Olmert: Israel is running a state-funded campaign of settler terrorism in West Bank

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Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert. [Photo by BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images]

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has accused the Israeli government of directly organising, funding and protecting Jewish terrorism in the West Bank. Writing in Haaretz yesterday, Olmert — who served as prime minister from 2006 to 2009 — issued what he called “unprecedented and harsh accusations against an Israeli government and the defence establishment.” 

“The fight against Jewish terrorism in the West Bank must advance to the next stage and be waged with greater determination,” said Olmert. “The daily terrorism that is managed, directed, encouraged and supported by the Israeli government can no longer be tolerated.”

Olmert dismissed the Israeli government’s attempts to portray settler violence as the work of isolated individuals. “What is happening across the West Bank today is not the work of ’70 kids from broken homes’,” he wrote, in a direct rebuke of a claim previously made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Nor are these the crimes of a small, anomalous minority among settlement residents, as some leaders of the settler movement often contend.”

According to Olmert, “The State of Israel is conducting an organised, systematic, state-funded campaign of ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.”

READ: Israeli opposition leader warns country’s foreign relations being damaged amid tensions with allies

Olmert named the architects of the Israeli terror campaign directly. “At the forefront of this campaign are the prime minister, Defence Minister Israel Katz and the rest of the cabinet.” He identified ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich as driving forces, describing their pursuit of “full annexation of the West Bank without their Palestinian inhabitants remaining there” as tantamount to a policy of expulsion.

The former prime minister documented the daily texture of this violence: “pogroms, children and adults injured in and outside their homes, fields and property set ablaze, and large-scale theft — especially of cattle and sheep, the primary source of livelihood for many residents.”

Most strikingly, Olmert implicated Israel’s security apparatus as an active participant in terrorism campaign against Palestinians: “The Israel Police are, in practice, partners in what is taking place in the West Bank. They do not attempt to prevent these acts, despite their duty to do so. In many cases, security forces actively assist Jewish terrorists — and, remarkably, it is almost always the Palestinian victims who are arrested, rather than the perpetrators.” 

Olmert added that IDF soldiers, both conscripts and reservists, had been directly involved in violent attacks on Palestinians, reducing the army’s standard denial to “a hollow ritual.”

Olmert also turned his fire on the Shin Bet domestic intelligence service, which he said possessed the tools to confront Jewish terrorism but had chosen not to deploy them, a failure he described as “longstanding” and unacceptable. “There is no convincing explanation for why the Shin Bet is not using the tools at its disposal to confront the rampant Jewish terrorism in the West Bank,” explained Olmert.

READ: Illegal settler violence against Palestinians in occupied West Bank rises by 25% in 2025:

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Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel's genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism "without qualification". Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir "I support Zionism without Qualification" Starmer supporting genocide. He berates Palestine Action for upholding international law and prevent his - Labour and Israel's - Gaza genocide. Starmer says that that they've got a genocide to achieve, forced marches like the Nazis did, hospitals to bomb into obliteration, journalists, healthcare workers and starving people queuing for food to mass-murder and that they have to murder all Gazans for Zionism.
Keir “I support Zionism without Qualification” Starmer supporting genocide. He berates Palestine Action for upholding international law and prevent his – Labour and Israel’s – Gaza genocide. Starmer says that that they’ve got a genocide to achieve, forced marches like the Nazis did, hospitals to bomb into obliteration, journalists, healthcare workers and starving people queuing for food to mass-murder and that they have to murder all Gazans for Zionism.
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up

Continue ReadingOlmert: Israel is running a state-funded campaign of settler terrorism in West Bank

UNICEF calls Gaza ceasefire ‘deadly illusion’ as 265 Palestinian children killed since October

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7-year-old Hala Hassan Labad lies on a bed, who survived with injuries after an Israeli airstrike on an apartment building, receiving treatment in the burn unit of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Gaza, Palestine, on June 06, 2026. [Saeed M. M. T. Jaras – Anadolu Agency]

At least 265 Palestinian children have been killed in Gaza since a ceasefire was announced in October 2025, UNICEF said on Friday, describing the truce as a “deadly illusion” and warning that violence continues despite the declared halt in hostilities, Anadolu reports.

“During a period supposedly defined by restraint and protection, a child has been killed, on average, every single day for more than eight months,” UNICEF spokesperson James Elder told reporters in Geneva.

He described the ceasefire as a “cruel and deadly illusion” and questioned whether it could still be considered a ceasefire while children continue to die.

“While the world continues to speak the language of ceasefire, families in Gaza continue to bury their sons and daughters,” he said.

Elder said the children were killed in homes, schools and public spaces, including while playing football or fishing.

“This week: a 2-year-old boy was shot and killed by Israeli forces; a 13-year-old boy was shot and killed inside his tent; a 5-year-old boy and his father were killed by an Israeli strike, and on and on it goes,” he said.

READ: Gaza municipalities warn of humanitarian, health catastrophe as basic services near collapse

According to UNICEF, more than 400 children have also been injured since October, many suffering severe wounds.

“The suffering does not end with those killed. More than 400 children have been injured, many with catastrophic wounds,” Elder said.

He cited recent cases involving a 12-year-old girl who was shot in the chest while inside her tent and a 3-year-old girl who was shot in the face by a bullet from a quadcopter drone while inside her home.

Elder warned that hundreds of children urgently require medical evacuation and said restrictions on essential medicines are increasing the risk of infection, complications and amputations among wounded children.

He also highlighted the psychological impact of the conflict.

“For Gaza’s children, fear, loss and violence have become so constant that trauma is no longer an episode in their lives — it is woven into the very fabric of their childhood,” he said.

Elder called on governments and international institutions to act, arguing that continued child deaths during a ceasefire should alarm those committed to upholding international law.

He also pointed to Lebanon, where UNICEF said 247 children have been killed and 992 injured since an escalation of hostilities on March 2.

“No ceasefire can be considered meaningful while children continue to be killed,” he said.

READ: Israel tops UN list of grave violations against children in 2025

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Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel's genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism "without qualification". Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir "I support Zionism without Qualification" Starmer supporting genocide. He berates Palestine Action for upholding international law and prevent his - Labour and Israel's - Gaza genocide. Starmer says that that they've got a genocide to achieve, forced marches like the Nazis did, hospitals to bomb into obliteration, journalists, healthcare workers and starving people queuing for food to mass-murder and that they have to murder all Gazans for Zionism.
Keir “I support Zionism without Qualification” Starmer supporting genocide. He berates Palestine Action for upholding international law and prevent his – Labour and Israel’s – Gaza genocide. Starmer says that that they’ve got a genocide to achieve, forced marches like the Nazis did, hospitals to bomb into obliteration, journalists, healthcare workers and starving people queuing for food to mass-murder and that they have to murder all Gazans for Zionism.
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up

Continue ReadingUNICEF calls Gaza ceasefire ‘deadly illusion’ as 265 Palestinian children killed since October

The occupation targeted a vehicle in central Gaza City, resulting in several fatalities and injuries

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Israeli military forces carried out a strike on a vehicle in central Gaza City, resulting in multiple casualties. [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]
Israeli military forces carried out a strike on a vehicle in central Gaza City, resulting in multiple casualties. [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]
Israeli military forces carried out a strike on a vehicle in central Gaza City, resulting in multiple casualties. [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

WATCH: Funeral procession for a number of martyrs who were killed in Israeli attacks during the past few hours

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Experiencing issues with this image not appearing. I suspect because it's so critical of Zionist Keir Starmer's support of and complicity in Israel's genocides.
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/O74hZCKKdpA
Keir 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.
Keir 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 rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up

Continue ReadingThe occupation targeted a vehicle in central Gaza City, resulting in several fatalities and injuries

Israel tops UN list of grave violations against children in 2025

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Children cling to life by playing despite harsh living conditions in the west of Khan Yunis, Gaza, on January 27, 2026. [Hani Alshaer – Anadolu Agency]

Israel was responsible for the highest number of verified grave violations against children in the occupied Palestinian territories in 2025, according to a new UN report, which recorded a sharp rise in abuses against children in conflict zones worldwide.

The report, titled Children and Armed Conflict 2025 and prepared by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, found that grave violations against children increased by 34 per cent compared with the previous year.

According to the 47-page report, parties to armed conflicts committed a record number of grave violations against children in 2025, marking “the highest number of children affected since the establishment of the Children and Armed Conflict mandate”.

The UN documented 38,558 grave violations against children worldwide during 2025.

These violations included killing and maiming, recruitment and use of children, abduction, rape and other forms of sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals, and the denial of humanitarian access.

READ: Palestinian female prisoner Lama Khater details alleged abuse in Israeli prisons

The report said the UN verified a total of 12,445 grave violations against children linked to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, including 12,436 cases in the occupied Palestinian territories and nine in Israel.

Of these, 5,452 violations were recorded in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and 6,984 in the Gaza Strip.

The report said Israeli forces were responsible for 9,465 grave violations against children, while 326 additional violations were attributed to Israeli settlers seeking to seize Palestinian land.

According to the report, Israeli forces detained 981 Palestinian children in 2025, including 973 boys and eight girls. It said 180 children were held without charge or trial, while 66 reported being subjected to physical violence and other forms of ill-treatment during detention.

The report also recorded the death of one Palestinian child in detention and said the UN had verified three cases in which Israeli forces used children as human shields in Gaza and the West Bank.

It added that 2,223 children were injured in the Gaza Strip and 2,921 others in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, by Israeli forces and Israeli settlers seeking to take over Palestinian land.

READ: US envoy says ‘without Israel, there would be no America’

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Experiencing issues with this image not appearing. I suspect because it's so critical of Zionist Keir Starmer's support of and complicity in Israel's genocides.
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/O74hZCKKdpA
Keir 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.
Keir 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 rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up

Continue ReadingIsrael tops UN list of grave violations against children in 2025

50 Palestinian Bedouin, herding communities displaced since late 2023, rights body says

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Israeli army continue attacks on the El-Halayil Bedouin community, forcing 11 Palestinian families to leave their homes in Ramallah, West Bank on February 21, 2026. [Issam Rimawi – Anadolu Agency]

The Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) said Israel’s settlement expansion and military restrictions have led to the displacement of 50 Palestinian Bedouin and herding communities since late 2023.

According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, the findings were contained in a special survey on Bedouin and herding communities in the occupied West Bank conducted by the ICHR in cooperation with the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.

The survey found that around 300 violations targeting individuals and institutions in these communities were recorded in April 2025 alone.

The results were presented on Wednesday during a conference attended by representatives of government institutions, relevant ministries, international and UN organisations, and civil society groups, WAFA reported.

READ: Israel tops UN list of grave violations against children in 2025

Speaking at the event, ICHR Director-General Ammar Dweik called for the adoption of a national plan for Bedouin and herding communities based on a comprehensive development and human rights approach.

He stressed the need for greater investment in these communities across the occupied West Bank, alongside legal protection, on-the-ground support, and access to essential services.

Dweik said such measures were necessary to strengthen the communities’ ability to remain on their land amid Israeli policies and practices, including home demolitions, repeated demolition orders, the seizure of land and grazing areas, movement restrictions, settler violence, and the undermining of livelihoods.

OPINION: When the Iran War is over: Why the West Bank may be Netanyahu’s next front

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Experiencing issues with this image not appearing. I suspect because it's so critical of Zionist Keir Starmer's support of and complicity in Israel's genocides.
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/O74hZCKKdpA
Keir 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.
Keir 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 rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
Continue Reading50 Palestinian Bedouin, herding communities displaced since late 2023, rights body says