Protesters gather at Embarcadero Plaza for a protest in San Francisco, January 24, 2026, in response to a fatal shooting in Minneapolis
PROTESTERS took to the streets across the United States over the weekend after a man was “executed” in Minneapolis during President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
Footage aired across social media showed a group of officials from the Immigration Customs Enforcement (Ice) agency surrounding Alex Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse on Saturday before shooting him after a brief struggle.
The footage showed Mr Pretti, a legal gun owner, was disarmed by Ice officials before being shot.
After the shooting, an angry crowd gathered and protesters clashed with federal officers, who wielded batons and deployed stun grenades.
The Minnesota National Guard was assisting local police at the direction of Governor Tim Walz, officials said.
Guard troops were sent to both the shooting site and a federal building where officers have squared off with demonstrators daily.
Information about what led up to the shooting was limited, police chief Brian O’Hara said.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that federal officers were conducting an operation and fired “defensive shots” after a man with a handgun approached them and “violently resisted” when they tried to disarm him.
Bystander footage of the shooting that emerged soon after, show Mr Pretti with a phone in his hand but none show him with a weapon.
During a news conference DHS secretary Kristi Noem accused Mr Pretti of trying to “impede a law enforcement operation.” She questioned why he was armed but did not offer details about whether Pretti drew the weapon or brandished it at officers.
President Trump accused local politicians, including the Democratic governor and mayor, of “inciting insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric.”
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York urged Democrats to “refuse to vote to fund Ice.”
The Communist Party of the USA (CPUSA) condemned the killing as a “continuation of the fascist invasion of Minneapolis and an increase in state-violence against our working class and people.
“We are calling for arrests of all federal agents involved in these tragedies and for Ice to be removed completely from Minnesota by building on the general strike.”
The CPUSA was referring to the general strike in Minneapolis on Friday which saw thousands of workers walking out on strike and more than 700 businesses closing to protest against the presence of Ice agents.
The Party of Socialism and Liberation said: “The people need to use our power to shut down business as usual and make it impossible for this reign of terror to continue.”
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Donald Fuhrump says that Amerikkka doesn’t bother with crimes or charges anymore, not being 100% Amerikkkan and opposing his real estate intentions is enough.Elon Musk urges you to be a Fascist like him, says that you can ignore facts and reality then.Orcas discuss how Trump was re-elected and him being an obviously insane, xenophobic Fascist.
FEARS mounted over the weekend about the health of the remaining Prisoner’s for Palestine hunger striker, 22-year-old Umer Khalid, held in Wormwood Scrubs.
Mr Khalid is the last remaining hunger striker to take part in the Prisoners for Palestine hunger strike campaign and is currently being held on remand at the London prison.
He has been charged in connection with an action that took place at RAF Brize Norton, where two military aircraft were spray-painted last June.
The Palestine activist is on day 17 of his hunger strike and day three of his thirst strike.
Mr Khalid suffers from a rare genetic disorder, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, which severely increases the risks associated with his hunger strike.
He was initially on hunger strike for 12 days before becoming seriously unwell and unable to walk. It is understood he has asked prison staff not to intervene in the event that he becomes unconscious.
The Prisoners for Palestine group has written to the Home Secretary asking that the government meet Mr Khalid’s representatives to end the hunger strike safely.
Amnesty International also raised concerns about Mr Khalid’s welfare at the weekend after he escalated his hunger strike by refusing water.
The rights charity’s Kerry Moscogiuri said: “Umer Khalid is in a desperate situation and we urge representatives of the government to meet with his lawyers before it is too late.
“Amnesty International has long opposed the misuse of terrorism powers that have led to lengthy, oppressive and disproportionate detention conditions, contributing directly to this crisis.
“None of the people who have been involved in the hunger strikes have been found guilty of a crime, yet some have been held in prison for up to 18 months in restrictive conditions after anti-terrorism powers have been used against them.
Palestine Action joke that appeared in the UK satirical magazine ‘Private Eye’.Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpAKeir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
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U.S. President Donald Trump (L), and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (R) sign the charter of the Board of Peace during the 56th World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on January 22, 2026. [Turkish Foreign Ministry – Anadolu Agency]
The Turkish foreign minister said Friday that US President Donald Trump has the capacity to pressure Israel to halt its actions in the Gaza Strip, saying the US leader can act independently and exert real influence if he chooses, Anadolu reports.
Speaking during the “On the Record” program with journalist Hadley Gamble, Hakan Fidan said he believes Trump has the capacity to stop the fighting in Gaza, noting that Israel has violated the ceasefire agreements multiple times.
“We believe that President Trump is the only person who can really put pressure on Israel,” Fidan said.
“We think that Mr. Trump is independent of every objective of different lobbies, so he can really think independently, and he can really take action independently. So, if he wants, he has the capacity to put pressure on Israel and stop Israel’s wrong behavior.”
Asked about the possibility of Turkiye sending troops to Gaza, Fidan noted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statement that Ankara is prepared to do everything within its means to contribute to the Gaza peace plan.
Fidan said Turkiye would be willing to take part in an international stabilization force in Gaza, but stressed that a deployment would depend on broader discussions and consensus within the international community.
‘Stability in Iran is important for all of us’
“I will advise my American friends: ‘Don’t make it,’” Fidan said when asked about the prospect of American intervention in Iran.
“Because they are already putting a lot of pressure on Iran. The sanctions are really hurting the Iranian economy. That’s why the people are protesting,” he added.
He pointed out that Iran is open to negotiations but warned that if Tehran feels cornered, it could prepare for a worst-case scenario.
“If there is only one sincere intention, which is solving the problem, I believe that there is an opportunity.”
Emphasizing that Iran is a major neighboring country, so what’s happening there affects a wide region, he said, “So, stability in Iran is important for all of us.”
Fidan said Ankara believes dialogue, not force, is the only viable path to resolving disputes between Iran and the international community. “Dialogue is the only way to sort out the problems.”
“The public dissent and protest and demonstrations in Iran — I think the regime and the government are receiving necessary messages. But because of their own problems with the international system, financially and otherwise, it’s not easy for the government to deliver the economic means to their own population.”
He said Iran needs to make a change in its foreign and security policies to “really obtain certain opportunities,” but stressed that he does not believe developments in or around Iran would lead to regime change.
Regional outlook
Asked about broader regional developments, Fidan said he sees reasons for cautious optimism, particularly in Syria, and expressed hope that the ceasefire in Gaza would continue.
He said developments in Syria demonstrate that regional countries, the US and the international community have, for the first time, come together quickly on a Middle East issue and have begun taking concrete steps.
“I think that tells something,” Fidan said. “If we can repeat this on other problems in our region or globe, we can really make quick achievements.”
“But our region will never be the same,” he said, adding that Turkiye’s hope and work is “about to make it better compared to the past.”
Fidan said Ankara is seeking to play a constructive role wherever possible and stressed that it is vital for regional problems to be addressed by regional countries. He said this approach aligns with “Trump’s overall policy methodology,” noting that the US does not want to act as the “global police of the global order.”
Addressing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Fidan said Turkiye believes regional unity is essential and it is unfortunate to see two close partners drifting apart.
“But we believe that they will come around because they are brothers and sisters and they are old friends. And I think in due course, they will sort out their own problems because they are experienced leaderships, both the UAE and the Saudis.”
Turkiye’s EU membership
Fidan said that Turkiye’s EU membership will not happen as long as the bloc maintains an identity-based political mindset toward Turkiye.
Noting that the EU prioritizes Turkiye’s different religion and civilization, which prevents progress, Fidan stated that the bloc has failed to become trans-civilizational by becoming a supranational institution.
Pointing out that Germany and France supported Ankara’s EU bid until 2007, he rejected claims that Turkiye’s membership would strengthen far-right movements, stressing that, regardless, the movements rose.
He stated that Europe would have been stronger and Brexit might not have happened if Turkiye had been an EU member.
On European security, Fidan said the EU has long relied on US protection and is now searching for its own security architecture, adding conflicting interests among global powers often put Turkiye in a difficult position, which could have been avoided through unity.
While economic ties between Ankara and the EU are strong, he noted that security cooperation remains insufficient.
Trump administration makes major correction towards Turkiye
Criticizing the US policy during former President Barack Obama’s term of cooperating with the PKK terror group to fight ISIS (Daesh), Fidan said the plan was supposed to be temporary but has continued for more than a decade.
He added that Trump is now making a major correction to the policy.
Emphasizing Turkiye’s NATO membership, Fidan said a NATO ally cannot support a terror organization hostile to another NATO country and welcomed the change.
Turkiye supports equal constitutional citizenship for all Syrians
Noting that international reports wrongly portray the YPG/SDF terror group as the sole representative of Syrian Kurds, he pointed out that the PKK terror organization has forced more than 12 political parties into exile.
He said Syrian Kurds want to live as equal and dignified citizens of Syria, noting that many were denied citizenship under Bashar al-Assad.
Fidan added that while Assad rejected that demand, the current Syrian leadership is trying to correct the mistake.
Stating that Turkiye supports equal constitutional citizenship for all Syrians, Fidan said everyone should be able to live with their own identity and religion within a unified state.
On regional relations, Fidan said countries now favor dialogue over confrontation.
He stressed that differences can be set aside to focus on shared interests, calling it a mature approach to statecraft.
Cooperation on issues such as Gaza and Syria, he added, shows growing regional goodwill, especially between Turkiye and Arab countries.
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpAKeir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
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Donald Trump explains why he established his Bored of PeaceGenocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpAKeir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
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Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces Eyal Zamir (C) conducts a field tour with senior commanders of the Israeli army. [Israel Defense Forces (IDF) – Anadolu Agency]
US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Brad Cooper and Israeli army Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir have discussed boosting defense cooperation between the two sides, Anadolu reports.
The talks took place during an extended meeting held on the sidelines of Cooper’s visit to Israel, which began on Saturday, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said in a statement on Sunday.
Adraee said Adm. Cooper held “a lengthy personal meeting” with Zamir, followed by a broader session attended by senior commanders.
He said the meeting served as “an additional factor strengthening the personal relationship between the two commanders, the close strategic relationship between the Israeli and US militaries, and the continued enhancement of defense cooperation between the two countries.”
During his visit to Israel, whose duration has not been specified, Cooper is also scheduled to meet Israeli Air Force Commander Tomer Bar, according to Israel’s Channel 12.
The visit comes amid growing concerns in Israel over the possibility that Iran could carry out a preemptive attack, alongside rising fears that Tehran may be close to being targeted by a potential US military strike, as the US continues to build up its forces in the region.
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Genocide denier and Current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is quoted that he supports Zionism without qualification. He also confirms that UK air force support has been essential in Israel’s mass-murdering genocide. Includes URLs https://www.declassifieduk.org/keir-starmers-100-spy-flights-over-gaza-in-support-of-israel/ and https://youtu.be/O74hZCKKdpAKeir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
Protesters gather at Embarcadero Plaza for a protest in San Francisco, January 24, 2026, in response to a fatal shooting in Minneapolis
