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The Free Press in Israel: A Special Limited Series 6 March 2024 By: The Free Press You can’t cover a country at war over Zoom. So we went. And now we’re bringing the stories back to you on Honestly. By Candace Mittel Kahn “I don’t know if I should go,” I told my husband. It was a few days before I was supposed to fly from my home in Atlanta to Tel Aviv with Bari and a small team of Free Press producers to report on the war. I had the ticket. I am the executive producer of Honestly and I needed to be there. I just didn’t know if I could get on the plane. There were the practical reasons holding me back: I have two small children and I had never been away from them for anything close to an entire week. There were the safety concerns that kept me up at night: I am the kind of person who does not like to shower when I am alone in my house. I bring pepper spray with me wherever I go. But there were also intangible, existential things eating away at me. The last time I had been to Israel was a decade ago, when I lived in Jerusalem after college. I was young and hungry, and I devoured the country. I loved its motley cultures, the country’s ancient history, the way everyday people found a way to live inside one of the most contested pieces of land in the world. Israelis are often called sabras, after the thorny desert cactus: prickly, thick, harsh on the outside, but soft and sweet on the inside. I remember a man yelling at me on the bus one afternoon after I mistakenly took his seat. Minutes later, as my dates and grapes and tomatoes from the market spilled out of my bags, he helped pick them up. We happened to get off at the same stop, and he carried my heavy groceries for me all the way to my apartment. I also felt safe there, both in a practical sense (I would walk the streets alone late at night without hesitation) and also in a deeply emotional sense. I was safe in Israel as a Jew. And as the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors who once had no place to flee, I realized how precious and profound that feeling was. Now, months after Hamas invaded the country, I knew that Israel was gone. What I would find in its place, I didn’t know. But I went. I went because I wanted to know. The sun was just beginning to rise as we flew over the Mediterranean Sea and past the city-side beaches of Tel Aviv, but you couldn’t tell because it was an overcast and foggy morning. I looked at the in-flight map in front of me and I thought of the two redheaded boys—ages 1 and 4, the same age as my own children back home—who are being held as hostages by Hamas in Gaza. I thought: if only we could fly just a few more minutes south, we could reach them . We walked down the long hallway from the gate to customs and saw those two redheaded boys—on posters lining the walkway—along with hundreds of others, some already confirmed dead. We changed in the airport bathroom and headed directly to Kfar Aza, a kibbutz just four miles from Gaza. Of the 950 residents of that community, 63 were murdered, 18 were kidnapped, and six were severely injured on October 7. I had seen the videos and the pictures. I had even reported on the stories: within 48 hours of October 7, we had interviewed over a dozen people for Honestly . But that is different from standing in the home of a young couple who had been slaughtered. I looked up at the ceiling and saw hundreds of bullet holes. There was nowhere in the tiny, 400-square-foot home to hide. I noticed the spices—amba, cinnamon, salt—left on a small shelf above the kitchen sink and wondered what they had been planning to make for breakfast that morning. From there we went to the Nova music festival site where 364 civilians were murdered on October 7. We spoke to two young women who shouldn’t have survived but did. Michal recalled hiding under a tank for hours after she’d been shot: “They threw grenades at us. I lost my hearing. And it was just: wait for death. We all knew we were going to die. We just didn’t know which way and when.” “They came very fast,” Mazal, the other woman, told us about the moment the terrorists approached her and her two close friends. “Then, I felt a ‘boom’ in my head, and I fell to the floor. And I felt that someone put ropes on my legs. I felt his hands on me for at least a month after.” Mazal—her name means “luck”—made it. Her friends were murdered next to her. While they told us their stories in the same fields where their friends once lay dead, we heard the thundering of weapons just a few miles away. Those sounds, which were the backdrop of the day alongside the wind and the birds, reminded us that what happened here months ago is far from over. Over breakfast at our hotel in Jaffa the next morning, we met a young woman from Sderot and her two-year-old twins. The majority of the hotel was occupied not by beachside vacationers but by Israeli refugees who cannot return to their homes. I made peek-a-boo faces with the children when the mom pulled out her phone and showed me a picture. “This is my brother, Kobi,” she said. “He was murdered by Hamas on October 7. He was out for his morning run. He loved to run.” The two-year-olds giggled at our feet. She told me her brother was named after their uncle—also named Kobi—who was killed in the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago: October 10, 1973. “The same day as my brother’s funeral.” And that was just the first 24 hours. In the week that followed, we talked to people across the country. Everyone from former Soviet dissident Natan Sharansky . . . To Arab-Israeli Muslim journalist Lucy Aharish . . . From people who hate the Netanyahu government but nonetheless showed up as reservists without hesitation. . . To people who voted for Bibi and now want him—and his entire coalition—removed from power. . . From family members of hostages who can barely get out of bed each morning. . . To the soldiers who have no choice but to do so every day. . . From the son of one of Hamas’s founders who escaped the terror group in the West Bank and now calls Israel his home. . . To Palestinians in Ramallah who told us they supported the events of October 7. . . On our final evening in Tel Aviv, just a few hours before we were headed to the airport, rocket alert sirens sounded throughout the city. I was in the shower. Frantic, I grabbed the hotel robe and ran to the stairwell, which serves as the makeshift bomb shelter. I still had shampoo in my hair. As I heard the booms of the Iron Dome intercepting Hamas’s rockets, I thought about the Israelis on October 7 who also sought safety in their shelters, only to soon discover they were their slaughterhouses. And I thought about the civilians and children in Gaza who have no shelters at all. Hamas’s tunnel network is longer than the London Tube. But it’s reserved for terrorists—not innocents. If you would have told me before I left that I’d have to take cover in the hotel stairwell as a dozen rockets flew over my head, I might not have gone. I am so glad I did. For a journalist, nothing compares to reporting on the ground. There is so much to capture and discover that a phone call or a Zoom conversation simply cannot. I got back to Atlanta with some 30 hours of tape. And I got to work putting together the story of a people in mourning, a country at war, and a nation on the frontlines of a civilizational fight. <- Previous Read full article Next -> More Insights 7 Ways Hamas Exploits Palestinian Civilians in Gaza Antisemitism defined: Why opposing the Jewish people's right to self-determination is antisemitic What You Need to Know About Israel’s Humanitarian Aid To Gaza Fatah responds to Hamas criticism of new formation of PA government ‘without consulting Hamas’ Surprise jump in Gazan support for 2-state solution, while still in favor of Oct 7 attack Hamas' Most Horrific Weapon of War: 5 Takeaways from UN Report on Sexual Violence Against Israelis Latest Video Clips The History of Israel This Muslim Israeli Woman Is the Future of the Middle East Natasha Hausdorff responds to the content of the House of Commons Gaza Debate. Its time to face the hard truth that you're being played as a sacrificial fool by terrorists. Peace cannot be achieved with those who desire war and jihad instead. 'Awful Things Happening In Israel Nothing To Do With British Jews'

The Corruption-Fueled Wealth Gap in Gaza and the West Bank 23 February 2024 By: Mid East Journal Do Israelis really live in comfort and wealth as their Palestinian neighbors live in abject poverty? According to the United Nations , as the war in Gaza continues the poverty rate in Palestinian-controlled areas will continue to rise. The United Nations estimates the poverty rate among Palestinians rising by more than 34% and putting more than half a million people into poverty. The assumption is that gross domestic product has plummeted by 8.4%, a loss of $1.7 billion, and over 390,000 jobs have been lost due to the war. These numbers would normally be alarming and warn of dangerous poverty rates if not for the Palestinian claim that Palestinians living in Gaza and the West Bank have been living in poverty for decades. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, an official institution of the Palestinian Authority, the overall poverty rate among Palestinians was between 24 and 51%. The narrative of Palestinian poverty is decades old. New Facts Challenge the Old Assumption Around Widespread Poverty in Gaza The contrast is stark: poor Gazan neighborhoods with shack-like homes, contrasted with images of Gazan sea-side resorts, first-class malls, and luxury shops. For decades, the world was told Gaza was an open-air prison. NGOs like Human Rights Watch have reported that due to Israel’s closure of Gaza and the restrictions it placed on the Palestinians of Gaza since 2007, there was no path to economic advancement for the Palestinians. Many of the same claims have been made about Palestinian refugee camps in the West Bank. As Israel began its bombing of Gaza , and its soldiers began taking over large sections of Gazan neighborhoods, journalists had their first opportunity to freely report what they saw without Hamas intimidation and censorship . They reported about Gaza City’s upscale Rimal neighborhood, with its shopping malls, restaurants, residential buildings, and offices. Instead of another poor rundown neighborhood, the Gaza of wealth was revealed and documented. The Wealth Gap Among Palestinians Is Fueled by the Corruption of Palestinian Leadership Gaza is one of the world’s largest recipients of foreign aid . From 2014-2020, U.N. agencies spent nearly $4.5 billion in Gaza, including $600 million in 2020 alone. More than 80% of that funding is channeled through, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. Qatar has provided $1.3 billion in aid to Gaza since 2012 for construction, health services, and agriculture. That includes $360 million pledged in January for 2021 and another $500 million pledged for reconstruction after the Israel-Hamas war. Qatar’s aid also goes to needy families and to help pay Hamas government salaries. If billions of dollars have been deposited into Gaza over the past 10 years, why do so many reports of poverty come out of Gaza? The answer speaks to the corruption of Palestinian leadership . Khaled Mashaal, the leader of Hamas, is estimated to be worth over five billion dollars. Dr. Musa Abu Marzook, the number two man in Hamas, is reportedly worth two to three billion dollars. Hamas “Prime Minister” Ismail Haniyeh is also reported to be a billionaire. These men have been siphoning off foreign aid and charity meant for the people of Gaza to fund their own bank accounts and investments. The Palestinian Authorty’s Corruption Keeps Palestinians Poor As Israel fights its war against Hamas, President Biden and his administration are looking to “the day after” the fighting ends. In an op-ed he penned in November 2023, President Biden wrote, “As we strive for peace, Gaza and the West Bank should be reunited under a single governance structure, ultimately under a revitalized Palestinian Authority , as we all work toward a two-state solution.” President Biden and his administration frequently mention a revamped and revitalized Palestinian Authority because they are well aware of the corruption within the Palestinian Authority leadership. Today, 87 percent of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza believe that the Palestinian Authority is corrupt , 78 percent want Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to resign, and 62 percent believe that the Palestinian Authority is a liability to the Palestinian people. While Hamas’s leadership’s corruption was cited above, President Mahmoud Abbas hasn’t acted much differently. Abbas is reportedly worth over $100 million , even though he has never owned a business or invested well. Abbas, too, has seemingly stolen foreign aid meant for his people. The Palestinian people do not have to be poor, nor are Israel’s security policies the cause of Palestinian poverty. That there are wealthy Palestinians proves that wealth can be generated in Gaza and the West Bank. Financial corruption within the Palestinian leadership, both in the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, is the top impediment to Palestinian success and breaking out of the cycle of poverty. <- Previous Read full article Next -> More Insights 7 Ways Hamas Exploits Palestinian Civilians in Gaza Antisemitism defined: Why opposing the Jewish people's right to self-determination is antisemitic What You Need to Know About Israel’s Humanitarian Aid To Gaza Fatah responds to Hamas criticism of new formation of PA government ‘without consulting Hamas’ Surprise jump in Gazan support for 2-state solution, while still in favor of Oct 7 attack Hamas' Most Horrific Weapon of War: 5 Takeaways from UN Report on Sexual Violence Against Israelis Latest Video Clips The History of Israel This Muslim Israeli Woman Is the Future of the Middle East Natasha Hausdorff responds to the content of the House of Commons Gaza Debate. Its time to face the hard truth that you're being played as a sacrificial fool by terrorists. Peace cannot be achieved with those who desire war and jihad instead. 'Awful Things Happening In Israel Nothing To Do With British Jews'

Death of 2 more hostages: Kibbutz announces deaths of 2 Israeli hostages held in Gaza since October 7 17 January 2024 By: CNN Two Israeli men held hostage in Gaza since October 7 and featured in recent videos released by Hamas have died, according to statements from their home village Tuesday. Kibbutz Be’eri announced the deaths of Yossi Sharabi and Itai Svirsky in separate statements released with the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum headquarters. <- Previous Read full article Next -> More Insights 7 Ways Hamas Exploits Palestinian Civilians in Gaza Antisemitism defined: Why opposing the Jewish people's right to self-determination is antisemitic What You Need to Know About Israel’s Humanitarian Aid To Gaza Fatah responds to Hamas criticism of new formation of PA government ‘without consulting Hamas’ Surprise jump in Gazan support for 2-state solution, while still in favor of Oct 7 attack Hamas' Most Horrific Weapon of War: 5 Takeaways from UN Report on Sexual Violence Against Israelis Latest Video Clips The History of Israel This Muslim Israeli Woman Is the Future of the Middle East Natasha Hausdorff responds to the content of the House of Commons Gaza Debate. Its time to face the hard truth that you're being played as a sacrificial fool by terrorists. Peace cannot be achieved with those who desire war and jihad instead. 'Awful Things Happening In Israel Nothing To Do With British Jews'

Medicine and aid for Palestinians and hostages arrives in Gaza, Qatar foreign ministry says 17 January 2024 By: CNN Medicine and aid for Palestinians and the Israeli hostages have entered the Gaza Strip, according to Dr. Majed Al-Ansari, a spokesperson for the Qatari foreign ministry. "Over the past few hours, medicine & aid entered the Gaza Strip, in implementation of the agreement announced yesterday for the benefit of civilians in the Strip, including hostages. Qatar, along with its regional and international partners, continues mediation efforts at the political and humanitarian levels," Al-Ansari wrote on X, formerly Twitter, late Wednesday. Two Qatari Armed Forces aircraft carrying 61 tons of aid — including food and medicine —arrived in El Arish, Egypt, earlier Wednesday. The aid was provided by Qatar and France, according to Qatar's Foreign Ministry. Ansari said Wednesday Qatar and its regional and international partners are continuing mediation efforts at the political and humanitarian levels after the aid arrived in Gaza. The aid arrives after Qatar announced on Tuesday it brokered a deal between Israel and Hamas to allow medication into Gaza for Palestinians and Israeli hostages. France also took part in helping with the Qatari-led mediation, Qatar's foreign ministry has said. <- Previous Read full article Next -> More Insights 7 Ways Hamas Exploits Palestinian Civilians in Gaza Antisemitism defined: Why opposing the Jewish people's right to self-determination is antisemitic What You Need to Know About Israel’s Humanitarian Aid To Gaza Fatah responds to Hamas criticism of new formation of PA government ‘without consulting Hamas’ Surprise jump in Gazan support for 2-state solution, while still in favor of Oct 7 attack Hamas' Most Horrific Weapon of War: 5 Takeaways from UN Report on Sexual Violence Against Israelis Latest Video Clips The History of Israel This Muslim Israeli Woman Is the Future of the Middle East Natasha Hausdorff responds to the content of the House of Commons Gaza Debate. Its time to face the hard truth that you're being played as a sacrificial fool by terrorists. Peace cannot be achieved with those who desire war and jihad instead. 'Awful Things Happening In Israel Nothing To Do With British Jews'

10 Things to Know About the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) 11 January 2024 By: FDD The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) was established in 1949 to serve Palestinian refugees displaced during Israel’s War of Independence. UNRWA continues to operate in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan nearly 75 years later. The United States has contributed over $1 billion to UNRWA since 2021 even though the agency provides cover for terrorist activity and perpetuates the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 1. UNRWA perpetuates the Palestinian refugee problem The United Nations (UN) treats Palestinian refugees differently than refugees from every other conflict or circumstance. Specifically, UNRWA automatically registers the descendants of Palestinian refugees in perpetuity, which has led to explosive growth in its official number of clients. From an original number of around 700,000 refugees, there are now 5.9 million Palestinians registered with UNRWA, even though the vast majority did not flee the conflict. In 2021, then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated that fewer than 5 percent of UNRWA-registered “refugees” meet the criteria for the designation that the UN applies to refugees from other conflicts. By growing the refugee population and promoting Palestinian claims to Israeli land, UNRWA perpetuates and exacerbates the conflict. 2. UNRWA is a bloated agency with no authority to meaningfully solve the refugee issue With the exception of Palestinian refugees, all other refugees in the world fall under the responsibility of the United Nations Refugee Agency (also known as UNHCR), which has a mandate to assist refugees in “repatriation and resettlement” and “assimilation with new national communities.” The UN Refugee Agency has a staff of 18,000 to serve over 100 million people. By contrast, UNRWA employs 30,000 staff to service 5.9 million Palestinians. UNRWA admits that it “does not have a mandate to resettle Palestine refugees and has no authority to seek lasting durable solutions for refugees.” 3. Neighboring governments refused to resettle Arab refugees after Israel’s War of Independence Both Jews and Arabs fled their homes during and after Israel’s 1948 War of Independence. Following the war, Israel absorbed hundreds of thousands of Jewish refugees from Arab states who faced persecution and expulsion. However, due to the challenges of resettlement and the benefits of wielding the refugees as a future weapon against Israel, these same Arab states did not resettle a similar number of displaced Arabs. In 1949, the United Nations established UNRWA to serve Palestinian refugees. Although most of UNRWA’s original beneficiaries are no longer alive, the agency continues to operate in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. 4. UNRWA does not recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization In 1997, the United States designated Hamas as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, freezing its U.S.-based assets, barring members from entering the country, and banning the provision of “material support or resources.” Other countries and international entities that have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization include Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, Israel, the Organization of American States, Paraguay, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. However, UNRWA follows the guidelines of the United Nations Security Council Consolidated List of terrorist groups and individuals, which does not include Hamas. As such, the agency has a history of hiring Hamas affiliates. U.S. law forbids American funding for UNRWA to be used for “furnishing assistance” to terrorists, but there is no way to enforce this provision. 5. By delivering basic services, UNRWA frees up money for Hamas to spend on terrorism Despite the poverty experienced by Gaza residents, Hamas spends over half of its budget on military needs and diverts humanitarian resources to its terrorist purposes and the pockets of its senior leadership. By picking up the civilian tab, UNRWA frees up Hamas resources for terror operations. A Hamas official admitted as such on October 30, explaining that Hamas built hundreds of kilometers of tunnels to protect its fighters, while “it is the responsibility of the United Nations to protect [civilians].” Following the 2014 Gaza war, former Israeli National Security Advisor Maj. Gen. Yaakov Amidror explained that “when you look at what Hamas did with all the cement and the materials that went into Gaza for ‘building,’ and you see that most went on the tunnels, you understand that from their point of view the civilian side is not important.” 6. UNRWA schools radicalize Palestinian children The curriculum taught in UNRWA schools denies Israel’s legitimacy, incites antisemitism, and encourages violence and jihad. In a study published after the massacre of October 7, IMPACT-se — a research and policy organization that monitors education around the world — documented statements from more than a dozen UNRWA employees who publicly praised the atrocities. For example, as posted on the school’s official Facebook page on October 26, a teacher led elementary students in prayer to support the jihad warriors against the enemies of religion, i.e., Israel. IMPACT-se also identified more than 100 UNRWA employees who promoted hatred and violence on social media prior to the attack. 7. Hamas manipulates UNRWA’s Gaza operations Hamas has built tunnels underneath UNRWA schools in Gaza for years, using students as human shields. On November 8, Israeli forces destroyed a Hamas terror tunnel adjacent to an UNRWA-administered school in the Gaza Strip. Further, the group stores rockets inside UNRWA schools and uses school grounds as launchpads for attacks. UNRWA leadership also clamps down on employees whose statements reflect well on Israel or poorly on Hamas. For example, UNRWA recalled its Gaza chief in 2021 after he publicly acknowledged that Israel carried out “precise” and “sophisticated” strikes in order to avoid civilian casualties. Similarly, just weeks after the October 7 massacre, UNRWA reported Hamas officials were removing fuel and medical equipment from an UNRWA facility in Gaza City. Yet the agency quickly deleted the information, likely under pressure from Hamas authorities. 8. UNRWA facilities provide a haven for violence outside the Gaza Strip Violence erupted in an UNRWA refugee camp in southeast Lebanon in July 2023 when tit-for-tat shootings killed an Islamist militant and five members of Hamas’s main rival, Fatah. Fatah is a major Palestinian political party led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Bloody street battles continued into August, killing 13 Palestinians and displacing an additional 2,000. UNRWA’s Jenin Camp in the West Bank is also a locus of terrorism, frequented by Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other local armed groups. 9. UNRWA management has a history of scandal Reports surfaced in 2019 of “credible and corroborated” corruption allegations against senior UNRWA personnel. In an internal review that leaked to the press, UNRWA detailed “sexual misconduct, nepotism, retaliation, discrimination, and other abuses of authority” among its top brass. UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krahenbuhl resigned in the aftermath of an internal investigation. The scandal prompted Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands to suspend their funding. UNRWA has no board of directors to ensure accountability and prevent corruption within the agency. Krahenbuhl won appointment last month as global head of the Red Cross, another indicator of impunity. 10. The United States has contributed over $7 billion to UNRWA Between 1950 and 2018, U.S. taxpayers contributed about $6 billion to UNRWA. The United States cut funding to UNRWA in 2018 at the direction of President Donald Trump, labeling the agency “irredeemably flawed.” President Joe Biden unconditionally resumed funding UNRWA in 2021, delivering $1 billion over three years, making the United States once again UNRWA’s single largest donor. <- Previous Read full article Next -> More Insights 7 Ways Hamas Exploits Palestinian Civilians in Gaza Antisemitism defined: Why opposing the Jewish people's right to self-determination is antisemitic What You Need to Know About Israel’s Humanitarian Aid To Gaza Fatah responds to Hamas criticism of new formation of PA government ‘without consulting Hamas’ Surprise jump in Gazan support for 2-state solution, while still in favor of Oct 7 attack Hamas' Most Horrific Weapon of War: 5 Takeaways from UN Report on Sexual Violence Against Israelis Latest Video Clips The History of Israel This Muslim Israeli Woman Is the Future of the Middle East Natasha Hausdorff responds to the content of the House of Commons Gaza Debate. Its time to face the hard truth that you're being played as a sacrificial fool by terrorists. Peace cannot be achieved with those who desire war and jihad instead. 'Awful Things Happening In Israel Nothing To Do With British Jews'

Search Our Video and Insights Database Explore our rich database of videos and insights. Dive into a world of information with the freedom to search through an extensive collection of video clips and articles. From detailed analyses and eyewitness accounts to expert discussions, our content provides a comprehensive perspective on the October 7th events and their aftermath. Discover, learn, and gain deeper understanding with every search. View More

A Stop Before Rafah Is a Stop Before Victory 23 February 2024 By: The Wall Street Journal Opinion: Hamas can’t be left intact in Gaza to prepare more massacres in Israel. President Biden is feeling the pressure of the 2024 election from the left of his Democratic Party and Michigan voters, who are pushing him to abandon his support for Israel after the Oct. 7 massacre. He has called the current drive in southern Gaza “over the top” and is urging a “temporary cease-fire” that he would like to end in a more permanent cease-fire (“Rafah Is Crucial to a Hamas Defeat ,” Review & Outlook, Feb. 15). Hamas has been squeezed down to the “red zone” in Gaza, with Rafah as its last stronghold. To pause now in fear of civilian casualties, even though Israel does everything to minimize collateral damage, would be to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. It would be comparable to calling for a cease-fire in World War II after the many casualties of the Battle of the Bulge, leaving Hitler, the Wehrmacht and the Third Reich intact rather than pressing on to Berlin. Hamas and its leader, Yahya Sinwar, are on the run. They are hoping to get bailed out with a cease-fire by the U.S., European Union and United Nations, and then rebuild to cause future massacres and mayhem. Mr. Biden can’t let this happen. Fred Ehrman New York Getting the Israeli hostages back and winning the war against Hamas aren’t two separate issues. Israel must destroy Hamas to bring the hostages home. If Israel doesn’t win the war, murdering, kidnapping and blaming the victim for fighting back will become a very effective war strategy. As you aptly point out, “The question is why the Biden administration is cooperating.” Judy Stephenson <- Previous Read full article Next -> More Insights 7 Ways Hamas Exploits Palestinian Civilians in Gaza Antisemitism defined: Why opposing the Jewish people's right to self-determination is antisemitic What You Need to Know About Israel’s Humanitarian Aid To Gaza Fatah responds to Hamas criticism of new formation of PA government ‘without consulting Hamas’ Surprise jump in Gazan support for 2-state solution, while still in favor of Oct 7 attack Hamas' Most Horrific Weapon of War: 5 Takeaways from UN Report on Sexual Violence Against Israelis Latest Video Clips The History of Israel This Muslim Israeli Woman Is the Future of the Middle East Natasha Hausdorff responds to the content of the House of Commons Gaza Debate. Its time to face the hard truth that you're being played as a sacrificial fool by terrorists. Peace cannot be achieved with those who desire war and jihad instead. 'Awful Things Happening In Israel Nothing To Do With British Jews'

We Are Paying The Price For 17 Years Of Hamas Policies; Al-Jazeera TV Wants The Bloodshed To Continue 13 March 2024 By: MEMRI Brussels-Based Palestinian Activist Amjad AbuKoush: We Are Paying The Price For 17 Years Of Hamas Policies; Al-Jazeera TV Wants The Bloodshed To Continue So It Can Garner More Viewers And More 'Likes'; Qatar Has Taken Over Palestinian Decision-Making Brussels-based Palestinian activist Amjad AbuKoush posted a video on his Facebook page on March 7, 2024, in which he voiced severe criticism of Hamas, Al-Jazeera, and Qatar. He said that Palestinians are paying the price for Hamas's policies throughout the past 17 years. AbuKoush said that Hams has declared that this is a "victorious" war for the liberation of Jerusalem, but its maximal demands in its negotiations are that Israel withdraws from Gaza and the Strip is rebuilt, while Israel was not in Gaza prior to the war and the Strip did not need rebuilding then. He added that Hamas gave the "filthiest and lowest occupation in history" a pretext because of their "stupidity." AbuKoush continued to say that both Netanyahu and Hamas have no incentive to reach an agreement. He slammed Hamas for creating a "chasm" with Arab countries, such as Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, which cannot be expected to support Hamas now after they were treated poorly by Hamas. AbuKoush said that it seems as though Al-Jazeera does not want the bloodshed to stop. He added that Qatar is a small county that gains its role in the world by appropriating Palestinian decision-making and that the only way to sustain its role is with more Palestinian blood. AbuKoush said: "As Palestinians, we have the right to reject this, we have the right to say: Stop it, you bastards!" Amjad AbuKoush: "Two million 'prisoners' in the Gaza Strip have become cheap commodity in this 'bid' between Netanyahu and the Hamas movement, who use them as a bargaining chip against one another – Netanyahu by killing them, and Hamas by peddling their blood. Nobody cares about them." "When the negotiations end, the Israeli delegation returns to Tel Aviv, which is stable and safe and is not surrounded by the Al-Qassam army, in what some people are trying to portray as a 'war of liberation.' On the other hand, the Hamas delegation returns to Tukey, Qatar, and Lebanon. They do not feel the pains of displacement and hunger. So why would they reach an agreement? Both sides are just waiting to reach their goals. Netanyahu wants to consolidate his rule in Israel, and Hamas wants to consolidate its rule in the Gaza Strip." "Today, we are paying the real price for Hamas's policy throughout 17 years, in which it has lost us the [sympathy] of the entire world. How can we persuade the Egyptian citizens [to support us] after we opposed their revolution, raised the Muslim Brotherhood slogans, and in the shedding of the blood of Egyptian citizens and soldiers – how can we persuade them to support us?" "How can we persuade the Syrian citizens to support us, after having described their number-one murderer, Qasem Soleimani, as the 'martyr of Jerusalem?' How can we persuade the Saudi citizens to support us, after we blessed the Houthis when they bombed Mecca? How can we persuade all these countries [to support us] today?" "Because of Hamas's policy, we have created a real chasm with these countries. How can we persuade Emirati or Bahraini citizens to [support us]? When they traveled to Jerusalem, they were pelted with shoes, for being 'normalizers,' but when a Turkish or Qatari cabinet member would come, they were welcome as Islamic conquerors." "These double standards and this duplicity in rhetoric and in our relations with others – today, we are paying their price." "Over whom does [Hamas] want to rule? Over the rubble in the Gaza Strip? Will it rule over citizens who have turned into ghosts, because of a war that has already lasted more than five months, because of the pretext provided by [Hamas's] stupidity. Hamas presented this as a war for the liberation of Jerusalem, a war that has to do with the liberation of Palestine, and in which Hamas is victorious, but its maximal demands right now are to return to how things were done before the war." "You demand the withdrawal of the Israeli army, but the Israeli army was not in Gaza. You demand reconstruction, but there was no destruction beforehand. And then, they say that now people support Palestine, which is back in the limelight. Seriously? All this bloodshed so that someone in California or in London would chant slogans in our support?" " Then the 'great' Al-Jazeera TV comes along, and says: 'Why isn't the West Bank participating? Where is the West Bank is this war?' It seems that five months of annihilation are not enough for Al-Jazeera TV, in its efforts to garner as much viewers and like-clicks as possible. It seems that they need to be repeated in another Palestinian territory." "It seems that Al-Jazeera TV does not want the bloodshed to stop." "Qatar is a small country that gains its role by appropriating Palestinian decision-making, and by taking custody over the Palestinian blood. It seems that the role played by Qatar can only be sustained with more blood. As Palestinians, we have the right to reject this, we have the right to say: 'Stop it, you bastards!' <- Previous Read full article Next -> More Insights 7 Ways Hamas Exploits Palestinian Civilians in Gaza Antisemitism defined: Why opposing the Jewish people's right to self-determination is antisemitic What You Need to Know About Israel’s Humanitarian Aid To Gaza Fatah responds to Hamas criticism of new formation of PA government ‘without consulting Hamas’ Surprise jump in Gazan support for 2-state solution, while still in favor of Oct 7 attack Hamas' Most Horrific Weapon of War: 5 Takeaways from UN Report on Sexual Violence Against Israelis Latest Video Clips The History of Israel This Muslim Israeli Woman Is the Future of the Middle East Natasha Hausdorff responds to the content of the House of Commons Gaza Debate. Its time to face the hard truth that you're being played as a sacrificial fool by terrorists. Peace cannot be achieved with those who desire war and jihad instead. 'Awful Things Happening In Israel Nothing To Do With British Jews'

New details emerge of UNRWA employees accused of participating in Oct. 7 massacre 29 January 2024 By: i24 News The report reveals parts of the intelligence dossier provided by Israel proving the connection between the UN employees and their involvement in the attack. A school counselor accused of being a hostage taker. A social worker accused of distributing ammunition. Both of them were employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), and are among 12 people accused of working for the UN agency for Palestinians who allegedly took part in the October 7 massacre. According to the intelligence dossier detailing the allegations obtained by several media outlets, at least 12 UNRWA employees were had to do with the October 7 attack, while around 10% of Palestinian aid agency’s 12,000 staff in Gaza has links to "Islamist militant groups," said The Wall Street Journal . Meanwhile, the report by The New York Times suggested that Israeli intelligence services were able to determine the UNRWA workers' participation in the attack by tracking their phones, which appeared to have been used within Israel on that day. The report, published late Sunday, added that Israel also tracked phone calls within Gaza in which the suspects discussed their involvement in the Hamas attack. Additionally, three people are said to have received "text messages ordering them to report to muster points" on October 7, and one person is said to have been instructed to "bring rocket-propelled grenades stored at his home." The report provides examples of some of the most detailed accusations, including a school counselor from Khan Younis in southern Gaza who is "accused of working with his son to abduct a woman from Israel." Another suspect is described as a "social worker from Nuseirat in central Gaza is accused of helping to bring the body of a dead Israeli soldier to Gaza, as well as distributing ammunition and coordinating vehicles on the day of the attack." The UNRWA workers were accused of helping Hamas to stage and perpetrate the October 7 attack that killed 1,200 people in Israel and set off the war in Gaza. The allegations resulted in the United Nations (UN) firing at least nine of the 12 accused employees, while a number of countries , including the United States and the European Union (EU), suspended their funding for the agency amid the accusations, despite the severe humanitarian situation within the enclave. UN Secretary General António Guterres on Sunday said he was "horrified by these accusations." He added that the UNRWA services might need to be reduced beginning in February as a result of budget shortfalls. The agency’s commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini on Saturday defended UNRWA's mission, stating that that “it would be immensely irresponsible to sanction an agency and an entire community it serves because of allegations of criminal acts against some individuals, especially at a time of war, displacement and political crises in the region." "The lives of people in Gaza depend on this support, and so does regional stability,” added Lazzarini. The NYT report noted that Israeli officials on Sunday expressed their concerns "about whether their accusations might in the end make their own position more difficult, according to three officials involved in the discussion." Relevant links: ‘UNRWA has perpetuated the refugee reality rather than prepare the ground for the recognition of Israel’ Vice President of @JISS_Israel ,@EranLerman , examines the future prospects for Gaza after Western countries defund UNRWA due to its involvement in the October 7th massacre (Go to video ) UNRWA has become an indistinguishable arm of Hamas and an incubator for relentless antisemitism and incitement. Its staff even participated in the Oct 7 massacre. #defundUNRWA now and abolish it altogether once and for all." (Go to Video ) <- Previous Read full article Next -> More Insights 7 Ways Hamas Exploits Palestinian Civilians in Gaza Antisemitism defined: Why opposing the Jewish people's right to self-determination is antisemitic What You Need to Know About Israel’s Humanitarian Aid To Gaza Fatah responds to Hamas criticism of new formation of PA government ‘without consulting Hamas’ Surprise jump in Gazan support for 2-state solution, while still in favor of Oct 7 attack Hamas' Most Horrific Weapon of War: 5 Takeaways from UN Report on Sexual Violence Against Israelis Latest Video Clips The History of Israel This Muslim Israeli Woman Is the Future of the Middle East Natasha Hausdorff responds to the content of the House of Commons Gaza Debate. Its time to face the hard truth that you're being played as a sacrificial fool by terrorists. Peace cannot be achieved with those who desire war and jihad instead. 'Awful Things Happening In Israel Nothing To Do With British Jews'

October 7th October 7th Impact on the West Antisemitism United Nations Women's Organizations In the Streets Media Education

NYU Professor Tells Students of Hamas Atrocities: ‘We Know It’s Not True’ 22 January 2024 By: The Free Press Meet Amin Husain. Amin is an adjunct professor at NYU, where he has taught a course on “art and activism.” He also gave a talk last month at The New School, where he denied some of Hamas’s recent atrocities in Israel. Video obtained by The Free Press shows Husain speaking at a “teach-in” organized by Students for Justice in Palestine at The New School. “We know it’s not true,” he says of evidence that women were raped and babies were beheaded on October 7. During his speech on the “Palestinian liberation struggle,” Husain also declares that New York is a “Zionist city” and jokes that he has “won the honors of antisemitic multiple times.” In other words, Husain is exactly the sort of person who should be molding young minds at $60,000-per-year NYU. Amin Husain, an adjunct professor at NYU, denied reports that Hamas beheaded babies and raped women in Israel, stating at an event at The New School on December 5, "We know it’s not true." He referred to New York as a "Zionist city" and joked about being labeled antisemitic, referencing a petition calling for his dismissal. At the event, organized by Students for Justice in Palestine, Husain, known for his activism, discussed the "Palestinian liberation struggle." Husain's profile on Canary Mission, a site documenting people and groups promoting hatred of the USA, Israel, and Jews, mentions his involvement in violent disruptions in New York City, promoting hatred of America and the police, and inciting hatred against pro-Israel supporters with an anti-Israel activist group. He has expressed support for Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, both designated as terrorist organizations by various countries. In a video, Husain praises "Islamic resistance movements," including Fatah, and talks about the right of these groups to fight for their people's liberation. He encourages people to read Hamas's 2017 charter, which states that its conflict is with the Zionist project, not Jews because of their religion. Husain, born in the West Bank, has boasted of participating in the First Intifada. He taught a course at NYU's Gallatin School of Individualized Study called Art, Activism, and Beyond, focusing on activist movements. He is also an adjunct professor at The New School of Public Engagement. The New School stated that Husain has not been affiliated with the university since 2019 but has been invited to speak by the campus's SJP. NYU spokesperson John Beckman indicated that Husain is not currently teaching at NYU. Husain also spoke at a November 17 event about a trip to the Middle East before Hamas's invasion of Israel, killing at least 1,200. He emphasized the importance of not denouncing groups and considering the complexities of the Israel-Palestine conflict. His group, Decolonize This Place, is known for disruptive tactics, including a 2020 protest causing over $100,000 in damages in New York City. Sofie Braun, a Jewish student at The New School, expressed disappointment that Husain was hosted by the university, considering its history of supporting Jewish people, particularly during the 1930s. <- Previous Read full article Next -> More Insights 7 Ways Hamas Exploits Palestinian Civilians in Gaza Antisemitism defined: Why opposing the Jewish people's right to self-determination is antisemitic What You Need to Know About Israel’s Humanitarian Aid To Gaza Fatah responds to Hamas criticism of new formation of PA government ‘without consulting Hamas’ Surprise jump in Gazan support for 2-state solution, while still in favor of Oct 7 attack Hamas' Most Horrific Weapon of War: 5 Takeaways from UN Report on Sexual Violence Against Israelis Latest Video Clips The History of Israel This Muslim Israeli Woman Is the Future of the Middle East Natasha Hausdorff responds to the content of the House of Commons Gaza Debate. Its time to face the hard truth that you're being played as a sacrificial fool by terrorists. Peace cannot be achieved with those who desire war and jihad instead. 'Awful Things Happening In Israel Nothing To Do With British Jews'

Former Lebanese President Michel Aoun Criticizes Hizbullah: One Party Cannot Make Decisions About A Conflict With Israel; Lebanon Has No Obligation To Defend Gaza 24 February 2024 By: MEMRI Former Lebanese President Michel Aoun criticized Hizbullah in a February 19, 2024 interview with OTV [Lebanon], saying that "one party cannot make the decision about a conflict all by itself ." He continued: " We have a government that claims to be the ruler, but in fact, it is not. " Aoun stated that the Lebanese front with Israel should not be linked with Gaza, because Lebanon has no agreement to defend Gaza, he suggested that " perhaps the Arab League could do something. " Interviewer 1: "What are Lebanon's limits in the conflict with Israel? To what extent should Lebanon enter the conflict with Israel? Some think we should fight to the end in support of Gaza, while others say that our southern border is where our national sovereignty ends. Michel Aoun: "A section of the Lebanese people has made a decision, all by itself, whereas the other Lebanese are not a party to this. The government is silent. It does not take a clear stand. This reflects helplessness rather than resolve." Interviewer 2: "Are you against linking the Lebanese front to the Gaza front?" Aoun: "Yes. We have no treaty with Gaza. Lebanon is not connected to Gaza by an agreement, so…" Interviewer 1: "We have no mutual defense agreement [with Gaza]…" Aoun: "Perhaps the Arab League could have done something." Interviewer 2: "But some people say that if Lebanon had not intervened in that war, its turn would have come, sooner or later, so this is more of a preemptive move than an act of support for Gaza." Aoun: "This is just an opinion. There are not indications of this. Perhaps instead of pushing the danger away from us, getting into this war only aggravates it." Interviewer 2: "In light of this, who gets to decide? Some people say one thing and other people say the opposite." Aoun: "The people who are fighting are calling the shots. The man who entered this war is the one who makes the decisions, as long as the Lebanese government does not make as decision, on behalf of the Lebanese people. You can see it. The [mediators] are in touch with Hizbullah." Interviewer 2: "So everything has to be on the table in all future discussions." Aoun: "First of all, it has to be on the Lebanese table. One party cannot make decision about a conflict like this all by itself. We have a government that claims to be the ruler, but in fact, it is not." <- Previous Read full article Next -> More Insights 7 Ways Hamas Exploits Palestinian Civilians in Gaza Antisemitism defined: Why opposing the Jewish people's right to self-determination is antisemitic What You Need to Know About Israel’s Humanitarian Aid To Gaza Fatah responds to Hamas criticism of new formation of PA government ‘without consulting Hamas’ Surprise jump in Gazan support for 2-state solution, while still in favor of Oct 7 attack Hamas' Most Horrific Weapon of War: 5 Takeaways from UN Report on Sexual Violence Against Israelis Latest Video Clips The History of Israel This Muslim Israeli Woman Is the Future of the Middle East Natasha Hausdorff responds to the content of the House of Commons Gaza Debate. Its time to face the hard truth that you're being played as a sacrificial fool by terrorists. Peace cannot be achieved with those who desire war and jihad instead. 'Awful Things Happening In Israel Nothing To Do With British Jews'