Live Updates: HRW accuses Israel of Gaza 'war crime' over 'forcible transfer'

Thursday, November 14, 2024

0504 GMT — HRW accuses Israel of Gaza 'war crime' over 'forcible transfer'

Human Rights Watch said in a report Israel's repeated evacuation orders in Gaza amount to the "war crime of forcible transfer", and to "ethnic cleansing" in parts of the Palestinian territory.

"Human Rights Watch has amassed evidence that Israeli officials are... committing the war crime of forcible transfer", the HRW report said, adding that "Israel's actions appear to also meet the definition of ethnic cleansing" in the areas where Palestinians will not be able to return.

0450 GMT — Ben & Jerry's says parent Unilever silenced it over Gaza stance

Ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's said in a lawsuit filed that parent company Unilever has silenced its attempts to express support for Palestinian refugees, and threatened to dismantle its board and sue its members over the issue.

The lawsuit is the latest sign of the long-simmering tensions between Ben & Jerry's and consumer products maker Unilever.

"Ben & Jerry's has on four occasions attempted to publicly speak out in support of peace and human rights," according to the lawsuit. "Unilever has silenced each of these efforts."

Ben & Jerry's said in the lawsuit it has tried to call for a ceasefire, support the safe passage of Palestinian refugees to Britain, back students protesting at US colleges against civilian deaths in Gaza, and advocate for a halt in US military aid to Israel, but has been blocked by Unilever.

0224 GMT — 3 young siblings killed in Gaza as Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill 6

An Israeli strike on a home in northern Gaza killed three siblings aged 6 and under, among at least six people killed in air strikes in the war-ravaged territory, Palestinian medics said.

In Lebanon, an Israeli air strike on an apartment building south of Beirut killed at least six people and wounded 15, the Health Ministry said.

0041 GMT — Six Israeli troops killed, deadly strikes in Lebanon

Israel suffered one of the deadliest days of its ground offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon when six of its soldiers were killed in combat near the border.

The soldiers "fell during combat in southern Lebanon", the army said in a statement. Their deaths mean 47 Israeli troops have been killed in combat with Hezbollah since September 30, when Israel sent ground forces into Lebanon.

The army's announcement came after new Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said there would be no easing up in the war in Lebanon.

2335 GMT — UN Council condemns attacks on peacekeepers in Lebanon

The UN Security Council (UNSC) condemned recent attacks on the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL), calling on all parties to respect the safety of members of that force.

In a statement, the Council condemned the attacks on October 29, November 7 and November 8, which wounded several Blue Helmets. They did not name who they believed to be responsible.

"They urged all parties to take all measures to respect the safety and security of UNIFIL personnel and premises," the Council said.

2131 GMT — South Africa condemns Israeli minister's call to annex West Bank

South Africa has condemned a statement by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich that 2025 will be the "year of annexation" of the occupied West Bank.

The department emphasised the need for a decisive response by the international community against Israel's settlement expansion in the Palestinian territories and its provocative policies.

2107 GMT — Spain slams Israeli statements favouring annexation of West Bank

Spain has strongly rejected statements by the Israeli government in favour of Israel's annexation of the occupied West Bank, the Foreign Ministry said.

Annexation by force is contrary to International law, it said in a statement.

"The International Court of Justice has ruled that the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories is illegal and must end as soon as possible," the ministry said, calling the settlements in the occupied territories "totally contrary" to international law.

2032 GMT — US says it secured 'further commitments' from Israel as Gaza aid situation deteriorates

The US has secured extra commitments from Israel in the last two days about the situation in besieged Gaza, the White House said.

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters he met with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer for a "detailed" and "constructive" discussion on the current situation in the Middle East.

Noting the US push to increase the amount of humanitarian assistance entering Gaza, Sullivan said: "We have made some progress in that regard. We extracted further commitments from the Israeli side over the course of the past couple of days."

"We want to see those commitments followed through on," he said.

1938 GMT — Death toll from Israeli strikes in Gaza 'safe zone' rises to 14

Israel has killed at least 15 Palestinians in its air strikes on southern and central Gaza, witnesses and medical sources said.

Israeli fighter jets hit a house in the al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Younis, leaving eight people dead, including children, witnesses and medical sources said.

One person was also killed, and several people were wounded in another strike near a tent encampment in al-Mawasi, which was designated by the Israeli army as a "safe zone" for displaced civilians in Gaza, it added.

Five more Palestinians were killed and others injured in an Israeli airstrike targeting a gathering of civilians in the Al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza, witnesses told Anadolu Agency.

For our live updates from Wednesday, November 13, 2024, click here.