Gaza horrors expose the lie of universal human rights

However, when Lebanon's 15-year civil war finally ended in 1990, the warring sides were all exonerated from their war crimes, except a select few who were punished.

This selective justice emboldened those who escaped punishment, and they continued to persecute and marginalise their opponents. 

This partial justice template was used in other global conflicts, such as Cambodia and Rwanda. The failure to achieve comprehensive justice meant that old wounds never healed.

The South Africa exception

However, South Africa's conflict used a different template: one where all involved belligerents were held accountable. Through accountability and national reconciliation, the country was able to move on from its dark past.

Read more: UN court hears South Africa genocide case against Israel

This case, unfortunately, is an exception, not a norm.

But this issue is far deeper than just dismissing the lessons of WWII. It dates back further to the old treaties drawn up by Europe in its long history of warfare, which served the interests of the victors and punished the losers.

For example, Napoleon Bonaparte's ambitions for European dominance and the 1884 Berlin Conference's partitioning of Africa served European interests and demonstrated a stark disregard for justice.

Biden is no Mandela

The world needs a leader like Nelson Mandela – a statesman willing to hold allies accountable for atrocities or terrorism alongside enemies.

Instead, we have US President Joe Biden, who, despite his displeasure with Israel over its ongoing atrocities in Gaza, continues to provide it with weapons and financial support.

Despite having the support from the world's most powerful nation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is increasingly being viewed on the global stage as the fascist and genocidal maniac that he is.

But despite this shift in global opinion, the EU foreign secretary Josep Borrell still only expresses "concern" over Israel's stated plan to invade Rafah instead of holding it accountable for collective punishment, which is a war crime under international law.

The tens of thousands of Gaza's slaughtered — mostly women and children — stand as a grim testament that the promise of universal human rights is not guaranteed to all people.