Dear Editor,

I just read a column in the October 19 edition of the Jamaica Observer citing my recent article ‘Terrorism by any standard’ published on October 12, 2023. The article, by Jalil S Dabdoub titled ‘How does the int’l community define a terrorist act?’ mentioned my name some seven times.

The writer asked some valid questions, citing a series of actions by the state of Israel against the Palestinians which implied that Israel, over a long period of time, has committed acts of (State) terrorism against the Palestinian people.

While I am not making any assessment on whether the referenced acts are acts of (State) terrorism or violations of certain international human rights and humanitarian laws as well as violations by an occupying force or any other violations of international norms, a follow-up article I wrote, ‘Israel’s ultimate response to Hamas could go very wrong’ published in The Ward Post on October 12, 2023 drew attention to the international standards required of Israel in actions taken in self-defence in response to Hamas’s attacks. I posited that Israel’s bombing and killing Palestinian civilians violated international laws and norms and may have committed war crimes in the process.

For the record, my standards of evaluation are unbiased and applied across the board. I adhere to established international laws and norms and the provisions of the Rome Statute which defines international crimes falling within its jurisdiction.

Ambassador Curtis A Ward

Former ambassador of Jamaica to the United Nations