About 100 family members whose loved ones were taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7. now plans to seek international criminal charges against the terrorist group’s leaders for their war crimes.
Lawyers for the Forum of Hostages and Missing Families — a group representing nearly 250 families of hostages — have been working for months to prepare a submission to the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands, and are expected to submit it to the court on Wednesday, the Times of Israel reports.
It will demand that Hamas leaders be prosecuted for “kidnapping, sexual assault crimes, terrorism [and] torture” for cross-border attacks, when more than 1,200 Israelis were killed.
Israeli forensic teams that examined the bodies of the dead later said they found multiple signs of rape, torture and other brutality suffered by the victims – seemingly corroborating more than 1,500 harrowing testimonies from survivors.
If Hamas leaders are criminally charged, it will “put enormous pressure on the release of the remaining hostages and serve as a mechanism to bring justice to the victims and their families,” the group said.
The families of hostages held in the Gaza Strip plan to petition the International Criminal Court to prosecute Hamas leaders. AFP via Getty Images
International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Kahn has already said he is conducting an investigation into Hamas’ actions — as well as an investigation into Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
But Robbie Sabel, a law school professor at Hebrew University, said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum submissions could put pressure on Kahn.
“If further evidence can be presented to the ICC, then this may encourage the prosecution to advance the investigation,” he said.
Sabel said Kahn had “a reputation as a fair and reasonable lawyer,” but said he was “certainly subject to public pressure.”
Israeli officials estimate about 100 hostages remain in Gaza. Hamas is also holding the bodies of about 30 who were either killed on October 7 or died in custody. via REUTERS
Under Kahn’s authority, the International Criminal Court can prosecute individuals for violations of the Geneva Conventions.
The Post has contacted the International Criminal Court and the Forum for Hostages and Missing Families for comment.
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Meanwhile, the United Nations has launched its own investigation into sexual violence that Hamas has been accused of committing.
“There were numerous reports of sexual violence during the heinous act of violence by Hamas on October 7 that must be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted,” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement earlier.
“Gender-based violence must be condemned. anytime. Anywhere,” he said.
The International Criminal Court can prosecute individuals for violations of the Geneva Conventions. Anadolu via Getty Images
Israeli officials estimate about 100 hostages remain in Gaza. Hamas is also holding the bodies of about 30 people who were either killed on October 7 or died in custody.
More than 100 others were released by Hamas during a week-long ceasefire in November.
Since Israel launched its counteroffensive in Gaza, its forces have killed 28,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in the territory.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
