Possible obstruction of assistance
Criminal Court warns Hamas and Israel
October 30, 2023, 3:54 a.m
Although more aid deliveries are reaching the Gaza Strip, they are far from enough to supply the population. The chief investigator of the International Criminal Court is now holding Hamas and Israel responsible. He indicates that both parties are already being investigated.
The chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, warned Israel and the Islamist Hamas against violations of international law in the Gaza war. “I would like to clearly emphasize to Israel that it must make visible efforts without further delay to ensure that the civilian population receives basic foodstuffs, medicine, anesthetics,” Chief Prosecutor Khan told journalists in Cairo, referring to the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
And to the Hamas ruling party in Gaza and everyone “who is in control there”: The aid must reach the civilian population “and not be misused or diverted from them,” the chief prosecutor warned. Khan indicated that the Criminal Court is already investigating possible crimes on both the Palestinian and Israeli sides.
“Obstructing the delivery of aid” under the Geneva Conventions could constitute a crime that falls under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, Khan warned. He visited the Rafah border crossing in Egypt at the weekend. This is considered the only way to bring urgently needed help to the coastal strip sealed off by Israel.
Aid convoy reaches Gaza
Meanwhile, according to an Israeli media report, a convoy of almost three dozen trucks carrying relief supplies has arrived in the sealed-off Gaza Strip. As the Israeli news site Ynet reported, citing officials at the Egyptian Rafah border crossing, 23 trucks carrying humanitarian aid crossed the border into the Gaza Strip.
A total of 33 trucks reached the area that day. It was the largest daily convoy since the start of the war. However, according to aid organizations, this is still not enough to provide for the more than 2.2 million residents in the Gaza Strip. It was said that 100 truckloads would be needed every day.
“The civilian population must be provided with basic food, water and urgently needed medical assistance,” demanded Khan. With regard to the hostages kidnapped by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the chief prosecutor said that taking hostages constituted “a serious violation of the Geneva Conventions.”