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Child in Gaza kisses aid worker’s hand before being fatally shot by Israeli forces

MEMO | July 31, 2025

A resigned US Army soldier who served at an aid distribution point in Gaza, affiliated with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), has shared a heartbreaking account of the final moments of a Palestinian boy known as “Gaza’s little Amir”, who was shot dead by Israeli forces shortly after receiving a small portion of food.

In his testimony, the former soldier, Anthony Aguilar, recalled the tragic events of 28 May, when the boy Amir was killed while trying to get food.

Amir, who was barefoot and visibly thin, walked 12 kilometres under the scorching sun, hoping to find something to eat after hours of waiting. All he managed to gather was a handful of rice and lentils from the ground, Aguilar said.

He went on to describe a deeply emotional moment, saying that the child had approached him, set down his belongings, gently placed his small hands on the soldier’s face, kissed his hand, and thanked him in English. The boy then picked up his things and returned to the crowd. Just minutes later, as he was leaving with other civilians, Israeli forces reportedly opened fire with gas and live ammunition, striking Amir and killing him on the spot.

Aguilar added that the day was no different from others in Gaza — except that death came quicker.

Rumble

July 31, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Video, War Crimes | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Family urges release of 16 y/o Palestinian-American held in ‘Israel’

Al Mayadeen | July 31, 2025

The family of Muhammad Zaher Ibrahim, a 16-year-old Palestinian-American, is urging his immediate release from Israeli military detention. Ibrahim was detained in February while still 15 years old at his family’s home in the occupied West Bank village of Silwad. According to relatives, he was blindfolded and handcuffed before being transferred to Megiddo prison. He remains in pre-trial detention, accused of rock-throwing, an allegation his family denies.

The Ibrahim family, who divide their time between Silwad and Palm Bay, Florida, sought assistance from Republican Congressman Mike Haridopolos. Zaher Ibrahim, Muhammad’s father, wrote to the congressman in March after more than 45 days of no contact with his son. Describing the conditions at Megiddo as notorious for brutality, the family has exhausted all local legal options and turned to US authorities for support.

Haridopolos’s office acknowledged the outreach and forwarded the case to the State Department. The US embassy in “Israel” confirmed it was following standard procedures. A State Department spokesperson emphasized that ensuring the safety and security of US citizens is a top priority.

Human rights concerns

Human rights organizations have raised alarms over the treatment of Muhammad Zaher Ibrahim and others like him. A video seen by The Guardian shows Ibrahim being interrogated without legal counsel. Advocates argue that his US citizenship has provided little protection in a system known for detaining minors for extended periods without charges or family contact.

Ayed Abu Eqtaish from Defense for Children International-Palestine told The Guardian that Palestinian children in Israeli prisons are often isolated from the outside world, regardless of their nationality.

US government response

While US embassy officials have conducted welfare checks, their access has been increasingly restricted. Early reports from the embassy noted that Muhammad had lost 12 kilograms. In July, he was diagnosed with scabies, a contagious skin condition. The state department reported he was receiving medical treatment, but it remains unclear whether recent visits have occurred.

The department affirmed it provides consular support to detained US citizens, including ensuring access to necessary medical care and facilitating communication with families.

Targeting of Palestinian Americans

Since 2022, nine Americans have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers, including five since October 2023. Among the most recent cases is Sayfollah Musallet, the cousin of Muhammad Ibrahim, a 20-year-old from Tampa, Florida, beaten to death by settlers in July 2025. Others include Mohammad Khdour, Tawfic Abdel Jabbar, Amer Rabee, and Omar Assad, a 78-year-old who died after being gagged and handcuffed by Israeli soldiers.

Multiple Palestinian Americans have also been detained or subjected to travel restrictions and surveillance. In February 2024, American citizens Hashem and Borak Alagha were detained during a raid on their family shelter in Gaza. Samaher Esmail, a 46-year-old from New Orleans, was arrested in Beit Lahm for alleged incitement on social media. Families report minimal assistance from US authorities.

West Bank under Israeli occupation

Since the outbreak of the war on Gaza in October 2023, “Israel” has launched an unprecedented campaign of mass arrests across the occupied West Bank. By July 2025, approximately 18,000 Palestinians had been detained, nearly double the number held before the war. As of late July 2025, “Israel” currently holds around 10,800 Palestinians in its prisons, including about 450 children and 50 women.

A particularly concerning trend has been the rise in administrative detention, imprisonment without charge or trial. Over 10,000 administrative detention orders have been issued, and 37% of detained Palestinian children are now held under such orders, the highest on record.

The arrest campaign intensified further with “Israel’s” launch of Operation Iron Wall in January 2025, displacing 40,000 Palestinians from refugee camps in Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams. Most arrests during that period were concentrated in Jenin, which experienced severe aggression.

July 31, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Subjugation - Torture | , , , , | Leave a comment

Slovenia bans import, export, transit of Israeli arms over war on Gaza

Al Mayadeen | July 31, 2025

Slovenia announced its decision on Thursday to prohibit all weapons trade with “Israel” due to its ongoing war in Gaza, marking what the country described as the first such move by an EU nation.

In a statement, the Slovenian government said it adopted a decision banning the export and transit of military weapons and equipment from or through the Republic of Slovenia to “Israel”, as well as imports from “Israel” into the Republic of Slovenia.

It added that “Slovenia is the first European country” to make such a decision of full ban, noting that it was taking this step unilaterally since the EU had been “unable to adopt concrete measures” as Slovenia had previously urged.

Slovenia previously warned that it would take independent action, in coordination with like-minded countries, should the European Union fail to implement substantial measures within two weeks to tackle the escalating humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.

‘They are dying beneath the rubble’

It blamed the countries’ inaction for the “shameful result” as “people in Gaza are dying because humanitarian aid is being systematically obstructed.”

The Central European country described the unfolding dire situation in Gaza, stating, “They are dying beneath the rubble, without access to drinking water, food, or basic medical care. This is a complete denial of humanitarian access and a deliberate prevention of the basic conditions necessary for survival.”

“In such circumstances, it is the duty of every responsible state to act—even if it means taking a step ahead of others,” it asserted.

During his address at the June 28 EU summit in Brussels, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob expressed increasing dissatisfaction with what he characterized as a disjointed European approach, while alleging that some member states were prioritizing their internal political considerations over the protection of Palestinian rights.

On June 6, 2024, the majority of the Slovenian Parliament voted to recognize the state of Palestine as an independent, sovereign state, a move mirroring actions taken by Spain, Ireland, and Norway at the time.

July 31, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Solidarity and Activism, War Crimes | , , | Leave a comment

Gaza genocide case: 114 lawyers ask ICC to investigate French officials’ complicity

French President Emmanuel Macron (C), Prime Minister Francois Bayrou (R) and Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu in Paris on May 8, 2025 (Photo by AFP)
Press TV – July 31, 2025

More than a hundred French lawyers have filed a petition with the International Criminal Court, formally requesting the ICC to initiate an investigation or prosecution of some French officials for their complicity “in the commission of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide” by the Israeli regime against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

The 56-page petition made public by the French investigative media outlet Blast on Monday named President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu, and 19 lawmakers of the National Assembly’s European Affairs Committee as officials of the country facilitating Israeli crimes against Palestinians.

“Far from taking concrete measures to prevent the ongoing genocide against the Palestinians, the members of the French executive cited in this communication have continued to support the criminal actions” of Israel by “providing military, political, economic, diplomatic and propaganda support” including by providing the means to commit the crimes in question, the group of lawyers, who represent the Pour la Justice au Proche-Orient (“for justice in the Middle East”) organization, stated in the petition addressed to the Office of the ICC Prosecutor, in the Hague.

The lawyers also slam France for refusing to respect the 2013 Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), ratified by Paris, which imposes an absolute ban on exporting weapons if they have knowledge the arms could be used to commit war crimes, despite several requests from legal groups and NGOs.

The petition for legal action by the lawyers is equivalent to a formal criminal complaint to the ICC regarding a crime falling under its jurisdiction.

Now, it is up to the ICC Prosecutor to decide whether the request is in accordance with Article 15 of the Rome Statute, which states that the prosecutor may open proprio motu (which means on their own initiative) investigations based on information relating to crimes within the court’s jurisdiction.

The formal petition asking the ICC to investigate Macron and French ministers for Gaza genocide complicity was signed by 114 French lawyers.

The ICC acts as a court of last resort against individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, or the crime of aggression, complementing national courts in addressing these grave international crimes.

Karim Khan, the ICC’s chief prosecutor, issued arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former war minister, Yoav Gallant, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in November 2024.

Israel is accused of using starvation as a method of warfare, intentionally attacking civilians and committing other inhumane acts during its genocidal military campaign in the besieged strip.

Israeli forces regularly attack starving Palestinians suffering from acute malnutrition and a severe lack of essential supplies.

Since the US-Israeli genocide started in October 2023, the death toll has reached over 60,100. Over 146,200 Palestinians have also been injured.

Nearly 1,000 Palestinians have also been killed by Israeli attacks in the occupied West Bank since the regime began its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023.

July 31, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, War Crimes | , , , | Leave a comment

Israelis committing genocide in Gaza, with US ‘complicit’: Mearsheimer

MEMO | July 31, 2025

John Mearsheimer, professor of political science at the University of Chicago, said that “the Israelis are executing a genocide in Gaza,” adding that the US is “complicit in that genocide,” Anadolu reports.

What is happening in Gaza is a systematic effort by Israel to dismantle the Palestinian national identity, Mearsheimer said in an interview with media personality Tucker Carlson published on Wednesday.

He added that Israel is targeting Palestinians specifically as a group, aiming not only to kill large numbers but also to erase their identity as a people.

Mearsheimer believed that the Israelis have long aimed to expel the Palestinian population from what they consider “Greater Israel.”

“If you look at Greater Israel, this includes the Israel that was created in 1948 and the occupied territories. This is the West Bank, Gaza, and what we call the Green Line Israel. That’s Greater Israel,” the scholar said.

“October 7th happens, and what the Israelis see is an excellent opportunity for ethnic cleansing. And they make this clear.

“In other words, it’s an excellent opportunity to go to war in Gaza and drive the Palestinians out of Gaza and solve that demographic problem that they face,” he added.

Israel also carried out large-scale ethnic cleansings in the region in 1948 and 1967, and Mearsheimer described the latest campaign in Gaza as “the third attempt at a massive ethnic cleansing.”

The Israeli army, rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, has pursued a brutal offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, killing more than 60,000 Palestinians. The relentless bombardment has devastated the enclave and led to food shortages.

Israel wants to ensure that its neighbors are ‘weak’

One of Israel’s goals is also to ensure that its neighbors are “weak,” said Mearsheimer, noting that “that means breaking them apart, if you can, and keeping them broken.”

He said the ethnic cleansing is a topic “that the Zionists talked about from the get-go, and they talked about extensively because there is no way they could create a Greater Israel without doing massive ethnic cleansing.”

David Ben Gurion, Vladimir Jabotinsky, and other prominent Zionist leaders are fully aware that achieving their goals would require doing “horrible things” to the Palestinians, he said.

The scholar highlighted that those Zionist leaders acknowledged this and even stated openly that they did not blame the Palestinians at all for resisting the actions planned by Jews arriving from Europe.

“They fully understood that they were stealing their land. And they fully understood that it made perfect sense for the Palestinians to resist, which of course they did,” Mearsheimer noted.

“They (Israel) start with the goal of ethnic cleansing. I don’t believe they want to murder all of the Palestinians in Gaza.

“They simply want to drive them out. But the problem is they don’t leave. And then the question is, what do you do? And what they do is they continue to up the attacks, increase the attacks, (and) kill more and more people in the hope that they will drive them out,” he added.

Israel lobby in US

Mearsheimer stressed that when a major power like the US has conflicting interests with another country, it prioritizes its own, following an “America first” approach. However, regarding Israel, it’s the opposite — it is “Israel first,” he stated.

Washington’s policy in the Middle East clearly reflects this, with plenty of evidence to support it, the scholar underscored.

Mearsheimer, who is also the co-author of the book The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy, said that the reason for this is due to the Israel lobby in the US.

“I think the lobby is an incredibly powerful interest group, and I’m choosing my words carefully. It has awesome power, and it basically is in a position where it can profoundly influence US foreign policy in the Middle East. And indeed, it affects foreign policy outside of the Middle East.

“But when it comes to the Middle East, and again, the Palestinian issue in particular, it has awesome power. And there’s no president who is willing to buck the lobby,” he added.

July 31, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, War Crimes | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tucker Carlson on Israel’s Shocking War Crimes and Genocide in Gaza

A Brief Note on Genocide

By Tucker Carlson | July 31, 2025

Accusations that the Israeli government is committing genocide in Gaza are becoming increasingly common. Professor John Mearsheimer made the claim on yesterday’s Tucker Carlson Show, and Marjorie Taylor Greene recently became the first Republican member of Congress to do the same.

It’s easy to predict how Washington’s Israel shills will react. John Fetterman provided an example on Wednesday.

“I [honestly] don’t care what crazy pants thinks,” the disgraceful Pennsylvania senator told a reporter when asked about Greene’s statement. “It’s not a genocide, you know, that’s just not the case. And she’s entitled to her opinion, but I’m entitled to not really care what her views on that is,” he added later.

See what he did there? In addition to sneaking in a classic ad hominem attack, Fetterman engaged in a semantics debate about the word “genocide” rather than bothering to acknowledge the fact that American tax dollars are funding the killing of children. That strategy is not an accident.

“Genocide” has a very specific definition. It is as follows, according to the Department of Justice:

“Violent attacks with the specific intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.”

Based on that, Greene’s use of the word feels reasonable. But that’s not the point. Rather than defending the actions of the Israeli government, which at this point are indefensible, the Fettermans of the world prefer a middle-school-lunch-table-style argument over the precise meaning of “genocide.” The reason is simple. Such a debate serves as a convenient distraction from the heart of the issue, which is the Netanyahu government’s abhorrent behavior and Washington’s undeniable culpability.

Call what’s happening whatever you’d like. Genocide, ethnic cleansing, indiscriminate killing, or anything else. Regardless of anyone’s preferred word choice, the reality remains the same: tens of thousands of innocents are dead, and millions of lives are destroyed. The United States should play no role.

July 31, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Video, War Crimes | , , | 1 Comment

Senate Votes Down Two Resolutions to Block Israeli Weapons Sales

By James Rushmore | The Libertarian Institute | July 31, 2025

On Wednesday night, the U.S. Senate voted down two joint resolutions aimed at blocking additional weapons sales to Israel. Both measures were originally introduced by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in March.

The first resolution would have prohibited the sale of 20,000 fully automatic carbine rifles to Israeli forces, while the second resolution sought to cut off $675.7 million in arms sales. The latter measure would have barred the sale of 201 MK 83 1,000-pound bombs; 4,799 BLU-110A/B General Purpose 1,000-pound bombs; 1,500 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits for MK 83 bombs; 3,500 JDAM guidance kits for MK 83 bombs; and related logistics and technical support services. Sanders argued that the weapons sales would violate both the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act.

“History will condemn those of us who failed to act in the face of these horrors,” he said in the run-up to Wednesday night’s vote.

The two measures failed 27-70 and 24-73, respectively. More than half of the Democratic caucus voted in favor of the resolutions. The Republican caucus, including U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), voted unanimously against both measures.

Sanders forced the votes in response to the ongoing starvation crisis in the Gaza Strip and the IDF’s continued massacre of Palestinian civilians. He blamed the famine on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies, citing the six-week siege on the Strip. He also condemned the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s distribution model for leading to the deaths of over 1,000 Palestinians.

“U.S. taxpayers have spent tens of billions of dollars in support of the racist, extremist Netanyahu government. Enough is enough,” the senior senator from Vermont said. “We cannot continue to spend taxpayer money on a government which has killed some 60,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 143,000, most of whom are women, children, and the elderly. We cannot continue supporting a government which has blocked humanitarian aid, caused massive famine, and literally starved the people of Gaza.”

“The time is long overdue for Congress to use the leverage we have – tens of billions in arms and military aid – to demand that Israel end these atrocities,” he added.

Since the October 7 terrorist attacks, the U.S. has provided more than $22 billion in military aid to Israel. In May, Haaretz reported that the U.S. has covered about 70% of Israeli military spending since the genocide began.

During an interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins Wednesday night, Sanders stopped short of labeling Israel’s actions a genocide. “Genocide is a legal term. What is going on now clearly is absolutely horrific…But the important point is not what you call it. It is horror, and I think the whole world knows that. The answer is, what the hell do we do about it?” he said.

July 31, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, War Crimes | , , , | Leave a comment

US and UK behind cyberattack on Aeroflot – Russian MP

RT | July 31, 2025

US and UK intelligence services were behind this week’s major cyberattack that disrupted operations at Aeroflot and other Russian companies earlier this week, a senior Russian lawmaker has claimed.

Andrey Svintsov, the deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, has said the attack is part of a coordinated campaign by Western powers to damage the Russian economy after failing to achieve their objectives through military means and sanctions.

Aeroflot, Russia’s largest airline, was forced to cancel or delay dozens of flights on July 28 after pro-Ukrainian hacker groups claimed to have crippled the airline’s internal IT systems. The cyberattack also disrupted airport operations and affected other companies, including a nationwide pharmacy chain.

”These are not isolated hackers, but a planned action by American and British intelligence agencies,” Svintsov told Russian outlet Abzats. He described the campaign as a “systematic effort that is being carried out against Russia,” suggesting that it’s a sign of desperation by the country’s adversaries.

”This is a systematic approach by our Western enemies, who have failed to defeat Russia on the battlefield. They are moving to weaken the economic potential, since sanctions are not helping,” Svintsov said. He warned that cyber sabotage could continue until Russia achieves victory in the Ukraine conflict.

In May, Defense Secretary John Healey said the UK would significantly increase cyber operations against Russia and China. He confirmed the creation of a new Cyber and Electromagnetic Command, adding that “the keyboard is now a weapon of war.”

The Kremlin has urged Russian businesses to replace foreign-made software and hardware to reduce exposure to cyber threats. Last month, President Vladimir Putin instructed the government to accelerate import substitution.

Hacker groups Silent Crow and Cyberpartisans BY have claimed responsibility for Monday’s attack on Aeroflot. They claim to have been inside the airline’s corporate network for over a year, stealing more than 20 terabytes of data and destroying around 7,000 servers.

Communications regulator Roskomnadzor said the data leaks have not been confirmed. Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has confirmed the cyberattack and opened a criminal case.

July 31, 2025 Posted by | False Flag Terrorism | , , , | Leave a comment

‘Compensation for war and security guarantees’: Iran sets conditions for US nuclear talks

The Cradle | July 31, 2025

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview published on 31 July that Tehran is seeking financial compensation for Israel’s war, an explanation on why Iran was attacked during negotiations, and security guarantees for any resumption of nuclear talks with Washington.

Araghchi told the Financial Times that Iran will not accept going back to “business as usual” after Israel launched its unprovoked war on the country in mid-June.

“They should explain why they attacked us in the middle of … negotiations, and they have to ensure that they are not going to repeat that [during future talks]. And they have to compensate [Iran for] the damage that they have done,” Araghchi added.

He said he has exchanged messages with US envoy Steve Witkoff since the war ended, and that Witkoff has tried to convince him to return to negotiations.

“The road to negotiation is narrow but it’s not impossible. I need to convince my hierarchy that if we go for negotiation, the other side is coming with real determination for a win-win deal. We need real confidence-building measures from their side. My message [to Witkoff] is not that complicated. I said the recent aggression proved there is no military solution for Iran’s nuclear program, but a negotiated solution can be found,” the Iranian diplomat added.

Israel started its war on Iran on 13 June in the middle of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington. Iran responded with successive barrages of ballistic missiles until the war came to an end on 24 June.

The US joined the war on 23 June with a bunker-buster attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, to which Tehran responded with a missile attack on its Al-Udeid base in Qatar.

Iranian nuclear facilities were heavily damaged, and western intelligence assessments have revealed that the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program has not been “obliterated” as Washington has claimed.

According to Araghchi, a new enrichment site that Tehran had revealed right before the war – in response to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board vote against it – was also struck.

This is the first acknowledgment of an attack on this particular site.

“As far as I know, the preparations were made [for enrichment], but it was not active when it was attacked,” Araghchi said.

Araghchi’s comments come after recent threats by Israel to restart the war against Iran. Defense Minister Israel Katz said late last month that attempts by Tehran to move forward with its nuclear program will be met with force.

The Iranian foreign minister has said that a deal with Washington is not possible if the US returns to its previous “zero enrichment” demand, and that Iran will not back down from enrichment.

He has also reiterated Iranian warnings of a harsher retaliation to any renewed attack.

“If aggression is repeated, we will not hesitate to react in a more decisive manner and in a way that will be IMPOSSIBLE to cover up,” Araghchi said earlier this week, referring to Israeli censorship of coverage on sites targeted by Iran.

July 31, 2025 Posted by | Wars for Israel | , , , | Leave a comment

Estonian defense chief reveals failure of Pentagon meeting

RT | July 31, 2025

The Baltic states have failed to secure any guarantees from Washington regarding the continued deployment of US forces in the region, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur has said.

Pevkur and his respective Latvian and Lithuanian counterparts met with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last week in hope of convincing him to reinforce the US military presence in the Baltic region, which they claim is necessary to counter the threat allegedly posed by Russia.

Moscow has repeatedly denied having hostile intentions toward NATO states, dismissing such claims as fearmongering meant to justify increased military spending.

According to Pevkur, US officials declined to promise that even the current troop level of about 2,000 in the Baltic states would be maintained. Instead, the ministers were simply told that any future changes to the American force posture on the continent would be coordinated with NATO and would not come “as a surprise” to Europe.

Pevkur claimed that there have been no signs of an imminent drawdown of American forces in the Baltics since the meeting. He added, however, that Washington is preparing to review its European deployments in the fall.

Earlier this year, Politico reported that the US could withdraw around a third of its troops from Europe, equivalent to roughly 20,000 soldiers, according to unnamed NATO officials. The US currently has between 90,000 and 100,000 troops stationed across the continent.

Both President Donald Trump and Hegseth have previously indicated that the US may scale back its overseas presence. They have also called on European allies to increase their own defense spending instead of relying on American support.

NATO members have since agreed to raise their military spending target to 5% of GDP by 2035.

Moscow has criticized the bloc’s continued militarization and cited NATO’s policies as a key factor behind the Ukraine conflict. At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the spending increases would pose no threat to Russia.

July 31, 2025 Posted by | Militarism, Russophobia | , | Leave a comment

Irish High Court Rejects X’s Challenge to Online Censorship Law

By Cindy Harper | Reclaim The Net | July 31, 2025

The Irish High Court has thrown out a legal challenge by X, dealing a blow to the company’s pushback against Ireland’s new censorship rules for online video-sharing services.

X had taken aim at Coimisiún na Meán, the country’s media watchdog, accusing it of stepping beyond legal limits with its Online Safety Code.

The rules demand that platforms hosting user-generated videos take active steps to shield users from “harmful” material. The company had described the regulator’s actions as “regulatory overreach.”

Mr Justice Conleth Bradley, delivering judgment on Wednesday, found no merit in X’s application for judicial review. The court concluded that the regulator’s code was lawful and that its provisions fell within the scope of both the EU’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) and Ireland’s 2009 Broadcasting Act.

According to the ruling, the code does not clash with the Digital Services Act and can function in tandem with EU law.

Responding to the outcome, Coimisiún na Meán said it welcomed the decision and intended to examine the ruling closely before offering more detailed comment.

The case comes as X begins rolling out new age verification systems to meet obligations under the Irish code, alongside compliance efforts aimed at satisfying UK and wider EU digital censorship regulations.

The ruling marks a significant moment in the ongoing struggle over who decides the boundaries of online speech and content moderation.

While the court’s backing of the state regulator reinforces governments’ ability to impose strict platform controls, it raises deeper concerns about the growing normalization of surveillance-based compliance measures and centralized authority over digital expression.

July 31, 2025 Posted by | Civil Liberties, Full Spectrum Dominance | , , | Leave a comment

Col. Jacques Baud: Can Israel Survive Its Own Actions?

Dialogue Works | July 28, 2025

July 30, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Militarism, Russophobia, Video | , , , , , , | Leave a comment