分类： politics

The Green Party has issued an urgent appeal to the UK government to intervene immediately in what they describe as a deteriorating humanitarian crisis involving detained Palestine Action activists. Party deputy leader Mothin Ali became the first political figure to visit hunger-striking activists at HMP Bronsfield in West London, where he witnessed what he called “inhumane” conditions that represent “an affront to human decency.”

According to Ali’s account to Middle East Eye, activists Amu Gib and Jon Cink are among 24 Palestine Action members incarcerated while awaiting trial for protests targeting weapons facilities connected to Israel. The deputy leader reported both prisoners are on their “last legs,” exhibiting severe physical deterioration including protruding cheekbones and sunken eyes, yet maintaining surprisingly high spirits despite their failing health.

This hunger strike, which Ali compared to the historic 1980s Irish prisoner strikes led by Bobby Sands, involves six activists who have refused food for over a month while being held without trial. The Green Party delegation’s visit revealed multiple health crises among the strikers, including two hospitalizations confirmed by the campaign group Prisoners for Palestine.

The political dimension intensified as Ali urged Green Party MPs to support an Early Day Motion proposed by Labour’s John McDonnell, demanding Justice Secretary David Lammy ensure humane treatment and human rights protection for the detainees. Meanwhile, family members of the hunger strikers met with parliamentarians on Wednesday, delivering grim assessments of their loved ones’ conditions.

Ella Mousdale, friend of 20-year-old detainee Qesser Zuhrah, described how the young activist “shivers constantly” and suffers from debilitating headaches and dangerously dropping blood pressure after 32 days without sustenance. Similarly, Shamina Alam recounted the terror of her brother Kamran Ahmed’s hospitalization during which family communication was completely severed.

The Ministry of Justice has remained silent on the matter, not responding to requests for comment as the health crisis among detainees continues to escalate.

A catastrophic fire that engulfed a densely populated housing estate in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district has become the catalyst for a complex political confrontation, pitting public demands for accountability against the government’s stringent national security measures. The inferno, which claimed at least 159 lives and displaced thousands, represents the most severe tragedy to strike the city since the 2019 pro-democracy protests.

In the aftermath, undergraduate Miles Kwan initiated a petition echoing the 2019 protest slogans with ‘four demands’ for governmental transparency and investigation. Within hours, the petition gathered over 10,000 signatures before being removed, and Kwan was arrested under Hong Kong’s national security law on sedition charges. His detention reflects authorities’ determination to prevent what they describe as attempts to ‘exploit’ the tragedy to ‘endanger national security.’

Government officials including Executive Council member Ronny Tong and lawmaker Regina Ip defended the arrests, emphasizing the need to differentiate between genuine opinion and petitions with ‘criminal intent.’ They cited concerns that public anger could lead to a recurrence of the 2019 unrest. Meanwhile, Chief Executive John Lee pledged comprehensive support for victims and announced an independent inquiry into the fire, building safety reviews, and financial assistance measures—actions notably similar to those demanded in Kwan’s petition.

The national security apparatus has responded aggressively to the disaster. China’s Hong Kong security office issued warnings against instigating ‘black terror’—a term previously used to describe the 2019 protests—and vowed to punish ‘hostile foreign forces’ regardless of their location. Fifteen individuals have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, primarily construction firm executives and staff, while six fire equipment contractors face detention separately.

Critics including pro-democracy activist Samuel Chu and arrested former district councillor Kenneth Cheung question the suppression of legitimate inquiry, arguing that seeking accountability constitutes a human response rather than a political campaign. Politics professor Kenneth Chan observes that authorities are applying ‘Beijing’s playbook’ focused on social control, replacing community-led relief efforts with government-backed initiatives.

The controversy extends to the government’s decision to proceed with Legislative Council elections during the mourning period, permitting only pro-Beijing ‘patriots’ to contest. This move has drawn criticism from residents who believe priority should be given to victim support rather than political processes. As Hong Kong navigates this tragedy, the tension between public demands for accountability and national security enforcement continues to define the city’s political landscape.

At the 46th session of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s Supreme Council, regional leaders delivered a powerful collective stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during their December 3 meeting in Bahrain. Convened at Al Sakhir Palace under the presidency of Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the high-level gathering produced a strongly worded communique that condemned Israel’s military actions while reaffirming support for Palestinian self-determination.

The Council explicitly held Israel ‘fully responsible for its ongoing violations and attacks against the Gaza Strip,’ citing the devastating civilian death toll that has disproportionately affected women and children. The statement rejected any justification portraying Israeli operations as self-defense and demanded immediate troop withdrawal from occupied territories.

Beyond condemnation, the GCC leadership articulated a clear vision for Palestinian rights, emphasizing the ‘legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state’ and warning against any attempts to undermine these inalienable rights. The communique specifically rejected displacement efforts in Gaza and expressed concern over demographic changes in Jerusalem, calling for protection of Islamic holy sites.

The timing of the summit proved strategically significant, occurring just one day after the UN General Assembly adopted resolutions demanding Israeli withdrawal from occupied Palestinian territories and Syria’s Golan Heights. The GCC explicitly endorsed US-brokered ceasefire efforts and outcomes from the Sharm El Sheikh Peace Summit while maintaining criticism of specific Israeli policies.

Regional security concerns also featured prominently in discussions. GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi referenced two ‘painful incidents’ that demonstrated Gulf unity: Iranian missile attacks targeting a US base in Qatar in June, and what he described as ‘brutal Israeli aggression’ during Qatari mediation efforts in September that resulted in casualties.

The Council further condemned Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, noting the potential regional endangerment. Former Bahraini parliament member Jasim Husain observed that this condemnation would likely please Iranian officials while reaffirming the GCC’s commitment to peaceful conflict resolution.

The meeting occurred amid heightened tensions surrounding the Rafah Crossing, with Israel announcing plans for limited openings exclusively for Gaza resident exits to Egypt—a move that raised depopulation concerns. Egyptian officials subsequently denied coordination with Israel on this matter, highlighting the complex diplomatic landscape surrounding humanitarian access issues.

Russian President Vladimir Putin received a ceremonial welcome from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon arriving in New Delhi for a pivotal two-day summit. The visit, occurring against the backdrop of intensified US pressure on India regarding Russian oil imports, marks Putin’s first journey to India since the commencement of the Ukraine conflict.

Modi personally greeted the Russian leader at the airport with an embrace on the red carpet, subsequently escorting him in the same vehicle—a display of diplomatic warmth between the two nations. The Russian delegation included Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, with anticipated discussions focusing on enhanced defense cooperation, including potential agreements on Su-57 fighter jet co-production and expanded S-400 air defense system supplies.

In pre-summit remarks broadcast by India Today, Putin expressed enthusiasm about meeting “my friend” Modi, highlighting the extensive scope of bilateral collaboration spanning aircraft manufacturing, nuclear energy, and space exploration. The agenda includes a private dinner hosted by Modi on Thursday evening followed by formal negotiations on Friday.

This diplomatic engagement occurs as India navigates complex geopolitical pressures, particularly from the United States where President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods in August, directly citing India’s continued Russian oil purchases. Despite recently reducing crude imports due to sanctions on Russian energy giants Rosneft and Lukoil, India remains a significant consumer of Russian petroleum, creating economic savings while providing Moscow with crucial export revenues.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized Russia’s commitment to strengthening bilateral trade without external interference, noting that two-way commerce reached $68.7 billion in 2024-25—though with a substantial imbalance favoring Russia. Indian officials are seeking greater market access for pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and service industries to address this disparity.

International relations experts characterize the summit as a strategic recalibration at a critical juncture. Professor Harsh V Pant of King’s College London noted that Modi’s reception demonstrates India’s assertion of “strategic autonomy,” while Putin’s rare international travel underscores the relationship’s importance to Moscow. An anonymous Indian foreign ministry official described Russia-India ties as “the most stable relationship in modern times,” though downplayed the meeting as routine annual diplomacy.

Yasser Abu Shabab, the most-wanted Hamas target and leader of the controversial Popular Forces militia, was reportedly killed in Gaza on Thursday amid conflicting accounts surrounding his death. Multiple Israeli media outlets confirmed the demise of the notorious figure, though precise details regarding the perpetrators and methodology remain undisclosed.

The incident allegedly occurred in Rafah, a southern Gaza region currently under comprehensive Israeli military control. Abu Shabab had maintained extensive collaboration with Israeli forces throughout the two-year conflict, engaging in activities that included humanitarian aid looting, civilian kidnappings, and targeted operations against Hamas personnel.

Israeli Channel 12 reported that Abu Shabab was transported to Soroka Hospital following the attack but was declared dead upon arrival—a claim subsequently denied by hospital authorities. Prominent Israeli political commentator Amit Segal characterized the elimination as a “bad development for Israel,” highlighting the strategic complications arising from the death of a key collaborator.

Following news of his death, Palestinian crowds flooded Gaza streets in spontaneous celebration, distributing sweets and firing celebratory gunshots into the air. Hamas security forces had previously vowed to track down the militia leader during the ongoing conflict.

The Popular Forces group, which Abu Shabab led, has faced condemnation from multiple Palestinian factions for its traitorous activities, including coordinated attacks on civilians, systematic aid diversion, and alleged connections to both Israeli forces and the Islamic State organization. While Abu Shabab publicly framed his militia as a legitimate opposition movement to Hamas governance, internal United Nations reports from 2024 identified the group as “the most influential stakeholders behind the systematic and massive looting of convoys.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously acknowledged providing weaponry to Abu Shabab’s forces. The militia enjoyed unprecedented access to humanitarian resources in areas under its control—primarily through systematic theft—while the broader Gaza population faced severe starvation conditions.

The development occurs against the backdrop of a nominally agreed ceasefire that has witnessed nearly 600 violations by Israeli forces, resulting in over 360 fatalities and 900 injuries since October. Israel continues to block patient transit through the Rafah crossing with Egypt and restricts aid deliveries to approximately 200 trucks daily, significantly below the agreed 600-truck threshold.