Pro-Palestinian protesters chant in front of Biden administration officials’ homes on Christmas Day
The sounds of not-so-friendly carolers were heard singing on Christmas morning, as dozens of Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the respective Virginia and Washington, D.C., homes of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Sullivan and Austin are two of President Biden’s top foreign affairs advisers. The groups could be seen outside the officials’ homes early Christmas morning as a large police presence also moved in. “Austin, Austin, rise and shine, no sleep during genocide!” protesters were heard shouting in one of several clips shared by the far-left organization The People’s Forum, which is opposed to Israel’s war against Hamas terrorists. PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS CONFRONT DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS, SHUT DOWN CHICAGO INTERSTATE The organization also called on their supporters to show up to, “All out for Palestine! Christmas is cancelled” protest in New York City on Christmas Day, and added to bring candles, rubble, and materials for a nativity scene. Other groups also took to social media to speak out about the Christmas Day protests in Washington D.C. ALEC BALDWIN GETS IN SHOUTING MATCH WITH PRO-PALESTINIAN ACTIVISTS DURING NYC PROTESTS “Pro-Palestinian agitators show up to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s home and harass him, as well as his entire neighborhood, this Christmas morning,” the non-partisan Stop Antisemitism group wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We’re not sure who needs to hear this but harassing a four star general who has served his country his entire career will not ‘Free Palestine.’” CONTROVERSIAL LEFT-WING ACTIVIST, 7 OTHERS ARRESTED AFTER PROBE INTO ‘BRUTAL’ ASSAULT AT CALIFORNIA PROTEST Police threatened to arrest the protesters if they did not shut down the protest. It’s unclear whether the men were home during the disturbances. The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Gaza’s Maghazi refugee camp in ruins after deadly Israeli attack
Residents of Gaza’s Maghazi refugee camp have returned to their neighbourhood to find only blocks of concrete lying where their homes had stood. “These houses are destroyed. Our house was bombed,” Abu Rami Abu al-Ais said on Monday, standing in the debris. “There’s no safe place in the Gaza Strip.” Late on Sunday, at least three houses in the camp were hit by Israeli air strikes, which killed more than 100 people, according to Al Jazeera correspondents. Officials in Gaza said seven families were among the casualties. Israel says it issues evacuation orders and warnings so civilians can get to safety before military attacks, but Zeyad Awad said there was no advisory before the strike. “What should we do? We are civilians, living peacefully and wanting only safety and security, yet we are suddenly struck by Israeli warplanes without any warning,” he said. The Israeli military said it was “reviewing the incident”. The Maghazi refugee camp is one of several in Gaza and was established in 1949, according to the United Nations, to shelter refugees who were forced to flee occupied Palestinian territories during the creation of Israel the year before. Many who fled Maghazi after Sunday’s strikes were displaced again after already escaping attacks in northern Gaza. Adblock test (Why?)
Armed groups kill 113 people in series of attacks across central Nigeria
Nigerian authorities say armed groups known as ‘bandits’ hit 20 communities and injure more than 300 people. Armed groups have killed more than 100 people in a string of attacks targeting towns across central Nigeria, another deadly episode in a region with persistent religious and ethnic tensions. Local officials on Monday said the toll of the weekend attacks by armed groups, sometimes called “bandits”, has risen to 113, increasing sharply from the government’s initial count of 16. “As many as 113 persons have been confirmed killed as Saturday hostilities persisted to early hours of Monday,” Monday Kassah, head of the local government in Bokkos in Plateau State, told the Agence France-Presse news agency. Kassah said the “well-coordinated” attacks, which also injured more than 300 people, targeted at least 20 communities across the region. “Proactive measures will be taken by the government to curb ongoing attacks against innocent civilians,” said Gyang Bere, a spokesperson for Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang. Kassah did not say who was responsible for the attacks but noted that the injured were taken to hospital. Plateau is one of several states that make up the ethnically and religiously diverse Middle Belt in Nigeria, where climate change and expanding agriculture has strained communities and increased tensions between Muslim herders and Christian farmers. Hundreds of people have been killed in cases of intercommunal violence in recent years. After the weekend attacks, the rights group Amnesty International said authorities in the West African nation “have been failing to end frequent deadly attacks on rural communities of Plateau state”. Conflict has continued to roil the country’s northern and central regions, where armed groups are active and government forces have been accused of committing abuses. This month, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu ordered an investigation after a military drone strike killed 85 civilians gathered for a religious celebration. Tinubu lamented what he called the “bombing mishap”. Kaduna Governor Uba Sani said at the time that the civilians were mistakenly killed by a drone targeting “terrorists and bandits”. Adblock test (Why?)
Israel intensifies Gaza strikes, killing 250 Palestinians in 24 hours
More than 100 people have been killed in an Israeli strike on the Maghazi refugee camp with families still trapped in rubble. Israel has intensified its assault on the Gaza Strip, killing more than 100 people at the Maghazi refugee camp, with Palestinian authorities reporting that 250 people have been killed in a wave of strikes over 24 hours. “My entire family is gone. All five of my brothers are gone. They didn’t leave me any brothers. … All of them!” a wailing woman said on Monday at the Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. Palestinians lined up to touch the shrouded bodies of those killed in Israeli strikes on the camp in a funeral on Monday, commemorating dozens of people who were killed, many of them women and children. An Al Jazeera reporter in Gaza said the figure has now reached more than 100. The Government Media Office in Gaza said seven families were wiped out in the Israeli attack on a residential square in the camp. “The Israeli army doesn’t spare civilians,” Zeyad Awad, a resident of Maghazi, told Al Jazeera. “My child said to me, ‘Help me! What’s happening? I can’t breathe,’” he added. The night before Christmas in Gaza was marked by some of the most intense bombardments in the current round of fighting between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas with Israeli strikes levelling buildings and leaving families trapped beneath piles of rubble. “This is a three-story building that was targeted, and another house here and another house here. According to the family, he told me that five of his family members are still under the rubble,” Al Jazeera correspondent Hind Khoudary reported from Maghazi, adding that one of those trapped is a baby. “He also told me that there has been no ambulances or civil defence since yesterday and he can’t do anything about it. He’s trying to dig with his own bare hands,” she added. Israeli strikes also killed scores of people in areas such as Khan Younis, Bureij and Nuseirat. About 500 people have been injured by Israeli strikes over the past day. Reporting from Rafah in southern Gaza, Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum said the death toll in the Maghazi strike had risen to 106. In Christmas remarks on Monday, Pope Francis said children being killed in wars, including those in Gaza, are “little Jesuses of today” and Israel’s assault has reaped an “appalling harvest” of innocent civilians. More than 20,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed in relentless Israeli bombardment of Gaza since October 7. In the city of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, where the Bible says Jesus Christ was born, the normally jubilant Christmas celebrations have turned solemn, and Israeli forces have carried out raids. Adblock test (Why?)
Russia says it seizes Ukrainian town of Maryinka; Kyiv denies the claim
Putin hails Moscow’s biggest military success since the capture of Bakhmut in May. Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu says Russian troops have gained full control of the eastern Ukrainian town of Maryinka, registering their first major success since the capture of the strategic city of Bakhmut in May. Shoigu told President Vladimir Putin on Monday about the capture of what has now become a ghost town just southwest of the Russian-held regional capital of Donetsk during a video exchange shared by a Kremlin journalist. “I want to congratulate you. This is a success,” Putin is seen telling Shoigu in the video, saying it gives Russian troops “the opportunity to move into a wider operational area”. Piles of rubble and gutted apartment buildings could be seen in drone images shown on Russian television that were said to be of Maryinka, which was once home to 10,000 people. Putin had offered to award soldiers who had distinguished themselves in the battle for Maryinka, The Moscow Times reported. Ukraine denies claims The Ukrainian military denied Russia’s claims of Maryinka’s capture, which came at a difficult time for Kyiv. It has been struggling to make gains in recent months, and waning Western support, particularly critical US funding, threatens its fight against Russia. “It’s not correct to talk about seizing Maryinka,” Ukrainian military spokesperson Oleksandr Shtupun told Ukrainian national television. “Our forces are within the city,” he said. Russia’s last major success, the capture of Bakhmut, spurred Ukraine to launch a counteroffensive in June. But Kyiv’s forces have made little progress against what is now entrenched Russian resistance in the 22-month-old conflict. Russian troops have been intensifying ground and air attacks on the nearby town of Avdiivka since mid-October as they focus on expanding their slow-moving push through eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force on Monday reported that it had shot down two Russian fighter jets during the night along with two cruise missiles and 28 Shahed-type kamikaze drones. The report said the attacks were aimed at southern and central regions of Ukraine but that no casualties were immediately known. It said 31 drones were launched in all, but details of what the three that weren’t intercepted may have struck weren’t given. Adblock test (Why?)
What message do Palestinian Christians send by cancelling Christmas?
Celebrations are muted in the occupied territories as Israel’s war on Gaza rages. Usually bustling with visitors from around the world this time of year, Bethlehem is empty this Christmas. Festivities are muted in the occupied West Bank as Israel shows no sign of ending its onslaught in Gaza. Israeli bombs do not discriminate. Everything and everyone in the strip is a target: from hospitals to schools, mosques to churches. So what is the significance of cancelling this year’s festivities in Bethlehem? Presenter: Dareen Abughaida Guests: Riham Jafari – ActionAid’s communications and advocacy coordinator Frank Bosman – associate professor of cultural theology at the Tilburg School of Catholic Theology Sami El-Yousef – CEO of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem Adblock test (Why?)
Indian Navy confirms drone attack on merchant ship, deploys 3 warships in Arabian Sea
The Navy’s explosive ordnance disposal team carried out a detailed inspection of the Liberian-flagged vessel on its arrival at Mumbai harbour.
ICC slammed for blocking Australian cricketer’s show of support for Gaza
Khawaja’s attempt to have message of support and peace sign on his boots was blocked by cricket’s world governing body. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been slammed for showing a “lack of moral standing” after it refused to allow an Australian cricketer to show on-field support for Gaza where more than 20,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks. Australia’s Usman Khawaja had “Freedom is a human right” and “All lives are equal” written on his boots in the colours of the Palestinian flag in a training session ahead of the first match against Pakistan earlier this month. In an emotional post on X, Khawaja later said the ICC “told me I can’t wear my shoes on the field because they believe it’s a political statement under their guidelines”. He was also reprimanded by the ICC for sporting a black armband, which the batter said was for a personal bereavement. The ICC. May have moved to Dubai but its disgraceful sanctioning of Usman Khawaja for daring to proclaim “ all lives matter” smacks of the haughty out of touch 19 th century views of the Long Room at Lords. — Paul Bongiorno (@PaulBongiorno) December 22, 2023 His next attempt – printing a dove and an olive branch on his bat and shoes – was also blocked by the ICC with a spokesperson for cricket’s world governing body being quoted by ESPNCricinfo as saying that “personal messages of this nature are not allowed as per Clause F of the Clothing and Equipment Regulations”. “The ICC is supportive of players using their platforms outside of the playing arena to promote human rights, peace and equality and would encourage him to continue to use alternative platforms,” the ICC spokesperson added. Khawaja said the logo, a reference to Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, was approved by Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association. “I respect the ICC and the rules and regulations they have. I will be asking them and contesting they make it fair and equitable for everyone and they have consistency in how they officiate,” Khawaja said on Friday. “That consistency hasn’t been done yet. I was very open and honest with that. I’ll deal with that with the ICC.” Simply ridiculous.https://t.co/WcKeU2sBEJ The ICC has denied Usman Khawaja’s latest attempt to raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza by knocking back his application to display the image of a dove and an olive branch on his bat and shoes. — Sushant Singh (@SushantSin) December 24, 2023 In 2014, England all-rounder Moeen Ali was banned by the ICC from wearing wristbands featuring the slogans “Save Gaza” and “Free Palestine”. However, in 2019, Indian cricketers wore army camouflage-style caps in a match against Australia in solidarity with Indian paramilitary police killed in an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. The ICC also allowed players to “take the knee” before international matches in support of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 and 2021. Usman Khawaja charged by ICC for wearing a simple black armband in support of children in Gaza but the whole Indian team wearing army caps apparently had nothing to do with political/personal messages. ICC is the most spineless, coward, incompetent sports body in the world. pic.twitter.com/lwKU3kZOv1 — Hassan (@Gotoxytop2) December 21, 2023 “I have been following the Khawaja fiasco and I cannot say I’m surprised by the ICC’s stance,” said former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding. “If it had been most other organisations that showed some semblance of consistency with their attitude and behaviour on issues I could claim surprise, but not them. Once again, they show their hypocrisy and lack of moral standing as an organisation.” “The ICC regulations say re messaging ‘approval shall not be granted for messages which relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes’, so how were people allowed to take the knee for BLM and stumps were covered with LGBTQ colours?” Whether you support Usman Khawaja’s stance or not the inconsistencies of the ICC are hard to fathom Marnus Labuschagne has an eagle & bible verse on his bat WI’s Nicholas Pooran has a cross and the word ‘believe’ on his bat Seems a scatter gun approach re what’s allowed https://t.co/h0shoJ4yke — Glenn Mitchell (@MitchellGlenn) December 24, 2023 Australian captain Pat Cummins also backed Khawaja’s stance and show of support while questioning the ICC’s lack of clarity over rules that allow players to show support for such causes. “I think he’s standing up for what he believes and I think he’s doing it really respectfully. All lives are equal and I don’t think that’s very offensive, and I’d say the same about the dove,” said Cummins. Israel launched an all-out attack on Gaza after the October 7 attack by Hamas. In addition to the 20,000 people killed in the besieged enclave, more than 54,000 have been wounded and hundreds are still reported to be buried under the rubble. Adblock test (Why?)
Sri Lanka frees more than 1,000 prisoners in Christmas amnesty
President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s amnesty includes Sri Lankans jailed for not paying fines, official says. Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has granted an amnesty to more than 1,000 convicts and released them from jails across the country to mark Christmas, an official has said. Among the 1,004 freed on Monday were Sri Lankans jailed for not being able to pay outstanding fines, Prison Commissioner Gamini Dissanayake said. Sri Lanka is majority Buddhist, and a similar number of convicts were freed in May to mark the holiday of Vesak, which celebrates the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death. The latest pardon came after police arrested nearly 15,000 people during a weeklong military-backed anti-narcotics drive that was halted on the eve of Christmas. A police statement said 13,666 suspects were arrested while nearly 1,100 addicts were detained and sent for compulsory rehabilitation at a military-run facility. The island nation’s jails are chronically overcrowded. As of Friday, there were nearly 30,000 inmates in facilities designed to hold 11,000, according to official data. Adblock test (Why?)
Israel-Hamas war: List of key events, day 80
EXPLAINER A Christmas of bloodshed in Gaza amid raids in the occupied West Bank – here the are major updates. Here’s how things stand on Monday, December 25, 2023: Latest developments An air raid on central Gaza’s Maghazi refugee camp on Sunday killed at least 70 people, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Several homes in the area were also flattened. United States-led maritime coalition will help stabilise shipping in the Red Sea despite Houthi attacks, but Egypt will “lose 30 percent of its hard currency assets from Suez Canal transit fees as long as this is closed”, David Des Roches, from the National Defense University in Washington, DC, told Al Jazeera on Monday. Demonstrators in Rabat, Morocco, mobilised one of the largest pro-Palestine marches on Sunday, demanding an end to Morocco’s diplomatic ties with Israel, reported Reuters news agency. Human impact and fighting An Israeli military official told The Wall Street Journal on Sunday that the army’s battle to take control of Khan Younis could take months because of Hamas’s guerrilla tactics. United Nations special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, said on Sunday that “genocide is a process, not a single act”, which the world is allowing in Gaza. Overnight raids across the occupied West Bank continued, including in Bethlehem, Jenin and Nablus, according to Al Jazeera correspondent Hamdah Salhut. In Jenin, there were also heavy exchanges of fire between Israeli troops and Palestinian resistance fighters. In a statement released on Sunday, Abu Obeida, the spokesperson for Hamas’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, claimed it killed at least 48 Israeli soldiers over the last four days. Israel’s military claimed on Sunday that it recovered the bodies of five captives from an underground tunnel network in northern Gaza. Diplomacy Pope Francis decried the “futile logic of war” in a Christmas message posted to X on Sunday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed reports that the United States had convinced Israel not to expand its military activity during a weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, reported Reuters. Iran denied on Saturday US accusations that it was involved in planning attacks by Yemen’s Tehran-aligned Houthi movement on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, the semiofficial Mehr news agency reported. Adblock test (Why?)