Latest news with #Allied
Cision Canada
3 hours ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
Consco Foods Acquires Montreal-Based Company Allied Food Distributors
MONTREAL, July 30, 2025 /CNW/ - Consco Foods Inc., a leading protein importer, exporter and master distributor, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Allied Food Distributors, a prominent Canadian, worldwide importer and distributor of high-quality kosher food brands. For over 90 years, Allied has built a strong reputation sourcing and distributing premium kosher food products to customers across Canada. As the Canadian importer and distributor of OSEM products, along with other leading global brands, Allied is recognized as a trusted and dynamic partner. Effective August 1, 2025, Consco has also been appointed the exclusive Canadian importer and distribution partner for Agri Star Meat & Poultry, known for its Aaron's Best brand of deli products. The acquisition of Allied brings together these leading kosher brands under one roof, significantly expanding the product offering and positioning the combined companies as the go-to distributor for quality kosher products, from around the world, delivered with reliability, efficiency, and a commitment to customer service. Allied's operations have transitioned to Consco's 140,000 sq. foot state-of-the-art distribution center. While fully integrated into Consco's infrastructure, Allied will continue to operate independently on a day-to-day basis as a division of Consco Foods. This structure preserves the strength of the Allied brand and its long-standing relationships, while enhancing service, product offering, and national reach. "We're passionate about the kosher space and see this as a tremendous opportunity to grow with best-in-class product offerings and brands," said Ronnie and Mikey Cons, Co-Presidents of Consco Foods. "The addition of Allied as a division of Consco allows us to expand our offering with the right partners, the right brands, and a strong commitment to service." Mitchell Weitzman, Vice President at Allied, commented: "Allied has been a trusted name in kosher food distribution for decades. We're proud to bring it together with Consco and look forward to expanding the business with additional lines that meet our customers' evolving needs." "This acquisition brings together trusted kosher brands under one roof and we are well positioned to be the go-to distributor for quality kosher food products in Canada" said Daniel Dabora, CFO of Consco Foods. About Consco Foods Inc. Consco Foods Inc. is a leading importer and master distributor of fresh and frozen protein products, based in Quebec, Canada. With a strong presence in the industry, Consco Foods is dedicated to delivering high-quality products and exceptional service to its customers.
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First Post
11 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
Targeting the captive: Prison attacks in modern warfare
Whatever symbolism it may carry, targeting prisons in enemy territory is not a new tactic as seen in the Israel-Iran and Russia-Ukraine wars read more On July 28, news broke that Russia had attacked a prison in the Zaporizhzhia region. This left 22 dead and over 40 injured. The Zaporizhzhia region is one of conflict, located in southeastern Ukraine and has been the victim of frequent targeting by Russian forces since the onset of the war in 2022. Four guarded aerial bombs hit the Bilenkivska Correctional Colony destroying the dining hall as well as damaging the administrative and quarantine buildings. Zaporizhzhia governor Ivan Fedorov also stated that neighbouring private residences and homes were destroyed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A month ago, on June 23, Israel attacked the Iranian Evin Prison in northern Tehran. According to Iranian authorities, at least 80 civilians were killed in the attack and consequently labelled it a 'war crime.' History of prisons under siege From Operation Jericho during the Second World War to the Son Tay Raid during the Vietnam War to the most recent Russian attack on the Zaporizhzhia prison, prison attacks during times of war is not an unseen phenomenon. They are often strategic moves — calculated risks. Intentional brush strokes in the art of war. Operation Jericho was an Allied operation, primarily led by the British Royal Air Force, in 1944. Its aim was to free political prisoners and French resistance fighters imprisoned in the Amiens Prison in Nazi-occupied France. Through the use of 18 Mosquito fighter-bombers from the RAF's No.14 wing as well as Typhoon fighters, the Allied forces were able to breach the prison walls and free over a 100 prisoners. In the process over 258 people were killed including prisoners, guards and German personnel. In the aftermath of the war many hypothesized that Operation Jericho was not only a prison break but a psychological message to show Allied support for the French suffocating under the regime of Nazi-occupied France. The Son Tay Raid (officially known as Operation Ivory Coast), was an American military operation in 1970 that aimed to free prisoners of war from the Son Tay prison camp in North Vietnam. During the operation they discovered that the POWs had been moved to another camp in the months before the raid due to flooding and poor conditions. There were no American POWs and no American casualties, but instead the camp became a place for the killing of dozens of enemy soldiers. Operation Ivory Coast failed in its primary mission — to free American POWs; however, it became a symbolic gesture of American fraternity. The world received the message that the United States would not let their soldiers be forgotten and they would go to the most extreme lengths to bring them back. Striking the defenceless Prison attacks and raids are not new, but in today's conflict-ridden world they are a strategic tool that is being used differently. In the past they could be seen as a symbol of solidarity and hope, now they are a show of power and domination. Israel's attack forced the Iranians to move the detainees from Evin prison to Qarchak prison and the Greater Tehran Central Penitentiary (Fashafouyeh Prison) which reportedly have even worse conditions than Evin prison does. Iranian journalist Mehdi Mahmoodian, who was transferred from Even to Fashafouyeh, stated on his Instagram page that the prisoners that were held there were 'long forgotten' due to their non-political nature. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But what did Israel have to gain from the Evin prison attack? The Israeli military stated that Evin was a 'symbol of oppression for the Iranian people' and moreover, stated it was used for 'intelligence operations against Israel, including counter-espionage.' Prisons, under international law, are considered civilian objects not military, which means the attack could be a violation of international humanitarian law. The attack was not a raid or a prison break, it was a way for Israel to demonstrate its power amid heightening tensions during June's 12-day war. Russia's attack on Bilenkivska Correctional Colony was followed by an attack on Tuesday morning in the village of Novoplatonivka in the Kharkiv region. Five people, who had ventured out to acquire humanitarian aid, were killed during this assault. Theatres of power Once prisons were a symbol of repression and oppression. In today's world, prisons and other civilian objects are falling victim to the widening cracks of a once multilateral system. War is waged at the cost of millions of innocent lives, and war-ridden zones are the theatres of power. Most people dream of success in life, but those in war-ridden countries dream of survival.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Netflix is removing 48 movies next week — here are the 5 you need to watch right now
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The first of the month brings with it plenty of new movies on Netflix, but there's a price to pay for these new watchlist options. As the streaming service adds new content to its library, it also removes a sizeable chunk of titles to make some room. On Friday, Aug. 1, Netflix is set to remove almost 50 movies, and that includes some big hitters, including one of Christopher Nolan's very best efforts, and some of the most iconic features from the legendary Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. So, before you turn your attention to what's new on Netflix in August, be sure to check out these excellent movies before they wave goodbye to the big red streamer (at least for now, streaming platforms are always rotating content, so perhaps they will return a little way down the road). 'Dunkirk' (2017) Picking Christopher Nolan's best movie is a thankless task, but for me, 'Dunkirk' would most definitely be up there. This ultra-tense war movie boasts some of the director's most stunning camerawork, and the bombastic soundscape will have your entire living room vibrating. Plus, it's all set to a powerful score by the legendary Hans Zimmer. If there's one area where 'Dunkirk' has proved divisive, it's the core story. Its nonlinear structure won't work for everybody, and there's a lack of truly compelling characters. However, it does a fantastic job of capturing an atmosphere of fear and chaos. Set during World War II, it depicts the evacuation of Dunkirk beach from multiple perspectives and showcases a military operation that saved hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers. Watch "Dunkirk" on Netflix until August 1 'Everest' (2015) The frozen peak of Mount Everest is pretty much the perfect setting for a survival thriller, and so the creatively-titled 'Everest' proves to be. Starring Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, Robin Wright, Keira Knightley, Sam Worthington and Jake Gyllenhaal, it's inspired by a real-life disaster in 1996, which saw eight climbers die when attempting to descend from the summit. 'Everest' packs plenty of sweeping vistas which showcase the beauty of the world's tallest mountain, but very quickly the picturesque setting becomes anything but pretty, as the destructive force of Mother Nature throws two groups of climbers into a desperate battle for survival. The movie's narrative chops aren't anything truly original, but the cast is packed with talent, and it's very easy to get invested in the climber's plight as you hope they can reach safety before it's too late. Watch "Everest" on Netflix until August 1 'Happy Gilmore' (1996) I'm more than a little surprised to see 'Happy Gilmore' playing its final round on Netflix this week. Netflix has just released the long-in-the-making sequel, so you'd have thought the streaming service would have been very eager to keep the original available so fans could marathon both. Of course, streaming rights are a thorny issue, so this is likely a decision out of Netflix's hands rather than anything the platform bosses have opted to do themselves. If you've never seen, or somehow never heard of, this Adam Sandler '90s comedy classic, it launched at the height of his popularity, and sees the goofball actor play the anonymous Happy Gilmore. Gilmore is an aspiring hockey player who can't quite make the grade due to his subpar skating skills and hotheaded temper. In need of money to prevent his grandma from losing her home, he puts his slapshot skills to use and tries to become a pro golfer. Watch "Happy Gilmore" on Netflix until August 1 'Rear Window' (1954) I'm pretty disheartened to see that Netflix is removing the majority of its collection of Hitchcock movies on August 1. This includes 'Psycho,' 'The Birds, 'The Man Who Knew Too Much,' and my personal favorite, 'Rear Window.' This classic thriller has been a must-watch for more than 70 years, and its influence on the mystery genre is still felt to this very day. The movie marked the second collaboration between James Stewart and Alfred Hitchcock, and sees Stewart play a photojournalist confined to his humid apartment after breaking his leg during an assignment. With little to do other than watch the world go by from his front window, he soon becomes convinced his neighbor has committed a terrible murder. The flick is a masterclass in slowly ratcheting tension, and it plays with perspective in some clever ways. After all, we only see what's happening from Jeff's limited vantage point. Watch "Rear Window" on Netflix until August 1 'The Lego Movie' (2014) 'The Lego Movie' was the brickbuster I always wanted as a kid. I spent my youth watching (and making my own) Lego stop-motion videos, so this 2014 animated movie evoked a whole heap of nostalgia the first time I saw it in theaters. But even if you don't have a deep connection with the Danish construction toy, it's still a hugely entertaining family flick that's bursting with zany humor, ridiculous characters and some of the best animation around. 'The Lego Movie' follows the adventures of an average mini-figure called Emmet (voiced by Chris Pratt). He lives in the city of Bricksburg and lives an unadventurous life. But this world is shattered when he stumbles upon the mysterious 'Piece of Resistance' and becomes the only hope of saving the entire Lego universe from the evil Lord Business (Will Ferrell). Teaming up with master builders Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks) and Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman), it's now up to the clueless Emmet to save the day without falling to pieces. Watch "The Lego Movie" on Netflix until August 1 More from Tom's Guide 7 top new movies and shows to stream this weekend The best streaming services to subscribe to right now 3 best mystery thriller movies on Netflix to stream
The Star
2 days ago
- General
- The Star
KK Community Hall destroyed in midnight blaze
The historical Kota Kinabalu Community Hall was destroyed in a fire Tuesday (July 29). KOTA KINABALU: A historical community centre in the heart of the city's central business district here has been destroyed in a fire. The 12.30am blaze on Tuesday (July 29) destroyed 80% of the hall that sits along Jalan Dewan at the foothill of the city's Signal Hill. No casualties were reported, and an investigation is underway to establish the cause of the fire. Teams of firemen from three stations in Kota Kinabalu and neighbouring Penampang district rushed to the scene after receiving a distress call at 12.44am, but were only able to bring the fire under control by 2.40am before dousing it completely by 3.30am. The fire engulfing the Kota Kinabalu Community Hall. The interior of the hall was destroyed, although the building's structure was not badly damaged. Sabah Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Muhammad Taqiuddin Victor Doon said the fire also spread to the adjacent Kota Kinabalu City Hall recycling store. 'When we arrived, we found that the fire involved almost the entire hall and a recycling storage store," he said. The Kota Kinabalu Community Hall is seen as a historical landmark in the city as it was used by the British colonial government, and was the site of major events, including gatherings for the formation of Malaysia. The hall, then known as Jesselton Community Hall (the colonial name of Kota Kinabalu), was officially opened in 1958 by British North Borneo governor Sir Roland Turnbull. According to records, the construction was financed with money obtained by the Committee of the Management of Japanese Assets following the end of World War II in 1945. Firemen putting out the fire inside the Kota Kinabalu Community Hall. The hall was a venue for community and political gatherings, exhibitions and sporting events such as boxing, badminton and basketball matches in its more than six-decade history. Its design was considered advanced for the times, with a pin-based gable frame and 15-degree pitch allowing the hall to be built without interior pillars. This design enabled it to have a capacity of 800 people and accommodate basketball and badminton courts. The steel framework was fabricated in Melbourne, Australia, and shipped to Sabah. The construction was handled by a local company for a total cost of 280,730 North Borneo dollars. In the early 2000s, the state government proposed to demolish and relocate the hall but heritage conservation activists protested, and the idea was shelved. The hall stood as a post-war symbol of reconstruction, as most of Jesselton was destroyed during the Allied liberation of Sabah from the Japanese.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
This is the worst criminal conduct known to humankind
The images of starving children coming out of Gaza reminded me of the images of the liberation of the concentration camps at the end of World War II. Victims and perpetrators come in all colours, races and religions. Maybe Shakespeare would have said: "If you starve us, do we not look skeletal". In Tel Aviv last week, Jewish people took to the streets holding photographs of children whose starvation is being caused by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netayahu's illegal waging of an aggressive war and the illegal withholding of food in Gaza. If you offend decency, do we not protest. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said this week: "Quite clearly it is a breach of international law to stop food being delivered which was a decision that Israel made in March." He said, "You can't hold innocent people responsible" for the actions of Hamas. Indeed, the only lawful warfare is defence. What Israel is doing in Gaza has for months now gone well beyond what would be a legitimate defensive response to the Hamas attacks in October 2023. It is similar to the unnecessary Allied fire-bombing of Dresden in February 1945. Waging an aggressive war is the worst criminal conduct known to humankind. It is worse than the crimes of serial killers or serial rapists. Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin should be compared to Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, the Columbine School shooters, or Martin Bryant - not just other authoritarian leaders of nations. Those who wage an aggressive war do not just condone or turn a blind eye to death and suffering; they cause it - as surely as a serial killer. Worse, because they bring many of the resources of the state and its people to join in to their crime - wittingly or unwittingly - the scale of the crime is much greater than that of the serial killer or mass shooter, and so is the scale of evil. Netanyahu's action a breach of international law the same as Putin's action because he is waging war beyond the borders of his own nation as recognised by the United Nations. It is the same as Putin's because its aim is the genocidal removal of the civilian populations. "Netanyahu's action" is the deliberate starvation of innocent civilians, particularly children. There is more than enough food to prevent the starvation of anyone in Gaza. The reason people are starving is that the food is not getting through. And getting it through or not getting it through is within the power of Netanyahu. He is causing the starvation and death. "To starve" is a peculiar verb. It is too often used in the passive voice, as in, "The child starved to death." It is rarely used in the active voice, as in, "Netayanhu starved the child to death." The passive voice removes any active person. It removes responsibility, as if the words "the child starved to death" mean that the child caused their own starvation. Ironically, the passive voice is part of the armoury of war. A reporter can write or broadcast the words: "Ten civilians were killed in the Middle East conflict yesterday" - and the people who did the killing are not identified. Similarly: "A hospital was bombed today, killing 23 people." The words "shooting", "killing", "bombing", and the like, however, can just as easily, and without any awkwardness, be used in the active voice, as in "Houthi rebels fired a missile at a Greek oil tanker yesterday." But using the verb "to starve" in the active voice, as in "Netanyahu starved the child", is awkward so people avoid it, thereby shielding the perpetrator. Moving from the passive voice to the active voice is critical to the effective rule of law. The rule of law only enters the picture after the passive voice. "Veronica Victim was murdered" is in the passive voice. "Peter Perpetrator murdered Veronica Victim" is in the active voice and, in rule-of-law countries, is usually only uttered after a legal finding of guilt. READ MORE CRISPIN HULL: Unfortunately, that might never happen in the case of Netanyahu. He has visited the US three times and Hungary once since the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest in November 2024 under the Statute of Rome. The US has never signed up to the International Criminal Court, nor to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. It is a member of the World Trade Organisation but has effectively neutered it by vetoing appointments to its judicial arm. Even so, it used to support a rules-based international order. Now it has even dispensed with that pretence. Israel (under Netanyahu) and Hungary (Under Viktor Orban), once rule-of-law democracies, have done likewise. Albanese can take credit for expressing Australia's traditional rule-of-law values this week. In doing so he further distanced himself for the US which has been complicit in the starvation by withholding humanitarian aid and complicit in the slaughter at food-distribution centres and in general because it supplies weapons. Unlike President Donald Trump and the US leadership generally he has not been silent. If we want a rules-based international order, however, nations must seek out the individual leaders who are accused of crimes on the basis of credible evidence and under the rule of law bring them to account. The images of starving children coming out of Gaza reminded me of the images of the liberation of the concentration camps at the end of World War II. Victims and perpetrators come in all colours, races and religions. Maybe Shakespeare would have said: "If you starve us, do we not look skeletal". In Tel Aviv last week, Jewish people took to the streets holding photographs of children whose starvation is being caused by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netayahu's illegal waging of an aggressive war and the illegal withholding of food in Gaza. If you offend decency, do we not protest. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said this week: "Quite clearly it is a breach of international law to stop food being delivered which was a decision that Israel made in March." He said, "You can't hold innocent people responsible" for the actions of Hamas. Indeed, the only lawful warfare is defence. What Israel is doing in Gaza has for months now gone well beyond what would be a legitimate defensive response to the Hamas attacks in October 2023. It is similar to the unnecessary Allied fire-bombing of Dresden in February 1945. Waging an aggressive war is the worst criminal conduct known to humankind. It is worse than the crimes of serial killers or serial rapists. Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin should be compared to Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, the Columbine School shooters, or Martin Bryant - not just other authoritarian leaders of nations. Those who wage an aggressive war do not just condone or turn a blind eye to death and suffering; they cause it - as surely as a serial killer. Worse, because they bring many of the resources of the state and its people to join in to their crime - wittingly or unwittingly - the scale of the crime is much greater than that of the serial killer or mass shooter, and so is the scale of evil. Netanyahu's action a breach of international law the same as Putin's action because he is waging war beyond the borders of his own nation as recognised by the United Nations. It is the same as Putin's because its aim is the genocidal removal of the civilian populations. "Netanyahu's action" is the deliberate starvation of innocent civilians, particularly children. There is more than enough food to prevent the starvation of anyone in Gaza. The reason people are starving is that the food is not getting through. And getting it through or not getting it through is within the power of Netanyahu. He is causing the starvation and death. "To starve" is a peculiar verb. It is too often used in the passive voice, as in, "The child starved to death." It is rarely used in the active voice, as in, "Netayanhu starved the child to death." The passive voice removes any active person. It removes responsibility, as if the words "the child starved to death" mean that the child caused their own starvation. Ironically, the passive voice is part of the armoury of war. A reporter can write or broadcast the words: "Ten civilians were killed in the Middle East conflict yesterday" - and the people who did the killing are not identified. Similarly: "A hospital was bombed today, killing 23 people." The words "shooting", "killing", "bombing", and the like, however, can just as easily, and without any awkwardness, be used in the active voice, as in "Houthi rebels fired a missile at a Greek oil tanker yesterday." But using the verb "to starve" in the active voice, as in "Netanyahu starved the child", is awkward so people avoid it, thereby shielding the perpetrator. Moving from the passive voice to the active voice is critical to the effective rule of law. The rule of law only enters the picture after the passive voice. "Veronica Victim was murdered" is in the passive voice. "Peter Perpetrator murdered Veronica Victim" is in the active voice and, in rule-of-law countries, is usually only uttered after a legal finding of guilt. READ MORE CRISPIN HULL: Unfortunately, that might never happen in the case of Netanyahu. He has visited the US three times and Hungary once since the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest in November 2024 under the Statute of Rome. The US has never signed up to the International Criminal Court, nor to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. It is a member of the World Trade Organisation but has effectively neutered it by vetoing appointments to its judicial arm. Even so, it used to support a rules-based international order. Now it has even dispensed with that pretence. Israel (under Netanyahu) and Hungary (Under Viktor Orban), once rule-of-law democracies, have done likewise. Albanese can take credit for expressing Australia's traditional rule-of-law values this week. In doing so he further distanced himself for the US which has been complicit in the starvation by withholding humanitarian aid and complicit in the slaughter at food-distribution centres and in general because it supplies weapons. Unlike President Donald Trump and the US leadership generally he has not been silent. If we want a rules-based international order, however, nations must seek out the individual leaders who are accused of crimes on the basis of credible evidence and under the rule of law bring them to account. The images of starving children coming out of Gaza reminded me of the images of the liberation of the concentration camps at the end of World War II. Victims and perpetrators come in all colours, races and religions. Maybe Shakespeare would have said: "If you starve us, do we not look skeletal". In Tel Aviv last week, Jewish people took to the streets holding photographs of children whose starvation is being caused by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netayahu's illegal waging of an aggressive war and the illegal withholding of food in Gaza. If you offend decency, do we not protest. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said this week: "Quite clearly it is a breach of international law to stop food being delivered which was a decision that Israel made in March." He said, "You can't hold innocent people responsible" for the actions of Hamas. Indeed, the only lawful warfare is defence. What Israel is doing in Gaza has for months now gone well beyond what would be a legitimate defensive response to the Hamas attacks in October 2023. It is similar to the unnecessary Allied fire-bombing of Dresden in February 1945. Waging an aggressive war is the worst criminal conduct known to humankind. It is worse than the crimes of serial killers or serial rapists. Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin should be compared to Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, the Columbine School shooters, or Martin Bryant - not just other authoritarian leaders of nations. Those who wage an aggressive war do not just condone or turn a blind eye to death and suffering; they cause it - as surely as a serial killer. Worse, because they bring many of the resources of the state and its people to join in to their crime - wittingly or unwittingly - the scale of the crime is much greater than that of the serial killer or mass shooter, and so is the scale of evil. Netanyahu's action a breach of international law the same as Putin's action because he is waging war beyond the borders of his own nation as recognised by the United Nations. It is the same as Putin's because its aim is the genocidal removal of the civilian populations. "Netanyahu's action" is the deliberate starvation of innocent civilians, particularly children. There is more than enough food to prevent the starvation of anyone in Gaza. The reason people are starving is that the food is not getting through. And getting it through or not getting it through is within the power of Netanyahu. He is causing the starvation and death. "To starve" is a peculiar verb. It is too often used in the passive voice, as in, "The child starved to death." It is rarely used in the active voice, as in, "Netayanhu starved the child to death." The passive voice removes any active person. It removes responsibility, as if the words "the child starved to death" mean that the child caused their own starvation. Ironically, the passive voice is part of the armoury of war. A reporter can write or broadcast the words: "Ten civilians were killed in the Middle East conflict yesterday" - and the people who did the killing are not identified. Similarly: "A hospital was bombed today, killing 23 people." The words "shooting", "killing", "bombing", and the like, however, can just as easily, and without any awkwardness, be used in the active voice, as in "Houthi rebels fired a missile at a Greek oil tanker yesterday." But using the verb "to starve" in the active voice, as in "Netanyahu starved the child", is awkward so people avoid it, thereby shielding the perpetrator. Moving from the passive voice to the active voice is critical to the effective rule of law. The rule of law only enters the picture after the passive voice. "Veronica Victim was murdered" is in the passive voice. "Peter Perpetrator murdered Veronica Victim" is in the active voice and, in rule-of-law countries, is usually only uttered after a legal finding of guilt. READ MORE CRISPIN HULL: Unfortunately, that might never happen in the case of Netanyahu. He has visited the US three times and Hungary once since the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest in November 2024 under the Statute of Rome. The US has never signed up to the International Criminal Court, nor to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. It is a member of the World Trade Organisation but has effectively neutered it by vetoing appointments to its judicial arm. Even so, it used to support a rules-based international order. Now it has even dispensed with that pretence. Israel (under Netanyahu) and Hungary (Under Viktor Orban), once rule-of-law democracies, have done likewise. Albanese can take credit for expressing Australia's traditional rule-of-law values this week. In doing so he further distanced himself for the US which has been complicit in the starvation by withholding humanitarian aid and complicit in the slaughter at food-distribution centres and in general because it supplies weapons. Unlike President Donald Trump and the US leadership generally he has not been silent. If we want a rules-based international order, however, nations must seek out the individual leaders who are accused of crimes on the basis of credible evidence and under the rule of law bring them to account. The images of starving children coming out of Gaza reminded me of the images of the liberation of the concentration camps at the end of World War II. Victims and perpetrators come in all colours, races and religions. Maybe Shakespeare would have said: "If you starve us, do we not look skeletal". In Tel Aviv last week, Jewish people took to the streets holding photographs of children whose starvation is being caused by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netayahu's illegal waging of an aggressive war and the illegal withholding of food in Gaza. If you offend decency, do we not protest. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said this week: "Quite clearly it is a breach of international law to stop food being delivered which was a decision that Israel made in March." He said, "You can't hold innocent people responsible" for the actions of Hamas. Indeed, the only lawful warfare is defence. What Israel is doing in Gaza has for months now gone well beyond what would be a legitimate defensive response to the Hamas attacks in October 2023. It is similar to the unnecessary Allied fire-bombing of Dresden in February 1945. Waging an aggressive war is the worst criminal conduct known to humankind. It is worse than the crimes of serial killers or serial rapists. Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin should be compared to Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, the Columbine School shooters, or Martin Bryant - not just other authoritarian leaders of nations. Those who wage an aggressive war do not just condone or turn a blind eye to death and suffering; they cause it - as surely as a serial killer. Worse, because they bring many of the resources of the state and its people to join in to their crime - wittingly or unwittingly - the scale of the crime is much greater than that of the serial killer or mass shooter, and so is the scale of evil. Netanyahu's action a breach of international law the same as Putin's action because he is waging war beyond the borders of his own nation as recognised by the United Nations. It is the same as Putin's because its aim is the genocidal removal of the civilian populations. "Netanyahu's action" is the deliberate starvation of innocent civilians, particularly children. There is more than enough food to prevent the starvation of anyone in Gaza. The reason people are starving is that the food is not getting through. And getting it through or not getting it through is within the power of Netanyahu. He is causing the starvation and death. "To starve" is a peculiar verb. It is too often used in the passive voice, as in, "The child starved to death." It is rarely used in the active voice, as in, "Netayanhu starved the child to death." The passive voice removes any active person. It removes responsibility, as if the words "the child starved to death" mean that the child caused their own starvation. Ironically, the passive voice is part of the armoury of war. A reporter can write or broadcast the words: "Ten civilians were killed in the Middle East conflict yesterday" - and the people who did the killing are not identified. Similarly: "A hospital was bombed today, killing 23 people." The words "shooting", "killing", "bombing", and the like, however, can just as easily, and without any awkwardness, be used in the active voice, as in "Houthi rebels fired a missile at a Greek oil tanker yesterday." But using the verb "to starve" in the active voice, as in "Netanyahu starved the child", is awkward so people avoid it, thereby shielding the perpetrator. Moving from the passive voice to the active voice is critical to the effective rule of law. The rule of law only enters the picture after the passive voice. "Veronica Victim was murdered" is in the passive voice. "Peter Perpetrator murdered Veronica Victim" is in the active voice and, in rule-of-law countries, is usually only uttered after a legal finding of guilt. READ MORE CRISPIN HULL: Unfortunately, that might never happen in the case of Netanyahu. He has visited the US three times and Hungary once since the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest in November 2024 under the Statute of Rome. The US has never signed up to the International Criminal Court, nor to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. It is a member of the World Trade Organisation but has effectively neutered it by vetoing appointments to its judicial arm. Even so, it used to support a rules-based international order. Now it has even dispensed with that pretence. Israel (under Netanyahu) and Hungary (Under Viktor Orban), once rule-of-law democracies, have done likewise. Albanese can take credit for expressing Australia's traditional rule-of-law values this week. In doing so he further distanced himself for the US which has been complicit in the starvation by withholding humanitarian aid and complicit in the slaughter at food-distribution centres and in general because it supplies weapons. Unlike President Donald Trump and the US leadership generally he has not been silent. If we want a rules-based international order, however, nations must seek out the individual leaders who are accused of crimes on the basis of credible evidence and under the rule of law bring them to account.
