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☆ South Gaza battles rage as heavy rain hits displaced people further north
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Displaced Palestinian children walk on a hill facing their makeshift camp in Rafah, on the southern Gaza Strip on the border with Egypt on January 19, 2024, amid continuing battles between Israel and the militant group Hamas. Residents reported heavy aerial and tank fire across Khan Younis, an area of southern Gaza that has become the focus of Israel's ground offensive against Hamas, and around two main hospitals there. The Gaza Health Ministry said Israeli strikes hit the vicinities of Al-Amal Hospital and the largest functioning medical facility in the south, Nasser Hospital. Israel launched its air, sea and land offensive after militants from the Hamas group that rules Gaza stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and abducting 253. It says it has killed at least 9,000 Gaza militants so far, a figure that Hamas has dismissed.

Persons: Israel, Gaza's Khan Younis, Khan Younis, Al, Ashraf Al, Benjamin Netanyahu, Zainab Khalil Organizations: Hamas, Islamic, Gaza Health Ministry, Amal, Nasser Hospital, Court, International, West Bank Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Egypt, Israel, Khan, Nasser, Israeli, Jenin

☆ UNRWA: What we know about Israel’s allegations against UN staffers in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Sophie Tanno | Hira Humayun | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has fired several employees in the wake of the allegations, which have not been made public. UNRWA was established by the United Nations after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war to provide humanitarian assistance for displaced Palestinians. At least 152 UNRWA staffers have been killed in Gaza since the Israel-Hamas war began, according to the agency. Neither Israel nor UNRWA have specified the nature of the alleged involvement of UNRWA employees in the events of October 7, nor did they specify the number of employees allegedly involved. “A case was compiled by the Intelligence Directorate, incriminating several UNRWA employees for their alleged involvement in the massacre, along with evidence pointing to the use of UNRWA facilities for terrorist purposes,” the IDF statement said.

Persons: Israel, –, Philippe Lazzarini, “, ”, ’, António Guterres, Guterres, United Nations Gilad Erdan, Syria hadn’t, Benjamin Netanyahu, Micheál Martin tweeting, ” Mustafa Barghouthi, Husseim Al, Sheick, Yoav Gallant, Israel Katz, Lazzarini, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, CNN’s Mitchell McCluskey, Benjamin Brown, Heather Law, AJ Davis, Ibrahim Hazboun, Rob Iddiols, Amir Tal, Akanksha Sharma, Lauren Izso, Caitlin Hu Organizations: CNN, UN, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, UNRWA, United Nations, United Nations ’, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, Saturday, Intelligence, UN Security, US State Department, Palestinian National Initiative, International, Palestine Liberation Organization, PLO, Israel’s, Foreign, The Agency Locations: Gaza, Palestine, Israel, Ukraine, Yemen, Syria, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany

☆ Four Countries Join U.S. in Pausing Funding for U.N. Aid Agency in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Patrick Kingsley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

Protesters calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, during the first day of the California legislative session in Sacramento this month. The federal case in Northern California is unlikely to succeed, given legal precedents that limit judicial power over U.S. presidents on foreign policy decisions. Israel also said that inflammatory comments about Palestinians were taken out of context or made by individuals without decision-making power. One of her relatives is living under a nylon tarp in Gaza with her four children and husband, a cancer patient, she said. Israeli attacks have killed 88 relatives just on her mother’s side of the family, she said.

Persons: Biden, Judge Jeffrey White, “, Antony J, Blinken, Lloyd J, Austin III, Judge White, George W, Bush, Laila el, Haddad, Jean Lin, Katherine Gallagher, ” Erwin Chemerinsky, ” Basim, Elkarra, We’re, Mr Organizations: Palestinian, Calif, United Nations, International Court, Court of Justice, Hague, International Court of Justice, Government, Justice Department, Center for Constitutional Rights, University of California, Islamic, Democrat Locations: Gaza, California, Sacramento, Israel, U.S, Oakland, Fairfield , Calif, San Ramon, Northern California, Bay Area, Atlanta, Palestinian, United States, ”, United, Clarksville, Md, New York, Berkeley, Palestinian American

☆ Widening Mideast Crisis U.N. Aid Agency in Gaza Says Suspensions in Funding Threaten Crucial Humanitarian Work
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Victoria Kim | Aaron Boxerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

News AnalysisThe judges at the International Court of Justice in The Hague on Friday. A ruling on Friday by the International Court of Justice on charges of genocide against Israel had deep historical resonance for both Israelis and Palestinians. It was a topic that appeared to preoccupy the sole Israeli judge, Aharon Barak, among the 17 assessing the case on the World Court. He was among the 17 judges assessing the case on the World Court. “It talks like genocide & walks like genocide,” Muhammad Shehada, a rights activist from Gaza, wrote on social media.

Persons: ” Alon Pinkas, —, ”, Hanan Ashrawi, Hamas’s, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, “, Janina Dill, Dill, Khan Younis, Israel, Aharon Barak, Barak, ” Mr, Avishag Shaar, Israel “, ” Muhammad Shehada, Rawan Sheikh Ahmad, Johnatan Reiss Organizations: International Court of Justice, International Court, Palestinian, ., Agence France, United Nations, Israel, Oxford University, Court, Credit, Yashuv, The New York Times, Gazan Health Ministry Locations: The Hague, Israel, Gaza, South Africa, “, Israeli, Rafah, Lithuania, Tel Aviv, ”, Haifa

☆ International Court of Justice hostage number clarification
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

This story has been updated to clarify that more than 120 hostages remained in captivity as of Friday morning.

☆ Top UN court says Israel must take ‘all measures’ to prevent genocide in Gaza but stops short of calling for ceasefire
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The UN’s top court ordered Israel to “take all measures” to prevent genocide in Gaza, but stopped short of calling for Israel to suspend its military campaign in the war-torn enclave. South Africa had accused Israel of violating international laws on genocide in its war in Gaza, and wanted the court to order a halt in fighting. Friday’s decision related only to South Africa’s request for emergency measures, which act like a restraining order while the Court considers the full merits of the full genocide case, which could take years. The Court also ordered Israel to “prevent and punish the direct and public incitement to commit genocide,” as well as to “ensure the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance” in Gaza. Netanyahu hails rulingApart from its call for a halt in fighting, the bulk of South Africa’s nine requests to the Court were met.

Persons: Israel, “, ”, Joan Donoghue, Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Janina Dill, Israel’s, ” Israel, Israel ” Organizations: CNN, Israel, International Court, Justice, Convention, Oxford University’s Institute for Ethics, Law, Genocide, Hamas Locations: Gaza, The Hague, Netherlands, Gaza . South Africa, Israel, South, South Africa, ”

☆ Factbox-Key Takeaways From the World Court Decision in Israeli Genocide Case
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

The top United Nations court for handling disputes between states was ruling in a case brought by South Africa. The court ordered Israel to refrain from any acts that could fall under the Genocide Convention and to ensure its troops commit no genocidal acts in Gaza. WHAT HAS BEEN THE REACTION TO THE ICJ RULING? "The ICJ judges assessed the facts and the law, they ruled in favour of humanity and international law," Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said the ruling helped to isolate Israel on the world stage.

Persons: Israel, Joan Donoghue, Judge Julia Sebutinde, Aharon Barak, Barak, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Friday's, Riyad al, Maliki, Sami Abu Zuhri, Cyril Ramaphosa, Anthony Deutsch, Stephanie van den Berg, Gareth Jones, Angus MacSwan Organizations: HAGUE, Reuters, Court of Justice, United Nations, ICJ, National, Palestinian Locations: Israel, Gaza, South Africa, United States, Uganda, Nazi

☆ Netanyahu must be removed, say top former Israeli national security officials
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —More than 40 senior former Israeli national security officials, celebrated scientists and prominent business leaders have sent a letter to Israel’s president and speaker of parliament demanding that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu be removed from office for posing what they say is an “existential” threat to the country. “The victim’s blood is on Netanyahu’s hands.”The letter was sent to Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Thursday and to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana on Friday. The frontrunner in the poll was the National Unity party led by former IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz, currently a member of Netanyahu’s war cabinet. Video Ad Feedback Backlash grows over Israel's Netanyahu seemingly ruling out a two-state solution. Netanyahu told a news conference last week that politicians who are asking him to step down are essentially asking for a Palestinian state.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Isaac Herzog, Amir Ohana, “, Moshe Ya’alon, Dan Halutz, Tamir Pardo, Danny Yatom, Nadav Argaman, Yaakov Peri, Shin, Aaron Ciechanover, Avram Hershko, Dan Shechtman, Benny Gantz, aren’t, Yair Lapid, ”, Haim Tomer, ” Tomer, Israel's Netanyahu, Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben Gvir, Biden, Tomer, I’ve, ” Israel Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, “, Shin Bet, Israel’s, Likud, National Unity, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Mossad, International Court of Justice Locations: Israel, Iran, United States, Gaza, Qatar, Palestinian, South Africa

☆ Genocide Ruling Has Deep Symbolism but Little Immediate Effect
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Patrick Kingsley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A ruling on Friday by the International Court of Justice on charges of genocide against Israel had deep historical resonance for both Israelis and Palestinians. But it lacked immediate practical consequences. The World Court did not order a halt to fighting in the Gaza Strip and made no attempt to rule on the merits of the case brought by South Africa, a process that will take months — if not years — to complete. But the court did order Israel to comply with the Genocide Convention, to send more aid to Gaza and to inform the court of its efforts to do so — interim measures that felt like a rebuke to many Israelis and a moral victory to many Palestinians. For many Israelis, the fact that a state founded in the aftermath of the Holocaust had been accused of genocide was “one hell of a symbol,” Alon Pinkas, an Israeli political commentator and former ambassador, said after the ruling by the court in The Hague.

Persons: ” Alon Pinkas Organizations: International Court Locations: Israel, Gaza, South Africa, The Hague

☆ Why both South Africa and Israel are welcoming the UN court’s ruling in a landmark genocide case
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | Abbas Allawati | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A historic ruling by the United Nations’ top court in a genocide case against Israel on Friday was welcomed by the three main parties it involved: Israel, South Africa and the Palestinians. The International Court of Justice in The Hague, the Netherlands, ordered Israel to “take all measures” to prevent genocide in Gaza after South Africa accused Israel of violating international laws on genocide in its war in the territory. It rejected Israel’s request for the case to be thrown out, but it also stopped short of ordering Israel to halt the war as South Africa has asked. “I would have wanted a ceasefire,” said South African foreign minister Naledi Pandor after the ruling in The Hague. Mohammed el-Kurd, a Palestinian activist from Jerusalem, said the ICJ failed on South Africa’s “most important request” to suspend the military operations.

Persons: “, Israel, ”, Naledi Pandor, Eylon Levi, ” Avi Mayer, ” Shelly Aviv Yeini, ” Robbie Sabel, Sabel, Yeini, didn’t, Mohammed el Organizations: CNN, United Nations ’, Israel, Court of Justice, Convention, Israel’s Haifa University, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, ICJ Locations: Israel, South Africa, The Hague, Netherlands, Gaza, Palestinian, Jerusalem, “

☆ World Court rules Israel must prevent genocide in Gaza, falls short of ordering a cease-fire
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The Peace Palace building of the International Court of Justice a few hours before the court delivers its ruling in the case brought by South Africa against Israel. It comes as Israeli forces continue a military campaign in the Gaza Strip that has claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives. The World Court lacks the means to directly enforce its pronouncements, but its rulings can often deal heavy reputational blows to the accused. The World Court called for the immediate release of the captives. They say that Hamas forces have intentionally entrenched themselves in non-combatant facilities in the Gaza Strip, such as schools and hospitals, and are using civilians as human shields.

Persons: Israel, Israel's, John Kirby, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu Organizations: International Court, Israel, South, Palestinian Ministry of Health, Security, Hamas, country's Department of International Relations, Cooperation, United Nations Security Council Locations: South Africa, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Africa

☆ Widening Mideast Crisis U.N.’s Highest Court Expected to Rule on Israel’s War in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Matthew Mpoke Bigg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Protesters gathering outside the International Court of Justice in The Hague this month. The International Court of Justice is set to rule on Friday on South Africa’s demand that Israel immediately suspend its military offensive in Gaza. Decisions by the court, the United Nations’ top judicial body, are binding, but the court has few means of enforcement. Still, a ruling against Israel would add to international pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government over the war. Image The judges of the International Court of Justice before the hearing of the genocide case against Israel in The Hague this month.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Israel, ”, Remko De, Yoav Gallant, Avishag Shaar, Khan Younis, Fatima Shbair Organizations: International Court of Justice, Court of Justice, United Nations, Israel, South, Shutterstock South, Yashuv, The New York Times, Hamas, ., Associated Press, . Security, West Bank Locations: The Hague, Israel, Gaza, Remko De Waal, Shutterstock, Shutterstock South Africa, Rafah, United States

In southern Gaza, Israeli forces pushed further into the city of Khan Younis, where the intensity of the fighting has increased in recent days. The Israeli military on Friday ordered residents of three neighborhoods and the Khan Younis refugee camp to evacuate to a coastal area. The leader of Hamas in Gaza, Yehya Sinwar, and the commander of the group’s military wing, Mohammed Deif, both grew up in the Khan Younis refugee camp. Israel blames Hamas for the high civilian death toll for positioning fighters and military hardware in dense residential neighborhoods. “We grind it and bake it.”All supplies enter Gaza in the south, either through the Egyptian-controlled Rafah border crossing or Israel's Kerem Shalom crossing.

Persons: Khan Younis, Khan, Yehya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, Israel, Ashraf al, Qidra, Uday Samir, ”, Samir, ___ Jeffery Organizations: United Nations ’, Court of Justice, Gaza’s Health, Hamas, ’, United Nations Locations: DEIR, Gaza, Khan, South Africa, The Hague, Netherlands, Israel, Israel's, Gaza City, “, Rafah, Shalom, Deir al, Nuseirat, London, israel

South Africa has accused Israel of genocide and asked the world court in The Hague, Netherlands, to impose interim measures as the case proceeds. Israel has denied committing genocide and asked the court to throw out the case, which the panel of 17 judges refused to do. — How genocide officially became a crime, and why South Africa is accusing Israel of committing it. South Africa requested interim steps since the proceedings could take several years. The world court is delivering its preliminary decisions in a genocide case that South Africa brought against Israel.

Persons: Israel, NETANYAHU, ISRAEL, JERUSALEM, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, ”, “, Judge Joan E, Donoghue, Aharon Barak, Joan E, ” Donoghue, Osama Hamdan, Hamdan, Al, Khan Younis, Gaza’s, Khan, Ashraf al, Qidra, “ Israel, Naledi Pandor, Antony Blinken, Matthew Miller, Blinken, ” Miller Organizations: Gaza, International Court of Justice, Health Ministry, Hamas, UN, Court of, HAGUE, Israel, International Court, Justice, INTERNATIONAL, Court of Justice, ISRAEL THE, United Nations ’, FIRE, West Bank, Palestinian, Palestinian Foreign Ministry, DEIR, Associated Press, ’ Hospital, Brigades, MINISTRY, SOUTH, Hague, United, State Department . State Department Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, South Africa, The Hague, Netherlands, Egypt, Georgia, U.S, Red, israel, Israeli, HAGUE, Africa, GAZA, ISRAEL THE HAGUE, HAMAS, FIRE RAMALLAH, West, Al Aqsa, Deir, Khan, ISRAEL, RAFAH, SOUTH AFRICA, South

☆ Opinion | South Africa Sees Its Moral Conscience in a Genocide Case
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Sean Jacobs | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Earlier this month, I went with my 18-year-old daughter to see the South African singer Thandiswa Mazwai perform with her band at a music festival in Manhattan. Many of my fellow South African expatriates were in the audience. As we took our seats, my daughter, Rosa, noticed concertgoers waving South African flags. This will make history whatever happens.”As a Black South African who grew up during the nation’s liberation struggle and came of age watching the birth of South African democracy, for me, Albanese’s words resonated. So does the case, regardless of the outcome on Friday, when the court is expected to announce a decision over whether to order provisional measures.

Persons: Thandiswa Mazwai, Rosa, Francesca Albanese, ” Organizations: International Court of Justice, South Locations: African, Manhattan, Israel, The Hague, Gaza, Cape Town, Palestine

☆ ICJ decision: Genocide case against Israel has 'symbolic value,' says UN special rapporteur
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailICJ decision: Genocide case against Israel has 'symbolic value,' says UN special rapporteurFrancesca Albanese, U.N. special rapporteur, discusses the International Court of Justice's upcoming ruling on South Africa's request for emergency measures against Israel.

Persons: Francesca Albanese, U.N Organizations: Israel, UN, International

A key part of that lofty aspiration was the drafting of a convention that codified and committed nations to prevent and punish a new crime, sometimes called the crime of crimes: genocide. Now, in response to Israel's devastating military offensive in Gaza that was triggered by murders and atrocities perpetrated by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, South Africa has gone to the International Court of Justice and accused Israel of genocide. The ICC prosecutes individuals and is separate to the International Court of Justice, which rules in disputes between nations. At public hearings earlier this month and in its detailed written submission to the ICJ, South Africa cited comments by Israeli officials that it claimed demonstrate intent. Both Gambia and South Africa have filed ICJ cases in conflicts they are not directly involved in.

Persons: Reich, Mary Ellen O’Connell, Notre Dame University's, Israel, “, Joan E, Donoghue, ”, Marieke de Hoon, Said O’Connell, Malcolm Shaw, Serbia “, —, Radovan Karadzic, Ratko Mladic, Jean Paul Akayesu, Omar al, Bashir, Danica Kirka Organizations: —, United Nations, Nazi, Notre Dame, Notre Dame University's Kroc, International Court of, Criminal, ICC, International Court of Justice, University of Amsterdam, of Islamic Cooperation, Rwanda —, Yugoslav, Bosnian, Associated Locations: HAGUE, Netherlands, Nazi Germany, Germany, Eastern Europe, Russia, Gaza, South Africa, Israel, Pretoria, Africa, ”, Rome, Serbia, Srebrenica, Bosnian, Moscow, Ukraine, Gambia, Myanmar, That's, Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Arusha, Tanzania, Darfur, Cambodia, Khmer Rouge, London

☆ Initial Ruling Expected in Genocide Case Against Israel: What to Know
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Matthew Mpoke Bigg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The International Court of Justice is set to rule on Friday on South Africa’s demand that Israel immediately suspend its military offensive in Gaza. The ruling is an initial step in a wider case about whether Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in the enclave. Decisions by the court, the United Nations’ top judicial body, are binding, but the court has few means of enforcement. Still, a ruling against Israel would add to international pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government over the war. This month, the South African government accused Israel at the court in The Hague of “acts and omissions” that are “genocidal in character” against Palestinians in Gaza.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Israel, ” Organizations: Court of Justice, United Nations, Israel, South Locations: Israel, Gaza, The Hague

☆ US, South Africa Discuss Gaza War Ahead of Ruling on Measures in Genocide Case
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Kanishka SinghWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Thursday with South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor about the war in Gaza, a day ahead of a ruling at the World Court on urgent measures in a case in which Israel is accused of genocide. Friday's ruling will not deal with the core accusation of the case - whether genocide occurred - but will focus on the urgent intervention sought by South Africa. Israel rejects the accusations from South Africa and says it has a right to defend itself following the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which governs Gaza. South Africa has asked for nine emergency measures, which act like a restraining order while the court hears the case in full, which could take years. The court is not bound to follow South Africa's requests and could order its own measures if it finds it has jurisdiction at this stage of the case.

Persons: Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, Antony Blinken, Naledi Pandor, Blinken, Pandor, Kanishka Singh, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: South African Foreign, Israel, International Court of, U.S . State Department, State Department, Hamas Locations: Gaza, Israel, South Africa, Africa, Palestinian, Washington

☆ 50% of Biden voters say Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, poll finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

50% of voters who voted for Biden in 2020 think that Israel is "committing genocide against Palestinian civilians, according to polling from YouGov and The Economist conducted from January 21-23 that surveyed 1,664 US adult citizens. Another 20% of Biden voters said that's not the case, while another 30% said they were not sure. Related storiesAmong all registered voters, 32% said that Israel is committing genocide, while 42% said no and another 26% said they were not sure. 67% of Republicans said Israel is not committing genocide. South Africa has formally accused Israel of committing genocide via the International Court of Justice, prompting an ongoing trial.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, Biden, that's, Israel Organizations: Service, Business, Palestinian, Biden, Israel, Democratic, International Court of Justice Locations: Gaza, Israel, YouGov, Africa

☆ Israel Rebuts Genocide Charge by Declassifying Cabinet Decisions
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Patrick Kingsley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Israel has declassified more than 30 secret orders made by government and military leaders, which it says rebut the charge that it committed genocide in Gaza, and instead show Israeli efforts to diminish deaths among Palestinian civilians. The release of the documents, copies of which were reviewed by The New York Times, follows a petition to the International Court of Justice by South Africa, which has accused Israel of genocide. Much of South Africa’s case hinges on inflammatory public statements made by Israeli leaders that it says are proof of intent to commit genocide. Part of Israel’s defense is to prove that whatever politicians may have said in public was overruled by executive decisions and official orders from Israel’s war cabinet and its military’s high command. The court, the U.N.’s highest judicial body, began hearing arguments in the case this month, and is expected to provide an initial response to South Africa’s petition — in which it could call for a provisional cease-fire — as soon as Friday.

Persons: Israel, — Organizations: The New York Times, International Court, Justice Locations: Israel, Gaza, South Africa, South

☆ At least 16 cemeteries in Gaza have been desecrated by Israeli forces, satellite imagery and videos reveal
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Jeremy Diamond | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Tel Aviv CNN —The Israeli military has desecrated at least 16 cemeteries in its ground offensive in Gaza, a CNN investigation has found, leaving gravestones ruined, soil upturned, and, in some cases, bodies unearthed. CNN’s analysis of satellite imagery and videos showed that Israeli bulldozers turned multiple cemeteries into staging grounds, leveling large swaths and erecting berms to fortify their positions. In the Shajaiya neighborhood of Gaza City, Israeli military vehicles could be seen where the cemetery once stood, with berms surrounding them on all sides. ‘I couldn’t find her grave’Munther al Hayek’s daughter Dina was killed in the 2014 Gaza war. “The occupation forces destroyed and bulldozed them,” Hayek, a spokesman for the Palestinian opposition group Fatah in Gaza, told CNN.

Persons: Khan Younis, Jehad, “, ”, PlanetLabs, Bani, Al, Graves, Al Nasser, Israel, al, Dina, ” Hayek, Fatah, ” Mosab Abu Toha, Abu Toha, ” Munther al Hayek, ” Janina Dill, Dill, ” Dill, ” Muna Haddad, Muna Haddad Organizations: Tel, Tel Aviv CNN, CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Al Nasser Hospital, Getty, Maxar Technologies CNN, Maxar Technologies, IDF, PlanetLabs CNN, New York Times, Yorker, of Health, Criminal Court, ICC, Oxford University’s Institute for Ethics, Law, International Court, Justice, “ International, Commonwealth, Commission Locations: Tel Aviv, Gaza, Al, Khan Younis, Anadolu, Shajaiya, Gaza City, Hamas, Bani, Bani Suheila, Al Falouja, Jabalya, Sheikh Ijlin, Palestinian, Khan, Jordanian, Radwan, Cairo, Rome, Israel, South Africa

South Africa’s genocide case has put the spotlight on a deeper fault line in global geopolitics. Jaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP/Getty ImagesReactions from the Global North to the ICJ case have been mixed. “This war is a war that is not only between Israel and Hamas,” Israeli President Isaac Herzog told MSNBC in December. “It’s a war that is intended – really, truly – to save Western civilization, to save the values of Western civilization.”So far, no Western countries have supported South Africa’s case against Israel. Traditionally, the West has wielded significant influence in international affairs, but South Africa’s move signals a growing assertiveness among Global South nations that threatens the status quo, says Adekoya.

Persons: CNN —, Israel, ”, Nesrine Malik, ” Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Jaafar Ashtiyeh, Biden, ” Remi Adekoya, Nelson Mandela, Yasser Arafat, ” Hugh Lovatt, Garry Andrew Lotulung, ” Lovatt, Lovatt, Israel –, Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, Alaister Russell, Isaac Herzog, Hage Geingob, Berlin’s, Namibians, ” Adekoya Organizations: CNN, Israel, International Court of Justice, Guardian, Hamas, West Bank, Getty, US, UN, University of York, Palestine Liberation Organization, North Africa, European Council, Foreign Relations, Global, Arab League, ICJ, West, ”, International, MSNBC, ZDF, Dhaka Tribune, Germany Locations: South Africa, Johannesburg, Israel, The Hague, Gaza, South, Africa, Sudanese, United States, Europe, Ramallah, West, AFP, England, PLO, East, Indonesian, Jakarta, Indonesia, Anadolu, China, Soviet, Ekurhuleni, Germany, German, Germany’s, Namibia, Namibian, Bangladesh, Pakistan

☆ What Might Happen Next in the Genocide Case Against Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Amanda Taub | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Depending on the angle from which you view it, the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice can embody either the promises or the failures of one of the primary aims of the international human rights project: making rights a matter of law, not just of power. Last week, the court, which is the United Nations’ top judicial body, heard initial arguments in the case brought by South Africa in late December, which accuses Israel of “acts and omissions” that are “genocidal in character” against Palestinians in Gaza. This is only the fourth time that a country has brought a genocide case before the I.C.J. And the other three have been filed in just the last four years: a 2019 case against Myanmar alleging genocide against the Rohingya minority; a 2022 case alleging Russia had abused the Genocide Convention as a pretext for an illegal invasion of Ukraine, and that Russia appeared to be planning acts of genocide in Ukraine; and the current case against Israel. Israel categorically denies the accusation, and the 17 judges sitting in this case are now deliberating whether to order “provisional measures,” a temporary order that would ask Israel to take proactive steps to ensure genocide doesn’t occur in the future, while the case is pending.

Persons: Israel, ” Organizations: Israel, International Court, United Nations Locations: South Africa, Gaza, Myanmar, Russia, Ukraine, Israel

☆ Opinion | Team Biden Needs a Reset on Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Daniel Levy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

It’s true that in recent days, Israel has signaled a certain shift in its war strategy, using fewer troops and focusing more on central and southern Gaza. These steps appear partly driven by the need to keep down Israeli losses in the close quarters of urban combat, to offer some relief to Israel’s suffering economy — and possibly in preparation for an escalation on Israel’s northern border. Such shifts don’t seem intended to dial back the snowballing regional tensions, nor will they prevent the increasing humanitarian suffering. The first and most critical shift required is for the administration to embrace the need for a full cease-fire now. The Biden administration does not need to support the South African claims, but it can and should commit to being guided by any findings of the court.

Persons: Biden, Antony Blinken, Israel, Netanyahu, ” Organizations: International Court of Justice, International, of Justice Locations: Israel, Gaza, Washington, South Africa, United States, ” Washington

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