US pressuring Switzerland to ignore Israeli war crimes
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The Biden administration is preparing measures to push Switzerland to reject a request for a conference on violations of the Geneva Conventions from Palestine and friends.
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A Palestinian man mourns next to the body of his child who was killed in Israeli airstrikes, at Al-Shifa Hospital, in Gaza City, on October 24, 2023. (AP)
While "Israel" continues to massacre civilians unpunished, US State Department officials are discreetly attempting to impede efforts to increase global pressure on the occupation.
State Department documents obtained by HuffPost indicate how US diplomats are finalizing a démarche to Switzerland that Washington hopes will cancel the preparations for an event to discuss Israeli violations of the Geneva Conventions in Palestine.
Formal rulings that "Israel" breached the treaties in its US-backed war in Gaza would bring about a severe worldwide condemnation of both parties and would support the accusations of human rights groups that have amassed evidence that stands as proof of such violations.
Switzerland, which has always been neutral, decides when meetings of the parties concerned to discuss compliance take place.
According to State Department documents and a source familiar with the Palestinian effort, Palestinian diplomats and a group of UN member states, including some European nations allied with the US, are preparing a call for Switzerland to launch such a conference focused on the war in Gaza.
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the International Commission of Jurists all endorse the urgent meeting. The Biden administration, however, plans on lobbying Swiss counterparts to stop the conference.
Internal memos obtained by HuffPost encourage US diplomats to express "serious concern" about the Palestinian initiative and present several counter-arguments.
According to the materials, US delegates should also state that organizing a meeting would imply politicizing the Geneva Conventions by giving the idea that they are being used solely to target "Israel", therefore attempting to pressure Switzerland into fearing for its reputation.
While a US official refused to comment, a Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson told HuffPost that they are aware of the Palestinian initiative and will "consider the request once it has been submitted.”
Michael Sfard, an Israeli lawyer, expressed the true reason behind the US fears, saying, “Because America is supporting the Israeli campaign, it will be affected by anything that charges 'Israel' with crimes or demands that Israel adhere to something."
