US To Launch "New Phase" Of Venezuela Operations, Options Include Overthrowing Maduro

US To Launch "New Phase" Of Venezuela Operations, Options Include Overthrowing Maduro: Report

by Tyler Durden
Sunday, Nov 23, 2025 - 01:35 PM


One day after the FAA issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM), or an alert notifying pilots of potential serious hazards in certain airspace, for the Maiquetía Flight Information Region above Venezula, Reuters reported that the US is poised to launch a new phase of Venezuela-related operations in the coming days, citing four U.S. officials.

Amid a sharp escalation of pressure by the Trump administration on President Nicolas Maduro's government, including proliferating reports of looming action as the US military deployed forces to the Caribbean amid worsening relations with Venezuela, two of the sources said covert operations would likely be the first part of the new action against Maduro, while two US officials told Reuters the options under consideration included attempting to overthrow Maduro.



A senior administration official on Saturday told Reuters that nothing had been ruled out regarding Venezuela.

"President Trump is prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice," said the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Before the Reuters report, six airlines had already cancelled flights to Venezuela on Saturday after the US aviation regulator warned major airlines of dangers from "heightened military activity" amid a major buildup of American forces in the region, as well as a "potentially hazardous situation" when flying over Venezuela and urged them to exercise caution.

Spain's Iberia, Portugal's TAP, Chile's LATAM, Colombia's Avianca, Brazil's GOL and Trinidad and Tobago's Caribbean have suspended their flights to the country, said Marisela de Loaiza, president of the Venezuelan Airlines Association (ALAV). Panama's Copa Airlines, Spain's Air Europa and PlusUltra, Turkish Airlines, and Venezuela's LASER are continuing to operate flights for now.

The Trump administration has been weighing Venezuela-related options to combat what it has portrayed as Maduro’s role in supplying illegal drugs that have killed Americans. He has denied having any links to the illegal drug trade.

Maduro, under whose rule Venezuela has experienced crushing hyperinflation and a collapse in its oil production sector amid staggering corruption, has contended that Trump seeks to oust him and that Venezuelan citizens and the military will resist any such attempt. He also has characterized U.S. actions as an effort to take control of Venezuela's oil.

A military buildup in the Caribbean has been underway for months, and Trump has authorized covert CIA operations in Venezuela.

The United States plans on Monday to designate the Cartel de los Soles a foreign terrorist organization for its alleged role in importing illegal drugs into the United States, officials said. The Trump administration has accused Maduro of leading Cartel de los Soles, which he denies.

Washington in August doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50 million. But U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said last week that the terrorist designation "brings a whole bunch of new options to the United States."

Trump has said the upcoming designation would allow the United States to strike Maduro's assets and infrastructure in Venezuela, but he also has indicated a willingness to potentially pursue talks in hopes of a diplomatic solution.

Maduro said earlier this week that the countries' differences should be resolved through diplomacy and that he is willing to hold face-to-face talks with anyone interested. Two U.S. officials acknowledged conversations between Caracas and Washington. It was unclear whether those conversations could impact the timing or scale of potential U.S. operations.

The U.S. Navy's largest aircraft carrier, the Gerald R. Ford, arrived in the Caribbean on November 16 with its strike group, joining at least seven other warships, a nuclear submarine and F-35 aircraft.

U.S. forces in the region so far have focused on counter-narcotics operations, even though the assembled firepower far outweighs anything needed for them. U.S. troops since September have carried out at least 21 strikes on alleged drug boats, killing at least 83 people, mostly in the Caribbean, although vessels in the Pacific Ocean also have been targeted.

***

Oil, what else when wankees drop by, just as it was in Iraq.

'Almost Every German City Is Now On The Verge Of Bankruptcy'

'Almost Every German City Is Now On The Verge Of Bankruptcy'

by Tyler Durden
Monday, Nov 24, 2025 - 12:10 AM


Via Remix News,

Germany’s cities are on the verge of a massive financial crisis, with the mayor of Essen warning that the data shows that almost every single city in the country is nearly bankrupt.

Currently, the total deficit for all German cities in 2025 is €30 billion, which jumped from last year’s deficit of €24 billion.

Essen’s Mayor Thomas Kufen (CDU), who is also a member of the CDU federal executive board, is sounding the alarm: “Almost every German city is now on the verge of bankruptcy.”

In North Rhine-Westphalia alone, only 10 out of 396 cities and municipalities can present a balanced budget, and these alarming figures from Germany’s largest federal state can be applied to the “entire country,” he said.

Mayor Kufen stressed that the crisis is universal, affecting municipalities regardless of their location: “What’s new is that all cities have their backs against the wall,” he told Bild newspaper.

He warned that “budget freezes would now have to be imposed everywhere,” including in many cities previously considered wealthy.

Kufen emphasized the need for a national discussion on affordability: “We have to talk about what we can do so that our welfare state itself does not become a social case. This means: What do we want to afford and what else can we afford?”

However, he noted that cities cannot make these crucial decisions themselves; only the federal government can

Kufen illustrated the crisis with figures from his own city, Essen, which has a population of nearly 600,000. The city had planned a balanced budget for 2025. “But instead of a slight increase of €1.7 million, we currently have a deficit of €123 million,” he calculated.

Once again, refugee accommodation and integration are near the top of the list for reasons why the city is seeing a budget shortfall. Far from being a solution to Germany’s budget and pension crisis, they have become a massive financial burden for the country, costing at least €50 billion a year in social integration, housing, and benefits.


However, there are also many more hidden costs to mass immigration, including rising housing prices, healthcare costs, education costs for an increasingly foreign student population, and housing a huge number of foreigners in German prisons and psychiatric institutions. Just like Essen, even major cities like Berlin are seeing “spiraling costs” due to mass immigration, leading to large-scale debt required to keep the cities running.

Some research studies have indicated that the overall cost of immigration has already cost Germany trillions and could reach €20 trillion if migration numbers do not fall.

Kufen points to education and social spending as burdens on his city as well, and in many ways, foreigners here also account for huge costs.

For example, official statistics from Essen indicate there are approximately 22,730 primary school students enrolled in Essen, and out of these, about 5,565 are classified as “Not German,” making up roughly 24.5 percent of primary school students in the city. If this definition is expanded to those with an “immigration background,” then the figure increases to 35 percent.

​As with states and cities across the country, the non-German student population has, in general, been a massive budget burden, as these students need extra integration courses and more money per student to compensate for educational deficits.

When it comes to social spending, approximately 63 percent of all welfare recipients in Germany are foreigners or have a foreign background, despite being a much smaller share of the population.

In regard to Essen, there are also increased personnel costs due to a public sector tariff increase.

As a consequence, Kufen had to impose “restrictive household management” in Essen. This means the city is essentially only paying what is legally required, such as social assistance and wages. For all other expenses over €5,000, “you need an extra permit from the treasurer.”

Summarizing the situation, Kufen said, “There’s not much left.”

Addressing the federal government’s gigantic debt package intended to help cities, Kufen explained that Essen will receive €335 million over the next 12 years, equating to “just 28 million per year.”

He argued this is insufficient because the funding is primarily intended to finance construction projects. In Essen, that would “with luck be enough for two and a half schools,” Kufen said, noting that “costs have exploded, especially when it comes to construction.”

Kufen made it clear he doesn’t want to sound “ungrateful.”

“We’re happy to take the money. But if someone thinks that Berlin or Düsseldorf will solve all my problems, all I can say is: It will help alleviate them, but we still have a lot to struggle with.”

The mayor stressed that what cities truly need is “not just the money for investments, but simply less bureaucracy, easier awards, fewer requirements so that I can end up doing more with the little money.”

He also warned that if the state cannot function, then democracy is under threat, saying: “Because that’s where citizens find out whether the state works. Whether I can get a daycare place or whether the street lamps come on at night. If you can no longer do all of this, the people who pay taxes get the impression that politicians are not dealing with it properly. And that’s dangerous.”

It is not just the government either, with data showing that residents in Essen are taking on more and more personal debt due to rising rents, electricity, and even food prices, which have risen further in recent months.

The number of people who have taken on so much debt that they cannot pay it back has risen for the first time in six years as well, reaching 5.7 million people who are defined as “over-indebted.” The report also warns that this trend is expected to worsen due to rising unemployment.

Read more here...

Minister: Probe into viral ‘silat’ incident at Johor cemetery must also consider man’s welfare

Minister: Probe into viral ‘silat’ incident at Johor cemetery must also consider man’s welfare



Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said cemeteries are not places for behaviour that could cause misunderstanding, disturb the peace or offend grieving families. — Bernama pic

Sunday, 23 Nov 2025 8:21 PM MYT


PUTRAJAYA, Nov 23 — The investigation into a viral video showing a man performing silat-like movements at a cemetery in Johor must take into account the individual’s welfare and safety, not just matters of decorum, Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said.

Bernama reported the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) as saying that the man’s actions had raised concerns among the public, particularly relating to etiquette and sensitivities at burial grounds.

He said cemeteries are not places for behaviour that could cause misunderstanding, disturb the peace or offend grieving families.

“However, at the same time, we must be cautious and empathetic. There is a possibility the individual may require psychosocial support or intervention from the authorities or his family,” he was quoted as saying.


Mohd Na’im welcomed the swift action taken by Johor Islamic Religious Affairs exco Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid, who instructed the Kluang District Kadi Office to investigate the matter.



He reportedly said that such an approach was important to ensure no elements contrary to decorum, Islamic law or public order were involved, while also understanding the actual circumstances surrounding the man.


Mohd Na’im urged the public not to speculate and to allow the state religious authorities to handle the case.

He said his ministry would continue to work with the Johor government and the Johor Islamic Religious Department to ensure the issue is addressed prudently, in line with the Malaysia Madani spirit.

Yesterday, media reported that the state government had directed the Kadi Office to investigate the viral footage, which showed a man appearing to perform silat-like movements at a Muslim cemetery.

The 28-second Facebook video, recorded by a road user, showed the man wearing a jacket and helmet while making several hand and leg movements in the cemetery.

Japan blasts China’s ‘entirely baseless’ claims after UN letter

The Star:

Japan blasts China’s ‘entirely baseless’ claims after UN letter

By Sakura Murakami

Sunday, 23 Nov 2025

6:55 PM MYT



Tokyo maintains that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's response to a hypothetical question did not alter its stance. -- PHOTO: AFP


TOKYO (Bloomberg): A Japanese official blasted China’s claims that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has altered Japan’s position on a Taiwan crisis as "entirely baseless,” calling for more dialogue to stop ties between Asia’s top economies spiraling.

China vowed to take resolute self-defense against Japan if it "dared to intervene militarily in the Taiwan Strait” in a letter delivered Friday to the United Nations. Beijing is seeking to rally international support for its position in a spat over the self-ruled chip hub it views as its territory.


"I’m aware of this letter,” Maki Kobayashi, a senior Japanese government spokeswoman, told Bloomberg News. "The claim our country has altered its position is entirely baseless,” she said, speaking Saturday on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg.

China’s Foreign Ministry didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment made outside working hours.

A crucial sticking point is the fundamental mismatch between how both sides understand Takaichi’s remarks.

For China, her comments publicly linking a Taiwan Strait crisis with the possible deployment of Japanese troops deviated from decades of strategic ambiguity. Tokyo maintains her response to a hypothetical question didn’t change its stance.

"We’ve repeatedly explained to the Chinese side the gist of the remarks and our consistent position,” Kobayashi said, adding Tokyo was "committed to dialogue” with its neighbor.

The G-20 won’t be a venue for that. China has said there are no plans for Takaichi to meet Premier Li Qiang, who is representing his country at the gathering, although on Saturday they were stood just three people apart for a group photo. Underscoring the acrimony, Chinese state media pointed out Takaichi was "about an hour late” to the summit, after she missed the red carpet arrivals.

China has also reportedly canceled a trilateral meeting with the culture ministers of South Korea and Japan that was scheduled for this month.

In the absence of diplomacy, a war of words is intensifying. On Friday, the Chinese embassy in Japan posted on X that China would have the right to carry out "direct military action” without needing authorization from the UN Security Council if Japan took any step toward renewed aggression. That post cited UN Charter clauses regarding "enemy states” during the Second World War, without further elaboration.

It’s unclear where the off-ramp lies in a fallout that’s already seen some Chinese tourists cancel trips to Japan, and Beijing impose curbs on seafood imports from its neighbor. While Takaichi has said she’s learned her lesson and will refrain from specifying a possible scenario in which Japan could deploy troops in future, she’s refused to recant.

Raising the stakes, China is Japan’s biggest trade partner, and a supplier of minerals crucial to its auto industry.

"China is an important source of importation of rare earths,” Kobayashi acknowledged, while saying Tokyo had worked to decease that reliance. "Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are vital for national security.”

RMAF forced to pivot as sanctions threaten to derail Su-57 MRCA plan; enter the Gripen?

By Haris Hussain

November 21, 2025
3:13 pm


RMAF forced to pivot as sanctions threaten to derail Su-57 MRCA plan; enter the Gripen?





Malaysia’s push to field a new generation of fighters for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) has hit a sudden snag – and it has nothing to do with engines, airframes, or budgets. It is geopolitics; more specifically, Washington’s.



The recent Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) between Malaysia and the United States was meant to ease tariffs and open new economic avenues. Instead, clauses within its fine print now threaten to complicate any defence acquisition involving sanctioned countries. Several of these clauses mirror restrictions under the US Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), particularly Section 231, which allows Washington to penalise nations that conduct significant transactions with Russia’s defence sector.



Defence planners say these provisions give the US the ability to flag, stall, or even block Malaysian procurement programmes involving Russian suppliers. This places the long-discussed Sukhoi Su-57 Felon purchase squarely in the ‘kill’ zone. Any move involving a sanctioned Russian design bureau or manufacturer could trigger punitive measures, including the suspension of trade privileges Malaysia had just negotiated.

“It puts us in a very tight spot,” said one official familiar with the discussions. “If we proceed, we risk sanctions. If we don’t, we open a capability gap we’ve been trying to close for years.”

The fallout is already being felt. The RMAF’s MRCA timeline – initially framed around first deliveries by 2028 – is now being quietly relooked. A more realistic window may be 2030–2035, effectively delaying the programme by up to seven years. It buys Malaysia time to navigate the diplomatic minefield but leaves the air force without a top-end fighter replacement in the near term. That gap now needs filling.

The FA-50M Light Combat Aircraft programme, at least on paper, remains on firmer footing. The first four aircraft from Korea Aerospace Industries are due in October 2026, with the remaining 14 scheduled to arrive by end-2027. The RMAF will also be the first operator to field the Block 20 version, complete with air-to-air refuelling capability, strengthened hardpoints, a tougher airframe, and the option of advanced AESA radars such as the AN/APG-83, AN/APG-79(V)4, Raytheon PhantomStrike, or South Korea’s indigenous Hanwha sets. With BVR capability on the cards, the FA-50M becomes a credible light fighter and an effective Fighter Lead-In Trainer (FLIT) platform.

Even so, it cannot carry the entire load. It is by no means an MRCA.

“It’s a good aircraft for what it is, but it won’t replace an MRCA,” said a defence analyst. “We still need something for the medium-to-high end of the spectrum.”

This is where Sweden’s Saab JAS-39 Gripen E/F has rejoined the fight.

The Gripen has long been viewed as a smart, efficient solution for smaller air forces, consistently punching above its weight class. The new E/F variant builds on that with a more powerful General Electric F-414G engine, increased internal fuel, a state-of-the-art AESA radar (the ES-05 Raven built by Leonardo), the Skyward-G infra-red search and track (IRST) system, enhanced electronic warfare architecture, and additional hardpoints. It is designed for high sortie rates, dispersed operations, and ease of maintenance – all areas that resonate with RMAF planners. Sources tell Twentytwo13 that the RMAF is looking at a fleet of possibly 16 to 18 airframes to fill the gap and supplement the FA-50Ms.



The Gripen F, the two-seat version, is particularly attractive. The rear cockpit is fully missionised, allowing it to serve in the FLIT role and as a dual-seat combat aircraft capable of air-to-air, interdiction, anti-shipping, air-to-ground, suppression of enemy air defences, and defensive and offensive counter-air missions. It gives the RMAF the flexibility it needs at a time when its long-term MRCA path is clouded by geopolitics.

Operationally, the Gripen has seen service in NATO missions and multinational exercises, with operators consistently highlighting its reliability and low operating costs. For Malaysia, which must balance capability with sustainability, that counts for a great deal.


Before the Gripen re-emerged as an option, planners had hoped that acquiring ex-Kuwaiti F/A-18C/D Hornets would buy the RMAF some time. But that possibility now looks increasingly unlikely – and not just because of US politics.

Kuwait’s own force modernisation programme has slipped badly. The Kuwaitis ordered 28 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets to replace their ageing C/D fleet, but delays in US production, testing, and certification have repeatedly pushed the delivery schedule to the right. Initial batches that were supposed to arrive as early as 2021 have not, instead being diverted to the US Navy as attrition replacements for its own Rhino fleet. This has forced Kuwait to extend the service life of its legacy Hornets.

Because the new jets have not yet arrived, the Kuwait Air Force cannot retire its older Hornet fleet. Defence insiders say the Kuwaitis may only achieve full operational capability with the Super Hornets around 2026 or 2027. But even that is not yet firm. Until then, releasing any C/D airframes – let alone the 24 to 33 Malaysia is eyeing – is virtually impossible.

Even if the aircraft eventually become available, the deal still requires US sign-off. With President Donald Trump back in office, approval has not moved. Analysts say the delay may be linked to Malaysia’s BRICS alignment, though others argue the issue is more practical: supportability. The US Marine Corps will retire its final C/D Hornets by 2030. Once that happens, spares will dry up, costs will rise, and serviceability will drop sharply.

“You might only get five to 10 years out of them. After that, it becomes a money pit,” said one analyst.



This shifts the calculus. Instead of splitting resources between a stalled Hornet buy and a delayed MRCA, some argue that redirecting funds into a sustainable interim solution – such as a Gripen E/F-based fleet – may offer better operational value.

With the ART complicating Russian procurement, the Kuwaiti Hornet deal slipping out of reach, and the MRCA programme sliding down the calendar, the RMAF is being pushed into a forced pivot. Not because of its own planning, but because of the shifting strategic and industrial landscape around it.

And in that reshuffle, the Gripen – once viewed as an outsider – has moved into a far more interesting position.

Poor Hubbies

Rise in husband abuse cases reveals hidden domestic violence crisis


Men experience various forms of abuse, not just physical harm.

By IZWAN ROZLIN

20 Nov 2025 12:24pm

According to Siti Kamsiah (inset), the abuse experienced by husbands comes in various forms and is not limited to physical injury alone. Stock photo.



KUALA LUMPUR – The number of husbands suffering abuse at the hands of their wives has risen sharply over the past five years, according to the Bukit Aman's Sexual, Women and Child Investigation Division's (D11), which recorded 453 cases from 2020 until July 2025.

The statistics highlight a troubling trend: 44 cases were reported in 2020, increasing to 74 in 2021.

The figure surged again to 100 cases in 2022. While 2023 saw a slight drop to 71 cases, the numbers climbed back up to 96 in 2024.



The statistics highlight a troubling trend: 44 cases were reported in 2020, increasing to 74 in 2021.



Principal assistant director Senior Assistant Commissioner of D11, Siti Kamsiah Hassan said this year’s figures are already nearing last year’s total, with 68 cases recorded from January to July 2025.

“Although there was a slight decrease in 2023, the overall trend is still rising.

“This year, with only half the year gone, there are already 68 cases and the likelihood of exceeding 100 cases is high,” she said.

Kamsiah said that husbands experience various forms of abuse, not just physical harm.

Reports include husbands being hit, kicked and injured, with some suffering serious injuries.

Psychological and emotional abuse is also widespread, involving constant insults, degrading name-calling and having items thrown at them even if the objects do not strike the victim.

“There are husbands who are cursed, insulted and emotionally pressured every day to the point that it affects their mental stability. Such acts are also categorised as abuse,” she added.

Economic abuse is another common pattern, where wives take full control of finances, restrict access to money or dictate all household expenses, leaving husbands without autonomy in providing for the family.

In more severe cases, issues rooted in infidelity or affairs escalate into violent physical confrontations.

Kamsiah said many cases occurred repeatedly over a long period before victims finally seek help.

“Many of these cases occur repeatedly over a long period before the victims finally lodge a police report.

“Many husbands have actually been experiencing abuse for a long time, but only report it after a major incident or serious injury occurs,” she said.

The worrying upward trend highlights how domestic violence affects victims regardless of gender and often remains hidden until the harm becomes severe.

Teresa: IGP's no-show at teddy bear handover sparks questions of commitment

Teresa: IGP's no-show at teddy bear handover sparks questions of commitment


Published: Nov 23, 2025 7:00 PM
Updated: 10:00 PM



A DAP lawmaker has voiced disappointment that Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail did not personally receive the teddy bear from M Indira Gandhi, despite the group’s clear intention for a symbolic handover following their protest march to Bukit Aman.

“His absence raises serious questions about the sincerity of the institution’s commitment to this case,” Teresa Kok said in a statement to Malaysiakini.

Kok acknowledged that the police allowed the protest to proceed peacefully yesterday, but stressed that permitting an assembly does not erase years of inaction in locating Indira’s daughter Prasana Diksa or enforcing the Federal Court’s ruling.

Standing in solidarity with Indira and everyone who joined the march, the Seputeh MP said 16 years is “far too long for any mother to wait”, adding that it is heartbreaking that Indira still needs to take to the streets simply to be heard.

“The image of Indira carrying her daughter’s teddy bear, clutched tightly for over a decade, is a stark reminder that behind this case lies a mother’s unending grief.

“No parent should have to endure such uncertainty while institutions continue to fail in providing closure,” she added.

Protesters marched to Bukit Aman from Sogo yesterday, with M Indira Gandhi pushing her daughter Prasana Diksa’s teddy bear in a pram


Indira’s ordeal began in 2009, when her ex-husband, now known as Riduan Abdullah, unilaterally converted their three children to Islam and abducted their youngest, Prasana, who was then only 11 months old.

She has not seen her daughter since, despite the Federal Court in 2018 nullifying the children’s conversions and ordering the inspector-general of police to arrest Indira’s ex-husband for defying the High Court’s directive to return Prasana.

Humanitarian crisis

Kok argued that this is no longer just a legal matter but a humanitarian crisis - one involving a child, a mother’s suffering, and repeated institutional failures to enforce court orders and deliver justice.

The veteran lawmaker also welcomed the assurance by her party colleague, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M Kulasegaran, to arrange a meeting between the police chief and Indira within the next three weeks.

“If the meeting does not occur within the promised timeframe, then Malaysians are justified in demanding stronger accountability from the police leadership,” she said.

Kok stressed that Indira’s case has come to symbolise more than the disappearance of a child - it now reflects the public’s faith in the rule of law and whether Malaysians can trust institutions to uphold justice without fear or favour.

“The Federal Court has spoken clearly, yet its orders remain unenforced after all these years.

“I urge the IGP and the senior police leadership to meet Indira personally, to demonstrate compassion, responsibility, and the seriousness this case demands,” she added.

Last Friday, the Ipoh High Court ordered the police to conduct a nationwide search for Indira’s ex-husband.

INDIRA GHANDI - WHEN YOU ARE NOT CIVILISED

 

OutSyed The Box

Sunday, November 23, 2025

INDIRA GHANDI - WHEN YOU ARE NOT CIVILISED

 HERE IS A MESSAGE FROM ZAID IBRAHIM. SEE MY COMMENTS BELOW.

 

MY COMMENTS: 

Civilisation is lacking in them. 
A wise young man told me 'Just avoid them. Leave them alone'. 
Just do the niceties, be polite, smile and wave at them. 
But make sure you maintain your distance. 
Do not mix with them. 
Do not get embroiled with them.  
What is civilised mystifies them.
Just give them a wide berth.  

Crocodile Tears in Court - Didn’t See This Coming, Ah?

OPINION | Crocodile Tears in Court - Didn’t See This Coming, Ah?


23 Nov 2025 • 4:00 PM MYT


Fa Abdul
FA ABDUL is a former columnist of Malaysiakini & Free Malaysia Today (FMT)

Photo credit: The Malaysian Reserve


Wow. That moment in court when Saifullah Minggu, ex-aide to a former Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister, suddenly burst out crying. Six years jail, RM8.8 million fine, and another seven years if he cannot pay. Imagine - six plus seven years! Most people would have seen that coming from a mile away. But him? Crying like the law just struck him blindside.


Honestly, maybe this is why corruption can run so wild in our country. People think the system is lembik - soft, slow, easy to slide past. When the punishment feels like something that happens to someone else, not me - of course temptation is going to win.


But let’s ask the bigger question: why do smart people, knowing it’s wrong, still go ahead and do it?


Psychologists say it’s called moral disengagement - basically, your brain finds ways to cheat your conscience. “Ah, just this one time,” or “Everyone does it,” or “The money is small lah, no problem.” One small compromise, then another… suddenly you’re knee-deep in corruption and somehow your conscience is asleep.


Watching him cry, I felt a mix of pity and eye-roll. Pity, because hey, human, you can feel regret. Eye-roll, because bro, you only cry AFTER getting caught? All this while you were happily pocketing money, thinking no one will catch you. Typical.


Here’s the harsh truth: until enforcement is tight, consistent, and no nonsense, people will keep pushing the limits. They will keep thinking, “Cannot touch me lah,” until one day the gavel falls and they suddenly start bawling like a drama actor.


And let’s be real - this isn’t just about jail time or fines. It’s about confidence in the system. Every time someone like Saifullah gets caught, it chips away at how ordinary folks see our leaders, our ministries, and even our local councils. It makes people start thinking the law is more talk than action, and that speaking up or standing by the rules is just asking for trouble. The system punishes slow, but forgets fast - and the public notices.


So yes, Saifullah’s tears are real, maybe. But maybe, just maybe, they are also the reason the rest of us shake our heads and mutter: “This kind of corruption never ends lah.”

The Elephant in the Room in the FAM Heritage Player Fraud Scandal

OPINION | The Elephant in the Room in the FAM Heritage Player Fraud Scandal


23 Nov 2025 • 8:00 AM MYT


TheRealNehruism
An award-winning Newswav creator, Bebas News columnist & ex-FMT columnist

Image credit: Says


There is an elephant in the room in the matter of the FAM heritage player fraud scandal.


How do I know there is an elephant in the room?


I know because all of us know.


All of us can see the elephant. All of us understand that to resolve this scandal, we have to get the elephant out of the room. And to get the elephant out of the room, we first have to acknowledge that the elephant exists.


But somehow, no one wants to be the first to say it out loud.


Instead, when compelled to speak, everyone is talking about the carpet, lighting, ventilation and the colour of the curtains — but no one it seems, dares to acknowledge the presence of the giant elephant standing right in the middle of the room.


And it’s not just us ordinary citizens doing mental gymnastics. Even ministers and lawmakers, are suddenly practicing Olympic-level silence.


Parliament — a place where people argue until the microphones beg for mercy — has collectively decided that the FAM fraud scandal is a topic too hot to touch. This, despite the scandal going international and shredding Malaysia’s credibility not just in football, but in institutional integrity and our reputation as a law-abiding country.


What else explains why our parliamentarians, who can argue endlessly about the most trivial matters, like the one about the size of the nose on the statues at tugu negara, are suddenly speechless about something so serious?


Not only are government MPs conspicuously silent, the opposition MPs are equally silent. They may fear not fear each other— the don't even fear good sense or good manners - but somehow when it comes to the FAM heritage player fraud scandal, all of them seem to fear somebody.


It is as if everyone knows what the elephant is.


Everyone knows where the elephant is sitting.


But no one wants to say the elephant’s name.


If parliament was a Harry Potter movie, it feels like everybody is afraid of Lord Voldemort's spectre, because no one wants to say the name.

The Fraud Was Not Even Sophisticated

Let’s be honest — the issue is not even difficult to resolve.


It’s not like the fraud was crafted with such genius subtlety that you need a PhD in cryptology to detect it.


No.


You can literally see that these players were not Malaysians — nor had any Malaysian heritage — simply by looking at them.


The fraud was done in a way so blatant, clumsy, and amateurish that it’s almost insulting to our intelligence.


The foreign players caught in the naturalisation scandal have already admitted that they do not speak a single word of Malay, have never lived in Malaysia for 10 years, and signed documents they didn’t read, relying purely on “family hearsay”.


Despite this, somehow all of them “passed” their Malay proficiency tests.


Then we discovered why: the documents were forged so badly that even FIFA didn’t need experts to detect them.


In João Vítor Brandão’s case, the forged birth certificate listed his Malaysian “grandmother” as male.


In Jon Irazabal’s case, “Kuching” was spelled as “Luching”.


That’s not a typo.


That’s a cry for help.


FIFA didn’t need intelligence analysts.


They didn’t need forensic linguists.


They didn’t even need glasses.


The forgeries were so bad that they practically confessed by themselves.

Even FAM Has Admitted — Without Admitting

FAM itself has in a roundabout way admitted everything by saying the issue involved “administrative errors”.


No one has any idea how an “administrative error” results in seven players getting express citizenship despite having no link to Malaysia whatsoever. But somehow, that’s the official explanation.


Then you have the Home Minister, Saifuddin Nasution, openly saying he used his constitutional discretion to “waive the residency requirement” for the seven footballers.


You don’t need Sherlock Holmes to figure out how this entire thing started; you only need to ask Saifuddin to explain why he applied his consitutional discretion, and we could all probably bring this shameful matter to a close.


And if you want the full picture, you can simply look at the paper trail — because this fiasco ran through multiple agencies, from NRD officers to FAM administrators. All Parliament needs to do is call those officers whose name is at the bottom of the document, and ask them who ordered what.


But that would require confronting the elephant.


And that’s the part no one wants to do.

Dragging It Out Because We Won’t See What’s Right in Front of Us

So here we are.


Despite the scandal being enormous and embarrassingly obvious, the whole thing is still dragging on endlessly because we are collectively fascinated by how far our leaders will go to NOT see what is right in front of them.


Instead of taking the simple, direct path, we are trying every complicated, convoluted method imaginable: appealing to FIFA, appealing to CAS, spinning stories, issuing vague statements, and hoping the problem somehow solves itself.


It brings to mind what Clausewitz once said:


“War is simple, but the simplest things are hard to do in war.”


And although no one says it aloud, things in our governance must truly be like a state of war — because something so simple is turning into a multi-year circus.

But This Time, We Can't Hide the Elephant Under the Carpet

If this scandal were confined only to Malaysia, perhaps we could pretend not to see the obvious and sweep it all under the carpet.


But FIFA has now escalated the matter into a full-blown international criminal investigation.


They have formally launched an internal probe into FAM.


They are identifying individuals responsible for the forgeries.


They are assessing governance failures.


They are recommending disciplinary action.


And most importantly:


They have officially notified the police and criminal authorities in Malaysia, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, and the Netherlands.


Document forgery is a crime in all these jurisdictions.


So no — we can’t just wait this out.


At some point, Malaysia must either:

Acknowledge the elephant in the room,

OR

Keep throwing more people under the bus to protect the elephant.

Right now, the jury is still out on which path we will choose.


But one thing is certain:


This spectacle is far from over.


Prepare yourself for more cringe, more international embarrassment, and more creative attempts to pretend the elephant is a piece of furniture — because the cookies will continue to crumble.


And crumble.


And crumble.

***

In the end, the author himself, Nehru matey, dares not name the elephant too, wakakaka

Washington scrambles to clarify Ukraine peace plan after senators allege Rubio called it a ‘Russian wish list’

Washington scrambles to clarify Ukraine peace plan after senators allege Rubio called it a ‘Russian wish list’



US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin as they meet to negotiate for an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, 2025. — Reuters pic

Sunday, 23 Nov 2025 12:00 PM MYT


WASHINGTON, Nov 23 — Washington insisted Saturday that its Ukraine proposal is indeed official US policy, denying claims by a group of senators that Secretary of State Marco Rubio told them the document under discussion is just a Russian “wish list.”

The dispute over the 28-point plan – which cedes Ukrainian territory long sought by Moscow – threw an extraordinary element of confusion into efforts to negotiate an end to the war.



US President Donald Trump has pushed the plan, pressuring the Ukrainians to accept it within days. Negotiators will meet in Switzerland on Sunday.

However, after a storm of criticism that the proposal is almost entirely favourable to Moscow, several US senators spoke out, holding a press conference at the Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia, Canada on Saturday.


The senators – Republican Mike Rounds, independent Angus King, and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen – said Rubio told them the current Ukraine proposal is not the official US position, but instead lays out a “Russian wish list.”


“What he (Rubio) told us was that this was not the American proposal. This was a proposal that was received by someone... representing Russia in this proposal. It was given to Mr Witkoff,” Rounds said, referring to Trump’s diplomatic envoy Steve Witkoff.

“It is not our recommendation. It is not our peace plan.”


King corroborated those comments, saying “the leaked 28-point plan – which according to Secretary Rubio is not the administration’s position – it is essentially the wish list of the Russians that is now being presented to the Europeans and to the Ukrainians.”

‘Blatantly false’

Rubio took to X to refute the senators’ claims via social media.

“The peace proposal was authored by the US,” Rubio wrote late Saturday. “It is offered as a strong framework for ongoing negotiations. It is based on input from the Russian side. But it is also based on previous and ongoing input from Ukraine.”

Earlier, State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott also denied the claims, sharing a post on X citing King’s comments.

“This is blatantly false,” Pigott posted. “As Secretary Rubio and the entire Administration has consistently maintained, this plan was authored by the United States, with input from both the Russians and Ukrainians.”

But Shaheen said she and Rounds spoke to Rubio on a shared call while the top US diplomat was en route to Geneva for the latest round of negotiations with Ukrainian officials.

Rounds said he and his colleagues had asked for a conversation with Rubio over their concerns with the plan.

In the call, Rubio was “very frank about it,” he said.

“It doesn’t look like normally something that would come out of our government, particularly the way it was written. It looked more like it was written in Russian to begin with,” Rounds said.

King noted that the plan should not reward Moscow for its invasion.

“Everyone wants this war to end but we want it to end on a fair and just peace that respects the integrity and the sovereignty of Ukraine and does not reward aggression and also provides adequate security guarantees,” he said. — AFP

Kedah latest to be hit by monsoon floods, thousands displaced across three states

Kedah latest to be hit by monsoon floods, thousands displaced across three states



MET Malaysia has issued a continuous heavy rain warning until Nov 24 for several districts, including Tumpat, Pasir Mas, Kota Bharu, Bachok and Pasir Puteh. Residents are advised to monitor updates via MET Malaysia’s website, myCuaca app and official social media channels. — Bernama pic

Sunday, 23 Nov 2025 10:41 AM MYT




KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 23 — Kedah has become the latest state after Kelantan and Terengganu to be hit by Northeast Monsoon floods, with 2,112 people evacuated to temporary relief centres in the three states as of this morning.

The Kedah State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC), in a statement, said all 225 victims from 66 families from Kulim have been placed at the Al-Muhtadin Sungai Seluang Mosque, the Naga Lilit Kedah Regional Development Authority (KEDA) Surau and Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Permatang Tok Dik.

“The area affected is Sungai Seluang and the victims are from Kampung Siam, Kampung Bukit Sarang Ayam, Kampung Paya Serdang, Kampung Titi Tok Aris and Kampung Padang Cina,” it added.


Meanwhile, the number of flood victims in Kelantan increased to 1,623 people this morning compared to 1,170 people last night, involving three districts following alert-level continuous heavy rain since Friday.

The InfoBencana portal of the Social Welfare Department (JKM) said that 12 relief centres are now operating in Kota Bharu, Tumpat and Bachok.

The relief centres are SK Sering, SK Raja Sakti, Kota Bharu, SK Tapang, SK Parang Puting, SK Islah, SK Seribong, SK Sabak in Kota Bharu; SK Seri Tumpat 2 and SK Pengkalan Kubor 2 in Tumpat; and SK Sembilan Pauh, SK Jelawat and SK Pa’Pura in Bachok

In Terengganu, the flood situation eased a little with fewer victims evacuated to the relief centres compared to last night.

According to the JKM info portal, a total of 264 victims from 87 families from Kampung Baru, Pulau Redang are still sheltering at the Kampung Pulau Redang Mosque relief centre in Kuala Nerus, compared to 276 people last night.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a thunderstorm, heavy rain and strong wind warning for seven states until 1 pm today.

It said the adverse weather is expected in parts of Perak (Manjung, Kinta, Perak Tengah, Kampar, Bagan Datuk, Hilir Perak, Batang Padang and Muallim) and Pahang (Tanah Tinggi Cameron, Lipis and Raub).

Similar alerts were issued for Selangor (Sabak Bernam and Hulu Selangor); Negeri Sembilan (Port Dickson, Rembau and Tampin); Johor (Tangkak and Muar); as well as Melaka.

In Sabah, the affected areas include Sandakan (Telupid, Kinabatangan, Beluran and Sandakan) and Kudat. — Bernama

Where’s Hero Akmal When FIFA Insults Malays Special Rights?

Where’s Hero Akmal When FIFA Insults Malays Special Rights?


November 22nd, 2025 by financetwitter



Caught with his pants down lying through his teeth, disgraced Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution is nowhere to be found. Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, meanwhile, has proven to be a quick learner in “tai-chi”, arguing that she does not have the power to sack officials of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) over a document forgery scandal, or has the authority to interfere in any investigations.



It appears that while the Home Minister has “unlimited power” to grant citizenship to seven foreign-born footballers – glorified as heritage players – to the extent of either fabricating or assisting in falsifying birth certificates, the Sports Minister has zero power over the FAM. In short, the Home Minister can do anything, including breaking the law, but the Sports Minister can do absolutely nothing.



The hilarious contradictions in the Madani government are breathtaking. While a former Malaysian judge, Hamid Sultan Abu Backer, and Johor regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim have accused FIFA of exceeding its authority by declaring Malaysian government-issued documents fake, Hannah said FIFA has full authority and any government interference in the national football body could trigger a FIFA suspension.



Can they make up their mind whether FIFA has full authority and jurisdiction over FAM or not? If FIFA does not have the authority to question Saifuddin’s discretionary power in issuing birth documents (although they were fake), then why is Hannah so terrified of FIFA? On the other hand, if FIFA has full jurisdiction, then FAM and Saifuddin were partners in crime and Hannah should not play dumb and pretends to seek updates from Saifuddin.



Crucially, if the Malaysian government cannot interfere in the national football body because it was supposed to operate independently as claimed by Hannah Yeoh, does that mean the FAM is so “powerful” that it could engage in dubious business such as corruption, forgery or other types of crimes? In the same breath, why should taxpayers’ hard-earned money be spent to fund the FAM?



And if even the Malaysian government does not have any authority to sack officials of the Football Association of Malaysia, then who does? Based on Hannah’s argument, it appears FIFA has the power to do so. Unless the FAM is untouchable, surely someone has the jurisdiction and authority to act against officials of FAM who have committed crimes like forgery or corruption, no?




Backdoor minister Saifuddin is now trapped with his own lies after FIFA’s appeal committee released its 64-page report, which among other things revealed how the seven suspended “heritage” footballers had told the FIFA that they do not speak Bahasa Malaysia, despitethe Home Minister’s initial claim that they passed the requisite national language test for their citizenship application.



As everyone tries to save their own skin, not only the seven naturalized Malaysian players banned by FIFA might sue the FAM, they have denied involvement in document forgery but admitted to a lack of supervision and acknowledgement, claiming they were unaware of their lineage and signed legal documents without reading them – an excuse which the FIFA Appeal Committee (FAC) rejected.



In summary, the 64-page ruling released by the FAC on November 18, following 12 days of hearings for the players in the U.S., has found that all the seven players – born in Spain, Argentina, or Brazil – have claimed that they did not review the documents when they gave them to their agents. Worse, they also did not ask their agents again after learning about the falsified documents and related sanctions from FIFA.




The players said they trusted their agents, did not know what happened, insisted they had submitted original documents and denied any involvement in the falsification, blaming the cheating case entirely on FAM. The players admitted to signing the citizenship application documents and appearing before the Malaysian authorities, but denied having read or understood the contents of the documents that they had signed.



However, the Appeal Committee rejected the narrative that they were “passive victims of an orchestrated scheme”. It said – “A reasonable professional player would have questioned how they could represent a country with which they had no genuine connection. The Appeal Committee finds that the idea they could play for Malaysia without asking a single question defies logic and professional responsibility,”



The players are seasoned professionals with international careers, and not minor parties unfamiliar with contractual obligations. “Their conduct – signing without reading, failing to verify, and blatantly ignoring their responsibility for processes that affected their careers to a significant degree – falls far below the standard of care expected in international football and amounts to a situation of recklessness beyond repair,” – it said.




It’s not rocket science that either all the seven naturalized players were incredibly stupid for not understanding what they had signed, or pretending to be stupid after caught with their pants down and banned by FIFA. But the FAC isn’t stupid. It found no evidence that the players’ grandparents were born in Malaysia, simply because all the seven players were unable to prove it.



The seven are: Spain-born Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomas Garces and Jon Irazabal Iraurgui; Netherlands-born Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano; Argentina-born Rodrigo Julian Holgado and Imanol Javier Machuca; and Brazil-born Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo. Even after the forgery was exposed, the despicable FAM still insisted it was merely an “administrative error”.



Despite FAM’s laughable excuse, FIFA’s Appeal Committee has revealed a deliberate and coordinated cheating and forgery – FAM handled all procedures to secure Malaysian nationality for the players, birth certificates of their grandparents were altered to show Malaysian details, and FAM knowingly submitted the falsified documents to FIFA, benefiting from player eligibility approvals.




The best part is some suspended “heritage” footballers’ Malaysian passport application was approved on the same day that they submitted their forms – suggesting a systematic plan by the FAM, National Registration Department (NRD), and Home Ministry to cheat from the beginning. But exposing the falsification of documents that enabled seven foreign-born players to play for the national team was just the appetizer.



Apart from the FIFA fine of 350,000 Swiss francs (RM1.8 million), there is another major investigation against the association. Asian Football Confederation (AFC) general-secretary Windsor Paul John said FAM will be investigated by FIFA over how the forged documents were submitted, who handled them and the systemic lapses.



“This part has not even started. What you see now is the disciplinary case. The other case starts only when FIFA begins its investigation. The first case is about the matches. The second is about responsibility,” – said Windsor. FIFA investigators are expected to grill senior FAM officials, including acting president Yusoff Mahadi and other key figures once the second phase of the process officially begins.




FIFA also slammed FAM’s suspension of its secretary-general Noor Azman Rahman in October amid the controversy, calling the move “primarily a public relations exercise” as Noor Azman continued to appear at high-profile events, such as at an event last month attended by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who visited Kuala Lumpur in conjunction with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit.



FIFA’s secretariat has also been instructed to notify the competent criminal authorities in Brazil, Argentina, the Netherlands and Spain – where the seven players were born – as well as Malaysia so that “appropriate criminal investigations and proceedings may be pursued”. Even if the Malaysian government tries to cover up, it’s hard for the Brazilian, Argentine, Holland and Spanish governments to also do the same.



With Saifuddin now in hiding in his closet, his boss – Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim – has no choice but to finally open his mouth about the shameful national scandal. Anwarhas vowed that there will be no cover-up in the probe. As usual, the forked-tongue premier also said that his government was not disputing FIFA’s credibility, but that authorities in Malaysia would not act “purely based on FIFA’s findings”.




Anwar should stop insulting people’s intelligence. Saifuddin, his biggest apple polisher, had earlier tried to cover-up the scandal with lies that the seven players had passed with flying colours in the Bahasa Malaysia test. Besides, if it was true that he was not disputing FIFA’s credibility, then his government should accept the FIFA’s findings that the FAM had deliberately committed a serious crime called “forgery”.



To say Malaysia was not disputing FIFA’s credibility, yet would not act based on FIFA’s findings is both contradicting and conflicting, not to mention speaks volumes about Anwar government’s arrogance and cover-up attempts. Exactly what the prime minister plans to do with his bootlicker Saifuddin for granting dual-citizenship to the seven naturalized players, and for lying about their Malay language proficiency?



Yes, there is one Malay hero who has been missing since the saga started weeks ago. Where is Akmal Saleh, the greatest defender and champion of Malay special rights when we need him the most? FIFA’s sanction and fine on the seven players and FAM were arguably an attack on not only “Tanah Melayu” and “Ketuanan Melayu” (Malay supremacy), but also an insult on Malay privileges and the monarchy.




From the top leadership of FAM to the Director General of NRD, and from Home Minister Saifuddin to Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail, they are all Malays with special privileges. Who the hell is FIFA to punish, let alone to lecture FAM on what it can and cannot do? Even if documents had been doctored or fabricated, that was within the special rights of the Malays.



UMNO Youth Chief Akmal should threaten FIFA with his infamous samurai sword, the same way he had previously threatened the minority ethnic Chinese with the Japanese sword when he called for a nationwide boycott of KK Mart over a sock incident. Or does “village champion” Akmal only know how to bully Chinese community, but has no balls to confront an international institution like FIFA?



Akmal, the big talker who had threatened to organize a mega rally to protest against U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Malaysia, only to chicken out and allowed pro-Israel Trump to dance on “Tanah Melayu”, should at least defend the Malay language by demanding Saifuddin to explain why seven foreigners who can’t speak Bahasa Malaysia were granted citizenship so easily and so quickly.




Hilariously, not a single Malay champion from the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) has defended the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) or the Malay Ruler despite condemnation from “kafir” FIFA. In fact, Akmal and UMNO should organise a mega rally to protest FIFA’s interference in the internal affairs of FAM. It’s an insult to the Malay dignity that Akmal is as quiet as a church mouse.

***

Hannah Yeoh is NOT scared of FIFA but is of the velle BIG MOUNTAIN behind FAM. Nothing terrifies a manja-sayang pollie like Hannah than meddling around with the 3R's sacred cow.

Akmal prefers to threaten the minority Malaysian Chinese (not China's Chinese).

Israeli forces kill 24 Palestinians in Gaza; Hamas urges US to intervene

al Jazeera:

Israeli forces kill 24 Palestinians in Gaza; Hamas urges US to intervene

Israeli attacks target Palestinians in their cars, shelters and homes in latest violation of the US-brokered truce

Israeli ceasefire violations: More than 20 Palestinians killed in wave of strikes

By Al Jazeera Staff and News Agencies
Published On 22 Nov 2025


Israel’s military has launched a wave of air attacks across Gaza, killing at least 24 Palestinians, including children, in its latest violation of a six-week old ceasefire in the war-torn territory.

The attacks on Saturday also wounded 87 others, according to authorities in Gaza.

Witnesses said the first strike hit a car in northern Gaza City, and was followed by more attacks in central Deir el-Balah and the Nuseirat refugee camp.

The drone attack in Gaza City killed at least 11 people and wounded 20 others, according to the managing director of al-Shifa Hospital, Rami Mhanna. It happened in the city’s Remal neighbourhood.

In Deir el-Balah, at least three people, including a woman, were killed when an Israeli strike hit a house there.

Khalil Abu Hatab, a witness, said the attack caused a “powerful explosion”.

“I looked outside and saw smoke covering the entire area. I couldn’t see a thing. I covered my ears and started shouting to the others in the tent to run,” he said.

“When I looked again, I realised the upper floor of my neighbour’s house was gone. It’s a fragile ceasefire. This is not a life we can live. There’s no safe place.”




‘Systematic violations’

The Israeli attack on Nuseirat also hit a residential building.

Anas al-Saloul, who witnessed the attack, said he was sitting in his home when a missile suddenly hit his neighbour’s house.

“We took the injured and came to the hospital,” he said. “There were injuries and deaths, and everyone in the street was covered in debris,” he added.

According to the Gaza Government Media Office, Israel has violated the United States-brokered ceasefire at least 497 times since it came into effect on October 10.

Some 342 civilians have been killed in the attacks, with children, women and the elderly accounting for the majority of the victims.

“We condemn in the strongest terms the continued serious and systematic violations of the ceasefire agreement by the Israeli occupation authorities,” the office said in a statement.

“These violations constitute a flagrant breach of international humanitarian law and the humanitarian protocol attached to the agreement. Among these violations, 27 occurred today, Saturday, resulting in 24 martyrs and 87 wounded,” it added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said it launched the attacks after a Hamas fighter attacked Israeli soldiers in Israeli-held territory.

“In response, Israel eliminated five senior Hamas [fighters],” it said in a statement.

There was no immediate comment from Hamas on the slain fighters.




‘Fabricated pretexts’

Earlier in the day, as the attacks unfolded, the Palestinian group accused Israel of violating the truce “under fabricated pretexts” and called on mediators – the US, Egypt and Qatar – to intervene immediately.

It also said Israel has pushed westward beyond the yellow line, where Israeli troops are stationed in Gaza, and is changing the boundary set out as part of the deal.

“We call upon the mediators to intervene urgently and exert pressure to immediately halt these violations,” the Palestinian group said in a statement. “We also demand that the US administration fulfil its commitments and compel [Israel] to implement its obligations, and to confront its attempts to undermine the ceasefire in Gaza.”

A senior official also dismissed reports in Saudi Arabia-owned Al Arabiya that claimed it had called off the ceasefire.

“Israel is fabricating pretexts to evade the agreement and return to the war of annihilation, while it is the one violating the agreement daily and systematically,” Izzat al-Risheq, member of the Hamas political bureau, told Quds News Network.

Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Gaza City, said the latest attacks were traumatising for Palestinians.

“This is a reminder that the ceasefire is quite fragile, and in fact, [the] violence never ended at all,” he said. “What was going at a very fast pace in the past few years has now turned into this slow and steady pattern of killing,” he added.




West Bank attacks

Meanwhile, more Israeli military and settler violence was reported on Saturday in the occupied West Bank amid what the United Nations has described as a record-breaking surge in attacks on Palestinians.
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The Palestinian news agency Wafa said Israeli settlers assaulted Palestinian farmers southeast of Masafer Yatta, in the West Bank’s South Hebron Hills area.

Separately, Wafa said Israeli soldiers also wounded two Palestinians during a raid in Dura, a town south of Hebron.

Israeli attacks in the West Bank have increased in the shadow of Israel’s war on Gaza, which has killed nearly 70,000 Palestinians in the coastal enclave since October 2023.

They also come as members of Israel’s far-right government push to formally annex the territory.




Last week, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights noted that 260 Israeli settler attacks were recorded in October – more than in any month since 2006.

“The surge in violence comes as Israeli authorities have ramped up home demolitions, the seizure of property, arrests, and movement restrictions, alongside the unabated building of settlements and outposts and the forcible displacement and transfer of thousands of Palestinians by Israeli settlers and the military,” Thameen al-Kheetan said in a statement.

“Permanently displacing the Palestinian population within occupied territory amounts to unlawful transfer, which is a war crime. The transfer by Israel of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies also amounts to a war crime.”