Weekly News Recap (13 - 19 July 2026)
© Photo by USAID U.S. Agency for International Development via Flickr
International Justice Section
ICC: Prosecution Requests Withdrawal of War Crimes Charges Against Abdallah Banda
Sudan: Anti-Terrorism Court Sentences RSF Leadership to Death in Absentia
US: Advocacy Groups File Lawsuit Challenging Executive Order Targeting ICC-Related Advocacy
ICC: Pre-Trial Chamber Rejects Defence Challenge and Confirms Jurisdiction in El Hishri Case
ICC: Pre-Trial Chamber Confirms War Crimes Charges Against Former Libyan Commander El Hishri
CJEU: Grand Chamber Rules EU Law Does Not Preclude Spanish Catalan Amnesty Legislation
ECtHR: Holds Czech Republic Responsible for Fatal Police Prone Restraint of Romani Man
Spain: Court Orders Trial of Prime Minister’s Wife on Corruption Charges
International Peace & Security Section
Palestine: Jailed Political Figure Marwan Barghouti Injured in Reported Israeli Prison Assault
Gaza: WFP Warns Aid Operations Severely Constrained by Access Restrictions and Funding Shortfalls
Cuba: Energy Crisis Worsens as US Imposes New Sanctions on State Entities
UN: Security Council Convenes Emergency Session on Escalation in Yemen
Pakistan: At Least Nine Killed in Kashmir Amid Growing Political Unrest
DRC: WHO Warns Ebola Outbreak May be Far Larger Than Official Figures
DRC: Government Establishes Council to Advance Accountability for Atrocity Crimes
China–North Korea: Senior Chinese Delegation Visits Pyongyang to Deepen Strategic Ties
Lebanon: UNIFIL Increases Humanitarian Support as Violence Decreases in the South
International Justice Section
ICC: Prosecution Requests Withdrawal of War Crimes Charges Against Abdallah Banda
On 14 July 2026, the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) publicly disclosed its request for Trial Chamber IV to authorise the withdrawal of war crimes charges against former Sudanese rebel commander Abdallah Banda Abakaer Nourain. The Prosecution informed the Chamber that, owing to the significant deterioration of evidence, unavailable or uncooperative witnesses, credibility concerns regarding key witnesses, and recently obtained exculpatory evidence, there are no longer substantial grounds to believe that Mr Banda is responsible for the charged crimes. The request, originally filed confidentially on 5 October 2023, concerns three counts of war crimes arising from the 29 September 2007 attack on African Union peacekeepers at the Haskanita Military Group Site in Darfur. If authorised, the withdrawal would terminate the proceedings against Mr Banda. However, the request is made without prejudice, allowing the Prosecution to bring new charges based on the same or similar factual circumstances should sufficient evidence become available in the future.
Sudan: Anti-Terrorism Court Sentences RSF Leadership to Death in Absentia
On 14 July 2026, it was reported the Anti-Terrorism Court and Crimes Against the State Court in Port Sudan sentenced Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo to death in absentia. The judicial panel convicted the paramilitary leader, his brother, and 14 co-defendants of wartime atrocities. Reviewing the substantive evidentiary record, the court found the group guilty of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. The defendants were tried in absentia. The court found the defendants responsible for orchestrating the 2023 assassination of West Darfur Governor Khamis Abdallah Abakar and crimes committed across El Geneina. Alongside the death sentences, the presiding judges ordered the confiscation of RSF assets. This domestic ruling represents the first conviction against the paramilitary leadership since the armed conflict began.
https://www.justiceinfo.net/en/161748-sudan-court-sentences-rsf-leader-to-death-in-absentia.html
US: Advocacy Groups File Lawsuit Challenging Executive Order Targeting ICC-Related Advocacy
On 15 July 2026, two advocacy groups based in the US, Democracy for the Arab World Now and the Taxpayer Alliance Against Genocide, filed a lawsuit in a federal court in New York, challenging executive sanctions affecting International Criminal Court (ICC)-related activities. The complaint asserts that these measures violate constitutional protections for freedom of speech and association by deterring organisations from engaging in activities linked to ICC proceedings and international criminal accountability. The complaint challenges a February 2025 executive order from President Donald Trump’s administration that imposed sanctions on ICC judges, prosecutors, and certain Palestinian human rights groups, which the plaintiffs said forced them to halt ICC submissions and advocacy coordination due to fears of fines and potential prison terms. While the case primarily addresses domestic constitutional law, it raises broader questions about the impact of national measures on international accountability efforts.
ICC: Pre-Trial Chamber Rejects Defence Challenge and Confirms Jurisdiction in El Hishri Case
On 15 July 2026, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) dismissed a jurisdictional challenge put forth by the defence of Libyan suspect Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri. The Chamber confirmed that the Court is authorised to exercise jurisdiction over the alleged crimes committed at Mitiga Prison in Tripoli. The defence had contended that the Court lacked jurisdiction in the matter; however, the Chamber ruled that the situation in Libya remains within the ICC’s purview under UN Security Council Resolution 1970 (2011), which referred the situation in Libya to the Court. This decision confirms the ICC’s authority to proceed with the case concerning alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity arising from the Libyan conflict.
https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/icc-pre-trial-chamber-i-confirms-courts-jurisdiction-el-hishri-case
ICC: Pre-Trial Chamber Confirms War Crimes Charges Against Former Libyan Commander El Hishri
On 16 July 2026, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) confirmed all charges against Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, a former senior official of the Special Deterrence Forces (SDF/RADA) and former Libyan Mitiga Prison official. The judicial panel confirmed 17 distinct counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Reviewing the substantive evidentiary record, the judges found substantial grounds to believe the defendant is responsible for crimes including torture, sexual violence, murder, and attempted murder at the Mitiga prison complex between 2014 and 2020. The ruling came after the rejection of a defence appeal challenging the jurisdiction of the case. This decision commits the case to trial before a Trial Chamber.
https://www.icc-cpi.int/sites/default/files/CourtRecords/0902ebd180efdf36.pdf
CJEU: Grand Chamber Rules EU Law Does Not Preclude Spanish Catalan Amnesty Legislation
On 16 July 2026, the Grand Chamber of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) delivered a binding preliminary ruling concerning Spain’s amnesty legislation. In the Cases C-523/24 Sociedad Civil Catalana and C-666/24 Associació Catalana de Víctimes d’Organitzacions Terroristes (ACVOT), the Court held that European Union law does not preclude the Spanish amnesty law regarding the Catalan independence process. Reviewing the substantive treaty obligations, the Court determined that extinguishing accounting liability for the misappropriation of regional public funds does not automatically undermine the financial interests of the Union. The Court established that an adverse effect on a national budget alone fails to establish harm to the financial interests of the Union. However, the ruling explicitly notes that national courts must retain the ability to suspend domestic proceedings while awaiting responses to preliminary references. The Court concluded that any statutory provisions forcing immediate liability extinction before a response from the CJEU, if they undermine the effectiveness of the preliminary ruling procedure, must be set aside to safeguard procedural effectiveness.
https://curia.europa.eu/site/upload/docs/application/pdf/2026-07/cp260112en.pdf
ECtHR: Holds Czech Republic Responsible for Fatal Police Prone Restraint of Romani Man
On 16 July 2026, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) issued a unanimous chamber judgment against the Czech Republic concerning a fatal police intervention. In the case of S.T. v. the Czech Republic, the Court ruled that state authorities violated the right to life, the prohibition of inhuman or degrading treatment, and the prohibition of discrimination. Reviewing the application, the Court evaluated the 2021 death of a Romani man held in a prone position for over 11 minutes. The justices found that law enforcement officers failed to monitor vital signs after applying prolonged pressure to the chest area. Domestic investigation was ineffective and failed to satisfy the procedural obligations under Articles 2 and 3. The Court established that internal investigators failed to properly consider the documented risks of prone restraint and failed to examine potential racial bias and concluded that the Czech authorities had failed to establish an appropriate legal framework governing the use of the prone position and to provide adequate training to police officers.
Spain: Court Orders Trial of Prime Minister’s Wife on Corruption Charges
On 16 July 2026, a court in Madrid ruled that Begoña Gómez, the spouse of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, will face trial before a jury on charges of influence peddling and embezzlement following a two-year judicial investigation. While the court dismissed a separate charge of corruption in business and lifted restrictions on Gómez’s ability to leave the country, it found sufficient grounds for the main charges to proceed. Gómez has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and the Spanish government has characterised the case as politically motivated, arguing that it arises from complaints filed by far-right groups. This ruling is part of a series of politically sensitive judicial proceedings involving members of the Prime Minister’s family.
International Peace & Security Section
Palestine: Jailed Political Figure Marwan Barghouti Injured in Reported Israeli Prison Assault
On 13 July 2026, reports emerged that jailed Palestinian Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti had been injured after an Israeli prison guard allegedly fired a rubber bullet at his leg inside Ganot prison in the Negev Desert. The incident follows previous reports that Barghouti had been assaulted several times in Israeli prisons in recent months, including during transfers and while held in solitary confinement. According to his lawyer, he was beaten, left with four broken ribs after one assault, and denied medical treatment despite requesting care. Palestinian officials have accused Israeli authorities of targeting Barghouti in an attempt to “eliminate and assassinate” a major Palestinian political figure. Barghouti, a senior Fatah official often described as the “Mandela of Palestine”, has been imprisoned by Israel since 2002 and is serving five life sentences after being convicted by an Israeli court for murder and attempted murder linked to attacks during the Second Intifada. Despite his imprisonment, he remains one of the most popular Palestinian political figures. Palestinian officials have warned that the reported assaults against him threaten one of the few Palestinian leaders with broad public support. The allegations surrounding Barghouti have also drawn attention to wider concerns over conditions faced by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody. In July, Palestinian journalist Mujahed Bani Mufleh described Israeli prisons as a “graveyard” for the living after his release following six months in detention. Shortly after his release, Bani Mufleh suffered a severe brain haemorrhage, which Palestinian prisoner organisations said reflected broader allegations of medical neglect and abuse. In July, a UN inquiry commission also called for the immediate release of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, the former director of Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital, who has been held by Israel without charge since December 2024. These reports add to growing international scrutiny over allegations of mistreatment, denial of medical care, and extremely poor conditions in Israeli prisons.
Gaza: WFP Warns Aid Operations Severely Constrained by Access Restrictions and Funding Shortfalls
On 13 July 2026, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) issued an urgent appeal for greater humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip, warning that restrictions on aid deliveries, ongoing violence, and funding shortfalls are severely limiting its capacity to reach people in need across the territory. WFP Country Director for Palestine Shaun Hughes, reporting from a recent convoy mission, noted that with only one crossing point, Kerem Shalom in southern Gaza, currently open to aid deliveries from Israel, all supplies destined for northern Gaza must travel via heavily congested and damaged roads through the south, creating major delays in aid delivery. The appeal coincided with a warning from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) that insecurity, airstrikes, and repeated forced displacement are compounding the obstacles facing relief operations, and with a separate statement from the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Ramiz Alakbarov, condemning the forcible entry by armed personnel affiliated with de facto authorities into a food distribution point in Jabalia in northern Gaza on 12 July, which caused humanitarian workers to halt distributions.
Cuba: Energy Crisis Worsens as US Imposes New Sanctions on State Entities
On 13 July 2026, the US imposed new sanctions on Cuba’s Ministry of Tourism and two state-owned companies, Grupo Empresarial de Transporte Marítimo Portuario (GEMAR) and Grupo Empresarial del Comercio Exterior (GECOMEX), as tensions between Washington and Havana continue to escalate. The measures are part of a broader US pressure campaign against the Cuban government, which has included restrictions on fuel supplies that have contributed to a worsening energy crisis on the island. Cuba has faced repeated nationwide blackouts in recent months, with millions of people left without electricity as fuel shortages and the country’s ageing power grid put increasing strain on the energy system. The latest sanctions followed a series of measures announced by Washington earlier this year, which expanded restrictions on financial institutions and companies dealing with Cuban state entities. The US Treasury gave businesses until 12 August to wind down existing contracts with the sanctioned companies without facing penalties. Cuban officials have condemned the sanctions, arguing that they are worsening the country’s humanitarian and economic difficulties. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez described the measures as “collective punishment” and “a systematic violation of the human rights of an entire people.” He also claimed that US policies had caused billions of dollars in economic damage.
UN: Security Council Convenes Emergency Session on Escalation in Yemen
On 13 July 2026, the UN Security Council (UNSC) held an emergency open session in response to a sharp escalation in Yemen, following reported Saudi Arabian airstrikes on Sana’a International Airport and the landing of an Iranian aircraft carrying a Houthi delegation at Hudaydah Airport. The session was convened at the request of Yemen’s internationally recognised government, which had previously written to the President of the Security Council and the Secretary-General on 6 July characterising an earlier Iranian flight on 3 July as a violation of Yemeni sovereignty and national airspace. Briefing the Council, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East Khaled Khiari outlined the sequence of events and stressed that a negotiated political settlement under UN auspices remains the only durable path to resolution. Acting Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Indrika Ratwatte warned that the humanitarian crisis in Yemen is worsening as the international community’s capacity to respond has been severely reduced, with families across the country confronting acute food insecurity, economic collapse, disease outbreaks, and the near-total breakdown of essential services. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg called publicly for swift de-escalation, urging all parties to refrain from actions that could ignite a new cycle of violence and to preserve the relative calm Yemen had maintained since the 2022 truce. The Houthi movement had declared the end of its de-escalation phase with Saudi Arabia and reportedly launched ballistic missiles toward Abha International Airport, all of which were intercepted. The session drew particular concern for the risk of Yemen being drawn deeper into the broader regional confrontation between the US, Iran, and Gulf states.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/07/1167924
https://transcripts.un.org/en/sc/10193
https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-airport-saudi-strikes-7bddae3006304df8bf7f89e980006b33
UN: Security Council Holds Briefing on Evolving Terrorist Threat and Mass Displacement in West Africa and the Sahel
On 14 July 2026, the UN Security Council held an open briefing on the situation in West Africa and the Sahel, during which Leonardo Santos Simão, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), presented the Secretary-General’s latest report (S/2026/537) covering developments from 29 November 2025 to 30 June 2026. Simão warned the Council that armed groups, in particular the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), are no longer operating primarily as insurgent forces but are increasingly administering territory, controlling trade routes, and deploying drones, sophisticated communications systems, and cryptocurrencies to finance and coordinate cross-border operations. In Mali, coordinated attacks targeted the cities of Bamako, Kati, Kidal, Gao, and Mopti, causing civilian and military casualties. Niger, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria also experienced sustained attacks, abductions, and heavy civilian losses. Since February 2026, the violence has displaced approximately 6.8 million people, while a further 1.28 million have become refugees or asylum-seekers; only 14% of the 2026 humanitarian funding requirement for the region had been received at the time of the briefing. Against this backdrop, Simão noted cautious diplomatic progress, including the reopening of the Niger-Nigeria Kamba border crossing, the normalisation of Mali-Algeria bilateral relations, and mediation by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and UNOWAS in Sierra Leone. Council members broadly agreed that military responses alone are insufficient and that poverty, unemployment, and governance failures must be addressed alongside security operations. The UNOWAS mandate has been extended until 31 January 2029.
Pakistan: At Least Nine Killed in Kashmir Amid Growing Political Unrest
On 15 July 2026, at least nine people were killed in clashes in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, bringing the death toll since protests began in early June to at least 28, as demonstrators prepared for a major march towards the regional capital, Muzaffarabad. According to Pakistani authorities, the violence erupted during two separate incidents: one following a security raid targeting an alleged weapons cache, and another after protesters blocked a security convoy. Authorities said security forces acted in self-defence, while the planned protest march was temporarily delayed as thousands of demonstrators remained gathered in Rawalakot. The government also imposed severe restrictions on internet and phone access across the region. The protests are being led by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which was banned under Pakistan’s anti-terrorism laws in June. The movement is protesting the region’s system of political representation, particularly 12 legislative seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan since 1947. JAAC argues that this arrangement allows Pakistan-based political parties to exert disproportionate influence over the region’s institutions while diverting resources intended for the local population. The unrest intensified after the region’s Supreme Court ruled last month that the contested seats are constitutionally protected and cannot be abolished without a constitutional amendment. With regional elections scheduled for 27 July, authorities have deployed around 4,000 police and paramilitary personnel amid fears of further violence.
DRC: WHO Warns Ebola Outbreak May be Far Larger Than Official Figures
On 15 July 2026, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that the true scale of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) could be two to four times higher than officially reported, as many infections and deaths are occurring within communities rather than being detected by the health system. DRC has confirmed 2,011 Ebola cases and 754 deaths, while the WHO cautioned that the actual number of infections may be significantly higher. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has described the epidemic as the third largest and fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record. Declared on May 15, the outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment. A first clinical trial testing whether an antiviral drug can prevent infection in exposed individuals was launched this week. The response is also facing mounting operational challenges. Healthcare workers in Ituri province, the epicentre of the outbreak, have begun striking over months of unpaid salaries and deteriorating working conditions. The walkouts follow repeated warnings from frontline staff, who say they have continued treating patients out of professional duty despite receiving no compensation since the outbreak began. The Congolese government has acknowledged payment delays, attributing them to administrative issues linked to payroll verification. The outbreak has now spread across five provinces in eastern DRC and into neighbouring Uganda, where 20 confirmed cases, including two deaths, have been reported, raising concerns about further regional transmission.
DRC: Government Establishes Council to Advance Accountability for Atrocity Crimes
On 15 July 2026, the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) established a Council for the Examination of Atrocities. This initiative aims to support national efforts to investigate and address war crimes and other serious violations that have occurred during decades of conflict in the country’s eastern provinces. The new Council will advise two state institutions in efforts to secure recognition of crimes and pursue reparations for victims of atrocities committed by armed groups and other actors. This initiative signifies a renewed commitment to tackling long-standing impunity for international crimes and strengthening domestic justice mechanisms, in conjunction with regional and international accountability efforts.
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/congo-forms-new-council-push-war-crimes-justice-2026-07-15/
China–North Korea: Senior Chinese Delegation Visits Pyongyang to Deepen Strategic Ties
On 16 July 2026, senior Chinese official Wang Huning, the fourth-highest-ranking member of China’s leadership, met top Workers’ Party official Jo Yong Won in Pyongyang as part of the latest high-level exchanges between China and North Korea following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s landmark visit to the country in June, the first in seven years. According to North Korean state media, Wang reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to implementing the agreements reached between Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un during their summit, which produced what Pyongyang described as a “far-reaching blueprint” for strengthening bilateral relations. The two sides also discussed expanding cooperation in areas including business, culture, public welfare, and party-to-party relations. The visit comes as China seeks to reinforce ties with its long-standing ally despite North Korea’s increasingly close military partnership with Russia, which has included a strategic defence agreement and the deployment of North Korean troops to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Analysts say the renewed diplomatic engagement reflects mutual interests: North Korea is seeking to secure China’s economic and geopolitical backing, while Beijing aims to preserve its influence on the Korean Peninsula and maintain its strategic position in Northeast Asia.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/16/senior-chinese-delegation-visits-north-korea-for-talks
Lebanon: UNIFIL Increases Humanitarian Support as Violence Decreases in the South
On 16 July 2026, the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that a significant decrease in violence since mid-June had enabled its peacekeepers to resume core mandated functions across southern Lebanon, including the protection of humanitarian aid convoys, the restoration of critical civilian infrastructure, and monitoring along the Blue Line. UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel confirmed that peacekeepers have facilitated the movement of humanitarian convoys, technical teams, and mobile medical clinics carrying out repairs to water networks, electricity systems, and telecommunications infrastructure across dozens of towns and villages, and have provided medical equipment and emergency room supplies to Tibnin Governmental Hospital. The mission’s mandate is grounded in Security Council Resolution 1701, adopted in 2006, which set the terms for the cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah and the Israeli military and requires UNIFIL to monitor compliance with the ceasefire, support the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), ensure humanitarian access, and secure Lebanon’s border along the Blue Line. The mission continued to urge all parties to comply with Resolution 1701, noting that explosive ordnance disposal operations are also ongoing following the most recent escalation in hostilities that began in March 2026.