From Public Opinion to Global Intervention: Navigating the Perspectives Surrounding the Gaza War

October 7 was named the “deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust”. Since Hamas’s attack, the memory of the Holocaust has been brought up continuously. The Zionists, including everyone from Holocaust survivors and their descendants to Israeli officials, have compared their state today to the Jewish reality during WW2. “Never again,” they emphasized to justify their attacks on the Palestinian “Nazis”.

Evoking historical memory is one of the many techniques Israel has used to fulfill its agenda since October 7. Its aim? Dehumanizing the Palestinians, painting them as the psychopath enemy that needs to be stopped, and telling the world that Israel will not allow such violence to slide ever again. Zionists are using their ancestors’ suffering to excuse Israel’s unproportionate attacks on Palestinians.

Little did the Israelis know that these attempts to appeal to public opinion would backfire, inducing a whole movement of opposition and more international repercussions.

1. Historical Context: The Israeli-Palestinian Struggle

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is undoubtedly one of the most enduring and complicated geopolitical disputes. It centers around the competing national aspirations between Jewish and Palestinian people over a piece of land that they both claim to have historical or cultural ties to. It began more than a century ago, back in the late 19th century, when the Zionist movement, which brought Jewish immigration to Palestine, increased. Tensions reached such a level of extremity that on November 29th, 1947, the United Nations General Assembly planned to partition Great Britain’s former Palestine mandate into separate Jewish and Arab states in May 1948. This resulted in the establishment of the state of Israel and the displacement of approximately 750,000 Palestinian Arabs, a situation referred to as the Nakba, or "catastrophe."

Wars, uprisings (Intifadas), and failed peace initiatives have punctuated the conflict since. The clash has been further exacerbated in recent years by heightened tensions, with the most recent escalation taking place in 2023. Violence in Gaza hit an all-time high after Hamas struck Israel which in turn retaliated with airstrikes. According to the Health Cluster, the hostilities that took place between 7 October 2023 and 18 September 2024 have resulted in Palestine's casualty toll of more than 41,000 dead, over 95,000 injured, and more than 10,000 people missing under the rubble in Gaza (Public Health Situation Analysis (PHSA) on hostilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), 2024). Unfortunately, the United Nations reported that more than 1.9 million people (or 9 in 10 people) in Gaza were displaced as of early October 2023, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation of shortages of food, water, and medical supplies (UNRWA situation report #140 on the situation in the Gaza, 2024). On the other side, the number of Israelis killed hovers a little over 1,100, with around 8700 injured (AJLabs, 2024).

2. The Global Shift Toward Pro-Palestine Views

Recently, the world has witnessed a dramatic shift in the public's sentiment due to the extreme violence and intense humanitarian crises that the Palestinians have faced. The United States, similar to the general West, was traditionally a pro-Israel country, often justifying military actions taken by the Israeli government as necessary for national security. The recent tragic loss of life in Gaza and all the horrific humanitarian crises that have just occurred have prompted widespread outrage and sympathy for the Palestinian cause.

There are many reasons for this change of opinion. First, the distribution of real-time information and images of the conflict on social media has made it harder for traditional narratives to stick. Secondly, the repeated violation of human rights in Palestine has internationalized the issue and led to greater awareness of the Palestinian plight. Moreover, it is being presented as an occupier vs. the occupied, which is in line with other social justice movements worldwide.

Geneive Abdo of the Cairo Review of Global Affairs points out the role of recent social issues in this change of perspective. “The main reason lies within the deep, overlapping connections among activists, particularly among the younger generation, who have tied opposition to Israel’s nearly hundred-year-old occupation of Palestine to the struggle for women’s rights, 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, Black Lives Matter, Indigenous rights, and the rights of Latinos and all people of color in the United States,” she states (Abdo, 2024). Therefore, the public’s perception of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been molded by the other causes they hold close to heart. All these factors have played a crucial role in pushing the public sentiment to the other extreme.

3. The Role of Protests in Shaping Perceptions

In response to the rising tensions and humanitarian crises, protests demanding Palestinian rights have exploded around the world. These demonstrations have become important sites for universities. Students from the American University of Beirut (AUB) staged big protests in solidarity with Gaza. Students from the University of Washington, The University of Arizona, George Mason University, Columbia University, and many others joined the protests, calling for their universities to reconsider their ties to Israel (Johanna Alonso, 2023).

Major cities across the West have also seen larger protests, with thousands marching in London, Paris, and New York. These demonstrations were mostly concerned with the human rights violations in Gaza. In addition, they centered around the international community’s part in the conflict and the need to stop military support to Israel. Because of the awareness these protests spread about everything Western media was hiding, more and more people started opening their eyes to the reality of the Israeli occupation. Since October 7, protests for the Palestinian cause have witnessed increasing amounts of people all around the world. Many individuals who were once ignorant about the situation reported their change in perspective. Although they initially believed that Israel was reacting to Hamas’s October 7 attack, they were finally exposed to the other side of the story. Today, an unmatched percentage of the public stands with Palestine.

Thus, the struggle in Gaza has become an issue of global significance after years of being defined as a regional conflict, now attracting worldwide attention from individuals, foreign governments, and international organizations. As tensions remain high, however, these protests look to be the first of many that will help to shape how public discourse and government policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is formed.

4. The Contradicting Opinions Held by Civil Society vs. the Governments

As time passes and the siege on the Palestinians intensifies, public opinion on the matter deviates. An increasing number of citizens have changed their opinion on the war on Gaza, and the shift in stance is being quantified and reflected in polls and statistics.

In October 2023, a CBS/YouGov poll found that 47% of the U.S supported sending weapons to Israel. However, as early as April 2024, the number plummeted to 32% and the support for a ceasefire was growing. As for the UK, YouGov polling in April also found that 56% of citizens were in favor of halting arms exports to Israel and 59% of the respondents said that they felt Israel was committing human rights abuses in Gaza (Moqbel, 2024). More recently, a Pew Research Center survey from October 2024 found that, since December 2023, more Americans believe that Israel’s military operation against Hamas is going too far (31%), the U.S should play a role in diplomatically solving the war (61%), and the confidence in Netanyahu remains low (Silver, 2024). This rapid shift towards pro-Palestinian views does not only apply to the U.S and the U.K but has been seen all other the world.

Although there is a considerable shift in public opinion towards the Palestinians, the population and the government do not align. Israel’s most avid supporters throughout the war have been Western countries.

In terms of governments, the U.S is the epitome of an Israel supporter, having sent $17.9 billion in support of Israel’s war on Gaza as of October 2024 (Al Jazeera, 2024a). The U.S has funded just under 70% of Israel’s arms supply (Nicholson, 2024). Furthermore, other Western countries including the U.K have also supported Israel during this war. This is evident from funds provided to the ongoing massacre of Palestinians. At the end of the day, Western countries hold a considerable amount of power and influence. If they had an incentive to stop the war, they would have made that happen.

The longer the war is taking place, it is seen that citizens’ views are diverging from their governments. However, this has also led to them be more critical of their own countries. Last month, the U.S sent $8.7 billion to Israel at around the same time it provided its own citizens with $750 as hurricane relief (Al Jazeera, 2024b). The stark difference in priorities left many American citizens appalled. They questioned how the Biden administration’s unwavering support of Israel came at the expense of its own citizens. As a result, many U.S citizens challenged their government and criticized the amount of aid sent to Israel.

5. International Response: The Contrast in Countries’ Reactions to Different Conflicts

The UN Charter recognizes the sovereignty and independence of each state and calls for respect towards territorial integrity and country borders. In other words, all 193 member states of the UN are expected not to invade another country or face sanctions. The Russian invasion of Ukraine came as a shock to the world, especially to international law.

Russia is one of the 5 permanent members of the UN’s organ for maintaining peace and security, the Security Council (SC). The country was not only able to invade Ukraine, but was also able to stop the SC from doing anything about it. Through its veto right, it could reject any decision it did not agree to, making sure no one could stop it from committing these hostilities. The Russia-Ukraine war is now seen as precedent; since Russia was able to invade Ukraine, why are other countries obliged to respect their peers? As seen today, this war is a precedent to the Israeli invasion of Palestine.

The current political landscape has led to two completely different responses from the international community. In Ukraine’s case, the country has received unsurmountable support from Western powers, including the United States and the European Union. It has also enjoyed the support of other members of the Great 7 (G7), Australia, South Korea, Turkey, Norway, New Zealand, Switzerland, China, Taiwan, India, and Iceland. Between January 24, 2022, and June 30, 2024, Ukraine received €202.2 billion, with the U.S providing €75.1 billion (Statista Research Department, 2024). Solely between July and August 2024, Western donor countries provided Ukraine with approximately €14.6 billion in aid allocations (Bomprezzi et al.). Ukraine has received an unprecedented amount of aid from foreign countries – unlike its Palestinian counterpart. Although the aid given to Palestine is not specifically quantified, USAID announced on September 30, 2024, that it has funded the Palestinian people with more than $1 billion since October 2023 (USAID, 2024).

As for the oppressors, it is quite obvious why Russia has not received any humanitarian aid. For one, it is the country invading, which is why it should not receive any support. However, the second reason is derived from the Israeli-Palestinian case. Although Israel’s “right to defend itself” has far exceeded its limits and it is perceived as the perpetrator of war crimes, it has been provided with $17.9 billion by the U.S alone. Israel is not only undeservingly funded for its war crimes, but the amount it receives far exceeds Palestinian aid (Al Jazeera, 2024a). Therefore, the second condition for funding is political alliance. Because the West is not allied with Russia and is against its invasion, the latter has not received a dime. On the other hand, Israel’s connections with the West led to it receiving support despite its blatant neglect of international law. In this case, Israel’s relations overpower its inhumanity and crimes, and it is funded for its war crimes. The role of political alliances in defining populations’ right to live has been proven time and time again.

6. International Legal Implications of the Israel-Palestine Conflict

As already established, the public is increasingly supporting the Palestinian cause while countries take action depending on their political stances rather than the severity of the war crimes. Although governments have a more direct say in determining the fate of Gaza, a third actor comes into play – international bodies.

International organizations such as the UN are ruled by major powers who have written the Charter for their advantage and hold the veto power to protect themselves. As a result, organs like the SC, tailored to deal with global issues of peace and security, only yield beneficial results when specific attitudes and conditions prevail. Because major leaders in this organ are with Israel, Palestine minimally benefits from such a UN body. However, some hope for justice without the interference of political views exists in international courts.

The involvement of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has made the Israeli-Palestinian conflict international headlines. These institutions are essential in trying to address the war crime allegations and sustain accountability in the conflict, as Israel and Hamas have been accused of violating international law.

a-The Role of the International Criminal Court (ICC)

The ICC has been investigating alleged war crimes in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for years and has been focusing on it again after the recent violent events. Yet, Israel’s non membership in the ICC complicates these investigations. For context, Israel has not ratified the Rome Statute that governs the court, while Palestine has been a member since 2014. This gives the ICC jurisdiction over crimes committed in Palestinian territories, but makes prosecuting Israeli officials legally and politically difficult because of Israel’s refusal to accept the court’s authority.

In May 2024, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan requested arrest warrants for leaders on both sides, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as other Hamas leading figures. The warrants were sent out for alleged war crimes, including indiscriminate attacks on civilians, disproportionate military responses, and the use of human shields. While this preliminary investigation is a step in the right direction, the ICC still has a long way to go before reaching definitive conclusions.

This case has become all the more challenging since Israel’s long maintained military actions (including recent bombings in Gaza) are labeled as defensive moves to neutralize Hamas. Israeli officials argue that their actions are in line with international law because Hamas routinely fires rockets at civilians. Nonetheless, human rights groups have condemned the civilian death toll from Israeli airstrikes in places such as Gaza, where the number of casualties has far exceeded any other offensive led against the Palestinian people and has overwhelmingly struck civilian targets.

b-International Court of Justice (ICJ) Involvement

Another international legal institution that is playing a major role in addressing parts of the conflict is the International Court of Justice (ICJ). In January 2024, the ICJ granted emergency preliminary relief in response to a case brought by South Africa under the Genocide Convention. This case accuses Israel of committing genocidal acts against Palestinians, especially during military operations in Gaza.

It called for more humanitarian aid, protection of civilians, and measures to prevent further violence. However, the court did not order a ceasefire and instead only urged Israel to allow people in Gaza to get essential aid and services. This directive aligns with the international community’s demand for protecting human rights in conflicts, particularly in the case of the Gaza Strip, where the civilian population has suffered a heavy impact from the Israeli military operations.

The court also brought up the Rafah border crossing in southern Gaza, a lifeline for displaced Palestinians. Following multiple Israeli airstrikes on the region, the ICJ ordered that the border be reopened to allow humanitarian aid to reach those in need. This was a big development since times of intense conflict have severely restricted aid entering Gaza.

Israel, still, has disputed ICJ’s rulings, arguing that its military actions are a legitimate need for self-defense against Hamas, which routinely launches attacks from within civilian areas. Moreover, Israeli officials have called the court decisions politically motivated and a violation of Israel's right to protect its citizens.

c-Broader Impact of International Legal Proceedings

Both Israel and Hamas have caused concern to the international community, due to the ICC’s and ICJ’s involvement and investigations. For Palestinians however, these legal efforts are seen as a crucial intervention to seek accountability and justice, especially after the repeatedly failed peace negotiations. Palestinians hope that by elevating their grief to international courts, they will bring greater attention to the violence occurring in Gaza and hope to exert pressure on Israel.

Despite this, the practical impact of these proceedings remains limited due to Israel’s refusal to comply with the International Courts’ orders. Furthermore, as international courts have no direct enforcement powers, they are unable to impose their rulings, even less so when powerful countries like the United States back Israel’s position. This has led many critics to question whether these legal processes can deliver justice or any sort of meaningful change on the ground.

7. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In spite of the consistent framing of events to relay pro-Israeli views, the world is seeing who the real victim in the situation is. Anyone can realize that one of the most powerful militaries in the world which is actively invading land, targeting multiple countries in the region, and enjoying the support of major powers is not the victim. People who are starving, losing their homes and loved ones, and lacking the bare necessities to live are not the oppressors.

Although Israel attempted to win over public opinion, the facts of the situation proved to be more powerful and undermined their efforts. Currently, many members of Western society are seeing through Israeli lies and have changed the narrative, comparing the Israelis to Nazis and the Palestinians to the victims of the Holocaust. They wonder how the Israelis use the phrase “never again” while actively committing a genocide. The more the public discovers Israel’s war crimes, the more it realizes how far-fetched Israel’s claims of victimhood are.

With the public’s shift in perception, a new rise of pro-Palestinian attitudes is emerging. Even though the international system is flawed and is not built for weak states, hope for Palestine continues to flicker. Western countries’ gradual opposition of Israel is often underestimated. New powerful countries like France and Italy are leaning more towards the defiance against Israel and its values. As for the international bodies and investigations, their symbolic importance cannot be understated. Despite their lack of tangible effect, they send a message that war crimes and violations of international law will not be tolerated, even in a long running conflict like that between Israel and Palestine. These actions are a worldwide call for accountability under international humanitarian law, a ray of hope for more lasting justice, even with no immediate resolutions thus far.

As many scholars say, nothing in politics is definite. Conditions change and results vary. However, what remains certain is that the public’s new pro-Palestinian voice will not be left unheard. It will lead the change.

References

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Nicholson, K. (2024, May 10). Here’s how much military aid the UK actually sends to Israel – and why it matters. HuffPost UK. https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/heres-how-much-military-aid-the-uk-sends-to-israel-and-why-it-matters_uk_663e1adfe4b03d2dfea55281

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