Provision of humanitarian aid in Gaza

Amnesty International comments on the requirement that Israel must comply with the key International Court of Justice ruling ordering it do all in its power to prevent genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. This is an important step that could help protect the Palestinian people in the occupied Gaza Strip from further suffering and irreparable harm. If the UNRWA is forced to suspend its humanitarian response, further suffering and irreparable harm to the Palestinians in Gaza is the grievous likely outcome.

A woman holds a child as Palestinians fleeing Khan Younis, due to the Israeli ground operation, move towards Rafah on Monday. (Mohammed Salem/Reuters)

The ruling issued by the ICJ ordered six provisional measures including for Israel to refrain from acts under the Genocide convention, prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to genocide, and take immediate and effective measures to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. Crucially, the Court also ordered Israel to preserve evidence of genocide and to submit a report to the Court, within one month, of all measures taken in line with its order. (Israel Must Comply With Key ICJ Ruling Ordering It Do All in Its Power to Prevent Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza, 2024)

Zaha Hassan, a human rights lawyer and a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace comments that in the genocide case involving Israel, the court has effectively ordered the government to stop the mass destruction of Gaza, end the killing of Palestinians, and to take action against those engaged in incitement against them and their dehumanisation.

The US has the power to take decisive action to change Israel’s approach. Instead of blocking UN security council resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire, it must now lead the council to that end. Instead of bypassing Congress to ship arms or proceeding with new military aircraft sales to Israel, it must suspend all offensive arms transfers. As a retired Israeli major general reportedly said about Israel’s dependency on the US to prosecute its war on Gaza: “All of our missiles, the ammunition, the precision-guided bombs, all the planes and bombs, it’s all from the US. The minute they turn off the tap, you can’t keep fighting … Everyone understands that we can’t fight this war without the United States. Period.” (Hassan, 2024)

Mike Corder and Raf Casert, reporting for AP, note some of the humanitarian concerns in the IJC court order.

“The court is acutely aware of the extent of the human tragedy that is unfolding in the region and is deeply concerned about the continuing loss of life and human suffering,” court President Joan E. Donoghue said.

The court also called on Hamas to release the hostages who are still in captivity. Hamas urged the international community to make Israel carry out the court’s orders.

Many of the measures were approved by an overwhelming majority of the judges. Of the six orders, an Israeli judge voted in favor of two — an order for humanitarian aid and another for the prevention of inflammatory speech.

Israeli Judge Aharon Barak said he supported those orders in the hope that they would “help to decrease tensions and discourage damaging rhetoric” while easing the ”consequences of the armed conflict for the most vulnerable.” (CORDER & CASERT, 2024)

Geoffrey York, reporting for the Globe and Mail, comments that Canada’s decision to suspend its funding to the biggest relief agency in Gaza is provoking a wave of criticism from human-rights advocates and several former high-ranking Canadian diplomats. Human-rights activists are protesting the Canadian funding freeze, arguing that those under investigation are less than 0.1 per cent of the agency’s 13,000 staff in Gaza.

Alex Neve, an international human-rights lawyer and a senior fellow at the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, said the Canadian funding freeze is “collectively punishing the people of Gaza.” The Palestinians rely on the UN agency as “an essential lifeline in the best of times and now, the worst of times, more than ever,” he said in a social-media post. (York & Berman, 2024)

Several former diplomats, who held senior posts in the Canadian foreign service before their retirement, have sharply criticized the funding freeze. In social-media posts on the weekend, some noted that Canada had announced the decision on the same day as the International Court of Justice had ordered Israel to ensure an urgent supply of humanitarian relief for Gaza to prevent the risk of genocide in the territory.

“I’m shocked that Canada has suspended funding to UNRWA in response to the alleged crimes of 12 employees,” said Nicholas Coghlan, who held six diplomatic posts in the developing world for Canada. “This is pretty much the definition of collective punishment.”

Alex Bugailiskis, who was Canada’s assistant deputy foreign minister responsible for Europe and the Middle East, said UNRWA is “one of the very few organizations able to deliver life-saving aid at this critical time.” (York & Berman, 2024)

Collectively punishing the people of Gaza

Leo McGuinn in an article in France 24 reports that an Israeli document spelled out allegations against a dozen UN employees of UNRWA, the country says participated in Hamas' Oct. 7 assault – claiming seven stormed into Israeli territory, including two who participated in kidnappings. The agency's commissioner, Philippe Lazzarini, recently announced that he was ordering an external review of the agency's operations and its safeguards.

Since the war began, most of the territory’s 2.3 million people depend on the agency’s programs for “sheer survival,” including food and shelter, Lazzarini said. 

A quarter of Gaza’s population is facing starvation as fighting and Israeli restrictions hinder the delivery of aid, which has been well below the daily average of 500 trucks before the war. (McGUINN, 2024)

Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Emma Farge report for Reuters that U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres promised to hold to account "any U.N. employee involved in acts of terror".

"While I understand their concerns – I was myself horrified by these accusations - I strongly appeal to the governments that have suspended their contributions to, at least, guarantee the continuity of UNRWA's operations," He said this could include criminal prosecution - a rare move within the global body since most staff enjoy functional immunity, although Guterres has the power to waive it. Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA commissioner-general, also urged countries to "reconsider their decisions before UNRWA is forced to suspend its humanitarian response." (Al-Mughrabi & Farge, 2024)

A U.N. investigation into the Israeli allegations is underway. The ICJ ordered Israel to take immediate and effective measures to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. The United States and allies who have cut aid to UNRWA are acting contrary to the intent of the ICJ for immediate and effective measures for the provision of assistance to Gaza.

References

Al-Mughrabi, N., & Farge, E. (2024, January 28). UN urges reversal of funding pause for Palestinian refugee agency. Reuters. Retrieved January 29, 2024, from https://www.reuters.com/world/un-urges-countries-reverse-funding-pause-palestinian-agency-2024-01-28/ 

CORDER, M., & CASERT, R. (2024, January 27). ICJ genocide case: World court demands Israel limit deaths. AP News. Retrieved January 29, 2024, from https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-genocide-court-south-africa-27cf84e16082cde798395a95e9143c06 

Hassan, Z. (2024, January 28). The ICJ ruling on Gaza is a wake-up call for Washington – Biden has to take note | Zaha Hassan. The Guardian. Retrieved January 29, 2024, from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/28/icj-ruling-gaza-wake-up-call-for-washington 

Israel must comply with key ICJ ruling ordering it do all in its power to prevent genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. (2024, January 26). Amnesty International. Retrieved January 29, 2024, from https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/01/israel-must-comply-with-key-icj-ruling-ordering-it-do-all-in-its-power-to-prevent-genocide-against-palestinians-in-gaza/ 

McGUINN, L. (2024, January 29). Israel spells out accusations against UNRWA workers linked to Hamas attack. France 24. Retrieved January 29, 2024, from https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20240129-israel-accusations-unrwa-workers-hamas-attack 

York, G., & Berman, D. (2024, January 29). Former top diplomats criticize Canada's funding freeze for UN agency in Gaza. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 29, 2024, from https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-former-top-diplomats-criticize-canadas-funding-freeze-for-un-agency-in/ 

Two Friends Consider Bibi and Gaza

Recent articles in the Jesuit Review, America, include an interview by Gerard O’Connell of Father Neuhaus, a lifelong Israeli citizen, and a response article by Dr. Karma Ben Johanan, a student of Jewish-Catholic relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Two Directions in Gaza

Dr. Karma Ben Johanan teaches at the department of comparative religion at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is an Israeli Jew who has studied Jewish-Catholic relations for many years. Through this work, he has had the opportunity to engage with many thoughtful Christians, including David Neuhaus, S.J., whom he considers a personal and even close friend.

Father Neuhaus is an astute political observer and a man committed to peace. Born into a Jewish family in South Africa, he became an Israeli citizen at the age of 17 and has lived most of his life in Israel. After obtaining his Ph.D. in political science from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, he decided to become a Catholic and entered the Society of Jesus in 1992.

Gerard O’Connell, on January 05, 2024, posed this question to Father Neuhaus.

As the Israeli forces bomb Gaza and destroy homes, they are at the same time carrying out raids on towns and refugee camps in the West Bank and have killed more than 300 Palestinians and arrested almost 5,000. Furthermore, many Arab Israeli citizens of the State of Israel feel seriously intimidated. What does this strategy of collective punishment mean? How do you read it? (O'Connell & Wooden, 2024)

Father Neuhaus responded.

The Netanyahu government is even more opposed than its predecessors to compromise with the Palestinians. Even before Oct. 7, clashes between Palestinians and the army and/or bands of settler vigilantes in the West Bank had reached unprecedented proportions. The war in Gaza provides a smokescreen for military incursions and vigilante activities seeking to impose full Israeli control on the West Bank. While international attention is focused on Gaza, the Israeli government is determined to make the West Bank Israeli territory through land confiscation, expulsions of the population and the policing of Palestinian civil life, hand-in-hand with strengthening the Jewish presence there and enthusiastically arming them. (O'Connell & Wooden, 2024)

Dr. Karma Ben Johanan begins his article in harmony with some of the comments of Father Neuhaus, particularly his critical stance toward the Israeli government.

The unease I felt while reading the interview had nothing to do with the legitimacy of criticizing Israel, a right that Father Neuhaus justly exercises. I share much of Father Neuhaus’s critical stance toward the Israeli government. Like most Israelis, especially after Oct. 7, I feel that the current Israeli government does not represent me, and I feel a responsibility to limit its authority both domestically and on the battlefield. This aim is shared by many institutions in Israel, from the Supreme Court to the police to the heads of the Israeli army. (Johanan & Davenport, 2024)

The two articles diverge on many other aspects of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The aspirations for peace expressed by both articles would be facilitated in a political environment where Benjamin Netanyahu was no longer the Prime Minister of Israel.

References

Johanan, B., & Davenport, J. (2024, January 18). There is a right and wrong way for Catholics to criticize Israel. America Magazine. Retrieved January 23, 2024, from https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2024/01/18/israel-gaza-war-neuhaus-246974? 

O'Connell, G., & Wooden, C. (2024, January 5). An Israeli Jesuit priest on the war in Gaza, Jewish-Catholic relations and the future of the two-state solution. America Magazine. Retrieved January 23, 2024, from https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2024/01/05/israel-gaza-war-jesuit-neuhaus-246822 

Israel Needs New Leadership

The Economist Leaders column notes that the attacks of October 7th are reshaping the Middle East. Under Binyamin Netanyahu’s leadership, Israel is making blunders that undermine its own security. The proposal for a “two state solution” to the war in Gaza is supported by President Biden and many allies of the United States. Prime Minister Netanyahu and other members of Israel’s right wing government are opposed to a Palestinian state after the conflict ends.

Parting of the Ways?

How might a new Israeli security doctrine work? The Economist supports removing Hamas from power in Gaza: it has oppressed and impoverished the people there. It is also an impediment to peace. But Israel should make clear its fight is with the terrorists. That means using force judiciously and letting in a lot more aid. It also means having a plan for after the war that creates a path to a moderate Palestinian state. Such an approach would help maintain support for Israel in America and elsewhere. This is crucial: America deters Iran and backs detente between Israel and Gulf states that also oppose Iran’s influence. Most important, it underwrites the security of Israel itself. (Binyamin Netanyahu Is Botching the War. Time to Sack Him, 2024)

Shammai Engelmayer is rabbi of Kehillat Torat Chayim v’Chesed — a virtual congregation — and an adult education teacher in Bergen County. He is the author of eight books and the winner of 10 awards for his commentaries.

As of December 22, Netanyahu has held office for 5,807 days — 932 days more than were served by the previous record-holder, David Ben-Gurion, the primary founder and indisputable architect of the modern State of Israel. In a column in the Jewish Standard in December 2023 Shammai Engelmayer argues that Bibi must go — now!

Much worse, though, is this: While Hamas, and Hamas alone, is to blame for what happened on October 7, Netanyahu and Company are to blame for enabling Hamas to succeed as it did. As part of their “Greater Israel” effort, Bibi’s right-wingers decided to crack down unmercifully on the West Bank. To do so, however, required moving IDF units and intelligence operations away from the southern border with Gaza into the West Bank. They did that despite the fact that Israeli officials knew since the summer of 2014 that Hamas was developing an attack plan, the knowledge of which grew exponentially over the last year or so. (Engelmayer, 2023)

As the daily newspaper Haaretz reported on November 24:

“For over a year before Hamas’s massive attack on Israel…, Military Intelligence had detailed information on the group’s plan to breach the Gaza border at dozens of points and attack dozens of communities and army posts…, but Israel didn’t properly prepare for the threat….[Instead, the] army diluted the forces of its Gaza Division…[and] withdrew companies that had been deployed at certain kibbutzim….” (Engelmayer, 2023)

CBC News reports that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is ‘not surprised’ by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent comments on Palestinian statehood. Earlier on Thursday, Netanyahu said he has informed the U.S. that he opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state as part of any post-war scenario. Trudeau restated that Canada remains deeply committed to a two state solution in Gaza.

White House spokesperson John Kirby said that President Joe Biden would "not stop working" toward a two-state solution and that it was in the best interest of Israelis, Palestinians and the entire region.

"The focus right now is making sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself against Hamas and that humanitarian aid and assistance continue to get to the desperate people of Gaza," Kirby said during an informal briefing with reporters  aboard Air Force One. 

"But there's going to be a post-conflict Gaza," he said, telling reporters the U.S. has been clear that Israel should not reoccupy the territory and that the Biden administration supports governance that "represents the aspirations of the Palestinian people." (Israeli PM Tells U.S. He Opposes a Two-State Solution in Postwar Gaza, 2024)

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said there is "no way" to solve Israel's long-term security challenges in the region and the short-term challenges of rebuilding Gaza without the establishment of a Palestinian state.

"But there is no way to solve their long-term challenges to provide lasting security and there is no way to solve the short-term challenges of rebuilding Gaza and establishing governance in Gaza and providing security for Gaza without the establishment of a Palestinian state." (Israeli PM Tells U.S. He Opposes a Two-State Solution in Postwar Gaza, 2024)

The plan of the United States for supporting the security of Israel differs in a significant way from the aspirations of Binyamin Netanyahu’s right wing government. Continued American military and financial aid should be contingent on agreement on the path to peaceful and secure co existence of Israel and the Palestinian state.

References

Binyamin Netanyahu is botching the war. Time to sack him. (2024, January 3). The Economist. Retrieved January 20, 2024, from https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/01/03/binyamin-netanyahu-is-botching-the-war-time-to-sack-him 

Engelmayer, S. (2023, December 21). Bibi must go — now! The Jewish Standard. Retrieved January 20, 2024, from https://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com/bibi-must-go-now/ 

Israeli PM tells U.S. he opposes a two-state solution in postwar Gaza. (2024, January 18). CBC. Retrieved January 20, 2024, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/israel-palestinians-netanyahu-two-state-solution-1.7087705 

UBI and Quality Public Services

What needs of the public should be addressed as necessities in our modern urban societies? In Canada, basic levels of healthcare and education are provided as universal public services. In a modern society, we need to consider housing, transport, social care and access to information as necessities that would benefit the whole society if they were provided at some level as a public service.

UBI or Universal Public Service for Housing

Anna Coote is principal fellow at the New Economics Foundation and co-author of Universal Basic Income: A Union Perspective (Public Services International) with Edanur Yazici. 

The report concludes that the money needed to pay for an adequate UBI scheme “would be better spent on reforming social protection systems, and building more and better-quality public services”. Redistributing the personal tax allowance and developing the idea of universal basic services (UBS) could offer a more promising alternative. This calls for more and better quality public services that are free to those who need them, regardless of ability to pay. Healthcare and education are obvious examples, and it is argued that a similar approach should be applied to areas such as transport, housing, social care and information – everyday essentials that should be available to all. Collective provision offers more cost-effective, socially just, redistributive and sustainable ways of meeting people’s needs than leaving individuals to buy what they can afford in the marketplace. (Coote, 2019)

Jaela Bernstien, is a Montreal-based journalist who covers climate change and the environment for CBC's online, radio and TV news programs. With over a decade of experience, her work has won several awards including a 2023 National RTDNA award, a 2023 Gold Digital Publishing Award, and a 2018 CAJ award for labour reporting.

In 2018, the government of British Columbia asked a panel of experts to study the feasibility of a basic income for the province. The resulting report found that "the needs of people in this society are too diverse to be effectively answered simply with a cheque from the government."

Panel chair David Green, a labour economist and a professor at the Vancouver School of Economics at the University of B.C., said the better solution is to reform the programs that already exist.

"If our problem is really, the full heterogeneous, complex issue of poverty — how do we make a more just society — then, in many cases, sending people a cheque and hoping they will do better is not going to answer the problem," 

Green said it would be better to tackle issues head-on, targeting poor working conditions and low wages, reforming the disability assistance program and boosting rent assistance. (Bernstien, 2021)

Guy Standing is professorial research associate at SOAS University of London. His new book is ‘The Blue Commons: Rescuing the Economy of the Sea’ (Pelican, 2022). He is a technical adviser to the basic income pilot being conducted by the government of Wales.

It's time for advocates of ‘Universal Basic Services’ to stop juxtaposing the idea of more and better public services with giving people basic income security.

Psychologists have found that basic security increases people’s IQ, and makes people more altruistic, tolerant, cooperative and productive, as workers and as citizens. Sadly, most economists and policymakers have given no value to basic security. A basic income would do so, whereas the menu of mainly targeted services being offered under the title of UBS would not. An income-insecure person with access to a free bus ride or even childcare or broadband would remain insecure.

Ultimately, there is no contradiction between having some public quasi-universal basic services and a basic income. They address different needs and stem from different rationales. But having cash enhances freedom of choice, is potentially more empowering and can be more transformative. I plead with those advocating ‘Universal Basic Services’ to stop juxtaposing the idea of more and better public services with giving people basic income security. (Standing, 2019)

 Jaela Bernstien reports that like economists, Canada's main parties are also divided on basic income, though none are promising universal basic income. Here's where they stand:

 

(Bernstien, 2021)

There is much to consider in the best approach to provide transport, housing, social care and information as basic necessities for people in an urban information society.

 

References

Bernstien, J. (2021, September 19). What is basic income and which of Canada's main parties support it? CBC. Retrieved January 16, 2024, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada-how-basic-income-works-1.6179760 

Coote, A. (2019, May 6). Universal basic income doesn't work. Let's boost the public realm instead | Anna Coote. The Guardian. Retrieved January 16, 2024, from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/may/06/universal-basic-income-public-realm-poverty-inequality 

Standing, G. (2019, June 6). Why 'Universal Basic Services' is no alternative to Basic Income. openDemocracy. Retrieved January 16, 2024, from https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/oureconomy/why-universal-basic-services-is-no-alternative-to-basic-income/