive devastation wrought by Israeli forces demand an immediate and unequivocal response. The footage not only serves as a testament to the ongoing tragedy but also as a clarion call for global action to uphold human rights and international law.

As the world grapples with the stark realities presented by this footage, the call for justice grows louder. The horrifying visuals of unarmed Palestinians facing lethal force, coupled with the subsequent efforts to obscure the evidence, present a stark challenge to the international legal order and the moral compass of the global community.

“There just so happened to be a camera here in this moment. What are we not seeing? This impunity must end,” McNeill said.