Top UN court says Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN's highest court, ruled that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements there are illegal and must be withdrawn as soon as possible.
The ICJ found that Israel's obligations include paying restitution for harm and evacuating all settlers from existing settlements.
The court also determined that the UN Security Council, General Assembly, and all states have an obligation not to recognize the occupation as legal or provide aid to maintain Israel's presence in the occupied territories.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry called the opinion "historic" and urged states to adhere to it by providing no aid, assistance or complicity to Israel's illegal occupation.
Israel rejected the opinion as "fundamentally wrong" and one-sided, arguing the Jewish nation cannot be an occupier in its own land
Dubai airport resumes normal operations after global outage hits check-in desks
Dubai International Airport faced a significant disruption due to a global IT outage affecting check-in systems, leading to delays for travelers.
Operations at the airport resumed to normal after the issue was resolved, with the airport advising passengers to check with airlines for updated flight information.
The outage caused long queues and frustration among passengers, as many were unable to check in for their flights.
Airlines at the airport were working to accommodate affected passengers and manage the backlog caused by the disruption.
The airport's management confirmed that the issue was not related to a cyberattack and emphasized their commitment to ensuring passenger safety and convenience during the incident.
Israel's contentious military exemption for ultra-Orthodox community
Israel's Supreme Court ruled in June 2023 that a law allowing ultra-Orthodox Jewish men to be exempt from military service was unconstitutional and must be changed by July 2024.
Ultra-Orthodox leaders argue that their community's religious studies are as valuable as military service in defending Israel. However, critics say the exemption has enabled draft dodging and contributed to poverty in the ultra-Orthodox community.
The government is working on a new law that would require ultra-Orthodox men to either serve in the military or perform national service. But ultra-Orthodox parties are demanding generous draft quotas and funding for religious seminaries in exchange.
Tensions are high as the July 2024 deadline approaches. Ultra-Orthodox leaders have threatened civil disobedience if the exemption is scrapped. Secular Israelis accuse them of shirking their duty to the country.
The issue highlights the power of ultra-Orthodox parties in Israeli politics. They have used their kingmaker status to extract concessions on issues like military service and funding for religious schools in coalition agreements
Tel Aviv hit by drone attack claimed by Iranian-backed Houthis
A long-range Iranian-made drone hit central Tel Aviv early Friday morning, killing one man and injuring four others. The attack was claimed by the Yemen-based Houthi militia.
The military assessed the drone was an upgraded Iranian-made Samad-3 model that arrived from Yemen. Sirens did not sound due to human error in identifying the threat.
The Houthis said Tel Aviv is now a primary target and the attack was carried out using a new drone called "Yafa" that can bypass interception systems. They vowed to continue targeting Israel in solidarity with Palestinians.
The attack came hours after Israel killed a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon, and Israel has been exchanging fire with Hezbollah along the northern border since the start of the Gaza war.
The Houthis have stepped up attacks on Israel and Western targets, saying they act in solidarity with Palestinians, after Israel invaded Gaza following last year's attack by Hamas militants
Fearing Palestinian Authority collapse, EU promises $435 mln in aid
The European Union has pledged €435 million ($475 million) in aid to the Palestinian Authority for 2024 to prevent its collapse amid ongoing financial difficulties.
The Palestinian Authority is facing a severe financial crisis, exacerbated by reduced revenues and rising costs, which has raised concerns about its stability and governance.
The aid announcement comes as tensions rise in the region, with fears that the weakening of the Palestinian Authority could lead to increased instability and violence.
The EU emphasized that the aid is contingent upon the Palestinian Authority implementing reforms, particularly in governance and public finance management.
The EU's commitment is part of a larger international effort to support the Palestinian Authority, with discussions ongoing among other donor countries to provide additional assistance.
FIFA postpones decision on Palestinian bid to suspend Israel
FIFA has delayed its decision regarding the Palestinian Football Association's request to suspend Israel from international football competitions.
The Palestinian bid is rooted in claims of discrimination and violations of rights against Palestinian players and teams by Israeli authorities.
The matter was raised during FIFA's congress, where Palestinian officials expressed concerns about the treatment of their athletes.
Israel's football association has denied the allegations, asserting that it does not discriminate against Palestinian players.
FIFA plans to further discuss the issue in the coming months, indicating that the topic remains a significant point of contention within international football governance.
Read more - https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/fifa-postpones-decision-palestinian-bid-suspend-israel-2024-07-19/
Jiah Malik (BA IR 2nd year)
Collected and published by (region head):
Varsha Das (BA IR 3rd year)
