NPWJ press releases
Over 100 human rights and civil society groups call on Biden to support ICC independence
23 May 2024
On May 20, 2024, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced that he was seeking arrest warrants for three leaders of Hamas and two senior Israeli officials. Some members of the US Congress have threatened to retaliate against the International Criminal Court (ICC), including by imposing sanctions against court officers, if the court moves forward with arrest warrants against Israeli officials in its Palestine investigation.
In an open letter issued today, 121 human rights and civil society groups, including No Peace Without Justice, call on President Biden to oppose threats and calls for punitive actions against the ICC.
Cooperation, outreach and civil society engagement essential to give life to ICC Arrest Warrants
20 May 2024
Today, on 20 May 2024, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan issued the request for the first arrest warrants, for war crimes and crimes against humanity, in respect of the situation in the State of Palestine. The Office of the Prosecutor has requested warrants against three representatives of Hamas, for acts committed from at least 7 October 2023, and against two representatives of the State of Israel, for acts committed from at least 8 October 2023.
“No Peace Without Justice welcomes the fact that we are seeing some movement on the situation of Palestine, which has long been under investigation by the ICC,” said NPWJ President Tara O’Grady.
“We hope and trust that the Office of the Prosecutor remains committed to continued independent investigation of crimes under its jurisdiction committed since the first referral on 13 June 2014. It is a concern that apparent inaction by the ICC would have contributed to the political dynamics of impunity, drowning out voices for justice and accountability both in Israeli and Palestinian society.
Articles
Norway, Ireland, Spain to recognise Palestinian state
Al Jazeera, 22 May 2024
The three European countries recognise Palestine despite Israel’s warnings of the consequences.
Srebrenica survivors still haunted as UN votes on genocide remembrance
Reuters, 22 May 2024
The impending UN resolution, initiated by Germany, Rwanda and Bosnia and Herzegovina and sponsored by the United States, condemns the denial of genocide and the glorification of war criminals. A vote is expected on Thursday.
Climate change: small island states hail ocean court victory
Reuters, 21 May 2024
A global maritime court found on Tuesday that greenhouse gases constitute marine pollution, a major breakthrough for small island states threatened by the rise in sea levels caused by global warming.
Is the ICC going to issue arrest warrants for Israel and Hamas leaders?
Al Jazeera, 20 May 2024
ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan wants arrest warrants for five people, including Israeli PM Netanyahu and Hamas leader Sinwar.
