Activists of the World Unite; Bombard with Emails the International Criminal Court Demanding Fast Track Enquiry into War Crimes Against Palestinians

 

The ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank including East Jerusalem by the Israel-USA-UK-France-Germany combine must be relentlessly brought to the notice of the International Criminal Court (ICC) till it investigates the crime on a war footing. A large number of public protests have taken place outside The Hague headquarters of the ICC since October 2023. Just a glimpse of some of these protests can be had:

 

1.     Pro-Palestine demonstrators in The Hague urge ICC action. (Reuters, 18.10. 2023)

2.     Thousands rally in Hague to show solidarity with Palestine. (Anadolu Ajansi, World Middle East, 29.10.2023)

3.     World condemns Israel’s war on Gaza as it marches for Palestine. (Al Jazeera, 11.12.2023)

4.     Pro-Palestinian activists occupy international court entry, demanding action against Israeli leader. (AP News, 23.10.2023)

5.     Mass Protest in The Hague calls out Israeli war crimes. (Unicorn Riot, 01.11.2023)

6.     How a pro-Palestine protest turned into a chase. (Mare-online, 11.11.2023)

7.     Dutch civil servants call for Gaza cease fire in rare protest. (The New Indian Express, 21.12.2023)

8.     Pro-Palestine protests walk 21km ‘Nakba March’ to the ICC. (Middle East Monitor, 18.12.2023)

 

Going through these and other protests covered by the media I got the feeling that the ICC headquarters at The Hague has been converted to what activists in India get to see at the national protest site Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.

 

Activists from any part of the world working in any sphere of life e.g. gender; sexuality; caste/race; communalism (the Indian face of racism); trade union could individually or through their parent organization join this campaign. A simple way of showing solidarity with Palestinians is to send an email to the ICC asking for the ongoing enquiry initiated at the behest of several countries, professional bodies e.g. Reporters Without Borders or RSF, NGOs and individuals to be conducted on a war footing. See statement of the Prosecutor of the ICC here.

 

True, the ICC is bourgeoisie institute and not much is expected out of it; equally true this can still be used even as efforts by socialists/communists organizations have been continuing for long to prepare and mobilize the working class for a revolutionary change. Comrades swearing by Marx and Lenin are right about the need for a revolutionary change. This need is greater today as right wing forces have raised their ugly heads globally. However for the present civil society organizations should be seen as allies in the quest for justice for Palestinians. In any case mass protests are ongoing globally; the UN is doing its bit though facing veto by the USA. The sympathies of the world are with the Palestinians.

 

[P.S. Sahni is a qualified orthopaedic surgeon. He has worked extensively at India-Bangladesh border during the Bangladesh Liberation War resulting in 1971 Bangladesh Genocide of Hindus; the victims of Sikh Genocide in 1984; and amongst victims of 1992 anti-Muslim violence.

Blogs: https://pilwatchgroup.blogspot.com/ ]

Legal Notice to Mr. Mujtaba for Plagiarism

 

Sunak & Olaf Scholz can be Served Arrest Warrants by ICC for Complicity in War Crimes Against Palestinians

 

Several petitions have been filed in the International Criminal Court (ICC) for proceedings against Israel. The Public Prosecutor of the ICC has visited Israel, Palestine (Gaza Strip) and even talked to families of victims. As the Israeli government has not ratified the Rome Statute of the ICC it claims to remain outside the jurisdiction of ICC. However the UK and Germany have ratified the Rome Statute. It is public knowledge that Sunak and Olaf Scholz did visit the scene of ongoing crime in Israel in October 2023 and promised to stand by Israel in this war. The UK government has sent arms and ammunition (see here).

The German government followed suit (see here).

 

The ICC has thus the jurisdiction to investigate the complicity of these two individuals viz. Sunak and Olaf Scholz and the governments they represent viz. UK and Germany. As suppliers of arms and ammunition to Israel in the ongoing Holocaust-II of Palestinians, they/their respective governments are indeed complicit in the crime against humanity. After satisfying that arms and ammunition were supplied to Israel through its own independent investigations, the ICC could issue warrants of arrest against the two entities.

 

Meanwhile the USA and Israel are smarting under the fig leaf of an excuse that they are both not signatories to the Rome Statute and are outside the purview of ICC. Even the mere issuance of warrants of arrest against Sunak and Olaf Scholz would be a moral victory for the international community. Why, even the act of pressing for legal proceedings at ICC alone would change global power equations.

 

France had strengthened its naval presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. This announcement was made by Macron on October 25 according to Le Monde:

“The move marks a significant reinforcement of France’s military posture in the war between Israel & Hamas.”

However the French government is at pains to explain that the naval presence is for humanitarian aid only.

 

There are positive signals all round. The ongoing worldwide mass protests against the Israeli government; the 153 countries opposing Israel at UNGA; the European Parliament election in 2024; and the domestic pressure in Israel, USA, UK –  countries due for general elections in 2024 could eventually lead to a Nuremberg-II Trial!

 

[P.S. Sahni is a qualified orthopaedic surgeon. He has worked extensively with the victims of Sikh Genocide in 1984; amongst victims of 1992 anti-Muslim violence; and at the India-Bangladesh border during the Bangladesh Liberation War resulting in 1971 Bangladesh Genocide of Hindus.

Blog: https://pilwatchgroup.blogspot.com/ ]

 

Appeal to 153 Countries Which Voted for Ceasefire – Unitedly Hold Peaceful Sit-in at Egypt-Gaza Border

 

 

 

 

 

Extraordinary situations call for unusual forms of resistance and protests. Efforts of the majority of member countries at the UN for a ceasefire are being scuttled by brute veto power of one or two countries. The puffed-up bullies who have catapulted themselves to power through electoral maneuverings in imperialist-capitalist USA; former colonizers UK and France; Zionist Israel and erstwhile Nazi Germany are holding not just the brave and valiant Palestinians to ransom, but also cocking a snook at the international community. This mafia-raj of the five dons enumerated above must be uprooted and booted out of power. Rather than using the public financial resources to create jobs for an increasing unemployment amongst the working class, the exchequer is being emptied by directing money to war industry for providing arms and ammunition to the IDF to slaughter Palestinians.

 

Each of the 153 countries (including India) which voted for a ceasefire in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) could send one representative each for a collective action at the Egypt-Gaza Border (Rafah Crossing Point). The form of protest should be an indefinite peaceful sit-in. Let the Israeli army bombard just right up to the Gaza border but within Gaza itself. The protesters should continue with their peaceful action till the Israeli army is forced into a ceasefire. The protesters should be guided by the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi; Nelson Mandela; Martin Luther King. The 153 countries which have been sending representatives to UN meetings have learnt that their efforts are being thwarted. Peaceful sit-in at the Egypt-Gaza Border could be the first step in a renewed effort to stop the war on Palestinians by the Israeli army.

 

[P.S. Sahni is a qualified orthopaedic surgeon. He has worked extensively with the victims of Sikh Genocide in 1984; amongst victims of 1992 anti-Muslim violence; and at the India-Bangladesh border during the Bangladesh Liberation War resulting in 1971 Bangladesh Genocide of Hindus.

Blog: https://pilwatchgroup.blogspot.com/ ]

Bench Fixing in Supreme Court of India

 The bench fixing in the Supreme Court of India is an ongoing issue. In 2019 we faced the same problem. We made the issue public for a larger debate. Read Press-Release below:

"The division bench comprising of Hon'ble Mr. Justice Arun Mishra and Hon'ble Mr. Justice M.R. Shah of the Supreme Court (SC) today i.e. 22 July, 2019 dismissed the Special Leave Petition challenging the Delhi High Court judgement dated 07.01.2019 which had upheld the constitutional validity of the Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958. As the Petitioner (and losing one) it is imperative to point out that the SC did not go into the merits of the case today.

What transpired in the Supreme Court today:

The court at the very outset – even before the petitioner-in-person could utter a word – said “dismissed”! Still the petitioner pointed out that a similar petition challenging the The Uttar Pradesh Urban Buildings (Regulation of Letting, Rent and Eviction) Act, 1972 is already admitted by the court. Justice Mishra responded that we have already dismissed a petition from the same order (of the Delhi High Court dated 07.01.2019) and “we have to be consistent”. It is pertinent to mention here that as per the Supreme Court current roster, petitions under Rent Acts are not supposed to go before the bench headed by Justice Mishra!! The pre-existing bias in the minds of the judges ensured that the petitioner did not get a fair hearing

The struggle of owners will continue with renewed efforts and we will now oppose the draft Model Tenancy Act, 2019 (till it includes old tenancies in its ambit) both inside and outside the Parliament.

Shobha Aggarwal

Petitioner-in-person & President (CRDRCA)

Read the SLP here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Cj9RNooTu2dzO-ZGQZFKFWAqUWmvriiB/view?usp=sharing"

'Zionists are an abomination for all Jews'

In response to our appeal to Noam Chomsky to constitute an International People’s Tribunal to Halt Holocaust-II of Palestinians by Israel published in Countercurrents.org, the Editor CC received the following message:

 

“Possibly the Only Real Solution for Israel/Hamas Is Radically Idealistic

The situation in Israel with Hamas is a wakeup call. Everything needs to be changed and rectified. It is based on a lie.: That Israel is the homeland for Jews, Zionism. Israel is not the homeland for Jews.

Planet Earth is the homeland for Jews and all humans. Is N. America the homeland for all native americans? The young Zionists came to Israel to escape Nazi persecution. The land was "given" to them by rabid anti-semites (Lord Balfour, etc.). A desert region surrounded by Arabs. The Zionists might have considered themselves "guests" of those who inhabited the area, but instead, treated them as colonists would treat the indigenous, resulting now after 75 years of oppression, in the desire for ethnocide.

These Zionists are an abomination for all Jews, creating a real excuse to hate Jews world-wide. They do not follow the precepts of their religion. They need to be removed and incarcerated (their leaders) though all Israelis are implicit in allowing them to reign.

The "homeland" needs to be a home for anyone to live in peace and harmony. Governed in a horizontal fashion to eliminate the possibility of subversion, corruption, and control. All people with equal rights and ethnic differences are honored and permitted. It needs to be an example to the world of how people can live together. The Jews were "chosen" not because they were in any way special, they were chosen to help lead the way to an ethical, just, and peaceful world.

And whatever happened to the 10 Commandments? Thou shalt not kill. And do unto others.... These Zionists are not really Jews, they are blasphemers.

The challenge now is to get this solution into the heads of humanity and especially Israelis and Palestinians.

*******************************************************
What is your opinion?”

Appeal to Noam Chomsky for Constituting International People’s Tribunal to Halt Holocaust-II of Palestinians by Israel

 

Wanted

For War Crimes in Palestine

Israel, USA, UK, France & Germany

All Five are History Sheeters & Absconders

Running away from International Criminal Court

 

Sir,

The world is witnessing genocide of Palestinians by Israel. The USA, UK, France & Germany are aiding and abetting this crime against humanity. Israel, like an absconder state, is refusing to come under International Criminal Court (ICC) proceedings on the technical plea that it has not ratified the Rome Statute. Israel has gone to the extent of informing the UN that it has no intention of ratifying this treaty and by implication it reserves the right to massacre people with no accountability. Under the circumstances an independent International Investigative People’s Tribunal is urgently needed.

 

When the US government was slaughtering Vietnamese in the 1960s, a person of the stature of Bertrand Russell, a philosopher statesman initiated a process leading to investigations by the International War Crimes Tribunal (Russell-Sartre Tribunal or Stockholm Tribunal). The findings of such a tribunal puts tremendous worldwide pressure on the government committing crimes against humanity.

 

As a public intellectual of unimpeachable integrity and with global acceptability your efforts to get such a tribunal into motion will send a strong message that humanity is alive. Your association with it will act as a balm to the wounds of Palestinians inflicted by the ruling class politicians (right wing & ultra-right wing) of the Jewish state of Israel.

 

May we dare say that intellectuals will have to step on public streets to protest against this genocide. If even not now, then when?

 

Yours sincerely,

P.S. Sahni & Shobha Aggarwal

Email: pilwatchgroup@gmail.com

 

[P.S. Sahni is a qualified orthopaedic surgeon. He has worked extensively with the victims of Sikh Genocide in 1984; amongst victims of 1992 anti-Muslim violence; and at the India-Bangladesh border during the Bangladesh Liberation War resulting in 1971 Bangladesh Genocide.

Shobha Aggarwal is an independent legal researcher and lawyer. She has done the ‘Advanced International Study Program in Peace and Conflict Transformation’ from the European University Center for Peace Studies, Austria. She attended the Pretoria Summer School on International Law in 2002.

Blog: https://pilwatchgroup.blogspot.com/ ]

 

 

Palestine – A poem by Gorakh Pandey

 

The cultural hub of Delhi is located at Mandi House. I occasionally have lunch there (costing Rs. 50/-) at a popular kiosk. Progressive artists put up posters all over the place. During my last visit on 30 November 2023 I saw the above poster pasted on the outer wall of ‘Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts’. It is probably the only place in Delhi where you can still find such posters on the wall. The poster had few lines from a poem by Gorakh Pandey (1945-1989), a revolutionary poet who committed suicide in the Jhelum hostel of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi where he then worked as research scholar.

 

Following is the full poem in Hindi by Gorakh Pandey:

 

“फिलिस्तीन

एक समूची ज़मीन है,

और ज़मीन से मुकम्मल प्यार

इसलिए तुम्हारी मार से

बाहर है

फिलिस्तीन आज़ादी का ज़रूरी भविष्य है

जनरल।

फिलिस्तीन

लोहू और इस्पात

से फूटता हुआ गुलाब है

कभी न मुरझाने वाला गुलाब

जो आखि़र में उगेगा

तुम्हारी क़ब्र पर।“

 

An attempted English translation by this author:

 

Palestine

Is a whole land,

And absolute love for the land

Is therefore outside your killings

Palestine is the essential future of freedom

General.

Palestine is a rose bursting from iron and steel

A rose which never withers

Will grow in the end

On your grave.

 

[Shobha Aggarwal is a member of PIL Watch Group.

Blog: https://pilwatchgroup.blogspot.com/]