Ukrainian military intelligence head Kyrylo Budanov believes that Ukraine and Russia will reach a ceasefire this year, he said in an interview with Azerbaijani journalist Eynulla Fatullayev published on Feb. 18.
Archiv: Erklärungen / Statements / statements / declarations
Zelenskyy reschedules visit to Saudi Arabia for March 10 amid US-Russia talks
Zelenskyy also said the Ukrainian side has contacted its partners in Saudi Arabia.
„We have agreed that I will make an official visit on March 10,“ he said.
Ukraine preparing for Zelensky to visit Saudi Arabia
Delegations from Saudi Arabia and Ukraine met on Feb. 16 to discuss increased investment and bilateral cooperation between the two nations, ahead of a planned visit by President Volodymyr Zelensky. (….)
The Ukrainian delegation is preparing with local officials for Zelensky‘s visit to Saudia Arabia, during which he will sign economic agreements with various countries in the region, First Deputy Prime Minister and Economic Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced on Feb. 16.
‘Civilization has failed’: Malaysian statesman Mahathir slams US, EU over Gaza genocide
Veteran Malaysian statesman Mahathir Mohamad on Friday criticized the support extended to Israel by the US and EU, saying it is „disgusting.“
“The America which wants to be great again, aid and abet the genocide by the Israelis,” said the 99-year-old former prime minister of the Southeast Asian nation.
“So do its European allies. This is the behavior of savages, not civilized people,” he said about support provided to Tel Aviv in its genocidal military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
From the American Bar Association: The ABA supports the rule of law
(February 10, 2025)
In the last 21 days, more than a dozen lawsuits have been filed alleging that the administration’s actions violate the rule of law and are contrary to the Constitution or laws of the United States. The list grows longer every day.
These actions have forced affected parties to seek relief in the courts, which stand as a bulwark against these violations. We support our courts who are treating these cases with the urgency they require. Americans know there is a right way and a wrong way to proceed. What is being done is not the right way to pursue the change that is sought in our system of government.
These actions do not make America stronger. They make us weaker.
UN says 40,000 displaced in West Bank as Israel accused of readying annexation
Jamal Juma‘a, head of the Stop the Wall campaign, an organisation that fights against apartheid, told Middle East Eye that the Israeli offensive is „clearly aiming to prepare the infrastructure for the annexation of land“ in the West Bank.
Annexation of occupied territory is illegal under international law. The Israeli government prefers to term it as „applying sovereignty“, though that makes little difference legally. Legality hasn‘t stopped Israel from annexation before, however.
Österreich und 78 weitere Staaten kritisieren US-Sanktionen gegen Strafgerichtshof
Initiiert worden war die Erklärung von Slowenien, Luxemburg, Mexiko, Sierra Leone und Vanuatu. Zu den Unterzeichnern gehören neben Deutschland und Frankreich auch Großbritannien, Südafrika, die Palästinenser, Kanada, Chile und Panama. Auch Österreich ist darunter, wie das Außenministerium mitteilte.
ICC receives backing from 78 nations following US sanctions over Israel investigation
Seventy-eight nations have issued a joint statement reaffirming their support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) after the Trump administration imposed sanctions against the court and its officials.
The US government imposed the sanctions after the ICC issued an arrest warrant last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza. The US and Israel are not members of the court and do not recognise its authority.
ICC condemns the issuance of US Executive Order seeking to impose sanctions on the Court
The ICC condemns the issuance by the US of an Executive Order seeking to impose sanctions on its officials and harm its independent and impartial judicial work. The Court stands firmly by its personnel and pledges to continue providing justice and hope to millions of innocent victims of atrocities across the world, in all Situations before it. We call on our 125 States Parties, civil society and all nations of the world to stand united for justice and fundamental human rights.
USA: Sanctions against International Criminal Court betray international justice system
“At an historic moment when we are witnessing a genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and the global rule of law coming under threat from multiple fronts, institutions like the Court are needed more than ever to advance human rights protections, prevent future atrocities and secure justice for victims. (…)
“Governments around the world and regional organizations must do everything in their power to mitigate and block the effect of President Trump’s sanctions. Through collective and concerted actions, ICC member states can protect the Court and its staff. Urgent action is needed, like never before.”
If Trump tries to take over Gaza, Palestinians will die where they stand
We have all called out former US President Joe Biden’s role in acting as the quartermaster general for Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza. And rightly so.
But Biden did more than enable a war to continue for 15 months. He laid the foundation for something much worse to follow. It was not just a case of impotence; it was malice aforethought.
That has now been put into words and policy by his successor, Donald Trump.
Hadash and the Communist Party of Israel Slams Trump’s Calls to Ethnically Cleanse Gaza
According to Hadash MK Aida Touma-Sliman, “Trump’s Imperialist plan to ethnically cleanse Gaza and take it under American occupation is a declaration of another criminal war on the Palestinian people of Gaza. The people of Gaza will stay on their land, and they will rebuild it.” According to Hadash MK Ofer Cassif, “Facing the notion of Arab deportation and exile — ‘transfer’ — we must stand up and say sharply and simply: It will be impossible because we will not allow it. Even if we must lie down under the wheels of trucks. Even if we must blow up the bridges. There will be no mass deportation by force, because we will not allow it to happen, internationally known author Amoz Oz wrote this statement in his 1990 Manifesto ‘On Democracy and Obedience’.” “Now is the time to follow his wisdom and humanity and unite under one calling: No transfer, no ethnic cleansing, yes to peace and a Palestinian State!”, he added.
Trump’s Gaza ‘Riviera’ plan is the most outlandish idea in the history of US Middle East peacemaking
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu couldn’t keep the smirk off his face.
And no wonder.
Trump proposes permanent displacement of Gazans as he welcomes Netanyahu to White House
President Donald Trump on Tuesday proposed moving Gazans to a “good, fresh, beautiful piece of land” in another country, offering a vision of mass displacement that would likely inflame sentiments in the Arab world as he prepared to welcome Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House.
Hamas announces killing of top military commander Mohammed Deif
Hamas confirmed Deif’s killing in a statement.
Israel had claimed that it had killed Deif in an air attack in July, but the Palestinian group had not confirmed his death.
The solution lies in just peace, not displacement
Jordan‘s posture on the Palestinian question has always been firm and clear: Jordan is not, and will never be, an alternative homeland for Palestinians.
This position is not merely a political statement but a historical commitment rooted in the principle of justice and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. Jordan rejects any attempt to liquidate the Palestinian cause or deny the rights of Palestinians under whatsoever pretext.
High-profile source negates phone call between Trump, Egyptian president
CAIRO – 28 January 2025: A high-profile Egyptian source negated Tuesday that a phone call had taken place earlier this week between U.S. President Donald Trump and President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi, noting that phone calls between the chief of state and counterparts are always announced.
Trump‘s incoming national security advisor urges ceasefire before 20 January
(12 January 2025 16:15 GMT)
Donald Trump‘s incoming national security adviser, Mike Waltz, spoke with ABC News on Sunday, where he called for a ceasefire deal in Gaza to happen before Trump‘s inauguration on 20 January.
„Hamas has nowhere else to go but enter some type of agreement. Let‘s have a ceasefire, let‘s allow our hostages to be set free. I want to see them walking across a tarmac. At a minimum, some type of agreement before inauguration,“ he said.
ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS TO MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS ACCREDITED TO THE HOLY SEE
A diplomacy of hope is also a diplomacy of forgiveness, capable, at a time full of open or latent conflicts, of mending relationships torn by hatred and violence, and thus caring for the broken hearts of their all too numerous victims. My wish for the year 2025 is that the entire international community will work above all to end the conflict that, for almost three years now, has caused so much bloodshed in war-torn Ukraine and has taken an enormous toll of lives, including those of many civilians. Some encouraging signs have appeared on the horizon, but much work must still be done to create the conditions for a just and lasting peace and to heal the wounds inflicted by the aggression.
Similarly, I renew my appeal for a ceasefire and the release of the Israeli hostages in Gaza, where there is a very serious and shameful humanitarian situation, and I ask that the Palestinian population receive all the aid it needs. My prayerful hope is that Israelis and Palestinians can rebuild the bridges of dialogue and mutual trust, starting with the smallest, so that future generations can live side by side in the two States, in peace and security, and that Jerusalem can be the “city of encounter”, where Christians, Jews and Muslims live together in harmony and respect. Just last June, in the Vatican gardens, we joined in commemorating the tenth anniversary of the Invocation for Peace in the Holy Land that, on 8 June 2014, saw the presence of the then President of the State of Israel, Shimon Peres, and the President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, along with Patriarch Bartholomew I. That meeting bore witness to the fact that dialogue is always possible and that we cannot give in to the idea that enmity and hatred between peoples will have the upper hand.
At the same time, it must also be pointed out that war is fuelled by the continued proliferation of ever more sophisticated and destructive weapons. This morning, I reiterate my appeal that “with the money spent on weapons and other military expenditures, let us establish a global fund that can finally put an end to hunger and favour development in the most impoverished countries, so that their citizens will not resort to violent or illusory solutions, or have to leave their countries in order to seek a more dignified life”. [3]
War is always a failure! The involvement of civilians, especially children, and the destruction of infrastructures is not only a disaster, but essentially means that between the two sides only evil emerges the winner. We cannot in any way accept the bombing of civilians or the attacking of infrastructures necessary for their survival. We cannot accept that children are freezing to death because hospitals have been destroyed or a country’s energy network has been hit.
The entire international community seems to agree on the need to respect international humanitarian law, yet its failure to implement that law fully and concretely raises questions. If we have forgotten what lies at the very foundation of our existence, the sacredness of life, the principles that move the world, how can we think that this right is effectively respected? We need to recover these values and to embody them in precepts of the public conscience, so that the principle of humanity will truly be the basis of our activity. I trust, then, that this Jubilee year will be a favourable moment in which the international community will take active steps to ensure that inviolable human rights are not sacrificed to military needs.
Pope Francis Steps Up Criticism of Israel, Says Bombing of Civilians Is Unacceptable
On Thursday, Pope Francis offered more criticism of the Israeli bombing campaign and siege on the Gaza Strip, calling it “shameful” and saying the bombing of civilians is unacceptable.
NYU Imposes One-Year Suspensions on 11 Students for Protesting Gaza Genocide
On Dec. 11, over a dozen NYU students and faculty dropped flyers and hung banners throughout the Bobst Library while 13 people sat in on the administrative floor of thelibrary. The actionists were demanding a meeting with administrators, who had, in the spring during the Gaza solidarity encampment movement at NYU, promised students to disclose the university’s endowment, including all its investments in weapons manufacturers and ties to Israel and companies that profit off its occupation of Palestine.
The direct action was organized by student group Shut It Down NYU, which challenges what it sees as NYU’s ties to imperialism. Not only were the students’ demands ignored, but yesterday, 11 of them were suspended for a year on the pretext of participating “in coordinated and collective disruptive action” — the non-violent action at the library. Several more NYU students are currently going through disciplinary proceedings that could result in similar punishments.
Here is the press release we received from Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine:
Israel ignores WHO appeals and attacks another hospital in northern Gaza
The Indonesian Hospital, one the biggest health facilities in northern Gaza, has been out of service for weeks due to ongoing Israeli attacks and a debilitating siege put in place since early October.
Earlier this week, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the WHO, called on Israel to cease its attacks on Gaza‘s beleaguered hospitals and medical centres and offer a brief reprieve to exhausted Palestinians.
Live updates: 10 killed in New Orleans as driver plows truck into crowd
The FBI said in a statement Wednesday morning that it is investigating the Bourbon Street attack as a terrorist act. Earlier, before that designation had been officially made, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell (D) called the incident an act of terrorism, but FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge for New Orleans Alethea Duncan said the incident “is not a terrorist event.”
‚Very intentional‘: Police describe perpetrator‘s behavior
Jan 1, 2025 #CNN #News
Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick of the New Orleans Police Department provides an update after a vehicle drove into a crowd during New Year’s celebrations on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
New Orleans updates: 10 dead, dozens injured after vehicle plows into crowd in ‚terrorist attack‘
After mowing down numerous people over a three-block stretch on the famed thoroughfare while firing shots into the crowd, the suspect allegedly got out of the truck wielding an assault rifle and opened fire on police officers, law enforcement officials briefed on the incident told ABC News. Officers returned fire, killing the suspect who was not immediately identified, sources said. At least two police officers were shot and wounded, authorities said.
Explosive devices found in and around the scene on Bourbon Street were apparently found to be viable, multiple law enforcement sources tell ABC News.
MK Cassif: Hussam Abu Safiya is the Symbol of the Gaza Genocide
According to Hadash-Ta’al MK Ofer Cassif, “We must not allow the Israeli government to kill this noble man [Abu Safiya]. His life and liberty, like those of all Palestinians, must be protected.” “In human history, every genocide has had its own martyrs and symbols. Those who faced barbaric power and humanitarian calamity with resilient, stoic virtue. Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya and his unlawful abduction is the symbol of the Gaza genocide. We must not allow him to perish in captivity. I filed an official query for the Minister of Defense, like habeas corpus, demanding to know of his whereabouts. But this isn’t enough. I urge all to demand his immediate release from Israeli captivity.”
MK Ahmed Tibi (Hadash-Ta’al) called in the Knesset plenum on Monday, December 30, for the release of the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital. Tibi stated that “Dr. Abu Safiya has become an international icon in the last 24 hours. With a systematic destruction of hospitals in Gaza, and all health infrastructure, to render life impossible after the conflict – Israel is the country that has destroyed the most hospitals globally.” “This brave doctor, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, whose 15-year-old child was killed, and later had his hospital shot at and was wounded, remained with his team and patients – it’s a brave decision.” He added: “Ultimately, he came out to the tank and was arrested. Today, he’s in the detention facility at Sde Teiman and there is an international demand to release him. Why? Because doctors are killed in Sde Teiman. Dr. Albatsh, an orthopedist, was detained, tortured, and died. I called on the Defense Minister to release him today.”
According to Hadash-Ta’al MK Aida Touma-Sliman, “Dozens of Palestinians who were held at some point by the Israeli Army are nowhere to be found. The fact is extremely concerning given that according to Bt’selem, more than 60 Palestinians have died while imprisoned by Israel since the beginning of the war – some with clear indications of violence and torture. Like the darkest regimes, Israel is creating, under the cover of war, a parallel world of torture and violence where people are being disappeared.”
WHO, family call for release of detained Gaza hospital director
The head of the World Health Organization called for the immediate release of Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, who was detained as Israeli forces raided the facility last week. Other human rights organizations, along with Abu Safiya’s family, have made the same demand.
Unrwa chief condemns global inaction as Israeli ‚horrors‘ persist in Gaza
Since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza on 7 October 2023, 258 staff members from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees have lost their lives, and at least 650 attacks on Unrwa facilities have been recorded. Additionally, 20 Unrwa workers have been abducted by Israel.
Lazzarini condemned the ongoing violence, stating, “This cannot become the new standard, and impunity cannot become the new norm.” His remarks highlight the growing frustration over the global community’s lack of action in halting Israel’s aggression which has been widely described by human rights organisation as genocidal.
Amnesty International demands immediate release of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya following Israeli abduction
Amnesty also highlighted the broader issue of Israeli detention practices, noting that since the onset of its military onslought in Gaza, Israel has detained hundreds of Palestinian healthcare workers without charge or trial. These workers, the organisation stated, have been subjected to torture, ill-treatment, and incommunicado detention.
„The international community, especially Israel’s allies, must act to end Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza,“ Amnesty concluded, demanding the immediate release of all Palestinians arbitrarily detained, including healthcare workers. Hospitals and health workers, the organisation reiterated, are not legitimate targets.
WHO kritisiert Israels Militäreinsatz in Klinik scharf
Das Kamal-Adwan-Krankenhaus sei die letzte größere Gesundheitseinrichtung im Norden des Küstenstreifens gewesen und sei nun außer Betrieb, teilte die WHO auf X mit. Erste Berichte deuteten darauf hin, dass einige wichtige Abteilungen bei der Razzia stark verbrannt und zerstört worden seien.
Patienten in mittelschwerem bis schwerem Zustand seien ins zerstörte und nicht funktionstüchtige Indonesische Krankenhaus verlegt worden. Die Weltgesundheitsorganisation mache sich „große Sorgen um ihre Sicherheit“, hieß es.
Israeli airstrikes hit a Yemen airport as a jet with hundreds onboard was landing, UN official says
Immediately after the airstrikes, Harneis said, U.N. security officials moved the delegation out of the VIP building and into five armored cars where they waited for approximately 40 minutes to ascertain what happened and help the injured crew member.
He was taken to a hospital in Sanaa and underwent four hours of surgery while the rest of the delegation spent the night in a U.N. compound, Harneis said. The U.N. plane with Tedros and the U.N. team, including the injured crew member, was able to depart for Jordan on Friday afternoon – without an operating control tower.
The United Nations said the injured crew member was taken to a hospital in Jordan, and Tedros was heading back to Geneva, where WHO is based,
Statement by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General on the attack on the Sana‘a airport, Yemen
(December 26, 2024)
As we were about to board our flight from Sana’a, about three hours ago (around 5 pm local time), the airport came under aerial bombardment. One of our plane’s crew members was injured. At least two people were reported killed at the airport.
The air traffic control tower, the departure lounge — just a few meters from where we were — and the runway were damaged. We will need to wait for the damage to the airport to be repaired before we can leave.
„URBI ET ORBI“ MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS CHRISTMAS 2024
May the sound of arms be silenced in war-torn Ukraine! May there be the boldness needed to open the door to negotiation and to gestures of dialogue and encounter, in order to achieve a just and lasting peace.
May the sound of arms be silenced in the Middle East! In contemplating the Crib of Bethlehem, I think of the Christian communities in Palestine and in Israel, particularly the dear community in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is extremely grave. May there be a ceasefire, may the hostages be released and aid be given to the people worn out by hunger and by war. I express my closeness to the Christian community in Lebanon, especially in the south, and to that of Syria, at this most delicate time. May the doors of dialogue and peace be flung open throughout the region, devastated by conflict. Here I also think of the Libyan people and encourage them to seek solutions that enable national reconciliation.
Biden commutes most federal death row sentences to life in prison before Trump takes office
“President Biden has an opportunity to make history by addressing the racist and unjust federal death penalty system and keep an early campaign promise he made to the American people,” Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said this month after the ACLU and more than 130 other civil and human rights organizations sent Biden a letter urging him to commute the sentences of those on death row.
UN food agency warns 2 million in Gaza face severe hunger
The head of the World Food Programme (WFP), Cindy McCain, has warned that two million people in Gaza are suffering from “acute hunger” as humanitarian aid struggles to reach those in need.
In a post on X, McCain highlighted the dire situation, noting that last month only one-third of trucks carrying WFP aid managed to enter the besieged enclave.
Government has not been ‘hostile’ to Israel – Tánaiste
Mr Martin, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs, said supporting the ICJ and the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu, should not be viewed as a hostile act.
“Recognising a state of Palestine, which we did with Norway and Spain and which other countries have done, is not a hostile act, and should not be seen as a hostile act,” he said.
The actions of the Israeli army in northern Gaza, where there are daily reports of the killing of men, women and children, is “beyond any moral compass,” Mr Martin said.
The resignation of Christopher Wray is a great day for America as it will end the Weaponization of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice. I just don’t know what happened to him.
We will now restore the Rule of Law for all Americans. Under the leadership of Christopher Wray, the FBI illegally raided my home, without cause, worked diligently on illegally impeaching and indicting me, and has done everything else to interfere with the success and future of America. They have used their vast powers to threaten and destroy many innocent Americans, some of which will never be able to recover from what has been done to them.
FBI Director Chris Wray to resign following Trump nomination of Patel
Wray will leave before the end of the 10-year term that Trump himself appointed him to in 2017.
Syrian army command tells officers that Assad‘s rule has ended
The unnamed officer made the remarks to Reuters on Sunday after reports said President Assad had flown out of Damascus for an unknown destination.
Meanwhile, the militants declared that they had captured the capital, announcing the fall of the Assad government.
Syria Live Updates: Assad Has Resigned and Left Syria, Russia Says
President Bashar al-Assad’s immediate location was not initially clear after rebels took control of Syria’s capital. Russia’s Foreign Ministry did not provide details on where he had gone, saying only that he had resigned and left the country.
Kurdish civilians flee as Syrian conflict escalates in Aleppo, Tall Rifat
An official of the Autonomous Administration has informed the Agence-France Presse (AFP) that following the Turkish-backed armed groups’ takeover of Tall Rifat and the villages of the Shahba area, the Kurdish residents of those areas were forced to flee from their homes.
As the official disclosed, a group of displaced Kurds have arrived at the areas controlled by SDF.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) also declared that they will “attempt to move the displaced Kurds from Aleppo and its surroundings to areas under SDF’s control.”
Kurdish-led force in Syria says seeking to evacuate Kurds from Aleppo
(December 2, 2024)
Communications have been cut in Kurdish-majority areas, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, raising fears of possible “massacres” of Kurds.
(…)
“Following the collapse and withdrawal of the Syrian army and its allies, we intervened to establish a humanitarian corridor between our eastern regions, Aleppo, and the Tal Rifaat area, with the aim of protecting our people from potential massacres.
“However, the attacks of the armed groups backed by the Turkish occupation have disrupted this corridor.”
Abdi said despite the offensive, “our forces continue to resist to protect our people residing in the Kurdish neighborhoods of Aleppo.”
US military in Syria stands down as HTS drives back Assad regime, Kurdish forces
(December 2, 2024)
US troops are steering clear of the fight between Islamist opposition factions led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and forces aligned with the government of President Bashar al-Assad in northwest Syria, Pentagon officials said on Monday. That, despite advances by the rebels in also driving out local Kurdish-led forces from key pockets in Tel Rifaat and Aleppo.
“Let me be clear that the US is in no way involved in the operations you see playing out in and around Aleppo in northwestern Syria,” Defense Department press secretary US Air Force Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder told a group of reporters on Monday.
Gulf Cooperation Council summit‘s points on Gaza
– The council condemned Israel‘s aggression in Gaza, and said it reaffirmed its stance demanding an „immediate and permanent cessation of Israeli military operations“ and lifting the blockade on Gaza.
– The council said Israel bears „full responsibility“ for its targeting and assault on civilians in Gaza, and said these attacks were war crimes and crimes against humanity.
– The council welcomed the International Criminal Court‘s decision to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant.
– The council said Israel‘s ongoing war on Gaza is a part of „a genocide and ethnic cleansing agenda“, and condemned Israel‘s attacks on hospitals and on aid workers in Gaza.
GCC Summit in Kuwait urges immediate ceasefire, aid for Gaza
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders convened in Kuwait on Sunday, issuing a unified call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza amid „Israel‘s“ ongoing genocidal campaign.
The summit‘s final statement urged a complete halt to military operations, the delivery of humanitarian aid, and the establishment of safe corridors for civilians in the beleaguered Palestinian territory.
I am proud to announce that Kashyap “Kash” Patel will serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and “America First” fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending Justice, and protecting the American People. He played a pivotal role in uncovering the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, standing as an advocate for truth, accountability, and the Constitution.
Trump Says He Will Nominate Kash Patel to Run F.B.I.
President-elect Donald J. Trump said on Saturday that he wants to replace Christopher A. Wray, the F.B.I. director, with Kash Patel, a hard-line critic of the bureau who has called for shutting down the agency’s Washington headquarters, firing its leadership and bringing the nation’s law enforcement agencies “to heel.”
Trump says he‘ll fire FBI Director Christopher Wray, replace him with longtime ally Kash Patel
President-elect Donald Trump announced Saturday that he plans on firing FBI director Christopher Wray and replacing him with longtime ally Kash Patel.
The appointment must be approved by the Senate.
Lebanese MP: Hezbollah in ‚full cooperation‘ with army in south
Lebanese MP Hassan Fadlallah has said that Hezbollah is cooperating with the Lebanese state over bolstering the army‘s presence in the south, saying that the group has „no visible weapons or bases,“ AFP news agency is reporting.
According to the ceasefire agreement between the group and Israel which was implemented this morning, the Lebanese army can be the only armed presence in southern Lebanon.
Israel-Lebanon: Ceasefire an encouraging step for region exhausted by conflict
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is encouraged that a ceasefire has been agreed that would end the fighting and help bring some hope and stability to a region exhausted by conflict.
The ceasefire must be upheld and enforced across all levels of command to ensure much-needed respite for civilians on both sides of the border. It must also facilitate the rapid and unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid for civilians wherever they are.
UN welcomes ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Secretary-General António Guterres expressed hope that the agreement “can put an end to the violence, destruction and suffering the people of both countries have been experiencing.”
“The Secretary-General urges the parties to fully respect and swiftly implement all of their commitments made under this agreement,” the statement noted.
He also urged the parties to undertake immediate steps towards the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006).
“The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) both stand ready to support the implementation of this agreement, in line with their respective mandates,” the statement added.
Israel‘s Netanyahu says he approves Lebanon ceasefire deal with Hezbollah
US and Arab officials told Middle East Eye that under the agreement, Israeli forces will withdraw from south Lebanon.
Hezbollah has agreed to end its armed presence along the border and move heavy weapons north of the Litani River, the sources said.
The Lebanese army is expected to deploy in south Lebanon, with at least 5,000 troops set to patrol the border area along with an existing UN peacekeeping force.
Lebanon: UNIFIL concerned by attacks on Lebanese Armed Forces
The UN Interim Force Lebanon (UNIFIL) is also seriously concerned by numerous strikes on the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) despite their declared non-involvement in the hostilities, he added.
The LAF have reported that at least 45 soldiers have been killed in recent attacks.
Europe at Risk! Germany’s Defense Minister Urges Action Against Putin
To address these challenges, Germany plans to ramp up its defense capabilities:
– Accelerating Arms Production: The German government will unveil a new strategy to streamline bureaucracy and expedite the production of weapons by the end of the year.
– Leadership Role: Pistorius reiterated Germany’s commitment to becoming the central pillar of European defense, as he stated in September.
UK army chief: We’re ready to fight Putin in Eastern Europe
„If the British Army was asked to fight tonight, it would fight tonight,“ Rob Magowan, the deputy chief of the British defense staff, told the House of Commons defense committee. „I don‘t think anybody in this room should be under any illusion that if the Russians invaded Eastern Europe tonight, then we would meet them in that fight.“
The striking comments came as MPs asked Magowan Thursday how many British brigades could get to NATO‘s eastern flank in the event of a major escalation by Russia.
France Says Ukraine Can Fire French Long-Range Missiles Into Russia
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said in an interview published Saturday that Ukraine could fire French-provided long-range missiles into Russian territory following US and British authorization of such strikes.
France has provided Ukraine with its version of the British Storm Shadow missiles, known as SCALP missiles, which have a range of about 155 miles. Barrot told BBC that there are no “red lines” when it comes to France’s support of Ukraine and that Ukrainian forces could fire the missiles into Russia “in the logics of self-defense.”
Verantwortungslos!
(November 19, 2024)
Joe Biden genehmigt der Ukraine, mit amerikanischen Raketen Ziele in Russland zu beschießen. Damit riskiert er einen Weltkrieg.
Kurz vor der Amtsübergabe eskalieren die US-Demokraten nochmal. Ihnen scheint völlig egal zu sein, dass Kamala Harris auch wegen der Ukraine-Politik die Wahl verloren hat.
Hadash Backs ICC Decision: Netanyahu and Gallant Have to Pay for Destruction of Gaza and Mass Murder
(November 22, 2024)
All leaders of the Zionist parties slammed the International the ICC’s decision. “Israel is defending itself against terrorist organizations that attacked, murdered and raped our citizens. These arrest warrants are a reward for terrorism,” Zionists opposition leader MK Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) declared. The ICC’s decision constitutes “moral blindness and a shameful stain of historic proportion that will never be forgotten,” National Unity chief MK Benny Gantz, a former member of Netanyahu’s war cabinet, tweets.
Only Hadash (Demorcratic Front for Peace and Equality – Communist Party of Israel) ICC’s announcement. In a statement, Hadash declares “the ICC in The Hague decided based on clear evidence that the Gaza war is a war full of serious war crimes and crimes against humanity.” “Netanyahu and Gallant are responsible for the total destruction of Gaza and the mass murder of its residents. They must pay a price for it,” the Front states, calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza and Lebanon.
North Korean Troops Enter Kursk Where Ukrainians Are Fighting
(2 hours ago)
It is likely that about 11,000 North Korean troops have moved into Russia‘s Kursk region, said Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh, who spoke to the media today.
War in Gaza: we cannot continue with business as usual
(November 16, 2024)
What we see of the tragedy of Gaza is however only the tip of the iceberg since the strip has been sealed. There are hardly any journalists or international observers entering Gaza since more than one year. It is the longest information blackout ever imposed by a democratic state. In addition, there are reasons to believe that journalists have been targeted by Israeli Defence Forces. To this day more than 130 have been killed.
This pattern at play for too long in Gaza, is now being replicated elsewhere. In South Lebanon, some 30 villages have been obliterated – not as a result of heavy combat, but in a controlled way, posted on social media. In the West Bank, extremist settlers‘ violence is forcing many Palestinian farmers and herders off their land. Uprooted olive trees, killed or stolen livestock and torched vehicles, have become part of daily reality in many rural communities. Israeli airstrikes in Jenin and Tulkarem, the first in more than two decades, have added to the destruction of civilian infrastructure left behind by bulldozers earlier this year.
‘Unacceptable’ – British PM, Foreign Secretary Claim Israel Not Committing Genocide
Lammy recently alleged that the term genocide referred to “when millions of people lost their lives in crises like Rwanda, the Second World War in the Holocaust” and that using it to describe Gaza “now undermines (its) seriousness”.
(…)
“Will the Prime Minister share (Lammy’s) definition of genocide with this House?” the lawmaker asked Starmer.
The prime minister answered by saying that “it would be wise to start a question like that by reference to what happened in October of last year”.
“I’m well aware of the definition of genocide, and that is why I’ve never described this as and referred to it as genocide,” he added.
Iran pushes for Israel’s expulsion from UN and full arms embargo at Riyadh summit
He stated that these actions, alongside what he views as continuous aggression, warrant Israel‘s expulsion from the UN.
Gharibabadi concluded his remarks by calling for the reactivation of the UN‘s apartheid committee to address Israel’s systemic violations of international law and its expansion of conflicts across the region, including Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen.
Iran-initiated OIC-Arab League meeting aimed at ending Palestine, Lebanon crises: Vice president
“We hope to obtain valuable achievements in the field of providing aid to the displaced and victims of the Zionist regime’s attacks and crimes. Accordingly, we will enter the third stage of the measures. Iran as well as all Muslim and Arab states aim to secure a durable ceasefire in the region,” he underscored.
At the summit, Iranian delegates will present their viewpoints on the core issues affecting Palestine and Lebanon and emphasize the urgent need to end the war in West Asia, Aref stated.
Arab League‘s Assistant Secretary-General to QNA: Arab-Islamic Summit Aims to Come Up with Unified Vision to Stop Aggression on Gaza, Lebanon
His Excellency indicated that the summit will hold Israel fully responsible for what is happening in Gaza and Lebanon, in light of its violation of international law and international humanitarian law, while stressing that just peace and affirming the two-state solution in accordance with the political initiative launched by Saudi Arabia for the international coalition to implement the two-state solution, is the best option for settling the conflict in the Middle East and ensuring security and stability for all peoples of the region and protecting them from violence and wars, especially with the international recognition of Palestine by 149 countries, and support for its right to obtain full membership in the United Nations.
Statement of UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini to the United Nations General Assembly
I have three urgent requests to prevent this devastating outcome:
First, I ask that Member States act to prevent the implementation of the legislation against UNRWA.
Changes to UNRWA’s mandate are the prerogative of the General Assembly, not individual Member States.
Second, I ask that Member States ensure that any plan for a political transition delineates UNRWA’s role.
The Agency must progressively conclude its mandate within the framework of a political solution, and hand over its services to an empowered Palestinian administration.
Finally, I ask that Member States maintain funding to UNRWA, and do not withhold or divert funds on the assumption that the Agency can no longer operate.
The cost of providing critical services, including education and healthcare, during a transition will be immense.
I must also alert Member States that abruptly dismantling the Agency will cost more than half a billion dollars in staff separation indemnities alone.
At General Assembly, Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini urges Member States to defend UNRWA
(November 6, 2024)
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini addressed the UN General Assembly, describing a critical moment for the agency as new Israeli legislation threatens its operations. Lazzarini urged member states to oppose the legislation, support UNRWA’s continued operation, and ensure sustained funding to prevent a humanitarian disaster.
UNRWA urges UN General Assembly to protect agency to avoid ‘chaos’
(November 7, 2024)
“Without intervention by member states, UNRWA will collapse, plunging millions of Palestinians into chaos,” Philippe Lazzarini warned during a special session requested by Palestine after the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, passed on Monday two laws to ban the agency’s activity and any Israeli official’s contacts with it within three months.
Iran roundly dismisses claims of assassination plot targeting Trump
Baghaei said the repetition of such claims at this juncture is “a malicious conspiracy by Zionist and anti-Iranian circles aimed at further complicating the issues between the United States and Iran.”
It came after Trump was declared the winner of the presidential election on Wednesday. On July 13, Trump survived an assassination attempt, suffering only minor injury to his ear.
In August, Iran dismissed having any connection with a Pakistani individual allegedly arrested in the United States and charged with being behind a foiled plot to assassinate US politicians.
Amtierender Vizekanzler: Habeck will heute Kanzlerkandidatur bekannt geben
Nach dem Bruch der Ampelkoalition wollen die Grünen den amtierenden Vizekanzler und Wirtschaftsminister Robert Habeck als Kanzlerkandidaten aufstellen. Laut Informationen des ARD-Hauptstadtstudios will der 55-Jährige dies heute erklären.