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Gaza Aid Efforts Paralyzed by Widespread Looting and Gang Attacks 

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Gaza faces a deepening humanitarian crisis as widespread looting and gang violence disrupt critical food supply lines, leaving millions of civilians at risk of famine. Despite Israel’s October pledge to combat armed gangs targeting aid convoys, little action has been taken, according to U.N. and U.S. officials. 

Behind closed doors in mid-October, Israel agreed to secure food aid convoys entering Gaza. However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have remained focused on their military operations against Hamas, providing limited assistance to curb gang activity, three officials familiar with the matter said. 

The IDF spokesperson declined to comment on the October agreement but stated, “Israel has taken significant steps to allow the maximum possible scope of aid to Gaza.”

Gang violence in Gaza has surged, with looters targeting aid convoys under Israeli control. U.N. data shows that in October alone, $9.5 million worth of humanitarian supplies—almost a quarter of the total aid—was stolen. November’s losses were reportedly even higher, exacerbating the already dire situation. 

One of the most significant incidents occurred on November 16, when a 109-truck convoy was ambushed shortly after leaving a border crossing. Armed gangs looted food supplies from 98 trucks while the IDF, stationed nearby, did not intervene, according to multiple eyewitnesses. 

Georgios Petropoulos of the U.N.’s emergency response arm, OCHA, acknowledged the growing crisis, saying, “It’s just gotten too big for humanitarians to solve.”

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated rapidly. Over 70% of Gaza’s population relied on food aid earlier in the year, but by November, that number had dropped to 29%. Many bakeries, including the Zadna 2 bakery, have been forced to close due to a lack of flour, leaving tens of thousands without daily bread. 

“We’re not receiving any flour because of looting,” bakery owner Mohammad Abdel-Dayem told reporters, though the IDF challenged claims of supply shortages. 

The crisis was triggered in part by Israel’s decision in early October to halt commercial food shipments into Gaza. Previously, these shipments accounted for nearly all fresh food and over half of the goods entering the territory. The abrupt suspension created shortages, driving up prices and making aid trucks prime targets for looters. 

Despite calls from the U.N. and the U.S. to restore commercial shipments, Israeli authorities have not agreed, citing security concerns.

Efforts to negotiate ceasefires and increase humanitarian aid continue, but relief workers say the stalemate over responsibility for civilian welfare in Gaza hampers progress. Israel maintains its role is limited to facilitating aid transfers, while international organizations argue that more security and logistical support are urgently needed. 

For now, millions of Gazans remain trapped in a cycle of hunger, violence, and desperation, with no immediate solutions in sight. 

Mozambique Unrest Leaves 21 Dead After Court Confirms Election Results 

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At least 21 people have been killed in violent protests across Mozambique after the country’s top court confirmed the governing Frelimo party’s victory in contested presidential elections, Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda said Tuesday. 

The victims include two police officers, with at least 25 others injured, 13 of whom are police personnel, Ronda announced at a press briefing. 

Since Monday, the country has experienced “236 acts of serious violence,” including attacks on police stations, petrol stations, banks, and other public facilities. Protesters, opposing Frelimo’s win, allege that the October 9 election was rigged. 

Mozambican authorities have arrested 78 people as security measures are ramped up nationwide. 

“The armed forces will increase their presence in critical and key points,” Ronda told state broadcaster TVM. 

The unrest erupted after the Constitutional Council upheld the election results, declaring Frelimo candidate Daniel Chapo the winner. Opposition candidate Venancio Mondlane and his supporters have rejected the outcome, accusing the ruling party of vote rigging. 

Protests began Monday night in various regions, with demonstrators burning tires, blocking roads, and vandalizing property. 

“This was their way of shutting down Mozambique,” said Al Jazeera reporter Haru Mutasa, covering the unrest in Maputo. 

Mutasa reported instances of young men asking motorists for money to pass roadblocks. 

“While these protests may have started off over the election result, it seems some elements have come in to try and infiltrate them,” she said. 

The country has been grappling with violent demonstrations since late October when electoral authorities first declared 47-year-old Chapo the winner of the presidential race. Human rights organizations report that more than 130 people have been killed since October 21, accusing Mozambican security forces of using excessive violence to quell the protests. 

Following the court’s decision, Mondlane took to social media, urging his supporters to prepare for “difficult days ahead.” 

“History is made of thorny, rocky moments, but the truth is that victory is guaranteed for all of us,” Mondlane wrote on Facebook. 

Australia Approves Extradition of Former U.S. Marine Over Alleged Training of Chinese Military Pilots 

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Former U.S. Marine pilot Daniel Duggan will be extradited from Australia to the United States to face charges of illegally training Chinese military pilots. The decision, announced Monday by Australia’s Attorney General Mark Dreyfus, concludes Duggan’s nearly two-year legal battle to remain in Australia. 

Duggan, 55, originally from Boston, served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 12 years before emigrating to Australia, where he renounced his U.S. citizenship. He has been held in a maximum-security prison since his 2022 arrest at his family home in New South Wales. 

Dreyfus confirmed the extradition approval but did not specify the timing of Duggan’s transfer. 

“Duggan was given the opportunity to present reasons against extradition. I carefully considered all material before making my decision,” Dreyfus said in a statement. 

The extradition request stems from a 2016 indictment unsealed in late 2022 by the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. Prosecutors allege that Duggan, between 2010 and 2012, conspired to provide training to Chinese military pilots without securing the required license. 

The indictment claims Duggan received approximately AUD 88,000 (USD 61,000) and international travel from a co-conspirator in exchange for what was described as “personal development training.” 

If convicted, Duggan faces up to 60 years in prison. Duggan has consistently denied the allegations. 

In May, a Sydney judge ruled that Duggan could be extradited to the U.S., leaving the decision in the hands of the attorney general as Duggan’s last recourse to avoid extradition. 

Duggan’s wife, Saffrine Duggan, expressed her disappointment with the Australian government’s decision. 

“We feel abandoned by the Australian government and deeply disappointed that they have completely failed in their duty to protect an Australian family,” she said in a statement. “We are now considering our options.” 

Russian Cargo Ship Sinks in Mediterranean Following Engine Explosion; Two Crew Missing 

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A Russian cargo ship, the Ursa Major, sank in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria on Monday, leaving two crew members missing, Spanish maritime authorities and the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed Tuesday. 

Fourteen crew members were rescued uninjured from a lifeboat and transferred to safety in Spain, according to Spain’s maritime rescue agency. Russian officials reported that the vessel began sinking following an explosion in the engine room. 

The Ursa Major was owned by SK-Yug, a subsidiary of Oboronlogistika, a Russian shipping company tied to the country’s defense ministry. Oboronlogistika is under U.S. and European Union sanctions due to its military affiliations. 

Spanish authorities reported that the cargo ship carried empty containers and two cranes but did not speculate on the cause of the explosion or sinking. 

In a Dec. 20 statement, Oboronlogistika said the vessel was en route to Vladivostok in Russia’s far east, transporting two cranes weighing 380 tons each. The ship departed from St. Petersburg 12 days prior, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported. 

Spanish maritime officials said they received an alert around 1 p.m. Monday when the vessel was approximately 57 nautical miles (106 kilometers) off the coast of Almería in southeastern Spain. The distress call described poor weather conditions, a lifeboat adrift in the water, and the Ursa Major listing. 

A Russian warship reportedly arrived later that day to assist with rescue operations. The 142-meter (466-foot) cargo ship sank around midnight. The Russian embassy in Spain said it is investigating the incident and coordinating with Spanish authorities. 

At the time of the incident, another Russian cargo ship, Sparta, was navigating the western Mediterranean en route to Egypt’s Port Said. The Sparta, also under U.S. sanctions, was tracked using MarineTraffic.com. 

While some Russian vessels opt for the Northern Sea Route through the Arctic, particularly in summer months, the southern route through the Mediterranean and Suez Canal remains the preferred winter option for shipping between St. Petersburg and Vladivostok. 

Spanish rescue units remained on-site Tuesday to monitor the area for potential pollution and remove debris hazardous to other vessels. 

Thousands Gather in Belgrade to Protest Against Serbian President Vucic

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Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Belgrade’s Slavija Square on Sunday to voice opposition against populist President Aleksandar Vucic and his government. The demonstration followed weeks of student-led protests sparked by a deadly railway station canopy collapse on Nov. 1 that claimed 15 lives in Novi Sad.

The rally, organized by university students and farmer unions, has become one of the largest in recent years, reflecting growing dissatisfaction with Vucic’s leadership. Protesters held banners reading, “We are all under the canopy,” and observed a 15-minute silence for the victims before chanting, “You have blood on your hands!”

Smaller demonstrations also took place in Nis and Kragujevac. The collapse of the railway station canopy is widely blamed on corruption and alleged substandard renovations linked to Chinese state companies. Protesters are demanding accountability and justice for those responsible.

Prominent Serbian actors, including Bane Trifunovic, joined the protest, describing the rally as “a festival of freedom.” In contrast, President Vucic, appearing at the inauguration of a new highway in central Serbia, dismissed opposition demands for a transitional government. “We will beat them again,” Vucic said, accusing opponents of exploiting students to gain political power.

The president has attempted to pacify protests by offering financial incentives, such as favorable loans for young people to buy apartments. He has also highlighted efforts to attract professionals who had emigrated for better opportunities in the West.

The tragedy in Novi Sad has resulted in 13 arrests, including a government minister, whose release has fueled skepticism about the investigation’s integrity. The opposition has called for a transitional government to ensure free and fair elections amid allegations of election rigging in the past.

Serbia’s ongoing student-led protests have intensified, with university classes suspended and high school students joining the movement. In response, the government extended school winter holidays. Protesters have faced occasional clashes with pro-government groups attempting to disrupt their activities.

Farmers supporting the protests reported police confiscated their tractor in Belgrade. Despite this, the movement has garnered nationwide backing, including support from professors, legal professionals, and public figures. President Vucic initially accused the protesters of financial motives but later claimed to have met their demands, including publishing.

AP

Former Hamas Hostage Hannah Katzir Dies After Release

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Hannah Katzir, a 78-year-old Israeli woman freed from Hamas captivity during last year’s brief ceasefire, has died, the Hostages Families Forum announced Tuesday. Her daughter attributed the death to trauma endured since the October 7 attack, stating her mother’s “heart could not withstand the terrible suffering.”

Katzir’s ordeal began when Hamas militants raided her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, killing her husband Rami and kidnapping her son Elad, whose body was recovered by Israeli forces in April after being killed in captivity. She spent 49 days as a hostage before her November 2023 release, after which she was hospitalized with heart issues reportedly caused by “difficult conditions and starvation” during captivity.

She was among 250 hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7 attack that killed approximately 1,200 people. Israel’s subsequent military response in Gaza has resulted in over 45,000 Palestinian deaths, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which notes that more than half the casualties were women and children.

Real Estate Mogul Brothers Held in Custody Amid Expanding Sex Trafficking and Rape Allegations

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Oren and Alon Alexander, once prominent real estate brokers known for their elite social circles in New York and Florida, are being held in federal custody after being deemed flight risks. The 37-year-old Israeli-American twins, along with their older brother Tal, face state and federal charges of sex trafficking and gang rape involving at least 40 women. 

The brothers attempted to secure release on bail by proposing a $115 million loan package backed by their parents’ properties as collateral. However, this request was denied. Federal prosecutors argued that the Alexanders posed both a flight risk and a danger to the community. Southern District of Florida Judge Ellen D’Angelo scheduled a detention hearing for December 20. 

The case continues to grow, with additional women coming forward to report assaults allegedly committed by the brothers. 

One accuser, a 38-year-old woman identified as Maria S., told Miami police on Thursday that Oren Alexander raped her in 2014 at the Versace Mansion in Miami Beach. Another woman in New York alleged that the Alexander twins took turns raping her after their birthday party, two years prior to Maria’s assault. 

A third accuser, identified only as “Jane,” revealed to the Miami Herald that the twins raped her at their Manhattan apartment in Chinatown. She expressed guilt for not coming forward sooner, saying she had remained silent after the assault. 

The Alexanders are facing multiple charges in New York for allegedly luring, drugging, and violently raping dozens of women over more than a decade. The brothers are expected to appear in Manhattan federal court as the investigation unfolds. 

Multiple Casualties Reported in Palliative Distribution Stampede in Anambra, Nigeria

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A stampede during palliative distribution at the Obijackson Centre in Okija, Anambra State, has resulted in multiple casualties and injuries, with women and children among the primary victims. The Saturday incident occurred as crowds struggled to enter the facility where rice, vegetable oil, and money were being distributed.

The aid materials were provided by local community member Chief Ernest Obiejesi (Obijackson). Eyewitnesses report several people collapsed in the chaos, with at least one woman in critical condition after being rushed to the hospital. The exact number of casualties remains unconfirmed.

The scene of the incident was marked by scattered footwear belonging to victims caught in the crush at the entrance gate. Officials have since restored order, and the distribution of palliatives has resumed.

Myanmar Ethnic Rebels Claim Seizure of Junta’s Western Command in Rakhine

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Myanmar’s Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic rebel group, announced on Friday that it has seized the military’s western regional command in Rakhine state, marking a significant setback for the junta.

In a statement shared via its Telegram channel, the AA stated it had “completely captured” the western command in Ann following weeks of intense fighting. If confirmed, this would be the second regional military command to fall to ethnic rebels within five months—a significant blow to the military’s control.

The Myanmar military, known as the Tatmadaw, operates 14 regional commands across the country, many of which are currently engaged in battles with entrenched ethnic rebel groups or the newer “People’s Defense Forces” (PDFs) that emerged in response to the military’s 2021 coup.

Fighting has escalated in Rakhine state since November last year, when the AA launched attacks on security forces, breaking a ceasefire that had largely held since the coup. The Arakan Army has since gained control of large swathes of territory in the strategically important state, disrupting commerce and isolating the state capital, Sittwe.

Photos posted by the AA on its Telegram channel showed a man claimed to be the Ann deputy regional commander in the custody of its fighters. However, this information has not been independently verified, and AFP has sought comment from the AA’s spokesperson.

Due to patchy internet and phone services, AFP was also unable to contact residents in the Ann area for confirmation.

Historically, Myanmar’s military had never lost a regional command until August of this year, when the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army captured the northeastern command in Lashio, Shan state.

Myanmar’s borderlands have long been hotspots of conflict, with numerous ethnic armed groups fighting the military for greater autonomy and control over lucrative natural resources since the country’s independence from Britain in 1948.

The ongoing conflict in Rakhine state has compounded economic hardship. Last month, the United Nations warned of an impending famine in the region, as the clashes disrupt commerce and agricultural activities.

“Rakhine’s economy has stopped functioning,” the UN Development Program reported, forecasting “famine conditions by mid-2025” unless the worsening food insecurity is addressed.

Zimbabwe Introduces Land Ownership Policy to Empower Black Farmers

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Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday unveiled a new land policy enabling Black farmers to gain direct ownership of farmland seized from white farmers during the country’s contentious land reforms. The policy allows beneficiaries to sell their land or use it as collateral for bank loans, a significant shift in Zimbabwe’s approach to land tenure. 

Under the new framework, land ownership can only be transferred between “Indigenous Zimbabweans,” referring to Black citizens, with government approval. Previously, resettled farmers were prohibited from transferring or selling land, as it was deemed state property. 

The land reforms, initiated in 2000 under the late President Robert Mugabe, saw tens of thousands of Black farmers occupy white-owned farms. Mugabe argued the reforms were necessary to correct colonial-era injustices that concentrated most fertile land in the hands of a white minority. 

However, the resettled farmers were unable to use their land as collateral, leaving banks unwilling to provide loans. This restriction hindered agricultural productivity and contributed to Zimbabwe’s economic decline. 

At an event near Kwekwe city, Mnangagwa distributed title deeds to a handful of farmers, including himself, symbolizing the policy’s official launch. He also announced the establishment of a technical committee to expedite the issuance of deeds to other resettled Black farmers. 

“This policy will unlock the value of our land, making it bankable and transferable,” Mnangagwa said, emphasizing that secure land tenure would enable farmers to access credit facilities and elevate many out of poverty. 

The land reforms forcibly displaced approximately 4,500 white farmers, often through violent means led by independence war veterans. Human Rights Watch documented cases of assault, rape, and killings during the seizures. 

The upheaval devastated Zimbabwe’s commercial farming sector, transforming a once self-sufficient agricultural economy into one reliant on donor aid. Although agricultural output has improved in recent years, droughts remain a significant challenge. 

Mnangagwa expressed optimism that the new policy would address financing issues, enabling farmers to invest in productivity and infrastructure. 

In a related move, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube announced in October that Zimbabwe would compensate local and foreign white farmers for land and property lost during the land seizures. 

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