All articles tagged with #war crime
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel used a Taco Tuesday gag to mock Donald Trump's two-week pause on threatening Iran, arguing that attacking Iran's power grid would be a war crime and quipping that Trump should lock himself up as he highlighted GOP critics and the talks around the twenty-fifth amendment.
Senator Mark Kelly condemned Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon briefing line about delivering “no quarter” to enemies, arguing such an order would amount to killing prisoners and violate the laws of armed conflict, potentially exposing U.S. troops to risk. Critics cite Hague Conventions and ICC statutes that treating enemies as non-prisoners can be a war crime, with the exchange occurring amid broader debates over war-messaging and Iran-related tensions.
A hypothetical DoD General Counsel memo following SecDef Hegseth’s “no quarter” remarks warns the statements could amount to counseling or ordering a war crime under Hague IV and the War Crimes Act, risking criminal liability for him and subordinates. It urges a public retract and a clear message that no quarter will be tolerated, with investigations and potential prosecutions under 18 U.S.C. 2441 and the UCMJ.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the Pentagon will not publicly release the controversial video of a second strike on a drug boat off Venezuela, citing long-standing policy and classification as 'top-secret,' despite calls from Democrats and Republicans for transparency and concerns over potential war crimes.
Sen. Tim Kaine expressed concern that a reported U.S. follow-on strike on a drug smuggling boat may constitute a war crime if the allegations are true, raising questions about legality and adherence to international laws, with lawmakers calling for investigations and potential war powers resolutions.
A Ukrainian court sentenced Russian soldier Dmitry Kurashov to life in prison for executing a Ukrainian prisoner of war, marking the first such conviction by Ukraine, highlighting ongoing concerns over war crimes committed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The UN has called for accountability over Israel's double bombing of Gaza's Nasser hospital, which killed 20 people including journalists, raising concerns of war crimes. The incident has sparked international outrage and questions about targeting media and rescue workers. Meanwhile, protests continue in Israel, and other global political developments include US legal battles, tariffs, and conflicts in Ukraine and elsewhere.
Donald Trump reportedly delivered a letter from First Lady Melania Trump to Vladimir Putin, highlighting the plight of Ukrainian children abducted during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has been condemned as a war crime and a form of child trafficking. The letter's contents are unknown, but it underscores ongoing concerns about the abduction and deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children, with international calls for their return and condemnation of Russia's actions.
Two Israelis are being questioned in Belgium over allegations of war crimes related to Gaza, according to reports, amid ongoing investigations into the conflict.
The article condemns Israel's plan to 'concentrate and move the population' in Gaza as a war crime under international law, arguing that it meets the criteria for illegal deportation and crimes against humanity, and calls for disobedience to such orders.
The Israeli military used a 500lb MK-82 bomb in an attack on a Gaza cafe, resulting in significant civilian casualties, raising concerns among experts about potential war crimes due to the disproportionate and indiscriminate nature of the strike in a crowded civilian area.
Iran condemned Israel's attack on its state TV building as a war crime and called for UN action, following a surprise Israeli strike targeting Iran's nuclear and military facilities, which has resulted in casualties on both sides.
Human Rights Watch has accused Israeli forces of committing an apparent war crime by unlawfully attacking a residential building in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 106 civilians, including 54 children. The attack, which occurred on October 31, 2023, is among the deadliest single incidents for civilians since the Israeli government’s bombardment and ground incursion into Gaza following the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7. The Israeli military's long track record of failing to credibly investigate alleged war crimes underscores the importance of the International Criminal Court’s inquiry into serious crimes committed by all parties to the conflict.
Exclusive footage obtained by Al Jazeera shows Israeli soldiers shooting and killing two unarmed Palestinian men at close range in Gaza, as they appeared to surrender and pose no threat. The video, aired after a UN Security Council resolution for an immediate ceasefire, depicts the men being pursued and shot by soldiers, with their bodies subsequently buried by an army bulldozer. The Israeli army stated that a thorough examination is needed to assess the incident, while Hamas condemned the killings and called for accountability. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called for a UN investigation into the "heinous war crime", while the Palestine Red Crescent Society and a former UN special rapporteur on human rights in Palestine also condemned the shootings as evidence of ongoing Israeli atrocities.
The U.N. human rights office has released a report stating that the establishment and expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem amount to a war crime under international law, with roughly 24,300 housing units in existing settlements advanced in the past year. The report highlights an increase in settler violence and settlement-related violations, risking the possibility of establishing a viable Palestinian state. Israel's diplomatic mission in Geneva criticized the report, while much of the international community considers the settlements to be illegal under international law.