The International Court of Justice is scheduled to release its decision on South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel on Friday, January 26, at 1pm local time in The Hague. The lawsuit was filed in an attempt to protect Palestinians from harm. Meanwhile, intense fighting continues in Khan Younis, with a reported Israeli tank fire at a United Nations shelter causing international outrage.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that hospitals and ambulances in Khan Younis are surrounded by heavy fighting, preventing access and support for patients in need. Four children were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a residential area in the Nuseirat refugee camp, and over 6,225 Palestinians have been arrested in the West Bank.
Diplomatically, there has been criticism of Israel’s handling of captives in Gaza, with Qatar expressing disappointment in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s response to mediation efforts. The US Senate Democratic caucus reiterated its support for a two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and South Africa’s Foreign Minister will travel to The Hague to hear the ICJ ruling on her country’s emergency measures request. Additionally, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi discussed the importance of avoiding actions that could threaten stability in the Middle East.