The world must seek justice for Palestinians suffering genocide

Kenyan domestic governance crises has pushed the violence in Gaza and the middle east from Kenya’s news headlines and this column for several months. The release of Amnesty International report “You Feel Like You Are Sub-Human” demands our attention and re-engagement. Researched over most of this year, the 296-page report concludes that a genocide has taken place in the Palestinian territory.

To establish the internationally recognised threshold of genocide has been reached, Amnesty examined whether Palestinians in Gaza constituted a national, ethnic, racial or religious group deserving of protection under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

Examining months of horrific evidence, researchers have found that Israel intentionally sought to kill, cause physical and mental harm and deliberately eliminate the Palestinians as a people. That the mass crimes have continued despite the International Court of Justice advisory opinion is even more outrageous. In July 2024, the ICJ concluded that Israel’s 57-year-old occupation and annexation of Palestinian territory was unlawful. Furthermore, ICJ called for withdrawal of all its military forces and removal of Israeli civilian settlements and settlers. Rather than comply, the Israel Defence Forces have entrenched their military presence in Gaza.

The report calls for command responsibility for individuals responsible for the genocide, opening of safe humanitarian corridors, a complete ceasefire by Israel, Hamas and Palestinian armed groups and an end to human rights violations. The report adds further pressure on the international community, including Kenya, to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in line with the arrest warrants issued by the ICC on November 21, 2024.

Given several references to a human rights driven Foreign Ministry policy, the Kenya government must, in the light of this new report, review its staccato approach to the “Palestinian question.” The Kenya government must use its international influence to ensure Israel implements all provisional measures ordered by the ICJ since January 26, 2024.

It must also oppose current attempts to establish a permanent military presence and alter Palestine’s borders and population. Kenya must join other nations to demand Israel cooperates with UN and ICCC investigations and prosecutions that will follow from the determination that crimes against humanity have occurred. Predictably, the Israel state will go on a charm offensive in Africa. Let our “Tembea Kenya” hospitality not be extended until the world delivers justice and accountability for the genocide that has occurred.
While the arc of justice may take time to effect the charges of international crimes against humanity and genocide, it is important to remember, there is no statute of limitation for the investigation and prosecution of those suspected to be responsible for one of the worst episodes in a decade. Justice for Palestinian people and peace in the middle east, must prevail within our lifetime.