By Dr. Sabir Abu Maryam
Secretary General, Palestine Foundation Pakistan
(Palestine Foundation Information Center) Following the reported abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the United States, the world has once again entered a phase of deep uncertainty. Although the US administration continues to issue statements claiming it is not at war with Venezuela, the contradiction is glaring. As Marco Rubio himself stated, there is “no war,” yet a democratically elected president is allegedly abducted and presented before American courts.
This raises a fundamental question: Who appointed the United States as the guardian of international law? Or has any international institution authorized Washington to abduct the head of a sovereign state and forcibly bring him to trial? Such an act is not only illegal but also immoral and constitutes a grave international crime.
One of the greatest tragedies of international politics and global legal systems is their selective application. International law is not enforced equally upon all states and rulers. A major structural flaw lies in the absence of a neutral and effective authority or force capable of implementing these laws without bias.
Recently, a British Member of Parliament suggested that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro could be abducted. This statement quickly gained traction on social media. It prompted a powerful and logical counter-question: If Maduro can be abducted, why can Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, responsible for the killing of thousands of Palestinians, not be arrested and tried?
This question resonates globally because the world is demanding accountability for crimes committed against the Palestinian people. Notably, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has already issued rulings related to Israel’s actions. Yet, despite these decisions, no meaningful steps have been taken to ensure their enforcement.
The British MP’s statement has reignited a critical debate on the credibility of international law. If Maduro can be targeted, why can Netanyahu not be arrested for war crimes and presented before the ICJ or the International Criminal Court (ICC)?
Historically, the United States has employed a consistent strategy: labeling its opponents as violators of human rights or enemies of democracy, followed by military intervention or covert operations to overthrow governments. Even in Pakistan, the fall of a previous government has been widely described as a consequence of American interference.
Adopting this same approach, former US President Donald Trump reportedly pursued retaliatory action against Venezuela’s elected president. The US unilaterally accused Maduro of human rights violations, political repression, and suppression of civil liberties. Ironically, similar actions have been carried out by Trump himself during his time in office.
Western governments portray Maduro as a dictator and justify his abduction as a legal measure. Yet, on the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces well-documented allegations of war crimes, genocide, deliberate targeting of civilians, bombings of hospitals, schools, and refugee camps in Gaza.
These crimes are supported by substantial evidence presented before the International Court of Justice. Documentation of Netanyahu’s actions exists in reports by international organizations, human rights groups, and even the United Nations. Still, Western governments conveniently ignore these crimes, and the self-proclaimed champions of global peace remain silent.
The International Criminal Court has indicated the possibility of investigations into Netanyahu’s actions. Nevertheless, he continues to roam freely, attend international forums, and behave as if he is above the law. Even after ICJ rulings, Netanyahu has visited the United States multiple times without a single mention of human rights violations from President Trump, who instead continues to openly support Israel and shield it from accountability.
This unwavering support from global powers particularly the United States and its allies is the root cause of Netanyahu’s impunity. This double standard has severely undermined the credibility of international justice.
The British MP’s video demanding Netanyahu’s arrest reflects the voice of every conscientious human being across the globe. The world wants justice. People want the killers of Palestinian civilians to be held accountable. Sadly, the greatest weakness of international law remains the absence of a force capable of restraining powerful aggressors.
If international law were truly impartial, why would it apply only to weak states or leaders disfavored by the West? Ignoring the massacre of thousands of Palestinian children, women, and elderly while prosecuting leaders elsewhere for human rights violations is not justice, it is political opportunism.
Netanyahu’s actions are a blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions, the UN Charter, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. If the international community genuinely believes in justice, peace, and the sanctity of human life, it must demonstrate the courage to subject Israeli leadership to the same legal standards applied to others.
