International Desk:
Five Palestinians have sued the US State Department, accusing it of supporting the Israeli occupation’s brutal behavior in the Gaza war. The lawsuit was filed in the United States on Tuesday (December 17) to reduce support for the Israeli military or stop supporting the accused units.
The five Palestinians who filed the lawsuit are said to live in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and the United States. The lawsuit was filed under the 1990s ‘Lehi Act’. It alleges serious human rights violations such as extrajudicial killings and torture.
Qatar-based media outlet Al Jazeera reported that the Israeli military is involved in gross human rights violations in Gaza. Despite this, the US continues to provide military assistance to the occupying country. Therefore, the Palestinians have filed the lawsuit against the US State Department.
The lawsuit alleges that the US State Department could have applied the Lehi Act if it wanted to. But it did not. Israel’s human rights violations since the war in Gaza began on October 7 last year are unprecedented and horrific. And the United States is directly supporting them.
Amal Gaza (pseudonym), a teacher and plaintiff in the case, said, “20 members of my family have been killed in the Israeli attack. I have been displaced seven times since the war began. My suffering would be alleviated at least somewhat if the United States stopped providing military assistance to Israel, which is committing gross human rights violations.”
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera contacted the US State Department to inquire about the case. The US State Department said it could not comment on pending cases.
Israel has been carrying out continuous air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since Hamas’ unprecedented attack on October 7 last year. Thousands of buildings in Gaza, including hospitals, schools, refugee camps, mosques and churches, have been destroyed or damaged in the attack.
According to the United Nations, 60 percent of Gaza’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed. Moreover, the Israeli aggression has forced more than two million Gazans, 85 percent of the territory’s population, to flee their homes.
In such a situation, the International Criminal Court (ICC) last month issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. On the other hand, the occupying power, Israel, has already been indicted by the International Court of Justice on charges of genocide.
Source: Reuters
Views: 0
