jfid – The Gaza Strip, a region trapped between Israel and Egypt, bears witness to an ongoing and silent conflict.
Since early October 2023, Israel has launched a massive military offensive against Gaza in response to Hamas-led attacks that killed hundreds of Israeli civilians.
However, what Israel is doing is not just retaliation but rather a brutality that violates international law.
One piece of evidence is Israel’s plan to flood Gaza’s underground tunnels with seawater, criticized by Russia as a war crime.
Underground Tunnels: Means of Survival and Attack
The underground tunnels in Gaza serve as a means of survival for Palestinians isolated from the outside world.
These tunnels are used to transport food, fuel, medications, and other necessities for the people of Gaza.
The underground tunnels also serve as a means of attack for Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza.
Through the tunnels, they can infiltrate Israeli territory and carry out sudden attacks, as happened on October 7, 2023.
This attack surprised Israel, feeling threatened by the existence of underground tunnels. Israel has attempted to destroy these tunnels using various methods, including bombs, bulldozers, and tracker dogs.
However, Israel’s efforts have not been entirely successful as the tunnels continue to be rebuilt by Gaza residents with assistance from Egypt and sympathetic countries.
Seawater as a Weapon: Israel’s Atrocious Plan
When bombs and bulldozers proved insufficient, Israel tried a more heinous approach: flooding the underground tunnels with seawater.
This plan was reported by international media in early December 2023, after Israel constructed a pipeline and pump system along the Gaza border.
Israel’s aim is to channel seawater into the tunnels, submerging Hamas infrastructure and hindering the movement of Gaza residents.
Israel also hopes that the seawater will contaminate the groundwater in Gaza, a primary source of clean water for its population.
This plan has faced condemnation from various quarters, including Russia, accusing Israel of committing war crimes.
Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, stated that Israel’s plan indicates they have a “take no prisoners” order, disregarding Israeli hostages in Hamas’s hands.
“If Israel indeed takes action to flood Hamas tunnels beneath Gaza with seawater, this is clearly an atrocity,” Polyansky said at a UN Security Council meeting on Friday (December 8, 2023).
Polyansky also highlighted the long-term impact of Israel’s plan, rendering Gaza uninhabitable. He mentioned that Israel might want to force Gaza residents into neighboring countries like Egypt and Jordan by flooding their areas.
“According to publicly available information, the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] has built a pipeline and pump system designed to pump seawater and is currently discussing with the United States the practical possibility of flooding (Gaza): will there be enough water? Will the ‘topography’ of the tunnels be able to contain it? and so on,” Polyansky said.
International Law: What Can Be Done?
Israel’s plan to flood Gaza with seawater blatantly violates international law, particularly humanitarian law that governs behavior in war.
Humanitarian law prohibits the use of weapons or methods causing unnecessary or disproportionate suffering to civilians or combatants.
Humanitarian law also prohibits collective punishment, actions directed at specific groups or communities without regard to individual culpability.
Collective punishment includes blocking humanitarian aid, cutting off electricity supplies, and flooding areas.
Violations of humanitarian law can be categorized as war crimes, prosecutable by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The ICC is a permanent judicial institution tasked with prosecuting individuals responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
However, the ICC has limitations in handling war crime cases, as not all countries are members or recognize its jurisdiction.
For example, Israel and the United States are not ICC members and refuse to cooperate with the institution.
Additionally, the ICC faces political and practical challenges in investigating and prosecuting war crimes.
The ICC is often perceived as a biased and unfair institution, targeting specific countries, especially in Africa.
The ICC also struggles to gather evidence, apprehend suspects, and protect witnesses, lacking its own executive powers and relying on cooperation from member states.
Hope for Peace: What Can Be Done?
While Israel and Gaza continue to wage war, hopes for peace are diminishing. However, it doesn’t mean that the international community can do nothing to stop the violence and uphold the law.
One step that can be taken is to increase diplomatic and economic pressure on Israel to halt military attacks and respect the human rights of Gaza residents.
Countries with close ties to Israel, such as the United States and the European Union, can play a crucial role in this regard.
Another step is to provide humanitarian and development assistance to Gaza, aiming to restore infrastructure, health, and education damaged by the war.
This aid can be channeled through the UN, aid agencies, or civil society organizations.
A final step is to support dialogue and reconciliation efforts between Israel and Palestine to achieve a fair and sustainable peaceful solution.
This solution must recognize the rights of both parties to live in sovereignty, security, and dignity.
The war between Israel and Gaza is an endless conflict causing suffering and death to many.
This war is also an unjust one involving unbalanced powers and uncontrolled violations.
The war must be stopped, and the law must be enforced. Seawater should not be a weapon but a source of life.
