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dir="ltr"> <font size="-2"><a class="domain reader-domain"
href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/icc-warns-israeli-leaders-over-gaza-killings">https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/icc-warns-israeli-leaders-over-gaza-killings</a></font>
<h1 class="reader-title">ICC warns Israeli leaders over Gaza
killings</h1>
<p class="node__submitted">
<span class="field field-author"><a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/people/ali-abunimah">Ali
Abunimah</a></span> <span class="field field-blog">- </span><span
class="field field-publication-date"><span
class="date-display-single"
content="2018-04-08T19:28:31+00:00">8 April 2018</span></span>
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style="display: block;">
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<figure id="file-59161"><source media="(min-width:
72rem)"><figcaption><small><span></span></small></figcaption></figure>
<p>The <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/tags/international-criminal-court">International
Criminal Court</a> has issued an unprecedented
warning that Israeli leaders may face trial for the
killings of unarmed Palestinian protesters in the Gaza
Strip.</p>
<p>“Since 30 March 2018, at least 27 Palestinians have
been reportedly killed by the Israeli Defence Forces,
with over a thousand more injured, many, as a result
of shootings using live ammunition and rubber
bullets,” <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/tags/fatou-bensouda">Fatou
Bensouda</a>, the ICC’s chief prosecutor, <a
href="https://www.icc-cpi.int/Pages/item.aspx?name=180408-otp-stat">stated
on</a> Sunday.</p>
<p>“Violence against civilians – in a situation such as
the one prevailing in Gaza – could constitute crimes
under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal
Court, as could the use of civilian presence for the
purpose of shielding military activities,” Bensouda
said.</p>
<div id="file-59166">
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<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Statement of <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ICC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ICC</a>
Prosecutor <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FatouBensouda?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FatouBensouda</a>
regarding the worsening situation in Gaza: " The
resort to violence must stop" <a
href="https://t.co/npthwrsQrf">https://t.co/npthwrsQrf</a></p>
— Int'l Criminal Court (@IntlCrimCourt) <a
href="https://twitter.com/IntlCrimCourt/status/983001500954890241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April
8, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>“Any person who incites or engages in acts of
violence including by ordering, requesting,
encouraging or contributing in any other manner to the
commission of crimes within ICC’s jurisdiction is
liable to prosecution before the court,” Bensouda
added.</p>
<p>Bensouda’s reference to using civilians for
“shielding military activities” appears to be a nod to
Israel’s claims that the <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/tags/great-march-return">Great
March of Return</a> mass rallies organized by
Palestinians over the last two Fridays along Gaza’s
boundary with Israel are a <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/tags/hamas">Hamas</a>
ploy to shield “terrorist” activities.</p>
<p>However, as an <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/israeli-leaders-ordered-calculated-killings-gaza-protesters">investigation
by Human Rights Watch</a> determined, and <a
href="https://twitter.com/rafsanchez/status/982252986553450498">observations</a>
by journalists have confirmed, there have been no such
“military activities” by Palestinians taking part in
the demonstrations.</p>
<p>The <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/nora-barrows-friedman/listen-every-palestinian-was-target-gaza-march">festival-like</a>
rallies have brought out tens of thousands demanding
an end to <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/tags/gaza-siege">Israel’s
blockade</a> of Gaza and the <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/content/calling-world-conscience/23846">right
of return for refugees</a>.</p>
<div id="file-59096">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Over the course of several
hours at the <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gaza?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gaza</a>
border today and Thurs, I haven't seen any
protesters with guns or Molotov cocktails. </p>
<p>I've seen a tiny handful - single digits among
thousands of young men - with axes, knives or
heavy shears for cutting the fence.</p>
— Raf Sanchez (@rafsanchez) <a
href="https://twitter.com/rafsanchez/status/982252986553450498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April
6, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>No Israelis have been reported injured as a result of
the Palestinian protests in Gaza.</p>
<p>But what is not in doubt is that Israeli leaders have
ordered the targeting of unarmed civilian protesters
in what Human Rights Watch <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/israeli-leaders-ordered-calculated-killings-gaza-protesters">termed</a>
“calculated” killings of people who posed no threat
whatsoever.</p>
<div id="file-59171">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">HRW’s <a
href="https://twitter.com/OmarSShakir?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OmarSShakir</a>:
“The Israeli forces treated the buffer zone as
the “free-fire zone” <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GazaReturnMarch?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GazaReturnMarch</a>
<a href="https://t.co/FSkMibDsEp">https://t.co/FSkMibDsEp</a>
<a href="https://t.co/rsLGSGvEp5">pic.twitter.com/rsLGSGvEp5</a></p>
— Carbonated.TV (@CarbonatedTV) <a
href="https://twitter.com/CarbonatedTV/status/982586812651720704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April
7, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>Three of those slain have been children.</p>
<div id="file-59136">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Our investigation confirms
Israeli forces killed 13-year-old Hussein
Mohammad Adnan Madi in Gaza yesterday around 4
pm local time. He sustained a gunshot wound to
the abdomen & was later pronounced dead at
Shifa hospital. <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GazaReturnMarch?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GazaReturnMarch</a>
<a href="https://t.co/TJfsnVqvU3">pic.twitter.com/TJfsnVqvU3</a></p>
— Defense for Children (@DCIPalestine) <a
href="https://twitter.com/DCIPalestine/status/982597954635788289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April
7, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div id="file-59156">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Yesterday, Israeli forces
shot & killed 15-year-old Aladdin Yahia
Ismail Zamili in Gaza around 6 pm local time. He
sustained a gunshot wound to the neck and was
later pronounced dead at Youssef Al-Najjar
hospital in Rafah. <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GazaReturnMarch?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GazaReturnMarch</a>
<a href="https://t.co/xJb918JeMa">pic.twitter.com/xJb918JeMa</a></p>
— Defense for Children (@DCIPalestine) <a
href="https://twitter.com/DCIPalestine/status/982687772451442688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April
7, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div id="file-58996">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Israeli forces shot dead
Ibrahim Abu Sha'er on March 30. <a
href="https://twitter.com/DCIPalestine?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DCIPalestine</a>
investigations confirmed he was 17 years old
when he was killed, not 22 years as reported by
news media. Under international law, any person
below 18 years is considered a child. <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GazaReturnMarch?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GazaReturnMarch</a>
<a href="https://t.co/G9j6kILNQk">pic.twitter.com/G9j6kILNQk</a></p>
— Defense for Children (@DCIPalestine) <a
href="https://twitter.com/DCIPalestine/status/982334469070827521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April
6, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>In advance of this Friday’s demonstrations, the
Israeli human rights group B’Tselem had <a
href="https://www.btselem.org/firearms/20180404_why_soldiers_must_refuse_to_fire_at_unarmed_protesters">warned
soldiers</a> that they would be committing crimes if
they obeyed “patently illegal” orders to shoot unarmed
civilians.</p>
<div id="file-59176">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Yesterday, yet again, the
Israeli military used lethal force with no
justification in Gaza. Shooting live ammunition
at unarmed protesters who pose no threat is
immoral, and a command ordering it is manifestly
illegal. Israeli policy makers must change these
orders immediately.</p>
— B'Tselem בצלם بتسيلم (@btselem) <a
href="https://twitter.com/btselem/status/982607106565201921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April
7, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div id="file-59206">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We reiterate our appeal to
Israeli soldiers to refuse to abide by patently
unlawful orders to use lethal force against
unarmed protesters in Gaza. The dangerous
assertions made by Minister Lieberman, implying
Gazan protestors are legitimate target, evince
disdain for basic morals <a
href="https://t.co/F9ZlxcdP6S">https://t.co/F9ZlxcdP6S</a></p>
— B'Tselem בצלם بتسيلم (@btselem) <a
href="https://twitter.com/btselem/status/983028461202739201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April
8, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>Israeli snipers stationed along the boundary with
Gaza <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/maureen-clare-murphy/two-children-journalist-among-israels-latest-gaza-victims">killed
nine Palestinians</a> on Friday.</p>
<p>Breaking ranks with the European Union, which is <a
href="https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/42637/statement-most-recent-developments-gaza_en">still</a>
<a
href="https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/42558/statement-spokesperson-planned-new-demonstrations-gaza-friday-6-april_en">refusing</a>
to condemn Israel’s actions, France on Saturday <a
href="http://en.rfi.fr/20180408-france-condemns-israels-indiscriminate-fire-gaza">condemned</a>
Israel’s “indiscriminate fire” against Palestinian
civilians in Gaza.</p>
<div id="file-59181">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="fr">Territoires palestiniens -
bande de Gaza<br>
9 morts et plusieurs centaines de blessés causés
par la répression des manifestations. La France
réprouve à nouveau les tirs indiscriminés de
l’armée israélienne. La lumière doit être faite
sur ces graves événements.<a
href="https://t.co/xaax1Y9N5o">https://t.co/xaax1Y9N5o</a></p>
— France Diplomatie🇫🇷 (@francediplo) <a
href="https://twitter.com/francediplo/status/982677637058514944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April
7, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>But despite such warnings, Israeli leaders have
refused to change their live-fire orders, and have
repeatedly commended their soldiers for the bloodshed.</p>
<div id="file-59186">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">"I think the division and
the forces of the Southern Command fulfilled
their mission in an impressive way." - Maj. Gen.
Eyal Zamir, Commanding Officer of the Southern
Command <a href="https://t.co/vIZMffPybY">pic.twitter.com/vIZMffPybY</a></p>
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) <a
href="https://twitter.com/IDFSpokesperson/status/982326854538465280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April
6, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div id="file-59191">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Re: killing of 31
Palestinians & wounding of more than 1,000
from live fire in Gaza <a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GreatReturnMarch?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GreatReturnMarch</a>:
Israeli army (women) scouts say they have
"followed every 'terrorist' for 5 hours before
deciding to shoot him"<a
href="https://t.co/8BHAYUZf8q">https://t.co/8BHAYUZf8q</a></p>
— Asaf Ronel (@AsafRonel) <a
href="https://twitter.com/AsafRonel/status/982643818104270849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April
7, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>On Sunday, defense minister Avigdor Lieberman
declared in effect that all two million of Gaza’s
residents are legitimate targets, <a
href="http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Liberman-slams-request-to-investigate-death-of-Gaza-journalist-covering-protests-549135">telling
Israeli media</a> that “in the march of terror there
were no innocent civilians, they were all Hamas
members.”</p>
<p><a
href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liberman-trump-didnt-consult-with-israel-on-syria-withdrawal/">According
to <em>The Times of Israel</em></a>, Lieberman
“later clarified that his use of the Hebrew word <em>tamim</em>
was intended to mean not ‘innocent,’ but ‘naive.’”</p>
<p>His walking back the comment is not surprising since
such statements can be used as evidence of intent in
any international criminal trial.</p>
<p>Lieberman had been slamming calls to investigate the
<a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/maureen-clare-murphy/two-children-journalist-among-israels-latest-gaza-victims">killing
of journalist Yaser Murtaja</a> who was fatally shot
while wearning a vest clearly marked with the word
“Press” on Friday.</p>
<p>“We have seen dozens of cases of Hamas activists
[who] were disguised as medics and journalists,”
Lieberman <a
href="http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Liberman-slams-request-to-investigate-death-of-Gaza-journalist-covering-protests-549135">claimed</a>.</p>
<p>“We also saw a journalist approach the border and
operate a drone, we do not take chances in those
cases,” he added, an assertion which the Israel
military <a
href="https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-no-evidence-to-lieberman-s-claim-that-slain-gaza-journalist-had-drone-1.5979315">has
found no evidence</a> to support.</p>
<div id="file-59196">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Oh & <a
href="https://twitter.com/IDFSpokesperson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IDFSpokesperson</a>
has a new reason why a sniper killed journalist
Yaser Murtaja: he was activating a drone.<br>
BTW, not that it should be a capital offence,
but all eye witnesses of the moment he was shot
say he wasn't activating any drone<a
href="https://t.co/ekVFnS7NtI">https://t.co/ekVFnS7NtI</a></p>
— Asaf Ronel (@AsafRonel) <a
href="https://twitter.com/AsafRonel/status/982870363297206272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April
8, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div id="file-59201">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Israeli Forces Continue to
Target Journalists Despite “PRESS”-Marked Vests<a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gaza?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gaza</a>
<a
href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GreatMarchOfReturn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GreatMarchOfReturn</a>
<a href="https://t.co/HEK9fgzmdJ">https://t.co/HEK9fgzmdJ</a>
<a href="https://t.co/WIJIw4fsNM">pic.twitter.com/WIJIw4fsNM</a></p>
— Al Mezan Center (@AlMezanCenter) <a
href="https://twitter.com/AlMezanCenter/status/983224560941182977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April
9, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div id="file-59211">
<div>
<blockquote data-width="550">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Head of Reporters Without
Borders says death of Gaza journalist shot by
Israel was “deliberate” <a
href="https://t.co/meyatCovXw">https://t.co/meyatCovXw</a></p>
— Joe (@joedyke) <a
href="https://twitter.com/joedyke/status/982608949122945025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April
7, 2018</a></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<p>At the rallies the week before Murtaja’s slaying,
Israeli forces <a
href="https://cpj.org/2018/04/cpj-safety-advisory-covering-gaza-protests.php">injured
10 journalists</a>, including several with live
ammunition, according to the Committee to Protect
Journalists.</p>
<p>Despite Lieberman’s objections, the Israeli army on
Sunday <a
href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/brigadier-general-tapped-to-probe-armys-response-to-gaza-protests/">named
one of its own generals</a> to investigate its
actions that have led to the killings of Palestinians
in Gaza, including of Murtaja.</p>
<p>But such military self-investigations have <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/charlotte-silver/we-will-no-longer-be-fig-leaf-occupation-says-btselem">historically
been</a> nothing more than <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/adri-nieuwhof/israeli-generals-sued-dutch-court-killing-gaza-family">whitewashes</a>
that have served to bolster Israeli impunity and <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/content/will-icc-see-through-israels-sham-justice/18321">deter
investigation by the ICC</a>.</p>
<p>This is why the ICC prosecutor’s statement carries
particular significance, since the international court
is only mandated to step in when national judicial
authorities are <a
href="https://www.icc-cpi.int/NR/rdonlyres/20BB4494-70F9-4698-8E30-907F631453ED/281984/complementarity.pdf">unwilling
or unable to carry out genuine proceedings</a>.</p>
<p>In her statement Sunday, Bensouda noted “the
situation in Palestine is under preliminary
examination by my office.” That is the procedure by
which the prosecutor decides whether to open a formal
investigation that could lead to indictments.</p>
<p>But the open-ended preliminary examination has been <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/icc-preliminary-probe-palestine-still-long-way-war-crimes-trials">going
on for years</a> with Bensouda appearing to drag her
feet.</p>
<p>In a case related to Israel’s 2010 attack on a
flotilla to Gaza, Bensouda has <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/icc-says-israel-committed-flotilla-war-crimes-refuses-investigate">acknowledged</a>
that Israeli forces likely committed war crimes in
international waters, but she has nonetheless declined
to open a formal investigation.</p>
<p>The lawyers for the families of those killed when
Israeli commandos stormed the <em>Mavi Marmara</em>
have accused Bensouda’s office of going “out of its
way to sidestep having to launch any real
investigation at the international level, knowing full
well that the national [Israeli] authorities are not
investigating these crimes.”</p>
<p>Since its founding, the ICC has lost much credibility
because of its <a
href="http://www.latimes.com/world/africa/la-fg-icc-africa-snap-story.html">exclusive
focus</a> on prosecuting Africans, despite the fact
that the <a
href="http://legal.un.org/icc/statute/99_corr/cstatute.htm">1998
Rome Statute</a> mandates the court to “put an end
to impunity” for the gravest crimes no matter where
they are committed.</p>
<p>Palestinians are planning more mass rallies in Gaza
in the weeks leading up to <a
href="https://electronicintifada.net/tags/nakba-day">Nakba
Day</a> – the 15 May annual commemoration of the
1948 ethnic cleansing of Palestine.</p>
<p>It remains to be seen if Bensouda’s warning will
deter Israeli leaders from further slaughter and if
the court will finally move to end the impunity Israel
has enjoyed for decades.</p>
<br>
</article>
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