Late last week, South Africa wrote to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) asking it to urgently declare that Israel violated its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention during the invasion of Gaza.
The ICJ, or International Court of Justice, is a UN body created to resolve disputes between states. South Africa’s leaders believe Israel is violating its obligations under the post-World War II treaty, which makes it a crime to attempt to destroy a people in whole or in part, Reuters reports.
They asked the court to issue interim, or short-term, measures ordering Israel to halt its military campaign in Gaza, which it said were “necessary in this case to protect against further serious and irreparable damage to the rights of the Palestinian people”.
In an initial response to South Africa’s lawsuit, Israel’s foreign ministry blamed Hamas for the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, claiming it uses civilians as human shields and steals humanitarian aid from them, allegations Hamas denies.
“Israel has made it clear that the residents of the Gaza Strip are not the enemy, and is making every effort to limit harm to the non-involved”, the ministry statement said.
“Protecting the Palestinian people”
Palestine, whose statehood is disputed but which has “observer state” status at the court, welcomed South Africa’s application.
“The court must immediately take action to protect the Palestinian people and call on Israel, the occupying power, to halt its onslaught”, the Palestinian foreign ministry said.
The application to the court is the latest move by South Africa, which has been critical of Israel’s war, to ratchet up pressure after the country’s lawmakers voted last month to close the Israeli embassy in Pretoria and sever diplomatic ties.
“Israel, since 7 October 2023 in particular, has failed to prevent genocide and has failed to prosecute the direct and public incitement to genocide”, the South African foreign ministry wrote.
Another court in The Hague, the International Criminal Court (ICC), is separately investigating alleged atrocities in Gaza and the West Bank, but has not named any suspects. Israel is not a member of the ICC and rejects its jurisdiction.
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Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire agreement that will take effect on Sunday, January 19. Qatar, which mediated the negotiations, confirmed the news during a press conference on Wednesday evening.
The truce includes the release of hostages, humanitarian aid to Gaza, and the hope that the fighting will eventually stop completely.
Qatar’s Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Al-Thani, announced on Wednesday that the ceasefire will have an initial duration of six weeks, according to Swedish TV4.
The Prime Minister expressed hope that the truce will lead to a permanent solution.
– Hopefully, these are the last negotiations leading to a permanent ceasefire.
Under the three-stage agreement, Hamas will, in phase one, release 33 Israeli hostages (out of a total of 98) in exchange for Israel releasing a number of Palestinian prisoners. The parties have also agreed to allow daily shipments of up to 600 trucks of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, the Associated Press reports.
The “Trump effect” may have played a role
Political analysts and experts believe that US President-elect Donald Trump may have had an indirect impact on the agreement.
Isabell Schierenbeck, a political scientist at the University of Gothenburg, says: “Trump’s upcoming inauguration has probably acted as a catalyst for the parties to reach a ceasefire.There is a clear political signal that it may be more difficult to negotiate in the future”, she says in a comment to Stampen-owned Göteborgs-Posten.
Trump himself has taken credit for the agreement, expressing this on his social platform Truth Social.
– This epic ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our historic victory in November, he wrote.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly thanked Donald Trump in a phone call for his role in making the truce possible.
Some hope but also uncertainty
The ceasefire is welcomed by many international actors as an important step towards reducing tensions and delivering much-needed humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, among others, expressing his support for the agreement and stressing the importance of getting aid to those in need.
Despite this, there is still uncertainty about how sustainable the agreement will be. Previous ceasefires have been broken by both sides, and the conflict between Israel and Hamas remains deeply rooted.
According to local reports, both sides plan to use the ceasefire to redeploy their forces, raising fears that fighting could resume with renewed intensity after the agreement ends.
Swedish foreign minister: “Greatly welcomed”
Several countries, including Sweden, have welcomed the agreement. The Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Maria Malmer Stenergard (M), expresses cautious hope.
– The news of a ceasefire in Gaza is greatly welcomed. At last, several hostages can be reunited with their families. My thoughts are with the families of those who have not returned alive. It is now absolutely essential that the ceasefire eases the immense suffering of Gaza’s civilian population and increases access to humanitarian aid, writes the Foreign Minister in a comment to TV4.
Draft ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas (according to Associated Press).
PHASE 1: (42 days)
Hamas releases 33 hostages, including female civilians and soldiers, children and civilians over 50.
Israel releases 30 Palestinian prisoners for every civilian hostage and 50 for every female soldier.
Fighting stops, Israeli forces move out of populated areas to the outskirts of the Gaza Strip.
Displaced Palestinians start returning home, more aid enters the Strip.
PHASE 2: (42 days)
Declaration of “sustainable calm”.
Hamas releases remaining male hostages (soldiers and civilians) in exchange for a yet to be negotiated number of Palestinian prisoners and a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip.
PHASE 3:
Bodies of deceased Israeli hostages are exchanged for bodies of deceased Palestinian soldiers.
Implementation of a reconstruction plan in Gaza.
Border crossings into and out of Gaza are reopened.
Despite calls for Gaza’s civilian population to seek shelter in so-called humanitarian zones, these continue to be attacked by Israeli warplanes.
Since May last year, at least 97 airstrikes have been carried out against areas set up to protect Palestinian civilians, killing at least 550 people.
– We have said it so so many times. There is no safe zone in Gaza. No place is safe. No-one is safe. No place is spared, explains Juliette Touma, from the UN refugee agency UNRWA.
The BBC analyzed the Israeli attacks and found that the humanitarian zone, which includes the towns of Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah, has been heavily shelled. More than a million people live here – many in makeshift tent camps with limited access to food, water and medical care.
The IDF established the zone in October 2023 with the promise to keep civilians out of danger. But according to the UN and humanitarian organizations, the reality is different.
According to the BBC, more than 550 people have been killed in the 97 attacks documented in the zone – although Israel itself has only admitted responsibility for a minority of these. The analysis also shows that attacks have taken place near hospitals and residential complexes.
– We were displaced to Khan Younis because it was designated as a safe zone, but in fact we find nothing here but insecurity. We have been denied the true sense of security, with fear dominating our lives, says Khaled, who was urged by the IDF to move to the area.
The area in Gaza which Israel’s military has told people to go to “for their safety” has been hit by 97 strikes since May.
NRC’s access manager in Gaza highlighting the near daily strikes within the so-called “humanitarian zone” including from Israeli ships & small drones:
The Israeli army itself routinely claims that it is only attacking Hamas – and that the terrorist group is using the civilian population as human shields and using the humanitarian zone to attack Israeli targets with rockets.
Assessors, however, dismiss these explanations, saying that Israel uses the zone’s “humanitarian” status as a front, and that it is subject to frequent bombardments in the same way as the rest of Gaza.
The UN and human rights groups working in the area note that no “safe zones” exist in Gaza today. Gavin Kelleher of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) stresses that even the areas where refugees have been ordered to seek refuge can be attacked by warships or drones at any time.
More journalists have been killed in Gaza than in any other war and the Israeli military has also been accused of deliberately killing journalists and photographers to prevent any war crimes from being documented.
At the same time, very few journalists are granted Israeli permission to enter Gaza at all, and because reporting on the ground is so limited, it is often very difficult to get a picture of the scale of Israeli attacks.
UNRWA, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, will continue its work in Gaza – despite Israel’s ban on the organization.
– We will however stay and deliver, explains the organization’s director Philippe Lazzarini.
Last autumn, Netanyahu’s government decided to ban the UN organization from conducting any activities in Israel or occupied East Jerusalem. The Israeli government justified the decision with accusations that UNRWA was linked to Hamas and that UNRWA staff participated in the 7 October attacks – accusations that the organization itself denies.
However, the Swiss Philippe Lazzarini, who currently heads the refugee agency, declares that it will not accept the ban, which comes into effect at the end of the month. On the contrary, UNRWA will continue its relief work in Gaza as far as practically possible.
– UNRWA’s local staff will remain and continue to provide emergency assistance and, where possible, education and primary healthcare, he explained.
“UNRWA will stay & deliver”
We will continue to provide services across all of the occupied Palestinian territory including in #Gaza.
If implemented, the Knesset bills on UNRWA will deprive Palestine Refugees of lifesaving assistance and access to primary health & education. https://t.co/iGBoiRIeFJ
Meanwhile, it is understood that Israel will refuse to issue visas to international UN staff, making it virtually impossible for them to enter Gaza.
– These staff will be compelled to withdraw under protest, it says.
Lazzarini further stresses that aid workers are already being threatened and harassed by Israeli authorities and that threats against UNRWA staff are expected to increase further in the future.
He warns that the complete disappearance of the refugee agency from the Palestinian territories will only add to the suffering and misery already endured by the civilian population.
Violence erupted in Amsterdam following the UEFA Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv on November 7, 2024. Tensions between rival football fans escalated into violent confrontations, leaving several injured and resulting in multiple arrests.
Moroccan-born State Secretary Nora Achahbar resigned in protest, criticizing the Dutch government’s handling of the events, which she claimed unfairly targeted immigrant communities.
On the night before the match, around 11 pm local time, four people were arrested after pro-Palestinian graffiti was sprayed at the Johan Cruyff Arena, where the game was scheduled to take place.
Later that night, a group of Maccabi fans reportedly tore down and burned a Palestinian flag from a building facade. Videos captured some supporters chanting slogans like “Ole” and “F— you Palestine”, while a taxi was vandalized. Following a call on social media, a group of Muslim taxi drivers reportedly headed to the Holland Casino, where approximately 400 Israeli supporters were gathered. Authorities quickly intervened, dispersing the group and escorting the supporters out of the casino.
Authorities reported “relatively small” confrontations continuing near the casino later that night.
”We wil f— the Arabs”
The next day, at around 1 pm CET, Maccabi supporters gathered at Dam Square for a pro-Israel demonstration. Videos posted online captured some fans chanting anti-Arab slogans, such as “Death to the Arabs” and “Let the IDF win. We will f— the Arabs”. Another Palestinian flag was torn down during the demonstration, leading to two arrests.
A pro-Palestinian protest, initially planned outside the Johan Cruyff Arena during the match, was relocated by Amsterdam’s mayor, Femke Halsema, to a remote location. The decision, aimed at preventing further clashes, was met with criticism from activists.
Targeted attacks after the match
After Ajax’s 5-0 victory, messages appeared on social media “confirming that there are groups that are looking for a confrontation with Maccabi supporters”, according to Tuesday’s report. Officials cited screenshots from messaging apps that called for a “Jew hunt”. Groups of masked youths on scooters and e-bikes targeted Maccabi supporters, chasing and assaulting them in what authorities described as “hit-and-run” attacks. At least five people were hospitalized, and 20 to 30 others sustained minor injuries.
Videos circulated showing people being kicked and beaten in the streets. In one clip, a man was heard shouting at a victim lying on the ground, “This is for the children! For the children, motherf—-r. Free Palestine now”. Another video showed men, some wearing Maccabi fan colors, picking up pipes and boards from a construction site before chasing and assaulting a man.
Later that night the Israeli ambassador contacted the mayor saying there was “lots of anger” in Israel over the events in Amsterdam. More footage in social media showed some Maccabi fans at the Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport singing “Why is school out in Gaza? There are no children left there”.
Police shoving pro-Palestinian supporters
Dutch police arrested 62 people, including Dutch and Israeli citizens. Four Dutch men remain in custody for further investigation. Authorities also launched a probe using CCTV and social media footage to identify perpetrators.
Two days later, on November 10, police detained 50 people at a pro-Palestinian rally for ignoring a protest ban. Another 340 individuals were transported by bus to the outskirts of the city. Critics accused the police of using excessive force, particularly against peaceful protesters.
Giordano Gronchi, a witness to these events, shares his experience with The Nordic Times:
– I was present to take footage rather than protest outright, but things turned ugly quickly. Police began harassing protestors—pushing, shoving, and slamming into them. Protestors formed groups, but the police encircled them, tightening their rings with vans. They pulled people out, subdued them, and arrested many.
At one point, I moved to a group near Damrak street, where protestors were chanting and playing drums, entirely non-violent. Police in riot gear funneled them into Nieuwendijk street, announcing the protest was illegal. The street became a blockade, with riot officers sealing both ends. Customers from nearby stores were also trapped in the cramped space.
I was behind the police line filming when an officer shoved me into Nieuwendijk. I explained I wasn’t protesting, but I wasn’t listened to. Inside, I was told everyone in the blockade was under arrest. After showing my ID, I was let out. Later, I heard the police began beating people and arrested most protesters.
Investigations to focus on “antisemitic motives”
Rioters set fire to an empty tram and damaged several cars. A police car was also set alight. Videos posted on social media showed the attackers shouting “Free Palestine” and throwing fireworks and other objects at the tram. Dutch authorities made five more arrests.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the attacks on Maccabi supporters as a “planned antisemitic attack” and compared them to the 1938 Kristallnacht pogrom. Dutch King Willem-Alexander expressed concern about the violence, citing the Netherlands’ history of failing to protect its Jewish community during the Holocaust.
Following the events, Moroccan-born State Secretary Nora Achahbar resigned from the Dutch government in protest against what she described as racist remarks made by her colleagues. Achahbar’s resignation followed a cabinet meeting on November 11, where she openly criticized the language used by members of Prime Minister Dick Schoof’s administration to describe the violence in Amsterdam.
Achahbar expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s narrative, which she felt unfairly targeted immigrant communities, particularly Dutch-Moroccans, while ignoring provocations from Maccabi supporters. Opposition leaders have since voiced support for Achahbar, condemning the government’s handling of the situation and calling for greater accountability and transparency.
Investigations to determine the perpetrators are still underway. Authorities are focusing on identifying the perpetrators through CCTV and social media analysis. The public prosecutor has stated that the investigation will prioritize antisemitic motives behind the attacks. Additionally, a partial state of emergency was declared, allowing police to conduct random stop-and-search operations to prevent further violence.
