Israeli attack on car kills at least one in Lebanon
According to the Lebanese Civil Defense, "an Israeli drone targeted a car" near the coastal town of Damour, about 20km south of Beirut in Lebanon, killing at least one.
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Middle East Eye
39 minutes ago
- Middle East Eye
Washington Post update on Gaza aid group killings article sparks online backlash
A recent correction by the Washington Post regarding its reporting on a deadly incident at a Gaza aid distribution site has ignited a firestorm of criticism and accusations of pro-Israel bias on social media. On 1 June, at least 32 Palestinians were killed and over 200 wounded after Israeli troops opened fire on civilians gathered at two US-Israeli food distribution points in Rafah and central Gaza, according to local officials and eyewitnesses. The original headline of the Post article on the deaths read: "Israeli troops kill over 30 near U.S. aid site in Gaza, health officials say". The Post shared the article on X in a post that said: "At least 31 people were killed Sunday morning in southern Gaza, according to the Strip's Health Ministry, when Israeli troops opened fire on crowds making their way to collect aid". On 3 June, the Post issued a notice on X, saying it had deleted the earlier X post and edited the article because it "didn't meet Post fairness standards". "The article failed to make clear if attributing the deaths to Israel was the position of the Gaza health ministry or a fact verified by The Post," the newspaper said. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters "The Post didn't give proper weight to Israel's denial and gave improper certitude about what was known about any Israeli role in the shootings," it added. An archived version of the article indicates that an Israeli military statement about being "currently unaware of injuries caused by" the army was included in the second paragraph. — The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) June 3, 2025 Among other changes, the newest version includes a categorical rejection of gunfire claims by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which called them "completely false". 'Obsequious apology' While some social media users welcomed the note from the Post, others accused the newspaper of reinforcing biases in western media coverage of Israel's ongoing assault on Gaza. "So we in Gaza get to be killed and then the media cannot be sure who killed us simply because Israel denied responsibility? So we are killed but no one killed us? That simple?" asked Palestinian writer and Pulizer Prize winner Mosab Abu Toha. "Why do you not ask Israel to provide videos from that site showing the world how their soldiers fired 'warning shots' in the heads and chests of starved people?" Investigative journalist Laila al-Arian said: "This correction only came because Palestinians are dehumanized and deemed untrustworthy, while the Israeli government—engaged in mass slaughter and repeatedly caught lying to the media—is taken at its word." Absolutely reprehensible journalism. There were thousands of Palestinian civilian witnesses to the massacre who could easily corroborate the report. Of course the criminal denies their crime, it should not be given 'more weight.' — eli n. (@elinachos) June 4, 2025 Several people accused the Post of "cowardice" and of "backing down" from what they said was a more accurate version of the story. "We apologize for initially telling the truth," said one user sarcastically in reponse to the newspaper's post. "The Washington Post is now reporting, about Sunday's massacre: 'While three witnesses said the gunfire came from Israeli military positions, the Israel Defense Forces denied the allegations...' And that led to the obsequious apology below," said another. So you made the rare mistake of accurately reporting, got yelled at and retracted it. Cause clearly you guys never cared about fairness and that's why you've been doing Israel's propaganda for years. — B L A K E L E Y™℠©® LLC (@_iamblakeley) June 4, 2025 Others accused the paper of capitulating to pressure from political and other figures. Some pointed to an X post from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt quoting the Washington Post's update: "We told you we'd hold the Fake News accountable." "The White House all but confirms that it pressured the 'correction' from the Washington Post," wrote one journalist. The White House all but confirms that it pressured the "correction" from the Washington Post. If you are at the Post and know what happened, I'm on Signal at harb.12 — Ali Harb (@Harbpeace) June 3, 2025 Others pointed to a recent post from pro-Israel billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman calling on Jeff Bezos, the owner of the Washington Post, to investigate what he said was the publication of a "false story", prompting further accusations of bowing to pressure. I had to read this 3 times to make sure it wasn't a parody account. Nope. Just a formerly reputable publication bowing to institutional pressure, in an embarrassingly ineloquent manner I would add. Stumbling over words left, right( and centre. — Carmen Alvarez (@maybeitscarma) June 4, 2025 The X post comes amid a string of Israeli attacks on Palestinians seeking aid at distribution points run by the newly established GHF, which the UN and aid organisations have accused of militarising humanitarian aid. Israeli gunfire has resulted in over 100 deaths and hundreds wounded since the initiative's launch, according to the Gaza-based Government Media Office. On Wednesday, Tom Fletcher, the UN's aid chief, said that recent "horrifying scenes" of Palestinians being killed by Israeli forces while trying to access food aid were the result of "deliberate choices". "The world is watching, day after day, horrifying scenes of Palestinians being shot, wounded or killed in Gaza while simply trying to eat," Fletcher said in a post on X. "This is the outcome of a series of deliberate choices that have systematically deprived two million people of the essentials they need to survive."
Dubai Eye
an hour ago
- Dubai Eye
Israel strikes Syria after projectiles fired, holds Sharaa responsible
Israel has carried out its first airstrikes in Syria in nearly a month, saying it hit weapons belonging to the government in retaliation for the firing of two projectiles towards Israel and holding interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa responsible. Damascus said Israeli strikes caused "heavy human and material losses", reiterating that Syria does not pose a threat to any regional party and stressing the need to end the presence of armed groups and establish state control in the south. Israel had not struck Syria since early May - a month marked by U.S. President Donald Trump's meeting with Sharaa, the lifting of U.S. sanctions, and direct Syrian-Israeli contacts to calm tensions, as reported by Reuters last week. Describing its new rulers as jihadists, Israel has bombed Syria frequently this year. Israel has also moved troops into areas of the southwest, where it has said it won't allow the new government's security forces to deploy. The projectiles Israel reported fired from Syria were the first since longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad was toppled. The Israeli military said the two projectiles fell in open areas. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said he held the Syrian president "directly responsible for any threat and fire toward the State of Israel". A Syrian foreign ministry statement said the accuracy of the reports of shelling towards Israel had not yet been verified. "We believe that there are many parties that may seek to destabilize the region to achieve their own interests," the Syrian foreign ministry added, as reported by the state news agency. A Syrian official told Reuters such parties included "remnants of Assad-era militias linked to Iran, which have long been active in the Quneitra area" and have "a vested interest in provoking Israeli retaliation as a means of escalating tensions and undermining current stabilization efforts". Several Arab and Palestinian media outlets circulated a claim of responsibility from a little-known group named "Martyr Muhammad Deif Brigades," an apparent reference to Hamas' military leader who was killed in an Israeli strike in 2024. Reuters could not independently verify the statement. The Syrian state news agency and security sources reported Israeli strikes targeting sites in the Damascus countryside and Quneitra and Daraa provinces. Local residents contacted by Reuters said Israeli shelling targeted agricultural areas in the Wadi Yarmouk region. They described increased tensions in recent weeks, including reported Israeli incursions into villages, where residents have reportedly been barred from sowing their crops. An Israeli strike also hit a former Syrian army base near the city of Izraa, a Syrian source said. Israel has said its goals in Syria include protecting the Druze, a religious minority with followers in both countries. Israel, which has occupied the Syrian Golan Heights since the 1967 Middle East war, bombed Syria frequently during the last decade of Assad's rule, targeting the sway of his Iranian allies. The newly-appointed U.S. envoy to Syria said last week he believed peace between Syria and Israel was achievable. Around the same time that Israel reported the projectiles from Syria, the Israeli military said it intercepted a missile from Yemen. Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said they targeted Israel's Jaffa with a ballistic missile. The group says it has been launching attacks against Israel in support of Palestinians during the Israeli war in Gaza.
Middle East Eye
3 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Israel deports international activists from occupied West Bank
The Israeli authorities are deporting two international activists who were documenting settler violence against Palestinians in Masafer Yatta, in the southern occupied West Bank. Swedish citizen Susanne Bjork and Irish citizen Deirdre Murphy were arrested on 31 May in the village of Khallet al-Daba, where they had been filming settler attacks against its Palestinian residents. The two women, who are both UK residents, arrived weeks after the hamlet had been razed by Israeli bulldozers, in what residents described as the 'biggest demolition' the village had ever seen. Shortly after, settlers raided the village, forcing families out of their homes and establishing an illegal outpost on the edge of the community. Since then, the remaining villagers have been subjected to daily settler attacks. 'Women and children were moving out of their houses because of the harassment,' Bjork told Middle East Eye. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'The settlers come with their sheep and go round the houses terrifying the locals'. On 30 May, while attempting to document this, Bjork was assaulted by settlers who stole her phone. Israel to take full control of land registry in West Bank's Area C, cementing annexation Read More » 'We'd been filming and following them for hours. And then two of them attacked me and robbed me of my phone,' she said. The pair then called the police. Shortly after, Israeli police arrived along with the military, who Bjork said had likely been contacted by the settlers. The police took their statement, and instructed the pair to go to the police station in Hebron the next morning. 'Neither the army or the police said that we weren't allowed to be in the area,' Bjork said. The two women spent the night at the village. The following morning, at around 6:30am, they were awoken by three masked soldiers banging on the door, instructing them to leave as they were in a 'firing zone'. 'They gave us 10 seconds to get out,' Bjork said. The soldiers took their passports and instructed them to gather their belongings and leave the house they were staying in. The two complied, asking for permission to leave the village so they could report to the police station. The soldiers agreed and handed back their passports. But as they were trying to leave, they were stopped by a man driving an all-terrain vehicle, claiming to be a soldier. While he was wearing fatigues, he did not have official Israeli forces insignia on his clothing. 'He wouldn't identify himself, and so we wouldn't give him our passports, but he wouldn't let us continue on to leave the firing zone,' Bjork told MEE. 'He wouldn't let us go back to the soldiers. We didn't know who he was, so I then again called the police,' she said. Tourists documenting war crimes The police arrived and took them to the station where they were detained and interrogated. 'They said that we hadn't shown ID when asked, that we hadn't left the area and complied with instructions,' Bjork said. 'We were asking them, 'What are you doing? These are children.' They said, 'No, they are terrorists - they run too fast"' - Susanne Bjork During their interrogation, two Palestinian boys were brought into the station, handcuffed and zip-tied. 'We were asking them, 'What are you doing? These are children,'' Bjork said. 'They said, 'No, they are terrorists - they run too fast.'' Bjork and Murphy were released that night, but instructed to report to Ben Gurion Airport's immigration authority the next day for a hearing. At the airport, they were told that if they agreed to leave voluntarily, they would be driven across the border to Jordan, but the pair refused as there would be no official paper trail. They were then threatened with 72 hours in detention prior to deportation. 'So they'd already made their minds up about the deportation,' Bjork said. The two were interrogated and told that they had 'intimidated and humiliated police and soldiers'. 'The immigration officer said to me, 'I don't believe anything you're saying,'' Bjork told MEE. Bjork was then told her visa was cancelled, that she was there illegally and was now detained. Bjork opted to get the first flight out, while Murphy continues to be detained in order to contest the order. 'She wanted to stay in detention because we hadn't done anything wrong. The police report was full of inaccurate information and she wants to highlight the injustice of it all'. Days after Bjork and Murphy's arrests, Basel Adra, co-director of No Other Land, an Oscar-winning film about Israel's control of the West Bank, reported that masked soldiers barred international journalists from entering Khallet al-Daba. 'This is just a tactic for the occupation to stop anyone trying to document what's happening to these communities,' Bjork said. 'We were tourists just documenting war crimes,' she added. 'I asked one of the soldiers why they were masked. One of them said 'If we're not masked, it's too difficult for us to travel abroad'. So in effect, they were admitting to committing war crimes.' A new policy Khallet al-Daba has had to contend with years of settler violence. The hamlet is one of 19 Palestinian villages facing demolition in Masafa Yatta, which was designated a 'firing zone' for military practice in the 1980s. In May 2022, despite multiple appeals from residents, the Israeli High Court ruled that Palestinians are not permanent residents, and, in so doing, removed the last legal barriers to their forced transfer. Israeli forces regularly demolish buildings that the authorities say were illegally built in the area, which is home to over 1,000 Palestinian residents. Since Israel's war on Gaza was launched in October 2023, state-backed settler attacks and demolitions have skyrocketed across the occupied West Bank, while illegal settler outposts have proliferated. The Israeli authorities have also increasingly targeted international activists in the occupied West Bank for deportation in the last 18 months. Masafer Yatta: An Israeli firing zone and the ancient Palestinian village fighting for survival Read More » In 2024, far-right Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir created a special task force to 'deal with anarchists who harm state security'. Israeli media reported that the task force was formed in response to US and EU-imposed sanctions against settlers and their illegal outposts. According to an anonymous security official quoted by the Israeli news site Ynet, the targeted 'anarchists' include 'foreign nationals who come here from all over the world straight to the territories and create provocations' against Israeli soldiers. Bjork has been travelling to the occupied West Bank regularly over the past decade, but this is the first time she has faced arrest and deportation. 'We were quite shocked, this seems to be a new policy,' Bjork told MEE. 'Before, you would just get a ban from entering the occupied West Bank'. Murphy and Bjork's arrests follow that of Janet Adyeri, another British activist, in at-Tuwani, another Masafer Yatta village. Israeli police said she had entered a 'closed military zone'. A BBC report said that during her interrogation, 'she was found to have posted anti-[Israeli army] sentiments on social media and to belong to an organisation calling for the boycott of Israel'. Adyeri was deported shortly after. Bjork warned that the arrests of activists and the barring of journalists from the occupied West Bank will reduce scrutiny on the escalating displacement and harassment of Palestinians there. 'The Palestinians are just left to fend for themselves. There really needs to be some international protection for these communities…they are being harassed and attacked every day. And as soon as someone stands in solidarity with them and tries to document it, we are also removed,' Bjork said.
