Israel's deepening diplomatic isolation after 3 years of genocide in Gaza

AI Summary

The article describes worsening diplomatic strains between Israel and several Asian countries amid the Gaza war, including criticism from Japan and South Korea and support for a two-state solution from China. A visible sign of Israel’s isolation came when many delegates left Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s UN General Assembly address.

After three years of Israel’s genocide in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands, Tel Aviv’s relations with its traditional Asian allies have increasingly fractured, deepening its diplomatic isolation. A recent illustration of that isolation came at the UN General Assembly late last month, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut a lonely figure as scores of delegates walked out of his speech. The departing delegates included representatives from Asian nations such as Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia and Bangladesh. Here is a look at how Asian countries have responded to Israel and the Gaza war. Delegates attend Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address during the 81st United Nations General Assembly as empty seats are seen in the General Assembly hall at UN headquarters in New York City, US, September 24. — Reuters East Asia Israel has faced strong state-level criticism from its longtime East Asian allies, such as Japan and South Korea. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi opposed US sanctions against International Criminal Court (ICC) President Tomoko Akane, who sought an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Takaichi reaffirmed Tokyo’s consistent support for the ICC during the UN General Assembly, pushing back against pressure from the US, and saying that the country takes the US sanctions against Akane “very seriously.” Washington sanctioned Akane, the first Japanese national to head the ICC, in August, accusing the court of encroaching on state sovereignty. Japanese Judge Tomoko Akane, President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), delivers a speech during a press conference at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on June 14, 2024. —AFP/File With Seoul, tensions began in April after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung shared a video on social media alleging that Israeli soldiers abused a Palestinian child and then threw him off a rooftop. Lee said it was necessary to determine the authenticity of the video and assess what actions were taken, stressing the seriousness of the allegations. “Wartime homicide is no different from matters that we take issue with, such as the forced [enslavement of] comfort women, and the massacre of Jewish people,” he said. The issue of “comfort women” refers to the sexual enslavement of thousands of women and girls, many of them Korean, by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. Israel strongly criticised Lee for posting the video, calling it “unacceptable.” Israel’s Foreign Ministry claimed that Lee relied on a “fake account” and had revived an incident from 2024 that had already been investigated. The ministry also accused Lee of trivialising the massacre of Jews on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day in Israel. China, which has long supported a two-state solution, continued to reiterate its call. President Xi Jinping said the two-state solution is the “right direction” for resolving the longstanding Palestine issue. South and Southeast Asia Sri Lanka, one of the first countries to recognise the State of Palestine, called at the UN General Assembly for the “early” recovery and reconstruction of Gaza, reiterating its support for Palestinians’ “inalienable” rights and a two-state solution. “Recovery and reconstruction of Gaza must be an early priority,” Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said in his address, adding that Colombo supports resolving the Palestine issue in line with the 1967 borders. Pakistan, a member of the Gaza Board of Peace, also reiterated its “unwavering” support for the Palestinian people and the establishment of an independent State of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Addressing the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Palestine must also be granted full membership in the UN. India, for its part, continued to pursue its strategy of maintaining diplomatic and strategic ties with Israel while continuing to express traditional support for a two-state solution and Palestinian statehood. India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has significantly deepened its strategic relationship with Israel, including through Modi’s February meeting with Netanyahu, when the two countries elevated their ties to a “Special Strategic Partnership”. According to Jatin Desai, a Mumbai-based political analyst, India has historically stood with the Palestinian people. He said India’s position was clear even before the establishment of Israel.​​​​​​​ Thailand, which has maintained long-standing ties with Israel, continues to cooperate closely with Israel, particularly in agriculture and education. Every year, around 100,000 Israeli tourists travel to Thailand, and thousands of Thai workers, both skilled and unskilled, are employed in Israel. The country is also a popular destination for Thai students pursuing academic studies. Bangkok established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1954, while it officially re