The International Criminal Court’s Appeals Chamber in The Hague on Monday evening narrowly rejected Israel’s challenge seeking to halt the ICC’s involvement in alleged war-crimes investigations related to the Gaza conflict. As a result, the arrest warrants issued for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant will remain active.
The 3–2 decision dismissed Israel’s argument rooted in the principle of complementarity — the claim that Israel should first be allowed to investigate the allegations on its own before the ICC steps in. The ruling significantly reduces Israel’s options for overturning the international warrants.
Israel’s core appeal asserted that the ICC prosecutor was obligated to provide formal advance notification before opening an investigation into senior Israeli officials. The judges rejected this claim, stating that the prosecutor relied on what he considered a prior warning allegedly conveyed to Israel even before the October 7 attacks.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry criticized the ruling as fundamentally political, saying the court’s majority disregarded the rights of a democratic state with an independent judiciary. The ministry stated: “Israel rejects the narrow-majority ruling that denies Israel its right to receive advance notice, as required under the principle of complementarity, especially with regard to a democratic nation with a strong and independent legal system. This is what politics looks like when disguised as ‘international law.’”
Because the appeal was dismissed, the ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant on suspicion of war crimes committed during the Gaza war remain in effect, posing ongoing diplomatic and legal challenges for Israel and its leadership.
According to a report cited by Channel 12 News, a source familiar with the decision blasted the court’s conduct, saying: “They keep proving, again and again, that they have no respect whatsoever for the sovereignty of states — including those that are not members and never agreed to the court’s framework. In the end, this will leave the international community no choice but to overhaul this institution from the ground up.”
{Matzav.com}
A high-level gathering is set to take place in Qatar on Tuesday, where United States Central Command will convene military envoys from dozens of nations to advance the next phase of President Donald Trump’s regional peace framework. The goal of the session is to assemble a roster of countries willing to form the International Stabilization Force, intended to operate inside Gaza once the second stage of the plan is underway.
Kan News revealed that approximately forty delegations are expected, with many coming from states that have already signaled readiness to contribute personnel, while others are arriving to evaluate their options. Among those slated to attend are nations from across Asia and the Middle East — Indonesia, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates — together with representatives from several countries in Europe.
Participants will spend part of the conference debating how broad the ISF’s mandate should be. Discussions will focus on whether the multinational contingent will move into zones still under Hamas control for the purpose of disarming the group, or whether their deployment will be limited only to sectors currently overseen by Israel.
Kan News also noted that the structure of the force is subject to an Israeli veto. Yet even with Israel objecting to the involvement of Turkey and Qatar, Jerusalem is not sending officials to the summit itself. Instead, the Americans intend to have Major General Yaki Dolf join the session remotely as the designated Israeli representative to U.S. command, where he will outline Israel’s stance.
{Matzav.com}
President Donald Trump signaled that the GOP’s grip on the House of Representatives may be precarious next year, conceding in a discussion with The Wall Street Journal that political gravity and the timing of his policies could complicate the party’s path into the 2026 midterms. He explained that the major financial boosts he anticipates from his economic strategy might not show up quickly enough to influence voters.
Trump made clear he didn’t want to offer predictions about the outcome in November. “I can’t tell you. I don’t know when all of this money is going to kick in,” he said, emphasizing a wave of large-scale investments he believes his administration has steered into the United States.
He reflected on the long-standing trend that typically punishes the governing party, noting that only a pair of presidents — Bill Clinton in 1998 and George W. Bush in 2002 — managed to defy the post–World War II pattern. For Trump, that historical backdrop illustrates how difficult the coming election cycle could be for Republicans.
Describing the challenge ahead as “statistically … very tough,” Trump still insisted that the job market, new investment commitments, and broader economic activity would eventually help families feel noticeable relief.
But he faces a public increasingly uneasy about everyday expenses, a factor adding volatility to the political environment. According to the Journal, the U.S. economy may be expanding on paper, yet many families continue to say that high prices and slow job growth make those numbers feel detached from reality.
To respond to voter frustration, Trump recently approved tariff reductions on hundreds of food imports, an acknowledgment from the administration that grocery costs remain a pressure point. Democrats have seized on that vulnerability, arguing that Trump’s pledge to rapidly rein in living expenses has fallen short.
Polling has also begun to reflect the strain. An AP-NORC survey showed his economic approval sliding to just 31%, which the organization characterized as the lowest level recorded for him in that poll.
In the interview, Trump maintained that price stability is coming, asserting that costs will be “in good shape” later in the campaign season. He shifted blame for inflation onto Democrats and highlighted his signature agenda items — tax relief, deregulation, increased domestic energy output, and tougher trade enforcement.
Tariffs remain a central tool in that framework. The Journal pointed out that a looming Supreme Court decision could determine the future of key tariff authorities tied to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Trump argued that an unfavorable ruling would be “a horrible thing” for the United States.
At the same time, Trump has encouraged Republican-led states to consider mid-decade redistricting as a means of bolstering GOP prospects, a tactic that underscores how fragile the House majority is and how minor shifts could tip the balance, according to reporting from the New York Post.
Trump’s blunt assessment acknowledges the steep climb ahead. Midterms are rarely gentle on the party in charge, and voters typically expect visible, personal benefits before rewarding any administration.
Still, the White House is banking on momentum from new factories, AI development hubs, revived manufacturing operations, and shifts in energy and border policies. Officials hope those cumulative effects will leave Republicans with a more resonant argument as the midterm season approaches.
{Matzav.com}
