Demonstrators gather in front of the White House during a Saturday rally in support of Palestinians. The Washington rally was one of a multitude of rallies held around the world on Saturday. (Olivier Douliery/AFP/Getty Images)
The president of the United States and two of his cabinet members are being sued for failing to prevent and aiding and abetting “genocide” in Gaza.
A federal complaint (PDF), filed on Monday against President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, accuses them of “failure to prevent and complicity in the Israeli government’s unfolding genocide”.
New York civil liberties group the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) filed the suit on behalf of Palestinian human rights organisations, Palestinians in Gaza and US citizens with relatives in the besieged enclave that has faced more than a month of relentless bombardment by Israel, which receives funding and weapons from the US government.
More than 11,200 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched attacks on October 7. This followed a Hamas attack in Israel, in which about 1,200 people were killed.
“Numerous Israeli government leaders have expressed clear genocidal intentions and deployed dehumanizing characterizations of Palestinians, including ‘human animals’,” the CCR wrote in the introduction to its complaint.
It said those “statements of intent”, when combined with the “mass killing” of Palestinians, reveal “evidence of an unfolding crime of genocide”.
Numerous legal scholars, rights groups and humanitarians have also called Israel’s actions in Gaza genocide
‘I paid for Israel to kill my cousins’
“Immediately after the launch of Israel’s unprecedented bombing campaign on Gaza, President Biden offered ‘unwavering’ support for Israel, which he and administration officials have consistently repeated and backed up with military, financial, and political support, even as mass civilian casualties escalated alongside Israeli genocidal rhetoric,” the CCR said.
The complaint noted that the US is Israel’s closest ally and strongest supporter, as well as its biggest provider of military assistance – with Israel being the largest cumulative recipient of US foreign assistance since World War II. Because of this, it said, the US could have a “deterrent effect on Israeli officials now pursuing genocidal acts against the Palestinian people”.
Instead, the group said, Biden, Blinken, and Austin “have helped advance the gravest of crimes” by continuing to provide Israel with unconditional military and diplomatic support while undermining efforts by the international community to stop Israel’s bombardment.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Astha Sharma Pokharel, a lawyer at the CCR, said: “They have a significant responsibility under customary international law, under federal law, to prevent this genocide, to stop supporting this genocide. At every step of the way, at every opportunity, they have failed. They have continued to provide cover to Israel; they have continued to provide material support to Israel; and currently, they intend to send more money and more weapons to Israel.”
Laila al-Haddad, a US citizen and one of the plaintiffs in the case, has lost five relatives in Gaza since Israel launched its attacks.
“I paid for Israel to kill my cousins and my aunt, there’s no two ways around it,” she told Al Jazeera. “It was my tax dollars that did that, that sent those bombs to Israel to kill my family. And so I feel I and all other American taxpayers have a very unique responsibility to hold our government and our elected officials responsible.”
The lawsuit also calls for an end to the $3.8bn in annual military support the US sends to Israel.
The White House has not yet responded to Al Jazeera’s requests for comment on the case.
Palestinians trapped inside Gaza's biggest hospital were digging a mass grave on Tuesday to bury patients who died under Israeli encirclement, and said no plan was in place to evacuate babies despite Israel announcing an offer to send portable incubators.
Israeli forces have surrounded Al Shifa hospital in Gaza City, which they say sits atop an underground headquarters of Hamas militants.
Hamas, Gaza's ruling Islamist group, denies fighters are present and says 650 patients and 5,000-7,000 other displaced civilians are trapped inside the hospital grounds, under constant fire from snipers and drones. It says 40 patients have died in recent days, including three premature babies whose incubators were shut down when power went out.
Five weeks after Israel swore to destroy Hamas in retaliation for a cross-border assault by militants, the fate of the encircled hospital has become a focus of international alarm, including from Israel's closest ally, the United States.
Ashraf Al-Qidra, Gaza's health ministry spokesman, reached by telephone inside the hospital compound, said there were about 100 bodies decomposing inside and no way to get them out.
"We are planning to bury them today in a mass grave inside the Al Shifa medical complex. It is going to be very dangerous as we don't have any cover or protection from the ICRC, but we have no other options the corpses of the martyrs began to decompose," he told Reuters.
"The men are digging right now as we speak."
Thirty-six babies are left from the neo-natal ward after three died. Without fuel for generators to power incubators, the babies were being kept warm as best as possible, lined up eight to a bed.
Israel announced on Tuesday that it was offering portable, battery-powered incubators so the babies could be moved. But Qidra said that so far no arrangements had been established to carry out any such evacuation.
"We have no objection to have the babies being moved to any hospital, in Egypt, the West Bank or even to the occupation (Israeli) hospitals. What we care most about is the wellbeing and the lives of those babies," he said.
"The occupation is still besieging the hospital and they are firing into the yards from time to time. We still can't move around, but sometimes doctors are taking the risk when they need to attend to patients."
Israel denies the hospital is under siege and says its forces allow routes for those inside to exit. Medics and officials inside the hospital say this is not true and those trying to leave have come under fire. Reuters could not verify the situation independently.
Israel vowed to wipe out Hamas after the militant group's fighters burst across the fence around the enclave and rampaged through Israeli towns killing civilians on Oct. 7. Israeli says 1,200 people were killed and around 240 were dragged back to Gaza as hostages in the deadliest day of its 75-year history.
But its response, including a total siege and constant bombardment of the small, densely populated enclave that has killed many thousands of civilians - has alarmed countries around the world. Israel says Hamas is to blame for harm to civilians because fighters hide among them; Hamas denies this.
Medical officials in Hamas-run Gaza say more than 11,000 people are confirmed dead from Israeli strikes, around 40 percent of them children, and countless others trapped under rubble. Around two thirds of Gaza's 2.3 million people have been made homeless, unable to escape the crowded territory where food, fuel, fresh water and medical supplies are running out.
'REALLY HORRIBLE'
Dr Ahmed El Mokhallalati, a surgeon, told Reuters from Al Shifa hospital that the main risk now was from dead bodies decomposing inside.
"We are sure that all kind of infections will be transmitted from that one. Today we had a little bit of rain ... It was really horrible, nobody could even open a window, or just walk around the corridors with a really bad smell," he said.
"Burying 120 bodies needs a lot of equipment, it can’t be by hand efforts and by single person efforts. It will take hours and hours to be able to bury all these bodies."
He said that on Monday doctors had performed surgery without any oxygen, which made general anaesthesia impossible.
Israeli forces launched a ground offensive into Gaza at the end of October and have since closed their circle around Al Shifa. In recent days the encirclement of the hospital has appeared to unsettle even Israel's closest allies.
"My hope and expectation is that there will be less intrusive action relative to hospitals and we remain in contact with the Israelis," U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday.
"Also there is an effort to get this pause to deal with the release of prisoners and that's being negotiated, as well, with the Qataris ... being engaged," he added. "So I remain somewhat hopeful, but hospitals must be protected."
On Monday, Israel's military released video and photos of what it said were weapons Hamas had stored in the basement of another hospital, Rantissi, specialising in cancer treatment for children. Hamas said the images were staged.
The armed wing of Hamas said it was ready to free up to 70 women and children held in Gaza in exchange for a five-day ceasefire.
Al-Qassam Brigade spokesman Abu Ubaida said the group had offered to release 50 captives and the total could reach 70, including captives held by separate factions, while Israel had asked for 100 to be freed.
Israel has rejected a ceasefire, arguing that Hamas would use it to regroup, but says it could agree to brief humanitarian "pauses".
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters Washington would "like to see considerably longer pauses - days, not hours - in the context of a hostage release."
Bayi baru lahir ditempatkan di tempat tidur setelah dikeluarkan dari inkubator di rumah sakit Al Shifa Gaza setelah listrik padam, di tengah konflik yang sedang berlangsung antara Israel dan kelompok Islam Palestina Hamas, di Kota Gaza, Gaza 12 November 2023 dalam gambar diam... Memperoleh Hak Lisensi
Warga Palestina yang terjebak di dalam rumah sakit terbesar di Gaza sedang menggali kuburan massal pada hari Selasa untuk menguburkan pasien yang meninggal di bawah pengepungan Israel, dan mengatakan tidak ada rencana untuk mengevakuasi bayi meskipun Israel mengumumkan tawaran untuk mengirim inkubator portabel.
Pasukan Israel telah mengepung rumah sakit Al Shifa di Kota Gaza, klaim sepihak mereka terletak di atas markas bawah tanah militan Hamas.
Hamas, kelompok Islam yang berkuasa di Gaza, menyangkal kehadiran pejuang dan mengatakan 650 pasien dan 5.000-7.000 warga sipil lainnya yang mengungsi terjebak di dalam halaman rumah sakit, di bawah tembakan penembak jitu dan drone. Dikatakan 40 pasien telah meninggal dalam beberapa hari terakhir, termasuk tiga bayi prematur yang inkubatornya dimatikan ketika listrik padam.
Sebulan lebih setelah Israel bersumpah untuk menghancurkan Hamas sebagai pembalasan atas serangan lintas batas yang dilakukan militan, nasib rumah sakit yang dikepung tersebut telah menjadi fokus kekhawatiran internasional, termasuk dari sekutu terdekat Israel, Amerika Serikat.
Ashraf Al-Qidra, juru bicara menteri kesehatan Gaza, yang dihubungi melalui telepon di dalam kompleks rumah sakit, mengatakan ada sekitar 100 mayat membusuk di dalam dan tidak ada cara untuk mengeluarkannya.
“Kami berencana menguburkan mereka hari ini di kuburan massal di dalam kompleks medis Al Shifa. Ini akan sangat berbahaya karena kami tidak memiliki perlindungan atau perlindungan dari ICRC, tapi kami tidak punya pilihan lain untuk jenazah para korban. para martir mulai membusuk,” katanya kepada Reuters.
“Orang-orang itu sedang menggali saat kita berbicara.”
36 bayi tertinggal dari bangsal neonatal setelah tiga bayi meninggal. Tanpa bahan bakar untuk generator yang menggerakkan inkubator, bayi-bayi tersebut dijaga agar tetap hangat sebaik mungkin, dibariskan ke delapan tempat tidur.
Israel mengumumkan pada hari Selasa bahwa mereka menawarkan inkubator portabel bertenaga baterai sehingga bayi-bayi tersebut dapat dipindahkan. Namun Qidra mengatakan sejauh ini belum ada pengaturan yang dibuat untuk melakukan evakuasi semacam itu.
“Kami tidak keberatan jika bayi-bayi tersebut dipindahkan ke rumah sakit mana pun, di Mesir, Tepi Barat atau bahkan ke rumah sakit pendudukan (Israel). Yang paling kami pedulikan adalah kesejahteraan dan kehidupan bayi-bayi tersebut,” katanya.
“Penjajah masih mengepung rumah sakit dan mereka terus menembaki halaman rumah sakit. Kami masih belum bisa bergerak, tapi terkadang dokter mengambil risiko ketika mereka harus merawat pasien.”
Israel membantah rumah sakit tersebut dikepung dan mengatakan pasukannya mengizinkan jalan keluar bagi mereka yang berada di dalam rumah sakit tersebut. Petugas medis dan pejabat di dalam rumah sakit mengatakan hal ini tidak benar dan mereka yang mencoba keluar mendapat kecaman. Kami tidak dapat memverifikasi situasi tersebut secara independen.
Israel bersumpah untuk memusnahkan Hamas setelah para pejuang kelompok militan tersebut menerobos pagar di sekitar daerah kantong tersebut dan mengamuk di kota-kota Israel dan menewaskan warga sipil pada 7 Oktober. Israel mengatakan 1.200 orang tewas dan sekitar 240 orang diseret kembali ke Gaza sebagai sandera pada hari yang paling mematikan. dari 75 tahun sejarahnya.
Namun tanggapan mereka, termasuk pengepungan total dan pemboman terus-menerus terhadap daerah kantong kecil dan padat penduduk yang telah menewaskan ribuan warga sipil – telah membuat khawatir negara-negara di seluruh dunia. Israel mengatakan Hamas harus disalahkan atas kerugian yang dialami warga sipil karena para pejuang bersembunyi di antara mereka; Hamas membantah hal ini.
Pejabat medis di Gaza yang dikuasai Hamas mengatakan lebih dari 11.000 orang dipastikan tewas akibat serangan Israel, sekitar 40 persen di antaranya adalah anak-anak, dan banyak lainnya terjebak di bawah reruntuhan. Sekitar dua pertiga dari 2,3 juta penduduk Gaza telah kehilangan tempat tinggal, tidak dapat melarikan diri dari wilayah yang padat dimana makanan, bahan bakar, air bersih dan pasokan medis hampir habis.
'SANGAT MENGERIKAN'
Dr Ahmed El Mokhallalati, seorang ahli bedah, mengatakan kepada Reuters dari rumah sakit Al Shifa bahwa risiko utama saat ini adalah dari mayat yang membusuk di dalamnya.
“Kami yakin bahwa semua jenis infeksi akan menular dari penyakit itu. Hari ini kami mengalami sedikit hujan… Benar-benar mengerikan, bahkan tidak ada yang bisa membuka jendela, atau hanya berjalan di koridor dengan bau yang sangat tidak enak. ," dia berkata.
"Mengubur 120 jenazah memerlukan peralatan yang banyak, tidak bisa dengan usaha tangan dan tenaga satu orang. Butuh waktu berjam-jam untuk bisa menguburkan seluruh jenazah tersebut."
Dia mengatakan bahwa pada hari Senin dokter telah melakukan operasi tanpa oksigen, sehingga anestesi umum tidak mungkin dilakukan.
Pasukan Israel melancarkan serangan darat ke Gaza pada akhir Oktober dan sejak itu menutup lingkaran mereka di sekitar Al Shifa. Dalam beberapa hari terakhir, pengepungan terhadap rumah sakit tersebut tampaknya meresahkan bahkan sekutu terdekat Israel.
“Harapan dan ekspektasi saya adalah tindakan yang tidak terlalu mengganggu terhadap rumah sakit akan berkurang dan kami tetap berhubungan dengan Israel,” kata Presiden AS Joe Biden pada hari Senin.
“Juga ada upaya untuk mendapatkan jeda dalam menangani pembebasan tahanan dan hal itu juga sedang dinegosiasikan dengan pihak Qatar… yang terlibat,” tambahnya. “Jadi saya tetap berharap, tapi rumah sakit harus dilindungi.”
Pada hari Senin, militer Israel merilis video dan foto dari apa yang dikatakannya sebagai senjata yang disimpan Hamas di ruang bawah tanah rumah sakit lain, Rantissi, yang mengkhususkan diri dalam pengobatan kanker untuk anak-anak. Hamas mengatakan gambar-gambar itu direkayasa.
Sayap bersenjata Hamas menyatakan siap membebaskan 70 perempuan dan anak-anak yang ditahan di Gaza dengan imbalan gencatan senjata selama lima hari.
Juru bicara Brigade Al-Qassam Abu Ubaida mengatakan kelompok itu telah menawarkan untuk membebaskan 50 tawanan dan totalnya bisa mencapai 70 orang, termasuk tawanan yang ditahan oleh faksi terpisah, sementara Israel telah meminta 100 orang untuk dibebaskan.
Israel telah menolak gencatan senjata, dengan alasan bahwa Hamas akan menggunakannya untuk berkumpul kembali, namun mengatakan pihaknya bisa menyetujui “jeda” kemanusiaan yang singkat.
Penasihat keamanan nasional Gedung Putih Jake Sullivan mengatakan kepada wartawan bahwa Washington “ingin melihat jeda yang jauh lebih lama – dalam hitungan hari, bukan jam – dalam konteks pembebasan sandera.”
Timnas Indonesia U-17 mampu mencetak gol kedua dengan hasil akhir bermain imbang lawan Panama U-17 di matchday 2 Grup A Piala Dunia U-17 2023 di Stadion Gelora Bung Tomo, Surabaya, hari Senin malam, 13/11/2023.
Gol kedua Indonesia U-17 diajang Piala Dunia U17 2023 dicetak Arkhan Kaka. Sementara pada pertandingan itu yang bermain seri, Timnas Indonesia 1 dan Panama 1. Gol Panama di babak pertama dicetak Oldemar Castille Jimenez.
Hasil ini membuat Indonesia U-17 mengemas dua angka dari dua laga. Merah Putih tetap di posisi ketiga klasemen sementara Piala Dunia U-17 2023. Sementara Panama mengemas satu angka dan ada di peringkat empat. Indonesia masih punya kans lolos asal bisa memetik hasil positif di matchday 3 lawan Maroko.
Hasil imbang tersebut, membuat timnas U-17 Indonesia tetap berada di posisi ketiga klasemen sementara Grup A Piala Dunia U-17 2023 setelah hanya bermain imbang 1-1 lawan Panama dalam laga di Stadion Gelora Bung Tomo, Surabaya, malam Senin, 13/11/2023.
Hasil imbang itu Indonesia berhasil mengumpulkan dua poin di klasemen sementara. Hasil dua kali imbang dalam dua laga Garuda Muda di Grup A.
Di posisi kedua, Ada Maroko yang baru mengoleksi tiga poin setelah dalam laga keduanya kontra Ekuador, Senin sore, mereka kalah 0-2.
Di posisi puncak klasemen Grup A, ada Ekuador yang sudah mengoleksi empat poin, hasil sekali imbang dan sekali menang.
Posisi juru kunci masih dihuni oleh Panama yang baru mengumpulkan satu poin. Mereka sebelumnya kalah dari Maroko pada laga perdana.
Kondisi itu membuat persaingan untuk lolos dari Grup A menjadi ketat. Setiap tim masih punya peluang lolos, karena itu laga terakhir akan sangat menentukan bagi Timnas U-17 Indonesia.
Selanjutnya, Timnas U-17 Indonesia akan menghadapi Maroko, dan Panama jumpa Ekuador pada pada 16 November mendatang. Ayo, Garuda Muda raih kemenangannya pada laga terakhir Grup A. (
Susunan Pemain
Indonesia U-17: Ikram Al Giffari; Figo Dennis, Welber Jardim, Sulthan Zaky, Habis Akbar, Iqbal Gwijangge, Jehan Pahlevi, Riski Afrisal, Ji Da-Bin, Kafiatur Risky, Arkhan Kaka
Pelatih: Bima Sakti
Panama U-17: Manuel Romero; Martin Krug, Juan Hall, Erick Diaz, Juan Jimenez, Jael Pierre, Anel Ryce, Eric Moreno, Oldemar Castillo, Hector Rios, Frederick Krug
