Nine countries pledge to enforce arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
New Delhi: Nine nations have pledged to take action against Israel, including upholding The Hague's arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, as part of efforts to end Israel's occupation of Palestine and address its operations in Gaza.
Organized under the 'Hague Group,' the countries—Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Honduras, Malaysia, Namibia, Senegal, and South Africa—announced their commitment on January 31. They also vowed to prevent the supply of arms and munitions to Israel where there is a clear risk they may be used to violate international law, and to block vessels carrying military fuel or weapons to Israel from docking at their ports.
The group cited violations of international humanitarian law, human rights law, and the prohibition of genocide in Palestine as the basis for their stance. Their decision was influenced by Israel's disregard for rulings by international courts, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC).
South Africa, one of the member countries, previously brought a case before the ICJ alleging Israel's genocide in Gaza, a case expected to take years to conclude.
“The Hague Group’s formation sends a clear message: no nation is above the law, and no crime will go unanswered,” said South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola.
Progressive International (PI), the organization convening the group's meeting, called for renewed international efforts to hold Israel accountable for its actions. PI also quoted Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, stating that Israel's violations of international law extend beyond the persecution of Palestinians and threaten the very foundations of global law.
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Wild fox falls into tank in Thane, rescued after one-hour operation
Thane (PTI): A wild fox was rescued on Sunday after it fell into an open water tank in Thane's Shil area, an official said.
The rescue operation, which started at noon, was a coordinated effort between the Fire Brigade, wildlife personnel that took one hour, Thane Municipal Corporation disaster management cell chief Yasin Tadvi said.
"The fox fell into a tank located near Muktai residency on Kalyan-Shilphata road. The rescue proved challenging due to the confined space of the tank. However, through the combined efforts of the fire brigade and forest officials, the fox was safely pulled out after nearly an hour of careful manoeuvring," Tadvi said.
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Following the rescue, the animal was checked for injuries and taken by the forest department for further observation before its eventual release, he said.
