Court injunction: 'No legal justification for Trump to send troops without California gov request'
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11/06/2025
South African communities rethink care for vital kelp forests
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Cameroonian opposition leader Kamto returns to Yaoundé after house arrest
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LA protests: 'Courts will 'very carefully scrutinise' Trump's deployment of Nat'l Guard, Marines
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Talks agenda turns to harms from industrial fishing in the UN Oceans conference summit
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Israeli ministers sanctioned by UK and other countries over West Bank incitement
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Protests against immigration raids spread across the United States
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Austria mourns school shooting victims
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UN Oceans Conference calls for global action on plastic pollution
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Israel's Netanyahu faces government vote as coalition threatens collapse
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LeMonde
26 minutes ago
- LeMonde
UN votes overwhelmingly to demand Gaza ceasefire, the release of all hostages and unrestricted aid access
UN member nations voted overwhelmingly on Thursday, June 12, to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages held by Hamas and unrestricted access for the delivery of desperately needed food to 2 million Palestinians. The vote in the 193-member General Assembly was 149-12 with 19 abstentions. It was adopted with a burst of applause. The resolution, drafted by Spain, "strongly condemns any use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare." Speaking before the vote, Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon vehemently opposed the resolution. He denied that Israel was using starvation as a weapon of war, calling the accusation "blood libel," and insisted that aid is being delivered. Experts and human rights workers say hunger is widespread in Gaza and some 2 million Palestinians are at risk of famine if Israel does not fully lift its blockade and halt its military campaign, which it renewed in March after ending a ceasefire with Hamas . At the start of Thursday's meeting, Spain's UN Ambassador Héctor José Gómez Hernández urged members to vote in favor of the resolution in light of "the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza." The Palestinian UN ambassador, Riyad Mansour, also pleaded with UN members to vote in favor. "The actions you take today to stop the killing, displacement and the famine will determine how many more Palestinian children die a horrible death," he said. Last week, the UN Security Council failed to pass a resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and calling on Israel to lift all restrictions on the delivery of aid. The United States vetoed the resolution because it was not linked to the release of the hostages, while all 14 other members of the council voted in favor. There are no vetoes in the 193-member General Assembly. But unlike in the Security Council, assembly resolutions are not legally binding, though they are seen as a barometer of world opinion. After a 10-week blockade that barred all aid to Gaza, Israel is allowing the United Nations to deliver a trickle of food assistance and is backing a newly created US aid group, which has opened several sites in the center and South of the territory to deliver food parcels. But the aid system rolled out last month by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has been troubled by near-daily shootings as crowds make their way to aid sites, while the longstanding UN-run system has struggled to deliver food because of Israeli restrictions and a breakdown of law and order. Like the failed Security Council resolution, the resolution passed on Thursday does not condemn Hamas' deadly attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which ignited the war, or say the militant group must disarm and withdraw from Gaza. Both are US demands. Acting US Ambassador Dorothy Shea told the assembly before the vote that the resolution "sends an unacceptable message to Hamas and other Iran-backed terrorist proxies, and that message is, you will be rewarded for taking hostages, diverting aid and launching attacks from civilian areas." The resolution references a March 28 legally binding order by the top United Nations court for Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza for food, water, fuel and other supplies. The International Court of Justice issued the order in a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of acts of genocide in its war in Gaza, charges Israel strongly denies. The resolution stresses that Israel, as an occupying power, has an obligation under international law to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those in need. It reiterates the assembly's commitment to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the Gaza Strip as part of a Palestinian state. The assembly is holding a high-level meeting next week to push for a two-state solution, which Israel has rejected. The resolution supports mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United States aimed at implementing a January ceasefire agreement.
France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
Manhandling of US senator ups California tensions with Trump admin
The shocking incident, which came after the Republican president sent troops into Los Angeles over the objections of local and state officials, was swiftly slammed by furious Democrats who said it "reeks of totalitarianism." Video footage shows Senator Alex Padilla, a Democrat, being pushed from the room at a federal building in Los Angeles as he tried to ask Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about the raids. "I'm Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary," he said as two men grappled with him in front of journalists, including from AFP. Footage filmed by Padilla's staff outside the room shows the senator being pushed to the ground and handcuffed. Democratic-led California is currently embroiled in battles with the White House on several fronts, with Governor Gavin Newsom branding Trump "dictatorial" as his lawyers prepared to face off with the administration over the deployment of 4,700 troops to the city. "If this is how this administration responds to a senator with a question... you can only imagine what they're doing to farm workers, to cooks, to day laborers out in the Los Angeles community," Padilla told reporters later at a press conference. The incident "reeks of totalitarianism," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, calling for an investigation. "Trump and his shock troops are out of control," Newsom posted on social media. The White House hit back, claiming it was a "theater-kid stunt" and claiming without evidence that Padilla "lunged toward Secretary Noem." Noem slammed Padilla's interruption as "inappropriate." A Homeland Security spokesman said she later met with the senator for 15 minutes. Noem was addressing reporters after almost a week of demonstrations in Los Angeles ignited by the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. The mostly-peaceful demonstrations have been marred by some eye-catching violence, with cars torched and rocks thrown at police officers. Trump, who has repeatedly exaggerated the scale of the unrest, deployed 4,000 National Guard as well as 700 US Marines. Critics have accused the Republican of a power grab and a judge was set to review the deployments' legality. Trump took credit Thursday for making Los Angeles "safe and sound." Anger at Trump's crackdown and the use of masked, armed immigration agents, backed by uniformed soldiers, is spreading to other cities. Nationwide protests were planned for Saturday. 'Fear and terror' A federal judge in San Francisco was set to hear arguments on whether use of the troops is constitutional, with Newsom alleging the president "is creating fear and terror." Trump on Thursday said Newsom -- seen as a contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028 -- had "totally lost control of the situation" and should thank him for "saving his ass." California also sued Trump's administration Thursday over his move to scrap the state's tailpipe emission rules and its drive to phase out gas-powered cars. Trump was elected last year after campaigning on a promise to launch historic mass deportations. But with his mounting crackdown rippling through industries heavily reliant on immigrant labor -- such as farming, construction and hospitality -- Trump on Thursday said he had heard employers' complaints and hinted at a forthcoming policy shift. "We're going to have an order on that pretty soon, I think. We can't do that to our farmers -- and leisure too, hotels," he said. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke up Thursday, saying she had told a visiting US official that "we didn't agree with the use of raids to detain people working honestly in the United States." Protests also took place in Spokane, Seattle, Tucson, Las Vegas, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Milwaukee, Chicago, Atlanta, and Boston, according to US media. A nationwide "No Kings" movement was expected on Saturday, when Trump will attend a highly unusual military parade in the US capital. The Washington parade, featuring warplanes and tanks, has been organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the US Army but also happens to be the day of Trump's 79th birthday.
France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
UN votes to demand Gaza ceasefire, hostage release and aid access
UN member nations voted overwhelmingly Thursday to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages held by Hamas, and unrestricted access for the delivery of desperately needed food to 2 million Palestinians. The vote in the 193-member General Assembly was 149-12 with 19 abstentions. It was adopted with a burst of applause. The resolution, drafted by Spain, 'strongly condemns any use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare.' Speaking before the vote, Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon vehemently opposed the resolution. He denied that Israel was using starvation as a weapon of war, calling the accusation 'blood libel,' and insisted that aid is being delivered. Experts and human rights workers say hunger is widespread in Gaza and some 2 million Palestinians are at risk of famine if Israel does not fully lift its blockade and halt its military campaign, which it renewed in March after ending a ceasefire with Hamas. At the start of Thursday's meeting, Spain's UN Ambassador Héctor José Gómez Hernández urged members to vote in favor of the resolution in light of 'the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.' The Palestinian UN ambassador, Riyad Mansour, also pleaded with UN members to vote in favor. 'The actions you take today to stop the killing, displacement and the famine will determine how many more Palestinian children die a horrible death,' he said. Last week, the UN Security Council failed to pass a resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and calling on Israel to lift all restrictions on the delivery of aid. The United States vetoed the resolution because it was not linked to the release of the hostages, while all 14 other members of the council voted in favor. There are no vetoes in the 193-member General Assembly. But unlike in the Security Council, assembly resolutions are not legally binding, though they are seen as a barometer of world opinion. After a 10-week blockade that barred all aid to Gaza, Israel is allowing the United Nations to deliver a trickle of food assistance and is backing a newly created US aid group, which has opened several sites in the center and south of the territory to deliver food parcels. But the aid system rolled out last month by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has been troubled by near-daily shootings as crowds make their way to aid sites, while the longstanding UN-run system has struggled to deliver food because of Israeli restrictions and a breakdown of law and order. Like the failed Security Council resolution, the resolution passed on Thursday does not condemn Hamas' deadly attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which ignited the war, or say the militant group must disarm and withdraw from Gaza. Both are US demands. Acting US Ambassador Dorothy Shea told the assembly before the vote that the resolution 'sends an unacceptable message to Hamas and other Iran-backed terrorist proxies, and that message is, you will be rewarded for taking hostages, diverting aid and launching attacks from civilian areas.' The resolution references a March 28 legally binding order by the top United Nations court for Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza for food, water, fuel and other supplies. The International Court of Justice issued the order in a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of acts of genocide in its war in Gaza, charges Israel strongly denies. The resolution stresses that Israel, as an occupying power, has an obligation under international law to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those in need. It reiterates the assembly's commitment to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the Gaza Strip as part of a Palestinian state. The assembly is holding a high-level meeting next week to push for a two-state solution, which Israel has rejected. The resolution supports mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United States aimed at implementing a January ceasefire agreement. The Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostages. About 55 hostages are still being held. Israel's military campaign has killed over 55,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. It says women and children make up most of the dead, but doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel says it has killed more than 20,000 militants, without providing evidence.
