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Al Jazeera
22 minutes ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Israel again included in UN blacklist for grave violations against children
The United Nations has kept Israel on its 'blacklist' of countries committing abuses against children in armed conflict for a second straight year, as its war on Gaza continues for nearly 20 months. The listing on Thursday came as the UN said in a new report that violence against children in conflict zones reached 'unprecedented levels' in 2024, with the highest number of violations committed in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank by the Israeli army. The annual report on Children in Armed Conflict detailed 'a staggering' 25 percent surge globally in grave violations against children below the age of 18 last year from 2023. It said it had verified 41,370 grave violations against children, including killing and maiming, sexual violence, and attacks on schools and hospitals. Among them were 8,554 grave violations against 2,959 children – 2,944 Palestinian, 15 Israeli – in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel. The figure includes confirmation of 1,259 Palestinian children killed and 941 wounded in Gaza, which has come under relentless Israeli bombardment following an attack led by the Palestinian group Hamas in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. The Ministry of Health in Gaza has reported much higher figures, and the UN said it is currently verifying information on an additional 4,470 children killed in 2024 in the besieged territory. The UN said it has also verified the killing of 97 Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, where a total of 3,688 violations were recorded. The report also called out Israel's military operations in Lebanon, where more than 500 children were killed or injured last year. UN chief Antonio Guterres said he was 'appalled by the intensity of grave violations against children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel', citing the widespread use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Guterres also reiterated his calls on Israel to abide by international law requiring special protections for children, protection for schools and hospitals, and compliance with the requirement that attacks distinguish between fighters and civilians and avoid excessive harm to innocent people. There was no immediate comment by Israel's UN mission. The armed wing of the Palestinian group Hamas, the Qassam Brigades, and the al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, were also included in the blacklist for a second time. Following the Palestinian territory, the countries where the UN registered the most violence against children in 2024 were the Democratic Republic of the Congo (more than 4,000 grave violations); Somalia (more than 2,500); Nigeria (nearly 2,500); and Haiti (more than 2,200). The sharpest percentage increase in the number of violations was recorded in Lebanon (545 percent), followed by Mozambique (525 percent), Haiti (490 percent), Ethiopia (235 percent), and Ukraine (105 percent), it added.
Euronews
an hour ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Israelis face daily fears of missile strikes as Iran conflict surges
On Thursday, Jimmy, a volunteer paramedic and one of the first respondents on site during the 7 October Hamas attack, rushed to action when a series of sirens sounded across Holon, a city south of Tel Aviv. "When the sirens sound, first respondents have to get into their vehicles and wait for the calls from the control hub to start coming in," Jimmy, a 36-year-old Arab-Israeli, who grew up in Jordan and East Jerusalem, told Euronews. "As we headed to the impacted site, I realised that we were nearing my building. When we got there, I discovered that yes — it was my building which had been destroyed by a missile." "I had only moved in the day before, because the apartment I had been living in for four years in Revohot — south of Tel Aviv — was destroyed by an Iranian missile earlier this week," explained Jimmy. "All the remaining clothes I own are ruined, as is the few bits of furniture I had left." "I've been through — and seen — a lot in the last few years, but with time I have learned to disconnect my feelings, because otherwise I would just sit and cry at this never-ending war," said Jimmy, who runs a delivery business, alongside his volunteering activities. "The hardest part for me is that I have an eight-month-old son who I haven't seen for months now, because my wife and he are in Eilat, in the south of Israel, where it's much safer than here." "The thing is, I have to keep working when I can, and I also feel that I am needed as a volunteer," added Jimmy. Although the country has been on standby since Wednesday — the sixth day of Israel and Iran's open conflict — restrictions on civilians were eased, and workplace activities, as well as small gatherings, were allowed to resume. Despite this, schools remain shut and the streets are empty. For many in Israel, raising children in this climate is tough. "I wouldn't be so worried if I didn't have her", 30-year-old Emma from the US told Euronews. She lives in Jaffa in southern Tel Aviv, with her husband and their 10-month-old son. "We don't have a bomb shelter in our building because we live in an Arab neighbourhood, my husband is an Arab Israeli. Many of the affordable apartments in Israel are not equipped, so at night we take our baby and go sleep at my mother-in-law's house," Emma told Euronews. For Emma, there is a clear reason that Israel finds itself in this situation. "I think my morale is better than most Israelis' and that's because I don't believe that what the government is doing is right — so I understand why we are in this position." Nizan, 34, is a tech entrepreneur and father-to-be who usually resides in Tel Aviv. But since Israel's escalating conflict with Iran, he and his wife have relocated to Haifa, in the north of the country, to stay with her family. 'The noises we are hearing from the shelter are very different to those we hear when there are missiles fired from Hamas or by Hezbollah. Even with the Iron Dome, it sounds like a truck is going through a tunnel right over your head," Nizan told Euronews. Many in Israel fear being caught out by a missile when they are out doing essential things like heading to the shops or driving to pick up supplies, as the conflict remains particularly hard on civilians. According to health officials, some 24 Israelis were killed by Iranian rocket salvos in the first week of the conflict, while more than 2,400 have received medical treatment for injuries. All were civilians. Meanwhile, Iranian rights groups based abroad have reported that at least 657 people were killed in Iran by Thursday. "If you are out, the instructions are to just lay on the ground with your hands above your head — but I don't think that really does much. On the evening of Iran's first attack, we were driving to Haifa and we saw the sky light up with so many missiles." "We weren't sure whether to stop because there are alarms all over the country, and you don't know if it's for the area. If it's safer to go on, or to stop on the side of the road," added Nizan. As a business owner, Nizan manages his team remotely, despite workplace restrictions having been lifted. "I run a business of 12 people. Every morning I get worried calls from my colleagues, who tell me they have children who are scared because of a nearby missile or something, it's hard for them to focus", added Nizan. "I feel misunderstood by people living in Europe. Israel escalated the conflict because Iran has repeatedly stated they want to wipe Israel off the face of the Earth." "However, the success of this open conflict will of course be measured by whether this fighting between Israel and Iran continues long-term", concluded Nizan. Oriella, a teacher who lives in Tel Aviv, told Euronews that she feels "exhausted." "There are no nights, your head is filled with worries and insecurities, because you are mentally exhausted, because we have been at war for years," she said. "In my apartment block we have a shelter, people share small talk, but they don't really want to speak — they are tired of having to converse in the middle of the night. They want to sleep. The children in the shelter are either chatting or crying", said Oriella, 59. "I don't like wars, I believe in diplomatic solutions — I think that is what we should be working towards with Iran. People are experiencing so much suffering and for what? To have wars again, and again, and again," sighed Oriella. 35-year-old Zohran lives in Tel Aviv and works in the nightlife industry. However, his work has been placed on hold, and he is now waiting to see whether he will receive any financial compensation from the government, he explained. "I would say I am used to having my life on hold", Zohran told Euronews. Not having a shelter in his building is a major worry, he added. "Two minutes away from my flat there is an underground parking lot. So I run there, with many other people." "Although I am a strong opponent of Netanyahu, with this war against Iran's regime, most of us are with the government. This is a war with a country, where the leaders say they want to destroy us", concluded Zohran. A US appeals court has allowed President Donald Trump to maintain control of the National Guard in Los Angeles, following a challenge to their deployment by the state's governor. Trump called in the troops following protests over immigration raids. The decision halts a ruling from a lower court judge who found the president acted illegally in doing so. The National Guard deployment was the first by a US president without the governor's permission since 1965. In its decision, a three-judge panel on the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously concluded it was likely Trump lawfully exercised his authority in federalising control of the guard. It said that while presidents don't have unfettered power to seize control of a state's guard, the Trump administration had presented enough evidence to show it had a defensible rationale for doing so, citing violent acts by protesters. 'The undisputed facts demonstrate that before the deployment of the National Guard, protesters 'pinned down' several federal officers and threw 'concrete chunks, bottles of liquid, and other objects' at the officers," the court wrote in an explanation of its decision. "Protesters also damaged federal buildings and caused the closure of at least one federal building. And a federal van was attacked by protesters who smashed in the van's windows," the court added. "The federal government's interest in preventing incidents like these is significant.' It also found that even if the federal government failed to notify California Governor Gavin Newsom before federalising the National Guard as required by law, he had no power to veto the president's order. Trump celebrated the decision on his Truth Social platform, calling it a 'big win.' He wrote that 'all over the United States, if our cities, and our people, need protection, we are the ones to give it to them should state and local police be unable, for whatever reason, to get the job done.' Newsom issued a statement expressing disappointment that the court is allowing Trump to retain control of the National Guard. But he also welcomed one aspect of the decision. 'The court rightly rejected Trump's claim that he can do whatever he wants with the National Guard and not have to explain himself to a court," Newsom said. " The president is not a king and is not above the law. We will press forward with our challenge to President Trump's authoritarian use of US military soldiers against citizens.' The court case could have broader implications on the president's power to deploy soldiers within the US after Trump directed immigration officials to prioritise deportations from other Democratic-run cities. Trump argued that the troops were necessary to restore order. Newsom said the move inflamed tensions, usurped local authority and wasted resources. The protests have since appeared to be winding down.
Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Will Trump abandon 'America First' to join Israel's war on Iran?
Two leaders obsessed by their political legacies, and one also by his own cult of personality, are escalating the already highly tense situation in the Middle East to dangerous new peaks. Israel's unprovoked attack on Iran this month marks the riskiest chapter yet of a dream that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been chasing for four decades: regime change in Tehran. Israel seems determined to modify in its favour, once and for all, the overall strategic balance of the Middle East. Its ongoing quest to destroy Hamas and ethnically cleanse Gaza must be framed in this context, alongside the decapitation of Hezbollah's political and military leadership in Lebanon. To a certain extent, the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria fits into the same strategy, even if the final chapter of the Syrian ordeal has not been written yet - and it may not necessarily be positive for Israel. Now Netanyahu has decided to attack Iran - not with a ground invasion, which would be militarily impossible, but through precision air strikes to eliminate the nation's military leadership and the capabilities that Israel deems most dangerous to its own existence, including nuclear and ballistic-missile sites. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Israel's attacks have so far killed more than 600 people in Iran, including more than 250 civilians, according to a US-based human rights group. Tel Aviv's primary stated purpose is to permanently prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon that could be deployed against Israel. Its secondary goal is to create a legitimacy crisis and stir internal dissent within Iran, aiming to bring about the collapse of the Islamic Republic. Its ideal outcome would be the installation of a pro-western regime that would bring Iran, together with Saudi Arabia, into the fold of the Abraham Accords for a period of 'peace and development' according to terms and conditions conceived, imposed and enforced by American and Israeli hegemony. Perception of vulnerability In this context, the future for Palestinians is deeply uncertain. At best, they could continue to be caged in their enclaves in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, constantly harassed (if not killed) by Israeli settlers and soldiers. At worst, they could be forcibly transferred elsewhere. In line with his cult of personality, US President Donald Trump appears tempted to join this master plan, detecting that this time, it could succeed. With its regional allies severely degraded, Iran is perceived in both Washington and Tel Aviv as more vulnerable than ever before. Whether this perception is right or wrong is another matter. Should Netanyahu's dream become reality, Trump wants to be a part of it, and to take a large share of the credit for upending the Middle East's political landscape. Netanyahu, meanwhile, would cement his role in power, skip the Israeli justice system, and potentially go down in history as the man who eliminated the key threats Israel has faced since its creation in 1948. Trump has a problem: his Maga constituency, to whom he promised 'America First' and no more endless wars In previous weeks, the Trump administration had attempted to move ahead with the so-called Libya option, which would entail Iran's voluntary relinquishment of its nuclear enrichment programme through a mediated deal. Of course, the Libya precedent must sound terrible to the Iranian leadership, having watched the fate that western nations ultimately meted out to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The US initially hinted that Iran could keep its nuclear enrichment programme under strict international monitoring, provided that it dispose of its accumulated stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity. Then, as often happens, the White House backtracked and demanded zero enrichment, bending once again to the whims of Netanyahu. At the time of writing, the international community was still waiting for Trump's decision on whether to directly join the war on Iran. This is a crucial decision, because in order to credibly dismantle the Iranian nuclear programme and its alleged military dimensions, it will be necessary to destroy the Fordow facility, buried under a mountain. Only the US owns the 'bunker buster' bombs that could do the job, and the planes to deliver such a high payload on target. Massive deja vu But Trump has a problem: his Maga constituency, to whom he promised 'America First' and no more endless wars. Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon has issued a stern warning about joining the war against Iran - and to get a sense of how much the winds are shifting among the Maga base, just watch conservative commentator Tucker Carlson's excoriating interview with Senator Ted Cruz, one of the more ardent Israel supporters in Congress. The saddest element of all this, however, is the massive sense of deja vu arising from this latest chapter of US involvement in the Middle East. All the issues related to Iran's nuclear programme are purely speculative. This past March, Tulsi Gabbard, the US director of national intelligence, told Congress that the intelligence community 'continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader [Ali] Khamenei has not authorised the nuclear weapons programme he suspended in 2003'. In other words, no imminent threat, contrary to Israel's assertions. Why Netanyahu is frantically trying to pull the US into Israel's war on Iran Read More » In 2003, the Bush administration claimed to have intelligence showing evidence of weapons of mass destruction to justify its invasion of Iraq. Within months, these claims were shown to be false. This time around, US intelligence agencies have reached the conclusion that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon - but apparently ignoring this assessment, the president might be sleepwalking into another war of choice that, in Bannon's own words, could 'tear the country apart'. Trump's support for Israel's latest wave of aggression suggests that the real issue is not Iran's nuclear programme, but Iran itself in the current political configuration. US military assets are being moved into position ahead of a possible attack, although no final decision has been taken. In such cases, it would not be surprising to see a false flag operation, quickly attributed to Iran through clever spinning by complacent media, in order to push inexperienced, ignorant and impulsive leaders to take the 'right' decision. Trump, unfortunately, perfectly fits this description. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.
Saba Yemen
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Hamas leader: Aid distribution mechanism in Gaza is death trap
Gaza - Saba: Sami Abu Zuhri, a leader in the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said that there is no mechanism for distributing aid in the Gaza Strip; there are death traps. He added in a press statement received by the Yemeni News Agency (Saba) that dozens fall each time at aid distribution centers, perpetrated by the Zionist enemy with American cover. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
India Today
2 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
On camera, Netanyahu says son's wedding delay personal cost of war; faces backlash
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's comments regarding the delay of his son's wedding amid tensions with Iran have invited fierce outrage online as people slammed the leader for comparing his "personal price" with that of the lives lost in the the backdrop of the missile-hit Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva, Netanyahu spoke about his family's sacrifice and recalled the British Blitz, The Guardian of us bears a personal cost, and my family has not been exempt," the Israeli Prime Minister said. "This is the second time that my son Avner has cancelled a wedding due to missile threats. It is a personal cost for his fiancee as well, and I must say that my dear wife is a hero, and she bears a personal cost," he added.'Everyone is paying the price for War - My Son had to cancel a Wedding'Benjamin Netanyahu speaking this morning outside some of the bombing devastation. Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) June 19, 2025 He then went on to say that there are people who were killed in the ongoing conflict with Iran, and families who mourned the loss of their loved ones. "I really appreciate that," Netanyahu told wedding of Avner Netanyahu was first scheduled for November, but was rescheduled for security reasons. It was due to be held on Monday (June 16), despite the threat of opposition Netanyahu's wedding was first scheduled for November but was postponed for security reasons. Then it was due to take place on Monday, despite the threat of opposition Israeli PM also recalled the British Blitz as he talked about the damage in his country and the impact of the conflict."It really reminds me of the British people during the blitz. We are going through a blitz," Netanyahu said, referring to the Nazi bombing of Britain that claimed the lives of more than 40,000 those who lambasted Netanyahu for his comments was Anat Angrest, whose son Matan has been held captive in Gaza since Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel."I have been in the hellish dungeons of Gaza for 622 days now," Angrest tweeted. At least two dozen Israeli civilians have been killed in the Iran conflict, while Tehran has reported the deaths of over 200 people. The conflict, which entered its eighth day on Friday, showed no sign of pausing anytime soon. Both countries pounded one another with a barrage of missiles, with Israel bombing Iran's nuclear infrastructure and Tehran retaliating with cluster munitions - marking the first reported use of such weapons - in the ongoing conflict. One of these strikes by Iran damaged an Israeli the White House said US President Donald Trump will decide within two weeks whether America will attack Iran. The White House also warned that Tehran could build a nuclear bomb within a couple of weeks, if approved by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Watch IN THIS STORY#Israel#Iran
