{"id":22493,"date":"2025-12-29T17:53:42","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T17:53:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intl-crimes-doc.org\/?p=22493"},"modified":"2025-12-29T18:02:42","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T18:02:42","slug":"weekly-international-news-review-dec-20th-dec-26th-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intl-crimes-doc.org\/en\/weekly-international-news-review-dec-20th-dec-26th-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"WEEKLY INTERNATIONAL NEWS REVIEW &#8211; Dec.20th &#8211; Dec.26th 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"22493\" class=\"elementor elementor-22493\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-82efaf4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"82efaf4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba36f31 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ba36f31\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b><span style=\"background-color: #0015ce; color: white; padding: 2px; font-size: 28px;\">OVERVIEW<\/span><\/b><\/p><p><em>Week 52<\/em><\/p><p><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p><p><strong>During the fourth week of December 2025:<\/strong><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>In<strong> SUDAN,<\/strong> RSF drone strikes cut power across Sudan and killed 3. A strike on a market in Darfur killed 10. An investigation revealed hundreds of Colombian mercenaries fighting for the RSF and trained in Dubai. Turkey pledged more support for Sudan\u2019s army. In the<strong> DRC<\/strong>, despite M23\u2019s announced withdrawal from Uvira, rebel police and intelligence agents remained deployed, and clashes erupted nearby with Wazalendo militias. Minors described forced recruitment and abuse by ADF armed group. Congolese forces bombed M23 speedboats at Kalundu port. In <strong>NIGERIA<\/strong>, 315 students and staff abducted previously from a Niger State school were reunited with families. Nigerian forces, with US support, conducted strikes in Sokoto State targeting Islamic State members. In <strong>GUINEA<\/strong>, a rights group accused the junta of killing 70 protesters since 2022. In <strong>CAR, <\/strong>Russian paramilitaries vowed to \u201crepel provocations\u201d during elections. President Touad\u00e9ra, backed by Russians, is expected to win election.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>In<strong> PALESTINE, <\/strong>14 humanitarian NGOs were banned by Israeli government from operating in Gaza and the West Bank, prompting warnings of a humanitarian collapse. An Israeli airstrike killed 6 civilians, including a four-month-old baby, at a Gaza school; the military expressed regret but claimed it targeted \u201csuspects.\u201d Defense Minister Israel Katz declared Israel would \u201cnever leave Gaza\u201d. Al-Awda Hospital in Gaza suspended most services due to shortages. Israeli forces shot dead 2 Palestinians in West Bank clashes, and 19 new West Bank settlements were approved. Israel rejected a 14-country call to halt settlement expansion, and settlers attacked a Palestinian home, injuring an infant, while a soldier rammed a praying man. Israeli bulldozers demolished houses in East Jerusalem. Israel\u2019s Supreme Court set a January 4, 2026 deadline to respond to a petition for independent media access to Gaza. An investigation was opened into the killing of a 16-year-old Palestinian in the West Bank after video contradicted the military\u2019s version of the facts. In <strong>LEBANON,<\/strong> Israeli strikes killed 7 in total. Italy announced it would maintain a military presence in Lebanon after UNIFIL\u2019s 2026 withdrawal. A former Lebanese general linked to the 1986 capture of an Israeli pilot disappeared, possibly kidnapped or killed, and a former Syrian intelligence officer was murdered in Beirut. In <strong>SYRIA<\/strong>, clashes between governmental forces and Alawite loyalists in Latakia killed 3, and a bombing at an Alawite mosque in Homs killed 8.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>In<strong> EASTERN EUROPE,<\/strong> Russian strikes ignited a fire at Ukraine\u2019s largest vegetable oil terminal, killed 2, and caused nationwide blackouts. Ukraine withdrew from Siversk, and the US proposed a frontline freeze, while Ukraine and Russia remained divided on this point. A Colombian fighter was sentenced to 19 years in Russian-occupied Ukraine.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>In<strong> MYANMAR,<\/strong> the UN condemned the junta\u2019s use of violence to force voter participation in elections, dismissed as a sham. Rohingya refugees rejected the elections as meaningless, citing ongoing persecution and statelessness.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>Regarding international justice\/relations, the UN accused <strong>BURUNDI<\/strong> of retaliating against human rights lawyers. Russia\u2019s \u201cAfrica Corps\u201d delivered weapons to <strong>MADAGASCAR<\/strong>\u2019s new leader and <strong>BELGIUM<\/strong> joined South Africa\u2019s ICJ case against Israel over the Gaza genocide case.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-183c5b8 elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"183c5b8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;,&quot;h4&quot;,&quot;h5&quot;,&quot;h6&quot;],&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;no_headings_message&quot;:&quot;No headings were found on this page.&quot;,&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;,&quot;icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;fas fa-flag&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-solid&quot;,&quot;rendered_tag&quot;:&quot;&lt;svg class=\\&quot;e-font-icon-svg e-fas-flag\\&quot; viewBox=\\&quot;0 0 512 512\\&quot; xmlns=\\&quot;http:\\\/\\\/www.w3.org\\\/2000\\\/svg\\&quot;&gt;&lt;path d=\\&quot;M349.565 98.783C295.978 98.783 251.721 64 184.348 64c-24.955 0-47.309 4.384-68.045 12.013a55.947 55.947 0 0 0 3.586-23.562C118.117 24.015 94.806 1.206 66.338.048 34.345-1.254 8 24.296 8 56c0 19.026 9.497 35.825 24 45.945V488c0 13.255 10.745 24 24 24h16c13.255 0 24-10.745 24-24v-94.4c28.311-12.064 63.582-22.122 114.435-22.122 53.588 0 97.844 34.783 165.217 34.783 48.169 0 86.667-16.294 122.505-40.858C506.84 359.452 512 349.571 512 339.045v-243.1c0-23.393-24.269-38.87-45.485-29.016-34.338 15.948-76.454 31.854-116.95 31.854z\\&quot;&gt;&lt;\\\/path&gt;&lt;\\\/svg&gt;&quot;},&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tNEWS BY COUNTRY\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__183c5b8\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Ouvrir la table des mati\u00e8res\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M207.029 381.476L12.686 187.132c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941l22.667-22.667c9.357-9.357 24.522-9.375 33.901-.04L224 284.505l154.745-154.021c9.379-9.335 24.544-9.317 33.901.04l22.667 22.667c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941L240.971 381.476c-9.373 9.372-24.569 9.372-33.942 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__183c5b8\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Fermer la table des mati\u00e8res\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M240.971 130.524l194.343 194.343c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941l-22.667 22.667c-9.357 9.357-24.522 9.375-33.901.04L224 227.495 69.255 381.516c-9.379 9.335-24.544 9.317-33.901-.04l-22.667-22.667c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941L207.03 130.525c9.372-9.373 24.568-9.373 33.941-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__183c5b8\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M500 975V858C696 858 858 696 858 500S696 142 500 142 142 304 142 500H25C25 237 238 25 500 25S975 237 975 500 763 975 500 975Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f6dc767 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f6dc767\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><strong>SUDAN<\/strong><\/h2><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>DRONE STRIKE CUTS POWER ACROSS SUDAN, KILLS 3<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 18, 2025, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched drone strikes on eastern Sudan, targeting Atbara\u2019s Al-Muqrin power station and civilian areas. The attack killed three<\/strong>, including two rescue workers, and caused widespread blackouts in Port Sudan, Khartoum, and other regions. A young girl also died in a strike.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>COLOMBIAN MERCENARIES IN SUDAN\u2019S WAR<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Investigations revealed that hundreds of Colombian mercenaries have fought alongside Sudan\u2019s RSF. <\/strong>Recruited via WhatsApp and trained in Dubai, they transited through Libya or Somalia, where Emirati military presence was confirmed, before deploying to Darfur. At least 80 participated in the siege of El-Facher. The network, linked to retired Colombian colonel Alvaro Quijano, sanctioned by the US, is accused of human trafficking. The Emirates deny involvement, but documents and geolocated footage tie them to the operation. Colombia recently criminalized mercenary recruitment.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>DRONE STRIKE KILLS 10 IN DARFUR MARKET <\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 21, 2025, a drone strike on Al-Malha market in North Darfur killed ten people<\/strong>, according to emergency responders. Meanwhile, M\u00e9decins Sans Fronti\u00e8res warned of a measles outbreak with over 1,300 cases since September, as vaccine delays leave children unprotected. In neighboring Kordofan, aid groups evacuated Kadougli, under RSF siege for 18 months, amid famine and escalating violence.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>TURKEY PLEDGES MORE SUPPORT FOR SUDAN\u2019S ARMY AMID WAR<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 25, 2025, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Sudan\u2019s de facto leader<\/strong>, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane, in Ankara, vowing to strengthen cooperation in defense, trade, and agriculture. Turkey, a key backer of Sudan\u2019s army, has supplied drones and humanitarian aid, while condemning RSF atrocities in Darfur and Kordofan.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><strong>DRC<\/strong><\/h2><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>UVIRA: M23 POLICE AND INTELLIGENCE STILL PRESENT<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 18, 2025, despite the M23\u2019s announced withdrawal from Uvira, South Kivu, local and security sources reported that rebel police and intelligence agents remained deployed <\/strong>at strategic points across the city. A civil society representative confirmed M23 elements were still at the town hall, police stations, and banks. The Congolese military accused the M23 of staging a \u201cmedia stunt\u201d and repositioning forces on hills overlooking Uvira. The Congolese government spokesperson, Patrick Muyaya, stated the withdrawal would only be valid if verified by Congolese forces retaking full control.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>CLASHES NEAR UVIRA<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 22, 2025, heavy fighting broke out between M23 rebels and pro-Kinshasa Wazalendo militias on the outskirts of Uvira<\/strong>, despite the M23\u2019s claimed withdrawal. Civilians reported exchanges of fire in southern neighborhoods and near Kalundu port on Lake Tanganyika. Both the Congolese army and M23 accused each other of shelling the city. The M23\u2019s seizure of Uvira, a strategic border city with Burundi, had triggered a humanitarian crisis, displacing over 200,000 people and forcing 80,000 to flee to Burundi, where at least 8 have died of cholera.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>FORCED RECRUITMENT AND ABUSE BY ADF REBELS<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Minors shared accounts of their forced recruitment by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in eastern DRC.<\/strong> They described months of brutal training, forced conversions to Islam, and participation in pillaging and combat. Some of them became addicted to drugs administered by rebels after a combat injury. They suffered severe beatings.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>NEW CLASHES REPORTED NEAR UVIRA <\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 26, 2025, new fighting erupted around Uvira as Congolese forces bombed two M23 speedboats at Kalundu port<\/strong>, setting them ablaze, according to local civil society leader Martin Mafikiri Mashimango. Residents reported seeing an aircraft strike the port, while a security source confirmed drone attacks on the vessels. Overnight clashes also occurred on Kavimvira hill between Wazalendo militias and M23 fighters.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><strong>NIGERIA<\/strong><\/h2><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>ALL KIDNAPPED STUDENTS AND STAFF REUNITED WITH FAMILIES<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 25, 2025<\/strong>, the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora announced that all 315 students and staff abducted from St. Mary\u2019s Mixed Boarding School in Papiri, Niger State, in November had been accounted for and reunited with their families. Initially, 50 escaped immediately after the attack, and 100 were freed on December 7.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>JOINT OPERATIONS WITH US <\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 26, 2025, Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar confirmed ongoing collaboration with the US on counterterrorism operations<\/strong>, following Christmas Day airstrikes in northern Nigeria. Tuggar stated that Nigeria provided intelligence for the strikes, which targeted Islamic State terrorists in Sokoto State, and that President Bola Tinubu had approved the action. The US Africa Command confirmed the strikes were conducted at Nigeria\u2019s request.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><strong>CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC<\/strong><\/h2><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>RUSSIAN PARAMILITARIES VOW TO \u201cREPEL PROVOCATIONS\u201d AHEAD OF ELECTIONS<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 23, 2025, Alexander Ivanov, representative of Russian paramilitaries in the Central African Republic, stated that Russian forces are prepared to \u201crepel any provocation\u201d<\/strong> during the country\u2019s general elections, though he expects the vote to proceed peacefully. Ivanov, sanctioned by the EU and US as a leader of the Wagner-linked Officers\u2019 Union for International Security, acknowledged employing \u201chighly experienced\u201d Wagner veterans. Russian forces, deployed since 2017, have been pivotal in stabilizing CAR, securing lucrative mining and security contracts. President Faustin-Archange Touad\u00e9ra, seeking a third term, remains the favorite. Ivanov declined to comment on the potential transition from Wagner to the Russian Defense Ministry\u2019s \u201cAfrica Corps\u201d.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>WAGNER\u2019S \u201cSUCCESS STORY\u201d BEHIND TOUAD\u00c9RA\u2019S RE-ELECTION BID<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 23, 2025<\/strong>, as Central Africans prepared for elections, a mural in Bangui depicted Russian President Vladimir Putin and Wagner mercenaries, symbolizing the group\u2019s key role in stabilizing the country. Since 2018<strong>, Wagner, now operating as OUIS, has helped the government regain control of 90% of the territory, in exchange for mining concessions.<\/strong> Analysts note Wagner\u2019s unique economic model in CAR, where they fund operations through local resource exploitation. Despite accusations of human rights abuses, Wagner\u2019s presence is credited there with preventing civil war and securing major cities.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><strong>GUINEA<\/strong><\/h2><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>RIGHTS GROUP ACCUSES JUNTA OF KILLING 70 PROTESTERS<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 22, 2025<\/strong>, the civil society collective \u00ab\u00a0Tournons la page\u00a0\u00bb (TLP) accused Guinea\u2019s military junta, led by General Mamadi Doumbouya, of <strong>killing at least 70 people during protests, between 2022 and 2025<\/strong>. The report, released days before the December 27 presidential election, also documents arbitrary arrests, forced disappearances, torture, and a systematic crackdown on dissent. Protests have been banned since 2022. The junta, in power since a 2021 coup, faces criticism for failing to conduct independent investigations into the killings. Prominent civil society figures Oumar Sylla and Mamadou Billo Bah have been missing since their July 2024 abductions. The election, meant to restore constitutional order, is widely seen as lacking credible opposition.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><strong>LEBANON<\/strong><\/h2><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>ISRAELI STRIKES KILL ONE, INJURE ANOTHER IN THE SOUTH <\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 21, 2025, Israeli airstrikes in Yater, 5 km from the Israeli border, killed one person and wounded another<\/strong>, according to Lebanon\u2019s Health Ministry. The Israeli military stated it targeted Hezbollah members in the area. Earlier, Lebanese troops dismantled an Israeli spy device in Yaroun. Despite a November 27, 2024 ceasefire, Israel maintains five border positions and regularly strikes Lebanon, claiming Hezbollah rearmament. Over 340 Lebanese have been killed by Israeli fire since the truce.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>ITALY PLANS TO KEEP MILITARY PRESENCE AFTER PEACEKEEPERS\u2019 DEPARTURE <\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 22, 2025, Italy\u2019s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto announced Italy would maintain a military presence in Lebanon<\/strong> after the UN peacekeeping force (UNIFIL) withdraws starting December 31, 2026. Italy, the second-largest UNIFIL contributor with 1,099 troops, aims to support regional stability and the Lebanese Armed Forces.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>ISRAELI DRONE STRIKE KILLS 3 NEAR SAIDA<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 22, 2025, an Israeli drone strike killed three people<\/strong> in a vehicle near Saida, southern Lebanon. The Lebanese state news agency reported the incident, while Israel claimed it targeted Hezbollah members.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>FORMER LEBANESE GENERAL DISAPPEARS <\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 23, 2025, retired Lebanese officer General Ahmad Shoukr vanished, possibly abducted or killed by Israeli agents.<\/strong> Investigators suspect he was lured by two Swedish nationals. Ahmad is the brother of Hassan Shoukr, a militant involved in the 1986 capture of Israeli pilot Ron Arad, whose fate remains unresolved. The case has long been a national concern in Israel.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>FORMER SYRIAN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER KILLED <\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 23, 2025, Ghassan al-Soukhni, a former Syrian intelligence officer linked to Bachar al-Assad\u2019s regime, was killed in northern Beirut.<\/strong> Lebanese authorities arrested a suspect, citing a financial dispute as the motive. Al-Soukhni, close to Syrian special forces commander Souheil al-Hassan, had fled Syria after Assad\u2019s fall in December 2024. The case highlights the presence of former Syrian regime figures in Lebanon.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>ISRAELI STRIKES KILL 3 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 25, 2025, Israeli strikes killed three people in Lebanon<\/strong>: two in Hawsh al-Sayyed Ali (North) and one in Majdal Selm (South). Israel claimed it killed Hussein Mahmoud Marchad al-Jawhari, a Qods Force operative planning attacks from Syria and Lebanon, and a Hezbollah member.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><strong>PALESTINE<\/strong><\/h2><p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>ISRAEL BANS 14 NGOS FROM GAZA<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 18, 2025, Israel announced that 14 international NGOs, including Save the Children and American Friends Service Committee, were banned from operating in Gaza and the West Bank. <\/strong>The government stated that 14 registration requests were rejected by late November, claiming Israel \u201cencourages humanitarian action\u201d but will not allow \u201chostile actors\u201d or \u201csupport for terrorism.\u201d The UN and NGOs condemned the process as \u201cvague, arbitrary, and highly politicized,\u201d warning of a collapse in aid operations. Critics say the new rules aim to silence reporting on Gaza\u2019s conditions.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>ISRAELI STRIKE KILLS 6 AT GAZA SCHOOL<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 19, 2025, an Israeli airstrike hit the Martyrs School in Gaza\u2019s Tuffah neighborhood, killing six civilians<\/strong>, including a four-month-old baby, a 14-year-old girl, and two women, as well as leaving two missing under rubble. The school served as a shelter for displaced families. The Israeli military claimed it targeted \u201csuspects\u201d during operations near the \u201cYellow Line\u201d and expressed regret for any harm to non-combatants. Mahmoud Bassal of Gaza\u2019s Civil Defense and Mohammed Abou Salmiya of al-Shifa Hospital confirmed the casualties. Survivors and witnesses, including Abdallah al-Nader, described the attack as unprovoked. Hamas called it a \u201cflagrant violation\u201d of the October 10 ceasefire.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>ISRAELI FORCES KILL 2 PALESTINIANS IN WEST BANK <\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 20, 2025, Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinians in separate incidents in the northern West Bank.<\/strong> In Qabatiya, south of Jenin, a 16-year-old died after allegedly throwing a stone at soldiers. In Silat al-Harithiya, West of Jenin, a 22-year-old was killed for reportedly throwing explosive. The Palestinian Health Ministry and Wafa news agency identified the victims. The Israeli military confirmed both were \u201cneutralized\u201d during operations. No Israeli injuries were reported.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>ISRAEL APPROVES 19 NEW SETTLEMENTS<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 21, 2025, Israel\u2019s security cabinet approved 19 new settlements<\/strong> in the West Bank, bringing the total to 69 in three years. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Defense Minister Israel Katz stated the move aims to \u201cblock a terrorist Palestinian State.\u201d Five are existing outposts; two, Ganim and Kadim, will be reestablished after being dismantled 20 years ago. The UN recently reported record settlement growth in 2025, condemning it as a threat to Palestinian statehood. Over 500,000 Israelis now live in West Bank settlements, illegal under international law.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>ISRAELI COURT SETS DEADLINE FOR MEDIA ACCESS TO GAZA<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 21, 2025, Israel\u2019s Supreme Court gave the government until January 4, 2026, to respond to a petition by the Foreign Press Association (FPA)<\/strong> demanding independent media access to Gaza. Since October 2023, Israel has restricted foreign journalists to embedded reporting with its troops. The FPA, representing hundreds of international media, welcomed the court\u2019s ultimatum after two years of delays.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>ISRAEL DEMOLISHES PALESTINIAN HOMES IN EAST JERUSALEM<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 22, 2025, Israeli bulldozers demolished a four-story building housing about 100 Palestinians in Silwan<\/strong>, East Jerusalem, citing lack of permits. Residents, including Eid Shawar and his five children, were evicted with only minutes to gather belongings. NGOs called it the largest demolition of 2025 and part of a \u201csystematic policy of forced displacement.\u201d The Palestinian Governate condemned the move as an attempt to \u201cempty Jerusalem of its original inhabitants.\u201d Israel has demolished over 100 Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem this year.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>CIVILIANS UNDER FIRE NEAR \u201cYELLOW LINE\u201d<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 22, 2025, Israeli airstrikes and artillery continued to hit areas east of Khan Younis<\/strong>, within the Israeli-controlled side of the demarcation \u201cYellow Line\u201d dividing Gaza. Civilians like Oum Ahmed and her children, living in tents near destroyed homes, reported relentless bombardment. The Israeli military accused Hamas of crossing the line for \u201cterrorist activities\u201d and claimed operations were to counter \u201cdirect threats.\u201d Khan Younis mayor Alaa al-Batta and residents said the strikes aim to \u201cforce displacement\u201d westward. Since October 10 ceasfire, at least 401 Palestiniens have died in Gaza.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>ISRAEL PROBES TEEN\u2019S DEATH IN WEST BANK, VIDEO CONTRADICTS MILITARY CLAIM<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 23, 2025, Israel\u2019s military opened an investigation into the killing of 16-year-old Rayan Abou Moualla in Qabatiya<\/strong>, West Bank. The army initially claimed he rocks at soldiers, but a video showed him walking unarmed before being shot. His father, Mohamed Abdel Qader Abou Moualla, said his son was buying supplies and carried nothing unlawful. The Palestinian Red Crescent accused Israel of blocking medics. Since October 7, 2023, over 1,000 Palestinians and 44 Israelis have died in West Bank violence.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER VOWS PERMANENT GAZA PRESENCE<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 23, 2025, Defense Minister Israel Katz declared Israel would \u201cnever leave Gaza,\u201d<\/strong> suggesting military outposts in the North. His office later clarified there was \u201cno intention to establish settlements\u201d. Opposition leader Gadi Eizenkot criticized the government\u2019s mixed signals.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>ISRAEL REJECTS 14 COUNTRIES\u2019 CALL TO HALT SETTLEMENT EXPANSION<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 25, 2025, Israel dismissed a joint appeal from 14 countries, including France, the UK, Canada, and Japan, to stop West Bank settlement expansion.<\/strong> Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the request \u201cmorally reprehensible,\u201d insisting Israel would not restrict Jews\u2019 right to live in \u201cthe Land of Israel.\u201d<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>ISRAELI SETTLERS ATTACK PALESTINIAN HOME, INJURE INFANT<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 25, 2025, five Israeli settlers were arrested for attacking a Palestinian home in Sa\u2019ir, near Hebron, injuring an eight-month-old baby.<\/strong> Police said settlers threw stones at the house. In a separate incident, a reservist soldier on a quad bike rammed a praying Palestinian man in Deir Jarir, near Ramallah. The soldier, armed and in civilian clothes, was stripped of his weapon and reservist status. The victim\u2019s father said the attacker is a known settler who provokes locals.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>GAZA HOSPITAL SUSPENDS SERVICES DUE TO SHORTAGE<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 26, 2025, al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat, central Gaza, suspended most services due to fuel shortages<\/strong>, maintaining only emergency, maternity, and pediatric care. Ahmed Mehanna of the al-Awda Health Association said the hospital, which treats 1,000 patients daily, needs 1,000\u20131,200 liters of diesel but has only 800 liters left. The ceasefire has failed to resolve Gaza\u2019s humanitarian crisis, with only 100\u2013300 aid trucks entering daily, below the agreed 600.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><strong>SYRIA<\/strong><\/h2><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>3 KILLED IN CLASHES BETWEEN SECURITY FORCES AND ALAWITE LOYALISTS <\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 24, 2025, three members of Syria\u2019s former regime were killed in clashes with security forces on the outskirts of Jableh<\/strong>, Latakia province. State TV reported the incident, while the official SANA news agency mentioned confrontations with \u201coutlaws\u201d linked to the ousted Assad regime. The Alawite-majority coastal region, Assad\u2019s stronghold, has seen frequent security operations against regime remnants. In March, over 1,700 Alawites were killed in sectarian massacres, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>BOMBING AT ALAWITE MOSQUE IN HOMS KILLS 8<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 26, 2025, an explosion at the Ali Ben Abi Taleb mosque in Homs\u2019 Wadi al-Dahab district killed eight people and wounded 18 during prayers.<\/strong> The Syrian Interior Ministry blamed explosive devices planted inside the mosque. Saraya Ansar al-Sunna, a Sunni extremist group, claimed responsibility on Telegram, vowing further attacks against \u201cinfidels and apostates.\u201d The same group claimed a June suicide bombing at a Damascus church that killed 25. The attack is the latest in a series targeting Syria\u2019s Alawite minority since Islamist groups took power a year ago.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><strong>EASTERN EUROPE<\/strong><\/h2><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>RUSSIAN STRIKES IGNITE MASSIVE FIRE AT UKRAINE\u2019S OIL TERMINAL<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 20, 2025, Russian strikes on Odessa region caused a major fire at Ukraine\u2019s largest vegetable oil terminal, killing 1 employee and injuring 2 others.<\/strong> The attack, part of Moscow\u2019s intensified campaign against Odessa\u2019s port and energy infrastructure, destroyed hundreds of tons of sunflower oil and marked the fifth and most destructive strike on the Allseeds terminal since Russia\u2019s invasion in 2022.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>UKRAINE REPORTS RUSSIAN INCURSION AND CIVILIAN DEPORTATIONS NEAR SUMY<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 21, 2025, Ukrainian forces clashed with Russian troops in Grabovske village<\/strong>, Sumy region, as Russia attempted a border breakthrough. Ukraine\u2019s military claimed to repel the attack, denying Russian presence in nearby Riasne. Human rights ombudsman Dmytro Loubinets accused Russia of forcibly deporting about 50 civilians from Grabovske to Russia, arrested on December 18 and transferred on December 20. Regional head Oleg Grygorov urged evacuations as Russia claimed capture of nearby Vyssoke.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>ODESSA HIT AGAIN <\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 22, 2025, Russian strikes damaged energy and maritime infrastructure in Odessa region, injuring 1 person<\/strong> and cutting power to over 120,000 households. Governor Oleg Kiper reported hits on industrial sites and an agricultural warehouse. Reconstruction Minister Oleksi\u00ef Kouleba said Russia aims to destroy maritime logistics. The strikes followed Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian-linked tankers in the Black and Mediterranean Seas.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>RUSSIAN STRIKES KILL 2, CAUSE BLACKOUTS<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 23, 2025, Russian drone and missile strikes killed 2 people, 1 in Kiev region, 1 in Khmelnytsky, and injured over 10<\/strong>, including children across 13 regions. Zelensky reported 650 drones and 30 missiles launched, causing emergency power cuts. Poland\u2019s air force was put on alert due to strikes near its border. Zelensky awaited results from US-brokered talks in Florida, where negotiators worked on security guarantees for Ukraine.<\/p><p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>UKRAINE WITHDRAWS FROM SIVERSK AMID RUSSIAN ADVANCE<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 23, 2025, Ukraine\u2019s military announced its withdrawal from Siversk<\/strong>, Donetsk region, citing Russian numerical and equipment superiority. The Russian army had claimed Siversk\u2019s capture, advancing towards key cities Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Siversk, once home to 11,000, is now largely destroyed. Russia has accelerated its offensive, recently capturing the logistical hub of Pokrovsk.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>US PROPOSES FRONTLINE FREEZE<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 24, 2025, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a revised US peace plan<\/strong> that no longer requires Ukraine to withdraw from Donetsk or renounce NATO membership, two key Russian demands. The 20-point plan proposes freezing the frontline and creating demilitarized zones. Zelensky said no consensus was reached on Donetsk or the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which the US suggests managing jointly with Russia. The Kremlin\u2019s Dmitri Peskov said Moscow is \u201cformulating its position.\u201d Zelensky also pledged to hold presidential elections \u201cas soon as possible\u201d after any deal.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>COLOMBIAN MERCENARY SENTENCED IN RUSSIAN-OCCUPIED UKRAINE<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 24, 2025, a Russian court in occupied Donetsk sentenced Colombian national Oscar Mauricio Blanco Lopez to 19 years in prison for \u201cmercenary activities\u201d<\/strong> after he fought for Ukraine. The Russian Prosecutor General\u2019s Office said Blanco, 42, signed a contract with the Ukrainian army in May 2024 and was captured in December 2024. Russia systematically prosecutes foreign fighters as mercenaries.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><strong>MYANMAR<\/strong><\/h2><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>JUNTA USES VIOLENCE TO FORCE VOTER PARTICIPATION<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 23, 2025, the UN condemned Myanmar\u2019s military junta for using \u201cbrutal violence\u201d and intimidation to coerce citizens into voting<\/strong> in upcoming elections, while armed opposition groups employ similar tactics to deter participation. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker T\u00fcrk stated that authorities are arresting dissenters and imposing \u201cextremely severe sentences,\u201d citing three youths in Hlainghaya, Yangon, jailed for 42 to 49 years for posting anti-election posters. T\u00fcrk also reported threats against displaced persons in Mandalay, warning of attacks or property seizures if they fail to return and vote. Opposition armed groups have abducted election workers and bombed administrative offices in Hlegu and Okkalapa North. The elections, starting December 28, are widely seen as a junta attempt to legitimize its rule after the 2021 coup.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>ELECTIONS TO CONCLUDE ON JANUARY 25 AMID SKEPTICISM<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 25, 2025, Myanmar\u2019s junta announced the third and final phase of its tightly controlled elections will take place on January 25, 2026<\/strong>, following votes on December 28 and January 11. The Union Election Commission, controlled by the military, stated that 63 of 330 townships will participate in the final phase. International observers and the UN have dismissed the elections as a junta ploy to improve its image, noting the absence of Aung San Suu Kyi\u2019s dissolved party and the ongoing civil war. Critics argue the process is rigged, with only pro-military candidates allowed and harsh laws punishing dissent.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>ROHINGYA REFUGEES DENOUNCE ELECTIONS AS MEANINGLESS<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 26, 2025, Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh\u2019s Cox\u2019s Bazar camps rejected Myanmar\u2019s military-organized elections as irrelevant<\/strong>, citing their statelessness and ongoing persecution. Kabir Ahmed, 51, former mayor of a Rohingya town in Maungdaw, asked, \u201cWho will vote, and why?\u201d after the 2017 military crackdown forced 1.17 million Rohingyas into exile.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><strong>INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE &amp; INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS<\/strong><\/h2><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>BURUNDI: UN ACCUSES GOVERNMENT OF RETALIATION AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYERS<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 23, 2025, the UN Committee against Torture formally concluded that Burundi had retaliated against four lawyers<\/strong>, Armel Niyongere, Lambert Nigarura, Dieudonn\u00e9 Bashirahishize, and Vital Nshimirimana, for cooperating with the UN in 2016. The lawyers had contributed to a critical civil society report and publicly condemned the violent repression of 2015 protests against President Pierre Nkurunziza\u2019s controversial third-term bid. Three were disbarred, one suspended, and all four had their assets seized in 2019. The UN committee called on Burundi to immediately lift professional bans, restore their property, and provide full reparations. The lawyers fled into exile after the crackdown.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>RUSSIA\u2019S AFRICA CORPS DELIVERS WEAPONS TO MADAGASCAR<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 23, 2025, Lieutenant General Andrei Averianov, deputy head of Russian military intelligence and leader of the Africa Corps, met with Madagascar\u2019s de facto leader<\/strong>, Colonel Micha\u00ebl Randrianirina, in Antananarivo. According to National Assembly President Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, a Russian delegation of about 40 military personnel arrived with drones, handguns, and AK assault rifles, handed over to Randrianirina\u2019s government. Russia\u2019s Africa Corps, successor to Wagner, is known to operate in several African countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Equatorial Guinea.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>BELGIUM JOINS SOUTH AFRICA\u2019S ICJ CASE AGAINST ISRAEL <\/strong><\/p><p><strong>On December 23, 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced Belgium\u2019s decision to join South Africa\u2019s case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.<\/strong> Belgium\u2019s intervention does not signal support for either side but aims to provide its interpretation of international law. The ICJ had previously issued binding provisional measures in January 2024, ordering Israel to prevent genocidal acts and ensure humanitarian access.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Read the weekly news about international crimes and international criminal justice here.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17957,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[71,42,52,41,40,38,39,34,66,35,44,45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22493","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cen-afr-rep","category-dem-rep-congo","category-europe","category-international-crimes","category-justice","category-lebanon","category-myanmar","category-news","category-nigeria","category-palestine","category-sudan","category-syria"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>WEEKLY INTERNATIONAL NEWS REVIEW - Dec.20th - Dec.26th 2025 - DCCI<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/intl-crimes-doc.org\/en\/weekly-international-news-review-dec-20th-dec-26th-2025\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"WEEKLY INTERNATIONAL NEWS REVIEW - Dec.20th - Dec.26th 2025 - DCCI\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Read the weekly news about international crimes and international criminal justice here.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/intl-crimes-doc.org\/en\/weekly-international-news-review-dec-20th-dec-26th-2025\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"DCCI\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-12-29T17:53:42+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-12-29T18:02:42+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/intl-crimes-doc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/homme-lisant-un-journal-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"DCCI\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"DCCI\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"19 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/intl-crimes-doc.org\/weekly-international-news-review-dec-20th-dec-26th-2025\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/intl-crimes-doc.org\/weekly-international-news-review-dec-20th-dec-26th-2025\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"DCCI\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/intl-crimes-doc.org\/fr\/#\/schema\/person\/92fafc525e98cbf76576c2eb30da4a3b\"},\"headline\":\"WEEKLY INTERNATIONAL NEWS REVIEW &#8211; Dec.20th &#8211; Dec.26th 2025\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-12-29T17:53:42+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-12-29T18:02:42+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/intl-crimes-doc.org\/weekly-international-news-review-dec-20th-dec-26th-2025\/\"},\"wordCount\":4069,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/intl-crimes-doc.org\/fr\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/intl-crimes-doc.org\/weekly-international-news-review-dec-20th-dec-26th-2025\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/intl-crimes-doc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/homme-lisant-un-journal-scaled.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Cen. 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