Update on the situation for Wednesday January 24

Find our situation update published yesterday here.

at 110^E On the day of the battle, heavy fighting broke out between the Israeli army and Hamas in Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip, on Wednesday 24 January. According to the Palestinian Territory’s Ministry of Health, 125 people were killed in Israeli bombings overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday. While the city has become the center of fighting, the Israeli army claims that Palestinian Islamic Movement officials are in Khan Younes.

Clashes are now taking place around three of the city’s hospitals, including Nasser Hospital, which is surrounded by dozens of tanks, according to Hamas’ media office. “from all sides”Which leaves only one “Corridor” So people can leave. “Thousands of displaced people in Nasser and Al-Amal hospitals were forced to leave for Rafah overnight and this morning”., on the border with Egypt, the Hamas office said. The World Health Organization (WHO) condemned the situation on Wednesday “indescribable” In the hospitals of Khan Younes.

9 killed in gunfire at UN shelter in Khan Younes

Two tanks on Wednesday opened fire on a UN training center that has become a shelter for displaced people in Khan Yunis, causing “9 dead and 75 injured”, said Thomas White, director in Gaza of the United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). Affected building “Houses of 800 People”, he clarified in his message. UNRWA and WHO were trying to contact the center on Wednesday, added Mr. White, who had previously reported “Building Fires and Mass Casualties”..

According to James McGoldrick, acting United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for the Palestinian Territories, the entire complex is home to 10,000 people. “Another incident in which a building used for humanitarian purposes was damaged or struck”. For the head of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, the strike is building “A flagrant violation of the basic laws of war”.

Accused Israel of “genocide”: ICJ to announce decision on Friday

The UN’s highest court announced on Wednesday that it would issue its decision on Friday on the urgent measures sought by South Africa, which accuses Israel. “Genocide” Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Pretoria took urgent legal action last month, arguing that Israel was violating the United Nations Convention on Genocide, which was signed in 1948, following the Shoah. South Africa wants the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to issue “Provisional Measures”Emergency orders to protect Palestinians in Gaza against potential violations of the Convention.

The court will thus only rule on South Africa’s request for emergency measures, and not on the fundamental question of whether Israel is actually committing genocide – this could take years. However, he could order Israel to halt its military campaign in Gaza. Orders of the ICJ, which adjudicates disputes between countries, are legally binding and final. However, he has no means to enforce them. For example, she ordered Russia to suspend its invasion of Ukraine. “No one will stop us, not The Hague, not the Axis of Evil, not anyone else.”Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already warned.

NGO calls for an end to all arms deliveries to Israel and Palestinian armed groups

Sixteen humanitarian organizations, including Médecins du Monde, Oxfam and Amnesty International, called on all countries on Wednesday to stop supplying arms to Israel and Palestinian armed groups. “which may be used to commit violations of international humanitarian law and human rights”.

Claiming a “Immediate Ceasefire”They call for adoption by the United Nations Security Council ” measure “ To terminate the delivery of these arms: “The international community has been long overdue in honoring these commitments. » NGOs are also under attack “bombing” and at “Israel Headquarters”WHO “Deprive the civilian population of the elements necessary for their survival and depopulate Gaza”. They also claim that 167 aid workers were killed in Gaza “The highest number in all conflicts” 21 no^E century

Houthis have ordered US, UK UN staff to leave Yemen

In a letter addressed Wednesday to the UN’s acting humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, Peter Hawkins, Yemen’s Houthi foreign ministry announced that ” Civil servants and workers of American and British nationality (…) Will have to prepare to leave the country within thirty days”. The missive also orders foreign organizations not to employ American and British citizens for operations in Yemen.

The decision follows strikes by the United States and Britain, which, with support from other countries, are trying to prevent attacks by the Iran-allied group by targeting international maritime traffic in the Red Sea. Last week, the US government also added the Houthis back to its list of terrorist groups. The Houthis said their attacks were part of solidarity with the Palestinians.