In forests on the Poland-Belarus border, migrants are fighting for survival
Migrants crossing into Poland from Belarus say Polish border guards are pushing them back over the frontier, leaving them hiding in forests along the border, as winter approaches. Olivia Chan reports.
“Bring me to the jail. Let me die there.”
This is 26-year-old Yemeni migrant Mohammed’s plea to Polish border guards after they pushed him back to Belarus and left him in the forest.
The former travel agent is one of the thousands of migrants from countries in the Middle East, Africa and Afghanistan who are trying to enter the European Union country via Belarus.
“What should we do? What’s our mistake? Our mistake, that we were born in this life? Our mistake, that we believe in Europe? Our mistake, that we believe in the United Nations? That was our mistake?”
On Thursday (October 14), Poland’s foreign ministry summoned the Belarusian charge d’affaires after Polish police found the sixth migrant body near the border with Belarus.
The European Union’s executive Commission blames Belarus for deliberately orchestrating the flow of migrants to put pressure on the bloc in retaliation for sanctions it had slapped on Minsk over human rights abuses.
Belarus has denied this
Human rights advocates have accused the Polish government of treating migrants inhumanely and not letting them apply for international protection.
Piotr Bystrianin is a senior official with the Ocalenie Foundation, a charity planning to deliver humanitarian aid for migrants at the border.
He said Polish authorities are operating a strategy that aims to see migrants quote “eventually give up and go back to the country they fled from.”
The Polish government says the migrants are Belarus’s responsibility as they are legally on its territory, and that offers of humanitarian aid have been refused.
Poland also began building a barbed wire fence in August and lawmakers are due to vote on the construction of a wall equipped with motion sensors and cameras at a cost of over $407 million.
Migrants have resorted to desperate measures to enter Poland
Syrian Zainab Ahmad told Polish border guards she needed medical attention and was taken to a hospital, and from there a migrant center in Poland.
“They (Polish border guard) say ‘you will go there and get asylum there’ but they took us to the Belarusian border again.”
The Border Guard have prevented over 9,000 attempts to cross the frontier from Belarus into Poland from the start of January till the end of September, according to Poland’s parliament website – and of those around 8,000 took place in the last two months alone.
In Brussels, the EU executive summoned envoys from Poland, Lithuania and Latvia on Thursday over the fate of migrants stuck on their borders with Belarus.
Trump and Netanyahu unveil a Middle East peace plan; explore implications for hostages, ceasefire, and regional dynamics.
President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have unveiled a new plan to end the war in the Middle East. The announcement sets out an ambitious path that could reshape negotiations and redefine the region’s future.
In today’s episode, we explore what this plan means for hostages, the prospects for a ceasefire, and the risks of legitimising groups like Hamas. Rabbi Abraham Cooper of the Simon Wiesenthal Center joins us to break down the key messages and the global response.
Could this be a turning point, or just another failed attempt at peace? We look at the stakes for Jewish communities worldwide, the message it sends to other leaders in the region, and whether this moment rewards terrorism or sets a path for justice. Subscribe to never miss an episode of Ticker – https://www.youtube.com/@weareticker
In Short:
– Sean Combs sentenced to 50 months in prison for prostitution-related charges involving male escorts.
– Combs expressed remorse and plans to appeal the sentence, citing parental plea for leniency.
Sean “Diddy” Combs has been sentenced to over four years in prison following his conviction for prostitution-related charges.
The sentence of 50 months was handed down by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in Manhattan federal court. Combs, aged 55, was found guilty after a jury determined he arranged for male escorts to travel across state lines for drug-fueled sexual performances with his girlfriends.
Combs faced a maximum of 20 years but was acquitted of more severe charges, including racketeering, that could have led to a life sentence.
The allegations included claims that he coerced his girlfriends into participating in these encounters through threats and violence. Combs, who has been incarcerated since his 2024 arrest, is expected to appeal.
Emotional Statements
During the sentencing, Combs expressed remorse and stated he had learned his lesson. He acknowledged past abuses but maintained that the performances were consensual. His legal team argued for a reduced sentence of 14 months, citing his prior time served, while prosecutors advocated for a more extended sentence, highlighting the seriousness of the abuse.
Combs’ children also spoke during the proceedings, requesting leniency from the judge, stating that he had improved since his arrest. They pleaded for their father’s presence in their lives, with his daughter emotionally addressing the court.
The case has drawn significant media attention, marking Combs as a prominent figure facing serious charges in the entertainment industry.
In Short:
– Hamas is willing to release hostages but needs clarity on Trump’s peace plan.
– Negotiations continue, with Hamas requesting changes to disarmament and Israeli withdrawal terms.
Hamas has indicated a willingness to release the remaining hostages in Gaza, contingent on conditions linked to a broader peace agreement. The group’s response to mediators did not provide clarity on many aspects of President Trump’s 20-point peace plan.Hamas expressed gratitude for Trump’s peace efforts but sought specifics on issues like the timeline for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and assurances regarding the cessation of hostilities.
Trump welcomed the dialogue, urging Israel to pause its military actions while negotiations progress, which may exceed the Sunday deadline he set for a deal.
The group has agreed to release all prisoners associated with the occupation as part of Trump’s exchange proposal. However, Hamas maintains that discussions on Gaza’s future and the rights of the Palestinian populations require an inclusive Palestinian framework.
Reports suggest that 20 of the 48 hostages are still alive. Senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk stated that the group needs further negotiations before committing fully to Trump’s plan and indicated that releasing the hostages in 72 hours is unrealistic.
Ongoing Negotiations
Trump’s peace initiative aims for the release of all hostages and proposes a transitional governance board for Gaza. While Hamas has shown some willingness to support the plan, it insists on modifications, particularly around disarmament and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
Complexities within Hamas’s leadership further complicate consensus on the deal, as previous U.S. attempts to persuade the group have faltered.