In the Biblical classical underdog story of David and Goliath in the first Book of Samuel, chapter 17, the diminutive young shepherd David faces the nine-foot-tall, bronze-armoured Goliath, the head of the Philistine army. With a slingshot, David fells Goliath. A great feat for a shepherd boy.

The story is evidently meant to show that the wandering Israelites defeated the Philistines and occupied their territory as if it were the will of their God against alien people. The Philistines were a people of Aegean origin who settled on the southwestern coast of Canaan (present-day Israel and the Gaza Strip).

Thus, as if favoured by their ancestral God, the Israelites made forays into alien territories flowing with milk and honey, lands fertile, rich and abundant.

The "wandering Aramean's" progeny thus eventually settled in the land of Canaan after defeating several groups inhabiting it. Those groups were the Amorites, the Amalekites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, the Moabites and the Jebusites.

Today this Diminutive David, alias Israel, has grown to giant size, fiercer than any Goliath, and is armed not with slings but with nuclear arms, ballistic missiles, and a powerful arsenal. Thanks to the American support of logistics and arsenal, Israel is at war with all its neighbours.

Boasting that Israel is God's chosen race to rule the world, it weaponises the Torah by stating that the tribal God of their forefathers authorised them to fight the Amalekites and Canaanites and destroy them to occupy their lands. The same God, Netanyahu believes, inspires him and his tribe to denounce and destroy the Iranians, Palestinians, Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Syrians, Lebanese, Yemenites and anyone who is perceived to be a threat.

The festering situation of humanitarian crisis, caused by Israel's war crimes, gets more critical day by day. Israel's war in Gaza alone has claimed the death of 100,000 innocent Palestinians, more than half of them women and children. This severe and humanitarian crisis of ethnic cleansing and genocidal war in Gaza has been further aggravated by famine and insecurity suffered by the entire remaining population of Gaza.

Mass displacement of an estimated 1.9 million people, bombing of even shelters and food distribution centres, hospitals, schools, churches, etc, tens of thousands of people suffering from life-altering injuries and amputations, attacks on aid workers, etc., are agenda-based tactics of the Israeli regime.

As against such war crimes and violations of international laws, Israel heeds no one, not even the UN resolutions or other international leaders. The latest plan of Netanyahu is the complete destruction of Palestine and wiping out every trace of Palestinian life and capturing Palestine wholesale.

It appears no one, or no force in the world, is capable of stopping this 'rogue nation.' Israel has been described as a 'rogue nation' or 'rogue state' by various individuals, organisations and publications as an essential part of political commentary, academic analysis and opinion pieces. The term generally refers to a country that becomes a threat to world peace by disregarding international laws, violating human rights, sponsoring terrorism, or pursuing weapons of mass destruction.

Those who disapprove of Israel's disregard for UN Resolutions, attacks on UN and Aid workers, killing of journalists, and mass destruction causing a humanitarian crisis do believe that it is a 'rogue state.'

Men and women with right conscience welcomed the November 24, 2024, issuance of arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. The charges against them include war crimes and crimes against humanity. The ICC warrant puts them at risk of arrest by over 120 nations, thereby making any diplomatic visits inaccessible.

The critics of Netanyahu are not few. Many Jewish people in America have cried foul at the war crimes of Israel, and protest the Israeli government's military actions in Palestine. These voices represent a range of perspectives, from those who are critical of specific policies to those who are anti-Zionist and oppose the very existence of the state of Israel in its current form.

Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) is one of the most prominent Jewish anti-Zionist organisations in the US. It advocates for the rights of Palestinians. IfNotNow is a movement of young Jews who are focused on ending American Jewish institutional support for the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

Neturei Karta is a small but highly visible group of ultra-Orthodox Jews. This deeply religious anti-Zionist group believes the creation of a Jewish state is a sin and should only occur with the coming of the Messiah. They have often participated in pro-Palestinian rallies, drawing attention for their unique religious-based opposition to Zionism.

It is reported that younger Jews are more likely than their older counterparts to be critical of Israel's policies and to express sympathy for the Palestinian cause.

The UN General Assembly and the Security Council have passed numerous resolutions condemning Israeli policies, particularly the expansion of settlements in the occupied territories. UN Security Council Resolution 2334, adopted in 2016, is a key example, stating that Israeli settlements have "no legal validity" and constitute a "flagrant violation" of international law.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has become a central forum for legal challenges to Israeli policy. South Africa initiated a case at the ICJ in late 2023, accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. The court has issued provisional measures, ordering Israel to take all steps to prevent genocidal acts, though it did not order a complete halt to military operations.

In a July 2024 advisory opinion given to the UN, the court determined that the occupation and related practices, including settlements, are illegal under international law.

While the European Union (EU) has a formal partnership with Israel, many of its member states are critical of Israeli policies. Countries like Spain, Ireland, and Belgium have been among the most vocal critics, with some calling for sanctions and even an arms embargo. Other countries, notably Germany and Hungary, have been more reluctant to take a hard line. A growing number of European nations have taken significant steps to signal their disapproval.

Recognition of a Palestinian State: Several European countries, including Spain, Ireland, Norway, Belgium, and France, have either officially recognised a Palestinian state or have announced their intention to do so. This is seen as a way to pressure Israel and to reaffirm the two-state solution.

Some European governments have recalled their ambassadors from Israel in protest of military actions or have summoned Israeli ambassadors to their foreign ministries to express condemnation.

Many countries in the Global South, particularly in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, have a long history of solidarity with the Palestinian cause. India was a vocal supporter of Yasser Arafat's movement for a liberated Palestine.

As a nation that experienced apartheid, South Africa has been a leading voice against what it calls the "apartheid-like" policies of Israel. Its decision to bring a genocide case against Israel at the ICJ is a prime example of this stance.

Turkey has been a strong and consistent critic of Israeli policies, often using strong rhetoric and taking diplomatic action, such as recalling ambassadors.

Brazil and other Latin American countries have often voted in favour of UN resolutions that are critical of Israel and have spoken out against the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The League of Arab States and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have issued numerous statements condemning the attacks.

The international community's opposition to Israeli policies generally centres on several key issues: Illegal Settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The scale and nature of Israeli military operations, particularly in Gaza, and the resulting high number of civilian deaths. The severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, blockades of aid, food shortages, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. The ongoing military occupation of the West Bank and the de facto annexation of land.

The core argument for Israel is that its priority is the right to self-defence as a sovereign nation. Does that justify wiping out neighbouring nations, causing mass destruction of populations, forceful military occupations, weaponising the Bible to bomb, displace and destroy human lives as war crimes?

No wonder Jews themselves are crying foul against such Zionist inhuman acts of Israel in the name of self-defence.

The UN shows itself exhausted by the use of its powers. Its resolutions have fallen flat. The Security Council's provision of veto power itself is a conundrum. It is indiscriminately used by the US to block effective measures against Israel. The UN General Assembly's non-binding resolutions have only a placebo effect.

Where do we go from here? Let men and women of conscience stand up, speak up and act. Should anyone want this festering situation to lead to a world war or destruction of part of our humanity because of a few criminals?