Latest news with #UNGenocideConvention
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Port Sudan explosions: Lifeline for aid comes under attack for fourth day
Explosions have been heard at the Port of Sudan, a critical lifeline and entry point for aid, as attacks on the city continued for a fourth day in the latest confrontation between Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the country's brutal two-year civil war. The attacks have been blamed on the RSF by Sudan's army and by residents. On Wednesday morning, an army source told the AFP news agency on condition of anonymity that the explosion was due to a drone attack that was met with 'anti-aircraft missiles'. The Port of Sudan on the Red Sea coast had been a haven city hosting hundreds of thousands of displaced people since the war began and serves as an interim seat for Sudan's military-allied government, which has been at war with the RSF since 2023. The attacks on Port Sudan have increased fears of disruptions to desperately needed aid deliveries in the country suffering one of the world's most dire humanitarian crises, and where famine has been declared in some areas. Nearly all aid into Sudan flows through Port Sudan, which the United Nations called on Tuesday 'a lifeline for humanitarian operations', warning of more 'human suffering in what is already the world's largest humanitarian crisis'. Drone attacks Attacks on Port Sudan began on Sunday after drone strikes were blamed on the RSF. The latest attacks come after the RSF targeted the airport, the port and the hotel in the city on Tuesday, a military official said. The paramilitary group has not commented on the attacks on Port Sudan. Sudan's Information Minister Khalid Aleiser visited the southern part of the port on Tuesday and slammed the United Arab Emirates, whom he accused of arming the RSF. 'We will continue our legitimate battle,' he said. Defence Minister Yassin Ibrahim announced that the government was severing diplomatic ties with the UAE, including withdrawing its ambassador and shutting its embassy in the Gulf country. 'The entire world has witnessed, for more than two years, the crime of aggression against Sudan's sovereignty, territorial integrity and the safety of its citizens by the UAE, acting through its local proxy, the terrorist RSF militia,' Ibrahim said. The UAE has long rejected claims of its support for the RSF and condemned the attack. The International Court of Justice dismissed a case on Monday brought by Sudan accusing the UAE of breaching the UN Genocide Convention by arming and funding the RSF. The top UN court said it 'manifestly lacked' the authority to continue the proceedings and threw out the case.
Qatar Tribune
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
ICJ dismisses Sudan's case against UAE
The top United Nations court has dismissed a case brought by Sudan accusing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of breaching the UN Genocide Convention by arming and funding the rebel paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Sudan's deadly civil war. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) said on Monday that it 'manifestly lacked' the authority to continue the proceedings and threw out the case. While both Sudan and the UAE are signatories to the 1948 Genocide Convention, the UAE has a carveout to the part of the treaty that gives The Hague-based court jurisdiction. In March, Sudan asked the ICJ for several orders, known as provisional measures, including telling the UAE to do all it can to prevent the killing and other crimes targeting the Masalit people in Darfur. The UAE called the filing a publicity stunt and, in a hearing last month, argued the court had no jurisdiction. The court on Monday agreed with the UAE's arguments, rejected Sudan's request for emergency measures and ordered the case be removed from its docket. Due to the lack of jurisdiction, 'the court is precluded by its statute from taking any position on the merits of the claims made by Sudan', a summary of the ruling said. The UAE hailed it as a legal victory. (Agencies)
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
The ICJ, Israel And The Gaza Blockade
The murder and starvation of populations in real time, subject to rolling coverage and commentary, is not usually the done thing. These are the sorts of activities kept quiet and secluded in their vicious execution. In the Gaza Strip, these actions are taking place with a confident, almost brazen assuredness. Israel has the means, the weapons and the sheer gumption to do so, and Palestinians in Gaza find themselves with few options for survival. The strategic objectives of the Jewish state, involving, for instance, the elimination of Hamas, have been shown to be nonsensically irrelevant, given that they are unattainable. Failed policies of de facto annexation and occupation are re-entering the national security argot. In yet another round of proceedings, this time initiated by a UN General Assembly resolution, the International Court of Justice is hearing from an array of nations and bodies (40 states and four international organisations) regarding Israel's complete blockade of Gaza since March 2. Also featuring prominently are Israel's efforts to attack the United Nations itself, notably UNRWA, the relief agency charged with aiding Palestinians. As counsel for the Palestinians, Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh outlined the central grievances. The restrictions on 'the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people, [Israel's] attacks on the United Nations and on UN officials, property and premises, its deliberate obstruction of the organisation's work and its attempt to destroy an entire UN subsidiary organ' lacked precedent 'in the history of the organisation'. Being not only 'antithetical to a peace-loving state', such actions were 'a fundamental repudiation by Israel of its charter obligations owed both to the organisation and to all UN members and of the international rule of law'. Israel had further closed all relevant crossings into the Strip and seemingly planned 'to annex 75 square kilometres of Rafah, one-fifth of Gaza, to [its] so-called buffer zone, permanently. This, together with Israel's continuing maritime blockade, cuts Gaza and its people off from direct aid and assistance and from the rest of the world'. The submission by Ní Ghrálaigh went on to document the plight of Palestinian children, 15,600 of whom had perished, with tens of thousands more injured, missing or traumatised. Gaza had become 'home to the largest cohort of child amputees in the world, the largest orphan crisis in modern history, and a whole generation in danger of suffering from stunting, causing irreparable physical and cognitive impairments'. South Africa, which already has an application before the Court accusing Israel of violating the UN Genocide Convention, pointed to the international prohibition against 'starvation as a method of warfare, including under siege or blockade'. Its representative Jaymion Hendricks insisted that Israel had 'deployed the full range of techniques of hunger and starvation' against 'the protected Palestinian population, which it holds under unlawful occupation.' The decision to expel UNRWA and relevant UN agencies should be reversed, and access to food, medicine and humanitarian aid resumed. In a chilling submission to the Court, Zane Dangor, director general of South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation, detected a scheme in the cruelty. 'The humanitarian aid system is facing total collapse. This collapse is by design.' Israel's response, one increasingly rabid to the obligations of humanitarian and international law, was best stated by its Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa'ar. In announcing that Israel would not participate in oral proceedings derided as a 'circus', he restated the long held position that UNRWA was 'an organisation infiltrated beyond repair by terrorism.' Courts were once again being abused 'to try and force Israel to cooperate with an organisation that is infested with Hamas terrorists, and it won't happen'. Then came an agitated flurry of accusations shamelessly evoking the message from Émile Zola's 'J'Accuse' note of 1898, penned during the convulsions of the Dreyfus Affair: 'I accuse UNRWA. I accuse the UN. I accuse the Secretary General, I accuse all those that weaponize international law and its institutions in order to deprive the most attacked country in the world, Israel, of its most basic right to defend itself.' The continuing blackening of UNRWA was also assured by Amir Weissbrod of Israel's foreign ministry, who reiterated the claims that the organisation had employed 1,400 Palestinians with militant links. Furthermore, some had taken part in Hamas' October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. That such a small number had participated was itself striking and should have spared the organisation the savaging it received. But Israel has longed for the expulsion of an entity that is an accusing reminder of an ongoing, profane policy of oppression and dispossession. In her moving address to the Court, Ní Ghrálaigh urged the justices to direct Israel to allow aid to enter Gaza and re-engage the offices of UNRWA. Doing so might permit the re-mooring of international law, a ship increasingly put off course by the savage war in Gaza. The cold, somewhat fanatical reaction to these proceedings in The Hague by Israel's officials suggest that anchoring international obligations, notably concerning Palestinian civilians, is off the list.
Leaders
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Leaders
South Africa's Bold Stand: Leading Global Legal Battle Against Israel
In a historic move, South Africa launched a landmark case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 29 December, 2023. The case alleges that Israel's actions in Gaza constitute genocide, breaching the 1948 UN Genocide Convention. South Africa, as a signatory, has an obligation to act. The African National Congress (ANC) supports this move, seeing parallels between Israel's actions and South Africa's past apartheid policies. The ICJ responded quickly, issuing provisional measures in January 2024. It ordered Israel to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza but stopped short of demanding a military halt. By May 24, 2024, the ICJ mandated Israel to halt its Rafah offensive, citing catastrophic conditions, but Israel rejected the order 56. Over 35,800 Palestinians have died in Gaza since October 2023, with famine threatening 2.2 million due to aid blockades. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International accused Israel of non-compliance, highlighting obstructed aid and worsening starvation. South Africa submitted a detailed 750-page report in October 2024. Israel must reply by July 2025. Global Reactions and Support Over 14 nations and organizations, including the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), the Arab League, Spain, Malaysia, Jordan, Bolivia, the Maldives, Namibia, Pakistan, Colombia, Brazil, Chile and Turkey, supported South Africa's case. Ireland advocates expanding the definition of genocide to include systemic destruction of Palestinian life. Protests worldwide reflected growing scrutiny of Israel's actions in Gaza. South Africa points to mass displacement and suffering as evidence. Although ICJ rulings bind nations, enforcement remains weak. Still, the case shapes global views on the conflict. Expanding Legal Front The ICJ's provisional measures required Israel to ensure humanitarian aid and preserve evidence of potential crimes. However, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International accused Israel of non-compliance, citing obstructed aid and worsening famine. Meanwhile, Israel defended its actions as self-defense against Hamas, emphasizing hostage rescue operations. On 24 May, the ICJ ordered Israel to halt its military assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, days after the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and three senior Hamas leaders for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Gaza Strip. While the ICJ has no means to enforce its orders, the decision further increases pressure on Israel, marking its global isolation over its brutal campaign on Gaza. The landmark emergency ruling in the case brought by South Africa against Israel, accusing it of genocide, has stirred reactions across the world. The case remains unresolved, with Israel's counter-memorial due by July 2025. Legal experts warn the proceedings could take years, but South Africa's efforts have galvanized global scrutiny of Israel's conduct. South Africa's case has been opposed by the United States; U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said the U.S. found the 'submission meritless, counterproductive, completely without any basis in fact whatsoever'. Short link : Post Views: 96
Ammon
13-03-2025
- Health
- Ammon
UN inquiry accuses Israel of committing acts of genocide in Gaza
Ammon News - An investigation released Thursday by a special UN commission confirmed that Israel committed acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip through the systematic destruction of reproductive health care facilities. The UN Commission of Inquiry concluded that the occupying authorities partially destroyed the reproductive capacity of Palestinians in Gaza as a group through the systematic destruction of the reproductive health sector, amounting to two categories of genocide. The UN Genocide Convention defines this crime as any acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, or religious group. The investigation found that Israel engaged in at least two of the five acts the UN Convention defines as genocide. It indicated that Israel was "deliberately inflicting conditions of life on the group (Palestinians) calculated to bring about its physical destruction and imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group. "These violations not only caused severe direct physical and psychological harm to women and girls, but also had long-term, irreversible consequences for the psychological and reproductive health and fertility prospects of Palestinians as a whole," said Navi Pillay, chair of the committee, in a statement. The investigation found that Israel carried out systematic attacks targeting Gaza's health infrastructure, including hospitals and clinics providing reproductive health services. It affirmed that this led to the near-total destruction of the health sector's ability to care for pregnant women and newborns. It emphasized that "severe restrictions on essential medical supplies and medicines exacerbated the deteriorating reproductive health of women and girls in Gaza, directly contributing to high maternal and newborn mortality rates." WAFA
