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By Dr. Mahboob A. Khawaja

Leaders Who could not Lead

Naive egoism and favourite perversion unleash new window of working liberal democracy to make insane cruelty as a value to torture and murder innocent people and occupy foreign lands by force as a Reviria for the American leadership. President Trump is no stranger to being delusional and inconsistent in pronouncements and actions. Ralph Nader (“Underestimating Americans: A Coming Plunge of “Dictator Donald” D.D. Ralph Nader” Global Research: 01/31/2025): https://www.globalresearch.ca/underestimating-americans-coming-plunge-dictator-donald/587912,an American political activist of global fame and integrity describes President Trump as:

 Convicted felon Donald Trump has declared war on Americans….He is using illegal executive orders as poisoned spears against just about every program the federal government administers to advance the health, safety, and economic well-being of all Americans…..Trump’s abuses of power can be divided into three categories:Driving to destroy the historic safety net leads to a collective homicide. …Americans will die or get sick, whether they voted for Trump or not;… Genocide by continuing Biden’s co-belligerency with mass killer Netanyahu and adding support for the expulsion of the remaining survivors in Gaza to their death in the desert. Add these criminal mayhems to the censorship or persecution of anyone who opposes Trump…..Right now, Trump, the failed gambling czar in the White House, and his minions think they are invincible.

There are no intelligent Arab leaders having any moral and intellectual capacity to distinguish between foes and friends except neo-colonial tribal agents living in palaces. Crises are knocking at their door, yet most would prefer a free outlooklacking responsibility and courageous performance. King Abdullah of Jordan was the first to see President Trump and kneeled to coercion agreeing to take two thousand stranded Palestininans to his Kingdom. Trump claims to have Egyptian leader General Sissi willing to consider the besieged masses of Gaza to shelter in Egypt. This is not going to be a reasoned and honest remedy to an already volatile political situation prevalent in Gaza. Hamas claims Israel is not honoring its commitment to the ceasefire terms and would postpone freeing more hostages come saturday. With mediators, it appears to have been avoided. Netanyahu, emboldened by Trump’s statement to take over Gaza and turn it into a Reivira stuns the public consciousness keen to see the ceasefire fully implemented in all phases. Leaders of vision and integrity share candid hopes and strength in their thoughts and practices to conform to reality and sustainable future-making. His first foreign visiting leader happens to be PM Netanyahu of Israel – a person wanted by the ICJ-ICC for “crimes against humanity” and “genocide” in wars on Gaza.

President Trump and PM Netanyahu are No Exceptions to Trivility

Edward Curtin (“Palestine Hijacked: How Zionism Forged an Apartheid State from River to Sea by Thomas Suárez-A book review” Global Research: 02/12/25), points out the facts of current affairs: https://www.globalresearch.ca/palestine-hijacked-how-zionism-forged-an-apartheid-state-from-river-to-sea-by-thomas-suarez/5879755:

The Zionist Trump is stating baldly the ultimate goal of the ethnic cleansing of all non-Jews from Palestine, which has been the Zionists’ goal from the beginning and lies behind Biden, who considers himself a Zionist, and Trump’s recent support for Israel’s genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank……Treachery of this nature defines the history of all those arrayed against the Palestinians from the start – as today, with Trump being no exception…..

Ralph Nader tells lot more:Trump knows no boundaries, no self-restraint and has often declared that he will do whatever he wants, meaning operating in massive violation of the laws of our land.He is now ruling by dictates that are getting more sweeping and penetrating by the day. He should read a history book. In a letter to the members of the US Congress on “RE: Hamas-Israel-Gaza-Genocide” Nov 28, 2023, he brings histroy to light: https://www.globalresearch.ca/open-letter-members-united-states-congress-hamas-israel-gaza-genocide-ralph-nader/5841682: The Nazis in World War II attempted to conceal the Holocaust fearing legal accountability. Israel’s genocide is unfolding in plain view confidant of impunity, including unconditional callous congressional support and gross misdirection of taxpayer dollars for violence, in lieu of satisfying the critical needs of the American people.

Ethnic cleansing of Palestinains and taking Gaza by force and forcible displacement of 2.5 million people by Trump make media headlines across the globe. It should be a wake-up call to critical thinking and action but most Arab scholars and imams are well paid and well fed and their conscience is deaf silent to support an Islamic humanitarian cause of utmost urgency. Affluent oil exporting Arab monarchs of Arabia fear neither God nor people and have no public institutions of accountability to realize the facts of life. There are no Arab leaders having moral and political integrity to represent the masses and no Arab armies to defend Islam. Simply put, they are puppets and hired agents of Western imperialism.The Saudi, the UAE and others stooges kept silent profile while massacres of innocent embolden Israel to put finishing end to Gaza. The Divine Revelation warned the Israelities-  in the Ten Commandments (Torah): Thou shalt not kill’ (Exod. 20:13; also Deut. 5:17). Jewish law views the shedding of innocent blood very seriously, and lists murder as one of three sins (along with idolatry and sexual immorality), that fall under the category of yehareg ve’al ya’avor – meaning “One should let himself be killed rather than violate it.

The world needs America for a balancing act but is there a future for democracy in America? History is living and offers lessons for change and reformation of thoughts and practices to those who are open to listening and learning and becoming effective leaders. It does not look much encouraging when you watch President Trump and Netanyahu speaking at the White House. Dr. Binoy Kampmark (“A Thief’s Mentality: Trump, Real Estate and Dreams of Ethnic Cleansing.” Global Research: 02/11/2025), shares his critical insight: https://www.globalresearch.ca/trump-real-estate-dreams-ethnic-cleansing/5879642:

President Donald J. Trump likes teasing out the unmentionable, and the Israel-Palestinian situation was hardly going to be any different.With a touch of horror and the grotesque, he offered a solution to the issue of what would happen to Gaza at the conclusion of hostilities.In a White House press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he declared that the United States “take over and own the Gaza Strip”, in the process promising to “create an economic development that will supply an unlimited number of jobs and housing for people of the area.”The strip, one of the most densely populated stretches of territory on the planet, would be reconstructed, redeveloped and turned, effectively, into a beach resort, “the Riviera of the Middle East…..

Was the “Ceasefire” a Pause for the Continuing War on Palestine?

Cynicism about politicians is always endemic and part of the seamless democratic cultures constantly progressive and often rebuked by social and political entertainment as an after dinner joke.There is always much evil and much good in every society but evil cannot diagnose political tyranny, falsehood and resentment, the cure to evil is honesty, equal justice, freedom of expression, moral values and righteousness to lead and serve the people.

If President Trump had a vision for change, global peace and “make America Great again”, he should know his strengths and weaknesses and be cautious not to foresee the world through the eyes of Netanyahu but come out of the forged perplexities with clarity of his own mind to co-exist with the larger global community. If he believes in making America great again, it would be through peace and not intransigence against Panama, displacenment of Palestinains or occupying Canada or Greenland. He would have to rebuild his own credibility as a leader who can lead despite perpetuated ignorance and rejection of learning from history. Professor Michel Chossudovsky (“Israel’s “Fake Ceasefire.” A “Pause.” Genocide, Exodus of Palestinians From Their Homeland”, clarfies that “In the case of Gaza, the objective is “a pause” in what constitutes a carefully planned genocide of which the “End Game” is the Exodus of Palestinians from their Homeland. US-NATO are indelibly behind the genocide project. https://www.globalresearch.ca/israels-fake-cease-fire-a-pause-in-a-criminal-endeavour-a-carefully-planned-genocide-against-the-people-of-palestine/5877453?

It is irrational and repulsive to imagine global brotherhood, peace and happiness to be defined and projected by profligacy, horrors of war, forcible displacement of indigenous people in Gaza and miseries of innumerable multitiudes as the US leadership tends to portray. The Divine message (The Quran: synopsis Chapter 124:26-50), warning to intelligent people is self-explanatory as the life is a trial of human behavior and earth is a trust to human beings to protect its sanctity for all living beings:

In all ages wicked people tried to plot against God’s Way, but they never  Succeeded, and were covered with shame, in ways unexpected. The righeous see good in God’s Words and their goal is the Good. Great teachers were sent to all nations to warn against Evil and guide to the Right. The penalty for evil comes in many unexpected Ways; for Evil is against Nature. And all Nature proclaims God’s Glory. And humbly serves Him, the Lord Supreme.

Netanyahu and his extremist ministers want perpetuated animosities to continue under a false pretext of blaming Hamas and people of Gaza for violations of the ceasefire agreement. Despite sketchy illusion of political cohesiveness in his Government, Israeli is a highly paralyzed society fatigued with war and socio-economic crises and according to media, 500,000 Israeli citizens have left Israel since the October 2023 war. The warmongers do not seem to think as normal human beings or to respect the rights and dignity of Palestinian people for a two state solution.Those bombing and causing the catastrophic events to destroy the planet Earth and mankind and all of its treasures and enrichments are not normal human beings. In chaos and delusion, there is always inconsistency and turbulent aspirations to deal with the unknown for security and sustainable future-making. But if the Palestinians and Israelis realize their common goal of peace, security and co-existence, surely respect for equal rights and freedom and tranquility of foresight could be hallmarks and characteristics of God-given natural wisdom for a just peace and conflict management to both parties. There is no time for surprises but opportunities for reasoned dialogue to manitain ceasefire and move forward to peacemaking and reject all vices of intransigence for war and killing of innocent people in Gaza. Viewing objectively the Israel-Palestinian public horizons, masses do not rejoice cruelty, evil, war and bombardments but feel tranquility in friendly neighbourly relations, freedom, human dignity, peace and co-existence.

Dr. Mahboob A. Khawaja specializes in international affairs-global security, peace and conflict resolution and has spent several academic years across the Russian-Ukrainian and Central Asian regions knowing the people, diverse cultures of thinking and political governance and a keen interest in Islamic-Western comparative cultures and civilizations, and author of several publications including: One Humanity and the Remaking of Global Peace, Security and Conflict Resolution, 2019; and Why Wars on Gaza and Ukraine? We, the People Search for Peace and Conflict Resolution, 2025.

14 February 2025

Source: countercurrents.org

By Quds News Networ

Gaza (Quds News Network)- The death toll from Israel’s genocide in Gaza has reached 48,239, with 111,676 others injured, according to the Health Ministry on Thursday. Many bodies remain trapped under rubble and in the streets, with rescue teams unable to reach them due to ongoing Israeli restrictions.

In the last 24 hours, 17 more bodies arrived at hospitals, including 14 recovered from the rubble and 3 killed or succumbed to injuries.

“The toll includes those killed in direct attacks, succumbed to their injuries, or lost their lives in the explosion of unexploded ordnance,” Gaza’s Health Ministry Director-General Munir al-Bursh noted.

The Ministry of Interior and National Security announced on Thursday that a 14-year-old boy was killed east of the Al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip due to an unexploded ordnance.

The ministry warned that many bodies remain trapped under debris and in the streets, where rescue teams cannot reach them due to ongoing Israeli restrictions.

Dead bodies and skeletal remains have been discovered in the besieged strip since the Israeli forces’ withdrawal. Gaza’s Civil Defense said that the “bodies of thousands” of people are still buried under rubble, adding that crews faced difficulties in finding and recovering them because of a lack of resources, including a lack of “heavy equipment and machinery.”

The Israeli army completed its withdrawal from the so-called Netzarim Corridor as part of the ceasefire agreement. However, Gazan authorities stated that movement restrictions remain in place. Vehicles can only pass through Salah Al-Din Street after inspection, while Al-Rashid Street remains off-limits to vehicles and open only for pedestrians.

Despite the ceasefire, Israel continues attacks on Palestinians using drone strikes and live fire, resulting in more deaths and injuries. At least 92 people have been killed in direct attacks by Israeli forces since the ceasefire agreement took effect on January 19.

14 February 2025

Source: countercurrents.org

By Bernie Sanders

We we are living in an extremely dangerous time. Future generations will look back at this moment – what we do right now – and remember whether we had the courage to defend our democracy against the growing threats of oligarchy and authoritarianism. They will remember whether we stood with President Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg who in 1863, looking out at a battlefield where thousands died in the struggle against slavery and stated that; “this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that a government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.” Do we stand with Lincoln’s vision of America or do we allow this country to move to a government of the billionaires, by the billionaires and for the billionaires?

But it’s not just oligarchy that we should be concerned about, and the reality that the three richest people in America now own more wealth than the bottom half of our society – 170 million people. It’s not just that the gap between the very rich and everyone else is growing wider, and that we have more income and wealth inequality today than we’ve ever had.

It is also that we are looking at a rapid movement, under President Trump, toward authoritarianism. More and more power resting in fewer and fewer hands.

Right now, Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, is attempting to dismantle major agencies of the federal government which are designed to protect the needs of working families and the disadvantaged. These agencies were created by the U.S. Congress and it is Congress’ responsibility to maintain them, reform them or end them. It is not Mr. Musk’s responsibility. What Mr. Musk is doing is patently illegal and unconstitutional – and must be stopped.

Two weeks ago, President Trump attempted to suspend all federal grants and loans – an outrageous and clearly unconstitutional act. As I hope every 6th grader in America knows, under the Constitution and our form of government the president can recommend legislation, he can support legislation, he can veto legislation, but he does not have the power to unilaterally terminate funding passed by Congress. It is Congress, the House and the Senate, who control the purse strings.

But it’s not just Congress that’s under attack. It’s our judiciary.

This weekend, the Vice President, a graduate of Yale Law School, who clerked for a Supreme Court Justice, said that: “judges aren’t allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power.” Really? I thought that one of the major functions of the federal courts is to interpret our Constitution and, when appropriate, serve as a check on unconstitutional executive power.

Mr. Musk, meanwhile, has proposed that “the worst 1% of appointed judges be fired every year,” and demanded the impeachment of judges that have blocked him from accessing sensitive Treasury Department files. No doubt, under Mr. Musk’s rule, it will be him and his billionaire friends who determine who the “worst” judges are. And no, Mr. Musk, you don’t impeach judges who rule against you. You may or may not know this, but under the U.S. Constitution, we have a separation of powers, brilliantly crafted by the founding fathers of this country in the 1770s.

So, we are seeing an organized attack on Congress and the courts.

But Trump and his friends aren’t just trying to undermine two of the three pillars of our constitutional government – Congress and the courts. They are also going after the media in a way that we have never seen in the modern history of this country.

Every member of Congress will tell you that people in the media, and media organizations, are not perfect. They, like everyone else, make mistakes every day. But I hope that every member of Congress understands that you cannot have a functioning democracy without an independent press – non-intimidated journalists who can write it and say it the way they see it. And in that regard, I want to remind my colleagues what this president has done in recent months.

President Trump has sued ABC and received a $15 million settlement. He has sued Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, and received a $25 million settlement. He has sued CBS, and its parent company Paramount, is apparently in negotiations over a settlement. He has sued the Des Moines Register, and his FCC is now threatening to investigate PBS and NPR.

In other words, we have a President of the United States who is using his power to go after media in this country who are saying and doing things he doesn’t like. How are we going to have an independent media if journalists are looking over their shoulders, fearful that their reporting will trigger a lawsuit from the most powerful man in the world?

Now is the time to ask a very simple question. What do Mr. Musk, Mr. Trump and their fellow billionaires really want? What is their endgame?

And in my view, the answer is not complicated. It is not novel. It is not new. It is what ruling classes throughout history have always wanted and have always believed is theirs by right: more power, more control and more wealth. And they are determined to not allow democracy and the rule of law to get in their way.

For Mr. Musk and his fellow oligarchs, the needs, the concerns, the ideas, the dreams of ordinary people are simply an impediment to what they, the oligarchs, are entitled to. That is what they really believe.

This is not the first time we’ve seen this in our country’s history.

In pre-revolutionary America, before the 1770s, the ruling class of that time governed through a doctrine called the “divine right of kings,” the belief that the King of England was an agent of God, God appointed him, and he was not to be questioned by mere mortals.

In modern times we no longer have the “divine right of kings.” What we NOW have is an ideology being pushed by the oligarchs which says that as very, very wealthy people – often self-made, often the masters of revolutionary new technology and as “high-IQ individuals,” it is THEIR absolute right to rule. In other words, the oligarchs of today are our modern-day kings.

And it is not just power that they want. Despite the incredible wealth they have they want more, and more and more. Their greed has no end. Today, Mr. Musk is worth $402 billion, Mr. Zuckerberg is worth $252 billion and Mr. Bezos is worth $249 billion. With combined wealth of $903 billion, these 3 people own more wealth than the bottom half of American society — 170 million people.

Not surprisingly, since Trump was elected, their wealth has soared. Elon Musk has become $138 billion richer, Zuckerberg has become $49 billion richer and Bezos has become $28 billion richer – since Election Day.

Meanwhile, while the very rich become much richer, 60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, 85 million are uninsured or under-insured, 25% of seniors are trying to survive on $15,000 or less, 800,000 are homeless and we have the highest rate of childhood poverty of almost any major country on earth. And real, inflation adjusted wages for the average American worker have been stagnant for 50 years.

Do you think the oligarchs give a damn about these people? Trust me, they don’t. Musk’s decision to dismember U.S. AID means that tens of thousands of the poorest people around the world will go hungry or die of preventable diseases.

But it’s not just abroad. Here in the United States they’ll soon be going after the healthcare, nutrition, housing, and educational programs that protect the most vulnerable people in our country – all so that Congress can provide huge tax breaks for them and their fellow billionaires. As modern-day kings, who believe they have the absolute right to rule, they will sacrifice, without hesitation, the well-being of working people to protect their privilege.

Further, they will use the enormous media operations they own to deflect attention away from the impact of their policies while they “entertain us to death.” Mr. Musk owns twitter. Mr. Zuckerberg owns Meta – which includes Facebook and Instagram – and Mr. Bezos owns the Washington Post. Further, they and their fellow oligarchs, will continue to spend huge amounts of money to buy politicians in both major political parties.

Bottom line: The oligarchs, with their enormous resources, are waging a war on the working class of this country, and it is a war they are intent on winning.

Now, I am not going to kid you — the problems this country faces right now are serious and they are not easy to solve. The economy is rigged, our campaign finance system is corrupt and we are struggling to control climate change — among many other important issues.

But this is what I do know:

The worst fear that the ruling class in this country has is that Americans — Black, White, Latino, urban and rural, gay and straight, young and old — come together to demand a government that represents all of us, not just the wealthy few.

Their oligarch’s nightmare is that we will not allow ourselves to be divided up by race, religion, sexual orientation or country of origin and will, together, have the courage to take them on.

Will this struggle be easy? Absolutely not.

And one of the reasons that it will not be easy is that the ruling class of this country will constantly remind you that THEY have all the power. They control the government, they own the media.

But our job right now, in these difficult times, is to not forget the great struggles and sacrifices that millions of people have waged over the several centuries to create a more democratic, just and humane society. Think about what people THEN were saying.

+ Overthrowing the King of England to create a new nation and self-rule. Impossible.

+ Establishing universal suffrage. Impossible.

+ Ending slavery and segregation. Impossible.

+ Granting workers the right to form unions and ending child labor. Impossible.

+ Giving women control over their own bodies. Impossible.

+ Passing legislation to establish Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, a minimum wage, clean air and water standards. Impossible.

In other word, as Nelson Mandela told us, everything is impossible until it is done.

Bernie Sanders is a US Senator, and the ranking member of the Senate budget committee.

13 February 2025

Source: countercurrents.org

By Pieter Friedrich

Gabbard’s service to India’s Hindu nationalist movement didn’t block her as Director of National Intelligence

Last month, I sat with two FBI agents in Washington, DC for at least two hours to discuss my experiences as a victim of transnational repression by India’s Hindu nationalist (“Hindutva”) government. Along the way, I also mentioned that I was there in DC to visit U.S. Senate offices and advocate against the confirmation of former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as the Director of National Intelligence.

I did do that. I visited 25 Senate offices, and spoke at length with many staffers specializing in national security and intelligence areas. Every one of them was fascinated and disturbed by what I shared: that the foundation of Tulsi Gabbard’s national political career was support from U.S. affiliates of the Hindutva movement.

One staffer suggested that Gabbard’s intimacy with Hindutva ought to be examined from a counterintelligence perspective.

I failed. Gabbard was confirmed on 12 February 2025 by a Senate vote of 52-48. Only one Republican Senator, Mitch McConnell, broke party ranks to vote against her. Others who were considered “swing votes,” such as Senators Todd Young and Lisa Murkowski, offered their “ayes.”

Both had stood on principle to vote against Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. What bought Murkowski’s vote is anyone’s guess, but Elon Musk denouncing Young as a “deep state puppet” before having a private call with him was undoubtedly the key factor in his pro-Gabbard vote.

Gabbard’s confirmation was on the rocks for much of the time leading up to the final vote. Senators were upset about a wide range of far more mainstream issues than the Hindutva allegiance which I discussed. Most of these issues — Assad, Putin, Snowden, and more — were raised on the floor by multiple Democratic senators in the hours before the vote.

Senators Elissa Slotkin, Dick Durbin,  Chris Coons, Chuck Schumer, and others all pleaded with the Senate to vote “no” on Gabbard. Unfortunately, none of them raised the issue on which Gabbard is most vulnerable: the issue of Hindutva.

For the past six years, I have been reporting on Hindutva influence in U.S. sociopolitics, especially elections. I reported on:

• Sri Preston Kulkarni’s campaign for U.S. Congress. He lost, catastrophically.
• U.S. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. He has faced strong opposition since for his Hindutva ties.
• Ambassador (acting) Atul Keshap’s meeting with India’s RSS, the paramilitary that serves as the fountainhead of Hindutva. He resigned, prematurely.
• Michigan State Assemblywoman Padma Kuppa. She lost her campaign for Michigan State Senate.
• Ohio State Senator Niraj Antani. He lost his campaign for U.S. Congress.

I’ve reported on much more, but the very first Hindutva-tied politician I ever reported on was Tulsi Gabbard, in a cover article for India’s Caravan magazine in August 2019. Titled “How The American Sangh Built Up Tulsi Gabbard,” it referenced the “Sangh Parivar” or “Family of Hindu Nationalist Organizations” spearheaded by the RSS, to discuss in depth how Gabbard owes her political career to them.

As Congressman Ro Khanna, himself a Hindu, commented at the time: “Important article. It’s the duty of every American politician of Hindu faith to stand for pluralism, reject Hindutva, and speak for equal rights for Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhist(s) & Christians.”

My article was 18,000 words, all about Tulsi Gabbard and her ties to Hindutva. As I repeatedly said during my Senate visits last month, “Gabbard’s interactions with Assad are problematic. But if you asked me to write an article using hard facts describing her relationship with Assad, I’d be hard-pressed to give you 1,000 words. That I can give you 18,000 words on Tulsi’s relationship with Hindutva says a lot.”

Since then, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard lost office as she dedicated herself to a failed campaign for the U.S. presidency. Her bizarre political gymnastics — which I recently called those of a “chameleon” — were recently summarized as the “mystery of Tulsi Gabbard” in The New Yorker:

“She comes from Hawaii, where she served in the state legislature and the National Guard; in those years, she campaigned against “homosexual advocacy organizations” and in favor of environmental protections. Gabbard was elected to Congress in 2012, running as a Democrat, and was made a vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee. Since then, she has left the D.N.C., because she wanted to endorse Bernie Sanders; left Congress, because she wanted to run for President; and left the Democratic Party, because she had become convinced that it is, she says, ‘led by an élitist cabal of woke warmongers.’ In August, she endorsed Donald Trump, later saying, ‘A vote for President Trump is a vote to express our deep love for our country, and our appreciation for our God-given rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution.’”

These unpredictable flip-flops are best explained, in the words of The Atlantic, as a “dogged pursuit of power, or at least of proximity to power.” They represent a constant attempt to shift with the political winds, to stay relevant, and to keep close to power.

Such desperation can only be explained by what I’ve uncovered: that Gabbard’s political career was created by U.S. affiliates of Hindutva. That Hindutva in America wants politicians in their pocket. And that, in the words of key Hindutva advocate Dr. Bharat Barai, who has given tens of thousands of dollars in campaign donations to Gabbard, “It doesn’t matter to me whether it is a Republican or Democrat.”

Gabbard donning the colors of a foreign political party at events hosted by what would become a registered foreign agent didn’t faze those who voted for her. Gabbard’s justification of Hindu nationalism — a chauvinistic, misogynistic, xenophobic ideology — as merely “expressing pride in one’s religion” didn’t faze her Republican backers. Gabbard taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from donors who also helped to elect India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, then turning around and arguing, in India, that “there was a lot of misinformation that surrounded the event in 2002,” referring to the Gujarat Massacre of Muslims which Modi is accused of orchestrating and which got him banned from America, no, that did not faze anyone in the Senate from confirming her.

Gabbard was first introduced to India’s RSS by a family friend named Michael Brannon Parker. Parker was hired by the RSS to write a book whitewashing the RSS’s 2008 massacre of Christians in the Indian state of Odisha. Asked by RSS leader Ram Madhav to introduce him to Gabbard in 2008, Parker did so.

Then Gabbard became a member of U.S. Congress, ran for U.S. President, and eventually was confirmed as the Director of National Intelligence.

In the meantime, Modi’s regime started assassinating critics in North America. One, successfully, in Vancouver, Canada. One, unsuccessfully, in New York City.

Where does all of this take us?

I remember when Tulsi Gabbard was repeatedly protested in the streets during her presidential campaign over her ties to the RSS. “The princess of the R$$,” read signs.

Today, she controls my country’s intelligence services.

For 20 years, I have joined my life with the Indian diaspora to take up concerns about the dismal human rights situation in India, especially that facing religious minorities. Under the past 10 years of Modi’s reign, India has moved from the world “largest democracy” to the world’s largest autocracy or, as some might phrase it, the world’s largest fascist nation.

For those 20 years, I have been deeply concerned on behalf of another community about the trajectory of their nation. Today, I am deeply concerned by the direction that my own country is headed, and Tulsi Gabbard exemplifies that.

The greatest struggle against the influence of Hindutva — a fascistic movement that has overwhelmed India — in the U.S. has failed. Hindutva is now in the innermost circles of the U.S. presidency.

As we are led by people who insist on putting “America First,” those same people have put into power figures who will destroy America.

As someone who intentionally made myself the most vocal opponent of Tulsi Gabbard since 2019, I am concerned but I am also doing what I can to watch my back. As a patriot, I am terrified by what her control of our nation’s intelligence means, especially when her oldest, biggest, most faithful political supporters are affiliates of the very same Hindutva movement that tried to murder American citizens on American soil. As a believer, I pledge to continue the struggle.

And as a realist, I have hope that President Trump’s habit of repeatedly turning his back on those who were once his closest allies will soon include Tulsi Gabbard.

Pieter Friedrich is a freelance journalist specializing in analysis of South Asian affairs.

13 February 2025

Source: countercurrents.org

By Lee Morgenbesser

Many Americans have watched in horror as Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, has been permitted to tear through various offices of the United States government in recent weeks. Backed by President Donald Trump, and supported by a small team of true believers, he has successfully laid siege to America’s vast federal bureaucracy.

On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order giving Musk even more power. It requires federal agencies to cooperate with his “Department of Government Efficiency” (known as DOGE) in cutting their staffing levels and restricting new hires.

In his first comments to the media since joining the Trump administration as a “special” government employee, Musk also responded to criticism that he’s launching a “hostile takeover” of the US government.

The people voted for major government reform, and that’s what people are going to get.

Are Musk’s actions akin to a “hostile takeover” of government, or a coup? I argue it’s more a form of “state capture”. Here’s what that means.

Why it’s not a coup or self-coup

Under the pretence of maximising government efficiency and productivity, DOGE has amassed quite a bit of power. It has:

• penetrated the massive system responsible for virtually all government payments
• breached sensitive databases and private medical records
• circumvented routine conflict of interest and transparency requirements
• dismantled the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
• gained access to the computer systems of a number of federal agencies.

Musk’s blitzkrieg across Washington – carried out in apparent violation of numerous federal laws – has not only stirred confusion, but defied explanation.

A popular argument, supported by some historians and commentators, is that Musk’s actions amount to a coup. They argue this is not a coup in the classic sense of a takeover of the physical centres of power. Rather, it’s a seizure of digital infrastructure by an unelected group seeking to undo democratic practices and violate human rights.

This term, however, is not technically correct. The most widely accepted definition of a coup is:

an overt attempt by the military or other elites within the state apparatus to unseat the sitting head of state using unconstitutional means.

Since Musk and Trump are bedfellows in this plot, the tech billionaire is clearly not trying to violently unseat the president.

Another possible explanation: this is a self-coup. This describes a situation in which

the sitting national leader takes decisive illegitimate action against countervailing institutions and elites to perpetuate the incumbent’s power.

In December, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attempted a self-coup when he declared martial law in order to ostensibly protect the country from opposition forces. He quickly reversed his decision amid elite defections and mass public demonstrations.

Though self-coups are becoming more common, Musk is doing the dirty work in the US – not Trump. Also, Musk’s chief target – the bureaucracy – does not nominally offset presidential power (except in conspiracy theories).

[https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/02/elon-musk-power-grab-trump-coup.html]

What is ‘state capture’?

More accurately, Musk’s siege amounts to a form of “state capture”. This refers to:

the appropriation of state resources by political actors for their own ends: either private or political.

By this logic, Musk’s aim could be to capture different pieces of the US government and turn the state into a tool for wealth extraction.

State capture is a relatively simple but extremely destructive process. This is how it has played out in countries like Indonesia, Hungary, Nigeria, Russia, Sri Lanka and South Africa (Musk’s birthplace):

First, political and corporate elites gain control of formal institutions, information systems and bureaucratic policy-making processes.

Then, they use this power to apply rules selectively, make biased decisions and allocate resources based on private interests (rather than the public good).

In captured states, strongman leaders often use economic policy and regulatory decisions to reward their political friends. For instance, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Russian President Vladimir Putin and former South African President Jacob Zuma have helped their allies by:

• making government anti-trust decisions
• issuing permits and licenses
• awarding government contracts and concessions
• waiving regulations or tariffs
• conferring tax exempt status.

State capture is fundamentally a predatory process.

By taking over how the American government does business, Musk could be seeking to enrich a small but powerful network of allies.

The first beneficiary would be Trump, who is no stranger to using his office to expand his family’s business empire. With a more fully captured state, Trump can take an active role in determining how public wealth is dispersed among corporate and political elites. This decision-making power often goes hand-in-hand with “personalist” regimes, in which everything is a transaction with the leader.

The second beneficiary would be Musk himself and other Silicon Valley mega-billionaires who have bent a knee to Trump. By positioning their tech companies as the solution to what allegedly ails the federal government, particularly when it comes to the use of artificial intelligence, they stand to secure lucrative contracts handed out by the “new” state.

The third beneficiary would be the small army of engineers and technicians working with Musk to upend the American government. As loyal foot soldiers, these individuals will be compensated with career advancement, financial gains and networking opportunities, while also enjoying legal impunity. This kind of quid pro quo is how authoritarian regimes work.

[https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1889424736301486506]

What this could mean for the US

As Musk continues his assault on the federal bureaucracy, the American people will suffer the consequences.

The most immediate impact of state capture: worse decisions are made. By purging experienced civil servants, cancelling government contracts and accessing sensitive information systems, Musk’s actions will likely degrade the standard of living at home and endanger American lives abroad.

State capture also means there would be less accountability for the Trump administration’s public policy decisions. With a lack of congressional and independent oversight, key decisions over the distribution of economic benefits could be made informally behind closed doors.

Finally, state capture is inseparable from corruption. Doing business with the US federal government could soon require one to pass a loyalty test rather than a public interest test.

Trump’s enemies will encounter more hurdles, while his allies will have a seat at the table.

Lee Morgenbesser is an Associate Professor, School of Government and International Relations, Griffith University

13 February 2025

Source: countercurrents.org

By Quds News Network

New York (Quds News Network)- Karim Khan, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), is the first individual to face sanctions authorized by former US President Donald Trump. These sanctions target the war crimes tribunal for its investigations into US citizens and allies, including Israel.

Khan, who is British, was named on Monday in an annex to an executive order signed by Trump last Thursday imposing sanctions on the ICC for targeting the US and Israel, Reuters reported.

Trump’s Order

Trump’s order places financial and visa sanctions on individuals and their family members who assist in ICC investigations of US citizens or US allies.

Actions may include blocking property and assets and not allowing ICC officials, employees, and relatives to enter the US.

Genocide Case

The order accuses the ICC of engaging in “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel” and of abusing its power by issuing “baseless arrest warrants” against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Chief Yoav Gallant.

In November, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the Gaza assault launched in October 2023, which lasted for 15 months.

Neither the US nor Israel is a member of or recognizes the court.

“The ICC has no jurisdiction over the United States or Israel,” the order states, adding that the court had set a “dangerous precedent” with its actions against both countries.

The order comes after a visit to the White House by Netanyahu, who is wanted by the ICC.

ICC Response

In response, the ICC condemned the order as an attempt to “harm its independent and impartial judicial work.”

“The Court stands firmly by its personnel and pledges to continue providing justice and hope to millions of innocent victims of atrocities across the world, in all Situations before it,” a statement by the court read.

The International Criminal Court, which opened in 2002, has international jurisdiction to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in member states or if a situation is referred by the U.N. Security Council.

Under an agreement between the United Nations and Washington, Khan should be able to regularly travel to New York to brief the U.N. Security Council on cases it had referred to the court in The Hague.

Not First Sanctions

The first Trump administration imposed sanctions on the ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and her deputy in 2020 when the court investigated US war crimes in Afghanistan. This time, the sanctions are linked to the court’s investigation into Israel.

Trump’s 2020 sanctions were reversed under the presidency of Joe Biden, who conditionally backed ICC investigations into Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

On his first day back in the Oval Office last month, Trump reversed Biden’s ending of the 2020 sanctions.

The US is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC and has had a rocky relationship with the court since its establishment in 2002.

Condemnations

“We trust that any restrictions taken against individuals would be implemented consistently with the host country’s obligations under the U.N. Headquarters Agreement,” deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq said on Friday.

Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, said the order “suggests that President Trump endorses the Israeli government’s crimes and is embracing impunity.”

Callamard said the sanctions will harm the interests of victims in countries where the court is investigating atrocities, not only in Palestine but also in Sudan, Libya, the Philippines, Ukraine, and Venezuela.

“Governments around the world and regional organizations must do everything in their power to mitigate and block the effect of President Trump’s sanctions. Through collective and concerted actions, ICC member states can protect the Court and its staff. Urgent action is needed, like never before.”

“Victims of human rights abuses around the world turn to the International Criminal Court when they have nowhere else to go, and President Trump’s executive order will make it harder for them to find justice,” said Charlie Hogle, staff attorney with American Civil Liberties Union’s National Security Project.

“The order also raises serious First Amendment concerns because it puts people in the United States at risk of harsh penalties for helping the court identify and investigate atrocities committed anywhere, by anyone.”

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, said on X that the ICC “must be able to freely pursue the fight against global impunity”.
“Europe will always stand for justice and the respect of international law,” she said.

The Netherlands, which hosts the court, said it “regrets” Trump’s order.

“The court’s work is essential in the fight against impunity,” Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said on X.

Last month, the US House of Representatives voted to sanction the ICC, but the bill foundered in the Senate.

In response to efforts to what they described as attempts to challenge the ICC’s authority, nine nations – including South Africa and Malaysia – launched the ‘Hague Group’ last month to defend the court and its rulings.

13 February 2025

Source: countercurrents.org

By Andre Damon

US President Donald Trump said in an interview over the weekend that the Palestinian people he is seeking to ethnically cleanse from Gaza would not be allowed to return to their homes. “I’m talking about building a permanent place for them,” Trump said.

Trump’s statement contradicted claims last week by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt that the relocation of the Palestinians from Gaza proposed by Trump would be temporary. Secretary of State Marco Rubio likewise claimed last week that the displacement of the Palestinians would be an “interim” measure, and the population would be allowed to “move back in.”

In his weekend interview, Trump, speaking as a king, referred to Gaza as his personal property. “I would own this. Think of it as a real estate development for the future. It would be a beautiful piece of land,” Trump said.

He continued, “There won’t be anybody there. … Hamas won’t be there. … We’ll be building through other of the very rich countries in the Middle East.”

Trump raised the prospect of relocating the Palestinians to Jordan and Egypt, declaring, “I think I could make a deal with Jordan. I think I could make a deal with Egypt.” Trump threatened to withhold aid from countries that refuse to construct concentration camps to hold the Palestinians.

Last week, Trump declared that the Gaza Strip “should not go through a process of rebuilding and occupation by the same people that lived a miserable existence there.” Trump called for “other countries” to “build various domains that will ultimately be occupied by the 1.8 million Palestinians living in Gaza.”

Within days of the announcement, Israeli officials moved to follow Trump’s lead, which conforms to their long-held plans. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Thursday that he had instructed the military to prepare to put Trump’s plan into action. “I welcome President Trump’s bold initiative, which can create extensive opportunities for those in Gaza who wish to leave,” he said.

He added, “I have instructed the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) to prepare a plan” that would include “exit options via land crossings, as well as special arrangements for departure by sea and air.”

In separate remarks to the press on Monday, Trump gave an ultimatum to Hamas to release all Israeli hostages or “Saturday all hell is going to break out.” He added, “If all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock … I would say, cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out.”

Trump’s threat makes clear that the “ceasefire” agreed to by Israel, as the World Socialist Web Site warned, is a complete fraud, aiming only to allow Israel to rearm for a new, even more violent phase of genocide and ethnic cleansing against the population of Gaza.

On Monday, the Israeli military announced plans to “significantly reinforce” its positions around Gaza. “It was decided to raise the level of readiness and postpone leave for combat soldiers and operational units in the Southern Command,” the IDF said in a statement. “Additionally, it was decided to significantly reinforce the area with additional forces, for defensive missions.”

In other words, Israel is making plans to renew its onslaught against Gaza in order to implement Trump’s plan for the ethnic cleansing of the territory.

This onslaught will be facilitated by the continued flow of US weapons to Israel. On Friday, the US State Department approved the sale of over $7 billion in missiles and bombs to Israel.

Last week, Trump signed an executive order sanctioning the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing it of having “engaged in illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel.”

In a statement, Margaret Satterthwaite, the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, warned that she is “gravely concerned” by Trump’s sanctions against the ICC.

“By hindering investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity—including those committed against women and children—the US undermines judicial independence and emboldens perpetrators of atrocity,” she said. “This order strikes at the very foundation of international justice, eroding the ‘never again’ legacy of Nuremberg and possibly violating Article 70 of the Rome Statute,” she added.

Satterthwaite was referencing the 1945 Nuremberg tribunal of Nazi leaders which convicted over a dozen leading Nazi officials of war crimes, crimes against humanity and waging aggressive war. The tribunal set the basis for the current functioning of the International Criminal Court, whose role is to criminally prosecute the perpetrators of war crimes.

Israel, meanwhile, is continuing its offensive throughout the West Bank, which has now lasted three weeks and has forcibly displaced 40,000 Palestinians.

On Monday, Secretary of State Rubio defended Trump’s plan for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza. “Someone’s got to go in … you’ve got to clean it up. You’ve got to clean all that out of there even before you begin the process of removing rubble and debris and rebuilding housing, like permanent structures. Who’s going to do that?” Rubio said in a radio interview. “Right now, the only one who’s stood up and said I’m willing to help do it is Donald Trump.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu likewise praised Trump’s plan on Monday, calling it “much better for the State of Israel, a revolutionary and creative vision, which we are discussing,” adding that Trump “is very determined to carry it out.”

To date, 47,583 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks, according to official death tolls, with a recent study published in The Lancet estimating the death toll could be 70,000 or more.

11 February 2025

Source: countercurrents.org

By Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor

Palestinian Territory – Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been forcibly displaced by Israeli occupation forces during the latest military campaign against Palestinians in the northern West Bank. The goal of the offensive, which is occurring in Palestinian cities, villages, and refugee camps, is to drive the Palestinians from their homes and establish new realities that defy international law.

A Euro-Med Monitor field team observed these forced relocation efforts on Saturday 8 February, when the Israeli occupation army targeted hundreds of Palestinians from the Far’a camp in Tubas, in the northern West Bank. This displacement is part of a larger offensive that started on 2 February and has involved Israeli forces conducting frequent raids on the town of Tamoun and the Far’a camp, destroying infrastructure and homes while enforcing a rigorous curfew on the populace.

Dozens of families have been displaced in recent days, but Saturday’s displacement operations took a more dangerous turn, as hundreds of families were compelled to evacuate due to the threat of home bombings, starvation, and siege. In the face of humiliating and degrading measures, taking place in cold weather and without the provision of adequate shelter, residents were compelled to evacuate their homes via routes imposed by the Israeli military.

The Israeli occupation announced the start of a massive military operation known as “Iron Wall” on 21 January, which started in Jenin, its refugee camp, and its towns. On 27 January, the Israeli military operation expanded to Tulkarm and the governorate’s Tulkarm and Nour Shams refugee camps. This is just one example of the systematic practices, most notably mass forced displacement, by which Israeli forces are intensifying their operations in the West Bank.

The Israeli occupation army has conducted one of the biggest forced displacement operations in the West Bank in decades, displacing over 11,000 residents of the Tulkarm camps and the majority of the Jenin camp’s 13,000 residents. These actions are akin to the strategy used by the Israeli military in the Gaza Strip, where dozens of illegitimate eviction orders resulted in the forced relocation of nearly two million Palestinians.

Israel’s practice of forcibly displacing and expelling Palestinian residents in the West Bank has been in place for years, and has worsened in the last two years. Previously, however, the perpetrators were mostly individuals or members of small groups, as evidenced by their destruction of homes, unlawful confiscation of land and properties, dismantling of a population’s infrastructure, and ejection of  indigenous families or communities in favour of establishing settlement outposts, as was the case in multiple locations in Hebron and the Jordan Valley.

In addition to forced displacement, the Israeli military’s current genocidal strategy in the West Bank has involved widespread destruction. This destruction has included the bombing and burning of residential buildings and infrastructure, the cutting off of water, electricity, and communications supplies, and a killing policy that has resulted in the deaths of 30 Palestinians—including four children—and the injury of almost 300 others over the course of 19 days.

The Israeli occupation has employed a variety of additional tactics to create harsh living conditions in the West Bank. Israeli politicians have made public remarks encouraging the spread of violence there, for example. In particular, an Israeli security official speaking on Channel 14 about the cabinet’s decision to start the Jenin campaign stated, “We are starting a massive campaign in the northern West Bank, which could go on for months. We will act there just as we did in Gaza. We will leave them in ruins.”

Israel is encouraged by its decades-long impunity and the international community’s general attitude of helplessness that accompanied the Israeli crime of in the Gaza Strip for over 15 months. With its recent escalation in aggression, Israel threatens to repeat its Gaza genocide in the West Bank.

In order to protect Palestinian civilians and put an end to Israel’s operation in the West Bank, the international community must act immediately. Israel has repeatedly declared its intention to annex the West Bank and establish sovereignty over it, which has led to the ongoing military operation.

The international community must uphold the Palestinian people’s rights to freedom and dignity; support their right to self-determination, in line with international law; stop Israeli settler colonialism and illegal occupation of Palestinian territory; dismantle its apartheid against, and systematic isolation of, the Palestinians; lift the illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip; hold Israeli perpetrators and their Western allies accountable and prosecute them; and ensure surviving Palestinian victims receive compensation and redress.

Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor is a Geneva-based independent organization with regional offices across the MENA region and Europe

11 February 2025

Source: countercurrents.org

By Jessica Corbett

A coalition of over 100 organizations on Monday forcefully denounced U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to ethnically cleanse the Gaza Strip of Palestinians and take over the coastal enclave recently decimated by an Israeli military campaign conducted with American weapons.

Led by A New Policy—a group founded by Biden administration officials who resigned in protest—and the Quaker organization Friends Committee on National Legislation, the coalition said that “we are deeply alarmed by President Trump’s recent statements, tracing them back to January 25, just days after the Republican returned to power.

“We, the undersigned organizations, decry and oppose any effort or initiative, and any calls for, the forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, and support the joint statement of Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the Palestinian Authority, and the Arab League that similarly rejected any such steps, the coalition wrote, citing the Fourth Geneva Convention.

The letter highlights the ethnic cleansing of Palestine in the 1940s during the formation of the modern state of Israel, which Palestinians call the Nakba, Arabic for catastrophe; that since 2006, Gaza “has been in a state of siege,” with residents enduring repeated bombardment and restrictions on necessities; and that since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, they have faced what various experts have found to be a plausible case of genocide, with over 48,000 people killed.

“Through this all, the Palestinians in Gaza have stood with remarkable dignity and perseverance, insisting throughout the immense suffering and loss that they will never abandon their homeland,” the letter continues, echoing recent remarks from residents. “We are deeply concerned by clear statements of intent from Israeli government officials over the past year concerning the creation of new Israeli settlements within the Gaza Strip, which further reinforce the intent of ethnic cleansing.”

“The United States has no right to dictate to the Palestinian people in Gaza to leave, and direct other countries to participate in their displacement. We are also aware that even a temporary external displacement could be used by Israel to enact permanent exile,” the letter says. “While we agree that the short and medium-term humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza may be difficult to meet given the nearly complete destruction that Israel has wrought, if the necessary services cannot be provided in Gaza, the people of Gaza must be able to access them elsewhere within the historic borders of Palestine and must be able to return.”

The coalition also expressed alarm over “an uptick in settler violence” and deadly Israel Defense Forces operations in the illegally occupied West Bank, writing that “these actions are part and parcel of a strategy that seeks to make not just Gaza, but all Palestinian areas across historic Palestine, unlivable for the Palestinian people, and are thus contributory to a process of ethnic cleansing.”

“Palestine is not just an idea—it is a place. It is a homeland to the Palestinian people,” the groups stressed. “To participate in, facilitate, or endorse their removal from it would violate every precept of international law, devastate the rules-based international order that protects us all, do irreversible harm to America’s global influence, and be an act of unconscionable immorality.”

The letter concludes with a poem from Palestinian Mahmoud Darwish, who wrote:

My country is not a suitcase
I am not a traveler
I am the lover and the land is the beloved.
The archaeologist is busy analyzing stones.
In the rubble of legends he searches for his own eyes
to show
that I am a sightless vagrant on the road
with not one letter in civilization’s alphabet.
Meanwhile in my own time I plant my trees.
I sing of my love.

In addition to the coalition leaders, signatories to the letter include ActionAid USA, CodePink, Democracy for the Arab World Now, Demand Progress Education Fund, Democratic Socialists of America, IfNotNow Movement, Just Foreign Policy, Madre, National Iranian American Council, Oil Change International, Peace Action, Progressive Democrats of America, and September 11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, and U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights.

The letter came amid a fresh wave of alarm over Trump’s latest comments about Gaza and Palestinians, which aired Monday morning on “Fox & Friends.” He said: “We’ll build safe communities a little bit away from where they are, where all of this danger is. In the meantime, I would own this—think of it as a real estate development for the future. It would be a beautiful piece of land.”

Asked by Fox News‘ Bret Baier whether Palestinians would have the right to return to Gaza, the president said, “No, they wouldn’t.”

Trump reveals ‘beautiful’ real estate plan for Gaza Strip

The letter also came as Hamas on Monday suspended its next planned release of hostages taken in October 2023, citing Israel’s deadly violations of a fragile cease-fire deal that took effect last month.

Jessica Corbett is a senior editor and staff writer for Common Dreams.

11 February 2025

Source: countercurrents.org

By Quds News Network

The ceasefire agreement in Gaza is on the brink of collapse due to persistent Israeli violations. Hamas’s military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, announced on February 10 that it would postpone the release of Israeli prisoners until Israel fully complies with the ceasefire agreement. Spokesman Abu Ubaida stated that Israel has been deliberately delaying the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, attacking those attempting to return, and blocking essential relief efforts.

Since the implementation of the ceasefire on January 19, Israeli forces have continued deadly attacks, killing 25 Palestinians, obstructing vital humanitarian aid, and advancing plans for the forced displacement of Gaza’s population. These actions defy the terms of the ceasefire and risk reigniting large-scale conflict.

This is how Israel has violated the ceasefire agreement with the resistance in Gaza.

Hamas Delays Israeli Prisoner Release Following Israel’s Violations of Ceasefire Deal

Hamas announced it would delay the release of Israeli prisoners scheduled for February 15 following Israel’s failure to uphold its commitments under the ceasefire agreement.

Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for Hamas’ military wing, said Israel had delayed the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza. He also stated that Israel has been targeting civilians and blocking humanitarian aid.

“We have fulfilled all our obligations,” Abu Ubaida stated. “But Israel has not. The prisoners will not be released until Israel complies and makes up for its past violations.”

More than 20 days have passed since the ceasefire began, but conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate. Israel still blocks the entry of heavy machinery needed to remove 55 million tons of rubble. Without it, tens of thousands of bodies remain trapped under collapsed buildings, and roads remain inaccessible. Israel also obstructed aid entry into Gaza and arrested truck drivers.

Israeli forces have also continued attacking civilians. In the latest incident, they struck a vehicle carrying displaced families returning to northern Gaza. Several people were injured, including children.

Israel has blocked caravans and temporary homes from entering Gaza, delayed phase two negotiations, which were supposed to start a week ago as Netanyahu has yet to authorize his team to engage, and restricted the number of Gazan patients allowed to exit through Rafah, even vetoing some names. It has also killed dozens of Gazans after the ceasefire took effect, and its forces continue to advance beyond the agreed 900-meter buffer zone.

Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire deal but warned that it would only comply as long as Israel did the same.

Deadly Violations: Ongoing Attacks on Palestinians

Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces have continued their assaults on Palestinians in Gaza. At least 25 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began. These attacks represent a direct breach of the agreement and undermine efforts to maintain stability. The ongoing violence raises fears that Israel is using the ceasefire as a tactical pause rather than a genuine step toward de-escalation.

Blocking Humanitarian Aid: A Manufactured Crisis

Israel has continued to systematically obstruct aid deliveries, worsening the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Under the ceasefire’s humanitarian protocol, Israel was required to allow:

• 600 aid trucks per day, including 300 designated for northern Gaza.
• 50 fuel trucks daily to restore essential services.
• Equipment for clearing rubble and rescuing victims.
• Tents, shelters, and temporary housing units for displaced families.
• Funds to support reconstruction efforts.

•  However, Israel has failed to meet these commitments. As of February 2, only 9,630 aid trucks had entered Gaza—far below the agreed amount. Fuel shortages have left hospitals, bakeries, and water facilities struggling to function, with civil defense teams completely deprived of fuel, preventing them from clearing debris and recovering bodies. The continued blockade of aid directly violates the ceasefire and exacerbates Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.

Ethnic Cleansing Plans: Displacement as a Policy

While violating the ceasefire on the ground, Israeli leaders have also made statements confirming their intent to permanently displace Palestinians from Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump have openly discussed plans to expel Gaza’s population. Human rights experts warn that such actions constitute ethnic cleansing and violate international law.

With Israel continuing to disregard the terms of the ceasefire, Hamas has called on mediators—Egypt, Qatar, and the United States—to intervene before the agreement collapses entirely. As violations escalate, the fragile agreement stands on the edge of failure, threatening to plunge Gaza back into war.

Trump says All hell is gonna break out

According to Reuters, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that if all hostages held in Gaza are not returned by 12 p.m. on Saturday, he will call for the cancellation of the ceasefire and “let all hell break loose”.

[https://twitter.com/QudsNen/status/1889117230136201228]

11 February 2025

Source: countercurrents.org