13 Palestinians were killed in separate attacks on houses in Beit Lahiya town and Jabalia, the largest of the enclave’s eight historic refugee camps and the focus of the army’s new military offensive.
Image: AFP
A review of major news stories in 2024 includes an escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, Iran and Lebanon, multiple elections across the world which had far reaching political consequences, as well as further devastating weather events attributed to climate change.
A series of high profile assassinations by Israel influenced Hamas and Hezbollah operations in the region as fighting continued throughout the year. The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over war crimes in Gaza.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the UN, holds public hearings on the request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by South Africa in the case South Africa v. Israel on 11 and 12 January 2024, at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the Court. Session held under the presidency of Judge Joan E. Donoghue, President of the Court. The Court’s role is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized UN organs and agencies.
Image: AFP
There was further instability in December as Syrian rebel forces seized control following a lightning offensive and the Assad family fled to Russia.
Rebel fighters of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham are present on the Umayyad Square in Damascus as people gathered to celebrate the end of the 54 year Assad family rule. December 10 2024.
Image: Nael Chahine / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AFP
In the United States Donald Trump became the first former President to be convicted of a crime. He went on to win November’s election after Joe Biden ended his presidential campaign and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.
2024 Year in Review
Image: Graphic News
Climate-related disasters included Hurricane Beryl, the earliest-forming Category 5 Atlantic hurricane on record, followed two months later by Hurricane Helene which caused widespread destruction in Florida. Super Typhoon Yagi swept across southern China, the Philippines, Vietnam and Myanmar, while Spain suffered its worst flooding in decades. As the year ended, the most powerful cyclone in nearly a century hit the French Indian Ocean archipelago of Mayotte with casualties expected to be significant.
A comparative satellite image of the damage wrought by Cyclone Chido, the most powerful cyclone to hit Mayotte in nearly a century.
Image: AFP
A photo taken on December 15, 2024 shows residents sittingamong piles of debris of metal sheets and wood after homes were destroyed by the cyclone Chido that hit France's Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte.
Image: Kwezi / AFP
President Vladimir Putin secured his fifth term in office as the war in Ukraine continued. Russian troops on the ground were bolstered by reinforcements from the North Korean army.
On a more positive note, Taylor Swift became the first performer to win Grammy Awards for Album of the Year four times, China’s Chang’e 6 spacecraft collected the first-ever soil and rock samples from the far side of the moon, and the largest diamond found in more than a century was unearthed in Botswana. In a world first, SpaceX caught its Starship megarocket with a pair of robotic arms, and Paris’ restored Notre-Dame cathedral officially reopened following a devastating fire.
Graphic News