The United States has designated the political leader of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas as a terrorist and imposed sanctions on him. The state department said Ismail Haniya had “close links with Hamas’ military wing” and been a “proponent of armed struggle, including against civilians”. Hamas, which dominates the Gaza Strip, is already designated a terrorist group by the US, Israel, the EU and UK.
Meanwhile, A Norwegian parliament member on Wednesday nominated the Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga forces for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. Himanshu Gulati, a Norwegian Parliament member, made the Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga forces his choice for the Nobel Peace Prize saying they fought humanity’s greatest enemy and that without their sacrifices, the world would have struggled to fight the Islamic State (IS).
Lastly, An Israeli advocacy group has launched a lawsuit against two New Zealanders for allegedly convincing pop singer Lorde to cancel a concert in Israel. It is thought to be the first case filed under a 2011 Israeli law allowing civil lawsuits against anyone calling for a boycott of the country. Critics say the law stifles expression.
