Cease Fire!

Multiple sources are reporting a that a ceasefire in Gaza has been agreed to. The deal is said to have been brokered through Qatar and Egypt. My guess is that this was forced upon Israel by the Zhou regime and that the real brokers were the Houthis—through their successful anti-genocide economic blockade—and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), by providing a ruling around which the civilized world could unite. Here’s a snippet from a conversation between Judge Napolitano and a former UK ambassador, Craig Murray, who monitored the hearing before the ICJ. The conversation took place this morning before the ceasefire deal was announced. Murray sets the tone for the monstrous crime against humanity that has been ongoing against the Palestinian Arabs:

Did the ICJ ruling ... burst the Israeli self-proclaimed bubble of moral rectitude?

I think for most of the world it did. I don't think there's been any sign of self-knowledge [on the part of] the Israeli government or the settler movement or the extreme Zionists. There's no sign of any admission of culpability or any feeling that they've done anything wrong coming from the Israeli authorities, but certainly it ended the perception of Israeli infallibility in the West and it made a nonsense of people like Joe Biden saying that the the claim is meritless when the ICJ said there was a plausible case of genocide ... So, yes, I think it has changed the changed the tone internationally, but I don't think the perpetrators of genocide have in any way been put off or are showing much sign of exercising any more caution.

Has the annihilation of the people and the land of Gaza abated at all since the ICJ ruling?

No, not at all. In fact, I think the very day after the ICJ ruling over 250 Palestinians were killed, which is one of the highest daily totals. One of the interesting things about this genocide is how systematic it's been. Israel claims this is an armed conflict. Normally in armed conflicts you get highs and lows in casualties as battles rage and the next one is prepared for, but this hasn't been like that. If you look at the casualty figures--and of course we only have confirmed casualties, ... well over 10,000 people are now missing and probably dead under the rubble--but if you look at the confirmed casualties the toll is remarkably regular. It is 150 to 250 every single day. This is a systematic and planned killing, a genocide, not spontaneous battles.

Murray states that the “tone” has changed “internationally.” Prof. John Mearsheimer characterized the ruling/order from the ICJ as “a black day for Israel.” If we look at some of the reports today I think that’s true and is reflected in those reports. It’s difficult to apportion the weight that caused the Neocons to buckle—the pressure of universal international opprobrium versus the economic pressure of the blockade. Probably it was a combination of the two—as well as the pressure of domestic American politics, the fraying of the Dem base. My guess is that if Israel had been able to complete the genocide in a shorter period of time, the Neocons would have been inclined to tough out international outrage as well as economic harm to others. The length of time coupled with the recognition of growing US military vulnerability in the region probably combined to force the Neocons’ hand. Certainly shame or human decency played no role.

One interesting aspect which suggests that the Zhou regime feels a need to somehow rehabilitate itself in the eyes of the world—even Euro countries like Norway are suggesting American complicity in the genocide—can be seen in reports of US pressure against Israel. I doubt anyone is fooled by this charade of even handedness. Indeed, a glance at the terms of the ceasefire makes it look like a sort of pantomime. Be that as it may, let’s take a look at some of the early reporting, some before the announcement, most via Megatron:

Another slap in the face for Israel and that directly from the US

Chicago city council passes resolution calling for Gaza ceasefire.

The council meeting became tense at times, with people in the audience shouting out and some being escorted from the council chambers.

The council vote became dramatic, with Mayor Brandon Johnson casting the tie-breaking vote. Resolutions are typically passed quickly and without controversy, but the council spent months on this topic.

Chicago becomes largest U.S. city ​​to call for ceasefire in Gaza.

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Whatever you think of the mayors of major metro areas in most of the US, this is a political warning signal to the Dems.

Biden to reportedly issue an executive order to punish Israeli settlers in West Bank, Palestine.

Megatron: Netanyahu appears to be refusing to accept the Paris Agreement. So this is the first step to pressure.

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A War between U.S. and Iran is on the brink, the US has decided to target Iran's assets and military personnel

U.S. officials have confirmed to CBS News that plans have been approved for a series of strikes over a number of days against targets, including Iranian personnel and facilities, inside Iraq and Syria.

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My guess is that the appearance of US pressure on Israel is intended to somehow make US attacks on Iran are coming from an even handed party. In the meantime, there are new reports of attacks on a US “patrol base” in the oil fields of eastern Syria.

Israeli Politician Daniella Weiss suggests depriving the Palestinians in Gaza of humanitarian aid "so the countries of the world will have pity on them and take them."

Ethnic Cleansing 101

The bio at the link of this person makes for interesting reading, as also the video at the link.

The purpose of cutting funding to UNRWA is to forcibly evict Gaza and carry out ethnic cleansing.

Gaza is currently destroyed and flattened. People don't have food, they don't have medicine, they don't have arable land, they don't have anything, and they can't survive without humanitarian aid and it will be like that for years.

The goal of Israel and the West is to starve the population of Gaza, to the point where they start accepting asylum in Europe offered by Israel.

What Israeli politicians and war criminals publicly declared that Europe would accept the refugees from Gaza, they are now on their way to do it.

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Israeli Haaretz: "Biden administration officials claim that the president is considering imposing sanctions on Ben Gvir and Smotrich!"

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The parties in Paris seem to have reached a deal. Egypt and Qatar are the mediators to the agreement.

Israeli media say that Qatar is preparing to announce a ceasefire on Saturday.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Officials say that Washington is pressing for a ceasefire in Gaza long enough to stop Israel's military momentum. WSJ also says that The urgent need to reach an agreement while American and Israeli military officials are increasingly confident in Hamas' ability to survive, raising doubts about one of Israel's main war goals.

That is a clear indication that the length of time involved in completing the genocide was a significant factor.

Reports from Lebanon say What is proposed is 3 stages for prisoners, the duration of the first stage being 45 days for civilians and the second stage for military personnel, but without specifying a time period. The third stage is for the exchange of bodies between the two sides, and it is also without specifying a time period.

Netanyahu is still opposed to the agreement, but in the end it looks like he will have to accept it. After this, Britain has already announced that the Palestinians will get a state and it will be recognized all over the world.

Presumably the Neocons are hoping that this deal will lead the Houthis to put an end to their Red Sea blockade. Time will tell. It remains to be seen whether will act in good faith to fulfill even the minimal provisions in the deal that have time deadlines. The Houthis could delay ending the blockade until these provisions are fulfilled. Again, an outbreak of Israeli war against Lebanon could delay the end of the blockade. Certainly the attacks intended to force the US from Syraq will continue.