INTERNACIONAL
UN inquiry member says some genocide claims against Israel unverified as Gaza reports population growth
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The allegations of genocide against Israel took more hits this week following the reported admission by a senior member of the U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Israel that claims had not been independently verified. This comes as the Palestinian Ministry of Health data shows Gaza’s population grew in 2025.
Critics say the accusations fueled antisemitism around the world and that those pushing the genocide claims — including major international media outlets — need to be made accountable for their words.
In Sept. 2025, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel (COI) released a report stating that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza since Oct. 2023. In the report, the COI cited an article from the Guardian stating that 83% of Gazans killed in the conflict were civilians.
ISRAEL SLAMS UN REPORT AS ‘POLITICAL BLOOD LIBEL’ FOR ALLEGING DELIBERATE TARGETING OF PALESTINIAN CHILDREN
Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, South African judge Navanethem «Navi» Pillay (R), speaks next to Commission Member Chris Sidoti during a press conference in Geneva on September 16, 2025. The Inquiry Commission on September 16, 2025 accused Israel of committing «genocide» in Gaza in a bid to «destroy the Palestinians» there, and blamed Israel’s prime minister and other top officials for incitement. (Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP via Getty Images)
Following the release of data from the COI commissioner, Chris Sidoti, in an interview last week reported by JNS and posted on X was asked whether the COI had independently established that the remainder of Palestinians said to be killed in the fighting were civilians, Sidoti said, «No, we didn’t because we don’t have that information…We literally do not know, nor does anybody else know, including the IDF, how many militants were there.»
The former chair of the committee, Navay Pillay, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last week.
Israeli soldiers inspect the burnt cars of festival-goers at the site of an attack on the Nova Festival by Hamas gunmen from Gaza, near Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, Oct. 13, 2023. (REUTERS/Amir Cohen)
The Palestinian MOH Health Information Unit recently released statistics on overall mortality in Gaza for 2025. This is the first update to include non-violent deaths since 2022, prior to the outbreak of conflict following the terror attacks of Oct. 7, 2023.
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The MOH reported that 24,650 deaths were registered in 2025, with 18,085 (73.4%) being males and 6,565 (26.6%) being females. 70.1% of deaths, or 17,286 cases, were attributed to direct targeting in the war.
The MOH also reported 50,227 live births in 2025. Fox News Digital reached out to officials at the ministry but did not get a response by press time.
Elliot Malin, president at Stratos Council, told Fox News Digital that the MOH data is further evidence against accusations of genocide. With the number of live births in 2025 far greater than the number of deaths, Malin says it is «very hard for us to infer the intent of Israel was to destroy Palestinians in Gaza to a substantial portion.»
Gazans walk with boxes of humanitarian aid they received at a distribution centre run by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). (Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images)
«We’re not seeing a population under threat. We are seeing that it is actually able to sustain itself,» Malin said. He took issue with the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) declaration last year that famine had reached Gaza in the summer of 2025. Malin said that «if the population is sustaining and growing through this, what they call a famine, it indicates that there is enough caloric intake to sustain the population.»
Gabriel Epstein, senior policy associate at Israel Policy Forum, also told Fox News Digital that widespread allegations of genocide are not supported by the MOH report. First, the report «absolutely» demonstrates population growth in 2025, according to Epstein, who added it would «be surprising» if the population of Gaza, «one of the youngest…in the world,» was not growing.
While he says that it is impossible to discern the actual rate of population growth given factors like emigration and immigration, Epstein said that «the argument that we would need to make to say that there was negative population growth in 2025 would be to more than double the number of both violent and non-violent deaths.»
A woman covers her hair with a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf and raises her fist while holding a placard reading «Gaza Genocide» during an anti-Israel rally on Oct. 09, 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The sign is part of a series of downloadable pre-made graphics created by organizers of the global protest. (Annice Lyn/Getty Images)
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Andrew Fox, senior associate fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, told Fox News Digital that «the data now shows that there was no famine in Gaza.» He said that the allegations play into «the ages-old blood libel of Jews killing children and undoubtedly stoked the global fires of antisemitism. Agencies and the media who shared these false allegations have blood on their hands.»
Epstein said that the latest MOH data is strong proof against the statements from external organizations who used estimates and ratios of non-violent deaths from other conflict zones to suppose that the MOH’s ongoing count of the death toll in Gaza was inaccurate, and that deaths had likely reached multiple hundreds of thousands. These estimated figures were largely used to drive the narrative that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza. He said that current MOH figures «really eliminate the possibility that there is a much higher death toll driven by non-violent or non-trauma deaths.»
Palestinians carry aid supplies, that entered Gaza on trucks through Israel, in Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip July 29, 2025. (REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas)
He noted that comparing the latest report with ongoing MOH data on overall casualties throughout the war shows that the MOH was not «missing the vast, vast majority of [malnutrition-related] deaths you would have needed to be missing to justify the IPC’s assessment» that famine had reached parts of Gaza in summer 2025.
The IPC did not respond to Fox News Digital’s questions about how new information impacts its prior declaration of famine.
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Palestinians attend a rally calling for an end to the war, in Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, on March 25, 2025. (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)
In the MOH’s favor, Epstein said that the current tranche of figures supports a real attempt at honest accounting from the health organization, which was accused of inflating civilian casualties – particularly those of women and children– during the early days of the war.
In its latest report, however, the MOH does not distinguish how many terrorists were among those killed in the conflict. In fact, it states that, «The number of deaths among males was approximately 4.9 times the number of deaths among females within this group – attributed principally to the direct targeting of working-age men during military operations.»
IDF PUSHES BACK ON CLAIM THAT IT TARGETS JOURNALISTS IN GAZA, SAYS 170 WERE PART OF TERROR GROUPS, INCLUDING HAMAS
Smoke rises and ball of fire over a buildings in Gaza City on Oct. 9, 2023 during an Israeli air strike. (Photo by Sameh Rahmi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
A spokesperson from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told Fox News Digital that, «The IDF targets terrorists and military objectives, not civilians based on their age or gender. The fact that more military-age men are disproportionately among those eliminated is consistent with the fact that terrorist organizations are predominantly composed of men in this age group. It does not demonstrate that the IDF targets individuals because they are men or of a certain age.»
The spokesperson added that, «Targets are selected based on their military nature or an individual’s involvement in terrorist organizations or participation in hostilities, in accordance with international law and IDF directives. Unlike Hamas, which deliberately targets Israeli civilians, the IDF takes all feasible precautions to mitigate harm to civilians and operates under a structured targeting framework designed to ensure the identification of lawful military objectives. «
Members of Hamas, march with guns in the streets of the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on May 28, 2021. (NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Epstein also pushed back against the MOH claim that working-aged men are being purposefully targeted. Epstein said that «military-aged men aren’t appearing disproportionately because the IDF was targeting military-aged men as such, but because the vast majority of militants come from that range.» He said that «Gaza is unique in how heavily militarized its male population is.»
Epstein added that available 2025 data does not support the claim that the IDF acted with the intent to cause harm to the population. Not only do the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks and hybridization of civilian and military structures in Gaza provide a rationale for military targeting, Epstein emphasized that the IDF has taken numerous mitigation measures to avoid civilian casualties.
Requests for comment to the Palestinian Ministry of Health were not returned by press time.
anti semitism, hamas, terrorism, united nations, israel
INTERNACIONAL
Collins insists socialist rival won’t beat her as Maine’s money machine: ‘You’ll lose big time’
BANGOR, Maine — Republican Sen. Susan Collins is warning that Maine could lose crucial federal funding if voters replace her with Democrat Troy Jackson, as a new poll shows the candidates statistically tied ahead of their final debate Thursday.
Jackson, a one-time logger and former Maine Senate president, edged Collins 49%-47% in a Suffolk University poll conducted Oct. 8-11 and released on the eve of the final debate. Jackson’s two-point edge over Collins among likely voters was well within the survey’s margin of error, and the poll was the latest to indicate an extremely close contest.
The face-off between Collins and Jackson in the blue-leaning Northern New England state is a top flip opportunity for the Democrats as they try to win back the Senate majority from the Republicans in the midterm elections.
The Power Rankings rate the race in Maine as a toss up, as do leading nonpartisan political handicappers the Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, and Sabato’s Crystal Ball.
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«Maine voters lose out big time if Troy Jackson were to be elected,» Collins said in an exclusive Digital interview on Wednesday.
Collins, who is running for a sixth six-year term in the Senate, has showcased her nearly three decades of Senate experience and her leadership role as Senate Appropriations Committee chair as integral to her ability «to get so much done for the people of Maine.» She warned that if Jackson replaced her, «he’ll be 100 in seniority, and all of that essential federal funding targeted for the state of Maine, virtually all of it will go away.»
Jackson has argued that Collins has not used her Senate power to protect Maine families from soaring energy, food, and housing costs. «Sen. Collins has told us how powerful she is,» Jackson said during their first debate. «But power means nothing if you won’t use it when the people may need it.»
Jackson and Democrats have also repeatedly aimed to anchor Collins to President Donald Trump, whose approval ratings in Maine and across the country are cratering ahead of the midterms.
«That’s the choice on this stage — a senator who helps Donald Trump hurt Maine then tells us how concerned she is, or somebody who will stand up against him before another family in Maine has to pay the price,» Jackson said during Tuesday’s third debate.
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Collins is known as a moderate Republican who at times has voted against the president. But Jackson and Democrats are targeting the senator over her comments that she didn’t regret her 2018 vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, whose crucial vote four years later helped overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion ruling.
And following the fatal shooting in Maine this summer involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, Democrats heavily criticized Collins for her support for ICE funding.
But Collins has broken with Trump numerous times in recent months, criticizing his tariff war with neighboring Canada and voting against Attorney General Todd Blanche’s confirmation.
«Troy and Chuck Schumer and their allies run ads saying that I’m somehow a puppet of the president. Believe me, that would come as a huge surprise to President Trump,» Collins told Digital.
Collins noted, «I opposed the deal that he made with Vladimir Putin to get a small amount of diesel, and in return lift the sanctions that we just passed into law, and the president is not following the law. I signed a bipartisan letter that urges the president to reconsider that. I opposed the president’s signature legislative accomplishment, the One Big Beautiful Bill, because it contained cuts in Medicaid that… I know would be harmful to Maine.»
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The senator was interviewed in Bangor after landing the endorsement of the Maine chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police.
«I’ve secured funding for projects throughout Maine, $46 million to help our police and sheriff’s departments upgrade their equipment, facilities, and communications,» Collins told Digital.
And she took aim at Jackson, who won a special nominating convention in late July to fill the party’s Senate nomination, which was left vacant after primary winner Graham Platner ended his campaign following an explosive report containing an allegation of rape from a woman he previously dated. Platner denied the report but dropped out.
Jackson, who earlier this year unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, had campaigned alongside Platner during the primary campaign.
«Troy was Graham Platner’s biggest supporter and stayed with him to the very end of Graham’s campaign, and Graham repeatedly denigrated law enforcement,» Collins said. «I never heard Troy publicly condemn those disrespectful and horrible comments.»
Collins added, «During his gubernatorial campaign, Troy was endorsed and welcomed the endorsement of the Democratic Socialists of America. One of the key parts of the DSA platform is to defund the police.»
The Jackson campaign, responding, pointed out that «Jackson is not a Democratic Socialist» and has repeatedly said he does not support defunding the police. The campaign added that Jackson called on Platner to drop out and «has been clear he will not accept a Platner endorsement.»
«Susan Collins is lying about Troy’s record because she knows that Mainers are ready to retire her after she’s voted with Donald Trump 96% of the time to cut their healthcare, confirmed Brett Kavanaugh who overturned Roe v. Wade, enabled Trump’s war in Iran that’s raising energy costs, and failed to stop his reckless tariffs that are causing costs to skyrocket,» the Jackson campaign told Digital.
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But Collins disputed the 96% figure, saying that it came from a study that only covered a third of her Senate votes.
«A study that looked at 90% of the votes showed that I supported the president 72% of the time,» she added. «The bottom line is, I support him when I think he’s right. I don’t when I think he’s wrong.»
Collins, who is the only GOP senator seeking re-election in a state Trump lost in the 2024 election, has a history of surviving Democratic efforts to unseat her.
Six years ago, she trailed Democratic challenger Sara Gideon, the then-Maine House speaker, but the senator ended up winning re-election by nearly nine points while former President Joe Biden carried the state by a similar margin.
senate, power rankings, politics, midterm elections, maine, donald trump
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Clashes between police and protesters who are against Albania’s Socialist government erupted in the country’s capital for the third consecutive day Thursday as Prime Minister Edi Rama vowed he will not resign.
Rioters in Tirana were seen throwing rocks at a police cordon outside Albania’s Education Ministry, prompting law enforcement to respond with tear gas and water cannons, according to The Associated Press.
The clashes followed riots on Wednesday when protesters attacked government buildings, banks and businesses, leaving 89 people injured, including 61 police officers.
«As for calls for my resignation, governments are changed through democratic elections. We had elections last year, not a revolution,» Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama told Reuters on Thursday.
ALBANIAN PROTESTERS FLOOD STREETS DEMANDING PRIME MINISTER’S RESIGNATION AMID CORRUPTION ACCUSATIONS
Riot police officers detain a hooded protester during clashes near the Ministry of Education in Tirana, Albania, on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (Hameraldi Agolli/AP)
«My responsibility is to listen, address legitimate concerns and keep Albania moving forward,» he added. «The alternative would be a betrayal of the Albanians who gave me a strong mandate to complete negotiations on European Union membership.»
Thursday’s protests included student groups seeking education reforms, as well as others staging a broader anti-government movement opposed to a major development project linked to President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, the AP reported.
A protester pushes a riot police officer’s shield during an anti-government demonstration in Tirana, Albania, on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. (Hameraldi Agolli/AP)
The so-called flamingo movement is calling for the resignation of Rama over allegations of widespread corruption. The movement earned the name after protesters used signs depicting the pink bird.
«The message from the streets is clear: Albanians have had enough. Public patience with Edi Rama’s socialist government has come to an end,» Agim Nesho, former Albanian ambassador to the United States, told Fox News Digital on Thursday.
«The wheels are coming off Edi Rama’s socialist government. After 13 years in power, his administration faces mounting accusations of corruption, misuse of public funds, and political favoritism,» Nesho said. «Meanwhile, poverty, unemployment, inadequate public services, and the mass exodus of young Albanians seeking better opportunities in Europe have fueled widespread anger. Critics argue that, as with other failed socialist governments, the political elite has benefited while ordinary citizens have been left struggling to make ends meet.»
An EU delegation in Albania called late Wednesday for a proportionate response from authorities, expressing concern at «the violent escalation at the protest in Tirana.»
JARED KUSHNER’S OVERSEAS LUXURY RESORT PROJECT FACES ANTI-CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION DURING VIOLENT PROTESTS
Protesters set fire to a barricade during clashes near the Education Ministry in Tirana, Albania, on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (Hameraldi Agolli/AP)
Rama won his fourth term as prime minister last year, running on a platform centered around Albania joining the EU, which it hopes to achieve as early as 2028, according to Reuters.
Student organizers told Reuters that the protests are over higher education costs, a lack of financial support, conditions at universities and job prospects after graduating.
The prime minister said to the news agency that he is ready to discuss the cost of education, but added, «Attacking institutions, destroying public property and threatening public safety have nothing to do with the legitimate demands of students.»
Hooded protesters smash a storefront window during clashes in Tirana, Albania, on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026. (Hameraldi Agolli/AP)
«Corruption must be confronted and, as the EU itself has recently reaffirmed, Albania is tackling it as never before,» Rama also said. «Perhaps some forces, at home and abroad, do not want Albania to succeed as a forerunner for EU membership. But I will not allow violence to derail Albania’s European future.»
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
the balkans, world protests, europe, world
El Congreso de Brasil sancionó este miércoles una reforma clave para los trabajadores: la reducción de la semana laboral de 44 a 40 horas y la incorporación de un segundo día de descanso remunerado.
La medida, impulsada por el presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, apunta a fortalecer su campaña días antes del balotaje del 25 de octubre frente al ultraderechista Flávio Bolsonaro.
La iniciativa, que el gobierno venía promoviendo desde hace meses, recibió el visto bueno del Senado con 75 votos a favor y solo uno en contra, completando así su trámite legislativo tras la aprobación previa en la Cámara de Diputados en mayo.
Lula celebró la reforma y apuntó a su rival
El relator del proyecto en el Senado, Omar Aziz, calificó la reforma como “la mayor conquista de los trabajadores brasileños” desde la Constitución de 1988.
Tras la votación, varios senadores corearon consignas en apoyo a Lula, mientras el presidente celebró el logro en sus redes sociales: “Estoy seguro de que un logro como este jamás será revocado, porque no fue una victoria burocrática, sino que surgió de las calles y del anhelo histórico de los trabajadores”, afirmó el exlíder sindical.
La aprobación de la reforma se convirtió en una de las banderas de las recientes movilizaciones masivas en respaldo a la reelección de Lula, que busca revertir la desventaja frente a Flávio Bolsonaro, hijo del expresidente Jair Bolsonaro.
El presidente del Senado, Davi Alcolumbre, destacó el impacto positivo de la medida para “millones de personas de diferentes realidades del país”.
Según los sindicatos, unos veintidós millones de trabajadores verán reducida su jornada laboral, al atender a una reivindicación histórica de los sectores populares.
Varios sectores patronales se opusieron a la reducción de la jornada, entre ellos la Federación de Comercio de San Pabloo, que prevé un incremento de un 22 % en el costo de la hora trabajada y advierte de la posible destrucción de hasta 1,2 millones de puestos de trabajo.
Flávio Bolsonaro cambió su voto tras las protestas
Durante la campaña, Flávio Bolsonaro propuso un plan de recortes inspirado en las políticas de Javier Milei y la bancada conservadora defendía la negociación individual de las horas semanales. Aunque en un principio había calificado la propuesta de “oportunista”, Flávio Bolsonaro terminó votando a favor de la reforma.
“Estoy recorriendo Brasil, la mayoría de los trabajadores quieren el fin del 6×1, así que voy a votar a favor del fin del 6×1”, declaró el martes tras las movilizaciones en varias ciudades.
Lula aprovechó el giro para devolverle la crítica: “Nuestros adversarios decidieron ayer que van a votar a favor. Quieren votar por oportunismo electoral”, lanzó el mandatario en un video previo a la aprobación.
En la primera vuelta del 4 de octubre, Lula obtuvo el 45% de los votos frente al 47% de Bolsonaro. Según su entorno, el presidente confía en que la sanción de la reforma laboral impulse su remontada en la recta final.
Una encuesta de Quaest publicada este miércoles mostró un escenario de empate técnico: 46% para Bolsonaro y 44% para Lula, con un margen de error de dos puntos.
La aplicación será gradual y apunta a los sectores populares
La reforma beneficiará especialmente a los sectores populares, tradicional base electoral de Lula, donde millones de brasileños trabajan bajo el régimen “6×1” (seis días de trabajo por uno de descanso).
El cambio se implementará de manera gradual sin que ello suponga una disminución del salario. Durante el primer año de transición, el límite será de 42 horas semanales. Transcurrido este periodo, la jornada máxima será de 40 horas.
Durante la campaña, Flávio Bolsonaro propuso un plan de recortes inspirado en las políticas de Javier Milei y la bancada conservadora defendía la negociación individual de las horas semanales.
Brasil, elecciones en Brasil, semana laboral, Lula Da Silva, Flavio Bolsonaro
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