July 11, 2025
Srebrenica at 30: A Tragedy Remembered, A Hypocrisy Exposed
By Habib Siddiqui
Thirty years ago, on July 11, 1995, Bosnian Serb military leader Ratko Mladic walked through the streets of Srebrenica, signaling the fall of the Bosnian enclave to his forces.“Here we are, on July 11, 1995, in Serb Srebrenica,” Mladic said during his walk at just after 4pm local time. “On the eve of yet another great Serb holiday, we give this town to the Serb people as a gift. Finally, after the Rebellion against the Dahis, the time has come to take revenge on the Turks in this region.”
Some historical context may help clarifyMladic’s statement. On July 12, the Serbian Orthodox Church observes the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, a major religious holiday. The date also recalls a darker chapter in Balkan history tied to the rise and fall of the Dahis (also spelled Dahijas or Dahije)—renegade Janissary officers who seized control of the Sanjak of Smederevo (also known as the Belgrade Pashaluk) in December 1801 after assassinating the Ottoman Vizier Hadzi Mustafa Pasha. Their brutal rule provoked widespread fear among the Serbian population, which sent a petition to the Sultan, culminating in the infamous “Slaughter of the Knezes” in January 1804, when dozens of Serbian community leaders were executed by the Dahis.The massacre sparked outrage and resistance.
In August 1804, Ottoman forces under Bekir Pasha, the Vizier of Bosnia, aided by Serbian rebels, defeated the Dahis. However, tensions persisted as the Janissaries still controlled key towns like Uzice when Bekir Pasha wanted the Serbs to be disbanded.When the Sultan ordered surrounding pashaliks to suppress the Serbian uprising, the rebels turned to Russia for support. A delegation sent to St. Petersburg, Russia in September 1804 returned with financial aid and diplomatic backing—marking the beginning of the First Serbian Uprising and the broader Serbian Revolution.
By “Turks”, Mladic means the Bosniaks (i.e., the Bosnian Muslims), implying they are to “pay” for centuries of Ottoman rule, associated with Islam, over Orthodox Christian populations in the Balkans.
And what a ‘gift’ and what a ‘revenge’ promised by the Serbian monster! His chilling words, invoking historical grievances, masked the brutal reality that was about to unfold. The Bosniaks of Srebrenica were not Ottoman Turks, but civilians—men and boys—who would soon be systematically executed. Within days, Mladic’s forces, the Bosnian Serb Army of Republika Srpska, murdered 8,372 Bosniak Muslims in what would become the first legally recognized genocide in Europe since World War II.
Ironically, Srebrenica was meant to be a UN-protected “safe area.” Instead, it became a killing field. Despite clear warnings and the presence of Dutch UN peacekeepers, the international community—particularly NATO—failed to intervene. Just as the lives of Palestinians in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank are treated as expendable by today’s Western leaders, so too were the lives of Bosniaks in Srebrenica thirty years ago. The pattern of selective outrage and inaction continues to cast a long shadow over the credibility of global humanitarian principles.
This week Bosnia and Herzegovina marks the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. Thousands have gathered in Srebrenica and at the Memorial Center in Potocari to honor those victims of July 1995. Among those being laid to rest this year are seven newly identified victims, including two 19-year-olds. For many families, the grief remains raw, as they continue to bury partial remains recovered from mass graves—grim evidence of a crime that shattered generations.
Survivors and families still seek closure, and the silence of the world in 1995 continues to echo today.
While the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) secured convictions against high-profile figures like Ratko Mladic, justice has been partial. Only 18 individuals were convicted for crimes at Srebrenica, with just five receiving life sentences. In contrast, Bosnian courts have handed down more verdicts—27 convictions, including 14 for genocide—yet over 1,200 victims remain missing.
The Srebrenica genocide exposed the limits of Western resolve and the consequences of political hesitation. The tragedy of Srebrenica is not only a Bosnian wound—it is a global indictment of western hypocrisy and double standards. As Western powers now speak of justice in places like Ukraine and Gaza, many Bosnians recall how those same voices were silent during their darkest hour. Legal experts like Geoffrey Nice (who prosecuted Slobodan Milosevic) and Janine di Giovanni (who reported from Srebrenica as a journalist) have pointed to the West’s selective enforcement of humanitarian principles, warning that political settlements may once again shield powerful leaders like Bibi Netanyahu of Israel from accountability. Geoffrey Nice expresses skepticism that current international efforts will lead to meaningful convictions in Ukraine or Gaza. “The settlement would almost inevitably include, as clause one, in either case, that President Putin or Prime Minister Netanyahu will not be tried for any alleged offense,” he said, adding that national courts may offer a more realistic path to justice.
Srebrenica challenges the world to confront its failures—not just with remembrance, but with a commitment to consistent moral action. Until that happens, the legacy of betrayal and the hypocrisy it revealed will remain unresolved.
In 1995, the world failed Srebrenica largely in silence. The massacre of over 8,000Bosniaks happened under the watch of UN peacekeepers, in a so-called “safe area,” with little real-time global awareness or media coverage. It was only after the fact that the full horror came to light.
In contrast, the Gaza crisis is unfolding in real time, with the world watching. UN officials have described Gaza as a “graveyard of children and starving people”. As of July 2025, over 57,000 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 17,000 children. Entire neighborhoods have been flattened, hospitals bombed, and mass graves uncovered—all broadcast live on global news and social media. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians remain unaccounted for.
Yet, despite this visibility, international leaders have largely failed to intervene meaningfully. As a matter of fact, the US and NATO leaders are rewarding the very executers of the Gaza genocide.
Both tragedies expose a pattern of Western hypocrisy. In Bosnia, the West’s failure was one of hesitation and denial. In Gaza, it is one of complicity and selective morality. As Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid of Justice For All put it:“Srebrenica teaches us that genocide never occurs in isolation. It is always preceded by dehumanization, enabled by silence, and followed by denial. We are witnessing this same deadly sequence unfold in Gaza—again.”
The lesson of Srebrenica was supposed to be “Never Again.” But Gaza shows that “Never Again” has become a hollow slogan. The world’s failure to act—despite seeing the suffering unfold in real time—raises a painful question: If not now, when?
About the author: Dr. Siddiqui is the author of the book – 64 Hours in Sarajevo: A journey through the historic landscape of the Balkans.
Abu Obeidah: Commander Deif wrote Palestine’s final liberation chapter
Abu Obeida marks Mohammed Deif’s martyrdom anniversary by vowing continued resistance against the Israeli occupation and honoring his enduring legacy.
Abu Obeida, the military spokesperson for the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, affirmed on the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Brigades' General Commander, Mohammed Deif, that his brethren, children, and supporters around the world continue to tread his path and are inflicting strategic losses on the occupation.
Abu Obeida commemorated the anniversary of the martyrdom of the group's General Commander, Mohammed Deif, by declaring that the martyr's legacy would live on as "a nightmare haunting war criminals and thieves."
The spokesperson warned that they would never live in peace on Palestinian land, not after Deif and his brethren had written, in blood, the final chapter of Palestine's liberation.
'Decades of jihad culminated in martyrdom'
In a statement posted on his Telegram channel today, Abu Obeida emphasized that Deif "led Al-Aqsa Flood alongside his brethren, dealing the Zionist enemy the most devastating blow in its history, one that shattered its deterrence forever, united the nation’s energies toward Palestine, and brought the Palestinian cause back to the forefront of the struggle."
Al-Qassam's spokesperson added, "Decades of jihad, pursuit, sacrifice, leadership, and brilliance culminated in martyrdom, as our great commander joined the ranks of our people’s martyrs and legendary leaders, his blood and that of his fellow commanders now mingling with the blood of our nation’s sons and daughters, who offered their everything for the sake of Al-Aqsa and Palestine."
On January 30 of this year, the al-Qassam Brigades announced the martyrdom of its chief of staff, Mohammed Deif, along with other commanders. The group stated that the leaders were martyred either in command center operations rooms, during direct confrontations with enemy forces on the battlefield, or while inspecting the ranks of the freedom fighters.
Al Mayadeen's Nasser al-Lahham held in life-threatening conditions
Palestinian journalist Nasser al-Lahham faces harsh conditions and medical neglect in the infamous Israeli Ofer Prison as calls mount for his release.
Palestinian journalist and chief of Al Mayadeen's Palestine bureau is being denied proper care and is being held in life-threatening conditions in Ofer Prison, the Palestinian Commission for Detainees and ex-Detainees said in a statement published on Sunday.
"Nasser al-Lahham, a 60-year-old prisoner with heart conditions, is being held in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions at Ofer Prison. He is permitted just 10 minutes outside his cell each day," the statement said. The commission emphasized that al-Lahham suffers from severe cardiac issues and has six stents in his heart, yet is being kept in life-threatening conditions.
The statement detailed that al-Lahham is currently detained in Section 21, Cell 19 of Ofer Prison, where prisoners endure severely overcrowded conditions, inadequate food, and outbreaks of skin infections, all while being denied proper medical attention.
'Israel' launches bid to keep al-Lahham detained
This comes after "Israel" announced it will extend the detention of Al Mayadeen chief Nasser al-Lahham until next Tuesday, following his arbitrary detention on July 7.
"The occupation is attempting to fabricate new charges against our colleague Nasser al-Lahham," Shawan Jabarin, Director of Al-Haq, told Al Mayadeen, adding that "it appears the occupation is pushing for al-Lahham’s administrative detention, an arbitrary measure meant to silence dissent."
Jabarin informed Al Mayadeen that Israeli authorities are attempting to manufacture a list of charges against Nasser Lahham, and his administrative detention resembles "fighting with the wind."
Al Mayadeen condemns al-Lahham's detention
Al Mayadeen Media Network issued a strong-worded statement on Monday denouncing the violent detention of its bureau chief in occupied Palestine. The network said the detention was carried out with "brutality and repression," demanding al-Lahham’s immediate release.
Al Mayadeen labeled al-Lahham's detention as part of a wider campaign of repression carried out by Israeli authorities against Palestinian journalists.
"We are not surprised by the occupation’s sadistic practices," Al Mayadeen said, "nor by its persistent hostility toward journalism, journalists, and the right to report the truth."
Al Mayadeen's statement asserted that al-Lahham is one of the most renowned names in Palestinian media, with more than 30 years of experience in journalism. His arrest drew immediate condemnation from across the Arab world, with media figures, press freedom advocates, and political movements expressing solidarity.
"For us, Nasser is more than a bureau chief. He is a leading voice in Palestinian journalism, a symbol of purposeful reporting, and a steadfast defender of his people’s rights," Al Mayadeen's statement asserted.
In late October 2023, Israeli forces raided al-Lahham’s home, assaulting his wife and children, conducting an intrusive search, and detaining his two sons, Basil and Basel.
Palestinian Information Center – July 13, 2025
Israeli Army assassinates renowned surgeon Dr. Ahmed Qandil in Gaza
GAZA, (PIC)
Fifteen Palestinians were martyred, including renowned surgeon Dr. Ahmed Qandil, in an Israeli occupation forces’ (IOF) airstrike that targeted a civilian gathering at the Al-Samar intersection in central Gaza City on Sunday afternoon.
Dr. Qandil, a leading general surgeon and senior consultant at Al- Ma’amadani Hospital, was widely respected for his medical skill and unwavering commitment to treating the wounded amid Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza. The Ministry of Health in Gaza mourned Dr. Qandil, describing him as “a pillar of the medical staff” who served tirelessly under siege and bombardment.
“Dr. Qandil worked day and night in the corridors of Gaza’s hospitals until he was martyred while performing his humanitarian duty,” the ministry said in an official statement.
Dr. Qandil’s colleagues praised his professionalism, humanity, and mentorship to younger doctors. Dr. Munir Al-Bursh, Director General of the Gaza Health Ministry, called the IOF assassination a part of a systematic campaign against Gaza’s health sector.
“Dr. Qandil’s martyrdom is not an exception,” Al-Bursh wrote on X, “but one of 1,588 health workers, including doctors, nurses, and paramedics, who were deliberately targeted while saving lives.” He added, “Hospitals have become military targets, ambulances turned into moving coffins.”
He concluded, “Why is a doctor being killed? Because he gives life.”
Sunday’s strike also hit a popular market filled with displaced people, killing at least 15 civilians, including a child, and injuring over 50 others. Civil defense teams reported ongoing rescue efforts under extreme conditions.
In a separate IOF strike the same day, four more civilians were martyred in Gaza City, bringing the toll to 19 within hours as Israel intensified its attacks on residential areas and markets.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has waged a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, killing and wounding over 195,000 Palestinians—most of them women and children—and displacing hundreds of thousands. More than 10,000 remain missing, and famine conditions continue to claim lives, especially among children.
Despite multiple rulings by the International Court of Justice and international condemnation, Israel—backed by the US—continues its campaign of extermination against the Palestinian people.
https://english.palinfo.com/news/2025/07/13/343203/
Palestinian Information Center – July 13, 2025
The “Economy of Genocide” report: A reckoning beyond rhetoric
By Ramzy Baroud
Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in occupied Palestine, stands as a testament to the notion of speaking truth to power. This “power” is not solely embodied by Israel or even the United States, but by an international community whose collective relevance has tragically failed to stem the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Her latest report, ‘From Economy of Occupation to Economy of Genocide,’ submitted to the UN Human Rights Council on 3 July, marks a seismic intervention. It unflinchingly names and implicates companies that have not only allowed Israel to sustain its war and genocide against Palestinians, but also confronts those who have remained silent in the face of this unfolding horror.
Albanese’s ‘Economy of Genocide’ is far more than an academic exercise or a mere moral statement in a world whose collective conscience is being brutally tested in Gaza. The report is significant for multiple, interlocking reasons. Crucially, it offers practical pathways to accountability that transcend mere diplomatic and legal rhetoric. It also presents a novel approach to international law, positioning it not as a delicate political balancing act, but as a potent tool to confront complicity in war crimes and expose the profound failures of existing international mechanisms in Gaza.
Two vital contexts are important to understanding the significance of this report, considered a searing indictment of direct corporate involvement, not only in the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza, but Israel’s overall settler-colonial project.
First, in February 2020, following years of delay, the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) released a database that listed 112 companies involved in business activities within illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine. The database exposes several corporate giants – including Airbnb, Booking.com, Motorola Solutions, JCB, and Expedia – for helping Israel maintain its military occupation and apartheid.
This event was particularly earth-shattering, considering the United Nations’ consistent failure at reining in Israel, or holding accountable those who sustain its war crimes in Palestine. The database was an important step that allowed civil societies to mobilize around a specific set of priorities, thus pressuring corporations and individual governments to take morally guided positions. The effectiveness of that strategy was clearly detected through the exaggerated and angry reactions of the US and Israel. The US said it was an attempt by “the discredited” Council “to fuel economic retaliation,” while Israel called it a “shameful capitulation” to pressure.
The Israeli genocide in Gaza, starting on 7 October 2023, however, served as a stark reminder of the utter failure of all existing UN mechanisms to achieve even the most modest expectations of feeding a starving population during a time of genocide. Tellingly, this was the same conclusion offered by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who, in September 2024, stated that the world had “failed the people of Gaza.”
This failure continued for many more months and was highlighted in the UN’s inability to even manage the aid distribution in the Strip, entrusting the job to the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a mercenary-run violent apparatus that has killed and wounded thousands of Palestinians. Albanese herself, of course, had already reached a similar conclusion when, in November 2023, she confronted the international community for “epically failing” to stop the war and to end the “senseless slaughtering of innocent civilians.”
Albanese’s new report goes a step further, this time appealing to the whole of humanity to take a moral stance and to confront those who made the genocide possible. “Commercial endeavors enabling and profiting from the obliteration of innocent people’s lives must cease,” the report declares, pointedly demanding that “corporate entities must refuse to be complicit in human rights violations and international crimes or be held to account.”
According to the report, categories of complicity in the genocide are divided into arms manufacturers, tech firms, building and construction companies, extractive and service industries, banks, pension funds, insurers, universities, and charities.
These include Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Amazon, Palantir, IBM, and even Danish shipping giant Maersk, among nearly 1,000 other firms. It was their collective technological know-how, machinery, and data collection that allowed Israel to kill, to date, over 57,000 and wound over 134,000 in Gaza, let alone maintain the apartheid regime in the West Bank.
What Albanese’s report tries to do is not merely name and shame Israel’s genocide partners but to tell us, as civil society, that we now have a comprehensive frame of reference that would allow us to make responsible decisions, put pressure on, and hold accountable these corporate giants.
“The ongoing genocide has been a profitable venture,” Albanese writes, citing Israel’s massive surge in military spending, estimated at 65 percent from 2023 to 2024 — reaching $46.5 billion.
Israel’s seemingly infinite military budget is a strange loop of money, originally provided by the US government, then recycled back through US corporations, thus spreading the wealth between governments, politicians, corporations, and numerous contractors. As bank accounts swell, more Palestinian bodies are piled up in morgues, mass graves, or are scattered in the streets of Jabaliya and Khan Yunis.
This madness needs to stop, and, since the UN is incapable of stopping it, then individual governments, civil society organizations, and ordinary people must do the job, because the lives of Palestinians should be of far greater value than corporate profits and greed.
-Ramzy Baroud is a journalist and the Editor of the Palestine Chronicle. He is the author of five books. His latest is ‘These Chains Will Be Broken: Palestinian Stories of Struggle and Defiance in Israeli Prisons’. Baroud is a Non-resident Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Islam and Global Affairs (CIGA) and also at the Afro-Middle East Center (AMEC).
