His pretext for this invasion was that Ukraine posed a threat to Russia’s security if it became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), an alliance led and dominated by the United States. Were his fears founded? To a point yes! Was invasion the answer? No, it was not. There are international bodies like the United Nations in place to try and resolve such claims and fears. Another claim, slightly more justified perhaps, was/is that Ukraine is a “nest of Nazis which needs de-Nazification”, a claim antagonised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s use of overtly Nazi troops in the form of the Azov regiment. This regiment openly and unashamedly claim to “model themselves on the Das Reich regiment of the Waffen SS,” their words, not mine. Zelensky claims to be of Jewish extraction, a claim I would question. No Jewish person would use Nazi troops, irrespective of the circumstances, as part of their armed forces.
Putin claims Ukraine has no “right to exist”, a claim which is not dissimilar to that of Hamas regards to Israel’s existence. In his pursuit of eradicating Ukraine off the map as an independent state, similar to Hitler’s eradication, for a time, of Poland, Putin’s army has pounded Ukrainian cities with large civilian casualties and deaths. The Russians have bombarded civilian areas with no compassion for the loss of non-combatant lives whatsoever! However, in the Ukraine the aggressors have come up against stiff opposition from the Ukrainian side, it has not been the ‘cakewalk’ Putin thought it would be if Western reports are to be believed? Even if the US dominated Western reports in the region are 50% factual Putin still miscalculated. Perhaps what old Vlad failed to take into account is that his Russian Army is not the Red Army of the former Soviet Union. Perhaps he did not realise that the forces of the USSR consisted of Russian, Ukrainian, Georgian and many other former states of the USSR troops. Ukraine is the second largest state of the former Soviet Union after Russia. In effect what Putin has done is pitch one large section of the former Red Army against another large component part! All this to one side, what Putin’s forces are doing, again if reports are correct, against civilians constitutes war crimes under the Geneva convention. If the reports about the Russians kidnapping children are correct then this is another war crime which must be brought to account.
The International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands, has issued an international arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin. How enforceable this warrant is remains to be seen. Certainly for now, Putin is safe inside the Kremlin. A similar warrant should, but was not, have been issued against George W. Bush and Tony Blair for their breaking of so-called international law and war crimes in Iraq. A warrant was not issued, the question is why not? So, the war and atrocities in Ukraine continues but has now been relegated to the back page by the West as war in the Middle East erupts yet again!
On 7th October 2023 the Islamic terror group, Hamas, invaded Israel albeit on a much smaller scale to Putin’s incursion into Ukraine. On that day the religious nutters of Hamas killed innocent music lovers at an open air concert and took civilian hostages who, at the time of writing, are still being held. Once again war crimes have been blatantly committed, but has an arrest warrant been issued against Hamas? No, it has not! Why not? Perhaps, and albeit on thin grounds, a warrant against Hamas is not feasible. They are not a government as such and Gaza is not a nation state and finding members of Hamas at an unspecified later date will be very difficult. I still cannot really see why issuing a warrant, difficult to enforce as it may be, has not been forthcoming from the Hague?
The Israeli response to the Hamas atrocities has been brutal and continues to be so. Thousands of Palestinian civilians have been killed, purposely by the Israelis as they continue to pound civilian areas including refugee camps. Mass populations have been forced to move, itself a war crime, to the south of the Gaza Strip. The Israelis have also cut off the water supply, gas and electric including these amenities to hospitals which constitutes further acts of criminality in war. The Israeli rationale for these bombardments and cutting off water is they are “pursuing Hamas” they are “at war with Hamas” which means, by their own admission of being “at war” they are committing war crimes against the Palestinian people of the Gaza. Most Palestinians do not, or certainly did not, support Hamas but if they now do, who could blame them? The only crossing between Gaza and Egypt, the Rafah Crossing, has been until recently closed to refugees seeking a safe haven in Egypt. Fortunately, the Rafah Crossing has been allowed to open providing at least some relief for the distressed Palestinians needing hospital and medical treatment, but not enough aid is getting through. This applied to those seriously injured needing medical care as well as foreign nationals trying to flee the war torn area. The hospitals in Gaza have been bombed by the Israelis and, in all likelihood, Hamas missiles falling short of their target, Tel Aviv. The situation is pandemonium to say the least.
Israel has one of the most sophisticated fighting machines on the planet. They are highly technologically advanced and they could have gone after Hamas, if that is their sole aim, which looks doubtful, in another more efficient way. The bombardment was/is not necessary unless their aims are more than just hunting the terror group. It certainly looks like the Zionist Government in Tel Aviv are out to do more than hunt Hamas, they are out to destroy every Palestinian on the Gaza Strip! More war crimes of a far greater magnitude than either Russia in the Ukraine or Hamas in Israel have been committed by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israelis have one of the most able special forces units on earth and they could have gone in and taken out the Hamas leadership with relative ease, no need for the bombing. The rest of the leaderless terror group could have been mopped up by Israeli infantry. Yes, it would have meant a temporary occupation of the Gaza Strip but preferable to what has, and is, happening. Is there a warrant out for the Israeli Prime Minister? No there is not! Why not? Perhaps because Israel enjoys the protective arm of the USA who themselves care fuck all for international law and also commit war crimes when it suits them, calling such acts, “collateral damage!” Not to be outflanked in their support for the war criminal, Netanyahu, the British Government and puddle opposition (once called the Labour Party) refuse to call for a ceasefire! Instead, they both are calling for a ‘humanitarian pause’ whatever the fuck that means.
The Western governments are refusing to demand Israel call a ceasefire, not that it would matter much if they did, Tel Aviv would just tell them to mind their own business. Perhaps the West, led in many ways by London, are aware such a call would be ignored by Netanyahu so rather than be humiliated by Tel Aviv they won’t call for a ceasefire, could this be the case? They may not wish to look like the toothless imbeciles they are? In London we hear from government and opposition leaders alike that a ceasefire now would; “play into the hands of Hamas and not change the situation”. This record is played by Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak and opposition leader, Kier Starmer. To think, Starmer has the bare faced cheek to accuse former party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, of “anti-Semitism”. Jeremy Corbyn has not an anti-Semitic bone in his body. Perhaps Starmer could be accused of ‘Islamophobia’ which again would not be the case, not in any true sense of ‘Islamophobia’. If a ceasefire would not “change the situation” as these clowns claim I suggest they go and take a look at this “situation” for themselves. Of course, it would change the “situation” because thousands of Palestinian civilians would not be getting needlessly bombed. Perhaps this minor detail does not meet the criteria of “changing the situation” as seen by Sunak and Starmer? Could it be, what they mean is a ceasefire would not allow the Zionist regime to obliterate the Gaza Strip while committing countless war crimes in their aims, could this be what they mean? Could it mean defeating Hamas, despite other ways, more efficient methods, being available, is worth sacrificing thousands of Palestinian lives? Let’s be honest, the Israelis, the USA and the Western governments could not care less for the lives of Palestinian civilians as long as Israel not only defeat Hamas but teach the Palestinians a lesson they will never forget. This would also get rid of those who want a ‘two state solution’ to the problems in the area, including the Palestinian authorities on the West Bank. Israel, like Hamas, do not want a ‘two state solution’ and any talk of a ceasefire would perhaps advance or give a little space to such a solution and those voices that seek such a solution.
Here we have a three-pronged ideological triangle. Vladimir Putin wants to ensure Ukraine ceases to “exist” as an independent country. Likewise, Hamas wants to obliterate Israel from the map and, in turn, Israel’s Zionist Government in Tel Aviv want, it appears, to blast the Palestinian aspirations and right for their own nation state out of the water. Even if this includes killing every Palestinian walking it would seem! Alternatively, the situation could be viewed through the prism of two groups, Hamas and Russia trying to destroy two nation states, Ukraine and Israel and a third group, Israel, trying to kill off a fledgling nation state, Palestine, before it comes into being, making it still born! None of these must be allowed to happen!
One thing has become abundantly clear out of these terrible situations; and that is, ‘international law’ if such a concept exists, is not equal. The International Criminal Court in the Hague has issued an international arrest warrant for Russian leader, Vladimir Putin. The rights or wrongs of Putin’s actions in Ukraine are not the subject of this blog. What is apparent is that such a warrant should be also issued to Hamas and Benjamin Netanyahu and his Zionist regime in Tel Aviv. No such warrant has been issued to either, making it abundantly clear that this illusive law, like all bourgeois laws national and otherwise, are not in any way equal. The US and British in Iraq despite defying UN resolutions and committing war crimes, yet there was no warrant from the ICC issued for George W. Bush and Tony Blair.
Putin claims Ukraine has no “right to exist”, a claim which is not dissimilar to that of Hamas regards to Israel’s existence. In his pursuit of eradicating Ukraine off the map as an independent state, similar to Hitler’s eradication, for a time, of Poland, Putin’s army has pounded Ukrainian cities with large civilian casualties and deaths. The Russians have bombarded civilian areas with no compassion for the loss of non-combatant lives whatsoever! However, in the Ukraine the aggressors have come up against stiff opposition from the Ukrainian side, it has not been the ‘cakewalk’ Putin thought it would be if Western reports are to be believed? Even if the US dominated Western reports in the region are 50% factual Putin still miscalculated. Perhaps what old Vlad failed to take into account is that his Russian Army is not the Red Army of the former Soviet Union. Perhaps he did not realise that the forces of the USSR consisted of Russian, Ukrainian, Georgian and many other former states of the USSR troops. Ukraine is the second largest state of the former Soviet Union after Russia. In effect what Putin has done is pitch one large section of the former Red Army against another large component part! All this to one side, what Putin’s forces are doing, again if reports are correct, against civilians constitutes war crimes under the Geneva convention. If the reports about the Russians kidnapping children are correct then this is another war crime which must be brought to account.
The International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands, has issued an international arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin. How enforceable this warrant is remains to be seen. Certainly for now, Putin is safe inside the Kremlin. A similar warrant should, but was not, have been issued against George W. Bush and Tony Blair for their breaking of so-called international law and war crimes in Iraq. A warrant was not issued, the question is why not? So, the war and atrocities in Ukraine continues but has now been relegated to the back page by the West as war in the Middle East erupts yet again!
On 7th October 2023 the Islamic terror group, Hamas, invaded Israel albeit on a much smaller scale to Putin’s incursion into Ukraine. On that day the religious nutters of Hamas killed innocent music lovers at an open air concert and took civilian hostages who, at the time of writing, are still being held. Once again war crimes have been blatantly committed, but has an arrest warrant been issued against Hamas? No, it has not! Why not? Perhaps, and albeit on thin grounds, a warrant against Hamas is not feasible. They are not a government as such and Gaza is not a nation state and finding members of Hamas at an unspecified later date will be very difficult. I still cannot really see why issuing a warrant, difficult to enforce as it may be, has not been forthcoming from the Hague?
The Israeli response to the Hamas atrocities has been brutal and continues to be so. Thousands of Palestinian civilians have been killed, purposely by the Israelis as they continue to pound civilian areas including refugee camps. Mass populations have been forced to move, itself a war crime, to the south of the Gaza Strip. The Israelis have also cut off the water supply, gas and electric including these amenities to hospitals which constitutes further acts of criminality in war. The Israeli rationale for these bombardments and cutting off water is they are “pursuing Hamas” they are “at war with Hamas” which means, by their own admission of being “at war” they are committing war crimes against the Palestinian people of the Gaza. Most Palestinians do not, or certainly did not, support Hamas but if they now do, who could blame them? The only crossing between Gaza and Egypt, the Rafah Crossing, has been until recently closed to refugees seeking a safe haven in Egypt. Fortunately, the Rafah Crossing has been allowed to open providing at least some relief for the distressed Palestinians needing hospital and medical treatment, but not enough aid is getting through. This applied to those seriously injured needing medical care as well as foreign nationals trying to flee the war torn area. The hospitals in Gaza have been bombed by the Israelis and, in all likelihood, Hamas missiles falling short of their target, Tel Aviv. The situation is pandemonium to say the least.
Israel has one of the most sophisticated fighting machines on the planet. They are highly technologically advanced and they could have gone after Hamas, if that is their sole aim, which looks doubtful, in another more efficient way. The bombardment was/is not necessary unless their aims are more than just hunting the terror group. It certainly looks like the Zionist Government in Tel Aviv are out to do more than hunt Hamas, they are out to destroy every Palestinian on the Gaza Strip! More war crimes of a far greater magnitude than either Russia in the Ukraine or Hamas in Israel have been committed by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israelis have one of the most able special forces units on earth and they could have gone in and taken out the Hamas leadership with relative ease, no need for the bombing. The rest of the leaderless terror group could have been mopped up by Israeli infantry. Yes, it would have meant a temporary occupation of the Gaza Strip but preferable to what has, and is, happening. Is there a warrant out for the Israeli Prime Minister? No there is not! Why not? Perhaps because Israel enjoys the protective arm of the USA who themselves care fuck all for international law and also commit war crimes when it suits them, calling such acts, “collateral damage!” Not to be outflanked in their support for the war criminal, Netanyahu, the British Government and puddle opposition (once called the Labour Party) refuse to call for a ceasefire! Instead, they both are calling for a ‘humanitarian pause’ whatever the fuck that means.
The Western governments are refusing to demand Israel call a ceasefire, not that it would matter much if they did, Tel Aviv would just tell them to mind their own business. Perhaps the West, led in many ways by London, are aware such a call would be ignored by Netanyahu so rather than be humiliated by Tel Aviv they won’t call for a ceasefire, could this be the case? They may not wish to look like the toothless imbeciles they are? In London we hear from government and opposition leaders alike that a ceasefire now would; “play into the hands of Hamas and not change the situation”. This record is played by Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak and opposition leader, Kier Starmer. To think, Starmer has the bare faced cheek to accuse former party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, of “anti-Semitism”. Jeremy Corbyn has not an anti-Semitic bone in his body. Perhaps Starmer could be accused of ‘Islamophobia’ which again would not be the case, not in any true sense of ‘Islamophobia’. If a ceasefire would not “change the situation” as these clowns claim I suggest they go and take a look at this “situation” for themselves. Of course, it would change the “situation” because thousands of Palestinian civilians would not be getting needlessly bombed. Perhaps this minor detail does not meet the criteria of “changing the situation” as seen by Sunak and Starmer? Could it be, what they mean is a ceasefire would not allow the Zionist regime to obliterate the Gaza Strip while committing countless war crimes in their aims, could this be what they mean? Could it mean defeating Hamas, despite other ways, more efficient methods, being available, is worth sacrificing thousands of Palestinian lives? Let’s be honest, the Israelis, the USA and the Western governments could not care less for the lives of Palestinian civilians as long as Israel not only defeat Hamas but teach the Palestinians a lesson they will never forget. This would also get rid of those who want a ‘two state solution’ to the problems in the area, including the Palestinian authorities on the West Bank. Israel, like Hamas, do not want a ‘two state solution’ and any talk of a ceasefire would perhaps advance or give a little space to such a solution and those voices that seek such a solution.
Here we have a three-pronged ideological triangle. Vladimir Putin wants to ensure Ukraine ceases to “exist” as an independent country. Likewise, Hamas wants to obliterate Israel from the map and, in turn, Israel’s Zionist Government in Tel Aviv want, it appears, to blast the Palestinian aspirations and right for their own nation state out of the water. Even if this includes killing every Palestinian walking it would seem! Alternatively, the situation could be viewed through the prism of two groups, Hamas and Russia trying to destroy two nation states, Ukraine and Israel and a third group, Israel, trying to kill off a fledgling nation state, Palestine, before it comes into being, making it still born! None of these must be allowed to happen!
One thing has become abundantly clear out of these terrible situations; and that is, ‘international law’ if such a concept exists, is not equal. The International Criminal Court in the Hague has issued an international arrest warrant for Russian leader, Vladimir Putin. The rights or wrongs of Putin’s actions in Ukraine are not the subject of this blog. What is apparent is that such a warrant should be also issued to Hamas and Benjamin Netanyahu and his Zionist regime in Tel Aviv. No such warrant has been issued to either, making it abundantly clear that this illusive law, like all bourgeois laws national and otherwise, are not in any way equal. The US and British in Iraq despite defying UN resolutions and committing war crimes, yet there was no warrant from the ICC issued for George W. Bush and Tony Blair.
The forces of Netanyahu are by far the largest culprits of these war crimes by some distance yet not a word from the ICC! Why could this be? Probably because the ICC are in fact in reality a tool of the United States and Netanyahu and his regime are best mates with the Americans, they can, therefore act with immunity! This is a case of ‘war crimes, good for the Goose but certainly not the Gander’.
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| Caoimhin O’Muraile is Independent Socialist Republican and Marxist. |
