The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today expressed its support for South Africa’s request to the UN International Court of Justice (ICJ) to adopt emergency measures to protect Palestinian civilians after the Israeli attack on Rafah and its threats of depopulation and further attack on the city.
South Africa has asked the UN court to consider whether Israel’s plan to extend its offensive into the city of Rafah requires additional emergency measures to protect Palestinians’ rights. The Palestine Red Crescent Society reports that more than 100 people were killed early yesterday in Israeli airstrikes targeting the so-called “safe area” of Rafah in Gaza. At least two mosques and a dozen homes were targeted in the strikes.
SEE: South Africa launches ‘urgent request’ to UN court over Israel’s military operations in Rafah
In December of last year, CAIR welcomed the launch of a case by South Africa in the United Nations’ top court accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
In a statement, CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper said:
“By massacring civilians in Rafah and demanding the depopulation of the city, the Israeli government is brazenly attempting to ethnically cleanse the last refuge for Palestinians in Gaza. We support South Africa’s request for emergency measures to protect civilians from the Israeli government’s genocidal campaign, but this is not enough. Our own government must demand an immediate ceasefire and hold Israeli leaders accountable for their crimes.”
He noted that an Al Jazeera correspondent and a photojournalist have been seriously injured in an Israeli airstrike that allegedly targeted them while they were working in Gaza.
SEE: Al Jazeera reporter and camera operator seriously hurt in Israeli airstrike in Gaza
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com