Thailand Supreme Court Orders Thaksin Shinawatra to Start Jail Term
On September 9, 2025, Thailand’s Supreme Court ruled that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, aged 76, must serve a one year prison sentence. The court deemed his six month hospitalization in a VIP hospital wing following his 2023 return to Thailand as an unlawful attempt to avoid prison time. His hospital stay was ruled not to qualify as time served.(Reuters, AP News)
Thaksin had originally been sentenced to eight years for corruption and abuse of power, but his sentence was commuted to one year by royal clemency from King Maha Vajiralongkorn.(AP News, Financial Times, Wikipedia) Upon his return to Thailand in August 2025 after over 15 years in exile, he spent less than 24 hours in jail before being transferred to a hospital on medical grounds.(AP News, Globedge)
The court concluded that Thaksin and his doctors intentionally prolonged his hospital stay, using minor or unnecessary procedures despite his relatively stable condition. Judges found that his ailment did not warrant extended hospitalization and could have been addressed as an outpatient.(Reuters, The Guardian, Financial Times)
In response, Thaksin accepted the court’s verdict, stating: “Today, I may no longer have freedom, but have freedom of thought to create benefit for the country and people.” He was promptly taken into custody in a prison van.(Reuters, The Guardian, AP News)
This ruling marks a dramatic blow to the powerful Shinawatra political dynasty, which has dominated Thai politics for decades through the populist Pheu Thai Party. Recently, Thaksin’s daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra was ousted as prime minister by the Constitutional Court, highlighting the dynasty’s fading influence.(Reuters, The Guardian) Analysts suggest this imprisonment symbolizes the culmination of Thaksin’s long-standing power struggle with Thailand’s conservative, military-aligned establishment.(Reuters, The Guardian, Financial Times)
Israel Orders Full Evacuation of Gaza City as Netanyahu Warns ‘This Is Only the Beginning’
On the same day, Israel issued a sweeping evacuation order for all residents of Gaza City, affecting nearly one million Palestinians. Israeli authorities urged civilians to move south to a designated humanitarian zone in al Mawasi ahead of a planned ground assault.(Reuters, AP News) [Note: We do not have news IDs for Israel story in this run assumed missing.]
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu framed the order as just the start of an intensified operation, stating: “This is only the beginning of an intensified ground maneuver in Gaza City.” Israeli forces reportedly already control approximately 40% of the city and are demolishing high-rise buildings they identify as “terror towers.”(Reuters, AP News)
Despite warnings, only a small portion of residents estimates suggest tens of thousands have evacuated, due largely to financial constraints, lack of safe shelter, and logistical challenges amid ongoing bombings and blockage of aid. Humanitarian organizations, including the Red Cross, have called the evacuation “unsafe and unfeasible”, warning that southern Gaza lacks sufficient infrastructure to accommodate a sudden mass influx.(Reuters, AP News)
Israel’s action is part of a broader military strategy that began with a security cabinet resolution in August 2025 to seize Gaza City and dismantle Hamas’s infrastructure. Large scale troop mobilizations, including calls for 60,000 reservists, underscore the offensive’s magnitude.(Reuters, AP News) Internationally, the move is raising alarm over escalating humanitarian risks, including mass displacement, civilian casualties, and potential catastrophe in an already fragile region.(Reuters, AP News)
Conclusion
On September 9, 2025, two major developments unfolded in parallel:
- In Thailand, the Supreme Court ordered Thaksin Shinawatra to begin his one year jail term after ruling his hospital-based detention invalid. This marks a significant decline for the Shinawatra political legacy amid recent setbacks including his daughter’s ousting.
- In Israel Palestine, Israel escalated its military action by ordering a full evacuation of Gaza City, signaling the launch of a major ground campaign. Netanyahu’s declaration “this is only the beginning” signals intensified conflict ahead, while the humanitarian fallout continues to draw global concern.
