International
The UN approves a resolution condemning Israel’s treatment of civilians in Gaza
The United Nations Human Rights Council approved on Friday a resolution that condemns, among other abuses, “the practice of making the civilian population suffer hunger as a method of war in Gaza,” despite the votes against from countries such as Germany, Argentina or the United States.
The resolution was approved on the last day of the 55th session of the Council, which has lasted six weeks, with 28 votes in favor, 6 against and 13 abstentions, including those of France, India, Japan or the Netherlands.
The text also expresses “great concern” about statements by Israeli officials that “equate to incitement to genocide,” and urges the international community to stop the sale and transfer of weapons to Israel “in order to avoid further violations of international humanitarian law.”
On the other hand, the Council has adopted another resolution that reaffirms the Palestinian right to self-determination, “including its right to an independent State of Palestine.”
The resolution has been sponsored by about 70 countries, including Spain.
At least 54 Palestinians have died in the Gaza Strip in the last 24 hours, a figure that brings the total number of deaths since the beginning of the war to 33,091, according to the latest count of the Ministry of Health of the enclave, controlled by Hamas.
Of the death toll, more than 73% are women and children. Specifically, 14,500 minors have died to date, which makes this war the most lethal for childhood in years.
According to the official Palestinian agency Wafa, in recent hours artillery attacks have been recorded in large areas of the province of Jan Yunis, as well as in the eastern part of the city of Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli Army has confirmed that it continues to operate in Jan Yunis to dismantle Hamas’ military capabilities and assured that it had eliminated several “terrorist cells.”
In addition, an intense air attack reached the vicinity of the city of Sheikh Zayed, in northern Gaza.
In the center of the Strip, Israeli artillery besieged several localities, including the Maghazi refugee camp, which also suffered air bombardment.
In addition, Israel attacked during the night several launch posts in the north of the enclave, from where yesterday rockets were fired at the Israeli cities of Ashkelon and Sderot and against the kibbutz Kfar Aza, which were claimed by Islamic Jihad.
The evacuation warnings issued by the Israeli Army to the Gazans before an attack are full of important errors that cause confusion, according to a BBC analysis released this Friday.
The British public broadcaster examined numerous material in brochures or transmitted through social networks corresponding to 26 different announcements issued since December 1.
In his study, he found notable inconsistencies, which meant that many people did not know exactly where to go.
“The warnings contained contradictory information and, sometimes, districts with incorrect names,” says the network, which has consulted experts who indicate that these errors “could violate Israel’s obligations under international law.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have rejected the results of this BBC study in a statement and assure that the alerts are only a part of their “extensive efforts to encourage the evacuation of civilians.”
International humanitarian law requires that the attacking forces warn in advance and effectively of attacks that may affect the civilian population, unless circumstances do not allow it.
An internal investigation by the Israeli Army has determined that Efrat Katz, a 68-year-old Israeli, was “probably” killed by an Air Force attack on October 7 in the Nir Oz kibutz during the attack in Hamas, when militiamen took her hostage to the Strip.
Based on the evidence captured by drones and security cameras, as well as testimonies from Air Force crews and witnesses, the examination concluded that a combat helicopter opened fire on a vehicle where “terrorists” from Hamas were traveling, in which Katz was also traveling.
“As a result of the shooting, most of the terrorists traveling in the vehicle died, and apparently Efrat Katz,” the Israeli Army said.
The examination was carried out by a designated team established under the direction of the Commander-in-Chief of the Israel Air Force, in order to examine the issue, in parallel with the in-depth examinations of all the combat incidents of October 7.
The heads of the Israeli and US intelligence services will arrive in Cairo at the beginning of next week to meet with their Egyptian and Qatari counterparts in the framework of the negotiations for a truce in Gaza, an Egyptian security source told EFE.
According to this same source, who asked for anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, both the head of the Mossad, Didi Barnea, and that of the CIA, Bill Burns, will arrive in the Egyptian capital at the beginning of this week to start talks with “the Qatari Prime Minister and the head of Egyptian Intelligence.”
The objective of this meeting is “to achieve an openness in the conversations with which they seek to free the hostages held by the Islamic resistance movement Hamas in Gaza.”
On the other hand, a Palestinian source told EFE that Barnea will participate in the meeting “together with the president of Shabak, Ronen Bar, and the head of hostages and missing persons in the Israeli Army, General Nitzan Alon.”
International
Trump to build $200M ballroom at the White House by 2028
The U.S. government under President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that it will begin construction in September on a new 8,000-square-meter ballroom at the White House.
The announcement was made by Karoline Leavitt, the administration’s press secretary, during a briefing in which she explained that the expansion responds to the need for a larger venue to host “major events.”
“Other presidents have long wished for a space capable of accommodating large gatherings within the White House complex… President Trump has committed to solving this issue,” Leavitt told reporters.
The project is estimated to cost $200 million, fully funded through donations from Trump himself and other “patriots,” according to a government statement. Construction is scheduled to begin in September and is expected to be completed before Trump’s term ends in 2028.
The Clark Construction Group, a Virginia-based company known for projects such as the Capital One Arena and L’Enfant Plaza in Washington, D.C., has been selected to lead the project.
The new ballroom will be built on the East Wing of the White House, expanding the iconic residence with a space designed for state dinners, official ceremonies, and large-scale events.
International
Three salvadorans in Florida sentenced in $146 million construction tax fraud scheme
Three Salvadoran residents living in Orlando, Florida, were sentenced for conspiracy to commit tax fraud and wire fraud involving a scheme exceeding $146 million in the construction industry, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. The sentence was handed down by federal judge Timothy J. Corrigan on Tuesday, July 29.
Eduardo Aníbal Escobar (45) was sentenced to 4 years and 9 months in prison, Carlos Alberto Rodríguez (36) to 3 years and 4 months, and Adelmy Tejada (57) to 18 months in prison, followed by 6 months of house arrest. All three pled guilty on April 3, 2025.
In addition to the prison terms, the court ordered restitution payments totaling $36,957,616 to the IRS for unpaid payroll taxes, and $397,895 to two insurers for workers’ compensation claims related to the scheme.
Escobar and Rodríguez are permanent legal residents originally from El Salvador, while Tejada is a naturalized U.S. citizen of Salvadoran origin.
International
Kremlin hails preparedness after Kamchatka quakes leave no casualties
The Kremlin expressed relief that the earthquakes that struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula today —the first being the strongest since 1952— resulted in no casualties, and emphasized that the region is well prepared to face such natural disasters.
“Thank God, there were no victims,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov during his daily press briefing.
The presidential representative stated that “all alert systems were activated in time, and evacuations were organized for residents in areas requiring it in response to tsunami threats.”
“Overall, the seismic resilience of the buildings proved effective (…) Therefore, we can say that the technological preparedness demonstrated a high level,” Peskov added.
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