As the International Court of Justice takes its next steps on investigating and prosecuting war crimes in Israel’s war on Gaza, the top expert on Palestine at the United Nations is pushing for even more international accountability.
In a wide-ranging exclusive interview with The Intercept, U.N. special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese, called for top European Union officials — including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen — to face charges of complicity in war crimes over their support for Israel during its 18-month assault on Gaza.
“The fact that the two highest figures of the EU continue business as usual engagements with Israel is beyond deplorable,” Albanese said. “I’m not someone who says, ‘History will judge them’ — they will have to be judged before then. And they will have to understand that immunity cannot equate with impunity.”
Yes, that is absolutely right. Active support for genocide is also a crime against humanity and must be prosecuted.
To finally do this at all levels is also absolutely in the interest of the voters, because the majority of them are of the opinion that Israel must of course be held accountable for all its terrible misdeeds. Despite all the one-sided reporting by the obviously partisan media, it is absolutely clear that Israel commits mass murder, completely disregards international law and constantly commits the worst war crimes. Yet these disgusting opportunists who are supposed to be our representatives simply disregard the will of the people - they must also be held personally accountable.
I am truly ashamed of the behavior of the German government. It is outrageous and simply inexplicable to me how almost all parties in Germany still cling to their unconditional support for the criminal regime in Israel.
It is simply absurd to even supply weapons to a government against some of whose highest representatives arrest warrants have long been issued by the International Criminal Court. Unlike the USA, which has never recognized this institution for obvious reasons, decisions of the International Criminal Court are binding for Germany. And yet: not a word of criticism of Israel, instead even active support for genocide. I can only explain this with massive corruption at the highest levels.
Germany’s historical responsibility is not to Israel, but to all persecuted groups. In this sense, it is precisely Germany’s responsibility to resolutely oppose Israel’s crimes. But no, our politicians continue to stand by the side of the most horrible monsters and even take the liberty of justifying this with the very historical responsibility they are mocking. It is disgusting.
As I said, as a German I am ashamed of Germany’s actions.