Douglas Murray’s (@DouglasKMurray) recent appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast—debating Gaza & Israel with David Smith (@DSmithComedian)—was difficult to endure.
Not just for its one-sided framing, but for how it echoed official Israeli talking points, wrapped in smug certainty & theatrical performance.
What follows is a breakdown 🧵of some of the contradictions behind that debate—and why they matter. 1. I’ve Been There” — A Misleading Claim
Murray dismisses critics by saying they “haven’t been to Gaza,” as if that disqualifies them from speaking.
But millions around the world have seen Gaza—through livestreams, footage, reporting, & testimony that have filled our screens daily for months.
His own visit was a guided military tour with the IDF—not independent, not journalistic, & far from exposure to civilian life under occupation.
This is not the same as “being there.” It’s controlled access through one lens.

Unmasking Israel’s Sexual Abuse Epidemic:🧵 A thread on #Shoshana_Strook’s allegations, systemic failures, & state violence. 1/ Shoshana’s Allegations and Orit’s Stance
Shoshana Strook alleges childhood abuse by her parents, incl. Minister Orit Strook, who said ‘victory over Gaza’ matters more than hostages. The abuse was recorded & she’s now threatened. Her story exposes Israel’s hidden crisis.

Trump’s Tariff War (simplified:)
The Aftershocks Begin 🧵
Markets are collapsing.
Allies are retaliating.
And global trade is coughing up blood.
Here’s what’s happened since Trump reignited the economic firestorm: 2/ On April 2, Trump announced:
•10% base tariffs on all imports
•104% on Chinese goods
•46% on Vietnam
•26% on India
•20–49% on allies and rivals alike

This wasn’t strategy. It was an economic grenade.

Far-Right Zionists Are Making Blacklists
Here’s what @Betar_USA is proudly promoting:
•Lists of Jews to be banned from Israel
•Deportation dossiers on pro-Palestine students
•Open collaboration with far-right governments
•And now this:
“There are no innocents in Gaza.”
🧵Thread Below. Do read. 1. A far-right Zionist group is now making lists of Jews they want banned from Israel—for supporting Palestinian rights.
Lists. Of Jews.
Because they dissent.
Sound familiar? It should.

⚠️IMPORTANT⚠️
1. The US just sent a letter to the @UN opposing Francesca Albanese’s @FranceskAlbs reappointment as Special Rapporteur—accusing her of “antisemitism” for reporting on Gaza’s mass death. 50K+ dead, 100K+ injured. This isn’t about hate—it’s about silencing truth. 2. The US lectures the world on human rights while arming apartheid, vetoing justice, & silencing UN experts who dare to count the bodies.
Francesca Albanese @FranceskAlbs exposed #Israeli war crimes—so Washington called her “antisemitic.” Classic deflection.

Liberation Day or Inflation Day?
Trump just slapped #tariffs on almost every major U.S. trading partner:
China (34%)
Vietnam (46%)
India (26%)
Japan (24%)
EU (20%)
Cambodia wins with a whopping 49%.
Even allies like UK, Israel, Brazil got hit. Global trade just caught fire. This isn’t strategy—it’s economic cosplay.
A 10% baseline on all imports, plus targeted hikes = higher prices for Americans & retaliation on the horizon.
Trump calls it “reciprocal.”
Markets call it madness with flags.
Welcome back to the tariff circus.

🧵1.
Let’s talk about who’s actually destabilizing the Middle East.
A thread on hypocrisy, shredded treaties, & why Iran is not the one threatening global war.
(Bookmark this before someone pretends the JCPOA never existed.) 2.
Trump didn’t just tear up the Iran nuclear deal—he lit the match, walked away, & then blamed Iran for the fire. The 2015 JCPOA was working. Iran was in compliance.
The U.S. walked. End of story.

Don’t take my word for it—ask the IAEA:
iaea.org/newscenter/foc…

🧵THREAD: 🧵A visual summary of U.S. empire in action—followed by the details. Let’s break it down. A Not-So-Short History of U.S. Empire
Since 1776, the United States has:
•Intervened in 100+ countries
•Toppled dozens of governments
•Waged endless wars
•Built over 750 military bases worldwide

Let’s break that down.

🥀TRANSLATED from Syria:
“Today, I have become an orphan.

“I am the one who fought against the regime, the one who shed tears and offered prayers for every martyr lost in the wars of hypocrisy.

“I am the one who could not sleep for days because lives were taken in my town.

“We are a family that never believed in killing, never believed in violence. We always saw everyone as our brothers—this is how we were raised.

“My mother taught us that humanity is indivisible and that everyone in our homeland is family. My mother, who refused to let her children become fuel for war, sent them across the world so they would not have to fight their own people.

“My brothers—my kind-hearted brothers—everyone can vouch for that.

“My brothers never carried weapons, not even once. They believed in love and peace; they were kind to all.

“Today, I am an orphan. They were all slaughtered in their home because they refused to leave. They believed that those entering their house were their own countrymen—people who wouldn’t harm them.

“How treacherous faith can be… How immense is this pain that will consume me for the rest of my life.

“My mother and brothers were slaughtered unjustly… and their bodies still lie in the house. I cannot go to them, I cannot mourn them there, I cannot even bury them.

“May God curse us all. May God curse this land.”
🥀2- The words of Hasan Harfoush translated following the massacre of his entire family

“What God decreed has happened, and His will was done. May God have mercy on you, my dearest ones.

“May God have mercy on you, my father, my backbone and support.

“May God have mercy on you, my brother. I couldn’t get you out of this country—please forgive me, my dearest one.

“May God have mercy on your soul, my mother. You have burned my heart and broken my back.

“May God have mercy on you, Rola, my kindhearted one. I’m sorry, my sister. I thought we were safer here than in Latakia—please forgive me.

“Forgive me, Karam and Jad—I couldn’t be by your side to protect you.

“Forgive me, Mahmoud—I couldn’t find anyone to help save you.

“Ah, my heart burns for you all… Blessed are you, for you have attained martyrdom, my dearest ones.”

⚠️BREAKING: ⚠️
Hezbollah’s General Secretary, Sheikh Naim Qassam announced that, contrary to reports, neither Lebanon’s President, nor its Speaker of Parliament or caretaker Prime Minister have agreed to Israel’s extension of its occupation of South Lebanon until next month.

"Israel" must withdraw & we will not accept any justification for extending the sixty-day period.” ⚠️ “We are certain that His Excellency President Joseph Aoun cannot give “Israel” a single gain, as he is the one who gave instructions to the army to stand by the people in their advance south.”

🔴UPDATE:🔴
🥀11 people murdered in Israel’s latest atrocious attack in the heart of the Lebanese capital, Beirut. Beirut for Tel Aviv - an eye for an eye, as Hezbollah’s leader Sheik Naim Qassem declared a few days ago.
“When the capital is under the blows of the Zionist enemy, the response must be in the midst of "Tel Aviv".”
Expect a retaliation.

🚨URGENT🚨 Israel just carried out three huge attacks in the heart of the capital Beirut. 🚨 Unable to tell where or what they hit aside from it being too close for comfort.

⭕️DAYS’s RECAP ⭕️
If you missed it, as I wasn’t posting earlier, yes, Israel violently bombed areas in Beirut’s southern suburbs during the morning & afternoon today. It probably will later tonight as well.
This was near Chouwayfat & Ouzai endangered the Lebanese airport, while a plane was landing.
Badass pilot …You can see from behind the smoke the tail of the plan as he keeps it moving. ⭕️At dawn on Thursday, the bombs of the terrorist IOF destroyed a residential building that includes the offices of the Taha Children’s TV Channel, a nursery for children & infants, a small cinema hall, clothing & children’s supplies stores & commercial stores.

🔴IMPORTANT🔴
Many people have asked why the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) are not actively involved in defending the country. I hope that these facts & figures will provide some explanation & insight into these questions:

📌 This issue is not about the size of the LAF or the sectarian composition of its soldiers. The Lebanese army is diverse, with members of all sects, including a significant number of Shiite soldiers.
The problem is not even the bravery of the LAF soldiers. These men are courageous & itching to protect their country. Just look at the martyr Major Mohammad Farhat of the LAF (clip below) who was killed by the invading Israeli forces 9 days ago on (Oct 24) while on a mission to evacuate wounded civilians.
See how he confronted the IOF enemy who tried to install barbed wire on the outskirts of Aita Al Shaab in March 2023.

The question regarding the army's inability to defend Lebanon against Israeli aggression lies in whether the LAF is equipped or capable of defending the nation, even from a defensive standpoint. We are not discussing offensive maneuvers, but rather the army's ability to hold its ground defensively.

Quite simply, the LAF is not sufficiently armed to perform such a task or to deter any foreign force.
This is not through any fault of its own, but rather because the collective West, led by the United States, has historically under-equipped the LAF, ensuring that it is incapable of defending Lebanon against Israeli occupation forces.

This decision was deliberate on the part of the U.S., which has played a major role in limiting Lebanon's access to aviation & air defense systems, effectively neutralizing any potential threat to its most strategic ally in the region - Israel. The U.S. has positioned itself as Israel's "guarantor, guardian & protector.” 📌Both Russia & Iran had offered to support the LAF with military equipment, including jets & deterrence weapons, particularly as Lebanon's military faces increasing pressure from its deteriorating economic situation. However, the Lebanese government reportedly declined these offers.

One of the major reasons speculated behind this refusal is the strong influence of the United States on Lebanon, especially concerning military and financial aid.
The United States is a key supporter of the LAF, providing substantial military aid since 2006. This includes weaponry, training, & operational support, which is often conditioned on aligning with U.S. policies.

For instance, in 2021, President Joe Biden authorized $47 million in military aid to Lebanon as part of broader support, underscoring the LAF's dependency on American backing.
Additionally, the U.S. has also covered some of the salaries of Lebanese soldiers during Lebanon’s economic crisis, further deepening this dependence

Given the extent of U.S. aid to the LAF, accepting military support from Russia or Iran—two states that are geopolitical adversaries of the U.S.—would likely put Lebanon at odds with Washington. The U.S. Foreign Assistance Act & various security cooperation agreements, limit Lebanon’s ability to freely accept arms from adversaries of the U.S., as doing so might result in a cut-off of critical American support.

In a nutshell, this U.S. influence is considered a significant factor in Lebanon’s refusal of the Russian & Iranian offers.

Moreover, aligning with Russia or Iran militarily could further complicate Lebanon's delicate political balance, as Hezbollah, a dominant political & military force in Lebanon, is already backed by Iran.
Therefore, the Lebanese government likely finds itself under intense diplomatic pressure to maintain its military relationship with the U.S., avoiding potential fallout from accepting support from Russia or Iran, which could risk sanctions or the loss of critical U.S. and Western support.

🔴IMPORTANT🔴
📌 The US embassy has turned into Lebanon’s dictator & is now imposing restrictions on certain flights bringing humanitarian aid to the country, forcing them to first land in Jordan for inspection.

📌 The embassy in Aukar has also threatened Lebanon’s national carrier MEA with sanctions, should it transport injured people for treatment abroad. 📌 The embassy is also receiving a daily “manifesto,” from IATA, of the names of all passengers travelling to & from Lebanon’s airport, as part of its blatant intrusion in the country’s internal affairs & free movement.

URGENT🚨 Israel is planning to bomb the city of Baalbek, home to the temples of Venus, Jupiter, & Bacchus built more than 11,000 years ago.

The IOF has ordered the evacuation of the entirety of the city, for the first time since the invasion, to carry intensive bombing, which will undoubtedly impact the historical archeological sites.
Baalbek, is listed as a one of six UNESCO World Heritage sites in Lebanon.

🥀IMPORTANT🥀 Israel deliberately targeted journalists in the residence housing them in south Lebanon killing three & injuring others.
They did so without providing any warnings, but in typical cowardly fashion struck the chalet they were staying at in Hasbaya while they were asleep late at night.
The three including a dear & old friend of mine — Al-Mayadeen cameraman Ghassan Najjar.
The two other colleagues killed:
The channel’s broadcast engineer Mohammed Reda,
& Al-Manar cameraman Wissam Qassem,

🥀 Two nights ago, Israel attacked Al-Mayadeen offices in Beirut, which had luckily been evacuated at the start of the war.
It is clear that Israel is bent on silencing journalists in Lebanon, as it had done in Gaza.
Remember, Israel wantonly killed nearly 200 journalists in Gaza.
Targeting journalists is a war crime.
@pressfreedom
@UN
@CIJ_ICJ

🚨Urgent🚨
The IOF is planning a major attack in Beirut’s southern suburbs tonight & has already started.
The entity keeps on shifting its so called objectives. Now they claim they will be bomb:

“targets in Beirut connected to Iran’s funding of Hezbollah.
These targets & others will be bombed throughout the night.”

This means they will be bombing banks used by the pious Moslems who opt for the Islamic system of banking.
It also means they will attack charitable institutions set up to support many of the Shiite & other poorer community. 🚨 What is Qard Al Hassan that the Israeli terrorist spokesperson just said they would target?
Qard Al Hassan is a financial banking institution that’s associated with Hezbollah. It became prevalent in Lebanese society especially after the banking/financial crisis in 2019. Hezbollah in accordance with Islamic law provided interest free loans as well as long term flexible terms to all sects, religions & areas in Lebanon & would take collateral in return. These loans were given during the highest levels of inflation & currency collapse in Lebanons history so that the average citizen could afford to pay for rent, school tuition for their kids or even medical treatment. This attack is not an attack on Hezbollah but is an attack on the Lebanese people & to force the people to turn on the resistance.

If you loan to Allah, a beautiful loan [tuqridu llaha qard hasan], He will double it to your (credit), and He will grant you Forgiveness ..(Qur’an 64(al-Tagabun):16–17.)[5]

An explanation Via @Lebaneseraven

🚨🚨🚨Extracts from speech by General Secretary of #Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan #Nasrallah
📌”The #Israeli enemy targeted thousands of pagers & crossed all laws, controls & red lines

📌Some of the explosions occurred in hospitals, markets, public roads, homes & locations where civilians were mainly present

📌Dozens of martyrs fell, including children among the victims, & thousands have been injured. The final numbers will appear later.

📌Through the Pager bombings on Tuesday, the Israeli enemy wanted to kill 4,000 people in one minute on Tuesday & another 1000 in one minute on Wednesday & those within their vicinity.

📌For two days, the Israeli enemy wanted to kill about 5,000 people in two minutes without any consideration.

📌We can call what happened on Tuesday & Wednesday a declaration of war.

📌A number of pagers were out of service or far from their owners, which prevented the enemy from achieving its goal of killing 5,000 people.” 2: Sayed #Nasrallah continued—
📌”There is no doubt that we have been exposed to a major security & humanitarian blow, unprecedented in the history of the resistance in #Lebanon.

📌This type of killing, targeting & crime to detonate it in isolation from the environment in which they are located is unprecedented globally.

📌We know that the enemy has superiority on the technological level because it has #American & NATO support.

📌Tuesday & Wednesday were a big test for us, but this big & strong strike did not & will not bring us down.

📌 We will be able to pass this test with pride & heads held high.”

🚨BREAKING: 🚨
Another huge massacre in Al_Mawasi in Khan Yunis — an area designated by Israel as a “safe zone” for the internally displaced Palestinians.
Reports of a large number of civilians killed & injured when Israel bombed over 20 tents, where many families were asleep.
Body parts are reported everywhere .
People are still buried under the sand & ground. A child dug from under the sand.

BREAKING: ‼️‼️
This has to be a first in #Hezbollah’s entire history.
A video released by the group titled “Our mountains are our stores," reveals a part of its underground tunnels & silo of its missile store.
This rare, probably first of its kind public display footage, is a stern message to Israel, reiterating that:
1- A response is coming
2- Ballistic missiles are, in just a press of a button position, & already pinpointed against the selected targets. By revealing this next level tunnel, albeit unknown location, Hezbollah is also showcasing that the resistance has many unknown secret tunnels in Lebanon, that are well equipped with varied precision missiles capable of inflicting serious destruction to the #Israeli entity if it decides to launch a full fledged war against #Lebanon.
In the words of the group’s leader Sayyed Hassan #Nasrallah, which is recited in the footage, the response will come “from where you do not expect...”