Following the killing of the prime minister of the Houthi-controlled government by Israel, Iran-backed Houthi rebels stormed the offices of the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF in Sanaa on Sunday, detaining at least 11 UN personnel. The UN Secretary-General and Special Envoy for Yemen have strongly condemned the detentions and called for the immediate release of the detained staff, noting a pattern of arbitrary detentions of UN and NGO workers in Yemen. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed further strikes against the Houthis, who regularly target Israel and Red Sea vessels. The attacks occurred amid the ongoing conflict in Yemen, which has been divided since 2014.
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A global hunger monitor has determined that famine has struck an area of Gaza, with the situation expected to worsen in the coming month, potentially impacting over 600,000 Palestinians. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification system reported nearly a quarter of Gazans are facing famine conditions, primarily in the Gaza governorate, with central and southern regions projected to follow. Israel has dismissed the report as biased, while UN officials and humanitarian organizations assert that Israeli actions are directly responsible for the crisis and are preventing the necessary aid from reaching those in need. This assessment comes amidst increasing international pressure on Israel to allow greater humanitarian access to the war-torn territory, with the UN warning of an “epic humanitarian catastrophe”.
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A joint statement from several UN Security Council members, including France, the U.K., and Slovenia, condemned Russia’s ongoing military presence in Georgia’s Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions, marking the anniversary of the 2008 war. Notably absent from the statement was the United States, which has not offered a public explanation for the abstention. The statement reiterated support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, condemning Russia’s actions and calling for compliance with the 2008 ceasefire agreement. This U.S. decision parallels its earlier stance on a UN resolution regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which further suggests a strategic shift in its approach to condemning Russia’s aggression.
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During an emergency conference in Bogota, Colombia, UN Special Rapporteur for Palestine, Francesca Albanese, argued against characterizing Hamas solely as fighters. Albanese suggested Hamas should be understood as a “political force.” Her assertion was made at a conference focused on measures against Israel, hosted by Colombia and South Africa.
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Since October 7, Project Dinah at Bar-Ilan University released its findings. The research revealed insights into a specific area of concern that has emerged. The study’s conclusions offer a new perspective on a previously under-explored topic. These findings are the first of their kind since the specified date.
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The UN conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, saw 17 countries, the EU, and the Arab League endorse a text urging Hamas to disarm and cede control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority. This unprecedented declaration, also condemning the October 7th attacks, aims to facilitate a two-state solution, with some nations expressing willingness to recognize a Palestinian state. Notably, the text also considers potential deployment of foreign forces to stabilize Gaza post-conflict. The conference also saw calls for a ceasefire, aid and actions by Israel in order to proceed with a recognition of a Palestinian state, and the two-state solution’s viability is threatened by the ongoing war and Israeli actions.
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The United Nations expressed concern regarding the Taliban’s recent arrests of Afghan women and girls in Kabul for alleged violations of the dress code, specifically relating to the hijab. This follows a May 2022 decree mandating women to cover themselves, with restrictions enforced by the Taliban government since regaining power in 2021. The U.N. mission has called for the rescinding of policies that restrict women’s rights and freedoms. The Taliban’s actions, which have included previous arrests for “bad hijab”, have led to international scrutiny and calls for the restoration of women’s rights.
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A United Nations draft report alleges a global effort to redefine “women” and erode their legal standing, with the aim of excluding them as a distinct category, based on biological sex. The report, compiled by the OHCHR’s special rapporteur, Reem Alsalem, also claims gender dysphoria is “socially contagious” and calls for restrictions on transitioning for minors. Furthermore, it commends the UK Supreme Court’s ruling on the definition of “woman” and advocates for female-only spaces, despite a lack of evidence supporting the idea that trans women are a threat to cisgender women. The report’s conclusions rely on disputed theories and research, which have been criticized for promoting anti-trans sentiment.
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Amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Houthis, a surprising revelation has emerged: the Houthis are operating a large oil tanker, the Yemen, originally purchased by the UN for $55 million. The vessel was intended to prevent an environmental disaster by offloading oil from a decaying tanker, the FSO Safer. Despite the UN’s efforts, the Yemen has reportedly been used to store Russian oil, violating international sanctions. Furthermore, the Houthis have utilized the tanker to load and transfer oil, drawing criticism from the UN, while Israel has targeted the Yemen’s infrastructure with airstrikes.
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In a move to punish critics of Israel, the Trump administration announced sanctions against Francesca Albanese, the U.N. special rapporteur for the Palestinian territories, following failed attempts to remove her from her post. The sanctions come amid the ongoing war in Gaza and Albanese’s vocal accusations of Israeli “genocide” against Palestinians. This decision is viewed by some as an effort to silence the UN expert for speaking about Israeli violations against Palestinians and calling for accountability. The U.S. action is part of a broader campaign to quell criticism of Israel’s handling of the war.
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John Q. Hosedrinker