Artists, speakers protest SXSW festival over defence sponsors, Gaza war
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/13/artists-and-speakers-protest-sxsw-festival-over-defence-sponsors-gaza-war
Dozens of acts scheduled to appear at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in the US have withdrawn in an act of protest against sponsors with ties to Israel’s war in Gaza.
As of Wednesday, at least 80 artists and panellists have pulled out of the nine-day festival, citing the involvement of several weapons companies and agencies tied to the US Department of Defense, according to the Austin for Palestine Coalition, which helped organise the protest.
Italy rejects Israel’s request for Palestinian’s extradition over rights concerns
An appeals court in Italy has refused to send a suspected Palestinian fighter to Israel, saying he risked “cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment” if he was extradited, the Reuters news agency reported.
A panel of three judges in the city of L’Aquila said Anan Kamal Afif Yaeesh, 36, would face “acts constituting a violation of human rights” if the extradition request was granted, Reuters reported.
Yaeesh was one of three Palestinians arrested in central Italy on Monday on suspicion they were planning to blow up illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to Italian media.
White House set to impose new sanctions on 2 Israeli outposts: Report
The Biden administration is set to impose new sanctions on two Israeli outposts in the occupied West Bank and three individual Israeli settlers today, outlet Axios reports, quoting three US officials.
The illegal outposts – as settlements not authorised by the Israeli government are called – were not named in the report, but were used as a base for attacks by extremist settlers on Palestinian civilians, the officials said. The Israeli settlers were also unnamed.
The move would represent the first time the US has imposed sanctions on entire outposts and not just individual settlers. “The sanctions against the two outposts are meant to send the message that the US is targeting not only individuals but also entities that are involved in giving logistical and financial support to attacks against Palestinian civilians,” reported Axios.
Houthis successfully test hypersonic missile
The Yemen-based Houthis have successfully tested a hypersonic missile, according to Russian state media RIA Novosti, quoting a military source close to the group. “The group’s missile forces have successfully tested a missile that is capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 8 and runs on solid fuel,” the source said.
The source added that the Iran-backed Houthis intend to use the rocket, which it will manufacture itself, for military operations in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, as well as on targets in Israel.
The Houthis have been carrying out attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November in protest of Israel’s war on Gaza.
Western leaders exposed as Netanyahu’s ‘useful idiots’
Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst Marwan Bishara highlights the complicity of Western leaders, portraying them as “useful idiots” for supporting Netanyahu’s genocidal war in Gaza. He emphasises that despite being five months too late, Western criticism of the Israeli war on Gaza is now gaining momentum.
Bishara suggests that as Israel weaponises hunger and persists in its massacres, the international community must reassess its stance and take decisive action.
