ARAB AND WORLD

Thu 05 Jun 2025 9:27 pm - Jerusalem Time

The Israeli occupation army issues an urgent warning to evacuate three neighborhoods in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

The Israeli occupation army issued an urgent warning to residents of Beirut's southern suburbs, urging them to evacuate certain areas and saying the army would operate against Hezbollah targets. It also specified that buildings should be kept 300 meters away in the following neighborhoods: Al-Hadath, Haret Hreik, and Burj al-Barajneh.

Army spokesman Avichay Adraee said on the X platform: "Urgent warning to those present in the southern suburbs of Beirut, especially in the following neighborhoods: Al-Hadath, Haret Hreik, Burj al-Barajneh, in the buildings marked in red, as shown in the attached maps, and the buildings adjacent to them. You are located near facilities belonging to the terrorist Hezbollah."

Adraee added, "For your safety and that of your families, you are obliged to evacuate these buildings immediately and move at least 300 meters away from them."

ARAB AND WORLD

Thu 05 Jun 2025 8:55 pm - Jerusalem Time

The Trump administration accuses Columbia University of discriminating against Jewish students and threatens to strip it of its accreditation.

The U.S. Department of Education announced Wednesday that it has notified a university accrediting body that it believes Columbia University violated federal anti-discrimination laws by failing to protect Jewish students on its campus.

It's worth noting that Columbia University was the center of widespread protests demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to Israel's war of extermination, as were hundreds of university campuses across the United States last year.

"Columbia University has turned a blind eye to the harassment of Jewish students," US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said on X.

The university, an Ivy League university, was accused of "violating Title VI protections," a national law that prohibits federal funding recipients from discriminating on the basis of race, color, or national origin.

There is no evidence that Jewish students at the university were subjected to physical abuse or verbal abuse that was offensive to their personal or religious interests, but some students complained that the demonstrations calling for a ceasefire were "uncomfortable for them."

"Following the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Columbia University's leadership acted with deliberate indifference to the harassment of Jewish students on its campus," McMahon said in a statement. "This is not only unethical, but also illegal."

In the statement, the U.S. Department of Education said its Office for Civil Rights had contacted Columbia University's accrediting body regarding the alleged violation.

She added that she had notified the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that "its member institution, Columbia University, is violating federal anti-discrimination laws and therefore does not meet the accreditation standards established by the commission."

It is unclear how the Middle States Commission, which is independent, like other accrediting agencies, will respond to this notification, but the prestigious university is not expected to lose its accreditation.

If Columbia University's accreditation is withdrawn, it will lose access to all federal funds.

Students attending the university will also not be able to access federal grants and loans to cover tuition fees. Critics accuse the Trump administration of exploiting allegations of anti-Semitism to target educational elites and force universities to surrender.

The Trump administration has already placed $400 million in Columbia University funding under review, prompting the university in March to announce a package of government waivers related to defining anti-Semitism, monitoring protests, and censorship of specific academic departments.

The Trump administration has also sought to deport several prominent activists on the Columbia University campus, most notably Palestinian student Mahmoud Khalil, who has been detained since March 8, and Palestinian student Mohsen Hindawi, who was arrested on April 14 and released on April 30.

Following Wednesday's announcement, a Columbia University spokesperson said the university is "aware of the concerns" the government has raised with its accreditation body.

PALESTINE

Thu 05 Jun 2025 8:49 pm - Jerusalem Time

Launching the International Coalition to Defend the Rights of the Palestinian People and Protect the Right of Return

The establishment and launch of the International Alliance to Defend the Rights of the Palestinian People and Protect the Right of Return was announced in the French capital, Paris, today, Wednesday. The alliance was organized by the Palestine Liberation Organization in cooperation with the French Communist Party and the Palestine Forum Foundation, with the participation of members of the organization's Executive Committee, Ahmed Al-Tamimi, Dr. Faisal Aranki, and Bassam Al-Salhi, President of the Palestine Forum, Munib Al-Masri, Governor Dr. Hussein Hamayel, Advisor to the Governorate of Jerusalem, Marouf Al-Rifai, and the active participation of Palestinian, Arab and international institutions and personalities, the Deputy Palestinian Ambassador to France, Ms. Nadine Abu Al-Haija, and embassy staff.

Qassim Awad, Deputy Director of the Human Rights and Civil Society Department and General Coordinator of the Conference, said that this conference came as a result of great efforts made over the past year, at the national, Arab and international levels, at a crucial moment in the history of the Palestinian people’s struggle for self-determination. The conference was held under the auspices of the Palestine Liberation Organization (the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people) and the French Communist Party, with the active participation of the French left, international progressive forces, global civil societies, labor unions, academics, legal experts, parliamentarians and political parties from Europe, the Arab world and internationally.

The founding statement stated that the conference aimed to form an "international coalition to defend the rights of the Palestinian people and protect the right of return," as a Palestinian, Arab, and international coalition rooted in the history of peoples' struggle. Our demand is the implementation of international law, the right of peoples to self-determination, the establishment of a just and lasting peace for all peoples, and the implementation of the principles of the United Nations Charter. We denounce any colonial project or the enslavement of peoples.

The statement also stated that the Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu, its racist policies, its war crimes and crimes against humanity, and the international support it enjoys, pose an existential threat to the Palestinian people and peace in the region. Its criminal and racist project must be stopped immediately through effective pressure and sanctions from the international community, the European Union, and governments. 1. We urge all people of conscience to rise up to stop the genocidal project being implemented by the Israeli government in Gaza. An immediate and permanent ceasefire must be established, the deadly blockade imposed on the Strip must be lifted to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian and medical aid, the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed must be ended immediately, and their perpetrators must be held accountable before international justice.

The statement emphasized that the Palestinian issue represents a national and human liberation issue, and can only be resolved through justice and law, ending colonialism, occupation, and apartheid in the occupied territories, and halting systematic discrimination against the Palestinian people. The national rights of the Palestinian people can only be achieved through a political solution based on the implementation of international law. The national liberation of the Palestinian people is part of the long struggle of the Arab peoples and the peoples of the world for independence and against colonialism, racism, and anti-Semitism. We call on France and the European Union to immediately recognize the State of Palestine, to enable the two-state solution.

The statement also stressed respect for and implementation of international law, reaffirming the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among which are the right to self-determination, the return of refugees in accordance with UN Resolution 194, the end of occupation and colonialism, and the establishment of an independent, democratic, and scientific state with Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions (181, 242, 338, 1397, 2334, and others).

He also called for respecting and implementing the right of return as an inalienable individual and collective right, to compensate for decades of injustice and plunder suffered by the Palestinian people, and to impose sanctions on Israel as long as it violates international law, including suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement, and implementing the orders of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. Israeli hostages and Palestinian political prisoners must be released.

He called for the formation of an international coalition around demands to recognize the rights of the Palestinian people, implement international law, recognize the State of Palestine, and establish a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. By expanding the coalition to include unions, civil society organizations, academics, legal professionals, the media, and elected officials around the world, we aim to make it an effective tool for political influence.

He commended the pioneering role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of France in convening the international conference to protect the two-state solution on June 19 in New York under the auspices of the United Nations. We strongly support this initiative, which could pave the way for justice and peace by reaffirming the principles of international law and recognizing the rights of the Palestinian people. We also commend the courageous role of Egypt and Jordan in rejecting the Trump administration's unilateral "peace plan," which aims to bury Palestinian national rights and legitimize the annexation of occupied territories.

The statement added that the convergence of the "Freedom for Palestine" conference with the "Protecting the Two-State Solution" conference represents a historic opportunity to build a new balance in international relations, end the occupation and siege, re-establish justice, and open a real horizon for collective security and shared progress for the Palestinian people and the peoples of the Middle East.

At the end of the statement, the participants paid tribute to the Palestinian people, their courage and dignity in Jerusalem, Gaza, the West Bank, the 1948 territories, and in the diaspora and refugee camps. They also saluted the men and women who are resolutely struggling for freedom, democracy and the rule of law around the world, including inside Israel. They commemorated the members of humanitarian organizations, UN cadres and journalists who were killed due to the deliberate policy of the Israeli government. They called for the broadest possible action to support a just peace, and urged increased popular mobilization and global support to achieve this peace. They emphasized that the unity of the Palestinian people and the building of international alliances are the key to freedom.

PALESTINE

Thu 05 Jun 2025 8:39 pm - Jerusalem Time

Gaza Strip doctors donate blood to save their patients.

The medical charity Doctors Without Borders said Thursday that doctors in the Gaza Strip are donating blood to save their patients after dozens of Palestinians were shot dead while trying to collect food aid.


Hundreds of the organization's employees staged a protest in Geneva on Thursday, condemning Israel's "militarization" of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip.

Protesters carried a large banner reading "Gaza: All red lines have been crossed," demanding an end to the Israeli-imposed blockade and the delivery of sufficient aid, which the Palestinian population relies on.

"People need the basics of life... and they need them with dignity," the organization's director general in Switzerland, Stephen Cornish, told Reuters during the demonstration.

He added: "If you fear for your life, running with packages that are being opened, this is something beyond anything we have seen before... These attacks killed dozens... They were left bleeding on the ground."

Cornish said that staff at one of the hospitals where Doctors Without Borders works were forced to donate blood because most Palestinians are now too malnourished to donate.

Israel allowed the private Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to begin distributing food supplies in Gaza last week, after completely closing the Strip to all supplies since the beginning of March.

Gaza authorities say at least 102 Palestinians were killed and nearly 500 others injured while trying to obtain aid from food distribution sites in the first eight days.

Witnesses said Israeli forces opened fire on the crowds. The Israeli military said Hamas fighters were responsible for the shooting, although it admitted on Tuesday, after at least 27 people were killed, that its forces had fired on "suspects" who approached its positions.

Doctors Without Borders medical staff were among those at the forefront of witnessing the chaos surrounding the distribution of aid provided by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

"We received many wounded people after distributing aid, and this occurred in an atmosphere of panic and violence," said Micaela Serafani, head of MSF in Switzerland.

Doctors Without Borders has lost 11 of its staff in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war on October 7, 2023. In a statement, the organization said, "Only a permanent ceasefire and the immediate opening of the Gaza Strip's borders to humanitarian aid, particularly food, medical supplies, and fuel, can mitigate this man-made catastrophe."

ARAB AND WORLD

Thu 05 Jun 2025 8:12 pm - Jerusalem Time

Trump: Musk disappointed me, Musk responds with "false claim"

After his former supporter and advisor sharply criticized the tax relief plan, US President Donald Trump revealed that he is "disappointed" in Elon Musk.

Trump said Thursday that the world's richest man misses being in the White House and is suffering from "Trump Depression Syndrome."

The president also addressed his split with Musk to reporters in the Oval Office, while Musk continued a series of social media posts attacking the bill, warning that it would increase the federal deficit.

"I'm very disappointed in Elon," Trump said. "I've helped Elon a lot."

Musk called Trump's massive tax relief bill a "disgusting act."

"false claim"

In contrast, in a post on X, Musk wrote, "Wrong. This bill was never even presented to me and was passed in the middle of the night so quickly that almost no one in Congress could even read it!"

After officially leaving the Trump administration last week, Musk publicly denounced the House reconciliation bill, describing it this week as a "disgusting, abhorrent act."

The version narrowly passed by the House of Representatives would extend Trump's 2017 tax cuts, eliminate taxes on tips and overtime, increase funding for immigration enforcement and the military, reduce Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and raise the debt ceiling by $4 trillion.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, in a new estimate released Wednesday, projects that this legislation will add $2.4 trillion to the national debt over the next decade.



PALESTINE

Thu 05 Jun 2025 6:34 pm - Jerusalem Time

Injuries in a settler attack on Humsa al-Fuqa in the Northern Jordan Valley

A number of citizens were injured in a settler attack on Thursday evening in Khirbet Humsa al-Fuqa, in the northern Jordan Valley.

Mahdi Daraghmeh, head of the Bedouin Council and Tents, reported that settlers attacked the tents in Humsa al-Fawqa and assaulted residents, injuring several of them.

According to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, the occupation forces and settlers carried out a total of 1,691 attacks during the month of May, in continuation of the occupation state's ongoing terrorism against the Palestinian people, their lands, and their property. The attacks were concentrated in the governorates of Ramallah and Al-Bireh with 283 attacks, Hebron with 271, and Nablus with 265.

PALESTINE

Thu 05 Jun 2025 6:08 pm - Jerusalem Time

Dead and wounded in Israeli bombing of several areas in the Gaza Strip

A number of civilians were killed and others injured on Thursday in Israeli shelling of several areas in the Gaza Strip.

Local sources reported the death of Suleiman Raafat Suleiman Al-Brim, and Moamen and Fayez Suleiman Al-Abd Al-Brim, as a result of the occupation's shelling of the "Rumaida" area in the town of Abasan Al-Kabira, east of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, citizen Muhammad Nimr Abu Samhadana was martyred in an Israeli artillery shelling of Batn Al-Samin, southwest of Khan Yunis.

It added that Ashour Awni Abdeen was killed by Israeli occupation forces' fire in the Al-Mawasi area west of Khan Yunis, while Ahmed Al-Alawi succumbed to his injuries in an Israeli shelling near the Al-Maliya Junction in Tal Al-Hawa, south of Gaza City.

The bodies of four dead were also recovered from the Al-Atatra area, west of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip. They are: Moatasem Khamis Al-Attar, Ahed Mohammed Al-Attar, Masoud Abdul Hadi Al-Attar, and Ahmed Abdul Rabbo Al-Attar.

In the same context, a girl was injured when Israeli occupation forces opened fire at the entrance to Al-Bureij in the central Gaza Strip, while Israeli artillery shelled the Al-Katiba area north of Khan Yunis.

Occupation forces also opened fire on civilians as they attempted to reach an aid center near the Wadi Gaza Bridge.

Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli occupation forces have launched an aggression against the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of 54,677 citizens, the majority of whom were children and women, and the injury of 125,530 others. This is a preliminary toll, with a number of victims still under the rubble and on the streets, unable to be reached by ambulance and rescue crews.

ARAB AND WORLD

Thu 05 Jun 2025 5:22 pm - Jerusalem Time

Golan: Netanyahu is selling Israel's security for one more day in office

Yair Golan, head of the Israeli Democratic Party, said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is promoting a dangerous new vision: handing over control of a militia in the Gaza Strip linked to the Islamic State.

Golan added that Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, is creating a new time bomb in Gaza instead of reaching a deal, returning the hostages, establishing arrangements with what he called the "moderate Sunni axis," and restoring security to Israelis.

Golan pointed out that this is not a mistake, but rather a method, adding that Netanyahu is selling out the security of the Israeli people for one more day in power, and he must be removed immediately from the decision-making circle.

Separately, the newspaper "Israel Hayom" quoted a member of the security cabinet as saying that the cabinet had not approved arming groups in Gaza, but that Israel was already working to inflame the dispute between Hamas and other armed groups.

Arming gangs

Israeli state radio quoted Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the far-right Yisrael Beiteinu party, as saying that Israel had delivered weapons to gangs in the Gaza Strip on the orders of the Israeli Prime Minister.

Previous Israeli media reports spoke of the emergence of "armed criminal groups" in Gaza, operating under the protection of the Israeli army and attacking Palestinians.

Lieberman told the official Israeli Broadcasting Corporation that "Israel transferred assault rifles and light weapons to criminal militias in Gaza," stressing that this move was carried out "on Netanyahu's orders."

He added that arming criminal gangs in Gaza had not received approval from the security cabinet, stressing that the head of the General Security Service (Shin Bet) was aware of the matter.

Hamas has repeatedly accused what it describes as Israeli-backed "armed gangs" of plundering the scarce humanitarian aid entering Gaza, under a stifling Israeli blockade.

The war of extermination waged by Israel against Gaza, with American support, has left approximately 180,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 11,000 missing. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced, and famine has claimed the lives of many, including children.

PALESTINE

Thu 05 Jun 2025 5:05 pm - Jerusalem Time

Sa'ar defends the occupation's policies in managing humanitarian aid in Gaza.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar claimed that increasing international pressure on Tel Aviv, including the threat of sanctions by some European countries, will only further complicate the political and security landscape.

Sa'ar claimed that these methods "will not serve stability," considering attempts to pressure the occupation by threatening punitive measures "unconstructive in light of the situation."

In a related context, Sa'ar claimed that "the new system for distributing humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip was designed to prevent Hamas from benefiting from it," defending the occupation's policies in managing the humanitarian situation despite widespread international criticism.

For its part, Amnesty International previously called on countries around the world to reject the humanitarian aid plan that the Israeli occupation is using as a tool of control and punishment in the Gaza Strip.

The organization called for immediate international action to put an end to what it described as genocide against the Palestinians.

The organization said in a statement that the international community has allowed the humanitarian catastrophe and genocide in Gaza to continue for too long, stressing that the use of starvation of civilians as a weapon is a war crime that must be stopped immediately.

Amnesty International noted that Tel Aviv, as an occupying power, is obligated under international law to ensure the provision of essential supplies to the civilian population, and considered the shooting of hungry Palestinians near an aid distribution site in Rafah a "horrific incident" that warrants an immediate and independent investigation.

ARAB AND WORLD

Thu 05 Jun 2025 4:28 pm - Jerusalem Time

EU: Red Sea shipping increases 60% after Houthis reduce their target range

Rear Admiral Vassilios Griparis, commander of the European Union's Aspides naval mission, said that traffic in the Red Sea has increased by 60 percent to 36-37 ships per day since August 2024, but that is still lower than traffic levels before Yemen's Houthi group began attacking ships in the area.

In an interview in Madrid, Gribaris added that the number of commercial vessels passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait has increased after the movement's missile and drone attacks slowed and after it signed a ceasefire agreement with the United States, according to Reuters.

However, he noted that shipping traffic has not yet returned to the daily average it was before the Houthis launched attacks in the Red Sea in November 2023 "in support" of Hamas in the ongoing Gaza war with Israel. This average ranged between 72 and 75 ships per day. The average reached its lowest level, between 20 and 23 ships per day, in August of last year.

The Aspides mission was established to protect navigation along the strategic trade route connecting the Mediterranean, the Gulf, and Asia via the Suez Canal. The mission's mandate was extended in February when it was also tasked with tracking illegal arms shipments and monitoring ships transporting sanctioned Russian oil.

PALESTINE

Thu 05 Jun 2025 3:37 pm - Jerusalem Time

The occupation forces threaten to remove a mobile home north of Tubas.

Today, Thursday, the Israeli occupation forces notified the removal of a mobile home (caravan) in Khirbet Ibziq, northeast of Tubas.

The head of the Ibziq village council, Abdul Majeed Sawafta, reported that the occupation authorities had notified the removal of the mobile home and caravan belonging to citizen Muhammad Mithqal Nawaf Daraghmeh within two weeks.

ARAB AND WORLD

Thu 05 Jun 2025 3:27 pm - Jerusalem Time

UK: New Israeli aid regime for Gaza is inhumane and restrictions must be lifted immediately

The United Kingdom has strongly condemned the restrictions imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities on the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

She described the new Israeli system for delivering aid to Gaza as "inhumane," calling for these restrictions to be lifted immediately.

British Ambassador to the United Nations Barbara Woodward explained in a statement during a UN Security Council session that London voted in favor of the draft resolution on Gaza because "the intolerable situation there must end."

Woodward criticized the Israeli government's decisions, saying, "The expansion of Israeli military operations in Gaza and the severe restrictions on aid are unjustified, disproportionate, and counterproductive. The United Kingdom is completely opposed to this."

She stressed that "the new system, which Israel claims facilitates aid delivery, has resulted in the deaths of Palestinians desperate to feed their families while trying to reach the very limited number of aid sites permitted by Israel," describing it as "inhumane behavior."

The United Kingdom also expressed its support for the UN call for an "immediate and independent investigation into these events and for those responsible to be held accountable."

PALESTINE

Thu 05 Jun 2025 2:26 pm - Jerusalem Time

The occupation continues its aggression on Tulkarm and its camps for the 130th day.

The Israeli occupation forces continue their aggression on the city of Tulkarm and its camp for the 130th consecutive day, and on the 117th day in the Nur Shams camp, amid a widespread escalation in the field, including house raids and arrests of civilians.

Local sources reported that last night, the occupation forces launched a seven-hour raid on dozens of homes in the Aktaba suburb east of Tulkarm, targeting more than 40 homes and shops. The raids included deliberate vandalism of their contents, theft of sums of money, physical assaults, and field investigations of a number of citizens.

The raids focused on several neighborhoods within the suburb, most notably the vicinity of the roundabout, the council, the old neighborhood (Harat al-Mukhtar), and the southern neighborhood. The main street in front of the Aktaba Taxi office was closed off, and surveillance camera footage was seized from a pharmacy in the center of the suburb.

During the raid, the occupation forces arrested Mahmoud Nael Abu Attia, Ali Muhammad Qazli, and Aws Hadi Marouh, who were later released. They also assaulted the brothers Musab and Moataz Mahmoud Melhem after raiding their home, vandalizing its contents, and stealing 3,000 shekels.

This morning, occupation forces raided a number of homes in various neighborhoods of the city, including the Da'bas complex on Thabet Thabet Government Hospital Street. They removed the main gate and the doors of the residential apartments, forcing the residents out and interrogating them. They then arrested former prisoner Saleh Barqawi.

Israeli occupation forces also raided the Abu Shanab family home in the eastern neighborhood, arresting two young men whose identities are yet to be determined. They also raided the home of the martyr Abdullah Da'bas family in the Shuweika suburb north of the city, completely destroying its contents and smashing and vandalizing pictures of the martyr.

In a related context, the city and its suburbs are witnessing intensive, round-the-clock activity by occupation vehicles and infantry squads, patrolling the main streets and neighborhoods, obstructing the movement of citizens and vehicles, provocatively sounding their horns and driving in the opposite direction. They also set up sudden flying checkpoints, particularly in the center of the market and on Nablus Street, subjecting citizens to arrest, inspection, interrogation, and abuse.

Yesterday, the occupation bulldozers continued to demolish homes in the center of Nour Shams camp, continuing the demolition of residential buildings carried out over the past few weeks, which resulted in the demolition of more than 20 buildings, as part of an Israeli plan to demolish 106 buildings in the city's two camps (58 in Tulkarm camp, and 48 in Nour Shams), with the aim of opening roads and changing the geographical features of the two camps.

Meanwhile, occupation forces continue to impose a tight siege on the Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps and their surroundings, deploying their forces in alleys, neighborhoods, and entrances, preventing residents from reaching their homes to check on them or retrieve their belongings, and firing directly at anyone who attempts to approach.

Meanwhile, occupation forces continue to seize a number of residential buildings on Nablus Street and the city's northern neighborhood, forcibly evicting their residents and converting them into military barracks. Some of these buildings have been under occupation control for more than three months.

Nablus Road, which connects the Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps, has also suffered extensive damage due to earth mounds placed by the occupation forces several months ago, impeding vehicle movement and exacerbating the suffering of residents.

This ongoing aggression has so far resulted in the deaths of 13 civilians, including a child and two women, one of whom was eight months pregnant. Dozens of injuries and arrests have also been reported, as well as widespread destruction of infrastructure, homes, shops, and vehicles.

According to the latest data, the escalation has displaced more than 5,000 families from the two camps, representing over 25,000 citizens. At least 400 homes have been completely destroyed, and 2,573 others have been partially damaged. The entrances to the two camps remain blocked with barriers, transforming them into almost lifeless areas.

PALESTINE

Thu 05 Jun 2025 1:46 pm - Jerusalem Time

The death toll from the genocide in Gaza rises to 54,677

The death toll from the genocidal war and aggression waged by the Israeli occupation forces on the Gaza Strip has risen to 54,677 dead and 125,530 wounded since October 7, 2023.

Medical sources reported that the death toll includes 4,402 dead and 13,489 injuries since March 18, when the occupation resumed its aggression on the Gaza Strip following the ceasefire agreement.

Over the past 24 hours, 70 dead, including three who were recovered, and 189 others were injured as a result of the ongoing Israeli massacres and attacks.

Medical sources said that ambulance and civil defense crews are finding it difficult to reach the victims, as a large number remain buried under the rubble and debris, and on the streets.

ARAB AND WORLD

Thu 05 Jun 2025 1:40 pm - Jerusalem Time

For the sixth time, Washington uses its veto in the Security Council to thwart the ceasefire in Gaza.

The United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Wednesday calling for an immediate, permanent, and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, submitted by the ten non-permanent members of the council.

Fourteen members of the 15-member council voted in favor of the draft resolution, but it was not adopted due to the United States—one of the five permanent members of the Security Council—using its veto.

It is noteworthy that Wednesday's veto marks the sixth time since October 7, 2023, that the United States has used its veto power to thwart UN Security Council efforts to adopt a ceasefire resolution. It used its veto on October 18, 2023; December 8, 2023; February 20, 2024; April 18, 2024 (on which day the veto was against the recognition of the State of Palestine as a full member state); November 20, 2024; and Wednesday, June 4, 2025.

While the administration of former President Joe Biden used its veto power to thwart Security Council efforts five times, this is the first time the administration of President Donald Trump has used it, given that this is the first time a draft resolution for a ceasefire has been proposed since Trump took office on January 20.

The draft resolution called for "the immediate, unconditional, and dignified release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups," according to a UN statement.

He also called for the immediate and unconditional lifting of all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and its safe and unhindered distribution on a large scale, including by the United Nations and humanitarian partners across the Gaza Strip.

How it was voted on: United States of America

Acting US Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea said before the vote that her country's rejection of the draft resolution "should not come as a surprise," adding, "The United States has been clear: We will not support any measure that does not condemn Hamas."

She added, "Any decision that undermines the security of our close ally, Israel, is completely unacceptable."

She stressed that no one wants to see Palestinian civilians in Gaza suffer from hunger or thirst, calling on the United Nations and non-governmental organizations to support the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) and help it deliver aid safely without Hamas seizing it.

The organization has failed miserably in carrying out its mission, with the Israeli occupation army killing nearly 100 people since it began operations on May 27. The organization also suspended its operations on Wednesday "to reorganize its efforts," according to a statement it issued.

Shea requested the floor after the vote in response to a statement by "one member state of the Council," reiterating Israel's right to defend itself and noting that Israel has taken numerous measures to limit harm to civilians and address humanitarian needs.

She added, "The loss of civilian life in Gaza is tragic. We all mourn this, but the responsibility for it lies with Hamas." She explained that blaming Israel and leveling accusations of "genocide" is not only inaccurate, but also dangerous.

UK

British Ambassador to the UN Barbara Woodward said she voted in favor of the draft resolution because "the unbearable situation in Gaza must end." She expressed her country's determination to work to end the war, secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, and alleviate the catastrophic humanitarian situation for Palestinians in Gaza.

She added that the Israeli government's decision to expand its military operation in Gaza and impose severe restrictions on aid is unjustified, disproportionate, and counterproductive.

She pointed to the Israeli government's claims about its new aid distribution system, saying that "Palestinians desperate to feed their families" were killed while trying to access aid, describing the situation as inhumane.

Algeria

Algerian Ambassador Amar Benjamaa, who represents the Arab Group on the Security Council, said that the humanitarian draft resolution, "even though it was obstructed by the veto, represents a mirror that reflects the suffering of multilateralism and the urgent need to revive it."

He added that the draft resolution represents "the collective will of the entire world and a message to the Palestinian people that you are not alone, and to the Israeli occupier that the world is watching them."

He stressed the need to remove the "shield of impunity," adding that today's vote "reveals why the Israeli occupier continues its crimes: because it has never faced justice, and because it has always felt protected, while victims are buried without names, without headlines, without investigation, and without accountability."

He stressed that the Security Council should have acted "to prevent the killing of Palestinian children from becoming a mere hobby, and should have acted to impose a ceasefire in Gaza so that starvation would not be legitimized as a weapon."

The Algerian ambassador said his country would stand with the Palestinian people and would return to the Council repeatedly for "the hungry who refuse to trade their dignity for bread under siege, the thirsty who are killed in search of clean water, and because Palestinians deserve to live in freedom and dignity."

China

China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Fu Cong, noted that the vote's outcome once again reveals that the root cause of the Council's inability to de-escalate the conflict in Gaza is repeated obstructionism by the United States, noting that Washington has once again abused its veto power, "extinguishing the glimmer of hope for the people of Gaza."

"The use of the veto by a single permanent member cannot stop the peace process," he said.

He warned that the conflict had gone beyond a hostage rescue operation, calling on Israel to immediately cease military operations and fully restore access to humanitarian supplies.

Fu said that respect for international humanitarian law is an obligation that all parties must fulfill, adding: "Any double standards or selective application will only erode the foundations of the rule of international law and must be categorically rejected."

Russia

For his part, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia said that today's vote was an opportunity "to see who truly wants peace in the Middle East and who wants to continue geopolitical maneuvering."

He added that it was another missed opportunity to demonstrate "the Security Council's willingness to assume the responsibility of maintaining international peace and security in the context of the eight-decade-long Palestinian-Israeli conflict."

Under the current circumstances, Nebenzia said his country has particular hopes for the high-level conference on implementing the two-state solution scheduled to be held this month, which will be co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France.

He added, "It is important to ensure that its results are tangible and that it aims to breathe new life into the idea of a two-state solution," stressing that the international community must demonstrate collective will and do its utmost to ensure the necessary conditions are created for the resumption of this process.

France

France's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jérôme Bonnafont, described what is happening in Gaza as "a tragedy taking place before our eyes." He expressed regret that the draft resolution was not adopted, saying, "The Security Council was prevented from assuming its responsibility, despite the consensus of our majority on a single position."

He reiterated his call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, stating that the provision of humanitarian aid should not be conditional on a ceasefire or used for political purposes.

He called on the Israeli government to abide by its international obligations to ensure the immediate, widespread, safe, and unrestricted provision of humanitarian assistance to people throughout Gaza. He reiterated his country's support for UN agencies and their humanitarian partners, saying they have proven their ability to deliver aid.

He stressed the need to release all hostages without delay or conditions. He also emphasized the need to disarm Hamas, stating that it cannot be part of the solution in Gaza.

He said that the Security Council must work towards implementing the two-state solution: Israel and Palestine.

Palestine

Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, stressed that "what can stop this genocide is for states to take immediate and concrete measures to deter Israel from prolonging its aggression against the Palestinian people and to compel it to halt its mad march in the occupied Palestinian territory."

He wondered whether the Security Council could not act - as required by the UN Charter - in the face of the open and continuing threat to millions of human lives.

He pointed out that this draft resolution was long overdue, "coming months after Israel violated the ceasefire, imposed a comprehensive blockade on humanitarian aid, and resumed, and even escalated, its relentless killing of Palestinian children, women, and men."

Addressing the countries that voted in favor of the draft resolution, as well as the member states of the General Assembly, Mansour said, "You can act in your national capacity. You have the tools available to compel those who create this miserable life for the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, who kill and starve them, to stop this crime against humanity."

"Act now. Act decisively. Act to end impunity. Act to end these atrocities. Act for humanity," he added.

Slovenia

Slovenia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Samuel Zbogar, presented the draft resolution on behalf of the ten non-permanent member states before the vote. He said, "We firmly believe that this Council must act urgently and decisively to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza, in line with its mandate to maintain international peace and security. The draft resolution is the result of consultations among all Council members."

He explained that the draft resolution's text reflects the consensus reached by all Council members on "the need to immediately stop the war in Gaza, release all hostages immediately and unconditionally, prevent the starvation of civilians in Gaza, and enable them to have full and unrestricted access to aid."

The draft resolution also called for the restoration of all essential services in accordance with international humanitarian law and the humanitarian principles of "humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence," and all relevant Security Council resolutions.

The draft resolution expressed grave concern over the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, including the risk of famine, as outlined in the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report.

ARAB AND WORLD

Thu 05 Jun 2025 12:19 pm - Jerusalem Time

Lieberman accuses Netanyahu of arming criminal gangs in Gaza.

Yisrael Beiteinu party leader Avigdor Lieberman accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday of secretly approving the arming of "criminal families" in the Gaza Strip with "light weapons and assault rifles" through the Israeli security apparatus.

In an interview with Israeli public radio (Kan-Reshet B), Lieberman said, "Israel supplied criminal families in Gaza with assault rifles and light weapons, on Netanyahu's orders. These weapons reach criminals and are then directed toward Israel."

Lieberman added that his assessment is that "this move was not presented to the cabinet," adding that "the head of the Shin Bet is aware of it, but I don't think the chief of staff is aware of it. We're talking about groups like ISIS in Gaza."

"No one can guarantee that these weapons will not be used against Israel. We have no monitoring or tracking capabilities," Lieberman continued, adding, "I'm not sure how capable Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar is of performing his duties, just a week before his departure."

Lieberman stressed that the identity of the party that approved this operation remains unclear, saying, "It is not clear who approved this operation, and whether Defense Minister Yisrael Katz was aware of it, nor was the Knesset."

These statements, made by the former Israeli Minister of Defense, highlight what he described as Netanyahu's deliberate disregard for official oversight mechanisms, such as the cabinet or the Knesset, when making sensitive security decisions.

These accusations align with previous reports that Israel supports criminal gangs in the Gaza Strip, involved in stealing aid and creating chaos, as part of an effort to weaken Hamas's authority during the ongoing war on the Strip.

PALESTINE

Thu 05 Jun 2025 11:48 am - Jerusalem Time

Three journalists were killed in the Israeli bombing of the Baptist Hospital in Gaza.

Three journalists were killed and another critically injured when Israeli drones bombed the Baptist Hospital square in Gaza City.

Local sources reported that occupation aircraft bombed the hospital courtyard where a number of journalists were present, leading to the martyrdom of three of them: Ismail Badah, Suleiman Hajjaj, and Samir Al-Rifai, while journalists Imad Daloul and Ahmed Qaljah were critically injured.

OPINIONS

Thu 05 Jun 2025 10:04 am - Jerusalem Time

Walking through the paths of hell!

Ibrahim Melhem

Ibrahim Melhem

Opinion Writer

Amidst the blood, and under the showers of bullets fired from aid ambushes, the hungry walk with slow steps, with broken hearts and intestines wrung with the pain of hunger, loss and suffering, towards centers that raise slogans of humanity, while behind their banners hide snipers who are skilled at hunting prey, sometimes from long distances, and sometimes from zero distance, when the meager morsels of the hungry approach their mouths, and they die of hunger after spending several days with their children on the ground.

One might ask, what drives people to repeat the experience, traveling long distances, even though its victims have exceeded 100 since the aid ambushes were set up in response to international pressure, rather than a hidden and concealed awakening of consciences regarding the ongoing genocide, for the twentieth month without respite? It is hunger that the people of Gaza find themselves at the bottom of its bottomless embers, with no imminent prospect of escape from it.

On this great day, when prayers are answered and there is no day better before God than it, we raise our hands in supplication to God Almighty to relieve the distress of our people in the Gaza Strip, remove their worries, calm their spirits, and stop their bloodshed.

OPINIONS

Thu 05 Jun 2025 10:03 am - Jerusalem Time

The impudence of the American position

Mohammed Alloush

Mohammed Alloush

Opinion Writer

Zionist Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, reveals the truth about the official American position, and even the impudence of the political stance, when he issues statements from Tel Aviv, in response to the French position on the Palestinian issue, saying that France can annex part of its territory if it wants a Palestinian state. Is there anything more impudent than America's policy and its imperialist rhetoric that is hostile to the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, liberation from the occupation, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, in accordance with relevant international legitimacy resolutions?

The US ambassador here attacked and mocked the French initiative to recognize a Palestinian state, and provocatively and recklessly announced that the United States would not participate in the peace conference called by France and Saudi Arabia, scheduled to be held this month, saying, "We will not be part of this trick."

In fact, such a stance reflects the official positions and determination of the US administration, which has not offered any initiatives on the Palestinian issue since assuming office following the last presidential election. This, to us, confirms the lack of seriousness in proposing any political initiative, and even the continued unlimited support for Israel, which is committing war crimes and genocide against our Palestinian people.

This Zionist ambassador believes that any attempt to impose recognition of a Palestinian state in light of Israel's ongoing war on Gaza constitutes unwelcome pressure on a sovereign state. He hopes France will reconsider its position, and boasts of the continued American support for the Netanyahu government. He believes that American-Israeli relations are strong and cannot be torn apart. They are based on a strategic partnership that transcends friendship or alliance, and is built on a deep exchange of security and military information.

I fully believe that the American ambassador, who previously claimed that Israel's victories and survival are due to God's hand and will remain so, is more clear than some other American politicians. He believes that the American-Israeli alliance is a religious alliance, not a political one. He believes that people think that Israel benefits the United States, but it is America that benefits Israel.

These statements are not made by the American ambassador because he is Jewish, but because he is a Zionist who boasts of his Zionism. He is expressing American foreign policy, which has never been an honest sponsor of the peace process. Rather, it has been and continues to be biased towards the occupation and a central supporter of it in its occupation of Palestinian land and its attempts to dissolve the Palestinian national identity, uproot the Palestinian people from their land, and prevent them from establishing their independent Palestinian state.

Without a doubt, this ambassador's brazen statements have tangibly revealed the true American position and its complete bias toward the occupying government. They are an insult to the international community, not just France, and reveal America's uniqueness, which is contrary to the entire world, in protecting an occupying state based on genocide, ethnic cleansing, racism, and neo-fascism.


The occupation government is living under pressure and growing international isolation. The United States, of course, is trying to protect the Netanyahu government and break its isolation. The United States has lost its credibility. It speaks of the people's right to freedom and democracy, and objects to the decision of another country seeking to recognize the Palestinian state. This is because it believes in the natural right to establish a Palestinian state and for the Palestinians to enjoy a life of security and peace like the rest of the peoples of the region.

Such provocative statements encourage Israel to continue its policies, undermine international law, and demonstrate the hypocrisy of the US administration. They are certainly an obstacle to the peace process in the region, and a sign of acquiescence to Israel and its perpetuation as a state above the law. Today, there is a need to reconsider relations with the US administration, to avoid harboring any illusions about US sponsorship of any future negotiations, and to not submit to all US threats to cut off aid to our people. The Palestinian leadership must continue its efforts and struggle to achieve justice for our people, who are struggling for freedom and independence, and to achieve the victory of our people’s will by ending the occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state.

OPINIONS

Thu 05 Jun 2025 10:02 am - Jerusalem Time

Before the decision... If I were an advisor to Sinwar!!

Counselor Dr. Ahmed Youssef

Counselor Dr. Ahmed Youssef

Opinion Writer

As a political advisor to Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh (may God have mercy on him) for five years (January 2006-December 2010), during the tenth and eleventh governments (the National Unity Government), I offered many opinions and advice to the movement and the government, verbally and in writing, some of which were taken into account, while others were considered “tweeting out of step”!!

Among those papers was a brochure titled: “Hamas and the Necessity of Separating the Political from the Military,” in which I concluded with the following advice:

Separating the political and military wings is a national necessity, as combining them weakens the national project and confuses the movement's priorities as an organization and as a governmental component. Therefore, I called at the time for the establishment of a political party to manage public affairs, while the military wing would maintain its resistance role, far removed from political tensions. I also warned against repeating the mistakes of other Islamist movements, which mixed these roles in more than one Arab country, causing them to lose much of their popular and national credibility.

I also pointed out the need to be cautious about militarizing the movement or expanding its armed wing, lest it monopolize political decision-making or directly influence it.

Today, some are asking a hypothetical question: If I had been an advisor to Yahya Sinwar (may God have mercy on him), what advice would I have given him before making the decision, some details of which were later revealed, as Professor Fayez Abu Shamala indicated in an interview conducted with him months before the October 7 battle?

Although the question comes late—after the axe has fallen—I answer based on what I learned in my graduate studies in political science: anyone who embarks on an armed confrontation or military action must carefully consider the consequences and repercussions. These are the deciding factor, upon which calculations of profit and loss are based.

You may win a battle, but lose the war, given the number of casualties and losses.

As a veteran Palestinian thinker and politician who is over seventy years old, I have a number of pieces of advice and warnings that, in their entirety, lead to one piece of advice: Do not take such a step, because it would be a "shaver" that would destroy the movement and bring the nation and its people to ruin.

By asking some brothers who specialize in management and decision-making, we concluded that the event is very serious and has many dimensions. Therefore, the decision-maker must consider the following points:

First: Defining the political objective precisely. This requires asking the pivotal question: What is the clear political objective of the operation?

Is it to: Break the siege? Return the Palestinian issue to the forefront of global attention? Embarrass the Palestinian Authority? Establish a new deterrence equation with the occupation? Release prisoners? And so on.

The lack of clarity in the political objective makes any military operation an uncalculated risk, even if it appears successful at the time.

Second: Assessing the Israeli response. Does the resistance have the capacity to withstand the Israeli response, which is expected to be broad and not limited to the military structure, but also includes civilians and infrastructure? Has the possibility of a prolonged war of attrition and a battle for existence, which could last for months or years, been taken into account?

Here's the advice: Don't start a battle unless you're prepared for the worst-case scenario, militarily, politically, and popularly.

Third: The moral equation and the human dimension. Is there sufficient field control to prevent chaos or the commission of transgressions that would tarnish the image of the resistance and deprive it of its moral legitimacy?

The advice here is to establish clear ethical rules of engagement for the fighters, so that the operation does not become a burden on the Palestinian narrative and serve the occupation's narrative.

Fourth: Regional and international impact. Does the timing of the operation serve the Palestinian cause? Will it open doors or close them? How will the international community react to it? What impact will it have on the positions of regional countries such as Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, and Iran?

The advice here would also be to measure the impact not only on the occupation, but on the entire international and regional environment.

Fifth: An accompanying political plan. Any operation of this magnitude must be part of a long-term strategic plan, not merely a tactical surprise. Who will speak on behalf of Gaza after the operation? What are the official political demands? How will the media and political momentum, not just the military one, be managed?

Therefore, the bottom line of advice for decision-makers is: Don't start a major battle, no matter how just, unless you are prepared for what comes after it. Fortify your position politically, morally, and popularly, both internally and externally. Always assume that matters may falter or fail temporarily, and that the enemy may escalate to the highest levels of brutality using annihilation and brute force.

Here comes the most essential question to ask: Have you planned for your people's resilience? Have you prepared public opinion? Have you built a strong support network?

In conclusion, the core advice underlying all of the above is to transform Hamas from an armed resistance movement into a national liberation movement with a comprehensive political strategy, while maintaining popular legitimacy without becoming embroiled in destructive wars. However, the final decision—and herein lies the crux of the matter—remains dependent on the balance of power within Hamas itself.

The definition of crisis management is planning for what might not happen. Now that it has happened, our advice comes too late, a futile attempt to sow seeds in the air.

OPINIONS

Thu 05 Jun 2025 10:00 am - Jerusalem Time

Israel: Time for decisive action, not compromise

Rasim Obeidat

Rasim Obeidat

Opinion Writer

The occupying state says that this is the time for decisive action, not the time for compromise with the Palestinian people. The current option and project under discussion, under the government of right-wing extremism, settlement, and Judaization, is only the project and option of expulsion, cleansing, and displacement. The time for compromise is over, and America, its deep state, the neo-conservatives, the Zionist movement, and the lobby within it, stand behind this project and scheme with all their might, in light of a Palestinian state divided and weak within itself, and in light of a miserable Arab state and a collapsed, trembling official Arab regime that has lost its will and political decision.

Settlers are "encroaching" and "brutally" on our people in an unprecedented manner. The daily attacks on Palestinian cities, towns, villages, and refugee camps in the West Bank continue 24/7. They include burning homes, vehicles, and crops, shooting, killing, and wounding, establishing new settlement outposts, and intensifying pastoral and religious settlements to control as much Palestinian land as possible. Not content with that, the settlers began adding signs to the existing signs on the main streets of the West Bank, adding signs to them indicating what they call the Temple Mount, "Har Habit," meaning Al-Aqsa Mosque. What happened in what is known as the flag march or dance on the fifty-eighth anniversary of what is known as the unification of Jerusalem, the completion of the occupation of the eastern part of the city, and what followed from the submission of the proposal by Knesset members Dan Illouz and Ariel Klenner of a discussion in the Knesset about the freedom of public worship for Jews on the "Temple Mount" in full, and that a place be allocated for them in Al-Aqsa to do so, this means that we are facing a dangerous turning point, not only with regard to Al-Aqsa, but rather the comprehensive targeting from the Negev to the Galilee, the West Bank, Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, and even the refugee camps. We are living in a state of vacuum and absence of leadership.

The right-wing and extremist government not only rejected the establishment of a Palestinian state on part of historic Palestine, but also "legalized" it in the Knesset through a law, considering the establishment of such a state a threat to the security and existence of the occupying state. They rejected the existence of anything called a Palestinian people with national and political rights and land on which to establish their state. The extremist minister, Smotrich, said, "There is no such thing as the Palestinian people. This is an invention that is less than a hundred years old."

Today, we are faced with a plan to eliminate the very existence of the Palestinian people and all its manifestations. Smotrich is working day and night to inject more settlers into the West Bank, so that the number of settlers there reaches one million settlers, to establish more settlements, and to legalize existing settlement outposts. Recently, approval was given to establish and legalize 22 new settlements and settlement outposts in the West Bank, whose name was changed to the State of "Judea and Samaria."

Smotrich, speaking about the war of extermination against the people of the Gaza Strip, clearly says: We will not stop the war until we achieve four goals: not only geographic control over Syria, but also its continued fragmentation, disintegration, and warring states; the elimination of Hezbollah; Iran being without a nuclear program or capabilities; the “purging” of Hamas and the resistance from the Gaza Strip; and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians outside the borders of the Gaza Strip. In the same context, Netanyahu says: “We will fight from Rafah in the south to the summit of Mount Hermon in the north, and we will win.”

We are witnessing a process of geographic and demographic "engineering" taking place in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and even in the Galilee, the Negev, and Jerusalem. The goal is to prevent the existence of a Palestinian majority between the river and the sea. To achieve this, plans for expulsion and displacement must be implemented. In the northern West Bank, we are witnessing a widespread attack on Jenin, its camp and villages, and Tulkarm and its two camps, Nur Shams and Tulkarm, and their towns. The destruction of homes and infrastructure, from streets and agricultural roads to water and sewage lines and networks, and the displacement of residents from the camps in particular, preventing them from returning to their homes, are part of the plans for expulsion and displacement. The beginning of expulsion and internal displacement is with the demolition of the largest possible number of homes in the camps, specifically Jenin and Tulkarm, and extending to the Nablus camps.

We are fully aware that there is a state of identification between the Talmudic, biblical, Zionist right-wing with the American evangelical, Christian, extreme right-wing. What is issued by extremist members of Congress, American ministers, and ambassadors clearly indicates that they are more Zionist than the Zionists themselves in their hostility to the rights of our Palestinian people. The American ambassador to the occupying state, Mike Huckabee, responded to French President Macron's call to recognize a Palestinian state by calling for the annexation of part of the French territory "Riviera" and the establishment of a Palestinian state on it. The US Secretary of Homeland Security, Kirsten Noem, attended and participated in the fifty-eighth anniversary of the completion of the occupation of the eastern part of the city of Jerusalem, the anniversary of what is known as the unification of Jerusalem, with Talmudic and biblical rituals in the Western Wall Square. The US Republican Congressman, Randy Fine, called for bombing the Gaza Strip with nuclear weapons, in response to the killing of two employees of the Israeli embassy in Washington, by an American university professor, who was horrified and appalled by scenes of famine and the death of children and civilians from starvation, siege, and Israeli bombing.

It seems that the decisive Israeli step, despite all the momentum behind it, the American partnership, the silence of the international community, and the failure of the official Arab and Islamic regimes, there is a strong determination on the part of the Palestinian people to stand firm, remain, and cling to their land. They are aware of the dangerous repercussions resulting from a new catastrophe against this people. Therefore, the legendary steadfastness recorded by the Palestinian people throughout the length and breadth of the homeland, and their resistance to all projects and plans of displacement, ethnic cleansing, displacement, and liquidation, proves that this people has endured what mountains cannot bear. As a result of this steadfastness, the occupying state is facing a political and media “tsunami” from the European peoples, forces, parties, and student revolutions that have swept American and Western European universities, pressuring their governments to take decisive positions and impose sanctions on the occupying state, to stop its crimes and its war of starvation and extermination against the Palestinian people. The Palestinian narrative has become superior to the narrative of the occupation, which has become unable to promote, market, and “sell” it to the peoples and masses. European.

The major political and media transformations in Western European countries play an important role in pressuring the occupation government to stop the war of starvation and genocide against the Palestinian people, but the field remains the decisive factor in...

Reshaping the political landscape, stopping the war and aggression against our people, and thwarting plans for expulsion, displacement, and new catastrophes.

OPINIONS

Thu 05 Jun 2025 9:59 am - Jerusalem Time

The human being is the target

Hamada Faraana

Hamada Faraana

Opinion Writer

When colonial forces target the tents of the displaced, and civilian schools housing the poor whose homes have been destroyed, and destroy hospitals, deliberately putting them out of service, and turn buildings into ruins and graves with bodies buried beneath the rubble, is this a war targeting armed resistance or civilians, who are being systematically and deliberately eliminated?

The deliberate killing, systematic destruction, and deliberate devastation to which the people of Gaza are subjected to in order to disrupt life is a carefully thought-out and organized program. This is what Netanyahu means by a decisive victory, wiping out the Gaza Strip and making it uninhabitable, with the aim of expelling, displacing, and reducing the human presence of Palestinians from their land, from their homeland, and blocking the road to their future. The Palestinian future is the opposite of the colony project, the opposite of settlement, expansion, and plundering the homeland of the Palestinians. The Palestinian future is: 1- The return of the refugees and the restoration of their properties in Lod, Ramla, Jaffa, Haifa, Acre, Beisan, and Beersheba. 2- Freedom and independence for the Palestinians, on their entire land. Therefore, the conflict lies in the content of the two terms: land and people. They occupied the entire land, the entire geography of Palestine, and failed to expel and displace the entire people of Palestine. Therefore, they are working to get rid of the human element according to Smotrich’s plan: “The Decisive Plan,” which means three options for the Palestinians: 1- Death and killing, 2- Departure outside Palestine. To Northern Europe, or to America, or to Australia, 3- To remain a working slave without political rights, neither in the 48 regions nor in the 67 regions.

The colony's program is to eliminate the human element. Therefore, the occupation forces resort to intensifying the killing after they failed in expulsion, displacement, and homelessness. The human element is the fertile ground for resistance, and it is what prevents the establishment of a purely Hebrew Jewish Israeli state, free of Palestinian Arabs.

Two factors created the colony project: the first was the initiative of the Zionist movement, and the second was international support, first from Europe and then from the United States. The restoration of Palestine will be achieved through two factors: the first is the Palestinian initiative and the sacrifices of the Palestinian people, and the second is the world's solidarity and support for the steadfastness and struggle of the Palestinians.

What is happening in Europe through these transformations in favor of Palestine and against the colony is a gradual accumulation in both directions:

The first is solidarity and sympathy with the suffering of the Palestinian people. The second is the colony's blatant crimes against the Palestinians, which embarrassed Europeans and pushed them to adopt political positions that diverged from their pro-colony heritage, particularly on the part of the countries that created the colony: Britain, France, Germany, and, in one way or another, other European countries.

The sacrifices of the Palestinians and the crimes of the Israelis are the defining feature of today's conflict. Neither side will be able to achieve victory by a knockout blow, nor will the other be defeated by a knockout blow. Rather, it is a cumulative process that will inevitably lead to the triumph of justice, truth, and legitimate values, and the defeat of injustice, occupation, and racism, no matter how long it takes and how great the sacrifices.

OPINIONS

Thu 05 Jun 2025 9:56 am - Jerusalem Time

A feast of killing, displacement and hunger!

Baha Rahal

Baha Rahal

Opinion Writer

They circumambulate your ancient house, glorifying you with praise, you alone, you have no partner, they perform the rituals as you have ordained, oh God, and their steps follow your will, from every deep valley, they come to you responding to your call, praising, thanking, and bestowing blessings, hoping for your pleasure, forgiveness, and pardon, on the greatest day of pilgrimage, while a child in Gaza asks, will we find a loaf of bread on the night of Eid? Will the bombing stop on the day of Eid? Will my little brother survive death by starvation? Will my father return to our tent safe from the bombing, after spending hours searching for a piece of bread and a sip of water? Will we die like others died in the tent?

They seek your sacred house, between Safa and Marwa, and the hungry in Gaza seek from tent to tent, awaiting the efforts of mediators to stop the killing, to stop their deaths, and to lift the siege that threatens them with annihilation. The hungry say: We seek a loaf of bread, a sip of water, and a pill of medicine, and we move from place to place in search of the security and safety that are lost in Gaza.

Guests of the Most Merciful stand before You, eating and drinking, while we in Gaza are hungry and thirsty under the continuous bombardment of aircraft. We collect the remains of the martyrs in mass graves, and we complain of their abandonment of us, with no hope but from You, O God, to lift this injustice from the people who are struggling to live in Gaza.

Eid has returned, and hunger and suffering in Gaza continue. With each passing day, the suffering increases, the level of pain rises, and the daily torment people endure under harsh and oppressive conditions expands. While Your servants visit Your Sacred House these days, coming from every distant valley, we in Gaza are deprived of visiting Your House, forbidden from reaching it, deprived of food and medicine, and besieged from all sides.

Eid is back, and it's neither a holiday nor a happy one, amidst hunger, killing, displacement, and destruction. While children in all countries of the world find their joy in Eid: new clothes, gifts, toys, and sweets, and sleep under a roof, on top of beds, gathering their dreams and laughter on their pillows, the children of Gaza search for a morsel of food and a drink of water in displacement tents and shelters, without pillows, and their dreams are of a moment of calm and escape from the nights of bombing.

The children of Gaza, oh God, they do not find a piece of bread. The war has shattered their dreams, destroyed their homes, amputated the legs of many, amputated the hands of many, and taken the lives of many. This massacre continues, and continues in its ugliness and bloodiness. No sacrifices are being slaughtered in Gaza except human lives, and no Takbirs are heard except the screams and cries of mothers, children, and those under the rubble.

ARAB AND WORLD

Thu 05 Jun 2025 9:38 am - Jerusalem Time

Trump bans entry to citizens of 12 countries, including Libya, Sudan, Yemen, and Iran.

US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday a new travel ban targeting citizens of 12 countries, along with restrictions on entry for citizens of seven other countries, under the pretext of "protecting Americans from foreign terrorists," as he put it.

According to a statement issued by the White House, this decision will take effect on June 9, and the complete ban includes citizens of Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

Countries that have imposed partial restrictions on their citizens include: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

The Trump administration justified this move by citing weak governance in these countries and the frequent cases of their citizens remaining in the United States after their visas expired. Iran was specifically designated for its "support for terrorism," according to the statement.

These restrictions exclude certain visa categories and individuals whose travel is in the US "national interest," including athletes participating in international events such as the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

For its part, Venezuela condemned the decision, describing travel to the United States as "highly dangerous." Jamal Abdi, president of the National Iranian American Council, expressed his regret, saying the ban "will not enhance America's security but will increase the suffering of Americans, especially those of Iranian origin."

Trump cited the recent attack in Boulder, Colorado, in which a man of Egyptian descent threw Molotov cocktails at pro-Israel protesters, chanting "Free Palestine," injuring 12 people. The attacker has been charged with attempted murder and a hate crime and is scheduled to appear in court soon.

Although the attacker was Egyptian—a country not covered by the ban—Trump noted that the incident highlights the danger posed by foreigners entering the country "without vetting," especially from countries whose systems cannot be trusted.

He considered this decision a continuation of the restrictions he imposed during his first term, which included Muslim-majority countries, claiming that they contributed to protecting the country from attacks similar to those that occurred in Europe.

He concluded by saying, "We will not allow what happened in Europe to become a reality in America. We cannot accept immigrants from anywhere unless we are able to securely and accurately verify their identities."

PALESTINE

Thu 05 Jun 2025 9:30 am - Jerusalem Time

Bethlehem: Occupation forces arrest a citizen and seize two vehicles in Tuqu'.

Israeli occupation forces arrested a citizen and seized two vehicles at dawn on Thursday in the town of Tuqu', southeast of Bethlehem.

Local sources reported that the occupation forces arrested citizen Akram Musa Jabrin and seized his vehicle after raiding his home and ransacking its contents.

She added that the occupation forces raided the homes of Khaled Al-Arouj, Hatem Al-Sabah, the detainee Riyad Al-Amour, and the homes of his brothers, Mohammed and Samih, and assaulted the residents.

The occupation forces also raided the home of Karim Al-Amur, stole an amount of money estimated at 1,500 shekels, and seized the vehicle of the released prisoner, Muntaser Bellah Al-Amur.

PALESTINE

Thu 05 Jun 2025 9:27 am - Jerusalem Time

Gaza Humanitarian Foundation postpones opening of its centers after dozens were killed during aid distribution.

The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation postponed the reopening of its centers in the Gaza Strip, which had been scheduled for Wednesday night through Thursday, after they were closed following the deaths of dozens of people during aid distribution operations in recent days.

The Israeli army declared that the roads leading to these centers were considered "combat zones," warning against traveling on them.

The corporation stated in a post on its Facebook page that distribution centers will not open as scheduled on Thursday morning due to maintenance and repair work, noting that it will announce the opening times once these works are completed.

She added that she is working to make the distribution of food boxes safer despite the difficult conditions, and urged beneficiaries to "follow the routes designated by the Israeli military to ensure safe passage."

Meanwhile, the Civil Defense in Gaza announced the deaths of at least 48 people in Israeli strikes on various areas of the Strip, including 14 martyrs near a school sheltering displaced people in Khan Yunis.

On the international level, the Security Council failed to pass a draft resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and allowing unrestricted humanitarian aid to enter the country. The United States used its veto power against the resolution, believing the text undermines diplomatic efforts and emboldens Hamas, according to US Ambassador Dorothy Shea.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation began operations more than a week ago after the partial lifting of the Israeli blockade that had deprived residents of vital aid. However, distribution has been severely disrupted, with reports of casualties from shelling near distribution centers. The Israeli military confirmed the temporary closure of these centers, warning that the roads leading to them are combat zones.

The Civil Defense announced the deaths of 27 people on Tuesday when Israeli forces opened fire from tanks and drones on thousands of civilians gathered near Al-Alam Roundabout in Rafah as they headed to a US aid center to receive food.

The Israeli military said it fired warning shots at suspects near the distribution center, and that the investigation into the incident is still ongoing.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the shooting, calling the killing of civilians while trying to access food unacceptable and demanding an independent investigation. Britain also called for an immediate and independent investigation.

UN Humanitarian Coordinator Tom Fletcher described the horrific scenes of Palestinians being killed while seeking aid as the result of "deliberate choices" that deprived them of the means to survive.

For her part, the White House spokeswoman announced that she was reviewing the veracity of reports of casualties near an aid distribution center in southern Gaza, noting that she did not fully trust Hamas's claims.

In a separate incident, the Civil Defense announced on Sunday that 31 people were killed and more than 176 others injured by Israeli fire during an aid distribution operation in Rafah. The army denied firing at civilians, and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation described the incident as uneventful.

It should be noted that the United Nations and a number of NGOs refuse to work with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation due to concerns about its neutrality and method of operation.

In an effort to deliver aid to Gaza, a ship belonging to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition set sail from Sicily bound for the Strip, carrying 12 people, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and French MP Rima Hassan. The Israeli military responded that its forces were prepared to defend the country on all fronts, including the coast.

For its part, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition strongly condemned Israel's threats to attack the ship, describing it as carrying humanitarian aid and human rights defenders. It considered these threats a direct challenge to the ongoing Israeli blockade and what it described as "hunger genocide."

PALESTINE

Thu 05 Jun 2025 9:24 am - Jerusalem Time

The Israeli army warns the ship "Madeleine": If you approach, you will be arrested.

Israeli security forces have decided to prevent the Freedom Flotilla ship "Madeleine" from approaching the coast of the Gaza Strip, in order to prevent a precedent that could break the blockade imposed on the Strip, Israeli media reported Thursday.

The Jerusalem Post, citing Israeli military sources, reported that a direct message will be sent to the activists on board the Madeleine, urging them to stay away from the Gaza Strip's coast.

According to the sources, if the activists ignore these instructions, the Israeli military may seize control of the ship and arrest those on board.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that Defense Minister Yisrael Katz will hold a special session to discuss the fate of the ship and its passengers, noting that the proposed scenarios include intercepting the ship, preventing it from proceeding, and even arresting the activists on board.

These warnings come amid escalating tensions surrounding attempts to break the naval blockade on the Gaza Strip, with international activists launching initiatives to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged population.

PALESTINE

Thu 05 Jun 2025 9:18 am - Jerusalem Time

Dead and wounded in Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip

For the 607th consecutive day, Israel continues its large-scale military aggression against the Gaza Strip, amid escalating massacres and war crimes against civilians and displaced persons, alongside worsening famine and a catastrophic humanitarian collapse.

In the latest developments: A medical source at Al-Ma'madani Hospital reported the arrival of three martyrs and a number of wounded as a result of an Israeli airstrike targeting a house in the Al-Zeitoun neighborhood in southern Gaza City.

Earlier Thursday morning, a father and his child from the Abu Nada family, along with a child from the al-Harkali family, were killed in an attack on a house on Kashko Street in southern Gaza City. Local sources also reported the death of a girl and the injury of several citizens in an attack that targeted another house near the al-Fadhila Mosque in the al-Zeitoun neighborhood.

In turn, the Civil Defense in Gaza announced the recovery of three bodies of bombing victims, along with three injured people, from the bombing site in the Zeitoun neighborhood, southeast of the city.

In another development, at least six displaced persons were killed and others injured in a shelling attack targeting their tents in the Al-Mawasi area west of Khan Yunis. An Israeli drone strike on a tent for displaced persons near the city of Asdaa in the same area also injured five people.

ARAB AND WORLD

Wed 04 Jun 2025 10:44 pm - Jerusalem Time

Netanyahu confirms dismissal of Galant and Halevi for opposing Haredi conscription exemption

On Wednesday evening, a Hebrew-language channel broadcast a leaked recording of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledging to a senior Haredi rabbi to defend exemption for Haredi Jews from military service.

Netanyahu acknowledged the dismissal of former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi for their opposition to the move.

The recording, broadcast by private Channel 13, dates back to an interview between Netanyahu and the leader of the Lithuanian-Haredi movement, Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch, which took place in March, shortly before the Knesset (parliament) voted on the budget. At the time, the Haredim (ultra-Orthodox Jews) had threatened to vote against the budget.

These leaks come as the Haredi conscription crisis escalates once again, following the insistence of religious parties within the ruling coalition to call for the dissolution of the Knesset and the ouster of the current government for failing to pass a law barring religious conscription.

"We need to save not only the State of Israel, but also the world of the Torah," Netanyahu said in the recording.

He added, "This is what we will do. To do this, we need time to pass the law (the draft exemption) properly. It cannot be challenged. We are capable of doing this, and I will do it."

Netanyahu openly admitted that he dismissed Galant and Halevi at the height of the war because of his desire to advance the military service exemption law, saying, "We had huge obstacles, and we removed them. You know, when the defense minister is against you and the chief of staff is against you, you can't move forward. Now we can move forward."

Earlier on Wednesday, the privately owned Yedioth Ahronoth and Haaretz newspapers reported that Haredi rabbis had "ordered a withdrawal" from Netanyahu's government due to the stalemate in passing legislation exempting religious men from military service. One rabbi also ordered a Haredi party to "support" a vote to dissolve the Knesset for the same reason.

For its part, Haaretz reported that an unnamed senior rabbi had ordered a Haredi party to "support a vote to dissolve the Knesset due to the deadlock on exemptions from Israeli military service."

For its part, the official Israeli Broadcasting Authority considered the conflict over the conscription law to be a "real test" for the Netanyahu government's survival, noting that the rabbis' decisions "may shape the next political phase."

The Haredim (13 percent of Israel's 10 million population) continue their protests against military service following a Supreme Court (the highest judicial body) ruling on June 25, 2024, requiring them to enlist and prohibiting financial assistance to religious institutions whose students refuse military service.

For decades, members of the community have been able to avoid conscription upon reaching the age of 18 by obtaining repeated deferments under the pretext of studying at religious institutes, until they reach the age of exemption from service, which is currently 26.

In contrast, the opposition accuses Netanyahu of seeking to pass a law exempting Haredim from military service, in response to demands from the Shas and United Torah Judaism parties, both members of the governing coalition, with the aim of preserving the stability of his government and preventing its collapse.

However, Shas decided earlier Wednesday to join the United Torah Judaism alliance in an effort to dissolve the Knesset and bring down Netanyahu's government over the crisis surrounding the conscription of Haredim into the army, according to Hebrew media.

Netanyahu's government has been in power since late December 2022, and if elections are not held early, they are scheduled for 2026.

This crisis is escalating as Israel, with full US support, has been waging a genocidal war in Gaza since October 7, 2023. This war has left approximately 180,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 11,000 missing. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced, and a famine has claimed the lives of many, including children.

ARAB AND WORLD

Wed 04 Jun 2025 10:16 pm - Jerusalem Time

73 percent of Germans support tightening arms export controls to Israel.

A poll published Wednesday showed that about 73 percent of Germans support tightening controls on arms exports to Israel, including 30 percent who favor a complete ban, reflecting growing public dissatisfaction with Israeli government policy, according to Reuters.

Since Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Germany has remained one of Israel's staunchest allies and its second-largest arms supplier, despite Israel's growing international isolation and mounting criticism over its devastating war in Gaza.

According to a response to a parliamentary investigation published Tuesday, between the Hamas attack and mid-May of this year, Germany approved the export of military equipment to Israel worth €485 million ($553.72 million).

These shipments included weapons, ammunition, arms spare parts, army and navy equipment, electronic equipment, and armored vehicles.

No lawsuit against German arms exports to Israel has been successful so far, including a case brought by Nicaragua at the International Court of Justice.

But Germany's position shifted last week when new Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized Israel's intensified airstrikes on Gaza, describing them as no longer justified or understandable. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned of possible consequences, hinting at steps toward sanctions related to arms exports.

A poll conducted by the German Broadcasting Corporation (DfB) showed that three out of four Germans support Meretz's criticism of Israeli operations in Gaza.

The poll, which surveyed 1,292 people and was conducted on June 2 and 3, concluded that 55 percent reject the idea that Germany bears a special responsibility to protect Israel due to the legacy of the Nazi era.

Thirteen percent of those surveyed believe that Germany should stand unconditionally with Israel in the Middle East conflict, while 74 percent oppose this position.

In addition, 63 percent believed that Israel's military response to Gaza went too far, a six-point increase since August, while 73 percent considered Israel's military actions unjustified.