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SA's ICJ Hearing, US and UK Strikes in Yemen: Update

SA's ICJ Hearing, US and UK Strikes in Yemen: Update
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Already in the second week of 2024 the Middle East brings us solemn news. While the ICJ hears South Africa's genocide case against Israel, the US and UK strike Houthi positions in Yemen, causing death and destruction. AfroVerdict host joins a political analyst to examine these developments that have drawn global attention.
The United States and its allies, including the UK, have launched airstrikes against targets in Yemen in response to attacks on ships destined for Israel.
The strikes, which targeted the Houthis' UAVs, uncrewed surface vessels, land-attack cruise missiles, coastal radars, and air surveillance capabilities, were ordered and monitored by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin from a hospital.
This comes against the background of Antony Blinken declaring that the US and Middle East were ready to work for peace in the region.
Two-faced politics can be seen "all the time" on the part of the US, according to Dr. Oscar van Heerden, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for African Diplomacy and Leadership at the University of Johannesburg.
"They are saying that they are not going to want to broaden this war and so forth, but then we see these attacks and without consultation for that matter," Dr. van Heerden says.
Joe Biden authorized the strikes on Yemen without consulting Congress - a clear breach of Article 1 of the US Constitution, which states that all legislative power resides with the Congress.
"As to why the Biden administration decided to not consult and follow proper channels, that's anyone's guess, but one can only believe that he thought perhaps that they were not going to give him the go ahead. And that's why he gave the order and worked with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to actually pull this off," the researcher explains.
Meanwhile, on 11 January, South Africa presented its case against Israel at the Intertnational Court of Justice (ICJ).
"I think the South Africans put up a very, very good case. They've analyzed it very well," Dr. van Heerden comments.
The ICJ heard Israel's defense on January 12, so we can expect the ruling in the coming week.
"The Israelis are trying to use self-defense as a defense, they are using the issue of that they are the victim, and as far as I'm concerned, they are also constantly telling lies in terms of what is encapsulated within their documents, policies and so forth. But, you know, at the end of the day, it's up to the judges," the researcher says.
To hear what else the researcher had to say, check out the entire episode of the AfroVerdict podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
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