A former head of Human Rights Watch (HRW) described dozens of hostages held by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hamas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hamas</a> as “utter irrelevancies&#8221; on Wednesday.
Kenneth Roth, a visiting professor at Princeton and the former executive director of HRW, accused the Israeli government of giving “diversionary excuses” in response to charges against two top officials by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. The ICC charged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, of committing war crimes in the war against Hamas in Gaza.
One of the “excuses” cited by Roth is Israel’s mission to rescue roughly 100 hostages taken by Hamas during its October 7, 2023, terror attack.
“The Israeli government responded to the ICC war-crime charges with the usual diversionary excuses – the need to liberate the hostages, Hamas’s use of human shields, Israel’s democracy and self-defense, supposed ICC antisemitism – all utter irrelevancies,” Roth said in a post on X.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The Israeli government responded to the ICC war-crime charges with the usual diversionary excuses – the need to liberate the hostages, Hamas’s use of human shields, Israel’s democracy and self-defense, supposed ICC antisemitism – all utter irrelevancies. <a href="https://t.co/HJTGy8oeb5">https://t.co/HJTGy8oeb5</a>
&mdash; Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) <a href="https://twitter.com/KenRoth/status/1861694957389484307?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2024</a></blockquote>
In a later post, Roth <a href="https://x.com/KenRoth/status/1861772388171477432" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that the ICC charges are not about whether Israel’s war is just, but about “HOW [Israel] is waging the war. Nothing justifies war crimes.” But he also <a href="https://x.com/KenRoth/status/1861755302485402057" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and said Israel’s only reason for continuing the war in Gaza was Netanyahu’s “need for a forever war to retain power and avoid prison&#8230;&#8221;
Roth served as the executive director of HRC from 1993 to 2022. He received pushback online for his characterization of the hostages held by Hamas.
“I can think of 101 people, in addition to their families, who might argue that the hostages are not ‘utterly irrelevant’ to IDF operations in Gaza,” Melissa Weiss, executive editor of Jewish Insider, <a href="https://x.com/melissaeweiss/status/1861746703386161202" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> on X.
International Legal Forum CEO Arsen Ostrovsky <a href="https://x.com/Ostrov_A/status/1861695529383555391" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> Roth “an absolute heartless monster.”
Adam Cannon, the director of legal at the British tabloid The Sun, <a href="https://x.com/adam_cannon/status/1861711863228047482" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that Roth’s post showcases the “huge anti Israel bias” as HRC.
Cannon wrote to Roth on X: “Your dismissal of the Hamas atrocities and the hostage they took on Oct 7 just illustrates your total lack of understanding or maybe just abject bias when it comes to this conflict, undermining an organisation which should be at the forefront of helping solve the issues.”

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Former Human Rights Watch Exec Dismisses Hostages Of Hamas As ‘Utter Irrelevancies’

CONTINUE READING

Trump Says Netflix Should Fire ‘Racist, Trump Deranged’ Susan Rice

Trump Orders Release Of ‘Any And All’ Info On Aliens And UFOs

Man Targets DHS Building With Stolen Ambulance In Attempted Arson Attack

Bill Gates Drops Out Of Keynote Speech Last Minute As Epstein Rumors Swirl

Trump Left The World Health Org Last Year. Now, He’s Replacing It.

One Of The CDC’s Biggest Critics Is Now In Charge Of The Whole Thing

News

Benjamin Netanyahu

Global Politics

Hamas

International Criminal Court

Israel

World

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

Former Human Rights Watch Exec Dismisses Hostages Of Hamas As ‘Utter Irrelevancies’