Palestine-Israel war
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Live Reporting
Iraq calls on ICJ to stop Israel’s ‘campaign of mass murder’
Hayder Shiya Al-Barrak, the representative of Iraq at the ICJ, calls on the World Court to respect previous court orders against Israel, such as the provisions ordered after South Africa’s genocide case, to “stop the systematic killing machine against the Palestinian people”.
“We hope that the court’s commitment to justice will lead to additional decisions … affirming its dedication to ending the campaign of mass murder and preventing acts of genocide as well as policies of harassment, blockade and starvation against the Palestinian people,” he said.
Israel must be held accountable for ‘war crimes’: Iraq to ICJ
Iraq’s representative has ended his presentation at the ICJ by saying that his country “is deeply concerned about the humanitarian suffering inflicted on the Palestinians throughout the state of Palestine, particularly in the Gaza Strip”.
Hayder Shiya Al-Barrak highlighted “the barbaric acts” committed by Israel, including “airstrikes and rocket attacks targeting civilians”.
“These acts constitute war crimes executed with a criminal intent” and are serious violations of the laws of war he said, adding that Israel “must be held accountable”.
Al-Barrak concluded by calling on the ICJ to take decisions “that safeguard the lives of the Palestinian man, women, children and elders, allowing them to enjoy a dignified and secure life where all human rights are achieved”.
Israeli minister says ‘our right to life overrides the Palestinians’ freedom of movement’
Israel’s Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir has said Palestinians’ freedom of movement should be restricted, following a shooting attack on a highway near the Maale Adumim settlement in the occupied West Bank that we reported on earlier.
“Our right to life overrides the Palestinians’ freedom of movement,” Ben-Gvir said, according to Israeli media reports. “I will fight for barriers around the villages that will limit the freedom of movement of the residents of the Palestinian Authority.”
At least three people were killed and eight wounded during the shooting this morning, with Israeli police saying two gunmen were killed and a third arrested.
Gaza death toll rises
The death toll from Israel’s war on Gaza has increased to 29,410 since October 7, the Gaza Health Ministry said in a statement.
At least 69,465 people have been wounded.
China calls for two-state solution at ICJ
Ma Xinmin, a Foreign Ministry legal adviser, says that China “has consistently supported the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate right”.
“Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed on multiple occasions that China calls for a comprehensive ceasefire and the early solution to the question of Palestine on the basis of a two-state solution through negotiation,” he said.
“In pursuit of the right to self-determination”, he states, the Palestinian people’s use of force to “resist foreign oppression” and complete the establishment of an independent state is an “inalienable right”.
Israeli minister says ‘our right to life overrides the Palestinians’ freedom of movement’
Israel’s Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir has said Palestinians’ freedom of movement should be restricted, following a shooting attack on a highway near the Maale Adumim settlement in the occupied West Bank that we reported on earlier.
“Our right to life overrides the Palestinians’ freedom of movement,” Ben-Gvir said, according to Israeli media reports. “I will fight for barriers around the villages that will limit the freedom of movement of the residents of the Palestinian Authority.”
At least three people were killed and eight wounded during the shooting this morning, with Israeli police saying two gunmen were killed and a third arrested.
What international legal cases have been opened against Israel?
Later today, a number of countries will present their arguments to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Day 4 in a case against Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.
These hearings are separate from the ICJ case brought by South Africa that alleges that Israel is committing the crime of genocide in its continuing war on Gaza.
A preliminary ruling has already been made in that case, with the court ordering Israel to prevent and punish incitement to genocide and to provide needed humanitarian aid by February 26.
Along with 51 other countries, South Africa is also part of the current occupation case and opened the second day of hearings.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is also based in The Hague, but while the ICJ was created to resolve conflicts between states, the ICC prosecutes individuals for committing crimes.
While states cannot be sued at the ICC, the prosecutor can open an investigation where crimes, including genocide, can have been committed. A number of countries, including Bolivia, Bangladesh and Chile, have requested the ICC investigate crimes against civilians in Israel’s war on Gaza.
Al-Aqsa restrictions risk escalating regional tensions: Jordanian official
A Jordanian official has said any restrictions Israel puts on Arabs at Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan will escalate regional tensions in the shadows of the war on Gaza, the Israeli broadcaster Kan reported.
According to Kan, the official, who appeared on a talk show this morning, said, “Any tension in the al-Aqsa Mosque will significantly increase the possibility of the conflict expanding to the entire region.”
The official said the issue of prayers at the site, called Temple Mount by Israelis, during Ramadan was a key topic in meetings the king of Jordan has had with officials during his recent visits to the US and Europe.
Earlier this week, Israel said it would impose some restrictions on access to the mosque in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem during Ramadan according to “security needs”.
Despite Israeli withdrawal, conditions at al-Shifa Hospital getting ‘worse and worse’
A doctor at Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital says the situation there remains dire.
“Conditions are getting even worse and worse, day by day,” the doctor said.
Out of fuel, the hospital is unable to run equipment like x-ray machines, and carry out operations, and medicines for injuries and traumas are very scarce, the doctor said.
“The medical staff are over-exhausted, they work around the clock,” the doctor added, also saying many fled to the south of the Strip to escape fighting in the north.
“We deal with scores of injuries and killed people, and the traumas range from medium to critical. Even critical ones require specialised interventions that we lack here … We ask for the medical staff to be allowed back and to have fuel.”
US official, Hamas chief visit Cairo amid efforts to broker truce
Brett McGurk, the White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, is expected to arrive in Israel today after visiting Egypt as part of US efforts to broker a peace deal.
Hamas said its chief, Ismail Haniyeh, was also in Cairo for talks.
Former Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz said there were efforts to “promote a new plan” for the return of the captives “that indicate the possibility of progress in this direction”.
A US State Department spokesperson said Washington was hoping for an “agreement that secures a temporary ceasefire”.
However, Netanyahu has insisted the army will keep fighting until it has destroyed Hamas and freed the remaining captives, with the Knesset on Wednesday overwhelmingly backing his proposal to oppose any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state.
US tells ICJ Israel should not be ordered to immediately end occupation
The United States has told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that it should not order the unconditional withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian territories without security guarantees.
Acting legal adviser for the US State Department, Richard Visek, addressed the ICJ on Wednesday, taking a different approach to many of the other countries to address the first three days of hearings.
Twelve more countries are expected to address the world court in the Hague as hearings continue on Thursday.
US says it conducted four ‘self-defence’ strikes against Houthi targets
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) says that it conducted four “self-defence strikes” against seven mobile Houthi antiship cruise missiles and one mobile antiship ballistic missile launcher in Yemen on Wednesday.
It said the missiles were “prepared to launch towards the Red Sea”, adding that it also shot down a “one-way attack unmanned aircraft system”.
“CENTCOM forces identified the missiles, launchers and UAS originating from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined that they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and to the U.S. Navy ships in the region,” CENTCOM said in a post on X.
100 children among 394 Palestinians killed in occupied West Bank since Oct 7: UN
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) also reports that 702 children were among the 4,528 Palestinian people injured across the occupied West Bank, occupied East Jerusalem, and in Israel, since October.
The latest data, which was accurate up to Tuesday, also reveals that Israeli settlers carried out 573 recorded attacks against Palestinian people and their property during the same period.
In the most recent killing, undercover Israeli forces killed a Palestinian man on Tuesday after besieging a house in the Jenin refugee camp.
The Israeli practice of demolishing Palestinian-owned homes in the occupied territories has also led to the displacement of 830 people, including 337 children, with 131 homes demolished since October 7, according to UNOCHA.
Some 95 percent of the demolitions were reported in the Jenin, Nur Shams and Tulkarem refugee camps in the occupied West Bank.
Brazil condemns 'paralysis' on Gaza, Ukraine at tense G20 meeting
RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) – Brazil criticized the "paralysis" of the UN Security Council on the wars in Gaza and Ukraine as it opened a G20 meeting Wednesday where the international community's deep divisions were on display.
The outlook is bleak for progress on the thorny agenda of conflicts and crises gripping the planet as foreign ministers from the world's biggest economies gather in Rio de Janeiro for the Group of 20's first high-level meeting of the year.
US, Russia to speak on Israeli occupation at top UN court
THE HAGUE (Reuters) - The United States and Russia will present arguments in proceedings at the UN's highest court examining the legality of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), also known as the World Court, was asked in 2022 by the UN General Assembly to issue a non-binding opinion on the legal consequences of the occupation.
Hunger grips war-torn Gaza as truce talks resume in Cairo
GAZA STRIP (Reuters) - Heavy fighting rocked besieged Gaza on Wednesday (Feb 21) as aid agencies warned of looming famine and new talks were held in Cairo towards an Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release deal.
The White House sent Middle East envoy Brett McGurk for renewed talks involving mediators and Hamas, a day after a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire was blocked by the US.
Global concern has spiralled over the high civilian death toll and dire humanitarian crisis in the war sparked by Hamas's unprecedented Oct 7 attack against Israel.
