Israeli actions in Gaza 'not comparable' to Russia in Ukraine: WH spox
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US State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said that the US believes that the ICC does not have any jurisdiction over the Palestinian situation.
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Palestinians look at the destruction due to an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza Strip. Monday, April 29, 2024 (AP)
US State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters today that the Israeli military actions in Gaza are not comparable to Russian operations in Ukraine.
As Patel was asked whether the US was against potential International Criminal Court (ICC) legal action against "Israel", but is with ICC action against Russia, he said, "There is no moral equivalency between the kinds of things that we see [Russian President Vladimir Putin] and the Kremlin undertake in comparison to the Israeli government."
He added that the US believes that the ICC does not have any jurisdiction over the Palestinian situation.
Patel pointed out that the United States is not a party to the treaty that established the ICC.
It is noteworthy that multiple international organizations and officials have labeled the situation in Gaza due to the Israeli genocide against it as "beyond catastrophic."
Read more: Dear ICC, actions speak louder than words
StateSpox on 🇮🇱 human rights abuses: Standards are consistent with all countries
— Assal Rad (@AssalRad) April 29, 2024
Reporter: So what is the standard
Patel: Standard is accountability and that’s different on a country by country basis
Reporter: Then it’s not a standard if it’s different from country to country pic.twitter.com/kJ4tzAsdBc
They are indeed not comparable
Since October 7, in 206 days, "Israel" has killed more than 13,800 Palestinian children and at least 8,900 Palestinian women whereas in a two-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine, 2,992 women and 579 children were reportedly dead.
34,488 Palestinians killed by 'Israel' in 206 days
This shocking state comes as the Ministry of Health in Gaza announced today that the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza due to the Israeli genocidal war ongoing since October 7 has now reached 34,488, in addition to 77,643 injuries.
Additionally, it confirmed that the Israeli occupation forces committed three massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, killing 34 and injuring 68 in 24 hours only.
The Ministry stressed that thousands of victims are still under the rubble and scattered on the streets, as the occupation forces continue to deliberately prevent ambulances and civil defense crews from reaching them.
'Israel' destroyed schools, mosques, churches, hospitals, health centers
The Gaza Government Media Office has reported extensive damage inflicted by Israeli aggression, revealing that 103 schools, 243 mosques, and 3 churches have been destroyed. Additionally, 32 hospitals and 53 health centers have been rendered inoperative over approximately 7 months.
Israeli-made mass graves
Gaza's Civil Defense announced on April 22 that 283 bodies of martyrs were recovered from the Israeli-made mass grave in Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis since the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces from the area.
There is clear evidence of field executions carried out by the IOF at Nasser Medical Complex, it emphasized in its statement.
UN expressed fear that 'Israel' is using AI in airstrikes on Gaza
At a press briefing at UN headquarters in New York, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced concerns on April 5 over recent reports that "Israel" is using artificial intelligence in its airstrikes on Gaza.
A report published by Israeli-Palestinian+972 magazine earlier in April citing Israeli intelligence, revealed that the IOF applied the use of AI to locate targets for bombing and was used in areas including densely populated residential ones, leading to mass civilian casualties.
Dubbed ‘Lavender’, the system analyzes the personal data of Gaza’s residents and lists those suspected of ties to the Palestinian Resistance group Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).
Israeli utilization of sophisticated AI technology in its genocidal campaign in Gaza marks new territory in modern warfare, adding to the legal and ethical scrutiny and reshaping the dynamics between military personnel and automated systems.
Netanyahu is worried
Sources indicated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is worried about the potential issuance of an arrest warrant against him by the International Criminal Court, reported the Israeli newspaper Maariv on April 28.
The newspaper reported that Netanyahu held private discussions with the United States to prevent the International Criminal Court from issuing an arrest warrant. It also indicated a prevailing belief that "the issuance of the arrest warrant is inevitable and may implicate not just Netanyahu, but also the Minister of Security and the Chief of Staff."
Earlier this week, Israeli Reserve General Itzhak Brik said in an op-ed published by the Israeli newspaper Maariv that "Israel should declare the end of the war because it truly lost." He added that the real circus that endangered the occupation was Netanyahu, Gantz, Gallant, and Halevi's coalition.
According to Israeli media, "Israel" is attempting to use diplomatic channels to prevent the issuance of such arrest warrants.
Back in 2022
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin and Russian Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova for allegedly being involved in the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia back in 2022.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said last month that Russia does not recognize ICC decisions as it is not a party to the treaty that established the court.
