Crisis in the Middle East: Israeli forces enter the hospital complex in South Gaza
Relatives of hostages held in Gaza flew from Israel to The Hague on Wednesday for an emotional trip aimed at drawing attention to a complaint filed a day earlier against Hamas leaders at the International Criminal Court, in which they were accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and violence. war crimes, including hostage takings, murders and sexual violence.
The hostage families, who number about 100 people and were joined by two former hostages released in November, said they had come to try to ensure justice was done. The case is being led by the legal team of the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, an Israeli non-governmental organization advocating for the prisoners' release, and the Canada-based Raoul Wallenberg Center for Human Rights.
“The purpose of so many families coming together here is to support the complaint,” said Amit Levy, 21, the brother of Naama Levy, 19, who was seen in a harrowing video shortly after her kidnapping from Nahal Oz . her hair from the back of a jeep in Gaza, her sweatpants bloodied.
“Those responsible must pay some price,” Mr. Levy said.
After arriving in The Hague, the families appeared at a rally in support of their cause in a square near the court, holding up portraits of the prisoners as hundreds of supporters stood under umbrellas in the pouring rain, waving Israeli flags and chanting: “Take them home now!”
“It's heartwarming to see,” said Moshe Or, 33, whose brother, Avinatan Or, 31, was kidnapped along with his partner, Noa Argamani, as they tried to flee the Nova music festival.
“It is important to use the international instruments that are more often used against Israel,” he added in seeking international justice.
More than 250 people were abducted in the October 7 Hamas-led attack into Gaza, mostly from border communities, army bases and an open-air music festival. About half remain in captivity, while Israel has confirmed at least 31 deaths.
The Israeli government does not recognize the court's jurisdiction and has not signed the founding treaty. But unlike the International Court of Justice, the highest UN court where South Africa has filed a case Accusing Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza, the International Criminal Court allows people to bring cases against persons suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The court's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, must now assess the evidence presented to the court based on the testimony of about a hundred witnesses, said Dana Pugach, member of the hostage forum's legal team. Some witnesses are expected to testify in person in The Hague.
The prosecutor will then decide whether to press charges against the accused Hamas leaders, who have not been publicly named by the legal team, and whether to issue arrest warrants.
“We came to denounce Hamas,” said Shani Yerushalmi, 25, who was traveling with her sister May, 21. Their sister Eden, 24, was kidnapped from the music festival and remains in Gaza.
The sisters, who have taken delegations of hostage families to Paris and Washington in recent months, said they hoped their action would put pressure on Hamas and have some influence on world opinion. Their mother stays home most of the time, surrounded by friends, they said, and their father prays much of the time while they “make the trips.”