Israel strikes Hamas rocket launchers, tunnel shafts

A Palestinian man walks past the rubble of buildings destroyed in Israeli bombardments in Rafah. Pic/AFP

Israeli fighter jets struck operational tunnel shafts, an anti-tank missile launch post and Hamas terror infrastructure in northern and central Gaza, the Israel Defence Forces said on Tuesday morning. One of the sites hit was the location where a missile aimed at Sderot had been fired on Monday, the IDF said. That missile was intercepted by aerial defences.

Shortly afterwards, fighter jets struck operational tunnel shafts, an anti-tank missile launch post and terror infrastructure in the area of northern Gaza from which the launch was identified. Throughout the past day, fighter jets also struck several Hamas targets in central Gaza, including a terrorist squad and a weapons storage facility, in the area where Israeli ground troops are operating.

Rockets were also fired at Israeli soldiers in central Gaza on Monday. No injuries were reported. Troops identified numerous terrorists at the location from which the launches were fired, and fighter jets eliminated the terrorists.

Why are Israeli officials worried about ICC

Israeli officials sound increasingly concerned that the International Criminal Court could issue arrest warrants for the country's leaders more than six months into the Israel-Hamas war.

What is the ICC?

The ICC was set up more than a decade ago to tackle impunity for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and other grave crimes when states don't prosecute them. Without a police force, the ICC relies on member states to arrest suspects.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on the social platform X Friday that Israel "will never accept any attempt by the ICC to undermine its inherent right of self-defence". "While the ICC will not affect Israel's actions, it would set a dangerous precedent," he wrote. The court hasn't commented.

The Rome Statute

The ICC's 124 member states signed on to a 2002 treaty called the Rome Statute. Dozens of countries did not sign and do not accept the court's jurisdiction over war crimes, genocide and other crimes. They include Israel, the US, Russia and China. The ICC gets involved when nations fail to prosecute crimes on their territory.

Columbia University suspends protesters

Colleges around the US implored pro-Palestinian student protesters to clear out tent encampments with rising levels of urgency Monday as police arrested more demonstrators at the University of Texas and Columbia University said it was beginning to suspend students who defied an ultimatum to disband the encampment there. Six protesters were arrested.

Top UN court set to rule on aid to Israel

The UN's top court is ruling Tuesday on a request by Nicaragua for judges to order Germany to halt military aid to Israel, arguing that Berlin's support enables acts of genocide and breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza. Nicaragua's case is the latest legal bid by a country with historic ties to the Palestinian people to stop Israel's war.

2002
Year ICC's 124 members signed treaty

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