NewzIntel.com

Category: Middle East

  • MIL-OSI China: Asian films scaling up content building with AI assistance

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The role of artificial intelligence (AI) and technology will continue to be vital in shaping the future of the Asian film and content sectors with experts urging industry leaders to embrace the change to stay on top of their game, a Hong Kong summit heard on March 18.

    In his welcome remarks at the Asia Content Business Summit (ACBS) Working Group Meeting, Wilfred Wong Ying-wai, chairman of the Hong Kong Film Development Council, said that AI is going to “speed up development” and “unite Asia” across multiple languages as content becomes accessible to a broader audience.

    Wong noted that in the past, content had to be dubbed, but now with the help of AI, subtitles have been made easily accessible on-demand.

    “Second, we have to look at how to distribute. The movie business is a streaming platform. (We) have to be one step ahead. Otherwise, we are just following trends,” said Wong, as he also encouraged current industry leaders to share their knowledge and “pass the sword to the next generation”.

    Fred Wang Cheung-yue, chairman of Hong Kong-based pan-Asia movie services group Salon Film, encouraged attendees to “take new ideas” on the use of technology and AI in movie production from the ACBS event, where speakers from Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines also gave presentations on trends and initiatives in their respective countries.

    Dato Kamil Othman, chairman of the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia, said his organization had prioritized the training of film producers, with special attention paid to understanding legal issues such as copyright.

    Malaysia has no problems with sending films overseas and a new generation of successful movie professionals are emerging, he said. The main challenges they encounter are internal industry mechanisms, using AI and difficulties working on co-productions, he added.

    “Talent is already there. We just need a good proposition to move forward,” said Kamil, as he also urged the audience to “not be afraid of AI” as it “is not a trend, but a tool and humans are still part of it”.

    In Japan’s content industry, digitalization had also changed the content industry completely, according to Norihiko Saeki, director of the culture and creation industries division under Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

    He said Japanese overseas content sales are set to achieve a market size of 20 trillion yen ($6.7 billion) by 2033, under the “New Cool Japan Strategy” adopted in 2024. METI set up 100 action plans this year in consultation with Japanese content industry leaders in order to hit that target, he added.

    He also said they have a “Shooting with Japan Program” agreement with China and Italy, which gives an incentive grant of 1 billion yen.

    Novie Riyadi, chief operating officer at Indonesian animation and post-production company Mocca Studio said Indonesia’s game industry has grown rapidly, driven by government support that helped firms there become “early adopters of AI”.

    He said there were 156 animation companies in Indonesia in 2020 and expects the number to have tripled by now. Among these companies’ successes has been the animated children’s show Baby Zu, he added, which was created to help parents with children who were slow learning to speak.

    In the Philippines, Liza Dino-Seguerra, executive director of the Quezon City Film Commission, said over 120 Filipino films were produced and released in 2023 — a notable rebound following the COVID-19 pandemic.  

    “Streaming has become the dominant force shaping how content is produced, distributed and consumed,” said Dino-Seguerra, who is also former chairperson of the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

    She said international collaborations are also on the rise because of producers’ constant participation in international events and markets, allowing Filipino stories to reach a global audience. Her organization is looking to partner with companies in the Middle East and North Africa region, and Latin America, she added.

    Sirisak Koshpasharin, vice chairman of Thailand’s National Federation of Motion Pictures and Contents Associations, said content streaming in Thailand is also a growing market.

    He put the spotlight on “movie tourism” as many films have been shot in Thailand, bringing with them tourists. Japan topped the list of countries where film producers came from to shoot in Thailand, he said, followed by India, the United States, the Republic of Korea and China. Upgraded government film incentives introduced in December last year, increasing a cash rebate on movie production from 20 percent to 30 percent, had also encouraged the industry, he added.

    “All the big players in the market come to Thailand, but the best spender is Hong Kong,” said Koshpasharin. Last year alone, 490 projects shot in Thailand, generating 6.5 billion Baht ($194 million). Two of the most notable movies filmed there include Jurassic World 4, and Alien: Earth.

    Fred Chong, group CEO of WebTVAsia and award-winning Malaysian musician, said AI “has a face now”, and is capable of taking on real celebrities. The digital human market, he said, is expected to reach $440 billion by 2031.

    When asked what steps his company has taken to fight scams, Chong said on the sidelines of the ACBS summit that content owners need to fight for their own content.

    “If you are not the content owner, you cannot stop illegal uploads. So, it’s the same thing with AI. We talk about deepfake, we talk about illegal use of the face of a famous person. The original owner of the face has to copyright their intellectual property,” said Chong.

    Later on Tuesday a signing ceremony was held for the joint launch of Zheng He’s Voyages to the West by parties from Malaysia, China including Hong Kong, and Saudi Arabia. Zheng, a Chinese explorer and admiral dated hundreds of years ago, is credited for leading the largest fleet in the world then on seven voyages of exploration from Asia to Africa.

    Saudi World of Sounds and Visions Company President Abdullah Al Muheisen, also a Saudi pioneering filmmaker and director, inked a deal with Fred Wang of Salon Films.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Google to acquire Israeli cybersecurity startup Wiz for $32B

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Google said on Tuesday it has agreed to acquire Israeli cloud security startup Wiz for approximately 32 billion U.S. dollars, marking its largest acquisition to date.

    The deal, which Google expects to close in 2026, represents the largest-ever exit for an Israeli startup, surpassing Intel Corp’s 15.3-billion-dollar acquisition of autonomous vehicle company Mobileye in 2017.

    Wiz, headquartered in New York City with significant operations in Israel, confirmed the acquisition on its website.

    Founded in 2020, Wiz rapidly gained traction in the cybersecurity sector, achieving a 1.7-billion-dollar valuation within a year. In May 2024, the company raised 1 billion dollars at a 12-billion-dollar valuation.

    Wiz, which reportedly employs approximately 1,800 people, provides cloud security solutions that help companies detect and mitigate risks across various layers of their cloud infrastructure. Its platform scans cloud resources, including network structures and permissions, to identify configuration errors, vulnerabilities, and malware.

    Google said Wiz will become part of its cloud business.

    The reported acquisition follows a failed attempt in July 2024, when a planned 23-billion-dollar deal between Google and Wiz collapsed, according to media reports.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Flooding in the Sahara, Amazon tributaries drying and warming tipping over 1.5°C – 2024 broke all the wrong records

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew King, Associate Professor in Climate Science, ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather, The University of Melbourne

    Climate change is the most pressing problem humanity will face this century. Tracking how the climate is actually changing has never been more critical.

    Today, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) published its annual State of the Climate report, which found heat records kept being broken in 2024. It’s likely 2024 was the first year to be more than 1.5°C above the Earth’s pre-industrial average temperature. In 2024, levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere hit the highest point in the last 800,000 years.

    The combination of heat and unchecked emissions, the organisation points out, had serious consequences. Attribution studies found a link between climate change and disasters such as Hurricane Helene, which left a trail of destruction in the southeastern United States, and the unprecedented flooding in Africa’s arid Sahel region.

    Slowing these increasingly dangerous changes to Earth’s climate will require a rapid shift from fossil fuels to clean energy.

    The record heat of 2024

    From the North Pole to the South Pole, the oceans and our land masses, the report catalogues alarm bells ringing ever louder for Earth’s vital signs.

    Steadily rising global average temperatures show us the influence of the extra heat we are trapping by emitting greenhouse gases. The ten warmest years on record have all happened in the past ten years.

    The report shows 2024 was the warmest year since comprehensive global records began 175 years ago. The planet was an estimated 1.55°C (plus or minus 0.13°C) warmer than it was between 1850 and 1900.

    Together, 2023 and 2024 marked a jump in global mean temperature from previous years. There was a jump of about 0.15°C between the previous record year (2016 or 2020 depending on the dataset) and 2023. Last year was even warmer – about 0.1°C above 2023.

    Last year was the first year the planet was likely more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This doesn’t mean we have broken the 2015 Paris Agreement goal of holding warming under 1.5°C – temperatures would need to be sustained over a number of years to formally lose that fight. But it’s not good news.

    There are a few extra factors at play in this record-breaking global temperature, including an El Niño event boosting eastern Pacific Ocean temperatures in the first part of 2024, falling pollution from shipping leading to less cloud over the ocean, and a more active sun as well.

    Researchers are hard at work unpicking why the Earth’s average temperature jumped in 2023 and 2024. But it is clear the 2024 record-breaking warmth and most other damning statistics in the report would not have occurred if it wasn’t for human-induced climate change.

    Much of the Northern Hemisphere was more than 2°C warmer in 2024 than 1951-1980 levels and many equatorial areas saw new annual temperature records.
    NASA GISS, CC BY-NC-ND

    Carbon dioxide up, glacial melt up, sea ice down

    It’s not just global temperatures breaking records.

    Carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere reached 427 parts per million last year. Sea level rise has accelerated and is now about 11 centimetres above early 1990s levels, and the oceans are at their highest temperatures on record.

    Seasonal sea-ice in the Arctic and around Antarctica shrank to low levels (albeit short of record lows) in 2024, while preliminary data shows glacial melt and ocean acidification continued at a rapid pace.

    Almost all parts of the world were much warmer in 2024 than even recent averages (1991–2020) and much of the tropics experienced record heat.

    From cyclones to heatwaves, another year of extreme events

    In the English-speaking media, extreme events affecting North America, Europe and Australia are well covered, such as the devastating Hurricane Helene in the US and the lethal flash flooding in Spain.

    By contrast, extreme weather and its fallout in Africa, South America and Southeast Asia get less coverage.

    In September 2024, Super Typhoon Yagi killed hundreds and caused widespread damage through the Philippines, China and Vietnam. Later in the year, Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte and Mozambique causing more than 100,000 people to be displaced. Hundreds died in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan due to spring floods following an unusual cold wave.

    Unusual flooding hit parts of the arid Sahel and even the Sahara Desert. Meanwhile the worst drought in a century hit southern Africa, devastating small farmers and leading to rising hunger.

    Much of South and Central America was hit by significant drought. Huge tributaries to the Amazon River all but dried up for the first time on record. Severe summer heat hit much of the Northern Hemisphere, while more than 1,300 pilgrims died during the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca as heat and humidity pushed past survivable limits.

    Globally, extreme weather forced more people from their homes than any other year since 2008, which had widespread floods and fires.

    Did climate change play a role in these extreme events? The answer ranges from a resounding yes in some cases to a likely small role in others.

    Scientists at World Weather Attribution found the fingerprints of climate change in Hurricane Helene’s large-scale rain and winds as well as the flooding rains in the eastern Sahel.

    Paying the price for decades of inaction

    This report is a dire score card. The numbers are sobering, scary but sadly, not surprising.

    We have known the basic mechanism by which greenhouse gases warm the planet for over 100 years. The science behind climate change has been around a long time.

    But our response is still not up to the task.

    Currently, our activities are producing ever more greenhouse gas emissions, trapping more heat and causing more and more problems for people and the planet. Every fraction of a degree of global warming matters. The damage done will keep worsening until we end our reliance on fossil fuels and reach net zero.

    Andrew King receives funding from the ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather and the National Environmental Science Program.

    Linden Ashcroft has received funding from the Australian Research Council and is affiliated with the ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather

    – ref. Flooding in the Sahara, Amazon tributaries drying and warming tipping over 1.5°C – 2024 broke all the wrong records – https://theconversation.com/flooding-in-the-sahara-amazon-tributaries-drying-and-warming-tipping-over-1-5-c-2024-broke-all-the-wrong-records-252490

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Global Bodies – 150th IPU Assembly to take place in Uzbekistan

    Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)

    Geneva, Switzerland, 18 March 2025 – The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) will hold its 150th Assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from 5 to 9 April 2025, hosted by the Parliament of Uzbekistan.

    The overall theme Parliamentary action for social development and justice will cover topics such as eradicating poverty, promoting decent work, fostering social inclusion, and increasing the participation of marginalized groups in decision-making.

    Key highlights will include the following:

    The IPU will celebrate its milestone 150th Assembly, which will include a keynote address from the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

    The IPU Forum of Women Parliamentarians will also celebrate its 40th anniversary, a significant milestone against the backdrop of new challenges to women’s rights in some countries and the stagnation of the proportion of MPs who are women at 27.2%, according to the latest IPU report.
    All the IPU’s other bodies will convene, including its four thematic Standing Committees, the Forum of Young Parliamentarians, the Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians, the Committee on Middle East Questions and the Task Force on the peaceful resolution of the war in Ukraine.

    The IPU is poised to move closer to universality with its membership expected to grow to 182 Member Parliaments as Belize joins.

    MPs are expected to adopt resolutions on advancing a two-State solution in Palestine, and mitigating the impact of conflicts on sustainable development.

    The Assembly will feature workshops on climate action, parliamentary diplomacy, and social norms impacting women’s health.

    During the Assembly, the IPU will also open nominations for the 2025 edition of the Cremer-Passy Prize, recognizing parliamentarian(s) with exceptional records in gender equality, the IPU’s theme of the year.

    Historical background

    The first IPU meeting took place in 1889 in Paris, France with MPs representing nine countries. Since then, the IPU Assembly has grown to become a global platform, the parliament of parliaments, with hundreds of MPs attending from around the world, along with staff, partner organizations and experts.

    Practical details

    Venue: Tashkent City Congress Centre in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

    The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments. It was founded in 1889 as the first multilateral political organization in the world, encouraging cooperation and dialogue between all nations. Today, the IPU comprises 181 national Member Parliaments and 15 regional parliamentary bodies. It promotes peace, democracy and sustainable development. It helps parliaments become stronger, younger, greener, more innovative and gender-balanced. It also defends the human rights of parliamentarians through a dedicated committee made up of MPs from around the world.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Death toll rises to 413 as Israeli airstrike continues

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Palestinians mourn for victims who were killed by Israeli airstrikes at a hospital in Gaza City on March 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The Palestinian death toll from the Israeli airstrikes on various places across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday morning has risen to 413, the Gaza-based health authorities said.

    In a press statement, the health authorities said that the ongoing Israeli attacks also injured at least 562 Palestinians.

    The statement added that a number of victims are still trapped under the rubble and efforts are underway to retrieve them.

    Meanwhile, the Israeli military and Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency said Tuesday afternoon that they were continuing to strike Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad targets across Gaza.

    “At this time, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) and Shin Bet are striking terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip,” the military and Shin Bet said in a joint statement, adding that “the targets struck over the past few hours include terrorist cells, launch posts, weapons stockpiles, and additional military infrastructure.”

    Israel said it was resuming strikes because of Hamas’ repeated refusals to release its hostages and its rejection of all offers it received from the U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and mediators.

    Hamas accused Israel of violating the ceasefire that took effect on Jan. 19 and called on mediators to pressure Israel to halt the military campaign. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China willing to jointly uphold genuine multilateralism with France

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said Tuesday that China is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with France, strengthen strategic coordination, and jointly uphold genuine multilateralism.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks when having a phone conversation with Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic adviser to the French President, at the latter’s request.

    During the phone conversation, Wang requested Bonne to convey Chinese President Xi Jinping’s greetings to French President Emmanuel Macron.

    The current international situation is increasingly complex and intertwined, with significant rises in uncertainty and instability, said Wang.

    Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II, Wang said that it is essential for China and France, as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and comprehensive strategic partners, to enhance strategic communication at this significant historical juncture.

    Wang said that China is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with France, strengthen strategic coordination, jointly uphold genuine multilateralism, uphold the status of the United Nations, protect the international trade order, ensure the stability of global industrial and supply chains, oppose unipolar hegemony, reject placing one country’s self-interest above the common interests of all nations, and prevent the world from returning to the law of the jungle.

    In the current situation, it is of important and positive significance for China and Europe to resolve specific economic and trade frictions through consultation. China hopes that France will work with China to send a positive signal of unity and cooperation and promote the healthy and stable development of China-France and China-Europe relations, noted Wang.

    Bonne requested Wang to convey Macron’s greetings to Xi. He said that France attaches great importance to and cherishes the friendship and mutual trust between France and China. Under the current complex international situation in particular, France looks forward to maintaining high-level exchanges and close strategic communication with China to jointly resist camp confrontation.

    Bonne said that France opposes trade wars and tariff wars, and is willing to properly resolve economic and trade frictions through consultations with China, promote balanced and sustainable development of economic and trade relations between France and China and also between Europe and China, and maintain the international economic and trade system based on World Trade Organization’s rules.

    The two sides exchanged in-depth views on the Ukraine issue.

    Bonne briefed Wang on the position of the French side, saying that France is willing to strengthen coordination with China and expects China to play an important role in reaching a just, stable and sustainable peace agreement on Ukraine.

    Wang said that China has advocated resolving the crisis through dialogue and negotiation from the very beginning, and welcomes all efforts towards a ceasefire, which is a necessary step towards peace. At the same time, this process should respect the will of the parties concerned, should not be imposed by a third party, and should not only serve the interests of any one country.

    China supports the achievement of a fair, lasting and binding peace agreement acceptable to all parties concerned, and believes that all parties and stakeholders should participate in the peace talks process in due course.

    He also noted that China’s position has been recognized and supported by the parties concerned and most other countries, and China is ready to work with all parties, including Europe, to continue to make efforts for peace.

    The two sides also exchanged views on the Iranian nuclear issue.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Peter Dutton wants to deport criminal dual citizens. We already have laws for that

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Beck, Professor of Constitutional Law, Monash University

    Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has floated the idea of amending the Australian Constitution to allow government ministers to strip dual citizens of their Australian citizenship if they commit serious crimes related to terrorism.

    Almost immediately, Dutton’s coalition colleague and Shadow Attorney-General Michaelia Cash walked back the idea, saying the Coalition had “no plan” for a referendum.

    Dual citizens can already lose their Australian citizenship if they commit terrorism offences.

    So what does the Constitution say about the issue?

    Citizenship cessation

    Under the Australian Citizenship Act, there are three main ways an Australian citizen can cease their Australian citizenship.

    First, a dual citizen can voluntarily renounce their Australian citizenship. Some people choose to do this if they move overseas and don’t intend to return to Australia.

    Second, the government can revoke a dual citizen’s Australian citizenship if they obtained it by fraud. The logic here is that the person was never really eligible for Australian citizenship in the first place.



    Read more:
    View from The Hill: Dutton’s talk about a citizenship referendum is personal over-reach and political folly

    Third, and most seriously, a court can – if the government asks it to – strip a dual citizen of their Australian citizenship as part of the sentencing process for serious crimes such as terrorism and foreign incursions.

    In deciding whether to impose this punishment, the court must be satisfied the person’s crime was “so serious and significant that it demonstrates that the person has repudiated their allegiance to Australia”.

    In other words, dual citizen terrorists can already lose their Australian citizenship.

    What does the Constitution say?

    Federal parliament can make laws only on certain subject matters, as listed in the Constitution. One of those subject matters is “naturalisation and aliens”.

    In a 2022 case called Alexander, the High Court confirmed the naturalisation and aliens power allows the federal parliament to pass laws taking away a person’s citizenship if the person has done something that shows they had repudiated their allegiance to Australia.

    That case concerned an Australian-Turkish dual citizen who travelled to Syria to fight with the Islamic State militant group. That kind of voluntary conduct clearly repudiates allegiance to Australia.

    The High Court has made a series of rulings against government attempts to strip citizenship.
    Shutterstock

    But to be valid, a federal law must not only fall under one of the listed subject matters such as “naturalisation and aliens”, it also must not breach any limitation on the federal parliament’s power.

    An important limitation on the federal parliament’s lawmaking power is keeping federal judicial power separate from the power of the parliament and the executive. This is called the “separation of powers”.

    The separation of federal judicial power is an important constitutional concept. The idea is that it prevents the parliament or government ministers interfering in the role of the courts or usurping the role of the courts.

    Attempts at legislation

    Only courts can exercise federal judicial power. Judicial power includes things like imposing punishments on people for criminal conduct. This is where past citizenship stripping laws have run into trouble.

    The problem with the law in the Alexander case was that it allowed a government minister to take away the terrorist’s Australian citizenship, rather than a court, and even if the person had not been first convicted by a court.

    So while the High Court ruled the parliament could legislate under the aliens power, it found ministers cannot decide guilt or punishment.

    The government thought the problem with the law was simply the lack of criminal conviction. So the parliament passed a new law allowing a government minister to strip dual citizen terrorists of their Australian citizenship, but only if they had first been convicted by a court.

    But the High Court struck down that law in a 2023 case called Benbrika.



    Read more:
    Is a terrorist’s win in the High Court bad for national security? Not necessarily

    Benbrika had been convicted of terrorism offences in the courts, then a government minister made an order taking away his citizenship.

    The problem with the law, the High Court said, was that a government minister was imposing a punishment. Only courts can impose punishment under the separation of powers.

    So in response to that decision, the federal parliament passed another law. This time the new law allowed the courts to strip a dual citizen of their Australian citizenship as a punishment as part of the sentencing process for serious crimes like terrorism.

    This is the law that’s currently in place. It avoids the separation of powers issue. There is no constitutional problem with courts imposing punishment for crimes.

    So what does Peter Dutton want to do?

    Peter Dutton’s comments suggest he wants government ministers – rather than courts – to impose the punishment of removing citizenship. He hasn’t said why or what purpose this would serve, apart from “keeping our country safe”.

    The only way to allow federal ministers to impose punishments is to change the Constitution through a referendum that inserts a new provision overriding separation of powers rules.

    Given Australia’s long history of defeated referendums, such a vote is unlikely to succeed.

    That’s if it makes it out of the gate. Reported tensions within the Liberal party suggest it may not get off the ground to become official Coalition policy.

    Luke Beck is a rank and file member of the ALP. The views expressed in this piece are his own.

    – ref. Peter Dutton wants to deport criminal dual citizens. We already have laws for that – https://theconversation.com/peter-dutton-wants-to-deport-criminal-dual-citizens-we-already-have-laws-for-that-252507

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Hochul is a Guest on “PBS Newshour”

    Source: US State of New York

    arlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul was a guest on PBS NewsHour with Amna Nawaz to discuss how governors across the nation are responding to threats from the federal administration including DOGE, tariffs, and entitlement cuts.

    VIDEO: The interview is available to stream on YouTube here.

    AUDIO: The Governor’s interview is available in audio form here.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:

    Amna Nawaz, PBS News:  As President Donald Trump’s cost cutting agenda continues through the government, Democratic governors are now looking to recruit fired federal workers to their states. The State of New York has launched a campaign for those impacted by DOGE cuts, including billboards in New York City’s Moynihan Train Hall and in train and metro stations throughout Washington, D.C.

    Joining me now to discuss that effort and the other ways that New York is pushing back against the Trump administration is New York Governor Kathy Hochul. Governor, welcome back to the NewsHour. Thank you for joining us.

    Governor Hochul: Thank you.

    Amna Nawaz, PBS News: Let’s start with that effort then to recruit some of those fired federal workers. Have you had fired federal workers applying for those jobs? How many have you been able to hire so far?

    Governor Hochul: No, we certainly have. In fact, a couple weeks ago, I did a roundtable inviting a number of recently fired federal employees from the New York City area to come and one of them was a father of four. He’d done four tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. He worked at the VA. He was one week from ending his probation and he was dismissed and he was so upset and distraught about it.

    And I gathered others who were just really still reeling from the unexpectedness of it. They never thought this would happen to them. So, I told them we would take care of these individuals. I literally have almost 7,000 open jobs in state government. We are not back to our pre-pandemic levels, and we certainly have openings in law enforcement and education and social work, a lot of issues – we want to take care of our citizens.

    So, I think it’s a great opportunity. I was literally meeting with President Trump in the White House last week. I went to Union Station afterward and I saw our billboard that said, “DOGE may say ‘You’re fired,’ but in New York, we say, ‘You’re hired.’” And it’s been really successful. And I will give you the real numbers once we know for sure. But a lot more have applied than we expected. And I find that exciting.

    Amna Nawaz, PBS News: So tell me a little bit more about that meeting with President Trump last week, because you and the President have disagreed and clashed before, right? You’ve accused him of federal overreach. You’ve disagreed on his immigration approach, but you said it’s important to keep that dialogue open. So where can you work with this president? What did you agree on in that meeting?

    Governor Hochul: One area where we should all be able to agree on is infrastructure. Continuing important investments. Many started under the Biden Administration. But I want to make sure that we look at an asset like Penn Station in New York City, which is really the welcome mat for millions of people who come through that station, and it looks deplorable. We’ve been renovating certain parts of it, but I want to make it to be a beautiful train hall. Something that natural light comes in and that people will come through there and feel that this is a really world class experience. So, knowing that Donald Trump is a New Yorker, I appealed to his sense of understanding how important this asset is to our city and its identity. And we agreed to work on this together.

    Amna Nawaz, PBS News: What about on tariffs? Because we’ve seen publicly he has doubled down on the use of tariffs, particularly in Canada – which I know impacts your state quite a bit. You said you’ve told him that the tariffs are devastating for upstate farm and factory workers. Was he receptive to that?

    Governor Hochul: You know, he does believe that it’s short term pain for long term gain. Just that the people who are expecting prices to go down on Inauguration Day, are really in for a rude awakening. Not only did they not go down as promised, but they’re going up. And if you look at the possible impacts of $2,000 to $3,000 more a year for a family. I mean, especially in places like upstate New York, on the border with Quebec, and western New York – where I’m from – on the border of Ontario, this is not a foreign country to us. This is a natural trading partner. It’s part of a larger, broader community. So this really sent shockwaves through our state. And I wanted him to know that a lot of these people supported him. Many areas of Upstate New York did support him in the election, and now they’re just wondering what happened.

    Amna Nawaz, PBS News: Governor, on the immigration front, we know New York City has been in this administration’s crosshairs for a while. You’ve said you are not going to allow ICE to come in and take people off the streets, but the reports show that they’ve sort of already been doing that to some extent. We saw local New York reports show that during one week in February, there were 100 people arrested. Do you know how many people ICE has arrested and potentially deported from New York?

    Governor Hochul: Well, I had a conversation with the President about this a couple of times, and I said, “I am aligned with your interest in removing dangerous criminals off the streets and sending them back to where they came from.” It’s in my interest. My number one priority is public safety, and that particularly includes Venezuelan gang members who have been terrorizing parts of our city since their arrival. So this is not a bad outcome to have them removed. But we understand there’s a difference, and I explained this once again, saying, “We’re not separating families. We’re not going to allow that to happen.”

    Amna Nawaz, PBS News: But Governor, we know among the thousands of people already deported have been people who have no criminal record. Do you know how many of those people have been from New York?

    Governor Hochul: No, I don’t know how many, but I will say that we don’t cooperate in those cases. That’s why I don’t have information. We will cooperate — my State Police will cooperate — in a situation where you have a warrant, or it’s someone on a terrorism watch list; someone who’s committed crimes in their own country or here. That’s a different category from where we will not cooperate when it comes to just saying, – identifying who these people are and we’re going to take them. We’re not going to help with that.

    Amna Nawaz, PBS News: I need to ask you, too, about the Democratic Party, because it’s been a rough few weeks. You’ve seen the leader of your party in the Senate under fire from fellow Democrats, including your fellow New Yorkers, Hakeem Jeffries and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, for choosing to avoid a government shutdown and back a Republican funding bill. In your view, was that the right choice?

    Governor Hochul: I know that Senator Schumer has New York State’s best interest at heart, because he’s also not just a majority leader for the Senate, but also our state. He has delivered time and time again for New Yorkers. There can be disputes within our party. This is not unusual in a family to have disagreements on a strategy. But also at the end of the day – he and Hakeem Jeffries put out a statement together, working together to fight the Medicaid cuts. We cannot afford these cuts. So, already there’s a unity that’s restored.

    And again, going down the road, there will be more disagreements. That’s okay. But the bottom line is, who brought us to this place? Never forget it was the Republicans. And every day that we’re hitting each other, is another day that Republicans are getting away with what they’re doing. I’m going to continue to remind everybody, let’s stand together as often as we can, as loudly as we can, against what the Republicans are trying to do to undermine – not just our democracy, but our basic sense of security here. The chaos of the stock market, what you’re doing with tariffs, what you’re doing to make lives more expensive here — we have to stand up and call that out.

    Amna Nawaz, PBS News: Governor, there was clearly a divide within your party though on this one issue. Was it the right choice for Senator Schumer to vote for that bill?

    Governor Hochul: Listen, I’m focused on New York State here. I spent time in Congress, I would answer questions on federal issues when it came to that. He made a decision that he thought was best not to have the shutdown. Others disagree with that. I’m focused on making sure that New York can get through this tumultuous time, whatever happens, and agree that a shutdown would have been difficult for our state.

    Amna Nawaz, PBS News: That is New York Governor, Kathy Hochul, joining us tonight. Governor Hochul, good to see you again. Thank you again for making the time.

    Governor Hochul: Thank you.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Massacre at 2 am – Israel resumes indiscriminate attacks against Gaza, killing 400+ people

    Israel says President Donald Trump green lit a scorched-earth bombing of Gaza that wiped out entire families and killed dozens of infants and other children.

    By Abubaker Abed in Deil Al-Balah, Gaza, and Jeremy Scahill of Drop Site News

    The US-backed Israeli government resumed its intense genocidal attacks on Gaza early yesterday morning, unleashing a massive wave of indiscriminate military strikes across the Strip and killing more than 410 people, including scores of children and women, according to local health officials.

    The massacre resulted in one of the largest single-day death tolls of the past 17 months, and also killed several members of Gaza’s government and a member of Hamas’s political bureau.

    The Trump administration said it was briefed ahead of the strikes, which began at approximately 2 am local time, and that the US fully supported Israel’s attacks.

    “The sky was filled with drones, quadcopters, helicopters, F-16 and F-35 warplanes. The firing from the tanks and vehicles didn’t stop,” said Abubaker Abed, a contributing journalist for Drop Site News who reports from Deir al-Balah, Gaza.

    “I didn’t sleep last night. I had a pang in my heart that something awful would happen. At 2 am, I tried to close my eyes. Once it happened, four explosions shook my home. The sky turned red and became heavily shrouded with plumes of smoke.”

    Abubaker said Israel’s attacks began with four strikes in Deir al-Balah.

    “Mothers’ wails and children’s screams echoed painfully in my ears. They struck a house near us. I didn’t know who to call. I couldn’t feel my knees. I was shivering with fear, and my family were harshly awakened,” he said.

    ‘My mother couldn’t breathe’
    “My mother couldn’t take a breath. My father searched around for me. We gathered in the middle of our home, knowing our end may be near. That’s the same feeling we have had for the 16 months of intense bombings and attacks.

    “The nightmare has chased us again.”

    The Israeli attacks pummeled cities across Gaza — from Rafah and Khan Younis in the south to Deir al-Balah in the center, and Gaza City in the north, where Israel carried out some of the heaviest bombing in areas already reduced to an apocalyptic landscape.

    Since the “ceasefire” took effect in January, more than half a million Palestinians returned to the north and many of them have been living in makeshift shelters or on the rubble of their former homes.

    Hospitals that already suffer from catastrophic damage from 16 months of relentless Israeli attacks and a dire lack of medical supplies struggled to handle the influx of wounded people, and local authorities issued an emergency call for blood donations.

    Late Tuesday morning, Dr Abdul-Qader Weshah, a senior emergency doctor at Al-Awda Hospital in Al-Nuseirat camp in central Gaza, described the situation.

    “We’ve just received another influx of injuries following a nearby strike. We’ve dealt with them. We are just preparing ourselves for more casualties as more bombings are expected to happen,” he told Drop Site News.

    ‘Horrified . . . awoke to screams’
    “Since the morning, we were horrified and awoke to the screams and pain of people. We’ve been treating many people, children and women in particular.”

    Weshah said they have had to transfer some of the wounded to other hospitals because of a lack of medical supplies.

    “We don’t have the means. Gaza’s hospitals are devoid of everything. Here at the hospital, we lack everything, including basic necessities like disinfectants and gauze. We don’t have enough beds for the casualties.

    We don’t have the capacity to treat the wounded. X-ray devices, magnetic resonance imaging, and simple things like stitches are not available. The hospital is in an unprecedented state of chaos.

    “The number of medical crews is not enough. Overwhelmed with injuries, we’re horrified and we don’t know why we are speaking to the world.

    “We’re working with less than the bare minimum in our hands. We need doctors, devices and supplies, and circumstances to do our job.”

    Al-Shifa hospital director Muhammad Abu Salmiya told Al Jazeera Arabic: “Every minute, a wounded person dies due to a lack of resources.”

    The Indonesia Hospital morgue in Beit Lahia, Gaza on March 18, 2025. Image: Abdalhkem Abu Riash/Anadolu

    Rising death toll
    Dr Zaher Al-Wahidi, the Director of the Information Unit at the Ministry of Health in Gaza, told Drop Site Tuesday afternoon that 174 children and 89 women were killed in the Israeli attacks. [Editors: Latest figures are 404 killed, including many children, and the toll is expected to rise as many are still buried beneath rubble.]

    Local health officials and witnesses said that the death toll was expected to rise dramatically because dozens of people are believed to be buried under the rubble of the structures where they were sleeping when the bombing began.

    “We can hear the voices of the victims under the rubble, but we can’t save them,” said a medical official at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

    Video posted on social media by Palestinians inside Gaza portrayed unspeakable scenes of the lifeless bodies of infants and small children killed in the bombings.

    Zinh Dahdooh, a dental student from Gaza City, posted an audio recording she said was of her neighbours screaming as their shelter was bombed, trapping them in the destruction.

    “Tonight, they bombed our neighbors,” she wrote on the social media site X. “They kept screaming until they died, and no ambulance came for them. How long are we supposed to live in this fear? How long!”

    According to local health officials, many strikes hit buildings or homes housing multiple generations of families.

    ‘Wiped out six families’
    “Israel in its strikes has wiped out at least six families. One in my hometown. The others are from Khan Younis, Rafah, and Gaza City. Some families have lost five or 10 members. Others have lost around 20,” Abubaker reported.

    “We talk about families killed from the children to the old. The Gharghoon family was bombed today in Rafah. The strikes have killed the father and his two daughters. Their mom and grandparents along with their uncles and aunts were also murdered, erasing the entire family from the civil registry.

    “We are talking about the erasure of entire families. Among Israel’s attacks in Deir al-Balah, Israel bombed the homes of the Mesmeh, Daher, and Sloot families.

    “More than 10 people, including seven women, from the Sloot family were killed, wiping them out entirely. The same has happened to the Abu-Teer, Barhoom, and other families.

    “This is extermination by design. This is genocide.”

    On Tuesday, Palestinian Islamic Jihad confirmed that “Abu Hamza,” the spokesman of its military wing, Al Quds Brigades, had been killed along with his wife and other family members.

    A hellish scene
     Israeli officials said they had been given a “green light” by President Donald Trump to resume heavy bombing of Gaza because of Hamas’s refusal to obey Trump’s directive to release all Israeli captives immediately.

    “All those who seek to terrorise not just Israel but also the United States of America, will see a price to pay,” White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said on Fox News.

    “All hell will break loose.”

    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement asserting that “Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength”.

    Israeli media reported that the decision to resume heavy strikes against Gaza was made a week ago and was not in response to any imminent threat posed by Hamas.

    Israel, which has repeatedly violated the ceasefire that went into effect January 19, has sought to create new terms in a transparent effort to justify blowing up the deal entirely.

    “This is unconscionable,” said Muhannad Hadi, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

    “A cease-fire must be reinstated immediately. People in Gaza have endured unimaginable suffering.”

    Compounding the crisis in Gaza’s hospitals, Israel recently began blocking the entry of international medical workers to the Strip at unprecedented rates as part of a sweeping new policy that severely limits the number of aid organisations Israel will permit to operate in Gaza.

    Plumes of smoke from central Gaza just as Israel began its heavy bombing on Monday night. Image: Abubaker Abed/Drop Site News

    Editor’s note: Due to the ongoing Israeli attacks, Abubaker Abed relayed his reporting and eyewitness account to Jeremy Scahill by phone and text messages. This article is republished from Drop Site News under Creative Commons.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada Supports Tree-Planting Activities in Gatineau and Across Quebec

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    News release

    March 18, 2025                                      Gatineau, Quebec                                Natural Resources Canada

    Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, along with the Honourable Steven Guilbeault,  Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity, Parks Canada and Quebec Lieutenant, announced more than $16 million in funding for four tree-planting projects that will bring environmental, health and social benefits to both urban and rural communities across the province of Quebec.

    The City of Gatineau and the City of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu are receiving funding for urban tree-planting projects that will plant new trees on public lands, helping to capture carbon, increase biodiversity and cool areas vulnerable to extreme heat.

    With the funding announced today, the City of Gatineau will:

    • increase its urban tree canopy to 30 percent by planting 80,000 new trees in all the city’s communities over the next six years;
    • establish urban forests that will help improve air and soil quality, support biodiversity and contribute to the health and well-being of citizens; and
    • create five new jobs in the region, as well as long-term contracts for forest maintenance over the years. 

    The City of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu will carry out its own tree-planting project that will:

    • plant 70,000 new trees and increase its urban tree canopy to 20 percent, with the longer-term goal of 30-percent tree cover;
    • beautify the city by planting trees and establishing micro-forests along roadways, riverbanks and in existing forests; and
    • sequester carbon while increasing the city’s resilience to the effects of climate change.

    Two more federally funded projects across the province will contribute toward reforestation and afforestation in rural areas of Quebec:

    • Harpur Farm LTD is receiving funds to plant 251,000 trees in western Quebec, afforesting more than 208 acres of marginal lands and reforesting 41 acres in degraded woodlands.  In collaboration with Nature Conservancy Canada, this project will expand the critical Plaisance–Tremblant ecological corridor, to allow wildlife to move freely north–south and will establish multi-species forests with edible forest products such as nuts, acorns, fruit and maple syrup.
    • Pepinière Forestière Tshitassinu is receiving funds to develop a 100-percent automated, Indigenous-led tree nursery in Mashteuiatsh, Lac-Saint Jean, that will be able to produce more than 10 million seedlings per year. The proponent will set up 30 state-of-the-art greenhouses to produce seedlings to reforest the boreal forest.

    These projects are being supported in part by Canada’s 2 Billion Trees (2BT) program. This program is dedicated to working with governments and organizations across the country to support the expansion of Canada’s forests while creating sustainable jobs in communities. 

    Quotes

    “Trees are essential to our lives: they clean the air we breathe, they make the outdoors even more enjoyable, they provide new habitats for wildlife, and they help us adapt to a changing climate. The Government of Canada is pleased to be supporting municipalities and private organizations in Quebec in their efforts to increase urban green spaces and forests. By planting the right tree in the right place, we are creating a greener, healthier and more-resilient Canada for generations to come.”

    The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
    Minister of Energy and Natural Resources 

    “Trees are one of the most effective ways to fight climate change and tackle biodiversity loss. We’re helping communities across the country become greener and more sustainable. In the cities of Gatineau and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, this means planting tens of thousands of new trees — reducing pollution, improving air quality and combating urban heat islands, especially during extreme heat. This initiative will increase the urban tree canopy by over 20 percent in both cities and increase the quality of life for families. With over $12 billion invested in conservation and climate solutions since 2015, our government is building a greener, more sustainable future for generations to come.”

     

    The Honourable Steven Guilbeault
    Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity, Parks Canada and Quebec Lieutenant

    “Thanks to this investment from the federal government, Gatineau is taking another step toward implementing its Urban Forestry Plan and building a more sustainable city to reduce vulnerability to climate change. Planting 80,000 new trees is more than just an environmental initiative — it’s a concrete commitment to enhancing the quality of life for our residents by creating cooler, more attractive and accessible neighborhood’s and public spaces. With this vision, the city of Gatineau is accelerating the balance between urban development and the preservation of natural spaces.”

    Maude Marquis-Bissonnette
    Mayor, City of Gatineau

    “Valuable to our community, this funding allows us to increase our efforts to green our territory, one of the main objectives of our Tree Policy. As a City, we are working to provide a greener, more resilient and sustainable environment for our citizens in a context where climate change is already having a real impact. This support is a new incentive in achieving these collective goals, whose impacts will be felt quickly and well beyond our generation.”

    Andrée Bouchard
    Mayor, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu

    “Harpur Farms is a multi-generational family forestry business. We strongly believe that ‘great societies are those where people plant trees in whose shade they will never sit’. It is our privilege to work with a partner who shares the same long-term view.”

    Jordan Harpur
    President, Harpur Farms Ltd. 

    “First Nations want to play an active role in forest industry activities — especially in land management, forest reforestation and the production of forest seedlings to be planted on our Nitassinan (Territory) — and, above all, to leave an incredible legacy to our future generations.”

    Ricardo Arias
    President and Founder, Pepinière Forestière Tshitassinu

    Quick facts

    • The Government of Canada is contributing $2.7 million toward the City of Gatineau’s urban tree-planting project. The project is expected to plant 80,000 trees throughout the city by March 31, 2031.

    • The City of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu received $2 million in funding from Canada’s 2BT program to plant 70,000 trees by March 31, 2031.

    • Harpur Farm LTD received $1.9 million from Canada’s 2BT program to plant 251,000 trees on 208.5 acres of marginal lands and 41.9 acres in degraded woodlands. 

    • Canada’s 2BT program is funding $10 million to Pepinière Forestière Tshitassinu to build a fully automated Indigenous-led forest nursery. 

    • These projects are being supported by Canada’s 2 Billion Trees program. 2BT is part of the Government of Canada’s broader approach to nature-based climate solutions. The program is dedicated to working together with provinces, territories, local communities, non-and for-profit organizations and Indigenous Peoples across the country to ensure that the benefits of tree planting will endure for generations.

    • 2BT engages with applicants to understand their plans for preparing sites, how they are selecting species and how they plan to monitor after planting. Funding recipients report every year, and the program has a long-term monitoring plan to monitor the progress and the health of the trees. By ensuring the initial job is done well, nature can then thrive, maintaining the long-term health of forested sites. 

    • As of September 2024, the Government of Canada has secured or is negotiating agreements with partners to plant over 716 million trees.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    Natural Resources Canada
    Media Relations
    343-292-6096
    media@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

    Joanna Sivasankaran
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
    Joanna.Sivasankara@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

    Rachel Rivard
    Manager – Public Relations, Gatineau
    819 243-2345, ext 4001
    rivard.rachel@gatineau.ca

     

    Marie-Pier Gagnon
    Digital Strategy and Media Relations Advisor, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu
    450 357-2098, ext 2078
    m.gagnon@sjsr.ca

    Carl Simoncelli
    Vice-President, Harpur Farms Ltd.
    514-282-1996
    carl.simoncelli@taoco.com

    Ricardo Arias
    President and Founder, Pepinière Forestière Tshitassinu
    418-275-4545, ext 22
    arias.ricardo175@gmail.com

    Follow us on LinkedIn

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Dozens of surfers fell ill after swimming in seas that turned into a ‘bacterial smoothie’ of sea foam. What was in it?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ipek Kurtböke, Associate Professor in Microbiology, University of the Sunshine Coast

    Anthony Rowland

    Two windswept beaches 80km south of Adelaide have been closed to the public after locals reported “more than 100” surfers fell ill on the weekend. Their symptoms included “a sore throat, dry cough and irritated eyes” or blurred vision. Dead sea dragons, fish and octopuses have also washed up on the beaches.

    Water samples have been taken for testing and health authorities suspect toxins from an algal bloom may be to blame.

    But the “mysterious foam” in the water is a health hazard in its own right.

    My research shows people should not go in the sea when it is foaming. These bacterial smoothies can contain more harmful pathogens than a sewage treatment plant – and you wouldn’t go swimming in sewage.

    Beware of sea foam

    Sea foam doesn’t look dangerous. But looks can be deceiving. This foam is likely to contain a mixture of many different types of microbes and pollutants.

    On beaches with lots of sea foam, people should avoid all contact with the water – and definitely avoid surfing or breathing in the contaminated water droplets in the air.

    I have been studying sea foams since 2003. In 2021, my PhD student Luke Wright and I published research on our discovery of infectious disease-causing microbes in the sea foams of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.

    Named Nocardiae, these microbes are filamentous bacteria that can cause foaming in wastewater treatment plants, particularly when there’s a high load of fats, oils and greases. We now know the bacteria can cause foaming in the sea too.

    We detected 32 strains of Nocardiae in samples of sea foam from beaches at Noosa and south to Caloundra.

    Some of these species were new to science. So we named them Nocardia australiensis and Nocardia spumea (“spumea” meaning froth or foam).

    Nocardiae bacteria are known to cause skin, lung and central nervous system infections in both humans and animals. But the infection usually only takes hold in people with weakened immune systems. The bacteria can cause abscesses in the brain, lungs and liver.

    The incubation time can range between one and six months, depending on the strain of bacteria and the health status of the person involved.

    This means it will take some time for people to get infected and show symptoms. Long-term medical monitoring is required to detect the condition, as it can be masked by other disease-causing microbes such as the infectious agent that causes tuberculosis.

    Where is the sea foam coming from?

    During heavy winds, microbial spores from the soil can end up on the surface of the ocean.

    If the water is polluted with floating fats and grease as well as asphaltene, motor oil and hydrocarbons, these spores soon form bacterial colonies or biofilms that go forth and multiply.

    That’s because these microbes use pollution as a food source. Seawater is increasingly polluted by runoff from farmland or hard surfaces such as roads. Everything washed into the stormwater drains out to sea. During heavy storms accidental overflow from sewage systems can also occur, as Rockhampton has experienced in the past.

    Algae is another food source for these microbes, as they can crack open algae cells to access the nutritious oils inside. Sea foams have been observed in northern France during algal blooms.

    Warm water makes matters worse, as the warmth increases the survival rate for Nocardiae. In our laboratory on the Sunshine Coast, we were able to replicate a foaming event. We found foaming started at water temperatures of 24°C and above.

    What can be done about it?

    Reducing stormwater pollution will reduce the growth of sea foams. Any potential incident of infections of these surfers can raise awareness of the problem.

    But sea foam can also be found in pristine environments such as national parks, where it is mostly due to oils leached from trees. We proved this fact at Noosa National Park.

    In my experience on the Sunshine Coast, the council and other local authorities have been very receptive to advice on how to fix the problem. They have supported our research and also completed major upgrades at sewage treatment plants over the last 20 years.

    Once there’s an outbreak in the environment it is very difficult to control. That’s because ocean is an open system, as opposed to the closed system of a sewage treatment plant, where operators can use special chemicals or mechanical equipment to break the foam down. In open sea it’s impossible. So we just have to wait for it to go away.

    In this case, teams of researchers from different disciplines should come together to explore the issue. Microbiologists, marine scientists, meteorologists and chemists should team up to find out what’s going on. Ocean currents should be followed to determine where the pollutants end up.

    Sea foam is a global issue

    Earlier this month Tropical Cyclone Alfred whipped up sea foam all the way along the coast from South East Queensland to northern New South Wales. I was horrified to see footage of people playing in the thick, sticky sea foam, blissfully unaware of the dangers.

    But the problem is not confined to Australia, sea foam can be found at polluted beaches all over the world. Examples include India and Turkey.

    I have been telling this story ever since I first observed it on the Sunshine Coast in 2003. Every time there’s a major sea foam event, the media is interested. But research support is also needed in the gaps in between. We scientists need to monitor the shorelines continuously.

    As long as humanity continues to produce pollution, the problem will increase. It will also worsen as the world warms, because sea foams like it hot.

    Ipek Kurtböke does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Dozens of surfers fell ill after swimming in seas that turned into a ‘bacterial smoothie’ of sea foam. What was in it? – https://theconversation.com/dozens-of-surfers-fell-ill-after-swimming-in-seas-that-turned-into-a-bacterial-smoothie-of-sea-foam-what-was-in-it-252506

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: 6 creative community galleries to check out

    Source: Auckland Council

    If Auckland was an artwork, it would be a vast tapestry woven with the colourful threads of the many cultures that make up its diverse population. There are heaps of ways for art lovers to explore the creative fabric of Tāmaki Makaurau, including public artworks and art trails, galleries and community centres.

    While Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki is the epicentre of the city’s art scene, further afield there are community art galleries that showcase the vibrant work of artists from all fields and walks of life. The directors and curators from six local galleries share what makes their gallery.

    20 Hastings Road, Mairangi Bay

    Mairangi Arts Centre has an extensive workshop programme, including the popular pottery classes.

    What to expect: “Tucked away in the middle of Mairangi Bay, Mairangi Arts Centre (MAC) is a hidden gem, often overlooked by those passing by,” says Clint Taniguchi, general manager at MAC. “It holds a special place in the community as one of Auckland’s oldest art centres, boasting a rich legacy deeply intertwined with the local residents.

    “Mairangi Bay itself has a village atmosphere, and MAC plays a vital role in this close-knit community, fostering strong connections with local schools, organisations and businesses. It’s always heartwarming to hear from families who fondly remember taking art classes here as children, and who are now bringing their own children to experience the same joy of creative exploration.

    “There are three galleries: the Main Gallery, the smaller Hewson Gallery, and the MAC Artspace which is dedicated to exhibitions by our members. We also have four art studios, including a Clay Studio.”

    Get involved: Mairangi Arts Centre offers more than 60 classes and workshops throughout the year for children, youth and adults. Classes range from clay handbuilding and wheel throwing, to comic book illustration and painting classes.

    Something unexpected: Outside the facilities is Mairangi Arts Garden, a community-driven space dedicated to enriching native biodiversity.

    Don’t miss: “We will be participating in Auckland’s World Of Cultures festival with our exhibition and event Culture and Beyond. Following that, we will have a Pop Up! Cash n’ Carry exhibition in conjunction with an Open Day event in our garden. In May, we look forward to hosting exhibitions by the Korean Photography Association of New Zealand and an art collective, Dreamworks.”

    35 Uxbridge Road, Howick

    UXBRIDGE has an extensive kids’ arts programme with special events in the school holidays.

    What to expect: “We combine a number of wonderful facilities: art studios, workshops, theatre, art gallery, dance studio and a number of spaces for community hire,” explains director Paul Brobbel. “The building has an interesting history. Uxbridge began as Presbyterian church in the early 1900s and became an art centre in 1981. The church architecture (now the theatre) is the centre of Uxbridge’s identity. In 2016, a redevelopment merged the older architecture with the addition of modern offices, studios and a cafe.”

    Get involved: Uxbridge hosts a range of adult and children’s classes and workshops including its well-known painting, pottery and jewellery classes, plus popular new offerings such as bonsai and kintsugi workshops.

    Something unexpected: “Visit on a Saturday and you’ll see one of Auckland’s busiest places for art buzzing with dancing, workshops, children’s art and an amazing cafe. We’re in the heart of Howick with beautiful views of Hauraki Gulf and just minutes from the beach.”

    Don’t miss: “April sees our popular school holiday programme return with several workshops each day (some full-day options). We also have children’s films playing in the theatre. Our next term of classes also has some exciting workshops such as the return of pounamu carving and a new meditative drawing workshop, as well as Sculpting for Beginners with Shona Lyon.”

    Lopdell Precinct, 418 Titirangi Road, Titirangi

    The Upstairs Gallery on level one of Lopdell Precinct showcases artists such as Pusi Urale.

    What to expect: “We pride ourselves as being a gallery that supports local emerging talent, and our goal is to be a launching pad for future artists,” says co-director Carlos Vano. “We create an environment that’s welcoming but also provides a platform for artists to hone their skills of presentation to the community. We physically have a small gallery, so when people visit I like to tell them about other facilities in Lopdell Precinct such as the Don Binney artworks on permanent display in the hallway, Te Uru gallery next door, and the rooftop which has beautiful views of Manukau Harbour. There are also photos and information on the history of Lopdell House so visitors can learn more about the building itself.”

    Something unexpected: “We started with visual arts but soon found a need for expansion. We now hold movies, workshops, performance arts events, music gigs, pop-ups and artist talks. We are open to all groups and individuals that approach us.”

    Don’t miss: “We have a group show in April called Aspire which asks artists what your aspirations are? What would you like to happen with your future? We also have two solo shows in late April and May from Paola King-Borrero and Ahsin Ahsin.”

    420 Titirangi Road, Titirangi,

    Te Uru features several gallery spaces and is Auckland’s second largest art gallery.

    What to expect: “We are a beautiful six-storey building nestled at the foothills of the Waitākere Ranges,” says Te Uru director Adrienne Schierning. “We have six different gallery spaces, a purpose-built education space and a gallery shop. We’re open seven days a week, so visiting us is a great day out – perhaps on your way to one of the stunning west coast beaches or for a walk through Waitākere Ranges Regional Park. Entry to the gallery is free at all times.”

    Get involved: Te Uru offers after-school classes and holiday programmes for kids as well as creative kids’ birthday parties. There are also adult classes in a range of media (including Renaissance drawing and botanical watercolours) and one-off weekend workshops for adults such as raranga harakeke (flax weaving). Upcoming adults’ weekend workshops include an eco-paint and pastel making in April and a life drawing in May.

    Something unexpected: “People are often surprised by how big the gallery is and the architecture of the space. We are Tāmaki Makaurau’s second largest gallery. Often people don’t expect to see such an impressive facility in Titirangi. The architecture of the building is an artwork in its own right. Te Uru opened ten years ago and was designed by Mitchell Stout Dodd architects, and they won the New Zealand Architecture Award for Public Architecture for their work on Te Uru. The building has two impressive staircases at either end, and throughout it has a wonderful sense of openness and light. You get views of the bush and the harbour. Although you are inside a sturdy modern building you feel a connection to nature.”

    Don’t miss: “Photosynthesisers: Women and the lens is a huge survey of 41 women artists including queer, trans women and fa’afafine from Aotearoa and Australia. Soft Spot is an exhibition of three artists from Aotearoa – Ming Ranginui, Claudia Kogachi and Erica von Zon. We will be opening Pauline Yearbury: Life in Forms on 3 May which is really exciting, and we also have Maungrongo Te Kawa exhibiting until 22 June.”

    2 Mt Lebanon Lane, Henderson

    Corban Estate Arts Centre in Henderson is the site of a former winery.

    What to expect: Luana Walker, kaiwhakahaere/director at Corban Estate, says, “We’ve got everything an arts lover could want: Galleries, artist studios, classrooms, heritage spaces for hire, a performing arts theatre, a historic homestead and even a glass-casting workroom.

    Plus a café for when creativity requires caffeine. Corban Estate has a rich past, from its days as a working winery to its transformation into a thriving arts hub. There’s a sense of history woven into the walls, and you can feel the creative energy of those who’ve passed through.

    “But my absolute favourite moment is seeing children spill out of our classroom spaces at the end of a workshop, clutching their freshly made creations with pure excitement,

    paint-covered hands, big smiles, and the kind of joy that reminds you why art matters.”

    Get involved: “If you can make it, paint it, cast it, carve it or sketch it, we probably teach it! Our workshops range from printmaking, abstract painting, contemporary embroidery, graffiti workshops, wet felting, sculpture and glass casting. Basically, if you can make a mess doing it, we probably run a class for it.”

    Something unexpected: “Corban Estate was once a fully operational winery, complete with a cellar and a theatrette. If walls could talk, these ones would have some fascinating fermentation tales to tell!

    “People are also often surprised by the sheer scale of the place. It’s not just a gallery, it’s a sprawling creative hub filled with studios, workrooms, performance spaces and a whole lot of artistic energy. It’s a place where history and innovation collide, proving that creativity, much like a good wine, only gets better with time.”

    Don’t miss: “Kids Arts Festival – Celebrating Colour is happening on 5 April, bringing a vibrant explosion of creativity for all ages. From 1-24 April we’re featuring Rainbow Machine, a mobile artwork and part of the Auckland Council Public Art Collection.

    “There’s also The Great Snake Search, a free holiday trail winding through the estate in honour of the Year of the Snake, and Dragon Boat Festival Family Day, a cultural celebration full of storytelling, craft, and connection.”

    5/46 Fair Mall, Ōtara

    Fresh Gallery Ōtara holds scheduled monthly exhibitions of contemporary Pacific art.

    What to expect: Fresh Gallery Ōtara is an art space showcasing contemporary Pasifika artists and exhibitions relevant to the gallery’s location and its communities. The exhibitions change every six to seven weeks, offering fresh and diverse works throughout the year.

    Everything apart from the permanent furniture changes regularly. Fresh Gallery was established in 2006 as a partnership between Manukau City Council and the Ōtara community. The gallery’s program includes emerging solo artists, local school groups and collaborative group exhibitions, showcasing a variety of artistic voices and perspectives.

    Get involved: Fresh Gallery regularly holds workshops that are of interest to the local community such as a recent virtual reality and mixed media workshop held by Shivani Karan. Check out Fresh Gallery’s Facebook page for upcoming events. The public programs run alongside our exhibitions, providing opportunities for the community to engage with artists, learn more about their work and participate in creative discussions and activities.

    Something unexpected: Fresh Gallery is located next to the Ōtara Flea Market and every Saturday the town centre area is packed with people and stalls.

    Don’t miss: In April, Fresh Gallery Ōtara has an exhibition by Sean Hill, titled Sequencergy, running until 12 April. In May, the gallery will present an exhibition by Marie Mapa until May 24.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Supervisory Official Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division Delivers Remarks Following Verdict in San Antonio Human Smuggling Case

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Thank you U.S. Attorney Leachman for the Western District of Texas, Craig Laraby, Special Agent in Charge of HSI’s San Antonio Field Office, and everyone for being here. My name is Matthew Galeotti, and I am the Acting Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

    Today is a momentous day in the Department’s relentless fight against the leaders, organizers, and key facilitators of human smuggling networks – thanks to the work of our partners in the Western District of Texas and at ICE-HSI.

    As Attorney General Pamela Bondi has announced, the Department is committed to the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations. To help meet this goal, the Department is laser-focused on dismantling human smuggling networks. Working with our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and law enforcement partners, the Criminal Division is on the front lines of that fight.

    You have already heard from U.S. Attorney Leachman on the extraordinary work in this case, but let me take a moment to recognize the victims and the extraordinary efforts of the prosecution team that bring us all here today.

    As you heard, in June 2022, 64 aliens, from Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico were loaded into a tractor-trailer without functioning air conditioning by members of an alien smuggling organization for the three-hour drive from Laredo to San Antonio, ultimately leading to the deaths of 53 people, including children and one pregnant woman. Eleven others were hospitalized.

    Today, two of the people responsible, Felipe Orduna-Torres and Armando Gonzalez-Ortega, were held accountable for this tragedy by a United States jury. In total, eight members of this alien smuggling organization have now been convicted for their roles in this horrific event. This investigation and prosecution are the direct result of the hard work of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas and the dedicated special agents of Homeland Security Investigations, in close coordination with Joint Task Force Alpha and the Criminal Division.

    The crimes committed — and the tragedy caused — by this type of pernicious alien smuggling organization epitomize why the Attorney General is elevating Joint Task Force Alpha to be run directly out of her Office. The goal is to eliminate the scourge of human smuggling.

    Joint Task Force Alpha’s mission is to target and prosecute the leaders and organizers of transnational criminal organizations engaged in human smuggling and human trafficking throughout the Americas.

    Since its creation, Joint Task Force Alpha has tirelessly pursued significant smuggling indictments and extradition efforts across the country. In just the past seven weeks, the Department has charged more than 760 defendants involved in human smuggling.

    And we’re not done – not even by a long shot.

    In fact, we are continuing to prosecute those responsible for this mass casualty alien smuggling event.

    Just yesterday, Rigoberto Miranda-Orozco made his first court appearance here in the Western District of Texas after his extradition from Guatemala. His detention hearing is on Thursday. This Joint Task Force Alpha case will be prosecuted by trial attorneys from the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant United States Attorneys from the Western District of Texas.

    Miranda-Orozco was indicted and has been charged for allegedly conspiring with other smugglers to facilitate the travel of four aliens from Guatemala through Mexico, and ultimately, to the United States. He allegedly charged the aliens, or their families and friends, approximately $12,000 to $15,000 for the journey. The indictment alleges that three of these aliens passed away in the tractor-trailer in June 2022, and the fourth suffered serious bodily injury. For his actions, Miranda-Orozco is charged with six counts related to migrant smuggling resulting in death or serious bodily injury and he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

    This extradition sends the message that the Department of Justice will pursue human smugglers who violate U.S. law no matter where they are.

    I want to express my deep appreciation to our key law enforcement partners who built this investigation: HSI San Antonio and the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., along with U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center; U.S. Border Patrol; ATF; the San Antonio Police Department; and the Palestine Police Department. I would also like to thank our Criminal Division trial attorneys from the Office of International Affairs and resident legal advisors from the Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) who provided significant assistance in coordinating with our foreign partners.

    I also want to thank our foreign law enforcement partners, especially Guatemalan law enforcement, for their assistance with this investigation and extradition.

    As I mentioned, the Department is vigorously prosecuting human smugglers to the fullest extent of the law.

    The Department of Justice has been working with members of Congress to advance a proposal to increase the sentencing guidelines in such cases to accurately account for the full scope of harm that can result from human smuggling.

    People around the country may not be familiar with the prevalence and seriousness of human smuggling cases. This case exemplifies why we all must pay attention. Human smuggling is dehumanizing, dangerous and it can be deadly. Smuggling victims are often subject to rape, kidnapping, extortion, exploitation and more. It will not stand.

    Our resolve in tackling these crimes will not waver. Joint Task Force Alpha, along with our partners, will continue to pursue the leaders and organizers of human smuggling and trafficking networks wherever they operate, with an enhanced focus on alien smuggling and trafficking by cartels and transnational criminal organizations.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Dime Announces Expansion in Manhattan With Hire of Jim LoGatto

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: DCOM) (the “Company” or “Dime”), the parent company of Dime Community Bank (the “Bank”), announced today that Jim LoGatto has joined the Company as an Executive Vice President. LoGatto will be responsible for growing Dime’s commercial banking business in Manhattan.

    Most recently, LoGatto served as Executive Vice President and Director of US Private Banking at Israel Discount Bank of New York. He also held various executive level positions at Wells Fargo Bank and Independence Community Bank. LoGatto began his career at Irving Trust Company and subsequently joined Republic National Bank where he rose to the position of Managing Director.

    Stuart H. Lubow, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dime, said, “We are excited to attract a banker of Jim’s caliber to our organization. Jim is an extremely seasoned banker with a very strong reputation in the Manhattan marketplace. Hiring Jim is consistent with our stated goal of expanding our deposit and lending presence in Manhattan.”

    ABOUT DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.

    Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. is the holding company for Dime Community Bank, a New York State-chartered trust company with over $14 billion in assets and the number one deposit market share among community banks on Greater Long Island (1).

    Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.
    Investor Relations Contact:
    Avinash Reddy
    Senior Executive Vice President – Chief Financial Officer
    Phone: 718-782-6200; Ext. 5909
    Email: avinash.reddy@dime.com

    ____________________
    ¹ Aggregate deposit market share for Kings, Queens, Nassau & Suffolk counties for community banks with less than $20 billion in assets.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Resumed Hostilities, Blocked Aid Destroying Ceasefire Gains in Gaza, Security Council Hears

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    As Israel resumes airstrikes over Gaza and blocks entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip, the modest gains made during the ceasefire are being destroyed, Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, told the Security Council today.

    “Overnight, our worst fears materialized,” he added, noting unconfirmed reports of hundreds of people killed on 17 March.  Recalling his recent visit to the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel in February, he said that — despite the devastation he saw — “my trip coincided with some of Gaza’s better days” because a ceasefire was in place and humanitarians were delivering hundreds of trucks every day.  “Not anymore,” he reported.

    Since 2 March, Israeli authorities have halted the entry of all lifesaving supplies, including food, medicine, fuel and cooking gas, for 2.1 million people.  Repeated requests to collect aid sitting at the Karem Shalom border crossing have also been systematically rejected, no further hostages have been released and Israel has cut power to southern Gaza’s desalination plant, limiting access to clean water for 600,000 people.

    Further, international staff of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) are no longer able to rotate into and out of Gaza due to recent Knesset legislation.  He also highlighted new registration rules for international non-governmental organizations, as well as a law under consideration to impose high taxes on donations from third States to Israeli humanitarian and human-rights groups.

    Also pointing to the urgent crisis in the West Bank, he said that 95 Palestinians have been killed, including 17 children, since the start of 2025.  Additionally, Israeli military operations in the northern West Bank have displaced 40,000 Palestinians, while hundreds of Israeli settlers have launched large-scale attacks on Palestinian villages.  Outlining three urgent asks, he called on the Council to enable the entry of humanitarian aid and commercial essentials into Gaza, renew the ceasefire and fund the humanitarian response.

    Palestine Says Death Returns to Gaza, Israel Says Hamas Responsible

    The Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine, noting that this meeting was initially called to discuss Gaza’s humanitarian situation, added:  “Now we gather here after a series of deadly Israeli attacks that killed, last night alone, hundreds of Palestinians.”  Bombardment, death, devastation, fire and fear are yet again spreading throughout Gaza, he said.

    “Ceasefire works — it is the only thing that does,” he stressed, stating that it stopped the bloodshed, allowed the release of hostages and prisoners and enabled the delivery of humanitarian aid.  Unilateral, self-serving and irresponsible decisions cannot be used as excuses for breaking it.  “While the Trump Administration has prioritized the release of hostages, it is evident that [Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin] Netanyahu’s concern for his political survival far outweighs his concern for the survival of the hostages,” he added.

    The Arab Summit endorsed a clear vision and a solid plan for a different trajectory for Gaza and Palestine — “these efforts should be supported, not compromised and sabotaged”, he urged.  The international community must also support the Palestinian Government’s assumption of its responsibilities throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the deployment of a UN-mandated mission throughout the Territory, a permanent ceasefire and the two-State solution.  “This is a historical moment, where everyone must choose where they stand and what vision they want to see prevail,” he said.

    However, Israel’s representative stressed that “the return to fighting is a necessity”, reaffirming his country’s commitment to bring home its hostages and defeat Hamas.  Hamas has refused to release hostages and has repeatedly rejected all offers by the United States and mediating countries — even during Ramadan — he said, spotlighting the Israel Defense Forces’ precise attacks on Hamas targets.

    For months, Israel took unprecedented steps to facilitate humanitarian aid into Gaza, he asserted, adding that these efforts are “not speculation, not political rhetoric”; they are “documented, verifiable and confirmed by the organizations distributing and supplying the aid”.  The hostages still held in brutal captivity by Hamas should be paramount for those truly concerned about humanitarian crises, he said, adding:  “Any discussion of humanitarian suffering that does not begin with the hostage release is not an honest discussion.”

    “The slander that the people of Gaza are currently starving is quite simply untrue,” he continued, stating that “claims that electricity cut-off has plunged Gaza into humanitarian collapse are greatly exaggerated”. Rather, any suffering in Gaza is due to Hamas’ hijacking of aid for its violent ends.  Pointing to certain Council members’ efforts to malign Israel, he stressed:  “If this Council wishes to address suffering, then it must demand the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages.”

    Some Council Members Also Point to Hamas

    Along similar lines, the representative of United States emphasized that the blame for resumed hostilities lies solely with Hamas, which has steadfastly refused “every proposal and deadline they’ve been presented”.  Hamas prefers to hold hostages captive and hide amongst the people of Gaza, she said, dismissing the allegation of indiscriminate attacks by the Israel Defense Forces.  Underlining the need to tackle Iran’s “malign influence and State sponsorship of terror”, she said that Middle Eastern countries have an “historic opportunity to reshape their region”.

    Echoing that, Panama’s delegate said that the suffering in Gaza is the direct consequence of Hamas’ extremist actions, “which unleashed this tragic spiral of violence”.  He, too, condemned Hamas’ current refusal to meet the commitments agreed upon and release additional hostages.

    France’s representative highlighted the international conference to be held in June, chaired by his country and Saudi Arabia, on the implementation of the two-State solution.  The reconstruction plan for Gaza put forward by the Arab League must exclude Hamas from Gaza’s governance, he said.  “The terrorist attacks committed by Hamas and other terrorist groups on 7 October 2023 constitute the worst anti-Semitic massacre since the Shoah”, and he therefore reaffirmed France’s solidarity with the Israeli people.

    Others Point to Israel’s Responsibility as Occupying Power

    Algerians understand the cruelty of occupation “because we endured it for over 130 years”, that country’s delegate recalled.  “This deliberate blockade, timed to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, is a calculated effort to break the resilience of the Palestinian people,” he stressed.  Further, he observed that “the Israeli occupying Power is using water — yes, water — as a weapon of war.”  Once again, Palestinian blood has become a tool for the calculations of Israeli politicians, and he called on mediator countries to ensure compliance with the ceasefire.

    Blocking trucks, cutting off electricity, mistreating non-governmental organizations, preventing Muslims from accessing the Aqsa Mosque compound — “these are all tactics of the oppressor”, stated Pakistan’s representative.  The manner in which the Council and the international community respond to such atrocities will have a lasting impact on the nature of the world order.  He also pointed out that international humanitarian law prohibits targeting military targets in civilian facilities. 

    The Republic of Korea’s representative said that Hamas’ refusal to carry out its obligations does not justify blocking humanitarian aid or using it as a bargaining chip.  He cited Under-Secretary-General Fletcher’s remarks during a 12 March press briefing:  “I said to my colleague:  Why are the dogs so fat?  And he said:  Because the dogs are looking for corpses.”  Israel must immediately cease its offensive, he stressed, urging all parties to return to the negotiating table.

    The representative of Denmark, Council President for March, spoke in her national capacity to spotlight Israel’s obligation, as the occupying Power, to ensure that the civilian population does not lack food or other basic needs, including water.  Sierra Leone’s delegate also noted that Israel, as the occupying Power, has obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention and international humanitarian law.

    They, along with the representatives of the United Kingdom and China, were among the many speakers who underscored the need for an immediate ceasefire.  Somalia’s speaker, expressing concern that Israeli strikes in Gaza were taking place during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, also said that worshipers at the Aqsa Mosque compound must be able to freely and safely perform their religious rituals.  The Russian Federation’s delegate warned against delays, noting that many have died because of the Council’s earlier inability to decide on a ceasefire.

    Several speakers condemned Israel’s decision to halt humanitarian aid into Gaza.  “This decision is illegal,” emphasized Guyana’s representative, who also highlighted the impact on women — many have died from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth because of the restrictions.  She also noted the 13 March report of the independent international commission of inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which points to Israel’s systematic use of sexual, reproductive and other forms of gender-based violence since 7 October 2023.

    Slovenia’s representative, noting that it is roughly one year since the International Court of Justice issued provisional measures relating to humanitarian aid, famine and starvation in the case brought forward by South Africa, said that it is unacceptable that “our conversations are still the same”. 

    Greece’s delegate added that UNRWA’s role is indispensable with millions in urgent need of primary health services, education and shelter.  “War has not left the next generation in Gaza untouched,” he said, noting that thousands of children died, were injured or separated from their families and internally displaced.  The unhindered and continuous flow of aid into all parts of Gaza should remain a priority, and he also voiced support for the Arab plan put forth by Egypt.

    Also speaking today was the Permanent Observer of the League of Arab States, who urged implementation of the first phase of that plan, adopted during an Arab League meeting in Cairo and later endorsed by a ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).  He also urged the Council to activate international oversight mechanisms to guarantee the safe and sustainable delivery of aid and ensure the protection of Palestinian civilians.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Two Men Convicted and a Third Extradited from Guatemala to the United States for Involvement in 2022 Mass Casualty Alien Smuggling Event in San Antonio, TX

    Source: US State of Vermont

    Two men were convicted today by a federal jury for their roles in a 2022 mass casualty alien smuggling event in San Antonio, Texas that resulted in 53 deaths and 11 aliens injured. A third man allegedly involved in the same fatal smuggling incident was extradited from Guatemala to the United States to face justice in the case.

    “These convictions and extradition represent the Justice Department’s commitment to prosecuting the leaders, organizers, and key facilitators of alien smuggling networks that bring people illegally — at significant risk to life — into the United States,” said Supervisory Official Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “It is a powerful example of the crucial work of Joint Task Force Alpha, which has been enhanced and empowered to go after cartels and transnational criminal organizations and to eliminate the scourge of human smuggling and trafficking.”

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Felipe Orduna-Torres, also known as Cholo, Chuequito, and Negro, 30, and Armando Gonzalez-Ortega, also known as El Don and Don Gon, 55, conspired with others as part of an alien smuggling organization that loaded approximately 66 aliens into a tractor trailer, which lacked functioning air conditioning, and drove the aliens north across the U.S.-Mexico border and on a Texas interstate. On June 27, 2022, as the temperature rose, some of the migrants inside the trailer lost consciousness, while others clawed at the walls, trying to escape. By the time the tractor-trailer reached San Antonio, according to the evidence presented at trial, 48 migrants had already died. Another five migrants died after being transported to local hospitals. Six children and a pregnant woman were among the deceased. The defendants conspired with others to facilitate the travel of the aliens from Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras to the United States, charging the aliens and their families approximately $12,000 to $15,000 USD for the perilous journey.

    Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega were each convicted of one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death, one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, one count of transportation of illegal aliens resulting in death, and one count of transportation of illegal aliens resulting in serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy. For both counts resulting in death, they each face a maximum penalty of life in prison at their sentencing on June 27. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    In addition, extensive coordination and cooperation between U.S. and Guatemalan law enforcement authorities resulted in the extradition of Rigoberto Ramon Miranda-Orozco, 48, an alleged leader of a Guatemala-based alien smuggling organization, for his alleged role in the San Antonio mass casualty incident.

    “The extradition of Miranda-Orozco to U.S. custody is a major step in the takedown of a large and complex human smuggling organization he is alleged to be a part of,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “Just as we’ve shown throughout the trial of Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega, we will continue to prosecute this case aggressively — seeking justice for those who have perished, and holding accountable those who illegally value profit over human life.”

    “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) aggressively targets human smugglers, no matter where they operate or how far they think they can hide,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio. “These verdicts reflect the scope and depth of our human smuggling investigations. From country of origin to final destination, our special agents have worked tirelessly to track these criminals down and dismantle their entire smuggling network. One by one we are seeing the consequences of human smuggling as the justice system prevails.”

    According to court documents, Miranda-Orozco conspired with other smugglers to facilitate the travel of four aliens from Guatemala through Mexico, and ultimately, to the United States, charging the families approximately $12,000 to $15,000 USD for the deadly journey. In particular, Miranda-Orozco is alleged to be responsible for smuggling three migrants who perished in the tractor trailer.

    In August 2024, Miranda-Orozco, 48, was arrested in Guatemala pursuant to a U.S. request for his extradition. His arrest was part of a large-scale takedown during which Guatemalan law enforcement executed multiple search and arrest warrants across Guatemala. Miranda-Orozco was indicted under seal in the Western District of Texas (WDTX), and his indictment was unsealed after he was arrested. Miranda-Orozco made his initial appearance Monday in Federal District Court in San Antonio and was arraigned on the indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States resulting in death, three counts of aiding and abetting bringing an alien to the United States resulting in death, one count of conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, and one count of aiding and abetting bringing an alien to the United States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy.

    The convictions and extradition are the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern District of California, District of Arizona, District of New Mexico, and Western and Southern Districts of Texas. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 355 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 315 U.S. convictions; more than 260 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.

    HSI San Antonio led U.S. investigative efforts, working in concert with HSI Guatemala’s invaluable team members, and the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. HSI received substantial assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center/Operation Sentinel; U.S. Border Patrol; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the San Antonio Police Department; the San Antonio Fire Department; and the Palestine Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Guatemala to secure the arrest and extradition of Miranda-Orozco and, along with the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT), provided crucial assistance in this matter.

    The case against Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Fuchs, Sarah Spears, and Amanda Brown for the Western District of Texas. The case against Miranda-Orozco is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s HRSP Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney/JTFA prosecutor Jose Luis Acosta for the Western District of Texas, with assistance from HRSP Historian/Latin America Specialist Joanna Crandall.

    The Justice Department thanks its Guatemalan law enforcement partners, who were instrumental in arresting Miranda-Orozco, and the Guatemalan Attorney General’s Office and Anti-Human Smuggling Unit for making the extradition possible.

    The charges contained in an indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Men Convicted and a Third Extradited from Guatemala to the United States for Involvement in 2022 Mass Casualty Alien Smuggling Event in San Antonio, TX

    Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

    Two men were convicted today by a federal jury for their roles in a 2022 mass casualty alien smuggling event in San Antonio, Texas that resulted in 53 deaths and 11 aliens injured. A third man allegedly involved in the same fatal smuggling incident was extradited from Guatemala to the United States to face justice in the case.

    “These convictions and extradition represent the Justice Department’s commitment to prosecuting the leaders, organizers, and key facilitators of alien smuggling networks that bring people illegally — at significant risk to life — into the United States,” said Supervisory Official Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “It is a powerful example of the crucial work of Joint Task Force Alpha, which has been enhanced and empowered to go after cartels and transnational criminal organizations and to eliminate the scourge of human smuggling and trafficking.”

    According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Felipe Orduna-Torres, also known as Cholo, Chuequito, and Negro, 30, and Armando Gonzalez-Ortega, also known as El Don and Don Gon, 55, conspired with others as part of an alien smuggling organization that loaded approximately 66 aliens into a tractor trailer, which lacked functioning air conditioning, and drove the aliens north across the U.S.-Mexico border and on a Texas interstate. On June 27, 2022, as the temperature rose, some of the migrants inside the trailer lost consciousness, while others clawed at the walls, trying to escape. By the time the tractor-trailer reached San Antonio, according to the evidence presented at trial, 48 migrants had already died. Another five migrants died after being transported to local hospitals. Six children and a pregnant woman were among the deceased. The defendants conspired with others to facilitate the travel of the aliens from Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras to the United States, charging the aliens and their families approximately $12,000 to $15,000 USD for the perilous journey.

    Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega were each convicted of one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death, one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, one count of transportation of illegal aliens resulting in death, and one count of transportation of illegal aliens resulting in serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy. For both counts resulting in death, they each face a maximum penalty of life in prison at their sentencing on June 27. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    In addition, extensive coordination and cooperation between U.S. and Guatemalan law enforcement authorities resulted in the extradition of Rigoberto Ramon Miranda-Orozco, 48, an alleged leader of a Guatemala-based alien smuggling organization, for his alleged role in the San Antonio mass casualty incident.

    “The extradition of Miranda-Orozco to U.S. custody is a major step in the takedown of a large and complex human smuggling organization he is alleged to be a part of,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “Just as we’ve shown throughout the trial of Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega, we will continue to prosecute this case aggressively — seeking justice for those who have perished, and holding accountable those who illegally value profit over human life.”

    “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) aggressively targets human smugglers, no matter where they operate or how far they think they can hide,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio. “These verdicts reflect the scope and depth of our human smuggling investigations. From country of origin to final destination, our special agents have worked tirelessly to track these criminals down and dismantle their entire smuggling network. One by one we are seeing the consequences of human smuggling as the justice system prevails.”

    According to court documents, Miranda-Orozco conspired with other smugglers to facilitate the travel of four aliens from Guatemala through Mexico, and ultimately, to the United States, charging the families approximately $12,000 to $15,000 USD for the deadly journey. In particular, Miranda-Orozco is alleged to be responsible for smuggling three migrants who perished in the tractor trailer.

    In August 2024, Miranda-Orozco, 48, was arrested in Guatemala pursuant to a U.S. request for his extradition. His arrest was part of a large-scale takedown during which Guatemalan law enforcement executed multiple search and arrest warrants across Guatemala. Miranda-Orozco was indicted under seal in the Western District of Texas (WDTX), and his indictment was unsealed after he was arrested. Miranda-Orozco made his initial appearance Monday in Federal District Court in San Antonio and was arraigned on the indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States resulting in death, three counts of aiding and abetting bringing an alien to the United States resulting in death, one count of conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy, and one count of aiding and abetting bringing an alien to the United States causing serious bodily injury and placing lives in jeopardy.

    The convictions and extradition are the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern District of California, District of Arizona, District of New Mexico, and Western and Southern Districts of Texas. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 355 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 315 U.S. convictions; more than 260 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.

    HSI San Antonio led U.S. investigative efforts, working in concert with HSI Guatemala’s invaluable team members, and the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. HSI received substantial assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center/Operation Sentinel; U.S. Border Patrol; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the San Antonio Police Department; the San Antonio Fire Department; and the Palestine Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Guatemala to secure the arrest and extradition of Miranda-Orozco and, along with the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT), provided crucial assistance in this matter.

    The case against Orduna-Torres and Gonzalez-Ortega is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Fuchs, Sarah Spears, and Amanda Brown for the Western District of Texas. The case against Miranda-Orozco is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s HRSP Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney/JTFA prosecutor Jose Luis Acosta for the Western District of Texas, with assistance from HRSP Historian/Latin America Specialist Joanna Crandall.

    The Justice Department thanks its Guatemalan law enforcement partners, who were instrumental in arresting Miranda-Orozco, and the Guatemalan Attorney General’s Office and Anti-Human Smuggling Unit for making the extradition possible.

    The charges contained in an indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: ‘Intolerable’ suffering in Gaza amid deadly airstrikes, continued aid blockade

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Peace and Security

    The UN Secretary-General on Tuesday spoke of new “intolerable” suffering for Gazans following the resumption of deadly Israeli airstrikes, underscoring three immediate needs: a renewed ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access and the unconditional release of hostages.

    “We will not give up on these objectives,” António Guterres said during a press encounter at the UN Office in Geneva.

    Airstrikes resume, aid blocked

    In a statement issued earlier in the day, UN Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, said Mr. Guterres was “shocked” by the Israeli strikes, which reportedly killed hundreds overnight.

    He issued a strong appeal for both sides to uphold the ceasefire and allow humanitarian assistance to resume.

    Worst fears materialised

    Briefing the Security Council on the dire humanitarian situation, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher confirmed that Israeli forces had resumed widespread airstrikes, accompanied by new evacuation orders.

    “Our worst fears materialised,” he said, describing the renewed hostilities as a devastating setback to recent humanitarian efforts – marking the return to “abject fear” in Gaza.

    Mr. Fletcher reported that since 2 March, Israeli authorities had cut off all lifesaving supplies – food, medicine, fuel and cooking gas – into the Gaza Strip.

    “Food is rotting and medicines are expiring,” he warned, adding “our repeated requests to collect aid sitting at Kerem Shalom crossing have been systematically rejected.”

    Ceasefire gains reversed

    Mr. Fletcher further warned that that modest humanitarian gains made during the 42-day ceasefire had been wiped out.

    “During that period, over 4,000 trucks of aid per week entered Gaza. We reached two million people,” he said, noting also that 600,000 received polio vaccinations and maternity care for 5,000 births.

    “The suspension of aid and commercial materials is reversing that progress that we achieved during that brief period. Essential survival resources needed are now being rationed,” he added.

    Under-Secretary-General Fletcher briefs the Security Council.

    Concerns grow over West Bank

    The UN relief chief also highlighted worsening conditions in the West Bank, where 95 Palestinians, including 17 children, have been killed this year.

    Israeli military operations have intensified, deploying tanks for the first time in two decades. Around 40,000 Palestinians have been displaced and settlers have launched large-scale attacks on villages.

    “I also have grave concerns about the protection of civilians in the West Bank. The situation there is an urgent crisis that must be addressed with the necessary international attention,” Mr. Fletcher said.

    Call  for urgent action

    Mr. Fletcher concluded with a call for ambassadors to take three immediate steps: open Gaza’s border crossings to aid, renew the ceasefire and secure more funding for humanitarian operations.

    “The suffering of the people of the region must end. A renewed ceasefire is the best way of protecting civilians – in Gaza, in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT) and in Israel – releasing hostages and detainees and allowing aid and commercial supplies in,” he said.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: GAZA: Children among highest casualties of Israeli airstrikes in return to widespread death and destruction – Save the Children

    Source: Save the Children

    GAZA, 18 MARCH 2025 – Israeli airstrikes across Gaza have reportedly killed at least 404 Palestinians, mostly children and women, and injured at least 562 more in a unilateral resumption of hostilities that has returned Palestinians across the Strip to an inescapable living nightmare, said Save the Children.
    Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City, Khan Younis, Deir Al-Balah and Rafah governorates this morning wiped out entire families, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office.
    Israeli authorities have ordered people in some neighbourhoods of North Gaza and Khan Younis to relocate to shelters elsewhere in Khan Younis and Gaza City – governorates already hit by airstrikes today. This comes after the Government of Israel reimposed a total siege on the entry of aid and commercial supplies on 2 March. Supplies of life-saving goods that entered Gaza during the initial six-week pause in hostilities are again rapidly dwindling.
    Ahmad Alhendawi, Save the Children’s Regional Director, said:
    “Children and families in Gaza have barely caught their breath and are now being plunged back into a horrifically familiar world of harm that they cannot escape.
    “This latest slaughter was on starved, besieged, defenceless families. It follows more than a fortnight of total siege by the Government of Israel on entry of aid and goods, and repeated violations of the agreed pause in hostilities, international humanitarian law, and the Provisional Measures from the International Court of Justice demanding increased aid flows.
    “These airstrikes come as hundreds of thousands of Palestinians remain displaced, their homes destroyed and uninhabitable, with tents all that stand between them and explosive weapons designed for wide reach. Children are the most vulnerable to explosive weapons. Their lighter bodies are thrown further by the blasts and their bones are softer and bend more easily, with higher risk of secondary injuries and long-term deformities and disabilities. Their small bodies have less blood to lose – a death sentence when emergency services can’t safely operate and reach them.
    “Children who survive the onslaught will not be able to receive adequate medical care or even basic pain medication, following the Government of Israel’s restrictions on and denial of medical supplies and the fuel hospitals need to function. About 579 children have been medically evacuated since the start of February but more than 4,500 more children need to be. If the siege and airstrikes continue, that number will skyrocket.
    “This cannot be what world powers allow children to return to. When children are slaughtered en masse, humanity’s moral and legal foundations crumble. We have seen it for ourselves: the only way to ensure children and families are protected as international law requires is through a ceasefire. This time, it must be definitive – the constant threat of war cannot be left hanging over their heads.
    “Until then, even wars have laws, and those laws are clear. Civilians must be actively protected, with concrete steps taken to avoid and minimize civilian casualties. There is no military imperative that can justify atrocity crimes. And the international community must use all available means – exhaustively, not selectively – to ensure international law is upheld. Anything less is a global failure – not a mistake, not a regrettable dilemma, but a total dereliction of legal duty. Failure to act now risks the annihilation of children and their futures.” 

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Gaza – “We are horrified by the attacks launched by Israel today on the people of Gaza, shattering the nearly two-month-old ceasefire.” – MSF

    Source: Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

    “We are horrified by the attacks launched by Israel today on the people of Gaza, shattering the nearly two-month-old ceasefire.”

    Claire Magone, General Director France, Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Border.

    “We are horrified by the attacks launched by Israel today on the people of Gaza, shattering the nearly two-month-old ceasefire. Out of the hundreds killed, according to the Ministry of Health, MSF received 75 dead on arrival and scores of wounded in just three of the facilities we support.

    Our staff were completely taken by surprise and found themselves once again having to deal with influxes of mass casualties, many of whom were children.

    In line with the tactics that the Israeli authorities have applied since October 2023, they have once again chosen to collectively punish the people of Gaza – with the explicit approval of their closest ally, the United States – striking with an intensity not seen since the early stages of the war. For over 15 months, before the ceasefire, people in Gaza were indiscriminately killed, mutilated, wounded, and displaced.

    Israeli forces undertaking these latest ruthless attacks and evacuation orders make us fear that a new phase of military operations in Gaza is about to begin. Palestinians in Gaza will simply not be able to withstand this, neither physically nor mentally. Their hopes of recovering at least part of their previous lives are being shattered.

    Since the ceasefire came into effect on 19 January, people have been struggling to restore the basics of their day to day lives after a drawn out, devastating military campaign, which has annihilated the very fabric of society in Gaza. Israel has once again cut access to humanitarian aid and basic goods.

    MSF calls for the ceasefire to be immediately restored and for Israel to not restart its campaign of destruction and the nightmarish, massive bombing on the people of Gaza. MSF also calls for the blockade to be lifted, and for people to regain unrestricted access to basic supplies and aid. Injured people and patients requiring urgent medical care should be allowed to seek care outside of Gaza, provided their right to a safe and dignified return is granted.”

    Claire Nicolet, MSF head of emergencies, currently in Gaza

    “This night at 2 a.m. we have been awoken by the sounds of bombing, heavy bombing. It was absolutely terrifying for 20 minutes with bombs all over the place and when we started looking at what is the situation for the whole Gaza Strip, we understood that the massive attack with airstrike, heavy artillery, quadcopters was for the whole Gaza Strip. After these 20 minutes we continued to hear all night long some heavy bombing, some airstrikes, some artillery in Rafah, in Khan Younis, in almost all parts of Gaza.

    We heard as soon as it started the sounds of ambulances because obviously there was a huge number of patients, of wounded, of dead. So lots of patients arrived to the different hospitals.

    Hospitals were very overwhelmed and also at the moment it’s quite difficult because it means that the patient cannot really move, they don’t know if it’s safe and even our teams, we don’t know if we can move around the Gaza Strip because as it was an ongoing truce there was no more notification system or any system to be sure that we will be safe by moving.  Now it means as well that the MSF teams in the north and the team in the south are again split. It means as well the population cannot move freely from one place to another and in reality, there is very poor access to health care, very poor access to shelter as everything is destroyed.

    This is the current situation we are facing and unfortunately there is a lot of needs but also a lot of uncertainty on what’s next.

    The population here is completely afraid. Of course, they see this is a full restart of the fighting and they are very scared of what’s next.”

    MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation. MSF has been working in Haiti for over 30 years, offering general healthcare, trauma care, burn wound care, maternity care, and care for survivors of sexual violence. MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. In 2022, more than 120 project staff from Australia and New Zealand worked with MSF on assignment overseas. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au  

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. Files Civil Forfeiture Complaint Against Aircraft Used by Nicolás Maduro Moros in Violation of U.S. Sanctions and Export Control Laws

    Source: US State of California

    Note: View the forfeiture complaint.

    The United States today filed a civil forfeiture complaint in the Southern District of Florida against a Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft, bearing tail number T7-ESPRT, which was smuggled from the United States under false pretenses and operated for the benefit of Nicolás Maduro Moros (Maduro) and his representatives in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (the Maduro Regime) in violation of U.S. sanctions and export control laws. The aircraft was seized last year in the Dominican Republic at the request of the United States.

    Today’s filing alleges that the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft was purchased and maintained in violation of U.S. sanctions against Maduro and the Maduro Regime. According to the complaint, the aircraft is forfeitable based on violations of U.S. law, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and money laundering violations.

    Since 2014, the United States has imposed sanctions against targeted individuals, entities, and sectors in Venezuela to address the increasing political oppression and corruption in Venezuela by the Maduro Regime. On March 8, 2015, the President found that the situation in Venezuela constituted an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States and declared a national emergency pursuant to IEEPA to deal with that threat. See Executive Order (E.O.) 13692.

    In 2017, 2018, and 2019, President Trump took additional steps regarding the national emergency declared in E.O. 13692. On Aug. 5, 2019, the President issued E.O. 13884 “in light of the continued usurpation of power by Nicolás Maduro and persons affiliated with him, as well as human rights abuses, including arbitrary or unlawful arrest and detention of Venezuelan citizens, interference with freedom of expression, including for members of the media, and ongoing attempts to undermine Interim President Juan Guaidó and the Venezuelan National Assembly’s exercise of legitimate authority in Venezuela.”

    E.O. 13884 prohibits the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to the order, including the Government of Venezuela and the Maduro Regime; the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person; and, any transaction that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in the order.

    The complaint alleges that on or about Jan. 23, 2023, a company purportedly based in the Caribbean island country of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Foreign Company 1) entered into a contract to purchase the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft from a company in Florida for $13,250,000. The complaint further alleges that the individual in charge of purchasing the aircraft purportedly on behalf of Foreign Company 1 was a Venezuelan national (Foreign Principal 1), who concealed the fact that he was representing or associated with the Maduro Regime.

    The complaint further alleges that Foreign Company 1 merely acted as a nominee owner of the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft as it was formed shortly before the purchase, in June 2022, and was struck from the register of St. Vincent companies for failure to pay annual fees two years later, in May 2024.

    The complaint further alleges that funds used to purchase the Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft were sent via multiple wire transfers from different countries, including Malaysia, using both U.S. dollars and euros, and that Foreign Company 1 used an email address with a “.ae” domain from the United Arab Emirates to correspond with the Florida-based seller even though Foreign Company 1’s representatives allegedly had Spanish names and some of the emails contained the phrase “Enviado desde mi iPhone,” or Spanish for “Sent from my iPhone.”

    The complaint further alleges that the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft was flown from the United States to St. Vincent on or about April 3, 2023, and approximately five hours later, it departed for Caracas, Venezuela, piloted by two members of the Venezuelan Presidential Honor Guard, and accompanied by a second aircraft that operates out of a Venezuelan military base.

    The complaint further alleges that, since May 2023, the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft has flown to and from Venezuela at least 21 times and Maduro has been seen traveling with the aircraft on official visits to other countries, including for a December 2023 prisoner exchange with the United States.

    As alleged, in March 2024, the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft was flown to the Dominican Republic for service and maintenance where Foreign Company 1 held itself out to be the owner, concealing from the Dominican-based jet maintenance company that the aircraft had been purchased and operated for benefit of the Maduro Regime.

    The complaint further alleges that on at least two occasions in May 2024, Foreign Principal 1, purportedly acting on behalf of Foreign Company 1, and other Venezuelan individuals, including military personnel, attempted to retrieve the Dassault Falcon aircraft from the Dominican Republic.

    Following the attempts by the Venezuelan individuals to retrieve the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft, the U.S. government obtained a seizure warrant and requested that the Dominican Republic seize, detain, and transfer the Dassault Falcon aircraft. Pursuant to U.S. request, the aircraft was transported back to the United States on Sept. 2, 2024. That same day, the Maduro Regime issued a statement admitting the Dassault Falcon aircraft “has been used by” Maduro.

    A second Dassault Falcon aircraft identified by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) as blocked property of Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), the sanctioned Venezuelan state-owned oil and natural-gas company, and illegally serviced and maintained in violation of U.S. sanctions, also was seized in the Dominican Republic at the request of the United States government on Feb. 6, 2025.

    The Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security Miami Field Office is investigating the case, along with the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Santo Domingo.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Paster and Jorge Delgado for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are handling the matter.

    The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and HSI El Dorado Task Force Miami provided significant assistance in working with authorities in the Dominican Republic. The United States thanks the Dominican Republic for its assistance in this matter.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Draft agenda – Tuesday, 1 April 2025 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    26 Macro-financial assistance to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
    Céline Imart     – Amendments; rejection Wednesday, 26 March 2025, 13:00 40 Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2024
    David McAllister (A10-0010/2025)      – Amendments Wednesday, 26 March 2025, 13:00 39 Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2024
    Nicolás Pascual de la Parte (A10-0011/2025)      – Amendments Wednesday, 26 March 2025, 13:00 38 Human rights and democracy in the world and the European Union’s policy on the matter – annual report 2024
    Isabel Wiseler-Lima (A10-0012/2025)      – Amendments Wednesday, 26 March 2025, 13:00 47 Targeted attacks against Christians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – defending religious freedom and security     – Motion for a resolution Wednesday, 26 March 2025, 13:00     – Amendments to the motion for a resolution Friday, 28 March 2025, 12:00     – Amendments to joint motions for resolutions Monday, 31 March 2025, 19:00 Separate votes – Split votes – Roll-call votes Texts put to the vote on Tuesday Friday, 28 March 2025, 12:00 Texts put to the vote on Wednesday Monday, 31 March 2025, 19:00 Texts put to the vote on Thursday Tuesday, 1 April 2025, 19:00 Motions for resolutions concerning debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law (Rule 150) Wednesday, 2 April 2025, 19:00

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Mass killings of Christians and Alawites by the jihadist forces that have taken power in Syria – P-001088/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-001088/2025
    to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
    Rule 144
    Giorgos Georgiou (The Left)

    According to news articles and international press reports, in recent weeks, the jihadist forces that seized control of Syria have been engaging in mass killings and acts of terrorism against civilians. The evidence points to ethnic and religious minorities – mainly Christians and Alawites – being targeted, as well as the forces defending the need for a secular democratic state.

    Can the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy answer the following:

    • 1.What immediate measures does she intend to take to prevent jihadist forces that took control of the country from continuing their killing spree, which is also prompting new waves of refugees?
    • 2.How, with concrete practical measures, will she ensure that the national dialogue launched at the end of February will fulfil the aspirations of the whole of Syrian society?

    Submitted: 13.3.2025

    Last updated: 18 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: The EU mobilises international support for Syria’s transition and the region raising €5.8 billion

    Source: European Commission

    European Commission Press release Brussels, 18 Mar 2025 On 17 March, during the ninth edition of the Brussels Conference on “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition” hosted by the European Union, the donor community pledged a total amount of €5.8 billion.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Files Civil Forfeiture Complaint Against Aircraft Used by Nicolás Maduro Moros in Violation of U.S. Sanctions and Export Control Laws

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Note: View the forfeiture complaint.

    The United States today filed a civil forfeiture complaint in the Southern District of Florida against a Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft, bearing tail number T7-ESPRT, which was smuggled from the United States under false pretenses and operated for the benefit of Nicolás Maduro Moros (Maduro) and his representatives in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (the Maduro Regime) in violation of U.S. sanctions and export control laws. The aircraft was seized last year in the Dominican Republic at the request of the United States.

    Today’s filing alleges that the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft was purchased and maintained in violation of U.S. sanctions against Maduro and the Maduro Regime. According to the complaint, the aircraft is forfeitable based on violations of U.S. law, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and money laundering violations.

    Since 2014, the United States has imposed sanctions against targeted individuals, entities, and sectors in Venezuela to address the increasing political oppression and corruption in Venezuela by the Maduro Regime. On March 8, 2015, the President found that the situation in Venezuela constituted an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States and declared a national emergency pursuant to IEEPA to deal with that threat. See Executive Order (E.O.) 13692.

    In 2017, 2018, and 2019, President Trump took additional steps regarding the national emergency declared in E.O. 13692. On Aug. 5, 2019, the President issued E.O. 13884 “in light of the continued usurpation of power by Nicolás Maduro and persons affiliated with him, as well as human rights abuses, including arbitrary or unlawful arrest and detention of Venezuelan citizens, interference with freedom of expression, including for members of the media, and ongoing attempts to undermine Interim President Juan Guaidó and the Venezuelan National Assembly’s exercise of legitimate authority in Venezuela.”

    E.O. 13884 prohibits the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to the order, including the Government of Venezuela and the Maduro Regime; the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person; and, any transaction that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in the order.

    The complaint alleges that on or about Jan. 23, 2023, a company purportedly based in the Caribbean island country of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Foreign Company 1) entered into a contract to purchase the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft from a company in Florida for $13,250,000. The complaint further alleges that the individual in charge of purchasing the aircraft purportedly on behalf of Foreign Company 1 was a Venezuelan national (Foreign Principal 1), who concealed the fact that he was representing or associated with the Maduro Regime.

    The complaint further alleges that Foreign Company 1 merely acted as a nominee owner of the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft as it was formed shortly before the purchase, in June 2022, and was struck from the register of St. Vincent companies for failure to pay annual fees two years later, in May 2024.

    The complaint further alleges that funds used to purchase the Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft were sent via multiple wire transfers from different countries, including Malaysia, using both U.S. dollars and euros, and that Foreign Company 1 used an email address with a “.ae” domain from the United Arab Emirates to correspond with the Florida-based seller even though Foreign Company 1’s representatives allegedly had Spanish names and some of the emails contained the phrase “Enviado desde mi iPhone,” or Spanish for “Sent from my iPhone.”

    The complaint further alleges that the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft was flown from the United States to St. Vincent on or about April 3, 2023, and approximately five hours later, it departed for Caracas, Venezuela, piloted by two members of the Venezuelan Presidential Honor Guard, and accompanied by a second aircraft that operates out of a Venezuelan military base.

    The complaint further alleges that, since May 2023, the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft has flown to and from Venezuela at least 21 times and Maduro has been seen traveling with the aircraft on official visits to other countries, including for a December 2023 prisoner exchange with the United States.

    As alleged, in March 2024, the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft was flown to the Dominican Republic for service and maintenance where Foreign Company 1 held itself out to be the owner, concealing from the Dominican-based jet maintenance company that the aircraft had been purchased and operated for benefit of the Maduro Regime.

    The complaint further alleges that on at least two occasions in May 2024, Foreign Principal 1, purportedly acting on behalf of Foreign Company 1, and other Venezuelan individuals, including military personnel, attempted to retrieve the Dassault Falcon aircraft from the Dominican Republic.

    Following the attempts by the Venezuelan individuals to retrieve the Dassault Falcon 900 EX aircraft, the U.S. government obtained a seizure warrant and requested that the Dominican Republic seize, detain, and transfer the Dassault Falcon aircraft. Pursuant to U.S. request, the aircraft was transported back to the United States on Sept. 2, 2024. That same day, the Maduro Regime issued a statement admitting the Dassault Falcon aircraft “has been used by” Maduro.

    A second Dassault Falcon aircraft identified by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) as blocked property of Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), the sanctioned Venezuelan state-owned oil and natural-gas company, and illegally serviced and maintained in violation of U.S. sanctions, also was seized in the Dominican Republic at the request of the United States government on Feb. 6, 2025.

    The Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security Miami Field Office is investigating the case, along with the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Santo Domingo.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Paster and Jorge Delgado for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are handling the matter.

    The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and HSI El Dorado Task Force Miami provided significant assistance in working with authorities in the Dominican Republic. The United States thanks the Dominican Republic for its assistance in this matter.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Stand Up for Palestine: A Call to Action Against Israels Treacherous Attack

    Source: Te Pati Maori

    At 2.30am local time, Israel launched a treacherous attack on Gaza killing more than 300 defenceless civilians while they slept.

    Many of them were children.

    This followed a more than 2 week-long blockade by Israel on the entry of all goods and aid into Gaza.

    Israel deliberately targeted densely populated areas, schools, homes, and shelters for displaced people in the middle of a ceasefire.

    Donald Trump, who claims credit for the ceasefire, was consulted ahead of this attack. Neither Israel nor the United States have provided any justification for their actions.

    “This was a clearly premeditated act of terrorism on people who are trying to piece their shattered lives back together during ceasefire,” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader and Human Rights spokesperson Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.

    “Israel had no intention of honouring ceasefire. If they were capable of honour, we would not be in this situation to begin with.

    “A genocide is being live-streamed, and we are allowing it to happen. It is unforgivable.

    “History will judge all of us on where we stood today,” Ngarewa-Packer said.  

    “Donald Trump has openly called for the ethnic cleansing and colonisation of Gaza by the United States, and our spineless Prime Minister backs him,” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader and Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Rawiri Waititi.

    “These people do not care, and they do not listen.

    “If they will not hear us, we need to make them feel us,” Waititi said.

    We are once again calling on te iwi Māori to stand up for Palestine.

    Hit the streets and join in the global call for action.

    Educate your whānau on who to boycott and who to support. Do not give one more dollar or click to Zionism.

    We must ramp up our efforts. The time for asking is over.

    Free Palestine.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Specific measures consistent with the International Criminal Court – E-002679/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The unconditional respect and the relentless promotion of international law, including criminal law, are at the heart of both the EU identity and foreign policy.

    The EU has taken note of the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and reiterates its support to the ICC and its activities based on the principles set out in the Rome statute.

    All Member States as state parties to the Rome Statute are obliged to cooperate fully with the ICC, including regarding the implementation of arrest warrants.

    The High Representative/Vice-President had an exchange with Foreign Ministers at the December 2024 Foreign Affairs Council[1] on the importance of EU support to the ICC.

    The EU keeps its diplomatic and trade relations with third countries under constant review. The EU has been consistently clear that political engagement and frank and open dialogue are the most effective way to convey the EU’s concerns, including to Israeli partners.

    The High Representative/Vice-President convened the EU-Israel Association Council on 24 February 2025[2], which provided an opportunity for the EU and its Member States to discuss the situation in the Middle East and convey the EU’s concerns.

    • [1] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/fac/2024/12/16/
    • [2] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-ministerial-meetings/2025/02/24/
    Last updated: 18 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: NZ must act on Israel’s slaughter of children

    Source: Green Party

    The Green Party is calling on Government MPs to support Chlöe Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence and illegal actions in Palestine, following another day of appalling violence against civilians in Gaza.

    “Aotearoa New Zealand cannot remain a bystander to the slaughter of innocent people in Gaza. We can and must act now to sanction Israel for its crimes, just like we did with Russia for its illegal action in Ukraine,” says Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. 

    “With Green, Te Pāti Māori and Labour’s committed support, we now need just six of 68 Government MPs to pass my Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill into law.

    “In just the last 24 hours, Israel’s strikes on Gaza have killed at least 400 people, mostly children and women, and left many more injured.

    “There’s no more time for talk. If we stand for human rights and peace and justice, our Parliament must act.

    “In September, Aotearoa joined 123 UN Member States to support a resolution calling for sanctions against those responsible for Israel’s ‘unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in relation to settler violence.’

    “Our Government has since done nothing to fulfil that commitment. Our Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill starts that very basic process.

    “No party leader or whip can stop a Member of Parliament exercising their democratic right to vote how they know they need to on this Bill. There is no more hiding behind party lines. All 123 Members of Parliament are each individually, personally responsible,” says Chlöe Swarbrick. 

    NOTES TO EDITORS:

    • Palestinian authorities reported that 404 people were killed and over 600 people injured in yesterday’s airstrikes by Israel. According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, the airstrikes in Gaza City, Khan Younis, Deir Al-Balah and Rafah wiped out entire families.
    • Israeli military officials said the IDF targeted Hamas military commanders and political officials. However, Save the Children reported that most of those killed in the airstrikes were women and children.
    • In recent weeks of the ceasefire, Israel had cut off power to Gaza, and enforced a total siege on the entry of aid and supplies into the territory for Palestinian communities already facing starvation and illness.
    • The attacks by Israel take place during the holy month of Ramadhan, an important month in the Muslim calendar. 
    • At least 48,577 Palestinians have been killed, and 112,041 wounded, throughout Israel’s war on Gaza.
    • Elsewhere in Palestinian territory, 43 Palestinian children have been killed in the West Bank since last October, a spike of nearly 250%, according to UNICEF.
    • Standing Order 288 outlines the process for Member’s Bills to bypass the member’s bill ballot (colloquially known as the ‘biscuit tin’), with the support of 61 non-executive members. With 55 Opposition members now officially in support of Swarbrick’s Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill, the support of just 6 Government MPs is necessary to get the Bill onto the floor of Parliament. 
    • On 10th December 2024, Swarbrick wrote to all Members of Parliament asking their support for the Bill to bypass the ballot, and later asked the Prime Minister in the House if there would be any Government policy or position preventing MPs from exercising their democratic right to support the Bill bypassing the ballot. He said that he would have a “good look at the Bill”.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Israel/OPT: Israeli air strikes kill over 400 Palestinians across Gaza in unilateral resumption of mass attacks

    Source: Amnesty International –

    ‘The world cannot stand by and allow Israel to continue inflicting staggering levels of death and suffering on Palestinians in Gaza’ – Agnes Callamard

    Responding to a series of Israeli strikes across the occupied Gaza Strip overnight which killed at least 414 Palestinians, including 174 children, and hospitalised over 550 more, signalling a unilateral end to the truce with Hamas, Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard said:

     

    “Today is a desperately dark day for humanity. Israel brazenly resumed its devastating bombing campaign in Gaza killing at least 414 people in their sleep, including at least 100 children, and again wiping out entire families in a matter of hours. Palestinians in Gaza – who have barely had a chance to start piecing together their lives and continue to grapple with the trauma of Israel’s past attacks – have woken up once more to the hellish nightmare of intense bombardment.

     

    “Israel’s genocide and its unlawful air strikes have already caused unprecedented humanitarian suffering in Gaza. Today, we are back to square one. Since 2 March, Israel has re-imposed a total siege on Gaza blocking the entry of all humanitarian aid, medicine, and commercial supplies, including fuel and food, in flagrant violation of international law. Israel has also cut off electricity to Gaza’s main operational desalination plant. And today the Israeli military has once again started issuing mass ‘evacuation’ orders displacing Palestinians.

     

    “Amnesty International’s researchers spoke to medical staff working at three hospitals in Gaza City and North Gaza governorate who described scenes of unspeakable horror beginning in the early hours of the morning. Al-Shifa, once the largest medical complex in Gaza, now largely destroyed by past Israeli military raids, had only three beds to receive the wounded.

     

    “Al-Ahli Arab Baptist hospital in Gaza City – the only hospital with a functioning intensive care unit – was forced to treat some of the 80 wounded it received in the corridors and in the hospital’s yard. The Indonesian hospital is the only hospital in North Gaza Governorate that is barely functioning. It is still in the process of being rebuilt, following Israel’s previous military campaign. 

     

    “The near-total decimation of the healthcare system in Gaza, particularly in the north, and the desperate shortages in medical equipment and supplies, exacerbated by Israel’s unlawful siege, effectively means a death sentence for many of those with serious injuries and illnesses, including those that in normal conditions would be easily curable. All the while, Israeli authorities continue to impose extremely tight restrictions on medical evacuations outside Gaza. 

     

    “The resumption of Israel’s attacks also puts the lives of 24 remaining Israeli hostages believed to be alive at risk. This is also a cruel blow for hostages and Palestinian detainees as well as for their families. We remind all parties that civilian hostages and arbitrarily detained Palestinians must be released.

     

    “The world cannot stand by and allow Israel to continue inflicting staggering levels of death and suffering on Palestinians in Gaza. We urge all states to uphold their obligations to prevent and punish genocide and to ensure respect for international humanitarian law, by pressing Israel to end its attacks and to facilitate the unconditional and unhindered entry of humanitarian aid.

     

    “States must come together and demand an immediate resumption of an enduring ceasefire, an end to Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, and the dismantling of its system of apartheid and unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory.”

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Israeli air strikes kill over 400 Palestinians across Gaza following unilateral resumption of mass attacks  

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Responding to a series of Israeli strikes across the occupied Gaza Strip overnight which killed at least 414 Palestinians, including 174 children, and hospitalized over 550 more, signalling a unilateral end to the truce with Hamas, Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard said:

    “Today is a desperately dark day for humanity. Israel brazenly resumed its devastating bombing campaign in Gaza killing at least 414 people in their sleep, including at least 100 children, and again wiping out entire families in a matter of hours. Palestinians in Gaza – who have barely had a chance to start piecing together their lives and continue to grapple with the trauma of Israel’s past attacks – have woken up once more to the hellish nightmare of intense bombardment.

    Palestinians in Gaza – who have barely had a chance to start piecing together their lives and continue to grapple with the trauma of Israel’s past attacks – have woken up once more to the hellish nightmare of intense bombardment.

    Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard

    “Israel’s genocide and its unlawful air strikes have already caused unprecedented humanitarian suffering in Gaza. Today, we are back to square one. Since 2 March, Israel has re-imposed a total siege on Gaza blocking the entry of all humanitarian aid, medicine, and commercial supplies, including fuel and food, in flagrant violation of international law. Israel has also cut off electricity to Gaza’s main operational desalination plant. And today the Israeli military has once again started issuing mass ‘evacuation’ orders displacing Palestinians.

    “Amnesty International’s researchers spoke to medical staff working at three hospitals in Gaza City and North Gaza governorate who described scenes of unspeakable horror beginning in the early hours of the morning. Al-Shifa, once the largest medical complex in Gaza, now largely destroyed by past Israeli military raids, had only three beds to receive the wounded.

    “Al-Ahli Arab Baptist hospital in Gaza City – the only hospital with a functioning intensive care unit – was forced to treat some of the 80 wounded it received in the corridors and in the hospital’s yard. The Indonesian hospital is the only hospital in north Gaza Governorate that is barely functioning. It is still in the process of being rebuilt, following Israel’s previous military campaign.  

    “The near-total decimation of the healthcare system in Gaza, particularly in the north, and the desperate shortages in medical equipment and supplies, exacerbated by Israel’s unlawful siege, effectively means a death sentence for many of those with serious injuries and illnesses, including those that in normal conditions would be easily curable. All the while, Israeli authorities continue to impose extremely tight restrictions on medical evacuations outside Gaza.  

    “The resumption of Israel’s attacks also puts the lives of 24 remaining Israeli hostages believed to be alive at risk. This is also a cruel blow for hostages and Palestinian detainees as well as for their families. We remind all parties that civilian hostages and arbitrarily detained Palestinians must be released.

    “The world cannot stand by and allow Israel to continue inflicting staggering levels of death and suffering on Palestinians in Gaza. We urge all states to uphold their obligations to prevent and punish genocide and to ensure respect for international humanitarian law, by pressing Israel to end its attacks and to facilitate the unconditional and unhindered entry of humanitarian aid. “States must come together and demand an immediate resumption of an enduring ceasefire, an end to Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, and the dismantling of its system of apartheid and unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory.”

    MIL OSI NGO –