The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa\u2019ar, seeking a warrant for his arrest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a statement on Sunday, HRF called for an arrest warrant for Sa\u2019ar for \u201cwar crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Israel\u2019s ongoing military assault on Gaza since October 7, 2023.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sa\u2019ar is a co-perpetrator alongside Israel\u2019s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, responsible for the mass displacement, starvation, and persecution of Palestinians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He is visiting Brussels on Tuesday, February 18th, and Belgium must act under international law. The HRF is the legal arm of the March 30 Movement, a non-profit organization established in 2024 and based in Brussels, Belgium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The HRF’s mission is to address and challenge Israeli impunity concerning war crimes and human rights violations in Palestine, particularly in the Gaza Strip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The foundation is named in honor of Hind Rajab, a five-year-old Palestinian girl from the Gaza Strip who was killed by Israeli forces, who also killed six members of her family and two paramedics coming to her rescue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs Belgium is a signatory to the Rome Statute, it has a legal obligation to cooperate with the ICC and take action against individuals accused of serious international crimes,\u201d HRF said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Hind Rajab Foundation calls on Belgian authorities to ensure that Sa\u2019ar does not evade justice while on European soil.\u201d \u201cAllowing a suspected war criminal to visit Brussels unchallenged would be a betrayal of international legal commitments and the fundamental principles of justice,\u201d the group stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The HRF is dedicated \u201cto breaking the cycle of Israeli impunity and honoring the memory of Hind Rajab and all those who have perished in the Gaza genocide.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u200bSa\u2019ar, a senior member of Netanyahu\u2019s government and a key figure in Israel\u2019s decision-making, has played a central role in shaping and implementing policies that have led to mass displacement, collective punishment, and systematic attacks on Palestinian civilians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The HRF said: \u201cHis public statements and policy endorsements indicate direct and indirect participation in these crimes, as well as incitement to violence and obstruction of international justice mechanisms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group said Sa\u2019ar has publicly advocated for reducing Gaza\u2019s territory, a stance that directly aligns with Israel\u2019s military actions that have led to the destruction of 72% of Gaza\u2019s civilian infrastructure and the forced displacement of 1.7 million Palestinians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese actions violate Article 8(2)(b)(viii) of the Rome Statute, which prohibits the transfer of civilian populations in occupied territories. The creation of military buffer zones and targeted destruction of homes suggest a deliberate policy aimed at permanently preventing Palestinian return\u2014a clear violation of international law,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Starvation as method of warfare<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs Foreign Minister, Sa\u2019ar has endorsed Israel\u2019s total blockade on Gaza, which has restricted food, water, and medical supplies, leading to catastrophic famine conditions. By weaponizing starvation, Israel has violated Article 8(2)(b)(xxv) of the Rome Statute, which criminalizes depriving civilians of objects indispensable to their survival,\u201d the group said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAccording to international humanitarian organizations, 96% of Gaza\u2019s population is now food insecure, with over 495,000 people facing famine conditions. The use of starvation as a military tool is a grave breach of international law and constitutes a war crime,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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