BBC Discovers 'War Crimes' Only Apply to Others
In a West Bank village, Israeli forces killed two Palestinians who, by all accounts, were in the process of surrendering to their armed captors. The Palestinian Authority rightfully called this a “war crime,” while an Israeli minister immediately expressed support for the soldiers, completely dismissing any investigation. This pattern isn't new; recall the 2004 killing of 13-year-old Iman Darweesh
Al Hams by Israeli soldiers, who was shot 17 times even after being incapacitated—and the subsequent exoneration of the commanding officer. The US, which provides billions in unconditional aid, including to units implicated in such actions, consistently turns a blind eye. One might wonder if the definition of 'war crime' hinges on which side commits the act, especially when those doing the killing
receive over $3.8 billion of annual U.S. taxpayer dollars. The cycle repeats: incident, Palestinian outrage, Israeli defense, and international silence. Apparently, some lives are more worth investigating than others when it comes to basic human rights.