“The Israeli army severed northern Gaza from the rest of the besieged territory
and pounded it with airstrikes Monday, preparing for expected ground battles
with Hamas militants in Gaza’s largest city and an even bloodier phase of the
month-old war. Already, the Palestinian death toll surpassed 10,000, the Health
Ministry of the Hamas-run Gaza Strip said Monday. The ministry does not
distinguish between fighters and civilians. About 1,400 people in Israel have
died, mostly civilians killed in the Oct. 7 incursion by Hamas that started the
war. The war has quickly become the deadliest Israeli-Palestinian violence
since Israel’s establishment 75 years ago, with no end in sight as Israel vows
to remove Hamas from power and crush its military capabilities. Casualties are
likely to rise sharply as the war turns to close urban combat. Troops are
expected to enter Gaza City soon, Israeli media reported, and Palestinian
militants who have had years to prepare are likely to fight street by street,
launching ambushes from a vast network of tunnels. “We’re closing in on them,”
said Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesperson. “We’ve completed
our encirclement, separating Hamas strongholds in the north from the south.”











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Eye on Extremism



November 7, 2023



Associated Press: Israeli Forces Cut Off North Gaza To Isolate Hamas As An
Advance On The Urban Center Looms
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“The Israeli army severed northern Gaza from the rest of the besieged
territory and pounded it with airstrikes Monday, preparing for expected ground
battles with Hamas militants in Gaza’s largest city and an even bloodier phase
of the month-old war. Already, the Palestinian death toll surpassed 10,000, the
Health Ministry of the Hamas-run Gaza Strip said Monday. The ministry does not
distinguish between fighters and civilians. About 1,400 people in Israel have
died, mostly civilians killed in the Oct. 7 incursion by Hamas that started the
war. The war has quickly become the deadliest Israeli-Palestinian violence
since Israel’s establishment 75 years ago, with no end in sight as Israel vows
to remove Hamas from power and crush its military capabilities. Casualties are
likely to rise sharply as the war turns to close urban combat. Troops are
expected to enter Gaza City soon, Israeli media reported, and Palestinian
militants who have had years to prepare are likely to fight street by street,
launching ambushes from a vast network of tunnels. “We’re closing in on them,”
said Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, an Israeli military spokesperson. “We’ve completed
our encirclement, separating Hamas strongholds in the north from the south.”



The Times Of Israel: Yemen’s Houthis Claim New Drone Attack On Israel, But No
Assault Detected
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“Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed to have launched on Monday a fresh
drone attack against Israel, but there was no sign of it in the Jewish state.
The Houthis, who claim large swaths of the impoverished country on the south of
the Arabian Peninsula, claimed without evidence that its latest strike
temporarily halted activity at Israeli military bases and airports. But there
were no sirens or infiltration alerts set off indicating any such intrusion,
and airports and military bases across the country appeared to continue
operating as normal. The IDF did not provide any comment on Monday on the
Houthi claims. An unsourced Channel 12 TV report suggested that the purported
drones from Yemen may have been shot down by Jordan. Other Houthi attacks over
the past few weeks were intercepted by the US and Israel. Houthi military
spokesman Yahya Saree said on X, formerly Twitter, that “the Yemeni armed
forces… launched a batch of drones during the past hours at various sensitive
targets of the Israeli enemy in the occupied territories.” “As a result of the
operation, the activity at the targeted bases and airports stopped for several
hours.”





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CEP Mentions



Express: Britain's Shame: Terrified Holocaust Survivor Left Fearing For His
Life After Hate Marches
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…Professor Ian Acheson, senior adviser to the Counter Extremism Project, said:
“Jewish people are saying protest Saturdays have made central London a no-go
zone. “This is London in 2023. We are not talking about Berlin in 1936.”



United States



The New York Times: Blinken Warns Iran Against Widening The Conflict Between
Israel And Hamas
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“If Iran had any doubts about American resolve in the Middle East, Secretary
of State Antony J. Blinken, with an assist from the Pentagon, spent the weekend
reinforcing the notion that the United States was not going anywhere. During a
quick trip to the region, Mr. Blinken repeatedly warned Iran against using its
proxies to widen the conflict between Israel and Hamas, while in an unusual
move the U.S. Central Command, which oversees American forces in the region, on
Sunday announced that a nuclear-powered attack submarine was traveling through
the region. The submarine added to the already considerable American firepower
steaming through the waters around the Middle East, and Central Command, as if
flaunting the vessel’s deployment, went so far as to post on X a photo of it in
the region. The most important progress, however, occurred out of public view.
American allies in the Middle East have played a crucial role in preventing
Iran and its proxies from expanding the war. Mr. Blinken sought to maintain
those efforts during his trip, which included stops in Israel, Jordan, Iraq and
Turkey. “Countries are very much engaged in trying to make sure that that
doesn’t happen,” Mr. Blinken said on Monday after meeting with Turkey’s foreign
minister, Hakan Fidan, in Ankara.”



Associated Press: After Biden And Blinken Push, Netanyahu Says Israel Open To
‘little Pauses’ In Gaza, No Cease-Fire
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“After more than a week of public pressure from the U.S. for “humanitarian
pauses” in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday allowed
that his government might be open to only “little pauses” in its assault on
Hamas. The Israeli leader sought to play down differences with his country’s
most vocal backer on the world stage at a time of rising scrutiny of the
sharply rising civilian toll of fighting. Netanyahu spoke after President Joe
Biden made a direct appeal to him nearly a month into the war seeking to rally
support behind securing even limited relief for civilians in the spiraling
conflict. The back-and-forth spotlighted the challenges facing Biden and his
administration as they seek to manage what is emerging as one of the defining
foreign policy crises of his presidency. The U.S. thus far remains focused on
keeping the fighting from exploding into a wider regional war and pushing for
limited steps to alleviate civilian suffering. But it has remained steadfastly
behind Israel and Netanyahu’s goal of ending Hamas control over Gaza, even as
the death toll in Gaza reached 10,000, according to the Hamas-run health
ministry.”



Associated Press: Maine Man Sentenced To 15 Years For Mosque Attack Plot
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“A 19-year-old from Maine who the FBI says built homemade explosives and
plotted to attack a mosque in the name of the Islamic State group was sentenced
Monday to 15 years in prison. Xavier Pelkey, of Waterville, entered an
agreement with prosecutors in April in which he pleaded guilty to providing
material support to terrorists while a second charge was dropped. Pelkey
planned to contribute firearms, ammunition and explosives for a mass shooting
at a Shiite mosque in the Chicago area and possibly other houses of worship,
and he was in communication with a pair of juveniles, one in Canada and one
Chicago, about the plot, law enforcement officials said. Pelkey was 18 when he
was arrested by FBI agents who found three homemade explosives in his home. The
devices were made of fireworks bundled with staples, pins and thumb tacks to
create shrapnel, the FBI said. Investigators also found a handwritten document
about the planned mosque attack, claiming it in the name of the Islamic State
group. The defense argued for a six-year prison sentence, contending Pelkey
accepted responsibility, lacked a violent criminal history and was just a few
months beyond being charged as a juvenile.”



Lebanon



Associated Press: Hezbollah And Hamas’ Military Wings In Lebanon Exchange Fire
With Israel. Tension Rises Along Border
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“The military wing of Palestinian group Hamas said Monday it fired rockets
from Lebanon into northern Israel, triggering Israeli airstrikes on the
Lebanese side of the border. The Qassam Brigades said in a statement its
militants fired 16 rockets on the town of Nahariya and the southern outskirts
of the city of Haifa in retaliation for Israeli attacks on Gaza. Haifa is the
furthest city targeted by rockets from the Lebanese side since the start of the
Israel-Hamas war nearly a month ago. The Israeli army said approximately 30
rockets were fired from the Lebanese side targeting northern Israel, adding it
was responding by shelling the origin points of rocket launches. The exchange
lasted about half an hour and Israel’s Iron Dome could be clearly seen
intercepting rockets from Lebanon. Relative clam prevailed afterward. About
three hours later, Israel’s air force carried out airstrikes on “Hezbollah
targets” inside Lebanon, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee posted on X,
formerly known as Twitter, adding that details would follow later. Strong
explosions could be heard in the area. The exchange of fire came as Lebanon’s
militant group Hezbollah said its fighters attacked at least three Israeli
military posts along the border around sunset Monday.”



Middle East



BBC: Hamas Leader Refuses To Acknowledge Killing Of Civilians In Israel
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“Moussa Abu Marzouk told the BBC that "women, children and civilians were
exempt" from Hamas's attacks. His claims are in stark contrast to the wealth of
evidence of Hamas men shooting unarmed adults and children. The proof includes
video from Hamas body cameras and first-hand testimony given to international
news networks. Israel says more than 1,400 people were killed by Hamas in the 7
October attacks, most of them civilians. Mr Marzouk, the group's deputy
political leader, who is subject to an asset freeze in the UK under
counter-terrorism regulations, was interviewed on Saturday in the Gulf. He is
the most senior member to speak to the BBC since the 7 October atrocities. The
BBC pressed Mr Marzouk on the war on Gaza, specifically on the scores of
hostages being held inside the territory. He responded that they were not able
to be freed while Israel was bombing Gaza. The Hamas-run health ministry says
10,000 people have been killed since Israel started operations last month. "We
will release them. But we need to stop the fighting," he said. Mr Marzouk
recently travelled to Moscow to discuss eight Russian-Israeli dual citizens
snatched on 7 October by Hamas, a proscribed terror organisation in many
countries including the UK and US.”



Politico: Israel Has Only Weeks To Defeat Hamas As Global Opinion Sours,
Former PM Ehud Barak Says
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“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may be digging in for a “long and
difficult war” but former leader Ehud Barak fears Israel has only weeks left to
eliminate Hamas, as public opinion — most significantly in the U.S. — rapidly
swings against its attacks on Gaza. In an exclusive interview with POLITICO,
the former prime minister and chief of the Israel Defense Forces also suggested
a multinational Arab force could have to take control of Gaza after the
military campaign, to help usher in a return of Mahmoud Abbas’ Palestinian
Authority to take over from Hamas. Even with that change of the political order
in Gaza, however, Barak stressed the return to diplomacy aimed at the creation
of a Palestinian state was a very remote prospect. Barak, who led Israel
between 1999 and 2001, observed the rhetoric of U.S. officials had shifted in
recent days with a mounting chorus of calls for a humanitarian pause in the
fighting. The sympathy generated toward Israel in the immediate wake of October
7, when Hamas launched the deadliest terrorist attack on Israel in the Jewish
state’s 75-year history, was now diminishing, he worried.”



Nigeria



Associated Press: Militants Kill 11 Farmers In Nigeria’s North, Raising Fresh
Concerns About Food Supplies
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“Islamic rebels killed 11 farmers and abducted several others in Nigeria’s
northeast, locals and authorities said Monday, the latest of several such
attacks that analysts say threaten food supplies in the hard-hit region. The
rebels attacked the farmers as they worked in their fields in Borno state’s
Jere district Sunday evening before beheading them and shooting and wounding
others as they escaped, according to Dauda Ibrahim, a resident in the area.
“About six of the farmers that were killed are from the same family,” said
Dauda. Borno police spokesman Daso Nahum confirmed the attack but could not
further provide further details, saying the police chief in the state is in the
area to assess the situation. Such attacks on farmers have become rampant in
Borno state where Islamic extremist rebels launched an insurgency in 2009 to
fight against Western education and to establish Islamic Shariah law in the
region. The attacks have raised fears of worsening hunger in the troubled
region where 4.4 million face acute hunger, according to the U.N. World Food
Program. At least 35,000 people have been killed and more than 2 million
displaced due to the violence by the Boko Haram group and a breakaway faction
backed by the Islamic State, according to U.N. agencies in Nigeria.”



Mali



Voice Of America: Mali Rejects Claims Of Targeted Killing Of Civilians
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“Mali's ruling junta on Monday rejected as "unfounded" accusations by a rights
group that its soldiers and Russian mercenaries killed 40 civilians in three
operations. In Bamako, the foreign ministry said the Human Rights Watch (HRW)
report released last week took a "sensationalist and biased approach" and put
the nation's army "on the same level as the armed Islamist groups." The
ministry listed "unfounded allegations, gratuitous affirmations, testimonials
taken from a distance and slanted, erroneous conclusions.” It also again denied
working with Russia's Wagner paramilitary company, without naming it. HRW said
Islamist armed groups and Malian soldiers killed at least 175 civilians, many
of them children, between April and September, condemning the targeted killing
of civilians as war crimes. The Al-Qaeda-linked Support Group for Islam and
Muslims was responsible for the deaths of at least 135 civilians in two
attacks, the New York-based HRW said. Malian soldiers and fighters apparently
from Wagner killed 40 civilians in three operations between April and
September, it said. Bamako's junta leaders struck up a partnership with Wagner
after French troops pulled out of Mali in 2022.”



Europe



Associated Press: Ailing Pope Francis Meets With European Rabbis And Condemns
Antisemitism, Terrorism, War
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“Pope Francis met with European rabbis on Monday and decried antisemitism, war
and terrorism in a written speech he declined to read, saying he wasn’t feeling
well. Francis told the rabbis during the audience in the Vatican’s Apostolic
Palace that he was very happy to receive them, but added: “I’m not feeling
well, and so I prefer not to read the speech but give it to you, so you can
take it with you.” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pope “has a bit of a
cold and a long day of audiences.’' The 86-year-old pontiff ”preferred to greet
the European rabbis individually, and that’s why he handed over his speech.”
Bruni said the pope’s scheduled activities would proceed, and they did. The
activities included an hour-long meeting in late afternoon in a Vatican
auditorium with some 7,000 children from 84 countries. Francis seemed at ease,
chatting with kids and answering their prepared questions, including about how
to make peace — “extend your hand” — and about war — “war is always cruel, and
who pays the price? Children.” As he sat in a chair, he shook dozens of young
hands and autographed many caps and at least one sports jersey.”



Voice Of America: Israel-Hamas War Poses New Security Challenges For Europe
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“Security alerts ramped up following Islamists attacks in France and Belgium,
following a pair of Islamist attacks. A spike in anti-Jewish acts and a string
of bomb alerts. Once again, some European countries are seeing the spillover of
another conflict in the Middle East, a month into the Israel-Hamas war. But
there are clear differences between the nature and potential ramifications of
today’s security threat and that of nearly a decade ago — when the Islamic
State, which controlled large swathes of Iraq and Syria, spawned terrorist
attacks that killed hundreds in Europe, officials and analysts say. If the
Israel-Hamas war is drawn out and spreads, some add, Europe could see a mix of
potential fallouts going beyond extremist violence, potentially weakening
Europe politically, placing new demands on it to support Ukraine in its war
against Russia, and emboldening far right parties. “The similarity is rising
awareness of [the] threat in European countries,” said Gesine Weber, a
Paris-based European security expert at the German Marshall Fund, of the two
Middle East conflicts. “But the attacks in 2015/16 were attacks against a
Western liberal lifestyle and frustration against a system in place. Whereas
the attacks we’re seeing now are more against a targeted group of individuals:
Jews.”



Australia



The New York Times: Antisemitic And Islamophobic Incidents Surge In Australia
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“Posters plastered across Sydney portraying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
of Israel as Adolf Hitler in disguise. A record increase in reports of
Islamophobia, including threats to Muslim community organizations. Antisemitic
chants at a pro-Palestinian rally and charges that Nazi salutes were performed
outside a Jewish museum. Australia has experienced a flurry of incidents
targeting Muslims and Jews, making it one of many countries reporting a rise in
such cases since Hamas’s Oct. 7 attacks on Israel. Reports to the Islamophobia
Register Australia, an independent organization that tracks anti-Muslim
sentiment, have increased tenfold since the start of the war, Sharara Attai,
the executive director of the group, told an Australian news service, adding
that many more incidents have likely gone unreported. Interfaith relations have
become strained, with at least two Australian rabbis resigning last month from
the Jewish Muslim Christian Association, a group that works to promote
religious harmony, after some faith leaders failed to condemn the Hamas
attacks, which killed some 1,400 people in Israel. Members of the country’s
roughly 100,000-strong Jewish community have been left feeling isolated,
representatives said, over a perceived absence of sympathy for the suffering
caused by the attacks.”



Brazil



The New York Times: Brazil Cracks Down On Surprising New Threat: Neo-Nazis
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“In southern Brazil in July, Laureano Toscani and João Guilherme Correa were
smoking cigarettes along a busy road in their prison-issued garb, shorts and
sandals, waiting for a ride after seven months in jail. Mr. Toscani was once
convicted of stabbing a group of Jewish men, and Mr. Correa has been accused of
murdering a couple leaving a party. But this time, they were behind bars for
attending what they said was a harmless barbecue. The Brazilian authorities,
however, say it was something far more sinister: a meeting of the Hammerskins,
a neo-Nazi group founded in Dallas in 1988 that they say has recently found its
way thousands of miles south, to Brazil’s most starkly conservative region,
reflecting a surge in far-right extremists in Latin America’s largest nation.
In September 2022, the state police in Santa Catarina began trailing the
Hammerskins as members strategized on how to attract new recruits. Two months
later, as eight men met at a farmhouse outside the coastal city of
Florianópolis, a police hate-crimes unit burst in, arresting everyone under
anti-discrimination laws and accusing them of being members of the Hammerskins.
Two other accused members were arrested weeks later.”



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