What you need to know about the Gaza ceasefire agreement: A ceasefire is a critical step. But we must keep working to ensure the path toward justice and accountability.... The U.S. must end all arms sales and take action to end its complicity in occupation, apartheid, and genocide.

The agreement is a critical step, but it’s just the beginning of the long path toward justice and accountability. 

https://afsc.org/news/what-you-need-know-about-gaza-ceasefire-agreement?ms=EMA26WR1011&emci=f643558d-46a5-f011-8e61-6045bded8ba4&emdi=2df14704-9ea6-f011-8e61-6045bded8ba4&ceid=704076 

AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD QUOTES IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine, or at least fair and just laws and policies]    

 

By Nusaiba Mubarak

Oct 9, 2025

After two years of genocide, a ceasefire agreement has been reached in Gaza. AFSC welcomes this critical first step while recognizing we must keep pushing for justice and accountability. 

For two years, we have called for an end to Israeli attacks, the release of all people held captive, and full humanitarian access to Gaza. We are grateful to everyone around the world who has organized, protested, and demanded an end to the genocide—despite repression. And we stand with our staff and all Palestinians in Gaza who have survived the unimaginable.

One can't help but feel a sense of relief at the sight of Palestinian children playing and singing in front of their tents, celebrating this moment and hope for peace.  While we embrace this agreement, we also know that a ceasefire is just the beginning, not the end. 

Here’s what you need to know about what happens next:

Life-saving food and medical aid must enter Gaza immediately: The famine in Gaza remains, and it is urgent that aid enters immediately without restriction. The medical system has been destroyed, and without urgent action, people will continue to die even if bombs are not falling. More than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, and over 90% of homes and schools in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed. Action is needed to meet the needs of everyone who has been displaced, injured, and denied education.

Israel must completely withdraw from Gaza: Over 86% of Gaza remains occupied by Israeli forces within the Israeli-militarized zone, under displacement orders, or where these overlap. There cannot be an end to the war without Israel withdrawing from Gaza completely.

The blockade on Gaza must end: Israel’s blockade on Gaza began in 2007. It has prevented the movement of Palestinians, restricted the import of commercial goods, and denied fishermen access to Gaza’s waters. The impacts have been devastating. Even before the start of the genocide, 62% of Gaza’s population required food assistance, and 78% of drinking water was unfit for human consumption.

The mechanism of aid delivery matters: The U.N. Relief Works Agency is the organization most suited to deliver aid in Gaza. Despite facing massive cuts in funding from Israel and the U.S., UNRWA’s vital work continues. It is still administering the majority of medical services in Gaza and operating around 70% of shelters, which host an estimated 80,000 people.

Israel must adhere to the ceasefire agreement: Israel has violated every past ceasefire agreement, including in March of this year. In September, it also directly targeted and attempted to kill the Palestinian negotiating team in Doha, Qatar. Until there is a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to occupation and apartheid, the risk of violence resuming will remain.

President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza is dangerous: While the ceasefire is a step in the right direction, the president’s post-ceasefire plan is dangerous, allowing Israeli and U.S. developers to take over and control Gaza. Under the plan, former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair—one of the leads of the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq—would be responsible for new leadership in Gaza. The rebuilding and authority of Gaza should not be in the hands of the U.S. or UK leadership. We must continue to push for Palestinian self-determination.

The U.S. must end all arms sales and military assistance to Israel: Those responsible for this genocide must be held to account. The U.S. must end all arms sales and take action to end its complicity in occupation, apartheid, and genocide. 

Journalists must be protected and allowed entry into Gaza: Israel has prevented international journalists from entering Gaza for the last two years, while Israel has killed over 250 Palestinian journalists. Along with humanitarian aid workers, more journalists must enter Gaza, and the world must listen. 

Israel must stop its illegal annexation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem: As the Israeli government continued its genocide in Gaza, it has continued its project of ethnic cleansing in the West Bank. Since January 2025, it has forcefully displaced 40,000 Palestinians from their homes in the West Bank through military violence and settler attacks. Israel is moving forward with its settlement plan, which would divide the West Bank in two, cut off East Jerusalem, and expand illegal settlement expansion.

Israel must release Palestinians who remain in its prisons: Over 11,000 Palestinians remain in Israeli prisons, over 3,500 of them in administrative detention. The majority are held without charge—without trial or due process—and are subject to documented torture and abuse. Since October 2023, there have been at least 77 Palestinians killed in Israel’s prisons.

The U.S. and Israel must be held accountable: The U.S. has sent over $30 billion of arms to Israel since October 2023, and just weeks ago, Trump announced another $6.5 billion package to Israel. Congress must use its responsibility of congressional oversight to enforce U.S. law, including the Leahy law, which prohibits the use of U.S. funding for any foreign security forces committing gross human rights violations.  

A ceasefire is just the start. To bring true justice, Israel's occupation and apartheid must end. The U.S. must end all arms sales to Israel and hold the Israeli government accountable. Palestinian self-determination is not negotiable—it is a fundamental right that must be upheld.

https://afsc.org/news/what-you-need-know-about-gaza-ceasefire-agreement?ms=EMA26WR1011&emci=f643558d-46a5-f011-8e61-6045bded8ba4&emdi=2df14704-9ea6-f011-8e61-6045bded8ba4&ceid=704076 

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On #OlderPersonsDay, we honour older #Palestine Refugees. Having lived through decades of conflict and displacement, many continue to face hardship and suffering. UNRWA provides healthcare, education, and social services to support them in their daily lives.

UNRWA

@UNRWA

On #OlderPersonsDay, we honour older #Palestine Refugees. Having lived through decades of conflict and displacement, many continue to face hardship and suffering. UNRWA provides healthcare, education, and social services to support them in their daily lives.

António Guterres

@antonioguterres

 

Everyone benefits from the wisdom of older people. They have much to teach about navigating uncertainty, resolving conflict & building solidarity across generations. On #OlderPersonsDay, let’s build a world where people of every age can live with respect, security & opportunity.

 

Bantu Holomisa

@BantuHolomisa

Today we salute our elders - the living libraries of our nation, the custodians of wisdom and resilience. On #OlderPersonsDay, I reaffirm that SA’s future must be anchored in their dignity, inclusion and guidance.

UNRWA

@UNRWA

On #OlderPersonsDay, we celebrate the older generation of Palestine refugees. They are custodians of collective Palestinian memory, identity & culture. They are icons of resilience thru the long journey of Palestine refugees, from ongoing displacement to conflict to occupation.

UN Human Rights

@UNHumanRights

·

Oct 1, 2020

A new report highlights a flagrant lack of data on older persons. Closing the gap with better data collection methods is critical to give older persons a voice. Read more https://ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/lack-of-data-on-older-persons.aspx

#OlderPersonsDay #StandUp4HumanRights

 https://www.ohchr.org/en/stories/2020/10/expert-flagrant-lack-data-older-persons-impacts-their-human-rights

UN Humanitarian

@UNOCHA

·

Oct 1, 2021

The elderly are more vulnerable to disasters. As weather-related hazards become more frequent and intense, we must make sure their needs are considered and no one is left behind. #TheHumanRace | #OlderPersonsDay 

 

UN Human Rights

@UNHumanRights

·

Oct 1, 2020

We need more inclusive, equitable and age-friendly societies. In a year that has seen terrible harm done to older people, we must #BuildBackBetter to advance their rights and dignity – UN Human Rights Chief

@mbachelet

on #OlderPersonsDay.

 

 AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES (or quotes) IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine, or at least fair and just laws and policies]  

https://www.un.org/en/observances/older-persons-day 

Background

On 14 December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly designated October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons (resolution 45/106). This was preceded by initiatives such as the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, which was adopted by the 1982 World Assembly on Ageing and endorsed later that year by the UN General Assembly.

In 1991, the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Principles for Older Persons (resolution 46/91). In 2002, the Second World Assembly on Ageing adopted the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, to respond to the opportunities and challenges of population ageing in the 21st century and to promote the development of a society for all ages.

The number of older people (defined as those aged 65 years or older) tripled from around 260 million in 1980 to 761 million in 2021. Between 2021 and 2050, the global share of the older population is projected to increase from less than 10% to around 17%.

Rapid growth in the number of people reaching older ages underscores the significance of promoting health, preventing, and treating illnesses throughout the entire course of life.

In societies with aging populations, it becomes imperative to adjust to the increasing number of elderly individuals who possess a diverse range of functional capacities. The capability to carry out essential functions and partake in everyday activities is influenced not solely by an individual's inherent capacity but also by the social and physical environments in which they reside. Supportive environments play a pivotal role in assisting older individuals to maintain their activity levels and independence as they progress in age.

 

Count Folke Bernadotte- On Friday 17 September 1948, four members of the Zionist paramilitary militant organization Lehi, sometimes referred to in the West as the Stern Gang, dressed in the uniforms of IDF soldiers and attacked Bernadotte's UN convoy as it drove through West Jerusalem, killing him as well as the French officer riding next to him, Colonel André Serot.

Greve Folke Bernadotte, sculpture in Kruså, Den.

Greve Folke Bernadotte, Swedish diplomat

Sep. 13, 2025 •Article History

Born:  Jan. 2, 1895, Stockholm, Swed.

Died:  Sept. 17, 1948, Jerusalem (aged 53)

Role In:  1948 Arab-Israeli War

World War II

Greve Folke Bernadotte (af Wisborg) (born Jan. 2, 1895, Stockholm, Swed.—died Sept. 17, 1948, Jerusalem) was a Swedish soldier, humanitarian, and diplomat who was assassinated while serving the United Nations (UN) as mediator between the Arabs and the Israelis.

Bernadotte, a nephew of King Gustav V of Sweden, was commissioned in the Swedish army in 1918. He became an official of the Boy Scout movement, and during World War II (1939–45) he headed the Swedish Red Cross, securing the exchange of many prisoners of war and being credited with saving some 20,000 inmates of German concentration camps. His excellent reputation among all the combatant nations in Europe during the war led the Nazi Party official Heinrich Himmler to employ him to transmit a fruitless offer (April 24, 1945) for Germany to surrender unconditionally to the United Kingdom and the United States but not to the Soviet Union.

Appointed mediator in Palestine by the UN Security Council on May 20, 1948, Bernadotte obtained the grudging acceptance by the Arab states and Israel of a UN cease-fire order, effective June 11. He soon made enemies by his proposal that Arab refugees be allowed to return to their homes in what had become the State of Israel. After a number of threats against his life, he and André-Pierre Serot, a French air force colonel and UN observer, were murdered by members of the Jewish extremist Stern Gang. Bernadotte’s efforts laid the foundation for both the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, which monitors cease-fires and assists peacekeeping operations in the region, and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, which was created to provide relief services for Palestinians who lost their homes and means of livelihood following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Greve-Folke-Bernadotte-af-Wisborg 

Dear America- Russia's illegal seizure of the Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and Russia's current war on Ukraine is clearly following in the footsteps of Israel: The Zionist Project has been usurping land, rights, and peace from the indigenous people of historic Palestine since 1948.

Jane Johnston Schoolcraft
Bamewawagezhikaquay ('Woman of the Sound that the stars make Rushing Through the Sky')

Bamewawagezhikaquay
('Woman of the Sound that the stars make Rushing Through the Sky')

letter I just sent to my elected leaders-

Dear America,

The United States of America has a fascinating and complex history that we should be preserving in every possible way.  Our books and libraries and schools, our public TV and radio, our National Parks and museums, our support for the arts, science, etc... AND most important of all, our slow but sure empowering of the rule of fair and just laws for ALL men and women which in turn have helped shape true peace and prosperity for many people.

One of our first known poets was Jane Johnston Schoolcraft 1800-1842 who was the daughter of a Scotch-Irish fur trader. Her mother was a respected Ojibwe leader. Though Jane never published her work, she wrote approximately fifty poems in English and Ojibwe, as well as versions of Ojibwe stories, songs, and other traditionally oral texts. https://poets.org/poet/jane-johnston-schoolcraft.

Jane Johnston Schoolcraft's poem Lines Written at Castle Island, Lake Superior finds solace in nature as she concludes:

"Ah, nature! here forever sway
Far from the haunts of men away
For here, there are no sordid fears,
No crimes, no misery, no tears
No pride of wealth; the heart to fill,
No laws to treat my people ill"

That last line bears repeating: "No laws to treat my people ill"

Jane Johnston Schoolcraft should be considered one of our great nation's founding mothers.  Her ideas ring true today too, at a time when laws and policies are being shaped to empower the wealthy and corporate greed- and pollution rather than the peoples needs.

Modern life is not perfect, but it most certainly has been huge improvement over times past when slavery, injustice, and inequality were the norm. 

In 1948, after the horrors of the Nazi Holocaust, The United Nations came together, carefully built with diplomacy and the wisdom of many who understood we are "Better Together"

The idea of Universal Human Rights underscores the crucial importance of true equality with freedom and respect for ALL people, not just wealthy and privileged ones.  

International law matters immensely- for everyone's sake.

Russia's illegal seizure of the Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and Russia's current war on Ukraine is clearly following in the footsteps of Israel: The Zionist Project has been usurping land, rights, and peace from the indigenous people of historic Palestine since 1948.

American money, weaponry, and support have been helping Israel violate international law- destroying the lives & livelihoods of countless increasingly vulnerable civilians who have been cruelly denigrated, harassed, impoverished and displaced by Israel.  There is a Israeli-made famine in the prison camp called Gaza and Israel is bombing men, women, and children trapped in the rubble and ruin of their homes and tents.

AI has the power to lie and mislead- and to bury the truth in much the same way our legacy media hides the full ugly truth about Zionism, so that We the People are increasingly clueless about right and wrong.  Please STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN !  Tyrants worldwide will no longer need to burn books- just the click of a computer program will seek out and erase infinite reams.

We should be stepping up to champion diplomatic, compassionate, and intelligent ways to veer away from a world filled with bigotry, violence, injustice, poverty, pollution, AI antics, scams, ignorance, greed, and endlessly escalating war.

We should be funding the people's needs, here at home as well as abroad with The United Nations, UNESCO, and UNRWA... for everyone's sake. 

Sincerely,

Anne Selden Annab

NOTES https://anniesnewletters.blogspot.com/search/label/Notes

STOP THE SIEGE- stop funding crazy cruel Israeli schemes & the forced displacement, imprisonment, starvation, torture, and killing of human beings in Gaza and Palestine

Do not ‘co-opt’ the cross to divide: Bishops join church leaders in message after rally 21/09/2025: "As Christians from different theological and political backgrounds we stand together against the misuse of Christianity. The cross is the ultimate sign of sacrifice for the other. Jesus calls us to love both our neighbours and our enemies and to welcome the stranger. Any co-opting or corrupting of the Christian faith to exclude others is unacceptable."

A Prayer for The Holy Land- The Most Reverend Dr Hosam E. Naoum, Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem 2025

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is morally, legally & politically intolerable. The nightmare must stop. Today, I called on world leaders to do all they can to ensure the Two-State solution prevails, for the people of Israel, Palestine & all humanity." António Guterres , Secretary-General of the United Nations

Better Together: 80 Years of the United Nations- For 80 years, the United Nations has brought countries together with one purpose: to make the world better. Together, we advance peace and security, promote development and defend human rights. By uniting nations, we transform shared goals into collective action.

"It took just five days of public pressure to bring Jimmy Kimmel back to his show after a suspension. Five days, and he was back on air. But for 716 days, no amount of pressure has stopped the slaughter of Palestinian journalists, some of them killed on air. Yes, Jimmy Kimmel was taken off air for five days. Palestinian journalists are taken off the earth, on air, by American-supplied weapons." Mosab Abu Toha

"What we are witnessing right now is the rise of two Americas. One for the billionaire class. And one for everybody else" The American political system is badly broken- Bernie Sanders in The Guardian

"During the ceasefire earlier this year, we reached over 2 million people with food assistance. Since 2 March, UNRWA has not been allowed to bring aid in. In August famine was confirmed in Gaza City. This starvation is man-made by the Government of Israel. It is the direct result of banning food and other basic supplies for almost 7 months, including from UNRWA. The siege must be lifted. Our teams are ready to distribute aid in a safe and dignified way to the people in need." #UNRWAworks

“The only legal thing Israel can do in the Palestinian territories is to get the hell out.” —Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur

While welcome, the recognition of a Palestinian State doesn’t mean much if there isn’t a ceasefire in Gaza, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini tells BBC News on the margins of #UNGA80

In the occupied West Bank, the Israeli Forces have further tightened movement and access restrictions, including the installation of new road gates to control the movement of Palestinians. In the northern West Bank, operation ‘Iron Wall’ continues, with some 32 000 residents of Tulkarm, Nur Shams, and Jenin Palestine Refugee camps unable to return to their homes. More than one third of those displaced are children. UNRWA is leading the emergency response to the crisis, with some 400 staff dedicated to delivering health, emergency education, waste management, and cash assistance to those forcibly displaced.

"Statehood cannot be declared in press releases while genocide burns Gaza and land is stolen daily in the West Bank. Recognition of Palestine is hollow if it ignores the uprooting of people and the violence that became a daily reality. Better to first recognize the atrocities and confront injustice than to offer symbolic statehood to a people whose very existence is already rooted in their land yet their land, and their lives are under attack." Sliman Mansour of Palestine

From Gaza to Lebanon, Syria to Yemen, Israel is slaughtering civilians and calling it self-defense...

Both doctors described the psychological warfare Palestinians in Gaza and the medical workers are enduring: no internet, no communication with families, constant bombs. Dr. Aziz: “This is a stain on our humanity. I’m ashamed to call myself human… we need absolute, unimpeded medical aid and an arms embargo now.”

"Even before the war, we lived in danger every day. And today, the suffering has only grown worse… " Mahmoud Massri from Gaza. A witness of the Genocide.

Israel spending millions on online ad campaigns to deny Gaza famine: Report Israel spent $50M on deal with Google, X, other ad platforms to deny famine in Gaza, says new report: "Israel's strategy highlights the vulnerability of the international public to emotionally persuasive narratives and the challenges faced by fact-checkers and traditional journalists in countering them..."

Israel imposes permits for Palestinians to access their own West Bank villages: Residents of three Palestinian communities now need Israeli-issued permits to access their own homes, fuelling fears of creeping annexation

As its former ambassadors, we urge the EU to sanction Israel now- Europe must not let Gaza become the graveyard of international law and human rights. STATEMENT by Former EU and Member State Ambassadors and Senior Officials

"Fashion has always been political. Now, demonstrators are putting pro-Palestinian slogans and symbols on their clothes – and not just for marches" REPORTING by Ellie Violet Bramley. Photographs by Ethan Parker in The Guardian

Civilians made up 15 of every 16 people killed by Israel in Gaza since March, data suggests Report from independent conflict tracker Acled indicates one of the highest civilian death rates since start of war

Owen Jones Goes To Palestine

Amnesty International has released a list of global companies implicated in war crimes against Palestinians, providing Israel with technologies, equipment, or services that enable human rights violations. Despite international warnings, these corporations continue their activities, making them complicit in ongoing war crimes against civilians.

Dear America- The weapons industry and a global war machine- AND INJUSTICE- burgeon with American tax payer funds.

Violence is a problem- not the answer.

NOTES https://anniesnewletters.blogspot.com/search/label/Notes

"Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world..."   https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights

Israel spends vast sums on propaganda ads: "For at least a year, an Israeli YouTube account has been running ad campaigns that discredit UN agencies and challenge the findings of internationally recognized watchdogs."

AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES (or quotes) IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine, or at least fair and just laws and policies] 

https://amp.dw.com/en/israel-propaganda-downplays-gaza-food-scarcity-fact-check/a-73875380 

Fact check: Israel spends vast sums on propaganda ads

Kathrin Wesolowski

09/08/2025September 8, 2025

Israel spends millions of euros on propaganda, much of it targeted at European audiences. A series of videos seek to downplay Gaza food scarcity.

A cross-border investigation by members of the Eurovision News Spotlight, including DW Fact Check, has uncovered that the state of Israel has used its Government Advertising Agency to run paid international campaigns aimed at shaping public opinion in parts of Europe and North America.

For at least a year, an Israeli YouTube account has been running ad campaigns that discredit UN agencies and challenge the findings of internationally recognized watchdogs.

A government document reveals  that at least €42 million (approx. $49 million) has been spent on ad campaigns across platforms like YouTube and X since mid-June 2025. These efforts are part of Israel's broader public diplomacy strategy known as "Hasbara," a Hebrew term which roughly translates to "explaining" and is used to describe efforts to promote Israel's image abroad.

On August 22, the same day as the publication of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) assessment that there is a famine in large parts of the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Government Advertising Agency launched a new campaign denying the famine.

Two videos were promoted via paid ads on the official YouTube channel of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is verified with a black check mark.

The videos show markets full of food and restaurants serving meals, allegedly filmed in Gaza during July and August 2025. They feature onscreen text and an AI-generated voiceover, ending with the statement: "There is food in Gaza. Any other claim is a lie."

These videos have been viewed more than 18 million times and have been published  in English, Italian, German and Polish

Targeted messaging and misleading narratives

According to Google's Ad Transparency Center,

YouTube ads can be targeted by gender, age and region. Israel targeted viewers in Germany, Austria, Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States, according to Google. 

Open restaurants don't prove there's no famine in Gaza

DW Fact check analyzed one of the videos and traced the original clips to the social media accounts of the featured restaurants (here are some examples). Most of the video clips were posted in June and July 2025. However, the presence of open restaurants does not disprove the existence of famine. 

Several restaurants mentioned supply shortages, inflation and temporary closures. 

We contacted all of the restaurants and cafes featured in the video. For example, Estkana Cafe, in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City, confirmed frequent closures due to a lack of food staples.

They said that commercial-sized bags of flour were being sold for the equivalent of hundreds of euros, but the prices changed depending on the day and the broader state of supply in the enclave. Menu items at the cafe at the end of August included a Nutella waffle that cost around €25 (some $29), and a small dessert with nuts and chocolate, which was similarly priced.

Another restaurant, O2, based in Gaza City, posted its menu on their Instagram story on September 3 with its prices. A Nutella crepe costs around €12 here. 

Firsthand accounts confirm high prices

Riham Abu Aita, co-founder of the Palestinian fact-checking platform and Media Literacy group "Kashif," confirmed the high prices during her training sessions in Gaza from April to July.

"We bought one kilo of sugar for 250 shekels [around €65]. A piece of bread with one piece of falafel cost 30 shekels [around €8] at the time," she told DW.

At the end of July, 2025, a video published by outlets including The Jerusalem Post showed a vegetable stall in Gaza, prompting skepticism about famine claims. DW Fact check spoke with the Palestinian journalist Majdi Fathi, the journalist who filmed the footage, who confirmed its authenticity but emphasized, "These vegetables and fruits are very expensive. The majority of people in Gaza cannot afford them."

Abu Aita added: "Not all the areas in Gaza are suffering the same. If there's a siege in one city, maybe you can find food in another city," adding that even then, prices are extremely high.

DW concludes that the videos promoted by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs are misleading. While food may be available in some areas, it is scarce or unaffordable in others. There's proof that famine (IPC phase 5) is currently occurring in the Gaza Governorate and projected to spread to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of September. 

The propaganda videos denying famine were not only spread on YouTube but on many other Israeli channels on several platforms and in several European languages.

DW contacted Israel's Ministry for Foreign Affairs as well as the Government Press Office to ask why the ad campaigns only targeted the six countries mentioned above and how the government would describe the current food situation in Gaza. 

They referred us to the Embassy of Israel in Berlin. The embassy staff responded by referring to a Foreign Ministry statement posted on X reiterating the claim that "there is no famine in Gaza." They also shared a document allegedly sent to the IPC, disputing its findings. Their response did not mention DW's question about the ad campaign.

Israel's sponsored ads target IPC

DW also discovered a sponsored link appearing at the top of Google search results for users searching "IPC famine." The link leads to an Israeli government page challenging the IPC's methodology and accusing it of using misrepresented data. 

The page states: "The declaration was issued not only without evidence that would justify it under the IPC's own criteria but also based on partial or misrepresented data — most prominently an alleged breach of the acute malnutrition threshold presented as key justification." The IPC has denied these claims, stating that its standards remain unchanged.

The first Google search result is a sponsored post discrediting the IPC Gaza famine report 

This type of sponsored post can also be easily targeted to specific users looking for specific information, according to Google's Ad Transparency Center. Google did not respond to our request regarding Israel's ad campaign.

Disinformation on both sides

While both sides have been accused of spreading disinformation, DW's sources suggest that the volume and scale of misleading content is currently greater on the pro-Israel side.

"I think Israel is now facing an unprecedented risk of isolation from the international community," says Tommaso Canetta, fact-checking coordinator at the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO), in an interview with DW.

He sees a clear goal behind the Israeli propaganda and disinformation being spread in several European languages: "Their general idea is to win the sympathy of the Western public opinion in Europe and also in the United States." 

For Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, more and more countries recognizing the Palestinian state is "a huge diplomatic defeat," according to Canetta. 

Canetta notes that the Palestinian side is also actively spreading disinformation; however, "it's clear that right now we are seeing more disinformation coming from the pro-Israel side of things."

 https://amp.dw.com/en/israel-propaganda-downplays-gaza-food-scarcity-fact-check/a-73875380

AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES (or quotes) IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine, or at least fair and just laws and policies]