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The USA is against Israel investigations by the International Criminal Court. The Houthis say they have attacked ships in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. All developments in the live blog.
US President Joe Biden has called on Egypt and Qatar to pressure the militant Islamist Hamas to release hostages as part of negotiations for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, according to US government sources. Both countries should do everything in their power to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, the White House said on Monday (local time). This is the only obstacle to an immediate ceasefire.
Qatar and Egypt, together with the USA, are mediators in the conflict. According to the information, Biden spoke on the phone with the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi about the proposal that is currently on the table. Representatives of Egypt, Qatar and Hamas met in Cairo on Monday, and the Islamist Palestinian organization has yet to respond to the proposal.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock sees Hamas in the negotiations for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. “It is now solely in the hands of the Hamas leaders in Gaza that the hostages are finally released,” said the Green politician on Deutschlandfunk. It is inconceivable that today – after more than six months – women, men and children are still in the hands of Hamas.
“That’s why it was so important that we met again last night with the most important Arab representatives, with the Americans and the British, and made it clear together: These hostages must now finally, finally be freed,” says Baerbock after returning from a conference with foreign ministers from Western and Arab states in Saudi Arabia.
Hamas does not speak for the people of the country, said Baerbock. “That’s why joint pressure is so important. But it also shows how difficult this whole process has been over the last six months.”
The International Court of Justice will make a preliminary decision today in the proceedings surrounding Nicaragua’s lawsuit against Germany for complicity in the genocide in the Gaza Strip. The United Nations’ highest court in The Hague will initially only decide on an urgent application from Nicaragua, which had, among other things, called for a stop to arms deliveries. The country argues that German arms deliveries to Israel are making genocide possible. Germany rejected the lawsuit.
The White House has been evasive about the consequences of possible arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israelis. They do not support the investigation and are also convinced that the criminal court in The Hague – which is not recognized by the USA – has no legal jurisdiction, said White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre. She had previously been asked whether potential arrest warrants could torpedo ceasefire negotiations.
The Houthi rebels in Yemen say they have attacked ships in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. The “MSC Orion” was targeted in the Indian Ocean, a spokesman for the rebel group said on television. In addition, two US destroyers and the ship “Cyclades” were attacked in the Red Sea. The Houthis describe their attacks as an act of solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza war.
Thousands demonstrated again in Tel Aviv for a negotiated solution to release the hostages. Lufthansa continues to pause its flights to Tehran due to security concerns. All developments can be read in the live blog.