Imagination

Nation

Some of the morning’s headlines read..

🔖 Body parts ‘all over the place’ after Israeli fighter jets hit Tulkarem refugee camp

🔖 ‘Massacre’: Israeli forces raid West Bank towns after 18 killed

🔖 UNICEF: 690 children wounded in Lebanon in six weeks

🔖 WHO has asked Israel if it can begin second phase of Gaza polio campaign

🔖 Israeli military issues new evacuation orders in southern Lebanon

🔖 Lebanese Red Cross makes ‘urgent’ appeal for blood

🔖 Israeli army tells UN peacekeepers in Lebanon to leave border positions

james_unicef

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Al Jazeera

In researching yesterday’s post, (the ICJ genocide proceedings), I had read through some of Israel’s official court responses… and therefore...

Felt obliged,

fertile ground,

clowned, sound,

out-bound,

earth-bound,

all-around,

bad, hound..

“1. Israel regrets that South Africa seeks once again to misuse the Court’s provisional measures procedure, this time by a highly peculiar and improper request that makes reference to Article 75(1) of the Rules of Court.

2. At the outset, Israel again places on record its principled position that South Africa’s Application to the Court of 29 December 2023 is wholly unfounded in fact and law, morally repugnant, and represents an abuse both of the Genocide Convention and of the Court itself.

3. Israel moreover wishes to reiterate that its commitment to the observance of international law, including the Genocide Convention and international humanitarian law, is unwavering and applies—as Israel has demonstrated in word and deed—in relation to the conduct of the present hostilities in Gaza and independently of any proceeding before the Court.”

🔖 Observations of the State of Israel on the request for additional measures under Article 75 (1) of the Rules of Court

“1. On 6 March 2024, the Republic of South Africa (“South Africa”) made its third request for provisional measures within the span of less than ten weeks. Not only is this fresh request highly unusual in its timing, so close to the earlier requests, but it is also unusual in its bellicose and offensive tone. The accusations made therein are outrageous and categorically denied. Much like South Africa’s Application that instituted the present proceedings, they are wholly unfounded in fact and law, morally repugnant, and represent an abuse both of the Genocide Convention and of the Court itself.

2. The chronology of the case to date reveals much about South Africa’s belligerent and disingenuous approach. On 29 December 2023, South Africa filed an Application instituting proceedings against Israel, alleging violations of provisions of the Genocide Convention (“the Convention”). The Application contained a request for the Court to indicate nine provisional measures,1 the most extreme of which constituted a legally and morally untenable attempt to prevent Israel from exercising its inherent right to defend itself against the unprecedented terrorist onslaught it has faced since the atrocities of 7 October 2023 and to secure the release of the hostages held in Gaza. On 26 January 2024, after oral hearings held on 11-12 January, the Court issued its Order on provisional measures (“the Order”), in which it declined to indicate the excessive measures that South Africa had requested and indicated six other provisional measures.2 The Court called upon Israel to submit a report within one month on all measures taken to give effect to the Order, which Israel has now done.”

🔖 Observations of the State of Israel on South Africa's Request for the indication of provisional measures and modification of the Court's prior provisional measures decisions 

Which led me to further investigate, an organization they mentioned, coined COGAT…

The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT; Hebrew: מתאם פעולות הממשלה בשטחים) is a unit in the Israeli Ministry of Defense that tasked with overseeing civilian policy in the West Bank, as well as facilitating logistical coordination between Israel and the Gaza Strip. It operates in collaboration with Israeli governmental and defense officials.

COGAT's objective is to advance and execute the policies of the Israeli government concerning civilian affairs, including the facilitation of humanitarian issues, the promotion of humanitarian projects, and the facilitation of infrastructure and financial initiatives. It collaborates with the international community, encompassing governmental and non-governmental organizations, to contribute to the development and enhancement of the living standards of Palestinians residing in the areas it prioritizes.

COGAT's headquarters are in the Kirya compound in Tel Aviv. The unit headed by the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Major-General Ghassan Alian.

And in all that,

Nancy-Drewing..

came across,

IDF site,

first tab,

home page,

header bar,

titled,

‘Israel at War’

Israel’s military operations in Gaza are solely directed at Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other armed groups. The IDF does not intentionally target civilians or seek to harm the civilian population. As described above, the present hostilities were forced upon Israel, and while the IDF is bound to mitigate civilian harm in accordance with the law of armed conflict, it is first and foremost Hamas that bears the responsibility for the widespread suffering it has caused by instigating the hostilities on October 7 and using civilians as human shields.

And last resource,

I’ll share with you,

their FAQ page,

quite the stage..

what can I say,

am a big sucker,

for a good Q&A!

theirs titled,

'The War Against Hamas:

Answering Your Most Pressing Questions’,

to which in mind,

I did respond,

“color me interested!,

I have questions!”

I proceed share,

some of my favorites...

3.    What is Israel doing to mitigate civilian casualties?

The dedicated unit that maintains this system (the ‘Civilian Harm Mitigation Unit’, consisting of senior IDF commanders, intelligence officers, Arabic speaking soldiers, legal advisors and other professionals) also constantly monitors in real time the implementation of these evacuation recommendations, including by using open-source tools such as social media, as well as intelligence sources. Updated data is continuously fed to IDF air, naval and ground forces operating in Gaza to increase their awareness of the civilian environment in areas of operation. While it is impossible to completely avoid civilian harm for the reasons detailed above, this mechanism has proven effective in the current hostilities and has saved many lives.

4.    Why has there not been a permanent ceasefire agreement? 

A ceasefire would allow Hamas to get away with murder – literally – and prepare to commit it again.

No State that shares a border with a genocidal terrorist organization would agree to a ceasefire under these conditions. No State would fail to protect its citizens in this situation. Israel’s citizens are no less deserving of protection. 

In the horrendous reality that Hamas has created, the most humanitarian action that Israel can take, for Israelis and Palestinians alike, is to defeat Hamas as quickly and decisively as possible.

10.    What is the response to the charge that a “genocide” is taking place in Gaza?

The accusation of genocide against Israel is not only wholly unfounded as a matter of fact and law, it is morally repugnant. The resort to such rhetoric is designed to weaponize against Israel a term coined to describe the worst crime committed against the Jewish people themselves, and in so doing is antisemitic and deeply offensive to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust. Alleging “genocide” at a time when Israel is lawfully defending itself against an avowedly genocidal terrorist organization, and seeking constantly to minimize harm to the Palestinian civilian population even as Hamas seeks to maximize it, is a libel that empties the term of meaning.

All this to say..

part, my disappointment,

in this world,

(putting aside,

one-year genocide,

force us mark)

is level mediocre,

peddled, propaganda,

you’re killing!

my people for!

wish your bullshit,

far more grounded,

realistic,

allow, decode,

decipher,

why these voices..

stay so hushed,

and so confused

🎶 "The Imagination Song" (Original Music) - SOUTH PARK

And how about?

we, as humans,

create some beauty,

in love and truth,

a world diminish,

dimming, under,

sad sun’s wake,

crying lives,

and lights extinguished

🎥 Art under occupation: The struggle of the Freedom Theatre in Jenin | Witness Documentary

Al Jazeera English | Oct 1, 2024

Since October 7th, Israeli assaults on the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank have intensified. Amidst the chaos of incursions, shootings, demolitions, and drone strikes, The Freedom Theatre stands as a sanctuary for the camp’s youth. Led by Mahmoud Abu Aita, a group of aspiring young actors is rehearsing for a performance abroad.

Despite the violence he has endured, Mahmoud remains hopeful. He believes that this journey, from a life shadowed by conflict to the stage beyond Jenin, can help his students heal and broaden their horizons. But, under the grip of occupation, leaving Jenin can be an elusive dream.

🎶 MC Abdul - I May Be Young

MC Abdul | Sep 26, 2024

I will (inshallah) be attending two Falastin related events this weekend…

Tonight:

Tomorrow:

So... stick around,

stay tuned,

create that art,

and always! recall!

#PalestineWillBeFree

(so help me Allah)

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