Youth Demand, an offshoot of Just Stop Oil, has announced plans for nationwide pro-Palestine demonstrations in five British cities on Armistice Day, coinciding with Remembrance Sunday events. These “highly coordinated” protests aim to disrupt the commemoration of war veterans, sparking outrage among veterans’ groups. The demonstrations are planned to be disruptive, with organizers emphasizing the need to “swarm” and “cause disruption” before quickly dispersing to avoid arrest. Police have condemned the planned disruptions, emphasizing the importance of allowing Remembrance Day events to proceed without interruption.
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The Israeli military has discovered thousands of hours of footage showing Hamas interrogators torturing Palestinian civilians in Gaza. The videos, captured by CCTV cameras inside a Hamas military base, depict horrific scenes of men chained and beaten, with guards appearing indifferent to the suffering. The footage, which dates back to 2018-2020, corroborates previous reports by human rights groups documenting Hamas’s systematic abuse of its own people, including political opponents, those accused of collaborating with Israel, and even gay men. This chilling evidence further highlights the brutal reality of life under Hamas rule, where fear and repression are pervasive, and the basic human rights of Palestinians are routinely violated.
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The Irish government has passed a non-binding motion acknowledging that “genocide is being perpetrated before our eyes by Israel in Gaza,” and will intervene in South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for genocide by the end of the year. This intervention will be based on a strict interpretation of the Genocide Convention, which Ireland believes will ensure the highest level of protection for civilians caught in armed conflict. While the Irish government has expressed concern about the conduct of both Israel and Hamas, it will not impose unilateral sanctions on Israel, instead relying on EU and UN Security Council sanctions. The government also asserted that Ireland does not export military goods to Israel and has strict regulations in place for dual-use item exports and overflights of sovereign airspace.
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During ground operations in southern Lebanon, IDF forces discovered a Hezbollah training base located within 200 meters of a UNIFIL base. This base was used for training operatives and storing weapons, including rocket launch sites aimed at Israeli towns, training manuals, and operational maps of Israel. Simultaneously, Hezbollah launched rockets from Lebanon, striking a house in Kfar Yassif, causing damage but no injuries. Multiple drones were also intercepted after crossing from Lebanon. In the Upper Galilee, communities faced brief concerns over potential ground infiltrations, resulting in emergency protocols and roadblocks.
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A Republican-linked political action committee (PAC) is employing a divisive tactic by targeting Arab American and Jewish American voters in key swing states with contradictory messages about Vice President Kamala Harris’s stance on Israel. This PAC, known as FC PAC, has been funded by a dark money group with ties to former President Trump, and aims to stoke divisions and discourage voters from supporting a particular candidate. The advertisements, often mimicking the style of campaign materials, present Harris as both pro-Israel and pro-Palestine depending on the target audience. Experts warn that this manipulative strategy, while alarming, may be effective due to widespread frustration among Arab Americans over Democratic support for Israel, particularly in light of recent conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.
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Israeli forces have declared their intention to prevent the return of Palestinian residents to northern Gaza following a systematic evacuation. This action, which has been criticized by international humanitarian law experts as a potential war crime, has been justified by Israel as necessary to combat regrouped Hamas cells. While Israel denies forcing evacuations, residents have described dire conditions and a desperate flight south. Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon continues, marked by a deadly Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Barja and retaliatory rocket fire by Hezbollah targeting Israel.
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Former CIA Director and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta predicts that President-elect Donald Trump will give Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “blank check” in the Middle East, potentially leading to an escalated conflict with Iran. Panetta expresses concern that Trump’s approach could further destabilize the region. He believes that Trump’s foreign policy will favor appeasement of adversaries like Russia, potentially allowing them to retain control of occupied Ukrainian territory. However, Panetta remains optimistic that a more experienced administration could negotiate a fair resolution to the Ukraine conflict. He highlights the complex challenges facing the US in a dangerous world, emphasizing the need for cautious and strategic diplomacy.
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The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has stated that it is systematically removing Palestinians from northern Gaza and they will not be allowed to return. The IDF claims there are no civilians left in the north and that humanitarian aid will only be allowed to enter the south. This action has been condemned by international humanitarian law experts as a war crime, specifically forcible transfer and using food as a weapon. Residents in northern Gaza have described the conditions as the worst of the war, with many fleeing to the south without food or resources. Meanwhile, Israel’s war with Hezbollah continues, with an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon killing at least 30 people, many of whom were women and children. Hezbollah has vowed to continue fighting and has declared that no part of Israel is off-limits.
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Iranian officials plan to employ more powerful warheads for the next attack against Israel, even in the face of American preventative attempts. This comes in retaliation against Israel’s October 26 strike on Iran’s military infrastructure, after Iran directed around 200 missiles into Israel earlier that month. Iran’s traditional military forces could be involved in the future attacks, differing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard’s exclusive handling of Israel-related security activity. Iranian officials have articulated a plan to use more than drones and missiles in the oncoming strike; any missiles would have enhanced warheads. The attack will follow the US Election Day but will be before the new president’s inauguration in January.
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The draft legislation “Never again begins now: defense protection and Strengthened Jewish Life in Germany” states a noticeable increase in antisemitism in Germany since the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023. This law aims to protect the Jewish community in Germany and strengthen Jewish life in response to this growing hostility. This suggests an increasing concern about the safety of the Jewish population in Germany.
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John Q. Hosedrinker