#Israel-Palestine / Will the two meet again in de Hague?
#Duterte visited #Israel in September 2018. Upon his arrival, he declared "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I share the same passion for peace and for people." "We also share the fervor to not allow those who hold corrupt ideologies to destroy family," he added before meeting with #Netanyahu in Jerusalem. "In this respect, Israel can expect any help that the Philippines has to offer." Duterte added that he hopes the warm and friendly relations between Israel and the #Philippines will continue.
Prior to the visit, the former legal advisor to the Philippine government until Duterte's rise to power in 2016, Florin Hilbay, said in an interview with Kan 11 that Israel's decision to invite him was "regrettable" and "says a lot about Israel inviting someone who compared himself to Hitler." According to him, "Many thousands of Filipinos have already died as part of the war on drugs. Some say it has already reached 20,000, some say it's about 10,000. This is a serious violation of human rights and the decision to invite him says a lot about Israel."
In 2016, Duterte told shocked journalists in Manila "Hitler operated in Germany and the Philippines also needs one like him." "Hitler slaughtered three million Jews. In the Philippines there are three million drug users and I would also be happy to eliminate them." According to reports in the international press, during his visit to Israel, Duterte sought to increase weapons purchases, after the United States refused to supply weapons because of the blatant violations of human rights. Before coming to Israel, Duterte was even photographed with an Israeli-made Galil rifle in his hand.
Via https://zoha.org.il/135959/
Israel sold weapons to the Philippines following President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit, despite mounting international condemnation of his regime’s human rights abuses, including crimes against humanity linked to the “war on drugs.” The sales occurred both during and after the visit, with Israeli defense firms securing new contracts and fulfilling prior agreements for equipment used in operations that drew ICC scrutiny.
Despite these concerns, Israel maintained its weapons export relationship with the Philippines. Israeli lawyer Eitay Mack, who led legal challenges against these arms sales, stated: “I am sure that sooner or later the U.N. and the international community will announce that what Duterte is doing, is being responsible for crimes against humanity”.
The International Criminal Court’s Pre-Trial Chamber issued arrest warrants for #Netanyahu and #Gallant on November 21, 2024, following a six-month investigation that began with applications filed by #ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan on May 20, 2024. The three-judge panel unanimously determined there were “reasonable grounds to believe” that both officials were “co-perpetrators for committing the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts”. The court specifically accused Netanyahu and Gallant of “intentionally and knowingly” depriving Gaza’s civilian population of “objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity” during the period from October 8, 2023, to at least May 20, 2024.
@israel
#IsraelWarCrimes
