Palestinian rights organisation condemns Israel's interception of Madleen flotilla
Palestinian rights organisation Al-Haq has strongly condemned Israel's 'unlawful interception' of the Madleen in international waters, calling for the 'immediate release of all those detained'.
'Israel has no legal authority to restrict access to Palestine, since such is within the exclusive right of the Palestinian people,' the Ramallah-based rights organisation said in a statement.
"As people of conscience seek to demonstrate solidarity with and to provide vital support for the Palestinians of Gaza, third states must urgently ensure both that they are protected from the illegal violence of the Israeli state."
Al-Haq urges states & intl orgs to ensure safe passage for the Madleen crew. Detained activists must be released & protected now. Let the #Madleen sail to Gaza. #FreePalestine #LetMadleenSail #MadleenToGazahttps://t.co/pbACi5xtBf pic.twitter.com/aZAYhzf0ro
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Middle East Eye
17 minutes ago
- Middle East Eye
By threatening the ICC, David Cameron disgraced Britain
By threatening the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor, former British Foreign Secretary David Cameron has joined Russian President Vladimir Putin among a small group of unsavoury world leaders who have menaced or bullied the ICC. In plain English, the former foreign secretary (and former prime minister) has been caught red-handed in an attempt to pervert the course of justice. The motive for Cameron's appalling conduct: a determination to protect Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, from war crimes charges. In the words of the ICC, these war crimes included 'starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts'. Cameron told ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan that issuing an arrest warrant against Netanyahu and Gallant would be 'like dropping a hydrogen bomb'. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Cameron's contempt for the rule of law and readiness to resort to menace and intimidation is standard procedure from the likes of Putin, Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump. But Britain is a country that prides itself on respect for the rule of law. We claim to be part of a moral international order. We ought to be better than that - much better. No excuses The fact that Cameron resorted to menace in order to protect the reputation of Netanyahu, a suspected war criminal, places Britain as a part of a group of gangster nations and rogue states for whom might is right. Cameron has therefore disgraced himself and the Conservative Party - and above all, he has disgraced Britain. There are no excuses. He cannot claim inexperience. Cameron was British prime minister for six years, and he had been brought back as foreign secretary when he sought to intimidate Khan. Exclusive: David Cameron threatened to withdraw UK from ICC over Israel war crimes probe Read More » So far, there has been no response from the Foreign Office or Downing Street to Middle East Eye's revelations about Cameron's despicable behaviour. The Foreign Office declined to comment in response to an MEE request. That silence is deafening. To avoid Britain's reputation being permanently besmirched, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has a duty to come out and make a statement, conveying that he is horrified and disgusted by Cameron's conduct as foreign secretary. He also needs to restate Britain's commitment to the ICC and the values it embodies. This intervention is all the more urgent, because putting pressure on the ICC could constitute a criminal act under British domestic law as well as international law. The Rome Statute that established the ICC does not just prosecute those who commit war crimes. It also criminalises those who seek to prevent war crimes from being prosecuted. The relevant passage of the Rome Statute, Article 70, awards the court jurisdiction over those responsible for 'impeding, intimidating or corruptly influencing an official of the Court for the purpose of forcing or persuading the official not to perform, or to perform improperly, his or her duties'. Cameron's threat to 'defund the court and withdraw from the Rome Statute' falls squarely within ICC jurisdiction. Reckless actions There are also potential consequences under domestic law. 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Britain is a country that prides itself on the rule of law. We claim to be part of the rules-based international order. To his eternal credit, Khan, a British citizen, stood up to Cameron's threats. But the inescapable fact remains that a British foreign secretary tried to subvert the course of justice. Cameron needs to break his silence and to explain himself. Meanwhile, Starmer would be well-advised to order an urgent enquiry into the shocking revelation that Cameron sought to intimidate the chief prosecutor of the ICC. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.
Middle East Eye
17 minutes ago
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UK and allies sanction Israeli ministers Ben Gvir and Smotrich over 'monstrous' Gaza comments
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Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Middle East Eye
Israel launches large-scale Nablus raid with fears of prolonged assault
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