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The Cradle is an online news magazine covering West Asian geopolitics from within.
❗️Hebrew media reports that Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, one of Netanyahu's closest confidants, officially resigned from the government.
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❗️Israel Hayom:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office informed ministers that Jared Kushner clarified "that the reconstruction of Gaza will not take place before Hamas is disarmed."
Empire repurposed: Washington’s final frontier is Venezuela
As the US recalibrates from global hegemony to hemispheric dominance, Venezuela becomes the battleground for an empire in decline – but also for the Global South’s defiance.
By Aidan J. Simardone
❗️New documentary broadcast on ITV describes Israeli campaign of widespread and 'limitless' violence
In Breaking Ranks: Inside Israel’s War, Israeli soldiers admit to a free-for-all campaign in Gaza which saw unprovoked violence targeting Palestinians, including the use of human shields, and the complete dissolution of the rule of law.
Israeli soldiers describe what is known as the "mosquito protocol", which entailed sending a human shield underground, and "[a]s he walks down the tunnel, he maps it all for you. He has an iPhone in his vest and as he walks it sends back GPS information,' an Israeli soldier says. “The commanders saw how it works. And the practice spread like wildfire. After about a week, every company was operating its own mosquito.”
The Israeli tank commander, only identified as Daniel, admits that “there was no such thing as an innocent in Gaza."
In another chilling admission, the makers of the documentary spoke to a contractor who worked at food distribution sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), who says he witnessed members of the Israeli army killing unarmed Palestinians.
❗️Israel's Channel 12 reports that France has barred eight Israeli companies from participating in a security exhibition next week in Paris.
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❗️Yedioth Ahronoth citing a senior official in the security cabinet:
– "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jared Kushner have reached an agreement to deport the 200 Hamas fighters trapped in the tunnels under Rafah."
– "The settlement stipulates that Israel allow the militants to be deported safely."
⭕️ Six ancient statues stolen from Damascus National Museum
Six ancient statues have been stolen from the National Museum of Damascus, one of West Asia's oldest cultural institutions and home to priceless relics of Syria’s archaeological and artistic history.
A museum source told Reuters that the thief broke into a glass display case on Monday and appeared to have remained inside the building until evening.
Authorities have launched an investigation, the head of internal security in Damascus, Osama Mohammad Khair Atkeh, said.
Quoted by state news agency SANA, Khair Atkeh added that specialized teams are carrying out tracking and search operations to apprehend those responsible and recover the stolen artifacts.
❗️According to Al-Arabiya, Israel-backed militia leader in Rafah, Yasser Abu Shabab, met with Jared Kushner at the US military command center in Kiryat Gat, where they discussed the role of Abu Shabab’s forces in areas vacated by Hamas and in securing the withdrawal of Hamas fighters from tunnels in Rafah.
The outlet also reported that representatives of Abu Shabab’s group are present daily at the same US command center.
❗️Israel opens embassy in Estonia, revives discredited Iran assassination claim
During his visit to Tallinn to inaugurate Israel’s new embassy, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar once again invoked the alleged Iranian “plot” to assassinate the Israeli ambassador to Mexico, a claim that Mexican authorities have already denied any knowledge of.
Speaking alongside his Estonian counterpart, Saar accused Iran of “constantly targeting Israel’s embassies, ambassadors, and diplomats,” vowing that Tel Aviv “will not be deterred” and will continue expanding its 'diplomatic footprint.'
The opening of the Tallinn embassy marks Israel’s third new diplomatic post since Saar took office, following missions in Moldova and Zambia, part of what he called efforts to “strengthen relations with friendly countries.”
BREAKING | Israel is carrying out demolition operations of residential buildings east of Gaza City.
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❗️From Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem's speech on the anniversary of Martyrs' Day:
– "What America demands from Lebanon are orders enforced through Israeli pressure, and its interference in our internal affairs is rejected."
– "Tom Barrack openly stated that he wants to arm the Lebanese Army to confront its resisting people. How can the government accept this?"
– "Hezbollah affirms that the ceasefire agreement concerns only south of the Litani River, and Israel must withdraw from Lebanon and release the prisoners."
– "If the South continues to bleed, the bleeding will extend to all of Lebanon due to America and Israel."
– "There is no replacement for the agreement and no absolution for the occupation through a new deal. The agreement must first be implemented, after which all options are open for internal discussion on Lebanon’s strength and sovereignty, with no external interference."
– "The continuation of aggression cannot last, for everything has a limit."
– "We will not withdraw from the field and we will defend with all the strength we have."
UPDATE | At least two Palestinians have been injured in the widespread Israeli settler attack on the surroundings of the village of Beit Lid in the occupied West Bank.
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Syria granted temporary suspension of Caesar Act following Trump, Sharaa meeting
The former Al-Qaeda leader-turned-president also met with the chief of the IMF during his landmark visit to Washington
❗️Turkish prosecutor seeks 2,000+ year sentence for jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu
A Turkish prosecutor has called for a prison term exceeding 2,000 years for imprisoned Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, accusing him of heading a massive corruption network that allegedly cost the state billions of lira, according to an indictment reviewed by Reuters.
Istanbul Chief Prosecutor Akin Gurlek revealed the indictment at a Tuesday press conference, stating it lists 402 suspects, including Imamoglu, and charges them with forming a criminal organization, bribery, fraud, and bid-rigging.
Gurlek added that the network caused 160 billion lira ($3.8 billion) in losses to the Turkish government over a decade.
BREAKING | Syrian sources report that Israeli forces are advancing from the Al-Hamidiyah point towards the village of Samadaniyah al-Gharbiyah in the Quneitra countryside, Syria.
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❗️Israeli Broadcasting Corporation (KAN):
– "Kushner asked Israel to allow the trapped fighters in Rafah to move to Hamas-controlled areas in Gaza."
– "Kushner said that the fighters will surrender their weapons as part of making the Gaza Strip a demilitarized zone."
❗️Lebanese Civil Defense:
"The fire [caused by Israeli attacks] extending from Aray to Bkassin in south Lebanon is still ongoing until now, and we are working to contain it and prevent its spread."
Palestinian child Aysam Ma‘alla, 13 years old, has died after a month-long coma caused by toxic tear gas inhalation when Israeli occupation forces attacked olive pickers in Mount Qamas, Beita, south of Nablus.
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US to establish 'large military base' on Gaza border: Report
Washington has recently taken control of Gaza aid coordination from Israel through its new command center in Kiryat Gat
Lebanon releases Hannibal Gaddafi after 10 years of detention
The son of the late Libyan president was detained in connection with the disappearance of Amal Movement founder Musa al-Sadr
❗️According to local sources, Israeli forces penetrated the villages of Al-Mushayrifa and Samadaniyah al-Gharbiyah in the Quneitra countryside, Syria.
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📹 Over 100 settlers attack Beit Lid, occupied West Bank
On 11 November, after setting fire to native Palestinian land, over 100 Israeli settlers set fire to the property of Bedouin Palestinians in Beit Lid, in the northeastern occupied West Bank. The damage included the loss of personal vehicles, numerous commercial trucks, immense damage to at least one local factory, and other material loss. At least two Palestinians were injured, one seriously, in the assault.
Since 2023, the United Nations has registered at least 3,000 attacks against Palestinians by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. Coinciding with a disturbing uptick in Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians that have caused bodily injuries are the constant attacks on Palestinian property and land, which have resulted in the damage to countless dunums of native land. These assaults not only displace families and destroy livelihoods but also threaten the long-term viability of Palestinian agriculture and local communities.
Turkish prosecutors demand '2,000-year' prison term for jailed Istanbul mayor
The Turkish judiciary is pursuing nationwide campaigns targeting opposition figures and CHP-run municipalities with corruption and fraud charges
❗️UNICEF: Israel blocking child vaccination supplies from entering Gaza, 1.6 million syringes and vaccine fridges stuck in customs since August
UN International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) said today that vital supplies, including syringes for child vaccinations and bottles for baby formula, are being blocked from entering Gaza by Israel, hindering aid operations in the war-torn enclave.
The agency, which is carrying out a mass vaccination drive amid a fragile ceasefire, said it has been unable to deliver 1.6 million syringes and solar-powered fridges needed to store vaccine doses. The supplies have been stuck awaiting customs clearance since August, UNICEF said.
"Both the syringes and the ... refrigerators are considered dual-use by Israel and these items we're finding very hard to get them through clearances and inspections, yet they are urgent," UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires said.
The term "dual-use" refers to goods that Israel says could have both civilian and military purposes.
Pakistani Taliban claims deadly Islamabad suicide attack
Authorities link the blast to a wider wave of violence after another suicide attack hit a military school in South Waziristan hours earlier
VIDEO | Footage shows Turkish C-130 military cargo plane crash near Azerbaijan-Georgia border.
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📹 Fires are raging in south Lebanon again as Israel’s war on Lebanon’s agricultural heritage continues to devastate daily life across the south and the Bekaa Valley.
By burning orchards, killing livestock and razing fertile soil, these attacks seek to sever southern Lebanon’s bond with the land, destroy livelihoods and erode the population’s resolve and commitment to native resistance.
VIDEO | Israeli settlers set fire to the property of Bedouin Palestinians in Beit Lid, in the occupied West Bank, after also setting fire to native agriculture.
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VIDEO | Groups of Israeli settlers set fire to one of the mountains of Beit Lid, east of Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank.
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❗️A Turkish C-130 military transport aircraft crashed in Georgia while returning to Turkiye after departing from Azerbaijan, the Turkish Defense Ministry reported today.
The ministry said search and rescue operations are ongoing in coordination with Georgian authorities.