U.N. court orders Israel to do more to prevent killing, harm in Gaza
THE HAGUE — The International Court of Justice on Friday ordered Israel to do more to prevent the killing and harm of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, a landmark decision that is part of the case determining if genocide is taking place, and will add to pressure to change course in the military campaign.
The court did not, however, order a cease-fire as requested by South Africa, though it said Israel must submit a report in one month outlining the measures it has taken to give effect to the court’s orders.
At a closely watched hearing at The Hague’s Peace Palace, the court’s president read out its order and reasoning, confirming that the court has jurisdiction and arguing that there is an urgent need for emergency measures, including more aid.
The order is not a decision on whether or not Israel has committed genocide — that could take years. Rather, the provisional measure aims to prevent the situation from getting worse while the case proceeds.
High-profile attorney quits 2 Trump cases as 'year of legal uncertainty' begins
Attorney Joseph Tacopina has been representing former President Donald Trump in two separate cases: a criminal prosecution by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. and an appeal of the verdict in former Elle columnist E. Jean Carroll's first civil defamation case.
But according to the New York Times' Maggie Haberman, Tacopina has withdrawn from both cases.
"His departure from the two cases comes as Mr. Trump enters a year of legal uncertainty," Haberman reports in an article published on Monday, January 15. "He faces four criminal indictments, and trials with dates that are up in the air. The trial in Manhattan, in which he is accused of falsifying business records to hide hush-money payments to a porn star during the 2016 election, could begin as early as March."