This article by Dianne Kirby first appeared in Unity, the weekly publication of the Irish Communist Party.
A team of independent experts commissioned by the Human Rights Council concluded that Israel is committing genocide with the intent to destroy Palestinians. In response, Donald Trump declared 7 October the highest form of genocide and repeated well-debunked atrocity claims. His administration’s overwhelming support for the Gazan genocide was confirmed at the UN Security Council when, for the sixth time since the genocide began, it again vetoed a ceasefire. America killed an otherwise unanimous resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages and the immediate and unconditional lifting of all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave.
British support for the UN resolution and qualified recognition of a Palestinian state does not negate its own ignominious contributions to Israel’s savage scorched-earth offensive or its supine subservience to America. Starmer shook the hand and welcomed Israeli president Isaac Herzog when he ought to have mandated his arrest.
Equally invidious was the fawning over and feting of Trump in an unprecedented second state visit.
High walls and higher still security prevented the great British public from even a glimpse of the gushing royals, pretentious pomp and lavish expenditure. Segregating rulers and ruled highlighted the growing divide between them.
The people-free, sorry spectacle show cased backward-looking elites clinging to a mythical past and imperial delusions as a changing world renders redundant Britain’s post-war policy of hanging onto America’s coat-tails, hoping for recognition, relevance, a modicum of influence.
Meantime, even the corrupt, oppressive, authoritarian Arab regimes long kept in power by America, seem to be seeking additional if not alternative allies.
Deep divisions over regional security thwarted Egypt’s proposals to the Doha summit to form a NATO-style Arab defence force, blocked apparently by Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Only days later, however, Saudi Arabia signed a mutual defence pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan.
Given Israel’s growing regional belligerence, the new Muslim alliance is significant.
As the Sumud Global Flotilla sails toward Gaza, notable naval exercises are scheduled in the Mediterranean Sea. PASSEX, Cypriot-Indian naval drills, are scheduled for 24 September.
Turkey-Egypt joint naval exercises are scheduled for September 22-26. Both signify the promotion of military cooperation amidst shifting regional alliances. In addition, the latter is viewed as a potential challenge to Israel’s direct threats to the flotilla, manned by civilians on a humanitarian mission.
Further indications of the rapidly evolving international environment involve China.
Seemingly stepping into the moral vacuum left by America’s abandoning any pretence of adhering to an international rules-based order, Chinese influence is advancing beyond all Belt and Road Initiative aspirations.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian called on Israel to halt its military operations, agree a lasting ceasefire and resolve the humanitarian crisis. China thus positioned itself as the champion of defenceless civilians and international law.
However opportunistic, China’s stance will play well in a Global South deeply dissatisfied with western hypocrisy, duplicity and exploitation.
International failure to stop Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza has led to analogies with the Spanish Civil War, viewed as a direct precursor to the Second World War.
Recent events certainly highlight key similarities showing how regional conflicts draw in international players, exacerbate ideological divides, and shift global dynamics.
As the repercussions from Gaza play-out in the international arena, danger looms of a wider war. International instability is accompanied by domestic divisions. Gaza has exposed democratic deficits throughout the West. With dissenters labelled terrorists and threatened with jail, democratic states rival their authoritarian counterparts.
For peoples everywhere, it is the poignant words of Algeria’s UN ambassador, Amar Bendjama, that most resonate:
‘Palestinian brothers, Palestinian sisters, forgive us. Forgive us, because the world speaks of rights, but denies them to Palestinians. Forgive us because our efforts, our sincere efforts, shattered against this wall of rejection.’
(Unity thanks Dianne yet again for her contributions and apologises because we did not put her by-line on her article last week.)