-Analysis-
PARIS — Benjamin Netanyahu is not in the habit of backing down, as he has shown throughout his several decades in power. In a brief statement to Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, on Monday, he nevertheless acknowledged a “tragic accident.” That’s how he described Sunday’s Israeli air strike on a camp for displaced Palestinians on the outskirts of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. The latest count stands at 45 dead and 249 wounded, the heaviest toll in nearly eight months of war.
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The brief remarks, which won’t convince many, show that, for once the Israeli Prime Minister has measured the global reaction to the terrible images of burning tents and the charred bodies of victims being removed by rescuers. French President Emmanuel Macron took to the social media platform X to say he was “outraged” and called for the respect of international humanitarian law and a ceasefire — echoing the sentiments of most countries.
International handle on the matter
The embarrassment was perceptible in Washington, and it’s likely that played a part in Netanyahu’s change in attitude. For weeks, U.S. President Joe Biden had been urging Israel to abandon its Rafah operation due to the high risk to the numerous civilians still present. His warning was fully justified on Sunday evening, but it fell on deaf ears.
The tragedy also risks jeopardizing new discussions.
On Friday, the UN International Court of Justice ordered Israel to halt all military operations in Rafah that endangered civilian lives. But Israel had no intention of obeying international justice, especially since the prosecutor of another body, the International Criminal Court, had issued arrest warrants against its Prime Minister and Defense Minister, as well as Hamas leaders.
Israel would have been wiser to heed the court’s request, as the Rafah tragedy has now further isolated Israel internationally and given weight to calls for sanctions. The tragedy also risks jeopardizing new discussions initiated over weekend during a discreet meeting in Paris with the CIA director. The talks aimed to revive negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of hostages still held by Hamas.
Seeking action internationally
Do the Prime Minister’s apologies indicate a new attitude? It seems unlikely, as Netanyahu is determined to continue his military operations in Gaza, and perhaps on other fronts, such as Lebanon or Iran.
The continuation of this war makes international passivity increasingly untenable.
After expressing his regrets in the Knesset on Monday, he attempted to justify his defiance of international demands: “We were told not to launch a ground operation, we did it. We were told not to go to Rafah, we went there.” He also mentioned Iran, saying: “I will not talk about that.”
The continuation of this war, in this form, with its ever-increasing civilian casualties, makes international passivity increasingly untenable. For weeks, France has been working for a UN resolution negotiated with all parties. But it has been blocked by the threat of a U.S. veto.
On Monday, I mentioned the Ukrainian civilian victims of Russian bombings in Kharkiv, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s calls for help. Palestinian civilian victims deserve the same attention and protection.
