Aletho News

Flock cameras destroyed as anti-surveillance protests spread

RT | August 21, 2026

As more US police departments deploy Flock cameras to monitor traffic and track criminals, public backlash has grown. In San Diego, a protester dressed as Darth Vader showed up to a city council meeting to portray Flock as a tool for tracking “rebel scum.”

There are now more than 130,000 Flock cameras dotting the US, with law enforcement departments in at least 4,000 cities erecting the AI-powered surveillance devices on intersections, parking lots, and public land. Flock Technologies says the cameras have helped police stop burglaries, carjackings, and homicides, but opponents say they encroach on civil liberties.

At a meeting of the San Diego City Council on Wednesday, a man dressed as Star Wars villain Darth Vader shared his opinion on the technology, approaching the podium with his character’s signature mechanical breathing.

“The Emperor is a fan of Flock, and we must continue utilising Flock technologies so that we can surveil the rebel scum,” he declared. “As they move from playground to playground, from playground to pool, from pool to gymnasium, because we all know that the Flock cameras are not only following the license plate readers, they are following children.”

Flock is best known for its Falcon ALPR (Automated License Plate Recognition) cameras, which capture still images of passing vehicles. However, the company’s Condor PTZ video cameras can be used by police departments to track the movement of individuals across multiple cameras with AI, and search for people via description. … continue

Palestinians ‘starving’ as Israeli settlers maintain siege on West Bank town

Press TV – August 21, 2026

Palestinians trapped in their homes in Qusra have been running out of food as extremist settlers maintain their siege of the occupied West Bank town and the regime forces block food deliveries.

The settler blockade on three Palestinian houses in the Ras al-Ain area of Qusra, south of Nablus, where around 15 people live, had entered its 13th day.

Aisha Hassan, who is sheltering in one of three besieged homes with her mother and brother, said on Thursday that they were “starving”, the Middle East Eye news portal reported on Thursday.

“The municipal council tried to bring us food, but the soldiers prevented them, and the food was left outside,” Hassan added. “UNICEF staff were able to deliver some food to us a few days ago, and now it’s starting to spoil.”

Israeli soldiers arrived last week, ostensibly to remove the settlers, but have since effectively contributed to the siege by blocking food deliveries to the families. … Full article

Israeli Occupation Kills Father of Palestinian Martyr in Jenin, Intensifies West Bank Oppressive Raids

Al-Manar | August 21, 2026

At least two Palestinians were martyred and another was injured, with many others being arrested in the West Bank, as Israeli occupation forces stepped up attacks overnight and into Friday morning.

In Jenin, Fathi Khazem, father of slain Palestinians Raad and Abdulrahman Khazem, was shot and killed by Israeli occupation forces (IOF) during a raid on his home in the center of the city.

Khazem, widely known as Abu Raad, a retired colonel in the Palestinian National Security Forces and the father of two Palestinians killed by Israel in 2022, had been pursued by Israeli forces for years.

Local sources cited by Quds News Network said Israeli forces stormed Khazem’s home near Jenin’s main roundabout and opened fire on him, killing him. Israeli forces subsequently withheld his body and transferred it to an undisclosed location, according to the reports.

Residents also reported that an Israeli special forces unit entered the house and shot Khazem directly.

A 14-year-old Palestinian boy was also shot with live ammunition in the chest and back near the Arab American University in Jenin during Israeli gunfire accompanying the raid. He was taken to a hospital for evaluation.

Meanwhile, a Palestinian young man has been martyred after being shot by Israeli settlers in Khirbet Hamroush, northeast of Hebron (Al-Khalil) south of the occupied West Bank, a medical source has told Al Jazeera Arabic.

More arrests were made by occupation forces in the towns near Jenin, Tulkarem, Nablus, Tubas, Bethlehem, Hebron and Jericho, Palestinian media reported. … continue

Palestinian teen killed in settler attack on al-Khalil village

Palestinian Information Center – August 21, 2026

WEST BANK – A Palestinian teenager was killed and another Palestinian was wounded by live fire on Friday afternoon during a settler attack on the town of Sa’ir, northeast of al-Khalil in the southern occupied West Bank.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health said 17-year-old Karim Sanad Raja Shalaldeh was killed by settler gunfire during the attack on Sa’ir.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said its crews also treated a 70-year-old man who was shot with live ammunition in the Al-Bay’a area of Sa’ir and transferred him to a hospital for treatment.

Two Palestinians were wounded by live fire during the armed settler attack on Sa’ir, as settler assaults against Palestinians and their property continued across several areas south of al-Khalil.

The Red Crescent said another Palestinian sustained a serious gunshot wound to the chest. Its crews performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation before transporting him to a hospital.

Large groups of armed settlers attacked Palestinian homes in Sa’ir and fired live ammunition heavily at residents. Settlers also set fire to a home.

In southern al-Khalil, five Palestinians were wounded in attacks by armed settlers in the Deir Shams area near the towns of Al-Dhahiriya and Al-Samu. Settlers also stole a number of sheep.

Local sources said settlers attacked Palestinian homes with stones, wounding five people. They then attacked a Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance, smashing its windows and preventing it from reaching the wounded. … Full article

The unborn are dying in the siege of Gaza

Miscarriages and stillbirths surge as Israel’s siege, malnutrition, toxic exposure and displacement ravage mothers

By Eva Bartlett | RT | August 20, 2026

Shocking news of a sudden over-threefold year-on-year increase of the number of miscarriages and stillbirths should be front page on global media. But because it is one of the latest consequences of the ongoing Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, it will probably go ignored by most Western corporate media.

In fact, since a ‘ceasefire’ supposedly came into effect in October 2025, media coverage of Gaza has decreased dramatically. But – as with ceasefires prior – Israel has continued to kill Palestinians in Gaza on a near-daily basis, by bombing, machinegun fire, drone strikes, and by (continuing its near twenty-year siege on Gaza) not allowing in adequate amounts of humanitarian aid, medical supplies, and other things needed to just sustain life at the very basic level. … continue

Palestinian killed by Israeli gunfire in Khan Yunis

Palestinian Information Center – August 21, 2026

GAZA – A Palestinian man was killed by Israeli gunfire on Friday evening in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, amid ongoing Israeli ceasefire violations.

A local source reported that the body of 29-year-old Ibrahim Mohammed Kawara was brought to Nasser Medical Complex after he was shot by the Israeli army in the Qizan al-Najjar area, south of Khan Yunis. … Full article

Child killed, others injured as Israel continues Gaza ceasefire violations

Palestinian Information Center – August 21, 2026

GAZA – The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) continued violating the Gaza ceasefire agreement from early Friday morning for the 316th consecutive day, opening fire and carrying out artillery shelling across several areas of the Strip, wounding a number of Palestinians, including one critically.

Two Palestinians were wounded by IOF gunfire in the Batn al-Sameen area south of Khan Yunis, with one reported in critical condition. Another Palestinian was shot near the telecommunications company in the vicinity of Abu Hamid Square east of the city.

In northern Gaza, Israeli artillery shelled eastern Jabalia al-Balad and the Tuffah neighborhood in northern Gaza City, while Israeli military vehicles opened fire toward northwestern Beit Lahia.

Artillery shelling also struck areas east of Gaza City, marking another violation of the ceasefire agreement signed on October 10, 2025, under Arab and US mediation in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Around midnight, an Israeli special forces unit advanced into the al-Jawani area of Beit Lahia under heavy covering fire, while Israeli surveillance aircraft flew intensively overhead, according to local sources.

A Palestinian child also died Thursday evening from wounds sustained in Israeli gunfire in northern Gaza.

A local source identified the child as Ahmad Ramzi Aql, saying he succumbed to wounds sustained when IOF opened fire on a displacement camp in Beit Lahia. … Full article

BBC cancelled interview on Israel’s killing of Hind Rajab

By Muhammad Shehada – August 19, 2026

Disappointed the BBC cancelled my interview on Israel’s killing of Hind Rajab.

2 producers eagerly reached out. They confirmed the time & one called to prepare a brief for the anchor.

She asked me whether Israel’s announcement is positive, I explained in detail it was a cover up.

The IDF is blaming the killing of Hind, her uncle, aunt & 4 cousins on the family itself for trying to flee by car & on the ambulance sent to rescue her for “failures in the co-ordination of the movement.”

None of this is remotely true! … continue

‘Flashing Red Warning Sign’ for Lawmakers: Poll Shows Voters Reject US-Israel Military Integration

By Brett Wilkins | Common Dreams | August 18, 2026

A new poll of US voters published on Tuesday offers a warning for congressional lawmakers backing a plan to deepen military ties between the United States and Israel, finding that a clear majority of voters oppose the proposal—which some critics have called “treasonous.”

The Data for Progress survey of 1,217 likely US voters—conducted August 3–7 for Demand Progress and the Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU) Policy Project—revealed that 61% of respondents oppose legislation in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2027 that would integrate Israeli weapons companies into the Pentagon at a level exceeding that of any other country. That figure rose to 78% among Democrats and 73% among independents.

“This poll is a flashing red warning sign for any member of Congress who supports the defense authorization bill,” Demand Progress senior policy adviser Cavan Kharrazian said in a statement. “A clear majority of voters do not support further integrating the Israeli military and Israeli military companies into the Pentagon, which the NDAA is set to do.” […]

“Israel is a nation committing genocide that just dragged the American people into a disastrous war that is still hitting our pocketbooks,” IMEU Policy Project executive director Margaret DeReus said, referring to the Iran War. “Senators take an oath to do what is best for the American people above all; to uphold that oath, they must scrap this ridiculous proposal.”

“It is the height of absurdity,” DeReus added, “that Congress is even considering a proposal to become more entangled with the Israeli military and use our tax dollars to subsidize their weapons companies.” – Full article

US senator slams Israeli minister’s call for nightly mass killings in Gaza as ‘abhorrent’

Press TV – August 21, 2026

A US senator has strongly condemned the Zionist regime’s far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir over his latest openly genocidal remarks advocating the systematic slaughter of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, describing the comments as violent, dehumanizing, abhorrent and a shameful feature of the Netanyahu regime.

Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin took to X on Thursday to denounce Ben-Gvir, stating: “Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has once again made violent, dehumanizing comments about innocent civilians in Gaza. It is abhorrent and a shameful part of the Netanyahu government.” She added that the extremist minister “should be long gone from any government role and publicly condemned by anyone who claims to care about civilians, Israeli or Palestinian, in the region.”

Ben-Gvir’s inflammatory statements came during a podcast interview in which he called for Israeli occupation forces to carry out “targeted assassinations,” killing 30 to 40 people in Gaza every single night, not merely those posing an immediate threat, but individuals he claimed “are not worthy of life,” “shouldn’t live,” and “are not even people.” […]

Even as isolated voices in Washington, such as Slotkin’s, issue rare verbal rebukes, the United States continues to provide the Zionist regime with billions in military aid and political cover, enabling the very crimes these comments openly advocate. This selective outrage does little to halt the daily massacres or address the root of the crisis, the decades-long occupation and the regime’s expansionist settler-colonial project. … Full article

US senator demands Trump end ‘disastrous’ aggression against Iran

Press TV – August 21, 2026

A prominent US senator has sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s ongoing military aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, questioning how much longer the White House will persist in a conflict that endangers American troops, drives up prices for ordinary citizens and erodes national security readiness.

Senator Mark Warner, vice-chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, took to X on Thursday to condemn the prolonged US involvement, writing: “Every day the Iran War stretches on, our servicemembers are at risk, our prices increase, and our national security readiness diminishes. When will Trump walk away from this disastrous and deadly war?”

Warner’s remarks come amid a conflict that began with unprovoked US-Israeli strikes on Iranian territory in late February, an act of aggression launched without congressional authorization or any credible evidence of an imminent threat from Tehran.

The senator, a key member of the so-called Gang of Eight with access to classified briefings, has previously described the campaign as a “war of choice” driven by Trump and the Zionist regime rather than genuine American security interests. … Full article

All Anti-Iranian US Sanctions Failed – Iran’s Foreign Minister

Sputnik – 21.08.2026

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that US sanctions against Iran had repeatedly failed, recalling threats made by former US President Barack Obama.

Araghchi commented on Obama’s October 2012 social media post in which the former president cited then-US Vice President Joe Biden’s promise to impose “the most crippling sanctions in the history of sanctions” against Iran.

“14 years ago: ‘Most crippling sanctions in history.’ Failed. 8 years ago: ‘Maximum pressure.’ Failed. 5 months ago: ‘Unconditional surrender.’ Failed. Today: ‘Most crushing economic operation ever.’ Bound to fail. We have seen this movie before. Same bull. Different bullies,” Araghchi wrote on X.

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said that Tehran had not taken the opportunity to reach a deal with Washington, and that the United States was therefore launching a large-scale economic operation against the Islamic Republic.

Araghchi called the operation a distraction from the United States’ own crisis that would lead to an even greater defeat for Washington.

US approves $4.5 billion Qatar tanker deal, raising questions over its purpose

Press TV – August 21, 2026

The United States has approved a potential $4.5 billion arms deal with Qatar involving aerial refueling aircraft and military equipment, adding another major weapons package to the US security architecture in the Persian Gulf amid continuing regional tensions.

The US Department of State approved the possible military sale, which includes KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling aircraft, along with engines, radar warning receivers and components for infrared countermeasure systems, according to a Thursday release. The notification to Congress authorizes the potential sale but does not mean that a final agreement has been concluded.

Under the proposed deal, Qatar would purchase up to four KC-46As, eight PW4062 turbofan engines, 10 AN/ALR-69A radar warning receivers, 15 Guardian Laser Transmitter Assemblies for Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure (LAIRCM) systems and eight LAIRCM system processor replacements.

The package would also include missile-warning sensors, navigation equipment, spare parts, training and other support.

The Pentagon has put the estimated value of the package at $4.5 billion, although approval of a possible Foreign Military Sale does not necessarily mean the deal will ultimately be concluded on those terms. Units, equipment and prices can change during negotiations.

The US administration claimed the proposed sale would bolster Qatar’s ability to confront “current and future threats,” while improving its interoperability with US and allied forces and reinforcing Doha’s strategic role in regional security.

Washington has also said the sale would not alter the basic military balance in the region, meaning it is committed to presumed military superiority of the Israeli regime.

But the stated justification raises a fundamental question as to why Qatar needs four strategic aerial refueling aircraft in the first place.

The KC-46A is not a conventional defensive weapons system. Its central function is to refuel military aircraft in flight, allowing them to remain airborne longer and operate over greater distances without returning to base.

In other words, the tanker does not itself carry out the combat mission; it extends the range, endurance and operational reach of the aircraft that do. That distinction deserves greater scrutiny when Washington describes the package primarily as a defensive measure.

If the purpose is simply to protect Qatar’s territory, what specific requirement necessitates a fleet of large aerial refueling aircraft capable of supporting extended air operations? … Full article

Russian Rail Corridor to Indian Ocean Could Outpace Suez Canal, Pakistani Senator Says

Sputnik – 21.08.2026

Russia–Central Asia–Indian Ocean rail corridor through Afghanistan and Pakistan could slash delivery times from 35 days to just five.

A proposed railway network linking Russia with Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan could unlock trade potential exceeding that of the Suez Canal, according to Pakistani Senator Mushahid Hussain.

Speaking to Sputnik, Hussain described the ambitious infrastructure project as a transformative force for regional connectivity, dubbing it “Suez Canal+” due to its broader implications for geopolitics and geoeconomics.

The remarks follow an announcement by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin, who confirmed that Russia, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan are exploring the extension of railways through Afghanistan and Pakistan to the Indian Ocean. “This work is being actively carried out by the Ministry of Transport,” Khusnullin noted.

Hussain emphasized that the project would provide Central Asian countries and Afghanistan with direct access through Pakistan to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, potentially uniting the region in unprecedented ways. … continue

China rejects US call to sever economic ties with Iran, says sanctions will not resolve war

Press TV – August 21, 2026

Beijing has rejected Washington’s latest demand that countries join a renewed campaign of economic sanctions against Iran, reaffirming that the escalating crisis requires political dialogue.

“Sanctions and pressure tactics are not the solution,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters on Thursday.

The rebuke came one day after the Trump administration issued an open call to allies and China alike to fall in line with what the president billed as the “most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country”—a boastful threat that came after Washington failed to achieve any of its war objectives military some six months after starting the aggression on Iran in late February.

Notably, the United States has yet to detail the full scope of its so-called operation, with US Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent punting further specifics to a Monday press conference—a delay that raises questions about the campaign’s actual readiness. … continue

Comparison Of Two German Weather Forecasts: From 25 Years Ago And From Today

By P Gosselin | No Tricks Zone | August 20, 2026

Escalating climate language: 25 years ago, 28°C was “pleasant”… today it is called “extremely dangerous”. […]

The first forecast by the German weather lady is from a couple of decades ago. Here’s what she reported:

Tomorrow we’ll be getting wonderful summer weather! Temperatures will rise to a pleasant 28 to 30 degrees Celsius [82 to 86°F]. Everywhere across the country, there will be plenty of sunshine and only a few fair-weather clouds. Perfect weather for heading to the lake or having an ice cream in the beer garden. Enjoy the summer!”

The second made recently by a German weatherman forecasts almost exactly the same weather conditions, but with alarmist tones:

Tomorrow we are facing an extremely dangerous heatwave! Temperatures will climb to a hazardous 28 to 30 degrees Celsius [82 to 86°F]. UV radiation will be extremely high, with an increased risk of high ozone levels and heatstroke. Avoid direct sunlight where possible, stay hydrated, and look out for the elderly and young children.”

Full article

‘Totalitarian society’: Iconic Serbian filmaker hits out after YouTube ban

Kusturica is one of Europe’s most decorated filmmakers

RT | August 20, 2026

Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica has accused YouTube of waging a “war” against people who think independently and “tell the truth,” after the Google-owned platform deleted his channel without any warning.

YouTube removed Kusturica’s ‘My Life’ channel on Wednesday, without publicly elaborating on the decision, according to several media reports. The project, produced with Sputnik’s Serbian service, contained more than 200 videos and had roughly 30,000 subscribers. Some of the videos are dedicated to the fate of Yugoslavia, the clash of civilizations, and the collision between Christian and Western values.

After the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, YouTube banned both Sputnik and RT as the West imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia. Moscow condemned the Western crackdown on the outlets as proof of an anti-Russian agenda and Western censorship.

Commenting on the ban, Kusturica told TASS that “a totalitarian society” was behind the move, adding that “for them it is normal that they closed the channel on YouTube. They are at war with us, with people who think, who tell the truth and bring truth to the masses.” … Full article

The violent annexation of the West Bank: From the siege of Qusra to de facto sovereign control

By Dr Mustafa Fetouri | MEMO | August 20, 2026

The ongoing, siege of Palestinian homes in the village of Qusra, south of Nablus, shows how Israel’s creeping annexation of the occupied West Bank has shifted into an accelerated, paramilitary phase. Beginning on August 10, 2026, armed extremist settlers surrounded three Palestinian homes on the village outskirts—including the property of Palestinian-American Loui Ridi—blocking doors, severing water and electricity lines, and threatening residents at gunpoint to abandon their land. Rather than arresting the aggressors, the Israeli military responded by declaring the area a  military zone and physically barring Palestinian residents while protecting armed settler encampments.

What began as a localized terror campaign against families in their homes—coming just weeks after settlers torched Qusra’s Al-Rahma mosque on July 26, 2026—is not an isolated outburst of vigilante zeal. It is the tactical edge of official state policy, engineered to achieve physical takeover by force. By driving Palestinians off their land, Israel is systematically executing a de facto annexation of the West Bank—subverting the unequivocal ruling of the International Court of Justice, which reaffirmed in July 2024 that the entire Israeli settlement enterprise, administrative regime, and occupation are illegal under international law—a reality recognized by the vast majority of the international community.

What is unfolding on the ground across the West Bank is a deliberate campaign of forced displacement, where violent terror exerted by armed settlers functions as an un-uniformed instrument of state policy. … continue

Army Demolishes Three Homes in Occupied Jerusalem

IMEMC | August 20, 2026

Israeli occupation forces demolished three Palestinian homes belonging to the Alqam family on Wednesday in the Al-Ashqariya neighborhood of Beit Hanina, north of occupied Jerusalem, while also uprooting trees and destroying surrounding agricultural land.

Rateb Alqam, one of the homeowners, said Israeli forces invaded the area without prior notice, ordered the family to leave, and prevented residents from retrieving clothing, personal belongings, or household possessions before the demolitions began.

Bulldozers then razed the three homes, uprooted trees around the properties, and leveled cultivated land. … Full article

Five Palestinians injured in settler attack northeast of Ramallah

Palestinian Information Center – August 20, 2026

RAMALLAH – Five Palestinians were wounded on Thursday in a settler attack on a Palestinian vehicle in the Marj Si area, between the villages of Al-Mughayyir and Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah.

Local sources said a group of settlers stormed the area and intercepted a vehicle carrying several Palestinians. The settlers attacked the vehicle, causing it to overturn, before assaulting its passengers.

Those wounded were identified as Musa Abu Alia, Lafi Abu Naim, Mustafa Abu Alia, Mukhlis Abu Alia and his sister. Several were taken to a hospital, while others received treatment at the Abu Falah Medical Center. … Full article

Israeli occupiers set Palestinian home in occupied West Bank on fire with mother, daughter inside

MEMO | August 20, 2026

Israeli occupiers set fire to a Palestinian home in the Hebron governorate in the occupied West Bank on Thursday while a mother and her daughter were inside, according to local sources.

Aliya al-Nawajaa, the owner of the burned home, told Anadolu Agency that five masked occupiers attacked her house at dawn in the Khirbet al-Fara area of the city of Yatta.

She said one of the occupiers opened the window of the bedroom where she was sleeping with her daughter and threatened her and her family.

The attackers then set fire to the bedroom, causing the flames to spread rapidly before she could put them out, Nawajaa said.

She added that she immediately woke her daughter and they barely managed to flee the house safely.

Separately, the Israeli army began moving mobile homes to a settlement outpost established on Mount Tarousa, west of the city of Dura, southwest of Hebron, according to local sources.

READ: Israel arrests 30 Palestinians in occupied West Bank, including journalist

The sources said Israeli heavy machinery began transporting new mobile homes to the outpost early Thursday as part of a “plan to expand settlements in the area.” … Full article

Australia calls Israel’s closure of aid workers killing probe an “insult”

Press TV – August 20, 2026

Australia has expressed profound outrage over the Israeli regime’s decision not to pursue criminal proceedings against those responsible for the killing of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and her World Central Kitchen (WCK) colleagues.

Frankcom, an Australian aid worker with WCK, was killed alongside her colleagues in an Israeli airstrike on a convoy in the Gaza Strip in April 2024.

On Thursday, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong stated that Australia is outraged by Israel’s decision to drop charges against the perpetrators of the crime.

She emphasized that the decision to exonerate those responsible “falls far short of the accountability we expect.”

Wong noted that the lack of prior notification added insult to injury. … Full article

Israel Lies again about Hind Rajab Killing in a Public Relations Whitewash Maneuver

By Robert Inlakesh – The Palestine Chronicle – August 20, 2026

Historically speaking, Israel has never once charged a single Israeli soldier for killing a Palestinian in Gaza throughout any of its large-scale assaults on the territory that began to ramp up in 2008.

The Israeli military made headlines again this Wednesday, after they admitted for the first time to having fired upon the vehicle in which 5-year-old Hind Rajab was ruthlessly murdered in January of 2024. However, this “admission” is being presented dishonestly and is a clear Public Relations maneuver manufactured by Israel to whitewash their actions.

Hind Rajab’s murder at the hands of the Israeli army is one of the most high-profile war crimes committed throughout the Gaza Genocide, so much so that it was turned into an award-winning docudrama film, ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’. The audio recordings of the young girl, released by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), who were desperately attempting to put international pressure on Israel to permit their workers to rescue her, went viral and captured the emotions of millions around the world.

Israel understands this well and has therefore chosen to strategically place the event under a criminal investigation, in order to portray a sense of accountability. … continue

Israeli attacks in Gaza leave dozens of casualties as Netanyahu rejects ISF entry

The Cradle | August 20, 2026

The Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza has continued unabated, with several new casualties reported on 20 August – coinciding with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s confirmation that Tel Aviv has not approved reconstruction of the strip or the entry of an “international force.” … Full article

Hamas rejects Israeli account of Gaza city police station strike

MEMO | August 20, 2026

Hamas on Wednesday rejected Israeli claims that a strike on a police headquarters in Gaza City targeted members of the group’s armed wing, saying those killed were predominantly police officers and personnel.

According to Palestinian sources, nine people were killed and several others were wounded when Israeli forces struck the police facility on Wednesday afternoon. Hamas described the attack as a violation of the ceasefire agreement and accused the Israeli government of seeking to obstruct its implementation.

In its statement, Hamas said Israeli assertions that the strike targeted resistance leaders were “baseless,” arguing that the claims were being used to justify attacks on Gaza’s police force and civilians.

Israel, however, said the strike targeted Hamas field commanders and identified the head of Gaza’s women’s police force among those targeted. … Full article

Yemeni Armed Forces Declare Two Successful Drone Operations Targeting Saudi Arabia’s Najran

Al-Manar | August 20, 2026

Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced that Yemeni forces had carried out two military operations using drones in Saudi Arabia’s Najran region, claiming that both operations successfully achieved their objectives.

Brigadier Saree said the first drone targeted a sensitive site at Najran Airport, while the second targeted Saudi Aramco’s facilities in Najran.

He asserted the operations were conducted as a response to what he called violations by the Saudi regime, including the use of drones in the airspace over Yemen’s Saada province.

“The Yemeni Armed Forces will continue to protect Yemen’s sovereignty against any violation and consolidate this equation,” Saree concluded.

Israel’s war minister threatens Turkey as Apache squadron moves north

Press TV – August 20, 2026

Israel has issued a veiled threat against Turkey following airstrikes on a Syrian military airbase near the Turkish border, with war minister Israel Katz warning President Tayyip Erdogan against “dragging Turkey into dangerous adventures in Syria.”

The Israeli air force has completed the transfer of its Apache helicopter squadron from southern Israeli occupied territories to the Ramat David airbase in the north—the first such move in 25 years.

Israeli military officials have acknowledged that the reorganization was prompted in part by the perceived threat from Turkey.

The strikes on the Abu al-Duhur airbase in northern Syria, about 70 km from the Turkish border, come amid mounting tension over Ankara’s role in rebuilding military capabilities of the current regime in Syria.

Israel has accused Syria of allowing Turkish troops to deploy at the base, a charge both Turkish and Syrian officials have denied.

But beyond the immediate dispute, regional analysts and Turkish officials see a broader strategic realignment where Israel now views Turkey as the primary obstacle to its expanding plans in Syria. … continue

Turkey denies military presence at Syrian base bombed by ‘Israel’

Al Mayadeen | August 20, 2026

Turkey’s Defense Ministry denied on Thursday that any Turkish military delegation was present at Syria’s Abu al-Duhur air base before or during Israeli attacks on the facility earlier this week, while vowing to continue “resolutely” supporting Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“We state that there was no Turkish military delegation at the Abu al-Duhur airbase before or during the attack carried out by Israel against that base in Syria,” a Turkish defense ministry official told journalists, per AFP.

The ministry warned against allowing a “perception” to take hold that Israeli military aggression against neighboring countries is “routine and acceptable,” and called it essential for the international community to adopt “more concrete and effective measures” against Israeli actions it said threaten regional peace and stability.

Ankara reiterated that its efforts to protect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to help build a “stable and secure structure” in the country, would continue. The ministry also affirmed that Turkey will continue supporting Syria’s efforts to develop its own military capability and infrastructure. … continue

EU Aiding Terrorism by Transferring Income From Frozen Russian Assets to Ukraine – Russian MFA

Sputnik – 20.08.2026

MOSCOW – The European Union is aiding terrorism by transferring income from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.

“Transferring funds to Ukraine is nothing less than aiding and abetting terrorist attacks. This is a direct violation of the Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism of December 9, 1999, and the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings of December 15, 1997,” Zakharova said during a briefing. … Full article

Zelensky’s senior aide fired amid Ukraine corruption crisis

Press TV – August 20, 2026

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed a senior aide amid a new corruption investigation, one day after his former defence minister warned of a “crisis of governance” and called for a wartime presidential election.

Iryna Mudra, a deputy chief of staff in the presidential office, was removed by decree on Wednesday. Ukrainian media reported that investigators were searching her home as part of an alleged money-laundering inquiry.

The case has been described as involving a group of people alleged to have laundered 150 million hryvnias ($3.4 million) to pay bail for a defendant in a major graft case last year, according to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau.

The case, which involves the state-owned nuclear power company, brought the resignations of Ukraine’s justice and energy ministers earlier this year.

A former lawmaker, the chairperson of a state bank’s board, the head of the bank’s supervisory board, and a deputy head of the presidential office have now been added as new suspects in the case.

The scandal follows earlier resignations and investigations that damaged the president’s standing, including the departure of former chief aide Andriy Yermak.

Mudra’s dismissal came a day after the former defence minister called for elections.

Former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who was recently ousted, warned in a video address released late on Tuesday that the country was facing “a crisis of governance” and needed to hold a presidential election. … Full article

Some Shattering Illusions of Our Declining Empire

Americans are waking up to ugly truths

By George D. O’Neill Jr. | The American Conservative | August 19, 2026

Now that the lofty 250th-anniversary rhetoric about the greatness of our country has faded, it is time to face the reality of our country’s actual behavior. The U.S. fashions itself as a generous and benevolent world leader enforcing the “rules-based order”—a deceptive construct used by globalist elites to bully other countries. The rules are arbitrarily changed to suit the bullies and are regularly fashioned into pretexts for military action against uncooperative nations. In short, it is a hoax, untethered from the principles and ideals of our founders.

Almost daily we witness some spectacle illustrating the appalling corruption of our country’s leadership. The recent release of Anthony Fauci’s diary entries confirms long-held suspicions about the Covid-19 narrative, which we now know even Fauci himself did not fully believe. Think of the millions of lives ruined and harmed by that corruption. Yet this vain phony, when asked to testify before Congress, hid behind half a dozen lawyers and refused to answer any questions. What a fine example of transparency from one of our leading scientists and civil servants! What else are our leaders still hiding about the worldwide disaster caused by Covid-related deceptions and manipulations? There has not yet been any meaningful examination of our medical profession, which largely acted as cowards during the pandemic, adhering to the bogus official narrative at the expense of the welfare of their patients.

Our leadership has not even begun to scratch the surface of the horrors created by the many secret—and potentially illegal—biolabs scattered around the globe, supported by funds often hidden from voters under the guise of “national security.” The Fauci crowd appears to have been deeply involved in that dark world.

America’s Middle East policy remains a source of shame. … continue

Surveillance, censorship and propaganda

Update on the various Government units who manipulated the narrative during the covid event

By Gary Sidley | Manipulation of the Masses | August 20, 2026

Most people now recognise that throughout the prime covid years (2020 – 2022) we all endured an exceptionally high level of state-generated propaganda and manipulation intended to promote both acceptance of the ‘deadly virus’ narrative and the corresponding restrictions. The role of behavioural scientists in this systematic endeavour has been well documented, their ubiquitous deployment of ‘nudges’ striving to frighten, shame, and scapegoat us all into compliance with unethical and counterproductive public health diktats. Another source of narrative control, however, was conducted by a number of rarely-discussed government departments dedicated to shaping the beliefs and behaviours of the general population in a direction favoured by our ruling elite. It is these shadowy government departments that will be the focus of this article. … continue

Global mRNA Shot Push Signals Start of Hostile Market Takeover

By Jefferey Jaxen | August 19, 2026

As the fraudulent and failed tide recedes from the pandemic response, one item made it to shore that shouldn’t have… mRNA vaccine technology. We now know that Fauci, Gates and others with conflicts aggressively drove behind-the-scenes to push mRNA Covid shots to the forefront against better scientific judgement.

Rather than look upon that time as a grand failed experiment, industry and science is sweeping the ugly truths under the rug to capitalize on an emerging market. … continue

Former Top Fauci Aide Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges. Will He Flip on Fauci?

By Michael Nevradakis, Ph.D. | The Defender | August 19, 2026

A former key adviser to Dr. Anthony Fauci pled guilty to concealing public records related to the origins of COVID-19 in a plea deal reached with federal prosecutors — a development some political figures and analysts suggest could implicate Fauci.

Dr. David Morens pled guilty Tuesday to one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. According to The Washington Post, Morens, 78, told a federal judge he attempted to bypass federal recordkeeping laws by using his private email account to discuss research — and a terminated federal grant — related to COVID-19’s origins.

Morens, initially indicted in April on five federal charges, told the judge he intentionally redirected communications to his personal email account to protect Fauci and because the emails might be misinterpreted in the future, if and when they were publicly released. … continue

Seven Interventions in Sixty Minutes

An Essay on What Is Done to a Newborn Before Anyone Says the Baby Is Fine

Lies are Unbekoming | August 15, 2026

In the first three minutes after the infant is delivered, if the umbilical cord is left intact, approximately one hundred milliliters of blood transfers from the placenta into the newborn.¹ That is roughly a third of the infant’s total blood volume. The transfer is not passive. The umbilical vessels contain their own smooth muscle. They close on their own schedule when the transfer is complete, usually within three to ten minutes. At that point the cord blanches, the pulsation stops, and the vessels seal.

In the United States, this process is interrupted, on average, within thirty to sixty seconds. The infant loses roughly thirty percent of the blood the physiology was constructed to deliver. The practice is defended on grounds that shift as the literature closes on it: it prevents jaundice (it does not, at any clinically meaningful rate), it reduces polycythemia (rarely, and asymptomatically), it is what the obstetrician was trained to do (this last is accurate). The iron the infant would have used for the next six months goes into a red plastic bag with the placenta.

This essay is about what happens in the first sixty minutes after birth in a standard American hospital, and about the biology of the first sixty minutes as it existed before the interventions displaced it. There are seven interventions in the standard sequence. Each one displaces a specific biological event. The essay traces the seven in the order they occur, and then examines the second casualty of the hour, which is the mother.

The argument is not that any single intervention is catastrophic in isolation. It is that the biology of the first hour was doing something, and hospital protocol displaces the entire sequence in favor of procedures whose cumulative effect has never been studied. What the interventions replace is a sequence humans arrived with. What replaced it was assembled between roughly 1930 and 1991, most of it introduced without controlled trial, and none of it evaluated as the sequence it now is. … continue

Jewish State Senator Jeremy Moss Faces Backlash over Hot Mic Comments

José Niño Unfiltered | August 19, 2026

The political landscape for Democrats in Michigan has shifted beneath their feet as the party grapples with a rapidly growing anti-Zionist wing. Amid this tension, Jewish Michigan State Senator Jeremy Moss, who recently secured the Democratic primary for the 11th Congressional District, found his career suddenly stalled by a leaked audio recording. In the audio clip which spread like wildfire across digital platforms in July 2026, Moss appeared to admit that his primary motivation as a legislator is to serve a foreign power. According to the recording, Moss stated, “The entire purpose of my career is to make sure America continues to support Israel, I don’t think it’s wrong for Israel to use America as a pawn, America is not our homeland, we have been victims of antisemitism here.” These words, which suggest a priority for Israel over his own constituents, ignited a firestorm of controversy and provided a flashpoint for voters increasingly tired of the influence exerted by foreign interests in American governance. … continue

AIPAC pours millions into California race after Michigan defeat

Al Mayadeen | August 19, 2026

AIPAC-linked political groups are pouring millions of dollars into a California congressional contest in their latest attempt to shape the outcome of US elections, turning a relatively local Democratic race into another battleground over Washington’s support for “Israel”, the Washington Post reported.

The intervention follows a major setback for the pro-“Israel” lobby in Michigan, where Abdul El-Sayed, an outspoken opponent of US military aid to “Israel”, won the Democratic Senate primary despite more than $30 million reportedly being spent by AIPAC-linked forces to defeat him.

Now, AIPAC’s super PAC, the United Democracy Project, has directed nearly $2.5 million toward Tuesday’s runoff in California’s 14th Congressional District, where progressive state Senator Aisha Wahab is facing moderate Democrat Melissa Hernandez.

Wahab, the first Muslim elected to California’s state Senate, has described the war on Gaza as a genocide and opposes continued US military assistance to “Israel”. Hernandez has defended “Israel’s” claimed right to respond to the October 7, 2023 operation, while saying the scale of destruction in Gaza has “gone too far.”

Although neither candidate has made foreign policy the central issue of the campaign, AIPAC-linked organizations have emerged as some of the most powerful financial actors in the race. Groups associated with AIPAC accounted for roughly 75% of the more than $6 million in outside spending recorded during July and August, according to The Washington Post.

Another political action committee, Bold America, which has received funding from AIPAC, spent approximately $2.6 million supporting Hernandez. … Full article

Mossad Officially Enters the US Military Supply Chain

By GenXGirl – August 12, 2026

… Ondas has undergone an unprecedented transformation, from a struggling, nearly delisted firm into a leading-edge defense technology enterprise built around a series of Israeli companies, obscure funding sources, and a questionable $5 billion valuation.

Now headed by the former chief of Mossad, the company is positioned to play a dominant role in the U.S. military-industrial complex under the framework of the U.S.-Israel military and intelligence cooperation bills currently before Congress which explicitly prioritize Israeli-origin technologies for integration into U.S. systems and programs of record… Read full article

War on Iran pushes US debt toward $40 trillion as borrowing costs surge

Press TV – August 19, 2026

The US national debt is on track to surpass $40 trillion this week, months earlier than previously projected, as the US-Israeli war on Iran, renewed inflation fears and rising government borrowing push long-term bond yields higher across major economies.

The Treasury reported on Monday that US government debt stood at $39.9 trillion, putting it within reach of the milestone. Six months ago, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office had projected that federal borrowing would reach $39.4 trillion during the current fiscal year.

The faster accumulation of debt comes at a perilous moment for US finances. Investors are demanding higher returns to hold long-term government bonds amid concerns over inflation, geopolitical tensions, government debt levels and spending on artificial intelligence.

The yield on 30-year US Treasury bonds climbed to 5.33% on Tuesday, its highest level since June 2007. Long-term borrowing costs also rose in Britain, where yields reached 5.85%, as well as in Germany and Japan.

A key driver has been the surge in oil prices linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran and disruptions to energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global oil supplies. … continue

Israel arrests 30 Palestinians in occupied West Bank, including journalist

MEMO | August 19, 2026

The Israeli army arrested 30 Palestinians, including a journalist, during raids and incursions across the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, the Palestinian Prisoner Society said.

The arrests took place in the provinces of Hebron in the south, Qalqilya in the northwest, Nablus in the north, Tulkarem in the northwest, and Bethlehem in the south, according to the society.

It stated that the arrests were accompanied in several cases by raids, searches, and vandalism of homes, as well as the detention and field interrogation of residents.

The society said Israeli authorities continue to target Palestinian journalists through arrests, alongside attacks against journalists in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing that the practice is part of attempts to “erase the truth and target the Palestinian narrative.” … Full article

Israeli Forces Critically Injure a Palestinian in Al-Am’ari Camp

IMEMC | August 19, 2026

Israeli forces shot and critically wounded a Palestinian young man on Tuesday evening, after invading the Al-Am’ari refugee camp in the central West Bank city of Al-Bireh.

The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that occupation forces shot a Palestinian citizen in the abdomen with live ammunition during their incursion into the Al-Am’ari refugee camp.

The Ministry added that a critically wounded citizen arrived at the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah after sustaining a live gunshot wound to the abdomen. … Full article

9 Palestinians killed, 15 injured by Israeli strike on Gaza police station

MEMO | August 19, 2026

At least nine Palestinians, including police officers and children, were killed on Wednesday – and more than 15 others injured – when an Israeli airstrike hit a police station in central Gaza City, according to local medical sources, Anadolu reports.

A medical source at the Al-Shifa Hospital said the bodies of nine slain Palestinians, along with more than 15 people who sustained injuries, had been brought to the hospital after the strike.

The latest deaths bring the number of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday to 10, after another Palestinian was killed when a strike hit a motorcycle in the Nuseirat refugee camp, according to medical sources. … Full article

Israel risks ceasing ‘to exist as a state,’ senior Russian general says

MEMO | August 19, 2026

A senior Russian military official said Israel risks ceasing “to exist as a state,” claiming Tel Aviv’s main objective is to escalate the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and draw the US and NATO into the war, Anadolu reports.

In remarks released on Wednesday, Lt. Gen. Apti Alaudinov, deputy chief of the Russian military’s Main Military-Political Directorate and commander of the Akhmat special forces, told state news agency TASS that the regional conflict is likely to intensify further.

“We must realize that the war in the Middle East will only escalate. I believe that is precisely Israel’s objective to ramp up the conflict as much as possible and drag both the US and the entire NATO bloc into it,” Alaudinov said.

Ultimately, he warned, Israel “will overestimate their strength and cease to exist as a state.” … Full article

Senior Iranian MP warns France over ‘constant betrayals’ after Tehran expels diplomats

Press TV – August 19, 2026

Senior Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Azizi has condemned France’s “constant betrayals” against the Islamic Republic, warning that Paris’s continued anti-Iranian measures will only further complicate its ties with Tehran.

“The Iranian people will never forget France’s constant betrayals over issues such as contaminated blood, INSTEX and snapback,” Azizi, chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, wrote on X on Wednesday. “Continuing this course and anti-Iranian actions will only make conditions more difficult for it,” he added. … continue

War on Iran and refinery outages in Russia drive global fuel market toward supply crisis

Al Mayadeen | August 19, 2026

… The US national average for regular gasoline reached $4.07 per gallon on Tuesday, up 30% from the same period last year.

Diesel prices have increased by 48% year-over-year, increasing costs across agriculture, freight, rail transportation, and other sectors dependent on diesel fuel.

Research from Brown University’s Climate Solutions Lab estimates that higher diesel prices have cost US consumers nearly $40 billion since the war began.

Jet fuel prices have also risen by more than 70% over the past year. Airlines have responded by raising fares and baggage fees and reducing less profitable flights. … Full article

Terrorist With Years of Experience: Meet Ukraine’s New Defense Minister

Sputnik – 19.08.2026

The Ukrainian parliament has unanimously approved Yevhen Khmara as Ukraine’s new defense minister, giving their go-ahead to a man who earlier pledged that “Russia will burn” after orchestrating the deadly August 12 attack on the Russian city of Novorossiysk.

A career SBU officer, Khmara is notoriously known for being behind some of the bloodiest operations carried out by the Ukrainian special services against Russian civilians.

As a former head of the SBU, he was complicit in these actions:

Operation “Spider Web”: On June 1, 2025, Ukraine carried out a large-scale drone attack on Russian strategic airfields in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur regions, targeting strategic bombers and other military aircraft.

Crocus City Hall attack: On March 22, 2024, gunmen attacked the Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow, killing 139 people and injuring hundreds more.

Assassination of Darya Dugina: In August 2022, Russian journalist Darya Dugina was killed when a bomb planted in her car exploded near Moscow.

Crimean Bridge explosions: The Crimean Bridge has been targeted in several major attacks, including the October 2022 truck bombing and a subsequent strike in July 2023.

Hundreds of deadly drone and missile strikes on the Russian cities of Belgorod, Kursk and Donetsk, including attacks on markets, maternity hospitals and bus stops.

NATO whines it cannot fight simultaneous wars against Russia, China and Iran

By Drago Bosnic | August 19, 2026

NATO war planners rarely discuss their “nightmare scenarios” in public and appear even less prepared for real-life confrontations on that scale. This is particularly true when it comes to simultaneous or near-simultaneous wars in which the most aggressive racketeering cartel in recorded history has to fight in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and East Asia. As the pillar of NATO, the United States would be forced to manage wars against Russia, Iran and China at once. One of the most infamous mainstream propaganda machine outlets, The Atlantic, explored this possibility, calling it “NATO’s nightmare”. The analysis largely focuses on “a coordinated assault by Beijing and Moscow” and how difficult it would be to “muster a viable defense” (obviously implying that NATO wouldn’t attack first, which is beyond laughable given its history). … continue