Nancy Okail Archives

Enforce UN Embargo on Sudan War; Hold UAE Accountable for Arming RSF

October 29, 2025 – In response to horrific acts of violence taking place following the fall of El Fasher, Sudan to the UAE-supported Rapid Support Forces, Center for International Policy President and CEO Nancy Okail issued the following statement:

“The entire world should be appalled by the acts of genocide and other atrocities taking place at this moment in El Fasher. Having taken the city after a long siege, the Rapid Support Forces are now engaged in a horrific onslaught of mass murder, torture and rape against its civilian population.

“Condemnation of this crime against humanity is not enough. The international community must take decisive action to enforce the United Nations arms embargo on the conflict in Sudan and hold accountable all who have enabled this genocide.

“In particular, the United States and its partners should halt arms transfers to, and impose other sanctions on, the United Arab Emirates, which is supplying the RSF with the weapons and related material used to carry out atrocities in Darfur. Failure to take enforcement action against the UAE could condemn hundreds of thousands more civilians to death at the hands of the genocidal forces the Emirates have armed.

“The international community must also continue to document these crimes so that perpetrators in Sudan can be held accountable. We must not fail yet another test of international norms and laws in the face of genocide and mass atrocities. It is past time to fully enforce the embargo, hold the UAE accountable, and bring the war in Sudan to an end.”

Gaza Ceasefire an Immense Relief; US Must Use Leverage to Ensure Compliance and End to War

In response to the agreement of an initial phase of a Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Center for International Policy President and CEO Nancy Okail issued the following statement:

“The agreement of a long overdue ceasefire and hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas is an immense relief. The parties and all countries must do their utmost to ensure the full and immediate implementation of this first phase of ending the war and genocide in Gaza. Hostages and prisoners must be released, and a massive, unrestricted humanitarian aid effort must be urgently undertaken to counter the crisis of starvation, disease and lack of shelter impacting hundreds of thousands of civilians in the territory. The safety of humanitarian workers, medical facilities and distribution centers must be guaranteed.

“At the same time, the United States and its regional partners must use all available leverage to ensure that this process culminates in an end to the genocide and a final agreement to bring the war to an end. The parties have yet to agree on all the matters raised in the Trump Administration’s 20-point plan, including full details on Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and long-term governance of the territory and its people. It is deeply concerning that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – after his proposed changes to the plan were incorporated by the United States – attempted to cast Hamas’ proposal to negotiate further details as a rejection, and that his coalition partners are already proclaiming their intention to relaunch the war.

“This ceasefire was achieved through the application of pressure on both sides, but particularly on Netanyahu and the Israeli government. That pressure must be sustained in order for this agreement to endure and proceed past its first phase. We must not forget that the last seven months of deliberate starvation, mass bombardment and forced displacement by Israel began as Netanyahu refused to carry out all phases of the previously agreed ceasefire – continuing the war in order to preserve his coalition and rule. His government must not be allowed to break another ceasefire and continue its genocidal plans for the ethnic cleansing and annexation of Gaza.

“As the specific terms for a permanent ceasefire are refined and implemented, the Trump Administration should take concrete steps toward a comprehensive end to the underlying decades-old conflict. Empowering Palestinian leaders who seek a just resolution with Israel, taking meaningful action against deepening Israeli occupation and annexation of Palestinian territory, and focusing diplomacy on universal recognition of Palestinian statehood as an integral part of multilateral normalization efforts will each be essential to achieving the goal of true peace in the Middle East.”

Trump’s Assault on Civil Society Organizations is a Dire Crisis for U.S. Rule of Law

September 26, 2025 – Center for International Policy President and CEO Nancy Okail issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s issuance of a Presidential Memorandum targeting U.S. civil society organizations under the guise of countering domestic terrorism and political violence:

“As someone who has experienced political persecution at the hands of an autocratic regime first hand, I recognize this as a moment of dire crisis for the rule of law in the United States.

“The new Presidential Memorandum falsely blames recent outrageous acts of violence on an imaginary ‘anti-fascist’ network and instructs federal anti-terrorism authorities to investigate and disrupt civil society organizations that, in the administration’s opinion, are hostile to ‘traditional American views.’

“Let’s be clear – this is open suppression of free speech and other constitutionally protected political activity. It comes at the same time as President Trump is publicly pressing the Department of Justice to prosecute those he sees as political enemies and attempting to erase evidence of the epidemic of deadly right wing extremism.”

“We stand with the non-violent, law-abiding civil society organizations targeted by this autocratic assault, including those with which we have been privileged to work closely, like the Open Society Foundations. Americans across the political spectrum should mobilize to oppose this blatant attack on our democracy and civil liberties.”

Trump Threatens to Drag US Into Another War of Choice

June 17, 2025 – In response to President Donald Trump’s threats of the use of U.S. military force against Iran and other belligerent comments–including posting the message “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” and discussing the possibility of assassinating Iran’s Supreme Leader on social media – Center for International Policy President and CEO Nancy Okail issued the following statement:

“War fever is once again descending on Washington, DC. As always, it will not be the U.S. foreign policy elites who end up paying the terrible price of another war of choice, but American service members and families along with countless civilians thousands of miles away.

“Israel’s initiation of major hostilities with Iran was an unnecessary and reckless act of war that is rapidly escalating. U.S. entry into and expansion of this conflict would transform it into a regional conflagration that could become yet another quagmire of American military overreach.

“American troops should not be put in harm’s way and US taxpayers should not be on the hook to subsidize an unnecessary and avoidable war, particularly one foisted on us by a client state government acting against peace and stability throughout the Middle East. Across the U.S. political spectrum, voters are overwhelmingly opposed to sacrificing American blood and treasure in Iran. Ordering our armed forces into a costly conflict with Iran would be a betrayal of Trump’s promises to avoid needless wars and a decision which could potentially surpass the U.S. invasion of Iraq as a strategic error.

“We commend lawmakers of both major political parties who have introduced or indicated support for Congressional legislation to make clear that President Trump does not have the Constitutionally required authorization for the use of military force in Iran. This is potentially a once-in-a-generation moment that could impact our country’s trajectory as the American wars in Vietnam and Iraq did. Politicians and other decision-makers should remember the lessons of those fateful conflicts, stand firmly against militarism, and press for a diplomatic resolution to this crisis.”

The Israeli Government’s Plan for Gaza is Genocide

(WASHINGTON, DC) — In response to reports of the components of the Israeli Security Cabinet-approved plan for the full takeover of Gaza, Center for International Policy President & CEO Nancy Okail issued the following statement:

“The Israeli government’s reported plan to fully take over the Gaza Strip, destroy remaining structures, concentrate its entire population in a single zone, and facilitate their displacement from the territory would – together with other actions already taken – clearly cross the threshold into an act of genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The Israeli Security Cabinet’s approval of the plan comes after six weeks of deadly Israeli assaults in Gaza following the Netanyahu government’s abrogation of the hostage release and ceasefire agreement with Hamas, and a year and a half of devastating war.

“Independent of whether or not one regards the legal threshold for genocide as having already been met by prior Israeli actions in Gaza, implementing the reported plan would violate the Genocide Convention’s prohibition on ‘deliberately inflicting on [a] group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part’. It would also be yet another breach of provisional orders by the International Court of Justice designed to protect the Palestinian people from a plausible risk of genocide. Additionally, persons who aid or abet the acts outlined in the plan, including through facilitating the transfer of arms to Israel that are used in connection with implementing it, may open themselves to liability for the crime of complicity in genocide set forth in the convention.

“The open planning of such a crime against humanity has been made possible by the near-total failure of the international community, and the United States and other major suppliers of arms to Israel in particular, to uphold international law created to prevent such horrors from taking place ever again. The very countries that led codification of the the law of war have utterly abdicated their duty to enforce it in the face of avoidable mass civilian casualties, the targeting of protected sites like shelters and hospitals, the killing of protected persons like aid workers and medics, and massive restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid including a now total siege on all food, medicine and other necessities of life – all as Israeli officials repeatedly and publicly call for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza.

“Countries that aspire to uphold the rule of law and basic humanity must finally draw a line and take actions to prevent implementation of this plan. First and foremost, the United States and other arms suppliers should comply with domestic and international law, as others have, and halt their shipments of offensive weapons to Israel. States Parties to the Rome Statute, regardless of past positions, should recommit to enforcing the orders of the International Criminal Court, including all outstanding arrest warrants. Individual countries and multilateral organizations should also consider and make clear that implementation of the Israeli government’s plan may result in further legal action against Israeli officials and sanctions against Israel itself.

“In the coming days, world leaders face a choice by which they will be judged for generations – whether they did what they could to stop a genocide. Those who decline to do so, or even call this crime against humanity what it is, will be regarded by history as having failed that most basic test.”

Democracy = Justice plenary @ HFX Taipei

Center for International Policy’s Nancy Okail participates in the Democracy = Justice plenary discussion at the first forum in Asia organized by HFX, the hosts of the Halifax International Security Forum, alongside Taiwanese Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-Chi, Jonas Parello-Plesner (Alliance of Democracies) and moderator Steven Chase (The Globe). The two-day in Taipei, Taiwan seeks to highlight key security and economic challenges in the Indo-Pacific.

“Everything the U.S. does affects the world. Trump’s suspension of anti-corruption laws doesn’t help businesses-it legitimizes bribery, empowers oligarchs, and weakens democracy everywhere.”
~ Nancy Okail, HFX Taipei

SPEAKERS

Chen Ming-chi, Deputy Foreign Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)

Nancy Okail, President and CEO, Center for International Policy

Jonas Parello-Plesner, Executive Director for Alliance of Democracies

The moderator is Steven Chase, Senior Parliamentary Reporter at The Globe

More information at https://halifaxtheforum.org/

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Trump’s Suggested Gaza Takeover Would Be Crime Against Humanity

In response to comments by President Donald Trump on Gaza following his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Center for International Policy President and CEO Nancy Okail issued the following statement:

“President Trump’s comments proposing that the Gaza Strip’s population be permanently relocated and that the United States ‘take over’ the territory is nothing less than an open call for the commission of a crime against humanity.

“It is unconscionable that a United States President would promote the forcible displacement of a population and acquisition of territory in the 21st century. These are ideas from the darkest chapters of history and an affront to human rights, the rule of law and basic decency.

“His comments proposing ethnic cleansing should be unequivocally rejected and condemned by world leaders and American lawmakers regardless of party. They should also serve as one of the most undeniable warnings yet that Donald Trump, if left unchecked, poses a catastrophic threat to international and human security.”

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[Video] What a Trump Administration Means for US Foreign Policy in the Middle East

On February 6, Northwestern University hosts Nancy Okail of the Center for International Policy and Shibley Telhami of the the University of Maryland and the Brookings Institution for a discussion of the incoming Trump presidential administration and possible implications for US foreign policy in the Middle East. Matt Duss of the Center for International Policy will moderate the discussion. RSVP here to join virtually.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

WHEN: Thursday, February 6, 2025
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM CT / 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM ET

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Nancy Okail is President and CEO of the Center for International Policy. Dr. Okail is a leading scholar, policy analyst, and advocate with more than 20 years of experience working on issues of human rights, democracy, and security in the Middle East and North Africa region. She previously served as a visiting scholar at the Center for Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) at Stanford University, and as Executive Director of the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP), which under her leadership became an internationally renowned policy research organization.

Shibley Telhami is the Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development, Distinguished Scholar-Teacher, and the Director of the University of Maryland Critical Issues Poll. He is also Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. Telhami is the author and editor of numerous books. He recently co-edited The One State Reality: What is Israel/Palestine? which was published in March 2023 with Cornell University Press. His current book project is Peace Derailed: Obama, Trump, Biden, and the Decline of Diplomacy on Israel/Palestine, 2011-2022 (co-authored).

Matthew Duss is Executive Vice-President at the Center for International Policy. Before joining CIP, Duss was a visiting scholar in the American Statecraft Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. From 2017-22, Duss was foreign policy advisor to Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt). From 2014-17, Duss was the president of the Foundation for Middle East Peace. From 2008-14 Duss was a National Security and International Policy analyst at the Center for American Progress.

Learn more about the event and co-organizers here.

Add to Calendar

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Nancy Okail discusses ceasefire, view from the region

On January 20, Center for International Policy President & CEO Nancy Okail joined ABC News Australia to discuss the ceasefire deal that went into effect on Sunday.

Watch here.

Long-Overdue Ceasefire a Bitter Relief After Netanyahu’s Obstruction

In response to reports that a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release framework has been agreed between Israel and Hamas, the Center for International Policy’s President & CEO Nancy Okail issued the following statement from Jerusalem:

“It is a bitter relief that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has finally accepted a long-overdue phased Gaza ceasefire and hostage release framework that has been on the table and endorsed by the rest of the world for more than half a year. It is an outrage that he obstructed and delayed this agreement, first characterized by President Joe Biden as an Israeli proposal, while thousands of Palestinian civilians died and Israeli hostages held since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks were killed or remained in captivity.

“The fact that Netanyahu is finally accepting the deal mere days before his favored candidate in the recent U.S. presidential election will return to the Oval Office is confirmation of what Israeli, Arab and even some U.S. officials involved in negotiations have been saying for months – that Netanyahu obstructed and delayed a ceasefire and hostage release to further his own personal political interests. Netanyahu’s acquiescence to Donald Trump’s insistence that a ceasefire be in place when he takes office next week ironically shows how effective actual pressure can be in changing Israeli government behavior.

“It will forever be part of the legacy of President Biden and his top foreign policy advisors that they not only provided diplomatic cover for and enabled Netanyahu’s prolonging of this horrific war, but continued to arm Israeli atrocities against civilians in Gaza in clear violation of international and U.S. law. Thanks largely to his role in sustaining the carnage in Gaza, Biden hands over to Trump a foreign policy landscape in which international norms and U.S. credibility have been further eroded rather than strengthened.

“All parties must now adhere to the terms of this agreement, which only provides for a temporary ceasefire that requires further negotiations to extend, and work in good faith to ensure it is made permanent to ensure a sustainable cessation of hostilities. A massive humanitarian relief effort and steps to provide for administration and reconstruction of the territory must also begin in earnest with the backing of generous international assistance, including from the United States. All parties must also work to prevent deadly escalation from resuming elsewhere in the region, including between Israel and Iran.”

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The Center for International Policy (CIP) is a woman-led, progressive, independent nonprofit center for research, education, and advocacy working to advance a more peaceful, just, and sustainable U.S. approach to foreign policy.

Resource Author: Nancy Okail