In a remarkable display of solidarity, retired judges from various countries around the world have rallied behind a call for justice and the immediate release of Israeli abductees. The appeal, initiated by retired Supreme Court of Canada Judge Rosalie Silberman Abella, unequivocally condemns the actions of Hamas, alleging war crimes committed against innocent civilians. This plea for justice has been submitted to both the Center for Human Rights in Canada and the International Organization of Judges, garnering significant attention and support.
The judges' collective voice resounds in their appeal statement: "We, retired judges from courts around the world, condemn the horrific actions of Hamas against innocent civilians." The statement further declares, "We call for the full release of all the Israeli abductees without preconditions. The crimes committed shock the conscience and shake the soul. Our collective humane concept requires complete condemnation of the actions of Hamas and a demand for the immediate release of the abductees."
Prof. Aharon Barak, former President of the Israeli Supreme Court, in a press conference: "I urge the Red Cross to visit the hostages and provide medical treatment for them.
โ ืื ืื ืจืืื ืื Yaniv Roznai (@roznaiy) November 3, 2023
Israel is committed to complying with international law and the military knows it. It is not a matter ofโฆ pic.twitter.com/5The39dxkm
The International Organization of Judges, an esteemed body representing judicial professionals worldwide, swiftly responded to the appeal with a public statement of their own. They expressed their condemnation of violence perpetrated against innocent individuals, with particular emphasis on the vulnerability of children, women, and adults. Their statement emphasizes that such acts run afoul of international law and humanitarian principles, firmly aligning with the judges' call for justice.
Remarkably, 183 retired Israeli judges, including former presidents of the Supreme Court and Arab judges, have joined the appeal. This diverse group of legal experts has approached the International Organization of Judges with a demand for an unambiguous stance on the classification of Hamas's actions on October 7 as war crimes. Their ranks include luminaries such as retired Supreme Court President Judge Aharon Barak and even Judge Richard Goldstone, who had previously drafted a critical United Nations report following the Israeli operation in Gaza in 2009.
Judge Aharon Barak, a prominent figure in Israel's legal community, also reached out to the President of the Red Cross, Mrs. Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, urging immediate action concerning the Israeli abductees. In a meeting with the families of the abductees, Judge Barak shared a poignant personal reflection. He revealed that the events of October 7 by Hamas had evoked painful memories of his childhood experiences during the Kovno ghetto in 1944.
Thoughts on the settlements and the West Bank are irrelevant to this UN resolution because it incorrectly labels Jerusalem and the Golan Heights as illegally occupied.
โ Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) November 12, 2023
Bravo to the White House for standing on the right side of history, even when they stand alone. pic.twitter.com/VMWeuIwazr
Judge Barak further penned a letter to the President of the Red Cross, beseeching the organization to take swift action and obtain vital information about the identities and medical conditions of the abductees. He referenced the words of his predecessor, former Red Cross President Peter Maurer, who asserted the organization's duty to find solutions to complex situations.
