By Afshain Afzal

7^th of October; on the occasion of the first anniversary to Israeli Shin Bet and Mossad planned terrorist-attacks inside its own mandated territory and own people… the world is criticizing Israeli genocide of orthodox Palestinian Muslims especially in Gaza and other Palestinian territories; medical authorities and media claiming 41,000 killed including women and children. Despite all resolutions in the United Nations assemblies, peace protests around the world and peace discussions, Israel Defence Forces under Israeli Prime Minister and advisors amongst the allies are continuing the genocide and other war crimes. To have a fair idea what happened on 7 October 2023? the United Nations public document dated 12 June 2024, in shape of ‘Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel’ reflect detailed findings on attacks carried out on and after 7 October 2023 in Israel (A/HRC/56/CRP.3). The Commission sent four requests for information to Israel and one request to the State of Palestine. Israel did not respond. The State of Palestine provided the Commission with information. The Commission also submitted six requests for access to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory but did not respond to the Commission’s requests for access to its territory and prevented access to the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The Commission endorsed its opinion that Israel obstructed its investigations into events on and since 7 October 2023, both in Israel and in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Israel not only publically refused to cooperate with the Commission’s investigation into alleged acts committed by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups against Israelis but also barred medical professionals and others from being in contact with the Commission. The Commission was not able to visit the sites of the violations as the Israeli Government has prevented it accessing Israel. All these are the clear evidence that Israel had nothing to show to the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry that proves Hamas or Palestinian’s involvement in Israeli self-engineered terrorism inside Israel on 7^th October.

A day prior to first anniversary of 7^th October terrorist attacks, Israel’s Defence Forces and allies martyred or injured over 120 Palestinians in Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon, Syria. As per the media reports heavy bombardment in Jabalia refugee camp was reported in which at least 17 Palestinians including nine children were martyred. Israeli forces bombed a mosque Gaza martyring 21 Palestinians and wounding over dozens more. In Lebanon, 8 Palestinians were martyred on the same day. There is no truth of widening conflict drawing in the US, France, UK and Italy in the war, however, these nations are openly providing heavy military weapons and intelligence input to Israel as well as targeting Palestinians from their bases in the Middle East. Iran-allied groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen are no threat other than long-distance ineffective strikes on Israel, causing harassment but they are playing a game with the same objective not to let HAMAS and allies form Governments in Palestine or anywhere in the world.    

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been able to extend its present mandate until 31 August 2025 to establish a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East but why UNIFIL is silent of the massacre of Palestinians and Syrians inside Lebanon? It is high time that UN must play its due role to stop Israel and her allies from further genocide of Palestinians and pave the way for the recognition of the Palestinian state.