بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
The Western World’s Double Standard: the ICJ Ruling on ‘Israel’ and the UNRWA-Hamas Allegations
The international arena often witnesses the manifestation of double standards, particularly when it comes to the actions of Western powers in addressing conflicts in the Muslim World. Two recent events have, once again, brought this phenomenon into sharp focus: the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on ‘Israel’ that was initiated by South Africa on December 29, 2023, and the baseless claims made by ‘Israel’ regarding the UNRWA (United Nations of Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) allegedly having ties to Hamas. The disparity in the responses and actions taken by Western nations in these situations exposes, bluntly and shamelessly, the inconsistency in their approach to their so-called justice and way of accountability.
On December 2023, South Africa submitted a request to the ICJ seeking an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of the Jewish entity’s genocide on the Gaza Strip, as well as the 75-year apartheid, 56-year occupation and 16-year blockade of the Strip (according to South Africa). Despite the mounting evidence of the Jewish entity’s violations of international law, including the Genocide Convention, Western powers have been hesitant to take actions and completely ignoring the ruling of the ICJ. With some countries, such as Germany, even supporting and backing up the Jewish entity.
In contrast, ‘Israel’s recent allegations against UNRWA, accusing the agency of maintaining links with Hamas and even being accomplice to the 7th of October events, have been met with swift condemnation and concrete actions from Western nations. The Jewish entity’s claims, though lacking of any evidence, have led to quick and direct sanctions against UNRWA. France, Germany, Italy and The Netherlands have suspended their UNRWA payments and the UK wanting absolute guarantee that UNRWA won’t employ ‘terrorists’ before resuming funding. Even the European Commission has published an official statement in which it announces that the upcoming funding decisions for the UNRWA will be reviewed and that a thorough investigation should be launched to make sure that the organization or its staff has not participated in the attacks.
The disparity in responses and the selective application of these cruel Western principles when examining the actions taken by the West in each scenario, have opened the eyes of not only Muslims, but many non-Muslims as well. It has undermined the credibility of Western nations and shifted the global narrative against the Jewish entity and other tyrannical Western leaders.
However, this behaviour and reaction should not come as a surprise for us Muslims. The so-called international community, including the ICJ and UNRWA and many other organisations, are the result of the two peace treaties signed in 1648 in Westphalia, also known as Peace of Westphalia. This treaty established a new European political order and laid the groundwork for modern diplomacy and international relations, in favour of the West and in order to protect the Western sovereignty over the Islamic world. So, every organisation that is an outcome of this treaty is automatically and without any doubt working for and used by the Western agenda against the Ummah of the Prophet Mohammed (saw).
And while the Ummah has made it clear where it stands, voicing and marching on a large scale for concrete actions to be taken in order to save our brothers and sisters in Palestine and to put an end to the cruel Zionist settlement, the so-called Muslim leaders have been silently watching all of this unfold. It is now, more than ever, that we need the Khilafah (Caliphate) upon the method of the Prophethood to bring back justice and peace for the Muslim world and beyond, to remove the barbaric and hypocritical leaders of our lands and to put an end to the disbelievers’ agenda.
[وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرواْ وَكَذَّبُواْ بِآيَاتِنَا أُولَـئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ]
“As for those who disbelieve, and deny Our signs, they are the people of the Fire. They shall dwell in it forever.” [Al-Baqarah 2:39]
Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Sumaya Bint Khayyat