Rights group urges ICC to seek arrest warrants for Trump and US officials
A human rights group is preparing to submit evidence to the International Criminal Court (ICC), urging prosecutors to seek arrest warrants for US President Donald Trump and other senior American officials over alleged complicity in genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. The submission is expected to be delivered in The Hague on November 11.
The Taxpayer Alliance Against Genocide (TAAG), a group of human rights lawyers and activists, plans to present evidence to the ICC Office of the Prosecutor next week concerning the alleged involvement of US officials in crimes committed in the Palestinian enclave, The National reported.
The delegation is expected to travel to The Hague on November 11 to submit material gathered over nearly a year.
According to the group, the evidence concerns alleged US assistance and support for Israel in connection with genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Evidence includes doctors’ testimonies and military documents
TAAG said its submission includes sworn statements from medical professionals who worked in Gaza, eyewitness accounts, whistleblower testimony, video footage and documents.
The material reportedly examines the political, military, diplomatic and financial support provided by the United States to Israel.
The group intends to use the evidence to call on ICC prosecutors to consider seeking arrest warrants against Trump and other senior US officials.
UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese is also expected to address the delegation, alongside international lawyers, medical professionals and Palestinian rights advocates.
ICC under pressure amid tensions with Washington
The planned submission comes amid growing tensions between the United States and the ICC over the court's investigations into alleged crimes in Gaza.
The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on ICC officials following the court's issuance of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Washington has strongly opposed the court's actions against Israeli officials.
Allegations have not been ruled on by the court
The allegations against Trump and other US officials have not been adjudicated by the ICC.
The planned submission does not mean that the court has accepted the claims, opened a new investigation or decided to seek arrest warrants.
Any decision on possible legal action would rest with the ICC's Office of the Prosecutor and would have to follow the court's applicable legal procedures.
The submission is expected to add to growing international legal and political pressure over the role of foreign governments in Israel's military campaign in Gaza.
Source:AA
