International
ICC alerts Israel about incursion in Rafah: Crimes will be investigated and prosecuted
International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan expressed concern over the Israeli bombing of the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, stressing that those who break the law will be held accountable as part of the investigation. ongoing that is being carried out with the utmost urgency. Khan stressed the importance of respecting the laws applicable to armed conflict and warned that those responsible for crimes under the Rome Statute, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, must face international justice.
The commissioner of the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, denounced the death of a humanitarian worker from the organization due to shooting by the Israeli Army in Khan Yunes, as well as the attacks against a UNRWA school in the same area, which resulted in injuries to another staff member. Hamas accused Israel of carrying out a massacre in Rafah during the hostage rescue operation, while official Palestinian figures report at least 164 people killed and 200 injured in Israeli attacks in different parts of Gaza in the last 24 hours.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned of the potentially devastating consequences of an Israeli military incursion into Rafah, pointing to the risk of further atrocity crimes and the catastrophic humanitarian impact it would have across the Gaza Strip. Amnesty International denounced the deaths of civilians, including minors, in Israeli attacks in Rafah and called for them to be investigated as possible war crimes.
For its part, Israel defended its strategy of military pressure in Gaza and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged maintaining this pressure as a way to free the hostages. Meanwhile, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) accused Israel of trying to force an exodus of Palestinian civilians in Rafah through intensified attacks in the area. In response to the escalating situation, Egypt threatened to suspend the Camp David Accords if Israel continued to pressure the Palestinians to cross the border.
International
U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute
The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.
All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.
The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.
The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.
“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.
International
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.
“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.
Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.
According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.
International
Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power
Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.
The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.
Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.
Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.
The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.
Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.
Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.
In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.
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