A senior Republican lawmaker urged President-elect Donald Trump’s intervention to avoid a House leadership battle, saying he should reach out to GOP members who haven’t committed to reelecting Mike Johnson as speaker. With the speakership vote scheduled for Jan. 3 and Trump about to take office, the tiny Republican majority in the House is raising the specter of a factional fight among Republicans like the one that led to Kevin McCarthy’s removal as speaker last year. “We have five Republicans that won’t commit to voting for Mike Johnson — and he can only lose one or two votes,” House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer said on Fox News’ "Sunday Morning Futures." “It’s a terrible challenge.” Johnson has faced ire from some ultraconservative lawmakers after backing a temporary spending deal that didn’t include Trump’s initial demand for lifting the U.S. debt ceiling. While Trump hasn’t taken a public stand on the speaker’s future, no declared challenger to Johnson has emerged. “I strongly encourage Donald Trump to get on the phone with those five or six members who won’t commit to voting for Mike Johnson, because all this is going to do is delay us,” including on the certification of Trump’s election victory and his early agenda as president, Comer said. New York Representative Mike Lawler warned ultraconservative Republicans against moving to topple Johnson. “The fact is that these folks are playing with fire,” Lawler said on ABC’s "This Week." “And if they think they’re somehow going to get a more conservative speaker, they’re kidding themselves.” Republicans can count on 219 House seats, Lawler said, and need 218 votes to elect a speaker without Democratic support. GOP congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky has said he won’t support Johnson. Lawler called the infighting that led to the October 2023 House vote to oust McCarthy as speaker “the single stupidest thing I’ve ever seen in politics.” “With that said, removing Mike Johnson would equally be as stupid,” he said. Trump’s decisive election victory in November and his sway over House Republicans means he could wield his power to try to install someone else as speaker, though he hasn’t taken a public stand on Johnson’s future. “We can’t get anything done unless we have a speaker, including certifying President Trump’s election on Jan. 6,” Lawler said. “So to waste time over a nonsensical intramural food fight is a joke.” ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Don't brine your turkey in the lake, park tells AmericansALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Jurors in New Mexico have awarded a man more than $412 million in a medical malpractice case that involved a men’s health clinic that operates in several states. The man’s attorneys celebrated Monday’s verdict, saying they are hopeful it will prevent other men from falling victim to a scheme that involved fraud and what they described as dangerous penile injections. They said the jury award for punitive and compensatory damages is likely the largest in history for a medical malpractice case. The award follows a trial held in Albuquerque earlier this month that centered on allegations outlined in a lawsuit filed by the man's attorneys in 2020. NuMale Medical Center and company officials were named as defendants. According to the complaint, the man was 66 when he visited the clinic in 2017 in search of treatment for fatigue and weight loss. The clinic is accused of misdiagnosing him and unnecessarily treating him with “invasive erectile dysfunction shots” that caused irreversible damage. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts “This out of state medical corporation set up a fraudulent scheme to make millions off of conning old men by scaring them with a fake test,” Nick Rowley, the man's attorney, wrote in a social media post that detailed the verdict. Rowley went on to say that the scheme involved clinic workers telling patients they would have irreversible damage if they didn't agree to injections three times a week. NuMale Medical Center President Brad Palubicki said in a statement issued Tuesday that the company is committed to high-quality and safe patient care. He said NuMale disagrees with the verdict and intend to pursue all available legal remedies, including an appeal. A message seeking additional comment was left Wednesday with the company and its attorney. NuMale also has clinics in Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, Nebraska, North Carolina and Wisconsin. According to court records, jurors found that fraudulent and negligent conduct by the defendants resulted in damages to the plaintiff. They also found that unconscionable conduct by the defendants violated the Unfair Practices Act.
Governor hails country's favorable economic indicatorsThe Federal Government has introduced a new strategy focused on promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), enhancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and raising the overall standard of education. The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stated this in Abuja on Wednesday while declaring open the stakeholders’ consultative dialogue on the Education Sector Renewal Initiative (ESRI) 2024–2027. Alausa outlined the strategic goals, which include reducing the number of out-of-school children, addressing learning poverty, and enhancing skills development and human capital for the labour market. READ ALSO: Dangote refinery is Nigeria’s pride – former NOA boss He noted the importance of integrating out-of-school children and the Almajiri system into formal education. He added that this should be complemented by initiatives such as conditional cash transfers, school feeding programmes, and Social and Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) to promote the education of girls and other vulnerable groups. “As we all know, the education sector faces numerous challenges, ranging from infrastructural decay and funding issues to unreliable data collection, poor planning, inadequate teacher development, and the persistent issue of out-of-school children. “We have one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children in the world. “As a ministry, we are committed to providing quality education to all Nigerians, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. “This commitment aims to ensure inclusive, equitable, and quality education and to promote lifelong learning opportunities for all,” he said. READ ALSO: Lagos partners NDPA, NITDA to increase revenue generation Alausa also stressed the importance of strengthening governance and management within the education sector, which includes organizational reforms for relevant institutions. He emphasized the need for enhanced oversight of programmes and sub-national implementation, alongside improved planning, resource allocation, tracking, research, and monitoring. The Minister announced plans to develop a robust data architecture and strengthen the Education Management Information System (EMIS) to support better decision-making and accountability across the sector. READ ALSO: Why Nigeria must transcend mining predicament to achieve prosperity On her part, the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Ahmad, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to providing quality education in line with global standards and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ahmad noted that achieving these objectives would require collaboration with development partners, stakeholders, and the private sector. The meeting was attended by representatives from the UN Children’s Fund, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Bank, the European Union, and others.
Published 00:23 IST, December 25th 2024 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said he has accepted the training policy recommendations made by the Capacity Building Commission. Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said he has accepted the training policy recommendations made by the Capacity Building Commission (CBC). The southern state inked an agreement with the CBC in August for employee training and the establishment of a global institute of good governance in Amaravati. "In a knowledge-driven economy, staying updated with the latest skills is crucial. As part of our efforts to enhance governance efficiency in Andhra Pradesh, I am pleased to announce the acceptance of the training policy recommendations by the CBC," Naidu said in a post on X. The chief minister also noted that these recommendations will serve as the foundation for establishing the Global Institute of Good Governance (GIGG) in Amaravati to drive transformative capacity-building initiatives. He said key programmes such as Mission Karmayogi will utilise advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence for targeted skill development, guided by comprehensive skills census. According to Naidu, training will commence for critical departments such as police, revenue, municipal administration, Panchayati Raj, agriculture, education and health. "The government of Andhra Pradesh is also exploring innovative workspace solutions, including work from home models, to enhance productivity and efficiency," the chief minister said. Get Current Updates on India News , Entertainment News along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world. Updated 00:24 IST, December 25th 2024
Supporters of imprisoned former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan announced a “temporary suspension” of street protests in Pakistan’s capital on Wednesday after a midnight raid by the country’s security forces, according to media reports. The protest was called by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party; thousands of his supporters marched on Islamabad starting on Sunday to demand his release. Khan, 71, who is currently imprisoned on corruption charges, was ousted in April 2022. Since then, he has faced over 150 indictments, which his party has denounced as politically motivated. Local broadcaster Geo News cited a statement on Wednesday by the PTI announcing the “temporary suspension of our peaceful protest” due to the government’s “brutality.” The PTI reportedly said that at least eight of its members were killed in a stand-off with law enforcement agencies during a Tuesday night crackdown. Some media, including Geo News, reported that a massive raid was launched by security forces in central Islamabad, where lights had been turned off and a barrage of tear gas was fired. Police had earlier said no lethal arms were used in Tuesday night’s operation, and nearly 1,000 protesters had been arrested. Media also cited government officials as stating that several security personnel, including four paramilitary soldiers, had been killed during the clashes. More than 10,000 protesters reportedly confronted about 20,000 security personnel. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters on Wednesday that authorities had reopened roads linking Islamabad with the rest of the country after protesters had been dispersed. Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, who was leading the protest, reportedly escaped unhurt and police are known to be seeking her arrest. Bibi was recently released from prison herself after the government’s case against her and Khan for allegedly violating Islamic law with their marriage collapsed on appeal. Khan, who is currently held in the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi, was initially charged under anti-terrorism laws, then on corruption charges, then for improperly receiving gifts from foreign countries, then for revealing state secrets, and finally for violating Islamic law with his marriage. The former prime minister had accused the Pakistani military and the United States of plotting his ousting, claiming that Washington conspired to overthrow his government after he visited Russia. The PTI, which claims to have won the popular vote in the February election but maintains that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the military rigged the count to stay in power, reportedly stated on Wednesday it would soon announce its future course of action.
The drive-thru ban aims to fulfill the goal of more "pedestrian-focused" development set by the Annapolis Ahead 2040 plan.
Imran backs Bushra as govt blasts bid to ‘wreck Pak-Saudi friendship’ Former PM says Saudi Crown Prince Salman was "the first to call when I was attacked in Waziriabad" ISLAMABAD/DG KHAN/LAHORE: PTI founder Imran Khan Friday clarified that his spouse Bushra Bibi’s statement was deliberately taken out of context to draw ‘our brotherly country KSA’ into a needless controversy, as she didn’t mention Saudi Arabia at all. In a statement on his social media account, Imran said Bushra had no connection with politics and that she only conveyed his message to the nation on November 24 protest. “I have excellent relations with Saudi Arabia. When I was attacked in Wazirabad, one of the first calls I received was, through the embassy, from HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman; Saudi Arabia always stood by us in difficult times,” he wrote. He continued that ‘only two weeks prior to our government being toppled, we held a very successful OIC foreign ministers conference in Islamabad, which would have been impossible to do had Saudi Arab not supported and stood with us’. Imran charged that his government was toppled through conspiracies – all orchestrated by General Bajwa — and that he tried to have these investigated through the chief justice and General Tariq Khan, but General Bajwa did not allow it. “The nation should focus on November 24 protest. God willing, you will emerge victorious,” he said in his message to the nation from Adiala Jail, where he is incarcerated. Imran made it clear that November 24 was the day to break free from slavery for the rule of law and the Constitution. He said the human rights were suspended, forcing the nation to come out to protest and make sacrifices. The nation, he emphasized, must decide whether to wear the yoke of slavery like Bahadur Shah Zafar or adorn the crown of freedom like Tipu Sultan. APP reports: Meanwhile, taking up the cudgels on behalf of Saudi Arabia for its unconditional financial and diplomatic support to Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Friday warned that spitting venom against such a brotherly country was an unforgivable crime and called for national unity to counter such anti-state elements. Addressing the inauguration of restoration of Kachhi Canal in Taunsa damaged by 2022 floods, he said whether it was the Kashmir issue, the United Nations or the UN Security Council, Saudi Arabia always acted as Pakistan’s advocate and benefactor and bailed out Pakistan recently to seek IMF program. “Despite this, such venom-spitting is an unforgivable crime. I as the prime minister of Pakistan want to announce that the nation will break any hand trying to undermine the Pakistan-Saudi friendship. This is not a joke. The allegation is beyond understanding. “The largest national interest is being “slaughtered” to serve short-term political interest,” he remarked after inaugurating the project. Commenting on Bushra Bibi’s statement, he said: “There can be no animosity towards Pakistan bigger than this. Such people are naive to the magnitude of the damage through their “venomous” words.” Shehbaz recalled the Kingdom’s support to Pakistan after it carried out nuclear tests in 1998 in the form of a free-of-charge oil facility as well as financial support. Azaz Syed reports: Former army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa Friday praised Saudi Arabia saying it always stood by Pakistan and provided generous support during all times. He made these comments in an exclusive conversation during which this correspondent sought his views on the controversy sparked by Bushra Bibi’s statement. Bajwa dismissed Bushra’s assertions as baseless, irresponsible and unfounded stating that neither Saudi Arabia nor any foreign nation intervened in Pakistan’s domestic affairs. He emphasised that Saudi Arabia had played a significant role in assisting Pakistan through various administrations. Bajwa highlighted Saudi Arabia’s consistent support to Pakistan, noting that it had been a steadfast ally in challenging times. He also pointed out the Kingdom’s backing of former prime minister Imran Khan’s government, underscoring its commitment to Pakistan’s well-being. He stressed the importance of prioritizing national interests over political agendas, warning against the potential damage that baseless allegations might cause to the country. Bajwa’s remarks about the generous Saudi support to Pakistan during the most challenging periods reflect the deep-rooted diplomatic ties and cooperation between the two nations, reinforcing the notion that Saudi Arabia remains a pivotal partner for Pakistan on the global stage. M. Anis reports: Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif Friday said Bushra Bibi demonstrated her “moral, religious and political bankruptcy by giving a mean and vulgar statement” against Saudi Arabia. “Our politics has never witnessed such a low [...] she (Bushra) has declared herself as Sharia, how much lower can they stoop,” he said while addressing a press conference here. They are giving out such statements to save their sinking ship of politics, he added. Continuing his salvos, Asif said such a mean and vulgar statement was given against a Muslim country which helped Pakistan in difficult times and where 2.8 million Pakistanis are working. “They are giving statements against a country from where they got a wrist watch as gift and sold it out,” he said. A video message shared on the PTI’s official X handle alleged that when the former prime minister went to Madina “barefoot”, the then army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa started receiving “their calls”, implying that the Saudi officials had a role in his ouster. He advised General (retd) Bajwa to come up with denial of Bushra Bibi’s statement. Asif claimed there was also infighting between Bushra Bibi and her sisters-in-law to inherit politics from the PTI founder. “Not only that she is calling herself as Shariat but also she has launched herself as political heir to the party’s founder,” he said. “The country’s politics has not gone so low that one starts exploiting religion; they also consider themselves pious and religious. They claim being religious but the PTI founder’s sons are being brought up by Jews,” he said. The minister pointed out that the PTI leaded blamed the others of doing politics of inheritance but what they were doing now was the ugly face of politics. “There is a Qabza Group in Lahore and the other Qabza Group is from Pakpattan,” he said. Criticising the PTI’s repeated calls for protests and sit-ins, he said instead of focusing on crushing terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, they were attacking the federal capital. Hasnain Qaisrani reports: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Friday said people will no longer heed anti-state activities like sit-ins and long marches. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of Kachhi Canal Rehabilitation Project in Taunsa, she asked why these people were interfering when Pakistan had started marching on the path of progress. “One who loves his dear homeland cannot think of indulging in such nefarious practices. Their agenda is anti-state and totally incomprehensible. We need to think over whether to defend ourselves from our enemies or these anti-state elements. The police officers and sepoys are not terrorists but unfortunately their uniforms are humiliated. The provinces should stay united, as the PMLN has always tried to closely link them.” The chief minister said shadows of uncertainty once loomed over Pakistan but now it was treading smoothly on the path of progress and prosperity. “The KP government attacks the federation and Punjab, and now it is ready to launch another assault,” she added. Sher Ali Khalti reports: Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said Bushra Bibi made a disgraceful statement about brotherly Islamic countries on the directions of the PTI founder. Speaking at Lahore, she said the mention of this lie in the planning of May 24 chaos was undoubtedly a conspiracy against the country. “The agenda of the PTI founder and Bushra Pinky is the same as that of Israel,” she said. She further said the PTI founder and Bushra Pinky had gone to extreme lengths in their animosity towards Pakistan. “As prime minister, the PTI founder took Pakistan’s relations with Saudi Arabia, China, and the United States to a delicate point. He used every tactic to isolate Pakistan internationally. Now, Bushra Pinky, following in her husband’s footsteps, is putting the country’s foreign policy at risk.” She said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had worked tirelessly over the past two years to restore friendly relations with China and Saudi Arabia. She said a statement from an uneducated and ignorant woman against friendly countries indicated that she was working on the agenda of hostile elements. The people of Pakistan have now seen the ugly faces of these two deceivers. “Fitna Party” is now unacceptable to Pakistan and its people.” Asim Yasin reports: PMLN parliamentary leader in the Senate and Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs Senator Irfan Siddiqui Friday said those chanting “No Pakistan without Khan” slogan did not even spare the sacred land of Saudi Arabia from their vicious and anti-Pakistan campaign. “After the cipher saga, they have now raised baseless allegations against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” he said in a statement on ‘X’. Siddiqui said what Bushra Bibi said was part of a well-thought-out and planned strategy. Such an incident has no parallel even in the history of PTI, which is filled with mischief and chaos, he added. Meanwhile, a case has been registered against Bushra Bibi, wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, under the Telegraph Act of 1885. The FIR was lodged in Dera Ghazi Khan, accusing her of inciting hatred through her video statement. According to the police, legal proceedings are underway under Section 126 of the Telegraph Act and other relevant laws. The sources indicate that a case under cybercrime offence is under consideration, adding that FIA Cybercrime Wing could take up the case within 24 hours.Knife pulled during attempted carjacking during man's one-day crime spreeNone
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Supporters of imprisoned former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan announced a “temporary suspension” of street protests in Pakistan’s capital on Wednesday after a midnight raid by the country’s security forces, according to media reports. The protest was called by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party; thousands of his supporters marched on Islamabad starting on Sunday to demand his release. Khan, 71, who is currently imprisoned on corruption charges, was ousted in April 2022. Since then, he has faced over 150 indictments, which his party has denounced as politically motivated. Local broadcaster Geo News cited a statement on Wednesday by the PTI announcing the “temporary suspension of our peaceful protest” due to the government’s “brutality.” The PTI reportedly said that at least eight of its members were killed in a stand-off with law enforcement agencies during a Tuesday night crackdown. Some media, including Geo News, reported that a massive raid was launched by security forces in central Islamabad, where lights had been turned off and a barrage of tear gas was fired. Police had earlier said no lethal arms were used in Tuesday night’s operation, and nearly 1,000 protesters had been arrested. Media also cited government officials as stating that several security personnel, including four paramilitary soldiers, had been killed during the clashes. More than 10,000 protesters reportedly confronted about 20,000 security personnel. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters on Wednesday that authorities had reopened roads linking Islamabad with the rest of the country after protesters had been dispersed. Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, who was leading the protest, reportedly escaped unhurt and police are known to be seeking her arrest. Bibi was recently released from prison herself after the government’s case against her and Khan for allegedly violating Islamic law with their marriage collapsed on appeal. Khan, who is currently held in the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi, was initially charged under anti-terrorism laws, then on corruption charges, then for improperly receiving gifts from foreign countries, then for revealing state secrets, and finally for violating Islamic law with his marriage. The former prime minister had accused the Pakistani military and the United States of plotting his ousting, claiming that Washington conspired to overthrow his government after he visited Russia. The PTI, which claims to have won the popular vote in the February election but maintains that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the military rigged the count to stay in power, reportedly stated on Wednesday it would soon announce its future course of action.The Fletchers took a trip to Finland for Christmas in a festive TV episode Emmerdale and Strictly Come Dancing star Kelvin Fletcher embarked on a new journey in 2021, leaving behind the busy city life to buy a 120-acre Peak District farm with his young family. In a Christmas special of their hit ITV show Fletchers Family Farm, a special family tradition was revealed, as they flew to Finland to spend the holiday in Lapland. Staying with another family of farmers, the Fletchers set out to learn all the tips and tricks they could from the 300 year old business. However, in a candid moment on the show, they revealed a particular "family tradition" away from the busy day to day life at the farm. "Moments like this are rare", Kelvin said as he and wife Liz walked the children down to a small campfire at night-time. Enjoying some much-needed quiet among the festive chaos, fans were given an insight into the more private moments of the star's life. The show is known to share the highs and lows of farming life, with the family keen to reveal the hard-working reality behind such a huge investment. "Farming is hard work." he said, "And we face challenges daily. So this Christmas we're treating the kids and taking them on a winter wonderland adventure." "This year has been a hard journey. Just like on any other farm, filled with really hard work. Long hours, highs and lows." Fans were quick to share their praise for the family on social media. One X user said: "What a lovely family, really enjoying this." While a second said: "Kelvin Fletcher should be bottled up, such a nice fella and family." A third shared: "What a magical treat for the children." The Christmas special episode showed the family immersing themselves in traditional Finnish culture, exposed to icy temperatures and even being introduced to Husky puppies at a farm. Fans of the show can visit the Fletcher Family Farm in 2025 for a day of 'fun, food, and a hands-on experience of farming life', with event details to be revealed in due course.
Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights
Swap ProAir 400: In-Depth Review of its Authenticity and Effectiveness for Traders in 2024 — Furniture WanderQatar tribune Dr Ramzy Baroud The story of the Israeli war on Gaza can be epitomized in the story of the Israeli war on Beit Lahia, a small Palestinian town in the northern part of the Strip. When Israel launched its ground operations in Gaza, Beit Lahia was already largely destroyed due to many days of relentless Israeli bombardment which killed thousands. Still, the border Gaza town resisted, leading to a hermetic Israeli siege, which was never lifted, even when the Israeli military redeployed out of much of northern Gaza in January 2024. Beit Lahia is largely an isolated town, a short distance away from the fence separating besieged Gaza from Israel. It is surrounded mostly by agricultural areas that make it nearly impossible to defend. Yet, a year of grisly Israeli war and genocide in Gaza did not end the fighting there. To the contrary, 2024 has ended where it started, with intense fighting on all fronts in Gaza, with Beit Lahia, a town that was supposedly ‘conquered’ earlier, still leading the fight. Beit Lahia is a microcosm of Israel’s failed war in the Strip, a bloody grind that has led nowhere, despite the massive destruction, the repeated ethnic cleansing of the population, the starvation and the genocide. Every day of Israel’s terrible war on the Palestinians serves as a reminder that there are no military solutions and that the Palestinian will cannot be broken, no matter the cost or the sacrifice. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, remains unconvinced. He entered the new year with more promises of ‘total victory’, and ended it as a wanted criminal by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The issuing of an arrest warrant for the Israeli leader was a reiteration of a similar position taken by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the start of 2024. The ICJ’s position, however, was hardly as strong as many had hoped or wanted to believe. The world’s highest court had, on 26 January, ordered Israel “to take action to prevent acts of genocide”, but stopped short of ordering Israel to halt its war. The Israeli objectives of the war remained unclear, although Israeli politicians provided clues as to what the war on Gaza was really all about. Last January, several Israeli ministers, including 12 from Netanyahu’s Likud party, took part in a conference calling for the resettlement of Gaza and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. “Without settlements, there is no security,” extremist Israeli minister of finance, Bezalel Smotrich, said. For that to happen, the Palestinian people themselves, not merely those fighting on the ground, had to be tamed, broken and defeated. Thus, the ‘flour massacres‘, a new Israeli war tactic that was centered around killing as many Palestinians as possible while waiting for the few aid trucks that were allowed to reach northern Gaza. On 29 February, more than 100 Gazans were killed while queueing for aid. They were mowed down by Israeli soldiers, as they desperately tried to lay their hands on a loaf of bread, baby milk or a bottle of water. This scene was repeated, again and again in the north, but also in other parts of the Gaza Strip throughout the year. The aim was to starve the Palestinians in the north so that they would be forced to flee to other parts of the Strip. Famine actualized as early as January, and many of those who tried to flee south were killed, anyway. From the early days of the war, Israel understood that to ethnically cleanse Palestinians, they must target all aspects of life in the Strip. This includes hospitals, bakeries, markets, electric grids, water stations, and the like. The Gaza hospitals, of course, received a large share of Israeli attacks. In March, once more, Israel attacked the Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City with greater ferocity than before. When it finally withdrew, on April 1, the Israeli army destroyed the entire compound, leaving behind mass graves with hundreds of bodies, mostly medical staff, women and children. They even executed several patients. Aside from a few statements of concern by western leaders, little was done to bring the genocide to an end. Only when seven international aid workers with the charity, the World Central Kitchen, were killed by Israel, a global outcry followed, leading to the first and only Israeli apology in the entire war. Desperate to distract from its failure in Gaza, but also Lebanon, and keen on presenting the Israeli public with any kind of victory, the Israeli military began escalating its war beyond Gaza. This included the strike on the Iranian Embassy in Syria on 1 April. Despite repeated attempts, which included the assassination in Iran of the head of Hamas’s Political Bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, on 31 July, an all-out regional war has not yet come to pass. Another escalation was taking place, this time not by Netanyahu but by millions of people around the world, demanding an end to the Israeli war. A focal point of the protests were student movements that spread across US campuses and, ultimately, worldwide. Instead of allowing free speech to flourish, however, America’s largest academic institutions resorted to the police, who violently shut down many of the protests, arresting hundreds of students, many of whom were not allowed to return to their colleges. Meanwhile, the US continued to block international efforts aimed at producing a ceasefire resolution at the United Nations Security Council. Ultimately, on 31 May, US President Joe Biden delivered a speech conveying what he termed an “Israeli proposal” to end the war. After some delay, Hamas accepted the proposal, but Israel rejected it. In his rejection, Netanyahu referred to Biden’s speech as “incorrect” and “incomplete”. Strangely, but also unsurprisingly, the White House blamed the Palestinians for the failed initiative. Losing faith in the American leadership, some European countries began changing their foreign policy doctrines on Palestine, with Ireland, Norway and Spain recognizing the State of Palestine on 28 May. The decisions were largely symbolic but indicated that western unity around Israel was faltering. Israel remained unfazed and, despite international warnings, invaded the Rafah area in southern Gaza on May 7, seizing control of the Philadelphi Corridor – a buffer zone between Gaza and the Egyptian border that extends for 14 kilometers. Netanyahu’s government insisted that only war can bring their captives back. There was very little success in that strategy, however. On June 8, Israel, with logistical support from the US and other western countries managed to rescue four of its captives held in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. To do so, Israel killed at least 276 Palestinians and wounded 800 more. In August, another heart-wrenching massacre took place, this time in the Al-Tabaeen school in Gaza City, where 93 people, mostly women and children, were murdered in a single Israeli strike. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, women and children were the main victims of the Israeli genocide, accounting for 70 per cent by 8 November. An earlier report by the Lancet Medical Journal said that if the war stopped in July, “186,000 or even more” Palestinians would have been killed. The war, however, went on. The rate of genocide in Gaza seemed to maintain the same killing ratio, despite the major regional developments including the mutual Iranian-Israeli tit-for-tat strikes and the major Israeli ground operation in Lebanon. In October, Israel returned to the policies of targeting or besieging hospitals, killing doctors and other medical staff, and targeting aid and civil defence workers. Still, Israel would not achieve any of its strategic goals of the war. Even the killing of Hamas’ leader, Yahya Sinwar, in battle on 16 Octoberwould not, in any way, alter the course of the war. Israel’s frustration grew by leaps and bounds throughout the year. Its desperate attempt to control the global narrative on the Gaza genocide largely failed. On 19 July, and after listening to the testimonies of over 50 countries, the ICJ issued a landmark ruling that “Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is illegal.” That ruling, which expressed international consensus on the matter, was translated on 17 September to a UN General Assembly resolution “demanding an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestine within the next twelve months”. All of this effectively meant that Israel’s attempt at normalizing its occupation of Palestine, and its quest to illegally annex the West Bank was considered null and void by the international community. Israel, however, doubled down, taking its rage against West Bank Palestinians, who, too, were experiencing one of the worst Israeli pogroms in many years. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, by 21 November, at least 777 Palestinians have been killed since 7 October 2023, while thousands more were wounded and over 11,700 arrested. To make matters worse, Smotrich called, on November 11, for the full annexation of the West Bank. The call was made soon after the election of Donald Trump as the next US President, an event that initially inspired optimism amongst Israeli leaders, but later concerns that Trump may not serve the role of the saviour for Israel after all. On 21 November, the ICC issued its historic ruling to arrest Netanyahu and his Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. The decision represented a measure of hope, however faint, that the world is finally ready to hold Israel accountable for its many crimes. 2025 could, indeed, represent that watershed moment. This remains to be seen. However, as far as Palestinians are concerned, even with the failure of the international community to stop the genocide and reign in Israel, their steadfastness, sumoud, will remain strong until freedom is finally attained. (Ramzy Baroud is a journalist and the Editor of the Palestine Chronicle. He is the author of five books.) 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