News Report -27/01
Italy sends home Libyan war crimes suspect
On Sunday, 19 January, Libyan war crimes suspect Osama Elmasry Njeem, was arrested in Turin, Italy, after an ICC arrest warrant was issued on January 18. On Tuesday, January 21, Njeem was released from custody and transported back to Libya “without prior notice or consultation with the Court,” stated an ICC press release. Italian interior minister Matteo Piantedosi stated that Njeem was repatriated on a government plane back to Tripoli “for urgent security reasons, with my expulsion order, in view of the danger posed by the subject,” cited AP News. Originally, Italian authorities claimed “a procedural error” in the arrest of Njeem, leading to his release, as per Al Jazeera. According to the ICC, Njeem is suspected of “crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, torture, rape and sexual violence, allegedly committed in Libya from February 2015 onwards.” These alleged crimes were committed in detention centres, most notably Mitiga, controlled by Njeem and were motivated by the detainees’ religion, perceived “immoral behaviour” or alleged support or affiliation to other armed groups, as per Al Jazeera and the ICC. The Guardian noted that the case brings attention to a controversial pact between Libya and Italy that commits Italy to funding the Libyan coastguard to prevent migrant boats from leaving off the north African coast.
Sources: ICC, AP News, The Guardian, Al Jazeera
ICJ president Nawaf Salam named as Lebanon’s new prime minister
On Monday, January 13, the Lebanese parliament nominated International Court of Justice (ICJ) president Nawaf Salam as prime minister of the country. Salam was elected by a two-thirds majority and was asked by the newly elected president Joseph Aoun to form a government. The prime minister–designate expressed promises to “rescue, reform and rebuild,” declaring that “I am not of those who exclude but those who unite,” reported Al Jazeera. Salam stated intentions to “extend the authority of the Lebanese state across all its territory” and “work seriously to completely implement UN Resolution 1701,” which calls for Hezbollah to withdraw from south Lebanon, cited the Times of Israel. L’Orient Today reported that Salam’s project includes commitment to rebuilding the country and building “a productive economy,” “employment opportunities,” “effective and transparent administration” and “judicial independence.”
The BBC notes that Salam’s nomination came against the backdrop of a weakened Hezbollah due to its war with Israel. The group had sought to reappoint caretaker PM Najib Mikati, and, according to the Middle East Monitor, Salam’s victory in the parliament “angered” Hezbollah. However, Salam’s appointment was supported by Christian and Sunni allies of Hezbollah: Lawmakers such as Gebran Bassil, the leader of Lebanon’s biggest Maronite Christian bloc, describing Salam as the “face of reform,” and Sunni lawmaker Faisal Karami, showing support for Salam’s promises of “renewal and reform” and prospects of international support for Lebanon.
Sources: Al Jazeera, BBC, Times of Israel, L’Orient Today, Middle East Monitor
Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal initiated between Hamas and Israel
On Sunday, January 19, a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage deal between Hamas and Israel came into effect. The first of the three planned phases of the ceasefire came after 15 months of the current conflict, and is due to last six weeks, reported the BBC. During this period, an increase in humanitarian aid to Palestinians and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, with the goal of the permanent termination of fighting, are expected. The hostage deal established the release of 33 Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and the release of hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, as per Foreign Policy. According to US then president Joe Biden cited by the BBC, the deal will "halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much needed-humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and reunite the hostages with their families". The agreement is based on a May 2024 US proposal and was brokered by US and Qatari diplomats.
The ceasefire has been described as ‘fragile’ by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). Since January 19, violations have been reported, for instance by the Middle East Eye on January 23, stating that an Israeli sniper fatally shot a Palestinian child in Rafah. UN News also noted that the war has destroyed “over 90 per cent of housing units in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed over the past 15 months,” “with many (Palestinians) returning to find mountains of rubble.” According to the NRC and UN News, violence in the occupied West Bank has in turn increased since the Gaza ceasefire deal. Angelita Caredda, NRC’s Middle East and North Africa regional director, stated that “we are seeing disturbing patterns of unlawful use of force in the West Bank that is unnecessary, indiscriminate and disproportionate. This echoes the tactics Israeli forces have employed in Gaza.”
Sources: BBC, Foreign Policy, Norwegian Refugee Council, UN News, Middle East Eye
