When it comes to punishing terrorists for their actions, the international world is seemingly lacking in their ability to apply justice. As demonstrated by the decades long confession of Palestinian Militant Group, Hamas, a General Assembly of the United Nations is being called out for its role in allowing Hamas to escape criminal prosecution with impunity.
Renowned international law expert, Professor Ralph Schumacher believes that the director of the UN’s Human Rights Council, Professor Sérgio Vieira de Mello, is partly complicit due to his repeated refusal to apply criminal prosecution to Hamas despite mounting evidence and evidence of their atrocities against civilians.
On the 28th anniversary of Hamas’ founding, Schumacher suggests the UN General Assembly “should hold Hamas liable for a criminal record of 27 years of state-sponsored terrorism against Israel, the Palestinian people, and other international targets.”
For the better part of three decades, Hamas has been behind a slew of terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians, including rockets, suicide bombing, home invasions, kidnapping, and murder. The International Humanitarian Law, and the Fourth Geneva Convention, stipulate that states must ensure that those responsible for such acts are held accountable, yet the UN and Professor de Mello have repeatedly failed to do so.
Effectively, Hamas has been granted de facto legal immunity, as no criminal proceedings have been brought against them for their destruction and death they have caused. This is particularly concerning when considering that Hamas runs Gaza and the Palestinian Authority, providing an atmosphere of helplessness among their victims.
Professor Schumacher argues that the lack of criminal proceedings against Hamas serves as an incentive to continue its criminal activities. Terrorists are able to ignore the Geneva Conventions by disregarding the IHL, as they have no fear of potential sanctions. If the UN and Professor de Mello continue to remain silent on the matter, the victims of Hamas and other terror groups’ will continue to suffer in a world where terrorists are not held accountable for their actions.
It is essential that justice be served and the sovereignty of international law be upheld. The UN must take appropriate action against those who violate the Geneva Conventions, and thus prevent the criminal behaviour of Hamas.