Muslim civil rights group says Biden should honor ruling by stopping military aid to Israel
(TAMPA, FL, 5/24/2024) – The Florida Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL), today applauded a ruling by the UN’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague ordering Israel to halt its attacks on Rafah in Gaza.
That court said the humanitarian situation in Rafah had “deteriorated further” since its previous court order, saying the situation there is “disastrous.” The court ruled 13-2 that Israel must immediately halt its military offensive and any other action in Rafah.
Nawaf Salam, the president of ICJ said: “Israel must take effective measures to ensure the unimpeded access to the Gaza Strip of any commission of inquiry, fact-finding mission or investigative body mandated by the competent organs of the UN to investigate allegations of genocide.”
Israel has slaughtered more than 35,000 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children. Some two million Palestinians have been forcibly displaced.
In a statement, CAIR-Florida’s Policy Manager, Mari Marks said:
“We thank the ICJ, South Africa, and the ICC for honoring their commitments to international human rights law, despite enormous pressure from the U.S. and threats they have made. We look to the other signatories in the United Nations to fulfill their obligations to use the means at their disposal including diplomatic relations, withholding arms transfers, and press the UN Security Council for a full, binding ceasefire resolution.
Marks adds, “We strongly urge the United States Congress to uphold the Geneva Convention, their U.N. obligations, and laws under the Rome Statute, and dispense with making decisions based on the Israel Lobby.”
“As Professor John Mearsheimer recently stated in an interview with TRT World, the relationship with Israel is not a benefit to the U.S., it is an albatross around [the US’s] neck.
‘You wouldn’t need a lobby if there were a strategic and moral reason for a close relationship. The reason you need a lobby is because Israel is NOT a strategic asset, it’s a strategic liability, and its behavior toward the Palestinians is morally reprehensible, and I want to be clear, it has been for a long period of time. This is not something that started on October 7th.’
Marks continues, “The United States Congress and President must honor the findings of the International Court of Justice, and that of the International Criminal Court. Humanitarian aid must be let in with no restrictions, the Israeli hostages in Gaza, and Palestinians in Israeli prisons must be released.”
This week, CAIR welcomed the recognition of the state of Palestine by Norway, Ireland and Spain, and called on the Biden administration to stop blocking that nation’s full United Nations membership.
The mission of CAIR-Florida is to protect civil rights, promote understanding of Islam, advocate for justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR-Florida es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia y empoderar a los musulmanes estadounidenses.
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CONTACT: Wilfredo Amr Ruiz, Media and Outreach Director, (305) 502-6749, [email protected]
