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The International Court of Justice hears genocide accusations against Israel.
Global Recap
January 11, 2024 • Read in: 8 minutes
Hi Global Recap readers,
Amidst all the glum news about the state of the world, let me start today’s newsletter with something a bit different:
Sidhu Kshetri, a 42-year-old martial artist from India, has recently shattered a Guinness World Record by relentlessly punching a bag for over two days straight. That’s 55 hours and 15 minutes, throwing at least one punch every 2 seconds as a rule.
Now, that’s dedication.
Not him
🌐 Around the world:
🇺🇸 US warns of Hezbollah attack.
🚨 Islamic group kills and kidnaps.
💰 IMF comes to Argentina’s aid.
🚢 Tanker captured; Iran suspected.
🏛️ The International Court of Justice hears genocide accusations against Israel.
Let’s get into today’s news.
💥 Hezbollah Alert
US intelligence flags Hezbollah as a greater threat than ISIS, with potential plans to strike American interests.
The group’s expansive network outstrips other terrorist organizations, raising alarms for possible attacks on US soil or personnel abroad.
Capability: Hezbollah’s international reach and history of targeting Americans is well known.
Tensions Rise: Escalating Middle East conflicts heighten the risk of Hezbollah aggression.
Could this serve as justification for the US to get more involved in the Middle East?
🚨 Islamic Group Kills and Captures
Islamic militant group, Al-Shabab, turned a UN helicopter’s emergency landing into a grim hostage situation in Somalia.
The helicopter was forced to land in an area under the group’s control because of technical issues.
Attack: One killed, six abducted post-landing.
Escape: Two passengers fled; one fatally shot.
UN Stance: Flights suspended; resolution efforts ongoing.
Al-Shabab’s Goal: To impose strict Sharia law in Somalia.
🔒 IMF Deal Locked In
Argentine President Javier Milei
Argentina’s financial fate takes a positive turn with the IMF stepping in to salvage its massive $44 billion loan program.
The fund’s nod to release a surprising $4.7 billion breathes new life into Argentina’s economic recovery efforts.
Argentina’s Inflation: Heading towards a whopping 200% annual inflation rate.
Currency Crisis: Net foreign currency reserves are diving deep into the red.
Government Talks: The newly-elected President Javier Milei’s team clinched the crucial deal.
IMF’s Green Light: The details of the agreement are finalized. Now, it’s awaiting the executive board’s seal of approval in the upcoming weeks.
🚢 Tanker Trouble
“Unauthorized” military-clad figures hopped on an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman.
This vessel, previously embroiled in a US-Iran tussle over seized crude, now finds itself at the heart of fresh tensions.
Previous Drama: The tanker, once known as Suez Rajan, was central to a yearlong US-Iran dispute, that ended with a US seizure of Iranian oil. So naturally, Iran is the main suspect here.
Tensions: Ship seizures and threats are common in the area, escalating global shipping risks.
Consequences: UN condemnation and Western warnings hint at potential retaliatory strikes, adding fuel to the fire.
ICJ
The International Court of Justice Hears Genocide Accusations Against Israel
🌍 Global Gaze on Gaza. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is under the spotlight as it is now deliberating a grave accusation against Israel.
What’s the allegation? Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Who brought it up? South Africa.
🚨 Accusations. South Africa accuses Israel of committing acts that could be considered genocidal, such as conducting air strikes and not safeguarding civilians, with the intention of eliminating a substantial number of the Palestinian people.
“Israel, since 7 October 2023 in particular, has failed to prevent genocide and has failed to prosecute the direct and public incitement to genocide. More gravely still, Israel has engaged in, is engaging in and risks further engaging in genocidal acts against the Palestinian people in Gaza.”
This is all fair, but where are the accusations against Hamas? Who’s demanding accountability for Hamas’ invasion, slaughtering, and abduction?
📜 Genocide’s Legal Definition. According to Article II of The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, Genocide involves “any of the following acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such":
Killing members of the group;
Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.
🇮🇱 Israel’s Reaction. Of course, Israel has shut down South Africa’s claim. Late last month, when South Africa launched the case, Israeli PM Netanyahu criticized South Africa saying the following at a cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv:
“No, South Africa, it is not we who have come to perpetrate genocide, it is Hamas. It would murder all of us if it could. In contrast, the IDF is acting as morally as possible.”
🤔 Why It Matters. The advisory opinions of the ICJ carry weight but are not legally binding. This situation demonstrates South Africa’s enduring support for the Palestinian cause and mirrors its own struggle against apartheid.
👨⚖️ Decision. A final ruling on the genocide allegations could take years, but an interim decision may offer temporary protection. But once again, Israel can just ignore the ruling and the ICJ’s demands.