Latest news with #proPalestine
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Revealed: Palestine Action's recruitment 'ringleader' is an anti-colonial artist who calls herself a witch
The recruitment ringleader for Palestine Action has been revealed to be an anti-colonial artist who refers to herself as a 'witch'. Gamze Sanli was the speaker at a workshop for members joining the pro-Palestine, where recruits were told to attack military sites across the country, The Telegraph reports. Sanli, who calls herself an 'Anatolian-Mediterranean witch' on social media also reportedly discussed tactics for breaking into factories, and told members to hit machinery with a sledgehammer. She also identified which RAF bases were most suitable for attack and gave legal advice to recruits on what they should do if they are arrested, it is claimed. Additionally, Palestine Action's new joiners were told that if they were arrested, the organisation would not pay their legal costs, but would have access to an 'arrest support group'. Sanli also listed which potential sentences they would likely get for a range of offences, including criminal damage, trespass and burglary. But the activist did not make mention of the fact that if Palestine Action is proscribed, members could face up to 14 years behind bars. New members were also urged by Sanli not to take their phones on raids as the activist group is reportedly planning on carrying out complex operations and escaping undetected. This new move would be a stark contrast from Palestine Action's previous tactics, through which activists aimed to get caught to raise awareness. Sanli, a Turkish-Cypriot activist, is a graduate from Kings College London and has a master's degree in human rights from UCL. In a biography on her website, Sanli describes herself as an artist and performer and says that her work is inspired by 'folklore and mythology, abolition and political resistance, death and witchcraft.' Sanli was one of two protesters who squirted tomato ketchup onto a statue of Arthur Balfour in the members' lobby of the House of Commons in 2022. The protest was timed to coincide with the 105th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration - a controversial declaration by the British government in 1917 that supported the establishment of a 'national home for the Jewish people' in Palestine. One protester said: 'Palestinians have suffered for 105 years because of this man, Lord Balfour – he gave away their homeland and it wasn't his to give', before the two activists glued themselves to the statue and shouted 'free Palestine'. Ms Sanli was charged with criminal damage but was ultimately found not guilty in December 2023. MailOnline has approached Palestine Action for comment. The revelation about Sanli's role in Palestine Action comes after it was revealed that the group was preparing to launch fresh attacks on military sites across Britain just days before it is expected to be officially labelled a terrorist organisation. During secret recruitment calls, attended by around 50 new 'comrades', the extremist group identified RAF Cranwell and RAF Barkston Heath in Lincolnshire, and RAF Valley in Anglesey as top targets. The group, which has already triggered a major security review of UK military bases, is understood to be targeting sites it claims are linked to Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems. It comes as the Government moves to proscribe Palestine Action as a terror organisation, a decision Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called 'vital' after the 'disgraceful' Brize Norton raid.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pro-Palestine Activists Fell for Iran's Propaganda
The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here. Israel's attack on Iran has elicited a predictable response from groups that identify as 'pro-Palestine.' At protests in several Western cities—some merely anti-war or anti-interventionist, others explicitly anti-Zionist or pro-Iranian—people rushed to criticize the Israeli military action to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. In so doing, they offer succor to a ruthless theocratic regime that has ground its heel upon its own people and brought misery to the entire region for nearly half a century. By backing various regimes and militias in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and Gaza, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been responsible, directly or indirectly, for the death of hundreds of thousands of Arab and Muslim people in the conflicts it has fomented. Iranian meddling in the region has provided Arab dictators such as Syria's Bashar al-Assad with both the moral and material means to suppress dissent, crush reform, and extend their autocratic rule. The pro-Palestine messaging ignores the fact that a nuclear-armed Iran would be far more belligerent and dangerous than the regime already has been for the past three decades. For the pro-Palestine lobby to take at face value Tehran's claim to lead an 'Axis of Resistance' against Israel is at best naive, and at worst malignant in a way that can only be described as anti-Semitic. It means accepting that the Islamic Republic's eliminationist rhetoric about Israel has made it a legitimate advocate for the Palestinian cause. These pro-Palestine voices seem oblivious of the fact that the Palestinian national project for independence and statehood is in ruins, thanks in large part to Iranian influence. [Uri Friedman: How Israel could be changing Iran's nuclear calculus] Back in the 1990s, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and political leadership worked to undermine the Oslo peace process by inciting Hamas's opposition to any settlement that would have led to a two-state solution. Later, they encouraged Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas to carry out suicide bombings inside Israel. Beginning in 2005, Iran increased its arms shipments to Hamas, enabling the group to seize control of Gaza in 2007 and turn it into a one-party Islamist statelet. Iran also financed Hamas's construction of tunnels in Gaza and provided the group with missile technology, funneled via the smuggling networks that Iran effectively sponsored in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. Iranian support for terrorism also benefited from Hamas's Qatari financing, which propped up the group's tenure as the government of Gaza. This arrangement also had the tacit assent of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, because the Islamist-controlled enclave helped keep the Palestinian national movement divided and block any progress toward a two-state solution. In this respect, the backing that Hamas received from the mullahs of Tehran aligned with Netanyahu's security policy—a fact that the pro-Palestine voices expressing solidarity with Iran might do well to reflect on. Iran's pro-Palestine posture was entirely instrumental. It never cared about any of the Middle East's Muslim or Arab peoples as such. Instead, it used their causes solely as a means to exert influence and build a network of proxy forces in the region. Tehran's realpolitik surfaced memorably in 2011 when Hamas sided with Syrian protesters against Assad; Iran was furious at this affront to its Syrian asset, and cut off Hamas's funding until after it reestablished relations with the Damascus dictatorship. I realize that many people in the West are furious about what Israel has been doing in Gaza since Hamas's abhorrent attack on October 7, 2023. Israel had a right to self-defense against that incursion and the atrocities perpetrated against its citizens. Yet, in the nearly two years since then, the brutality and intensity of Israel's military campaign in the Gaza Strip have mobilized opposition around the world. I, too, feel sadness and anger about the remorseless violence: Israel's war in Gaza has killed members of both my immediate and my extended family. Too often, however, I see that harsh criticism of Israel fails to pin blame on the current Netanyahu-led government, which is loathed by a large number of Israelis, and devolves into delegitimization of the Jewish state itself. This inability to distinguish between Netanyahu's far-right coalition and other trends in Israeli politics does a profound disservice to the pro-Palestine cause because it gives credence to Tehran's cynical posture as a Palestinian champion. The Islamic Republic of Iran will never cease its meddling in the Palestinian issue, because Tehran needs the conflict to feed its propaganda machine. The reality is that a secure, stable, independent Palestine will remain a remote possibility as long as the Islamic Republic exists in its current form and is allowed to maintain its pro-Palestine pose. Only by calling out this evil regime and distancing from it can the pro-Palestine movement hope to be effective. [Read: The case for Palestinian pragmatism] The pro-Palestine lobby would do better to take its cues from the regime's internal opponents, the brave Iranian people who have, in successive waves of a popular movement for reform and freedom, protested their violent, repressive government. The partisans of the Palestinian cause should stop to ask themselves how else Israel's intelligence agencies would have been able to gather the kind of information that has led to its stunning military success in the opening hours of the war. Many Iranians inside Iran today view Israel as their only hope of overthrowing the mullahs. Unfortunately, but understandably, many Iranians have come to resent the Palestinian cause—precisely because the regime has used it as a pretext to squander the country's precious resources on its militia proxies in the name of fighting Israel. Ultimately, the Iranian people should be the ones to decide their nation's future. This war, which may not be truly over despite the current cease-fire, must avoid the error of mission creep by keeping its focus solely on eliminating Tehran's nuclear program and military capacity to destabilize the region. Confronting the Iranian regime need not repeat Iraq in 2003; at present, the United States seems mindful of that risk. What onlookers in the West should know is that the Islamic Republic is no true friend of Palestine. The misguided slogans of anti-Israel leftists and overzealous social-justice activists that echo the Iranian regime's anti-Zionist talking points do nothing but harm the Palestinian cause. They are a form of sabotage, not solidarity. Cheering Iranian missiles as they cause death and harm in Israel is no way to advance the Palestinian people's just aspirations for freedom, dignity, and self-determination. Article originally published at The Atlantic
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Outrage as pro-Palestine protester dresses as Holocaust victim at demo but is allowed to continue by police
A pro-Palestine protester has caused outrage by dressing up as a Holocaust victim at a protest in London 's Trafalgar Square. Activist Maria Gallastegui was seen wearing a striped uniform that hearkens back to those worn by the tragic victims of the Holocaust at concentration camps in Nazi-occupied Europe. But instead of the Star of David, Gallastegui placed a star and crescent, a symbol often associated with Islam. She also held a sign referring to Palestine Action, which was designated a terror group following a stunt at an RAF airbase that saw its members While 13 people were arrested and seven people were charged following Monday's protest in solidarity with Palestine Action in the heart of London, Gallastegui was not one of them. According to the Telegraph, 66-year-old Gallastegui is a full-time protester who left her life as a coach driver behind nearly 20 years ago. Over the past two decades, she has reportedly been arrested several times - including once during a demonstration for the right to protest in August 2005. She became infamous for living in a tent in Parliament Square for six years after joining a campaign against proposals to restrict protests in front of the Houses of Parliament. Gallastegui was also interviewed by the BBC in 2021 over a live-in protest that saw her sleep in a 150-year-old tree in Hackney that was set to be felled to make way for a 600-home development. She said at the time: 'We are passionate people. Any campaign that we can think of doesn't start overnight. There are a lot of underlying issues that the system is not dealing with.' Monday's protest saw Palestine Action activists clash with police in ugly scenes during a mass protest in London as the Government moves to proscribe the group as a terrorist organisation. Hundreds of protesters waving Palestinian flags and holding placards gathered at Trafalgar Square as the group's leaders called for an 'emergency mobilisation' in response to the Government's plans. The Palestine Action protest came just days after two of its members broke into RAF Brize Norton and damaged two military planes in a stunt condemned by MPs including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. It is feared one engine of a plane targeted at Britain's largest RAF base is damaged beyond repair and could cost £25million to replace. The group, whose Brize Norton ambush is being treated by counter-terrorism police, have conducted 356 attacks on sites across the UK in the last five years - with Ms Cooper revealing the damage caused is 'running into the millions of pounds'. Monday's demonstration was initially due to be staged outside Parliament but protesters were forced to descend on Trafalgar Square instead after the Metropolitan Police imposed an exclusion zone. Monday's protest saw Palestine Action activists clash with police in ugly scenes during a mass protest in London Protesters, some wearing black face coverings or Palestinian keffiyehs, were seen scuffling with police and shouting up close into their faces, with officers forced to drag activists out of the crowds. Officers were seen surging into the crowd to detain masked protesters, prompting activists to respond by pushing back, throwing water and chanting at police. Pro-Palestine protesters also clashed with a small group of pro-Israeli counter-demonstrators who were swiftly escorted out to the sound of jeers.
Al Bawaba
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Al Bawaba
White House shares Trump 'Daddy's Home' music video
ALBAWABA - US President Donald Trump has ventured into the music world, first with the controversial track 'Bomb Iran,' and now with a new music video featuring Usher's 'Daddy's Home,' advertising his recent visit to The Hague for the 2025 NATO Summit. The new music video, shared by The White House on social media, sparked mixed reactions from internet users, with many describing it as "weird" and "unprofessional," especially considering it came from an official government source. The White House wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter), "Daddy's home… Hey, hey, hey, Daddy. President Donald J. Trump attended the NATO Summit in The Hague, Netherlands." An X user responded to the post and wrote, "Who does this appeal to?" Another added while asking Grok AI, "Is it professional for the official Whitehouse account to be posting music videos of Donald Trump in slow motion coming home from NATO singing a song with lyrics from Daddy's Home?" Daddy? They call him Daddy?! — Wren (@wrens_dens) June 26, 2025 This and "Bomb Iran" are not Trump's first ventures into the music world. The US President recently sparked outrage from pro-Palestine activists after sharing "Trump Gaza," which showcased an AI-generated rebuilt Gaza, filled with luxurious resorts, real estate, and bearded belly dancers. The AI-generated video and song were deemed disrespectful for the Palestinians currently suffering from the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza, which has resulted in the killing of more than 56,000 people and has left over 132,000 injured, according to the Health Ministry in the Strip. Gaza is still suffering from a mass blockade on humanitarian aid, and according to the UN, around 436,000 homes (92 percent) in the Strip have been destroyed due to the ongoing bombardments since Oct. 7, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service on June 25, 2025, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) meets with US President Donald Trump on the sideline of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in The Hague. (Photo by Handout / UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE / AFP) Donald Trump recently attended the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague, Netherlands, where he met up with several world leaders to discuss political topics, including the Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The term "daddy" is being used by Trump supporters due to his recent confident stance in the current political world. The US President was also recently nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize due to his role in the India–Pakistan ceasefire.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Grandmothers arrested at Palestine protest ‘robustly deny any criminal offence'
Two grandmothers arrested following a pro- Palestine protest in Belfast 'robustly deny they have committed any criminal offence'. Sue Pentel and Martine McCullough were arrested earlier this year by police investigating an incident of criminal damage at a Barclays Bank in the city. Ms Pentel, 72, was detained by officers along with Martine McCullough, aged in her 50s, on May 24 while protesting outside the bank in Castle Place over an incident at a previous protest at the bank on April 26. The two attended Musgrave Street police station in Belfast city centre on Wednesday morning for the pre-arranged interview under caution. Fellow campaigners staged a protest in solidarity with the women outside the station, with applause and calls of 'we're with you' as they arrived. Solicitor Padraig O Muirigh, who represents the two women, said they 'robustly deny that they have committed any criminal offence'. 'Our clients have been involved in peaceful protests against the ongoing genocide in Gaza which has been ongoing now for 628 days,' he said. 'Today's interviews under caution follow their arrests on the 24th May 2025. 'My clients robustly deny that they have committed any criminal offence and maintain that they should not be subjected to criminal investigations for exercising their right to peaceful protest against the atrocities being committed in Gaza.' He added: 'Our clients will robustly contest their innocence and defend their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights to freedom of assembly and expression if a decision is made to prosecute them.' Jewish grandmother Ms Pentel is a high-profile campaigner against Israel's military offensive on Gaza. Videos circulated online of the arrest of Ms Pentel indicate the alleged offence related to the placing of stickers on the bank's ATM machine. Barclays has been a target for pro-Palestine protesters who claim the bank is linked to companies supplying weapons to Israel. Barclays has previously addressed the criticism, saying it provides financial services to nine defence companies supplying Israel but does not directly invest in such firms. The bank has said it has become the target of a disinformation campaign over its ties to defence companies. Speaking earlier on Wednesday, Ms Pentel said they are 'proud to peacefully protest outside Barclays'. 'We've been doing it for the last eight months,' she said. 'To protest the genocide, to protest the violence, to protest the way that Israel feels its OK to starve children, to stop humanitarian aid while the world looks on. 'Well, we won't look on, we won't remain silent.' She added: 'We understand that we've been asked to be interviewed under caution, and we're voluntarily going in about an incident on April 26 and all we can say is we're proud to demonstrate with our amazing colleagues every week outside Barclays. 'We have the right to peacefully protest, we want to thank our solicitor Padraig O Muirigh for his time and advice. 'We have the right to peacefully protest and we will continue to do it until the genocide stops. 'We're two grandmothers, when our grandchildren ask us what we did, we know what we'll say, we stood up, we spoke out, we weren't silent, and as a Jewish person I am absolutely ashamed of anybody either Israeli Jewish or London Jewish or wherever who doesn't stand up and who thinks this is OK.'
