news

Two soldiers killed in ground operation, Israel’s army says

The Israeli military has said two of its soldiers have been killed in its ground operation in Gaza.

That brings the Israeli death toll since October 7 to at least 1,407, including 317 military personnel and 58 police officers.

Israeli daily Haaretz has published the names of the soldiers, citing the Israeli army. They are:

2 down, thousands more to follow. rot in hell

US Secretary of State returns to Israel on Friday

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Israel on Friday, the US State Department says. He will be meeting members of the Israeli government and will also make other stops in the region. It is unclear if Blinken will meet with any Palestinian officials on the trip. This will be Blinken's second trip to the Middle East in the past three weeks.

- BBC

This shuttle diplomacy is a kind of pantomime of action. Biden's administration PR is going to amp up their messaging that they "pressing" the Israelis to protect the lives of civilians. But Israel will keep killing anyway.

UN Secretary-General ‘horrified’ by Israel’s attack on ambulances

A statement from UN chief Antonio Guterres has just come in.

“I am horrified by the reported attack in Gaza on an ambulance convoy outside Al-Shifa Hospital,” Guterres said. “The images of bodies strewn on the street outside the hospital are harrowing.”

Guterres added that the conflict “must stop”.

another UNRWA facility about to get bombed

Hezbollah attacks Israeli military vehicle in latest fighting

Hezbollah says it targeted an Israeli military vehicle across the border with guided missiles, killing and wounding those onboard.

The Israeli military confirmed an anti-tank missile was launched from Lebanon at Yiftah in northern Israel, and said it is striking the sources of fire. It did not say whether there are casualties.

Hezbollah announced several other missile launches, adding it destroyed Israeli equipment along the border. The Israeli military said its Iron Dome defence system intercepted a drone flying towards Israel from Lebanon.

Fears are rising that Lebanon could become involved in an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah, backed by Palestinian factions.

The Financial Times and the Economist consistently have some of the worst takes when it comes to anything related to the Global South.

So is the USA doing the Toy Story "I don't want to play with you anymore" meme to Ukraine or we still in that?

Turkish President Recep Erdogan on Saturday announced his refusal to further communicate with the head of the Israeli government, Benjamin Netanyahu.

“We will no longer be able to talk with Netanyahu. We have crossed him out,” the inter-Arab TV channel al-Arabiya quotes Erdogan as saying. Turkey will no longer have any confidence in the global system unless Israel ends and is held accountable for what Erdogan called "war crimes and human rights violations," he said.

— 🇷🇺/🇱🇧 Wall Street Journal: 'According to U.S. intelligence, the Wagner group may try to transfer advanced air defense systems to Hezbollah'

When Korea was liberated, hundreds of thousands of Japanese colonizers left of their own accord for Japan. There wasn’t any process to expel Japanese settlers because they voluntarily left after the privileges of colonial authority were taken from them.

Palestine seems like such a beautiful place. Would love to visit when it is free.

just bought my tickets to the Nasrallah speech

Hezbollah just shat my pants. when will this terror end??

edit: THE ENTIRE RADWAN FORCE JUST INFILTRATED MY HOME AND POOPED ALL OVER MY FAMILIES CLOTHES.

WHERE IS THE IDF?!?!!

Kinda surprised I haven’t seen any crazy shit from Kanye West during all this

Fuck the US media.

A rando military guy was on CNN and I didn't know who he was so I scanned his Wikipedia for about 60 seconds.

Mark Kimmitt

Controversy

In the aftermath of the Mukaradeeb wedding party massacre [in 2004], Kimmitt claimed, "There was no evidence of a wedding: no decorations, no musical instruments found, no large quantities of food or leftover servings one would expect from a wedding celebration. There may have been some kind of celebration. Bad people have celebrations, too."

However video footage obtained by the Associated Press seems to contradict this view. The video shows a series of scenes of a wedding celebration, and footage from the following day showing fragments of musical instruments, pots and pans and brightly colored beddings used for celebrations, scattered around a destroyed tent.

[...]

Mark Traecey Patrick Kimmitt (born 21 June 1954) is the former Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, serving under George W. Bush from August 2008 to January 2009; he was the 16th person to hold the post. Prior to joining the State Department, he was a brigadier general in the United States Army, and served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Middle East.

Kimmitt has also served as deputy director for strategy and plans for the United States Central Command, and deputy director for operations/chief military spokesman for coalition forces in Iraq, and served at NATO's SHAPE headquarters in Belgium.

Remember message force multipliers? I don't know if he was one officially but I assume he was.

Pentagon military analyst program

The Pentagon military analyst program was a propaganda campaign of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) that was launched in early 2002 by then-Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Victoria Clarke. The goal of the operation is "to spread the administration's talking points on Iraq by briefing retired commanders for network and cable television appearances," where they have been presented as independent analysts.

A Pentagon spokesman said the Pentagon's intent is to keep the American people informed about the so-called War on Terrorism by providing prominent military analysts with factual information and frequent, direct access to key military officials. The Times article suggests that the analysts had undisclosed financial conflicts of interest and were given special access as a reward for promoting the administration's point of view. On 28 April 2008, the Pentagon ended the operation. A DoD Inspector General investigation found no wrongdoing on the part of the DoD.

[...]

Details of the operation were first revealed in a lengthy New York Times exposé written by David Barstow and published in April 2008. Within the documents the analysts were referred to as message force multipliers (q.v. force multiplication).

US and Israel considering peacekeeping force in Gaza - report

The US and Israel are considering the possibility of a multinational force that could include American, UK, French troops in the Gaza Strip, in the event that Israeli forces are successful in ousting Hamas, according to a report.

US and Israeli officials exploring options for the future of Gaza have also discussed a second option that would establish a peacekeeping force modeled on one that oversees a 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the conversations.

A third option would see Gaza put under temporary UN oversight, it said. The sources noted that the conversations are still at an early stage and much could change.

The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, alluded to the challenge of coming up with a plan for the future of Gaza when he addressed a Senate panel on Tuesday.

“We can’t have a reversion to the status quo with Hamas running Gaza,” Blinken told the Senate appropriations committee. “We also can’t have — and the Israelis start with this proposition themselves — Israel running or controlling Gaza.” He added, "Between those shoals are a variety of possible permutations that we’re looking at very closely now, as are other countries."

The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/oct/31/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-latest-news-today-hamas-clashes-idf-gaza-aid-plan-failure?page=with:block-65417b8f8f089b59d570dc12

doing that thing I do where I drink and watch hamas videos, then when I'm pretty drunk start watching videos about how to say the shahada because hamas videos are so hype

I found this ideo pretty interesting. A soldier talks in detail about the Kurdish tunnels he saw and used in during his deployment, and how difficult they are to infiltrate and destroy, as well as how comfortable some of them are. Given what Hamas has shown so far, he expects their setup is at LEAST as nice.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mMaQn6eBroY

The true president has spoken

“People who are calling for a ceasefire now do not understand Hamas. That is not possible.”

She also said Israel has a “right to defend itself” against the terrorist militant group Hamas and that they have an “obligation to limit civilian deaths and casualties of all kinds.”

From rybar:

🔻On a similar note, the discussions between American politicians and the head of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, and the expressed desire to hand over control of the Gaza Strip to him after defeating Hamas, are part of the same narrative.

Once the "liberated" territories have rid themselves of 80-90% of the population, someone will need to govern them, and Abbas will be seen as a compliant figure, much like a Gauleiter, who has already demonstrated his effectiveness in managing the West Bank (one only needs to observe the lack of widespread discontent among the local Palestinians).

I guessed this the other day.

Hope there's a coup within the PA.

A total of 4 US military bases in the middle east have been attacked in past 24 hours - US officials.

I've seen this leaked Israeli Ministry of Intelligence document mentioned on Twitter and by MoA. The one which outlines the plan to expel the population of Gaza into the Sinai, among two others. I got curious what the others were, so I fed the document through OCR and machine translation. The other alternatives mentioned are A: "the population remaining in Israel and importing the Palestinian Authority rule." and B: "the population remaining in the village and the emergence of local Arab rule."

A group of shared objectives is listed near the top of the document for all of the plans:

3. Basic assumptions for work in each directive.
   A. Toppling the rule of Hamas.
   B. The evacuation of the population outside the combat zone is in the interest of the citizens of the Gaza Strip.
   C is required to plan and channel international aid that will reach the region in accordance with the selected directive.
   D. In every directive, it is required to carry out a deep process of assimilating an ideological change - de-nationalization.

With regards to the Sinai plan ("Alternative C")

Alternative C - the alternative that will yield positive and long-term strategic results for Israel, and is A viable alternative. Determination of the political echelon is required in the face of binary pressure with an emphasis on harnessing. The USA and other pro-Israeli countries are joining the move.

The other plans are downplayed

Alternatives A and B suffer from significant deficiencies, especially in terms of their strategic implications and the lack of long-term feasibility. Neither will provide the necessary deterrent effect, no will allow a change of mind, and may lead within a number of Shanis to the same problems and Iomis that burdened them The State of Israel fought from 2007 until Chios.

Alternative B is the alternative with the most risks, the division in the Palestinian population in Yaish And now he is one of the central gourmis who make it difficult to establish a Palestinian state. Choosing this alternative It means an unprecedented victory for the Palestinian national movement, a victory that will come at the cost of thousands of Israeli civilians and soldiers and does not guarantee Israel's security.

https://truthout.org/articles/biden-wants-arms-deals-with-israel-to-be-done-in-complete-secrecy/

In a highly unusual move, the White House has requested for it to be able to conduct arms deals with Israel in complete secrecy, without oversight from Congress or the public — in a time when the U.S. is supporting a military that experts say has been committing war crimes in Gaza and beyond.

It becomes increasingly frustrating to read any Western press on the topic of China. They always create imaginary internal fighting like they did with Hu Jintao and now Li Keqiang, obsess over China's economy struggling because of real estate, and hype up the number of Chinese migrants illegally crossing into the US. It's all tied up nicely with a quote from places like Freedom House.

I'm not against criticism of China. I just wish I could actually see it without obvious Western fabrications.

Israel’s emergency medical service will receive $88 million in a gift led by Michael Bloomberg.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/30/world/middleeast/bloomberg-israel-donation.html?smid=url-share

Netanyahu may not last, Biden and aides increasingly believe - POLITICO

At one point during the trip, Biden advised Netanyahu to consider the scenario he was leaving for his successor — an implicit suggestion that Netanyahu might not be in power for the duration of what will likely be a lengthy conflict.

[...]

A current U.S. official and a former U.S. official both confirmed that the administration believes Netanyahu has limited time left in office. The current official said the expectation internally was that the Israeli PM would likely last a matter of months, or at least until the early fighting phase of Israel's military campaign in the Gaza Strip was over, though all four officials noted the sheer unpredictability of Israeli politics.

"There's going to have to be a reckoning within Israeli society about what happened," said the official who, like others, was granted anonymity to detail private conversations. "Ultimately, the buck stops on the prime minister's desk."

If I see another Zionist mention babies one more time, I might just lose my shit.

Iranians demand a ceasefire in Gaza

Thousands of Iranians gathered on the streets to mark the anniversary of the 1979 takeover of the US embassy in Tehran chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel”.

They condemned Washington’s support of Israel as it strikes the Gaza Strip. People assembled outside the former US embassy in Tehran with some burning American and Israeli flags.

Protesters stomped on images of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden. Others carried banners calling the US “Great Satan”.

Parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf addressed the crowds while criticising US support of Israel.

“We consider the criminal US a principal culprit in all these crimes” in Gaza and against Palestinians, he said.

incredibly based, I want to move back to Iran now lmao. I will never forgive my parents for not teaching me Persian.

when did MLK turn into this borderline theological figure where people in 2023 sit around arguing about what he would have thought about Israel? so bizarre

Bahrain announces Israeli ambassador has left the country, Bahraini ambassador recalled, and economic relations halted with occupation.

Arab comprador regime does correct thing for first time, whole world is shocked

https://streamable.com/af9936 ~~(untranslated)~~

BREAKING: Spokesperson of the Yemeni Armed Forces: Armed forces of our country, with the help of Almighty God, fired a large number of ballistic missiles and drones at the targets of the enemy in occupied Palestine. This is our third operation.

EDIT: This attack was on Eilat

Based on our sense of religious, moral, humanitarian, and national responsibility and in response to the demands of our Yemeni people and the demands of the free nations, and in aid to our oppressed people in Gaza, it was imperative for the Yemeni Armed Forces to act with reliance on God in support of the historic plight of our dear Palestinian people.

Our armed forces have launched a large batch of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and a significant number of drones targeting various "israeli" enemy positions in the occupied lands.

The Yemeni Armed Forces confirm that this operation is the third one in support of our oppressed brothers in Palestine.

The Yemeni Armed Forces confirm that they will continue to execute more qualitative strikes with missiles and drones until the "israeli" aggression stops.

We affirm that the stance of our Yemeni people towards the Palestinian cause is firm and principled, and that the Palestinian people have the full right to defend themselves and attain their complete legitimate rights.

What destabilizes the region and expands the scope of the conflict is the continued existence of the zionist enemy committing crimes and massacres against the people of the Gaza Strip and all of occupied Palestine.

Evil lying fuckers.

In the face of detailed and urgent warnings of catastrophic conditions for civilians in Gaza, an Israeli agency said there was “currently no humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.” The statement from COGAT a part of Israel’s defense ministry, said that the agency was monitoring the supply of water, food, fuel and energy in Gaza and asserted that “the situation is far from crisis.”

The assertion stands in sharp contrast to reports from the United Nations, international aid organizations, accounts from within Gaza and photographs and video documenting dire shortages.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/10/31/world/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news/d2a66ee8-35e9-549c-9645-a2cb01099f00?smid=url-share

Sir pls go back to your position. Sir! Sir! gunshots

in more serious news i can't believe the US congress is about to cancel culture george santos

Looks like Israel has realized that having blonde light skinned bimbofied idf girls be their poster child is a bad look on social media

Been seeing an up tik is more middle Eastern looking idf girls pushing propaganda the past day or two.

Reuters - Netanyahu suspends Israeli minister over Gaza nuclear comment

Choice quotes:

Eliyahu said in a social media post: "It is clear to anyone who is sensible that the nuclear remark was metaphorical."

In Eliyahu's Kol Barama radio interview, it was noted that ravaging Gaza would endanger some 240 hostages - among them foreigners as well as Israelis - held since Hamas sparked the war with an Oct 7 cross-border assault that killed 1,400 people.

"In war, you pay a price," the minister responded, while adding that he was praying for the return of the hostages.

By slammer on blueSSky

Bigfoot Found Fighting People’s War

I really liked this article.

archive.today • The Israel-Hamas War Has Created a Divide Among American Chefs - The New York Times

A recent petition signed by nearly 900 food professionals calling for a cease-fire raises, once again, questions of contested cuisines.

But at times it's like The Onion. The unintended punchline is perfect.

“We have this romantic idea that if we eat the same food and break the same bread somehow we can come together, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here,” said Dr. Ariel, who is currently researching the origins of falafel.