What a joke. This is so obviously just a PR move for the election. They have no intention of actually backing it up.

In short:

The Israeli military is pushing deeper into the Balial area of Gaza, where international relief agencies say thousands of people are trapped.

In Lebanon, the UN peacekeeping force said its headquarters in Naqoura has been hit again.

Poland said 40 countries had co-signed a joint statement, strongly condemning recent attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon.

History did not start on 7 October. But as the world stops to mourn it will for ever be a reminder of whose lives matter.

KEY POINTS

• Israel resumed strikes on central Beirut, killing 18 people and wounding 92, in an area not previously targeted.
• Two UNIFIL peacekeepers were injured when an Israeli tank fired at a watchtower at the force's main headquarters.
• The attack at Ras al-Naqoura was condemned by UNIFIL and the White House, now both pressing Israel for details.

Issa Amro / Youth Against Settlements - Right Livelihood

Issa Amro / Youth Against Settlements

Palestine

"For their steadfast nonviolent resistance to Israel's illegal occupation, promoting Palestinian civic action through peaceful means."

Issa Amro is a Palestinian human rights activist who has dedicated his life to peaceful resistance against Israeli occupation in the West Bank city of Hebron. Together with the activist group he founded, Youth Against Settlements (YAS), he has become a leading voice in the non-violent movement, striving to create a future where Palestinians live freely and with dignity. His efforts have garnered international recognition, and his strict commitment to non-violence stands in stark contrast to the violent realities of the Israeli occupation.

Amro and YAS have successfully mobilised local communities and international allies to resist the ongoing Israeli occupation through peaceful means. YAS plays an essential role in documenting human rights violations, organising protests, and supporting local communities in Hebron who live under constant threats and attacks from Israeli settlers and military forces. The group's initiatives have also served as an inspiration for non-violent resistance in other Palestinian cities under Israeli occupation.

Amro and the group have been under constant pressure from settlers, the Israeli military and also the Palestinian Authority. Amro has been detained, tortured, attacked on the streets, evicted from home and subjected to judicial harassment. However, he has kept his unwavering commitment to non-violent resistance, which he sees as the only way to achieve justice and peace for the people of Palestine.

I have three choices: to use violence and I will be the hero of Palestine for one month; to accept to live under occupation and accept to be a slave; or to fight the occupation using non-violent resistance. So you choose: everybody would choose to fight using non-violence.

Issa Amro, 2024 Laureate

Biography

Issa Amro is a Palestinian human rights activist and founder of Youth Against Settlements, a grassroots group committed to non-violent resistance against Israeli occupation in the West Bank. Amro's work has earned him international recognition for his steadfast commitment to peace despite facing relentless violence and oppression from settlers, the Israeli military and the Palestinian Authority.

Hebron: A Microcosm of the Oppression

The Palestinian territory of the West Bank has been subjected to Israeli military occupation since the 1967 Six-Day War. The settlements are illegal under international law, a determination which was strengthened in July 2024, when the top UN court issued an advisory opinion concluding that Israel's occupation, settlements, and annexation of Palestinian territories are unlawful. The court also noted that Israeli measures were in breach of the international prohibition on racial segregation and apartheid.

The city of Hebron is one of the most contested areas in the West Bank, with about 800 Israeli settlers living under heavy military protection amidst more than 200,000 Palestinian residents. The Israeli military and settlers occupy 20 per cent of the city, known as Area H2, leaving the Palestinian population in constant confrontation with settlers and soldiers. For Palestinians in Hebron, daily life is marked by checkpoints, curfews, restricted movement, and frequent violence, creating a climate of fear and uncertainty.

The city's core, including the historically significant Shuhada Street, remains closed to Palestinians, contributing to deep economic and social hardships. The Israeli settlers, many of whom are extremists, frequently harass Palestinians, exacerbating tensions. These settlers, backed by the Israeli military, operate with near impunity, often assaulting Palestinian residents and confiscating their property.

The situation has significantly worsened since the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, and Israel's nearly year-long military offensive in Gaza. In the West Bank, more than 600 Palestinians have been killed and thousands detained as of September 2024, according to the UN. The Israeli military has been constantly increasing closures and limitations on movement.

Amro's Path to Activism

Born in 1980, Amro spent his early life studying -- and on the football pitch -- with dreams of becoming an engineering professor. However, several key events, including the 1994 Ibrahimi Mosque massacre, where an Israeli extremist opened fire at a Hebron mosque killing 29 people and injuring 125, opened his eyes to the harsh realities of Israeli settler terror and led him to seek ways to contribute to the Palestinian cause.

The 2003 closure of his university, Palestine Polytechnic University, during the Second Intifada was a turning point for Amro. What started as a desire to continue his studies became a movement, as he led fellow students in a six-month civil disobedience campaign to reopen the university, marking the beginning of his lifelong commitment to activism.

"I managed to reopen the university with other students," Amro said. "I graduated as an engineer and as an activist: it became part of my character."

After university, Amro joined the Israeli human rights organisation B'Tselem, which has long been involved in documenting human rights violations in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.

Founding Youth Against Settlements

In 2007, Amro established YAS, aiming to give Palestinians a stronger voice in the struggle against the occupation. The group's primary goal is to mobilise Palestinians of all ages, but especially the youth, to resist the Israeli occupation peacefully and to reject the use of violence. YAS quickly became a unifying force for Palestinians from various political backgrounds, promoting unity and peaceful resistance without aligning with any political party.

The group's work includes documenting injustices and providing legal support to Palestinians. They also organise protests, raise global attention by giving advocacy tours for international delegations, and support local families in Hebron through home repairs and community-building initiatives. As of 2024, YAS was operating with about 25 activists.

Innovative Use of Non-Violent Methods

From the beginning, Amro has been committed to non-violence as the most effective means of resisting the occupation. He studied global non-violent movements, particularly those led by Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and fellow Right Livelihood Laureate Gene Sharp, and used their methods to shape YAS's strategy.

One of YAS's most significant achievements has been the Open Shuhada Street Campaign, which commemorates the 1994 Ibrahimi Mosque massacre and calls for the reopening of the city's main street, which remains closed to Palestinians. This campaign has gained international attention, with hundreds of actions and protests organised globally each year.

Another innovative programme has been the Camera Distribution Project, which Amro began in 2006 while still working for B'Tselem. Aiming to distribute 20,000 cameras to Palestinian families in Hebron, Amro encouraged them to document the violence they faced from Israeli settlers and soldiers. Initially, many families were hesitant, fearing that using cameras would make them targets. However, as the project gained traction and more incidents of violence were captured on film, it became a powerful tool for exposing the occupation to the world. Today, the culture of documentation has become widespread in Hebron, with residents using smartphones to capture abuses and seek to hold Israeli forces accountable. To this day, Amro trains university students on how and what to film while also urging them to capture their daily lives, including the things they enjoy.

In 2019, YAS launched another initiative, replacing the UN's Temporary International Presence in Hebron after the international observer group was expelled by Israel. YAS volunteers donned blue vests and escorted Palestinian children to school to protect them from settler attacks, continuing the work of international observers with limited resources but great determination. While opposed by both Israeli forces and the Palestinian Authority, this project gained wide international attention and praise. In addition to his work in Hebron, Amro has helped establish a broader movement for non-violence across Palestine. YAS's success in Hebron inspired similar initiatives in other cities like Ramallah, Jenin, and Nablus. Amro has also engaged in international advocacy, meeting with diplomats, journalists, and human rights organisations worldwide to raise awareness about the occupation. His efforts have led to increased international solidarity and Hebron being recognised as a symbol of Israeli occupation.

Facing Violence, Eviction and Legal Battles

Despite Amro's commitment to peaceful resistance, he has faced numerous challenges from both the Israeli military and the Palestinian Authority (PA) while being constantly harassed by Israeli settlers.

Amro has been frequently arrested and tortured by the Israeli military. On October 7, 2023, Amro was detained, beaten, and tortured by Israeli soldiers, even though he has always been an outspoken critic of Hamas and has no affiliation with the group. Later that month, he was forcibly evicted from his house by the Israeli military, only to return after a legal battle.

Amro has also faced numerous legal charges. Palestinians in the West Bank are prosecuted through Israeli military courts, where they have a nearly 100 per cent conviction rate, according to the UN. At the same time, Israelis are tried in civilian courts. Despite the rigged judicial system, Amro has won several legal victories, including, most recently, a defamation case against an Israeli right-wing organisation that falsely accused him of terrorism ties.

He has often been a target of the PA, as well. In 2017, Amro was detained and tortured by the PA for his outspoken stance on the need for reforms and democracy within the Palestinian leadership. They have tried to discredit him by saying that he was a spy for European countries. Amro said that defending the voice of Palestinians -- also against the Palestinian leadership, which he calls corrupt -- was a principle for him.

Amro has survived multiple physical assaults by settlers. Living next door to them, Amro is subject to daily harassment and insults, conducted under the protection of the Israeli military. Despite these attacks, Amro has continued his work, noting that it's been the international recognition that has most likely kept him alive.

"It's a miracle that I still exist," he said. "It's a miracle that [I am] not killed, not arrested, not giving up."

A Vision for the Future

In December 2023, Amro's brother Ahmad, a key figure in YAS, passed away from a heart attack, leaving Amro with a profound sense of responsibility to continue their shared mission. Despite the violence and repression he faces daily, Amro remains optimistic about the future. He continues to advocate for Palestinian unity, a new Palestinian leadership, and peaceful resistance against the Israeli occupation.

Looking forward, Amro is focused on expanding YAS's work, particularly its community initiatives. The group has already established the Karamati Women's Center to empower Palestinian women through leadership and education programmes and is planning to open a youth centre. Amro also works on opening a cinema in Hebron to promote cultural expression and resistance through art.

Throughout these initiatives, Amro is working to keep global attention on the Palestinian cause and ensure the existence of Palestinian families in Hebron.

"When the kids come to me in the street, shake my hand, hug me and say good things to me, I feel that I'm doing something right to change their future," he said.

Amro's dedication to non-violence, in the face of brutal occupation, has made him a symbol of hope for Palestinians and the global community: Amro's message of peace and resistance against oppression continues to inspire people striving for justice around the world.

Summary

• Milton expected to grow in size before landfall, affecting hundreds of miles of coastline
• Evacuations ordered for over a million people in Florida's west coast counties
• Milton's unusual path and rapid intensification raise concerns for storm surge impact
• Huge storm comes less than two weeks after devastating Helene

Lucky they didn't lose anyone, a ship down is a bad hit for the Kiwi navy though given they don't have many in the first place.

There's not many hospitals (or medical centres) left in Gaza to bomb so it's time to start bombing them in Lebanon it seems.

Here's a short video interview with Norman Finkelstein (and rough transcription) who argues that 'Gaza is gone'.

In short:

Decades after it was dropped, a World War II American bomb has detonated in Japan.

Video shows the moment the bomb exploded at Miyazaki Airport, throwing dirt and asphalt high into the sky.

What's next?

More than 80 flights were cancelled but no one was injured, with regular service at the airport expected to resume on Thursday.

Oct 2 (Reuters) - The Iranian ballistic missile attack against Israel on Tuesday was larger, more complex and involved more advanced weapons than the strikes in April, experts say, putting greater stress on missile defences and allowing more warheads to get through.

I editorialised the title because fuck all these clowns not calling a spade a spade.

Original title:

Live: IDF confirms 'targeted raids' inside Lebanon as huge blasts heard across Beirut

In short:

A joint statement from a group of countries, including the United States, France, and Australia, called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire across the Israel-Lebanon border to provide space for diplomacy.

Lebanon Prime Minister Najib Mikati publicly threw his support behind the plan, which he said "would put an end to this dirty war".

What's next?

Senior US security officials expect Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to formally accept the plan when he speaks at the UN General Assembly on Friday.

EDIT:

This article has since been updated...

New headline: 'Netanyahu rejects international call for immediate 21-day ceasefire across Israel-Lebanon border'

New summary:

In short:

A group of countries, including the United States, France, and Australia, have called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire across the Israel-Lebanon border to provide space for diplomacy.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati has publicly thrown his support behind the plan, which he said "would put an end to this dirty war".

What's next?

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says reports of an imminent ceasefire are incorrect, saying he "did not even respond" to the ceasefire proposal and has instructed the IDF to keep fighting with full force.

In short:

The US and UK have called for restraint after Israeli warplanes carried out their most intense strikes on southern Lebanon in nearly a year of war.

The head of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, promised "just punishment" for Israel after pagers and walkie-talkies exploded across Lebanon this week.

What's next?

Israel said it would keep up military action against Hezbollah to ensure " the safe return of Israel's northern communities to their homes", and that Hezbollah would "pay an increasing price" as time went on.

In short:

A day after exploding pagers caused mass casualties in Lebanon, walkie-talkies used by members of the Hezbollah militant group detonated.

The Lebanese health ministry said 20 people were killed and hundreds were injured.

What's next?

Israel has not commented on the blasts, but Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said it was entering a "new phase" of war focused on the country's northern border with Lebanon.