ICSPR Testimonies Revealed by “Haaretz” Present an Opportunity to Strengthen Israeli Prosecution at the International Criminal Court
Date:18 December 2024
ICSPR: Testimonies Revealed by “Haaretz” Present an Opportunity to Strengthen Israeli Prosecution at the International Criminal Court
The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights (ICSPR) followed with deep concern the report published by the Hebrew newspaper “Haaretz” on Wednesday evening, December 18, 2024. The report unveiled the inhumane practices of the Israeli army in the Netzarim Axis area of the Gaza Strip, documenting indiscriminate targeting of civilians, including children and individuals carrying white flags.
The report includes horrific testimonies from soldiers and officers who served in the Netzarim Axis, revealing the excessive and unjustified use of force against civilians. It was reported that any Palestinian approaching the area, even if a child or unarmed, was shot at, while the bodies of the victims were left for dogs to maul, and survivors faced humiliating treatment. These practices constitute blatant violations of international humanitarian law, amounting to war crimes.
The report highlighted a lack of adherence to the principles of international humanitarian law, noting that soldiers competed to increase the number of Palestinian casualties, a practice that has become a hallmark of military operations. It also pointed to the extensive powers granted to field commanders, including decisions to use air force strikes without higher command approval, reflecting chaos in military operation management.
The testimonies further revealed that Israel’s claim of killing 200 “terrorists” was misleading, as only 10 of the deceased were linked to Hamas. The narrative of Israel being “the most moral army” was described as an attempt to evade responsibility for its crimes in Gaza.
These crimes occur amidst the continuation of Israeli aggression on Gaza for the 440th consecutive day, ignoring the two arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court on November 21, 2024, against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
ICSPR records and demands the following:
- ICSPR: The testimonies revealed by “Haaretz” expose the brutality of the occupation and its systematic policies to kill Palestinians, providing additional evidence of genocide and condemning those who adopt or defend the occupation’s narrative.
- ICSPR: These testimonies provide further evidence and an opportunity to strengthen the legal process for prosecuting occupation leaders and perpetrators of heinous crimes before the International Criminal Court.
- ICSPR: It renews its call for the ICC to include the testimonies from the “Haaretz” report in its evidence files and expand the scope of arrest warrants to encompass all officials within the Israeli military and political chain of command involved in these crimes, based on the principle of universal jurisdiction.
The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights (ICSPR)
