EGN NEWS DESK
Relatives of hostages being held in Gaza flew from Israel to The Hague on Wednesday on an emotional journey designed to attract consideration to a criticism filed a day earlier in opposition to the leaders of Hamas on the International Criminal Court, accusing them of genocide, crimes in opposition to humanity and struggle crimes, together with hostage-taking, killings and acts of sexual violence.
The hostage households, numbering about 100 folks and accompanied by two former hostages who have been launched in November, stated that they had come to attempt to be sure that justice can be achieved. The case is being led by the authorized staff of the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, an Israeli nongovernmental group advocating for the discharge of the captives, and the Canada-based Raoul Wallenberg Center for Human Rights.
“The purpose of so many households coming right here collectively is to offer backup to the criticism,” stated Amit Levy, 21, the brother of Naama Levy, 19, who was seen in a harrowing video quickly after her abduction from Nahal Oz being dragged by her hair from the again of a jeep in Gaza, her sweatpants bloodied.
“Those accountable should pay some type of value,” Mr. Levy stated.
After arriving within the Hague, the households appeared at a rally in assist of their trigger in a sq. close to the court docket, holding up portraits of the captives, as lots of of supporters stood underneath umbrellas within the driving rain, waving Israeli flags and chanting, “Bring them dwelling now!”
“It is heartwarming to see,” stated Moshe Or, 33, whose brother, Avinatan Or, 31, was kidnapped alongside together with his accomplice, Noa Argamani, as they tried to flee from the Nova music pageant.
“It’s vital to make use of the worldwide instruments which can be extra typically used in opposition to Israel,” he added, of the trouble to hunt worldwide justice.
More than 250 folks have been kidnapped to Gaza in the course of the Hamas-led assault of Oct. 7, largely from border communities, military bases, and an out of doors music pageant. About half stay in captivity, although Israel has confirmed that at the least 31 are dead.
The Israeli authorities doesn’t acknowledge the court docket’s jurisdiction and isn’t a signatory to its founding treaty. But not like the International Court of Justice, the highest U.N. court docket the place South Africa has filed a case accusing Israel of committing genocide in opposition to Palestinians in Gaza, the International Criminal Court permits folks to carry instances in opposition to people suspected of struggle crimes and crimes in opposition to humanity.
The court docket’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, should now consider the proof submitted to the court docket, based mostly on the testimony of about 100 witnesses, in response to Dana Pugach, a member of the hostage discussion board’s authorized staff. Some witnesses are anticipated to testify in particular person at The Hague.
The prosecutor will then determine whether or not to press expenses in opposition to the accused Hamas leaders, who haven’t been publicly named by the authorized staff, and whether or not to concern arrest warrants.
“We got here to sue Hamas,” stated Shani Yerushalmi, 25, who was touring along with her sister May, 21. Their sister Eden, 24, was kidnapped from the music pageant and stays in Gaza.
The sisters, who in latest months have gone with hostage household delegations to Paris and Washington, stated they hoped their motion would put strain on Hamas and have some affect on world opinion. Their mom largely stays dwelling surrounded by associates, they stated, and their father prays a lot of the time whereas they “do the journeys.”
