Prime Minister of Israel.

 

Prime Minister of Israel

@IsraeliPM

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening:“Hamas is responsible for this war. It invaded our towns, murdered our people, raped our women and kidnapped our loved ones. Hamas refused offer after offer to release our hostages. https://gov.il/en/pages/event-statement180325

 

 

Below is a serious response in English addressing your concerns about Benjamin Netanyahu’s statements and actions, followed by a Danish translation as requested. The response examines the inconsistencies in his narrative, his political motivations, and how his policies, such as cutting off water, electricity, and essentials, violate international law and human rights, while also supporting the ICC’s genocide allegations.

English Response:

My assertion that Benjamin Netanyahu’s arguments don’t hold up has merit when critically examined. Netanyahu claims that Hamas is solely responsible for the war, citing their October 7, 2023, attack and refusal to release hostages. However, this narrative conveniently omits Israel’s role in escalating tensions and undermining ceasefire agreements. Historical context shows that Netanyahu’s government has repeatedly stalled or withdrawn from negotiations, often prioritizing political survival over peace. For instance, reports from Israeli intelligence (e.g., Shin Bet assessments) suggest that his policies, like allowing Qatari funds to prop up Hamas and altering the Temple Mount status quo, may have indirectly strengthened Hamas, potentially enabling the October 7 attack. This raises questions about his accountability rather than Hamas being the sole aggressor.

Moreover, Netanyahu’s political survival has been precarious amid domestic corruption trials and declining public support prior to the war. The ongoing conflict has arguably bolstered his position by rallying nationalistic sentiment and delaying legal reckonings, a classic tactic of leaders under pressure. His statement that “Hamas refused offer after offer” ignores evidence that Israel has also rejected or failed to honor ceasefire terms, such as lifting the Gaza blockade, a recurring demand in negotiations.

The decision to cut off water, electricity, and essential supplies to Gaza, announced after October 7, 2023, starkly contradicts international law and human rights standards. Under the Fourth Geneva Convention (Article 33), collective punishment of civilians is prohibited, yet Israel’s blockade has deliberately deprived 2.3 million Gazans of necessities, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis. The UN and human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have documented how this policy risks famine and violates Israel’s obligations as an occupying power to ensure the welfare of the occupied population (Hague Regulations, Article 43). These actions align with the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) November 2024 arrest warrants against Netanyahu, which cite the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare and crimes against humanity like murder and persecution. The ICC found “reasonable grounds” that Netanyahu intentionally deprived Gazans of survival essentials, supporting claims of genocidal intent when paired with his government’s rhetoric and the scale of civilian deaths (over 44,000 by late 2024, per Gaza health officials).

In summary, Netanyahu’s narrative deflects responsibility, protects his political life, and justifies policies that breach international law. The ICC’s genocide allegations gain traction from these verifiable violations, challenging his portrayal of Israel as a blameless victim.

Danish Translation (Dansk oversættelse):

Min påstand om, at Benjamin Netanyahus argumenter ikke holder vand, har noget på sig, når man ser kritisk på det. Netanyahu hævder, at Hamas alene er ansvarlig for krigen og peger på deres angreb 7. oktober 2023 og deres afvisning af at frigive gidsler. Men denne fortælling udelader bekvemt Israels rolle i at eskalere spændinger og undergrave våbenhvileaftaler. Historisk set har Netanyahus regering gentagne gange bremset eller trukket sig fra forhandlinger, ofte med fokus på politisk overlevelse frem for fred. For eksempel antyder rapporter fra israelsk efterretning (f.eks. Shin Bet-vurderinger), at hans politikker, som at tillade Qatar-penge til at støtte Hamas og ændre status quo på Tempelbjerget, muligvis indirekte styrkede Hamas og banede vejen for angrebet 7. oktober. Dette rejser spørgsmål om hans eget ansvar frem for, at Hamas er den eneste aggressor.

Desuden har Netanyahus politiske overlevelse været usikker midt i indenlandske korruptionssager og faldende offentlig støtte før krigen. Den igangværende konflikt har sandsynligvis styrket hans position ved at samle nationalistiske følelser og udskyde juridiske opgør, en klassisk taktik for ledere under pres. Hans udtalelse om, at “Hamas afviste tilbud efter tilbud,” ignorerer beviser på, at Israel også har afvist eller ikke overholdt våbenhvilevilkår, såsom at ophæve blokaden af Gaza, et tilbagevendende krav i forhandlinger.

Beslutningen om at afskære vand, elektricitet og essentielle forsyninger til Gaza, annonceret efter 7. oktober 2023, står i skarp kontrast til folkeretten og menneskerettighedsstandarder. Ifølge Fjerde Genève-konvention (artikel 33) er kollektiv afstraffelse af civile forbudt, men Israels blokade har bevidst frataget 2,3 millioner gazanere livsnødvendigheder og forværret en humanitær krise. FN og menneskerettighedsgrupper, inklusive Amnesty International, har dokumenteret, hvordan denne politik risikerer hungersnød og krænker Israels forpligtelser som besættelsesmagt til at sikre den besatte befolknings velfærd (Haag-regulativerne, artikel 43). Disse handlinger stemmer overens med Den Internationale Straffedomsstols (ICC) arrestordrer fra november 2024 mod Netanyahu, som nævner krigsforbrydelsen sult som krigsføringsmetode og forbrydelser mod menneskeheden som mord og forfølgelse. ICC fandt “rimelige grunde” til, at Netanyahu bevidst fratog gazanere overlevelsesmidler, hvilket understøtter påstande om folkemord, når det kombineres med hans regerings retorik og omfanget af civile dødsfald (over 44.000 ved udgangen af 2024, ifølge Gaza-sundhedsmyndigheder).

Kort sagt afleder Netanyahus fortælling ansvar, beskytter hans politiske liv og retfærdiggør politikker, der bryder folkeretten. ICC’s folkemordspåstande får støtte fra disse verificerbare overtrædelser og udfordrer hans fremstilling af Israel som et uskyldigt offer.

 

 

 

Bedste  hilsen.

Leif Tullberg

64 år i dansk erhverv

51 år i Venstre