bannork

You have to learn to distinguish between Hamas and the Palestinian people. People and Western governments are condemning Israel for its continued food blockade and air attacks on Gaza, resulting in countless civilian deaths. Quoting jihadists and anti semitism is irrelevant to the issue at hand which is Israel's ruthless, intentional disregard for civilian lives in Gaza

Yisrael Beytenu head Avigdor Liberman’s leak on Wednesday that Israel was arming a gang in Gaza opposed to Hamas was meant to shock. The immediate reaction was disbelief that Israel would hand over weapons – reportedly captured from Hamas – to a criminal gang in Rafah with past ties to ISIS in Sinai. Is it bad to back a group opposed to Hamas? Repeating old mistakes: Arming our enemies' enemy is never a long term fix An interesting article above that talks about Israel's funding of rebel groups in the Syrian war to prevent ISIS and Iran-backed terrorists from reaching the Israeli border. It can be argued, the author says, that these moves were successful. However, another example was Israel’s attempts in the early 1980s to let Hamas grow as a charitable organization to counterweight Fatah. (Many will argue Netanyahu feared Palestinian unity and the creation of a Palestinian state, thus he did everything to create disunity between Fatah and Hamas.) The author argues the decision to support Yasser Abu Shabab to counter Hamas may make sense in the short term but the jury is certainly out regarding the long term.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched through the streets of Rome on Saturday against the war in Gaza in a protest called by Italy's main opposition parties, who accuse the right-wing government of being too silent. Protesters held a banner reading “Stop the massacre, stop complicity!” at the start of the march, which moved peacefully through the center of Rome amid a massive display of rainbow, Palestinian and political party flags. The protest attracted a diverse crowd from across the country, including many families with children. Thousands of demonstrators march through Rome to call for an immediate end to the war in Gaza

All those bottles of champagne that party members cracked open in delight at his departure, will now have to be resealed, lol.

Israeli forces killed at least 36 Palestinians on Saturday, according to Gaza's civil defence agency, six of them after they opened fire near a US-backed aid distribution centre where thousands of Gazans have been gathering daily since May to receive humanitarian aid. The shooting deaths were the latest reported near the aid centre run by the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF) in the southern district of Rafah and came after it resumed distributions following a brief suspension in the wake of similar deaths earlier this week. An aid boat with 12 activists on board, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, was meanwhile nearing Gaza in a bid to highlight the plight of Palestinians in the face of an Israeli blockade that has only been partially eased. Israeli fire kills more than 35 Palestinians, including several near Gaza aid centre

At least dozens of Palestinians were killed near aid distribution sites in Gaza since the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation started operating in the enclave late last month. “We don’t know who’s exactly doing the shooting right now, it could be Hamas, it could be one of these Islamist militias we’ve recently found out Israel is backing with arms, or it could be the Israeli army”, FRANCE 24’s Noga Tarnopolsky said, adding that the situation is “some sort of impasse and anarchy, and people who need the aid are just not getting it”. Shootings at Gaza aid distribution sites: Situation an ‘impasse’, ‘anarchy’ | Watch

A crippling 2025 for Palestinians in the West Bank has seen 14 children among 80 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the north of the territory alone. Far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich warned Israel would “not stop until the entire area receives its full legal status and becomes an inseparable part of the State of Israel,” a lucid illustration of the aggressive pro-settlement policies of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. “Israel must immediately halt illegal practices leading to the forced displacement of Palestinians, including attacks on residential areas, destruction of property and infrastructure, pervasive access and movement restrictions imposed on Palestinians,” Amnesty International said on Thursday in a statement marking Naksa Day, as it accused Israel of presiding over a “ruthless system of apartheid”. ‘Let down by a world that claims to be humane but does nothing’: Palestinians speak out as Israeli bulldozers raze West Bank villages

Ukraine targeted a Russian fuel depot situated near to a strategic bomber air base overnight. Pictures on social media showed the Engels oil refinery, based in Saratov Oblast in western Russia, engulfed in flames. The oil refinery is situated near one of Russia’s key airfields, housing long-range bombers including the Tu-95 and Tu-160. Ukraine hits Russian fuel depot near strategic bomber airbase

Ex-Russian President and Security Council deputy head Dmitry Medvedev Dmitry Medvedev has offered to act as a peace-dealing broker. Putin's crony pleaded with them not to keep on fighting and even threw in a cheeky caveat for payment. "We are ready to facilitate the conclusion of a peace deal between D and E for a reasonable fee and to accept Starlink shares as payment. Don't fight, guys!," he wrote online. Donald Trump and Elon Musk mocked by Putin's pal offering to 'facilitate peace'

At the initiative of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), more than 130 international news outlets and press freedom groups – including FRANCE 24, RFI and Monte Carlo Doualiya – on Thursday issued a joint appeal calling for the “immediate, independent and unrestricted” access to Gaza for international journalists. They also called for the “full protection” of the Palestinian journalists working there. Nearly 200 journalists have been killed by the Israeli army in Gaza over the past 20 months. Open letter from international media and press freedom groups on access to Gaza: FRANCE 24, RFI among 130 press groups calling for ‘immediate’ access to Gaza, journalist protection

Aid needs to reach the people of Gaza “at speed and at volume”, Sir Keir Starmer has said, describing the current situation as “utterly intolerable”. The UK backed a UN Security Council resolution calling for Israel to lift restrictions on aid, but the move was vetoed by Donald Trump’s US. The Prime Minister called for the restoration of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the release of the remaining hostages being held by the group. Starmer steps up call for aid to flow into Gaza after US vetoes UN resolution

BERLIN (Reuters) -German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul criticized Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip at a press conference with his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar in Berlin on Thursday, again calling for more humanitarian aid to be allowed into the enclave. "That is also the prevailing international law," he said. Wadephul also decried the Israeli government's announcement that it would allow 22 more settlements in the West Bank, saying it threatened the two-state solution further. German foreign minister tells Israel to allow more aid into Gaza

Brazil joins in in condemning Israel's actions in Gaza. Brazil's President Lula da Silva was at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Thursday in a bid to persuade President Macron to back an EU trade deal with South America's Mercosur bloc. But his mind was on the Middle East and he used a speech at the palace to denounce Israel's Gaza offensive as 'genocide.'

It amazed me that Reform had a Muslim as its chairman, Zia Yusuf. Clever really as not are his admin skills widely admired, but it provided an opportunity for Reform to reach out to the Muslim community and claim it was a party open to all, though I wouldn't have thought many Muslims would be expected to support Reform, a party with a large percentage of avowed racists. Still, bringing up banning the burqa in Parliament when it wasn't even party policy yet proved too much for the chair though some say he was on the way out anyway as he 'struggled with relationships', lol. There should be a debate about the burqa but it's hardly a burning issue, though it was amusing to hear Richard Tice saying 8 EU countries have fully or partially banned it so the UK should look into it.

Gang ‘of about 100 armed men’ operate in eastern Rafah with tacit approval of IDF in apparent attempt to counter Hamas Israel’s government has been accused of arming a Palestinian criminal gang whose members have allegedly looted humanitarian aid, in an apparent attempt to counter Hamas in Gaza. Satellite images and videos verified by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz showed on Thursday that a new Palestinian militia has expanded its presence in southern Gaza, and is operating inside an area under the direct control of the Israel Defense Forces. Israel accused of arming Palestinian gang who allegedly looted aid in Gaza | Gaza | The Guardian

Explosions were reported near Bryansk Airport overnight on June 6, with preliminary reports suggesting that Ukrainian forces targeted and destroyed several Russian missile systems ahead of a planned strike on Ukraine. According to early accounts circulating on social media, the targets may have included Iskander missile launchers, a stockpile of Iskander missiles, a transport aircraft delivering additional munitions, and other military assets stationed at the airport. Analysts suggest the attack may have disrupted an imminent Russian missile strike. Ukrainian Drones Hit Russian Missile Launchers Near Airport

No love lost between Maga and tech bros. Musk has US citizenship but will that deter the boys from ICE in full camouflage gear and hidden identities from turning up at his door? According to a Thursday report by the New York Times' Tyler Pager, Steve Bannon – who went from being Trump's 2016 campaign chairman to Trump's official White House chief strategist during his first term – wants his former boss to send the world's richest man back to South Africa. The MAGA podcaster told the Times that he was convinced that Musk's immigration status should be scrutinized. "They should initiate a formal investigation of his immigration status because I am of the strong belief that he is an illegal alien, and he should be deported from the country immediately," Bannon said. 'He is an illegal alien': MAGA leader calls on Trump to deport Musk 'immediately'

Elon Musk says Donald Trump appears in files relating to the disgraced paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein as the pair dramatically fall out in a public spat. The Tesla boss gave no evidence for the claim but it comes after the US President said he is “disappointed” with Elon Musk for publicly criticising his signature tax bill. In a post on his on his social platform X, the billionaire said: “@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.” Elon Musk claims Donald Trump appears in Epstein files during spectacular public bust-up

Israeli opposition lawmaker Avigdor Lieberman accused the government on Thursday of arming Palestinian militias in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said later in a statement that Israel was acting "in various ways" on the recommendation of the security establishment. Netanyahu's office did not deny Lieberman's accusation.

Oh dear, yet again the Reform Party has been hit by a shock resignation. It wasn't long ago one of their 5 MPs, Rupert Lowe, was suspended and now sits as an Independent. And now the Party Chairman has gone. Lowe hates Yusuf and wonders why Farage protects him. Perhaps because of the spectacular results he produced. Anyway, another one bites the dust. Come on boys, are you even gonna make it to the next election? Reform UK have been hit by further chaos after the man brought in by Nigel Farage to professionalise the party quit after a row with their newest MP. Zia Yusuf, a Muslim businessman, had described new Runcorn MP Sarah Pochin as “dumb” after she challenged Keir Starmer over the legality of women wearing the burqa in the UK during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday. He said: “11 months ago I became Chairman of Reform. I’ve worked full time as a volunteer to take the party from 14 to 30%, quadrupled its membership and delivered historic electoral results.'' Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf resigns as civil war in party deepens

Tech billionaire Elon Musk spent the hour of President Donald Trump's press conference both fact-checking the U.S. leader and attacking him for not being grateful to him. "Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate," Musk wrote on X, replying to a user. ''Such ingratitude," he added. "Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will, anymore," Trump told the press Thursday. 'Such ingratitude': Elon Musk unloads on Trump with big 2024 election claim

So are you saying all the videos and photos we have seen day after day of Gazans of all ages injured and killed by Israeli attacks are fake?

The countless photos of Gazan parents over the last year, wailing and overcome in grief as they carry the bodies of their dead children following an Israeli air strike, tells me that people everywhere value life, especially their families. A universal phenomenon.

Chinese keyboard warriors taking the mick out of Putin after Ukraine drone attack on bombers Users on platforms like Guancha labelled Russia a “weak empire” and called its military outdated. One commenter jeered, “They only care about food,” while another joked about reclaiming land lost to Russia in the 19th century. Some users invoked the Treaty of Aigun (1858), which saw Russia seize massive territory from China, including Vladivostok. “We’ll be ready to take back what’s ours,” one comment read ominously. China Mocks ‘Weak’ Putin After Ukraine’s Devastating Pearl Harbour-Style Strike