Effort to bring war criminal Prime Minister Netanyahu and IDF terrorists to justice 1/13/2025

        Effort to bring war criminal Prime Minister Netanyahu and IDF terrorists to justice

The Hind Rajab Foundation, a Belgian-Lebanese nonprofit founded by activist Dyab Abou Jahjah, is leading a tireless campaign to hold Israeli soldiers accountable for war crimes committed in Gaza. Named after a 6-year-old girl killed in an Israeli attack, the organization uses social media evidence to build legal cases against soldiers implicated in criminal acts. Their work recently led to a complaint against an Israeli soldier in Brazil, which resulted in a judge issuing an arrest warrant. However, the Israeli government intervened, reportedly helping the soldier flee to Argentina, thus obstructing justice. Abou Jahjah remains determined, stating, “We are relentless in seeking justice, and we are very convinced that one day justice will be served in a court of law.”
The foundation’s efforts come amidst a climate of impunity. While countries like Poland ensure that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu can attend events without fear of arrest, the Hind Rajab Foundation is filing lawsuits against Israeli soldiers in Sweden and Brazil, citing their direct involvement in war crimes, including targeting civilians and destroying homes. Using open-source intelligence, the foundation compiles evidence from the soldiers’ own social media posts. Once enough evidence is gathered, legal cases are filed in countries with jurisdiction over the accused soldiers.
Despite facing significant obstacles, the Hind Rajab Foundation continues its mission for justice, calling on global leaders to take responsibility. Abou Jahjah stresses the importance of holding governments accountable, exemplified by recent cases filed against Israeli officials like Major Ghassan Alian, accused of war crimes related to the blockade in Gaza. The foundation’s persistence demonstrates that, even in the face of political interference, justice can and must prevail.
@netanyahu @naftalibennett @yairlapid @AvigdorLiberman @GideonSa'ar @itamarbengvir @YoavGallant
The Hind Rajab Foundation, led by Dyab Abou Jahjah, is fighting for justice against Israeli war crimes in Gaza

Role of Journalists in Gaza 1/13/2025

                                                     Role of Journalists in Gaza

Recent discussions in Qatar about a potential ceasefire in Gaza underscore the urgent need for international attention to the dire situation faced by Palestinian journalists. Abubaker Abed, a Palestinian journalist who spoke at a press conference last week, emphasized the silence of the global community in response to the killings and suffering of journalists in Gaza. According to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, nearly 200 journalists have been killed in Israeli attacks since October 2023, with over 400 others wounded or arrested.
Abed, who has become an "accidental war correspondent" after being thrust into reporting during the ongoing conflict, described the extreme hardships that journalists in Gaza face. Many, like Abed, are working from makeshift shelters, often without proper equipment or resources. Abed's recent article, What It’s Truly Like to Sleep in a Damp, Frigid Tent: A Report From Gaza, paints a bleak picture of their daily realities. "We are just documenting a genocide," he said, urging international media to amplify the voices of Palestinian journalists and to demand the protection of their rights.
The ongoing violence, especially the targeting of civilians, continues unabated, with reports of journalists being killed while trying to cover the situation. On Friday, journalist Saed Abu Nabhan was killed by Israeli forces while reporting in the Nuseirat refugee camp.
Abed’s words are a powerful reminder that journalists, no matter their background, have the right to report freely and safely. The global community must recognize the critical role these journalists play in documenting the horrors of war and must hold accountable those who target them in violation of international law.

Jimmy Carter’s legacy 1/12/2025

                                                         Jimmy Carter’s legacy

The juxtaposition of two figures at Jimmy Carter's funeral this week highlighted a striking contrast in character and legacy. Carter, the epitome of integrity and humility, ascended to heaven, while Donald Trump, a convicted felon and former president, ascended back to the political arena. Carter’s post-presidency was defined by his dedication to humanitarian causes, like disease eradication and peacebuilding, while Trump’s legacy continues to be marred by lies, corruption, and self-interest.
Carter’s 77-year marriage to Rosalynn, his Sunday school teaching, and his outspoken advocacy for climate action set him apart as a man of genuine moral conviction. In contrast, Trump has faced multiple legal battles, including charges for falsifying records related to an affair with a porn star, and his policies have often been divisive, favoring short-term gain over long-term stability.
While Carter worked tirelessly for global well-being, Trump focused on dividing the nation with baseless rhetoric, often targeting marginalized groups for political gain. At the funeral, the display of old political wounds was palpable, with Trump largely isolated from his peers in the front rows, a clear signal of his outcast status within the elite political circle. The cold reception from figures like Karen Pence and Michelle Obama stood in stark contrast to the warmth and respect accorded to Carter by all who knew him.
In the end, both Carter and Trump were men who prided themselves on breaking norms, but their approaches could not have been more different. Carter’s life embodied the best of public service, while Trump’s legacy remains entangled in personal scandal and national division.

America’s blatant hypocrisy 1/12/2025

                                                         America’s blatant hypocrisy

The U.S. has been critical of Russia's actions in Ukraine, especially its annexation of Ukrainian territory, but there is a double standard in its treatment of Israel's annexation of parts of Syrian sovereignty. The U.S. supports Israel's airstrikes and territorial advances in Syria, which includes military incursions into the Golan Heights and beyond, justifying them as security measures. At the same time, it condemns Russia's similar actions in Ukraine, accusing Putin of violating Ukraine's sovereignty and international law.
The hypocrisy stems from the fact that both Israel and Russia are pursuing territorial expansions under the justification of security concerns—Israel claiming the need to protect itself from hostile forces in Syria, while Russia claims it must protect ethnic Russians and its geopolitical interests in Ukraine. Yet, the U.S. selectively applies its criticism, aligning with Israel's actions while condemning Russia's similar moves, revealing a bias influenced by strategic alliances and geopolitical interests. This discrepancy highlights a broader issue of inconsistency in American foreign policy, where the same principles are not applied universally based on the players involved.

Israel’s ongoing genocide and US media’s response 1/10/2025

                                           Israel’s ongoing genocide and US media’s response

The death toll in Gaza continues to rise, with Israeli airstrikes on tents housing displaced Palestinians near Khan Younis claiming 70 lives within a single day, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. A recent study in the prestigious,  British Medical Journal, The Lancet suggests that the true death toll is likely 40% higher than official estimates, now standing at over 46,000 Palestinians killed and nearly 110,000 wounded. The international community, including the U.S. House of Representatives, remains divided on how to respond. A recent vote in Congress saw 198 Republicans and 45 Democrats shamefully approved sanctions against the International Criminal Court, after it issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Meanwhile, at New York University, 11 students were suspended for peacefully protesting the ongoing war. NYU Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine condemned the suspensions as “collective punishment.” In Gaza, journalists are risking their lives to document the violence, with nearly 200 killed and more than 400 wounded or arrested since the conflict began. Palestinian reporter Abubaker Abed urges international media to stand with them, saying, “We are just documenting a genocide against us. Journalism is not a crime.”
The New York Times has also come under fire for refusing to publish a paid ad by the American Friends Service Committee, which referred to Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide. Joyce Ajlouny of the AFSC called the refusal an “outrageous attempt to sidestep the truth,” criticizing the media’s silence on Palestinian suffering. These recent events highlight the urgent need for accountability and global solidarity in the face of ongoing violence.

Mr. President, pardon Steven Donziger 1/9/2025

                                               Mr. President, pardon Steven Donziger

The case of Steven Donziger highlights a disturbing example of corporate retaliation against an individual who sought justice for the victims of environmental devastation. Donziger, an environmental activist and human rights lawyer, successfully sued Chevron on behalf of Indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon whose lands were severely damaged by oil spills. Instead of addressing the environmental catastrophe, Chevron responded with a costly legal campaign against Donziger, ultimately leading to his imprisonment and years under house arrest.
Massachusetts Congressmember Jim McGovern has called on President Biden to pardon Donziger, a move that would send a strong message against corporate greed and retaliation. McGovern, who visited Ecuador and witnessed firsthand the destruction caused by Chevron, described the situation as "grotesque" and emphasized that Donziger was standing up for those who had no voice. Chevron, instead of taking responsibility for its actions, has spent millions attempting to discredit Donziger and avoid accountability.
This issue has drawn widespread support from over 50 human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Greenpeace, and Amazon Watch, who join McGovern in urging a pardon. The message is clear: justice should not be a commodity that can be bought by corporations, and individuals like Donziger, who take a stand for human rights and the environment, should be protected, not persecuted.
A pardon would not only recognize Donziger’s dedication to justice but also affirm that the U.S. legal system can hold corporate power to account.

Mr. President close Gitmo, the scourge of America 1/9/2025

                                 Mr. President close Gitmo, the scourge of America

After over 20 years of unjust imprisonment without charge or trial, 11 Yemeni men have been transferred from Guantánamo Bay to Oman, where they will be given a chance to rebuild their lives. Despite being cleared for transfer years ago, these men remained incarcerated due to political and diplomatic barriers. Four of them had previously been subjected to torture in secret CIA “black sites” before arriving at Guantánamo. This latest release marks a significant reduction in the number of detainees, which now stands at 15, the fewest since the prison opened in 2002.
Rights groups, including the Center for Constitutional Rights, continue to demand the closure of Guantánamo and the release of the remaining prisoners. Six of the remaining detainees have never been charged with a crime, and three have already been cleared for transfer. The U.S. spends an estimated half a billion dollars annually to maintain the prison and its court system, despite the small number of detainees.
The ongoing existence of Guantánamo highlights the issue of extrajudicial detention. The prison was designed as a place where detainees could be held outside the bounds of U.S. law, without access to courts or legal representation, for the purpose of intelligence gathering. Many prisoners, like Sharqawi Al Hajj, were held for over two decades without charges, subjected to inhumane conditions, and are now being released into uncertain futures.
With only 15 prisoners remaining, President Biden has an opportunity to close this chapter. It is time for the U.S. to end indefinite detention and shut down Guantánamo once and for all.
@POTUS @VP It's time to close Gitmo. 11 Yemeni men, cleared for transfer years ago, have been freed after over 20 years of unjust imprisonment, some subjected to CIA torture. With only 15 detainees left, the U.S. must end indefinite detention and shut down Gitmo once and for all.

Disseminating falsehood for profit 1/9/2025

                                                         Disseminating falsehood for profit

The founder of the Sikh faith, Guru Nanak, emphasized the importance of truth, yet today, we see how far we have strayed from this principle, embracing falsehoods for profit. The latest example is Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, whose recent decision to overhaul content moderation on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Threads paves the way for more harmful and divisive speech.
Zuckerberg's changes include scrapping independent fact-checkers in favor of "community notes" from volunteer users and loosening rules around offensive content. This shift will likely allow hateful rhetoric targeting women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and marginalized groups to proliferate. These changes seem to cater to political figures like Donald Trump, who have long opposed efforts to regulate hate speech and disinformation online. Meta's corporate ties to Trump and his allies, including financial donations and board appointments, further underscore this shift toward the MAGA movement.
As media scholars Siva Vaidhyanathan, Marc Owen Jones, and journalist Maria Ressa have pointed out, the global rise of authoritarianism is partly fueled by the spread of disinformation through social media platforms. In 2024, 71% of the world was under authoritarian rule, and platforms like Meta are contributing to the erosion of democratic principles by amplifying falsehoods.
Zuckerberg’s actions risk further destabilizing democratic discourse. As users, it’s critical that we demand greater accountability and transparency from tech giants. These platforms must prioritize truth and integrity over profit, for the sake of a healthy, informed society

ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER MUST BE PARDONED Steven Donziger, 1/8/2025

                           ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER MUST BE PARDONED  Steven Donziger,

                                    White House Comment line: (202) 456-1111

UA: Fourth 55.24 USA
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Steven Donziger, a lawyer and environmental rights defender, who successfully represented victims of oil dumping in Ecuador by oil company Chevron, was later sued by Chevron in the USA. He refused to comply with a court order to hand over his electronic devices to Chevron, arguing that such a disclosure could violate attorney-client confidentiality and put his clients at risk. He was convicted of contempt of court and arbitrarily detained for almost three years under house arrest and several months in prison. Before leaving office on January 20, President Biden should pardon Mr. Donziger and protect environmental defenders from corporate retaliation.
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ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYER MUST BE PARDONED
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Steven Donziger, a lawyer and environmental rights defender, who successfully represented victims of oil dumping in Ecuador by oil company Chevron, was later sued by…

Biden rewards Israel over massacre after massacre in Gaza /8/2025

                                    Biden rewards Israel over massacre after massacre in Gaza

Israeli airstrikes continue to devastate Gaza, claiming the lives of at least 51 more individuals, pushing the official death toll close to 46,000. However, this figure is widely believed to be a vast undercount. Tragically, among the latest victims was a 15-day-old baby, killed in an Israeli strike on Gaza City earlier today. Additionally, at least five displaced Palestinian children perished in Israeli attacks on tents in al-Mawasi, an area Israel had previously designated a "safe zone."
In response to the ongoing violence, families in Gaza have resorted to building grave-like pits beneath their tents in an effort to shield their children from the relentless bombardment. One such family is that of Tayseer Obaid, who is sheltering in Deir al-Balah after being displaced nine times by Israel's forced evacuation orders.
Tayseer reflects on the profound shift in their lives: “The tent, with its pit surrounded by high walls, protects my children from random strikes. … My children, how were they in the past, and how are they now? They were dignified. We lived in our homes, on our land, with dignity. Now, we live underground, as if in a grave. Surely, this is not easy.”
As the death toll continues to rise and families face unimaginable hardship, the international community must urgently address the dire situation in Gaza. Human lives are at stake, and this crisis cannot be ignored.

Israeli and US crimes continue 1/7/2025

                                                  Israeli and US crimes continue

The ongoing escalation of violence in Gaza has reached horrifying new depths. Israeli forces, armed with U.S. weapons, have targeted humanitarian workers, including doctors and World Food Programme drivers. Their attacks have destroyed vital infrastructure, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The official death toll has nearly reached 46,000, with experts fearing the true number is much higher. Ceasefire talks continue, but the suffering of the people in Gaza grows each day.
Healthcare facilities, once a refuge for the wounded, are now in ruins. The recent death of Dr. Thabat Saleem, a neonatal doctor, and the destruction of Kamal Adwan Hospital, the last functioning medical facility in northern Gaza, highlight the grave danger faced by medical personnel. Over 1,000 healthcare workers have already been killed in this conflict.
The assault on a World Food Programme convoy further underscores the dire situation. Aid deliveries are now at a breaking point, leaving countless Palestinians without the assistance they desperately need. The psychological and physical toll on the population is immeasurable.
In his poignant piece for The New Yorker, Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha described the devastating loss of Gaza's Jabaliya refugee camp, home to over 120,000 people. Many of its residents were already displaced during the 1948 Nakba, and now they face the obliteration of their temporary refuge.
The international community must urgently intervene to halt the violence, protect innocent lives, and address the growing humanitarian catastrophe. The world cannot stand by as this tragedy unfolds.

American Historical Association (AHA), speaks out 1/6/2025

                                      American Historical Association (AHA), speaks out

The American Historical Association (AHA), the oldest scholarly organization in the U.S., recently passed the “Resolution to Oppose Scholasticide in Gaza,” condemning the destruction of the Palestinian education system. The vote, supported by over 400 members, represents a pivotal moment for the profession. Sherene Seikaly, a professor at UC Santa Barbara, expressed that this victory, in the face of ongoing violence in Gaza, offers hope for the future. Barbara Weinstein, a historian at New York University, emphasized the growing recognition of historians' broader societal roles, advocating for a more expansive approach to history.
The resolution, championed by Historians for Peace and Democracy (H-PAD), highlights the Israeli Defense Forces' destruction of Gaza's educational infrastructure, citing the deaths of over 250 teachers and 95 professors as part of an effort to annihilate the Palestinian education system. The AHA’s approval is significant, especially considering its historical reluctance to take political stances. In the past, the AHA hesitated to speak out during events like the Vietnam War, but by 2007, it condemned the Iraq War, signaling a shift toward greater activism.
Critics, like Natalia Petrzela of The New School, argue that the resolution’s lack of reference to the October 7 Hamas attack harms the historical profession's credibility. However, proponents counter that equating the long-term consequences of Israeli actions with isolated incidents obscures the broader human rights violations at play.
Ultimately, the resolution underscores the importance of historians confronting contemporary issues with moral clarity and a commitment to justice. The AHA’s bold stance could inspire future generations to safeguard education and preserve historical truth amidst conflict.

Israel’s war of mass murder, starvation continues withs full US support 1/6/2025

                                

               Israel’s war of mass murder, starvation continues withs full US support

The ongoing violence in Gaza continues to devastate innocent lives as Israeli forces escalate their bombardment of the region. I war of n a span of just three days, over 100 airstrikes were carried out by Israeli forces, resulting in the deaths of numerous Palestinians and widespread destruction. The assault has claimed the lives of at least 40 individuals, with many others injured, including a recent attack on a school in Nuseirat refugee camp that left over 40 people hurt.
In Bureij camp, four people died in a targeted airstrike on a residential building, and three separate attacks in Rafah killed seven Palestinians, including two farmers. The violence reached a tragic peak in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood on Saturday, where an airstrike killed 11 people, many of them members of the Zuhd family. Ammar Zuhd, a relative of the victims, was seen searching through the rubble for his loved ones, tragically uncovering more casualties.
The ongoing bombings have created a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with Palestinians living in constant fear of being caught in the violence. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported the death of another baby due to hypothermia, marking the eighth such death in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has pledged billions more aid to Israel, further fueling the violence. It is essential for the international community to act swiftly to end this devastating cycle of violence and work toward a lasting peace. The lives of innocent civilians should never be used as pawns in geopolitical conflicts. CNN,MSNBC, ABC, BBC and other major networks and newspapers should demand a presence in Gaza to counter Israel’s  ongoing propaganda war of misinformation.
.@POTUS @VP, Israel's mass bombardment of Gaza continues, claiming lives and causing destruction, with 100 airstrikes in 3 days. Over 40 killed, including children & families. The US continues to fund this violence. The world must intervene to stop this human catastrophe. #Gaza