All or nothing

Iran’s retaliatory response to Israel’s June 13 strikes was swiftly condemned. While the initial attack was clearly a violation of international norms, it was met with silence or quiet approval. The message is unmistakable: when Israel attacks, it is called self-defence, but when others respond, it is labelled aggression. This dangerous double standard erodes the very foundations of international law. Article 51 of the UN Charter does not grant any nation a monopoly on self-defence. If Israel can invoke it, so can Iran or any state subjected to unprovoked violence. Yet, Western officials appear more concerned with who is acting than with what is being done.

Even more troubling is the selective application of the Geneva Conventions. As pointed out by former experts, attacks on nuclear facilities, such as those carried out by Israel, are prohibited under Article 56 of the Additional Protocol. Germany, a signatory, chose to ignore this violation while rushing to condemn Iran’s response. This pro-Israel bias not only delegitimises the rules-based international order but also emboldens militarism and prolongs conflict. True peace demands consistency. Justice must not be contingent on politics or alliances, it must apply to all equally, or it means nothing at all.

Advocate Razi Alam

Karachi