Peter Svec’s Post

Feds United for Peace was started in October 2023 when it became clear that U.S. policy was to support Israel's military response to the Hamas attacks no matter the negative consequences for Palestinian civilians, U.S. interests in the region, or indeed even Israeli citizens and hostages. Feds United has consistently demanded change to U.S. policy, asking that it be consistent with U.S. law, international law, and Administration policies. We demand a ceasefire, return of hostages, and accountability for war crimes. We demand that our government cease military support, in accordance with the law, based on the illegal use of U.S. weapons by Israel. Feds United has sponsored federal employee actions within the requirements of the civil service as well as supported those who speak publicly. Read our principles document: https://lnkd.in/ePrcizbX

⚖️Today marks the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the #GenevaConventions for the Protection of War Victims. In 1949, all countries of the world agreed that there should be rules in war, ratifying and committing themselves to abide by them.   It was on 12 August 1949 that the four Geneva Conventions were signed:   📜 The First Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field 📜 The Second Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea 📜 The Third Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War 📜 The Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War   These conventions have become universally ratified documents, accepted and confirmed by most states as a fundamental legal standard. Their importance cannot be overstated. The primary purpose of the Geneva Conventions is to protect those not actively involved in hostilities: the wounded, the sick, the shipwrecked, prisoners of war, and civilians. Any denial or disregard of the norms established in these conventions not only undermines the foundations of humanity but also threatens the existence of humankind as a whole.   #redcrossukraine #Ukraine #HumanRights #WarProtection #InternationalHumanitarianLaw #IHL

New Post: For Many Ukrainians, It’s a 10-Year Anniversary of War - https://lnkd.in/gJQzvcDM - Russia’s invasion came in two phases, many Ukrainians say: the first a decade ago, when it sent soldiers over the border in an unacknowledged military intervention, and the second when it began its full assault two years ago. - #news #business #world -------------------------------------------------- Download: Stupid Simple CMS - https://lnkd.in/g4y9XFgR -------------------------------------------------- or download at SourceForge - https://lnkd.in/gNqB7dnp

As Israel battles Hamas terrorists raining rockets on its cities, President Biden's decision to withhold vital military aid has sparked outrage across the political spectrum. A few days ago, in a scathing letter to the White House, a group of 26 Democratic lawmakers joined Republican critics in condemning the move as a dangerous capitulation to the progressive wing's anti-Israel bias. The bipartisan rebuke underscores the gravity of Biden's blunder at a time when Israel faces an existential threat. By subordinating the Jewish state's security to partisan appeasement, the administration has emboldened Hamas and undermined regional stability. The president still has an opportunity to admit his mistake and correct this misguided policy. Failure to do so risks further erosion of U.S. credibility among allies and adversaries alike. It is time for Biden to prioritize national interests over the demands of a vocal minority and stand firmly with Israel in its hour of need.

So Jagmeet Singh, the leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada, a federal party riddled with antisemitism post October 7, just equivocated Hamas terrorist leadership to the democratically elected Israeli leadership. This comparison is reprehensible and unbecoming of any leader. Hamas leadership orchestrated the maim, murder, sexual abuse, and rape of innocent Israelis in the most horrific and barbaric ways. October 7th was the single largest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust. They also kidnapped 240+ innocent people into Gaza, where 100+ still remain and are held captive to this day, 7 MONTHS LATER. The State of Israel, and it's leadership are fighting a defensive war against a group of terrorists who hide behind their own civilians, steal food and aid, and purposely let their own people suffer in order to try and exert more international pressure on Israel. On top of this, Israel has taken unprecented measures to ensure as much civilian life is saved as possible. As stated by John Spencer, chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute (MWI) at West Point, during this conflict Israel has provided days and then weeks of warnings. The Israel Defense Forces has employed their practice of calling and texting ahead of an air strike as well as roof-knocking, where they drop small munitions on the roof of a building notifying everyone to evacuate the building before a strike. No military has ever implemented any of these practices in war before. Yet, even though all of this is factually proven and readily available information, Jagmeet Singh applauds this decision by the ICC. This equivocation between Israeli leadership and literal terrorists is beyond the pale, and we call on Jagmeet Singh to immediately withdraw this horrific statement. Absolutely unacceptable.

From the WSJ Op-ed by Gerard Baker: An intriguing statistical analysis by Abraham Wyner in Tablet magazine last week scrutinized the number published by Hamas and noted several statistical oddities, including an implausibly steady and consistent increase in the dead day by day and a curiously tiny number of civilian men among the casualties. “Taken together Hamas is reporting not only that 70 percent of casualties are women and children, but also that 20 percent are fighters,” he notes. “This is not possible unless Israel is somehow not killing noncombatant men, or else Hamas is claiming that almost all the men in Gaza are Hamas fighters.” If the actual number killed is somewhat below 30,000, and Israel has killed somewhere close to the 12,000 fighters it claims, then the rough ratio of combatants to noncombatants killed is around 1 to 1. For recent comparison, estimates of the total number of Islamic State fighters killed in the coalition war against Islamic State in the battles of Mosul and Raqqa in 2016 and 2017 ranges from 10,000 to 15,000. According to evidence presented to a U.K. parliamentary committee, that battle resulted in the loss of at least 11,000 civilian lives, a similar ratio to what Israel has probably achieved in Gaza. Yet that fight—waged mostly by Arab armies, with help from the U.S.—is hailed as a necessary fight to eliminate a terrorist organization. Why does Israel always seem to be held to a different standard? To see the answer, to understand why Israel is usually portrayed as the blood-lusting warmonger, it might be helpful to reframe our original question. Instead of asking what Israel has to do to be allowed to defend itself, we might simply ask: What do Jews have to do to be allowed to defend themselves?

🔻DON’T BE DISTRACTED🔻 Representatives and supporters of Israel’s apartheid government are doing everything they can to ensure we lose focus. They’re counting on us to fall for their false accusations and be demoralized by their repression. But we won’t let up: The movement for Palestinian liberation is not a distraction. Here’s what supporters of the Israeli government are trying to silence: starting Sunday night and continuing through this morning, with the United States’ full funding and endorsement, the Israeli military bombed displaced Palestinians in Rafah (allegedly a “safety zone”) and murdered at least 30 people. The bravery of Palestinians in the face of state violence and unrelenting attacks sets an example for all of us. We must all remain just as steadfast in our demands for an end to US weapons to the Israeli military, an end to genocide, and a future of Palestinian liberation. We will not rest until we get justice. Source: Jewish Voice for Peace ☮️

Impending Prisoner Exchange: A Wake-Up Call for the West The impending prisoner exchange between Russia and the West, the largest since the Cold War, is more than just a symbolic gesture. It is a clear signal that Russia is engaged in a hybrid conflict with us. This exchange clearly shows that we are dealing with an adversary willing to assert its power position by any means necessary. From cyberattacks to disinformation campaigns to military actions – the range of methods employed is vast. It is time to acknowledge this reality and act accordingly. Our responses must be as multifaceted and determined as the challenges we face. Only through close cooperation, strategic planning, and decisive actions can we defend our values and interests. Even with this exchange, Russia achieves its goals, sometimes at high costs, but in the end, the gains matter most. We have to face this Reality. #Geopolitics #Security #Unity #Strategy #Russia #West #HybridConflict

🇮🇱🇵🇸 The Prime Minister's Office publishes Israel's positions on the agreement. The Prime Minister's Office stated: "The Prime Minister's firm stand against the attempt to stop the IDF operation in Rafah is what brought Hamas to enter into negotiations. The Prime Minister continues to firmly stand by the principles already agreed upon by Israel. 1 - Any deal will allow Israel to return and fight until all the goals of the war are achieved. 2 - It will not be possible to smuggle weapons to Hamas from the Gaza border to Egypt. 3 - The return of thousands of armed terrorists to the north of the Gaza Strip will not be possible. 4 - Israel will maximize the number of live hostages that will be returned from Hamas captivity. The Prime Minister's Office also stated : "The outline that was agreed upon and received the blessing of President Biden will allow Israel to return abductees without harming the other goals of the war."

It’s interesting how Vice President Harris, National Security Advisor Sullivan, and President Biden have successively spoken today about the role of US intelligence and special operations forces in supporting Israel’s prosecution of the war following October 7 and the pursuit of terror targets. What’s curious about these declarations is that the killing of Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’s leader in Gaza and the mastermind behind the October 7 attack, was not the result of a targeted assassination; instead, it happened unexpectedly and as part of a seemingly random firefight between an Israeli patrol and Sinwar. These statements by the most senior US administration officials may be part of a broader political pressure to remind Israeli decision-makers that without American support, Israel would not have been as successful in weakening Hamas in Gaza and eliminating those responsible for the massacre. Importantly, this points to current and impending US pressure on Israel to use the killing of Sinwar as a possible off-ramp for ending the war and initiating a transitional period through a hostage deal and the cessation of large-scale kinetic operations that have proven deadly for the Palestinian civilian population.