Some bodies show evidence of strangulation, mutilation and being run over by tanks | Bodies of Palestinians returned by Israel show signs of torture, execution and being run over by tanks, Middle East Eye has learned. Israel handed over the unidentified remains of around 45 individuals to Gaza on Tuesday as part of its prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas.

A source at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, which received the bodies via the International Committee of the Red Cross, told MEE that some of the deceased were recently killed, while others arrived in a decomposed state or as partial remains. Several bodies bore signs of severe abuse, including strangulation marks, broken bones and mutilation. Some were found with their hands and feet bound and their eyes blindfolded. Others were missing limbs.

■ Horrendous photos from Megiddo Concentration Camp
■ 1,200 Palestinians endure systematic torture in Israeli prisons (09/26/24)
■ 'Everyone was naked and bleeding': Israeli torture of Palestinians exposed (08/07/24)
■ 'Israel' used waterboarding, unleashed dogs on Gaza detainees: UN (08/02/24 )
■ Israeli lawmaker defends anal rape of Palestinian captives (08/01/24)
■ Mohammad Al-Sabbar 8th Palestinian Detainee Martyred behind ‘Israeli’ Bars since Oct.7 (02/09/24)
⚡ WELCOME TO HELL: The Israeli Prison System as a Network of Torture Camps (B'Tselem)
⚡ Israeli Defense Minister: "We have abolished all the rules of war. Our soldiers will not be held responsible for anything. There will be no military courts” (10/12/23)

The US president says he intends to expand his crackdown on "drug cartels" | US President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that he has "authorized" CIA operations on Venezuelan soil. ● The New York Times earlier reported that the decision would allow intelligence operatives to carry out lethal operations against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whose government Trump has accused of running narco-terrorist cartels and "flooding the US with cocaine and fentanyl."

✅ The Monroe Doctrine is back – dressed up as a war on drugs (André Benoit) No drugs? Look for oil — If Washington’s “narco-state” story was built on shaky evidence, its interest in Venezuela’s oil is beyond dispute. The country holds the world’s largest proven reserves – roughly 303 billion barrels, nearly 18% of the global total – concentrated in the vast Orinoco Belt. That’s more than Saudi Arabia, more than Canada, more than anyone.

Vladimir Zelensky earlier threatened “asymmetrical” actions and blackouts | Ukraine is openly planning to use US-supplied long-range Tomahawk missiles to carry out “terrorist attacks” on Russia, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said. ● Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Zakharova said “the Kiev regime is not hiding its preparation of new terrorist attacks against our country aimed at escalating the conflict.” ● She added that it is “obvious” that these plans were being drawn up based on the potential arrival of Tomahawks.

■ Trump has begun transferring satellite data to Ukraine (10/03/25)
✅ Where Does Trump Think Ukraine Will Send Tomahawks? (Bryan Anthony Reo)
✅ Trump just took another big step toward World War III with Russia (Leo Hohmann)