On Thursday evening, 17 October 2024, the Arab Organisation for Human Rights in the UK (AOHR UK) hosted a crucial webinar titled “The Generals’ Plan: Systematic Erasure of Life in the Northern Gaza Strip”. The webinar focused on the ongoing genocide in Gaza, shedding light on Israel’s military tactics aimed at the destruction of Palestinian life and infrastructure. The event provided an in-depth analysis of war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and the deliberate targeting of civilians, exploring the legal and political dimensions of the systematic violence unfolding in northern Gaza.
The panel featured prominent speakers, including Haroon Raza, a Dutch lawyer and member of the 30 March Movement; Richard Boyd Barrett, a member of the Irish Parliament; Colin Cooper, representing Scottish Friends of Palestine; Emilio Dabed, a professor of law and political scientist; Jonathan Purcell, Senior Public Affairs Officer at the ICJP; and Booker Ngesa Omole, a Kenyan political activist. Each of these speakers brought unique perspectives and expertise, contributing to the detailed discussions on Israel’s genocidal policies and the international community’s failure to intervene.
Haroon Raza opened his contribution by highlighting his extensive legal experience as a criminal defence attorney in the Netherlands, with a specialization in war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly in relation to Gaza. Representing the March 30th Movement and the Hind Rajab Foundation, he explained their recent efforts in gathering evidence on IDF soldiers, including those with dual nationalities such as British, Irish, and French. Raza noted that many of these soldiers had publicly exposed themselves on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok, where they had posted videos and images clearly showing their involvement in actions such as burning homes, blowing up mosques without military necessity, and committing acts of theft and vandalism.
In a major effort to hold these soldiers accountable, Raza’s team compiled a detailed database of over 1,000 IDF soldiers, documenting their crimes with photographs and videos. These crimes include attacks on mosques, hospitals, and the enforced starvation of the population. This evidence has been submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and shared with multiple embassies, including Ireland and Spain, with the aim of placing these individuals on national and international arrest lists. Raza emphasised that this complaint, though significant, is only the beginning, as they have evidence on thousands more soldiers.
When asked about the response to this work, Raza explained that while the ICC no longer sends formal receipts for complaints, at least one unnamed country had expressed enthusiasm and requested further information. He reiterated that their efforts are ongoing and that in the coming months, they expect to bring more substantial evidence forward as part of their continued efforts to prosecute those responsible for the genocide in Gaza.
Richard Boyd Barrett began by praising Haroon Raza’s work and expressing his commitment to following up with the Irish government regarding their involvement in these legal actions. He then discussed recent horrific incidents, including attacks on Al-Nusraat school and Al-Aqsa hospital, as well as a nearby tent camp, which he said were part of Israel’s broader genocidal campaign against Gaza. Barrett condemned these actions as deliberate and systematic attacks on civilians, targeting essential infrastructure necessary for survival, such as schools and hospitals, calling it a “textbook example” of genocide and ethnic cleansing.
Barrett also criticised Israel’s expansion of violence into Lebanon, which he viewed as a distraction from the ongoing genocide in Gaza. He expressed frustration at the inaction of international governments, particularly those in the West, who continue to support Israel both diplomatically and militarily. He highlighted the hypocrisy of international institutions, such as the ICC, which he said have failed to act decisively since the Palestinian case was first lodged in 2015, despite the overwhelming evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Turning to Ireland, Barrett acknowledged that while public opinion is overwhelmingly supportive of Palestinians, the Irish government has been slow to take meaningful action. Although Ireland joined South Africa in the ICJ case against illegal Israeli settlements, Barrett criticised the Irish government’s ongoing cooperation with the U.S. military, particularly its use of Irish airports for the transport of weapons to Israel. He called out the Irish government for failing to fulfil its obligations under international law, particularly the Genocide Convention, which requires proactive measures to prevent genocide.
Colin Cooper expressed his deep sadness over Scotland’s lack of action on the Palestine issue, contrasting it with Ireland’s efforts. He lamented that Scotland, despite its rich history of social justice, has failed to emulate Ireland’s political and legal actions in defense of Palestinians. Cooper noted the influence of the UK government on Scotland’s foreign affairs and highlighted the country’s role in the arms trade, particularly the production of advanced military equipment used in conflicts and wars like Gaza, implicating Scottish workers in the deaths of civilians.
Drawing on historical examples, Cooper referenced the solidarity of workers in East Kilbride, Scotland, who refused to repair Chilean fighter jets following the Pinochet coup, as a model of what modern-day workers could do to protest their involvement in war crimes. He urged workers at companies like Leonardo, Raytheon, and BAE Systems to recognize their complicity in the ongoing atrocities in Gaza, where children are dying in their thousands, and called for a revival of the kind of union support that historically resisted such injustices.
Cooper also pointed out the stark contrast between international reactions to Gaza and Ukraine, attributing the disparity to deeply entrenched racist views. He criticised the failure of Scottish institutions, particularly the churches and educational systems, to properly address the legacy of the Balfour Declaration and Britain’s colonial role in the establishment of Israel. Cooper concluded by highlighting the failure of Scotland’s civic society to mobilize in support of Gaza and called for a stronger, more widespread movement, similar to Ireland’s, to combat the genocide.
The Palestinian Chilean lawyer and Professor Emilio Dabed began by expressing interest in Haroon Raza’s work and the possibility of collaboration to identify Canadian-Israeli soldiers involved in war crimes and genocide. As a founder of the Legal Center for Palestine in Canada, Dabed discussed their ongoing legal battles, including an imminent lawsuit against the Canadian government for its failure to prevent genocide, in violation of its obligations under the Genocide Convention. He emphasised the importance of holding not just Israeli soldiers, but also dual nationals, accountable for their crimes.
Dabed offered a critique of international law, noting the discrepancy between its promises and its capacity to deliver justice. Using the United Nations Charter as an example, he explained how the power dynamics embedded within international legal systems—such as the veto power of the Security Council—undermine the principle of equality among states. He argued that this inherent inequality has allowed the international legal system to betray its own promises, as seen in the case of Palestine, where international courts have failed to take effective action to stop the genocide.
Dabed highlighted the absurdity of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) refusal to order a ceasefire in Gaza, despite acknowledging the plausible occurrence of genocide. He criticised the court’s decision, pointing out that it had previously ordered a ceasefire in the case of Ukraine, demonstrating a double standard based on racial dynamics. In the case of Gaza, the ICJ’s failure to act effectively allowed Israel to continue its genocidal actions under the guise of legality, further exposing the power imbalances that shape the administration of international law.
Jonathan Purcell marked the one-year anniversary of the bombing of Al-Ahli hospital, where hundreds of Palestinians were killed. He reflected on the international media’s initial reluctance to attribute the bombing to Israel, noting the absurdity of such debates in light of Israel’s consistent targeting of hospitals, paramedics, and civilians over the past year. Purcell explained that the ongoing siege of Gaza, now known as the “General’s Plan,” is part of a broader strategy to forcibly displace Palestinians and restrict access to food, medical aid, and other essential resources.
Purcell described the plan as medieval in nature, using starvation as a weapon of war to achieve ethnic cleansing and genocide. He cited Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Yoav Gilant, who have openly advocated for these tactics, further underscoring the genocidal intent behind the blockade of Gaza. He also criticised Western leaders, such as the UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, for supporting Israel’s right to restrict essential goods, despite the catastrophic impact this has had on Gaza’s civilian population.
Purcell emphasised the interconnected nature of these genocidal policies, explaining how starvation leads to increased disease, displacement, and unsanitary living conditions. He pointed out that Gaza’s already dire food insecurity, with over 90% of the population facing acute hunger, will only worsen under the General’s Plan. He concluded by noting that the deliberate targeting of medical supplies and humanitarian workers further demonstrates the systematic extermination of the Palestinian people, which he described as a form of collective punishment and genocide.
Booker Ngesa Omole framed the struggle in Gaza within the broader context of anti-imperialism, drawing parallels between the Palestinian resistance and Kenya’s own fight for independence. He argued that the ongoing genocide in Palestine is sustained by U.S. imperialism, which provides Israel with the material and political support it needs to continue its settler-colonial project. Without this backing, Omole contended, Israel would collapse under the weight of its own atrocities.
Omole criticised the international community’s failure to hold Israel accountable, citing the influence of the U.S. in institutions like the United Nations and the ICC. He argued that appeals to international law have been rendered ineffective by U.S. hegemony, which uses its veto power to protect Israel from accountability. Omole stressed that resistance, rather than negotiation, is the only viable path for the Palestinian people, as the Palestinian Authority’s efforts to negotiate a two-state solution have only led to more deaths and land dispossession.
Omole concluded by warning of the global consequences of inaction, suggesting that the ongoing war in Gaza could escalate into a broader conflict involving Iran, Russia, China, and the U.S. He pointed out that the Zionist entity’s war games could potentially trigger World War III, and that no one will be safe if this happens. He called for an end to the U.S.-backed genocide in Gaza and urged the international community to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
