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Scoop
a day ago
- Politics
- Scoop
We Have Turned The Nagasaki 80th Into A Celebration Of Israeli Genocide
Israel's key enablers, the G7, plus Australia and New Zealand, have succeeded in muscling Israel back onto the invite list for the commemorations in Nagasaki on 9 August. Last year Israel was excluded, triggering a refusal by these countries to attend in 2024. Does the 'personal' invitation that Nagasaki has just sent to Israel represent a triumph of Western diplomacy or a sick joke? You know who your mates are when you're committing genocide As I wrote at the time, the boycott by the powerful white-dominated Western nations was a stunning 'Fuck you' to the Hibakusha, the last few survivors of the US's 1945 nuclear attack. More importantly it was as clear a statement of collective commitment to Israel's war on Palestine as you could possibly wish for. You really find out who your true mates are when you're committing genocide. At the time, Shigemitsu Tanaka, the 83-year-old head of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivors Council, said he supported the move to keep the Israelis away from the commemorations, saying it was inappropriate to invite representatives from countries waging armed conflicts in defiance of calls from the international community. Israel's invitation is a triumph of Western pressure A year later, the City buckled under pressure and has personally invited the Israelis. 'After Israel was excluded last year over the Gaza war, Nagasaki's mayor is avoiding renewed diplomatic tensions – especially following a clear message from the US,' Israel's most popular news site, Ynet reported this month. It is a triumph for Netanyahu and his government, cause for celebration in Tel Aviv, but diminishes the nobility of an event that was created with the explicit intention to say Never Again and to remind the world of the indefensible criminality of attacks on defenceless civilian populations. Nagasaki and the Boycott Israel campaign Israel goes to incredible lengths to break efforts to impose BDS (Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions) and so Nagasaki had to be brought to heel. July 2025 marked the 20th anniversary of the founding of BDS, a non-violent campaign designed to hold Israel accountable for its crimes and apply real-world pressure for the state to change course. BDS is potentially a game-changer which is why Israeli government ministers routinely make threats of physical violence against leading BDS activists. Israel Katz, currently the Israeli Defence Minister is on record as calling for Israel to engage in 'targeted civil eliminations' of BDS leaders with the help of Israeli intelligence. 70,000 tons of bombs on Gaza – and Israel is invited to a peace ceremony Think for a moment what the presence of Israel at this year's event represents as an astonishing piece of semiology. A state that is actively committing the crime of crimes, genocide, sitting alongside the Hibakusha. They won't be the only war criminals in attendance. American, German, and British bombs have levelled the tiny enclave of Gaza. More of their bombs – 70,000 tons and climbing – have been used to massacre Palestinians in Gaza than were used in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (36,000 tons), the fire bombings of Tokyo (1,665 tons) and Dresden (3,900 tons), and the London Blitz (19,000 tons) combined. And it is happening on our watch. Another piece of astonishing optics: less than two months ago the US and Israel bombed Iran's nuclear facilities, doing so with no UN mandate but only their position as powerful, lawless states. Their actions dramatically raise the prospect of Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and others deciding they need nuclear weapons as deterrence. What look will the US and Israeli ambassadors cast over their faces as the Mayor of Nagasaki delivers the message of "Nagasaki's wish for the establishment of lasting world peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons?' Is the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize the next to be trashed? Talking of tone deaf and morally repellent, Donald Trump has been openly lobbying to receive the Nobel Peace Prize despite having killed thousands of people and bombed multiple countries this year. Interestingly, the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize winner was Nihon Hidankyo (Japan's Atomic Bomb Survivors Organization). In his acceptance speech last year, Terumi Tanaka, one of the Co-Chairpersons of Nihon Hidankyo, said that the organisation was created in 1956 'to demand the immediate abolition of nuclear weapons, as extremely inhumane weapons of mass killing, which must not be allowed to coexist with humanity.' New Zealand is a genocide enabler. What happened to our soft power? As a New Zealander I am deeply ashamed of my country for having refused to attend last year's ceremony and for its criminal complicity with Israel today. New Zealand's tragic trajectory from humanitarian champions and nuclear-free pioneers to racist genocide enablers is captured in all its horror in this month's Nagasaki commemorations. New Zealand, the country that went to the brink of civil war in 1981 to stop sporting contact with Apartheid South Africa is now a fully-paid up member of Apartheid Israel's war on Palestine. Everywhere our government is tearing down the pillars built by decades of struggle in New Zealand. The anti-nuclear policy, the anti-apartheid victories, the non-aligned foreign policies, the sacred principles of partnership between indigenous Maori and the Pakeha (those who settled from Europe and elsewhere) are all being shredded. We refuse to recognize Palestine, we refuse to join South Africa's case against Israel at the ICJ, we refuse to join the Hague Group which is mobilising countries to make those responsible for the genocide accountable and to shoulder state-level responsibility for forcing the end to it. But we mobilise to get Israel invited to the Nagasaki peace events. From Auschwitz to Nagasaki to Gaza: whatever happened to Never Again? Whatever happened to our decency? The Australian journalist Caitlin Johnstone wrote this month 'If you're still supporting Israel in the year 2025, there's something seriously wrong with you as a person.' That goes triple for governments. Eugene Doyle
Roya News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Roya News
Hamas stalling ceasefire talks by delaying response: Hebrew media
A new report by Ynet claims that Hamas is delaying its response to the latest proposal put forward by mediators, causing frustration and stagnation in ongoing negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire and captives exchange deal. Citing sources familiar with the discussions, the report accuses Hamas of "dragging its feet, creating difficulties, and preventing a breakthrough." The group is allegedly trying to maximize the terms of the deal, leading to a lack of progress. An 'Israeli' source quoted in the report stated, "The talks are going badly. We are in the same situation; it is not progressing." The source claimed that as a result of Hamas' delay, 'Israeli' officials now doubt that a breakthrough can be achieved this week. One notable sign of the deadlock, according to the report, is the absence of US envoy Steve Witkoff from the talks in Doha. Witkoff is expected to arrive in the Qatari capital only when the negotiations near a conclusion. 'Israel' is also considering sending Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer to join the US envoy in Doha, an indication of the importance of the talks and Qatar's central role as mediator. Dermer, known for his critical stance on Qatar, would signal a shift in 'Israeli' posture if he joins the discussions. Meanwhile, US officials are reportedly growing impatient with Hamas, frustrated by the lack of progress. However, the report notes that should Hamas respond positively to the proposal, pressure may shift toward 'Israel' to show more flexibility.
India.com
4 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Series of explosions in Iran: Israel-Iran ceasefire in danger? Is Mossad active in Tehran? Afghans in Iran under scrutiny for...
New Delhi: Iran and Israel were engaged in a fierce 12-day war in June in which both sides suffered huge losses of life and property. A fragile ceasefire is currently going on between Israel and Iran after the reported intervention of America and Qatar, but things do not seem to be moving towards lasting peace. Israeli intelligence agency Mossad is still claimed to be active in Iran and if true, this can jeopardise the Iran-Israel ceasefire and increase tensions. After the ceasefire between Israel and Iran on June 24, a series of explosions have been reported from Tehran and other Iranian cities. On July 14, several people were injured in an explosion near the Iranian city of Qom. The reason for this was said to be a gas leak, but similar incidents have also occurred in Tehran, Karaj and other cities. This gives a push to the possibility of a conspiracy behind it while Israeli media Ynet has claimed in its report that Mossad is continuously active in Iran. A pattern of explosions in Iran According to Ynet, Iranian political analyst Nima Baheli says that the incidents of explosions in Iran are not a technical fault but a pattern. These explosions are happening continuously and the regime is silent on this, which cannot be called a coincidence. Baheli said that Iran has deported immigrants from Afghanistan. It is worth noting that many of them were working in sensitive places. Baheli further said, 'The Iranian regime suspects the Afghan community of giving sensitive information to Israel. However, what is happening now seems less like cooperation with foreign intelligence agencies and more like a feeling of revenge. These people have been expelled violently, and their rights have been taken away. This shows the anger of the Tehran regime towards these people.' Mossad's activity in Iran Dr. Eytan Cohen of the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies says that there is an indication of the continuation of Mossad's operation in Iran. He said, 'The recent attacks in Iran have targeted sensitive places. This matches the way Mossad operates. The Israeli intelligence agency has maintained its capabilities there to weaken Iran.' Cohen said that Mossad's operations in Iran are part of Israel's long-term intelligence doctrine. This shows that Israel does not depend only on air power. Its operations on the ground also weaken its enemy. Cohen said that despite the ceasefire, the Houthis have continued to fire missiles at Israel. In such a situation, Israel is learning from new threats and is continuing to weaken Iran.
Middle East Eye
5 days ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Israeli public ‘fed lies' about defeating Hamas, commander says
The Israeli public is being 'fed lies' about the progress made against Hamas, a senior military commander has said, warning the Palestinian movement will not be defeated for years. In an interview with Ynet published on Friday, the unnamed officer stressed that dismantling Hamas is a 'tedious' task that could take up to five years, with the military needing to return to Gaza to 'mow the grass" constantly. 'In today's populist era, the public is being fed lies and spins, just like they were before 7 October and after every round of fighting with Hamas,' the commander said. Hamas, he explained, still maintains 'massive infrastructure' in Gaza. The fight against the group is far from over, he said. 'This is work that will need to continue for a year, for five years, to maintain the achievements. It doesn't matter if the enemy is called Hamas, Islamic Jihad, or any other name,' he added. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'It's a shame the public is being misled into thinking this will end soon and that we will defeat the enemy in the foreseeable future.' 'This is ongoing fighting, just like in Judea and Samaria [the occupied West Bank], where the battles continue.' According to the report, while the army claims significant progress in killing Palestinian fighters, destroying tunnels and targeting Hamas infrastructure, these results show that the group is far from defeated. 'These achievements mean that Hamas is still standing, its command and control capabilities may be limited and damaged, but it remains operational,' the report stated. Slow progress The Ynet report paints a picture of slow military progress since Israel broke the ceasefire and resumed the war on Gaza on 18 March. Although the army stated that it had deployed four to five divisions, Ynet reported that only a limited number of soldiers are directly involved in combat. The announcements were made to 'create the impression that tens of thousands of soldiers' were fighting in Gaza. In reality, the operation on the ground is 'limited and restricted', with only a few battalion-sized units in action. 'We are advancing too slowly, too transparently, and in a crooked manner' - Israeli officers The vast majority of the fighting is concentrated on the outskirts of major cities in the Gaza Strip. "We are advancing too slowly, too transparently, and in a crooked manner,' two senior officers told Ynet. 'We are still tackling peripheral areas like Zaytoun and Shujaiya, waiting for the green light from political leadership to move into the city centre and west.' The report also highlighted that much of the army's current missions do not directly involve fighting with Hamas. Attacks on the group are intelligence-led. Rather, troops are focused on the 'industrial-level' destruction of buildings, with hundreds of homes being flattened each week. Additionally, soldiers are tasked with securing US-backed aid sites in Gaza, where at least 875 unarmed and starving Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops while queuing for food since late May.
Roya News
7 days ago
- Politics
- Roya News
'Israel' to submit new Gaza withdrawal maps amid hopes for captive deal
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shown new flexibility on Gaza withdrawal plans, raising hopes for a possible captive deal with Hamas, a cabinet source told Ynet on Wednesday. The source said the move "brings us very close to a deal," with expectations that an agreement could be reached soon. According to news outlets, a new round of negotiations will begin in Doha as early as tonight, during which 'Israel' is expected to submit updated withdrawal maps to mediators. Meanwhile, Israeli Occupation Forces Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir visited the Gaza Strip for an operational review with Southern Command officers. He stated that 'Israeli' forces now control 75 percent of the territory, nearing a key strategic junction.
