War in the Middle East/Gulf, and beyond
(UN News) Rising food prices, growing displacement and disruptions to global supply routes are placing millions of people across the Middle East at greater risk of hunger, according to the World Food Programme (WFP), which warns that the humanitarian system is struggling to keep pace with expanding needs. The UN agency is working to sustain food assistance operations across roughly 10 countries in the region, in addition to Afghanistan, Samer Abdeljaber, WFP regional director for the Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe, told UN News. Preliminary estimates indicate that about $200 million will be needed to support humanitarian operations over the next three months. “The food security situation in the Middle East was already difficult even before this crisis, and recent developments have made it worse,” Mr. Abdeljaber said. – Aid operations strained across Middle East: WFP seeks $200 million to sustain food assistance | UN News
(Josephine Walker, Rebecca Falconer – Axios) An armed suspect is dead after ramming a vehicle on Thursday into Temple Israel Synagogue in Detroit’s suburbs, according to law enforcement officials. The suspect in the West Bloomfield attack was identified as a 41-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen, who was born in Lebanon, per a Department of Homeland Security statement emailed to outlets including Axios Thursday evening. Jennifer Runyan, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit field office, said during a Thursday briefing that the bureau is “leading the investigation right now as a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community.”. The attack comes as antisemitism is on the rise and as FBI director Kash Patel has warned U.S. forces to be on “high alert” amid the Iran war. – Michigan synagogue attack investigated as “targeted act” on Jewish community
(Herb Scribner – Axios) The U.S. and Israel could soon find themselves a new enemy in the Iran war — the Houthis. The Houthis involvement in the Iran war could potentially disrupt shipping lanes in a major way and threaten President Trump’s military campaign in the Gulf. Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Thursday vowed retaliation against Israel and the U.S. for its campaign against Iran, Axios’ Barak Ravid reports. He also thanked Hezbollah in Lebanon, the pro-Iranian militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen for their support, suggesting the Houthis could be next to join the war. The Houthis warned earlier this week that their “fingers are on the trigger.” – Iran war: This military group could join the Gulf conflict next
(UN News) The UN chief on Thursday urged all combatants to cease hostilities in the Middle East, uphold international law, protect civilians and make an immediate return to the negotiating table. “Around the world, we hear much talk of peace, but we see far too little of it,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at a ceremony in Türkiye while accepting the Atatürk International Award for Peace. “International law continues to be trampled, power politics are gaining ground [and] inequalities are growing. New technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), risk accelerating violence rather than preventing it. Military spending is skyrocketing, while lifesaving aid is in freefall.” – With Middle East ‘pushed to breaking point’, UN chief urges ceasefire, return to diplomacy | UN News
(UN News) Lebanon is facing a “perfect storm of unpredictable challenges” as conflict, mass displacement and dwindling humanitarian resources converge, the UN’s Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon, Imran Riza, has warned. The current escalation began on 2 March, when outgoing fire by Hezbollah drew a strong retaliation from Israel. Since then, the intensity of exchanges has increased, with heavier fire from Hezbollah and intensified attacks and some ground incursions from the Israeli side, leading to what Mr. Riza described as “full-blown humanitarian catastrophe”. – ‘Perfect storm’: Lebanon crisis deepens as civilians bear the brunt | UN News
Belarus
(Lucy Pakhnyuk – The Kyiv Independent) The International Criminal Court (ICC) has opened an investigation into whether Belarus committed crimes against humanity, the court announced March 12. Although Belarus is not a member of the ICC, neighboring Lithuania — which is a member — referred the situation to the court, arguing that some elements of the alleged crimes occurred on its territory. In a statement, the Office of the Prosecutor said it opened a formal investigation after concluding there is “a reasonable basis to believe that Rome Statute crimes were committed at least in part on the territory of the Republic of Lithuania.” – ICC opens investigation into alleged crimes against humanity by Belarus
Russia – Ukraine
(UN News) Scores of Ukrainian children are still missing after being deported far and wide across Russia and occupied territories while their families continue to search for them, human rights investigators said on Thursday. Members of the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, an independent probe into Russia’s full-scale invasion which presented its latest report to the Human Rights Council in Geneva, said that they have verified the deportation and transfer of 1,205 children from Russian-occupied areas in Ukraine to Russia or to other occupied areas in Ukraine. “Based on new evidence, the Commission has now concluded that the Russian authorities committed two types of crimes against humanity: deportation and forcible transfer of children, as well as their enforced disappearance,” said the commission’s chair, Erik Møse. – Russia deportation of Ukraine children is crime against humanity: independent probe | UN News
UK
(Amnesty International) Responding to the launch of Medact’s (an organisation bringing together health workers in the UK) latest briefing that outlines grave human rights concerns and risks posed by contracting Palantir to build NHS England’s Federated Data Platform (FDP), Matt Mahmoudi, Researcher and Advisor on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights at Amnesty International said: “Amnesty International supports the briefing published by Medact and partners exposing why Palantir’s is an unsuitable partner for National Health Services (NHS) England due to significant human rights concerns associated with the company. Palantir has a track record of flagrantly disregarding international law and standards, both in the violations of the human rights of migrants in the United States, to which it risks contributing to, and its ongoing supply of artificial intelligence (AI) products and services to the Israeli military and intelligence services that are linked to Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza. Amnesty International is calling on NHS England, the UK government and all other public institutions to use their leverage from their investments, including by responsibly divesting from Palantir and ceasing the purchase of equipment and services from the company. These measures must remain in place until the company can demonstrate that it is not contributing to Israel’s genocide, apartheid, unlawful occupation or other crimes under international law.” – UK/Global: Human rights and health groups in new briefing urge hospitals not to use Palantir software and demand that NHS England cancels the contract entirely – Amnesty International
US
(Kate Santaliz – Axios) President Trump’s suggestion that Republicans attach the SAVE America Act to the must-pass reauthorization of FISA is already complicating one of Congress’ most contentious upcoming fights. Reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is always messy — and it’s shaping up to be a major headache for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). The House is expected to move first, with GOP leaders eyeing a vote during the upcoming work period so the Senate has time to move before FISA — which allows warrantless wiretapping of non-U.S. citizens overseas — lapses on April 20. The House has just 12 session days before that deadline. – Trump’s SAVE Act push creates new FISA problem for Mike Johnson
Venezuela
(UN News) Venezuela’s repressive State apparatus remains operational despite the seizure of former President Nicolás Maduro by United States forces on 3 January, according to independent UN human rights investigators. “The structures that have sustained persecution for years have not been dismantled, nor have State policies been announced to begin that process”, the International Fact-Finding Mission for Venezuela said in a statement released on Wednesday. The mission was set up to assess alleged human rights violations in Venezuela committed since 2014. Since Maduro’s seizure on 3 January, the Human Rights Council-appointed investigators have received reports of at least 87 new politically motivated detentions, indicating that the practice of silencing dissent persists under the current Government. “New instances of human rights violations are a sober reminder that the extensive legal and institutional machinery that has facilitated the commission of gross human rights violations and international crimes remain intact,” independent expert María Eloisa Quintero said. – Venezuela’s repressive State apparatus ‘intact’ despite leadership change | UN News
