Tag: ISRAEL

ICC warrants binding; EU cannot pick and choose – EU’s foreign policy chief

Aminu Imam
EU's foreign policy chief

European governments cannot pick and choose whether to execute arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against two Israeli leaders and a Hamas commander, the EU’s foreign policy chief said, on Saturday. Recall that the ICC issued the warrants on Thursday against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant and Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri, for alleged crimes against humanity. All EU member States are signatories to the ICC’s founding treaty, called the Rome Statute. Several EU States have said they will meet their commitments…

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ICC Ruling: Israeli PM, Netanyahu faces arrest, as UK pledges to fulfill its legal obligations

Aminu Imam
Netanyahu faces arrest

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu risks arrest in the United Kingdom (UK) after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against him on Thursday for alleged war crimes in Gaza. Downing Street has indicated that the UK would fulfil its legal obligations under international law if Netanyahu were to travel to the country. The warrant, which also names Israels former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, stems from accusations of war crimes during the ongoing Gaza conflict. According to the ICC Act 2001, member States, including the UK, are obligated…

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“No Nigerian life lost in Lebanon” – FG

Aminu Imam
FG on Lebanon2

Set to begin evacuation The Federal Government has said that no Nigerian life has been lost in Lebanon, amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. As Israel increases strikes in Lebanon, the Nigerian government said it has commenced preparation for the evacuation of Nigerians in Lebanon. In an issued statement yesterday, signed by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, the Government said that the Nigerian Embassy in Lebanon has been actively working to protect its nationals. The Federal Government has begun preparations to evacuate…

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Middle-East conflict:Iran launches about 180 ballistic missiles at Israel

Aminu Imam
Iran launches

Iran fired several waves of ballistic missiles at Israel yesterday evening, in a sudden assault that raised the likelihood of a direct all-out war between two of the most powerful militaries in the Middle-East. The attack from Iran was the culmination of a dizzying sequence of events over less than 24 hours, which began with Israel launching a ground invasion into Lebanon to pursue Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Lebanese militia. Israel pounded Lebanon from the air throughout yesterday, as its troops advanced on the ground and Hezbollah fired rockets deep into…

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“Hezbollah chiefs killing will lead to Israels destruction” – Iran’s VP

Aminu Imam
Hezbollah chief

Irans First Vice-President, Mohammad Reza Aref, has vowed that the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in an air strike in the Lebanese capital will bring about Israels destruction. Irans ISNA news agency yesterday, quoted Aref as saying, We warn the leaders of the occupying regime that the unjust bloodshed especially of Hezbollahs secretary general, martyr Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, will bring about their destruction. Lebanons Hezbollah group, armed and financed by Iran, confirmed yesterday that Nasrallah had been killed, after Israel said it had eliminated him in an air strike…

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War: “We will reconsider nuclear doctrine” Iran threatens Israel

Aminu Imam
Iran threatens

Iran yesterday threatened to reconsider its nuclear doctrine if Israel attempts to attack any of its nuclear facilities amid heightened tensions between the duo. Brigadier-General Ahmed Haqtalab, the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in charge of the protection of nuclear centres, said Iran would respond if Israel threatened the countrys nuclear facilities. The warning comes amid speculations that Tel Aviv is mulling a military response to IRGCs unprecedented direct attack on multiple positions in Israel on Saturday that involved hundreds of missiles and drones. Tehran said the…

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Israel-Hamas conflict: The unjust UN Security Council structure

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

By: Nurudeen Dauda To start with, in my thought, the “unjust” “structure” or “arrangement” of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is essentially the “reason” that the two- state solutions and other UN resolutions on Israeli-Palestinian conflict is increasingly becoming practically unimplementable. In my thought, the way the UNSC is structured currently lacks the “objectivity” and the “sense of belonging” to various continental interests in order to function as a body representing global diverse interests. Unless and until this “lopsided” and or “unjust” arrangement is quickly changed the world has…

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Gaza ground offensive: U.S advises Israel to postpone move

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir
Israeli soldiers on tank

The U.S. has advised Israel to postpone its planned ground offensive in the Gaza Strip against the Hamas organisation, according to local media reports. The U.S. government hopes to obtain more time for negotiations to secure the release of more than 200 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. The aim is to avoid further civilian casualties and to ensure that more humanitarian aid reaches the population in the blockaded Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, announced the ground offensive after Hamas killed hundreds of people and kidnapped more than…

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Israel evacuation order for Gaza hospitals impossible – WHO

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged Israel to withdraw its evacuation order for hospitals in northern Gaza. There are patients who are there that cannot simply be moved, many there are on mechanical ventilators. There are also newborns on incubators, people in unstable conditions, and its very difficult to move them, WHO spokesman Tarik Jaarevi? said on Monday. He said the task was almost impossible. We are calling on Israel to reconsider this order, Jaarevi? said. So far, four trucks carrying surgical and dressing materials as well as medicines…

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Middle East, Ukrain: EU Foreign Ministers discuss situations

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

European Union (EU) foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg on Monday will discuss the Middle East crisis and continued support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, top official Josep Borell said. When it comes to the Middle East, the main question is how the EU can help prevent a regional escalation of the conflict. With regard to Ukraine, the panel needs to clarify in the coming months how the EU should participate in planned security commitments from the West. EU foreign policy Chief, Josep Borrell has suggested making longer-term financing…

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