Shafaqna English- The tragic news from Gaza shocked the world and had a special impact on people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, bringing back harrowing memories of war, and especially of the Srebrenica genocide. Both genocides demonstrate hypocrisy of international community.
There are many parallels to be identified between Srebrenica and Gaza. In 1993, the UN’s Security Council adopted Resolution No. 819, which declared Srebrenica a “safe area.” Shortly after the Security Council resolution declaring Srebrenica a “safe area” was adopted, the defending forces of the Bosnian Army had to surrender their weapons in exchange for the promised protection by the UN’s protection forces.
After the arrival of the UN’s forces, the Army of the Republic of Srpska continued with the attacks on the enclave, intending to probe and provoke the response from the supposed aviation support and reinforcements for the weak UN’s troops on the ground. There was no response. The ineffective enforcement mechanism within the UN’s system only encouraged the armed forces of the Republic of Srpska and many other paramilitary units, some of them originating from Serbia to continue with their attacks on the undefended town, culminating in the takeover of Srebrenica and the genocide that followed.
In Gaza too, there are UN’s resolutions and orders of provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that order Israel to prevent the commission of all acts that fall under Article 2 of the Genocide Convention and to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance. Who is going to enforce them? The so-called designated “safe areas” in Gaza are repeatedly attacked.
Sources: Anadolu Ajansı