Canada is not supporting Palestine as a state. Rather Canada seeks to use the swelling international support to promote continuing control of Palestinians and Palestine by Israel and the US and to continue the utterly false narrative that the Palestinians pose a threat. It is Israel that threatens and destroys life in the middle east. Carney's announcement purports to impose on Palestine restrictions not imposed on any other UN member state and to put Israel and its Palestinian Authority collaborators in charge of "much -needed" reforms that would, we assume be dictated by Israel and the US. Canada seeks to restrict when elections will be held and who will be eligible to participate, not recalling perhaps that Hamas was elected in 2006 to govern Gaza in an election internationally monitored and declared to be absolutely fair. Gazans at the time were understandably fed up with the corruption of the Palestinian Authority who have since overseen Israel committing in West Bank without restriction, accountability or remediation, crimes that include the following: murder of Palestinians, forcible seizure and unlawful occupation of lands, military assaults on and injury of unarmed Palestinians, arrest and detention of Palestinians, destruction of homes and other personal property, destruction of crops. This is the group that Canada would put in charge of Gaza, West Bank and East Jerusalem. Carney demands the demilitarization of Gaza but not of Israel, a heavily militarized state with nuclear weapons: a state that has used advanced weapons against Palestinians and Middle East states to give life to its primary defense police--fear of Israel's military strength. Carney demands release of remaining Israeli hostages with a mention of the thousands of unlawfully detained and treated Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.atelier genocide warnings suppressed news archives political prisoner updates * * *
*September 4, 2025
nightslantern
suppressed news
concerned with the prevention of genocide
by john bart gerald
graphics by julie maas
2025
Palestine: The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, the oldest human rights organization in Gaza, released its 204 page report, Voices of the Genocide, documenting the evidence of four acts of genocide by Israel against Gaza.The PCHR report is the result of 22 months of collected evidence. PCHR's director, Raji Sourani, noted the complicity of the US among ather western countries. The report is a genocide confirmation of a crime in progress which the Convention on Genocide requires its signatories to stop. Partial sources: "Top Palestinian rights group presents damning evidence of genocide in Gaza," Sondos Asem, Aug.28,2025, Middle East Eye; "Voices of the Genocide: a Report on Israel's Ongoing Genocide on the Gaza Strip," PCHR, October 2023 - January 2025, The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights.
Belgium: on Sept.2nd Belgium's Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot announced on social media that Belgium would recognize the state of Palestine at the meeting of the UN General Assembly this month. His announcement accompanies the similar intended actions by France, Canada, the UK, Australia. Partial sources: "Belgium to recognise Palestinian state at UN General Assembly," AFP, Sept. 2, 2025, Straitstimes.com; "Belgium to recognise Palestine at the UN General Assembly," Malek Fouda, Sept. 2, 2025, euronews.
The Hague: the respected International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) has passed a resolution August 31, 2025, recognising Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide. There have been no refutations of the clearly listed aspects of the genocide. It will be very hard for any international court to make decisions contrary to the IAGS clarification which can be viewed as a genocide confirmation. Partial sources: "IAGS Resolution on the Situation in Gaza," IAGS, Aug. 31,2025, International Association of Genocide Scholars; "Israel committing genocide in Gaza, world's leading experts say," Emir Nader, Sept. 1, 2025, BBCNews.
August 17, 2025
Nigeria: attacks, murders and disappearances of civilians continue in southeastern Nigeria. From January 2021 to June 2023, 1800 died at the hands of "state and non-state" elements. The region includes what was known as Biafra and the target of a corporate British genocide (Shell/BP) using the Nigerian government to starve the area into submission. Why? To make resources more easily available. Resistance remained (ie. the "Indigenous People of Biafra-IPOB" and the "Eastern Security Network-ESN"). The Igbo people of Biafra are Christians. They are not well protected from Islamic extremists, armed herders from the North which is why IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu formed the ESN for Igbo self-defense. But Nnamdi Kanu has been kept in prison the last four years and should be freed to protect his people. Amidst government attempts to blame the resistance for violence, there's evidence of the military's covert involvement unidentified in the press except as armed men, and historical precedent of the Nigerian army's military actions against the ESN since 2020. An early genocide warning renewal for the Igbo people. Publicly the Nigerian army is combatting Boko Haram, the Islamic State and Fulani herdsmen in the North. However 7087 Christians are reported killed throughout Nigeria so far this year, as reported by Anambra based Intersociety ("International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law"). Christian sources believe the persecution of Christians is furthered by the government. The current President Bola Tinubu is Muslim (Yoruba) married to a Christian and a graduate of Chicago State with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, summa, 1979 (Wikipedia). He has worked for many U.S. and international corporations, including Mobil Oil. As U.S. foreign aid cuts devastate programs for the poor and development globally the U.S. has just approved the Nigerian government's 346 million dollar request for armaments. Since Bola Tinubu assumed power Amnesty reports 10,217 people killed. Partial sources: "How Britain's Labour Government Facilitated the Massacre of Biafrans in Nigeria to Protect its Oil Interests," Mark Curtis, April 29, 2020, Declassified UK; "US Approves $346M Sale of Ammo, Precision Weapons to Nigeria," Christine Casimiro, August 14, 2025, TheDefensePost; "Army, Armed Groups Killing Thousands in Southeast Nigeria: Amnesty," Staff AFP, Aug. 14, 2025, TheDefensePost; "Cameroon and Nigeria: the Risk of Breathing," J.B. Gerald, June 29, 2020, nightslantern.ca; "Over 7K Christians killed in Nigeria so far in 2025: watchdog," Samantha Kamman, August 13, 2025, The Christian Post; "US Government fuelling global humanitarian catastrophe: UN experts," OCHA, July 32, 2025, reliefweb; "Nigeria: Mounting death toll and looming humanitarian crisis amid unchecked attacks by armed groups," May 29, 2025, Amnesty International.
Sechelt, British Columbia: in a recurring pattern which becomes part of Canadian awareness the graves of 41 Indigenous children have been detected on the school grounds of St. Augustine's Residential School. Administered by the Roman Catholic Church from 1904 to 1975 these archeological findings confirm what the shishalh First Nation community already knows, and augments its initial findings of 40 graves in 2023. The findings of 200 potential unmarked graves was announced by the Kamloops Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation in 2021. To be the parent of one of these children, how could you forgive? Partial sources: "First Nation in B.C. says 41 more graves found by penetrating radar at school site," Staff, The Canadian Press, Aug. 16, 2025, Global News; "41 additional unmarked graves found at residential school site in Sechelt," Eden Chipperfield, August 15, 2025, chek News.
Israel/Palestine: Al-Haq is a Palestinian NGO defending human rights. Founded in 1979. Located in Ramallah the West Bank, it remains fairly well tied in to the international human rights community. Israel declared it along with several other Palestinian NGOs a terrorist organization in 2021: when the data was turned over to the CIA no evidence of terrorism was found (Wikipedia). Steadfastly pursuing accountability for genocide its website offers a database of statements by Israelis showing the intent of genocide. Historically "intent" has been a sticking point in the prosecution of genocide cases. The database is available at https://intent.alhaq.org/.
August 16, 2025
Montreal Canada: Irwin Cotler, former Minister of Justice and Parliamentarian has signed on to the August 7th letter by World Jewry, "The London Initiative," calling on Netanyahu to end the starvation in Gaza, to end the war, to prevent Jewish extremist violence in the West Bank, to cease advocating erasing Gaza (genocide). This is notable because Cotler is considered a Zionist within Canada's human rights community. He's the founder of one of the few surviving Canadian Genocide prevention organizations, Montreal based Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights (2015). The Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies, Canada's primary anti genocide organization since 1986 was closed this year by its hosting institution, Concordia University which withdrew funding, despite MIGS noted support of U.S. and Canadian government policies. The Genocide Prevention Group of Canada's Parliament, founded in 2006 by Romeo Dallaire, has slipped out of public notice and seems to not exist. Partial sources: "Former justice minister Irwin Cotler calls on Israel to end war, starvation in Gaza," August 14, 2025, CBC News; "A letter from World Jewry,"group founded kin 2026 by Romeo Dallaire Signatories, August 7, 2025, The London Initiative (TLI); "Former justice minister Irwin Cotler calls on Israel to end war, starvation in Gaza," Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press, Aug. 13, 2025, SaskToday.ca.
Vancouver Canada: "The US sanctions against the ICC Prosecutor, ICC judges, and the Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory are overtly unlawful attempts to interfere with the legitimate work of the ICC and the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council..." - Lawyers Rights Watch Canada. For the full statement:"United States sanctions: Threat to independence of the International Criminal Court and Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council - Statement," August 15, 2025, LRWC. LRWC is claiming very mildly that the United States is breaking the law. Nightslantern has noted that Francesca Albanese is not only sanctioned but under ongoing physical threat. The recent Trump administration attempt to destroy the workings of the International Criminal Court by sanctioning judges is noted June 6, 2025. To quote from that posting: "Obstruction of the Court is specifically against Canadian law [The Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act: Section 16 (1)].
16 (1) Every person who wilfully attempts in any manner to obstruct, pervert or defeat the course of justice of the International Criminal Court is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 10 years."Partial sources: "Strong Push Back Against US Sanctions on the International Criminal Court at UN Human Rights Council," International Commission of Jurists, International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute, Human Rights Watch, July 11, 2025, Human Rights Watch; "US Sanctions against ICC and Francesca Albanese," Gail Davidson, Aug. 15, 2025, email; "US: Trump Authorizes International Criminal Court Sanctions," Human Rights Watch; "Imposing Sanctions on the International Court,"Executive order / Donald Trump, February 6, 2025,The White House; "UN calls for reversal of US sanctions on Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese," 10 July 2025, United Nations.
August 13, 2025 Canada: Comment, by Gail Davidson:
Carney's announcement reads in part, "This intention is predicated on the Palestinian Authority's commitment to much-needed reforms, including the commitments by Palestinian Authority President Abbas to fundamentally reform its governance, to hold general elections in 2026 in which Hamas can play no part, and to demilitarize the Palestinian state. Canada will increase its efforts in supporting strong, democratic governance in Palestine and the contributions of its people to a more peaceful and hopeful future. We reiterate that Hamas must immediately release all hostages taken in the horrific terrorist attack of October 7; that Hamas must disarm; and that Hamas must play no role in the future governance of Palestine."
Canada's announcement is not the repressed news. Criticism is.
Gail Davidson, founder of Lawyers Rights Watch Canada, co-founder of Lawyers Against the War, writes from Vancouver. Some of her works at nightslantern.
August 11, 2025
Canberra, Australia: the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that Australia will recognize Palestine as a state when the General Assembly 80th session meets in September. The announcement follows similar statements by France, the UK, Canada, and contains similar provisions, ie, that Hamas will not be included in the government, etc.. Israel reacts poorly to these attempts by "Christian" countries to disassociate from Israel's war crimes in Gaza. Nevertheless the genocide continues. Partial sources: "Australia will recognize a Palestinian state, Prime Minister Albanese says," Associated Press, August 10, 2025, Politico; "Australia to recognise Palestinian statehood; New Zealand may follow," August 11, 2025, Al Jazeera.
Washington D.C.: the US President has ordered the homeless people out of the city and pledged to attack criminals and street gangs by placing the police under federal control, FBI agents on the street with 800 National Guard troops and the threat of greater military deployment. His pretext is anti-crime enforcement. D.C. reached an historically low level of violent crimes last year. The city's homeless population would be predominantly non-white. Further displacement of the homeless severs the few lifelines remaining within the community so this could be seen as an attack on the Black community. It parallels the Congressional budget cuts stripping millions of people of health care and social services already denied the very poor. It is the second recent law/military takeover of US cities (as used against the Hispanic population of Los Angeles) and continues the Trump administration's assault on the poor, a policy expressed succinctly in US foreign policy (ie. Guatemala, Gaza, Yemen, Sudan, and the DRC, each risking portions of their populations to genocide). Under the Convention on Genocide, targeting ethnic or racial groups such as Hispanics or Black Americans makes the Trump administration vulnerable to domestic prosecution (see the US Criminal Code section on genocide - 18 U.S.C. § 1091). Neither the D.C. mayor nor police chief is white. This takeover leads to another genocide warning for America's poor. Partial sources:"Trump takes over DC police in extraordinary move, deploys National Guard in capital," Trevor Hunnicutt and Nandita Bose, August 11, 2025, Reuters; "Trump to deploy National Guard in D.C. - even as data shows crime at 30-year low," John Paul Tasker, August 11, 2025, CBC.
August 3, 2025
Gaza: Genocide Watch, a U.S. NGO, has become the primary authority in North American Genocide Prevention. It affirmed in its June July Newsletter #20 that 1. "Israel with full support of the Trump administration is engaged in the genocide of Palestinian people in Gaza;" 2. "The US is complicit in and aiding and abetting Israel's genocide in Gaza." Genocide Watch suggests: "The U.S. and all nations must: Cease all arms sales to Israel. Freeze Israel's state assets held in international banks. Deploy NATO and UN peacekeeping forces to Gaza and the West Bank." This plainspoken warning and advice was essentially ignored. French, UK, and Canadian, statements of intention to join the 147 nations which recognize the state of Palestine have not ended the starvation or genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. The recognition of genocide places those who commit genocide and those complicit, at the mercy of the laws against genocide which have no statute of limitation. Partial sources: "Genocide Emergency Gaza," Aug 1, 2025, Genocide Watch June-July Newsletter; "Genocide Emergency: Gaza 11 July 2025," July 14, 2025, Genocide Watch.
July 30, 2025
The UK: after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on July 28th, on July 29th the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer followed the lead of France's President Emmanuel Macron and announced that the UK would recognize the state of Palestine at the UN General Assembly meeting in September, unless Israel radically changes its policies and military actions in Gaza, which is not like to happen until sufficient international pressure is applied. Partial sources: "U.K. will recognize Palestinian state unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire: Starmer," Associated Press, July 29, 2025, CTV News; "Britain to recognize Palestinian state unless Israel agrees to Gaza ceasefire," Billy Stockwell, Pierre Bairin & Michael Rios,
July 29, 2025, CNN; "UK to recognise Palestinian state by September if no Gaza ceasefire reached," MEE Staff, July 29, 2025, Middle East Eye.
Canada: following the lead of France and the UK Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney announced this afternoon that Canada would recognize the state of Palestine when the UN General Assembly meets in September. The Prime Minister stressed the need to pursue the two-state solution before the concept becomes overwhelmed (by U.S. and Israeli violation of international law), noting the current starvation of Gazans. Like the UK the Canadian government allows itself justifications for backing out. Partial sources: "Statement by Prime Minister Carney on Canada's recognition of a Palestinian state," July 30, 2025, Prime Minister of Canada [access:< https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/statements/2025/07/30/statement-prime-minister-carney-canadas-recognition-palestinian-state >]; "Canada intends to recognize Palestinian state in September, Prime Minister Carney says,"
Max Saltman, July 30, 3035, CNN.
Turkey: on July 29th Turkey announced its endorsement of the joint statement by the Hague Group made at conclusion of the Bogota Emergency Conference on Palestine. Thirteen countries have endorsed the statement: Turkey, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Indonesia, Iraq, Libya, Malaysia, Namibia, Nicaragua, Oman, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa. Historically European reluctance to join the statement's anti-genocidal endorsement may be understood as shameful and racist. Partial sources: "Exclusive: Turkey to follow The Hague Group's measures against Israel 'to stop the genocide',"
Sondos Asem, July 29,2025, Middle East Eye; "Türkiye joins Hague Group's six-point measures against Israel over Gaza war," Newsroom, July 29, 2025, Türkiye Today.
Maine: Sen. Angus King of Maine has announced he will oppose support of any kind to Israel during the starvation of Gazans: "I am through supporting the actions of the current Israeli government and will advocate-and vote-for an end to any United States support whatsoever until there is a demonstrable change in the direction of Israeli policy" (as quoted in The Hill). The popular Independent Senator has yet to recognize Israel's actions as a genocide. US. Congresspeople have shown resistance to the Israeli lobby by identifying Gaza as a "genocide." These include (recently) Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY), Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA), Rep. Summer Lee (PA), Rep. Al Green (TX), Rep. Delia Ramirez (IL), Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ), Rep. John Garamendi (CA). Partial sources: "Sen. Angus King to oppose 'any' support for Israel amid Gaza crisis," Tara Suter, July 28, 2025, The Hill; "Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Becomes First Republican in Congress To Label Israel's Actions in Gaza a Genocide," Dave DeCamp, July 29, 2025, antiwar.com.
Canada: according to Israel's Tax Authority database, Canada is supplying arms to Israel. The Canadian government denies the claim made in joint report available at Arms Embargo Now Campaign (AEN) ("Exposing Canadian Military Exports to Israel" [access:< https://armsembargonow.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Exposing-Canadian-Military-Exports-to-Israel_07292025_compressed-.pdf >]). Among the authors: the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME}, World Beyond War (WBW), Independent Jewish Voices (IJV), Palestine Solidarity Network (PSN), and Kelsey Gallagher. Specific companies and their locations are listed in the report. The CBC notes its verification of portions of the report. While current permits do not allow supplying arms to Israel, some old permits have been allowed to remain valid despite indications of the genocide in Gaza. The Canadian government has offered no explanation. Partial sources: "Report suggests arms still flow from Canada to Israel despite denials," Evan Dyer, July 29, 2025, CBC News; "Canada never stopped arming Israel despite pledge to halt new permits, report says," Yasmine El-Sabawi, July 29. 2025, Middle East Eye.
July 28, 2025
Israel: Urgent. B'Tselem (linked by nightslantern) and Physicians for Human Rights - Israel, two reliable rights organizations within Israel, have announced that the war against Gaza is a genocide. B'Tselem's report "Our Genocide," is available here: "Our Genocide." [access:< https://www.btselem.org/sites/default/files/publications/202507_our_genocide_eng.pdf >]. B'Tselem notes an imminent danger that the genocide will spread to the West Bank.The Physicians for Human Rights - Israel report is available here:
"Destruction of Conditions of Life: a Health Analysis of the Gaza Genocide."
[access:< https://www.phr.org.il/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Genocide-in-Gaza-PHRI-English.pdf >]. Both reports provide conclusive evidence of genocide occurring and their authors should be assured some means of protection by the ICC, ICJ and international community. Partial sources: "In a First, Leading Israeli Rights Groups Accuse Israel of Gaza Genocide," Aaron Boxerman, July 28, 2025, The New York Times; B'Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights Israel: Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, July 28, 2025, FIDH International Federation for Human Rights.
July 26, 2025 george maas gouache sketch 1990
France: Prime Minister Macron has announced that France will recognize the state of Palestine when the UN General Assembly meets in September. While France, Canada and the UK have threatened Israel with action in response to the genocide in Gaza, France is acting. Prime Minister Carney, noting Gazans starving to death has declared it a violation of international law. He has not declared Canada's recognition of a Palestinian state. France's Le Monde which some consider to carry the moral leadership of the Western world, says the time for words is over, and we must all take action. Partial sources: "Outrage at Gaza's destruction is no longer enough," Editorial, July 26, 2025, Le Monde; "Mark Carney urges Israel to give up control of Gaza aid flow," Elena Giordano, July 25, 2025, Politico.
Manitoba: presented with a pipeline deal the premier of Manitoba, Wab Kinew, refused to sign, citing the lack of consultation with Indigenous leaders as required by law. The premiers of Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta had signed the agreement which would place pipelines carrying oil and gas to Ontario refineries and a proposed new port on James Bay. Furthering Prime Minister Mark Carney's planned consolidation of Canada's economy, Kinew did sign with New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, British Columbia and Saskatchewan four MOUS (memorandums of understanding) to make trade and labor mobility (for example worker certification) easier. Partial sources: "Kinew walks away from pipeline deal," Kevin Klein, July 23, 2025, The Winnipeg Sun; "Kinew refuses to sign pipeline deal with other premiers," Quinn Patrick, July 24, 2025, True North Wire; "Manitoba signs agreements with 4 provinces to improve trade and labour mobility," July 22, 2025, CBC News.
The Hague, Netherlands: The International Court of Justice ruled July 23rd, that nations must take responsibility for their carbon emissions. This will require emissions cuts under law and cause Canada to reassess its new Building Canada Act. The decision is likely to be fought illegally since Canada, the U.S. Russia and the European countries are raising military production. Wars in Ukraine, Israel and Sudan are not being resolved but continue to destabilize entire regions placing the populations at risk, destroying food sources and the planet's environment. Military action and production are the primary cause of damage to the earth's ecosystems. This fact continues to be ignored by the media. The press does note that the ICJ decision may make it easier for the small nations affected most by climate change to sue the perpetrators. Sue them? Amid the catastrophes of climate change? Partial sources: "UN's top court says failing to protect planet from climate change could violate international law," AP, July 23, 2025, CBC; " UN court opinion on climate change could boost scrutiny of Canada's major projects: expert," The Canadian Press, July 24, 2025, CTV News.
July 21, 2025
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: on July 20th, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) issued a statement through its Secretary General Jassem Al-Budaiwi denouncing Israel's policy of starving the Gaza population as "the crime of the century," in a situation that "exceeds all thresholds of humanitarian decency." All international organizations are called on to make it stop and hold those guilty of the crime, accountable. The GCC assured its support of the legitimate rights of Palestine's people. GCC members are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates. Partial sources: "Israel's starvation policy in Gaza 'crime of the century': gulf bloc," Tarek Chouiref, July 21, 2025, Anadolu Ajansi; "GCC urges international community to act urgently to lift siege on Gaza," Ona Riyadh, July 21, 2025, Gulf Times; "GCC urges lifting blockade on Gaza, access of aid," Jordan News Agency, July 21, 2025, msn.
July 18, 2025
Gaza: The Church of the Holy Family suffered a direct military strike July 17th, "by tank," according to Vatican News sources, but which other news sources note as "by air" - as in the past bombing of the church school, July 7, 2024. In December 2023 two Palestinian Christian women were killed on church grounds by an IDF sniper according to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The church is known for its school and for sheltering the elderly and disabled, Muslim and Christian. This time there were three deaths, Saad Issa Kostandi Salameh, Foumia Issa Latif Ayyad, and Najwa Abu Daoud, among the fourteen injured - the parish priest Fr. Gabriel Romanelli who was often in touch with Pope Francis, was injured. This was the last Catholic church and Christian refuge left in Gaza. Partial sources: "Israel Bombs Gaza's Only Catholic Church," July 17, 2025, teleSUR; "Israeli forces strike Catholic Parish in Gaza," by Vatican News, July 17, 2025, Vatican News; "Update: Latin Patriarchate confirms Holy Family Church in Gaza hit, 3 deaths reported," Sanad Sahelia, July 17, 2025, Catholic News Agency; "Israel bombs Gaza's only Catholic church sheltering elderly and children," Al Jazeera Staff, July 17, 2025, Al Jazeera; "Killing of Nahida and Samar Anton," current, Wikipedia;
Previous.
The Hague, Netherlands: the International Criminal Court (ICC) has refused Israel's request to drop charges against Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, who are wanted for war crimes; and the ICC has refused Israel's request to stop the investigation of the war crimes against Palestinians. These decisions despite illegal threats and pressure. The US has sanctioned 4 ICC judges for issuing a warrant for Netanyahu's arrest. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International support the Court's refusal. Partial sources: "ICC Rejects Israel's Request to Dismiss Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant," July 17, 2025, teleSUR; "ICC Judges Reject Israel's Request to Withdraw Netanyahu Arrest Warrant," Reuters, July 16, 2025, UN News.
Gatineau Québec: on July 17th Canada's Prime Minister Carney met with what was intended to be a government selected group of Canada's Aboriginal chiefs, at the "First Nations Major Projects Summit" to assure them that their rights of consent as required by law (United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples) are built into his Building Canada Act to expand Canada's growth and economy. The problem is that Federal Court in Canada doesn't interpret UNDRIP's requirement of Indigenous prior and free consent for projects, as firm law with veto power. In the case of Kebaowek First Nation v. Canadian Nuclear Laboratories Federal court gave the Crown wiggle room which could let the duty to consult be fulfilled with legalistic end-runs on consent. Lengthy complex court cases can impoverish First Nations. This is an area where First Nations have been made vulnerable. So traditional chiefs and others not in tune with Ottawa politics, with closed door meetings yet concerned with the future of their children's generations beyond the Prime Minister's promises of prosperty, are also wondering how to care for the safety of their lands water and earth and oppose corporate greed. These leaders found it difficult to be heard. Will Carney abide by the need for consent? Aboriginal groups given power and funding often accept government projects in return. Partial sources: "Prime Minister Carney engages First Nations Rights Holders on the Building Canada Act," July 17, 2025, Prime Minister of Canada; "Carney courts First Nations at major projects summit amid ongoing concerns," Canadian Mining Journal Staff, July 17, 2025, Canadian Mining Journal; "As it Happens," July 17, 2025, CBC-radio; "UNDRIP at the Federal Court: Case Comment on Kebaowek First Nation v. Canadian Nuclear Laboratories," Kate Gunn & Nico McKay - First Peoples Law, April 3, 2025, CanLii Connects.
July 17, 2025
Bogotá,Colombia: on July 15th and 16th over 30 nations met in the Hague Group's Emergency Conference, to find ways of translating the words against Israel's genocide in Gaza, into actions. Participating countries included: South Africa, Colombia, Ireland, Iraq, China, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Slovenia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, Chile, Indonesia, Djibouti, Honduras. Bangladesh, Algeria, Mexico, Nicaragua, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Pakistan, Oman, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Uruguay, Malaysia, Namibia, Senegal, Botswana, Norway and Brazil. Addressing the conference Francesca Albanese is quoted:
July 6, 2025
Geneva: A/HRC/59/23 "From economy of occupation to economy of genocide: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967." Francesca Albanese , June 30, 2025, United Nations Human Rights Council Fifty-ninth session Agenda item 7 [access:< https://www.un.org/unispal/document/a-hrc-59-23-from-economy-of-occupation-to-economy-of-genocide-report-special-rapporteur-francesca-albanese-palestine-2025/ >]. alternative access.
This Report was presented July 3rd to the UN Human Rights Council, by Francesca Albanese. She has demanded a full arms embargo of weapons to Israel. She has called for all countries to cut off trade and economic ties with Israel. She has called for a total withdrawal of support from the "economy of genocide." She has affirmed the laws against genocide and encouraged application to companies cooperating with Israel's genocide in Gaza. Under the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, applicable in one form or another in most countries, complicity in genocide is a crime which lacks any statute of limitations. Finding so much of the Western world's economy enmeshed in the genocide of Gaza the Report puts the capitalist system on notice. Naming those principle corporations in violation of international law the Report opens a Pandora's box of complicities. While charges can be brought against companies domestically, national legal systems are often unreliable. Consumers have the option of adjusting their purchasing to their own morality and international law. The Albanese report is linked above in full naming the principle sources of economic support for Israel's genocide of Gaza. Chris Hedges, more straightforward than many U.S. journalists, notes that the report contains a databse of over a thousand collaborating companies including M.I.T.,
June 29, 2025
International:
"The Chris Hedges Report: Starvation and Profiteering in Gaza (w/ Francesca Albanese)," Francesca Albanese, Chris Hedges June 26, 2025, Z Video [access:< https://znetwork.org/zvideo/the-chris-hedges-report-starvation-and-profiteering-in-gaza-w-francesca-albanese/ >]. This provides the best assessment I can find of the world's current response to the Gaza genocide. Francesca Albanese finds a growing awareness of and move toward application of international law. Resistance to genocide may have to rely increasingly on domestic legal actions. Legal note is being made of companies cooperating with the genocide. The crime of genocide carries no statute of limitations. Genocide in progress.
Gaza update: Genocide Watch, a careful and reliable source, has posted an article from The Intercept accusing Israeli soldiers of targeting those seeking food aid. The article relies heavily on information provided by Israeli scholar Yaakov Garb, published in Harvard Dataverse, which elsewhere found that the Gaza Health Ministry had vastly undercounted the Gaza casualties, statistics which vary from source to source. Most recently, Prof. Michael Spagat from the Royal Holloway, University of London, with Dr. Khalil Shikaki (a Palestinian researcher) estimate the Gaza death toll at 100,000, with 58 percent of the casualties women and children. Partial sources:
"'Gaza must be eliminated': Israel's airwaves are filled with pro-genocide propaganda," Arwa Mahdawi, June 27, 2025, The Guardian; "Zionist Extermination: Israeli Soldiers Confirm Orders to Kill Palestinian Civilians Near Aid Centers," June 27, 2025, teleSUR; "Israeli Soldiers Killed at Least 410 People at Food Aid Sites in Gaza," The Intercept, June 28, 2025, Genocide Watch; "'Bloodiest 21st century war': New study finds Gaza's real death toll nears 100,000," June 28, 2025, The Cradle.
Sudan: the war between the government (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues to take a heavy toll on the civilian population far greater than a parallel genocide in Gaza. The reasons for both is the acquisition of natural resources by international corporate forces at the expense of the local inhabitants. On June 27 the United Nations Security Council was briefed by Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations. Advanced weaponry is being used. The war zone is shifting to Darfur and Kordofan. The conflict is extending beyond Sudan's borders. The arbitrary killing of civilians tripled in three months; the briefing protested the killing of so many humanitarian workers and the extensive sexual violence. Also briefing the Security Council, Shayna Lewis, Sudan Specialist and Senior Advisor with PAEMA (Preventing and Ending Mass Atrocities) has found 80% of Sudan's war zone health facilities destroyed, 540 direct attacks on health facilities, 15 million needing humanitarian aid. According to Wikipedia since the outbreak of the war in April 2023, 522,000 children have died from malnutrition (Preparatory Committee, Sudanese Doctors Union ); there are over 150,000 civilian casualties (Le Monde); 25 million people (half the population) are facing extreme famine (World Food Program April 2025). Genocide of the population in progress. Partial sources:
"Final report of the Panel of Experts on the Sudan" S/2025/239, April 17, 2025, United Nations Security Council; "'De-escalation Urgently Needed', Security Council Told, as Sudan Conflict Shifts to Darfur, Kordofan," Meeting coverage, June 27, 2025, United Nations; "Sudan: Genocide and the Humanitarian Crisis in West Darfur," Compilation, Areeka Khan, June 14, 2024, Genocide Watch.
June 28, 2025
Canada: Unifor, a Canadian union 320,000 strong, has called on Prime Minister Mark Carney to "take urgent action to end the genocide in Palestine." Ed. transparency: I'm a member of the Canadian Freelance Union / Unifor. Partial source:"Unifor letter to Prime Minister Carney Re: Urgent Canadian intervention to end the genocide in Palestine." June 25, 2025, Unifor
Spain: the Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez has labeled as "genocide" Israel's genocide in Gaza. He advises the European Union to stop cooperating with Israel. Partial sources: "Spain PM calls Gaza situation 'genocide' as death toll rises," AFP, June 27, 2025, theSun; "Spain PM accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza," Le Monde w. AFP, June 26, 2025, Le Monde.
June 12 2025
United Nations General Assembly: the General Assembly has again demanded a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Voting 149 in favour (including Canada, Ireland, Great Britain, France, Russia, China), 12 against (U.S., Israel, Argentina, Fiji, Hungary, Micronesia, Nuaru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Tongo, Tuvalu ) and 19 abstentions, the draft resolution ("Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations" A/ES-10/L.34/Rev.1) put forward by Spain with 23 other countries, demands: an end to Israel's use of starvation as a weapon of war; a resumption of humanitarian aid; a permanent unconditional ceasefire; release of all hostages; protection for UN personnel, humanitarian workers, and medical workers and facilities; withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza; and that the member states assure Israel's compliance with international law (Article 10). The U.S. has threatened countries planning to attend next week a French / Saudi Arabian conference to work out a two state solution for Israel / Palestine. In summary: the United Nations mechanisms continue to offer words favouring international law but without enforcing actions to stop the genocide. Increasingly this becomes the responsibility of the individual states who have signed the Convention on Genocide. Partial sources: "UN General Assembly adopts Gaza ceasefire resolution by overwhelming majority," June 12, 2025, United Nations; "Exclusive: US slams UN conference on Israel-Palestinian issue, warns of consequences," John Irish & Humeyra Pamuk, June 11, 2025, Reuters.
U.S.A. within the military limits of law placed on military actions are the domain of the Judge Advocates offices which administer the Uniform Code of Military Justice. [This link is to the Cornell Law School site: "10 U.S. Code Subtitle A Chapter 47 Part II - Uniform Code of Military Justice," as of March 25, 2025 [access:< https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/subtitle-A/part-II/chapter-47 >]. Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth has fired the leading Judge Advocates of the Air Force, Army and Navy, openly saying he wants to 1. move the U.S. toward a warrior mentality, and 2. does not want their possible obstruction of the President's agendas. Judge advocates must warn commanders if their actions are about to break military law. However, the Uniform Code of Military Justice also provides protection to military elements refusing to commit war crimes as well as criminal charges against those who do. Some offenses can be tried as war crimes. War crimes are addressed more directly by the War Crimes Act of 1996 under civilian jurisdiction. The military's final line of defense against committing war crimes is the refusal of the individual in service. The Judge Advocate's office is judge within the U.S. military of when an order is illegal and therefore not to be followed. The high ranks of the Judge Advocates. are experienced in the meeting place of ethics and military tactics, if such exists. War crimes can be punished under the UCMJ and/or eventually made subject to civilian law and international law so Judge Advocates cannot afford to make mistakes. Substantial undermining of the Judge Advocates' power and effect is a threat to the country's defenses against itself. Due to the history of U.S. settlement, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the obliteration of the civilian infrastructure of Iraq, the lack of U.S. respect for the Convention on Genocide as Gaza is destroyed, this small detail may trip an early nonspecific genocide warning for the U.S. but applicable to all military operations of war involving U.S. personnel. Partial sources: "'People Are Very Scared': Trump Administration Purge of JAG Officers Raises Legal, Ethical Fears," Thomas Novelly and Konstantin Toropin, Feb. 24, 2025, military.com; "Armed Forces Judge Advocate Stand Between Law and Anarchy - Will they Stand Firm?" David M.Crane, June 10, 2025, Jurist; "In Pursuit of a 'Warrior Ethos,' Hegseth Targets Military's Top Lawyers," Greg Jaffe, Feb. 22, 2025, The New York Times.
June 10, 2025
United Nations:
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry, under Navi Pillay the former ICC judge, has issued a report accusing Israel of the crime against humanity of extermination. The report discusses the destruction of Gaza's civilian infrastructure, educational facilities, religious venues and cultural sites. Among its concluding recommendations is for nations to affirm their commitment to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.. While the report does not directly define the crimes Israel is committing as "genocide" it provides evidence which requires the charge. Genocide in progress. The report presented to the General Assembly is by independent sources not in the employ of governments or the UN. "Report of the Independent International Commission of
Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including
East Jerusalem, and Israel," A/HRC/59/26, General distribution May 6, 2025, United Nations General Assembly.
Partial sources: "Israeli attacks on educational, religious and cultural sites in the Occupied Palestinian Territory amount to war crimes and the crime against humanity of extermination, UN Commission says," June 10, 2025, United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner; "UN Report Accuses Israel of War Crimes and 'Extermination' in Gaza," June 10, 2025, TeleSur.
June 6, 2025
International Criminal Court: the U.S. government has sanctioned four judges of the International Criminal court, as punishment for their decisions at court - on one hand for issuing arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant and a deceased Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri; on the other, for allowing the investigation of alleged criminal U.S. actions in Afghanistan. This is a clear attempt to threaten and coerce the Court's judgements into complying with U.S. policy. The four judges are women:
Solomy Balungi Bossa (Uganda), Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza (Peru), Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou (Benin), Beti Hohler (Slovenia).
The U.S action is part of a continuing program against the ICC which it has withdrawn from and previously threatened in attacks on various judges. The new U.S. action further hampers the ability of the Court to function. The chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, accused of sexual misconduct, has temporarily withdrawn. Obstruction of the Court is specifically against Canadian law [The Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act: Section 16 (1)].
June 4, 2025
United Nations: the Security Council voted today on a resolution calling for an immediate permanent ceasefire in Gaza. The resolution also required the release of all hostages and the entry into Gaza of humanitarian aid. It was proposed by Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Somalia. 14 nations voted in favour: all the above and France, Britain, China, Russia. One nation voted against, the United States which by itself vetoed the resolution. Genocide warning. Against what I believe is the will of its own people, U.S. government officials have refused to bring to a stop the continued starvation of the Gazan people, the murder of civilians trapped when they seek food, the preponderance of women and children in the death rate, evidence of the intentional killing of medical and health workers, destruction of hospitals and schools and all civilian infra-structure necessary to maintaining life, and the targeting of journalists. Pakistan has noted: "This is no longer a humanitarian crisis, it is a collapse of humanity." Believing the U.S. veto counters the UN's founding purposes, Palestine asks countries to "act in your national capacity." The international community requires
Israel's genocide of Gazans be stopped. Now we will learn how. N.B.:"Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide," U.N. Texts. Partial sources: "U.S. vetoes UN resolution demanding Gaza ceasefire: The resolution also called for the release of hostages and the unrestricted flow of aid into Gaza," Elizabeth Hagedorn, June 4, 2025, Al-Monitor;
"Security Council to Vote on Resolution on Gaza," SC/16078, June 4, 2025, United Nations; "US vetoes UNSC ceasefire resolution as death, starvation consume Gaza," June 4, 2025, Al Jazeera; "
LIVE: US vetoes UN Security Council resolution demanding immediate Gaza ceasefire," Associated Press, June 4, 2025, YouTube.
May 31, 2025
United Kingdom: the Quakers have become the first English religious group to declare Gaza a genocide. Speaking truth to power and believing that God is in everyone, the Religious Society of Friends Annual General Meeting declared their recognition of genocide in Gaza, the need for economic action, and need to reach out to the Jewish people - "And so, we cannot say clearly enough: it is this current Israeli government that we are led to say we believe is committing genocide. Jewish people are not committing genocide. The Israeli people are not committing genocide." Partial sources:"Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Britain:
At the Yearly Meeting in London at Friends House and online,
23-26 May 2025: Minute 30;" "Quakers first British church to state belief that genocide underway in Gaza," May 27, 2025, Quakers in Britain.
Ireland:"We are the first government in the European Union (EU) to say what Israel is doing is genocide. It is genocide," - Simon Harris, Ireland's Tanaiste. The government had been accused in Parliament of not doing enough. Ireland has recognized Palestinian statehood, joined South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, and claims to stand with the people of Palestine.
Partial sources: "Ireland stands by claim Israel committing genocide in Gaza," MEE Staff, May 29, 2025, Midde East Eye; "Irish leaders defend stance on Palestine and accuse Israel of genocide," Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA, May 29, 2025, yahoo! news.
Israel: at some risk the Black Flag Action Group has organized over 1300 academics in Israeli universities to sign and send a letter to Israel's directors of academia demanding an end to the war in Gaza which is causing a "moral collapse" in the country. Admitting to war crimes and crimes against humanity the letter does not use the word "genocide." Under Israeli law a "black flag" signifies orders which are so criminal they are illegal to follow. Over a year ago Israel's Ynetnews revealed that the government has instigated a covert campaign to intimidate and damage U.S. academics and students opposed to Israel's policies. Partial sources: "More than a thousand Israeli academics call for end to war in Gaza over 'moral collapse'," MEE Staff, May 29, 2025, Middle East Eye; "Israel Has Formed a Task Force to Carry Out Covert Campaigns at US Universities," William Robinson, March 23, 2024, Truthout;
"An Urgent Call to the Heads of Academia in Israel," Avner Wishnitzer, Black Flag Action Group, May 28, 2025, ResearchGate.
May 28, 2025
France & the United Kingdom:
Reminding the U.K. government of its joint statement May 19th, over 8oo lawyers, judges, paralegals and others involved in the legal system signed an open letter holding their government to account for genocide and the inhumane suffering ongoing in Gaza. The letter calls for the government to uphold the law to assure a ceasefire, to resume aid, to reinstate UNRWA, to sanction Israel, to honour the ICC arrest warrants. And in the literary world on May 26th Libération in France published an op-ed by 300 Francophone writers calling for the catastrophe in Gaza to be clearly recognized as a "genocide" (The signers include two nobel-prize winners). Then on May 28th, close to 380 U.K. and Irish writers posted an open letter denouncing the Gaza "genocide" and saying - This is not only about our common humanity and all human rights; this is about our moral fitness as the writers of our time.
Partial sources online: "Legal coalition calls on UK government to address international law violations in Gaza," Samara Baboolal, May 27, 2025, Jurist; "Some 380 UK and Ireland writers denounce Gaza 'genocide'," AFP, May 28, 2025, France 24; "Over 800 lawyers: UK failing to prevent Gaza genocide," May28, 2025, Middle East Monitor; "Leading French authors ask for Israel's war on Gaza to be called 'genocide'," MEE Staff, May 27, 2025 Middle East Eye; "Nous ne pouvons plus nous contenter du mot 'horreur', il faut aujourd'hui nommer le 'génocide' á Gaza," par 300 écrivains, May 26, 2025, Libération; "Quelque 300 écrivains, dont plusieurs Québécois, dénoncent un 'génocide' á Gaza," RCI, May 27, 2025, Radio Canada International.
Gaza:1. There is an increasingly overwhelming consensus by experts that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. 2. Attempts to deny that a genocide is occurring are furthered by the normalization in the media of the ongoing crime. 3. Researchers have reported to The Economist that methods of accounting for casualties may have vastly underestimated the Gaza death toll. As of May 22nd the Gaza Health Ministry gave the death toll as 53655, with the casualties at 121,950. Hospitals and medical care have been destroyed as a military tactic. Casualties from starvation are hard to assess, compounded with wounds and illness. 4. The legal communities of countries signatory to the Convention on Genocide have not adequately challenged their politicians. Genocide in progress. Partial sources online:
"Top genocide scholars unanimous that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza: Dutch investigation,"
May 17, 2025, Middle East Eye; "Gaza genocide," as of May 24, 2025, Wikipedia; "Debunked! Don't Let Them Gaslight You on the Gaza Genocide," Mehdi Hasan and team Zeteo, May 23, 2025, Zeteo; "Shocking figures: The number of dead in Gaza could reach 109,000." May 18, 2025,
alquds.com; "Gaza death toll nears 53,700 as Israel kills 82 more Palestinians," Ahmed Asmar, May 21, 2025, Anadolu Ajansi; "Some of Israel's staunch supporters are now using words such as 'genocide' to describe the war," Andrew Silow-Carroll, May 20, 2025, Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
International: apparent in individual news reports from destabilized countries with military conflicts, civilian deaths are outnumbering military deaths. Domestically, attempts to cut back social services to the people under austerity programs furthered by the World Bank represent a global war on the poor. In the United States the American President's new tax bill drastically cuts social services to the poor and elderly while cutting taxes of the very rich. An estimated 27.5 million U.S. citizens are already without health insurance. Early mortality is encouraged by food insecurity of the vulnerable. What Nightslantern considers a genocide of the poor in the U.S. is reflected in the country's foreign policy. Genocide warning for the American poor. . There is a direct correlation globally, between the casualties of mass killings in genocide and removing the poor from a corporate controlled global society.
May 19, 2025
London Ottawa Paris:The government leaders of the United Kingdom, Canada and France have issued a joint statement condemning Israel's actions in Gaza and the West Bank. Aside from disapproval all three say they will take action if Netanyahu does not stop his current military offences in Gaza, and if he does not permit humanitarian aid to enter. Currently (May 19th) news reports say Netanyahu has allowed entry of nine aid trucks today (the acceptable daily average was 600 trucks a day), to appease international complaints. This is the first threat of possible action and intervention by three countries who find the Israeli government's atrocities unacceptable. If the situation is legally recognized as a genocide, all three countries would be legally bound to intervene to stop the crime as required by the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide under international law. The punishment for genocide and complicity is also applicable under the domestic laws of each country. This link is to the statement as released by the Prime Minister of the U.K.: Joint Statement. As released by the Prime Minister of Canada: Joint Statement.As released by the President of France: Joint Statement
April 27, 2025
Canada: tomorrow is election day. The campaign has focused on challenges by U.S. President Trump to Canada's sovereignty and application of tariffs as an economic weapon. Calm and level-headed Liberal candidate Mark Carney is likely to win. Remarkably, against the North American norm a Canadian campaign has found a way to apply the Convention on Genocide, to the ballot. Canada is bound by the Convention to prevent genocide. Though heavily suppressed as a news issue resistance to the ongoing and impending genocide against Gaza has found expression in voting choices, beyond minimal mention of the issue in public debate. A "Vote Palestine" non-partisan movement offers for endorsement a five point program which both supports international law and resists genocide:
April 19, 2025
Yemen: Houthi rebels of Yemen are presenting armed resistance to Israel's genocide of Gaza. The U.S. President has threatened to annhilate the Houthi rebels if they continue. U.S. planes are under orders to bomb at will and daily bombings on Yemen's civilian infrastructure are reported. Since the Convention on Genocide requires resistance to genocide U.S. policy makers and personnel involved in the mission are placed at eventual risk. Partial sources: "Yemen is acting responsibly to stop genocide and the U.S. is bombing them for it," Craig Mokhiber, April 1 2025, Mondoweiss; "Trump threatens Houthi rebels that they'll be 'completely annihilated' as airstrikes pound Yemen," Jon Gambrell, March 20, 2025, AP; "Heavy US Airstrikes Hit Yemen's Capital, at Least One Civilian Killed," April 16, 2025, Antiwar.com; "US bombing of Yemen compounding dire humanitarian situation - rights groups," Oliver Holmes, April 2, 2025, The Guardian.
Ottawa: on April 13th, Psalm Sunday, thirty thousand people gathered in front of Parliament to protest Israel's genocide in Gaza.
Jerusalem: Israel marked Psalm Sunday by bombing the al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital. Located in Gaza City the hospital run by the Episcopal diocese of Jerusalem was put entirely out of commission with strikes on the emergency department, pharmacy and genetics lab. Partial sources: "Israel's attack on al-Alhi Hospital in Gaza City draws global condemnation, "April 13, 2025, Al Jazeera; "Israeli strike leaves Gaza City's last fully functioning hospital out of service as offensive escalates," Abeer Salman, Dana Karni, Ibrahim Dahman & Tim Lister, April 13, 2025, CNN.
April 2, 2025
Gaza: there's increasing evidence of intentional killing and execution of medical personnel, UN workers, and of the intention of genocide through the destruction of health care facilities and areas of refuge in Gaza. These war crimes appear normal amid other war crimes: the mass killing of women and children, the elderly and disabled, the civilian population. The Palestine Chronicle reports that 1402 medical personnel have been killed at work, 34 hospitals destroyed, and 240 other medical facilities incapacitated. 8 Red Crescent medics were recently found in a mass grave, many with their hands tied and bullet wounds to their heads among the bodies of 15 humanitarian workers in a medevac operation that responded to a distress request in the Rafah Governorate (the Israeli government has acknowledged the attack on ambulances). 280 UNWRA staff have been killed since the genocide began. On April 2nd the Israeli military bombed the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees Jabalia camp clinic, with nine children among the dead. This account from a Canadian doctor currently at work gives some sense of what it's like to try to save children: "'Unforgivable': Diary of Gaza doctor dealing with mass child casualties after ceasefire," ITV News [access:< https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfA-o64Ty84 >]. Nightslantern removed a previous account by a doctor requiring anonymity due to fear of retribution. Israel's targeting of medical personnel suggests the doctors who speak out are in danger and require full protection by the Canadian government, by the UN to uphold international law, and when evidence of war crimes is provided, by the international courts of justice.
Partial sources: (increasingly journalists' names are being left out of their news stories due to the Israeli killing of journalists); "Over 1,500 Humanitarian Workers Killed in Gaza since October 2023," April 1, 2025, The Palestine Chronicle; "Over 1,500 humanitarian workers killed since start of Israel's war on Gaza: Media Office," Jomaa Younis and Rania Abu Shamala, April 1, 2025, Anadolu Agency; "Israeli army killed over 1,400 medical staff in Gaza since start of genocide: Officials," March 31, 2025, The Cradle.co; "US Blames Hamas for Israeli Execution of Palestinian Medics," Dave Decamp, March 31, 2025, antiwar.com;
"Marked for Assassination - Gaza Journalists on Israeli Hit List Refuse to Stop Reporting," Sharif Abdel Kouddous, March 31, 2025, Drop Site; "Israel Bombs UN Clinic, Killing 22, Days After Gaza Medics Found in Mass Grave," Sharo Zhang, April 2, 2025, truthout;
"Israel executes unarmed Red Crescent paramedics with the west's blessing," Ahmed Moor, April 2, 2025, The Guardian; "Evidence of 'execution-style' killings of Palestinian aid workers by Israeli forces, doctor says," Malak A. Tamtesh, Lorenzo Tondo, Julian Borger, April 2, 2025, The Guardian; "Torture of Medical Workers in Israel - A Call for Urgent Action," Physicians for Human Rights - Israel, Feb. 26, 2025, Physicians for Human Rights.
March 27, 2025
West Virginia: The Convention on Genocide notes vulnerable groups as defined by religion, race, ethnicity and nationality. Mexico understands the Convention to include political groups. I think humanity understands the Convention to include the mass killing of all vulnerable groups. The poor as a group are not specifically covered by U.S. interpretation of the Genocide Convention. Nor are the aged. Nor children. Amid the U.S. President's threats of closing Social Security which Americans are required to pay into through their entire working lives, are cuts made to programs and administration with closed offices and new regulations so people must visit an office or proceed online, options not availble to large portions of rural poor, particularly the elderly relying on telephone calls to the SS or support programs (now cut) for the aged. The attacks on Social Security are not just the beginning of a U.S. effort to wipe out its poor. A U.S. attempt to assure early death to its poor is endemic. As of 2024, 771,480 were at some point officially homeless during the previous year (USAfacts). In 2023 the statistics for medically uninsured was 26 million. The principally affected group is American Blacks. Genocide warning for the poor. Partial sources: "New Social Security requirements pose barriers to rural communities without internet, transportation," Leah Willingham, March 22, 2025, AP; "Elon Musk's DOGE Cuts Are Crashing Social Security," Hafiz Rashid, March 25, 2025, The New Republic.
March 18, 2025
Ottawa: the Kebaowek Nation has won a second court case (see previous) against the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), in an attempt to protect the environment from the effects of a nuclear waste mound/surface burial site at Chalk River, within a kilometre of the Ottawa River. Many believe it threatens the lives and futures of people, wolves, bear dens and all wildlife affected by the Ottawa river environment. The legal actions would not have been necessary if the government had received the First Nation's approval. On March 14th in Federal court Justice Russel Zinn found the facility's proposed site specifically endangers two species of bats and the Blanding's turtle without considering reasonable alternatives (which violates 73(3)(a) the Species at Risk Act). So the project is stopped by the decision but with enough legal ambivalence to suggest more court cases and costs to the Kebaowek community. The decision is under-reported. Partial sources:
"Another win for Algonquin community in fight against nuclear waste dump," CBC March 17, 2025, Yahoo News;
"First Nation wins second court challenge to Chalk River nuclear waste site over threats to bats and turtles," Marie Woolf, March 14, 2025, Globe & Mail; "Court upholds two legal challenges to the Chalk River Radioactive Megadump," Gordon Edwards, March 14, 2025, nuclear news.
March 14, 2025
Geneva: N.B. "'More than a human can bear': Israel's systematic use of
sexual, reproductive and other forms of gender-based violence
since 7 October 2023," Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, March 13, 2025, A/HRC/58/CRP.6 Human Rights Council - OHCHR [access:< https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/sessions-regular/session58/a-hrc-58-crp-6.pdf >]. Genocide confirmation. This report provides definitive evidence of the Israeli government's attempt to destroy the Palestinian people. It finds evidence of disproportionate targeting of women and girls, the attempt to destroy reproduction, physical and sexual violence against Palestinians of both sexes. The attack on Palestinian reproductive health and rights extends to the IDF destruction of 4000 embryos at the Al Basma centre, December 2023. The Government of Israel has 'categorically' rejected the allegations. Other sources: "UN Investigation Accuses Israel of Genocide in Gaza Through Targeted Destruction of Health Facilities," March 13, 2025, teleSUR; "Rights probe alleges sexual violence against Palestinians by Israeli forces used as 'method of war'," March 13, 2025, UN News.
Geneva: the Turkish outlet Anadolu Agency is one of the few reliable sources aware of international laws which Canada is bound to / subject to, while the U.S. in some instances is not. Relying here on Anadolu Agency's "Israel carrying out 'fastest starvation campaign in Gaza in modern history': UN envoy" (Beyza Binnur Donmez, March 13, 2025), on March 12th Michael Fakhri, the UN's special rapporteur on the right to food, told a press briefing that Israel was effecting the ''fastest starvation campaign in Gaza in modern history." The UN special rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese, stated "the genocide will continue because there are no ways to remedy the destruction," even if the violence stops. The UN special rapporteur on protection of human rights, Ben Saul, stated Trump's relocation plan for Gaza would shatter the basic rules of the UN and international order. He further condemned Israel's "continuing illegal military provocation in the wider region." The UN special rapporteur on independence of judges and lawyers, Meg Satterthwaite, noted that the U.S. sanctions against the ICC are an offence against the administration of justice, violating Article 70 of the Rome Statute.
Canada: in another indication of attacks on free speech (see previous), citing complaints by Zionists against his journalism advocacy and pro bono legal defence of Palestinians Dimitri Lascaris has withdrawn his affiliation with a Toronto law firm to spare the firm equally unfounded attacks. Lascaris is one of the leading voices in Canada, able to protest Israel's genocide in Gaza (see previous). His message is made available on his "Right2Resist" network and is posted from Greece. It ends with condemnation of Canada's senior legal establishment for not countering the Israeli government's genocide. He finds shameful the increasing legal difficulties for those attempting to protest the genocide in Gaza. "Zionism, Slander and the Dark Art of Reputational Destruction," Reason2Resist with Dimitri Lascaris, March 12, 2025, YouTube [access:< https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyU4dXHRyNw >].
March 6, 2025
Montreal: To the benefit of public health, the environment and aesthetics, the Federal Government will be putting 70 million dollars into Montreal for the planting of trees on the Island. The planting of about half a million trees should be completed by 2030. The Canadian Minister of the Environment is Steven Guilbeault who announced a recent agreement with Quebec to plant 102 millions trees throughout the Province. In the U.S. its President's recent budget cuts have cancelled a 75 million dollar grant from the Forest Service to the
Arbor Day Foundation to plant trees. Much of the funding was destined for poor urban areas stripped of their trees by the effects of climate change. Partial sources: "Ottawa investing $70 million to plant trees in Montreal region," Michelle Lalonde, March 5, 2025, The Montreal Gazette / Postmedia; "Forest Service Rescinds Tree Planting Grants," Diana Ionescu, March 5, 2025, Planetizen.
Jerusalem: (previous) the Armenian community in Jerusalem since the 4th Century, is currently under severe attack by the City of Jerusalem which is imposing tax debts based on the Church property, claimed to date back to the 1980's. In response to a Municipality foreclosure order the Patriarchs and Heads of Local Churches of Jerusalem are standing in solidarity with the Armenian Patriarchate. According to the Armenian Patriarchate in East Jerusalem the government of Israel intends to confiscate its properties and auction these to pay the supposed taxes. In 2018 a similar mechanism was applied to other Christian churches but the false tax charges were withdrawn due to world pressure. The Patriarchate warns that by breaking ancient "Status Quo" agreements that govern taxes this impoundment of church lands could mark the beginning of extinguishing Christianity in the city. As an act of protest Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, and Roman Catholic Church leaders have closed the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Genocide warning for Armenian and Christian groups. Partial sources: Jerusalem's Armenian community faces serious challenges," March 4, 2025,Panarmenian.Net; "Armenian Patriarchate Warns of Israeli Threat to Seize Properties in East Jerusalem," Feb. 20, 2025, The Palestine Chronicle;
"Israel Seizes & Auction Armenian Church Land In Jerusalem," News Desk, March 4, 2025, Observer Diplomat;
"Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre Church Closed In Tax Protest," RFE/RL, Feb. 26, 2025, Radio Free Europe.
March 2, 2025
this concern with truth
March 1, 2025
Northeast Congo: Close to Uganda 70 protestant Christians were placed in the local church and had their heads cut off. Christian sources tend to attribute the act to hatred by Uganda backed Islamist militia, the ADF, which has not claimed responsibility. Others familiar with militia tactics in the region point out that the various militias use civilian villagers for their needs, transport, cooking, and if they are not strong enough to work and travel they're of no military use and dispatched. Which may explain the presence of children among the victims. The majority religion of the DRC is Christian. The murder of civilians benefits those who take over the mineral resources rather than religious power groups. See "Congo: do we trace genocide to human hatred or corporate profit?". Ongoing Genocide warning.
Chhattisgarh, India: local Christian congregations are under direct attack by political directive of representatives of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) party. Christianity tends to be gentler with the "untouchables", and lower caste members of the social fabric and so by nature presents some resistance to the the BJP's campaign of Hindu national supremacy. The current point of Hindu anger is accusations of Christians eating beef. Nightlantern has carried a genocide warning for Christians, Dalits, the poor, covered by the government's war on Maoists and Naxalites in the region since 2009. An ongoing Genocide warning. Partial sources: "Hindus Urged to Rape, Kill Christians on March 1 in Chhattisgarh," International Christian Concern, Feb. 26, 2025, Persecution.org; "Transnational Funding in Hindu Supremacist Movements: Role of Corporates in Illicit Political finance," The Polis Project, Aug. 15, 2024, The Polis Project; "Christians attacked by baton-wielding mob just hours after 70 beheaded in Congo," Jack Walters, Feb. 24, 2025, GBNews.
February 24, 2025
United Kingdom: for diverse complex and political reasons the BBC has withdrawn from showing this excellent but heart-breaking documentary on what it is like for the children of Gaza particularly. It is also about what happens to the medical personnel who have given over their sensibilities to caring for their people amid a slaughter. You only have to watch the film to understand the real reason for the attempted censorship.
"This World. S22E03. Gaza. How To Survive A Warzone," Hoyo Films Ltd, Feb 17, 2025, BBC 2 Documentary, Series "This World".
Montreal: According to his facebook page, Yves Engler was released from jail today, without restrictions on his ability to publicly discuss the case which the judge protected from the Crown's attempt to silence. Previous.
February 23, 2025
Montreal: the arrest of the journalist Yves Engler (see previous) raises the issue of whether Montreal's police are being politicized, placed in jeopardy and badly used. From a perspective of international law and its necessary application under Canadian law I post with her permission a letter of Feb. 21rst by Gail Davidson, founder of Canada's Lawyer Rights Watch, who has sent this to Montreal's Mayor and Chief of Police: "Attention: Mayor of Montreal. Varlérie Plante and Police Chief Fady Dagher, Re: Yves Engler - Unlawful arrest and illegitimate charge." Incarcerated February 20 Yves Engler is spending the weekend in jail with a court appointment Monday morning February 24th. According to his father's posting on "X" prosecutors refused to release him unless he not speak about the case. Note: Lawyers' Rights Watch Canada "Freedom from Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Liberty" [access:< https://www.lrwc.org/the-right-to-freedom-a-guidebook/ >].
February 21, 2025
Ottawa: The Kebaowek First Nation of Québec has asked Federal Court to review the decision by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Tribunal which allows Canadian Nuclear Laboratories to build a Near Surface Disposal Facility at Chalk River. The Commission did not honour the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
which requires consultation and accommodation with the First Nations. The Commission had decided it didn't have the authority to consult and accommodate so it didn't. On February 19th, 2025, Justice Julie Blackhawk found the Commission in error and in order to comply with UNDRIP granted a portion of the request for review which requires the Commission to fulfil its duty of consultation and accommodation. This is a significant victory for First Nations throughout Canada and through them provides some protection for all Canadians against resource stripping and despoiling the land mass and environment. The Kebaowek First Nation case was supported by the Parti Québécois, Québec solidaire in Québec, and the Green Party. Québec seems able to mount some reasonable defence against excesses and misjudgements of the nuclear industry, while Ontario is embracing aggressive attempts at its expansion. Background: previous previous previous. Partial sources: "Federal Court Recognizes Kebaowek First Nation's Right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent on Chalk River Nuclear Waste Project," Kebaowek First Nation, Feb.20, 2025, email; "Nuclear commission ordered to resume consultations with Kebaowek First Nation over waste dump," APTN, Feb. 19, 2025, aptnnewss; "Kebaowek First Nation and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories," The Honourable Madam Justice Blackhawk, Feb. 19, 2025, Federal Court.
Montreal: warning. In a grave attack on Canadian freedom of expression Yves Engler, the intelligent, accurate and fearless Canadian journalist was ordered to report for detention by police February 20th. Suggested: "Yves Engler Arrested for Criticizing Israel - Speaks to Media Before Detention", Alex Tyrrell, Feb. 20, 2025, YouTube.
February 4, 2025
Gaza: author's note. It's impossible for me to read daily news of the genocide in Gaza and not tear. It only gets worse. As other alternatives fail to stop the horror, support for people's direct action against Israeli assets in all countries grows stronger. That is also a cause for sorrow. While Israel and Benjamin Netanyahu are directly blamed for the atrocities, these would not be possible without the continuing support of the U.S., the Trump administration, and the privileged American political class. It helps to understand that Netanyahu's brother took his B.A. at Cornell. His father taught at two U.S. universities. Benjamin Netanyahu attended Cheltenham High School in Pennsylvania, graduated from M.I.T, with a B.Sc (Architecture) and a M.Sc (Management Studies). He also took courses in political science at both Harvard and M.I.T., all with time off when called to service in the Israeli Defense Forces. Then he worked as a financial advisor in Boston at the Boston Consulting Group and is thoroughly primed in the perspective of those who make use of America for profit. He is very Boston, in a city others note historically for its resistance to fascism. Currently the BCG company was linked to running the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation - until the murders of those seeking food began. It's name is also linked to the Gaza redevelopment plan ("The Great Trust"), Because Netanyahu's U.S. citizenship records are withheld at the U.S. Embassy in Israel it isn't possible to verify that he renounced his U.S. dual citizenship as required for his work with the government of Israel. Neve Gordan's "Special Report" in 1996 notes that the attempt to explore Netanyahu's credentials and citizenship found access to his U.S. social security file denied under a "confidential " classification only granted to the FBI, CIA, IRS, as well as terrorists and criminals. Logically, the people of Israel may be at risk of a terrible retaliatory genocide if their leader serves foreign interests, risking them in a U.S. takeover of the Middle East resources. Partial sources: "Netanyahu for president? He's been a citizen - twice!" Philip Weiss, Aug. 19, 2015, Mondoweiss; "Boston Consulting Group," current, Wikipedia; "Spook, Terrorist or Criminal? America's Mysterious Files on Netanyahu," Neve Gordon, Oct. 24, 1996, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. 
London England: Today in a joint statement Canada, the United Kingdom, and 23 other countries condemned Israel's inhumane killing of civilians in Gaza, demanding that Israel "comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law." The statement rejects proposals to place Palestinians in a "humanitarian city" (concentration camp); it asks for the release of hostages and for aid to be allowed into Gaza. The other foreign ministers signing the statement were those of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland. Faced with Israel's criminal impunity the statement is one more attempt urgently requesting an end to the war in Gaza (ie. previous); it provides warning of further action. Israel quickly rejected the request, finding it "disconnected from reality". U.S. ambassador to Israel Huckabee declared the joint statement "disgusting". Partial sources: "Occupied Palestinian Territories: joint statement, 21 July 2025," Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon David Lammy MP. Gov UK; "25 countries, EU condemn 'inhumane killing' of civilians in Gaza," Burak Bir, July 21, 2025, Anadolu Ajansi; "UK, France and 23 other nations condemn Israel over 'inhumane killing' of civilians," Andrew MacAskill & Muvija M / Reuters, July 21, 2025, msn; "Israel rejects 25 - nation statement calling for end to Gaza war," Navan Freiberg, July 21, 2025, The Times of Israel; "US slams 25 - nation call for Israel to end Gaza war, says onus on Hamas 'savages'," July 21, 2025, The Times of Israel."The world will remember what we, states and individuals, did in this moment -whether we recoiled in fear or rose in defense of human dignity. Here in Bogotá, a growing number of states have the opportunity to break the silence and revert to a path of legality by finally saying: Enough. Enough impunity. Enough empty rhetoric. Enough exceptionalism. Enough complicity. The time has come to act in pursuit of justice and peace - grounded in rights and freedoms for all, and not mere privileges for some, at the expense of the annihilation of others."
UN special rapporteur Albanese, under constant personal death threat, has been sanctioned by the U.S. government for her understanding of the Gaza genocide. U.S. attempts to silence her have frightened commissioners Navi Pillay, Chris Sidoti, Miloon Kothari to resign from their posts in the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry investigating crimes in occupied Palestine. The ICC court and Prosecutor are under threat to drop the case against Netanyahu and the former Israeli Defense Minister or be "destroyed". Despite the attempts to terrorize guardians of human rights and humanitarian law, 12 countries have joined together in agreement to (in summary) 1. Prevent the supply of weapons to Israel.
The group also calls for defense of international law and an immediate investigation of the health and needs of the Gaza population with a plan to meet those needs. Other state endorsements are accepted until September 20th. Partial sources: "U.N. Rapporteur Urges Nations to Cut Ties to Israel to Stop 'Genocide' in Gaza," July 16, 2025, Democracy Now!; "At Hague Group Emergency Summit, 30+ Nations Seek to 'Halt the Genocide in Gaza'," Brett Wilkins, July 15, 2025, Common Dreams; "UN Palestine inquiry members resign as US sanctions rapporteur," Seyma Yigit, July 15, 2025, Anadolu Ajansi ; "Hague Group announces steps to hold Israel accountable in Bogota summit," July 16, 2025, Al Jazeera; "ICC prosecutor warned to drop Netanyahu case or be 'destroyed': Report," July 16, 2025, Al Jazeera; "Joint Statement by the Hague Group on the Conclusion of the Emergency Conference on Palestine at the Bogotá Conference, in Bogotá, Republic of Colombia, from 15 to 16 July 2025," July 16, 2025, Department of International Relations & Cooperation Republic of South Africa.
2. Prevent the docking or servicing in country, of any vessel with military uses to Israel.
3. Prevent the transport of any items with military use under the signatory country's flag.
4. Review all public contracts to prevent any support to Israel's occupation.
5. Comply with all obligations to affirm international law and accountability for serious crimes.
6. Support universal jurisdiction.Note: Francesca Albanese is the UN's and world's primary expert on this subject. She has made her point of both the outrageousness of the genocide against Gaza, and of the complicity of the Western world's economies which have encouraged the genocide to continue. By calling on a complete arms embargo of Israel to counter the genocide, she avoids calling for direct military intervention by the world's signatories to the Genocide Convention, since that would confront the U.S. as Israel's military ally, with war.
Partial sources: "List of Companies Complicit in Israel's Genocide in Palestine: UN Report," Sita Planasari, July 4, 2025, Tempo English; "UN expert calls on world to end trade with Israel's 'economy of genocide'," July 3, 2025, Al Jazeera; "Québec pension giant participates in the 'economy of genocide,' UN report says," Stéphane Rolland, The Canadian Press, July 3, 2025, CTV News; "Due to speak on the genocide in Gaza, UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese is censored in Switzerland,"
Stefan Steinberg, July 2, 2025, World Socialist Website; "Our Pensions are funding genocide," June 17, 2025, Just Peace Advocates; "The companies arming Israel and their financiers," PAX, Profundo, Koepel van Internationale Solidariteit et al, June 2024; "Chris Hedges: The Genocide Profiteers," Chris Hedges, July 2, 2025, Consortium News; "Western media enabling Gaza genocide and rewriting history, say experts," June 29, 2025, Middle East Eye.16 (1) Every person who wilfully attempts in any manner to obstruct, pervert or defeat the course of justice of the International Criminal Court is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 10 years.
Already extremely unpopular with the Canadian public due to his application of tariffs, the U.S. President could be barred from entering Canada or charged with a crime if allowed entry to attend the G7 conference June 15th to June 17th. This point of law is not available in the Canadian press. Under the Conservative government of Stephen Harper, an attempt by Lawyers Against the War to arrest George W. Bush for torture when he visited Canada was not successful. See: "Re: Visit of George W. Bush on October 20, 2011: Canada must prevent entry or arrest and ensure prosecution for torture," Francis Boyle and Gail Davidson, August 26, 2011, Lawyers Against the War. It's my understanding the Attorney General's approval is required for charges under the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act to be laid against non-Canadian citizens. Partial sources: "Trump administration imposes sanctions on four ICC judges in unprecedented move," Humeyra Pamuk & Stephanie van den Berg, June 5, 2025, Reuters; "Donald Trump will visit Canada for G7, White House confirms," Lynn Chaya, May 22, 2025, CTV News.
May 25, 2025
1.Two-way arms embargo on Israel;
(For greater detail see https://votepalestine.ca/platform). Over 300 candidates have endorsed the demands. For Canadians wishing to vote for a supporting candidate in their electoral district: https://votepalestine.ca/candidates.
2. Ending Canadian support for settlements;
3. Combat anti-Palestinian racism and protect pro-Palestine speech;
4. Recognizing the state of Palestine;
5. Funding Gaza relief efforts, including UNRWA.
Serbia: over 4000 individuals have launched a class action lawsuit against NATO for the effects of depleted uranium in the weapons used against Yugoslavia's civilian areas. Serbia has the second highest cancer rate in the world. After the NATO bombings in 2000 The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia took NATO to court in Belgrade for bombings but the court decision was revoked. In 2001 Serbian lawyer Srdjan Aleksic took this issue again to court. The legal process is long and drawn out. While medical and genetic effects of D.U. are dismissed by NATO sources its dangers have been exposed and verified in suppressed news sources (Ie. re. Afghanistan: 1 2). U.S. weapons are known to employ depleted uranium. Reports of birth defects in Fallujah (Iraq) hospitals since the U.S. invasion are tragic. There are over four times as many cancer deaths in Yugoslavia since the U.S. bombing campaigns of civilian areas and facilities. In 2015 the European Union found an abnormal level of radioactivity in the Gazan soil. Reliable reporting on this issue is consistently denied the public. The U.S.-to- Israel supplied GBU guidance systems for 2000, 1000, and 250 lb bombs do not identify their 'payloads" which can include depleted uranium, The bombs are described in the Western press by the name of their guidance systems which disguises their payloads which contain either D.U. or tungsten. In 2023 Moscow based "Dances with Bears" (John Helmer) reports radioactive particles in the prevailing winds from Gaza indicating use of D.U.. The absolute suppression of news concerning radioactive levels is a strong indication of danger to the population. Genocide warning. . As in response to the current Israeli bombings of Lebanon news of current radioactive levels is not available. However in the new billion dollar U.S. arms supply for the Ukraine, the artillery shells for the M1 Abrams tanks supplied are specifically noted as carrying depleted uranium. RT reported the UK and U.S. supply of D.U. weaponry to the Ukraine as early as September 2023. The genocide warning continues for the Ukraine in a war where the fault rests either with the Russians who have countered a CIA / neo-Nazi takeover of ethnically Russian regions in the Ukraine, or with those trying to purchase the Ukraine's future. Partial sources: "UN report: Israeli use of heavy bombs in Gaza raises serious concerns under the laws of war," Press release, June 19, 2024, OHCHR; "VP/HR -- Gaza Strip and bombs with depleted uranium, " Miguel Viegas (GUE/NGL), March 3, 2015, European Parliament; "Is Israel using depleted uranium to bomb Lebanon?" Anis Germani, Sept. 4, 2024, Mondoweiss; "Crimes Against Humanity: Serbia's Lawsuit Against NATO. More Than 15 Tons of Uranium Bombs Dropped on Yugoslavia in 1999," Natali Milenkovic, March 24, 2025, Global Research; "Arduous legal battle against NATO for use of depleted uranium ammunition," Global Times, June 27, 2024, Global Times; "The Children of Fallujah: The Medical Mystery at the Heart of the Iraq War," Laura Gottesdiener, Nov. 9, 2020, The Nation.
out on the highway looking for the exits
- john bart gerald
relies on magic to escape
the sluices of what we're supposed to see
thoughts like cattle to the slaughterhouse
fish to the weirs
passing through death
from one use to another
the magic is to step aside from our own mortality
to find meaning that gives life
that magic is conception
while what we call "truth" that only leads to death
is un-liberated thought
mind-trapped awareness
for a life as victim
victims are we all then?
each of us trapped by our supposition of mortality
real when we accept it or it is accepted for us
it seems true that eventually
each of us is beaten out of my-your-our
refusal to cease and pass
then to join those we loved
flat on a stone slab
hidden by newspapers and a coffin
urns empty to the winds
passed beyond our alive reach
but if we deny their departure
bring them into our own lives
as spirits continuing
there is less draw to join them over
there in a flash of sunlight is
"we can turn off here"
on this highway from cradle to grave
looking for the exits
from an unpublished book of poems
Democratic Republic of Congo: "Congo: do we trace genocide to human hatred or corporate profit?"
February 2, 2025
Belize on January 30, 2025, formally filed a declaration of intervention with an application to intervene at the International Court of Justice in the case of South Africa v. Israel. The government of this small Central American country asserts its intention that "Israel is held accountable for its violations of the Genocide Convention; its interest in ensuring that the authors of genocide do not enjoy impunity; and its interest in the prevention, suppression and punishment of genocide." The filing follows those of Cuba, Ireland, Nicaragua, Columbia, Libya, Mexico, Palestine, Spain, Turkey, Chile, the Maldives, Bolivia. As prevously noted South Africa first filed its case December 29, 2023, substantially verified and affirmed in its Memorial of October 28, 2024..
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January 24, 2025
January 20, 2025
U.S.: This is Martin Luther King Jr. day in the U.S.. A tension remains between official "respect" for Dr. King, his words, his wisdom, his intentions, and the hard evidence that he was put to death by Government assassination, as exposed by the King Family attorney, Dr. William Francis Pepper. On one hand in 2015, 8000 Selma to Montgomery marchers from 1965 were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal - one of the two highest U.S. civilian awards, as the "Foot Soldiers" of the people's right to vote. In our family there were three who were there in 1965, Elmer Maas, my wife's uncle [ed. note: Elmer who went south with another group is better known as one of the founders of the Plowshares Movement with the Berrigan brothers - they would hammer in protest on nuclear warheads; a bit in awe of him I didn't presume to include him when I previously mentioned this in 2017], Michael Shields her first husband, and me. I was a Movement march marshal - with orange armbands we 'marshals' were buffers between our fellow marchers and the countryside, and on entering Montgomery a body shield for Dr. King. Then five of us whites heading home were falsely arrested, death-threatened, jailed, which began a pattern of harassments for years, false arrests, beatings, etc..
January 14, 2025
Cuba: on January 10th Cuba formally filed a declaration of intervention with the International Court of Justice in the case of South Africa v. Israel. Affirming its particpation in the Convention on Genocide the Cuban filing takes pains to explain at length Cuba's interpretation of the Convention. The filing currently is available only in French at the ICJ website: Déclaration d'Intervention de la République de Cuba à la Cour Internationale de Justice (Afrique du Sud c. Israël) 8 janvier 2025. Cuba's declaration follows Ireland's last week, which followed declarations of or requests for intervention in the case by Nicaragua, Columbia, Libya, Mexico, Palestine, Spain, Turkey, Chile, the Maldives, Bolivia (Previous). Belgium and Egypt have declared an intention to join South Africa's case.
January 9, 2025
Ireland: Ireland has officially filed a declaration of intervention in South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, joining Nicaragua, Columbia, Libya, Mexico, Palestine, Spain, Türkiye, Chile, the Maldives, Bolivia. (See previous ). South Africa first filed its case December 29, 2023, substantially verified and affirmed in its Memorial of October 28, 2024.. Remarkably Ireland's declaration loosens the criteria for proving "intention," which the U.S. has insisted on since signing of the Convention in 1948. "Ireland formally joins ICJ genocide case against Israel," Jan 7, 2025, The Cradle; "Ireland joins genocide case against Israel at International Court of Justice," Max Saltman, Jan. 7, 2025, CNN; "Declaration of intervention of Ireland," Doc. #192-20250106-INT-01-00-EN, Jan. 6, 2025, International Court of Justice.
Montreal: "An Absence of Humanity in Gaza." Some attempts in Canada and the U.S. to stop the genocide by legal means.
New York City: The New York Times has rejected advertising paid for by the American Friends Service Committee (Quakers) calling for an end to Israel's genocide in Gaza. AFSC is currently providing humanitarian aid to Gaza. See AFSC's Gaza Emergency Relief. AFSC was able to present a consistent antiwar resistance throughout the U.S. war on Vietnam. Partial sources: "New York Times rejects Quaker ad for calling Israel's actions 'genocide'," Layne Mullett, Jan. 8, 2025, AFSC; "'Outrageous': NYT Rejects Paid Ad From Quakers That Calls Israeli Attack on Gaza 'Genocide'," Eloise Goldmith, Jan, 8, 2025, Common Dreams.
A branch that comes from violence will not take root;
for a blighted root is on sheer rock, like reeds by the
banks of a river, which are dried up before any grass; but
kindness, like eternity, will never be cut off, and faithfulness
will be established forever - from Ben Sira
(Dead Sea Scrolls Bible, Abegg et al)
at first posting in 2002 this bulletin board was for emergency protests, attempts to counter
genocide, anti-war information, which were suppressed in the media; my interest remains in
how a society is moved into what have become genocidal wars, and how people are able to
resist... it becomes a kind of history in motion and a way to counter enforced forgetfulness,
the lies that say these things never happened, or that there is nothing wrong with the murders
of hundreds of thousands of innocents in other countries, or the continuing move toward
eradication of the poor by death, in north america; this account is against forgetfulness. - jbg 2008
by john bart gerald
graphics by julie maas
guest contributions as noted
September 4, 2025