The current board of the World Union of Jewish Students, representing diverse Jewish voices from all over the globe, acknowledges the recent ruling by the International Court of Justice concerning the ongoing conflict in Gaza and welcomes its call for HAMAS to release the hostages. The safety and well-being of all individuals caught in this conflict must remain a priority.
We also take positive note of the ICJ’s decision of not ordering an immediate termination of military activities and highlighting the urgent necessity for heightened humanitarian consideration within the conflict zone to prevent genocide.
It needs to be pointed out, that genocide, as defined by international law, necessitates intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group.
In this case, Israel's actions are solely framed within its conflict with HAMAS and are aimed at self-defense (in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter) and not towards systematic destruction of the population within the Gaza Strip. This crucial distinction is often overlooked in the international narrative.
Furthermore, we strive to highlight that the ICJ’s ruling also increases both the intensity and quantity of antisemitic sentiments and actions worldwide, which will directly and negatively influence the sense of security for Jewish students, not only on campus but online as well. In this wake, we would like to warn against the potential false reversal of the perpetrator and victim roles which inadvertently fuels such concerns.