Israel’s Supreme Court strikes down key part of Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul
Israel’s Supreme Court struck down a key component of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s contentious judicial overhaul.
The court narrowly voted to overturn a law passed in July that prevents judges from striking down government decisions they deem “unreasonable.”
Opponents had argued that Netanyahu’s efforts to remove the standard of reasonability opens the door to corruption and improper appointments of unqualified cronies to important positions.
Israel National Security Minister Ben Gvir criticized the decision “a dangerous, anti-democratic” decision. “The High Court’s ruling is illegal, and includes the annulment of a basic law in a precedent manner, in the absence of a source of legal authority,” he wrote on social media platform X.
Injured Palestinian child treated at Gaza hospital
A child receives treatment today at Aksa Hospital in Deir al Balah, central Gaza.
Death toll in Gaza rises to nearly 22,000
The death toll in Gaza was nearing 22,000 and some 70% of the fatalities are women and children, a Gaza Ministry of Health spokesperson reported Monday.
As of New Year’s Day, the number of fatalities climbed to 21,978 and 56,697 people have been wounded in the 87 days since the Israelis invaded the Palestinian territory, the spokesperson, Dr. Ashraf Al-Qudra, said on the ministry’s Telegram channel.
Among those dead were 326 “health personnel,” the spokesperson said in the latest ministry update, which was translated by NBC News.
Israeli forces “deliberately targeted 150 health institutions, leaving 30 hospitals and 53 health centers out of service in all areas of the Gaza Strip, Al-Qudra said.
The Israelis launched the offensive after Hamas militants ignited the latest war with a bloody Oct. 7 surprise attack that left around 1,200 dead. They have accused Hamas of using Palestinian civilians as human shields and hiding military…
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