43 h. ago There is no excuse for the killing of two Israeli embassy workers | Kenneth Roth

Critics of Israel’s atrocious conduct in Gaza should be clear that their focus is the authors of that violence – not Israeli civiliansIsrael’s campaign of bombing and starving Palestinian civilians in Gaza is inexcusable. It reflects a massive war crime, as the international criminal court has already charged, and arguably genocide. But it in no sense justifies the murder of two young Israeli embassy workers in Washington by a man who then chanted: “Free, free Palestine”. Nothing justifies violence against civilians.The killing of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim occurred on Wednesday evening outside the Capital Jewish Museum, where the American Jewish Committee was hosting a reception for young diplomats. The suspect, identified as Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, was detained shortly after the shooting. His social media accounts indicated that he had been involved in pro-Palestinian activism.Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch (1993-2022), is a visiting prof...

Events

56 h. ago ICC prosecutor says Netanyahu arrest warrant should remain as Israel jurisdiction challenge is heard

Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court are urging judges to reject a request by Israel to scrap arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister while the court reconsiders its jurisdiction over Gaza and the West Bank

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6 d. ago What the last Trump presidency can teach us about fighting back | Kenneth Roth

History shows that if western governments mount a defense, the human rights movement will survive this rough patchAs Donald Trump abandons any pretense of promoting human rights abroad, he has sparked concern about the future of the human rights movement. The US government has never been a consistent promoter of human rights, but when it applied itself, it was certainly the most powerful. Yet this is not the first time that the human rights movement has faced a hostile administration in Washington. A collective defense by other governments has been the key to survival in the past. That remains true today.Trump no doubt poses a serious threat. He is enamored of autocrats who rule without the checks and balances on executive power that he would shirk. He has stopped participating in the UN human rights council and censored the US state department’s annual human rights report. He has summarily sent immigrants to El Salvador’s nightmarish mega-prison, proposed the mass ethnic cleansing ...

Politics

6 d. ago British law chief seeking arrest of Benjamin Netanyahu 'accused of hotel sex assault on female colleague hours before war crimes speech to UN'

The British chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court allegedly sexually assaulted a female colleague in a hotel room before making a speech to the UN.

Events

8 d. ago ICC’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, to step aside until investigation ends

International criminal court confirms move after latest news reports about details of alleged sexual misconductThe chief prosecutor of the international criminal court, Karim Khan, will take a leave of absence until an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct reaches a conclusion, the court has confirmed.Staff in the ICC’s prosecution division were told on Friday that Khan would temporarily step aside until an external investigation examining the allegations against him was completed and court authorities could consider its findings. Continue reading...

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8 d. ago ICC prosecutor Karim Khan steps aside pending outcome of sexual misconduct investigation

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court will temporarily step down pending the outcome of an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct

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1 week ago UK High Court hears legal challenge over British government's role in arming Israel

The U.K. government will defend its decision to continue supplying parts for F-35 fighter jets that may be used by Israel in Gaza at the High Court

Politics

1 week ago British law chief bringing war crimes case against Israel 'tried to use Gaza to silence his sex assault accuser and told her 'Think about Palestinian arrest warrants''

Karim Khan KC, who has served as chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court since 2021, has spearheaded movements to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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3 w. ago George Clooney's wife Amal at risk of being banned from US under Donald Trump sanctions

Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney is at risk of being banned from entering the U.S. after advising on a war crimes case that led the International Criminal Court to pursue arrest warrants against Israeli officials

Events

3 w. ago Amal Clooney 'faces possible US ban from Trump over war crimes probe into Netanyahu'

The high-profile British human rights lawyer sat on the expert legal panel that advised the International Criminal Court on evidence from the Gaza conflict

Events

3 w. ago ICC judges order that arrest warrant requests in Palestine case be kept secret

Exclusive: Prosecutor barred from public announcements as he prepares round of applications for Israeli suspectsThe prosecutor of the international criminal court has been restrained from publicising any new applications for arrest warrants in the court’s Palestine case after judges ordered they must be kept secret, the Guardian has learned.In an order issued behind closed doors this month, ICC judges are understood to have told the prosecutor, Karim Khan, he can no longer make public announcements referring to the existence of his applications for arrest warrants or his intention to seek them. Continue reading...

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3 w. ago The international criminal court should prosecute Syria’s Assad | Kenneth Roth

For the foreseeable future, international courts provide the only realistic prospect of justice for SyriansThere are few regimes as cruel as the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad. There was seemingly no limit to what it would do to sustain his grasp on power, including dropping chemical weapons and barrel bombs on civilians in territory held by the armed opposition, and starving, torturing, “disappearing” and executing perceived opponents. The victims numbered in the hundreds of thousands.Since December, Assad is gone, toppled by the HTS rebel group that now controls the interim government in Damascus. The leader of the interim authorities, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has promised a far more inclusive and rights-respecting rule. The jury is still out on whether he will live up to those vows, but one place where he has fallen short is in satisfying the Syrian people’s quest for justice. Both he and international courts could play a role.Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights...

Events

4 w. ago International court appeals panel orders judges to reconsider Israel's jurisdiction challenge

Appeals judges at the International Criminal Court have ordered a pretrial panel to reconsider an Israeli appeal against the court’s jurisdiction over Gaza and the West Bank

Events