Weekly World News

Jan 08, 2024

West Asia/Middle East:

Israel continues their siege and bombardment of the Gaza Strip, leading to the mass death and destruction of the strip’s 2.3 million population. Israeli strikes and gunfire have killed an estimated 30,000 Gazans, while those remaining face severe risks of starvation and widespread disease. One of the many killed this week was the journalist Hamza al-Dahdouh, son of Al Jazeera journalist Wael al-Dahdouh, who lost his wife and children in an Israeli strike. An Israeli strike in the West Bank also killed 7 Palestinians. Gaza has been under heavy bombardment for three months, creating what humanitarian groups call some of the worst humanitarian conditions in the world. 900,000 children now experience cold, hunger, and lack of drinking water
.

The Islamic State, also known as ISIS or Daesh, has claimed responsibility for a terrorist attack in the Iranian city of Kerman that killed 89 people and injured 284 more at the grave of the late General Qassem Soleimani. Two suicide bombers reportedly set off bombs 20 minutes apart at a commemoration for the revered Iranian general, killed by a US drone attack in 2020. ISIS has long been at odds with the Iranian government and Soleimani in particular, who did significant damage to the group in Syria and Iraq. Kerman’s prosecutor, Mehdi Bakhshi, claimed that all operatives involved in the attack were arrested and are undergoing interrogations
.

Hamas Deputy Commander Saleh al-Arouri was killed along with six others in a drone strike in the Lebanese capital of Beirut. While Israel did not confirm or deny their responsibility for the attack, analysts say that the strike has the characteristics of a typical Israeli assassination. Lebanese officials accused Israel of escalation and sparking fears of a regional war.

Africa:

The government of South Africa has filed a lawsuit against Israel in the International Criminal Court under the Genocide Convention. If the court decides that there is evidence to prove there is a plausible risk of genocide occurring, Israel will be found in violation of the Genocide Convention. The other 152 members of the convention will then be required to take action against Israel to prevent the genocide from occurring. Such a ruling would also apply significant political pressure on Israel’s allies and defenders, particularly the United States, who have continued and increased military aid to Israel
.

Sources:

Channel - https://t.me/SputnikInt_unc2