Islanders and all those who wish to join with them will gather on the Kirk Green today, 25th May, outside St Magnus Cathedral, between 1 and 2pm as they continue in their vigils calling for the end to the genocide in Gaza. The islanders have been meeting on Saturdays for their Peace Vigil from October 2023.

On Friday 24th of May the world court – the International Court of Justice , ICJ – ordered Israel to immediately end military operations in Rafah in southern Gaza and to open the governate’s border crossing for urgent aid deliveries.

Justice Nawaf Salam announced that Israel must abide by its obligations under the Genocide Convention to

“immediately halt its military offensive and any other action in the Rafah governate which may inflict upon the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that would bring about its physical destruction in whole and in part”.

Israel was also told by the World’s court to open the Rafah crossing for the unhindered delivery of urgent humanitarian aid and ensure unimpeded access for fact-finding missions to investigate allegations of genocide.

Justice Nawaf Salam said:

“The court is not convinced that evacuation efforts and related measures that Israel has affirmed to have undertaken to enhance the security of civilians in the Gaza Strip, and in particular those recently displaced from the Rafah governate, are sufficient to alleviate immense risks to which the Palestinian population is exposed as a result of the military offensive in Rafah.

“The court expressed its grave concern over the fate of the hostages abducted during the attack in Israel on 7 October 2023 and held since then by Hamas and other armed groups, and called for their immediate and unconditional release.” He said “the court finds it deeply troubling that many of these hostages remain in captivity and reiterates its call for their immediate and unconditional release.”

The International Criminal Court, ICC, on Monday 20th May, sought arrest warrants for the leaders of Hamas and Israel for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the war in Gaza.

In a statement, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan said that there were reasonable grounds to believe that Hamas’s Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri (Deif) and Ismail Haniyeh “bear criminal responsibility” for murder, extermination and taking hostages – among numerous other crimes – since the Gaza conflict erupted in the wake of Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel on 7 October.

There are also reasonable grounds to believe that Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, Israeli Minister of Defence, are responsible for other crimes and crimes against humanity “committed on the territory of the State of Palestine.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that communicable diseases, including diarrhoea and suspected hepatitis A, are on the rise in Gaza.

The World Food Programme stated that :

“Humanitarian operations in Gaza are near collapse. Once again, nearly half of the population of Rafah, 800,000 people, are on the move, looking for food and shelter in the middle areas of the Strip and in Khan Younis. The escalation of military activity in the south and parts of the north, together with various issues at border crossing points, is set to precipitate a humanitarian catastrophe and yet more hunger. If food and humanitarian supplies do not begin to enter Gaza in massive quantities, desperation and hunger will spread.”

All bakeries in Rafah have shut down. However, WFP is still able to support six bakeries in Central Gaza, four in Gaza City and, since Monday (21 May), one in Jabalia. 

The risk of famine is very real.

Alice Jill Edwards, Special Rapporteur on Torture has received allegations of individual Palestinian prisoners being beaten, kept in cells blindfolded and handcuffed for excessive periods, deprived of sleep, and threatened with physical and sexual violence.

Other reports suggest prisoners have been insulted and exposed to acts of humiliation, such as being photographed and filmed in degrading poses, while prolonged use of zip-tie handcuffs has reportedly caused friction injuries and wounds.

She said:

“I am particularly concerned that this emerging pattern of violations, coupled with an absence of accountability and transparency, is creating a permissive environment for further abusive and humiliating treatment of Palestinians.”

More than 35,000 people have now been killed in Gaza and more than 79,000 injured. Around 17,000 children are unaccompanied or remain separated from their families. It is estimated that 128 Israeli and foreign nationals remain captive in Gaza, including fatalities whose bodies are withheld.

The Orkney News continues with its coverage of Gaza and of the response by Islanders to the genocide through their Vigils, and fundraising for children and people caught up in the onslaught.

You can watch the latest film here:

Fiona Grahame