Judges at the International Court of Justice ruled on emergency measures against Israel following accusations that the war in Gaza is a state-led genocide./Piroschka van de Wouw/Reuters
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to take concrete actions to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians and enhance measures to protect civilians. The court's ruling came in response to a case brought by South Africa earlier this month but stopped short of mandating an immediate ceasefire.
South Africa sought emergency measures to halt the conflict, accusing Israel of state-led genocide in response to the offensive initiated after Hamas militants entered Israel, resulting in 1,200 deaths and over 240 kidnappings. The ICJ refrained from dismissing the genocide case, asserting that Palestinians appear to be a protected group under the 1948 Genocide Convention which is a key criteria that needs to proved in a genocide case.
The court did not make a definitive judgment on the merits of the genocide allegations but is likely to do so at a later stage. Israel has fiercely denied South Africa's claims, describing them as false and 'grossly distorted,' and maintains its commitment to minimizing civilian casualties.
Damaged houses lie in ruin in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as seen from Israel./Amir Cohen/Reuters
U.N. says deadly attacks, harsh weather makes Gaza 'uninhabitable'
The UN human rights office warns that relentess attacks on infrastructure and cold weather are rendering Gaza "completely uninhabitable." Ajith Sunghay, head of the UN Human Rights Office for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, expressed fear for civilian lives due to attacks on protected facilities, creating a massive impact on healthcare and safety.
Israel's offensive, with over 26,000 Palestinians killed, has displaced most of the 2.3 million residents, causing shortages of food, water, and medicine. Concerns are being raised about the ongoing rainy and cold weather in Gaza, exacerbating an already poor sanitary situation.
The IDF's bombardment in northern Gaza makes it difficult to provide basic humanitarian aid, and the situation could worsen if the conflict extends to Rafah, where a significant population is seeking refuge.
UK's Cameron says he sees progress towards pausing Gaza fighting
UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron expressed optimism after a Middle East tour, indicating progress toward a deal to halt fighting in Gaza, provide more aid, and release Israeli hostages. Israel is reportedly considering a British proposal to open its port of Ashdod for aid shipments to Gaza, but reaching an agreement may require significant effort.
Cameron emphasized the need for a sustainable ceasefire, pressing for an immediate pause to address humanitarian concerns and bring hostages back home. The death toll from Israel's military campaign in Gaza is reported to be 26,083, with the conflict displacing a significant portion of the enclave's population since its onset four months ago.
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Assault on Kurdish gas field causes widespread power outages
A drone attack on Iraq's Khor Mor gas field halts production, causing major power cuts in Kurdistan. The drone damaged a storage tank, but no injuries were reported. Dana Gas, the field's operator, suspended production temporarily to extinguish a fire, with plans to resume soon.
The attack led to a 2,800-megawatt power drop in Kurdistan, exposing millions to outages. The U.S. Ambassador to Iraq condemned the attack, emphasizing its impact in mid-winter. No group has claimed responsibility, but Iraq has experienced frequent drone attacks, often attributed to pro-Iran militias, since Israel's Gaza war in October.
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