LONDON: Palestine’s ambassador to the UK, Husam Zomlot, called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate Israel’s siege of Gaza, declaring that Israel has committed war crimes during its 10-day bombardment of the enclave’s 2 million innocent residents.
Zomlot, speaking at a press briefing, accused Israel of killing medical and rescue teams with airstrikes, using white phosphorus, and conducting “disproportionate, lethal” bombardments, all of which he labeled as war crimes.
Zomlot urged ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan to swiftly take action, emphasizing the urgency of the situation: “The sad fact is that a Palestinian is being killed every five minutes. We would not allow another round of mass ethnic cleansing in Palestine. We would not allow for a second Nakba,” referring to the Palestinian exodus in 1948.
Israeli Brutalities in Gaza
Despite Israel’s directive for Palestinians in northern Gaza to evacuate in anticipation of a large-scale ground, sea, and air assault, Zomlot claimed that civilians following this order were martyred, a violation of international law. He called for an immediate ICC investigation into these allegations and criticized international actors, including the US and the UK, for obstructing the ICC’s mandate, urging them to stop shielding Israel from accountability.
Additionally, Zomlot demanded the immediate opening of humanitarian aid channels into Gaza. Israel’s recent move to impose a “complete siege” on the enclave, cutting off power, food, and water, intensified the humanitarian crisis in the region. Zomlot called for an immediate ceasefire, emphasizing the need for justice rather than revenge.
Expressing his concerns about the escalation of the conflict, Zomlot shared his worries about community cohesion and international leadership. He criticized Western news outlets, including the BBC, Sky News, and CNN, for contributing to the escalation of violence and called on the media to provide accurate context to the conflict, emphasizing the importance of truth in reporting.
Ambassador @hzomlot held today at the @ABCCnews in London a press conference about the humanitarian crisis in #Gaza as a result of Israel’s current aggression #Gaza_under_attack #Palestine #GazaUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/GL72EhB1n7
— Palestine in the UK (@PalMissionUK) October 17, 2023
