THE HAGUE: Three Palestinian human rights groups said they have asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate Israel, accusing it of committing war crimes including genocide by bombing and besieging Gaza.
Israel — which is not a member of the Hague-based court and does not recognize its jurisdiction — did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
It has previously said allegations of genocide are deplorable and that its actions target Hamas militants, not civilians.
The three rights groups — Al Haq, Al Mezan and the Palestine Human Rights Campaign — said they had asked the ICC to focus on Israeli air strikes on densely populated civilian areas in Gaza, the siege of the territory and the displacement of the population.
“These actions amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, including genocide and incitement to genocide,” they said in a joint press statement.
The ICC said on Friday it had received a communication from the three groups and would assess the information, without going into detail on its contents.
Israel unleashed its assault on Gaza in response to a cross-border Hamas raid on southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which gunmen killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and took about 240 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Palestinian officials say Israel’s actions in Gaza have since killed more than 10,000 people.
The ICC can investigate nationals of non-member states in certain circumstances, including when crimes are said to have been committed in the territories of member states. The Palestinian territories are listed among the ICC’s members.
Last week, families of Israeli victims of the Oct. 7 attacks also filed papers at the ICC urging the court to look into Hamas crimes.
Palestinian groups ask war crimes court to investigate genocide accusations
https://arab.news/zyk33
Palestinian groups ask war crimes court to investigate genocide accusations
- Israel has previously said allegations of genocide are deplorable and that its actions target Hamas militants, not civilians
- The three rights groups said they had asked the ICC to focus on Israeli air strikes on densely populated civilian areas
King Hamad says Bahrain 'committed to peace' as Iran attacks continue
LONDON: Bahrain is committed to the "path of peace" King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa said on Saturday as the kingdom continued to be targeted by Iranian attacks.
Bahrain supports efforts that "enhance security and stability in the region and the world," the king said during a phone call with Spain's King Felipe VI.
"The people of the Kingdom of Bahrain are peaceful and believe in tolerance and coexistence," Bahrain News Agency reported him saying.
His comments came on another day of Iranian strikes against Gulf countries in response to the US-Israeli attack on Iran.
Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, has been targeted by waves of drone and missile strikes since the conflict started on February 28.
Loud explosions were heard Saturday evening in Bahrain's capital Manama, AFP reported. Bahrain's interior ministry said there was fire and material damage to a house and surrounding building in Manama following strikes from Iran.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said it had targeted US forces at Bahrain's Jufair base.
Another wave of attacks were directed at the kingdom earlier in the morning.
The UAE said its air defences intercepted 15 missiles and 119 drones on Saturday morning as attacks disrupted flights in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Qatar said on Saturday it had intercepted a missile, shortly after AFP journalists heard explosions and sirens sounding in central Doha.
"Armed forces intercepted (a) missile attack which targeted (the) State of Qatar," the defence ministry said.
*With AFP
