NOOT 19/TEN STRIJDE!

[19]
”The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly backed a resolution reviving a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, less than 24 hours after Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there would never be a Palestinian state.”
ALJAZEERA

UN General Assembly backs two-state push for Israel and Palestine

12 SEPTEMBER 2025

The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly backed a resolution reviving a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, less than 24 hours after Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there would never be a Palestinian state.

The “New York Declaration”, which outlines “tangible, timebound, and irreversible steps” towards a two-state solution, was adopted on Friday by 142 votes in favour, 10 against – including Israel and key ally the United States – and 12 abstentions.

Presented by France and Saudi Arabia, the seven-page document calls for “collective action to end the war in Gaza, to achieve a just, peaceful and lasting settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the effective implementation of the Two-State solution”.

It also orders Palestinian group Hamas, which runs the government in Gaza, to “free all hostages”, stipulating that it must “end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority … in line with the objective of a sovereign and independent Palestinian State”.

Palestine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed Saudi-French efforts to create an “actionable plan” towards a two-state solution. The ministry also called for “activating all mechanisms to end the Israeli colonial occupation” and “achieve the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people”.

Attempt to ‘take negotiation process forward’

The UN’s ringing endorsement of the two-state solution came amid Israel’s continued bombardment of Gaza, one day after Netanyahu signed off on a settlement expansion plan in the occupied West Bank that would make any future Palestinian state virtually impossible.

Reporting from New York, Al Jazeera’s Kristen Saloomey said that the vote showed “an incredible amount of pushback from the international community”.

“This shows mounting concern over a lack of progress on … talks, and an attempt by the international community to take the negotiation process forward,” she said.

The vote precedes an upcoming UN summit co-chaired by Riyadh and Paris on September 22 in New York, in which French President Emmanuel Macron and several other leaders have promised to formally recognise the Palestinian state.

While 146 members of the UN already back a Palestinian state, others including France and the United Kingdom are expected to join their ranks later this month.

“Crucially, European nations who have been more reluctant to do so under the pressure of the United States and Israel, [are] showing the concerns that the situation on the ground there is becoming all the more dire, no progress is being made,” said Al Jazeera’s Saloomey.

Israel derailing peace efforts

Israel rejected the declaration after the landmark vote, slamming it as “disgraceful”.

The vote has “proven how much the General Assembly is a political circus detached from reality”, said Israel’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein in a post on X, criticising the resolution for not calling Hamas a “terrorist organisation”.

The vote took place in a week in which Israel has been on particularly bellicose form, dialling up regional tensions with a number of deadly strikes across the Middle East, targeting Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Tunisia and Qatar in parallel with its attacks on Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

On Thursday, UN Security Council members condemned Israel for its strike on lead mediator Qatar, which killed five members of Hamas in Doha, who were discussing a new deal proposed by US President Donald Trump.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, who had flown in for the UNSC emergency session, had blasted Israel’s leaders as “arrogant”, adding that the timing of the attacks during mediation efforts showed that the country intended to derail them.

As the UN voted on Friday to advance the two-state solution, people in the Gaza Strip continued to endure heavy artillery fire and bombing from Israeli forces, with Friday’s death toll hitting 59 just after the results were announced.

The Israeli army said it had completed five waves of air strikes on Gaza City this week as part of its takeover plan, targeting more than 500 sites. It said it would “continue to intensify the pace of strikes in a focused manner … with the aim of hitting Hamas’ infrastructure”.

END

ARTIKEL ASTRID ESSED IN CIVIS MUNDI/”

ZWEEDSE FOTOGRAAF WINT WORLD PRESS PHOTO 2012
MISDADEN ISRAELISCHE POLITIEK IN BEELD GEBRACHT”

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NOTEN 17 EN 18/TEN STRIJDE!

17]
ZIE NOOT 10
[18]

ARTIKEL ASTRID ESSED IN CIVIS MUNDI/”

ZWEEDSE FOTOGRAAF WINT WORLD PRESS PHOTO 2012
MISDADEN ISRAELISCHE POLITIEK IN BEELD GEBRACHT”

ZIE OOK

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NOTEN 15 EN 16/TEN STRIJDE!

[15]
ZIE NOOT 1
[16]
ARTIKEL 33, 4E CONVENTIE VAN GENEVE, VERBIEDT COLLECTIEVE
STRAFFEN
  Individual responsibility, collective penalties, pillage, reprisals
ART. 33. — No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited. Pillage is prohibited. Reprisals against protected persons and their property are prohibited.

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NOOT 14/TEN STRIJDE!

[14]
 Het Israëlische leger heeft opnieuw zware aanvallen uitgevoerd in de Gazastrook. De aanvallen vormen de grootste schending van het staakt-het-vuren sinds het twee maanden geleden is ingegaan.”

NOS

Israël schendt staakt-het-vuren met grootschalige aanval Gaza, meer dan 300 doden gemeld

18 MAART 2025

Het Israëlische leger heeft opnieuw zware aanvallen uitgevoerd in de Gazastrook. De aanvallen vormen de grootste schending van het staakt-het-vuren sinds het twee maanden geleden is ingegaan.

Het Gazaanse ministerie van Gezondheid meldt dat er meer dan 300 doden zijn gevallen bij de aanvallen. Het maakt daarbij geen onderscheid tussen burgers en militanten, maar onder de doden zouden veel kinderen zijn. Ook zouden er nog veel slachtoffers onder het puin liggen. De aanvallen zijn verspreid over de hele Gazastrook.

Volgens de Israëlische regering zijn de aanvallen een reactie op het weigeren van het vrijlaten van meer gijzelaars door Hamas. “Israël gaat vanaf nu met toenemende militaire kracht tegen Hamas optreden”, staat in een verklaring van de regering. Bronnen bij het leger zeggen daarnaast tegen Reuters dat het nieuwe offensief “doorgaat zolang het nodig is en verder zal gaan dan luchtaanvallen”.

Hamas zegt dat Israël hiermee eenzijdig het staakt-het-vuren beëindigt. Ook waarschuwt de organisatie dat de nieuwe aanvallen gevolgen gaan hebben voor de gijzelaars die nog in Gaza worden vastgehouden.

De Amerikaanse regering is maandag al ingelicht door Israël. Washington zegt dat het de acties van Israël steunt. In een interview met nieuwszender Fox News zegt woordvoerder Karoline Leavitt dat “Hamas, de Houthi’s en iedereen die Israël en de VS willen terroriseren een prijs moeten betalen”. Ze waarschuwt: “De hel zal losbreken.”

Minister Veldkamp van Buitenlandse Zaken roept via sociale media alle betrokken partijen op de voorwaarden van het staakt-het-vuren en de gijzelaarsovereenkomst in Gaza te respecteren.

Grenzen afgesloten

De eerste fase van het bestand tussen Israël en Hamas ging op 19 januari in. In die eerste fase moest een deel van de Israëlische gijzelaars vrij komen in ruil voor gevangengenomen Palestijnen. In de tweede fase zouden de resterende gijzelaars vrijkomen en moet Israël zich militair terugtrekken.

Gesprekken tussen delegaties van Israël en Hamas over de tweede fase liepen al stroef en Israël heeft de afgelopen dagen meerdere aanvallen uitgevoerd. Twee weken geleden sloot Israël de grenzen volledig af, een week geleden werd ook de elektriciteit afgesloten.

Voor de aanvallen van afgelopen nacht stond het totale dodental op zeker 150 sinds het ingaan van het bestand.

Correspondent Israël en de Palestijnse Gebieden Nasrah Habiballah:

“Israël legt de schuld bij Hamas en zegt dat deze aanvallen het gevolg zijn van het feit dat Hamas weigert om meer gijzelaars vrij te laten. Maar Hamas wijst juist naar Israël dat weigert om stappen te zetten richting een permanent einde aan de oorlog, wat volgens de deal eigenlijk was afgesproken.

Met het volledig blokkeren van alle noodhulp en stroom aan Gaza probeerde Israël Hamas onder druk te zetten dat ze toch meer gijzelaars vrij zouden laten, zonder garanties te krijgen dat Israël de oorlog zou stoppen. En nu gaat Israël dus nog een stap verder door Gaza opnieuw te bombarderen. We weten ook dat premier Netanyahu onder druk staat vanuit zijn coalitie om door te gaan met de aanvallen. Zijn ultrarechtse coalitiepartners zijn tegen welke deal dan ook met Hamas en willen doorgaan met oorlog voeren.”

EINDE

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NOOT 13/TEN STRIJDE!

[13]
”De Amerikaanse president Trump vindt dat er een nieuwe plek buiten Gaza gebouwd moet worden voor Palestijnen. Trump zei dat het gebied totaal is verwoest en herhaalde zijn oproep aan Jordanië, Egypte en andere landen om Gazanen op te nemen. Dat deed hij niet voor het eerst, maar dit keer zei hij dat er wat hem betreft geen tijdelijke opvangplek wordt gebouwd in die landen, maar een permanente plek.”
NOS
TRUMP WIL PALESTIJNEN VOORGOED WEG HEBBEN UIT GAZA EN HET GEBIED OVERNEMEN
5 FEBRUARI 2025

De Amerikaanse president Trump vindt dat er een nieuwe plek buiten Gaza gebouwd moet worden voor Palestijnen. Trump zei dat het gebied totaal is verwoest en herhaalde zijn oproep aan Jordanië, Egypte en andere landen om Gazanen op te nemen. Dat deed hij niet voor het eerst, maar dit keer zei hij dat er wat hem betreft geen tijdelijke opvangplek wordt gebouwd in die landen, maar een permanente plek.

Daarnaast sprak de Amerikaanse president op een persconferentie ook de wens uit dat de VS eigenaar wordt van de Gazastrook, om dit gebied te herontwikkelen, nadat de Palestijnen zich elders hebben gevestigd.

“We gaan er iets van maken”, zei Trump. “We zullen alle gevaarlijke en niet-ontplofte bommen ontmantelen en de verwoeste gebouwen opruimen. We hebben de mogelijkheid om er iets fenomenaals van te maken, het kan de Riviera van het Midden-Oosten zijn.”

Op de agenda van de twee leiders stond de nieuwe fase van het bestand met Hamas. Ook hebben ze dus gesproken over het verplaatsen van de inwoners van Gaza.

In dezelfde persconferentie meldde Trump ook dat er morgen meer gijzelaars worden vrijgelaten.

Correspondent Verenigde Staten Ryan Hermelijn:

“Met Trumps ogenschijnlijk terloopse opmerkingen over de verhuizing van de Palestijnen in Gaza en de wens om de Gazastrook onder Amerikaans bestuur economisch te ontwikkelen, breekt de president met het beleid van zijn voorgangers. Hij benadert de kwestie als zakenman en vastgoedondernemer en stelt dat zijn plan zal leiden tot duizenden banen en tot stabiliteit in de regio.

Trump zegt dat leiders in de regio enthousiast hebben gereageerd op het plan, maar hij zei er niet bij wie die leiders zijn. Ook lijkt het er niet op dat het plan is besproken met Palestijnse vertegenwoordigers. Trump sluit verder niet uit Amerikaanse militairen naar Gaza te sturen.

Trumps voorstel past in zijn wensenlijst met uitbreidingen van het Amerikaanse grondgebied. Trump wil het liefst ook Groenland, Canada en het Panamakanaal inlijven. Het Witte Huis levert weinig details over die plannen. Ook is onduidelijk hoe ver de VS wil gaan in het nieuwe expansionisme van de president.”

Trump noemde Gaza een sloopterrein waar bijna geen gebouw meer overeind staat. Daarom denkt hij dat er een andere plek nodig is voor Palestijnen om te leven.

De Amerikaanse president wil dat er in een of meerdere van de buurlanden vier, vijf, zes of meerdere onderkomens worden gebouwd “op mooie plekken” voor de mensen uit Gaza. Trump wil dat de buurlanden en rijke landen in het Midden-Oosten daarvoor gaan betalen.

“De gebouwen die er nog wel staan, zullen instorten”, zegt Trump. “Je kunt niet in Gaza leven op dit moment. We hebben een andere locatie nodig. Het moet een plek zijn die mensen blij maakt.”

Begin januari keerden de eerste Palestijnen terug naar Noord-Gaza. Niet alleen huizen, ook ziekenhuizen, scholen, winkels en landbouwgrond zijn verwoest.

Wie er in het herontwikkelde Gaza zouden moeten wonen, laat Trump in het midden. Wel zei de Amerikaanse president dat hij de Gazastrook niet als een permanente thuisbasis voor de Palestijnen ziet.

Etnische zuivering

Eind vorige maand suggereerde Trump al dat Palestijnen uit Gaza zouden kunnen verhuizen naar nabijgelegen landen. Hij riep Jordanië, Egypte en andere Arabische landen op om meer Palestijnse vluchtelingen uit de Gazastrook op te vangen.

Op die oproep werd niet enthousiast gereageerd. Verschillende landen in de regio, zoals Egypte en Jordanië, hebben al gezegd geen oren te hebben naar dit plan, maar Trump denkt dat ze alsnog zullen meewerken.

Hamas noemt de uitspraken van Trump belachelijk en absurd. Volgens een woordvoerder kunnen dergelijke ideeën tot extra spanningen leiden in de regio.

VN-chef António Guterres zei dat Trumps plan neerkomt op etnische zuivering, citeert The New York Times hem.

EINDE

ZIE OOK

https://www.astridessed.nl/astrid-essed-aan-nos-teletekst-benoem-trumps-nieuwe-plek-voor-gazanen-als-etnische-zuivering/

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NOTEN 11 EN 12/TEN STRIJDE!

[11]
ZIE NOOT 6
[12]
ARTIKEL 7, STATUUT VAN ROME, KWALIFICEERT
ETNISCHE ZUIVERINGEN ALS MISDADEN TEGEN
DE MENSELIJKHEID
ZIE
ROME STATUTE
Article 7 Crimes against humanity
  1. For the purpose of this Statute, “crime against humanity” means any of the following acts when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack:
….
….
(d) Deportation or forcible transfer of population;

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NOOT 10/TEN STRIJDE!

[10]

According to the 1977 Protocol II, “objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population” are protected and attacks against them are prohibited.[3]

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court includes starvation as a war crime when committed within an international armed conflict.

WIKIPEDIA

STARVATION (CRIME)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starvation_(crime)#:~:text=According%20to%20the%201977%20Protocol,within%20an%20international%20armed%20conflict.

ARTICLE 14,  PROTOCOL ADDITIONAL TO THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS OF 12 AUGUST 1949, AND RELATING TO THE PROTECTION OF VICTIMS OF NON-INTERNATIONAL ARMED CONFLICTS (PROTOCOL II), OF 8 JUNE 1977

Article 14 — Protection of objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population Starvation of civilians as a method of combat is prohibited. It is therefore prohibited to attack, destroy, remove or render useless, for that purpose, objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, such as foodstuffs, agricultural areas

for the production of foodstuffs, crops, livestock, drinking water installations and supplies and irrigation works.

https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/documents/atrocity-crimes/Doc.35_AP-II-EN.pdf

HET STATUUT VAN ROME KWALIFICEERT UITHONGERING

ALS OORLOGSMISDAAD

ZIE

Article 8

War crimes

ROME STATUTE

https://www.icc-cpi.int/sites/default/files/2024-05/Rome-Statute-eng.pdf

Article 8 War crimes

1. The Court shall have jurisdiction in respect of war crimes in particular when committed as part of a plan or policy or as part of a large-scale commission of such crimes.

2. For the purpose of this Statute, “war crimes” means:

….

…..

xxv) Intentionally using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare by depriving them of objects indispensable to their survival, including wilfully impeding relief supplies as provided for under the Geneva Conventions;

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NOOT 9/TEN STRIJDE!

[9]
Volgens artikel 8, Statuut van Rome, is
het nemen van gijzelaars [taking of hostages] een
oorlogsmisdaad
ARTICLE 8, STATUTE OF ROME
Article 8
 War crimes 1. The Court shall have jurisdiction in respect of war crimes in particular when committed as part of a plan or policy or as part of a large-scale commission of such crimes. 2. For the purpose of this Statute, “war crimes” means:
(a) Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, namely, any of the following acts against persons or property protected under the provisions of the relevant Geneva Convention:
(i) Wilful killing;
  (ii) Torture or inhuman treatment, including biological experiments;
(iii) Wilfully causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or health;
(iv) Extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly;
(v) Compelling a prisoner of war or other protected person to serve in the forces of a hostile Power;
(vi) Wilfully depriving a prisoner of war or other protected person of the rights of fair and regular trial;
(vii) Unlawful deportation or transfer or unlawful confinement;
(viii) Taking of hostages.
….
…..
(ii) Torture or inhuman treatment, including biological experiments;
(iii) Wilfully causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or health; (iv) Extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly; (v) Compelling a prisoner of war or other protected person to serve in the forces of a hostile Power;

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NOOT 8/TEN STRIJDE!

[8]
The Chamber found that the alleged conduct of Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant concerned the activities of Israeli government bodies and the armed forces against the civilian population in Palestine, more specifically civilians in Gaza. It therefore concerned the relationship between two parties to an international armed conflict, as well as the relationship between an occupying power and the population in occupied territory. For these reasons, with regards to war crimes, the Chamber found it appropriate to issue the arrest warrants pursuant to the law of international armed conflict. The Chamber also found that the alleged crimes against humanity were part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza.
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT [ICC]

Situation in the State of Palestine: ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I rejects the State of Israel’s challenges to jurisdiction and issues warrants of arrest for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant

21 NOVEMBER 2024
ZIE VOOR GEHELE TEKST, NOOT 7

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[7]
ZIE NOOT 6
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT [ICC]

Situation in the State of Palestine: ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I rejects the State of Israel’s challenges to jurisdiction and issues warrants of arrest for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant

21 NOVEMBER 2024

Today, on 21 November 2024, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (‘Court’), in its composition for the Situation in the State of Palestine, unanimously issued two decisions rejecting challenges by the State of Israel (‘Israel’) brought under articles 18 and 19 of the Rome Statute (the ‘Statute’). It also issued warrants of arrest for Mr Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr Yoav Gallant.

Decisions on requests by the State of Israel

The Chamber ruled on two requests submitted by the Israel on 26 September 2024. In the first request, Israel challenged the Court’s jurisdiction over the Situation in the State of Palestine in general, and over Israeli nationals more specifically, on the basis of article 19(2) of the Statute. In the second request, Israel requested that the Chamber order the Prosecution to provide a new notification of the initiation of an investigation to its authorities under article 18(1) of the Statute. Israel also requested the Chamber to halt any proceedings before the Court in the relevant situation, including the consideration of the applications for warrants of arrest for Mr Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr Yoav Gallant, submitted by the Prosecution on 20 May 2024.

As to the first challenge, the Chamber noted that the acceptance by Israel of the Court’s jurisdiction is not required, as the Court can exercise its jurisdiction on the basis of territorial jurisdiction of Palestine, as determined by Pre-Trial Chamber I in a previous composition. Furthermore, the Chamber considered that pursuant to article 19(1) of the Statute, States are not entitled to challenge the Court’s jurisdiction under article 19(2) prior to the issuance of a warrant of arrest. Thus Israel’s challenge is premature. This is without prejudice to any future possible challenges to the Court’s jurisdiction and/or admissibility of any particular case.

Decision on Israel’s challenge to the jurisdiction of the Court pursuant to article 19(2) of the Rome Statute

The Chamber also rejected Israel’s request under article 18(1) of the Statute. The Chamber recalled that the Prosecution notified Israel of the initiation of an investigation in 2021. At that time, despite a clarification request by the Prosecution, Israel elected not to pursue any request for deferral of the investigation. Further, the Chamber considered that the parameters of the investigation in the situation have remained the same and, as a consequence, no new notification to the State of Israel was required. In light of this, the judges found that there was no reason to halt the consideration of the applications for warrants of arrest.

Decision on Israel’s request for an order to the Prosecution to give an Article 18(1) notice

Warrants of arrest

The Chamber issued warrants of arrest for two individuals, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr Yoav Gallant, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024, the day the Prosecution filed the applications for warrants of arrest.

The arrest warrants are classified as ‘secret’, in order to protect witnesses and to safeguard the conduct of the investigations. However, the Chamber decided to release the information below since conduct similar to that addressed in the warrant of arrest appears to be ongoing. Moreover, the Chamber considers it to be in the interest of victims and their families that they are made aware of the warrants’ existence.

At the outset, the Chamber considered that the alleged conduct of Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant falls within the jurisdiction of the Court. The Chamber recalled that, in a previous composition, it already decided that the Court’s jurisdiction in the situation extended to Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Furthermore, the Chamber declined to use its discretionary proprio motu powers to determine the admissibility of the two cases at this stage. This is without prejudice to any determination as to the jurisdiction and admissibility of the cases at a later stage.

With regard to the crimes, the Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu, born on 21 October 1949, Prime Minister of Israel at the time of the relevant conduct, and Mr Gallant, born on 8 November 1958, Minister of Defence of Israel at the time of the alleged conduct, each bear criminal responsibility for the following crimes as co-perpetrators for committing the acts jointly with others: the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.

The Chamber also found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant each bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population.

Alleged crimes

The Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that during the relevant time, international humanitarian law related to international armed conflict between Israel and Palestine applied. This is because they are two High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Geneva Conventions and because Israel occupies at least parts of Palestine. The Chamber also found that the law related to non-international armed conflict applied to the fighting between Israel and Hamas. The Chamber found that the alleged conduct of Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant concerned the activities of Israeli government bodies and the armed forces against the civilian population in Palestine, more specifically civilians in Gaza. It therefore concerned the relationship between two parties to an international armed conflict, as well as the relationship between an occupying power and the population in occupied territory. For these reasons, with regards to war crimes, the Chamber found it appropriate to issue the arrest warrants pursuant to the law of international armed conflict. The Chamber also found that the alleged crimes against humanity were part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza.

The Chamber considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that both individuals intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity, from at least 8 October 2023 to 20 May 2024. This finding is based on the role of Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant in impeding humanitarian aid in violation of international humanitarian law and their failure to facilitate relief by all means at its disposal. The Chamber found that their conduct led to the disruption of the ability of humanitarian organisations to provide food and other essential goods to the population in need in Gaza. The aforementioned restrictions together with cutting off electricity and reducing fuel supply also had a severe impact on the availability of water in Gaza and the ability of hospitals to provide medical care.

The Chamber also noted that decisions allowing or increasing humanitarian assistance into Gaza were often conditional. They were not made to fulfil Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law or to ensure that the civilian population in Gaza would be adequately supplied with goods in need. In fact, they were a response to the pressure of the international community or requests by the United States of America. In any event, the increases in humanitarian assistance were not sufficient to improve the population’s access to essential goods.

Furthermore, the Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that no clear military need or other justification under international humanitarian law could be identified for the restrictions placed on access for humanitarian relief operations. Despite warnings and appeals made by, inter alia, the UN Security Council, UN Secretary General, States, and governmental and civil society organisations about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, only minimal humanitarian assistance was authorised. In this regard, the Chamber considered the prolonged period of deprivation and Mr Netanyahu’s statement connecting the halt in the essential goods and humanitarian aid with the goals of war.

The Chamber therefore found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant bear criminal responsibility for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare.

The Chamber found that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the lack of food, water, electricity and fuel, and specific medical supplies, created conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza, which resulted in the death of civilians, including children due to malnutrition and dehydration. On the basis of material presented by the Prosecution covering the period until 20 May 2024, the Chamber could not determine that all elements of the crime against humanity of extermination were met. However, the Chamber did find that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the crime against humanity of murder was committed in relation to these victims.

In addition, by intentionally limiting or preventing medical supplies and medicine from getting into Gaza, in particular anaesthetics and anaesthesia machines, the two individuals are also responsible for inflicting great suffering by means of inhumane acts on persons in need of treatment. Doctors were forced to operate on wounded persons and carry out amputations, including on children, without anaesthetics, and/or were forced to use inadequate and unsafe means to sedate patients, causing these persons extreme pain and suffering. This amounts to the crime against humanity of other inhumane acts.

The Chamber also found reasonable grounds to believe that the abovementioned conduct deprived a significant portion of the civilian population in Gaza of their fundamental rights, including the rights to life and health, and that the population was targeted based on political and/or national grounds. It therefore found that the crime against humanity of persecution was committed.

Finally, the Chamber assessed that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population of Gaza. In this regard, the Chamber found that the material provided by the Prosecution only allowed it to make findings on two incidents that qualified as attacks that were intentionally directed against civilians. Reasonable grounds to believe exist that Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant, despite having measures available to them to prevent or repress the commission of crimes or ensure the submittal of the matter to the competent authorities, failed to do so.

Background

On 1 January 2015, The State of Palestine lodged a declaration under article 12(3) of the Rome Statute accepting jurisdiction of the Court since 13 June 2014.

On 2 January 2015, The State of Palestine acceded to the Rome Statute by depositing its instrument of accession with the UN Secretary-General. The Rome Statute entered into force for The State of Palestine on 1 April 2015.

On 22 May 2018, pursuant to articles 13(a) and 14 of the Rome Statute, The State of Palestine referred to the Prosecutor the Situation since 13 June 2014, with no end date.

On 3 March 2021, the Prosecutor announced the opening of the investigation into the Situation in the State of Palestine. This followed Pre-Trial Chamber I’s decision on 5 February 2021 that the Court could exercise its criminal jurisdiction in the Situation and, by majority, that the territorial scope of this jurisdiction extends to Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

On 17 November 2023, the Office of the Prosecutor received a further referral of the Situation in the State of Palestine, from South Africa, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Comoros, and Djibouti, and on 18 January 2024, the Republic of Chile and the United Mexican State additionally submitted a referral to the Prosecutor with respect to the situation in The State of Palestine.


For further information, please contact Fadi El Abdallah, Spokesperson and Head of Public Affairs Unit, International Criminal Court, by telephone at: +31 (0)70 515-9152 or +31 (0)6 46448938 or by e-mail at: fadi.el-abdallah@icc-cpi.int

You can also follow the Court’s activities on TwitterFacebookTumblrYouTubeInstagram and Flickr

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