Closing summary
Several countries, including Pakistan and Qatar, voiced their support for the international court of justice’s landmark ruling on Friday that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is against international law.
In Cairo, international mediators, including the US, are continuing to push Israel and Hamas toward a phased deal that would halt the fighting and free about 120 hostages in Gaza. The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, says that the long-sought ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was within sight.
At least 38,919 Palestinian people have been killed and 89,622 injured in Israeli strikes on Gaza since 7 October, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement. Israeli military strikes across Gaza killed 37 Palestinians in the past 24 hours alone and destroyed several houses, Reuters reported. Residents in Rafah said tanks advanced deeper into northern areas of the southern city and took control of a hilltop in the west.
Among those reportedly killed on Saturday were local journalist Mohammad Abu Jasser, his wife, and two children, in an Israeli strike on their house in the northern Gaza Strip. Gaza’s government media office said Abu Jasser’s death raised to 161 the number of Palestinian media personnel killed by Israeli fire since 7 October.
A commercial vessel was attacked twice by drones off the coast of Yemen on Saturday but proceeded with its voyage despite sustaining damage, a British maritime security agency said. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the attack happened 64 nautical miles northwest of Mokha, Yemen. The vessel was first hit by an uncrewed aerial system that exploded close by, causing minor damage, UKMTO said, adding that crew members were not harmed.
We are closing this blog now, but you can stay up to date on the Guardian’s Middle East coverage here.
Updated
Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, has welcomed the advisory opinion issued by the international court of justice (ICJ) that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory is unlawful, calling it a “vindication of the legitimate struggle of the brave Palestinian people”.
He wrote on X:
I welcome the historic ICJ advisory opinion on Israel’s policies in occupied Palestinian territory. The ICJ ruling that Israel must end its occupation & illegal settlements is vindication of the legitimate struggle of the brave Palestinian people.
I urge the international community & UN to implement the ruling, ensuring Palestinian self-determination through a two state solution in line with relevant UN resolutions.
Proud that Pakistan contributed to the case, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to the Palestinian cause.
I welcome the historic ICJ Advisory Opinion on Israel's policies in Occupied Palestinian Territory. The ICJ ruling that Israel must end its occupation & illegal settlements is vindication of the legitimate struggle of the brave Palestinian people. I urge the international…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 20, 2024
The advisory opinion by judges at the ICJ was not binding but carries weight under international law and may weaken support for Israel.
“Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the regime associated with them, have been established and are being maintained in violation of international law,” President Nawaf Salam said, reading the findings of a 15-judge panel.
The court said Israel’s obligations include paying restitution for harm and “the evacuation of all settlers from existing settlements”.
In a swift reaction, Israel’s foreign ministry rejected the opinion as “fundamentally wrong” and one-sided, and repeated its stance that a political settlement in the region can only be reached by negotiations.
