/leftypol/ - Leftist Politically Incorrect

https://x.com/VocalPolitics1/status/2013254505832362311
US Attorney General Pam Bondi opened her address to the Israeli-American Council National Summit by recalling the May 2025 killing of two Israeli Embassy staffers outside Washington’s Capital Jewish Museum. She announced that federal prosecutors are pursuing capital punishment in the case.

■ “We are prosecuting the monster, and we will seek the death penalty,” Bondi said. “Sarah and Yaron were shot, murdered because they were Jewish,” Bondi said, referring to the killed staffers Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim. Lischinsky was a German-born Christian.

■ While the state is charging the suspect, Elias Rodríguez, with federal hate crimes in addition to murder, Rodríguez’s alleged communiqué made clear he targeted the staffers for their political beliefs and direct participation in Israel’s genocide of Gaza, not their religion.

Press Statement by Hamas:
——
"Palestinian prisoners in the fascist occupation’s prisons are facing inhumane conditions and systematic abuse and torture. The world must move immediately to support them and end their suffering.

What Hebrew media is broadcasting to the world of scenes showing brutal abuse of prisoners in the criminal Zionist enemy’s prisons represents one of the most horrific images of arrogance and a blatant, insolent challenge to all humanity and to international laws and conventions. Today, prisoners are not merely facing 'violations,' but a full-fledged crime against humanity being committed inside prisons.

We condemn the state of international silence regarding what our heroic prisoners are subjected to, including brutal practices and inhumane conditions, especially as occupation authorities, officials, and journalists openly boast about crimes that should shake the human conscience. The number of prisoners in occupation prisons exceeds 9,300, including thousands held under administrative detention without charge or trial, in flagrant violation of the most basic standards of justice.

Our prisoners are subjected to policies of physical and psychological repression, deliberate medical neglect, deprivation of visits, and measures of restriction and starvation, all of which threaten their lives and health and deepen their daily suffering.

We call on the international community, the United Nations and its institutions, and relevant international human rights and humanitarian organizations to leave the zone of silence regarding the prisoners’ issue and take action to stop these brutal crimes, hold the fascist occupation leaders accountable, compel the occupation to respect the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law, and enable international bodies to visit prisons and inspect prisoners’ conditions without restrictions.

We urge Arab, Islamic, and international organizations, institutions, and movements to organize broad solidarity campaigns for the prisoners in occupation prisons, exert pressure on all parties, demand their release and an end to their humanitarian suffering, and continually remind the world that our prisoners are not numbers, but human beings with rights, lives, and dignity."

Israel bulldozes UNRWA buildings in occupied East Jerusalem
The destruction comes as Israel clamps down on NGOs providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

Israel has begun bulldozing buildings inside the headquarters of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in occupied East Jerusalem, as the far-right government clamps down heavily on humanitarian groups that provide desperately needed aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

UNRWA said in a statement on Tuesday that Israeli forces had confiscated staff devices and forced them out of their headquarters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood.

“This is an unprecedented attack not only against UNRWA and its premises. It constitutes a serious violation of international law and the privileges and immunities of the United Nations,” it said.

Later on Tuesday, Israeli forces fired tear gas at a Palestinian trade school in a second targeting of a UN facility in occupied East Jerusalem.

Local sources reported earlier that an Israeli army group, accompanied by bulldozers, stormed the UNRWA’s compound after sealing off the surrounding streets and intensifying its military presence in the area, and proceeded to demolish structures inside the compound, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa.

Israeli lawmakers and member of the government were also present, according to UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini, who said the attack came “in the wake of other steps taken by Israeli authorities to erase the Palestine Refugee identity”.

He also warned that “what happens today to UNRWA will happen tomorrow to any other international organisation or diplomatic mission” anywhere in the world.

Israel has repeatedly attacked UNRWA for what it terms pro-Palestinian leanings and accused the body of ties to Hamas, without providing evidence, which the UN agency has vehemently denied.

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the demolition was following through on a new law that banned the organisation.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said in a statement that he had accompanied crews to the headquarters and called it a “historic day”.

Israel has faced global condemnation after a ban on dozens of international aid organisations working to provide life-saving assistance to Palestinians in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip came into effect weeks ago.

Israel has revoked the operating licences of 37 aid groups, including Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials MSF, and the Norwegian Refugee Council, for failing to comply with new government regulations.

The new rules require international NGOs working in Gaza and the occupied West Bank to provide detailed information on staff members, as well as their funding and operations.

Reporting from Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim said the escalation followed “months of Israeli forces cracking down on Palestinians in Gaza” and banning agencies “from offering help to Palestinians in need over there”.

She added that it comes as the one-year anniversary of a major Israeli assault on three Palestinian refugee camps approaches and after a “large-scale” operation in Hebron.

“Israeli forces have started demolishing homes and roads in what many have said is an attempt to change the symbolism of these camps and what they resemble and represent, which is the Palestinian identity and the Palestinian right to return to their homes that they were displaced from,” added Ibrahim.

Last week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he could take his country to the International Court of Justice if it does not repeal laws targeting UNRWA and return its seized assets and property.

In a January 8 letter to Netanyahu, Guterres said the UN cannot remain indifferent to “actions taken by Israel, which are in direct contravention of the obligations of Israel under international law. They must be reversed without delay.”

Israel’s parliament passed a law in October 2024 banning UNRWA from operating in Israel and prohibiting Israeli officials from having contact with the agency. It amended the law last month to ban electricity or water supply to UNRWA facilities.

Israeli authorities also seized UNRWA’s occupied East Jerusalem offices last month. The UN considers East Jerusalem occupied by Israel, while Israel considers all of Jerusalem part of the country.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/20/israel-bulldozes-unrwa-buildings-in-occupied-east-jerusalem

Israeli comedian detained at Toronto airport following complaint by Hind Rajab Foundation
——
Israeli comedian Guy Hochman was questioned for around six hours on Monday after arriving in Canada, following a complaint lodged by the Hind Rajab Foundation. Sources close to Hochman told Israel's Channel 12 that he was detained upon landing at Toronto airport and released only after intervention by the Israeli consulate.

The Hind Rajab Foundation said last week it had submitted a criminal complaint alleging “military propaganda and incitement linked to Israel’s war on Gaza,” referring to videos Hochman filmed with Israeli soldiers during Israel's war on Gaza.

The group says that “these activities led to his recruitment into a role linked to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, an unusual position for a civilian entertainer. In this role, Hochman appeared in military uniform and disseminated messaging that glorified destruction in Gaza, promoted revenge narratives, and contributed to the normalization of war crimes.”

…

The Hind Rajab Foundation has intensified its legal action against Israeli comedian Guy Hochman by filing an urgent request for prosecution in the US. The filing is supported by an extensive evidentiary dossier alleging war crimes and direct incitement to genocide linked to Israel’s actions in Gaza.

The move follows Hochman’s detention and prolonged interrogation in Canada at Toronto Pearson International Airport after authorities received the complaint and investigative materials. He was reportedly released only after intervention by the Israeli embassy.

The request was submitted to the US Department of Justice ahead of Hochman’s planned appearance in New York City later today. The dossier details alleged violations of international humanitarian law and US federal statutes, including the War Crimes Act and the Genocide Statute, and includes evidence such as footage showing Hochman planting explosives at a mosque in Gaza.

-
The Cradle

Hind Rajab Foundation press release:
https://www.hindrajabfoundation.org/posts/after-canada-detention-hrf-files-complaint-against-guy-hochman-in-the-united-states

Breaking Points | Local Cops HARASS Woman Who Criticized Israel
Among the topics discussed:
* ADL's Jonathan Greenblatt says AI will now write your frivolous "antisemitism" complaints and get people you don't like fired for you.
* The same Miami Beach mayor who tried to shut down a theater for showing No Other Land is now sending the cops to go harass people over posts criticizing his stances and rabid zionism.
* Miriam Adelson "would prefer not to answer" a question about her political donations.

>>493852
https://x.com/SuppressedNws1/status/2013560239900029344
Israeli Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem:

"With God's help, we will overthrow, destroy, kill, and eliminate all UNRWA personnel."

Israel’s wanted war criminal Netanyahu joins Gaza ‘board of peace’
Netanyahu’s participation, despite an ICC warrant seeking his arrest for war crimes in Gaza, will add to concerns over the objectivity of the board.

Israeli ‍Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ⁠has accepted an invitation from United States ​President Donald ‍Trump to join the “board of ⁠peace“.

The Israeli leader’s office announced on social media on Wednesday that Netanyahu is to join the initiative, despite the International Criminal Court (ICC) having issued a warrant for his arrest for war crimes in Gaza.

The so-called board of peace was unveiled as part of phase two of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas to end Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.

Numerous world leaders have been invited to join the body, which Trump envisages would oversee “governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, large-scale funding, and capital mobilisation” in the enclave.

Netanyahu’s acceptance of a place on the board comes despite his office having earlier criticised the makeup of the executive committee, which includes Israel’s regional rival, Turkiye.

Meanwhile, the Israeli leader’s participation – despite the ICC warrant issued in 2023 that accuses him of overseeing crimes against humanity in Gaza – will add to concerns over the objectivity of the board, which Trump will lead while maintaining control of its lineup.

read more:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/21/israels-netanyahu-to-join-board-of

New Double Down News piece goes over a small fraction of the legal evidence.

https://x.com/AbubakerAbedW/status/2013956073149833428
Abubaker Abed - Israel has assassinated three journalists in a strike in Gaza just moments ago.

Also, the killing is intensifying as several civilians have been killed in tank shelling. Strikes continue unabated across the territory.

Bid for UK sanctions against Benjamin Netanyahu in 'UK first'

LEGAL documents have been filed with the UK Government calling for sanctions against Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Israeli prime minister, the subject of an international arrest warrant for war crimes , was responsible for comments which “amounted to incitement to commit genocide” in Gaza, according to the filing by the Arab Organisation for Human Rights UK (AOHR UK).

The request, lodged by lawyers from Deighton Pierce Glynn with the Foreign Office on Tuesday, said that Netanyahu should face financial sanctions and a travel ban.

It is thought to be the first request of its kind filled against the sitting Israeli premier.

Netanyahu would be arrested if he were to step foot on UK soil, the UK Government has previously indicated.

Britain has already imposed sanctions against finance minister Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Israeli security minister.

The request focuses on Netanyahu’s personal responsibility as head of the Israeli government and ultimate decision-maker, citing command responsibility, incitement to violence and genocide against Palestinians, and involvement in serious violations of international law.

It relies on findings and determinations of the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice and United Nations bodies and looks at Israeli’s actions in Gaza as the consequence of high-level political authorisation, rather than the result of decisions by subordinate officials.

Mohammed Jamil, chair of the AOHR UK, said: “The UK has already acknowledged that senior Israeli officials have promoted serious abuses of Palestinian rights.

“It is no longer credible to sanction ministers while exempting the Prime Minister who authorises, endorses, and directs the policies in question. Accountability cannot stop short of the highest office.”

The submission said that there were “reasonable grounds to suspect that Mr Netanyahu’s statements amounted to incitement to commit Genocide, i.e. incitement to commit prohibited acts with specific intent to destroy, in whole or in part, the Palestinian people in Gaza”.

It also said that Netanyahu “has taken no steps to restrain military operations preventing the targeting of civilians and protected objects in Gaza”, adding: “Further, there have been no disciplinary proceedings initiated against military personnel for serious violations of the rights of Palestinians in the conduct of the war.”

The Foreign Office was approached for comment.

https://www.thenational.scot/news/25780757.bid-uk-sanctions-benjamin-netanyahu-uk-first/
https://archive.is/xXx7I

>>493873
Netanyahu to Skip Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ Signing in Davos Fearing ICC Arrest Warrant

Davos (QNN)- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not attend the inauguration ceremony of Trump's "Board of Peace" on Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos. His absence follows Switzerland’s announcement that it is legally obliged to cooperate with the International Criminal Court over an arrest warrant issued against him for war crimes he committed in Gaza, reported Haaretz.

Switzerland’s Federal Office of Justice told the Israeli newspaper that, as a party to the Rome Statute, it must cooperate with the ICC. The office said Swiss authorities would be required to arrest any person subject to an ICC warrant if they entered the country and to begin surrender procedures to the court.

The ICC arrest warrant states that Netanyahu is responsibile for war crimes and crimes against humanity against Palestinians in Gaza. These include starvation as a method of warfare, deliberate attacks on civilians, murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. The crimes cover the period from at least October 8, 2023, to at least May 20, 2024.

Despite Netanyahu’s absence, his office confirmed that Israel will join US President Donald Trump’s so-called "Board of Peace". The White House announced the initiative last week, with its official launch set to take place during the World Economic Forum, where member states are expected to sign the board’s charter.

The charter suggests Trump is positioning the "Board of Peace" as a rival to the United Nations. While it was initially presented as a framework for managing Gaza’s reconstruction, the document does not mention Gaza by name. Instead, it says the board aims to restore “lawful governance” and ensure “enduring peace” in conflict zones, while implicitly criticizing existing international bodies.

So far, around sixty countries have received invitations to join the Board of Peace. In the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Morocco, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey have confirmed their participation.

Azerbaijan announced its decision to join on Wednesday, while Armenia’s prime minister confirmed participation earlier this week. Several countries in Europe have not given a clear response. France and Britain have signaled they will not join under the current conditions.

French President Emmanuel Macron warned in a Davos speech that the world is drifting away from rules and international law. He said international law is being trampled and replaced by the rule of force, adding that what he described as “imperial ambitions” are resurfacing.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has responded positively to the idea of joining, though no final decision has been made. Germany said it wants to engage in Gaza’s future within the framework of international law, raising doubts about Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s participation. Brazil, a leading Global South power, is also not expected to join.

Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Argentina, Paraguay, Belarus, Hungary, and Vietnam have accepted the invitation. Analysts say continued hesitation from Europe and Western states could turn the Board of Peace into a largely regional bloc centered on the Middle East and the Caucasus.

Haaretz cited a sources who stated that the board’s structure of the board had been coordinated with Netanyahu and that his objections were largely for domestic audiences.

On Saturday, Netanyahu’s office criticized the White House, claiming Israel had not been consulted on officials overseeing Gaza’s reconstruction. A source later said Netanyahu had been informed in advance and that the public rebuke was made for appearances only.

https://qudsnen.co/post?id=67110&slug=netanyahu-to-skip-trumps-board-of-peace-signing-in-davos-fearing-icc-arrest-warrant

Breaking news and analysis on day 839 of the Gaza genocide | The Electronic Intifada
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HRF Files Urgent Request for Prosecution in Greece Against Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz

The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has filed a report with the Prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Greece concerning the visit of Israel Katz to Greece for official meetings with Greek political and defense authorities.

The report was filed today jointly with Greek lawyers, members of Athens Lawyers’ Alternative Intervention and members of the Board of Directors of the Athens Bar Association: Athanasios Kampagiannis, Konstantinos Papadakis, and Dimitrios Sarafianos.

Presence in Greece and Urgency of the Filing

The report informs Greek authorities that Israel Katz is present in Greece until 22 January 2026 for official meetings related to regional security coordination and military relations between Greece and Israel.

Given the limited duration of the visit, the report explicitly requests urgent examination and immediate legal action, stressing that Greece’s jurisdiction and legal obligations are directly triggered by Katz’s physical presence on Greek territory.

Information on the Suspect

According to the report, Israel Katz is a senior member of the Likud Party and has held multiple senior executive positions within the Israeli government.

Since October 2023, Katz has exercised authority across several key portfolios during the Gaza war:

Minister of Energy and Infrastructure (October 2023- January 2024)

Minister of Foreign Affairs (January 2024-November 2024)

Minister of Defence (November 2024-present), following the removal of Yoav Gallant

As Minister of Defence, Katz exercises civilian authority over the Israeli armed forces, including approval, direction, and oversight of military operations.

Background and Factual Allegations

The report outlines Katz’s role in shaping and implementing Israeli policy during the 2023–2026 Gaza war, a period marked by:

widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure,
severe humanitarian deprivation,
mass displacement,
and repeated findings by United Nations bodies documenting serious violations of international humanitarian law.

The report links Katz’s public statements, policy decisions, and executive authority to the following categories of conduct that may amount to acts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity:

Starvation and Deprivation of Essential Needs: Katz publicly endorsed and enforced policies restricting electricity, water, fuel, food, medical supplies, and humanitarian assistance to Gaza’s civilian population, including statements confirming that humanitarian aid would not be permitted to enter. Particular emphasis is placed on Katz’s responsibility for the interception of humanitarian aid, including the Global Sumud Flotilla, which involved vessels carrying Greek citizens. The report details allegations of seizure, unlawful arrest, violence, and inhuman or degrading treatment, linking these acts directly to Katz’s authority as Minister of Defense.
Forcible Transfer of Civilians: The report references Katz’s public calls for the mass evacuation of Gaza’s civilian population and warnings of “complete destruction and devastation,” in the context of large-scale displacement documented by international organizations.
Attacks Affecting Civilian Objects and Protected Sites: The report documents the extensive destruction of civilian objects, including homes, schools, hospitals, roads, and other infrastructure, and Katz’s role in authorizing, endorsing, or overseeing military operations affecting such objects.
The report concludes that, taken together, Katz’s statements, policies, and conduct demonstrate genocidal intent under Article II of the Genocide Convention and Article 6 of the Rome Statute.

Jurisdiction Under Greek and International Law

The report sets out Greece’s jurisdiction according to:

Article 28 of the Greek Constitution, which incorporates ratified international treaties and customary international law into Greek domestic law with primacy over conflicting legislation;

Article 8 of the Greek Penal Code, which allows for the prosecution of crimes committed abroad where international conventions ratified by Greece so require;

Law 3481/1955, ratifying the Geneva Conventions, including the obligation under Article 146 of the Fourth Geneva Convention to “search for and prosecute” persons suspected of grave breaches who enter Greek territory;

Law 3948/2011, incorporating the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court into Greek law, providing jurisdiction over war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide committed abroad when the suspect is present in Greece.

The report emphasizes that these obligations are mandatory, not discretionary, and arise immediately upon the suspect’s presence in Greece.

Requests to the Greek Authorities

The report formally requests that Greek authorities:

open a criminal investigation into Israel Katz’s conduct;
take all necessary legal steps under Greek law to ensure accountability;
and fulfil Greece’s international obligation to prevent impunity for grave breaches of international humanitarian law.

HRF’s Position

This filing forms part of HRF’s broader mandate to ensure that international crimes are investigated wherever jurisdiction exists, and that no European state becomes a safe haven for impunity.

“Greek authorities must ensure that suspected war criminals are investigated and prosecuted the moment they set foot on the territory of a country where the rule of law is respected. This principle applies everywhere—and it applies in Greece as well,”
said Dyab Abou Jahjah, General Director of the Hind Rajab Foundation.

The report concludes by stressing that Greece’s obligations arise not from political discretion, but from binding domestic and international law triggered by presence.

International law requires action. Presence activates responsibility.

www.hindrajabfoundation.org/posts/hrf-files-urgent-request-for-prosecution-in-greece-against-israeli-defence-minister-israel-katz

Lebanese journalist Hassan Illaik summoned to court for criticizing Lebanon's President, Joseph Aoun
——
Lebanon's Prosecutor of the Court of Cassation has summoned journalist Hassan Illaik to appear before the Criminal Investigation Department following a video in which he criticized the President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun.

In the video, journalist Illaik criticized Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, saying that in a functioning state he would be under investigation and would not have been elected. Illaik specifically condemned Aoun for ordering the Lebanese army to deploy in south Lebanon on the day of a ceasefire, arguing that the deployment did not prevent Israeli forces from advancing in areas they could not take during the war.

Illaik accuses the prosecutor, Judge Jamal Hajjar, of acting under political pressure and claims the move is an attempt to curry favor with the presidency. He rejects the summons as intimidation, says he is not afraid of arrest or imprisonment, and vows to continue speaking out.

"I am ready to die defending my people and my cause. Do you really think you will frighten me by threatening detention? I welcome prison. I promise you that I will not be silent—neither about others, nor about you," he wrote on X.

-
The Cradle

>>493898
Wannsee Conference / Board of Peace

New Press Statement - Hamas:
—
The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) affirms its commitment to and adherence to the ceasefire agreement, at a time when the occupation continues to violate its terms around the clock, in an attempt to undermine it and obstruct the work of the National Committee—contrary to the announced arrangements and U.S. guarantees.

As we enter the fifth month since the ceasefire began, nearly 484 Palestinians have been killed by occupation fire and 1,297 others wounded, amid the absence of any real pressure to halt these ongoing crimes.

Some participants at the Davos Forum would have been better served focusing on the occupation’s continued crimes in the Gaza Strip and how they undermine international efforts to cement the ceasefire, open the crossings, withdraw occupation forces, and launch reconstruction—rather than directing threats at the Palestinian side that is abiding by what was agreed.

We call on the Board of Peace to assume its responsibility to stop the occupation’s violations and compel it to meet its obligations under the agreement—foremost allowing the entry of aid and shelter supplies and initiating relief and reconstruction—to protect our people from the consequences of the humanitarian catastrophe created by the occupation, especially as Gaza faces waves of rain and severe cold.

Islamic Resistance Movement – Hamas

Thursday, 03 Sha‘ban 1447 AH
Corresponding to: 22 January 2026

Report uncovers Jordanian authorities using Israeli software to monitor civil society activists
——
Jordanian authorities have used Israeli-made digital forensics software to track and extract data from the phones of civil society activists, according to a new report by cybersecurity researchers at Citizen Lab. The report says tools produced by Tel Aviv-based company Cellebrite were used to access data on seized phones without consent.

Citizen Lab said forensic analysis of three iPhones and one Android device belonging to detained or interrogated activists uncovered indicators of compromise linked with high confidence to Cellebrite products. Court records reviewed by the researchers also indicate the software was used in criminal cases against activists in ways that may violate international human rights treaties ratified by Jordan. Many of those detained were questioned over expressions of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

The report adds to growing scrutiny of Jordan’s General Intelligence Department amid rising detentions and public criticism following a death in custody last year.

-
The Cradle
https://x.com/TheCradleMedia/status/2014352011475484929

https://x.com/SuppressedNws1/status/2014900873332195390
Spain’s court probe into the hacking of the prime minister’s phone with Pegasus spyware has collapsed after Government of Israel refused to cooperate.

By blocking judicial assistance, Israel effectively shielded NSO Group, whose Pegasus spyware has been used to target politicians, journalists, and activists worldwide

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/23/spanish-court-drops-pegasus-spyware-case-again-israel-spain-nso
https://archive.is/1TB7G
Spain’s highest criminal court has again shelved its investigation into the use of Israeli-made Pegasus software to target the mobile phones of senior Spanish ministers, including the prime minister, citing a chronic lack of cooperation from the Israeli authorities that has violated “the principle of good faith” between countries.

The investigation began in May 2022 after the Spanish government revealed that the phones of the prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, and the defence minister, Margarita Robles, had been infected the previous year with the spyware, which, according to its manufacturers, NSO Group, is available only to state agencies. It was later established that the phones of the interior minister and the agriculture minister had also been targeted.

The revelations led to the dismissal of Spain’s spy chief, Paz Esteban, and the admission that there had been “shortcomings” within the country’s national intelligence centre (CNI).
In a decision announced on Thursday, Judge José Luis Calama at the Audiencia Nacional in Madrid said the investigation into the use of Pegasus was being dropped for the second time because of a continuing lack of cooperation from Israel.

He said the court had been obliged to shelve the case because the Israeli authorities’ failure to respond to requests for information – in the form of letters rogatory – had impeded “the investigation into the attribution of the authorship of the investigated facts to any specific person”.

https://x.com/MustafaBarghou1/status/2015125515082805473
Today an Israeli drone bombarded and killed two Palestinian children in Gaza. The Israeli artillery bombardment injured tens of civilian Palestinians.
In addition, a total of 10 Palestinian children died of cold weather and lack of heating.

https://x.com/Megatron_ron/status/2015559183433679231
Egyptian soldiers at the command center in Tel Aviv

The US military posted photos from inside Kiryat Gat Command Center, south of Tel Aviv, showing Egyptian soldiers also in attendance.

The US military has then deleted photos and videos of Egyptian troops it initially published.

The media was taken down at the request of the Egyptian side, as it provided evidence for the presence of the Egyptian military on Israeli soil, Israeli Channel 11 reports.

Despite the surface-level political tensions between Cairo and Tel Aviv, the two continue to cooperate closely militarily.

Kiryat Gat Command Center currently oversees the Hamas-Israel ceasefire.

>>494018
Sad state.

Here’s what happened today (AJ Summary)
Here is a recap of today’s main events:

The Israeli military recovered the remains of Ran Gvili, the last Israeli captive in the Gaza Strip, clearing the way for the next phase of a ceasefire deal agreed in October.
The US president has confirmed the participation of Hamas in the recovery of the remains in comments to the news outlet Axios.
Hamas said the recovery of the remains underscored its commitment to the ceasefire and called on mediators to pressure Israel into holding up its commitments to the process.
A source in Gaza’s emergency services told Al Jazeera that Israeli forces killed a Palestinian in Jabalia, in northern Gaza.
Schools in the town of Kafr Aqab in the occupied West Bank were evacuated as Israeli forces raided the area and deployed snipers on rooftops.
More than 37,000 Palestinians were displaced in the occupied West Bank in 2025, a record high, amid unprecedented levels of Israeli settler violence, the United Nations warned, citing new figures from its humanitarian office.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported that one person was killed and two were wounded in an Israeli bombing of a car on the outskirts of the city of Tyre.
The ministry also said that two people were killed in a strike on the town of Kfar Rumman, in the Nabatieh governorate.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2026/1/26/israels-war-on-gaza-live-pressure-mounts-on-netanyahu-to-open-rafah

https://x.com/MintPressNews/status/2015820859936485844
TikTok is undergoing a major transition after finalizing a deal on January 23, 2026, to create a new "majority American-owned" entity, effectively avoiding a complete federal ban in the United States.

However, the platform is facing a "dual crisis" regarding its new ownership and a controversial content moderation policy regarding the term "Zionist".

Under its new CEO, Adam Presser, TikTok has implemented a strict hate speech policy regarding the term "Zionist":

The platform now designates the use of "Zionist" as hate speech when it is used as a "proxy for a protected attribute" (such as Jewish or Israeli identity) in a degrading or dehumanizing context.

Users are still permitted to use the term in a political sense or to identify themselves as a "proud Zionist".

Using the term as a "dirty name" or in a "degrading" manner is now moderated, and accounts found in violation are being banned. Presser noted that in late 2025, the platform tripled the number of accounts banned for hateful activity.

KernowDamo video on Belgium reportedly closing its airspace to Israeli-bound weapons.

MintPress News:
On January 23, 2026, a criminal court in Nice, France, sentenced pro-Palestine activist Amira Zaiter to 15 months in prison for social media posts criticizing Israeli military actions in Gaza.

Zaiter, a co-founder of the organization "From Nice to Gaza" (De Nice à Gaza), was charged with 13 offenses related to posts made on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram between June and October 2025. The specific charges included:

• Apology of terrorism and crimes against humanity.

• Incitement to hatred or violence based on origin or religion.

• Public insults and republication of content deemed antisemitic.

The prosecution highlighted a specific post where she described a French reservist serving in the Israeli army as "genocidal". Zaiter maintained that her speech was political and denounced what she described as a "genocidal war," while human rights advocates have criticized the ruling as an attempt to criminalize dissent.

https://x.com/MintPressNews/status/2015885336417874171

https://x.com/Partisan_12/status/2016127137200406701
German police officer to a protester: “Please don’t say it. If you say ‘From the river to the sea,’ we have to arrest you again. The phrase is forbidden in Germany.” [video]

>>494074
Is it time for the Sixth Republic yet? Or maybe they could actually try Democracy this time.

>>494075
Macron has one of the most guillotinable necks in history.

MintPress News:
On Monday, January 26, 2026, Lebanese journalist and TV presenter Ali Noureddine (also referred to as Sheikh Ali Noureddine) was killed by an Israeli drone strike that targeted his vehicle in the southern city of Tyre.

The drone strike hit Noureddine's car on Tyre’s main road in a crowded area near a commercial center on Monday afternoon.

Noureddine was a well-known presenter for Al-Manar TV, where he hosted a religious program.

Noureddine was the sole occupant of the vehicle mentioned in initial reports; he was critically injured and later succumbed to his wounds near the Hosh mosque.

With the death of Ali Noureddine, Lebanese media sources report that a total of 20 media professionals have been killed by Israeli forces in Lebanon since the current conflict began. This strike occurred amidst a surge of reported ceasefire breaches, with two other civilians killed in separate vehicle-targeted attacks in southern Lebanon on the same day.

https://x.com/MintPressNews/status/2016243290308276285

Hamas disarmament ‘to be solved by Israeli troops the hard way’: Israel
After receiving all of its captives taken to Gaza, Israel now says the ceasefire terms won’t move forward unless Hamas fully disarms.

Hamas has publicly refused to lay down its weapons. Two Hamas officials told Reuters news agency this ‌week that neither the United States nor the mediators presented the Palestinian group with any detailed or concrete disarmament proposal.

Avi Dichter, a minister in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet and former head of Israel’s domestic intelligence service, said disputes over disarmament could lead Israel back into war in Gaza.

“We have to get prepared for the war in Gaza,” Dichter told Reuters, adding that the disarmament issue “will have to be solved by Israeli troops, the hard way”.

According to a document shared by the White House last week, the Trump administration wants to see heavy weapons decommissioned immediately, with “personal arms registered and decommissioned by sector” as the police under an interim technocratic administration in Gaza “become capable of guaranteeing personal security”.

https://aje.news/0ptcar?update=4270835

https://x.com/QudsNen/status/2016639727416557880
Quds News Network via Twitter: Palestinian Journalist Bisan Owda Loses TikTok Account Amid Platform Censorship

Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda revealed that her TikTok account, which had 1.4 million followers built over four years, was permanently deleted. She expressed frustration, saying she expected a temporary restriction but not a full ban, especially following recent interviews of Netanyahu talking about the platform.

The company’s new policy reportedly classifies the term “Zionist” as a protected attribute when used in a derogatory context, with violations treated as hate speech.

Despite the ban, Owda stressed that her work will continue, sharing her message through alternative platforms and tools to reach diverse audiences. She stated that truth cannot be hidden by such measures, and vowed to rebuild her presence elsewhere.

https://x.com/QudsNen/status/2016624415363027054
Israeli settler militias set fire to Palestinian homes in the Khallet al-Sadra Bedouin community northeast of occupied Jerusalem.

https://x.com/QudsNen/status/2016619048335704212
Watch | Ali Al-Ziyadneh, a Palestinian citizen in occupied Naqab (Negev), who previously appeared at the UN Security Council to promote Israel’s narrative of victimhood, had his home demolished by the Israeli occupation army yesterday.

https://x.com/QudsNen/status/2016623107625160862
Israel’s Supreme Court has issued an eviction order forcing several Palestinian families from their homes in the Batn Al-Hawa neighborhood of Silwan in occupied East Jerusalem, paving the way for the properties to be handed over to a settler organization.

The ruling comes amid a surge in similar decisions, leaving residents under constant threat of displacement as Israel accelerates home demolitions and evictions across Silwan, including nearby Al-Bustan, where dozens of homes have already been destroyed to make way for settlement-linked projects.

https://x.com/QudsNen/status/2016590935870546392
Peace activists shut down the arms lobby group ADS’s annual dinner in London, where arms dealers were celebrating profits from the Israeli genocidal war on the Palestinians.

https://x.com/QudsNen/status/2016581935137468590
“People Against Genocide” target HSBC in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, part of repeated actions across Britain demanding the bank stop funding Israeli weapons company Elbit Systems.

https://x.com/QudsNen/status/2016583410240659663
Israeli occupation forces storm Al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron, in the occupied West Bank.

https://x.com/QudsNen/status/2016066620486029823
Itai Levy, CEO and co-founder of the Israeli cybersecurity firm Kernelios, has been convicted of multiple child sexual crimes.

Prosecutors say Levy, a resident of the colonial settlement of Modi'in, pleaded guilty to statutory rape, indecent acts against minors, and invasion of privacy after secretly photographing and abusing nine children aged 4 to 12 over an 18‑month period.

I want you to all witness something specific this moment in America.

As armed US forces carry out state-sponsored violence, the people are not accepting it. They are calling to fight back, recognizing very well that fighting back comes with risk- as high as being killed. Still, they are calling for confrontation.

I say this to remind everyone that when abuse and violence is enacted on us- Palestinians- systemically, consistently, and relentlessly by Israel with US weapons, the world orders us to endure it, and to “co-exist” with this violence, and went as far to suggest that we should negotiate with Israeli serial killers– who proudly flaunted their mass slaughter to the world as a show of force.

Do you perhaps understand a little more how absurd these demands were? To ask a people to accept and negotiate with brute violence which is willing to detain children, and either murder or torture people.

Do you perhaps understand a little more how abusive of a demand you pushed on us?

Now that there is a point of reference closer to home, can you for a moment, just a moment, recognize what you were ordering us to do?

- Mariam Barghouti
https://x.com/MariamBarghouti/status/2016529044825665643

>>494112
Another one!
Zionist former UK Labour MP Conor McGinn charged with sexual offence
https://www.thecanary.co/skwawkbox/2026/01/28/conor-mcginn/

Justice for Hind Rajab: On the Second Anniversary of Her Killing, The Fight Is Real. The Cases Are Active
On the second anniversary of the killing of five-year-old Hind Rajab, we mark not only a moment of remembrance, but a moment of accountability. We know who killed her. Their names, ranks, units, and chains of command have been identified, and their anonymity has been stripped away. The Hind Rajab Foundation is actively moving on these perpetrators through concrete legal cases in real jurisdictions.

January 29 marks the second anniversary of the killing of five-year-old Hind Rajab— the child whose name drives our mission, and whose life remains the moral center and guiding light of The Hind Rajab Foundation.

…

We know their names, ranks, units, and locations, including the heads of the snake:

Beni Aharon: Sr. Commanding Officer of the 401st Armored Brigade operating in Gaza City during the attack.
Daniel Ella: Lt. Colonel and battalion-level commander of the 52nd Battalion, directly under the 401st Brigade at the time of the murders.
Sean Glass: Commander of the “Vampire Empire” Company, 52nd Battalion, 401st Armored Brigade, responsible for the unit that committed the murders.

We have identified 21 additional IDF soldiers and tank crew members from the same unit and we are filing cases against every single one of them.

All these cases are currently active. Accountability is not optional.

We are closing in on each of them. Case by case.

https://www.hindrajabfoundation.org/posts/justice-for-hind-rajab-on-the-second-anniversary-of-her-killing-the-fight-is-real-the-cases-are-active

https://x.com/unusual_whales/status/2016932788189237354
Apple, $AAPL, has just made one of its largest acquisitions ever, close to $2 billion for an Israeli stealth startup called qAI

Gaza-based journalist Bisan Owda regains TikTok account after outcry
Award-winning Palestinian journalist regains account with 1.4 million followers after surprise removal from video-sharing platform.

Award-winning Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda says she has regained access to her TikTok account, one day after saying she was banned from the video-sharing platform.

Owda told Al Jazeera on Thursday that she thought that international media attention and pressure from nongovernmental organisations had helped get back her TikTok account, although now visitors and followers must type her full username to find her popular account on the site.

Owda also said that she had received a message from TikTok that many of her video posts are now “ineligible for recommendation”.

Al Jazeera was able to see Owda’s TikTok account on Friday, which has 1.4 million followers, although no new posts are visible from the Gaza-based journalist since September 2025.

Owda gained recognition internationally for posting daily videos from the war-torn Palestinian territory, where she greeted her audience in regular video diaries, saying, “It’s Bisan from Gaza – and I’m still alive” during Israel’s genocidal war on the enclave.

A contributor to Al Jazeera’s AJ+, Owda’s reporting earned her top journalism accolades, including Emmy, Peabody and Edward R Murrow awards.

Alerting followers to the removal of her account on Wednesday, Owda noted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is suspected of war crimes in Gaza, had said that he hoped the purchase of TikTok “goes through, because it can be consequential”.

Despite a ceasefire in Gaza, Israeli attacks continue on the enclave, and last week, Israel’s ongoing strikes killed three Palestinian journalists in the territory.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 207 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, with the “vast majority” killed by Israeli forces.

The removal of Owda’s account also came as Israel’s top court again postponed making a decision on whether foreign journalists should be allowed to enter and report on Gaza independently of the Israeli military.

Al Jazeera contacted TikTok for comment, but a spokesperson said the company did not comment on specific accounts.

A spokesperson from TikTok told The New Arab media outlet that Owda’s account had been “temporarily restricted” in September following concerns of a potential impersonation risk.

The spokesperson said that following further review, the journalist’s account was reinstated and is now operating normally, according to The New Arab.

TikTok announced last week that a deal to establish a separate version of the platform in the United States had been completed, with the new entity controlled by investment firms, many of which are US companies, including several linked to President Donald Trump.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/30/gaza-based-journalist-bisan-owda-regains-tiktok-account-after-outcry

Huckabee Honors Jabotinsky as Zionist Symbol at Jerusalem Memorial

Amb. Mike Huckabee pays tribute to the late Ze'ev Jabotinsky, founder of the Irgun terrorist group (who bombed the King David Hotel).

Huckabee says Israel was formed "3,800 years ago" and he supports Israel because the Bible supposedly says, "Those who bless Israel will be blessed, and those who curse Israel will be cursed"—and he doesn't want to be cursed.

"It does not in any way shame me, or cause me to be reticent, to say I'm a Zionist," he declares.

https://x.com/infolibnews/status/2017046433610817677

General Yahya Saree -
"The Islamic Republic of Iran is considered the greatest obstacle (of the Zionist entity) in the path of accomplishing its plan.

Therefore, any American attack and aggression in support of the Israeli enemy against Iran falls within the same objective aimed at enabling the Israeli enemy to control the entire region.

This is something that cannot be tolerated, because it means the confiscation of the freedom, independence, and dignity of our nation, its enslavement and humiliation, the distortion of its identity, the occupation of its homelands, the plundering of its wealth, and the establishment of an equation that permits the violation of blood, honor, land, and sanctities.

Therefore, this battle is the battle of the entire nation, and the salvation, dignity, and victory of the nation lie in taking action and waging jihad in the way of Allah Almighty, as He, the Exalted, said: “And fight in the way of Allah and know that Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing” [Quran 2:244], and He, the Exalted, said: “O you who have believed, if you support Allah, He will support you and plant firmly your feet” [Quran 47:7]. Allah the Almighty has spoken the truth.

Accordingly, in the event that the Americans become involved in an attack and aggression against Iran alongside the Israeli enemy, the Yemeni Armed Forces will target their ships and warships in the Red Sea.

The Armed Forces are closely monitoring and tracking all movements in the region, including hostile movements against our country, and by the grace of Allah, they will take all necessary legitimate measures to defend our dear country and its proud people.

The dear Yemen, with its great people, its faithful leadership, and its mujahideen army, will stand alongside any Arab or Islamic country that is subjected to Zionist aggression or decides to confront this aggression in self-defense, or in support and backing of the mujahideen in the Palestinian resistance.

We will not abandon our brothers in the Gaza Strip."

https://x.com/ME_Observer_/status/2017114291048976719
Explosion at a refinery in Turkey
🔹 The cause of the incident has not been determined yet.

https://x.com/WarMonitors/status/2017193438106517916
South Africa declares Israeli consul persona non grata

>>494164
South Africa orders expulsion of Israeli envoy, declared persona non grata
South Africa accuses Israeli representative of ‘gross abuse of diplomatic privilege’ as Israel orders reciprocal move.

South Africa is expelling Israel’s envoy to the country, the foreign affairs ministry announced, accusing the Israeli official of engaging in “unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms” that challenge South African sovereignty.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation said on Friday that it was giving Ariel Seidman, the charge d’affaires at the Israeli embassy, 72 hours to leave South Africa after declaring him persona non grata.

It accused Seidman of launching “insulting attacks” against South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on social media as well as “a deliberate failure” to inform the ministry “of purported visits by senior Israeli officials”.

“Such actions represent a gross abuse of diplomatic privilege and a fundamental breach of the Vienna Convention. They have systematically undermined the trust and protocols essential for bilateral relations,” the department said in a statement.

“We urge the Israeli Government to ensure its future diplomatic conduct demonstrates respect for the Republic and the established principles of international engagement.”

The announcement drew a rapid response from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which said it had declared senior South African diplomat, Shaun Edward Byneveldt, persona non grata and was giving him 72 hours to leave the country.

“Additional steps will be considered in due course,” the Israeli ministry said in a statement shared on social media.

Byneveldt is South Africa’s ambassador to the State of Palestine, working out of an office in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, according to a South African government website.

Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for South Africa’s foreign affairs ministry, said “Israel’s obstructionism forces a farcical arrangement where [Byneveldt] is accredited through the very state that occupies his host country”.

“This underscores Israel’s refusal to honour international consensus on Palestinian statehood,” Phiri wrote on X.

Genocide case

The tit-for-tat diplomatic moves come as tensions have soared between South Africa and Israel for months over Israel’s genocidal war against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

South Africa filed a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in late December 2023, accusing Israel of committing genocide in the bombarded territory.

“South Africa is gravely concerned with the plight of civilians caught in the present Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip due to the indiscriminate use of force and forcible removal of inhabitants,” the country said at the time.

United Nations experts and the world’s top human rights groups have also alleged Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, where Israeli attacks have killed at least 71,660 people since October 2023 and plunged the enclave into a humanitarian crisis.

South African activists also have drawn the ire of Israeli officials for accusing Israel of maintaining a system of apartheid in its treatment of Palestinians – similar to the one that existed in South Africa for decades.

The UN’s human rights chief said earlier this month that Israel maintains “a particularly severe form of racial discrimination and segregation that resembles the kind of apartheid system we have seen before”.

On Friday, Economic Freedom Fighters, a South African opposition party, welcomed the government’s decision to declare Israel’s envoy as persona non grata.

“From its repeated violations of United Nations resolutions, to its open defiance of international courts, to its brazen attacks on diplomats, journalists, humanitarian workers and civilians in Palestine and beyond, Israel has established itself as a rogue state that relies on intimidation and provocation rather than mutual respect,” it said.

The party urged South Africa to “continue to take bold, principled positions against apartheid Israel”, including by severing all diplomatic and economic ties with the country.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/30/south-africa-orders-expulsion-of-israeli-envoy-declared-persona-non-grata

https://x.com/ME_Observer_/status/2017252371152220566
Syrian sources: Israeli enemy planes sprinkle unknown substances on agricultural lands in the middle and northern countryside of Quneitra for the third time

Israeli forces kill 12 Palestinians across Gaza, attacks reported in Rafah
Multiple attacks across the besieged enclave a day before Israel is expected to reopen the Rafah border crossing.

At least 12 Palestinians, half of them children, have been killed in the Gaza Strip since dawn, a day before the Rafah crossing is due to reopen.

An Israeli air strike on Saturday on a tent sheltering displaced people in the al-Mawasi area to the northwest of Khan Younis city killed at least seven Palestinians, including three children.

Their bodies were taken to the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis.

In Gaza City, emergency services reported that at least five Palestinians, including three children, were killed in an Israeli air strike on an apartment building in the Remal neighbourhood to the west of the city.

Eight Palestinians were also injured in an Israeli bombing of an apartment building in the Daraj neighbourhood of Gaza City.

Gaza’s Government Media Office says at least 524 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since a United States-brokered ceasefire in Gaza came into effect on October 10.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/31/israeli-forces-kill-12-palestinians-across-gaza-attacks-reported-in-rafah

Gaza death toll rises to 19 after Israel bombs police headquarters in Gaza City
The number of people killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza since dawn has risen to 19, according to medical sources speaking to Al Jazeera.

A source in Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital told our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic that at least seven people were killed in an Israeli bombing that targeted a police headquarters in Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood of Gaza City.

Earlier, five people were killed in central Gaza and seven others in the al-Mawasi area of southern Gaza.

https://aje.news/8xzvds?update=4277429

https://x.com/DD_Geopolitics/status/2017643387839775010
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Washington D.C. to meet with President Trump next month