Remember when loosely affiliated terror groups carrying out isolated, but deadly attacks in the name of religious fundamentalist ideology posed the gravest threat to European security? Weren’t those the good ol’ days. Now, following a brazen terror attack in Moscow, they’re back. And so is ISIS — at least in terms of getting talked about.
This week’s Euroscopic takes some time to consider the political consequences of a terror threat that never really went away. Security hawks and law-and-order nationalists make good bedfellows, as matters of public safety and border/migration policy dovetail ahead of a European election year.
But the most focus goes to Israel’s ongoing campaign in Gaza and the increasing international isolation it faces as a result. Amid recording this episode, the United Nations Security Council finally agreed enough on a resolution endorsing some sort of ceasefire. Just before it did, Palestine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Husam Zomlot, joined us to explain why he is hopeful despite the humanitarian catastrophe that is as avoidable as it is seemingly unending.
Listen in and stay tuned as we further develop this venture with our partner, EUobserver. We welcome your feedback, so be in touch! You can subscribe here and get us where your ears go for podcasts:
Among other things, Martin Gak writes Inconclusive Thoughts; and William Glucroft writes The ‘Schland. We’d love to see you over there, too!
In light of time and production constraints, there is no way we can unpack every claim and position made by our interview subjects in real time. To at least attempt to compensate for that, we would like to include more information here regarding some of Zomlot’s comments. In addition to the well-publicized UN report finding “reasonable grounds” for sexual violence committed by Hamas during its Oct. 7 attack in Israel, the UN has also expressed grave concern for sexual and other unwarranted violence against civilians committed by Israeli troops in Gaza. While “genocide” is a disputed term currently at the center of legal proceedings, the International Court of Justice did agree, in its Jan. 26 ruling, that “at least some of the acts and omissions alleged by South Africa to have been committed by Israel in Gaza appear to be capable of falling within the provisions of the (Genocide) Convention.”
In an updated news release, the ICJ added more “provisional measures,” including stronger calls for Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, avoid acts of genocide, and provide the court a report substantiating its efforts to those ends. A second case, which Nicaragua has brought against Germany alleging complicity in genocide, will be heard in early April.
Mahmoud Abbas has been president of the Palestinian Authority since 2005. Elections were indefinitely postponed in 2021. A complex feedback loop of Israeli policy that represses Palestinian self-determination and Palestinian political ossification has created a crisis of democratic legitimacy. Polling suggests increasing public support for Hamas, including in the West Bank where it does not rule, less because of its brutal tactics and extremist ideology, and more as a release valve of popular anger. A deeper overview of Palestinian politics can be found here.
The use of hospitals and other civilian infrastructure by Hamas is Israel’s justification for targeting these places. While Hamas presence among the civilian population is well documented, to what extent they have commandeered facilities like hospitals is a matter of dispute.
Euroscopic S2E8: A turning tide