Israelis hold ‘day of disruption’ to protest against Netanyahu’s gov’t
Israeli security forces scuffle with Israeli protesters attempting to block a road during a ‘day of disruption’ by groups demonstrating against the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Shoresh, Israel, on May 20
Supporters of the families of captives held in Gaza take part in the ‘day of disruption’ by antigovernment protest groups outside the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, in Jerusalem
Israeli police use water cannon against protesters outside the Knesset
Era of impunity for Israel’s leaders is over, says Israeli rights group
B’Tselem, a leading Israeli human rights group, has welcomed the ICC prosecutor’s request to seek arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant.
“The era of impunity for Israeli decision-makers is over,” the group said in a statement. “The international community is signalling to Israel that it can no longer maintain its policy of violence, killing and destruction without accountability. Likewise, the request for arrest warrants against Hamas leaders for the crimes of October 7 is important and draws a red line where harm to civilians is concerned,” it said.
“The ICC intervention and ICJ rulings are a chance for us, Israelis, to realize what we should have understood long ago: that upholding a regime of supremacy, violence and oppression necessarily involves crimes and severe violation of human rights.”
Palestinian rights groups welcome ‘landmark’ ICC decision, call for additional genocide charge
The rights organisations Al-Haq, Al Mezan, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights said that ICC prosecutor Karim Khan’s decision to file an application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is “a crucial step” towards ending impunity in Israel’s war on Gaza.
In a statement, the three organisations said the ICC announcement follows after “tireless efforts by Palestinian and international civil society organisations demanding the issuance of arrest warrants” for members of Israel’s war cabinet.
“While we welcome the issuing of charges for crimes against humanity, there is also a public catalogue of genocidal statements of intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza, including through the intentional denial of aid,” the organisations said.
“For these reasons, genocide as an additional crime should be included in an amendment to the charges,” they added.
https://x.com/alhaq_org/status/1792639508564885658
Australia’s Albanese refuses to comment on ICC arrest requests
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sidestepped questions on the ICC prosecutor’s decision to seek arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, saying he does not comment on court processes.
“We’ve said that every life matters, whether it be Israeli or Palestinian, and we’ve called for progress towards a two-state solution. That is where we’re concentrating, playing a role where we can in promoting the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians to live in security in peace and with prosperity,” he said.
The comments came as Australia’s opposition leader Peter Dutton backed the US president’s labelling of the ICC prosecutor’s decision as “outrageous”.
“My view is that Australia should stand shoulder-to-shoulder with President Biden to stand up against this equivalence, which is completely and utterly repugnant to compare the Israeli prime minister to a terrorist organisation leader,” Dutton said.
Australia urged to end arms exports to Israel after ICC arrest requests
The Australian Center for International Justice (ACIJ) is calling on Albanese’s government to support Karim Khan’s efforts and reminding it that it is duty-bound to comply and execute any arrest warrants issued by the court.
Rawan Arraf, the executive director at ACIJ, said the requests for arrest warrants by ICC prosecutor put the government “on further notice that they may be assisting the commission of international crimes” and called for an end to all Australian arms exports – including parts and components – to Israel.
Arraf said the government must also urgently investigate Australians who have served and are serving in Israel’s military.
