We support the 53 civil society organizations & individuals issuing an open letter urging U.S. Department of Justice to direct forfeited assets from its case against Lafarge to benefit victims & survivors of underlying atrocity crimes linked to #Syria .

Read more ➡️ taafi-sy.org/statememts/syr…

Nicaragua institutes proceedings against the Federal Republic of Germany and requests the Court to indicate provisional measures

Application available here:
icj-cij.org/sites/default/…

In Lafarge litigation, the US recovered over $600 million in ISIS-linked funds.

The US Attorney General should use his discretion to direct those funds to benefit victims in #Syria and #Iraq , write Celeste Kmiotek and Sameer Saboungi.
justsecurity.org/92486/us-recov…

We are working with Syrian civil society to support the establishment of a Syria Victims Fund, where States can pool monetary recovery linked to violations in #Syria and direct it to victims.

Just Security launched a series discussing the concept, and our experts weighed in:

Could the US and other states be implicated in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel?

SLP staff lawyer Celeste Kmiotek breaks down the Genocide Convention and what this means for the US government.

Read it here ⬇️
atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atla…

Read this fascinating legal analysis by Strategic Litigation Project’s Celeste Kmiotek on how the US and other states might be implicated in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel. atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atla…

Short 🧵 on the ICJ's order and self-defense.

1. The Court mentions self-defense twice, when it summarizes Israel's arguments (a) that the Court lacks prima facie jurisdiction and (b) that the rights claimed by South Africa are not plausible.

The Court rejected both arguments.

Not much ambiguity about what’s being advocated here.

The decision puts other states offering support to Israel on notice, writes Strategic Litigation Project’s Celeste Kmiotek.

“Should the ICJ determine that Israel is committing genocide, the states that have aided Israel could also face cases before the ICJ.”
atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atla…

💡 Five questions and answers about South Africa’s genocide case against Israel

As hearings on South Africa’s request for provisional measures close, the SLP’s Lisandra Novo explains what you need to know about the case and what to expect going forward 👇
atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atla…

At this stage, the law is on South Africa's side.

Its team made the necessary legal arguments, quite effectively.

But they also made a powerful moral appeal to the Court to follow the rules laid down in its prior cases, without fear or favor.

As did Ukraine, two years ago:

We are live from The ICJ. The Court is now outlining the backgrounds of the two judges nominated by each state involved. Judge Moseneke of South Africa is declaring to exercise his powers honourably, faithfully, impartially & conscientiously. Judge Barak of Israel will follow.

5 Key points of South Africa's presentation:
1) Israeli officials meant what they said when they uttered genocidal statements and were understood as such by troops. One cannot therefore argue that they are being misconstrued.

With hospitals and healthcare workers in #Gaza under attack, Elise Baker writes that investigations and accountability are crucial - and that urgent action must be taken to protect #civilians now.
justsecurity.org/90804/in-defen…

It is prohibited by International Humanitarian Law (and basic moral principles) to shoot people who yielded and carry a white flag, regardless whether they’re combatants or not, regardless of their nationality and religion.

Putin has been accused of starving civilians as a warfare tactic. Will the ICC agree?

For the New Atlanticist, Alana Mitias & Celeste Kmiotek assess new evidence alleging that Russia has committed a war crime in its weaponization of Ukrainian grain. ⤵️
atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atla…

In Gaza there is no time to grieve, only to survive.

The human suffering we have seen unfold is devastating.

We call on the sides to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and protect civilians from harm.

'ceasefire now' UNICEF
'ceasefire now' World Health Organization (WHO)
'ceasefire now' World Food Programme
'ceasefire now' Pope Francis
'ceasefire now' Oxfam International
'ceasefire now' Save the Children International
'ceasefire now' Norwegian Refugee Council
'ceasefire now' António Guterres
'ceasefire now' War Child UK
'ceasefire now' Islamic Relief Worldwide
'ceasefire now'

“I want my father and my brothers. I want my sisters to come out… who’s alive?”

No food, no electricity, no way out and half are children. If this monstrous conduct is not the deliberate perpetration innumerable violations of international humanitarian law, then I am no longer sure what is.