A HIGH-RISE building in Gaza Strip is hit by Israeli bombs (Wikipedia/WAFA).

Israel’s employment of certain weapons in Gaza provided by the United States “likely” violated international humanitarian law, the Biden Administration said Friday.

However, wartime conditions made it difficult to be certain.

International law seeks to protect civilians during warfare, and the U.S. is indicating that there is “reasonable evidence” that Israel did not take enough care to keep non-combatants safe.

In response to earlier complaints about the number of such casualties, the Israeli military has stated the enemy – Hamas militants – hides within the civilian population and fires weapons from residential areas, making separating the military from the populace difficult.

To date, Gazan deaths have totaled about 35,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children. About 1,200 Israelis have died since the conflict began on Oct. 7, 2023.

Disruption of power, communications?

NORTHERN LIGHTS (NOAA).

A strong geomagnetic storm is expected to hit Earth this weekend and could have a big effect.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a solar outburst reached Earth on Friday afternoon and the effect could be to disrupt power and communications this weekend. The effects of that could continue for several days.

Such a storm could create “northern lights” as far south as Northern California and Alabama, according to NOAA. Such lights have already appeared in Germany and Switzerland.

Judge tells Cohen to keep quiet

The judge presiding over former president Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial told a key witness to refrain from taunting Trump.

MICHAEL COHEN in 2019 (Wikipedia).

Michael Cohen, a one-time Trump personal attorney who allegedly arranged the payment of $130,000 to a porn star to silence her story of sex with the billionaire, was ordered to cease his remarks by Judge Juan Merchan.

“That comes from the bench,” he said.

Cohen’s testimony is expected next week and  is thought to be crucial to the prosecution’s case against Trump.

He is expected to testify that Trump personally directed him to falsify the record of “hush money” as legal expenses.

Palestine now an “observer state”

A resolution to upgrade Palestine from “observer” to “observer state” was approved Friday by the United Nations General Assembly.

The vote was 143-9 with 25 nations abstaining. The U.S. and Israel voted “no” and Great Britain abstained.

Friday’s move doesn’t elevate Palestine to the status of an independent nation but does allow its delegates to be seated among the General Assembly and speak to the assembled group.

Angels, Dodger both lose late

Both the Angels and the Dodgers suffered last inning losses Friday night, each falling 2-1. The Angels (now 14-25) suffered their second straight loss as they yielded two runs in the top of the ninth to the Kansas City Royals after leading 1-0.

The loss tumbled the Halos back into fifth and last place in the American League West.

The Dodgers (26-14) trailed 1-0 early against the Padres in San Diego, tied the game at 1-all in the top of the ninth before losing. The Padres are now 21-20 and in second place in the NL West, 5.5 games behind Dodgers.

Weather: Still in the Seventies

Mother Nature seems determined to keep skies partly cloudy in our West Orange County area for a while. The forecast for Saturday is for a daytime high of 73 and an overnight low of 58, followed by 75 (59) on Sunday and Monday. Things will change a bit with morning clouds giving way to afternoon sun and temperatures at 71 (57).