Asst. Prof. at Istanbul Aydın University has called for actions beyond diplomatic condemnations regarding the Israeli war on Gaza, as well as concrete economic and political sanctions and even an embargo on the Israeli regime.

The Israeli regime waged a bloody war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity.

The Palestinian death toll from Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip has climbed to 11,180, including 4,609 children and 3,100 women. More than 28,000 others injured in the regime’s military onslaught so far.

At least 22 hospitals and 49 health centers have ceased operations in Gaza due to Israeli attacks and a shortage of fuel needed to operate power generators.

Following is the text of an interview with Dr. Hazar Vural Jane, Asst. Prof. Dr. at Istanbul Aydın University - Department of Political Science and International Relations, regarding the Gaza war.

How do you assess the international developments taking place around the Gaza War? Can the support of the US and some European countries to the Israeli regime be justified?

Since October 7, what Israel has done in Gaza cannot be defended on any platform, in front of any law and at any level of human conscience. We see that Israel is not exactly on the same page even with the United States. However, the full and uninterrupted support from the United States from the very first moment causes great criticism from the US point of view. In this context, the US also bears responsibility for the deadly attacks carried out by Israel. The international community is used to Israel’s irrational and disproportionate attacks, but global actors are expected to look at the issue from the framework of law and the basic right to life of civilians. In Europe, French President Macron has finally, albeit belatedly, called for a halt to the attacks. The same call is expected from Germany. This is because European public opinion has been protesting to draw attention to the right to life of Gazans.

Although the Israeli regime is clearly violating the international law International organizations including UN have failed to take a decisive practical measure against Tel Aviv. Why such organizations can’t take serious measures to stop Israeli crimes?

In 2023, it is natural to expect international organizations to work more actively, faster and more fairly. Because technology, communication and humanity deserve more than that. However, no matter how important the decisions and emphases of international organizations - and we have been living in the era and regime of the UN, which is the most basic umbrella organization for a long time - there is a deficiency arising from international law in terms of sanctions. This is obviously not easy, because each state acts with the aim of simultaneously prioritizing its own interests. But to look at what has been happening in Gaza for 38 days through the same frozen patterns and alliances is inhuman and complicit. The challenge for our world today is to quickly support the UN in its transition to a more active and fairer system, but most importantly, it is necessary to produce policies that will mobilize other mechanisms to find solutions in such situations. The need for a definitive and binding decision is urgent.

How succesfull do you see the Zionist affiliated world stream media in justifying the Israeli regime brutal attack on civilian in Gaza?

The language used by the global media for what is happening in Palestine today has also failed.
In the US, 750 journalists recently signed a joint statement condemning the loss of journalists killed in the Israeli attacks, as well as the divisions in the media’s coverage of what is happening in Gaza in terms of the concepts used by newsrooms and the way they report the news. We see that Netenyahu and Israeli official statements are trying to liken HAMAS to ISIS.
The characterization of HAMAS as a terrorist organization in some media outlets does not find a place in Palestinian realities.
Wars are newsworthy, but the value of human life should be above all else. This is what requires the most unity.

What should Muslim leading countries do to stop Israeli crimes?

Saturday’s Extraordinary Joint Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League in Riyadh was the largest and most important since the October Peace meeting in Cairo. The 31-point final declaration strongly condemned and made all the important points. Beyond diplomatic condemnations, appeals to the law or an end to hypocritical approaches, concrete economic and political sanctions, even an embargo, are necessary. More is needed in the face of Israel’s unchecked and unrestrained behavior.

Finally, I would like to add that an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian support for Gaza, now.