By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Africanews
Published on 2024-01-18 13:28:45
The theme of “Achieving security and cooperation in a fractured world” is one of the four key themes at this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos. The Secretary-General of Amnesty International, who was in the Swiss city, emphasized the importance of keeping human rights on the agenda and raised concerns about the ongoing war in Gaza.
Agnès Callamard stated that since October 7th, there had been a disproportionate response from Israeli authorities, resulting in an accumulation of war crimes. Amnesty International believes that the risk of genocide is present in Gaza, and they welcomed the ICJ court case and the South Africa initiative as a way to potentially save lives in the region.
The filing by South Africa accuses Israel of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention, condemning all violations of international law by all parties involved in the conflict. However, it is important to note that the International Court of Justice does not adjudicate in crimes perpetrated by non-state parties, and this would fall within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported a high number of Palestinian casualties since the start of the war, with many trapped under rubble or unreachable due to the fighting. Israel blames the civilian death toll on Hamas, as they reportedly fight in dense residential areas. The lack of a clear distinction between combatant deaths and civilian casualties has led to further debate and controversy.
At the World Economic Forum, leaders addressed the need for a political solution to the 75-year conflict between Israel and the Palestinian territories. Qatar’s Prime Minister emphasized the importance of a time-bound, mandatory path to a two-state solution, while U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Israel cannot achieve genuine security without a pathway to a Palestinian state.
These discussions come at a time when the Israeli Prime Minister leads a right-wing government that is opposed to Palestinian statehood, further complicating efforts to find a resolution to the longstanding conflict.
