Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 2:24 PM
Subject: Action against war crimes.
To:
The Office of the Prosecutor,
International Criminal Court
PO
Box 19519
2500CM, The Hague
The Netherlands
Tel.: +31 70 515 85 15
or
Fax: +31 70 515 85 55
e-mail address:
pio@icc-cpi.int
July, 26,
2006
Dear Sir or Madam,
I understand that under the Rome
Statute members of the Public may refer to your attention alleged major war
crimes for investigation and possible prosecution.
I note that under the
Rome Statute you are empowered to consider such crimes. I further note that the
very existence of your court helps to prevent such crimes by serving notice that
these cannot in future be carried out with total impunity.
I note that
the Rome Statute directs your consideration to "the most serious crimes of
international concern," and that Article 8 of the above Statute stipulates: "The
Court shall have jurisdiction in respect of war crimes in particular when
committed as part of a plan or policy or as part of a large-scale commission of
such crimes."Furthermore that 'for the purposes of this Statute, "war crimes"
means ...(iv) 'Extensive destruction ... not justified by military necessity and
carried out unlawfully and wantonly." And that furthermore "other serious
violations" include "intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects,
that is, objects which are not military objectives,"
I further note that
these actions are, as the Statute requires, part of a "plan". Israeli military
authorities have publicly stated this, saying their plan requires many more days
or weeks of continuing military action and destruction. Their plan has already
resulted in what the Lebanese government have called a 'catastrophe' inflicted
on their civilian population, one that is continuing to create havoc and grave
suffering, driving hundreds of thousands from their homes, destroying much of
the civilian infrastructure of Lebanon.
I am therefore convinced that
these crimes meet the requirements for action of the Rome Statute. I thus
urgently ask that you immediately initiate research with a view to seeing if a
prosecution is called for, into the current devastating bombing and shelling of
the state of Lebanon, including of its roads and road traffic, power stations,
airports and sea ports, bridges and homes, by the political and military
leadership of the State of Israel.
We are hopeful that your
immediate action will help to deter further war crimes and will
bring about immediate cessation of the current demolition, murder and
destruction in Lebanon and Palestine, and will be a detterence to future war
crimes.
Sincerely,
Ismail Zayid, MD.
President, Canada Palestine
Association.
P.O.Box, 1085,
Halifax, NS.
Canada, B3J 2X1