On This Day: Seven astronauts died when the space shuttle Challenger exploded after liftoff in 1986

On This Day: Seven astronauts died when the space shuttle Challenger exploded after liftoff in 1986

On January 28, 1939, Irish poet and dramatist William Butler Yeats died. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1923. On the same date in 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded, resulting in the death of seven astronauts. In 1997, police confessed to the murder of black civil rights leader Steve Biko at South Africa’s Truth Commission. Japan’s Finance Minister Hiroshi Mitsuzuka was forced to resign due to a bribery case in 1998. Astrid Lindgren, the Swedish children’s author and creator of Pippi Longstocking, passed away in 2002. A Boeing 727 belonging to Ecuadorean carrier TAME crashed into Colombia’s Cumbal volcano in 2002, killing all on board. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s right-wing Likud party won a general election in 2003. Archbishop Christodoulos, the head of Greece’s Orthodox Church, died in 2008. In 2009, President Raul Castro made the first visit to Russia by a Cuban leader since the end of the Cold War. Nelson Mandela returned home from the hospital in 2011. The World Health Organization announced an outbreak of the Zika Virus in 2016.

Catapult decision of the International Court of Justice in The Hague: Israel to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza

Catapult decision of the International Court of Justice in The Hague: Israel to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza

The International Court in The Hague examined the appeal of South Africa – It called on Israel to allow humanitarian aid. The International Court in The Hague, which examined the appeal of South Africa, ordered Israel on Friday to take all measures at its disposal to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza. The court stated that Israel must ensure that its forces do not commit genocide and take measures to improve the humanitarian situation. It also calls on Israel to submit a report to the court within one month on what it is doing to comply with the order. South Africa, the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas welcomed the decision of the International Court in The Hague, while Israel reacted negatively.

South Africa: court ruling against Israel a victory for rule of law

South Africa: court ruling against Israel a victory for rule of law

The International Court of Justice ruled in favor of South Africa’s request to impose emergency measures against Israel over its military operations in Gaza. The court ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians and do more to help civilians. The court has not yet ruled on whether genocide has occurred in Gaza. South Africa hailed the ruling as a victory for international rule of law and expressed hope that Israel would comply with the order. Israel has called the allegations false and stated its efforts to avoid civilian casualties. South Africa stated it would continue to protect the rights of Palestinians in Gaza through global governance institutions.

South Africa: court ruling against Israel a victory for rule of law

South Africa: court ruling against Israel a victory for rule of law

The International Court of Justice ruled in favor of South Africa’s request to impose emergency measures against Israel over its military operations in Gaza. The court ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians and do more to help civilians. The court has not yet ruled on whether genocide has occurred in Gaza. Israel denies the allegations and says it makes efforts to avoid civilian casualties. South Africa sees the ruling as a victory for international rule of law and hopes Israel will comply with the order. South Africa will continue to protect the rights of Palestinians in Gaza through global governance institutions.

World Court: Israel must prevent acts of genocide

World Court: Israel must prevent acts of genocide

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians and to take measures to help civilians. The court did not order a ceasefire, as requested by South Africa, which brought the case to the ICJ. South Africa accused Israel of state-led genocide after Hamas militants entered Israel, killing 1,200 and kidnapping more than 240, which led to an Israeli offensive resulting in over 26,000 Palestinian deaths. The ICJ ruled that Palestinians seem to be a protected group under the 1948 Genocide Convention but did not decide on the merits of the genocide allegations. Israel has denied the allegations made by South Africa, stating that they are false and distorted, and has claimed to make efforts to avoid civilian casualties.

Davos: Israeli president subject to criminal charges, Swiss prosecutors say

Davos: Israeli president subject to criminal charges, Swiss prosecutors say

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is facing criminal allegations of war crimes during his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos. The Swiss Office of the Attorney General confirmed that the allegations will be examined according to standard procedure. The office did not provide details about the nature or number of the allegations or who made them. South Africa has also named Herzog in its lawsuit accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Herzog has called on the international community to reject claims of genocide against Israel. The Israeli attack on Gaza has displaced most of its 2.3 million residents and caused a serious humanitarian crisis, with nearly 25,000 Palestinian deaths.