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Hamas slams Israel settlement move

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has warned that Israel’s decision to legalize 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank marks a dangerous escalation. The legalization of the 19 settlements was announced by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Hamas condemned the move as part of a wider project of annexation and Judaization of occupied territories. In a press statement, Hamas said the move reflects the extremist nature of the Israeli regime, which treats Palestinian land as colonial spoils. The movement stressed that settlement expansion violates international law and UN resolutions, warning it aims to isolate Palestinian towns and villages and push communities toward displacement. Hamas urged the international community, the United Nations, and human rights organizations to take responsibility and act to stop settlement growth and hold Israeli leaders accountable.

Epstein images features Trump

US lawmakers in the House Oversight Committee have released new photos from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, showing powerful figures entangled with the late sex trafficker. Included in the photos are US President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton, Trump’s former advisor Steve Bannon, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, and filmmaker Woody Allen. Many of these men have been previously linked to Epstein, but the newly released photos may shed further light on the extent of those relationships. Trump’s ties to Epstein are well known, and a recent batch of emails released by the committee shows that Trump had spent hours with one of his most prominent accusers. Epstein emphasized in those emails that Trump knew about “the girls." The Epstein files have revealed allegations of trafficking underage girls to his private island, with social ties to powerful figures including Donald Trump.

US boat-strike commander out

The admiral in charge of US forces in the Latin America and Caribbean, who has been critical of US strikes on alleged drug boats in the region, has retired two years ahead of schedule. Admiral Alvin Holsey has reportedly had disagreements with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over operations in the region. He had earlier voiced concerns about the legality of the US military’s lethal strikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats. Since September, the US has deployed more than 15,000 troops, warships and fighter jets in the Caribbean under the pretext of fighting drug traffickers. Venezuela, however, says the military buildup is aimed at toppling the Venezuelan government to gain control of its oil resources. Strikes on boats have killed at least 87 people so far. US Congress is now scrutinizing the boat attacks, including one that killed two survivors clinging to the wreckage of an initial strike.

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