Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh on November 8 called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials over the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, reports Anadolu Agency. “The ICC must issue arrest warrants for criminals as a precautionary step to stop the killing machine,”Shtayyeh said during a Cabinet meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
“I salute the countries that will submit referrals to the ICC to prosecute criminals,” he added, without providing any further details.The Palestinian premier went on to call for action “to stop the (Israeli) aggression that has turned the Gaza Strip into a valley of blood.”
Malaysia rejects unilateral US sanctions against Hamas
Malaysia said on November 7 it will not accept unilateral sanctions under the proposed US legislation targeting foreign supporters of Hamas and Palestinian militant groups, reports Anadolu Agency.“We do not recognize any unilateral sanction passed by any other country, including the US,” said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Kuala Lumpur-based Bernama news reported.“We only recognize decisions of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that are considered multilateral,” he added.
The Southeast Asian country is closely watching the bill’s progress and suggests that its impact on Malaysia depends on any proven material support for Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Anwar said.“We do not agree with the decision made by the US and it will not influence our policies and decisions,” Anwar stressed.Anwar also said he will join the 2023 APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Economic Leaders’ Week in the US.“We do not agree with the United States’ position (on the Israel-Palestine conflict), but it is our priority to maintain diplomatic relations, while not budging from our position on championing justice,” he said on X.
Apple sacks employee after she called Zionists ‘murderers and thieves’ on Instagram
It is reported that American Big Tech firm Apple has sacked one of its Turkey-based employees after she condemned “Zionists” and called them “murderers and thieves”. Natasha Dach’s posts on Instagram blasted Israel saying, “You sneak into countries, steal people’s lives, jobs, homes, streets, push them, bully them, torture them. When people act on it, you call it terrorism. You are doing this for generations. Invasion is the only thing you are capable of. You are the only terrorists, and history will note that.”
Her social media tirade was first reported by an Israeli media watchdog website which also claimed that Apple fired her because of their expose.
Canadian poet Rupi Kaur rejects US Prez’s Diwali invitation over US support to Israel
Canadian poet Rupi Kaur rejected an invite from US President Joe Biden for an upcoming Diwali event at the White House, Radiancenews reported on November 7. Ms Kaur tweeted, “I received an invite from the Biden administration for a Diwali event being held by the VP on November 8. I decline any invitation from an institution that supports the collective punishment of a trapped civilian population – 50% of whom are children. I implore my South Asian community to hold this administration accountable. As a Sikh woman, I will not allow my likeness to be used in whitewashing this administration’s actions. When a government’s actions dehumanize people anywhere in the world, it is our moral imperative to call for justice. Stand with the world and demand a humanitarian ceasefire.”
The US administration is receiving a lot of criticism and condemnation globally for its support to Israel that continues to bombard civilians in Gaza.
German president calls for stronger stance against antisemitism, anti-Muslim racism
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on November 8 called on citizens to take a stronger stance against antisemitism and anti-Muslim racism amid a surge in hate crimes in recent weeks, reports Anadolu Agency. “I am concerned that the violence in the Middle East is also seriously endangering social peace in Germany,” Steinmeier said, as he hosted representatives of Jewish and Muslim communities at the Bellevue Palace.
Steinmeier said Germany is a cosmopolitan, diverse country, where people with different ethnic and religious backgrounds live together, and he thanked community leaders for their efforts to safeguard peaceful coexistence. “I would like to address the Palestinian community in our country. You should all have space to share your pain and despair over the civilian casualties in Gaza,” he said, adding that their peaceful demonstrations are guaranteed by the constitution. “And this right is not in question. And there must be no anti-Muslim racism and no general suspicion of Muslims,” he added.
Palestinian groups organized dozens of rallies in recent weeks to condemn Israeli military strikes on Gaza. A vast majority of the demonstrators were peaceful, but some German politicians demanded a ban on such protests, claiming that they were anti-Israel and supportive of Israel. The German president said while peaceful protests are a constitutional right, authorities would not tolerate any acts of hatred or antisemitism.
About 200,000 Afghan refugees return from Pakistan
At least 200,000 Afghan refugees have returned to the war-torn nation from Pakistan since November 1, Anadolu Agency reported on Nov. 6, citing a spokesman for the interim Afghan administration.Suhail Shaheen, who is also Taliban admin’s nominee to the UN, reportedly said: “By estimates, some 200,000 Afghans have returned.” Shaheen, however, said he cannot confirm the exact number of refugees who have returned to Afghanistan since Nov. 1.
Pakistan had set Nov. 1 as a deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave the South Asian nation. Nearly one million people are targeted under what Islamabad calls the “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan.” The UN has urged Islamabad to halt such plans.Convoys of Afghan refugees made beelines on their way back to Afghanistan and the interim Taliban administration has set up two main camps on their side of the border in Torkham and Spin Boldak.
Shaheen, who is a member of a media commission to oversee the repatriation of refugees to Afghanistan, said: “There are thousands of Afghan refugees facing forcible expulsion from Pakistan and their properties are taken from them unlawfully, unfortunately.” At least 12 committees have been set up by the Taliban. They have installed tents inside the Afghan territory for the incoming people.