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A delegation comprising family members of Israeli hostages held captive by Hamas in Gaza has embarked on a significant mission to The Hague in the Netherlands.
Their objective was to file complaints of war crimes against Hamas leaders at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
This bold move comes as a response to the ongoing suffering inflicted upon their loved ones and the broader implications of global terrorism.
The journey commenced from Ben Gurion airport on Wednesday morning, as relatives of the abducted hostages, accompanied by around 100 representatives, departed for The Hague.
Among them were several dozen lawyers instrumental in drafting the legal submission to the ICC.
The complaint centres on the egregious actions of Hamas during its brutal assault on October 7, which saw numerous innocent civilians taken hostage.
Ofri Bibas, the sister of Yarden Bibas, who was among those abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, delivered a poignant message before departure.
She likened Hamas to the Nazis, emphasizing the imperative of holding the terror group accountable for its crimes. “All of humanity must stand firm in the face of a global terrorist army in which Hamas is one battalion operating in its service,” Bibas asserted.
She stressed that the time had come to bring the perpetrators to justice, drawing parallels to historical figures such as Hitler, Eichmann, and Goebbels.
Yarden Bibas’s wife, Shiri, and their two young boys, Ariel and Kfir, have become symbols of resilience amid adversity.
Video footage depicting Shiri shielding her sons from Hamas terrorists during the abduction further underscored the harrowing ordeal faced by the hostages and their families.
The filing of complaints at the ICC marks a pivotal moment in the pursuit of justice for the hostages and their families.
While Israel has not ratified the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, the delegation is leveraging the court’s authority to prosecute individuals for serious violations of international law, including war crimes.
The grim reality of the situation is stark: an estimated 130 hostages abducted by Hamas remain in Gaza, with uncertainty surrounding their fate.
Despite the release of 105 civilians during a weeklong truce in late November and the rescue of three hostages by Israeli troops, the ordeal is far from over.
Tragically, the bodies of 11 hostages, including three mistakenly killed by the military, have been recovered.
As the delegation from Israel arrives in The Hague to present their case before the ICC, their efforts serve as a beacon of hope for justice and accountability.
The world watches closely as the voices of the victims and their families echo within the halls of international law, demanding that those responsible for heinous crimes be brought to account.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members