What A Day: I C U, ICJ | Crooked Media
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What A Day: I C U, ICJ

A general view is showing the rubble of destroyed buildings in Al-Zahra on the southern outskirts of Gaza City, on April 21, 2024, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the militant Hamas group. (Photo by Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via AP)

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A general view is showing the rubble of destroyed buildings in Al-Zahra on the southern outskirts of Gaza City, on April 21, 2024, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the militant Hamas group. (Photo by Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via AP)

THE STRUGGLE ISRAEL

The International Court of Justice ordered Israel to “immediately halt” military operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

  • The ruling by the United Nations’ top court represents a high-profile diplomatic rebuke for Israel, and underscores the country’s growing isolation over its brutal campaign in Gaza. But it appeared to make no immediate difference on the ground. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu has vowed to take Rafah in order to achieve his goal of eliminating Hamas, and ignored concerns from world leaders about the humanitarian toll of launching a full invasion on a city harboring hundreds of thousands of refugees. Israeli officials called the ruling “outrageous and morally repugnant,” and insisted military operations aren’t targeting civilians.

  • The ICJ’s ruling comes with no enforcement mechanism, and the ICJ does not have any kind of police or military force of its own. Russia ignored the court’s ruling to stop the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. But the ruling adds further pressure to Netanyahu after a string of diplomatic setbacks. The main prosecutor for the International Criminal Court announced he’ll seek arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas leaders earlier this week. Three European countries announced Wednesday they would recognize a Palestinian state over Israeli objections. Israel war cabinet minister Benny Gantz threatened Saturday to resign unless Netanyahu rolls out a new post-war plan for Gaza.

  • Meanwhile, some of Netanyahu’s backers in the U.S. redoubled their support. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has extended an invitation for Netanyahu to address Congress, and said on Thursday evening that the speech will take place “soon.” On Friday, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), said the ICJ “can go to hell.”

The Biden administration didn’t issue an immediate formal response to the ruling.

- Fox News host Jesse Watters, who should really lavish his attention somewhere else.

NEWS NEWS NEWS

Louisiana became the first state to declare abortion pills controlled dangerous substances after the governor signed the bill into law on Friday. The law makes possession of mifepristone or misoprostol without valid prescriptions or orders from medical professionals a crime punishable by up to five years incarceration.

An Italian teenager is on track to become the first millennial saint, after Pope Francis attributed a second miracle to him. Carlo Acutis, known as the patron saint of the internet, used his tech skills to share his faith during his lifetime. He died of leukemia at age 15 in 2006.

At least 66 members of an anti-government far-right extremist group are running or have run for local Republican offices in Oregon, according to an expose from the Guardian. These folks are gunning for positions like precinct committee person — who has the power to elect county executives — and winning! It’s always a good idea to pay attention to your local elections, but, uh, now especially!!

Russian President Vladimir Putin has privately signaled he is ready for a ceasefire in the war against Ukraine if the current battlefield lines are recognized, according to an exclusive report from Reuters.

U.S. officials said Thursday more aid is starting to be distributed to Palestinians in Gaza via the U.S.-built pier, after a troubled launch that saw crowds overrunning trucks and a two-day suspension on distribution.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)’s second attempt to pass a sweeping border package failed by an even wider margin than before, with increased opposition from both parties. Each side accuses the other of using border legislation simply for campaign messaging. President Biden has floated the idea of taking executive action to address the border issues ahead of the election.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas observed the 70th anniversary of the landmark civil rights ruling, Brown v. Board of Education, by strongly criticizing the case that ended segregation in public schools. Thomas claimed the 1954 ruling, which banned separating schoolchildren by race, amounted to an overreach of the court’s authority, in a concurrence opinion Thursday to another ruling allowing South Carolina to keep a racist gerrymandered map in place. As always: What a cool guy with good, normal opinions!

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