In a series of overnight airstrikes, the United States and the United Kingdom targeted Houthi military positions in Yemen. The Houthi group’s military spokesperson responded with a warning of “punishment or retaliation,” claiming that the airstrikes resulted in five fighters killed and six others wounded.
The Houthis announced their intention to persist in blocking the passage of ships in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea.
In Gaza, an Israeli airstrike in the al-Masha’la area of Deir El-Balah killed nine Palestinians, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. Thirteen individuals have been reported as wounded from the same airstrike. Save the Children stated that at least 10,000 children in Gaza, equivalent to one per cent of the total child population in the Strip, have been killed in the ongoing Israeli attacks.
Jordan’s foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, warned that Israel’s actions are “driving the entire region towards greater conflict” and stressed the need for containment. The Israeli army claimed to have targeted and killed “dozens” of Hamas fighters, including a local commander in Maghazi.
Meanwhile, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, hears Israel’s response in the genocide case against the nation. Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Legal Advisor Tal Becker accused South Africa of presenting a “profoundly distorted and factual legal picture” against Israel.
Tal Becker claimed that Israel’s actions in Gaza aim to protect its people in a war of defence against Hamas, not the Palestinian population at large. He described South Africa’s case as a “libel,” but did not delve into the specific genocide claims made by South Africa.
South Africa case highlighted that Israel’s war on Gaza has so far resulted in the deaths of over 23,000 Palestinians, mostly children and women. The destruction of civilian infrastructure, including schools, universities, and hospitals, was also noted by South Africa in its case against Israel.
Professor Malcolm Shaw, a specialist in international law at the University of Leicester, also took the floor to present Israel’s legal defence against the accusations of genocide. He argued that the context for assessing Israel’s actions in Gaza should be Hamas’ 7 October attack. He acknowledged that this attack doesn’t justify violating international law, but argued that Israel has the right to defend itself in accordance with humanitarian law.
Shaw highlighted the gravity of the charge of genocide, describing it as the “epitome of evil” among violations of international law. Shaw criticised South Africa for approaching the matter as if there was an ongoing dispute with Israel.
Shaw raised doubts about South Africa’s claims of attempting to contact Israel and open dialogue, noting that it was Israel that tried to initiate bilateral talks. According to Shaw, South Africa opted to proceed with the ICJ case rather than engage in bilateral talks offered by Israel. Shaw claimed that had South Africa accepted Israel’s offer for talks, the parties might have concluded that there was no dispute substantial enough to bring to court.
