APsplainin Sahel Alliance, ECOWAS exit. Wagner Group (in | ex) filtration story developing ....
European Union calls for an investigation into the massacre of nearly 100 civilians in Burkina Faso

The killings took place in the village of Zaongo in the ["]Center-North["] region earlier this month, the EU said in a statement Sunday.

"The European Union calls on the transitional authorities to shed light on the circumstances of this killing in order to determine responsibility," it said. It's unclear who perpetrated the attacks, Burkina Faso's government didn't respond to a request for comment.
[...]
Earlier this month the junta enacted an emergency law against perceived dissidents to expand its crackdown, according to a report by Human Rights Watch. It notified at least a dozen journalists, civil society activists and opposition members that they'll be conscripted to participate in government security operations across the country, the report said. In its attempt to stem the jihadi threat, the government has enlisted tens of thousands of volunteer fighters, but civilians say the volunteers indiscriminately kill people suspected of working with the jihadis. Many communities say they're more afraid of the volunteers than the extremists.
[...]

APsplainin Israel charity, Hamas infrastructure. Wagner Group (in | ex) filtration story developing ....
EU nations condemn Hamas for what they describe as use of hospitals, civilians as 'human shields'

EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said Monday that at the same time the bloc asked Israel "for maximum restraint in targeting in order to avoid human casualties."

At a meeting of the bloc's foreign affairs ministers, Borrell brandished a statement he issued on behalf of the 27 nations as a show of unity following weeks of often contrasting statements on how the group should address the Israel-Hamas Palestine war.

Now, though, the EU nations said in a statement they join "calls for immediate pauses in hostilities and the establishment of humanitarian corridors, including through increased capacity at border crossings and through a dedicated maritime route, so that humanitarian aid can safely reach the population of Gaza."
[...]

Trmp called his political opponents "vermin" in his Veteran's Day speech (he didn't call veterans "suckers" this time though).  But I start to worry only when the violent demagogues of whatever flavor start calling their opponents "cockroaches." /snark

Solar IS Civil Defense

Lawsuit targets Biden administration over complicity in Gaza genocide

The Center for Constitutional Rights has filed a lawsuit against U.S. President Joe Biden, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin for failure to prevent, and complicity in, genocide.

A U.S. nonprofit has taken legal action against the Biden administration over support for Israel's deadly assault on Gaza.

On Monday the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) filed a lawsuit in Northern District of California against U.S. President Joe Biden, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin for failure to prevent genocide and complicity in genocide.

The 89-page lawsuit, filed by the Center for Constitutional Rights in a California federal district court, traces 75 years of history and analyzes acts committed and rhetoric espoused by the Israeli government that exhibit a disregard for international law. It is accompanied by a declaration from a genocide expert who describes Israel's actions as signs of genocide and argues that the Biden administration has breached its duty under international law to prevent it.

Plaintiffs include the human rights groups Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCIP) and Al-Haq, Great March of Return founder Ahmed Abu Artema, founder of the 2018 Great March of Return, Nasser Medical Complex physician Dr. Omar Al-Najjar, and DCIP field researcher Mohammed Ahmed Abu Rokbeh.

"To be honest, it's difficult to revisit all the scenes of the past weeks. They open a door to hell when I recall them," said Al-Najjar in a statement. "I've lost five relatives, treated too many children who are the sole survivors of their families, received the bodies of my fellow medical students and their families, and seen the hospital turn into a shelter for tens of thousands of people as we all run out of fuel, electricity, food, and water. The U.S. has to stop this genocide. Everyone in the world has to stop this."

More than 11,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel since Hamas's October 7 attack. The United States government gives the country more than $3.8 billion in military aid annually, and Biden is currently lobbying Congress for another $14.5 billion. Last week, the president told reporters that there is "no possibility" of The White House calling for a ceasefire.

Dutch cabinet in hot water following revelations of continued F-35 deliveries to Israel

Dutch diplomatic memo warned PM Mark Rutte in The Hague: Israeli army "intends to deliberately cause massive destruction to infrastructure and civilian centers" - NRC Newspaper tonight.

'Sapere aude'

Scholz says Erdogan accusing Israel of fascism is 'absurd' | DW News |

Scholz said Israel is a democracy and "a country that is bound to human rights and international law and acts accordingly."

"Therefore, the accusations against Israel are absurd," he said at a press conference in Berlin.

Scholz is set to host Erdogan in Berlin for talks on Friday. They will be joined by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

"The accusations being made against Israel are absurd."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Israel is acting in accordance with international law in defending itself against Hamas. pic.twitter.com/a750cPw8kY

— DW Politics (@dw_politics) November 14, 2023

• UNGA Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory

What did Erdogan say?

On November 10, Erdogan claimed Israel's legitimacy was "being questioned" due to what he called "its own fascism."

The Turkish president has been a vocal critic of Israel's war against militant group Hamas, which began after the group staged terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7, killing around 1,400 1,200 people.

• Israeli Apache helicopters killed own soldiers, civilians on 7 October

While many Western allies categorize Hamas as a terrorist group, Erdogan has described Hamas as a "liberation organization".

Türkiye has also recalled its ambassador from Israel in protest against the Israeli strikes on Gaza.

Erdogan has accused Israel of committing war crimes with its heavy bombardment of Gaza. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry - Gaza, the death toll due to the current conflict has passed 11,240.

'Sapere aude'

I'm appalled by reports of military raids in Al Shifa hospital in #Gaza.

The protection of newborns, patients, medical staff and all civilians must override all other concerns.

Hospitals are not battlegrounds.

— Martin Griffiths (@UNReliefChief) November 15, 2023

• Israel Uses Food, Water and Fuel as Weapon in Gaza

UN relief chief: The crisis in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory is a global crisis

In Israel, a nation was left in shock after the brutal and graphic killing of some 1,400 1,200 people. The families of more than 200 hostages continue to live in anguish, unsure about the fate, wellbeing and whereabouts of their loved ones.

In Gaza, women, children and men are being starved, traumatized and bombed to death. They have lost all faith in humanity and all hope of a future. Their despair is palpable.  

In the West Bank, the death toll is rising. Violence and the closure of checkpoints mean that people cannot access food, jobs, health care and other essential services.

Meanwhile, the world seems unable, or unwilling, to act. This cannot go on. We need a step change.

• We need the hostages to be released immediately and unconditionally.


• We need to be able to provide the essentials for survival - particularly water, food, medicine and fuel - safely, immediately and at scale. The more than 200 trucks which have crossed into Gaza so far following painstaking negotiations offer some relief but are nowhere near enough.


• We need the warring parties to agree to pauses in the fighting. This is the only viable option to get relief items into Gaza right now. Repeated humanitarian pauses would allow us to provide more aid to those in need across Gaza, thus alleviating people's suffering and reducing the risk of civil disorder. Such pauses would also allow the sick and wounded to seek medical care and those who wish to flee to do so safely.

Put simply, we need the parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, including by taking constant care in the conduct of military operations to spare civilians and civilian objects.

And we need those with influence to use that influence to ensure respect for the rules of war, deescalate the conflict and avoid a spillover.

Failure to act now will have consequences far beyond the region, because this is a global crisis.

'Sapere aude'

Israel-Palestine crisis: Security Council calls for urgent, extended humanitarian pauses in Gaza

HIGHLIGHTS

The UN Security Council succeeds in finding unity, adopting resolution 2712 on the Israel-Palestine crisis that began on 7 October, with 12 members voting in favour, none against and three abstentions (Russia, United Kingdom, United States), calling for "urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors" in Gaza for "a sufficient number of days" to allow full, rapid, safe and unhindered access for UN agencies and partners

The Council "calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups, especially children, as well as ensuring immediate humanitarian access", by the terms of the resolution

The Council, by additional provisions in the text, calls on all parties to refrain from depriving the civilian population in Gaza of basic services and aid indispensable to their survival, consistent with international humanitarian law

The resolution does not condemn the Hamas attacks of 7 October which began the current wave of violence and battle for control of Gaza

The Council rejected an amendment proposed by Russia, with five votes in favour, one against and nine abstentions

 "Our vote today translates into real human lives," said the ambassador of Malta, penholder of the newly adopted resolution

Ambassadors from the UK and US separately regretted to note that the draft failed to condemn Hamas and voiced support for civilian protection and rapid aid delivery measures

Russia's ambassador said a real ceasefire is needed and "the Council will need to make a decision on further steps", including what observers to send to the conflict area and which UN contingent will be involved

"This madness must be brought to an end," said Palestine's Permanent Observer to the UN, adding that: "It is time for peace"

Israel's Ambassador said the crisis could be brought to an immediate end if all Israeli hostages are returned unscathed and Hamas laid down their arms and turned themselves in

Resolution 'detached from reality': Israel

Israel's Deputy Permanent Representative, Brett Jonathan Miller, was the last to speak at the meeting.

He said the resolution was "detached from the reality on the ground" and "falls on deaf ears when it comes to Hamas and other terrorist organizations".

He noted that the Council has met nearly 10 times in the six weeks since Hamas's "barbaric invasion" of Israel, which it still has not condemned as the world's premier body for peace and security.

"The resolution focuses solely on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. It makes no mention of what led up to this moment," he said. "The resolution makes it seem as if what we are witnessing in Gaza happened of its own accord."

He added that Israel's top priority is to bring the hostages home, "and seeing as Security Council resolutions hold no sway with terrorists, Israel will continue to do whatever it takes to accomplish this goal."

Mr. Miller said the war would end immediately "should Hamas choose to lay down their arms, turn themselves in and handover the hostages unscathed".

Prominent figures among hundreds of concerned South African Jews calling for ceasefire in Gaza

END APARTHEID - END OCCUPATION - END COLONIALISM

'Sapere aude'

Israel's State of Perpetual War and Death. It plans to wipe out 'hundreds' of Gaza families in revenge for Hamas attack.[_link] via @richards1052

— Tikun Olam (@richards1052) November 16, 2023

That is not gaining security after 75 years of ugly failure on enslaving the indigenous Palestinians ... courage has been lost in the past. The U.S. succumbs to the Israel lobby by every bi-annual election of members of Congress. No respect ... no peace. ☮️

'Sapere aude'

Israel faces media battle over war on Gaza, prompts speculation of shifting public opinion -- analysts | Jordan Times |

Former media affairs minister and secretary-general of Al Mithaq Al Watani (the National Charter Party), Mohammad Al Momani, had a slightly different view. 

He agreed that public opinion across the world is evidence that Israel has lost the media battle, costing it its image in the west due to the human suffering it is inflicting on civilians in both the West Bank and Gaza. 

But he believes that public pressure resulting from this could put western governments in a difficult position, which might translate into Israel losing the international support it enjoys.

Momani also noted that Jordan has played a significant role in providing a "more balanced narrative" on the war, backed by facts and articles of the international law and international humanitarian law. 

In a remote interview with CNN, Her Majesty Queen Rania denounced the "catastrophic humanitarian situation" in Gaza urging a collective call for a ceasefire.

'Sapere aude'

Playing the broken record offered by Joe in the White House "WeAreNato #WeAreUnited

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