Israeli War Criminals Olmert, Vilnai, Dichter, and Ashenazi Sued at International Criminal Court for Committing Crimes Against Humanity, War Crimes, and Genocide Against the Palestinian People

Human rights activists file international suit against Israeli leaders

[ 11/12/2008 - 12:13 PM ]

THE HAGUE, (PIC)--

A group of international human rights activists on Wednesday filed a lawsuit at the international Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague against Israeli political and military leaders for committing crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide.

Quds Press published content of the lawsuit, which primarily focuses on the Israeli siege on Gaza. Names on that lawsuit are of Israeli resigning premier Ehud Olmert, his war minister Ehud Barak, deputy war minister Matan Vilnai, minister of internal security Avi Dichter and chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi.

The International Alliance for Combating Impunity (IACI), which is a member in the UN economic and social council, is launching the lawsuit in cooperation with legal experts and lawyers from many countries including three lawyers from Spain and a delegation representing North America, Europe, the Middle East and South America.

Mai Al-Khansa, the chairwoman of the organization, said that a delegation of her organization had met with the ICC officials and asked for the issuance of arrest warrants against the accused.

She told Quds Press that the non-governmental organizations are entitled to table such a request with the ICC, and called on the ICC general prosecution to investigate the crimes committed in Gaza.

Khansa, a human rights activist of Lebanese origin, said that the "brutal crimes committed against the Gaza inhabitants are unbearable", adding that such brutality was unprecedented in the history of mankind.

The chairperson expressed conviction that the court would find the Israeli leaders guilty, adding that the whole world should know that Israel is a "terrorist entity".

Khansa said that Arab countries' participation in Gaza siege at the request of the US administration would "compel us to file another lawsuit at the ICC obliging those countries to open the closed crossings". Rafah is the only Arab crossing (controlled by Egypt) that is being closed with the Gaza Strip.

For his part, MP Jamal Al-Khduari, the head of the popular anti siege committee, welcomed the demands for bringing to court the Israeli leaders responsible for violating the international laws.

In a press release on Wednesday, Khudari also asked the international community to implement the UN expert in human rights Richard Falk's recommendations to the UN to urgently intervene to protect the civilian population in Gaza in face of Israel's policy of collective punishment.

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