Dr Morgan McMonagle’s startling revelation on RTÉ Prime Time last week, pertaining to the casualties he attended in Gaza, underscores the dilemma surrounding the ongoing arms sale to Israel by nations that uphold the doctrine of human rights universality. According to Palestinian human rights advocates, there is no moral grounding that sanctions these sales, considering Israel’s repeated nonchalant misuse of such weapons to perpetrate arbitrary killings of Palestinians. Any assertions of self-defence following the gruesome and illegal actions by Hamas on October 7th are rendered meaningless by the disparity in their response. Instead, the focus seems to be on ideology-driven reasons that favour the preservation of Israeli lives over Palestinian lives, which is absolutely unjustifiable.
Human rights advocates strive to enforce universal rights as prescribed in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and subsequent agreements and treaties. Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the UDHR last year, over 150 nations outlined pledges to actualise these rights. The USA, UK, Germany, France, and Canada, committed firmly to the protection of human rights advocates. However, these nations persist in providing arms to Israel, severely impacting human rights and those defending them. As recently underscored in the discussed articles, around 68% of arms supplied to Israel between 2013 and 2022 came from the USA, whilst Germany’s arms sales to Israel surged from €32 million in 2022 to over €300 million. Last month’s court ruling in the UK rejected Global Legal Action Network’s (Glan) case against exporting British weapons to Israel. In contrast, as declared by Vincent Durac, Ireland should also scrutinise its procurement of “defensive” equipment from Israel in light of its professed human rights values.
A fortnight prior, tragic news reached me regarding the killing of two female human rights activists and many of their relatives by Israeli airstrikes. Nour Naser Abu Al-Nour and Dana Yaghy, both employees of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, were documenting violations perpetrated against women and children. Nour, whom I was personally acquainted with, worked tirelessly until her last breath compiling evidence of Israel’s alleged war crimes.
The demise of these two women paints a heartbreaking picture of what seems to be a targeted strike on women and children, who reportedly make up 70% of the over 30,000 deceased Palestinians. Countries such as Canada, France, and Germany have all taken a stance proclaiming a feminist perspective in their foreign policies, aimed to revolutionise how foreign policy operates for the betterment of women and underage girls globally. The USA’s 2023 National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security highlights that where women and girls’ rights are at risk, democratic values, peace and stability are equally threatened.
In the semblance of a war on journalists, other human rights advocates, particularly journalists who inform us about the atrocities taking place, are explicitly targeted. Some have been fatally struck whilst covering the conflict, donning press vests and helmets in broad daylight. A number were allegedly victims of death threats and intimidations from Israeli forces ahead of the attacks.
It has been reported that since 7th October, over 122 journalists and individuals working in the media industry were killed in Gaza, based on the findings published in UN reports. Nations such as the USA, UK, France, Canada and Germany are all part of the Media Freedom Coalition, having all signed the commitment to enhance media freedom domestically and externally under the Global Pledge on Media Freedom, with Germany currently sharing leadership.
A notable proportion of human rights proponents who have lost their lives to Israeli military action are healthcare professionals. Attacks on healthcare entities, including hospitals, medical care units, ambulances, and now, aid convoys, persist despite international laws prohibiting such acts, marking what appears to be a war on medical and aid personnel.
The United Nations Relief Works Agency (Unrwa) reports the loss of 160 personnel, with a further 403 internally relocated individuals who were seeking safety within their facilities also losing their lives. In a recent incident, a marked refuge operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) situated in Al-Mawasi became the target of an offensive, despite the Israeli forces being notified of its exact location by the MSF. Prior to the strike, there was no warning given by the Israeli military, resulting in the death of two individuals. An adjacent location to the main entry point of a MSF-affiliated hospital in Rafah was also hit by an Israeli projectile on March 2nd, causing 11 fatalities including a member of the ambulance staff and a nurse. Recent accounts by patients reveal a growing apprehension about entering the hospital given frequent assaults happening around and within healthcare facilities throughout Gaza. The UN Security Council has repeatedly passed resolutions geared towards safeguarding health care facilities and humanitarian staff in areas of military conflict, with France, UK and the US holding permanent places in the council.
Ever increasing allegations of hypocrisy from certain states, who openly advocate for laws and yet continually arm Israel, are placing a significant strain on international human rights structures. The result is the perpetuation of the conflict and the subsequent loss of more innocent Palestinian lives. The situation predominantly represents an assault on human rights.
The above insights are provided by Mary Lawlor, the UN special rapporteur on human rights defenders.