OAN Staff Blake Wolf
11:00 a.m. – Thursday, November 21, 2024
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Job Gallant on charges of “crimes against humanity and war crimes.”
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The ICC website says it is “participating.”[es] In the global fight to end impunity, courts through international criminal justice aim to hold those responsible accountable for crimes and help prevent such crimes from happening again. ”
The warrant accuses Netanyahu and Gallant of intentionally targeting civilians through offensive operations against Hamas, as well as using “starvation as a means of war” by restricting humanitarian aid to Gaza. are.
However, the court has questioned how Hamas, Hezbollah and other Islamist groups intentionally set up their headquarters in areas with high civilian traffic, such as beneath hospitals, schools and other populated areas. was not mentioned. The court also did not address how Hamas members and other proxies with common interests seize humanitarian aid and keep it for themselves.
“Of the approximately 200 aid trucks that have entered Gaza in recent days, more than 170 have reportedly been robbed. Gazans believe this systematic theft is an attempt by Hamas and others to disrupt the flow of aid. It suggests that it is a tactic used to maintain control. i24 News Reported.
The court further explained the basis for the arrest warrant.
“The Chamber has determined that the alleged actions of Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Gallant are related to the activities of Israeli government agencies and military forces against Palestinian civilians, and more specifically against civilians in Gaza. This therefore concerns not only the relationship between two parties to an international armed conflict, but also the relationship between the occupying Power and the population of the occupied territory,'' the ICC statement said.
“For these reasons, the Tribunal has found it appropriate to issue an arrest warrant under the international law of armed conflict in relation to war crimes. The Tribunal also finds that the alleged crimes against humanity are widespread and “We determined that this was part of an organized attack.”
“The Chamber also noted that decisions to allow or extend humanitarian assistance to Gaza often come with conditionals. It was not created to ensure that people have sufficient supplies.” “The Chamber of Commerce believes that shortages of food, water, electricity and fuel, and certain medical supplies have created living conditions calculated to bring about the destruction of some of Gaza's civilian population, resulting in malnutrition and dehydration. deaths of civilians, including children.
Despite these damning claims, Israeli President Isaac Herzog and others have since condemned the ICC, claiming it is ignoring Hamas' use of human shields. In addition to ignoring October 7th,thThe 2023 terrorist attack triggered the war.
“The ICC's outrageous decisions, made in bad faith, have turned universal justice into a universal laughing stock. It makes a mockery of the sacrifices of all those who fought,” Herzog wrote.
“In fact, this decision chose the side of terror and evil over democracy and freedom, turning the justice system itself into a human shield against Hamas’ crimes against humanity,” he continued. “This cynical exploitation of the international legal system calls for true moral clarity in the face of Iran's evil empire, which seeks to destabilize our region and the world and destroy the very institutions of the free world.” It reminds me of sexuality.”
Nevertheless, the court also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas military commander Mohamed Deif for crimes against humanity, although Israel has already announced that Deif was killed in an earlier airstrike.
The United States and Israel have made several efforts to prevent the ICC from executing the arrest warrant, threatening sanctions and arguing that the court has no jurisdiction over Israel. The court later responded, stating that the arrest warrant was based on “Palestinian territorial jurisdiction.”
“If the ICC and its prosecutors do not reverse their outrageous and illegal actions in seeking arrest warrants against Israeli officials, the Senate should immediately pass sanctions legislation, as the House has already done on a bipartisan basis.” ,” the incoming U.S. Senate majority leader wrote. John Thune: “If Leader Schumer does not act, the Senate Republican majority will stand by Israel, our vital ally, and make this and other aid legislation a top priority in the next Congress.” .”
The war began on October 7, when Hamas terrorists massacred at least 1,200 Israelis and took 251 more hostage.th2023. Israel's retaliatory response has left hundreds of thousands of Palestinians dead, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry.
However, the Palestinian death toll does not distinguish between innocent civilians and Hamas terrorists, and the Health Ministry's death toll is disputed by Israel.
“71 percent of all Palestinians supported Hamas' decision to attack Israel on October 7th.'' According to a public opinion poll highlighted by Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD).
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