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Italian dockworkers block ships bound for Israel amid Gaza flotilla tensions

Dockworkers and citizens at the garrison outside the Tuscan dock pose for a photo and rejoice at the news that Israeli ship Zim is preparing to leave the port of Livorno without unloading or loading after Italian dockworkers on strike, block the Darsena Toscana terminal during a protest in support of Gaza, Palestine and Global Sumud Flotilla on September 29, 2025 in Livorno, Italy. [Photo by Laura Lezza/Getty Images]
MEMO | October 2, 2025

Dockworkers in several Italian ports are stepping up actions to block shipments to Israel as tensions mount over the approach of the “Sumud Flotilla” to Gaza.

Labour unions across Europe have pledged coordinated efforts to disrupt maritime trade with Israel if the flotilla comes under attack. In a meeting held in Genoa, union representatives said they had set up an alert system to monitor shipments and respond rapidly by halting the loading or unloading of vessels.

Italy has become the epicenter of the movement. Genoa was the first port to act, followed by Livorno, where union-led strikes have already disrupted operations. The container ship Zim Virginia was kept waiting for five days off the Tuscan coast after dockworkers refused to allow it to dock.

Another vessel, the Zim Iberia, is expected to arrive in Livorno on 3 October and is likely to encounter similar resistance, according to union organizers.

In Genoa, tensions escalated last week when about 2,000 protesters gathered at the port. The demonstration forced the Zim New Zealand to leave without loading any cargo after reports that several containers were suspected of being linked to Israeli shipments.

Union leaders said their campaign is aimed at putting pressure on Israel and demonstrating solidarity with Gaza. They warned that actions would intensify if the flotilla is obstructed.

October 2, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Solidarity and Activism, War Crimes | , , , , | 1 Comment

Protests erupt worldwide against Israeli attack on Global Sumud Flotilla

The Cradle | October 2, 2025

Protests erupted across cities worldwide on the night of 1 October after Israel intercepted the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla, with thousands taking to the streets to denounce the raid, demand the release of detained activists, and call for an end to the siege on the enclave.

Demonstrations broke out in Greece, Spain, Sweden, and Belgium, as large rallies took place in Italy, where the country’s largest trade unions announced a general strike for 3 October.

Among the largest gatherings overnight, tens of thousands marched through Rome in support of the Sumud Freedom Flotilla.

Hundreds more blocked traffic at Piazza dei Cinquecento, while in Milan, large crowds shut down train stations, blocking rail traffic as part of nationwide demonstrations.

Organizers estimated around 1,000 people would march toward Piazza Barberini. Italy’s unions USB and CGIL confirmed a nationwide strike call, while dock workers carried out their pledge to blockade in response to the flotilla’s interception.

Hundreds also gathered outside the US consulate in Istanbul, chanting slogans, praying for Palestinians, and denouncing what they called genocide.

In Berlin, protesters gathered at Central Station, and in Brussels, marchers moved from Place de la Bourse to the Belgian Foreign Ministry.

In London, thousands marched to the prime minister’s residence, chanting against him. In Germany, demonstrators briefly shut down the main train station.

The Tunisian capital also saw a mass demonstration, while Mauritania’s Nouakchott hosted protests denouncing the flotilla raid.

A snap protest was held outside Sydney Town Hall in support of the Global Sumud Flotilla, with demonstrators voicing solidarity and chanting “From the river to the sea,” which echoed through the rally.

Latin American cities witnessed parallel mobilizations. Local media in Buenos Aires said hundreds demonstrated against what they called an “assault by the Israeli occupation forces” and demanded an end to the genocide in Gaza.

In Mexico City, Reuters captured images of marchers outside the Foreign Ministry, with demonstrators demanding the release of seven Mexican nationals detained in the flotilla raid.

Activists Arlin Medrano and Sol Gonzalez confirmed in a video that their ship had been intercepted in international waters, calling it an illegal act.

David Pena, the Mexican delegation’s legal representative, told protesters Israel planned to charge them with trespassing and deport them.

In Colombia, protesters gathered outside the headquarters of the National Business Association (ANDI) after the Global Movement to Gaza accused it of ties to Israel’s economic mission – an allegation the group denied in a statement.

Demonstrations also swept Bogota, Montevideo, and several Argentine cities, with protesters in Uruguay’s capital calling for the imprisonment of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Out of 44 vessels that departed with the Global Sumud Flotilla, only four are still marked as ‘sailing’ as of 12:15 pm Thursday, according to live tracking data on the flotilla’s website.

One vessel appeared to have reached Gaza’s waters before communications were lost.

Organizers said one of the boats intercepted was rammed by an Israeli naval vessel.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry labeled the mission on its official X account as the “Hamas Flotilla.”

October 2, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Solidarity and Activism, War Crimes | , , , | Leave a comment

Colombia expels Israeli diplomats after Gaza aid flotilla raid

MEMO | October 2, 2025

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has ordered the expulsion of all remaining Israeli diplomats from the country, after the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla heading to Gaza.

He also called for suspending trade agreements with Israel after two Colombian citizens were arrested on board one of the ships. “Israel detained two Colombian women in international waters,” Petro said, demanding their immediate release.

Only four Israeli diplomats were still in Colombia after President Petro cut ties with Israel last year.

In a statement, Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the government and the Colombian people, strongly condemned what it described as the kidnapping carried out by Israeli armed forces in international waters. The ministry said this act violated international law and the Geneva Conventions, and targeted the two Colombian nationals, Luna Barreto and Manuela Bedoya, both members of the Global Sumud Flotilla.

The ministry also called for the immediate release of its citizens, as well as all other members of the flotilla. It urged the governments of Spain, Bangladesh, Brazil, Slovenia, Indonesia, Ireland, Libya, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mexico, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Thailand, Turkey, and South Africa to take urgent and joint action to protect the lives and safety of their nationals.

According to the ministry, the international flotilla set sail in the Mediterranean with three objectives: to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, to raise awareness of the urgent humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people, and to highlight the need to end the war in Gaza.

October 2, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Solidarity and Activism, War Crimes | , , , , | Leave a comment

Activists report aggressive Israeli cyber, physical harassment as flotilla nears Gaza

Press TV – October 1, 2025

Activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla say they are facing aggressive harassment by Israeli warships as they approach Gaza to break the illegal naval blockade and deliver much-needed humanitarian aid.

The lead vessel, Alma, was deliberately encircled and subjected to communication blackouts early Wednesday, forcing its captain to take evasive maneuvers while Israeli forces continued their intimidation tactics against other ships in the flotilla.

“This was one of the biggest acts of harassment we have faced so far. They tried to scare us, but we weren’t afraid, and we told them we would not be afraid,” Metehan Sari, a Turkish activist aboard the Alma, was quoted as saying by Anadolu news agency.

Sari said that the Israeli navy ships came within 5 to 10 meters of the Alma.

Zeynel Abidin Ozkan, another activist aboard Adagio, said drones were flying “intensively” over their fleet overnight and that at around 5am, two ships which weren’t a part of the flotilla approached them and “launched a cyberattack on the GPS and internet database of the Alma, one of our fleet’s main vessels, cutting off our communication with the ship”.

Another flotilla vessel, the Sirius, also experienced interference. Lisi Proenca, aboard Sirius, said an Israeli naval ship circled her vessel for about 15 minutes, jamming communications and causing tension and fear among the crew. Members of the crew later demonstrated they were unarmed.

Despite these hostile actions, the flotilla comprised of over 40 boats and 500 activists, including prominent international figures such as Italian politicians and climate activist Greta Thunberg, remains undeterred in its mission to challenge the Zionist regime’s suffocating siege on Gaza.

The official page for the Global Sumud Flotilla said the fleet is now 118 nautical miles from Gaza, which it notes is 8 nautical miles from where Madleen, a flotilla which was launched in June this year, was intercepted.

Maritime traffic data is also showing that several vessels from the flotilla are approaching Egyptian territorial waters.

In a Telegram post it said: “We remain committed to non-violence and to creating a People’s Humanitarian Corridor – a lifeline for Gaza. The international community has entrusted us with this mission, and we will not fail.”

The harassment reflects Israel’s ongoing efforts to prevent any aid from reaching the Palestinian people, who have endured months of devastating blockade and violence.

Communications systems on multiple vessels were jammed, and cameras disabled during the Israeli naval maneuvers, cutting off crucial documentation and real-time updates from the flotilla.

The activists have already passed the 120-nautical mile mark, defying repeated Israeli warnings.

International condemnation of Israel’s blockade and military harassment continues to grow, with countries like Italy and Spain criticizing the recent attacks on the flotilla, which included drone strikes and explosions.

Israel’s baseless claims labeling the flotilla as a Hamas operation serve only to justify its ongoing repression.

October 1, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Solidarity and Activism, War Crimes | , , , | Leave a comment

Italy’s Foreign Ministry in revolt over Israel’s ‘war of extermination’ in Gaza

MEMO | September 29, 2025

Around 700 Italian Foreign Ministry employees have written to Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressing their “profound ethical and professional discomfort” at working with Israeli authorities while Israel carries out a war of “extermination” of the Palestinian population in Gaza.

The internal four-page letter, reviewed by Haaretz, warns that Italy’s “wait and see attitude” towards Israel’s genocide in Gaza is “incoherent with the country’s Constitution and obligations under international law” and risks making Rome “complicit” in grave violations of international humanitarian law.

“Inertia – or mere rhetoric not followed by concrete actions – exposes us to the risk of complicity with the ongoing grave violations of international humanitarian law and with the genocide that is taking place,” the letter states.

The letter also proposes several urgent measures, including recognition of a Palestinian state, suspension of the EU–Israel Association Agreement to allow for increased tariffs on Israeli goods, and the imposition of an “apartheid tax” on Israel as a form of reparations for Palestinians.

The document further calls on the Italian government to formally warn Israel against offensive actions or threats of force targeting the Global Sumud Flotilla, a civilian-led mission seeking to break the naval blockade on Gaza.

The strongly worded intervention follows a letter from 34 former ambassadors urging Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to recognise the state of Palestine. It also comes in the wake of Italy’s largest public mobilisation against the genocide in Gaza since its onset, with tens of thousands taking part in a general strike and mass protests across nearly 80 cities.

Last week’s general strike, coordinated by the Unione Sindacale di Base, was described as a response to the “ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip, the blockade of humanitarian aid by the Israeli army, and the threats against the international mission Global Sumud Flotilla.”

Demonstrators clashed with police in Milan while attempting to enter the city’s central railway station, injuring over 50 officers. In Bologna, activists blocked a major intersection and sections of a highway, while in Turin access to the airport was obstructed for several hours. A national demonstration scheduled for 4 October is expected to draw tens of thousands more to the streets of Rome.

The government’s stance has also come under scrutiny for its refusal to follow France, the UK and several other Western governments in unilaterally recognising Palestinian statehood.

September 29, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Solidarity and Activism, War Crimes | , , , | Leave a comment

Italy redirects navy ship to assist Global Sumud Flotilla after drone attacks

The Cradle | September 24, 2025

Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said in a statement on 24 September that an Italian navy ship has been redirected towards the Global Sumud Flotilla to provide it with “possible assistance,” after it came under a series of Israeli attacks overnight.

The Italian defense minister strongly condemned the overnight drone attacks.

Activists on board several of the flotilla’s boats reported at least 10 explosions after witnessing drones launch several attacks early on Wednesday. The boats were situated off the coast of Greece.

“Multiple drones, unidentified objects dropped, communications jammed, and explosions heard from a number of boats. We are witnessing these psychological operations firsthand, right now, but we will not be intimidated,” Global Sumud Flotilla said.

US activist Greg Stoker said a quadcopter “dropped a little popper on deck,” adding that “other boats experienced that as well.”

“Our VHF [very high frequency] radio was hijacked by adversarial comms, and they started playing ABBA,” he added. One boat was reportedly sprayed with chemicals as well.

Israel has not commented on the attacks targeting the Gaza-bound flotilla.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said the flotilla was “pursuing a violent course of action” that “highlights the insincerity of the flotilla members and their mission to serve Hamas, rather than the people in Gaza.”

The International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza (ICBSG) had warned on Sunday that unidentified drones were flying close to the vessels.

Workers across Italy launched a nationwide strike on 22 September to oppose Israel’s genocide in Gaza, halting public transport, rail services, schools, public offices, and ports in more than 60 cities. Italian grassroots trade union, Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), called the strike to force Rome to “immediately break off relations with the terrorist state of Israel, which is the concrete way in which Italy can, and must, react to the genocide that is taking place.”

Rail freight was suspended on Sunday night, with ports including Ravenna, Livorno, Trieste, and Genoa joining the actions. In Genoa, dockworkers blocked a vessel scheduled for Israel, while in Livorno, access to the port was restricted by protesters.

The flotilla bombarded early on 24 September is the third to attempt to break the siege of Gaza in the last four months.

The Global Sumud Flotilla also came under two attacks earlier in September.

The vessels are carrying hundreds of tons of humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza, who are being starved and bombarded by the Israeli army. It has been described as the largest civilian flotilla in history.

In late July, the Gaza Freedom Flotilla’s Handala vessel was intercepted and seized by Israeli forces as it was trying to break the siege and deliver aid to the strip. Crewmembers were detained.

The month before, Israeli forces intercepted the Gaza Freedom Flotilla’s Madleen vessel in international waters as it was approaching Gaza to break the siege, seizing the boat and detaining the 12 activists on board.

In May this year, an Israeli drone bombed a Freedom Flotilla aid vessel that was en route to Gaza, blowing a hole through the ship, causing a fire, and putting it at risk of sinking.

September 24, 2025 Posted by | Militarism, Solidarity and Activism, War Crimes | , , , , | Leave a comment

URGENT: A family standing against Israeli army and settler violence, and imminent displacement in the Jordan Valley

International Solidarity Movement – Palestine | September 21, 2025

In the hills of the northern Jordan Valley, one Palestinian family is facing the threat of being displaced from their land. On September 20, the Israeli army issued them a final eviction order — threatening to destroy their tents, farming shelters, animals, and everything they depend on for survival.

This family is the last to remain in their community. Others have already been forced to leave in recent years by Israeli colonisers, who confiscated or destroyed their homes and belongings. Their struggle shows how army actions and settler violence combine to push Palestinians from their land.

Palestinian families’ daily life under threat

The family makes a living from shepherding. With more than 200 sheep and goats, their livelihood depends on access to open grazing. Today, this way of life is nearly impossible. Settlers attack shepherds, block grazing land, and steal animals. To keep their herds alive, the family must now buy fodder, which is costly and reduces the quality of the products they sell.

Two weeks ago, settlers poisoned the family’s water supply. Like all Palestinians in the Jordan Valley, they are not connected to the water network and depend on cisterns. Without safe water, their health and their animals’ survival are in danger. They also live without electricity, relying only on solar panels for minimal power.

In recent weeks, the army has raided the land and their home several times. Soldiers ordered demolitions of shelters, claiming the area is a “military zone.” Family members have been injured multiple times during these raids.

Meanwhile, settlers are expanding, with new outposts being built nearby and existing settlements growing closer. This increases the pressure on the family to leave.

Background on Jordan Valley

The northern Jordan Valley lies in Area C, which makes up over 60% of the occupied West Bank and remains under full Israeli military control. Israel imposes severe restrictions on Palestinians living there on building, farming, and access to basic services. The army often declares Palestinian areas as “firing zones” or “closed military zones,” using these designations to demolish homes, stop grazing, and force families to move. In practice, this clears space for settlements while displacing Palestinians.

For decades, Israel has uprooted entire communities across the Jordan Valley under these policies. Where once there were villages with families, schools, and farmland, only scattered households remain.

What can you do?

Contact your governments and demand they put pressure on Israel to stop its ethnic cleansing campaign in the Jordan Valley and elsewhere. They must:

1 Cancel the eviction order against the families immediately.
2 Stop settler violence such as poisoning, theft, intimidation, and ensure protection of Palestinian civilians as required under international law.
3 End the use of “military zones” as a pretext for displacement
4 Provide access to basic rights: water, electricity, education, and security.

International communities, media, and civil society — it’s time to raise awareness and take action.

This is not only about one family. It is part of a larger effort to remove Palestinians from the Jordan Valley and Area C of the West Bank. This family now stands almost alone, holding on to their land and way of life. If they are displaced, another piece of Palestinian presence in the Jordan Valley will be erased.

Their story must be told and shared. The world needs to see what is happening and act before yet another community disappears.

September 21, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Solidarity and Activism | , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Israel’ barred from tourism fair in Italy over war on Gaza

Al Mayadeen | September 21, 2025

“Israel” has been reportedly excluded from a tourism fair in Italy, a decision reported following a public appeal from the mayor of Rimini on Thursday, who urged the event’s organizers to cancel “Israel’s” participation in the TTG Travel Experience over the war on Gaza.

In a joint statement posted on Facebook, Mayor Jamil Sadegholvaad and the head of the Emilia-Romagna region, Michele De Pascal,e argued that an Israeli presence would represent “inequality”, urging the event’s organizers, the Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), to reconsider the inclusion of the “Israel” stand.

“We really don’t think that today it is ethically and morally acceptable to propose as holiday destinations places of war, terror and death,” the pair stated.

This comes as part of a broader international boycott movement against “Israel”, in response to its crimes and brutal war on Gaza, which has claimed the lives of more than 65,000 people since October 7th with many uncounted victims still buried under the rubble.

‘Israel’ faces international boycotts worldwide and sector-wide

A coalition of advocacy organizations and fan groups launched a billboard in New York’s Times Square on September 17, kicking off their #GameOverIsrael campaign with a call for European soccer federations to boycott “Israel” in the months leading up to the World Cup.

Campaigners are urging soccer federations across multiple European nations, including Belgium, England, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Scotland, and Spain, to institute a comprehensive boycott of the Israeli national team and to prohibit Israeli players from participating in their domestic competitions, a direct response to the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

In a significant escalation of the cultural boycott against “Israel”, Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE has officially announced it will boycott the Eurovision 2026 Song Contest if “Israel” is allowed to take part, a move that makes Spain the first of the competition’s major contributors to commit to such a stance. This position has been further supported by signals from Ireland and Slovenia that they would also withdraw from the contest if the Israeli occupation is allowed to participate.

The boycott has also affected academia, with the head of the Scientific Council at “Israel’s” Weizmann Institute, Nir Davidzon, revealing that the research center suffered heavy destruction during Iran’s recent retaliation and is now facing mounting isolation from the international academic community.

In an interview for Israeli Channel 12 on September 13, Nir Davidzon stated that the Weizmann Institute, long considered one of “Israel’s” most internationally connected scientific institutions, is now being increasingly boycotted by universities and research centers abroad.

“Everything that was built over decades is collapsing because of the war in Gaza,” he said. “Even good friends are telling us they can no longer work with us.”

Hundreds of actors, directors, and film workers have pledged to refuse any collaboration with Israeli cultural institutions, which they accuse of being complicit in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people.

This initiative has drawn support from over 1,200 signatories, including acclaimed directors like Yorgos Lanthimos, Ava DuVernay, Asif Kapadia, Boots Riley, and Joshua Oppenheimer. Prominent actors such as Olivia Colman, Mark Ruffalo, Tilda Swinton, Javier Bardem, Ayo Edebiri, Riz Ahmed, Josh O’Connor, Cynthia Nixon, Julie Christie, Ilana Glazer, Rebecca Hall, Aimee Lou Wood, and Debra Winger also signed the pledge.

September 21, 2025 Posted by | Economics, Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Solidarity and Activism, War Crimes | , , | Leave a comment

Italian port blocks explosive shipments bound for Israel

The Cradle | September 19, 2025

Authorities at the Italian port of Ravenna refused on 18 September to load two containers filled with explosives bound for Israel, following a request from local officials.

Ravenna’s mayor, Alessandro Barattoni, confirming the intervention in a statement, said, “Thanks to courageous dockers, we were informed last night of the scheduled arrival today of two containers to the Ravenna port.”

The municipality explained that the port is jointly owned by Ravenna, the provincial authorities, and the Emilia-Romagna regional government, which enabled them to block the shipment.

Regional leaders of the Emilia-Romagna government, a major region in northern Italy, formally cut ties with the Israeli government in June, following the earlier decision by the southern coastal region of Puglia.

“You must choose a side, and Emilia-Romagna and Ravenna know perfectly which,” the leaders said in a statement, “the one of innocent victims and hostages, and not the one of criminal governments and terrorist organisations.”

Italian media reports that port workers and unions are preparing further protests, including planned blockades at Genoa and Livorno in the country’s northwestern coasts, reflecting a growing wave of opposition throughout Italy.

On 1 September, in Genoa, dockworkers warned they will escalate further if Israel moves against the Global Sumud Flotilla, which left Barcelona on Sunday carrying humanitarian supplies.

Speaking at a rally on the docks, a representative of the Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), which is an Italian trade union, said that any loss of communication with the flotilla would trigger an immediate boycott of Israel-bound shipments.

“From this region 13 to 14,000 containers leave every year for Israel, not a single nail will leave anymore,” the dockworker said in a video circulated widely in Italian media.

He added that “if we lose contact with our boats, with our comrades, even for just 20 minutes, we will shut down all of Europe.”

Elsewhere in Europe, dockers in France, Sweden, and Greece have carried out similar boycotts.

In early June, workers at the port of Marseille refused to load containers of military equipment for Haifa, stating they would not “take part in the genocide being carried out by the Israeli government” or become “complicit in these massacres.”

September 19, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Solidarity and Activism, War Crimes | , , | Leave a comment

Iran clarifies stance after joint Doha statement, rejects ‘two-state’ solution to Palestinian issue

Press TV – September 16, 2025

Iran has clarified its stance on a joint statement from a Doha summit held in the wake of the Israeli regime’s assault on Qatar, rejecting the “two-state” solution concerning the Palestinian issue and and US’s self-proclaimed “peace” efforts.

The Foreign Ministry issued the remarks on Tuesday, distancing the Islamic Republic from references made in the statement to the so-called “two-state solution,” reiterating support for Palestinians’ right to resistance, and ruling out any prospect of recognition of the regime.

It also dismissed the existence of any genuine intention on the part of Washington to resolve the situation created by the regime’s barbarity throughout the West Asia region, including across the occupied Palestinian territories.

‘Two-state solution’ a non-starter

Reasserting the Islamic Republic’s continued unwavering support for the Palestinian cause of liberation from Israeli occupation and aggression, the ministry said the country would under no circumstances abandon its staunch belief that Palestinians were absolutely entitled to exercise their inherent right to self-determination.

Therefore, Tehran keeps holding fast to its principled position that the only “true and sustainable” solution to the Palestinian issue rests in the creation of a “unified democratic government” in the occupied territories.

Such a government should receive its mandate from the outcome of a referendum partaken by all Palestinians inside the territories as well as the Palestinian diaspora, and, hence, end up representing “all Palestinians,” the ministry said.

Therefore, it said, Tehran utterly dismisses the “two-state solution,” supported by the United States and its allies, and the concepts proposed as part of such “solution,” including those mentioned in the Doha statement.

It named one of those concepts as “establishment of the State of Palestine along the lines of June 4, 1967,” which ignores the vast Palestinian territories that the regime had already occupied in 1948 and continues to occupy.

Also, the Islamic Republic spurns the idea that Palestinians’ future capital should be confined to just the eastern part of the holy occupied city of al-Quds, the ministry added.

“The so-called ‘two-state’ solution would not resolve the Palestinian issue,” it specified.

‘Israeli barbarity necessitates resistance’

Iran, meanwhile, continues to uphold Palestinians’ entitlement to employ “whatever necessary vehicle” towards realizing their inalienable right to self-determination and ridding themselves of foreign colonialism, the ministry stated.

Those rights that are enjoyed by “any peaceable nation” include the right to resist, it noted, adding, “Given the barbarity exercised by the occupying regime’s forces, nothing should serve to restrict this right.”

“It is also our shared duty under international law to support this aspiration,” it said, and also repeated Tehran’s categorical rejection of any potential recognition of the regime.

‘US no ‘peace’ partner’

Finally, the ministry underlined that the policies and actions of the United States have contributed to the continuation and backing of the Israeli regime’s aggression against the Palestinian people, rather than subduing it.

“In light of this reality, the Islamic Republic holds that the United States cannot be recognized or regarded as a credible or impartial party in advancing a just and lasting peace in this conflict.”

“We request the summit’s secretariat to include the Iranian delegation’s reservations in its final report.”

The emergency Arab-Islamic summit was held in the Qatari capital on Monday to address the regime’s recent deadly attacks on the city, which targeted the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas’ leadership, among Tel Aviv’s other atrocities throughout the West Asia region.

September 16, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Solidarity and Activism | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Scottish lawmaker demands European sporting bodies ban Israel

MEMO | September 11, 2025

A Scottish lawmaker tabled a motion at parliament Thursday condemning Israel’s membership in European sporting associations, urging organizations to revoke its participation, Anadolu reports.

The motion, lodged at Holyrood by James Dornan, said Israel should not be permitted to compete under European banners as it is geographically situated in the Asian continent, not Europe.

It cited reported views that Israeli state policy is one of genocide against the people of Gaza. The motion views “the relentless and barbaric implementation of this policy are grounds for the rescinding of Israel’s membership from European sporting associations.”

Dornan’s motion urged European bodies such as the European football governing body (UEFA), the Federation of International Basketball Association Europe, the European Handball Association and the European Athletic Association to dispel Israel’s membership forthwith.

Last month, Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for human rights in the Palestinian territories, demanded UEFA expel Israel from competitions for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip.

It was after UEFA’s farewell to former Palestinian footballer Suleiman al-Obeid, whom it called the “Palestinian Pele.”

The Israeli army has continued a brutal offensive on Gaza, killing at least 64,700 Palestinians since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave, which is facing famine.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

September 11, 2025 Posted by | Solidarity and Activism, War Crimes | , , | Leave a comment

Mass arrests as ‘Block Everything’ movement shuts down France

Al Mayadeen | September 10, 2025

At least 83 people have been arrested across France as the “Block Everything” movement launched its first wave of nationwide protests on Wednesday, September 10, in opposition to austerity measures and government budget proposals.

According to police reports cited by BFM TV, 75 individuals were detained in Paris, while another eight were arrested in cities across the country.

The movement, which originated as a grassroots campaign online, is aimed at halting daily life in France in protest of the national budget plan proposed by outgoing Prime Minister Francois Bayrou.

More than 1,000 [?] people joined protests across France, with over 30 separate gatherings reported in cities including Marseille and Lyon, where protesters overturned trash bins and blocked major roads.

Several high schools in Paris were also shut down by student demonstrations.

Organizers expect over 100,000 people to participate in the protest actions throughout the day, marking a significant escalation in public resistance to the government’s proposed austerity measures.

The “Block Everything” movement was initiated by a small online group called Les Essentiels, which declared, “On September 10, we stop everything, not to escape, to say no.” The movement has since gained backing from the leftist France Unbowed (LFI) party.

Political crisis deepens as Macron names new prime minister

The protests come amid growing political instability. On Monday, Bayrou lost a vote of confidence in the National Assembly, following opposition to his 2026 budget framework aimed at cutting €44 billion in public spending. France’s public debt currently stands at 113% of GDP, one of the highest in the European Union.

In response to the crisis, French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu as the new prime minister on Tuesday. Lecornu has been tasked with consulting political parties before forming a new government.

Budget-related political infighting has become a persistent issue in French politics. Last year, the failure to pass the 2025 budget led to the collapse of Michel Barnier’s government after a no-confidence motion united both far-left and far-right parties.

In parallel with the grassroots movement, France’s major trade unions have announced a national day of mobilization on September 18, signaling a broader, more coordinated wave of resistance to the government’s economic policies.

As tensions mount, the coming weeks are expected to test both the resilience of the protest movement and the ability of the Macron administration to restore political and economic stability.

September 10, 2025 Posted by | Economics, Solidarity and Activism | , | Leave a comment

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