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  • ‘Cry to my lord’: Pakistani celebrities shocked at Gaza hospital bombing

    ‘Cry to my lord’: Pakistani celebrities shocked at Gaza hospital bombing

    On 17 October, Israeli jets bombed the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza, where countless Palestinians had sought medical treatment and refuge from the ongoing genocide. Reports say that the strike was the deadliest attack committed by Israel in its history, with 500 confirmed dead and the death toll rising, according to Al-Jazeera.

    Celebrities like Ushna Shah and Osman Khalid Butt took to social media to express their outrage at the world’s apathy towards the Palestinian genocide.

    Ushna Shah wrote: “A hospital. A HOSPITAL! What do we boycott? Where do we strike? What do we do? Someone tell me what to do! All I am able to do currently is pray and cry to my Lord, hold my dear ones close and write on this platform. Someone tell us what to do, where to begin.”

    Actor Osman Khalid Butt demanded an immediate ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to enter into Gaza.

    Writer and columnist Fatima Bhutto criticised Israel’s attempts to distract the world from its crimes by attempting to thwart the narrative.

    British-Pakistani boxer Amir Khan shared videos of the sea of dead bodies found after the bombing, and expressed his grief over the loss of lives in Gaza.

  • Egyptian comedian combats Piers Morgan with satire

    Egyptian comedian combats Piers Morgan with satire

    Egyptian comedian Bassem Youssef is being hailed all over social media after a recent interview on Piers Morgan show.

    Bassem, an Egyptian comedian, political satirist, and television host, replied to the British television host with a satirical tone throughout his 26-minute conversation with the controversial and outspoken presenter.

    The interview was centred on the current Israel-Palestine escalation and, like any other Western news show, there was a sense of undermining of the Palestinian suffering, to which Bassem responded with sheer brilliance.

    Piers quoted the October 7 attacks, which he believes “supersedes anything else” in the Israel-Palestine “conflict”, adding that “the question then becomes again about proportion” and that October 7 was “on a different level altogether, quite deliberately by Hamas, designed to provoke “.

    He asked Youssef, “If you were Israel and that had happened to you, what would you think would be the appropriate way for the country to respond”.

    “I would do exactly like Israel did: Kill as many people as possible since the world is letting me do it,” Bassem responded. “I mean, I can do it because I can,” he said.

    “Let’s for a minute imagine a world without Hamas. What will this world look like? Let’s give this world a name and let’s name this word the West Bank. Hamas has absolutely no control in the West Bank… Only through August, 37 Palestinian kids were killed. No music festival, no paragliding, no Hamas. Since the occupation of the West Bank, 7,000 Palestinians were killed; no music festival, no paragliding, no Hamas. I can go on and on and on and on.”

    At this point Morgan interrupted, saying that “You’re preaching to the choir” to which Youssef responded, “Don’t interrupt me and interrupt my points. Because this has to be fair because if you want to only hear your opinion, I can just condemn Hamas and go home. I can do that… Do you want to do that or do you want to have a much more nuanced conversation?”

    When asked, “How do we get from where we are now to peace,” Youssef said, “You need to change the perception.”

    “If you have already decided someone is good, he can do no evil and if you decide that someone is evil, it’s good to kill them.
    killing them is good… it is not like something new.”

    He added that the West first treats people “like savages”, giving examples of the native americans:

    “They’re savages, kill all the savages and when they are almost extinct you start feeling sorry for them like animals.

    So, maybe the solution is we kill as many Palestinians as possible so the few of them who remain do not bother you.”

    When Pier Morgan asked Youssef to leave since he gave “half of the show” to Bassam Yousef, Yousef left after making another dig.

    “By the way, my wife’s family’s alright and they sent us a house, its bombed, it beautiful , it’s going to be a good halloween theme,” he said of his in-laws who are in Gaza.

    Morgan: “I’m very sorry for what your family is going through in Gaza.”

    Youssef: “I haven’t actually met them. They didn’t come to my wedding. They couldn’t because they are stuck in Gaza and she never saw them because, you know, Gaza is not a destination. We hear their voices, they die, it’s fine.”

    Morgan said, “Bassam, I wish your family all the very best, thank you for joining me. I appreciate it.”

    Youssef replied, “I don’t, thank you.”

    You can watch the entire interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4idQbwsvtUo

  • Israel tries deflecting blame for hospital attack; evidence proves otherwise

    Israel tries deflecting blame for hospital attack; evidence proves otherwise

    On Tuesday night, Israel targeted Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza in an air-strike that killed more than 1000 civilians.

    Media reports state that thousands of Palestinians were present in the hospital for treatment and refuge when it was attacked.

    As the world recoiled in horror, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Intelligence from multiple sources we have in our hands indicates that Islamic Jihad is responsible for the failed rocket launch which hit the hospital in Gaza.”

    However, fact-checking organisations and journalists are proving otherwise. Evidence show that the former digital media officer of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, shared a post announcing that “the Israeli Air Force has hit a hospital in Gaza”.

    “It was determined that Naftali, who deleted the post after a short time, tried to manipulate the world public opinion by sharing posts claiming that “the missile that hit the hospital was fired from Gaza””

    Additonally, the official Israeli state account posted a video blaming Hamas for the bombing of the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital but later removed it on realizing it was filmed after the attack and had a time stamp proving so.

    The Palestinian Ambassador to the UN also rebutted the claims being made by Israel.

    Busting false information

    Communications Directorate’s Center for Combating Disinformation, a Turkish fact checking body, said on X:

    “The claim that ‘(Palestinian group) Hamas, not Israel, carried out the attack’ on the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza’s al-Zaytoun neighbourhood is false,”

    After analysis of widely circulated media posts it was deducted that the “images shared by Israeli propaganda accounts claiming that a ‘Hamas missile hit the hospital’ were from 2022,” not 2023.

    The Anadolu Agency quotes the centre in which it has been pointed out “the Israeli army demanded the immediate evacuation of hospitals, alleging that they were being used as shelters,” reinforcing that Israeli forces were “deliberately” carrying out the deadly attacks.

    “The claim shared on some social media accounts that ‘Gaza’s official account admits that Hamas carried out the hospital attack’ is not true,

    “’Gaza Report’ account cited as the basis for the claim is not the official account of Gaza or any Palestinian institution,”

    “It has been determined that the account was used for manipulation purposes.”

  • Israeli propaganda getting help from Indians

    Israeli propaganda getting help from Indians

    Ahead of the statement given by Israeli Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, about being “overwhelmed” by the unprecedented response he has received from the country, Indians have become an active part of the Israeli propaganda team all across social media.

    In his interview to The Economic Times, Gilon stated that with this kind of support from Indians, he believes “he could have another IDF with the (Indian) volunteers” because everyone is calling him to offer help. He goes on to elaborate that “the closeness India and Israel has is understandable but cannot be explained, It’s something very unique.”

    The Ambassador also posted messages of solidarity by spectators in the Pak vs India match and as recently as some hours ago posted about Hamas being the culprit behind the bombing of Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital. Indian media quotes him as their official resource as Gilon retweets journalists and media houses propagating the false narrative.

    There are a number of accounts on social media titled Indians for Israel or India stands with Israel. Added to that are fake accounts posing as Palestinians, even Al Jazeera reporters (Farida Khan) spreading Anti-Hamas and Pro-Israeli narrative. A number of tweets were found and reported to have similar content.

    Al-Jazeera has reported about the virality of disinformation caused by the blue-ticked accounts terming them “disinfluencers” with budding Islamophobic conspiracy theories. The article takes a closer look at the “BJP IT Cell” to which most Islamopobic content and trolling is likely to be attributed to.
    Author and Journalist Marc Owen Jonas has revealed many instances of fake-news including a video circulating on social media, mostly shared by Indians, gaining millions of impressions and retweets about girls becoming sex-slaves for Hamas. A closer look shows them to be happily chatting and using phones.

    However, there are some voices of dissent too, which get rebuked but stand tall in their stance. Ravi Nair, an esteemed journalist, not just voiced his opinion on India’s growing inclination towards right-wing but also exposed the original supporters of Zionism.
    In one of his tweets he said, “Hello, Israel, we Indians don’t support right-wing criminals whether Zionists or Hindutavaadis.”

    To which he got hate from American Hindu Republican Renee Lynn in these words, “If you want to support Terrorists because you are brainwashed and want to shout Allahu Akbar then go away. You are not the majority in India”.

    Pratik Sinha associated with ALT News, a credible fact checker resource has said, “With India now exporting its disinformation actors in the Indian mainstream media and on social media in support of Israel, hopefully the world will now realise how the Indian right-wing has made India the disinformation capital of the world”.

  • ‘I am helpless’: boxer Amir Khan opens up on war on Gaza

    ‘I am helpless’: boxer Amir Khan opens up on war on Gaza

    Pakistani-born British boxer Amir Khan expressed his anger at Israel’s ongoing brutality in Palestine, asking why nothing is being done to stop the attacks on Gaza.

    Issuing a statement on X, Amir Khan said, “The hospital was bombed in Gaza last night, innocent people including children are being killed, and world leaders should raise their voices on Gaza and take action”.

    He wrote, “Seeing these videos every day breaks my heart, I am helpless, I never thought that I would see a war crime in my life.” He asked that the Israeli Prime Minister should be held accountable and should be stopped.

  • Man and his mule quenching the thirst of Gazans

    Man and his mule quenching the thirst of Gazans

    Israel has blocked the water supply of Palestinians stuck in Gaza since the launch of its military offensive against the strip. Reports by the UN have also affirmed that more than two million Palestinians do not have access to water.

    Jameel al-Karoubi is the silver lining in these terrible times, a Palestinian who gets up before the crack of the dawn and takes his mule Almond to the streets of Gaza to provide people with water.

    He says he has promised his friend Almond an extra sack of fodder on completion of the noble task and he has been fulfilling the promise ever since.

    Before the war disrupted everything, Jameel was a vegetable vendor but for the last ten days, all he does is get two big tanks filled with water and take it to the destitute people of Gaza. He has been able to pull this off because of the well of natural water in his house which is proving extremely beneficial in the face of Israeli blockage of water lines to Gaza.

    He refuses to take any money for his service. People in his neighbourhood consider him a Godsend for getting hold of water let alone drinkable water, a task close to impossible in Gaza right now. He also gives away all the extra fruit and vegetables that are grown in his garden.

    Jameel wants to help people of other localities too but the destruction caused by the Israeli forces has hampered the roads and pathways to other parts of the city. Even though he is risking his life, he has the support of his family. They are proud of his contribution to help the besieged people.

    Jameel is proof that humanity is very much alive in the hearts of the people even when there is no light in sight. He is determined to extend his support to all the needy.

  • Strict action will be taken against officials who neglect duties in polls, says Sikandar Sultan Raja

    Strict action will be taken against officials who neglect duties in polls, says Sikandar Sultan Raja

    Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja warned government officials that strict action will be taken against them if they will show “political bias”, adding that free and fair elections are necessary for a strong democracy.  

    A day earlier, while heading a meeting at the Provincial Election Commission Secretariat, Raja Sikandar said that all resources will be brought into service for unbiased and peaceful polls. He also offered assurances that Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will provide full support to the provincial government.

    “There will be no tolerance for any form of political bias among government employees, and immediate action will be taken if such complaints arise,” warned the CEC.

    The ECP secretary briefly detailed preparations for general elections as well as revised the electoral rolls and process of voter registration.

    On the other hand, Sindh election commissioner also informed the meeting about preparations for general elections in the province.

    The Sindh chief secretary also told the huddle that Sindh government will fully cooperate with ECP in the upcoming polls.

  • Tilda Swinton, Steve Coogan along with 2000 artists call for ceasefire in Gaza

    Tilda Swinton, Steve Coogan along with 2000 artists call for ceasefire in Gaza

    Renowned names like Tilda Swinton, Liam Cunningham and Charles Dance are among 2000 artists who have signed an open letter accusing their governments of involvement in Israel’s war on Gaza. The letter states that “the specter of death” hangs over the territory, as Israeli military bombed a Gaza hospital where more than 1000 people are reported dead.

    The letter includes producers, writers, architects, directors and comedians who accused their government of “not only tolerating war crimes but aiding and abetting them. There will come a time when they are held to account for their complicity. But for now, while condemning every act of violence against civilians and every infringement of international law whoever perpetrates them, our obligation is to do all we can to bring an end to the unprecedented cruelty being inflicted on Gaza.”

    “Gaza is already a society of refugees and the children of refugees. Now, in their hundreds of thousands, bombarded from air, sea and land, Palestinians whose grandparents were forced out of their homes at the barrel of a gun are again being told to flee – or face collective punishment on an unimaginable scale.  Dispossessed of rights, described by Israel’s minister of defence as ‘human animals’, they have become people to whom almost anything can be done.”

    The letter ended with the signatories calling for their government to end military and political support for Israel’s actions, and for an immediate ceasefire to commence.

  • PCB complains to ICC about inappropriate behavior by Indian crowd

    PCB complains to ICC about inappropriate behavior by Indian crowd

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has filed a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) about the inappropriate behavior of the Indian crowd during the World Cup match between Pakistan and India in Ahmedabad.

    In the biggest match of the ICC Cricket World Cup on October 14, although India’s performance dominated Pakistan, giving the host country a seven wicket win, inappropriate behavior by the fans at the Ahmedabad Stadium drew criticism on social media.

    During the match, where Pakistani fans were not given visas among the crowd hundreds of thousands in the stadium, the inappropriate behavior of Indian fans towards the Pakistani players quickly became a lightening rod on social media.

    Indian fans were heard teasing Pakistan captain Babar Azam, while Rizwan was targeted on his way to the pavilion by fans shouting pro-Hindu slogans and using inappropriate words. Videos of the harassment also went viral.

    PCB has now complained to the ICC about inappropriate crowd behavior during the match between Pakistan and India in Ahmedabad.

    The PCB told the ICC that the Pakistani squad was inappropriately targeted during the match, protesting to the governing body about the delay in Indian visas of Pakistani journalists and fans.

  • World Cup 2023: Netherlands defeats South Africa by 38 runs in second upset

    World Cup 2023: Netherlands defeats South Africa by 38 runs in second upset

    In the second upset of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, the Netherlands beat South Africa by 38 runs to win at the event for the first time.

    Batting first, the Netherlands scored 245 for eight in the allotted overs, with captain Scott Edwards scoring an unbeaten 78. Apart from this, Van der Merwe scored 29 runs, Teja Neida Munro scored 20 runs and Aryan Dutt scored 23 runs.

    Lungi Ngiti, Marco Johnson, and Kagiso Rabada took two wickets each for South Africa.

    Chasing the Netherlands’ target of 246, the South African team struggled from the start, as its first five baters returned to the pavilion for 89 runs.

    Captain Bavuma scored 16, De Kock 20, Vander Dussen four, Markram one and Klaasen scored 28 runs. Apart from this, Johnson put up nine runs, David Miller 43, Quayze 22, and Rabada left the team after scoring nine runs while Maharaj scored 40 runs.

    Thanks to the Netherland bowling, the entire South African team was bowled out for 207 runs in 42.5 overs. On behalf of the Netherlands, Logan van Beek dismissed three players, while de Leda, Paul van Meekren, and Van der Merwe took two wickets each.

    This is South Africa’s first ODI defeat against the Netherlands.