Comment by nabla9 | Hacker News Reader

Comment by nabla9 | Hacker News Reader

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a counterpoint

"Prosecutor’s rush to seek these arrest warrants" does not seem to be true.

ICC prosecutor did not bring this case quickly without warning. He has consistently demanded that action must be taken or he will prosecute. Israel's Supreme Court has the authority to conduct judicial review of laws and government decisions and intervene in exceptional, extreme cases. Israeli prosecutors have had time to charge.

>Since last year, in Ramallah, in Cairo, in Israel and in Rafah, I have consistently emphasised that international humanitarian law demands that Israel take urgent action to immediately allow access to humanitarian aid in Gaza at scale. I specifically underlined that starvation as a method of war and the denial of humanitarian relief constitute Rome Statute offences. I could not have been clearer.

>As I also repeatedly underlined in my public statements, those who do not comply with the law should not complain later when my Office takes action. That day has come.

https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/statement-icc-prosecutor-karim-...

btw. The US has demanded same and put conditions to military aid.

But the amount of aid going into the Gaza strip has increased dramatically (up to the Rafah crossing being taken). i.e. Israel did take action on this matter.

EDIT: It's also important to note the odd timing of asking for arrest warrants for the Hamas leadership at the same time as the Israeli arrest warrants.

Clearly unlike Israel there is no chance in *$#@ that Hamas would prosecute their own leadership for violation of international humanitarian law. The Hamas violations have also occurred earlier.

I.e. Israel should be given more time for its independent legal system to evaluate whether or not there's a case and pursue it. Israel justice system has put prime ministers and presidents on trial. Hamas shouldn't be given any time.

Given this you'd think arrest warrants for Hamas leadership would come a lot sooner.

Since this isn't the case one has to wonder if the prosecutor is doing a "both sides" kind of thing, maybe afraid of backlash if they only go after one side, in which case the response of Israel to the request to increase aid (which has happened) is not relevant.

> up to the Rafah crossing

How long was that supposed ramp up? Maybe a couple weeks out of 7 months.

There are details here: https://govextra.gov.il/cogat/humanitarian-efforts/home/

EDIT: I can't find a concise summary but latest update: "422 aid trucks were inspected and transferred to the Gaza Strip, yesterday, (May.19). These trucks entered from the various aid routes we developed: Ashdod port, Erez crossing, Judea and Samaria, and JLOTS (maritime route)."

Supposedly the UN said Gaza needs a minimum of 100 trucks a day. https://www.newarab.com/news/un-puts-gaza-humanitarian-aid-n...

EDIT2: It's worth mentioning that since Israel took control of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing Egypt is refusing to let aid in through that crossing.

I live about eight kilometers from Gaza, the aid trucks are on all the highways at pretty much capacity, and it's been like this for quite a while. I really don't see how much more aid could get in without building more infrastructure, and in fact there is a new port in the strip being built (maybe done already).

It should be noted in context that even bringing in aid is dangerous. The population attacks the aid drivers for two reasons (one, to get the aid, and two, they consider those drivers "traitors" and have been attacking them for long before the current conflict). And there is not insignificant risk to the Gazans as well, there was an incident a few months ago where an aid truck ran people over trying to stop it and some people were killed in a very gruesome fashion.

> and in fact there is a new port in the strip being built (maybe done already).

I think yesterday or the day before the first aid came in via the port, actually.

Wait they’re attacking the aid drivers as traitors!?!

Yes, because those aid drivers collaborate with the Israelis. This was going on long before the current war, when they were driving products and not aid.

If you assume rice is 600 calories per kg. And an average need of 2000 cal/day-person. 2,000,000 people in Gaza, and a truck can carry 35,000 kg.

Need about 2X10^6 X 2000 = 4X10^9 calories as day.

At 600 cal/kg you need then 6.67 X 10^6 kg of rice per day.

Truckloads = 6.67X10^6 kg / 35,000 kg/truck = 190 truckloads of rice per day.

Most likely conclusion is Salafists and their supporters lie about everything.

…but rice is 1300kcal/kg, so you need 88 trucks/day.

Are you the salafist you speak of?

I fucked up, rice is about 600 cal/lb freedom.

> Are you the salafist you speak of?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salafi_movement

So they'll be eating this rice raw, then? Raw uncooked rice with a nice cup of seawater to quench their thirst.

> Israel justice system has put prime ministers and presidents on trial.

> Clearly unlike Israel there is no chance in *$#@ that Hamas would prosecute their own leadership for violation of international humanitarian law.

Huh, I almost forgot there were massive protests against the current PM when he set out to cripple the ability of the said Judiciary from trying him in court. But go on.

You also forgot that the PM failed and the Judiciary is still independent and the PM is still under trial. What's your point exactly? What you're saying is evidence of a functioning democracy and the courts are still independent.

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