Latest news with #HindRajab
Saba Yemen
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Peru opens investigation against Israeli soldier on charges of war crimes in Gaza
Gaza - Saba: The Hind Rajab Human Rights Foundation stated that the Republic of Peru has opened a formal criminal investigation against an Israeli soldier on charges of committing war crimes in the Gaza Strip. The human rights organization submitted a legal complaint, accompanied by documented audio and video evidence, accusing the soldier, who served in the Israeli army's combat engineering corps, of direct participation in the destruction of civilian neighborhoods in Gaza between 2023 and 2024 during the Israeli genocide in Gaza. The organization said in a statement: "Rather than serving as a support unit, the engineering corps served as the primary operational arm of the destruction, systematically reducing civilian areas to rubble, razing entire communities, and rendering vast swaths of Gaza uninhabitable." The organization considered Peru's initiation of a formal investigation into the evidence it presented a significant development for international justice and an affirmation of the importance of exercising universal jurisdiction, rather than merely recognizing it, when those responsible for international crimes are found within the territory of a state. In her statement, Hind Rajab called on all states, especially those party to the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute, to follow Peru's example by initiating legal proceedings against individuals implicated in the genocide in Gaza, who may fall within their international jurisdiction. Commenting on Peru's move, the organization's president, Diab Abu Jahjah, said it was not a symbolic step, but rather the beginning of real legal accountability, adding that "justice is not an option, but a duty." This legal complaint is one of dozens of files the human rights organization has prepared to pursue soldiers in the Israeli army's combat engineering corps, focusing on their role in carrying out Israel's genocidal campaign against Palestinians in Gaza. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
The Guardian
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
What did you do during the genocide in Gaza?
Now, when Israel is executing a 'final solution' in Gaza, when it is far too late for dissent to make any difference, the tide is slowly starting to turn. Now that Gaza is flattened, turned into mass graves and rubble, people who have kept quiet for the past 19 months are slowly starting to speak up. Now that Israel and the US are not even trying to pretend that they aren't intent on emptying Gaza and the West Bank of Palestinians, of 'taking control' of all of the land, some criticism has started to trickle in. Over in the UK, they've pulled out the 'e' word. After 19 months of genocidal violence and almost three months of a starvation campaign the UK has decided to describe the situation as egregious. The UK, along with France and Canada have threatened – and I'm sure Israel's leaders are quaking in their boots over this – that there might be a 'concrete' response if the mass killing and starvation continues. Meanwhile, there's been a slight shift in the media coverage. Instead of just parroting the Israeli government's talking points, major media figures such as Piers Morgan are starting to challenge Israeli spokespeople about why the international media has not been freely allowed into Gaza to see what is happening for themselves. All of this is too little, too late. It will not bring back little Hind Rajab, a five-year-old girl who was killed when 335 bullets were fired by Israeli soldiers into the car the terrified child was trapped in. Or the aid workers executed by Israel and buried in shallow graves. It will not rebuild the hospitals, kindergartens, IVF centers and universities that have been systematically levelled by Israel. It will not give kids in Gaza – the largest cohort of child amputees in the world – their limbs back. It will not fix the long-term damage that malnutrition and almost two years of no schooling has done to a generation. The criticism we are seeing now is simply an exercise in ass-covering. Performative opposition, so that in the future, when the true scale of the slaughter in Gaza is clear, the politicians and media figures responsible for enabling and justifying this horror for 19 months can say: 'Look! I said something! I didn't just stand by!' And what will you say? When future generations read about Gaza with horror and wonder how the western world, with all its moral superiority, its rule-based order and its focus on international human rights law, allowed a livestreamed genocide to happen, what will you say? When future generations learn that, for 19 months, we woke up every morning to videos of children being burned alive – bombed with weapons that the US taxpayer helped pay for and the western world helped justify – will you be able to say that you spoke up? A lot of ordinary people will be able to hold their head up high and say they were not silent; that they use whatever platforms or privilege they had. Logan Rozos, an NYU student who had his diploma withheld because he used his commencement speech to recognize 'the atrocities currently happening in Palestine', will be able to say he wasn't quiet. The students expelled from Columbia University for protesting will be able to say they put their futures on the line in the name of justice. Actors like Melissa Barrera, who was fired from Scream 7 over her pro-Palestine posts, will be able to say that she prioritized integrity over her career. The people with real power, however, will not be able to say the same; they will not be able to wash the blood from their hands. It seems likely that all this horror will eventually be pinned on Benjamin Netanyahu while others try to absolve themselves of blame. But this isn't just Netanyahu's genocide. This is the Biden-Harris genocide; the Trump-Vance genocide; the Keir Starmer and David Lammy genocide. It is Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's genocide. This is the mainstream media's genocide. The list goes on. We would not be where we are today were it not for the systematic dehumanization of Palestinians by the western media and the suppression of pro-Palestinian speech. We would not be here if western reporters and Joe Biden hadn't manufactured consent for the genocide by repeating the incendiary lie that Hamas had beheaded babies. We would not be here if the Biden administration had actually worked towards a ceasefire instead of lying about their efforts and giving Israel carte blanche to do whatever it liked. Eventually history will judge all these people. But perhaps that is wishful thinking. Perhaps I am being naive in thinking that, even if all the Palestinians are sent off to exile in Libya and Gaza is turned into a Trump-branded resort, there will ever be a reckoning. After all, how many Americans or Europeans really know about the Nakba? How many people know about Israel's 'Cast Thy Bread' operation in 1948 where the drinking water in Palestinian villages was poisoned? How many Americans know about Rachel Corrie, the young non-violent activist from Washington who was killed by an Israeli bulldozer while she tried to save Palestinian homes in Gaza from destruction in 2003? Ever since the Nakba, Palestinian voices have been actively suppressed and Israeli atrocities have been minimized. (One Palestinian writer I know had a piece about mapping in Palestine pulled from a very prestigious US magazine several years ago after they refused to remove discussion of the Nakba.) You will have heard of every atrocity committed by a Palestinian however. You will have been told over and over again that all this started on 7 October 2023. It is too late for real justice in Gaza now. We can never bring back the dead children. We can't erase what has happened. But it is not too late for accountability. The atrocities must be documented. The dead in Gaza must be properly counted so we know how many people have been murdered. The media must stop parroting the official death figure of more than 55,000 people being dead without putting this into context and noting that when you account for indirect deaths from starvation, disease, or cold, the real number of deaths is likely enormously higher. If you have stayed quiet until now, telling yourself that all this is just far too complicated for you to speak up about, it is not too late to raise your voice. What is happening in Gaza is different from the horrors happening in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo because, if you are in the west, it is happening in your name. It is happening with your tax money and with the help of your leaders. If you are in the US, your elected representatives have delivered a standing ovation for this genocide. We are all complicit. Although some of us are far more complicit than others. So, again, think about what you want to say to future generations when they ask what you did at this very moment. Silence is not neutrality. And your silence will not be forgotten. As Martin Luther King Jr said: 'In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.' Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian US columnist
Arab News
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Kaouther Ben Hania and Oscar-winning producers on board to direct film on killing of Palestinian girl
LONDON: Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania will direct a new feature dramatizing the death of Hind Rajab, the five-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza earlier this year, a Variety report said on Wednesday. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ The project, which is currently untitled, is set to be shot in Tunisia and produced by Nadim Cheikhrouha ('Four Daughters'), alongside Oscar-winning producers Odessa Rae ('Navalny') and James Wilson ('The Zone of Interest'), with backing from Film4. Hind Rajab's death became a global symbol of the humanitarian toll of Israel's military campaign in Gaza following the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks. She was one of thousands of children killed in the conflict, but her story sparked particular international outrage. In one notable protest, student demonstrators at Columbia University renamed occupied buildings in her honor. Rajab was fleeing Gaza City with members of her family on Jan. 29, 2024, when their car came under Israeli fire, killing her uncle, aunt and three cousins. Hind was left trapped in the vehicle for hours, speaking with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society by phone as paramedics attempted to reach her. On Feb. 10, after Israeli forces withdrew from the area, rescuers found the bodies of Hind, the paramedics and the family still inside the vehicle. Israel initially denied responsibility, but investigations by The Washington Post, Sky News and the research agency, Forensic Architecture, later concluded that Israeli tanks were in the vicinity and had likely fired at the car. The same investigations indicated an Israeli tank had also targeted the ambulance sent to rescue her. Ben Hania, one of the Arab world's most acclaimed filmmakers, has received multiple Academy Award nominations. Her 2017 feature, 'Beauty and the Dogs,' was Tunisia's Oscar submission, while 'The Man Who Sold His Skin' (2020) was nominated for best international feature. Her latest film, 'Four Daughters,' was nominated for best documentary feature at the 2024 Oscars.
Days of Palestine
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
Six-Year-Old Hind Rajab's Killer Identified
DaysofPal- After a year-long investigation, the Hind Rajab Foundation has reportedly identified the Israeli occupation unit and its commanding officer responsible for the killing of six-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, along with her family members and two medics who attempted to rescue her. The foundation, established in memory of the young victim, released a detailed statement holding the unit accountable for targeting a civilian vehicle and deliberately destroying a Palestine Red Crescent ambulance dispatched to save Hind. According to the foundation's findings, an Israeli tank unit operating under the direction of the identified commander attacked on January 29, 2024. The strike targeted the civilian car carrying Hind and six of her family members. All but Hind were killed instantly. For hours, the critically injured child remained alive, whispering into a phone connected to ambulance dispatchers, 'I'm so scared… please come.' Tragically, the ambulance sent to rescue her met the same fate as the family's vehicle. The Israeli occupation forces fired on the medical team, killing two medics inside the ambulance and leaving Hind stranded until she succumbed to her injuries. A Call for Accountability The Hind Rajab Foundation vowed to pursue justice relentlessly, stating that they would hold every individual involved in the incident accountable—'those who gave the orders, those who fired, those who covered it up, and those who let it happen.' In their statement, the organization urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants against those implicated. 'This was not an accident or a mistake,' the foundation emphasized. 'It was a calculated act of violence against unarmed civilians and humanitarian workers. We demand full accountability for this crime.' The Attack and Its Aftermath Eyewitness accounts and investigative reports compiled by the foundation paint a chilling picture of the events leading up to Hind's death. On the day of the attack, Hind's family had been traveling in their private vehicle when Israeli tanks opened fire without warning. The vehicle was reduced to rubble, trapping the family inside. While most perished immediately, Hind survived long enough to make contact with emergency services, pleading for help in heartbreaking detail. When the ambulance arrived at the scene, witnesses reported seeing it clearly marked with the emblem of the Palestine Red Crescent Society—a universally recognized symbol of medical neutrality. Despite this, Israeli occupation forces allegedly targeted the ambulance, obliterating any chance of survival for Hind and murdering the two medics aboard. The foundation's investigation included testimonies from survivors, analysis of satellite imagery, and cross-referencing communications between Israeli military units during the time of the attack. These efforts led them to pinpoint the specific tank unit and its commander responsible for the operation. International Outcry and Calls for Justice The identification of the unit and commander has reignited calls for accountability amid widespread condemnation of Israeli crimes in Gaza. Human rights organizations have repeatedly accused Israeli occupation forces of systematically violating international law by targeting civilians and obstructing humanitarian aid. Hind's case has become emblematic of the broader atrocities faced by Palestinians in Gaza, where thousands of children have been killed or maimed since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023. Her story has drawn global attention, with activists and advocacy groups demanding action from international bodies such as the ICC and the United Nations. In response to the foundation's findings, Amnesty International issued a statement calling for an independent inquiry into the incident. 'This is yet another example of Israeli disregard for human life and its blatant violations of international humanitarian law,' the statement read. 'The international community must act decisively to ensure justice for Hind Rajab and countless others like her.' Hind's Legacy The Hind Rajab Foundation continues to honor her memory through advocacy and education initiatives aimed at raising awareness about the plight of Palestinian children living under occupation. Their work underscores the urgent need for accountability and systemic change to prevent future tragedies. As Hind's final words echo in the minds of those fighting for justice—'I'm so scared… please come'—her story serves as both a reminder of the horrors endured by innocent civilians in Gaza and a rallying cry for humanity to hold perpetrators of war crimes accountable. Shortlink for this post:
Roya News
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
Foundation identifies "Israeli" officer responsible for Hind Rajab's murder
The has named the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) commander it holds responsible for the attack that killed the six-year-old girl, her family, and two medics in Gaza. On what should have been her seventh birthday, the Hind Rajab Foundation has taken a bold step toward justice. In a statement issued on Saturday, the foundation announced that it has filed a formal war crimes complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, holding the Israeli Occupation accountable for the killing of Hind Rajab and others during an IOF operation in Gaza on Jan. 29, 2024. After a year-long investigation, the foundation named Lieutenant Colonel Beni Aharon, then-commander of the 401st Armored Brigade of the IOF, as the man responsible for the attack. According to the complaint, an IOF tank unit under Lt. Col. Aharon's command fired on the civilian vehicle carrying Hind and her family in Gaza's Tel al-Hawa neighborhood. Six family members died instantly. Hind, severely wounded but still alive, was heard whispering through a phone to Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) dispatchers, 'I'm so scared… please come.' An ambulance dispatched by PRCS was also struck and burned by "Israeli" fire. The two medics inside were killed on the spot. Hind's body was discovered ten days later, alongside that of her cousin Layan. 'Today, Hind should have been blowing out candles. Instead, we are naming her killer,' said Dyab Abou Jahjah, a spokesperson for the foundation. 'This is only the beginning. We are coming for every name, every link in the chain, with the law and with truth.' The foundation says it has identified not only the brigade responsible, but also the battalion and its field commanders involved in the Tel al-Hawa operation. The group promises to pursue further legal action beyond the ICC, using universal jurisdiction to file additional complaints in national courts around the world. 'This complaint is not an act of revenge—it is a solemn legal act rooted in evidence, law, and the humanity Hind was denied,' the statement reads. The filing builds on months of work, incorporating findings from Forensic Architecture, Sky News, and other independent investigations. The foundation emphasized that the case is backed by concrete evidence and is a call for urgent international accountability. It sees the filing as a turning point in the fight against impunity for war crimes in Gaza.
