A preference for bureaucracy over humanity

Further evidence that justice has been relegated behind political manipulation can be found in the current visit to Israel and the West Bank by a delegation from the International Criminal Court, under the pretext of “raising awareness”. As an official statement by the court’s Chief Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, points out, there is no intent to collect evidence, “in accordance with its usual practice at this stage of its work.”

The five day visit, therefore, will consist of undertaking “outreach and education activities with a view to raising awareness about the ICC and in particular, about the work of the Office; to address any misperceptions about the ICC and to explain the preliminary examination process.” The statement adds that such visits are standard practice.

An unnamed Israeli official quoted in Haaretz stated that the visit does not signify Israel’s cooperation with the preliminary investigations conducted at the Palestinian Authority’s request. “The international Criminal Court in The Hague has no authority to hear the Palestinian request, since Palestine is not a country and because the Israeli judicial system is independent and can handle complaints on the matter of alleged war crimes.”

For all its grandiose rhetoric about independent and impartial investigation, the visit has, so far pointedly excluded Gaza, giving impartiality and independence another meaning. Bensouda’s statement specifically mentions Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Ramallah, ostensibly to further emphasise the visit’s dissociation which, in diplomatic circles, constitutes proof of the two attributes which international organisations continue to adorn themselves with, undeservedly it must be said. Eliminating Gaza from the equation, particularly when the approach to the ICC stemmed from the military offensives Israel has inflicted upon the enclave, shows the ICC’s willingness to compromise its purported impartiality by emulating and participating in the mainstream perception which treats Gaza like a necessary yet dispensable accessory, depending upon political circumstances.

There is no point in masquerading under expressions of “routine practice”. It is well known that every international organisation has a standard set of procedures to follow which are fast becoming a spectator sport of discussions and political and academic engagement in which officials gather under a cloak of purported professionalism. The latter is bolstered by the ever present statistical information which is flaunted and publicised enthusiastically.

The Jerusalem Post has described the approval given by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as unprecedented, given the usual adamant refusal to engage with international officials. Yet one must ask what is unprecedented about a visit which is destined to bolster Israel’s image and inscribe the international community’s betrayal of Palestine even further? Same objective; different organisation, that’s all, putting bureaucracy over and above humanity.

If the ICC’s intention was to embark upon a farce in which Palestinians are further dehumanised, it has succeeded. There seems to be no veering away from the colonial trajectory by the international community. The ICC is merely interacting with people who have one thing in common with the institution; the furthering of personal and professional ambitions at the expense of justice and humanity. The court is relying upon convenience through designated, stagnant parameters that exclude Palestinian narratives in favour of the few preferred elites who are fluent in the art of deceit.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.