Thursday, March 20, 2025

03/20 Links Pt1: Andrew Fox: Israel has every right to eliminate Hamas; U.S. Attacks in Yemen Provide a Security Blanket for Israel in The Hague; Netanyahu: Future Talks Will Be "Under Fire"

From Ian:

Andrew Fox: Israel has every right to eliminate Hamas
Trump’s ceasefire was never likely to be more than a temporary reprieve for Hamas. After all, the group remains fundamentally committed to the destruction of Israel – an aim baked into its founding charter. Any agreement with an organisation whose raison d’être is conflict can only ever be short-lived. Since 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched its unprecedented massacre against civilians in southern Israel, the terror group has repeatedly demonstrated that it does not recognise peace. Rather, it uses pauses in fighting to regain strength.

Following the collapse of the ceasefire talks, Israel had little choice but to resume operations. Allowing Hamas to rebuild its infrastructure, replenish its arms caches and reconstitute its terror capabilities would only lead to greater violence and loss of life. The return to hostilities, though tragic, is not merely predictable – it is morally necessary.

Critics argue that military operations in Gaza exacerbate humanitarian crises, but ultimately it is Hamas that bears the greatest responsibility for civilian suffering. It embeds itself deliberately in densely populated areas and positions its military assets in hospitals, schools and mosques. This is because Hamas understands the ethical constraints under which Israel operates. Israel takes extraordinary measures to mitigate civilian casualties, including ordering civilians to evacuate, issuing prior warnings, employing precision targeting and aborting missions when civilians are at risk.

The international community may call for even greater restraint, but restraint cannot mean passivity in the face of an existential threat. Israel is obliged, morally and strategically, to dismantle Hamas’s capability to wage war. The recent resumption of strikes is not aggression, but a necessary act of self-defence aimed squarely at ending Hamas’s capacity to threaten Israeli lives and regional stability.

To argue otherwise is untenable and irresponsible. Israel should not endlessly absorb attacks, negotiate with a fundamentally hostile actor or accept a cycle of violence and hostage-taking as the status quo. Such a stance would condemn both Israelis and Palestinians to perpetual insecurity – and condemn the Palestinians of Gaza to life under Hamas’s ruthless Islamist regime.

Israel’s resumption of military operations is an entirely justified and necessary step towards ending a conflict that has, for too long, caused huge suffering on both sides. Until Hamas is decisively defeated, true peace in Gaza – and security for Israel – will remain tragically elusive.
WSJ Editorial: No More Free Gaza Ceasefire for Hamas
After Israel hit Hamas with air strikes beginning on Monday, the Arab mediators and terrorist echo chamber are crying bloody murder. But what did they expect when Hamas refused to release hostages for 2 1/2 weeks after the ceasefire ended?

It was never tenable to give Hamas a reprieve while it wasn't giving up hostages. Nor was it effective to let Hamas negotiate in peace and quiet while it regrouped, with every incentive to drag out talks. But it was important for Israel to give a hostage deal every chance.

Military force isn't replacing negotiations - it's Israel's best leverage. That's the theory of Israel's new campaign, which is designed to escalate steadily but stop when Hamas comes to terms.
Eugene Kontorovich: Egypt Defies Trump. Will He Cut Aid?
Egypt has stepped up its military presence in the Sinai Peninsula since Oct. 7, 2023, in apparent violation of its peace treaty with Israel. Recently, photos have circulated of rows of tanks in the desert. They aren’t there to confront Israel, which would pound Egypt in any military confrontation. The threat Cairo sees emanates from the Gaza Strip, where Egypt is determined to keep its border closed to refugees.

That puts Cairo at odds with U.S. policy. President Trump has offered a bold vision for allowing Gazans to resettle elsewhere and ultimately redeveloping the strip. But unless Gazans have a means of escape, Hamas will continue to use them as human shields and cannon fodder.

With great chutzpah, President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi is using U.S. aid to thwart U.S. policy. Egypt is America’s second-largest regular military aid recipient. Israel is first, but the $1.5 billion Cairo receives makes up nearly a quarter of its military budget. U.S. assistance to both countries flows from the 1979 Camp David Accords. Thus American taxpayers are paying to hold an iron curtain down on Gaza and maintain a status quo of war and oppression.

Mr. Trump’s plan for reconstructing Gaza is premised on allowing the population to flee the territory for a better life elsewhere. The humanitarian need for this is urgent. This week’s renewal of large-scale hostilities after a failed cease-fire will inevitably entail the dislocation of many Gazans. That isn’t Israel’s goal, which is to rescue hostages and destroy Hamas. But it’s what happens in wartime.

The flight of refugees across borders is also a regular consequence of war. Six million Syrians—nearly a quarter of the prewar population—fled their country during its civil war. Even more have left Ukraine, even though most of the country’s territory is free from active hostilities. More than 1.5 million people have fled Afghanistan since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021. Yet since Oct. 7, Egypt has locked virtually all of Gaza’s population in place.


U.S. Attacks in Yemen Provide a Security Blanket for Israel in The Hague
The latest wave of U.S. strikes against the Houthis in Yemen was an expression of clear U.S. support for a legal position long held by Israel. The Laws of War define civilians who take part in hostilities - i.e., people who present themselves as innocents but are combatants - as "direct participants in hostilities" (DPHs). Under the Laws of War, DPHs are legitimate targets and do not enjoy the protection of the Third or Fourth Geneva Conventions.

Using the widely accepted definition of DPH, Israel has targeted hundreds of terrorists from Hamas and other Gazan terror organizations. Many of these terrorists were targeted, similar to the U.S. strikes against the Houthis, in their homes. While these strikes sometimes also resulted in the death of civilians, they remained legal and legitimate under the Laws of War and the principle of "proportionality."

The Laws of War and "proportionality" accept that incidental or collateral damage may be caused when a military target is attacked. Attacks of this nature are legitimate so long as the loss of life and damage to property incidental to the attack is not excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage expected to be gained. As the value of the military target grows, so too does the extent of permitted incidental damage.

In its strike in Yemen, the United States was implementing the same position held by Israel. The Houthis are terrorists, no different from their Hamas partners in the Iranian axis of terror. As such, its members and leadership are legitimate targets even when sleeping in their beds.

If hostile elements such as the UN and the International Criminal Court were to rule that Israel's actions were illegitimate, in practice, they would also be condemning the similar U.S. approach.
Netanyahu: Hamas Rejected All Proposals, Future Talks Will Be "Under Fire"
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that negotiations with Hamas will now take place under fire, following the resumption of Israeli military operations in Gaza. He said, "For weeks, we worked toward one goal - to exhaust every effort to bring our hostages home. We extended the ceasefire for weeks, sent delegations, made proposals with mediators, and accepted the U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff's offer. Hamas, in contrast, rejected every proposal time and again."

Netanyahu stated that he and Defense Minister Israel Katz had accepted the IDF's recommendation to resume fighting against Hamas. "Israel will now act against Hamas with increasing force....This is just the beginning. We will keep fighting until we achieve all of our war objectives. Gaza will no longer be a threat to Israel....It has been proven in the past that military pressure is a necessary condition for freeing more hostages."
Ceasefire Allowed Hamas to Enrich Itself
Hamas took advantage of the ceasefire to enrich itself and prepare for the next round, Eyal Ofer, an expert on Hamas's economy, said Tuesday.

"Israel allowed Qatar to transfer 978 fuel tankers into Gaza, containing tens of millions of liters worth over NIS 1 billion to Hamas."

Hamas strategically stored most of this fuel in large tanks at the power station in Nuseirat.

"If they manage to sell all this fuel at current Gaza prices... they could use the revenue to pay salaries for 40,000 operatives for an entire year and still have money left over."

Hamas has repurposed civilian equipment for military preparations.

"They used tractors imported from Egypt to clear roads and pathways. For instance, they removed roadblocks on the Netzarim axis, enabling the movement of vehicles that had not undergone security checks."

"They also repurposed unexploded Israeli bombs with military-grade explosives to manufacture numerous IEDs."


Fetterman to JNS: I fully support partnering with Israel to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities
Over the last several years and particularly since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has felt isolated diplomatically. Perhaps most painful for the Jewish state has been waning support among American Democrats, once stalwart defenders of Israel.

A near-lone voice from the left flank of the party has been Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman. A towering giant easily recognized by his hooded sweatshirt attire, Fetterman has stood up for Israel time and again when other members of his party refused to do so.

When it comes to Israel, Fetterman is about as hawkish as it gets, willing to support it in its war efforts against Iran and its network of terror proxies, including Hamas and Hezbollah.

The senator is on his second trip to Israel in the past year, touring the country, including on a Blackhawk helicopter, meeting families of Israeli hostages as well as those who lost loved ones in the war, and taking in Israeli culture, including what he calls “some of the best food in the world.”

This time he came on a mission organized by Relief Resources, an organization dedicated to matching up those in need of mental health care with the best available professional for their personal situation.

Fetterman, who was hosted with his wife, Gisele, on Wednesday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, sat down on Thursday with a small group of hand-picked journalists in Jerusalem to discuss Israel’s war, his steadfast support for the Jewish state and the U.S.-Israel relationship.


Israel had no choice: Military escalation is a necessary reset for hostage talks
Since the war began, there has been a tension between Israel’s two primary goals: the destruction of Hamas and the liberation of the hostages. Many see in Israel’s renewed campaign in Gaza a sacrifice of the latter goal in pursuit of the former. But Meir Ben-Shabbat suggests that Israel’s attacks aim to bring Hamas back to the negotiating table:

The timing of the attack, its intensity, and the extent of casualties surprised Hamas. Its senior leaders are likely still wondering whether this is a limited action meant to shock and send a message or the beginning of a sustained operation. The statement by its senior officials linking the renewal of fighting to the fate of the hostages hints at the way it may act to stop Israel. This threat requires the Israeli political leadership to formulate a series of draconian measures and declare that they will be carried out if Hamas harms the hostages.

Ostensibly, Israel’s interest in receiving the hostages and continuing the fighting stands in complete contradiction to that of Hamas, but in practice Hamas has flexibility that has not yet been exhausted. This stems from the large number of hostages in its possession, which allows it to realize additional deals for some of them, and this is what Israel has been aiming its efforts toward.

We must concede that the challenge Israel faces is not simple, but the alternative Hamas presents—surrendering to its dictates and leaving it as the central power factor in Gaza—limits its options. . . . Tightening and significantly hardening the blockade along with increasing pressure through airstrikes, evacuating areas and capturing them, may force Hamas to make its stance more flexible.

But Ben-Shabbat also acknowledges the danger in this approach. The war’s renewal puts the hostages in greater danger. And as Israel makes threats, it will be obliged to carry them out.


UN Officials in Gaza Harmed by Clearing Landmines, Not by Israeli Airstrike
Any UN officials wounded in central Gaza were the result of clearing landmines and not by Israeli airstrikes, sources told the Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.

Gaza's health ministry told Reuters that one person was killed and four were wounded in an air strike on the site of UN headquarters in Gaza City.

The IDF said it "did not strike a UN compound in Deir el Balah."


Seth Frantzman: Houthis retaliate against US attacks with missile strikes on Israel
The statement was made after the US carried out more airstrikes against the port city of Hodeidah and the city of Sa’ada. The US strikes had killed 53 people, the Houthis said.

The attacks on Israel are an attempt by the Houthis to show that Israel remains a reachable target – even under the watchful eyes of the new US administration. That means they feel they can still wheel out their missiles from hiding places, such as cave complexes, and launch them.

This poses a challenge for the US and Israel, as it shows that air power alone may not be able to stop the missiles.

During the Gulf War in 1991, the Saddam regime was able to launch Scud missiles at Israel from Iraq’s western Anbar province, despite the massive US-led coalition strikes on Iraq. This led to the “great Scud hunt,” where the US, UK, and others sought to find the Scuds.

The “hunt” was not very successful. It is hard to find ballistic missiles and their launch sites.
Houthis fire 2nd ballistic missile at Israel since early morning; none hurt
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis fired a ballistic missile at Israel Thursday afternoon, in the third such attack since Wednesday and the second since the early morning, having renewed their attacks on the Jewish state as it strikes in the Gaza Strip.

The IDF said the missile was successfully intercepted by air defenses and shot down before crossing Israel’s borders. There were no reports of injuries or damage in the attack, which triggered sirens in Jerusalem and surrounding towns, West Bank settlements, the Dead Sea area, and parts of central Israel.

The attack came shortly after Yemen’s Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah television network reported at least four US strikes on the Al Mina district of the city of Hodeida. The area houses a port and the headquarters of the Houthi naval forces.

Citing an Israeli official, the Ynet news site reported that Washington had asked Israel not to respond to the Houthis’ previous missile attack overnight, which sent millions running to bomb shelters at 4 a.m. in wide swaths of central Israel. According to the report, the US told Israel to “let them deal with it.”

The reported request came as the US has carried out widespread strikes against the Houthis in recent days after the rebels announced they would renew attacks on Red Sea shipping due to the end of the Gaza ceasefire.

The strikes on the Houthis are the largest American military operation in the Middle East since US President Donald Trump took office in January. Trump has said he would hold Iran responsible for the Houthi strikes.

The Houthis began attacking the vital maritime route in November 2023, a month after fellow Iran-backed group Hamas stormed southern Israel on October 7, 2023, to kill some 1,200 people and take 251 hostages, sparking the war in Gaza.

While the Houthis have said they were attacking Israeli-linked shipping in support of Gaza, they have also targeted vessels with no known Israeli connections.


BBC apologises to Israeli embassy after asking for anti-Netanyahu speaker
The BBC has issued an “unreserved apology” to the Israeli embassy after a producer requested a guest who would be critical of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The corporation admitted the request was a “serious mistake” that “clearly falls well below our standards.”

The controversy arose when a BBC World Service producer contacted the Israeli embassy in London on Thursday morning, seeking a guest for the Newshour programme who would be “critical of Netanyahu.”

In a message sent to members of the Israeli embassy in London, a BBC booker for the programme asked for a guest to criticise the latest ground offensive in Gaza.


ABC News Retracts Claim That Israeli ‘Occupation Forces’ Dropped ‘Harrowing’ Leaflet in Gaza
ABC News retracted its claim that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) dropped leaflets containing "harrowing messages" in Gaza. An editor’s note said the outlet couldn’t confirm the leaflets’ authenticity—but didn’t disclose that it also scrubbed language referring to the IDF as "occupation forces."

The original article, published Thursday morning, initially focused on the leaflets and listed four reporters on the byline. Only one, Jordana Miller, regularly covers Israel’s war with Hamas. She has also repeatedly and openly pushed a bias against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Miller and another journalist were stripped from the byline after ABC News updated the story.

"[T]he world map will not change if all the people of Gaza vanish," the pamphlets purportedly read, according to ABC News. They pushed Gazans to vacate "before the implementation of Trump’s forced plan—which will impose your forced displacement whether you like it or not."

"No one will feel for you, and no one will ask about you. You are left alone to face your inevitable fate," the leaflets purportedly added. "Neither US nor Europe cares about Gaza. The game is almost over, and only a little remains. Whoever wants to save themselves before it’s too late, we are here to stay until Judgment Day."

ABC News retracted that claim and re-centered the article on IDF’s latest movements in Gaza. Israel resumed attacks on Tuesday after Hamas refused to release its remaining hostages.

"Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article said that the IDF had dropped leaflets with disturbing messaging," a disclaimer at the top of the updated version read. "ABC News has not been able to confirm the authenticity of these leaflets. The IDF denies dropping these leaflets."

The original article, however, alleged that "occupation forces" had dropped the leaflets. That apparent reference to the IDF was also stripped from the updated version, without note.


Arab Israeli charged with plotting ramming attack against soldiers
The Shin Bet and Israel Police said Thursday they had foiled a plot to carry out a ramming attack against Israeli soldiers last month.

Jihad Zureiqat, a resident of the northern Arab Israeli town of Kafr Kanna, was arrested in February on suspicion of committing security offenses, the agencies said in a joint statement.

They said the suspect, who allegedly identifies with the Hamas terror group, began to plan and intended to carry out a car-ramming attack against soldiers “following violent incidents.”

Police said an investigation turned up last testaments written by Zureiqat as well as “nationalist materials,” including Hamas instructional booklets on how to carry out terror attacks.

Prosecutors in the State Attorney’s Office later filed an indictment against the suspect on charges of planning to carry out a terror act.

According to the charge sheet, Zureiqat began to embrace Hamas ideology in 2022, seeing Jews as “infidels” who deserve to die, and the State of Israel as a foreign entity that should be destroyed.
Call me Back Podcast: NETANYAHU FIRES HEAD OF SHIN BET, ENDS CEASEFIRE - with Nadav Eyal & Amit Segal
We recorded an emergency episode as fighting resumes against Hamas in Gaza, ending a cease-fire that lasted 57 days; as military operations escalate between the U.S. and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen; and as Prime Minister Netanyahu moves to fire Ronen Bar, the head of the Shin Bet security agency. To discuss this rapidly-evolving escalation of events we are joined by two of Israel’s leading journalists and mainstays of this podcast.

Amit Segal is a columnist for Yediot Ahronot, and chief political analyst for Israel’s Channel 12.

Nadav Eyal is also a columnist at Yediot, and the recipient of Israel’s equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize. He is also an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
03:53 Israel’s decision to resume the war fighting in Gaza, and objectives
08:51 What has happened since the end of Phase 1 of the deal?
14:47 Israeli public opinion and context of Netanyahu’s decision
42:43 Why was Ronen Bar fired?
52:09 Comments made by the former head of the Shin Bet
58:45 US military operation against the Houthis


School of War Podcast: Ep 185: Lara Burns on the Hamas Threat in America
Jews and their allies have been shocked by the support Hamas has received from some parts of the American public. On city streets, at university campuses, and even in some government forums, anti-Semitic protesters have sought to shame and intimidate their opponents—especially Jews.

But these sentiments did not emerge organically. Lara Burns, a retired FBI agent who helped convict some of Hamas’s top fundraisers in the United States, lays out how Hamas has sought to infiltrate American universities, media, and politics. In conversation with Aaron MacLean, she also explores the terror group’s history, its relationship to the Muslim Brotherhood, and how it goes about and tries to conceal its malign activities in the United States.

Times
• 01:01 Introduction
• 01:40 Terrorism squad
• 02:38 The Muslim Brotherhood
• 06:01 Hamas
• 14:16 The money
• 26:20 Oppressors
• 32:23 American Muslims for Palestine
• 35:18 All connected
• 43:11 Information campaign
• 50:19 Understanding
• 55:01 Fighting back


UKLFI: Natasha Hausdorff discuss the situation in Gaza on Global News Radio 640 Toronto
Natasha Hausdorff, barrister and UKLFI Charitable Trust Legal Director, discusses the ending of the truce in Gaza, the relevant international law, and the comments of David Lammy, UK Foreign Secretary, on the Alex Pierson Show on Global News Radio 640 Toronto, Canada (audio only).


UKLFI: Natasha Hausdorff discusses developments in Gaza on Canadian Radio
Natasha Hausdorff, international law expert and UKLFI Charitable Trust Legal Director, discusses developments in Gaza on the Jerry Agar show on Canadian Radio Channel, Newstalk 1010 (audio). She draws attention to the role of Hamas propaganda, media and international pressure in obstructing Israel's military action and thereby prolonging the conflict, as well as Israel's efforts to minimise civilian casualties and Hamas's efforts to maximise them.


‘She knows Gaza’: Speech resurfaces on the ‘Palestinian issue’
Sky News host Chris Kenny discusses a resurfaced speech from author and founder of Arabs for Israel on the “Palestinian issue”.

“There is a speech about the Middle East that is getting a bit of attention on social media at the moment, it is not new, this speech was given in America 12 years ago and it explains the reality of the Palestinian issue,” Mr Kenny said.

“Most of the media simply refuses to comprehend, this is a very powerful example of this explanation of course because of who it comes from.”


Erin Molan: Democrats Finally Embrace 'Bring Them Home'—But NOT for Hostages... It's Bat Beep Crazy!
In this fiery Bat Beep Crazy Episode 9, Erin Molan unleashes on media for swallowing Hamas’ lies, Egypt’s fake peacemaker act, and Democrats defending gangsters over hostages. She covers Lord Roberts’ October 7 report, a Canadian woman’s bravery, U.S. action against Houthis, Trump’s epic takedowns, and Elon Musk’s heroics. From White House trolling to a non-DEI badass joining Trump’s team, it’s a wild ride exposing terror enablers and woke nonsense.

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Media Parrot Hamas Lies: Reuters, BBC, Today Show Fail
3:00 - Egypt Condemns Israel, Ignores Hamas Breaking Ceasefire
4:30 - Lord Roberts’ Report Details October 7 Sadistic Barbarism
6:00 - Canadian Woman Stands Up to Hamas-Scarf Cowards
7:30 - Ilhan and Dems Defend Tren de Aragua Gangsters
9:00 - U.S. Finally Strikes Back at Houthi Terror Attacks
10:30 - White House Trolls Deported Dr. Rasha Alawieh
11:30 - Trump Savages The Atlantic Magazine in Brutal Reply
12:30 - Trump Hires Non-DEI SAS Hero Who Saved Lives
13:30 - John Bolton Mocks Trump’s Ukraine-Russia Ceasefire Motives
14:30 - Tim Walz Jokes as Teslas Face Firebomb Threats
15:30 - Elon Musk Rescues Astronauts Despite Democrat Attacks


Even Gal Gadot can’t make this live-action Snow White come together as a film
You might be thinking: But what about the movie? The problem with “Snow White” is that you never stop thinking about these much-strategized and sometimes superficial efforts to re-contextualize the original movie.

Erin Cressida Wilson’s screenplay remakes Snow White’s story as less a princess awaiting her Prince Charming (the song “Someday My Prince Will Come” has been jettisoned) than an heir to a throne who loses her gumption. Though taught as a child to be “fair” as a leader by her father king (Hadley Fraser), Snow White has lost any ambition by the time Gadot’s Evil Queen takes over the kingdom.

Gadot sinks her teeth into the Evil Queen, a spikey, slinky villain who moves with a metallic rustle (the costumes are by Sandy Powell). But she feels cut off from the movie, without the lines that would elevate her flamboyant performance into something memorable. The prince has been altogether scrubbed; instead Andrew Burnap plays the blandly cocksure bandit Jonathan who encourages Snow White not to wait for her father’s rescue.

Presumably one of the reasons to bring actors into remakes of animated classics would be to add a warm-blooded pulse to these characters. Zegler manages that, but everyone else in “Snow White” — mortal or CGI — is as stiff as could be. You’re left glumly scorekeeping the updates — one win here, a loss there — while pondering why, regardless of the final tally, recapturing the magic of long ago is so elusive.

“Snow White,” a Walt Disney Co. release, is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association for violence, some peril, thematic elements and brief rude humor. Running time: 109 minutes. Two stars out of four.


Schumer ‘nowhere to be seen’ amid Jew-hatred at Columbia, Johnson says
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) took a swipe at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Thursday.

“As Chuck Schumer tries to sell his new book on antisemitism, remember that when my Republican colleagues and I faced the vicious protest mob at Columbia last year and called on the university president to resign if she refused to restore order and protect Jewish students, Schumer was nowhere to be seen,” Johnson wrote.

“In fact, our House investigation found later he actually advised university officials to ‘keep their heads down’ and avoid meeting with Republicans,” he added.

Rep. Virginia Foxx (RN.C.), the former chair of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, wrote that Johnson was “exactly right” in his criticism of Schumer.


Inside the anti-Israeli world of mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani: ‘More radical than radical left’
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is “more radical than the radical left,” according to one veteran of local and national political campaigns.

“He is in a category all by himself,” the campaigner, who asked to withhold his name, told The Post. “I’ve never seen someone so far to the left. He’s anti Israel, he’s all up in the protests and violence. This is not how a mayoral candidate behaves.”

He may be a dyed-in-the-wool member of the hard-left Democratic Socialists of America — but Zohran Mamdani, the Muslim son of filmmaker Mira Nair, knows how to raise money.

Despite being a virtual unknown until recently, Mamdani, 33, a Democratic Assembly member and New York City mayoral candidate, is second only to the disgraced but still powerful ex-governor Andrew Cuomo in raising campaign contributions for the race.

Mamdani — who was raised in New York and believes in free buses, free childcare, a rent freeze and city-run grocery stores —- raised almost a million dollars over the last two months and has more than 16,000 donors.

More than $500,000 of his cash raised since January is eligible for the city’s eight-to-one matching funds program, the campaign said — meaning Mamdani is set to get $4 million in taxpayer cash next month.

Mamdani’s also eager to make a scene, as he demonstrated last week when he was caught on video trying to get past New York State police troopers while shouting at border czar Tom Homan. Mamdani yelled at the acting ICE director over Trump’s immigration policies and the recent detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student and anti-Israel activist.
Greens councillor plunges local government meeting into chaos after defiant act during discussions to combat antisemitism
A local council meeting decended into icy hostility after a Greens councillor voted to oppose a strategy designed to protect residents from rising rates of antisemitism.

On Tuesday evening, Waverley Council voted to endorse Australia's first 'Local Government Strategy to Combat Antisemitism'.

Greens Councillor Dominic Wy Kanak, however, was the sole vote against the strategy after his motion to amend the definition of antisemitism was rejected.

Mr Wy Kanak - who called in to the meeting via Zoom and a full video of the interaction was posted to the Waverley Council website - didn't support the plan because he argued council's definition of antisemitism was too broad.

Representatives and members of the public who attended the council meeting were shocked by Mr Wy Kanak's opposition.

Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh told Daily Mail Australia that Mr Wy Kanak's decision to oppose the strategy was 'quite extraordinary'.

He said the strategy had undergone extensive public consultation and it was 'unfathomable as to why anyone would vote against it'.

CEO of the Australian Jewish Association, Robert Gregory, agreed and told Daily Mail Australia the move was 'unfortunate'.

'Last night, I was pleased to address Waverley Council in support of the council's antisemitism strategy,' Mr Gregory said.

'More Jews live in Waverley Council than any other council in NSW and the area has seen several antisemitic attacks recently, so it's greatly appreciated that the council takes antisemitism seriously.


‘This Is For Gaza’ MP challenged after making secret UK-Israel military deal claims
“This is for Gaza” MP Shockat Adam has been challenged after using a Westminster debate on Israel to make unsubstantiated claims about alleged secret deals between the UK and the IDF.

The Independent MP for Leicester South was granted a Westminster Hall debate on Military Cooperation With Israel on Tuesday at which he appeared to suggest the RAF aircraft were involved in delivering UK equipment, including “military vehicles and helicopters” from its airbase in Cyprus to assist the IDF in its war against Hamas in Gaza.

At one stage Adam, the brother of Friends of Al Aqsa founder Ismail Patel, accused the UK government of allowing “Israeli exceptionalism” which was undermining “the very concept of international law itself.”

Outlining widely circulated claims with the pro-Palestine movement, Adam told MPs “there is now mounting suspicion and evidence that UK facilities in Gibraltar are being used for the facilitation of armed shipments, harbour services, and jet fuel supplies for vessels transporting weapons from the US to Israel. ”

He claimed: “Our military co-operation extends beyond arms sales; it is operational, especially when it comes to using our airbase in Akrotiri, Cyprus. In one year alone, from December 2023 to November 2024, the UK conducted 645 surveillance and recon missions, which amounts to almost two flights a day.

“Interestingly, during the same period, the US moved heavy transport aircraft carrying military equipment to Akrotiri, and the RAF subsequently conducted daily cargo flights from Akrotiri to Tel Aviv.

“We have been told that those flights were for surveillance and hostage rescue, but if that is the case, we must ask why we used RAF Atlas C1 aircraft, which are large enough to transport military vehicles and helicopters. ”


Two women charged with race hate offences after Palestine Solidarity Campaign demo
Two women have been charged with intending or likely to stir up racial hatred at a march organised by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign.

Hadjer Boumazouna 27, and Fatiha Boumazouna 53, both from Croydon, are both due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 21 March, the Metropolitan Police confirmed.

The charges – under Sec 18(1) of the Public Order Act – relate to an incident near Trafalgar Square during a march organised by the PSC on Saturday, 28 October 2023.

The two women attended a police station and were arrested on 29 October 2023 after an appeal was issued on the Met’s X account.




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