Crooked Bough News Round-up

— Israel is Concerned of a Crisis in Its Global Standing, Especially with the US

 

at 8/1/25 4:42pm

By Robert Inlakesh Those who have been exposed fully to the live-streamed genocide in Gaza are overwhelmingly the young people of the United States. It is no secret that Israel’s stock amongst the global public has been plummeting since October 7, 2023. A top Israeli think-tank has now identified the trend as a “brewing crisis in bilateral relations”. However, reversing the damage done to Israel’s reputation is now impossible. The Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), an influential Israeli think tank, has expressed great concern over the growing partisan gap in the United States on the issue of Israel. It took note of polling data and the growing gap between Democratic versus Republican Party support for Israel. Support for Israel has long been a bipartisan stance in the United States. Back in 2018, according to a Gallup Poll conducted that year, some 64% of Americans supported Israel and only 21% said they leant towards Palestine.  The next year, while support for Palestine remained the same, only 59% of respondents said they supported Israel, which sparked major concerns for the Israel Lobby. Israel Faces Diplomatic Collapse as Pressure Mounts over Gaza Crisis Report Fast forward to 2025 and the latest Gallup poll shows that only 32% of the US public back Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, most of whom are Republicans, with only 8% of Democrats supporting the Israeli assault. Perhaps the most notable takeaway from the Gallup Poll however, were the opinions of young Americans, which appear to cut across Party lines in opposition to Israel. Overall, only 9% of respondents aged 18 to 34, said they supported Israel’s military actions in Gaza, while only 6% said they had a favorable view of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Recently, the right-wing Zionist Anti-Defamation League (ADL) conducted a survey and claimed to have found that 46% of the global adult population had entrenched anti-Semitic beliefs, up from 26% of adults harboring those same attitudes in 2014.  It should be noted that the ADL has been shown to include pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel views as “anti-Semitism”, which is what led to recent reports in which it concluded exponential spikes in “anti-semitic incidents”. The ADL’s reports indicate that the Zionist movement is certainly in a state of crisis. The key takeaways here are that Americans who are women, young people, Democrats or people of color are overwhelmingly opposed to Israel. This was, just years ago, unimaginable to be speaking about the majority of the US population now standing in opposition to Israel. A recent Pew Poll from a few months back also indicated that despite the continued Republican Party voter support for Israel, when you look specifically at Republicans aged between 18 to 49, half of them viewed Israel unfavorably.  Worst Ratings: Israel, Netanyahu Face Record Low US Support amid Gaza Genocide Although the Pew data didn’t reveal the Gallup age range of 18 to 34, the evidence supports the notion that this demographic holds the most unfavorable views of Israel. In response however, the Israeli government appears to be only bothering to focus its efforts on winning over young Republicans, not caring so much for Democrats that appear as a lost cause. This indicates an admission that in the future, Palestine-Israel is going to be a partisan issue in the United States. When we also put into consideration that younger Americans get their news from social media, new media and independent commentators/journalists, more so than they do the major news outlets, it indicates that what they have already seen will have made up their mind as to where they stand on the issue.  Those who have been exposed fully to the live-streamed genocide in Gaza are overwhelmingly the young people of the United States. For them, Palestine has become the issue of a generation.  The big fear now for the Israel Lobby is that they are fully exposed and the younger generations will eventually grow up, making the population overwhelmingly pro-Palestine if no seismic shift occurs. (The Palestine Chronicle) Robert Inlakesh is a journalist, writer, and documentary filmmaker. He focuses on the Middle East, specializing in Palestine. He contributed this article to The Palestine Chronicle. The post Israel is Concerned of a Crisis in Its Global Standing, Especially with the US appeared first on Palestine Chronicle.

[Category: Articles, Features, gaza genocide, International Community, israel, palestine, United States]

— The Milk that Never Came: How Famine in Gaza Shatters the First Bond and the Soul of a Nation

 

at 8/1/25 4:02pm

By Dr. Mark Brauner It is one thing to die of hunger. It is another to die never having been held with the fullness of safety and warmth that nature intended. In Gaza, famine is not a threat. It is a reality measured not only in calories and corpses but in something far more intimate: the silence between a mother and her child when the milk never comes. This is not only a humanitarian crisis. It is a biological and spiritual desecration. A mother brings new life into the world, and in the sacred order of things, that life turns to her breast, seeking warmth, safety, nourishment. The first drops of colostrum are thick with antibodies, hormones, and history. They are the first sacrament of care, of belonging. But in Gaza, under siege, the breast is often dry. The baby suckles and finds nothing. And in that moment, a bond older than civilization begins to unravel. I saw this with my own eyes, while practicing medicine in Gaza. Infants limp with hunger, too weak to cry. Mothers gaunt, ashamed, desperate, their own bodies wasting as they tried to offer comfort with arms that shook. They looked at me not for medicine but for mercy. And all I could think was: this is not how the world is supposed to be. The biology is brutal. Starvation halts lactation. Cortisol floods the body under extreme stress, shutting down prolactin, suppressing oxytocin. No oxytocin, no milk. No milk, no immunity, no warmth, no hope. The baby’s gut becomes inflamed and porous. Infections race in. Muscles waste. The brain, lacking fat and glucose, slows. A child who does not breastfeed is not only hungry, they are unmoored from the biological cradle that teaches trust, rhythm, and connection. Many children die. If they survive, they live in a body and mind etched with trauma. This is more than a tragedy between one mother and one child. This bond is the first social contract. It is the first act of giving and receiving, the first heartbeat of civilization. When that contract is broken, when thousands of mothers cannot feed thousands of babies, what is torn is not just flesh. It is culture. It is continuity. It is the future. We rarely speak aloud just how holy this feedback loop is. When a baby suckles, it is not simply extracting milk. It is sending a biochemical signal through the nipple to the mother’s brain, which responds by releasing prolactin to make more milk, and oxytocin to let it down. This is not one body giving to another. It is two bodies singing in a shared language of love, an intimate duet of breath, pressure, scent, and warmth. The baby regulates the mother’s physiology. The mother’s milk regulates the baby’s immune system and brain development. This mutual regulation, this exquisite reciprocity, is the biological ground zero of empathy. When that feedback is severed, it is not only nutrition that vanishes. It is emotional safety. The baby’s nervous system, without the soothing rhythms of the maternal body, becomes chaotic. The stress hormones flood in. Synapses prune. Future personality, future attachment, future capacity to love, all of it is altered. On a molecular level, love has been interrupted. And that is what makes this moment in Gaza so unspeakably unnatural. This is not a slow tragedy of drought or crop failure. This is not the hardship of poverty. This is an engineered scission. This is the active dismantling of the most sacred interaction life has to offer. This is starvation imposed by policy, a blockade that strangles not just goods but human relationships. It is one thing to die of hunger. It is another to die never having been held with the fullness of safety and warmth that nature intended. That is a different kind of annihilation. The broken bond becomes metaphor. The starvation of the child mirrors the starvation of the people. The collapse of lactation echoes the collapse of infrastructure. The mother’s dry breast is the dried-up aquifer, the burned olive tree, the shuttered bakery, the desperate and violent waiting line for aid that never arrives. As the infant’s body falters, so does the society that might have nurtured them. When babies die in their mothers’ arms for lack of milk, it is not just a personal grief. It is a national hemorrhage and an international failure of morality. And the damage will echo for generations. Children raised in hunger grow into adults with stunted brains, dysregulated hormones, and shattered trust. Their wounds will not remain private. They will spread through relationships, institutions, and memory. A traumatized generation is being forged in Gaza, one hungry cell at a time. To sever a mother from her child’s need is a violation of both biology and soul. It is the collapse of continuity, the smashing of the first mirror a baby looks into and learns, I am loved. When that mirror is cracked by siege and starvation, it becomes harder to believe in anything—peace, justice, biology and even God. This is not just famine. This is the theft of tenderness. It is the sabotage of one of nature’s most beautiful expressions of mutual need and mutual care. It is a moral catastrophe. When a mother cannot nurse her child, something ancient dies. And when this happens not by accident, but by the hands of men and policies, it is not just famine. It is a campaign against the very idea of tenderness, of care, of inheritance. It is the erasure of the future, one hungry infant at a time. Dr. Mark Brauner is a board-certified emergency physician with over 20 years of experience, most recently volunteering at Nasser Hospital in Gaza during the siege in June 2025. He contributed this article to the Palestine Chronicle. The post The Milk that Never Came: How Famine in Gaza Shatters the First Bond and the Soul of a Nation appeared first on Palestine Chronicle.

[Category: Articles, Commentary, Famine, gaza genocide, israel, Israeli war crimes, Palestinian children]

— EU Leaders ‘Complicit’ in Gaza Genocide, Says Josep Borrell – Urges Israel Sanctions

 

at 8/1/25 1:22pm

By Palestine Chronicle Staff   “Those who do not act to stop this genocide and these violations of international law, even though they have the power to do so, are complicit in them.” Former EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell has said there can be “little doubt” that the Israeli government “is committing genocide in Gaza” and that those who do not act to stop it “are complicit,” including the EU. “There can be little doubt that the Israeli government is committing genocide in Gaza, slaughtering and starving civilians after systematically destroying all the infrastructure in the territory,” Borrel wrote in an opinion piece for The Guardian on Friday. Those who do not act to stop the genocide in Gaza are complicit in it. The @EUCouncil must finally decide to sanction Israel without further delay. This is the only thing that can bring Israeli leaders to stop committing crimes against humanity: https://t.co/TREz8CrUp5 — Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) August 1, 2025 “In the meantime, settlers and the Israeli army are every day guilty of serious, massive and repeated violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the West Bank and East Jerusalem,” he continued. Staggering Death Toll Over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing military assault launched in October 2023 and the death toll continues to mount, in part due to Israel’s crippling humanitarian aid blockade that has led to starvation and malnutrition. US-Backed Israeli Forces Turn Gaza Aid Sites into Regular Bloodbaths HRW Borrel wrote that “Those who do not act to stop this genocide and these violations of international law, even though they have the power to do so, are complicit in them.” He added, “This is unfortunately the case with the leaders of the European Union and those of its member states, who refuse to sanction Israel even though the EU has a legal obligation to do so.” Biggest Trading Partner He said the EU “has many levers it could pull to exert significant influence on the Israeli government.” The EU, Borrell emphasized, is Israel’s biggest trading partner and its main partner in investment and people-to-people exchange, in addition to being one of its major arms suppliers. The EU and the Ethics of Trading with Israel: What Has Changed? He said the association agreement between the EU and Israel, established in 2000 after the Oslo accords, “is the most favourable of all those concluded by the bloc with third countries.” In addition to zero customs duties on its exports of goods and services and visa-free travel for its citizens, “the agreement gives Israel access to several major European funding and exchange programmes such as Horizon and Erasmus.” Legal Obligation He underlined that Article 2 of the agreement “makes it conditional on Israel’s respect for international law and fundamental human rights,” meaning that EU leaders have a legal obligation to suspend the deal. Lack of Political Will in EU’s Failure to Address Ongoing Gaza Genocide     “Whether or not to suspend it is therefore not a choice that the EU can make at will,” Borrell stated, and considering that the EU foreign ministers found that Israel “was not respecting these rights, EU leaders now have a legal obligation to suspend the agreement.” He warned that Failure to do so would also be a serious violation of the association agreement with Israel. Geopolitical Standing Borrell, who served as the EUs high representative for foreign affairs and security policy until 2024, said he had pushed for stronger measures during his tenure but received little support from member states. Albanese Slams EU for Consciously Supporting Israels Genocide “The EU has for more than a year and a half been unable to assert its commitment to fundamental human rights, its defence of international law and multilateralism, or its longstanding position in favour of the two-state solution,” he stated, adding that this inaction has “already seriously damaged its geopolitical standing, not only in the Muslim world but across the globe.” Crimes Against Humanity The former EU official said that by “persisting” in not taking the necessary action, including not blocking arms deliveries to Israel or sanctioning Israeli political leaders who “make genocidal statements,” the EU and its member states “are discrediting themselves in the eyes of the world and undermining the international law and multilateral order they are supposed to defend.” US-Backed Israeli Forces Turn Gaza Aid Sites into Regular Bloodbaths HRW   He said, The leaders of the EU and its member states will probably be called to account in the future for their complicity in the crimes against humanity committed by Netanyahus government.” The EU must finally decide to sanction Israel without further delay. This is the only language that can bring Israeli leaders to stop committing crimes against humanity,” Borrell concluded. (PC, Anadolu) The post EU Leaders Complicit in Gaza Genocide, Says Josep Borrell  Urges Israel Sanctions appeared first on Palestine Chronicle.

[Category: News, European Union, gaza genocide, Israeli war crimes, Josep Borrell, Netanyahu]

— Israel Faces Diplomatic Collapse as Pressure Mounts over Gaza Crisis – Report

 

at 8/1/25 1:15pm

Due to the Israeli blockade, more than 100 Palestinians, including children, have died due to starvation and malnutrition in the Gaza Strip since October 2023. Israel is heading toward a major diplomatic breakdown as famine spreads in Gaza, the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Friday. The Anadolu news agency cited the newspaper as having revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government ignored mounting international warnings about an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in the besieged Palestinian enclave. US-Backed Israeli Forces Turn Gaza Aid Sites into Regular Bloodbaths HRW The report states that on March 2, Israel’s Security Cabinet made a decision to halt the entry of food aid into Gaza. This move came despite clear assessments from Israel’s own security establishment about the worsening famine, as well as urgent warnings from Gen. Ghassan Alian, the coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, and several international relief organizations. Unnamed political and security sources told the Yedioth Ahronoth that the decision “was not rooted in strategic considerations but was driven by political pressure from National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich,” both known for their far-right policies. The daily noted that the Israeli government was fully aware Gaza was “on the brink of famine,” yet continued to block aid entry endangering the lives of countless Palestinian civilians. Over 1,000 Aid Seekers Killed According to the latest figures from the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 1,330 Palestinians seeking aid have been killed and over 8,818 injured, since the end of May when the controversial US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) was launched. The EU reportedly issued a stern warning to Israel regarding the consequences of the deepening crisis, even hinting at suspending its partnership agreement with Tel Aviv. After months of a complete blockade and forced starvation, Israeli forces have allowed limited international aid to enter #Gaza, but not without further attacks on aid seekers. Survivors of a recent attack in Rafah recall how Israeli soldiers targeted civilians waiting for aid.… pic.twitter.com/ls3R86c3pR — Euro-Med Monitor (@EuroMedHR) July 31, 2025 This came after a similar warning from the administration of US President Donald Trump, a staunch supporter of Israel, urging Netanyahu to act, while the prime minister wasted time and hesitated to make decisions, the report added. Yedioth Ahronoth reported that “Israel has steered itself into both a humanitarian disaster in Gaza and an impending diplomatic collapse on the global stage.” France Urges ‘Full’ Aid Access French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday called for full humanitarian access to Gaza and said that the airdrops are not enough. France starts air-drop of 40 tons of humanitarian aid into Gaza Israel must grant full humanitarian access to address risk of famine — Macron Earlier, Palestinian media reported aid dropped over north Gaza landed in IDF-controlled areas Fate of Paris airdrops also uncertain https://t.co/HdlGicmRNS pic.twitter.com/ZoR3xxVi3L — RT (@RT_com) August 1, 2025 Airdrops are not enough. Israel must allow full humanitarian access to address the risk of famine, Macron wrote on X about carrying out a food airdrop operation in Gaza. Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney reportedly said in a video posted on social media that “There has to be a ceasefire in the Middle East. There has to be a ceasefire delivered to the starving people of Gaza, and Israel has got to remove the roadblocks to everything now.” Germany Pressures Israel German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has emphasized that intensive work is underway to rebuild the humanitarian land route with experienced UN organizations. Wadephul noted that airdrops cannot replace land deliveries in ensuring that aid reaches the people adequately, Anadolu reported. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called on Israel to provide sufficient security guarantees to allow the UN to deliver aid in Gaza, where aid agencies have warned of starvation and a worsening hunger crisis. pic.twitter.com/DewuGnlspz — DW News (@dwnews) August 1, 2025 That is why, in our discussions, we are urgently calling on the Israeli government to allow the UN and international aid organizations safe access and, above all, safe distribution. Last week, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said his government is considering stepping up pressure on Israel over the dire humanitarian situation in the enclave. The German government “reserves the right” to take concrete measures to increase pressure on Israel to improve “the catastrophic situation” in the Gaza Strip, he said. Belgian Groups Urge Action Around 50 Belgian organizations on Friday called on the leaders of political parties Vooruit, the CD&V, and Les Engages to take immediate action in response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, according to a joint statement reported by the Belga news agency, cited by Anadolu. Lack of Political Will in EU’s Failure to Address Ongoing Gaza Genocide In the open letter co-signed by prominent figures from the cultural, scientific, social, sports, and religious sectors, as well as hundreds of citizens, the signatories warned that sterile words are worse than complicit silence and urged the parties to act today. The organizations strongly condemned what they described as a televised genocide in Gaza, stressing that official data and international court decisions confirmed the gravity of the ongoing crimes. No Alternative to UN Response UNRWA The chief of the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) on Friday strongly criticized the continued reliance on aid airdrops into Gaza, calling them “inefficient, insufficient, and at least 100 times more costly than trucks.” Philippe Lazzarini stressed in a statement that “trucks carry twice as much aid as planes,” and questioned the logic behind prioritizing air deliveries while road crossings remain closed. Airdrops are at least 100 times more costly than trucks Trucks carry twice as much aid as planes. If there is political will to allow airdrops which are highly costly, insufficient & inefficient, there should be similar political will to open the road crossings. As the… — Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) August 1, 2025 “If there is political will to allow airdrops, which are highly costly, insufficient & inefficient, there should be similar political will to open the road crossings,” he said. Lazzarini warned that “the only way to respond to the famine is to flood Gaza with assistance.” (PC, Anadolu) The post Israel Faces Diplomatic Collapse as Pressure Mounts over Gaza Crisis Report appeared first on Palestine Chronicle.

[Category: News, gaza genocide, Israeli war crimes, Netanyahu, Palestinian children, united nations]

— Slovenia Imposes Arms Embargo on Israel – First EU State to Take Step

 

at 8/1/25 12:52pm

By Palestine Chronicle Staff   In early July, Slovenia, in a move that was the first of its kind in the European Union, banned two far-right Israeli ministers from entering the country. Slovenia has imposed a weapons ban on the export, import, and transit of arms to and from Israel, two weeks after declaring two Israeli ministers persona non grata. “At the initiative of Prime Minister Dr. Robert Golob, the government today confirmed a decision prohibiting the export and transit of military weapons and equipment from or through the Republic of Slovenia to Israel, or imports from Israel to the Republic of Slovenia,” the administration said in a statement on Thursday. Slovenija je kot prva evropska država prepovedala uvoz, izvoz in tranzit orožja v in iz Izraela. Več v sporočilu za javnost https://t.co/djdZLFxGfS pic.twitter.com/uzNDpoTP50 — Vlada Republike Slovenije (@vladaRS) July 31, 2025 The official news agency STA quoted Golob as saying that Slovenia “has become the first European country” to take such a step. Under the decision, all weapons and military equipment sent from Slovenia to, imported from, or transited through Israel are prohibited. EU Incapable Golob has made it clear before that Slovenia will act independently if the European Union is unable to adopt concrete measures by mid-July, the statement noted. The EU is currently incapable of completing this task due to internal discord and disunity, the statement added. “The result thereof is shameful: people in Gaza are dying because humanitarian aid is systematically denied them. They are dying under the rubble, without access to drinking water, food and basic healthcare,” it continued. Lack of Political Will in EU’s Failure to Address Ongoing Gaza Genocide The government said that  under such circumstances, “it is the duty of every responsible country to act, even if it means taking a step ahead of others.” This move comes amid growing criticism of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as well as the European Unions inability to take concrete action regarding Israel. The statement also reportedly added that the government has not issued any permits for the export of weapons and military equipment to Israel since October 2023 due to the conflict. Ben-Gvir, Smotrich Banned In early July, Slovenia banned two far-right Israeli ministers from entering the country. I welcome today’s decision by the Slovenian government to adopt sanctions against the extremist Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich. Slovenia has sent a message to and the int. community: those who reject international law & pose a threat to humanity are not welcome! pic.twitter.com/XPCUscTl27 — Matjaž Nemec (@MatjaNemec) July 17, 2025 The government reportedly declared Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich persona non grata due to what it described as their statements calling for genocide, encouraging extreme violence, and grave violations of the human rights of Palestinians. In June 2024, the Slovenian parliament passed legislation recognizing the State of Palestine, following similar steps taken by Ireland, Norway, and Spain, prompted in part by condemnations of Israels bombing of Gaza. Ambassador Demarched Earlier Thursday, the Slovenian Foreign Ministry summoned the Israeli ambassador to protest the unbearable humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza due to the Israeli blockade on humanitarian aid. The Slovenian Foreign Ministry announced, in a post on its X account, that it had summoned the newly appointed ambassador to Ljubljana, Ruth Cohen-Dar, to the ministry, calling on Israel to immediately end the killing and starvation of civilians. .@MZEZ_RS called the Ambassador accredited for , for a demarche to convey a protest regarding the unbearable humanitarian catastrophe in #Gaza due to the restriction of access to urgent humanitarian aid. #Slovenia calls on #Israel to immediately end the killing and… pic.twitter.com/UBwV88oxOV — MFEA Slovenia (@MZEZ_RS) July 31, 2025 The UN, as well as dozens of human rights organizations have condemned the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution scheme which has led to the killings of over 1,000 Palestinians seeking aid at or near the aid sites, since the end of May. Israels ongoing genocidal assault on Gaza has killed over 60,000 and wounded more than 147,000 Palestinians since October 2023. (PC, AJA) The post Slovenia Imposes Arms Embargo on Israel First EU State to Take Step appeared first on Palestine Chronicle.

[Category: News, European Union, gaza genocide, Israeli Army, Israeli war crimes, Slovenia]

— US-Backed Israeli Forces Turn Gaza Aid Sites into ‘Regular Bloodbaths’ – HRW

 

at 8/1/25 8:32am

By Palestine Chronicle Staff   “US-backed Israeli forces and private contractors have put in place a flawed, militarized aid distribution system that has turned aid distributions into regular bloodbaths.” HRW Israeli forces at sites of the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution scheme “have routinely opened fire on starving Palestinian civilians in acts that amount to serious violations of international law and war crimes,” Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Friday. In its latest report, Human Rights Watch (HRW) slammed Israeli occupation forces for committing war crimes at aid distribution points in Gaza, including those backed by the U.S. and the Israeli government. HRW says Israeli troops have repeatedly opened fire on Palestinians… pic.twitter.com/WSA26iSvFe — Quds News Network (@QudsNen) August 1, 2025 “Israeli forces are not only deliberately starving Palestinian civilians, but they are now gunning them down almost every day as they desperately seek food for their families,” said Belkis Wille, HRW associate crisis and conflict director. “US-backed Israeli forces and private contractors have put in place a flawed, militarized aid distribution system that has turned aid distributions into regular bloodbaths.” According to the latest figures from the Gaza Health Ministry, 91 Palestinians seeking aid were killed in the last 24 hours, raising the total number killed to 1,330 and over 8,818 injured, since the end of May when the GHF was launched. UN Should be Permitted HRW said states should press Israeli authorities to immediately stop using lethal force as a method of crowd control against Palestinian civilians, lift unlawful sweeping restrictions on the entry of aid, and suspend this flawed distribution system. Instead, the UN and other humanitarian organizations “should be permitted” to resume aid distributions across Gaza at scale and without restrictions, “as they have proven able to feed the population in line with humanitarian standards and as required by binding rulings by the International Court of Justice in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel.” UK director of Human Rights Watch, Yasmine Ahmed, says Israel is “exterminating Palestinians” in Gaza and calls for an immediate arms embargo. pic.twitter.com/y3vL1xLmTB — Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) July 31, 2025 The GHF distribution scheme began in May, after more than 11 weeks of Israel’s total blockade on the besieged enclave, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 100 Palestinians, including children, due to starvation. HRW said Israeli authorities justified the GHF aid mechanism by claiming that Hamas diverted aid, “but New York Times reporting, based on Israeli military sources, indicates that the Israeli military does not have evidence that Hamas systematically diverted aid from the UN.” The convoy of US envoy Steve Witkoff arrives at one of the GHF death traps in Gaza, where Palestinian aid seekers are being shot dead by Israeli soldiers almost every day. pic.twitter.com/m1FvumiPND — Quds News Network (@QudsNen) August 1, 2025 The GHF system is run by two US private subcontracted companies: Safe Reach Solutions (SRS) and UG Solutions, in coordination with the Israeli military, HRW noted. Witnesses on the Ground In July, HRW interviewed 10 people who were on the ground in Gaza in recent months and “witnessed violence at or near aid sites, or who treated those injured and killed at the sites.” Those interviewed included Anthony Aguilar, a retired US Army Special Forces lieutenant colonel, who worked in Gaza as a security contractor for UG Solutions, including in the control centers and at dozens of distributions at all four distribution sites between May and June; and six Palestinian witnesses to “violent incidents” related to the distributions. After months of a complete blockade and forced starvation, Israeli forces have allowed limited international aid to enter #Gaza, but not without further attacks on aid seekers. Survivors of a recent attack in Rafah recall how Israeli soldiers targeted civilians waiting for aid.… pic.twitter.com/ls3R86c3pR — Euro-Med Monitor (@EuroMedHR) July 31, 2025 Researchers also analyzed satellite imagery at different spatial resolutions, verified videos and photographs including content taken by Aguilar, analyzed document metadata, and reviewed social media posts by GHF. HRW pointed out that the GHF mechanism “requires Palestinians to trek across dangerous and destroyed terrain.” Free-for-All According to five witnesses, Israeli forces control the movement of Palestinians to the sites through the use of live ammunition. Inside the sites, the distribution of aid itself is an uncontrolled “free-for-all,” as Aguilar described it, that “often leaves the most vulnerable and weakest people with nothing.” We would rather starve to death than die like this. [comra] reporters interviewed survivors of the recent Israeli massacre that targeted aid seekers in northern Gaza. According to Gazas Ministry of Health, at least 58 people were killed and 579 injured. A crowd of people was… pic.twitter.com/8x61A6S8zY — Eye on Palestine (@EyeonPalestine) July 31, 2025 HRW also analyzed announcements made on GHF’s Facebook page of 105 distributions across the 4 sites and found that 54 distribution windows were under 20 minutes long and 20 distributions were announced as finished before their official opening time had begun. Difficult and Risky Journey One Palestinian man told the rights organization that he left his home at about 9 p.m., trying to reach a site that was due to open at 9 a.m. the next day. On the way, he said, an Israeli tank opened fire on him and others as they were walking towards the site: “If you stopped walking, or did anything they didn’t want, they fired at you.” In a separate incident, Aguilar said he witnessed an Israeli tank fire on a civilian vehicle just outside Site 4, which he believed killed four people inside, on June 8. Another contractor who spoke to ITV News described the same attack on the car. Amir Walked 12km to Get Food’ and Was Shot US Mercenary on Gaza Death Traps Another Palestinian man described to HRW the difficult and risky journey: “So many people who need aid are not getting it because they are not able to make it all the way there.” “Those who do go are taking their luck into their own hands, and it’s remarkable if they come back alive,” he stressed. According to seven witnesses interviewed by Human Rights Watch, Israeli forces “regularly fired on civilians.” Live Fire Used Three Palestinian witnesses and Aguilar also claimed they witnessed armed guards within the GHF sites using live fire and other weapons against civilians during aid distributions, HRW said. “We go to collect aid in a bag and we return in that same bag — dead” A Palestinian man expressed his frustration as Israeli forces continue to target aid seekers in Gaza pic.twitter.com/HlEB0Mz1NL — TRT World (@trtworld) July 1, 2025 “These armed guards would apparently be UG Solutions contractors, given that the letter from the counsel of GHF and SRS confirmed that the only contractors with weapons inside the distribution sites are from UG Solutions,” the organization stated. However, GHF, SRS, and UG Solutions “have denied the allegations that their contractors used force against civilians and stated that UG Solutions personnel only use deadly force as a last resort and have never harmed civilians or aid seekers.” Failure to Address Mass Starvation HRW also stated that the aid mechanism “has failed to address mass starvation in Gaza.” Even though GHF’s legal representatives told HRW that they have delivered 95 million meals in Gaza, as of July 28, the organization said, it was not enough to meet the needs of the starving population. Even at full capacity at the four sites, the organization said,“the GHF scheme is only capable of providing about 60 trucks of food per day, according to Aguilar, as compared to the 600 trucks per day that entered Gaza under the UN-led aid scheme during the ceasefire in early 2025.” Child Starves to Death in Khan Yunis as Famine Toll in Gaza Rises to 159 “The repeated use of lethal force against Palestinian civilians by Israeli forces, without justification, violates both international humanitarian and human rights law,” HRW stated. It said it was not aware “of any evidence” in the cases documented that those killed represented an imminent threat to life at the time they were killed. “The intentional use of lethal force by those exercising policing powers without lawful justification also violates human rights law,” the organization said, adding that regular killings by Israeli forces near GHF sites “also amount to war crimes, given all the evidence indicating that these are deliberate, targeted killings of persons the Israeli authorities would know would be Palestinian civilians.” Funding Concerns HRW also raised concern that the source of funding for GHF’s first month of distributions “remains unknown.” In its letter to the organization, counsel for GHF said it “received $100 million from a government other than the United States or Israel,” without specifying the government, the organization noted. Over 90 House Democrats Demand Probe into Gaza Humanitarian Foundation  “The Trump administration sent the allocation by circumventing congressional approvals,” HRW said, adding that the “United States is complicit in Israeli violations of the laws of war in Gaza, given its provision of substantial military aid despite knowledge of the continuing grave violations.” Pursuant to their obligations under the Genocide Convention, “states should use all forms of their leverage, including targeted sanctions, an arms embargo and suspension of preferential trade agreements, to stop Israeli authorities’ ongoing atrocity crimes,” HRW stated. “It is indefensible that, instead of using its significant leverage to press Israel to end its ongoing acts of genocide, the US is backing and even funding a deadly mechanism that is resulting in Israeli forces killing starving Palestinian civilians as a method of crowd control,” Wille states. “States should urgently act to stop the extermination of Palestinians.” Read HRW’s full report here. (The Palestine Chronicle) The post US-Backed Israeli Forces Turn Gaza Aid Sites into Regular Bloodbaths HRW appeared first on Palestine Chronicle.

[Category: News, gaza genocide, HRW, International Law, Israeli war crimes, United States]

— US Envoy Tours Gaza Aid Site Fueling Starvation and Displacement

 

at 8/1/25 4:01am

By Palestine Chronicle Staff   Palestinians denounce Steve Witkoff’s visit as a propaganda move, citing Israel-backed aid system’s role in deadly ambushes and forced displacement. US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff visited an aid center operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation near Rafah, in southern Gaza, on Friday, Israeli media reported.  The facility, located north of the city, has been the focus of growing controversy over its role in both distributing and obstructing humanitarian assistance, as well as its link to the killing of hundreds of Palestinians seeking aid. According to reports by Israel’s Channel 12 and public broadcaster KAN, Witkoff’s convoy arrived at the site in the morning and toured the center, which has come under scrutiny for contributing to what critics describe as a humanitarian façade masking deeper patterns of displacement and lethal mismanagement. Palestinians accuse the foundation’s distribution system—established with Israeli backing in late May—of functioning as a mechanism for forced displacement under the guise of humanitarian relief.  A Palestinian mother bids farewell to her son, killed in the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza. pic.twitter.com/HFC8wHpf2F — The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) August 1, 2025 The mechanism has been widely described as a “death trap,” citing the killing of more than 1,300 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire while attempting to receive food or aid since the system was implemented. Witkoff arrived in Israel on Thursday for an unannounced visit that included a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  The two reportedly discussed a potential shift from “partial and phased” ceasefire talks to a broader “comprehensive agreement” on Gaza. This comes after Israel withdrew from US-Qatar-mediated negotiations earlier this month. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Thursday that Witkoff would “visit distribution sites and secure a plan to deliver more food,” as well as “meet with local Gazans to hear firsthand about the dire situation on the ground.” Hamas condemned Witkoff’s visit as a “propaganda stunt” intended to deflect international outrage over what rights organizations and UN officials have characterized as a deliberate Israeli starvation campaign in Gaza. Since October 7, 2023, at least 159 Palestinians, including 89 children, have died from hunger-related causes, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. Palestinian officials hold the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation partly responsible for deadly attacks at food lines, with more than 1,330 Palestinians killed and at least 8,800 injured by Israeli fire during aid distribution events. Steve Witkoff arrived in the morning at the American-run facility, where the area had been staged and sanitized the blood of those who were injured or killed in previous days while seeking aid buried beneath the surface.Tanks and snipers were pulled back, and tens of thousands… pic.twitter.com/sQNb28NThK — Bassam Omar (@Bassam_Omar1988) August 1, 2025 Despite mounting international pressure, Israel continues its military campaign across the enclave, rejecting calls for a ceasefire. Since the beginning of the war, over 60,000 Palestinians—most of them women and children—have been killed, and much of Gaza’s infrastructure has been reduced to rubble. Severe food shortages persist. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Separately, Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice. (PC, AA) The post US Envoy Tours Gaza Aid Site Fueling Starvation and Displacement appeared first on Palestine Chronicle.

[Category: News, gaza genocide, israel, Israeli Army, Israeli war crimes, Steve Witkoff]

— Child Starves to Death in Khan Yunis as Famine Toll in Gaza Rises to 159

 

at 8/1/25 3:37am

By Palestine Chronicle Staff   As the humanitarian crisis intensifies, the Nasser Medical Complex confirmed the death of a child in Khan Yunis due to starvation. At least 15 Palestinians, including six individuals seeking humanitarian aid, have been killed by Israeli fire across the Gaza Strip since dawn Friday, according to medical sources. The deaths coincided with the visit of US envoy Steve Witkoff to an aid center near Rafah, in southern Gaza. The Israeli military continues its targeting of Palestinians waiting for food aid in central Gaza. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital reported that four people were killed and others injured in an Israeli drone strike on Deir al-Balah early Friday. In Khan Yunis, the Nasser Medical Complex confirmed that two civilians were killed and over 70 others injured by Israeli fire near the Morag axis while waiting for food. The same hospital reported that the death toll from the Israeli shelling of displaced persons’ tents in Al-Mawasi had climbed to seven. Separately, Al-Awda Hospital reported the death of Karam Al-Jamal, a 27-year-old man who succumbed to famine and malnutrition. A Palestinian mother bids farewell to her son, killed in the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza. pic.twitter.com/HFC8wHpf2F — The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) August 1, 2025 Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Gaza cited medical sources saying that multiple Palestinians were wounded in an Israeli strike on the Jawazat area, which shelters displaced families in western Gaza City. The situation follows a bloody Thursday in which hospital sources said 51 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire, including 23 people seeking humanitarian aid. Al-Shifa Hospital also reported that two Palestinians were injured by Israeli gunfire near the Zikim area in northern Gaza, with several of the wounded in critical condition. Famine Deepens As the humanitarian crisis intensifies, the Nasser Medical Complex confirmed the death of a child in Khan Yunis due to starvation. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported four additional deaths from malnutrition, raising the total number of famine-related deaths in the past two days to 12. The death of Karam Al-Jamal was also noted by Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat, bringing further attention to the scale of the crisis. According to the Health Ministry, 159 people — including 90 children — have now died from starvation and malnutrition since the beginning of the siege. The World Health Organization warned that the worst-case scenario of famine is now unfolding in Gaza, where many residents have gone days without food. The UN agency urged Israel to allow safe, rapid, and unhindered humanitarian access for aid organizations. LIVE BLOG: Daring Resistance Operation Caught on Camera as Israels Gideon Chariots Ends in Failure Day 664 The UN World Food Programme added that halting the hunger crisis would require at least 100 aid trucks to enter Gaza daily. UNICEF, meanwhile, warned that “every hour brings the deaths of more children” in the territory. International and UN appeals to lift the blockade and end the war have grown louder in response to the increasing number of Palestinians dying at so-called “aid distribution points.” These sites — described as “death traps” by critics — are reportedly run by the US- and Israeli-backed “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.” Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza — with the backing of the United States — has killed and wounded over 207,000 Palestinians. The vast majority of victims are women and children. More than 14,000 remain missing, while hundreds of thousands have been displaced. (PC, AJA) The post Child Starves to Death in Khan Yunis as Famine Toll in Gaza Rises to 159 appeared first on Palestine Chronicle.

[Category: News, gaza genocide, International Law, Israeli Army, Israeli war crimes, palestine]

— LIVE BLOG: Witkoff Visits Rafah’s ‘Death Trap’ as More Palestinians Die from Starvation, Massacres – Day 664

 

at 7/31/25 3:37pm

By Palestine Chronicle Staff   A large cell of Palestinian resistance fighters ambushed Israeli forces along a military supply route in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced it has begun reducing its forces in the Gaza Strip, including the withdrawal of the 98th Division. Since October 7, 2023, Israel has killed 60,239 and injured 146,894 others, the majority of whom are women and children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza. Click here for the previous blogs. The post LIVE BLOG: Witkoff Visits Rafahs Death Trap as More Palestinians Die from Starvation, Massacres Day 664 appeared first on Palestine Chronicle.

[Category: Blog, News, Slider, Al-Aqsa Flood Live Blog, gaza genocide, iran, israel, palestine]

— LIVE BLOG: Daring Resistance Operation Caught on Camera as Israel’s ‘Gideon Chariots’ Ends in Failure – Day 664

 

at 7/31/25 3:37pm

By Palestine Chronicle Staff   A large cell of Palestinian resistance fighters ambushed Israeli forces along a military supply route in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced it has begun reducing its forces in the Gaza Strip, including the withdrawal of the 98th Division. Since October 7, 2023, Israel has killed 60,239 and injured 146,894 others, the majority of whom are women and children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza. Click here for the previous blogs. The post LIVE BLOG: Daring Resistance Operation Caught on Camera as Israels Gideon Chariots Ends in Failure Day 664 appeared first on Palestine Chronicle.

[Category: Blog, News, Slider, Al-Aqsa Flood Live Blog, gaza genocide, iran, israel, palestine]

— WATCH: Hamas Ambush in Khan Yunis Reveals Growing Resistance Capabilities

 

at 7/31/25 2:54pm

By Palestine Chronicle Staff   A 12-member cell targets Israeli forces on a military supply route, underscoring the resilience of organized Palestinian resistance. A large cell of Palestinian resistance fighters ambushed Israeli forces along a military supply route in Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported.  According to the report, the group—believed to be affiliated with Hamas—intended to kill and capture Israeli soldiers.  The cell, reportedly composed of 12 fighters armed with rifles and grenades, withdrew into a tunnel before executing the ambush, escaping Israeli attempts to assassinate them. Citing military sources, Israeli Army Radio warned that the operation could have inflicted heavy losses on Israeli forces had it succeeded. The incident, it said, reflects Hamas continued capacity to operate in organized, well-armed cells capable of gathering intelligence and planning complex attacks, despite nearly ten months of all-out war. Watch: Footage aired by Israel’s Kan channel shows yesterday’s ambush by Palestinian resistance fighters in Khan Yunis. The resistance set up a complex ambush in an attempt to capture Israeli soldiers. Despite spotting the fighters, the occupation forces failed to eliminate… pic.twitter.com/W1YtG0NKgz — The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) July 31, 2025 The Israeli militarys concerns over abduction attempts have intensified in recent weeks. On July 17, the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ armed wing, released a video showing captured Israeli soldiers, urging others to surrender rather than be killed.  Earlier that month, Al-Jazeera aired exclusive footage of a failed Hamas operation to seize an Israeli soldier during a raid on Israeli forces east of Khan Yunis. A Qassam commander later told the network that future attempts to capture soldiers would be more successful. Separately, Israeli media on Sunday broadcast footage from another ambush near Rafah in southern Gaza, showing the moment an explosive device detonated under an Israeli military vehicle.  The attack killed two Israeli soldiers and injured four others, including the commander of the desert reconnaissance battalion. Since the start of the war on October 7, 2023, the Israeli army has acknowledged the deaths of 898 soldiers, though Palestinian resistance factions insist the true toll is significantly higher. As resistance operations persist, the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza continues to deepen.  In a video released by the Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, 22-year-old Israeli captive Rom Barslavsky appeared gaunt and weeping from an undisclosed location in Gaza. Video about one of the captives held by the Al-Quds Brigades The last message from the captive soldier "Rom Barslavsky," before losing contact with the capturing group. The message is that the captives are suffering from famine in Gaza pic.twitter.com/tYaHQ62sCz — Ahmed M. Fahmy (@ahfahmy85) July 31, 2025 Barslavsky described his deteriorating physical and mental condition, saying he suffers from dizziness, difficulty breathing, and constant pain. “Every time I try to get up and go to the bathroom, I fall,” he said in the video. “I simply don’t eat or drink. From morning until night, there is nothing.” The soldier pleaded with Israeli authorities to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, linking his own suffering to that of the population around him.  “I saw children dying of hunger—skeletons. Ive never seen anything like this before,” he said. “Please bring food before I die of hunger. If not for the children of Gaza, then do it for your prisoners.” The video showed Barslavsky writing in his diary and watching images of starving children in Gaza.  The video concluded with a stark message: “What our people are suffering is what your prisoners are suffering,” underlining that the siege imposed by Israel on Gaza is inextricably linked to the fate of Israeli captives held inside the Strip. (PC, AJA) The post WATCH: Hamas Ambush in Khan Yunis Reveals Growing Resistance Capabilities appeared first on Palestine Chronicle.

[Category: News, gaza genocide, israel, Israeli Army, palestine, palestinian resistance]

— TikTok Appoints Ex-Israeli Soldier as New ‘Hate Speech’ Manager

 

at 7/31/25 2:22pm

By Palestine Chronicle Staff   Mindel “will be tasked with formulating TikTok’s hate speech policies, shaping relevant legislative and regulatory frameworks, and monitoring trends—particularly those related to antisemitic content.” TikTok’s appointment of an ex-Israeli army instructor as its new hate speech manager has been criticized, with concern raised for the future of digital freedoms for Palestinians. Erica Mindel previously worked with the U.S. State Department under Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, the Biden Administration’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, according to Sada Social, a body that monitors and documents digital violations against Palestinian content. Mindel previously served as an instructor in the Israeli army’s Spokesperson’s Unit, the monitoring body said in a statement on X. Meet TikTok’s New Zionist Censorship Tsar, Erica Mindel Mindel is a former IDF instructor & is now employed to run TikTok’s “hate speech” enforcement. The head of the ADL previously said Israel has a “TikTok problem”. Now a devout Zionist can censor the platform. pic.twitter.com/DgMBz6Aejv — MintPress News (@MintPressNews) July 29, 2025 It stated that in her new role, Mindel “will be tasked with formulating TikTok’s hate speech policies, shaping relevant legislative and regulatory frameworks, and monitoring trends—particularly those related to antisemitic content.” Serious Implications The body said it viewed her appointment as “a highly concerning indicator for the future of digital freedoms for Palestinians,” and warned of “the serious implications that Mindel’s military background may have on TikTok’s moderation practices, especially regarding Palestinian reports of incitement, bias, and the silencing of their narrative.” Press Release| Sada Social Denounces TikTok’s Appointment of Former Israeli Army Instructor as Hate Speech Policy Manager Sada Social Center expresses its deep concern and strong condemnation regarding TikTok’s appointment of Erica Mindel—a former instructor in the Israeli… — صدى سوشال Sada Social (@SadaSocialPs) July 31, 2025 “Assigning someone affiliated with an army currently under international investigation for genocide in Gaza to lead hate speech policy only entrenches existing biases and undermines the principles of fairness and digital justice,” Sada Social stressed. American Jewish Committee Position According to Mindel’s LinkedIn profile, she holds the position of “Public Policy Manager, Hate Speech” since July 2025. She was previously hired as “a contractor to the US Department of State, specifically for the Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. Provide strategic communications and public diplomacy support as well as perform policy analysis on various regional and multi-lateral portfolios.” The Israel Lobby is Losing Its Influence Triggering a New Propaganda Strategy Prior to that, she spent two years at the American Jewish Committee (AJC) as an “Assistant Director, Program Development”. That role included “developing and managing high-level advocacy and policy delegations to Israel for political, press/media, religious and civic and academic thought leaders.” Zionist Identity In a 2023 AJC video, Mindel mentioned “how passionate my own Zionist identity had become.” She had begun her internship at the AJC “as Israel engaged in one of the larger military operations of my lifetime, Tzuk Eitan Operation Protective Edge.” Over 2,000 Palestinians (including more than 500 children) and more than 10,000 were injured in the 2014 Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip, according to Amnesty International. Following recent censorship trends on Meta and Twitter, TikTok may be next to suppress documentation of Israeli violations—especially after appointing Erica Mindel, a former IDF soldier and self-proclaimed Zionist, as the platform’s new hate speech policy manager. pic.twitter.com/mf3ID1ImrV — Ramy Abdu| رامي عبده (@RamAbdu) July 31, 2025 “I knew the well-being of Jews worldwide and the security  of Israel would be issues of lifelong importance to me,” Mindel stated. She explained that she grew up in a traditional Jewish household, “but in an untraditional decision, after graduating from Michigan, I made aliyah and enlisted” in the Israeli army where she spent two years serving as “an instructor in the armored corps.” “To many, this might seem like a contradiction. For a woman who identifies as liberal and progressive to be a Zionist so committed as to join the IDF, for me, these two identities go hand in hand,” Mindel stated. Israels Content Removal Requests Sada Social said its 2024 Digital Index revealed that 27 percent of all digital violations targeting Palestinian content occurred on TikTok. “According to TikTok’s own transparency report for the second half of 2024, the platform complied with 94% of the Israeli government’s content removal requests, all while imposing strict censorship on Palestinian content,” the monitoring body said.  “This included the deletion of videos with clear journalistic value, and the targeting of accounts belonging to journalists, media outlets, activists, and supporters of the Palestinian cause.” 22 Months of Complicity: Why The Media Suddenly Changed Its Mind On Gaza The monitoring group “underscores that TikTok has failed to undertake any meaningful internal review of its policies, even after the South African government submitted video evidence to the International Court of Justice (ICJ)—footage that was published on TikTok and depicted Israeli soldiers celebrating the destruction of Palestinian homes, mocking victims, and writing messages on bombs before they were dropped on Gaza.” “Instead of responding to these disturbing violations, TikTok has continued its partnerships with a political and military regime currently under international investigation,” the group stated. (The Palestine Chronicle) The post TikTok Appoints Ex-Israeli Soldier as New Hate Speech Manager appeared first on Palestine Chronicle.

[Category: News, gaza genocide, Israeli Army, Israeli war crimes, TikTok, United States]

— TikTok Appoints Ex Israeli Soldier as New ‘Hate Speech’ Manager

 

at 7/31/25 2:22pm

By Palestine Chronicle Staff   Mindel “will be tasked with formulating TikTok’s hate speech policies, shaping relevant legislative and regulatory frameworks, and monitoring trends—particularly those related to antisemitic content.” TikTok’s appointment of an ex-Israeli army instructor as its new hate speech manager has been criticized, with concern raised for the future of digital freedoms for Palestinians. Erica Mindel previously worked with the U.S. State Department under Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, the Biden Administration’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, according to Sada Social, a body that monitors and documents digital violations against Palestinian content. Mindel previously served as an instructor in the Israeli army’s Spokesperson’s Unit, the monitoring body said in a statement on X. Meet TikTok’s New Zionist Censorship Tsar, Erica Mindel Mindel is a former IDF instructor & is now employed to run TikTok’s “hate speech” enforcement. The head of the ADL previously said Israel has a “TikTok problem”. Now a devout Zionist can censor the platform. pic.twitter.com/DgMBz6Aejv — MintPress News (@MintPressNews) July 29, 2025 It stated that in her new role, Mindel “will be tasked with formulating TikTok’s hate speech policies, shaping relevant legislative and regulatory frameworks, and monitoring trends—particularly those related to antisemitic content.” Serious Implications The body said it viewed her appointment as “a highly concerning indicator for the future of digital freedoms for Palestinians,” and warned of “the serious implications that Mindel’s military background may have on TikTok’s moderation practices, especially regarding Palestinian reports of incitement, bias, and the silencing of their narrative.” Press Release| Sada Social Denounces TikTok’s Appointment of Former Israeli Army Instructor as Hate Speech Policy Manager Sada Social Center expresses its deep concern and strong condemnation regarding TikTok’s appointment of Erica Mindel—a former instructor in the Israeli… — صدى سوشال Sada Social (@SadaSocialPs) July 31, 2025 “Assigning someone affiliated with an army currently under international investigation for genocide in Gaza to lead hate speech policy only entrenches existing biases and undermines the principles of fairness and digital justice,” Sada Social stressed. American Jewish Committee Position According to Mindel’s LinkedIn profile, she holds the position of “Public Policy Manager, Hate Speech” since July 2025. She was previously hired as “a contractor to the US Department of State, specifically for the Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. Provide strategic communications and public diplomacy support as well as perform policy analysis on various regional and multi-lateral portfolios.” The Israel Lobby is Losing Its Influence Triggering a New Propaganda Strategy Prior to that, she spent two years at the American Jewish Committee (AJC) as an “Assistant Director, Program Development”. That role included “developing and managing high-level advocacy and policy delegations to Israel for political, press/media, religious and civic and academic thought leaders.” Zionist Identity In a 2023 AJC video, Mindel mentioned “how passionate my own Zionist identity had become.” She had begun her internship at the AJC “as Israel engaged in one of the larger military operations of my lifetime, Tzuk Eitan Operation Protective Edge.” Over 2,000 Palestinians (including more than 500 children) and more than 10,000 were injured in the 2014 Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip, according to Amnesty International. Following recent censorship trends on Meta and Twitter, TikTok may be next to suppress documentation of Israeli violations—especially after appointing Erica Mindel, a former IDF soldier and self-proclaimed Zionist, as the platform’s new hate speech policy manager. pic.twitter.com/mf3ID1ImrV — Ramy Abdu| رامي عبده (@RamAbdu) July 31, 2025 “I knew the well-being of Jews worldwide and the security  of Israel would be issues of lifelong importance to me,” Mindel stated. She explained that she grew up in a traditional Jewish household, “but in an untraditional decision, after graduating from Michigan, I made aliyah and enlisted” in the Israeli army where she spent two years serving as “an instructor in the armored corps.” “To many, this might seem like a contradiction. For a woman who identifies as liberal and progressive to be a Zionist so committed as to join the IDF, for me, these two identities go hand in hand,” Mindel stated. Israels Content Removal Requests Sada Social said its 2024 Digital Index revealed that 27 percent of all digital violations targeting Palestinian content occurred on TikTok. “According to TikTok’s own transparency report for the second half of 2024, the platform complied with 94% of the Israeli government’s content removal requests, all while imposing strict censorship on Palestinian content,” the monitoring body said.  “This included the deletion of videos with clear journalistic value, and the targeting of accounts belonging to journalists, media outlets, activists, and supporters of the Palestinian cause.” 22 Months of Complicity: Why The Media Suddenly Changed Its Mind On Gaza The monitoring group “underscores that TikTok has failed to undertake any meaningful internal review of its policies, even after the South African government submitted video evidence to the International Court of Justice (ICJ)—footage that was published on TikTok and depicted Israeli soldiers celebrating the destruction of Palestinian homes, mocking victims, and writing messages on bombs before they were dropped on Gaza.” “Instead of responding to these disturbing violations, TikTok has continued its partnerships with a political and military regime currently under international investigation,” the group stated. (The Palestine Chronicle) The post TikTok Appoints Ex Israeli Soldier as New Hate Speech Manager appeared first on Palestine Chronicle.

[Category: News, gaza genocide, Israeli Army, Israeli war crimes, TikTok, United States]

— Witkoff Meets with Netanyahu in Israel as Gaza Death Toll Rises

 

at 7/31/25 11:14am

By Palestine Chronicle Staff   According to an Israeli media report, Witkoff and Netanyahu are believed to have discussed a Gaza ceasefire, the return Israeli hostages and Iran. The US envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel on Thursday amid pressure to reach a ceasefire agreement between Tel Aviv and the Palestinian Resistance Movement, Hamas. He met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the afternoon, The Jerusalem Post reported, citing confirmation from the premier’s office. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently meeting in his office with US Special Presidential Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff. pic.twitter.com/NC2N6Hfw52 — Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) July 31, 2025 The paper said that topics discussed during the meeting “are believed to have included Gaza ceasefire talks, returning hostages from Hamas captivity, and Iran.” Gaza Aid Site Visit Meanwhile, Al Jazeera Arabic reported that according to Israeli Channel 12, Witkoff will discuss two main issues: the continued fighting in Gaza and the humanitarian situation in the Strip. The channel explained that a decision must be made between moving towards a ceasefire deal and the release of prisoners, or occupying the Strip and annexing parts of it, the report stated. Over 90 House Democrats Demand Probe into Gaza Humanitarian Foundation  Witkoff is reportedly expected to visit one of the aid distribution centers affiliated with the controversial US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The Al-Jazeera report noted that Hebrew media previously reported that Tel Aviv had provided mediators with feedback on Hamass recent response to the ceasefire proposal in Gaza. An Israeli official quoted the official as saying, The real reason for Witkoffs arrival in Israel is to pressure for a deal. Doha Talks Last week, Hamas expressed surprise at Witkoff, who criticized the movement’s response to a ceasefire proposal mediated in Doha. Hamas said it has consistently approached the negotiations with “national responsibility and high flexibility,” aiming to reach a deal that would halt Israel’s military offensive and alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Hamas Rejects Witkoffs Claims, Says Ceasefire still Possible The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced on Wednesday that the death toll from Israels starvation policy had risen to 154 Palestinians, including 89 children. Last Sunday, the Israeli army authorized limited airdrops of humanitarian aid to Gaza, a move that international organizations considered a media stunt, the report noted. Hostage Families Protest In a related development, dozens of families of Israeli captives demonstrated outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office in West Jerusalem. Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the demonstrators demanded Witkoff pressure Netanyahu to conclude a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal. One day after a massacre of aid seekers, Israeli attacks killed 34 more Palestinians, while Al-Qassam fighters targeted troops in Khan Yunis.https://t.co/mlB94RKRt0 pic.twitter.com/QkCJP2pwHW — The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) July 31, 2025 Since Israel’s reneging on the ceasefire on March 18, it has killed and wounded thousands of Palestinians throughout the Gaza Strip through a bloody and ongoing aerial bombardment. On October 7, 2023, following a Palestinian Resistance operation in southern Israel, the Israeli military launched a genocidal war against the Palestinians, killing over 60,000, wounding more than 145,000, with over 14,000 still missing. Despite habitual condemnation by many countries around the world of the Israeli genocide, little has been done to hold Israel accountable. Israeli Army Begins Withdrawal as ‘Gideon Chariots’ Operation Ends in Failure Israel is currently under investigation for the crime of genocide by the International Court of Justice, while accused war criminals — including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — are now officially wanted by the International Criminal Court. The Israeli genocide has been largely defended, supported, and financed by Washington and a few other Western powers. (PC, AJA) The post Witkoff Meets with Netanyahu in Israel as Gaza Death Toll Rises appeared first on Palestine Chronicle.

[Category: News, gaza genocide, hamas, Israeli Army, Netanyahu, United States]

— US Senate Rejects Attempts to Block Arms Sales to Israel amid Gaza Genocide

 

at 7/31/25 11:04am

By Palestine Chronicle Staff   Following the vote, Bernie Sanders said the “tide is turning,” and that the American people “do not want to spend billions to starve children in Gaza.” ​​The US Senate failed to adopt two bills introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders to ban arms exports to Israel as the death toll in Tel Avivs ongoing military assault on Gaza continues to rise. Sanders, an independent from Vermont, has repeatedly tried to block the sale of arms to Israel over the past year.  The vote on Wednesday, however, showed a growing number of Democrats opposed to arms sales. By a vote of 27-17, Senate Democrats voted to stop sending arms shipments to a Netanyahu government which has waged a horrific, immoral and illegal war against the Palestinian people. The tide is turning. Americans dont want to spend billions to starve children in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/lLeQMkr92e — Sen. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) July 31, 2025 The resolutions introduced in the Senate on Monday would have blocked the sale of $675 million in bombs, as well as shipments of 20,000 automatic assault rifles to Israel, according to an Al Jazeera Arabic report. Opponents of arms sales to Israel again failed to gain passage, but 27 Democrats—more than half of the Democratic caucus—voted in favor of the assault rifle resolution and 24 in favor of the bomb sales resolution, the report stated. This was more than any of Sanderss previous efforts, which culminated in November of last year with 18 Democratic votes. Tide is Turning Sanders The vote tallies show how images of starving Palestinians in Gaza are increasingly dividing the overwhelming support for Israel among both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, the report noted. Over 90 House Democrats Demand Probe into Gaza Humanitarian Foundation  Sanders said in a statement that the “tide is turning,” and that the American people “do not want to spend billions to starve children in Gaza.” “By a vote of 27-17, Senate Democrats voted to stop sending arms shipments to a Netanyahu government which has waged a horrific, immoral and illegal war against the Palestinian people,” he stated. Concern Over Starvation Senate Democratic leaders reportedly spent about an hour Wednesday evening delivering a series of speeches on the Senate floor calling attention to the starving children in Gaza. Sixty percent of Americans now disapprove of Israel’s military action in Gaza, along with 52% who view the Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu unfavorably – his highest unfavorable rating since 1997, according to the latest Gallup poll.https://t.co/YA0GG4hc33 pic.twitter.com/iBVEcFlwPt — The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) July 30, 2025 They also called on the Trump administration to reconsider its approach to the conflict, including expanding aid to Gaza through organizations with experience working in the region. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 1,000 Palestinians seeking aid at or near aid distribution sites have been killed since the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) was launched at the end of May. Staggering Death Toll Since Israel’s reneging on the ceasefire on March 18, it has killed and wounded thousands of Palestinians throughout the Gaza Strip through a bloody and ongoing aerial bombardment. On October 7, 2023, following a Palestinian Resistance operation in southern Israel, the Israeli military launched a genocidal war against the Palestinians, killing over 60,000, wounding more than 145,000, with over 14,000 still missing. Gaza Death Toll Rises after Massacre at Aid Lines as Resistance Strikes Israeli Forces Despite habitual condemnation by many countries around the world of the Israeli genocide, little has been done to hold Israel accountable. Israel is currently under investigation for the crime of genocide by the International Court of Justice, while accused war criminals — including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — are now officially wanted by the International Criminal Court. The Israeli genocide has been largely defended, supported, and financed by Washington and a few other Western powers. (PC, AJA) The post US Senate Rejects Attempts to Block Arms Sales to Israel amid Gaza Genocide appeared first on Palestine Chronicle.

[Category: News, Bernie Sanders, gaza genocide, Israeli Army, Israeli war crimes, United States]

— Over 90 House Democrats Demand Probe into Gaza Humanitarian Foundation 

 

at 7/31/25 8:14am

By Palestine Chronicle Staff   According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 1,000 Palestinians seeking aid at or near aid distribution sites have been killed since the US and Israel-backed GHF was launched at the end of May. Ninety-three Democratic members of the US House of Representatives have signed a letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding an investigation into the ownership structure and operation of the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). “We have serious concerns with the operations of GHF, a newly established, private, US-linked organization with no prior humanitarian experience, and the possibility that it could become the sole or primary aid provider in Gaza,” the lawmakers stated in the letter dated July 30, 2025. NEWS: I led 92 House Democrats in demanding an investigation into the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation – a private, unqualified U.S.-linked aid organization at the center of the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. GHF’s reckless aid distribution tactics have led to mass panic and… pic.twitter.com/LsoswEmfbR — Rep. Sean Casten (@RepCasten) July 30, 2025 “We agree that delivering aid promptly and securely is crucial. However, GHF’s practices and finances require increased transparency and oversight to ensure aid reaches the intended beneficiaries effectively, safely, and in accordance with international standards,” the letter added. Over 1,000 Killed According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 1,000 Palestinians seeking aid at or near aid distribution sites have been killed since the US and Israel-backed GHF was launched at the end of May. The GHF runs four aid sites set up in the south of Gaza, forcing starving Palestinians to walk long distances in order to reach the sites in the hope that they will receive some form of aid. Barbarism on camera: Israeli forces fire shots at the feet of desperate and hungry Palestinians as UN teams tried to deliver food aid to Gaza This is the horror of life under the IDF’s occupation; the 21st Century’s Waffen SS pic.twitter.com/ys7sxG6P27 — Afshin Rattansi (@afshinrattansi) July 31, 2025 Questioning the approval of funding for the GHF, the lawmakers wrote that on June 24, 2025,  the Department of State (DOS) approved a $30 million grant for the organization. They said Jeremy Lewin, a current DOS official and former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee, “reportedly moved forward with the grant’s approval despite 58 internal objections that U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) staff experts wanted GHF to resolve before approving funding, and an assessment in a memorandum from an acting USAID official that GHF’s funding plan failed to meet required ‘minimum technical or budgetary standards.’” They stressed, “As lawmakers entrusted with the authority to appropriate taxpayer funds, which were undoubtedly used for GHF’s grant, we find this troubling.” Sponsor Transparency The lawmakers also raised concern that the GHF has not published “a complete list” of its sponsors. The GHF was registered in Delaware in February 2025 and also established an office in Geneva, Switzerland “with the explicit intent of accommodating donors that “prefer to participate outside of the U.S. structure.” The Swiss government has since announced that the office is to be dissolved. The Aid that Kills: Gaza and a Game We Never Chose The letter stated that the foundation has publicly stated that it has received at least $119 million from “other government donors,” and despite public denial, the Israeli government has “reportedly covertly contributed approximately $280 million USD to the new aid mechanism run by GHF.” Therefore, full disclosure of GHF’s funding sources “is imperative,” the letter added. Private US Firms The lawmakers pointed out that GHF “contracts two American private firms, afe Reach Solutions (SRS) and UG Solutions (UGS), to provide security and logistics, with some pricing models reportedly provided by Boston Consulting Group consultants.” None of the groups “have prior humanitarian experience,” nor does GHF Executive Chairman Johnnie Moore, a close ally of President Trump, it noted. Amir Walked 12km to Get Food’ and Was Shot US Mercenary on Gaza Death Traps “As a result, these distribution centers appear to operate at a reduced capacity at an exorbitant cost, significantly exceeding the current operating costs of experienced humanitarian organizations,” the letter stated. The lawmakers also said they were “alarmed” at the “widespread violence” at GHF distribution centers resulting in the killing of at least 1,000 Palestinians as of July 23. “Instead of using traditional aid distribution methods, based on internationally agreed-upon humanitarian principles, GHF provides food on a first-come, first-served basis,” they stated. As a result, when centers open, large crowds of Palestinians rush to the centers. In these situations, “there appear to be few restrictions on the use of lethal force” by Israeli soldiers and American contractors in the vicinity. Shoot to Kill A former security contractor stated that he was instructed, “if you feel threatened, shoot – shoot to kill and ask questions later,” the letter stated. The politicians emphasized that “the risk of violence, long wait times, and limited aid availability appear to force hundreds of thousands to choose between risking their lives or going without food.” U.S. military veteran Anthony Aguilar, who worked as a security contractor at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites, says he was horrified by war crimes being carried out against starving Palestinians. The sites have not only become death traps, they were designed as death traps. pic.twitter.com/7daP4myxey — Democracy Now! (@democracynow) July 29, 2025 The lawmakers said operations of the GHF sites “are widely criticized” by experienced humanitarian organizations “as being inefficient and dangerous, and violating internationally agreed-upon humanitarian principles.” Notably, they added, GHFs inaugural Executive Director and former Marine, Jake Wood, resigned from the organization, citing that the organization no longer aligned with “humanitarian principles.” List of Concerns The lawmakers listed a series of questions with a response expected by August 14. Gaza Death Toll Rises after Massacre at Aid Lines as Resistance Strikes Israeli Forces These include what “specific oversight mechanisms are in place to ensure that the GHF operates in accordance with U.S. and international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles of neutrality and impartiality,” as well as what steps the US government is taking to address concerns about t militarization at GHF’s aid sites, “particularly regarding the involvement of U.S. private contractors and Israeli security forces.” They also requested a “complete and most current list of GHF’s donors” and how, if at all, GHF will coordinate with other humanitarian organizations already working in Gaza. (The Palestine Chronicle) The post Over 90 House Democrats Demand Probe into Gaza Humanitarian Foundation  appeared first on Palestine Chronicle.

[Category: News, gaza genocide, GHF, Israeli Army, Israeli war crimes, United States]

— Columbia University Didn’t Pay Reparations for Slavery, Now It Pays Them to Zionists

 

at 7/31/25 4:52am

By Robert Inlakesh Part of the strategy is framing anti-Israel sentiments as antisemitism and tying sympathy for Gaza to support of Hamas. Despite its historic ties to slavery, Columbia University has never paid reparations to Black Americans, but now it has reached a compensation deal for its Jewish staff over claims of antisemitism. Many feel this represents a blatant prioritization of some groups over others by the academic institution. Bowing to the pressure of the US Trump Administration, Columbia University not only agreed to pay $200 million to settle a federal investigation into alleged anti-Semitism, but also reached a historic settlement with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to pay into a $21 million class claims fund to provide reparations to Jewish employees impacted by alleged antisemitism. The Israel Lobby is Losing Its Influence Triggering a New Propaganda Strategy On April 17, 2024, anti-war student protesters set up their first encampment at Columbia University in order to pressure the academic institution to divest from Israel. The reaction from the University was to call in law enforcement, including riot police, to violently expel them for their peaceful activism and lawfully exercising free speech. The violent crackdown triggered a wave of encampments by students at Ivy-league colleges across the country, before escalating across the entire North American continent and resulting in an uptick in student activism across Europe. Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, compared the student protests to Nazis, which was followed by US House Speaker, Mike Johnson, labeling them all antisemitic and accusing them of being terrorist sympathisers. Media outlets from CNN to Fox News provided wall to wall coverage of alleged “antisemitism” on college campuses, even reporting on various hoaxes that were invented by Zionist activists, like claims from a woman that she was stabbed in the eye with a flag poll, amongst others. Almost all of the violent assaults and racial abuse came from Zionist activists against the student protesters. 22 Months of Complicity: Why The Media Suddenly Changed Its Mind On Gaza Also, one of the two most prominent groups involved in organizing the encampments nationwide was Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP).  Anti-Zionist Jews were present at almost every encampment, some experiencing assault at the hands of local police forces sent in to crack down on the anti-war advocates. Perhaps the most prominent case of this came with the arrest of US Presidential Candidate Jill Stein. Columbia University President, Minouche Shafik, despite persecuting her own students and calling in the authorities to crack down upon them, risking their safety, was still forced to resign over the student uprising. The Zionist movement openly claimed responsibility and celebrated not only Shafik’s resignation, but also that of Harvard’s Claudia Gay and others.  The mass unseating of University Presidents was already unprecedented in the history of US academia, however, when Donald Trump took over the White House, he only accelerated this assault on free speech. The Trump administration has been following a strategy published by the Washington-based Heritage Foundation, called “Project Esther”. This document was published by the influential right-wing think tank on October 7, 2024, and has been followed almost precisely to the letter since Donald Trump’s inauguration. Francesca Albanese, Palestine Action, and the End of International Law Part of the strategy is framing anti-Israel sentiments as antisemitism and tying sympathy for Gaza to support of Hamas, before weaponising the Civil Rights Act, anti-Terror legislation and claiming national security threats as a justification for a draconian crackdown on First Amendment rights. Following this model, we saw the ICE detention of students/former-students like Mahmoud Khalil, the freezing of funds to Universities and an attempt to place the curriculum in the hands of the US federal government.  To the average person, raising a Palestinian flag is not antisemitism and chanting “from the river to the sea” is not support for Hamas, yet this is exactly the logic of the US government and Zionist movement in claiming mass anti-Semitic persecution. Instead of fighting the Trump administration’s push to topple academic freedom at Columbia University, it pledges to implement the US governments reforms in a desperate attempt to unfreeze federal funding. It didn’t work however, as another Columbia President, Katrina Armstrong, stepped down, while the White House ordered an investigation into anti-Semitism. To the great displeasure of Columbia faculty, the University decided to back down once again and hand $200 million to the Trump administration, in addition to pledging $21 million in reparations for Jewish Staff. Putting aside the fact that the University refused to stand up for or compensate Palestinian students or others with reparations for violent assaults and trauma that they endured during this period, Columbia University has still never paid reparations to Black Americans for its ties to slavery. The University, particularly in its early years while still called “King’s College” was deeply immersed in the slave trade. In fact, of its first 10 Presidents, at least half were proven back in 2017 to have owned slaves. Political Theater on Gaza: The Trump-Netanyahu Ceasefire Deal In addition to this, slavery was such a normal part of life at the University that it had seeped its way into the curriculum by the 1760s, as most students there were of wealthy merchant families whose wealth came from the slave trade. There was even a constant need for college building operating funds, required for maintenance,  which were donated mainly by active participants in the slave trade. The stepson of US founding father, George Washington, was even recorded as having brought a slave with him to the University. Back in 2016, Jordan Brewington uncovered documentation that proved 28 students at the University had taken out a total of 44 advertisements for runaway slaves in local newspapers. Although many of the records linking the University to the slave trade were destroyed or lost in transition, research from Columbia students managed to uncover many significant links that paint the picture that the academic institution was at least in part built and sustained with funds made as a result of the slave trade. Columbia University is an institution that historically, both directly and indirectly, benefited from slavery. Research has revealed that administrators, trustees, students and faculty were directly involved in enslaving people and profiting from the slave trade. These are all things that the University acknowledges, yet it has never paid any reparations to Black Americans. Instead, the academic institution sets up a class claims fund that will in effect pay reparations to its Jewish staff over claims that students opposing a genocide had allegedly engaged in anti-semitic acts.  In other words, reparations for hurting peoples feelings, but no reparations for the descendants of enslaved Black Americans, the population on the backs of which the University built itself. (The Palestine Chronicle) Robert Inlakesh is a journalist, writer, and documentary filmmaker. He focuses on the Middle East, specializing in Palestine. He contributed this article to The Palestine Chronicle. The post Columbia University Didn’t Pay Reparations for Slavery, Now It Pays Them to Zionists appeared first on Palestine Chronicle.

[Category: Articles, Features, Columbia University, gaza genocide, israel, palestine, United States]

— ‘We Will Not Submit to Israel’: Hezbollah Rejects Disarmament amid Escalation

 

at 7/31/25 4:36am

Hezbollah’s Sheikh Naim Qassem condemns US-Israeli pressure, reaffirming the Resistance’s arms as vital to Lebanon’s sovereignty and defense. In a televised speech marking the first anniversary of the martyrdom of Commander Fouad Shokor, known as Sayyed Mohsen, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem strongly rejected calls for the group’s disarmament. “Those who call for submitting arms practically demand submitting them to Israel We will not submit to Israel,” Sheikh Qassem said, asserting that such demands ultimately serve Israeli interests and threaten Lebanese sovereignty. He attributed the rising tensions to coordinated pressure by the United States and Israel. US envoy Tom Barrack, Qassem explained, had encountered “a unified Lebanese national stance” from Lebanon’s top three officials, who insisted that Israeli aggression must stop before any talks could begin. Qassem described how “Barrack came along with intimidation and threats to annex Lebanon to Syria and expand the Israeli aggression.” According to Qassem, Lebanon’s president, prime minister, and parliament speaker are committed to rebuilding the country and will not compromise on what he called Lebanon’s “source of strength.” He accused Washington of attempting to weaken Lebanon under the pretense of assistance: “The Americans seek to strip that strength for Israel’s benefit, falsely claiming they want to help.” Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem declared in a speech today that the Lebanese resistance will never allow Lebanon to become a vassal state of Israel, not even if the entire world stands against it. “He also said that Israel will never be able to hold Lebanon… pic.twitter.com/vIOs14Bd99 — Ibrahim Majed (@ibrahimtmajed) July 30, 2025 Disarmament Serves Israel only Qassem made clear that Hezbollah’s arms are intended “to resist Israel and serve as Lebanons source of strength.” He rejected the notion that disarmament would enhance national security, pointing out that the US demand for Hezbollah to lay down its weapons is meant solely to benefit Israel. He reiterated that the group had previously expressed a willingness to discuss how its arms might be incorporated into a broader national defense strategy. Nonetheless, he warned that such discussions cannot occur under pressure, as they ultimately “serve Israeli interests rather than Lebanon’s sovereignty.” “We will not accept that Lebanon be annexed to Israel even if the whole world unites against us, and we will not accept that it be taken hostage as long as there is a single living soul among us,” Qassem said emphatically. He went on to question the fairness of the current ceasefire, saying it secured Israeli settlements in the north but failed to guarantee Lebanon’s safety. He added that Israeli attacks, assassinations, and airstrikes continue with the aim of expanding occupation and establishing settlements once Hezbollah is disarmed. Hezbollah’s Arms Strengthen the State Qassem rejected claims that Hezbollah undermines the Lebanese state, arguing instead that the Resistance has always bolstered national institutions. He questioned the logic of demanding the group surrender its weapons: “Does the state have the right to say it cannot defend its people, then demand we hand over our weapons only for them to be destroyed by Israel?” He affirmed Hezbollah’s compliance with the ceasefire agreement and said that linking it to disarmament was unacceptable: “The issue of weapons is purely an internal matter.” Addressing those pushing for disarmament, Qassem said: “You stop the aggression, ground the warplanes, return the captives, and let Israel withdraw from the territories it has occupied, then, let’s see if the situation stabilizes, and after that, you’ll get the best possible dialogue and the most constructive response from us.” Sheikh Naim Qassem:Bottom line::Lebanon is not an annex of “Israel”—and it will never be,as long as we breathe,as long as we say: There is no god but Allah. pic.twitter.com/uQ42tuRwfL — ????? (@krar_wahaj) July 30, 2025 He also urged the Lebanese state to take charge of reconstruction efforts, regardless of American obstruction or pressure on Arab countries. Reconstruction, he said, must be treated as a national priority and a step toward economic revival. Calling for unity, Qassem encouraged all Lebanese to embrace a national motto: “Let us drive Israel out through our solidarity and rebuild our homeland together hand in hand.” Lebanon at a Crossroads Qassem warned that Lebanon faces an existential threat not only from “Israel” but also from ISIS and the United States, which he said are pushing for a so-called “New Middle East.” He recalled the origins of the Resistance, which was born to compensate for the army’s limitations and now forms a foundational “trinity of the army, the people, and the Resistance.” This trinity, he argued, is not merely rhetorical, but a proven component of Lebanon’s state-building process. Sovereignty and Liberation Qassem explained that Hezbollah’s work follows two paths—resisting occupation and building state institutions through authentic popular representation. Both goals, he said, go hand in hand and should not be seen as mutually exclusive. He underscored that the Resistance remains active in all arenas—military, social, and political—which is precisely why Israel continues to violate ceasefires, as its military campaign has failed to subdue Hezbollah. Hezbollah’s Secretary-General stated that Lebanon must choose between two futures: one of sovereignty, independence, and liberation, or one of subjugation through foreign occupation. “Between these two choices, we stand with sovereignty, independence, and liberation,” he said. Call for Global Solidarity Turning to Gaza, Qassem denounced Israel’s ongoing war as a genocide, accusing both Tel Aviv and Washington of “committing systematic atrocities daily in the enclave.” He called for unified international opposition to what he described as Israeli tyranny, insisting it is a threat to all of humanity. Tribute to Martyrs On the anniversary of Commander Fouad Shokor’s martyrdom, Qassem commemorated his role as a pioneer of the Resistance. Shokor, he said, led one of the earliest fighting cells, the “Covenant Unit,” before 1982. He also served as Hezbollah’s first military commander, founded its naval unit, and played a critical role in martyrdom operations and war logistics. He worked closely with former Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah until his martyrdom. "We salute the freed prisoner and fighter George Abdallah, who stood tall for 41 years and refused to sign a document renouncing his beliefs in exchange for a few years." Sheikh Naim Qassem pic.twitter.com/XU3iUCWTVf — مايا ? (@AlAndalus074478) July 30, 2025 The speech also honored the legacy of Ismail Haniyeh on the anniversary of his martyrdom, crediting him with elevating the Palestinian cause to the global stage. Finally, Qassem paid tribute to long-imprisoned Lebanese fighter Georges Abdallah, praising his 41-year resistance from within prison and underscoring his steadfast refusal to abandon his ideals. Abdallah, Qassem noted, remains a vital part of the Resistance’s heritage, uniting the struggle for land with the defense of human dignity. (PC, Al Mayadeen) The post We Will Not Submit to Israel: Hezbollah Rejects Disarmament amid Escalation appeared first on Palestine Chronicle.

[Category: News, Hezbollah, israel, Israeli Occupation, lebanon, Middle East]

— Israeli Army Begins Withdrawal as ‘Gideon Chariots’ Operation Ends in Failure

 

at 7/31/25 3:53am

By Palestine Chronicle Staff   The operation, initially presented as a decisive effort to establish full military and political control over Gaza, has failed to achieve its stated objectives.  The Israeli military announced on Thursday it has begun reducing its forces in the Gaza Strip, including the withdrawal of the 98th Division.  According to Israeli Army Radio, the decision follows the official conclusion of the Gideon Chariot operation, a large-scale offensive launched in early May 2025.  Over the past several days, paratrooper, commando, and armored brigades have reportedly been pulled out of the territory. The operation, initially presented as a decisive effort to establish full military and political control over Gaza, has failed to achieve its stated objectives.  This was acknowledged by Israel’s Channel 13, which reported that none of the goals set by the Israeli Cabinet at the start of the campaign had been met. According to the Palestinian Center for Israeli Studies, cited by Al Mayadeen, the Gideon Chariot operation aimed to restructure Gaza through a series of sweeping military measures.  Worst Ratings: Israel, Netanyahu Face Record Low US Support amid Gaza Genocide These included the creation of buffer zones — described by analysts as resembling ghettos — where Palestinian civilians would be concentrated. The purpose was to allow Israeli forces freedom of movement and operational flexibility across the rest of the territory. In addition to redrawing the security and demographic map of Gaza, the operation sought to dismantle Hamas’ governance, destroy its infrastructure, and recover Israeli captives. It was also intended to consolidate long-term Israeli strategic control over the enclave. The withdrawal announcement comes amid increasing international scrutiny of Israel’s actions in Gaza and growing pressure to end the war.  The move also coincides with a marked intensification of Palestinian resistance operations in the Strip.  Palestinian resistance groups have continued to carry out attacks against Israeli forces, particularly in Khan Yunis and central Gaza, inflicting casualties and slowing military advances.  On Thursday, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Resistance Movement Hamas, announced that it had shelled a group of Israeli soldiers and military vehicles with mortars in the Al-Qarara area, east of Khan Yunis. Gaza Death Toll Rises after Massacre at Aid Lines as Resistance Strikes Israeli Forces Earlier in the week, the Brigades said it detonated three barrel bombs targeting Israeli vehicles near the Batn al-Sameen area, killing and wounding several soldiers. On Saturday, Al-Qassam fighters claimed responsibility for targeting two Israeli armored personnel carriers with explosive devices in the cockpits. After both vehicles were set ablaze, a third was hit with a Yasin 105 anti-tank missile in Abasan al-Kabira, also in Khan Yunis. Palestinian resistance operations have intensified in recent days, particularly in Khan Yunis and Rafah, as Israeli ground forces continue their offensive across southern Gaza. These operations have led to numerous Israeli casualties. (PC, Al Mayadeen) The post Israeli Army Begins Withdrawal as ‘Gideon Chariots’ Operation Ends in Failure appeared first on Palestine Chronicle.

[Category: News, gaza genocide, israel, Israeli Army, Israeli war crimes, palestinian resistance]

— Gaza Death Toll Rises after Massacre at Aid Lines as Resistance Strikes Israeli Forces

 

at 7/31/25 3:40am

By Palestine Chronicle Staff   One day after a massacre of aid seekers, Israeli attacks killed 34 more Palestinians, while Al-Qassam fighters targeted troops in Khan Yunis. At least 34 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire since dawn Thursday, including 15 civilians who were waiting for humanitarian aid, Al-Jaeera reported, citing hospital sources. The latest fatalities follow a deadly massacre the previous day, in which Israeli forces opened fire on crowds awaiting food aid, killing and injuring hundreds. According to Al-Aqsa Martyrs and Al-Awda Hospitals, 15 people were killed and several others wounded by Israeli gunfire while queuing for aid in central Gaza. In northern Gaza City, an Israeli airstrike on an apartment belonging to the Salfiti family killed three people and injured several more. The strike sparked a large fire in the building. Amir Walked 12km to Get Food’ and Was Shot US Mercenary on Gaza Death Traps In central Gaza’s Al-Bassa area, five Palestinians were killed in a drone strike targeting a tent sheltering displaced families. Meanwhile, in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Yunis, another Israeli drone strike hit a displacement tent, killing three people—including two children—and injuring more than 15 others. A separate bombing in the Bir 19 area of Al-Mawasi also killed two children in a similar attack on a displacement tent. On Wednesday, Gaza’s Government Media Office said Israeli forces had committed a massacre in the Sudanese area, killing 51 and injuring 348 others as they attempted to receive food aid. The office reported that 112 humanitarian trucks had entered Gaza that day, but most were looted amid ongoing chaos and insecurity. It called on the United Nations and international bodies to take urgent action to open border crossings, lift the siege, and guarantee the safe delivery of aid. It also held Israel and its backers fully responsible for what it described as “horrific crimes.” Since October 2023, Israel has been waging what Palestinian and international reports have described as a war of extermination against Gaza’s population. The death toll has reached nearly 60,000, with over 145,000 injured and nearly the entire population displaced. The scale of destruction has been described as unprecedented since World War II. Plan to Annex Gaza Not Really on the Table Israeli Media Israeli Forces Targeted The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Resistance Movement Hamas, announced on Thursday that it had shelled a group of Israeli soldiers and military vehicles with mortars in the Al-Qarara area, east of Khan Yunis. Earlier in the week, the Brigades said it detonated three barrel bombs targeting Israeli vehicles near the Batn al-Sameen area, killing and wounding several soldiers. On Saturday, Al-Qassam fighters claimed responsibility for targeting two Israeli armored personnel carriers with explosive devices in the cockpits. After both vehicles were set ablaze, a third was hit with a Yasin 105 anti-tank missile in Abasan al-Kabira, also in Khan Yunis. Palestinian resistance operations have intensified in recent days, particularly in Khan Yunis and Rafah, as Israeli ground forces continue their offensive across southern Gaza. These operations have led to numerous Israeli casualties. (PC, AJA) The post Gaza Death Toll Rises after Massacre at Aid Lines as Resistance Strikes Israeli Forces appeared first on Palestine Chronicle.

[Category: News, gaza genocide, israel, Israeli Army, Israeli war crimes, palestinian resistance]

— LIVE BLOG: Israel Slaughters Scores of Aid Seekers as Witkoff Plans Tel Aviv Visit – Day 663

 

at 7/30/25 2:52pm

By Palestine Chronicle Staff   In just two hours, 37 Palestinians were killed and over 270 were wounded while trying to obtain humanitarian aid in northern Gaza. Medical staff reported an inability to save lives due to the total lack of medication, supplies, and functioning operating rooms. Meanwhile, US envoy Steven Witkoff will travel to Israel on Thursday to discuss the next steps in handling the Gaza situation. Since October 7, 2023, Israel has killed 60,034 and injured 145,870 others, the majority of whom are women and children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza. Click here for the previous blogs. The post LIVE BLOG: Israel Slaughters Scores of Aid Seekers as Witkoff Plans Tel Aviv Visit Day 663 appeared first on Palestine Chronicle.

[Category: Blog, News, Slider, Al-Aqsa Flood Live Blog, gaza genocide, iran, israel, palestine]

As of 11/9/25 11:38am. Last new 8/1/25 5:10pm.