We stand firmly against injustice in all its forms. Nothing can justify the current war crimes committed by Israel in occupied Palestine. Equally, nothing can excuse the continued support offered by other nations to this apartheid regime. If you believe in human rights, dignity, and justice, then we urge you to boycott this rogue state. Silence is complicity, do what’s right.
Today Drop Site News is publishing a landmark investigation about the BBC’s coverage of Israel’s unrelenting assault on Gaza by British journalist Owen Jones. His report is based on interviews with 13 journalists and other BBC staffers who offer remarkable insights into how senior figures within the BBC’s news operation skewed stories in favor of Israel’s narratives and repeatedly dismissed objections registered by scores of staffers who, throughout the past 14 months, demanded that the network uphold its commitment to impartiality and fairness. Jones’s investigation of the BBC has three main components: a deeply reported look into the internal complaints from BBC journalists, a quantitative assessment of how the BBC characterizes the year-long siege on Gaza, and a review of the histories of the people behind the coverage—and, in particular, one editor, Raffi Berg.
Appropriately, when Jones began this reporting as an independent journalist and reached out to Berg for comment, Berg at first hired the famous defamation lawyer Mark Lewis, who is also former Director of UK Lawyers for Israel. Jones is a Guardian columnist and hosts his own searing independent news coverage on YouTube. If you have the means to help pay for Jones’s $24,000 in initial legal bills in vetting the story, you can do so here.
The Irish taoiseach, Simon Harris, said on X: “This is a deeply regrettable decision from the Netanyahu government. I utterly reject the assertion that Ireland is anti-Israel. Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights and pro-international law.
“Ireland wants a two-state solution and for Israel and Palestine to live in peace and security. Ireland will always speak up for human rights and international law. Nothing will distract from that.”
Israel has not applied similar measures to other countries, including Egypt, Spain, and Mexico, that joined the petition.
The announcement came as the death toll of Palestinians in Gaza approached 45,000 in the war that began with Hamas’s 7 October attack into Israel last year. Dozens of deaths were reported in Israeli strikes on the coastal territory on Sunday.
Announcing the decision to close the embassy, Sa’ar said: “It should be noted that in the past, Israel’s ambassador to Dublin was recalled following Ireland’s unilateral decision to recognise a ‘Palestinian state’.”
He said the decision to close the embassy had been prompted by Ireland’s announcement of its support for South Africa’s legal action against Israel in the ICJ, accusing Israel of ‘genocide’.”
“The antisemitic actions and rhetoric that Ireland is taking against Israel are based on delegitimisation and demonisation of the Jewish state and on double standards,” said Sa’ar.
“Ireland has crossed all red lines in its relationship with Israel. Israel will invest its resources in promoting bilateral relations with the countries of the world according to priorities that are also derived from the attitude of the various countries towards it.
“There are countries that are interested in strengthening their ties with Israel and do not yet have an Israeli embassy,” Sa’ar continued, adding that Israel planned to open a new embassy in Moldova, which is seen as being more friendly to Israel.
“We will adjust the Israeli diplomatic structure of our missions while giving weight, among other of things, to the approach and actions of the various countries towards Israel in the political arena,” he said.
Relations between Ireland and Israel have long been strained because of Ireland’s stance on Palestine.
In November, Harris said the country’s authorities would detain his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, if he travelled to Ireland, after the international criminal court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu.
Israel has submitted an appeal against the arrest warrants issued by the ICC for Netanyahu and the former defence minister Yoav Gallant, Army Radio reported on Sunday.
On 21 November, the ICC issued warrants for the two, citing grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant had committed the war crime of starvation and crimes against humanity such as murder and persecution.
The move to close the embassy follows last week’s statement by Micheál Martin, the Tánaiste (Ireland’s second most senior elected official) and minister for foreign affairs, that he had secured government approval for Ireland to intervene in South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel under the genocide convention.
“There has been a collective punishment of the Palestinian people through the intent and impact of military actions of Israel in Gaza, leaving 44,000 dead and millions of civilians displaced,” said Martin.
“By legally intervening in South Africa’s case, Ireland will be asking the ICJ to broaden its interpretation of what constitutes the commission of genocide by a state.
“We are concerned that a very narrow interpretation of what constitutes genocide leads to a culture of impunity in which the protection of civilians is minimised.
“Ireland’s view of the convention is broader and prioritises the protection of civilian life – as a committed supporter of the convention, the government will promote that interpretation in its intervention in this case.”
Israeli forces continued to pound northern Gaza on Sunday, with one airstrike on the Khalil Aweida school in the town of Beit Hanoun killing at least 15 people, according to nearby Kamal Adwan hospital, where casualties were taken.
In Gaza City, at least 17 people, including six women and five children, were killed in three airstrikes that hit houses sheltering displaced people, according to Al-Ahli hospital.
An Israeli airstrike also hit the civil emergency centre in the Nuseirat market area in central Gaza, killing Ahmed Al-Louh, a video journalist for Al Jazeera TV, and five other people, medics and fellow journalists said.
The history of the United States is deeply intertwined with conflict, both in its formation and its evolution into a global superpower. Since its founding in 1776, America has been involved in numerous wars, driven by varying motivations such as independence, territorial expansion, colonialism, ideological competition, and global influence. These wars have taken an immense human toll, with hundreds of millions of lives lost both in the U.S. and abroad. Today, America’s involvement in global wars continues to shape the political and humanitarian landscape.
Below is an overview of America’s major historical wars and its role in more recent and ongoing wars around the world.
The Indian Wars (1776–1924): The Indian Wars, a series of conflicts between American settlers and Native American tribes during westward expansion, resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people, primarily Native Americans:
• Native Americans An estimated 4,700,000 Native Americans were killed from the arrival of Europeans until the 19th century. By the end of the Indian Wars in the late 19th century, fewer than 238,000 Indigenous people remained.
• White people Census.gov estimates that more than 5,000 white men, women, and children were killed in individual affairs with Native Americans since 1775.
The Indian Wars were driven by a number of factors, including:
• Settler greed: Settlers wanted the land and natural resources of the Native Americans.
• Hostility: American hostility and suspicion toward Native Americans was increased by their collusion with the British during the American Revolution and the War of 1812.
• Racial hatred: Settlers viewed Native Americans as different, and painted them as pagan savages who needed to be killed in the name of civilization and Christianity.
The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783)
The Revolutionary War, fought against Great Britain, was driven by the colonies’ desire for independence and opposition to British taxation without representation. An estimated 25,000 American soldiers lost their lives, laying the foundation for the United States. Civilian casualties: 25,000–50,000 (from direct violence, disease, and famine).
The War of 1812 (1812–1815)
Often called America’s “Second War of Independence,” this conflict resulted in 15,000 American deaths and reinforced the nation’s sovereignty despite ending in a stalemate. Civilian casualties: 2,000–3,000 (mostly from raids and blockades).
The Mexican-American War (1846–1848)
Stemming from territorial disputes after Texas declared independence from Mexico, this war led to the U.S. annexing vast swaths of land. Around 13,000 American soldiers died, while tens of thousands of Mexican soldiers and civilians also lost their lives. Civilian casualties: 25,000–50,000, primarily Mexican civilians affected by fighting, disease, and famine.
The American Civil War (1861–1865)
The bloodiest conflict in U.S. history, the Civil War was fought between the Northern states (Union) and the Southern states (Confederacy) over issues of slavery, states’ rights, and secession. It resulted in an estimated 620,000 to 750,000 deaths, including soldiers from both sides and countless civilians.
The Spanish-American War (1898)
This short war marked America’s emergence as a global power. Approximately 2,500 Americans died, mostly from disease rather than combat, while the total death toll in Cuba and the Philippines was far higher, including civilian casualties.
World War I (1917–1918): Over
Though initially neutral, the U.S. entered World War I in 1917. America’s intervention was pivotal in tipping the scales toward an Allied victory. Over 116,000 American soldiers lost their lives, and the global death toll from the war exceeded 16 million, including military and civilian casualties.
World War II (1941–1945):
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. entered World War II, fighting on multiple fronts. Over 405,000 American soldiers were killed. Globally, World War II was the deadliest conflict in human history, with total deaths estimated at 70–85 million, including millions of civilians and victims of genocide.
The Korean War (1950–1953)
As the Cold War intensified, the U.S. intervened in Korea to prevent the spread of communism. The war resulted in over 36,000 American deaths and an estimated 2–3 million deaths overall, including a significant number of Korean civilians.
The Vietnam War (1955–1975)
The Vietnam War was one of America’s most controversial conflicts. Over 58,000 American soldiers died, and an estimated 3 million Vietnamese people—including civilians—were killed during the protracted and devastating war.
The Gulf War (1990–1991)
Triggered by Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, the Gulf War resulted in a relatively low number of American casualties—294 deaths. However, tens of thousands of Iraqi soldiers and civilians lost their lives during the conflict.
The War on Terror (2001–Present)
After the September 11 attacks, the U.S. launched the War on Terror, resulting in protracted conflicts:
• Afghanistan (2001–2021): Over 2,400 American soldiers died, alongside an estimated 243,000 total deaths, including civilians.
• Iraq (2003–2011): The invasion, based on false claims of weapons of mass destruction, led to the deaths of 4,500 American soldiers and over 300,000 Iraqis, many of them civilians.
• Syria: While not a full-scale war, the U.S. has provided significant military and financial support to various groups in the Syrian Civil War, which has killed over 500,000 people and displaced millions.
Libya war (2011–Present)
In 2011, the U.S. and NATO intervened in Libya to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi. The intervention destabilized the country, leading to ongoing civil war and a humanitarian crisis. Tens of thousands have died, and Libya remains fractured by conflict. Estimates of deaths in the 2011 are up to 30,000 casualties.
Yemen war (2014–Present)
The U.S. has supported Saudi Arabia’s intervention in Yemen, providing weapons and intelligence in a war that has killed over 377,000 people, including civilians, and caused one of the worst humanitarian crises of the century, with famine and disease ravaging the population.
Ukraine war (2022–Present)
While not directly involved in combat, the U.S. has played a significant role in supporting Ukraine against Russia’s invasion, providing billions in military aid. The war has caused over 500,000 casualties and displaced millions, with no end in sight.
Sudan and the Darfur war (2003–Present)
The U.S. has engaged diplomatically and provided humanitarian aid in response to Sudan’s ongoing conflicts, particularly in Darfur, where genocidal violence has claimed over 300,000 lives and displaced millions.
Israeli genocide in Gaza
The ongoing Israeli occupation war on Gaza, particularly in 2023–2024, has been described by Amnesty International as genocidal in nature. The U.S. has been a steadfast ally of Israel, providing military aid and diplomatic support. Since the escalation of violence, over 44,000 Palestinians, the majority civilians, have been killed, including women and children. Gaza’s humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with millions facing ethnic cleansing, starvation, and lack of medical care. U.S. backing had enabled Israel’s war crimes on occupied people living in a contraction camp and under apartheid regime.
The Human Cost of America’s Wars
The cumulative toll of America’s wars is staggering. Over 1.3 million American military personnel have died in conflict. Globally, the death toll from U.S.-involved wars—whether directly or through proxies exceeds tens of millions, with civilians often bearing the brunt. From the streets of Gaza to the ruins of Aleppo, the effects of racist America’s military policies and alliances are visible in ongoing humanitarian crises.
Reflection and Responsibility
Unjustified and racist America’s wars have shaped its identity, expanded its influence, and defined its role as a global power. However, they have also left a legacy of genocide, destruction, starvation, disease, ethnic cleansing, and mass immigration. As the U.S. continues to illegally engage in global conflicts, it faces a critical moral question: how to balance its power with a commitment to peace and justice in a world still ravaged by war.
Background: 500 innocent people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza.
In the crowded hospital, where silence weeps, The Serial Bomber in sorrow’s keeps. Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, a fortress of pain, 500 souls lost, in a relentless rain.
Israeli storms, a merciless roar, Innocence shattered, forevermore. Burning rooms, a funeral pyre, Images of despair, the world does tire.
Hospitals crumble, in a deadly embrace, Innocent lives lost, without a trace. A plea in the shadows, justice implores, For humanity to heal, as sadness pours.
The Palestinian struggle has been defined by decades of illegal Israeli occupation, apartheid system, genocides, ethnic cleansing, and systemic oppression, leading to a pervasive sense of despair and a diminishing hope for a just and peaceful resolution. As the situation continues to deteriorate, the psychological and social toll on Palestinians has become increasingly profound, leaving many grappling with a reality where basic freedoms, stability, and dignity seem perpetually out of reach.
A Life Under Occupation
For Palestinians living in the occupied territories, despair stems from the constant realities of brutal and inhumane Israeli military control, land theft, and a lack of dignity. The expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem has systematically eroded the possibility of a contiguous Palestinian state. Coupled with the demolition of homes and infrastructure, this encroachment has left many Palestinians feeling that their homeland is being steadily erased.
In Gaza, the blockade imposed since 2007 has created dire humanitarian conditions, with more than 2 million people enduring starvation, chronic shortages of clean water, electricity, and medical supplies. Repeated Israeli military strikes , like those in May 2021 and October 2023, have killed and injured hundreds of thousands further amplifying the sense of despair. For many, life in Gaza is marked by a cycle of destruction and rebuilding, with no end in sight.
Youth and the Loss of a Future
Young Palestinians, who make up a significant portion of the population, bear the brunt of these struggles. High unemployment rates, limited access to education, and travel restrictions stifle their ambitions. For many, the possibility of achieving a better life outside their circumstances feels unattainable. This has created a generation that, while resilient, often feels trapped in an apartheid system designed to deny them opportunities.
The psychological impact on youth is immense. Studies indicate high levels of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Palestinian children and adolescents. The absence of hope for a stable future, combined with the loss of loved ones and exposure to constant Israeli violence, has created an environment where despair becomes a normalized aspect of life.
Diplomatic Stalemates and the Collapse of Hope
The failure of peace processes, such as the Oslo Accords, and the lack of meaningful international intervention have exacerbated the collective hopelessness. While the international community often issues statements of concern, tangible actions to hold Israel accountable for violations of international law remain absent. Palestinians increasingly view the global response as one of complicity or indifference.
Palestinian leadership has also faced criticism, with many accusing it of corruption and ineffectiveness. This lack of faith in both local and international actors deepens the sense of abandonment felt by many.
Resilience Amid Despair
Despite these challenges, Palestinians have continued to demonstrate remarkable resilience. Cultural preservation, grassroots activism, and international solidarity movements provide glimmers of hope. Nonviolent resistance efforts, such as protests against settlement expansions and creative expressions of Palestinian identity through art and literature, serve as reminders that the struggle is not only about survival but also about asserting a right to exist with dignity.
The Need for Justice and Accountability
For hope to be restored, tangible actions must be taken to address the root causes of despair. This includes holding parties accountable for human rights violations, ending the illegal Israeli occupation, and ensuring Palestinians’ right to self-determination. Without these steps, the current trajectory of despair and hopelessness will continue to deepen.
The Palestinian struggle is one of humanity’s enduring tragedies—a story of a people whose resilience is tested daily by Zionist forces that seek to erase their presence. Yet amid the despair, the Palestinian spirit endures, reminding the world that justice remains a universal aspiration, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
Background Plan Dalet was a Zionist military plan executed in the civil war phase of the 1948 Palestine war for the conquest of territory in Mandatory Palestine in preparation for the establishment of a Jewish state.
Zion’s early strife profound, “Transfer” whispers, dark sound. ’37, Zurich’s Congress pain, ’48, Plan Dalet’s gain.
Post-Israel birth, Transfer’s hand, Deir Yassin’s darkened land. By ’48, a dire cost, Nakba’s tale, echoes lost.
Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, meets people and speaks to the press ahead of her talk at the Queen Mary University of London on November 12, 2024, in London, United Kingdom.
The UN’s top independent expert on Palestinian human rights has repeated a call for Israel to be removed from its membership in the United Nations, citing its “relentless attacks” against the institution’s top aid group for Palestinian refugees.
On Thursday, UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese said on social media that Israel should be unseated, echoing calls from numerous international law expertsand advocates for Palestinian rights.
Albanese has previously said that there are many reasons Israel should have its UN credential revoked. But just “the unparalleled/relentless attacks against the UN this year, in Gaza alone” merit suspension, she said, referring specifically to Israel’s treatment of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
These attacks include “damaging 70 percent of UNRWA premises, killing 240+ UN staff, arbitrarily arresting and often torturing countless of UNRWA staff and beneficiaries, hampering/destroying humanitarian aid, killing and maiming [forcibly displaced people] in UN shelters, defaming UNRWA and even outlawing it through Knesset vote, preventing access to UN investigators, etc.,” Albanese pointed out.
The special rapporteur’s post came in response to a statement by UNRWAsaying that Israel has “stepped up its disinformation campaign” against the crucial human rights agency, buying ad space online and putting up billboards in cities across the world to attack the group.
“These ads are the latest in a series of a wider campaign against UNRWA by the Government of Israel, which continues to publicly call for dismantling the Agency. This latest global effort by a UN member state to label a UN agency as a terror organisation may amount to hate speech using corporations that are supposed to promote commercial products,” the group said.
Israel has long aimed to dismantle UNRWA, which provides services like education, health care and shelter to Palestinians in multiple countries and territories. Israeli officials have escalated attacks on the agency in the past year amid Israel’s genocide in Gaza, where the group serves as the crucial linchpin holding together the humanitarian aid operations that Israel has nearly totally destroyed.
The Israeli military and top Israeli officials have attacked the agency from all angles. In October, the Israeli Knesset passed a set of bills that ban UNRWA from operating in the occupied Palestinian territories and label UNRWA as a “terror” group, without any evidence.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces have killed 251 UNRWA staff in Gaza since October 2023; their targeting of UNRWA and other aid workers in Gaza has played a major role in 2024 being declared, as of November, the deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers.
Albanese and other experts have previously called for Israel to lose its UN membership as a consequence of its genocide and illegal occupation of Palestine, similarly to how apartheid South Africa was suspended from the UN General Assembly in the 1970s. Commentators have said that suspending Israel from the UN may be one of the only feasible avenues for the UN to slow or stop the genocide and make it harder for Israel to continue its settler colonialist project in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, where its actions have been determined to be illegal by the International Court of Justice.
Officials from Israel and the U.S. have attacked numerous UN entities amid the genocide in Gaza, including such extremist moves as making threats of retaliation against the International Criminal Court and the court members’ families due to its issuing of arrest warrants for Israeli officials. These attacks, particularly those by top U.S. officials, threaten the existence of international law, experts have said, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warnedthat Israel’s genocide has pushed the world into a global “age of impunity.”
