US reputable tells ICJ there are ‘severe considerations’ over Unrwa impartiality
A US reputable on Wednesday instructed the global court docket of justice (ICJ) there have been “serious concerns” in regards to the impartiality of the UN company for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa).
ICJ judges are conserving per week of hearings to assist them formulate an advisory opinion on Israel’s responsibilities in opposition to UN businesses turning in help to Palestinians in Gaza.
“There are serious concerns about Unrwa’s impartiality, including information that Hamas has used Unrwa facilities and that Unrwa staff participated in the 7 October terrorist attack against Israel,” stated Josh Simmons from the USA state division prison workforce, reviews Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Israel banned all cooperation with Unrwa’s actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank previous this yr, and claims the company has been infiltrated by way of Hamas, an allegation that has been fiercely contested.
Key occasions
Patrick Wintour
Iranian reporters have warned of a media crackdown after a sequence of incidents, the latest an explosion at a munitions corporate by which one particular person was once killed and two injured.
The explosion on Tuesday, for which there was no reputable clarification, passed off in Isfahan, best two days after a thwarted cyber-attack at the communications infrastructure on Sunday, and an enormous explosion on Saturday on the strategic southern port of Shahid Rajaee, close to Bandar Abbas.
The loss of life toll from the explosion on the port has greater to 65, with greater than 1,000 other folks injured.
Iran has dominated out international involvement within the Shahid Rajaee explosion, pointing as a substitute to negligence and powerful proof that unlabelled flamable chemical substances, undeclared to customs, had been inappropriately saved, resulting in a fireplace and a dangerous chain response of explosions. An MP who visited the website put the possibilities of sabotage at 1%.
Suspicion of cover-u.s.is rife, then again, and the submitting of legal fees towards media shops and activists by way of the Tehran prosecutor’s administrative center has brought about reporters in Iran to voice fear about press freedom. Mizan information company, the judiciary’s reputable media outlet, stated violators would face prison penalties for making an attempt to submit “illegal news” in regards to the explosion.
One Tehran-based reporter, chatting with the Guardian on situation of anonymity as a result of protection considerations, stated:
Not best had been we warned towards flooring reporting, we had been additionally banned successfully from sharing reviews on social media. In face of a tragedy similar to this, what’s there to cover? Either the loss of life toll is far more than 70, or they’re suppressing the actual reason for the explosion. Following the submitting of fees, our newsrooms also are self-regulating in concern that they’ll be going through prison penalties.
Wednesday’s strike in Syria got here as Israel marked its annual Memorial Day to commemorate fallen squaddies, reviews Agence France-Presse (AFP).
“On this Memorial Day for the fallen soldiers of the [Israel Defense Forces] IDF, when we honour the great contribution of the Druze community to Israel’s security … we place great importance on fulfilling our commitment to the Druze community in Israel and to protecting their brothers in Syria,” stated the commentary issued by way of Israeli high minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administrative center.
The commentary endured:
Israel is not going to permit hurt to befall the Druze group in Syria out of a deep dedication to our Druze brothers in Israel, who percentage circle of relatives and historic ties with their Druze brethren in Syria.
Unrwa says Israel has abused detained group of workers and used some as human shields

Jason Burke
The embattled UN company for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa, has accused Israel of abusing dozens of its group of workers in army detention and the use of some as human shields.
The head of the company, Philippe Lazzarini, stated that greater than 50 group of workers participants, together with academics, docs and social staff, were detained and abused for the reason that get started of the 18-month-long battle in Gaza.
“They have been treated in the most shocking & inhumane way. They reported being beaten + used as human shields,” Lazzarini wrote on X.
Those detained were subjected to “sleep deprivation, humiliation, threats of harm to them & their families + attacks by dogs … [and] forced confessions”.
UN officers stated the reported abuse had taken position each in Gaza and in army detention websites in Israel.
The Israeli army has now not replied at once to Lazzarini’s accusation, however has in the past denied allegations of standard abuse in its detention amenities and by way of its troops.
It has, then again, introduced investigations into abuse by way of particular person squaddies all over the battle, and into using detainees as human shields, bringing fees towards provider workforce in some circumstances.
In a commentary, the Israeli army stated it acted according to Israeli legislation and global legislation, and protects the rights of people held in detention amenities below its accountability.
Swiss ban on Hamas comes into drive 15 May
A Swiss ban on Hamas will come into drive on 15 May, the government stated on Wednesday after a parliamentary vote on the finish of 2024.
The govt’s political and safety committees submitted a movement to prohibit Hamas in October 2023, after the gang’s fatal assault on Israel that month, stated a central authority commentary.
The ban is designed to counter the motion’s actions and prevent other folks supporting the gang, the commentary added, in line with Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The legislation makes it more uncomplicated for the police to make use of preventive measures similar to access bans or expulsions in addition to facilitating the dealing with of proof in legal related circumstances, stated the federal government.
The legislation can even make it tougher for Hamas to make use of Switzerland’s monetary community for its investment, strengthening the rustic’s “internal security” and upholding global legislation, it added.
The Israeli army performed a caution strike towards “extremists” getting ready to assault participants of the Druze minority within the Syrian the city of Sahnaya, Israeli high minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Wednesday in a joint commentary with defence minister Israel Katz, reviews Reuters.
At least 12 other folks together with youngsters had been killed in a single day in Gaza by way of Israeli moves, health facility staff stated on Wednesday, reviews the Associated Press (AP).
We discussed Wafa’s reporting of the moves within the weblog previous (see 8.09am BST), however the AP document has some further infomation:
The predawn moves hit 3 properties within the city Nuseirat refugee camp, in line with group of workers on the al-Aqsa health facility, which gained the our bodies. Among the useless had been 3 youngsters, together with two brothers, in line with the health facility’s morgue.
The moves come after greater than two dozen other folks had been killed previous this week in Gaza City and Beit Lahiya.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) has extra at the proof given by way of Josh Simmons on the ICJ listening to (see 9.34am)
Simmons, from the US state division prison workforce, instructed the judges that Israel has “ample grounds” to query Unrwa’s impartiality.
“Given these concerns, it is clear that Israel has no obligation to permit Unrwa specifically to provide humanitarian assistance,” he stated.
“Unrwa is not the only option for providing humanitarian assistance in Gaza,” he added.
US reputable tells ICJ there are ‘severe considerations’ over Unrwa impartiality
A US reputable on Wednesday instructed the global court docket of justice (ICJ) there have been “serious concerns” in regards to the impartiality of the UN company for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa).
ICJ judges are conserving per week of hearings to assist them formulate an advisory opinion on Israel’s responsibilities in opposition to UN businesses turning in help to Palestinians in Gaza.
“There are serious concerns about Unrwa’s impartiality, including information that Hamas has used Unrwa facilities and that Unrwa staff participated in the 7 October terrorist attack against Israel,” stated Josh Simmons from the USA state division prison workforce, reviews Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Israel banned all cooperation with Unrwa’s actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank previous this yr, and claims the company has been infiltrated by way of Hamas, an allegation that has been fiercely contested.
Iran’s most sensible diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, stated a fourth spherical of nuclear talks with the United States, mediated by way of Oman, can be held in on Saturday in Rome.
“The next round of negotiations will take place in Rome,” the international minister stated after a cupboard assembly on Wednesday, reviews Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Araghchi stated Iranian officers would additionally meet on Friday with representatives from the UK, France and Germany – all events to the 2015 nuclear deal.
US begins giving proof on the ICJ
There is now a reside feed from the global court docket of justice (ICJ) in The Hague, the place the US is giving proof (see 8.52am). You might want to refresh the weblog to look it.
Iran executes guy accused of spying for Israel
An Iranian guy convicted of espionage and intelligence cooperation with Israel was once done on Wednesday, Iranian state media reported.
Entangled in a decades-long shadow battle with Israel, Iran has put to loss of life many people it accuses of getting hyperlinks with Israel’s the Mossad intelligence provider and facilitating the latter’s operations within the nation, particularly assassinations or acts of sabotage supposed to undermine its nuclear programme, reviews Reuters.
According to Iran’s judiciary media outlet Mizan, the defendant recognized as Mohsen Langarneshin was once accused of involvement in numerous circumstances, together with the loss of life of a Revolutionary Guards colonel in 2022.
“During his two years as a spy (…) he was responsible for important actions, including supporting terrorist operations and being present at the scene of the assassination of Sayad Khodai,” state media stated. It stated the defendant additionally equipped operational improve for an assault on an business centre in Isfahan, affiliated with the Ministry of Defence.
The state media reviews stated Langarneshin had confessed to the costs. Reuters was once now not in a position to succeed in a consultant for remark.
Earlier this week, Iran’s international minister Abbas Araqchi accused Israel of looking for to derail Iran-US nuclear talks, with Israeli high minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejecting the speculation of proscribing Tehran’s uranium enrichment by the use of a deal and pushing for the total dismantlement of its nuclear infrastructure.

Patrick Wintour
The US is scheduled to provide proof on the global court docket of justice (ICJ) in The Hague at 10am, native time (9am BST).
Today is the 3rd of 5 days of lawsuits in The Hague that can turn out crucial to Israel’s long run inside the international frame. The UN’s most sensible court docket will listen from dozens of countries and organisations as a way to draw up an advisory opinion on Israel’s humanitarian responsibilities to Palestinians greater than 50 days into its general blockade on help coming into Gaza.
The UN was once the primary to handle the court docket on Monday, adopted by way of Palestinian representatives. In general, 40 states and 4 global organisations are scheduled to take part.
On Tuesday, South Africa, a staunch critic of Israel, offered its arguments. In hearings remaining yr in a separate case on the court docket, the rustic accused Israel of committing genocide towards the Palestinians in Gaza – a fee Israel denies. Today’s proof might be from the USA, Israel’s best friend.
The court docket will most likely take months to rule. Experts say the verdict, although now not legally binding, may just profoundly have an effect on global jurisprudence, global help to Israel and public opinion.
Iran has citicised “threats” by way of France to reimpose sanctions lifted after a landmark 2015 deal on Tehran’s nuclear programme, native media stated on Wednesday, mentioning a letter despatched by way of the rustic’s UN project.
“Resorting to threats and economic blackmail is entirely unacceptable,” stated the letter revealed by way of Iran’s ISNA information company, in line with Agence France-Presse (AFP).
It got here after French international minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated on Monday that his govt together with Germany and the UK “will not hesitate for a single second to reapply all the sanctions” lifted a decade in the past if European safety is threatened by way of Iran’s nuclear actions.
A Syria battle observe stated on Wednesday that two other folks together with a Druze fighter had been killed in in a single day clashes as sectarian violence unfold to a brand new house close to Damascus, reviews Agence France-Presse (AFP).
“At least two people including a Druze fighter were killed in clashes between gunmen linked to the authorities and local Druze fighters” in Sahnaya, about 15km (9 miles) south west of the capital, stated the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, additionally reporting “14 wounded and missing”.
Palestinian information company Wafa reviews that 13 Palestinians were killed by way of Israeli moves on Gaza on Wednesday morning, with extra injured. The casualties are reported to incorporate two women.
A Wafa correspondent reported that moves had been performed by way of Israel in Gaza City and the Nuseirat refugee camp amongst different places, and that one fisher was once killed by way of fireplace from an Israeli gun boat.
Defence minister Katz: Israel’s purpose is ‘a transparent victory with out compromise’ over Hamas
Israel’s defence minister, talking at a Memorial Day rite on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, has stated that Israel’s battle purpose is “a clear victory without compromise” over Hamas.
Israel Katz stated that the ones within the IDF who had fought and been killed all over Israel’s invasion of the Gaza Strip had been wearing out a “sacred commitment … to bring home all the kidnapped men and women, both the living and the dead.”
Katz stated:
This is without equal legal responsibility of the state of Israel within the identify of mutual accountability and the solidarity of the folks. It may be our responsibility to defeat those that slaughtered our voters on that horrible Sabbath [7 October 2023], and to be sure that enemies of this type will not be close to our border and won’t pose a risk to the state of Israel. Our purpose is a transparent victory with out compromise.
Recent US moves on Yemen have killed greater than 100 other folks, Reuters notes. That determine contains 74 at an oil terminal in mid-April in what was once the deadliest strike in Yemen below the Donald Trump thus far, in line with the Houthi-run well being ministry.
Rights advocates have raised considerations about civilian killings. Houthi-controlled tv stated on Monday a US airstrike killed 68 other folks after putting a detention centre for African migrants in Yemen.
US and UK release joint moves on Houthis in Yemen
US and British forces performed a joint army operation in Yemen on Tuesday, in line with Britain’s Ministry of Defence, which stated the operation was once towards a Houthi army goal accountable for making drones like the ones used to assault transport.
A British commentary claimed intelligence research recognized a cluster of structures situated 24 km (15 miles) south of Yemen’s capital Sana’a that had been utilized by the Houthis to fabricate drones of the sort used to assault ships within the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
It is the primary time the United Kingdom army has attacked Yemen since Donald Trump was once inaugurated as US president for the second one time. US vice-president JD Vance has been vocally dismissive of European defence functions. In March he criticised European forces as “some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years.”
Welcome and opening abstract …
Welcome to the Guardian’s rolling protection of the war within the Middle East. Here are the headlines …
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The US and UK have performed moves on Yemen. The Houthis reported a number of moves across the capital, Sana’a, which the gang has held since 2014. Other moves hit round Saada
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UK defence secretary John Healey stated “This action was taken in response to a persistent threat from the Houthis to freedom of navigation. A 55% drop in shipping through the Red Sea has already cost billions, fuelling regional instability and risking economic security for families in the UK”
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A British commentary stated intelligence research recognized a cluster of structures situated about 24km (15 miles) south of Yemen’s capital that had been utilized by the Houthis to fabricate drones of the sort used to assault ships within the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
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Overnight Israel claims to have intercepted a drone introduced from Yemen
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Israel’s IDF is to start out issuing draft orders to tens of hundreds of reservists, officers have stated. Reservists might be deployed in Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank, releasing up conscripted troops for responsibility within Gaza