Author: Mark Battison

Hamas says Israel pushing things back ‘to square one’

Canberra Times / AAP | 4 March 2025 Please God bring Peace to this troubled area – Mark Palestinian militant group Hamas says Israel is trying to push things back to square one by asking to extend the first phase of their Gaza Strip ceasefire agreement.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Sunday it had adopted a proposal by US President Donald Trump’s envoy for a temporary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip for the Ramadan and Passover periods ending about April 20, hours after the

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Sabeel Wave of Prayer

March 6th, 2025 This week, the Lenten season begins for all Christians in the Holy Land. March 3rd marks Clean Monday in Orthodox traditions, while March 5th marks Ash Wednesday for many Catholic and Protestant traditions.   Dear Lord, in this season of fasting and lament, we remember those who hunger, those displaced by war, and those whose homes are turned to ash, especially in Gaza and the West Bank. As we journey through Lent, deepen our commitment to justice and repentance so that we may work

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Gaza video simply grotesque

Trump’s perverse AI vision of the “Gaza Riviera” development makes one wonder what sort warped mind is running a country that was once a beacon of freedom and democracy (“Trump ‘floods the zone’ with bizarre AI video of future Gaza where he is king”, February 27). Now we witness some of the most self-obsessed, self-serving behaviour and the debasement of the great principles America was once founded on. The horrifying thing is that this is only the beginning. Chris Gresham, Upper Lansdowne Michael Koziol’s article confirms earlier

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Hamas reports no progress in talks on second phase

Canberra Times / AAP | 2 March 2025 God please bring both sides together for peace – Mark The latest round of talks on a second phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has made “no progress” and it is unclear when they will resume, a senior Hamas official says.Phase one expires on Saturday but under the deal’s terms, fighting should not resume while negotiations are underway on phase two, which could end the war in the Gaza Strip, result in Israeli troops withdrawing and

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Empathyby Jonathan Kuttab

One thing that is always missing in people’s approach to Palestine/Israel is empathy: the ability to put yourself in the shoes of another person, see things from their perspective, and be willing to apply to yourself the same standards you apply to others. In short, it is the Golden Rule promulgated by Jesus Christ, by Judaism before him and Islam after him. This is lacking among most of the antagonists on the ground, but it is also equally lacking in many of their respective supporters abroad.

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When we look at Gaza, we see a human catastrophe. Trump sees The White Lotus

Trump just wants more real estate for himself so will commit anything – including genocide and murder to get it – Mark Only last month, Donald Trump told Americans: “I was saved by God to make America great again.” I can’t speak for God on this matter, but some of Trump’s God-fearing supporters apparently lost a little faith in their president after his Truth Social platform posted an AI-generated video, “WHAT’S NEXT” for Gaza.As this masthead’s US correspondent, Michael Koziol, reported, one MAGA voter recoiled at

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What will a Gaza ceasefire look like?

The details are unconfirmed but it is expected to happen in three stages, each to last six weeks. STAGE 1 Under the 42-day truce Israeli forces will withdraw to the east, away from all densely populated areas. They will remain on the border. Palestinians could return to all the areas of Gaza. There will be a large increase in humanitarian aid. Up to 33 women, children and over-50 hostages being held in Gaza will be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners being held by

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Hamas calls on Israel to start talks for next phase of ceasefire deal

Netanyahu has already stated in the Israeli press that Israel has no intention of sticking with any ceasefire deal when all the hostages are back – Mark Hamas has called on Israel to enter negotiations for the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire after the group handed over the bodies of four hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.Hours after the handover, an Israeli pro-hostage group confirmed “with profound sorrow” the identities of the four bodies Hamas returned on Thursday.Ohad Yahalomi, Tsachi Idan, Itzik Elgarat

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Students protest at Sydney school after Muslim staffer told to work from home

(SMH, 27/2/2025) The influence of Jews who support Genocide and Murder is extraordinary – Mark Students protested outside their public high school on Wednesday morning in defence of a staff member who was told to work from home after downplaying antisemitic comments made by two Sydney nurses who allegedly threatened to kill Israeli patients.Granville Boys High School student support officer Sheikh Wesam Charkawi, who is also a convener of Muslim Vote, was “counselled about his obligations” by the NSW Education Department after he took to social

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Record high of 60 illegal outposts set up in West Bank in 2024, Israeli rights group says

Just another example of this evil Israeli Government – Mark Under the cover of the genocidal war on Gaza, 60 illegal outposts were set up in the occupied West Bank in 2024 alone, an Israeli organisation that monitors Israeli land policy in the occupied Palestinian territory revealed yesterday. Kerem Navot said 284 outposts have been established since 1997, “more than a fifth” were set up in 2024 alone. “Unlike in the past, when the Israeli governments still sought to project an image of upholding the rule of law

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