My point was in direct reference to Israel's approach to Gaza. If they wanted Gaza to be seen as sovereign, they would recognize it as such. Currently no country, not even the PNA or Hamas, recognize Gaza as sovereign.
Recognition is not a condition for sovereignty nor independence. See: Israel, one of the least recognized nations on earth.
They do not control their borders or their coastline. The Israeli military operates in Gaza with impunity; Israel does not engage in diplomacy with them.
Should any of these change?
This idea that Gaza is sovereign or independent is not one that anyone outside of a few people online are buying, so I'm not sure why you think it is a legitimate position.
Because I do not condition my beliefs and logic on the popularity of my opinions.
I don't believe in technicalities, but perhaps the occasion necessitates at least some:
sovereignty, in political theory, the ultimate overseer, or authority, in the decision-making process of the state and in the maintenance of order.
Gaza is an independent territory with a government, previously the PA and now Hamas. For all intents and purposes, Hamas is the supreme authority in Gaza. Its internal affairs, foreign affairs, education, health, infrastructure, security - all Hamas. While it does receive significant aid from abroad, as many nations also do, Hamas has the first and final word in anything that transpires in Gaza.
1. 2 of the 3 quotes attributed to the members of the UN IICIOPT to tar them as anti-semitic are far from anti-semitic, and it is absolutely true that the international Israel lobby throws around accusations of anti-semitism whenever anti-Zionist or anti-Israel commentary is heard. Here is a fantastic interview with the head of the ADL in which the problems with that methodology should be obvious.
I disagree with the notion that allegations of an organized Jewish conspiracy are not driven by Jew hatred, but that still leaves us with the problem that all 3 are not impartial. They all came with a strong preconceived bias against Israel.
2. The UN IICIOPT is far from the only international body that considers Palestine to be occupied territory. It is also recognized as such by the UN OCHA, UN Special Rapporteur Richard Falk and most importantly, by the UN General Assembly and Security Council, according to this statement issued by the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary General in 2012.
I will ignore your reference to the antisemite Richard Falk and the OCHA and UNGA which have no authority on the subject, and refer only to the UNSC. The UNSC's resolutions are not always binding. There are certain chapters in which the UNSC debates and issues non-binding resolutions. I am not aware of any binding UNSC resolution that determined that Gaza's IDF withdrawal has been reversed and that occupation has been restored.
There is also no link in the archived article to said resolution. I have also been unable to find it.
There really is no international body that I have seen that is not explicitly pro-Israel that takes a different view. So if you want to talk about international law, Gaza's status is quite clear. Even the US State Department refers to Gaza as part of the "Occupied Territories"
That's nice and all but it's still just op-ed by different bodies that each lack the authority. Until there is a clear ruling on the subject, by a body that holds the authority, the case is closed.
I suggest that you find a clause in the Hague and Geneva Conventions or any international court's ruling to support your case.
3. The decision of an Israeli court has no bearing on international law and its bias here should be quite clear. The idea that anyone outside Israel should accept what Israeli law says about any part of Palestine as binding is laughable.
If that is the case then neither does any court have such authority, especially the morally depraved and devoid of authority UN.
I'm really not sure this is a viable strategy for you because the only actual ruling that applies the "occupied" status to the J&S region - is the Israeli HCJ. Despite international laws and conventions clearly stating that J&S is not an occupied territory, Israel's HCJ applied that term for the sole purpose of expanding and legitimizing the provision of aid to the Palestinians livng there. So if we say that Israel's HCJ lacks authority, which is by the way in complete contrast to the ICC's position, then not only Gaza but also J&S loses its "occupied" status.
I'm not clear on why you think any part of these examples are applicable to the situation in Gaza. None of these countries forcibly blockade every part of the border (including the coastline) of these other states.
Define "forcibly blockade". Because from what I can tell, none of these countries will allow a person of the other country enter without a permit, or the transfer of goods without registration and inspection.
Also please define "every part of the border". I need you to be very clear with me on this one - do you think Israel controls EVERY part of Gaza's borders?
If it were a real border, Israel would not be able to violate it with impunity without becoming an international pariah.
So the Russia-Ukraine border also isn't a real border? The US-Mexico border also isn't real? I didn't know that the violation of one's borders somehow nullifies their existence.
Again, this idea that Gaza is something akin to a state is so far from reality that I have no idea how you think anyone else will buy it. Gaza is a prison camp.
Your infantilization of Palestinians and assertion that they can not run their own state is dehumanizing. Your assertion that all people of Gaza are imprisoned by Hamas is debatable at best. Are you saying that they are unable to rise against Hamas? If so, that is infantilization. Are you saying they are un-willing to rise against them? If so, you make them complacent. In the end, they created Hamas and chose it to lead them. If any people believe they are oppressed by their own government, they have the responsibility to rise against them and form a legitimate government. The Iranians are doing so bravely right now, unfortunately many are imprisoned or killed in the process. But ultimately none will fight their fight for them, and no people should depend on others for liberation.
Is this a joke? Gaza's civilians are currently in dire need of food and medical supplies.
That is unfortunate. I am sure Hamas is doing their best to provide them with all their necessities.
Israel will not provide these, and will not allow international organizations to do so either.
It actually does.
Palestinian Red Crescent says 374 trucks of food, water and medicine or medical supplies have entered via Rafah since October 21, but fighting still making deliveries difficult
www.timesofisrael.com
It's also quite telling that you'd blame Israel for this. I have a few questions for you:
1. Why would Gaza need significant humanitarian aid all of a sudden? What exactly happened since early October that brought this sudden turn of events? Previously Gaza was perfectly fine.
2. If Gaza needs aid, why did Hamas destroy all crossings between Israel and Gaza as well as the aid terminal?
This is a clear violation of the above. I'd love to know what "caveats" you think apply to these other than "to the fullest extent of the means available". Israel clearly has the means to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
1. Israel did not have the means to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. First, it'd need drivers and staff to do that, which it didn't because the entire area became a war zone. You can't drive civilians into an active combat zone in which Hamas shoots at anything that moves.
Second, the infrastructure for supplying said aid did not exist. It was all destroyed.
Third, to enable transfer of goods through Egypt, Israel would have to actually inspect all the aid trucks, which requires setting up a mechanism that didn't exist before.
2. Israel is not obligated under any law to provide aid to Gaza. It does so voluntarily.
3. The caveats are that aid should be transferred only if it can be ensured that said aid will not contribute to the enemy's war effort.
4. Israel's actual obligations do take precedent, including the caring for hundreds of thousands of Israelis that are currently internally displaced due to the war. So far not a single shipment of aid from Gaza has arrived in Israel despite their obligations according to your standards.