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Jefferson

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Jefferson last won the day on November 24 2023

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  1. February 19th, 2025 IDF to relinquish security tasks to PFM in Bureji An IDF spokesperson announced that the security forces of the Palestinian Freedom Movement led by Mohammed Dahlan would take over security tasks in the refugee camp of Bureji, formerly home to over 30,000 Palestinians. [...] Overall, the IDF's and PFM's security cooperation has gone over smoothly thus far. The IDF is thus far sticking to its original plan of not allowing the PFM permanent hold of their weapons, but are handing out the weapons for the shifts of the security forces. This is part of the IDF's plan to demilitarize Gaza. The PFM is now responsible for security operations in Bureji, Az-Zawayda, Wahsh, Al Zahra, Jarara and a couple of smaller areas. [...] The IDF is still continuing its search and destroy missions inside Gaza, still uncovcering weapons caches and tunnels, over a year after the war started in October 2023. [...] February 20th, 2025 Reconstruction in Gaza continue with humanitarian situation in Sinai decried by UNWAR [...] The "Gaza 2030" vision laid out by Mohammed Dahlan is also slowly continuin in Gaza. Funded mostly by Qatari and Saudi contributions, workers have focused on the town of Az-Zawayda, where the PFM is also responsible for security operations. A PFM spokesperson said that about 50% of Az-Zawayda had been rebuilt "more glorious" than before, constructing a new hospital amongst the many buildings erected on the rubbles. [...] Meanwhile, representiatves UNWAR are decrying a worsening situation in the Sinai camps as the rebuildment efforts in Gaza are "going far too slow", according to UNWAR. " [...] "BREAKING: Suicide bomber kills eight PFM security staffers in Jarara." - AP, on X (February 25th, 2025) February 25th, 2025 Palestinian Islamic Jihad takes responsibility for Gaza suicide blast In a first, a Palestinian suicide bomber has targeted a group of PFM security staffers in the city of Jarara, marking the first Palestinian-on-Palestinian incident since the PFM was established as a security group in Gaza. [...] This attack demonstrates that despite statements to the contrary, the IDF still doesn't have Gaza under complete control. [...] March 2nd, 2025 Mohammed Dahlan announces return to Jerusalem Mohammed Dahlan, the leader of the Palestinian Future Movement (PFM) has announced his return to the city of Jerusalem, the first time of him setting foot on Palestinian soil since he was exiled early last decade. Driving through Jerusalems were cars with loudspeakers who played a recorded message from Dahlan, stating that he had returned to save "Palestinians and the dream of a country called Palestine". He denounced the Palestinian Authority, Fatah, Mahmoud Abbas and several other groups, saying that their corruption and failures have placed "this dream further out of reach than ever before." Citing PFM activites in Gaza, he said that Palestinians were ready to move into a new future and called on President Abbas to step down and make way for Dahlan to take over. Immediately afterwards, hundreds of people marched through the streets of Jerusalem, once again calling on President Abbas to resign and in support of Dahlan. PA security forces responded with force, deploying water cannons to disperse the crowd. [...]
  2. NETROOTS NATION 2025 ((Speeches due by Dec 20th, 11:59pm PST))
  3. CPAC 2025 ((Speeches due by Dec 20th, 11:59pm PST))
  4. "BREAKING: Two non-combat Iraqi contractors were killed during a missile attack on Army FOB Sykes in Iraq." - AP, on X (February 10th, 2025) February 11th, 2025 U.S. Air Force strikes pro-Iranian militia in northern Iraq and suspected IRGC base in Syria The U.S. Air Force has retaliated against a pro-Iranian militias' attack on the Army FOB Sykes in northern Iraq today. It also hit a suspected base of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps in central Syria with missiles. The attack was meant as a "direct response to the attack", a Pentagon spokesperson said. "The United States will not tolerate any attack against our servicemembers and we are putting everyone in the world on notice." [...] February 22nd, 2025 Tatmadaw forces suffer setback in northern Myanmar The Tatmadaw have suffered a severe setback in northern Myanmar. During an assault on rebel positions near Katha in northern Myanmar, the Tatmadaw forces routed after a successful counterattack threatened to encircle the governments' forces in the area. The path to Katha is now open which would severly weaken the governments forces in the northern parts of the country. [...]
  5. April 8th, 2024 Egyptian government betrays Palestinians by agreeing to Zionist deportation plans Late night yesterday, the Egyptian government betrayed Palestinians in Gaza by agreeing to a plan laid out by the Zionist government in Israel to "offer temporary housing to Palestinian refugees", as they put it. Meaning that tens of thousands of Palestinians from Gaza will be forced to relocate to enclosed encampements in the Sinai peninsula under the guise of rebuilding Gaza. [...] The United States of America sided with the Zionists and apparently asked the Egyptian government to follow suit. Egyptian President Al-Sisi has thus given the greenlight, surely due to billions of American dollars being promised to his government and his own pockets. [...] April 8th, 2024 Sinai Peninsula to house three encampments for Palestinian refugees In a breakthrough moment for Israel's post-war plans in Gaza, the Egyptian government agreed to opening three enclosed encampments for Palestinian refugees from Gaza on the Sinai Peninsula late last night. This is a key step in Israeli Prime Minister Miri Regev's plan for rebuilding and restructuring Gaza following the Israel-Hamas war which began in October 2023. [...] The Israelis' post-war plans were the topic of a meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Miri Regev during a discussion in Washington, D.C. last week. Afterwards, the United States signaled green light for the Sinai plans and also the erection of a no-man's zone inside Gaza and entered the negotiations with Egypt. The United States agreed to contribute a significant amount of costs for these camps which will be managed by UNRWA. The role of UNRWA was hotly debated between Israel and the United States, because Israel has long accused of UNRWA of supplying Hamas and other terrorist groups with equipment for their campaigns against Israel. But it seems that Prime Minister Regev relented on her opposition. [...] The reconstruction of Gaza is set to be done in three phases in the three areas: northern, middle and southern Gaza, with southern Gaza being the first area to be reconstructed, due to it's close proximity to Egypt. Palestinians who've lived in Gaza and whose homes are under reconstruction will be offered housing in the new camps on the Sinai Peninsula and then be relocated when the reconstruction is done. Experts believe that the reconstruction of Gaza will take years with tens of thousands of Palestinians having to live in these camps. [...] April 8th, 2024 Biden administration to take care of Palestinian refugees Late last night, U.S. negotiators achieved a breakthrough in developing a long-term sustainable path forward for the Gaza strip, following the Israel-Hamas war which has left almost all of Gaza in ruins. [...] The three encampments will be able to house more than 300,000 Palestinian refugees whose homes have been destroyed in the recent military engagements. Others will be taken care of by organizations such as the Red Crescent, UNRWA and other aid groups who will deliver aid directly into Gaza. [...] The United States will also contribute to an international fund towards rebuilding Gaza where it will be joined by dozens of other nations in the world. [...] "I am ashamed to be an American today. The United States agreeing to Palestinians be treated like cattle and herded to simply another location is evil." - Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-13), on X (April 8th, 2024) "Free Palestine! #Palestiniansarenotcattles" - Black Lives Matter, on X (April 8th, 2024) "One IDF soldier wounded in explosion in Gaza city during a search and destroy operation." - AP, on X (April 10th, 2024) April 20th, 2024 Israeli bulldozer begin clearing no-man's zone as aid arrives via Rafah Border Crossing The construction corps of the Israeli Defense Forces began clearing the planned no-man's zone inside Gaza, today, a hotly criticized move which the government of Israel remains adamant about. [...] In the meantime, thousands of Palestinians are arriving back to their homes all over Gaza, with international aid beginning to arrive via Rafah Border Crossing. 140 trucks loaded with fresh water, medicine ... [...] Meanwhile, the IDF is continuing its operations inside Gaza, but the government has begun sending soldiers back home who were part of the IDF for more than six months now. The search and destroy operations are part of Israel's post-war plans to demilitarize Gaza. Every once in a while, gunfire can be heard throughout Gaza, as pockets of resistance flare up in the wake of IDF advancing. [...] May 1st, 2024 Protests continue in West Bank for President Abbas to resign [...] Yet again, tens of thousands of Palestinians all accross the West Bank protested for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to resign, calling him a dicator, a weakling, a corrupt despot. Once again, Palestinian security forces deployed rubber bullets and tear gas against protestors in Ramallah, adding fuel to a simmering conflict that appears to be boiling up. [...] "BREAKING: Three IDF soldiers killed in Hamas ambush in Khan Yunis." - AP, on X (May 5th, 2024) "This event clearly demonstrates why it is so important for us to continue holding a presence in Gaza, because the area has not been demilitarized and Hamas still is capable of staging such cowardly attacks on our troops. I've said it before: the IDF will continue its search and destroy operations at great risk for their own lives in order to guarantee Palestinians and Israelis being able to live free from fear of Hamas attacking from inside the Gaza trip." - Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy, during an interview with SkyNews (May 5th, 2024) May 15h, 2024 Assessing the military situation in the Middle East after the Israel-Hamas war The IDF has concluded its official ground combat operations in the Gaza strip, it did so over a month ago. But this has not stopped the fighting in the Middle East, as the focus has shifted from a purely military operation to a search and destroy operation, as the IDF calls it. With the Israeli government sending tens of thousands of conscripts home to soften the blow to Israel's economy, thousands of soldiers are still operating all over Israel and inside Gaza. In Gaza itself, the IDF's job is growing more difficult by the day, with Palestinians returning to their often destroyed homes and cleanup crews from all over the world having started their duties in the ruins of Gaza strip. But the IDF is still on a mission to demilitarize Gaza, meaning that they have made it their goal to uncover every stone, flip over all matresses to unearth weapons caches, ammunition stores and of course other entrances to the vast tunnel network. Thus far, the IDF has uncovered 1,300 tunnel accesses and has destroyed 900 of them. Every once in a while, the IDF comes under fire from Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants. On May 5th, three Israeli soldiers were killed during an ambush. But the frequency of such attacks has decreased significantly. Israel claims to have killed 11,500 Hamas fighters and captured an additional 9,000. If true, the war would indeed have been a crippling blow to Hamas's military infrastructure in Gaza. But analysts believe that there may be as many as 3,000 or even far more Hamas fighters hiding within the civilian population of Gaza. Demoralized after the military defeat, but waiting for another turn. In the West Bank, tensions are incredibly high and are increasing by the day, with the Palestinian Authority under President Mahmoud Abbas looking as weak as never before. The IDF has conducted several raids into Camp Jenin in recent weeks and has killed several Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters during their latest operation in late April this year. Periodically, lone wolf attackers launch devastating and deadly terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians, mostly in Jerusalem these days. But it has been six weeks since a rocket was fired upon Israel from within Gaza or the West Bank, the IDF seemingly having achieved a a victory in that regard. The northern border with Lebanon is one of very tense calm, with Hezbollah having ceased firing on Israel in mid April. But from time to time, IDF checkpoints are reporting small arms and sometimes even mortar fire from inside Lebanon. No casualties have been reported on this front since late March 2024. Judging the conflict with the Houthis is a difficult one. The Houthis, too, seem to have stopped their firing of rockets and launching of UAVs against Israel, but they have been a long distance conflict partner ever since the war started. U.S. Forces in the Middle East have also described an easing on reported attacks on them from Iran-backed militant groups all throughout the region. Seven months after the October 7th massacre, a very fragile calm seems to be settling on the Middle East, if one could call it that with IDF still conducting operations inside Gaza and the West Bank nearing a dangerous point of no return. But for now, the calculus of Hamas that its attack on Israel would lead to a global intifada seems to have badly misfired for the group. It's leadership is believed to have fled Gaza which certainly demoralized the fighters within Gaza, but has not lead to a dip in approval for some of the most wanted men of the world for Israel. June 3rd, 2024 Former Gaza Fatah Chief Dahlan lays out "Gaza 2030" plan, calls Fatah "rotten" Mohammed Dahlan, the former Fatah chief of Gaza, laid out his "Gaza 2030" vision during a press conference in Abu Dhabi today. His plan is built on the reconstruction of Gaza in a way that surpasses its prior 2023 status. Essentially, the plan would turn the small land strip into "a metropolis of the Middle East for Palestinian to thrive in and be proud of", Dahlan said. [...] The foundation of his plans are funds from the international community for which he's asking to contribute to a "Gaza 2030" fund. [...] During his 45 minutes presentation, Dahlan called his former party Fatah "rotten to its core", saying that any revitalization of the Palestinian pride, identity and future can only come after President Mahmoud Abbas has resigned his office and relinquished his role as President of the Palestinian Authority. He called for the formation of an entirely new political organization, the "Palestinian Future Movement" (PFM) which would entail Palestinians from all spectrums, build an intermediate technocratic government and provide its own security forces. He said that he was dedicated to this cause and was already in talks with several influental Palestinian and arab leaders to build said movement. [...] Mohammed Dahlan served as Fatah's leader in Gaza before Hamas staged a violent takeover in 2007. Dahlan, who at the time was not in Gaza, was expelled from Fatah because of repeated claims by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that he had murdered legendary leader Yasser Arafat. He was exiled and tried in absence, but this has not diminished his power, international media calling him one of the most influental men in the middle East. One of the "most wanted terrorists" in Turkey due to an alleged inviolvement in the 2016 failed coup attempt, he was vital in brokering the Abraham Accords which led to an Arab-Israeli normalization signed between Israel, and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. In 2023, he argued that Israel had destroyed any hopes for a two-state solution and called for a one-state solution. Ever since the October 7th attack, he went back to saying that there was no hope for a free Palestinian state unless Palestinians established themselves as "co-equal partners". While he has been hailed as one of the "best hopes for Palestinians" by western analysts, his biography holds some crucial and ugly details, though: Dahlan's widespread organization was involved in the failed cover up of the Kashoggi Murder by a Saudi Arabian hit team. He was involved in some unsavory miltia groups in Libya accused of systematic killings of civilians and he is also wanted by the Houthi rebels for a bombing attack in Sanaa which killed 137 civilians. Despite all of that, he seems to have set his sight on becoming the next Palestinian leader. June 7th, 2024 Palestinian Authority President Abbas denounces Dahlan, vows to stay in office Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas took to a select press conference today, a rare sight in these days. During his remarks, he denounced Mohammed Dahlan's "Gaza 2030" plan "an image of utter lunacy" and accused the former Gaza Fatah Chief of seeking to stage a coup. [...] Abbas also vowed to stay in office, despite calls from thousands of protestors on the streets of the West Bank every day, threatening protestors with violence should they not cease their operations. [...] July 3rd, 2024 Cleanup operations in Gaza continue with international community stemming the tide of humanitarian catastrophe Cleanup operations after the disastrous Israel-Hamas war are continuing in Gaza, with thousands of people working all day, every day to remove the rubble and lay the groundwork for reconstructing the Gaza strip. UNWAR belivees that up to 550,000 Palestinians are still in the Egyptian Sinai where three new refugee camps have been erected and are still being built. Camps which originalls were designed to house 300,000 people. The international community is desperately trying to stem the tide with a humanitarian catastrophe being on full display in Gaza and beyond. [...] The IDF is still operating in Gaza strip and are continuing to arrest Palestinians they believe to have ties to Hamas and Islamic Jihad. [...] August 12th, 2024 Saudi Arabian Crown Prince bin Salman: Abbas must go Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in an interview with Al-Jazeera that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas "must go. He has lost the trust of the Palestinian people and is detrimental to stability for the Palestinian community." His statement was shortly afterwards echoed by United Arab Emirates President Muhammad bin Zayid Al Nahyan and follows after Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani made a similiar comment two days ago. [...] In the West Bank, thousands of Palestinians are calling for Abbas's resignation every day, with clashes between Palestinian security forces and protestors having led to the deaths of 193 people thus far. "BREAKING: Suicide bomber in Jerusalem kills six civilians." - AP, on X (August 14th, 2024) August 15th, 2024 President Mahmoud Abbas must show leadership or step aside The Biden administration believes that the incident in Jerusalem from yesterday shows that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas must demonstrate his ability to lead the Palestinian people or step aside. [...] September 2nd, 2024 Mohammed Dahlan announces formation of Palestinian Future Movement Former Gaza Fatah Chief Mohammed Dalen announced the formation of the "Palestinian Future Movement" (PFM) in Abu Dhabi, today. The movement will feature both a political and a security arm to provide "for the lives, futures and wellbeings of the Palestinian people", according to Dahlan. The movement is supported by the governments of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar and will serve as a new voice in leading the Palestinian people. [...] A spokesperson for Fatah quickly denounced the PFM, calling it "a puppet for western nations seeking to control the Palestinian people", accusing Dahlan of being supported by the United States and Mossad in past activities on the Balkans and in Libya. [...] "BREAKING: Palestinian Authority President outlaws Palestinian Future Movement in West Bank" - AP, on X (September 2nd, 2024) "If the Palestinian Future Movement wants to become a serious partner in governing Gaza, they will have to prove that they are capable of taking care of security in the Gaza strip. But Mohammed Dahlan knows the area and he knows the people in the area." - Israeli spokesperson Eylon Levy, during an interview with BBC (September 3rd, 2024) "BREAKING: Hamas leader Haniyeh issues video statement, condemning Israel, Fatah and the Palestinian Future Movement." - AP, on X (September 10th, 2024) September 10th, 2024 Hamas leader releases video statement in first "public" appearance after Gaza war began in October 2023 In his first "public appearance" after the October 7th massacre in 2023, Hamas leader Haniyeh released a video statement. In the 27 minutes, Haniyeh touched on several points: 1) Israel-Hamas War: Haniyeh expressed sorrow for the Palestinian lives lost during the 2023-2024 war which has turned Gaza into ruins. He accused Israel of comitting a targeted genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and vowed that Hamas would never stop fighting "the zionist occuption forces" and warned that a repetition of October 7th was to take place in the near future. 2) Fatah and Palestinian Authority: Haniyeh condemned Fatah and the Palestinian Authority of abandonding their people in Gaza, calling the decision not to join in on the global intifada against Israel "a shameful display of cowardice". He scorned President Mahmoud Abbas for having lost the backing of Palestinians in the West Banks and called on them to "rise up and overthrow the puppets of zionists in Ramallah". 3) Palestinian Future Movement and Mohammed Dahlan: Haniyeh denounced Mohammed Dahlan's PFM a "zionist puppet raised to control Palestinians and sell them to the zionist and american devils". He urged Hamas's followers to fight against any attempts from the PFM to establish itself as a force in Palestinian politics. 4) Future of Hamas: Haniyeh said that the decision to cease resistance in Gaza was out of concern for the wellbeings of Palestinian in the Gaza strip and not because of imminent defeat. He claimed that 10,000 Hamas fighters remain in Gaza and are preparing a second wave, as well as Hamas expanding its operations into the West Bank. [...] The most senior leaders of Hamas are still on the run after Hamas briefly took control of Rafah Border Crossing in late 2023. But the video is deemed "credible" by intelligence analysts, due to Haniyeh including recent news about the PFM in his message. [...] "BREAKING: Hamas fighters occupy Palestinian Authority government office in Bani Na'im." - AP, on X (September 29th, 2024) "BREAKING: IDF engages Hamas fighters in Bani Na'im as civilians rush in to protest IDF." - AP, on X (September 29th, 2024) "BREAKING: IDF kills 12 Hamas fighters, 6 civilians in Bani Na'im." - AP, on X (September 29th, 2024) "What happened in Bani Na'im is a direct result of Hamas trying to expand its influence in the West Bank, following its defeat in Gaza. The IDF will conduct an investigation into the death of the alleged civilians, but the IDF did erect a security cordon around the PA building in which Hamas fighters were hiding, and warned them not to approach the area." - Israeli spokesperson Eylon Levy, during an interview with BBC (September 30th, 2024) "Free Palestine now from Israeli occuption. As long as there are Israelis in Palestinian territory, there will be no peace." - Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-13), on X (September 30th, 2024) October 10th, 2024 U.S. House of Representatives censures Rashida Tlaib for the second time The remarks on X have thrown Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-13) into hot waters again, with critics saying that her writing that "as long as there are Israelis in Palestinian territory, there will be no peace" was call for the elimination of the state of Israel. [...] But after Republican leadership failed to secure the votes for expulsion against Rep. Tlaib, they resorted to yet another censure motion. In the end, 239 members of the House voted for censure, with 193 against. "Mohammed Dahlan: The PFM is inside the West Bank and Gaza and is growing as Palestinians are seeking for a better future." - AP, on X (October 20th, 2024) October 29th, 2024 The PFM is gaining influence in both Gaza and West Bank despite PA crackdown In Gaza, the Palestinian Future Movement has opened an office and has hired construction workers to begin work on what its leader Mohammed Dahlan has called "Gaza 2030". [...] In the West Bank, Palestinian Authority security forces have imprisoned 47 people suspected of being supporters of PFM. [...] Despite continous calls from Palestinians to resign, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has once again vowed to continue his course of cracking down on the PFM's actions in the West Bank. Calling the movement "dangerous for Palestinians, led by a traitor and a killer." [...] November 10th, 2024 IDF to transfer security in Az-Zawayda to PFM The IDF has announced that it will transfer security occupations in the small town of Az-Zawayda to security forces from the Palestinian Future Movement. A spokesperson for the IDF said that the search and destroy operations had been finished in Az-Zawayda and that the forces from PFM would be granted authority to take charge of security in the town. The IDF will keep a small garrison in the city to support if need be and the PFM's security patrols will have to surrender their weapons after each shift, but this marks the first time that the IDF will relinquish control of a town in Gaza since the beginning of the Gaza war in 2023. [...] "BREAKING: Explosion in Ramallah kills two Palestinian Authority officials." - AP, on X (November 18th, 2024) "Palestinian Authority calls PFM responsible for Ramallah explosion." - AP, on X (November 19th, 2024) December 12th, 2024 The PFM: a proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia [...] Now, reports are emerging that the Palestinian Future Movement was set up by an unlikely coalition of western nations, Israel, Saudi Arabia and other arabian countries to counter Iran's influence in Palestinian affairs. The PFM seems to be extremely well funded, with the majority of these funds coming from benefactors in the Gulf Region and they have also built a small security Bataillon which has gradually taken over from IDF in three small towns in Gaza. And these arrangements are working out, according to IDF officials. At one point, PFM information led to the arrest of a middle ranking Hamas leader in Gaza by the IDF. Iran, on the other hand, had an extremely heavy hand in Hamas's operations, going so far as Hamas seeking Iran's approval for the October 7th massacre. Now, with Hamas being severely weakened and having lost Gaza as a staging operation, analysts now believe that Iran is working overtime behind the scenes to forge a united front between Hamas and Fatah against the PFM in an effort to keep its investment in the Palestinian cause. [...] "BREAKING: Mohammed Dahlan announces his return to the West Bank for early next year to lead Palestinians into a new era." - AP, on X (December 22nd, 2024) "PA spokesperson: Dahlan is a wanted man and will be tried and executed if he sets foot on Palestinian territory." - AP, on X (December 23rd, 2024)
  6. February 5th, 2024 IDF continues progress in Gaza amidst signs of Hamas's resistance tapering off The IDF is continuing its military operations in Gaza, with the town of Khan Yunis continuing to be the hotspot of the most intense fightings in the past few days. Just yesterday, the IDF announced the death of three soldiers during a Hamas ambush near a mosque in Khan Yunis. But despite fighting still being heavy, there are signs of Hamas's resistance tapering off. The IDF is reporting less mortar and heavy arms fire than in any previous weeks of fighting. A spokesperson for the IDF recently said that 10,000 Hamas fighters had been killed since ground operations began. [...] "BREAKING: Ten missiles fired on Tel Aviv from southern Lebanon. All intercepted by Irone Dome." - AP, on X (Februar 7th, 2024) "We are seeing signs of Hama's resistance rapidly losing its strength. Early signs of that began when the first public news broke of Hama's resistance having fled the Gaza strip during the Rafah Border Crossing skirmish between Hamas and Egypt. I am told, that this has led to a demoralization amongst fighters in Gaza who are, of course, faced with an enormous firepower from the IDF. And the IDF is continuing its attacks on Hamas, its continuing it's search operations for entrances to the vast tunnel networks beneath Gaza. Just yesterday, the IDF uncovered another large tunnel entrance below a mosque in Khan Yunis and retreived as many as 300 small arms equipment pieces and thousands of rounds of ammunitions, grenades, as well as medical equipment and food. This shows that even if the IDF declares the official combat to be over, as we expect them to in a few weeks, that their operation will certainly not be done in clearing out Gaza from Hama's military infrastructure." - Trey Yingst, during an appearance on FNC (Februar 10th, 2024) February 17th, 2024 President Biden remains committed to joint peace process in Gaza [...] President Biden has reaffirmed his belief that a peace process in Gaza must include Palestinian authority in order to achieve long lasting peace. The military defeat of Hamas will not erase decades of pain and suffering experienced by Jews and Palestinians alike in the region. [...] The Biden administration has also approached several countries about forming a Rebuilding Gaza fund which will be dedicated to turn the ruins of Gaza into a hospitable place again. [...] February 22nd, 2024 Thousands are calling for Abbas's resignation in Ramallah as security forces deploy tear gas [...] This was the largest single protest to take place in Ramallah, demanding the immediate resignation of President Mahmoud Abbas. More than 14,000 people attended the rally, chanting for Abbas to resign and in support of Palestinians in Gaza. Security forces deployed tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the crowd. The ensuing clashes has left 152 people injured. [...] During an interview, Mohammed Dahlan called for Mahmoud Abbas to step aside in order to open the doors for a strengthened Palestinian Authority. [...] "Hamas's resistance in Gaza is nearings its breaking point and as they're doing so, we're also nearing the end of the high intensity military operation that we were forced to begin after the horrific October 7th massacre. [...] But let us not forget something: even when we begin to shift from a military operation to a search and destroy security operation, even then Hamas's remainders will be a threat to Jews and Palestinians alike and Hamas's leadership is still on the run. So our job will not be done for a very long time, as the Prime Minister made very clear in her remarks on the post-war plans for Gaza." - Israeli Spokesperson Eylon Levy, during an interview with CNN (February 28th, 2024) February 29th, 2024 Egypt and Israel continue negotiations on temporary Palestinian resettlements during Gaza reconstruction Both Israel and Egypt are continuing its negotiations on how to relocate tens of thousands of Palestinians during a planned reconstruction effort in Gaza. Despite drawing heavy criticism from many western states, Israel remains committed to erect a heavily fortified security zone inside Gaza which would render about 1km uninhabitable in an area that is 13km in width only. [...] The United States has called for the creation of a Reconstructing Gaza Fund which is to be used to rebuild the Gaza strip which has been turned into rubble admist Israel and Hamas fightings in recent weeks. [...] Egypt apparently appears to be open to temporary take up Palestinians in the Sinai if they remain inside a set boundary, drawing outrage from Palestinian rights groups. [...] March 3rd, 2024 The dangerous weakness of President Mahmoud Abbas With the IDF continuing its military operation in Gaza, the international pressure on the Israeli government led by Prime Minister Miri Regev (Likud) is increasing by the day, not to follow through with its plans of establishing a no-man's zone inside Gaza and to install basically what amounts to a vassal government. The United States, France, the United Kingdoms, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the list of countries calling for the Palestinian Authority to take over governance of Gaza after the war is long. That is why there is absolutely no joy for Israel in the current weakness of President Mahmoud Abbas. [...] What many in Israel fail to understand is that the growing instability in the West Bank is nurturing soil for Hamas to regroup there and for Palestinians in the West Bank to radicalize which will keep this perpetuum mobile spinning. Yes, President Abbas has been in office longer than his original term was set to be and the Palestinian Authority is dealing with corruption issues of all kinds. But if the Palestinian Authority fails or is replaced by a more radicalized group, anyone anywhere will wish that Abbas had managed to stay in power. So, as we're watching protestors descend upon the West Bank's street by the thousands, let us all remember that we need the Palestinian Authority to bring this decades-old conflict to a peaceful resolution. March 13th, 2024 Protests in Ramallah turn violent with 16 people killed, 92 wounded Protestors in Ramallah said that Palestinian security forces opened fire on a group of protestors seeking to force their way inside a government office today. What ensued was a gun battle between security forces and protestors, leaving 16 people killed and 92 wounded. This marks the first time Palestinians turned fire against each other in a time of political unrest in the West Bank which is threatening to tear Palestinians apart and makes the Israeli government increasingly nervous. [...] "BREAKING: Terrorist attack in Jerusalem kills 3 Israeli civilians." - AP, on X (March 15th, 2024) "What I can tell you is that the IDF is said to be in its final push of this military operation inside Gaza and will soon begin to shift from a purely military operation to a more search and destroy operation to flush out the remaining Hamas military infrastructure. You know, uncovering weapons caches, destroying tunnels, rounding up suspected Hamas fighters. All of this will begin once the fighting in Khan Yunis will be concluded and we're also hearing that Hamas leadership has started to signal to its fighters to lay down their arms, blend in with civilians and lay low for another point in time to strike back. And obviously, that's what the Israeli military is afraid about. They will never be able to catch all Hamas fighters, but ..." - Trey Yingst, during an appearance on FNC (March 19th, 2024) "BREAKING: Firefight erupts in Nablus between Palestinian security and Hamas forces." - AP, on X (March 20th, 2024) March 21st, 2024 The Battle of Nablus, a battle for the Palestinian soul Yesterday, around 40 armed fighters claiming to belong to Hamas attacked the largest police station in the town of Nablus, leading to an intense firefight with security forces from the Palestinian authority. The attack began at 06:21am local time, with the Hamas militants opening fire on the security guard outside the station. [...] But even with the Palestinian Authority restoring order to Nablus after an intense day of fighting, this incident shows dangerous signs: that Hamas holds a presence in the West Bank large enough and organized enough to coordinate such an attack and the protests following in support of Hamas in the city also demonstrate, that the Palestinians in the West Bank are becoming increasingly radicalized. [...] The continuing protests in the West Bank have brought the area to a standstill. Not a single day goes by without thousands upon thousands of protestors demanding for President Abbas to resign. A recent poll conducted by the Arab World for Research and Development (AWRAD) paints a distressing picture: 81% believe that Hamas plays a somewhat to very positive role. 86% believe that Palestinian Islamic Jihad plays a somewhat to very positive role. Fatah's Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade plays a somewhat to very positive role for 91% of respondents. 89% also believe that the Palestinian Authority plays a negative role. When asked about who should govern the Gaza Strip and the areas in Judea and Samaria that are under the control of the Palestinian Authority, only 6.5% supported the Palestinian Authority. 89% supported Hamas continuing to play a role in the Palestinian government. 24% supported a Hamas-only government while 79% supported a "national unity" government - i.e. a government comprised of Fatah and Hamas. "BREAKING: Houthi rebels hijack another freighter in the Red Sea." - AP, on X (March 24th, 2024) March 25th, 2024 Mohammed Dahlen: Both Hamas and Palestinian Authority need to be rebuilt from the ground up Former Gaza Fatah-Chief Mohammed Dahlen, who currently resides in the United Arab Emirates, laid out his vision for a post-war Palestinian government for both Gaza and the West Bank. "Hamas will never be accepted as a partner by Israel", Dahlen said, "and the Palestinian Authority under Mahmoud Abbas has shown itself to be completely without support by the Palestinian Authority. If we want a true Palestinian unity government, we need to dismantle both Hamas and the current Palestinian Authority and rebuild it from the ground up. Hamas has destroyed any hope we may have had left about a true two-states solution for now, but this doesn't mean that there is no hope for a free Palestine ever again. But Palestinians have to rid themselves of the forces of the old era which have brought disastrous results for them." [...] "BREAKING: Hamas Leader Haniyeh calls on fighters to stop fighting in Gaza to live and fight another day." - AP, on X (April 2nd, 2024) "Hamas Leader Haniyeh, who fled and left his own people behind, coward that he is, has called on the remaining forces of Hamas to cease the resistance in Gaza for the time being. The IDF has achieved something tremendous in its fight against Hamas in Gaza, conducting the largest phase of urban combat in the history of humankind with an unprecedented effort paid towards preventing the loss of civilian lives." - Israeli Spokesperson Eylon Levy, during an interview with ARD (April 2nd, 2024) "Hamas Leader Haniyeh ordering his fighters to blend in with civilians in Gaza to carry the fight on for another day shows exactly why we can not and will not comply with the demands from many world leaders to immediately abandon Gaza. The IDF has done remarkably, our soldiers have achieved what many believed was not possible. But the job is not done. As long as there are weapons inside Gaza, as long as the tunnels built by Hamas are still functional, the nation of Israel and all her citizens will never know safety. That is why the IDF will continue its operations inside Gaza for the time being, while we slowly phase into the a time of beginning to rebuild what Hamas has brought upon Gaza in terms of destruction. [...] And to Haniyeh and his team of cowards, I will say this: we are coming for you. No hole will be deep enough, no mountain high enough for you to hide and escape the justice you deserve for what you did to our people on October 7th." - Israeli Prime Minister Miri Regev (Likud), during a press conference (April 3rd, 2024) "Pretty rich for the Israeli PM to speak about Hamas bringing destruction upon Gaza when IDF bombs killed over 10,000 children in Gaza." - Black Lives Matter, on X (April 3rd, 2024) April 7th, 2024 IDF announces end of combat operations in Gaza After Hamas Leader Haniyeh radioed Hamas fighters to lay down their arms, fighting died down significantly in Gaza. [...] Today, a spokesperson for the IDF announced the end of combat operations in Gaza, roughly six months after they began. This will not mean that the IDF will leave Gaza, though. Instead, they are opening more and more areas for civilians to return to their, now oftentimes destroyed, homes while continuing what they call "search and destroy" operations to sweep for arms, ammunitions and tunnels. This is believed to take several months, still, and will come at a great risk for the IDF. Israel is also set to begin construction of the no-man's zone inside Gaza, which is heavily criticized by the international community. [...] Despite end of combat operations being unannounced, 31 hostages are still unaccounted for, with observers believing most of them to be killed. [...] "BREAKING: Egypt agrees to temporarily offer housing camps for Gaza refugees in Sinai until homes are rebuilt." - AP, on X (April 8th, 2024)
  7. If you have to state something about the 2024 U.S. General Election Results, you may do so here. Name: Media/Outlet: Reason: (Ex. Promoting Immigration Bill) [Bullet points/brief outline of talking points during appearance.]
  8. December 27th, 2023 Israel resumes military operations after explosion at hostage exchange site The IDF has announced the resumption of all military operations in Gaza, following an explosion at a hostage exchange site on the sixth day of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel. It's still unclear what exactly took place, but a suicide bomber reportedly struck the place where both Israeli and Palestinian hostages and prisoners were set to be exchanged. 18 people have been killed, 21 more injured. A Hamas spokesperson denied any responsibility for the attack, accusing rogue elements of other Palestinian groups. Nevertheless, within the hour, the Israeli Air Force began striking targets in Gaza again. [...] "The barbaric action that took place at the hostage exchange site clearly demonstrates that anyone who thinks that Hamas should be included in any kind of governance over the Gaza strip is absolutely ludicrous. The Prime Minister has ordered the immediate resumption of our efforts to eliminate Hamas and to defeat the evil that is killing Jews and their own Palestinian people by the scores ..." - Israeli Spokesperson Eylon Levy, during an interview with BBC (December 27th, 2023) December 28th, 2023 White House urges Israeli caution in Gaza War Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told Israel to take greater precaution to prevent civilian deaths during a press conference with the Qatari Foreign Minister. "While Israel must do everything it can to protect her citizens, the IDF must also make more of an effort to prevent the killing of innocent Palestinians who are quickly running out of places to flee to. I urge the Israeli government to reassess its strategy and allow for an increased humanitarian effort to reduce the plight upon Palestinians." [...] "The genocide in Palestine continues and the USA is enabling it with the passage of the Unified Aid Act. It's outrageous, it's a crime perpetrated by the United States Congress. A crime against humanity, a crime against innocent Palestinians." - Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-13), on X (December 29th, 2023) December 31st, 2023 More than 20,000 killed in Gaza as of today with Israel discarding every humanitarian law The Gaza Health Ministry has announced that more than 20,000 civilians have been killed during Israel's recent military actions against Palestinians in Gaza. More than 8,000 of them children. A devastating toll with the numbers rising by the minutes during continous Israeli bombardement of Gaza and with the IDF pushing into the centre of Khan Yunis in recent days. [...] December 31st, 2023 Prime Minister must release plan for after Gaza War As the IDF is continuing operations in Gaza, the Israeli War Cabinet has yet to announce its plan for a post-war Gaza, as international pressure is rising for any governance of Gaza to include the Palestinian Authority. As Israel is losing international support for a continous military engagement in Gaza with mounting casualties on both sides, the Prime Minister has to have a plan for what comes next. [...] "Any plan to bring peace to Gaza must include the Palestinian authority as the Palestinians' rightful voice." President Joe Biden (D-DE), on X (January 2nd, 2024) "[...] but with all due respect to the President of the United States and to the world: Mahmoud Abbas is not the rightful voice for the Palestinian. He is currently in his 18th year of a four year term and even Palestinians regard the PA to be corrupt to the core. Above and beyond that, Abbas has yet to denounce the horrific actions of October 7th. [...] The Prime Minister is finalizing the post-war plans for Gaza and the Palestinian people and will present these plans shortly." - Israeli Spokesperson Eylon Levy, during an interview with CNN (January 2nd, 2024) January 4th, 2024 IDF continues operation against Hamas in Gaza at rising cost [...] The IDF is relentlessly pursuing its actions in southern Gaza at this point. The focal point is the town of Khan Yunis where the IDF is meeting strong resistance from Hamas and other militant groups. Hamas also demonstrated that it has retained significant military capabilities when it fired eleven rockets on the town of Sderot yesterday. But despite the IDF having to pay a higher prize during the fighting in southern Gaza than it did during the initial phase in northern Gaza, it is making progress at a slightly faster than expected pace. [...] On the northern front, the lowkey skirmishes with Hezbollah are still occuring. A mere few hours before this article was finalized, two Hezbollah fighters were killed during an Israeli air strike inside Lebanon after a kibbutz near the border was hit with mortar fire. [...] In the West Bank, tensions are also rising, with the IDF having conducted a limited raid into Camp Jenin on January 2nd, detaining 34 male Palestinians suspected of being Hamas fighters preparing for another terror attack. "BREAKING: Israeli Prime Minister Miri Regev set to announce post-war plans for Gaza." - AP, on X (January 6th, 2024) "[...] The deaths we are mourning today and that we have been mourning since October 7th are on Hamas. They decided to launch the most vicious attack on Jewish people since the Holocaust. Their intent was to bring terror upon unsuspecting civilians, inflicting as much harm, as much pain, as much destruction and death as possible. In their quest, they did not hesitate to commit the worst atrocities imaginable: young women mutilated ... [...] The IDF is continuing our operation to eliminate Hamas as a threat to Israel, as a threat to innocent Palestinians and peace and security in this region. We are doing so in a way that is unparalleled in history, with the utmost care to avoid civilian deaths whenever and however possible. The IDF is fighting this fight to protect Jews and Palestinians from Hamas with one arm tied behind their back. While they're doing so, Hamas fighters are striking from tunnels which have been built in schools, emerging from secret passages underneath hospitals ... [...] When we cease our military operations in Gaza, Hamas will no longer be a factor there. We will eliminate Hamas in Gaza and eliminate its capabilities of ever launching a repeat of the October 7th attacks. [...] We have been saying for a long time, that Gaza can not return to the way it's been run before, we owe our citizens this pledge. There has been lots of suggestions been made from other nations what to do and how to proceed. But let me be very clear: Israel will do what is best for the Jewish people and by extent what's best for Palestinians. As such, we will not include the Palestinian Authority in the government that will take charge of Gaza. The Palestinian Authority led by Mahmoud Abbas is not a serious partner, his failure in leadership has resulted in dozens of deaths both inside the West Bank and in Israel, the Authority being unable to maintain security in the West Bank. Mahmoud Abbas has overstayed his tenure as President of the Palestinian National Authority by fourteen years, afraid of a democratic process taking place. The Palestinian Authority under Abbas can not and will not be allowed to take charge of Gaza after we end our military operations after the defeat of Hamas. [...] Once the military operations end, Israel will shift focus and commit to a number of things: Gaza will be demilitarized and security will be restored. As we organize a security force viable to take care of Gaza by itself, the IDF will continue search and destroy operations inside Gaza to make sure that there will be no weapons which can be used against Israeli citizens. While the IDF will switch from a military to a security operation after Hamas's defeat in Gaza, we will work with Palestinian leaders in Gaza to install a government that will gradually gain power and authority to re-establish a functioning territory in Gaza. Something Hamas denied Palestinians during its brutal reign in Gaza. Israel will commit financial support for this new Gaza government and I am asking the international community to follow suit. [...] Lastly, we will strengthen the border between Gaza and Israel. October 7th has shown that our borders are vulnerable in ways we never believed possible beforehand. This forces us to increase our efforts. Following the war against Hamas, we will establish a multi-layered security zone inside Gaza to make sure that something like October 7th will never happen again. 750 metre inside Gaza, a strong wire-barbed fence with security checkpoints will be erected to stop anyone from entering the security zone. This fence will, in time, be guarded by Palestinian security forces. Following that will be a no-man's zone of 500m with a clear line of sight and harsh penalties for trespassing. 250 metre inside Gaza, we will build a concrete wall, stronger than the one we already have in place now on the other side of the wall. This wall will be guarded by the IDF, automated defensive systems and other defensive weapon and observation systems. In addition to that, the IDF will establish a continous monitoring of Gaza [...] We recognize that this will make portions of the Gaza strip uninahbitable. We have reached out to the Egyptian government and offered to take up the costs of building a home for thousands of Palestinians in the Sinai Peninsula, much alike to Ein el-Hilweh in Lebanon, for example. The Egyptian government has agreed to consider the idea and we are in close contact [...] - Prime Minister Miri Regeve (Likud), during her speech on the government's post-war plans for Gaza (January 6th, 2024) "BREAKING: Israeli PM confirms security zone inside Gaza to be built post-war." AP, on X (January 6th, 2024) January 6th, 2024 Israel's plans for Gaza could lead to forced relocation of thousands of Palestinians [...] During her speech, Prime Minister Regev laid out a plan which has been met with criticism from many within the international community. Particularly the security zone inside Gaza will have far reaching consequences for Palestinians in the area, which will see almost 1/13th of its width cut by this security zone. United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken immediately rebuked the Prime Minister's address and demanded the Israeli government to reconsider and return to a negotiation table with the Palestinian Authority. [...] "Israel will deport tens of thousands of innocent people in Gaza in a quest to expand illegal settlements in Palestinian territory." - Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-13), on X (January 6th, 2024) January8th, 2024 Government's plan finds approval from Israeli citizens [...] Despite international criticism, the government's plan laid out by Prime Minister Miri Regev (Likud) in a speech two days ago is met with approval from Israeli citizens. In an overnight poll conducted, we found that 58% of strongly or somewhat support the government's plan, 21% are unsure or don't know and another 21% are opposed to it. This gives the Prime Minister and her War Cabinet the support it needs if they want to actually follow through on the laid out plans. [...] "The IDF is facing increased resistance in Khan Yunis and other southern areas of Gaza, amidst more and more refugees being caught in the crossfire." - Institute for the Study of War, on X (January 14th, 2024) "Israeli air strike kills 52 civilians south of Khan Yunis in a misfired attack against a building complex." AP, on X (January 21st, 2024) January 22nd, 2024 Israeli air strike leaves 71 dead, increasing pressure on Israel to return to negotiations [...] French President Emmanuel Macron has called on Israel to cease hostilities in Gaza and return to negotiations. The President has emerged as one of the most outspoken critics of Israel's war efforts in Gaza, amidst thousands of pro-Palestinian protestors taking to the streets every day all throughout France. [...] January 27th, 2024 Hamas leadership outside Gaza, western intelligence agencies believe Western intelligence agencies now believe Hamas leadership to have fled Gaza. According to multiple sources from various international agencies, Hamas leadership is believed to have fled Gaza when Hamas attacked and held Rafah border crossing for almost two days in December 2023. Hamas's leader Ismail Haniyeh and several other senior leadership members reportedly took advantage of the chaos ensuing Hamas's attack on Rafah Border Crossing. His current whereabouts are unknown, but ... [...] "We've known Hamas's leadership to have fled Gaza for several weeks now and it shows the non existant regard Hamas holds for the lives of Palestinians. This does not change the mission we have to bring to an end, though: the mission of militarily defeating Hamas inside Gaza and to remove the threat it poses for the lives and wellbeings of both Jews and Arabs once and for all. Haniyeh and the other monsters responsible for planning and ordering the October 7th attack will be brought to justice, I have no doubts about that." - Israeli Spokesperson Eylon Levy, during an interview with CNN (January 27th, 2024) February 2nd, 2024 In West Bank, increasing tensions reek of revolution [...] But even despite overstaying his four years term by fourteen additional years, President Mahmoud Abbas seems to be at his weakest point yet: every day, protestors are gathering in the West Bank, calling for Abbas's ouster. The President, who wants to take charge of Gaza, even though Israeli Prime Minister Regev categorically rejected such notions, still believes that international pressure will lead to the reunification of Gaza and the West Bank under the helm of the Palestinian Authority. But he is in a bind: to garner further international support, he'd have to increase his rethoric against Hamas which is experiencing a surge of approval in the West Bank. Israel finds itself in the increasingly precarious situation that despite of, or rather because of, continued progress in its military operation in Gaza, especially the younger population the West Bank is getting increasingly restless. [...] Even before October 7th, Abbas's popularity was at an all-time low, with Palestinians regarding his leadership clique as profoundly corrupt. With tempers flaring hot these days, the West Bank reeks of revolution, potentially opening another can of worms for Israel and the international community alltogether.
  9. December 31st, 204 War in 2025 looms in South America over Essequibo As the year 2024 draws to a close, Venezuela finds itself at the center of international scrutiny, with political maneuverings, territorial disputes, and military preparations stirring global concern. The key player in this unfolding drama is President Maduro, who secured victory in the presidential election earlier this year amidst a backdrop of controversy. Maduro's electoral triumph came after his government outlawed opposition parties, citing national security concerns linked to alleged foreign aggressions, particularly from the United States. The roots of this heightened tension can be traced back to late 2023 when Venezuela reaffirmed its claim on Guyana-Essequibo, sparking apprehensions of a potential war in the region. The political landscape within Venezuela has seen scattered protests erupt, met with brutal crackdowns by security forces. The suppression of dissent has drawn widespread condemnation, with human rights organizations expressing deep concerns about the deteriorating state of democracy and civil liberties in the country. Despite the absence of actual military engagements in 2024, the year has witnessed a dangerous escalation of tensions. Maduro, having solidified his position, immediately prioritized the Essequibo region, pushing the boundaries and intensifying the standoff with the international community. Observers initially dismissed the Venezuelan military's capabilities when talks of war first emerged in 2023. However, the events of 2024 have shown a concerted effort by the Venezuelan state to strengthen its armed forces, with assistance from Chinese advisors. August 2024 brought a startling revelation, as it became public knowledge that Chinese military advisors were actively involved in training Venezuelan pilots to operate attack and transport helicopters. This development has been interpreted by many as a prelude to a potential Venezuelan military offensive against Guyana, further raising alarms across the globe. The military training and buildup over the course of the year have transformed the once underestimated Venezuelan army into a potential regional threat. The international community has closely monitored these developments, expressing deep concern about the potential for conflict in the Guyana-Essequibo region. Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions have been met with mixed success, and the last few weeks of 2024 have seen a further deterioration in the situation. As the world watches and holds its breath, the Venezuelan crisis remains a volatile and unpredictable flashpoint on the global stage. The year 2024 will be remembered not only for the controversial electoral victory of President Maduro but also for the geopolitical tensions that have brought the South American nation to the brink of a potentially devastating conflict.
  10. MAP of CONFLICT December 31st, 2024 Recapping the Year 2024 in the Russo-Ukrainian War When Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022, many of its top military brass expected the war to be over in a matter of a few weeks. Many western observers shared that assessment. Little did they know, that both Ukraine and Russia are headed into their third year of war, bringing pain and suffering upon both nations. In 2024, the borders shifted in the Russians' favor, due to a decrease in western commitment in military and general supplies and due to the countries' manpower reserves dwindling at a far more impactful rate than those of the Russian Army. All this and more will be the focus of hit ISW's review of the war in Ukraine in 2024 and where both countries stand both militarily and politically. THE FRONTLINES AFTER 2024 After its staggering success with the 2022 counteroffensive and holding off the Russians' initial attack on Kiyv in early 2022, Ukraine's forces were believed to be capable of everything. That assessment already began to show signs of cracks when the much-heralded 2023 summer counteroffensive turned into a small ripple, rather than an Ukrainian tidal wave. The Russians' success in Awdijiwka opened a door for further successes in 2024. In early 2024, the Russian Army made considerable gains in the greater Kramatorsk area, before its forces finally were fought to a standstill once more. Nevertheless, both Slowjansk and Kramatorks became frontline cities. In the south, Russia's forces managed a breakthrough in the Orichiw-Kamyanske line and drew closer to Saporischschja. Then, in June 2024, the Ukrainian counteroffensive began, trying to repeat a failed offensive across Dnepr river across Cherson. The city of Oleschky became for Ukrainians what Bachmut was for the Russians: a meatgrinder. After first establishing a firm beachhead, the Ukrainian soldiers ran into stiff Russian resistance. President Zelensky, desperate for success on the battlefield in order to garner additional western support for his country's war efforts, ordered wave after wave of Ukrainian soldiers be sent into the beachhead. The situation came to a standstill, with Russia being unable to clear the beachhead, but also content after weeks of dreadful fighting to having pinned a bulk of Ukraine's offensive forces down. The President's decision was widely criticized in Ukraine, with regular protests occuring in Kiyv and other major cities in western Ukraine. In autumn 2024, Russia opened small frontlines for both the Sumy and Charkiw area to further thin out the lines of the Ukrainian defenders. In late October 2024, it then began it's larger offensive in the northern Donbas area and managed considerable territorial gains - the largest since the opening stages of the war. The F-16 fighters Ukraine acquired in 2024 were not the game changer military analysts thought them to be. The United States' support continued in 2024, but at a lower rate than in both 2022 and early to mid 2023. A congressional debate over an Ukrainian aid bill was vital in keeping the lights on for Ukraine's military following its failed offensive in 2024. But nevertheless, Ukraine's strength and especially manpower resouces are waning, as Russia commands a seemingly endless pool of fresh recruits it can throw into battle. RUSSIAN POLITICAL SITUATION When the short-lived Wagner coup took place in mid 2023 and armored vehicles were driving towards Moscow, many western observers believed this to be the final nail in the coffin for President Vladimir Putin. Yet, by the end of 2024, Putin is still firmly in control of Russia. The 2024 presidential election was the sham it was set out to be, delivering Putin his largest electoral victory yet. Reports of fraud, intimidation and other irregularities were expected and the United States condemned the results, alongside many allies. When Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2022, the international reaction was mostly in unison in condemning the Russian aggression, targeting Russia with sanctions and bringing economic woes upon her citizens. But despite losses mounting and Russia's citizens feeling the economic ailings, a majority of the population still supports the war. In mid 2024, as the international support for Ukraine began to incrementally taper off amidst war weariness and increasingly worrisome news coming out from Ukraine, Russia's President managed a resurgence on the world stage: he visited the gulf states once more in 2024, made a trip to China and even appeared together with Indian Prime Minister Modi in October 2024 and Russia's efforts in Africa via the Wagner Group solidifed its grasp on the Sahel region. UKRAINIAN POLITICAL SITUATION When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the popularity of its President Volodymyr Zelensky soared to record high, almost Stalinesque levels. Ukraine's President traveled the world and managed to acquire resources and aid which enabled Ukraine's heroic resistance to Russia's attack to succeed in ways not believed possible in the early days of February 2022. The first cracks in the unified Ukrainian front appeared in late 2023: grounded in Ukrainian martial law, President Zelensky announced his intention to delay the presidential election which had originally been set for 2024. Two main rivals slowly emerged for the President: Kiyv Mayor Vitali Klitschko and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forcesof Ukraine Valerii Zalushnyi. Zalushnyi and Zelensky had been at odds ever since the Ukrainian President sacked several military commanders in the summer of 2023. When Zalushnyi first mentioned Ukraine's 2023 counteroffensive to have failed, President Zelensky was sharp in his rebuttal. The rivalry between Klitschko and Zelensky dates back even prior to the war. In 2024, reports of increased tensions between Klitschko and Zalushnyi on the one side and Zelensky on the other side emerged. Particularly after the Ukrainian President ordered more and more forces into the Ukrainian beachead in Oleschky, sacrificing much needed manpower and equipment. When the Russian autumun offensive in 2024 showed them making making the most territorial gains ever since the early stages of 2022, Zelensky's popularity began to fall considerably. Heading into 2024, the Ukrainian home front is as fractures as it has never been. Internationally, the 2023 fight over the Unified Aid Bill in the United States Congress was a symptom of things to come and while it has kept a steady line of supplies to Ukraine open, western allies never got around to match their initial support in the early 2022 stages. And parts of the military aid now coming in terms of loans has added to an increased financial debt for Ukraine. SUMMARY The year 2025 will be a crucial one for the people in both Ukraine and Russia. As of now, pressure is slowly mounting on Ukraine both internally and externally to head to the negotiation table and reach for a peace agreement - propably with considerable territorial and political concessions. But despite Russia having a relatively good year in 2024, its victory is far from assured and the cost have been tremendous. If western allies want to prevent Russia from building on its war efforts in 2024, they will have to make a concerted effort in 2025. NATO analysts are already warning of Russia being able to attack NATO territory within six years after bringing the Ukrainian war to an end. A horrifying thought for everyone.
  11. MAP of CONFLICT December 17th, 2023 "Israel must accept this deal. Ultimately, this is about bringing these hostages home and their lives are being threatened by the ongoing fighting. We must also acknowledge the plight this escalation of violence has brought upon Palestinians who are crammed into southern Gaza with no access to medication, no access to food or clean water. Egypt must immediately open the Rafah Border crossing again to allow humanitarian convocys to pass through." - Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, during a Press Conference in Jordan (December 17th, 2023) "Five days of ceasefire in Gaza, 130 Palestinians as well as 60 Israeli and foreign citizens released." - AP, on X (December 27th, 2023) December 27th, 2023 "BREAKING: Six dead in Jerusalem terror attack at shopping mall." - AP, on X (December 28th, 2023) "BREAKING: Iron Dome intercepts sixteen missiles fired from West Bank". - AP, on X (December 28th, 2023) "BREAKING: USS Carney intercepts three UAVs and five missiles en route to Israel" - AP, on X (December 28, 2023) "BREAKING: Explosion at hostage exchange site leaves 18 dead." - AP, on X (December 28, 2023)
  12. In preparation for the round, if you have to state something about 2024 foreign elections, you may do so here. Name: Media/Outlet: Reason: (Ex. Promoting Immigration Bill) [Bullet points/brief outline of talking points during appearance.]
  13. December 31, 2024 December 31st, 2024 December 31st, 2024 December 31st, 2024 December 31st, 2024 December 31st, 2024 December 31st, 2024 December 31st, 2024 .
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