Tag: Israel airstrikes

  • While bombs rain down on Gaza, viral videos show Israelis dancing to Beyonce’s ‘Renaissance tour’ film

    While bombs rain down on Gaza, viral videos show Israelis dancing to Beyonce’s ‘Renaissance tour’ film

    Social media has been outraged after several videos went viral on the internet where Israelis can be seen dancing to Beyonce’s ‘Renaissance Film’, playing in theatres this week. At the same time, Gaza is being bombarded with severe airstrikes.

    In the videos, Israelis can be seen dancing to ‘Break My Soul’, claiming it was the IDF’s new fight song against the Hamas. Twitter users expressed outrage at Beyonce’s silence on the on-going genocide, after several X (formerly Twitter) users have pleaded with her to pull the film from Israel.

    “THIS is why Beyonce not allowing her film to screen in Israel mattered . This is why- even if the location of screenings was out of her control (debatable) she should have at LEAST made a Pro-Palestine statement. Now a song about Black liberation is tied to a GENOCIDE.”

    Many expressed outrage on how Beyonce had the power to refuse this, but chose to let this happen.

  • Israeli airstrikes target Gaza again since ceasefire

    Israeli airstrikes target Gaza again since ceasefire

    Israeli aircraft struck Gaza on Wednesday in the first such attacks since the end of 11 days of cross-border fighting last month.

    The overnight air strikes gave way to calm by morning, and there were no reports of casualties on either side, reports Aljazeera.

    On Tuesday, hundreds of Israeli ultranationalists, some chanting “Death to Arabs”, paraded in East Jerusalem in a show of force that threatened to spark renewed violence, reported Dawn.

    The raids early on Wednesday come less than a month after Israel’s 11-day bombardment of Gaza in May.

    https://twitter.com/wwallxc/status/1404928255568846849

    The Israeli raids come two days after a new coalition government, headed by right-wing nationalist Naftali Bennet, took power on Sunday, ending Benjamin Netanyahu’s 12-year run as prime minister.

  • Despite a ceasefire, Israel ruthlessly attacks worshippers at Al-Aqsa

    Despite a ceasefire, Israel ruthlessly attacks worshippers at Al-Aqsa

    Despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which was announced early Friday morning, Israel ruthlessly attacked worshippers at Al-Aqsa during Friday prayers.

    Israel fired rubber bullets and shelled both Masjid Al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock, Islam’s third holiest site.

    It is being reported that children and women have been hurt by the tear gas while praying.

    PTI’s official Twitter handle lashed out on the barbaric violence by Israel calling out their act as a ‘massacre’.

    Israel’s bombardment of Gaza killed at least 243 Palestinians, including 66 children, in 11 days and brought widespread devastation to the already impoverished territory. On the Israeli side, 12 people, including two children, were killed.

  • Gaza’s largest bookshop destroyed by Israeli airstrikes

    Gaza’s largest bookshop destroyed by Israeli airstrikes

    Gaza’s largest bookstore was destroyed in an Israeli airstrike on Tuesday. Established in 2008, the shop housed thousands of books, including the largest collection of English literature in Gaza, and was also part of a publishing house that focused on Palestinian writers.

    Defending the attack, the Israeli military claimed that the strike was intended to destroy Hamas tunnels.

    The two-story bookshop was built 21 years ago and was one of the Gaza Strip’s largest sellers of books for children, students, academics and anyone else who loved to read. He also printed books and published stories written by local authors.

    “The books may be under rubble but that will not stop us,” writer Nada Abu Mideen told The National. “We will keep writing to show the world that we deserve life.”

    Read more – Eleven children receiving trauma care killed in their homes by Israeli airstrikes

    A GoFundMe has also been set up to help rebuild the store.

    This wasn’t the only bookstore that was destroyed in Gaza this week. Others, including the Iqraa library, were also either completely or partially destroyed.

    Bookstore owner Shaban Aslim can be seen holding back tears as he is interviewed in front of the rubble.

    “The bookstore was like my soul,” said Mansour, 53, who was born in the Gaza Strip and said that he had built this bookstore by starving himself.

  • SMQ labelled ‘anti-Semitic’ by CNN host

    CNN’s Senior Global Affairs Analyst and anchorperson Bianna Golodryga has labelled Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi “anti-Semitic” after she interviewed him on the ongoing violence in Gaza.

    Qureshi, who had appeared on Bianna’s show Thursday night, stated that the “tide was turning” against Israel as it was losing the media war despite its connections. The foreign minister had lashed out at Israel for its state-sanctioned massacre in Gaza, where nearly 250 Palestinian men, women and children have been killed in less than two weeks.

    The minister during the show had said a ceasefire was inevitable since Israel “is losing out”.

    When Golodryga asked Qureshi to explain Israel’s “connections”, Qureshi had said: “Deep pockets.”

    Golodryga further asked him to explain his point of view on the situation, to which Qureshi said: “They are very influential people, I mean they control media.”

    In response to this, the CNN journalist labelled him anti-Semitic.

    “The point is, they have a lot of influence, and they get a lot of coverage. What’s balanced that is the citizen journalist who has been reporting, sharing video clips, and that has jolted people and woken up people…people who were sitting on the fence are today, speaking up,” added Qureshi.

    Golodryga further stressed on the “anti-Semitic talk and rhetoric”. She stated that someone like Qureshi, who is in a powerful position, should say that’s wrong.

    Antisemitism is generally considered to be a form of racism and is defined as “hostility, prejudice, or discrimination against Jews”.

    When Qureshi was talking about the heavy Palestinian casualties as a result of Israeli airstrikes, she urged him to be objective and also focus on Israeli casualties caused by Hamas rockets.

    After two weeks of violent attacks, Hamas and Israel reached a ceasefire early on Friday.

  • IN PICTURES: Celebs in Karachi come out in support of Palestine

    Protests in solidarity with the people of Palestine were held in several cities yesterday, including Karachi. Mahira Khan, Sheheryar Munawar, Anoushay Ashraf, Faysal Quraishi, Mansha Pasha, Ayesha Omar, Sanam Jung and Hania Amir were spotted amongst other celebrities there.

    Have a look at some pictures from the protest:

    At least 227 Palestinians, including 64 children, have been killed in 11 days due to Israeli attacks.

  • Eleven children receiving trauma care killed in their homes by Israeli airstrikes

    Eleven children receiving trauma care killed in their homes by Israeli airstrikes

    The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has confirmed that eleven children going through treatment to help them deal with trauma were killed by Israeli airstrikes on Gaza in recent days.

    As per reports, all children between 5 and 15 years old were killed in their homes in different areas of the city while many of their relatives also either died or were injured.

    “We are devastated to learn that 11 children we were helping with trauma were bombarded while they were at home and thought they were safe,” said NRC’s Secretary General Jan Egeland.

    “They are now gone, killed with their families, buried with their dreams and the nightmares that haunted them. We call on Israel to stop this madness. Children must be protected. Their homes must not be targets. Schools must not be targets. Spare these children and their families. Stop bombing them now,” she asserted.

    Read more – Infant reunited with father after miraculously surviving Israeli airstrike

    The children NRC assisted included Lina Iyad Sharir, 15 who was targeted with both of her parents in their home on May 11 in Gaza City’s Al Manara neighbourhood. Her two-year-old sister Mina got third-degree burns and is in critical condition.

    13-year-old Hala Hussein al-Rifi was killed on the night of May 12. The attack also killed four-year-old Zaid Mohammad Telbani and his five month pregnant mother Rima. Zaid’s sister is now reportedly missing.

    Multiple air raids on May 16 killed six children that NRC worked with.

    The same attacks also killed Rula Mohammad al-Kawlak and many other children along with their family members.

    NRC works with 118 schools in the Gaza Strip approaching more than 75,000 students under its psycho-social intervention, the Better Learning Programme.

    “As an urgent measure, we appeal to all parties for an immediate ceasefire so that we can reach those in need and spare more civilians,” Egeland said.

    “But the truth is that there can be no peace or security as long as there are systemic injustices. The siege of Gaza needs to be lifted and the occupation of Palestinians must end if we are to avoid more trauma and death among children and new cycles of destruction every few years.”

  • Pakistani celebrities raise voice against Israeli atrocities in Palestine

    Pakistani celebrities raise voice against Israeli atrocities in Palestine

    With the nonstop bombardment of missiles by Israelis and destruction of Palestinian homes, offices, security buildings and residential property, nearly 200 Palestinians have been killed, including 58 children, in the Gaza Strip as Israeli monstrosities enter the second week.

    People across the world including Bella Hadid, Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik are raising their voices for the Palestinians with Pakistani celebrities too using their social media presence to call out atrocities of Israeli military on innocent people.

    Read more – Mahira Khan, Babar Azam, Maya Ali among others condemn Israeli brutality in Palestine

    “Can you imagine kissing your child to sleep and not knowing if you all will see them again? That’s the reality of life in Palestine right now. That’s the horror those children, those innocent beings live in,” said Ayeza Khan. “My heart aches to even think about this. We can’t do much. But we do have a voice. And together, we can use it to stop the cruelties on our brothers and sisters.”

    Taking to Instagram, Mahira Khan wrote: “If we remain silent, there is blood on our hands too.”

    “Free Palestine,” she added.

    Maya Ali also took to Instagram and wrote: “All of my prayers are with the Palestinians.

    She also prayed for the people of Palestine. “O Allah, please help, protect and support the people in Palestine and ease their pains and sufferings. Ameen!”

    Maya added: “I’ve been absolutely speechless and heart broken of seeing the horrifying attacks on the innocent people of #Palestine. Its high time that we all come together, raise our voices and spread awareness about the current situation in Palestine. When the world unites, miracles happen!”

    Sharing a viral video of a Palestinian girl questioning what her fault is and whether it is fair to attack them like this, Ayesha Omar said: “No it’s not. It’s not fair. It’s not fair. It’s not human.”

    https://twitter.com/ayesha_m_omar/status/1393891986055249921?s=19

    Yasir Hussain also expressed his sadness over the situation, saying: “Khamosh rehny waly tamaam Muslim mumaalik ye bhool rhy hain k aisa unky sath bhi ho sakta hai. Hamen khamoshi ki aadat dali ja rahi hai.“

    Bilal Abbas Khan also shared pictures of protestors demanding to save Palestine from injustice and apartheid of Israel.

    Read more – Asim Azhar, Shahid Afridi, Farhan Saeed call out Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians

    Other celebrities including Feroze Khan, Haroon Shahid, Shehzad Roy, Zara Noor Abbas and Hania Aamir among others also rose their voice and called out Israeli violence on Palestinians.

    Meanwhile, the United Nations (UN) Security Council met on Sunday to discuss the violence but failed to agree on even a joint statement of concern.

  • Devastating stories from Gaza as Israeli air strikes claim 188 lives

    Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have claimed the lives of 42 more people, taking the death toll to 188. According to Gaza health officials, 16 women and 10 children were killed in the recent air strikes which also targeted the home of a Hamas leader.

    Stories being shared from the region are devastating. A ten-year-old girl, heartbroken and tired from the atrocities she is having to face, questions the world,” I am only ten. How can one expect me to fix the ongoing situation?”

    https://twitter.com/TanveerAbbasATI/status/1394118078477357057

    “When I see all this, I cry everyday. I ask my myself, Why do we deserve this ?” cried the girl.

    Palestinians are scared as Gaza continues to bleed and Israeli barbarism doesn’t seem to end.

    A little girl cries to her mother that she doesn’t want to die. ” I’m scared that my home will be demolished,” cries the girl to her mother.

    https://twitter.com/chul_da_watta/status/1394115292247252992

    A deaf child who survived the air-strike explains what he experienced.

    Israeli warplanes unleashed a new series of heavy airstrikes at several locations in Gaza early on Monday, hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled that the bombings would rage on.

    In a televised address on Sunday, Netanyahu said the Israeli air raids were continuing at “full-force” and would “take time”, adding that his country “wants to levy a heavy price” from Gaza’s Hamas rulers.

    While Palestinians mourn the loss of their loved ones, others called out Israel, standing with Palestine.

    US Representative, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted, “If the Biden admin can’t stand up to an ally, who can it stand up to?”

    She further tweeted,” Apartheid states aren’t democracies.”

    People from across the world marched in solidarity with Palestinians.

    “There is no space in any of the hospital rooms,” Journalist Youmna Al Sayed reported, saying that Gaza’s healthcare system is on the verge of collapsing.

  • Gaza under attack

    Gaza under attack

    Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City demolished three buildings and killed at least 33 people on Sunday, including12 women and eight children. This has been one of the deadliest attacks since the start of the recent attacks against Palestinians by the Israeli forces.

    On May 12, Israeli airstrikes a building in Gaza that housed the offices of 14 media organisations. According to a report in TRT World, on May 7 and May 10, Israeli security forces fired rubber bullets and injured at least eight Palestinian and international journalists covering the protests at the Temple Mount complex and Al Aqsa mosque.

    Yesterday, Israeli forces a building in Gaza that housed several media outlets, including Al Jazeera and the Associated Press (AP). A statement by AP President and CEO Gary Pruitt said: “We are shocked and horrified that the Israeli military would target and destroy the building housing AP’s bureau and other news organisations in Gaza.” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that the US government “communicated directly to the Israelis that ensuring the safety and security of journalists and independent media is a paramount responsibility”.

    These words by the White House Press Secretary sound hollow because ever since the Israelis started attacking hapless Palestinians during the Holy month of Ramzan, the international community, especially the US, has not condemned Israel for its aggression. We did not hear the US or others condemn the attack on journalists when Arab journalists in Palestine were being attacked by the Israeli forces. The way the Al Aqsa mosque was stormed by the Israeli forces during the final Friday prayers in Ramzan, the way the unarmed Palestinians were sprayed with rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas, the world community should have condemned it unequivocally. But what do we hear: US President Joe Biden saying: “Israel has a right to defend itself.” There was no mention of how Israel is an occupying force that will continue to attack and kill unarmed civilians, including children.

    In a report released last month, the Human Rights Watch said Israeli authorities are committing crimes against humanity of apartheid and persecution. The 213-page report titled, ‘A Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution’, should be read by every world leader in order to understand the gravity of the situation. Today, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has opened an emergency meeting over the situation in Palestine. Several countries that are part of the OIC have recently had recognition deals with Israel. No wonder we have seen a muted response from those countries. Pakistan has been asking the world to come to the aid of Palestine and stop this madness. Unfortunately, the world has become a silent spectator when it comes to Israel’s war crimes. Silence is not an option. We all must speak up for Palestine.