The Injustice of Power: Condemning U.S. and Israeli Hypocrisy in the Middle East
The ongoing crisis in the Middle East has once again laid bare the grotesque double standards that define international responses to conflict — particularly when it involves the State of Israel and its primary backer, the United States. The repeated massacres in Gaza, the blatant disregard for international law, and the sanctimonious rhetoric about “self-defense” have become familiar tools in a global theatre of hypocrisy.
The truth is bitter but unavoidable: the United States and Israel, operating with impunity, have weaponised the language of diplomacy and human rights to serve their strategic interests, while trampling on the very values they claim to uphold.
The Fallacy of “Self-Defense”
When Israeli warplanes bomb hospitals, schools, and refugee camps in Gaza, Washington’s standard line is immediate: “Israel has the right to defend itself.” But when Iran launches retaliatory strikes, or when Hamas resists decades of occupation and blockade, such actions are instantly condemned as “terrorism.” There is no room for historical context, no place for nuance — only a narrative where Israel is perpetually the victim and all others are aggressors.
Yet the right to self-defense is enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter — and it is not a right exclusive to Israel. Palestinians, who have endured over 75 years of dispossession and 57 years of occupation, also have an internationally recognised right to resist colonial domination, as stated in UN General Assembly Resolution 37/43 (1982).
America’s Role: The Unapologetic Enabler
The United States plays a central role in this enduring tragedy. Through a military aid package worth over US$3.8 billion annually, America equips Israel’s military might. When these weapons are used to flatten apartment blocks in Gaza or destroy critical infrastructure, Washington does not flinch.
At the United Nations, the U.S. has vetoed more than 45 resolutions critical of Israel, making any collective action or accountability impossible. While vocally condemning invasions elsewhere — such as Russia’s actions in Ukraine — the same standard does not apply to Israel’s prolonged occupation of Palestinian territories, deemed illegal by the international community.
A Global Consensus Ignored
The world is not silent. From Malaysia to South Africa, from Ireland to Brazil, governments and civil societies have repeatedly called out Israeli apartheid and aggression. In 2024, South Africa brought a case against Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing it of genocide in Gaza under the Genocide Convention.
Furthermore, UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese has reported that Israel’s actions may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Leading NGOs like Human Rights Watch and B’Tselem have concluded that Israel operates an apartheid regime targeting Palestinians.
Yet Israeli leaders continue to enjoy impunity. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even after being accused of serious violations of international law, continues to be welcomed in Western capitals. Such selective justice reveals the extent to which the so-called “rules-based order” has become a façade.
Demonising Resistance
While Israel’s military campaigns are couched in the language of security and survival, any form of Palestinian resistance — military or peaceful — is instantly labelled terrorism. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court defines attacks on civilians and forced population transfers as war crimes — yet such acts are common in the occupied territories.
Even peaceful civil movements like the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, which emulate anti-apartheid strategies, face bans and legal suppression in Western democracies. In this context, the fight for Palestinian rights becomes not only a humanitarian struggle but also a battle against global censorship and silencing of dissent.
A World Order in Crisis
What we are witnessing is not just a regional issue. The crisis in Palestine has become the symbol of the broken global system — a system that favours power over justice, occupation over freedom, and hypocrisy over truth. The so-called moral leadership of the West has lost credibility in the eyes of billions who see the contradiction between words and actions.
It is time for nations of principle — from the Muslim world, Africa, Asia, and Latin America — to lead the charge in building a new moral coalition. One that is not beholden to U.S. vetoes or Israeli impunity. One that holds all nations accountable under the same international law.
A Call to End the War and Restore Justice
The war in Gaza and the broader crisis in Palestine must end immediately. There is no legal or moral justification for collective punishment, ethnic cleansing, or the denial of an entire people’s right to exist. The international community must now act with clarity and courage.
We demand:
- An immediate and unconditional ceasefire across Gaza and the occupied territories;
- Full recognition of Palestinian sovereignty and statehood, including rights to return, compensation, and self-determination;
- Strict enforcement of UN Resolutions 242 and 338, which call for Israel’s withdrawal from occupied territories and uphold the territorial integrity of all states.[¹¹]
If Israel refuses to comply with the Charter of the United Nations and continues to ignore the ICJ, UN Security Council resolutions, and international human rights obligations, then it must be declared an illegal state — stripped of international recognition and legitimacy until it adheres to international law.
No state is above the law. If Israel wants to be treated as a legitimate state, it must first behave like one — accountable, restrained, and just. Otherwise, the world must stop pretending and call it what it has become: a rogue state, protected by the hypocrisy of its most powerful ally.
Justice delayed is justice denied — and in Palestine, justice has been denied for far too long.