Israel PM Rejects Hamas's Proposed Gaza Ceasefire Terms | BBC News

Feb 7, 2024 | Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected Hamas's proposed ceasefire terms - saying "total victory" in Gaza is possible within months. He was speaking after Hamas laid out a series of demands in response to an Israel-backed ceasefire proposal. He said negotiations with the group were "not going anywhere" and described their terms as "bizarre". Talks between negotiators are continuing.

Germany Logs Uptick in Antisemitic Crimes amid Gaza Conflict | DW News

Jan 26, 2024 | Authorities in Germany have noted a sharp increase in crimes with antisemitic motives amid the conflict in Gaza. The government's commissioner tasked with combating antisemitism called the figure "shameful."

Oldest Holocaust survivor turns 112 amid rise in antisemitism: Rose Girone is the oldest member of a group that numbers 245,000, according to a new survey. »

Netanyahu: 'Israeli Needs Security Control over All Territory West of the Jordan River' | DW News

Jan 19, 2024 | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised news conference that Israel would not halt its offensive until it achieves its goals of destroying the Hamas militant group in Gaza. Netanyahu vowed to press on with the war in Gaza in the coming months. His comments came a day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Israel would never have "genuine security" without a pathway toward Palestinian independence. "We obviously see it differently," White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Thursday, referring to Netanyahu's comments about pressing on with the war. At least 24,620 Palestinians, around 70% of whom are women, children, and adolescents, have died in Gaza, according to the latest Health Ministry figures in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Hamas is classified as a terrorist organization by Israel, Germany, and the US, among others.

Bernie Sanders: Children Are Starving to Death in Gaza

Jan 14, 2024 | What’s going on in Gaza right now is a humanitarian catastrophe. Children in Gaza are starving to death. More than 23,000 people in Gaza have been killed and more than 85% of the population displaced. Congress must take action.


CONGRESS'S RESPONSE:

Senate votes against Sanders resolution to force human rights scrutiny over Israel aid: Senator’s bid to make US military support conditional on whether Israel is violating human rights in Gaza fails by 72 votes to 11 »

Haaretz Columnist Gideon Levy on Israel's Conduct in Gaza | Amanpour & Co

Jan 9, 2024 | Palestinian authorities say one in every 100 residents of Gaza have been killed over the past three months. That’s more than 23,000 dead, nearly two-thirds of them women and children. This human toll is front and center as Western officials visit the region expressing increasing concern about the situation. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken today has been meeting with top officials in Israel to persuade them to protect civilians, allow more aid into Gaza, and try to prevent a wider war. The German Foreign Minister is in the occupied West Bank, where she condemned Israeli settler violence towards Palestinians. But is the Israeli government listening to its strongest allies? And what are the long-term consequences of such destruction? Haaretz Columnist Gideon Levy says there’s no way to explain Israel’s conduct in Gaza. He joined the program from Tel Aviv. | Originally aired on January 9, 2024

Israel-Palestine War: "There Is No Deal with the Devil!" Cenk Uygur vs Mosab Hassan Yousef on Hamas

Dec 18, 2023 | Piers Morgan Uncensored is joined by Palestinian ex-militant Mosab Hassan Yousef, Democratic Presidential hopeful and political commentator Cenk Uygur and former Chelsea Football Club and Israel manager Avram Grant for a debate on the IDF's recent attacks on Palestine and whether they fall into 'indiscriminate' bombings. They also discuss whether a peaceful resolution can be found.

Cenk explains that Israel's bombing of Gaza can only be defined as indiscriminate as they have dropped two-thousand-pound bombs in residential areas as well as twenty nine thousand bombs on an area the size of Las Vegas. He also reacts to his name being pictured on one of the bombs.

Piers then asks Mohab, whose father is a co-founder of Hamas, if a deal could be made between the terror group and Israel. Mohab, who defected to Israel in 1997, explains that you cannot make a deal with Hamas just as you cannot make a deal with the devil. He then criticises the larger Muslim population for 'hiding behind' religious values rather than pointing out the wrongdoings of humanity, referencing Hamas' attacks on October 7th.


Mosab Hassan Yousef must be listened to. From my experience in the Middle East, he speaks the truth – the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. – © Mark Alexander

"You're a Monster!" Cenk Uygur vs Douglas Murray on Israel-Palestine War with Piers Morgan

Dec 21, 2023 | Piers Morgan Uncensored is joined by host of the Young Turks and pro-Palestinian supporter Cenk Uygur as well as columnist and pro-Israeli supporter Douglas Murray for a fiery head-to-head debate on the Israel and Palestine war unfolding in Gaza and who is to blame for the rising civilian casualties. The pair also get into a heated discussion over whether either of the two show remorse for civilian casualties on the opposite side and what the path to a peaceful resolution looks like.

Israeli Military Reservist Says He Witnessed "Slaughters and Massacres"

Oct 13, 2023 | Rudy Rochman, one of more than 360,000 IDF reservists called on after the Hamas attack, joined CBS News New York live from Israel.

May God protect Rudy. Rudy is so impressive; impressive in every way. – Mark

Spanish and Belgian Prime Ministers Call for Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza at Rafah Crossing

Nov 24, 2023 | Spain and Belgium's prime ministers called for a 'permanent ceasefire' on Friday at the Rafah border crossing, welcoming a four-day truce that paused fighting between Israel and Hamas. 'It is absolutely necessary to establish a lasting humanitarian ceasefire to reverse the catastrophic situation that the people of the [Gaza] Strip are going through,' said Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez. Alexander De Croo, Belgium's prime minister, echoed Sánchez, saying: 'The destruction of Gaza is unacceptable. We cannot accept that a society is being destroyed the way it is being destroyed'

Rudy Rochman: On the Front Lines against Hamas and Antisemitism | Manhattan Jewish Experience (MJE)

Oct 22, 2023 | As we await the next steps in Israel's war against Hamas, Rabbi Wildes is joined by activist, filmmaker, and IDF reservist Rudy Rochman from an undisclosed location to discuss whether this war is going to end differently than past wars with the final destruction of Hamas, whether the Palestinian civilians are truly innocent, how Diaspora Jews can fight back against Hamas supporters on college campuses, and what we as Jews can do to finally alleviate the world of antisemitism.

Israeli Hostages Released by Hamas | BBC News

Nov 24, 2023 | Twenty-four hostages have been released by Hamas and are now back in Israel. Among them are 13 Israelis, 10 Thais and one Filipino, says Qatar, which has been mediating negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

The Israelis include four children - aged two, four, six and nine - as well as an 85-year-old woman.

Palestinian women and teenagers held by Israel have also been released to the West Bank as part of the deal.

Here’s What We Know About the Israel-Hamas Deal

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Officials in Qatar, which helped broker the deal, said 13 hostages were expected to be released on Friday. An Israeli official said Palestinians in Israel’s custody would be freed first.

Flour being distributed in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, on Wednesday. A temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hamas was expected to take effect on Friday. | Samar Abu Elouf for The New York Times
A deal between Israel and Hamas for a temporary cease-fire appeared to take effect on Friday. Here is a closer look at the agreement, mediated in part by Qatar, and how it is expected to play out.

What’s in the deal?

The agreement is for at least a four-day pause in hostilities. During that time, at least 50 women and children — from the roughly 240 people that Israeli officials say were abducted on Oct. 7 — were expected to be exchanged for 150 Palestinian women and minors imprisoned in Israeli jails.

The deal also includes an increase in humanitarian aid for Gaza, but Qatar’s foreign ministry did not release details. Hamas said Thursday that 200 trucks carrying relief supplies and four fuel trucks would enter the territory each day during the four-day pause. Israeli officials did not immediately comment.

Israel said its warplanes would not fly over southern Gaza for the duration of the cease-fire, and would not fly over the northern part of the territory for six hours each day.

How is it being carried out?

The pause had been scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. Gaza time (midnight Eastern) on Friday, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman, Majed al-Ansari said Thursday, which Hamas confirmed. Mr. al-Ansari said a first group of 13 hostages would then be released starting at 4 p.m., in exchange for an undisclosed number of Palestinian prisoners. » | Karen Zraick, Aaron Boxerman and Isabel Kershner | Published: Thursday, November 23, 2023; updated: Friday, November 24, 2023

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Number of Palestinians Killed Is ‘Truly Unbearable’, Says Spanish PM

THE GUARDIAN: Pedro Sánchez says all civilians must be protected in Israel-Hamas war and reiterates call for two-state solution

Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has urged Israel to rethink its offensive in Gaza, telling its president and prime minister the number of dead Palestinians is “truly unbearable”, and that the response to Hamas’s terrorist attacks last month cannot include “the deaths of innocent civilians, including thousands of children”.

Sánchez’s blunt pleas came during a visit to the Middle East with the Belgian prime minister, Alexander de Croo, during which he called for a peace conference and reiterated that the creation of a Palestinian state remained the best way to bring peace and security to the region.

Israel says 1,200 people were killed and 239 taken hostage when Hamas fighters crossed the border from Gaza on 7 October. According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, more than 14,100 people have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory strikes. (With video) » | Sam Jones | Thursday, November 23, 2023

Son of Hamas: The Current State of Israel-Palestine | Mosab Hassan Yousef

Nov 15, 2023

Tony Blair ‘Discussing Situation’ in Gaza and Open to Role in Effort to End Crisis

THE GUARDIAN: Former UK PM has let it be known he is available to help but his office denies he has been offered specific job

Tony Blair at Downing Street before the Remembrance Sunday ceremony. The former PM has an office in Israel, his spokesperson said. Photograph: Tayfun Salcı/Zuma Press Wire/Shutterstock
Tony Blair, the former British prime minister, has let it be known that he is available if needed to help in an effort to end the growing crisis in Israel and Palestine.

His office, however, denied a report in the Israeli press that he had already been offered a specific job.

Blair has built extensive contacts in the Middle East, and he worked as special envoy for the Quartet – the UN, the US, the EU and Russia – after leaving Downing Street in 2007, trying to build the Middle East economy.

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, would not reject a role for Blair. Both the EU and UN have Middle East envoys.

Blair has strong contacts with the Gulf states. In an earlier period, he played a role behind the scenes encouraging Hamas to change its stance towards Israel, but he has always been implacably opposed to the direction of the Iranian leadership. » | Patrick Wintour, Diplomatic editor | Monday, November 13, 2023

Arab League Holds Summit: Regional Leaders Gather in Riyadh to Discuss War

Nov 11, 2023 | The summit in Riyadh has started, with the Saudi crown prince delivering his opening remarks.

Qatar’s emir condemns silence on Gaza »

Islamophobia and Antisemitism On Rise in US amid Israel-Hamas War

THE GUARDIAN: Research shows increase in prejudice and hate as civil rights group condemns ‘unprecedented surge in bigotry’

Islamophobia and antisemitism are seeing sharp increases across the US after war between Israel and Hamas erupted last month.

According to a new report by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair), the Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization received a total of 1,283 requests for help and reports of bias between 7 October and 4 November.

Cair, which has called the spike “unprecedented”, revealed that the recent increase in Islamophobia and anti-Arab sentiment across the US mark a 216% increase over the previous year. In an average 29-day period in 2022, Cair received only 406 complaints. » | Maya Yang | Friday, November 10, 2023

Piers Morgan Uncensored: Israel-Hamas War: Piers Morgan vs Rabbi Shmuley and Cenk Uygur Going Head-to-Head In Fiery Clash

Nov 9, 2023 | As calls for a ceasefire in Gaza grow ever louder. Should Israel hold its fire? Or would that be a gift for Hamas?

Rabbi Shmuley and Cenk Uygur go head-to-head on Piers Morgan Uncensored in a fiery and furious debate. The clash between Rabbi Shmuley and Cenk Uygur highlights the deep divisions and emotional intensity surrounding the conflict.

Rabbi Shmuley argues that Hamas's charter is dedicated to the eradication of Israel, branding it as a form of genocide. He emphasises the moral distinction between the goals of Hamas and Israel, stating that Israel aims to eliminate Hamas terrorists, not all Palestinians.

Cenk Uygur counters by asserting that Israel's actions, including the occupation and displacement of Palestinians, meet the definition of genocide.

Israel-Hamas War: Crown Prince of Iran Tells Piers Morgan Regime "Is The Godfather of Terrorism"

Nov 8, 2023 | Piers Morgan opens up his latest show with a monologue on Benjamin Netanyahu's desire to occupy Gaza before interviewing Iran's exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. The prince discusses the rise of Islamic extremism across the region and warns that radicals want to change the way of life "even in Europe." Of terrorism he says: "It's a disease that needs to be cured… the cure is to put an end to what is the source to this extremism or radicalism." Asked if he had any doubt Iran was behind the events of October 7th, he said the regime were the “godfather of terrorism”, adding he hoped to see regime change in Iran in future.

I warned of the dangers of Islam to the West many years before even 9/11. One of the biggest problems is Islam's insistence on there being no separation of politics and religion, no separation of mosque and state. I have said it before, many times, and I will say it again: oil and water simply do not mix. The real problem will never be solved because Western politicians and the Western mainstream media simply skirt around the real problem. – @ Mark Alexander

Arab States Intensify Pleas for Gaza Cease-fire as Public Anger Mounts

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Citing deepening fears for regional stability, Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries are beseeching the U.S. to push Israel to end its military campaign in Gaza.

A rally in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in Amman, Jordan, on Oct. 27. | Khalil Mazraawi/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Facing growing anger from their own people, Arab countries are intensifying their appeals to the United States to pressure Israel to implement an immediate cease-fire in Gaza or risk sabotaging the security of the entire Middle East.

Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt have all implored American officials, including Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, to get Israel to halt its military assault.

“The whole region is sinking in a sea of hatred that will define generations to come,” the Jordanian foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, warned at a news conference this weekend.

As unrest spills into the streets and fear spreads that Iran-backed militias in the region will enter more directly into the conflict, some Arab leaders are worrying for their own security, said Elham Fakhro, an associate fellow at Chatham House’s Middle East and North Africa Program.

“Long-term resentment among the Arab public is fuel for extremist groups,” she said. “The region is already walking a delicate balance,” she added. “This is what drives Arab governments to use their available leverage to call for a cease-fire.” » | Vivian Nereim, Reporting from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Tuesday, November 7, 2023