10/16/2024–|Last updated: 10/16/202411:54 PM (Mecca time)
Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper considered the letter threatening to impose an American arms embargo from the United States to Israel, if humanitarian aid could not be delivered to the Gaza Strip, “completely unusual.”
The newspaper said – in its report – that the “leaked” letter might implicate Israel in the International Criminal Court in The Hague, whose Prosecutor General Karim Khan requested that it issue arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Yoav Galant.
Yedioth Ahronoth hinted that the American message and the international atmosphere against Israel that has escalated in recent days, especially against the backdrop of the war in Lebanon and reports of cutting off supplies to the northern Gaza Strip, may accelerate the court’s decision to issue orders, and that the American message will reinforce the court’s decision.
Who leaked the message?
The newspaper believes that whoever leaked it came from Israel itself, to embarrass the Americans – perhaps – and present them as threatening Israel with the arms embargo, but “he did not take into account that he was actually shooting Israel in the foot and confirming the allegations of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court,” according to the newspaper’s report.
The newspaper explains that in the letter sent by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Israel is called upon to take concrete steps within 30 days.
The letter also includes, in addition to the permanent transfer of humanitarian aid, the US administration calling on Israel to also allow Red Cross visits to Palestinian detainees and to freeze legislation against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Yedioth Ahronoth says that Ministers Blinken and Austin are, in fact, accusing Israel of “arbitrarily preventing” the entry of trucks into the northern Gaza Strip. In court, the prosecutor must prove that this is an “organised policy”, and that those against whom an order is sought acted in accordance with this policy; To prove the crime of genocide against humanity.
She believes that leaking the letter helps “prove this claim, which is considered very difficult to prove,” as it is rare to have documents attesting to the existence of a criminal plan.
Proof of evidence
Last March, according to the letter, Israel pledged to allow a series of conditions that allowed the continued transfer of military aid to Tel Aviv during its ongoing war in Gaza.
The American letter – which was delivered to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer – stated, “Since the promises made, the amount of aid provided has decreased by more than 50%,” and that “the amount of aid that entered Gaza in September was the lowest during the year.” The entire past,” according to the newspaper.
The newspaper adds, “This letter may serve as strong proof for the Prosecutor’s use that Israel has arbitrarily prevented the delivery of humanitarian aid at least until March 2024.” Otherwise, there would not have been a need for American confirmation letters.
The newspaper’s report notes that French President Emmanuel Macron’s statements against Israel strengthen the French judge, who is one of the three judges in the preliminary lineup for the trial.
The newspaper points out that “the Americans are not isolated from what is happening in The Hague, and the leak of the letter may strengthen the judges who are supposed to make a decision regarding the Attorney General’s request to issue urgent arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant against the backdrop of his allegations in light of the continuing starvation crimes.”
Yedioth Ahronoth quotes the US representative to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, as saying this evening, Wednesday – during a discussion in the UN Security Council – “We have made clear to Israel that it needs to make more efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”
Greenfield added, “For the first time in weeks, the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing has been reopened, and Israel has committed to allowing trucks to enter northern Gaza, but that is not enough. More and more are needed.”
The American official confirmed that Washington “insists on the need to allow food supplies to enter immediately, and the need for humanitarian aid to reach various parts of Gaza, and to allow polio vaccination and the provision of humanitarian aid, saying that the starvation policy in northern Gaza will be terrible and unacceptable, and has consequences under international and American law.” According to the newspaper.