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The Wire
2 days ago
- Politics
- 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
The Mainichi
26-07-2025
- General
- The Mainichi
Wartime child worker reveals dark secrets of Japan's 'Rabbit Island'
HIROSHIMA (Kyodo) -- Okunoshima has become famous globally as Japan's Instagrammable "Rabbit Island," but little is known about its dark history as a host to a wartime poison gas factory and weapons plant. Today, people come to enjoy the picturesque views of the Seto Inland Sea from campgrounds and hiking trails in the Inland Sea National Park, with the island's charm and intriguing past making it a compelling subject for online content. Eighty years ago, the island hosted a secret poison gas factory that played a key role in Japan's illegal use of chemical weapons in occupied China. It was also a production site for the military's long-range, unmanned, incendiary "balloon bombs" that were used against the United States during World War II. Reiko Okada was mobilized to the island as a teenager for the war effort, helping the Imperial Japanese Army build balloon bombs known as "Fu-Go." Okada, now 95, is one of the few people still alive who has both a "gas notebook" for poison gas victims and an "A-bomb notebook" for survivors of the atomic bomb. Japan, which was a signatory to the Geneva Protocol of 1925 that prohibited the use of chemical and biological weapons, produced mustard gas and other deadly chemical weapons on Okunoshima, at what was the largest poison gas factory in Asia. Okada was sent to Okunoshima as a 15-year-old third-year student at Tadanoumi Girls' High School in Takehara -- near the seaside Hiroshima Prefecture city located on the main island of Honshu -- in 1945. After the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Aug. 6, 1945, effectively bringing about Japan's defeat in World War II, she also worked as a relief worker in the suburbs of Hiroshima. In an interview, the former art teacher from Mihara, Hiroshima Prefecture, declared her willingness to tell the "last story of my life" and warned: "If we do not face up to our responsibility as perpetrators of the war, we will repeat the mistakes of the past." At the end of 1944, the government had proclaimed "ichioku gyokusai," translated literally as "100 million shattered jewels." The phrase served as the last unofficial rallying cry of the empire, expressing the regime's willingness to sacrifice the entire Japanese population, if necessary, to protect the fatherland. Whenever Okada, who was mobilized in November of the same year, heard these words, she stared fixedly at the surrounding waters and thought: "I don't want to die." The following summer, when Japan was bombed by U.S. air raids in various regions, Okada and the other girls were suddenly ordered to "evacuate" poison gas materials to a neighboring island. In the sweltering heat, the schoolgirls donned work gloves and transported the chemical barrels to a dock, making more than a dozen trips a day for over two weeks. Okada says she and the others were given strict instructions by the army not to reveal Okunoshima's location to family or friends. On Aug. 15, students gathered in a square on the island to listen to the "Jewel Voice Broadcast" in which Emperor Hirohito announced Japan's acceptance of the Allied demand for unconditional surrender in a radio address. Then, for about two weeks from Aug. 18, she was involved in an A-bomb relief effort in a middle school auditorium in a suburb of Hiroshima. She says it was a horrific scene where people were dying every day. "It felt like a damp world of maggots crawling inside weakened bodies," she recalled. Okada, who had traveled to the city within two weeks of the bomb's detonation, was certified as a "hibakusha" -- atomic bomb survivor -- because she had entered the affected area shortly after the attack. Before that traumatizing period, she had spent time on the island in the weapons factory. There, she and her fellow students used a paste made from konnyaku root to build the unmanned, hydrogen-filled balloon bombs, which were 10 meters in diameter and made of Japanese washi paper. Carrying incendiary bombs and an advanced-for-its-time altitude control system, the balloons were able to ride the jet stream across the Pacific and reach North America. Between 1944 and 1945, more than 9,000 of these balloons were launched, mostly from three bases in Japan, and at least 300 are believed to have reached the U.S. mainland, where they caused wildfires but little other major damage. Okada realized her own culpability in the war, however, when she later learned that six people, including children, had been killed by a balloon bomb in western Oregon in May 1945 -- the only known casualties in the continental United States from an enemy attack during the war. After the war, Okada studied at a fine arts college run by Kyoto city. She returned to her hometown of Mihara, where she taught art at a local high school until her mid-50s, before devoting herself to painting privately and peace work. She suffered physical after-effects from her time in Hiroshima shortly after the bombing and from chronic bronchitis caused by her stint on Okunoshima. However, treatment allowed her to overcome her ailments. After the war, Okada also learned that poison gas weapons had wreaked havoc in China. In 1989, after retiring from teaching, she published a book of pictures documenting her war experiences and sent it to Chinese war victims to express her remorse and apologies. Since then, she has continued her anti-war campaigning through her drawing and writing. According to the U.S. military's post-war records, Japan produced 6,616 tons of poison gas that was used in over 7 million ammunition rounds, including artillery shells. Some of the poison gas munitions transported to China went unused and were left abandoned, causing problems when they were later found or unearthed. The Japanese government confirmed the "existence of abandoned chemical weapons" in a memorandum to the Chinese government in 1999. Currently, the total number of chemical weapon munitions left behind is estimated at more than 100,000. Japan and China are working together to dispose of them. Okada believes Japanese people "should accept causing a war as our responsibility, face it, reflect on it, apologize for it, make amends for it and ensure that it leads to friendship and peace." With various conflicts raging around the world, "we don't know when Japan will go to war," she said. "Each and every one of us must not be deceived, and we must all work together to prevent war." "Nationalism is the doctrine that must be feared the most." (By Tomoji Tatsumi)
The Herald Scotland
17-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Best school uniform deals and discounts - how to save money
More than four-fifths (44%) of parents of children of school age splurge the most on shoes, while 16% said blazers are the most costly purchase and 11% splash the cash the most on stationery, according to website MyVoucherCodes. The survey also found that 42% of parents now opt for second-hand clothes to help ease the financial burden. A further 38% of parents said they have bought plain clothing and attach the school logo separately. Those who did this typically estimated they saved more than £40 per year. One in eight (12%) parents surveyed start back to school shopping in the first week of the summer holidays, while 13% who are planning even further ahead start as early as April. School uniform deals now on in supermarkets Morrisons Morrisons has cut the price of school uniform for More Card holders, with 25% off across the whole range of essentials. But, be quick, as the deal ends on Sunday (July 20). Customers with a More Card can save 25% across uniform essentials including a two-pack of girls white easy iron short sleeve shirts for just £5.25 (usually, £7), a three-pack of boys or girls polo tops for £3.71 (usually, £4.95), a two-pack of boys adjustable waist black trousers for £7.50 (usually £10), and a two-pack of quick drying white football tees for £4.50 (usually £6). See the full story for more details here. Morrisons back to school uniform (Image: Morrisons) M&S M&S is offering 20% off its Back to School range of uniform in stores nationwide from this week. It's a welcome return for the popular Marks and Spencer offer, as customers had taken to social media and parenting sites to ask if it would be back this summer. The company has confirmed the offer will return. A statement says: "M&S to launch 20% off across all Back to School ranges (including shoes and hosiery) from Thursday 17th July, in store only. See the full M&S uniform story here for more details. Tesco Tesco is providing parents and carers with an extra little help this summer, by committing to holding its 2024 prices for any F&F uniform items that were sold last year and matching any Clubcard Prices on stationery too. It has also brought back the popular 25% off uniform offer, both in store and online. As a result, polo shirts will be available from £2.25 for a pack of two, while prices for trousers will start at £5.25 for a pack of two. This year, uniforms are available online at for the first time, alongside other essentials including stationery, backpacks, lunchboxes and accessories. See the details of the Tesco uniform sale here. Aldi Aldi has frozen its school uniform prices, offering the £5 bundle for the fourth year running. Available in a range of sizes from 4-12 years, the fiver bundle includes two polo shirts, a sweatshirt or cardigan, and a choice of trousers, skirt or cargo shorts – with individual items starting from £1.50. Parents looking to top-up on uniform essentials ahead of September can choose from a 2-pack of Classic Pinafores (£6.99) or Jersey Pinafores (£6.99), Jersey Trousers (£2.49), Leggings and Jersey Skort (£3.99) and even a 3-Pack of Shirts for £3.69. See the full range here. Recommended reading: Many parents are buying school uniform second hand Preloved uniform is a great option, as kids grow so quickly it's often hardly worn. Sarah-Jane Outten, a shopping and money expert at MyVoucherCodes, said: 'The cost of school uniforms and supplies can add significant pressure to household budgets, especially during the summer holidays. 'It's encouraging to see parents using creative and cost-effective methods like buying second-hand or personalising plain uniforms to save money. With a bit of planning, there are real opportunities to cut costs without compromising on quality.' How to save more money on back to school items: Team up with other parents for school uniform swaps. Look for second-hand items online and school uniform exchanges taking place locally. Buy plain items from supermarkets and add school logos. Time your purchases. Leaving it until later in the summer could mean items are out of stock, although there may be a chance to find a last-minute bargain. Some 1,000 parents of school-aged children were surveyed by OnePoll in June and July for the research.
Cision Canada
25-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
The Government of Canada confirms the creation of an Advisory Group for the rehabilitation of the Quebec Bridge Français
QUEBEC CITY, June 25, 2025 /CNW/ - The Honourable Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement and Member of Parliament for Louis-Hébert, announced today the creation of an Advisory Group to support efforts to rehabilitate the Québec Bridge. In November 2024, the Government of Canada announced that the conditions necessary for the retrocession of the Québec Bridge to the federal government had been met. Canada has thus regained ownership of this historic infrastructure, which is essential to the economy of both Canada and Quebec. Management of the Québec Bridge was entrusted to the federal Crown corporation Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI), which is responsible for elaborating and implementing the bridge's rehabilitation program. To support JCCBI in its mandate, the federal government is announcing the creation of an Advisory Group to rehabilitate the Québec Bridge. The purpose of this Group is to enable JCCBI to benefit from a diversity of expertise, to learn about the Québec City environment and its key players, as well as raise awareness of the Crown corporation and its mandate. The Advisory Group consists of representatives from JCCBI, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, the ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable du Québec, Canadian National Railway, the cities of Quebec City and Lévis, the Chambre de commerce et d'industries de Québec, the Chambre de commerce du Grand Lévis, the Commission de la capitale nationale du Québec, du Conseil régional de l'environnement (Capitale-Nationale), the Conseil régional de l'environnement (Chaudière-Appalaches), Université Laval, Port of Québec and two citizens, residents of Québec City and Lévis. The Advisory Group's mandate is for two years, the estimated time required to develop the rehabilitation plan. Once this phase has been completed, whether the Group continues, in its current or revised form, will be reassessed in light of future needs. Quotes "We are delighted today to announce the creation of this Advisory committee for the rehabilitation of the Québec Bridge, whose members are keenly aware of the needs and expectations of the community, and will help support JCCBI whose mandate is to ensure the longevity of this historic and essential infrastructure for the residents of Quebec City and Lévis, as well as for the economy of Canada and Quebec." The Honourable Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement and Member of Parliament for Louis-Hébert "The rehabilitation of the Québec Bridge is a promising project for our region, supported by the Canadian government and mobilizing local expertise, key institutions and committed citizens. The creation of this Advisory Group reflects our desire to act with transparency, rigor and proximity. It's another concrete step towards ensuring the long-term viability of this strategic link between Quebec City and Lévis." The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Member of Parliament for Québec-Centre "The Québec Bridge is more than just infrastructure — it's a symbol of our history and a vital link for the people of Beauport–Limoilou. I'm pleased to see our government taking concrete steps toward its rehabilitation, with an advisory group that reflects the voice of our region. By working together, we can ensure its preservation for future generations." Steeve Lavoie, Member of Parliament for Beauport–Limoilou "Aware that expectations are high in the Quebec City region, the JCCBI team is working to maintain a climate of trust and developed a participatory approach that includes discussions with elected officials, stakeholders, First Nations and the general public in addition to its plan to rehabilitate the Quebec Bridge. This advisory group is part of this approach and will support our organisation in its desire to ensure close management with the community" Sandra Martel, Chief Executive Officer for Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated Quick Facts The Government of Canada wishes to remember the tragic history of the bridge's construction and the legacy of the many workers who lost their lives in its construction. The Government of Canada recognizes that this bridge crosses the ancestral territory of several First Nations who have occupied this site since time immemorial. Originally conceived as a railway bridge, the Québec Bridge now includes three road lanes and a pedestrian and cyclist walkway. It remains the longest cantilever bridge ever built, spanning 549 meters between the main piers, for a total length of 987 meters and a height of 95 meters. The Québec Bridge is an essential link for regional transportation, with an average annual throughput of 33,000 vehicles per day, including some 400 public transit buses, carrying over 6,000 passengers daily. It is the only link to allow active transportation - on foot or by bike - between Quebec City and Lévis. JCCBI is a Crown corporation that operates at arm's length from government, is overseen by a Board of Directors and reports to Parliament through the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities. June 10, 2025. Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn Web: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada SOURCE Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
The Province
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Province
Two Israeli Embassy staffers killed in shooting near DC Jewish museum
Published May 22, 2025 • Last updated 2 hours ago • 4 minute read Law enforcement work the scene after two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington were shot and killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum, Thursday, May 22, 2025, in Washington. Photo by Rod Lamkey / AP WASHINGTON — Two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington were shot and killed while leaving an event at a Jewish museum, and the suspect yelled, 'Free, free Palestine' after he was arrested, police said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The stunning attack on Wednesday evening prompted Israeli missions to beef up their security and lower their flags to half-staff. It came as Israel has launched another major offensive in the Gaza Strip in a war with Hamas that has heightened tensions across the Middle East and internationally and as antisemitic acts are on the rise. The two people killed, identified as Yaron Lischinsky, an Israeli citizen, and Sarah Milgrim, an American, were a young couple about to be engaged, according to Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Lischinsky told others at an event he attended before he was killed that he was looking forward to returning to Israel to celebrate an upcoming Jewish holiday, said Ted Deutch, the chief executive of the American Jewish Committee, which had put on the reception. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The couple were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum when the suspect, who had been seen pacing outside the museum, approached a group of four people and opened fire, Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said at a news conference. The gunman, identified by police as Elias Rodriguez, 31, of Chicago, then walked into the museum, was detained by event security and began chanting, 'Free, free Palestine,' Smith said. 'These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!' President Donald Trump posted on social media early Thursday. 'Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA.' Israel's reaction Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's office said Thursday he was shocked. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We are witnessing the terrible price of antisemitism and wild incitement against Israel,' he said in a statement. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington, led by former judge Jeanine Pirro, will prosecute the case. Public records list Rodriguez as living in a modest 850-square-foot apartment on Chicago's north side. Chicago television station WLS captured video of heavily armed law enforcement officers outside the building Thursday morning. It was not immediately clear whether Rodriguez had an attorney who could comment on his behalf. A telephone number listed in public records rang unanswered. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino wrote in a post on social media that 'early indicators are that this is an act of targeted violence.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. This photograph taken from the official Facebook account of The Embassy of Israel to the United States of America, shows an undated image of Israeli Embassy employees Yaron Lischinsky (R) and Sarah Lynn Milgrim taken at an undefined location. (Photo by 'Israel in the USA' official Facebook account of The Embassy of Israel to the United States of America / AFP) Photo by - / 'Israel in the USA' official Fac Israel's campaign in Gaza The influential pan-Arab satellite channel Al Jazeera aired on a loop what appeared to be mobile phone footage of the gunman, wearing a suit jacket and slacks, being pulled away after the shooting, his hands behind his back. The war, ignited by Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of some 250 hostages, has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced most of its population. In the time since, Israel's devastating campaign in Gaza has killed more than 53,000 people, mostly women and children, according to local health authorities, whose count doesn't differentiate between combatants and civilians. The fighting has displaced 90% of the territory's roughly 2 million population, sparked a hunger crisis and obliterated vast swaths of Gaza's urban landscape. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The shooting followed the AJC's annual Young Diplomats reception at the museum. 'Sarah and Yaron were stolen from us,' said Deutch, the AJC's chief executive. 'Moments before they were murdered, they were smiling, laughing and enjoying an event with colleagues and friends. We are in shock and heartbroken as we attempt to process this immense tragedy.' He described Milgrim, from Overland Park, Kansas, as 'warm and compassionate, committed to peace building and passionate about sustainability and people-to-people relations.' He said Lischinsky was a staff member of the embassy's political department who at the event told others that he was eager to return to Israel to celebrate the holiday of Shavuot with his family. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Yoni Kalin and Katie Kalisher were inside the museum when they heard gunshots, and a man came inside looking distressed. Kalin said people came to his aid and brought him water, thinking he needed help, without realizing he was the suspect. When police arrived, he pulled out a red keffiyeh, the Palestinian headscarf, and repeatedly yelled, 'Free Palestine,'' Kalin said. 'This event was about humanitarian aid,' Kalin said. 'How can we actually help both the people in Gaza and the people in Israel? How can we bring together Muslims and Jews and Christians to work together to actually help innocent people? And then here he is just murdering two people in cold blood.' Last week, the Capital Jewish Museum was one of the local nonprofits in Washington awarded funding from a $500,000 grant program to increase its security. The museum's leaders were concerned because it is a Jewish organization and due to its new LGBTQ exhibit, according to NBC4 Washington. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We recognize that there are threats associated with this as well,' Executive Director Beatrice Gurwitz told the TV station. 'And again, we want to ensure that our space is as welcoming and secure for everybody who comes here while we are exploring these stories.' In response to the shooting, the museum said in a statement it is 'deeply saddened and horrified by the senseless violence.' Israeli diplomats have a history of being targeted by violence, both by state-backed assailants and Palestinian militants over the decades of the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict that grew out of the founding of Israel in 1948. The Palestinians seek Gaza and the West Bank for a future state, with east Jerusalem as its capital — lands Israel captured in the 1967 war. However, the peace process between the sides has been stalled for years. — Associated Press writers Alanna Durkin Richer, Michael Biesecker, Eric Tucker, Hallie Golden, Jon Gambrell, Stefanie Dazio and Natalie Melzer contributed to this report.
