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Israel assassinated another leader, prompting questions about potential responses and expectations of impunity. Israel has allegedly been trying to incite all-out war for years. Despite restraint from other countries, Israel dropped 85 bombs, weighing 2,000 to 5,000 pounds each, on Beirut to assassinate someone. The speaker champions the resistance and urges viewers to remember these images as Israel defends its actions. The assassinated man purportedly had nothing to do with the hostages in Gaza.

Ayman Ramel from Beirut sent in a super chat saying today was very tough as Southern Lebanon faced ongoing devastation, with the scene described as Israel’s continued bombing of Southern Lebanon in real time. The IRGC (Iran) characterized the attacks as an Israeli savage massacre, claiming hundreds killed in one of the biggest strikes on its capital, and pledged revenge. Tehran called the action a breach of the ceasefire with the United States and claimed it represented a historic and crushing defeat for the US, promising retaliation against Israel. Israel’s IDF spokesperson said they would continue operations against Hezbollah as long as Hezbollah threatened Israeli civilians, accusing Hezbollah of targeting civilian infrastructure and displaying video of attacks in a populated city center. An initial casualty figure cited before the broadcast was around 256, but the number was believed to be higher. Ben Swan, an independent journalist, joined to provide on-the-ground context from Beirut. He reported that numbers of dead ranged from about 280 to 350, with injuries around 1,500. He noted more than 100 locations bombed that morning, highlighting the dynamic and fluid casualty count. He observed that Israel did not issue the usual warnings—no leaflets or cell-phone alerts indicating where strikes would occur—leading to civilians, including women and children, being killed with little or no forewarning. He emphasized that the affected areas in Southern Lebanon are historically Christian and home to long-standing communities, noting connections to biblical sites in the region (e.g., Cana’s wedding and Peter’s burial site) to illustrate the demographic being affected. He claimed Israel’s stated objective is to take Southern Lebanon up to the Litani River and to integrate it into a broader “Greater Israel” project, with Netanyahu’s office reportedly warning Lebanon’s army to move away from a bridge crossing the Litani River as a strategic target. This would geographically separate Northern and Southern Lebanon, according to the narrative aired. The discussion touched on broader political themes including debates about whether Israel’s actions reflect a broader tactic to project power or to distract from other regional pressures. The conversation linked the conflict to perceptions of American influence and strategy, including whether the United States has leverage to influence Israel’s actions. Some participants argued that US influence exists and that global opinion has grown more critical of Israel, citing condemnation from European leaders and shifts in international sentiment. They argued that Israel’s messaging has been effective in focusing attention on Iran, potentially allowing actions in Lebanon to proceed with less scrutiny. The speakers explored the idea that the conflict is part of a broader geopolitical strategy, including claims that the war serves to advance the so-called “Greater Israel” project, and discussed how Western powers, notably the United States, are perceived as entangled in regional dynamics. They contrasted perceived Israeli tactics with Russia’s more deliberate approach in Ukraine, suggesting Israel’s strategy aims to destroy civilian infrastructure to prevent return to the territory, whereas Russia has pursued more selective destruction. The program suggested that if China and other nations condemn the actions, international pressure could intensify, potentially escalating beyond a regional conflict. The speakers referenced a report from Breaking the Silence about Israel’s past Gaza operations, describing it as a “construction project” of destruction, to illustrate a pattern of strategic demolition of civilian infrastructure. In summary, the segment described an intensified conflict in Southern Lebanon with high casualties and widespread bombings, alleged lack of civilian warnings, and discussions about strategic objectives, US influence, and broader geopolitical implications, including potential global ramifications if international responses intensify.

The speakers recount a visit to sites in Iran connected to Israeli airstrikes on civilian residential areas. They describe finding tangible remnants of the destruction and narrate specific fatalities and damages as evidence of the impact on civilians. - Speaker 0 explains that they visited locations where Israel bombed civilian residential buildings and claims that often an entire neighborhood was bombed to kill a single civilian scientist. They mention uncovering children’s shoes and a toddler’s car seat among the rubble, and warn that “another war is coming.” - Speaker 1 describes a residence where an air hostess lived and was killed, noting that she is pictured with her mother and father. They report three children were killed in the bombing by Israel against Iran. They point to a little lamp from a child’s room, children’s shoes, and children’s clothing, and mention a toy that had been in the room; they state that more toys existed but were removed. They display wall paintings and a teacup described as part of a little girl’s room. They label the situation and the presence of these objects as representative of “Zionism” and say, “This is what it means for the people of the Middle East. They transplanted this foreign entity, this cancer on our borders, and it ends lives of hundreds of thousands, if not millions.” - Speaker 2 discusses Mister Bakui’s house, noting that he and his wife and two children were killed in the Israeli missile attack. They describe the site as having once been a five-story building, and acknowledge that some neighbors were killed as well. They indicate uncertainty about the exact number of people who died and invite questions and photo opportunities. They confirm the name “Mister Bakui” (also spelled “Bob Kui” in discussion) and state that the only remaining part of the five-story building is this section. They describe extensive damage to the building and the neighboring structure, including many windows and the upper portion behind them. They note that, compared to a month earlier, when the area was a mess with rubble and debris, it has now been cleaned. - Speaker 1 asks if they can go inside, and Speaker 2 agrees, with the caveat to be careful with footwear due to debris and cleanliness.

- Speaker 0: Since Israel began strikes on Gaza after Hamas’ surprise attack on October 7, it has targeted residential buildings. The UN says nearly 200,000 structures have been destroyed or damaged. With so many fleeing attacks, Palestinians packed into makeshift shelters, many of them UN run schools, but they were not safe. More than 1,000 schools have been bombed, and Israel has destroyed most of Gaza's hospitals, including Al Shifa, where more than 400 Palestinians were killed in a raid in March 2024. - Speaker 1: We make the best weapons in the world, and we’ve got a lot of them. And we’ve given a lot to Israel, frankly. And I mean, Bibi would call me so many times, can you get me this weapon, that weapon, that weapon. Some of them I never heard of, baby, and I made them. But we’d get them here, wouldn’t we? And they are the best. They are the best. And you but you used them well. It also takes people that know how to use them, and you obviously used them very well. But so many that Israel became strong and powerful, which ultimately led to peace. That’s what led to peace. So as we celebrate today, let us remember how this nightmare of depravity and death all began. - Speaker 2: In 1948, when the land of Palestine was officially stolen and given to a group of rabid Zionists who murdered over 10,000 Palestinians. This crime against humanity was decided as early as 1917 with the Balfour Declaration, the British Crown, and Lord Rothschild of the Rothschild banking dynasty, otherwise known as the Bank of England, who when it’s all said and done, will have control over hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Palestinian oil and gas reserves. As Michael Roverero famously said, all wars are bankers’ wars. According to Benjamin Franklin, the primary catalyst for the American Revolution was the Bank of England’s Currency Act. After the revolution, a value based economy with no interest being paid to any central bank was created. But it didn’t last long. The first bank of the United States was chartered in 1791 and favored foreign stockholders over Americans. The charter ended in January 1811 followed by the war of eighteen twelve and the establishment of the second bank of the United States in 1816, which gave more power to the Bank of England. Andrew Jackson successfully killed the bank’s renewal and shortly after became the first US president targeted for assassination when Richard Lawrence drew pistols on him outside The US capital, but misfired. Laws were passed in the early eighteen sixties for the US government to issue its own currency in a value based economy as opposed to the debt based system imposed by central banks. According to an 1864 edition of the London Times, this would have made America the wealthiest nation of the world. The article warned that if a government creates its own money, it will be without debt. It will become prosperous without precedent in the history of the world and therefore must be destroyed. In 1865, president Lincoln was assassinated, and the economy was quickly phased back to the central bank’s debt enslavement model. In 1913, the tyrannical Federal Reserve Bank and federal income tax was born. The two world wars brought Germany under the heel of the central banking cartel. Western banking institutions financed the Bolshevik revolution. In 2000, Iraq stopped selling its oil and Federal Reserve notes. In 2003, Iraq was illegally invaded by The United States and dollar based oil sales were reinstated. In Libya, Muammar Gaddafi’s gold dinar currency was making the nation rich. In 2011, The US invaded and reverted Libya’s oil sales to dollars. The Bank for International Settlements recently proposed efforts under the guise of anti money laundering that would provide scores to tokens and digital wallets including stablecoins. Digital ID, social credit scores, and a carbon tax is what the bankers are up to now. And everything else is a distraction. Today’s war is mostly psychological, and it’s being waged upon you. Greg Reese reporting. The Reiss report is now fully funded by my Substack subscribers. Subscribe today and support my work at gregreiss.substack.com.

A television camera captures footage revealing that the Israeli army has been ordered to strike and break the bones of those throwing stones. The Israeli army is claimed to be the most moral in the world, unlikely to harm journalists or civilians. However, the Israeli response has led to the displacement of over 187,000 people, with nearly 800 deaths, including many children. The UN has declared the total blockade of the Palestinian enclave to be a violation of international humanitarian law. Amnesty International accuses Israel of committing war crimes, with at least 135 civilian deaths on the first day alone. The French government has condemned these heinous acts. Unfortunately, there will be collateral victims.

Daily funeral processions in Lebanon wind through streets hit by ongoing Israeli bombings despite a ceasefire deal. Those mourned are increasingly medics and first responders killed while helping people caught in attacks. The Lebanese government says they are being deliberately targeted, calling it “double taps,” and a specific incident is described as being caught on camera. The footage begins after medics arrive at the first attack. Medics in neon jackets call for a second ambulance after a father and his young daughter are hit. As the crew arrives, another bomb strikes the front of the ambulance, with the moment of impact captured by a camera inside the arriving vehicle. Two members of a two-man crew who rush to help escape with their lives but are wounded. Three colleagues outside on the street are killed, along with the father and child, and a civilian who stopped to help. The attacks are said to be devastating southern communities. One boy, Hamza, is eight and wearing an emergency jacket that leads to his father’s killing. Another son is left without his father. The transcript notes that among the killed were a photojournalist and a volunteer medic, describing both roles as among the most dangerous jobs in Lebanon. Families hold back-to-back funerals and some people believe the civil defense uniforms of the loved ones marked them out for attack. The Israeli military is said to have offered no credible explanation when asked why first responders were attacked. The military states it hit two Hezbollah motorbikes one after the other, but does not explain why the video appears to contradict that. The military also says it is examining claims that uninvolved individuals were harmed. The transcript includes additional voices describing grief and brotherhood among the killed and vows to continue. It also ties the continuing violence to broader negotiations, saying the country’s future is tied to an Iran–US–Israel deal, with negotiators in Tehran supporting Hezbollah, which is firing rockets into Northern Israel. It adds that historic talks between the Lebanese government and Israel failed to bring respite, and that the ceasefire agreed mid-April has not stopped bombings. In South Lebanon, many residents leave and those who stay do so because they cannot plan for a future while their past is still there. A paramedic named Hussein is shown sweeping damaged graves, including his wife’s, who died last year. Hussein has four sons, all paramedics, and worries about their safety; his youngest was supposed to join the crews that were killed but stayed because his father begged him to remain. Hussein describes the “second ambulance” attack as being clear that medics and civilian rescuers are targeted despite having no weapons. He says some days he does not sleep, having lived through the last war and displacement, and he fears more losses among his sons.

The Indonesian hospital in Northern Gaza is in ruins, overwhelmed with wounded and lacking medical supplies. Israeli troops raided the hospital after laying siege to it for days. Witnesses describe being interrogated and beaten by soldiers. The hospital may never reopen due to the extensive damage. Palestinian journalists have also been targeted, with at least 48 killed by Israeli fire. The Biden administration was concerned that the ceasefire would allow journalists to expose the devastation and turn public opinion against Israel. The destruction in Gaza is widespread, with streets, schools, houses, and shops destroyed. Many Palestinians are left homeless.

Ashwin Rutanski speaks from the UAE, referencing the Nakba anniversary (1948), ongoing Israeli oppression of Palestinians, and claims that NATO capitals provide money, weapons, and diplomatic protection for these actions, with Washington treating Israeli impunity as a cornerstone of foreign policy. He also notes G7 finance ministers meeting in Paris and asks about the Trump Netanyahu war on Iran, including questions about its justification and motivations. Avi Schleim, Emeritus Professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford, says the Trump Netanyahu war on Iran is “unjustified, senseless, and foolish,” calling it unlawful and stating there was no Security Council resolution mandating war and no imminent threat from Iran to Israel or America. He argues the war was a decision by Trump and Netanyahu, with Netanyahu as the real architect, alleging Netanyahu dragged America into the conflict. Schleim connects the war’s consequences to suffering inflicted not only in Iran but also in Lebanon, alongside continued Gaza genocide and ethnic cleansing of the West Bank. He describes Israel as damaging America, America’s Gulf allies, international economy, and international law by dragging the U.S. into war. Rutanski asks whether it is really about Netanyahu given claims that 93% of Israeli Jews supported bombing Iran. Schleim replies that it is not just Netanyahu, stating Israeli society has moved right for 25 years since the second Intifada, becoming more overtly racist, with growing influence of religious Zionism on foreign policy. He says war is easier to sell than peace because peacemaking requires concessions, while attacking enemies is more popular. Schleim argues Netanyahu persuades the Israeli public that Iran poses an existential threat, which he rejects, citing claims that Iran has not attacked neighbors, has signed the nonproliferation treaty and submitted to international inspection, while Israel has not signed it and refuses international inspection; he also contrasts Iran renouncing nuclear weapons with Israel’s alleged possession of about 200 nuclear warheads. Rutanski asks whether Israel cares about reputational damage. Schleim says Israel cares mainly about American support, describing it as unconditional and therefore without consequences for Israel’s actions, including genocide in Gaza and intensified settler violence in the West Bank. He states that American backing has affected ceasefire interpretation and says Israel has devastated Lebanon—destroying whole villages in southern Lebanon, displacing 1,100,000 Lebanese refugees, and bombing civilian neighborhoods in Beirut, while targeting journalists and damaging hospitals and ambulances. He frames these actions as applying the Gaza “playbook” in southern Lebanon with immunity as long as the U.S. supports Israel. Rutanski cites polls showing disapproval among U.S. voters of Netanyahu and belief by many that Israel is committing genocide. Schleim argues a disconnect exists between Western governments and the public, saying people can see genocide “livestream” and that Gaza has been made uninhabitable. He says Western foreign policy will take time to catch up but trends are toward increased criticism of Israel, including within the U.S. among younger Jewish people. He adds that criticism is spreading to Republicans who he says are turning against Trump over Israel. Rutanski then asks Schleim about Britain’s role. Schleim says he is “absolutely appalled” by British complicity, citing a book by Peter Urban and describing actions including arms sales, intelligence flights over Gaza, and offering British bases in Cyprus and the UK for Israeli Air Force and U.S. supply for the Gaza war effort. He claims Britain has legal duties under the 1948 Genocide Convention to stop arms sales, stop buying Israeli military technology, and suspend the trade agreement, which he says Britain denies due to refusing to accept that Israel is committing genocide. Rutanski asks why European countries are involved. Schleim answers by arguing the claim is questionable and stating the main supporter is America. He says European support since 1948 was influenced by Holocaust guilt and by perceptions of Israel as an island of democracy in the 1950s, later describing Israel as widely viewed now as authoritarian, racist, and apartheid, and arguing Israel has made itself an international pariah through occupation, oppression, constant violence, and never-ending war. Rutanski mentions repression in the UK and asks whether those in power want to preserve support for Israel. Schleim says there is a powerful Israel lobby in Britain across both Conservative and Labour parties, and adds Germany’s repression is linked to Holocaust guilt. He discusses Palestine Action being designated as a terrorist organization, saying supporting it can lead to prison sentences of up to 14 years, while also describing a judicial review that found the prescription unlawful, followed by a government appeal. He then describes being asked to postpone a guest lecture at Liverpool Hope University, citing complaints from the local Jewish community about his presence on campus, which he says limited his academic freedom. He also claims mainstream media and the BBC fail to report Palestinian narratives, alleges BBC presenters are instructed to stop interviewees when genocide is mentioned, says he has not been interviewed on the BBC for two and a half years, and references his book “Genocide in Gaza,” which he says includes quotations from Israeli leaders. The show ends with condolences mentioned by Rutanski for those bereaved or affected by “NATO nation wars of aggression,” including Gaza and the mass killing in the Donbas, and announces a new season starting June 6.

The host notes the ceasefire appears to be over after Israel scuttled Trump’s plans for a two-week peace; the Wall Street Journal reports that Netanyahu was furious he wasn’t included in the peace plan discussions. The host says Israel wasn’t formally part of Iran negotiations and was unhappy it learned a deal was finalized late and wasn’t consulted, according to mediators and a promoter familiar with the matter. Speaker 1 interjects apologetically, then remarks that online narrative suggests that if you say Israel led the US into this war, you’re antisemitic, which they call antisemitic, and speculate that they’re all antisemitic. Speaker 0 describes Israel as throwing a tantrum “like a toddler” after the peace plan’s collapse and launching massive airstrikes on residential buildings in southern Lebanon, supposedly with no military purpose. Speaker 2 counters that civilians are involved and mentions tunnels under the area. Speaker 0 notes these attacks also targeted Iranian and Chinese Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure, calling it a direct attack on China, and claims at least 250 people were killed in these attacks on civilian apartment complexes in southern Lebanon. Speaker 1 adds that bombs continue to hit Beirut, with images described as horrific; there are 256 confirmed deaths at that point. Israel is also ramping up attacks in Gaza and the West Bank, which some warned would happen once the ceasefire was announced. Speaker 3 states that Netanyahu says the ceasefire with the US and Iran “is cute, but it doesn’t really have much to do with Israel,” and that Israel will keep fighting whenever they want, noting that two weeks were announced but not the end of the world. Acknowledgment follows that “we were not surprised in the last moment.” Calls for Netanyahu’s resignation in Israel rise. Iran announces it will close the Strait of Hormuz; the Trump administration says water will open but contradicts Fox News reporting that tankers have been stopped due to the ceasefire breach. Fox News reports raise concerns about whether the plan is credible. Speaker 4 mentions that Iran’s parliament says the ceasefire is violated in three ways: noncompliance with the ceasefire in Lebanon (civilians being slaughtered), violation of Iranian airspace, and denial of Iran’s right to enrichment; Iran insists uranium enrichment remains part of the deal, while the Trump administration claims they will not enrich uranium. Speaker 5 adds that Iran’s ability to fund and support proxies has been reduced, claiming Iran can no longer distribute weapons to proxies and will not be able to acquire nuclear weapons; prior to the operation, Iran was expanding its short-range ballistic missile arsenal and its navy, which posed an imminent threat to US assets and regional allies. The host counters that June had claimed “done enriching uranium,” but Iran says they will do whatever they want, having “won the war.” Speaker 6 asks how one eliminates a proxy’s ability to distribute weapons if the weapons and proxy networks already exist. Speaker 1 notes the points are contentious and shifts to a discussion with Ryan Grimm from Dropside News. The host, Speaker 0, asks Grimm to weigh in on the 10-point plan circulated as Trump’s plan, which Grimm says is not a formal document and not necessarily accurate; a “collection of different proposals” from Iran that was “collected into a single proposal” and later claimed to be new when presented as a new 10-point plan. Grimm describes the process as inconsistent and says the administration’s narrative has become convoluted. A segment follows about a centenarian, Maria Morea (born 1907, died 2024 at 117), whose gut microbiome showed diverse beneficial bacteria; studies of long-lived people show similar patterns, suggesting longevity relates to daily habits and gut health. The sponsor pitch for kimchi capsules is included, noting it provides gut-beneficial bacteria with Brightcore’s product, offering a discount. Speaker 0 returns to the ceasefire discussions, arguing that Israel’s actions indicate it does not want peace. Grimm expands, saying Israel is in a worse position than before and aims to push north into Lebanon and perhaps target maritime resources; Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz would elevate its regional status, with Belt and Road targets implying a significant structural shift. The host questions whether Trump would abandon Netanyahu if necessary and whether Trump would throw Netanyahu under the bus to stop the war. Grimm suggests Trump may prefer an out to avoid broader conflict, while noting the political stakes in the US and international responses. The discussion then revisits how Netanyahu allegedly sold the war to Trump and cabinet members, with New York Times reporting that the aim was to kill leaders, blunt Iran’s power, and potentially replace the Iranian government, while acknowledging that the initial strikes did not achieve regime change and that Iran’s ballistic missiles and proxies have been affected by the conflict. The segment closes with a humorous analogy to a Broadway line about a fully armed battalion.

The destruction in Gaza is extensive, as reported by the New York Times using satellite images. Hundreds of thousands of people are being forced to flee Gaza, with no possibility of returning. Gaza South, where people were told to seek refuge, is also being bombed and locked down. The Egyptian border is closed, preventing people from leaving. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks of fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah, reclaiming the ancient borders of Israel. This goes beyond seeking revenge on Hamas terrorists and raises concerns about anti-Semitism.

In Gaza, families and children are seeking refuge in hospitals after Israeli warplanes attacked homes. The death toll in Gaza has reached 2,215 Palestinians, with the number increasing every hour. The situation is described as a massacre, with whole families and children being killed. The Gaza Strip is under siege, lacking fuel, medicine, and medical supplies. The hospitals are overwhelmed with injuries and fatalities. The attacks are happening in southern Gaza, where people were asked to evacuate for their safety. Even after the deadline, the safe area is not safe, as evidenced by the airstrike on the Abu Jabara family's home. Foreign citizens in Gaza are unable to leave through the Rafah crossing. The situation is horrifying and there is nowhere safe in Gaza.

The discussion centers on the alleged failure of Trump’s ceasefire with Iran and the dramatic military moves around it. The hosts point to Reuters and other outlets reporting thousands of Marines being rapidly transferred from San Diego into the region, suggesting preparations for a potential ground invasion rather than a real ceasefire. They highlight that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are involved in the efforts, and question why American forces are being moved if a ceasefire is in place. They argue that the U.S. and Israel show no intention of a genuine ceasefire or meeting Iran’s ten-point plan. After Trump’s administration celebrated a “ceasefire breakthrough” with Iran, Israel reportedly launched a series of attacks inside Lebanon, with Lebanese sources claiming hundreds of civilians were killed (more than 300) and millions displaced, undermining the ceasefire. They note Israel’s continued strikes on Lebanon, with Netanyahu’s side stating they would not stop and would continue to strike Hezbollah with full force, portraying Hezbollah as a target tied to Iran and Lebanon’s invasion. The program raises questions about whether the ceasefire could be limited to the United States and Iran, excluding Israel, and whether Iran could exclude Israel. They wonder if the ceasefire is a mechanism to reset or rearm rather than to establish lasting peace. They reference a draft ceasefire approved by the U.S., which Lebanese Hezbollah and others argue should include an end to Israeli expansion in Lebanon. Trump spokespeople claimed Lebanon was not included, but the hosts and guests argue Lebanon was indeed part of the terms, noting that the U.S. supplied a draft to Pakistan’s prime minister that included Lebanon, which Pakistan reposted. Dave DeCamp (antiwar.com) and Max Blumenthal (The Grey Zone) join to discuss. Dave notes that Iran’s ceasefire includes Lebanon, and Israel escalated with “operation eternal darkness,” killing hundreds. He questions JD Vance’s comments that Lebanon was never part of the terms and suggests the negotiations hint at a deal only between the U.S. and Iran, potentially allowing Iran and Israel to fight. He notes the involvement of Kushner and Witkoff in negotiations and observes that the day after the ceasefire was announced, the U.S. and Israel acted in ways inconsistent with a real ceasefire. Max adds that the White House has rebranded operations to “Epic Fury” and suggests a ground invasion appears more likely as a response to a failed ceasefire. He argues the ceasefire has fallen apart within hours and asserts the broader geopolitical dynamics—where the Straits of Hormuz act as a choke point and Iran uses cryptocurrency-based tolls—shift leverage toward Iran. He contends the war strengthens Iran’s political position while weakening those advocating appeasement or renewal of the JCPOA, and asserts that the U.S. can only cause more death and destruction. They discuss the international response to the Beirut bombing, noting tepid Western condemnation and arguing the U.S. and Israel depend on U.S. weapons and bombs to carry out the assault. They observe that Western officials have not condemned the attack vigorously, and that the Lebanese public is rallying around Hezbollah and seeking Iranian intervention in response to Israel’s actions. They reference New York Times reporting about Israel “dragging the United States into war” and the backlash against that characterization. They discuss the Pentagon’s integration with Israeli/Israeli-linked operations, and suggest that senior Trump advisers may have disputed Netanyahu’s narrative, with Ratcliffe expressing doubts about Israeli intelligence. They note internal tensions and potential fall guys like Pete Hegseth, while acknowledging Trump’s central role and the possibility of accountability at the ballot box. In closing, they emphasize the ongoing travel of Kushner, Vance, and other figures to broker a 10-point plan in Pakistan, while questioning trust in the process and urging scrutiny of who is driving the talks and under what terms. They promote Dave DeCamp’s antiwar.com coverage as a resource.

The reporter describes an Israeli airstrike yesterday on the village of Aitoh in Zarta, a predominantly Christian area in the North of Lebanon. A small mountain village house was hit while sheltering about 29 displaced people who had fled from the South and the suburbs of Beirut; the house was completely flattened. In the trees behind, clothes are flung around, and civil defense volunteers are behind the reporter, sorting through the rubble. They have now removed all the bodies. Twenty three people were killed in this strike, many of them children. The air carries the smell of burning, and Israeli jets are flying overhead in the background. This site is described as a complete scene of destruction: all the cars nearby are burning as well, and it seems that nobody would have been able to get out of the strike without severe injury.

Israeli warplanes targeted a house, killing all the family members inside. Witnesses claim the victims were shot at close range by Israeli soldiers. The destruction caused by the Israeli military's missile strikes and artillery shelling is extensive, leaving industrial plants and residential buildings in ruins. The Israeli soldiers have withdrawn, leaving behind scenes of devastation. The roads are destroyed, preventing ambulances from recovering decomposing bodies.

Gaza's death toll and civilian injuries continue to rise as airstrikes persist. In the Al Shateh refugee camp, people desperately dig through rubble to save loved ones. Over 440 children have been killed by Israeli airstrikes, according to Gaza's health ministry. Israel claims to target Hamas, but medical facilities, schools, and residential areas have been affected. Displaced individuals, including 47% children, seek refuge in UN-run schools. However, Gaza now faces a complete siege, with no access to water for drinking or hygiene. Schools have been bombed, and many innocent lives lost. The people of Gaza question why they are suffering.

Dimitri Lascares, a lawyer turned journalist, describes his reporting trips in Lebanon and the surrounding region, including repeated visits to southern areas. He says that while he has been physically present in Beirut over the past five days, he has not witnessed an attack there, adding that the only attack he is aware of during his presence was an Israeli strike in Dakhia, a southern Beirut suburb, which killed numerous civilians. He describes multiple incidents in the south and Bekaa Valley, including airstrikes that he says had no conceivable military justification because they occurred in evacuated villages with no military activity observed, and attacks that he says targeted areas near Jabal Amel Hospital in Sur by destroying the hospital parking lot, putting parts of the hospital out of action, and causing civilian casualties. Overall, he characterizes what he has seen outside Beirut as a campaign of terror in the south, while saying Israel has shown “uncharacteristic restraint” in Beirut, which he attributes to threats of Iranian retaliation. Lascares argues that Iranian deterrence is being extended to Lebanon, including through Iran striking Israel despite Israel not directly hitting Iran, framing Lebanon as part of a ceasefire and retaliating on Lebanon’s behalf. He then discusses Lebanon’s political complexity, saying the Lebanese government is engaged in talks and a ceasefire with Israel while Hezbollah is the group fighting. On Hezbollah’s role, he describes Hezbollah as a resistance movement formed in response to Israeli occupation and aggression, stating it has remained fundamentally a resistance movement and that it has not occupied land recognized as Israel under international law. He claims Hezbollah is restrained and says it has significant support among the Lebanese population, with overwhelming Shia support and also meaningful Sunni and Christian support, though less than among Shias. He criticizes what he says are ceasefire terms that, according to him, include disarmament of Hezbollah without disarmament of Israel and do not require Israeli troop withdrawal or stopping destruction of civilian infrastructure in temporarily occupied areas. He links this to a broader argument that any call to disarm resistance groups should begin with disarming Israel, including weapons of mass destruction, and he notes Israel is the only state in the region not in the NNPT. On the sustainability of Israel’s campaign, Lascares says he follows resistance commentary and that Hezbollah’s documentation of attacks includes regular video reports and daily accounts of military operations. He claims these reports—he says some corroborated by Israeli media—describe Hezbollah disabling more than twenty-five Israeli Iron Dome launchers, destroying hundreds of armored vehicles (mostly Merkava tanks), and inflicting severe casualties including senior commanders and elite brigades. He says Israeli leadership has discussed potential collapse and that he cites claims of large numbers of reservists refusing duty, alongside what he describes as PTSD and a suicide crisis, arguing the Israeli force was not built for wars of attrition and is conducting a multi-front war beyond its intended scope. Asked about Western support and media coverage, Lascares says Western elites show less concern for Lebanon’s destruction than the humanitarian narrative, while he asserts public polling shows Israel is deeply disliked across many Western countries and that negative sentiment is growing. He argues the disparity between what “the people want” and what media and political elites want is increasing and could lead to a political legitimacy crisis and instability in the West. Discussing Israel, the United States, and Iran, Lascares rejects a narrative of US-Israeli tension, arguing instead that the US uses Israel as a proxy to impose hegemony over a region he describes as strategically valuable, continuing to arm and support Israel while portraying restraint rhetorically. He says Israel and the US have aligned incentives: he claims US public opposition to a war on Iran and Israeli public support for it fit a posture strategy, with Trump portrayed as restraining Netanyahu while Netanyahu is portrayed as determined to continue the war. Regarding Iranian strategy, Lascares says Iran initially pursued commensurate retaliation but shifted to disproportionate retaliation after commensurate approaches did not work. He describes Iran striking multiple US military bases in the Persian Gulf, then intensifying attacks on Israel with wave after wave of missiles and drones. He says the IDF Defense Minister Katz has reiterated that if Hezbollah attacks Israel, Israel will attack Beirut, and he argues this escalation logic would be untenable because it would leave Israel free to attack the rest of Lebanon and continue destroying infrastructure. Lascares says Iran’s toll arrangement for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is difficult to assess externally due to Iran’s secrecy, but he says his discussions with Iranian officials and experts indicate some kind of fee is being extracted from ships transiting with Iranian consent. He argues there is “absolutely no military solution” to the toll problem, saying Iran can increase the risk of catastrophic damage without blocking shipping by using drones, ship-to-ship or land-to-ship missiles, mines, or fast attack boats. He frames the Strait of Hormuz as leverage and “their nuclear weapon,” and says the United States will eventually have to “pay the piper,” implying control would have to be ceded to Iran. On a potential diplomatic settlement, Lascares states that he sees “zero” hope of Iran giving up its nuclear program, and says Iran would accept JCPOA-type enrichment limits only with full sanctions relief and unfreezing of assets, while he says Iran would not hand over 60% enriched uranium to the US. He says Iran may be willing to dilute enrichment to about 20% for research purposes, but that any arrangement would require lifting sanctions and unfreezing assets. He argues US and Israeli concerns include the risk that sanctions relief would allow Iran to become the most powerful state in the region, and he expects escalation to continue with “catastrophic consequences for the global economy.” In closing, he says his on-the-ground experience in Iran contradicts foreign portrayals of Iranian leadership and people as extremely aggressive, irrational, or fanatical. He says he found Iranian people to be peace-loving, prepared to be reasonable and compromising, and expecting to be treated with respect as a sovereign nation. He promotes his own work by directing viewers to his YouTube channel, “Reason to Resist,” and to his X account under the handle @dimitri_laskaris.

In Gaza, Israeli airstrikes have caused widespread destruction, with drones filling the sky and leaving a neighborhood in ruins. Civilians, who claim innocence, have lost their homes and lives amidst continuous bombings. The Israeli army claims to have targeted 350 strategic locations, including tunnels and meeting places for Hamas soldiers. However, residents accuse Israel of indiscriminate bombing, with houses damaged and lives shattered. The Palestinian government reports that 23,000 homes have already been destroyed, and soon, nearly two million people will face a severe shortage of water and electricity.

The conversation centers on whether U.S. policy shifts toward “putting America first” and whether Trump/J.D. Vance statements about Israel and Iran are genuine or the result of external manipulation. Mario asks Alex whether what J.D. Vance and Trump are saying is meant sincerely, referencing J.D. Vance and Trump’s language. Alex responds that he believes J.D. Vance and Trump have been influenced and manipulated, and he links U.S. decision-making to behind-the-scenes arguments raised in cabinet meetings about Israel’s Middle East actions. He says J.D. Vance heard claims from the Pentagon that Israel’s plan was a terrible idea, would fail to produce regime change, would close the strait, would “destroy the administration,” and would “kill the world economy,” describing a pattern where Israel’s actions were connected to dragging the U.S. toward total war. Alex claims Trump later realized he had been manipulated by “false intelligence” provided by Netanyahu and Mossad, including claims that Netanyahu and Mossad convinced Trump that Kurds would rise and the Iranian regime would fall within four days. Alex says Trump then looked for an “exit ramp” for more than a month but was repeatedly pulled back in as Israel allegedly continued attacks and sabotaged negotiations, including an episode where Trump claimed he ordered Israel to stop hitting Lebanon and Alex claims Israel hit harder afterward. Alex adds that Netanyahu allegedly refused to leave southern Lebanon, and he singles out Ben-Gavir as even more radical and influential, quoting Ben-Gavir saying, “We need to burn all of Lebanon to the ground,” and framing this as a broader “Greater Israel project.” Alex describes a “canary in the coal mine” by citing Gerald Morgan (Steven Crowder’s co-host) as saying Ben-Gavir is a horrible person and that Morgan would not support Israel if it continued such “genocidal” statements and behavior. Alex also says that Israel’s influence is reflected in legislation, claiming the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act for 2027 would merge and synchronize U.S. and Israeli military research and development and weapons, and that days after committee passage, the Defense Intelligence Agency and two other agencies allegedly said Israel is the highest-level espionage threat to the U.S. Mario connects the discussion to Trump’s rhetoric, asking whether this is more than rhetoric and could go on longer. Alex answers that Trump is “100% pro-Israel” and believes Israel has a right to exist, saying Trump seeks to be a major peacemaker and wants the Abraham Accords. Alex says Trump “never liked Netanyahu,” claiming Trump is enraged and looking to break with Israel due to constituents’ war-related break from “Israel first” and inflation. Alex says he expects Israel to keep provoking, including possibly launching bigger provocations against Iran, or a “magical terror attack” blamed on Iran, and ties this to Netanyahu’s legal situation and alleged incentives not to destabilize internal outcomes tied to October 7-related investigations. The transcript then shifts to direct quotes shown in a clip from Gerald Morgan challenging a statement attributed to Ben-Gavir: Alex relays the argument that “All of Lebanon must burn,” asserting disproportionate retaliation logic, warning that absorbing Lebanon would lead to further targets like Turkey and Syria, and arguing the U.S. supported Israel for decades. Alex then says Katz made similar statements, including a claim that villages in southern Lebanon have been flattened and that 200,000 Lebanese residents in a security zone are never returning. Alex later elaborates on what he says is Israeli conduct: alleged leveling of villages, destruction of houses, leveling churches and crusader castles, and poisoning crops via concentrated glyphosate weed killer (Roundup), comparing this to prior actions in Gaza and the West Bank involving wells. He also claims “Lebanese, Christian or Muslim” who do not leave would face IDF snipers and killing, and he says Israel publicly called the approach “the Gaza treatment” for Lebanon. Alex expands into broader claims about political networks and leverage. When asked what leverage Israel might have over Trump, Alex describes opening “back channels” and cutting Israel out of live time intelligence, but also claims Israel has leverage over Trump through business ties and the “Epstein network,” asserting Trump wanted to take over such power structures for himself and that Israel “got all the intel” through secret forms that redirect information away from the Five Eyes. Alex claims this results in Israel placing personnel in key Pentagon and intelligence positions and describes “partially under a Likudnik Israeli coup right now.” Mario asks whether Alex believes this is linked to dirt involving Epstein. Alex says it is not primarily dirt used to compromise Trump, but rather that Trump joined the network and expected protection and loyalty; when it didn’t go as planned, Alex claims Trump became angry and tried to assert dominance over Israel. Alex argues Trump’s actions would be reversed only when Trump decides he was wrong, and he lists conditions for a fundamental shift: Trump needs to call for Netanyahu to leave, oppose legislation such as the NDAA Section 224 and a matching Senate Intelligence Bill, deny Israel merging with U.S. military/intelligence, and cut off funding and weapons. Alex also adds that he wants Trump to oppose laws restricting free speech and to reverse other actions he lists as harmful. In the short term, Mario asks what happens if Israel strikes Beirut, Iran retaliates, and whether Trump would be dragged in. Alex says the longer the Strait of Hormuz is closed and the worse the economy becomes, the more pressure Trump will face, and he claims Trump might come out against Netanyahu if Israel’s actions cause unbearable economic damage and if bombing Iran is framed as leading Iran to attack Israel. Alex also predicts Israel’s land-gathering motivations, including gas corridors. Finally, Mario asks whether Netanyahu could fall to pressure and whether Israel could cease fire and pull out, similar to Trump’s alleged change with J.D. Vance. Alex says there is “absolutely” a chance for that kind of shift, claiming Israel could be removed through money and opposition channels, that the White House could work with Netanyahu’s opposition, and that if there is no war within a year, pipelines and systems could cut the Strait of Hormuz out of the equation. Alex closes by arguing Israel’s radical leadership escalates conflict in ways that generate backlash and that de-escalation depends on Trump directly confronting Israel’s leadership rather than supporting their decisions.

A verified video shows an Israeli drone strike near the coast, with onlookers, believed to be soldiers, laughing and singing. Israel denies plans to reoccupy Gaza, yet continues to destroy the remaining buildings. Northern Gaza is being emptied, erasing any trace of life in the area.