You know you fucked up when even the Auschwitz museum thinks ill of you. Especially if you represent Jewish people in Israel.
Hamas attacks Israel
- Thread starter Serryah
- Start date
You know you fucked up when even the Auschwitz museum thinks ill of you. Especially if you represent Jewish people in Israel.
Gees thats "from the river to the sea" grade type stuff.
Merry Christmas! Are you ready for your gift from Islam?
Canada’s controversial support last week of a non-binding United Nations resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza has earned a hearty thank you from Hamas.
In an English-language video statement issued earlier this week by Dr. Ghazi Hamad, the senior leader of the Palestinian terror group praised ceasefire statements from Canada, Australia and New Zealand, describing them as a step in the right direction.
“Despite the United States’ position, the Hamas movement is watching the growing cause by several Western governments to end the aggression on Gaza,” he said in the five-minute video.
“In addition to the other calls worldwide demanding immediate ceasefire in Gaza strip — the last of which was a statement by Canada, Australia, and New Zealand backing sustainable ceasefire in Gaza — we welcome these developments and consider them in the right direction toward isolating the fascist Israeli government globally and ending the longest ever occupation in our modern time.”
apple.news
(Video at the above Link)
In the video, consisting of Hamad standing in front of a still image of the Al Aqsa Mosque, he described Israel’s attempt to eliminate Hamas from Gaza as a “genocide.”…of Hamas…???
Hamas was responsible for the Oct. 7 massacre in which heavily armed and well-equipped fighters breached the border fence to conduct a campaign of kidnapping, rape and murder against Israeli men, women and children.
Just weeks after that attack, Hamad told Lebanese TV news that Oct. 7 attacks would be repeated until Israel was destroyed.
Hmmmm…. There is sort of a mixed message coming from Hamas. Are they looking for a ceasefire, for the betterment of the “Palestinian people” in Gaza… because they don’t want to see any more of them harmed in retaliation for the Oct 7th…jamboree?
“Israel is a country that has no place on our land,” said in footage translated into English by the Middle East Media Research Group (MEMRI).
“We must remove that country, because it constitutes a security, military and political catastrophe to the Arab and Islamic nation and must be finished.”
He said that Hamas “must teach Israel a lesson,” and said that everyday Palestinians are willing to “pay the price.”
Wait….What? What about the Israeli being the aggressive genocide’rs above? So Hamas, as the government of Gaza, wanting a Ceasefire because the death toll has been too high compared to their attack on Israel (????) or are everyday Palestinians willing to “Pay the Price” of Hamas hiding amongst them using them as human shields??
Canada’s support for Gaza since the attacks has garnered criticism.
Israel-based charity watchdog NGO Monitor took exception with some of the charities involved in the federal government’s Gaza humanitarian donation matching program, claiming that four of the groups had links to proscribed terror organizations.
That program, facilitated by Humanitarian Coalition, raised $28 million for Gaza and the West Bank….so is that code for Hamas, at least in Gaza??
Reaction to the Hamas video message was swift, with one social media user calling the thank you to Canada “embarrassing for the Trudeau Liberals” and another suggesting “Canada needs real change.”
Yet another X user said, “I did not have Hamas endorsing Trudeau on my 2023 bingo card.”
apple.news
In an English-language video statement issued earlier this week by Dr. Ghazi Hamad, the senior leader of the Palestinian terror group praised ceasefire statements from Canada, Australia and New Zealand, describing them as a step in the right direction.
“Despite the United States’ position, the Hamas movement is watching the growing cause by several Western governments to end the aggression on Gaza,” he said in the five-minute video.
“In addition to the other calls worldwide demanding immediate ceasefire in Gaza strip — the last of which was a statement by Canada, Australia, and New Zealand backing sustainable ceasefire in Gaza — we welcome these developments and consider them in the right direction toward isolating the fascist Israeli government globally and ending the longest ever occupation in our modern time.”
Hamas thanks Canada for backing ceasefire in Gaza: 'We welcome these developments' — National Post
Dr. Ghazi Hamad, the senior leader of the Palestinian terror group, praised Canada
In the video, consisting of Hamad standing in front of a still image of the Al Aqsa Mosque, he described Israel’s attempt to eliminate Hamas from Gaza as a “genocide.”…of Hamas…???
Hamas was responsible for the Oct. 7 massacre in which heavily armed and well-equipped fighters breached the border fence to conduct a campaign of kidnapping, rape and murder against Israeli men, women and children.
Just weeks after that attack, Hamad told Lebanese TV news that Oct. 7 attacks would be repeated until Israel was destroyed.
Hmmmm…. There is sort of a mixed message coming from Hamas. Are they looking for a ceasefire, for the betterment of the “Palestinian people” in Gaza… because they don’t want to see any more of them harmed in retaliation for the Oct 7th…jamboree?
“Israel is a country that has no place on our land,” said in footage translated into English by the Middle East Media Research Group (MEMRI).
“We must remove that country, because it constitutes a security, military and political catastrophe to the Arab and Islamic nation and must be finished.”
He said that Hamas “must teach Israel a lesson,” and said that everyday Palestinians are willing to “pay the price.”
Wait….What? What about the Israeli being the aggressive genocide’rs above? So Hamas, as the government of Gaza, wanting a Ceasefire because the death toll has been too high compared to their attack on Israel (????) or are everyday Palestinians willing to “Pay the Price” of Hamas hiding amongst them using them as human shields??
Canada’s support for Gaza since the attacks has garnered criticism.
Israel-based charity watchdog NGO Monitor took exception with some of the charities involved in the federal government’s Gaza humanitarian donation matching program, claiming that four of the groups had links to proscribed terror organizations.
That program, facilitated by Humanitarian Coalition, raised $28 million for Gaza and the West Bank….so is that code for Hamas, at least in Gaza??
Reaction to the Hamas video message was swift, with one social media user calling the thank you to Canada “embarrassing for the Trudeau Liberals” and another suggesting “Canada needs real change.”
Yet another X user said, “I did not have Hamas endorsing Trudeau on my 2023 bingo card.”
'EMBARRASSING:' Hamas thanks Liberal gov't for ceasefire support — Toronto Sun
Social media users were quick to voice their outrage after a spokesperson for Hamas thanked the Liberal government following Canada’s vote in favour of a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. “We welcome these developments and consider them in the right direction towards isolation of the fascist...
…& Canada as a nation, elected him, three times…so far. The Enterprise might decide to just nuke us from orbit in case that level of stupidity is contagious.seems I stuck this in the wrong thread
US-Israel Rift Rapidly Widening As US Leaks Intel About Israel’s War
The rift between Israel and America is widening rapidly as the US begins to delay weapon sales, issue demands, and leak intelligence showing how bloody Israe...
www.youtube.com
If any of these are true (just on real quick for a little, will be checking later) Israel may have issues.
Protests out of control, time for police and political action
If something isn't done to take control, we will see bloodshed in Canada over protests around Israel-Gaza war
Author of the article:Brian Lilley
Published Dec 19, 2023 • Last updated 2 days ago • 3 minute read
Pro-Palestine protesters target a Zara store.
Pro-Palestine protesters target a Zara store on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, at Eaton Centre in Toronto. PHOTO BY @NEVERAGAINLIVE1
The police officers who watched a man threaten to kill another at Toronto’s Eaton’s Centre on Sunday were practicing de-escalation. Too bad the crowds protesting on the “pro-Palestinian” side have spent weeks escalating their tactics to now include direct death threats.
It’s no longer just the genocidal chants of “from the river to the sea” or “only one solution, intifada revolution,” now it’s a direct threat.
“I’ll put you six feet deep,” the masked coward yelled while protesting outside of a clothing store that has nothing to do with the war in Gaza.
This man should become Toronto’s newest celebrity, our new chair girl, famous for being an absolute idiot. He should also be criminally charged despite what the Toronto Police Association said about the person who was the target of the threat not wanting to press charges.
What we are seeing now is the law being applied unevenly and that will undermine any faith the public has left in the legal and judicial systems.
I would fully expect to be arrested, taken aside and cautioned at the least, if I threatened to put someone six feet deep in front of a police officer. It’s clearly a threat to kill the other person and the officers witnessing this did nothing.
Part of the thinking is that if they attempted to arrest this thug, a riot might break out. That’s possible but it’s also possible that if they tried to arrest that person, they might just arrest them and people would get the message –, you can’t break the law with impunity.
Were Toronto Police cowed by the fact that when they arrested someone who assaulted a police officer a week earlier, the “pro-Palestinian” protesters surrounded 52 Division and demanded that the perp be released without charge?
It’s possible.
Just as it’s possible the ensuing and unfounded claims of police brutality may have played a role in their decision. If that’s the case, then it is truly disturbing because we are headed towards mob rule.
A few weeks ago, a mob of protesters marched up from the American Consulate on University Avenue towards Queen’s Park. They knew that there was a smaller group staging a rally in support of Israel.
As the mob got closer to Ontario’s provincial legislature, the police informed those in attendance that they should leave because the police could not protect them. This group of people included elected members of the Ontario legislature and the House of Commons.
“There are more of them than us,” the elected officials were told by police.
Thankfully, these officials and others at the rally stood their ground and told the police to do their jobs. Imagine a scenario where elected officials are told by police to leave an event that has a permit on the grounds of the legislature because an angry mob is coming towards them.
The way the Toronto Police Service is operating today, that is what we all face if we get in the way of the angry mob. And make no mistake, this mob is getting angrier by the day.
They aren’t just coming for Jews or Jewish-owned businesses anymore. They aren’t just coming for supporters of Israel.
They are coming for anyone not fully and completely on their side.
This past weekend we saw the mob attack mall Santas, we saw them attack clothing stores, we saw the more extreme elements result in charges of a terror plot in Ottawa.
Unless police start acting, unless politicians at all levels start speaking up from Mayor Olivia Chow to Premier Doug Ford to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, then someone is going to get killed. The rhetoric is out of hand but so are the actions and someday soon that will result in bloodshed.
blilley@postmedia.com
torontosun.com
If something isn't done to take control, we will see bloodshed in Canada over protests around Israel-Gaza war
Author of the article:Brian Lilley
Published Dec 19, 2023 • Last updated 2 days ago • 3 minute read
Pro-Palestine protesters target a Zara store.
Pro-Palestine protesters target a Zara store on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, at Eaton Centre in Toronto. PHOTO BY @NEVERAGAINLIVE1
The police officers who watched a man threaten to kill another at Toronto’s Eaton’s Centre on Sunday were practicing de-escalation. Too bad the crowds protesting on the “pro-Palestinian” side have spent weeks escalating their tactics to now include direct death threats.
It’s no longer just the genocidal chants of “from the river to the sea” or “only one solution, intifada revolution,” now it’s a direct threat.
“I’ll put you six feet deep,” the masked coward yelled while protesting outside of a clothing store that has nothing to do with the war in Gaza.
This man should become Toronto’s newest celebrity, our new chair girl, famous for being an absolute idiot. He should also be criminally charged despite what the Toronto Police Association said about the person who was the target of the threat not wanting to press charges.
What we are seeing now is the law being applied unevenly and that will undermine any faith the public has left in the legal and judicial systems.
I would fully expect to be arrested, taken aside and cautioned at the least, if I threatened to put someone six feet deep in front of a police officer. It’s clearly a threat to kill the other person and the officers witnessing this did nothing.
Part of the thinking is that if they attempted to arrest this thug, a riot might break out. That’s possible but it’s also possible that if they tried to arrest that person, they might just arrest them and people would get the message –, you can’t break the law with impunity.
Were Toronto Police cowed by the fact that when they arrested someone who assaulted a police officer a week earlier, the “pro-Palestinian” protesters surrounded 52 Division and demanded that the perp be released without charge?
It’s possible.
Just as it’s possible the ensuing and unfounded claims of police brutality may have played a role in their decision. If that’s the case, then it is truly disturbing because we are headed towards mob rule.
A few weeks ago, a mob of protesters marched up from the American Consulate on University Avenue towards Queen’s Park. They knew that there was a smaller group staging a rally in support of Israel.
As the mob got closer to Ontario’s provincial legislature, the police informed those in attendance that they should leave because the police could not protect them. This group of people included elected members of the Ontario legislature and the House of Commons.
“There are more of them than us,” the elected officials were told by police.
Thankfully, these officials and others at the rally stood their ground and told the police to do their jobs. Imagine a scenario where elected officials are told by police to leave an event that has a permit on the grounds of the legislature because an angry mob is coming towards them.
The way the Toronto Police Service is operating today, that is what we all face if we get in the way of the angry mob. And make no mistake, this mob is getting angrier by the day.
They aren’t just coming for Jews or Jewish-owned businesses anymore. They aren’t just coming for supporters of Israel.
They are coming for anyone not fully and completely on their side.
This past weekend we saw the mob attack mall Santas, we saw them attack clothing stores, we saw the more extreme elements result in charges of a terror plot in Ottawa.
Unless police start acting, unless politicians at all levels start speaking up from Mayor Olivia Chow to Premier Doug Ford to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, then someone is going to get killed. The rhetoric is out of hand but so are the actions and someday soon that will result in bloodshed.
blilley@postmedia.com
LILLEY: Protests out of control, time for police and political action
It's time to rein in the over the top rhetoric and actions at protests related to the war in Gaza.
Hamas sympathizers — not the Grinch — could try to steal Christmas
Author of the article:Joe Warmington
Published Dec 19, 2023 • Last updated 1 day ago • 3 minute read
Masked man pointing
Pro-Palestine protesters target a Zara store on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, at Eaton Centre in Toronto. Source: X/@NEVERAGAINLIVE1
It might not be the Grinch or Scrooge who steals Christmas this year.
It could be a meaner villian. It could be Hamas.
Or, at least, protesters who side with the evil terrorists in the war with Israel in Gaza.
My use of Christmas metaphors is not meant to be flippant, since this may not be a benign Yuletide tale with a happy ending. But it’s so ridiculous that one hopes it’s just a trick, or prank.
But it sure looks real.
“Shut it down for Palestine,” said a poster making the social media rounds since Monday night. “No Xmas as usual in a genocide.”
On X, The Palestinian Youth Movement posted this as “the next international Shut it Down Day: Saturday, December 23.” An updated meme Tuesday afternoon indicated they are to meet at Yonge-Dundas Square at 1 p.m. Saturday to call for a “ceasefire now” and to “lift the siege on Gaza” and “end Canadian complicity on Israel.”
It’s a soft target as malls, roadways, parking lots, subways, streetcars, buses, restaurants, and banks will likely be filled with vulnerable last-minute stressed shoppers.
Throw in a potential disruption at a time when Ottawa police just arrested a teen who allegedly had bomb making materials, it could be mayhem – especially when the protesters know they can pretty much say or do anything they want without fear of consequences.
The whole thing is cruel. None of the people they will heckle and harass have any role in the Gaza conflict.
The Toronto Sun reached out on social media for comment from the Palestinian Youth Movement, but did not receive a reply.
“Radical pro-Palestinian organizers are shifting their focus from inciteful anti-Semitic hate rallies to shutting down Christmas,” said B’nai Brith CEO Michael Mostyn. “Attempting to disrupt the ability of Canadians to publicly celebrate the holiday season and Christmas is an affront to our national heritage and religious freedoms. Enough is enough, we call on the requisite authorities to protect the ability of all Canadians to celebrate this holiday season free from intimidation.”
Meanwhile, Toronto Police have indicated officers “are aware of this and will be monitoring.” Const. Victor Kwong told the Sun “as with any large gatherings, we will monitor, assess and deploy when necessary.”
But there are some who would like to see some pre-emptive moves.
Councillor James Pasternak called on organizers to “reconsider” since “people’s religious holidays should be off limits,” adding that in cases where protesters “storm malls, who is most hurt are small businesses who rely on December sales.” He added the message sent around the world that Toronto is “lawless” is also “very damaging.”
A Yorkdale Mall spokesperson said “disruptive behaviour such as demonstrations and protests are not permitted at Yorkdale” and “guest and employee comfort and safety are our priorities and, as such, we employ an excellent security team complemented with paid-duty police officers, and deploy some of the most sophisticated surveillance technology in Canada.”
Yorkdale, the spokesperson said, is working closely with police to ensure a “consistent response to possible demonstrations” which “includes hiring additional paid-duty officers and security staff to ensure that Yorkdale is a safe and welcoming place for all employees and guests.”
One thing that is noticeable is the posters do not mention Hamas, let alone the slaughter of Oct. 7 by the banned terrorist organization that somehow has the ear of some Canadian leaders, who turn a blind eye to what they do, including threatening death in front of police at the Eaton Centre or ruining children’s Santa Claus experience.
Were past swarmings a dry run for what’s planned for Saturday? What, where and how will these loud protesters try to shut down Christmas?
They have not tipped their hand. But protesters and activists have shown they’re willing to threaten, vandalize Jewish-owned stores, hit schools and day care centres with bomb scares, occupy banks, corporations and the TTC, rip hostage posters and assault Jewish people.
The sky is the limit on what could happen Saturday.
In one X posting, organizers explain “occupation forces are sniping Christians sheltering in besieged churches in Gaza and Christians in Bethlehem have declared celebrations are cancelled. So, too, for us.”
Could churches be targeted? The Gardiner Expressway again? Or is it a bluff?
No matter how it turns out, people are paying attention.
Ba Humbug.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Joe Warmington
Published Dec 19, 2023 • Last updated 1 day ago • 3 minute read
Masked man pointing
Pro-Palestine protesters target a Zara store on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, at Eaton Centre in Toronto. Source: X/@NEVERAGAINLIVE1
It might not be the Grinch or Scrooge who steals Christmas this year.
It could be a meaner villian. It could be Hamas.
Or, at least, protesters who side with the evil terrorists in the war with Israel in Gaza.
My use of Christmas metaphors is not meant to be flippant, since this may not be a benign Yuletide tale with a happy ending. But it’s so ridiculous that one hopes it’s just a trick, or prank.
But it sure looks real.
“Shut it down for Palestine,” said a poster making the social media rounds since Monday night. “No Xmas as usual in a genocide.”
On X, The Palestinian Youth Movement posted this as “the next international Shut it Down Day: Saturday, December 23.” An updated meme Tuesday afternoon indicated they are to meet at Yonge-Dundas Square at 1 p.m. Saturday to call for a “ceasefire now” and to “lift the siege on Gaza” and “end Canadian complicity on Israel.”
It’s a soft target as malls, roadways, parking lots, subways, streetcars, buses, restaurants, and banks will likely be filled with vulnerable last-minute stressed shoppers.
Throw in a potential disruption at a time when Ottawa police just arrested a teen who allegedly had bomb making materials, it could be mayhem – especially when the protesters know they can pretty much say or do anything they want without fear of consequences.
The whole thing is cruel. None of the people they will heckle and harass have any role in the Gaza conflict.
The Toronto Sun reached out on social media for comment from the Palestinian Youth Movement, but did not receive a reply.
“Radical pro-Palestinian organizers are shifting their focus from inciteful anti-Semitic hate rallies to shutting down Christmas,” said B’nai Brith CEO Michael Mostyn. “Attempting to disrupt the ability of Canadians to publicly celebrate the holiday season and Christmas is an affront to our national heritage and religious freedoms. Enough is enough, we call on the requisite authorities to protect the ability of all Canadians to celebrate this holiday season free from intimidation.”
Meanwhile, Toronto Police have indicated officers “are aware of this and will be monitoring.” Const. Victor Kwong told the Sun “as with any large gatherings, we will monitor, assess and deploy when necessary.”
But there are some who would like to see some pre-emptive moves.
Councillor James Pasternak called on organizers to “reconsider” since “people’s religious holidays should be off limits,” adding that in cases where protesters “storm malls, who is most hurt are small businesses who rely on December sales.” He added the message sent around the world that Toronto is “lawless” is also “very damaging.”
A Yorkdale Mall spokesperson said “disruptive behaviour such as demonstrations and protests are not permitted at Yorkdale” and “guest and employee comfort and safety are our priorities and, as such, we employ an excellent security team complemented with paid-duty police officers, and deploy some of the most sophisticated surveillance technology in Canada.”
Yorkdale, the spokesperson said, is working closely with police to ensure a “consistent response to possible demonstrations” which “includes hiring additional paid-duty officers and security staff to ensure that Yorkdale is a safe and welcoming place for all employees and guests.”
One thing that is noticeable is the posters do not mention Hamas, let alone the slaughter of Oct. 7 by the banned terrorist organization that somehow has the ear of some Canadian leaders, who turn a blind eye to what they do, including threatening death in front of police at the Eaton Centre or ruining children’s Santa Claus experience.
Were past swarmings a dry run for what’s planned for Saturday? What, where and how will these loud protesters try to shut down Christmas?
They have not tipped their hand. But protesters and activists have shown they’re willing to threaten, vandalize Jewish-owned stores, hit schools and day care centres with bomb scares, occupy banks, corporations and the TTC, rip hostage posters and assault Jewish people.
The sky is the limit on what could happen Saturday.
In one X posting, organizers explain “occupation forces are sniping Christians sheltering in besieged churches in Gaza and Christians in Bethlehem have declared celebrations are cancelled. So, too, for us.”
Could churches be targeted? The Gardiner Expressway again? Or is it a bluff?
No matter how it turns out, people are paying attention.
Ba Humbug.
WARMINGTON: Hamas sympathizers — not the Grinch — could try to steal Christmas
It might not be the Grinch or Scrooge who steals Christmas this year. It could be a meaner villain. It could be Hamas.
Hamas and other Palestinian factions have rejected talks on releasing Israeli hostages until Israel stops its military onslaught on Gaza.
A statement published by Hamas on Thursday claimed to reflect a “Palestinian national decision”. It said there “should be no talk about prisoners or exchange deals except after a full cessation of aggression”.
The Hamas government’s media office said on Wednesday that at least 20,000 people had been killed in Gaza since 7 October, including 8,000 children and 6,200 women. About 1,200 people were killed in Israel during Hamas’s murderous rampage on 7 October.
Falls into the category of “F*ck around & find out!” So if you don’t start nothing, won’t be nothing…
apple.news
A statement published by Hamas on Thursday claimed to reflect a “Palestinian national decision”. It said there “should be no talk about prisoners or exchange deals except after a full cessation of aggression”.
The Hamas government’s media office said on Wednesday that at least 20,000 people had been killed in Gaza since 7 October, including 8,000 children and 6,200 women. About 1,200 people were killed in Israel during Hamas’s murderous rampage on 7 October.
Falls into the category of “F*ck around & find out!” So if you don’t start nothing, won’t be nothing…
Gaza faces ‘highest ever recorded’ levels of food insecurity, UN warns — Guardian US
Territory hit by ‘catastrophic’ hunger crisis while resolution for aid flows remains mired in disagreement at security council
Hamas' cheap, makeshift drones are outsmarting Israel's high-tech military
Author of the article:Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Marissa Newman
Published Dec 19, 2023 • 5 minute read
It wasn’t the eruption of rocket fire from Gaza that rattled soldiers at Israel’s southern frontier on Oct. 7. It was the unusual hum overhead that they hadn’t heard before.
A fleet of drones that are available online for as little as $6,500 filled the skies above Israel’s $1 billion border fence. They were rigged to carry explosives and knock out cameras, communications systems and remote-controlled guns, setting the stage for the unprecedented massacre.
Militaries have been using drones in conflicts for more than two decades. Israel itself boasts one of the largest armies of unmanned aerial vehicles in the Middle East. Today, a new generation of cheap, commercially available systems — like the ones Hamas used in the Oct. 7 attack — is emerging, challenging some of the world’s most technologically advanced forces.
The war with Hamas is a wakeup call for top-tier militaries about their deadly potential, according to Heven Drones Chief Executive Officer Bentzion Levinson, whose company supplies the Israeli army with heavy lifter and hydrogen-powered drones.
“We have these huge drones, these UAVs, we have planes, our technology is much more advanced,” Levinson said. “What this war did is that we realized that this is happening in our backyard, both on the defense and the offensive side.”
Hamas’s use of modified commercial drones to stage attacks — a strategy also used by Ukraine in the early days of Russia’s invasion — exposed a significant vulnerability in Israel’s vaunted air and ground defenses. The tactics overwhelmed a far more advanced opponent, all on a shoestring budget.
With the high-tech surveillance systems compromised, thousands of Hamas militants overwhelmed the border in trucks and paragliders. The attack on southern Israel was the deadliest day in the country’s history, with about 1,200 people killed and some 200 taken hostage. It took days for the army to fully regain control of the territory.
Israel launched a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip on Oct. 27. Over 19,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry in the territory.
A spokesperson for the Israeli army declined to comment on how it was countering drones or the failure of its early warning systems. “Questions of this kind will be looked into in a later stage,” after the war, the spokesperson said.
The Israel Defense Forces use its UAV fleet for surveillance and bombing targets. They are also increasingly turning to drones in urban warfare in Gaza to scout out buildings and defuse explosives before sending in troops, according to Aviv Shapira, the chief executive officer of Xtend, which provides UAV operating systems to the US and Israeli militaries.
Israel has already upgraded its Iron Dome system — which uses interceptors to protect against incoming short range missiles — to detect large UAVs, but many Hamas drones are still able to slip through. The army is testing a laser-based system designed to intercept smaller ones and short-range rockets, although it won’t be ready for at least another year.
Some Israeli startups and tech volunteers have already drawn up new defenses, as the army’s troops involved in the ongoing invasion of Gaza come under frequent DIY kamikaze drone attacks. Videos posted by Hamas’s military wing since the start of the war, which could not be independently verified, show drones dropping grenades on Israeli troops and damaging armored vehicles.
A team of volunteers working out of a WeWork space in Tel Aviv — just across the street from Israeli military headquarters — has already gotten the army’s attention. The Israel Tech Guard initiative grew out of a Discord server that was formed on Oct. 8 by dozens of Israeli tech workers, including from Google and defense contractor Rafael, according to Mor Ram-On, a co-founder of the group.
One of their systems, developed in four days and now undergoing field testing on army bases, is an app that links two mobile phone cameras and audio systems to scan the skies for drones. It uses a 3D-printed case that can be mounted to vehicles and the group hopes to roll out the cheap alert system quickly.
Hamas drone attacks remain a potent threat, according to Liran Antebi, a research fellow at the Israel-based Institute for National Security Studies.
“It gives you the ability to use precise or guided munition, which is something that until several years ago, only very advanced countries could do,” Antebi said. “With a criminal mind and small equipment, you can do terrible things like the first attack of Hamas.”
Hamas developed the tactics with its ally Iran and Mohamed Zaouari, a Tunisian engineer who led the group’s effort to develop UAVs. He was assassinated in 2016 in a killing the militants blame on Israeli intelligence. A model of attack drones is named after him and 35 of them were used in opening salvo.
Photos released by Hamas and the Israeli army appear to show off-the-shelf drones, including models similar to one made by Chinese producer DJI intended for aerial photography and industrial applications.
Three DJI drones were being studied at Sentrycs, a Tel Aviv startup that designs systems to counter UAVs. They are one type of aircraft that were rigged with explosives by Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organization by the US and European Union.
The effectiveness of the Hamas drone program also exacerbates growing concerns that non-state actors could develop deadly weapons with dual-use tech whose sales can’t be tracked. Even as militaries spend record amounts on sophisticated technology, simple equipment can allow marginal players to coordinate devastating attacks.
Many soldiers in Gaza have been resorting to shooting the slow-moving drones out of the sky. The Israeli army said in a November blog post it has assigned a handheld SmartShooter precision targeting system to a soldier in every infantry unit for the first time.
The system can be mounted on assault rifles and improves accuracy for moving targets like drones or enemy combatants.
Israel had at least one system on the Gaza border on Oct. 7 specifically designed to counter drones, but it was not yet operational. The final stages of testing were scheduled a few days after the surprise attack, according to Sentrycs, which developed it. The system can detect and take control of drones from several kilometers away, rerouting them away from their targets. It’s now deployed on Israeli military vehicles, along the border and near strategic assets, said Sentrycs Vice President Rotem Epelbaum.
“We were off by a week,” Epelbaum said. “It could have been a game-changer.”
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Marissa Newman
Published Dec 19, 2023 • 5 minute read
It wasn’t the eruption of rocket fire from Gaza that rattled soldiers at Israel’s southern frontier on Oct. 7. It was the unusual hum overhead that they hadn’t heard before.
A fleet of drones that are available online for as little as $6,500 filled the skies above Israel’s $1 billion border fence. They were rigged to carry explosives and knock out cameras, communications systems and remote-controlled guns, setting the stage for the unprecedented massacre.
Militaries have been using drones in conflicts for more than two decades. Israel itself boasts one of the largest armies of unmanned aerial vehicles in the Middle East. Today, a new generation of cheap, commercially available systems — like the ones Hamas used in the Oct. 7 attack — is emerging, challenging some of the world’s most technologically advanced forces.
The war with Hamas is a wakeup call for top-tier militaries about their deadly potential, according to Heven Drones Chief Executive Officer Bentzion Levinson, whose company supplies the Israeli army with heavy lifter and hydrogen-powered drones.
“We have these huge drones, these UAVs, we have planes, our technology is much more advanced,” Levinson said. “What this war did is that we realized that this is happening in our backyard, both on the defense and the offensive side.”
Hamas’s use of modified commercial drones to stage attacks — a strategy also used by Ukraine in the early days of Russia’s invasion — exposed a significant vulnerability in Israel’s vaunted air and ground defenses. The tactics overwhelmed a far more advanced opponent, all on a shoestring budget.
With the high-tech surveillance systems compromised, thousands of Hamas militants overwhelmed the border in trucks and paragliders. The attack on southern Israel was the deadliest day in the country’s history, with about 1,200 people killed and some 200 taken hostage. It took days for the army to fully regain control of the territory.
Israel launched a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip on Oct. 27. Over 19,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry in the territory.
A spokesperson for the Israeli army declined to comment on how it was countering drones or the failure of its early warning systems. “Questions of this kind will be looked into in a later stage,” after the war, the spokesperson said.
The Israel Defense Forces use its UAV fleet for surveillance and bombing targets. They are also increasingly turning to drones in urban warfare in Gaza to scout out buildings and defuse explosives before sending in troops, according to Aviv Shapira, the chief executive officer of Xtend, which provides UAV operating systems to the US and Israeli militaries.
Israel has already upgraded its Iron Dome system — which uses interceptors to protect against incoming short range missiles — to detect large UAVs, but many Hamas drones are still able to slip through. The army is testing a laser-based system designed to intercept smaller ones and short-range rockets, although it won’t be ready for at least another year.
Some Israeli startups and tech volunteers have already drawn up new defenses, as the army’s troops involved in the ongoing invasion of Gaza come under frequent DIY kamikaze drone attacks. Videos posted by Hamas’s military wing since the start of the war, which could not be independently verified, show drones dropping grenades on Israeli troops and damaging armored vehicles.
A team of volunteers working out of a WeWork space in Tel Aviv — just across the street from Israeli military headquarters — has already gotten the army’s attention. The Israel Tech Guard initiative grew out of a Discord server that was formed on Oct. 8 by dozens of Israeli tech workers, including from Google and defense contractor Rafael, according to Mor Ram-On, a co-founder of the group.
One of their systems, developed in four days and now undergoing field testing on army bases, is an app that links two mobile phone cameras and audio systems to scan the skies for drones. It uses a 3D-printed case that can be mounted to vehicles and the group hopes to roll out the cheap alert system quickly.
Hamas drone attacks remain a potent threat, according to Liran Antebi, a research fellow at the Israel-based Institute for National Security Studies.
“It gives you the ability to use precise or guided munition, which is something that until several years ago, only very advanced countries could do,” Antebi said. “With a criminal mind and small equipment, you can do terrible things like the first attack of Hamas.”
Hamas developed the tactics with its ally Iran and Mohamed Zaouari, a Tunisian engineer who led the group’s effort to develop UAVs. He was assassinated in 2016 in a killing the militants blame on Israeli intelligence. A model of attack drones is named after him and 35 of them were used in opening salvo.
Photos released by Hamas and the Israeli army appear to show off-the-shelf drones, including models similar to one made by Chinese producer DJI intended for aerial photography and industrial applications.
Three DJI drones were being studied at Sentrycs, a Tel Aviv startup that designs systems to counter UAVs. They are one type of aircraft that were rigged with explosives by Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organization by the US and European Union.
The effectiveness of the Hamas drone program also exacerbates growing concerns that non-state actors could develop deadly weapons with dual-use tech whose sales can’t be tracked. Even as militaries spend record amounts on sophisticated technology, simple equipment can allow marginal players to coordinate devastating attacks.
Many soldiers in Gaza have been resorting to shooting the slow-moving drones out of the sky. The Israeli army said in a November blog post it has assigned a handheld SmartShooter precision targeting system to a soldier in every infantry unit for the first time.
The system can be mounted on assault rifles and improves accuracy for moving targets like drones or enemy combatants.
Israel had at least one system on the Gaza border on Oct. 7 specifically designed to counter drones, but it was not yet operational. The final stages of testing were scheduled a few days after the surprise attack, according to Sentrycs, which developed it. The system can detect and take control of drones from several kilometers away, rerouting them away from their targets. It’s now deployed on Israeli military vehicles, along the border and near strategic assets, said Sentrycs Vice President Rotem Epelbaum.
“We were off by a week,” Epelbaum said. “It could have been a game-changer.”
Hamas' cheap, makeshift drones are outsmarting Israel's high-tech military
A fleet of drones that are available online for as little as $6,500 filled the skies above Israel’s $1 billion border fence
When Canada starts getting thanked by terrorists for being supportive allies then it’s safe to say our foreign policy has hit an all time low.
Ghazi Hamad, the senior Hamas leader who celebrated the Oct. 7 attacks against Israel and promised to carry them out “again and again”, singled out Canada, Australia and New Zealand for praise in a recent video.
He said he welcomed a joint statement from the three countries on Dec. 12 that called for “urgent international efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire” in the Hamas-Israeli war.
Later that day, Canada abandoned a long-standing policy of supporting Israel at the United Nations by voting for a resolution at the General Assembly that called for a “humanitarian ceasefire.” The resolution also called for the release of hostages but did not tie the two issues together.
Neither did the resolution mention Hamas since making the terrorists seem responsible in any way was too much for some countries.
In his video, Hamad was delighted with Canada.
apple.news
“Canada’s” new best friend is the man who only weeks after the Oct. 7 slaughter called for it to be repeated until Israel was annihilated.
Unfortunately, this evil man can shower Canada with praise because of the naïve and reckless foreign policy that has been espoused by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly.
Early in this conflict, both Trudeau and Joly were willing to accept the word of the terrorists if it blackened Israel’s name.
In October, Trudeau and Joly responded quickly after Hamas blamed Israel for a rocket attack on the Al-Ahi Hospital in Gaza City with the reported killing of almost 500 people.
“The news coming out of Gaza is horrific and absolutely unacceptable. International humanitarian and international law needs to be respected in this, and in all cases,” Trudeau said, apparently accepting the word of Hamas.
Joly piled on. “Bombing a hospital is an unthinkable act, and there is no doubt that doing so is absolutely illegal.”
Trudeau and Joly were less forthcoming when Canadian military intelligence, confirming other reports coming out of the United States, revealed it was likely the hospital blast was “an errant missile fired from Gaza.” Uh-oh, recant (?) or full steam ahead?
In fact, it was the car park that was hit and not the hospital. Whoopsies…oh well.
And were the reports of almost 500 dead accurate? The body count “appears out of proportion with the damage visible on site,” said a report by Human Rights Watch.
Last week, a Globe and Mail reporter asked Joly bluntly whether Canada’s position on a ceasefire had changed “because you’re losing Muslim support and donors in Canada?”
Joly replied, “I’ve just answered that question (?). I think that the fact that you mentioned the humanitarian pause happened was important.”
Which isn’t an answer.
Ghazi Hamad, the senior Hamas leader who celebrated the Oct. 7 attacks against Israel and promised to carry them out “again and again”, singled out Canada, Australia and New Zealand for praise in a recent video.
He said he welcomed a joint statement from the three countries on Dec. 12 that called for “urgent international efforts towards a sustainable ceasefire” in the Hamas-Israeli war.
Later that day, Canada abandoned a long-standing policy of supporting Israel at the United Nations by voting for a resolution at the General Assembly that called for a “humanitarian ceasefire.” The resolution also called for the release of hostages but did not tie the two issues together.
Neither did the resolution mention Hamas since making the terrorists seem responsible in any way was too much for some countries.
In his video, Hamad was delighted with Canada.
Michael Higgins: Hamas not only appreciates Canada, it has adopted our appalling foreign policy — National Post
Terror group hardens, won't release hostages unless there is an unconditional ceasefire, which Canada voted for at the UN
Unfortunately, this evil man can shower Canada with praise because of the naïve and reckless foreign policy that has been espoused by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly.
Early in this conflict, both Trudeau and Joly were willing to accept the word of the terrorists if it blackened Israel’s name.
In October, Trudeau and Joly responded quickly after Hamas blamed Israel for a rocket attack on the Al-Ahi Hospital in Gaza City with the reported killing of almost 500 people.
“The news coming out of Gaza is horrific and absolutely unacceptable. International humanitarian and international law needs to be respected in this, and in all cases,” Trudeau said, apparently accepting the word of Hamas.
Joly piled on. “Bombing a hospital is an unthinkable act, and there is no doubt that doing so is absolutely illegal.”
Trudeau and Joly were less forthcoming when Canadian military intelligence, confirming other reports coming out of the United States, revealed it was likely the hospital blast was “an errant missile fired from Gaza.” Uh-oh, recant (?) or full steam ahead?
In fact, it was the car park that was hit and not the hospital. Whoopsies…oh well.
And were the reports of almost 500 dead accurate? The body count “appears out of proportion with the damage visible on site,” said a report by Human Rights Watch.
Last week, a Globe and Mail reporter asked Joly bluntly whether Canada’s position on a ceasefire had changed “because you’re losing Muslim support and donors in Canada?”
Joly replied, “I’ve just answered that question (?). I think that the fact that you mentioned the humanitarian pause happened was important.”
Which isn’t an answer.
Father of 26-year-old hostage killed by Israeli forces rebukes Netanyahu
In an interview with NBC News’ Hallie Jackson, Alon Shamriz’s father expressed his dismay with the Israeli government: ‘They are thinking only of themselves.’
www.nbcnews.com
Via Rail terrorist blames 'unfit' co-accused for unfair trial
Author of the article:Michele Mandel
Published Dec 20, 2023 • Last updated 22 hours ago • 3 minute read
Raed Jaser is appealing his 2015 terrorism convictions, claiming his trial should have been severed from mentally ill co-accused.
Convicted terrorist Raed Jaser wanted to go hunting for “rich Jews.”
That was over a decade ago, but we’re back to a time when terrorism fears are rising again in the Jewish community and the man convicted of plotting mass murder is at the Ontario Court of Appeal attempting to secure his freedom by arguing he was unfairly tried with his mentally ill co-accused.
A permanent resident who immigrated here with his Palestinian family, Jaser has been fighting to overturn his conviction ever since he and Chiheb Esseghaier were found guilty in 2015 of plotting to derail a Toronto-bound passenger train. Their first appeal involved a technical argument about jury selection which initially won the pair a new trial but was then ultimately overturned by the Supreme Court.
Now the would-be jihadist is focusing on the “miscarriage of justice” of his trial not being severed from Esseghaier’s — whose religious tirades and increasingly bizarre behaviour tainted them both — and the unfairness of not getting his wish to be tried by judge alone.
As for Esseghaier — he’s abandoned any further appeals.
The terror twins both received life sentences for conspiring to murder persons unknown for the benefit of a terrorist group. During the high-profile, three-month trial, court heard Esseghaier was the “mastermind” of the plot to blow up a bridge used by a New York-to-Toronto train to kill dozens, if not hundreds, of passengers in retaliation for Western troops contaminating Muslim lands with “corruption, evil and Christianity.”
Jaser preferred a sniper plot that targeted prominent Jews and national leaders. “We don’t want the sheep. We want the wolf,” he said.
The pair were caught conspiring in 25 hours of conversations secretly recorded by wiretaps and by a bodypack worn by the star prosecution witness — an undercover FBI agent posing as a rich Muslim-American businessman with similar jihadist ideals.
Jaser bailed on the train plot on Sept. 24, 2012 after they were spotted walking along the tracks in Scarborough and questioned by Toronto Police. He wanted to concentrate instead on other plans — such as picking off wealthy Jewish leaders using a sniper rifle.
Their trial was plagued by countless religious outbursts by Essaghaier, the then 33-year-old Tunisian PhD student, who proclaimed that he could only be judged only under the Qur’an. Superior Court Justice Michael Code agreed to begin each court day with a declaration that Esseghaier didn’t recognize the court’s jurisdiction and was just a “visitor” offering advice.
Jaser’s appeal lawyer Megan Savard told the three-judge panel Wednesday that her client tried to have a separate trial, but his request was rejected by Code, who assured him that he could manage his difficult co-accused. But, by the time the trial was about to begin, Savard argued, it was obvious Esseghaier was beyond the judge’s control: there were numerous outbursts, refusals to come to court and then Esseghaier’s shocking performance during jury selection where he chanted the call to prayer and prostrated himself in the prisoner’s box.
When Jaser again applied for a severance, or a mistrial, Code dismissed both.
As the trial continued, Esseghaier became even more unhinged. With his wild eyes and tangled beard, he spat, threw water at a lawyer appointed to assist him, banged on the Plexiglas and launched into lengthy lectures about how he was a prophet created by God to “warn mankind.”
Esseghaier refused to accept it was 2015 because he believed he would be released to heaven on Dec. 25, 2014. He also claimed prison guards were really filmmakers chronicling his life.
When it came time for sentencing, Code agreed to order a psychiatric assessment, but then rejected Dr. Lisa Ramshaw’s conclusion that Essaghaier was unfit. He ordered a second opinion by a psychiatrist, who found the terrorist was suffering from a mental illness but still fit for sentencing.
Savard insisted Code was wrong to reject Ramshaw’s assessment, and he was “likely unfit.”
“There should have been a mistrial for Mr. Esseghaier,” she argued. And that, in turn, should have meant a mistrial for Jaser as well.
The appeal continues Thursday. But whatever the court decides, the convicted terrorist will soon be eligible for parole.
mmandel@postmedia.com
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Michele Mandel
Published Dec 20, 2023 • Last updated 22 hours ago • 3 minute read
Raed Jaser is appealing his 2015 terrorism convictions, claiming his trial should have been severed from mentally ill co-accused.
Convicted terrorist Raed Jaser wanted to go hunting for “rich Jews.”
That was over a decade ago, but we’re back to a time when terrorism fears are rising again in the Jewish community and the man convicted of plotting mass murder is at the Ontario Court of Appeal attempting to secure his freedom by arguing he was unfairly tried with his mentally ill co-accused.
A permanent resident who immigrated here with his Palestinian family, Jaser has been fighting to overturn his conviction ever since he and Chiheb Esseghaier were found guilty in 2015 of plotting to derail a Toronto-bound passenger train. Their first appeal involved a technical argument about jury selection which initially won the pair a new trial but was then ultimately overturned by the Supreme Court.
Now the would-be jihadist is focusing on the “miscarriage of justice” of his trial not being severed from Esseghaier’s — whose religious tirades and increasingly bizarre behaviour tainted them both — and the unfairness of not getting his wish to be tried by judge alone.
As for Esseghaier — he’s abandoned any further appeals.
The terror twins both received life sentences for conspiring to murder persons unknown for the benefit of a terrorist group. During the high-profile, three-month trial, court heard Esseghaier was the “mastermind” of the plot to blow up a bridge used by a New York-to-Toronto train to kill dozens, if not hundreds, of passengers in retaliation for Western troops contaminating Muslim lands with “corruption, evil and Christianity.”
Jaser preferred a sniper plot that targeted prominent Jews and national leaders. “We don’t want the sheep. We want the wolf,” he said.
The pair were caught conspiring in 25 hours of conversations secretly recorded by wiretaps and by a bodypack worn by the star prosecution witness — an undercover FBI agent posing as a rich Muslim-American businessman with similar jihadist ideals.
Jaser bailed on the train plot on Sept. 24, 2012 after they were spotted walking along the tracks in Scarborough and questioned by Toronto Police. He wanted to concentrate instead on other plans — such as picking off wealthy Jewish leaders using a sniper rifle.
Their trial was plagued by countless religious outbursts by Essaghaier, the then 33-year-old Tunisian PhD student, who proclaimed that he could only be judged only under the Qur’an. Superior Court Justice Michael Code agreed to begin each court day with a declaration that Esseghaier didn’t recognize the court’s jurisdiction and was just a “visitor” offering advice.
Jaser’s appeal lawyer Megan Savard told the three-judge panel Wednesday that her client tried to have a separate trial, but his request was rejected by Code, who assured him that he could manage his difficult co-accused. But, by the time the trial was about to begin, Savard argued, it was obvious Esseghaier was beyond the judge’s control: there were numerous outbursts, refusals to come to court and then Esseghaier’s shocking performance during jury selection where he chanted the call to prayer and prostrated himself in the prisoner’s box.
When Jaser again applied for a severance, or a mistrial, Code dismissed both.
As the trial continued, Esseghaier became even more unhinged. With his wild eyes and tangled beard, he spat, threw water at a lawyer appointed to assist him, banged on the Plexiglas and launched into lengthy lectures about how he was a prophet created by God to “warn mankind.”
Esseghaier refused to accept it was 2015 because he believed he would be released to heaven on Dec. 25, 2014. He also claimed prison guards were really filmmakers chronicling his life.
When it came time for sentencing, Code agreed to order a psychiatric assessment, but then rejected Dr. Lisa Ramshaw’s conclusion that Essaghaier was unfit. He ordered a second opinion by a psychiatrist, who found the terrorist was suffering from a mental illness but still fit for sentencing.
Savard insisted Code was wrong to reject Ramshaw’s assessment, and he was “likely unfit.”
“There should have been a mistrial for Mr. Esseghaier,” she argued. And that, in turn, should have meant a mistrial for Jaser as well.
The appeal continues Thursday. But whatever the court decides, the convicted terrorist will soon be eligible for parole.
mmandel@postmedia.com
MANDEL: Via Rail terrorist blames 'unfit' co-accused for unfair trial
Raed Jaser is appealing his 2015 terrorism convictions, claiming his trial should have been severed from mentally ill co-accused
The leader of Hamas made his first visit to Egypt for more than a month on Wednesday, a rare personal intervention in diplomacy amid what a source described as intensive talks on a new ceasefire to let aid reach Gaza and get hostages freed.
A Palestinian official said Haniyeh was keen to listen to Egyptian officials for a possible new approach and noted that the official position of Hamas was to reject any new temporary ceasefire and demand a permanent halt to fighting.
"Hamas's stance remains they don't have a desire for humanitarian pauses. Hamas wants a complete end to the Israeli war on Gaza," the Palestinian official said.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who normally resides in Qatar, typically intervenes in diplomacy publicly only when progress seems likely. He last travelled to Egypt in early November before the announcement of the only agreement on a ceasefire in the war so far, a week-long pause during which more than 100 hostages were released.
A source briefed on negotiations said envoys were discussing which of the hostages still held by militants in Gaza could be freed under a new truce agreement, and what prisoners Israel might release in return.
Israel was insisting that all remaining women and infirm men among hostages be released, the source said, declining to be identified. Palestinians convicted of serious offences could be on the list of prisoners to be freed.
A senior Israeli official repeated the government position that the war could end only with the release of all hostages and the destruction of Hamas: "As the prime minister has said, the war will end with total victory."
Israel says it is doing what it can to protect civilians, including warning them in advance of strikes, and blames Hamas for harm to them for operating in their midst, which Hamas denies.
Hamas leader visits Egypt amid intensive talks on new ceasefire — Reuters
The leader of Hamas visited Egypt for this first time in more than a month on Wednesday, a rare personal intervention in diplomacy amid what a source described as intensive talks on a new ceasefire to let aid reach Gaza and free more hostages.
Israel has sworn to defeat Hamas, which rules Gaza, since its fighters killed 1,200 people and captured 240 hostages in the Oct. 7 attacks. Gaza health officials say nearly 20,000 people have since been confirmed killed in Israeli strikes, with thousands more believed lost and buried under rubble.
'Are you there, Trudeau? It's me, extremist Islam': Inside the imagined thoughts of Hamas — National Post
Dear Diary: 'When the day of victory arrives, I’d prefer it if nobody mentioned that time we sucked up to Canada'
Yeah, uh... this is where context matters.
"Some countries have not confirmed their participation, however, while others have said their efforts to help protect Red Sea commercial traffic will be as part of existing naval agreements rather than the new U.S.-led operation.
The lack of details and clarity over what countries are doing has added to confusion for shipping companies, some of which have been re-routing vessels away from the area after the attacks, which the Houthis say are a response to Israel’s assault on the Gaza Strip."
Just because they're not part of the US lead idea, doesn't mean they aren't still going to help.
But then, sensationalism makes clicks which makes $$
Deport him to Israel once his jail time is over.Via Rail terrorist blames 'unfit' co-accused for unfair trial
Author of the article:Michele Mandel
Published Dec 20, 2023 • Last updated 22 hours ago • 3 minute read
Raed Jaser is appealing his 2015 terrorism convictions, claiming his trial should have been severed from mentally ill co-accused.
Convicted terrorist Raed Jaser wanted to go hunting for “rich Jews.”
That was over a decade ago, but we’re back to a time when terrorism fears are rising again in the Jewish community and the man convicted of plotting mass murder is at the Ontario Court of Appeal attempting to secure his freedom by arguing he was unfairly tried with his mentally ill co-accused.
A permanent resident who immigrated here with his Palestinian family, Jaser has been fighting to overturn his conviction ever since he and Chiheb Esseghaier were found guilty in 2015 of plotting to derail a Toronto-bound passenger train. Their first appeal involved a technical argument about jury selection which initially won the pair a new trial but was then ultimately overturned by the Supreme Court.
Now the would-be jihadist is focusing on the “miscarriage of justice” of his trial not being severed from Esseghaier’s — whose religious tirades and increasingly bizarre behaviour tainted them both — and the unfairness of not getting his wish to be tried by judge alone.
As for Esseghaier — he’s abandoned any further appeals.
The terror twins both received life sentences for conspiring to murder persons unknown for the benefit of a terrorist group. During the high-profile, three-month trial, court heard Esseghaier was the “mastermind” of the plot to blow up a bridge used by a New York-to-Toronto train to kill dozens, if not hundreds, of passengers in retaliation for Western troops contaminating Muslim lands with “corruption, evil and Christianity.”
Jaser preferred a sniper plot that targeted prominent Jews and national leaders. “We don’t want the sheep. We want the wolf,” he said.
The pair were caught conspiring in 25 hours of conversations secretly recorded by wiretaps and by a bodypack worn by the star prosecution witness — an undercover FBI agent posing as a rich Muslim-American businessman with similar jihadist ideals.
Jaser bailed on the train plot on Sept. 24, 2012 after they were spotted walking along the tracks in Scarborough and questioned by Toronto Police. He wanted to concentrate instead on other plans — such as picking off wealthy Jewish leaders using a sniper rifle.
Their trial was plagued by countless religious outbursts by Essaghaier, the then 33-year-old Tunisian PhD student, who proclaimed that he could only be judged only under the Qur’an. Superior Court Justice Michael Code agreed to begin each court day with a declaration that Esseghaier didn’t recognize the court’s jurisdiction and was just a “visitor” offering advice.
Jaser’s appeal lawyer Megan Savard told the three-judge panel Wednesday that her client tried to have a separate trial, but his request was rejected by Code, who assured him that he could manage his difficult co-accused. But, by the time the trial was about to begin, Savard argued, it was obvious Esseghaier was beyond the judge’s control: there were numerous outbursts, refusals to come to court and then Esseghaier’s shocking performance during jury selection where he chanted the call to prayer and prostrated himself in the prisoner’s box.
When Jaser again applied for a severance, or a mistrial, Code dismissed both.
As the trial continued, Esseghaier became even more unhinged. With his wild eyes and tangled beard, he spat, threw water at a lawyer appointed to assist him, banged on the Plexiglas and launched into lengthy lectures about how he was a prophet created by God to “warn mankind.”
Esseghaier refused to accept it was 2015 because he believed he would be released to heaven on Dec. 25, 2014. He also claimed prison guards were really filmmakers chronicling his life.
When it came time for sentencing, Code agreed to order a psychiatric assessment, but then rejected Dr. Lisa Ramshaw’s conclusion that Essaghaier was unfit. He ordered a second opinion by a psychiatrist, who found the terrorist was suffering from a mental illness but still fit for sentencing.
Savard insisted Code was wrong to reject Ramshaw’s assessment, and he was “likely unfit.”
“There should have been a mistrial for Mr. Esseghaier,” she argued. And that, in turn, should have meant a mistrial for Jaser as well.
The appeal continues Thursday. But whatever the court decides, the convicted terrorist will soon be eligible for parole.
mmandel@postmedia.com
MANDEL: Via Rail terrorist blames 'unfit' co-accused for unfair trial
Raed Jaser is appealing his 2015 terrorism convictions, claiming his trial should have been severed from mentally ill co-accused
Fighting began on October 7 when Hamas militants broke through Gaza's border and killed about 1,140 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures. They also took 250 hostages.
The Gaza health ministry run by Hamas said dozens of Palestinians were "executed" this week in Jabalia camp and town, with spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra denouncing a "massacre".
Hamas says 200 killed in 24 hours of Israeli strikes on Gaza — AFP News
Israeli strikes in Gaza killed more than 200 people in 24 hours, Hamas-controlled authorities said Saturday, as the United States again pressed its ally to do more to protect civilians.
Report: Israel was about to ‘preemptively’ hit Hezbollah when Biden convinced it not to
* * *
www.timesofisrael.com
Things could have gotten worse a lot quicker.