“Why Don’t You Talk About the Deaths in Gaza?”

That question came up—again. And here’s my answer: I do talk about it, just not in the way people want me to. If your side orchestrates an atrocity like October 7th, you don’t get to demand that the world ignore your consequences. Self-defense isn’t genocide.

Do civilians die in war? Of course—and every loss is tragic. But according to third-party data, the civilian-to-combatant ratio in Gaza is one of the lowest in modern warfare. Lower than in Iraq or Afghanistan. Lower than in Yemen. Lower even than Israel’s last major operations.

And no, Gaza isn’t being depopulated. In fact, population numbers show there are more people in Gaza today than at the war’s start. For a so-called genocide, that’s one remarkably inefficient campaign.

Crossing Borders and Cultures

Joining me in Israel is my good friend Oscar Blue Ramirez, who experienced firsthand what real border security looks like. After flying into Jordan, he spent over nine hours just trying to cross into Israel. From chaos on the Jordanian side to four-hour inspections on the Israeli end, Oscar came through sunburned, smoked out, and very much enlightened.

Chuck Holton | From Jerusalem

I'm coming to you from my balcony in Jerusalem, just a stone’s throw from the Old City. It’s always good to be back in the land—especially when there’s this much going on.

Today’s update has a lot of layers: drug trafficking, terror funding, Arab clan leaders turning against the Palestinian Authority, and Qatar playing puppet master behind the scenes. We’re going to peel it all back, so buckle up.

The Houthis’ New Hustle: Peddling Captagon

Let’s start with the Houthis—Yemen’s Iranian-backed rebel thugs—who’ve found themselves running low on funding. Their pipeline of weapons and money from Iran and Russia is starting to dry up, and when the usual donors pull back, these groups always seem to get creative.

Their new revenue stream? Captagon.

If you’ve never heard of it, Captagon is a powerful stimulant. Originally created in the ‘60s for treating ADHD and narcolepsy, it was banned in most countries by the 1980s due to how addictive it was. But like any bad idea, it’s made a comeback—especially in the Middle East. Today’s version is an unpredictable cocktail of amphetamines, caffeine, and God knows what else. It might keep you awake for 48 hours… or stop your heart. Literally.

Captagon became one of Syria’s most lucrative exports under the Assad regime. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the UAE are regularly seizing millions of pills hidden in cargo trucks. Now, it seems the Houthis have entered the trade—either producing or trafficking the pills to fund their terror operations.

And no, these aren’t being whipped up in clean pharmaceutical labs. Think barnyards and basements. If the Houthis are making it, you'd be nuts to put it in your body.

The implications? Huge. Captagon isn’t just a vice—it’s a weapon. Militant groups have used it for years to suppress fear and exhaustion in combat. It’s how you get someone to run into gunfire like a zombie.

Qatar: The Master Manipulator

Two U.S. aid workers were injured in a grenade attack today while distributing food in Khan Younis, Gaza. These weren’t just any volunteers—they were highly decorated American veterans working with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an organization providing food directly to Palestinian civilians without funneling it through Hamas.

The attackers? They stepped out of a crowd, threw Iranian-made grenades at the aid workers, then disappeared back into the civilians. Why? Because they wanted a reaction. Hamas and its affiliates know that if American aid workers respond with force, it creates the exact kind of propaganda they can use to stir more hate.

The Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the attack was

a hostile act suspected to have been carried out by Hamas gunmen by throwing a hand grenade.”

The Palestinian group has not issued a statement responding to the claims.