A Plan by Any Other Name is Still Genocide

Israel's New "Plan"

By October, nearly 800,000 people in Gaza City could be forced into concentration camps under a plan just approved by Israel’s Security Cabinet.

• Gaza City is one of only two major areas not currently under Israeli evacuation orders. The military already controls about 75% of the enclave and says Hamas is holding hostages there—its stated reason for avoiding a large-scale assault until now.
• Israeli military leaders, who estimate it will take three months to mobilize the 30,000 troops needed to carry out the plan, argued against it. They warned it would overstretch forces and endanger hostages still held by Hamas. (AP)
• Israel’s most hardline politicians were split: Bezalel Smotrich opposed the plan as too weak, while Itamar Ben-Gvir backed it precisely because it would send Palestinians to concentration camps. (The Jerusalem Post)
• The White House has not commented, but the announcement came just after U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff met with Netanyahu earlier in the week. Witkoff also met Qatar’s prime minister in Spain on Saturday to draft a proposal to end the “war,” which they say will be presented to Israel and Hamas within two weeks. (Axios)
• Thousands of Israelis protested the plan Saturday, threatening to escalate if hostages are killed because of it. Hamas is still holding 50 hostages—20 believed to be alive. (France 24)
• Hamas: “We warn the occupation that occupying Gaza City is an adventure that will cost it a heavy price and will not be a picnic.”
• Hostage families: “Enough with the presentations, smears and torpedoes. Everyone knows that the only way to Israeli victory and national revival is a comprehensive agreement to return the 50 kidnapped… and end the fighting. This is the will of the people.” (Channel 13, Israel)

UN Response

The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss Israel's latest ploy:

• The representative for the Occupied Palestinian Territories called it illegal and immoral, accusing Israel of prolonging the war to block an independent Palestinian state.
• Somalia called it a “chilling blueprint for the next chapter of devastation,” worsening a crisis that has “already become hell on earth.”
• The UK said it was “not a path to resolution” but to “more bloodshed.”
• The U.S. falsely accused Hamas of rejecting ceasefire deals and denied that Israel has created famine by blocking aid—signaling to Israel it can continue the blockade without consequence.

Netanyahu’s PR Offensive

The plan has deepened Netanyahu’s political troubles—fueling local protests, military dissent, and divisions among far-right allies like Smotrich.

Just before the UN meeting, Netanyahu held a press conference for foreign journalists, framing the plan as a path to end the war—a war scholars say is genocide—and unveiling a five-point proposal designed to present Israel as a rational actor:

1. Disarm Hamas (Hamas says it will disarm once an independent state exists).
2. Return all hostages (Hamas has offered to do so in exchange for ending Israeli attacks).
3. Demilitarize Gaza (stripping a sovereign territory of self-defense).
4. Maintain full Israeli security control (perpetuating apartheid conditions).
5. Establish a non-Israeli “peaceful civil administration”—neither Hamas nor the PA (effectively an Israeli-controlled government). (AP)

Netanyahu also floated “optics-friendly” gestures—such as allowing more journalists into Gaza and increasing aid sites—while falsely accusing outlets like The New York Times of faking photos of starving Palestinian children.

The Gaza City plan itself could be another Netanyahu bluff, meant to pressure Hamas into sweeping concessions. In March, Israel broke a ceasefire by blocking all food and water into Gaza to force Hamas to accept demands: full disarmament, surrender of Gaza, and abandonment of a two-state solution.

The tactic is familiar. “For Israelis and Palestinians alike, Mr. Netanyahu’s argument that Israeli forces needed to invade Hamas’s final strongholds was almost painfully familiar. In February 2024, Mr. Netanyahu identified another Gazan city—Rafah—as ‘Hamas’s last bastion.’ At the time, he said victory was ‘within reach.’” (New York Times)

Politics of Genocide

• In a FOX News interview, Netanyahu said he is considering suing The New York Times for defamation over a photo of a Palestinian child suffering from malnutrition caused by Israel’s blockade. The Times later issued an “editors’ note” adding that the child also had a pre-existing condition, but the original article stated doctors said his current state could only be remedied with food and water. (FOX News)
• Slovenia became the first EU country to ban all weapons trade with Israel and the import of goods made in the illegally occupied West Bank. (Al Jazeera)
• Germany announced it will suspend any arms sales to Israel that could be used in Gaza. Chancellor Friedrich Merz said: “Solidarity with Israel does not mean we consider every single decision by the Israeli government to be good, or that we support it… even to the extent of providing military support in the form of weapons.” (Deutsche Welle)

• Dozens of Republican and Democratic lawmakers skipped their congressional recess to go on AIPAC-sponsored trips to Israel, meeting with Netanyahu and other officials.
  • House Speaker Mike Johnson—on a trip sponsored by the U.S.-Israel Education Association—even visited the occupied West Bank to--illegally--break ground on a project, pledging to stop using the term “West Bank” and instead call it “Judea and Samaria.”
  • Other lawmakers are visiting under what they claim are bipartisan Congressional Delegations (CODELs). But former State Department official Josh Paul, who resigned over U.S. complicity in the genocide, says these trips are designed to present only one side. “The visit in question, it is important to note, is not a ‘CODEL’ arranged by the State Department to provide Members of Congress with the opportunity to understand the world better. Rather, it is what they call a ‘NODEL’—an all-expenses-paid first-class trip with five-star hotels intended to present just one side of an issue,” he said. “That it involves a friendly meeting with a foreign leader who is currently under indictment for war crimes is just the icing on the cake.” (Responsible Statecraft) (Punchbowl News)

On the Ground in Gaza

• At least 200 people—including 100 children—have died from malnutrition due to Israel’s blockade since October 2023. (Washington Post)
• Between July 19 and 25, the UN’s World Food Programme says only 76 of 138 convoy requests were approved by the Israeli military.

• Israelis continue to block aid convoys and slash tires on humanitarian trucks—without consequences. (The Jerusalem Post)
• Hamas offered to allow the Red Cross to deliver aid to hostages if Israel allowed aid into Gaza and paused bombings to distribute it. Israel refused. (Reuters)
• Israel paid Microsoft hundreds of millions to store Palestinian intelligence on its Azure servers. +972 Magazine reports this trove has been used to plan lethal airstrikes in Gaza and military operations in the West Bank—making corporate partners like Microsoft active participants in a genocide. (+972 Magazine)
• Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), using medical data and patient testimonies, concludes that Israel’s aid policy is “not aid” but “orchestrated killing.” (MSF)

• Israel has detained American teenager Mohammed Ibrahim for six months without formal charge, accusing him of throwing rocks—which he denies. His case reflects a broader pattern of Palestinians, including minors, held for months or years without trial. His family has been unable to speak to him since February. “When you can’t visit him and you can’t get a phone call from him, what do you know? We don’t know if he’s dead… There’s nothing we know,” his father said. (Al Jazeera)

The Occupied West Bank

A new video from Israeli human rights group B’Tselem shows the moment Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen was shot and killed by Israeli settler Yinon Levi last month.

The footage, from Hathaleen’s own phone, shows Levi waving a gun and firing; the camera then drops to the ground. Hathaleen, a contributor to the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, had long documented how settlers terrorize his community in Masafer Yatta. On the day of the shooting, Levi had brought an excavator to destroy water lines and other vital infrastructure. (B’Tselem)

Levi was released under house arrest before a judge dismissed the case entirely, citing “lack of evidence”—despite video proof. Levi, a known violent activist, was previously sanctioned by the Biden administration; Trump lifted those sanctions after taking office. (Jerusalem Post)

“Israeli authorities had held Hathaleen’s body for 10 days and tried to force his family to bury him in the dead of night with few witnesses,” said Israeli activist Oneg Ben Dror, who has served as an unofficial spokesperson for the family. (Washington Post)

Russia–Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump will meet in Alaska on Friday, August 15, ostensibly to discuss ending the war in Ukraine — except Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky isn’t invited. That exclusion is no accident: Putin has told Trump he wants Ukraine to give up major swaths of land to end the war — a demand Zelensky has flatly rejected.

• Last week, Trump told Putin he had one week to agree to a ceasefire deal or face harsh sanctions. On the day that deadline expired, Trump announced the meeting — as if to claim his “pressure” had convinced Putin to negotiate. (Truth Social | Alaska Public Media).
• Experts say Putin is stringing Trump along — and who can blame them? Not only did Putin — the world’s second-biggest pariah after Netanyahu — secure an in-person meeting with a sitting U.S. president on American soil, he did it while shutting out Ukraine and framing the talks around Ukrainian concessions. Putin’s last U.S. visit was in 2015; his last meeting with Trump was in 2019. (Anchorage Daily News)
• Zelensky: “Any decisions that are without Ukraine are at the same time decisions against peace. They will not bring anything. These are dead decisions. They will never work.” (AP)

This Week, the Trump Administration

• killed $500 million in funding for at least 22 mRNA vaccine studies on viruses like bird flu, claiming they are unsafe and ineffective — despite extensive scientific evidence to the contrary. The same technology was used to create life-saving COVID-19 vaccines in record time, and experts warn this will put the U.S. behind in pandemic preparedness. Johns Hopkins RNA biology professor: the move sends a “clear message” to scientists and industry not to invest in mRNA because they likely won’t get federal funding or approval. (HHS | The Hill)

• kicked the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and other leading medical groups out of a federal working group that shapes vaccine recommendations. (ABC News)
• announced a panel of “true, honest scientists” to rewrite congressionally mandated climate research reports, replacing years of peer-reviewed work from 13 federal agencies. (CNN)
• unveiled to spend $3 billion over five years on a moon-based nuclear reactor to support U.S. human habitation — a race against China and Russia. Experts warn about radioactive debris risks, cost overruns, and unrealistic timelines. (NPR)
• denied retirement benefits to least a dozen members of the US Air Force, telling them they'll only a one-time payout and no pensions after applying for early retirement to avoid being discharged under Trump’s ban on transgender troops. (AP)
• opened a criminal probe into New York Attorney General Letitia James for allegedly violating Trump’s constitutional rights in her fraud case against him. Trump was ordered to pay $450 million; he is appealing. (NYT)
• broke a promise to subsidize or enforce insurance mandates for IVF, wary of political blowback from potential premium hikes before the midterms. (Washington Post)
• ordered a grand jury to hear “evidence” that the Obama administration fabricated Trump–Russia collusion claims — despite multiple investigations concluding Russia interfered to help Trump. (Washington Post)

• demanded UCLA pay out $1 billion and end all race or ethnicity-based scholarships in exchange for restoring $584 million in federal funding. This follows a $6 million settlement with Jewish students and a professor over anti-genocide protests. (WSJ | The Guardian | CNN)
• increased the reward to $50 million for information leading to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s arrest for alleged drug trafficking.

• brokered a historic peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan after 35 years of conflict. (Politico)

• announced plans to open a new immigration detension facility in Indiana, dubbed the "Speedway Slammer" – nicknamed for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Indianapolis Star)
• deployed federal law enforcement agencies to patrol DC after an attempted carjacking injured a government staffer and Elon Musk protege nicknamed "Big Balls." (Washington Post)

• ordered the Commerce Department to explore a mid-decade census excluding undocumented immigrants, which would shift congressional representation to Republicans. Experts say it’s likely unconstitutional and logistically impossible. (Washington Post)

Epstein

• The House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed Bill and Hillary Clinton and eight former law enforcement officials to testify on Jeffrey Epstein between August and October — with Hillary on October 9 and former President Clinton on October 14. No U.S. president — current or former — has ever been forced to testify, though some have done so voluntarily. Trump was subpoenaed between his first and second terms over January 6 but Congress withdrew the request after his lawyers objected.
• What’s telling is who isn’t on the list:
  • Ghislaine Maxwell — not called to testify publicly; DOJ says she’s already met with them, but behind closed doors. That meeting was followed days later by her transfer to a minimum-security prison.
  • Alex Acosta — Trump’s former Labor Secretary, who as a Florida prosecutor gave Epstein his 2008 sweetheart deal without consulting victims, allowing him to avoid serious prison time.
  • Leaving out Maxwell and Acosta while targeting the Clintons makes this look less like a search for truth and more like a carefully staged political performance.
  • If the goal were real accountability, the DOJ could release existing evidence from the Epstein case — but it hasn’t. Subpoenaing the Clintons, who can refuse to testify, shifts blame for the stalled investigation away from DOJ and onto political enemies.
• The White House also canceled a meeting on whether to release Deputy AG Todd Blanche’s interview with Maxwell after news of it leaked. The meeting — oddly scheduled at the vice president’s residence rather than the White House — was to include Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, VP Vance, AG Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Blanche. (CNN)
• There have been internal talks about Blanche holding a press conference or doing a high-profile interview, possibly with Joe Rogan. Rogan — who endorsed Trump in 2024 — has criticized the administration’s handling of the case, calling the refusal to release more Epstein information a “line in the sand.” (The Daily Beast)

Kinda Crazy

• A former FBI agent caught on video urging January 6 rioters to kill police officers is now… an advisor at the Department of Justice. (NPR)
• The Secret Service had the Ohio River’s water level raised so JD Vance could go kayaking for his birthday. His staff swears they didn’t request it; his security detail says it was for “safe navigation” of their motorized escort boat. (The Guardian)
• The State Department is weighing a policy requiring business and tourist visa applicants to post a $15,000 bond before entering the U.S. (NPR)
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has greenlit a $10 million refurbishment of a Confederate monument for Arlington National Cemetery. Retired Army Brig. Gen. Ty Seidule calls it “one of the cruelest, most racist monuments in the country,” a sculpture that depicts “faithful slaves and kind white masters” — a historical lie carved in stone. (The Hill)

Good News

• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will rehire up to 450 employees, reversing earlier cuts by DOGE. (NBC News)
• ICE arrests dropped by 20% in July. (Axios)

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