Global 195: A New Initiative to Hold Israel Accountable for War Crimes in Gaza
The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) has launched Global 195, an international initiative to hold Israel accountable for war crimes in Gaza. The initiative aims to enable the prosecution of war crimes suspects worldwide through independent legal groups.
The Goal of Global 195
The ICJP has been collecting evidence of war crimes in Gaza for the past 18 months, compiling a substantial amount of material in line with British criminal legal standards. The initiative’s goal is to set up independent legal groups in every country, with the aim of spreading the initiative globally. "We named the project Global 195 because there are 195 states worldwide, and we aim to spread this initiative globally," said ICJP Director Tayab Ali.
How Global 195 Works
The initiative enables legal groups to use the collected evidence to file complaints with local law enforcement agencies. In cases where authorities fail to investigate or prosecute, these groups will seek private arrest warrants and initiate private prosecutions against individuals accused of war crimes.
Challenges and Obstacles
However, Ali acknowledged that certain governments may continue to shield war crimes suspects. "For example, I cannot imagine the United States even considering prosecuting anybody from Israel, no matter what the individual did, under the present administration," he noted. "But that’s not the case for every country. As ICJP, we have travelled across the globe, engaging with officials at the ambassador, foreign minister, justice minister, and even head of state levels. There is an appetite to act, even if governments lack the ability to do so."
Partners and Support
The initiative is backed by legal and civil society organisations from the UK, Canada, Turkiye, Norway, Malaysia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Shena Martinez of ICJP Canada highlighted the initiative’s purpose, saying: "The aim of this initiative is to try and bring accountability where governments are currently refusing to act."
Conclusion
Global 195 is a crucial step towards holding those responsible for war crimes in Gaza accountable. The initiative’s goal of setting up independent legal groups in every country is a significant step towards ensuring that national and international legal mechanisms are utilised to pursue those accused. With the support of various legal and civil society organisations, Global 195 has the potential to bring justice to those affected by war crimes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the goal of Global 195?
A: The goal of Global 195 is to hold Israel accountable for war crimes in Gaza by setting up independent legal groups in every country.
Q: How does Global 195 work?
A: The initiative enables legal groups to use collected evidence to file complaints with local law enforcement agencies and seek private arrest warrants and private prosecutions against individuals accused of war crimes.
Q: What countries is Global 195 supported by?
A: Global 195 is supported by legal and civil society organisations from the UK, Canada, Turkiye, Norway, Malaysia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Q: What is the significance of Global 195?
A: Global 195 is a crucial step towards holding those responsible for war crimes in Gaza accountable and ensuring that national and international legal mechanisms are utilised to pursue those accused.