Yesterday, Friday, a federal court in Oakland, California, held a hearing to consider a lawsuit filed by the Center for Constitutional Rights in the United States, accusing President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin of “complicity” in the genocide crimes committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip.
Judge Jeffrey White described the case as the most difficult to come before the court.
During the session – which was held in the presence of lawyers representing Biden, Blinken, Austin and the Center for Constitutional Rights – the court listened to the testimonies of lawyers, activists and doctors from Gaza regarding the killing and destruction that Palestinians have been exposed to in the Strip since last October 7, when the death toll exceeded 29 thousand. The injured are 64 thousand.
Manhattan Tribune’s correspondent – who was in court – said that the lawyers for the lawsuit point out that the current US administration is violating the 1948 Genocide Convention by supplying weapons to Israel, indicating that the defendants’ lawyers believe that the court does not have the authority to decide on this matter. The matter, and they present arguments, including the issue of separation of powers in the United States.
The Center for Constitutional Rights in the United States filed this civil lawsuit against the president and the two foreign ministers last November on behalf of Palestinian organizations, Palestinians in Gaza, and American citizens with relatives in the Strip.
Case details
The lawsuit stated that the three defendants not only failed to implement their obligations to prevent genocide in Gaza, but also created the conditions for it to occur by providing unconditional military and political support to Israel.
The indictment also stated that one of the Biden administration’s responsibilities is to prevent genocide in accordance with international laws and norms.
According to the lawsuit, the president and the secretaries of state and defense have repeatedly refused to use their clear and significant influence to set conditions or limits on Israeli bombing of Gaza despite mounting evidence of Israeli policies directed toward mass harm to the Palestinian population of Gaza.
The Center for Constitutional Rights in the United States – which deals with civil liberties – says that the prolonged Israeli occupation of Palestine, the siege imposed on Gaza, and the support provided by the United States created conditions conducive to genocide committed by Israel.
It is noteworthy that despite the huge numbers of civilian casualties in Gaza, the administration of US President Joe Biden still rejects a ceasefire, and it has also used its veto in the UN Security Council against draft resolutions calling for an end to the war on the Strip.
