From Left: Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant (centre) and Mohammed Deif
Mr Eastwood, who previously visited Gaza after Israeli airstrikes in November 2012, said that Israel’s Prime Minister and other government officials have given orders which make them complicit in murder, starvation and other violations of international law for which they must be held accountable.
The ICC has also issued a warrant for the arrest of Hamas military boss Mohammed Deif.
Said the Foyle MP: “I’ve seen the impact that Israeli airstrikes have on Gaza. Communities reduced to rubble, entire families murdered, schools and playgrounds attacked in violation of international law.
“What has happened over the last year has, I believe, redefined what many of us thought was human capacity to inflict suffering.
“I strongly welcome the decision of the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, two of the architects of the genocide in Gaza.
“The court ruled that there are reasonable grounds to believe that they used starvation as a weapon of war, they have committed the crime against humanity of murder and other violations of international law.
“This genocide has extracted an unimaginable price in human life and suffering.
“It has all but levelled every piece of civilian infrastructure in Gaza so that all that’s left is a decaying concrete wasteland. Netanyahu and Gallant must be held accountable for what they’ve done.
“The path to peace remains the same as it was a year ago. An immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and agreement to work toward a two-state solution that guarantees peace and security for all people.
“It is impossible to avoid the conclusion that Netanyahu is an immovable obstacle to peace and I sincerely hope that he faces justice soon.”’
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