Author: Steven Sahiounie

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to begin two days of public hearings in a case brought by Nicaragua over Germany’s support for Israel’s war on Gaza. Nicaragua, which will address the court in The Hague on Monday morning, is alleging Germany, which provides a reported 30 percent of the Israeli military’s weapons, is violating its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Germany will respond on Tuesday, with a Foreign Ministry spokesperson saying Berlin rejects Nicaragua’s accusations and has not breached either the Genocide Convention or international humanitarian law. source:…

The UN Security Council will meet to consider the Palestinian request to become a UN member state today. The council will hold closed consultations in the morning before a public meeting to discuss the formal Palestinian application for full UN membership. It begins at midday New York time (16:00 GMT). The Palestinian Authority has held non-member observer status at the UN since 2012, and supporters say about 140 of the UN’s 193 member states already recognise Palestine as a state. But the application could still be vetoed by a permanent member of the Security Council, with US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller last week…

Israeli broadcaster Channel 13 TV reports Israel is preparing to evacuate Rafah within one week and the process could take several months with about 1.5 million displaced Palestinians sheltering there from incessant attacks. Military officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say a “significant force” remains in Gaza to continue targeted operations, including in southern Khan Younis, the hometown of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Israel’s military announced on Sunday it had withdrawn the bulk of its forces from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, bringing its troop presence to one of the lowest levels since the six-month war began. But defence…

Israeli occupation forces Monday dawn stormed the city of Tulkarm and its camp, amid systematic destruction of infrastructure. WAFA correspondent said that a number of occupation vehicles, supported by two bulldozers, stormed the city from its western axis and advanced towards Courts Square. She added that the occupation bulldozers began to raze a part of Western Street in the vicinity of Al-Murabitin Mosque in the area, while drones flew at a low altitude. The occupation bulldozers also destroyed the area in Al-Alimi Street, damaging its infrastructure, especially the water network in the area, and the courtyards of the court complex.…

The second-in-command of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says Israel’s terrorist attack against Iran’s diplomatic premises in the Syrian capital of Damascus will accelerate the regime’s demise. “The evil nature of the world’s villains causes them to take actions that will accelerate their collapse, and this terrorist attack [in Damascus] will also speed up the decline of the occupying regime,” Brigadier General Ali Fadavi said on Sunday. On April 1, Israeli warplanes bombed the Consular Section of the Iranian Embassy in the Mezzeh neighborhood in the Syrian capital. A senior commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force, Brigadier General Mohammad…

Frank LaRose, a Republican, wrote to Ohio Democratic Party Chair Liz Walters that the Democratic National Convention, which is scheduled for August 19 passes the August 7 deadline for certifying presidential candidates on the Ohio ballot. Ohio’s Secretary of State has written to the Ohio Democratic Party, warning that President Joe Biden may be removed from the November election ballot in 2024 unless the Democratic National Convention meets early or legislative criteria in the state be amended or waived. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican, wrote to Ohio Democratic Party Chair Liz Walters, that the Democratic National Convention, which is scheduled for…

Attacks by the Ukrainian military against the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant are a very dangerous provocation, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has told the media. “This is a very dangerous provocation. IAEA staff who are on site have had the opportunity to witness these attacks. This is a very dangerous tactic and with very bad consequences in the long run. The Kiev regime, unfortunately, continues its terrorist activity,” the Kremlin spokesman said. On April 7, 2024, the Ukrainian military launched an unprecedented series of attacks on the Zaporozhye NPP. At 11:38 a.m. (8:00 a.m. GMT) a strike hit the area…

Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji met State Minister for Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Birtukan Ayano Dadi on Sunday in Riyadh. During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and discussed prominent issues of common interest. Meanwhile, President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud left Jeddah on Sunday. He was seen off at King Abdulaziz International Airport by Jeddah Gov. Prince Saud bin Jalawi and a number of officials. Mohamud arrived in the Kingdom to perform Umrah and also visited the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. Source: Arab News

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas’s military wing has strongly warned Israel against redeploying its forces to the Gaza Strip after the partial withdrawal of the occupation forces from southern Gaza. Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades issued the warning in a message to Tel Aviv on Sunday. “You may enter Gaza’s streets, but, owing to our brave fighters’ determination, you shall burn in its alleys every time [you enter],” the warned message read. The brigades earlier reacted to the Israeli army’s withdrawal from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, saying the regime’s pullout was put down to the army’s failure to achieve its…

In messages to his foreign counterparts on the occasion of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian hoped the Palestinian nation would break free from the Israeli cruelty. In the message, Amirabdollahian regarded Eid al-Fitr as a celebration marking Muslims’ dedication to passing divine tests and as a season of joy and happiness for those who pursue excellence through piety and righteous deeds, drawing them closer to the God Almighty. “With the blessings of this Eid and through enhanced efforts and closer cooperation among Islamic countries, we aim to establish increasing security, prosperity, and peace for…