A federal court in California has opened a legal lawsuit against US President and other high-ranking US officials. It alleges Joe Biden’s complicity in Israeli “genocide” in Gaza.
The petitioners charge Biden, US Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense with inability to put a stop and complicity in the Israeli administration’s growing genocide. The accused were represented by attorneys during Friday’s sessions.
The lawsuit was filed by the US civil liberties organization Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) on behalf of the human rights organization Defense for Children – Palestine, the Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq and eight US citizens and Palestinians who have loved ones in Gaza.
The court heard testimony on Friday from attorneys, organizers, and activists, as well as medical professionals in Gaza, regarding the predicament that the Palestinian people have been entangled in in for over 100 days.
After a Hamas attack on Israel that claimed the lives of over 1,100 people, Israel initiated bombarding Gaza, which resulted in the deaths of over 26,000 Palestinians.
Biden, Blinken, and Austin “have not only been failing to uphold the country’s obligation to prevent a genocide but have enabled the conditions for its development by providing unconditional military and diplomatic support [to Israel],” according to the CCR case, which was initially submitted in November of last year.
The CCR is requesting that the court rule that these parties have disregarded their obligation under federal common law and customary international law to take all reasonable steps to stop Israel from perpetrating genocide against the Gaza-based Palestinian population.
Additionally, the organization is urging the US to stop the violence against Palestinians in Gaza by using its clout over Israel.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) mandated earlier on Friday that Israel take all reasonable steps to stop crimes of genocide against Gaza and increase its aid to people. Nevertheless, it did not demand the ceasefire that South Africa, the country that brought the matter to the ICJ, had demanded. Both sides to the lawsuit have found it as a victory.
