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Netanyahu Says Israel Plans to Take Over All of Gaza in Bid to Destroy Hamas

JERUSALEM (BN24) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Thursday that Israel intends to seize complete control of the Gaza Strip to destroy Hamas, announcing plans to eventually transfer administration of the territory to friendly Arab forces as his Security Cabinet discussed expanding the 22-month military offensive.

Netanyahu’s statement represents a significant escalation in Israel’s war aims and would put the lives of countless Palestinians and approximately 20 remaining Israeli hostages at greater risk while further isolating Israel internationally. Israel already controls roughly three-quarters of the devastated territory through its prolonged military campaign.

The prime minister outlined his vision during a Fox News interview conducted ahead of the Security Cabinet meeting, stating that Israel would “take control of all of Gaza” to ensure security and remove Hamas from power. Netanyahu emphasized that Israel did not intend permanent occupation, saying the country wanted to establish a security perimeter before handing control to Arab forces capable of governing without threatening Israeli security.

“We don’t want to keep it. We want to have a security perimeter,” Netanyahu said. “We want to hand it over to Arab forces that will govern it properly without threatening us and giving Gazans a good life.”

The Security Cabinet convened Thursday evening to discuss the proposal, with meetings expected to continue into the night as Israeli officials weighed the controversial expansion of military operations. An Israeli official, speaking anonymously pending formal decisions, indicated that approved measures would be implemented gradually to increase pressure on Hamas.

Military leadership and hostage families have expressed strong opposition to the expanded offensive plans. Israel’s military chief of staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, warned against occupying Gaza, arguing such action would endanger remaining hostages and strain military resources after nearly two years of continuous warfare.

Families of hostages held in Gaza demonstrated outside the Security Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, fearing escalation could doom their loved ones. Former top Israeli security officials have similarly opposed the plan, warning of a potential military quagmire with limited strategic benefits.

The proposed expansion comes as Israel’s air and ground war has killed over 61,000 Palestinians according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, displaced most of the population, destroyed vast areas of infrastructure, and caused severe widespread hunger throughout the territory. The ministry, staffed by medical professionals who maintain detailed casualty records, is considered by the United Nations and independent experts as providing the most reliable casualty estimates.

At least 42 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes and shootings across southern Gaza on Thursday alone, according to local hospitals. Among the victims, 13 were seeking aid in an Israeli military zone where United Nations aid convoys regularly face overwhelming crowds of desperate people and looters.

The humanitarian crisis has intensified around aid distribution sites, with hundreds killed in recent weeks while attempting to reach assistance locations. Doctors Without Borders published a scathing report denouncing the distribution system operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an American contractor backed by Israel.

“This is not aid. It is orchestrated killing,” the medical charity stated, reporting treatment of 1,380 people injured near distribution sites between June and July, including 147 with gunshot wounds and 41 children among the casualties.

The organization documented hundreds more suffering injuries from chaotic food scrambles, including head trauma, suffocation, and severe eye injuries from pepper spray used at close range. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation rejected the accusations as “false and disgraceful,” claiming the medical charity was amplifying Hamas disinformation campaigns.

Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people and killed approximately 1,200 during the October 7, 2023 attack that triggered the current war. While most hostages have been released through ceasefires and negotiated deals, 50 remain in Gaza with around 20 believed alive by Israeli intelligence.

Yehuda Cohen, father of Israeli soldier Nimrod Cohen held in Gaza, criticized Netanyahu from a boat carrying hostage relatives toward Gaza’s maritime border. Cohen accused the prime minister of prolonging the war to satisfy extremist coalition partners who advocate escalating military operations, relocating Gaza’s population, and reestablishing Jewish settlements dismantled in 2005.

“Netanyahu is working only for himself,” Cohen said during the maritime demonstration.

The displacement crisis has reached catastrophic proportions, with Palestinians bracing for additional misery as military operations potentially expand. Maysaa al-Heila, living in a displacement camp, expressed the desperation felt throughout the territory.

“There is nothing left to occupy,” al-Heila said. “There is no Gaza left.”

The proposed escalation threatens to deepen Israel’s international isolation as global criticism mounts over the humanitarian catastrophe and massive civilian casualties. The plan faces significant opposition from military leadership, hostage families, and former security officials who question its strategic value and warn of extended occupation challenges that could trap Israel in an indefinite commitment to Gaza’s governance and security.

2 Killed as Helicopter Hits Power Lines, Crashes Into Barge on Mississippi River

EAST ALTON, Ill. (BN24) — A helicopter struck high-voltage power lines and crashed into a barge on the Mississippi River on Thursday, killing two workers in a fiery accident that sent thick black smoke into the air and temporarily halted river traffic near East Alton, about 20 miles north of St. Louis.

Officials said the helicopter was performing maintenance work on transmission lines when it clipped the wires, burst into flames, and slammed into a barge on the Missouri side of the river. The crash occurred just before 11 a.m., roughly a half-mile downstream from the Melvin Price Lock and Dam.

The two people onboard the helicopter, both employees of a subcontractor hired by utility company Ameren, were pronounced dead at the scene. Their identities have not yet been released.

“There was a pilot, there was a worker, the helicopter blew up and fell and crashed into that barge,” said witness Adam Briggs, who filmed the burning wreckage from the opposite shore. “It’s exploding right now. They’re dead. They have to be dead.”

Ameren confirmed that the crew was working on tower lighting and marker balls when the crash occurred. “Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the victims’ families and colleagues,” the company said in a statement, adding that it would fully cooperate with the investigation.

Emergency responders from more than a dozen agencies across Illinois and Missouri rushed to the scene. A fireboat from a nearby department and a private tug helped extinguish the blaze. No one was aboard the barge at the time of the crash, and no additional injuries were reported.

The incident prompted the U.S. Coast Guard to close the affected section of the Mississippi River to commercial traffic.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation. The NTSB said an investigator is expected to arrive on Friday. The helicopter involved was an MD 369, a light utility aircraft often used for power line work.

Thursday’s crash is not the first fatal incident involving helicopters servicing utility lines. In 2018, a similar accident in Pennsylvania killed two crew members and injured a pilot.

Spanish Town Bans Muslims from Using Public Facilities for Eid Celebrations Amid Rising Tensions

JUMILLA, Spain (BN24) — A town in southeastern Spain has enacted a controversial ban preventing Muslims from using public facilities to celebrate Eid, sparking outrage from religious leaders and concerns over constitutional rights.

The municipality of Jumilla, located in the Murcia region and home to approximately 27,000 residents, passed the measure with support from Spain’s conservative People’s Party (PP) and the far-right Vox party. The new rule prohibits the use of public spaces—including civic centers and sports halls—for “religious, cultural or social activities alien to our identity,” unless officially sanctioned by the local government.

The move effectively blocks local Muslims from gathering in municipal facilities for religious events such as Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, the Islamic festival of sacrifice.

The decision comes just weeks after violent anti-migrant protests erupted in the nearby town of Torre Pacheco, about 70 miles away, where a 68-year-old Spanish man claimed he was assaulted by three young Moroccan men. The incident intensified anti-immigration sentiment in the region.

Vox, which has gained traction for its nationalist and anti-immigration rhetoric, celebrated the Jumilla ban on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. “Thanks to Vox, the first measure to ban Islamic festivals in Spain’s public spaces has been passed,” the party wrote. “Spain is and will be forever the land of Christian people.”

Muslim leaders have condemned the policy as discriminatory and unconstitutional. Mounir Benjelloun Andaloussi Azhari, president of the Spanish Federation of Islamic Organisations, called the move “Islamophobic and discriminatory,” arguing that it specifically targets the Muslim community.

“They’re not going after other religions—they’re going after ours,” he said in an interview with El País. “We’re rather surprised by what’s happening in Spain. For the first time in 30 years, I feel afraid.”

Critics argue the ban may violate Article 16 of the Spanish Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religious belief, limited only by the need to maintain public order. Legal experts suggest the policy could face a constitutional challenge in court.

Political leaders from Spain’s Socialist Party also spoke out against the decision. Francisco Lucas, the Socialist leader in the Murcia region, accused the PP of fueling division. “The PP violates the constitution and puts social cohesion at risk simply in the pursuit of power,” he said on X.

Former Jumilla mayor Juana Guardiola questioned the cultural implications of the ruling, referencing Spain’s centuries-long Islamic history. “What do they mean by identity?” she asked. “And what about the centuries of Muslim legacy here?”

As the debate intensifies, Jumilla becomes the first Spanish town to officially restrict Muslim religious observances in public spaces—a move critics say marks a troubling shift in Spain’s commitment to religious freedom and multiculturalism.

Entire Family Including Children Aged 2, 5, and 12 Killed in Wrong-Way Crash on Colorado Highway

KREMMLING, Colo. (BN24) — A Colorado family of five, including three young children, was killed early Monday morning in a head-on collision involving a wrong-way driver on Highway 9 near Kremmling, authorities confirmed.

Shortly after 7 a.m., a Ford F-150 traveling northbound veered into the southbound lane near mile marker 136, slamming into a GMC Yukon carrying the Cabral-Banuelos family. The violent impact ignited both vehicles, according to Colorado State Patrol.

All five victims—Andres Cabral-Banuelos, 2; Manuel Cabral-Banuelos, 5; Maria Cabral-Banuelos, 12; Andrea Banuelos-Salazar, 30; and Manuel Cabral-Torres, 34—were pronounced dead at the scene. First responders were unable to save the family, who were residents of Kremmling, a rural town located roughly 100 miles northwest of Denver.

The driver of the pickup truck, a 25-year-old man, survived with life-threatening injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital. Authorities have not released his name, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation.

“The loss of an entire family is an unspeakable tragedy, and our hearts are with all who are grieving during this incredibly difficult time,” the Grand County Coroner’s Office said in a statement.

The Cabral-Banuelos family’s deaths have shaken the small Kremmling community, where neighbors and relatives are mourning the devastating loss. Family members say Manuel Cabral-Torres was a dedicated father who cherished time with his children.

“In a moment’s time, all five of them are gone,” said cousin Javier Torres-Garcia. “Just one person alone is tough on a lot of people, but five — it’s just so hard. His youngest was 2 and his oldest was 12. They had their whole life ahead of them.”

A fundraiser has been launched to help cover funeral expenses and transport the victims’ bodies. Relatives are calling for public support as they remember a family known for its unity and love.

“He always tried to bring the family together, no matter what,” Torres-Garcia said. “Even if it was just for a day or two, he’d make the time. Manny was a great dude. His kids were very young. He’s going to be missed by a lot of people.”

The Colorado Department of Transportation reported 278 traffic fatalities statewide as of early July, slightly down from 307 recorded at the same time last year.

Roadside Bomb in Northwest Pakistan Kills 2 Police Officers, Wounds 14 in Taliban Stronghold

WANA, Pakistan (BN24) — A deadly roadside bomb ripped through a police vehicle in Pakistan’s northwestern South Waziristan district on Wednesday, killing two officers and injuring 14 others, including bystanders, in one of the latest attacks to hit a region long plagued by militant violence.

The explosion occurred in the city of Wana, a former hub of the Pakistani Taliban, or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), according to local police chief Adam Khan. The powerful blast targeted a routine police patrol, scattering debris and wounding several civilians who were nearby when the device detonated.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but suspicion immediately fell on the TTP, which has a long history of targeting security forces across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The bombing comes amid a sharp rise in militant violence in Pakistan’s tribal belt, an area bordering Afghanistan that has seen dozens of security personnel killed in recent weeks. The surge has prompted the federal government to prepare for a new military operation in Bajur, another restive district, where officials and tribal elders are currently engaged in negotiations with insurgent elements in an effort to avoid a full-scale conflict.

Previous counterterrorism operations in the region have led to mass displacement and years of instability.

The TTP has grown increasingly emboldened since the Afghan Taliban seized power in Kabul in August 2021, following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces. Pakistani officials say many TTP fighters have crossed into Afghanistan, where they are now living openly under Taliban rule. The group has maintained close ideological and operational ties with its Afghan counterparts, deepening security concerns for Islamabad.

The attack in Wana underscores the fragile security situation in Pakistan’s tribal regions, where local authorities remain on high alert. Wednesday’s bombing adds to the growing pressure on the government to crack down on militant networks believed to be regrouping along the border.

Trump Administration Freezes $584 Million in UCLA Federal Grants Over Civil Rights Allegations

LOS ANGELES (BN24)— The Trump administration has suspended $584 million in federal research grants for UCLA, nearly double the figure previously reported, marking the first time a public university has faced such a freeze over allegations of civil rights violations tied to antisemitism and affirmative action.

Chancellor Julio Frenk confirmed the suspension Wednesday, warning the loss of funding from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Energy would have far-reaching consequences beyond California.

“If these funds remain suspended, it will be devastating for UCLA and for Americans across the nation,” Frenk said in a statement, citing the groundbreaking scientific, medical, and technological advances the university has produced.

The Education Department did not respond to requests for comment.

The freeze follows a Justice Department Civil Rights Division finding that UCLA violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by showing “deliberate indifference” in fostering a hostile educational environment for Jewish and Israeli students.

That determination came alongside a $6 million settlement UCLA reached with three Jewish students and a Jewish professor who alleged the university allowed pro-Palestinian protesters to block access to classes and campus facilities last year.

UCLA has pledged to improve campus safety and inclusivity. The settlement requires the school to contribute $2.3 million to eight organizations combating antisemitism and to create an Office of Campus and Community Safety with new protest management policies. Frenk, whose father and grandparents fled Nazi Germany and whose wife is the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, also launched an initiative to fight antisemitism and anti-Israel bias on campus.

James B. Milliken, president of the University of California system, said the UC is in talks with the administration over the allegations but criticized the funding cuts.

“These cuts do nothing to address antisemitism,” Milliken said. “Moreover, the extensive work that UCLA and the entire University of California have taken to combat antisemitism has apparently been ignored.” He called the suspended funding “a death knell for innovative work that saves lives, grows our economy, and fortifies our national security.”

The administration’s move follows a similar high-profile case at Columbia University, which agreed last month to pay $200 million to settle federal antidiscrimination allegations and saw $400 million in research funding restored. Officials have said the Columbia deal is serving as a model for other universities, pairing large financial penalties with compliance mandates.

The UCLA freeze is the latest escalation in the administration’s use of funding as leverage in disputes with higher education institutions over civil rights enforcement. Administration officials have said they intend to expand such measures to other schools facing similar allegations.

JD Vance to Host High-Level Trump Administration Meeting on Epstein Case Strategy-Report

WASHINGTON (BN24) — Vice President JD Vance is expected to convene a closed-door meeting Wednesday evening with senior Trump administration officials to map out the White House’s next moves in the politically charged Jeffrey Epstein scandal, according to multiple media reports.

CNN and ABC News, citing sources familiar with the matter, said the strategy session at Vance’s residence will include Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. The officials are set to discuss whether to release the Justice Department’s transcript of its recent two-day interview with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate and convicted sex trafficker.

Blanche — a former personal lawyer to President Donald Trump — met with Maxwell late last month at the government’s request. Details of the conversation have not been made public, but administration officials are reportedly weighing the possibility of making the transcript public as early as this week.

The calls for transparency have grown louder. On Wednesday, model and actress Alicia Arden, who in 1997 filed a police report accusing Epstein of sexual assault, urged the administration at a news conference to release all Epstein-related files.

“I’m tired of the government saying that they want to release them. Please just do it,” Arden said, adding that she wanted to know exactly what Blanche asked Maxwell — and what Maxwell’s answers were. “She was convicted of sex-trafficking children. This is a terrible crime. She should not be pardoned.”

Arden’s attorney, Gloria Allred, echoed the demand, urging the release of “the entire transcript, including all of his questions and all of her answers.” Allred also called for Congress to invite Epstein and Maxwell’s victims to testify before House and Senate committees, detailing their abuse, the impact on their lives, and their experiences with the criminal justice system.

Maxwell, convicted in December 2021 of sex trafficking and other charges, is serving a 20-year sentence and has appealed her case to the U.S. Supreme Court, citing Epstein’s earlier plea deal. Her attorneys this week opposed the Justice Department’s request to unseal related grand jury transcripts, arguing that revealing the secret testimony would infringe on her due process rights while her legal options remain active.

The controversy intensified after Maxwell was quietly transferred last week from a Florida federal prison to a lower-security facility in Texas. Trump told reporters he was unaware of the move.

The administration is also facing bipartisan backlash over the Justice Department’s recent announcement that it would not release additional Epstein documents despite Trump and Bondi’s earlier pledges.

On Tuesday, the House Oversight Committee subpoenaed the Justice Department for Epstein files and ordered sworn depositions from a list of prominent figures, including former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former attorneys general Jeff Sessions, Alberto Gonzales, William Barr and Merrick Garland, and former FBI directors James Comey and Robert Mueller.

Notably absent from the subpoena list is Trump’s former labor secretary, Alex Acosta, who brokered Epstein’s controversial 2008 plea deal as a U.S. attorney in Florida. Allred said Acosta, along with Bondi and Blanche, should also be called to testify.

Maxwell has indicated she is willing to testify before Congress if granted immunity. Meanwhile, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., has introduced a resolution opposing any presidential pardon or clemency for her. “The vast majority of Americans oppose any form of clemency for Maxwell,” Krishnamoorthi told CNN, “and we need to say that with one voice in Congress.”

The White House did not respond to questions Tuesday about the planned meeting at Vance’s home.

Source: theguardian

Nigerian Man Extradited from France to U.S. to Face Charges of Hacking, Fraud, and Identity Theft

NEW YORK (BN24) — Chukwuemeka Victor Amarachukwu, a 39-year-old Nigerian national also known as Chukwuemeka Victor Eletuo and “So Kwan Leung,” has been extradited from France to the United States to face federal charges related to hacking, fraud, and identity theft, officials announced Tuesday.

Amarachukwu was brought to the U.S. on Monday, August 4, 2025, following a formal request from U.S. authorities. He was presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger in the Southern District of New York, where the case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe.

The U.S. Department of Justice alleges that Amarachukwu participated in a sophisticated cybercrime scheme targeting U.S.-based tax preparation businesses using spearphishing emails to gain unauthorized access to electronic systems. The stolen data included sensitive tax and identifying information of thousands of Americans.

“Amarachukwu and his co-conspirators sought fraudulent refunds totaling at least $8.4 million from the Internal Revenue Service and state tax authorities, successfully obtaining approximately $2.5 million,” said United States Attorney Jay Clayton. Additionally, the conspirators filed fraudulent claims under the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, netting over $819,000 in illegal payouts.

Beyond tax fraud, Amarachukwu is accused of orchestrating a separate scheme that defrauded victims by offering nonexistent investments in standby letters of credit, netting millions of dollars.

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia emphasized the bureau’s commitment to pursuing cybercriminals worldwide. “If you are attempting to enrich yourself by scamming Americans from behind a keyboard, the FBI, with our extensive law enforcement partnerships, is willing and able to bring you to the United States to face justice,” Raia said.

Amarachukwu faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit computer intrusions, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The combined charges carry potential sentences ranging from a minimum of two years to up to 20 years in prison for each offense, with sentencing ultimately at the discretion of the presiding judge.

The extradition was made possible through close cooperation between U.S. law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the French National Gendarmerie.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Nessim, leading the prosecution, stressed that the charges remain allegations until proven in court.

Ghana Defence, Environment Ministers Die in Helicopter Crash, Presidency Confirms

Accra, Ghana (BN24) — Ghana’s defence and environment ministers were killed Wednesday when a military helicopter crashed, the presidency confirmed, marking a tragic loss for the West African nation’s government. The Ghana Armed Forces had reported earlier that a helicopter carrying eight people—including three crew and five passengers—disappeared from radar shortly after departing Accra at around 9 a.m. The chopper was en route to Obuasi, northwest of the capital.

Among those on board were Edward Omane Boamah, who was appointed defence minister earlier this year by President John Mahama, and Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, serving as minister of environment, science and technology. The crash also claimed the lives of Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Ghana’s deputy national security coordinator and former agriculture minister, as well as Samuel Sarpong, vice chairman of Mahama’s National Democratic Congress party.

“The president and government extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of our comrades and servicemen who died in service to the country,” said Mahama’s chief of staff, Julius Debrah.

Boamah’s tenure as defence minister coincided with growing concerns about escalating jihadist activity along Ghana’s northern border with Burkina Faso. While Ghana has largely avoided direct spillover from Sahel-based militant groups, experts have warned of increased arms trafficking and cross-border movement of militants using Ghana as a strategic rear base. Boamah, a medical doctor by training, previously served as communications minister during Mahama’s 2012-2017 administration and was deputy minister for environment before that.

In recent months, Ghana has intensified diplomatic efforts with neighboring countries governed by military juntas, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, all of which have distanced themselves from the ECOWAS regional bloc. In May, Boamah led a delegation to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital, as part of this diplomatic engagement.

The presidency announced that all national flags would be flown at half-staff and that President Mahama had canceled official engagements for the day in mourning. Boamah had been preparing to publish a book titled “A Peaceful Man in an African Democracy,” dedicated to former Ghanaian president John Atta Mills, who passed away in 2012.

Army Officer Injures Five Soldiers at Fort Stewart Military Base, Suspect in Custody

FORT STEWART, Georgia (BN24) — Five soldiers were wounded Wednesday in a shooting incident at Fort Stewart, a U.S. Army base in Georgia, officials confirmed. The suspected shooter was apprehended by law enforcement shortly after the attack, which prompted a base-wide lockdown.

According to the official Fort Stewart Facebook page, all injured soldiers received immediate treatment on-site before being transferred to Winn Army Community Hospital for further medical care. Authorities have not disclosed the identity or motive of the suspect.

“The base went into lockdown shortly after law enforcement responded to the incident,” the post said. “There is no active threat to the community.” Investigators continue to probe the circumstances surrounding the shooting, and no further details will be released until the investigation is complete.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that President Donald Trump has been briefed on the situation and that the administration is closely monitoring developments.

While shootings on U.S. military installations remain uncommon, they underscore the broader challenge of gun violence affecting communities nationwide. The incident comes amid ongoing national debates, with conservative lawmakers opposing many firearm restrictions.