ICC prosecutor seeking arrest of Israeli leaders faces own inquiry: NYT
The chief prosecutor of the international criminal court will face an external investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, the court’s governing body has said.
In a statement, the president of the body that oversees the ICC said the inquiry would examine the allegations against Karim Khan, which related to his alleged conduct towards a woman who worked for him, reproted The Guardian.
UNRWA demands ceasefire to 13 months of war in Gaza
Saudi crown prince condemns Israel’s attacks on Palestinians as ‘genocide’
Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and de facto ruler condemned what he called the “genocide” committed by Israel against Palestinians when he spoke at a summit of Muslim and Arab leaders on Monday.
“The Kingdom renews its condemnation and categorical rejection of the genocide committed by Israel against the brotherly Palestinian people,” Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said at an Arab Islamic summit, echoing comments by Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud late last month.
Israel’s strategic affairs minister meets with Trump, Axios reports
Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer met with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Axios reported on Monday, citing two Israeli officials and two U.S. officials.
The Sunday meeting at Trump’s Florida estate between the president-elect and Dermer, a close aide of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, preceded a meeting between the Israeli minister and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday.
Axios reported that Dermer passed messages from Netanyahu to Trump. He also briefed Trump on Israel’s plans for Gaza, Lebanon and Iran for the next two months before Trump takes office, according to the report.
Axios said Dermer additionally met with Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who was a top adviser on the Middle East during Trump’s 2017-2021 administration.
US carries out strikes against Iranian linked targets in Syria
The US military said on Monday it had carried out strikes against nine targets associated with Iranian groups in Syria.
In a statement, the US military said the strikes were against two locations in Syria and a response to several attacks on US personnel in Syria in the past 24 hours.
“These strikes will degrade the Iranian backed groups’ ability to plan and launch future attacks on US and Coalition forces,” the US military said after the most recent strikes.
Israeli airstrike on northern Lebanon kills at least 14
At least 14 people were killed and 15 others injured in an Israeli airstrike on the northern Lebanese town of Ain Yaaqoub on Monday, according to the town’s mayor.
The strike, which marks the northernmost point in Lebanon hit by Israeli forces since hostilities began in October 2023, hit a building where 30 people were residing including Syrian refugees, Mayor Majed Drbes told Reuters. He said some people were still trapped under the rubble.
