International Commission “Hashd” Issues Report on 325 Days of Ongoing Genocidal War on Gaza
Date:26 Aug 2024
Press Release
International Commission “Hashd” Issues Report on 325 Days of Ongoing Genocidal War on Gaza
The International Commission “Hashd” has issued a report marking 325 days of the ongoing genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.
The report confirms that Israeli occupation forces continue to commit genocide in Gaza, flouting all international legal standards. This has resulted in the killing and injury of about 10% of the population, with 70% of the victims being children and women. Additionally, it has caused the forcible displacement of 2 million citizens, destroyed 85% of homes and civilian infrastructure, turning Gaza into a devastated and besieged area lacking water, food, medicine, and with difficult communication conditions. This has forced citizens into a hellish situation with severe and catastrophic conditions.
The report highlights that Israeli forces are committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. These crimes include the deliberate killing and targeting of civilians, especially children, women, journalists, medical personnel, and international staff. They also include the destruction of civilian objects and the imposition of collective punishments, exacerbating the catastrophic plight of Gaza’s residents who are deprived of basic necessities for survival. The brutal siege has confined Gaza’s residents between death from bombings and bullets and death from repeated forced displacement, hunger, and disease.
The report emphasizes the urgent and immediate need to end the war of annihilation and genocide, to save lives by halting the conflict, and to provide means of survival through various forms of humanitarian aid. Both these paths are imperative and must be pursued immediately, despite the importance of post-war efforts that attract international attention. The priority today, before tomorrow, is to double efforts and take all necessary measures to stop this ongoing crime, and to protect and save the Palestinians. Failure to immediately halt this destructive war, or obstructing efforts to end it, is tantamount to direct complicity in the crimes and horrors being committed.
While the current priorities focus on stopping the aggression and providing aid to Gaza’s population, legal efforts and the documentation of international crimes committed against Palestinians are equally important. This requires coordinated and intensified efforts to ensure effective contributions to international justice. This includes holding perpetrators accountable before international courts such as the International Court of Justice or the International Criminal Court, or through the principle of universal jurisdiction.
The report includes documentation outlining the general context of Israeli crimes in Gaza from October 7th until August 25th, 2024, particularly the various heinous crimes committed by the Israeli government and military in Gaza. It records significant criminal events across different areas and classifies Israeli crimes according to legal standards and the criteria set by the Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court and the Geneva Conventions, especially war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
The report serves as a foundation for serious legal work led by the International Commission “Hashd” in collaboration with the International Criminal Court and the United Nations and its agencies. The Commission has completed evidence collection and is tracking the evolving field developments of the genocide through continued monitoring and data updates. At the same time, it is working to enhance the documentation contained in the comprehensive report, ensuring the development of a robust database supported by compelling evidence of Israeli crimes. This includes gathering testimonies, visual evidence, and field reports from victims and affected individuals to be presented to international courts and relevant international bodies.
