More than seven months into the armed conflict in Gaza, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take “immediate and effective measures” to protect Palestinians in Gaza from the risk of genocide following a case brought by South Africa regarding Israel’s breaches of the 1948 Genocide Convention.
The international community, including Amnesty International, called for an immediate ceasefire by all parties to prevent further loss of civilian lives and to ensure access to life-saving aid.
Several protests have been organized around the world, including at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and many other universities in the US. Taiwan’s civil society has also repeated its call for an end to widespread human suffering and rights violations in Gaza.
Nevertheless, Taiwan’s government has never voiced concern for human rights and humanitarianism in Gaza and remains reluctant to express support for a ceasefire by all parties, leading to accusations of double standards.
This is likely to undermine Taiwan’s efforts to safeguard human rights and indicates a failure in its international obligations to prevent human rights abuses.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately condemned Hamas on Oct. 7 last year following the Hamas-led attack on Israel which killed at least 1,000 people, including 36 children, and took 245 people hostage.
However, after Israel responded with intense military operations that have caused at least 34,200 deaths of Palestinians in Gaza, one-third of them children, wrecked 60 percent of homes, and intensified its 16-year blockade on Gaza, cutting off all supplies, including food, water, electricity, fuel and medicines, aggravating the humanitarian catastrophe, Taiwan’s government has kept silent.
Additionally, last week, in its response to inquiries by Taiwan’s media, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said that “there is no sanction, and the export control measures are not designed to address humanitarian concerns.”
The inconsistency of the government’s responses not only demonstrates its failure as a member of the international community to protect civilians and prevent further staggering levels of human suffering in this conflict, but also damages its reputation to safeguard freedom and fundamental rights.
International humanitarian law, also known as the “law of war,” sets out rules for armed conflict, particularly, the laws of distinction (discrimination), proportionality and military necessity.
This means that civilian and military targets must be distinguished; civilian objects that become military targets must not be struck if they do not yield a military advantage that avoids an excessive loss of civilian life and civilians must be warned of attacks when they are in harm’s way, so they can reach safety.
Amnesty International documented in its annual report that by the end of last year, 21,600 Palestinians, mostly civilians, had been killed in the unrelenting bombardment of Gaza, with thousands more missing, believed buried under the rubble.
Much of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure has been obliterated, while nearly 1.9 million Palestinians have been internally displaced and deprived of access to adequate food, water, shelter, sanitation and medical assistance.
Amnesty International has documented damning evidence of war crimes by Israeli forces in their intense bombardment of Gaza, including direct or indiscriminate attacks as well as other unlawful attacks and collective punishment of the civilian population.
This is exactly the moment when Taiwan must join the global call for a ceasefire in Gaza, and, furthermore, prevent further human suffering and deterioration of human rights in Gaza by joining an arms embargo on Israel.
Keeping silent about such atrocities will unquestionably send a signal to the world, including those who praised Taiwan’s proactive responses to support human rights and humanitarian aid in the Russia-Ukraine War, that Taiwan is guilty of double standards.
Taiwan has demonstrated its desire to make progress in the enjoyment of basic rights and the rule of law in its region, aligning with international standards.
It regularly affirms international norms and participates positively in global issues, even without a seat at the UN.
While people around the world, including in Taiwan, are calling on all governments to halt all weapons transfers to Israel given the decimation of Gaza and tremendous loss of civilian lives, and to ensure that companies are not involved in the supply chain that contributes to this armed conflict, Taiwan should join this effort.
Publicly calling for an immediate ceasefire and banning arms sales in all parts of the supply chain to Israel will be a good start.
Chiu E-ling is the national director of Amnesty International Taiwan.
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