8 h. ago Unrwa says Israel has abused detained staff and used some as human shields

Accusation from UN agency comes as Red Crescent medic held since deadly Israeli attack on ambulances is freed The embattled UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa, has accused Israel of abusing dozens of its staff in military detention and using some as human shields.The head of the agency, Philippe Lazzarini, said that more than 50 staff members, including teachers, doctors and social workers, had been detained and abused since the start of the 18 month-long war in Gaza. Continue reading...

Politics

33 h. ago Israel seems set on destroying system of international law compliance, ICJ hears

Country accused of obstructing UN as court considers its decision to end cooperation with Unrwa Israel appears set on destroying the framework created to ensure compliance with international law in a way that will have profound consequences that reverberate far beyond Palestine, the international court of justice has heard.The warning was made at the start of five days of proceedings in The Hague that may prove critical to Israel’s future within the world body. The UN’s top court will hear from dozens of nations and organisations in order to draw up an advisory opinion on Israel’s humanitarian obligations to Palestinians more than 50 days into its total blockade on aid entering Gaza. Continue reading...

Politics

40 h. ago Middle East crisis live: Israel has turned Gaza into a ‘mass grave’, top UN court hears

ICJ holding hearing about Israel’s obligation to facilitate aid to Gaza and the West Bank amid the outlawing of UnrwaTehran has accused Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to dictate US policy in negotiations after the Israeli prime minister repeated calls for Iran’s entire nuclear infrastructure to be dismantled.The US and Iran have so far held three rounds of indirect talks, mediated by Oman, aimed at sealing a deal that would block Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon but also lift crippling economic sanctions imposed by Washington.Israel’s fantasy that it can dictate what Iran may or may not do is so detached from reality that it hardly merits a response. What is striking, however, is how brazenly Netanyahu is now dictating what President Trump can and cannot do in his diplomacy with Iran Continue reading...

Events

60 h. ago Israel faces legal pressure at UN’s top court over Unrwa blockade

Hearings in The Hague over Palestinian aid agency ban mark major test of Israel’s compliance with international lawIsrael will come under sustained legal pressure this week at the UN’s top court when lawyers from more than 40 countries will claim the nation’s ban on all cooperation with the UN’s Palestinian rights agency Unrwa is a breach of the UN charter.The five days of hearings at the International court of justice in The Hague have been given a fresh urgency by Israel’s decision on 2 March to block all aid into Gaza, but the hearing will focus on whether Israel – as a signatory to the UN charter – acted unlawfully in overriding the immunities afforded to a UN body. Israel ended all contact and cooperation with Unrwa operations in Gaza, West Bank and East Jerusalem in November, claiming the agency had been infiltrated by Hamas, an allegation that has been contested. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago In reverse of a longtime stance, US says UN Palestinian refugee agency isn't immune from lawsuits

The Trump administration has decided that the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees is not immune from being sued, reversing the U.S. government’s longstanding position that the organization was protected from civil liability

Events

7 d. ago UN to review the impact of its agency helping Palestinian refugees in Gaza and elsewhere

The United Nations chief has appointed a British human rights activist to carry out a strategic review of the U.N. agency helping Palestinian refugees

Events

2 w. ago Israel releases 10 Palestinians detained from Gaza. They say they suffered abuse

Israel has freed 10 Palestinians detained from Gaza, the latest in periodic releases from the thousands of people troops have seized during the military campaign in the territory

Politics