'We have to finish it': Netanyahu outlines five 'principles' to end Gaza war, slams European leaders
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Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘Will wipe him out': Israeli minister mocks jailed senior Palestinian leader convicted in 2002; sparks outrage
Image: X@/itamarbengvir Newly surfaced footage on social media shows far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben Gvir mocking prominent Palestinian prisoner Marwan Barghouti inside his cell. The Palestinian Authority denounced the video, with Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh calling it 'the epitome of psychological, moral and physical terrorism.' The footage marks the first sighting of Barghouti, 66, in years, who is currently serving five life sentences following his 2002 conviction for involvement in planning attacks that killed five Israeli civilians. It appears to be filmed inside the high-security prison in southern Israel where Barghouti is held. "You will not win. He who messes with the people of Israel, he who will murder our children, he who will murder our women, we will wipe him out,' Gvir, Israel's national security minister, appears to tell him in the video. "You need to know this, throughout history," Gvir says as Barghouti tries to interject. The video initially appeared on Thursday in messaging groups supporting Gvir before being reposted on his X account. The minister said that after seeing reports that 'all sorts of senior officials' in the Palestinian Authority objected to his remarks, he would 'repeat it again and again without apologising,' reported the BBC. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brigade Lakecrest: Lakefront Life from ₹1.95 Cr* Brigade Lakecrest Learn More Undo Palestinian prisoner rights groups report that Barghouti has been held in solitary confinement since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. Last year, they accused prison guards of 'brutally assaulting' him in his cell, an allegation that the Israeli prison service has denied. 'You can't humiliate a person who is weakened by being put in a jail and in a cell,' said Barghouti's cousin, Mustafa Barghouti, as quoted by CNN. 'In reality, he humiliated the Israeli government by this behavior.' Barghouti is among the prisoners Hamas is believed to have demanded in a potential exchange for the remaining hostages it holds, though Israel is considered highly unlikely to agree to his release, reported the BBC. Barghouti continues to be a senior leader within the Fatah faction, which leads the Palestinian Authority (PA), and was targeted by Israel for his prominent role in the Second Palestinian Intifada, the uprising that took place between 2000 to 2005. Barghouti's wife, Fadwa Al Barghouti, said in a social media post that she did not immediately recognize him. 'They are still, Marwan, pursuing you and following you even in the solitary confinement cell where you've been living for two years. The struggle against the occupation and its symbols with you continues, and the chains are still on your hands,' she said through a post on social media. The reason Ben Gvir shared the video remains unclear. The far-right national security minister, known for his provocative remarks, has previously served a prison sentence for anti-Arab incitement, as per CNN.
India.com
38 minutes ago
- India.com
'Kill and eat the Jews': Cartoon in Gaza incites children to violence against Jews...
'Kill and eat the Jews': Cartoon in Gaza incites children to violence against Jews… Tell Aviv: Israeli soldiers have been fighting in Gaza in response to the October 2023 massacre. Several Hamas terrorists have been hunted down and killed. Several hostages have been released from both sides; however, several Israeli hostages are still in the custody of Hamas. Amid all this, Israel recently announced the complete occupation of Gaza. Meanwhile, a report from the United States has emerged that shocked everyone. The report claims that the seeds of hatred and violence against Jews and Israelis were sown in the minds of children. The report states that children were brainwashed through cartoon shows, which inspired them to kill the Israelis and martyr themselves in war. What Did The Report Say? According to a New York Post report, a children's TV program Tomorrow's Pioneers, which aired in Palestine between 2007 and 2009, has been accused of inciting violence in the minds of children. The TV show incited innocent people to anti-Semitic violence and glorified 'martyrdom'. According to the report, the show aired every Friday on Hamas-owned Al-Aqsa TV, in which cartoon characters, including a Mickey Mouse-like character named Farfur, gave children the message to 'kill' Israelis, 'fight for Islamic supremacy' and 'liberate' Jerusalem from murderers. As per a report by New York Post, TV program named 'Tomorrow Pioneers', has been accused of inciting violence in children. The cartoon show was aired between 2007 and 2009 in Palestine. This show incited youngsters to anti-Semitic violence and glorified 'martyrdom'. The report stated that. The TV show used to air every Friday on Hamas-owned Al-Aqsa TV. In the show, mickey mouse like cartoon characters, named Farfur, tell children to 'kill' Israelis, 'fight for Islamic supremacy' and 'liberate' Jerusalem from murderers. 'kill And Eat The Jews' The report states that in one episode, a rabbit character even says, 'I will exterminate the Jews and eat them.' Farfur, the cartoon character, was later shown beaten to death by Israeli soldiers and replaced with a new character. According to Mia Bloom, a professor at Georgia State University, she termed it as 'terrible propaganda' and 'mental abuse of children'. She stated that such type of content deepened the belief in children that all Israelis are bad and should be killed. Bloom stated that this ideological influence has affected the mindset of certain fighters who were involved in the Hamas assault on October 7, 2023. She further likened it to the indoctrination methods used by the Taliban and ISIS. TV Show Got Suspended After massive international criticism, in 2009, Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti requested the cartoon show should be suspended. However, it continued to air and backed by Al-Aqsa TV chairman Fathi Hammad. Fathi Hammad backed the TV show by saying that it 'does not violate the rules in any way.' He also refused to make any changes to the program.
The Wire
2 hours ago
- The Wire
The Hypocrisy of the West, Laid Bare in Gaza
Israel has killed more than 240 journalists in Gaza, but the West has remained silent. There is no 'Je Suis Anas.' Over the last several months, I, like millions others, have struggled to come to terms with Israel's genocidal campaign in Palestine. In the most recent instance, Israel killed Al Jazeera journalist Anas al Sharif while he was in a journalist tent outside Gaza's Al Shifa hospital. Israel did not even deny targeting Anas. In fact, the Israeli Defence Forces posted a celebratory '🎯' bingo and called Anas 'head of a Hamas cell' without presenting any credible proof. The strike that killed Anas also killed three other Al Jazeera journalists who were in the same tent. Israel has not even attempted to provide a justification for their killing. That is the level of impunity that Israel knows the world will allow it to operate with. It has killed more than 240 journalists since October 7, 2023. But world leaders have said very little. The condemnation, if any, has been subtle and conditional. Contrast this with 10 years ago when Algerian Muslim terrorists targeted journalists of a magazine, Charlie Hebdo. The magazine had published cartoons that allegedly mocked Prophet Mohammed. The terrorists opened fire in the offices, killing 12 people. World leaders were quick to condemn. Paris saw one of its largest ever street mobilisations with an estimated two million people protesting the killing. At the head of the Paris 'Unity March' walked dozens of heads of state and government – François Hollande, Angela Merkel, David Cameron, Matteo Renzi and even Benjamin Netanyahu, among others. They walked arm in arm and said that any assault on journalists would meet a united, unequivocal response and declared ' Je suis Charlie ( I am Charlie)". Fast forward to Gaza. There is studied silence on the targeted killing of journalists by Israel. No world leaders have walked arm in arm. There are no viral hashtags. The very same Netanyahu who marched for 'press freedom' is the commander-in-chief ordering the killing of journalists. There is no ' Je suis Anas'. In the past two years, the hypocrisy of the West has not been hard to miss. Two major wars have dominated headlines, Ukraine and Gaza. In both, civilians have been bombed, journalists killed and international law repeatedly violated. Yet the West has taken opposite positions. What it condemns Russia for in Ukraine, it excuses – and enables – when done by Israel in Gaza. India stands out as Israel's only major non-Western ally. In fact, when it comes to both Ukraine and Gaza, India may be the only country more closely aligned with the aggressor in each case. As for the West, one continues to be surprised, as one should, that it isn't standing in solidarity with the Palestinians. But, how can the West stand in solidarity with Palestinians? It is not a neutral bystander. It is an active enabler and a belligerent in this genocidal campaign. Also read: Why the IDF Chief of Staff Cannot Stop the Killing of Gazans Seeking Food Arming Israel The United States has approved at least $30 billion in arms sales to Israel over 19 months. This includes laser guided missiles, F-15 jets, 2,000 pound bombs, 500 pound bombs. Much of this was approved not by Donald Trump but by Joe Biden. There is also evidence that shows US-made bombs have been used to target civilians. This New York Times story shows visual proof that US manufactured GBU-39 bombs were used to kill at least 50 Palestinians living in a camp for displaced people in Rafah. Biden also used special legal mechanisms to protect Israel from US human rights laws and to continue sending arms to Israel. Germany has been the second largest supplier of arms to Israel. Between October 2023 and May this year, it provided export licenses worth $564 million. The United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia and Canada have all provided significant military support to Israel, either through direct sales, dual-use components or military intelligence. Notably, among Israel's arms suppliers, India is the only major non-Western country. It has exported rocket engines, explosives and drone components — 'returning the favour,' as some officials have put it, for the weapons Israel supplied during the 1999 Kargil war with Pakistan. Also read: May This Image Be the Last: Praying for, and With, Anas al-Sharif Diplomatic support India, under its current right wing regime, has broken away from its historical position on Palestine. It has repeatedly abstained from United Nations General Assembly votes calling for ceasefires and humanitarian truces. Once the first non-Arab country to recognise the Palestinian state, India has now become Israel's main non-Western ally. This shift owes much to the ideological affinity between Hindu nationalism and Zionism — but that's a story for another time. The US has been by far the biggest diplomatic iron shield for Israel. It has vetoed five UN Security Council draft resolutions demanding a humanitarian cease fire. Europe has supplied its own brand of cover. Any attempt by Brussels to issue a common demand for a cease-fire has been stymied by Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. Then there is the issue of refusing to comply with international law and arresting Netanyahu, who is wanted for war crimes. On November 21, 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and defence minister Yoav Gallant for crimes against humanity and war crimes. Rather than pledge cooperation, Washington retaliated: in February 2025 the White House imposed economic sanctions and visa bans on four ICC judges and senior staff, arguing the court had 'no jurisdiction' over Israel. France announced that 'immunities apply' to Netanyahu because Israel is not an ICC member. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz went even further, saying that he would 'find ways' for Netanyahu to visit Germany without being arrested, effectively signalling that Berlin would not enforce the warrant either. Ironically, Berlin now finds itself aligned with Budapest — a government it usually clashes with over rule of law and LGBTIQ rights. When Hungary banned the 2025 Budapest Pride march, German officials condemned the move. German citizens organised protests, and some even travelled to Budapest to defy the ban. Yet when it comes to offering safe passage to an ally wanted for war crimes, Germany and Hungary stand firmly on the same side. Germany has also moved aggressively to clamp down on Palestinian solidarity on its streets. Authorities have banned several pro-Palestine organisations and imposed temporary bans on demonstrations. Four activists received deportation notices for having attended a sit-in protest at the 'Free' University in Berlin. A stamp issued India in 1981. So, of course, these nations are not going to condemn the killing of journalists because they are complicit in it. An Israeli might have ordered the strike on Anas, but weapon transfers by the US, Germany, India made it possible. The repeated vetoes and the refusal to demand a ceasefire made it possible. The brazen flouting of international law by finding ways to not arrest Netanyahu made it possible. It wasn't Israel alone who killed Anas. The West has long lectured the Global South about 'press freedom', 'rule of law', 'civilised norms', the sanctity of 'rules based international order' and position themselves as the moral compass of the world. But it has done as much to damage belief in these ideas as any 'banana republic' or Islamic regime. Gaza has stripped that illusion bare. The truth is that for the West, rules apply only until one of their own breaks them. When an ally is accused, the law is suspended, the court is punished, and the victims are forgotten. Also read: Mourning a Friend Killed by the Israeli Occupation Now, as the horrors of starvation and mass killings in Palestine, become inescapable for the citizens of these nations and as the public mood has begun to shift ever so slightly, these countries, except the US and India, are beginning to give the appearance of doing something. Germany has said it has halted arms transfers. Several European countries have said they will recognise the state of Palestine. But it's too little and it's too late. Of the 193 UN member countries, 147 already recognise the state of Palestine. The so-called western liberal democracies are in a minority who don't. Plus this bureaucratic recognition will do little to avert the immediate and existential crisis that people in Palestine are facing. The fate of nearly four million Palestinians now rests in the hands of Netanyahu. He made that painfully clear when he said: 'If we had wanted to commit genocide, it would have taken exactly one afternoon.' He has clearly thought about it. Kabir Agarwal is a journalist covering political economy, climate change and food security. This article was originally published in the author's newsletter, 'Unequal'. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments. Advertisement
