The good news is: I’m back! Hope you haven’t missed the newsletter too much while I’ve been settling into the new HQ in Hobart. The bad news is: there is still a lot of fuckery going on in the world that we’ll try to unpack here in 2024. To start with…

Late Friday night, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) made an interim ruling in the genocide case against Israel (which was brought to the court by South Africa). This is a solid summary of the case and the ruling, but in a nutshell the ICJ said:

• Israel must immediately do everything within its power to protect Palestinians, stop the destruction and facilitate humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

• The claims that Israel is committing a genocide against Palestinians are credible enough for the court to continue hearing the case (denying Israel’s request to have the case thrown out)

While these rulings are binding, Israel is almost certainly going to continue bombing away like nothing happened. Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir literally tweeted "Hague Smague” in response. And it will take years for the full case to play out, which means we won’t have a final decision on the question of genocide for quite some time.

I completely understand why people are frustrated with the whole process and angry that the ICJ can’t force Israel to stop, now. But there are two big things I want us all to keep in mind:

1. This ruling is more impactful than it might seem

A lot of people are disappointed that the ICJ didn’t call for a ceasefire* (note on that below) and has no way to enforce the first part of its ruling. Other countries, like Russia, have ignored the ICJ before and because the whole international system is based on cooperation there isn’t really much the court can do. But its ruling on this case in particular does have powerful implications for Israel’s allies, including Australia.

The ICJ is the highest international court. Now that a conviction for crimes of genocide is officially on the table, many allies will be nervous about their involvement. If Israel is ultimately found guilty, countries who have provided support (whether its weapons, funds, personnel etc) could be implicated. Regardless of how badly Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong is botching her response to all this, I’m positive the Australian government does actually want a peaceful solution. It’s loyalty to the U.S. that keeps us silent… but how far will we go for that friendship? This could be the decision that finally stops public diplomatic support of Israel, and intensifies the discussions happening behind closed doors.

The power comes from how this interim ruling changes Israel’s relationships with other countries, not necessarily from what the ICJ can enforce on its own.

2. This case is a test of the entire international system

The even bigger picture is what the final outcome of this case will mean for our entire system of international cooperation. If the ICJ does ultimately find Israel is guilty of genocide against Palestinians, it challenges the validity of every avenue that failed to stop this. What is the purpose of the U.N General Assembly if majority-supported motions for ceasefire are ignored? Why even have a Security Council at all if the U.S., Russia, China, France and the U.K. can abuse their veto power? The laws were created in 1948 specifically to prevent horrors like the Armenian genocide (WWI) and the Holocaust (WWII) from ever happening again. Would a ‘guilty’ ruling mean the structure of international laws, courts and bodies failed their singular mission?

While a rethink of many elements of the international system is clearly needed, abandoning it altogether would be disastrous. It’s not only Palestinian lives and liberation that is on the line – it is the very concept of global accountability.

Heavy start to the year! Deep breaths, head high, keep fighting.

– Crystal
Founder & Chief of Everything at Zee Feed
Follow me on Instagram or TikTok

*A note on ceasefires: Kenneth Roth of Human Rights Watch explains: “The court addresses only disputes between states, so Hamas was not a party. A ceasefire imposed on only one side to an ongoing armed conflict is not plausible.” Also, this case is on the issue of genocide – genocide is not a war, so a ceasefire cannot apply.

Good stuff on Zee Feed rn:

The January 26 debate really feels like it’s reached a tipping point this year. With so many in our circles now in favour of changing the date, this piece is a lil reminder that well-meaning alternatives could still be harmful if we don’t listen. CLICK HERE TO READ.

Smart stuff on the Internet 💭

All the stuff I found on the web that made me think, smile, or have an ‘aha!’ moment. Spend your Sunday reading them – you'll be better off for it:

The west’s complete contempt for the lives of Palestinians will not be forgotten on Guardian UK
Self-explanatory, really.

The Hunt for Tupac’s Killer: Confessions, Conspiracies, and Confusion on Rolling Stone
Warning - very long! Get a coffee and take in the whole wild thing. “Like the cops who grew winded chasing him across three decades, Davis wrote a story. Now, he’s on the brink of achieving where they failed, bringing a degree of closure to — how did he put it? — “the biggest crime in Las Vegas history.” This legend in his own mind never stops spinning.”

A Single Small Map Is Enough For A Lifetime on Noema
More micro-adventures in 2024! “The map was divided into 400 individual grid squares, outlined in light blue — a single square kilometer each. I could comfortably walk the perimeter of any square in about an hour. Each week, I decided, I would explore one of those squares in detail, doing my best to see everything there, to walk or cycle every footpath and street, and to learn as much as I could along the way.“

If you found this email thought-provoking, will you share it with a friend? Sharing helps us grow 🌱 and makes you look really smart.