MOSCOW, Nov 9. The Israeli Supreme Court rejected the petition demanding oblige police to approve an anti-war demonstration in two cities with an Arab population, pointing to a problem with human resources during a difficult period, the Times of Israel reports.
The High Court of Justice rejected a petition to force police to approve an anti-war demonstration in the Israeli Arab cities of Umm al-Fahm and Sakhnin, arguing that such an event would divert critical human resources at a time of serious security concerns.
As noted, a petition was filed by the Hadash party and senior members of the Communist Party asking for permission to hold such demonstrations. The judges, in a unanimous decision, pointed to the “unprecedented period of war” the country is experiencing, with missiles and other attacks on the home front.
On October 7, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented-scale rocket attack from the Gaza Strip as part of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, announced by the military wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement. After this, the organization’s fighters entered the border areas in southern Israel, where they opened fire on both military and civilians, and also took more than 200 hostages. In Israel, according to local authorities, more than 1.4 thousand people were killed, including 300 military personnel, and more than 5 thousand were injured.
In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Within a few days, the Israeli military took control of all populated areas near the border with Gaza and began carrying out air strikes on targets, including civilians, in the strip. Israel also announced a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip: the supply of water, food, electricity, medicine, and fuel was stopped.
The death toll in Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip has exceeded 10.5 thousand, and more than 26 thousand people have been injured. The Russian Embassy reported that during the escalation of the conflict, 20 Russians were killed, two were taken hostage, and seven were listed as missing. According to various sources, about 150 Israelis may be held captive by Hamas. The movement itself stated that there are about 200-250 prisoners in the Gaza Strip.
The Russian Foreign Ministry called on the parties to stop hostilities. According to the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the settlement of the Middle East crisis is possible only on the basis of a “two-state” formula approved by the UN Security Council, which provides for the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem.
The Palestinian-Israeli conflict, related to the territorial interests of the parties, has been a source of tension and clashes in the region for many decades. A UN decision with the active role of the USSR in 1947 determined the creation of two states – Israel and Palestine, but only the Israeli one was created.