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As of December 18, 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally requested a presidential pardon amid ongoing corruption trials, denying wrongdoing. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has upheld arrest warrants against Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes related to the 2023 Gaza conflict. Israel rejects ICC jurisdiction and denies the charges. President Isaac Herzog will review the pardon request with legal counsel.
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The ICC faces internal and external pressures as US sanctions target staff, including the acting prosecutor Karim Niang, amid ongoing investigations into US and Israeli officials. The court's independence is reaffirmed, but member withdrawals and delays in internal probes threaten its future. The 24th Assembly is ongoing today.
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Efforts to implement the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire are underway amid ongoing violations and a deepening humanitarian crisis. Key issues include disarmament, troop withdrawal, and international peacekeeping, with negotiations involving Israel, Hamas, the US, and other nations. The situation remains fragile as aid access and security arrangements are debated.
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Amnesty International's latest report details crimes against humanity committed by Hamas during its October 2023 attack on Israel, including murder, torture, sexual violence, and hostage-taking. The report also accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza, with ongoing violence resulting in over 70,000 Palestinian deaths. All hostages have been released except one body.
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On December 18, 2025, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sanctioned two International Criminal Court (ICC) judges, Gocha Lordkipanidze and Erdenebalsuren Damdin, for upholding arrest warrants against Israeli leaders Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza. These sanctions bar the judges from entering the US and freeze their assets. The ICC condemned the sanctions as attacks on judicial independence. The US and Israel, both non-members of the ICC, reject its jurisdiction, while the court continues its investigations amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
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The Pentagon announced a contract to deliver 25 F-15IA fighter jets to Israel, with an option for 25 more, to be completed by 2035. The deal involves US military support amid ongoing regional tensions and protests over Israel's Gaza assault.
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As of January 2026, Israel has revoked licenses of 37 major international NGOs, including Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam, barring them from operating in Gaza and the West Bank. The move follows new registration rules requiring detailed staff disclosures, which NGOs say endanger personnel and undermine humanitarian neutrality. The ban threatens to worsen Gaza's humanitarian crisis amid ongoing conflict and a fragile ceasefire.
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The US launched Trump's 'Board of Peace' for Gaza reconstruction, but it faces widespread skepticism. Key countries, including Israel and the UK, oppose the initiative, citing legitimacy and regional concerns. Netanyahu's rejection of US invitations highlights tensions over regional influence and governance structures.
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Israeli President Isaac Herzog is scheduled to visit Australia from February 8-12, following the Bondi Beach terror attack that killed 15 people. The trip has prompted protests and criticism over allegations of incitement to genocide and Israel's actions in Gaza, with some groups calling for the visit to be rescinded. The visit aims to support the Jewish community and commemorate victims.
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On February 26-27, 2026, Massimiliano Cali and his daughter filed a lawsuit in Washington, DC, challenging US sanctions imposed on Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on Palestinian territories. The suit alleges violations of First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendment rights, citing impacts on their home access and financial freedoms. The US government defends the sanctions as lawful responses to Albanese's alleged anti-Israel activism.
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Recent Gallup polls show a historic shift in American public opinion, with more Americans now sympathizing with Palestinians than Israelis. This change, accelerated by the Gaza conflict, reflects declining bipartisan support for Israel and growing sympathy among Democrats and younger Americans, signaling a significant realignment in US foreign policy attitudes.