Tag: gaza genocide

  • Israel Minister Reprimanded Over Gaza Nuclear ‘Option’ Comment

    Israel Minister Reprimanded Over Gaza Nuclear ‘Option’ Comment

    An Israeli minister was suspended from government meetings “until further notice” Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said, after suggesting in an interview dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza.

    The comments by Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu advocating a fierce military response to Hamas’s October 7 attacks even at the cost of the lives of hostages believed to be held in Gaza also drew rebuke from families of the captives.

    Eliyahu, an ultranationalist politician part of Netnayahu’s ruling coalition, told Israel’s Kol Barama radio he was not entirely satisfied with the scale of Israel’s retaliation in the Palestinian territory after Hamas fighters carried out their deadly attacks inside southern Israel.

    The attacks killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians, Israeli officials say.

    Israel’s military campaign in Gaza since October 7 has killed 9,488 people, most of them women and children, the Hamas-run health ministry says.

    When the interviewer asked whether the Israeli minister advocated dropping “some kind of atomic bomb” on the Gaza Strip “to kill everyone”, Eliyahu replied: “That’s one option”.

    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office quickly responded in a statement, describing Eliyahu’s remarks as “disconnected from reality” and adding that Israel was trying to spare “non-combatants” in Gaza.

    In a follow-up question about the estimated 240 hostages held in Gaza, Eliyahu said that “in war we pay a price.”

    “Why are the lives of the hostages… more important than the lives of the soldiers?” he said.

    “International law, along with fundamental principles of human morality and common sense, strictly prohibits the use of mass destruction weapons,” it said in a statement, calling for the release of all the hostages.

    Following the outcry over his remarks, Eliyahu said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that his statement about the atomic bomb was “metaphorical”.

    He also said that Israel was “committed to doing everything possible to return the hostages safe and sound”.

    Israel has never admitted to having a nuclear bomb.

    The Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum, representing relatives of people snatched to Gaza by Hamas militants, slammed Eliyahu’s “reckless and cruel” statement.

  • Armeena Khan slams Shaniera for staying silent about Palestine

    Armeena Khan slams Shaniera for staying silent about Palestine

    Actress Armeena Khan slammed philanthropist and wife to former cricketer Wasim Akram, Shaniera, for remaining silent about the genocide of Palestinians.

    Shaniera tweeted her sorrow at the recent tragedies around the world, writing:

    “Helpless. I feel so totally and utterly helpless. Ive never been scared of saying what I want or how I feel, but right now im very emotional and actually just don’t have any words left to give and i am really sorry if that offends anyone”

    To which Armeena had responded:

    “You have plenty of words to give when it’s Pakistan. Either talk about Palestine openly or keep your dramatics to yourself.”

    In a now-deleted tweet, Shaniera criticised Armeena’s response by writing: “Seriously? With the state of the world and the pain we are seeing daily, you are still throwing hate at me. For what? You don’t know me or what I am dealing with. Whatever we are, we are both mothers, you should be using your voice to promote unity and sisterhood. I think it’s about time you grew up. You are really sinking pretty low for headlines now.”

  • ‘Sickening’: social media criticises McDonald’s Mauritius after insensitive Halloween post

    ‘Sickening’: social media criticises McDonald’s Mauritius after insensitive Halloween post

    McDonalds is facing a worldwide boycott after the fast food giant’s Israeli franchise provided free food to IDF soldiers while the Israeli army bombarded Gaza. Now the company’s Mauritius franchise has come under fire after it posted what users thought was an insensitive Halloween picture.

    In the now deleted image, fries dripping with ketchup are positioned to resemble a bloody hand. The caption reads: “Forget the freights. Savour the flavours!”

    Social media users expressed their outrage.

    Previously, the McDonald’s franchise in the UK was criticised for hiding the replies in their comments demanding the organisation to withdraw their support for Israel.

  • ‘She knew what she was doing’: Twitter users outraged at Kim Kardashian’s insensitive Halloween costume

    ‘She knew what she was doing’: Twitter users outraged at Kim Kardashian’s insensitive Halloween costume

    Kim Kardashian is once more going viral for all the wrong reasons. The reality TV star was publicly criticised for her vocal support for Israel a few weeks ago as well as her ongoing silence on the genocide in Gaza which has now claimed close to 9000 civilian lives.

    Kim posted pictures of her family celebrating Halloween, where her sons were seen dressed as injured football stars with bruises and bandages.

    Twitter users were outraged, pointing out that the costumes bore an uncanny resemblance to photos of injured Palestinian children in football jerseys. Approximately 4000 children have been killed, as per the Gaza Ministry of Health.

    “Isn’t scary to think that an actual child in Gaza actually looks like this now? But sure Kim have fun this Halloween…” a user commented.

    “even if it wasn’t intentional, how many braincells do you need to read the room when social media is flooded with bloodied and broken children’s bodies stop looking up to these brain dead celebrities.” Another user posted.

  • ‘Horrible human’: Social media outraged after Amy Schumer targets black actress

    ‘Horrible human’: Social media outraged after Amy Schumer targets black actress

    Comedian Amy Schumer is going viral for her Islamophobic, anti-Palestinian content since Hamas’ attacks on Israel on October 7, followed by the Gaza strip getting bombarded relentlessly by the country.

    Now, an African American- Filipino actress Asia Jackson shared the hateful messages she recieved from Amy for her pro-Palestine stance.

    Asia slammed the double standards in the industry , pointing out how Palestinian-American models Gigi and Bella Hadid had to make careful statements about their support for Gaza, while Amy Schumer continues to make racist comments against Muslims and Palestinians.

    Schumer then followed Asia on Instagram and messaged her in private. In screenshots shared by Asia, Amy was seen berating the actress by calling her an anti-semite and also accused her of not understanding the backlash against Jews who feel like targets of racism right now. Mind you, never lecture a Black and Asian actress on facing fear and racism.

    Asia slammed the comedian, who has a history of making racist and abelist comments in the past, for degrading her in this manner. Especially for lecturing a woman from a minority community on racism.

    She further pointed out how Amy continues to spew racist comments from her elite mansion while the Israeli military bombed refugee camps in Gaza and murdered countless babies and civilians.

    Social media users were outraged at Amy’s unhinged behavior, and called her a ‘raging racist’.

    “Amy Schumer made fun of a black comic (for being black and made fun of him for having the disease that would go on to kill him) and then stole his material after he died. Like, not history’s greatest monster, but certainly in the discussion,” a user revealed.

  • Vogue Arabia pays homage to the frontliners of Gaza

    Vogue Arabia pays homage to the frontliners of Gaza

    For its November issue, Vogue Arabia paid tribute to the journalists and doctors of Gaza who are fighting to save countless lives during Israeli air strikes. Since the war began on October 7, close to 9000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel, including 3000 children.

    “Dedicated to the brave doctors, nurses, and reporters in Gaza,” the statement read. “The issue pays homage to their heroic commitment as they implement vital work amid inhuman conditions. The cover also features traditional hand-embroidery from different regions of Palestine, in an ode to its culture and a further appeal for humanity.”

    The statement further said the current crisis in Gaza can be called one of the biggest disasters in history “and a failure shared by all.” It urged audiences to raise their voices “putting pressure on governments and international organizations to find a peaceful solution to stop the violence. This should be a global effort, regardless of our ethnicity or religion.”

    The people honoured in the cover are photographer Motaz Azaiza, journalist Plestia Alaqad, Youmna El-Qunsol, Doctors Ghassan Abu-Sittah and Mohammed Al Ghoula.

    For the cover of the issue, Vogue Arabia used a cloth featuring traditional Palestinian embroidery called tatreez.

    Explaining the significance of the fabric, the publication elaborated on how this design emerged in Palestine as well as the significance it holds within the culture.

    “The fabric seen on the issue is covered in an embroidery also known as tatreez, which originated in Palestine 3,000 years ago, and has since carried a deep meaning in the region,” the article explained. “It is also popular in other Levantine countries like Jordan, with each nation presenting some changes in the embroidery pattern. Over centuries, the skill has been passed on by women as an inter-generational practice and used as a means to tell the story of Palestine and its people. Each nuance in color and pattern denotes everything, from the region the wearer is from, to personal milestones including social and marital status. In 2021, the United Nations cultural agency (Unesco) also added tatreez to its Intangible Cultural Heritage List.”

    Palestinian designer Zaid Farouki was consulted for Vogue Arabia’s cover. He acted as a cultural advisor and used different motifs from cities across Palestine to be represented on the cover.

    The tatreez was popularised when public figures like Queen Rania of Jordan wore the fabric on several occasions. In 2018, Michigan Democrat Rashida Tlaib, the first American legislator of Palestinian origin, made history as the first Palestinian and one of the two Muslim women elected to the Congress. She was seen wearing the traditional tatreez which was embroided by her mother.

  • Angelina Jolie issues second statement within one week, condemning Gaza bombing

    Angelina Jolie issues second statement within one week, condemning Gaza bombing

    The Israeli forces bombed Jabalia, the largest refugee camp in Gaza which has left over 195 killed and 120 civilians missing, bringing the death toll closer to 9000.

    Hollywood actress and philanthropist Angelina Jolie shared a picture of the aftermath of Israel’s attack as well as a statement critcising Israel for attacking innocent civilians and children. Angelina urged for a ceasefire, pointing out that world leaders were complicit in these crimes by refusing to prevent these atrocities.

    “This is the deliberate bombing of a trapped population who have nowhere to flee. Gaza has been an open-air prison for nearly two decades and is fast becoming a mass grave. 40% of those killed are innocent children. Whole families are being murdered. While the world watches and with the active support of many governments, millions of Palestinian civilians – children, women, families – are being collectively punished and dehumanized, all while being deprived food, medicine and humanitarian aid against international law. By refusing to demand a humanitarian ceasefire and blocking the UN Security Council from imposing one on both parties, world leaders are complicit in these crimes.”

    In the second slide of her post, Angelina shared significant history behind Jabalia which holds one of Gaza’s largest refugee camps.

    “Jabalia refugee camp is the largest of the Gaza Strip’s eight refugee camps. After the 1948 War, refugees settled in the camp, most having fled from villages in southern Palestine. The camp covers an area of only 1.4 square kilometers, 116,011 Palestine Refugees are registered with the UNRWA in Jabalia camp alone, 75 years since the Palestine conflict.”

    Just a few days earlier, Angelina issued a statement urging her followers to help the people in Gaza who were being violently displaced by the ongoing attrocities and shared links to places that were taking donations to help the Palestinian civilians.

  • Senate of Pakistan stands with the people of Gaza, demands immediate ceasefire

    Senate of Pakistan stands with the people of Gaza, demands immediate ceasefire

    In a resolute effort to address the dire situation in Gaza, the Senate of Pakistan has passed a resolution, urging the Muslim Ummah to actively intervene and provide urgent assistance to innocent Muslims caught in the crossfire of the Gaza-Israel conflict.

    The resolution, tabled by Senator Irfan Siddiqui, highlighted the collective silence of the Muslim world, emphasizing the need for immediate action to curb the escalating violence.

    During the impassioned debate, Senator Siddiqui expressed disappointment over the lack of proactive measures from influential organizations like the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), urging them to stand up to Israel.

    He underscored the stark contrast between the vast geographic expanse of Muslim-populated lands and the Israeli state, yet the discrepancy in action remained striking.

    During his address to the Senate session, Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani raised concerns about the broadening extent of Israeli attacks, encompassing the West Bank and other areas, and expressed alarm regarding the loss of lives resulting from continued bombardments in Gaza strip and beyond.

    Jilani highlighted that the United Nations has compared Gaza to a “graveyard” due to the substantial loss of life.

    Mushahid Hussain Sayed took to X (former Twitter) and said, “Drafted unanimous resolution passed by Senate of Pakistan regarding GazaGenocide! Took a strong position reflecting full, unwavering & unconditional on supporting Palestine & beleaguered children, women & men of Gaza!”

    Office of the Chairman Senate’s account tweeted, “I, strongly condemn the reprehensible airstrike on Gaza’s Jabalia refugee camp by Israeli Terrorists. The senseless and barbaric act of taking innocent women and children’s lives is a horrific atrocity that shocks the conscience of humanity.”

    Moreover, Senator Saadia Abbasi and Nisar Ahmed Khuhro emphasized Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity with Palestine, condemning the establishment of the state of Israel as illegal and underscoring the historical context of Pakistan’s support for the Palestinian cause.

    Senator Hafiz Abdul Kareem made his speech in Arabic, after obtaining special permission granted by the Chairman of the Senate.

    Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan made a speech to appreciate the people of Hamas and Gaza.

    Their unified voices condemned the ongoing violence as nothing short of the systematic genocide of the Palestinian people.

    The resolution was supported by a heartfelt speech delivered in Arabic by Senator Hafiz Abdul Kareem, condemning the atrocities committed by Israel.

    Additionally, senators urged the expulsion of Israeli diplomats from Islamic countries, expressing the belief that such a move could pave the way for the resolution of the Palestine issue.

    Amidst the session, the Senate Chairman emphasized the significance of preserving the resolution in the Senate records, solidifying Pakistan’s commitment to the cause.

    The senators called for increased financial and humanitarian aid to be extended to the embattled people of Palestine.

    In a gesture of solidarity, Senator Ahmed Omar Ahmadzai strongly denounced the killing of innocent civilians and children in Gaza, emphasizing the need for active protection from Muslim countries.

    Saleem Mandviwalla commended the Turkish President’s support for the Palestinian people, while Muhammad Qasim highlighted the alarming scale of the atrocities perpetrated against the Palestinians, labeling it as nothing short of genocide.

    This resolution serves as a testament to Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and its commitment to seeking justice and peace for the affected people of Gaza.

  • ‘You call yourself a philanthropist?’: Twitter users roast Selena Gomez over tone-deaf view on Gaza genocide

    ‘You call yourself a philanthropist?’: Twitter users roast Selena Gomez over tone-deaf view on Gaza genocide

    Hollywood actress and singer Selena Gomez was slammed by social media users online after her neutral take on the ongoing Gaza genocide. Al-Jazeera reports that intense bombing continue to target Gaza with the death toll already crossing 8000 including more than 3000 children.

    Selena, whose Instagram following stands at 430 million, shared a statement on her stories writing she was heartbroken to witness the horror, naming neither Palestine nor Israel:

    “I’ve been taking a break from social media because my heart breaks to see all of the horror, hate, violence and terror that’s going on in the world. People being tortured and killed or any act of hate towards any one group is horrific. We need to protect all people, especially children and stop the violence for good.”

    The last comment, “I wish I could change the world. But a post won’t,” triggered outrage.

    “selena gomez is being so stupid right now. she is downplaying her massive following and being hypocritical. if a post can’t help change the world why call yourself a philanthropist?? why post about mental health, blm, womens rights, american elections etc etc” a user wrote.

    Many compared the ‘Only Murders In The Building’ actor’s response to the Ukraine war to this, criticising her for not considering brown lives as important as white ones.

    Others criticised the actress for responding in the same tone-deaf manner in 2016 when she was criticised over her silence on the Black Lives Matter protests.

    Many criticised the statement for being incredibly tone-deaf, pointing out the actress was privileged enough to take a break from social media during the genocide but people in Gaza couldn’t turn away from the violence.

  • After Sonam, Bollywood star Bipasha Basu speaks out against Gaza genocide

    After Sonam, Bollywood star Bipasha Basu speaks out against Gaza genocide

    Bollywood star Bipasha Basu has lent her voice to the growing call of protestors demanding an end to the genocide in Gaza. Al-Jazeera reports that almost 8000 civilians have been killed due to Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, with more than 3000 children among them.

    The actress shared a picture showing two children crying next to their dead mother, surrounded by destroyed buildings. In the caption it was written: “No war or religion can be bigger than countless innocent lives.”

    These are babies..” begged Bipasha. “Irrespective of any religion have some mercy.”

    Sonam Kapoor sent her support to the Palestinians when she shared two pictures on her Instagram stories spreading awareness of the countless children who were butchered during the Israeli strikes. Sonam shared a post from a column written in The New York Times codenmning the one-sided coverage of major publications that ignored the trauma of Palestinian babies.

    READ MORE: Sonam Kapoor speaks out for Palestine, other prominent Bollywood celebrities silent

    Other Bollywood actors have remained majorly silent about the Gaza genocide. While a viral tweet from Shah Rukh Khan’s X (formerly Twitter) account from 2014 went viral where he condemned the murder of little children.