In nod to Iraq war, pro-Palestine group launches Gaza 'war criminals' playing card deck

An anonymous pro-Palestine collective has launched a deck of "war criminals" playing cards featuring the names and faces of Israeli, US, and European officials.

The playing card format replicates that used by the US military during their invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003, where each card featured the name and face of an official from Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's regime.

Featured in the new deck is Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

Also included are top officials from Israel's main ally the US - President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

Former US officials such as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and current Western leaders Rishi Sunak, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz and Justin Trudeau, also feature in the pack.

"[This is] a tangible tool for the public to demand accountability from the leaders of their governments, their lackeys and their staff, who are accused of committing a genocide, failing to prevent a genocide, being complicit in a genocide, or all three, in Palestine," the group said in a statement released Thursday.

The deck's release came just before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced its ruling on whether or not to grant emergency measures relating to the genocide case brought by South Africa against Israel.

The group said that the deck of cards would help etch into collective memory the names and roles of the people complicit in the war in Gaza, which has so far killed almost 26,000 people, continue.

"The public can use this deck of cards to remember exactly who they are, utilize the time-honored tradition of public shaming and support the pursuit of every legal avenue to justice, whether at the ICJ, the ICC (International Criminal Court) or in domestic courts around the world under Universal Jurisdiction", the statement read.

"South Africa’s historic ICJ application is a reflection of the power of the millions who charged Israel with genocide across every corner of the globe," human rights lawyer Noura Erakat.

"The law’s potential, at the ICJ and elsewhere, is a direct correlate of this enormous and, often, undervalued people power. This deck of cards invests in this phenomenon by ensuring that the people will not forget that accountability is not limited to courtrooms, and that liberation and social transformation is the ultimate form of victory."

Israel has used a deck of cards in its war on Gaza, with the Israeli military last month handing out packs to soldiers that featured Hamas officials including Yahya Sinwar and military wing chief Mohammed Deif.

Many of those in the deck are not in Gaza, making the move more a gimmick than a military strategy.