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Israel says Hamas is starving hostages; Security Council members say Israel is starving Palestinians

by Lucas Fernandez – World Editor August 6, 2025

written by Lucas Fernandez – World Editor

Hostage Ordeal Sparks U.N. Security Council Debate Amid Gaza Famine Fears

Israel demands release of captives; world body grapples with widespread hunger in the Strip

Israel convened an urgent United Nations Security Council session, highlighting the dire condition of its hostages, including one depicted digging his own grave. While their plight garnered international sympathy, the escalating starvation crisis affecting two million Palestinians in Gaza overshadowed the proceedings.

Accusations Fly Over Aid and Propaganda

Many council members, alongside Palestinian representatives, attributed the severe food shortages in Gaza to Israel’s two-month blockade and insufficient aid entry. Gaza’s health ministry reports over 100 starvation-related deaths, many of them children. Israeli Foreign Minister **Gideon Saar**, present for the meeting, accused unnamed council members and global media of spreading “lies.” He contrasted the hostages’ alleged deprivation with Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters enjoying ample food, a claim that U.N. spokesman **Stephane Dujarric** stated lacks evidence.

Saar asserted that Israel is permitting substantial aid into Gaza, alleging Hamas diverts and profits from these supplies. He also characterized Palestinian claims of terrorism as manufactured and accused Hamas of seeking to prolong the conflict rather than agree to a ceasefire. “It’s a world in which Israel is put on a bench of the accused while it fights for its survival,” Saar declared, labeling such sentiment as antisemitism.

Relatatives Appeal for Hostage Release

The emotional weight of the hostages’ situation was underscored by testimonies from their families. Itay David, brother of hostage Evyatar David, shared a harrowing account of his sibling, who appeared gaunt and was shown digging what was described as his own grave. “Do not let them die. We don’t have time. Do not let them spend another minute in darkness,” Itay David pleaded with the council members via video briefing.

He described his brother as a “living skeleton,” detailing the psychological and physical torment inflicted by Hamas, which has denied the hostages basic necessities. British U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward echoed calls for the immediate release of all hostages, condemning the propaganda use of their images as a “depraved” act. She stated, “Hamas and its terrorist ideologies can have no place in the future governance of Gaza and should never again threaten Israel’s security.”

Woodward recalled a prior ceasefire that facilitated hostage exchanges and increased aid to Gaza. “Since the ceasefire ended, the suffering of the hostages and Palestinian civilians has plumbed to new and shocking depths,” she observed. She added, “Israel’s aid restrictions have led to famine now unfolding in Gaza,” citing reports from international famine monitoring experts.

Speaking with doctors who served in Gaza, Woodward reported seeing children so malnourished their wounds festered for months. She also mentioned instances of baby formula being confiscated by the Israeli military. “I call on Israel now to act to alleviate the horrendous suffering,” she urged.

Global Concerns Over Gaza’s Humanitarian Crisis

Sierra Leone’s U.N. ambassador, Michael Imran Kanu, acknowledged Itay David‘s advocacy and condemned the “inhumane treatment” of hostages, calling their capture a war crime. However, he cautioned, “One atrocity cannot justify another.”

Kanu continued, “While we express deep concern for the hostages, we cannot ignore the wider humanitarian catastrophe that has engulfed Gaza. The people of Gaza have been subjected to a blockade and siege that deprived them of food, water, fuel and medical supplies,” conditions he suggested could also constitute war crimes.

Acting U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea noted President Trump’s acknowledgment of “real starvation” in Gaza and affirmed the U.S. efforts to deliver assistance. She encouraged support for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an Israeli-backed U.S. contractor, which reportedly distributed over 1.5 million meals on Sunday, despite hundreds of Palestinians being killed en route to its distribution sites.

Palestinian U.N. ambassador Riyad Mansour addressed the video of Evyatar David, stating, “We reject all inhumane and degrading treatment against anyone, especially persons held in captivity.”

In a pointed critique, Mansour argued, “Israel is demanding the world to take a stance against starvation when it is actually starving an entire civilian population, when it is shooting at them while they seek water and food.” This exchange reflects the deep divisions and competing narratives surrounding the conflict’s humanitarian toll. According to the World Food Programme, over half a million people in Gaza are now facing catastrophic levels of hunger, with the situation worsening due to limited access to food and clean water (World Food Programme, 2024).

August 6, 2025 0 comments

World

Conference on ‘two-state solution’ to Israel-Palestinian conflict lays groundwork

by Lucas Fernandez – World Editor August 5, 2025

written by Lucas Fernandez – World Editor

UN Backs Two-State Solution Amid Gaza Conflict

France, Saudi Arabia Spearhead Renewed Push for Palestinian Statehood

Amidst ongoing conflict in Gaza and heightened tensions in the West Bank, a high-level United Nations conference has reignited global efforts to achieve a two-state solution, envisioning an independent Palestine coexisting peacefully with Israel.

Momentum Builds for Diplomatic Resolution

Spearheaded by France and Saudi Arabia, the recent U.N. gathering saw overwhelming support for a two-state framework, with 125 of the 193 member nations speaking in favor, extending the conference for an unexpected third day. Despite boycotts from Israel and its close ally, the United States, the event underscored a widespread belief in the possibility of a political resolution.

Jerome Bonnafont, the French U.N. ambassador, acknowledged the immense challenges, stating that progress on defining Gaza’s future administration within a Palestinian state is contingent on a ceasefire and substantial humanitarian aid. He emphasized that these are immediate priorities.

“We say to those who are hostile to Israel, the way to peace is certainly not to deny the right of existence to Israel. This is the way to perpetual war,” Bonnafont declared. “And the real way to defend the Palestinians is to give them a state, and the only way to give them a state is a two-state solution — and we have demonstrated concretely that this solution exists and is feasible.”

Declaration Signals Stronger International Stance

A key outcome was the “New York Declaration,” co-endorsed by the European Union and the Arab League, urging Israel to commit to a Palestinian state. It also called for increased international recognition of Palestine, deeming it crucial for realizing the two-state solution.

Significantly, the Arab League’s 22 member nations condemned Hamas’s October 7th attacks and called for Hamas to relinquish control of Gaza and disarm. The declaration outlines a pathway toward an independent, demilitarized Palestine, potentially involving a U.N. Security Council-mandated stabilization mission.

Richard Gowan, the International Crisis Group’s U.N. director, commended French President Emmanuel Macron for elevating the conference’s ambition and symbolic weight. He noted that the meeting allowed major powers like France, Britain, and Canada to express disapproval of current Israeli policies.

Several nations, including France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Malta, pledged new recognitions of an independent Palestinian state, a move supported by over 145 countries. Australia, New Zealand, Finland, and Portugal indicated they would give the matter positive consideration.

Jean-Noel Barrot, French Foreign Minister, and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farham are planning further engagement during the General Assembly in September to formalize these new recognitions.

The conference established eight working groups focusing on critical aspects such as security for both Israelis and Palestinians, political reforms, legal issues, humanitarian aid, economic development, and Gaza’s reconstruction. This collaborative approach aims to develop concrete proposals for moving forward.

Globally, support for the Palestinian cause and statehood is reportedly growing, while Israel faces increasing international scrutiny, according to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. In 2023, the United Nations reported that over 70% of its member states recognize Palestine, highlighting the widespread international consensus.

August 5, 2025 0 comments

World

From Laos to Brazil, Trump’s tariffs leave a lot of losers. But even the winners will pay a price

by Lucas Fernandez – World Editor August 2, 2025

written by Lucas Fernandez – World Editor

U.S. Tariffs Drive Up Consumer Costs, Economists Say, Despite Trump’s Claims

New analysis from economists suggests that tariffs imposed by the Trump administration are primarily impacting American consumers and businesses through higher prices, rather than penalizing foreign countries as the former president often claimed. While the exact impact is debated, the consensus among many economists is that the burden of these tariffs falls largely on U.S. households.

The tariffs, which have significantly increased the average U.S. tariff rate, are paid by U.S. import companies. These companies typically pass on the increased costs to consumers in the form of higher prices for imported goods. While this can pressure foreign exporters to lower their prices or risk losing market share, evidence suggests that overseas companies have absorbed only a fraction of these rising costs.

Economists at Goldman Sachs estimate that foreign exporters have shouldered approximately one-fifth of the increased costs associated with tariffs, with the majority of the financial burden falling on American consumers and businesses. This dynamic means that everyday items, many of which are not manufactured in the United States, have seen price increases.

companies such as walmart, Procter & Gamble, Ford, Best Buy, Adidas, Nike, Mattel, and Stanley Black & Decker have all cited U.S. tariffs as a reason for raising their prices. This trend affects a wide range of products, from apparel like sneakers and knapsacks to electronics such as televisions and video game consoles, as well as household appliances.

The impact of these tariffs is also seen as disproportionately affecting lower-income households, as they tend to spend a larger percentage of their income on essential goods that are subject to price increases. The Budget Lab at Yale University reports that the average U.S. tariff rate has risen from 2.5% at the beginning of 2025 to 18.3% currently, the highest level seen as 1934. This increase is estimated to cost the average American household an additional $2,400 annually.

The effectiveness and economic consequences of these trade policies remain a subject of ongoing discussion among economists and policymakers.

August 2, 2025 0 comments

News

US Politicians Demand Accountability After Fatal West Bank Deaths of Palestinian-Americans

by Emma Walker – News Editor July 26, 2025

written by Emma Walker – News Editor

Here’s a rewritten version of the article, focusing on a breaking-news lead and evergreen context, while preserving all verifiable facts:

Breaking: American citizens Facing Restrictions and Detentions in West Bank Following Family Members’ deaths

Families of American citizens killed in the West Bank report facing significant obstacles, including detentions and travel bans, rather than justice or accountability.The United Nations has noted that fatalities in the region include militants, stone-throwers, and bystanders uninvolved in violence.

Evergreen Context: The Complex Realities for Palestinian-Americans in the West Bank

The experiences of the Khdour,Rabee,and abdel Jabbar families highlight a recurring pattern of challenges faced by Palestinian-Americans in the West Bank. These difficulties extend beyond the immediate aftermath of a loved one’s death, impacting their daily lives and ability to seek recourse.

Mohammad Khdour, born in miami, Florida, was killed in April 2024 while driving in biddu, a West Bank town near Jerusalem where he had resided since the age of two. His family stated that U.S. investigators visited them following the incident. Khdour’s cousin, Malek Mansour, the sole witness, told the Associated Press that he provided testimony to both Israeli and American investigators, asserting that the shots originated from a white pickup truck on Israeli territory. Mansour expressed his belief that the investigators did not pursue the case with sufficient rigor.

Hanan Khdour, Mohammad’s mother, lamented that the situation concluded as it has for many others who have been killed. Two months after Mohammad’s death, Israeli forces raided the family’s home and detained his brother, Omar Khdour, a 23-year-old American citizen. Videos shared with the AP by the family depict Omar Khdour being led away by israeli soldiers in riot gear, blindfolded and handcuffed, and placed into a military jeep. Omar Khdour reported being threatened during his detention, which lasted from 4 a.m. to 3 p.m., and being warned against pursuing the case.

Omar Khdour has also reported being prevented by israeli soldiers at checkpoints from leaving the West Bank to travel to Israel or Jerusalem. Similar restrictions have been reported by two other American fathers whose Palestinian-American children have been killed as October 7, 2023.

Hafeth Abdel Jabbar, the father of Tawfic Abdel Jabbar, stated that he and his wife were barred from leaving the West Bank for seven months. Their son, Amir Abdel Jabbar, aged 22, continues to face travel restrictions. The father of Amer Rabee also indicated that he and his wife have been unable to leave the West Bank since their son’s killing. He shared emails from the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem in which a consular official informed him of an Israeli travel ban, though the reason for it remained unclear.Israeli authorities did not respond to requests for comment regarding the detentions or travel restrictions.

Amer Rabee conveyed that in a context where violence against Palestinians often goes unaddressed, their American passports offered no practical protection. “We are all American citizens,” Rabee stated,”But here,for us,being American means nothing.”

July 26, 2025 0 comments

News

Syria: Druze-Bedouin Clashes Escalate Amid Humanitarian Crisis

by Emma Walker – News Editor July 18, 2025

written by Emma Walker – News Editor

Druze and Bedouin Communities in Syria Experience escalating Tensions

Beirut, Lebanon – Sectarian clashes have erupted in Syria’s Sweida province, a region predominantly inhabited by the Druze religious sect, which originated as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam.Over half of the world’s approximately one million Druze reside in Syria, with significant populations also in Lebanon and Israel, including the Golan Heights.

The recent escalation in Sweida began when members of a local Bedouin tribe, who are Sunni Muslims and have historically experienced intermittent conflicts with the Druze, established a checkpoint. According too reports, they attacked and robbed a Druze man, leading to a cycle of retaliatory attacks and kidnappings between the two communities.

Syrian researcher Ahmed Aba Zeid, who specializes in armed groups in southern syria, stated that there is “no specific reason” for the historical tensions between the groups, attributing them to broader social problems within Syria. He also suggested that the Syrian state may have exploited the recent incident to alter the situation in Sweida,inadvertently intensifying the conflict.

In response to the escalating violence,members of the Druze community in Israel have called for intervention to protect their co-religionists in Syria. Though, Druze leaders elsewhere in the region have rejected any form of Israeli involvement.Sheikh Sami Abi al-Muna, the spiritual leader of the Druze community in Lebanon, expressed concern that the sectarian clashes in syria could provide a pretext for Israeli intervention and destabilize the region. He emphasized that the Druze community would not seek protection from Israel, which he believes is detrimental to their history and identity. Al-Muna urged all parties to adhere to a recently brokered ceasefire and advocated for national dialog to address inter-community issues in Syria.

Lebanese Druze leader Walid Joumblatt, who played a role in mediating the ceasefire, also called for the establishment of an investigative committee to examine violations against both Druze and Bedouin populations in Syria.

July 18, 2025 0 comments

World

Israel threatens to escalate involvement in Syria as a ceasefire collapses

by Lucas Fernandez – World Editor July 16, 2025

written by Lucas Fernandez – World Editor

Syria Clashes Ignite as Ceasefire Collapses, Israel Threatens Escalation

Druze Community Caught in Crossfire Amidst Shifting Power Dynamics

Fierce fighting erupted in Sweida on Wednesday as a fragile ceasefire between Syrian government forces and local Druze militias dissolved, drawing a stern warning from Israel about potential escalation in support of the minority sect.

Government Blames Militias for Ceasefire Breach

Syria’s Defense Ministry accused armed groups in Sweida of initiating hostilities, forcing army soldiers to retaliate and resume military operations within the Druze-majority province. The ministry stated forces are responding to gunfire while prioritizing civilian safety and facilitating the return of displaced residents.

A recent rebel takeover in Damascus following a protracted civil war has left the new Sunni Muslim leadership struggling to assert control. This has heightened anxieties among religious and ethnic minorities, particularly after sectarian violence in March led to numerous civilian deaths among the Alawite community.

Escalating Violence Follows Localized Disputes

The current unrest originated from retaliatory kidnappings and attacks between Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze armed groups in the southern province. Government intervention to quell these clashes has reportedly devolved into confrontations with the Druze, with accusations of extrajudicial killings, looting, and property destruction by security forces.

While official casualty figures from Monday cited 30 deaths, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported over 250 fatalities by Wednesday morning, including children, women, and numerous soldiers. The observatory also noted at least 21 summary executions.

Israel has conducted airstrikes against Syrian government convoys, explicitly stating its intention to protect the Druze population. The Druze, an offshoot of Ismailism, represent a significant portion of Syria’s population, with most living in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel, including the occupied Golan Heights.

Israel Pledges Increased Intervention

The Druze are considered a loyal minority in Israel, often serving in the military. Within Syria, their community is divided, with some seeking integration into the new government structure while others advocate for autonomy and remain wary of Damascus authorities.

Israeli Defense Minister **Israel Katz** declared, “The Israeli army will continue to attack regime forces until they withdraw from the area — and will also soon raise the bar of responses against the regime if the message is not understood.” Prime Minister **Benjamin Netanyahu** affirmed Israel’s commitment to maintaining a demilitarized border zone and safeguarding Druze inhabitants.

Since the change in Syrian leadership, Israel has adopted a robust stance, aiming to prevent Islamist militants from operating near its borders. Israeli forces have occupied a buffer zone in Syria and carried out numerous airstrikes targeting military installations.

The ongoing conflict has had a severe impact on the region’s infrastructure. According to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, damage to power grids has affected an estimated 500,000 people in southern Syria (OCHA, 2024).

July 16, 2025 0 comments

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