Geneva Conventions

The Hind Rajab Foundation filed a criminal complaint in Italy against Israeli soldier Arik Ben Asulin, alleging war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide during Israel's war on Gaza. The complaint cites social media evidence showing his involvement in demolitions of civilian infrastructure, including Al-Azhar University and residential areas in Shujaiya and the Netzarim Corridor, and invokes Italy's universal jurisdiction under the Geneva Conventions and Rome Statute.

The UN Secretary-General's annual report on protecting civilians in armed conflict highlights persistent violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) in regions like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Sudan, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and Ukraine. The report underscores a growing gap between IHL principles and the realities of civilian harm, with patterns of infrastructure destruction and the law's instrumentalization to justify unlawful conduct.

The article discusses the limitations of international law in preventing mass atrocities, questioning its effectiveness in holding those in power accountable. International law has the potential to hold power to account, but it may not be enough to stop mass atrocities. The article highlights the gap between theory and practice.

Rep. Seth Moulton accused Secretary of War Pete Hegseth of committing war crimes by ordering strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean, comparing Hegseth's actions to Nazi submarine captains tried during WWII. Moulton claimed the targets were likely fishermen, not war criminals, and criticized the 'double tap' strikes on survivors.