Global Conflict Tracker
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
By the Center for Preventive Action
Updated October 06, 2024
Hamas launched its deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, prompting
the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to engage in aerial campaigns and ground
operations within the Gaza Strip. Efforts to free the more than one hundred
remaining Israeli and foreign hostages taken by Hamas have been largely
unsuccessful, and their location and health status are unknown. Almost two
million Gazans—more than 85 percent of the population—have fled their
homes since October 2023. Recent casualty estimates from the Hamas-run
Gazan Health Ministry place the death toll in Gaza at around 42,000, though
such numbers are challenging to verify due to limited international access to
the strip. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is attempting to
facilitate a ceasefire and hostage release deal between the two parties.
The conflict has sparked increased regional tensions across the Middle East.
Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon have engaged in cross-border skirmishes with
the IDF, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have shot missiles at Israel and commercial
ships in the Red Sea, and other Iran-backed groups have launched dozens of
attacks on U.S. military positions in Iraq and Syria. (For more on the direct
confrontation between Iran and Israel and the role of the United States, visit
the “Confrontation with Iran” page. For more on the direct confrontation
between Hezbollah and Israel, visit the “Instability in Lebanon” page.)
Imee seeks full disclosure of P132-B Bicol flood control budget
By Leonel Abasola
October 30, 2024, 6:02 pm
MANILA – Senator Imee Marcos said Wednesday the public deserves
transparency on what happened to the PHP132 billion allocated since 2018
for flood control in Bicol after continued severe flooding in the region.
“It is unacceptable that PHP132 billion has been designated for Bicol flood
control projects, yet communities remain inundated, and families are
suffering. The public deserves transparency on where these funds went,”
Marcos said in a news release.
Based on the 2024 General Appropriations Act, Bicol received PHP31.94
billion this year alone, bringing the six-year total to nearly PHP133 billion.
Of this amount, Marcos said more than PHP86.6 billion was allocated in just
the past two years.
She said flooding brought by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international
name Trami) has once again exposed inadequate infrastructure and critical
gaps in flood mitigation.
Marcos asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to
provide a full accounting of the funds and progress of these projects, adding
that she would support a thorough investigation into the budget’s use, set for
discussion in the November budget hearings.
“For the 2025 budget, we need concrete, well-engineered solutions that
effectively address climate threats, not outdated projects that risk lives,
homes, and livelihoods,” she said. (PNA)
Philippines’ Duterte admits to drug war ‘death squad’
Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte takes an oath as he attends a
senate probe on the drug war during his administration
Author,Yvette Tan
Role,BBC News
29 October 2024
Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has admitted that he kept a
“death squad” to crack down on crime while mayor of one of the country’s
largest cities.
In his first testimony before an official investigation on his so-called war on
drugs, the 79-year-old said the squad was made of gangsters, adding that he
would tell them “kill this person, because if you do not, I will kill you now”.
Duterte won the presidency by a landslide in 2016 on the promise of
replicating his anti-crime campaign in Davao city on a national scale.
The nationwide drug war saw thousands of suspects killed in controversial
police operations and is now being investigated by the International Criminal
Court.
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During the senate hearing on Monday, Duterte also said he told police
officers to “encourage” suspects to fight back so officers could justify the
killings.
“Do not question my policies because I offer no apologies, no excuses. I did
what I had to do, and whether or not you believe it… I did it for my country,”
said Duterte in his opening statement.
“I hate drugs, make no mistake about it.”
However, he denied that he gave his police chiefs permission to kill suspects,
adding that his “death squad” was made of “gangsters… not policemen”.
“I can make the confession now if you want. I had a death squad of seven,
but they were not police, they were gangsters.”
Duterte also remained defiant, claiming that many criminals had resumed
their illegal activities after he stepped down as president.
“If given another chance, I’ll wipe all of you,” he said.
His appearance on Monday was the first time he had showed up at an inquiry
into his anti-drug campaign since his term ended in 2022.
It was also the first time he directly faced some of his accusers, including
families of victims of the drug war and former senator Leila de Lima, a
Duterte critic who was jailed for seven years on a drug-dealing charge that
was eventually dropped.
The Philippine government estimates that more than 6,252 people have
been gunned down by the police and “unknown assailants” in Duterte’s “war
on drugs”. Rights groups say the numbers could actually run into the tens of
thousands.
An earlier report by the UN’s High Commisioner for Human Rights found that
Duterte’s drugs crackdown had been marked by high-level rhetoric that
could be seen as giving police officers “permission to kill”.
Police said many of their victims, who they claimed were drug lords or
peddlers, were often killed in “self defence” during shoot-outs. But many
families claim their sons, brothers or husbands were simply in the wrong
place at the wrong time.
The war on drugs campaign was controversial and drew huge international
criticism, but it also had its share of supporters in a country where millions
use drugs, mostly methamphetamine, known locally as “shabu”.
POGO hub raided in Bataan
By Emmanuel Tupas(The Philippine Star) – November 1, 2024 – 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Fifty-seven foreigners and 358 Filipinos were rounded
up during a raid yesterday afternoon on a Philippine offshore gaming
operator (POGO) hub in Bagac, Bataan that is suspected to be involved in
criminal activities.
Armed with a search warrant issued by a court in Malolos, Bulacan, teams
from the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), Philippine
National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines, swooped down on the
Centro Park, a vast compound in Barangay Parang.
Soldiers on board military trucks were seen entering the compound as part of
security measures.
Probers of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group were initially
stationed outside as they mapped out their operation targeting Central One,
a hub which occupies buildings within the compound.
PAOCC executive director Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz said the raid was
carried out after they received reports Central One was actually a POGO.
“Based on our information, that’s a POGO operation,” he said over dzBB.
At least 900 people, including over 300 foreigners, are working in the
compound. Among them are Chinese, Vietnamese and Malaysian nationals.
The other 600, meanwhile, are Filipinos.
The Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 81 issued the search warrant after
finding probable cause that violations of Republic Act 9208, also known as
the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act as amended by RA 10364, were committed
inside the compound.
Among the alleged leaders and incorporators of the POGO firm are 10
Chinese, four Malaysians and two Thai nationals. Among them was a Chinese
man identified as Chen Hao, said to be one of the bosses.
PAOCC spokesman Winston John Casio said Central One has no permit from
the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., making their operation illegal.
Casio said Central One is supposedly a business process outsourcing
company. However, they got word from informants the firm is involved in
illegal activities.
Police are scouring the buildings for computers, laptops, cellular phones and
computer servers which could be vital in the investigation on the POGO hub’s
activities.
75 POGO workers nabbed in Manila
Seventy-five foreign nationals were taken into custody following a raid on an
POGO hub at Century Peak Tower in Adriatico Street, Manila.
The National Capital Region Police Office and the Anti-Cybercrime Group
conducted the raid on Oct. 29, following a warrant to search, seize and
examine computer data issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court.
Authorities discovered that the entire building was occupied by foreign
nationals who were reportedly working without the necessary permits.
During the operation, agents confiscated mobile phones, desktop computers,
laptops, SIM cards, a digital video recorder, and facial recognition attendance
machine used in POGO operations.
The detained POGO workers are currently undergoing identity and
immigration status verification with the Bureau of Immigration.– Christine
Boton
