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Why Does Amnesty International Have Relevance for Views on Israel?
Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnes Callamard, Middle East and North Africa Research and Advocacy Director Philip Luther and activist Orly Noy attend a press conference to announce the Amnesty International’s 211-page report named “Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime Against Humanity” at the St George Hotel, in eastern Jerusalem, February 1, 2022. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun
On December 5, Amnesty International released a report accusing Israel of genocide. It begins with the Genocide Convention, then uses alleged evidence from hundreds of eye witnesses, satellite images, and statements of Israeli leaders in an attempt to prove that what Israel is doing meets the definition of genocide that the Geneva Convention spells out.
Many of Israel’s supporters are criticizing the content of the report, and Amnesty’s dismissal of Hamas’ responsibility for any of the tragedy that has unfolded in Gaza. But here’s a question that hasn’t been asked: Isn’t this a duplication of the exact work the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is supposed to be doing in the case brought against Israel by South Africa? All the rulings last winter and spring were preliminary, for the sole purpose of imposing temporary measures aimed at stabilizing the situation. In October, South Africa submitted its evidence of “genocide, “and now Israel has until next July 28 to reply.
So why did Amnesty release what is essentially its own opinion on how the ICJ should rule? One possibility is that they are so anxious to ratchet up political pressure on Israel, that they can’t wait for the ICJ. Or maybe they are afraid the ICJ will find Israel not guilty, and want to get their two cents in first. Or is their report an attempt to influence the final decision of the ICJ, laying out a roadmap for the ICJ to come to a guilty verdict?
However you cut it, it’s not good. Due process of law is a basic human right. This means that criminal guilt can only be decided by a fair and impartial court, not citizens, no matter how knowledgeable or fair they claim to be. So if an individual is accused of a crime, for some non-government organization to leap up and tell the world, “No need for a judge, Israel is guilty,” is wrong and a violation of the defendant’s rights. What’s true for an individual should also be true for a country.
The ICJ is already biased enough — as its own judges have pointed out. It’s highly likely they will find Israel falsely guilty of the absurd accusation of genocide. Yet that’s still not enough for Amnesty International.
The justice system, whether local or at the ICJ, is frustrating. It takes a long time, and it means you have to listen respectfully while people you think are lying make their case. But courts that are obligated to hear evidence from both sides are the only credible path towards justice. Israel has cooperated fully with the genocide case at the ICJ, and is now compiling its rebuttal of South Africa’s proof. Israel is entitled to present its evidence and have it considered by the judges. Amnesty, on the other hand, is accountable to no one. It can seek evidence from only whatever sources it chooses and disregard anything it dislikes.
If some individual was accused of a heinous crime, then arrested and brought to court, Amnesty would (I hope) tell whatever mob of angry, bloodthirsty citizen that might surround the courthouse that they cannot take justice into their own hands. By jumping in here and announcing their own conclusion that Israel is guilty, Amnesty is in effect joining and fueling the mob.
If Amnesty released this report now because they are afraid the ICJ may eventually decide in Israel’s favor, it’s even worse. Amnesty and other human rights organizations have been trumpeting the ICJ advisory opinion on the occupation and the interim measures it imposed in the genocide case as legitimizing their stance against Israel, saying the wonderful and impartial ICJ endorsed their view. It’s sheer hypocrisy to turn to the ICJ for validation, but then attempt to usurp its role and delegitimize it as soon as there is any fear its rulings may not be in line with what they want.
If this report is an attempt to lay out a roadmap for the ICJ to reach a guilty verdict and pressure it in that direction, that’s obviously wrong. Any judicial process is predicated on judges being able to reach an independent decision based on the evidence they are presented without influence or intimidation from outside sources
Amnesty is entitled to point out what it sees as humanitarian violations by Israel and to express its views on the conflict. But this report is yet another example of unaccountable, unelected human rights NGOs trampling on rights in their zest to fight for a popular cause. It hurts Israel, and it also undermines the entire human rights movement in the process. Amnesty should be ashamed.
Shlomo Levin is the author of the Human Rights Haggadah, and he writes about legal developments related to human rights issues of interest to the Jewish community. You can find him at https://hrhaggadah.com/.
The post Why Does Amnesty International Have Relevance for Views on Israel? first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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After False Dawns, Gazans Hope Trump Will Force End to Two-Year-Old War
Palestinians walk past a residential building destroyed in previous Israeli strikes, after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a US plan to end the war, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Exhausted Palestinians in Gaza clung to hopes on Saturday that US President Donald Trump would keep up pressure on Israel to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced the entire population of more than two million.
Hamas’ declaration that it was ready to hand over hostages and accept some terms of Trump’s plan to end the conflict while calling for more talks on several key issues was greeted with relief in the enclave, where most homes are now in ruins.
“It’s happy news, it saves those who are still alive,” said 32-year-old Saoud Qarneyta, reacting to Hamas’ response and Trump’s intervention. “This is enough. Houses have been damaged, everything has been damaged, what is left? Nothing.”
GAZAN RESIDENT HOPES ‘WE WILL BE DONE WITH WARS’
Ismail Zayda, 40, a father of three, displaced from a suburb in northern Gaza City where Israel launched a full-scale ground operation last month, said: “We want President Trump to keep pushing for an end to the war, if this chance is lost, it means that Gaza City will be destroyed by Israel and we might not survive.
“Enough, two years of bombardment, death and starvation. Enough,” he told Reuters on a social media chat.
“God willing this will be the last war. We will hopefully be done with the wars,” said 59-year-old Ali Ahmad, speaking in one of the tented camps where most Palestinians now live.
“We urge all sides not to backtrack. Every day of delay costs lives in Gaza, it is not just time wasted, lives get wasted too,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a Gaza City businessman displaced with members of his family in central Gaza Strip.
After two previous ceasefires — one near the start of the war and another earlier this year — lasted only a few weeks, he said; “I am very optimistic this time, maybe Trump’s seeking to be remembered as a man of peace, will bring us real peace this time.”
RESIDENT WORRIES THAT NETANYAHU WILL ‘SABOTAGE’ DEAL
Some voiced hopes of returning to their homes, but the Israeli military issued a fresh warning to Gazans on Saturday to stay out of Gaza City, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone.”
Gazans have faced previous false dawns during the past two years, when Trump and others declared at several points during on-off negotiations between Hamas, Israel and Arab and US mediators that a deal was close, only for war to rage on.
“Will it happen? Can we trust Trump? Maybe we trust Trump, but will Netanyahu abide this time? He has always sabotaged everything and continued the war. I hope he ends it now,” said Aya, 31, who was displaced with her family to Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
She added: “Maybe there is a chance the war ends at October 7, two years after it began.”
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Mass Rally in Rome on Fourth Day of Italy’s Pro-Palestinian Protests
A Pro-Palestinian demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a national protest for Gaza in Rome, Italy, October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco
Large crowds assembled in central Rome on Saturday for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.
People holding banners and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organizers hoped would attract at least 1 million people.
“I’m here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilize individually,” Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome, said. “If we don’t all mobilize, then nothing will change.”
Since Israel started blocking the flotilla late on Wednesday, protests have sprung up across Europe and in other parts of the world, but in Italy they have been a daily occurrence, in multiple cities.
On Friday, unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than 2 million, according to organizers. The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.
Italy’s right-wing government has been critical of the protests, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people would skip work for Gaza just as an excuse for a longer weekend break.
On Saturday, Meloni blamed protesters for insulting graffiti that appeared on a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, where Pro-Palestinian groups have been holding a protest picket.
“They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” she said in a statement.
Israel launched its Gaza offensive after Hamas terrorists staged a cross border attack on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.
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Hamas Says It Agrees to Release All Israeli Hostages Under Trump Gaza Plan
Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, October 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Hamas said on Friday it had agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signaled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details.