Israel urges UN court to reject South Africa’s request for more emergency orders in genocide case

Israel urges UN court to reject South Africa’s request for more emergency orders in genocide case

Israel fervently denies that its military campaign in Gaza amounts to a breach of the Genocide Convention. It acknowledged in its written response to South Africa’s request that there are “also tragic and agonising civilian casualties in this war. These realities are the painful result of intensive armed hostilities that Israel did not start and did not want.”

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Gaza in the toss of man-made food crisis, 300,000 at risk of death, says UN-backed monitor

Gaza in the toss of man-made food crisis, 300,000 at risk of death, says UN-backed monitor

In all, 1.1 million Gazans, around half the population, were experiencing “catastrophic” shortages of food, the worst category, with around 300,000 in the areas now facing the prospect of famine-scale death rates.

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UNICEF estimates over 13,000 children have been killed in Gaza in Israel offensive

UNICEF estimates over 13,000 children have been killed in Gaza in Israel offensive

Israel’s military assault on Hamas-governed Gaza has displaced nearly its entire 2.3 million-person population, caused a starvation crisis, flattened most of the enclave, and killed over 31,000 people, according to Gaza’s health ministry. It has also led to accusations of genocide being probed in the World Court.

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Integrity issues emerge after billion-dollar Jewish Communal Fund bars donations to Jewish group

Integrity issues emerge after billion-dollar Jewish Communal Fund bars donations to Jewish group

A donor-advised fund is a philanthropic innovation that provides donors with significant tax advantages relative to their charitable contributions. By giving to a donor-advised fund, someone can immediately write off the entire amount of their donation, even while the money sits in the fund. When the donor has identified an organisation they wish to support, the donor directs the fund to transfer the money, much as one would with a bank account.

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US and allies are considering commercial maritime option for Gaza humanitarian support

US and allies are considering commercial maritime option for Gaza humanitarian support

US officials have said the US military operation would provide hundreds of additional truckloads of aid every day and those shipments would include more than two million meals, water, temporary shelters and medicine.

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US, UK, French military shoot down Houthi drones after attack on bulk carrier, destroyers

US, UK, French military shoot down Houthi drones after attack on bulk carrier, destroyers

The Houthis have been attacking ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November in what they say is a campaign of solidarity with Palestinians during Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. The group’s military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a televised speech on Saturday they had targeted the cargo vessel and “a number of US war destroyers at the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden with 37 drones”.

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Hopes of Gaza Ramadhan ceasefire dim but Israeli spy agency says mediators are pushing for truce

Hopes of Gaza Ramadhan ceasefire dim but Israeli spy agency says mediators are pushing for truce

A Hamas source said the group’s delegation was “unlikely” to make another visit to Cairo over the weekend for talks. Egypt, the US and Qatar have been mediating truce negotiations since January. The last deal struck was a week-long pause in fighting in November during which Hamas released more than 100 hostages and Israel freed about three times as many Palestinian prisoners.

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Moscow on ‘red alert’ as US embassy in Russia warns of imminent attack by Islamic State extremists

Moscow on ‘red alert’ as US embassy in Russia warns of imminent attack by Islamic State extremists

Most Western countries advise against all travel to Russia and say their citizens should leave. The US has the highest level of warning for Russia – red “4 – Do not travel” – the same level as Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, South Sudan and Iran.

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In Gaza, Palestinians are forced to eat grass because ‘If we aren’t killed, we will die of hunger’

In Gaza, Palestinians are forced to eat grass because ‘If we aren’t killed, we will die of hunger’

The UN has been unable to deliver food aid to the north since January 23, with Israeli authorities continuing to deny access to UN aid convoys, which their troops have fired on. In late February, the World Food Programme and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, suspended aid delivery in the north, saying it had become impossible to operate safely.

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Ramadhan with a difference: Muslims in Gaza to fast against grim setting of Israeli bombs

Ramadhan with a difference: Muslims in Gaza to fast against grim setting of Israeli bombs

Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, along with the profession of faith, prayer, almsgiving and pilgrimage. Muslims see various meanings and lessons in observing the fast.

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