Israel, us must face war crime charges activist

Israel and the United States must be brought to justice for war crimes in the recent Gaza war, a human rights activist and journalist tells Press TV.

“The United States and Israel more than any other nations on this planet need to be facing war crimes and crimes against humanity charges,” Ken O’Keefe said in an interview with Press TV on Thursday.

He said the US is the main financial supporter of Israel, adding that Washington has donated Americans’ tax dollars to Tel Aviv instead of spending the money for its own people.

“The United States is the one funding Israel; the American people have been lied to for decades about what is really happening and how their tax dollars is being used. All the while they’re being told like the Europeans as well that you don’t have enough money for social services, education, infrastructure and all these sorts of things, but we do have plenty of money for Israel,” he said.

The activist also lambasted Egypt for siding with Israel in its crimes against Palestinians by keeping the Rafah border crossing closed.

“Egypt has been a partner to Israel … They have not lifted the siege; they have cooperated with Israel; they seem to be best friends and allies in the cause of destroying the Palestinian peoples’ right to live a dignified life,” he said.

More than 1,960 Palestinians, including 470 children, have so far been killed and over 10,100 others injured in the Israeli military aggression against Gaza, which began on July 8.

Gaza has also been under Israel’s blockade since June 2007, a situation that has caused a decline in the standards of living and poverty. The Rafah border crossing, linking Gaza to Egypt, is the only escape route that does not lead into Israel and can be used for the delivery of food and medical stuff to the besieged Palestinian territory. However, Egypt has kept the crossing closed despite international calls to open it.