ICC case to examine killing of Gaza family near Nasser Hospital

[Meegie]

The tragic story of a Palestinian mother's vigil over the bodies of her four sons killed by Israeli fire is to be presented by the Geneva-based Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the hope that it will be "used as an exemplar case for ongoing investigations into war crimes in Gaza".

In February 2024, the Al-Aweini family, sheltering in their makeshift home in the grounds of the Nasser Hospital in Gaza, were, without warning, attacked by an Israeli quadcopter drone. The drone then hovered, recording the scene from close range, before launching a barrage of fragmentation munitions. The father and one of his adult sons were the most severely injured. The other sons attempted to carry them the 100 yards to the hospital entrance, but Israeli snipers on the hospital rooftop opened fire. Four of the sons were struck and collapsed in the street.
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Their mother, Tahani Hamdan, tried to reach the hospital door for help. She was shot in the leg but kept running through back streets. She was forced to remain inside the hospital while snipers targeted anyone trying to help and ambulances were turned back. Tahani's sons slowly bled to death.

For four more days she kept a vigil from afar over her sons' bodies. "All I could do" she said later "was to pray that stray dogs and cats did not reach them. All I wanted was for them to be buried with dignity".

The Euro-Med investigators have used geospatial analysis tools, topographical maps, and have examined sightlines from nearby elevated structures to assess possible firing angles, comparing them with the injury sites. They have meticulously recorded testimonies from the survivors and from doctors at the hospital.

The investigators have formally called on the ICC prosecutor "to incorporate the systematic targeting of the Al-Aweini family into broader accountability frameworks, classifying the sequence of events as evidence of severe violations of international law and indicators of systematic targeting of civilians".
They add: "This case reflects a broader pattern of neighbourhoods being transformed into 'killing zones' where everyone present is treated as a potential target".

I am so conflicted when it comes to highlighting cases such as this or Hind Rajab. For me, the danger is that these crimes will be claimed by Israel as exceptional and tragic mistakes whereas the reality is they are the norm and just two of thousands of similar crimes. The world needs to know that.

Utter, utter bastards. I just hope and pray the Israeli government will face prosecution.

And its "soldiers" of course.

I agree with you, JacknDiane, it's about time all civilised countries were thinking about the prosecution of the Israeli government for all the death, suffering and damage Israel has caused. In President Trump's plans for his Board of Peace, there isn't a word about Israel paying reparations. On the contrary, Trump is asking uninvolved countries for huge donations to rebuild Gaza to his liking.
There is a precedent. In September 1952, per the Luxembourg Agreements, West Germany was obliged to pay to Israel 'material reparations and re-settlement payments for Jewish refugees'. Since 1952, West Germany has paid Israel more than $95 Billion in reparations.

The Luxembourg agreement was about the Holocaust and its aftermath, not the same thing.

Why was it 'not the same thing'?

Because one is the systematic murder of over 6 million Jews. Nothing in history compares.

And what do you class the other one as?

The other was clearly not the systemic killing of 6 million people. The Jewish people were rounded up by the Nazis and sent to gas chambers, stripped of clothing and possessions and gassed, then piled up and burned. Auschwitz to name one of the places. They were not killed during a war around then.

Millions of Europeans were killed in WW1 and WW2 that was also clearly not the same as the systemic killing of Jewish people.

I’ve previously posted about the horrific situation in Palestine… every response was telling me it isn’t a genocide & our PM needn’t comment on it! Seems not everyone on mumsnet is in favour of the safety of women & children.

I didn't ask what they thought it wasn't. I asked what they thought it was.

A conflict after a terrorist attack of huge magnitude. That's what is was. War crimes likely yes. Not comparable to the Holocaust in any way imaginable.

Genocide on a smaller scale?

I disagree that nothing is comparable about them. Yes, they were very different and the holocaust was on an incomparable scale but I wouldn't call either of them conflicts. They are both massacres and an attempt to get rid of an entire population. Thank god the holocaust failed but this one is not done yet.