For Crimes of War, International Warrants have been confirmed for Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri (Hamas),  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and former Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant. On Wednesday 20 November The United States vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution that demanded an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The obliteration of Gaza continues. The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory Muhannad Hadi has said that the survival of two million people now “hangs in the balance”.

The War Criminals

Judges in the International Criminal Court have confirmed that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Rome Statute crimes have been committed. The Statement of ICC Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan KC on the issuance of arrest warrants in the Situation in the State of Palestine is as follows:

With respect to Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, more commonly known as Deif, Commander-in-Chief of the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement “Hamas”, known as the Al-Qassam Brigades, the judges of the International Criminal Court have found reasonable grounds to believe that he is responsible for the crimes against humanity of murder, extermination, torture, and rape and other forms of sexual violence; as well as the war crimes of murder, cruel treatment, torture, taking hostages, outrages upon personal dignity, and rape and other forms of sexual violence.

With respect to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and former Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant, the judges of the International Criminal Court have found that there are reasonable grounds to believe that each has committed the war crime of using starvation as a method of warfare and crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts, as a direct perpetrator, acting jointly with others. The Chamber also found reasonable grounds to believe that they are each responsible for the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against civilians as a superior.

…I appeal to all States Parties to live up to their commitment to the Rome Statute by respecting and complying with these judicial orders. We count on their cooperation in this situation, as with all other situations under the Court’s jurisdiction. We also welcome collaboration with non-States Parties in working towards accountability and upholding international law.

The War Crime of Starvation as a Method of Warfare

The Israeli authorities are preventing all commercial imports from entering the Strip. The destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure and the lack of aid and getting through has led to a surge in armed looting targeting humanitarian convoys.

Muhannad Hadi UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory said that pushed to the brink, civilians lack access to essential support they desperately need, while so far this year UN trucks have been looted 75 times – including 15 such attacks since 4 November alone – while looters have broken into UN facilities on 34 occasions.

“Just last week, one driver was shot in the head and hospitalized, along with another truck driver. This Saturday, no less than 98 trucks were looted in a single attack with trucks being damaged or stolen.”

UN Relief agency UNRWA reports that on 16 November, a joint 109-truck UN convoy carrying food supplies to people in Gaza was subjected to organised crime activity. The vast majority of the trucks, 97 in total, were stolen and drivers were forced at gunpoint to unload the critical aid the convoy was carrying.

Between 1 and 18 November, 85 per cent of 41 coordination requests for humanitarian missions in North Gaza were either denied (17) or impeded (18), while seven per cent (3) were facilitated. Thirty-one of these 41 requests were made for the besieged areas of Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahya, with all but four attempts being denied during this period. These four attempts were severely impeded and could only accomplish limited objectives.

As of mid-November, only some 270,000 people – 16 per cent of the estimated 1.7 million people in Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis and Rafah – had received their reduced monthly food rations. Dire shortages of wheat flour have forced the closure of four bakeries in Deir al-Balah in the space of one week, with only three bakeries in the governorate and one in Khan Younis remaining operational as of 18 November. Many community-led baking initiatives have also been forced to suspend their activities since early October. The four still functional bakeries are operating at full capacity, but risk shutting down if no additional flour is received soon.

According to OCHA, as of 19 November, around 79% of the Gaza Strip is under active Israeli-issued evacuation orders.

The Orkney Vigils

In Orkney, islanders welcome anyone who wishes to see an end to this unimaginable horror being perpetrated on the civilian population of Gaza by the war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu. The vigil is held every Saturday outside St Magnus Cathedral Kirkwall between 1 and 2pm.

Last Saturday, 16th November, Orkney and Shetland constituency MP LibDem Alistair Carmichael confirmed his support for the work of the relief agency UNRWA. You can read about that here:

MP Confirms his support for UNRWA

The Orkney News is proud of its coverage of Orcadian support for the people of Gaza where so many news outlets have ignored the vigils or featured some side issue of little importance.

Ceasefire Resolution Vetoed by US

On Wednesday 20th November, The United States vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution that demanded an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The United Kingdom voted for the resolution.

Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN in her statement said:

“The United Kingdom voted for this resolution as an expression of our determination to end this war, stop the suffering in Gaza and secure the immediate release of the hostages.

“The UK remains resolute in our call for an immediate ceasefire, the immediate release of all hostages cruelly held by Hamas since 7 October 2023, and urgent action to address the humanitarian crisis.

“The deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic and unacceptable. 

“All of Gaza is at the risk of famine, and in some areas, this is likely to be imminent. Yet the aid reaching civilians remains entirely insufficient to mitigate this unfolding disaster. 

“The unthinkable hardship that civilians are already facing in Gaza is set to get even worse as winter approaches. Israel must take urgent action to alleviate this crisis. International humanitarian law must be respected by all sides.

“We regret that the Council was unable to reach a consensus on this issue.

“But colleagues, we remain committed to the vision of this text. And we will keep striving, alongside our partners, to bring this war to a close. To secure the release of the hostages. And to secure a huge scale up in aid and to protect civilians.”

Islanders in Orkney welcome all those who wish to join them in their call for an immediate ceasefire – Saturday 23rd November, 1 to 2pm, outside St Magnus Cathedral Kirkwall.

 Fiona Grahame