The ICJ has found the Gaza genocide case plausible
Everybody Will Stop Us, or You’ll Be The Hague, or Will the Department of Energy Identify Louisiana Liquefied Natural Gas Exported to the United States?
Good morning. You’re reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.
Although the court’s ruling is legally binding, it is not enforceable. Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was quoted as saying “No one will stop us, not The Hague” in a speech after two days of hearings at the International Court of Justice.
A bipartisan Senate deal to pair border enforcement measures with aid for Ukraine and Israel could be falling apart, largely thanks to former President Donald Trump. After months of negotiations, the deal was close to being finalized.
The Biden administration is pausing a decision on approving a Louisiana liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project, that would be the country’s largest natural gas export project. This delay allows the Department of Energy to review if these plants are in the “public interest,” considering their impact on the climate, public health and the economy.
Israel’s First Right to defend itself against the Second State of the Invasion That Shook the World and Made a Leader of Volodymyr Zelensky
Half of U.S. renters are currently living in a house that is not affordable according to a new report. The biggest jump in unaffordability since 2019 was for households making $30,000 to $74,999 a year, though researchers saw increases across every income category. The cooling housing market isn’t likely to help the people who are struggling the most, according to experts. Listen to the story or read it.
The NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour says that movies: Origin is a story of ideas and made deeply personal.
The Amazon show is about a group of privileged, disconnected American women who are living in Hong Kong. It has a strange history and is also quite rambunctious.
Books: Time correspondent Simon Shuster, who spent months embedded with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Russia’s invasion unfolded, details the president’s transformation in his new book, The Showman: Inside the Invasion That Shook the World and Made a Leader of Volodymyr Zelensky.
Games: If you’re wondering how to prepare for next month’s highly-anticipated release of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, NPR ranked the franchise’s best spinoff games, books and more.
The court voted by vote of 16 to 1 that Israel must take immediate and effective measures to provide humanitarian aid and basic services.
In a video released by his office after the ruling, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Like every country, Israel has an inherent right to defend itself. There was a vile attempt to deny Israel this fundamental right that was justly rejected. We will continue to do what is necessary to defend our country and defend our people.”
Before delivering the ruling, Donoghue read statements from Israeli officials which she said made South Africa’s case plausible. She gave an assessment of the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
This is only the second time a state has tried to litigate a charge of genocide against another. In 2019, The Gambia took Myanmar to the ICJ, accusing it of a genocide against the Rohingya. Emergency measures were approved by the court in order to protect the Muslim Rohingya minority.
Israeli actions on the Gaza strip: Evidence of genocidal intent, Israel’s response to Hamas attacks, and the tragedy of children in Gaza
Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza strip has so far killed more than 26,000 people — approximately 1% of the prewar population — according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Israel’s offensive is in response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and more than 240 taken hostage, according to Israeli officials.
She argued that Israel’s actions over the past three months showed a “systematic pattern of conduct” which was proof of genocidal intent.
As a result, she said, more than 1,800 families in Gaza have lost multiple family members, and 85% of all Palestinians in Gaza have been forced to flee their homes.
The Israeli presentation acknowledged the suffering of civilians in Gaza but denied that they had a genocidal intent. Israel said that Hamas had waged war among non-combatants, which led to the high civilian death toll.
“Entire multi-generational families will be obliterated,” Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh, an Irish lawyer who is supporting South Africa’s legal team, told the court. More children will die if Israel continues its genocidal assault on the Palestinian population in Gaza, she warned.
The Israeli government accused South Africa of presenting a “profound distorted” view of warfare, arguing that it was just like that of Hamas.
Becker said that it was difficult to comprehend the armed conflict in Gaza without understanding the threat that Israel is facing.