South African deputy minister describes ‘Hague Group’ initiative
Alvin Botes, South Africa’s deputy international relations minister, says a new movement seeking to block weapons transfers to Israel comes in response to the country’s failure to abide by provisional steps ordered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
South Africa – which brought a case before the ICJ accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza – is among nine countries from the Global South that late last month launched the so-called Hague Group.
They have pledged to prevent the provision or transfer of weapons to Israel, including via vessels docking in their waters, among other measures.
“Our ambition as the Hague Group is that we should obviously be able to mobilise a broader constellation of countries that are conscious and are grieved by what has happened to the Palestine people,” Botes told Al Jazeera.
“Consistently, Israel was just not adhering to any of the provisional measures of the court. The question then comes up … what else can be done?” he said.
“That’s why this is a constellation of states that have said, we invoke our right in terms of international law to enforce global accountability in regards to the conduct of the State of Israel.”
G7 countries express support for ‘full implementation’ of Gaza deal
The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) have expressed support for “the full implementation” of the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
That includes “the release of all hostages and the expansion of humanitarian aid in Gaza”, they said in a statement on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference that was also signed by the high representative of the European Union.
The G7 is made up of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
“The G7 members stand behind the ongoing efforts of Egypt, Qatar and the United States in continuing to work towards a permanent ceasefire,” the statement reads.
Pace of aid entering Gaza ‘unacceptable’, Arab League says
Hossam Zaki, the assistant secretary-general of the Arab League, has said “the pace at which aid is entering the Gaza Strip is not acceptable humanely and morally,” according to the Egyptian Al-Qahera News Channel.
Speaking at a news conference at the Rafah border crossing from the Egyptian side, Zaki also called on the international community to pressure Israel to allow the aid to enter.
Hamas has repeatedly complained about Israel’s obstruction of aid entering the Gaza Strip, particularly aid related to shelter.
Israel has effectively turned Gaza into the world’s largest open-air prison, maintaining an 18-year blockade – with the collaboration of Egypt – and forcibly displacing nearly 2 million of its 2.3 million residents since October 2023 amid dire shortages of food, water, and medicine due to deliberate restrictions.
Arab states must unite to stand up to Trump
Marwan Bishara, Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst, says Arabs must unite in the face of threats posed by US President Donald Trump.
“[Trump] likes Putin and Xi because they are strong,” he said. “If the Arabs speak with one voice about Palestine, then they will be respected.
“Otherwise, he’s going to continue to bully and humiliate the Arabs as he does with the Europeans.”
He added that Trump is already trying to humiliate Egypt and Jordan by insisting they accept millions of Palestinians that he wants to displace from Gaza.
“[He’s] telling the Arabs what they can do in their own lands, and of course, supporting ethnic cleansing in Palestine, and wants to take it over just as he wants to take over Greenland,” Bishara said.
