Is Israel intentionally attacking aid workers?

Source: Responsible Statecraft
by Stephen Semler

“Israeli attacks on aid organizations have become routine, despite systems in place to avoid humanitarian deaths. Through a process called deconfliction, aid groups coordinate with warring parties to avoid being attacked. Popular deconfliction mechanisms used by aid groups in Gaza include clearly marking their assets, arranging their movements with Israeli authorities, and sharing their location with the Israeli military. However, a disturbing pattern has emerged: Aid groups share their coordinates with Israeli authorities and then are attacked by the IDF at those same coordinates.” (09/12/24)

https://responsiblestatecraft.org/israel-hamas-war-gaza/

Thomas L. Knapp

Alberto Fujimori, 1938-2024

Source: Irish Times [Ireland]

“Peru’s former president Alberto Fujimori has died of cancer aged 86, his family announced on Wednesday. The hardline conservative led the South American nation in 1990-2000, during which he oversaw an economic revival and crushed the Shining Path guerrilla group while exerting an authoritarian grip on the country’s politics. In 2009 he was convicted of human rights abuses and corruption during his tenure and given a 25-year sentence. … He was released from prison in December last year on humanitarian grounds over his ailing health and left jail on the outskirts of the capital Lima last year in an oxygen mask.” (09/12/24)

https://www.irishtimes.com/world/americas/2024/09/12/perus-former-president-alberto-fujimori-dies-aged-86/

Thomas L. Knapp

Judge Overturns North Dakota’s Abortion Ban, Calling It Vague and Unconstitutional

Source: The Daily Beast

“A North Dakota judge vacated the state’s near-total abortion ban on Thursday, saying that a pregnant resident had a ‘fundamental right’ to choose an abortion until their fetus was viable. State District Judge Bruce Romanick also said that the ban was ‘unconstitutionally void for vagueness’ in how it defined exceptions. The ban, passed by the Republican-led state Legislature last year, allows abortions only in the case of rape or incest, and only then in the first six weeks of pregnancy, before many people know they’re pregnant. An exception also exists for patients facing life-threatening health risks. The lawsuit challenging the ban was filed by several North Dakota physicians and the Red River Women’s Clinic, which until 2022 was the state’s sole abortion provider.” (09/12/24)

https://archive.is/YS48W

Thomas L. Knapp

NY: Top court throws out disgraced former president’s gag order appeal

Source: The Hill

“New York’s high court tossed out former President Trump’s appeal of the gag order in his hush money criminal case Thursday. The gag order, which remains in partial effect ahead of Trump’s sentencing, bars the former president from making public remarks about prosecutors involved in the case or their families. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) and Judge Juan Merchan remain fair game. In a brief order, the court said ‘no substantial constitutional question is directly involved’ and that it would dismiss Trump’s appeal. The former president has argued the gag order violates the First Amendment rights of him and his millions of supporters, emphasizing his status as a presidential candidate in this year’s election.” (09/12/24)

https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4876040-trump-gag-order-appeal

Thomas L. Knapp