Category World News

Amnesty International announced on December 5 that Israel is committing the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

Israel ratified the Genocide Convention in 1950, one year after it was recognized as a state by the UN, which makes it a crime.

“]T] here is sufficient evidence to believe that Israel’s conduct in Gaza following 7 October 2023 amounts to genocide”, Amnesty stated in its report.

Amnesty International is not the first organization to come to the conclusion that Israel is committing genocide; it is also the subject of several other organizations’ assessments.

What made Amnesty’s mind up?

Genocide, by definition, constitutes five specific acts. According to Amnesty International, Israel is committing three crimes:

1. Killing members of a group.
2. causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of that group.
3. deliberately creating conditions of life that aim to completely or partially destroy a group.

Act 3 above, which Amnesty specifically condemned Israel for using starvation as a means of war, is now in effect.

Israel is legally required to provide all basic needs and provisions to the population of Gaza as the occupying power.

However, since Israel began its occupation of Gaza on October 7, 2023, it has prevented access to nearly all humanitarian aid and water from reaching Gaza’s civilians.

Palestinian civil society

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights and Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights both claimed in a damning statement that Israel intended to “in total or in part” a month after Israel began its offensive against Gaza.

They raised the alarm over the “clear risk of genocide” Palestinians faced in Gaza, focusing on Israeli officials’ dehumanizing rhetoric.

The International Criminal Court wanted to detain former Palestinians as “human animals,” and Yoav Gallant, then-Defence Minister, said that in response.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog also declared: “There are no innocent civilians in Gaza”.

US Center for Constitutional Rights

Since 1966, the CCR has fought for civil rights in the United States and has also claimed that Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza.

On October 18, 2023, CCR released a legal analysis on Israel’s violations of the Genocide Convention and also criticised the US administration.

About 69 percent of the weapons used by Israel to attack Gaza have been provided by the US government, including large, non-precision bombs that cause disproportionate suffering to civilians, fighter jets, and other types of artillery.

The CCR stated in a statement that “[t]he here is a plausible and credible case that the US’ actions to advance the Israeli military operation, closure, and campaign against the Palestinian population in Gaza rise to the level of complicity.”

UN Special Reporter on Palestinian Territories occupied

The UN’s special rapporteur on the situation in Palestine, Francesca Albanese, has come to the conclusion that Israel is murdering Palestinians in Gaza.

In her March report entitled, Anatomy of a Genocide, she also found Israel was committing three of the five acts of genocide.

She noted that Israel was systematically destroying hospitals and farmland while also providing Palestinians with life-saving aid and food.

“Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza is an escalatory stage of a long-standing settler colonial process of erasure”, Albanese said.

International Court of Justice

The UN’s World Court ruled on January 26 that Palestinians were “at risk of” genocide.

South Africa was accused of genocide in a case that was brought against Israel, and the former continues to file court requests in an effort to get Israel to stop its occupation of Gaza.

The court’s court’s January hearings resulted in a legally binding order for Israel to end genocide by increasing humanitarian aid.

Israel is required to submit a monthly report to the court to show how it followed the orders. This could take years.

Israel has so far defied the court’s orders and killed Gazan relief workers and civil servants, who are a necessity for distributing humanitarian aid.

Israeli officials have made an effort to disparage the court and claim that South Africa is “providing legal cover for Hamas”.

What countries accuse Israel of genocide?

14 nations have so far joined or indicated their intention to join South Africa’s genocide case before the World Court.

They include Belgium, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Ireland, Spain, Libya, Maldives, Mexico, Nicaragua and Turkiye.

Islamabad, Pakistan – Less than two weeks after Imran Khan’s “final call” protest was brutally suppressed, he has pledged to continue fighting and has threatened to start a nationwide civil disobedience movement.

In a message posted on X, Khan, who has been imprisoned since August 2023 on numerous charges, announced the formation of a five-member negotiation team.

The team wants to talk with the government about two crucial demands: the release of detained prisoners and the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9, 2023 and November 26, 2024, two dates when Khan’s supporters staged significant demonstrations but received backlash from the security services.

A civil disobedience movement will start on December 14th if these two demands are rejected. The government will bear full responsibility for the consequences”, Khan’s post in Urdu read.

We will press Pakistanis living abroad to halt remittances and launch a boycott campaign as part of the movement. In the second phase, we will escalate our actions further”.

Khan was charged with “terrorism” for his role in the protests that besieged the federal capital last month, and he was also charged with “terrorism” for his role in an attack on military headquarters on May 9, 2013.

Khan’s call for protests in Islamabad mobilised thousands of supporters, primarily from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province governed by his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

The group, which was led by Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi, left on November 24 and eventually arrived in Islamabad two days later, crossing numerous roadblocks and obstacles, but the state resisted with brute force.

In less than three hours, a paramilitary Rangers and police operation in the late afternoon helped to disperse the crowd. In the midst of the crackdown, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Bushra Bibi fled back to the area.

The government has denied reports of civilian casualties despite the accusations that PTI supporters caused four security personnel’ deaths during the protests.

The PTI leadership, after issuing conflicting statements regarding the number of deaths, has said at least 12 people belonging to the party died during the protest, of which at least 10 were shot.

Fawad Chaudhry, a senior PTI leader and former federal minister, criticised the government for its treatment of Khan, who he claimed was being held in harsh conditions.

Without the basic necessities, keeping a former prime minister in a death cell will only exacerbate resentment and widen the gap, Chaudhry told Al Jazeera.

He emphasised that the government’s actions left Khan with no option but to escalate his protests.

The success or failure of negotiations dictates this call for civil disobedience, but it represents a significant step. If overseas Pakistanis, particularly those from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, halt remittances, it will significantly impact the government’s economic plans”, he said.

Pakistan’s economy is highly reliant on foreign remittances. Nearly $30 billion is sent back home by Pakistanis abroad each year. According to central bank figures, $ 28 billion has already been sent to the nation in the first ten months of this year.

Political analyst Fahd Hussain thinks Khan’s call for civil disobedience is a result of his efforts to regain momentum following the alleged failure of the recent protests in Islamabad.

“It might not be simple to organize a mass movement as soon as the “final call” occurs. The party must first reorganise after the chaos”, Hussain told Al Jazeera.

This is not the first time Khan has called for civil disobedience. In 2014, he led a similar campaign against then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government, urging supporters to stop paying taxes and utility bills.

However, the movement ended with a whimper a few months later, following the armed attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, in which more than 140 children were killed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). All political parties gathered to consult and present a unified front as the Pakistani government planned to launch a significant military operation against the armed group. The PTI, which was in the midst of a sit-in that had lasted for more than 100 days, also decided to end its protest.

When a party is confronted by the full force of the government apparatus, Imtiaz Gul, the head of the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in Islamabad, sees civil disobedience as a means of pressure on the state.

Gul said, “These tactics may not produce immediate results, but they can hold back the government and draw attention to Khan’s demands both domestically and internationally.”

Khan, who served as prime minister from August 2018 to April 2022, claims his removal&nbsp, through a parliamentary no-confidence vote was orchestrated by the military, in collusion with the United States and political rivals. The&nbsp, military has consistently denied these allegations.

Islamabad-based political analyst Cyril Almeida believes Khan’s fate hinges on either street protests or a deal with the military establishment, led by current army chief, General Asim Munir, who took over the command in November 2022.

Munir was previously appointed as the head of the Inter-Services Intelligence, Pakistan’s premier intelligence agency, under Khan’s governance before being removed only eight months into the job.

“Street protests complement negotiations, increasing the cost of his imprisonment for the government and military. But the problem remains the same, the current army chief Asim Munir is implacably, perhaps irrevocably, opposed to Imran Khan being a major governing figure again”, Almeida, the Islamabad-based analyst, told Al Jazeera.

Khan’s chances of reaching a negotiated settlement are slim as long as Munir is present and in charge of his army.

For the upcoming Club World Cup, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami now have a clear plan. The host team will face Egyptian club Al Ahly on June 15 in the first match of the tournament, which will also feature Palmeiras and Porto. FIFA invited the host team to compete despite receiving criticism from many in the game.

Manchester City, the reigning champion of the Premier League, and Juventus, Wydad AC, and Al Ain, the two-time champions of the 32-team FIFA Club World Cup, were drawn on Thursday night at the Miami event.

The tournament, featuring top teams from around the world, will be held in 12 stadiums around the country from June 15-July 13, and serve as a rehearsal for the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada.

Miami, who had already won the “Supporters’ Shield,” were the final team added to the tournament after placing first in the MLS standings last month before falling short in the first round of the playoffs.

Inter Miami’s Club World Cup inclusion draws criticism

The Florida-based club, as a representative of the host nation, gets the distinction of playing the first match, which will be staged at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

“It’s about inclusivity, it’s about bringing clubs from all over the world, the 32 best clubs and best players from all over the world together”, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said.

Some would argue it is not the 32 “best” clubs. Criticism of Inter Miami’s selection rose only after the team suffered a shock defeat to Atlanta United in Round 1 of the MLS Cup playoffs, which caused the team to be widely disregarded.

“There’s no controversy”, Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas said, before adding that the privilege of playing the opening match of the tournament at home is “a testament to our community, the soccer culture that’s here”.

Who would have told us that we were playing today’s match against the best teams in the world five years ago, without a club? Mas said. “That’s what we aspire to. That’s what we dream of”.

Your #FIFACWC cast. ????#TakeItToTheWorld pic. twitter.com/M3MIqQ8zF4

There is no rule requiring the MLS Cup winner to participate in the Club World Cup, according to MLS Commissioner Don Garber. I’m only interested in what I believe will be best for the showcase and our league, not what I believe will be. I’m happy to have Miami and Seattle in a global media partnership and be shown all over the world because FIFA made a decision.

If the Brazilian legend stays with Real Madrid, they could face Al Hilal in a potential showdown between Kylian Mbappe and Neymar. While Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, and Benfica were all placed in Group C, Prachua and Red Bull Salzburg complete Group H, respectively.

Inter Milan, who has won three consecutive top flight titles, joins River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds, and Monterrey in Group E, while PSG, who have won the same title in the same year, joins Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, and Seattle Sounders.

Brazilian side Botafogo won their first Copa Libertadores title last week, but only Botafogo managed to make it to the final spot. Chelsea will begin Group D play against Leon before facing Flamengo and Esperance, while Group F is made up of Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan HD and Mamelodi Sundowns.

The US President-elect offers backing to Infantino

A recording of US President-elect Donald Trump complimenting FIFA President Gianni Infantino was included in the draw, which was conducted by Italian World Cup winner and former champion Juventus player Alessandro Del Piero.

“The event is going to be incredible. I will try and be there. If I can I would, we’ll see what happens”, Trump said.

“But I just want to say you’re led by a man named Gianni. I just know him as Gianni and he’s a winner and he’s the president, and I’m the president.

Because soccer is so popular, I’m so happy to have a relationship with someone I’ve known for a long time. As everyone knows, it’s been doing incredibly well and is now completely resurrecting the sport in the United States.

Manchester City, who were badly injured in key roles like Rodri, Rodri, the Spanish midfielder and Ballon d’Or winner, won the most recent Club World Cup in 2023 under the old format. They currently sit fourth in the Premier League.

City will face Al Ain and Wydad AC in their opening match before moving on to the group stage against Juventus, who won an unprecedented fourth straight English top-flight title this year.

The final will be at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the same stadium that will play host to the 2026 World Cup final.

The 32-team format used for the World Cup from 1998 to 2022 is used in the club competition. The top two teams from each round-robin group advanced to a 16-team knockout bracket after drawing eight rounds of four teams.

South America, Africa, Asia, and North America each received four spots, with South America, South America, and Europe, which is essentially a fifth of North America’s host nation, taking home six spots. Oceania got one spot.

• Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
• Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
• Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
• Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
• Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
• Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
• Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
• Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

According to the Wafa news agency, Israeli attacks in Gaza have caused the death of numerous civilians.

In Beit Lahiya’s northern city of Beit Lahiya, an Israeli attack on a residential block that was close to the Kamal Adwan Hospital on Friday morning left more than 30 people dead, according to Wafa. Many people are still missing under the rubble, the agency said.

In an Israeli airstrike on the Khirbet al-Adas area close to Rafah’s southern city, three more people were killed.

Additionally, Israeli forces also struck a number of structures in Gaza City, Rafah, and other areas in the Strip’s central areas, including the refugee camps in Maghazi and Bureij and the village of al-Musaddar.

A 16-year-old boy in a wheelchair was killed and at least 12 other people, including medical staff, were hurt on Thursday when an Israeli drone struck a hospital compound in northern Gaza, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health and the hospital director.

In the northernmost region of Gaza, where Israeli forces are pressing an offensive that has almost completely blocked the area from humanitarian aid for two months, the hospital is one of the few medical facilities still operating.

Amnesty International, a human rights organization, claimed on Thursday that Israel had plotted a genocide in the Gaza Strip, accusing it of deliberately destroying Palestinians by staging deadly attacks, destroying essential infrastructure, and preventing the distribution of food, medicine, and other aid.