Latest news with #ConventiononthePreventionandPunishmentoftheCrimeofGenocide
Saba Yemen
3 days ago
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
International Commission to support Palestinians' rights condemns targeting journalists as war crime
Gaza – Saba: The International Commission to Support Palestinians' Rights strongly condemned the massacre committed by Israeli enemy forces on the morning of Thursday, June 5, 2025. An Israeli enemy aircraft targeted a journalists' tent inside the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, killing four journalists: Suleiman Hijaj and Ismail Badiah, who worked for Palestine Today channel; Samir Al-Rifai, correspondent for Shams News Agency; and Ahmad Qalja, cameraman for Al-Arabi channel. Journalist Emad Daloul was also severely injured. In a statement received by the Yemeni News Agency (SABA), the Commission stated: "Targeting journalists and civilians inside Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital constitutes a compound war crime, as it occurred within a hospital protected under international humanitarian law—a law the Israeli enemy has reduced to mere ink on paper since the start of its genocidal war." The statement added: "The Israeli enemy has persistently and deliberately targeted hospitals, journalists, civilians, and civilian infrastructure as part of its ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza Strip for over 20 months." The Commission reiterated its strong condemnation of Israeli crimes against journalists and denounced the Israeli enemy's refusal to allow foreign media access to Gaza, depriving its residents and the world of vital information. "Attacking hospitals and journalists is a war crime aimed at erasing the truth, eliminating witnesses, and preventing media coverage that exposes the lies and atrocities of the Israeli occupation's genocide and aggression in Gaza," the statement said. It further emphasized: "These actions violate all international conventions and treaties, particularly the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and international humanitarian law, which guarantee general protection for civilians and civilian objects, as well as special protection for journalists, children, women, medical personnel, and hospitals." The Commission called on the international community, the United Nations, civil society organizations, grassroots movements, the International and Arab Journalists' Unions, the Red Cross, and all concerned entities worldwide to uphold their responsibilities and take urgent action to halt the genocide and aggression, while ensuring international protection for journalists to continue their vital role in covering the ongoing crimes in Gaza. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Comment By UN High Commissioner For Human Rights Volker Türk On Attacks Around Aid Sites In Gaza
Geneva, 3 June 2025 Deadly attacks on distraught civilians trying to access the paltry amounts of food aid in Gaza, are unconscionable. For a third day running, people were killed around an aid distribution site run by the 'Gaza Humanitarian Foundation'. This morning, we have received information that dozens more people were killed and injured. There must be a prompt and impartial investigation into each of these attacks, and those responsible held to account. Attacks directed against civilians constitute a grave breach of international law, and a war crime. Palestinians have been presented the grimmest of choices: die from starvation or risk being killed while trying to access the meagre food that is being made available through Israel's militarized humanitarian assistance mechanism. This militarized system endangers lives and violates international standards on aid distribution, as the United Nations has repeatedly warned. The wilful impediment of access to food and other life-sustaining relief supplies for civilians may constitute a war crime. The threat of starvation, together with 20 months of killing of civilians and destruction on a massive scale, repeated forced displacements, intolerable, dehumanizing rhetoric and threats by Israel's leadership to empty the Strip of its population, also constitute elements of the most serious crimes under international law. In 2024, the International Court of Justice found that there was a real and imminent risk of irreparable prejudice to the rights of Palestinians in Gaza under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The Court issued binding orders on Israel to take all necessary and effective measures to ensure, without delay, in full cooperation with the United Nations, the unhindered provision at scale by all concerned of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance, including food, water, electricity, fuel, shelter, clothing, hygiene and sanitation requirements, as well as medical supplies and medical care to Palestinians throughout Gaza. There is no justification for failing to comply with these obligations.
IOL News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
South African government firm on Israel case, despite Trump meeting
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is waiting for Israel to file its court papers to challenge South Africa's case against them Image: UN Photo/ICJ-CIJ/Frank van Beek The South African government has confirmed that it will not back down on its International Court of Justice (ICJ) case against Israel, despite concern from some senior ANC officials that President Cyril Ramaphosa was considering withdrawing the case after a meeting with US President Donald Trump. The case, which accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza, has generated significant international interest and support and has been thrust back into the spotlight after concerns were raised by ANC senior members that Ramaphosa was considering doin a U-turn on government's stance on Israel. Ramaphosa, with his delegation last week visited Washington to meet with Trump after the US President made fake allegations that a genocide was being carried out against white Afrikaner farmers. Ramaphosa said that the ICJ matter was not discuss in the bilateral meeting but some National Executive Committee (NEC) officials of the ANC remain concerned that Trump may have twisted Ramaphosa's arm on the matter, especially in relation to trade between the two countries. US secretary State Marco Rubio has stated Trump will be more open to restoring ties with South Africa if South Africa reconsidered its stance on Israel. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya on Monday said that the government's position on the matter remains unchanged. "The position of the government and that of the president remains the same on the matter. It cannot be withdrawn and withdrawing is not even an option," Magwenya said in reference to the ICJ case. Department of International Relations and Cooperation spokesperson Chrispin Phiri echoed Magwenya's response, stating that the matter is before the court and the court has set a deadline for Israel to file its response. An ANC NEC member said they were concerned about the pressure being exerted on the country, especially its views on international conflict and diplomacy. "There is concern among us that behind closed doors, the president might have conceded to Trump in order to fix relations. Comrades are not happy with the matter because it would mean we would be throwing Palestine and its people to the wolves," one NEC source said. Another NEC member said although there was concern that Ramaphosa might fold, he would not make that decision on his own. ANC spokesperson Mahlengi-Bhengu-Motsiri did not respond to a request for comment on Monday. South Africa filed its Memorial to the ICJ in October, applying for the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip. The filing contains evidence of Israel's alleged violations of the genocide convention, including promoting the destruction of Palestinians living in Gaza, physically killing them, depriving them of humanitarian assistance, and ignoring provisional measures of the ICJ. The case has garnered significant international support, with several nations filing Article 62 and 63 interventions to join the case. South Africa's Memorial is a comprehensive presentation of the evidence of genocide in Gaza, and the government has expressed gratitude to the other nations that have supported its case. The court is currently awaiting Israel's court papers to challenge the case. Political analyst Dr Metji Makgoba said that South Africa's decision to take Israel to the ICJ is driven by human rights and solidarity with the Palestinian people. "South Africa has taken Israel to the International Criminal Court based on principled and political reasons. They were showing solidarity with the Palestinian people, but the decision is principled and is driven by human rights," Makgoba said. He added that some Western imperialists were not happy with South Africa's decision to take Israel to the ICJ, however South Africa's withdrawal would show that it is being controlled by the US. 'If they value their political independence, whether on the African continent or globally, they should stick with the decision. 'Now that South Africa sees that the decision has serious repercussions and consequences they may be tempted to withdraw from the ICC. But that would be a very unfortunate decision because it would show that South Africa is not independent,' Mokgoba said. Another analyst, Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast, suggested that Ramaphosa might be tempted to withdraw the case due to pressure from Western powers. "Behind closed doors, there were issues that were discussed so that South Africa backs example, they had to amend newly issued policy directives aimed at easing Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) requirements for licensing satellite services, including Elon Musk's Starlink," Breakfast said. [email protected]
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Gaza: UN Child Rights Committee Condemns Mass Starvation Of Children Amid Aid Blockades
GENEVA (21 May 2025) - The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child condemned the continued obstruction of humanitarian aid to Gaza, urging the international community to pressure Israel to allow immediate and sustained access for essential food and medical supplies. 'More than eleven weeks after the obstruction of humanitarian access, the food security crisis is deteriorating rapidly to the point that more than 50 children have died from hunger and many others are on the verge of death. If the blockade continues, more children will die and up to 71,000 children under five could suffer from acute malnutrition over the next year,' the Committee said, drawing on numbers from the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). 'The right to food is a fundamental human right, intrinsically linked to the right to life, and as such, it is non-derogable under international law,' the Committee stated. It strongly condemned Israel's ongoing military actions in Gaza, which are killing and maiming women and children, including reportedly more than 100 children killed just last week, before accounting for the casualties from the latest strikes. These attacks are occurring on a massive daily scale and are pushing the humanitarian situation to a critical point. 'There is no justification for actions which clearly defy international humanitarian law as well as international human rights law, including the Conventions on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide,' the Committee said. It reaffirmed the importance of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)'s Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024, along with its Orders issued on 26 January and 24 May 2024 in the case South Africa v. Israel concerning the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip. In addition, recalling its country review findings on Israel adopted September last year, the Committee urged the State party to take immediate action to guarantee the right to life, survival, and development of all Palestinian children, stop the killing and injuring of children in Gaza, and to allow safe and unrestricted humanitarian access throughout the Gaza Strip.
Gulf Today
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Today
UN child rights body condemns mass starvation of Gaza children
The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child strongly condemned Israel's ongoing obstruction of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Committee expressed grave concern over reports indicating that more than 14,000 babies could die within hours if life-saving supplies are not allowed into the besieged Strip. The Committee urged the international community to exert immediate pressure on the Israeli occupation authorities to ensure the sustained and unimpeded delivery of essential food and medical aid. Citing data from Unicef and the World Health Organisation, the Committee stated that more than 11 weeks of blocked humanitarian access have exacerbated the food security crisis in Gaza. Over 50 children have already died from starvation, with many more at imminent risk. The Committee warned that if the blockade persists, additional child deaths are inevitable, and up to 71,000 children under the age of five could suffer from acute malnutrition within the next year. It added that the right to food is a fundamental human right, intrinsically linked to the right to life, and is therefore non-derogable under international law. The Committee stated that there is no justification for actions that blatantly violate international humanitarian law, as well as international human rights law, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. WAM
