International Law, Legal Battles Archives

Class Action Lawsuit Challenges State Department, U.S. Weapons Makers Over ‘Israeli Exceptionalism’

6Sep

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Human rights, International Law, Legal Battles, Middle East, Types of News: Brief

Class Action Lawsuit Challenges State Department, U.S. Weapons Makers Over ‘Israeli Exceptionalism’

Plaintiffs Charge Illegal Support for ‘Gross Violations of Human Rights’ in Lebanon September 6, 2026—Lebanese Americans in Michigan are suing Secretary of State Marco Rubio along with weapons-makers Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Caterpillar, asserting corporate negligence and violations by the government of the U.S. Leahy Laws, which bars military sales to a country committing human rights violations. The lawsuit accuses the State Department of defying U.S. laws by creating “special mechanisms” in its review of the Israeli military, in effect creating “a far more lenient, bureaucratic, and convoluted review process” to avoid enforcing the Leahy Laws. The impact is policies and procedures that provide an “Israeli exceptionalism” for human rights violations. It further charges the comp...

China, Russia Cite ‘Root Causes’ in Veto of Resolution on Strait of Hormuz

9Apr

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy, Global Trade, International Law, Legal Battles, Middle East, Types of News: Brief, Types of News: Videos

China, Russia Cite ‘Root Causes’ in Veto of Resolution on Strait of Hormuz

UN Security Council Positions Reflect Differences of Law Based on Alliances April 9, 2026—A trickle of shipping traffic went through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday after a tenuous two-week ceasefire came together through last-minute negotiations mediated by Pakistan. Iran maintains control over the narrow passage, through which 20 percent of the world’s oil supply and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies once flowed. On Tuesday, in the 10130th meeting of the UN Security Council, delegates considered a draft plan to “compel Iran to implement” a UN resolution, 2817, which condemned attacks on the Gulf states and reaffirmed the “exercise of navigational rights and freedoms by merchant and commercial vessels, in accordance with international law.” The meeting revealed the vastl...

Cross-Border Gun Trafficking to Cartels: The Legal Side of the Issue

19Mar

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Arms Sales, Military Industry, Corruption, Bribes, Illicit Finance & Money Laundering, International Law, Legal Battles, Types of News: Analysis, Types of News: Videos

Cross-Border Gun Trafficking to Cartels: The Legal Side of the Issue

https://youtu.be/CnnpLrYnr_8?si=NKwSMDJZNQVE67E8 Interview with Attorney Jonathan Lowy of the Global Action on Gun Violence: March 19, 2026—In a landmark case that made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, Mexico and a team of lawyers sued U.S. gun manufacturers for crimes committed by criminals and cartels armed with military-grade U.S.-made weapons. The Supreme Court shut that case down last June, upholding immunity for gun makers. But the story didn't end there. The case garnered worldwide attention—a factor that impacts public interest and policymaking. Moreoever, the litigating team is still active. Mexico and its team of lawyers are litigating a separate case in Arizona against gun dealers. Jonathan Lowy, founder and president of Global Action on Gun Violence, provides an ...

Arab Group Condemns Israel’s Illegal Annexation Plans

10Feb

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy, International Law, Legal Battles, Middle East, Types of News: Brief, Types of News: Videos

Arab Group Condemns Israel’s Illegal Annexation Plans

Israeli Settlers and Military Committed a Thousand Crimes in a Week, Report Finds February 10, 2026—The Arab Group, a regional coalition of 22 member states, called on the international community to condemn the Israeli government’s plans to annex the occupied West Bank—a key part of the territory meant for a Palestinian state. Led by Riyad Mansour, Palestine’s representative to the United Nations, the group of ambassadors from Arabs states said it is building diplomatic support to prompt the UN Security Council—the principal body for resolving international disputes—to act. “We want the Security Council to shoulder its responsibility and show resolve and determination,” Mansour said. “We stand for defending international law. We stand for justice. We stand for the rights of the P...

16Jan

By Patti MohrNo Comments

International Law, Legal Battles, Types of News: Bit, Types of News: Quotes, Types of News: Videos

Trump Makes International Law Moot

January 16, 2026—In one phrase and many acts, President Donald Trump made international law obsolete. In an exclusive interview with the New York Times, U.S. President Donald Trump said out loud what many of his actions have shown: International law is no longer relevant. NYT: “Do you see any checks on your power on the world stage? Is there anything that could stop if you wanted to?” Trump: “Yeah, there’s one thing: my own morality, my own mind. It’s the only thing that can stop me. And that’s very good. I don’t need international law. I’m not looking to hurt people.” NYT: “Do you feel your administration needs to abide by international law on the global stage?” Trump: “Yeah, I do. I do, but it depends what your definition of international law is.” The interview continu...

ICJ: Israel Must Allow Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Through UN Agencies

22Oct

By Patti MohrNo Comments

International Law, Legal Battles, Middle East, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, UN Security Council, Types of News: Brief

ICJ: Israel Must Allow Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Through UN Agencies

Judgment Strikes Blow to Israeli Laws Against UNRWA October 22, 2025—The International Court of Justice, the highest judicial body of the United Nations, ruled today that Israel is obligated as the occupying power to allow humanitarian aid to the people in the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, the court ordered Israel 1.) to respect the prohibition on the forcible transfer of a population and 2.) allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit detainees. Today’s decision comes at the request of the UN General Assembly, specifically after Israel’s legislature voted to block UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, from work. The ICJ is considering three separate cases relating to Israel-Palestine. Today’s 71-page Advisory Opinio...

Israel Is Committing Genocide, World’s Leading Scholars Body Declares

1Sep

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Human rights, International Law, Legal Battles, Types of News: Brief

Israel Is Committing Genocide, World’s Leading Scholars Body Declares

Association Calls on States to Prevent and Punish Israel for Its Genocide September 1, 2025—A leading international organization studying genocide declared that the Israeli government has “engaged in systematic and widespread crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide” in Gaza. The resolution by the International Association of Genocide Scholars adds to a growing collection of declarations and reports by international bodies, human rights organizations, scholars of holocaust studies, and investigative bodies that have concluded Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide. The IAGS approved its resolution on August 31, 2025. It is a strong indictment of Israel’s attacks against civilians in Gaza. It cites not only military actions, which have killed over 59,000 people—the actua...

Top Ten Deadliest Places for Humanitarian Aid Workers

21Aug

By Patti MohrNo Comments

International Law, Legal Battles, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, UN Security Council, Types of News: Brief, Types of News: Infographic

Top Ten Deadliest Places for Humanitarian Aid Workers

520 Aid Workers Killed in Gaza Since October 2023 August 21, 2025—On Worldwide Humanitarian Day, diplomats and humanitarians in Geneva marked the rise of incidents against aid workers. The community saw another rise in violence this year, with 265 aid workers killed so far this year. That follows a spike in 2024 of 383 humanitarians killed. Aid workers are protected by International Humanitarian Law. The rise in violence against aid workers undermines that law. ‘Normalization of Violence’ Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief, condemned “the normalization of violence against this community.” The worst place for humanitarian workers is the occupied Palestinian territory of Gaza, where 520 aid workers have been killed since October 20...

Nonprofits File ICC Complaint Against Israeli Officers for Killing Journalists

14Aug

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Human rights, International Law, Legal Battles, Middle East, Types of News: Analysis

Nonprofits File ICC Complaint Against Israeli Officers for Killing Journalists

Israeli Precision-Drone Strike Assassinated 7, Including 6 Journalists August 14, 2024—Following the weekend precision-targeted strike on a tent housing an Al Jazeera crew, the Israeli military came under condemnation and scrutiny by multiple nonprofits, lawmakers, UN officials, and news organizations. Two organizations went further. They assigned criminal culpability to the Israeli officers who reportedly ordered the attack. The Hind Rajab Foundation and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court against seven Israeli Defense Force officers, including Major Gen. Tomer Bar. Lieutenant Gen. Eyal Zamir, Major Gen. Yaniv Asor, Gen. “A” (Unit 8200), Palmachim Airbase Commander, “Black Snake” Sq Commander, and Colonel Avichay Adraee, ac...

The Netherlands Names the United States in Threat Assessment

6Aug

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Human rights, International Law, Legal Battles, Types of News: Analysis

The Netherlands Names the United States in Threat Assessment

U.S. Sanctions as State Threat Against International Courts of Justice August 6, 2025—The Netherlands is a significant player in Europe with close ties to the United States. It’s a founding member of both the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance and the European Union. So when the Dutch government conducts a threat assessment and names the United States, an ally, as a peril to its interests, it’s significant. Let’s step back. In July, the Netherlands published its annual “The State Actors Threat Assessment.” The areas of Dutch concerns are many: Russia’s military operations and threat to NATO, the geopolitical rise of China and BRICS, Iran’s ballistic missiles, and the changing world order. What’s interesting is that this year, the United States is included among the top threats. So too...