The International Criminal Court – fit for purpose?
The International Criminal Court (ICC), established in 2002, seeks to hold to account those guilty of some of the world’s worst crimes.
Supporters say it deters would-be war criminals, bolsters the rule of law, and offers justice to victims of atrocities. But it has only had 11 successful convictions in nearly a quarter of a century, having spent nearly $2bn. The United States, China and Russia are not among its members, and many African governments say its prosecutions single out Africa.
Now, as the world waits to see if the ICC will issue arrest warrants for the leaders of Israel and Hamas, People and Power asks whether the court is fit for purpose.
That's a month old documentary. The ICC is obviously not fit for purpose. They're not overwhelmed with cases like regular courts, overwhelmed with political interference instead.
Can you notice a pattern... https://www.icc-cpi.int/cases
War on Gaza ‘falsely portrayed as conflict. It is genocide’
Abdullah Al-Arian, associate professor of history at Georgetown University in Qatar and a specialist in the modern Middle East, tells Al Jazeera the situation in Gaza is often “falsely portrayed as a conflict between two equal parties when, in reality, it is a genocide being carried out by one side against a defenceless, besieged population”.
Al-Arian suggests that instead of relying on negotiations, there needs to be strong political will from international actors to stop Israel’s actions.
