Palestinians fight for their lives and their stolen lands

[Anthea]

Israeli forces uses AI to monitor

Palestinian civilians

The Israeli occupation forces are working on an AI model that analyzes intercepted communications as experts voice the alarm over its flaws

An investigation by The Guardian, has revealed that the Israeli elite military intelligence unit, Unit 8200, has developed an advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system modeled after ChatGPT that seeks to enhance the Israeli occupation's surveillance capabilities.

The tool is trained on a vast collection of intercepted Palestinian phone calls and messages and will be used in the occupied Palestinian territories to make Israel's monitoring of civilians even more efficient and perhaps dystopic.

The AI model was designed to process and analyze spoken Arabic, drawing from extensive amounts of data gathered through the existing sweeping surveillance network. Intelligence officers reportedly use the system like a chatbot, asking questions about individuals under watch and receiving AI-generated insights based on intercepted communications.

Chaked Roger Joseph Sayedoff, a former Israeli military intelligence technologist, publicly acknowledged the project during a 2023 AI conference, stating that it required “psychotic amounts” of Arabic-language data, as reported by the aforementioned outlets.

Former intelligence officials have also confirmed the initiative, explaining that earlier machine learning models paved the way for this more sophisticated AI system.

A source familiar with the project emphasized the far-reaching implications of the technology, stating: “AI amplifies power. It’s not just about stopping attacks—I can track human rights activists, monitor Palestinian construction, and know what every person in the West Bank is doing.”

Behemoth amounts of data

The scale of data collection suggests Unit 8200 has amassed a vast archive of Palestinian communications, a practice that intelligence experts say amounts to blanket surveillance. Israeli and Western intelligence sources told investigators that the AI-driven monitoring system allows authorities to collect and process information on an unprecedented scale.

Human rights advocates warn that relying on AI for intelligence work carries serious risks. AI models, including large language models (LLMs), are prone to errors, biases, and misinterpretations.

Zach Campbell, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, expressed concern over how such a tool might be used against Palestinians: “It’s a guessing machine, and ultimately, these guesses can be used to incriminate people.”

When questioned about the AI project, an Israeli occupation forces (IOF) spokesperson said Israeli intelligence “employs various methods to identify and counter terrorist activity in the Middle East.”

One of many abusive AI models

AI-powered surveillance is not new to Unit 8200. The agency has previously developed tools such as The Gospel and Lavender, which played a crucial role in the Israeli occupation's military operations in Gaza. These systems helped identify targets for airstrikes, both individuals and structures, demonstrating the growing role of AI in military decision-making.

The idea for a ChatGPT-style AI system reportedly emerged after OpenAI launched its chatbot in 2022. Unit 8200 initially struggled to develop a comparable model and even attempted to collaborate with OpenAI, but the request was denied.

The project gained momentum after October 7's Operation al-Aqsa Flood, when reservists with AI expertise, including employees from Google, Meta, and Microsoft, were called back to military service to support the initiative.

Because existing AI language models were insufficient for intelligence work, Unit 8200 built its own system using vast amounts of intercepted Palestinian and Lebanese communications.

Sources say the goal was to centralize every Arabic conversation the unit had ever collected. Sayedoff, the former intelligence official, reportedly stated that the AI model was designed to focus on “dialects that hate us.”

Mass surveillance, increased arrests

The new AI model is believed to have enhanced Israeli intelligence operations, particularly in the West Bank, where it has facilitated mass surveillance and increased arrests. Intelligence sources explained that the AI helps flag individuals expressing anger toward the occupation or discussing possible attacks against Israeli forces and settlers.

AI in surveillance "allows us to act on the information of many more people, which means greater control over the population. When you hold so much information, you can use it for whatever purpose you want," a former Unit 8200 officer said.

Palestinian digital rights groups have condemned the use of AI-driven surveillance. Nadim Nashif, director of 7amleh, criticized the Israeli occupation for turning occupied Palestinians into “subjects in a military AI laboratory.” He argued that such technology enables deeper oppression and control, reinforcing the apartheid-like conditions Palestinians face.

Dangerous consequences

Experts warn that integrating AI into military intelligence without proper safeguards could have dangerous consequences. AI models frequently make errors, misinterpret intent, and generate misleading conclusions, which could lead to unjustified targeting and wrongful arrests.

Brianna Rosen, a former White House national security official, cautioned that while AI could help detect threats, it also creates a risk of false accusations and flawed decision-making. “Mistakes are inevitable, and some of these mistakes could be life-threatening,” she said.

Concerns about AI’s role in military operations were underscored by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza in November 2023, which reportedly killed four civilians, including three teenage girls. An investigation by the Associated Press found that AI may have influenced the intelligence officers’ decision to authorize the strike based on faulty analysis.

When asked how the IDF ensures accuracy and fairness in AI-based intelligence, military officials refused to disclose details. However, an IOF spokesperson insisted that “every use of technology follows a meticulous process and involves human oversight.”

Global concerns

The Israeli occupation's aggressive deployment of AI-driven intelligence appears to push boundaries further than its Western allies, experts say.

A former Western intelligence chief stated that the breadth of Palestinian surveillance enabled by AI would not be acceptable in countries with stricter oversight on intelligence operations.

While AI tools are being adopted by intelligence agencies worldwide—including the CIA’s AI-powered open-source monitoring system—the Israeli regime's approach differs in its broad application of AI for mass surveillance and military targeting.

Human rights groups warn that using highly personal, intercepted communications to train AI is not only invasive but also a violation of privacy and international law.

Campbell, from Human Rights Watch, criticized the occupation's AI surveillance program, stating: “This is personal data from people who are not even suspected of crimes, being used to train a system that can then determine who should be suspected.”

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[Anthea]

Israel violates Gaza ceasefire again

Israel is escalating its attacks on Gaza and tightening its ban on humanitarian aid entering the enclave, violating the ceasefire deal which went into effect on 19 January

Several Palestinians were martyred, and others were injured in an Israeli drone strike that targeted a group of civilians in the central Gaza Strip.

3 Palestinians were killed in the drone strike, according to Al Mayadeen's correspondent, which targeted a gathering of civilians east of the Bureij Camp, while the Palestine Today agency highlighted that one martyr was transported to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al Balah, while two other martyrs remain at the site of the attack,

Earlier on Monday, the Gaza Ministry of Health reported in its daily statistical update that nine martyrs had been recorded—five whose bodies were recovered and four newly confirmed—along with 16 injuries that arrived at hospitals in the past 24 hours

This comes as Israel escalates its attack on Gaza, violating the ceasefire agreement, while it intensifies its blockade on the entry of humanitarian aid to the war-torn Strip.
Israel violates ceasefire, kills Palestinians

Israeli Occupation Forces added to their record of violations against civilians, shooting a woman on March 10 in the neighborhood of Tal al-Sultan, west of Rafah, while also opening fire in the town of al-Fukhari in Khan Younis.

The Palestinian Health Ministry documented the arrival of nine martyrs in its daily statistical report on March 10, with five recovered from beneath the rubble and four recently killed, in addition to 16 injuries at hospitals across the Strip.

Early on March 9, Israeli occupation forces opened fire in the Shujaiyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, killing a Palestinian and wounding several others, while in a further escalation of ceasefire violations, an Israeli drone targeted Palestinians in the Al-Zafaran area, east of Al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza.

The Gazan Ministry of Health said on 2 March that at least four people were killed and several were injured in airstrikes on various "parts of the territory." Two were martyred in an Israeli drone strike east of Gaza airport while another person was killed in a drone attack on Beit Hanoun.

The occupation army has killed 100 Palestinians and injured 820 others in the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire agreement went into effect on January 19, 2024, According to Salamah Ma'arouf, head of the governmental press office on 2 March

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/-israel--violates-gaza-ceasefire--kills-3-people-near-bureij

[Anthea]

30 Palestinians detained in West Bank

Israeli occupation forces detained 30 Palestinians, including former detainees, during raids in various areas of the occupied West Bank

Israeli occupation forces arrested 30 Palestinians, including former detainees, during raids carried out in various areas of the occupied West Bank, the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, in collaboration with the Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS), announced.

In a joint statement, the two organizations revealed that the Israeli army conducted a large-scale arrest campaign in the town of Azoun, east of Qalqilya in northern West Bank, detaining over 100 Palestinians, who were later released.

IOF also carried out extensive raids and arrests in several cities and villages across the West Bank and occupied al-Quds, with a special focus on the Jenin Governorate.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that Israeli occupation forces stormed Arraba, near Jenin, and detained a number of youths, including the brother of prisoner Mahmoud al-Arida.

The campaign resulted in the arrest of several citizens, including Ahmed Zayt, the brother of martyr Noor Zayt, during a raid on the Shweika neighborhood in Tulkarm.

Other detainees included Abdelrahman Ouda from the Denaba neighborhood and Maham Adattar from Tulkarm.

In Nablus, the occupation forces arrested Yassin Ameira, along with Abdel Nasser Zoukan from the Balata Refugee Camp, as well as young men Mohammad Majed Abu Asbah and Mohammad Fadi Abu Asbah from the town of Halhul in al-Khalil, and Adam Azmi Jabarin from Sa'ir.

Raids also took place in Beitunia, Ramallah, where Ahmed al-Khatib was arrested, and in Kafr Aqab, al-Quds, where Majdi Qahoush was detained.

IOF conduct house-to-house raids in WB, violate, detain Palestinians

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) carried out a large-scale raid in the Palestinian town of Azzun, east of Qalqilya in the northern West Bank, on Tuesday, marking another escalation in the occupied territory, witnesses reported.

Israeli forces stormed and searched multiple homes and subjected around 200 Palestinians to field interrogations before releasing them. However, several other individuals were detained.

Activists shared footage and images on social media showing Palestinian civilians stripped to their underclothes during their arrests.

Azzun has been repeatedly targeted by Israeli raids due to its location along a main road frequently used by illegal Israeli settlers traveling between Qalqilya and Ramallah.

The incursion comes as the Israeli military continues its deadly offensive in the northern West Bank, which began on January 21, resulting in at least 65 Palestinian deaths and the forced displacement of thousands.
Israeli forces arrest 762 Palestinians in February, including 90 kids

Since the outset of the Israeli war on the West Bank, the IOF arrested 762 Palestinians, including 90 children and 19 women, from various areas in the occupied West Bank during the month of February. The largest number of arrests occurred in Jenin and its refugee camp, as part of a military operation that has been ongoing for over a month.

This was stated in a joint report issued by the Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, the Palestinian Prisoners' Society, and the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association.

According to the report, "The occupation army continued its arrest campaigns in the West Bank, reaching a total of 762 Palestinians in February, with the highest number recorded in Jenin and its refugee camp."

The report also confirmed that among those detained, "90 children and 19 women were documented," noting "a rise in field interrogations, which targeted hundreds of Palestinians over the past month." The report further noted that since the start of the Israeli offensive in the northern West Bank on January 21, "the army has arrested 300 Palestinians from Jenin and its refugee camp, and 200 from Tulkarm and its refugee camps."

The statement also indicated that since October 7, 2023, the number of Palestinians detained in the West Bank has risen to 15,640, including 490 women (not counting women arrested from Gaza, whose numbers are estimated in the dozens).

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[Anthea]

UN accuse Israel of genocide

and sexual violence

Israel’s actions in Gaza meet the definition of genocidal acts, a United Nations investigation concluded on Thursday. The report stressed that Israel deliberately targeted and destroyed critical sexual and reproductive healthcare facilities, which are essential for safe pregnancies, deliveries, and neonatal care. It further accused Israeli forces of using sexual violence as a war strategy, including forced stripping, sexual harassment, and rape, contributing to severe and long-lasting trauma for Palestinian women and young girls

The UN Commission of Inquiry reported that "Israel intentionally attacked and destroyed" Gaza's primary fertility center while simultaneously imposing a siege that blocked humanitarian aid, including medication crucial for safe pregnancies, deliveries, and neonatal care.

Israel has alleged that the reports are “unfounded", but the commission found that Israel's actions had severely impacted the reproductive capacity of Palestinians in Gaza. The commission outlined two categories of genocidal acts: "deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction" and "imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group."

Israel inflicted deep physical, mental scars on Palestinian women and girls

The commission’s chair, Navi Pillay, stated that these violations caused "severe immediate physical and mental harm and suffering to women and girls," with "irreversible long-term effects on the mental health and reproductive and fertility prospects of Palestinians."

The report also detailed the destruction of the Al-Basma IVF Centre, Gaza's main in-vitro fertility clinic, in December 2023. The attack reportedly destroyed around 4,000 embryos, and the commission found no credible evidence suggesting that the clinic had any military purpose. It concluded that the attack was aimed at preventing births among Palestinians, constituting a genocidal act.

The commission further noted that the broader impact on pregnant, lactating, and new mothers was unprecedented, with irreversible consequences for the reproductive future of Gaza’s population. These acts were described as crimes against humanity, with the commission concluding that "Israel's" actions were an attempt to destroy the Palestinian group as a whole.

Following public hearings in Geneva, the commission also reported that "Israel" had directly targeted Palestinian women and girls with acts of sexual violence, including forced stripping, sexual harassment, and assault. Women and girls have died from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth due to the blockade, and the commission categorized these acts as crimes against humanity and the war crime of willful killing.

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[Anthea]

Remove Hamas from Home Office

list of proscribed organisations

David Miller exposes the UK’s use of counterterrorism laws to suppress pro-Palestinian speech and calls for de-proscribing Palestinian and Lebanese resistance groups

The British government should de-proscribe all of the Palestinian and Lebanese Resistance groups currently listed on the anachronistic list maintained by the Home Office. The first and most obvious reason for this is that banning these groups does not in any way prevent or disrupt political violence in the UK. This sounds like a dramatic claim. So, let’s take a close look

After a year and a half of genocide by the illegitimate Zionist entity, voices are beginning to be raised calling for the removal of Palestinian resistance groups from the government list of proscribed organisations. But what is the list and what offences are attached to it?

When I was detained by officers of SO15 or the Counter Terrorism Command (formerly the Special Branch) under Schedule 7 the other day, I was given a piece of paper with the legal basis of the detention which I was required to sign and was given a copy to keep. It states that the detention is to enable whether I appeared ‘to be a person who is or has been concerned in the commission of instigation of acts of terrorism.’

And yet, they asked me no questions about commissioning or instigating acts of “terrorism”. Not a single one.

Instead, they asked about extremism, the Western way of life, and asked me to characterise specific views on political violence. If the Trades Description Act applied to the Terrorism Act 2000 and to the activities of SO15, I would be making a complaint to the Heathrow Trading Standards Officer.

But the reason for this is that Schedule 7 is not really intended to disrupt actual terrorism, but to surveill and repress political views and political speech which is critical of UK foreign policy, including of course support for the Palestinians' legitimate right to resist the Zionist occupation. Don’t believe me? Let’s look closely at the Home Office list of offences related to proscribed organisations.

As one can see from the offences below, none of them have anything to do with actual acts of violence. Let's take each in turn:

Obviously being a member of a proscribed group might have some relevance, but membership is not itself an act of terror. And certainly, professing to be a member of Hezbollah is not, in itself, an act of terror.

Inviting support for a proscribed group is an offence. How does one 'invite' support for a 'terrorist' organisation? The language is of course similar to the 'notice' issued to UK broadcasters on 19 October 1988. Otherwise known as the Broadcasting Ban, this was an attempt to suppress support for the Irish Republican movement and in particular its political wing Sinn Fein, which throughout the period remained a legal political party with many elected councillors in the north of Ireland. It made, as I argued at the time, no appreciable difference to the Irish Republican Army, the wing of the movement engaged in armed struggle. But what does it mean to ‘invite’ support? It’s not altogether clear and it is pretty plain that this particular provision has been of little use to the British state, resulting, as it has, in precious few convictions. As a result, the government added a wider and more vague clause to the act via the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019, to which we turn next.

Express an 'opinion' or 'belief' that is supportive of a proscribed organisation. What does that mean? It obviously has the potential to be stretched quite far into opinions and beliefs that are shared by most people, even in the UK. Is saying that Seyed Hassan Nasrallah, the assassinated leader of Hezbollah, was widely respected and admired an opinion which is 'supportive' of a banned group? Notice the language is 'will be' encouraged not 'is' encouraged. So, at best this is a conjectural crime which does not require that anyone is actually encouraged, only that the hypothetical ‘reasonable person’ might think that. Again, nothing here that relates to involvement in planning any 'act' of violence.

Arranging or managing a meeting is, manifestly, not an act of violence, whether or not it involves giving ‘support’ for a proscribed organisation and whether or not a representative of the organisation speaks, or whether the purpose of the address is to encourage support. In fact, the more we hear the voices of those (in proscribed organisations and legal ones alike) who are involved in resisting the menace of Zionism and genocide, the better it will be for the possibility of ending the genocide.

Next is Clothing: It is an offence to ‘wear clothing or carry or display articles in public in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that the individual is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation’. Articles of clothing are also not in themselves acts of terror, no matter how they are displayed.

Obviously, what they have in mind here is branding relating to specific organisations, such as a Hezbollah flag, a Qassam Brigades head band, or other perhaps less directly connected imagery or items. Obviously, given the attemtps of the Zionists and their craven allies in the British security state, there is a push to widen the parameters so they can scoop up more and more supporters of the Palestinians. Thus the case of the young women found guilty under these powers of sporting parachute patches.

Or, the case of the young man found guilty of supporting Hamas for wearing a green headband with the Shahada (the Muslim profession of faith) on it. This is of course not a ‘Hamas headband’. Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, do have a specific headband with a gun on it! As can be seen, it is not at all similar.

It is an offence to “publish an image of an item of clothing or other article, such as a flag or logo, in the same circumstances.” This is obviously intended to cover social media posts, which are manifestly not ‘acts’ or terrorism. This provision was inserted (12.4.2019) by Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019.

Overall, then, as we see these ‘proscription’ powers have nothing at all to do with interfering with material acts of political violence or armed struggle.

The proscription offences are not terrorism offences. It is an absurd nonsense, not to mention a colossal waste of resources, that SO15 are required to attempt to police thoughts, beliefs and speech as the vast majority of their activities at ports.

When the leading journalist Asa Winstanley was recently raided (but not arrested), he was told that it related to his alleged support for proscribed groups. A letter addressed to him ‘from the “Counter Terrorism Command” … indicates that the authorities are “aware of your profession” as a journalist but that “notwithstanding, police are investigating possible offenses” under sections 1 and 2 of the Terrorism Act (2006). These provisions set out the purported offense of “encouragement of terrorism.”’

And yet, if you look at the passage at the beginning of this article about commission or instigation of acts of terror, the implication is that to be of interest one would have to be involved in setting up a branch of Qassam Brigades in North London, or a version of Hezbllah’s Radwan Force in Reading. There is nobody in the entire counter-terrorism apparatus who believes that that is what Asa, me, or anybody else, is doing.

And when you put it like that, it’s also manifestly the case that neither Hamas, Hezbollah, the PFLP-GC or Palestinian Islamic Jihad are planning to set up branches in the UK, or - indeed - to carry out attacks here. Given the UK's role in directly participating in the genocide, that is generous of them, but it appears to be a fact.

But more than that, free speech about armed groups fighting an almost universally acknowledged genocide should not be criminalised and proscribed.

And the case for proscribing their welfare, health, education and other manifest functions of Hezbollah and Hamas is even weaker.

They should be de-proscribed now

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[Anthea]

Netanyahu announces decision

to fire Shin Bet Chief

The Attorney General's Office has intervened, issuing a letter to Netanyahu outlining the legal procedures required before Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar can be dismissed

Israeli website Ynet reported on Sunday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to dismiss Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, summoning him to inform him of the decision.

The Prime Minister's Office stated that the matter will be put to a vote in the cabinet meeting this week, effectively bringing Bar's tenure at the internal security service to an end. Sources within the Prime Minister's Office indicated that Netanyahu had urged Bar to step down voluntarily, but after he refused, the prime minister opted for dismissal.

Bar, who previously acknowledged the shortcomings of Shin Bet in the lead-up to the October 7 operation, had expressed his intention to remain in office at least until May. He has been advocating for an independent commission of inquiry to investigate the failures of the leadership, the Israeli Occupation Force (IOF), and security agencies—a move Netanyahu has strongly opposed.

In a recorded statement, Netanyahu said that over time, he had "increasingly lost confidence" in Bar, stressing that maintaining trust in the head of the security service is crucial during wartime. However, the decision to remove Bar may be challenged in court due to concerns over a potential conflict of interest.

Axios Reporter Barak Ravid said that according to Netanyahu's aides, he decided to move forward with the firing of the head of Shin Bet after the PM's visit to Washington in early February.

Ravid quoted these aides as saying that "he was inspired by the moves Trump took 'against the deep state' and his decision to appoint loyalists to all key posts."

In a statement, Ronen Bar said he'd told Netanyahu he had "several sensitive investigations" to complete, as well as getting Israeli remaining captives out, before offering his resignation and offering two internal candidates to succeed him.

He said he still intends to complete those tasks before stepping down, refusing Netanyahu's decision to oust him.

The Israeli legal advisor to the government wrote to Prime Minister Netanyahu that there is concern that his decision to fire the head of the Shin Bet is tainted with illegality and a conflict of interest.

The Shin Bet struggle with Netanyahu

The power struggle between Netanyahu and Bar escalated last week when the prime minister publicly accused the Shin Bet chief of blackmail. In a statement posted on X, Netanyahu claimed that "Israel" had crossed a “serious red line,” alleging that an unnamed former security official—widely believed to be former Shin Bet chief Nadav Argaman—had issued direct threats against him. He further accused Bar of orchestrating a media campaign to pressure him over decisions regarding the intelligence agency's leadership.

Bar's dismissal comes as the Shin Bet is investigating allegations that some of Netanyahu's close advisers, who work in the Prime Minister's Office, have acted on behalf of Qatar. Additionally, the agency has been looking into claims that a spokesperson for Netanyahu leaked false information to international media during the war.

Legal Challenges to Netanyahu's Move

The Attorney General's Office has intervened, issuing a letter to Netanyahu outlining the legal procedures required before Bar can be dismissed. According to the letter, the prime minister must submit his request for consideration and ensure that the decision is based on substantial evidence rather than external influences.

An assistant attorney general who signed the letter stressed that while the government holds the authority to remove the Shin Bet chief, the process must adhere to established administrative and legal norms.

Netanyahu's Purge Sparks Backlash

Critics of the move argue that the firing is politically motivated. Opposition leader Yair Lapid accused Netanyahu of acting to shield his inner circle from scrutiny.

"Bar said many times that he will resign and assume his responsibility for the failings in the Oct. massacre, after the return of the hostages. He is a professional, has been leading the negotiations, and his sacking at this time is irresponsible and a lack of commitment to the fate of the hostages," Lapid said.

He went on to denounce Netanyahu's decision, asserting that it reflects a prioritization of personal interests over national security.

"This is proof of a moral breakdown," he added. "Netanyahu once again puts his private interests above those of the country and its security. He will not succeed in placing the blame for the failings leading to the massacre on the security agencies. He is first and foremost responsible."

Lapid also confirmed that his party intends to appeal Bar's dismissal in court.

A Deepening Crisis in Israel's Security Leadership

The political and security crisis surrounding Netanyahu's government has intensified, as his refusal to open an official investigation into the October 7 attack continues to generate widespread criticism. A Supreme Court-mandated cabinet meeting in February ended without action, fueling accusations that the prime minister is obstructing accountability efforts.

Former Shin Bet chief Nadav Argaman has added to the controversy, warning in an interview with Israeli Channel 12 that he would expose sensitive information if Netanyahu were to engage in illegal actions.

Meanwhile, the families of Israeli captives, legal experts, and human rights organizations have condemned Netanyahu's refusal to investigate intelligence failures, accusing him of prioritizing his own political survival over national security.

Internationally, the prime minister's actions are further isolating "Israel", as the regime continues its assault on Gaza while avoiding accountability for its failures. Hamas officials have warned that if "Israel" does not adhere to the ceasefire agreement, it will "pay a heavy price."

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[Anthea]

Over 322 killed/missing in five hours

The Government Media Office in Gaza says that due to the dire security conditions and the paralysis of the transportation sector, the transfer of a large number of martyrs has been hindered

After a fragile ceasefire that lasted roughly two months, Israel has resumed its aggression on Gaza with intense airstrikes, resulting in an initial toll of 254 martyrs and more than 440 injuries, including many in critical condition, the enclave's Health Ministry said on Tuesday, declaring a state of emergency.

Earlier, the Government Media Office in Gaza reported that over 322 people have been killed or are missing in a span of five hours, with dozens more injured.

According to Al Mayadeen’s correspondent, Israel has launched a new wave of airstrikes targeting various cities in Gaza, including a particularly intense strike on eastern Gaza.

Israeli warplanes have bombed homes in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, and northeast of the Nuseirat refugee camp. Meanwhile, Israeli artillery has shelled the town of al-Fukhari, east of Khan Younis in the south

Our correspondent further noted that Gaza’s streets remain deserted as residents are gripped with fear, with Israeli warplanes filling the sky.

Palestinian media reported that Major General Mahmoud Abu Watfa, Deputy Minister of Interior in Gaza, was killed in an Israeli strike on Gaza City.

The Israeli occupation military also issued evacuation orders for a number of neighborhoods in Gaza.

The Media Office said the Israeli occupation is violating the ceasefire agreement and continuing its genocide against civilians, in blatant disregard for all international and humanitarian conventions

It stated that these brutal massacres are taking place amid a catastrophic and suffocating siege, with all border crossings completely blocked, as more than 2.4 million Palestinians in Gaza were deprived of the most basic necessities of life, including food, medicine, water, baby formula, and essential supplies. Israeli media reported that Israel has shut down the Rafah border crossing.

Due to the dire security conditions and the paralysis of the transportation sector, the transfer of a large number of martyrs to hospitals has been hindered, the Government Media Office in Gaza noted. It emphasized that most of the martyrs and missing persons are women, children, and elderly individuals, describing the ongoing events as acts of genocide targeting people, land, and history.

The office stressed that the latest massacres reaffirm that Israel knows only the language of killing, destruction, and genocide and expose its true intentions to shed innocent blood without any moral or legal restraint

According to the statement, this is happening alongside the collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system due to the continued blockade on medical supplies and humanitarian aid, which threatens to bring hospitals to a complete halt, rendering them incapable of providing medical care to the wounded and sick.

Furthermore, it warned that the ongoing ban on fuel entry for essential sectors in Gaza will push the Strip into a full-scale disaster in every sense of the word.

Dr. Mohammad Abu Salmiya, director of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, warned that large quantities of medicines and medical supplies have been depleted due to the ongoing war and blockade.

Meanwhile, UNICEF’s spokesperson in Gaza reported that airstrikes have hit tents and facilities sheltering displaced families

In response to the escalating situation, the Ministry of Education in Gaza announced the suspension of classes in all schools and educational institutions until further notice.

Israeli media quoted a security source stating that negotiations for a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange deal are resuming "under fire". Additionally, the media reported that Israeli government ministers have been instructed not to give interviews regarding the attacks on Gaza.

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[Anthea]

Israel launches relentless airstrikes

killing dozens in Gaza

Israel has carried out its heaviest bombardment of the Gaza Strip since it violated a January 19 ceasefire with Hamas, marking the most intense escalation in more than 15 months of genocide

Israeli airstrikes and artillery bombardments across Gaza have killed at least 25 Palestinians and wounded dozens more, as the enclave’s humanitarian infrastructure faces near-total collapse, according to Al Mayadeen's correspondent.

Our correspondent added that a separate strike hit a house on Salah al-Din Street in the al-Zaytun area, killing four Palestinians and injuring several others. Meanwhile, an Israeli drone attack on a UNRWA school east of Khan Younis has been reported, though casualty figures remain unclear.

In a related context, the Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed that one foreign aid worker was killed and five others were critically injured after Israeli occupation forces shelled the headquarters of an international humanitarian organization in the central Gaza governorate. Medical teams at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital received the victims, condemning the attack on personnel engaged in relief efforts.

Israeli warplanes also launched three airstrikes on Rafah, while artillery shelling in Aabasan al-Jadida, east of Khan Younis, injured four people. In a separate attack, an Israeli drone strike hit the courtyard of the University College of Applied Sciences in Khan Younis.

Israel killed 103 Civil Defense personnel in Gaza

Meanwhile, Gaza’s Civil Defense Directorate announced the martyrdom of Sergeant Ahmad Muhammad Al-Hattab, who was killed in an Israeli strike on his home in the Sabra area. His death raises the total number of Civil Defense personnel killed in the ongoing Israeli genocide to 103.

Further Israeli shelling struck the al-Shaboura refugee camp in Rafah, wounding two Palestinians, while another airstrike near the entrance to the al-Nuseirat refugee camp killed one Palestinian.

The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics and Water Authority reported that 85% of Gaza’s water and sewage systems are now either completely or partially out of service, further worsening the already dire humanitarian situation.

After a fragile ceasefire that lasted roughly two months, "Israel" resumed its aggression on Gaza on Tuesday dawn with intense airstrikes, resulting in an initial toll of at least 400 martyrs.

The latest escalation comes amid widespread devastation in Gaza, with international organizations repeatedly warning of a deepening humanitarian catastrophe.

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[Anthea]

Katz explicitly threatens Gaza with

genocide and ethnic cleansing

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz threatens Gaza with total destruction and signaled the resumption of forced displacement of the enclave's civilians

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday threatened the Palestinians in Gaza with the complete destruction of the besieged enclave and signaled the imminent resumption of the forced displacement of its people.

“For Gazans, this is the latest warning ... The air force attacks on Hamas were only the first step. What comes next will be much harder, and you will have to pay the price in full. The evacuation of the population from the war zones will soon begin again. If all kidnapped Israelis are not released and Hamas is not forced out of the Gaza Strip, Israel will act with a force you have never seen before,” Katz said in a direct address to the people of Gaza.

The statement signals a further escalation in the Israeli occupation’s brutal onslaught in the Gaza Strip, which has already killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and displaced the overwhelming majority of the enclave’s residents.

Katz also urged Gazans to follow the advice of former US President Donald Trump, claiming that compliance with Israeli demands could lead to alternative “options” for them, including the forced displacement from Gaza permanently.

“Return the kidnapped and get rid of Hamas, then other options will open up for you, including passage to other parts of the world. The alternative is total destruction and devastation,” he added.

His remarks reinforce growing concerns over "Israel’s" plans to depopulate Gaza through systematic forced displacement, a policy widely condemned as a violation of international law.

Palestinian and international human rights groups have repeatedly warned that "Israel’s" actions amount to ethnic cleansing and a deliberate effort to make Gaza uninhabitable.

Negotiations with Hamas will be under fire

The Israeli occupation reignited the war in Gaza on Tuesday, killing hundreds of Palestinians, including women and children, in a matter of hours. So far, more than 400 Palestinians have been killed and over 600 injured in the aggression.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday that "negotiations with Hamas will be under fire" from now on, claiming that the return to fighting comes after Hamas rejected all offers made by "Israel" for the release of Israeli captives.

In a video statement released by the prime minister following the resumption of the Israeli war on Gaza, he claimed that "Israel" had extended the ceasefire for weeks, sent delegations, and accepted the proposal from US envoy Steve Witkoff, but received no response from Hamas.

However, it is worth noting that Hamas has consistently shown flexibility in negotiations. During the last round of talks, Hamas demanded guarantees to move to the second phase when US envoy Steve Witkoff proposed a "bridge" solution to the prisoner exchange, calling for the release of 10 living captives and have of the deceased ones.

Netanyahu noted that the Israeli occupation forces recommended increasing military pressure on Hamas as a strategy to achieve the war's so-called objectives, including the return of captives. He also claimed "Israel" would resume military escalation "to ensure that the Gaza Strip does not pose a threat to Israel."

He also announced the approval of the "army’s recommendation to resume intensive fighting against Hamas" in a joint decision with his security minister, Israel Katz.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... ic-cleansi

[Anthea]

Amnesty International condemns EU’s

shameful Gaza response

The director of Amnesty International's European Institutions Office accused EU leaders of "selective compassion towards victims, particularly when they are Palestinian."

Amnesty International strongly criticized the European Council’s conclusions on the Middle East, denouncing them as a “shameful attempt” to justify the Israeli actions in Gaza while failing to explicitly condemn its airstrikes and blockade on humanitarian aid.

"After 17 months of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, the fact that the EU refuses to name Israel, condemn airstrikes wiping out entire families, or denounce Israel’s blocking of vital humanitarian aid is extraordinary," said Eve Geddie, director of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office.

She accused EU leaders of "selective compassion towards victims, particularly when they are Palestinian" and urged immediate measures to prevent complicity in "genocide, apartheid, and unlawful occupation."

Geddie further criticized the EU's failure to take decisive action, stating, "The EU leaders’ text is another shameful attempt to justify Israel’s genocide and war crimes against Palestinians. Instead of obfuscating the facts, EU leaders should take clear and decisive action to prevent potential complicity in Israel’s genocide in Gaza, apartheid, and unlawful occupation."

Amnesty urges EU to halt arms sales amid Gaza atrocities

The director of Amnesty International's European Institutions Office urged an immediate halt to European arms sales to Israel, criticizing the EU’s ongoing divisions over its response to the situation in Gaza. She condemned certain member states for continuing to supply weapons and ammunition, arguing that such actions violate their legal obligations to prevent genocide and uphold the Geneva Conventions. Geddie stressed that this practice must stop immediately.

The European Council’s conclusions acknowledged civilian casualties but did not explicitly name "Israel", instead expressing regret over the breakdown of a ceasefire and calling for its full implementation. The statement also urged Hamas to release all remaining captives and emphasized the importance of unrestricted humanitarian aid.

Since March 2, Israel has imposed a total blockade on aid, fuel, and medicine, and on March 18, it resumed a large-scale bombing campaign in Gaza. The International Court of Justice has previously ruled that there is a “plausible risk of genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza.

The wider context

In violation of a ceasefire agreement, Israel renewed early on Tuesday its war on the Gaza Strip, killing at least 504 people, including more than 190 children, according to the civil defense agency in the Palestinian enclave.

On Wednesday, the Israeli occupation announced renewed ground operations in Gaza and issued what it called a "last warning" to residents of the territory to return captives and remove Hamas from power.

Al Mayadeen's correspondent confirmed that the Israeli occupation military has once again cut off northern Gaza from the central and southern regions and has reestablished control over the Netzarim axis.

In a grim development, Gaza’s Government Media Office declared Wednesday that the enclave has officially entered the first stages of famine, as Israel’s suffocating blockade continues to prevent humanitarian and food aid from reaching civilians.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... a-response

[Anthea]

605 more Palestinians killed in Gaza

as Israel continues its massacres

Israel continues its aggression on Gaza, targeting different parts of the Strip with indiscriminate airstrikes, drone strikes, and artillery strikes

The Israeli assault on Gaza continues on its third day, killing civilians in widespread attacks across the Strip as "Israel" continues to evade and violate the ceasefire deal. The Israeli aggression on Gaza has killed 605 more people across the strip since last Tuesday, according to Palestinian media.

The Israeli occupation army launched an artillery barrage on Friday targeting northwestern sections of Gaza, including the Sudaniya, al-Karamah, and Beit Lahia, which has been subject to artillery strikes that injured several Palestinians since Friday morning.

The Israeli army issued a "final warning" earlier to Palestinians in the Sultan, Karama, and Awda areas in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, urging them to "immediately move south."

Several Palestinians were injured in the afternoon after an Israeli airstrike targeted a house in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, hitting an abandoned home near Al-Yemen Al-Saeed Hospital in central Jabalia, causing multiple injuries among passersby in the area.

Local sources reported that several injuries, including one in critical condition, were transported to the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, while six children and several injuries were recorded following an Israeli airstrike that targeted a residential apartment in Gaza City.

WAFA news agency reported that Israeli warplanes launched airstrikes at an apartment on Al-Jarou Street in the al-Tuffah neighborhood, northeast of Gaza City, killing six children and injuring several others.

An Israeli artillery strike killed a mother and her daughter and injured several others after the house they had taken shelter in near a press in the town of Aabasan al-Kabira, east of Khan Younis, in southern Gaza was hit.

Several civilians were injured, some critically, after an Israeli drone strike targeted a group of people in northern Al-Mughraqa, while a young man with disabilities was wounded when Israeli army snipers opened fire on him in the same area, south of Gaza City, with all the injured transported to Al-Awda Hospital in central Gaza.

At the same time, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that the IOF shot illumination munitions north of the Nusierat camp in central Gaza, adding that several Palestinians were injured in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a tent sheltering refugees in Deir al-Balah.

Israeli occupation demolishes only cancer hospital in Gaza

Earlier, Israeli occupation forces (IOF) rigged and demolished a specialized hospital for cancer in Gaza on Friday, as Israel continues to ramp up its attacks on the Strip, which have killed hundreds and injured thousands.

The IOF demolished the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, which was completed in 2017 and was the only hospital in Gaza dedicated to cancer patients.

During the Israeli war on Gaza, the hospital was shut down after being hit by an airstrike, and the IOF later converted it to a military base.

Katz explicitly threatens Gaza with genocide, ethnic cleansing

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday threatened the Palestinians in Gaza with the complete destruction of the besieged enclave and signaled the imminent resumption of the forced displacement of its people.

“For Gazans, this is the latest warning ... The air force attacks on Hamas were only the first step. What comes next will be much harder, and you will have to pay the price in full. The evacuation of the population from the war zones will soon begin again. If all kidnapped Israelis are not released and Hamas is not forced out of the Gaza Strip, Israel will act with a force you have never seen before,” Katz said in a direct address to the people of Gaza.

The statement signals a further escalation in the Israeli occupation’s brutal onslaught in the Gaza Strip, which has already killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and displaced the overwhelming majority of the enclave’s residents.

Katz also urged the people of Gaza to follow the advice of former US President Donald Trump, claiming that compliance with Israeli demands could lead to alternative “options” for them, including the forced displacement from Gaza permanently.

“Return the kidnapped and get rid of Hamas, then other options will open up for you, including passage to other parts of the world. The alternative is total destruction and devastation,” he added.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... ues-its-ma

[Anthea]

UN Exposes Systematic Zionist

Rape of Palestinians

The UN Human Rights Commission's report exposes systematic sexual violence by Israeli forces against Palestinians, describing it as a deliberate policy aimed at dehumanization and suppression, with widespread impunity and official endorsement

On March 13th, the UN Human Rights High Commission published a horrifying report exposing in oft-emetic detail how the Zionist entity has employed “sexual, reproductive and other forms of gender-based violence against Palestinians” on an industrial scale since the Gaza genocide erupted in October 2023. The UN concludes these hideous acts are a central component of Israel’s “broader effort to undermine [Palestinians’] right to self-determination,” their systematic nature pointing unambiguously to endorsement by Tel Aviv’s military and political leaders.

The report records, “sexual and gender-based violence is by no means a new element of the Israeli occupation.” However, in the wake of October 7th, there has been a “sharp increase in sexual violence against Palestinian women and men”, both by Zionist Occupation Forces (ZoF) and settlers. The UN encountered no obstacles collecting voluminous highly incriminating evidence of this vile abuse. In addition to a welter of victim and witness testimony, perpetrators often voyeuristically captured themselves and their confederates openly committing these crimes on camera.

Frequently, these abhorrent images were pridefully posted on the culprits’ personal social media accounts. Such actions amply attest to the culture of total impunity in which ZOF soldiers literally rape and pillage. “Despite the abundance of witness and digital evidence of Israeli soldiers committing crimes in Gaza,” the UN found “there have been no meaningful efforts by Israel to hold the perpetrators accountable.” Requests submitted to Tel Aviv for clarity on investigations into sexual violence committed by Occupation Forces have been ignored

“The Commission has not seen any evidence that Israeli authorities have taken any effective measures to prevent or stop acts of sexual violence or to identify and punish perpetrators.”

By contrast, the UN documented multiple statements by Zionist entity officials actively supporting ZOF militants accused of sex crimes, and “legitimizing rape and other forms of sexual violence” against Palestinians, particularly detainees. That Israel’s rulers advocate sexually-charged attacks on Palestinians is further reinforced by a deliberate ZOF strike on a women’s rights centre in Gaza, in mid-November 2023. The UN noted the broadside’s “clear gendered dimension,” with soldiers daubing deeply offensive, sexist insults directed at Palestinian women on the building’s inner walls in Hebrew.

Outside, ZOF tanks precisely blitzed the building’s fifth floor, which provided shelter for women and families. That area was “completely destroyed”, but the rest of the building “remained intact”. Mercifully, the site and its surrounding area had been evacuated well in advance of the attack, meaning no one was harmed. The Commission “did not find any military justification” for the ZOF’s targeting of the centre. Yet, from the Zionist entity’s perspective, it undoubtedly served a very specific military purpose.

Collectively, the Commission’s conclusions point ineluctably to the fact that sexuality and gender are now key, dedicated battlegrounds in Israel’s unending erasure of the Palestinians, while sexual abuse, rape, and resultant physical and psychological trauma are entrenched, well-honed weapons in the Zionist entity’s Mephistophelian military arsenal. Gravely, given Tel Aviv’s tendency to export its tools and methods of repression and mass murder abroad, the implications of this grotesque evolution in modern warfare could be global.

Foreign Devices

The UN Commission report contains five separate sections on the Zionist entity’s weaponisation of sexual abuse; “sexual harassment and public shaming of Palestinian women”; “filming and photographing acts of sexual violence against men and boys during arrest”; “sexual violence during ground operations including at checkpoints and evacuations”; “sexual, reproductive and other gender-based violence in detention”; “sexual and gender-based violence by settlers and other civilians.” Each is rife with repulsive descriptions, and stomach-churning attestations

While ranking circles of hell is a tawdry task, the section detailing sexual violence directed towards male and female Palestinian detainees is most vital to examine. The sheer scale of abuses documented, and consistency of accounts provided by victims imprisoned in over 10 separate Israeli military detention facilities, means it cannot be plausibly argued this savagery is aberrational, or attributable to ‘rogue’ ZOF militants or units. It can only be deliberate, determined policy, signed off and directed at the highest levels.

From October 7th 2023 until July 2024, the UN Commission finds at least 14,000 Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank - among them hundreds of women - were incarcerated by the ZOF. Many were not informed of the reasons for their imprisonment. In case after case, “sexual violence was used as a means of punishment and intimidation from the moment of arrest and throughout [their] detention, including during interrogations and searches”:

“Acts of sexual violence…appear to have been motivated by extreme hatred towards the Palestinian people and a desire to dehumanize and punish them…Forced nudity, with the aim of degrading and humiliating victims in front of both soldiers and other detainees, was frequently used…Male detainees reported ZOF personnel had beaten, kicked, pulled or squeezed their genitals, often while they were naked…In some cases, objects such as metal detectors and batons were used to brutalise them while they were naked.”

The Commission documented widespread rape and sexual assault of male detainees, “including the use of an electrical probe to cause burns to the anus, and the insertion of objects, such as fingers, sticks, broomsticks and vegetables, into the anus and rectum.” One victim was suspended from the ceiling so only his toes touched a chair below, and beaten with tools for hours. During the abuse, a “metal stick” was inserted into his penis roughly 20 times until he began bleeding, before fainting.

The Commission has determined that detainees were routinely subjected to sexual abuse and harassment, and that threats of sexual assault and rape were directed at detainees or their female family members. The Commission received information about detainees being forced to undress and lie on top of each other while subjected to verbal abuse and forced to curse their mothers. They were beaten if they did not comply.

Female detainees were also subjected to sexual harassment, assault, rape, and threats to their lives. One was told by a ZOF soldier he would kill her and burn her children, asking: “How do you want us to rape you? One by one or all together?”. Another was threatened with sexual assault in front of her husband, before soldiers spat in her face and beat her until she fainted. Several Palestinian women suffered the heinous indignity of “foreign devices” being inserted into their vaginas or rectums.

Female detainees moreover endured “repeated, prolonged and invasive strip searches, both before and after interrogations.” One Palestinian woman was strip searched in her cell every three hours during her four-day detention, “even though she was menstruating.” Women were regularly forced to remove all their clothes, including veils, in front of male and female ZOF soldiers. Beatings and harassment, while being bombarded with foul insults and sexual slurs, such as “bitch” and “whore”, were also commonplace.

Terrible Injustice

In July 2024, 10 ZOF soldiers were arrested after subjecting a male Palestinian detainee to such vicious sexual violence, he required urgent surgery. The Commission finds this was by no means an isolated incident since October 7th, but it remains the only instance to date of a victim’s tormentors facing repercussions for their unconscionable abuse. Still, the UN refers to this sordid case as “an illustrative example of the culture of impunity” rampant within the Zionist entity’s military and security apparatus:

“Five soldiers were released without charge within a few days and five others were placed under house arrest. In September 2024, a military court eased the conditions of their house arrest, removing the requirement for them to be accompanied by a supervisor during their night-time house arrest and allowing them to submit requests for release during the holidays.”

A since-published indictment records how the five accused soldiers burst into the man’s cell at Sde Teiman detention facility, beat him with batons and tasered him in the head, before forcibly inserting a baton into his mouth, all while intimidating him with a dog. He was also stabbed in the rectum with a sharp object. The attack left the Palestinian with several fractured ribs, a punctured lung, and other life-threatening injuries.

Unmentioned in the report, the initial arrest of the 10 ZOF soldiers responsible for this gruesome barbarity elicited outrage among Israeli citizens, leading to mass protests demanding their release. Nonetheless, the Commission did record how several high-ranking Zionist entity officials expressed outrage at the soldiers’ arrests. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said they had suffered “terrible injustice”. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stated it was “shameful” that Tel Aviv’s “best heroes” had been subject to such “vicious persecution.”

The Western media remained deathly silent on this open championing of rape as an instrument of terror. The UN Commission’s disturbing findings have likewise fallen on mainstream deaf ears. As ever, news outlets, and the Zionist entity’s Western puppet masters, are complicit by their silence - and it is precisely this silence that encourages and safeguards the ZOF’s culture of impunity. As a result, we can expect the “sharp increase in sexual violence against Palestinian women and men” to only increase in future.

https://english.almayadeen.net/articles ... lestinians

[Anthea]

Israeli Army Announces
War Tank Deployments in Gaza

Israeli Army Announces War Tank Deployments in Gaza. . the Israeli army announced in a statement this Sunday that the 36th division, made up of four armored brigades, has begun “preparations for operations” in the Gaza strip, where Israel is bombing again after the ceasefire broke down on march 18

Over 591 Palestinians killed in 72 hours as Israel resumes offensive in Gaza

As Gazans leave, Israel prepares for ‘military operations’ in Gaza, armored vehicles and tanks lined up and ready to move in.

This announcement comes on the same day that Israeli tanks have surrounded the tel al sultan neighborhood, in the southern area of rafah, where they have urged thousands of Palestinians to immediately move towards al Mawasi as it is “a dangerous combat zone.”.

The Israeli army confirmed this afternoon in another statement that “in recent hours, troops operated and concluded the encirclement of tel al sultan,” killed alleged militants and expanded the buffer zone near the dividing line with Egypt. This Sunday, Israeli tanks also took control of the hill of abu ataya in rafah and fired heavily while dozens of people sought refuge, several witnesses report.

The siege of more than 50,000 civilians and the attacks against medical facilities and personnel constitute a war crime

The Palestine red crescent emergency teams reported that Israeli forces had blocked several of their ambulances in rafah and that several of their paramedics had been injured and lost contact with them during the siege.

Israeli airstrikes in several areas of the Gaza strip have killed 46 Palestinians since Sunday. Among the victims is a child, the result of a drone attack in the area of al-rayyan, near rafah. in addition, an Israeli airstrike on a displaced tent north-west of khan yunis resulted in two deaths and several injuries. autor: acj. fuente: efe // al mayadeen. en esta nota:.

https://www.telesurenglish.net/israeli- ... s-in-gaza/

[Anthea]

MSF warns of dire conditions

Doctors Without Borders warns of an escalating humanitarian crisis in the occupied West Bank, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have been forcibly displaced by ongoing Israeli aggression

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has sounded the alarm over the dire humanitarian conditions faced by Palestinians forcibly displaced by the ongoing Israeli aggression on the occupied West Bank.

Since January 21, around 40,000 Palestinians have been forced to flee their homes, according to the United Nations. The West Bank, under Israeli occupation since 1967, is home to three million Palestinians and nearly 500,000 Israeli settlers living in settlements deemed illegal under international law.

MSF described the situation as "extremely precarious," warning that displaced Palestinians lack adequate shelter, essential services, and access to healthcare.

"The mental health situation is alarming," the organization added.

MSF noted that the scale of forced displacement and destruction in the West Bank "has not been seen in decades."

Brice de la Vingne, the organization's Director of Operations, stressed that "people are unable to return to their homes as Israeli forces have blocked access to the camps, destroying homes and infrastructure," urging "Israel" to halt the operation and calling for an expanded humanitarian response.

The Israeli military campaign, dubbed "Iron Wall," is primarily focused on the Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams refugee camps. Security Minister Yoav Gallant previously stated that Israeli forces would maintain a presence in the evacuated areas for an extended period. "I have instructed [the soldiers] to prepare for a prolonged stay in the evacuated camps for the coming year and not to allow the return of their residents or the resurgence of terrorism," he said in February.

Palestinians condemn Israel approval of NEW West Bank settlements

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned on Sunday an Israeli decision to recognize more than a dozen new illegal settlements, in a bid to boost efforts into usurping more Palestinian lands in the West Bank

The ministry condemned an Israeli decision to recognize over a dozen new settlements in the occupied West Bank, upgrading existing neighborhoods to independent settlement status, expressing strong opposition to the move.

The 13 settlement neighborhoods that have been approved for development by the Israeli cabinet are spread across various areas of the West Bank, with some functioning as extensions of larger settlements while others exist as practically separate entities, each with its own unique characteristics and geographical positioning.

Although the cabinet has moved to recognize them as distinct communities under Israeli law, this recognition has not yet been finalized, leaving the process still incomplete and subject to further legal and administrative steps.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right leader and settler responsible for the cabinet's decision, hailed it as an "important step" for Israeli settlements in the West Bank, stating in a Telegram post that recognizing each neighborhood as a separate community would facilitate their development and describing the move as part of a "revolution."

"Instead of hiding and apologizing, we raise the flag, we build and we settle," Smotrich stated, adding, "This is another important step towards de facto sovereignty in Judea and Samaria." The far-right Israeli Finance Minister is a strong proponent of the formal annexation of the West Bank, as "Israel" did with East al-Quds.

The Israeli NGO Peace Now, which opposes settlements in the West Bank, condemned the decision to recognize 13 new ones, describing it as "another nail in the coffin" for the prospects of a "two-state solution" that envisions a Palestinian state alongside the Israeli occupation.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... nians-in-w

[Anthea]

Gut-wrenching massacre

Israeli occupation forces resumed large-scale attacks on Gaza on March 18, killing over 410 civilians in a single day, amid continued US support and global condemnation

During the early hours of Tuesday night, March 18, occupying forces resumed attacks on different parts of Gaza, resulting in the deaths of over 410 civilians—the highest casualty toll on a single day during the 17-month-long US-sponsored Israeli atrocities.

The attacks targeted multiple cities in Gaza, including Gaza City in the north, Deir al-Balah in the center, and Rafah and Khan Younis in the south. These sites received some of the most severe onslaughts, contributing to the transformation of the surrounding environment into a desolate ecosystem.

At a time when the vulnerable children, women, ailing, and elderly Gazans were just waking up to eat suhoor in the blessed month of Ramadan, the occupying forces stormed with all kinds of weaponry, including quadrotor drones, helicopters, F-16 and F-35 jets, tanks, and armored vehicles, to inflict hell on the hapless population.

Was it pre-planned?

Not only did President Trump stir up controversy with these large-scale and unprecedented killings, but he was also well aware of the Gaza attacks early on Tuesday morning at around 2 a.m. local time. The US administration unambiguously expressed its full support for the Israeli atrocities.

Israeli circles report that President Donald Trump has authorized the resumption of major bombing in Gaza due to Hamas' refusal to comply with his directive to promptly release all Israeli prisoners.

"There will be consequences for anyone who tries to frighten not only Israel but also the US," White House spokesman Karoline Leavitt stated on Fox News.

Dr. Ghulam Ali, Deputy Director, of the Hong Kong Research Center for Asian Studies, told Al Mayadeen English that his initial impression is that “Israel” has complete and unconditional support from the US and the West.

“The whole war was backed by billions of dollars in US support and thousands of tons of uninterrupted supplies of ammunition. Regardless of whether Republicans or Democrats are in power, support for “Israel” has always been unconditional,” he stated. He said that “Israel” did not need any justification to wage war; unfortunately, this situation will likely persist as long as the global power structure—created by and favored by the West—stays intact.

The Zionist state avoids the second phase of truce

Speaking to a crowd from the Kirya army base in Tel Aviv, shortly after the slaughter of hundreds of defenseless Palestinians, Netanyahu unambiguously declared, "From this point forward, Israel will intensify its efforts against Hamas. Negotiations will now only take place amid intense battles. Hamas has already experienced the impact of our strength in the last day, and I want to reassure you: this is just the beginning."

The decision to resume major assaults against Gaza was made a week ago, according to Israeli media, and was not prompted by any immediate threats from Hamas. In an obvious attempt to justify blowing up the pact completely, Israel, which has broken the peace process many times since it went into force on January 19, has sought to impose additional terms

Feeling dissatisfied with a purported backroom deal with the Trump administration that would have allowed it to resume hostilities if the ceasefire did not meet its needs, “Israel” rejected the idea of sending negotiators to discuss the specifics of the second phase of the Gaza agreement.

As per the agreement inked by Israel, those discussions were slated to kick off on February 3. In this second stretch of 42 days, Hamas gave the green light to release all the Israeli captives still in the Strip, while “Israel” was set to pull back all its remaining troops from Gaza.

Netanyahu was upfront that he would not follow any agreement beyond the first phase. He assured his national security cabinet that he would make every effort to secure the release of as many Israeli captives as possible, all the while avoiding the original terms for the second and third phases of the deal “Israel” had signed. Instead, “Israel” ignored the presence of senior negotiators in the technical talks and unexpectedly presented Hamas with unfamiliar terms and demands

“Netanyahu’s choice to plunge back into conflict is akin to throwing the prisoners of the occupation under the bus, a veritable death sentence for them,” stated Izzat al-Risheq, a founding member of Hamas’s political bureau: “The adversary will not gain through warfare and devastation what it has been unable to secure through dialogue.”

Aidan J. Simardone, a Canadian immigration lawyer, columnist, and writer who specializes in global affairs, told Al Mayadeen English that “Israel” has been manipulating the ceasefire agreement. This is evident, he said, from the fact that, despite “Israel's” persistent efforts to disrupt the ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement, Hamas appears to be complying and operating in good faith.

Was Trump's peace initiative in the Middle East political gimmick?

Analysts believe that President Donald Trump's initiative to bring peace to the region was politically motivated based on some transient motives. After achieving these objectives, Trump reverted to the traditional Pentagon tactics of unwavering financial and military support for "Israel."

"Trump initiated the ceasefire shortly after assuming power, primarily to prevent the turmoil in the Middle East from overshadowing his inauguration and initial days in office," Aidan tells Al Mayadeen English. Soon after, he noted, President Trump refocused his attention back on Ukraine and Russia, reverting to his earlier approach of supporting the Israeli offensive in Gaza.

“Before assuming office, his Middle East advisor, Steve Witkoff, put pressure on “Israel” to have the ceasefire done; otherwise, there would be consequences. This would not have happened if Harris had won a second term,” he observes. He said that “Israel” wanted to keep the genocide going so that it could satisfy the far-right population who were demanding continuous bloodshed in Gaza.

“It is deliberately exterminating Palestinians as part of its continuous expansion of the settler colony, and any political or presidential change in the US will not stop their designs,” he added.

Global condemnations

The world has been taken aback by the sheer scale of the bloodshed unleashed by the occupation forces on the Gazan population. The death toll—one of the biggest one-day counts—left both Arab and non-Arab nations scratching their heads in disbelief across the globe. Nearly every Arab nation, including Jordan and Egypt, which had been pivotal in brokering the truce, labeled the strikes as “aggressive and barbaric” and a “blatant breach” of the ceasefire.

The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, stated that Palestinians in Gaza are facing an “intolerable level of suffering,” while Philippe Lazzarini, the Head of UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, cautioned that resuming the war would unleash “hell on Earth."

Volker Türk, the UN's human rights chief, voiced his deep concern over the airstrikes and shelling that have taken a heavy toll, claiming hundreds of lives. "We must address this issue immediately," he demanded.

Türk underscored that the strikes would “pile tragedy upon tragedy,” calling for an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional release of hostages, including Palestinian detainees held by the Israelis. He advocated for a political solution that adheres to international law, highlighting that the past 18 months of turmoil have amply demonstrated that fighting our way out of this predicament is unfeasible. Israel's decision to increase military force will exacerbate the difficulties already faced by the Palestinian population," he stated.

https://english.almayadeen.net/articles ... ielding-us