Human rights Archives

17Sep

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Ben & Jerry’s Cofounder Quits, Citing Lack of Freedom to Stand for Values

Censorship on Israel-Palestine Is At Center of Dispute with Corporate Owners September 17, 2025—In a blow to the concept of conscience capitalism, Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, resigned today, citing a sudden lack of freedom to pursue values of peace, justice, and human rights for which the company is known. A longstanding dispute with corporate owners, first Unilever and now Magnum, accelerated in 2024 when Ben & Jerry’s board called for a ceasefire in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. It was one of the few companies that took a stand in the Israel-Hamas war and ensuing genocide. Unique Merger Granting Freedom When Greenfield and co-founder Ben Cohen sold their Vermont-based company to Unilever for $326 million in 2000, they negotiated a ...

Israel Is Committing Genocide, Scholars Body Declares

1Sep

By No Comments

Human rights, Legal Battles, International Law, Justice, Middle East, Types of News: Brief

Israel Is Committing Genocide, Scholars Body Declares

Association Calls on States to Prevent and Punish Israel for Its Genocide September 1, 2025—A leading international organization studying genocide declared that the Israeli government has “engaged in systematic and widespread crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide” in Gaza. The resolution by the International Association of Genocide Scholars adds to a growing collection of declarations and reports by international bodies, human rights organizations, scholars of holocaust studies, and investigative bodies that have concluded Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide. The IAGS approved its resolution on August 31, 2025. It is a strong indictment of Israel’s attacks against civilians in Gaza. It cites not only military actions, which have killed over 59,000 people—the actua...

Nonprofits File ICC Complaint Against Israeli Officers for Killing Journalists

14Aug

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Human rights, Legal Battles, International Law, Justice, Middle East, Types of News: Analysis

Nonprofits File ICC Complaint Against Israeli Officers for Killing Journalists

Israeli Precision-Drone Strike Assassinated 7, Including 6 Journalists August 14, 2024—Following the weekend precision-targeted strike on a tent housing an Al Jazeera crew, the Israeli military came under condemnation and scrutiny by multiple nonprofits, lawmakers, UN officials, and news organizations. Two organizations went further. They assigned criminal culpability to the Israeli officers who reportedly ordered the attack. The Hind Rajab Foundation and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court against seven Israeli Defense Force officers, including Major Gen. Tomer Bar. Lieutenant Gen. Eyal Zamir, Major Gen. Yaniv Asor, Gen. “A” (Unit 8200), Palmachim Airbase Commander, “Black Snake” Sq Commander, and Colonel Avichay Adraee, ac...

Trump Deploys National Guard Soldiers to DC Against Homeless, Civilians

11Aug

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Democracy, Human rights, Types of News: Brief, United States

Trump Deploys National Guard Soldiers to DC Against Homeless, Civilians

August 11, 2025—In the latest display of executive power, President Donald Trump announced plans to deploy National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., taking over the nation’s capital with military force. “This is liberation day in D.C., and we’re going to take our Capitol back. We’re taking it back…. I’m officially invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. You know what that is? And placing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control,” Trump said. “In addition, I’m deploying the National Guard to help reestablish law, order, and public safety.” The White House declared a "crime emergency" and placed the District under the control of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. The plan involves 800 National Guard troops charged with removing homel...

The Netherlands Names the United States in Threat Assessment

6Aug

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Human rights, Legal Battles, International Law, Justice, Types of News: Analysis

The Netherlands Names the United States in Threat Assessment

U.S. Sanctions as State Threat Against International Courts of Justice August 6, 2025—The Netherlands is a significant player in Europe with close ties to the United States. It’s a founding member of both the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance and the European Union. So when the Dutch government conducts a threat assessment and names the United States, an ally, as a peril to its interests, it’s significant. Let’s step back. In July, the Netherlands published its annual “The State Actors Threat Assessment.” The areas of Dutch concerns are many: Russia’s military operations and threat to NATO, the geopolitical rise of China and BRICS, Iran’s ballistic missiles, and the changing world order. What’s interesting is that this year, the United States is included among the top threats. So too...

Extreme Famine Reaches Gaza Due to Israel’s Draconian Aid Restrictions

30Jul

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Foreign Aid, International Development, Human rights, Middle East, Types of News: Brief

Extreme Famine Reaches Gaza Due to Israel’s Draconian Aid Restrictions

Gaza Population Tips From Mass Starvation to Mass Death, Crisis Group Reports July 30, 2025--Stage 4 and 5 famine has reached the Gaza Strip, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) platform, the world's monitor on famine. The entire population faces acute food insecurity while a half a million people face starvation. "Nineteen months into the conflict, the Gaza Strip is still confronted with a critical risk of Famine. Over 60 days have passed since all humanitarian aid and commercial supplies were blocked from entering the territory. Goods indispensable for people’s survival are either depleted or expected to run out in the coming weeks," the IPC warning said. Defying international law against using starvation as a weapon of war, Israeli has repeate...

U.S. Ships Noncitizen Inmates to Third Countries

20Jul

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Foreign Aid, International Development, Human rights, Immigration, Migration, Legal Battles, International Law, Justice, Types of News: Analysis, United States

U.S. Ships Noncitizen Inmates to Third Countries

Eswatini Joins El Salvador and South Sudan for Importing Detainees U.S. ships noncitizens abroad, including convicted criminals July 20, 2025—In undisclosed deals with third countries, the U.S. government is shipping noncitizens abroad to be locked up in detention centers. The latest shipment to the Kingdom of Eswatini included five people who had been previously convicted in U.S. courts of murder, child rape, robbery, and homicide, according to the Department of Homeland Security. DHS released photos of the detainees, along with their convictions, but not their names. DHS says the home countries of Vietnam, Laos, Jamaica, Cuba, and Yemen “refused to take them back.” Notably, neither country disclosed details of the deal or revealed information about the financial agreement. The s...

Gaza in ‘Darkest Point Yet’ Under Militarized Food Distribution System

28May

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Foreign Aid, International Development, Human rights, Legal Battles, International Law, Justice, Types of News: Brief

Gaza in ‘Darkest Point Yet’ Under Militarized Food Distribution System

Entire Population Facing Famine As US-Israel Take over 'Trickle' of Aid May 28, 2025—Israel and the United States implemented a new mechanism for aid distribution in the Gaza Strip under a controversial plan to replace UN-aid groups with military and private contractors. Facing pressure from the United Kingdom, France and Canada to allow aid into Gaza, Israel has allowed a small amount into the small enclave, but not nearly enough, humanitarian aid leaders say. Aid leaders say the population in Gaza is enduring the "darkest point yet" in the brutal conflict and occupation of the Israeli military. Since the beginning of the war, Israel has faced a litmus test over how it would respond. Arguably, it has failed. Rather than fighting the Hamas militant brigades, the Israeli military has ...

United Kingdom Faces Calls to Impose Sanctions on Israel

28May

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Human rights, Legal Battles, International Law, Justice, Sanctions, Types of News: Brief

United Kingdom Faces Calls to Impose Sanctions on Israel

Over 800 Prominent U.K. Lawyers Call for Immediate Sanctions and Other Actions May 28, 2025—Under mounting evidence of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the strong likelihood of genocide by Israel against Palestinians, the United Kingdom is facing pressure to act to uphold international law. On Monday, over 800 lawyers signed a letter calling on U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to take decisive steps, including sanctions, to uphold the rule of law. “All States, including the UK, are legally obliged to take all reasonable steps within their power to prevent and punish genocide; to ensure respect for international humanitarian law; and to bring to an end violations of jus cogens norms of international law. The UK’s actions to date have failed to meet those standards,” the ...

US Vetos UNSC Resolution Calling for A Ceasefire

8Dec

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy and International Law, Human rights, Middle East, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, UN Security Council, Types of News: Videos

US Vetos UNSC Resolution Calling for A Ceasefire

December 8, 2023--The United States vetoed another resolution in the UN Security Council regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The meeting came as António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, invoked a rarely used tool in the UN Charter to call for a special meeting in the UNSC. Article 99 gives the Secretary-General the right to bring to the Security Council any matter that "may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.” It is the first time Guterres used it. Thirteen members of the Security Council voted for the resolution. The United Kingdom abstained. The United States voted against it, effectively vetoing it as one of the five permanent members. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2TrUKMw_6Q