Israel is expanding its war — and killing those documenting it
The killings of journalists are a part of a conflict that is taking a wider and mounting toll after the decision taken by Israel's Security Cabinet last Friday to expand the war and seize control of Gaza City. This escalation comes nearly 20 years after Israel technically 'disengaged' from the Gaza Strip, though the UN and other human rights organisations have maintained that de facto military occupation continued. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pressing on despite his country's increasing isolation on the world stage. Earlier this week, PM Anthony Albanese announced that Australia will recognise a Palestinian state at next month's UNGA session. Similar announcements have been made by France, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Germany, Israel's second largest military supplier, has put a ban on the sale of weapons for use in Gaza in response to the Gaza City takeover plan. Expanding the war will deepen the misery of a Palestinian population battered by relentless bombings, displacement and disease, malnutrition and starvation.
Netanyahu evidently calculates that as long as he has America's backing, he can prolong Israel's war with impunity and ensure his own political survival. US President Donald Trump has the leverage that is needed to end the bloodshed. As he heads to Alaska this week to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in a bid to broker peace in Ukraine, Trump must show the same urgency for peace with Netanyahu as well — there seems to be no other way to stop Israel.
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News18
36 minutes ago
- News18
Did US First Lady Melania Trump Use AI To Write ‘Peace Letter' To Putin In Alaska?
Even as Ukraine's Zelenskyy publicly thanked Melania Trump for highlighting the plight of children, the letter led to questions on whether it was generated using AI During his meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, US President Donald Trump hand-delivered a letter written by his wife, Melania, to Putin. In the letter, the US First Lady, who did not join Trump on the trip, raised the plight of children in Ukraine and Russia. Even as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly thanked Melania for highlighting the plight of children, the copy of the letter later circulated online led to questions on whether it was generated using artificial intelligence (AI). What did Melania Trump's letter say? The letter, which was shared on Flotus social media accounts, said, 'Dear President Putin, Every child shares the same quiet dreams in their heart, whether born randomly into a nation's rustic countryside or a magnificent city-center. They dream of love, possibility, and safety from danger. As parents, it is our duty to nurture the next generation's hope. As leaders, the responsibility to sustain our children extends beyond the comfort of a few. Undeniably, we must strive to paint a dignity-filled world for all — so that every soul may wake to peace, and so that the future itself is perfectly guarded. A simple yet profound concept, Mr. Putin, as I am sure you agree, is that each generation's descendants begin their lives with a purity — an innocence which stands above geography, government, and ideology." 'In today's world, some children are forced to carry a quiet laughter, untouched by the darkness around them — a silent defiance against the forces that can potentially claim their future. Mr. Putin, you can singlehandedly restore their melodic laughter. In protecting the innocence of these children, you will do more than serve Russia alone — you serve humanity itself." 'Such a bold idea transcends all human division, and you, Mr. Putin, are fit to implement this vision with a stroke of the pen today. It is time," it concluded. Our incredible First Lady @MELANIATRUMP shared this powerful, deeply moving letter with President Putin. She speaks from the heart of every American in calling for a world where children, regardless of where they are born, can live in peace. — Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) August 16, 2025 Did Melania write the letter using AI? Soon after Melania shared the 'peace letter" on her official Instagram, online users began speculating whether it had actually been written by artificial intelligence. Critics also pointed out that the letter was vague about which 'children" it referred to, or what exactly she wanted Putin to do. While the message seemed to gesture at Ukrainian children, it never directly mentioned the suffering they've endured since Russia's invasion in February 2022, wrote the American nonprofit magazine Mother Jones. Democratic strategist Keith Edwards wrote on X: 'The letter says a whole lot of nothing…it many have been written by AI." One account even asked Grok, X's AI chatbot, to weigh in on the letter. The bot responded that the message was 'likely 85 per cent AI-drafted, with minor human edits for tone." This letter to Putin from Melania:1. Says a whole lot of nothing.2. May have been written by AI. — Keith Edwards (@keithedwards) August 16, 2025 Why the issue matters Russia's seizure of Ukrainian children has been a deeply sensitive one for Ukraine. Ukraine has called the abductions of tens of thousands of its children taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territory without the consent of family or guardians a war crime that meets the U.N. treaty definition of genocide. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy conveyed his gratitude to the first lady on his call with Trump on Saturday, Ukraine's foreign minister said. 'This is a true act of humanism," Andrii Sybiha added on X. Previously, Moscow has said it has been protecting vulnerable children from a war zone. The United Nations Human Rights Office has said Russia has inflicted suffering on millions of Ukrainian children and violated their rights since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Trump and Putin met for nearly three hours at a U.S. military base in Anchorage without reaching a ceasefire deal in the war in Ukraine. With Reuters Inputs About the Author Manjiri Joshi At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ...Read More Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : donald trump Melania Trump news18 specials President Vladimir Putin view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 18, 2025, 14:34 IST News explainers Did US First Lady Melania Trump Use AI To Write 'Peace Letter' To Putin In Alaska? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
‘Another war may happen': Khamenei's aide warns US, Israel; calls for strengthening missile, drone strategy
A senior military adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has warned that another war involving the United States or Israel could erupt at any time, in comments likely to heighten fears of further escalation in the region. 'We are not in a ceasefire, we are in a stage of war. No protocol, regulation or agreement has been written between us and the US or Israel,' Yahya Rahim Safavi, a top aide to Khamenei and former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), told Iranian media, as quoted by Times of Israel 'I think another war may happen, and after that, there may be no more wars,' he said, according to a translation by Iran International. Safavi argued that Iran needed to strengthen its position across multiple fronts. 'The Americans and the Zionists say they create peace through power; therefore, Iran must also become strong, because in the system of nature, the weak are trampled.' He added that Tehran's approach should be both defensive and offensive, stating: 'We must strengthen our diplomatic, media, missile, drone and cyber offensive strategy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Could This NEW Collagen Blend Finally Reduce Your Cellulite? Vitauthority Learn More Undo We, the military, do scenario-planning, we see the worst case, and we prepare a plan for it.' The comments come amid rising tensions following Israeli and US strikes on Iran earlier this summer. In June, Israeli fighter jets targeted command centres and IRGC assets in Tehran, including the Basij headquarters and the Alborz Corps, which are central to the regime's internal security and enforcement structures. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the strikes had 'significant military effect' and disrupted the regime's ability to maintain control. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the operations had caused 'very serious damage' to Iran's missile programme and nuclear sites, including Fordow. 'I have no doubt that this is a regime that wants to wipe us out, and that's why we embarked on this operation to eliminate the two concrete threats to our existence: the nuclear threat and the ballistic missile threat,' Netanyahu said, adding that Israel was 'very close' to achieving its goals. The Pentagon also confirmed that US forces launched 'Operation Midnight Hammer' in June, striking three major nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Israel: IDF says armed terrorist cell eliminated in Khan Yunis
Tel Aviv [Israel], August 18 (ANI): Israeli forces on Monday said they have eliminated an armed terrorist cell in the 'Old Cemetery' area of Khan Yunis in southern to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), troops identified the group of armed men and directed an Israeli Air Force (IAF) strike that killed them. Weapons, including AK-47 rifles, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), grenades and explosives, were recovered from their IDF wrote in an X post, 'ELIMINATED: An armed terrorist cell in the 'Old Cemetery' area of Khan Yunis. Our troops identified the terrorists, directed an IAF strike and eliminated them. Weapons including AK-47 rifles, RPGs, grenades & explosives were found on the terrorists bodies." The military added that in a separate operation in the same area, troops located and dismantled rocket launchers. 'In another activity in the area, the troops located & dismantled rocket launchers," it developments come as Israel steps up its offensive across the Gaza Strip. According to Al Jazeera, at least 11 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks since dawn on Monday, with Israel reportedly intensifying strikes on Gaza's largest city ahead of what it says are plans to seize has condemned those plans, accusing Israel of attempting to forcibly displace the population and calling promises of humanitarian aid 'blatant deception, " Al Jazeera reported. Earlier on Saturday, the IDF also announced that it had struck an armed Hamas cell allegedly operating near the Al-Maamadani Hospital in Zaytun, central Gaza. The military said the terrorists had used the hospital compound as a shelter and weapons storage a post on X, the IDF said, 'STRUCK: An armed Hamas terrorist cell operating just outside the Al-Maamadani Hospital in Zaytun, central Gaza, was struck by an IAF aircraft. The terrorists stored weapons & equipped themselves with weapons at the hospital compound while using the hospital as shelter, another example of Hamas cynically and brutally exploiting civilians and hospitals."The operations form part of Israel's wider ground and air campaign in Gaza targeting Hamas and its allies. (ANI)
