UK threatened with emergency ban of arms exports to Israel after ICC warrants.

Overview:

1. Threat of UK Arms Export Ban:

Rights groups Al-Haq and the Global Legal Action Network (Glan) are pursuing a court order to halt UK arms exports to Israel.

This follows International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

2. ICC Allegations:

The ICC pre-trial panel found reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant committed crimes including:

Starving civilians in Gaza for eight months.

Blocking medical supplies, forcing doctors to operate without anesthetics, even on children.

3. Focus on F-35 Components:

The rights groups demand an immediate halt to UK exports of British-made components used in F-35 fighter jets sold to Israel.

They argue these weapons contribute to alleged war crimes, including genocide.

4. Call for Two-Way Arms Embargo:

Al-Haq's Zainah el-Haroun urged an immediate embargo to prevent British arms from facilitating further violations against Palestinians.

Glan lawyer Charlotte Andrews-Briscoe criticized the UK government for continuing arms exports despite mounting evidence.

5. UK Government Response:

The UK’s Department for Business and Trade declined to comment due to ongoing litigation.

Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer stated that the suspension of 30 arms export licenses to Israel (announced in September) remains under review.

6. Deadline for Action:

The UK government has until Friday at 4 PM to suspend F-35 component exports, or the groups will file for an emergency injunction.

7. Urgent Legal Push:

Glan and Al-Haq plan to request urgent judicial processing once they file the court order.

Comments

"Hamas Isn't an Existential Threat; the Threats of the Future Are Far Greater" ( Maj. General Rtd.) Yitzhak Brik. Haaretz. Key Points.

Introduction of Yitzhak Brik. Yitzhak Brik is a retired Israeli IDF General. He was born on November 7, 1947 . Brik served in the Armored Corps as a brigade , division , and troops commander , and also commanded the IDF military colleges . He is also a Fellow at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) at Reichman University, Herzliya . During the Yom Kippur War , he served as a reserve company commander and received the Medal of Courage. For about a decade, he served as the Soldier's Complaints Commissioner (Ombudsman) in the Ministry of Defense . More recently, Brik has been a harsh critic of the IDF's preparedness for war and is considered in Israel as the "prophet of wrath" of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war. Yitzhak Brik writes at Haaretz " Hamas Isn't an Existential Threat; the Threats of the Future Are Far Greater" Yitzhak Brik , a retired Israeli Major General, has warned of Israel's potential collapse within a year if the w...

Alleged war crimes in Gaza: Dual Belgian Israeli IDF Veteran, Investigated for Gaza War Crimes.

The dual Belgian-Israeli citizen , suspected of war crimes while fighting for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza , has not been formally arrested as of October 2024 . Instead, Belgian authorities announced the launch of an investigation into the individual's actions . The probe is focused on his alleged participation in civilian executions as part of the IDF's elite " Refaim" (Ghost) unit. The investigation was initiated following a complaint filed by the Association Belgo-Palestinienne (ABP) , and Belgian prosecutors are examining the evidence to determine if charges will be brought against him. 1. The Investigation of an Israeli IDF Veteran Dual Belgian-Israeli Citizen: A Belgian-Israeli man in his 20s , who served as a sniper in the elite IDF "Refaim" (Ghost) unit, is under investigation in Belgium for alleged war crimes in Gaza. War Crimes Allegations: The veteran is accused of executing unarmed civilians during operations ...

"The West Bank as “a Series of Open-Air Prisons” Key Points.

Key Points and Further Details 1. The West Bank as “a Series of Open-Air Prisons” Pastor Munther Isaac describes the current situation in the West Bank as one of its " darkest moments. " Israeli settlements and roadblocks are making the region " uninhabitable ," cutting off built-up areas from each other. Around Bethlehem alone, there are 80 roadblocks , making movement extremely difficult (often taking 6-7 hours to cross ). Economic devastation due to the decline of religious tourism has left churches focused on providing aid to struggling families . 2. The Future of Bethlehem’s Christian Community At least 100 Christian families have left Bethlehem since the start of the war. The Christian population in Bethlehem is already a small community struggling to survive . Forced displacements are increasing, with 45,000 Palestinians already displaced due to Israeli military raids on refugee camps. Fear that the West Bank might suffer the same fate ...

Chris Hedges' essay The Empire Self-Destructs. Key Points.

Breakdown of the main points in Chris Hedges' essay The Empire Self-Destructs , with further details: 1. The Decline of Empire: Hallmarks of Collapse Hedges argues that the U.S. is exhibiting classic symptoms of a declining empire: c orruption, military failures, economic instability, and increasing authoritarianism. Historical comparisons are drawn to the fall of Rome , the Habsburgs , and other collapsed empires. 2. The Cannibalization of Government Billionaires , Christian fundamentalists , and other elites are dismantling the U.S. government for personal and ideological gain. The destruction of state institutions weakens national stability, leading to self-inflicted wounds that hasten collapse. 3. Retreat into Delusion U.S. leadership, particularly under Trump , is detached from reality, replacing facts with conspiracy theories , religious extremism , and empty rhetoric . This results in incoherent policies , such as withdrawing from international agreements and san...

Israel’s Birth and the Roads Not Taken: Revisiting the Alternative Jewish Homelands Debate

Before the establishment of Israel in 1948, several alternative locations were considered for a Jewish homeland, each with its own advantages and challenges. The Uganda Plan (1903) was a British proposal to settle Jews in East Africa , but it was rejected by the Zionist movement for lacking historical and religious significance . The Birobidzhan Project (1930s) , launched by the Soviet Union, aimed to create a Jewish Autonomous Region in the Russian Far East, but harsh conditions and Stalinist purges undermined its success . Nazi Germany’s Madagascar Plan (1930s-1940s) proposed deporting European Jews to the African island , but the idea was unrealistic and tied to anti-Semitic policies . After World War II, some suggested Jewish resettlement in Germany, arguing that Holocaust survivors should be given land there as reparations, but most survivors rejected living on the soil of their oppressors. Lastly, various proposals for Jewish settlement in Aus...

Ainnbeen

Search This Blog