The "International Court of Justice," the highest judicial body of the UN, had requested Israel to comply with the interim measures issued in the case it accepted upon South Africa's application. The "High Court of Justice" had announced these interim measures on January 26th. Despite feeling the support of the US's military and diplomatic backing, Israel did not adhere to these interim measures. As of January 26th, the number of casualties in Gaza due to Israel's attacks was around 26,000. Now, the death toll has exceeded 32,000.
Israel is doing everything the "High Court of Justice" has instructed it not to do, using mass starvation as a weapon and continuing to obstruct access to water, food, fuel, electricity, and medical aid. Israeli soldiers, who disregard the court's interim measures, have repeatedly targeted civilians taking refuge in areas declared as safe zones by the Israeli army. The "High Court of Justice" had also warned Israel not to violate the provisions of the "United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide." Israel, however, disregards this warning as well.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who leads the genocide in Gaza, had said, "We are fighting against humanoid animals, and we will act accordingly." It is expected that Gallant will meet with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan later this week. Gallant is said to come with a significantly long new arms procurement list for the Israeli Army in his bag. Israel, which cannot wage war without US military support, will visit the Pentagon with an even more substantial arms procurement list to kill more Palestinians.
US President Joe Biden, preparing for the November elections, is in trouble due to his unconditional support for Israel. Biden wants to please Israel while deflecting reactions against himself. Meanwhile, Israel is working to ensure that the flow of weapons remains uninterrupted. Meanwhile, Republicans in the US Congress are also preparing to listen to Netanyahu in person.
Senator Chuck Schumer, one of the Democrats in the Senate closest to Netanyahu, had to criticize Netanyahu to save Biden. The criticism of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, also known as the "highest-ranking Jewish leader in the US Congress," had echoed in Israel as well. Schumer reportedly expressed the same views during a meeting with the heads of Jewish organizations in America last Tuesday. Schumer paid too much attention to the reactions from the Democratic Party base regarding Biden's unconditional military support for Israel.
Republicans, in response to Schumer, are inviting Netanyahu to address Congress. Netanyahu had participated in a meeting of Republicans in the House of Representatives via video conference a few days ago. However, Schumer rejected the request for the video conference to take place in the Senate. Republicans hoped that Schumer would also reject this request politically. In his statement, Schumer expressed his readiness to welcome Netanyahu's speech in a joint session of Congress, thwarting the Republicans' political move.
Meanwhile, provisions in the "Temporary Budget Bill," approved first by the House of Representatives and then by the Senate, also pleased Netanyahu. One of these provisions was not allocating funds to the "UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees" (UNRWA) until March 2025. Based on Israel's fabricated allegations, a group of countries including the US and most Europeans had previously suspended funds allocated to the Agency. While UN officials issue warnings of a humanitarian disaster in Gaza, the absence of an allocation for the Agency in the "Temporary Budget" is striking.
It is not surprising that the Biden Administration is not making any moves to continue financial support for UNRWA while preparing to build a so-called humanitarian aid pier-port in Gaza. While the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians are in danger, there is a theater of "chasing the rabbit while letting the hound loose." Israel's Foreign Minister had thanked the "Democrats" and "Republicans" in the US Congress for not allocating funds to UNRWA.
