Rights group to urge ICC to seek arrest warrants for Trump, US officials

A group of human rights lawyers and activists plans to submit evidence to the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Office of the Prosecutor next week, urging it to seek arrest warrants for US President Donald Trump and other senior US officials over alleged crimes in Gaza, The National reported.

Members of the Taxpayer Alliance Against Genocide (TAAG) are expected to travel to The Hague on Nov. 11 to present material concerning what the group describes as US officials’ alleged role in aiding and abetting genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Palestinian enclave.

The group said its submission, prepared after nearly a year of evidence gathering, includes sworn statements from doctors who worked in Gaza, eyewitness accounts, whistleblower testimony, video footage and documents concerning US political, military, diplomatic and financial support for Israel.

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The allegations have not been adjudicated by the ICC, and the planned submission does not mean the court has accepted the claims or decided to pursue arrest warrants.

UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese is also expected to address the delegation, alongside international lawyers, medical professionals and Palestinian rights advocates, according to the report.

The planned submission comes amid tensions between Washington and the ICC over the court’s investigations.

The US administration imposed sanctions on ICC officials following the court’s issuance of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

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