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Israel To Spend Up To $4.1 Million on Propaganda Campaign Targeting American Christians

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The Israeli Foreign Ministry is planning to spend up to $4.1 million for a propaganda campaign that will target American evangelical Christians, a project that’s being sold as the “largest Christian Church Geofencing Campaign in US history.”

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported on a federal filing under the Foreign Agents Registration Act that shows the Israeli ministry has hired a newly formed US-based firm, Show Faith by Works LLC, which will target churchgoers with digital ads that are explicitly “pro-Israel and anti-Palestinian.”

The campaign will also involve creating a mobile “October 7 experience” that will visit Christian colleges, churches, and events. The document says the experience will involve a custom-built trailer designed by “Hollywood experts,” virtual reality headsets, set pieces, and full-length TVs for an “interactive experience.”

The filing lists hundreds of churches in California, Texas, Colorado, and Arizona that will be targeted by the information campaign. According to an invoice, Show Faith by Works expects to receive $3.25 million from the Israeli Foreign Ministry over a five-month period and includes a potential additional $835,000 for equipment and expansion of the campaign.

The document, which was filed on September 27, says one of the activities of the campaign will be to “combat low American Evangelical Christian approval of the Nation of Israel.” (Read more from “Israel To Spend Up To $4.1 Million on Propaganda Campaign Targeting American Christians” HERE)

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Trump Reveals Netanyahu Phone Call That Moved Israeli PM Toward Gaza Deal: ‘Your Chance for Victory’

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President Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he had no choice but to accept his cease-fire proposal, Israeli television’s Channel 12 reported Saturday.

“Netanyahu had reservations but I told him that this is his opportunity for victory,” Trump told reporter Barak Ravid in a phone call Saturday. “He accepted it. There is no other choice, with me you have to be okay.”

“Bibi went too far in Gaza and Israel lost a lot of support in the world,” Trump added. “Now I will bring back all that support.” (Read more from “Trump Reveals Netanyahu Phone Call That Moved Israeli PM Toward Gaza Deal: ‘Your Chance for Victory’” HERE)

White House Press Secretary Explodes at Reporter Over Kushner’s Middle East Ties

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At a heated White House briefing this week, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt lashed out at a New York Times reporter who questioned the role of Jared Kushner in President Donald Trump’s proposed Gaza peace plan — even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled that Israel would not abide by key terms of the agreement.

The exchange highlighted the growing political tensions surrounding the Trump administration’s high-stakes, 20-point roadmap to end the war in Gaza — a plan that includes phased Israeli withdrawal, a governing council for Gaza, and Gulf-backed reconstruction — and the controversial involvement of Trump’s son-in-law in its negotiation.

The confrontation occurred after The Times’ Shawn McCreesh asked whether it was appropriate for Kushner — who has received over $2.5 billion in investments from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar — to be so deeply involved in diplomacy involving those very same countries.

“How did the White House decide that it is appropriate for Jared Kushner to be working on matters that involve Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, three countries that combined have given him more than $2.5 billion for his investment firm?” McCreesh asked.

Leavitt, 28, erupted in response:

“I think it’s frankly despicable that you’re trying to suggest that it’s inappropriate for Jared Kushner, who is widely respected around the world and has great trust and relationships with these critical partners in these countries, to strike a twenty-point comprehensive detailed peace plan that no other administration would ever be able to achieve,” she said.

“Jared is donating his energy and his time to our government, to the President of the United States, to secure world peace, and that is a very noble thing.”

Her impassioned defense sought to frame Kushner not as a conflict of interest, but as an asset — someone whose personal relationships and business history with the Gulf states were being leveraged for diplomatic gain.

Still, the optics are hard to ignore. Kushner’s firm, Affinity Partners, received $2 billion from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund in 2021, soon after he left the White House. Since then, the firm has secured at least $1.5 billion more from the UAE and Qatar.

The scrutiny over Kushner comes amid growing signals from Israel that it will not fully honor the peace plan brokered by the Trump administration — despite its public support.

Earlier this week, Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel would accept only an agreement “on its terms,” suggesting that the Israeli government may revise or reject critical components of the proposed deal.

The original plan includes:

The release of all hostages;
A phased Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza;
The establishment of a transitional, internationally backed governing council for Gaza;
A demilitarized Gaza Strip, with armed groups disarmed;
And billions in reconstruction funds from Gulf states, primarily Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar.

But Netanyahu’s statements — including that “Israel alone will determine the security future of Gaza” — appear to directly contradict the disarmament and governance provisions. According to Israeli media, Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition is especially resistant to any plan that would reduce Israeli control or allow significant Palestinian self-governance.

Netanyahu’s “own terms” include retaining Israeli military oversight of Gaza indefinitely, rejecting both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority as future rulers of the enclave, and demanding absolute disarmament before any reconstruction or diplomatic normalization moves forward. These changes would substantially alter the agreement Trump’s team — with Kushner at the helm — has been promoting.

The question McCreesh posed — about whether private financial entanglements are influencing public diplomacy — underscores the growing unease about the backchannel nature of these negotiations.

Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Ron Wyden, have launched inquiries into Affinity Partners’ foreign funding, warning that the overlap of Kushner’s financial and diplomatic roles represents a “serious constitutional and ethical problem.”

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Trump Grants Qatar Security Guarantee Following Israeli Strike in Doha

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President Donald Trump has issued a formal security guarantee to Qatar, pledging U.S. defense support in the event of an external attack on the Gulf nation — just after an Israeli airstrike in Doha killed several Hamas leaders. The executive order, signed on September 29, affirms the United States’ commitment to protect Qatar’s sovereignty and critical infrastructure and declares the U.S.-Qatar relationship an “enduring alliance.”

The move comes amid rising regional tensions and growing friction between U.S. and Israeli interests following the Israeli strike that targeted Hamas operatives inside Qatar’s capital. The assassination — which occurred inside a civilian building — was sharply condemned by President Trump, who reportedly demanded an apology from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to the White House on the same day the executive order was signed.

According to the executive order, the United States “shall regard any armed attack on the territory, sovereignty, or critical infrastructure of the State of Qatar as a threat to the peace and security of the United States.” In response to such an attack, the order says, the U.S. will take “all lawful and appropriate measures — including diplomatic, economic, and, if necessary, military” to defend Qatar.

The order credits Qatar for hosting the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East, Al Udeid Air Base, and for playing a key mediating role in regional conflicts.

“The State of Qatar has hosted United States forces, enabled critical security operations, and stood as a steadfast ally in pursuit of peace, stability, and prosperity, both in the Middle East and abroad,” the order reads.

Trump’s security pledge comes amid a broader shift in his approach to Middle East diplomacy. During his second term, the president has grown increasingly close to the Qatari government. He visited Doha earlier this year and even accepted a Qatari gift: a 747 aircraft that Trump said could replace the aging Air Force One.

Qatar has also backed Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan, which calls for an immediate ceasefire, a full exchange of hostages, staged Israeli withdrawal, the disarmament of Hamas, and the creation of a transitional government. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said he supports the framework, though “some issues in it need clarification and negotiation.”

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

REPORT: Israel Issues Final Warning for Gaza City Evacuation as Full-Scale Invasion Nears Amid Peace Deal Pressure

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As Israeli forces close in on Gaza City, the Israeli military has issued what it calls a “final opportunity” for Palestinians to flee, warning that those who remain will be treated as “terrorists and supporters of terror.” The warning comes as the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claim near-total control of the Netzarim Corridor, a central route that effectively splits the Gaza Strip in two.

According to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, the move is aimed at isolating Hamas in Gaza City. “This is the last opportunity for Gaza residents who wish to do so to move south,” Katz stated, while adding that the military operation will proceed regardless of ongoing cease-fire talks. “We are preparing for all possibilities,” he said, referring to both the goal of eliminating Hamas and freeing the remaining 48 Israeli hostages.

While Israel urges civilians to flee south, questions remain over where exactly Palestinians are expected to go. Southern Gaza is already overwhelmed with displaced residents, limited shelter, and ongoing Israeli airstrikes. Humanitarian agencies have warned repeatedly that no area of Gaza is truly safe.
Reports from Gaza’s civil defense indicate that 36 people were killed in Gaza City on Wednesday alone, underscoring the dangers of attempting to evacuate amid constant shelling. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have condemned the evacuation as forced displacement, warning that treating civilians who remain as combatants violates international law.

The United Nations has described the situation as a “looming catastrophe,” and the International Criminal Court is reportedly reviewing whether the siege and bombardment meet the legal definition of genocide, given the high civilian death toll, widespread displacement, and destruction of civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and churches.

The siege of Gaza City comes amid growing scrutiny of Israeli military actions. Multiple churches, including the historic Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius, have been struck during the conflict, drawing international condemnation. Israel claims the strikes target Hamas operatives using civilian sites as shields, but religious leaders and humanitarian groups insist these attacks violate protections under international law.

With access to clean water, electricity, and medical care all but vanished in northern Gaza, the implications of a full siege could be devastating for the tens of thousands who remain, many of whom are elderly, disabled, or unable to evacuate due to lack of transport.

As the violence escalates, pressure is mounting on all parties to accept a U.S.-backed cease-fire plan spearheaded by former President Donald Trump. The 20-point proposal includes:

An immediate cease-fire
The exchange of all remaining hostages
A staged withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza
The disarmament of Hamas
The establishment of a transitional government under international supervision

The proposal has been backed by several Arab states and is reportedly being reviewed by Hamas leadership. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled that military objectives will not be paused for diplomatic talks. “The only path forward is victory over Hamas,” Netanyahu said this week.

With the IDF declaring that anyone left in Gaza City may be considered a combatant, the stage is set for what may be the bloodiest phase of the war yet. Humanitarian groups warn that labeling civilians as enemy combatants risks mass civilian casualties and undermines the principle of distinction — a core tenet of international humanitarian law.

The UN estimates that over 1.8 million Palestinians — more than 80% of Gaza’s population — have already been displaced since the conflict reignited nearly two years ago. Entire neighborhoods have been flattened, and vital infrastructure has been decimated.

If a full-scale invasion proceeds, it could mark a significant escalation in a war that is already being examined under the lens of potential war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Trump’s 21-Point Gaza Peace Plan Revealed — And It’s Getting Rave Reviews From Arab Allies

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All 21 facets of President Trump’s Gaza peace plan were revealed Saturday, including a staunch demand to release all the Israeli hostages in Hamas’ captivity within 48 hours of inking any deal, a push to deradicalize the Palestinian enclave, and a commitment to end all fighting.

The peace plan also paves the pathway to possible Palestinian statehood, lays out steps to revitalize the Gaza Strip, and stipulates that Hamas cannot be part of any governing structure, according to the Times of Israel, which saw a copy of the full plan.

Trump presented the plan to allies Tuesday at the United Nations, but its full scope has not been fully presented to Hamas yet. The plan lays out a series of strong demands to the terrorist organization and makes key overtures to Gazans.

Under the proposal, all sides will work to redevelop Gaza, pour aid into the war-torn enclave at levels not lower than the January 2025 hostage deal.

Israeli Defense Forces would gradually withdraw from Gaza and Israel would agree to release key Palestinian prisoners. Hamas members who agree to peaceful coexistence will get amnesty. Those who want to leave will get safe passage to other countries.

Critically, anyone who wants to return to Gaza after leaving will be allowed to do so. (Read more from “Trump’s 21-Point Gaza Peace Plan Revealed — And It’s Getting Rave Reviews From Arab Allies” HERE)

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Israeli Drone Strike Kills American Family in Lebanon, Lebanese Officials Say

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An Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon killed five civilians on Sunday, including four U.S. citizens — a father and his three children — according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. The strike, which also left two people injured, including the children’s mother, has sparked outrage across Lebanon and renewed concerns about escalating tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border.

The Israeli military confirmed it conducted the strike, claiming it targeted a Hezbollah militant who was “operating from within a civilian population.” While acknowledging civilian casualties, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said it is reviewing the incident.

Lebanese officials say the drone strike occurred in the southern village of Qana, a region that has been repeatedly hit by Israeli strikes in recent months. Although Hezbollah has largely refrained from cross-border fire since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire was reached in November, Israel has continued to launch near-daily attacks on what it claims are Hezbollah positions in southern and eastern Lebanon.

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri confirmed that four of the five people killed held American citizenship. As of Sunday evening, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut had not issued a statement.

The attack comes amid fragile post-war conditions following the monthslong conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which claimed an estimated 4,000 lives in Lebanon and displaced tens of thousands of people. The ceasefire agreement, brokered by the United States in coordination with France and the United Nations, was meant to halt hostilities and begin a phased withdrawal of both Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters from southern Lebanon.

However, Lebanon says Israel has failed to honor the terms of the agreement, maintaining a military presence at five strategic hilltop locations near the border. Hezbollah, for its part, has refused to disarm, citing continued Israeli aggression and a lack of trust in the international monitoring mechanism.

President Joseph Aoun, speaking from New York where he arrived ahead of the United Nations General Assembly, condemned the Israeli strike and called on the international community to pressure Israel to cease its operations in Lebanese territory. He was joined by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in urging full implementation of last month’s agreement aimed at gradually disarming Hezbollah while ensuring Lebanese sovereignty.

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Israeli Finance Minister Calls Gaza a “Real Estate Bonanza” Amid UN Genocide Determination

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Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich described the Gaza Strip as a “real estate bonanza” during a conference this week, framing post-war reconstruction in the enclave as a financial opportunity and revealing that discussions are underway with U.S. officials about dividing the territory after the war.

Smotrich made the remarks Wednesday at a real estate conference in Tel Aviv, where he claimed that the war has created an economic opening for Israeli redevelopment in Gaza. “We have paid a lot of money for this war. We have to see how we are dividing up the land in percentages,” he said. “The demolition, the first stage in the city’s renewal, we have already done. Now we need to build.”

The far-right minister, who leads the Religious Zionism party, also told the audience that “a business plan, put together by the most professional people here,” is already “on President Trump’s desk.” He did not clarify whether the plan had official backing from the Israeli government or the U.S. administration. The White House and U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The comments come at a highly sensitive moment in the ongoing war, as the United Nations this week formally determined that Israel’s military actions in Gaza constitute a genocide, citing systematic targeting of civilian infrastructure, mass displacement, and an apparent intent to destroy Palestinian life in the territory. The UN’s designation adds significant legal and diplomatic pressure on Israel, which continues to reject such accusations.

Smotrich’s remarks appear to directly contradict repeated statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has said publicly that he does not plan to reestablish Israeli settlements in Gaza. However, some members of Netanyahu’s coalition — including Smotrich — have continued to promote the idea of turning the Strip into a permanent extension of Israeli territory.

In July, Smotrich participated in a Knesset event titled “The Gaza Riviera – From Vision to Reality,” where he expressed support for reestablishing Jewish settlements in the Strip. “Gaza will become an inseparable part of the State of Israel,” he said at the time.

Smotrich has also pushed to revive former settlements in the northern West Bank that were evacuated in 2005 during Israel’s disengagement from Gaza. In an interview last month with his party’s newsletter, he confirmed efforts to rebuild the settlements of Ganim and Kadim.

Palestinians and the broader international community — including the United Nations, the European Union, and Arab states — have insisted that any post-war administration in Gaza must be Palestinian-led and free from Israeli or U.S. occupation. The idea of turning Gaza into Israeli territory has been widely condemned as a violation of international law and an obstacle to any future two-state solution.

Human rights organizations have warned that openly discussing redevelopment or settlement plans while the war is ongoing — and while civilian casualties continue to mount — signals intent consistent with the allegations laid out in the UN genocide finding.

The war in Gaza, which began after the October 2023 Hamas-led attacks that killed 1,200 Israelis, has resulted in widespread destruction across the enclave. According to health officials in Gaza, more than 35,000 Palestinians — the majority of them women and children — have been killed in Israeli airstrikes and ground operations, with thousands more missing or injured. Infrastructure across the Strip, including hospitals, schools, and refugee camps, has been decimated.

UN Inquiry Finds Top Israeli Officials Incited Genocide in Gaza

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A United Nations Commission of Inquiry concluded on Tuesday that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza and that top Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu incited these acts – accusations that Israel called scandalous.

The U.N. report, issued as Israel announced the start of a ground operation in Gaza City, cites examples of the scale of the killings, aid blockages, forced displacement and the destruction of a fertility clinic to back up its genocide finding, adding its voice to a scholars’ association and rights groups that have reached the same conclusion.

“Today we witness in real time how the promise of ‘never again’ is broken and tested in the eyes of the world. The ongoing genocide in Gaza is a moral outrage and a legal emergency,” Navi Pillay, head of the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and a former International Criminal Court judge, told a Geneva press briefing.

“The responsibility for these atrocity crimes lies with Israeli authorities at the highest echelons who have orchestrated a genocidal campaign for almost two years now with the specific intent to destroy the Palestinian group in Gaza.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who was also named in the report, condemned its findings, which he said misinterpreted his words. (Read more from “UN Inquiry Finds Top Israeli Officials Incited Genocide in Gaza” HERE)

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Report: Charlie Kirk Rejected Netanyahu’s Funds, ‘Frightened’ of Israel Lobby Before Death

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A Trump insider and long-time friend of murdered [conservative] influencer Charlie Kirk has told the Grayzone that Kirk’s burgeoning change of heart on Israeli influence over US politics provoked a backlash from Netanyahu’s allies that left him angry and ‘frightened’ of the Israel lobby after a seeming Israeli spying operation was uncovered.

According to [an unverified] source close to Kirk, Kirk rejected a huge offer of cash from Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this year for his ‘Turning Point USA’ (TPUSA), believed Netanyahu was trying to bring him to heel after he began to raise public questions over Israel’s “overwhelming influence in Washington” and had begun to “loathe” Netanyahu and his influence over Donald Trump’s appointments and decisions, which had led to Kirk warning Trump against attacking Iran to please Israel.

Kirk’s new-found recognition of Israel’s influence led to him becoming the target of a “sustained private campaign of intimidation and free-floating fury by wealthy and powerful allies of Netanyahu”, and Kirk was frightened:

Kirk tried to underline his commitment to Israel, making a series of comments about the consistency and resoluteness of his devotion, but even the least criticism of Israel’s actions generated a mass backlash, as did his decision to host Dave Smith, a comedian and political commentator who has become increasingly critical of Israel during its genocide in Gaza, in a debate Kirk organised. As the Grayzone reported:

“He was being told what you’re not allowed to do, and it was driving him crazy,” Kirk’s friend recalled. The conservative youth leader was not only alienated by the hostile nature of the interactions, but “frightened” by the backlash.

The friend’s account dovetails with those of multiple right-wing commentators with access to Kirk. “I think, in the end, Charlie was going through a spiritual transformation,” Candace Owens, a conservative influencer who shifted decisively against Israel after October 7, reflected after her friend’s killing. “I know it, he was going through a lot. There was a lot of pressure, and it’s hard for me to watch the people who were pressuring him just say the things that they’re saying.”

(Read more from “Report: Charlie Kirk Rejected Netanyahu’s Funds, ‘Frightened’ of Israel Lobby Before Death” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr