ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - May 21, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - May 21, 2024

ZeroFox physical security experts collect, curate, and analyze information derived from open and proprietary sources for comprehensive context of the circumstances surrounding global events. Here is today’s daily roundup of major developments.

Brief Highlights

• China Authorizes Itself to Detain South China Sea “Trespassers”
• ICC Official Seeks Arrest Warrants for Israeli, Hamas Leadership
• Russian Court Seizes the Assets of Three Western Banks

China Authorizes Itself to Detain South China Sea “Trespassers”

On May 15, China issued the “Procedural Regulations on Administrative Law Enforcement of Coast Guard Agencies." The new protocol authorizes the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) to detain foreigners it deems “illegally crossing” its maritime borders. The new rule will take effect on June 15 and is highly likely in response to growing maritime territorial claims between China and its smaller neighbors, particularly the Philippines, where the two sides have a dispute over the Scarborough Shoal island and the surrounding waters. Further escalations are expected, with all sides viewing the waters as valuable territory for national security and their trade-dependent economies.

ICC Official Seeks Arrest Warrants for Israeli, Hamas Leadership

On May 20, the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) top prosecutor, Karim Khan, announced that he would seek arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes committed in the Gaza Strip. Khan also requested warrants for senior Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh for their roles in the attack of October 7, 2023. A panel of ICC judges will now rule on Khan’s petition.

Russian Court Seizes the Assets of Three Western Banks

On May 17, the St. Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast Arbitration Court froze Russia-based assets of three Western banks under lawsuits filed by Russia's Gazprom. The court seized EUR 462.7 million from Italy's UniCredit, EUR 238.6 from Germany's Deutsche Bank, and EUR 93.7 million from Germany's Commerzbank. The banks had backed a Gazprom project to construct a gas treatment plant, but were forced to withdraw from the project due to Western sanctions. This seizure underscores the financial risks Western banks and corporations with assets located in Russia may face when trying to exit the Russian market.