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government has repeatedly stalled or withdrawn from negotiations, often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
