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Days of Palestine
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
The Guardian Reveals Details of Israeli Massacre at Gaza's Al-Baqa Café
DaysofPal — New field evidence obtained by The Guardian has confirmed that the Israeli airstrike on Al-Baqa Café—a family gathering spot on Gaza's seashore—was carried out using a U.S.-made 230-kilogram MK-82 bomb. The attack killed at least 24 civilians, including women and children, and left dozens more seriously wounded. Based on analysis of bomb fragments and the size of the crater, munitions experts have verified that the MK-82, a high-explosive bomb known for its devastating blast radius and shrapnel spread, was used in the densely populated civilian area. Its deployment in such a setting, experts say, constitutes a grave breach of international humanitarian law. A Haven Turned into a Mass Grave The Al-Baqa Café, located along Gaza City's beach, was one of the few public spaces where families could seek a brief escape from war. It featured two floors—an upper open-air terrace and a ground-level area with windows overlooking the sea. Survivors and medical teams confirmed that the café was filled with civilians—children, mothers, students, and artists—at the time of the strike. Among the dead were a 4-year-old child, a well-known film director, a mother in her thirties, and several young students. More than 36 are feared killed, with dozens more injured, including a 12-year-old girl and a teenage boy. No military activity was reported near the area, and it was not within an evacuation zone. Legal Experts: This Is a War Crime Legal experts warn that using such a bomb in a populated area shows clear disregard for civilian lives. 'Targeting a crowded café with a bomb of this magnitude means the attacker knowingly accepted the mass killing of civilians,' said Jerry Simpson of Human Rights Watch. 'That's not just unlawful—it's a war crime.' Dr. Andrew Ford, a legal scholar at Dublin City University, added that even precision-guided munitions like the MK-82 violate the laws of war when used without strict proportionality: 'There's no justification—none—for this level of civilian harm.' Mark Schack, professor of international law in Copenhagen, noted that the MK-82 is usually reserved for hardened military targets: 'If over 30 civilians were killed, the burden of proof is immense. Otherwise, this is an indefensible breach.' Gaza's Collapse—and a Message of Terror The café strike occurred in the context of Gaza's near-total collapse: starvation, medical shortages, power cuts, and daily airstrikes. Al-Baqa Café had remained one of the last spots of semblance and community life. Its destruction sends a clear message: nowhere is safe—not hospitals, not schools, not even places of leisure. Images captured by The Guardian show a large crater, twisted metal, shattered glass, and personal items soaked in blood. Munitions analysts identified debris from a Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance system and thermal batteries—evidence of a guided precision strike. Calls for Accountability Mount The International Justice Center in The Hague has urged for the incident to be added to ongoing investigations into Israeli war crimes. Trevor Paul, a former U.S. munitions expert, emphasized that even precision strikes can be criminal: 'When you know civilians are there and bomb anyway, it's not precision—it's premeditated.' Human rights groups have condemned the strike as another chapter in a broader policy of systematic targeting of civilian infrastructure, a pattern already documented since October 7, 2023. Conclusion: Not an Exception, but a Pattern What happened at Al-Baqa Café is not a tragic error—it is part of an established pattern. In a territory sealed off from the world, where food and aid are denied and movement is strangled, even cafés become execution grounds. This was not 'collateral damage.' It was a calculated strike using a high-yield explosive in a known civilian area, at a known civilian hour. The evidence is overwhelming. The silence of the international community is damning. Until there is justice, Gaza's parks, schools, and cafés will remain targets. And the world will continue watching a slow-motion genocide, bomb by bomb, strike by strike. Shortlink for this post:
India.com
01-07-2025
- Business
- India.com
Meet JDAM weapon which US will give to Israel, deal is worth Rs 43000000000, weapon is capable of…
Meet JDAM weapon which US will give to Israel, deal is worth Rs 43000000000, weapon is capable of… The United States has approved a weapons deal worth USD 510 million to Israel. The deal also includes Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits. Lets know more about it. By Joy Pillai Edited by Joy Pillai Advertisement Meet JDAM weapon which US will give to Israel, deal is worth Rs 43000000000, weapon is capable of... In a major defence deal, the United States has showed a green light to a weapon deal worth USD 510 million (approx Rs 4300 crore) to Israel. This deal also included providing Tel Aviv with Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits. The deal is confirmed days after Israel-Iran ceasefire announcement. Let's know more about the lethal JDAM weapon and why is this deal so important? What is JDAM weapon? In simple words, Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) is a guidance kit that has the capability to turn the conventional bombs into smart ones that can hit the target with precision. Developed by US's aerospace company Boeing, the JDAM is considered revolutionary in the world of weapons. Advertisement ===
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Trump pushes Netanyahu for Gaza ceasefire deal as US plans $500M arms boost to Israel
Ahead of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's US visit, the Trump administration announced on Monday, June 30, 2025, its plans to sell $510 million worth of Joint Direct Attack Munition guidance kits for the Israeli Air Force's air-to-ground bombs. As a part of the deal, the State Department and the Pentagon approved the sale of more than 7,000 JDAM guidance kits designed to be affixed to the Israeli Air Force's unguided BLU-109 2,000-pound bombs and Mk-82 500-pound bombs, according to the news portal Al-Monitor. This comes after Israel requested 3,845 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits for the BLU-109 bomb and 3,280 KMU-572 F/B JDAM guidance kits for the MK 82 bomb, Middle East Eye reported. The arms boost from Washington for Israel comes at a time when the US President is pushing hard for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the conflict. He has also recently signaled his interest in achieving another hostage release deal in Gaza. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Quote Undo Trump on Sunday, June 29, 2025, posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, urging Netanyahu to 'make the deal in Gaza' in order to secure the return of the remaining hostages. Speaking about the weapons deal, the DSCA said in a statement that Washington is committed to the security of Israel. 'The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability,' the DSCA said in a statement. Live Events 'The proposed sale will enhance Israel's capability to meet current and future threats by improving its ability to defend Israel's borders, vital infrastructure, and population centers,' the statement further stated. Netanyahu's US visit Trump will host Israeli Netanyahu for talks at the White House next Monday (July 7, 2025), according to two US administration officials. The officials were not authorized to comment publicly on the visit that hasn't been formally announced and spoke on the condition of anonymity. Netanyahu's visit comes after Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer's visit to Washington this week for talks with senior administration officials on a Gaza ceasefire, Iran, and other matters. The US President in public comments has signaled he's turning his attention to bringing a close to the fighting between Israel and Hamas, since the ceasefire to end 12 days of fighting between Israel and Iran took hold a week ago. Earlier, Trump told reporters, 'We think within the next week we're going to get a ceasefire' in Gaza but didn't offer any further explanation for his optimism. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt earlier on Monday said Trump and administration officials were in constant communication with Israeli leadership, and bringing about an end to the Gaza conflict is a priority for Trump. 'It's heartbreaking to see the images that have come out from both Israel and Gaza throughout this war, and the president wants to see it end. He wants to save lives," Leavitt added. An eight-week ceasefire was reached as Trump took office earlier in 2025, but Israel resumed the war in March after trying to get Hamas to accept new terms on next steps. Talks between Israel and Hamas have repeatedly faltered over a major sticking point—whether the war should end as part of any ceasefire agreement. About 50 hostages remain captive in Gaza, with less than half believed to be alive.
Middle East Eye
01-07-2025
- Business
- Middle East Eye
US considering approval of $510m worth of arms sale to Israel
The US is considering a potential $510m arms sale to Israel, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on Monday. It follows a request by Israel to buy 3,845 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits for the BLU-109 bomb and 3,280 KMU-572 F/B JDAM guidance kits for the MK 82 bomb. 'The United States is committed to the security of Israel and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability,' the DSCA said in a statement. 'The proposed sale will enhance Israel's capability to meet current and future threats by improving its ability to defend Israel's borders, vital infrastructure, and population centres,' the statement went on to say. The principal contractor will be Boeing, based in St Charles, Missouri.
Axios
31-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
The rare minerals battle behind Rubio's ban on Chinese students
When Secretary of State Marco Rubio abruptly announced plans Wednesday to cancel the visas of all Chinese students in the U.S., the Trump administration was quick to cast it as a way to root out spies from the communist nation. But behind the scenes, what really set off Rubio was the administration's realization that China was withholding precious rare-earth minerals and magnets as a tariff negotiating tool, sources tell Axios. Why it matters: The decision to target as many as 280,000 Chinese students — and throw another complication into the ongoing trade talks with China — reflects how crucial rare minerals are to the U.S. tech industry. It also signaled how angry President Trump was after deciding China was operating in bad faith. Zoom in: That's what inspired Trump's Truth Social post on Friday: "China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US." "So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!" Zoom in: The materials at issue are crucial for computing and telecom equipment, F-35 fighter jets, drones, submarines and the Joint Direct Attack Munition series of smart bombs. The seven minerals include samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium-related items. Zoom out: Under President Xi Jinping 's "Made in China 2025" initiative launched a decade ago, China has come to dominate the mining and processing of these minerals and other precious materials, such as lithium used in batteries. The U.S. is the world's second-largest producer of rare-earth minerals but is dwarfed by China, which controls about 70% of mining and roughly 90% of the processing of such minerals globally, according to a Reuters report citing International Energy Agency estimates. The big picture: Many of China's ruling party elite, including Xi, have sent their children to study in the United States. Targeting those students sends a message to leaders of the Chinese Communist Party. Rubio has long been a China hawk. As a senator in 2024, he issued a report, "The World China Made," that warned it could soon have "effective control over strategic supply chains" of the materials. He also sounded an alarm about China spying through U.S. educational opportunities. "If you're a Chinese spy trying to get into America, you don't really have to cross the border," he told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo in June 2024. "You can just become a graduate student at one of our universities or become a visa employee at one of our tech companies." As secretary of state, Rubio has launched several initiatives to monitor and revoke the visas of foreign students. What they're saying: Education groups criticized Rubio's move. Asian Americans Advancing Justice said that "national security should undeniably be a top priority — but resorting to fearmongering, racial profiling, and xenophobia is never the answer." Trump's administration unapologetically sees Chinese students as leverage. "This is about national security, trade, our economy," a senior administration official said. "Everything is a negotiation." The timeline: Trump launched his latest trade and tariff war on April 2, calling it "Liberation Day. Two days later, China required that companies receive export licenses for the seven minerals. The licenses restrict the flow of the minerals out of the country. On May 11, the U.S. and China announced a preliminary trade deal. The two sides paused their retaliatory tariffs. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer negotiated for the U.S. On May 12, when asked by Fox News' Laura Ingraham whether rare-earth export restrictions had been lifted, Greer said: "Yep. The Chinese have agreed to remove those countermeasures." But on May 20, CNN confirmed reporting from other publications that China wasn't "getting rid of its controls over rare earths," despite the trade truce. The reports confirmed what administration officials had encountered in private talks with China: It was playing rare-earth hardball. "China cheats. It's what they do," Trump said, according to a White House official briefed on the president's comments in a subsequent meeting with his trade team. "The president wasn't happy," the official said. "He was looking for ideas, and Rubio had this idea of Chinese students." In a statement to Axios, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Rubio "made this decision in the administration's ongoing effort to protect our homeland from espionage and other hostile actions." Just before 7 p.m. Wednesday, Rubio announced on X that the "U.S. will begin revoking visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields." About that time, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick informed several U.S. companies they needed to limit or stop exporting certain types of software, semiconductor chemicals, machine tools, aviation equipment, butane and ethane, according to Reuters. On Thursday, Bessent acknowledged on Fox News that trade negotiations "are a bit stalled." On Friday, Trump followed up with his statement blasting China. Hours later Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller was on CNN, linking Rubio's announcement to the China trade talks.
