U.S. policy on Gaza has led to widespread dissent at the State Department, with some questioning how far Washington is going in its support of Israel. [_link]

— CBS News (@CBSNews) January 13, 2025

Biden policy on Israel-Gaza sparks warnings, dissent, resignations | CBS News - 12 Jan 2025 |

Amnesia and Gaza Genocide

The ceasefire agreement represents another blow to American imperialism and Zionist settler-colonial project. They tried eliminating the resistance through genocide & destruction, but the people of Gaza stood tall and kept fighting until the last breath..

— Raja Abdulhaq (@Raja48) January 15, 2025

Hamas thanks Iran, Resistance Front following achievement of ceasefire in Gaza | PressTV |

'Sapere aude'

Noose closing in on fate Bibi ... is the well being of hostages expendable for personal politics of war criminal Netanyahu ⁉️

Ceasefire delay: Has Netanyahu bowed to pressure from far-right allies? | TRT World |

In a dramatic twist, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday decided to postpone a Cabinet meeting minutes before it was set to approve a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, accusing the Palestinian group of creating a "last-minute crisis".

Hamas has responded saying it is committed to the ceasefire agreement announced by international mediators on Wednesday, senior group official Izzat al-Rishq said on Thursday

This delay, amid tensions within Israel's politics, has raised questions about whether Netanyahu is bowing to pressure from his far-right coalition partners, particularly his Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who are known for their hardline stance on security issues.

Netanyahu's office claimed Hamas had reneged on parts of the agreement, seeking last-minute concessions before the agreement could be finalised. However, specific details of these alleged breaches were not disclosed and this is not the first time Netanyahu has scuttled the ceasefire.

While the latest ceasefire deal had appeared poised for approval, Netanyahu's decision to delay the Cabinet meeting appears to be likely influenced by his delicate balancing act between securing peace and appeasing far-right political forces within his government.

Israel pounds Gaza as Netanyahu shelves cabinet ceasefire vote | Arab News |

The news comes as Israel killed dozens of Palestinians in fresh attacks on the Gaza Strip this morning, hours after the Qatari prime minister officially announced the ceasefire agreement on Wednesday night.

Amnesia and Gaza Genocide

The Fatal Effort to Dismantle the UN's Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees [_link]

— Juan Cole (@jricole) January 16, 2025

Amnesia and Gaza Genocide

In a recent series of speeches and interviews, Biden officials have attempted to put a positive spin on their foreign policy legacy. The reality is that Biden's legacy is, and will remain, one of genocide. [_link]

— Mondoweiss (@Mondoweiss) January 15, 2025

Amnesia and Gaza Genocide

Gaza Deal: What it means for Peace in the Middle East | Informed Comment |

By Scott Lucas, University College Dublin

Just after 5pm GMT, Israeli as well as Hamas and Qatari officials said Israel and Hamas had accepted a three-stage deal. But an hour later, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the agreement was still not confirmed.

At 5.02pm GMT, Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social website confirming that a deal had been agreed.

The Israeli political environment is far more likely to be instrumental. Netanyahu has been under pressure for months from former members of his war cabinet, Benny Gantz and the now-dismissed defence minister, Yoav Gallant as well as from opposition parties and from sections of Israeli society, notably the families of hostages.

Netanyahu had long resisted that pressure, preferring the "open-ended" war with the quest to "absolutely destroy" Hamas. He may now calculate that his agreement to stop, with Hamas far from destroyed now does not look like a capitulation to Hamas, the Biden administration, or his domestic foes. He may present the agreement as a pragmatic step, given the change of power in the US with a new president who will sing his praises.

Amnesia and Gaza Genocide

Longest-serving Palestinian prisoner Mohammed al-Tous expected to be freed | Al Jazeera |

Among the Palestinian prisoners set to be released by Israel later today is Mohammed al-Tous, who has spent the longest continuous period in Israeli detention, according to the Palestinian Prisoner's Society.

Known as the "dean" of prisoners in the occupied West Bank, the 69-year-old Fatah member has been in prison since 1985 after Israeli authorities charged him with carrying out "anti [Israel] operations",

Al-Tous is expected to be among the 70 prisoners deported to Egypt and, from there, to countries such as Algeria, Tunisia and Turkiye.

Amnesia and Gaza Genocide