Israel als Schurkenstaat 220

NGOs gathered in Kampala Call for End to Impunity Crisis Following Israeli Attack on Aid Convoy
We, the undersigned organisations gathered in Kampala at the International Criminal Court (ICC) Review
Conference, are shocked by Israel’s killing and injury of civilians carrying humanitarian supplies to Gaza. We wish
to express our sorrow regarding the loss of life and call on the international community to immediately take all
appropriate measures in response to this unacceptable violence.
On 31 May 2010 Israeli forces opened fire against an international aid convoy seeking to bring humanitarian
supplies into the Gaza Strip; more than 700 unarmed activists from over 40 countries were on board the 8-ship
flotilla. The attack occurred in international waters and resulted in the killing of at least 9 persons and the injury of a
further 60.
The entire population of the Gaza Strip is subjected to an illegal closure imposed by Israel as a form of collective
punishment, resulting in a scandalous, wholly preventable humanitarian crisis. As noted by the United Nations,
Israel currently allows only one-quarter of the necessary supplies into Gaza. The aid convoy was carrying 10,000
tonnes of humanitarian goods, including medicines, basic education and reconstruction materials.
This tragedy is the result of the prolonged impunity granted to Israel by the international community, despite Israel's
documented, persistent disregard for international and humanitarian law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
and its violation of fundamental human rights, including the right to life. Many of these violations also entail
criminal responsibility; however, so far no concrete action has been taken and impunity is a long standing feature of
Israel's illegal occupation policy.
As noted by the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, the “prolonged situation of impunity has created a
justice crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory that warrants action.” It is a self evident truth that law becomes
meaningless if not enforced.
The conflict in Israel-Palestine extends beyond its territorial boundaries and must be regarded as a matter of concern
to the entire international community. The consequences of continued impunity, occurring under the glare of the
world’s media, have widespread global implications, undermining faith in international justice and its ability to
protect civilians. No State should be allowed to act above the law.
While this tragedy takes place, the first Review Conference of the International Criminal Court (ICC) opens in
Kampala, Uganda. On this historic occasion the entire international community, at the presence of UN higher
authorities, is celebrating international justice’s most important achievement. The Court is the result of over 50 years
of struggle to enforce international law through accountability; it was celebrated as the means to uphold the rule of
law, to move from war to law.
Through the ICC the international community aims to put an end to impunity for the gravest crimes. Speaking at the
opening of the ICC Review Conference, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and ICC Prosecutor Louis-Moreno
Ocampo, stated that ‘no one is beyond reach’: perpetrators of international crimes must be held to account,
regardless of their rank or nationality. International crimes must no go unpunished.
Speaking from the venue of the Conference in Kampala the UN Secretary General strongly condemned Israel's
attack on the humanitarian flottilla to Gaza. States delegates declared themselves shocked and outraged by the
killings. Everybody urged for a strong reaction at the international level. The UN Security Council immediately
called an emergency session on the incident.
Our international legal order has all the instruments at disposal to ensure that these declarations do not remain - once
again - dead words sadly condemned to fade on paper.
For more than one and a half year, following Israel's military attack on Gaza of December 2008-January 2009, the
ICC Prosecutor has been closely monitoring the events in the OPT and examining the possibility of opening an
investigation into the situation. The UN Security Council can accelerate the process and refer the situation to the
Court, triggering its jurisdiction regardless of the territoriality and nationality links. The ICC Review Conference is
a unique opportunity for the international community to take a concrete step towards upholding the rule of law.
We want Kampala to be remembered as the place where justice triumphed over politics.
Therefore, the undersigned organizations call for the illegal closure of the Gaza Strip to be immediately lifted and
urge:
- The ICC Prosecutor to make an urgent determination regarding the opening of an investigation into the
situation in the OPT.
- The UN Secretary General: to urgently address the UN Security Council with respect to the ongoing
impunity crisis in Israel and the OPT in order to engage all appropriate international mechanisms.
- The UN Security Council: to refer the situation to the ICC.
- All States Parties to the ICC: to take all appropriate measure, at the diplomatic and legal levels, to uphold
the rule of law in the OPT
- The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: to urgently visit the Gaza Strip.
- Israel to comply with their international legal obligation and cooperate with investigative authority