Correspondence - #19 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The proposed Resolution points to Gazans' dependence on humanitarian aid, citing alarming percentages of shortfalls. Placed as these statistics are amidst an accusatory list of Israel's culpabilities for Gaza's suffering, one can only conclude the Proposal blames Israel for all of Gaza's suffering. It does not mention the number of trucks normally entering Gaza daily, carrying supplies such as concrete and fuel — stolen from the Gazans by Hamas. It does not mention the innovative Israeli water projects given to Gaza. It omits everything but blame placed on Israel. The Proposal goes on, in the next two paragraphs, to accuse Israel of the war crime of collective punishment. I suggest that international war crime attorneys and scholars be given the opportunity to advise you. It certainly cynically brutally and without remorse kill, rape, murder while raping, burn is a war crime to purposefully, alive, and abduct civilian men, women and children. It is a war crime to then to run and hide behind civilian human shields. It is a war crime to use a place of healing, a hospital, or a place of worship, a mosque, or a place of education, a school to hide. It is nearly unbearably painful to see such destruction, to witness so many suffer as the Gazan people are suffering. But dare not call it an Israeli war crime! Call it as it is: a Hamas war crime. The International Criminal Court JCC) prosecutor, Karim Khan, after a recent visit to Israel and to the Palestinian Authority, said that "the attacks against innocent Israeli civilians on October 7 represent some of the most serious international crimes that shock the conscience of humanity.... There can be no justification for the holding of any hostages, and in particular the egregious breach of fundamental principles of humanity through the taking and continued holding of children. Hostages cannot be treated as human shields or bargaining chips." Mr. Khan went on to say, "Conflict in densely populated areas where fighters are alleged to be unlawfully embedded in the civilian population is inherently complex, but international humanitarian law must still apply and the Israeli military knows the law that must be applied .... Israel has trained lawyers who advise commanders and a robust system intended to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law." Is it a war crime — as Israel did — to provide incubators with which to evacuate premature babies from Shifa hospital? Is it a war crime to urge civilians to evacuate an upcoming battle zone — even at the risk of one's own troops? Is it a war crime that Israel provided fuel to Shifa hospital? The proposed Resolution speaks of "ethnic cleansing." To support that accusation the proposed Resolution claims that Israeli leaders use such language as "human animals." The proposed Resolution doesn't clarify that that language is directed — not at Gazans or Palestinians — but at the October 7 terrorists. Is it an inappropriate appellation for those who engage in murder, rape, burning of babies alive? Do not speak of an Israeli policy of "ethnic cleansing" without irrefutable evidence. To claim the Israeli government plans to ethnically cleanse Gaza of Palestinians, the proposed Resolution must provide a cited reference or be seen as dangerously inflammatory but empty rhetoric. However, Article 7 of the Hamas Charter of 1988 does call on Moslems to "fight Jews and kill them."