‘Similar tactics, similar atrocities’: Bosnian genocide researcher on Gaza
Arnesa Kustura, a researcher on genocide, says Bosnian genocide survivors “have seen sentiments expressed by the Israeli leadership in a very similar manner expressed by Serb leadership back in the 1990s”.
Kustura, who is signatory to an open letter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) by Bosnian genocide and war survivors, told Al Jazeera, “We know better than anyone the importance of this case [submitted by South Africa accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza]. The closest the ICJ has ever gotten to passing a conviction of genocide was in the case of Bosnia versus Serbia.”
Kustura said Israel utilised the Bosnia case as a precedent in its defence to the genocide charges levelled against it by South Africa, saying the ICJ never convicted Serbia with those charges. “There is an opportunity here to right some historical wrongs and to change the precedent that the ICJ has set when it comes to genocide.”
Legal centre brings war crimes complaint against UK officials, citizens fighting for Israel
The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) has lodged a war crimes complaint against 13 unnamed UK individuals, including officials and those believed to be fighting for the Israeli army.
“True to our word, we have taken the first step in holding those alleged to support war crimes in the UK to account,” said the ICJP’s director, Tayab Ali. “We have referred a complaint to Scotland Yard. The complaint names nine UK citizens who are allegedly fighting with the IDF [Israeli military] and four UK government officials,” he said.
The organisation said it turned over more than 70 pages of evidence, which include details on UK arms exports. The centre describes itself as an independent organisation of lawyers, politicians and academics who support the rights of Palestinians and aim to protect their rights through the law.
True to our word we have taken the first step in holding those alleged to support war crimes in the UK to account.
We have referred a complaint to Scotland Yard. The complaint names 9 UK citizens who are allegedly fighting with the IDF and 4 UK government officials. https://t.co/OnIYEaBWC6
— Tayab Ali (@tayab_ali_) January 16, 2024
‘Ready tonight’: Israeli soldiers train amid tensions on Lebanon border
Israeli soldiers are holding military exercises with the stated goal of increasing readiness for a potential ground assault on Lebanon. The Israeli army has published a video that shows Ori Gordin, the head of the army’s northern command, talking to soldiers and overseeing the training.
“We are more prepared than before, ready to act even tonight if necessary” to attack Lebanon, he said. “We will continue to strengthen our readiness and preparedness in the future”.
The general said tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers are now deployed to the northern command towards the border with Lebanon, where fighting with Hezbollah is ongoing. He said it is still too soon to bring back the Israeli citizens who have had to evacuate the area.
Hamas fires ‘massive salvo’ of projectiles into Israel
Local officials say more than 50 rockets were fired at the same time from Gaza into the Israeli city of Netivot. There are videos posted on social media of the attack from people who are there. The Iron Dome intercepted about 20 rockets. It only intercepts rockets headed towards populated areas.
It is interesting Israel’s active air-and-ground campaign to take out Hamas’s military capabilities, after 102 days into this war the Palestinian group still can fire such a massive salvo. This does feed into the lines from Israel’s leadership that it’s not the time to stop this war. They’re saying they haven’t achieved their objectives, and if they do halt the war it will only play into Hamas’s hands.
This isn't helping either as it will only keep public support for the war in Israel going.
Hamas ‘far from being defeated’: War minister
Hamas’s enduring control in Gaza, despite Israeli assaults, suggests there is currently no viable alternative to its governance over the enclave, an Israeli minister says. “Hamas is far from being defeated, and if anyone thinks that there will be an alternative to its rule in the Gaza Strip, it simply won’t happen,” Gideon Sa’ar told Israel’s Army Radio.
Ben-Gvir says army withdrawal from northern Gaza ‘grave mistake’
Israeli far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has sharply criticised a military decision to withdraw an army division from the northern Gaza Strip.
The army withdrew its 36th Division from the Gaza Strip on Monday for rest and training while three other divisions remain in the bombarded and besieged Palestinian territory. The move was seen as part of the Israeli army’s plans for a long war in the Gaza Strip. “The decision to withdraw the Israeli army from Hamas strongholds in Gaza is a grave and dangerous mistake that will cost human lives,” Ben-Gvir said on X
