The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has confirmed that the attack came in response to the aggression against the PMF, and in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq launched a drone attack against a strategic Israeli target in the ’48 Israeli-occupied territories in response to the Israeli attack against a military base where a Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) group was deployed.
In a statement on its Telegram channel, the Iraqi Resistance adopted the operation against the Eilat port on Saturday morning, noting that it was in response to the violation of Iraqi sovereignty, the aggression against the PMF, and in support of Gaza against the Israeli massacres and genocide against Palestinians in the Strip.
BREAKING: VIDEO OF ISLAMIC RESISTANCE OF IRAQ TARGETING EILAT “UMM RASHRASH” IN ISRAEL pic.twitter.com/JPKRhPr4tD
Earlier on Saturday, the director of Al Mayadeen‘s office in Baghdad confirmed that one person was killed and eight others were injured, as a result of the aggression that targeted the Kalsu Base in Musayib, south of the capital. He clarified that the aggression targeted the main entrance to the base and an office belonging to the PMF, adding that it was most likely carried out with drones.
Iraqi airspace remained bustling with the usual American air traffic, as confirmed by the director of our Baghdad office, who reported the monitored movement of an American air refueling plane in Iraqi airspace. Furthermore, another US State Department plane was tracked moving from Baghdad towards the Lebanese capital, Beirut, following the aggression, as per the ongoing report.
In turn, the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq verified that an explosion took place at its headquarters at the Kalsu military base.
Iraqi Resistance announces targeting the Israeli ‘Ovda’ air base
Similarly, in a brief statement on Friday, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced that its Resistance fighters targeted the Israeli “Ovda” air base using drones.
The Islamic Resistance said that its resistance fighters targeted on “Monday, April 15, 2024, the Israeli Ovda air base in our occupied territories, using drones,” stressing that it would continue to destroy enemy strongholds.
The Resistance confirmed that the operation comes in solidarity with the people of the Gaza Strip and in retaliation for the massacres perpetrated by the occupation entity against the defenseless Palestinian civilians, including women, children, and the elderly.
An airstrike hit the headquarters of the Chief of Staff of the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq at the Kalsu Base, south of the capital Baghdad, resulting in one killed and several injuries.
In the meantime, Iraqi airspace remained bustling with the usual American air traffic, as confirmed by the director of our Baghdad office, who reported the monitored movement of an American air refueling plane in Iraqi airspace. Furthermore, another US State Department plane was tracked moving from Baghdad towards the Lebanese capital, Beirut, following the aggression, as per the ongoing report.
The director of Al Mayadeen‘s office in Baghdad confirmed on Saturday that one was killed and six people were injured, as a result of the air aggression that targeted the Kalsu Base in Musayib, south of the capital, with three raids. He clarified that the aggression targeted the main entrance to the base and an office belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), adding that it was most likely carried out with drones.
In turn, the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq verified that an explosion took place at its headquarters at the Kalsu military base.
Iraqi security sources reported that an airstrike targeted the Kalsu military base, located south of Baghdad. The base includes forces from the army, federal police, and the PMF. The sources specified that the attack targeted the headquarters of the Chief of Staff of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a tank base, and the entrance to the headquarters of the Babylon Sites Command.
The Secretary-General of the Sayyid al-Shuhada Brigades in Iraq, Abu Alaa al-Walai said “We will respond to whoever is behind the attack on the PMF base”.
US denies involvement in the attack
US Central Command (Centcom) refuted what it described as “reports of American planes conducting airstrikes in Iraq today,” stating in a brief statement released following the aggression: “We are aware of reports claiming that the United States conducted airstrikes in Iraq today. Those reports are not true. The United States has not conducted air strikes in Iraq today.”
We are aware of reports claiming that the United States conducted airstrikes in Iraq today. Those reports are not true. The United States has not conducted air strikes in Iraq today.
In turn, the international coalition led by the United States stated that the “Coalition Forces did not participate or strike locations in Iraq. We are monitoring reports of an incident in Jurf Al Sakhar and remain prepared to support our Iraqi partners.”
Coalition Forces did not participate or strike locations in Iraq. We are monitoring reports of an incident in Jurf Al Sakhar and remain prepared to support our Iraqi partners.
From Rachel Corrie to Aaron Bushnell: sacrificing for Palestine
The United States’ defeaning silence on its own citizens who were affected by its own policies speaks volumes.
“I think it is a good idea for us all to drop everything and devote our lives to making this stop. I don’t think it’s an extremist thing to do anymore.”
– Rachel Corrie, 2003
“Compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonizers, [this] is not extreme at all.”
– Aaron Bushnell, 2024
There is almost a two-decade time difference between these two sentences. However, both sentences originate from American witnesses of Israeli crimes in occupied Palestine.
Rachel Corrie and Aaron Bushnell bravely sacrificed their lives in support of the Palestinian cause, denouncing their country’s role in the 75-year Israeli occupation.
Yet, the striking question remains: How many more activists must tragically die before the United States truly listens to its citizens?
21 years earlier: The story of Rachel Corrie
On March 16, 2003, Rachel Corrie, an American peace activist, was tragically crushed to death and killed by an Israeli armored bulldozer while peacefully protesting the demolition of Palestinian homes in Gaza.
Corrie’s death shook the world, surprising mainstream media, which seldom covered the Palestinian deaths and Israeli massacres. Her death was especially jarring as it involved a young American killed by the US’ staunch ally, “Israel”.
In March 2003, US Representative Brian Baird presented a resolution in Congress urging the government to conduct a thorough and prompt investigation into Corrie’s death. However, the House of Representatives did not proceed with the resolution.
While the United States expressed condolences to Corrie’s family, which is the bare minimum, Washington faced criticism for not taking a stronger stance, or pressing “Israel” more forcefully for accountability. Some critics argue that the US could have done more to advocate for justice on behalf of Corrie and to address human rights violations in occupied Palestine.
The United States, often touted as a champion of human rights and democracy, has consistently failed to hold “Israel” accountable for its crimes. Despite mounting evidence of war crimes and human rights abuses committed by Israeli forces, the US continues to provide unwavering political and military support to the Israeli genocide. This is particularly evident today in light of the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, where nearly 30,000 Palestinians have been murdered by the Israeli regime.
As always, “Israel” persisted in manipulating events according to its own agenda and interests, and continues to do so to this very day.
Protests, tributes, and social media posts are flooding in to commemorate Aaron Bushnell, a 25-year-old active-duty member of the United States Air Force, who set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., to protest the Israeli genocide in Gaza bankrolled by the US.
However, President Joe Biden remained silent. The President seemed vocal to talk about how “Brave Ukrainian soldiers and civilians are dying,” yet not a word was mentioned for Bushnell.
This silence sparked criticism of the Biden administration’s double standards, especially after Hamas, who the US designated as a “terrorist organization”, blamed Biden’s policies for Bushnell’s death for its support and aid for the Israeli crimes in Gaza.
Brave Ukrainian soldiers and civilians are dying. And Russia made its first notable gains in Ukraine in nearly a year.
But here in America, the Speaker gave the House a two-week vacation.
They need to come back and pass our bipartisan national security bill.
Shouldn’t a President, the leader of a nation, acknowledge events where one of its own citizens protests against the President’s policies? We are not expecting a change of heart here, but how can the US preserve its “democratic” facade after all?
It should be noted that the scene of a one-man revolt scenario isn’t new in the United States. Nearly 60 years ago, American anti-war activist Norman Morrison ignited a firestorm by dousing himself in kerosene and setting himself ablaze outside the office of Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, at the Pentagon, opposing the US involvement in the Vietnam War.
Yet, throughout its history, the US government has often ignored the plight of its citizens who are affected by its policies, turning a blind eye to internal dissent.
So who is going to mourn the heroes?
As the so-called international community watches silently while Gaza endures a live-streamed genocide, global protests, and disruptions continue to amplify the Palestinian cause, dissent with the policies of Western governments is growing, interrupting speeches and shouting “Free Palestine” in defiance of oppression.
Those who are resisting in all forms are the ones who are mourning our heroes. Meanwhile, those who turned a blind eye to the war crimes, will be haunted by every rock, bullet, and shout for freedom.
Those martyred for Palestine are honored and remembered by those who share their pain, and who have witnessed the true horrors of genocide, occupation, and apartheid.
To those who have sacrificed and are still sacrificing for the sake of the Palestinian cause, may your legacy long live, resonating through generations as a testament to your righteous moral stance in history.
In a noteworthy development concerning the protracted conflict in the Gaza Strip, leaders from key parties involved in negotiations have formally declared the culmination of the truce accord, the detainee exchange, and the facilitation of humanitarian aid into the beleaguered region.
Despite nuanced disparities in the proposed frameworks presented by both Palestinian and Israeli factions, the agreement has come to fruition, marking hallmarks of an initial triumph for the Palestinian resistance.
The Qatari foreign ministry, in a moment just preceding the drafting of this article, has conveyed its intent to imminently announce the schedule for the humanitarian ceasefire scheduled for the following day, Friday.
The ministry has announced the commencement of the truce, starting tomorrow at 7:00 a.m.
The release of 50 resistance-held prisoners, including women and children, will occur in four batches. The initial batch, scheduled for tomorrow at 16:00, will comprise 13 children and women.
The finalization of this accord marks a paradigmatic shift, compelling the Israeli enemy to acquiesce to the stipulations. This compliance is primarily attributed to the Israeli military’s inability to amass any actionable intelligence concerning the detainees throughout the 48-day period of hostilities.
The families of the detainees, driven by the lack of information, intensified pressure on the political leadership to reach an agreement. This marks a notable triumph for the Palestinian resistance, securing the first victory in this complex conflict.
Details of Agreed-upon Terms
According to the Israeli Ynet website, the agreed-upon terms between Hamas and the Zionist entity involve the initial release of 53 prisoners by Hamas, with an additional attempt to release twenty more.
In return, the Israeli occupation has committed to a four-day truce, one day shorter than initially demanded by the movement. The deal includes a provision allowing for a two-day extension of the truce if the resistance releases approximately 20 additional prisoners, with the possibility of further extensions if more prisoners are released.
As part of the agreement, Ynet said, the Israeli entity commits to refraining from aerial activity over the Gaza Strip for six hours each day during the initial cease-fire days, while Hamas attempts to locate the remaining captives, preventing ‘Israel’ from tracking detention sites.
There is an assumption on the Israeli part that among the additional twenty prisoners, there may be mothers and children who were not released initially. Additionally, it is anticipated that the exchange will include the release of elderly female prisoners.
Also, according to information from Ynet, the enemy is expected to release between 140 and 150 Palestinian detainees, including women and children, in exchange for Hamas releasing more prisoners and extending the ceasefire.
The list of the 150 Palestinian women and children hostages who will be released by the Israeli occupation as part of the prisoner exchange has been published. The names include:
Fuel will be allowed into the Gaza Strip, and humanitarian aid will be increased. Ynet estimates that if the number of prisoners released by Hamas reaches 100, ‘Israel’ will release 300 Palestinian prisoners, and the ceasefire may be extended for ten days.
As per recent information, there are reportedly 236 Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip, including 40 children and 13 women.
The enemy estimates that Hamas is holding 80 prisoners who meet the criteria of the deal, i.e., children, mothers, and elderly women. If this number is released, ‘Israel’ would release 240 Palestinian prisoners and adhere to an eight-day truce.
On the other hand, Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted sources close to the file, stating that the agreement would involve the release of “50 to 100” Israeli civilian prisoners in exchange for 300 Palestinian women and children detained by ‘Israel’.
The exchange process is expected to occur in stages, with ten Israeli hostages released for every thirty Palestinian prisoners per day.
Hamas Version
It’s worth noting that the details reported by Hamas differ from those published by Ynet.
According to the Hamas version, a five-day truce is proposed, during which around 50 non-military and foreign prisoners would be released.
In return, the Israeli entity would release 300 women and children from its prisons. The cessation of fighting would require a halt to air sorties over Gaza, except for the northern Gaza Strip, where air sorties would be limited to six hours a day during the truce.
Additionally, 300 trucks carrying fuel, food, and medical supplies would be permitted to enter all areas of the Strip, and the release of Israeli prisoners would occur in five batches of ten prisoners each day.
Delving more on the Hamas version, the truce terms encompass the following key points:
A mutual ceasefire, mandating a cessation of all military actions by the occupation army across the entire Gaza Strip for a duration of four days.
The commitment by the occupation forces not to engage in attacks or arrests in any Gaza Strip areas during the truce.
Facilitation of unrestricted movement for individuals from north to south along Salah El-Din Street.
A halt to air traffic in the southern region for the entire truce period and in the northern region for six hours daily.
The exchange of 50 women and children captives for the release of 150 Palestinian women and children currently held in Israeli prisons.
The entry of numerous trucks carrying humanitarian, relief, medical, and fuel aid into all areas of the Gaza Strip.
Prevention of the advancement of Israeli occupation military vehicles into the Gaza Strip.
Hamas concludes its statement by affirming the truce agreement while maintaining vigilance, stating, “we will keep our finger on the trigger, and our brigades will remain on the lookout to defend our people.”
Deal Delayed
The proposed truce and release of prisoners, initially scheduled for Thursday, has been delayed until Friday.
Israeli national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi announced the postponement in a late-night statement on Wednesday, providing no specific reasons for the delay. However, Channel 13 TV reported that some last-minute details are still being worked out.
According to a Palestinian official speaking to AFP, gaps in the delayed agreement between ‘Israel’ and Hamas include unresolved questions regarding the involvement of the Red Cross.
The Palestinian official highlighted that questions have arisen regarding Red Cross access to the hostages before their release into Egypt, as well as concerns about whether the Red Cross will have continued access to those who remain in custody.
Shift in Israeli Stance
In a press conference following a war council meeting and preceding a ‘government meeting’ to deliberate on the deal, yesterday overnight, Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Galant, and War cabinet Minister Benny Gantz conveyed a sense of urgency and worked to justify their actions to the public.
Netanyahu acknowledged the challenging decision facing the Israeli government but emphasized its necessity, stating, “the hostages will be released in stages.” He highlighted his efforts to seek intervention from the American president, noting that these endeavours “had resulted in an improved agreement with the inclusion of more hostages.”
Netanyahu asserted that while a ceasefire is imminent for several days, the specifics are yet to be clarified.
The tone of the press conference reflected a collective determination to navigate a complex decision, with the Zionist leaders assuring the public that their actions were grounded in the pursuit of a secure and lasting resolution.
Families of Israeli hostages protesting
Despite initially rejecting the notion of a truce, Netanyahu and his government have faced significant pressure in recent days, particularly from the families of the prisoners.
This mounting pressure comes as a response to the Israeli army’s failure, after 48 days of aggression against Gaza, to secure the release of the prisoners or gather any information about their whereabouts. The public demand for a resolution, particularly from the families directly affected, has influenced the Israeli stance.
It is noteworthy that two extreme right-wing ministers within the Israeli government, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, have maintained their opposition to the proposed deal despite these pressing circumstances.
The differing perspectives within the government underscore the complex considerations and internal debates surrounding the decision-making process regarding the truce and the potential release of prisoners.
This comes as the toll of the Israeli aggression on Gaza has surged to over 14,532, with a staggering number of casualties, including more than 6,000 children and 4,000 women. The distressing statistic reveals that a significant 69% of the martyrs were children and women. The toll of the injured has climbed to 35,000, with more than 75% of them being children and women.
The negotiation of the truce agreement and impending humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip signifies a pivotal moment in the conflict’s trajectory.
As the Qatari foreign ministry readies itself to unveil the timeline for the imminent ceasefire, the perceptible ramifications of this accord come to the fore, proffering a much-needed respite for the affected Gazans. The Israeli enemy’s recognition of the terms, propelled by the exigencies of its military endeavors, signifies a discernible strategic realignment in the pursuit of a durable resolution. In the days to come, the unfolding narrative will unveil the measure to which this truce engenders a conducive atmosphere for protracted negotiations and endeavors to address the acute humanitarian needs that have been a casualty of the prolonged conflict.
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Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah underlines that the Israeli occupation is losing on numerous fronts, including before the West, due to its own actions as it also grows weaker in the region.
The aggression being carried out against Gaza by the Israeli occupation is a dangerous, exceptional development; these crimes reflect the brutality of the Israeli occupation, Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Saturday.
Speaking during a ceremony commemorating Martyr’s Day, Sayyed Nasrallah said the Israeli occupation’s crimes were a mere reflection of its brutal nature aimed at subjugating the peoples of the region and breaking their will to demand their rights.
“The goal of the Israeli occupation’s crimes is to push the people to give up and forget about their land, prisoners, sanctities, and the whole of Palestine,” the Hezbollah chief said.
He also underlined that the Israeli occupation, through its aggression and crimes in Gaza, including the aggressive and deliberate killing of civilians, is “sending a message to Lebanon.”
However, Sayyed Nasrallah explained that “Israel” was making yet another mistake and has not yet learned from its past. “It will not achieve its goal; the massacres it has committed throughout history, including Deir Yassin, bear testament to its failure.”
“The culture of Resistance has intensified generation after generation, despite the massacres that culminated in the great action taken by the al-Qassam Brigades on October 7,” he underlined.
Israeli project failing
“The Israeli occupation’s crimes over the past decades, and even the aggression of July 2006 did not see the Lebanese people abandon the Resistance,” Sayyed Nasrallah added, another testament to his assertions regarding the Israeli occupation’s failure.
“The Israelis must despair when it comes to achieving their goals – not our people whose choices have proven to be those of victory, liberation, and dignity,” he stressed, noting “Israel’s” own actions doomed its bids for the normalization of ties with Arab countries.
“The enemy is inflicting many losses upon itself, including by showing its true, brutal self,” the Hezbollah chief added. “The occupation dealt mighty blows to the normalization bids that it has its eyes set on. Our peoples’ stances against normalization will grow more staunch now.”
“Israel” had losses on fronts other than the Arab World, as well, as Sayyed Nasrallah noted that the change in public opinion, especially Western public opinion, including in the United States and Europe, was “of great importance.”
He also highlighted how “Israel” was today under substantial pressure in terms of time, and its allies are abandoning it one by one, and today, “it no longer has any supporters other than the US and British regimes.”
“The United States is directing this battle and making every decision in it, and they should be under utmost pressure […] The party that can stop this aggression is the one directing it, and that is the United States,” he said.
People expect action from OIC
The Palestinian people, Sayyed Hassan said, demand that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which brings together 57 countries, do the bare minimum and come out with a stance against the Israeli occupation.
“The Palestinian people hope that the summit held in Riyadh will manage to pressure the United States to put an end to the aggression,” he said.
“The Palestinian people hope that the summit in Riyadh would succeed in opening a humanitarian corridor for the transport of aid and wounded civilians,” Sayyed Nasrallah underlined.
This comes amid an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) aimed at addressing the escalating tensions in the region and the Israeli aggression on Gaza.
‘Israel’ broken, Resistance victorious
“The Resistance’s fighters are fighting with high spirits despite the painful psychological situation, which proves Israel’s ineptitude,” Sayyed Nasrallah stressed.
“The Israeli occupation today is still unable to show one angle where it is victorious or where the Resistance fighters are broken and defeated,” he said.
Moreover, in what was seemingly an invitation for the Resistance in the West Bank to join the confrontation, Sayyed Nasrallah explained that an escalation in acts of Resistance in the occupied West Bank “might force the enemy’s hand to pull some of its units from the border with Gaza and Lebanon.”
He went on to talk about the achievement of the Yemeni Armed Forces, “The Yemeni missile and drone attacks on Israeli sites have important reverberations, regardless of their interception,” he said. “The Yemeni Armed Forces supporting Palestine is highly important, as it is an army and a Resistance in one.”
In terms of the consequences of the attacks carried out by Yemen, Sayyed Nasrallah revealed that “Israel” was “forced to mobilize a part of its air defenses, Iron Domes, and Patriot systems in Eilat, taking them from southern and northern occupied Palestine.”
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It is past midnight. I am flying at hundreds of miles an hour in the darkness, thousands of feet over the Atlantic Ocean. I am traveling to Egypt. I will go to the border of Gaza at Rafah. I go because of you.
You have never been in a plane. You have never left Gaza. You know only the densely packed streets and alleys. The concrete hovels. You know only the security barriers and fences patrolled by soldiers that surround Gaza. Planes, for you, are terrifying. Fighter jets. Attack helicopters. Drones. They circle above you. They drop missiles and bombs. Deafening explosions. The ground shakes. Buildings fall. The dead. The screams. The muffled calls for help from beneath the rubble. It does not stop. Night and day. Trapped under the piles of smashed concrete. Your playmates. Your schoolmates. Your neighbors. Gone in seconds. You see the chalky faces and limp bodies when they are dug out. I am a reporter. It is my job to see this. You are a child. You should never see this.
The stench of death. Rotting corpses under broken concrete. You hold your breath. You cover your mouth with cloth. You walk faster. Your neighborhood has become a graveyard. All that was familiar is gone. You stare in amazement. You wonder where you are.
You are afraid. Explosion after explosion. You cry. You cling to your mother or father. You cover your ears. You see the white light of the missile and wait for the blast. Why do they kill children? What did you do? Why can’t anyone protect you? Will you be wounded? Will you lose a leg or an arm? Will you go blind or be in a wheelchair? Why were you born? Was it for something good? Or was it for this? Will you grow up? Will you be happy? What will it be like without your friends? Who will die next? Your mother? Your father? Your brothers and sisters? Someone you know will be injured. Soon. Someone you know will die. Soon.
At night you lie in the dark on the cold cement floor. The phones are cut. The internet is off. You do not know what is happening. There are flashes of light. There are waves of blast concussions. There are screams. It does not stop.
When your father or mother hunts for food or water you wait. That terrible feeling in your stomach. Will they come back? Will you see them again? Will your tiny home be next? Will the bombs find you? Are these your last moments on Earth?
You drink salty, dirty water. It makes you very sick. Your stomach hurts. You are hungry. The bakeries are destroyed. There is no bread. You eat one meal a day. Pasta. A cucumber. Soon this will seem like a feast.
You do not play with your soccer ball made of rags. You do not fly your kite made from old newspapers.
You have seen foreign reporters. We wear flak jackets with the word PRESS written on it. We have helmets. We have cameras. We drive jeeps. We appear after a bombing or a shooting. We sit over coffee for a long time and talk to the adults. Then we disappear. We do not usually interview children. But I have done interviews when groups of you crowded around us. Laughing. Pointing. Asking us to take your picture.
I have been bombed by jets in Gaza. I have been bombed in other wars, wars that happened before you were born. I too was very, very scared. I still have dreams about it. When I see the pictures of Gaza these wars return to me with the force of thunder and lightning. I think of you.
All of us who have been to war hate war most of all because of what it does to children.
I tried to tell your story. I tried to tell the world that when you are cruel to people, week after week, month after month, year after year, decade after decade, when you deny people freedom and dignity, when you humiliate and trap them in an open-air prison, when you kill them as if they were beasts, they become very angry. They do to others what was done to them. I told it over and over. I told it for seven years. Few listened. And now this.
There are very brave Palestinian journalists. Thirty-nine of them have been killed since this bombing began. They are heroes. So are the doctors and nurses in your hospitals. So are the U.N. workers. Eighty-nine of whom have died. So are the ambulance drivers and the medics. So are the rescue parties that lift up the slabs of concrete with their hands. So are the mothers and fathers who shield you from the bombs.
But we are not there. Not this time. We cannot get in. We are locked out.
Reporters from all over the world are going to the border crossing at Rafah. We are going because we cannot watch this slaughter and do nothing. We are going because hundreds of people are dying a day, including 160 children. We are going because this genocide must stop. We are going because we have children. Like you. Precious. Innocent. Loved. We are going because we want you to live.
I hope one day we will meet. You will be an adult. I will be an old man, although to you I am already very old. In my dream for you I will find you free and safe and happy. No one will be trying to kill you. You will fly in airplanes filled with people, not bombs. You will not be trapped in a concentration camp. You will see the world. You will grow up and have children. You will become old. You will remember this suffering, but you will know it means you must help others who suffer. This is my hope. My prayer.
We have failed you. This is the awful guilt we carry. We tried. But we did not try hard enough. We will go to Rafah. Many of us. Reporters. We will stand outside the border with Gaza in protest. We will write and film. This is what we do. It is not much. But it is something. We will tell your story again.
Maybe it will be enough to earn the right to ask for your forgiveness.
The Lebanese and Palestinian Resistance, as well as the Yemeni Armed Forces, attack the Israeli occupation forces as part of their effort to support the people and Resistance in Gaza.
A screengrab from a video posted by the Yemeni Military Media depicting the launch of a suicide drone towards the Israeli-occupied Palestine, November 6, 2023 (Yemeni Military Media)
The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon – Hezbollah announced Tuesday that they targeted Israeli artillery positions in northern occupied Palestine.
The Lebanese resistance fighters targeted Israeli occupation artillery positions in occupied Palestine in response to the targeting of one of the resistance points in Iqlim Al-Tuffah.
Simultaneously, intense artillery shelling by the occupation reached the outskirts of the towns of Al-Labouneh, Al-Naqoura, and Alma al-Shaab, as reported by an Al Mayadeen correspondent in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli occupation bombed the forests of Deir Mimas, Al-Khardalah, and Al-Qulei’a, and he added that an Israeli drone strike occurred in the vicinity of the town of Al-Naqoura.
Israeli media reported that a state of panic has ensued among Israeli settlers in the north, especially those living in settlements near the borders with Lebanon, noting that settlers fear the ambiguity of the rate of escalation.
Israeli Channel 12‘s correspondent in northern occupied Palestine reported that during his tour of the borders, “Hezbollah fighters were constantly present at a few meters distance,” highlighting that this state at the borders is absolutely terrifying for the settlers living in the north.
The correspondent noted that to address these concerns the Israeli authorities must build a new barrier that would fortify the northern settlements, which would take almost two years to finalize.
Given that no initiative has been taken so far in this regard, he added, the situation in the north remains very worrying and in fact “should worry everyone”.
Al-Qassam bombs ‘Israel’
Al-Qassam Brigades announced that they shelled “Tel Aviv” in response to Israeli massacres against civilians.
An Al Mayadeen correspondent reported that air raid sirens were sounded in “Tel Aviv” after a rocket barrage was launched from the Gaza Strip.
At the time of this announcement, the Al-Quds Brigades targeted the settlements of “Gush Dan”, “Sderot”, and “Mefalsim” with rocket barrages in response to the occupation’s massacres against civilians.
Israeli media reported that air raid sirens sounded in “Gush Dan”, “Hasharon”, and “Hashfela”.
This comes as the Israeli occupation conducts airstrikes on every civilian faciility it can get its hands on in Gaza, from residential buildings to hospitals.
An Israeli airstrike on the Nasser Medical Complex in the southern governate of Khan Yunis killed at least eight people and injured dozens, on Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza.
This comes after Israeli authorities forcibly displaced Gazans to southern areas in the Strip, claiming they would be safe there. However, a substantial number of bombs and shells have targeted residential blocks and civilian infrastructure, such as the Nasser Medical Complex, confirming the occupation’s sheer brutality.
The Nasser Medical Complex includes a pediatrics section, which was hit directly and indirectly by Israeli bombs.
In the northernmost part of the Strip, the occupation targeted the vicinities Kamal Adwan and Al-Quds hospitals, located in Beit Lahia and the northeast of Sheikh Zaid.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) explained that an Israeli bomb struck just 50 meters away from Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza City overnight.
Yemen bombs “Israel”
The Yemeni military media released Tuesday evening footage showing the Yemeni armed forces launching drones toward various Israeli targets in occupied Palestine as part of Yemen’s support for the Palestinian people in the face of the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Yahya Saree said Monday that the Yemeni Armed Forces launched a large batch of drones at several Israeli targets in occupied Palestine, with confirmed casualties.
The operation caused the bases and airports that were attacked to go out of service for several hours, Saree said.
The Yemeni armed forces “will continue to carry out military operations in support of the oppressed Palestinian people and in response to the calls of the great Yemeni people and the various peoples of the Ummah until the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip ends.
Israeli Kan TV’s Arab Affairs expert Roi Kais identified the most concerned countries as the United Arab Emirates, noting that a member of the UAE parliament, who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed concerns that Israel’s response to Sanaa’s actions “could escalate the scale of the war.”
The second-most concerned country according to Kais is Jordan, which recalled its ambassador from “Israel” in protest against the ongoing war.
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Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah in televised speech on Friday 3, November, 2023.
Batoul Wehbe
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah’s words resonated today, Friday, with a sense of urgency and determination, shedding light on various facets of the current conflict and the resistance’s unwavering commitment to their cause.
In a televised, long-awaited address, Sayyed Nasrallah emphasized that all options are on the table in response to Israel’s aggression against Gaza, asserting that those seeking to prevent a regional war must act swiftly to stop the Israeli attacks on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and reiterating Hezbollah’s readiness for all possible scenarios.
His speech, which was delivered during an honoring celebration organized by Hezbollah for the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the battle against Zionists “All the Way to Al-Quds”, delved into the recent Israeli aggression on Gaza and all the related developments, twenty eight days since the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood started.
Martyrs All the Way to Al-Quds
Addressing a large and esteemed audience at the event in Lebanon, the region, and the world, Sayyed Nasrallah extended a warm welcome and expressed gratitude for their participation in the ceremony dedicated to the memory of the martyrs. He conveyed heartfelt congratulations to the families of the martyrs for the honor their dear and beloved ones have received in the form of this divine recognition.
His Eminence emphasized the unparalleled legitimacy of the ongoing conflict from human, moral, and religious perspectives, regarding this battle as a shining example of a holy struggle for the sake of Allah.
He further extended his blessings and condolences to the families of martyrs in all the region, where martyrs have risen in the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a conflict that has now extended across multiple fronts and arenas. “We extend our heartfelt blessings and condolences to the families of the martyrs who have courageously risen in the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, which has now engulfed multiple fronts and arenas.”
This battle, Sayyed Nasrallah indicated, unquestionably transcends all levels, serving as one of the most vivid and compelling exemplars of a righteous struggle in the name of Allah. “If we were to seek a battle that embodies complete legitimacy from human, moral, and religious standpoints, none could rival the battle against the Zionist occupation of Palestine,” Sayyed Nasrallah reiterated. He highlighted the underlying strength of the resistance in their unwavering faith, profound awareness, unwavering commitment to the cause, and an extraordinary willingness to make sacrifices, which is inherent in the families of the martyrs.
Sayyed Nasrallah also paid tribute to the resolute people of Gaza, acknowledging that mere words and statements cannot adequately express the resilience and might of Gaza’s population as well as those in the West Bank.
Hezbollah’s S.G. shed light on the dire conditions faced by the Palestinian people over the past 75 years. He particularly emphasized the challenging circumstances in recent years, exacerbated by the presence of the foolish, stupid, and brutal Israeli government. “The plight of the Palestinian people has been widely recognized for over 75 years, yet in recent times, the conditions in Palestine have grown increasingly dire, exacerbated by the presence of a misguided, irrational, and cruel Israeli government.”
Continuing his remarks, he turned his attention to Gaza, where more than two million people have been enduring difficult living conditions for almost two decades. He decried the growing arrogance, tyranny, and oppression exhibited by the enemy, necessitating a significant event to challenge the usurping entity and its powerful supporters, notably in Washington and London. He also raised concerns about new settlement projects in the West Bank, underscoring the dangers they pose.
“For nearly two decades, over two million people in Gaza have endured challenging living conditions, with little relief from the international community. The extremist Israeli government’s policies have only compounded the suffering, particularly for the prisoners, resulting in a severe humanitarian crisis,” Sayyed Nasrallah said.
The Zionist regime imposed a devastating siege on Gaza following the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7. According to Gaza health authorities, the toll of the conflict is even more staggering, with at least 9,227 people martyred, including many women and children.
Sayyed Nasrallah went on to extend his greetings to all those who stood in solidarity and provided support to the Palestinian cause from various regions, including Arab, Islamic, and Latin American countries. “We extend our heartfelt greetings to all those who stood in solidarity, offered support, and rallied from Arab, Islamic, and Latin American nations, we must particularly acknowledge the valor of the Iraqis and Yemenis, who have entered the very heart of this noble battle.”
Special mention was made of the Iraqis and Yemenis, who actively engaged in this sacred battle, thus entering the heart of this momentous conflict.
In this regard, Sayyed Nasrallah stressed the need for shared responsibility, recognizing that the developments have ushered in a new historical phase. “The consequences have far-reaching implications for the region, marking the onset of a new historical phase,” he said.
“Words and statements fall short in capturing the profound greatness, resilience, and unwavering spirit of the people of Gaza and the West Bank,” His eminence pointed out.
Made in Palestine!
Sayyed Nasrallah went on to discuss the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, emphasizing that it was meticulously planned and executed by Palestinians, with complete secrecy even from resistance factions in Gaza. The operation’s success hinged on the element of surprise, made possible by the tight-lipped approach of its orchestrators, as he said.
“The remarkable and auspicious Al-Aqsa Flood Operation was entirely a product of Palestinian determination and execution, meticulously concealed from all, including the Gaza-based resistance factions, by its orchestrators. The operation’s unprecedented success was secured by the absolute secrecy surrounding it, which effectively leveraged the element of surprise.”
He noted that this secrecy was well-received by all the resistance factions, and it did not hinder any decisions made by these groups. In fact, it underscored the authentic nature of the battle. “The concealment of the operation didn’t raise any concerns within the resistance factions. In fact, it garnered widespread praise and had no adverse effects on the decisions made by any group or resistance movement within the axis of resistance.”
Sayyed Nasrallah added that the operation’s clandestine nature proves its exclusive Palestinian focus, unrelated to any regional or international agendas. “Hamas’s actions demonstrated the authentic nature of the battle and its objectives, thwarting attempts by enemies to distort the situation, especially in discussions concerning the relationships of regional resistance factions.”
“The secrecy surrounding the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood underscores its purely Palestinian character, dedicated to the cause of the Palestinian people and their concerns, free from any entanglements with regional or international matters,” he further said.
Furthermore, he stressed that the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood revealed that Iran exerts no control over the resistance factions. Instead, the true decision-makers are the leaders and fighters of the resistance, dispelling any misconceptions about external influence on their actions. “The events of the Al-Aqsa Flood operation unequivocally demonstrate that Iran exerts no control over the resistance factions, with the true decision-makers being the leaders of the resistance and their dedicated fighters.”
Operation of Seismic Impact
The monumental achievements in the Al-Aqsa flood operation triggered a ‘seismic impact’ across various dimensions within the Zionist entity—ranging from security and political to psychological and moral, His eminence said. “The operation carried existential and strategic implications, whose reverberations will significantly influence the current and future trajectory of this entity.”
“Regardless of the actions taken by the Israeli government in the past month and the weeks to come, it remains incapable of altering the enduring strategic consequences of the ‘Al-Aqsa Flood’ on their entity,” Sayyed Nasrallah asserted, adding that the Al-Aqsa Flood operation laid bare the entity’s vulnerabilities, exposing its fragility and demonstrating that it is indeed more fragile than a spider’s web.
In holding the United States responsible for the ongoing conflict in Gaza, he highlighted the US government’s influence and its reluctance to support a ceasefire. “The US government’s influence is evident, and its reluctance to support a ceasefire is a concerning factor.”
“The American administration, along with its president, ministers, and generals, swiftly intervened to support the destabilized entity, aiming to restore some semblance of stability; however, the entity has yet to reclaim the initiative and remains in a precarious state,” Hezbollah’s leader assured. “Even when American generals arrive to assist the entity and open their warehouses for the Israeli army, and ‘Israel’ requests 10 billion dollars from the outset, it raises questions about the entity’s true strength and its ability to regain stability and self-sufficiency.”
These outcomes, as His eminence said, mark the onset of a new historical era for the destiny of regional nations, and there were no alternative options; hence, the choice made by the Palestinian resistance was not only correct and prudent but also imperative, timely, and deserving of all the sacrifices made.
“In light of the events in Gaza and the harrowing ordeal that the Israeli enemy endured, it appears that their government is failing to learn from its past experiences.”
Here, Sayyed Nasrallah resembled what’s happening nowadays in Gaza to what the Lebanese went through during the July 2006 War. “What is unfolding today bears a resemblance to previous occurrences, such as the events in Lebanon in 2006 and the recurring conflicts in Gaza, with variations in terms of scale and impact, but the fundamental nature of these events remains consistent.”
“One of the pivotal errors that the Israelis have historically made, and continue to make, is establishing ambitious objectives that prove unattainable,” he said.
Crowds of Hezbollah supporters participating in Beirut’s southern suburb (Dahiyeh), the city of Nabatieh, Deir Qanun Al-Nahr, and Baalbek
In 2006, Sayyed Nasrallah continued, “their aim was to eradicate the resistance in Lebanon and secure the release of the two prisoners without resorting to negotiation or exchange. However, over the course of 33 days, they failed to achieve these goals. Presently, the situation in Gaza mirrors this scenario, albeit with an escalation in terms of crimes and massacres.”
His eminence expressed his solidarity with the people of Gaza, condemning the brutal attacks by the Israeli enemy and emphasizing the significance of the battle. “Our hearts are with the people of Gaza, and we condemn the enemy’s brutal attacks. The battle showcases the unwavering determination and courage of the Palestinian people.”
Hezbollah’s S.G. reiterated that the resistance will not be intimidated by threats, and the battle is a reflection of the steadfastness, patience, and resolve of the Palestinian people. “The actions of the ‘Israeli’ in Gaza involve the loss of innocent lives with a significant portion of the casualties being civilian children and women, there appears to be no regard for the sanctity of human life as the Israelis are causing extensive destruction to entire neighborhoods,” Sayyed Nasrallah said, adding: “The images unfolding in Gaza each day and hour serve as a powerful message to the Zionists; they depict men, women, and children emerging from the rubble, their voices raised in support of the resistance, conveying the message that no result can be achieved through killing and massacres.”
“The martyrs of Gaza, including its children and women, are today exposing the falsehoods that global and international media have, at times, contributed to concealing the reality of this entity,” he went on to say.
‘Israel’ = US Tool
In holding the United States responsible for the ongoing conflict in Gaza, he highlighted the US government’s influence and its reluctance to support a ceasefire. “The events unfolding in Gaza underscore the direct responsibility of the United States for the loss of life and the hypocrisy in their actions. The US government’s influence is evident, and its reluctance to support a ceasefire is a concerning factor.”
The ongoing events in Gaza are a stark reflection of the brutal and barbaric nature of the usurping entity that has been implanted in our region, he said. “The harrowing scenes of massacres emanating from the Gaza Strip serve as a powerful message to the Zionists: the triumph of Gaza and the defeat of ‘Israel’,” Sayyed Nasrallah added.
His eminence also said that the ongoing conflict in Gaza places the primary responsibility on the United States, with ‘Israel’ being perceived as a tool in this situation.
“The United States is seen as obstructing efforts to halt the aggression against Gaza and rejecting any proposals for a ceasefire. The Americans are perceived as the orchestrators of the conflict in Gaza; consequently, the decision by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq to target US occupation bases in Iraq and Syria is regarded as a wise and bold move.”
Call for Action
The aftermath of the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, as Sayyed Nasrallah mentioned in his historic speech, heralds a changed landscape, necessitating a shared responsibility from all parties. “The triumph of Gaza holds significance as a shared national interest for Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. Most notably, it is of paramount importance for Lebanon.”
Calling for action from every free party in the world, Sayyed Nasrallah said: Efforts to halt the aggression against Gaza should go beyond mere condemnation; it is imperative to take decisive actions, such as severing diplomatic relations and recalling ambassadors.
He gave Yemen’s intervention in the battle against the Zionists as an example of solidarity with Palestinians. “Despite facing numerous threats, the Yemeni people have undertaken several initiatives, launching missiles and drones, even when intercepted. In the end, these missiles and drones are anticipated to reach Eilat and the Israeli military bases in southern Palestine,” he said.
Lebanon’s Share in the Conflict
The resistance operations in Lebanon were a point of commendation, and Sayyed Nasrallah explained how they have effectively deterred the enemy.
Addressing those calling on Hezbollah to enter the battle in solidarity with Gaza, Sayyed Nasrallah said: We already embarked on this battle on October 8th.
“Since October 8, the Islamic resistance in Lebanon has been actively engaged in a tangible battle, the full gravity of which is truly comprehensible only to those physically situated in the border region, a conflict that is distinguished by its unique circumstances, objectives, methods, and intended targets,” His eminence pointed out.
What is unfolding on our Lebanese front will not be limited to it whatsoever, he said, “it will extend beyond that.”
“The Lebanese front effectively diverted a significant portion of the Israeli forces originally intended for an attack on Gaza,” Sayyed Nasrallah mentioned in his speech. “Had we maintained a position of mere political solidarity and public demonstrations, the Israelis would have remained unchallenged on the northern border, allowing their forces to be deployed to Gaza. The Lebanese front successfully pulled approximately one-third of the Israeli army to the border with Lebanon.”
“A significant portion of the Zionist forces deployed to the northern front comprises elite units, and nearly half of Israel’s naval capabilities are positioned in the Mediterranean, facing us and Haifa,” His eminence said. “A quarter of the Israeli air force has been redirected toward Lebanon, and almost half of the missile defense systems are oriented towards the Lebanon front, this has led to the displacement of tens of thousands of settlers in the region,” he added.
On the repercussions of Hezbollah’s attacks, Sayyed Nasrallah explained: “The operations along the border have generated a sense of anxiety, tension, and panic within the Israeli enemy’s leadership, as well as among the Americans. The enemy is deeply concerned about the potential for further escalation on this front or the outbreak of a broader conflict, this is a very real possibility that should not be dismissed and the enemy must take it into serious consideration.”
He also said that the resistance operations in the South serve as a deterrent to the enemy and send a clear message to any potential aggressor who might contemplate an attack on Lebanon or a preemptive operation. “Such actions would be the gravest folly in the history of the Israeli existence.”
Sayyed Nasrallah uncovered that Hezbollah was warned from intervening since the onset of the Palestinian battle. “From the very beginning, we were warned that opening a front in the South would lead to American airstrikes, yet this threat has never swayed our determination or position.”
“We have initiated actions on this front, and its escalation and evolution hinge on two fundamental factors: The first one depends on the unfolding events in Gaza, and second on the conduct of the Zionist enemy towards Lebanon.”
He warned: “I caution the Zionist enemy against persisting with actions that have impacted some civilians in Lebanon, as this could lead to the equation where civilians are pitted against one another.”
All Options on Table
“All possibilities on our Lebanese front remain open, and every option is being considered and available for implementation at any given moment,” Hezbollah’s leader warned, adding “it is imperative for us to remain prepared for all potential future scenarios.”
“Our efforts have successfully deterred the enemy, making it clear that any attempt to undermine Lebanon’s sovereignty will be met with strong resistance.”
Sayyed Nasrallah cautioned that any attempt to undermine Lebanon’s sovereignty and security would be met with resolute resistance.
He also warned against any misguided adventures in the region that could lead to further escalation.
Addressing the US administration, Sayyed Nasrallah said: Your fleets in the Mediterranean do not and will never instill fear in us. I want to make it clear that the fleets you threaten us with, we have also made preparations to counter them.
Further warning the US, Sayyed Nasrallah reminded them of their defeat in the early 80s. “Those who thwarted your plans in the early 1980s are still very much alive today, and alongside them are their children and grandchildren.”
Those who aim to avert an American war should act promptly to halt the aggression against Gaza, he said.
“In the event of a regional conflict, naval fleets and aerial warfare will prove futile and of no real benefit. In the event of any regional war, it’s important to acknowledge that your interests and soldiers will be the ones to suffer the most and endure the greatest losses.”
Triumph Eminent
In conclusion, Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah’s address at the ceremony conveyed the resistance’s unwavering commitment to their cause, the regional repercussions of their actions, and the need for all parties to be prepared for any future developments. He maintained that despite the challenges, Gaza’s triumph and Palestine’s victory remain the ultimate goal, signalling hope for a brighter future and celebration of their collective success.
Addressing the Palestinian people and the honorable resistance fighters in the region, Sayyed Nasrallah said: While we may require more time, it’s worth noting that we are currently achieving victories in different aspects, much like we did in 2006, in Gaza, and as the resistance in the West Bank has consistently accomplished achievements. This battle is characterized by resilience, patience, endurance, and the accumulation of achievements, all aimed at preventing the enemy from attaining its objectives.
“It’s imperative that we all strive to cease the aggression against Gaza, ensuring the triumph of the resistance,” he assured, giving hope to Palestinians on their eminent triumph: “Based on my personal experience and interactions with Imam [Sayyed Ali] Khamenei, I can attest to his unwavering conviction and belief that Gaza will ultimately emerge victorious, and that Palestine will achieve triumph; he conveyed this to us during the initial days of the July aggression.”
“Gaza will prevail, Palestine will triumph, and we will soon come together to celebrate this victory,” Sayyed Nasrallah ended up saying.
Jamal Huwail, a member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council in Jenin, receives a threat from Israeli intelligence while speaking on air with Al Mayadeen.
Israeli occupation forces have surrounded the home of Fatah Revolutionary Council member, Jamal Huwail, in Jenin, after he appeared as a guest on Al Mayadeen.
Huwail was forced to withdraw from a live episode with Al Mayadeen after he received a threatening call from Israeli intelligence while on air.
“I have to move elsewhere, because a threat has been issued to a number of leaders in Fatah. I have just been personally threatened by Israeli intelligence through a phone call, and was threatened with arrest,” Huwail said, before apologizing to the host.
This comes amid reports of Israeli occupation forces storming Jenin and confrontations with Palestinian Resistance fighters attempting to stop the Israeli raid on their city.
IOF raid house of Al Mayadeen’s bureau chief in occupied Palestine
The director of Al Mayadeen‘s bureau in occupied Palestine, Nasser al-Laham, confirmed that Israeli occupation forces assaulted his wife and children after storming his house in Beit Lahm, in the southern occupied West Bank, on Tuesday morning.
The occupation arrested al-Laham’s two sons, Bassel and Bassil, later releasing Bassil and insisting on seizing Bassel’s phone.
Al-Laham emphasized that his children are experiencing what all the Palestinian youths in the West Bank are experiencing, noting that he felt hesitant to discuss what happened with his family considering the mass suffering of fellow Palestinians in Gaza.
He continued, “When one sees homes being demolished and innocent lives lost in Gaza, it would be extremely hard to compare the suffering of Gazans to mere arrests and physical assaults.”
London — (Craig Murray) — October 23 saw the most violent bombardment of Gaza until that point, notably concentrated on precisely the areas where Israel ordered the population to evacuate. I find it almost impossible to believe that this genocide is underway with the active support of nearly all Western governments.
I want to examine two questions — what will happen internationally, and what is happening in Western societies?
Israel is on the course of further escalation and intends to kill thousands more Palestinians. More than 2,000 Palestinian children alone have now been killed by Israeli aerial attacks in the last fortnight.
Gaza has no defense from bombs and missiles, and there is no military reason why Israel cannot keep this up for months and simply rely upon aerial massacre. We are perhaps within a week of thirst, starvation and disease, killing even more people per day than bombardment.
The population of Gaza is simply defenseless. Only international intervention can stop Israel from doing whatever it wishes, and those countries that have influence with Israel are actively abetting and encouraging the genocide.
The question is, what is Israel’s aim? Do they intend to reduce the Gaza Strip further, annexing half or more of it? Will starvation and horror enable the international community to force Egypt to accept the expulsion of the population of Gaza into the Sinai Desert as a “humanitarian” move?
That appears to be the end game: the expulsion of population and territorial expansion into Gaza.
That would require a ground invasion, but probably not until after even more intense aerial bombardment to eliminate all resistance.
This territorial ambition, of course, accords with the violent expansion of illegal settlement in the West Bank, which is currently underway, with the world paying almost no attention. It is challenging indeed to comprehend the passivity of Fatah and its leader, Mahmoud Abbas, at the moment.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political stock within Israel is so low that he can only recover by making a significant step towards the complete genocide of the Palestinian people and the achievement of Greater Israel.
Netanyahu now knows that there is no violence against Palestinians so extreme that the Western political elite will not support it under the mantra of “Israel’s right to self-defense.”
I do not see any salvation for Gaza coming from Hezbollah. If Hezbollah were to employ its vaunted missile strike capabilities, the moment to do it would be now when the Israeli armor is drawn up in massive parks outside Gaza, a perfect target even for longer-range missiles of limited accuracy. Once dispersed into Gaza, the armor would be far more challenging for Hezbollah to hit at range.
Hezbollah is better equipped now to fight a defensive war in Lebanon than when it defeated the Israeli advance in 2006. But it is not configured or equipped to fight an aggressive ground war in Israel, which would be a disaster.
It also has to worry about hostile militias at its rear. If Hezbollah can provoke an Israeli incursion into Southern Lebanon, it could inflict substantial casualties. Still, Israel will not do that in a way that detracts from its capabilities in Gaza.
Iran has dramatically improved its diplomatic position in the last year. The Chinese-brokered lessening of hostility with Saudi Arabia has the potential to revolutionize Middle Eastern politics, and Tehran will not lightly lay aside the benefits of this. Iran had also made real progress with the Biden administration in overcoming the blind hostility of the Trump years.
Iran has no desire to throw away these gains. That is why it seems highly improbable that Iran endorsed the October 7 attacks by Hamas. Iran is now restraining Hezbollah.
But there are limits to the patience of Iran. The extraordinary truth is that Iran is probably the only state under discussion here with a genuine humanitarian concern for the lives of Palestinians. If the genocide unfolds as horribly as I anticipate, Iran can be pushed too far.
That said, I offer just a cautionary footnote that Saudi Arabia is not, under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, quite the reliable U.S./Israeli puppet it has historically been. I do not have much time for MBS, as readers know, but his high opinion of the importance of the House of Saud and its leadership role among Arabs makes him a different proposition from his predecessor.
Saudi Arabia has leverage. The Biden administration has gone all in on regional domination, sending two aircraft carrier groups into a situation which, if it escalates, could send oil prices to highest-ever levels, with Russia blocked from the market. U.S. President Joe Biden risks a massive gas price hike in an election year.
Biden’s calculation, or that of his security services, is that nobody can or will intervene to save the Palestinians. They judge the genocide as containable. That is an extraordinary gamble.
There has been an extraordinary amount of vitriol aimed at Qatar by pro-Israel commentators for hosting the Hamas office and leadership. This is extraordinarily ignorant.
QATAR’S DIPLOMATIC VENUE
Qatar hosts Hamas, just as Qatar hosted the Taliban Information Office at the direct request of the United States. It provides a means of dialogue between the United States and Hamas (exactly as it did with the Taliban) both at a deniable level and through third parties, including, of course, the government of Qatar.
Thus, when U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Qatar one day and the Iranian foreign minister the next, these were, in fact, “proximity talks” involving Hamas.
How do I know? Well, at Julian Assange’s request, I visited Qatar about five years ago to discuss whether Julian and WikiLeaks might potentially relocate to Qatar, which Julian had described as “the new Switzerland” in terms of being a neutral diplomatic venue.
It was explained to me by the Qataris, at a very senior level, that Qatar hosted the Taliban Information Office and Hamas because the United States government had asked them to do so. Qatar hosted a significant U.S. military base and depended on U.S. support against a Saudi takeover.
I was told that they would do so if I could generate a request from then-U.S. President Donald Trump for Qatar to host WikiLeaks. Otherwise, no.
So, I know what I am talking about.
One tiny but good result of this brokering in Qatar was the release of two American national hostages. British diplomats have told me that discussions in Qatar have held back the Israeli ground offensive, but I am not convinced that Israel wishes to do this yet. They are having sadistic fun shooting children in a barrel.
Qatar has also been the origin of deals allowing a tiny amount of aid into Gaza, but this is so small as to be almost irrelevant. It is performative humanitarianism by the West.
CHINA AND RUSSIA
I have frequently praised China for the fact that its economic dominance has been unaccompanied by any aggressive desire for world hegemony, but this also has its downside. China sees no benefit in assisting the Palestinians in practice.
Hopeful reports of China sending warships refer simply to pre-planned exercises, largely in the Gulf. That China is carrying out such joint exercises with Gulf states is indeed part of a long-term increase of influence but is irrelevant to the immediate reality.
Russia, of course, has its hands full in Ukraine. It is allowing its Syrian bases to be used as a conduit following increased Israeli bombing of Syrian airports, but there is not a great deal more that it can do.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is genuinely furious at what is happening in Gaza but is struggling to find any way to apply pressure, barring linkage to Ukraine shipping issues (which Erdogan is considering).
That is a very rough and ready tour d’horizon, but the net effect is that I see no current hope for averting the atrocity unfolding before our horrified eyes.
Most of our eyes are indeed horrified. The gap between the Western political and media elites and their people on this issue is enormous.
Western leaders have not only failed to restrain Israel; they have almost unanimously egged Netanyahu on, with the continued repetition of the phrase “Israel’s right to self-defense” as justification for the mass bombing, removal and starvation of an entire civilian population.
The Western leadership’s glee in vetoing every attempt at a ceasefire resolution at the U.N. is astonishing.
Massive demonstrations have been taking place across Europe against this unspeakable massacre, and the knee-jerk reaction of politicians at their isolation from public opinion has been to try to make such shows of dissent illegal.
Almost every politician in power in the West is being forced to row back a little from their open pro-genocide position, because public opinion has terrified them. Really fascinating.
In the U.K., people have been arrested for displaying Palestinian flags. In Germany, pro-Palestinian demonstrations have been entirely banned. Something similar has been attempted in France, with predictable failure.
I have attended pro-Palestinian demonstrations in three countries, and the most striking thing on each occasion was the strong support of passers-by and the number of people spontaneously coming out to join the demo as it passed.
A wave of racism has been unleashed in the U.K. and elsewhere. I am astonished by the Islamophobia and racial hatred released online, with no apparent comeback.
U.K. ministers claim to be alarmed at the “terrorist sympathies” of pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Yet, it is perfectly legal to call for Palestinians to be exterminated, to compare them to different types of animals and vermin, and to suggest they should be driven into the sea. That does not horrify ministers at all.
It has also become dangerous to suggest that Palestinians, too, have a right to self-defense and may offer armed resistance to genocide — a right they enjoy beyond doubt in international law.
Remember, Israel has formally declared war. Is it the position in British law that the only belief it is legal to hold and express is that in this war, the Palestinians must simply line up quietly to be killed?
The step change in Western authoritarianism is likely to be met by blowback.
After 20 years, we had finally come through the vicious cycle of the “War on Terror,” where terrorism, repression and institutionalized Islamophobia all boosted each other across the Western world.
Outrage at the appalling genocide in Gaza is likely to result in isolated incidences of, also appalling, Islamist-inspired violence in Western countries, including the U.K., mainly because of the U.K.’s military support of Israel.
The political elite will cite that consequential terrorism in itself as justifying their stance. And so the vicious cycle will restart. This will, of course, be welcome to the agents of the security state, whose power, budgets and prestige will be boosted.
Once again, we must be on the lookout for radicalization and real terrorism, but also for agent-provocateur-led terrorism and false flag terrorism.
If we descend back into that nightmare again, the direct cause will be elite support for the genocide of the Palestinian people and the Islamophobic narrative. The primary cause of terrorism here is Israel, the terrorist apartheid state.
MY OWN ‘TERRORISM’ INVESTIGATION
My phone is not being returned to me by police as I am now formally under investigation for terrorism. Whether this relates to support for Palestine or WikiLeaks was not made clear.
💥INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS
🔴"The treatment of @CraigMurrayOrg – and others – under the TERRORISM ACT concerns us greatly as independent journalists and should concern us all."
What follows is, unspun and unvarnished, my account of my interview under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act as given to my lawyers:
I arrived from Keflavik airport, Iceland, to Glasgow airport at about 10 a.m. on Monday, October 16. After passport control, I was stopped by three police officers, two male and one female, who asked me to accompany them to a detention room.
They seated me in the room and told me:
I was detained under Section 7 of the Terrorism Act”
I was not arrested but detained, and therefore had no right to a lawyer.”
I had no right to remain silent. I had to give full and accurate information in response to questions. It was a criminal offence to withhold any relevant information.”
I had to give up any passwords to my devices. It was a criminal offence not to do this.”
Credit | Craig Murray
They searched my baggage and my coat, going through my documents and taking my phone and laptop. They did not look at one document from Julian Assange’s lawyers that I told them was privileged.
They asked me about boarding cards for Brussels and Dublin they found and what I had been doing there. I replied I was at a debate at Trinity College in Dublin, while in Brussels, I had attended a human rights meeting focused on the case of Julian Assange.
They asked me to identify individuals on visiting cards I had from the Brussels meeting (one was a German member of Parliament).
They asked me the purpose of my visit to Iceland. I told them that I was attending a coordinating meeting of the campaign to free Julian Assange. I said I had also attended a pro-Palestinian rally outside the Icelandic Parliament, but that was not a prior intention.
They asked how I earn my living. I said from two sources: voluntary subscriptions to my blog and my civil-service pension.
They asked what organizations I am a member of. I said the Alba Party. I said I worked with WikiLeaks and the Don’t Extradite Assange campaign but was not formally a “member” of either. I was a life member of the FDA union [for professionals in public service]—no other organizations.
They asked if I received any money from WikiLeaks, Don’t Extradite Assange or the Assange family (separate questions). I replied no, except for occasional Don’t Extradite Assange travel expenses. In December, I had done a tour of Germany and received a fee from the Wau Holland Foundation, a German free speech charity.
They asked what other campaigns I had been involved in. I said many, from the Anti-Nazi League and Anti-Apartheid movement. I had campaigned for Guantanamo inmates alongside Caged Prisoners.
They asked why I had attended the pro-Palestine demo in Iceland. I said one of the speakers had invited me, Ögmundur Jónasson. He was a former Icelandic interior minister. I said I did not know what the speeches said as they were all in Icelandic.
They asked whether I intended to attend any pro-Palestinian rallies in the U.K. I said I had no plans but probably would.
They asked how I judged whether to speak alongside others on the same platform. I replied I depended on organizers I trusted, like the Palestine Solidarity Committee or Stop the War. It was impossible to know who everyone was at a big rally.
They asked if anyone else posted to my Twitter or blog. I replied no, it was all me.
They asked how considered my tweets were. I replied that those that were links to my blog posts were my considered writing. Others were more ephemeral, and like everyone else, I sometimes made mistakes and sometimes apologized. They asked if I deleted tweets, and I said very seldom.
The treatment of @CraigMurrayOrg – and others – under the Terrorism Act concerns us greatly as independent journalists and should concern us all. https://t.co/wgLSpeIaWf
I volunteered that I understood the tweet that worried them and agreed it could have been more nuanced. This was the limitation of Twitter, [now X]. It was intended to refer only to the current situation within Gaza and the Palestinian people’s right of self-defense from genocide.
That was more or less it. The interview was kept to exactly an hour, and at one point, one said to another, “18 minutes left.” They did not tell me why. At one point, they did mention protected journalistic material on my laptop, but I was too dazed to take advantage of this and specify anything.
They took my bank account details and copies of all my bank cards.
This is an enormous abuse of human rights. The abuse of process in refusing both a lawyer and the right to remain silent, the inquiry into perfectly legal campaigning, which is in no way terrorism-associated, the political questioning, the financial snooping and the seizure of material related to my private life, were all based on an utterly fake claim that I am associated with terrorism.
I have, to date, not been arrested and not charged. Contempt of court is therefore not in play, and you are free to comment on the case (although, in the current atmosphere, any kind of free thought is liable to vicious state action). I am safe and currently in Dublin. I intend to travel to Switzerland to discuss this with the United Nations.
My legal team has already submitted against this outrage to the United Nations Human Rights Committee and is looking at the possibility of judicial review in the U.K. We also have to prepare the defense against possible terrorism charges, ludicrous as that sounds.
I am afraid this all costs money. I am grateful for the unfailing generosity of people in what seems like a continual history of persecution.
October 17, 2023. A day that will eternally etch as the most somber chapter in human history. The aggression on al-Ahli Hospital has exposed a never-seen-before degree of malevolence on the part of the Israeli regime. On October 17, a medical establishment meant to be a sanctuary for the ill, the wounded, and the displaced was blown off with the utmost brutality, extinguishing the lives of almost 500 beating hearts with just one single rocket. The perpetrators of this massacre swiftly emerged on social media, only to later erase their digital traces. After the fact, Biden portrayed the attack as a result of Palestinians’ actions. One may ponder, how can anyone on earth be so evil? And as world leaders remain silent in the face of such an atrocity, one can’t help but wonder: has the world gone mad?
“Israel” ceased to exist
The moment the genocide was sparked, “Israel” had already ceased to exist. As a regime that struggled to maintain its credibility on the world stage, it no longer retains any semblance of legitimacy. Carrying out a massacre of such magnitude would not only spell disaster for the Israeli working class, but it also expose the extent to which Western morals and values are fragile.
The ruling settler classes have historically expanded their capacity for accumulation via means of expropriation and depopulation. However, in this specific instance, they no longer appear to wield this power. By dismantling the moral veneer of Zionism, the US manifested that it now holds the reins of decision-making. This is evidenced by the fact that the war in Gaza is not primarily aimed at exerting psychological pressure on Hamas fighters but rather at sending a clear message of war to Iran.
The Iranian revolution has faced continuous sanctions since its inception, leading to economic challenges and a strong sense of self-reliance and resentment towards the West. Over the years, the Iranian government has gained wide popular support but the true achievement of the revolution lies in Iran’s autonomy, which challenges imperialism. Iran has also shown a willingness to reform on social issues, particularly concerning women’s rights, and its stability can lead to social progress.
For quite some time now, the US has been itching to wage a war against Iran. Since the start of the genocide, Iran has issued several warnings to the regime that it would be compelled to intervene should the war on Gaza prolong. However, in its attempt to incite a response, the US failed to anticipate that Iran would refrain from launching a military response. Consequently, the US shot itself in the foot by revealing on the world stage the extent of its actions’ unparalleled brutality and injustice. But so far, it seems that the US remains oblivious to the magnitude of the self-inflicted damage.
Rising with the people of the West Bank the refugee camps, diaspora, and allies in Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, Spain, Iraq, Yemen, Iran, Morocco and globally erupt in anti-zionist protest in condemnation of the American-zionist massacre carried out at Al-Maamadani hospital in #Gazapic.twitter.com/JAoLtEIObO— UBBE AHMERDSON (@OurVisionariess) October 18, 2023
Understanding Israeli aggressions
The regime has a history of perpetrating similar acts of atrocity, with a pattern of constant disregard for human rights and international law. We have seen similar episodes in the Qana massacre in 1996 when the IOF bombed a UNIFIL shelter housing women, children, and UN staffers in southern Lebanon. Syria is neither a stranger to Israeli crimes as it has over the years been the target of multiple aggressions via airstrikes. Despite constant appeals to put a halt to Israeli aggressions, no concrete steps were ever taken to act in defense of international law.
When the regime was first conceived under Resolution 181, its primary objective was to establish a Western foothold in the Arab region. At that time, the pan-Arab movement posed a substantial threat to Western interests and was gaining momentum throughout the region. Through the defeat of pan-Arabism, “Israel” effectively isolated the Arab masses from the fallout of development in the productive forces. The effort was one where the US and several EU countries had joined forces to arm the Zionists, and thus, contrary to Zionist claims, the regime’s actions against Arab states were never primarily driven by existential threats but rather served to act on the behest of imperialism.
But this time, the West no longer has the capacity to exonerate “Israel’s” war crimes. The warning signs were evidenced by the fact that the regime had been embroiled in political upheaval over the past ten months. Netanyahu’s extremist cabinet and the proposed judicial overhaul plan had weakened the liberal basis of the Zionist regime which would have opted for a more strategic approach to negotiate superficial concessions with the Palestinians and to ensure the regime’s credibility and durability.
Moral decay
Anti-US sentiment initially pervaded countries like Syria, Libya, Iraq, and Yemen which endured the harshest consequences of US intervention and policies. Anti-US sentiment has also been steadily growing over the past decade throughout the Gulf region, including by key allies like Saudi Arabia, which have sought to establish greater autonomy in matters of national defense. But since the genocide began, this sentiment has grown immensely out of proportion among the Arab masses. Videos circulated all across social media of protesters attacking US embassies, as well as resistance groups resorting to attack military posts and warships. Likewise, numerous protests erupted across the West, but the silence of Western leaders implies a desire for more massacres to occur.
Western amorality is explained by the fact that the commodification of labor under capitalism not only objectifies labor but also establishes the moral framework for how capital treats human resources. Eurocentric perspectives tend to focus on partial facts as absolute truths, emphasizing class-desirable information to guide moral actions. The rejection of the categorical imperative, due to its lack of alignment with ruling-class interests, leads to various shortcuts and eclectic approaches to ethics, which erode the universality of moral conduct. In some cases, morality is reduced to a form of lifeboat ethics, justifying actions like shooting refugees at sea to protect Europe or provide benefits to the majority white population. This perspective is also reflected in the justifications provided by US presidents for war, where the focus is on protecting a way of life that perpetuates profit rates and imperialist exploitation, rather than safeguarding life itself. In this particular context, the US capitalizes immensely through the dehumanization of both Palestinians and Jews.
Panic begets panic
There was a time when the US had the ability to implement wars similar to those in Libya and Iraq. But the changing global balance of forces had no longer allowed for such scenarios to be repeated. With the rise of China and Russia on the global stage, there seemed less of a free hand to engage in direct military intervention. Russia forged alliances with Iran and the DPRK, de-dollarized its own economy, and gained new territory by defying NATO’s expansion to the East. China, on the other hand, supports the sovereignty of developing states and recognizes the national rights of the Palestinian people in Al-Quds, which poses a challenge to “Israel”, seen as a spearhead of US-led imperialism. The US felt it could not keep up with China as it offered a more compelling offer for peace: While the US promoted a version of peace based on the unchallenged supremacy of US military, China promoted peace via trade and development projects.
For the US to get directly involved through the monstruous dispatch of arms and carriers speaks volumes about the deteriorating state of US influence in the Arab region. With an awareness that attempts to drive a wedge between China and Russia had failed, the US is taking actions that continue to erode its global reputation. It brings to mind the adage that “panic begets panic,” that is, the US is increasingly losing its strategic composure on the international stage and resorting to a full-scale destruction of anything in sight amid despair to reaffirm dominance.
Could this be cause for concern? Quite so, since the reconfiguration of power structures could potentially lead to a nuclear conflict.
The Israeli occupation carried out a massacre before the entire world on Tuesday as it bombed a hospital housing over a thousand civilians, killing hundreds in the process.
Airmen with the Security Forces Flight, 443d Expeditionary Squadron, conduct a flight line patrol with U.S. flags flying from their Mine Resistant Ambush Protected-All Terrain Vehicles at Al Asad Air Base on July 4, 2021 (U.S. Army National Guard)
The US military intercepted two drones that intended to strike the American military base of Ain Al-Assad, Reuters reported citing two US officials.
While the officials did not specify the party presumed to be behind the aggression, the timing of this thwarted attack has raised alarms amid increasing tensions in the region, due to the ongoing Israeli aggression against Gaza.
Last night, the Israeli occupation carried out a massacre before the entire world as it bombed a hospital housing over a thousand civilians, killing hundreds in the process.
Palestinian media reported that Al-Maamadani Hospital was housing over a thousand people, including Palestinian refugees, patients, and media personnel.
The Government Media Office: #Israel committed a war crime, targeting the courtyard of the Baptist Hospital.
Hundreds of displaced Gazans had been taking shelter in the courtyard of the hospital thinking that it would be safe because it is a hospital sponsored by Christian… pic.twitter.com/PiZin8jqDH
Gaza — (Consortium News) — Hundreds of people were killed on Tuesday by a devastating airstrike on the Anglican al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City. Although Israel now blames the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) for the bombing, observers, including reporters from MSNBC and the BBC, suggest that this is unlikely. A reporter for the BBC stated on air:
The Israeli military.. have said they are investigating, but it’s hard to see what else this could be, really, given the size of the explosion, other than an Israeli air strike…”
The Anglican News Service also reported that the same hospital was hit by an Israeli rocket the day before the massive explosion.
Hananya Naftali, who currently works for Benjamin Netanyahu as a deputy media advisor, initially posted via social media that Israel had bombed the al-Ahli hospital before deleting the post and blaming PIJ for the attack.
He eventually apologized and retracted his first post, as Israel blamed a misfired Hamas rocket for the grisly damage. An official Israeli government Twitter account also deleted a video they published as evidence of Hamas’s responsibility for the attack after it was exposed to have included a video dating from 2022.
“BBC News is going out of its way to lend a sympathetic ear to Israel’s patently ridiculous claim that Islamic Jihad, not Israel, hit al-Ahli hospital in Gaza, killing many hundreds of Palestinian families sheltering there. That’s even though every journalist at the BBC knows that no group in Gaza has a rocket capable of flattening an entire building. Their rockets would barely be able to knock a hole in one of the hospital’s wall”
In just the last few days, members of Israel’s military and police forces admitted publicly their intent to target civilians in Gaza.
Another Israeli strike destroyed a crucial UNRWA depot in central Gaza holding scarce supplies. Palestinian civilians were continuously shelled in their homes. The death toll of civilians continues to rise, with the real numbers unknown as untold numbers of people remain under the rubble, with no one left in some families to reclaim the bodies.
Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the U.N., also reportedly pushed back on Netanyahu for denying Israel’s responsibility for the hospital bombing, saying: “He is a liar. His spokesperson and digital spokesperson tweeted that Israel did the hit thinking that this hospital was a base for Hamas. Then he deleted that tweet. Now, they changed the story to try to blame the Palestinians. It is a lie.”
Earlier today I shared a report that was published on @reuters about the bombing at the hospital in Gaza which falsely stated Israel struck the hospital. I mistakenly shared this information in a since deleted post in which I referenced Hamas’ routine use of hospitals to store…
Electronic Intifada further criticized Israel’s refusal to admit responsibility for the attack, deconstructing numerous official Israeli social media posts.
The attack at al-Ahli al-Arab Hospital was so atrocious that doctors were forced to hold a press conferencesurrounded by casualties. During their press conference, the hospital’s director reportedly stated, “The IDF told us, ‘We warned you yesterday with two bombs. So why have you not evacuated the hospital until this moment?’” A doctor at the press conference said that Western officials who gave “unconditional support” to Israel had “blood on their hands” after this attack.
All this comes after the WHO reported that multiple medical facilities had been targeted by Israel during the recent bombing campaigns. Hospitals in Gaza were already on the verge of total collapse. Israel also continues to bomb medics and emergency personnel in the midst of their attempt to perform their duties.
Naftali claims this video shows that Islamic Jihad rockets hit the hospital. While they are seen flying over the hospital, none are seen in this video actually hitting it. How many of these simple rockets would have to detonate to cause the massive explosion that destroyed the building? The next video shows and has the distinct sound (turn up the volume) of a more powerful JDAM bomb (listen) — which the Palestinians clearly don’t have — hitting the hospital.
For those that still doubt whether Israel bombed the hospital in Gaza or not, please watch this >> pic.twitter.com/Pfwj6yF5MO
When morning came, however, the damage done to the hospital grounds appeared less than what might have been expected by such a huge blast. A BBC analysis appears to show that the explosion was restricted to the parking lot of the hospital, where thousands of internally displaced people had apparently been sheltering. The analysis appears to indicate that the deaths (and there is no firm number yet) may have come mostly from fire. Given the less-than-expected damage, it leaves open the possibility that it was an errant Palestinian rocket.
OTHER MEANS OF DEATH
Regardless of who was responsible, bombing is not the only form of terror facing Palestinians: “A U.N. official just told me civilians in Gaza are reduced to drinking seawater because clean water has run out. Body bags are running out, and fuel for hospital generators powering ventilators will run out in hours. Food supply low. The bombing is intensifying. There aren’t words.” So wroteThe Independent’s award-winning chief international correspondent, Bel Trew, on Monday.
Children in Gaza are killed and orphaned by the hour, with those who escape shelling facing imminent starvation and dehydration under Israel’s blockade. Israel bombed the crossing from Gaza into Egypt again on Monday, further delaying the entry of desperately needed supplies. The Guardian reported the words of a nurse in Gaza, who commented on wounded children brought to hospitals who are the last living members of their families: “This is a war against children. Even the survivors will spend the rest of their lives on their own.”
This is the brutal, criminal reality below the niceties and the moral sloganeering, now in full view.
Israel: You guys need to evacuate that hospital or you’ll get killed.
Palestinians: We can’t evacuate the hospital, it’s a hospital.
The media has thus far failed to fully control the public narrative around Israel’s worsening war crimes, especially as images of slaughter escape Gaza via social media, bypassing dishonest corporate media framing. In response to massive public outcry in solidarity with Palestinians, multiple Western governments are cracking down on dissent and, in doing so, further exposing the West’s real values when it comes to atrocities.
The Western propaganda machine excuses. obfuscates and covers up Israeli crimes. In that sense, the ongoing atrocity of genocide and the response to it is not simply a revelation of Israel’s efforts at ethnic cleansing. It is a mask-off moment for the underlying brutality of the entire architecture of the Western empire, its total disregard for civilian life and civil liberties.
The U.S., the U.K., and Europe also aid Israel in terms of financial and material support. Israel has always been propped up by the West: as President Joe Biden has said multiple times, if Israel didn’t exist, “we would have to invent one in the Middle East.” Biden arrived in Israel on Wednesday and, in a televised appearance with Netanyahu, said that “from what I’ve seen,” the “other team, meaning not you,” did this.
Biden: ‘Israel did not bomb the hospital, it was done by them’.
In attempting to excuse this escalating ethnic cleansing, the Western corporate press is revealing the true value of human life under empire: zero. Zero value for the lives of Palestinians and their children, and even for the Israeli hostages in Gaza.
Zero value in upholding Western democratic ideals that so many wars have been excused by. The world public has noticed, turning out in the thousands to protest Israel’s treatment of Palestinians despite the pro-Israel propaganda.
In response, many Western countries have stepped up efforts to criminalize support for the Palestinians, starkly demonstrating that the democratic ideals supposedly held by the West are dead.
Former U.K. ambassador and human rights activist Craig Murray was reportedly detained and questioned on Monday under the U.K.’s “Prevention of Terrorism Act” after returning from a solidarity march in Iceland for Palestinians.
At least 57 members of Jewish Voices for Peace were arrested while showing their solidarity with Palestinians in New York City. Pro-Palestinian rallies in France and Germany have been outlawed. And the British home secretary likewise warned about criminalizing flying the Palestinian flag.
Within Israel, the government has grown nervous enough about public opinion on the ongoing atrocities to heavily criminalize dissent, including factual information, as reported by Haaretz. This came after multiple voices within Israel, including those whose relatives had been taken hostage, urged the Israeli government not to destroy Gaza.
If Israel’s new law seems anti-democratic, freedom of speech isn’t looking much freer in France or Germany: TheHill reports that French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin banned “all pro-Palestine protests in the country… He has ordered foreign nationals who violate the protest ban to be “systematically” deported.” After tens of thousands of people protested in solidarity with Palestinians, tear gas was used against the French public:
France deploys water cannons and tear gas against peaceful pro-Palestine protesters. Nothing says “this is a free country” like using chemical warfare against those trying to prevent genocide. pic.twitter.com/yuMKsPvr41
Mnar Adley, CEO of the independent news organization Mintpress News, reported on apparent social media censorship of videos explaining the situation from a Palestinian perspective.
Meanwhile, independent journalist Eva Bartlett had her YouTube account completely removed. Bartlett wrote via X (formerly Twitter):
After over 15 years of having a Youtube account, now, while Israel is genociding Palestinians, Youtube has suddenly closed my account completely.
This is not coincidental. I had many videos which I took in Gaza, under Israel’s bombs in 2009 & 2012… pic.twitter.com/Tn39HQgfCc
According to Yahoo News, the BBC has removed six reporters for anti-Israel social media posts. After tens of thousands marched in multiple cities across Britain, the BBC was forced to apologize for mischaracterizing the rallies as if they were in support of Hamas, rather than in solidarity with the Palestinians living under apartheid and Israeli bombs.
All of Israel’s attacks on civilians, the West’s dishonest reporting on Israel’s war crimes, the attempts to silence solidarity with Palestinians, and the material aid sent by the West to Israel amidst its attacks on civilians in broad daylight, constitute a mask-off moment for Empire like we’ve never seen before.
Where the degradation of Palestinians by Israel was previously shoved to the side of public discourse, the entire world is now witnessing the reality of Israel and the West’s utter disregard for human life in Gaza. Despite its posturing, the Western establishment’s support for Israel as it commits atrocity after atrocity is demonstrating in real time that the West has no moral authority.
Its defense of human rights and democracy is a lie.
Feature photo | A wounded mother and child wait for treatment in al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, central Gaza Strip, after arriving from al-Ahli hospital following an Israeli airstrike there, Oct. 17, 2023. Abed Khaled | AP
Elizabeth Vos is an independent journalist and MintPress News Contributor. Her work has appeared in many media outlets, including Consortium News, where she co-hosts the CNLive! webcast.
Stories published in our Daily Digests section are chosen based on the interest of our readers. They are republished from a number of sources, and are not produced by MintPress News. The views expressed in these articles are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect MintPress News editorial policy.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect MintPress News editorial policy.
Israeli soldiers take position near the Lebanon border, in Metulla settlement in northern occupied Palestine on July 12, 2023 (AFP)
The Israeli occupation army says that one soldier was killed and another injured in northern occupied Palestine due to a blast after a “malfunction of ammunition.”
Corporal Kamay Achiel, a Female Israeli Sailor with the 914th Patrol Squadron was killed and several other sailors were injured yesterday following an explosion possibly caused by malfunctioning naval ammunition near the maritime border with Lebanon.
The Israeli occupation army said that a soldier in the naval unit was killed and another was injured from the 914th Patrol Squadron on Saturday while conducting a maritime mission in northern occupied Palestine near the Lebanese border.
According to Israeli media, the incident was due to an “explosion as a result of malfunctioning ammunition.”
During the early hours of Sunday, Hamas’ military wing Al-Qassam announced carrying out a successful infiltration operation from Lebanon toward northern occupied Palestine on Saturday morning.
The Resistance group confronted Israeli soldiers at a military outpost, the Resistance group said in a statement on Sunday.
Supportive mid-range fire was launched to cover the infiltrating forces conducting the mission.
Following heavy and direct confrontations with Israeli occupation soldiers near the outpost, which led to confirmed hits, an Israeli warplane targeted the Resistance group, resulting in the martyrdom of three fighters.
While Hezbollah announced carrying out two separate operations targeting over five Israeli military sites, including a reconnaissance and surveillance base – destroying most of its equipment and hardware – there were no Israeli reports about an infiltration operation.
This further confirms the state of confusion the occupation entity is living in and its attempts to cover any military failure following the historic success of the Al-Aqsa Flood operation launched by the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza on October 7.
The Israeli occupation army reported a provisional toll on Sunday, stating that operations conducted by the Resistance in Gaza have resulted in the death of 286 soldiers. According to the most recent updates released by the Israeli military, over 1,500 Israelis were confirmed killed and over 150 captured by the Resistance.
Gaza massacre continues
Israeli aggressions on the besieged Gaza Strip continued for the eighth consecutive day, the last of which was on Deir al-Balah in the middle of the Strip, the Al-Fakhoura neighborhood west of the Jabaliya camp, Hamid Street in the al-Shati’ neighborhood, and on the city of Rafah.
Al Mayadeen‘s correspondent confirmed on Saturday night that the Israeli occupation committed three massacres in the span of one hour, noting that more than 90 martyrs, most of them children, were killed as a result of the Israeli bombing of Gaza in the last hours.
The Palestinian health ministry revealed that the total number of Palestinians martyred due to the Israeli ongoing brutal aggression on Gaza has so far surpassed 2,200 and more than 8,700 were wounded.
Over 60% of martyrs are children and women: more than 700 children and over 400 women.
Meanwhile, the occupied West Bank is not spared of the Israeli crimes against Palestinians. As per the ministry, Israeli occupation forces have killed 55 Palestinians in the West Bank and wounded more than 1,100 since last Saturday. A significant number of the Martyrs are children.
Not responding to Israeli threats
Dr. Ashraf al-Qedra, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health in Gaza, described “Israel’s” ongoing aggression against the strip as a “genocide against Gaza, in full view of the world, which continues to sit idly by.”
He further noted that during the past eight days, since the beginning of the aggression last Saturday, more than 55 Palestinian families were removed from official records, as they were massacred by the Israeli occupation.
Regarding the situation in the Gaza Strip amid the occupation’s war crimes and the targeting of civilian buildings and hospitals, Al-Qedra noted that medical crews “will not respond to Israeli threats to evacuate hospitals; they have made the decision to continue working. They will stay in place and continue to fulfill their duty and not evacuate the hospitals, even if they should be leveled over our heads.”
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Filmed during the attack and in the days following the ceasefire, the documentary tells the story of how Gaza’s armed resistance groups outwitted the vastly superior Israeli military and established their ability to intervene against Israeli ethnic cleansing of neighborhoods like Sheikh Jarrah and provocations at the al-Aqsa compound in occupied East Jerusalem.
“The Palestinian military capabilities are not highly sophisticated and destructive, but it becomes so effective when it’s used by Palestinian smart youths who believe in their rights and freedom,” a masked al-Qassam commander says.
The documentary features intimate interviews with survivors, many of whom lost family members in the Israeli bombardment.
Among them is Omar Abu al-Ouf, who lost 22 family members in the bombing of his family’s house in al-Remal, Gaza’s main thoroughfare.
“The first missile came down on us in the street with no prior warning or call,” he recounted.
Among those killed was Omar’s father, Dr. Ayman Abu al-Ouf, one of the most senior physicians in all of Gaza.
Others, like 11-year-old Amal Ramzi Muhammed Nasir, fled amid the bombardment to take shelter in United Nations-run schools.
“We were trying to sleep. At exactly 1 a.m., there were sounds of explosions and airstrikes nearby. The house was shaking due to the intensity of the explosions.”
Having escaped to a school, Nasir and her family returned after the ceasefire to find their homes in ruin.
“We arrived and saw that our neighborhood that housed us our entire lives, our shelter, completely leveled to the ground,” she recalled. “Every single house was damaged and bombed.”
Men carry a child killed when Israeli airstrikes targeted an apartment complex in Gaza on May 16, 2021. Photo | AP
Jawad Mahdi, owner of the al-Jalaa tower, described Israel destroying the place he and his family lived for 25 years:
As for future confrontations with the Israeli military, the al-Qassam commander sees them as inevitable as long as the occupation remains: “The Israeli occupation experienced our military capabilities in the last aggression on the Gaza Strip and the whole world saw it. And we still have more important capabilities in the shadow.”
He believes that armed resistance presents a viable path to liberation:
The lessons learned from the last aggression on the Gaza Strip is that Israel is an occupation state that could be defeated. It’s not a firm state that has been depicted by the Israeli Zionist propaganda machine. Palestinians can get their liberation and retrieve their rights and freedom.
The sixth day of the “flood of Al-Aqsa” operation, led by the Al-Qassam Brigades, the resistance in Gaza firing rockets towards Tel Aviv, Ashkelon, Beersheba, and Haifa in retaliation to the ongoing Israeli aggression. Meanwhile, ‘Israel’ announced the formation of a national emergency government to counter Hamas.
Since the start of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, 1,200 Palestinians have been martyred and 5,600 others injured, while the number of Israeli deaths at the hands of the Palestinian resistance has risen to 1,300.
IOF Destroyed Thousands of Housing Units in Gaza
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) quoted the Ministry of Public Works and Housing in Gaza as saying that the violent shelling by the occupation forces on the Strip has caused the destruction of at least 2,540 housing units in the Strip or rendered them unfit for habitation. It added that 22,850 other housing units were damaged to varying degrees.
The United Nations announced that more than 338,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the Gaza Strip, which is under heavy Israeli shelling. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement that the number of displaced people in the densely populated 2.3 million-person territory “has increased by an additional 75,000 people” to reach 338,934.
The office explained that about 220,000 people, or two-thirds of the displaced, have fled to schools run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Strip, while about 15,000 people have fled to schools run by the Palestinian Authority. The remaining displaced people, over 100,000 people, have found refuge with relatives and neighbors in a church and other facilities in the city of Gaza.
The UN agency also expressed concern about the extensive damage to civilian infrastructure in the Strip as a result of Israeli shelling.
The statement noted that sanitation facilities serving more than one million people have been targeted by air strikes, leading to the accumulation of solid waste in the streets, which poses health risks.
A source in the Palestinian resistance confirmed that it is preparing for a long-term battle with the occupation forces and has all the necessary capabilities for that, adding that “the resistance fighters are still in full combat readiness and are still carrying out offensive missions in the heart of the enemy’s settlements.”
For its part, the Palestinian resistance factions announced that their rocket units had bombarded Tel Aviv, Ashdod, Ashkelon, and the settlements adjacent to the Gaza Strip with rocket barrages in response to the occupation’s crimes against civilians in the Gaza Strip.
Hezbollah Secretary General His Eminence Sayyed Nasrallah delivered on Wednesday a speech marking the 17th anniversary of the start of the July War.
At the beginning of his televised speech, Sayyed Nasrallah congratulated the Muslim world over Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Ghadir.
He then condemned the burning of the Holy Quran in Sweden, saying that “the person who burned the Holy Quran in Sweden has ties to the ‘Israeli’ Mossad”. Sayyed Nasrallah explained, “They seek to sow discord between Muslims and Christians”.
Moreover, the Resistance Leader asserted that the “Christian clergy’s condemnation to the burning of the Holy Quran contributed greatly to preventing sedition”.
His Eminence urged the peoples of the region to “pressure their governments to take a tougher stance on the issue of burning the Holy Quran”.
Sayyed Nasrallah commended Russia for its “remarkable stance on the issue of burning the Holy Quran” which he said “embarrassed Western countries”.
“The US scheme under the title “The Greater Middle East” was toppled in Lebanon and it’s topple was completed in Palestine, Iraq, Syria and Iran,” the Resistance Leader said, noting that “The ‘Israelis’ and the Americans admitted the failure of their war on Lebanon in 2006 on more than one level”.
Regarding the 2006 July War, Sayyed Nasrallah said “The goal of the 2006 ‘Israeli’ aggression was to crush the Resistance and subjugate Lebanon”. However, “the July Victory laid the foundations for a deterrence equation that still exists today, while the ‘Israeli’ enemy suffers an erosion of deterrence at its side,” he added.
Elsewhere in his speech, His Eminence highlighted that, “The peace and security that the South Lebanon enjoys resulted from the people’s confidence in the effectiveness of the existing deterrence, while ‘Israel’ lives the horror”.
The Resistance Leader underlined the fact that, “The ‘Israeli’ enemy was seeking by all means to prevent the strengthening of the resistance in Lebanon and did not succeed in that despite all the circumstances”.
“A large part of the terror that the settlers suffer in northern occupied Palestine is caused by the ‘Israeli’ media, which exaggerates matters, thinking that it is waging a psychological war on us,” Sayyed Nasrallah clarified.
He went on to say, “The ‘Israeli’ aim from its aggression on Jenin was to restore deterrence, but they got a completely opposite result”.
Explaining “Israeli” failure in Occupied Palestine, His Eminence said, “The evidence for the failure of the ‘Israeli’ aggression is the Palestinian Resistance’s continuous operations in the West Bank”.
Also in his speech, Sayyed Nasrallah said, “The victory in the July 2006 War set ‘Israel’ on the line of decline,” noting that “The 2006 July Victory ended the ‘Great “Israel”’ scheme”.
His Eminence commended on the Resistance’s “strategic achievement” saying that it “has been preserved for 17 years and it has been developed”.
Regarding the incidents on the Lebanese border with occupied Palestine, Sayyed Nasrallah explained, “The ‘Israeli’ occupation erected a barbed wire fence around the Lebanese village of Ghajar before the Resistance set up tents at the border”.
The Resistance Leader pointed to the international community’s double standards. He said, “The international community remained silent over all the ‘Israeli’ border aggressions, but it quickly moved after the Resistance set up a tent at the border”.
He continued on the issue, “We set our tent on a Lebanese land, recognized by the Lebanese state,” adding, “the international mediations started after the tent was erected”.
Concerning the border incident today [Wednesday], Sayyed Nasrallah gave no details and urged to wait “for our brothers’ report on the events that took place today at the border, so we can act based on the facts”.
Moreover, the Resistance Leader said, “‘Israel’ has not dared to carry out a military act against the tent,” while also saying, “What is happening in Southern Lebanon is not a demarcation to the land borders, but rather an effort to restore the lands occupied by the ‘Israeli’ enemy”.
“We can restore the Lebanese part of Ghajar from the ‘Israeli’ occupation, and this land will not be left,” His Eminence assured.
He further said, “The Lebanese stance on Ghajar must be decisive and this is Lebanese territory,” noting that, “The efforts of the state and the Resistance will be integrated. This land will not be given up to the ‘Israelis’”.
Also in his speech, Sayyed Nasrallah tackled the internal political issue. He said, “The talk that Hezbollah seeks a cancelation to the Taif Agreement and parity between Muslims and Christians is an intentional and misleading lie”.
His Eminence noted, “Hezbollah won’t invest its strength to impose political choices on the Lebanese, and the resistance’s weapon is to defend and protect Lebanon”.
“Lebanon has no interest in transforming the Resistance into an official institution directly affiliated with the state,” he said highlighting the fact that “The advocates of sovereignty are the ones talking about federalism and about changing Lebanon’s structure”.
Relatedly, His Eminence warned that “Hezbollah’s arms is the biggest favor to ‘Israel’”.
On the issue of the presidential elections, Sayyed Nasrallah said, “The personality of the next President of the Republic is essential for us regarding the issue of protecting of the Resistance”.
The Resistance Leader praised the courage of former President Emile Lahoud saying, “The former President of the Republic, Emile Lahoud, was fighting battles in the cabinet to protect the Resistance”.
However, he also praised President Michel Aoun and said that he “didn’t stab the Resistance’s back, and we trusted him as he secured the back of the Resistance during his presidency”.
“We are a large segment of the Lebanese people and we have the right to set our view regarding the characteristics of the president,” Sayyed Nasrallah continued.
His Eminence also said, “Minister Suleiman Franjieh has our confidence as a candidate for the presidency who won’t stab the resistance in its back”.
The Resistance Leader urged the Lebanese parties that only through dialogue that the problem of electing a president would be solved.
“It is true that we will come to the dialogue table with a single name, Suleiman Franjieh, but we will hold discussions,” he said on the issue, adding, “Put the issue of the Resistance aside. We won’t use the force of the Resistance to impose anything inside the country”.
Sayyed Nasrallah recalled that “Some inside the Free Patriotic Movement wanted us to impose General Michel Aoun as president following the May 17 incidents”.
He concluded his speech by asserting, “Our choice is partnership and cooperation because Lebanon can only survive by this view”.
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Lindsey Graham is of course a shame on the United States. The fact that Graham’s pernicious and disgraceful remarks barely caused any criticism from Western governments or media illustrates just how endemic and “normalized” is their Russophobia.
It would be easy to dismiss American Senator Lindsey Graham for the buffoon that he undoubtedly is. His whining high-pitched voice is compensated by his affected macho talk and habitual hawkish support for U.S. militarism. There’s never been a war that the South Carolina Republican doesn’t enthusiastically support, like a giddy schoolgirl in a cheerleader go-go troupe. He’s a puffball figure with sociopathic tendencies.
On a visit to Kiev last Friday, Graham appeared to say in a video that military support for Ukraine and “dying Russians” was the best money the United States has ever spent.
After a furious reaction from Moscow, it transpired that the video statement had been edited by the Kiev regime to make Graham’s words sound more belligerent and offensive. A longer video of his meeting with President Vladimir Zelensky showed Graham lauding military aid to Ukraine as “the best money the U.S. has ever spent”. A secondary comment about “Russians dying” was indeed spoken by the senator, but it appears to have been said in a different, less gloating context.
In any case, the controversy over what Graham actually meant to say is beside the point.
The unerring upshot of the senator’s remarks is that he is giving moral and material support to an odious regime that glorifies Nazism and the mass killing of Russian people. That’s the real point.
Senator Graham, like his deceased friend and Republican senator John McCain before him, is a frequent visitor to Kiev and a key Washington enabler of the Russophobic regime that seized power in 2014, through a CIA-backed violent coup.
Within days of his latest reprehensible remarks encouraging the war with Russia, the Kiev regime launched drone attacks on civilian centers in Moscow and in the border regions of Belgorod and Bryansk. A ground invasion by NATO-armed militants was also repelled by Russian defense forces but not before the raiders fired on residential homes, injuring several civilians. Houses in the town of Shebekino were set ablaze by rocket attacks.
Not a word of condemnation about these attacks was uttered by Graham or any other Western politician or media outlet.
What is deplorable – and disturbing – is the intensifying rhetorical green light that the United States and its NATO partners are giving to the Ukrainian forces to wage an increasingly terroristic campaign against Russia.
The Kiev regime – consistent with its Nazi ideology – has been targeting Russian civilians since it seized power in 2014. The Donbass territories, which are now officially joined with the Russian Federation, were subjected to eight years of constant fire by the NATO-trained and equipped Azov Battalion and numerous other NeoNazi paramilitary outfits that make up the Armed Forces of Ukraine. That aggression was never much reported by Western media, but it was a crucial factor in why Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a military intervention on February 24 last year.
Moscow claims with credibility that it is not targeting Ukrainian civilians and that its aim is to eradicate the Nazi formations in that country so that they no longer can inflict aggression on Russian people.
By contrast, the Kiev regime is seen to willfully fire on civilian centers in Donbass and more recently in pre-war Russian territory. The regime openly declares a policy of assassinating Russian public figures, as well as mass killing of civilians. The continual shelling by Kiev’s forces of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant – the largest civilian facility in Europe – is another indicator of the reckless terroristic practices.
The Biden administration has pumped nearly $40 billion of military aid into Ukraine since February 2022. If we add the aid from NATO’s 30 other members, the figure is nearly $65 billion. Commensurate with the increasing lethality and long-range caliber of the weapons is the rhetoric countenancing strikes on Russian territory. Western apologists talk about “Ukraine’s right to self-defense” but this is a gross distortion of the historic aggression by the NATO-backed Kiev regime, and who is the real offender.
President Joe Biden and his senior Democrat aides have moved from categorically – and ostensibly – forbidding Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory to implicit approval of such strikes. The White House’s national security spokesman John Kirby this week used weasel words to say that the United States does not tell the Kiev regime “where not to strike and how to conduct its operations”.
British foreign minister James Cleverly went further and asserted Ukraine has the right to launch military attacks on the Russian Federation. Recall that one of his Conservative colleagues, armed forces minister James Heappey, caused controversy last year when he called for strikes “deep inside” Russia even with British-supplied weapons. Such views are now becoming openly spoken without restraint, and take on a graver connotation given the supply last month of British Storm Shadow cruise missiles.
There is an absolutely nefarious and cynical use of words by the Americans, British and other NATO powers. The Kiev regime is a vile reincarnation of Nazi ideology that has shown willingness and desire to deploy terrorism without bounds. Its Western sponsors are formulating deceptive rationales that are in effect an authorization to escalate a war of aggression on Russia. The conflict in Ukraine has ineluctably become an undeclared NATO war on Russia.
Returning to the buffoonish Lindsey Graham who oozes arrogance and hubris like whipped cream from an outsized doughnut. He is of course a shame on the United States. But he is merely a symptom of a more prevalent diseased Western mindset. The fact that Graham’s pernicious and disgraceful remarks barely caused any criticism from Western governments or media illustrates just how endemic and “normalized” is their Russophobia. The lack of restraint bodes ill for any diplomatic way out of an ever-increasing confrontation between NATO and Russia.
A sinister disease is thriving in the West’s political classes. Such a disease would have been only a few decades ago denounced as “fascism” and “Nazism”. Today, shockingly, it is publicly articulated and blindly accepted.
Israeli occupation forces storm the Al-Masaken Al-Shaabiyah neighborhood and the vicinity of the Askar refugee camp.
Martyr Saleh Sabra, who was murdered today by occupation forces.
Palestinian websites confirmed the martyrdom of Palestinian youth Saleh Sabra after he was shot dead by Israeli occupation forces during their attempt to storm the Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli occupation forces stormed the Al-Masaken Al-Shaabiyah neighborhood and the vicinity of the Askar refugee camp.
تغطية صحفية: "صورة الشاب صالح صبرة الذي ارتقى برصاص جيش الاحتلال خلال اقتحام محيط مخيم عسكر شرق نابلس، فجر اليوم". pic.twitter.com/XQiqJyonYD
Local Palestinian sources reported that two Palestinian youths were injured, one of them seriously, as a result of Israeli occupation gunfire.
Other sources reported that Palestinian Resistance fighters confronted the Israeli occupation forces and opened fire on them in the vicinity of Askar camp and in the Al-Masaken Al-Shaabiyah neighborhood.
تغطية صحفية: "مقــاومـون يطلقون النار تجاه قوات الاحتلال خلال في منطقة المساكن الشعبية شرق نابلس". pic.twitter.com/3cXxhUJVfU
In the same context, confrontations erupted in Beit Kahil, northwest of occupied Al-Khalil, in the West Bank, after occupation forces stormed the town.
The occupation forces also stormed the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp in the city of Areeha, and the Silat Al-Harithiya area, west of Jenin, and arrested two young men from their homes.
God is great, Israel, Netanyahu receives a pen on his face, and the resistance in Gaza and the West Bank raise the flags of Egypt and Palestine
How does the Israeli occupation fail to stir up the environment of resistance?
Israeli media reveals that “Israel” informed the United States of its planned aggression on Gaza.
A residential building that was targeted by the Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip at dawn Tuesday (Quds Network)
The Israeli occupation Army Radio revealed that 40 planes, helicopters, and drones participated in the assassinations and attacks against the Gaza Strip Tuesday morning.
The Israeli media outlet indicated that the aggression on Gaza was scheduled for last Tuesday, but was postponed so that it could be executed under better conditions.
Israeli media reported that prior to the aggression which was approved last weekend, Israeli occupation Foreign Minister Eli Cohen spoke with his US counterpart Antony Blinken.
Israeli Channel 7 indicated that “Israel” informed the United States about the planned aggression on Gaza, adding that Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a cabinet meeting Tuesday evening to discuss developments.
A video of a little girl crying over her martyred father has been circulating widely on different social media platforms.
Earlier today, The Israeli occupation forces conducted numerous airstrikes on various cities in the #Gaza Strip targeting residential apartments that were… https://t.co/zMshxRJNgW
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 9, 2023
In the same context, the head of the political bureau of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, underlined that the assassination of the leaders in this “treacherous” aggression will not achieve security for the Israeli occupation.
In a statement, Haniyeh considered that the enemy miscalculated the situation and will pay the price for its crime, as the assassination of the Palestinian Resistance leaders will prompt even more acts of resistance.
Palestinian Legislative Council holds ‘Israel’ responsible for repercussions
On its part, the Presidency of the Palestinian Legislative Council held the Israeli occupation and its “fascist” government fully responsible for the repercussions of its criminal aggression on the Gaza Strip.
The presidency pointed out in a statement that Israeli aggression constitutes a full-fledged war crime that requires immediate punishment, calling on international organizations to assume their responsibility and cease their double standards toward the crimes of the occupation.
At dawn Tuesday, the Israeli occupation targeted several areas in the Gaza Strip, including the homes of leaders in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement (PIJ), which resulted in the martyrdom of 13 people, including children and women, in addition to at least 20 injuries.
“Israel” launched a deadly assault that targeted residential neighborhoods in the #Gaza strip.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) May 9, 2023
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Gaza confirmed the martyrdom of the commander of the southern region in the Al-Quds Brigades and the secretary of its military council, Jihad Ghannam, along with his wife during the Israeli occupation’s aggression on the city of Rafah.
Our correspondent also confirmed that the Israeli occupation’s airstrike also targeted PIJ spokesperson Tarek Ezzedine’s house, before it was confirmed that the official had been martyred.
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Footage documenting one of the Israeli airstrikes on Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip, earlier tonight. pic.twitter.com/A4Ae8sp8Rt
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Gaza also confirmed the martyrdom of Khalil Al-Bahtini, a member of the Military Council in the Al-Quds Brigades and the commander of the northern region in the Gaza Strip.
The Al-Quds Brigades, the PIJ’s military wing, mourned its leaders who were martyred in the Israeli aggression, underlining that their martyrdom will further strengthen the resistance’s determination.
UPROOTED PALESTINIANS: SALAM ALQUDS ALAYKUM 