US sanctions ICC for targeting US and allies including Israel. UK and EU should expel US from UN and NATO

NOTE from Sudan Watch Editor: Following the inauguration of POTUS Donald Trump on Jan 20, he ordered the US to withdraw its membership of many organisations that require members to adhere to international law, humanitarian and human rights law and help provide assistance to the most vulnerable people in need. The decline of the US, its weak moral compass, hatred of foreigners and cruelty towards fellow man means that the US cannot be trusted. The UK and EU should expel US from the UN and NATO.

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Three related reports:

From BBC News online

By Bernd Debusmann Jr

BBC News, White House

Dated Thursday, 6 February 2025, 22:21 GMT - full copy:

Trump sanctions International Criminal Court, calls it 'illegitimate'

IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES

Image caption, Trump previously sanctioned ICC officials during his first term in office in 2020.

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order sanctioning the International Criminal Court, accusing it of "illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel".

The measure places financial and visa restrictions on individuals and their families who assist in ICC investigations of American citizens or allies.

In January, the US House of Representatives voted to sanction the ICC after it issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes allegations in Gaza, which Israel denies. The ICC also issued a warrant for a Hamas commander.

At the time, the ICC said it "regrets any attempts to undermine the court's independence, integrity and impartiality".

The US is not a member of the ICC and has repeatedly rejected any jurisdiction by the body over American officials or citizens.

The order says that the ICC's recent actions "set a dangerous precedent" that endanger Americans by exposing them to "harassment, abuse and possible arrest".

"This malign conduct in turn threatens to infringe upon the sovereignty of the United States and undermines the critical national security and foreign policy work of the United States government and our allies, including Israel," the order says.

The White House accuses the Hague-based ICC of creating a "shameful moral equivalency" between Hamas and Israel by issuing the warrants for the Israeli leaders and a Hamas commander at the same time, according to a fact sheet circulated by the White House earlier.

The White House believes the ICC is placing constraints on Israel's right to self-defence, while accusing the body of ignoring Iran and anti-Israel groups.

Trump has repeatedly criticised the ICC, and took several steps to sanction the body during his first term in office.

At the time, he also imposed sanctions on ICC officials who were investigating whether US forces committed war crimes in Afghanistan.

The order allowed the US to block the assets of ICC employees and stop them from entering the US.

In response, the ICC said that the sanctions were an "unacceptable attempt to interfere with the rule of law".

Founded in 2002 - in the wake of the dissolution of Yugoslavia and the Rwandan genocide - the ICC was formed to investigate alleged atrocities.

The court can only deal with crimes committed after July 2002, when the Rome Statute - which formed the ICC - came into effect.

Over 120 countries have ratified the statute, while another 34 have signed and may ratify in the future.

Neither the US nor Israel is party to the Rome Statute. The order states that "both nations are thriving democracies with militaries that strictly adhere to the laws of war".

The ICC is a court of last resort and it is meant to intervene only when national authorities cannot or will not prosecute.

Media caption, 

Watch [Video 00:14]: Netanyahu gifts Trump a golden pager during US visit 

Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, also criticised the ICC's warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, calling the move "outrageous" and saying there was no equivalence between Israel and Hamas.

Trump's signing of the executive order comes as Netanyahu visits Washington.

In a joint press conference with the Israeli prime minister this week, Trump said the US could "take over" Gaza, which he said could become the "Riviera of the Middle East".

He again made the claim on his Truth Social social media platform.

"The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting," Trump said on Thursday.

He repeated his belief that the idea would mean resettling Palestinians, and that no American soldiers would be deployed.

His post did not make clear whether the two million residents of the Palestinian territory would be invited to return, leaving officials scrambling to explain.

On Wednesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that any displacement would be temporary, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Gazans would leave for an "interim" period while reconstruction took place.

Arab leaders, human rights organisations and the UN have condemned the idea.

International Criminal Court: What is the ICC and what does it do?

View original: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2p19l24g2o

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From Times Radio - Video report
Dated Thursday, 6 February 2025 

Trump's plan for Gaza 'unviable' and cannot be implemented 

"There not a chance that this is something that would be implemented soon." Trump's plan for Gaza is unfounded and simply part of 'flooding the zone' with ideas, says President of the Middle East Policy Council Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley.

 

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Trump 🇺🇸 gifts to Netanyahu 🇮🇱 a ‘key to the Whitehouse’

•Over 61,709 Palestinians murdered in Gaza 🇵🇸
•Over 17,000 children murdered
•Over 111,588 injured
•Over 6,000 kidnapped & tortured

An ICC arrest warrant for crimes against humanity

Shameful.pic.twitter.com/wsD3IwwL33

— Howard Beckett (@BeckettUnite) February 6, 2025

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Sudan reaffirms readiness to reestablish ties with Iran

From Tehran Times

Dated Saturday, 20 January 2024 - 22:47 - here is a copy in full:

Sudan reaffirms readiness to re-establish ties with Iran

In a meeting with Iran's First-Vice President Mohammad Mokhber on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Uganda, Sadeq expressed Sudan's regret over the severance of ties with Iran in 2015 under foreign pressure, emphasizing the shared stances of the two nations in supporting the Palestinian people and seeking an end to Israeli atrocities in Gaza.

Mokhber, in turn, highlighted the Palestinian resistance movement's efforts to break the Zionist regime's hegemony in the region, calling for increased international pressure to lift the Gaza blockade and provide immediate relief to the besieged enclave.

The vice president expressed deep concern over the recent unrest and conflicts in Sudan, which he attributed to the conspiracy of foreign interventionists, including the Zionist usurping regime. 

Photo: TEHRAN- Sudan's acting Foreign Minister Ali Sadeq reiterated Khartoum's desire to revive diplomatic relations with Tehran.

He affirmed Iran's unwavering support for the Sudanese people and the legitimate government in their quest for peace and stability.

Sadeq elaborated on the recent events in Sudan, linking them to the interference and collusion of the Zionist regime and its regional allies, asserting that Sudan remains a victim of foreign machinations.

Sadeq attributed the Zionist regime's support for the unrest in Sudan to the country's refusal to normalize relations with Israel. 

He stressed that Sudan remains committed to its principles and will not compromise its independence.

The two officials agreed to further enhance cooperation between Sudan and Iran, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, and cultural exchange. They expressed their commitment to advancing the cause of Palestine and promoting regional peace and stability.

View original: https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/493969/Sudan-reaffirms-readiness-to-re-establish-ties-with-Iran

ENDS 

Joe Biden's long history of pro-Israel statements

THIS video shows a history of surprising statements US President Joe Biden has made about Zionism and Israel.  

"Were there not an Israel, the United States of America would have to invent an Israel." -Joe Biden

Source: Middle East Eye 

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Further Reading

“Most Zionists don’t believe that God exists but they do believe that he promised them Palestine” -Ilan Pappe, Israeli Historian

Pappe, I. (2016). “The Bible in the service of Zionism: “we do not believe in God, but he nonetheless promised us Palestine” in I. Hjelm and T. L. Thompson, eds., History, Archaeology and the Bible Forty Years After “Historicity”, 1st ed. Oxon, Routledge, pp. 205-217. 

Palestine 1896

First film footage taken in Palestine (Lumier Bros.)

Extracted from "Palestine: Story of a Land", by Simone Bitton

http://www.pointdujour-international....

Link to video at YouTube: https://youtu.be/1vaIK8wlAl0

Source: https://vridar.org/2017/05/26/we-do-not-believe-in-god-but-he-nonetheless-promised-us-palestine/

ENDS

Turkey's Erdogan, Sudan's Burhan discuss Gaza

Report from AA - Alperen Aktas
Dated Saturday, 18 November 2023 - here is a copy in full:

Turkish President Erdogan, Sudan's leader Burhan discuss Gaza

Erdogan says there should be unity on all issues concerning the Islamic world

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (L) hold a joint press conference at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey on August 12, 2021. Photo : ( Emin Sansar - AA )

ISTANBUL

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday discussed with chairman of Sudan's Sovereignty Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan the situation in Gaza, where Israeli attacks since Oct. 7 have killed at least 12,000 Palestinians, Türkiye's Communications Directorate said in a statement.

During the phone call, the latest situation in the besieged enclave, and efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinians were discussed.

President Erdogan said there should be unity on all issues concerning the Islamic world, and it is important to implement the decisions taken at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's recent summit in Riyadh.

View original: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/turkish-president-erdogan-sudans-leader-burhan-discuss-gaza/3057949

[Ends]

Israel says ground operations expanding as it intensifies Gaza bombing. Gaza can't be contacted

Communications go down in Gaza, leaving residents uncontactable. Hamas says clashes are taking place in northern areas. (Photo/caption from BBC)

Summary

• Israel says its ground forces are "expanding operations" targeting Hamas in Gaza
• Huge explosions were seen in the territory, with Israeli warplanes carrying out heavy strikes
• Hamas says clashes have taken place in northern Gaza - reports say some Israeli troops and tanks have entered
• Earlier, an Israel Defense Forces spokesman told Gaza City residents to move south for their safety
• Communication networks went down around the same time, meaning residents in Gaza can't be contacted
• The UN General Assembly called for an immediate humanitarian truce, with 120 states voting for a resolution put forward by Jordan
• Israel has been bombing Gaza since the 7 October Hamas attacks that killed 1,400 people and saw 229 people kidnapped as hostages
• The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says 7,000 people have been killed since Israel's retaliatory bombing began

Source: BBC News Live Reporting Sat, 28 Oct 2023 00:50 BST. Read latest:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67246761

[Ends]

UN General Assembly adopts Gaza resolution calling for immediate and sustained ‘humanitarian truce’

THE United Nations General Assembly on Friday (27 Oct) adopted a resolution calling for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce” between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in Gaza. It also demands “continuous, sufficient and unhindered” provision of lifesaving supplies and services for civilians trapped inside the enclave, as news reports suggest Israel has expanded ground operations and intensified its bombing campaign. Read more: https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/10/1142847

UN Photo/Evan Schneider Members of the United Nations General Assembly vote on a resolution at the resumed 10th Emergency Special Session meeting on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

BREAKING: UN General Assembly ADOPTS resolution on “protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations” on the ongoing Gaza crisis

FOR: 120
AGAINST: 14
ABSTAIN: 45

LIVE COVERAGE https://t.co/MOnKoTdNsb pic.twitter.com/WG68GaxMMV

— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) October 27, 2023 

[Ends] 

EU opposes total siege of Gaza: Israel cutting water, food, electricity to civilians violates international law

EU foreign ministers are urging both sides to respect humanitarian law. “That means no blockage of water, food or electricity to the civil population in Gaza,” said EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell. Read more.

Report from BBC News Live Reporting

By SOFIA BETTIZA

Reporting from Brussels Tue 10 Oct 2023, 19:54 BST - here is a copy in full:

EU foreign policy chief suggests Israel is violating international law

EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell has said the bloc opposes a total siege of Gaza.

“Israel has the right to defend itself, but that needs to be done accordingly with international law, humanitarian law. And some decisions are contrary to international law.”

Borrell spoke after an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers.

“Some actions – like cutting electricity and food for civilians – are against international law,” he said.

EU foreign ministers are urging both sides to respect humanitarian law. “That means no blockage of water, food or electricity to the civil population in Gaza,” said Borrell.

He stressed that the EU considered Hamas a terrorist organisation, but that the Palestinian Authority was a different thing.

“Not all Palestinian people are terrorists. So a collective punishment would be unfair and unproductive. It would be against our interests, and against the interest of peace.”

To view the original click here.

[Ends]