[ToloNews] The acting UN Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism has claimed in an interview with Russia’s TASS news agency that al-Qaeda still maintains a presence in Afghanistan, although its activities in the country have significantly declined.
According to TASS, Alexander Zuev said that the Islamic State ...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not really Moslems.... Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) and Tehrik-e-Taliban ...mindless ferocity in a turban... Pakistain (TTP) are currently the most active murderous Moslem groups operating in Afghanistan.
TASS quoted Zuev as saying: "Over the past decades, various terrorist groups have traditionally operated in Afghanistan. al-Qaeda is not currently highly active there, but it continues to maintain its presence in the country."
Last Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also said that ISIS-K is attempting to use Afghanistan as a base to expand its activities and establish a caliphate.
Responding to those remarks, the spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior said the Islamic Emirate remains committed to its obligations under the Doha Agreement and does not allow any group to operate from Afghan territory.
Abdul Matin Qani, the ministry’s spokesperson, said: "We have fulfilled the commitment we made in Doha that Afghanistan’s territory will remain secure. We have carried out this responsibility at the regional level. There is no subversive group in Afghanistan that poses a threat to the country’s internal or cross-border security."
Military analyst Turyalai Zazai said: "Their concerns should hold no value for the people of Afghanistan because these are not genuine concerns; rather, they are propaganda aimed at the Afghan people to achieve political objectives."
This comes after the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate previously stated that ISIS has been suppressed in Afghanistan and that no group will be allowed to use Afghan territory against other countries.
[IsraelTimes] Mainstream parties boycotting election next month sparked by anti-immigration politician’s efforts to stymie a furor around his finances; vote draws record number of candidates.
[GaroweOnline] Ottoman Turkish President His Enormity, Sultan Recep Tayyip Erdogan the First ...Turkey's version of Mohammed Morsi but they voted him back in so they deserve him. It's a sin, a shame, and a felony to insult the president of Turkey. In Anatolia did Recep Bey a stately Presidential Palace decree, that has 1100 rooms. That's 968 more than in the White House, 400 more than in Versailles, and 325 more than Buckingham Palace, so you know who's really more important... has asked parliament to approve a two-year extension of the mandate allowing Ottoman Turkish troops to operate in Somalia, citing the need to sustain support for the Horn of Africa nation's security and counterterrorism efforts.
In a motion submitted to The Sick Man of Europe Turkey ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire... 's Grand National Assembly, Erdogan said Somalia's security and stability were vital to regional peace and that extending the deployment would enable Ottoman Turkish forces to continue providing military training, advisory services, and technical assistance under bilateral defence agreements.
The proposal said Turkey has maintained close ties with Somalia since 2011, expanding cooperation in political, economic, social, and security fields.
It added that Ankara has continued to train Somali security forces and provide defence cooperation under agreements covering military training, technical collaboration, the defence industry, and financial support for Somalia's armed forces.
The motion said that while Somalia's security forces have sufficient personnel and equipment, financial constraints continue to affect their operational capabilities.
It also said Somalia's federal government had requested that Turkey maintain its military support under the two countries' Defence and Economic Cooperation Agreement.
According to the proposal, the continued deployment would help Somalia combat terrorism, piracy, illegal fishing, human trafficking, and other security threats, while contributing to the protection of strategic maritime routes in the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, and nearby waters.
The document also referred to a U.N. Security Council resolution adopted on Dec. 1, 2023, saying Turkey believes its support will contribute to Somalia's long-term stability, strengthen its ability to protect its resources, and enhance its defence and security institutions.
Turkey operates its largest overseas military training base in Somalia and has become one of Mogadishu's closest security partners.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
07/19/2026 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[201 views]
Top|| File under: Sublime Porte
[IsraelTimes] Website of pro-Israel lobby group no longer features option to donate to 15 Democrats who it previously endorsed for reelection after they voted in favor of motion
The pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC has stopped accepting fundraising contributions for US House Democrats ...every time you hear the phrase white people, white supremacy,white anything but paint, you're listening to a Democrat. Ask him/her/it to reimagine something for you; they do that a lot, though not well. They can hear a dog whistle a mile or two away. They invented the spoils system and Tammany Hall, and inspired the addition of the word (Thomas) Nasty to the English language. They want to stop continental drift and repeal the law of unintended side effects... who this week voted for a measure to cut off all military aid to Israel, according to a report from The New York Times
...which still proudly claims Walter Duranty's Pulitzer prize... The amendment was defeated in a vote of 314 to 104 on Wednesday, but nearly half of Democrats voted in favor of it, reflecting the growing rupture between the party and Israel.
Among the 103 House Democrats who voted in favor of the amendment, which was introduced as part of a State Department spending bill by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, were 15 who had previously been endorsed by AIPAC for reelection in November.
Massie was the only Republican to back the measure.
By Friday, the Times reported, it was no longer possible to donate to the campaigns of the 15 AIPAC-endorsed House Democrats via the lobbying group’s website.
Among those affected by the change was Democratic Rep. Katherine Clark, the minority whip of the House of Representatives.
Clark had said ahead of the vote on Wednesday that she would support the motion because she believed Washington "should not provide a blank check for military aid to any country that does not comply with US law, interests, and values."
Approached for comment on the decision by the Times, an AIPAC spokesperson said, "AIPAC members are deeply appreciative of their representatives who stand on principle and are disappointed by those who don’t."
The support among Democrats for the motion to cut off aid to Israel was a sharp departure from previous years, in which bills supporting Israel passed almost unanimously. Democrats on the party’s left flank have been strongly pushing to end US military aid to Israel entirely amid the midterm election primary campaigns, while its establishment wing wants to limit the assistance to solely defensive weaponry.
While 48 percent of Democrats backed Massie’s amendment, the figure was well below reported predictions that as many as 150 Democrats could vote for it.
The number was expected to be higher because the measure was certain to fail, allowing Democrats to vote against Israel without any practical policy consequences.
Enough Democrats still felt uncomfortable enough with the scope of Massie’s amendment that they decided to vote against it, even though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is overwhelmingly unpopular in the party.
Massie is a fiscal hawk who opposes all foreign aid, but he said he was also responding to the toll on civilians of Israel’s attacks on Hamas ..the braying voice of Islamic Resistance®,... in Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with a rusty iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response... . "There have been 70,000 casualties in Gaza, and I don’t think we should be part of that," he said during House deliberations, without differentiating between civilians and combatants.
His amendment would have barred any funding in the appropriations bill from being used for Israel, and blocked $3.3 billion in annual security assistance Washington sends Israel.
🚨 BREAKING: Virginia State Senator Saddam Azlan Salim (D-Fairfax) has introduced Senate Bill 624, legislation that would define "Islamophobia" within Virginia's assault and battery laws while requiring law enforcement to track crimes allegedly motivated by anti-Islam bias.
For years, we've warned that this is one path by which Islam gains political influence in the West. In my view, measures like this move society closer to treating criticism of Islam as something deserving of special legal protection. I believe that raises serious concerns about free speech and religious liberty.
I also believe we're seeing a similar pattern elsewhere. In Tampa, Florida, State Attorney Suzy Lopez, a
@GovRonDeSantis
appointee, is prosecuting Christians for preaching to Muslims on public property in a case involving alleged disruption of a religious assembly. That prosecution benefits CAIR's agenda and sends a chilling message to Christians who engage in public evangelism.
Christians need to pay attention to what's happening around them. If criticism of one religion receives increasing legal protection while biblical preaching faces criminal prosecution, we should be asking hard questions about the future of free speech and religious liberty in America.
How much more needs to happen before Christians wake up?
Mr. Salim was born in Bangladesh and grew up in Falls Church, where he ran track and was elected class president. He was elected to the senate in 2023.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike ||
07/19/2026 4:35 Comments ||
Top||
#4
Something to think about.
Hasn't he just violated the Virginia Oath of Office?
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge all the duties incumbent upon me as ____________________ according to the best of my ability, (so help me God)."
#5
They intend to define Islamophobia as assault, but it’s just a propaganda term with no definition. The goal is really to repress free speech. It’s illegal and won’t work, but there are no consequences against them for making the law.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
07/19/2026 9:33 Comments ||
Top||
#6
"Phobia" = irrational fear, so "islamophobia" is an oxymoron.
[KhaamaPress] A U.S. federal judge has struck down four U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policies that delayed or subjected immigration benefit applications filed by nationals of Afghanistan and 38 other countries to heightened scrutiny, ruling that the agency exceeded its legal authority under federal administrative law.
The decision follows a ruling that also rejected the U.S. government’s request to pause the judgment while it pursues an appeal. According to AfghanEvac on 15 July, USCIS has already resumed processing immigration benefit applications that had been placed on hold under the now-vacated policies.
The ruling, issued under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), found that USCIS acted beyond the authority granted by Congress when it implemented policies that paused adjudications, suspended certain asylum decisions, required previously approved cases to undergo additional review, and instructed immigration officers to treat nationality from designated countries as a significant negative factor in discretionary decisions.
The court vacated four agency policies: the Benefits Hold Policy, which prevented final decisions on many immigration applications; the Global Asylum Hold Policy, which paused asylum and withholding-of-removal cases; the Comprehensive Re-Review Policy, which required previously approved applications to be reassessed; and the Country-Specific Factors Policy, which directed officers to weigh an applicant’s nationality negatively in discretionary immigration determinations.
The judge concluded that USCIS failed to provide an adequate legal basis for the policies and did not properly consider the reliance interests of applicants who had already completed interviews, submitted biometric information and passed security screenings. The court found the agency’s actions to be arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act.
On July 15, the court also denied the government’s motion to stay the ruling pending appeal, finding that the administration had not demonstrated a likelihood of success on appeal or shown that allowing the decision to remain in effect would cause irreparable harm.
According to AfghanEvac, USCIS has already implemented the ruling nationwide and is treating the challenged policy guidance as no longer in effect. As a result, immigration benefit applications that had been frozen under the policies have resumed moving through the adjudication process.
The ruling is expected to have its greatest immediate impact on Afghan nationals and other affected applicants already residing in the United States with pending applications for adjustment of status, asylum-related benefits, employment authorization and naturalization.
However,
we can't all be heroes. Somebody has to sit on the curb and applaud when they go by... the decision does not invalidate the presidential travel restrictions affecting Afghanistan and other countries. It also does not restart the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, resume Operation Enduring Welcome, reopen overseas visa processing, or affect Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applications handled by U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.
The court resolved the dispute solely on administrative law grounds and declined to issue a permanent injunction or rule on broader constitutional claims.
The Justice Department has appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. While the challenged USCIS policies remain invalid, the government may still seek emergency relief from the appellate court as the litigation continues.
Worldwide Caution: Due to heightened tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation. We remind Americans in the region of the continued need for caution and encourage them to monitor the news for breaking… pic.twitter.com/A3LKEQSRiO
…monitor the news for breaking developments. The Department of State advises Americans worldwide, and especially in the Middle East, to exercise increased caution. Americans abroad should follow the guidance in security alerts issued by the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Flight cancellations and periodic airspace closures may cause travel disruptions. U.S. diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted. Groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or locations associated with the United States and/or Americans throughout the world. Please read carefully our Travel Advisory, country information, and any recent security alerts when planning travel at http://travel.state.gov/destination. Full alert: https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/global-events/worldwide-caution.html.
#1
Haven't we been hearing this? How about putting out an article were you may run into American who will return the favor. Just love how the media makes us all look like bunch of bitches just because they are!
Posted by: chris ||
07/19/2026 4:35 Comments ||
Top||
[Dawn] The United States has closed its consulate in Beautiful Downtown Peshawar ...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistain's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire... , transferring diplomatic responsibilities for Pakistain’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province to the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad as part of a broader restructuring of its diplomatic presence in the country.
The U.S. Consulate General in Peshawar announced on X that engagement with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will now be handled by the embassy’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Unit (KPU) in Islamabad. It also said the consulate’s official social media accounts have been discontinued.
The mission advised the public to follow the U.S. Embassy in Pakistain’s official communication channels for information on consular services and diplomatic activities, including economic cooperation, security coordination and outreach across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
The consulate did not provide a reason for ending operations. However,
we can't all be heroes. Somebody has to sit on the curb and applaud when they go by... the U.S. State Department has previously cited security concerns when outlining plans to close the mission.
The State Department has also informed Congress that the closure is expected to reduce operating costs by approximately $7.5 million annually.
The move is part of a broader reorganization of U.S. diplomatic operations in Pakistain, with diplomatic and consular functions for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa expected to continue through the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
07/19/2026 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[267 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan
[Rudaw] Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced on Saturday that seven banks previously banned from dealing with foreign currencies can resume transactions in US dollars after "meeting compliance and governance requirements," citing an "understanding" between the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) and the US Department of Treasury.
"The qualification of seven Iraqi banks to resume correspondent banking in foreign currencies, as a step toward restoring their eligibility to conduct transactions in U.S. dollars upon meeting compliance and governance requirements, reflects the success of the government's financial reform agenda," Zaidi wrote in a post on X.
He added that he will continue to support financial and banking reforming while reinforcing "the principles of transparency and good governance in a manner that serves Iraq's interests and enhances its regional and international economic standing."
In early 2024, the CBI barred eight local commercial banks from conducting transactions in US dollars, blocking their access to the CBI's daily dollar auction over illicit dollar flows and currency smuggling to Iraq.
The banks included Ashur International Bank for Investment, Investment Bank of Iraq, Union Bank of Iraq, Arabia Islamic Bank, and al-Huda Bank.
Al-Huda Bank was specifically targeted for routing billions of dollars to Iran-backed groups.
Previously, in mid-2023, the US Treasury had banned 14 other Iraqi banks.
The banks had allegedly used fraudulent trade invoices to exploit the auction, siphoning dollars out of the formal Iraqi economy and smuggling them straight into Iran, Syria, and sanctioned gangs.
Brian E. Nelson, under-secretary for the Treasury's anti-terrorism unit, said at the time that "Iraq has made significant progress in rooting out illicit activity from its financial system, but unscrupulous actors continue to seek to take advantage of the Iraqi economy to raise and move money for illicit activity."
Iraq's international oil revenues are directly deposited into the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, giving the US substantial leverage in influencing Baghdad's fiscal and financial policies.
The US Department of Treasury suspended the delivery of dollar banknotes to Iraq in late February, coinciding with the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran.
In April, the restrictions culminated in the pausing of $500 million in physical cash deliveries.
However,
some men learn by reading. A few learn by observation. The rest have to pee on the electric fence for themselves... Washington lifted the four-month-long dollar pause earlier in July.
Notably, Zaidi's announcement comes just days before he concludes his week-long visit to the United States, where he has signed 48 deals and memoranda of understanding with the US government and companies across a wide range of fields, including oil, electricity, and technology.
Iraq, US enter 'long-term partnerships' as they sign nearly 50 deals
[Rudaw] American and Iraqi officials on Friday signaled a new phase in bilateral business engagement in the oil sector, as Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's week-long visit to the United States has resulted in the signing of nearly 50 deals between the two countries in various fields.
Baghdad has forged "long-term partnerships with major global corporations, such as Chevron, ExxonMobil, Halliburton, and KBR," Iraqi Oil Minister Basem Mohammed Khudair al-Abadi told Rudaw in Washington on Friday.
"These partnerships aim to develop the oil industry and elevate production capacities for both oil and gas," he added.
Meanwhile,
...back at the pound, the little lost dog had finished eating the rat terrier... US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said an "exciting new chapter" between Iraq and the US is unfolding to expand business relations as a "strategic partnership that lasts a long-term has a large commercial component."
"Today was a big day for the US relationship with Iraq," he told Rudaw.
Zaidi met with US President Donald Trump ...dictatorial for repealing some (but not all) of the diktats of his predecessor, misogynistic because he likes pretty girls, homophobic because he doesn't think gender bending should be mandatory, truly a man for all seasons... on Tuesday and said his visit "was not like any visit" by former Iraqi officials. He framed it as an "announcement of economic" rather than "military" partnership.
He added that Iraq's current economic situation necessitates "a strategic partner" to help steer the economy forward, pointing to the US as "the most strategic partner in the world" in that regard.
Accordingly, his office said on Saturday that Zaidi has "sponsored the signing of 48 agreements, memoranda of understanding, cooperation agreements, and partnership declarations between various public and private sectors in Iraq and the United States."
Commenting on the deals involving oil and electricity, Oil Minister Abadi told Rudaw that they aim to "bring an end to the issue of flared gas and to search for new sources of free or associated gas in order to secure the fuel needed for electricity generation."
"This will ultimately secure substantial financial revenues for Iraq, which will be utilized to build infrastructure and develop the country," he explained.
The development comes as the US plans to withdraw troops from Iraq by the end of September and shift the partnership with Iraq toward a political and economic one.
Kurdish firms secure major US partnerships at Washington business summit
[Rudaw] Kurdish business leaders on Friday announced new partnerships with major American companies during the US-Iraq High-Level Business Summit in Washington, highlighting growing private-sector ties as Baghdad and Washington shift their relationship toward long-term economic cooperation during the high-level visit by the Iraqi government delegation.
Among the largest announcements, Barham Company signed an agreement with US engineering giant KBR to develop gas processing infrastructure in Iraq.
"We are here today to sign a contract with the American company KBR, which is a massive and major company," Shwana Azeez of Barham Company told Rudaw at the summit. "The goal is to refine the raw gas we extract and turn it into liquefied gas and dry gas for electricity generation."
He said the project will be implemented in phases, with "the first stage approximately $800 million, and the second stage reaches $2 billion," adding that the agreement was signed "in the presence of the Iraqi Prime Minister."
Sardar al-Bebany, CEO of Sardar Group, announced an expanded partnership with US powersports manufacturer Polaris, saying the company would now exclusively represent the brand across Iraq after previously operating in the Kurdistan Region.
The business announcements came as Iraqi and American officials on Friday unveiled nearly 50 agreements during Zaidi's week-long visit to Washington, signaling a broader shift in bilateral relations from security cooperation toward long-term economic and commercial partnerships.
"We had worked with them in Kurdistan previously, but now, we will start working exclusively for the entire Iraqi market," Bebany said, adding that the agreement covers "automobiles, motorcycles, and various types of mobility."
"So far, we have reached $30 million in business with Polaris. We hope that once we start our operations in cities outside of Kurdistan, it will reach $60 million," he added.
Sabah Bajger of Cihan Group said the summit brought together senior Iraqi officials and business leaders seeking new investment opportunities.
"Many businessmen, entrepreneurs, and company owners participated. We, as entrepreneurs from Kurdistan, took part in this major conference," he said.
Bajger described the attendance of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi as "a great support for all the businessmen who came to find work and business opportunities," adding that Cihan Group hoped to showcase its business activities during the event.
Samir Khther of Ziko Company said his firm is expanding environmental projects with major international energy companies to reduce gas flaring.
"We have contracts with Chevron, ExxonMobil, and BP," he said, explaining that the company's projects aim to prevent gas flares from emitting black smoke.
"Our job is to prevent flares from emitting black smoke, which impacts the health and lives of citizens," Khther said.
He added that Ziko now has contracts with Lukoil, BP, Shell, and South Gas in southern Iraq and has also begun similar work in the Kurdistan Region.
"We have started working in Kurdistan with the Bazian and Lanaz refineries... We will assist them in providing a safer and cleaner environment for our citizens," he said.
Zaidi has described the visit as the beginning of an "economic" rather than "military" partnership with the US, while Iraqi officials said the agreements include major investments in oil, gas, electricity, and infrastructure.
Iraqi Oil Minister Basem Mohammed Khudair al-Abadi said the partnerships with companies including Chevron, ExxonMobil, Halliburton, and KBR are intended to expand Iraq's oil and gas production, reduce gas flaring, and secure fuel supplies for electricity generation. The agreements come ahead of the planned withdrawal of US-led coalition forces from Iraq by the end of September, with both countries seeking to deepen political and economic cooperation.
Iraq, Syria sign deal to construct pipeline
[Rudaw] Iraq and Syria on Friday signed an initial deal, supported by the US, to construct a pipeline connecting Kirkuk to Baniyas.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Washington under the auspices of US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. The deal aims to "enhance joint cooperation in the oil and gas sectors," the Iraqi oil ministry said in a statement on Friday.
"The agreement focuses on the implementation of the 'Vital Energy Corridor' project, designed to connect oil production to global export markets via the Mediterranean Sea," it added. "It involves the construction of a pipeline extending to the Syrian coast on the Mediterranean, aimed at diversifying export routes and strengthening regional energy security."
Under the agreement, the Kirkuk-Baniyas pipeline, which was constructed decades ago but was damaged during the Syrian civil war, will be renovated, Syrian state media reported.
Ahmed Qabbaji, deputy CEO of the Syrian Petroleum Company, told Rudaw's Nalin Hassan on Friday that the new pipeline will replace the old line. He noted that the new line's capacity will reach two million barrels per day, and it is expected to be completed within 30 months of the agreement being signed.
The agreement was signed during the US-Iraq High-Level Business Summit in Washington, hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce. It was part of a wider package of roughly 50 agreements and memorandums of understanding between Iraq and the United States valued at a combined $60 billion.
Tom Barrack, US Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq, also attended the event.
US President Donald Trump's "new paradigm of Middle East nation states connectivity alliances paired with Iraq's young, bold, and visionary PM @alZaidi, is charting a transformative corridor across Mesopotamia, the Levant, Türkiye, and the Gulf—rendering the Strait of Hormuz far less consequential very soon," he later said in a post on X.
The project will be implemented by a US-led consortium that includes Chevron.
The development comes against the backdrop of Washington’s efforts to diminish the significance of the Strait of Hormuz, which has been used by Iran as a trump card during its ongoing war with the US. Iraq exported most of its oil through the waterway before its closure.
Posted by: trailing wife ||
07/19/2026 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[163 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Iraq
[NYPost] Israel’s foreign minister says Hamas financed the Gaza Aid flotilla and that one of the organization’s own activists was an agent of the terrorist group.
Gideon Saar levelled the accusations at the global conference countering left-wing terrorism, chaired by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, DC Thursday.
Saar claimed that Israel obtained internal Hamas documents that showed the terrorist group was secretly behind the Global Sumud Flotilla and used it as a front for its own murderous agenda.
“Hamas documents seized by the IDF indicate financing, operational involvement, and covert ownership of the vessels through a Spanish shell company,” he said.
The Muslim Brotherhood, alongside Hamas, funded and directed the flotilla via a shell company, Saar said, according to The Jerusalem Post.
He pointed the finger at International Freedom Flotilla Coalition founder Zaher Birawi for allegedly being a Hamas agent.
The International Freedom Flotilla Coalition is one of the groups behind the Global Sumud Flotilla, which has repeatedly attempted to sail to Gaza amid Israel’s war with Hamas.
Hamas documents signed by former leader Ismail Haniyeh and obtained by the Israeli Defense Forces in 2021 state that Birawi is an agent of the terrorist group, Saar claimed.
The US Treasury sanctioned Birawi along with another group he founded, the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad, for being linked with Hamas in January.
“Senior Hamas activists are running these campaigns from Britain and other Western capitals,” Saar said.
Flotilla activist and alleged sex pest Thiago Avila was also seen attending the funeral of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in photos displayed by the foreign minister.
Nasrallah was killed in a September 2024 Israeli airstrike after joining Hamas’ brutal Oct. 7 rampage against the Jewish state that killed the most Jews in a single day since the Holocaust.
Avila was accused of “sexual misconduct” with at least three volunteers on the flotilla by multiple left-wing activist groups.
[IsraelTimes] Political swings offer rare good news for Israel as hostile governments are replaced by pro-Israel conservatives – though local Jews wait to see what impact, if any, that may have at home.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.