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Netanyahu Finally Accountable for his Conduct

Hill Times: 27 November 2024

After 61 years of existence, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has finally indicted a pair of Western-backed leaders. It is a pity it took 44,000 Palestinian deaths to inspire such action.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have been charged with “…the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.”

Presumably, for the sake of balance, the ICC also charged Hamas leader Mohammed Deif with the “…crimes against humanity of murder; extermination; torture, rape and other form of sexual violence and…the war crimes of murder, cruel treatment, torture; taking hostages; outrages upon personal dignity; and rape and other forms of sexual violence.”

The Israel military has stated that Deif was killed in July so his prosecution is doubtful. That does not lessen the horror of the October 7 Hamas attack although I contend it was hardly unprovoked given the past seven decades of Israeli state and settler violence. Aside from Hamas' illegal killing of Israeli civilians, occupied Palestinians are legally permitted to use violence to resist occupation – this is not terrorism.

Canada, the UK and a number of European states have expressed willing to arrest Netanyahu if he visits, although that is unlikely, given his proven political skills. Still, his unease may provide some comfort to his many victims.
Netanyahu is predictably claiming the ICC is antisemitic, his standard ploy to deflect legitimate criticism of his brutal conduct.

Fortunately, this man does not really speak for all Jews, he is merely a brutal narcissist willing to spend the lives of Israeli soldiers, civilians and any Palestinian for his own survival. His actions are an affront to the humane values of Judaism.

Morgan Duchesney: Ottawa & Cape Breton Canada