Geneva – The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor called on Thursday for the imposition of political and economic sanctions on Israel, alongside a complete ban on the sale and export of arms to the state, to pressure it into halting its ongoing aggression on the Gaza Strip.
In an official statement, the Monitor urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the full scope of alleged crimes committed by Israeli forces in Gaza. The statement highlighted that countries worldwide should support the ICC’s investigation into South Africa’s complaint against Israel for violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention during its military campaign in Gaza.
The Monitor emphasized the need for accountability for nations that have been complicit in or have directly supported Israel in its actions against Palestinians, calling on regional and international bodies to hold such states accountable. This includes decision-makers within those nations, whom the Monitor classified as “accomplices and partners in these crimes.” The report drew attention to an investigation it conducted on an Israeli military massacre in Gaza City last year that resulted in over 70 casualties, the majority of whom were women, children, and the elderly.
The report detailed a tragic incident in the al-Basra neighborhood, where Israeli warplanes and drones launched an attack on November 17-18, 2023. The assault reportedly wiped out an entire family of over 70 members, most of whom were women and children. The Monitor documented that during this operation, Israeli forces fired live ammunition directly at civilians in their homes and targeted mourners during burial ceremonies for victims, which constitutes a clear violation of international humanitarian law.
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor confirmed it had identified 61 victims from a single family, including 27 children, 16 women (three of whom were elderly), and 18 men (two of whom were elderly). The remaining victims could not be identified due to the extent of bodily dismemberment.
This is not the first instance in which the Monitor has held Israel accountable for committing atrocities and war crimes against Gaza’s population during its prolonged campaign in the region, which has persisted for over a year.
For further details, visit DZWATCH.DZ.
Author: nor-eleslam
Gaza Aggression, International Sanctions, Human Rights Violations, Israel Accountability, Arms Embargo
