Petition to Stop Funding UNRWA
What happens when well-meaning Western donors feed money to a UN agency that turns a blind eye to terrorism? The numbers tell the story.
On October 7th:
- 133 UNRWA school graduates invaded Israel to murder and kidnap Israeli civilians
- 12 UNRWA staff directly participated in the massacre
- 2 UNRWA teachers held hostages captive in their own homes
- 30 UNRWA teachers publicly celebrated the violence on social media
- 1,200 UNRWA staff quietly helped Hamas with cars, weapons, money, information, and hideouts
PETITION
His Excellency Mr. António Guterres
Secretary-General United Nations
New York, NY 10017
Your Excellency,
I was horrified to learn that UN employees directly participated in the October 7th massacre, held Israeli hostages captive in their own homes, and celebrated the massacre on social media. It is unacceptable that the United Nations has thousands of terrorists on its payroll, and that it uses donor money to indoctrinate generations of Palestinian children into Hamas’ radical ideology.
The UN cannot sweep away these allegations with a perfunctory “investigation.” This antisemitic agency must be immediately defunded. No donor money should be restored until and unless UNRWA is radically restructured and reformed! Don’t restore funding to UNRWA without:
- New mandate that promotes acceptance of Israel’s existence
- UNESCO-approved curriculum that promotes peace and tolerance, not Jew hatred
- Purge all terror-affiliates from the payroll
- Routine independent audits of all facilities and finances
- An independent ombudsperson to investigate claims of whistleblowers
The people of Gaza deserve better than UNRWA. They deserve food, medicine, education, and shelter delivered by transparent organizations that are not routinely infiltrated by terrorists. They deserve to receive humanitarian aid and not see most of it stolen by Hamas. They deserve schools that promote coexistence with Jews and other minorities in the Middle East.
I support sending aid to Gaza through the World Food Program and UNHCR in the meantime. Thank you for your attention to this important issue.
STOP FUNDING HAMAS THROUGH UNRWA!
Facts that you must know about UNRWA.
Did you know that the UN has a separate agency that only serves Palestinians? There is no other people group in the world that gets their own UN agency. This organization is now on the 76th year of its original 3-year mandate. Instead of helping Palestinians settle down and build peaceful communities, for decades UNRWA has used money from generous Western donors to perpetuate the conflict under the guise of “humanitarianism.”
Did you know that UNRWA created its own definition of “refugee” status? In the rest of the world, refugees are people who are forced to flee their country of origin. They are served by the UN’s Refugee agency, which helps them gain citizenship and adjust to their new lives in new places. But UNRWA doesn’t want Palestinians to adjust to reality. If they did, UNRWA would go out of business! Instead it extends “refugee” status to the original refugees’ great-great-grandchildren, and beyond. Thanks to UNRWA, there are scores of Palestinian millionaires who hold multiple foreign passports, yet are still
Did you know that UNRWA runs 278 schools for 291,000 Gazan children? In these schools, the UN teaches Palestinian children that they are “refugees,” even though they are Palestinians living on Palestinian land. UNRWA praises terrorists who kill Jews, celebrates martyrdom, and teaches students that one day Israel will be destroyed.
Did you know that UNRWA almost exclusively hires Palestinians? No Jews allowed! Every other UN agency is staffed by people from around the world. This helps UN agencies maintain genuine “neutrality” in conflict zones that are full of political tension. But UNRWA is unique. Over 99% of its employees are Palestinian nationals. According to Israeli intelligence, approximately 15% of adult males in Gaza have ties to Hamas. But within the staff of UNRWA, it’s 23%. A greater percentage of UN employees in Gaza are Hamas-affiliated than the general populace of Gaza!
NOW is the time to radically restructure UNRWA to stop the ongoing radicalization of Palestinian society. Why? Because Palestinians deserve better than UNRWA.
Help us meet this moment. Sign our petition to STOP FUNDING UNRWA until and unless the agency is radically reformed and restructured.
What happens when well-meaning Western donors feed money to a UN agency that turns a blind eye to terrorism? The numbers tell the story.
On October 7th:
- 133 UNRWA school graduates invaded Israel to murder and kidnap Israeli civilians,
- 12 UNRWA staff directly participated in the massacre,
- 2 UNRWA teachers held hostages captive in their own homes,
- 30 UNRWA teachers publicly celebrated the violence on social media, while
- 1,200 UNRWA staff quietly helped Hamas with cars, weapons, money, information, and hideouts.
In the wake of these damning revelations, 14 donor countries, led by the United States, have paused their funding to UNRWA, demanding an investigation. It’s a good first step, but this call for an “investigation” could be an invitation to sweep UNRWA’s problems under the rug. Fire a few people, blame the “few bad apples,” rename a few departments, and turn the money spigot back on. Why? Because “UNRWA is the only option.”
UNRWA is the only option because Hamas made it that way. UNRWA developed a monopoly on aid delivery in Gaza because it is the only aid agency in the world that has been willing to play by Hamas’ rules, which are: see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.
- When Hamas puts its members on the payroll, UNRWA allows it because Hamas isn’t recognized as a terrorist group by the UN!
- When Hamas stores rockets, grenades, and suicide belts inside UN schools, shelters, and clinics, UNRWA pretends not to see.
- When Hamas fighters jump onto aid trucks to steal their contents, UNRWA claims they’re just providing security.
You understand the problem now. You see that we can’t waste this moment. Now is the time to radically restructure UNRWA to stop the ongoing radicalization of Palestinian society.
Why? Because Palestinians deserve better than UNRWA. They deserve food, medicine, and shelter delivered by transparent organizations that are not routinely infiltrated by terrorists. They deserve to receive humanitarian aid and not see most of it stolen by Hamas. They deserve schools that promote coexistence with Jews and other minorities in the Middle East.
Help us meet this moment. Sign our petition to STOP FUNDING UNRWA until and unless the agency is radically reformed and restructured.
Click the button below if you wish to support our ongoing efforts.
UNRWA in Numbers
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Hamas is a Terrorist Organization - Petition to the United Nations (UN)
34 UNITED STATES SENATORS SIGNED A BIPARTISAN LETTER DRAFTED BY THE JERUSALEM INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE URGING THE UN TO DESIGNATE HAMAS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.
34 United States Senators just signed a bipartisan letter drafted by the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, urging the United Nations to designate Hamas as a terrorist organization. Click here to read the letter.
Despite Hamas’ live-streamed atrocities on October 7th, including murdering civilians, taking hostages, mass rape, torture, dismemberment, and beheading … the United Nations still does not recognize them as a terrorist organization! The UN considers the Taliban, Al Qaeda, and the Islamic State to be terrorists, but not Hamas?
This must change. NOW!
Join us in thanking Senators James Lankford (R-OH) & Jacky Rosen (D-NV) for taking the lead on this important initiative.
Add your voice to this committed group of Senators, who are true friends of Israel, and urge Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, to make this a top priority in her negotiation at the UN. Sign the petition below.
PETITION TO US AMBASSADOR TO THE UN
Dear Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield:
We write with our utmost concern regarding the recent terrorist attacks on Israel by Hamas and other terrorist organizations in the region. We commend your unequivocal condemnation of Hamas’ terrorism and your support for Israel’s right to defend its people. Recent events have demonstrated that Hamas’ actions, tactics, and stated goals are in many ways indistinguishable from Al Qaeda, ISIS, and other terrorist organizations the United Nations (UN) has sanctioned. Therefore, we write to urge you to bring a resolution to the UN Security Council recognizing and imposing sanctions on Hamas as a terrorist organization.
As you know, on October 7, 2023, thousands of Hamas terrorists launched attacks, including on civilian communities, in southern Israel, brutally murdering 1,400 innocent people and wounding 4,500 others.
Additionally, Hamas kidnapped over 240 men, women, and children – ranging from infants to Holocaust survivors. Hamas terrorists have committed and continue to commit abhorrent attacks that not only impact Israelis but also directly impact Americans citizens, with at least 32 Americans killed and countless more held in captive as a result of the terrorist attack on October 7. In fact, Hamas hostages come from 25 countries around the world. Hamas’ reign of terror is not just an Israeli problem, but one that impacts us all. Since October 1997, the U.S. Department of Treasury has designated Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
Additionally, these groups have been listed as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) since October 2001. Numerous other countries and international entities rightfully have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization, including Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, Israel, the Organization of American States, Paraguay, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Switzerland is also actively exploring legal avenues to designate Hamas as a terrorist entity.
There are multiple consequences of the UN not recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization. First, the lack of a unified voice among the international community risks eroding the UN’s credibility in response to one of the worst terrorist attacks in history. Additionally, as the largest financial contributor to the UN, the U.S. must take urgent action to prevent the flow of funds into the hands of Hamas. The absence of UN sanctions on Hamas is a glaring loophole, circumventing U.S. financial controls, such as the rigorous standards set by the U.S. Department of Treasury, potentially allowing Hamas to evade U.S. sanctions.
Furthermore, the lack of UN sanctions on Hamas enables them to bolster their capabilities by exploiting international financial channels, including accessing financial systems and soliciting donations from charities.
We are also concerned that a lack of UN sanctions enables Hamas to divert humanitarian aid for malicious intent, which deprives innocent Palestinian civilians of crucial assistance while simultaneously strengthening offensive capabilities used to attack Israel. Hamas continues to divert aid meant for civilians in order to fund its operations by:
- Imposing "taxes" on humanitarian consignments at border checkpoints;
- Seizing a segment of donated goods intended for Palestinian civilians and later selling them illicitly for financial gain;
- Seizing donated supplies – as Hamas did on October 16, 2023, when they took fuel meant for Gazan hospitals from a United Nations Relief and Works Agency site; and
- Dismantling and repurposing humanitarian facilities, like water and sewage components, to create rockets and missiles, some of which misfire and land in Gaza, causing Palestinian civilian casualties and posing threats to aid workers.
We therefore request you bring forward a UN resolution to recognize and sanction Hamas as a terrorist organization. Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to your timely response.
Sincerely,
PETITION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE UN. THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO SIGNED!
Free the Hostages - Petition to the International Red Cross
JERUSALEM INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE LEADS COALITION OF 50 GROUPS URGING THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS
TO SECURE RELEASE OF THE GAZA HOSTAGES
A coalition of 50 organizations urge the ICRC to verify the status of more than 150 Israelis kidnapped and taken to the Gaza Strip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4507HRUDpNQ
In the wake of Hamas’ barbaric rampage through the civilian communities of southern Israel, the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, an Israeli human rights NGO, led a coalition of 50 organizations in urging the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to verify the status of the 150+ Israeli hostages taken into captivity in Gaza.
“Hamas has openly advertised its penchant for torturing, raping, denying medical treatment, degrading, humiliating, and threatening to execute these hostages,” said Uri Morad, Director of International Law & Public Diplomacy for the Jerusalem Institute of Justice (JIJ). “The International Red Cross must act urgently to locate and establish communication with the kidnapped Israelis if it has any hope of fulfilling its mission and bringing an end to this war.”
In a joint letter, JIJ advocacy efforts were joined by prominent Israeli, North American, and European organizations who are committed to countering anti-Semitism and anti-Israel bias, including the Anti-Defamation League, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, NGO Monitor, Middle East Forum, and StandWithUs. The group also included several Jewish and Christian communities, including the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, Israel Christian Nexus, and numerous diaspora synagogues.
Specifically, the coalition urged the International Red Cross to take the following steps:
- Locate and establish communication with the Israelis held hostage in the Gaza Strip.
- Call for Hamas to cease its heinous acts of raping and sexually abusing Israelis.
- Condemn the use of human shields as military targets, including hospitals and schools, and the horrifying practice of exhibiting and mutilating dead bodies.
- Facilitate the immediate return of the Israeli hostages.
“This past week constitutes the worst time in Jewish history since the Holocaust, a time when the International Red Cross was, by its own admission, ‘impotent’ in the face of Nazi persecution and genocide,” said Flavia Sevald, CEO of JIJ. “In today’s war, the perpetrators may have changed, but their agenda is the same. The International Red Cross has a double duty to get it right this time.”
The coalition urges the ICRC to locate the hostages, demand Hamas cease raping and abusing them, condemn using human shields, and facilitate the hostages' return to Israel. Lives hang in the balance.
The ICRC has a duty to act now to prevent further torture, rape, and murder of innocents. Sign and share this critical petition so that together, we can pressure the ICRC to pressure Hamas to #FreeTheHostages.
Jerusalem Institute of Justice (JIJ) is the only Israeli human rights NGO with consultative status before the United Nations that is pro-Israel. Within the international community, JIJ has persistently advocated for the release of Israeli citizens from captivity. Within Israel, JIJ provides free legal aid to minority ethnic and religious groups, with a track record of 25 precedent-setting victories in the Israeli Supreme Court.
PETITION TO THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS
Dear International Red Cross,
We, the undersigned, express our profound concerns regarding the current atrocities perpetrated by Hamas and other terrorist organizations within Israel. We respectfully urge the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to act in accordance with its mandate to prevent the ongoing breaches of International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
Commencing from the morning of Saturday, 7th October, Hamas and other terrorists affiliated with various extremist groups from the Gaza Strip have infiltrated Israeli territory, resulting in the mass murder and abduction of hundreds of civilians and soldiers. This ongoing terrorist assault represents a blatant and persistent violation of human rights and international humanitarian law, including customary law and Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions.
The data regarding this ongoing conflict is both alarming and unequivocal, resulting in the tragic loss of over 1,300 innocent lives and the abduction of more than 150 Israelis, including women, children, the elderly, and other individuals granted special protection under IHL. These abductions were carried out violently within their homes. Moreover, more than 3,000 individuals have sustained injuries. Notably, over 5,000 rockets have been indiscriminately launched towards Israeli citizens from the Gaza Strip, a clear violation of fundamental IHL rules. Evidence is also emerging of a pattern of gross human rights violations, including torture, dismemberment, beheadings, the use of rape as a weapon of war, and the desecration of victims' dead bodies and the use of the abducted as human shields.
The ICRC was established precisely to safeguard and assist victims of armed conflicts and ensure compliance with IHL. As part of its mission, the ICRC is obligated to actively contribute to the application of the law in armed conflict scenarios.
In light of this, we respectfully request that the ICRC undertake the following actions, integral to its mandate, to protect the rights of those being abducted, injured, killed, and targeted by Hamas and other terrorist groups:
- Locate and establish communication with kidnapped Israelis:
- Locate and establish communication with the Israelis held hostage in the Gaza Strip, ensuring their treatment and living conditions align with IHL. 1.
- Enforce compliance with IHL by Hamas and other terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip, specifically:
- Cease the murder of civilians and soldiers.
- Halt the indiscriminate launching of missiles and rockets.
- Stop targeting civilians and groups protected under IHL.
- Cease the heinous acts of raping and sexually abusing Israelis.
- End the use of human shields to cover military targets, including buildings such as hospitals and schools.
- Put an immediate stop to the horrifying practice of exhibiting and mutilating the bodies of those murdered by them.
- Return Israeli hostages taken into the Gaza Strip, including Hadar Goldin, Oron Shaul, Avera Mengistu, and Isham Al-Sayed. 1.
We are aware of the recent statement issued by the ICRC and we trust that, in line with its mission and commitment to humanity and IHL, the ICRC will urgently and effectively address these critical matters to alleviate the suffering and uphold the rights of those affected by this outrageous situation.
PETITION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS. THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO SIGNED!
Free the Hostages - Petition to the International Red Cross
JERUSALEM INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE LEADS COALITION OF 50 GROUPS URGING THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS
TO SECURE RELEASE OF THE GAZA HOSTAGES
A coalition of 50 organizations urge the ICRC to verify the status of more than 150 Israelis kidnapped and taken to the Gaza Strip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4507HRUDpNQ
In the wake of Hamas’ barbaric rampage through the civilian communities of southern Israel, the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, an Israeli human rights NGO, led a coalition of 50 organizations in urging the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to verify the status of the 150+ Israeli hostages taken into captivity in Gaza.
“Hamas has openly advertised its penchant for torturing, raping, denying medical treatment, degrading, humiliating, and threatening to execute these hostages,” said Uri Morad, Director of International Law & Public Diplomacy for the Jerusalem Institute of Justice (JIJ). “The International Red Cross must act urgently to locate and establish communication with the kidnapped Israelis if it has any hope of fulfilling its mission and bringing an end to this war.”
In a joint letter, JIJ advocacy efforts were joined by prominent Israeli, North American, and European organizations who are committed to countering anti-Semitism and anti-Israel bias, including the Anti-Defamation League, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, NGO Monitor, Middle East Forum, and StandWithUs. The group also included several Jewish and Christian communities, including the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, Israel Christian Nexus, and numerous diaspora synagogues.
Specifically, the coalition urged the International Red Cross to take the following steps:
- Locate and establish communication with the Israelis held hostage in the Gaza Strip.
- Call for Hamas to cease its heinous acts of raping and sexually abusing Israelis.
- Condemn the use of human shields as military targets, including hospitals and schools, and the horrifying practice of exhibiting and mutilating dead bodies.
- Facilitate the immediate return of the Israeli hostages.
“This past week constitutes the worst time in Jewish history since the Holocaust, a time when the International Red Cross was, by its own admission, ‘impotent’ in the face of Nazi persecution and genocide,” said Flavia Sevald, CEO of JIJ. “In today’s war, the perpetrators may have changed, but their agenda is the same. The International Red Cross has a double duty to get it right this time.”
The coalition urges the ICRC to locate the hostages, demand Hamas cease raping and abusing them, condemn using human shields, and facilitate the hostages' return to Israel. Lives hang in the balance.
The ICRC has a duty to act now to prevent further torture, rape, and murder of innocents. Sign and share this critical petition so that together, we can pressure the ICRC to pressure Hamas to #FreeTheHostages.
Jerusalem Institute of Justice (JIJ) is the only Israeli human rights NGO with consultative status before the United Nations that is pro-Israel. Within the international community, JIJ has persistently advocated for the release of Israeli citizens from captivity. Within Israel, JIJ provides free legal aid to minority ethnic and religious groups, with a track record of 25 precedent-setting victories in the Israeli Supreme Court.
PETITION TO THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS
Dear International Red Cross,
We, the undersigned, express our profound concerns regarding the current atrocities perpetrated by Hamas and other terrorist organizations within Israel. We respectfully urge the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to act in accordance with its mandate to prevent the ongoing breaches of International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
Commencing from the morning of Saturday, 7th October, Hamas and other terrorists affiliated with various extremist groups from the Gaza Strip have infiltrated Israeli territory, resulting in the mass murder and abduction of hundreds of civilians and soldiers. This ongoing terrorist assault represents a blatant and persistent violation of human rights and international humanitarian law, including customary law and Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions.
The data regarding this ongoing conflict is both alarming and unequivocal, resulting in the tragic loss of over 1,300 innocent lives and the abduction of more than 150 Israelis, including women, children, the elderly, and other individuals granted special protection under IHL. These abductions were carried out violently within their homes. Moreover, more than 3,000 individuals have sustained injuries. Notably, over 5,000 rockets have been indiscriminately launched towards Israeli citizens from the Gaza Strip, a clear violation of fundamental IHL rules. Evidence is also emerging of a pattern of gross human rights violations, including torture, dismemberment, beheadings, the use of rape as a weapon of war, and the desecration of victims' dead bodies and the use of the abducted as human shields.
The ICRC was established precisely to safeguard and assist victims of armed conflicts and ensure compliance with IHL. As part of its mission, the ICRC is obligated to actively contribute to the application of the law in armed conflict scenarios.
In light of this, we respectfully request that the ICRC undertake the following actions, integral to its mandate, to protect the rights of those being abducted, injured, killed, and targeted by Hamas and other terrorist groups:
- Locate and establish communication with kidnapped Israelis:
- Locate and establish communication with the Israelis held hostage in the Gaza Strip, ensuring their treatment and living conditions align with IHL. 1.
- Enforce compliance with IHL by Hamas and other terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip, specifically:
- Cease the murder of civilians and soldiers.
- Halt the indiscriminate launching of missiles and rockets.
- Stop targeting civilians and groups protected under IHL.
- Cease the heinous acts of raping and sexually abusing Israelis.
- End the use of human shields to cover military targets, including buildings such as hospitals and schools.
- Put an immediate stop to the horrifying practice of exhibiting and mutilating the bodies of those murdered by them.
- Return Israeli hostages taken into the Gaza Strip, including Hadar Goldin, Oron Shaul, Avera Mengistu, and Isham Al-Sayed. 1.
We are aware of the recent statement issued by the ICRC and we trust that, in line with its mission and commitment to humanity and IHL, the ICRC will urgently and effectively address these critical matters to alleviate the suffering and uphold the rights of those affected by this outrageous situation.
PETITION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS. THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO SIGNED!
52 Palestinians Tortured = UN Crimes Against Humanity
Jerusalem Institute of Justice- Submission to The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel
Dear Honorable Commission,
We, the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, are a not-for-profit human rights organization, with Special Consultative Status at the UN Economic and Social Council, fighting to promote human rights, defend democracy, and improve the overall quality of life for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Due to our hope of ever-lasting peace in the region, we find it of the utmost importance to address your call for submissions of relevant information and documentation to the mandate of the Commission.
The attached report concerning the Crimes against Humanity committed against Palestinian citizens by the Palestinian Authority (PA) was filed by our organization at the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on the 20th of February 2019, together with the report on Mahmoud Abbas’s Crimes against Humanity. The report includes testimonies of 52 Palestinian civilians who have suffered the grave atrocities of arbitrary imprisonment, torture, and murder by the PA during the time period of 1991 to 2004. We argued that a full investigation of crimes against humanity should be pursued, and a case should be lodged, against Mahmoud Abbas, as President of the PA, for his role in the murder, torture, and unlawful imprisonment of innocent Palestinian civilians. Following this communication, and others, an investigation of the “Situation in Palestine” was commenced by the Chief Prosecutor of the ICC on the 3rd of March 2021. The submission of this report is in accordance with the COI’s mandate to collect evidence and information of abuses of international human rights law and identify those responsible.
On November 11, 2018, the Israeli Supreme Court rejected an appeal and upheld the district court ruling that found the PA liable for unlawful imprisonment in a precedent-setting ruling and ordered the PA to compensate the 52 plaintiffs. The victims, suspected by the PA of “collaboration with Israel,” suffered extreme physical and emotional trauma that has caused numerous long-term damages. The Supreme Court found all testimonies reliable. As President of the Palestinian Authority, Abbas has played a pivotal role in exercising effective authority and control over the imprisonment, torture, and murder of these Palestinian civilians, in furtherance of a state policy designed to deter resistance towards his Government. During his time in power, Abbas has directed or allowed these crimes to be committed against these Palestinians and many more. Abbas’s acts of arbitrary imprisonment, torture, and murder against these Palestinians and many more constitute crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
We urge the commission to look into these violations of Human Rights committed by the Palestinian Authority and include them in their report due to be presented in the Human Rights Council’s June regular session.
Yours sincerely,
Flavia Sevald, CEO,
Jerusalem Institute of Justice,
Murder of Palestinians = UN Crimes Against Humanity
Jerusalem Institute of Justice- Submission to The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel
Dear Honorable Commission,
We, the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, are a not-for-profit human rights organization, with Special Consultative Status at the UN Economic and Social Council, fighting to promote human rights, defend democracy, and improve the overall quality of life for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Due to our hope of ever-lasting peace in the region, we find it of the utmost importance to address your call for submissions of relevant information and documentation to the mandate of the Commission.
The attached report concerning Hamas’s Crimes against Humanity was filed by our organization at the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, on the 24th of July 2019. We argued that a full investigation of crimes committed within the Palestinian territories should be pursued, and a case should be lodged, against Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political wing of Hamas, for his role in the crimes against humanity committed through widespread and/or systematic acts of murder, imprisonment, and torture of civilians in the Gaza Strip. Following this communication and others, an investigation of the “Situation in Palestine” was commenced by the Chief Prosecutor of the ICC, on the 3rd of March 2021. The submission of this report is in accordance with the COI’s mandate to collect evidence and information of abuses of international human rights law and identify those responsible.
As leader of Hamas, Haniyeh has played a pivotal role in developing and enforcing Hamas’s extremist ideology and consistent human rights violations against the Gazan civilian population as well as others. Haniyeh knew of and was in a position to prevent the crimes against humanity that have been committed against the civilian population of Gaza; yet he has manifestly failed to do so. Haniyeh’s crimes have had and will continue to have devastating consequences on the entire population of Gaza and the rest of society in the surrounding region. These crimes benefit no one but Hamas’s leadership.
Haniyeh’s acts of widespread and systematic murder against the civilian population of Gaza constitute crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (Rome Statute). In addition, the crimes of torture committed by Hamas security forces and police officers also constitute crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute.
We urge the commission to look into these violations of Human Rights committed by Hamas and include them in their report due to be presented at the Human Rights Council’s June regular session.
Yours sincerely,
Flavia Sevald, CEO,
Jerusalem Institute of Justice,
Abuse of Palestinians = UN Crimes Against Humanity
Jerusalem Institute of Justice- Submission to The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel
Dear Honorable Commission,
We, the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, are a not-for-profit human rights organization, with Special Consultative Status at the UN Economic and Social Council, fighting to promote human rights, defend democracy, and improve the overall quality of life for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Due to our hope of ever-lasting peace in the region, we find it of the utmost importance to address your call for submissions of relevant information and documentation to the mandate of the Commission.
The attached report concerning the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) Crimes against Humanity was filed by our organization at the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on the 20th of February 2019. We argued that a full investigation of crimes against humanity should be pursued, and a case should be lodged, against Mahmoud Abbas, as President of the PA, for his role in the systematic and widespread campaign of murder, torture, and unlawful imprisonment against parts of the Palestinian population in the territory of Judaea and Samaria, known as the “West Bank”. Following this communication, and others, an investigation of the “Situation in Palestine” was commenced by the Chief Prosecutor of the ICC on the 3rd of March 2021. The submission of this report is in accordance with the COI’s mandate to collect evidence and information of abuses of international human rights law and identify those responsible.
As President of the Palestinian Authority, Abbas has played a pivotal role in exercising effective authority and control over the widespread or systemic murder, imprisonment and torture of the Palestinian civilians, in furtherance of a state policy designed to deter resistance towards his government.
During his time in power, Abbas has directed or allowed these crimes to be committed against various Palestinian groups – including those deemed to have been critical of the current PA government or which have supported rival Palestinian factions. Abbas knew of and was in a position to prevent the crimes against humanity that have been committed against the civilian population of the West Bank, yet he has manifestly failed to do so. Abbas’s acts of widespread and systematic murder against the civilian population of the West Bank constitute crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (“Rome Statute”). In addition, the crimes of torture committed by the Palestinian Authority’s police officers constitute crimes against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute.
We urge the commission to look into these violations of Human Rights committed by the Palestinian Authority and include them in their report due to be presented in the Human Rights Council’s June regular session.
Yours sincerely,
Flavia Sevald, CEO,
Jerusalem Institute of Justice,
Children of Gaza = UN War Crimes
Jerusalem Institute of Justice- Submission to The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel
Dear Honorable Commission,
We, the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, are a not-for-profit human rights organization, with Special Consultative Status at the UN Economic and Social Council, fighting to promote human rights, defend democracy, and improve the overall quality of life for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Due to our hope of ever-lasting peace in the region, we find it of the utmost importance to address your call for submissions of relevant information and documentation to the mandate of the Commission.
The attached report concerning Hamas’s war crimes was filed by our organization at the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on the 13th of September 2018. We argued that a full investigation of crimes committed within the Palestinian territories should be pursued, and a case should be lodged, against Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political wing of Hamas, for his role in the commission of war crimes through the recruitment, enlistment and use of children below the age of 15 to participate directly in hostilities in an armed conflict. Following this communication, and others, an investigation of the “Situation in Palestine” was commenced by the Chief Prosecutor of the ICC on the 3rd of March 2021. The submission of this report is in accordance with the COI’s mandate to collect evidence and information of abuses of international human rights law and identify those responsible.
As a senior leader of Hamas for many years, Haniyeh has played a pivotal role in the exploitation of the most vulnerable in society, the children of Gaza. Not only did Haniyeh fail to prevent war crimes against children committed by Hamas operatives, he has actively encouraged the indoctrination from an early age and recruitment of child soldiers to bolster the Hamas military and paramilitary forces. Firstly, as the de facto and subsequently the de jure leader of Hamas, Haniyeh knew of and was in a position to prevent the enlistment of children as active participants in hostilities, but failed to do so. Secondly, and even more egregiously, Haniyeh was an active proponent of the conscription through his attendance of graduation ceremonies for military training camps aimed at recruiting children, and giving numerous speeches in which he advocated children joining the military struggle against Israel.
The use of children under 15 to participate in armed conflict is also considered a criminal activity pursuant to Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
We urge the commission to look into these violations of Human Rights committed by Hamas and include them in their report due to be presented in the Human Rights Council’s June regular session.
Yours sincerely,
Flavia Sevald, CEO,
Jerusalem Institute of Justice,