Israeli settler attacks displace 30 families in occupied West Bank
Friday's wave of displacement comes after twenty families from the same community were forced to leave their homes as a result of attacks from armed settlers protected by Israeli forces, the same report revealed.
Local minister Muayyad Shaaban described the displacements as 'part of a broader colonial plan implemented by the Israeli occupation government' according to Wafa.
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Middle East Eye
2 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
UK High Court rejects bid to halt Palestine Action terror list ban
The High Court in London has rejected an attempt to temporarily block the UK government's move to ban Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, following an appeal by the group's co-founder. Lawyers representing Huda Ammori, co-founder of the pro-Palestinian direct action group, appeared before the court on Friday to challenge the decision by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to proscribe the group under terrorism laws. But after the hearing. judge Mr Justice Chamberlain said: "I have concluded that the harm which would ensue if interim relief is refused but the claim later succeeds is insufficient to outweigh the strong public interest in maintaining the order of force. 'In reaching this decision I have borne in mind my assessment of the merits of the claim at this early stage.' The ban is scheduled to take effect this weekend. A further hearing is scheduled for 21 July when thr group is expected to apply for a judicial review to overturn the ban. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Palestine Action, known for targeting companies involved in the Israeli arms trade, has denied any links to terrorism and described the government's move as politically motivated. During the hearing, lawyers for Ammori criticised the government's assessment, highlighting that plans to proscribe the group had been in place as early as March, well before last month's incident claimed by the group at RAF Brize Norton where two military planes were sprayed with red paint. "Why move to proscribe before then? They put their bodies on the line between the genocide and violations of international law and the munitions and airplanes," said Blinne Nessa Aine Ni Ghralaigh, one of Ammori's legal representatives. "The context for why the Home Secretary has proscribed Palestine Action is materially relevant - and that is the situation in Gaza. It is an annihilation, it is a genocide, according to rights groups, leading academics, scholars, and many states including Ireland." Aine Ni Ghralaigh added that the proscription could cause 'irreparable harm' to individuals and civil society groups, warning that vague and ambiguous language in the order could lead to widespread self-censorship and a broader chilling effect on protest and free expression. Friday's hearing aimed both to pause the implementation of the ban and to determine whether Palestine Action can mount a full legal challenge against the proscription order. Israel's war on Gaza: Who are Palestine Action? Read More » The government's order to proscribe the group followed a vote in Parliament on Wednesday, during which MPs approved the order. Alongside Palestine Action, the proscription order also included the Maniacs Murder Cult, a neo-Nazi group, and the Russian Imperial Movement, a white supremacist organisation. The move came after Palestine Action activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire last month using electric scooters and sprayed two RAF planes with red paint. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the act as 'disgraceful,' while the Ministry of Defence claimed the activists caused £7 million in damages. Following the parliamentary vote, Palestine Action criticised the Home Secretary for "bundling our domestic civil disobedience protest group in with two violent neo-Nazi militias". "Many MPs told us that, as a consequence, they felt they did not have the option to vote against the measure," the group said in a statement. Ten Labour MPs, including Liverpool MP Richard Burgon, voted against the government. Burgon warned that the ban risked 'criminalising thousands of volunteers and supporters.' Outside the High Court on Friday, hundreds gathered to protest the government's designation of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. The court proceedings came a day after four activists linked to the RAF Brize Norton protest were denied bail at Westminster Magistrates' Court. The defendants - Amy Gardiner-Gibson, 29; Jony Cink, 24; Daniel Jeronymides-Norie, 35; and Lewie Chiaramello, 22 - were charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage and conspiracy to enter a prohibited place for purposes prejudicial to national safety. District Judge Daniel Steinberg denied bail over concerns that the four might commit further offences if released. They are due to appear at the Central Criminal Court on 18 July for a plea hearing. During Thursday's bail hearing, several supporters were ejected from the courtroom after chanting 'Free, free Palestine' as proceedings concluded.
Middle East Eye
3 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Hamas says its holding consultations on Gaza truce proposal
Hamas has said it is holding consultations with other Palestinian groups on a proposed truce with Israel. "The movement is conducting consultations with leaders of Palestinian forces and factions regarding the proposal received... from the mediators," Hamas said in a statement early on Friday. Two previous ceasefires mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the US have seen temporary halts in fighting, coupled with the return of Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Hours earlier, Netanyahu vowed to bring home all Israeli captives held in Gaza. "I feel a deep commitment, first and foremost, to ensure the return of all our abductees, all of them," Netanyahu said. Trump said on Thursday he wanted "safety for the people of Gaza". "They've gone through hell," he said. A Palestinian source familiar with the negotiations told AFP earlier this week there were no fundamental changes in the latest proposal compared to previous terms presented by the United States. The source said the proposal "includes a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release half of the living Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip - thought to number 22 - in exchange for Israel releasing a number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees". Out of 251 captives taken by Palestinian groups during the 7 October 2023 surprise attack, 49 are still held in Gaza, including 27 whom the Israeli military says are dead.
Middle East Eye
3 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Iranian press review: Supreme leader's advisor reveals Mossad breach
High-ranking official shares details of Mossad infiltration Ali Larijani, an advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and a close ally, has revealed that the Israeli spy agency Mossad carried out psychological operations and had access to senior officials in Iran during the recent war with Israel. On Monday, Larijani told the ISNA news agency that at the start of the war, he received a phone call warning him to leave Tehran within 12 hours or face the same fate as several assassinated commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He said that other IRGC commanders received similar threats. Larijani added that on the fourth day of the war, there was an attempt to strike a meeting of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. The attack failed, but he did not give further details. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters He also called for a reassessment of Iran's international ties, saying: 'Iran must review its relations with international organisations and European countries. Throughout the war, they either remained silent or supported the US.' After the war, Iran's parliament passed a bill to suspend cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog. Espionage crisis reflects deeper social divisions Ali Mojtahedzadeh, a lawyer who has represented several political prisoners in recent years, wrote in an opinion piece for the Etemad daily that the large number of alleged spies arrested by the establishment reflects a growing sense of discontent among Iranians. Israel's failure to subdue Iran shows it can no longer dictate the regional order Read More » Mojtahedzadeh warned that stopping the conflict with Israel does not mean Israel has abandoned its plans against Iran. He said the authorities must be prepared for similar actions in the future. He also addressed Israel's influence and its access to Iran's military and security information. Referring to government data, he wrote: 'Unfortunately, we know that the level of treason and espionage by some internal elements has been so great that it cannot be seen as an isolated case.' The prominent Iranian lawyer added: 'The common cause of most betrayals throughout history has been the loss of citizens' sense of belonging, a feeling created by the exclusion and marginalisation of people in social, cultural, economic, political, and security areas.' Anti-Afghan sentiment grows amid claims of Mossad ties Since the start of the war between Israel and Iran, Iranian authorities have intensified a campaign against Afghan immigrants and refugees, accusing them of assisting Israel's Mossad and accelerating the deportation of undocumented Afghans. According to the Shargh daily, over 72,000 undocumented Afghans have left Iran in the past few days, with thousands more crowding the Dogharoun border crossing, waiting to return. On Friday, Brigadier-General Ahmad Ali Goudarzi, commander of Iran's Border Guard Command, announced a threefold increase in arrests and deportations of Afghan refugees. He also declared: 'Any house or property rented to Afghans is void. The property will be sealed and confiscated.' After ceasefire, Iran is preparing for the long war with Israel Read More » During the 12-day war, state media and outlets close to the IRGC reported arrests of Afghans, claiming they were working with Mossad to target military and civilian sites. One report claimed that 400 Afghan immigrants were arrested in an underground tunnel for collaborating with Mossad. Although this report was later denied, it sparked a wave of anti-immigrant sentiment in the country. In response, Seyed Rasoul Misagh, an Afghan immigrant, questioned the truth of these claims in an article. He wrote: 'Afghan citizens in Iran are being arrested and deported by the police every day. Why would Mossad trust people who are already being hunted?' He also pointed out that Afghans in Iran face many restrictions, including bans on buying vehicles, getting a driving licence or even travelling between provinces without special permission. He questioned how anyone in such a position could be trusted with sensitive operations. Reformists call for amnesty for political prisoners Several reformist political groups, under the name of the Reform Front, have written a letter urging officials to help preserve national unity by releasing political prisoners following the unprovoked Israeli attacks. Iran: Arrests and executions soar following end of Israeli assault Read More » The letter, addressed to the head of the judiciary, who is appointed by the supreme leader, comes amid a tense political climate marked by the widespread arrest of activists and the recent execution of six people accused of espionage. Part of the letter, published by Iranian media, reads: 'The release of political and ideological prisoners will be an important step in rebuilding national trust. It will also help heal social wounds and strengthen the foundations of the republic.' Another section of the letter discusses the intentions of the political prisoners: 'These individuals acted with the aim of reforming and serving the country. They followed legal and civil methods. Keeping them in prison will not lead to a positive outcome. This situation only deepens divisions.' The writers of the letter believe that granting amnesty to these prisoners would promote 'national cohesion' and support 'civil liberties' in the country. *Iranian press review is a digest of news reports not independently verified as accurate by Middle East Eye.
