Israel-Gaza live updates: UN's top court demands Israel contain deaths

More than 100 days since Hamas terrorists invaded Israel on Oct. 7, the Israeli military continues its bombardment of the neighboring Gaza Strip.

The conflict, now the deadliest between the warring sides since Israel’s founding in 1948, shows no signs of letting up soon and the brief cease-fire that allowed for over 100 hostages to be freed from Gaza remains a distant memory.

Click here for updates from previous days.

Latest Developments

 Jan 26, 3:11 PM

Kirby says alleged actions of some UNRWA employees do not ‘impugn the entire agency’

The U.S. is expecting a “complete and thorough and transparent investigation” following allegations that 12 employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East were involved in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Friday.

The State Department is temporarily pausing new funding for the UNRWA in the wake of the allegations.

Palestinians stand in a line as they wait to receive food amid shortages of food supplies, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Jan. 17, 2024.

The Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, said he’s fired several staff members after Israel provided the agency “with information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees” in the Oct. 7 attacks.

An investigation is underway, Lazzarini said, warning that “any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.”

Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel, Jan. 15, 2024.

Earlier this month, Kirby said the UNRWA couldn’t be held responsible for “the depredations of Hamas” when asked about the organization having a presence in hospitals alleged to have been used as stockpiles for weapons.

On Friday, when asked about those previous comments, Kirby noted that while there was certainly cause for concern about these allegations, “that does not and nor should it impugn the entire agency and the entire all the body of work that they’re doing. … They [UNRWA workers] have helped save literally thousands of lives in Gaza.”

-ABC News’ Molly Nagle

 Jan 26, 1:17 PM

Biden spoke with Qatari leader on hostage negotiations

President Joe Biden spoke with Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar to discuss the latest developments in Israel and Gaza, including efforts to secure the release of all hostages taken by Hamas, according to the White House.

-ABC News’ Molly Nagle

 Jan 26, 12:33 PM

UN’s top court orders Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza but no cease-fire

The United Nations’ top court on Friday demanded that Israel try to contain death and damage in its military offensive in the neighboring Gaza Strip but stopped short of ordering a cease-fire.

Delegations from South Africa and Israel stand during session at the International Court of Justice, or World Court, in The Hague, Netherlands, Jan. 26, 2024.

With a panel of 17 judges in The Hague, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take “all measures within its power” to prevent committing genocide against Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinian residents amid the ongoing war with Hamas, the militant group that rules the tiny, coastal territory.

Friday’s ruling is part of a preliminary decision in South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza — charges which Israel vehemently denies. South Africa had asked the court to order Israel to halt its military operation in the war-torn enclave while the case is being reviewed.

An Israeli tank takes a position at the western entrance of Khan Yunis refugee camp as Palestinians flee to safer areas further south in the southern Gaza Strip, Jan. 26, 2024.

A State Department official said [in a statement] the ruling is “consistent with our view that Israel has the right to take action to ensure” the attacks of Oct. 7 aren’t repeated. The official added that the U.S. has “consistently made clear that Israel must take all take all possible steps to minimize civilian harm, increase the flow of humanitarian assistance, and address dehumanizing rhetoric.”

“We continue to believe that allegations of genocide are unfounded and note the court did not make a finding about genocide or call for a cease-fire in its ruling and that it called for the unconditional, immediate release of all hostages being held by Hamas,” the State Department official said. “We will continue to monitor this proceeding as it moves forward.”

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called the ruling a “victory for international law, for human rights, and above all, for justice.”

Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant said in response to the ruling that Israel does not need to be “lectured on morality in order to distinguish between terrorists and the civilian population in Gaza.” Former Israeli Defense Minister and current Knesset cabinet member Benny Gantz added that “those who should stand trial are those who murdered and kidnapped children, women and the elderly.”

-ABC News’ Joe Simonetti and Morgan Winsor

 Jan 26, 11:20 AM

State Dept. pauses funding for UN agency amid allegations employees involved in Israel attack

The State Department is temporarily pausing new funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East while reviewing allegations that 12 UNRWA employees were involved in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, according to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

Guterres “is horrified by this news” and asked the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, to “investigate this matter swiftly and to ensure that any UNRWA employee shown to have participated or abetted what transpired on 7 October, or in any other criminal activity, be terminated immediately and referred for potential criminal prosecution,” the secretary-general’s spokesperson said.

Smoke billows after an Israeli strike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Jan. 26, 2024, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Lazzarini said he’s fired several staff members after Israel provided the agency “with information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees” in the Oct. 7 attacks.

An investigation is underway, he said, warning that “any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.”

 Jan 26, 7:42 AM

UN’s top court won’t throw out genocide case against Israel

The United Nations’ top court decided Friday not to throw out South Africa’s case accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in the war-torn Gaza Strip.

The International Court of Justice in The Hague is also set to announce its decision on “provisional measures,” which could include ordering Israel to halt its military operations in Gaza.

“The court is acutely aware of the extent of the human tragedy that is unfolding in the region and is deeply concerned about the continuing loss of life and human suffering,” ICJ president Joan Donoghue told the packed courtroom.

A final ruling on the genocide allegations, which Israel vehemently denies, is expected to take years.

-ABC News’ Joe Simonetti and Morgan Winsor

 Jan 26, 6:19 AM

UN’s top court to announce interim ruling on Israel’s genocide case

The United Nations’ top court is set on Friday to deliver its first interim ruling in the genocide case brought against Israel by South Africa.

The International Court of Justice in The Hague will not yet decide whether Israel has committed genocide — a ruling that is expected to take years — but instead will announce its decision on “provisional measures,” which could include ordering Israel to halt its military operations in the neighboring Gaza Strip. The bar for ordering such measures is much lower than the final genocide ruling. For Friday, the court only has to decide if there is a “plausible” risk Israel is committing genocide against Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinian residents amid the war with Hamas, the militant group that rules the enclave. The panel of judges could also reject South Africa’s case and shut down the trial — a move that many legal experts say is unlikely.

Israel has vehemently denied the genocide allegations and can ignore any rulings from the ICJ , as it’s done in the past. But the court’s decisions would apply more pressure to Israel and its allies, including the United. States. The country has vehemently denied the genocide allegations.

-ABC News’ Patrick Reevell and Morgan Winsor

 Jan 25, 4:33 PM

At least 13 killed, dozens hurt in ‘direct fire’ on UNRWA Khan Yunis Training Center, UNRWA says

At least 13 people were killed and 56 people were injured — 21 of them critically – on Wednesday after a hit by “direct fire” struck the UNRWA Khan Yunis Training Center, where displaced people have been sheltering in Gaza, according to the UNRWA.

“There are 43,000 internally displaced people registered in this massively overcrowded UNRWA shelter, and all of them now find themselves at the epicentre of the war,” Thomas White, the director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza, said in a statement. “Many have already been displaced multiple times and have nowhere else to go.”

 Jan 25, 2:36 PM

CIA director to travel to Europe for hostage talks: US officials

CIA Director Bill Burns will travel to Europe soon to meet with Qatari, Egyptian and Israeli officials for talks on a potential agreement to free hostages held in Gaza in exchange for a prolonged cessation of hostilities, according to two U.S. officials.

This will be at least the third time Burns has journeyed abroad to push negotiations forward.

Women take part in a rally held under the slogan ‘Women bring back the hostages’, calling on the Israeli government to sign a deal for the immediate release of Israeli hostages outside the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, Israel, Jan. 24 2024.

Various proposals have been discussed in recent weeks, and the two U.S. officials declined to speculate on the contours of any deal currently on the table. But the officials said the U.S. believes it is now possible to secure the release of all the remaining hostages through a single diplomatic agreement.

The officials said that securing the return of the remains of dead hostages would also be part of the negotiations.

Families of hostages and supporters hold signs during a protest to call for the immediate release of hostages outside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence, in Jerusalem, Jan. 22, 2024.

As many as six American hostages — five citizens and one lawful permanent resident — are still believed to be alive in Gaza. The FBI has open cases on the deaths of at least two American hostages whose bodies are believed to still be in Gaza.

-ABC News’ Shannon Crawford

 Jan 25, 1:03 PM

Hamas leader says group will abide by any cease-fire decision issued by International Court of Justice

Hamas will abide by any cease-fire decision issued by the International Court of Justice, Hamas leader Osama Hamdan said Thursday.

The International Court of Justice is expected to issue a ruling Friday.

Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, Jan. 24, 2024.

Hamdan also said Hamas will release the Israeli hostages being held in Gaza if the Israeli enemy releases its prisoners.

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