Legal mirage

International law is supposed to protect people around the world. It sets rules for countries to follow, especially during wars, so that innocent people do not suffer. However, in today’s world, many people are losing faith in these laws because they are not being applied equally. Take Israel’s actions in Gaza as an example. It is ignoring international laws and powerful countries are staying silent. It seems that some countries follow international law only when it suits them. Leaders of powerful nations, especially those who have influence in the United Nations, often act unfairly. Only a few countries still try to follow international law consistently.

One important law is Article 54 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions (1977). This law clearly says that starving civilians during war is not allowed. But what has happened in Gaza is very different from this law. According to many verified reports, Israel is engaging in a systematic campaign of starvation against the people of Gaza. If international laws are applied only to weak countries and ignored when powerful countries break them, there will be no trust left in human rights or international law. To protect the future of our world, international laws must be applied fairly to everyone.

Fahad Rind

Johi