The current situation in Gaza and Israel did not come out of the blue. Read critical background left out of breaking news alerts…
Essential facts and stats about the Hamas-Gaza-Israel war
Israel faces possible embargo, war crime accusation, threats from Biden and Iran – Day 180
Times have been rough for Israel, thanks to a UN vote to halt arms sales, a Human Rights Watch war crime report, an angrier than usual Biden, a shake-up in the military ranks, and global scrutiny of AI targeting of people in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israel killing of Gazans and West Bank Palestinians continues, released Gaza captives show signs of torture – and another October 7th “friendly fire” incident is identified
‘Lavender’: The AI machine directing Israel’s bombing spree in Gaza
The Israeli army has marked tens of thousands of Gazans as suspects for assassination, using an AI targeting system with a permissive policy for casualties… One of the automated systems called “Where’s Daddy?” specifically bombed individuals when they had entered their family’s residences — usually at night while their whole families were present
2024 spending bill disburses over $20 million per day to or because of Israel
US spending for Israel takes 2 forms: some money goes directly to Israel; some goes to items because they benefit Israel. Recent legislation contains both: a combined total of $7.505 billion of Americans’ tax money – over $20.6 million per day – to be disbursed in 2024 for Israel (which has one of the world’s largest concentrations of millionaires and billionaires)
More aid workers killed in Gaza in a few weeks than in any of the last 26 years world wide – Day 179
Humanitarian aid crisis deepens as groups suspend services in Gaza, citing safety concerns; survival on 245 calories a day; Israeli doctor: legs amputated due to handcuff injuries is a routine event; journalist deaths; devastation at Al Shifa Hospital; re World Central Kitchen massacre: “every commander sets the rules for himself”; UN considers resolution to impose arms embargo on Israel…
Aid providers pulling out of Gaza, citing Israel’s failure to protect them (from itself) – Day 179
Israel makes humanitarian work deadly; airstrike on World Central Kitchen reportedly intentional; Palestinian doctors targeted; West Bank incarceration of Palestinians way up; Israel targets Al Jazeera News for closure; Gaza suffered about $18.5 billion in damages to critical infrastructure in the first four months of the Israeli bombardment; Islamophobia on the rise in US – tied to Gaza
‘Not a normal war’: doctors say children have been targeted by Israeli snipers in Gaza
IDF says it ‘completely rejects’ charge that its soldiers deliberately fired on any of the thousands of civilians killed in Israeli offensive
Raise your Palestine I.Q. with these 6 good reads
Read up on the Palestine issue: a bit of history, a hostage’s account, thoughts on censorship and genocide, quick stops in Germany and the US, then back to Gaza.
Euro-Med report: Shifa Hospital witnesses one of the largest massacres in Palestinian history
Preliminary reports suggest that over 1,500 Palestinians have been killed, injured, or are reported missing as a result of the massacre at Al-Shifa, with women and children making up half of the casualties
Israeli strike kills American & aid workers with US charity from all over the world, and other atrocities – Day 178
US citizen & 6 other US nonprofit aid workers killed by Israel; nothing left of Al Shifa Hospital but debris & horror stories; journalist, West Banker killed; Rafah; Biden mulls $18 billion weapons transfer to Israel; new Israeli law targets Al Jazeera for shut-down; Israel bombs Iranian embassy in Syria, killing 7; Israeli land grab; Spain to recognize Palestine
Israel Created ‘Kill Zones’ in Gaza. Anyone Who Crosses Into Them Is Shot
The Israeli army says 9,000 “terrorists” have been killed since the Gaza war began. Defense officials and soldiers, however, tell Haaretz that these are often civilians whose only crime was to cross an invisible line drawn by the IDF