Lebanese Forces” party leader, Samir Geagea, on Saturday met in Maarab, the Ambassador of Belgium to Lebanon, Koen Vervaeke.
Attendees discussed political developments in the country and the region, especially the war in Gaza and the escalation in the Red Sea and southern Lebanon, in addition to the actions of delegations seeking to avoid the expansion of the conflict and spare Lebanon from this imminent danger.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
RAMALLAH: Minister of Health Mai al-Kaila announced this evening that a shipment of medications from the World Bank’s project allocations began arriving in the Gaza Strip in coordination with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
In a press release, the minister added that UNICEF will bring a shipment of medications worth $2 million to the Strip.
She stressed the completion of work for the arrival of a new batch of vaccines for children in the Gaza Strip via the Rafah crossing with Egypt.
The minister added that Polio vaccines and other drugs and medical consumables, which it purchased in partnership with UNICEF, will also be brought into Gaza.
Source: Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA
GAZA: Palestinian telecommunications company Paltel and Ooredoo, one of the two mobile network operators in the West Bank, announced this evening the complete interruption of all communications and internet services with the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing Israeli aggression.
‘We regret to announce that all telecom services in the Gaza Strip have been lost due to the ongoing aggression. Gaza is blacked out again,’ Paltel posted in a post on X.
In the meantime, Ooreedo in a Facebook post announced the complete cessation of all services as a result of the continuing aggression on the Gaza Strip, which caused damage to the main lines of communication and internet.
Communications with the Gaza Strip have been completely cut off at least seven times since the start of the Israeli aggression on October 7th. Cables, networks and transmission towers were severely damaged in light of the fuel shortages due to the siege and as a result of the massive destruction of infrastructure caused by the ongoing aggression, whic
h led to frequent interruptions, network congestion, and weak signals in various parts of the Strip.
The communication sector in the Strip is suffering due to the ongoing Israeli attacks. An estimated 80% of damages were reported, according to the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Ihab Sbaih.
Paltel, the provider of fixed, data and mobile telecommunications, has also reported the inability of its teams to reach its site for the past ten days due to the lack of safe corridors, the difficulty of movement caused by the massive destruction to roads, and lack of spare parts.
Source: Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA
THE HAGUE: South Africa’s Minister of Justice, Ronald Lamola, stood firm today outside the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, maintaining that Israel has failed to refute South Africa’s lawsuit accusing the occupying regime of committing the crime of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
“The State of Israel today has failed to disprove South Africa’s compelling case that was presented before the ICJ yesterday. We stand by the facts, the law, and all the evidence we have submitted,” Lamola asserted. Despite Israel’s defense today, South Africa maintains its belief that Israel is acting in violation of the Genocide Convention.
“There is nothing justifying the way Israel wages war on Gaza. Self-defense does not justify genocide,” Lamola continued. “We are confident that we have presented a comprehensive case, and Israel attempted to demonize us. The United Nations itself acknowledged the obstruction of relief missions in Gaza, and the only solution is to stop the war.”
Lamola expressed his c
onfidence that the International Court of Justice will compel Israel to take interim measures to halt the war on Gaza. The ICJ resumed its sessions on Friday, hearing Israel’s response to South Africa’s accusations.
In Thursday’s initial session, South Africa submitted a meticulously compiled 84-page dossier, presenting evidence of Israel’s deliberate killing of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza. The focus was on South Africa’s request for urgent measures compelling Israel to suspend its military offensive.
The legal action taken by South Africa against Israel has garnered significant support globally, challenging Israel’s actions as an occupying force. Lamola expressed gratitude for international support, emphasizing that South Africa seeks justice for the Palestinian people.
Since October 7, Israel’s destructive offensive in Gaza has resulted in a devastating toll of over 23,000 fatalities, 59,000 injuries, and a significant humanitarian crisis. The ICJ proceedings mark a historic precedent in the longst
anding Palestinian question.
Source: Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA
THE HAGUE: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) said it concluded the two-day public hearing of South Africa’s case, which accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
ICJ said it will begin deliberations and will issue its decision in a public session, the date of which will be announced in due course.
South Africa filed an 84-page application to the court in December, in which it accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
The two-day hearing, which began on Thursday, dealt exclusively with South Africa’s request for urgent action to compel Israel to suspend its military operations in the Gaza Strip.
Source: Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA