Why It Matters:
The conference, held in conjunction with the 16th anniversary of the initiation of the Genocide Remembrance Day project, featured distinguished individuals such as physicians, human rights advocates, and global authors. The primary objective of the gathering was to analyze the repercussions of genocide across various global territories and underscore the significance of documenting and commemorating these catastrophic events.
Big Picture:
The recent "Genocide Memorial" conference served as a poignant reminder that while commemorating history holds significance, without proactive measures, the world risks enduring the recurrence of tragic events.
The event was held in London with the support of a number of organizations such as the International Decolonization Network, the Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK, the Jewish Network for Palestine, The Convivencia Alliance, the International Jewish Network Against Zionism, Neturei Karta International, the Boycott Israel Apartheid Network, and Inminds.
Key Points:
- Emphasis on remembering past genocides, including those against Native Americans, genocides during the Nazi era, and in Bosnia, as instructive lessons.
- Call for increased focus on the Israeli genocide in Palestine, with Western involvement, to investigate and reveal the crimes against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
- Advocacy for legal prosecution of all perpetrators, accomplices, and supporters involved in the genocidal actions in Palestine.
What Are They Saying:
The head of the Islamic Human Rights Commission in London says, "Our warning to other groups is that if you want to hide the genocides in Gaza or not talk about them, it is better not to talk about genocide at all."
Masoud Shajara adds, "All genocides, including the genocide in Gaza that was carried out every day in front of people's eyes, should be highlighted because we want to prevent current and future genocides. Therefore, we should not limit ourselves to talking about historical genocides."
Ghada Kormi, a professor at a university in the UK, emphasized the crucial role of Palestinian resistance in compelling Israel to halt its actions. She stated, "Without the Palestinian people's steadfast resistance and the resistance movement's strength, we would not have achieved this outcome. The atrocities witnessed in Gaza were enabled by the backing of Western nations, particularly the United States. This is an indisputable reality."
Go Deeper:
While genocide is condemned across the globe, currently the investigations reveal that, for months, Israel has persisted in committing genocidal acts, fully aware of the irreparable harm it was inflicting on Palestinians in Gaza. It continued to do so in defiance of countless warnings about the catastrophic humanitarian situation and of legally binding decisions from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordering Israel to take immediate measures to enable the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. 219
