The assassination in Tehran of Hamas’s political leader and chief negotiator, Ismail Haniyeh, while attending the inauguration of Iran’s new president, is a serious escalation of the war by the Israeli regime against Palestinians. It took place only a few hours after the assassination of a Hezbollah leader by Israeli bombing of Southern Beirut. .
As the International Criminal Court is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli leaders Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, citing evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, including starvation, wilful killing, and persecution, the International Court of Justice has now declared Israel’s occupation and annexation of Palestinian territories, as well as its discriminatory policies, unlawful and in violation of international prohibitions on racial segregation and apartheid. In January, ICJ had already ruled Israel’s conduct in Gaza as a plausible genocide and has more recently demanded that Israel stop any military actions in Rafah that could harm civilians.
The UK government, by its arms sales and military support for Israel, has been complicit in Israel’s gross violations of international law. In April, more than 600 British jurists called for suspension of UK arms sales to Israel. We demand immediate action to end UK’s support for Israel to avoid a devastating regional war. Peace can only be achieved by ending Israel’s policies of genocide, settler-colonialism, and apartheid, ensuring freedom and return for Palestinians.
