News

How one of Iran's most destructive weapons could threaten the U.S.  Axios

Hegseth Claims Iranian Military Is 'Destroyed,' Strait of Hormuz Attacks a Sign of 'Sheer Desperation'  Time Magazine

Israel's war widens with strikes on Iran and Lebanon  DW.com

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US defends Israel in new ICJ intervention in South Africa genocide case Sondos Asem on Fri, 03/13/2026 - 14:11 Hungary, Fiji and Namibia also file declarations as wave of third-state interventions in the international court grows Judges at the International Court of Justice in the Hague, 12 January 2026 (AFP) Off The United States has filed a declaration of intervention in South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), explicitly rejecting the allegation that the country is committing genocide in Gaza. The filing was made on Thursday alongside separate interventions by Namibia, Hungary and Fiji, according to a press release issued by the court on Friday. All four states submitted declarations under Article 63 of the ICJ statute, which allows countries that are parties to a treaty under dispute to intervene in order to present their interpretation of that treaty. On Thursday, Iceland and the Netherlands also filed declarations under Article 63. South Africa filed the case in December 2023, accusing Israel of breaching the Genocide Convention through its military campaign in Gaza following the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October that year. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pretoria argues that Israel's conduct - including mass killings, destruction of infrastructure and the imposition of conditions of life threatening the survival of Palestinians in Gaza - amounts to genocide. Israel denies the accusation and claims its war is justified by considerations of self-defence.  The US submission on Thursday stands out among most interventions for directly defending Israel against the accusation brought by South Africa. In its declaration, Washington argues that allegations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza are "false" and urges the court to apply a strict legal threshold when determining genocidal intent. It says genocide can only be established where there is clear proof of specific intent to destroy a protected group. Israel’s genocide in Gaza: Whatever happened to South Africa’s case at the ICJ? Read More » That intent should only be inferred when it is the only reasonable explanation for the conduct in question, it says. The submission argues that the ICJ must be fully convinced before determining an act is genocide, due to the exceptional gravity of the crime. It also says civilian casualties and destruction during armed conflict do not by themselves prove genocidal intent. "The United States submits that the Court should maintain its standard for inferring intent. Lowering the standard risks broadening the application of the term 'genocide' such that it no longer carries its original weight and meaning, and invites attempts to misuse the Genocide Convention as a gateway for bringing extraneous disputes before the Court," the US said. While Article 63 interventions are formally limited to questions of treaty interpretation, the US declaration goes further by explicitly disputing South Africa's allegations against Israel. Hungary and Fiji's submissions similarly advance legal arguments that align closely with Israel's position in the case. Hungary's declaration calls for a narrow interpretation of genocide and emphasises that civilian casualties and destruction during armed conflict do not in themselves demonstrate genocidal intent. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Fiji's intervention likewise urges the court to apply an extremely high evidentiary threshold for genocide, and cautions against relying heavily on reports by international organisations or non-governmental groups when assessing allegations. By contrast, Namibia's declaration focuses on a broader interpretation of the Genocide Convention and emphasises how genocidal intent may be inferred from patterns of conduct and cumulative evidence. Namibia argues that acts such as the denial of humanitarian aid, repeated displacement and deprivation of basic necessities could fall within the Convention's prohibition on deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of a protected group. Its submission also stresses that genocide can be committed through omissions, including a refusal to allow or facilitate life-saving humanitarian assistance to civilians under a state's control. Third-state interventions The new filings add to a rapidly expanding list of states seeking to intervene in the proceedings.  (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Since April 2024, similar interventions have been submitted by Colombia, Libya, Mexico, Palestine, Spain, Turkey, Chile, the Maldives, Bolivia, Ireland, Cuba, Belize, Brazil, the Comoros, Belgium and Paraguay. Palestine and Belize have also sought to intervene under Article 62 of the court's statute, which allows states to apply to participate in proceedings if they believe they have a legal interest that could be affected by the court's decision. Under Article 63, intervening states do not become parties to the dispute. Instead, they are permitted to present their interpretation of the treaty at issue – in this case the 1948 Genocide Convention. The interpretation adopted by the court in its eventual judgment will also be binding on those states. Palestine will continue to seek justice against Israel at ICC and ICJ, says Hague ambassador Read More » The case has become one of the most closely watched disputes ever heard by the ICJ and has drawn an unusually large number of third-state interventions, which have reached 22. The court has already ordered Israel in legally binding provisional measures to take steps to prevent acts that could violate the Genocide Convention and to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israel has repeatedly ignored the orders. A final ruling on whether Israel has breached the Convention is expected in 2028. But it could take longer, depending on the length of hearings and the two parties' adherence to deadlines. On Thursday, Israel was scheduled to submit its counter-memorial, or arguments in response to South Africa's accusations, after several deadline extensions by the court. The court has yet to announce that Israel has filed its evidence, however. During its devastating onslaught, Israel has so far killed over 70,000 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them women and children. It has also destroyed most of the enclave's homes, hospitals, schools and other infrastructure, rendering it largely uninhabitable for its 2.3 million civilians.   A UN commission of inquiry concluded last September that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza since 7 October 2023. The UN report's authors, including legal experts Navi Pillay and Chris Sidoti, told Middle East Eye that the report used evidence and a similar methodology in its analysis to that which will be used by the ICJ. International law News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

Khirbet Humsa residents say some 30 settlers beat locals and activists, no arrests reported; footage appears to show settlers firing gun into town, burning down chicken coop The post Several Palestinians injured in apparent settler attacks on multiple West Bank villages appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Spokesperson rejects accusations of antisemitism; Republican Jewish Coalition opposes nomination; US president says candidate will 'never let you down' The post Trump endorses Brandon Herrera, Texas GOP candidate who owned copy of ‘Mein Kampf’ appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Israeli leaders are framing the bombing campaign as having transformed the Middle East in their favour as pressure to end the conflict builds.

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Putin may be helping Iran, says Trump Donald Trump has told Fox News Radio that he believes the Russian president may be helping Iran. In an interview with The Brian Kilmeade Show Trump "I think he might be helping him (Iran) a little bit, yeah, I guess. And he probably thinks we're helping Ukraine, right?"  The US president's claims come the day after UK defence secretary John Healey claimed Putin’s “hidden hand” was behind Iran’s military tactics. Lt Gen Nick Perry, the UK chief of joint operations, told Healey that Russia had handed tactical advice to Iran to be used in the conflict while visiting the UK’s military command centre in Northwood. Both countries use of Shahed drones of which Iran has already fired more than 2,000 since 28 February.

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Herzog says country's dignity 'not for sale' and indicates Netanyahu should have pushed back forcefully after Trump called Israeli president 'weak and pathetic' The post After Trump insults, Herzog decries PM’s non-response to ‘attack’ on Israeli sovereignty appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Strait of Hormuz ‘tactically complex environment’ — top US general  The Times of Israel

By Maya Gebeily BEIRUT, March 13 (Reuters) - Israel has rebuffed a historic offer of direct talks from Lebanon, deeming it too little too late from a government that shares its goal of disarming Hezbollah but cannot act against the heavily armed Lebanese group without risking a civil war. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed the state's willingness to begin direct negotiations with Israel this week, seeking to secure an end to the conflict that erupted on March 2 when Hezbollah entered the regional war in support of its patron Iran.

Sea mines threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz  Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Intercepted limited barrage from Iran toward central Israel, IDF says senior figures targeted and results pending  ynetnews

Trump, Iran, and Israel: The Wars Behind the War  Geopolitical Monitor

China tankers allowed through Strait of Hormuz while US ships face threats  Fox Business

Hegseth on Strait of Hormuz: 'Don't need to worry about it'  upi.com

Trump says U.S. would escort ships in Strait of Hormuz 'if needed'  The Detroit News