October 30, 2023 by achrilock

18.17 EDT

Three Palestinian rights groups have called on the prosecutor of the international criminal court (ICC), Karim Khan, to issue arrest warrants for Israeli authorities and military personnel.

A joint statement by Al-Haq, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) came a day after Khan made an unannounced visit to the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza.

Speaking after his visit on Sunday, Khan said Israel must make “discernible efforts, without further delay to make sure civilians receive basic foods, medicine”, adding that impeding relief supplies to Gaza’s population may constitute a crime under the ICC’s jurisdiction.

The three Palestinian rights groups said the decision to cut off supplies of water, food, electricity, medicine and fuel and the use of starvation as a method of war to collectively punish the people of Gaza “are both clear and blatant international crimes”.

These crimes were ordered and authorized by the Israeli government, including by the Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant, and the Minister of National Infrastructure, Energy, and Water, Israel Kantz.

They said:

Accordingly, we call on the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) to immediately issue arrest warrants for Israeli authorities and military personnel, and particularly for individuals responsible for perpetrating international crimes against children, in conformity with the OTP’s explicit policy.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/oct/30/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-aid-trucks-enter-gaza-strikes-casualties-israel-targets-hit-syria-lebanon?page=with:block-654029ca8f0837aa4c22e18d#block-654029ca8f0837aa4c22e18d