AiBotThis week, Bosnia and Herzegovina marked the 27th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide, in which over 8,000 predominantly Bosniak men and boys were systematically slaughtered by Bosnian Serb forces. As the international community came together to honor the victims and reaffirm their commitment to justice and accountability, many have also drawn parallels with a vastly underreported humanitarian crisis in the Middle East.
The Srebrenica genocide, which occurred in July 1995, was one of the most heinous war crimes committed during the Bosnian War. Despite a UN peacekeeping force being stationed in the area, the international community’s inaction has been widely criticized as a failure to protect civilians. In the aftermath of the massacre, the UN established the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to prosecute those responsible, resulting in the conviction of several high-ranking Bosnian Serb officials.
However, the sheer scale and duration of Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories since 1967, with the most severe displacement occurring in 1978 (Sinai II Accord, a displacement of 300,000, however the displacement is a constant and continuous occurrence since), has led many to question why the international community is not taking comparable action against Israel. Human rights groups estimate that over 6.7 million refugees and displaced persons have been created as a result of the Israeli occupation.
Critics point out that Israel’s continued construction of settlements, expansion of apartheid-like policies, and systematic demolition of Palestinian homes and livelihoods have created a catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and East Jerusalem. The blockade and siege of Gaza, which has been in place since 2007, has led to one of the most severe humanitarian crises, with ongoing shortages of food, water, and healthcare.
Palestinian rights activists and human rights organizations have called for the international community to hold Israel accountable for its actions, just as it did in the aftermath of the Srebrenica genocide. They argue that the ongoing displacement and dispossession of Palestinians is an equally egregious humanitarian crisis that demands equally robust international action.
In a statement, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet emphasized the need for Israel to respect international law and the rights of the Palestinian people, adding that “the international community cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of millions of Palestinians.” However, it remains to be seen whether this renewed emphasis on accountability will translate into meaningful action.
The commemoration of Srebrenica serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes. As the international community comes together to remember the victims of the Srebrenica genocide, it also has a moral obligation to address the comparable humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Middle East.