Welcome Back to Another Term!

Welcome back everyone! We hope you managed to get some rest over Christmas and you weren't too swamped with assignments. We're really looking forward to this term; we have some exciting events coming up. First up, this week we have a joint session with film soc, fundraising for a climate change charity. Keep an eye on our socials to hear more.

The Christmas period was eventful for Human Rights. It saw Israel brought to the International Court of Justice by South Africa, with a case that alleges that Israel is breaching its obligations under the UN Genocide Convention. Amnesty International has said that this 'could help protect Palestinian civilians' and may put a stop to what Amnesty describes as a 'man-made humanitarian catastrophe' in the Gaza Strip.

South Africa's application alleges that Israel has been genocidal both in its acts and some of its failures to act with regards to Palestinians in Gaza. South Africa is asking the court to order provisional measures, including a call on Israel to immediately halt any military attacks that 'constitute or give rise to violations of the Genocide Convention' and to cease actions that amount to collective punishment and forced displacement. The initial hearings took place on the 11th and 12th of January.

Amnesty International has not made a determination about whether the situation in Gaza amounts to genocide. They have however, expressed that they believe there are 'alarming warning signs.' They pointed to the 23,000 Palestinians killed in just over three months, with a further 10,000 missing and presumed dead under the rubble. Amnesty also described how there has been an 'appalling spike in dehumanizing and racist rhetoric against Palestinians by certain Israeli government and military officials.'

As the devastation in Gaza continues, the civilian death toll in Sudan is also rising. Amnesty reports that there have been a series of ethnically motivated attacks in Ardamata, West Darfur. These were carried out by Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied Arab militias. Hundreds of civilians have been killed or injured.

These attacks began around the first of November when the RSF started to attack Ardamata town's Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) military base. By November 4th RSF had taken over the camp. Predominantly the Masalit community have been targeted, including children, and there has also been some targeting of members of other non-Arab tribes. Witnesses have reported that civilians were executed in their homes, on the streets, and while trying to escape the violence. A doctor reported finding 95 bodies on the 6th of November alone, amongst which was an 18-day-old infant alongside his mother.

Ardamata is home to a camp for internally displaced people, so those staying there will be displaced yet again. RSF have been said to be looting and burning civilian property. The United Nations also have reported that women and girls were subjected to sexual violence in Ardamata’s camp and in their homes.

In December the fighting spread to Sudan's second city Wad Madani, reigniting fears of civilian casualties. The civilian death count stems both from deliberate targeting and failure to take preventative action by both warring parties. Amnesty urges both the RSF and the SAF to provide safe passage to those trying to flee the area.

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By Charlie O'Keeffe