![Will World Leaders Finally Be Held Accountable for Promoting the Genocide of Gaza?](https://islamicneekah.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image-2-750x560.png)
Will World Leaders Finally Be Held Accountable for Promoting the Genocide of Gaza?
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The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) has initiated a federal lawsuit against top U.S. officials — President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The lawsuit contends that these leaders bear a “legal duty to prevent, and not further” the ongoing genocide carried out by Israeli forces in Gaza — a significant step that might be ushering us toward justice.
Legal grounds and violations
This legal action is filed on behalf of both organizational and individual plaintiffs, with the former involving prominent Palestinian rights groups, including Al-Haq, Al Mezan, and Defense for Children International–Palestine (DCIP). Individual plaintiffs are Ahmed Abu Artema, Mohammed Ahmed Abu Rokbeh, and Dr. Omar Al-Najjar who are all residing in Gaza and have experienced the devastating impact of the latest Israeli aggression. Mr. Abu Artema lost six family members, including his son, to Israeli bombardment, while Dr. Al-Najjar and Mr. Abu Rokbeh faced significant personal losses.
The lawsuit also brings together U.S. citizens of Palestinian origin — Mohammad Herzallah, A.N., Laila Elhaddad, Waeil Elbhassi, and Bassim Elkarra. These individuals have family members in Gaza who continue to endure the consequences of Israeli bombings and the withholding of essential resources.
CCR grounds its case on violations of customary international law, as outlined in the 1948 Genocide Convention and the corresponding Genocide Convention Implementation Act (18 U.S.C. § 1091), enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1988. The lawsuit argues that the actions of Israeli forces, coupled with the complicity of U.S. leaders through military and diplomatic support, constitute grave breaches of international law.
This legal initiative seeks to halt further arms, monetary support, and diplomatic backing provided by the U.S. to Israel, condemning the devastating toll on Gaza’s civilian population. More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, wounded, or gone missing, with 70% of the besieged strip’s 2.3 million people forcibly displaced and half of its homes destroyed.
William Schabas, a renowned legal expert on genocide, contributes to the gravity of the situation with his declaration in the case. He writes, “I conclude that there is a serious risk of genocide committed against the Palestinian population of Gaza and that the United States of America is in breach of its obligation, under both the 1948 Genocide Convention to which it is a party as well as customary international law, to use its position of influence with the Government of Israel and to take the best measures within its power to prevent the crime taking place.”
Prominent Palestinian human rights attorney Noura Erekat places the lawsuit in a broader legal context, citing additional efforts, such as a petition by Reporters Without Borders urging the ICC to investigate the killing of journalists during the latest Israeli aggression.
“Very recently, Reporters Without Borders have also submitted a petition calling on the ICC to investigate the now killing of 34 journalists, several of them while they were working during this onslaught,” Erekat tells Democracy Now.
She adds that the ICC’s prosecutor, Karim Khan, opened an investigation against Putin without question after witnessing the forcible transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia, immediately, while it took him 3 weeks just to investigate.
“It took the prosecutor, Karim Khan, three weeks to travel to Rafah in order to investigate what was in the first week an evident example of genocidal intent, mass killings, the destruction of those conditions of life that would reduce the ability of Palestinians to survive.”
Craig Mokhiber, a seasoned international human rights lawyer who served as the director of the New York Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has recently resigned and is publicly accusing the U.N. of failing to address what he deems a “text-book case of genocide” in Gaza.
Mokhiber’s resignation letter, now viral, serves as a poignant testament to his discontent with the handling of the occupation of Palestine within the United Nations. In a revealing interview with Democracy Now, Mokhiber delves into the frustration emanating from what he perceives as a different set of rules applied to the current situation in Gaza. He questions the absence of a transitional justice process, a U.N. protection force for civilians, and a tribunal for accountability.
His critique extends to the Security Council’s inaction, emphasizing that efforts are consistently thwarted by the U.S., indicative of complicity in the situation. Mokhiber’s resignation letter sheds light on the term “genocide” and its politicization, pointing to open statements of genocidal intent by Israeli officials. He underlines the challenge of proving genocide in this context, condemning the disproportionate use of firepower against civilian targets in Gaza.
We have a formula at the United Nations that is applied to virtually every other conflict situation. But when it comes to the situation in Israel and Palestine, there’s a different set of rules, apparently.
— Craig Mokhiber
In a striking parallel to Noura Erekat’s critique of the ICC’s speed in handling Gaza compared to Ukraine, Mokhiber echoes similar sentiments. He notes a “stunning inconsistency” in the court’s rapid response to Ukraine and its prolonged approach to the Palestinian situation. Mokhiber underscores broader critiques of the ICC, emphasizing its lack of accountability for Northern countries, including Israel and the U.S., in contrast to its eagerness to pursue cases in the Global South.
Mokhiber further highlights the bureaucratic inefficiencies within the U.N. during a different interview with Democracy Now, stating, “We have a formula at the United Nations that is applied to virtually every other conflict situation. But when it comes to the situation in Israel and Palestine, there’s a different set of rules, apparently. And that’s, I think, a big source of my frustration. Where is the transitional justice process? Where is the U.N. protection force to protect all civilians?” He tells Democracy Now.
“Where is the tribunal for accountability? Where is the action on the part of the Security Council, the only mechanism in the United Nations that has enforcement to ensure protection in the Occupied Territories? Obviously, every effort in the Security Council is vetoed by the United States itself, a further indication of the kind of complicity about which I am referring.”
The ‘unwavering’ allyship with the Zionist propaganda and censorship
Recently, leaders from France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States issued a joint statement expressing unwavering support for Israel.
“Today, we — President Macron of France, Chancellor Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Meloni of Italy, Prime Minister Sunak of the United Kingdom, and President Biden of the United States — express our steadfast and united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism,” according to the statement.
Additionally, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has launched a legal challenge against Florida’s ban on pro-Palestinian university groups. This move comes amid heightened tensions on U.S. campuses over Israel’s latest attacks on Gaza. The ACLU contends that Florida’s directive, ordering the closure of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapters, violates students’ free speech rights.
Simultaneously, in a move reflecting the broader narrative of censorship and scrutiny, billionaire hedge fund CEO Bill Ackman and other business leaders have demanded exposing the names of students whose organizations blamed Israel for its latest attacks. The call for disclosure raises concerns about potential blacklisting of these students, revealing the complex dynamics surrounding pro-Palestine advocacy on American campuses.
In the sphere of activism and political influence, Americans have been shifting their focus toward two entities: the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and Canary Mission, given their current evident roles in silencing pro-Palestine voices. AIPAC, a prominent lobbying group, has faced criticism for its influence on U.S. politicians, which affects their stance on the latest Israeli aggression.
Simultaneously, the infamous Canary Mission, an entity known for listing students and professors who support Palestine, contributes to the challenges faced by pro-Palestinian individuals. The organization aims to impact their academic and professional lives and has been listing countless profiles of U.S. residents supporting Palestine.
Complicity within the entertainment industry
It is worth noting that about 2,000 entertainment leaders released an open letter expressing support for Israel earlier on Oct. 12. The letter, framed as “standing with Israel under attack,” hints at potential pressure from the Israeli government on entertainers.
![A Reddit screenshot that showcase influencers getting the same threatening WhatsApp messages for opposing the genocide of Gaza.](https://i0.wp.com/muslimgirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image-2.png?resize=750%2C778&ssl=1)
In fact, this will not be the first time a celebrity has paid the price for supporting Palestine. Bella Hadid, renowned for her modeling career and global influence, has found herself “losing jobs” due to her support for Palestine.
“I had so many companies that stopped working with me,” she said during her interview at the Rep podcast on Aug. 15, 2022. “I have friends that completely dropped me.”
The political theater in the UK
As the legal battle unfolds on the global stage, attention turns to the UK, where Crispin Blunt, co-director of the International Center of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), issues a stern warning. The center recently announced its intention to prosecute UK government officials for “aiding and abetting war crimes in Gaza.”
“If you know that a party is going to commit a war crime — and this forcible transfer of people is a precise breach of one of the statutes that governs international law and all states in this area — then you are making yourself complicit,” he says.
Francesca Albanese, the U.N. special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, joins the chorus of criticism against the UK. She contends that the UK’s unwavering support for Israel grants them “carte blanche to do whatever it pleases.” Albanese expresses concern over the annexation of large parts of the West Bank and laments the lack of substantial reactions beyond verbal condemnations.
“Look at the annexation that has been announced officially this year of large swathes of the West Bank,” she tells Sky News. “Has anyone reacted to this? Not that I know of, other than in words and half-mouthed condemnations here and there.”
Canada’s current stance
The International Center of Justice for Palestinians Legal Working Group for Canadian Accountability (ICJP LWGCA) has issued a notice of intention to prosecute Canadian government officials — including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly, Minister of National Revenue Marie-Claude Bibeau, and Minister of Justice Arif Virani — for aiding and abetting war crimes in Gaza.
“The Government of Canada is aware that actions taken by Israel since Oct. 7 have already been reported as constituting serious breaches of international criminal law, international humanitarian law, and international human rights law,” according to the statement.
Prime Minister Trudeau’s unequivocal support for Israel stands in contrast to mounting evidence of potential war crimes, including the reported use of white phosphorus munitions against the civilian population in Gaza.
“There are also credible reports on Israel’s use of white phosphorus munitions against the civilian population in Gaza — a substance which is known to ignite fires and cause burns to those who are impacted by it.”
ICJP underscores the Canadian government’s awareness of actions by Israel, which makes the steadfast support for Israel raise questions about its complicity in potential war crimes.
“The Government of Canada must be aware that such support and assistance raises the risk of it being complicit in the commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity. For example, it is a crime to supply arms to a state with knowledge that they will be used for war crimes and genocide.”
Individuals around the world fighting against the genocide of Gaza
As the legal actions unfold against U.S., UK, and Canadian officials, the world is still amplifying Palestinian voices and narratives, with over 300,000 protesters attending the Nov. 5 protest in Washington, D.C.
In a notable display of public dissent, UK pro-Palestine protesters have gathered in the streets of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. This event is thought to stand as one of over 100 reported demonstrations taking place across the country on Saturday.
On top of that, content creators have been attending protests, filming, and showcasing the message they have to the world.
In addition to that, widespread protests have erupted in Turkey, Egypt, Venezuela, Morocco, Malaysia, Jordan, Lebanon, the UK, Canada, and the U.S. to fight against the Zionist propaganda that promotes the unjustifiable genocide of Gaza.
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