Podcasts about Gaza Strip

2026 - Bliain Úr faoi Mhaise DaoibhseA very happy New Year to all readers of this column, to the staff of the Belfast Media Group and The Irish Echo. And to you good readers who have stayed with me over the years.None of us know what 2026 will bring but we can be sure it will be interesting. May it also be good to you all and to your families. Beirigí bua. Eyes On The Prize. 2025 was a good year for Irish Unity. All of those advocating for a new Ireland, including Sinn Féin's Commission on the Future of Ireland, worked hard and effectively promoting the message that Irish Unity will be good for the people of the island of Ireland. Crucially, both houses of the Oireachtas, the Dáil and the Seanad, passed motions calling on the Irish government to begin the process of planning and preparing for Unity referendums. These include The Oireachtas Good Friday Agreement Committee. This is the only all-Ireland committee in Leinster House. It is unique in that Members of Parliament from the north join TDs and Senators to work on issues relating to the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.The Good Friday Agreement remains the basis for relations on the island of Ireland and between the islands of Ireland and Britain. However, its implementation has been challenged, principally by indifference from London and a lack of consistent and positive leadership from Dublin.‘I'm so scared, please come'For as long as I have been a republican activist I have been reading and writing about the impact of British colonialism on peoples around the world. As the largest empire in human history Britain's conquests and exploitation of other places resulted in untold misery, death and hardship for those living under British rule - not least here in Ireland. To maintain its domination, the British Empire used violence and dehumanised the peoples it sought to exploit. Behind its claim of being a guardian of the ‘rule of law' Britain stole land and property, exploited mineral resources and reduced native peoples to little more than slaves.Among those many locations was Palestine. British policy is largely responsible for the decades of war that have plighted that land for a hundred years. Current British government policy is facilitating the genocide of the Palestinian people by the Israeli apartheid regime.I have visited Palestine and Israel on at least four occasions, including the Gaza Strip in 2009. I walked along the ‘separation wall' – a monstrous perversion designed to imprison Palestinians into smaller and smaller ghettoes.

Ten foreign ministers have condemned Israel's decision to close down dozens of international NGOs providing aid to Palestinians in Gaza, urging the Israeli government to "lift these obstacles to humanitarian access and fulfill its commitments" in the territory. The foreign ministers, including from Britain, France and Canada, expressed "deep concern" over the "catastrophic" humanitarian situation and called on Israel to "ensure that international NGOs can operate in Gaza on a sustainable basis." Israel took the decision to revoke the licenses of 37 aid groups working in Gaza and the West Bank from today, claiming they failed to meet requirements under new registration rules. NGO’s that did not renew their registration are no longer allowed to operate in the Gaza Strip starting from today. KAN's Mark Weiss spoke with Tirza Leibovitz from Physicians for Human Rights (Photo:Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some international humanitarian organisations operating in Gaza and the occupied West Bank say they cannot comply with Israel's demands to supply details of Palestinian staff due to data infringement and safety concerns.Also in the programme: we ask why there is a shortage of female toilets in Japan's parliament; conservation efforts saving albatrosses in South Africa; and we look at the best moments from Newshour in 2025.(Photo: A Palestinian man carries food items collected from aid packages dropped from an airplane, amid a hunger crisis, in Deir Al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, August 12, 2025. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed)

In this episode of the National Crawford Roundtable podcast the guys discuss Israel, Judaism and the growing tide of Anti-Semitism.

The father of an IDF soldier speaking about what happened to his son during combat deep inside the Gaza Strip. PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://yishaifleisher.com/podcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/YishaiFleisherTVSUPPORT & CONNECT:Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/yishaiFight4Israel: https://fight4israel.givecloud.coTwitter: https://twitter.com/YishaiFleisherLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yishaifleisherFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/YishaiFleisher Support the show

For a year and a half, Israel has been bombarding the densely populated Gaza Strip in response to attacks staged by Hamas on October 7th, 2023. It was a rapid escalation of an old, old conflict and many people understand that it has created millions of displaced people and refugees. Not many people understand that many of those are also stateless. This third episode of Belonging Nowhere looks into it.

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, the head of Realign For Palestine, an Atlantic Council project that challenges entrenched narratives in the Israel and Palestine discourse. This week, we dive into the five likely scenarios that could play out in Gaza during 2026, which Alkhatib recently proposed on his social media channels. According to Alkhatib, the five proposals all "undermine Hamas severely and massively change the calculus and geostrategic landscape following the Trump-sponsored ceasefire in October, which has temporarily halted the war." The five proposals include: A mutiny from Hamas’s ranks within Gaza due to economic and cost-of-living pressures; a significant rise and empowerment of anti-Hamas militias in different areas of the Gaza Strip; mass protests and large-scale uprisings against Hamas throughout the Gaza Strip by civilians; a mass exodus of civilians, from the Red Zone controlled by Hamas behind the "yellow line" into the Israeli-controlled Green Zone; and a successful international stabilization force (ISF) deployment with the mandate of battling and demilitarizing Hamas. We go through each scenario point-by-point throughout the conversation, leaving time for a reader's question or two. And so this week, we ask Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Palestinians walk along a street past a tent camp in Gaza City, December 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hunger Strike in English PrisonsIn English prisons five people, imprisoned under new repressive laws targeted at pro-Palestinian activists, are on hunger strike. Several of them will have been on hunger strike now for over 50 days. At the weekend and each day since, protests have taken place across the island of Ireland and in Britain. Irish republicans have a natural affinity with those who use hunger strike in protest against inhumane prison conditions and to advance democratic aims. The use of hunger strike by political prisoners following the Rising and during the Tan and Civil Wars and in the North is well documented.Grace – just hold me in your arms …Next year the judicial review, taken by the Moore St. Preservation Trust, will be held in the Dublin High Court to challenge the Irish government's support for the plans of the developer - Hammerson – to demolish much of the historic 1916 Moore St. battlefield site.16 Moore St. is where the leaders of the 1916 Rising held their last meeting and where the decision to surrender was taken to prevent further civilian loss of life.Among those present was Joseph Plunkett who was centrally involved in the planning of the 1916 Rising. He was Director of Military Operations in the Irish Republican Brotherhood. He was also a member of that organisations Military Council. He was a signatory of the Proclamation and although heavily bandaged as a result of medical operations in early April, Plunkett spent Easter week in the GPO. A bleak Christmas for PalestiniansThe story of Christmas and the birth of Jesus in a stable, as Mary and Joseph sought shelter, is known by billions around the world – even by those of other faiths and none. Christmas will be celebrated – presents given – and many will go to their respective places of worship to remember the child born in poverty, surrounded by a loving family and animals.But for the people of Palestine, surviving in the occupied Palestinian Territories, this Christmas thousands of families will be separated from their loved ones, many of them children, held illegally in Israeli prisons. In the Gaza Strip families will mourn the 20,000 babies and children killed in Israel's genocidal war and the many more left with life changing injuries. Children will grieve for the parents who have been killed.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Legal and settlements reporter Jeremy Sharon joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Defense Minister Israel Katz told settlements leaders on Tuesday that, “With God’s help when the time comes, we will also establish… pioneer groups in northern Gaza, in place of the settlements that were evacuated.” He later walked back his statements, but not before Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich doubled down on them and also pushed for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to convince US President Donald Trump to recognize annexation of the West Bank in his upcoming US trip. We dive into the issues of Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and West Bank in the first half of the program. The IPC famine monitoring organization stated on Friday that food security conditions in the entire Gaza Strip “remain critical,” in a new report covering the second half of October and all of November that classified the territory as being in its “Emergency” Phase 4 category — the fourth highest of its five levels of food insecurity. Sharon explains Israel's criticism of the report and raises the question of whether the Hamas-run Gazan Health Ministry has been manipulating its numbers of war casualties. Earlier this month, the High Court of Justice ruled unanimously 7-0 to annul the government’s decision to fire Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, asserting that the government had failed to provide legal justification for its decision to change the way an AG is fired, and determining that the new system it designed was fundamentally flawed. Sharon reviews the decision and updates us on the ongoing existential crisis between the government and the court. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Katz vows Israel will build settlements in northern Gaza, later walks back comments Dozens of settler activists enter Gaza, plant Israeli flags in bid to resettle enclave PA accuses Israel of ‘tightening colonial control’ over West Bank with new settlements Government announces 19 new West Bank settlements and legalized outposts IPC monitor says ‘famine conditions’ over but Gaza food security still ‘critical’; Israel rejects findings Israel says famine monitor did not seek aid facilitators’ input for upcoming Gaza report High Court annuls firing of attorney general; cabinet ministers urge defiance of ruling Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves. IMAGE: A tent camp for displaced Palestinians in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, December 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on America in the MorningTrump Highlighted In New Epstein File Release The Justice Department is continuing to roll out the release of tens of thousands of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, but Democrats argue the redactions contained in some of those documents as well as the timing of the release violates the law passed by Congress a few weeks ago.  John Stolnis has more from Washington.   Severe West Coast Weather A huge storm could dump a month's worth of rain onto Southern California in just a couple of days, but that's just one problem among many facing people along the entire West Coast.  Correspondent Rich Johnson has more from Seattle.   SCOTUS Rules On National Guard The United States Supreme Court has handed the Trump administration a major defeat on National Guard troop deployments.  Lisa Dwyer reports on how the high court's decision will impact the deployment of troops in U.S. cities.   Nursing Home Explosion A massive explosion has rocked a nursing home near Philadelphia, as crews worked through the night to search for survivors.   Texas Plane Crash Authorities in Texas are investigating as multiple people have died after a Mexican Navy plane crashes in the Lone Star State.  Correspondent Mike Hempen reports.   Conway For Congress A critic of Donald Trump who was once married to an important ally of the president is planning to make a run to join the New York delegation in Congress.  Correspondent Julie Walker reports on the plans of George Conway.     Latest On US-Venezuela Venezuela's government passed a law against piracy, but that has not stopped the United States military from targeting boats allegedly hauling drugs to America, and oil tankers carrying Venezuelan crude leaving that South American nation.   Mother Charged In Daughter's Murder A gruesome discovery has led to the arrest of the mother of a missing 9-year-old California girl.  Sue Aller reports that police have made an arrest in the child's brutal murder – taken into custody was that little girl's mother.   Thunberg Arrested Again Greta Thunberg, the climate activist and anti-Israel demonstrator who was recently taken into custody in Israel for attempting to violate maritime laws into the Gaza Strip, was arrested in London, this time for protests against the detainment of pro-Palestinians representing a terrorist group who are on a prison hunger strike.   Correspondent Karen Chammas reports.   Delaware State Trooper Killed A Delaware State Trooper is dead after a confrontation at a motor vehicle facility outside of Wilmington on Tuesday.  Consumer Confidence Down There are headwinds for the economy, as the latest Consumer Confidence report continues to trend lower.  Correspondent Mike Hempen reports.   KAG Remains Free A judge has ruled that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is barred from re-detaining Salvadoran native Kilmar Abrego Garcia through the Christmas holiday.    Chief's New Home One of the NFL's most successful modern franchises is making a move across state lines.  Correspondent Gethin Coolbaugh reports – audio courtesy of KMBC-TV Kansas City, Missouri. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Saudi Arabia’s former intelligence chief, Prince Turki bin Faisal, spoke with Magid on Sunday and said that Riyadh is currently not even entertaining the idea of normalizing relations with Israel and will only do so if Jerusalem begins acting like a “normal country.” We hear how Israel could behave more "normally" and what else the royal family member said. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee held a rare meeting with Palestinian Authority Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh in Ramallah last Wednesday to discuss ongoing tensions in the West Bank. We speak about the fraught US-PA ties and how this meeting comes on the heels of increased cooperation surrounding ceasefire efforts in the Gaza Strip. And finally, US Vice President JD Vance claimed in an interview on Sunday that almost no Americans are antisemitic and that concerns about antisemitic voices are raised as a way to avoid discussing “a real backlash to a consensus view in American foreign policy” on Israel. Magid delves into this thorny issue, even as attacks against Jews in the US continue to be at a high since the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Ex-Saudi intel chief to ToI: Riyadh will consider normalization when Israel acts normally Huckabee holds rare meeting with PA official to discuss West Bank tensions — officials Huckabee: Iran ‘didn’t get the full message’ when US bombed its nuclear sites Vance: Almost no Americans are antisemitic, real issue is ‘backlash’ to US policy on Israel Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves. IMAGE: Illustrative: Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal talks to the Associated Press in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, November 24, 2018. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, the head of Realign For Palestine, an Atlantic Council project that challenges entrenched narratives in the Israel and Palestine discourse. This week, we dive into the five likely scenarios that could play out in Gaza during 2026, which Alkhatib recently proposed on his social media channels. According to Alkhatib, the five proposals all "undermine Hamas severely and massively change the calculus and geostrategic landscape following the Trump-sponsored ceasefire in October, which has temporarily halted the war." The five proposals include: A mutiny from Hamas’s ranks within Gaza due to economic and cost-of-living pressures; a significant rise and empowerment of anti-Hamas militias in different areas of the Gaza Strip; mass protests and large-scale uprisings against Hamas throughout the Gaza Strip by civilians; a mass exodus of civilians, from the Red Zone controlled by Hamas behind the "yellow line" into the Israeli-controlled Green Zone; and a successful international stabilization force (ISF) deployment with the mandate of battling and demilitarizing Hamas. We go through each scenario point-by-point throughout the conversation, leaving time for a reader's question or two. And so this week, we ask Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, what matters now. What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Palestinians walk along a street past a tent camp in Gaza City, December 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet in Jerusalem this afternoon with the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. He will hold a bilateral meeting with each leader, then will host a trilateral summit, followed by statements to the press. We learn about the summit's goals. Israel has warned the Trump administration that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps may be using an ongoing military exercise focusing on missiles as cover to launch an attack on Israel, according to a Sunday report, amid fears that Jerusalem and Tehran are readying for another confrontation. At the same time, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir warned Sunday that the military will strike Israel’s enemies “wherever required, on near and distant fronts alike,” apparently hinting that Israel may again need to attack in Iran. Berman weighs in as the drums of war appear to approach. Berman sat with US Senator Lindsey Graham for a one-on-one interview yesterday in Tel Aviv. We learn how the senator believes Hamas must be given a deadline for relinquishing its weapons, after which Israel will have a green light to return to combat operations across the Gaza Strip. As phase two of the Trump peace plan's ceasefire appears stalled, will the IDF need to move in again? Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Israel warns US that Iran may use missile launch drill as cover to strike – report Army chief, hinting at potential new Iran war, says IDF will strike ‘wherever required’ Leading GOP senator: Hamas must be given deadline to disarm or face renewed war Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves. IMAGE: Demonstrators walk on an image of the Israeli flag with blood dripping Star of David as one of them carries a replica of a missile during an annual rally in front of the former US Embassy in Tehran, celebrating the anniversary of the 1979 takeover of the embassy, Iran, November 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israeli forces have carried out fresh strikes across multiple areas of the Gaza Strip, with local sources reporting civilian casualties, including children.

The UN Secretary-General says about 1.6 million people in the Gaza Strip are projected to face extreme levels of acute food insecurity and critical malnutrition risks.

Aaron Siri is the Managing Partner of Siri & Glimstad LLP and has extensive experience in a wide range of complex civil litigation matters and class actions. Siri & Glimstad LLP's team is made up of more than 100 professionals and the firm has robust practices in the areas of civil rights, class actions, employment litigation, immigration, medical malpractice, and vaccine injury and exemptions. Mr. Siri has extensive experience and has handled numerous high-profile cases related to mandated medicine, vaccine injury, and policy. This experience includes challenges to federal and state mandates; the restoration of exemptions, including for U.S. military members; extensive litigation against federal agencies for transparency; and deposing immunologists, infectious disease doctors, pediatricians, and vaccinologists, including the world's leading vaccinologist. Mr. Siri has successfully prosecuted numerous class actions against large corporations resulting in payments to hundreds of thousands of Americans. Mr. Siri has acted as counsel to clients in multiple commercial disputes exceeding one billion dollars, including Oracle Team's challenge for the America's Cup and matters concerning the collapse of the World Trade Center. Prior to Siri & Glimstad, Mr. Siri was a litigation attorney at Latham & Watkins and, prior to that, clerked for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Israel where he advised the Chief Justice of relevant American, English (Commonwealth), and International Law precedent for cases of first impression, including removal of Israel's citizens from the Gaza Strip. Mr. Siri earned his law degree at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law with four Prosser Prizes and ten High Honors and was the Editor-in-Chief of the Berkeley Business Law Journal. Prior to law school, Mr. Siri was an auditor at Arthur Andersen LLP, where he examined internal controls and audited micro-cap technology companies. Mr. Siri is admitted to practice law in federal and state courts across the country and is regularly interviewed on national television as an expert on various legal issues related to civil rights. Mr. Siri has also been published in numerous national print media outlets. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week's show features stories from Radio Deutsche-Welle, France 24, NHK Japan, and Radio Havana Cuba. http://youthspeaksout.net/swr251219.mp3 (29:00) From GERMANY- The far-right alternative political party in Germany is called the AfD. They have wanted to connect with Donald Trumps MAGA party for years and had a weekend bash in NYC with the Young Republicans. The current German chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke about the deteriorating relationship between the US and Europe. DW spoke with members of the AfD and Young Republicans at the black-tie gala. Trump ordered a blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers that he had sanctioned in his first term- President Maduro spoke to his supporters. From FRANCE- Defense One is a trade website for the military industrial complex. They released what they say is a more complete version of the new National Security Strategy which the White House claims is not real. Most European media covered the story and here is a press review on it- the document says that the US should focus on 4 nations that have right-wing governments, that is Austria, Hungary, Italy and Poland- and lead them to leave the EU. A review of European media response. A report on the physical state of Palestinians during current winter weather. From JAPAN- The Thai PM dissolved Paliament and will have new elections in 2 months, and the border war with Cambodia continues. European leaders have proposed a multinational force to guarantee Ukrainian security. A hardline right-wing leader won the presidency in Chile. From CUBA- The US military says it has destroyed 3 more boats allegedly running drugs to the US. There was a summit of ALBA, the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of America- they condemned the recently published US National Security Strategy, aimed at reaffirming the Monroe Doctrine. The UN Special Rappoteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese, says the financial burden for rebuilding the Gaza Strip has to be borne by Israel and its supporters- the US, Germany, Italy, and the UK. Israel continues to violate the ceasefire. Available in 3 forms- (new) HIGHEST QUALITY (160kb)(33MB), broadcast quality (13MB), and quickdownload or streaming form (6MB) (28:59) Links at outfarpress.com/shortwave.shtml PODCAST!!!- https://feed.podbean.com/outFarpress/feed.xml (160kb Highest Quality) Website Page- < http://www.outfarpress.com/shortwave.shtml ¡FurthuR! Dan Roberts “The state can't give you freedom, and the state can't take it away. You're born with it, like your eyes, like your ears. Freedom is something you assume, then you wait for someone to try to take it away. The degree to which you resist is the degree to which you are free.” --Utah Phillips Dan Roberts Shortwave Report- www.outfarpress.com YouthSpeaksOut!- www.youthspeaksout.net

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 77-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 27,447 on turnover of 9-billion N-T. The market closed marginally lower on Wednesday as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing saw its early gains eroded due to futures-led selling on the settlement day for December futures contracts. US official says Taiwan made 'essential contributions' at Pax Silica summit The U-S Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment says Taiwan made essential contributions after being invited to participate in the first summit of the US-led AI supply chain strategy initiative. The inaugural Pax Silica summit took place in Washington D.C. last Friday. According to Jacob Helberg, Taiwan was at the table and was absolutely present in all of the sessions in which one would expect Taiwan to play an important role, and Taiwan participated in discussions on manufacturing and semiconductors. The statement comes after the U-S State Department didn't list Taiwan as being includes on a list of participants and guest contributors (貢獻者) slated to meet for the summit. Taipei City Government hoping to sign Nvidia land deal before LNY Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an says the city government is hoping to sign a land rights agreement with Nvidia before the Lunar New Year holiday. According to Chiang, his administration initiated (發起) the urban planning change process last week and a public exhibition period is set to end within one month. Chiang made the statements while inspecting the T-17 and T-18 sites at the Beitou-Shilin Technology Park, where the Nvidia headquarters will be built. Chiang also said he believes Nvidia's headquarters at the technology park will prove to be transformative development that will establish Taipei as a major artificial intelligence hub. Israel Fires Mortar into Palestinian Residential Area in Gaza Strip Israel's military says troops fired a mortar shell into a Palestinian residential area in the Gaza Strip, in the latest incident to rock the tenuous (脆弱的) ceasefire with Hamas. Health officials on Wednesday said at least 10 people, were wounded, and the army said it was investigating. The military said the mortar was fired during an operation in the area of the “Yellow Line,” which was drawn in the ceasefire agreement that divides the Israeli-held majority of Gaza from the rest of the territory. The military said the mortar had veered from its intended target, which it did not specify. UK TO Rejoin EU's Erasmus Program in 2027 UK students will once again have access to the European Union's "Erasmus" programme, which allows students to study at a university in a different country for part of their degree. London has paid around $760 million dollars to join the scheme (方案) for the 2027-2028 academic year at a 30% discount. But future participation will depend on further negotiations. Stuart Smith has more from London. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 全台南最多分店、最齊全物件，在地團隊懂台南，也懂你的需求。 不管是買屋、賣屋，還是從築夢到圓夢， 房子的大小事，交給台南住商，讓你更安心。 了解更多：https://sofm.pse.is/8glkpn -- 新感覺夾心土司 多種口味隨心挑選 讓你隨時隨地都有好心情 甜蜜口感草莓夾心、顆粒層次花生夾心、濃郁滑順可可夾心 主廚監製鮪魚沙拉、精選原料金黃蛋沙拉 輕巧美味帶著走，迎接多變的每一天 7-Eleven多種口味販售中 https://sofm.pse.is/8gt83c -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

For review:1. President Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Venezuelan Oil Tankers.2. Speaking at an annual meeting with top military officers, Russian President Putin said Moscow would prefer to achieve its goals and “eliminate the root causes of the conflict” by diplomatic means, but he added that “if the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means.”3. Six Countries Join (Gaza) Board of Peace. The US has secured commitments from Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany to have their leaders join US President Donald Trump on the Board of Peace.4. The United States Central Command hosted a conference in Qatar on Tuesday with dozens of partner nations to discuss plans for an International Stabilization Force for the Gaza Strip.Egypt, Indonesia, Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Italy, France, the UK, and Azerbaijan were among the attendees. Other countries at the summit included Cyprus, Georgia, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Jordan, Japan, Greece, Singapore, the EU, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kuwait, Morocco, Bahrain, Bosnia, Finland, Kosovo, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Spain, and Yemen.5. Senators voted 77-20 on a bipartisan basis to send this year's National Defense Authorization Act to the desk of President Donald Trump, who has indicated he will sign the bill. The 2026 NDAA authorizes $900.6 billion in defense funds, or about $8 billion more than the White House's request. 

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Senior officials from the US, France and Saudi Arabia are set to meet in Paris today amid fears that Israel could embark on a new military operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon after a December 31 deadline to disarm the Iran-backed terror group passes, a diplomatic official told The Times of Israel on Tuesday. We have seen an uptick in tensions over the past few weeks. Fabian takes us back to early October to give context for what is currently happening on the ground. In one of his first moves, new Military Advocate General Maj. Gen. Itai Ofir decided today to close a criminal case against a senior reserves officer who was facing charges over his involvement in the circumstances that led to the deaths of a soldier and a civilian researcher in southern Lebanon in November 2024. Fabian was in the area when this occurred and fills us in. Israeli settlers torched a vehicle and sprayed graffiti in a West Bank village near Ramallah overnight, according to Palestinian media. The suspected crime took place in Ein Yabrud. The conflict in the West Bank, always at a low boil, but are appearances deceiving in that it seems to be on a higher flame in the past several weeks? After Palestinian media reported a series of Israeli airstrikes in eastern Gaza City, the IDF said it is conducting routine activity to demolish Hamas infrastructure in the Israeli-controlled area. In addition to the tunnel demolitions, there are almost daily incidents in which Gazans attempt to cross the Yellow Line from the Hamas-ruled side. Fabian gives several scenarios for the attempted crossings. Earlier in the month, Fabian visited Hamas’s “most complex” tunnel network in the Gaza Strip, where, eventually, the remains of Lt. Hadar Goldin were recovered. He was killed and abducted by the terror group in 2014, and it transpires that he was held some two kilometers from the Israeli border. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: US, French, Saudi officials to meet in Paris about preventing renewed war in Lebanon IDF postpones planned strike on alleged Hezbollah site as Lebanese army searches it IDF drops charges against reserve officer over deadly Lebanon incident last year Settlers said to torch vehicle, spray graffiti in attack on West Bank village Scouring massive labyrinth under Rafah, IDF just missed finding Hadar Goldin’s body Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves. IMAGE: An officer with the elite Yahalom unit is seen inside a tunnel in the Rafah area of the southern Gaza Strip, where the body of Lt. Hadar Goldin was held, December 8, 2025. (Emanuel Fabian/Times of Israel)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this soul-expanding episode of the Conscious Living Podcast, I sit down with the luminous and multi-dimensional Renee Blodgett — novelist, curator, journalist, conscious business leader, photographer, humanitarian, and what I lovingly call a modern mystic.Renee has lived more lives in one lifetime than most of us can imagine. From riding elephants in the Indian jungle to photographing polar bears in northern Canada… from teaching English to girls in Kenya to exploring glaciers in Iceland… from living in the Gaza Strip to teaching skiing and dance in Greece, South Africa during Apartheid, and selling kilims in Turkey — her life has been a masterclass in curiosity, courage, and conscious living.Here's what you will discover in this new podcast episode: 1. Living consciously in rapidly changing times 2. Navigating technology without losing humanity 3. Choosing presence over constant acceleration 4. Redefining success beyond productivity 5. Community as a path to healing and empowerment 6. The rise of divine feminine leadership 7. Integrating science and spirituality 8. Consciousness as a catalyst for global changeThis conversation is rich, grounded, and deeply nourishing — an invitation to slow down, tune in, and remember the wisdom already alive within you.Take a breath… and enjoy this heart-opening conversation with Renee Blodgett.

Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, an in-depth investigatory show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (12/14/25). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth is, or claiming they have the answer, is likely leading you astray, for one reason or another. Stay Vigilant. !function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src="https://rumble.com/embedJS/u2q643"+(arguments[1].video?'.'+arguments[1].video:'')+"/?url="+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+"&args="+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, "script", "Rumble");   Rumble("play", {"video":"v70ua72","div":"rumble_v70ua72"}); Video Source Links (In Chronological Order): (1) Aaron Rupar on X: "Q: If DOJ doesn't release the files it has by next Friday, is there anything Congress can do to compel that to happen? MASSIE: It's a crime if they don't. This is a new law with criminal implications if they don't follow it. https://t.co/CzsXCuyXxu" / X The Last American Vagabond on X: "“One of Kash Patel's staff threatened my staff with a criminal investigation if we didn't “straighten up & play ball” … they said “we're going to investigate your staff for fraud”” - if true, Kash is “weaponizing gov” or wiling to let a criminal walk. https://t.co/hGMfzFalsz" / X New Epstein Photos Released by Democrats Show Donald Trump, Bill Clinton - WSJ Micah on X: "Steve Bannon: ‘Democrats are scared of the Epstein Files being released.' Also Steve Bannon: https://t.co/zAvqClp3v2" / X (11) SUAREZ on X: "@Polymarket Bro trying everything to get people to forget about the files https://t.co/jzrH1VQuyD" / X New Tab (11) SilencedSirs◼️ on X: "

For review:1. Joint US-Syrian Patrol Ambushed; Two US Soldiers Killed; President Trump Vows Serious Retaliation.2. WSJ Report: A US special operations team in the Indian Ocean raided a ship headed to Iran from China last month and seized military-related articles.3.  The Israel Defense Forces on Saturday issued a warning to residents of the southern Lebanon town of Yanouh ahead of planned airstrikes against Hezbollah infrastructure, but postponed the strike after Lebanese troops went to search the site.4. On Friday, Lebanese Officials  received warnings from Arab and international parties that Israel is preparing for a wide-scale military operation against Hezbollah.5. Top Hamas commander Raad Saad was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Saturday afternoon, the Israel Defense Forces said.6. International troops could be deployed in the Gaza Strip as early as next month to form a UN-authorized stabilization force, two US officials told Reuters, but it remains unclear how the Palestinian terror group Hamas will be disarmed.7. US and Ukrainian negotiators are set to meet for high-stakes peace talks in Berlin on December 14 as disagreements persist over territorial control and security guarantees.8. Switzerland has decided to cut an order of 36 Lockheed Martin F-35A fifth-generation fighter jets due to a price increase of roughly $610 million enforced by the US government.

Brown University in Rhode Island is reporting an active shooter situation. Police say multiple people have been shot and are advising students to shelter in place or avoid the area until further notice.The Pentagon says two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed in an ambush by a gunman from the ISIS terrorist group Saturday in Syria. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said partner forces killed the shooter. President Donald Trump told reporters that the United States will retaliate.The Israeli military announced Saturday that it has killed a Hamas commander who was one of the architects of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack. The Israel Defense Forces identified Ra'ad Sa'ad as the head of Hamas weapons production and “one of the last remaining veteran senior militants in the Gaza Strip.”

Two months after the ceasefire came in to effect, what's happened in the Gaza Strip? As the world's attention moves away, how are the two million Palestinians there coping, without shelter and with little food and medical care? Do the regular reports of Israeli airstrikes signal a fracturing peace? And who is in charge? The second stage of the peace plan is supposed to come into effect in a few weeks - but what will that amount to for the future of Gaza and its people? Simon Mabon, Professor of Politics at Lancaster University, rejoins Phil and Roger with the latest on the prospects for avoiding further conflict. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gaza: Aid teams push to step up support as rain and cold take hold UN aid teams have been responding to torrential rains and cold in Gaza by focusing on helping the most vulnerable people in the wartorn enclave. Newborns and people living in areas prone to flooding are most at risk but efforts are underway to boost the number of winter clothing kits for children. Speaking from Al Mawasi in Gaza, Jonathan Cricx from the UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, described how overnight downpours had soaked the clothes and mattresses of many living in makeshift tents:  “Those children, they're really suffering not only from the rain, but as well from the cold temperature. It's 6°C or 7°C in the Gaza Strip...What we are doing with UNICEF is we're trying to bring a lot of winter clothes…We also brought shoes. We brought 8,000 tents. We brought 600,000 blankets. But all this is far from being enough because we have more than 1.5 million people here who are in dire need for humanitarian aid.” Residents have been given empty flour sacks to fill with sand to keep rising waters at bay, while it's estimated that more than 760 displacement sites hosting about 850,000 people face the highest risk of flooding. Around 200 families living on the Gaza shoreline in high-risk areas were also being helped on Thursday to relocate to “what remains of Hamad city in eastern Khan Younis”, according to the UN aid coordination office, OCHA. Gaza's humanitarian crisis continues, however, as humanitarians report that a key water pipeline is now damaged and out of service. Until last week, Bani Suhaila Mekorot channel supplied around 16,000 cubic metres of drinking water per day to Khan Younis. Fear and uncertainty in DR Congo amid heavy fighting  Renewed heavy fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo has killed scores of civilians and uprooted communities who've fled in fear. UN aid coordinators OCHA has warned of “intense” clashes multiple territories, including Uvira, Walungu, Mwenga and Kalehe.  So far, more than 200,000 people have been displaced across South Kivu; most are sheltering in unsafe and overcrowded sites where the risk of disease is high. With more details, here's Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq, speaking in New York on Wednesday: “The humanitarian impact of the crisis is now spilling across borders. Between December 5th and 8th, nearly 25,000 people crossed into Burundi, including Congolese nationals, Burundian returnees and third-country migrants – with additional arrivals also reported in Rwanda.”  The violence has disrupted aid assistance severely and forced the UN World Food Programme to suspend its activities across South Kivu. This has left 25,000 people without lifesaving food assistance, while host families share the last of their own reserves with displaced families, the agency said.  The UN's presence in DR Congo is limited; MONUSCO – the peacekeeping mission - is no longer deployed in South Kivu, while a Human Rights Council inquiry into serious abuses in the country has been left unstaffed because of dire funding shortfalls. Venezuela's national guard linked to serious abuses, rights investigators say To Venezuela, where investigators appointed by the Human Rights Council alleged on Thursday that the country's Bolivarian National Guard carried out a decade of systematic and serious violations, including crimes against humanity. In a new report, the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela detailed evidence of what it called “systematic and coordinated repression”. According to the independent investigators, the national guard's actions appear to have been steered by a centralised command structure under President Nicolas Maduro.…

In this episode of Right On Radio the hosts navigate a wide-ranging conversation with guest John Brisson (WeReadTheDocuments) covering urgent geopolitical developments, spiritual interpretation, and end-times speculation. The show begins with a brief tech hiccup, a word-of-the-day segment drawing on Isaiah and Deuteronomy, and then moves into the main discussion between Jeff and John. Key topics include the newly reported United Nations "Board of Peace" (UN Security Council Resolution 2803), Donald Trump's proposed leadership role, abstentions by Russia and China, and the structure of the board — ten leaders from Arab and Western nations and a secondary team reportedly including names like Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff (with ongoing debate about Tony Blair's involvement). John and Jeff unpack how the board could fit into prophetic frameworks (ten kings, regional realignments) and whether the arrangement foreshadows larger shifts in NATO, European security, and global alignments. The hosts examine developments around Gaza and hostage exchanges, including reported U.S.–Egypt plans to empty Gaza temporarily, proposals for tokenized land purchases, and talk of a technocratic/AI-administered Gaza Strip. They also discuss regional conflicts (Azerbaijan–Armenia), the Isaac Accords in Latin America, and the role of influential figures such as Javier Milei, Elon Musk, and financiers tied to media and tech deals. Spiritual and symbolic themes are woven throughout: Chabad-Lubavitch influence, Trump's controversial ritual at the Rebbe's grave, questions about Kushner and Ivanka's ties, and concerns about Jewish mysticism and modern political-religious alliances. The episode covers the rise of AI and prediction markets (Kalshi, Polymarket) and media–tech partnerships (CNN, Palantir, Fox) as possible instruments in building a global "beast" system or unified narrative. John and Jeff debate theosophical plans (externalization of the hierarchy), the potential for a one-world religion and the timeline for major events (speculation about 2026–2027), and interpretations of Mystery Babylon and Jerusalem's prophetic role. The conversation alternates between reporting current developments, geopolitical analysis, and biblical prophecy, emphasizing watchfulness, prayer, and community action. Guests & logistics: John Brisson (WeReadTheDocuments) joins host Jeff. The episode closes with practical notes — an invitation to a Telegram prayer meeting and a reminder to follow John's channels — and a final exhortation to love God, family and neighbor while staying alert to world events and prophetic signs. Want to Understand and Explain Everything Biblically?  Click Here: Decoding the Power of Three: Understand and Explain Everything or go to www.rightonu.com and click learn more.  Thank you for Listening to Right on Radio. Prayerfully consider supporting Right on Radio. Click Here for all links, Right on Community ROC, Podcast web links, Freebies, Products (healing mushrooms, EMP Protection) Social media, courses and more... https://linktr.ee/RightonRadio Live Right in the Real World! We talk God and Politics, Faith Based Broadcast News, views, Opinions and Attitudes We are Your News Now. Keep the Faith

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Lazar Focus. Each Friday, join host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan and diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. This week, we're joined by Julien Lerisson, the head of delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Israel and Occupied Territories. Berman reviews the organization's troubling history of failures regarding Jews, specifically during the Holocaust, but also moving forward in its rejection of Israel's national Magen David Adom chapter until two decades ago. We learn about the ICRC's work in Gaza during the hostage releases and Lerisson shares the humanitarian group's frustrations with its inability to access those held by Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza. Lerisson tells us about the group's core principle of neutrality and how a mission to serve humanity is at the center of its work in war-torn and disaster-prone regions. Lazar Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Julien Lerisson (courtesy)/ A Red Cross vehicle carrying the remains of a deceased hostage handed over by Hamas militants heads toward the border crossing with Israel for transfer to Israeli authorities, in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, December 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, an in-depth investigatory show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (12/5/25). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth is, or claiming they have the answer, is likely leading you astray, for one reason or another. Stay Vigilant. !function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src="https://rumble.com/embedJS/u2q643"+(arguments[1].video?'.'+arguments[1].video:'')+"/?url="+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+"&args="+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, "script", "Rumble");   Rumble("play", {"video":"v70gta2","div":"rumble_v70gta2"}); Video Source Links (In Chronological Order): (26) Brook Jackson

Pastor Rich Jones and Dr. Matthew Dodd were invited by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Friends of Zion Ministry to travel to Israel for the Ambassador Summit 2025 – 1,000 Pastors United. In this episode of the Blessors of Israel Podcast, Dr. Dodd shares his initial reflections from the Nova Festival site, where Hamas terrorists launched a brutal attack on October 7, 2023, resulting in the tragic deaths of 400 individuals and the hostage-taking of over 40 others.Visit the Blessors of Israel Website: https://www.blessors.org/ Thank you for supporting Blessors of Israel. Donate Online: https://blessors.org/donate/Please Subscribe and Like our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUfbl_rf8O_uwKrfzCh04jgSubscribe to our ⁠Spotify Channel⁠: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blessorsofisrael Subscribe to our Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blessors-of-israedl/id1699662615Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlessorsofIsrael/Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlessorsIGettr: https://gettr.com/i/blessorsofisrael Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-1670015Thank you for watching. Please like and share this video.We would love to hear your comments.Those who bless Israel will be blessed (Genesis 12:3).Pastor Rich JonesPastor Matthew DoddDr. Matthew DoddRich Jones Blessors of IsraelMatthew Dodd Blessors of IsraelBlessors of IsraelBlessers of IsraelTags:Pastor Rich JonesPastor Matthew DoddRich JonesDr. Matthew DoddRich Jones, Blessors of Israel, Rich Jones, Blessers of Israel, Matthew Dodd, Blessors of Israel, Matthew Dodd, Blessers of Israel, Blessers of Israel, Blessors of Israel, Two-State Solution, Palestine, Modern Palestinian Problem, Israel, Jesus Christ, Anti-Semitism, Prophecy Update, End Times Prophecy, Latter Days, Bible Prophecy, The Great Tribulation, Hamas, Gaza Strip, Terrorism, Hezbollah, Iran, Russia, Persia, Gog and Magog, BRICS, China, CCP, Persia, Iran, Turkey, Russia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, India, Yahya Sinwar, Nasrallah, Ismail Haniyeh, Deif, United Nations, Terrorism, Antisemitism, Syria, Bashar al Assad, HTS, Damascus, Mount Hermon, Erdogan, Netanyahu, Trump, Putin, Ceasefire, Hostages, al Jolani, al Sharaa, Holocaust Day of Remembrance, China, Egypt, Iran Nuclear Deal, Trump, War, WWIII, Hamas, Anti-Semitism, October 7, 2023, Trump's 20-Point Peace Plan, Qatar, Egypt, Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, Erdogan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Hostages, Nova Festival Site

On the first day of the Ambassador Summit 2025, Pastor Rich Jones met with Dr. Matthew Dodd at the Nova Festival Site, the tragic location where Hamas terrorists took the lives of 400 young men and women and held over 40 others hostage. In this poignant podcast, Pastor Rich and Dr. Dodd share their reflections on the heinous crimes against humanity that unfolded at Nova on October 7, 2023.Visit the Blessors of Israel Website: https://www.blessors.org/ Thank you for supporting Blessors of Israel. Donate Online: https://blessors.org/donate/Please Subscribe and Like our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUfbl_rf8O_uwKrfzCh04jgSubscribe to our ⁠Spotify Channel⁠: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blessorsofisrael Subscribe to our Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blessors-of-israedl/id1699662615Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlessorsofIsrael/Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlessorsIGettr: https://gettr.com/i/blessorsofisrael Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-1670015Thank you for watching. Please like and share this video.We would love to hear your comments.Those who bless Israel will be blessed (Genesis 12:3).Pastor Rich JonesPastor Matthew DoddDr. Matthew DoddRich Jones Blessors of IsraelMatthew Dodd Blessors of IsraelBlessors of IsraelBlessers of IsraelTags:Pastor Rich JonesPastor Matthew DoddRich JonesDr. Matthew DoddRich Jones, Blessors of Israel, Rich Jones, Blessers of Israel, Matthew Dodd, Blessors of Israel, Matthew Dodd, Blessers of Israel, Blessers of Israel, Blessors of Israel, Two-State Solution, Palestine, Modern Palestinian Problem, Israel, Jesus Christ, Anti-Semitism, Prophecy Update, End Times Prophecy, Latter Days, Bible Prophecy, The Great Tribulation, Hamas, Gaza Strip, Terrorism, Hezbollah, Iran, Russia, Persia, Gog and Magog, BRICS, China, CCP, Persia, Iran, Turkey, Russia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, India, Yahya Sinwar, Nasrallah, Ismail Haniyeh, Deif, United Nations, Terrorism, Antisemitism, Syria, Bashar al Assad, HTS, Damascus, Mount Hermon, Erdogan, Netanyahu, Trump, Putin, Ceasefire, Hostages, al Jolani, al Sharaa, Holocaust Day of Remembrance, China, Egypt, Iran Nuclear Deal, Trump, War, WWIII, Hamas, Anti-Semitism, October 7, 2023, Trump's 20-Point Peace Plan, Qatar, Egypt, Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, Erdogan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Hostages, Nova Festival Site, Friends of Zion

Israel's war against Hamas has left wives without their husband, children without their parents, and parents without their children. On December 4, 2025, Ambassador Summit 2025 hosted a special memorial service at Mt. Herzl to honor the brave men and women who gave their lives to protect Israel from an existential threat, Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and the Houthis. In this episode of the Blessors of Israel Podcast, Dr. Matthew Dodd shares his thoughts regarding the memorial service along with insights about the importance of standing with Israel at this critical hour.Visit the Blessors of Israel Website: https://www.blessors.org/ Thank you for supporting Blessors of Israel. Donate Online: https://blessors.org/donate/Please Subscribe and Like our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUfbl_rf8O_uwKrfzCh04jgSubscribe to our ⁠Spotify Channel⁠: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blessorsofisrael Subscribe to our Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blessors-of-israedl/id1699662615Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlessorsofIsrael/Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlessorsIGettr: https://gettr.com/i/blessorsofisrael Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-1670015Thank you for watching. Please like and share this video.We would love to hear your comments.Those who bless Israel will be blessed (Genesis 12:3).Pastor Rich JonesPastor Matthew DoddDr. Matthew DoddRich Jones Blessors of IsraelMatthew Dodd Blessors of IsraelBlessors of IsraelBlessers of IsraelTags:Pastor Rich JonesPastor Matthew DoddRich JonesDr. Matthew DoddRich Jones, Blessors of Israel, Rich Jones, Blessers of Israel, Matthew Dodd, Blessors of Israel, Matthew Dodd, Blessers of Israel, Blessers of Israel, Blessors of Israel, Two-State Solution, Palestine, Modern Palestinian Problem, Israel, Jesus Christ, Anti-Semitism, Prophecy Update, End Times Prophecy, Latter Days, Bible Prophecy, The Great Tribulation, Hamas, Gaza Strip, Terrorism, Hezbollah, Iran, Russia, Persia, Gog and Magog, BRICS, China, CCP, Persia, Iran, Turkey, Russia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, India, Yahya Sinwar, Nasrallah, Ismail Haniyeh, Deif, United Nations, Terrorism, Antisemitism, Syria, Bashar al Assad, HTS, Damascus, Mount Hermon, Erdogan, Netanyahu, Trump, Putin, Ceasefire, Hostages, al Jolani, al Sharaa, Holocaust Day of Remembrance, China, Egypt, Iran Nuclear Deal, Trump, War, WWIII, Hamas, Anti-Semitism, October 7, 2023, Trump's 20-Point Peace Plan, Qatar, Egypt, Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, Erdogan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Hostages, Nova Festival Site, Friends of Zion, Mt. Herzl

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Yesterday, two soldiers were lightly injured in a stabbing attack near the northern West Bank settlement of Ateret. The attack came hours after a soldier was lightly hurt in a car-ramming near the city of Hebron. Both attackers were killed. Are we seeing an uptick in attacks on soldiers in the West Bank? At recording time, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, the Al Quds Brigades, said it was searching for the body of a hostage in northern Gaza with a team from the Red Cross. It has since been announced that remains will be handed over to Israel this evening. These announcements came a day after Hamas handed over remains to Israel via the Red Cross, which Israel said today did not belong to either of the two remaining hostages. Regardless of the full return of the deceased hostages, this morning Israel stated it will reopen the Rafah Crossing in the coming days for the exit of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Egypt. We learn about the significance of this step. Yesterday evening, the IDF’s new Hasmonean Brigade for ultra-Orthodox troops completed its first-ever squad commanders’ course, which the military says lays the groundwork for “the future generation of Haredi commanders in the army.” We learn more about the bridgade and whether it can overcome the strife surrounding the lack of Haredi enlistment. However, Fabian adds, according to Channel 12 news, the IDF is short of about 1,300 officers at the ranks of lieutenant and captain, and another 300 majors. The military on Tuesday completed a reorganization of its C4I and Cyber Defense Directorate, with a new artificial intelligence unit and an expanded electronic warfare array that will further enhance Israel’s defensive cyber capabilities, including countering drone attacks. We hear about the new units and learn about some practical applications for their work. Israel’s high-powered laser interception system, dubbed “Iron Beam,” will be delivered to the military at the end of the month, the head of the Defense Ministry’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development said Monday. Fabian explains where it could be used -- almost immediately. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Israel says remains handed over by Hamas are not of Ran Gvili or Sudthisak Rinthalak Three soldiers injured in West Bank stabbing, ramming attacks; assailants killed IDF’s Haredi brigade graduates its first squad commanders’ course IDF faces manpower crisis as fewer soldiers keen on military career, new data shows Focusing on AI and electronic warfare, IDF restructures computer service directorate IDF to receive ‘Iron Beam’ laser interceptors at the end of the month Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves. Image: Signals officers of the C4I and Cyber Defense Directorate are seen in an undated photo published by the army on December 2, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Joe Williams speaks to historian Anne Irfan about her new book, A Short History of the Gaza Strip (Simon & Schuster, 2025). Drawing on more than a decade of research, Irfan traces the political, social, and humanitarian history of Gaza from 1948 to the present, situating the territory's current devastation within a much longer trajectory of displacement, occupation, and international governance. The book examines six key junctures in Gaza's modern history — from the mass refugee influx of 1948 and the Egyptian administration, through decades of Israeli occupation, the First Intifada, the Oslo process, and the rise of Hamas. Irfan also addresses the contemporary crisis, including the 2023–25 assault and the international legal debates surrounding it. Throughout the conversation, Irfan reflects on the role of historians in documenting ongoing violence, the impact of practically permanent displacement, and the need for historically grounded public understanding. Her work offers a concise but rigorously contextualised account of Gaza, illuminating both the structural forces that have shaped life in the Strip and the human experiences at its centre. Joe WilliamsHistory PhD researcher at the University of Coimbra and translator (website)- Censorship and Sacralisation of Politics in the Portuguese Press during the Spanish Civil War- "Year X of the National Revolution" — Salazarist Palingenetic Myth in the Diário da Manhã Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

In this episode, Joe Williams speaks to historian Anne Irfan about her new book, A Short History of the Gaza Strip (Simon & Schuster, 2025). Drawing on more than a decade of research, Irfan traces the political, social, and humanitarian history of Gaza from 1948 to the present, situating the territory's current devastation within a much longer trajectory of displacement, occupation, and international governance. The book examines six key junctures in Gaza's modern history — from the mass refugee influx of 1948 and the Egyptian administration, through decades of Israeli occupation, the First Intifada, the Oslo process, and the rise of Hamas. Irfan also addresses the contemporary crisis, including the 2023–25 assault and the international legal debates surrounding it. Throughout the conversation, Irfan reflects on the role of historians in documenting ongoing violence, the impact of practically permanent displacement, and the need for historically grounded public understanding. Her work offers a concise but rigorously contextualised account of Gaza, illuminating both the structural forces that have shaped life in the Strip and the human experiences at its centre. Joe WilliamsHistory PhD researcher at the University of Coimbra and translator (website)- Censorship and Sacralisation of Politics in the Portuguese Press during the Spanish Civil War- "Year X of the National Revolution" — Salazarist Palingenetic Myth in the Diário da Manhã Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Israel readies to receive from Red Cross findings transferred from Gaza Strip. Two IDF soldiers lightly hurt in stabbing attack by Israeli settlement, attacker shot and killed. Rosh HaNikra cable car reopens after closure due to the warSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Joe Williams speaks to historian Anne Irfan about her new book, A Short History of the Gaza Strip (Simon & Schuster, 2025). Drawing on more than a decade of research, Irfan traces the political, social, and humanitarian history of Gaza from 1948 to the present, situating the territory's current devastation within a much longer trajectory of displacement, occupation, and international governance. The book examines six key junctures in Gaza's modern history — from the mass refugee influx of 1948 and the Egyptian administration, through decades of Israeli occupation, the First Intifada, the Oslo process, and the rise of Hamas. Irfan also addresses the contemporary crisis, including the 2023–25 assault and the international legal debates surrounding it. Throughout the conversation, Irfan reflects on the role of historians in documenting ongoing violence, the impact of practically permanent displacement, and the need for historically grounded public understanding. Her work offers a concise but rigorously contextualised account of Gaza, illuminating both the structural forces that have shaped life in the Strip and the human experiences at its centre. Joe WilliamsHistory PhD researcher at the University of Coimbra and translator (website)- Censorship and Sacralisation of Politics in the Portuguese Press during the Spanish Civil War- "Year X of the National Revolution" — Salazarist Palingenetic Myth in the Diário da Manhã Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/middle-eastern-studies

Weight loss drugs have once again dominated health headlines.The World Health Organization has endorsed Ozempic-type drugs for long-term obesity treatment, while Australia's TGA has issues new safety alerts - so what's going on here? Plus, we dive into the contentious Oxford Word of the Year, and why it was some people raging... literally. And in headlines today, A suppression order has been lifted allowing reporting on the dark history of Greg Lynn; Disgraced former political staffer Bruce Lehrmann will learn today whether a an appeal to overturn a court ruling he probably raped colleague Brittany Higgins is successful; Palestinian militant group Hamas says it is handing over the remains of one of the two last hostage bodies still in the Gaza Strip; The Prada Group has officially purchased Milan fashion rival Versace in a 1.25 billion euro ($A2.21 billion) deal; Miley Cyrus is engaged to musician Maxx Morando THE END BITS Support independent women's media Check out The Quicky Instagram here GET IN TOUCHShare your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice note or email us at thequicky@mamamia.com.au CREDITS Hosts: Taylah Strano & Claire Murphy Guests: Dr Terri-Lynne South, Chair of RACGP Specific Interests Obesity ManagementMyf Warhurst, cultural commentator & host of The Moment podcast Audio Producer: Lu Hill Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Joe Williams speaks to historian Anne Irfan about her new book, A Short History of the Gaza Strip (Simon & Schuster, 2025). Drawing on more than a decade of research, Irfan traces the political, social, and humanitarian history of Gaza from 1948 to the present, situating the territory's current devastation within a much longer trajectory of displacement, occupation, and international governance. The book examines six key junctures in Gaza's modern history — from the mass refugee influx of 1948 and the Egyptian administration, through decades of Israeli occupation, the First Intifada, the Oslo process, and the rise of Hamas. Irfan also addresses the contemporary crisis, including the 2023–25 assault and the international legal debates surrounding it. Throughout the conversation, Irfan reflects on the role of historians in documenting ongoing violence, the impact of practically permanent displacement, and the need for historically grounded public understanding. Her work offers a concise but rigorously contextualised account of Gaza, illuminating both the structural forces that have shaped life in the Strip and the human experiences at its centre. Joe WilliamsHistory PhD researcher at the University of Coimbra and translator (website)- Censorship and Sacralisation of Politics in the Portuguese Press during the Spanish Civil War- "Year X of the National Revolution" — Salazarist Palingenetic Myth in the Diário da Manhã Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. The commander of Hamas’s East Rafah Battalion, his deputy, and two other terror operatives were confirmed by the military to have been killed early this morning after attempting to flee a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip. The soldiers there recovered the weapon of a slain IDF soldier, Staff Sgt. Or Mizrahi, a Nahal fighter who was killed while battling terrorists on the Gaza border during the October 7, 2023, onslaught. Fabian updates on the Hamas operatives trapped in the tunnels. The IDF said it killed three Palestinians who crossed the Gaza ceasefire line in two separate incidents in the Strip’s south on Saturday, with two of them identified as young children. Fabian was in the Gaza Strip last week: We learn how the IDF is operating along the Yellow Line and whether Gazans are aware of the demarcation. Six Israeli soldiers were wounded, including three seriously, after coming under fire by gunmen during an arrest operation in southern Syria early Friday morning. While arrest operations in Syria are no longer unusual, they rarely are accompanied by gunfights. Fabian unravels what we know about the ambush. Officers of the police’s elite Yamam unit detained a cell of five terror operatives in the northern West Bank that was planning an “imminent” attack, security forces said this morning. The arrest comes as the military is continuing to carry out a major counterterrorism operation in several northern West Bank towns. We hear about Hamas smuggling attempts into the West Bank and a much-examined incident in which Border Police officers are now under investigation over the fatal shooting on Thursday of two unarmed Palestinian terror suspects in the West Bank’s Jenin. We end the program learning about Maj. Gen. (ret.) Dan Tolkowsky, the fifth commander of the Israeli Air Force and later a key figure in the development of Israel’s high-tech and venture capital sectors. He died overnight Friday in his home in Tel Aviv at the age of 104. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: IDF vows to hunt down dozens of Hamas fighters still holed up in Rafah Brothers, 8 and 11, killed in south Gaza strike; IDF: ‘Suspects’ crossed Yellow Line Six soldiers hurt in gun battle as IDF detains terror suspects in southern Syria Attacker killed, IDF says, 60 reportedly detained in northern West Bank operation Shin Bet says it foiled Hamas plot to smuggle arms into West Bank using Israelis Border cops who killed unarmed terror suspects after surrender say they feared harm Dan Tolkowsky, former air force commander and Israeli tech pioneer, dies at 104 Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves. ILLUSTRATIVE IMAGE: This picture taken on June 8, 2025, shows a tunnel at the European Hospital during a controlled embed organized by the Israeli military, in Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip. (AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. As US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to examine Muslim Brotherhood chapters in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon to see whether those branches should be designated as terror organizations, Magid discusses that other countries were not included, including Turkey and Qatar, which have close ties to the US. The controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is wrapping up five months of operations in Gaza, saying that its model is being adopted by the Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat, while Magid notes that it appears the original UN-backed model is back in place in Gaza. The US is trying to get construction efforts underway in Gaza, on the Israeli side of the yellow ceasefire line, with efforts to first clear rubble from the Rafah area to build alternative safe communities. Magid discusses the pushback from Israel's government coalition, which is concerned with the issue of Hamas disarmament, while it's also unclear if Gazans would want to live under Israeli control. Magid also talks about the revelation that US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee held a private meeting in July with Jonathan Pollard, the former US Navy analyst who served 30 years in a US prison for spying for Israel. Magid says there is widespread anger in the US administration regarding the meeting and the ongoing alignment of the US with Israel. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Trump launches process aimed at potentially sanctioning Muslim Brotherhood Gaza Humanitarian Foundation announces end of operations in Strip after 5 months Construction of first US-backed housing compound said to begin this week in Rafah Pollard: Anti-Israel elements in US administration leaked my Huckabee meeting to get him fired Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Pod-Waves. IMAGE: Turkish charities, in partnership with Khan Yunis municipal bulldozers, remove the rubble from Palestinian homes and streets in the northern area of ​​Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, following the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas on October 23, 2025 (Photo by Abed Rahim Khatib/FLASH90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A United Nations resolution built on Donald Trump’s Gaza plan promises a ceasefire, foreign peacekeepers and a new “Board of Peace” to govern the Gaza Strip. But with no real accountability for Israel and Palestinians sidelined, is this an end to the war — or a blueprint for a new kind of occupation? In this episode: Ali Harb (@Harbpeace), Al Jazeera Senior Producer Episode credits: This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé and Tracie Hunte, with Farhan Rafid, Fatima Shafiq, Tamara Khandaker, Chloe K. Li and our host, Natasha del Toro. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz and Kylene Kiang. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad Al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is the Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Al Jazeera report: Body of deceased hostage held by Islamic Jihad located in central Gaza Strip. IDF chief of staff says forces must be on alert in wake of assassination of Hezbollah military chief. Germany chancellor to visit IsraelSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. As Hamas leaders meet in Cairo with Egyptian intelligence officers to discuss the ceasefire, Berman says that the terrorist group wants to limit the ability of Israel to strike, and wants to deepen their control over 40% of the Gaza Strip, making it more inevitable that Hamas will be seen as the rulers of Gaza. Berman discusses his second visit to the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat, focusing on the American tone of the center and the civil governance and nation-building efforts underway at the site. He notes that the CMCC won't be the body that will force Hamas to disarm, which will only happen through Israel's military pressure or diplomatic pressure from Turkey and Egypt. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses several questions in an interview with Abu Ali Express, a popular local Telegram channel, says Berman, including ruling out a Palestinian state, while also discussing the possibility of Saudi normalization and continued talks with Turkey. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Top Hamas team said in Cairo to discuss escalation in Gaza, transition to 2nd stage of Trump plan Optimism abounds at Gaza coordination center, but violence puts truce at risk As US dives into remaking Gaza, shades of nation-building come into focus Netanyahu: ‘There will not be a Palestinian state,’ even at cost of ties with Saudis Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves. IMAGE: Islamic Jihad militants search for the bodies of hostages north of Nuseirat, Gaza strip, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the National Crawford Roundtable the guys discuss Israel, Judaism and the growing tide of Anti-Semitism.

This week we talk about Venezuela, casus belli, and drug smuggling.We also discuss oil reserves, Maduro, and Machado.Recommended Book: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt DinnimanTranscriptVenezuela, which suffered all sorts of political and economic crises under former president Hugo Chávez, has suffered even more of the same, and on a more dramatic scale, under Chávez's successor, Nicolás Maduro.Both Chávez and Maduro have ruled over autocratic regimes, turning ostensibly democratic Venezuelan governments into governments ruled by a single person, and those they like and empower and reward, over time removing anyone from power who might challenge them, and collapsing all checks and balances within the structure of their government.They still hold elections, then, but like in Russia, the voting is just for show, the outcome predetermined, and anyone who gets too popular and who isn't favored by the existing regime is jailed or killed or otherwise neutralized; the votes are then adjusted when necessary to make it look like the regime is still popular, and anyone who challenges that seeming popularity is likewise taken care of.As a result of that state of affairs, an unpopular regime with absolute power running things into the ground over the course of two autocrats' administrations, Venezuela has suffered immense hyperinflation, high levels of crime and widespread disease, ever-increasing mortality rates, and even starvation, as fundamentals like food periodically become scarce. This has led to a swell of emigration out of the country, which has, during the past decade, become the largest ever recorded refugee crisis in the Americas, those who leave mostly flooding into neighboring countries like Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador.As of 2025, it's estimated that nearly 8 million people, more than 20% of Venezuela's entire population as of 2017, has fled the country to get away from the government, its policies, its collapsed economy, and the cultural homogeny that has led to so much crime, conflict, and oppression of those not favored by the people in charge.This has also led to some Venezuelans trying to get into the US, which was part of the justification for a proposed invasion of the country, by the US government, under the first Trump administration in 2017.The idea was that this is a corrupt, weak government that also happens to possess the largest proven oil reserves in the world. Its production of oil has collapsed along with everything else, in part because the government is so ineffectual, and in part because of outside forces, like longstanding sanctions by the US, which makes selling and profiting from said oil on the global market difficult.Apparently, though, Trump also just liked the idea of invading Venezuela through US ally Colombia, saying—according to Trump's National Security advisor at the time, John Bolton—that Venezuela is really part of the US, so it would be “cool” for the US to take it. Trump also later said, in 2023, that when he left office Venezuela was about to collapse, and that he would have taken it over if he had been reelected instead of losing to Joe Biden, and the US would have then kept all the country's oil.So there's long been a seeming desire by Trump to invade Venezuela, partly on vibe grounds, the state being weak and why shouldn't we own it, that kind of thing? But underlying that is the notion of the US being a country that can stomp into weaker countries, take their oil, and then nation-build, similar to what the government seemed to be trying to do when it invaded Iraq in the early 2000s, using 9/11 as a casus belli, an excuse to go to war, with an uninvolved nation that happened to own a bunch of oil resources the US government wanted for itself.What I'd like to talk about today is the seeming resurgence of that narrative, but this time with an, actual tangible reason to believe an invasion of Venezuela might occur sometime soon.—As I mentioned, though previously kind of a success story in South America, bringing people in from all over the continent and the world, Venezuela has substantially weakened under its two recent autocratic leaders, who have rebuilt everything in their image, and made corruption and self-serving the main driver behind their decisions for the direction of the country.A very popular candidate, María Corina Machado, was barred from participating in the country's 2024 election, the country's Supreme Court ruling that a 15-year ban on her holding public office because of her involvement with an alleged plot against Maduro with a previous candidate for office, Juan Guaido; Guiado is now in exile, run out of the country for winning an election against Maduro, which Maduro's government has claimed wasn't legit, but which dozens of governments recognize as having been legitimate, despite Maduro's clinging to power after losing.So Machado is accused of being corrupt by Maduro's corrupt government, and thus isn't allowed to run for office. Another candidate that she wanted to have run in her place was also declared ineligible by Maduro's people, so another sub was found, Edmundo González, and basically every outside election watchdog group says that he won in 2024, and handedly, over Maduro. But the government's official results say that's not the case, that Maduro won, and that has created even more conflict and chaos in the country as it's become clearer and clearer that there's no way to oust the autocrat in control of the government—not through the voting box, at least.This is part of what makes Venezuela an even more appealing target, for the Trump administration, right now, because not only is Maduro incredibly unpopular and running the country into the ground, there's also a very popular alternative, in the shape of María Corina Machado, who could conceivably take control of things should Maduro be toppled. So there's a nonzero chance that if someone, like the US military, were to step in and either kill Maduro or run him out of town, they could make a very sweet deal with the incoming Machado government, including a deal that grants access to all that currently underutilized oil wealth.This is theoretical right now, but recent moves by the US government and military suggest it might not remain theoretical for much longer.In mid-November, 2025, the US Navy moved the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Caribbean—the USS Gerald R Ford being an aircraft carrier, and the strike group being the array of ships and aircraft that accompany it—it was moved there from the Eastern Mediterranean, where it was moved following the attack on Israel that led to Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip.This, by itself, doesn't necessarily mean anything; the shifting of aircraft carrier groups is often more symbolic than practical. But the US government has suggested it might us these vessels and aircraft to strike drug manufacturers across South and Central America, and specifically in Venezuela.This is being seen as an escalation of an already fraught moment in the region, because the US has launched a series of strikes against small boats in the area, beginning back in September of 2025.These boats, according to the US government, are drug smuggling vessels, bringing fentanyl, among other drugs, to US shores. So the idea is that the people aboard these boats are criminals who are killing folks in the US by bringing this drug, which is highly addictive and super potent, and thus more likely to kill its users than other opioids, into the country for illegal sale and distribution. So, the claim goes, this is a justified use of force.These strikes have thus far, over the past two months, killed at least 79 people, all alleged by the US government to be drug smugglers, despite some evidence to the contrary, in some cases. The US's allies have not been happy about these strikes, including allies the government usually relies on to help with drug-related detection and interdiction efforts, including regional governments that take action to keep drugs from shuffling around the region and eventually ending up in the US.Many US allies have also called the strikes illegal. The French foreign minister recently said they violate international law, and the EU's foreign policy chief said something similar, indicating that such use of force is only valid in cases of self-defense, and when there's a UN Security council resolution on the matter.Canadian and Dutch governments have been doing what they can to distance themselves from the strikes, without outright criticizing the at times vindictive US government, and some regional allies, like Colombia, have been signaling that they'll be less cooperative with the US when it comes to drug-related issues, saying that they would no longer share intelligence with the US until they stop the strikes, which they've called “extrajudicial executions.”An extrajudicial killing is one that is not lawful; it doesn't have the backing of a judicial proceeding, and thus lacks the authority typically granted by the proper facets of a government. Lacking such authority, killing is illegal. Given said authority, though, a killing can be made legal, at least according to the laws of the government doing the killing.The argument here is that while governments can usually get away with killing people, only authoritarian regimes typically and regularly to use that power to kill folks without going through the proper channels and thus getting the legal authority to do so.In this case, the facts seem to support the accusations of those who are saying these killings aren't legally legitimate: the Trump administration has launched these attacks on these vessels without going through the usual channels, and without declaring Congressionally approved war on anyone in particular. They've instead claimed that drug cartels are terrorists, and have said that anyone they suspect of smuggling drugs, or who they suspect in any way might be involved with the illegal drug making and smuggling industry, can be considered enemy, non-state combatants that they're allowed to kill at will.And as part of that declaration that the US government has the right to kill anyone they like who's involved in drug smuggling, in late-October 2025 it was reported that the US has identified targets on land, as well, some of these targets located within ports and airstrips across Venezuela, including those used by the Venezuelan government, which the Maduro regime allegedly also uses for drug smuggling purposes.This loops us back around to that original possibility that the Trump administration, looking for a casus belli, an excuse to go to war with Venezuela, may be using these strikes and the drug smuggling industry to get social and maybe legal backing for strikes that reach closer and closer to Maduro and the Venezuelan military.If the US were to strike some vital Venezuelan military ports, using drug smuggling as justification, but taking out Venezuelan military infrastructure and/or people in the process, would that be an act of war? Would that trigger a response from Maduro? Could that response then allow the US military to claim self-defense?These questions are up in the air right now, and that confusion could provide the opportunity to move fast and not have to suffer legal consequences until all is said and done, but it could also help shape the outcome of those decisions: ask for forgiveness, not permission, basically, but maybe not even forgiveness, if other aspects of the government come to support the Trump administration's decisions and rule in their favor, after the fact.Some analysts have said they suspect this drumbeat toward war with Venezuela is meant to solve several problems for the Trump administration. It could help them deal with plummeting approval numbers leading into a midterm election in 2026, and it could also give Trump himself cover from the escalating issue of the Epstein files, which, among other things, seem to connect Trump with someone who's become the world's most famous human trafficker and pedophile even more tightly than before.This sort of process may also serve to slowly bolster the perception that the presidency has more powers than it has traditionally wielded, like the ability to unilaterally declare war, even though such powers are supposed to rest with Congress; an extension of other efforts by this administration to reinforce the presidency at the expense of the checks and balances that are meant to keep the US government from becoming an autocracy, like the one in Venezuela.Show Noteshttps://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2024/01/27/venezuela-s-supreme-court-disqualifies-opposition-leader-from-running-for-president_6469941_4.htmlhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/06/venezuela-election-maduro-analysishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Venezuelan_presidential_electionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_Strike_Group_12https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/15/politics/venezuela-trump-military-what-we-knowhttps://www.cnn.com/2025/11/12/americas/venezuela-us-aircraft-carrier-reaction-latam-intlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/us/politics/trump-pressure-venezuela.htmlhttps://www.npr.org/2025/11/15/nx-s1-5609888/aircraft-carrier-caribbean-venezuela-military-actionhttps://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/16/us-rogue-state-extrajudicial-killings-venezuelahttps://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/11/15/trump-maduro-venezuela-column-00652369https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/justice-department-drug-boat-strike-memo-83711582https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/world/americas/trump-drug-boat-strikes-colombian-fisherman.htmlhttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7810w37vwdohttps://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2025/11/13/colombia-to-suspend-intelligence-sharing-with-us-over-boat-strikes/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_United_States_military_strikes_on_alleged_drug_traffickershttps://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/2025/11/trump-boat-strikes-killings-venezuela/684921/https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/trump-boat-strikes-drug-9bbbeb90?mod=hp_lead_pos11https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extrajudicial_killinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crisis_in_Venezuelahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuelan_refugee_crisishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proposed_United_States_invasion_of_Venezuela This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Legal and settlements correspondent Jeremy Sharon joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Justice Minister Yariv Levin of the ruling Likud party will head a ministerial panel to determine the mandate of the government’s commission of inquiry into failures surrounding the Hamas onslaught of October 7, 2023. Since the murders and atrocities, the government has resisted establishing an investigative body to thoroughly examine how such a disastrous military calamity could befall the country. We discuss first why the change of heart and ask whether the commission will be independent. Security forces and Civil Administration personnel on Monday conducted an evacuation and demolition operation against an illegal settlement outpost in the Gush Etzion region of the West Bank, in an apparent response to accusations from a local council head that there was “anarchy” in the area. Sharon delves into several reasons why this evacuation is significant, especially under the current coalition. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Levin to lead Ben Gvir, Smotrich and others in delineating government’s Oct. 7 probe Will government’s plan to set up its own Oct. 7 probe prompt top court to intervene? Several officers wounded in clash with settlers at demolition of illegal outpost Jewish extremists burn Palestinian homes and cars in West Bank; IDF searching for perps Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Pod-Waves. IMAGE: A candle bearing the portrait of 24-year-old Yulia Chaban, who was killed on the beach in Zikim during Hamas' October 7, 2023, attacks, is left inside a bomb shelter on the beach in the southern Israeli Kibbutz of Zikim, the closest Israeli beach to the Gaza Strip, on October 16, 2025. (Maya Levin / AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States given President Trump's 20-point security plan for Gaza to the U.N. Security Council, and now wants it formally authorized. The key point is allowing a multi-year international force to govern the Gaza Strip through at least 2027. The plan presented to the U.N. was approved and supported by more than 20 countries, including with input from Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, at a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh on Oct.13th. FOX's Eben Brown speaks with Eylon Levy, Former Spokesman for the State of Israel, who says the key to long-lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians is for Hamas to cease to exist. Click Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lee and Eleanor dive into Epstein's ties to Israeli intelligence that reveal how sex trafficking scandals can intersect with international espionage and geopolitical maneuvering, exposing hidden power structures and alliances. Plus, The U.S. is escalating military pressure on Venezuela with the intent of regime change through destabilization rather than invasion, demonstrating continued imperialist interventionism aimed at resource extraction and geopolitical dominance. Also, The U.S. is secretly planning to build a large military base near the Gaza Strip, as part of a so-called “postwar peace plan” that could involve a multinational peacekeeping force. This development has received almost no mainstream U.S. media coverage, though some Israeli and Arab outlets have reported on it. My comedy news show Unredacted Tonight airs every Thursday at 7pm ET/ 4pm PT. My livestreams are on Mon and Fri at 3pm ET/ Noon PT and Wednesday at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT. I am one of the most censored comedians in America. Thanks for the support!

As only a handful of world leaders attend a meeting ahead of COP 30 in Brazil next week - is international commitment on climate change at risk? We hear from our team on the ground in Belem and from Germany's former special envoy on climate.Also in the programme: the Philippines declares a state of emergency after Typhoon Kalmaegi destroys entire communities and leaves at least 114 people dead; our correspondent - under heavy Israeli restrictions - goes inside the Gaza Strip; and we get an update on Sudan, where UN Secretary General António Guterres has said the “horrifying crisis .. is spiralling out of control".(IMAGE: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attends the opening of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) plenary session, in Belem, Brazil, November 6, 2025 / CREDIT: Reuters/Adriano Machado)