International • 18:30 • Modified at 18:30 'There is no doubt about Israel's war crimes' Author : Lotte van Coevorden International pressure on Israel to stop the bombing of Gaza and allow humanitarian aid is increasing. More than 100,000 people protested in The Hague, and protests are also being heard in other European countries. Even in Israel itself, unrest is growing, even in the army top. Yet Israel continues its attacks unabated. 'The situation in Gaza is truly catastrophic, and Israel's violence is disproportionate', says Robert Serry, former UN envoy for the Middle East in BNR de Wereld.
The word 'disproportionate' is often used in discussions about Israel's violence. Serry therefore explains what proportional means to him. 'Proportionate is when you try to adhere to the rules of the law of war and military principles. That means that you try to avoid causing casualties among the civilian population. And it also means that you give humanitarian access to that same population in times of war.'
'I really wonder what Israel is doing' Robert Serry, The latter is especially crucial, he says. 'The Gaza Strip has been completely cut off for months. And that has of course led to absolutely appalling situations. I really wonder what Israel is doing,' says Serry.
'What is Netanyahu doing?' The former UN envoy refers to war theorist Clausewitz, who stated that war is essentially a form of politics, but then with violent means. 'But what is Netanyahu doing now?' According to Serry, Netanyahu has given the army the political order to completely eliminate Hamas. 'But that has not been successful for almost two years now. And that leads to this completely disproportionate violence.'
Read also Israeli embassy staff killed at Washington Jewish Museum Clausewitz also described war as an act of violence aimed at forcing the opponent to submit to your will. According to Serry, that is exactly the idea that Netanyahu seems to be following. 'But if you can't defeat Hamas for so long, then you have to ask yourself: what am I actually doing?'
War crimes Serry also warns of the long-term consequences. 'You also have to ask yourself what Netanyahu is doing in terms of Israel's increasing isolation. I hear all over the radio now, as if it were an established fact, that Israel is committing genocide. That means that a people who were themselves victims of the Holocaust are now being accused of it. That's what it's come to.' Serry is not convinced that Israel is committing genocide. 'But it is certain that war crimes have been committed. That's almost inevitable when you see this disproportionate violence.'
'Ominous press conference' Last week, Netanyahu gave a press conference that was, according to Serry, 'very ominous'. Trump has started suggesting that Palestinians would be better off leaving Gaza. 'And if I understand correctly, Netanyahu made that a condition for ending the war yesterday.' What Netanyahu means by that exactly, according to Serry, is unclear. 'But if he means Hamas, then maybe something could become possible. That could be the beginning of the end of the war.' Then, something the Israelis usually do not do, a distinction would be made between Hamas and Gazans.
Read also 'The Netherlands may be violating the genocide convention' According to Serry, it could be an evacuation of Hamas leaders and fighters to Egypt. 'If that could happen with a kind of safe conduct, in the context of an agreement where Arab troops supervise that process and also provide security in Gaza, then you might have found the beginning of a solution.'
Possible opening Serry refers to a UN operation from the eighties in which he himself was involved. 'When Arafat was completely surrounded in Tripoli, we, with the Netherlands as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, ensured that he and his fighters were evacuated to Tunis, under the UN flag. This was done with Greek and French ships.' According to him, this is a precedent that could also be relevant now.
Read also 'Israel counts on sufficient support within the EU for research' "If something like that were possible again, that would be very important," Serry said. "We have to prevent this war from not really ending. If Hamas still has a say in Gaza after this war, then we're going back to square one. That's why I see this as a possible opening."
