More than a year has passed since the International Court of Justice, the United Nations' highest judicial body, issued its first order in the landmark case brought against Israel by South Africa, which contends that Israel has been committing acts of genocide in its war in Gaza. The ICJ found that "with respect to the right of the Palestinians in Gaza to be protected from acts of genocide...and the right of South Africa to seek Israel's compliance," South Africa's case was "plausible."
Israel announced on Friday that it has begun the "initial stages" of its siege on Gaza City, declaring the capital city a "dangerous combat zone" and ending its daytime pauses for the supposed purpose of allowing the passage of humanitarian aid, despite a famine declaration across the area last week. "We have begun the preliminary operations and the first stages of the attack on Gaza City, and already now IDF forces are holding the outskirts of Gaza City," Israel's military spokesperson told reporters.
The Palestinian girl is one of tens of thousands of children facing malnutrition in Gaza as Israel's man-made famine deepens with the Israeli military stepping up its assault on Gaza City. Mai's mother, Nadia Abu Arar, says her child was once lively and joyous, but she is now fighting for her life after drastically losing weight. The doctors told me that she isn't suffering from any disease or from any past condition.