ICJ lands a stunning blow on Israel, US shrugs – Day 112

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ICJ lands a stunning blow on Israel, US shrugs – Day 112
Protesters hold a Palestinian flag as they gather outside the International Court of Justice (ICJ). January 26, 2024 (photo)

Biden admin (and Israel) still in denial about genocide in Gaza; Israeli bombardment in Gaza not slowing down; more white-flag deaths, open fire on people waiting for food; responses to ICJ ruling; civil trial begins, charging Biden, Blinken, Austin with failing to prevent and complicity in genocide; Israeli leader in US to purchase more war equipment; US defunds UNRWA due to controversy

By IAK staff, from reports

Trita Parsi stated Friday in Responsible Statecraft,

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) just ruled against Israel and determined that South Africa successfully argued that Israel’s conduct plausibly could constitute genocide…

This is a devastating blow to Israel’s global standing. To put it in context, Israel has worked ferociously for the last two decades to defeat the BDS movement…because of how it could delegitimize Israel internationally. However, the ruling of the ICJ that Israel is plausibly engaged in genocide is far more devastating to Israel’s legitimacy than anything BDS could have achieved.

Just as much as Israel’s political system has been increasingly — and publicly — associated with apartheid in the past few years, Israel will now be similarly associated with the charge of genocide. As a result, those countries that have supported Israel and its military campaign in Gaza, such as the U.S. under President Biden, will be associated with that charge, too.

A different Biden approach could have shaped war efforts and prevented this from happening in the first place. (Read the full article here.)

More information on the ICJ ruling is here.

Middle East Eye reports: The White House has brushed aside the ICJ ruling that Israel must prevent genocidal acts against Gaza and will continue to double down on its unconditional support for Israel’s war in Gaza, Friday’s White House press briefing revealed.  

US national security spokesperson John Kirby reiterated Israel’s “right to defend itself” despite the ICJ’s same-day interim decision accusing Israel of genocidal acts in Gaza.

The spokesperson revealed the White House’s complete disregard for the ICJ’s interim ruling, stating that “it has not been found that they are committing genocide, we have no indication that that is going on, that they are deliberately exterminating the people of Gaza” and“the president believes that the people of Gaza deserve to live in peace and security” but that a general ceasefire is “not the best approach”.

Damaged home in Rafah
Damaged home in Rafah (photo)

On the ground in Gaza

Al Jazeera reports: As the world tries to assess the implications of the ICJ ruling earlier on Friday, little has changed on the ground in Gaza. Over the last several hours, Israeli forces have stepped up attacks on Khan Younis, where medical facilities remain under siege.

“There has not been any kind of noticeable development in terms of Israel’s military tactics,” Al Jazeera correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum reported from Rafah.

“We’ve been witnessing over the past few hours more Israeli attacks and artillery shelling of the main areas of Khan Younis, as Israeli forces are completely destroying residential buildings,” added Abu Azzoum, noting that fighting is moving closer to Nasser Hospital, making it difficult for medical workers to function inside the facility.

A Palestinian girl carrying a child walks through debris at the site of Israeli strikes on a mosque and houses, as Palestinians inspect damage, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, January 25, 2024
A Palestinian girl carrying a child walks through debris at the site of Israeli strikes on a mosque and houses, as Palestinians inspect damage, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, January 25, 2024 (photo)

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society says that for the fifth day in a row, Israeli forces are targeting the vicinity of its headquarters in al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis with “intense shelling and gunfire”.

The PRCS also said that for the past three days, Israeli forces have imposed a complete curfew in the hospital vicinity, preventing the movement of ambulance teams to and from the hospital.

OCHA reports: On 25 January, two Palestinian brothers, one of whom was a child, were shot and killed with live ammunition while evacuating from their home in Al Amal neighborhood, western Khan Younis, following the evacuation order issued by the Israeli military. The child was reportedly shot three times while carrying a white flag, and his brother was shot while attempting to rescue him.


Al Jazeera reports: A large group of Palestinians waiting on humanitarian assistance at a roundabout in Gaza City were fired on by Israeli forces on Thursday. At least 20 were killed and 150 injured, many seriously, according to OCHA.

RECOMMENDED READING: Palestinians in Gaza forced to mix animal fodder with flour to make bread
Israeli tanks line up near a Khan Younis refugee camp
Israeli tanks line up near a Khan Younis refugee camp (photo)

Responses to International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on genocide by Israel

Middle East Eye reports: The White House has brushed aside the ICJ ruling that Israel must prevent genocidal acts against Gaza and will continue to double down on its unconditional support for Israel’s war in Gaza, Friday’s White House press briefing revealed.  

US national security spokesperson John Kirby reiterated Israel’s “right to defend itself” despite the ICJ’s same-day interim decision accusing Israel of genocidal acts in Gaza.

The spokesperson revealed the White House’s complete disregard for the ICJ’s interim ruling, stating that “it has not been found that they are committing genocide, we have no indication that that is going on, that they are deliberately exterminating the people of Gaza” and“the president believes that the people of Gaza deserve to live in peace and security” but that a general ceasefire is “not the best approach”.

Netanyahu has asked his ministers not to comment on the ICJ’s decision, according to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority.

Middle East Monitor reports: Minister of Defense of the Israeli occupation government Yoav Gallant on Friday criticized the decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), stating, “Israel does not need to be lectured on morality” by the court.

Following today’s reading of the ICJ verdict on Israel, the executive director of the Australian Center for International Justice, Rawan Arraf, stated,

“Australia is now on…notice, this time from the world’s top court. The government cannot ignore this ruling from the ICJ that the Palestinian people in Gaza are at serious risk of genocide. This ruling demands concrete steps Australia must take.

The government must immediately review its economic ties to Israel and impose targeted sanctions. All defense industry partnerships must be suspended, and a two-way arms embargo imposed. This means the government must halt any export of arms and arms components to Israel, including exports being diverted through other countries. Any extant permits must be suspended.

Palestinian lawyer and former PLO spokesperson Diana Buttu has said that “the power of today’s ruling isn’t just about what the ICJ ruled”, but that it will lead to the growth of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement that targets Israel’s finances and companies that do business with it.

United States news vis-a-vis Palestine and Israel

Palestine Chronicle reports: A federal court in California heard arguments on Friday in a civil case accusing United States President Joe Biden of being complicit in Israel’s genocide in Gaza. The lawsuit was filed by the US civil liberties group Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), on behalf of the human rights organization, Defense for Children – Palestine; Al-Haq, a Palestinian human rights group based in the occupied West Bank; and eight Palestinians and US citizens with relatives in Gaza.

President Biden campaigns in Superior, WI on January 25, 2024
President Biden campaigns in Superior, WI on January 25, 2024 (photo)

The case charges Biden, Secretary of State Blinken, and Secretary of Defense Austin with failing in their legal responsibility to prevent – and their complicity in – Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. Attorneys from the CCR asked the court to immediately order the US government to halt military support for Israel’s unfolding genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and opposed the government’s efforts to have the case dismissed.

One plaintiff said, “These are times of genocide, and we desperately need a US court to intervene. So much hangs in the balance. Today, Palestinians spoke out in court and made a powerful case for why a preliminary injunction is necessary: we are hopeful the judge will agree with us and issue an order soon.”

RECOMMENDED READING (Mondoweiss): Biden is following Netanyahu off a cliff

Times of Israel reports: Israel’s Defense Ministry Director-General Eyal Zamir has wrapped up a working visit to Washington, where he discussed the purchase of new squadrons of top-tier, US-made fighter jets and attack helicopters, in addition to munitions for the war on Gaza.

Tel Aviv plans to procure a new 25-strong squadron of F35i stealth fighter jets, a squadron of 25 F-15IA fighter jets, and a squadron of 12 Apache helicopters, according to Israeli media.

The senior Israeli official, who met with top Pentagon and State Department officials as well as executives from major US arms manufacturing companies in Washington, also discussed the continued supply of US-made munitions for the war on Gaza.

The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) says US President Joe Biden should denounce the Israeli attack on people lining up to receive aid in Gaza City, which killed at least 20 people.

“As the key supporter of the far-right Israeli government’s genocidal war on the people of Gaza, President Biden should personally use his own voice to condemn this latest massacre of Palestinian civilians,” CAIR director Nihad Awad said in a statement.

“President Biden can no longer ignore the fact that his administration is directly complicit in all of the war crimes Benjamin Netanyahu’s government carries out on a daily basis with US military, financial and political support.”

Reuters reports: The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said on Friday it had opened an investigation into several employees suspected of involvement in the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel by Hamas and that it had severed ties with those staff members.

“The Israeli authorities have provided UNRWA with information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees in the horrific attacks on Israel on October 7,” said Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General.

The U.S. State Department said it was extremely troubled by the allegations, which it said pertained to 12 UNRWA employees. It said it would provide no additional funding to the agency until the allegations were addressed.

“The Department of State has temporarily paused additional funding for UNRWA while we review these allegations and the steps the United Nations is taking to address them,” spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

Mondoweiss adds critical context to the story: UNRWA provides life-saving aid to more than 2 million Palestinians in Gaza.

“Based on unproven allegations alone, the U.S. has cut off funding to UNRWA, one of few groups which provides crucial on the ground aid to Palestinians,” said the antiwar group CODEPINK. “Yet, as Israel commits war crime after war crime, the U.S. continues sending weapons.”

“The US is collectively punishing Palestinians, who rely on UNRWA to survive, based on Israeli allegations against 0.0004% of UNRWA’s staff. Outrageous,” said the Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU).

The Biden administration’s announcement comes on the same day that the UN’s top court ordered Israel to prevent genocidal acts Gaza and a U.S. court began hearing a lawsuit accusing Israel of genocide.

WEST BANK: Palestine Chronicle reports: The Palestinian Red Crescent said that Israeli forces stormed the village of Deir Abu Daif, closed its entrances, and fired live bullets and gas bombs at Palestinians, which led to the outbreak of confrontations with local youth.

Qassam Yassin, 27, died of his wounds after being hit by live bullets in the abdomen. He was taken to the hospital in serious condition and was later pronounced dead.

Israel Re-Detains Palestinian Child In Breach of Prisoner Swap Agreement

Also see Day 112: Dozens Of Palestinians Killed, Hundreds Injured, In Gaza, Earlier Friday

STATISTICS OCTOBER 7 – JANUARY 25:

Palestinian death toll from October 7 – January 25: at least 26,453* (26,083 in Gaza* (over 11,000 children, 7,500 women), and at least 370 in the West Bank (98 children). This does not include an estimated 7,000 more still buried under rubble (70% women and children). Euro-Med Monitor reports 33,360 Palestinian deaths.

About 1.7 million people have been displaced (about 85% of the population). 

Palestinian injuries from October 7 – January 25: at least 68,845** (including at least 64,487 in Gaza and 4,358 in the West Bank).  

It remains unknown how many Americans are among the casualties in Gaza.

Reported Israeli death toll from October 7 – January 25: ~1,139  (9 killed in West Bank, 219 in Gaza), including 32 Americans, and approximately 36 children, and 8,730 injured).

NOTE: It is unknown at this time how many of the deaths and injuries in Israel may have been caused by Israeli soldiers; additionally, since Israel has a policy of universal conscription, it is unknown how many of those attending the outdoor rave a few miles from Gaza on stolen Palestinian land were Israeli soldiers.

*Previously, IAK did not include 471 Gazans killed in the Al Ahli hospital blast since the source of the projectile was being disputed. However, given that much evidence points to Israel as the culprit, Israel had previously bombed the hospital and has attacked many others, Israel is prohibiting outside experts from investigating the scene, and since the UN and other agencies are including the deaths from the attack in their cumulative totals, if Americans knew is now also doing so.

Find previous daily casualty figures and daily news updates here.

For more news, go here and here. Broadcast news from the region is here.

Hover over each bar for exact numbers.
Source: IsraelPalestineTimeline.org
 

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