More and more indiscriminate murder by Israel – Mark Israel’s military says it has killed the head of Hamas’s security forces in southern Gaza, Hussam Shahwah, as part of a series of air strikes in the enclave that killed at least 37 Palestinians. The strike in Khan Younis hit an encampment sheltering displaced families, killing Shahwah and 10 others, according to local medics. Gaza’s interior ministry, which is run by Hamas, claims the director general of Gaza’s police department, Mahmoud Salah, and his aide, Shahwan, were

Jimmy Carter by Jonathan Kuttab   At the age of 100, Jimmy Carter passed away this week in his home in Plains, Georgia.  I have had the pleasure and honor of meeting President Carter several times, after he left office. It is rare to see such a humble, powerful, and authentically Christian person reach the highest political office, while maintaining his faith, honesty and integrity. He made mistakes, to be sure. Yet, he had the grace to acknowledge them, especially after he left office, where he

Jan 2nd, 2025 For the second year, Sabeel partnered with local organizations to develop a play titled Emanuel. The play explores the reality of life in Gaza during the Christmas season, emphasizing how love triumphs over power and remains a more potent force. It was attended by nearly 400 people, primarily teenagers and young adults, in Jerusalem. The play is scheduled to be performed in Ramallah on January 5th and in Bethlehem on January 12th. Loving God, we thank You for the success of the play Emanuel and for the

According to Israel all criticism of their murderous ways are antisemitic – just unbelievable that so many accept it – Mark The lack of any middle ground in commentary about Gaza is striking. Advocates press hard for their side without conceding any ground to the other. Emotions are raw and, even though Australia is far removed physically from the conflict, in an era where identity is king, complex issues are simplified and assertions amplified. There is little effort towards, or room for, reasoned debate. It is

Ceasefire video Last year on the International Day of Human Rights, at the invitation of PIEN, Australian Clergy and Churches called for a ceasefire. Sadly one year on and the situation has only got worse. Once again Australian Churches and Clergy are speaking up in solidarity. Enough is enough, this horror must end. Ceasefire Now! End the Occupation Now! End Israeli Apartheid Now!Our aim was to double the number of churches involved this year and we exceeded this expectation. Thank you so much to all who

The protest outside the UK parliament specifically singled out the sales of F-35 components, which have been used by Israel to carry out massacres in Gaza. Good for them – Mark A group of UK MPs urged Britain to stop selling arms to Israel in a demonstration outside parliament in London on Monday, as Israel’s deadly war on the Gaza Strip continues to rage. MPs, including the Labour Party’s Diane Abbott and Independents Jeremy Corbyn and Apsana Begum, held a banner which read “Stop Arming Israel” during the protest. The demonstration

Lawsuit accuses Biden administration of violating US law barring aid to military units involved in rights abuses. This will go nowhere but great to try – Mark Five Palestinians in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and the United States are suing the US government to try to cut off American assistance to the Israeli military over its involvement in serious human rights abuses. The lawsuit, announced on Tuesday, accuses the Department of State of failing to implement a federal law that prohibits the transfer of funds to

The Victorian government’s announcement of measures to curtail and criminalise protest is a dangerous attack on civil liberties, aimed at suppressing legitimate public political action by Palestinians and their supporters demanding an end to Israel’s 15-month-long genocide in Gaza. Premier Jacinta Allan’s rhetoric fuels harmful narratives that delegitimise Palestine solidarity movements and silence public dissent to a genocide that the United Nations and the world’s highest courts have determined requires immediate intervention by third states to halt. The Premier’s comments also stoke division and misrepresent the diversity of

By Middle East correspondent Matthew Doran and wires This was always the plan – that is why Israel and the USA organised the coup in Syria and got rid of the legal Government – this war will never end until Israel has stolen all the land that is Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and West Bank. Then Jordan will follow and finally Egypt – Mark Israel’s prime minister has used the regime change in Syria as reason to approve a plan to double the Israeli population living in the occupied