Dr. Mustafa Barghouti accused the US and its allies of enabling the genocidal targeting of Gazan civilians, in an interview with RT.
Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, leader of the Palestinian National Initiative party, asserted to RT on Friday that Western governments are applying double standards in their response to Israeli war crimes.
Barghouti’s comments followed a New York Times investigation revealing that the Israeli military has significantly relaxed its rules of engagement in its bombing campaign against Hamas, following the October 7, 2023 attack.
Citing over 100 soldiers and officials, the NYT report stated that Israeli officers have received authorization to risk the lives of up to 20 civilians in Gaza to eliminate a single low-level fighter, often employing AI-assisted target selection. The report described this as “one of the deadliest bombardments of the 21st century.”
When asked about his reaction to the report, Barghouti expressed surprise that the findings took so long to emerge, stating that the reality had been evident from the conflict’s early stages.
“What Israel is doing is nothing but the slaughter of Gaza’s civilian population,” he declared.
He highlighted the complete destruction of four Gazan towns, resulting in approximately 55,000 deaths, 70% of whom were women and children.
”And it took the world 14 months to discover that,” Barghouti remarked, adding that the attacks continue, citing a recent Israeli army bombardment of the last hospital in northern Gaza, the arrest of medical personnel, and the deaths of 50 people there.
Barghouti stressed that this would not have been possible without the complicity of Western governments.
He stated that the US supplies Israel with “every possible military arsenal,” and many European governments continue to provide support.
”It is clear that Israel would not be able to continue its war for a single week without Washington’s support,” he argued.
Barghouti also noted the IDF’s occupation of parts of Syria and Lebanon, and its bombing campaign in Yemen.
”What we see is not only an Israeli government of occupation but an Israeli fascist government that behaves as an imperial power, trying to impose its control all over the region,” he alleged.
The Palestinian party leader compared the situation to “the aggressor behavior and military actions of Nazi Germany during World War II.”
He posed the question to Western governments: “Why do they have double standards when it comes to Israel? Why is Israel allowed to be above the international law?”
Barghouti concluded by advocating for the punishment, sanctioning, divestment from, and boycotting of the Israeli government.