War crimes in the 2023 Israel-Hamas war

A

No Excuses for War Crimes under any Pretext

• US policy makes it complicit in the crimes of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and war crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem.
  • Mahmoud Abbas, quoted in "President Abbas describes US vetoing a Gaza ceasefire as aggressive and unethical" (10 December 2023), Wafa Agency

• These are war crimes... we cannot stay silent.
  • Abdullah II of Jordan, quoted in "Jordan's king says Israeli actions in Gaza and West Bank 'negate human values'" (28 November 2023), The Jerusalem Post By REUTERS

• What set the tone was the early rhetoric from the Biden administration that gave unconditional support for what turned out to be a genocidal war. Blinken can try to soften his rhetoric and apply pressure, but in the end, it won’t bring back the dead in Gaza.
  • Ibrahim Abusharif, quoted in "US isn’t doing enough to prevent ‘genocidal’ war on Gaza: Analyst" (30 November, 2023), Al Jazeera

• Because the Israeli government refuses to allow western journalists safe and regular access to Gaza, local journalists like Wael Al-Dahdouh are the only sources of independent reporting on the impact of the Israeli government’s war crimes. That’s why the Israeli military keeps targeting journalists and their families. This must end. So must the broader genocide, cultural erasure and ethnic cleansing of the Gaza.
  • Nihad Awad, quoted in "CAIR Condemns Attempted Assassination of Al Jazeera Journalist, Desecration of Gaza Cemeteries, Deadly Strike on U.N. School" (15 December, 2023), Council on American-Islamic Relations

B

• It’s imperative that Israel acts in accordance with international humanitarian law and the laws of war.
  • Antony Blinken, quoted in "Live updates" (30 November 2023), Al Jazeera

C

• Gaza, under an Israel-imposed blockade since 2007, is indeed the world’s largest open-aired prison...Subjecting an entire population to collective punishment is a war crime under International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
  • Christos Christou, quoted in "Gaza: “It must all stop now.” Letter to UN Security Council" (4 December 2023), Doctors Without Borders

E

To start, we must demand an immediate end to Israel’s indiscriminate bombing, which is causing an enormous number of civilian casualties and is in violation of international law. Israel is at war with Hamas, not innocent Palestinian men, women and children. Israel cannot bomb an entire neighborhood to take out one Hamas target. We don’t know if this campaign has been effective in degrading Hamas’s military capabilities. But we do know that a reported 70 percent of the casualties are women and children, and that 104 U.N. aid workers and 53 journalists have been killed. That’s not acceptable. ~ Bernie Sanders

• More killing is not the answer. Negotiation is the way to end this conflict. Governments that provide military assistance in the knowledge that atrocities are being committed, or may be imminent, risk being complicit."
  • The Elders, quoted in "The Elders highlights ‘complicit’ military aid to Israel" (4 December 2023), Al Jazeera

H

• Israel’s occupation forces have violated all political, ethical and humanitarian values. It is a disgrace upon the international community to allow this heinous crime to continue.
  • Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani quoted in "Qatar’s emir on Gaza attacks: ‘This is a genocide committed by Israel’" (5 December 2023), The Guardian

• By continuing to provide Israel with weapons [and] diplomatic cover as it commits atrocities, including collectively punishing the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza, the US risks complicity in war crimes.
  • Human Rights Watch, quoted in "Rights advocates react to US vetoing UNSC ceasefire resolution" (8 December 2023), Al Jazeera

K

• The International Court of Justice at The Hague heard arguments from South Africa today, alleging Israel has committed acts of genocide. Israel says South Africa is acting at the legal arm of Hamas. We spoke with war crimes expert Adil Haque
  • Brianna Keilar see video: through Twitter

P

• Israel is undeterred by international law, the Security Council, the General Assembly, world opprobrium, or global demands for a ceasefire. Israel’s leaders do not care and act with total contempt because it does not fear for the consequences of its illegal behaviour, confident they will be forever shielded from accountability for their crimes.
  • Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations, quoted in "Israel ‘does not fear consequences of its illegal behaviour’, says Palestinian UN mission" (15 December 2023), Al Jazeera

S

• To start, we must demand an immediate end to Israel’s indiscriminate bombing, which is causing an enormous number of civilian casualties and is in violation of international law. Israel is at war with Hamas, not innocent Palestinian men, women and children.
  • Bernie Sanders, “Bernie Sanders: Justice for the Palestinians and Security for Israel”, New York Times, (Nov. 22, 2023)

T

• Canada right now is directly engaged in at least five different cases at the ICJ because we believe in the importance of that as an institution. But our wholehearted support of the ICJ and its processes does not mean that we support the premise of the case brought forward by South Africa
  • Justin Trudeau according to Trudeau says Canada doesn't necessarily support "premise" of South Africa's ICJ case against Israel (Jan 12, 2024 #GlobalNews #Trudeau #southafrica)

See also

• 2023 Israel-Hamas war

External links