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News

ICC accused of lacking guts to issue warrant against Netanyahu

todayMay 3, 2024 54

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International Relations expert, Dr Chidochashe Nyere, says the International Criminal Court (ICC) does not have the guts to issue a warrant against Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

The court is currently investigating Israel’s actions in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

A move Israel and the United States have cautioned against.

Speaking to YNews, Nyere says there could be several complications with the issuing of the warrant against Netanyahu.

 

Nyere says the ICC issuing an arrest warrant against Netanyahu would be a watershed moment, which would send a message to world leaders that even the most feared can be held accountable for their actions.

The ICC has previously issued arrest warrants for leaders including Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Muammar Gaddafi of Libya, and Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony.

It’s also been under fire from African leaders in particular who have accused it of selective prosecuting, a reason why Nyere believes holding Israel to account would symbolise the court’s mandate for justice.

Israel has been accused of failing to sufficiently protect civilians during its seven- month long bombardment of the Gaza Strip, although it insists it takes all necessary measures to avoid casualties.

To date, more than 34 000 people have been killed, mostly women and children, in the Palestinian territory since the war began and scores others are missing.

Israel since it isn’t a member of the ICC, the court has no jurisdiction over it.

But the court has ruled that it does in fact have jurisdiction over the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza since 2015, after the Palestinians ratified its founding treaty, the Rome Statute, as the State of Palestine.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) today, broke its silence saying it’s aware of the significant public interest in its investigations and has been under immense pressure to act on atrocities committed in Gaza.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says government is closely monitoring developments regarding the possibility of the warrant of arrest being issued.

South Africa took Israel to the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.

The ICJ then ordered Israel to desist from any acts that could be considered violations of the Genocide Convention and to ensure that its military perform no genocidal activities against Palestinians.

Several other countries including Turkey and Colombia have applied to join South Africa’s case against Israel before the ICJ, whilst others have joined in the widespread condemnation of the killings.

The war has also sparked multiple protests at higher education institutions, mainly in the US, with demonstrator calling for an end to the war.

More than 2 000 people have been arrested during pro-Palestinian protests at least 30 US campuses across the United States in recent weeks.

The protests have even spilled over to South Africa – with Stellenbosch University students calling for an academic boycott – in solidarity with Palestine.

However, United Nations General Assembly, Israel’s UN ambassador, Gilad Erdan says they believe that Hamas is hiding in universities in the US.

 

 

 

Written by: Nonhlanhla Harris

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