DaysofPal- The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have been committing horrible crimes against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip since the onset of the Israeli genocide on October 7, 2023.
“ The Israeli crimes in the Gaza Strip—particularly in the northern region—constitute an ongoing genocide against humanity since October 7, 2023. These crimes include the destruction and burning of hospitals, the killing and arrest of medical personnel, and the systematic destruction of infrastructure.” According to Dr. Issam Abdeen, an expert in international criminal law.
In an interview with Palestine Online, Abdeen explained that these Israeli crimes fulfill the elements of genocide as defined under Article 6 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
This includes the killing of Palestinians and subjecting them to living conditions intended to bring about their total or partial physical destruction.
Abdeen noted that such crimes are among the gravest international offenses and also qualify as crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute, where such atrocities are committed on a large scale and in a systematic manner targeting civilian populations, including deliberate killings and attacks on civilian infrastructure.
Abdeen pointed to the Israeli forces’ storming of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, setting it ablaze, rendering it inoperative, and arresting its director, Dr. Hossam Abu Safia, as a clear example of these violations.
53 Crimes Against Humanity
Abdeen stated that the crimes unfolding in Gaza encompass genocide under Article 6 of the Rome Statute, crimes against humanity under Article 7, and war crimes under Article 8, as these violations include grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, such as targeting civilians without military necessity, destroying hospitals, and burning civilian infrastructure.
He emphasized that Israeli forces have committed 53 international crimes in Gaza, classified as genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Each instance constitutes an independent crime under international standards.
Abdeen pointed out that an ICC arrest warrant issued in May 2024 identified seven crimes committed by Israel compared to eight crimes attributed to Palestinians, highlighting the international community’s double standards.
Palestinian and International Failures
Abdeen criticized the Palestinian Authority and human rights organizations for failing to submit comprehensive referrals to the ICC. He also condemned the withdrawal of international organizations such as the Red Cross and UNRWA from Gaza since the beginning of the Israeli genocide.
He refuted Israeli justifications for targeting hospitals under the pretext of harboring resistance elements, asserting that such actions cannot be justified under international humanitarian law principles, such as necessity and proportionality.
A Call for Unified Palestinian Action
Abdeen stressed the importance of devising a unified Palestinian strategy to document crimes collectively, coordinate diplomatic efforts through embassies and missions, and allocate adequate resources to support Palestinian resilience.
He called for the accountability of all those involved in international crimes, including Israeli military and political leaders, as well as international supporters of these actions.
Finally, he urged a comprehensive review of Palestinian performance, emphasizing that the absence of organization and collective action weakens the ability to confront international double standards.
He noted that current efforts fall short of addressing the scale of the challenges faced.
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