GAZA/LONDON: Al Jazeera announced on Saturday that it will file a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding the death of its cameraman, Samer Abu Dhaka, who was killed in Israeli attacks against Gaza.
The Qatar-based news agency said in a statement that a team of lawyers and experts will prepare a report related to Abu Dhaka’s killing and submit it to the ICC, reported Anadolu Agency.
It noted that the report would include attacks on Al Jazeera personnel working in Palestinian territories.
Samer and Wael ed-Dahduh were injured in an Israeli attack Friday near the Ferkhane School in Khan Younis, where displaced people were staying.
It was reported that ambulances were barred from entering the Ferkhane School area, where Abu Daqqa was transported after being injured in Israeli attacks, while first aid teams were unable to enter the area that was surrounded by Israeli forces.
Medical teams were denied access for hours to the school where the journalist was lying in a pool of blood.
Al Jazeera television later announced that Abu Daqqa had died, and sources said three civil defence workers who wanted to help those trapped in the school were also killed in the Israeli attack.
Meanwhile, British Independent lawmaker Claudia Webbe submitted a complaint Saturday to the ICC that urged an investigation and trial for Israel’s war crimes committed in Gaza.
Webbe announced during a parliamentary session that she lodged the complaint that includes genocide and crimes against humanity committed by the Israeli government against the Palestinian people.
Emphasising that she would not be complicit in Israel’s daily acts of war crimes or against the Palestinians, Webbe highlighted the magnitude of the destruction caused by Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.
Webbe said Israel’s attacks resulted in the deaths of more than 20,000 civilians, with at least 10,000 children and countless others left disabled.
She noted that due to Israel allowing a fraction of the aid needed for Gaza residents and the destruction of a majority of United Nations (UN) trucks, deaths from hunger and disease would worsen.
Pointing out that more than 150 UN personnel were killed in Israel’s attacks, Webbe noted that the Israeli government held the UN responsible for the situation and used humanitarian aid as a weapon of war. She also noted that Israeli ministers suggested using nuclear bombs on Gaza.
Webbe mentioned receiving more than 6,000 letters and emails from constituents urgently calling for a ceasefire.
“Collective punishment is a war crime, forcible transfer of the population is a war crime, indiscriminate bombing and the use of white phosphorus on civilians – now confirmed by Amnesty International – is a war crime. I will not be an accomplice,” she said.
Webbe stated she signed the official complaint submitted to the ICC because those responsible must be held accountable and she invited her colleagues to act in a similar fashion.–Bernama-AA
