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Political, legal and social fallout from Israel's war on Gaza continued to ripple across continents this week, shaping decisions on energy cooperation, international justice, military trade and community safety in Egypt, the United States, Europe and Australia.
Egypt moved to contain criticism over a major natural gas agreement with Israel, insisting the $35bn deal is strictly commercial and carries no political meaning. In a statement, Cairo said the agreement was negotiated by private energy companies under market rules, without government involvement.
The deal, which will see gas exported from Israel's Leviathan field to Egypt, was described by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the largest gas agreement in Israel's history. Egyptian officials said the arrangement serves the country's long-term strategy of becoming a regional gas hub in the eastern Mediterranean.
The clarification comes amid strained relations between Cairo and Tel Aviv over Israel's military campaign in Gaza, which Egypt has openly criticised while continuing to mediate ceasefire efforts.
In Washington, the United States announced new sanctions against two judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing their role in rejecting Israel's request to halt a war crimes investigation related to Gaza.
US officials accused the judges of overstepping the court's jurisdiction by allowing proceedings involving Israeli nationals, despite Israel not being a member of the ICC. The move is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration against the court, which has also targeted prosecutors and organisations assisting ICC investigations.
The ICC condemned the sanctions as an attack on judicial independence, warning that such measures threaten the international legal order. Human rights groups and several foreign governments echoed concerns that the sanctions could undermine accountability for serious crimes worldwide.
Meanwhile, Germany approved a $3.1bn arms deal with Israel for Arrow 3 missile defence systems, deepening military ties despite growing legal scrutiny over Israel's actions in Gaza.
The agreement follows earlier multibillion-dollar defence contracts between the two countries and comes as international courts examine allegations of genocide and war crimes linked to the Gaza war. Legal experts have warned that continued arms transfers could conflict with Germany's obligations under international law.
German officials defended the decision as part of the country's broader defence strategy, while critics argued the deal risks indirectly supporting Israel's ongoing military operations.
In Australia, police are investigating the desecration of a Muslim cemetery in Sydney after pig heads and animal remains were placed at the site, an act widely condemned as an Islamophobic hate crime.
The incident occurred just hours after a deadly shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah gathering at Bondi Beach, which authorities have classified as a terrorist attack. Muslim leaders and organisations denounced both the shooting and the cemetery vandalism, urging Australians not to allow grief and anger to turn into collective blame.
Political leaders warned that religious hatred and misinformation risk inflaming tensions at a time of national trauma, as advocates point to a documented rise in Islamophobic incidents across the country.
From energy deals and arms sales to courtrooms and cemeteries, the developments underscore how the Gaza war continues to shape global politics and social cohesion far beyond the region. Governments, courts and communities alike are grappling with the legal, moral and human consequences of a conflict whose impact shows no sign of remaining contained.
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