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There Are Three Times More Attacks By Palestinians Than Israelis in the West Bank and Jerusalem

Illustrative: Israeli forces work at the scene of a suspected terrorist attack at a checkpoint outside of Jerusalem, in the West Bank, March 13, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Ilan Rosenberg

When are material omissions in media coverage evidence of something more than just sloppy journalism? Persistence is one factor to consider. So too is whether the omissions consistently skew toward one side of a conflict or debate. Both of these factors characterize CNN’s coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Consider one of the network’s recent reports.

In their November 5 article, “Israeli attacks in West Bank killed at least eight people, officials and residents say,” Kareem Khadder and Sana Noor Haq manage to omit an impressive number of crucial details in a transparent effort to depict Israelis in the most cynical light possible.

The story is focused on Israeli operations in several areas of the West Bank on November 4-5, during which CNN says eight Palestinians were killed. The first major omission: the reason why the IDF was operating in the first place. The IDF arrested some 60 members of the terrorist organization Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), seized weapons, and destroyed an explosives laboratory being used by terrorists.

But the worst omissions are when Khadder and Noor Haq get down into the details of the raids, or rather, into just some of the details.

They write that “[t]wo Palestinians were killed in the town of Tamoun.” But readers are left unaware that both Palestinians were members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The terrorist organization itself had announced that its “armed wing” members had clashed with Israeli forces in Tamoun on that day.

CNN continues: “In the village of Al-Shuhada, near the city of Jenin, an Israeli airstrike killed two people.” But according to the IDF, those “two people” were “armed terrorists” who had been shooting and throwing explosives at Israeli forces. The IDF’s statement was nowhere to be found in CNN’s story.

Khadder and Noor Haq also write: “in the city of Qabatya …. two others [were] killed when an Israeli military vehicle rammed a car and opened fire, according to residents and video seen by CNN.”

But both occupants were terrorists, including Majdi Hamza Ahmed Shkira, a member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad who was already wanted for acts of terrorism. Palestinian Islamic Jihad itself boasted about its terrorists “clashing” with Israeli forces in Qabatya, too.

Moreover, the evidence suggests the terrorists rammed into the Israeli military vehicle, not the other way around. The IDF’s version of events, which the journalists also omitted in violation of basic journalistic ethics, was that “soldiers identified a suspicious vehicle that sped towards them and crashed into them,” wounding two of them.

CNN notably doesn’t show the video it relied on to reach its conclusions, but footage and images available online support the IDF’s story.

The footage shows two IDF vehicles in a defensive position, blocking the road. This is standard practice: one can find dozens of images of Israeli forces operating in the West Bank positioning their vehicles in similar fashion. Just a few feet away from the IDF vehicles sits a sedan with severe damage to its front hood, indicating it hit something head on.

It’s difficult to make definitive conclusions based on these images, but these facts do provide some important clarity and a basis to determine the reliability of any conclusions. So why wouldn’t these pieces of information be included when they help shed light toward the truth? Is it because they cast doubt on CNN’s definitive conclusion of Israeli wrongdoing?

Khadder and Noor Haq’s pattern of omissions didn’t end there, though.

Continuing CNN’s tradition of giving its audience half-truths on violence in the West Bank, Khadder and Noor Haq claimed that “at least 775 Palestinians, including 167 children” have been killed by “Israeli troops and settlers” since October 7. They also claimed that “nearly 1,600 settler attacks against Palestinians have been recorded” during the same period.

But CNN leaves out the other side of the story: Palestinian violence. From October 2023 through September 2024 — excluding the month of January 2024, for which data was not immediately available — there have been 4,916 attacks by Palestinians against Israelis in the West Bank and Jerusalem, including 1,140 firebombs, 695 pipe bombs, 253 shooting attacks, and 277 arson attacks, as well as ramming attacks, stabbing attacks, car bombings, and even a suicide attack. That’s at least three times as many attacks against Israelis as there were against Palestinians.

These attacks have been deadly, too, killing 40 Israelis and wounding nearly 300 more.

The emphasis on Palestinian child casualties is also misleading. While every death of a child is tragic, it is an established fact that Palestinian children are regularly involved in terrorism. The data shows that this trend continues to be highly relevant to the story. Databases on Palestinian fatalities show that between October 7, 2023 and March 31, 2024, 17-year-olds accounted for 36% of all deaths of minors. More than three-quarters (76%) of all minors killed during the period were aged 15 or older. The circumstances of many of those deaths, even according to anti-Israel activist organizations like B’Tselem, indicate they were involved in violence.

Together, Khadder and Noor Haq’s omissions demonstrate an unmistakable bias. They work to erase the violence of Palestinians while depicting Israelis as needlessly violent and oppressive. For media consumers seeking straightforward and honest reporting, CNN is clearly not the answer.

David M. Litman is a Research Analyst at the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis (CAMERA).

The post There Are Three Times More Attacks By Palestinians Than Israelis in the West Bank and Jerusalem first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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Switzerland Moves to Close Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s Geneva Office Over Legal Irregularities

Palestinians carry aid supplies received from the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in the central Gaza Strip, May 29, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Ramadan Abed/File Photo

Switzerland has moved to shut down the Geneva office of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US- and Israeli-backed aid group, citing legal irregularities in its establishment.

The GHF began distributing food packages in Gaza in late May, implementing a new aid delivery model aimed at preventing the diversion of supplies by Hamas, as Israel continues its defensive military campaign against the Palestinian terrorist group.

The initiative has drawn criticism from the UN and international organizations, some of which have claimed that Jerusalem is causing starvation in the war-torn enclave.

Israel has vehemently denied such accusations, noting that, until its recently imposed blockade, it had provided significant humanitarian aid in the enclave throughout the war.

Israeli officials have also said much of the aid that flows into Gaza is stolen by Hamas, which uses it for terrorist operations and sells the rest at high prices to Gazan civilians.

With a subsidiary registered in Geneva, the GHF — headquartered in Delaware — reports having delivered over 56 million meals to Palestinians in just one month.

According to a regulatory announcement published Wednesday in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce, the Federal Supervisory Authority for Foundations (ESA) may order the dissolution of the GHF if no creditors come forward within the legal 30-day period.

The Trump administration did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the Swiss decision to shut down its Geneva office.

“The GHF confirmed to the ESA that it had never carried out activities in Switzerland … and that it intends to dissolve the Geneva-registered branch,” the ESA said in a statement.

Last week, Geneva authorities gave the GHF a 30-day deadline to address legal shortcomings or risk facing enforcement measures.

Under local laws and regulations, the foundation failed to meet several requirements: it did not appoint a board member authorized to sign documents domiciled in Switzerland, did not have the minimum three board members, lacked a Swiss bank account and valid address, and operated without an auditing body.

The GHF operates independently from UN-backed mechanisms, which Hamas has sought to reinstate, arguing that these vehicles are more neutral.

Israeli and American officials have rejected those calls, saying Hamas previously exploited UN-run systems to siphon aid for its war effort.

The UN has denied those allegations while expressing concerns that the GHF’s approach forces civilians to risk their safety by traveling long distances across active conflict zones to reach food distribution points.

The post Switzerland Moves to Close Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s Geneva Office Over Legal Irregularities first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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Key US Lawmaker Warns Ireland of Potential Economic Consequences for ‘Antisemitic Path’ Against Israel

US Sen. James Risch (R-ID) speaks during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Washington, DC, May 21, 2024. Photo: Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman James Risch (R-ID) issued a sharp warning Tuesday, accusing Ireland of embracing antisemitism and threatening potential economic consequences if the Irish government proceeds with new legislation targeting Israeli trade.

“Ireland, while often a valuable U.S. partner, is on a hateful, antisemitic path that will only lead to self-inflicted economic suffering,” Risch wrote in a post on X. “If this legislation is implemented, America will have to seriously reconsider its deep and ongoing economic ties. We will always stand up to blatant antisemitism.”

Marking a striking escalation in rhetoric from a senior US lawmaker, Risch’s comments came amid growing tensions between Ireland and Israel, which have intensified dramatically since the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Those attacks, in which roughly 1,200 Israelis were killed and more than 200 taken hostage, prompted a months-long Israeli military campaign in Gaza that has drawn widespread international scrutiny. Ireland has positioned itself as one of the most vocal critics of Israel’s response, accusing the Israeli government of disproportionate use of force and calling for immediate humanitarian relief and accountability for the elevated number of Palestinian civilian casualties.

Dublin’s stance has included tangible policy shifts. In May 2024, Ireland formally recognized a Palestinian state, becoming one of the first European Union members to do so following the outbreak of the war in Gaza. The move was condemned by Israeli officials, who recalled their ambassador to Ireland and accused the Irish government of legitimizing terrorism. Since then, Irish lawmakers have proposed further measures, including legislation aimed at restricting imports from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, policies viewed in Israel and among many American lawmakers as aligning with the controversial Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

While Irish leaders have defended their approach as grounded in international law and human rights, critics in Washington, including Risch, have portrayed it as part of a broader pattern of hostility toward Israel. Some US lawmakers have begun raising the possibility of reevaluating trade and diplomatic ties with Ireland in response.

Risch’s warning is one of the clearest indications yet that Ireland’s policies toward Israel could carry economic consequences. The United States is one of Ireland’s largest trading partners, and American companies such as Apple, Google, Meta and Pfizer maintain substantial operations in the country, drawn by Ireland’s favorable tax regime and access to the EU market.

Though the Trump administration has not echoed Risch’s warning, the remarks reflect growing unease in Washington about the trajectory of Ireland’s foreign policy. The State Department has maintained a careful balancing act, expressing strong support for Israel’s security while calling for increased humanitarian access in Gaza. Officials have stopped short of condemning Ireland’s actions directly but have expressed concern about efforts they see as isolating Israel on the international stage.

Ireland’s stance is emblematic of a growing international divide over the war. While the US continues to provide military and diplomatic backing to Israel, many European countries have called for an immediate ceasefire and investigations into alleged war crimes.

Irish public opinion has long leaned pro-Palestinian, and Irish lawmakers have repeatedly voiced concern over the scale of destruction in Gaza and the dire humanitarian situation.

Irish officials have not yet responded to The Algemeiner’s request for comment.

The post Key US Lawmaker Warns Ireland of Potential Economic Consequences for ‘Antisemitic Path’ Against Israel first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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Israel Condemns Iran’s Suspension of IAEA Cooperation, Urges Europe to Reinstate UN Sanctions

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar at a press conference in Berlin, Germany, June 5, 2025. REUTERS/Christian Mang/File Photo

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Wednesday condemned Iran’s decision to halt cooperation with the UN’s nuclear watchdog and called on the international community to reinstate sanctions to curb Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

“Iran has just issued a scandalous announcement about suspending its cooperation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency),” Saar wrote in a post on X. “This is a complete renunciation of all its international nuclear obligations and commitments.”

Last week, the Iranian parliament voted to suspend cooperation with the IAEA “until the safety and security of [the country’s] nuclear activities can be guaranteed.”

“The IAEA and its Director-General are fully responsible for this sordid state of affairs,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in a post on X.

The top Iranian diplomat said this latest decision was “a direct result of [IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi’s] regrettable role in obfuscating the fact that the Agency — a full decade ago — already closed all past issues.

“Through this malign action,” Araghchi continued, “he directly facilitated the adoption of a politically-motivated resolution against Iran by the IAEA [Board of Governors] as well as the unlawful Israeli and US bombings of Iranian nuclear sites.”

On Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian approved a bill banning UN nuclear inspectors from entering the country until the Supreme National Security Council decides that there is no longer a threat to the safety of its nuclear sites.

In response, Saar urged European countries that were part of the now-defunct 2015 nuclear deal to activate its “snapback” clause and reinstate all UN sanctions lifted under the agreement.

Officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), this accord between Iran and several world powers imposed temporary restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

During his first term, US President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal and reinstated unilateral sanctions on Iran.

“The time to activate the Snapback mechanism is now! I call upon the E3 countries — Germany, France and the UK to reinstate all sanctions against Iran!” Saar wrote in a post on X.

“The international community must act decisively now and utilize all means at its disposal to stop Iranian nuclear ambitions,” he continued.

Saar’s latest remarks come after Araghchi met last week in Geneva with his counterparts from Britain, France, Germany and the European Union’s Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas — their first meeting since the Iran-Israel war began.

Europe is actively urging Iran to reengage in talks with the White House to prevent further escalation of tensions, but has yet to address the issue of reinstating sanctions.

Speaking during an official visit to Latvia on Tuesday, Saar said that “Operation Rising Lion” — Israel’s sweeping military campaign aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities — has “revealed the full extent of the Iranian regime’s threat to Israel, Europe, and the global order.”

“Iran deliberately targeted civilian population centers with its ballistic missiles,” Saar said at a press conference. “The same missile threat can reach Europe, including Latvia and the Baltic states.”

“Israel’s actions against the head of the snake in Iran contributed directly to the safety of Europe,” the Israeli top diplomat continued, adding that Israeli strikes have set back the Iranian nuclear program by many years.

The post Israel Condemns Iran’s Suspension of IAEA Cooperation, Urges Europe to Reinstate UN Sanctions first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

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