In a population that treasures education, no school for Gaza’s children – Day 337
[email protected] September 9, 2024 Bezalel Smotrich, education in gaza, Hebron, illegal settlement, international court of justice, international law, itamar ben gvir, jordanian gunman, polio vaccine, starvation in gaza
On the occasion of the International Day for the Protection of Education from Attack, observed on 9 September each year, several Palestinian associations and institutions issued a position statement calling upon the international community and the Member States of the United Nations to take immediate action to protect Palestinian education from Israeli military attacks.

The position statement called for an immediate ceasefire and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, educational infrastructure, and called to hold Israel accountable for its crimes against education and children.

They emphasized the need for immediate UN assistance to protect schools, continue the educational process, fund programs to compensate for the education lost, to help provide artificial limbs, polio vaccines, and the opening of border crossings for the treatment of Gaza children in hospitals abroad.

According to the UN, 80% of Gaza’s schools have been destroyed or damaged, preventing some 620,000 students from completing their education.

At least 10,000 students have been killed in Israel’s ongoing aggression on Gaza, and 13,444 others have been wounded; 397 teachers have also been killed.

The interim report issued in March 2024 by the World Bank, UNRWA, and the European Union estimated the cost of damages to the education sector at $341 million.

Particularly but not exclusively in the Middle East, Palestinians have long had a reputation as high-performing graduates, often proficient in at least two languages, and frequently going on to pursue successful careers in engineering, business, or medicine.

At the same time, the Palestinians are the world’s largest refugee population, with the longest-running case of protracted displacement.

Culturally, education has remained a top priority. More than 95% of children aged 6-12 in Gaza attended school before the war, and most graduate from high school. Additionally, 57% of students at the Islamic University of Gaza were female.

NOTE: Since the war began on Oct. 7, schools have been bombed or turned into shelters for displaced people, leaving Gaza’s estimated 625,000 school-aged children unable to attend classes.

All 12 of Gaza’s higher education institutions have been destroyed or damaged, leaving nearly 90,000 students stranded, and more than 350 teachers and academics have been killed, according to Palestinian official data.

Palestinians inspect the area after an Israeli attack hit the az-Zahra school in the east of Gaza City on August 8 [Anadolu Agency/Dawoud Abo Alkas]
Palestinians inspect the area after an Israeli attack hit the az-Zahra school in the east of Gaza City on August 8 [Anadolu Agency/Dawoud Abo Alkas] (photo)
Israel attacks 16 schools-turned-shelter centers in Gaza in a single month

Euro Med Monitor reports:

Since the beginning of August, the Israeli occupation army has bombed 16 schools being used as shelters in the Gaza Strip, 15 of them located north of Gaza Valley. Two hundred and seventeen Palestinians have been killed in the reported attacks, while hundreds more have been injured, a large number of casualties being women and children.

In the past week, the Israeli army has increased its targeting of civilians in the Gaza City and North Gaza governorates by bombing residential buildings, civilian gatherings, and commercial stalls there, in addition to shelter centers and their surrounding areas.

There is no legitimate reason to target schools above the heads of displaced individuals, and this act is a blatant violation of the principles of distinction, military necessity, proportionality, and the obligation to exercise appropriate caution.

Every time it launches an attack, the Israeli army attempts to justify its actions by claiming that it is attacking military targets, but it never offers any proof to support these assertions.

By killing and forcibly displacing as many Palestinians as possible from their land, these attacks are a part of the genocide being carried out by Israel in the Gaza Strip.

According to preliminary investigations conducted by the Euro-Med Monitor field team, the Israeli army has deliberately destroyed all of the remaining shelters in the north of the Gaza Strip, including schools and public facilities.

This destruction has been committed with the goal of establishing a coercive environment, in order to compel the civilian population to leave their neighborhoods and evacuate to the central and southern sections of the Strip.

Palestinians inspect the destroyed building after an Israeli attack at the Et-Tabiin school where displaced people took shelter in the Ed-Deraj neighborhood in Gaza City, Gaza on August 10, 2024. [Mahmoud İssa – Anadolu Agency]
Palestinians inspect the destroyed building after an Israeli attack at the Et-Tabiin school where displaced people took shelter in the Ed-Deraj neighborhood in Gaza City, Gaza on August 10, 2024. [Mahmoud İssa – Anadolu Agency] (photo)
Health Ministry reports 69% of children in Gaza vaccinated against polio

WAFA reports:

The Ministry of Health announced today that 69% of children in Gaza, aged from birth to 10 years, have received the first dose of the polio vaccine – an achievement reached within seven days of launching the campaign.

As of Saturday evening, 441,647 children have received the vaccination. The campaign is ongoing in several areas.

Health teams from the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with UNRWA, the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF, are persevering with the vaccination efforts despite the ongoing Israeli aggression and the significant challenges posed by the current security situation affecting the movement between vaccination centers.

A baby receives a polio vaccine in Gaza
A baby receives a polio vaccine in Gaza (photo)
How did Israel starve 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza so quickly?

Michael Fakhri, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, reports (excerpts):

Certain actions inherently increase the risk of starvation and indicate intent to starve a population.

The most well-recognized starvation act is the weaponizing of humanitarian aid.

This can be the restriction and blocking of humanitarian aid, or it can be using humanitarian aid as leverage for political negotiations or means to control local populations.

Prior to 7 October 2023, approximately half of the people in Gaza were food insecure and more than 80 per cent relied on humanitarian aid; the total siege [of October 9] was an immediate catalyst for starvation.

Israel made its intentions to starve everyone in Gaza explicit [on October 9, when it announced a “total siege”], implemented its plans, and predictably created a famine throughout Gaza.

By destroying and poisoning agricultural land, decimating ports and fishing vessels, Israel has destroyed approximately 93 per cent of the economy of the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector.

Israel has not only denied and restricted the delivery of humanitarian aid and violated its obligations to ensure that the aid that is let through reaches the population, it has also created a climate of horror by targeting humanitarian workers and civilians seeking humanitarian aid.

The total siege that began on 9 October 2023 was a continuation of Israel’s 24-year blockade, and 75-year attack against Gaza’s food system.

(Read the full report here.)

Displaced Palestinian children wait at a food distribution point in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on Thursday.Eyad Baba / AFP - Getty Images
Displaced Palestinian children wait at a food distribution point in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on Thursday.Eyad Baba / AFP – Getty Images (photo)
In major Israeli security breach, Jordanian gunman kills three guards at West Bank crossing

Andalou Agency reports:

Three Israelis were killed in a shooting attack at the border with Jordan on Sunday, according to Israeli media.

Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said a truck driver opened fire at King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge crossing between Jordan and the occupied West Bank.

The Israeli Magen David Adom emergency service said three men were critically injured in the attack before they were pronounced dead.

The alleged attacker was shot dead, Haaretz newspaper said.

The Israeli army said the attacker arrived from Jordan, disembarked, and opened fire on guards at the crossing.

Israel Hayom adds:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that “we will stand together. We will wield the sword of David together and with G-d’s help, we will win,” referring not only to the attack but also to the ongoing war against Gaza.”There are those who ask – ‘Shall the sword devour forever?’ [II Samuel 2:26]. In the Middle East, without the sword, there is no ‘forever’.”



“Generals’ Plan” floated to take over northern Gaza seems to ignore one important point

Israel National News reports:

The ‘Commanders and Reserve Soldiers’ Forum presented to the public the “Generals’ Plan” to defeat Hamas, which was written at the initiative of several generals and other senior officers, since the current strategy is not effective enough to overwhelm Hamas and get the hostages back.

According to the plan, the entire area north of the Netzarim. Corridor, i.e. Gaza City with all its neighborhoods, would become a closed military area in which the entire population, estimated by the army to be approximately 250,000 people, would be required to leave within a week.

“We mark two fairly safe exit corridors that will be secured by IDF forces,” according to the plan.” Those who leave will receive food and water. But in a week the entire territory of the northern Gaza Strip will become a military zone, and as far as we’re concerned, no supply will enter this military zone.”

One of the generals stated that “therefore 5,000 terrorists who are in this area would in this situation either surrender or starve to death.”

The forum stated that the outline complies with the rules of international law because it allows the population to evacuate from the combat zone before the siege is imposed.

NOTE: This plan completely overlooks the fact that Hamas has tunnels all over Gaza, and would be able to get not only food, but also weapons. The hostages may also be kept in northern Gaza.

Palestinians examine the destruction left behind after the Israeli army’s withdrawal in Tal al-Hawa, Gaza City [File: Mahmoud İssa/Anadolu Images]
Palestinians examine the destruction left behind after the Israeli army’s withdrawal in Tal al-Hawa, Gaza City [File: Mahmoud İssa/Anadolu Images] (photo)
Israel knows ‘nothing’ about tunnels in Gaza, says released captive

The Cradle reports:

Adina Moshe, an Israeli woman formerly held captive by Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza, stated that the Israeli military knows nothing about Hamas’ underground tunnel network, Channel 12 reported on 8 September.

Moshe was taken captive by Hamas on 7 October and released on 24 November as part of a temporary ceasefire deal brokered by Qatar and the US between Hamas and Israel.

Moshe said that after her release, she was debriefed by the Shin Bet (‘Shabak’), Israel’s internal security service.

“The internal security service asked me to draw a map of the tunnels in Gaza because they know nothing about them,” Israel’s Channel 12 quoted her as saying.

During a speech she gave during the protests in Israel, Moshe indicated that the Shin Bet had sent her an engineer on its behalf who asked her to explain what Hamas’ tunnels, telephones, and wires looked like, what their branches were and where they were located.

She told the engineer that “the tunnels in the Gaza Strip are a huge, huge maze that extends underground throughout the Strip, and military pressure will not help bring back the prisoners.”

Adina Moshe, an Israeli woman formerly held captive in Gaza, said, "The [Israeli] internal security service asked me to draw a map of the tunnels in Gaza because they know nothing about them."
Adina Moshe, an Israeli woman formerly held captive in Gaza, said, “The [Israeli] internal security service asked me to draw a map of the tunnels in Gaza because they know nothing about them.” (photo)
West Bank resistance: attempted car ramming south of Hebron

Al Jazeera reports:

There was a suspected attempt to run over Israeli soldiers at the Negohot settlement south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, according to Israeli public broadcaster Kan.

Israeli forces fired at the vehicle, with one Palestinian killed and another wounded, the broadcaster reported.

There were no casualties among the soldiers, it added.

The Israeli military has effectively transformed the city of Hebron and nearby towns in the southern West Bank into what resembles a “large prison” by severing access with military checkpoints and iron gates, Palestinians told Anadolu.
The Israeli military has effectively transformed the city of Hebron and nearby towns in the southern West Bank into what resembles a “large prison” by severing access with military checkpoints and iron gates, Palestinians told Anadolu. (photo)
Senior Israeli officers accuse government of encouraging escalation in West Bank

Andalou Agency reports:

Senior Israeli military officers have accused the country’s political leadership of inciting escalation in the occupied West Bank.

The officers said far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich are “directly responsible” for the rise in violence in the occupied territory, warning that the situation could spiral into a full-blown uprising, with many young Palestinians already facing unemployment and lack of opportunities.

“We are trying to prevent the population from fully joining the violence,” a military officer told Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, adding that the ongoing Israeli restrictions have exacerbated tensions in the area.

Attacks on Palestinians by illegal Israeli settlers also push young Palestinians to join armed groups in the West Bank, the daily warned.

“This situation can’t continue. We are on the verge of a major explosion in Judea and Samaria (West Bank),” another senior military officer said.

The Israeli officers warned that provocations by government officials as Ben-Gvir’s intrusions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque and his attempts to allow Jewish prayers at the flashpoint site risk inflaming tensions in the West Bank and the whole Arab world.

Last week, the Israeli army launched its largest military operation in the northern West Bank in two decades, killing at least 40 people and causing massive destruction in the area.

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on February 22, 2024 [Saeed Qaq/Anadolu via Getty Images]
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on February 22, 2024 [Saeed Qaq/Anadolu via Getty Images] (photo)
“My life’s mission is to thwart the Palestinian state,” says extremist Israeli minister

WAFA reports:

The far-right Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich reiterated his inciting statements against the Palestinian people, emphasizing on moving forward with implementing plans to control the West Bank and prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.

The extremist Israeli minister said in a post on X that “The mission of my life is to build the land of Israel and thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state. That is why I have taken upon myself, in addition to the position of Minister of Finance, responsibility for civil issues in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank).”

“I will continue to work with all my might so that the half a million settlers who are on the front line and under fire enjoy the rights of every citizen in Israel and establish the facts on the ground,” he added.

Bezalel Smotrich, Israeli far-right lawmaker and leader of the Religious Zionism party, speaks during a rally with supporters, Sderot, Israel, Oct. 26, 2022
Bezalel Smotrich, Israeli far-right lawmaker and leader of the Religious Zionism party, speaks during a rally with supporters, Sderot, Israel, Oct. 26, 2022 (photo)
Palestinian Authority calls on UN to enact Int’l Court of Justice ruling, removing 500,000 Jews living illegally in the West Bank

Jewish News Syndicate reports:

The Palestinian Authority is circulating a draft resolution asking the United Nations General Assembly to urge Israel to withdraw from Judea and Samaria [Israel’s name for the occupied Palestinian West Bank] and remove some 500,000 Israeli citizens living in the territory within six months.

NOTE: Israeli settlements and settlers on Palestinian land are a violation of international law.

According to a report by Israel’s Channel 12 on Sunday, the resolution, which cites a July 19 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice in The Hague, is expected to be brought to a vote next week.

The ruling declared that “Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the regime associated with them, have been established and are being maintained in violation of international law.”

The draft text also urges U.N. member states to impose sanctions on officials in Jerusalem, ban trade with Jewish businesses in Judea and Samaria, and block weapons sales to Israel if they might be used in the area.

Israel’s Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon, attacked the P.A.’s move and called on the 193 members of the General Assembly to “outright reject this shameful resolution and instead adopt a resolution condemning Hamas, calling on it to release all the hostages immediately.

In related news, Reuters reports:

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, said in a speech at the start of the five-week U.N. Human Rights Council session in Geneva, “States must not – cannot – accept blatant disregard for international law, including binding decisions of the [UN] Security Council and orders of the International Court of Justice, neither in this nor any other situation.”

He cited the opinion released by the UN top court in July that called Israel’s occupation illegal and said this situation must be “comprehensively addressed.” Israel has rejected the opinion.

A group of Jewish settlers under the protection of Israeli soldiers raids the Old City area of Hebron, West Bank on August 17, 2024. [Wisam Hashlamoun – Anadolu Agency]
A group of Jewish settlers under the protection of Israeli soldiers raids the Old City area of Hebron, West Bank on August 17, 2024. [Wisam Hashlamoun – Anadolu Agency] (photo)




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STATISTICS OCTOBER 7 – SEPTEMBER 8:

Palestinian death toll from October 7, 2023 – September 8, 2024: at least 41,662* (40,972 in Gaza* – 11,308 women (30%), 16,715 children as of September 5. [The Ministry’s figures have been contested by the Israeli authorities, although they have been accepted as accurate by Israeli intelligence services, the UN, and WHO. These data are supported by independent analyses, comparing changes in the number of deaths of UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff with those reported by the Ministry, which found claims of data fabrication implausible.]

This is expected to be a significant undercount since thousands of those killed have yet to be identified – and at least 691 in the West Bank (~148 children). This does not include an estimated 10,000 more still buried under rubble (4,900 women and children). Euro-Med Monitor reports 49,032 Palestinian deaths.

Lancet: “Applying a conservative estimate of four indirect deaths per one direct death9 to the 37,396 deaths reported, it is not implausible to estimate that up to 186 000 or even more deaths could be attributable to the current conflict in Gaza.

Ralph Nader earlier estimated 200,000 Palestinians may have been killed in Gaza.

At least 45 Palestinians have died in Israeli prisons (27 from Gaza, 23 from West Bank).
At least 41 Palestinians have died due to malnutrition (at least 37 of them children)**.
About 1.9 million of Gaza’s 2.3 million population are currently displaced.
Almost 500,000 Gazans are currently experiencing catastrophic levels of food insecurity.
Palestinian injuries from October 7 – September 8: at least 100,461 (including at least 94,761 in Gaza and 5,700 in the West Bank, including 830 children). [It remains unknown how man Americans are among the casualties in Gaza.]

Reported Israeli death toll from October 7, 2023 – September 8, 2024: ~1,452 (~1,139 on October 7, 2023, of which ~32 were Americans, and ~36 were children); 288*** military forces since the ground invasion began in Gaza; 25 military and civilians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Israel) and~10,000 injured.

NOTE: It is unknown at this time how many of the deaths and injuries of Israelis on October 7 were caused by Israeli soldiers.

*Previously, IAK did not include 471 Gazans killed in the Al Ahli hospital blast since the source of the projectile was being disputed. However, given that much evidence points to Israel as the culprit, Israel had previously bombed the hospital and has attacked many others, Israel is prohibiting outside experts from investigating the scene, and since the UN and other agencies are including the deaths from the attack in their cumulative totals, if Americans knew is now also doing so.

**Euro-Med Monitor reports that Gaza’s elderly are dying at an alarmingly high rate. The majority die at home and are buried either close to their residences or in makeshift graves dispersed across the Strip. There are currently more than 140 such cemeteries. Additionally, according to Euromed, thousands have died from starvation, malnourishment, and inadequate medical care; these are considered indirect victims as they were not registered in hospitals.

***Approximately ten of the deaths listed above were Israeli soldiers killed by Hezbollah in fighting at the Israel-Lebanon border. The figure does not include the reportedly 53 Israeli soldiers – nearly 16% of the total Israeli military deaths – killed due to friendly fire in Gaza and other military-related accidents.

† For most of the conflict, women and children accounted for about 70% of deaths in Gaza, with children making up a little over 40% of those killed, according to official statistics.

Find previous daily casualty figures and daily news updates here.

Hover over each bar for exact numbers.
Source: IsraelPalestineTimeline.org

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https://israelpalestinenews.org/in-a-population-that-treasures-education-no-school-for-gazas-children-day-337/

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Israel kills American activist, terrorizes prisoners, as Biden admin shrugs – Day 335
CNN reports: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday was as clear as he has ever been that he does not believe a ceasefire and hostage deal is likely in Gaza in a sharp rebuke to the Biden administration’s insistence it’s close at hand. “There’s not a deal in the making,” Netanyahu told Fox News. “Unfortunately, it’s not close.” His comments stand in stark contrast to the relentlessly hopeful messaging from the Biden administration over the past months. On Sunday, President Joe Biden claimed that the parties were on the verge of a deal, and on Wednesday, a senior administration official claimed 90% of the agreement had been completed. That, Netanyahu said, is “exactly inaccurate.” UN Humanitarian Affairs: Israel is blocking entrance of explosive ordnance disposal equipment OCHA reports: The ongoing escalation of hostilities is resulting in widespread contamination by Explosive Ordnance (EO). While the exact number of EO-related casualties is unknown, there have been cases of people who died due to the explosion of EO, according to humanitarian partners. On 3 September, a Palestinian girl was reportedly critically injured by the explosion of an EO in southwestern Khan Younis and succumbed to her wounds on 4 September. Children face a heightened risk of being exposed to EO, as they usually play outside, tend to search for scraps amongst rubbish and rubble, and lack an awareness on the dangers of EO. Despite ongoing efforts by humanitarian partners to conduct in-person and digital Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) campaigns, educational material as well as minimum standard Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) equipment are refused entry into Gaza by Israeli authorities, therefore limiting the capacity of the mine action response. The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Cluster is concerned with the staggering increase in the cost of basic hygiene items. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), in July, the price of soap has increased 1,177 per cent and shampoo has increased 490 per cent across the Strip, compared to July 2023. Israeli army kills Palestinian girl in West Bank: Health Ministry Al Jazeera reports: A 13-year-old girl succumbed to her wounds after being shot by Israeli forces in Qaryout, a village south of Nablus, in the occupied West Bank. The village was reportedly attacked by Jewish settlers backed by Israeli forces when Bana Amjad Bakr was shot in the chest by an Israeli soldier. The Palestine Red Crescent Society said its teams dealt with the “serious” injury after confrontations broke out in the village. Amjad Bakr was shot while she was in her bedroom, her father said. She was taken to a nearby hospital where she died. Settler attacks are common in the West Bank and have increased in scale and intensity since October 7. The Israeli army and settlers have displaced more than 1,200 Palestinians and destroyed hundreds of structures, according to UN figures. Israel pulls out of Jenin, but denies end of West Bank offensive Middle East Eye reports: Israeli forces have pulled out of Jenin after a 10-day assault, but the military has denied it is ending its operation in the occupied West Bank. The offensive, which has so far left at least 39 Palestinians dead, saw soldiers backed by armored vehicles and bulldozers targeting the city and its adjacent refugee camp, forcing the flight of many of the residents. Palestinians started returning to their Jenin homes on Friday, while those who had been trapped by the offensive were able to venture outside for the first time in more than a week. Israel said on Friday that it would continue its operation in Jenin until its “objectives are achieved”. The Palestinian Ministry of Health says at least 40 people (6 of them youths) have been killed in the West Bank since August 28 when Israeli forces launched a large-scale incursion into several towns and cities: 21 Palestinians were killed in Jenin; 8 in Tubas; 8 in Tulkarem; and 3 in Hebron. Footage originally shared by Israel’s Channel 14 correspondent showed Israeli soldiers detaining Palestinian children, women and men in Jenin, occupied West Bank, and forcing them to walk in one line. This is not Gaza. This is in the West Bank Israeli soldiers share footage with Netenyahu’s channel 14 depicting them humiliating young Palestinian girls, women and elderly in Jenin during their invasion to the city pic.twitter.com/y2DZz1rImP — Younis Tirawi | يونس (@ytirawi) September 6, 2024 France arrests nurse who volunteered in Gaza Middle East Monitor reports: France yesterday arrested then released nurse Imane Maarifi who spent 15 days volunteering as a medic in the Gaza Strip. Notably, the arrest took place at a time when French soldiers who fight in Gaza enjoy total impunity. Thomas Portes, a lawmaker from the La France Insoumise, or France Unbowed (LFI) party, wrote that Maarifi has been released from custody. “The search of the home in front of the family leaves no doubt about the desire to intimidate the voices that are raised to support the Palestinian people and demand an immediate ceasefire,” he wrote on X. Maarifi attended pro-Palestinian rallies in France to share her testimony about the crippling situation in Gaza. She has also expressed her demand for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a boycott of companies supporting Israel.
[email protected] September 7, 2024 Ayşenur Eygi, btselem, ceasefire, international solidarity movement, israeli settler violence, palestinian prisoners, Tally Gotliv, unexploded ordnance, west bank death, white phosphorus, Yuli Novak
Photos and videos obtained by Haaretz show dozens of detainees lying on their stomachs while handcuffed, some without clothes, as a guard dog barks over their heads. The Prison Service described this as a "routine exercise." (screenshot)
Compilation of news reports – IAK staff

Israeli army kills American International Solidarity Movement volunteer during demonstration in West Bank

Various sources report:

During the weekly demonstration in Beita, Palestine, on the morning of September 6th, 2024, the Israeli army intentionally shot and killed an International Solidarity Movement (ISM) human rights activist named Ayşenur Eygi. The demonstration, which primarily involved men and children praying, was met with force from the Israeli army stationed on a hill. Initially, the army fired a large amount of tear gas and then began using live ammunition.

Ayşenur, who we (ISM) consider a martyr in the struggle, was the 18th demonstrator to be killed in Beita since 2020. She was an American citizen of Turkish descent.

She was involved with the Faz’a campaign, an organization that aims to support and protect Palestinian farmers from violations by illegal Jewish settlers and military forces.

The Israeli forces fired two rounds. One hit a Palestinian man in the leg, injuring him. The other round was fired at international human rights activists who were observing the demonstration from a distance, striking the human rights activist in the head.

Neither Ezgi nor the other wounded person posed any threat to the soldiers stationed on the hills adjacent to the site of the weekly march.

Eygi died shortly after being transported to a local hospital in Nablus.

The Israeli military admitted to firing at the demonstrators and said it was looking into reports that a foreign national was killed. The Israel Defense Forces said it “responded with fire toward a main instigator of violent activity who hurled rocks at the forces and posed a threat to them”.

The US has not said whether Eygi had been shot by Israeli troops. “We are urgently gathering more information about the circumstances of her death, and will have more to say as we learn more,” Matthew Miller, a state department spokesperson, said.

Asked if the US would take action against Israel, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: “First things first – let’s find out exactly what happened and we will draw the necessary conclusions and consequences from that.”

Eygi’s family released a statement declaring, “A US citizen, Aysenur was peacefully standing for justice when she was killed by a bullet that video shows came from an Israeli military shooter,” adding, “Given the circumstances of Aysenur’s killing, an Israeli investigation is not adequate.”

“We call on President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Secretary of State Blinken to order an independent investigation into the unlawful killing of a US citizen and to ensure full accountability.”

Ayşenur Eygi, 26, ‘was not a naive traveler – this experience was, according to one of her professors, the culmination of all her years of activism. Her friends say she was a longtime activist “bearing witness to oppression.”

She was remembered by friends and former professors as a dedicated organizer who felt a strong moral obligation to bring attention to the plight of Palestinians.

Eygi, who is also a Turkish citizen and leaves behind her husband, graduated from UW earlier this year with a major in psychology and minor in Middle Eastern languages and culture, Fani said. She walked the stage with a large “Free Palestine” flag during the ceremony, Fani said.

Ezgi is the third ISM volunteer to be killed by the Israeli forces in occupied Palestine. Rachel Corrie was killed in Gaza’s Rafah in 2003 after an Israeli soldier crushed her with a bulldozer. Tom Hurndall was killed in Gaza in 2004 by an Israeli sniper. An Israeli soldier shot Brian Avery in the face in Jenin in 2003. He survived the attack but was permanently maimed. The bullet ripped through his cheek and smashed his eye socket and jaw bones.

RECOMMENDED READING: Instead of Taylor Force Act, Congress should consider Rachel Corrie Act, Orwah Hammad Act




Israeli Prison Guards Filmed Abusing Detainees; Prison Service Says It’s a ‘Routine Exercise’

Ha’aretz reports:

Israeli Prison Service personnel in the security wing of Megiddo Prison handcuffed and humiliated detainees on Friday morning, despite no unusual incident occurring in the prison.

Photos and videos obtained by Haaretz show dozens of detainees lying on their stomachs while handcuffed, some without clothes, as a guard dog barks over their heads. The Prison Service described this as a “routine exercise.”

The Prison Service said in response that it “maintains an operational routine for the safety of the prison inmates and the public. In this case, too, in an operation that includes intelligence [gathering], soldiers of the ‘Nachshon’ unit…raided terrorist cells, searched them and seized assault weapons and prohibited materials.” The service failed to present any of the assault weapons allegedly seized.

The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS) has urged the United Nations to open an independent investigation.

The group has also said that the Israeli authorities are “deliberately” leaking images and footage of the torture of Palestinian detainees, explaining in a statement that this was “part of the competition between the ministers of the current government over who tortures and kills Palestinians more”.


UNICEF says Israelis refusing to facilitate polio vaccine campaign

Al Jazeera reports:

UNICEF says it is making every effort to distribute the polio vaccine in Gaza during the agreed-upon pauses in fighting.

However, it reported that Israel continues to deny medical teams access to communities in certain areas of southern Gaza.

Nearly 355,000 children have received the vaccine in spite of Israel’s lack of cooperation.

Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary reports from Khan Younis:



Israeli legislator calls on police to probe B’Tselem activist for ‘aiding the enemy’

Middle East Monitor reports:

Israel’s Likud Party Knesset Member Tally Gotliv called for the execution or life imprisonment of human rights activist Yuli Novak following her speech at the UN Security Council on Wednesday.

Novak, the executive director or Israeli rights group B’Tselem, told the UNSC: “Since Israel was founded, its guiding logic has been to promote Jewish supremacy over the entire territory under its control.”

She added that the far-right Israeli government has been “cynically exploiting” its citizens’ “collective trauma” since the 7 October 2023 infiltration of Israel by Palestinian resistance fighters.

It is doing this, she explained, “to violently advance its project of cementing Israel[i] control over the entire land … committing war crimes almost daily.”

Gotliv called for Novak to be probed by Israel Police “for the suspected serious crime of assistance to the enemy in war.”

She said that such a crime was an offense under the penal law, “which carries the death penalty or a life sentence”.

“Novak has shamefully put the state of Israel, currently engaged in a war for survival, at risk and assisted Israel’s enemies on various fronts,” the lawmaker wrote, accusing the activist of telling lies about Israel committing war crimes.

Gotliv was among the legislators that joined Israeli crowds to protest the arrest of soldiers accused of gang-raping a Palestinian detainee from Gaza held in the Israeli Sde Teiman prison.

NOTE: B’Tselem – The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories strives for a future in which human rights, liberty and equality are guaranteed to all people, Palestinian and Jewish alike, living between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.

Such a future will only be possible when the Israeli occupation and apartheid regime end. That is the future we are working towards.

B’Tselem (in Hebrew literally: in the image of), the name chosen for the organization by the late Member of Knesset Yossi Sarid, is an allusion to Genesis 1:27: “And God created humankind in His image. In the image of God did He create them.” The name expresses the universal and Jewish moral edict to respect and uphold the human rights of all people.



Netanyahu is unequivocal about ceasefire and hostage agreement with Hamas: ‘There’s not a deal in the making’


Israel shells Lebanon with white phosphorus bombs, performs ground invasion drills

The Cradle reports:

According to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), Israel targeted southern Lebanon with white phosphorus on Friday. “The area between Tal Nahas and Al-Hamams towards the Marjayoun plain is being subjected to artillery shelling with phosphorus shells, which caused fires to break out,” NNA said.

Israeli threats against Lebanon have escalated once again. The Israeli military said on 6 September that its Yiftah Brigade carried out drills this week simulating a ground invasion of Lebanon, moving along a “mountainous route” and “complex terrain.”

NOTE: Use of white phosphorus in civilian areas is considered a war crime due to its extremely dangerous effects on the human body.

White phosphorus ignites instantly when in contact with oxygen. It can burn through the human body, including through bone, causing severe, excruciating damage.

It can also cause extreme harm when inhaled, with risks of suffocation, cardiovascular failure, coma, death, and other lifelong effects. The substance burns at temperatures of up to 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit.

MORE NEWS:

IMEMC Daily Reports.

The Cradle: Israel’s energy insecurity: How blackouts could paralyze the occupation state

+972 Magazine: Under cover of war, Israel is demolishing home after home in Silwan

Middle East Monitor: ‘Game of demographics’: How Israel aims to wipe out Palestinians from Occupied East Jerusalem

Middle East Eye: ‘I recognized her by her roller skate’: Israeli strike on Gaza kills children playing in the street

The New Arab: Is Israel using Gaza’s ‘mowing the lawn’ strategy in the West Bank?





STATISTICS OCTOBER 7 – SEPTEMBER 5:

Palestinian death toll from October 7, 2023 – September 5, 2024: at least 41,546* (40,878 in Gaza* – 11,308 women (28%), 16,715 children (41%) as of September 5. [The Ministry’s figures have been contested by the Israeli authorities, although they have been accepted as accurate by Israeli intelligence services, the UN, and WHO. These data are supported by independent analyses, comparing changes in the number of deaths of UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff with those reported by the Ministry, which found claims of data fabrication implausible.]

This is expected to be a significant undercount since thousands of those killed have yet to be identified – and at least 691 in the West Bank (~148 children). This does not include an estimated 10,000 more still buried under rubble (4,900 women and children). Euro-Med Monitor reports 49,032 Palestinian deaths.

Lancet: “Applying a conservative estimate of four indirect deaths per one direct death9 to the 37,396 deaths reported, it is not implausible to estimate that up to 186 000 or even more deaths could be attributable to the current conflict in Gaza.

Ralph Nader earlier estimated 200,000 Palestinians may have been killed in Gaza.

At least 45 Palestinians have died in Israeli prisons (27 from Gaza, 23 from West Bank).
At least 41 Palestinians have died due to malnutrition (at least 37 of them children)**.
About 1.9 million of Gaza’s 2.3 million population are currently displaced.
Almost 500,000 Gazans are currently experiencing catastrophic levels of food insecurity.
Palestinian injuries from October 7 – September 5: at least 100,098 (including at least 94,454 in Gaza and 5,700 in the West Bank, including 830 children). [It remains unknown how man Americans are among the casualties in Gaza.]

Reported Israeli death toll from October 7, 2023 – September 5, 2024: ~1,452 (~1,139 on October 7, 2023, of which ~32 were Americans, and ~36 were children); 288*** military forces since the ground invasion began in Gaza; 25 military and civilians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Israel) and~10,000 injured.

NOTE: It is unknown at this time how many of the deaths and injuries of Israelis on October 7 were caused by Israeli soldiers.

*Previously, IAK did not include 471 Gazans killed in the Al Ahli hospital blast since the source of the projectile was being disputed. However, given that much evidence points to Israel as the culprit, Israel had previously bombed the hospital and has attacked many others, Israel is prohibiting outside experts from investigating the scene, and since the UN and other agencies are including the deaths from the attack in their cumulative totals, if Americans knew is now also doing so.

**Euro-Med Monitor reports that Gaza’s elderly are dying at an alarmingly high rate. The majority die at home and are buried either close to their residences or in makeshift graves dispersed across the Strip. There are currently more than 140 such cemeteries. Additionally, according to Euromed, thousands have died from starvation, malnourishment, and inadequate medical care; these are considered indirect victims as they were not registered in hospitals.

***Approximately ten of the deaths listed above were Israeli soldiers killed by Hezbollah in fighting at the Israel-Lebanon border. The figure does not include the reportedly 53 Israeli soldiers – nearly 16% of the total Israeli military deaths – killed due to friendly fire in Gaza and other military-related accidents.

† For most of the conflict, women and children accounted for about 70% of deaths in Gaza, with children making up a little over 40% of those killed, according to official statistics.

Find previous daily casualty figures and daily news updates here.

Hover over each bar for exact numbers.
Source: IsraelPalestineTimeline.org

Human rights reports on Israel-Palestine (regularly updated)
Alison Weir trending on social media – what the buzz is about
Israeli media’s coverage of the rape of Palestinian detainees shows support for sexual violence in service of genocide
Inside Israel’s torture, rape, and dehumanization centers
I’m a pediatrician. The scars I saw on Gaza’s children will take generations to heal.
What Harris’s Jewish outreach director said at a private DNC afterparty
‘Strong record of supporting the U.S.-Israel relationship’: a look at Tim Walz’s votes on Palestine as a member of Congress
Nearly Two-Thirds of All Campaign Funds for Cori Bush Challenger Came From AIPAC
Israeli army probe covered up “friendly fire” killings on October 7
Are US officials’ investments of public funds in Israeli bonds ethical? How much is too much?
Honoring the memory of a Gazan Olympic hero: Majed Abu Maraheel
An American was just shot in the West Bank. The American press can’t be bothered.
Understanding what motivates ultra-orthodox Jewish attacks on West Bank Palestinians
Palestinians’ harrowing stories of rape by Israeli soldiers (including female soldiers)
A Palestinian journalist visited Ismail Haniyeh’s home in Gaza to report on his death. Israel assassinated him too.
I reported a piece for the New York Times on antisemitism. I found a major error, but the Times didn’t care.
How Israel plans to whitewash its war crimes in Gaza
Why the West Bank is on the verge of economic collapse
Netanyahu’s plan to involve US in regional war on its behalf
Western media continue to withhold the truth about Israel and Gaza – 4 stories
“Well What SHOULD Israel Have Done After October 7?”
Welcome to Hell
More dead children. More BBC ‘news’ channelling Israeli propaganda as its own
U.S. media downplays and ignores ICJ ruling declaring Israeli occupation illegal
Israeli soldiers tell story of savage cruelty in Gaza – one given blessing by the West
Searching for Gaza’s missing children

https://israelpalestinenews.org/israel-kills-american-activist-terrorizes-prisoners-as-biden-admin-shrugs-day-335/

https://donshafi911iamthefaceoftruth.blogspot.com/2024/09/israel-kills-american-activist.html

‘We Will Not Comply’ with Pandemic Treaty, 26 Republican Governors Tell WHO
2nd Smartest Guy in the World
by Suzanne Burdick, Ph.D.

who logo and thumbs down sign
Twenty-six U.S. governors — over half of the nation’s state leaders — have stated publicly that they will not comply with a World Health Organization (WHO)-led global attempt at controlling U.S. Americans’ health.

In their Aug. 29 statement, the 26 governors — all Republicans — and the Republican Governors Association accused the WHO of “attempting one world control over health policy” by promoting a “pandemic agreement” or “pandemic treaty.”

“Put simply,” they wrote, “Republican Governors will not comply.”

Since 2021, the WHO has been drafting proposals for a pandemic agreement and amendments to its International Health Regulations.

During the organization’s most recent World Health Assembly session, which ended on June 1, WHO negotiators did not agree on a final draft of a pandemic agreement. However, they did make “concrete commitments to completing negotiations on a global pandemic agreement within a year, at the latest, and possibly in 2024,” the WHO stated.

Health freedom activist Dr. Meryl Nass, an internist and founder of Door to Freedom, an organization that lobbied against the WHO pandemic treaty proposals, told The Defender the governors’ statement is “very necessary at this time” because the United Nations (U.N.) — which runs the WHO — “seeks to gain world control over emergencies such as cyber emergencies, supply chain emergencies or outer space emergencies.”

“The jig is up,” Nass said. “It has become widely understood that the U.N. system is being used in an attempt to centralize its control and usurp national sovereignty.”

The governors said they refuse to comply with a WHO pandemic agreement because it would consolidate power in the hands of the WHO, thereby threatening national sovereignty, states’ rights and U.S. Americans’ constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.

Nass said:

“This was every Republican governor in the United States with the single exception of Vermont Republican governor [Phil Scott]. He governs a state that is strongly Democrat and may have felt he could not expend the political capital required to go along and make this statement unanimous.”

The 26 governors pointed to a May 22 letter to President Joe Biden in which 24 Republican governors voiced their concerns about the WHO’s proposal.

According to the letter, the WHO’s proposed treaty would “empower the WHO, particularly its uncontrollable Director-General, with the authority to restrict the rights of U.S. citizens, including freedoms such as speech, privacy, travel, choice of medical care, and informed consent, thus violating our Constitution’s core principles.”

WHO fails to pass pandemic treaty but says it’s still committed to it

For more than two years, the WHO has been trying to pass a pandemic treaty deal.

In December 2021, the agency’s World Health Assembly established an “intergovernmental negotiating body” to draft an international agreement under the WHO’s constitution to strengthen the agency’s pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. The U.S. federal government supported the initiative.

Although WHO negotiators disagreed on a final draft of the agreement during the most recent World Health Assembly session, they did approve a set of revisions to the WHO’s International Health Regulations.

However, the approved revisions did not include many of the most restrictive proposals that worried health freedom advocates, The Defender reported.

Nass wrote on her Substack that the World Health Assembly “had to adopt something to save face, and it had become apparent to the globalists that they would not do any better if they delayed a decision.”

U.S. states’ actions ‘central’ to defeating WHO pandemic plan

Action by U.S. states was “central” to defeating the WHO plan to centralize control of public health during declared emergencies, Nass told The Defender.

“Children’s Health Defense and Door to Freedom were central in devising this strategy,” she said, adding:

“The Constitution’s 10th Amendment reserves for the states all powers that were not specifically granted to the central government. Healthcare was never a federal authority.

“Therefore, we urged citizens to contact their attorneys general, governors, legislators — and federal officials — to demand they not turn over authority for health to the WHO.”

In May, in addition to 24 governors writing their letter of opposition, 49 senators called on the Biden administration to reject the WHO agreement.

Additionally, 22 attorneys general told Biden they would “resist any attempt to enable the WHO to directly or indirectly set public policy for our citizens.”

Numerous states — including Utah, Florida, Louisiana and Oklahoma — wrote legislation to prevent the WHO from overriding states’ authority on matters of public health policy.

“I am certain,” Nass added, “that these efforts reverberated around the world and helped lead to rejection” of the WHO’s proposals.


The list of signatories: Governor Kay Ivey (AL), Governor Mike Dunleavy (AK), Governor Sarah Sanders (AR), Governor Ron DeSantis (FL), Governor Brian Kemp (GA), Governor Brad Little (ID), Governor Eric Holcomb (IN), Governor Kim Reynolds (IA), Governor Jeff Landry (LA), Governor Tate Reeves (MS), Governor Mike Parson (MO), Governor Greg Gianforte (MT), Governor Jim Pillen (NE), Governor Joe Lombardo (NV), Governor Chris Sununu (NH), Governor Doug Burgum (ND), Governor Mike DeWine (OH), Governor Kevin Stitt (OK), Governor Henry McMaster (SC), Governor Kristi Noem (SD), Governor Bill Lee (TN), Governor Greg Abbott (TX), Governor Spencer Cox (UT), Governor Glenn Youngkin (VA), Governor Jim Justice (WV), and Governor Mark Gordon (WY).

They want you dead.

Do NOT comply.






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Gaslighting Hard Edition: ‘Stunning’ 620% Higher Risk of Myocarditis After mRNA COVID "Vaccines." Korean Study
And A Possible Treatment Approach for Management of Post-COVID Vaccination Myocarditis.

2nd Smartest Guy in the World
A recent Korean research study showed horrific slow kill bioweapon “vaccine” outcomes in the genetically modified subjects, only to fraudulently conclude:

The result of our study may indicate the necessity for additional monitoring when administering booster vaccinations. However, it should be interpreted cautiously due to the potential healthy vaccine effect. In addition, booster vaccinations have shown substantial safety and potential benefits of improving humoral immune response preventing COVID-19 diagnosis or reducing disease severity29. Moreover, an additional dose of the vaccine could serve as a strategy to address the limitation of its waning efficacy over time30. Therefore, our results are not sufficient to discourage booster vaccination and suggest that regular and long-term monitoring may be necessary to ensure the early detection and management of any emerging risks associated with repeated vaccinations.

This is absolutely sickening to read precisely because the research study irrefutably proved that there is a wide-range of adverse events, including a 620% increase in the life-shortening (read: deadly) myocarditis outcome due to the administration of these Modified mRNA poisons.

The fact that these “vaccines” do not prevent transmission in the least, nor attenuate COVID symptoms whatsoever means that they could never be approved for human use; also, all of the animal studies showed that the Modified mRNA platform was exceedingly dangerous and ineffective, despite many of the said animal studies being cut short in order to obfuscate the grim side affects and reduced lifespans. Therefore, it is especially troubling when the research authors wrote:

Moreover, an additional dose of the vaccine could serve as a strategy to address the limitation of its waning efficacy over time.

In other words, ascribing “waning efficacy” to the overall decimated immune systems of the VAIDS sufferers is an effective strategy to getting greater booster update.

Absolutely sickening gaslighting and coverup job by yet another research team that is beholden to governmental agencies (Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency [KDCA]), BigPharma and the Intelligence Industrial Complex.

And if for some reason one believes that the KDCA was not in on the PSYOP-19 scam, then simply take a gander at their recent tabletop exercise participation with all of the usual bioterrorist eugenicist suspects: Disease X Exercise to Prepare for Next Pandemic.

Next scamdemic indeed, the next round of Modified mRNA slow kill bioweapon boosters, and the next unprecedented surge in VAIDS adverse events like myocarditis, prion-based diseases and turbo cancers; but hey, have no fear, because the results are never ever, “sufficient to discourage booster vaccination…”


by John-Michael Dumais

A large-scale peer-reviewed South Korean study has found significantly increased risks of serious cardiac and neurological conditions following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, and lesser risks of several autoimmune diseases.

The nationwide population-based cohort study, published Tuesday in Nature Communications, followed nearly 4.5 million people for an average of 15 months after vaccination. First published on July 23, 2024


Screenshot from Nature
Researchers found a striking 620% increased risk of myocarditis and 175% increased risk of pericarditis in people who received the vaccine compared to historical controls.

The study also revealed a 62% increased risk for Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), a rare neurological disorder.

The researchers did not highlight the cardiac and GBS risks, but only used the data to confirm the validity of their study design, which focused on determining the risks of autoimmune diseases associated with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

The researchers found a 16% increased chance of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE — the most common lupus type) and a 58% higher risk of bullous pemphigoid (BP — large, fluid-filled blisters).

The study also revealed that booster shots were associated with slightly increased risks of several autoimmune connective tissue diseases (AI-CTDs), including alopecia areata (patchy hair loss), psoriasis (scaly, inflamed skin) and rheumatoid arthritis.

“Given that the risk of SLE and BP was increased in certain demographic conditions such as age and sex, long-term monitoring is necessary after mRNA vaccination for the development of AI-CTDs,” the study authors noted.

Brian Hooker, Ph.D., chief scientific officer at Children’s Health Defense (CHD), noted how the authors minimized the most alarming data but told The Defender the study was otherwise “very robust.”

Hooker said several other studies also show relationships between autoimmune disorders — including systemic lupus — and mRNA vaccination.

The Nature Communications article follows another South Korean study published in May that found significant increases in the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination.

One of Largest Studies of Its Kind

The South Korean study, one of the largest of its kind, examined the long-term risk of autoimmune connective tissue diseases following mRNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.

Researchers analyzed data from 9,258,803 individuals who had received at least one dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. The researchers then randomly split this total into a vaccination cohort of 4,445,333 people and a historical control cohort of 4,444,932 individuals.

Because of South Korea’s high vaccination rate (96.6% of adults completed the primary COVID-19 series by October 2022), the researchers studied the health history of the control cohort for the two-year period prior to their first vaccine dose, up to Dec. 31, 2020 — just before the vaccine rollout. The vaccination group was observed through Dec. 31, 2022.

Karl Jablonowski, Ph.D., senior research scientist at CHD, criticized the observation period for the historical control group, pointing out that this timeframe bridges the first year of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

“This makes it impossible (or really darn difficult) to disentangle results based on vaccination or infection,” he told The Defender. “Ideally this study would include a contemporary unvaccinated cohort for scientific examination.”

However, the researchers chose not to study unvaccinated people due to concerns over “inappropriate cohort selection and potential selection bias.”

The mean follow-up times were 471.24 ± 66.16 days for the vaccination cohort and 471.28 ± 66.15 days for the historical control cohort.

The researchers used comprehensive demographic data and healthcare records from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) and Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) databases, which cover over 99% of the South Korean population.

They attributed disease conditions when confirmed by the corresponding International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) diagnostic codes through at least three inpatient or outpatient visits during the observation period.

To ensure fair comparisons between the vaccinated group and the historical control group, researchers used statistical methods to balance out differences in:

Age and sex

Income levels and place of residence

Health habits like smoking and drinking

Existing health conditions, from high blood pressure to HIV

They also accounted for changes over time, such as when people got booster shots.

High Risk of Myocarditis in Women Among Key Findings

The researchers used their assessment of increased risks for myocarditis, pericarditis and Guillain-Barré syndrome as “positive control outcomes” to validate their study methodology.

By demonstrating the known increases in risk for these outcomes, the researchers aimed to show that their study design was capable of detecting vaccine-related adverse events.

Negative control outcomes included benign skin tumors, melanoma in situ (stage 0) and tympanic membrane perforation (ruptured eardrum) — conditions less likely to be associated with COVID-19 vaccination.

This approach lends credibility to their findings on autoimmune connective tissue diseases, suggesting that the observed increases in risk for certain AI-CTDs are likely genuine effects rather than artifacts of the study design or analysis methods.

The study identified the following variations in the vaccinated versus unvaccinated groups, respectively:

Myocarditis: 164 cases versus 21 cases (620% increased risk)

Pericarditis: 155 cases versus 54 cases (175% increased risk)

Guillain-Barré syndrome: 123 cases versus 71 cases (62% increased risk)

Hooker told The Defender he found it odd that increased risks for these “control” sequelae were treated in passing. “It’s like, ‘Oh, everyone knows that these vaccines cause myocarditis, pericarditis and GBS … ho hum. If you have that adverse event, oh well, too bad for you.’”

Jablonowski said that given the extreme risk increase of myocarditis from vaccination found in the study, it was “stunning” that neither the paper’s title nor abstract even mentioned it. He attributed the exclusion to “the changing scope of censorship in science.”

He said:

“We know that myocarditis is most often the result of the second mRNA dose. Figure 5 of the paper further verifies this, as column C denotes a 9.17-times increase in myocarditis for those who receive only mRNA vaccinations as opposed to 2.91-times increase in myocarditis for those who are cross-vaccinated with mRNA and non-mRNA vaccines.”

Jablonowski highlighted the paper’s confirmation of other studies showing people younger than 40 are nearly twice as likely to develop myocarditis as those over 40 (12.53 times increased risk versus 6.18 times).

But he was surprised by the study’s findings that females are nearly twice as likely to develop myocarditis as males (10.53 times increased risk versus 5.26 times). “To my knowledge, this has never been shown in any population before.”

Regarding the study’s primary stated purpose, the researchers found that mRNA vaccination did not increase the risk of most autoimmune connective tissue diseases.

However, they identified a statistically significant 16% increased risk of systemic lupus erythematosus in vaccinated individuals when compared to the historic control cohort.

Gender-specific risks also emerged in the analysis. Women receiving the mRNA vaccine had a significantly higher risk — 167% — of developing bullous pemphigoid, compared to just a 2% increased risk for men.

The research also uncovered the following increased risks associated with COVID-19 booster shots: 12% for alopecia areata, 14% for rheumatoid arthritis and 16% for psoriasis.

Differences between vaccine types were also noted. Recipients of the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine had an 18% higher risk of developing SLE compared to those who received Moderna’s mRNA-1273 vaccine, who had an 8% increased risk.

Jablonowski said he had no theory about how the two vaccine brands resulted in the different risks observed. He speculated it could have something to do with the timing of the doses, with the two Pfizer doses being recommended three weeks apart and two Moderna doses four weeks apart.

Booster Shots May Increase Amount of Free-floating DNA in Key Immune Cells

The researchers wrote that the association between mRNA vaccination and SLE remains unclear, but they admitted that vaccine-associated SLE has been found in other studies.

The researchers noted that mRNA vaccines may increase levels of certain antibodies in the blood that can react with the body’s own DNA. This process could potentially trigger autoimmune diseases like lupus.

They also referenced a study suggesting that booster shots may increase the amount of free-floating DNA in key immune cells. This could potentially disrupt normal immune function.

Hooker said that “Mechanisms regarding innate immune activation via DAMPS [damage-associated molecular patterns] have been proposed for these relationships” between mRNA vaccines and autoimmune disorders like SLE. This process involves cells releasing bits of their own DNA and other molecules, causing the immune system to overactivate and potentially attack the body’s own tissues.

The authors called for further research into the association between mRNA-based vaccines and AI-CTDs.

The researchers highlighted several key limitations to their findings.

The study’s focus on a single ethnic group, South Koreans, may limit its applicability to other populations due to genetic variations in autoimmune disease susceptibility.

The authors noted that the two-year pre-study observation period may have missed some pre-existing autoimmune conditions due to their gradual onset.

Requiring three consistent ICD-10-coded records for each person to confirm disease states may also have understated the actual rates.

Pandemic-related reductions in healthcare utilization could have led to the under-diagnosis of some conditions during the study period, they said.

Despite a mean follow-up of 471 days, one of the longest for mRNA vaccine studies, the authors noted this might still be insufficient given the potentially slow development of autoimmune connective tissue diseases.

Hooker emphasized that 15 months is “the tip of the iceberg” for this type of study. He said:

“Autoimmune sequelae could take years to develop, based on previous experience with ASIA (autoimmune/inflammatory syndromes induced by adjuvants). This is confounded by boosters ad infinitum, especially with mRNA vaccines.”


There may in fact be a means of addressing heart damage from these spike protein inducing “vaccines;” to wit:

EXCLUSIVE RESEARCH BOMBSHELL: Possible Treatment Approach for Management of Post-COVID Vaccination Myocarditis

EXCLUSIVE RESEARCH BOMBSHELL: Possible Treatment Approach for Management of Post-COVID Vaccination Myocarditis
This is perhaps the most important article in this Substack’s ongoing series exposing the Modified mRNA slow kill bioweapon, and the various associated “vaccine”-induced death and disease mitigation strategies incorporating inexpensive repurposed drugs that actually work.

Read full story

They want you dead.

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Singapore to offer Mpox vaccine to high-risk healthcare workers and close contacts - The Online Citizen
The Online Citizen4 September 2024
Singapore has announced new measures to combat the spread of the deadlier mpox clade 1 strain, as concerns mount over its potential impact.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung revealed that the mpox vaccine JYNNEOS will be offered to two key groups: healthcare workers at high risk of exposure and close contacts of confirmed cases.

The announcement comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years due to the resurgence of clade 1 cases in Africa.

Minister Ong emphasized that while there is limited data on the virus, the government has sufficient information to implement precautionary measures. “We do not have full information on the characteristics of this virus, but we have good information on how it behaves,” he said. Ong added that Singapore’s response plan would remain flexible and adapt as the global understanding of the virus evolves.

Response Measures and Border Controls

As part of a whole-of-government approach, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has coordinated a comprehensive public health strategy to prevent the spread of mpox clade 1 in Singapore.

While no direct flights connect Singapore to countries experiencing mpox outbreaks, temperature and visual screening measures have been put in place at Changi and Seletar airports for travellers and crew arriving from affected regions. Screening at sea checkpoints has also been implemented for ships from mpox-affected areas.

Travellers are required to report any mpox-related symptoms (such as fever or rash) and provide travel history via the SG Arrival Card. Those displaying symptoms will be assessed by medical professionals at the borders and referred to hospitals if necessary.

Vaccination Strategy and Quarantine

The JYNNEOS vaccine, previously approved in Singapore for both smallpox and mpox, will be offered to two key groups. Healthcare workers at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) and other high-risk facilities will be provided with pre-exposure prophylaxis, in addition to existing infection control protocols. Close contacts of confirmed mpox cases will receive a single vaccine dose within 14 days of exposure during their 21-day quarantine period. The MOH has assured that the current vaccine supply is sufficient to meet the needs of these priority groups.

MOH highlighted that a “significant” portion of the population—those born before 1981—may already have some immunity due to mandatory smallpox vaccinations administered in Singapore until that year.

Detection, Isolation, and Treatment

MOH has instructed all healthcare providers to be vigilant and promptly report any suspected mpox cases, especially those involving clade 1.

Suspected cases will be referred to designated hospitals for further assessment and testing, with paediatric cases directed to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital and adult-child family groups to National University Hospital. Confirmed clade 1 cases will be isolated in healthcare facilities until they are no longer infectious to prevent further community spread.

Testing for mpox involves polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing conducted at the National Public Health Laboratory. While there are no rapid point-of-care test kits available, cases are managed through supportive care. For severe cases, antivirals such as Tecovirimat may be used, aligning with treatment protocols in other countries.

Community Measures and Mask-Wearing

Based on current data, the virus spreads mainly through close physical contact, such as within households. Therefore, mask-wearing for the general public is not recommended unless there is significant evidence of respiratory transmission. MOH has stated that if respiratory spread becomes a concern, measures such as mask-wearing on public transport or in crowded indoor spaces may be considered.

In settings such as preschools and schools, existing infectious disease protocols—such as visual screenings for symptoms and hygiene measures—will continue to be implemented to control any potential spread. Additionally, MOH, in collaboration with the Ministry of Manpower and the National Environment Agency, has begun wastewater testing at migrant worker dormitories and the Onboard Centre to detect any presence of mpox.

Ongoing Surveillance and Preparedness

MOH will continue to work closely with international counterparts to monitor the evolving mpox situation. Border measures, detection protocols, and vaccination strategies will be adjusted as needed to safeguard Singapore’s public health.

As of now, Singapore has not detected any clade 1 cases, with all 14 mpox cases this year involving the less severe clade 2 subtype. However, Minister Ong stressed the importance of vigilance, particularly in protecting vulnerable groups such as children and the immunocompromised, should clade 1 reach Singapore.

“Our best course of action is to suppress the spread, provide proper treatment, and have an effective vaccination strategy in place,” Ong said. Despite the concern surrounding mpox, Ong reassured the public that it is unlikely to cause the level of disruption seen during COVID-19.

https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2024/09/04/singapore-to-offer-mpox-vaccine-to-high-risk-healthcare-workers-and-close-contacts/

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Thrilled to be here! I’m passionate about helping businesses optimize their workflows through office automation. Automating routine tasks means more time for creativity, strategy, and growth! Looking forward to connecting with like-minded people and sharing insights on how to work smarter every day. #OfficeAutomation #ProductivityHacks #BusinessGrowth

Kamala vs. Trump: Who is More Zionist? - VT Foreign Policy
September 3, 2024
VT Condemns the ETHNIC CLEANSING OF PALESTINIANS by USA/Israel

$ 280 BILLION US TAXPAYER DOLLARS INVESTED since 1948 in US/Israeli Ethnic Cleansing and Occupation Operation; $ 150B direct "aid" and $ 130B in "Offense" contracts
Source: Embassy of Israel, Washington, D.C. and US Department of State.

I am in personal distress. I am an ethnically cleansed Arab-American and the country of my citizenship is funding the ethnic cleansing of our family in Palestine. Many of my cousins and American friends feel the stress each day and, frankly, feel helpless.

We are looking for answers; for heroes to help us and our families. But all we get is a few tin words from Kamala and a middle finger from the vulgar Trump.

In our distress, many Arab Americans are beyond offended by the Biden Administration’s actions against Palestinians. In Gaza, they are openly murdering civilians including children and no one is stopping the Americans and Israeli’s.



In Michigan, which has the most Arab-American voters, the two parties are concerned they will lose those votes and so they are trying to pretend they care about Palestinians; at least for the next 2 months. But we all know that is bullshit. So who should Arab-Americans or any Americans vote for that care for helpless millions of people stuck in the Israeli controlled Gaza concentration camps funded by the US Government?

The short answer is …

It does NOT matter! They both equally suck! So stop pretending one is better than the other because there is NO difference! Period!

The USA is pro-Israel and has been its greatest ally since 1945. Period! End of Story! So if any of you are expecting the USA, the chief funding source for the Euro-Western Outpost in the Middle East commonly known as Israel, to be sympathetic towards Palestinians and the indigenous peoples of the area, well, I refer you to “Chief Always Getting Bullshitted” who now lives on a reservation, whatever the fuck that means.



In fact, from 1778 to 1871, the United States government entered into more than 500 treaties with the Native American tribes; all of these treaties have since been violated in some way or outright broken by the U.S. government, with Native Americans and First Nations peoples still fighting for their treaty rights. This is how the USA and Israel do their business. And if you were unaware of this reality, then that’s on you.

Okay, so now you know… stop depending on the USA to save Palestine! And vote your conscience despite the USA policy towards Israel because it matters not! The USA is the problem, not the solution! Wake Up McFly! Anybody Home! Think McMfly Think!

Never mind the Back To The Future references, if you still think one of these political animals will save Palestine, then let’s take a deeper look at Kamala vs. Trump.


Then US President Donald Trump getting his balls buttered as he awards Israeli Billionaire Zionist Miriam Adelson with the US Medal of Freedom during a ceremony at the White House in Washington, November 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Comparing the foreign policy positions of Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump regarding Israel reveals distinct approaches that reflect their broader political ideologies and party affiliations.

Both figures have prioritized the U.S.-Israel relationship but have different perspectives on how to maintain and enhance this alliance.

Below is a comparison of their views and policies on key issues related to Israel:

U.S.-Israel Relationship

Donald Trump: During his presidency, Trump adopted a staunchly pro-Israel stance, which was seen as a significant departure from the more balanced approach of his predecessors. Trump’s policies were characterized by a strong personal rapport with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a commitment to solidifying the U.S.-Israel strategic partnership. This included moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. These actions were celebrated by many in Israel and by pro-Israel groups in the United States but drew criticism from some international actors and U.S. political figures who argued they could undermine peace efforts with the Palestinians.

Kamala Harris: Vice President Harris, aligned with the broader Democratic stance, emphasizes a strong commitment to Israel’s security while also giving the typical same ole bullshit lip service pretending to advocate for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Harris has voiced her support for Israel’s right to defend itself and has reiterated the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship. However, unlike Trump, her position emphasizes diplomacy and engagement with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority to achieve a peaceful resolution. Harris supports keeping the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem but has been more cautious about unilateral actions that could exacerbate tensions in the region.


Bibi letting Kamala know where she stands in the scheme of global power!
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Donald Trump: Trump’s approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was one-sided, favoring Israeli positions. Period! The only thing Trump hides is his head up Bibi’s ass. His administration’s “Peace to Prosperity” plan, unveiled in early 2020, proposed a two-state solution but was criticized for heavily favoring Israeli security needs and territorial claims. The plan included provisions for Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank, which many Palestinians and international observers viewed as detrimental to the prospects of a viable Palestinian state. Trump’s administration also cut aid to the Palestinians and closed the Palestine Liberation Organization’s office in Washington, D.C.

Kamala Harris: Harris says she supports a two-state solution and has expressed concern about actions that could undermine this goal, such as settlement expansion in the West Bank. But everyone in the world knows that’s bullshit. It is the same ole words since 1945. Means nothing because the actions are the actions. Harris and the Biden administration say they advocate for renewed diplomatic engagement and have restored aid to the Palestinians that was cut under Trump. Harris emphasizes the need for direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians and has called for both sides to avoid unilateral measures that would make peace more difficult to achieve. Her approach tends to be more balanced, aiming to consider both Israeli security concerns and Palestinian aspirations. But in the end, it’s all 100% Israel and everyone knows it.

Normalization of Relations with Arab States

Donald Trump: A significant foreign policy achievement for Trump was the facilitation of normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco, known collectively as the Abraham Accords. These agreements marked a shift in Middle Eastern dynamics, promoting economic cooperation and reducing isolation for Israel in the region. Trump’s administration positioned these accords as a pathway to broader peace in the Middle East by changing the regional order and shifting focus away from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Kamala Harris: Harris has expressed support for the Abraham Accords and views them as a positive development for regional stability and economic cooperation. The Biden administration has continued to endorse these normalization efforts and looks to build on them. However, Harris also underscores that while normalization between Israel and Arab states is important, it should not come at the expense of addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She believes that a comprehensive peace in the Middle East must include a viable solution for both Israelis and Palestinians.

Iran and Regional Security

Donald Trump: Trump took a hardline stance against Iran, withdrawing from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, which he criticized as flawed and insufficient. His administration imposed stringent sanctions on Iran, aiming to pressure Tehran into renegotiating a more stringent agreement that also addressed ballistic missile development and regional influence. Trump’s policies aligned closely with Israeli security concerns regarding Iran’s influence and nuclear capabilities.

Kamala Harris: Harris, as part of the Biden administration, supports re-engaging with Iran to limit its nuclear program while addressing broader regional security concerns. This includes a potential return to the JCPOA, provided Iran returns to compliance with its nuclear commitments. Harris’s approach is more focused on diplomacy and multilateral efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions and stabilize the region. While Harris shares concerns about Iran’s behavior in the Middle East, her strategy emphasizes a coordinated international response rather than unilateral sanctions.


A man reacts as Palestinians search for casualties a day after Israeli strikes on houses in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip. American politicians don’t care, period! They are funders of murder and death! Period!
Human Rights and Democracy Promotion

Donald Trump: Human rights and democracy promotion in relation to Israel and the Palestinian territories were not primary focal points of Trump’s Middle East policy. His administration often overlooked concerns about human rights violations or democratic backsliding in favor of strategic and security interests. Trump’s administration was criticized for not addressing issues like Israeli settlement expansion or Palestinian rights adequately, focusing instead on bolstering strategic alliances.

Kamala Harris: Harris places more emphasis on human rights and democracy as integral components of U.S. foreign policy. She supports continued military aid to Israel but with a focus on ensuring that such aid is consistent with human rights standards. Harris has called for accountability on all sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has advocated for measures that support peace, security, and human rights. She believes that promoting democratic values is key to achieving long-term peace and stability in the region.

Conclusion

The foreign policy positions of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump regarding Israel reflect their broader ideological differences and priorities. Trump’s approach was characterized by strong, unilateral support for Israeli government policies, emphasizing security and regional realignment.

In contrast, Harris advocates for a more balanced approach that maintains strong support for Israel while emphasizing diplomacy, human rights, and a commitment to a two-state solution. Both approaches aim to strengthen U.S.-Israel relations but differ significantly in their strategies for achieving peace and stability in the Middle East. And both are 100% pro-Israel. They simply do NOT care how many Palestinians get murdered by their bombs. It means nothing to American Politicians. Period!

So Mister Arab-American looking for a hero to save Palestinian peoples, look somewhere else cause Kamala and Trump won’t save anyone! This is a big power business and you’re nobody to them!


The US has been the chief funder of colonialism in Palestine since 1945
References

Here are some references that can be used to substantiate the comparisons between the foreign policy positions of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump regarding Israel:

1. U.S.-Israel Relationship

Trump’s pro-Israel stance and key policy actions:
“Trump recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and orders U.S. embassy to move,” The Washington Post, December 6, 2017.
“Trump officially recognizes Golan Heights as Israeli territory,” BBC News, March 25, 2019.
Kamala Harris’s views and actions related to Israel:
“Kamala Harris: U.S. will never let Iran acquire nuclear weapon,” The Times of Israel, March 1, 2021.
“Kamala Harris affirms US support for Israel, commitment to two-state solution in call with Netanyahu,” The Hill, November 30, 2020.
2. Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Trump’s approach to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process:
“Trump’s Israel-Palestine ‘peace plan’ grants Israel most of what it wants, including settlements and Jerusalem,” Vox, January 28, 2020.
“Trump cuts $200 million in aid to Palestinians,” Reuters, August 24, 2018.
Harris’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict:
“Kamala Harris reiterates support for two-state solution in call with Netanyahu,” Haaretz, November 30, 2020.
“Biden administration to restore US aid to Palestinians, including for UNRWA,” The Guardian, April 7, 2021.
3. Normalization of Relations with Arab States

Trump and the Abraham Accords:
“What are the Abraham Accords? The significance of UAE, Bahrain, Israel deals,” Al Jazeera, September 15, 2020.
“Morocco joins the Abraham Accords, becoming the fourth country to normalize relations with Israel,” The New York Times, December 10, 2020.
Kamala Harris and her support for normalization agreements:
“Kamala Harris supports Israel normalization deals, two-state solution,” Jerusalem Post, August 12, 2020.
“Biden and Harris to continue pushing Arab-Israel normalization efforts,” Middle East Eye, October 29, 2020.
4. Iran and Regional Security

Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal:
“Trump abandons Iran nuclear deal he long scorned,” The New York Times, May 8, 2018.
“U.S. reimposes all Iran sanctions lifted under Obama nuclear deal,” Reuters, November 5, 2018.
Harris’s support for diplomatic engagement with Iran:
“Kamala Harris on Iran: ‘The Biden-Harris administration will seek to re-enter the JCPOA’,” The National Interest, August 2020.
“Harris supports Biden’s commitment to diplomacy with Iran,” The Times of Israel, March 1, 2021.
5. Human Rights and Democracy Promotion

Human rights and Trump’s foreign policy:
“Trump’s foreign policy record: The good, the bad, and the ugly,” Brookings Institution, January 19, 2021.
“Trump’s record on human rights,” Human Rights Watch, January 2020.
Harris’s focus on human rights and democracy:
“Kamala Harris: US will stand up for human rights and democratic principles,” The Times of Israel, March 1, 2021.
“Harris tells AIPAC Biden administration will keep aid to Israel with no strings attached,” Haaretz, March 2, 2020.
Johnny Punish
Johnny Punish founded VT in 2004. After 20 years at the helm, he “retired” from the daily operations in late 2023 passing the ball over to the new owner of VT, Chief Justin Time. He now writes for VT as “Writer Emeritus”. He is also a global citizen eco-activist, visionary, musician, artist, entertainer, businessman, investor, life coach, podcast host, and syndicated columnist.

Punish is an ethnically cleansed Palestinian-American whose maternal family was evicted from their home in Haifa, Palestine in 1948. He is also the founder and owner of Global Thinkers, a freedom media for free minds.

Resources: Facebook – YouTube – Apple Music – SoundCloud – Spotify – X (Twitter)

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www.johnnypunish.com

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https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2024/09/kamala-vs-trump-who-is-more-zionist/

Bibi’s bullying visits to Congress never end well
Washington will give Israel's Netanyahu whatever he wants, whether it's in America's interest or not. Who will say no?

Jonas E. Alexis, Senior EditorAugust 31, 2024

On September 12, 2002, Benjamin Netanyahu — then a private citizen — was invited to Congress to give “an Israeli perspective” in support of a U.S. invasion of Iraq. Netanyahu issued a confident prediction: “if you take out Saddam, Saddam’s regime, I guarantee you that it will have enormous positive reverberations on the region,” adding, “and I think that people sitting right next door in Iran, young people, and many others, will say the time of such regimes, of such despots is gone.”

In 2015, Netanyahu returned to Congress — this time as Israel’s prime minister — to undermine the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) negotiations led by the Obama administration along with key U.S. allies the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. After a tepid acknowledgement of President Obama’s support for Israel — Obama ultimately gave Israel $38 billion, the largest military aid package in history — Netanyahu spent the remainder of his speech attacking what would become one of the sitting president’s signature foreign policy achievements.

In both cases, Netanyahu’s advice was catastrophically wrong. America’s invasion of Iraq was a bloody disaster that killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions more, creating massive instability in the region and paving the way for ISIS’s rise.

Meanwhile, Obama’s deal with Iran had succeeded in rolling Iran’s nuclear program back and blocking its pathways to a bomb — that is until the Trump administration followed Netanyahu’s advice and backed out of the deal in 2018, thus forfeiting our capability to contain Iran’s nuclear program while torpedoing prospects for productive engagement with Tehran on reducing regional tensions.

When Trump withdrew from the JCPOA, Iran was at least one year away from being able to produce enough enriched uranium to produce one nuclear weapon. Thanks to that withdrawal, Iran can produce a nuclear weapon in less than two weeks.

Tomorrow, Netanyahu is set to address Congress again — this time, as he prosecutes a campaign of mass carnage and destruction in Gaza that has killed more than 39,000 Palestinians — to ask for continued support for his efforts to “defeat Hamas.” Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Forces themselves call Netanyahu’s pursuit of “total victory” against Hamas impossible and “misleading to the public.”

By now, Netanyahu is used to coming to Washington, telling U.S. leaders what to do, and seeing them oblige. The consequences of abiding his arrogant approach have been nothing short of disastrous. So will Washington allow itself to be bullied by Bibi again? Will Congress and the administration put his selfish demands ahead of the American people’s interests in avoiding a regional war, and ending our complicity in the destruction of Gaza?

Unfortunately, U.S. leaders appear ready to do just that. Meanwhile, Netanyahu likely plans to repeat the same playbook from his last Washington visit: offering the Biden administration nominal praise for their nearly unconditional support of Israel’s war in Gaza before pivoting to put his thumb on the scale for hawkish U.S. politicians during an election year, in a bid to quash any criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

If the last nine months have taught us anything, a large, bipartisan majority in Washington will be happy to oblige Netanyahu’s request for silence on Gaza — even as scores of Americans descend on the Capitol complex to protest Netanyahu and continued U.S. support for this war.

To be clear, the problem neither starts nor ends with Netanyahu’s far-right government. The Knesset’s recent overwhelming vote to reject a two-state solution underscores the major political challenges that remain to any Israeli role in securing Palestinian self-determination. There are systemic roadblocks throughout the Israeli government and military which consistently entangle the U.S. in regional conflicts and erode any prospects for a viable Palestinian state; however, by continuing to provide unconditional support, the U.S. only undermines the conditions necessary to resolve the conflict.

America must use its considerable leverage with Tel Aviv to push for both an end to this war and for security and peace for Israelis and Palestinians.

Instead, the Biden administration has aided and abetted Israel’s reckless behavior during this war at every turn, from approving more than 100 arms sales to Israel and vetoing various efforts to push for a ceasefire at the United Nations, to rejecting legitimate findings that Israel violated international law during its war in Gaza. This unconditional support for Israel — a public “bearhug” meant to open space for difficult conversation in private — has utterly failed to restrain Israel in its war, while making Americans a party to the slaughter of Palestinian civilians.

This approach has not just been a moral failure — it’s a serious strategic mistake. Netanyahu has repeatedly proven that he is not a reliable partner for the United States. He has been a major obstacle to a ceasefire with Hamas; he is deeply divisive and it is widely accepted, even within Israel, that Netanyahu needs the Gaza conflict for his political survival.



As Netanyahu prolongs the war in Gaza while ramping up conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, he has made it abundantly clear that he is willing to drag the U.S. into yet another unnecessary war in the Middle East: a war that would not serve American or even Israeli interests, but only his continued pursuit of power.



The prime minister’s visit offers the White House and Congress an opportunity to turn the page on this failed strategy, to press Israel to end its war, and to prevent a wider regional war that would put U.S. troops in the line of fire. U.S. leaders must use their time with Netanyahu to deliver a clear message: enough is enough. Reach a deal, bring the hostages home, and end the bloodshed before it spirals into a wider war.



Washington likes to talk a lot about America’s power and prestige on the world stage. It is well past time to bring these assets to bear to end the assault on Gaza and begin building a durable peace. Israel’s government should not be able to count on a blank check from Washington for more war.

https://www.vtforeignpolicy.com/2024/08/bibis-bullying-visits-to-congress-never-end-well-bibis-bullying-visits-to-congress-never-end-well/

Israel’s overreach: The perils of ignoring power limits
Israel’s prolonged multi-front aggression and its utter dependence on US support expose the perilous consequences of power overreach. Tel Aviv is left dangling in the wind with a sledgehammer, but no strategy to climb down.

Mohamad Hasan Sweidan

In the study of international relations, one of the most important threats to nations arises from an internal lack of awareness about their limits of power. A nation-state’s power projection is ultimately defined by key factors – military, economic, technological, diplomatic, and political reach – that are measurable and have inherent limitations.

This principle has led retired Israeli Colonel Gur Laish, former senior director for National Security Strategy at Israel’s National Security Council, to issue a stark warning. In a paper published on 19 August by the Begin-Sadat Center for Israeli Strategic Studies, Laish cautions Israeli leaders against embracing a new security doctrine that overlooks its limitations.

Israel’s strengths

Israel undeniably ranks among the world’s most formidable military powers, providing the occupation state with a strategic advantage over its regional adversaries. Its armed forces are ranked 15th globally and have received over $130 billion in support from the US, its irreplaceable ally in international affairs.

Economically, Israel is also a significant player. In 2023, The Economist ranked Israel fourth among developed countries for economic success. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated Israel’s GDP to be $564 billion and its per capita GDP to be $58,270, putting it at 13th worldwide. Since its founding, Israel has received nearly $330 billion in foreign aid from the US, bolstering its economic dominance.

Technologically, Tel Aviv also stands out on the global stage. The Global Innovation Index 2023 ranks Israel 14th out of 132 economies. Within the high-income group of 50 economies, Israel is ranked 13th and holds the top spot among 18 countries in North Africa and West Asia. The Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2024 also ranks Israel third globally and first regionally, underscoring its technological prowess.

Diplomatically and politically, Israel benefits from unwavering US support, allowing it impunity from many international laws and norms. Washington has used its veto power in the UN Security Council 89 times, more than half of which have been to block resolutions critical of the occupation state.

Since 1945, out of 36 draft resolutions concerning Israel and Palestine, 34 were vetoed by the US, effectively shielding Israel from accountability for its actions. The US has also played a pivotal role in Israel’s diplomatic achievements, including normalization agreements with Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994) and, more recently, the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco (2020), with ongoing efforts toward Saudi–Israeli normalization.

Dependence on Washington: A double-edged sword

Israel’s superiority in all these fields is closely tied to continuous US support, which also reveals a critical vulnerability. Dependence on Washington necessitates Israel’s alignment with western policies, which has led Israeli elites to caution against straining US–Israel relations.

Retired colonel Benina Sharvit Baruch highlights this point in an article for the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies (INSS). She notes that Israel’s integration into the international system is under threat, especially in light of the ongoing Gaza war, which has significantly damaged its global standing. Baruch warns that failing to counteract this trend could further undermine Israel’s spiraling economy, national security, and military objectives. Just last week, former ombudsman of the Israeli army, reserve General Yitzhak Brik, said the occupation entity “faces collapse in less than a year” if the war of attrition continues.

In another piece, the INSS also stresses that the US-Israel strategic alliance is contingent on shared values:

Israel’s strategic importance to the United States is relevant only as long as the shared values are safeguarded. At this time, the special relations are in danger, especially given the widening gaps on the perception of democracy, Israeli policy on the Palestinian issue, and the growing alienation between the American Jewish community and the State of Israel.

Indicators that Israel is reaching its limits

Beyond its dependency on US support, Israel’s military engagements, particularly in Gaza, have exposed the constraints of Tel Aviv’s power projection. Ten months into Israel’s brutal military assault on the besieged strip, the Palestinian resistance is still able to target Tel Aviv.

History shows that states that ignore their limitations often face decline. In his seminal work, Politics Among Nations, Hans Morgenthau argues for a balance between power and policy, warning that excessive force disrupts this equilibrium, leading to instability and potential decline.

Similarly, Paul Kennedy’s The Rise and Fall of Great Powers illustrates “imperial overstretch,” where ambitions exceed capabilities and precipitate decline. A recent example is the constrained ability of the US to support multiple fronts, evidenced by its diminished focus on Ukraine following the outbreak of the Gaza war.

Several indicators suggest that Israel, by continuing its war in Gaza, may be approaching the limits of its power. For starters, economic strain is becoming evident despite Israel’s historically strong economy. In the last quarter of 2023, Israel’s GDP contracted by about 20 percent compared to the previous year.

There was also a significant decrease in consumption by 27 percent, and investment fell dramatically by 70 percent. The war has disabled approximately 18 percent of Israel’s workforce, with 250,000 civilians displaced and four percent of the workforce called up as reservists.

In response, the occupation state plans to increase military spending from four percent to six or seven percent of GDP by the decade’s end. This increase in military spending comes as the global economy is already under strain, and the US is less capable of providing the same financial support as in the past.

In addition to the economic strain, there has been a failure to achieve the military objectives outlined at the onset of the conflict. Last month, the New York Times reported that, despite ongoing military operations, the Israeli leadership is considering a ceasefire in Gaza that would leave Hamas in control.

This shift in strategy is seen as a concession, acknowledging that the complete destruction of Hamas, the war’s primary goal, is not feasible. In June, Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari candidly admitted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stated policy of eliminating Hamas was unrealistic, describing it as “throwing sand in the eye of the public” and adding:

Hamas is an idea. Anyone who thinks we can eliminate Hamas is wrong.

Concerns are also mounting over a second major front with Lebanon, a development that has now become a reality. Since 8 October 2023, Tel Aviv has adopted a cautious strategy to avoid broadening the conflict, aware that its military forces are already heavily committed in Gaza.

‘Boiling a frog’

In accordance with Iran’s grand strategy, the prolonged conflict has drained the Israeli military’s resources, making it hesitant to engage in a new confrontation without significant US support. The deployment of US naval fleets in the region, intended to deter any potential response from Iran, Lebanon, or Yemen, highlights Israel’s dependence on American military support. This dependency reveals Israel’s current inability to manage multiple fronts independently.

Furthermore, Israel’s heavy reliance on US support limits its autonomy and increases its vulnerability to shifts in American foreign policy. This dependency extends across economic, political, and military dimensions, further constraining Tel Aviv’s ability to act independently.

This week, Israel’s Defense Ministry announced that the US military has completed its 500th flight, airlifting over 50,000 tons of weapons and equipment to the occupation army. In addition to the reinforcements airlifted to Israel since 7 October, Washington has sent Tel Aviv 107 shipments of military supplies by sea.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah claimed in a speech late last year that Israel’s munitions stock had been largely depleted in the first month of its Gaza assault and that the occupation army was almost entirely reliant on arms transfers from its allies, primarily the United States.

What would happen if that pipeline of weapons halted or if it suffered major production delays?

For Colonel Laish, Israel’s traditional approach of rapid, decisive conflicts is being replaced by a strategy that accepts prolonged wars. This new, high-risk strategy promoted by Netanyahu could exceed Israel’s capabilities, as the society, economy, and military are not equipped for sustained, drawn-out conflicts.

This shift, driven by a sense of invulnerability due to current levels of US support, has led to a decline in long-term planning.

As Stephen Walt, a Harvard University professor of international relations, writes in Foreign Policy, “the deepest problem facing Israel is the gradual erosion of Israeli strategic thinking over the past fifty years.” Walt argues that one important factor in the decline of Israeli strategic thinking at the expense of tactical choices is “the sense of arrogance and impunity that stems from American protection and respect for Israel’s wishes.”

If the most powerful country in the world supports you no matter what you do, the need to think carefully about your actions will inevitably diminish.

Walt posits that Israel today, by prioritizing immediate tactical gains over strategic vision, faces a looming and resounding defeat. As it stands, the occupation state has yet to propose a realistic plan for Gaza’s future or a strategy to address its regional adversaries, who are becoming increasingly emboldened.

https://thecradle.co/articles/israels-overreach-the-perils-of-ignoring-power-limits

The charging of Muhyiddin Yassin challenges the legitimacy of the ‘unity government
Lawfare is a bad strategy

Murray Hunter
UPDATED] Anwar and Muhyiddin drop defamation suits in mutual agreement
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The former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin charges under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 will become an unnecessary focus upon the legitimacy of Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister. As Muhyiddin has pleaded not guilty and claimed trial over the charges, the whole episode of how Anwar became prime minister will be brought to public attention once again.

Muhyiddin claimed he presented 115 statutory declarations, enough to give him the slimmest of majorities in the Dewan Rakyat. Technically, this should have been enough to win confidence of the former YDPA to commission Muhyiddin as prime minister. However, a string of events occurred where Ahmad Zahid Hamidi took UMNO (or part of Barisan Nasional’s 30 seats away) from the support Muhyiddin had, and upon this and some prodding, Sarawak GPS also switched sides.

This kept Malaysia in suspense for a number of days.

These events will be brought back to the public through this upcoming court case, and an astute defence team will make Muhyiddin’s case about the legitimacy of Anwar as prime minister.

Its fairly clear that there is a conspiracy or collusion across a number of parties to destroy Muhyiddin so he has no more standing as a leader. The entry of Royalty into the case tried to build up the issue that Muhyiddin has insulted royalty, which won’t go well for him in the Malay heartlands.

That is of course if the Malays don’t see through this plot. However, this case could dreadfully backfire, where the focus could potentially shift to Anwar’s path to the prime ministership. The upcoming case may be more likely to do damage to Anwar, while Muhyiddin’s folk hero status rises in the heartlands.

This is a bad strategy, not to mention Pakatan Harapan once opposed the Sedition Act, and cried foul when these laws were used against them.

Today, the PH crowd have won a little victory, where online portal comments have been anti-Muhyiddin. But in the heartlands Muhyiddin is becoming a hero fighting against an unjust government.

This will be a trial about Anwar’s legitimacy as PM

One only has to look at US politics to see how lawfare is going against Trump.

Subscribe Below:

https://murrayhunter.substack.com/p/the-charging-of-muhyiddin-yassin

Turkish infectious diseases specialist Dr. Esin Davutoğlu Şenol speaks out on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
2 August 2024
“Pandemics are the symptoms of the earth sick with capitalism. They will relapse until we have a better, nature-compatible society.”


The World Socialist Web Site conducted the following interview on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with Prof. Dr. Esin Davutoğlu Şenol, a leading specialist in infectious diseases and clinical microbiology at Gazi University Medical Faculty in Ankara, Turkey.


Dr. Esin Davutoğlu Şenol
Evan Blake (EB): Can you briefly describe your professional background and expertise, and the work that you’ve done during the pandemic?

Prof. Dr. Esin Davutoğlu Şenol (EŞ): I’m currently a Professor of Medicine at the Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, which is one of three academic centers in Ankara. I am working in this hospital as a medical doctor and teaching as an attending staff.

I have established the first official “Adult Immunization Center” in Turkey in my hospital, as well as an “Adult Immunization Study Group” on behalf of the Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Association (KLİMİK), which is the first and largest national specialty association. We conducted courses and trainings on adult immunization. I have also studied infections in cancer and transplant patients.

When I studied as a research assistant at the Tufts-New England Medical Center (Tufts-NEMC) in Boston, I worked on cytomegalovirus (CMV) diagnosis and trained at a virology lab, while also doing consultations with transplant patients as well.

We established the Febrile Neutropenia Association in Turkey and I was the secretary general of this association for a long time.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we established a “COVID Coordination Center” at the Gazi Hospital. We ran processes such as patient monitoring and treatment, vaccination clinics and coordination of health workers. I have conducted and published academic research in immunology, virology, vaccination and clinical follow-up of patients with COVID-19.

Ulaş Ateşçi (UA): We know that virtually all surveillance of the COVID-19 pandemic has ended in Turkey and throughout much of the world, but the pandemic is by no means over. What data do you track that allows you to follow the ongoing impacts of the pandemic in Turkey and other countries? Are you seeing increases in heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease or other negative long-term impacts from COVID infection in Turkey?

EŞ: Turkey first loosened the monitoring of COVID-19 cases and deaths by making the conditions for testing more difficult in 2021. At the end of 2022, the Turkish government announced that it ended pandemic surveillance much earlier than the rest of the world, believing that the Omicron variant would have a milder course. It also began to convince the public that this variant would be “milder.” However, most deaths and Long COVID cases have occurred in this period.

The Health Ministry last announced the daily number of cases on its website in May 2022. But according to the Worldometer website that monitors the pandemic globally, as of April 2024 Turkey has updated its situation as 102,000 deaths and 17 million cases in total.

The World Health Organization’s announcement of the end of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on the pandemic was taken by everyone as the end of the pandemic. In fact, when the PHEIC was ended by the WHO, Fahrettin Koca, the Turkish Health Minister at that time, not surprisingly misunderstood it as usual and thought it was a declaration that the pandemic was over. He even made a statement saying, “We had ended it long before they did.”

But in fact these two are very different, and unfortunately the pandemic cannot be declared over. The end of the PHEIC means that international measures such as border closures are no longer in place, not that the pandemic is over. While the very deadly and stormy phase of the pandemic has subsided, COVID-19 has not yet been contained. Moreover, at the places where there have been human contacts with animals, the virus has spilled back into wild habitats, leading to new mutations and new variants.

In Turkey, there are international codes that we use to monitor and define diseases and prescriptions. However, things can get complicated when using these codes to write prescriptions. For example, there are drugs that you cannot prescribe if you do not report a diagnosis of pneumonia, [which] should not be so restricted.

We also have to notify the Health Ministry for some infectious diseases that require social protections. But the integration of primary and tertiary care data is not sufficient. All the data is collected at the Health Ministry, but this data is not shared with academia.

In summary, we have problems with data collection, data recording and data analysis.

COVID-19 affects people as in waves throughout all the seasons, causing recurrent infections as well. It has not become a seasonal virus. The virus is known to indirectly cause heart attacks, strokes, kidney diseases, etc. It probably is the main reason for excess deaths during these waves. However, since these are not measured in proper means here, we cannot assess them.

In other words, we don’t look, we don’t follow and we don’t know. In this way, responsible institutions are relieved of their vaccination and treatment obligations.

The Turkish Medical Association (TTB) Pandemic Working Group, which has been very functional during the pandemic, and Güçlü Yaman, a data scientist in our group, share some graphs comparing summer and winter deaths with previous years.

If there is no other explanatory reason, 60 or 70 percent of the increase in winter deaths over the previous year can be attributed to the direct and indirect effects of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, while the increase in summer deaths can be attributed to the heat effect and the COVID-19 effect.

EB: Can you elaborate a bit more on the data you use to show that there are more deaths and Long COVID cases since the emergence of the Omicron variant? Are there any reliable estimates of excess deaths in Turkey?

EŞ: On the TTB website and Güçlü Yaman’s social media account, you can find some data for the estimates of excess deaths based on the burials of some municipalities. We know the data of the other countries and project their scientific-evidence-based data. It allows us to make a rational inference since this is a global problem.

In summary, we can say that we have strong predictions even though we have no data.

EB: You tweeted recently, “In the field of health care, we are rapidly slipping back into the Middle Ages.” This is absolutely correct; all of the gains since the Black Death are being thrown away. Can you comment further on this, and how the COVID-19 pandemic triggered the repudiation of the most basic principles of public health?

EŞ: The Middle Ages was a time when outbreaks could not be controlled and the average human lifespan did not exceed 40 or 50 years. It was an epoch of epidemics, and there was no modern medicine.

Now diseases such as measles and whooping cough, which we had brought under control with vaccines, have once again begun to cause epidemics. Tuberculosis is back, AIDS and syphilis have exploded.

Currently medicine in Turkey is disconnected from the universal possibilities in medicine, vaccines and technology.

Under the title of “traditional medicine,” methods that are not accepted by modern medicine and those who tout them are promoted on television or at ministry-sponsored symposiums. Harmful practices in inappropriate conditions and charlatans are not inspected or caught by the authorities.

The Health Ministry seems to be very generous in its affiliated hospitals promoting interventions and medicine use instead of protective health. So patients themselves [have to pay for] these imported technologies and mostly locally produced medicines. In this way they can afford the rentals of these hospitals.

However, due to the quantitative and qualitative problems in the healthcare system, such as trained personnel, especially physicians and nurses, there are patients walking around with their bags full of tests, hospital germs that have become widespread due to unnecessary surgeries, damaged organs and damaged health conditions due to too many unnecessary medicines, etc. Of course, after a while, we will witness the shortening of the average life expectancy of human beings.

UA: We know that the current vaccines alone cannot stop the pandemic, but they have been shown to reduce risk of hospitalization, death and Long COVID. Can you comment on the refusal of the Erdoğan government to provide updated vaccines to the Turkish population, and similar policies globally? Recent WHO data indicate that vaccination rates for COVID and other diseases have plummeted globally.

EŞ: The Turkish government views citizenship on the basis of whether they are pro-government or not. This is also the case for many basic rights and laws, especially justice and employment. The government’s voters do not like science and scientists. The Health Ministry has backed the anti-vaccine and anti-science movement by targeting us, either through misleading or deliberate manipulation. Many of these anti-vaxers and anti-scientists are part of their voting base.

There is a heavy financial burden in the health care industry. On the other hand, due to the build-operate-transfer model in city hospitals, many patients need to enter these hospitals and many operations need to be performed. Vaccines or preventive medicine would reduce patient and hospital costs, which I don’t think the government wants.

Graph showing drastic decline in anti-COVID vaccine uptake globally [Photo: World Health Organization]
UA: Can you share your thoughts on the science of airborne transmission and the importance of wearing N95 masks? What do governments need to do to prevent airborne transmission of COVID and other respiratory pathogens?

EŞ: The most effective masks for airborne respiratory viruses are always N95, which we healthcare professionals have been using extensively in the care and treatment of patients since before the pandemic.

During the pandemic, when there were no vaccines yet, these masks were essential for all of us in areas such as public transportation and hospitals. However, they can be very inconvenient and expensive to use. Now I only use this type of mask in areas such as airplanes, hospitals and public transportation where everyone, vaccinated or unvaccinated, can be together.

EB: What concerns you most about the COVID-19 pandemic at this stage? There are the ever-growing ranks of Long COVID patients, the threat of a new and more dangerous variant evolving, the potential for long-term damage we haven’t even seen yet, and other ongoing risks we face.

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EŞ: First of all, the virus needs to be properly tracked. We are talking about a virus that has come back as a relative of SARS-CoV-1, which was responsible for a local outbreak in Asia in 2002 and started a pandemic.

Long COVID is rarer in vaccinated people, but the population in Turkey has skipped three new variant vaccines. Our population is vulnerable and unvaccinated. Doctors in the country are not very familiar with Long COVID.

Some of the most prevalent symptoms of Long COVID
In addition, COVID affects many systems; most importantly it is associated with diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes is already increasing like an outbreak in Turkey, and COVID-19 has triggered this increase.

The current official strategy is: don’t see, don’t know, pretend the virus doesn’t exist. But this is not a sustainable attitude.

EB: What was your opinion of the Zero COVID elimination program that was implemented in China, New Zealand and other countries? We advocate the global implementation of this policy as the only way to stop the pandemic, but argue that this is impossible under capitalism.

EŞ: The Zero COVID policy would have been sustainable and very effective if the world had implemented similar control/protection programs. Millions of lives have been saved in countries that have implemented them.

But then, despite the completion of basic vaccinations, there were many deaths in those countries during the Omicron storm, which was falsely called “mild.” I have always described the response to the pandemic as a “patchwork.” China was hit by the Omicron surge when it first opened itself to rest of the world.

The only way to prevent deaths before vaccination was strict control/protection. If there had been an equal distribution of vaccines, if there had been a global effort, perhaps these new variants would not have developed.

Let’s not forget that smallpox was eradicated by vaccination and a global effort. Before that, it was a scourge of humanity for hundreds of years.

UA: There are now reports of a growing polio epidemic in Gaza, on top of the over 186,000 people killed so far in Israel’s genocidal war. Can you comment on this, and what connections you see between the capitalist response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Gaza genocide?

EŞ: The four horsemen of the apocalypse: Pestilence, War, Famine and Death.

War destroys all the gains made by the established order in the name of health and safety. The Spanish flu spread through the front lines and the battalions and then into the North American population.

Next door in the Middle East we have cholera and malaria and other vector-borne diseases that have been eliminated in many countries. For polio, we proudly hold a “certificate of elimination” in our hands, but war can start a new spread that threatens the whole world.

War is also forced migration. Although the first major pandemic of this century was spread by international air travel, migration due to war would connect the whole world, as it did in ancient times with infectious diseases.

Displaced child Sham al-Hessi, who suffers from skin disease, sleeps at a makeshift tent camp in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Monday, July 29, 2024. Skin diseases are running rampant in Gaza, health officials say, from appalling conditions in overcrowded tent camps housing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians driven from their homes. [AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana]
EB: Dr. Şenol, thank you for taking the time to speak with us today, and for your persistent efforts to raise awareness of the ongoing dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic. Any final thoughts you’d like to share?

EŞ: Capitalism is destroying everything except itself at full speed. This is becoming a viral century and humanity needs to get prepared in a proper way, which means very close coordination internationally in order to track the emergence of new pathogens and raise the alarm at once. As we have already witnessed with COVID-19, when the alarm bells ring to announce the start of a pandemic it is already too late.

At least in the beginning of a pandemic, you can never hide even in a very well-equipped and rich country. Viruses or microorganisms do not distinguish, no matter how sophisticated their host.

Pandemics are the symptoms of the earth sick with capitalism. They will relapse until we have a better, nature-compatible society.

Join the fight to end the COVID-19 pandemic

Someone from the Socialist Equality Party or the WSWS in your region will contact you promptly.

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2024/08/02/smru-a02.html

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Where to go when 89 percent of Gaza is a war zone? – Day 315
[email protected] August 18, 2024 campus protest, dnc protest, evacuation orders gaza, gaza safe zone, israeli espionage, twins killed in gaza, water in gaza, west bank deaths, zawayda attack

Dr. Yasser Khan treated this six-year-old girl, Aseel, during his time at the European Hospital in Gaza. Khan received permission from the hospital to share images of the patients he helped. (photo)
The Guardian reports: Student activists are planning a fresh wave of pro-Palestine protests at US colleges this fall, boosted by a “summer school” led by organizers over the break, ramping up coordination and strategy in the wake of police crackdowns on campuses this past spring.

Despite academic suspensions, doxing attempts and the arrests of more than 3,000 students nationwide, the students who occupied their campuses’ lawns with tents last semester are gearing up for another – possibly bigger – round of demonstrations “on all fronts, by all means”, calling once again for a ceasefire in Gaza and for their colleges to divest from financial ties to Israel.

The National Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) organization held online education and training sessions this summer, offering unofficial courses to students who belong to specific student organizations – such as Jewish Voices for Peace, the Muslim Students Association and local SJP university chapters around the country – on the history of Palestine but also on how to organize, with the aim of creating a more unified and better prepared mass protest movement.

“The purpose of it was kind of to have all these people that are involved in SJP itself to build different workshops to be more educated on organizing and to be prepared for certain situations,” said Sereen Haddad, a Palestinian American undergraduate student at Virginia Commonwealth University, a public institution in that state’s capital, Richmond.

NSJP and local SJP chapters have been accused by their opponents of sympathizing with Hamas – a claim the organization vehemently rejects – and have been suspended on some college campuses including Columbia University in New York, Brandeis University in Massachusetts and George Washington University in Washington DC, for allegedly breaking campus rules.

RECOMMENDED READING: Detailed study finds 99% of pro-Palestine protests at US universities are peaceful

Are these people Hamas? Photo by Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images (photo)
What impact will pro-Palestine protests have on the DNC? Tens of thousands expected in Chicago’s streets

The Independent reports: When the Democratic National Convention gets underway in Chicago this week, it is expected to be accompanied by the largest pro-Palestine protests in the city’s history, according to advocacy groups.

Pro-Palestine demonstrators aren’t new to Chicago. They have been marching on the city’s streets every weekend since October 7th.

The DNC, where Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are expected to accept their nominations, faces significant disruption from protests, with Chicago home to the largest community of Palestinians in the country. Tens of thousands are anticipated to mobilize.

“It’ll be the largest protest in the history of Chicago for Palestinian rights, specifically,” Hatem Abudayyeh, national chair for the US Palestinian Community Network, told Block Club Chicago.

There has been a months-long court battle over the protest route. Advocacy groups requested parade permits to march near the United Center but were repeatedly denied by city officials. The city, in turn, offered the groups an alternative route, a requirement that prompted them to sue the ​​city and Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation, alleging First Amendment violations.

The groups then asked a federal judge to extend their route by a mile, and move the route closer to the United Center. The judge denied that request on August 12, partly due to the route interfering with the Secret Service perimeter, court filings show.

Organizers said they plan to appeal the decision, according to ABC7. It’s unclear whether the groups will stick to those restrictions or will march without a permit.

“We’re going to march regardless, but we’re fighting for the best route possible,” Faayani Aboma Mijana, a spokesperson for the March on the DNC coalition, told Semafor. “We’ve got our park permit, but the City has refused to allow us to use port-a-potties, a stage, and a sound system.”

Estimates say Chicago could see anywhere from 30,000 to 100,000 demonstrators.

https://israelpalestinenews.org/where-to-go-89-percent-gaza-war-zone-day-315/