After the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7th last year, I said that Israel had the right to defend itself, up to Gaza’s border. I also said that no side should be targeting civilians or committing war crimes. That position was based on basic principles of international law and human decency.
But over a year later, it is clear that Israel has abandoned any commitment to those principles. The Israeli government has bombed refugee camps, schools, hospitals, and aid convoys in Gaza. Gaza is now on the edge of starvation. Government officials in Israel have spoken openly about removing or killing all Gazans.
Beyond Gaza, the aggression continues. In the West Bank, Israel continues to build illegal settlements and carry out daily repression. It has attacked Lebanon. It has pushed into Syria, ignoring the fact that the country is now under a new government. It has violated armistice treaties without consequences. And most recently, it has launched attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.
This pattern is not about self-defence anymore. It is a deliberate choice to escalate conflict across multiple fronts, without concern for human rights or accountability. And the only reason it continues without consequences is because powerful allies, especially the United States, continue to back Israel no matter what.
There is a clear double standard here. When Russia invaded Ukraine and claimed it was for self-defence and the protection of ethnic Russians, the West rightly condemned it. But when Israel uses similar excuses to justify its invasions of Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, most of those same voices go silent. That’s hypocrisy.
Slitronia is a micronation, and we don’t have global power, so us declaring something has little to no power. But still, I ask countries to stop letting alliances and strategic interests excuse human rights violations. Israel should face sanctions and be held accountable for the actions of its government, just like any other country.
Based on all this, I am officially withdrawing Slitronia’s recognition of the current Israeli government, effective immediately. This will remain in place until the Israeli government ends its aggressive actions and shows noticeable change in conduct. This is the same action I took with Russia and Belarus when they invaded Ukraine.
To be clear: this is not a statement against Jewish people. Nor is it a blanket endorsement of Iran or its proxies. But we need to stop judging everything through national flags. A government’s actions are not the same as its people. And people on all sides deserve safety, dignity, and freedom.
I support peace. I support a free Palestine. And I call for an end to ethno-nationalist violence, no matter who carries it out.
- Johannes I, Great King of Slitronia
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