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US govt is asking Americans stuck in Israel to pay for evacuation, making them sign an agreement: Details

OpIndia Staff
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US govt is asking Americans stuck in Israel to pay for evacuation, making them sign an agreement: Details

The US State Department has announced evacuation plans to help Americans leave Israel amid the raging war with Hamas. The US government will arrange charter flights starting Friday (13th October) to assist U.S. citizens and their immediate family members who cannot book commercial transit and seek a safe means of departing Israel.

“From these locations, individuals will be able to make their own onward travel arrangements to the destination of their choice,” the statement read. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said while details on the flights are still being worked out, US citizens will be flown out from Israel “to sites in Europe” starting Friday.

Screenshot of the “crisis intake form” released by the US State Department

However, there’s a catch. Interestingly, those Americans seeking assistance to leave Israel will have to fill out a “crisis intake form” and reportedly “sign an agreement to repay the US government prior to departure, ” which US law requires.

The “crisis intake form” for US citizens in Israel, accessed by OpIndia, provides four options under the Request Service section. When you select the third option which is for seeking assistance to leave, a new section “Additional Assistance” opens up. Under this section, the aid that has been provided is that of a loan from the US government to buy a commercial ticket.

Americans will also have to make their own arrangements for accommodation in whichever country they arrive. X user by the name of ‘The Meturgeman’ took to the social media platform to share screenshots of the purported emails from the Consular Affairs Crisis Management System (CACMS).

Part of the email reads, “Travelers should be prepared to arrange their own lodging at the safe location and pay for their own onward travel from the third country to their chosen destination. Departure assistance is provided via a loan from the US government which requires travellers to sign a promissory note (an agreement to repay) prior to departure.”

The Meturgeman shared an updated email from the CACMS stating that if Americans choose to take the departure assistance, transportation will be by air to Athens or Frankfurt, or sea from Haifa to Cyprus. “You will not be able to choose your destination – we will assign you to the next available flight or ship,” the email reads.

According to abc news, commercial airlines like Delta Airlines, United Airlines, and American Airlines are in touch with the State Department to help set up flights for evacuation.

On Wednesday (11th October), the State Department updated its advisory for travel for Israel and the West Bank to a level 3, “reconsider travel”. due to “terrorism and civil unrest” and it currently has a “do not travel” advisory for Gaza. The death toll of Americans killed in the terrorist attack by Hamas on 7th October has risen to 27. At least 14 Americans are missing even as the US is trying to ascertain the details of a possible hostage situation.

France, Germany prohibit pro-Palestine protests as hatred against Jewish citizens intensifies in Europe owing to Hamas’ call for Jihad

OpIndia Staff
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France, Germany prohibit pro-Palestine protests as hatred against Jewish citizens intensifies in Europe owing to Hamas’ call for Jihad

On Thursday (13th October), the Interior Minister of France Gérald Darmanin announced a ban on the pro-Palestininan protests in the country amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Minister Darmanin has ordered the local authorities to enforce a ban on all pro-Palestinian demonstrations to maintain law and order.

Meanwhile, French President Emanuel Macron has urged the people of France to stay united and not to add “national fractures to international fractures.”

“This event is an earthquake for Israel, the Middle East and beyond. It is this shield of unity that will protect us from drifting away and from all hatred. Let us not bring ideological adventures to France by imitation or by projection. Let us not add national fractures to international fractures,″ Macron said.

Historically, fighting in the Middle East has heightened tensions in France, which is reported to have the world’s third-biggest Jewish population behind Israel and the United States, as well as the largest Muslim population in Western Europe.

During the televised address, President Macron stated that 13 French citizens had been killed in Israel during the ongoing conflict, with 17 persons still missing, many of whom are suspected of being taken captive by Hamas. Meanwhile, the Paris prosecutor’s office launched an investigation into the killings and suspected kidnappings.

Since Hamas attacked Israel on 7th October, the French government has reported 24 arrests for more than 100 antisemitic crimes in France, including verbal abuse, people captured with knives near Jewish schools and synagogues, and a drone fitted with a camera discovered over a Jewish cultural centre. An online watchdog has received almost 2,000 reports of antisemitic speech.

Notwithstanding the ban, there was a sizable crowd of pro-Palestinian protestors in Paris on Thursday. Ten people were arrested and water cannons were used to disperse the 3,000-person gathering at Place de la République, where demonstrators raised anti-Israel slogans like “Israel murderer” and “Palestine will win”.

Germany bans anti-Israel protests

On Thursday, 12th October, Germany declared a ban on pro-Hamas activities, as well as banned “Samidoun”, a pro-Hamas group that openly hailed the onslaught against Israel. Earlier, radicals affiliated with the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network gathered in the Berlin-Neukölln district and distributed sweets to celebrate Hamas’s attack on Israel. Notably, the Samidoun group has a history of organising gatherings glorifying Palestinian terrorism.

Germany has also authorised Israel’s request to use two leased drones in its operation against Hamas. 

Chancellor Olaf Scholz informed parliament that anyone who supports Hamas, uses its insignia, or burns Israeli flags will be prosecuted, and that authorities will “bring anyone who does such things to justice.”

UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman proposes ban on raising Palestinian flags, London Police rejects

In a letter to police chiefs, dated 10th October, UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman said that waving Palestinian flags and using popular pro-Palestine slogans could be illegal under the Public Order Act.

“Behaviours that are legitimate in some circumstances, for example, the waving of a Palestinian flag, may not be legitimate such as when intended to glorify acts of terrorism. Nor is it acceptable to drive through Jewish neighbourhoods, or single out Jewish members of the public, to aggressively chant or wave pro-Palestinian symbols at. Where harassment is identified, I would encourage the police to take swift and appropriate enforcement action,” the letter stated.

London Police, however, rejected the Home Secretary’s proposed ban on displaying Palestinian flags. Deputy Commissioner Dame Lynne Owens has committed to safeguarding the Jewish community. However, Owens said that her officers would not take automatic action against Palestinian flag-waving demonstrators. Dame Lynne reiterated the Metropolitan Police’s position in an open letter to London’s Jewish communities.

On Monday, three Palestine supporters were arrested in London during protests outside the Israel Embassy. On Wednesday, four were arrested outside Manchester Central Library in St. Peter’s Square during an anti-Israel protest.

Israel Hamas War

The death toll in the Hamas terror attack in Israel has crossed 1300, as per the latest reports, while over 3,300 are injured. Most of the victims are civilians, as Hamas terrorists opened fire on civilian areas in Israel near the Gaza border. Hamas also abducted a large number of victims, holding them as hostages in Gaza. Bodies of over 1500 Hamas terrorists have been located in Israel and along the border, killed in retaliatory fire by Israeli forces.

Hundreds of Hamas terrorists entered Israel through land, sea and even using paragliders, after overwhelming the Iron Dome missile defence system of Israel by firing over 5000 rockets in just 20 minutes. Israel has launched a massive attack on Gaza Strip following the terror attack and has struck hundreds of Hamas sites. Israel has also cut power and water supply to Gaza, and have prevented entry of supplies to the landlocked coastal strip.

Hamas has declared Friday, 13th of October as the day for global Jihad, and has been instigating antisemitic sentiments around the world.

Enforcement Directorate and IT Department raids ‘Lottery Martin’, who caused the Sikkim govt loss of ₹910 crores in lottery scam case

OpIndia Staff
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Enforcement Directorate and IT Department raids ‘Lottery Martin’, who caused the Sikkim govt loss of ₹910 crores in lottery scam case

On Thursday (12th October), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax Department raided four locations, belonging to Santiago Martin aka ‘Lottery Martin’ at Gandhipuram and Vellakinar Pirivu in Coimbatore city of Tamil Nadu.

The raids were conducted as part of the investigation into the Sikkim lottery scam case under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The four locations include the residence of Lottery Martin, two offices of Martin Group of Companies and the premises of Martin Homeopathy College.

The raids continued from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday (12th October). In order to prevent any untoward incident, CISF personnel were deployed at these four places. Searches were also conducted at locations, belonging to the lottery kingpin, in Chennai.

As per a report by ANI, income tax raids were carried out for the second day at the residence of ‘Lottery Martin’ on Friday (13th October).

The Background of the Case

Santiago Martin is accused of causing a loss of ₹910,29,87,566 (~ ₹910.29 crores) to the Sikkim government through the fraudulent sale of lottery tickets in the State of Kerala between April 1, 2009 and August 31, 2010.

“Martin and his associate companies and entities made unlawful gains with a corresponding loss to the government of Sikkim to the extent of ₹ 910 crore on account of inflating the prize-winning tickets claim for the period from 01.04.2009 to 31.08.2010,” the ED said in a statement in May 2023.

At that time, the central agency seized his movable properties (mutual funds and fixed deposits) worth ₹157.7 crores and documents of immovable properties to the tune of ₹299.16 crores.

In December 2021, the Enforcement Directorate attached ₹19.59 crore worth of his properties under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Two years earlier in 2019, raids were conducted by the IT Department on 70 premises of ‘Lottery Martin’ across the country.

A former daily-wage labourer in Yangon in Myanmar, Santiago Martin went on to establish a ₹7000 crore ‘lottery’ business. He has been under the radar of investigative agencies since 2011 for financial fraud and money laundering.

USA: Students start petition to remove Yale professor Zareena Grewal who had justified Hamas terrorist attack on Israel

OpIndia Staff
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USA: Students start petition to remove Yale professor Zareena Grewal who had justified Hamas terrorist attack on Israel

Yale University professor Zareena Grewal is facing backlash for tweeting in support of Palestine and calling Israel a “murderous, genocidal settler state”.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Grewal wrote, “My heart is in my throat. Prayers for Palestinians. Israel is a murderous, genocidal settler state and Palestinians have every right to resist through armed struggle, solidarity.”

She published the post on the very day the Hamas launched over 5,000 rockets at Israel and unleashed a brutal terrorist attack on civilians, killing over 1300 people and taking hundreds of hostages.

Screenshot of Zareena Grewal’s controversial post (Source: New York Post)

Zareena Grewal has since been facing calls to be ousted from her position at Yale where she works as an associate professor of American studies, ethnicity, race, migration, and religious studies. Her biography on the Yale University website describes her as a historical anthropologist and a documentary filmmaker.

She describes herself as a “radical Muslim” on her X profile. According to the New York Post, Grewal followed up her post with a series of tweets that “appeared to applaud” the brutality of Hamas. At least 1,300 people were killed including women, babies, and the elderly. Many have also been abducted and taken hostage.

In one such tweet, the Yale professor wrote, “It’s been such an extraordinary day!” In a reply to journalist Rachel Sabhi’s tweet that read “Civilians are civilians are civilians, doesn’t matter where”, Grewal wrote, “Settlers are not civilians. This is not hard”.

Screenshot of Zareena Grewal’s X account profile (Source: X)

She also wrote in another post that “no government on earth is as genocidal as this settler colonial state”, referring to Israel.

Now, a petition has been initiated on Change.org titled “Remove Zareena Grewal from the Yale Faculty for Promoting LIES and VIOLENCE”. The petition has been launched by Yale student Netanel Crispe.

Crispe wrote, “She has unequivocally proven that she has no right being in her current role or in the field of education if she considers war crimes against civilians to be acts of resistance.”

More than 28,000 people have signed the petition calling for Grewal’s immediate removal. Her account is now protected limiting the viewership on the same.

Meanwhile, the University seems to be unwilling to take any action. A spokesperson for the University defended Grewal’s right to free speech saying, “Yale is committed to freedom of expression, and the comments posted on Professor Grewal’s personal accounts represent her own views,” the spokesperson, Karen Peart, told the student newspaper Yale Daily News.

Meanwhile, president of Yale University Peter Salovey has condemned the terrorist attack on Israel.

The development comes as some student groups at Harvard University faced widespread backlash for supporting and justifying the terrorist attack by Hamas on 7th October. After their letter blaming Israel was highlighted and several CEOs made it clear that they wouldn’t be hiring the terror sympathizers, the students started to backtrack, some apologizing and some pleading that they did not sign the letter knowingly.

Operation Ajay: First batch of 212 Indian nationals arrive from Israel, thank Indian govt for bringing them back

ANI
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Operation Ajay: First batch of 212 Indian nationals arrive from Israel, thank Indian govt for bringing them back

A flight carrying the first batch of Indians, who were stranded in Israel amid the ongoing war, landed in New Delhi under ‘Operation Ajay’ on Friday morning.

As many as 212 Indian nationals from Israel have arrived at the Delhi airport. Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar was present at the airport to welcome them.

With folded hands, Chandrasekhar greeted the returning Indians. He then interacted with the students. The union minister reassured the passengers, saying India’s commitment to the safety of every Indian is unwavering. Prime Minister Modi is determined to protect them, he added.

“Our government will never leave any Indian behind. Our government, our Prime Minister is determined to protect them and bring them back home safely. We are grateful to EAM Dr S Jaishankar, the team at the External Affairs Ministry, the flight crew of this Air India flight for making this possible, for bringing our children back home safely and soundly and back home to their loved ones,” Chandrasekhar said.

An Indian national who returned from Israel told ANI, “This is the first time that we are facing this situation over there. We are very thankful to the Indian government, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing us back. We are hoping for peace as soon as possible so that we can go back to work as earliest as possible…”

The first batch of Indian passengers boarded the flight from Tel Aviv to India under Operation Ajay on Thursday.

On the occasion, Indian Ambassador to Israel, Sanjeev Singla said that the Indian Embassy in Israel is working to ensure the well-being of Indian nationals in war-torn Israel and informed that under “Operation Ajay” the embassy will help Indians who want to return to India.

“As I said yesterday, the Embassy of India in Tel Aviv has been working continuously to ensure the safety and welfare of all our Indian citizens in Israel. Yesterday, the external affairs minister announced Operation Ajay to help those Indians who wish to return to India. And today, under Operation Ajay, the first flight is going back to India,” he said.

He added, “It’s going to have almost 200 Indian citizens – students, caregivers, and business professionals, and we are trying to ensure that we have a similar flight in the coming days. We will have, one flight tomorrow…I would like to reach out to my fellow Indian citizens here and urge them to remain calm and stay safe by following the local safety advisories and I want to tell them that we’re always there with them. We are standing with them.”

In an exclusive interview with ANI, an Indian citizen returning back to India in the first flight from Tel Aviv thanked the Indian government for assisting in the tough times and asserted that they have got a lot of help through “Operation Ajay”.

Earlier on Thursday, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “As announced by EAM yesterday, Operation Ajay has been launched to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to come back. The first chartered flight will be reaching Tel Aviv later tonight to pick up the Indian citizens and is likely to return to India tomorrow morning,” the external affairs ministry spokesperson said while addressing a media briefing here today.”We are keeping a close watch on the situation in Israel.”

The MEA spokesperson also said that there were no Indian casualties so far.”We haven’t heard of any casualty so far,” he said.”Around 18,000 Indians are in Israel. There is conflict going on and it is a matter of concern. Indians advised to follow advisories issued by our mission,” Bagchi said.

“Operation Ajay” was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring back around 18,000 Indians in Israel. Registration of Indians began on Thursday.

The Indian embassy in Israel is providing assistance to Indian companies and has set up a helpline for Indian citizens in need of assistance.

The MEA had set up a 24-hour control room in view of the escalating conflict. The control room will help monitor the situation and provide information and assistance.

Earlier, the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar chaired a meeting to review preparations for “Operation Ajay”.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

250 hostages rescued, over 60 Hamas terrorists neutralised by Israel Defense Forces near Gaza security fence

OpIndia Staff
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250 hostages rescued, over 60 Hamas terrorists neutralised by Israel Defense Forces near Gaza security fence

On Friday (13th October), the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) shared headcam footage of how its personnel rescued about 250 hostages alive and neutralised 60+ Hamas terrorists near the Gaza security fence area.

In a tweet, it informed that the ‘Flotilla 13 Elite Unit’ also regained control of the Sufa military post in Southern Israel from Hamas on 7th October.

“The Flotilla 13 elite unit was deployed to the area surrounding the Gaza security fence in a joint effort to regain control of the Sufa military post on October 7th,” IDF said.

“The soldiers rescued around 250 hostages alive. 60+ Hamas terrorists were neutralized and 26 were apprehended—including Muhammad Abu A’ali the Deputy Commander of the Hamas Southern Naval Division,” it added.

The military operation by IDF was conducted soon after Hamas terrorists launched a deadly attack on Israel and infiltrated into its territory. About 13 soldiers were airlifted to the scene to counter the threat of Hamas.

In the headcam video, it could be seen that the ‘Flotilla 13 Elite Unit’ personnel firde multiple rounds and captured the Islamist terrorists. “Shayetet, Shayetet, stay in the bunker, we’re coming,” one of the officers was heard saying.

Israel under attack by Hamas terrorists

In the meanwhile, the death toll in the Hamas terror attack in Israel has crossed 1300, as per latest reports, while over 3,300 are injured. Most of the victims are civilians, as Hamas terrorists opened fire on civilian areas in Israel near the Gaza border.

Hamas also abducted a large number of victims, holding them as hostages in Gaza. Bodies of over 1500 Hamas terrorists have been located in Israel and along the border, killed in retaliatory fire by Israeli forces.

Hundreds of Hamas terrorists entered Israel through land, sea and even using paragliders, after overwhelming the Iron Dome missile defence system of Israel by firing over 5000 rockets in just 20 minutes.

Israel has launched a massive attack on Gaza Strip following the terror attack, and has struck hundreds of Hamas sites. Israel has also cut power and water supply to Gaza and has prevented entry of supplies to the landlocked coastal strip.

‘Hamas is ISIS, Hamas is inhuman’: Israel govt shares horrifying photos of murdered Jewish babies from Kibbutz Kfar Aza massacre

OpIndia Staff
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‘Hamas is ISIS, Hamas is inhuman’: Israel govt shares horrifying photos of murdered Jewish babies from Kibbutz Kfar Aza massacre

Describing Hamas as “monsters,” Israel has released horrifying pictures of babies killed by the terrorist group Hamas amid the ongoing war. The photos were reportedly shown by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit to Tel Aviv, as per ANI.

Notably, Blinken arrived at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv earlier today amid the ongoing war initiated by the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, ANI reported.

The official social media account of the Prime Minister of Israel shared the images and the post also said that Netanyahu showed the photos to Blinken.

Babies massacred by Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on 7th October

The Prime Minister of Israel posted on X, “Here are some of the photos Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.”

“Warning: These are horrifying photos of babies murdered and burned by the Hamas monsters. Hamas is inhuman. Hamas is ISIS,” the post cautioned. The pictures showed mutilated bodies of babies, some of them completely burnt and covered in blood.

The international community condemned the violence after Israel-based i24 News reported in one of the blood-curdling details from the Hamas attack on Israel that at least 40 babies were killed by the terror group.

Notably, the initial reports of 40 babies murdered were questioned by many. Many pro-Hamas handles and even news reports had tried to call it a false claim, saying it never happened.

IDF had shared photos and videos of burned bodies, bloodied cribs and car seats, and desecrated homes. However, they had refrained so far from sharing photos of the corpses of babies.

As Thursday marks the sixth day of Israel Hamas conflict, Israel Defence Force (IDF) spokesperson Lieutenant Col. Jonathan Conricus confirmed earlier today reports that the Hamas had beheaded babies in the Israeli kibbutz of Kfar Aza. The spokesperson said it was hard to believe that Hamas could perform such a barbaric act, ANI reported.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Hamas should be crushed and that the group should be treated the same way as the Islamic State, or Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Highlighting the brutal acts committed by Hamas, PM Netanyahu said, “Hamas has shown itself to be an enemy of civilisation. The massacring of young people at an outdoor music festival, the butchering of entire families, the murder of parents in front of their children and the murder of children in front of their parents, the burning of people alive, the beheadings, the kidnappings of a young boy.”

He said further, “Not only kidnap, molest the kidnapped and the sickening display of celebrating these horrors, the celebration and glorification of evil – President Biden was absolutely correct in calling this “sheer evil.”

In his daily update video on Israel-Hamas attacks, Lt. Col. Conricus said, “The scenes are out of a zombie movie,” stating that it’s a war zone, he said, “There were babies that have been beheaded…it was hard to believe that even Hamas could perform such barbaric act.”

He further highlighted the atrocities done to the civilians of Israel, including children.

“There were bodies scattered everywhere, mutilated, women and children that were handcuffed and shot, executed, houses torched and burned, and people who were either burnt inside or suffocated,” Conricus said.

The Israeli Air Force has been striking a lot of targets in various neighbourhoods in Gaza, he said.

“We are prioritizing striking commanders, and senior officials in Hamas… whenever we have intelligence that indicates the whereabouts of the senior Hamas officials or military commanders, we strike in that location, IDF spokesperson emphasized.

Additionally, noting the current situation of Gaza, he said that the place where Hamas has the infrastructure, whether it is financial, construction, or commander control, intelligence, research, and development…whatever it is, “if it belongs to Hamas, we are striking it and that’s what going on in Gaza strip today.”

Furthermore, he said, “We are deployed in significant numbers, strength, and capabilities on the southern part of the border and we are very vigilant to any attempt by Hezbollah.”

Israel has launched a counter-offensive against Hamas in response to the latter’s attack on October 7 that left 1,300 Israelis dead and is aiming to eliminate the terror group completely.

The death toll in Israel since the Hamas attack has jumped to 1,300 and some 3300 have been injured, including 28 in critical condition and 350 in serious condition, according to The Times of Israel.

The fate of an estimated 150 people abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip during the attack by Hamas is still unclear, the report said.

How the civilians were killed by Hamas, and why it took the IDF so long to share photos?

It is notable here that the fight in Kibbutz Kfar Aza was going on till Tuesday morning, with IDF soldiers still trying to locate and kill Hamas invaders. The houses in the locality were being searched one by one as the IDF tried to save survivors and neutralize terrorists, while many units still battled Hamas terrorists. This is why the clearance and shifting of the bodies of civilian victims took several days.

Kibbutz Kfar Aza is close to the Gaza border and used to be a peaceful community. Most homes there have reinforced safe rooms to protect them from Hamas terrorists, and concrete shelters to shield them from Hamas rockets. However, on 7th October, many families never got the chance to save themselves as Hamas terrorists physically barged into their homes and started killing. Some people who managed to get inside safe rooms have survived, but many have not.

Several senior citizens have been killed while watering their plants, or sitting in their gardens. Babies have been killed in cribs. In some houses, entire families have been killed with Molotov cocktails, the IDF soldiers revealed to BBC news.

Kerala: Banned Jamaat-E-Islami to organise event to mark ‘solidarity’ with Hamas terrorists who have massacred more than 1300 innocent Israelis

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: Banned Jamaat-E-Islami to organise event to mark ‘solidarity’ with Hamas terrorists who have massacred more than 1300 innocent Israelis

The radical Islamic organisation Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) is set to host an event to show ‘solidarity’ with the Hamas terrorists who massacred hundreds of innocent civilians in Israel. The event named ‘Palestine Solidarity Convention’ is scheduled to be held in Muslim-majority Malappuram District in Kerala on October 13.

The poster of the event reads in Malayalam, “Zionist Adhinivesha Bheekarathakkethire” meaning “Against Zionist Occupying Terrorism”. 

The Islamist organisation has reportedly extended invitations to the Ambassador of Palestine to India, Adnan Abu Alhaija, and the Islamic University of Gaza Vice Chancellor, Dr Kamlain Shaa’ath.

The Jamaat-e-Islami state committee member Dr. Nahas Mala confirmed the Palestinian envoy will address the convention virtually. However, it seems unlikely that Dr Shaa’ath, the vice chancellor of Gaza University, will attend the function amid the ongoing crisis between Israel and Palestine.

The event is being organised to demonstrate support and unity with Palestine and Hamas, the Islamist organisation whose unprovoked attack on Israel has until now claimed the lives of more than 1200 innocent Israeli citizens.

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH)

It may be recalled that the Islamist organisation Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) had recently grabbed the headlines for its role in instigating the hijab protests in Karnataka. The hijab controversy took a dangerous turn in Karnataka, leading to violence in many parts of the state. It is also imperative to mention here that a Kerala-based journalist had revealed how the Islamist organisation Jamaat-e-Islami has been receiving funds from Saudi Arabian universities to ‘Islamise’ India. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) was banned on February 28, 2019, by the Government of India following the terror attack in Pulwama as it was suspected of funding the terror organisation Hizbul Mujahideen.

Representatives of the Muslim community in India express solidarity with Palestine and Hamas

Prior to this, on October 10, the Students Islamic Organisation (SIO), the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, organised a gathering known as “Hamas Square” in Malappuram.

Along with organizing solidarity gatherings around Kerala, Jamaat-e-Islami has urged people to participate in ‘special prayers’ to show their unwavering support for Palestine.

Since Israel declared war following the Hamas terrorist attacks and ground invasion, the majority of the Islamists and other representatives of the Muslim community in India have also started supporting the global Ummah.

Four days after students of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) took out a protest march in support of Hamas terrorists, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has reportedly said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “siding with oppressors instead of with the oppressed” after PM Modi’s statement condemning the terror attack.

In a statement released by AIMPLB President Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani on October 10, the body held Israel responsible for the terrorist attack by Hamas on 7th October which made Israel retaliate.

Maulana Rahmani also justified the act of terror by Hamas which killed at least 1,200 people. “To call this reaction terrorism is to strengthen the oppressors, and is injustice to the victims,” the AIMPLB statement reads.

Likewise, the chief of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has been backing Palestine and Hamas during the conflict. On 11th October, Asaduddin Owaisi shared a photo of the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem on X, formerly Twitter, and wrote, “Hands of GAZA, Falasteen Zindabad. Violence Murdabaad (done mainly by Israel or any Group/organisation). Masjid e Aqsa Aabad Rahe.”

The AIMIM leader held Israel responsible for the attack by Hamas on Israel. The AIMIM leader has been resharing posts on X showing only Palestinian casualties while ignoring the murder of Israeli children.

However, notably, PM Modi has categorically condemned the attack on Israel as a “terrorist act”. At least 1,300 people have died in Israel in the terrorist attack by Hamas, while over 3000 are injured.

Batla House encounter: Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma’s wife to move SC challenging Delhi HC order commuting death sentence of Ariz Khan

ANI
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Batla House encounter: Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma’s wife to move SC challenging Delhi HC order commuting death sentence of Ariz Khan

After the Delhi High Court on Thursday commuted the death penalty awarded to Ariz Khan to life imprisonment in the Batla House Encounter case in which Delhi Police Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma was murdered, his wife Maya Sharma said that she would move Supreme Court.

“Our morale is low. The trial court had earlier proved that it is the ‘rarest of the rare’ case, now it is absolutely fine that the convict had the right to appeal to the High Court. When he moved to the HC, then the punishment of the death penalty was commuted to life imprisonment. Now tell me, if the person is the culprit, why was his punishment reduced”? Maya Sharma told ANI.

“We will definitely move to the Supreme Court. It is needed”, she added.

Earlier today, the Delhi High Court on Thursday commuted the death penalty awarded to Ariz Khan to life imprisonment in the Batla House Encounter case in which Delhi Police Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma was murdered.

The Court refused to confirm the death penalty awarded by the Trial Court in a judgement passed in 2021.

However, the bench of Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Amit Sharma upheld the conviction against Ariz Khan passed by the Trial Court. The bench accordingly disposed of the reference for confirmation of the death sentence awarded to Ariz Khan.

The sentence of the death penalty was given to Khan by Delhi’s trial court for the murder of Delhi Police Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma on August 18, 2023, the bench of the Delhi High Court kept the order reserved after hearing all sides.

In March 2021, the trial court awarded Ariz Khan a death sentence in the matter. Another convict, Shahzad was awarded a life sentence.

Later, both convicts challenged their conviction and sentence.

Shahzad, however, died in jail during the pendency of the appeals, and the proceedings against him were abated.

While arguing for the state, the additional public prosecutor (APP), Rajesh Mahajan, submitted that the convicts were present in the flat at the time of the Batla House encounter. He also submitted that it is a case of the murder of a police officer while discharging his lawful duty, and this crime shook the conscience of society.

“It is the rarest of rare cases. Both Shahzad Ahmed and Ariz Khan deserved the death sentence. There is sufficient evidence and a statement of witness to this effect”, he noted.

He also argued that there was no chance of reforming Ariz Khan.

On the other hand, advocate MS Khan, counsel for Ariz Khan, argued that the conviction in this case was bad in law as the trial court did not appreciate the material facts of the case.

He also argued that the appellant was neither present at the flat nor had he absconded.The counsel for the appellant, Ariz Khan also disputed the recovery of documents related to him. He said that if these documents were recovered from the flat, why did this fact not come to the knowledge of the investigation officer until 2014?

Advocate Khan also referred to the report of the inspection of the site by 11 forensic experts, which stated that there were no bullet marks on the sides of police personnel standing in the flat. But there were bullet marks on the side of the accused standing. It shows that there was one-sided firing from the end of the police.

He also argued that, as per the prosecution Ariz had escaped to Nepal. He got married there and was teaching at a school there. It shows that he has already been reformed. In these circumstances, his appeal should be allowed.

A trial court had convicted and sentenced him to life imprisonment for the murder of Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, who was leading the police team during the Batla House encounter. It was alleged that the terrorists opened fire on Delhi Police personnel.

According to Delhi police, Shahzad and Ariz had escaped from the spot and were arrested later. Later, convict Ariz Khan was arrested, and a supplementary charge sheet was filed against him.

After the trial, the court held him guilty and awarded him a death sentence.

The team of special cell of Delhi Police had reached in the Batla House area on inputs to nab the Indian Mujahideen operatives who were involved in the serial blast of September 13, 2008, in Delhi.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

There is ISIS connection to the Hamas terror attack on Israel, we have evidence: Israeli ambassador to India Naor Gilon

ANI
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There is ISIS connection to the Hamas terror attack on Israel, we have evidence: Israeli ambassador to India Naor Gilon

On possible involvement of Islamic State in the Hamas attack on Israel, the Ambassador of Israel to India, Naor Gilon has said that as the terrorist group continues to kill innocent civilians mercilessly, this is exactly Daesh.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Gilon said, “Yeah, we are looking into it…We have evidence for that. It’s not only the mode of operation, as I said…decapitating, killing people in terrible ways, torturing whole families without any mercy, without any thinking. This is exactly Daesh.”

“And we also found flags of Daesh with the equipment of the Hamas people who were under attackers. So there is an ISIS Daesh. We call it connection here…” he said.

Notably, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi formed the Islamic State, also known as Daesh, with its origins in Iraq and Syria in 1999. It rose to prominence in 2014 when it seized sizable regions in eastern Syria and northwestern Iraq.

Speaking further on how the Israel-Hamas war will be a game-changer for the Middle East, the envoy said that all the negative forces in the Middle East are trying to destabilise the region.

“I think if people understand what happened here, this is a game changer to the Middle East. It’s not about Israel…it’s not only about Israel. Of course, we are the victims here. ISIS is involved, Iran is involved. All the negative forces in the Middle East that were trying to destabilize the Middle East are now part of the reasons. I believe that the motivations they had here, they saw that the Middle East is going in a good direction. Three years ago, after the Abraham Accords, gulf countries getting closer to Israel,” he said.

He also talked at length on I2U2 which is a grouping of India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.

“I2U2 is an economic forum coming out of its whole, cooperation started. India was very much involved. India is also involved in the idea of creating transportation and communication and connection between India and the Mediterranean through the Gulf countries, Saudi Arabia and Israel. So all of that, these people didn’t want it to happen and they didn’t want Israel and Saudi Arabia to get closer. How far will we go in understanding that a huge change to the Middle East? I think we will go very far because if not, it will harm all the moderate regimes in the Middle East,” the envoy told ANI.

I2U2 is also referred to as the West Asian Quad aimed to encourage joint investments between the member states in six mutually identified areas – water, energy, transportation, space, health and Food security.

Meanwhile, Naor Gilon, as he talked further, argued that terrorism is terrorism, and attempting to provide context aims to portray the victims as oppressors.

Expressing his concerns, Gilon said, “I see it very bad for two reasons. First…I saw some people across the world trying to give it context. There is no context to killing 1,200 people. More than 1000 civilians. Decapitating, raping, and whatnot. There is no context to that. Because if you try to do that, but,…you try to justify terror. You are a supporter of terror if you do that”.

He also pointed out that the approaches of Israel and India are similar with regard to terrorism.

“Our approach, also of India and all peace-seeking countries is that terror is terror. It can’t be justified, don’t put the context, don’t blame me…you turn the victim into the one who committed the crime,” he added.

Gilon also raised concerns that Hamas might try to present themselves as ‘victims’ and use civilians as ‘human shields’.

“Now, what will happen next is Hamas crying we are the victims, and you will see human shields, and probably…people abducted from Israel as human shields also. This is going to be very complicated,” Gilon said.

The death toll in Israel since the Hamas attack on October 7 has jumped to 1,300 and some 3300 have been injured, including 28 in critical condition and 350 in serious condition, The Times of Israel reported.

The fate of an estimated 150 people abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip during the attack by Hamas is still unclear, the report said.

Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the military has so far notified families of 97 hostages who were being held by terrorists in the Gaza Strip, The Times of Israel reported. 

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

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