Palestinian attorneys are preparing some 936 lawsuits against the Israeli Defense Forces over alleged war crimes committed during its Operation Cast Lead,
held in Gaza earlier this year, German weekly magazine Der Spiegel reported over the weekend.
According to the report, the claims are being filed by Iyad al-Alami, head of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza's legal division. The center's facility was hit during the shelling of the area, and the magazine states that he has gathered numerous claims filed by Palestinians for alleged war crimes.
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His latest efforts may soon result with the Spanish courts hearing the cases.
The advocate told Der Spiegel that his "dream" was to see Israel held accountable for its actions in Gaza by an international court. To that aim, he has enlisted the help of dozens of lawyers in Norway, the UK, Spain and New Zealand.
According to international law, counties can made to answer the courts of third party nations – i.e. those which were not directly involved in the conflict – in cases of war crimes, genocide, torture or crimes against humanity.
This law was also the one which allowed Norway lawyers to file a human rights violations suit against former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
UK and Norway attorneys are also trying to have arrest warrants issued in their respective jurisdictions against senior Israeli officials.
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