Watan-The renowned Palestinian thinker, Dr. Azmi Bishara, the General Director of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, stated that what is being orchestrated for the Palestinian cause is a continuation of war through other means.

In an interview with Al-Arabi TV, Bishara pointed out that Israel standing trial before the International Court of Justice in the lawsuit filed by South Africa against it constitutes a historic and significant event with several implications that must be capitalized on.

He described this lawsuit as a historic event because Israel has long presented itself as a product of genocide, successfully embedding this narrative in the global consciousness, and nations have dealt with it accordingly.

Bishara stated that Israel being in the defendant position in such an international court is a new development. He emphasized that the proceedings of the International Court of Justice are mandatory for both the plaintiff and the defendant, who are signatories to a convention related to such crimes. Israel is compelled to attend, or else a default judgment will be issued against it.

He praised the legal arguments presented by the legal team of South Africa before the International Court of Justice, considering them a very important historical document summarizing the violations suffered by the Palestinian people.

Establishing serious suspicion of genocide

Bishara expressed his belief that there will not be a complete rejection of the lawsuit. He emphasized that the requirement is not to prove that there is no genocide but to demonstrate serious suspicion that such genocide is taking place. According to him, this is sufficient for the judges to say, “Stop it.”

He noted that recent weeks have seen significant damage due to a global wave of solidarity resulting from intensive coverage of Israeli crimes in Gaza and the increasing global solidarity movement with the Palestinian people in many Western capitals and cities.

Bishara affirmed the actual harm caused by Israel defending itself against a state that has suffered from racial discrimination, such as South Africa, with all its symbolism in opposing apartheid and genocide.

He pointed out that South Africa holds a high moral position in global solidarity, particularly among generations of activists striving to free themselves from colonial legacy, and the Palestinian cause represents the last case of colonization today.

Bishara stated in his interview with Al-Arabi TV, “This is very embarrassing for Israel, and that is why they sent a group of legal advisors, mostly from the left and liberal Israelis who stood against the occupation.”

He added, “They specifically brought these people to show the left-liberal face of Israel that is internationally acceptable.”

Arab regimes

Regarding the Arab regimes, Bishara expressed his satisfaction with how they are handling the issue, stating, “It is good for the Palestinian people that the country leading the symbolic solidarity movement with the Palestinian people is a state like South Africa, with a legacy like its own, and not one of the Arab regimes.”

In terms of the current military situation, Bishara anticipated a change in the current pattern of war after the conclusion of events in Khan Yunis, apart from the results of the ongoing battles there.

He explained that the pace of war would change afterward, likely between the end of January and mid-February, as there are no longer targets to bombard, transitioning to what can be described as “more targeted warfare” or “surgical operations,” as Israelis call them.

Failed Perception

On the issue of prisoners, Dr. Azmi Bishara said that it poses a problem for Netanyahu and his leaders, hindering their military operations. He argued that the issue should not be placed under strategies but rather under flawed strategies in war.

He continued, saying, “They claim that through military pressure, we free the prisoners and have proven that this perception is failed. They resorted to the issue of truces, and the Palestinian resistance realized that truces ultimately lead to the continuation of war with even greater severity, so they no longer believe in them.”

Bishara explained, “Israel resorted to inventing initiatives, including the Qatari initiative, which was forged towards continuous truces that end after months without a guarantee to stop them. In return, leaders of Hamas leave Gaza, according to their claim, while this provision is not mentioned in the initiative.”