GazaPassage’s Working Group met on Monday, October 21, 2024, to discuss the refusal of Israel’s COGAT (Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories) to respond to International Envoy Coach Weinhaus’ September 17th letter. Coach sent a follow-up letter on October 20, 2024.
Both letters ask for clarity as to the process for a non-combatant to voluntarily leave Gaza. “[W]e again ask you to outline the manner in which a Gazan non-combatant may leave the Gaza Strip.”
In the meantime, a decision is due from the Israeli Supreme Court on November 11, 2024 that will affect the speed of GazaPassage’s Pilot success. On June 6, a case “Petition for granting a conditional order 4621/24” was filed on behalf of injured Gazans seeking to leave. Oral arguments were heard last week. Standing for the injured of Gaza were Adi Lustigman and Tamir Blank of Lustigman and Blank. Standing for Israel were Daniel Marks & Moria Freeman.
The Working Group – Attorneys Dr. Isaac Amon and Christopher Bedell – GazaPassage spokesperson – joined Coach Monday in St. Louis’ county seat. Bedell called the meeting of Washington University School of Law alum to address the victory GazaPassage’s mission earned last week in Isreal. The court found that Israel must answer as to why those who pose no security threat should not be allowed to leave.
After the meeting, Bedell clarified why the court asking the question serves as a victory for GazaPassage: “Although the current case addresses only the injured, the Court announced the principle for which we have been fighting since the first half of October last year – ‘helping non-combatants leave Gaza.’ We pursued this mission when we asked ourselves, ‘Should non-combatants seek to escape a war zone, what can we do to help?'”
Israeli media picked up on the GazaPassage’s work early before the right wing attacked it for distracting from the war effort with its oversubscribed Pilot.
The Working Group charged the international envoy with tracking the case and offering our assistance to any attorneys in Israel who wish to leverage the court system.
“Coach has a sketch of our Petition ready. If he could, he would go argue it himself in Hebrew,” Bedell claimed in response how an Israeli legal partner would work with the notoriously (but entertainingly) litigious Coach Weinhaus.
When asked about this label, Coach pointed to his tagline on an X.com profile which pictures him: “You gotta sue to get your due.” Coach added, “Do they think we are just going to sit here and do nothing?”
GazaPassage’s end-of-July press release announced that “Coach confirmed that he has separately begun gathering information of pilot participants with relatives in Canada to test the new security clearance process.” His Sunday letter to COGAT noted the organization’s frustration with COGAT’s lackadaisical approach to saving lives. “We have successfully gathered documentation, received statements of non-combatancy, and even helped arrange for a Canadian visa for one or more of our hundreds of pilot participants. Your continued refusal to respond is our only obstacle.”
GazaPassage’s original press release related to the 100-person pilot can be found here.
GazaPassage’s second press release can be found here.
GazaPassage’s initial phases are listed below. GazaPassage accepts no donations.
Phase I: October 15, 2023 – Sending International Envoy to Israel
Phase II: GazaPassage Pledge created during Phase II (announced when Phase III)
Phase III: Dec: 2023 – Mission Bifurcation after Israel Says It Will Allow Gazans Back in the North
Phase IV: Jan 2024 Funding Model
Phase V: April 2024: Current Pilot Program