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Israel offers Yahya Sinwar safe exit in exchange for captives held in Gaza
Gal Hirsch, Israel’s envoy on the captives held in the Gaza Strip, announced the offer for the leader of Hamas in an interview with Bloomberg News in Washington, DC.
“I’m ready to provide safe passage to Sinwar, his family, whoever wants to join him,” Hirsch said. “We want the hostages back. We want demilitarization, de-radicalization of course – a new system that will manage Gaza.”
Hirsch told Bloomberg that he put the offer on the table a day and a half ago, but declined to characterise the response so far.
Sinwar, who Israel claims masterminded the October 7 attacks, became the leader of Hamas after his predecessor, Ismail Haniyeh, was assassinated in the Iranian capital, Tehran. Iran blames Israel for the killing.
ICC prosecutor seeks ‘urgent’ arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, Hamas leaders
The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has called on its judges to issue arrest warrants for the Israeli leaders as well as Hamas’s Sinwar and Mohammed Deif “with utmost urgency”, according to legal filings.
Karim Khan cited “the worsening situation in Palestine” in his renewed appeal.
Khan had first sought the arrest warrants in May, accusing Netanyahu, Gallant and the Hamas leaders of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. But the case has been beset by various procedural delays, including the court’s decision to let the United Kingdom submit observations on the court’s jurisdiction over the case.
The British government ultimately opted not to file those observations.
Khan had also initially sought an arrest warrant for the late Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, but said he was withdrawing the case following the politician’s assassination in Tehran in August. The prosecutor also said he would withdraw the request for Deif, the Hamas military commander Israel claimed to have killed earlier this year, if his death is confirmed.
South Africa to submit memorial in ICJ case against Israel
South Africa will file a memorial in the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in October, the presidency says in a statement.
“South Africa intends to provide facts and evidence to prove that Israel is committing the crime of genocide in Palestine,” it said. “This case will continue until the court makes a finding. While the case is in progress, we hope that Israel will abide by the court’s provisional orders issued to date.”
The remarks come amid reports that Israeli diplomats are lobbying members of the US Congress to pressure South Africa into dropping the case.
“The case represents a growing global effort towards ensuring peace in the Middle East,” the statement added. Nicaragua, Palestine, Turkey, Spain, Mexico, Libya and Colombia have joined the South African case against Israel.
Iraqi PM rejects widening Gaza war in meeting with Iran president
Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, speaking alongside visiting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, says both governments are opposed to any widening of Israel’s war in Gaza.
“In light of the escalation that the region has been going through, we have spoken a lot about the importance of stability; this stability is threatened by the Zionist aggression in Gaza,” al-Sudani said.
“We have stated more than once our rejection of any extension of the conflict,” he added, underlining the two governments’ “common position” on the war.
