Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that information was leaked from a session on detainees last August, indicating that leaders were demanding concessions, and that this leak caused Hamas's position to harden.

Netanyahu added that the leaks came from within the security cabinet, the negotiating team, and the most sensitive bodies in Israel, and provided information of great value to Israel's enemies, and represent an imminent threat to its security.

He stressed that strategic information related to Israel's military capabilities was leaked from a session in a fortified building on the fourth day of the war, and considered the leaking of the photos of the Sde Teiman prison a stark example of the damage done to Israel and its reputation around the world, as the leaks led to the destruction of the lives of many young people and the lives of their families.

He stressed that the aim behind the recent leaks was to harm his personal reputation and put pressure on him, and said that Eli Feldstein, who is accused of leaking information from his office, is a patriotic person and cannot harm Israel's security.

Feldstein, a spokesman for Netanyahu, has emerged as the main suspect in the case.

Five Israelis, including four soldiers, one of whom is an officer, are being investigated on charges of leaking documents attributed to the head of the political bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), Yahya Sinwar, to foreign media outlets.

Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper pointed out that 4 of the five detainees serve in a secret unit whose goal is to prevent leaks and protect security secrets, noting that among these detainees is a reserve officer with the rank of major who was arrested by the Shin Bet.

A number of citizens suffered from suffocation, Saturday evening, after the Israeli occupation forces fired sound bombs and tear gas at them west of Hebron, while military checkpoints were set up at the entrances to the city, south of the West Bank.

According to local sources, the occupation forces fired sound bombs and toxic gas at citizens stuck in their vehicles at the military checkpoint erected at the western entrance to the city of Hebron in the "Farsh al-Hawa" area, which caused a number of them to suffer from suffocation due to inhaling toxic gas, and they were treated in the field.

The occupation forces also set up military checkpoints at the northern entrances to Hebron, the entrances to the towns of Sa'ir, Yatta, Dura, Halhul, and the entrances to the Fawwar and Al-Arroub camps. They stopped and searched citizens' vehicles and checked the personal identification cards of their passengers, which hindered their passage.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said his country respects the International Criminal Court's decision and will arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant if they visit Colombia, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on countries around the world to abide by the ICC's decision and implement it immediately.

In a special interview with Al Jazeera, Petro added that the goal of the war of extermination that Israel is waging in the Gaza Strip is to prevent the establishment of a homeland for the Palestinians. He said: Since the first shell fell on Gaza, I have seen that what Israel intends to do is to carry out genocide against the Palestinians for political reasons.

The Colombian President considered that the results of the war between Israel and the Palestinians that we have reached until today confirm this, stressing that what is happening in Gaza and the Middle East is not just a passing war, but rather a threatening message and a frightening model from the West to the peoples of the countries of the South.

He believed that Washington's rejection of the decisions of the International Criminal Court, which it did not wish to join, means that it supports atrocities, noting that the major countries and countries that dream of controlling the world are disregarding international law, human rights and human civilization, and increasing tensions and wars in order to preserve their sovereignty and control.

Petro stressed that those who bet on the West will feel that they are alone and have been betrayed, like Ukraine and countries in Western Europe.

The Colombian president added that his people are affected by the horror of the scenes of genocide they see in Gaza and recall harsh memories, explaining: "We have suffered from brutality and killing, and so we feel more the meaning of the genocide that the Palestinian people are being subjected to."

He revealed that Colombia faced pressure because of its positions on the genocide in Gaza, and that lobbies were moving against it, especially the banking lobby. He also accused us of anti-Semitism after severing our relations with Israel, and they are wrong, as the Palestinians and Arabs are Semites.

European positions

In Oslo, Norway confirmed its commitment to the decisions of the International Criminal Court, and said that it would arrest Netanyahu and Galant as soon as they entered its territory.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said that any arrest warrant from the court must be executed if the wanted persons enter Norway, stressing that his country will follow the court's decision.

For his part, Andreas Kravik, Deputy Foreign Minister of Norway, said that Oslo would act in line with its obligations under international law if Netanyahu or anyone else against whom the court has issued an arrest warrant or extradition warrant came.

As for the European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, he considered that the decision of the International Criminal Court is not a political decision and all EU countries are obligated to implement it. Borrell added that the International Criminal Court seeks to put an end to impunity, and there will be no justice or peace without accountability.

Borrell added in a speech on Saturday during a conference on Israel and Palestine held in Greek Cyprus that the International Criminal Court seeks to put an end to impunity, and there will be no justice or peace without accountability, and he criticized countries that did not express their support for the court’s decision, calling on them to abide by the decision.

He pointed out that when the court decided to issue an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, many countries expressed their support for the decision at the time, but today some of those countries remain silent regarding the decision to arrest Netanyahu.

Erdogan's statements

In a related context, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed today, Saturday, the issuance of two arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court against Netanyahu and Galant, considering it a "courageous decision."

Erdogan said in a speech in Istanbul that Turkey supports the arrest warrant, and called on all concerned countries that are signatories to the agreement (the Rome Treaty) to abide by the court's decision with the aim of renewing humanity's confidence in the international system.

He added, "It is the duty of Western countries, which have been giving the world lessons about law, justice and human rights for years, to fulfill their promises in this regard."

Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, Erdogan has repeatedly stressed that his country will do "whatever it can to hold Netanyahu and his government accountable."

Last Thursday, the International Criminal Court issued two international arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Galant, on charges of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the ongoing genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023.

On May 20, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan requested the issuance of arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Galant for their responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Israeli army in Gaza. Khan again asked the court in August to quickly issue arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Galant.

Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, leaving more than 148,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 10,000 missing, amid massive destruction and famine that killed dozens of children and elderly people, in one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world.

Israel continues its massacres, ignoring the UN Security Council resolution to end them immediately, and the International Court of Justice’s orders to take measures to prevent acts of genocide and improve the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The various political forces are dealing with the confirmation of the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, Sheikh Naim Qassem, that he is repositioning himself under the umbrella of the “Taif Agreement,” as he wanted to preempt the American promises to reach a ceasefire, by defining the main titles of the roadmap in his approach to the stage after the return of calm to southern Lebanon, with Israel withdrawing from the areas it has penetrated in preparation for the implementation of international resolution “1701,” and promising that it comes in the context of the party’s readiness to cross from the region - i.e. the field - into the Lebanese interior via the Taif gate.

The terms that Qassem has set in his approach to the post-ceasefire phase indicate, as political sources told Asharq Al-Awsat, his desire to Lebaneseize the party’s orientations to the point of engaging in political activity, in exchange for reducing his level of interest in what is happening in the region in light of his assessment of the reactions resulting from his unilateral decision to support Gaza, which has caused division among the Lebanese.

The sources believe that the party cannot ignore the facts imposed by its decision to support Gaza, most notably its lack of support from its allies in the “Axis of Resistance,” and that it was almost alone in the confrontation. They confirm that its authorization of the Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, to negotiate with the American mediator, Amos Hochstein, and their reaching an agreement on a draft to restore calm to the south, inevitably means that there is no place in the draft to link the Gaza and southern fronts and support Hamas.

Party withdrawal

The same sources point out that the party’s failure to object to the draft means its implicit approval of evacuating the deployment area south of the Litani and withdrawing from it, in addition to the fact that the rules of engagement in effect since the issuance of Resolution 1701 in August 2006 have become effectively cancelled, similar to the termination of the effect of the balance of terror that had kept the exchange of fire between them under control.

The same sources say that the party has no choice but to withdraw inward, and that what has been achieved so far has remained limited to reaching a ceasefire, the validity of which is pending American promises, while the Lebanese-Syrian borders are no longer open to deliver weapons to the party, after it was decided to control them similar to the model that the army applied to Rafik Hariri International Airport, and to prevent all forms of smuggling to and from Lebanon. In addition, the unity of the arenas was almost completely absent from the confrontation, and there was no effective presence of the “axis of resistance” with the Syrian regime withdrawing from it, in its desire to correct its relations with the international community, leading to the lifting of the siege imposed on it by the United States under the Caesar Act.

Larijani

In this context, the sources pause at what the senior advisor to the Iranian leader, Ali Larijani, said to a delegation from the “Axis of Resistance” who met him during his visit to Beirut: “Iran wants to deliver aid to Lebanon, but the blockade imposed on us by land, sea and air prevents us from sending it, and we have no choice but to confirm that we are partners in the reconstruction.”

And you ask whether the party's joining the "Taif Agreement", which is a safe haven for everyone to cross Lebanon to safety, comes in the context of conducting a critical review under the title of correcting the Lebanese-Arab relations that have cracked due to its bias towards the "axis of resistance", and making Lebanon a platform for sending messages instead of neutralizing it from the conflicts raging in the region? And has it become convinced that it has no choice but to reach a ceasefire, despite Israel delaying its approval of it while it continues its destruction of large areas, which opens the door to the question of the fate of the American promises, and whether Tel Aviv is entrusted with choosing the appropriate time to announce the end of the war?

Positioned under the roof of "Taif"

She did not rule out the role of Berri in advising the party on the necessity of turning inward and positioning itself under the umbrella of the “Taif Agreement,” especially since the international community, with all its components, advises the opposition to extend a hand to cooperate with it to get Lebanon out of its accumulated crises.

She says that the party is wary of the developments that accompanied its support for Gaza, and asks whether it has decided to reconsider its calculations in light of the fact that its bet on Iran’s intervention was misplaced, because what matters to it is preserving the regime and providing it with protection, taking into consideration the possibility of its position in the region weakening?

Therefore, the party’s decision to restore the Taif Agreement means that it is showing its readiness to engage in political activity in search of solutions to save Lebanon after it became certain, according to the sources, that the surplus power it enjoys will not be spent in the political equation, and that there is a need to search for channels leading to communication with its partners in the country, first and foremost the opposition, with the country preparing to enter a new political phase immediately after reaching a ceasefire that would give priority to electing a president, so that he can take it upon himself to implement what was agreed upon to implement “1701.”

Accordingly, it is necessary to be patient to allow room for reactions, whether from the opposition or the centrists, to the roadmap drawn by Qassem in preparation for moving the party to a new political phase. This requires him not to bully his opponents and to be open and flexible and realistic in order to get the election of the president out of the stagnation and complete the implementation of “Taif”, in return for treating him in kind and not acting in a way that suggests that they want to weaken him in restoring the country’s institutions, under the pretext that his strength today is no longer what it was in the past, before his monopoly in supporting Gaza, and the resulting decline in Iranian influence, in conjunction with the ineffectiveness of the unity of the arenas that make up the striking force of the “axis of resistance”, which did not play a role, even to modest extents, in providing support to the party as it is its strongest arm in the region. Therefore, there is a need to embrace it to restore it to the state project.

This evening, Saturday, the Israeli occupation forces closed the Jaba military checkpoint, which separates the towns of Al-Ram and Jaba and is considered the main entrance to the governorates of Ramallah and Al-Bireh and Jerusalem.

According to local sources, the occupation forces closed the iron gate that they had placed at the checkpoint and prevented vehicles from entering through it, which caused a severe traffic crisis in Al-Ram, Qalandia camp and Kafr Aqab, and detained hundreds of vehicles heading to the southern governorates and to the city of Jericho.

Since the beginning of the aggression on Gaza, the occupation forces have been deliberately closing the Jaba checkpoint in the morning, as they work to facilitate the passage of settlers via the settlement road (60) to the city of Jerusalem, while obstructing the movement of Palestinian citizens.

This evening, Saturday, settlers assaulted citizens in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, and occupation soldiers arrested a citizen.

According to local sources, settlers from the settlement of "Havat Ma'on" attacked the house of anti-settlement activist Hafez al-Harini in the village of al-Tuwana in Masafer Yatta and assaulted his family, which resulted in two of them being injured. The army also arrested Hafez al-Harini.

The occupation forces also stormed the house of citizen Muhammad Tayeh Makhamreh in the village of Ma'in, located south of the town of Carmel, east of Yatta, and wreaked havoc on its contents.

The Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), announced the death of an Israeli female prisoner due to the ongoing aggression on the northern Gaza Strip, and said that Israel must prepare to deal with the problem of the disappearance of the bodies of its prisoners.

Qassam spokesman Abu Obeida said on his Telegram account: “After the return of communication that had been cut off for weeks with the mujahideen tasked with protecting the enemy’s prisoners, it became clear that one of the female prisoners was killed in an area exposed to Israeli aggression in the northern Gaza Strip,” stressing that the danger “still threatens the life of another female prisoner who was with her.”

He added that the widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip and the martyrdom of some captives led to the disappearance of the bodies of some prisoners.

Abu Obeida held Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he described as a war criminal, his government and his army leaders "fully responsible for the lives of their prisoners," and said that they "are the ones who insist on causing their suffering and death."

This comes as Israeli media reported that dozens of Israelis took to the streets in demonstrations in Rehovot, south of Tel Aviv, to demand a prisoner exchange deal.

A number of citizens were killed, Saturday evening, after the occupation aircraft bombed a group of citizens west of Khan Yunis and in Gaza City.

Medical sources reported that at least two citizens were killed and several others were injured after the occupation forces bombed citizens in the Al-Amal neighborhood near the Red Crescent Hospital in Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip.

Three citizens were killed and others were injured when the occupation forces bombed a group of citizens opposite the Lulu Complex in the Al-Rimal neighborhood, west of Gaza City.

The occupation forces continue their aggression on the Gaza Strip, by land, sea and air, since October 7, 2023, which resulted in the death of 44,176 citizens, the majority of whom are women and children, and the injury of 104,473 others, in an incomplete toll, as thousands of victims are still under the rubble and on the roads, and ambulance and rescue crews cannot reach them.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in a phone call with his Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz, on Saturday, stressed that the United States is committed to reaching a diplomatic solution in Lebanon, and urged Israel to improve the "dire" conditions in Gaza, according to a statement issued by the Pentagon.

According to the statement, Austin "affirmed the United States' commitment to reaching a diplomatic solution in Lebanon that allows Israeli and Lebanese civilians to safely return to their homes on both sides of the border" in his call with Israel Katz, according to a Pentagon spokesman.

Austin also "urged the government of Israel to continue taking steps to improve the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, and stressed the United States' commitment to securing the release of all hostages, including American citizens."

The United Nations and others have repeatedly denounced the humanitarian conditions, especially in northern Gaza, where Israel said on Friday it had killed two commanders involved in a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

In the call with Katz, Austin also discussed ongoing Israeli operations and reaffirmed "Washington's unwavering commitment to Israel's security," the Pentagon said.

The Lebanese Health Ministry said on Saturday that 11 people were killed in a violent Israeli air strike on central Beirut on Saturday, in a strike that shook the Lebanese capital as Israel continues its intensive military campaign against the Hezbollah group.

A Lebanese security source said that an eight-storey building was hit by four missiles, including bunker-busting types designed to hit underground targets.

Israel has used bunker-busting missiles to assassinate Hezbollah leaders, including the group's secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah, in a raid on southern Beirut last September.

The Lebanese Health Ministry says at least 3,645 people have been killed since October 2023, when Hezbollah began exchanging fire with Israel in support of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.

Israeli defense officials revealed to the American newspaper, The New York Times, that Hezbollah has begun to rely on advanced missiles called “Almas,” which are copies of the Israeli “Spike” anti-tank missiles.

These missiles were part of the weapons captured by the party in the 2006 war between Israel and Lebanon, and were transferred to Iran where they were reverse engineered.

According to officials, Hezbollah designed the missiles to be more accurate and efficient than the Israeli version, and have the ability to target Israeli military bases, communications systems and air defense platforms with high accuracy.

Characteristics of "Almas" missiles

The "Almas" missiles are distinguished by advanced technological features that make them a real threat to Israel, such as:

The missiles have a high-precision guidance system, which enables them to hit their targets accurately, which makes them a major challenge to the Israeli military forces.

These missiles have a range of about 16 kilometers, giving them the ability to hit relatively distant targets.

Missiles have the ability to hit targets from above, where tanks and other targets are more vulnerable.

Reducing dependence on Iran

The newspaper believes that Hezbollah has begun manufacturing "Almas" missiles locally inside Lebanon in order to reduce dependence on the Iranian supply chain, because the party faces challenges in ensuring the continued flow of weapons from Iran in light of regional pressures and international sanctions.

Local manufacturing also gives Hezbollah greater independence in equipping its forces, and increases its ability to confront military threats from Israel.

A report from the Israeli Alma Research Institute indicates that Almas missiles will threaten a variety of strategic targets at longer distances, making them “an increasing threat, not only to Israel but to other countries in the region.”

Reports have shown that these missiles have already been used in operations against Israel as early as 2023, targeting some Israeli military installations, reflecting Hezbollah's improved ability to use advanced weapons in war.

Iran has produced and developed Almas missiles to counter growing military challenges from Israel, and began using these weapons in military exercises in 2021. These weapons are part of Iran’s broader strategy to enhance the capabilities of its allies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Sources in the Israeli Likud party, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said that the latter intends to push former Defense Minister Yoav Galant to retire from the party and limit the possibility of him running for the Knesset in the upcoming elections.

The sources confirmed to the Walla website that the party has begun monitoring Galant's activities and statements against the government, with the aim of gathering evidence that he is acting independently, in preparation for his dismissal.

According to the sources, since Galant's dismissal at the beginning of this month, the Likud has begun monitoring his activity in the Knesset, tracking his attendance and votes in the plenary session, and documenting his statements opposing government policy, with the aim of gathering evidence proving that he acts independently and is not subject to government decisions and coalition management, which paves the way for submitting a request to the Knesset Committee to declare him a defector from the coalition. If this step succeeds, he will be punished by being prevented from running in the upcoming elections within the Likud or any other party serving in the current Knesset, unless he resigns during the current session.

The sources said that Netanyahu ultimately wants Galant to resign from the Knesset, fearing that he will vote against the coalition in decisive votes.

Normally, in order to declare a MK retired and determine his or her status as a “single MK,” the faction must submit a request to the House Committee, which takes a quasi-judicial step, including requiring the faction to present evidence that the MK acted against the party and coalition, before the MK in question is given the right to defend himself or herself against the charges. If the request is approved, the MK is prohibited from being part of any party in the Knesset, and restrictions are placed on him or her and his or her activities. He or she is also prohibited from joining parties in the Knesset in the next elections, and will only be able to run as part of a new party.

In recent years, the measure has been activated and approved twice: in 2017, against Orly Levy-Abiaksas of Yisrael Beiteinu, and in 2022, against Amichai Chikli of Yamina, after he opposed the formation of a Bennett-Lapid government. But a few months later Chikli resigned from the Knesset, allowing him to run on the Likud list in the November 2022 elections.

Netanyahu dismissed Galant from his position as defense minister and appointed Yisrael Katz in his place, early this month, due to his opposition to the draft exemption law, and at the request of the Haredi factions who saw him as an obstacle to promoting the law.

Galant, who has served as defense minister since the government was formed, was the only MK in the coalition who opposed the judicial reform plan, which led Netanyahu in March 2023 to attempt to dismiss him, before he changed his mind under popular protests. Despite the strained relationship, Netanyahu and Galant fought the Gaza war together for more than a year, but in recent months Netanyahu decided to dismiss him after his position on the draft exemption law, and a series of other conflicts related to the conduct of the war, settlement negotiations, the return of the kidnapped, the formulation of the policy for the day after the war on Gaza, and the demand to form a government commission of inquiry.

Since his dismissal from the defense ministry, Galant has returned to work as a Knesset member, but he is not a member of any committee on behalf of Likud. He has attended some plenary discussions and votes, and has never voted against the coalition so far. Galant and his aides have said since his dismissal that he has no intention of leaving Likud.

Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi during his meeting with soldiers in Jabalia, northern Gaza (archive - Israeli army website)

According to a poll conducted by Channel 12 this week, any party led by Galant would win eight seats, but his supporters do not come from Likud or coalition voters, but from voters of opposition parties on the right and center.

There was no immediate response from Likud or Galant.

Netanyahu's plan against Galant in the Knesset comes despite the fact that they both face an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court on Thursday for war crimes in the Gaza Strip.

The International Court said in a statement that it had reasonable grounds to consider Netanyahu and Galant as accomplices in “crimes against humanity; namely the crime of starvation as a weapon... and crimes against humanity such as murder,” and the court confirmed that “Netanyahu and Galant bear criminal responsibility for directing a deliberate attack against civilians.”

Tel Aviv is still considering its position on the court’s decision, and the approach, according to Israeli media, is not to submit a response to the ICC’s decision, and to wait for US President Donald Trump to come to power on January 20. Israel has two options until next Wednesday before deciding whether to respond or not: The first is to inform the court that it will respond, and if it decides to do so, it will have all the time to formulate this response, and the other option is to ignore the court’s decision. The arrest warrants cannot be appealed, but responding may help limit the expansion of the court’s judicial procedures.

The Ynet website said that the trend is not to respond. However, the Hebrew channel Kan expressed concerns on Saturday within the Israeli security establishment about the issuance of secret arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court against Israeli army leaders and senior officers. Kan said that the concerns revolve mainly around the possibility of issuing an arrest warrant against the Chief of Staff of the Army, Herzi Halevi. There is concern in Israel that such warrants have already been issued within the court and kept secret until they are activated at the time decided by the court.

A senior Israeli official said that forming a government investigation committee could have prevented the issuance of international arrest warrants.

According to estimates in Israel, it will be very difficult to reverse the decision on the arrest warrants at this stage, and even the establishment of an official commission of inquiry will not lead to their cancellation. Israel also fears that several countries will take steps to ban the supply of weapons to it, and some countries may resort to implementing this in a covert manner by suspending or delaying licenses for arms transfers.

Kan confirmed that Israel is studying possible steps to be taken against the ICC decision, which are political steps, not legal steps, for example, clarifying that the ICC has no authority, or declaring that Israel has independent investigative and enforcement powers that must be trusted, and it will also rely on the Trump administration to act against the court.

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, criticized the countries that did not express their support for the International Criminal Court's decision to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling on them to abide by the decision.

This came in a speech on Saturday during a conference on Israel and Palestine held in Greek Cyprus.

He said, "This decision is not political, but rather the decision of an international court established with strong support from the member states of the European Union."

He pointed out that when the court decided to issue an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, many countries expressed their support for the decision at the time, but today some of those countries remain silent regarding the decision to arrest Netanyahu.

"As Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the Union, I call on member states to support the International Criminal Court," he added.

He stressed that the EU member states are obliged to implement the court's decision.

On Thursday, the court issued two international arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Galant, on charges of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the ongoing genocide committed by Israel against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023.

On May 20, the International Criminal Court Prosecutor, Karim Khan, requested the issuance of arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Galant for their responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Israeli army in Gaza since October 7, 2023.

Khan also asked the court again last August to quickly issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Galant.

US President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Jordanian-born physician Janet Nesheiwat as US Surgeon General, according to Fox News Channel 16.

Trump said in a statement that Dr. Nashewat is a fierce advocate and powerful communicator in the field of preventive medicine and public health.

“I am very proud to announce today that Dr. Nesheiwat will be the Nation’s Surgeon General, a double board-certified physician with an unwavering commitment to saving and healing thousands of American lives, and a strong and consistent advocate for preventive medicine and public health,” he added.

Trump continued: "She is committed to ensuring that Americans have access to high-quality, affordable health care, and believes in empowering individuals to take charge of their health so they can live longer, healthier lives," according to the Jordanian news agency Petra.

The position of US Surgeon General is the highest medical position in the country, and its holder is granted the decision to approve any medicine for any epidemic in the world, and is directly linked to the US President.

Trump said she treated patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, cared for victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Joplin, and worked for the disaster relief organization Samaritan's Purse, which provides care in Morocco, Haiti and Poland, Reuters reported.

Many Americans know her as a Fox News contributor who discussed issues such as monkeypox, the effects of alcohol and drug abuse, or disaster relief. Nesheiwat was a medical contributor to Fox News, and a Fox News spokesperson said that as of Trump’s announcement, she is no longer a contributor.

“I am deeply honored and humbled by this nomination to serve as Surgeon General of the United States,” Nesheiwat wrote on Twitter. “Thank you, Mr. President, for your trust. I pledge to work tirelessly to advance health, inspire hope, and serve our nation with dedication and compassion.”

Nashiwat's appointment will require Senate confirmation.

Lebanese media reported today (Saturday) that 5 people were killed in an Israeli bombardment that targeted the town of Shamshtar in Baalbek.

Reports added that the dead were a mother and her four children.

The Lebanese National News Agency reported yesterday (Friday) that Israel launched an airstrike on the village of Douris in the Baalbek-Hermel Governorate, killing seven civilians.

The agency indicated that the raid targeted the house of the Director General of Dar Al Amal University Hospital in Durres.

Earlier yesterday, the Lebanese Ministry of Health revealed that Israeli attacks on Lebanon since October 8, 2023 have killed 3,645 people.

1. Former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant warned of the danger of the ongoing debate over food distribution in Gaza under the supervision of a private company under the protection of the occupation army, describing it as the beginning of imposing "Israeli" military rule in the Strip.

"This military rule will be paid for by Israeli soldiers with their blood," Galant said in a tweet on the X platform, stressing the need to find an alternative to manage the Strip.

He added, "The military rule in Gaza is not one of the goals of the war, but rather comes for dangerous and irresponsible political reasons."

For its part, the occupation army radio reported that the military operations in Jabalia and northern Gaza aim primarily to "clean and disinfect the area" in preparation for implementing the plan to bring in humanitarian aid under the supervision of a private American company under Israeli sponsorship.

The radio indicated that the occupation army may be asked to remain in the Jabalia area for a period of no less than three months as part of the plan.

According to initial estimates, the plan will cost between $50 and $60 million for the first trial period.

The Israeli occupation forces continued their storming of the village of Kafr Aboush, south of Tulkarm, which began at dawn on Saturday.

According to local sources, the occupation forces sent more military reinforcements to the village, and deployed foot patrols in its main and side streets and between the fields and agricultural lands, amid extensive search and combing operations in the area.

The sources added that the occupation forces stormed dozens of citizens' homes, searched them, subjected their residents to field investigations, and turned a number of them into military barracks, especially the high ones.

Meanwhile, the occupation forces stormed the village of Kafr Zibad and carried out combing operations in its streets and agricultural lands, while military patrols spread out along the main street of the seven villages of Kafriyat, south of Tulkarm, preceded by a storming of the villages of Kur and Kafr Sur at dawn today.

The occupation forces also arrested the boy Omar Ali Taqi (16 years old) and the citizen Nidal Al-Aboushi after storming their homes in Kafr Aboush.

The Israeli military is investigating the entry of Daniella Weiss, the head of an extremist settler movement, into the Gaza Strip last week, contrary to protocol and without the knowledge of military leaders.

Israeli soldiers in Gaza overrode their superiors to help the leader of the Nahala settlement movement enter the Strip to survey the sites of the settlements she seeks to establish, Israeli media reported.

Israeli public radio reported that Daniela Weiss, who seeks to resettle north of Gaza, toured the Israeli side of the border fence with the Strip with others on November 13, and then "the group then crossed the border and traveled some distance inside the Strip."

She added that Weiss "contacted soldiers she knew near the Netzarim corridor in central Gaza, who in turn sent a car to transport her and her colleagues deep into the Strip."

The Netzarim corridor is a buffer zone in central Gaza, established by the Israeli military on the site of a settlement that was dismantled in the 2005 disengagement plan from the Strip. “After that, the settlers were transferred back to the Gaza border and exited through an unofficial gate to avoid being stopped by security forces.”

According to the source, senior Israeli military officials were not aware of Weiss's entry into the Strip.

The army stated that "Weiss' entry into the Gaza Strip is unknown and was not approved in the appropriate ways, and if the incident occurred, it is illegal and contrary to protocol and will be dealt with accordingly."

"Potential settlers are ready to resettle in Gaza at any moment," Weiss told Israeli public radio.

Last October, Weiss said during a press conference that the Nahala movement had established 6 settlement groups comprising 700 families, ready to establish new settlements in Gaza if the opportunity arose.

She explained to the participants: “We came here (the conference site) to settle the entire Gaza Strip from north to south, not just part of it.”

To this end, Weiss expressed support for the expulsion of Gaza's population, which numbers about two million people.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denies Israel intends to resettle the Strip, but his coalition partners and members of his Likud party have talked about the idea.

The Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth announced that one of the roads in the "Karyot" settlement in northern Israel was damaged by missiles launched from Lebanon, in addition to damage to the infrastructure and factories near the settlement.

The newspaper reported on its website that "the Israeli army monitored the launch of 5 missiles from Lebanon towards the city of Haifa and the Krayot, since Saturday morning, while intercepting some of them."

Yedioth Ahronoth reported that "one of the roads in the Kerioth was damaged as a result of the missiles launched from Lebanese territory, in addition to the damage to the infrastructure and factories near it as well as this bombing."

The newspaper reported that "air raid sirens were heard in Hanita, Shlomi, Arab al-Aramshe and Admit in the Western Galilee."

Sirens were also heard in large areas of northern Israel, especially in the settlements of Metula and Ghajar, according to the Hebrew newspaper Maariv.

Medical sources announced today, Saturday, that the death toll from the ongoing occupation aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip has risen to 44,176 dead, since October 7, 2023.

The same sources added that the number of injured rose during the same period to 104,473, while thousands of victims are still under the rubble and on the roads, and rescue teams cannot reach them.

She pointed out that the occupation forces committed 7 massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, resulting in 120 dead and 205 injuries arriving at hospitals during the past 24 hours.

A report prepared by the National Bureau for Defending Land and Resisting Settlements stated that the justifications of the occupation authorities for reducing the social and economic disparities between the two parts of the occupied city of Jerusalem were contradictory in light of the Judaization, Israelization, and colonial plans.

The office explained in its weekly settlement report issued today, Saturday, that the five-year plan approved by the occupation authorities in August of last year, at about 4 billion shekels, under the pretext of developing East Jerusalem, had evaporated in the circumstances of the war, and the differences had deepened, the latest of which was what it published regarding an auction (No. 367/2024) to establish a new colony in Beit Safafa, in which it requested proposals to purchase the rights to the land, which is about 11 dunams in area, to build a neighborhood that includes about 200 colonial units.

He added that the occupation is practicing various forms of oppression against Palestinian citizens, with the aim of changing the demographic reality in the city of Jerusalem, so that their percentage of the total population in the city in both its parts decreases from 40 percent to 20 percent, through the demolition of houses, which is practiced on a large scale.

In this regard, the occupation authorities are planning these days to demolish the Al-Bustan neighborhood in East Jerusalem and displace Palestinians from their homes. Two weeks ago, the occupation municipality in Jerusalem demolished 7 residential apartments and a small community center, and forced more than 30 citizens to leave their homes, taking advantage of the timing of the US presidential elections to escape criticism and condemnation from the international community.

The Israeli human rights organization "Ir Amim" confirmed that "the Jerusalem Municipality is under the influence of the extreme Israeli right and the police of Itamar Ben Gvir, Minister of National Security, and that the demolition of homes in East Jerusalem aims to demolish the entire Al-Bustan neighborhood and displace 1,500 of its residents."

The association had previously reported that the occupation authorities had demolished more than 140 homes and housing units in East Jerusalem since the beginning of the war in Gaza.

According to the Norwegian Refugee Council, the occupation destroyed 128 Palestinian buildings in East Jerusalem between January 1 and August 2 of this year, 19 of which were in the Al-Bustan neighborhood, displacing 52 of its residents.

The Jerusalem Governorate, in turn, recently confirmed that the occupation authorities had carried out 320 demolitions, including more than 87 in the town of Silwan since October 7, 2023, and that there were more than 30,000 properties in East Jerusalem threatened with demolition, which would lead to displacement and economic losses in the lives of about 100,000 Jerusalemites.

Demolition notices knock on the doors of Jerusalemites

On the 7th of this month, the residents of the town of Silwan, south of occupied Jerusalem, decided not to deal with the policy of self-demolition of their homes and facilities, which the occupation municipality is trying to impose on them, no matter the financial fines, and to have them demolished by the occupation’s machinery, especially since there are 22,000 homes and facilities in East Jerusalem, 7,000 of which are in the town of Silwan, which the occupation municipality claims are illegal.

The town of Silwan is being systematically targeted, especially the neighborhoods of Al-Bustan, Wadi Al-Rababa and Wadi Qaddum, due to their proximity to Al-Aqsa Mosque, to implement the occupation’s plans to demolish them, to establish what is called “Biblical Gardens” and what is called “King’s Garden” on the ruins of homes and on the lands of the neighborhood’s owners, as the extremist Ben Gvir has put the policy of demolishing homes and ethnic cleansing in Jerusalem on the agenda of his ministry.

Changing the terms of land purchase in the West Bank in favor of settlers

In a related context, an Israeli ministerial committee in the West Bank is currently examining a draft law that would change the terms of land ownership. Moshe Solomon, a member of the Knesset from the “Religious Zionism” party, presented a draft law to the Ministerial Committee for Legislation Affairs, which would enable settlers to purchase Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank, directly and without restrictions, i.e. changing the terms of land purchase.

The new bill, titled “Abolishing Discrimination in Land Purchases in the West Bank,” which was previously proposed by MK Bezalel Smotrich, allows settlers to purchase property and real estate throughout the West Bank, without any oversight or restrictions, which opens the way for fabricated deals and fraud.

The Religious Zionism party, led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, is pushing for the annexation of the West Bank and calls for widespread, unrestricted colonization there.

According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the relevant Israeli ministers will soon meet to consider the bill, “which would simplify the process of Jews acquiring land in the West Bank, and would abolish the current Jordanian law that limits the possibility of buying or renting West Bank land.”

The Peace Now movement commented on the bill, saying: “This is a step that allows settlers to buy land without supervision throughout the West Bank, turning them into the ones who give orders and prohibitions in the West Bank.”

Israeli Amana Organization

The US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Amana on Monday for funding and supporting colonial activities and individuals involved in violence against Palestinian citizens in the occupied West Bank.

This organization was founded in 1979, with the aim of encouraging, supporting and financing colonization in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, the occupied Syrian Golan, and in the Galilee and the Negev.

Its activity is currently concentrated in the West Bank, and since 1989 it has been headed by Zeev Hever (Zambish) through its two branches, Bar Amana Construction and Real Estate Development and Al-Watan. Its activities include encouraging the absorption of settlers, and planning and establishing new settlements and outposts.

Its assets, according to some estimates, amount to hundreds of millions of shekels, but its impact on life in Israel is very broad, according to The Marker, the economic supplement of Haaretz newspaper.

Amana operates illegally and plays a major role in establishing illegal agricultural colonization outposts.

In recent years, these areas have become associated with settler violence against Palestinians, and because of their status as a cooperative, there is no way to look at the financial cycle they generate, and they are not obligated to be transparent. The Israeli rights group Peace Now has estimated their assets at NIS 600 million.

The following is a summary of the weekly violations:

Jerusalem

For more than two months, settlers have been continuing excavation work at the Petra Hotel in the Bab al-Khalil area, and are removing large quantities of dirt and construction waste in an area belonging to the Greek and Latin monasteries and the Islamic Waqf Department. Last January, the occupation municipality approved a Judaization project in the area, and allocated a budget of 40 million shekels for it.

In Jabal al-Mukaber, the occupation forces forced citizen Alaa Matar to demolish his own home, which consisted of two apartments that housed his family and the family of his brother Louay Matar. They also demolished walls and the entrance to a residential building belonging to the Zahdeh family in the Ras Khamis neighborhood in the Shuafat camp, a house belonging to the Zahdeh family in the Ras Khamis neighborhood in the camp, and a garden, a hut and a studio in the town of Rafat, belonging to citizen Nabil Mazraawi from the town of Beit Surik.

It also demolished a commercial store in the town of Qalandia, and arbors for selling vegetables and fruits, while its machinery began bulldozing lands located between the towns of Qalandia and Rafat.

In Jabal al-Mukaber, the occupation forces also demolished the Al-Shiyah Mosque, which was built twenty years ago on an area estimated at 80 square meters, and consists of one floor and an outdoor courtyard. They also stormed the "Kastiro" Café in the Musrara area, to implement the decision to vacate the property in favor of the settlers, under the pretext that it is owned by the Custodian of Absentee Property.

Ramallah

Settlers who infiltrated from the "Horsha" settlement, built on the lands of the western farm, set fire to two vehicles belonging to citizen Hassan Rajab Sandouqa.

Hebron

Armed settlers from the Susya settlement in Masafer Yatta attacked farmers and shepherds, insulted them, and beat citizens from the Jabour and Nawaja families, including a woman, causing them injuries and bruises.

In the Arab al-Freijat area in al-Ramadin, the occupation forces demolished an inhabited house owned by the sons of Jamal Zagharna, agricultural barracks with an area of more than 350 square meters, and a water well. They also destroyed a number of fruit trees in the areas of “Umm Sidra” and “al-Tina,” owned by citizens Hajja al-Huwarin and Jamil Zagharna.

In the city of Hebron, settlers set up a tent in the Tel Rumeida neighborhood near the new spring, with the aim of controlling the area near the "Ramat Yishai" settlement in the center of Hebron. In Wadi al-Jawaya, a group of armed settlers from the "Khavat Maon" settlement chased the shepherds and forced them to leave, after preventing them from reaching the pastures.

While others released their flocks of sheep and cattle near citizens' homes in the "Fatah Sidra" area, in Masafer Yatta.

In Dura, settlers desecrated a mosque in Khirbet Marah al-Baqar, chanting racist slogans. Others set up a mobile home (caravan) on citizens’ lands, near Khirbet Samri on the eastern side of Shaab al-Batm in Masafer Yatta. Others, dressed in occupation army uniforms, stormed the “Saddat al-Tha’laba” gathering in Masafer Yatta, detained a number of citizens, searched homes and caves, punctured the tires of an agricultural tractor, and stole surveillance cameras. They also fired sound bombs and toxic gas at citizens, including children, and assaulted a number of workers while they were picking olives in the “Farsh al-Hawa” area west of Hebron, and conducted field investigations with them.

Bethlehem

Settlers attacked residents of the Al-Minya desert area, east of Bethlehem, and tried to steal some livestock. They threatened the residents with the necessity of evacuating the area within 10 days, but the citizens confronted them.

Nablus

Dozens of settlers launched a large-scale attack, burning agricultural rooms and a vehicle in the town of Beit Furik, east of the city, after they infiltrated the western area, damaged a water tank, smashed the windows of two houses, destroyed furniture, and burned an electricity pole.

The occupation forces also prevented farmers from picking olives, and expelled them from the Wadi al-Azab area near the Itamar settlement west of the town, under the pretext of cancelling coordination.

In the New Nablus area, the occupation bulldozers demolished and uprooted 42 fruit trees, beehives, walls, and stone chains belonging to citizen Hamza Al-Hamami, under the pretext of building without a permit.

In the village of Duma, settlers forced the family of citizen Ali Eid Araara to evacuate their home and land near the Ein Duma area, at gunpoint. The occupation forces also demolished a barracks in the village of Qablan, belonging to the Al-Adili Marble Company opposite the Qablan gas station, owned by citizen Adi Al-Asmar.

Salfit

The occupation forces demolished a house inhabited by residents in the “Al-Mureij” area in the town of Deir Ballut and a commercial facility (a carpentry shop) on an area of one dunum, owned by the citizen Adel Yousef Abdullah, without prior warning, as the citizen Abdullah was unable to empty their contents before the demolition.

The Jordan Valley

Settlers began rehabilitating a water spring in the northern Jordan Valley in Umm al-Jimal, after seizing it about three months ago. The occupation had demolished the homes of citizens in the Bedouin community, which includes 14 Palestinian families who depend on raising livestock.

In the Al-Ma'rajat area, settlers severely beat citizen Muhammad Qandil, a truck driver from the city of Jericho, before the occupation forces arrested him and prevented Red Crescent crews from providing him with medical treatment.

In the Hammamat al-Maleh area, the occupation forces notified 11 residential facilities and another for raising livestock until the fourth of next month to stop work, and to stop work in three barracks for raising livestock and two residential rooms in the village of Bardala. In Khirbet al-Deir in the northern Jordan Valley, the occupation forces seized five water pumps placed on a number of springs used to irrigate crops, three electrical transformers, and 30 solar panels, leaving nearly 600 dunams planted with grapes and corn without a water source.

In the Ras al-Ain Bedouin community, settlers set up two tents and installed a water tank, as a prelude to controlling the land and establishing a colonial outpost there.

Yesterday and today, Saturday, the Israeli occupation forces arrested at least (15) citizens from the West Bank, including children and former prisoners.

The Commission of Prisoners' Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners' Club reported that the arrests were distributed across the governorates of Hebron, Tulkarm, Jenin, Qalqilya, Bethlehem, and Nablus.

The occupation forces continue to carry out extensive raids and abuse during arrest campaigns, including severe beatings and threats against detainees and their families, in addition to extensive acts of vandalism and destruction in citizens’ homes.

The number of arrests since the beginning of the ongoing war of extermination and comprehensive aggression against our people has risen to more than 11,800, from the West Bank, including Jerusalem, while the prisoners’ institutions have not been able to count the cases of arrest from Gaza, which are estimated in the thousands, as a result of the occupation’s implementation of the crime of enforced disappearance against them.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that "Israeli forces prevented two-thirds of the 129 different humanitarian aid operations from reaching the Gaza Strip last week."

Dujarric pointed out in a daily press conference held on Friday evening that the Palestinian people in Gaza need appropriate shelter conditions to protect them from the rain and cold as winter approaches.

He explained that the United Nations and its partners are trying to quickly deliver tents to the Strip.

Dujarric pointed out, "The displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, and the rapid increase in their needs, with the inability to meet them easily, especially due to the Israeli siege in northern Gaza."

Dr. Kholoud Al-Obaidi: The American veto is a violation of international law because maintaining peace and security is one of the basic duties of the Security Council

Dr. Rifat Sayed Ahmed: America’s veto is an extension of political hypocrisy and a continuation of a long history of its interventions to protect the Israeli occupation

Aziz Al-Assa: America has become devoted to what responds to the crazy and deviant ambitions that nest in the minds of the occupation leaders

Amir Makhoul: The Security Council is unable to take decisive decisions on the Palestinian issue, which requires the formation of international blocs and alliances

Muhannad Hafizoglu: Washington uses this veto as a tool to escalate the situation and impose its vision in the region in an effort to create a new Middle East

Last Wednesday, the administration of current US President Joe Biden used its veto power to thwart a Security Council resolution to stop the war of extermination in the Gaza Strip, confirming its absolute support for the Israeli far-right government in the holocaust that has entered its second year in Gaza.

Writers and analysts who spoke to Al-Quds believe that Washington’s vote alone against the resolution puts it in confrontation with all members of the Security Council, including its traditional allies, which confirms its political isolation with Israel, due to its insistence on its approach that is hostile to the Palestinian people, justice, and international law. They pointed out that it sees Israel as the spearhead of its colonial project in the region.

They warned that the US veto is being used by America as a pressure card to impose its vision in the region in an effort to create a new Middle East, which portends that the situation will escalate and Israeli aggression will expand, threatening the security and stability of the entire region.

They stressed that the American talk about calm and relief aid is nothing but an American political lie, aiming to cover up its absolute bias towards the Israeli aggression, and to maintain the status quo, which is confirmed by its use of the veto last Wednesday, while famine is escalating in the Gaza Strip, and killing, terror and epidemics are spreading, and the victims are in the streets and under the rubble, most of them children and women.

America is obstructing the work of the international organization

“Once again, the United States has violated international law by voting alone, with 14 votes against, a draft resolution submitted by 10 elected members of the Council calling for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza that is respected by all parties,” said Dr. Kholoud Al-Obaidi, a specialist in political science and international law.

She added that "the draft resolution stresses the demand that the parties comply with their obligations under international law with regard to the persons they detain and enable the civilian population in the Gaza Strip to immediately obtain basic services and humanitarian assistance necessary for their survival."

Dr. Al-Obaidi stressed that the veto exercised by the United States is a violation of international law because maintaining international peace and security is one of the basic duties of the Security Council, and the United States has no right to stand against a resolution calling for a ceasefire, and that by doing so, the United States is obstructing the work of the international organization.

She pointed out that "the functions and powers of the Security Council are stipulated in Article 24 of the Charter, and that the functions and duties of the Security Council are "the maintenance of international peace and security, and were granted to the five permanent member states of the Council so that the five permanent member states may agree for the sake of peace and not to obstruct the work of the United Nations."

Al-Obaidi pointed out that she had previously submitted a letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in which she confirmed that Article 24 of the Charter does not grant a right of veto, but rather states that “the members of the Security Council have primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and they agree that the Council acts on their behalf in carrying out its duties under these responsibilities.” Paragraph 24 does not grant a right of veto.

She added that Article 24, paragraph 2, stipulates that the Security Council, in carrying out these duties, must act “in accordance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations and with the specific powers granted to the Security Council to enable it to carry out these duties.”

Al-Obaidi stressed that the use of the veto in the draft resolution is inconsistent with the United Nations Charter and the purposes and principles of the body.

She added that Article 2 (paragraph 1) states that the United Nations "is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its Members," noting that the veto vote demonstrates the United States' disdain for the will of the international community and the purposes and objectives of the international organization.

The American political orientation is Israeli-oriented.

Dr. Rifat Sayed Ahmed, head of the Jaffa Center for Research and Studies in Cairo, said: “I believe that the American veto constitutes a continuation of a long history of American interventions to protect the Israeli occupation, whether on the military level, as we see in this recent war where all American weapons available to the entity are being used, or on the political level through international organizations and bodies that provide it with full political cover worldwide.”

He added: "Historically, this entity is protected by the United States, and this veto is part of a long series of American protections for it."

Sayed Ahmed pointed out that "the recent American veto confirms the historical American hypocrisy in dealing with the Palestinian issue." He added: "They claim that they seek to achieve peace, but in reality, what they seek is to fuel wars," noting that placing trust in American policy is misplaced, because the American, in his political orientation, is completely Israeli in his inclinations, and all American policy is, in essence, Israeli policy.

Arab resistance and boycott of Israel and America

Dr. Sayed Al-Hamad believed that “the real protection for the Arab nation lies in the choice of resistance, and this choice is not limited to the Palestinians or the Lebanese only, but rather includes the Arab nation as a whole, especially its armies.”

He said: "It is necessary for these armies to move to impose a strong will on the Israeli and American enemies."

He stressed that "there are many possible forms for this movement, whether on the military level or through the Arab regimes," explaining that one of the simplest of these forms is the Arab boycott of Israel and America, especially America, because, as we mentioned, it represents Israel directly.

"In addition, there are effective tools for economic boycott that can hurt both the Israeli entity and the United States, and push them towards justice in this conflict and abandon hypocrisy," he said.

He concluded by stressing that "the American protection of the Israeli entity is nothing but protection of the aggression itself, and any other description is wrong, as the real enemy we face is America, not just Israel."

America considers Israel the spearhead of its colonial project in the region

Writer and researcher Aziz Al-Assa stressed that “since the establishment of the Hebrew state, America has only looked at the region with one eye, in which it sees Israel as the spearhead of its colonial project in the region, and what achieves its security, political and economic interests.”

He pointed out that "in the last three decades, the right has been at the head of the Hebrew state, and America has become devoted to everything that responds to the crazy and deviant ambitions that nest in the minds of the occupation leaders, who no longer see the existence of any Palestinian partner from the sea to the river, knowing that their demographic size exceeds half."

He added: "This Israeli persistence towards a people who possess land, history and civilization would not have happened without the absolute American support, which constitutes a major part of the biased international position."

He pointed out that the American negotiator, who wears the guise of a mediator in the region, is an Israeli par excellence, and any statements he makes that show his neutrality are just throwing dust in people's eyes.

He said: "Any American activity in international organizations, especially the UN Security Council, is an Israeli activity par excellence."

"It is illogical to expect justice from the United States to pressure Israel to stop its crimes against the Palestinians, including the genocide in the Gaza Strip, and the settlement plans and systematic destruction in the West Bank and Lebanon," Al-Assa added.

He pointed out that "what is happening in Lebanon in terms of destroying infrastructure and targeting state sovereignty is part of this policy."

The United States has become isolated.

Political analyst and writer Amir Makhoul said: “I believe that the recent American veto has somewhat different implications. The position is not only directed towards the region or the traditional American position, but rather indicates that the United States has become isolated. This development is important, and the United States must realize it.”

He added: "Even the other member states of the Security Council did not use their veto power in this issue. On the contrary, most of them supported the resolution, which highlights the support of most countries in the world for a different position. These facts confirm that the current international system, as we know it, cannot be an influential factor in resolving the Palestinian issue."

Makhoul stressed that "the transformation that was initially launched at the Palestinian level has begun to gain Arab awareness as well. This awareness means the necessity of forming international blocs and alliances that include: Palestine, Arab countries, Islamic and African countries, and other countries around the world, especially since Latin America constitutes the overwhelming majority in the United Nations General Assembly."

He pointed out that "in the end, it turned out that the Security Council is unable to take decisive decisions, and is completely paralyzed with regard to the Palestinian issue, while it may be able to take decisions on other issues, but Palestine is at the forefront of the obstacles."

As for the American veto, Makhoul said it was not surprising. The American position has always been consistent, and it is not expected to change unless there is a radical shift in US policy towards Israel, which seems far-fetched.

American talk about appeasement to maintain the status quo

As for calls for calm and providing relief aid, Makhoul confirmed that they aim to maintain the status quo.

He said: "The United States may sometimes announce its intention to stop the war, but in practice it continues to support Israel with all the elements that support its war, and this proves that the United States is not a neutral mediator, but rather a fundamental party, and the most important party alongside Israel in this issue."

Humanitarian aid is an American political lie

Regarding humanitarian aid, Makhoul said: “I think it is just an American political ‘lie’. All the projects that are put forward under the name of relief and humanitarian aid aim only to alleviate the burden of the Israeli occupation, not to end or undermine it, as happened with the last initiative that was launched, such as the ‘marine pier’, which was established months ago and went with the wind.”

He stressed that "America's goal in providing humanitarian aid is to use it as a pressure tool against Netanyahu, and sometimes as a negotiating card with the Palestinians and Arabs, but it does not play any real or actual role. If the United States wanted aid to enter in a real way, it would have pressured Israel to open all the crossings from Rafah to Abu Salem, and from the sea crossings to those through Arab countries such as the Gulf and Jordan."

Makhoul pointed out that "the crisis of the siege on Gaza, especially the huge quantities of aid stored in the Egyptian city of Arish, which Israel prevents from entering, is evidence of the failure of these attempts."

He added: "Therefore, the American endeavor here is nothing more than a kind of beautification of the American position and 'humanization' of this position, even though it is in fact a partner in the Israeli crime in all its dimensions from the beginning of the war until today.

The US veto establishes an escalating reality that is expanding geographically

In turn, the Turkish academic and political researcher, Dr. Muhannad Hafizoglu, said: “The United States’ use of the veto on the current events in the region reflects two things:

The first is that the United States is a key partner and main supporter of all the escalation and violence taking place in the region, whether in the Gaza Strip or southern Lebanon, and perhaps in other areas later. Davutoglu stressed that “Washington uses this veto as a tool to escalate the situation and impose its vision on non-international actors in the region, in an effort to create a new Middle East that is consistent with its strategic interests.”

He added: "The second thing is that the American veto shows a desire to complicate the situation for the administration of former President Donald Trump upon his return to the White House."

Oglu explained that the current stage is characterised by great danger and an increasing pace of escalation aimed at strengthening Israel's security and protecting its interests, with continued absolute support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Turkish researcher pointed out that "the current American policies, regardless of the ruling administration, seek to consolidate support for Israel under slogans and false promises that aim only to deceive public opinion."

The situation will remain without any tangible changes before mid-summer.

He added that the situation in the region will remain the same without any tangible changes before the middle of next summer, expecting a continuous escalation during the next eight months, with the scope of violence expanding geographically and increasing in intensity.

Dr. Oglu concluded by saying: “The American veto is nothing but a tool to achieve the United States’ goals in the region, goals that directly support Israel and perpetuate an escalating reality that threatens the security and stability of the entire region.”

Nothing inspires a feeling of vomiting and hatred like American positions that contradict the values established by the founding fathers of truth, justice, freedom and human dignity, for which they built a statue of liberty.

In America’s positions, policies, and statements by its politicians, you see amazing things. Some of them call for a ceasefire, others raise their hands at the highest international forum like a policeman at a crossroads, preventing the flow of cars and increasing the congestion, and others are worried about the death counter accelerating in geometric progression, and wish it would become numerical progression.

But the latest disgusting and nauseating stance is that the White House rejects a judicial decision issued by the highest international judicial body to bring the perpetrators of genocide in Gaza to justice, which puts the superpower in conflict with the human values that urge holding perpetrators accountable and establishing unified rules and standards for justice; by not allowing criminals to escape punishment, regardless of their nationalities.

What kind of positions are practiced by the great state, in which the lineages of concepts are mixed, and in which there is no certainty that the oppressed will resort to the judiciary to obtain justice?!

We do not hate anyone, and we do not discriminate between people on the basis of race, color, or religion. We love all people, in accordance with the Almighty’s saying to His noble Prophet: “We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.”

We see Americans free in the university revolution, in challenging manifestations of racism, and in being keen to adhere to the values of truth, justice, and freedom. This is the America that university students represented, and for which they made sacrifices. They are the ones who will assume responsibilities tomorrow, and change the contradictions that plague their country’s policies, which generate feelings of anger and hatred in many societies.

And they ask you... why do they hate us?

The war on Gaza is entering its second year amidst the expansion of Israeli military operations on the northern front of occupied Palestine, where the conflict with the Lebanese Hezbollah movement is witnessing a significant escalation. As confrontations intensify on both fronts, the situation in Lebanon remains different from Gaza. As a sovereign state, Lebanon has a relative ability to provide food and health care to those displaced from conflict zones, while the residents of Gaza, especially in the north, face a stifling blockade and harsh humanitarian conditions, as they are subjected to the most extreme forms of pressure through killing and arrest, while the international community stands helpless in the face of this escalation, which is justified by the fight against terrorism.

In the context of these pressures, Israel is adopting the generals’ plan that aims to evacuate northern Gaza of its original inhabitants, giving them a deadline to leave, considering those who remain in these areas after the deadline as “enemy combatants” and a legitimate target for targeting in the event of non-surrender. This step is accompanied by the imposition of a siege aimed at starving the population and depriving them of water and medical supplies, while the displaced population is transferred to areas that are supposed to be “safe,” with the provision of basic services, according to the claims of the occupation army. However, the Palestinians express doubts about the credibility and effectiveness of these areas, given the previous military targeting they have witnessed.

In these actions, the Israeli army ignores the Geneva Convention, which confirms that giving civilians a warning to flee does not strip them of their protection under international law.

In the context of the martyrdom of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the Hamas movement in Gaza, who played a pivotal role in managing the movement’s policies. This event raised widespread interest regarding its implications for the dynamics of the conflict and Hamas’s capabilities. Sinwar’s martyrdom may lead to temporary confusion within Hamas and a temporary weakening of its military structure, but the movement quickly reorganized its ranks and resumed its military operations in the areas that Israel declared to be cleansed.

Although Sinwar’s death may raise questions about the possibility of ending the conflict, current indications do not support this possibility in the near term. The killing of leaders often leads to strong reactions from Palestinian factions, and Hamas and other resistance factions may be targeted for retaliatory attacks, further complicating the situation and making the chances of a ceasefire more remote.

Despite the expected escalation, some regional and international parties may seek to play a role in mediating a ceasefire, especially with the increasing international pressure to stop the humanitarian suffering in Gaza. Countries such as Egypt and Qatar remain in an effective position in this context, as they previously played key roles in managing the conflicts between Israel and Hamas.

The people of Gaza continue to face major challenges as a result of the military escalation and the prolonged blockade. With the martyrdom of Yahya Sinwar, questions arise about the future of the conflict and the possibility of achieving a calm, amidst conflicting analyses of the possibility of increased escalation or the emergence of diplomatic efforts to consolidate a ceasefire. The situation requires serious international action to protect civilians, alleviate their suffering, and give them a chance for peace and stability within a vision that guarantees a sovereign Palestinian state.

Experts acknowledge that the world has become smaller for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the International Criminal Court in The Hague on Thursday issued arrest warrants for him and former Israeli defense minister Yoav Galant, in a stunning move that has already divided Western nations over how to respond.

In a statement, the ICC ordered the two men to face charges of “crimes against humanity and war crimes” committed during more than a year of Israel’s brutal and devastating war on Gaza since the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, attacked the Gaza envelope area inside Israel on October 7, 2023, during which an estimated 44,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed, the overwhelming majority of them women and children, while Israel continues to prevent humanitarian aid from entering (Gaza) and continues to use starvation as a weapon against Palestinian civilians in the besieged Strip.

While Israel is not a member of the court, 124 countries are — from the UK and Germany to South Africa and the Seychelles. They would be legally obligated to arrest Netanyahu if he set foot on their territory, effectively making him a pariah in much of the world.

Netanyahu is the first world leader to face such a warrant since Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was indicted for allegedly kidnapping Ukrainian children last year and has since been forced to skip a number of international summits after host countries warned Moscow they would be obliged to detain him.

“The ICC warrant means that countries have to think twice before interacting with someone,” a US official told Politico. “In Putin’s case, we’ve seen it limit his ability to travel.”

Experts believe the move risks dividing Israel’s allies and partners, as the incoming US administration is already setting itself on a collision course with the court. In a post on social media, Michael Waltz, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for national security adviser, said “the ICC has no credibility” and insisted that the allegations had already been disproven. He threatened retaliation, saying “you can expect a strong response to the anti-Semitic bias of the ICC and the UN on January 20th” when Trump takes office.

Meanwhile, Republicans like Sen. Lindsey Graham have said Washington might consider imposing consequences on countries that cooperate with the ruling. “If we don’t act forcefully against the ICC after its terrible decision … we are making a grave mistake,” he said. Even the Biden administration has rejected such a move, citing “procedural errors.”

For his part, Republican Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas threatened to invade the Netherlands on behalf of the Israeli genocidal regime, since the Netherlands (where the Hague court is located) has made it clear that “we are obligated to cooperate with the International Criminal Court... We are 100 percent committed to the Rome Statute,” Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said on Thursday.

Cotton, one of the most prominent American politicians who has written for the Israeli lobby AIPAC, has implicitly threatened military action against the Netherlands if it complies with the arrest warrants it is legally required to comply with as a member state of the International Criminal Court.

“The ICC is a kangaroo court, and Karim Khan is a mentally ill fanatic. Woe to him and anyone who tries to enforce these outlaw orders,” Cotton said. “Let me remind them all in a friendly way: The U.S. law on the ICC is known as the Hague Invasion Act for a reason. Think about it.”

It is noteworthy that the United States itself is not a member of the court, and since 2002 it has maintained a policy of authorizing the president to use all necessary means to free any American or US ally who is dragged before its judges.

However, European countries that are part of the court's jurisdiction now face a dilemma, with the EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, telling a press conference that the arrest warrant "is not a political decision - it is a court decision," and according to him, "the court's decisions must be respected and implemented."

Meanwhile, a handful of countries, including NATO members France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Turkey, have pledged support for the ICC ruling and defended the court's independence.

However, according to Seth Frantzman, an adjunct fellow at the hawkish Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based front for the Israel lobby, the arrest warrants will not change Netanyahu’s behavior.

“Israel’s leadership will obviously condemn this ruling, but it remains very focused on its war with Hamas,” Frantzman said. “The United States has been Israel’s closest ally for decades, and there is hope that the next administration will take the lead and encourage European countries to reject this ICC ruling.”

Israel launched airstrikes on the Basta area in the center of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, early Saturday.

The Lebanese Civil Defense reported that the bodies of 11 dead and 23 wounded were recovered from under the rubble as a result of the Israeli raid on two buildings in central Beirut.

Reuters quoted security sources as saying that at least 4 missiles were launched in an air strike on central Beirut, as Israel continues its intensive military campaign against Hezbollah.

The attack targeted the Basta neighbourhood in Beirut. Witnesses told Reuters that at least one loud explosion was heard in Beirut.

After clashes with factions in Lebanon, including Hezbollah, which began after it launched a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, Israel expanded the scope of its war since September 23 to include most of Lebanon’s regions, including the capital, Beirut.

The Israeli occupation forces stormed the city of Tulkarm and its suburbs tonight.

Local sources said that a number of occupation vehicles stormed the city from the southern entrance, and patrolled its main streets and neighborhoods, specifically Faroun Street, Al-Salam Roundabout, and Khadouri Roundabout, amidst random live bullets being fired, without any injuries being reported.

She added that the occupation forces stormed the suburbs of Artah, south of the city, and Ezbet al-Jarad and Dhnaba, east of it, and deployed their foot patrols in its neighborhoods.

It has been known in history for more than thirty years after a hundred, specifically in the late nineteenth century, that US President Cleveland assumed power for a period of (1883-1889) then lost to Harrison, then assumed power for a period of (1893-1897), and this is what happened with Trump, as he reached the seat of power in two separate periods, the first (2016-2020) then lost to Biden, and now returned again. This calls for saying that Trump’s return is a strong historical return, despite the rising indicators that exclude his candidacy; Being the only president in the history of America who was subjected to two attempts to remove him from Parliament, the first in (2019) in the so-called "Ukraine scandal", and the second in (2021), in addition to his conviction in forty-three criminal cases, most of which are related to crimes of forgery of documents and records, as in his election campaigns in (2016 and 2020) to reach certain results that corrupt the elections, as well as other fraud cases, ending with his direct relationship in the incident of his supporters storming Congress in (2021) after his failure against Biden, and this is a precedent in the history of America that the people try to change the result of the government by force instead of votes.

Trump's First Term By examining Trump's first term (2016-2020) and its reflection in his dealings with Israel, the most prominent step that remains in the minds of the world is his work to move the US embassy to Jerusalem. At that time, Netanyahu and his supporters raised their voices that the Arabs did nothing and that if Jerusalem was taken, they would do nothing. However, the truth is that after 3 years, the "Al-Aqsa Flood" occurred and it became clear then that Trump was surrounded by a misleading entourage. Now the question crystallizes in "Will Trump in his second term be like his first term?" In all cases and changes, the American people elected Trump to solve America's problems, not Israel, even if it is the spoiled son, not the Arabs, even if they are forces that influence and are influenced, and not the Middle East. In fact, what is striking about Trump’s victory this time is the naive joy of the right, despite the unlimited support from the Biden administration to Israel in the form of weapons, ammunition, F35 aircraft, and even the THAAD defense system. It is estimated that more than 70% of the cost of the war was paid by the Biden administration. The support was not limited to material. On the ground, when the Bab al-Mandab was closed to ships heading to Eilat, the Biden administration harnessed its warships, forces, and policies to enhance food and economic security and diplomatic protection for Israel.

Trump's slogan I wrote previously immediately after Biden's victory was "From Trump to Biden, O heart, do not rejoice." I say now that Biden is absolute evil, and Trump is a painted evil. Trump, who claims to bring peace to the Middle East, is the same promoter of the Deal of the Century, and the one who paved the way for normalization. What is hidden is not great, but what is coming is shameful and humiliating for the Middle East.

In an article published in the Jerusalem Post titled “If you support Israel, you should vote for Trump,” the article praised Trump’s positions, especially on sanctions on Iran, and the Deal of the Century, which paved the way for normalizing relations between Arab countries and Israel during his rule.

Since the first media debate between Biden and Trump, the latter stated that "Israel is the one who wants to continue the war, and they must be allowed to finish their work," and he also confirmed his support for Israel and his support for military operations inside the Gaza Strip, and Trump opposed Biden's efforts to end the war.

It is well known that the Gaza war is one of the most prominent foreign issues that strongly influence the course of the US elections, along with the issue of immigration, the economy, the relationship with China, and the Ukraine war. The secret to ending the war: Returning to Trump's election propaganda, we find that he succeeded in making statements that appeal to emotion, especially after a year of a bloody war that occupied the world, statements and pledges in a distinctive style in parallel with a negotiating strategy that suggests ending all wars, not just the Gaza and Lebanon wars, but the return of this propaganda is a landslide victory in the elections. Some scenarios looming on the horizon if Trump decides to make his statements actions that are seen, not words that are heard, and since he is a seasoned politician in deals, he may adopt the following:

1. A comprehensive deal that ends the wars on biased Israeli terms, by disarming Hamas, and the return of the Lebanese to beyond the Litani, in exchange for the reconstruction of the two countries and their economic revival, and thus Israel will have supreme authority.

2. A partial deal to cease fire with strict conditions for the Palestinians and the Lebanese in exchange for promises to ease the siege or improve the living conditions. Thus, the solution is superficial, not radical.

3. Indirect pressure on Iran to stop or reduce its support for Hezbollah and Hamas, thus reducing the risk of escalation between Israel and the Iranian-backed arms, and then stopping the war.

4. An international peace conference with the participation of newly normalized Arab countries, claiming to end the war with a comprehensive initiative that hides in its details its Israeli agreement. A vision for the Middle East in the time of Trump Let us remember that Trump is originally an economic businessman, as he mentioned in his book "The Art Of The Deal" several conditions for the success of any position he takes, the most important of which is the return, meaning that he measures the success of any deal or step by the result of its return, so he thinks and deals as a president in a political position with a negotiating mentality, not a political one.

This is clearly reflected in the impact of his overwhelming victory, which has put the Middle East on a hot plate: Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Iran, passing through Turkey and the Gulf, where difficult days await them, tactical changes, and deals looming on the horizon.

Starting in Turkey, where Trump said in his first term that “Turkey is an important regional ally for Washington,” Erdogan is pinning his hopes on giving him more space in Syria to act against the Kurds, especially after Trump promised to withdraw from it, while preserving American interests, re-reaching an agreement on the F35 aircraft that were halted during the Biden era, and supporting the Turkish economy by expanding trade exchange.

In Iraq, a number of American forces are a line of defense against ISIS, but there is a fear that relations will be reversed after the participation of Iranian-backed militias in striking Israel, as they may enter into sub-state militias. In parallel with Yemen, difficult days await it as it is part of a plan to eliminate sub-state militias.

As for Syria, the Syrian regime is concerned because it is considered part of the Iranian axis, but what melts this fear is its failure to confront Israel since October 7. As for the Syrian opposition, its fate is the same as Ankara’s in its relationship with Washington, as its influence could expand in northeastern Syria.

The Gulf States are a strategic partner for security challenges, especially against Iran, during Trump’s first term. With his second victory, Saudi Arabia in particular is betting on the necessity of reaching an agreement that would allow it to enter the nuclear club through pressure in two directions: normalization with Israel and recognition of a Palestinian state.

Finally, Iran is the most important and most tense party since Trump’s first term. His withdrawal from the nuclear agreement in 2015, in parallel with the “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran, led to the imposition of economic sanctions against it. Estimates indicate that his second victory will reactivate this campaign with a focus on reducing Iranian oil sales and isolating Tehran diplomatically. However, this does not negate the possibility that Trump may strike a better deal that includes Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missile program, and Tehran’s regional influence.

The New York Times quoted informed regional and American officials as saying that the outlines of a possible agreement between Israel and Lebanon are beginning to crystallize, opening the door to cautious optimism regarding reaching a settlement.

The newspaper said that the details of implementing the settlement regarding Lebanon still need to be agreed upon, noting that the possible agreement includes a 60-day truce during which Israel withdraws from Lebanon, while Hezbollah withdraws to the north of the Litani River.

In the same context, the dismissed Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said that he heard of significant progress in the settlement issue with Lebanon, which included the safe return of the residents of the north to their homes.

Galant revealed this in a tweet he posted on his account on the "X" platform after a meeting with US envoy Amos Hochstein, describing the meeting as "successful."

Galant added, "Thanks to the security and military achievements we have made during the period in which I have been in charge of the security apparatus, Israel can, and must, move forward with settlement and return the residents of the north to their homes."

He considered that "this step would greatly weaken Iran and Hezbollah and allow Israel to carry out additional operations to return the kidnapped and complete the objectives of the war in Gaza."

In the same context, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said that estimates in Israel indicate the possibility of reaching a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon "within days if small details remain pending."

She added that the most prominent outstanding details after the talks of US envoy Amos Hochstein are Israel's rejection of any role for France in the monitoring mechanism, in addition to some disagreements regarding the formulations related to the disputed border points.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation also quoted sources familiar with the US envoy's talks as saying that there was progress that could be described as significant, but that work still needed to be done to reach a ceasefire.

The sources said that Hochstein pressured the Israeli and Lebanese officials, saying that it was time to make a decision and reach an agreement.