Note: this poster is from a Gerald & Maas effort to stop nuclear waste dumping in Maine in the early 1980s. Print run of a thousand (sent to real estate brokers throughout the State).atelier genocide warnings suppressed news archives political prisoner updates * * *
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nightslantern
suppressed news
concerned with the prevention of genocide
by john bart gerald
graphics by julie maas
2024
December 5, 2024
International Criminal Court The Hague: the court's chief prosecutor has asked the court to arrest General Min Aung Hlaing, the military leader of Myanmar who took power from Aung Sang Suu Kyi in a 2021 coup. Generally government forces are considered to be committing genocide against the nation's Rohingya population. The ICC Chief Prosecutor has asked General Min Aung Hlaing be charged as responsible for the persecution and deportation of Rohingya. The Court's investigation of this issue began in 2019 but slowness in collecting and verifying evidence increases complexity in the current face of the crime (See previous). Partial sources: "ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrant for Myanmar leader," Jonathan Head and Yvette Tan, Nov. 28, 2024, BBC; "lCC prosecutor seeks arrest warrant for Myanmar leader," Molly Quell. Nov. 27, 2024, Courthouse News Service & AP.
Haiti: what the media refers to as gang violence increases in the capitol; the UN is withdrawing staff to other regions and Panama. Medecins sans frontieres is closing. All foreign embassies have been closed. The airport is out of service after commercial flights were fired on in early November. UN related military operations by Kenyans teamed with Haitian police are notably unsuccessful. News from Haiti is muddled, contrary, catastrophic, interpreted politically as the people's suffering increases. Common sense would suggests that forces that destabilized, destroyed, manipulated Haiti to their own economic interests, should peacefully withdraw from the Island's land mass while any remaining should understand they are living under a genocide warning, created by history whatever good qualities they have. Some facts: the primary "gang leader" who would be referred to as a revolutionary leader in a non-White press, Jimmy Chérizier, is described as a former police officer known as "Barbecue." He leads an alliance of power groups called Vivre Ensemble, Viv Ansanm, aka the Revolutionary Forces of the G9 Family and Allies, and controls 80% or more of Port-Au-Prince. He has warned of civil war and genocide. Wikipedia notes he was accused of involvement in several massacres as a police officer, notably the 2018 La Saline Massacre where the U.S. semi-covert Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned him and two Haitian government officials. SOFX notes that when Vivre Ensemble attacks fail their bodies are recovered mutilated. These people's groups which are not police connected are referred to as "gangs," "terrorists," "bandits." The ability of the large "gangs" to make peace among themselves is hopeful. Among the people's power groups are young children, fighting basically to stay alive. Their opposition attempting to protect areas of privilege is referred to as "vigilante groups" backed by police, "self defense forces," "Bwa Kale." The Kenyan police contingent now numbers about 400 possibly 600. This UN related "Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti" is an attempt, approved by the United Nations Security Council, and primarily U.S. funded, to help the Haitian government recover itself. Kenya is said to be in command, supported by the depleted Haitian National Police. Partial sources: "UN evacuates staff from Haiti as gangs deepen control over capital," Elida Moreno and Harold Issac, Nov. 26, 2024, Reuters; "UN evacuation in Haiti, police assault stronghold of gang leader 'Barbecue'," Nov. 25, 2024, Al-Jazeera; "Haiti Faces Escalating Gang Violence as Vigilantes Fight Back Against Warlord Jimmy Chérizier," Editor Staff, Nov. 24, 2024, SOFX.
Ukraine: despite a million Ukrainians under arms, in uniform, with reports of entire units deserting amid the low surviving level of Ukrainian military, the U.S. is asking the Ukraine to lower its compulsory military service age from 25 currently, to 18. This could be seen as an attempt to place under military orders all Ukrainian men of child engendering age. In the U.S. enlistment is allowed as early as 17 but there is currently no draft. Rarely reported is evidence of depleted uranium weapons amid the weaponry U.S. arms manufacturers are delivering to the Ukraine. No follow-up reporting is easily available on this since September 2023, or on the long term effects of depleted uranium for the people of Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq where the weaponry has been directly deployed by U.S. forces. Nightslantern considers deployment of depleted uranium weapons, which have the most long lasting effect on civilian populations, cause for a genocide warning, Since the rounds for tanks are intended for domestic protection in Ukraine this genocide warning is for the Ukrainian people. Partial sources: "White House pressing Ukraine to draft 18-year-olds so it has enough troops to battle Russia," Aamer Madhani, Nov. 27, 2024, AP; "Outrage Grows as Pentagon Confirms Depleted Uranium Rounds Headed to Ukraine," Jake Johnson, Sept. 27, 2023, Common Dreams / Global Research; "Ukraine war: US to arm Kyiv with depleted uranium tank shells," George Wright, Sept. 7, 2023, BBC; "The Truth Behind Britain's Depleted Uranium Tank Shells for ...," Declassified UK, Apr. 22, 2024, YouTube.
Augusta Maine: with respect for its people the State of Maine filed a suit against the big oil & gas companies (ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, BP, Sunoco, the American Petroleum Institute) in the Cumberland County Superior Court (State of Maine v. BP plc, et al), on Nov. 26th, for not revealing their knowledge of climate change effects on the people and land mass. Legal actions against big oil have already been brought by the attorney generals of California, New Jersey, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware, Minnesota, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, among other states, tribes, cities, counties. Partial sources: "Maine becomes latest US state to sue oil companies over climate change," Nov. 29, 2024, Xinhua; "Maine Sues Big Oil for Climate Deception," Press release, Nov.26, 2024, Center for Climate Integrity; "Maine sues oil companies over impact of fossil fuels on climate," Nate Raymond, Nov. 26, 2024, Thomson Reuters.
Ottawa: with better protection from false legal actions against "anti-Semitism" for protesting the state policies of Israel, Jewish groups have been able to demonstrate the Canadian people's learned abhorrence of genocide. 14 were arrested and released on Parliament Hill Tuesday morning among others protesting Canada's arms sales to Israel, inside and outside the entrance to the Confederation Building. Among groups identified: "Jews Say No to Genocide Coalition," "Independent Jewish Voices Canada." Partial sources: "Anti-Israel war protesters arrested following sit-in at parliamentary building," David Baxter, The Canadian Press, Dec. 3, 2024, Toronto Star; "Jewish pro-Palestinian protesters occupy Ottawa parliament building," Spencer Colby, The Canadian Press, Dec. 3, 2024, CTV News.
November 30, 2024
Gaza: previous. Starvation as a tool of genocide. To note the current situation of Gaza, I quote heavily here from The Black Book: the Nazi Crime Against the Jewish People, the Jewish Black Book Committee, Nexus Press, 1981:
But there were other ways than pogroms and mass asphyxiation to accomplish the criminal purpose of the Nazis...it seemed cheaper to use a third method....Starvation is slow but once the Jews were concentrated in camps in Eastern Europe, the Nazis in the flush of their early victories assumed that they were in no hurry. Starvation needed no organization and required nothing more than the policing of the camps, which was part of routine government to the Nazis. Starvation was cheap, and its attractive feature to Nazis was it could be watched - with sadistic satisfaction. (p.7).In a 1945 book review by François Mauriac for Le Figaro about the French camp, Royallieu - A camp without forced labor, without torture chamber, without poison gas, without a crematory, a camp harmless in appearance...a rest camp, if one may say so. The executioner did not show himself. He directed everything from Paris. His directives were simple. He let his victims alone, it was merely a matter of allowing them to die , little by little, of hunger. They received scarcely anything to eat; soup, a little margerine. No packages from the outside were permitted...At Royallieu minds burst into activity, wavered and finally died. The once enthusiastic listeners grew drowsy. They dozed off from weakness, this was already the sleep of death. Soon there were were only fleshless bodies, crushed by the physical misery of which one dares not speak, defenseless against vermin, covered with wounds which did not heal...The inmates committed no crime......(p.280-281)
November 22, 2024
Parliament of Canada, Ottawa: with respect, admiration, and permission, nightslantern.ca is posting Gail Davidson's letters to Canada's Ministers of Parliament and to Canada's Senators calling for the government to oppose and prevent the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. Her accompanying "Appendix" provides a succinct, clear, necessary summary of Israel's genocide and is recommended reading. It requires response. Gerald & Maas, publishing the United Nations Convention on Genocide since 1989, supports Gail Davidson's letters and "Appendix" without reservation. Gail Davidson, a retired human rights attorney, is the founder of Lawyers Rights Watch Canada, and co-founded with Michael Mandel Lawyers Against the War. By Gail Davidson:
Request to the Members of Parliament to "Stop Canada's Complicity in Genocide - Destruction of Palestinians by Israel"
Request to the Senators to "Debate Canada's Complicity in Genocide - Destruction of Palestinians by Israel"
November 21, 2024
United Nations , New York: The United States has vetoed a cease fire resolution before the UN Security Council. This time the vote was 14 to 1 with the U.S. the sole vote against the attempt by the world's nations to stop the ongoing genocide in Gaza with a ceasefire. The U.S. justified its response with - that the cease fire resolution was not contingent on the return of hostages taken by Hamas. However both the AP and Toronto Star quote the resolution that "demands an immediate, unconditional and permanent cease-fire to be respected by all parties, and further reiterates its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages." Last March 25th the UN Security Council passed a resolution (Resolution 2728) demanding a ceasefire in Gaza: the U.S. abstained. Israel did not honor the resolution and called the United Nations "antisemitic." Question: at what point does the refusal to intervene to stop a genocide become criminal ? Partial sources: "Middle East latest: US vetoes a Gaza cease-fire resolution," AP, Nov. 20, 2024, The Associated Press; "US vetoes UN resolution demanding a cease-fire in Gaza because there's no link to a hostage release," Edith M. Lederer (AP), Nov. 20, 2024, The Toronto Star; "UN Security Council passes resolution calling for Gaza ceasefire," Raffi Berg, March 25, 2024, BBC.
International Criminal Court, the Hague: (previous). The Court's judges have issued arrest warrants for Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr. Yoav Gallant, both of Israel, on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes, specifically including starvation as a method of warfare; a warrant was also issued for Muhammad Deif (deceased) of Hamas. The warrants were requested May 20, 2024 by the Court's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan. Their specific contents are not entirely available to the public. Israel and the United States do not accept the Court's jurisdiction, have threatened the Court's personnel, and are not likely to honor the charges. Most nations, including Canada and those of the European Union, subscribe to the ICC and are bound to honor the warrants. In Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu called the ICC warrants "anti-Semitic." Partial sources: "Arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas commander over alleged war crimes," Nov. 21, 2024, BBC; "Live Updates: Netanyahu's Arrest Sought by International Criminal Court," Matthew Mpoke Bigg and Aaron Boxerman, Nov. 21, 2024, The New York Times.
November 18, 2024
Montreal: on November 1, 2024, Concordia University closed the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies which it hosted since 1986, at its founding by Professors Kurt Jonassohn (deceased) and Frank Chalk. Prof. Jonassohn's parents died in the Holocaust. Before Concordia Chalk's teaching credits included the University of Texas, the University of Ibadan Nigeria, and a fellowship with the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. MIGS became Canada's pre-eminent organization devoted to the Prevention of Genocide. To further the Will to Intervene Project (W2I), MIGS enlisted the Canadian hero, former general Romeo Dallaire who was abandoned in the field by the UN and his Canadian superiors when faced with Rwanda's genocide. Heavily circumscribed by Canadian and U.S. government policies MIGS was not able to effectively protest as Iraq was bombed into the stone age and 600,000 Iraqi children died. It has not been able to respond appropriately to Israel's slaughter of the residents in Gaza and ongoing genocide against Palestinians. However with its closing Canada's contemporary defenses against atrocity crimes are weakened, leaving the Canadian people much as Dallaire was , aware of the unacceptable horror in progress and to come, but ignored by the powerful. Partial sources: "Notice: Concordia University concludes operations of the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies," November 1, 2014, Concordia University.
The International Criminal Court: five months ago the ICC Chief Prosecutor requested May 20, 2024, that the ICC provide arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant of Israel and three Hamas leaders, for war crimes. The request has been sidetracked by threats and attacks on the court, its judges and personnel, rendering it inoperable in any emergency requiring actions against Israel or the U.S.. The ICC delay in declaring the intentional destruction of the people in Gaza a genocide (n.b. or more accurately in recognizing the elements of genocide in these war crimes) delays a legal requirement of intervention by nations participating in the Genocide Convention, and is costing civilians thousands on thousands of innocent lives. Previous. Partial sources: "Turmoil at the ICC As Fears Rise Over Israel and the U.S. Interference," Craig Mokhiber, Nov. 7, 2024, Mondoweiss; "Report: Links between ICC prosecutor, UN watchdog could jeopardize integrity of sexual misconduct probe," Nov. 16, 2024, The Times of Israel.
New York City: to be presented to the UN General Assembly on November 18th, the Special Committee released its report on November 14th. The Committee was initiated in 1968 to "investigate Israeli policies and practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian People...". That is it's job. Two quotations from the report's "Conclusion":
The developments in this report lead the Special Committee to conclude that the policies and practices of Israel during the reporting period are consistent with the characteristics of genocide.Partial sources: "UN special committee likens Israeli policy in Gaza to genocide," Julian Borger, Nov. 14, 2024, The Guardian; "UN finds Israel's practices on Gaza consistent with genocide, decries 'starvation as a weapon of war,'" Gizem Nisa Cebi and Seda Sevencan, Nov. 14, 2024, Anadolu Agency; "Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories," The Special Committee, Sept. 20, 2024, A/79/363, United Nations General Assembly; "Hopeless, Starving, and Besieged," Summary, Nov. 14, 2024, Human Rights Watch; "Israel's Crimes Against Humanity in Gaza," Oct. 26 , 2024, Human Rights Watch; "We are witnessing the final stage of genocide in Gaza," Arwa Mahdawi, Nov. 6, 2024, The Guardian; "British Premier tells UK Parliament there's no genocide in Gaza," Mehmment Solmaz, Nov. 13, 2024, Anadolu Agency.In addition, the Special Committee recommends that: (a) Businesses operating with Israel that, in any way, assist in maintaining the unlawful situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including settlements, divest from these operations.....
November 9, 2024
Ottawa: as the government of Israel advances further into its total destruction of Northern Gaza, and the casualties mount through Gaza, the West Bank, southern Lebanon, on October 6th charges were brought against the government of Canada in Ontario Superior Court of Justice "alleging Canada's failure to act to prevent genocide is a violation of its legal obligations under the Genocide Convention (1948) and of the plaintiffs' rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms" (ICJP). Both plaintiffs in the case are Canadians born in Gaza. Canada's attorney general, Arif Virani, is named in the suit. The case was filed by the Coalition for Canadian Accountability in Gaza, comprised of four organizations: Legal Centre for Palestine, International Centre of Justice for Palestinians - Canada (ICJP - Canada), Hameed Law, and A. Dimitri Lascaris Law Professional Corporation. Faced with a genocide and inaction by the international community, the lawyers filing this case are insisting on humanity - of Canada's legal system, Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and commitment to the UN Convention on Genocide. Justice 48 and Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East are noted by ICJP as supporters. With few exceptions any news of this court action is being extensively suppressed by Canadian and International news media.
Partial sources: "Lawyers File Historic Lawsuit Against Canada Over Israel's Gaza Genocide" Dawn News English, Nov. 6, 2024, YouTube; "Canada faces legal action over complicity in Gaza genocide," Nov. 7, 2024, Middle East Monitor; "Palestinian-Canadians Take Federal Government to Court for Genocide Convention, Charter Rights Violations," Nov. 6, 2024, ICJP; "ICJP's witness evidence was used by the International Criminal Court and in International Court of Justice case," Nov. 6, 2024, ICJP.
November 2, 2024
New York City: see previous; the text of Navi Pillay's Commission of Inquiry report was presented to the UN General Assembly October 30th and is now available to the public: "Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel," Sept. 11, 2024, United Nations General Assembly [access:< https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n24/262/79/pdf/n2426279.pdf >]. The report documents ongoing attacks on medical facilities and health workers. "Attacks against health-care facilities directly resulted in the killing of civilians, including children and pregnant women, who were receiving treatment or seeking shelter and indirectly led to deaths of civilians owing to the resulting lack of medical care, supplies and equipment, which constitutes a violation of Palestinians' right to life. The Commission also concludes that such acts constitute the crime against humanity of extermination" (p.19). And it faults - "Intentionally targeting facilities that are crucial for the health and protection of women, newborns and children violated the norm of customary international humanitarian law that affords special protection to women and children in armed conflicts. Such harmful acts were both foreseeable and unremedied" (p.20). Israel's excuses are noted but don't outweigh the laws of war. Treatment of Hamas hostages is also noted but the mistreatment of Palestinian detainees is found to be an intentional policy. The criminal treatment of Palestinian prisoners, detainees, detained children, as documented is horrendous, with military and civilian agencies showing a deficient understanding of human rights (Some U.S law enforcement units among other police and border services of the Americas are trained by Israel, suggesting our public need to identify and monitor domestic services which have Israeli training). The report recommends that countries "explore accountability measures against alleged perpetrators of international crimes, grave human rights violations and abuses in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory" (p.24). NB A difficulty with noting here Israel's specific war crimes and atrocities, is that aside from the hatred of its enemies there is a natural shock in reaction to inhumanity that decreases Israel's chances of surviving international anger. But to hide the news of war crimes and atrocities, as was suggested by the U.S./UK persecution of Julian Assange, denies the people's right to know which is vital to democracies. A gradual cumulative Genocide warning for Israelis as a national group.
November 1, 2024
Gatineau Québec: Kimberly R. Murray, the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools, presented her final report to Canada's Minister of Justice and Attorney General, October 29, 2024, in Gatineau Quebec. In event of suppression the report (released in public domain) is archived in the nightslantern.ca Law Directory:
1. "Sites of Truth, Sites of Conscience, Unmarked Burials and Mass Graves of Missing and Disappeared Indigenous Children in Canada."
2. "Upholding Sacred Obligations, Reparations for Missing and Disappeared Indigenous Children and Unmarked Burials in Canada," Volume 1.
3. "Upholding Sacred Obligations, Reparations for Missing and Disappeared Indigenous Children and Unmarked Burials in Canada," Volume 2.
4. "Executive Summary Final Report on the Missing and Disappeared Indigenous Children and Unmarked Burials in Canada."
- Independent Special Interlocutor, Oct. 29, 2024, Office of the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools.
The Report is an extensive protest of Canada's unwillingness to accept its history and genocide against the children of Indigenous peoples conducted by the Federal government. Canada's obligations to First Peoples are unmet and the Report suggests that the forced disappearance of Indigenous children was a crime against humanity: it should be brought as a case before the International Criminal Court. Partial sources: "Canada must provide reparations to families of children missing at residential schools, says Kimberly Murray," Ka'nhehsí:io Deer, Oct. 29, 2024, CBC News; "Special interlocutor releases final residential school graves report," Kathleen Martens, Oct. 29, 2024, aptnnews; "Final report on missing children and unmarked graves at residential schools calls for 'justice' from Canada," Joy Sper-Chief-Morris, Oct. 29, 2024, Toronto Star.
Geneva: Francesca Albanese the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, has presented her report "Genocide as Colonial Erasure." It is a definitive honest study of Israel's genocide in Gaza, with recommendations and solutions. It notes that Gaza has been made unfit for human life. It advises member states to intervene before more atrocities scar the memory of human history. She questions Israel's standing at the U.N.. As a result of her understanding, accuracy and firmness in this emergency of genocide, she is being accused of anti-Semitism by the U.S. Ambassador to the UN and political groups in both the U.S. and Canada. Rather than allowing genocide be turned into an issue of political advancement I suggest reading her report: "A/79/384: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese - Genocide as colonial erasure," Office of the High Commissioner, October 1, 2024, United Nations Human Rights. For the report in other languages.. Francesca Albanese successfully defends herself against charges of anti-Semitism in her interview with Democracy Now!, Oct. 31, 2024 ("'Genocide as Colonial Erasure': U.N. Expert Francesca Albanese on Israel's 'Intent to Destroy' Gaza"), as she visits New York in a speaking tour of U.S. Universities. Her U.S. Congressional briefing was cancelled. She is scheduled to speak November 7th at the University of Toronto. Canada's National Post ("Calls mount for Canada to bar UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese over antisemitic remarks," Ari David Blaff, Oct. 30, 2024) reports that the Canadian government is being asked to bar her from entering Canada (requested by the Centre for Israel and Public Affairs - CNA, Oct. 28th, with the request approved by the head of UN Watch). The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) has asked the government to publicly condemn her and demand her removal at the UN. The Anti Defamation League has followed her for a long time and compiled a list of her faults. This special rapporteur position is continually criticized. Her predecessor Michael Lynk (2016-2022) was accused of anti-Israel bias and Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister objected to his appointment. His predecessor Makarim Wibisono (2014-2016) assumed the position assured he would have access to the Occupied Territories which was subsequently refused by Israel so he resigned. The appointment of his predecessor Richard Falk (2008-2014) was objected to by the Israeli Ambassador on the grounds that Falk found comparisons between the Nazi record of atrocities and Israel's.
[For accurate linking Opera or Firefox browsers may work better with this site].
International Criminal Court: (previous) the South African government has submitted its Memorial, sustaining enhancing and nailing down its case against Israel, on genocide. Under rules of the court the document isn't available to the public. The crime of genocide isn't subject to a statute of limitations and is specifically applicable to those holding political or military power. Cooperating with those committing genocide is the crime of complicity. Read The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Partial sources: "South Africa Delivers Evidence of Israel Genocide to ICJ," Oct. 28, 2934, The Presidency , Republic of South Africa; "South Africa Presents New Evidence of Zionist Genocide at the ICJ," AL24News, Oct. 29, 2024, AL24News; "South Africa submits evidence of alleged Israeli genocide ...," Oct. 28, 2024, The Jerusalem Post.
Israel: the Parliament has passed a bill by vote of 92 to 10, to shut down UNRWA's operations throughout Israel but particularly in the Occupied Territories. The Gaza population of 2.3 million people relies on UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency) for its survival. Israel's Parliament has declared UNRWA a terrorist organization. While most nations have expressed their disapproval at the catastrophic vote, none has stopped the slaughter of Gazans. Western intellectuals place the authority for Israel's genocide in the hands of U.S. and British oil interests as served by U.S. military command headquarters. The Israeli Parliament's choice in dispensing with the only life giving source of aid to its Palestinian civilian population, suggests the thrust and intention of genocide is the creation of Israel's Zionist government. Partial sources: "Israeli parliament votes to ban Unrwa from Israel within 90 days," Andrew Roth, Oct. 28, 2024, The Guardian; "Banning UNRWA will lead to a vacuum and more suffering for Palestinians, the agency's chief says," Baraa Anwer and Sarah El Deeb AP, Oct. 30, 2024, The Toronto Star.
Republic of Sudan: (previous) amid staggering levels of civilian deaths, sexual violence, and child malnutrition half of Sudan's 25.6 million people need aid, as famine levels increase. 12 million have been displaced. Canadians have been told to leave the country. There is an ongoing genocide warning for Sudan, and there seems little international concern to end the destruction of the national group. Partial sources: "Over 2.8 million children under five forced from their homes across Sudan," Save the Children, Oct. 30, 2024, reliefweb; "Sudan's 'living nightmare' continues as 11 million flee war, mass killings," UN News, Oct. 29, 2024, United Nations.
Bangladesh: (previous) Rohingya exiles who have arrived safely in Bangladesh report the worst persecution since 2017 back home. Rohingya are being forcibly conscripted into the Myanmar military. Arakan forces fighting the military government have also turned against the Rohingya. Amnesty International reports that there are many instances of Bangladesh returning Rohingya to Myanmar; "refoulement" is against international law. On Oct. 29th the European Union, Canada, and the UK, placed additional sanctions targeting entities supplying Myanmar's military. The genocide warning for the Rohingya in Myanmar continues. Partial sources: " Urgent need for international support and aid as thousands of new arrivals seek protection in Bangladesh," Amnesty, Oct. 24, 2024, reliefweb; "Myanmar/Bangladesh: Rohingya community facing gravest threats since 2017," Oct. 24, 2024, Amnesty International; "UK, EU and Canada Impose New Sanctions Targeting Myanmar Military," Reuters, Oct.29, 2024, U.S.News.
Avant les grands désastres les hommes n'auront rien dit... Réné Tavernier.
Areas currently under-reported: the genocide in Gaza, the extermination of civilians
in northern Gaza, the destruction of Lebanese homes and neighborhoods,
the Israeli bombing of Iran. Genocide warning for the Lebanese
people. Genocide continuing against the people of Gaza.
Geneva: an urgent appeal by Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: "The bombing in North Gaza is non-stop. We are facing what could amount to atrocity crimes," Oct. 25, 2024, UN Palestinian Rights Committee / YouTube.
Re. the Occupied Palestinian Territories: on October 27th at the Barcelona "Civil Society Conference" of the European Institute of the Mediterranean, Josep Borrell (the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy) asked the international community to employ "coercive measures" to stop the war expanding in the middle east. On Oct. 26th The World Health Organization warned of a catastrophic situation in northern Gaza, partly due to Israeli attacks on and damage to the Kamal Adwan Hospital. And noting the historically unprecedented loss of medical workers (and UN staff) due to the impunity of Israel's military, Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, the UN special rapporteur on the right to health appealed to world leaders on Oct. 25th, to use their power to stop the genocide in Gaza. Partial sources: "Joseph Borrell Proposes Coercive Measures to Stop the Middle East Conflict," Oct. 27, 2024, TeleSur; "WHO warns of 'catastrophic' health crisis in northern Gaza," Yasin Gungor, Oct. 26, 2024, Anadolu Agency; "Press Conference: Tlaleng Mofokeng, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health," Oct. 25, 2024, UN Web TV; "Justice for Gaza will come, assures UN Special Rapporteur," Peoples Health Dispatch, July 9, 2024, peoples dispatch; "The world must stop the ethnic cleansing of northern Gaza," Oct. 22, 2024, B'Tselem.
The Hague, Netherlands. International Court of Justice. On October 9th Bolivia filed a formal Declaration of intervention in support of South Africa's Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel), also in support of South Africa's and the Court's subsequent attempts to order the ceasing of genocidal acts. The "Declaration of Intervention by the Plurinational State of Bolivia" presents a cogent summary and sound legal reasoning for its declaring Israel's actions a genocide. Reluctance to apply the term genocide to Israel's attempts to exterminate the Palestinians rises from a liability to the officials of nations participatory in the Convention on Genocide if they do not act to prevent the crime. Bolivia's follows declarations of intervention or permissions to intervene, by the Maldives, Nicaragua, Colombia, Libya, Mexico, Palestine, Spain, Turkey, Chile. Turkey's Declaration of Intervention, not previously linked on these pages, was made on August 7, 2024. Partial sources: "Bolivia files a Declaration of intervention in the proceedings under Article 63 of the Statute", Press release, Oct. 9, 2024, ICJ; "Declaration of Intervention by the Republic of Türkiye," Aug. 7, 2024, International Court of Justice; "Declaration of Intervention by the Plurinational State of Bolivia," Oct. 8, 2024, International Court of Justice.
Johannesburg: Anadolu Agency (Turkey), one of the rare sources which continues to give news that could reflect poorly on Israel, reports that on October 28th South Africa will submit a memorial to the International Court of Justice, affirming South Africa's case against Israel on charges of genocide and with "forensic detail as increased evidence" that Israel is proceeding with what has clearly become a genocide. The largely civilian death toll, not counting those buried under rubble or "missing" exceeds 44,000. Partial sources: "South Africa to file detailed dossier with top UN court, providing forensic evidence to prove Israeli genocide in Gaza." Hassan Isilow, Oct. 27, 2024, Anadolu Agency
October 24, 2024
To quote a poem by Roque Dalton (historical note March 14, 2014)
No olvides nunca
que los menos fascistas
de entre los fascistas
también son
fascistasEngland: Arundhati Roy was awarded the Harold Pinter Prize by English PEN. She is one of the few ethical voices in world literature amidst an international literary establishment that keeps its mouth shut. In her acceptance speech she notes the"unflinching" ability of U.S. and Israeli warmakers in their prosecution of the genocide in Gaza and refuses a centrist position which has corrupted the world's middle classes into accepting war crimes as normal. Her speech can be found at: "'No Propaganda on Earth Can Hide the Wound That Is Palestine': Arundhati Roy's PEN Pinter Prize Acceptance Speech," October 14, 2024, Z Net.
Israel: Reddit reports a small Hebrew magazine's publication of testimonies by Israeli Defense Force soldiers who don't want to fight anymore. Brainwashed, trained, programmed and abused as soldiers (as if the abuse is intended to encourage brutality) their actions have become war crimes. This enters a realm of irrecoverable moral fault which is taking its toll on those who begin to be aware. Despite the intensity of military bonding the awareness increases with the civilian death toll and with the deaths and wounding of other IDF soldiers/friends. Soldiers not reporting for duty claim no less loyalty to Israel but simply can't do it anymore. Partial sources: "'Everyone not dead or injured is mentally damaged': Israeli army hit by silent crisis," Oct. 22, 2024, Reddit; Oct. 20, 2024, Ha-Makom Magazine; "'Everyone not dead or injured is mentally damaged': Israeli army hit by silent crisis," Oct. 21, 2024, The Cradle; "'He got out of Gaza, but Gaza did not get out of him': Israeli soldiers returning from war struggle with trauma and suicide," Nadeen Ebrahim and Mike Schwartz, Oct.21, 2024, CNN.
Belgium: Politico reports that on Oct. 16th the Belgian prosecutor's office opened an investigation of a dual Belgian-Israeli citizen fighting with the Israeli Defense Forces in an elite sniper unit. The "Refaim" unit in Gaza has 21 elements (three Americans) and is accused by a journalist of executing unarmed civilians. Partial sources: "Belgium opens war crime probe into Brussels man fighting for Israel in Gaza," Elena Giordano, Oct. 18, 2024, Politico; "Belgium Opens War Crimes Probe Into Soldier Fighting For Israel In Gaza," AFP, Oct. 18, 2024, Barron's.
October 14, 2024
Ottawa: Thanksgiving Day, is historically celebrated in Canada as a day of thanks for the land's bounty; it is still Columbus Day in many U.S. States, celebrated in Maine as Indigenous People's Day; in Central America originally as "Dia De La Raza." The names remind North America today of its origins in the containment and occasionally genocide of First Peoples. It wasn't a genocide engineered by settlers, or slaves, or indentured servants, but by some of the powerful, their exploitation of immigrants and the land's resources. The pattern continues today but the victim class has changed from Aboriginal peoples to a class of intentionally created victims, the poor. Communism as one of the alternatives allowing the poor to unite, continues to be suppressed. A vital ally of Canada, the U.K. and U.S. in WWII, the Communist Soviet Union lost 27 million communists to defeat Nazi Germany. Yet Canada's Conservative Prime Minister Harper announced in 2013, a memorial to be built next to the Supreme Court, to commemorate the victims - not of all oppressors, but of Communism. This became the "Memorial to the Victims of Communism - Canada, a Land of Refuge," as though refuge is planned for fascists only. For one and a half million dollars the memorial would remind everyone to hate communism in particular. Donations were made by, for example, the Edmonton Branch of the League of Ukrainian Canadians in tribute to Roman Shukhevych (alleged responsible for killing tens of thousands of Poles, Ukrainians. Jews, Belarusians during the Holocaust). The General Committee of United Croats of Canada donated in tribute to Ante Pavelić - alleged responsible for killing "32,000 Jews, 25,000 Roma and 330,000 Serbs"(CBC) during the Holocaust. After protest the memorial site was moved a little further from the Supreme Court - to the shadow of Christ Church Cathedral. And increasingly, people had to be paid more to hate. Current costs for the memorial are estimated at 7.5 million dollars. A Canadian Heritage commissioned 2023 report found that 332 of the 553 names to be listed on the monument's "Wall of Remembrance," should be deleted due to Nazi involvement. Awareness of Canada's historical use of Nazis as a buffer to the left wing became sensitized when in September 2023 an effort to please Ukraine's visiting President Zelensky found Canada's Parliament and Prime Minister offering standing ovations to a Ukrainian who had served with the Nazi's Ukraine's Waffen-SS Galicia Division (noted for its WWII mass executions of Jews, Ukrainians, Poles). On October 10th, Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Center objected to Holocaust era Nazis and their collaborators being honored by the Memorial. The memorial re-scheduled to open in 2023 was delayed again. On Thanksgiving Day, vulnerable to implicit fascism the Canadian government stands aside as genocide in the middle east proceeds. Partial sources: Jeunes pour le Renouveau Démocratique - Youth for Democratic Renewal, Oct. 11, 2024, email; "Memorial to the Victims of Communism - Canada, a Land of Refuge," Oct. 18, 2023, Government of Canada; "FSWC Urges Canadian Government to Remove the Majority of Names from Victims of Communism Memorial Due to Suspected Involvement with Nazis," Oct. 10, 2024, Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies; "Victims of Communism memorial faces call to remove over 330 names linked to Nazis, fascists," David Pugliese, Oct 7, 2024, The Ottawa Citizen; "Canada's latest Nazi scandal: 'Victims of Communism Memorial' filled with fascist names," C.J. Atkins, Oct. 9, 2024, People's world; "Victims of communism memorial received donations honouring fascists, Nazi collaborators, according to website," Taylor C. Noakes, July 23, 2021, CBC News.
October 11, 2024
The Hague, Netherlands: the Hind Rajab Foundation of Brussels Belgium has filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court against 1000 named soldiers in the Israeli Defense Forces, alleging their war crimes in Gaza. Over 8000 articles of evidence are submitted noting "destruction of civilian infrastructure," "illegal occupation and looting," "participation in the Gaza blockade," "targeting civilians, "use of inhumane warfare tactics" as well as crimes of command. The Foundation calls on countries internationally to arrest their dual nationals named as perpetrators in this report. 4 are Israeli dual nationals with Canada, 12 with the U.S.. Partial sources: "Unprecedented complaint: Hind Rajab Foundation files war crimes case against Israeli soldiers in Gaza," Alireza Akbari, Oct. 9, 2024, Media Review Network; "Hind Rajab Foundation Files Complaint Against 1,000 Israeli Soldiers for War Crimes in Gaza," Oct. 8, 2024, The Hind Rajab Foundation.
Geneva: reporting on October 10th to the UN Human Rights Council Navi Pillay, former U N. High Commissioner for Human Rights and currently chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory including East Jerusalem and Israel, conveyed the result of the Commission's inquiry (the full report with substantial verified evidence is to be presented the UN General Assembly October 30th). Israel is accused of relentless purposeful destruction of medical facilities, deliberated killing and torture of medical workers, refusing urgent care patients permission to leave Gaza, systemic abuse of detainees. and extermination. The Commission's work continues to be impeded by Israel's refusal to grant the UN Commission of Inquiry physical access to Gaza. Hamas is also faulted for its treatment of prisoners; the release of hostages is requested. The report requests Israel's attacks on medical facilities stop immediately. Partial sources: "UN inquiry accuses Israel of seeking to destroy Gaza healthcare system," Emma Farge, Oct. 11, 2024, Reuters; "UN inquiry accuses Israel of 'extermination' in Gaza," MEE Staff, Oct. 11, 2024, Middle East Eye; "UN Commission finds war crimes and crimes against humanity in Israeli attacks on Gaza health facilities and treatment of detainees, hostages," Press release, Oct.10, 2024, OHCHR.
Centreville Virginia: Mario Adalberto Reyes Mena, a former colonel and commander of the Fourth Infantry Brigade was found responsible by a UN Truth Commission for El Salvador for the deaths of four Dutch journalists working for IKON, a left-wing faith-based broadcaster. On March 17, 1982 the four journalists, Jan Kuiper, Koos Koster, Hans ter Laag, and Johannes Willemsen, were killed by the military on the way to Chalatenango El Salvador. In 2022 a judge in Chalatenango requested the arrest of Reyes Mena (who was then El Salvador's military attaché in Washington D.C.). He was not extradited and makes his home in Virginia. The El Salvador military was supported by the United States in its war against El Salvador's people. The family of one of the journalists, Jan Kuiper, has after years of pursuing justice taken the 85 year old Reyes Mena to court at the U.S. Eastern District Court, Alexandria. The complaint was filed by the Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA). Partial sources: "Lawsuit in US targets former Salvadoran colonel in 1982 killings of Dutch journalists," Matthew Barakat, Oct.11, 2024, AP; "Former Salvadoran Colonel Sued in Virginia for 1982 Murder of Dutch Journalists," Graciela Barrera and Gabriel Labrador, Oct. 11, 2024, elfaro; "El Salvador: Accountability and Human Rights: The Report of the United Nations Commission on the Truth for El Salvador," Cynthia Arnson, August 10, Vol. V, Issue No. 7, News from Americas Watch / Human Rights Watch.
Gaza: re. - "Gaza, Investigating war crimes in Gaza I Al Jazeera Investigations," directed by Richard Sanders [access:< https://youtu.be/kPE6vbKix6A?si=ybHB1vAzPZBfEfxb >]. This film is necessary in its presenting evidence of the genocide in Gaza, of torture and other war crimes, of the impunity in posting on social media war crimes by those who are committing them, of U.S., and U.K. complicity, of the wanton destruction of people's homes and property, of how artificial intelligence is used to select civilian targets to kill them at home, evidence of murder of journalists, evidence of the use of starvation as a war crime, of the intentional destruction of medical equipment and facilities, of the beating-rape-torture of those in detention, of the targeting and murder of those attempting to give humanitarian aid, of the humiliation of Gazans, the intentional murder of civilians including women and children so that possibly 10% of Gaza's population has been killed. In alternative soures I find no refutation of the film's evidence, no challenge to it, no discreditation. N.B.: The film appears in a context where the International Court of Justice has issued orders that Israel stop committing genocidal acts against Gaza. The Court's orders have been ignored. The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has asked criminal charges be brought against two leading Israeli politicians and three Hamas leaders. The Court has not acted. The genocide of Gaza and number of killings of Muslim and Christian civilians in the middle east increases with the attacks on Lebanon, Syria, Yemen. In the film a Gazan woman asks "who are you making this film for?" Because despite the Convention on Genocide the countries of the world have done nothing to stop the atrocities which humanity has found unacceptable. With the Euro-American political elites arming and supporting the genocide, the peoples and including their Jewish communities are being betrayed into complicity.
Geneva: as the government of Israel bombs and missiles the civilian structure of Lebanon, displacing increasing numbers of the country's people, a genocide warning: Israeli Defense Forces obliterations of Gaza and portions of the West Bank are being extended to Lebanon. There is evidence that suppression of the world's protest and with it appropriate resistance to genocide, was/is premeditated and prepared within the world's university systems. A report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of assembly and association notes "The brutal repression of the university-based protest movement is posing a profound threat to democratic systems and institutions." The UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner provides a statement and the expert's report by Gina Romero which finds disproportionate repression of freedom of speech by pro-Palestinian groups at universities throughout the world. Many of the threats such as job loss, extra legal surveillance, resultant discrimination in hiring, police targeting etc. can be found at North American universities. Among her recommendations: "It is crucial to immediately cease the stigmatization and hostilities that directly or indirectly silence members of the academic community and discourage the exercise of their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and of association, among others." Partial sources:"Recommendations for universities worldwide for the second semester of 2024: Safeguarding the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association on campuses in the context of international solidarity with the Palestinian people and victims," Gina Romero, Oct. 2, 2024, United Nations Human Rights Special Procedures; "Universities must respect peaceful activism and revise repressive policies targeting pro-Palestine solidarity movement: UN expert," Oct. 4, 2024, United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner.
U.S.A.: statistics show and increasing war on the poor. "A record-high 653,104 people experienced homelessness on a single night in January 2023" (The number of homeless veterans has increased 7% in a year; non-white racial groups are at greater risk). - from "State of Homelessness: 2024 Edition." North Carolina's Advocacy to Alleviate Homelessness notes that according to HUD (the Department of Housing and Urban Development) it would cost 20 billion dollars to end homelessness in the United Sates. Although the poor are not a specifically protected group under the Convention on Genocide about half the homeless are specifically non-white. Beyond homelessness: an estimated 27million Americans (8%) have no health insurance. There is an ongoing genocide warning for America's poor. Meanwhile, despite its own laws refusing armaments to countries committing human rights violations, in one year the U.S. has spent an estimated 22.76 billion dollars (dollar details of shipments to Israel since Oct. 7 are denied the public) to support the government of Israel's bombing and indiscriminate slaughter of those too poor to secure refuge in NATO and less vulnerable Arab countries. Israel has received $251.2 billion dollars from the U.S. in military aid since 1959 (AP). UK-Palestine Mental Health Network notes that in Gaza "one year is the entire life of a baby." Partial sources: "State of Homelessness: 2024 Edition," Daniel Soucy Makenna , Andrew Hall, National Alliance to End Homelessness; "United States Spending on Israel's Military Operations and Related U.S. Operation in the Region,October 7, 2023 - September 30, 2024," Linda J. Bilmes, William D. Hartung, and Stephen Semler, Oct. 7, 2024, Watson Institute for International & Public Affairs; "A year of genocide: decades of impunity," UK-Palestine Mental Health Network & others, Oct. 2, 2024, UK-Palestine Mental Health Network; "US spends a record $17.9 billion on military aid to Israel since last Oct. 7," Ellen Knickmeyer, Oct 7 2024, AP.
Venezuela: Venezuela and Lebanon have agreed to form a group against genocide in the middle east. This could address Israeli fears of genocidal threats by Hamas, and begin to counter current commission of genocide by Israeli forces in Gaza, extending to the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and internationally targeted critics of Zionism. Of his meeting with the Lebanese ambassador President Maduro's position was " strong rejection of the Israeli regime's extermination policy against the Palestinian and Lebanese people:" "We will organize a large humanitarian support brigade." Although on May 24, 2024, Mexico submitted to the International Criminal Court a declaration of intervention in the case of South Africa v Israel, Mexico's newly installed president Claudia Sheinbaum stated today her country's intention to not intervene in middle east "disputes," while Mexican citizens are warned to seek safer ground. Cuba Si points out that Venezuela leads the world condemnation of the genocide against Palestinians. The U.S. and Canada which have taken no action to stop the genocide have questioned the validity of Venezuela's democratic process. Partial sources: "Venezuela to Promote a Global Movement Against Genocide in the Middle East," Oct. 4, 2024, TeleSur; "Venezuela condemns Israeli genocide in Palestine," Yasin Gungor, May 23, 2024, Anadolu Agency; "The Extermination and Genocide of Gaza, Israel has Taken it to Lebanon: Ministry Yvan Gil," Oct. 4, 2024, Cuba Si.
The Hague / Republic of Maldives: In its Declaration of Intervention in the case of "Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel)," Maldives reminds us "As with all obligations under the Genocide Convention, States must perform the duties to prevent and punish genocide in good faith. Breaches of the obligations to prevent and punish genocide are internationally wrongful acts, for which a State can be held responsible" -#39, Declaration of Maldives. The Declaration clarifies and supports the UN Convention on Genocide and its application. It follows declarations of intervention or permissions to intervene, by Nicaragua, Colombia, Libya, Mexico, Palestine, Spain, Turkey, Chile. Partial sources: "Declaration of Intervention of the Republic of Maldives," 1 October 2024, International Court of Justice; "The Maldives files a declaration of intervention in the proceedings under Article 63 of the Statute," Press release, Oct. 2, 2024, The International Court of Justice.
U.S.A.: Americans prepare for an election where both majority parties deny voters a means to stop the genocide in the middle east, or to allow peace in the Ukraine. To speak truth for the people, American medical workers returning from volunteer service in Gaza have posted an open "Letter to President Biden and Vice President Harris" (Oct. 2, 2024, Gaza Healthcare Letters) which
1. pleads for an end of U.S. military or diplomatic support for Israel's policies.
2. clarifies the inhumanity and impunity of the Israeli government's attempts to exterminate Palestinians.
3. credibly asserts, with support of the Lancet and other medical organizations the true death toll of Gazans is over 118, 908.
4. asserts that the entire population of Gaza is sick or starving.
5. foresees a terrible continuing cost in the lives of children due to deprivation of necessities of survival.
The letter includes "We wish to be absolutely clear: not once did any of us see any type of Palestinian militant activity in any of Gaza's hospitals or other healthcare facilities....We urge you to see that Israel has systematically and deliberately devastated Gaza's entire healthcare system, and that Israel has targeted our colleagues in Gaza for torture, disappearance, and murder." Also foregoing the complicity of silence, nationwide Veterans for Peace has asked the U.S. Department of Justice for a criminal investigation of Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew, for lying to Congress, aiding Israel in blocking delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza, violating the Convention on Genocide (Genocide Prevention Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1091) and War Crimes Act (18 U.S.C. § 2441). Partial sources: "American Healthcare Workers Who Volunteered in Gaza Say Over 118,000 Have Been Killed," Dave DeCamp, Oct. 3, 2024, antiwar.com; "Indict Blinken," Sept.30, 2024, Veterans for Peace; "Veterans for Peace Demands Probe Into Blinken's Enabling of Israel's Genocide," Jake Johnson, Sept. 30, 2024, truthout; "Israel Deliberately Blocked Humanitarian Aid to Gaza, Two Government Bodies Concluded. Antony Blinken Rejected Them," Brett Murphy, Sept. 24, 2024, ProPublica; "Swedish foreign minister flees parliament hall after tomatoes, onions thrown at her during Palestine debate," Leila Nezirxevic, Oct. 3, 2024, Anadolu Agency.
October 2, 2024
Strasbourg France: the Council of Europe has declared Julien Assange a political prisoner (See nightslantern political prisoners). Addressing the legal affairs and human rights committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Assange clarified the conditions of a plea bargain with the U.S. Justice Department which allowed him freedom from illegal and extra-judiciary persecution by the United States. "I pled guilty to seeking information from a source. I pled guilty to obtaining information from a source. And I pled guilty to informing the public what that information was." Assange's primary "crime" was providing the public with proof of U.S. military war crimes in Iraq (ie. the 2007 Apache helicopter murder of 11 including 2 journalists from Reuters). Charges against him were disgraceful. Generally it is against the law to conceal knowledge of a war crime. Charges were brought under the U.S. Espionage Act (1917) customarily applied to Americans - the Rosenbergs, John Walker, Aldrich Ames, who betrayed information they were responsible for. Once upon a time (1919) Charles T. Schenck was charged and found guilty by the Supreme Court for distributing a flyer against the draft. Currently Edward Snowdon is charged for leaking as a CIA agent classified material to The New York Times, The Guardian and other media (none are being prosecuted). Snowden found asylum in Russia. The application of the Act to a foreign journalist and publisher was strange, a clear attempt to diminish the U.S. Consitution's first ammendment and truth in freedom of expression, and an illegal extension of U.S. law to countries with different legal systems. In retrospect, application of U.S. law to Assange for exposing U.S. war crimes to the world, coincides with attacks on truth in journalism internationally. Among exceptional journalists murdered or forced to flee in the Ukraine, Gonzalo Lira and Eva Bartlett. In Gaza, according to the International Federation of Journalists, 138 journalists and media workers have been killed or murdered through targeted killings since Oct. 7, 2023. The IFJ presented evidence of "deliberately targeted journalists" in a complaint to the International Criminal Court. While the chief prosecutor of the ICC has asked the ICC for warrants against both Israeli and Hamas leaders, the Court has delayed. Partial sources: "Assange's 1st public statement after he was released from prison: 'Pled guilty to journalism'," Oct. 1, 2024, The Print; "Julian Assange Has Been a Political Prisoner: Council of Europe," Oct. 2, 2024, TeleSur; "WikiLeaks' Julian Assange says he pleaded 'guilty to journalism' in order to be freed," Sylvia Hui, Pascal Bastien, Barbara Surk, Oct. 1, 2024, AP; "Espionage Act of 1917 (1917)," David Asp, Aug. 8, 2023/Aug. 6, 2024, Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University; "War in Gaza: Israel must be held accountable," current, International Federation of Journalists.
September 27, 2024
("beirut," woodcut 4/20, by george maas, c 1982)
September 25, 2024
Missouri: (previous). The State's Republican Attorney General has successfully seen to it that Marcellus "Khalifah" Williams was executed on September 24, 2024 for the murder of a newspaper reporter. Despite evidence of Williams' innocence the Republican Governor denied clemency to the Black man, a Muslim. The NAACP said: "Missouri lynched another innocent Black man." Williams had become the prison's Muslim chaplain and was supported by 69 Muslim, Christian and Jewish religious organizations. It was difficult for me to find out what the murder victim, Felicia Gayle, wrote about for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Partial sources:"Missouri executes a man for the 1998 killing of a woman despite her family's calls to spare his life," David A. Lieb & Jim Salter, Sept. 24, 2024, AP; " Missouri executes Marcellus Williams despite prosecutors' push to overturn conviction," Sam Levin, Sept. 24, 2024, The Guardian; "There are 5 executions set over a week's span in the US. That's the most in decades," Sean Murphy, Sept. 24, 2024, AP; "Marcellus Williams: Missouri executes 'innocent' man despite push to free him, advocates say," Kathryn Mannie, Sept. 25, 2024, Global News; "Marcellus Williams Executed After U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Intervene," Nicole Acosta, Sept. 24, 2024, People.
Democratic Republic of the Congo: "Crisis In The Congo: Uncovering The Truth " [access:< https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLV9szEu9Ag >] (First noted on Night's Lantern August 26, 2011). Speaking truth gently this valuable explanation of the Congo crisis endures. It notes the use of African leadership, specifically of Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC itself, as U.S proxies in a war to safeguard Euro-American corporate interests while the African peoples are oppressed, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where the genocide has yielded far more than six million dead to the interests of the Western monied classes. This film was made about 13 years ago.The situation only gets worse. The U.S, refuses to fully enforce on Kagame's Rwanda, U.S. Public law PL 109-456 which allows the U.S. "to hold accountable individuals, entities, and countries working to destabilize the country" (Sec. 101, # 14, Public Law 109-456, "Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security and Democracy Promotion Act of 2006," 109th Congress). Ongoing genocide occurring against people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and those who have sought refuge there. See previous: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. Partial sources: "Reminder: the Congo Crisis Explained," email, Sept. 25, 2024, Friends of the Congo; "The World Must Stop Neglecting D.R. Congo," Sabrina Nelson, Aug.9, 2024, Genocide Watch.
(editions gerald & maas poster c. 1984)Missouri: urgent. Marcellus Williams is scheduled to die on September 24th for the murder of a St. Louis reporter, stabbed 43 times in her home. His guilt is not established beyond reasonable doubt. Recently a former prosecutor in the case has filed DNA proof that Williams could not have committed the crime, but the judge felt unable to reverse the conviction. Williams, a Black, received the death sentence in 2001 from a jury of 11 whites and one Black. The Missouri governor could grant a reprieve if the judicial process can't overturn the conviction in time. "Call Gov. Parson at 417-373-3400 and urge him to stop this execution" - The Innocence Project. (The death penalty is gradually being eradicated. In 2005 Canada acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, which starts - "No one within the jurisdiction of a State Party to the present Protocol shall be executed"). Partial sources: "Marcellus Williams' Missouri execution to go forward despite prosecutor's concerns," Natalie Neysa Alund, Sept.12, 2024, USA Today; "For the Third Time, Marcellus Williams Faces Execution: The Grim Reality Unfolding," Jesse Natale, Sept. 20, 2024, Innocence Project; "Lawyers to argue Marcellus Williams case Monday before Missouri Supreme Court," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Sept. 22, 2024, Columbia Missourian.
Chalk River, Ontario. in Ottawa on September 9, the head of the Bloc Québécois, Yves-François Blanchet, stated his full support to the Kebaowek First Nation's request that work toward the above ground nuclear waste depository site at Chalk River, be stopped immediately.
"Le Bloc Québécois est aux côtés des Premières Nations, des Québécois et des 400 municipalités qui s'opposent au projet de dépotoir nucléaire de Chalk River. Il s'agit d'un enjeu extrêmement préoccupant, notamment pour la santé du Saint-Laurent et de l'ensemble de son réseau fluvial qui approvisionnent en eau potable de millions de Québécois. Notre position est claire : devant la menace générale de contamination nucléaire, nous enjoignons le gouvernement libéral de Justin Trudeau à agir de façon responsable et à renoncer à approuver le projet de dépotoir de Chalk River " -- le chef du Bloc Québécois.There are currently three cases pending against continuing the site. 1. The Kebaowek First Nation's attempt to save the environment, filing a challenge (with others) requesting Environment and Climate Change Canada review the site permission, as a risk to endangered species. To be adjudicated this Fall I think, 2. On July 10th and 11th, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission permission to proceed was challenged by the Kebaowek First Nation in federal court: Canadian Nuclear Laboratories did not receive the tribe's permission as required by law and the duty to consult. The United Nations Declaration Act (UNDA) placed into Canadian law the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The tribe is trying to rectify a violation of Canadian law. But why isn't the violation being prosecuted by the Crown? Continuing the project without permission of the Indigenous inhabitants violates Canadian law, the Declaration, and international law. The case awaits a decision by the Honorable Judge Julie L. Blackhawk. See previous. 3. A case brought by 3 citizen's groups requesting examination of the radiation dose levels of storage proposed by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). Ghislain Picard, Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador, pointed out that the violation of Indigenous rights and permissions is reflected in projects across the country, and should be met by all standing together. Note: Canada's relationship to international law is tested by its recent abstention from the UN General Assembly vote requiring Israel to withdraw from Occupied Palestinian Territories in affirmation of the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion. Canada was one of the countries which abstained, its government unprepared to affirm the application of international law against genocide. I note here an "Open Letter to Prime Minister Trudeau,"[squarespace.com] May 29, 2024, from hundreds of law professors, attorneys, human rights advocates - possibly the backbone of Canada's human rights establishment, in support of international law and the imperative of supporting and defending from threat and persecution the International Criminal Court. The letter requests a clear affirmation from the Prime Minister that arrest warrants issued by the ICC will be effected in Canada on the grounds that "No one should be excluded from accountability for crimes under international law, regardless of their nationality, political status, power and influence, or whether they serve in a democratic, autocratic or dictatorial government, or are part of an armed group." Partial sources: N.B. stories by The Globe and Mail and The National Observer are not used since they request online payment to share life-affecting news with the people; "Now there are three court challenges against Chalk River nuclear waste disposal facility," Matteo Cimellaro, March 28, 2024, Pembroke Observer; "Bloc Québécois backs First Nation fighting nuclear waste site," Natasha Bulowski, Sept. 10, 2024, Canada's National Observer; "First Nation challenges nuclear waste decision in federal court," Natasha Bulowski, Matteo Cimellaro, July 12, 2024, Canada's National Observer; "Evidence is accumulating that wastes proposed for disposal in the NSDF are 'Intermediate Level'," Jan. 22,. 2024, Concerned Citizens of Renfrew County and Area; "Chalk River Mound," current, Concerned Citizens of Renfrew County and Area; "Dépotoir nucléaire de Chalk River: Un risque inacceptable pour la santé des Premières Nations et des Québécois," Sept. 9, 2024, BLOC Québécois.; "Kebaowek Nation enlists help of Bloc Quebecois to stop Chalk River development," Fraser Needham, Sept. 9, 2024, aptn.
United Nations: by 124 to 14 with 43 abstentions the UN General Assembly has voted to sustain international law and the International Court of Justice by supporting Palestine's Resolution A/ES-10/L.31/Rev.1 . The Resolution demands that Israel withdraw from the Occupied Territories within 12 months. (The revised draft extended the initial draft request for withdrawal within 6 months). Among other demands (reparations, the right of return, and others) the Resolution as passed also asks no products be imported from Israeli settlements, and the arms flow to Israel be stopped if the weapons might be used in occupied Palestine. UN Secretary General Guterres will report in three months on Israel's degree of cooperation. In debate of the resolution Egypt pointed out that Israel has killed over 220 UN staff members. Voting against the ICJ and international law were the U.S., Tuvalu, Tonga, Paraguay, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Nauru, Micronesia, Malawi, Israel, Hungary, Fiji, Czechia. Countries presenting equivocal stands such as supporting international law and the International Court of Justice but finding objections to supporting the ICJ orders, abstained: Albania, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Italy, Kenya, Kiribati, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Nepal, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Panama, Poland, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldavia, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa, Serbia, Slovakia, South Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu. Among the preponderance of world nations who affirmed the International Court of Justice, international law and its application through this Resolution, are Belgium, France, Ireland, Spain, Mexico, Cuba, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Gabon, China, Japan, Russia, and all the others. I find no record of vote by: Zambia, Venezuela, Togo, Somalia, Madagascar, Eswatini, Equatorial Guinea, Congo, Central African Republic, Benin, Afghanistan. Partial Sources: "UN Overwhelmingly Adopts Resolution to Impose Sanctions, Arms Embargo on Israel." Reuters, Sept. 18, 2024, Haaretz; "UN General Assembly widely supports a Palestinian resolution demanding Israel end its occupation," Edith M. Lederer, Sept. 18, 2024, AP; "UN demands Israel end 'unlawful' presence in Palestinian territories within 12 months," Michelle Nichols, Sept. 18, 2024, Reuters; "UN members back resolution directing Israel to leave occupied territories," Patrick Wintour, Sept. 18, 2024, The Guardian; "Item 5 -A/ES-10/L.31/Rev.1. Advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences..." Sept. 18 (11:22:37 AM), UN News Centre.
Canada: to explain Canada's abstention from the General Assembly vote on Palestinian Resolution A/ES-10/L.31/Rev.1, (see above) Canada's UN Ambassador Bob Rae told the General Assembly he found the resolution one sided. He noted in French, Canada's deep support for International law. He noted in English that Ottawa agrees Israel illegally occupies Palestinian territories taken over in 1967 (This is Canada's consistent long term position). But despite the balance of logic and even-handedness in his explanation of Canada's open refusal of support to the International Court of Justice orders in its "Advisory opinion", his position lacked moral compass of any awareness that Israel is currently committing genocide against the Palestinians and in Gaza particularly. It is a crime which outweighs legalistic excuse. His explanation shows awareness of horrific actions against the people. By abstention the Canadian government is supporting complicity in genocide, as its media and legal establishment overlook the worst mass murder of civilians since World War II, and Canada's breach of promise - never again, made effective in the Genocide Convention. Genocide warning, in this instance specifically for the Gazans but more generally to all world groups of the oppressed who look to Canada for legal mechanisms of protection against atrocity crimes. Partial sources: "Canada abstains from UN motion calling on Israel to end occupation of Gaza, West Bank." Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press. Sept. 18, 2024, CBC; "Canadian Ambassador Statement at the General Assembly Meeting" (1:15:59), Sept. 18, 2024. UN Web TV.
The International Court of Justice: on September 13th Chile filed a declaration of intervention in support of South Africa's Application to institute proceedings against Israel to meet its obligations to the Convention on Genocide . Other countries who have already filed declarations of intervention are Colombia, Libya, Mexico, Spain and Turkey; Nicaragua and the State of Palestine have filed Applications for permission to intervene. The Chilean Declaration points out Chile's duty to uphold the Convention on Genocide, which most of the world's countries including the U.S. France, Canada, and the UK, have pledged to uphold. Chile's Declaration notes that States signatory to the Convention have the obligation not only to prevent genocide but punish genocide and those inciting genocide. Partial sources: "Declaration of Intervention by the Republic of Chile," September 12, 2024, International Court of Justice; "Chile files a declaration of intervention in the proceedings under Article 63 of the Statute," Press release, Sept.13, 2024, International Court of Justice.
The United Nations: four special rapporteurs have issued a joint statement condemning the hypocrisy of western nations (basically for breaching their promise of refusing to let another genocide happen). The promise was made law by the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. In reporting the announcement Al Jazeera and The Times of Israel both focus on Francesca Albanese as the "Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967" attempting to downgrade her importance ("an Italian lawyer") not representing the body of the UN although in fact special rapporteurs are experts whose advice is sought by the UN and who are appointed by the UN Human Rights Commission. George Katrougalos, the UN "Special Rapporteur on the promotion of democratic and equitable international order," is mentioned secondarily. A noted professor of international law in Greece, news sources politicize him as a former Greek Minister. Neither paper mentions the other two special rapporteurs, "Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation," Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, a Spaniard, professor and former Minister of Parliament, nor Tlaleng Mofokeng, the Special Rapporteur on Health (UN "Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health") a South African physician soundly ignored by the media (except The Palestine Chronicle). Yet water and health are fundamental to life... Sigrid Kaag, the chief humanitarian and reconstruction adviser on Gaza reported to the UN Security Council on Sept. 16th the extreme degree of catastrophe in Gaza and called on the international responsibility to address the tragedy. As for what the nations of the world think, on September 18th the UN General Assembly is to vote on Palestine's resolution requiring Israel to leave Gaza within six months [extended to 12 months in subsequent draft] . (See The International Court of Justice ruling). Partial sources: "Israel will become a 'pariah' over Gaza 'genocide', UN rights experts say," Sept. 16, 2024, Al Jazeera; "'Pariah' State - UN Experts Slam the West over its Support of Israel War," Palestine Chronicle Staff, Sept. 17, 2024, The Palestine Chronicle; "UN considers resolution demanding Israel end its occupation of Palestinian territories," Edith M. Lederer, Sept. 17, 2024, AP; "Top UN court says Israel's presence in occupied Palestinian territories is illegal and should end," Mike Corder, July 19, 2024 AP; "'Essence of our common humanity is at stake': UN official warns amid Gaza crisis," Merve Aydogan, Sept. 16, 2024, Anadolu Ajansi; "UN Gaza aid chief: World is failing innocent civilians," Lyse Doucet, Sept. 16, 2024, BBC.
September 12, 2024
Oakland California: (background). On November 13, 2023 the Center for Constitutional Rights filed a case against Blinken, Austin and Biden. "Defense for Children International - Palestine v. Biden," charging them with failure to prevent the genocide and for aiding it. The charges were valid. While the judge found the charges of the accuseds' complicity in genocide plausible the case was dismissed on jurisdictional grounds January 31, 2024. On July 15, 2024, after legal arguments through months of additional Palestinian civilian deaths, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed dismissal of the case because the court just couldn't hear it, choosing to consider the issue of genocide political rather than a problem of right and wrong. On August 29th, 2024 the plaintifffs-appellants again brought the case forward under the exceptional measure of judicial en banc review, submission to a panel of 11 judges , used for complex matters of law. Also requested was the exclusion from the panel, of two judges who had joined a third recused judge on a delegation to Israel. On September 9th Amici curiae briefs in support of the original case were filed by seven groups, impressive in their common sense and straightforward application of the law. Among the filing parties are so many well-established organizations that the briefs become a request of the people to stop genocide. I recommend the Center for Constitutional Rights' webpage "Defense for Children International - Palestine v. Biden" which carries links to the brief of each of the seven groups. 1.Former Diplomats, Service-Members, and Intelligence Officers; 2. Constitutional Law, Federal Courts, and International Law Scholars; 3. International Human Rights Organizations; 4. Civil Rights and Grassroots Organizations; 5. Jewish Voice for Peace and If Not Now; 6. Center for Civilians in Conflict; 7. Center for Justice and Accountability. N.B.: the UK has in token suspension refused licenses to 30 out of 350 supplying Israel with arms. Canada claims to not supply Israel with arms, recently enforcing thirty withdrawals of shipping permits including arms shipped to Israel through a U.S. intermediary. Both governments (among others) are at risk of criminal prosecution domestically if they supply arms to countries committing war crimes. Because U.S. complicity in Israel's genocide and the breaking of its own laws by suppling weapons to Israel have become clear, protection of the government's policies relies on legal complexities, technicalities, corruption, and distraction toward other issues (elections, the increasing risk of nuclear war with Russia, etc). Partial sources: "Biden Genocide Case: Legal Experts, Ex-Diplomats, Human and Civil Rights Groups Urge Court to Review Palestinians' Claims That Biden Is Enabling Israel's Genocide in Gaza," Press release, Sept. 10, 2024, Center for Constitutional Rights; "Human rights groups and former diplomats urge US court to review lawsuit accusing Biden of genocide," MEE staff in London, Sept. 10, 2024, Middle East Eye; "An American Challenge to Genocide," J.B. Gerald, November 19, 2023, nightslantern.ca.
September 10, 2024
Canada, U.S.: The Nuclear Resister has taken the trouble to itemize and add up the known arrests of those who have expressed their refusal to accept the genocide of Palestinians since October 2023 when Hamas responded to Israel's occupation with lethal horrific resistance action yielding mostly civilian casualties. As of July 11th, two months ago, there were 9000 arrests in the U.S. and Canada. 3400 of these occurred at Universities. The Israeli lobby in the U.S. and Canada and a cooperative press interpret and purvey protest of Israel as being Pro-Palestinian. Among protesters there is a strong representation of groups such as Jewish Voice for Peace, both in the U.S. and Canada. Since July 11, among many other arrests of anti-genocide protesters there were 74 during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Partial sources: "9,000 arrests in nine months call for CEASEFIRE NOW!" Felice & Jack Cohen-Joppa, July 11, 2024, The Nuclear Resister; "Protesters at DNC praise Chicago anti-war efforts as major success," Aug. 24, 2024, TRT World .
Europe: Despite the evidence of Israel committing genocide the Chief Rabbi of France, Haim Korsia, has insisted on supporting Israel; the Grande Synagogue of Paris Chief Rabbi Moshe Sebbag has counseled French Jews to move to Israel. The chief rabbi of the United Kingdom, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, has criticised the UK government's denial to 30 of 350 weapons export licenses to Israel. Albania's chief rabbi, Yoel Kaplan, fights as an officer with Israeli Defense Forces in Gaza (Israel has sent him as part of a search & rescue team to aid survivors of the Turkish earthquake). There are about 150 Jews in Albania. The pro-Israel stance of European rabbis is placing their congregations at risk. Partial sources: "Chief rabbi of France calls for Israel to 'finish the job' in Gaza," MEE staff, Aug. 27. 2024, Middle East Eye; "Paris Chief Rabbi: 'There is no future for Jews in France'," July 3, 2024, Jewish News; "UK chief rabbi slams government's decision to suspend arms licenses to Israel," TOI staff, Sept. 3, 2024, The Times of Israel; "Albania: Chief rabbi seen leading Israeli army prayers in Gaza faces calls for removal," Elis Gjevori, Sept. 5, 2024, MEE.
September 8, 2024
Clarington, Ontario: previous. While Canadians are deflected to the horrors visited on foreign nations, domestically the nuclear industry moves forward almost beyond notice of the press. OPG (Ontario Power Generation) has planned four "boiling water reactors" (the Fukushima reactors were "boiling water reactors") to be built at Clarington as the Darlington New Nuclear Project, by Aecon, GE Hitachi and AtkinsRéalis. The small modular nuclear reactors (BWRX-300) are said to rely on under 5% enriched uranium fuel though some designs exceed 5%. The reactor would be fueled by Orano, a company owned mostly by France and by Areva, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd, which is particularly interested in uranium enrichment. Oak Ridge is Orano's enrichment facility in Tennessee. Enriched uranium is used for nuclear weapons. The designs of RBMK (Russian) and CANDU nuclear reactors do not require enriched fuel. License to construct the first Canadian BWRX-300 has been applied for. The licensing hearing is on Oct. 2, 2024 with the case presented by OPG and CNSC (Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission). Protest is complicated. Interventions in writing or requests for oral presentation at the January 8th meeting have to be presented before November 4th. The 2nd part of the licensing hearing begins January 8. To share information, on September 18th, DNNP (Darlington New Nuclear Project) will hold a question & answer workshop but an invitation is required. A contact address - darlingtonnuclear@opg.com . People's difficulties with the project might include unclear permission from Indigenous tribes, lack of adequate response to possible nuclear accidents at nearby facilities, objections to reliance on enriched uranium - to the increase in production of weapons grade uranium, and lack of appropriate nuclear waste storage. In Canada nuclear waste is usually stored on site (note an exception), increasingly hazardous under climate change. Canada's Deep Ecological Depository is currently being developed by the Nuclear Waste Management Operation (NWMO) which plans to choose a site this year. The depository 'plans' to excludes foreign nuclear waste. Saskatchewan is similarly advancing use of small modular nuclear reactors (SMP) - the GE-Hitachi BWRX 300, considering two sites for development , one at Estevan, about 16K north of the U.S., the other at Elbow. U.S. Senators express concern about possible contamination of the Great Lakes water. Partial sources. " Darlington New Nuclear Project," current, Aecon.com; "Licence to Construct - CNSC Hearings Planned," Gordon Edwards, Aug.25, 2024, email/ccnr@web.ca ; "Planning for Nuclear Power," SaskPower, current, [access: https://engage.saskpower.com/planning-for-nuclear-power >]; "Mischief in the Making," Gordon Edwards, Nov. 20, 2023, Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility; "Comments on the applicability of the Darlington New Nuclear Project's environmental assessment and plant parameter envelope to Ontario Power Generation's selected BWRX-300 reactor technology," submission by ; Durham Nuclear Awareness, Slovenian Home Association & The Canadian Environmental Law Association, Canadian Environmental Law Association; "Securing the future - Canada's deep geological repository for nuclear waste," Heather Exner-Pirot, Aug. 26, 2024, Macdonald-Laurier Institute.
September 5, 2024
New York City: on September 3rd the U.S. Justice Department publicly charged six Hamas leaders with terrorism for their attack on Israelis October 7, 2023; about 1200 were killed, possibly 43 Americans as dual citizens among them. The seven count criminal complaint secretly filed in NYC last February, charges conspiracy including "conspiracy to murder Americans" (NYTimes) as part of a campaign to wipe out Hamas as a resistance group operating in what the World Court describes as occupied territory. The complaint includes charges against Hezbollah and Iran. "The charges unsealed today are just one part of our effort to target every aspect of Hamas's operations" - U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland (Guardian). No charges were made against Israeli officials in the killing of Palestinian Americans among the nearly 41,000 Palestinian deaths of the ongoing Gazan genocide. Under U.S. criminal code, Genocide is against the law. The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has requested arrest warrants on charges of war crimes against three of Hamas defendants as well as Israel's Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Partial sources: "Hamas leaders charged by US over deadly 7 October attacks on Israel," Staff, Reuters, AP, Sept. 4, 2024, The Guardian; "US charges Hamas leaders over 7 October attack on Israel," Max Matza and James FitzGerald, Sept 4, 2024, BBC; "U.S. Charges Hamas Leaders in Oct. 7 Massacre in Israel and Other Terrorist Attacks," Adam Goldman, Ronen Bergman and Glenn Thrush, Sept. 3, 2024, The New York Times.
Portland Maine: the City Council voted unanimously last night to divest from any company complicit in Israel's war crimes against Palestinians. On the divestment list of over eighty companies are Northrop Grumman, Volvo, Elbit Systems, Boeing, Chevron, Intel, Lockheed-Martin, Israel Bonds, Israel Aerospace Industries, etc.. Portland is said to be the fourth U.S. municipality to do so, following Hayward California, Richmond California and Hamtramck Michigan. While Hamtramck is the only predominantly Muslim city in the U.S. Portland is primarily Christian. Partial sources: "Portland, Maine, to Divest from Israeli Companies Tied to Israel's Assault on Palestinians," Sept. 5, 2024, Democracy Now!; "Portland City Council votes to divest from companies doing business with Israel," Emma Davis, Sept. 5, 2024, Maine Morning Star; "Portland city council votes to divest from companies doing business with Israel," Ari Snider, Sept. 5, 2024, Maine Public Radio; "Largest City in Maine Becomes Fourth in US to Adopt Israel Divestment Resolution," Jake Johnson, Sept. 5, 2024, truthout.
September 4, 2024
Montreal: the Mohawk Mothers is a group of elder women extending their historical duty of caretaking the land. They are attempting to delay McGill University construction plans at the former Royal Victoria Hospital and Allan Memorial Psychiatric Institute in places where it's believed human remains are buried. Contemporary examinations of sites used at Canadian Residential Schools are found to yield the bodies of hundreds of Indigenous children. McGill seems anxious to proceed without transparent studies of possible burial sites. Construction delays are expensive. Within the Indigenous communities missing children, those who never returned from Residential Schools and hospitals are a cultural fact of life. The phenomenon of "Duplessis Orphans" began when Quebec religious and government infrastructures realized the allotment for orphans in orphanages rose substantially when orphans were committed to mental hospitals. Indigenous children in orphanges were susceptible as were the children not in Residential Schools. With increasing evidence of Indigenous children among the Duplessis Orphans and missing from Residential Schools, the Mohawk Mothers' request for identification of human remains at the McGill and Allan sites is understandable. Also, since the CIA Mk-Ultra program of experimentation on peoples in the 1950-s and 60's has come to light, and the subjection of Indigenous people to medical experimentation without informed consent documented to have occurred in Western Canada, the moral soundness of the Allan Memorial Institute has been placed in question. The Quebec Court of Appeals on August 3rd, ruled in favor of McGill against the Mohawk Mothers, blocking an Expert Panel's investigation of human remains believed found at the construction site. The struggle will continue. Author's note: Among the Mohawk Mothers Kahentinetha is a well known proponent of Indigenous rights, veteran of the Oka crisis, editor of Mohawk Nation News. Nightslantern.ca has carried her essay, "The North American Indian Holocaust", since 2006. On June 14, 2008 at a Canadian border crossing she survived a heart attack while in the grip of an agent. My efforts, solitary amid Canada's writing community, to get PEN Canada to help her met with rejection and I withdrew from the organization. See: previous entries 1 2 3. Partial sources: "APTN Investigates: Orphans of Church and State," Tom Fennario, June 21, 2024, APTN; "Mohawk Mothers and Duplessis Orphans group convince SAQ to pause expansion," current, Mohawk Mothers [access:< https://www.mohawkmothers.ca/recent-updates/mohawk-mothers-and-duplessis-orphans-group-force-pause-in-saq-warehouse-expansion >]; "Archaeological digs to take place at old Royal Vic site after Kanien'kehá:ka elders strike deal," CBC News, April 20, 2023, CBC / Radio Canada; "Appeal Court Blues," Kahentinetha, Aug. 26, 2024, Mohawk Nation News; "Mohawk Kahentinetha Horn Beaten and Hospitalized at Border," June 19, 2008, Jericho Boston.
August 31, 2024
Montreal: Author's note. Generally unwelcome, and published from Australia in 2020, Sources of Contemporary Genocide considers patterns of genocide as they recur and present our civilian populations with the unacceptable atrocity crimes of contemporary governments. I think the work helps us understand how we have to move forward together to counter the crime of genocide. The book is out of print. A free review copy is available. David Gullette has kindly posted his review of the book for Democracy and Socialism, at his Facebook page. Essays from the book originally appeared among my works posted through the years here on nightslantern.ca.
August 19, 2024
Mexico: Mexico's Truth Commission has received evidence of a military unit involved in the disappearance of leftists during Mexico's "Dirty War" of 1965 - 1990. Testimony indicates that leftists were arrested, raped, tortured and murdered at an army base near Acapulco, and then their bodies, usually dead, were flown out over the ocean and dumped from "planes of death." The Guardian notes specifically research finding among the victims 300 Indigenous from the 1980's and in the 1990's a hundred transgender women. The "Final Report of the Mechanism for Truth and Historical Clarification," is available at https://www.meh.org.mx/especial-informe-final/ , in Spanish. It's crimes by the State suggest the necessity in all countries, for the protection of human rights by application of international law. The release of U.S. records on Mexico's "Dirty War," to clarify the extent of U.S. involvement and responsibility, is requested. The Zapatista movement which was active in these years still exists in a nonconfrontational adaptive manner due to the criminality of its opposition. Previous and previous. "Himno del Ejército ZAPATISTA de Liberación Nacional E.Z.L.N."; Poster. Zapata.. Partial sources: "Inquiry into Mexico's 'dirty war' obstructed by military and other agencies, board says," Oscar Lopez, Aug. 16, 2024, The Guardian; "Mexican official says military obstructs probe into human rights abuses during country's 'dirty war'," Daniel Shailer, Oct. 11, 2023, AP.; "Truth Commission Documents 25 Years of State Violence During Mexican Dirty War: Human Rights Abuses in Mexico 'Systematic and Widespread'; 'Not the Work of a Few 'Bad Apples,'" Aug. 19, 2024, National Security Archive; "Peru enacts law restricting prosecution of crimes against humanity, favoring former leader Fujimori," Franklin Briceño , Aug. 9, 2024, AP.
Peru: (background). Despite opposition from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the United Nations, on August 9th Peru enacted a law which outlawed punishment for war crimes committed by the government before 2020 ("No one can be prosecuted, convicted or punished for crimes against humanity or war crimes, for acts committed before July 1, 2002," - Barron's). Peru's Parliament is currently fascist. The rule would directly benefit former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori who sits in jail convicted of war crimes such as organizing death squads and massacres, as well as for corruption. A strong fascist element in Peru has protected him from direct charges of genocide. Fujimori's application of genocidal birth control practices, supported at the time by both the U.N. and the U.S., tested the world's resolve to protect vulnerable minorities from States acting with impunity. In 2021 Peru's people elected a socialist President, Pedro Carriles, who was deposed and criminalized by this Parliament; his successor Dina Boluarte was promptly recognized by the U.S. and Canada. She enjoys a nonexistent popularity rating. Asked she be charged with genocide for the murder of Indigenous protesters by security forces, Peru's attorney general finally assured her and the country on July 30th that she was not to be charged with genocide. She still faces homicide charges for the murders of 44 protesters and wounding of others. Partial sources: "Músicos componen canción 'Dina asesina' y se convierte en 'himno' de protestas contra Dina Boluarte."; "Peru Adopts Law Restricting Crimes Against Humanity Prosecutions," AFP, August 9, 2024, Barron's; "Peruvian prosecutor shelves genocide case against President Boluarte," Reuters, July 30, 2024, Reuters; "Allegations of Genocide Return to Peru," J.B.Gerald, Jan. 17, 2023, nightslantern.ca; "Peru and the People's Defenses," J.B.Gerald, March 4, 2023, nightslantern.ca; Poster: "The Wedding of Elena & Abimael," Gerald and Maas, 2011, nightslantern.ca.
August 16, 2024
New York City: "Silence Is Complicity: Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac Calls Upon U.S. Churches, August 14, 2024," The Riverside Church.
August 12, 2024
Gaza: while national media focus on the competitions for prowess, gold and silver at the Paris Olympics, the attempt to exterminate Gazans continues in occupied Palestine, with impunity, despite the orders of the International Court of Justice. See 1 and 2. One atrocity follows another. The UN Human Rights Office reports that at 0430 hours August 10th a mosque of the AlTabae'en School was hit three times by Israeli Defense Forces, during morning prayer, killing 93 worshippers. Since July 4th over 21 strikes on schools sheltering refugees have resulted in 274 deaths. 90% of Gazans are displaced. The attacks on schools are systematic. The International Court of Justice's finding that Israel occupation of Gaza is illegal, places in question Israel's right to defend itself. Genocide warning. Israel stands accused of genocide at the ICJ as the U.S. funds Israel with 3.5 billion dollars to buy more U.S. weapons. Complicity in genocide is a crime with no statute of limitations. Sample sources: "US releases $3.5 billion to Israel to spend on US weapons, military equipment," Kanishka Singh, August 9, 2024, Reuters; "Norway says ICJ's advisory opinion on Israeli occupation of Palestine 'crystal clear,'" Leila Nezirevic, July 20, 2024, Anadolu Agency; "'Impunity must end': World reacts to ICJ ruling against Israeli occupation," Al Jazeera Staff, July 20, 2024, Al Jazeera; "Three Israeli army refusers: 'We will not participate in genocide,'" Oren Ziv, August 7, 2024, +972; "63 Israeli Attacks in Gazat Refugee Camp Left 91 Dead in Seven Days," July 21, 2014, TeleSUR; "Canada joins international condemnation of deadly Israeli strike on Gaza school compound," Thomson Reuters. August 10, 2024, CBC News; "UN Human Rights Office - OPT: The UN Human Rights Office condemns Israeli Defense Force's Strike on Al Tabae'en School in Gaza City," OHCHR, August 10, 2024, reliefweb; "Israeli army commanders gave order to blow up Rafah's main water facility," The New Arab Staff, July 29, 2024, The New Arab (n.b.); "Allow me to explain what genocide is based on my own experience," current, Rumble [access:< https://rumble.com/v59h0th-the-meaning-of-genocide.html >].
August 4, 2024
Hiroshima: August 6th will be Hiroshima Day.
"Hiroshima - Short film," Hashem Al-Ghaili, 2024 [access:< https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfNL1I1KdjQ >].
"Hiroshima I'm sorry," The Kelly Family, Frankreich, 1985 [access:< https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9M4QmHc2Y >].
August 2, 2024
Ottawa: in a decision with far reaching implications and repercussions the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled in favor of the Anishinaabe on July 26, 2024. With some force the ruling condemns Canada's government for dealing dishonorably with the Anishinaabe, under the Robinson Treaties of 1850, for over 150 years. Billions of dollars were made from the use and selling of native resources by private companies, Ontario and the federal government. Accordingc to The Guardian in 1874 yearly payments to the Anishinaabe were limited to 4$ per person and never changed. Damages owed in the amount of billions of dollars have not yet been specified. Ontario has argued in court that opening up (colonizing) the territory was expensive.The Lake Superior Anishinaabe First Nations have in the past asked for back payments of 126 billion dollars. In 2023 the Huron, also party to the Robinson Treaties settled their claim to backpayments, for 10 million dollars to be paid by Ontario and Canada equally. N.B.: this places the government in the position of covering the immense profits of resource stripping by corporations who should assume direct payment responsibiity for their resources. The importance of the Supreme Court decision is that it takes a step forward in history, countering the established practice of wiping out native inhabitants of a region to strip their resources. Resource stripping is the most frequent cause of contemporary genocides. The Court's decision was unanimous. Partial sources: "Canada owes First Nations for treaty breaches, top court rules,"Frances Vinali, July 28, 2024, The Washington Post; "Canada owes First Nations billions after making 'mockery' of treaty deal, top court rules," Leyland Cecco, July 26,2024, The Guardian; 'Crown made a 'mockery' of 2 treaties with First Nations for 150 years, Supreme Court rules," Peter Zimonic, July 26, 2024, CBC News.
July 19, 2024
Palestinian Occupied Territory: on July 19th the International Court of Justice at the Hague released its "Advisory Opinion" in response to the request placed to it by the UN General Assembly December 30, 2022. The General Assembly asked the Court for the legal consequences of Israel's refusing Palestinians the right of self-determination under its prolonged occupation, and how Israel's practices of occupation affected the legal status of its occupation before the world. To summarize the Court's press release : 1. Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory is against the law. 2. Israel has to leave Occupied Palestinian Territory as soon as possible. 3. Israel must stop any new settlement and evacuate settlers from Occupied Palestinian Territory. 4. Israel has to pay reparations for damages. 5. All states can neither recognize nor render aid to Israel in maintaining its occupation of Occupied Palestinian Territory. 6. The U.N., General Assembly, and Security Council, have to consider how to end the illegal occupation as soon as possible. Partial sources: "Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem -- The Court gives its Advisory Opinion and responds to the questions posed by the General Assembly," Press release 2024/57, July 19, 2024, International Court of Justice; "Advisory Opinion," [access:< https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/186/186-20240719-adv-01-00-en.pdf >], July 19, 2024, International Court of Justice; "ICJ says Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal," Yasmine Hassan, Kevin Maimann, July 19, 2024, CBC News; "ICJ Calls on Israel to Evacuate Settlers, Dismantle the Wall, and Return Land to Palestinians," July 19, 2024, teleSUR.
July 18, 2024
San Francisco: in a court decision generally ignored by U.S. media Democracy Now! reports the appeal of the case against U.S. President Biden, Secretary of Defense Austin and Secretary of State Blinken on charges of genocide, was dismissed by the Ninth District Court of Appeals. The case was brought by the Center for Constitutional Rights on behalf of Defense for Children International-Palestine, Al-Haq, and others. See previous and previous and previous and previous. In the United States the genocide convention is enacted into U.S. law, but is usually dismissed as beyond the jurisdiction of the court when applied to U.S. officials or policies. Since the UN Convention on Genocide is intended to specifically apply to nations' rulers, this decision continues to maintain obstruction of the law's intent. Historically, the CCR case may be viewed as a brave last ditch and desperate attempt to bring the crime of genocide to justice under American law. Lack of timely actions by the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice which might have turned aside the genocide in Gaza, align the international courts with the U.S. complicity in the slaughter. Partial sources: "States and companies must end arms transfers to Israel immediately or risk responsibility for human rights violations: UN experts," Press release, June 20, 2024, OHCHR; "'Blank Check' for Genocide: Court Dismisses Palestinians' Case Against Biden Admin over Gaza War," Katherine Gallagher, Democracy Now!, July 16, 2024, Center for Constitutional Rights; "'Stunning Abdication': Appeals Court Dismisses Biden Genocide Complicity Case," Brett Wilkens, July 16, 2024, Common Dreams; "An American Challenge to Genocide," " J.B.Gerald, Nov. 19, 2023, nightslantern.ca.
July 4, 2024
"Only one thing's sadder than remembering you were once free, and that's forgetting you were once free."-- Leonard PeltierSouth Dakota: at 79, Leonard Peltier was denied parole again on July 2nd. Serving a life sentence for the killing of two FBI agents in an FBI / AIM confrontation of 1975 Leonard Peltier is widely considered to have been unfairly convicted. He has not relinquished his claim of innocence through over fifty years of imprisonment and instances of gross mistreatment by the U.S. prison system. Partial sources: "Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier, convicted over 1975 FBI killings, denied parole," Adria R Walker, July 2, 2024, The Guardian; "Leonard Peltier Denied Parole After Nearly 50 Years In Prison," Jennifer Bendery, July 2, 2024, Huffpost.
remembering july 4th, by John BartGerald. Removed November 15, 2024.
Israel: Haredim or ultra-orthodox Jews are refusing to accept the government orders to include them in the draft. Historically ultra-orthodox students could avoid the draft by studying the Torah. This mechanism has allowed a portion of Israel's religious community the ability to serve the morality of their religious texts without compromise. The practice was reflected in the U.S. draft during Vietnam where deferments to military service were given those with enough funds to stay in college. So whereas after WWII many professors were veterans educated under the G.I. Bill and anti-fascist, after Vietnam many professors were the sons and daughters of privilege? In Israel the privilege of ongoing Yeshiva attendance is religiously determined. They are protecting Judaism. Israel's Zionist rulers have shown no understanding of faith or humanity in their attempts to exterminate Palestinians. On Sunday June 30th tens of thousands of Haredim marched (not entirely without violence to officials) in a protest of the draft, with signs such as "We will not enlist in an enemy army," "We would rather live as Jews than die as Zionists," "To jail and not to the army," "Zionism uses Jews as human shields," (apprec. +972). In March the chief Sephardic rabbi warned if the government enforced the Haredim draft entire groups would leave the country. Partial sources: "Chief Sephardic rabbi says ultra-Orthodox will leave Israel if forced into army," TOI Staff, March 10, 2024, Times of Israel; "Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men clash with Israeli police over draft," AP, July 1, 2024, CBC News; "'We'd rather die than enlist': Haredi Jews vow to defy conscription," Oren Ziv, July 2, 2024, +972 magazine.
June 29, 2024
Lebanon: on June 26th, Israel's Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, in Washington D.C. for talks with U.S, officials, told reporters that unless Hezbollah stopped its attacks "We have the ability to take Lebanon back to the Stone Age, but we don't want to do it" (The Independent). A genocide warning for the people of Lebanon as a national group. While Hezbollah presents a much greater threat to Israel than the victim civilian population of Gaza, in this new threat of annihilation of yet another people Gallant is using the language of the U.S. & Coalition's "Desert Storm" against Iraq, reminding us of the difficulty in holding Western leaders to account. The International Criminal Court's lack of or delay in charging and prosecuting Israeli leaders for war crimes, may also be partly responsible for Israel's threats of genocide. Canada has recognized the serious risk to all of Lebanon by calling for the withdrawal of its own citizens in Lebanon as evacuation is prepared. Partial sources: "Israeli Defense Minister Vows to Return Lebanon to 'Stone Age'," Kyle Anzalone. June 27, 2024, Antiwar.com; "Israeli Defense Minister Meets U.S. Officials, Threatens to Bomb Lebanon 'Back to the Stone Age'," June 28, 2024, Democracy Now!; "Canadian military planning for evacuation of 20,000 from Lebanon, says top commander," Murray Brewster, June 27, 2024, CBC News; "Israel warns it could send Lebanon 'back to the Stone Age' as fears grow over war with Hezbollah,"Tom Watling, June 27, 2024, The Independent.
June 26, 2024
Chalk River Ontario: Previous. With the long term effect of nuclear waste contaminated water, the recurring inevitable leakage, spills and accidents at all nuclear facilities, the unforeseen threats presented by extreme climate change, the lack of protection afforded above ground nuclear waste dumps, Canada's representation of the interests of weapons makers and Euro-American war economies risking Canada to military conflict, it is difficult not to consider the proposed Near Surface Disposal Facility (NSDF) at Chalk River a criminal enterprise. Answering Kebaowek First Nation's unease about lack of transparency in revealing toxic waste levels of effluent in the Ottawa river, Minister of the Environment Steven Guilbeault (Liberal Québéc MP) has suggested an improvement in monitoring procedures but with no assurances that the contamination won't happen again. It has happened before. Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) manages federal nuclear facilities and when Chalk River failed its Feb. 21rst toxicity test, Environment Canada received notification March 8th, then ordered a corrective action April 23rd, currently considered successful. Such delays allow for many dead fish. Over generations there is an equivalent risk to Canadians down river, the water and land's water table. Canada's Indigenous peoples are a last line of defense against corporate terminal contamination of the land mass. The Bloc Québécois has joined them in attempting to protect people, land and waters.
"We stand alongside the Kebaowek nation as well as all Québécers to denounce this nuclear dump project, the ecological and environmental consequences of which would be devastating. Knowing the extent of the possible repercussions and their duration over time, it is unthinkable to put the health of our river and that of millions of people at risk. It's playing environmental Russian roulette by threatening present and future generations. The federal government must immediately cancel its approval of this project" - Monique Pauzé, Bloc Québécois Spokesperson for the Environment.With support of its allies the Kebaowek First Nation is taking the government to court July 10th and 11th. There will be a rally both days from 8:30am - 4:00pm, at the Thomas D'Arcy McGee Building, 90 Sparks Street, Ottawa, to support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP), and stand against the Near Surface Disposal Facility (NSDF) proposed dump. On July 3rd The Kebaowek First Nation will present an exhibition at the Archives of Pontiac, 358 Main Street, Shawville, Québéc, sharing art, photography and information from Indigenous assessment of the site's biodiversity. 10:30am - 4:00pm. All matters related to the nuclear industry are generally suppressed information: the weapons systems of the entire NATO alliance are now based on nuclear arms. Partial sources: "Chalk River nuclear dump: Ottawa plays environmental Russian roulette," Feb. 14, 2024, Bloc Québécois; "PM dismisses Algonquin concerns over Chalk River nuclear waste dump: Trudeau touts nuclear safety commission's expertise as Bloc leader allies with First Nations," Brett Forster, Feb. 24, 2024, CBC News; "You're invited! Coffeehouse in Shawville and Rally at Federal Court in Ottawa," June 25, 2024, Kebaowek First Nation; "Environment minister responds to chief's concerns about toxic sewage spill at Chalk River," Brett Forester, Jun 24, 2024, CBC News; "Nuclear Wast Dump at Chalk River: Our Watershed at Risk," current as of June 26, 2024, www.stopnuclearwaste.com.
Occupied Israeli territories: The United Nations Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories was started by General Assembly mandate in December 1968 to report on the human rights of those in the territories Israel occupied. The three Member States of the Committee are Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Senegal. At the end of their current investigation they issued the End-of-Mission Statement of the UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices, 25 June 2024,": "The violent assault on Gaza has been indiscriminate, disproportionate, and callous in nature, cutting off life essential resources, in order to subjugate, dehumanise and collectively punish the Palestinian civilian population." Particular physicial , psychological and sexual abuse is noted against women, children, prisoners. The report notes 500 Palestinians killed on the West Bank (1 in 5, children), 37431 in Gaza, 85653 injured, then 193 UNRWA staff (not counting their families). Without focusing on the deprivation of medical support for massive civilian casualties, the killings of medical personnel, the persecution of minority religious groups, the Special Committee still presents a tragic picture of occupation as punishment with terminal effect. Generally suppressed by the media, the Special Committee's statement is necessary information. A genocide warning for all Palestinians. Partial sources: Partial sources: "UN Special Committee on Israeli practices in occupied territories concludes field mission," Press release. june 25, 2024, UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner; "UN Committee accuse Israelis of 'sexual abuse, dehumanizing' prisoners," Al Mayadeen English, June 26, 2024, Al Mayadeen.
Québéc: recognizing that "the scenes of horror coming from Rafah are unbearable," a position paper from the the Bloc Québécois ("The Bloc proposes a series of measures: For an urgent and lasting ceasefire in Gaza," May 29, 2024, Bloc Québécois):
Here are the measures that the Bloc suggests the government adopt to put pressure on the Israeli government so that it is forced to respect international law:
- Reiterate Canada's support for an immediate ceasefire and the free flow of medical, food and humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza Strip;
- Support the Arab League in its call for the creation of an international peacekeeping force to be deployed in the occupied Palestinian territories, until a functional Palestinian state is established;
- Adopt a complete moratorium on the export to Israel of any technology for possible military use;
- Apply the Canadian sanctions regime to target Israeli ministers who openly call for crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip and target more extremist settlers in the West Bank;
- Immediately exclude the occupied territories from the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement in order to stop conferring commercial advantages on illegal settlements in the West Bank, which contributes to their economic prosperity;
- Join the many countries that have recently recognized the Palestinian state by recognizing Palestine in turn, while reiterating support for a two-state solution;
- Support the International Court of Justice and possibly the International Criminal Court in order to enforce international law and commit to arresting any person targeted by a possible arrest warrant who may be on Canadian territory;
- Reiterate that any deliberate obstruction of the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip constitutes a war crime and will lead to Canadian sanctions against those responsible;
- Develop and articulate a clear and predictable policy by Global Affairs Canada regarding the Gaza Strip;
- Reiterate its rejection of Hamas and consider new sanctions against countries that provide logistical, financial or other support to the terrorist group.
June 25, 2024
London: in an attempt to prevent dissemination of war crimes to the world's media the wholesale slaughter of journalists in Gaza has cast the persecution of Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks, in a new light. Until yesterday morning he was incarcerated in Belmarsh prison for five years, held for deportation to trial in the U.S.. He was recently granted the right to appeal the deportation order because British authorities couldn't trust Assange's safety to the U.S. terms of imprisonment. The years of charges against him, whatever their cover rose from his posting film of U.S. soldiers murdering without reason two journalists among other civilians. As a journalist and editor he had exposed U.S. classified information on war crimes. He left England by plane to the North Mariana Islands, a U.S. Pacific territory where he is intended to plead guilty at a US court to an act of espionage against the United States and then be sentenced to 5 years of prison which he has already served so he can return home to Australia. While the plea deal which allows his freedom is welcome to all, the charge against him remains an additional threat to all journalists and freedom of expression when discussing US war crimes. Partial sources: "WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to plead guilty to espionage charge as part of deal with U.S.," AP, June 24, 2024, CBC News; "Julian Asange is free': Wikileaks founder freed in deal with US," June 25, 2024, Al Jazeera.
N.B.: internationally it is against the law not to report a war crime. This was generally ignored in the U.S. prosecution of Chelsea Manning. Manning was sentenced in 2013 to 35 years for passing information to Wikileaks; she was freed from serving the remainder of her prison term by President Obama's granting of clemency in 2017. On refusing to testify to a grand jury seeking information about Assange she was again imprisoned in 2019 and only freed when the grand jury's term expired but with a heavy fine which was paid by supporters and crowd funding. Wikipedia notes that the UN Special Rapporteur on torture, Nils Melzer, considered U.S. attempts to make Manning testify against Assange, torture. Chelsea Manning is currently free.
June 24, 2024
Armenia: on June 21, Armenia recognized Palestine as a nation state, in an announcement from its Foreign Ministry. A "catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza" was cited among its reasons. See previous. Kurdistan 24 quotes the Foreign Ministry: "The Republic of Armenia affirms its respect for international law and the principles of equality, sovereignty, and peaceful coexistence among peoples, and recognizes the State of Palestine." Partial sources: "Armenia recognises state of Palestine," MEE staff, June 21, 2014, Middle East Eye; "Armenia recognizes state of Palestine, calls for peace in Middle East," June 21, 2024, Kurdistan 24 Digital Media .
Global: seeking to uphold the basic human rights of people and state and corporate obligations to the Geneva Conventions and the Convention on Genocide, among other treaties and Conventions, thirty experts of the UN "Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts and Working Groups" working under the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, warned on June 20, 2024, that businesses selling arms to the "Zionist state" risk complicity in the crime of genocide (See previous). The UN experts praised journalists who have recorded the impact of weaponry on Gaza (foreign reporters are not allowed). The Committee to Protect Journalists notes 108 journalists have been killed so far in the Israel-Hamas war (of these 2 were Israelis). An additional 2 are missing, 32 wounded, 46 arrested. By June 23rd the CPJ can confirm that at least 3 of the killings were targeted (murdered). The Gaza government media office gives the number of killings as 152. While the ICC and ICJ as primary international courts have failed so far to directly indict Israel's leaders or the country of Israel on charges of genocide, cases against Israel are in progress as the world's consensus that genocide has occurred and is in progress, increases. Navi Pillay, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and currently a judge at the ICJ's case on genocide, The Gambia vs. Myanmar presented her report to the Human Rights Council on June 19, 2024, as Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory. A portion of her testimony is quoted by Democracy Now!: "Israeli authorities are responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity and violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, including extermination, intentionally directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects, murder or willful killing, using starvation as a method of war, forcible transfer, gender persecution targeting Palestinian men and boys, sexual and gender-based violence amounting to torture, and cruel or inhuman treatment." Save the Children International estimates as many as 21,000 children missing since Israel began its recent offensive in Gaza, with 10,000 reported buried under the rubble but not found. The savethechildren.net website notes that Israel has dropped the equivalent of six nuclear bombs on Gaza. and that forensic and human rights experts are not allowed entry. Genocide in progress. Partial sources: "UN experts say firms sending arms to Israel could be complicit in abuses," June 20, 2024, Reuters; "UN Warns Companies That Sell Arms to Israel About Complicity in Genocide," June 20, 2024, TeleSur; "UN report: Israeli use of heavy bombs in Gaza raises serious concerns under the laws of war," June 19, 2024, OHCHR; "Journalist casualties in the Israel-Gaza war," June 23, 2024,. Committee to Protect Journalists; "The journalists killed in Gaza -- and what they tried to show the world," Ellen Francis, Artur Galocha and Joe Snell, Feb. 9. 2024, The Washington Post; "Navi Pillay, head of UN COI: 'Israeli authorities are responsible for war crimes'" June 21, 2024, Al Mayadeen; "U.N. Accuses Israel of Systematically Violating the Laws of War in Gaza," June 20, 2024, Democracy Now!; "Israel kills Palestinian journalist in Gaza, raising media worker death toll to 152," The New Arab Staff, June 21, 2024, The New Arab.
June 19, 2024
U.S.A.: Francis A. Boyle has filed an affadavit in a Florida case attempting to block the distribution of COVID -19 vaccines. It states that the vaccines were / are a biological warfare weapon. Francis Boyle wrote the 1989 Biological Weapons and Antiterrorism Act for the U.S. Congress (passed unanimously). Boyle is a well respected professor of international law at the University of Illinois, with his law degree from Harvard as well as an MA and PhD, and his college degree from Chicago. To quote Ethan Huff's article, the Florida case "asserts that the continued distribution of COVID jabs violates Biological Weapons 18 USC § 175; Weapons and Firearms § 790.166 Fla. Stat. (2023); Federal Crime of Treason 18 USC § 2381; Treason § 876.32 Fla. Stat. (2023); Domestic Terrorism, 18 USC § 2331; Terrorism § 775.30 Fla. Stat. (2023); Murder § 782.04 (1)(a) Fla. Stat. (2023); and Genocide 18 USC § 1091," among other laws and statutes. Vaccine selection for the 10th COVID immunization shots available this Fall are selected by the U.S. FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC). Canadian Background. Partial sources: "Dr. Francis Boyle, author of 1989 Biological Weapons and Antiterrorism Act, releases affidavit confirming COVID 'vaccines' are biological weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) 06/12/2024 // Ethan Huff, June 12, 2014, natural news; "Dr. Francis Boyle, law professor: Covid Injections Are Bioweapons," William Quinn, June 10, 2024, The Georgia Record; "'Covid mRNA Nanoparticle Injections are BioWeapons for Mass Destruction.' Affidavit by Francis Boyle," Fabio G. C. Carisio, June 11, 2024, VT Foreign Policy; "FDA Updates Advice to Manufacturers of COVID-19 Vaccines (2024-2025 Formula): If Feasible Use KP.2 Strain of JN.1-Lineage," Press release, June 13, 2024, FDA; "Double Digits: Biden Admin tells Americans that it's soon time for their 10th Covid shot," Jordan Schachtel, June 13, 2024, The Dossier.
U.S.A.. Raz Segal the Israeli American scholar who found Israel's treatment of Gaza "a textbook case of genocide," was about to be appointed head of the University of Minnesota's Center of Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Israeli interests at the university objected and the job offer was put on hold, withdrawn. While Segal's substantial expertise gained him the offer he was faulted for trying to warn his colleagues and peers and the public, of a truth subsequently supported by the International Court of Justice in its orders to Israel to cease genocidal acts against Gaza. The ability of Israeli political interests to reject an appointment at an American university is foreign interference in America's attempts at freedom of expression. Withdrawing an appointment because the academic expert honors the Convention on Genocide before any nation's politics raises the question of the University's complicity. This issue of Israel's political interests superseding academic freedom and the individual's loyalty to established law, is suppressed by the media, as it gathers strength. Partial sources: "Holocaust Scholar Raz Segal Loses Univ. of Minnesota Job Offer for Saying Israel Is Committing Genocide," June 18, 2024, Democracy Now!; "Scholar says he still wants U Holocaust center job despite controversy," June 14. 2024, Minnesota Public Radio.
June 8, 2024
Myanmar / Burma: A background of genocide warnings. At the mercy of two armies fighting over Rohingya land the Rohingya people of Rakhine continue to be destroyed, without U.N. intervention, without protection. About 600 thousand Rohingya are said to remain. Over a million linger in a refugee camp in Bangladesh which Bangladesh finds hard to sustain. The Rohingya are already subject of a case at the International Court of Justice against Myanmar's military, alleging charges of genocide in 2017. Brought by The Gambia in 2019 the case was joined by Canada, Denmark, Britain, France, the Netherlands and Germany; The Maldives has alleged genocide in a separate filing. With painful slowness the case moves forward at the ICJ as Rohingya lands and homes in the Rakhine are again being destroyed by fire, some say at the hands of the Buddhist Rakhine army known as the Arakan Army (AA), and others say by Myanmar's military. On May 23rd, Tom Andrews, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, reported an emergency need for international care, concern, humanitarian assistance in response to the increasing attacks on Rakhine Rohingya. In retrospect, the genocide of the Rohingya may be viewed as a trial run, with military corporate interests testing the resolve of the world's countries to stop a genocide, before the elites eliminate other vulnerable groups such as Palestinians, native bands on resource lands, etc.. Partial sources: "Myanmar: Urgent international action crucial to save lives of thousands of Rohingya in Rakhine State says UN expert," UNHRC, May 23, 2024, ReliefWeb; "'Nowhere to go': Rohingya face arson attacks in Myanmar’s Rakhine State," Caleb Quinley, May 21, 2024, Al Jazeera; "European nations join Myanmar genocide case," Nov. 17, 2023, Al Jazeera; "To Keep the Rohingya Alive," J.B.Gerald, Jan.26, 2020, nightslantern.ca.
International Court of Justice: (previous). Joining the applications by Mexico, Nicaragua, Columbia, Libya and Palestine (on May 31, 2024), before the ICJ, Spain has also requested to join South Africa's case accusing Israel of genocide. Jose Manuel Albares, Spain's foreign minister, said the action was taken in response to Israel ignoring the Court's order to cease military operations in Gaza. Belgium, Turkey, Egypt, The Maldives, Ireland (in progress), Chile and Spain (in progress) have declared their intention to join South Africa's case. Al Jazeera has listed in addition these groups and countries as declared supporters of South Africa's case: the 57 member Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Malaysia, Turkey, Jordan, Bolivia, The Maldives, Namibia, Pakistan, the 22 member Arab League, Columbia, Brazil. Partial sources: "Spain applies to join South Africa’s case at top UN court accusing Israel of genocide," Joseph Wilson, June 6, 2024, AP; "Which countries back South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at ICJ?," June 9, 2024, Al Jazeera; "Spain requests to intervene in South Africa's Gaza genocide case against Israel at ICJ," Reuters, June 6, 2024, Reuters;"Putin says Israeli actions in Gaza 'some kind of total destruction of civilian population'," June 5, 2024, Anadolu Ajansi.
U.S.: U.S. made weaponry continues to be provided Israel (documented). If international courts decide that Israel's military and civilian management campaigns against Palestinians are in fact genocide, the U.S., Germany , the U.K., France, as arms suppliers could be judged guilty of complicity in the genocide. Responsibility for Israel's policies of civilian starvation, deprivation of medical care, refusal of survival amenities, is more difficult to deflect to non-Israeli sources. Standard U.S. defense against allegations of genocide is to refuse to apply the laws against genocide in U.S. courts, despite their inclusion in U.S. law by the Genocide Convention Implementation Act of 1987. Another is to avoid their application to the U.S. at international law by the U.S. not joining international courts. When the U.S initially signed the Convention on Genocide Dec. 11, 1948 it was with the specific reservation that the U.S. could not be subject to the International Court of Justice without the permission of the U.S..(More information). And then there are illegal ways of controlling international courts through political pressure, bribery, infiltration and threats. The U.S. House of Representatives has mistakenly passed a bill to impose sanctions on members of the International Criminal Court, for considering arrest of two Israeli leaders on charges of war crimes. The vote of 247 to 155 included all Republicans and 42 Democrats; the sanctions include visa restrictions and economic controls on judges, prosecutors, workers, and their families. Passage by the Senate as well could risk interpretation as a U.S. admission of guilt. Partial sources: "US House passes bill to sanction ICC for seeking Israel arrests warrants," Jacob Majid & Agencies, June 6, 2024, The Times of Israel; "Which US-made weaponry does Israel, which stands accused of genocide, use in Gaza?" Yavuz Aydin, June 6,. 2024, Anadolu Ajansi; "U.S. lawmakers vote to sanction ICC after prosecutor seeks warrant for Israel's Netanyahu," The Associated Press, June 4, 2024, CBC.
June 1, 2024
Mexico: amid Israel's assault of Rafah and as destruction of civilian life continues, on May 24, 2024, the Government of Mexico filed an application to join South Africa's case against Israel at the the International Court of Justice - Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel) ( Note as well) Following announcement of the application, in Mexico a crowd of about two hundred anti-genocide protesters attacked the Israeli embassy in Mexico City setting it on fire. Mexico is about to elect as next president a woman of Jewish heritage with a PhD in energy engineering (National Autonomous University of Mexico). From 1991 to 1994 she studied at the U.S. federally funded Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) in California. Claudia Sheinbaum (recommended) of President Obrador's party, has written: No reason justifies the murder of Palestinian civilians... Nothing, nothing, nothing can justify the murder of a child." - JTA. In January of this year Mexico and Chile asked the International Criminal Court to investigate probable crimes in Palestine, while reaffirming their "commitment to international justice, the prevention of genocide and other war crimes and crimes against humanity." Partial sources: "Jewish liberal Claudia Sheinbaum likely to win this week's Mexican presidential election, polls show," Philissa Cramer, May 30,. 2024, Jewish Telegraphic Agency; "Mexico seeks to join South Africa's genocide case against Israel at ICJ," MEE Staff, May 28, 2024, Middle East Eye; "Mexico files a declaration of intervention in the proceedings under Article 63 of the Statute," Press Release, May 28, 2024, No. 2024/48 International Court of Justice; "Declaration of Intervention by the United Mexican States," May 24, 2024, International Court of Justice.; "Referral of the situation in Palestine to the International Criminal Court (ICC)." Communique No9 028. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jan. 18, 2024, Government of Mexico.
May 24, 2024
Israel: The International Court of Justice has acceded to South Africa's request for emergency measures to assure the Palestinian people the right to survive, as Israel continues to obliterate Gaza with its attack on Rafah, Gaza's last city of refuge. Israel is ordered to cease any military operations in Rafah which is being entered by armed forces with select targets bombed and missiled. About a million Gazans have left, many of these refugees directed to Rafah by the Israeli obliteration of their homes. Unverified reports say for five thousand dollars a person paid to the Egyptians you can cross the border to escape, a market enforced by Israeli border closings. The ICJ order issued by its president Nawaf Salam is legally binding while its enforcement remains the obligation of the international community. N.B.: Salam's ruling demands Israel "immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah Governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part," specifically aligning the Court's order with the Convention on Genocide. Faced with an ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza the world is indebted to South Africa for its tenacity and courage. Partial sources: "International Court of Justice orders Israel to immediately end military operation in Rafah," the Associated Press, May 24, 2024, CBC; "ICJ orders Israel to halt its offensive on Rafah, Gaza in new ruling," May 24, 2024, Al Jazeera.
Chalk River Ontario: Background. On the Ottawa River about 180 kilometres upriver from Ottawa is the town of Chalk River, hosting Canadian Nuclear Laboratories. These produce nuclear, biological and industrial waste. Despite the opposition of Indigenous tribes, settler opposition groups and over 140 municipalities on both the Quebec side and Ontario side of the Ottawa River, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) approved construction of a new nuclear waste burial site at Chalk River, the Near Surface Disposal Facility. The project is about a kilometre away from the Ottawa river which governs the water table downstream. The Kebaowek First Nation has filed in federal court for a judicial review, supported by the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL) among other allies. In February of 2024 the Chalk River wastewater treatment plant failed its acute toxicity test. This means that the effluent released would kill over half the rainbow trout subject to it for 96 hours. This was reported by the CBC on May 2nd, 2024. The failure requires regulation by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), but the sure and exact reasons for the effluent toxicity and its analysis was/is not easily available to the public. The proposed NSDF project is 7 storeys high, an immense mound to hold over a million tons of locally generated and from other facilities, nuclear waste (including plutonium) and other toxic substances; it places at risk the drinking water of Ontario and Quebec. Recommended: "Stronger together - protect the Kichi Sibi - NSDF is not the best solution" [access:< https://www.stopnuclearwaste.com/ >). In 2017 nuclear waste from Chalk River was exported to South Carolina adding to the radiation burden of those living in the Savannah River watershed. Partial sources: "AFNQL Stands with Kebaowek First Nation in Opposition to Chalk River Nuclear Waste Project,"NL Digital News Update, Feb. 15, 2024, NetNewsLedger; "A report of toxic sewage from Chalk River raises concerns over transparency," May 9, 2024, Ottawa Riverkeeper; "Ten things Canadians need to know about the giant radioactive waste mound coming to the Ottawa River," Feb 4, 2024, Concerned Citizens of Renfrew County and Area; "Toxic sewage discharged at Chalk River nuclear lab," Brett Forester, May 2, 2024, CBC News; "Montreal-area mayors unanimously oppose nuclear waste dump in Chalk River, Ont.," April 26, 2018, CBC; "Québec s’inquiète du projet de dépotoir nucléaire de Chalk River," François Carabin, 16 avril 2024, Le Devoir; "Nuclear Notes: the Savannah River Watershed," J.B. Gerald, March 4, 2010, nightslantern.ca
May 22, 2024
Israel: "Video: Armenian Christians under siege by Israel," Jeremy Loffredo, April 11, 2024, The Grayzone. Genocide warning for the Armenian community in Jerusalem. Amid the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, minority groups in Israel notably Muslims, Christians and Bedouins, continue to suffer under the "Israelization" of the land mass. One of the smaller minorities, the Armenian community is under direct armed and "legal" threat of being expunged by a real estate developer with government support, from a quarter of Jerusalem it first inhabited in the 4th Century. They are receiving little international care and attention. Historically even-handed with Russia, a fact which encouraged the Turkish (Ottoman) genocide of Armenians in 1915, a portion of Armenia, Artsakh, is currently under Azerbaijan occupation and entire Armenia is being invaded with the purpose of forcing Armenians out. A late genocide warning for Armenians as a national group. Other partial sources: "Genocide Warning: Azerbaijan is invading Armenia,"Ani Tonoyan, April 24, 2024 update, Genocide Watch.
Sudan: The Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights has issued a report of gathered evidence establishing a genocide in progress against the Masalit tribe, primarily of Darfur. It traces the perpetrators to the Rapid Support Services / RSF (noted as "Arabs") as a current form of the Janjaweed, and other Government of Sudan controlled militias. Arms and alliances for the genocide are traced to United Arab Emirates, Russia's Wagner group, complicity of the government of Chad and less surely, other African nations. The criteria of genocide are clearly presented and the moving report foreword is by Irwin Cotler, one of Canada's leading experts on genocide and founder of the Wallenberg Center. One would welcome application of RWCHR standards to the current genocide in Gaza. Genocide warning for the Masalit in Darfur. Breaches of the Genocide Convention in Darfur, Sudan: an Independent Inquiry 2024, Mutasim Ali & Yonah Diamond. et al., The Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights; The entire report, as made available online by Genocide Watch.
The International Criminal Court: The chief prosecutor of the ICC has filed applications for criminal charges to be brought against two Israeli government leaders and 3 leaders of Hamas. All are alleged to have committed war crimes. The first charge against Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu is the war crime of starving civilians. Political leaders in both Israel and the U.S. have threatened repercussions, sanctions, or worse against the International Criminal Court and its staff if charges are brought. The applications are filed by Karim Khan, under the advice of a panel of experts principally from the UK, and others (background). The ICC is currently considering the history of Israel's war crimes since 2014 as well as allegations that Israelis are committing genocide. Slowness in responding to a gathering concensus that genocide has occurred and continues to occur in Gaza is reflected in the death and casualty statistics of Gaza. Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu responded to the filing of charges with "Mr. Kahn takes his place among the great antisemites in modern times." Partial sources: "Statement by PM Netanyahu," May 20, 2024, Prime Minister's Office/ gov.il;"Biden slams 'outrageous' application for arrest warrants against Israeli officials," Michael Hernandez, May 20, 2024, Anadolu Agency; "UN rapporteurs respond to US and Israel's threats to the ICC," Osama Ali, May 10. 2024, Al Bawaba; "Presidency of ICC legislative body expresses concern over statements 'threatening to retaliate'," May 17, 2024, Middle East Monitor.
May 19, 2024
Montréal Québec. Yesterday, Saturday afternoon, Julie and I took a long walk to McGill's student protest encampment, spread out in the sun peaceful and almost warm, its funky signs askew but at rest with common sense. The students vow to stay until McGill divests from investments in Israeli funds connected to the slaughter of Palestinians. The students are providing open peaceful somewhat solitary resistance to a genocide. There were some young people at the encampment. They didn't object to elders wandering through. We saw no suggestions of antisemitism. Nothing there to scare anyone, though Julie and I were recovering from the McGill University flag flying over the campus since it looked like "K.K.K." was emblazoned across its lower portion. So we asked, hey, and protesting students who have risked so much from McGill, loyally explained that the K's were three martlets, the McGill mascot symbolizing higher learning by its lack of feet (signifying forever flight in a search for knowledge). From a distance however if the wind is right it still looks a lot like "K.K.K.." A demo of three or four hundred students and allies arrived at the front gate of the University commons, cheering. They gave sensible speeches, waved Palestinian flags, chanted in several languages so peacefully that even the minimal police presence seemed friendly, mostly about half a McGill block away with apparently no paddy wagons down the side streets. Legal notes: on May 15th, remarking on the situation's lack of urgency, the University's attempt to have police remove the encampment was rejected by Quebec Superior Court Judge Marc St-Pierre. His ruling followed Justice Chantal Massé's refusal to bar protesters from proximity to University buildings, a case brought by two students. On May 16th, the Crown Prosecutor 's office dropped charges against Imam Adil Charkaoui under investigation for hate speech with accusations centering on his public prayer October 28th, in Arabic, against aggression, asking God to destroy the the enemies of Gaza. The charges were requested by Quebec Prime Minister Legault. The Quebec Crown Prosecutor appealed to a battery of language specialists who decided the Imam was objecting to the Israelis who were killing Gazans and not to all Jews. The Imam is suing La Presse for allegedly altering his public words in a report which might have put him in prison. The Imam has served two years in prison under unrevealed accusations from CSIS, the country's intelligence agency (a practice which Canada's Supreme Court found illegal) as well as six years on house arrest. 
He was one of 5 Muslim men CSIS arrested under Canadian Security Certificates and tried to deport in the early years of the millennium. The Imam, a resident of Montréal was the first to be freed, by court order. Montréal and Québec are maintaining a respect for human rights law which is widely under attack and complicated by rising antisemitism which doubled in Canada this past year in response to Israel's extreme violations of human rights in Gaza. Partial sources: "Judge refuses McGill’s bid for injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment," The Canadian Press, May 15, 2024, Toronto Star; "Quebec Superior Court judge rejects McGill injunction request to remove encampment," Matthew Lapierre, Verity Stevenson, May 15, 2024, CBC News; "Montreal police remove pro-Israel protesters from McGill University campus," Harry North, May 17, 2024, The Gazette; "Crown won't file charges over controversial pro-Palestinian speeches in Montreal,"May 16, 2024, CBC News; "No hate speech charges against Adil Charkaoui for comments at pro-Palestinian protest," Jacob Serebrin, May 16, 2024, The Gazette; "Number of antisemitic incidents reached record high in 2023, says B'nai Brith Canada audit," Peter Zimonjic, May 6, 2024, CBC News.
Webmaster note: Google Chrome browser risks misdirecting links at our political prisoner page mention of Adil Charkoui, which remain operable using Firefox. Nightslantern postings concerning Palestine frequently encounter technical problems (source unknown).
May 17, 2024
USA: the following are among those known to have resigned from U.S. government work in order to avoid complicity in the genocide of Palestinians. The New York Times reports that Harrison Mann, an army major working in the Defense Intelligence Agency (the Army's CIA) has resigned for reasons of conscience. He found his work contributed to the murder of Palestinians. Among his reasons: "At some point - whatever the justification - you’re either advancing a policy that enables the mass starvation of children, or you’re not" (NYT). He also fears a wider war. Major Mann identifies himself as the descendant of European Jews which may undercut accusations of antisemitism against people objecting to genocide. Lily Greenberg Call, a Biden appointee at the Department of the Interior has submitted her resignation citing her upbringing as a Jew which wouldn't accept Israel's genocide in Gaza. To note other resignations since October 7th, from the State Department - Hala Rharritt, spokeswoman for the Middle East and North Africa; Annelle Sheline, of the Bureau of Democracy , Human rights and Labor; Josh Paul as director of the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. Tariq Habash, Palestinian American, of the Education Department has also refused complicity by resigning. Partial sources:"Army Officer Resigns in Protest of 'Unqualified' U.S. Support to Israel," John Ismay, May 13, 2024, The New York Times; "Army officer resigns in protest of U.S. support for Israel in Gaza," Alex Horton and John Hudson, May 13, 2024, The Washington Post; "US Army officer resigns over Washington's support for Israel," Servet Günerigök, May 14, 2024, Anadolu Agency; "Jewish staffer resigns from Biden administration over Gaza," Yasmeen Abutaleb, May 15, 2024, The Washington Post; "'I Cannot Be Quietly Complicit': Biden Official Resigns Over Gaza Assault," Jake Johnson, Jan 4, 2024, Common Dreams.
May 6, 2024
Response to Gaza, genocide emergency: in a brave effort to save the lives of people in Rafah, Francesca Albanese, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Palestine has called for international intervention as Israel moves forward with its intention of military invasion of Rafah. Amidst a humanitarian catastrophe the people have nowhere to go. An interim ruling at the International Court of Justice has found Israel's actions in Gaza "plausible" genocide. Faced with derogation by national leaders from their duties to enforce the Convention on Genocide, the special rapporteur by requesting intervention is doing her job. Some news media are doing their job. Al Jazeera has been raided and banned from Israel by Israel's Parliament. Suppression of news sources as a tactic is used to hide intended war crimes against civilians. Some university students are doing their job, as human beings, as student arrests across the U.S. exceed 2500. In Canada police are currently resisting political pressures toward criminalization of student protesters and violence. In Toronto on the morning of May 2nd a man is reported to have entered his North York synagogue with 'his key' and set the place on fire. Media aren't noting it as an act of madness or of extreme shame, but it must have been the result of extreme pain. A Synagogue member Adam Bobrowski was arrested by Toronto police on May 3rd. On May 6th, some hours after Israel ordered the evacuation of Rafah, Hamas accepted the Quatari-Egyptian proposal for ceasefire. The hope is an impending slaughter will be averted. Partial sources: "UN rapporteur urges Western nations to intervene after Israel's Rafah evacuation order," Beyza Binnur Donmez. May 6, 2024, Anadolu Agency; "Protests against Israel's war in Gaza rattle colleges across the US," Rachel Ramirez, May 6, 2024, CNN Business; "CRIME BRIEFS: Toronto synagogue member accused of arson," Kevin Connor, May 6, 2024, Toronto Sun; "Hamas says it's accepted proposed ceasefire agreement from Qatar, Egypt," The Associated Press, May 6, 2024, CBC.
May 3, 2024
Colombia: Amnesty International collaborating with Colombian artists has released a song commemorating victims of police violence in the Cali riots of 2021 where Amnesty has documented the police abuses and human rights violations. Song "Pum! Cayó - Afro Legends, El Gioh, Caro Mosquera & TimbiÁfrica." (Youtube). El Gioh lost an eye when struck by a police tear gas bomb. Against ongoing international practices of police violence and killings the group is working with Amnesty toward Global Police Reform. Source: "Hommage musical aux manifestations en Colombie !" Amnistie Internationale, April 30, 2024, Amnistie Internationale /We Could Be Music; "Colombia: Cali: In the epicenter of repression: Human rights violations during the 2021 national strike in Cali, Colombia," Index Number: AMR 23/4405/2021, July 30, 2021, Amnesty International.
May 1, 2024
Israel: In a clear violation of the Convention on Genocide Israel's finance minister has called for the total annihilation of Gazan cities. Bezael Smotrich supported his call with reference to a Pre-Columbian command for genocide of the Amalek (The Amalek are noted in 1 Samuel 15:3, "Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass" - King James Version). This recent call for total obliteration of a people comes as Prime Minister Netanyahu vows to invade Rafah where over a million surviving Gaza civilians are seeking shelter. The U.S. supplies nearly 70% of Israel's arms imports. On April 25 the UN Special Rapporteur for Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, called for an investigation to determine complicity in the crime of genocide by nations providing political and military support to Israel (see U.S. previous) On April 29th Amnesty International called for the U.S. President to stop arms supply to Israel (Background). Partial sources: "Israel’s Smotrich Calls for ’Total Annihilation’ of Rafah, Other Cities in Gaza," Dave DeCamp, April 30, 2024, Antiwar.com; "War on Gaza: Estimated 10,000 Palestinians buried under rubble, civil defence says," MEE Staff, April 30, 2024, Middle East Eye; "U.S.-Made Weapons Used by Government of Israel in Violation of International Law and U.S Law ," Press Release, April 29, 2024, Amnesty International; "Amnesty International calls for Biden to ’immediately suspend’ weapons transfers to Israel," Brad Dress, April 30, 2024, The Hill; "Complicity in Genocide is a Crime in Itself: UN Rapporteur," April 25, 2024, teleSUR; "Israel 'undoubtedly' committing genocide says Holocaust scholar Amos Goldberg," MEE Staff, April 29, 2024, Middle East Eye.
USA : there is inadequate group protest against Israel's evident genocide in Gaza which U.S. policy supports with arms shipments and overwhelming funding. - With the brave current exception of resistance by University students as a group. While the funding resources of America's universities in concern for Jewish students have applied protective policies, genocide protesters - consistently referred to and defined as Pro-Palestinian protesters by the media, are being criminalized for peaceful protest of Israel's policies, and are demanding University divestment of economic support. Across the country over 1200 students have been arrested by police at university protests. The numbers and protests and tactics, are escalating. Some students are being expelled. Some Faculty join the protests or act as witnesses and protectors against police violence. Columbia University in New York, historically unreliable with the rights of student protest, is currently a focal point of the dialogue where the primary crime of genocide is masked by the political differences of Pro-Palestine or Pro-Israel. Similar protests are underway in Canada and France. Partial sources: "How pro-Palestinian college protests have grown, visualized," Júlia Ledur, Hannah Dormido and Clara Ence Morse, April 30, 2024, The Washington Post; "'Divest from Israel': Decoding the Gaza protest call shaking US campuses," Sarah Shamim, April 30, 2024, Al Jazeera; "'We Don’t Want to Trade in the Blood of Palestinians': Voices of Students & Profs at Columbia Protest," April 30, 2024, Democracy Now!; "Israeli Holocaust Scholar Omer Bartov on Campus Protests, Weaponizing Antisemitism & Silencing Dissent," April 30, 2024, Democracy Now!.
Montreal: On April 27 students in Montreal opened on the McGill campus the first student protest encampment in Canada. Protesters are demanding University divestment from companies doing business with Israel. After University threatened police action to remove the encampment as encouraged by Pro-Israel politicians, two students filed a court case to forbid the presence of Pro-Palestine groups within a hundred metres of McGill buildings which could give legal grounds for the encampment removal. On May 1 Justice Chantal Massé dismissed the injunction request. "The court is of the opinion that the balance of inconveniences leans more toward the protesters, whose freedom of expression and to gather peacefully would be affected significantly" (CBC). The University of McGill claims the encampment's size is untenable and that the University has received reports of anti-Semitism despite the participation and representation of Jewish protesters. The University of McGill has not accepted its responsibility to address directly the issue of Israeli genocide. Partial sources: "Judge rejects injunction request for removal of McGill encampment protest," Antoni Nerestant, May 1, 2024, CBC News; "Ben Gvir Wants Israeli Police to Create ’Local Response Teams’ to Protect Jews Outside of Israel," Connor Freeman, April 25, 2024, The Libertarian Institute.
April 4, 2024
Washington, D.C.: Senior Airman Larry Hebert, from New Hampshire on leave from his active duty with the Air Force for six years (currently stationed at Naval Station Rota in Spain), is engaged in a hunger strike in front of the U.S. White House. His sign says: " Active Duty Airman Refuses to Eat While Gaza Starves." Fasting in solidarity with the people of Gaza - he plans to continue until they are fed. A new member of Veterans for Peace, he says he was motivated by Aaron Bushnell's self-sacrifice. The Rota base in Spain is processing arms shipments from the U.S. and NATO to Israel and Hebert believes this is wrong. Given Francesca Albanese's report to the Human Rights Council, March 25, 2024, which affirms charges of genocide against Israel, he may be legally as well as morally right. The evidence of Israel's genocide and grave breaches of the Geneva conventions against the people of Gaza, increases. Those supplying weapons to the genocide are then guilty of complicity. Hebert's protest also serves as an emergency call: on March 14th the Spanish Parliament approved an agenda which includes an arms embargo to Israel as well as recognition of the Palestinian state. U.S. military personnel could increasingly be vulnerable to Spanish prosecution under the Geneva Conventions and under other treaties. As USAF enlisted airmen begin to risk their lives for human decency, the officer class remains more silent than wise. The War Crimes Act of 1996 gives both military and civilian courts the option of prosecuting those alleged guilty of war crimes (meaning of grave breaches against the Geneva Convention and other treaties) which could include complicity in the horrific crimes against the people of Gaza and against those who have tried to save. If Israel is found by court to be engaged in for example, genocide, The War Crimes Act of 1996 could prosecute Americans serving in the Israeli Defense Forces. It could also be applied directly in civilian courts to policy makers and those in the arms supply chain, as well as in military courts to U.S. officers enforcing patently illegal orders and the people who obey them. Partial sources: "The Spanish Congress approves ending the arms trade with Israel," March 15, 2024, NOVACT (The Institute Novact of Nonviolence); "Airman Starts Hunger Strike at White House over Gaza, Inspired by Another Airman's Self-Immolation Death," Thomas Novelly, April 1, 2024, Military.com; "Airman on hunger strike at White House over Gaza support," Patty Nieberg, April 1, 2024, Task & Purpose; "Western allies face genocide complicity if support for Israel continues," Simon Speakman Cordall, April 3, 2024, Al Jazeera; "US military plans for Gaza unchanged after killing of aid workers," Leo Shane III, April 2, 2024, Military.com. N.B. : Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes Act (Canada) [access:< https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-45.9/ >]; The War Crimes Act of 1996 (USA) [access:< https://www.congress.gov/104/crpt/hrpt698/CRPT-104hrpt698.pdf >] (to be read with modifications).
April 1, 2024
March 31, 2024
Gaza at
Easter: Christians in Gaza are facing extinction. About 800 Christians are reported to remain. A Christian community was there in the first century. On Oct. 17th, 2023 Israeli air forces struck the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital killing 500 civilians sheltering there. See previous. On October 19, 2023, Israel bombed the ancient (it may be the third oldest Christian church) Gaza Greek Othodox Church, Saint Porphyrius, which was attempting to shelter Christians and Muslims. On December 16, 2023, the Sisters of Mother Teresa, the Missionaries of Charity convent was reportedly struck by Israeli rockets. Missionaries of Charity serve "the poorest of the poor"; the Convent was home for 54 disabled people. Israel's airstrike of December 7, 2023, destroyed the Great Mosque of Gaza though Wikipedia says its minaret remains partially standing. Palestinian Muslims and Chrstians are dying equally in Gaza. The Israeli airstrikes message: "nothing is to be kept holy." Partial sources: "Convent in Gaza uninhabitable after taking fire; residents take refuge in parish church," Marinella Bandini, Dec. 20, 2023, Catholic News Agency; "After Baptist Hospital massacre, Israel bombs Gaza Greek Orthodox Church sheltering displaced Palestinians," The New Arab Staff - London, Oct. 20, 2023, The New Arab; "We cry out our cry of hope: Why we cannot overlook Israel's targeting of Palestinian Christians," Daoud Kuttab, Dec. 6, 2023, The New Arab; "This Easter, Gaza's Christian community is on the brink of extinction," Khalil Sayegh, Mar. 28, 2024, The New Arab.
Israel/Palestine: In an attempt to preserve the validity of the UN Security Council, on March 26th the UNSC voted on and passed UN Security Council Resolution 2728 for an immediate ceasefire during Ramadan & release of hostages by Hamas. The U.S. abstained. Israel has refused to obey the UNSC resolution as it has refused the January 26 International Court of Justice order to prevent acts of genocide. Hamas has not released its hostages, a serious violation of law not commensurate with mass murder. A genocide of Gazans continues. The U.S. has tried to claim the resolution is not binding. Both Russia and China among other nations have found the resolution binding. According to experts all United Nations members are bound by law to follow the resolution's order. A difficulty is that the NSC resolution could require the United Nations adopt a resolution of enforcement and assign a protective military force to Gaza. Since such a resolution would likely be vetoed by the United States this refusal to allow a legal or military action which could prevent genocide may incur charges of complicity in the genocide. Charges of U.S. complicity are already under consideration in an Oakland California court case under appeal. Craig Mokhiber notes that any protection for the people of Gaza may have to rely on citizen action throughout the world. Partial sources: "Ex-U.N. Official Craig Mokhiber: Israel Must Be Held Accountable for Violating Ceasefire Resolution, Amy Goodman, March 26, 2024, ; UN cease-fire resolution 'binding' on Israel: China, Riyaz ul Khaliq, March 26, 2024, Anadolu Ajansi; "Russia says UN resolution on Gaza binding for all sides," Elena Teslova, March 27, 2024, Anadolu Ajansi; "UN, member states dispute US claim that Gaza cease-fire resolution is 'non-binding'," Merve Aydogan, March 26, 2024, Anadolu Ajansi.
Ireland: A St. Patrick's day statement from Ireland. Familiar with the concept of genocide by starvation as applied to Ireland by the British in the 1840's Ireland has intervened in joining South Africa's attempt to seek justice at the International Court of Justice. Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin has objected to both the atrocities of the October 7 Hamas attack and military tactics of Israel against a civilian population. Partial sources: "Ireland: The Great Hunger of the 1840s,"
Michel Chossudovsky, March 23, 2024, Michel Chossudovsky; "Ireland to intervene in South Africa genocide case against Israel," Padraic Halpin, March 27, 2024, Reuters.
Geneva: The report, "Two Months after the International Court of Justice's Ruling on Gaza: Escalation in Genocide and Absence of Accountability," by the independent Euro-med Human rights Monitor, documents how Israel responded to the ICJ orders of January 26, 2024 to prevent genocide in Gaza. Israel has continued to commit genocidal acts. Israel has not complied with the Court's order. The same conclusion is reached by Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on occupied Palestine who states in her report to the UN Human Rights Council, "Anatomy of a Genocide," (Introduction #7): The context, facts and analysis presented in this report lead to the conclusion that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the threshold indicating Israel’s commission of genocide is met. Partial sources: "Anatomy of a Genocide - Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967," Francesca Albanese, March 25, 2024, (A/HRC/55/73) Human Rights Council Fifty-fifth session (Advance unedited version); "'Acts of Genocide Committed' After ICJ Ruling - Euro-Med Monitor Report," March 26, 2024, The Palestine Chronicle; "Report: Israel continues to violate ICJ ruling on Gaza," Press release, March 26, 2024, UN News; "U.N. Special Rapporteur Outlines How Israel Is Committing Genocide in Gaza," March 27, 2024, Democracy Now!. Genocide in progress.
The International Court of Justice: on March 28th, the ICJ, in response to South Africa's request for emergency measures in Gaza, issued legally binding provisional orders against Israel to alleviate the suffering of Gazans. Israel's military is now under ICJ orders to not commit acts "preventing, through any action, the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian assistance"(ToI), and to "not commit acts which constitute a violation of any of the rights of Palestinians in Gaza as a protected group under the convention on the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide, including by preventing, through any action, the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian assistance" (Guardian). Israel is ordered to provide Gazans with basic services and the humanitarian assistance necessary for survival. Partial sources: "'Famine is setting in': UN court orders Israel to unblock Gaza food aid," Peter Beaumont, Lorenzo Tondo, March28, 2024, The Guardian; "Israel must take steps to allow more food and water into Gaza, UN top court orders," AP, March 28, 2024, CBC; "ICJ orders Israel to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza, demands report in 30 days," Jeremy Sharon , Agencies and TOI Staff, March 28, 2024, The Times of Israel.
March 10, 2024
Canada: as one avenue of hope for assuring Gazans the right to their lives, founder of Lawyers Rights Watch Canada and mainstay of nightslantern's Law Archive, Gail Davidson focuses on "International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law on Trial at the International Court of Justice in The Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory including East Jerusalem." The importance of this issue has increased with the genocide in Gaza. Canada's position has been that the issue is not the responsibility of the ICJ, but of the UN Security Council where the U.S. has consistently vetoed any motion for a ceasefire and end to the slaughter. Honor and respect to South Africa which alone on March 6th, implored the ICJ for emergency action, valuing human decency above politics.
March 9, 2024
Ottawa: the CBC again reports that Canada will refund UNRWA - the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, due to "the dire situation on the ground." The source is now official, and the affirmation made, by the Liberal Government's Minister of International Development, Ahmed Hussein and Global Affairs Canada. In addition to the re-funding, Canada is sending "100,000 to a Jordanian charity for supplies to Gaza." Partial sources: "Canada confirms it will resume funding United Nations relief agency for Palestinians," Brennan MacDonald, March 8, 2024, CBC News; "Canada to resume funding for UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees," Merve Aydogan, March 9, 2024, Anadolu Agency; "Israel's blocking of aid creating 'apocalyptic' conditions in Gaza," Al Jazeera staff, March 7, 2024, Al Jazeera.
International Court of Justice: Israel which does not recognize its actions as genocide, has met with impunity the ICJ's statement of January 26th ordering Israel to prevent the genocide underway in Gaza. Faced with imminent obliteration of the remaining Gazan people, on March 6, 2024, South Africa implored the ICJ to take further action. "Palestinian children are starving to death as a direct result of the deliberate acts and omissions of Israel - in violation of the Genocide Convention and of the court's order." Partial sources: "South Africa asks the UN's highest court to intervene to avert 'genocidal starvation' in Gaza," Victoria Kim, March 7, 2024, The New York Times: "South Africa Urges ICJ for Emergency Order as Famine Looms over Gaza," Kyle Anzalone, March 7, 2024, The Libertarian Institute; "African Union Summit Condemns Israeli Genocide in Gaza," Abayomi Azikwe, March 8, 2024, Global Research.
March 7, 2024
Ottawa: a correction to yesterday's posting re. Canada's decision to refund UNRWA. The news is verified by the CBC's "Canadian government will resume funding to United Nations relief agency for Palestinians: source" of March 5th, which states its source as unofficial. Apparently politically threatened by the outrage of B'nai Brith and Conservative Minister Pierre Poilievre known for his opposition to funding UNRWA, the Prime Minister has hedged his bets and claims he is not committed to restoring Canada's funding though he assures the public Canada "puts the protection of civilian life at the forefront of everything we do." So far the civilian death toll in the Gaza genocide has exceeded 30,000 people. Partial sources: "Trudeau non-committal about restoring funding to Palestinian relief agency UNRWA," John Paul Tasker, March 7, 2024, CBC News; "Canadian government will resume funding to United Nations relief agency for Palestinians: source," Catherine Cullen, March 5, 2024, CBC News; "Trudeau says no decision made on UNRWA funding but Canada will 'protect innocent lives,'" Ryan Tumilty, March 7, 2024, National Post; " Canadian officials still haven't seen intelligence linking UN's Gaza aid agency with Hamas: sources," Evan Dyer, Feb. 7, 2023. CBC News.
March 6, 2024
Oregon: in a symbol of honor and respect for Aaron Bushnell, 12 U.S. military veterans publicly burned their uniforms the evening of February 28, 2024. Source: "US Veterans Burn Uniforms in Tribute to Aaron Bushnell," March 1, 2024, Telesur.
Ottawa: The Canadian Government is reported to have reinstated its C$25 million contribution to UNRWA, the UN agency which effectively provides emergency relief to Palestinians. See previous. And previous. Gazans are currently the object of starvation as a military weapon, attacks on protected infra-structure, and violence, in all taking the lives of over 30,000 civilians. 70% of Gazan casualties have been women and children. Canada cut back its contribution to UNRWA when Israel tried to implicate twelve of its workers in the October 7th military action by Hamas. B’nai Brith Canada is reported "outraged" by the government's decision and states "It is essential that our foreign aid is used to advance human dignity and justice, and not to promote antisemitism and bigotry," but makes no allusion to the gradual obliteration of Gaza's civilian population. Partial sources: "Israel’s Charges Against UNRWA Baseless? Canada To Resume Funding UN Body Amid Gaza War," Hindustan Times; "Canada to unfreeze funds for UN Palestinian refugee agency, CBC reports," March 6, 2024, Thomson Reuters; "B’nai Brith Denounces Canada’s Reported Restoration of UNRWA Funding," March 6, 2024, B’nai Brith Canada.
Canada: the well-respected Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights (CLAIHR) with Al-Haq Law of Ramallah and individuals in Canada, have initiated legal action against the Canadian Government to halt the export of weaponry to Israel. Export of military ordnance requires a permit from the Foreign Affairs Minister, currently Melanie Joly. Canada's government has labeled as "non-lethal" the C$28.5 million dollars of permits for "military exports to Israel during the first two months of the war" (Toronto Star). However evidence is cited for permits valued at $1.7 million classified as "bombs, torpedoes, rockets, missiles and other explosive devices ..etc" (Toronto Star). And $18.4 million of permits for militarily related electronic ordnance. Partial sources: "Palestinian Canadians sue Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, alleging Canada's military exports to Israel are illegal," Tonda MacCharles, March 5, 2024, The Toronto Star; "Palestinian Canadians sue Foreign Minister Joly over arms exports to Israel," Jillian Kestler-D'Amours, March 5, 2024, Al Jazeera; "Canada faces lawsuit over military exports to Israel," Nadine Yousif, March 5, 2024, BBC; CLAIHR Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights website: [access:< https://claihr.ca/ >].
Canada: noting that "Scotiabank with its $500 million investment in Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems is Exhibit A of Canadian capital’s genocide profiteering," the Canada Palestine Association (cpavancouver.org) has issued a call out for "March 15: shut Down Genocide Profiteering! Shut Down Scotiabank." The call out is endorsed by the Canadian BDS Coalition, Just Peace Advocates, Independent Jewish Voices - Vancouver, among other Canadian organizations. According to an article in Mondoweiss June 10, 2023 ("Canada’s Scotiabank is funding Israeli war crimes," Marion Kawas): "As Palestine Action notes, 'Elbit Systems, based in Haifa, is Israel’s largest private arms manufacturer and security company. Elbit’s largest customer is the Israeli Ministry of Defence, with Elbit providing up to 85% of Israel’s land-based military equipment and approximately 85% of its drones.'" The Canadian BDS Coalition extensive "List of Shame" [access: https://bdscoalition.ca/boycott-list-of-shame/ ]) for companies alleged complicit in Israeli apartheid includes: Airbnb, Amazon, Bank of Montreal, British Petroleum, CBC, CIBC, the City of Vancouver, Costco, General Mills, Loblaws, McGill, Paypal, RBC, United Church of Canada, the Universities of Toronto & Alberta & Manitoba, Walmart - in other words Canada's economy is thoroughly permeated by investment in Israel, despite Israel's apparent genocide of Gazans and the impunity of its response to ICJ orders.
U.S. & Canada: Synagogues and temples throughout North American are falling under protest from anti-Zionist groups for hosting meetings with real estate operators who are selling lands in Israel seized by illegal settlement which is a crime under international law. In Montreal on March 5th Quebec Superior Court issued a ten day injunction against protests by anyone of any affiliation, near the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, the Federation CJA building, the Cummings Centre, the Herzliah High School, United Talmud Torahs of Montreal Inc., and the Sylvia Adams YWHA. This follows protest at the Federation CJA building, Monday, where three reservists from the Israeli Defense Force held an event about diplomacy, and a protest Tuesday with counter protest, at the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue where protesters were objecting to an event held by Noam Homes a Jerusalem based real estate company, alleged to be marketing occupied lands in Israel/Palestine. Some protesters objected to the use of a religious place for commercial interests. Partial sources: "Protesters face off in Montreal over controversial presentation for land sale in Israel, West Bank," Matt Gilmour, March 5, 2024, CTC News Montreal; "Quebec court temporarily bans protests near several Jewish institutions after groups clash," Sabrina Jones, Isaac Olson, March 6, 2024, CBC; "US, Canadian synagogues sell Palestinian land for illegal settlement," Islam Dogru, March 6. 2024, Anadolu Ajansi.
March 1, 2024
California U.S.: concerning an American attempt to prevent by legal means the government's support for Israel's genocide, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has "expedited" the appeal against Judge White's ruling. Judge White, in full knowledge of what was happening in Gaza found Biden's support for the genocide a "political problem" and beyond his jurisdiction (See previous). One can argue that the ruling puts aside morality, ethics and a rudimentary sense of right and wrong which might have spared thousands. Meanwhile children continue to starve and die as Israeli forces are reported to have massacred on February 29th, Gazans who were waiting for food distribution: over 100 deaths with 760 wounded. Palestinian medical care facilities in the area are almost entirely non-functional. The legal case is handled by the Center for Constitutional Rights and Van Der Hout LLP. The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, Volker Türk describes the current state of Gaza as "carnage." Partial Sources: "War on Gaza: Federal court expedites appeal of genocide lawsuit against Biden," MEE staff, Feb. 28, 2024, MEE; "War on Gaza: Case against Biden dismissed but US judge says it's 'plausible' Israel is engaging in genocide," MEE staff, Feb. 1, 2024, MEE; "On Eve of Israeli Assault on Rafah, Court Grants Expedited Appeal in Biden Gaza Genocide Case," CCR, Feb. 28, 2024, Center for Constitutional Rights; "Türk calls for end to "carnage" in Gaza," Feb. 29, 2024, United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner; "Over 100 killed as Israeli forces shell crowd waiting for aid in Gaza," Muhammed Sabry, Feb. 29, 2024, Anadolu Ajansi; "'Unable to Cope' - Gaza Hospitals Overwhelmed after Israeli Massacre of Palestinians Awaiting Aid," Palestine Chronicle Staff., Feb. 29, 2024, Palestine Chronicle."
February 28, 2024
February 2, 2024
Oakland California: see previous. Judge Jeffrey White of the U.S. Federal district Court has dismissed Defense for Children International - Palestine v. Biden on the grounds that his court does not have the necessary jurisdiction. This is the usual grounds used in U.S. courts to knock out a challenge to U.S. policy or the officials who make it on charges of genocide or other war crimes, or in defense of resisting the same.
January 28, 2024
Global: In what appears to be an attempt to counter the force and affect of the International Court of Justice decision of January 26th, France has followed the lead of the US and Italy and Australia and Canada and Great Britain and Finland and the Netherlands and Germany and Switzerland, where the governments have "temporarily" suspended contributions to UNRWA which is the primary UN agency providing humanitarian aid to Palestine. UNRWA tries to save Gazans from starvation. The suspension of aid follows immediately the ICJ's Order for Israel to cease all acts of genocide in Gaza. This would include the intentional starvation of the people. Israel is ignoring the ICJ's order and so are the above countries who are bound by law to accept its decision. The suspension of funding for any reason or contrived reason knowingly abets the genocide. Are these countries seeking a consensus of white suprematist governments to affirm Israel's genocide of Gazans? Are these Western governments asking their citizens to choose between supporting genocide (as several did under Nazi rule), or of resisting? The suspensions extend the current genocide warning and genocide occurring in Gaza. Jordan, Norway and Ireland have assured their continued funding of UNRWA. Partial sources: "France suspends funding for UN Agency for Palestinians over Israeli allegations," Beyza Binnur Donmez, Jan. 28, 2024, Anadolu Agency; "Jordan calls for continued support for UN refugee agency amid Israeli accusations," Laith Al-Junaidi, Jan. 28, 2024, Anadolu Agency; "Türkiye expresses concern over suspension of aid by some countries to UN agency for Palestinians," Anadolu Staff, Jan. 28, 2024, Anadolu Agency; "UNRWA’s lifesaving aid may end due to funding suspension," Philippe Lazzarini (the UNRWA Commissioner General), Jan. 27, 2024, reliefweb; "Which countries have cut funding to UNRWA, and why?" Jan. 28, 2024, Al Jazeera; "Ruling by UN’s top court means Canada and the U.S. could be complicit in Gaza genocide," Jan. 28, 2024, Heidi Matthews, Faisal A. Bhabha, Mohammad Fadel,The Conversation Canada; "Just Like the Nazis Did," music video, David Rovics, Jan 11, 2024, Youtube [access: < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDwl3KTRrvk >].
January 26, 2024
January 16, 2024
Cameroon: amid covert destabilization and the results of COVID over ten percent of Cameroon's population faces food insecurity. ISIS related incursions in the northwest and Anglophone "Ambaboy" resistance in the southwest are in effect teamed to destabilize the Francophone government of the aging Paul Biya. Alleged by opponents to be corrupt, Biya has made Cameroon a home for hundreds of thousands of African refugees from countries subverted by Western corporate interests, and so far has spared his own people from genocides. Cameroon's struggle for independence in 1960 risked charges of genocide for its treatment of colonial merchants in the bush. Current claims of a separate Anglophone region in Western Cameroon seem increasingly tied to adjacent Nigeria and British interests. Immediately next to Cameroon is Biafra where you may remember those responsible for a genocide-by-starvation of the Biafran people in the late 1960's. On both sides of the border the region is rich in oil. In northern Nigeria (and adjacent northwestern Cameroon) Fulani herdsman have provided a threat to farmers and villagers. Recently in Bokkus Nigeria, northern but more central to Nigeria than close to Cameroon's border, Nigerian troops are reported to have stood security when Fulani took over a mining town for tinsmithing (Genocide Watch). On the Cameroon side of the border villagers remain under attack from ISIS related groups, countered where possible by Cameroon's military which is also attempting to defend government installations, schools and towns to the south against the Ambaboy units which early took over the country's only oil refinery. A continuing genocide warning for the people of Cameroon and those they shelter. Partial sources: "Washington and London Bomb Yemen; Ansarallah Not Deterred (+Reactions)," Jan. 12, 2024, Orinoco Tribune "Unprecedented acute hunger affects millions of people in Cameroon, December 2023," Jan. 16, 2024, UN OCHA; "Cameroon and Nigeria: the Risk of Breathing," J.B.Gerald, June 29 , 2020, nightslantern.ca; "Anglophone vs Francophone in Cameroon," J.B.Gerald, Dec. 27, 2019, nightslantern; "Genocide Warnings for Three African States," J.B.Gerald, Sept. 17, 2019, nightslantern.ca;
"Nigerian Army Assists Occupation by Terrorists and Attacks Survivors in Plateau State," Douglas Burton & Masara Kim, Jan. 7, 2024, Genocide Watch.
Ukraine: the Chilean American journalist Gonzalo Lira, has died in a prison in the Ukraine which did not treat in time his pneumonia, then double pneumonia, and pneumothorax. Lira's father claims the U.S. Embassy refused to help his son. You may remember Gonzalo Lira's forthright, remarkably honest, daring, good natured, candid and verifiable accurate reports from the Ukraine as the Russians first invaded. Newsweek describes him as pro-Russian. His YouTube broadcasts were made while fearing Ukrainian police breaking down his door. He was arrested for his reporting, tortured, on bail arrested again while attempting asylum elsewhere . Presente! Gonzalo Ángel Quintilio Lira López. "American Citizen Jailed in Ukraine for His Political Views Dies," Dave DeCamp. Jan. 14, 2024, Antiwar.com; "Who Is Gonzalo Lira? Pro-Putin American Expat Dies in Ukrainian Jail," James Bickerton, Jan. 13, 2024, Newsweek.
Chalk River, Ontario: on Jan. 20 2018 nightslantern.ca noted the intention of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) (a private company contracted by Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd to work its holdings) to build a surface nuclear waste disposal mound facility within a kilometre of the Ottawa River, less than 200 kilometres above Ottawa. Eventually this may risk the regional water table and drinking water of the capital city and lands by the river in Ontario and Quebec down to Montreal and beyond. 2024 has started with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission approval of the project, despite ongoing Indigenous opposition. Of eleven Algonquin tribes recognized by the government, ten have strongly objected. As I understand it, the project lacks proper Indigenous consent, which openly violates Article 29(2) of the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Green Party and the Bloc Québécois have supported the Chiefs . A Bloc report of 2022 found the region unsafe for the nuclear waste facility due to a seismic zone through the west of Quebec and Ottawa valley. Partial sources: "Algonquin chiefs disappointed but unsurprised by radioactive dump approval," Celeste Decaire, Jan.11, 2024, CBC; "Radioactive waste site ‘shoved down our throats,’ critics say," Matteo Cimellaro & Natasha Bulowski, Jan. 11,2024, Ottawa Insider; "Report details dumping water contaminated with tritium, PCBs, other toxins from Rolphton, Ont., site," Julie Ireton, Mar 21, 2018, CBC News; "Algonquin First Nations oppose giant radioactive waste mound beside the Ottawa River on their unceded territory," June 20, 2023, Anishinabek, News; "Bloc Québécois stands with Algonquin Nation against proposed nuclear waste site," Matteo Cimellaro, Oct 31, 2023, Pembroke Observer.
Gaza. In a case well covered by NATO media the International Court of Justice is hearing January 11th and 12 South Africa's request that the Court immediately demand Israel cease its genocidal actions against Gaza. The case also alleges genocide related charges (see: previous and South Africa's Application Instituting Proceedings). Israel's initial defense January 12th will be thoroughly presented by establishment media. Indications from Israel's leaders and pro-Israel press suggest both seem to be in denial as the ongoing reports of atrocities in Gaza break the norms of civilized society, international law, the Nuremburg code, Geneva Conventions, the laws of war and human decency. Aware of Israel's military attacks on humanitarian workers amid an overwhelming public health disaster the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) released a report January 5th stating "Gaza has simply become uninhabitable." It counsels "an immediate end to the war." According to UNICEF "Intensifying conflict, malnutrition and disease in the Gaza Strip creates a deadly cycle that threatens over 1.1 million children [EN/AR]," Jan. 5, 2024, reliefweb.int. "Cases of diarrhea in children under five years of age rose from 48,000 to 71,000" in a week. On Dec. 21rst, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification predicted famine - "almost 1.2 million people are experiencing emergency levels of acute food insecurity." "80 per cent of young children are experiencing severe food poverty" ("Statement by UNICEF on the risk of famine in the Gaza Strip," Dec. 22, 2023, UNICEF). Malnutrition, starvation, lack of potable water, a destroyed health system, lack of medical supplies and emergency humanitarian aid increase the mortality rate from Israel's civilian bombing and ground operations. B'tselem says simply "Israel is starving Gaza" (Jan. 8, 2024). As reported by Anadolu Agency Jan. 10th ("Health situation in Gaza 'beyond catastrophic': Officials," Aysu Biçer) 30 of Gaza's 36 hospitals have been taken completely out of commission. Beyond the statements by Israeli officials and the staggering death rate of women and children such and similar war crimes suggest the intention of genocide. Of war crimes associated with direct profit, The New Arab reports Jan. 6 "Israeli forces digging up cemetery graves and stealing bodies." On Nov. 26, 2023 Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor raised warnings of organ theft by Israel, after documenting the digging up of bodies in the courtyard of Al Shifa hospital which were not released by Israeli forces. Among allegations the article notes that in 2008 a CNN investigation thought Israel to be the primary hub for illegal international organ trade as it participated in organ theft from Palestinian casualties. The Palestine Chronicle reports Jan. 7th, "Israeli Army Loots Money, Gold Items Worth Millions from Gaza," with an estimated value of 25 million U.S. dollars, at checkpoints for those evacuating, or robbing the evacuated homes (evacuations were ordered by the State). In the U.S. and Canada the political elites continue to refuse to demand and effect a ceasefire.
* Gaza: see (previous). The Nightslantern entry of Dec. 31rst gives the Gazan death toll as nearing 30,000. This figure relies on a Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor report for all Palestinians. To quote the Euro-Med news article/press release of December 27th, 2023, "Nearly 30,000 Palestinians killed during 82-day Israeli genocide in Gaza,": As of Tuesday 26 December, 29,124 Palestinians had been killed, the human rights organisation said. The majority of those killed in the Israeli air and artillery attacks on the Gaza Strip were civilians, including 11,422children, 5,822 women, 481 health personnel, and 101 journalists. Most international news reports (Xinhua, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, etc.) use lower death toll statistics from the Gaza Ministry of Health - often described as "Hamas-run." Reuters reports ("How many Palestinians have died in Gaza? Death toll explained," Ali Sawafta, Maggie Fick, Dec. 9, 2023) suggest that the Gaza Ministry of Health has not been able to supply an accurate count. Centered in Gaza at the Al Shifa hospital after Oct. 7th, by December of four workers one was killed and three dispersed by Israeli military action. The Ministry of Health reports are said not to take into account Gazans buried by the bombing or those who didn't reach hospitals. Reports are increasingly estimates and infrequent as Gaza's health system is destroyed. During U.S. and Coalition wars on Iraq, casualty statistics released by participants reflected the needs of information-war. High casualty statistics are bad for morale. Military advantage gained by slaughtering large numbers of civilians is not justifiable. Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor is a youth-concerned human rights non-profit, based in Geneva Switzerland: its trustees are chaired by Richard Falk, a respected Professor emeritus of International Law at Princeton.
A branch that comes from violence will not take root;
at first posting in 2002 this bulletin board was for emergency protests, attempts to counter 
The Hague, Netherlands: as the Dutch government moves to the far right, the International Court of Justice is hearing South Africa’s case against Israel's genocide of Palestinians. Following the initial South African request late last December and the Court's orders of January 26 (see previous), on February 16th the Court denied an emergency request by South Africa to address measures to protect Rafah, believing its Court orders of January 26th were enough. South Africa again requests emergency measures, an intervention by the Court and the order of ceasefire in response to Israel's breaches of the Genocide Convention. Egypt has joined South Africa’s case before the Court. Anadolu Agency notes declarations of intent to join the case in support of Palestine from the Maldives, Egypt, Turkey, Ireland, and Belgium. Germany intends to join in support of Israel's position. Formal applications supporting Palestine have been made by Nicaragua, Colombia, and Libya. Asserting it is protecting the citizens of Gaza Israel again on May 17th denied all charges of genocide. Confronted by the obvious ICJ inaction may risk complicity in a crime. Partial sources: "Egypt says it will join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at ICJ," May 12, 2024, Al Jazeera; "FACTBOX - Which countries have joined South Africa’s genocide case against Israel?" Seda Sevencan, May 13, 2024, Anadolu Agency; "Israel denies genocide charges in latest hearing before UN top court," Associated Press, May 17, 2024, CBC. Middletown Connecticut: in cooperation with law school human rights centres of expertise on international human rights law, The University Network for Human Rights has produced a decisive report which after thorough legal analysis reveals Israel is engaged in genocide in Gaza. The report also cites case law enforcing the obligation to avoid complicity. Located at Wesleyan University, the network partners human rights groups around the world. Partial sources: "University Human Rights Network Concludes Israel Is Committing Genocide in Gaza," May 16, 2024,. Democracy Now!: "Genocide in Gaza: Analysis of International Law and its Application to Israel's Military Actions Since October 7, 2023," May 15, 2024, University Network for Human Rights; International Human Rights Clinic, Cornell Law School; Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria; Lowenstein Human Rights Project, Yale Law School.
Whatever the human law may be, neither an individual nor a nation can ever commit the least act of injustice against the obscurest individual without having to pay the penalty for it; a government which deliberately enacts injustice, and persists in it, will at length even become the laughing-stock of the world... the law will never make men free; it is men who have got to make the law free; they are the lovers of law and order who observe the law when the government breaks it...
- from "Slavery in Massachusetts," July 4, 1854," by Henry David Thoreau
U.S.A.: While the State Department official spokesman Matt Miller reveals that the U.S. government finds Israel's program in Gaza in accord with international law, Annelle Sheline, "a foreign affairs officer in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor" (Democracy Now!), resigned, citing Aaron Bushnell's request for everyone to stand against genocide. Partial sources: "U.S. State Dept.: We Have Not Found Israel to Be Violating International Law in Gaza," March 27, 2024, Democracy Now!"; "I Could Not Stay Silent: Annelle Sheline Resigns from State Dept. over U.S. Gaza Policy," March 28, 2024, Democracy Now!; "State Dept. human rights staffer quits over Biden's Gaza policy," Hannah Allam, John Hudson, March 27, 2024, The Washington Post. Sudan: 1. a ceasefire is needed. 2. food production needs to resume. 3. the global food programs need funding. Massive funding cuts risk a mass mortality crisis, greater than any previous. Genocide warning The mass mortality and famine predicted is much greater than in Gaza. 8 million people are reported displaced. Experts have warned that 220,000 children are about to die from lack of food. 1.2 million Sudanese have sought refuge in Chad. Those migrating to Egypt face detention. A thousand a day are reported seeking refuge in South Sudan. Entire Mid-Africa is being destabilized. Refugees from northern Nigeria and from the Central African Republic who have reached Cameroon are similarly threatened by economic aid and food cut offs from UNHCP and the World Food Program. Focusing on Sudan Alex de Waal, a U.S. expert in mass starvation, as interviewed by Democracy Now!, notes the need for an immediate ceasefire, an end to the destruction of food growing infra-structure, and revival of humanitarian aid funding. The terrible damage to UNRWA, insisted on by the U.S. affects the poor world wide and could be understood as pro white-supremacist. According to NATO media the anti-government Rapid Support Forces are to blame for the destabilization of Sudan, currently focused in the Al Jazira food growing region. But media attempts to localize causes of the economic and humanitarian disaster disguise the source and cause of the initial destabilization of Sudan which Night's Lantern covered extensively with genocide warnings (suggested reading) as early as 2004-2007. Background. Partial sources: "World Ignores Sudan Hunger Crisis; 230,000 Children and Mothers Could Die in Coming Months," Amy Goodman, Alex de Waal, March 26, 2024, Democracy Now!; "Will UNRWA collapse without US support?" March 25, 20-24, Al Jazeera; "IRC warns unfettered humanitarian access and scale-up of funding needed to avert catastrophic hunger crisis in Sudan." March 25, 2024, IRC; "Food assistance to refugees in Cameroon at risk of halt amid funding shortages," Press release, March 26, 2024, UNHCR Cameroon; "How Sudan’s civil war has created a massive hunger crisis," March 6, 2024, PBS NewsHour; Tactical Use of Genocide in Sudan and the Five Lakes Region," John Bart Gerald, Feb. 17, 2006, Global Research / Feb.19, 2006, nightslantern.ca. 
Washington D.C.: on Sunday February 25 at one in the afternoon, in front of the Israeli Embassy, Aaron Bushnell in his fatigues video-recorded his last words "I am an active-duty member of the United States Air Force, and I will no longer be complicit in genocide. I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest, but compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonizers, it’s not extreme at all. This is what our ruling class has decided will be normal." He poured fluid on himself and lit it shouting "Free Palestine!" Bushnell was on active duty with a USAF intelligence unit. It is said that he wrote a will leaving his cat to a neighbor and his icebox filled with rootbeer to a friend. On December 1, 2023 about midday, a protestor denied identity by the press but subseqently referred to as a woman lit herself on fire in front of the Israeli Consulate in Atlanta Georgia. Leaving a Palestinian flag on the pavement she was taken to the hospital. [The death of the guard who tried to save her was confirmed] (unverified) but her death was not. Since October 7, 2023, verified civilian casualties in Gaza are reaching thirty thousand, with 70% women and children. Those destroyed by armaments or buried under rubble are uncounted. The deaths of specific doctors, teachers, poets and artists are occasionally noted in the media, as well as the deaths of at least 90 journalists. It's unknown how many people of conscience in other countries have already died in efforts to counter the ongoing genocide. 
Canada: Minister of Immigration Honourable Marc Miller has released a more complete version of the Rodal Report, initially released in 1985, to share with the public policies and events that led to the influx of Nazis to Canada after WWII. The report, Nazi War Criminals in Canada: the Historical and Policy Setting from the 1940s to the Present, by Alti Rodal, (Libraries and Archives Canada) helps explain Canada's current lack of resistance to fascism in its support of the genocide of Palestinians and Israel despite the International Court of Justice order that Israel prevent the genocide in Gaza (see previous). You may remember that current Prime Minister Trudeau's Cabinet Minister, Chrystia Freeland, has provided enthusiastic support of and favor to the Ukraine despite its Nazi inspired military units. According to Wikipedia the Russian press has faulted her grandfather's WWII collaboration as an editor/propagandists for the Nazis. Canada's embarrassment of Nazis was raised again by the standing ovations in 2023 for a Nazi introduced by the Prime Minister to Canadian Parliament. You may remember as well that Nazis refused entry to the U.S. often found entry into Canada where the vetting was less stringent. CBC News points out the report's awareness that the U.S. was seeking a place for Nazi the war criminals it was indebted to, and that Pierre Elliott Trudeau as Minister of Justice for Lester Pearson successfully defended the Canadian citizenship of a Latvian Nazi war criminal the Soviets found guilty in the deaths of 5128 Jews. What isn't noted in the report is that post WWII right wing Ukrainians were welcomed by the Canadian government as a buffer to the socialist anti-Nazi sentiment of returning soldiers. Genocide as a crime has no statute of limitations and in response to contemporary genocides record keeping is recommended. (Nightslantern.ca as a website maintaining evidence related to genocide and its prevention since 2001 is available for free download and storage). Partial sources: "New release of Rodal Report in commitment to transparency," News release, Feb 1, 2024, Government of Canada; "Ottawa declassifies more details from Rodal report on Nazi war criminals in Canada," Laura Osman, The Canadian Press, Feb. 1, 2024, CityNews'; "Pierre Trudeau opposed stripping accused Nazi war criminal of citizenship, government document says," Raffy Boudjikanian, Feb. 02, 2024, CBC News.
Global: update of previous. While the U.S. and Canada have pursued a genocidal policy decision to cut funding to UNRWA the head of the United Nations organization has made it clear that without funding of the organization it's likely the Gazan people will all die.
Canadian officials are making an effort to assure funding Gaza through alternative means. Publicly joining Jordan, Norway and Ireland in pledges of maintaining funding are China, Belgium, and Spain among others. Partial sources: "Israel Is Brazenly Defying the Order to Prevent Genocide," John Reynolds, Daniel Finn, Feb. 2, 2024, Z; "In Waging War On The UN Refugee Agency, The West Is Openly Siding With Israeli Genocide," Jonathan Cook, Feb. 1, 2024, Z; "In Global Appeal, UNRWA Says Gazans Likely Won't Survive If Agency Abandoned," Jessica Corbett, Feb. 1, 2024, Common Dreams.
Under the Genocide Convention which the U.S. signed and ratified the Convention must be made applicable under the domestic law of signatory nations. American Justice has through legislation and technicalities assured its non-applicability to U.S. officials despite the Convention's Article IV: "Persons committing genocide or any of the other acts enumerated in Article III shall be punished, whether they are constitutionally responsible rulers, public officials or private individuals." Article V states "The Contracting Parties undertake to enact, in accordance with their respective Constitutions, the necessary legislation to give effect to the provisions of the present Convention and, in particular, to provide effective penalties for persons guilty of genocide or of any of the other acts enumerated in Article III." If U.S. Courts cannot judge an effort to prevent the genocide of an entire group of humanity then what meaning does the U.S. system of justice have other than as a lethal ugly stick of the elite? Judge White has forfeited his opportunity to validate American Justice within the U.S. legal system. Yet the Court was aware that "as the ICJ has found, it is plausible that Israel’s conduct amounts to genocide."(Mondoweiss). Partial sources: "US District Court Judge: 'It Is Every Individual’s Obligation To Confront The Current Siege In Gaza'," Juan Cole, Feb. 22, 2024, Z; "Israel intends to ‘eradicate a whole people,’ Bay Area judge says in dismissing suit against Biden," Bob Egelko, Jan.31, 2024, San Francisco Chronicle; "U.S. court: Biden administration should reflect on its ‘unflagging support’ for ‘plausible’ genocide in Gaza," Michael Arria, Feb. 1, 2024, Mondoweiss.
a. Killing members of the group;
b. Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group.
c. Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
d. Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
While this does not overtly demand a cease fire which opponents of the decision may continue to use as an excuse for the slaughter, Article II can only be effected by a cease fire. The "Order of 26 January 2024" makes clear that under international law all countries are legally bound to the court's decision. Fifteen of the Court's judges consistently voted for the specific items of prevention in the "Order": President Joan E. Donoghue (United States of America), Vice-President Kirill Gevorgian (Russian Federation), Judges Peter Tomka (Slovakia), Ronny Abraham (France), Mohamed Bennouna (Morocco), Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf (Somalia), Xue Hanqin (China), Dalveer Bhandari, Patrick Lipton Robinson, Nawaf Salam (Lebanon), Iwasawa Yuji (Japan), Georg Nolte (Germany), Hilary Charlesworth (Australia), Leonardo Nemer Caldeira Brant (Brazil), Judge ad hoc Mr. Dikgang Ernest Moseneke (South Africa).
Judge Julia Sebutinde (Uganda) consistently voted against the items of prevention. Judge ad hoc Mr. Aharon Aharon Barak (Israel) voted against most of them. The "Order" confirms that at least some of South Africa's allegations of genocide are verifiable, countering Israeli and U.S. claims that South Africa's allegations are spurious. Humanity is indebted to South Africa. Honor and respect for the judges who made an honest decision while the U.S. and NATO are conducting their largest joint military exercises ever in Europe. The entire Court session of 26 January 2024 is available at: video (CTV); transcript (ICJ).
Oakland California: See previous, "An American Challenge to Genocide." Contrary to expectations the judge at the Northern District Court of California is not Judge Donna M. Ryu, but Judge Jeffrey Steven White originally of Queens New York. Center for Constitutional Rights lawyer Katherine Gallagher presents the Defense for Children International - Palestine v. Biden case, against U.S. President Biden, Secretary of State Blinken and Secretary of Defense Austin, to prohibit further support for the alleged Israeli genocide in Gaza. The plaintiffs are alleging a failure to prevent genocide and these government officials' complicity in genocide. Today's hearing directly follows today's International Court of Justice "Order" for Israel to cease all acts of genocide in Gaza. The U.S. Justice Department argued that the U.S. court has no jurisdiction to challenge political questions of Presidential and Congressional policy. This is the standard U.S. government defense against charges of genocide by U.S. activists who have attempted a "Nuremberg defense" in court for their acts of conscience. It should not apply to crimes under the Genocide Convention. In fact Article IV of the Convention on Genocide is written to specifically apply to government officials. Today expert testimony and personal experience of Palestinians were presented to remind the judge of people. The New York Times finds the case "unlikely to succeed." Partial sources: "Palestinians Take Biden to Federal Court in Groundbreaking Genocide Hearing," Kaitlyn Kennedy, Jan. 26, 2024, TAG24; "Biden: ‘More pressing than ever‘ to remember ‘scourge of antisemitism‘ on Holocaust Remembrance Day," Brett Samuels, Jan 26, 2024, The Hill; "Palestinian Americans‘ Lawsuit in Oakland Seeks to Halt U.S. Support for Israel," Shawn Hubler, Jan.26, 2014, The New York Times; "Arab and Muslim Leaders In Michigan Cancel Meeting With Biden Campaign," Rowaida Abdelaziz, Jan. 26, 2024, Huffpost. "The Syrian people are condemned to die without being able to say a word," Archbishop Jacques Mourad of Homs told Vatican Radio. "It is a terrible and unfair decision. For us, it is as if the world were telling the Syrian people, 'You are condemned to die, without raising your voice, without saying anything.' And for what? What is the fault of the Syrian people?" he asked. - UCA News.
Overwhelmed by the demands of Ukraine and Gaza and the effects of climate change and war on Africa's food supply the UN's World Food Program (WPF), has stopped its support of the currently reliant 12 million Syrians who now face starvation. International monetary restrictions impede aid to those within the country. Aside from a devastating earthquake U.S. troops are occupying Syria's oilfields. Soldiers from the New Jersey National Guard have been assigned. The Assad government which once ran a medically advanced state that could care for its people became the object of covertly incited civil war which has forced millions into exile or displacement with no hope. The U.S. is the major donor to the WFP. A genocide warning continues. Partial sources: "Syria sees 'worst situation ever' as UN food program cuts off aid ," Dale Gavlak, OSV News , Jan. 11, 2024, UCA News; "Syrians lose WFP lifeline as US slashes funding," Natacha Danon, Jan. 16, 2024, Syria direct.
for a blighted root is on sheer rock, like reeds by the
banks of a river, which are dried up before any grass; but
kindness, like eternity, will never be cut off, and faithfulness
will be established forever - from Ben Sira
(Dead Sea Scrolls Bible, Abegg et al)
genocide, anti-war information, which were suppressed in the media; my interest remains in
how a society is moved into what have become genocidal wars, and how people are able to
resist... it becomes a kind of history in motion and a way to counter enforced forgetfulness,
the lies that say these things never happened, or that there is nothing wrong with the murders
of hundreds of thousands of innocents in other countries, or the continuing move toward
eradication of the poor by death, in north america; this account is against forgetfulness. - jbg 2008
by john bart gerald
graphics by julie maas
guest contributions as noted
December 5, 2024
