Activists of the World Unite; Bombard with Emails the International Criminal Court Demanding Fast Track Enquiry into War Crimes Against Palestinians

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in Palestine
by P S Sahni

Pro-Palestine demonstrators demand action from the International Criminal Court outside its headquarters on October 18, 2023, in The Hague, Netherlands. (Roger Anis / Getty)

The ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank including East Jerusalem by the Israel-USA-UK-France-Germany combine must be relentlessly brought to the notice of the International Criminal Court (ICC) till it investigates the crime on a war footing. A large number of public protests have taken place outside The Hague headquarters of the ICC since October 2023. Just a glimpse of some of these protests can be had:

  1. Pro-Palestine demonstrators in The Hague urge ICC action. (Reuters, 18.10. 2023)
  2. Thousands rally in Hague to show solidarity with Palestine. (Anadolu Ajansi, World Middle East, 29.10.2023)
  3. World condemns Israel’s war on Gaza as it marches for Palestine. (Al Jazeera, 11.12.2023)
  4. Pro-Palestinian activists occupy international court entry, demanding action against Israeli leader. (AP News, 23.10.2023)
  5. Mass Protest in The Hague calls out Israeli war crimes. (Unicorn Riot, 01.11.2023)
  6. How a pro-Palestine protest turned into a chase. (Mare-online, 11.11.2023)
  7. Dutch civil servants call for Gaza cease fire in rare protest. (The New Indian Express, 21.12.2023)
  8. Pro-Palestine protests walk 21km ‘Nakba March’ to the ICC. (Middle East Monitor, 18.12.2023)

Going through these and other protests covered by the media I got the feeling that the ICC headquarters at The Hague has been converted to what activists in India get to see at the national protest site Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.

Activists from any part of the world working in any sphere of life e.g. gender; sexuality; caste/race; communalism (the Indian face of racism); trade union could individually or through their parent organization join this campaign. A simple way of showing solidarity with Palestinians is to send an email to the ICC asking for the ongoing enquiry initiated at the behest of several countries, professional bodies e.g. Reporters Without Borders or RSF, NGOs and individuals to be conducted on a war footing. See statement of the Prosecutor of the ICC here.

True, the ICC is bourgeoisie institute and not much is expected out of it; equally true this can still be used even as efforts by socialists/communists organizations have been continuing for long to prepare and mobilize the working class for a revolutionary change. Comrades swearing by Marx and Lenin are right about the need for a revolutionary change. This need is greater today as right wing forces have raised their ugly heads globally. However for the present civil society organizations should be seen as allies in the quest for justice for Palestinians. In any case mass protests are ongoing globally; the UN is doing its bit though facing veto by the USA. The sympathies of the world are with the Palestinians.

[P.S. Sahni is a qualified orthopaedic surgeon. He has worked extensively at India-Bangladesh border during the Bangladesh Liberation War resulting in 1971 Bangladesh Genocide of Hindus; the victims of Sikh Genocide in 1984; and amongst victims of 1992 anti-Muslim violence.

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The article appeared in the Countercurrents. To read the original artcile, please click here.