₦airaland Forum

The Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns, posted this picture with Ahmed Al Ahmed, the man who disarmed a shooter during the Bondi Beach attack yesterday.

Ahmed sustained injuries during the confrontation and is now recovering in hospital.

Minns wrote: "Ahmed is a real-life hero. Last night, his incredible bravery no doubt saved countless lives when he disarmed a terrorist at enormous personal risk.

"It was an honour to spend time with him just now and to pass on the thanks of people across NSW."

Brand Mini

People walk as police officers stand guard on the street following a shooting incident at Bondi Beach, in Sydney, Australia, December 14, 2025.
People walk as police officers stand guard on the street following a shooting incident at Bondi Beach, in Sydney, Australia, December 14, 2025.
Australian authorities are investigating whether Iran may be linked to a deadly shooting at a Jewish holiday event in Sydney, according to a Jewish community leader cited by The Times of Israel, after police declared the attack a terrorist incident that killed at least 12 people.

Police said gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah gathering at Bondi Beach on Sunday. One suspected attacker was killed and another was in critical condition, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon told reporters, adding authorities were examining whether a third gunman was involved.

Jeremy Leibler, president of the Zionist Federation of Australia, told The Times of Israel that Australia’s foreign ministry was examining whether Iran could be behind the attack.

“The Foreign Ministry tells me it is investigating whether Iran is behind the shooting. To me, that says there is a real possibility,” he said.

Australian officials have not publicly confirmed any foreign involvement. Lanyon urged calm and said investigators were working through multiple lines of inquiry.

Later in the day, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei condemned the attack, saying: “We condemn the violent attack in Sydney, Australia. Terror violence and mass killing shall be condemned, wherever they’re committed.”

In August, Australia accused Iran of involvement in two antisemitic arson attacks and ordered its ambassador to leave the country within seven days.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said intelligence gathered by the Australian Security Intelligence Organization showed Iran had directed attacks on a kosher restaurant in Sydney and a synagogue in Melbourne last year.

Israeli authorities said they were also investigating responsibility for the attack amid concerns it may have been orchestrated by a state actor or militant groups, Ynet said.

Israeli officials cited Iran as a primary suspect if a state were involved, while also examining possible links to groups including Hezbollah, Hamas and Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, according to Israeli media reports.

A senior Israeli security official told Israel Hayom that “in recent months there has been increased activity by Iran to orchestrate attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets around the world,” adding that investigators believed the “direction and infrastructure” of the attack originated in Tehran.

An Israeli intelligence source cited by the newspaper said activity by Iran and its allies had “markedly increased” in recent months. Iran has not commented on the allegations.

The Bondi Beach shooting came almost 11 years after the 2014 Lindt Cafe siege in Sydney. Two police officers were among those injured in Sunday’s attack, authorities said.

Leibler said the shooting could have lasting consequences for Australia’s Jewish community.

“I’m trying to process what impact this is going to have on the Jewish community of Australia,” he said, calling it one of the deadliest attacks on Jews globally in recent years. He added that concerns about antisemitism were already prompting some members of the community to consider leaving Australia.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack and said authorities would bring those responsible to justice.

joeyswift:
The man is not a Muslim as falsely circulated by bigots. His name is Edward Crabtree. Google it.

He is a Syrian Muslim named Ahmed AlAhmed

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-15/bondi-beach-shooting-fruit-shop-gunman-hero-parents-speak/106143864

What we know so far about Bondi Beach Hanukkah shooting

Twelve people have died - including one gunman - following a shooting at Australia's Bondi Beach which targeted the Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah.

According to police, 29 others were taken to hospital and two officers were shot during the incident, which has since been declared a terror attack by officials. The surviving gunman is in a critical condition.

More than 1,000 people were attending an event on the beach celebrating Hanukkah.

Chris Minns, the premier of New South Wales, said: "Our heart bleeds for Australia's Jewish community tonight.

"I can only imagine the pain that they're feeling right now to see their loved ones killed as they celebrate this ancient holiday".

Mass shootings in Australia are very rare, and the attack at Bondi is the deadliest incident in the country since the Port Arthur massacre in 1996 when 35 people were killed by a lone gunman.

Here's what we know so far:


Apart from police confirming one gunman as dead, details on who has been killed and injured are sparse.

Twelve people including one of the armed men have been confirmed dead by police. Another gunman is said to be in a critical condition.

Officials say 29 other people were taken to hospital, and two officers were also shot during the incident.

One eyewitness, Barry, was attending the Hanukkah event on Bondi when with his children when he heard gunshots.

He told the BBC he saw two men on a bridge shooting towards the crowd.

He said there were bodies on the ground. He and his children were able to escape with a friend in a car, he added.

Police have declared Sunday's shooting a terror attack.

An exclusion zone has been set up around the scene as police use specialist equipment to check improvised explosive devices (IEDs) found in a car linked to the dead gunman, and police are still urging the public to avoid the area."

"No stone will be left unturned" in the investigation, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said during a press conference.

He said police would not release any information about the gunmen at this time, and urged for calm while police carry out their duties, adding that this was "not a time for retribution".

Mr Lanyon also said police had been "aware" of one of the alleged suspects but they had "very, very little knowledge" of him.

Police said they cannot confirm if there was a third gunman involved or if there was anyone else involved in the attack, but enquires are ongoing.

Australia's spy chief Mike Burgess later said it was too early to give any details about whether the men were on the security services' radars, before adding: "One of these individuals was known to us but not [from] an immediate threat perspective so obviously we need to look at what happened."

During a televised address, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the Bondi Beach shooting "an act of evil antisemitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation".

"We have seen Australians today run towards dangers in order to help others. These Australians are heroes and their bravery has saved lives", he added.

What is Hannukah?
Hanukkah, or Chanukah in Hebrew, is the Jewish festival of light.

The word Hanukkah means 'dedication' and celebrates one of the greatest miracles in Jewish history.

The dates of Hanukkah change every year, but it will always fall in November or December and lasts for eight days.

An event to mark the first day of the celebration was taking place on Bondi Beach at the time of the shooting.

A digital flyer for the event, named Chanuka by the Sea 2025, shows it was scheduled to take place near the beach's children's playground from 17:00 local time (06:00 GMT) on Sunday.

Organised by Jewish centre Chabad of Bondi, the event was set to feature live entertainment and activities "for all ages". Around 1,000 people were said to be in attendance.

Ahmad Al Ahmad, a Muslim father of two in Sydney, intervened during the shooting, seized the gunman's weapon, and helped stop the attack despite having no firearms training.

Read more: http://en.royanews.tv/news/65740

What we know so far about Bondi Beach Hanukkah shooting

Twelve people have died - including one gunman - following a shooting at Australia's Bondi Beach which targeted the Jewish community on the first day of Hanukkah.

According to police, 29 others were taken to hospital and two officers were shot during the incident, which has since been declared a terror attack by officials. The surviving gunman is in a critical condition.

More than 1,000 people were attending an event on the beach celebrating Hanukkah.

Chris Minns, the premier of New South Wales, said: "Our heart bleeds for Australia's Jewish community tonight.

"I can only imagine the pain that they're feeling right now to see their loved ones killed as they celebrate this ancient holiday".

Mass shootings in Australia are very rare, and the attack at Bondi is the deadliest incident in the country since the Port Arthur massacre in 1996 when 35 people were killed by a lone gunman.

Here's what we know so far:

Bondi Beach is located in eastern Sydney in the state of New South Wales, on Australia's east coast.

It is one of Australia's most popular beaches, attracting millions of visitors each year. The area is a significant attraction for tourists.

What happened at Bondi Beach?
New South Wales (NSW) police responded to reports of gunfire at around 18:47 local time (07:47 GMT), with video showing hundreds of people fleeing from the coastline.

In their initial statement posted on X, NSW Police urged people at the scene to take shelter and other members of the public to avoid the area.

Around the same time, local media began reporting people "on the ground" in the vicinity of Campbell Parade.

A video verified by the BBC appears to shows two gunmen firing from a small bridge which crosses from the car park on Campbell Parade towards the beach itself.

An event to mark the first day of the Jewish celebration Hanukkah was taking place on Bondi Beach, very close to the bridge where the men were firing from. More than 1,000 were in attendance.

Premier Minns also paid tribute to a man filmed wrestling a gun from one of the attackers.

"That man is a genuine hero, and I've got no doubt there are many, many people alive tonight as a result of his bravery," Minns said at a press conference.

In the video, the man is seen sneaking up on the attacker, before grabbing him in a bear hug.

The now-disarmed man then retreats back towards the bridge, where the other attacker is still firing from.

As the video continues, another man appears to be injured and flees the scene, as a policeman arrives behind the attackers and opens fire at them.

A separate video, also verified, shows several policemen on the same bridge. One appears to be administering CPR to a motionless man as someone shouts "he's dead, he's dead".

Apart from police confirming one gunman as dead, details on who has been killed and injured are sparse.

Twelve people including one of the armed men have been confirmed dead by police. Another gunman is said to be in a critical condition.

Officials say 29 other people were taken to hospital, and two officers were also shot during the incident.

One eyewitness, Barry, was attending the Hanukkah event on Bondi when with his children when he heard gunshots.

He told the BBC he saw two men on a bridge shooting towards the crowd.

He said there were bodies on the ground. He and his children were able to escape with a friend in a car, he added.

Police have declared Sunday's shooting a terror attack.

An exclusion zone has been set up around the scene as police use specialist equipment to check improvised explosive devices (IEDs) found in a car linked to the dead gunman, and police are still urging the public to avoid the area."

"No stone will be left unturned" in the investigation, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said during a press conference.

He said police would not release any information about the gunmen at this time, and urged for calm while police carry out their duties, adding that this was "not a time for retribution".

Mr Lanyon also said police had been "aware" of one of the alleged suspects but they had "very, very little knowledge" of him.

Police said they cannot confirm if there was a third gunman involved or if there was anyone else involved in the attack, but enquires are ongoing.

Australia's spy chief Mike Burgess later said it was too early to give any details about whether the men were on the security services' radars, before adding: "One of these individuals was known to us but not [from] an immediate threat perspective so obviously we need to look at what happened."

During a televised address, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the Bondi Beach shooting "an act of evil antisemitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation".

"We have seen Australians today run towards dangers in order to help others. These Australians are heroes and their bravery has saved lives", he added.

What is Hannukah?
Hanukkah, or Chanukah in Hebrew, is the Jewish festival of light.

The word Hanukkah means 'dedication' and celebrates one of the greatest miracles in Jewish history.

The dates of Hanukkah change every year, but it will always fall in November or December and lasts for eight days.

An event to mark the first day of the celebration was taking place on Bondi Beach at the time of the shooting.

A digital flyer for the event, named Chanuka by the Sea 2025, shows it was scheduled to take place near the beach's children's playground from 17:00 local time (06:00 GMT) on Sunday.

Organised by Jewish centre Chabad of Bondi, the event was set to feature live entertainment and activities "for all ages". Around 1,000 people were said to be in attendance.

The US has intensified its conflict with the International Criminal Court (ICC), threatening severe sanctions unless its demands are met. Chief among them is an extraordinary request to amend the Rome Statute to bar the ICC from ever investigating or prosecuting President Donald Trump or senior US officials. Washington is also demanding the ICC drop its Gaza investigations into Israeli leaders, including ICC arrest warrants issued last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, and formally end a past probe into alleged war crimes by US troops in Afghanistan. The US says the ICC violates American sovereignty and warns that failure to comply could result in sanctions on the court itself.#DWAfrica

Congo and Rwanda Asked U.S. to Please Take Their Minerals After I Ended Their W+r — Pres. Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump stirred controversy on Tuesday during a campaign-style economic address in Pennsylvania, asserting that he personally ended conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda and that both nations asked the United States to “come and take our minerals.”

“I ended the war between the Congo and Rwanda. They told me, ‘Please, please, we would like you to come and take our minerals.’ Which we’ll do,” Trump said on December 9, 2025, drawing loud reactions from the audience.

His claim immediately prompted debate online, with critics accusing him of misrepresenting U.S. diplomatic involvement in the region, while supporters praised the comment as evidence of his foreign-policy assertiveness.

Analysts warned that Trump’s remarks about “taking” minerals could inflame sensitivities in a region historically shaped by extractive foreign involvement. Policy observers also noted that the U.S. government has not announced any new mineral-access agreements with either country.

Trump’s Pennsylvania speech was intended to focus on inflation, trade and domestic manufacturing, but the Africa comments quickly became one of the most discussed moments of the event.

Whether his claim reflects a formal policy position, an informal conversation with African leaders, or campaign rhetoric remains unclear.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXYUf5cZ34c?si=gVgN9E4ehIhFXoU_

Since Germany only cares about donkeys in Palestine and tried to get them evacuated to Germany, will they condemn these crimes by Israeli settlers?

Illegal israeli settlers stole a donkey from a 10-year- old Palestinian boy from Al Ma'azi Bedouin community, near the village of Jaba in the occupied West Bank. Then, they slaughtered the donkey, stabbed, stoned and hung it to death.

New this year, the Assembly adopted a text on “International Day against Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations” (document A/C.4/80/L.5), by which it decided to proclaim 14 December as the International Day against Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations, to be observed annually beginning in 2025. That text was adopted by a recorded vote of 116 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States) with 54 abstentions.

The Assembly adopted, without a vote, the draft resolution titled “Question of Western Sahara” (document A/C.4/80/L.4), by which the 193-member organ welcomed the commitment of the parties to continue to show political will and work in an atmosphere propitious for dialogue, in order to enter into a more intensive phase of negotiations, in good faith and without preconditions.

Also under decolonization, the Assembly adopted texts on “Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations”, “Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories”; “Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations”; and “Offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories”. It also adopted territory-specific resolutions concerning the questions of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Tokelau, Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands, as well as a decision on Gibraltar.

Israel's extremist National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, wears a noose-shaped pin to the Knesset National Security Committee in a discussion on a bill to execute Palestinian detainees.

"We all agreed to wear the pin. It represents one of the options for carrying out the death penalty. Of course, there is the option of hanging, the electric chair, and also lethal injection," said Gvir.

UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese says Israel has detained nearly one million Palestinians since 1967, including tens of thousands of children, and that around 1,100 people are currently held without charge or trial.

LIVE

The number of Israeli soldiers receiving treatment for psychological disorders has surged since Israel launched its genocidal war on Palestine's Gaza two years ago, an Israeli Defense Ministry official said on December 8.

Tamar Shimoni, deputy head of the ministry's Rehabilitation Department, told Israel's Army Radio that the ministry had treated about 62,000 psychological cases on the evening of October 7, 2023. That number has since climbed to roughly 85,000 - an increase she described as "unprecedented."

She added that one-third of Israeli soldiers are facing psychological problems linked to the events of October 7, alongside a rise in drug addictions, and that a single therapist now handles up to 750 patients.

According to Israeli military data published in October 2025, the army recorded 279 suicide attempts - with 36 resulting in deaths - over the past 18 months.

mikeapollo:
If Israel wanted to steal lands, they would not have returned lands to Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon which they had taken over and seized during previous wars. If you see them on any land, it is for their security because they are surrounded by people who want to annihilate them in a second.
But Judea and Samaria (the so called West Bank0 is purely Israeli and Jewish land.

They never returned west Bank which was controlled by Jordan.

Israeli forces have begun constructing a wall deep inside southern Lebanon, according to reports, amid ongoing strikes on the south and increasing threats of a renewed offensive.

Israeli media reports claimed the construction of the massive concrete wall two kilometres into Lebanese territory, facing the border towns of Maroun al-Ras and Aitaroun.

In Aitaroun, Israeli forces blew up three homes early Tuesday morning after destroying other buildings in the village of Houla.

The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said the wall is believed to be part of five "strategic sites" that Israel is still occupying along the Blue Line, the temporary boundary drawn by the UN after Israel left south Lebanon in 2000.

Images of the wall have circulated online, extending beyond the Blue Line and adjacent to the northern Israeli town of Avivim.

Israel's military was meant to withdraw from Lebanon after last year's devastating war with Hezbollah, but has instead maintained forces in several border posts beyond the border and is refusing to withdraw unless the Iran-backed movement is disarmed.

In recent weeks, Israel has stepped up waves of airstrikes on southern Lebanon and parts of the east, near the border with Syria, claiming to be targeting Hezbollah fighters and assets. Israel alleges that Hezbollah is using the ceasefire to rearm, despite facing severe blows in recent years, such as the killing of former leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Hundreds of Lebanese have been killed, including many civilians, in Israeli air strikes since a 27 November 2024 ceasefire was brokered by Washington.

The Israeli military claims it killed 15 Hezbollah fighters since the start of November 2025 alone, and 40 fighters last month.

Last week, it launched heavy strikes on southern Lebanon, hours after Hezbollah said in a statement it opposed negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, which Washington is pushing for to end the conflict.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has agreed to indirect talks, but says Israel has responded to the initiative with more violence.

No Lebanese officials have commented on the construction of the wall, but have repeatedly called on the US to pressure Israel to commit to the ceasefire.

Lebanese army refuses home searches
Hezbollah was significantly weakened in the war with Israel, which began in October 2023 as cross-border clashes escalated into a full-blown war less than a year later.

In line with the ceasefire deal and Beirut’s efforts to end military dualism in the country, the Lebanese government has pledged to disarm the group through a five-phase army plan.

But the Iran-backed movement has refused the plan, saying that it will not disarm under Israeli or US pressure.

Backed by UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL), the Lebanese army has already been dismantling Hezbollah sites south of the Litani River near the Lebanese border, and media reports suggest about 90 percent of the work there has been completed.

Under a government plan approved in August, the army has until the year's end to clear the area south of the Litani of all arms, tunnels, and other infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah before moving onto the next phase.

But the army has also complained that frequent Israeli strikes and continued occupation of several border points make it harder for Lebanon to continue work in the region.

Reports on Monday said the army had refused an Israeli request sent via mediators to search civilian homes in the south for weapons.

Israeli officials have said that if the Lebanese Armed Forces do not speed up efforts to disarm Hezbollah, Israel will do so itself.

Fires break out
At least one person was killed on Monday in an Israeli strike in Baisariyeh, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

The Israeli military said it had killed Samir Ali Faqih, whom it accused of smuggling weapons for the group.

Later in the night, several fires broke out in the south following Israeli strikes.

Fires were reported on the outskirts of Jarmaq, Mahmoudiyeh, Al-Aishiyeh, and Al-Rihan and in the Jezzine district, although civil defence teams quickly extinguished the flames.

Huge fires were reported elsewhere in Mount Lebanon, particularly in the Iqlim al-Kharroub region, but unrelated to the strikes.

Today: A twenty-eight year old Palestinian man, Owais Hammam, from the village of Khirbet Bani Harith, Ramallah district, is hospitalised at the Palestine Medical Complex for treatment after having been kidnapped and brutally assaulted by Israeli settlers with the assistance of the Israeli military. He was left with serious injuries across his body. His hands and feet were bound before being physically dragged to one of the nearby settlement outposts. Once there the brutal and severe joint attack by the settlers and soldiers took place. During his experience he was also threatened with a gun that was cocked near his ear and he was told he would be killed. He was tortured and deprived of sleep during his horrendous abduction ordeal. Hammam was kidnapped from a remote area which he used to visit for prayer, solitude, and reflection.photos: @faiz Abu Rmeleh / Activestills

alpharoyalty:
Hamas and Islamic jihadist must be uprooted from Palestine and returned to Assyria, their root. That country was supposed to be a beautiful peaceful country.

How about Golan height, the region of Syria Israel is currently occupying, a region it seized in 1967? How about the Israeli daily bombing of Syria, the Israeli soldiers currently in southern Syria, killing syrians

exposition:
And you've not seen rallies and protest in the north in support of Palestine? Or the video of the imam openly praying for the destruction of Israel when Boko Haram was in his backyard.. Some of you and hypocrisy name 5 and 6

Have you taken your time to ask why they support Palestinians? Or you just hate outrightly without rational reasoning?

How about the persecution of Christians in Occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip?? They don't matter?? Or are also Terrorists

SeverusSnape:
Mtcheeww... Yes, Most Christians and sane people support Israel, And are not apologetic about it. Should they support terrorists instead??

Isn't it hypocritical that Christians in Nigeria support Israel, same Israel that's killing Palestinian in occupied West Bank daily?? That they didn't celebrate Christmas for 2years due to Israeli genocide.

For two years during the Gaza war, all public celebrations for Christmas were cancelled in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank – where Christians believe Jesus was born.

But after the recent ceasefire, the holy city decided that this year the festivities would return as symbolised by the lighting of its traditional, giant Christmas tree in front of the historic Nativity Church.

"It's been a bad two years of silence; no Christmas, no jobs, no work," says Bethlehem Mayor Maher Canawati. "We're all living here from tourism and tourism was down to zero."

The mayor accepts that the idea of resuming celebrations was not without controversy, as suffering continues in Gaza – including for those in its tiny Christian community, many of whom have relatives in Bethlehem.

"Some may say it's not appropriate and others say it's appropriate," Mr Canawati tells me. "But deep inside my heart, I felt that this was the right thing to do because Christmas should never be stopped or cancelled. This is the light of hope for us."

Locals – both Christians and Muslims - pose for selfies in front of the tree hung with red and gold baubles in Manger Square. They are joined by a handful of foreign tourists.

Brightly coloured lights now decorate the streets and there are signs advertising Christmas bazaars and children's parties.

"We're very happy to have the tree, first thing, and to see foreigners in Bethlehem and to be able to celebrate Christmas in its true spirit," says local jewellery designer Nadya Hazboun.

"This is where it all started, so this is where we can send the message to the world of what really Christmas should be about. And this year, if Christmas is peaceful, then I hope it will bring a nice message for the whole world."

The neighbouring towns of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour are also planning to light Christmas trees in the coming days. Hotels – which have stood largely empty for the past two years – have an influx of bookings from Palestinian citizens of Israel as well as some foreign visitors.

One tourist from Russia, Angelica, is on her second pilgrimage to the Holy Land. "I think everyone needs to come at least once in their life," she tells me.

"I hope a lot of people will soon come back because it's sad without many tourists. The only thing that's good is that you don't have long lines – you can come and see more things. When I came before you had to wait in line for a few hours minimum."

For now, the souvenir stores dotted around Bethlehem have little business, and outside the cream-coloured walls of the Nativity Church, which date back to the Fourth Century, tour guides largely stand idle. Prior to the Gaza war, it was often crammed with people.

One guide, Hamza, is worried that ongoing news coverage makes people feel the situation is still dangerous. He insists it is safe.

"This is a tourist city; without tourism there is no life," Hamza laments. "We hope to have people coming back like before: from Europe, the Middle East, America, Latin America and everywhere. We start with the Christmas tree lighting, and we'll wait."

In the past two years, unemployment has skyrocketed in Bethlehem. Since the deadly Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel in October 2023 which triggered the war, tens of thousands of Palestinian labourers from the West Bank have been blocked from entering Israel and its settlements for work.

Meanwhile, public servants have received only partial salaries by the Palestinian Authority (PA) – which governs parts of the West Bank. The PA relies on tax revenues collected by Israel which it is withholding – to the tune of $1.76 billion, according to the UN's trade and development agency.

Israel says it is holding the funds because the PA makes payments to Palestinian prisoners that incentivise attacks on Israelis. The authority – which has been under international pressure to make reforms – says it has recently changed its welfare system

The grim economic outlook means that for many Palestinian Christians, even though there are now public events as well as religious services, it will be an austere Christmas.

At the edge of Manger Square, a few customers are waiting to buy sizzling balls of falafel from a row of shops.

"We're preparing for Christmas after one of our hardest periods as Palestinians and as Christians," says Alaa Salameh, an owner of Afteem, a decades-old family restaurant which has seen its income plummet. He says that recently many families could not even afford falafel – a cheap, traditional snack.

"Christians will try to celebrate but according to their situation," Mr Salameh anticipates. "Someone who wants to take his kids to a festival or the theatre or whatever, he doesn't have the money to spend for this celebration."

In the cave-like grotto at the base of the Nativity Church, a local woman follows a small Indian tour group, stooping down by a silver star which marks the spot where it is said that Jesus was born and lighting a candle nearby.

With tensions still high across the region, people in Bethlehem say they are praying for peace – and hoping for tourists to come back to the place where it is believed Christmas began.

Several worshippers were also abducted during the assault, with the exact number yet to be verified.



Bandits in the early hours of Saturday launched a deadly attack on worshippers observing the Subh prayer in Kiba Ruwa, a community in the Sabon-Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

According to local sources who spoke with Egbe Mekun Parrots, the assailants stormed the mosque at dawn, opening fire on the congregants.

Two people including the imam who was leading the prayer were confirmed dead.

Several worshippers were also abducted during the assault, with the exact number yet to be verified.

Security agencies have reportedly been alerted, while residents remain in a state of fear as search and rescue efforts begin.

In neighbouring Kebbi State, bandits weeks ago attacked the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in the Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, where 26 schoolgirls were abducted.

All soldiers previously stationed at the school had been summoned to Abuja for interrogation as part of efforts to determine why the security post was vacated shortly before the attack.

Previously, SaharaReporters reported that Nasir Idris, the governor of Kebbi, expressed alarm over what he described as the “withdrawal of military personnel” from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, shortly before bandits stormed the facility and abducted several students.

The governor said the situation was particularly disturbing because the state had earlier received intelligence warning of a possible attack and had immediately convened a security meeting to address the threat.

“As a responsive government, when we received intelligence on a possible attack, we summoned a security meeting,” NAN quoted the governor as saying.

"The security agencies assured us that all was well and that personnel would be mobilised to the school.

“The military was deployed, but they later withdrew by 3am, and by 3:45am, the incident happened.”

Idris also said the state had demanded a thorough inquiry into the circumstances that led to the withdrawal of troops.

“Who authorised the military to withdraw?” How did security personnel pull out at such a critical time? That is our concern. We have asked the military to investigate and identify who gave that order,” the governor said.

The Maga District Head, Muhammad Dantani, also raised serious concerns over the role of the Nigerian military in the recent attack on Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi State, where armed bandits killed a staff member and abducted 25 students.


https://saharareporters.com/2025/12/06/breaking-bandits-attack-mosque-sokoto-community-kill-imam-one-other-abduct-worshippers

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar have agreed on a budget of roughly $725M for Israel advocacy campaigns, known as hasbara in Hebrew, as part of the 2026 budget.

The move came as Israel’s global image, particularly in the US and other Western countries, has been severely damaged by its genocidal war on Gaza, which has left the enclave in ruins and much of its population facing displacement, disease and hunger.

The budget will fund worldwide campaigns to promote Israel’s narrative, with the government having already authorised over $300M for the initiative. Under the new plan, Israel’s Foreign Ministry will receive $150M, in addition to its existing budget, for public diplomacy, an amount more than 20 times higher than such allocations in previous years.

The funds will be used for social media campaigns, partnerships with civil society organisations, and delegations of political leaders, elected officials, influencers and other public figures to push pro-Israel propaganda.

Israel has been using these campaigns to try to deny the reality of man-made famine and genocide in Gaza, instead “portraying a semblance of normalcy within the besieged enclave” since October 7, 2023.

So no one cares question it's tertorist master, Israel?? I thought those calling Palestinians tertorist are genuinely calling for end of all forms of terrorism

The US will access rare earth minerals in both DRC and Rwanda, President Donald Trump announced on Thursday when Presidents Felix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame signed what Washington termed a "permanent ceasefire" agreement.

Read more: https://www.trtafrika.com/english/article/652f452b2fa5

cr7lomo:
Terrorists treat innocent people like animals...burt u want same Terrorists to be treated with humanity....say wetin happen??

Do you read civilians?

Abu Shabab militia chief shot in Gaza gunfight, dies in Israeli hospital
Yasser Abu Shabab, head of a Gazan militia that had reportedly been collaborating with Israel, was rushed to an Israeli hospital after being shot in an internal clan scuffle.

Abu Shabab was accused several times of looting aid trucks in the Gaza Strip by aid truck drivers and international humanitarian officials.

In an interview quoted in The New York Times, Abu Shabab said that he did not raid the trucks and instead asserted that he was feeding his community.

“We are taking trucks so we can eat, not so we can sell,” he said, accusing Hamas of stealing aid.

The Jerusalem Post - Israel News

Jerusalem Post/Middle East
Abu Shabab militia chief shot in Gaza gunfight, dies in Israeli hospital
Yasser Abu Shabab, head of a Gazan militia that had reportedly been collaborating with Israel, was rushed to an Israeli hospital after being shot in an internal clan scuffle.

Yasser Abu Shabab, head of the anti-Hamas Abu Shabab militia in Gaza
Yasser Abu Shabab, head of the anti-Hamas Abu Shabab militia in Gaza
(photo credit: SAEED MOHAMMED/FLASH90, Wikimedia Commons)
ByGOLDIE KATZ, AMICHAI STEIN
DECEMBER 4, 2025 14:51
Updated: DECEMBER 4, 2025 16:47
Yasser Abu Shabab, head of the anti-Hamas Abu Shabab militia, was killed by assassins in Gaza, Israeli sources confirmed to The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.

The self-proclaimed "Popular Forces" of the Gaza Strip, the Abu Shabab militia, had reportedly been collaborating with Israel on anti-Hamas efforts in southern Gaza.


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Abu Shabab was killed in an internal clan scuffle, rather than by Hamas terrorists, a source confirmed.

According to the source, Abu Shabab was initially wounded and was evacuated to a southern Israel hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.

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Israeli media initially reported that Abu Shabab was evacuated to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba. However, the Beersheba hospital later clarified that he had neither been evacuated to Soroka nor had he died there.

Abu Shabab, a Bedouin man in his 30s, led the Popular Forces, a crime group in Gaza that is significantly smaller than Hamas.
Senior UN official Georgios Petropoulos once called him “the self-styled power broker of east Rafah,” according to the report.

Abu Shabab was accused several times of looting aid trucks in the Gaza Strip by aid truck drivers and international humanitarian officials.

In an interview quoted in The New York Times, Abu Shabab said that he did not raid the trucks and instead asserted that he was feeding his community.

“We are taking trucks so we can eat, not so we can sell,” he said, accusing Hamas of stealing aid.

The Popular Forces also said that it had safeguarded aid trucks entering the enclave.

“We confirm that 92 trucks were secured and entered areas under the protection of our popular forces, and exited safely under our supervision,” a post from the criminal group reads.

Leader of anti-Hamas militia killed in Gaza
Israeli public broadcaster KAN News reported that videos on social media allegedly showed separate members of the Abu Shabab militia being killed by people yelling chants in favor of Hamas.
In recent months, Hamas's military wing, the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades, claimed to have deterred the Abu Shabab militia.

In late October, the al-Qassam Brigades and Hamas's official media agency SAFA, claimed that they arrested "a number of militia members and confiscated military equipment and tools" used by the militia.

The deterrence force also claims to have carried out similar raids against Abu Shabab's militia several times in October, including on October 17, 15, 13, and 2, according to previous SAFA reports.

Source: https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-879199

15 years ago, self-proclaimed greatest nation America's twelve soldiers was charged in connection with a “kill team” accused of murdering Afghan civilians in Kandahar and collecting body parts as trophies.

According to investigators, members of the unit purportedly staged attacks, used grenades and rifles to kill unarmed men, and collected body parts, including fingers, as trophies. The case includes five soldiers charged with murder and aggravated assault, and seven others accused of covering up the killings and assaulting a fellow soldier who reported drug abuse within the unit.

Investigative files describe the scheme as beginning after the arrival of Staff Sergeant Calvin Gibbs, who was said to have spoken openly about tactics he previously used in Iraq and how easy it would be to “toss a grenade at someone and kill them.” Prosecutors allege Gibbs, Jeremy Morlock, and Andrew Holmes orchestrated staged encounters that led to the deaths of three Afghan men, Gul Mudin, Marach Agha, and Mullah Adadhdad. Some members of the unit reportedly posed for photographs with the bodies.

The case came to light after a newly trained soldier reported drug use in his platoon and was subsequently beaten and threatened. His report triggered a broader investigation that uncovered detailed accounts of the killings of Afghan civilians. Army officials say one soldier admitted involvement, though his attorney claims the confession was made while he was under the influence of prescription medication and suffering from a traumatic brain injury.

Three Italians and a Canadian were treated at a Jericho hospital on Sunday after being attacked by settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, AFP reported.

The Palestinian official news agency WAFA described them as “international activists.”

In Rome, the foreign ministry said in a statement that “three Italian international volunteers were attacked last night by Israeli settlers,” adding that they were “still in shock from the incident.”

Riyad Eid, director of the Jericho government hospital, told AFP: “Four foreigners arrived at the hospital this morning after being beaten by settlers, according to what they reported.

“They were suffering from bruises on the face for some of them, and on the chest, and one of them was beaten in a sensitive area.

“They were examined, given X-rays and ultrasound scans, provided with the necessary treatment and then discharged.”

More than 500,000 Israelis currently live in settlements in the West Bank, occupied since 1967, as do around three million Palestinians.

Violence in the West Bank has soared since the Hamas attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war in October 2023.

The United Nations said that October had been the worst month for settler violence since it began recording incidents in 2006, with 264 attacks that caused casualties or property damage.

One of the four, who had visible bruising and did not wish to be identified, told AFP that they were three people from Italy and one from Canada, staying in the Duyuk area on the western edge of Jericho in the central West Bank.

“We were asleep at night... 10 masked settlers came; two of them had guns, some of them had sticks,” they said.

“They kicked me multiple times in the face, in the ribs, in the hip.

“It lasted about 10 to 15 minutes. And then they took all of our things. They stole my passport, my phone, my wallet, my bank cards, and then they left.

“We had to have X-rays, painkillers. Our friend was beaten more severely than we were.”

Italy’s foreign ministry also said in its statement that “the settlers reportedly entered their home, attacked the volunteers, and stole all their personal belongings.”

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani “is following the incident,” in close contact with Italy’s consul general in Jerusalem, the statement said.

The Israeli army said on Monday that its forces killed two Palestinians in northern Gaza, claiming they had crossed into an area under its control according to the ceasefire agreement.

In a statement, the army said that troops from the Carmeli Brigade (2) shot dead the two Palestinians in separate incidents in the north of the strip, alleging that they posed “an immediate threat”. This is the same claim Israel often uses when it breaches the ceasefire.

Read: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20251202-israel-admits-killing-2-children-in-northern-gaza/

Adaisback:
The Israelites are very good people. They are only after Hamas and those Gazans knows it but are being economical with the truth. Ask yourself if the reverse is the case, what do you think will happen to Israel by now ?

Israelis not israelites

📰 ‘They killed his childhood’: West Bank family mourn child killed by Israel

By Mosab Shawer | Published On 25 Oct 2025

Al-Rihiya, occupied West Bank – On the morning of October 16, nine-year-old Muhammad al-Hallaq woke up for another day in his small village south of Hebron. His mother, Alia, prepared his clothes and breakfast, and packed three extra slices of pizza for him to share with his friends, just like he’d asked. Muhammad came back from school with a new backpack and put his books and notepads inside it, excited to take it to school after the weekend. He ate a bit of food and then went out to watch the birds, as he liked to do. Muhammad came home, messed around with some olives, and then went out again to play football. This time, the fourth-grader didn’t come back.

‘Muhammad was gone’

At the grocery store, Alia received a phone call from her uncle Ahmad asking if there were any clashes with Israeli forces nearby. Alia recounted screaming unconsciously, "'My son Muhammad, my son Muhammad!' I don’t know why, but a mother’s instincts are always right.” Muhammad’s eldest sister, Mais, 14, heard the gunfire in the evening and rushed outside. Both Mais and Alia were initially told their boy had been injured. Alia headed for the local hospital and was told he had been hit by a bullet and that his condition was good, and they would remove the bullet. However, she then heard whispers about his pulse stopping. She wanted to see Muhammad but wasn’t allowed in the operating theatre. Then, Alia heard the heart monitor give a long, piercing beep. Muhammad was dead, killed by Israeli forces operating in his village. “Muhammad was gone,” Alia said. “And with him, everything good.”

Lethal Force

Commenting on Muhammad’s killing, the United Nations Human Rights Office in the occupied Palestinian territory said it was “appalled.” The UN office added that Muhammed was the 1,001st Palestinian to be killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the occupied West Bank since October 7, 2023, including 213 children. The UN noted that the youngest child killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank was two-year-old Laila Khatib, shot in her home in Jenin in January during an Israeli raid.
The UN office stated that international standards require Israel to ensure an independent investigation of all incidents where individuals are killed. The UN concluded that the large number of Palestinians killed and the prevalence of the unlawful use of force suggest that Israeli forces "use lethal and potentially lethal force as a tool to control and repress Palestinians, rather than as the last resort to restore and maintain public order and civil life for the Palestinians.”
Muhammad and his friends are believed to have run when they saw Israeli military vehicles nearby, before Israeli soldiers began shooting.
An initial statement from the Israeli military claimed its forces were responding to suspects throwing rocks, though local reports indicate this did not happen or that Muhammad and his friends were involved. Israeli media have since reported that a preliminary military investigation had found that the shooting “deviated from the rules of engagement,” and that there had been “improper use of weaponry.”

‘A huge void’

Muhammad was the third of five siblings, including Mais (14), Jaddi (12), Sila (6), and Elias (4).
* Mourning Details: The white robe he wore for Friday prayers still lies neatly folded beside his bed, next to a small bottle of perfume. His books are stacked where he left them.

* Mother's Grief: “This is where Muhammad slept,” Alia said, pointing to the empty space. “They killed his childhood.”

* Siblings' Reaction: Sila refuses to go back to school, as her brother always walked alongside her. Mais said she collapsed when she heard Muhammad had died, explaining, “Muhammad wasn’t just a brother, he was my friend... I was afraid of sleeping in the dark, so he would stay with me until I fell asleep.”

* Father's Grief: His father, Bahjat, finds himself walking by the bag Muhammad received on his final school day, touching his bed, and breathing in the scent of his clothes. “His passing left a huge void,” said Bahjat. “I see him in every corner of the house.”

Mais concluded: “I still can’t believe he’s gone... and I never will.”


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