UNISONActive is an unofficial blog produced by UNISON activists for UNISON activists. Bringing news, briefings and events from a progressive left perspective.

Tuesday 2 September 2014

Israel’s Crimes in Gaza during Operation Protective Edge – Extraordinary session of the Russell Tribunal

The Russell Tribunal completed its deliberations on 17 March 2013. The final report made a wide range of recommendations to address the unacceptable impact on Palestinian people as a result of the Israeli governmen's apartheid policies.

Following Israel’s aggressive war in Gaza in recent weeks the Tribunal has convened an extraordinary session to be held in Brussels on 24 and 25 September. This session will look into Israel’s Crimes (including War Crimes, Crimes against Humanity and the Crime of Genocide) during the still ongoing “Operation Protective Edge” as well as third States complicity.

During this session, that will take place on one day in Brussels on 24th September, our jury, so far composed of Michael Mansfield QC, John Dugard, Vandana Shiva, Christiane Hessel, Richard Falk, Ahdaf Soueif, Ken Loach, Paul Laverty, Roger Waters and Ronnie Kasrils will listen to testimonies from Paul Behrens, Desmond Travers, Pierre Barbancey (TBC), Max Blumenthal, Eran Efrati, Mads Gilbert, Mohammed Abou-Arab, Mads Gilbert, Paul Mason, Martin Lejeune, Mohammed Omer, Raji Sourani, Ashraf Mashharawi and Ivan Karakashian.

The jury will give its findings on 25 September in the morning during an international press conference at the International Press Center (IPC, Brussels). In the afternoon, the Jury will be received at the European parliament and address a message to the UN General Assembly for its reopening.

Many UNISON regions and branches supported the original Tribunal sessions with publicity and finance. This extraordinary session which has attracted a host of internationally acclaimed artists writers and activists deserves support.

You can follow the event on on facebook here!