Souls not numbers: the human cost of failed international law

Approaching the end of 2024, tradition suggests celebrating achievements and milestones.

But I feel I must speak out, because there are some deeper, fundamental issues that represent the bedrock on which we as humanitarian professionals and practitioners should stand for in a world where international humanitarian law appears to be disintegrating before our eyes.

The systematic destruction of humanitarian protections we are watching is not just a crisis — it is a moral catastrophe, one that endangers the very foundation of international order.

The unfolding catastrophe

The developments following 7 October 2023 have exposed a undeniable truth: the ongoing systematic violation of international humanitarian law in the Gaza conflict.

The numbers are staggering.  There are more than 45,000 Palestinians who have been killed by the Israeli government, some 70% of whom were of which are women and children. But these figures, as harrowing as they are, fail to convey the full scale of human tragedy playing out before apathetic eyes. Each number is a person, a family shattered, a life extinguished.

The physical devastation of Gaza speaks for itself. 66% of structures are damaged or destroyed, including more than 227,000 housing units, creating 42 million tonnes of rubble that could take up to 14 years to clear. More worrisome, 84% of health facilities and 67% of water and sanitation infrastructure are in ruins, producing a public health crisis of a never-before-seen scale.

Reconstruction of Gaza’s economy to pre-war levels under the ongoing blockade may take as long as 350 years – a time-frame which covers generations of those who remain.

The assault on humanitarian standards

Another incredibly troubling development is the deliberate targeting of those protected under International Humanitarian Law. The targeting and killing of 192 journalists and at least 500 healthcare workers by the Israeli government is not simply a breach of the Geneva Conventions but an egregious violation of the principles of humanity and impartiality. When health care workers are themselves targets, when journalists are silenced, and when aid workers are facing unprecedented dangers, we see a deliberate unravelling of the humanitarian framework that protected civilians in conflict for generations.
 
The 281 aid workers who died worldwide in 2024, including 178 in the occupied Palestinian territories, made this the deadliest year for United Nations humanitarian operations. This targeting of humanitarian workers is not a case of random tragedy — it is a methodical attempt to thwart the world from seeing and responding to the tragedies unfolding.

International response: legal developments

The landscape of the law has changed a lot during 2024. The genocide case brought by South Africa at the ICJ, on the heels of the Court issuing provisional measures in January 2024, represents a significant moment for international acknowledgement of the crisis. The ICC subsequently acted, issuing arrest warrants for not only the Hamas leadership but also the Israeli leadership for possible violations of international criminal law.

ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan KC has taken an unprecedented step in holding leaders accountable with his charges against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leadership. Accusations of starvation, as a weapon of war, of deliberate killing and of directing attacks on civilian populations are the most serious of charges under international law. These legal proceedings are further bolstered by Amnesty International’s December 2024 report that states that the ongoing situation in Gaza fits the international legal definition of genocide.

The UK’s duty in this situation

The UK recent position on the ICC arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is a remarkable change of policy. But this change, though it is more than welcome, does not meet the larger moral challenge. As a member of the UN Security Council with a long history of promoting international law, a special responsibility rests with the UK to set an example and take tangible steps to make sure the law is followed.

That is why the UK government must act now, immediately and decisively, to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. First and foremost, this entails bringing strong diplomatic pressure to secure unhindered humanitarian access to the region. Governments must set up dedicated funding streams for humanitarian operations, with transparent oversight mechanisms, and must establish multinational protected corridors for medical professionals and aid workers.

Deployments of UK humanitarian expertise and capabilities to underpin international relief efforts will maximise our supporting role in this respect. Additionally, the UK must immediately suspend all weapons sales and military support to parties involved in the conflict where there is a risk such arms could be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law

The UK response to this crisis must prioritise legal accountability. It starts with strengthening support for international legal mechanisms, through both financial and diplomatic means. Born out of a need to comply with international humanitarian law, the government should focus on effectively doing so, by passing such comprehensive domestic legislation ensuring the UK’s legal framework meets its international obligation.

We also need an independent monitoring mechanism for violations of international law to make sure the law is not being ignored, and a war crimes unit in the Crown Prosecution Service to investigate and prosecute war crimes. Such provisions would reflect the UK’s commitment to respecting international humanitarian law and providing accountability for parties to such violations.

Diplomatically, the UK must provide the leadership needed in multilateral efforts calling for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire. This includes the need to promote inclusive peace talks alongside international stakeholders and work regional powers into a lasting peace architecture. It should also lead coordinated efforts for the planning and execution of its reconstruction, building on international cooperation to guarantee that any rebuilding effort in Gaza is efficient and sustainable. This diplomatic effort must balance the need for long-term stability and peace between the states in the region and addressing the acute humanitarian crisis.

Looking ahead

In 2025, we will confront a moral crossroads that will shape our generation. The devastation in Gaza isn’t really about buildings or economics – it’s about the degradation of our humanity and the values by which we should govern international affairs. The UK has the wherewithal, and the moral responsibility, to lead on this crisis.

The real test of our profession is not the amount of money we state nor the statistics that we calculate, but our capability to sustain humanitarian values and to safeguard human dignity. As advocates and humanitarian professionals, we need to stop writing tragic endnotes and be action-oriented. The year ahead needs to be a year of action, not of watching from the sidelines; a year of courage, not merely of commentary.

How we respond to this crisis will define not only our professional legacy but our very humanity. The time for diplomatic niceties and calibrated responses is over. We now require bold, principled action that puts human dignity and international humanitarian law at its heart. History will judge us not on the words we say, but the actions we take — because the world is watching.