January 4, 2024

*) Israel dropped 65,000 tonnes of bombs in 'genocidal war' on Gaza The Israeli army bombarded Gaza with more than 45,000 missiles and bombs that weighed more than 65,000 tonnes, the Gaza Media Office has said. The office said about two-thirds of the bombs and missiles were unguided and imprecise, commonly known as dumb bombs. It pointed out that the use of such bombs indicates “the deliberate targeting of indiscriminate and unjustified killing by the occupation.” *) US imam shot outside New Jersey mosque dies, shooter at large An imam shot outside a Newark mosque in New Jersey state has succumbed to gunshot wounds, American authorities have said. New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin said the loss of Imam Hassan Sharif will be felt across the state and city, adding there’s no evidence indicating the shooting was motivated by an anti-Muslim bias. The Muslim cleric was in his vehicle when he was shot more than once near the mosque, Essex County Prosecutor Ted Stephens said at a news conference. *) Ukraine calls US weapons to Kiev ‘investment’ in NATO protection Ukraine is considering no alternative to securing stalled US military assistance for its war against Russia. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Kiev is confident the US Congress will give its approval to release the aid. Kuleba said that if Russia prevailed in the conflict, which is now more than 22 months old, “other leaders will be tempted to follow in Russia’s footprints.” *) More than 100 dead in blasts near grave of slain Iran general At least 103 people have been killed in Iran as two bombs in quick succession struck a crowd commemorating slain general Qasem Soleimani on the anniversary of his killing, state media reported. Wednesday’s blasts, which state television called a “terrorist attack,” came a day after a senior Hamas leader was assassinated in an Israeli drone attack in Beirut. Long seen as a deadly adversary by the US and its allies, Soleimani was one of the most important power brokers across the region, setting Iran’s political and military agenda in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. *) Over a dozen campaign staffers warn Biden could lose votes in re-election bid About seventeen of Biden’s re-election campaign staffers have issued a warning in an anonymous letter that Biden could lose voters over his handling of Israel’s war on Gaza. They urged the US president to call for a ceasefire. The staffers said the “Biden for President” campaign has seen volunteers quit in droves, and people who have voted blue for decades feel uncertain about doing so for the first time ever, because of this conflict.