For decades, international bodies and Western powers have paraded lofty ideals of human rights, justice, and accountability—concepts they insist are the bedrock of a global order. But these principles have shown themselves to be hollow, reserved only for those deemed worthy by the West, rarely applied to the oppressed. For Palestinians, these principles are a mirage, a weaponized hypocrisy that has served only to protect the powerful and keep them silent.
The so-called “rules-based order” promoted by the West is little more than a charade designed to prop up Western interests and keep other nations in line. This system has been carefully crafted to give the appearance of equality, yet it is wielded selectively, rarely, if ever, offering protection or justice to those who challenge its creators. It’s painfully clear now that these institutions were never meant for the protection of all, only the few. The rule of law is a farce, a cynical pretense to ensure that those with influence are shielded while others are abandoned and discarded. When the voices of the Palestinians go unheard, the world’s commitment to human rights and accountability stands exposed as a lie.
Today’s global order is a jungle, a brazen playground where power rules, and those who have it do as they wish. Palestinians understand this reality better than anyone. The institutions that claim to stand for justice and human rights have failed them repeatedly, offering up only empty resolutions and meaningless words. While the world looks away, Palestinians bear witness to the hypocrisy of a global order that preaches morality yet systematically ignores its responsibilities. Their abandonment speaks volumes about the true priorities of Western powers—justice and accountability only exist when convenient, and human rights are merely slogans, discarded when they become inconvenient.
This growing disregard for international norms isn’t a quiet shift; it’s an overt dismantling of even the pretense of fairness. Palestinians are forced to come to terms with a world where their rights mean nothing to those in power. They are a reminder to all oppressed people that, in this new order, justice is a myth, and solidarity among the marginalized is all that remains when institutions fail.
The world must see the Palestinian struggle for what it is: a damning indictment of the very structures we claim uphold justice. The hypocrisy of the West is in plain sight, and if there is any hope of restoring credibility to international systems, then holding even the most powerful accountable is no longer optional—it is essential. Otherwise, we will watch the erosion of any remaining belief in justice, and the Palestinians’ experience will be just one example in a world where only the strong have rights.
