For perspective, there are 220 Democrats in the House of Representatives, all of whom have been unabashedly vocal in their criticism of the Trump administration’s actions on a near-daily basis.

There are 45 Democrats in the Senate.

But only a select number of self-styled progressives including Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, Summer Lee, and Al Green – the man thrown out of President Donald Trump's State of the Union speech last week – were willing to add their names to language that leaves no room for interpretation.

“We are horrified by the recent illegal abduction and now indefinite detention of Mahmoud Khalil – a US legal permanent resident – by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents, and we unequivocally demand his immediate release from DHS custody,” the letter said.

“Khalil's arrest is an act of anti-Palestinian racism intended to silence the Palestine solidarity movement in this country,” it read. “He is a political prisoner.”

Among those notably absent from the document was Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, otherwise known as AOC. She grew her brand as a member of the so-called "Squad" of progressive women in the House of Representatives but came under fire throughout Israel’s war on Gaza as she adopted what many saw as a more establishment-friendly tone within the Democratic Party.

After a social media firestorm, AOC’s chief of staff said she would have definitely signed the letter if it wasn’t too late, and that she was simply “waiting on a detail before signing”.

“Unfortunately, the letter was closed before that detail was confirmed,” he said on X.

“There are potentially logistical reasons for that, or just internal congressional process reasons for that,” one Democratic strategist working on Palestinian advocacy in Congress told Middle East Eye.

“I do think more lawmakers have spoken out than signed that letter.”

By the end of the day, it was revealed that AOC had signed a similar letter along with fellow New York Democrats serving at the local level.

Columbia University is located in New York City.

The United States and Israel have discussed with three East African governments the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza to Sudan, Somalia and its breakaway region of Somaliland, according to US and Israeli officials quoted by The Associated Press news agency.

Friday’s report said officials from Sudan claimed to have rejected overtures from the US, while officials from Somalia and Somaliland told AP they were unaware of any contacts.

Speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a secret diplomatic initiative, US and Israeli officials confirmed the contacts with Somalia and Somaliland, while the US officials confirmed Sudan as well. They said it was unclear how much progress the efforts made or at what level the discussions took place.

The development comes more than a month after US President Donald Trump floated the idea of forcibly displacing Palestinians and “taking over” the Gaza Strip. It was roundly rejected by Palestinians and countries in the Middle East, with many describing it as ethnic cleansing.

Separate outreach from the US and Israel to the three potential destinations began last month, days after Trump floated the Gaza plan alongside Netanyahu, according to the US officials, who said Israel was taking the lead in the discussions.

There was no immediate reaction to the report from the US or Israel.

But Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a longtime advocate of what he calls “voluntary” emigration of Palestinians, said this week that Israel is working to identify countries to take them in. He also said Israel is preparing a “very large emigration department” within its Ministry of Defense.

‘Red line’
Tamer Qarmout, an associate professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, told Al Jazeera the forced displacement of Palestinians is “a red line that should not be crossed”.

He said governments around the world have a responsibility to stop the “outrageous” proposal and “should not be engaging with Israel on any of these scenarios”, especially the displacement of Palestinians to African countries, “many of which continue to struggle from colonial legacies”.

“Sudan and Somalia are still ravaged by wars due to the colonial legacy. They [the Israeli government] have to be exposed and put on a shame list,” Qarmout added.

In exchange for accepting resettled Palestinians, it is thought that a variety of incentives – financial, diplomatic and security – would be offered to the East African governments.

A US official involved in the efforts confirmed to AP that the US was “having a quiet conversation with Somaliland about a range of areas where they can be helpful to the US in exchange for recognition”.

The US could offer the breakaway region of more than 3 million people international recognition, which is a priority for Somaliland’s new president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi.

Abdirahman Dahir Adan, Somaliland’s foreign minister, told the Reuters news agency denied the breakaway region’s authorities having received a proposal.

“I haven’t received such a proposal, and there are no talks with anyone regarding Palestinians,” he said.

‘Hidden agenda’
Meanwhile, it is difficult to understand why Somalia would want to host Palestinians given the country’s strong support for Palestinian self-rule, Sambu Chepkorir, a lawyer and conflict researcher in Nairobi, told AP.

“The realignments keep changing, and so maybe there is a hidden agenda in why Somalia,” Chepkorir said.

Two Sudanese officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive diplomatic matter, confirmed the Trump administration has approached the military-led government about accepting Palestinians.

One said the contacts began even before Trump’s inauguration, with offers of military assistance against the RSF paramilitary group, assistance with postwar reconstruction and other incentives.

Both officials said the Sudanese government rejected the idea. “This suggestion was immediately rebuffed,” said one official. “No one opened this matter again.”

Since October 7th, Khaled has been at the forefront of London’s Palestine solidarity marches, raising awareness and calling for justice. He emphasizes that history will remember this moment, urging people to ask themselves how they responded in the face of such events.

On January 18th, more than 70 demonstrators were arrested at a London march, including an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor. Khaled himself has been asked to appear for questioning as part of an investigation into alleged breaches of public order laws. While unable to discuss specific details, he highlights the growing restrictions on civic freedoms, warning of a global erosion of rights.

Despite potential consequences, Khaled Abdullah remains steadfast in his activism. He believes that standing up for his beliefs has brought a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment to his life. As another demonstration approaches this weekend, he reaffirms his commitment to being there, continuing to use his voice for change.

As his advocacy gains attention, Khaled’s story serves as a reminder of the power of speaking out and the responsibility that comes with a public platform. His journey is one of courage, conviction, and an unwavering dedication to justice.

News source- Al Jazeera

After blocking all aid entering the battered enclave, Israel has now announced it will stop electricity to Gaza.

Israel says it has cut off electricity to Gaza in what seems like another attempt to force Hamas to accept changes it wants to impose upon the ceasefire terms agreed in January.

Israel imposed a blockade of humanitarian aid entering Gaza early in March in an attempt to force Hamas into extending the ceasefire’s first phase and releasing more captives.

It wants to do that to avoid moving to the second phase, which would entail a permanent end to the war.

Aid agencies, human rights organisations and countries, including some of Israel’s allies, have denounced the decision, citing its humanitarian impact and international laws prohibiting the collective punishment of a civilian population.

But according to statements from Gaza and media reports, this power cut announcement is not as it seems.

Here’s everything we know:

What exactly did Israel announce?

It said all electricity it provides to Gaza will be cut.

In a social media post on Sunday, Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen said he had “cut off electricity to the Gaza Strip immediately”.

However, according to Israeli media, the announcement may be less dramatic than its proponents have made it appear.

You mean Gaza won’t go dark?

It was already dark.

According to The Times of Israel, all electricity from Israel into Gaza was already cut in the wake of the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, during which 1,139 people were killed in southern Israel and about 250 people were captured and taken to Gaza.

In November, the electricity supply to a desalination plant near Deir el-Balah in central Gaza was restored. The plant supports about 600,000 mostly displaced civilians in central and southern Gaza.

The plant will now subsist on stored power, generators and what remains of the solar panels not damaged or destroyed by Israeli shelling.

Did Israel only cut electricity and aid?

No.

In its attempt to revise the terms of the ceasefire it signed in January, Israel has also launched military strikes across the enclave and has told the media it is preparing a resumption of fighting in Gaza.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza has issued daily summaries of civilians killed during the ceasefire. 

Palestinians in Rafah, where Israel now wants to keep a military presence in violation of the ceasefire, have been attacked by Israeli tanks and drones since Friday, killing at least three people and wounding more.

How has Hamas responded?

In a statement issued on Sunday night, Hamas accused Israel of “cheap blackmail”.

“We strongly condemn the occupation’s decision to cut off electricity to Gaza, after depriving it of food, medicine, and water,” Izzat al-Risheq, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, wrote, characterising the move as “a desperate attempt to pressure our people and their resistance”.

“Cutting off electricity, closing the crossings, stopping aid, relief and fuel, and starving our people, constitutes collective punishment and a full-fledged war crime,” al-Risheq added.

Who supports Israel in this?

The United States.

Israel says its current blockade of Gaza is in fact to force Hamas to comply with a proposal from US envoy Steve Witkoff involving extending the first phase of the ceasefire and returning a number of the Israeli captives.

Witkoff has yet to publicly confirm his role in the plan he is widely credited with having devised.

However, speaking to journalists before Monday’s talks in Doha, Witkoff confirmed his and the US administration’s continued full support for Israel, up to and including joint US and Israeli military action against Hamas.

At the same time, the US is conducting direct talks with Hamas over the release of five captives with US citizenship who are held by the group, only one of whom is thought to be alive.

Who doesn’t support Israel in these blockades?

Pretty much everyone else.

Both Egypt and Qatar, who have mediated the ceasefire talks, as well as Saudi Arabia and Jordan released statements this month criticising the Israeli move to block food, medicine and fuel into the Strip.

“Humanitarian aid should never be contingent on a ceasefire or used as a political tool,” France, Germany and the United Kingdom said in a joint statement on Wednesday.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the International Criminal Court, which issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant last year, condemned the block on aid.

International rights groups, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have also condemned the renewed blockade, describing it as a breach of international law and a crime against humanity.