European Muslim Forum hails ICC war crimes probe into Israeli crimes

The European Muslim Forum (EMF) has welcomed a decision earlier this year by the International Criminal Court to launch a formal inquiry into Israel’s crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The group said in a statement on Monday that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be held personally accountable for the inhuman treatment of Palestinians.

Netanyahu, wishing to remain in power at all costs, is causing bloodshed in the occupied Palestinian territories, and plunging Israel deeper into disaster, said the forum.

The group also hailed the Hague-based ICC’s decision in the spring of 2021 to open a war crimes investigation in the Palestinian lands, calling on the international community to end Israeli “atrocities before their consequences become irreversible.”

UN says Israeli aggression exasperated already dire situation in besieged Gaza Strip

The UN says the devastating Israeli aggression on Gaza Strip has exasperated the already dire situation in the impoverished enclave.

“EMF believes that Netanyahu should be held personally accountable for the inhuman treatment of the people of Palestine, the encroachment on its sovereignty and the desecration of the holy sites of Islam,” the group said.

Tensions escalated across the Palestinian territories last month after an Israeli plan to force Palestinian families out of their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of the occupied Jerusalem al-Quds drew mass protests and sparked off nearly two weeks of fighting between Israel and Palestinian resistance groups. 

At least 253 Palestinians, including 66 children, were killed in the Israeli bombardments of the densely populated coastal enclave. Israel’s bombing campaign also brought widespread devastation to the already impoverished territory.

EMF said the Israeli prime minister's “inhuman orders and hate statements must receive the most serious and rigorous assessment from the standpoint of international humanitarian law,” urging that he must not be allowed to “escape punishment.”

Israel teaches hate, and the “al-Quds Sword” became the guardian of Palestine

An analyst says the Gaza Strip has achieved its goals in the recent war with Israel, and its Operation al-Quds Sword will continue to impose itself on Israel after the end of this current war for many years to come.

“This man as the political leader of Israel, more than anyone else is involved in organizing punitive operations against the civilian population of Gaza, the military destruction of its infrastructure, police violence against the Arab community, military operations that damage world cultural heritage sites, including al-Aqsa (Mosque),” it said.

The group finally called on Palestinian factions, Jewish organizations as well as human rights organizations in Europe and America “to work together to hold Netanyahu accountable to the fullest extent of the law and prevent the region from slipping into conflict.”

ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in a statement on March 3 that her inquiry would be conducted “independently, impartially and objectively, without fear or favor.”

South Africa film festival boycotts Israeli productions

South Africa’s Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) said Monday it has decided to boycott Israeli cinematic productions, in protest against the recent bloody military onslaught on the Gaza Strip and continuing violations of Palestinian rights.

DIFF refused the participation of Israeli director Yakie Ayalon with his documentary "Eretz Go", which recounts the journey of an immigrant family from Nigeria to the Israeli occupied territories.

South African dockworkers refuse to unload Israeli ship in solidarity with Palestinians

South African dockworkers boycott the offloading of an Israeli ship docked at the Durban harbor in protest at the Tel Aviv regime’s onslaught on the Gaza Strip.

Ayalon received an email from the organizing committee of DIFF, which is scheduled to be held from July 22 to August 1, stating that the festival is committed to boycotting Israel, based on the festival's belief in social justice and the value of human rights and dignity.

“We will not be presenting any films made by Israeli directors during the Durban International Film Festival as long as the rights of Palestinians continue to be repressed by the Israeli regime,” the committee said, adding that they had once lived through a similar apartheid system in South Africa.

The organizing committee also pledged to do whatever possible through available means to ensure international support for the Palestinian cause.

AP journalists condemn firing of colleague

Separately, more than 100 journalists at the Associated Press published an open letter, denouncing the news agency's decision to sack young news associate Emily Wilder over her criticism of Israel and support for the people of Palestine.

“We strongly disapprove of the way the AP has handled the firing of Emily Wilder and its days-long silence internally,” the journalists said in the letter.  

“We demand more clarity from the company about why Wilder was fired. It remains unclear — to Wilder herself as well as staff at large — how she violated the social media policy while employed by the AP,” the letter read.

Fired AP journalist: I will not be intimidated into silence, I will be back soon

A female journalist fired by the Associated Press over her support for Palestine says she will not be intimidated into silence.

The journalists expressed particular concern over the fact that Wilder was fired after a right-wing campaign began digging up activism posts she had made during her time at university. 

“We need to know that the AP would stand behind and provide resources to journalists who are the subject of smear campaigns and online harassment,” the group said. 

“As journalists who cover contentious subjects, we are often the target of people unhappy with scrutiny. What happens when they orchestrate a smear campaign targeting another one of us? Interest groups are celebrating their victory and turning their sights on more AP journalists. They have routinely made journalists’ identities subject to attack. Once we decide to play this game on the terms of those acting in bad faith, we can’t win,” the journalists continued. 

Wilder has spoken out against her sacking, speaking to media and releasing a statement of her own on Saturday outlining how "heartbreaking" the whole incident has been and how she feels scapegoated. 

"While firings are rarely transparent, AP chose to name Wilder publicly. The lack of communication since then about Wilder’s firing and the circumstances surrounding it gives us no confidence that any one of us couldn’t be next, sacrificed without explanation,” the open letter said. 

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