A coalition that includes 298 lawyers and 117 non governmental organizations presented a formal case within the International Criminal Court in The Hague. They filed a genocide lawsuit concerning the bombardments in Gaza, arguing that the actions amount to genocide under international law. A leading figure among the contributors is French attorney Gilles Devers, who has previously secured a ruling from European courts canceling a fishing agreement between Morocco and the European Union due to the status of Western Sahara. The filing emphasizes a broad, society wide scope of accountability, urging a comprehensive examination of actions by all parties involved and calling for scrutiny of the operations in Gaza through the lens of the Genocide Convention and related ICC statutes. [Attribution: ICC filings, 2023]
The signatories demand a thorough inquiry into alleged crimes, labeling what they describe as a massacre carried out by Hamas on October 7 as an attack that harmed infants, children, and women. The 52 page document, which was accessed by this newspaper, also presses for an assessment of Israel’s response within the framework of genocide and other offenses that the ICC founding texts contemplate. The organizers argue that the events deserve formal determination and categorization under international criminal law to ensure accountability for all potential perpetrators. [Attribution: internal review, 2023]
Approximately two years ago the International Criminal Court confirmed its jurisdiction over war crimes committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and in Israel since the Gaza conflict that resurfaced in 2014. The ICC has indicated the formation of a dedicated investigative team to look into these alleged crimes. The Prosecutor General, Karim Khan, has stressed the court’s authority to pursue such cases, while acknowledging limitations in resources that affect the speed of action here compared with the rapid steps taken in cases involving other high profile leaders. The statement underlines a commitment to due process and thorough evidence gathering, alongside the practical realities of investigation funding. [Attribution: ICC press office, 2023]
The human cost cited in the broader conflict remains a central concern. Reports indicate that at least 10,000 Palestinians, many of them children, have died in Israeli military actions following past Hamas operations. In parallel, authorities say that around 1,400 Israelis have lost their lives since the onset of the October events, attributed to militant activities associated with Hamas, a group that has been designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union. These casualty figures have driven calls for accountability, whether through independent investigations, international courts, or national judicial processes, as part of a broader effort to document violations and provide pathways to justice for victims. [Attribution: humanitarian monitoring groups, 2023]