Eyewitness Account from Israeli First Responders
Eyewitness Account from Israeli First Responders - Nahman and Valerie Dyksztejn from ZAKA personally handled the bodies of October 7th victims and traveled this week to Geneva with JIJ to deliver a joint report that relies on their firsthand testimony. This report, which includes incredibly graphic photos, was presented to numerous UN officials and ambassadors from the Czech Republic, the United States, and Singapore. Hear their story.
Echos of Conflict - Antisemitism in Europe Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict
In this webinar, we discuss the concerning rise of antisemitism in Europe amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. We were honored to feature perspectives from H.E. Daniel Meron, Deputy Director General for Europe at the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Aleksandra Gliszcyńska-Grabias, Assistant professor at the Institute of Law Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences, and member of the Board of Governors of the International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists..
As we highlighted in the discussion, the current crisis extends far beyond the Middle East, spurring a disturbing surge of antisemitism across Europe. We examined legal frameworks used to address this, as well as shifting dynamics between Israel and European nations.
Letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues
SEEKING TO EVACUATE PALESTINIAN CHRISTIANS FROM GAZA PERSECUTED BY HAMAS
Prof. Nicolas Levrat Date: November 21, 2023
UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues
8-14 Avenue de la Paix 1211 Genève 10, Switzerland
Dear Mr. Levrat,
I am writing on behalf of the Jerusalem Institute of Justice, an NGO holding special consultative status before the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
We wish to express our profound concern regarding the perilous situation of Christian Palestinians in northern Gaza. We urgently request your intervention to safeguard the rights and well-being of innocent individuals belonging to this minority group by facilitating their immediate evacuation to a safe haven.
Enclosed, please find a letter wherein we respectfully and firmly request the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, under your mandate, to take immediate and decisive action. Collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross is crucial for the prompt evacuation of the 1,000 Christian Palestinians sheltered in Gaza City to a secure location. It is imperative to provide them with essential resources for survival, including access to food, clean water, and medical care.
Additionally, I kindly request confirmation of receipt of this email.
Best regards,
Alan Dosoretz
Human Rights, Diplomacy & Education Officer
The Laws of War in the Israel-Hamas Hostilities
The recent escalation of violence between Hamas and Israel, triggered by the October 7 incursion into Israel by Hamas militants, has sparked extensive legal discussions. The Israel-Hamas conflict is now a central topic in conversations about International Humanitarian Law (IHL), with diverse interpretations by legal experts regarding its application to key principles such as proportionality, distinction, and military necessity. In this podcast, we discussed the complexities of the Israel-Hamas conflict within the context of IHL.
Featuring Dr. Daphne Richemond-Barak and Dr. Ido Rosenzweig. It was moderated by Carolina Grimberg Golijov. We encourage you to watch the full webinar recording using the button below to hear these important perspectives on the ongoing crisis.
Israel at War Brief - November 9
Before we even finished burying our dead, mobs gathered in world capitals to celebrate our suffering and to lob accusations at the State of Israel for having the audacity to respond and prevent this from ever happening again. Anti-semitism is now surging worldwide, with attacks on Jewish synagogues, businesses, and people now commonplace. World leaders have gathered in Geneva and New York to condemn the only Jewish state, and they are tripping over themselves to shovel more money into the hands of Hamas. We have watched in horror as the worst pogrom since the Holocaust has turned into a fundraising bonanza for the intifada. We have the Islamic State in our backyard and Iran’s proxies firing from above. Truly, we are surrounded by our enemies.
And yet … the people of Israel are united in our resolve to fully and finally defeat Hamas. The military called up 360,000 civilian reservists, and 450,000 showed up within days. Many of our soldiers charged into battle wearing worn-out gym shoes, and they have remained steadfast on the front lines, despite constant rocket fire, and ambushes from underground tunnels. Over 250,000 Israeli civilians have been forced to evacuate their homes near our southern and northern borders, and they have been warmly welcomed by the hotels that are now empty of the usual tourists.
UN In The Spotlight
In this important webinar, we closely examine how the UN bodies have responded, or potentially failed to address, the attack perpetrated by Hamas on the 7th of October and the subsequent events in the Israel-Hamas conflict. To provide profound insights and expert perspectives, we are privileged to have two eminent speakers with us: Professor Yuval Shany, former Chair of the Human Rights Committee, and Ambassador Meirav Eilon Shahar, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations and International Organizations in Geneva.
Biased Narratives on Red Cross Social Media
THE JERUSALEM INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE LEADS A COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS URGING
THE ICRC TO STOP BUILDING ONE-SIDED NARRATIVES ON SOCIAL MEDIA
To: Ms. Mirjana Spoljaric Egger,
President of the International Committee of the Red Cross
19 Avenue de la Paix 1202 Geneva Switzerland
Date: November 15, 2023
We are writing to bring to your attention a pressing issue concerning the use of social media by the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the context of the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict.
In today's world, social media has an immense influence on the perception of conflicts, shaping
narratives and inadvertently affecting conflict dynamics. Recent events have underscored the critical
importance of the ICRC's response in this domain.
The central concern at hand revolves around the balance and neutrality of the content disseminated
through ICRC's social media channels. As an independent and neutral organization dedicated to
upholding humanitarian protection for conflict victims and the principles of international
humanitarian law (IHL), it is imperative that ICRC's social media communications maintain a high
standard of neutrality, balance, and accuracy in portraying conflicts.
Of particular concern is the apparent disproportion in the content's focus. A noticeable emphasis on
the Gaza Strip is evident in the content shared by ICRC on its social media platforms (see Annex 1).
This is evident in depictions of scenes from Gaza, casualty statistics, and information about victims
within Gaza. However, a significant absence exists concerning content depicting the atrocities
committed by Hamas on October 7 and the impact on communities in Israel near the Gaza Strip.
Furthermore, a notable gap in communication on ICRC's Instagram account was observed following
the October 7 attack. While references were made to hostage-taking and the importance of adhering
to international humanitarian law, a more robust stance against the violations of international
humanitarian law committed by Hamas on October 7, including acts of sexual violence and genocide,
was expected.
Equally concerning is the absence of any posts, whether images, graphics, or videos, addressing the
damages suffered on Israeli soil. This encompasses distressing scenes of houses reduced to rubble,
charred walls, mass destruction, and the devastating harms caused by rocket hits on civilian
infrastructure in Tel Aviv, Ashkelon, and other locations.
The consequences of this content disproportion are significant, as it affects the overall narrative,
public perception, and understanding of the conflict. Given the ICRC's influential role in providing
information, it is essential to adopt a more balanced and nuanced approach in social media
communications.
From October 7 until October 25, there has been a 500% increase in the volume of antisemitic events
compared to the same period last year. Specifically in social networks, the increase of online
antisemitic discourse was, between October 7-23, 400% compared to the 17 days prior to the war and
340% compared to the same dates in the previous months (The State of Antisemitism in the World A
Summary of the First Three Weeks of the 'Swords of Iron' War, 2023).
This alarming surge in online antisemitism has had dire real-world consequences. Instances of
antisemitic violence and vandalism have occurred globally, with private houses and apartments in
cities like Berlin, Paris, and others being marked with Stars of David. Synagogues, Holocaust
memorials, Jewish schools, Jewish cemeteries, and historic Jewish sites in locations such as Girona,
Berlin, Vienna, Rome, and Thessaloniki have been targets of attacks, often accompanied by anti-Israel
and antisemitic graffiti, including swastikas. A particularly distressing incident took place on
November 4 when a 30-year-old Jewish woman was stabbed in her home in Lyon, and her attacker
defaced her door with a swastika symbol. Tragically, on November 6, a pro-Palestinian protestor killed
Paul Kessler, a 65-year-old Jewish man, further underscoring the devastating real-world impact of
rising antisemitism.
The perilous connection between online antisemitism and tangible acts of violence against Jewish
individuals, communities, and institutions underscores the pressing need for fair and responsible
communication on social media platforms. This is why we firmly believe that the ICRC should maintain
balance and neutrality in the content shared on social media platforms.
Our request is not to remove existing content but to enhance it with a more comprehensive portrayal
of the situation, one that encompasses the atrocities committed in Israel by Hamas and other
Palestinian terrorist groups. Your proactive response to this matter will contribute to a more informed
and balanced public discourse on these critical issues.
Sincerely,
CC: Fabrizio Carboni, ICRC regional director for the Near and Middle East
Alessandra Menegon, Head of the Delegation of the ICRC in Israel and the Occupied Territories
Ewan Watson, Head of Public Relations
Biased Narratives on Red Cross Social Media
THE JERUSALEM INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE LEADS A COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS URGING
THE ICRC TO STOP BUILDING ONE-SIDED NARRATIVES ON SOCIAL MEDIA
To: Ms. Mirjana Spoljaric Egger,
President of the International Committee of the Red Cross
19 Avenue de la Paix 1202 Geneva Switzerland
Date: November 15, 2023
We are writing to bring to your attention a pressing issue concerning the use of social media by the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the context of the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict.
In today's world, social media has an immense influence on the perception of conflicts, shaping
narratives and inadvertently affecting conflict dynamics. Recent events have underscored the critical
importance of the ICRC's response in this domain.
The central concern at hand revolves around the balance and neutrality of the content disseminated
through ICRC's social media channels. As an independent and neutral organization dedicated to
upholding humanitarian protection for conflict victims and the principles of international
humanitarian law (IHL), it is imperative that ICRC's social media communications maintain a high
standard of neutrality, balance, and accuracy in portraying conflicts.
Of particular concern is the apparent disproportion in the content's focus. A noticeable emphasis on
the Gaza Strip is evident in the content shared by ICRC on its social media platforms (see Annex 1).
This is evident in depictions of scenes from Gaza, casualty statistics, and information about victims
within Gaza. However, a significant absence exists concerning content depicting the atrocities
committed by Hamas on October 7 and the impact on communities in Israel near the Gaza Strip.
Furthermore, a notable gap in communication on ICRC's Instagram account was observed following
the October 7 attack. While references were made to hostage-taking and the importance of adhering
to international humanitarian law, a more robust stance against the violations of international
humanitarian law committed by Hamas on October 7, including acts of sexual violence and genocide,
was expected.
Equally concerning is the absence of any posts, whether images, graphics, or videos, addressing the
damages suffered on Israeli soil. This encompasses distressing scenes of houses reduced to rubble,
charred walls, mass destruction, and the devastating harms caused by rocket hits on civilian
infrastructure in Tel Aviv, Ashkelon, and other locations.
The consequences of this content disproportion are significant, as it affects the overall narrative,
public perception, and understanding of the conflict. Given the ICRC's influential role in providing
information, it is essential to adopt a more balanced and nuanced approach in social media
communications.
From October 7 until October 25, there has been a 500% increase in the volume of antisemitic events
compared to the same period last year. Specifically in social networks, the increase of online
antisemitic discourse was, between October 7-23, 400% compared to the 17 days prior to the war and
340% compared to the same dates in the previous months (The State of Antisemitism in the World A
Summary of the First Three Weeks of the 'Swords of Iron' War, 2023).
This alarming surge in online antisemitism has had dire real-world consequences. Instances of
antisemitic violence and vandalism have occurred globally, with private houses and apartments in
cities like Berlin, Paris, and others being marked with Stars of David. Synagogues, Holocaust
memorials, Jewish schools, Jewish cemeteries, and historic Jewish sites in locations such as Girona,
Berlin, Vienna, Rome, and Thessaloniki have been targets of attacks, often accompanied by anti-Israel
and antisemitic graffiti, including swastikas. A particularly distressing incident took place on
November 4 when a 30-year-old Jewish woman was stabbed in her home in Lyon, and her attacker
defaced her door with a swastika symbol. Tragically, on November 6, a pro-Palestinian protestor killed
Paul Kessler, a 65-year-old Jewish man, further underscoring the devastating real-world impact of
rising antisemitism.
The perilous connection between online antisemitism and tangible acts of violence against Jewish
individuals, communities, and institutions underscores the pressing need for fair and responsible
communication on social media platforms. This is why we firmly believe that the ICRC should maintain
balance and neutrality in the content shared on social media platforms.
Our request is not to remove existing content but to enhance it with a more comprehensive portrayal
of the situation, one that encompasses the atrocities committed in Israel by Hamas and other
Palestinian terrorist groups. Your proactive response to this matter will contribute to a more informed
and balanced public discourse on these critical issues.
Sincerely,
CC: Fabrizio Carboni, ICRC regional director for the Near and Middle East
Alessandra Menegon, Head of the Delegation of the ICRC in Israel and the Occupied Territories
Ewan Watson, Head of Public Relations
ICRC- Must Locate and Facilitate Release of Hostages
JERUSALEM INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE LEADS COALITION OF 50 ORGANIZATIONS
URGING INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS TO SECURE RELEASE OF THE GAZA CAPTIVES
A coalition of 50 organizations urge the ICRC to verify the status of more than 150 Israelis kidnapped in the Gaza Strip
In the wake of Hamas’ barbaric rampage through the civilian communities of southern Israel, the Jerusalem Institute of Justice leads 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. Here
This list reflects a broad consensus between Israel and the global Diaspora, religious and secular organizations. In this dark time for our nation, our hearts are moved by the opportunity to speak with one voice. In addition to sending this letter, we are requesting an urgent meeting with the Jerusalem staff of the ICRC and plan to bring some of the families of the Israeli hostages to that meeting to make personal the urgency of our appeal.
“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.”
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.
A War for Human Rights
Following the many atrocities that have been committed against Israeli civilians in an unprecedented terrorist attack to the south of the country, the JIJ submitted a letter to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. We urge them to take immediate action to address the grave human rights violations taking place by Hamas and other terrorist organizations.
ADDRESSED TO 09.10.2023
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais Wilson
52 rue des Pâquis
CH-1201 Geneva, Switzerland
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing on behalf of the Jerusalem Institute of Justice (JIJ) in consultative status, an Israeli
legal and research institute advocating for human rights in Israel and the Middle East.
We call upon the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) to fulfil its responsibility of
promoting and protecting human rights by condemning the horrific acts of terrorism
perpetrated by the terrorist Palestinian organization Hamas against the Israeli population.
While we appreciate today’s act of solidarity of standing in silence in memory of those who
were brutally murdered, the scale of this past days’ atrocities demands further action.
As outlined in General Assembly Resolution 60/251, the Human Rights Council has the
mandate and responsibility to promote and protect human rights worldwide. The inhuman
actions carried out by Hamas, including the kidnapping of innocent civilians and infiltrations
into Israeli territory to perpetrate acts of terror via land, sea and air, should have already
garnered the immediate attention and condemnation of this Council.
The information regarding the ongoing conflict is both stark and undeniable. It has resulted in
the loss of over 1,000 innocent lives and the kidnapping of more than 150 Israelis and foreign
nationals, including women, children, and elderly people who were abducted violently from
their homes. Additionally, more than 2,500 individuals have been injured. Furthermore, it is
worth noting that more than 5,000 rockets have been launched towards Israeli citizens.
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. This only serves to demonstrate the terrorist groups' genocidal intentions to
continue perpetrating mass atrocities on Israeli civilians, while recklessly endangering
Palestinian civilians.
There can be no excuse for the silence of this Council in the face of such atrocities, which
constitutes the most destructive pogrom against Jewish people since the Holocaust.
We implore this Council to take this opportunity to fulfill its mandate and stand on the right
side of history concerning human rights. As the world is watching, we expect this Council to
rise above past biases and act in accordance with its stated principles.
The pursuit of peace and the protection of human rights should always transcend political
considerations, and it is our sincere belief that the Council can play a crucial role in promoting
justice and safeguarding the rights of all individuals affected by this conflict.
We urge the United Nations Human Rights Council to take immediate and meaningful action
to address the grave human rights violations taking place and to condemn, with intentional
force, the horrifying acts committed by the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas. Only
through such actions can the Council uphold its commitment to the principles of human rights,
justice, and peace.
Sincerely,
Flavia Sevald Adv. Uri Morad, Director of the International
Chief Executive Officer Law & Public Diplomacy Department
Lydia Morgan, COO