The Times of Israel is liveblogging Thursday’s events as they happen.
Justice Ministry said to believe ICJ will stop short of demanding Israel halt Gaza war
Israel will face accusations at the UN’s top court today that it has committed “genocidal” acts during its war against Hamas in Gaza, charges that President Isaac Herzog yesterday dismissed as “atrocious” and “preposterous.”
South Africa has lodged an urgent appeal to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to force Israel to “immediately suspend” its military operations in Gaza.
Robed officials from both countries will go head-to-head in the Great Hall of Justice in the Peace Palace in The Hague, a world away from the devastation seen in Israel and Gaza since the October 7 Hamas terror onslaught.
Officials in the Justice Ministry tell the Haaretz daily they believe the ICJ could issue injunctions against Israel, but will not order a halt to the fighting in Gaza.
Unnamed jurists quoted by the newspaper says these injunctions could include demanding Israel allow more aid into Gaza, form an investigative panel or allow Palestinians to return to their homes in northern Gaza.
Biden envoy to hold talks in Beirut as part of bid ‘to restore calm’ along Israel-Lebanon border
White House special envoy Amos Hochstein will meet with officials in Beirut later today “in an effort to advance discussions to restore calm” along the border between Lebanon and Israel, according to a spokesperson for the US National Security Council, amid continued skirmishes between the Israeli military and Hezbollah.
“The United States has made clear it does not support the ongoing conflict spreading into Lebanon and continues to exhaust all diplomatic options to see Israeli and Lebanese civilians return to their homes and live in security and stability,” the spokesperson says.
IDF officer said to discuss future of ‘Philadelphi Route’ during talks in Egypt
A senior IDF officer has returned from Egypt after holding talks relating to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, Channel 13 news reports.
Citing unnamed senior security figures, the network says the discussions dealt with increasing humanitarian aid into Gaza and the future of the Philidelphi Route, which runs along border between the Strip and Egypt.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last month that once the war in Gaza is over, Israel will retain security control of the enclave’s territory along the border with Egypt to prevent weapons from being smuggled through tunnels into the Strip.
The report further says that efforts to increase aid for Gaza were the most significant focus of the talks, while quoting the senior Israeli officials saying there’s been no breakthrough on a new agreement to release hostages being held by Hamas terrorists.