Aye! Put Israel on trial

The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Israel has to be brought before a United Nations-santioned international war crimes tribunal for its atrocities and violence on the Palestinian people, the special Parliament session decided yesterday.

It also expressed the country’s disappointment with the international community, especially the UN Security Council, for their lack of effort in trying to halt the attacks.

The demand was part of 10 resolutions proposed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who tabled the motion to discuss the Israeli invasion of Gaza in the Dewan Rakyat
yesterday.

Abdullah said the resolutions would be presented to the relevant parliaments, the United States Con­gress and the European Parliament.

He said the latest military invasion of Gaza was the worst incident of attacks by the Zionist regime on Pales­tine since it was occupied in 1967, and that it had crippled a small territory which could not defend itself from successive and cruel attacks.

“Today, at least 800 people have been killed in Gaza, 3,000 are wounded and 15,000 more have be­come refugees after Israel laun­ched the attack codenamed ‘Cast Lead’ on Dec 27, 2008,” he added.

Abdullah said all Malaysians should unite and make a strong stand to the world against the inhumane actions of the Zionist regime.

“The attacks by Israel have contravened international laws and such actions are deemed war crimes in the Fourth Schedule of the Geneva Convention on protection for civilians during wartime,” he added.

Abdullah said Malaysia’s call for a special UN session to condemn Israel over its military aggression received a boost when the UN General As­­sembly agreed to hold the session to urge the Security Council to take action by declaring a cease­­fire and force Israel to withdraw from
Gaza.

However, he said, the Council only acted after allowing the Israel military attacks to proceed for two weeks.

“We all know that the reason for the lack of action by the Security Council was that Israel didn’t want it.

Israel has strong supporters within the Council.

Related article: Demands grow for Gaza war crimes investigation: The Guardian

Israel 'fires on UN Gaza convoy'

At least one Palestinian has been killed after a UN relief agency convoy came under fire from Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip, officials say.

The attack took place on Thursday as the lorries travelled to the Erez crossing to pick up supplies that were to have been allowed in during a three-hour ceasefire.

Thursday's pause in the 13-day Israeli offensive to allow humanitarian aid into the strip was scheduled to last from 1pm (11:00 GMT) to 4pm (14:00 GMT).The Israeli military said that it was checking reports of the incident.

John Ging, the head of the UN relief agency in Gaza, said that the casualties were Palestinian civilian contractors contracted to bring supplies from the crossing points.

"They were co-ordinating their movements with the Israelis, as they always do, only to find themselves being fired at from the ground troops," he told Al Jazeera.

"It has resulted tragically in the death of one and the injury of two others."

Wednesday's three-hour ceasefire allowed beleaguered Gazans and aid workers to recover dead bodies, treat the wounded, and gather much-needed supplies in and around Gaza City.

Read also Nuraina's Israel Forces Delay Help for Wounded Palestinians

And The Guardian's How Israel brought Gaza to the brink of humanitarian catastrophe