Protesters block Knesset entrance before state budget vote

Demonstrators have blocked the entrance to Israel’s Knesset in an attempt to thwart a vote on the state budget before police forcibly dispersed the crowd.

Hundreds of demonstrators participated in the rally in West Jerusalem to express their dissent towards what they described as the “looting budget”, Israeli media reported.

Opposition leader Benny Gantz said the 2025 budget is a “symbol of the disconnection and shamelessness” of Netanyahu’s government because it expresses “crooked and sectoral priorities”.

Netanyahu needs the support of far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir – who resigned in January, angry over the Gaza ceasefire – to ensure the budget’s passage. If the budget does not pass by March 31, snap elections will be triggered.

‘Silencing’: Amnesty slams Israeli killing of Palestinian journalists in Gaza

Amnesty International, a global rights group, has reacted to yesterday’s killing of two Palestinian journalists by Israel in Gaza, including Hossam Shabat, a journalist for Al Jazeera Mubasher.

“Silencing those who are tirelessly working for Palestinian voices to be heard is part of how Israel maintains it’s system of apartheid and impunity for its genocide against Palestinians in Gaza,” the group said on X.

This comes as yesterday Israel killed two Palestinian journalists in Gaza, in the latest escalation of its military operations.

— Amnesty International (@amnesty) March 25, 2025

Dutch Christian groups reportedly fund illegal Israeli settlements

https://nltimes.nl/2025/03/25/dutch-foundation-offers-buy-weapons-illegal-israeli-settlers-dutch-donations

The Dutch foundation Israel Heartland offers to use the money raised from Dutch and other European donors to subsidize weapons for Israeli settlers illegally occupying the West Bank. The foundation also uses these donations to financially support Israeli occupiers who are on the European sanctions list for using extreme and sometimes deadly violence against Palestinian civilians, according to research by Investico, BOOS, the Nederlands Dagblad, and De Groene Amsterdammer.

The Dutch media held undercover interviews with the directors of Israel Heartland and have recordings of the two men admitting to offering to fund weapons for the illegal occupation of Palestinian territory and financially supporting sanctioned Israeli settlers.


Israel Heartland is based in Reeuwijk and has ANBI status, which marks it as a “public benefit institution.” In practice that means the foundation enjoys certain tax benefits and donations to the foundation are tax-deductible. The Dutch media spoke with Israeli lawyer Nati Rom, who founded Israel Heartland and raises money worldwide for the Israeli settlers on the West Bank, and Arjen Domburg, the Dutch chairman of the foundation.

The Dutch foundation Israel Heartland transfers European donations to an Israeli foundation that Rom also manages. Rom told the undercover journalists that he uses the money he raises to finance, among other things, the construction of houses, legal fees, and to financially assist Israeli settlers on the EU sanctions list for extreme violence against Palestinian civilians. He also said that he uses the donations to help settlers buy weapons.


“One of the things we can do is subsidize pistols,” Rom said in a recorded conversation, according to Investico. “You don’t have to subsidize everything, but half or three-quarters of the purchase price.” That means the foundation avoids making direct weapon purchases itself.

When transferring money to Israel, Dutch chairman Domburg uses descriptions that are as neutral as possible so that they don’t rouse suspicion at the foundation’s bank, Bunq. “I can of course mention cameras and quads. I will never use ‘weapons’ in internet things,” Domburg explained to the journalists.

Domburg also described a cash flow to Israel. He said that, among others, Christenen voor Israël - the largest Christian-Zionist organization in the Netherlands - donated cash collections it raised. Loyal donors who regularly visit Israel then smuggle the cash there, tens of thousands of euros at a time, Domburg said. “One lives in Assen. And I have someone else in Zaltbommel, and in Oudekerk.”


To financially support sanctioned Israeli settlers, Rom uses “food vouchers” that can also be spent in other shops “for tools, for example.” The undercover journalists asked him outright whether he used the vouchers to circumvent European sanctions. Rom answered: “Yes exactly.”

Lawyer Yvo Amar called the use of food vouchers “an absolute violation of European sanctions.” The sanctions stipulate that the person can not get any money or economic resources.

Anne de Jong, senior lecturer in Anthropology at the University of Amsterdam and a specialist in the occupation of the West Bank, agrees. According to her, the foundation is contributing to human rights violations by supporting these colonists. “You are simply participating in the lawless aggression of colonists, with unilateral armed robberies, threats, extortion, and in some cases murder.”

Tip of the iceberg, no doubt many groups in many countries fund the illegal Settlers.

US Congress should not continue funding ‘horrific’ Gaza violence: Lawmaker

Democratic Congressman Jonathan Jackson says he is “horrified” by the renewed Israeli assault on Gaza.

“Nearly 700 people have died since he has broken the ceasefire, making it clear that he has no intention of stopping so long as he is provided with weapons of mass destruction,” Jackson wrote in a social media post.

“We must uphold a standard in congress and cannot keep tolerating and funding this horrific targeted violence.”

I am horrified to hear of Netanyahu's continued escalated destruction of Gaza. Nearly 700 people have died since he has broken the ceasefire, making it clear that he has no intention of stopping so long as he is provided with weapons of mass destruction.

We must uphold a…

— Rep. Jonathan L. Jackson (@rep_jackson) March 25, 2025

Moody’s keeps Israel’s negative fiscal outlook

The credit rating company has warned of Israel’s “very high political risks that have weakened economic and fiscal strength”.

A periodic review of Israel’s credit rating has left it at Baa1 so far, with a negative forecast, despite the approval of the budget at the Knesset earlier in the day.

“Uncertainty over Israel’s longer-term security and economic growth prospects are much higher than is typical, with risks to the high-tech sector particularly relevant, given its important role as a driver of economic growth and significant contributor to the government’s tax take,” Moody’s said in the update quoted by the Israeli media.

“We may stabilize the outlook if there are clear prospects for a durable cooling down of the military conflicts, in turn allowing Israel’s institutions to formulate policies that support the recovery of the economy and public finances and restore security while dealing with a wide range of policy priorities,” it added.

US intelligence assessment says Hamas retains fighters, infrastructure

The US intelligence community says in its Annual Threat Assessment that Hamas’s popularity has declined in Gaza but remains high in the West Bank, “especially relative to the Palestinian Authority”.

“The group retains thousands of fighters and much of its underground infrastructure, and probably has used the ceasefire to reinforce and resupply its military and munitions stock so that it can fight again,” the report reads.

“Hamas is capable of resuming a low-level guerilla resistance and to remain the dominant political action in Gaza for the foreseeable future.”

What I find very interesting. Is that there are many protests in Isreal against the goverment. But at the same time there is equal amount of support for them.

Main events on March 25th

Israel’s approval of new budget could move truce talks forward

Israel has passed a new budget into law, despite widespread protests trying to stop it. And now, Israeli media is reporting that Israel is ready to accept the US’s bridge proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza if Hamas agrees to it.

The proposal would resume the ceasefire for weeks and allow humanitarian assistance back into Gaza, as well as the release of five Israeli captives, the bodies of several others killed in captivity and Palestinian prisoners.

But it would not end the war.

Negotiations on this proposal were under way when Israel resumed bombing Gaza, killing more than 700 Palestinians in predawn strikes over a week ago, including more than 200 children.

The onslaught allowed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to consolidate his coalition and secure this unprecedented budget – that slashes wages and social services and raises taxes to fund the Israeli government’s multi-frontal wars with $30bn.

Protests lasted all day, with Knesset members partaking during the vote. Some held up signs reading 59, a reference to the number of Israeli captives still in Gaza.

Coalition leaders, unfazed, called the protesters a handful of anarchists. The far-right Israeli finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, called the budget one of “war”, saying, “With God’s help, it will be a budget of victory.”

Israel’s announcement on the ceasefire efforts was timed perfectly for Netanyahu – his rule is safe, for now, and the protests could be defused. In Gaza, this news brings hope to Palestinians that the carnage will stop and that starvation is averted.

Bombing 2 million people while starving them and denying any aid, all to get a budget approved...

Israeli court extends Dr Hussam Abu Safia’s detention

Lawyers for the director of Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital say that an Israeli court has extended his detention for another six months, claiming the paediatrician poses a “threat to the security of the State of Israel”.

The ruling was based on a “secret file” of evidence submitted to the court by prosecutors.

The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights said its legal team “asserted [Dr Abu Safia’s] innocence and emphasised that he was solely performing medical and administrative duties at Kamal Adwan Hospital”.

The lawyers asked for access to the secret files but the prosecution declined to do so and the court upheld that refusal, it said.

“This ruling underscores the role of Israeli civilian courts in sustaining the illegal occupation of the [occupied Palestinian territory] and reinforcing Israel’s apartheid regime against the Palestinian people,” Al Mezan added, noting that Abu Safia was being held under Israel’s Unlawful Combatants Law.

🚨 BREAKING

Today, the Beer Sheva District Court reviewed and extended Dr. @HussamAbuSafiya's detention for another 6 months.

This ruling underscores the role of Israeli civilian courts in sustaining the illegal occupation of the OPT and reinforcing Israel’s apartheid…

— Al-Mezan الميزان (@AlMezanCenter) March 25, 2025

Chris Hedges: The Last Chapter of Genocide

Israel has begun the final stage of its genocide. The Palestinians will be forced to choose between death or deportation. There are no other options.

Israel never planned to follow ceasefire deal

The Grayzone's Max Blumenthal and Aaron Mate on how the Trump administration covered for Israel shattering the Gaza ceasefire, making way for one of the worst massacres of civilians in recent history.

Australian MP breaks down in tears as she speaks of the genocide in Gaza

‘As my baby slept peacefully next to me, I saw images of Palestinian babies, their feet poking out of the rubble.’

‘I feel they were going to kill me’: Hamdan Ballal recounts attack by Israeli soldiers and settler

The Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary, No Other Land, has spoken to Al Jazeera about the abuse he suffered at the hands of Israeli settlers and soldiers prior to his arrest on Monday.

Ballal said he went to film a settler attack on his neighbour’s home in the village of Susiya in the occupied West Bank, but returned home to his family when he saw things “become more and more dangerous”.

But a settler known to him and two soldiers followed him down to his house.

The attack took place outside his home.

“They hold the gun directly to me, the soldiers… the settler went behind me and directly attacking me with his hands. I don’t know what he held in his hands,” Ballal recounted.

He fell to the ground, and the attack continued.

“The soldiers keep on shouting at me, threatening me, and putting the gun, one time at my neck… they also put the gun on my cheek,” he said.

Ballal said he thought the soldiers and the settler would kill him.

“After October 7, the army let the settlers do what they want. Because the army here, they are settlers with uniforms,” he said.

“The soldiers let him [the settler] beat me and the soldiers also beat me with a gun, I feel – because it was a hard, hard attack. They focus on my head, they kicked my head, and also with a gun. I feel they were going to kill me. Not just to punish me… I feel I would die.”

Ryan Grim: My Colleague KILLED BY IDF

Ryan and Saagar discuss a DropSite colleague being targeted and killed by Israel in Gaza.

‘We remain numbers – World’s indifference allows Israel to destroy Gaza’

After months of genocide, a ceasefire – even one that has allowed them to continue depriving Palestinians in Gaza of their most basic rights to food, water, medical care, education and freedom of movement – proved too much for the Israeli forces. So they decided to continue their war on Gaza.

Israel casually abandoned the ceasefire agreement and restarted its deadly war that had already destroyed Gaza and killed tens of thousands, because it knew the global community would not do anything to stop it.

After all, the world has been largely indifferent to Israel’s many other ceasefire violations and massacres of Palestinians since 1948. Israel has been violating international law without any meaningful consequences since its very inception.

_{A child looks on as people mourn Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks, at the European Hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, on March 20}


Who were the thousands of children Israel killed?

Israel kills a child in Gaza every 45 minutes.

That is an average of 30 children killed every day over the past 535 days. ​

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has killed at least 17,400 children, including 15,600 who have been identified. Many more remain buried under the rubble, most presumed dead.

Many of the surviving children have endured the trauma of multiple wars, and all of them have spent their lives under the oppressive shadow of an Israeli blockade, affecting every aspect of their existence from birth.

Brazil demands explanation over death of Brazilian-Palestinian teen in Israeli prison

Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on the Israeli government to investigate the death of 17-year-old Walid Khalid Abdalla Ahmad in Israel’s Megiddo prison.

The ministry said “the circumstances and exact date of his death have not yet been clarified” and demanded “the necessary explanations from the Israeli government regarding the minor’s death”.

The ministry added that 11 Brazilians living in Palestine, “remain imprisoned in Israel, most of whom have not been formally charged or tried, in clear violation of international humanitarian law”.

The Arab Palestinian Federation of Brazil also mourning Ahmed’s “kidnapping and murder” in the “infamous Megiddo torture camp”.

Ahmad is the 63rd Palestinian to die in Israeli custody since October 7, 2023, according to local officials.

“israel” mantém 11 cidadãos brasileiros sequestrados em campos de tortura; maioria não tem acusação formal

Em nota excessivamente diplomática, o Itamaraty se posicionou sobre o assassinato do brasileiro-palestino Walid Khaled Abdullah Ahmed, 17 anos, sequestrado e assassinado… pic.twitter.com/uuxDhbOE8b

— FEPAL - Federação Árabe Palestina do Brasil (@FepalB) March 25, 2025

Israel relocated Palestinian prisoners from Sde Teiman rather than address abuses: Report

The Israeli military has transferred hundreds of Palestinian inmates to other prisons following pressure from Israel’s top court to improve conditions in the occupied West Bank’s Sde Teiman prison, according to Israeli human rights organisations.

HaMoked and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel told The Associated Press news agency that instead of correcting abuses including beatings, excessive handcuffing, and poor diet and healthcare, prisoners were transferred to the Ofer and Anatot detention centres where conditions were no better.

“What we’ve seen is the erosion of the basic standards for humane detention,” said Jessica Montell, the director of HaMoked, one of the rights groups petitioning the Israeli government to fix the problem once and for all.

The Israeli military told the AP that it complies with international law and “completely rejects allegations regarding the systematic abuse of detainees”.

Health crisis looming at Israel’s Megiddo prison: Palestinian monitor

The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS) has warned a health crisis is looming at Israel’s Megiddo prison “due to extremely unsanitary conditions”, causing scabies and other skin diseases to spread.

The statement comes two days after Israeli authorities announced the death of 17-year-old detainee Walid Ahmad. Defense for Children International said Ahmad suffered from scabies and amoebic dysentery and died after collapsing and hitting his head on a railing.

“Ahmad was one of hundreds of children who continue to be detained across three central prisons, specifically Megiddo, Ofer, and Damon prisons, where all Palestinian minors face similar conditions,” the PPS said.

“The occupation’s prison system deliberately deprives prisoners, including children and women, of the basic elements that could stop the spread of diseases,” it added, calling on the World Health Organization, humanitarian groups and governments to “intervene urgently”.