DAKHA, 6 August 2024 (TON): Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Monday ordered the release of jailed former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. An official statement from Dakha said, “Meeting decided unanimously to free Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia immediately". Bangladeshi Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, along with the Chiefs of the Airforce and Navy, and top leaders of several opposition parties including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, the military authorities announced that it has lifted a curfew imposed to control the protests and the offices, factories, schools, colleges and other establishments will be open from today.

Earlier today, General Zaman said in a broadcast to the nation on state television that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had resigned and the military would form a caretaker government. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced at gunpoint to resign and a deal was made for her extradition to the United Kingdom via India.

By Afshain Afzal

A joint statement from Hamas leadership controlling Gaza and the Palestinian Government in exile in Eastern Europe disowned any link with Ismail Haniyah or any armed group saying, “Bismillah Hir Rahman Nir Rahim; We respect the peaceful efforts being made by different Palestinian groups struggling for the complete independence and restoration of Palestine state including Jews’ associations and the general masses around the world. However, Hamas has no connection with the acts of Ismail Haniyah or any armed group. It does not receive any funding or arms from Iran or Lebanon. Hamas neither has any armed outfit nor will support in the future. Hamas' peaceful struggle against Israel's and its allies' intrusion inside Palestinian territories will continue till complete restoration of Palestinian sovereignty over the Islamic Republic of Palestine.”

By Afshain Afzal

Whom should we trust?

Iran has claimed that Hamas former leader Ismail Haniyah, who was in Tehran to attend 30^th July 2024 swearing-in of President Masoud Pezeshkian, was hit by a drone on his North Tehran’s residence, in which he along with one of his bodyguards were martyred. Iranian media quoting a statement of Iran's Revolutionary Guards official said, “At 2:00 am, the residence of Ismail Haniyah, head of the political office of Hamas-Islamic Resistance, was hit in Tehran, and as a result of this incident, he and one of his bodyguards were martyred”. Statement from Palestinian Government from exile in Eastern Europe has not yet been made public. 

In a conflicting statement quoted by Israeli media, Ismail Haniyah was killed in a drone attack in Beirut on 30^th July 2024, Israel retaliated with a UAV strike in Beirut in which two people were killed including Fuad Shukr alias Al Hajj Mohsinand Ismail Haniyah. IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Fuad Shukr was the commander responsible for the Golan Heights Majdal Shams Massacre, in which 12 children were murdered. It is the same area where Israel and the United States are trying to settle as many non-Muslims and other faiths as possible for the purpose best known to them. The killing of Fuad Shukr could not be confirmed from the inner circles. 

If we recall, there was a rocket attack on a football ground at Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights that killed 12 people including children. This attack was given extraordinary coverage. Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Saturday the rocket used in the deadly attack was an Iranian-made Fala Haq-1 fired by Hezbollah, which was carried out from an area located north of the village of Chebaa in southern Lebanon. Surprisingly on 13 March 2024, Hezbollah launched more than 100 Katyusha rockets on two Israeli military bases in the Golan Heights, but it was not taken that seriously. Reports say that there was an earlier understanding between Hezbollah and Israel over settlers and residents of the Golan Heights.

The ICC has issued Israeli Prime Minister Nethanyahu and other’s arrest warrants while the ICJ's Advisory has declared Israeli occupation of Gaza etc as illegal. Hence, it is the responsibility of every peace-loving individual and the nations to affect his arrest and handover to the Court. There are some claims that attempts will be made to arrest him either from within Israel or from other countries during his visit. The other names reflected in the ICC judgment including Palestinians, earlier submitted that the moment Nethanyahu's arrest is materialized they, if surviving, would surrender before the Court. Ironically, unconfirmed reports claim that Yaha Sinwar was martyred a long time back while Ismail Haniyah who were expected to reveal the truth about Hamas and its enemies who are supported by Israel and the US but projected as Palestinians’ wellwishers. Will Hezbollah and Iran show the dead bodies of Fuad Shukr and Ismail Haniyah to allow the people to believe it, otherwise it leads that Israel is only interested in the genocide of Palestinians. 

By Afshain Afzal

Speaking before the Congress on 24 July 2024, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disclosed that 3000 Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel they killed 1200 people from 41 countries. He then proudly introduced two Israeli military persons as heroes who stood up against terrorists early on the morning 7th October 2023, soon after the attack on Israel. He claimed, “Lieutenant Avichail killed many many terrorists” and “Master Sergeant Ashraf al Bahiri killed many terrorists”.

The world has been following the developments without a minute delay. No one ever heard about even a single terrorist killed or injured on 7 July 2023. Prime Minister is a responsible position and cannot be excused if it was a slip of his tongue that Israeli military personnel, Lieutenant Avichail and Master Sergeant Ashraf al Bahiri killed many many terrorists. If this is the truth about these two officers, where are the dead bodies of Palestinian terrorists they killed? As yet, neither any official statement reflected it nor any media coverage was given. Israel's Prime Minister must tell the world why he told so many lies?

The fact cannot be denied that the 7 October attack was Israeli intelligence agency Shen Beth and Mossad’s self-engineered plot to malign Hamas. Hamas as a political organization still controls Gaza not because they have better military weapons but because the Israeli Forces carry out only artillery and aerial bombing and their ground forces have refused to carry out attacks in Gaza. Despite a large number of Court Martials and termination of services, the Jews are not ready to obey any unlawful command that aims killings of innocent Palestinian civilians and destruction of their houses without any cause. Jews are neither enemies of Muslims nor Muslims are their enemies; as in the past, they were living together peacefully with complete harmony. We are hopeful that all communities of Palestinian territories will express a sigh of relief after going through the “Charter of Independence” already issued by Hamas Government today on 26 July 2024. Peace has won as the Government of Palestine has announced general amnesty with no revenge from anyone.

By Afshain Afzal

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his speech to Congress on 24 July 2024, specifically targeted Iran by saying, “In the Middle East, Iran’s axis of terror confronts America, Israel and our Arab friends. This is not a clash of civilizations. It’s a clash between barbarism and civilization. It’s a clash between those who glorify death and those who sanctify life.” He also said, “Iran is virtually behind all the terrorism, all the turmoil, all the chaos, all the killings. In the Middle East Iran is virtually behind all the terrorism; all the turmoil, all the chaos, all the killings and that should come as no surprise. When he founded the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Khomeini pledged we will export the Islamic revolution to the entire world.”

Ironically, when Prime Minister Netanyahu said “Today it is Israel’s fight in the frontline of the civilization, I do appeal to America Give us the tools faster and we will finish the job faster,” and “America and Israel today can forge a security alliance in Middle East to counter the growing Iranian threat,” he did not mean that with these tools Israel would finish Iran. There was an impression that Israel, the US and its allies are going to give a final ultimatum before Israel “finishes the job”. But as traditionally being followed in the past, Israel instead of planning to destroy Iranian military and nuclear capabilities and its ruling in the Middle East, forged an unwritten alliance with Iran, Hezbollah and Houthis to eliminate Hamas and those who are clash with the opposing religious, social and political ideologies.

As planned since decades, Netanyahu announced three conditions in his speech, “War in Gaza will end tomorrow if Hamas surrenders, disarms and return the hostages. But if they don’t Israel will fight until we destroy Hamas’ military capabilities and its ruling Gaza and bring all its hostages home. He claimed that after we defeat Hamas, a new Gaza will emerge, my vision is to demilitarize and de-radicalize Gaza. Israel does not seek to resettle Gaza but for the foreseeable future we must retain overriding security control there to prevent resurgence of terror and ensure that Gaza never posses a threat to Israel”. He added, “A new generation of Palestinians will no longer be taught to hate Jews but rather to live with peace with us.”

To comprehend the Truth, extracts of Netanyahu's speech to Congress 24 May 2011, must be highlighted where he said, “ The truth is that Israel needs unique security arrangements because of its unique size… Israel on the 1967 lines would be only nine miles wide. So much for strategic depth, it is therefore absolutely vital for Israel’s security that a Palestinian state be fully demilitarized. And it is vital Israel maintains a long-term military presence along the Jordan River. Solid security arrangements on the ground are necessary not only to protect the peace; they are necessary to protect Israel in case the peace unravels. For in our unstable region, no one can guarantee that our peace partners today will be there tomorrow.” He also said, “The Palestinian attempt to impose a settlement through the United Nations will not bring peace. It should be forcefully opposed by all those who want to see this conflict end.… so I say to President Abbas: Tear up your pact with Hamas! Sit down and negotiate! Make peace with the Jewish state! And if you do, I promise you this. Israel will not be the last country to welcome a Palestinian state as a new member of the United Nations. It will be the first to do so.”

Now when we are clear but Israeli criminal and hegemonic designs that existed even over a decade back to eliminate Hamas and like-minded political leadership, there should be no sympathy with Netanyahu or Israeli war criminals. An invitation to war criminals and state-sponsored terrorists as an official guest and allowing deliver a speech at the US Congress has set a new precedent. The message is clear, “the world stands divided”. Netanyahu might be a role model for a couple of thousand Americans but a majority of American taxpayers, Jews, Christians, and Muslims are angry over the dirty politics being played over the dead bodies of thousands of orthodox Palestinians. On 26 July Palestinians are going to declare their independence and are issuing the “Charter of Peace”, world must recognize the new state of Palestine, which existed the centuries.

By Afshain Afzal

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on visit tot he  United States where he is scheduled to meet US President Joseph Biden and US Vice President Kamala Harris. As planned earlier he was invited by the House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, who announced that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would have a platform to share his government’s vision for defending democracy, combatting terror, and establishing a just and lasting peace in the region. Accordingly, Netanyahu has been invited to address the US Congress on Wednesday 24 July 2024. Israeli Prime Minister intend to convince America that Israel would remain a key US ally in the Middle East regardless who the American people choose as their next president.

The provisions of the Terrorism Act 2006, Part – I, Subsection 3, which includes the glorification provision and greatly expands the amount of speech that is “likely to be understood” as encouraging terrorism. Subsection 3 provides that statements that are likely to be understood by members of the public as indirectly encouraging the commission or preparation of acts of terrorism . . . include every statement which (a) glorifies the commission or preparation (whether in the past, in the future or generally) of such acts or offences; and (b) is a statement from which those members of the public could reasonably be expected to infer that what is being glorified "is being glorified as conduct that should be emulated by them in existing circumstances". Section 20, which provides definitions for terms found in Part 1, indicates that “glorification” includes “any form of praise or celebration.” Section 20 also states that “conduct that should be emulated in existing circumstances” includes speech referring to conduct that serves as an illustration of the type of acts that should be emulated.     

We should not forget that funding, arming and supporting individuals, and entities involved in terrorism or war crimes by the International Courts makes them equally involved in the crime. The acts of glorification are to be suppressed because they can contribute to one’s ‘radicalisation’. The American taxpayers and honourable members of Congress must understand that Prime Minister Netanyahu has been branded by the International justice system as one directly involved in the genocide of Palestinians and war crimes as well as he is defying arrest warrants issued by the International Court. No doubt, criticism and flat refusal to honour the orders and measures of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ) speaks of criminal mindset has send a negative message to other nations to follow the same path of state-sponsored terrorism.

By Afshain Afzal

There can be no doubt that Israel has claimed that it attacked Yemen’s Hodeidah port in which six people were killed and 83 others injured. Such long-distance attack creates suspicion but the Israeli Air Force has a fleet of RAM, Boeing 707s and B767 equipped with a boom refueling system similar to the KC-135. Israel is desperately waiting for US Boeing KC-46A aerial refueling tanker as part of September 2021, $927 million US-Israel foreign military sale contract. The pieces of information gathered pinpoints at US Air Base at Djibouti. There is only a minute chance that US provided Tel Aviv with KC-46A aerial refueling tanker ahead of 2025 delivery date and it might be used in the attack of Hodeidah port. But we have a statement from Central Command saying that US did not participate in the attack.

Statement in which Saudi Arabia, Brigadier General Turki Al-Maliki, said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has no relation or involvement in targeting Al Hodeidah and the Kingdom will not allow any entity to violate its airspace. This means that Saudi space was not used in Israel's attack on Yemen's port, which also matches the information by the company dealing with imageries. The timely wise statement by Brigadier General Turki Al-Maliki compelled Washington to issue a reciprocal statement that clarified US’ noninvolvement in Hodeidah port attack. Houthis are yet to be recognized and lack official status as yet, but being Muslim brethren are equally respected. It was not an attack on Houthis but Israelis have attacked the sovereignty of Yemen.

If we recall, in January 2024, Djibouti's Prime Minister Abdul-Qadir Kamil Muhammad confirmed that Djibouti rejected US demand to install anti-Yemen MIM-104 Patriot air defense system launchers and other missiles in the Red Sea but Pentagon was not permitted and were asked to use Djibouti base against Yemen.

Israelis and allies are trying to divide the Muslim leadership so that they remain each other’s enemies and keep importing costly weapons from the West. For the same reason, Israel authorities claim that they informed Saudi Arabia in advance about its attack on the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah on Saturday and their aircraft refueled by Saudi Arabia. Riyadh denied any such permission allowing warplanes to pass through Saudi airspace to bomb Houthi targets.

The fact cannot be denied that Israeli-Western allies have decided to open new war fronts in the Muslim countries, which are supporting Independent Palestine and implementation of ICJ and ICC verdicts against Israel for their genocide and other war crimes. The latest misadventure of attack on Yemen Hodeidah port is part of the conspiracy coupled with Western propaganda through their agents and allies regarding the fake re-emergence of Al Qaida and ISIS and the deployment of foreign forces. It is high time that Muslims and allies remain united to bring peace in this world.

JERUSALEM, 22 July 2024 (TON): Israel military said Sunday that its Health ministry found type-2 poliovirus in environmental samples collected from different sewage samples taken from areas of Gaza and started vaccinating its troops in Gaza against polio and supplying vaccines for the Palestinian population. No human cases have been reported.

A number Israel’s Defence Forces and reserves have refused to allow vaccination on the ground,” “In Torah law you are not permitted to inject yourself with a vaccine that offers no significant medical curative benefit to the patient”. Such vaccines are forbidden in Jewish communities and they have been refusing to vaccinate their children. A Jew religious leader has said that Palestinians should also refuse as Jews do not allow their children to be vaccinated in Israel or in other countries.

The vaccine being used for the Palestinian population was banned in Israel and declared dangerous by the Israeli Health officials and authorities in other countries.

Army authorities have begun "a broad vaccination operation for all ground troops, both regular and reserves followed vaccination of Palestinian population," said a military statement.

The statement said UN agencies also found type-2 poliovirus in six environmental samples collected on 23 June 2024.

KOLKATA, 22 July 2024 (TON): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday announced her support for Bangladeshi refugees.

would keep the doors of her state open for people in distress from the neighbouring country and offer them shelter.

Banerjee said “ Whatever is happening in Bangladesh is their internal matter and we as a state cannot comment on this but we will welcome all refugees who will be dislodged from their home and hearth in Bangladesh and seek refuge in our state.”

Assuring all cooperation to Bengal residents whose relatives may have remained stuck on account of the escalating violence on the eastern side of the international border, she also extended assistance to Bangladeshis who came to Bengal but were facing difficulty in returning home.

TEL AVIV, 22 July 2024 (TON): Lebanon’s Hezbollah group claimed that its fighters fired dozens of rockets into northern Israel, targeting a kibbutz in retaliation for an Israeli drone strike earlier in the day that wounded several people including children. Lebanon claimed that Hamas also fired rockets from Lebanon toward an Israeli army post in the northern Israeli village of Shomera. Hamas leadership has denied responsibility of any such attack from Lebanon.

National News Agency reported on Saturday night, an Israeli airstrike on the southern coastal village of Adloun hit an arms depot and it was followed by a series of explosions that hit nearby villages with shrapnel in which three people were wounded in the nearby village of Kharayeb and hospitalized. The explosions lasted more than an hour after the airstrike.

The Israeli military said that about 45 projectiles were fired from Lebanon into northern Israel in three separate series of attacks. It said that these fell in open areas, causing no injuries, but triggering several fires in the Golan Heights.