🇱🇧 Israel carried out numerous artillery, drone and air strikes in southern Lebanon villages on Thursday, January 4 killing at least four Hezbollah soldiers and destroying substantial amounts of civilian infrastructure.

In retaliation to Israeli attacks Hezbollah launched several rockets inside northern Israel. The number of casualties or amount of destruction on the Israeli side were not confirmed.

https://peoplesdispatch.org/2024/01/04/hezbollah-warns-israel-of-retaliation-calls-out-international-community-for-inaction/

Hassan Sharif, a New Jersey imam and community leader, passed away on January 3, hours after he was shot multiple times in front of his mosque as he headed into morning prayer.

Since October 7, Islamophobic and anti-Arab attacks have risen dramatically in the United States, with CAIR reporting an “unprecedented” spike in requests for help and bias reports between October 7 and November 5.

https://peoplesdispatch.org/2024/01/04/new-jersey-imam-and-community-leader-succumbs-to-wounds-after-being-shot/

Discover the most insightful analysis on last week's developments by joining Vijay Prashad, Zoe Alexandra, and Prasanth R on their latest episode.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to stay informed and gain a deeper understanding of the latest events. Tune in!

👉 https://youtube.com/live/jqdLCMvbj_s

🇮🇶 On Thursday, January 4, the Iraqi government called the US attack on the headquarters of semi-official armed group Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) or Hashd al-Shaabi “a dangerous escalation and aggression against the country’s sovereignty.”
https://peoplesdispatch.org/2024/01/05/iraq-slams-us-attack-on-pmf-headquarters-as-violation-of-sovereignty/

Over the past few weeks, at least two states in India, governed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have issued notices for the recruitment of construction workers to be sent to Israel.

Reports emerged towards the end of last year that Israel was seeking to hire up to 100,000 workers from India to replace Palestinian workers in its construction sector.
https://peoplesdispatch.org/2024/01/05/indian-construction-workers-reject-labor-export-deal-to-israel-as-sinister-ploy-reaffirm-solidarity-with-palestine/

The number of people infected with contagious diseases in Gaza continues to rise. The latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO) warns that 180,000 people are currently suffering from respiratory infections.

While these diseases would not be deadly under conditions with a functioning health system and adequate living conditions, in the current situation, they could be life-threatening.
https://peoplesdispatch.org/2024/01/05/israel-is-decimating-gazas-health-infrastructure-as-disease-threatens-the-majority-of-its-population/

The fact is, that January 6 was not a populist uprising, although many of the participants were indeed working class people swept up in the fervor of the moment. At multiple levels, January 6 was an operation financed and led by establishment political figures and ultra-wealthy donors.

https://peoplesdispatch.org/2024/01/06/chief-financiers-remain-at-large-following-the-january-6-insurrection-on-the-us-capitol/

🇨🇩 Felix Tshisekedi got re-elected as DR Congo’s president in polls that were marred with controversies and fraud. 44 million people were eligible to cast their votes in elections that took place on December 20.
https://peoplesdispatch.org/2024/01/07/controversies-and-fraud-marred-the-elections-in-dr-congo/

Claudine Gay resigned from the Presidency of Harvard University following right-wing, pro-Israel attacks, because she was viewed by many powerful donors as insufficiently Zionist. But Gay refused to defend student organizers as Harvard’s administration pursued disciplinary action against the Palestine solidarity movement on campus, describes Prince Williams, undergraduate student organizer.
https://peoplesdispatch.org/2024/01/07/harvard-student-organizer-speaks-out-about-claudine-gay-resignation/

What happened in the Congolese elections?

Activist Kambale Musavuli explains the irregularities in the electoral process and why people are skeptical about the results.

Watch the full interview where he speaks about the impacts of these elections on the Congolese people here: https://youtu.be/JjOQkRA-Qgk

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is using his trip to the region to issue fresh threats to resistance forces that stand with Palestinians, while failing to offer any hope for immediate peace.
https://peoplesdispatch.org/2024/01/08/blinken-visits-west-asia-for-a-fourth-time-since-october-7-and-refuses-to-support-a-ceasefire/

Across the world, the demand for an end to Israel's genocide in Gaza continues to grow stronger.

In NYC, over a thousand protesters with the #ShutItDown4Palestine coalition marched amid the snow and rain to demand a ceasefire and an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

Protesters marched to New York City's prestigious concert hall Lincoln Center to disrupt a performance of the NY Philharmonic Orchestra and demand an end to US support to Israel. Protesters organized their own concert and an activist and musician performed Palestine's unofficial national anthem 'Mawtini'.

Protesters shut down traffic across NYC this morning, blocking 3 major bridges and 1 tunnel, protesting Israel's genocidal war against Gaza.

The NYPD reportedly arrested 400+ people related to the traffic blockages. Demonstrators used chains, PVC pipes, & concrete to delay arrest, forcing police to use electric saws to separate them.

https://peoplesdispatch.org/2024/01/08/palestine-solidarity-demonstrators-block-rush-hour-traffic-in-nyc/

🇿🇦/🇵🇸 Bolivia has joined the ranks of countries who support South Africa’s historic case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The Hague is set to initiate public hearings on the matter on January 11.

The ICJ is the judicial institution of the United Nations, and countries including Israel and South Africa are bound by the Court by virtue of their membership of the UN. The Court adjudicates disputes between countries and its decisions are legally binding. Israel and South Africa are also State Parties to the 1948 Genocide Convention, under which Pretoria has brought its lawsuit.
https://peoplesdispatch.org/2024/01/08/support-grows-for-south-africas-case-against-israel/

Did you miss Friday's episode of Give The People What They Want?

Don't miss out on an enriching experience! Join Vijay Prashad, Zoe Alexandra, and Prasanth R as they provide insightful analysis of the latest working-class news in your weekly roundup.

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/peoples-dispatch/episodes/Give-The-People-What-They-Want--Updates-from-Palestine--Elections-in-2024-e2e5uii/a-aaqq380

Claudine Gay resigned from the Presidency of Harvard University following right-wing, pro-Israel attacks, because she was viewed by many powerful donors as insufficiently Zionist. But Gay refused to defend student organizers as Harvard’s administration pursued disciplinary action against the Palestine solidarity movement on campus, describes Prince Williams, undergraduate student organizer.

Watch the full interview here:
https://youtu.be/TPPA-ZtYXwk

Farmers and trade unions across Germany are up in arms against the incumbent traffic light coalition government's bids to cut down tax relief for agricultural diesel and also to cut an exemption from vehicle taxes for farming vehicles.

According to reports, succumbing to widespread protests, on January 4, the government hinted its willingness to continue the motor vehicle tax exemption for agricultural and forestry vehicles and also proposed a phased reduction of subsidy to agricultural diesel from 2024 to 2026.
https://peoplesdispatch.org/2024/01/09/farmers-protests-surge-in-germany-against-cuts-in-subsidies-and-tax-increases/

Major protests and demonstrations continue across Europe denouncing the ongoing genocidal war waged by Israel on the people of Gaza.

Despite appeals from all major international organizations, including the United Nations, human rights groups, and the majority of the world nations, Israel relentlessly carries on its pursuit for the destruction of Gaza, with the backing of US and its allies in Europe.
https://peoplesdispatch.org/2024/01/09/calls-to-prosecute-israel-for-war-crimes-grow-louder-in-europe/

Workers of the former GKN factory in Campi Bisenzio near Florence in Italy have been in a fight against layoffs and plant closure for more than 900 days, creating history.

The movement has generated a path-breaking alternative that seeks to buy back the plant by raising a million euros through solidarity crowdfunding initiative.
https://peoplesdispatch.org/2024/01/10/insorgiamo-the-million-euro-solidarity-co-op-initiative-of-italian-ex-gkn-workers/

As the International Court of Justice (ICJ) gears up to hear South Africa’s case against Israel for its ongoing genocide in Gaza, a growing number of countries have announced their support for the proceedings.

South Africa has accused Israel of violating its obligation to prevent and punish genocide under the 1948 Convention, by carrying out acts and omissions “intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial, and ethnic group.”

https://peoplesdispatch.org/2024/01/10/israel-scrambles-as-support-for-south-africas-case-at-the-hague-increases/