News Review 25/10/2023

‘Israeli’ Think Tank Lays Out Blueprint for the Complete Ethnic Cleansing of Gaza

An ‘Israeli’ think tank with ties to the Jewish entity’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a report on October 17 promoting the "unique and rare opportunity" for the “relocation and final settlement of the entire Gaza population.” The Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy published a position paper advocating for the “relocation and final settlement of the entire Gaza population.” The report advocates exploiting the current moment to accomplish a long-held Zionist goal of moving Palestinians off the land of historic Palestine. The report’s subtitle makes it clear: “There is at the moment a unique and rare opportunity to evacuate the whole Gaza Strip in coordination with the Egyptian government.” The Misgav Institute is headed by former Netanyahu National Security Advisor Meir Ben Shabbat, who remains influential in the Jewish entity’s security circles.

Pakistan Court Stops Military Trials of Pro-Khan Protesters

Pakistan's top court ruled that military trials of civilians are unconstitutional, a relief for dozens on trial for ransacking military installations during protests in May after the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The government had said it would use military courts to try the suspects, sparking fears over fair process. But the Supreme Court, in a short order, declared that such proceedings under the Army Act would be of no legal effect, with trials of some 103 people to move to civilian criminal courts. Hundreds of Khan supporters stormed military and government installations, and even torched a general's house, following the former premier's brief arrest by paramilitary soldiers. Khan had accused the military of being behind an attempt to assassinate him. The military denied that, and said that the attacks against its bases were planned and ordered by leaders of Khan's party to stir political unrest and force early elections. Amid widespread condemnation in Pakistan and abroad, some lawyers had said the military courts do not have the same standards of evidence and process as regular courts. Pakistan's Army Act of 1952 established military courts primarily to try members of the military or enemies of the state, and they operate under a separate system. The decision to use military courts was taken by the government of Khan's rival, Shehbaz Sharif, who has since completed his term in August and handed over to a caretaker government that will oversee an election slated for January.

UN Chief Denounces ‘Clear Violations’ of International Law in Gaza

UN Chief António Guterres condemned “clear violations of international law” in Gaza as the US added to mounting pressure on the Jewish entity’s government to pause its bombardment of the besieged coastal enclave and allow in more aid. In his toughest remarks so far about the conduct of the war in the Gaza Strip, Guterres told the UN Security Council on Tuesday Oct 24 that the safety of civilians was paramount. “Protecting civilians can never mean using them as human shields,” the secretary-general said, adding that it “does not mean ordering more than 1 million people to evacuate to the south, where there is no shelter, no food, no water, no medicine and no fuel, and then continuing to bomb the south itself”. His remarks triggered a furious response from the Jewish entity. ‘Israel’s’ ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, described Guterres’s comments as “shocking” and called on him to resign while Foreign Minister Eli Cohen cancelled a meeting with the secretary-general in protest.