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Israeli strike kills blogger who documented life in war-torn Gaza Strip

In an interview last year, Halimy revealed that each clip he posted to social media cost him about $3 — a significant sum in electricity-deprived Gaza. (Screenshot)
In an interview last year, Halimy revealed that each clip he posted to social media cost him about $3 — a significant sum in electricity-deprived Gaza. (Screenshot)
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Updated 30 August 2024

Israeli strike kills blogger who documented life in war-torn Gaza Strip

Israeli strike kills blogger who documented life in war-torn Gaza Strip
  • Mohammad ‘Medo’ Halimy was hit by shrapnel from an Israeli missile
  • Videos of everyday life in Gaza ‘helped me cope with depression,’ he said in a previous interview

LONDON:Mohammad “Medo” Halimy, a Palestinian blogger known for his daily reports of life in war-torn Gaza, was killed earlier this week in an Israeli airstrike.

Halimy, 20, died on Monday when he was struck by shrapnel from an explosion in Khan Younis caused by an Israeli, according to two youth organizations he had worked with.

Halimy gained widespread attention through his social media presence, where he shared videos that highlighted the harsh realities of life in Gaza while showing the resilience of its people.

He had amassed more than 190,000 followers on TikTok and more than 90,000 on Instagram.

His content ranged from simple cooking recipes, created with limited supplies and appliances, to videos that offered glimpses into everyday activities, such as taking a shower.

He also shared walkthroughs of how he produced his content, providing a rare and personal view of life under siege.

In an interview last year, Halimy revealed that each clip he posted to social media cost him about $3 — a significant sum in electricity-deprived Gaza.

His final video, depicting a regular day in Gaza, was posted just hours before his death.

In a June 2024 interview with Fault magazine, Halimy expressed his joy at the global support he received through his social media platforms.

“The most joy I get now is from the comments on my videos and the support from people worldwide. Seeing people recognize the truth and view the situation from an unbiased perspective is very uplifting,” he said.

Halimy said he was optimistic about the future despite the dire circumstances. “After this genocide is over, I will pursue my life dreams, no matter how long it takes — even if it takes 50 years. I aim to achieve so much that everyone will remember my name.”

Earlier this month, Halimy was featured in Time magazine, where he discussed how he initially began posting videos on TikTok as a way to cope with depression during the conflict.

He also launched an online fundraiser this year to help his family of eight escape the war zone, where more than 40,500 Palestinians have been killed.

Spark, a Gaza-based charity with which Halimy had collaborated in the summer of 2023, confirmed his death and praised his ability to “add beauty and splendour to a place wherever it is” in an online tribute.

“Mohammad, your kind spirit will remain with us, and we believe you deserve a better world,” the charity added.

The Israeli forces told media outlets that they could not confirm a strike in Khan Younis on Monday but reiterated their commitment to “countering threats while persisting to mitigate harm to civilians” in Gaza.


France FM urges foreign press access to Gaza

France FM urges foreign press access to Gaza
Updated 22 July 2025

France FM urges foreign press access to Gaza

France FM urges foreign press access to Gaza
  • Barrot urged an “immediate ceasefire” after Israel on Monday expanded military operations to the central city of Deir el-Balah
  • He spoke after the AFP news agency warned that the lives of Palestinian freelance journalists it was working with in Gaza were in danger

PARIS: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Tuesday urged Israel to allow foreign press into the besieged Palestinian territory of Gaza, as warnings of famine mount after 21 months of war.
“I ask that the free and independent press be allowed to access Gaza to show what is happening there and to bear witness,” he told France Inter radio in an interview from eastern Ukraine.
He spoke after the AFP news agency warned that the lives of Palestinian freelance journalists it was working with in Gaza were in danger and urged Israel to allow them and their families to leave the occupied coastal territory.
Asked if France would help evacuate these stringers, Barrot said France was “addressing the issue.”
“We hope to be able to evacuate some collaborators of journalists in the coming weeks,” he said.
On Monday, a group of journalists at AFP called the Societe des Journalistes (Society of Journalists) sounded the alarm, urging “immediate intervention” to help reporters working with the agency in Gaza.
The SDJ cited the example of one such freelancer, a 30-year-old living with his family in Gaza city, who reported on Sunday that his older brother “fell because of hunger.”
AFP responded in a statement posted on X and Instagram.
“Since October 7, Israel has prohibited access to the Gaza Strip for all international journalists.
“In this context, the work of our Palestinian freelancers is crucial to inform the world,” it said.
“But their lives are in danger, which is why we urge the Israeli authorities to allow their immediate evacuation along with their families.”
AFP evacuated its eight staff members and families from Gaza between January and April 2024.
Barrot urged an “immediate ceasefire” after Israel on Monday expanded military operations to the central city of Deir el-Balah.
“There is no longer any justification for the Israeli army’s military operations in Gaza,” he said.
“This is an offensive that will exacerbate an already catastrophic situation and cause new forced displacements of populations, which we condemn in the strongest terms.”


Watchdog finds hundreds of Instagram, Facebook ads crowdfunding for Israeli military

Watchdog finds hundreds of Instagram, Facebook ads crowdfunding for Israeli military
Updated 21 July 2025

Watchdog finds hundreds of Instagram, Facebook ads crowdfunding for Israeli military

Watchdog finds hundreds of Instagram, Facebook ads crowdfunding for Israeli military
  • Eko’s investigation found at least 117 ads explicitly soliciting donations for equipment used by the IDF, including drones reportedly retrofitted with grenades and used in deadly attacks in Gaza

LONDON: Consumer watchdog Eko has uncovered hundreds of ads on Meta platforms — including Instagram and Facebook — that promote crowdfunding campaigns for the Israel Defense Forces, in apparent violation of the company’s own advertising policies.

The ads, run by pro-Israel groups, aim to raise funds for military equipment such as drones and tactical gear, despite Meta’s rules prohibiting the promotion of firearms and weapons-related content.

According to Eko’s research, at least 117 ads have been published since March 2025 explicitly soliciting donations for equipment used by the IDF. The ads, launched by two groups, targeted users in the US, UK and EU, and generated at least 76,000 impressions — the number of times an ad is displayed to users.

Combined, the campaigns raised more than $2.4 million through landing pages linked to the ads.

“We are the sniper team of Unit Shaked, stationed in Gaza, and we urgently need shooting tripods to complete our mission in Jabalia,” one Facebook ad read.

Eko said most of the ads raised funds for Autel EVO drones, the model that Israeli soldiers have reportedly retrofitted with grenades and used in deadly attacks in Gaza, including against children.

An investigation by Israeli outlet +972 Magazine recently revealed that Israel has acquired large numbers of Chinese-made Autel quadcopters — drones typically used for photography and available for purchase on Amazon — and adapted them to carry explosives.

“Most of our drones are broken and falling apart— and we don’t have any replacements,” another ad said. “Donate now — every second counts, every drone saves lives.”

While Eko noted it is unclear whether funds raised through the ads were directly used to purchase drones, IDF soldiers told +972 that they had received Autel drones through donations, fundraisers and Facebook groups.

One of the groups identified by Eko is the nonprofit Vaad Hatzedaka, which linked to a donation page listing equipment it was seeking to fund, including two Autel drones. As of this month, the campaign had raised more than $250,000 of its $300,000 goal.

Another campaign, launched by Israeli singer-songwriter Mayer Malik, claimed to have collected more than $2.2 million for the IDF.

Meta’s advertising policies explicitly ban content that promotes the sale or use of restricted goods such as weapons, ammunition and explosives.

“Meta is profiting from genocide — approving ads that help funnel millions of dollars toward killer drones and military gear likely used to murder Palestinians,” Vicky Wyatt, campaign director, said. “This isn’t just a moderation failure — it’s a business model built to reward whoever pays, no matter the harm.”

While Meta has removed some of the ads flagged in Eko’s latest report, the watchdog said the company has done little to address broader concerns raised during a previous investigation in December 2024. At the time, Eko flagged 98 similar ads, prompting takedowns, but Meta allowed the advertisers to return with near-identical campaigns.

The IDF itself is not directly running the fundraising campaigns.

The new findings come just days after a separate investigation by the Tech Transparency Project revealed that platforms including X and WhatsApp were being used as storefronts for weapons sales by arms dealers linked to Houthi militants in Yemen.

Eko warned that Meta’s approval of the IDF-linked ads may also breach the EU’s Digital Services Act, which requires platforms to remove content that violates national or EU laws.

 


WSJ editor sparks backlash over claim IDF gave Hamas ‘safe haven’ in Gaza

WSJ editor sparks backlash over claim IDF gave Hamas ‘safe haven’ in Gaza
Updated 21 July 2025

WSJ editor sparks backlash over claim IDF gave Hamas ‘safe haven’ in Gaza

WSJ editor sparks backlash over claim IDF gave Hamas ‘safe haven’ in Gaza
  • Elliot Kaufman suggested Israeli military allowed Hamas to operate unimpeded in Gaza for nearly two years to protect hostages
  • Comment came in wake of Israel’s first evacuation notice issued to residents of Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza, since Oct. 7

LONDON: Elliot Kaufman, a member of The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board, has drawn sharp criticism after suggesting that the Israeli military allowed Hamas to operate unimpeded in Gaza for nearly two years.

The comment came in the wake of Israel’s first evacuation notice issued to residents of Deir Al-Balah, in central Gaza, since the war began on Oct. 7, 2023.

In a post on X, Kaufman wrote: “For 21 months, Israel has essentially allowed Hamas a safe haven inside Gaza. That’s no way to fight a war, but Israel believed hostages were held in this area, and minimizing risk to them has always taken priority.”

The remarks were widely condemned for appearing to overlook the scale of destruction in Gaza, where over 70 percent of buildings have been damaged or destroyed, and humanitarian agencies warn of looming famine due to Israel’s blockade of aid.

The Palestinian death toll is nearing 60,000, about half of them women and children, according to Gaza health authorities, fueling global outrage over Israel’s ongoing military campaign.

“If Hamas is kept safe, then who are the tens of thousands they have been killing?” one user responded online.

Pro-Palestinian group Writers Against the War in Gaza — which recently published a report criticizing The New York Times for alleged links between its senior staff and pro-Israel lobbying groups — said Kaufman’s post reflects the WSJ’s “zero journalistic standards.” The group accused the outlet of allowing “literal state stenography for Israel with no consequences.”

Kaufman has faced growing criticism over what some see as his consistent alignment with Israeli policy.

Following Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 attack and Israel’s subsequent military response, he has voiced support for the Israeli government’s actions and denounced pro-Palestinian activism.

Earlier in July, Kaufman sparked further backlash over an article promoting a so-called peace plan involving a Palestinian sheikh and a proposal to have Hebron break away from the Palestinian Authority, effectively sidestepping any future Palestinian statehood.

Palestinian activist Issa Amro described the piece as a “dangerous fabrication” and criticized Kaufman for “shockingly poor journalism or deliberate misinformation.” Kan’s Palestinian affairs correspondent Elior Levy dismissed it as nonsense.

“Words come cheap, and these recycled statements have led to nothing (in the past),” Levy wrote on X. “I advise The Wall Street Journal to focus more on Wall Street and less on Hebron.”

Over the weekend, the WSJ found itself at the centre of the news after US President Donald Trump sued media magnate Rupert Murdoch and the journal for at least $10 billion over publication of a bombshell article on his friendship with the infamous alleged sex trafficker of underage girls, Jeffrey Epstein.


Radio journalist killed in southern Philippines

Radio journalist killed in southern Philippines
Updated 21 July 2025

Radio journalist killed in southern Philippines

Radio journalist killed in southern Philippines
  • The murder adds to a growing list of media workers killed in a country ranked among the most dangerous in the world for journalists

REUTERS: A local radio broadcaster was gunned down in the southern Philippines on Monday, a presidential task force said, adding to the growing list of media workers killed in a country ranked among the most dangerous in the world for journalists.
Erwin Labitad Segovia, 63, a broadcaster for Radio WOW FM and host of a program that focused on social issues and local governance, was shot dead by a still unidentified gunman while on his way home shortly after completing his morning broadcast.
According to the police, Segovia was followed by two suspects on a motorcycle.
The Philippines ranked ninth on the 2024 Committee to Protect Journalists’ Global Impunity Index, which tracks countries where journalist murders remain unsolved.
Authorities have launched an investigation and have activated a Special Investigation Task Group to handle the case, Jose Torres Jr., executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, said in a statement.
“The safety of journalists remains a priority for the government, and justice for victims of media-related violence continues to be a national concern,” Torres said.
Segovia’s murder highlights the continuing risks faced by journalists in the Philippines, especially in provinces where local power dynamics often go unchecked.
More than 200 journalists have been killed in the country since democracy was restored in 1986, according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, including 32 in a single incident in 2009 in the south of the country.


Trump sues Murdoch, Wall Street Journal over Epstein sex bombshell

Trump sues Murdoch, Wall Street Journal over Epstein sex bombshell
Updated 21 July 2025

Trump sues Murdoch, Wall Street Journal over Epstein sex bombshell

Trump sues Murdoch, Wall Street Journal over Epstein sex bombshell
  • Trump lashed at WSJ as a ‘useless ‘rag’ for publishing what he called a “false, malicious, defamatory, FAKE NEWS article”
  • Dow Jones, the Journal’s longtime publisher, responded to Trump’s libel suit Friday saying it is standing by the story

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump sued media magnate Rupert Murdoch and The Wall Street Journal for at least $10 billion Friday over publication of a bombshell article on his friendship with the infamous alleged sex trafficker of underage girls, Jeffrey Epstein.
The defamation lawsuit, filed in federal court in Miami, saw the 79-year-old Republican hitting back at a scandal threatening to cause serious political damage.
“We have just filed a POWERHOUSE Lawsuit against everyone involved in publishing the false, malicious, defamatory, FAKE NEWS ‘article’ in the useless ‘rag’ that is, The Wall Street Journal,” Trump posted on Truth Social late Friday.
The Journal reported Thursday that in 2003, the then-real estate magnate wrote a suggestive birthday letter to Epstein, illustrated with a naked woman and alluding to a shared “secret.”
The lawsuit, which also names two reporters, the Dow Jones corporation, and Murdoch’s parent company News Corp. as defendants, claims that no such letter exists and that the paper intended to malign Trump with a story that has now been viewed by hundreds of millions of people.
“And given the timing of the Defendants’ article, which shows their malicious intent behind it, the overwhelming financial and reputational harm suffered by President Trump will continue to multiply,” it said.
Dow Jones, the Journal’s longtime publisher, responded to Trump’s libel suit Friday saying it is standing by the story.
“We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit,” a Dow Jones spokesperson said in a statement.

 

 

In another bid to dampen outrage among his own supporters about an alleged government cover-up of Epstein’s activities and 2019 death, Trump ordered US Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the unsealing of grand jury testimony from the prosecution against the disgraced financier.
In a filing in New York, Bondi cited “extensive public interest” for the unusual request to release what is typically secret testimony.
Epstein, a longtime friend of Trump and multiple high-profile men, was found hanging dead in a New York prison cell while awaiting trial on charges that he sexually exploited dozens of underage girls at his homes in New York and Florida.
The case sparked conspiracy theories, especially among Trump’s far-right voters, about an alleged international cabal of wealthy pedophiles. Epstein’s death — declared a suicide — before he could face trial supercharged the narrative.
When Trump returned to power for a second term this January, his supporters clamored for revelations about Epstein’s supposed list of clients. But Bondi issued an official memo this month declaring there was no such list.
The discontent in Trump’s “Make America Great Again” base poses a rare challenge to the Republican’s control of the political narrative in the United States.
It remained unclear whether a court would authorize the unsealing of the grand jury testimony.
But even if such material were made public, there is no assurance it would shed much, if any, light on the main questions raised in the conspiracy theories — particularly the existence and possible contents of an Epstein client list.
Asked Friday by reporters if he would pursue the broader release of information related to the case, Trump did not answer.

This undated trial evidence image obtained December 8, 2021, from the US District Court for the Southern District of New York shows British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and US financier Jeffrey Epstein. (AFP)


Trump was close with Epstein for years, and the two were photographed and videoed together at parties, although there has never been evidence of wrongdoing.
The Wall Street Journal article published late Thursday was damaging because it indicated a shared interest in sex.
The Journal reported that Trump had wished Epstein a happy 50th birthday in 2003 with a “bawdy” letter, part of an album of messages from rich and well-known figures.
According to the Journal, the Trump letter contained the outline of a naked woman, apparently drawn with a marker, and had the future president’s signature “Donald” mimicking pubic hair. It ends, according to the newspaper, with “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
Trump reacted in a series of furious social media posts, saying “it’s not my language. It’s not my words.”
“I never wrote a picture in my life. I don’t draw pictures of women,” he said.
US media has published multiple drawings done by Trump in the past, with several dating to the early 2000s when he used his celebrity status to donate sketches for charity.