Israel

By Muhammad Abubakar

In a controversial address on Monday, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich openly acknowledged that the limited humanitarian aid allowed into the Gaza Strip is intended not to alleviate civilian suffering but to shield Israel from international war crimes accusations.

Smotrich declared that Israel is “annihilating everything that remains in the Strip,” describing Gaza as “one big city of terror.” He said the provision of minimal aid — such as “a few bakeries distributing pitas” and “a daily portion of cooked food” — serves a strategic purpose: maintaining global political cover. “It allows the world to continue providing us with international protection,” he asserted.

Smotrich defended Israel’s ongoing campaign of widespread devastation, describing it as a shift from targeted raids to full-scale occupation. “No more raids with ins and outs… we are conquering, clearing, and staying until Hamas is destroyed,” he said.

The minister praised the military’s intensified focus on Gaza’s civil infrastructure, noting that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) is now targeting the administrative apparatus of Hamas, including ministers, civil servants, and the economic networks.

Boasting of the level of destruction inflicted on the enclave, Smotrich said, “We are dismantling Gaza, leaving it in ruins with unprecedented destruction, and the world still hasn’t stopped us.” He went further, expressing support for a complete blockade of essential services: “Until the last of the hostages returns, we should also not let water into the Gaza Strip.”

Perhaps most alarmingly, Smotrich appeared to endorse forced displacement, stating: “The population will reach the south of the Strip, and from there, God willing, to third countries, as part of President Trump’s plan.”

His remarks have sparked renewed concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and raised serious questions about the legality and morality of Israel’s ongoing military strategy.

By Muhammad Abubakar

The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, has temporarily stepped down from his duties as an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against him gets underway.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, a junior staff member has accused Mr Khan of forcing himself on her—an allegation he strongly denies. The ICC has not released further details but confirmed that Mr Khan would take a leave of absence to allow for an impartial probe.

Mr Khan has recently been at the centre of international legal proceedings, having sought arrest warrants for leaders of both Israel and Hamas over alleged war crimes committed during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

In his absence, the ICC announced that Khan’s two deputies will assume his responsibilities to ensure continuity in the Court’s operations.

The investigation is ongoing.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Rumeysa Öztürk, a 30-year-old Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on March 25 near her home in Somerville, Massachusetts. The arrest, captured on security footage, showed masked agents taking her into an unmarked vehicle without identifying themselves, leaving her screaming for help.

Öztürk, a Fulbright scholar pursuing a Ph.D. in Child Study and Human Development, had co-authored a 2024 op-ed in The Tufts Daily criticizing the university’s response to the Gaza conflict and calling for divestment from companies linked to Israel. Following the publication, her name and photo appeared on Canary Mission, a controversial website that profiles individuals accused of anti-Israel activism.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused Öztürk of supporting Hamas, though no public evidence has been provided. Her student visa was revoked, and she was transferred to a detention center in Louisiana, despite a court order requiring 48 hours’ notice before moving her out of Massachusetts.

Öztürk’s detention has sparked widespread protests and condemnation. More than 2,000 students rallied at Tufts University, and demonstrations have taken place in Boston and Washington, D.C. A coalition of 27 Jewish organizations filed a legal brief in her support, arguing that her arrest threatens free speech and academic freedom.

Tufts University President Sunil Kumar stated that the university has no information supporting the allegations against Öztürk and emphasized the importance of due process. Öztürk’s legal team, including the ACLU, is seeking her immediate release, citing violations of her constitutional rights.

A federal court hearing is scheduled to determine the jurisdiction of her case. Öztürk remains in ICE custody, facing possible deportation to Turkey.

By Muhammad Abubakar

Momodou Taal, a British Gambian pro-Palestine activist and former Cornell PhD student, has left the United States due to deportation threats. Following his lawsuit against the Trump administration over executive orders targeting pro-Palestinian activism, Taal faced mounting pressure, including visits from ICE agents and visa revocation.

In a statement on social media, Taal expressed gratitude to his supporters but voiced his loss of faith in the U.S. legal system, stating, “I have lost faith I could walk the streets without being abducted.” He criticized both the government’s actions and the silence surrounding the situation in Palestine.

Taal remains committed to the cause, declaring, “As sad as I feel right now, I do not despair. History will absolve us.” He is confident that the fight for justice will lead to the liberation of Palestine.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Israeli airstrikes on Gaza killed at least 35 people, including women and children, as Palestinians observed Eid al-Fitr.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) also confirmed the recovery of 14 health workers’ bodies in Rafah, missing since March 23 after coming under Israeli fire.

Among them were eight PRCS paramedics and six civil defense workers.

The PRCS condemned the attack as a war crime.

Hamas denounced the killings, and stated the victims were found handcuffed in a single grave.

The International Federation of Red Cross and the UN called for the protection of medical personnel, describing that attacks on humanitarian workers are unacceptable.

Since Israel resumed military operations on March 18, over 800 Palestinians have been killed, and severe shortages of food and medical supplies persist.

The UN warns Gaza’s bakeries may shut down within a week due to the blockade.

The crisis continues, drawing global condemnation and calls for urgent intervention.

By Muhammad Sulaiman

An Israeli soldier has told CBS News that he was ordered to use Palestinian civilians as human shields during military operations in Gaza. 

The soldier, identified by CBS as “Tommy” (not his real name), detailed how his unit was instructed to force civilians into dangerous situations to protect Israeli troops.

“We’ve burned down buildings for no reasons, which is violating the international law, of course,” he told CBS News. “…And we used human shields as protection.”

Tommy said his commander ordered his unit to use Gazan civilians to search buildings for explosives instead of dogs.

“They were Palestinian,” he said. “We sent them in first to see if the building was clear and check for booby traps…They were trembling and shaking.”

The allegations add to growing concerns over Israel’s conduct in its ongoing military campaign in Gaza. Human rights organizations have long accused the Israeli military of violating international law, including the use of civilians in combat zones.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have denied such practices, insisting that they operate within legal and ethical guidelines. However, Tommy’s testimony raises serious questions about Israel’s adherence to international humanitarian law.

By Maryam Ahmad

Oscar-winning filmmaker Yuval Abraham has revealed that his co-director, Hamdan Ballal, was beaten and attacked by Israeli settlers. Abraham, who co-directed No Other Land with Ballal, shared the news following their recent Academy Award win.

According to Abraham, Ballal was assaulted by a group of Israeli settlers amid escalating violence in the region. The attack has sparked outrage, with calls for accountability and protection for journalists and filmmakers working in conflict zones.

No Other Land, which won Best Documentary at the 2024 Oscars, highlights the impact of Israel’s occupation through a deeply personal perspective. The film’s success has drawn global attention to the Palestinian struggle, but its creators now face increasing threats.

Ballal’s condition remains unclear, and further details about the attack are yet to be confirmed. Human rights groups have condemned the incident and demanded an independent investigation.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

U.S. authorities have deported a Rhode Island doctor, Rasha Alawieh, to Lebanon after allegedly discovering “sympathetic photos and videos” related to Hezbollah on her cellphone, officials announced Monday.

Dr Alawieh had been living in the United States for several years. Officials said forensic analysis of her deleted files revealed images and footage of the late Hezbollah leader, as well as militant activities.

Authorities did not specify whether she had direct ties to the group, but her presence in the U.S. was deemed a security concern. She was deported last week following an investigation.

The case underscores the heightened scrutiny of potential security threats, as officials continue to monitor individuals with suspected extremist affiliations.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

The State of Qatar has called for increased international efforts to ensure that all Israeli nuclear facilities are placed under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Additionally, Qatar has urged Israel to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a non-nuclear state.

The appeal was made by Qatar’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and International Organizations in Vienna, Jassim Yacoub Al Hammadi, during a session of the IAEA Board of Governors. His remarks focused on the ongoing situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and concerns over Israel’s nuclear capabilities.

Al Hammadi emphasized the importance of global institutions upholding their commitments under the UN Security Council, General Assembly resolutions, and IAEA regulations. He also referenced the 1995 NPT Review Conference, which called for Israel to subject all its nuclear sites to IAEA safeguards.

The Qatari diplomat stressed that numerous international resolutions have explicitly urged Israel to join the NPT as a non-nuclear state. He called on the international community to take concrete steps to ensure compliance with these longstanding global commitments.

This statement aligns with Qatar’s foreign policy advocating nuclear non-proliferation and regional stability. Israel’s nuclear program has long been contentious in diplomacy, with increasing calls for transparency and oversight.

As tensions persist in the Middle East, Qatar’s renewed appeal highlights the ongoing debate over nuclear security and the role of international oversight in maintaining global peace.

By Muhsin Ibrahim

French President Emmanuel Macron has strongly criticised U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to evacuate Gaza, calling it a humanitarian crisis rather than a political manoeuvre.

“You cannot come and tell two million people to leave. It is a humanitarian issue. Human beings. This is not a real estate issue; it is a political issue,” Macron said in an interview with CNN.

Macron added that, “We have to respect the willingness of the Palestinian people to have a state.”

The French leader’s remarks come amid ongoing international debates over the future of Gaza and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Many people described Trump’s proposal as ethnic cleansing and condemned it, while Israel’s far-right politicians welcomed it.