Al Jazeera Files Suit at International Criminal Court over Journalist’s Killing

Exterior view of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, where Al Jazeera presented a letter requesting a formal investigation into the fatal shototing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. (AP)
Exterior view of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, where Al Jazeera presented a letter requesting a formal investigation into the fatal shototing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. (AP)
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Al Jazeera Files Suit at International Criminal Court over Journalist’s Killing

Exterior view of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, where Al Jazeera presented a letter requesting a formal investigation into the fatal shototing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. (AP)
Exterior view of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022, where Al Jazeera presented a letter requesting a formal investigation into the fatal shototing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. (AP)

Al Jazeera on Tuesday said it has submitted to the International Criminal Court the case of the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was shot during an Israeli raid in the West Bank in May. 

The submission followed an investigation by the television news network's legal team, Al Jazeera said on Twitter. 

The ICC must identify the individuals who were directly involved Abu Akleh's killing, Al Jazeera lawyer Rodney Dixon KC told a news conference in The Hague on Tuesday. 

"The rulings of the International Criminal Court stipulate that those responsible be investigated and held accountable. Otherwise, they bear the same responsibility as if they were the ones who opened fire," Dixon said. 

The circumstances of Abu Akleh's killing are disputed. 

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said on Tuesday that no one would question Israeli soldiers. 

"No one will interrogate Israeli soldiers and no one will preach to us about morals of combat, certainly not the Al Jazeera network," Lapid said. 



US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
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US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)

The United States is deferring the removal of certain Lebanese citizens from the country, President Joe Biden said on Friday, citing humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon amid tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

The deferred designation, which lasts 18 months, allows Lebanese citizens to remain in the country with the right to work, according to a memorandum Biden sent to the Department of Homeland Security.

"Humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon have significantly deteriorated due to tensions between Hezbollah and Israel," Biden said in the memo.

"While I remain focused on de-escalating the situation and improving humanitarian conditions, many civilians remain in danger; therefore, I am directing the deferral of removal of certain Lebanese nationals who are present in the United States."

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have been trading fire since Hezbollah announced a "support front" with Palestinians shortly after its ally Hamas attacked southern Israeli border communities on Oct. 7, triggering Israel's military assault in Gaza.

The fighting in Lebanon has killed more than 100 civilians and more than 300 Hezbollah fighters, according to a Reuters tally, and led to levels of destruction in Lebanese border towns and villages not seen since the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war.

On the Israeli side, 10 Israeli civilians, a foreign agricultural worker and 20 Israeli soldiers have been killed. Tens of thousands have been evacuated from both sides of the border.