The International Court of Justice will announce a decision today on potential orders against Israel regarding its ongoing attack on Gaza, specifically in Rafah. Israel fears the court will order a halt to the to the war, or at least the Rafah operation, due to worsening humanitarian conditions. Such an order would put Israel in a difficult position - defying it could lead to international sanctions, though the U.S. would likely support regardless of the legality of its actions in Gaza, as it did so far.
#Maariv is reporting that according to the assessment of "diplomatic officials," the likelihood that the court will accept South Africa's request and order a halt to the war in Gaza tomorrow, is not very high, but nonetheless, this time it is "realistic and certainly not negligible."
If this scenario materializes - Israel will be dependent on the U.S. vetoing the order. But according to assessments in Israel, in the current situation the American veto is not guaranteed, and it is possible that Washington will condition it on Israel taking one action or another. For example, in exchange for Israeli agreement to the Saudi initiative.
#Gaza / The IDF's "limited operation" in #Rafah looks a lot like the #domicide occurring throughout the rest of Gaza
Satellite images show that after capturing the Rafah crossing, the IDF advanced northward along the "Philadelphi route", towards the center of the city.
#Palestine / Norway, along with Ireland and Spain, to recognize Palestinian state (to be followed by Slovenia and Malta)
With over 140 UN member states now recognizing Palestine, the wave of European support signals growing impatience with the stalled peace process and a willingness to challenge U.S.-backed insistence on direct negotiations favoring Israel's position.
[...] "In the middle of a war, with tens of thousands of dead and injured, we must keep alive the only thing that can provide a safe home for both Israelis and Palestinians: two states that can live in peace with each other," --- Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere (#Norway)
Israel swiftly condemned the move, recalling its ambassadors from Norway and Ireland, and warning of "dire consequences" if Spain follows through. The Israeli Foreign Minister accused the countries of "undercutting Israel's sovereignty and endangering its security."
[cont'd] Israeli forces move deeper into Rafah in night of heavy battle
[...] Residents and militants said tanks had taken up new positions on Wednesday further west than before along the southern border fence with Egypt, and were now stationed on the edge of the Yibna neighbourhood at the centre of Rafah. They had not yet entered the district as fighting had been intense.
#Paelstine / Israeli Deputy Mayor Posts Derisive Photos With Blindfolded and Shackled Palestinian Prisoners
The Deputy Mayor of Be'er Sheva, Israel, posted derisive photos on Facebook from his recent stint as an army reservist in the occupied West Bank. The photos showed blindfolded and shackled Palestinian prisoners, with mocking captions quoting biblical verses and calling the prisoners "cowards" and "Nazis." One appalling caption read: "When the customer asks for a selfie. A people of cowards. Am Yisrael chai (the people of Israel lives)."
While the Israeli military condemned the posts, stating they do not align with the IDF's values and that photographing prisoners violates privacy rules, privacy is certainly not the primary issue with such dehumanizing photos. The real concern is the apparent disregard for the rights and dignity of detained Palestinians (often for no real reason other than intimidation), and the potential violation of international laws governing the treatment of prisoners and civilians in occupied territories.
#Paelstine / Israeli Deputy Mayor Posts Derisive Photos With Blindfolded and Shackled Palestinian Prisoners
The Deputy Mayor of Be'er Sheva, Israel, posted derisive photos on Facebook from his recent stint as an army reservist in the occupied West Bank. The photos showed blindfolded and shackled Palestinian prisoners, with mocking captions quoting biblical verses and calling the prisoners "cowards" and "Nazis." One appalling caption read: "When the customer asks for a selfie. A people of cowards. Am Yisrael chai (the people of Israel lives)."
While the Israeli military condemned the posts, stating they do not align with the IDF's values and that photographing prisoners violates privacy rules, privacy is certainly not the primary issue with such dehumanizing photos. The real concern is the apparent disregard for the rights and dignity of detained Palestinians, and the potential violation of international laws governing the treatment of prisoners and civilians in occupied territories.
"We are seeing... important processes that are leading to the collapse of the #Zionist project," said #IlanPappé, following his interrogation in the #USA.
#Israel Israeli officials seize AP equipment and take down live shot of northern Gaza, citing new media law
With an alleged war criminal as its leader, it is unsurprising that Israel would want to shut down the Associated Press's live stream from the scene of alleged crimes.
[…] “The Associated Press decries in the strongest terms the actions of the Israeli government to shut down our longstanding live feed showing a view into Gaza and seize AP equipment,” said Lauren Easton, vice president of corporate communications at the news organization. “The shutdown was not based on the content of the feed but rather an abusive use by the Israeli government of the country’s new foreign broadcaster law. We urge the Israeli authorities to return our equipment and enable us to reinstate our live feed immediately so we can continue to provide this important visual journalism to thousands of media outlets around the world.”
#ICC / Prosecutor asks for arrest warrants for three leading Hamas leaders, as well ass Netanyahu and Galant
[...] The office of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on Monday said it was seeking arrest warrants against three leading Hamas militants for their alleged roles in the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Watch: ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan explains the charges against top Hamas and Israeli leadership in detail in this excerpt from his interview with @amanpour this morning at The Hague
[cont'd] Attorney General and State Prosecutor in first statement against The Hague Prosecutor
"The State of Israel is a democratic state, fighting terrorism and defending its security while adhering to the binding legal rules and with a deep commitment to the law. The security forces, including the IDF, fight with full commitment to the rules of international law."
"The legal counsel to the government and the State Prosecutor's Office of the State of Israel thoroughly examine any serious allegation of violation of law by any Israeli state entity, and enforce the law. The judicial system in the State of Israel is prepared to examine any serious allegation, both regarding policy issues and regarding specific incidents. As the State of Israel has clarified over the years, the Court lacks any jurisdiction to conduct an investigation in this matter. In any case, the request at the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants against the Prime Minister and the Defense Minister is baseless."
A prime example of how the Israeli legal system whitewashes the crimes of its leaders and provides a facade of a functioning democracy with a robust and independent judicial system. Attorneys general have provided legal justifications, and military advocate generals have whitewashed these overt and well-documented actions for years now.
#UK / Defying PM, British Lawmakers From 11 Parties Want Solid Backing for ICC
A cross-party group of 105 MPs and peers (members of the House of Lords) in the UK sent a letter to the Foreign Secretary, urging the government to support the International Criminal Court (ICC). This comes after the British Prime Minister Rishi #Sunak criticized the #ICC's decision to seek arrest warrants for Israeli and #Hamas leaders as "deeply unhelpful."
In their letter, the MPs and peers from 11 different parties called on the government to clearly oppose any attempts to intimidate or undermine the independent and impartial ICC. They want the UK government to firmly back the ICC, despite the Prime Minister's criticism of its recent actions regarding Israeli and Hamas figures.