January 2024
‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’ Day 117:
Israel besieges Nasser Hospital for tenth consecutive day
BY MUSTAFA ABU SNEINEH: Palestinians buried 100 bodies held by Israel in a mass grave in Rafah. Netanyahu says a truce and exchange deal won’t happen on his watch, while Israeli forces started flooding Gaza tunnels. Read More
100 Palestinian bodies buried in a mass grave in Rafah
Israeli tanks besiege Al-Amal and Nasser Hospitals in Khan Younis
Israel begins flooding Gaza tunnels
Israel destroyed half of Gaza’s buildings
‘Withdrawing funds from UNRWA is perilous‘
Israel’s Netanyahu says truce and exchange deal with Hamas won’t happen
‘I am An Arab Jew, I Denounce Zionist-settler Colonialism’: Avi Shlaim
by Dr Marwan Asmar: Avi Shlaim is an eminent Israeli-British historian and international relations expert at Oxford University in the UK with many books on the Arab-Israeli conflict. He is part of what is called the “New Historians” who sought to provide a critical analysis of the prevailing Israeli view claiming Palestinians left their land of their own free will and were not forced out in 1948 as Israel was created. In the light of Israel’s latest genocide in Gaza, he provides what he calls a “personal commentary” of his views as a Jewish Arab and on the current Netanyahu government. Read More
Dying of Thirst in Gaza
by Khuloud Rabah Sulaiman and Salma Yaseen: Finding clean and safe drinking water in Gaza has become nearly impossible. Aref Abed, 60, lives in Gaza City’s al-Yarmouk neighborhood. Typically, Abed would fill his 1,500-liter barrel with desalinated water from a desalination truck. Yet this is no longer an option. The desalination plants are closed entirely or operating at extremely limited capacity due to a lack of electricity and fuel. Israel has also destroyed much of Gaza’s sanitation and water infrastructure or deliberately cut off the piping in of water. Read More
US-backed Israeli war machine destroys last standing university in Gaza
The Israel Defense Forces is obliterating the educational infrastructure in Gaza, while AFT President Weingarten, amid empty calls for a ceasefire, campaigns for the reelection of war criminal Biden and defends Israel's “right” to wage war against the Palestinians. Read More
Will the war in Gaza become a breaking point for the rules-based international order?
Dr Renad Mansour: The Israel–Palestine conflict is exposing the inherent contradictions in the West’s stance as the guarantor of the international order. Since Hamas’s attack on 7 October 2023 that killed 1,200 and took 240 hostages, Israel’s air and ground campaign has killed over 25,000 Palestinians, including 10,000 children. An estimated 8,000 Palestinians are missing, likely dead under the rubble. According to the UN, I srael is ‘destroying Gaza’s food system and using food as a weapon’ that risks widespread famine. Read More
Pakistan: The Generals Plan Fraudulent National Elections
Dr. Mahboob A. Khawaja: Pakistan once again faces a critical situation of LIFE and Death for its survival. General Asim Munir and Five of his colleagues, vengeful, paranoid and pursuing wrong thinking and wrong action to hold fraudulent national elections by depriving the PTI and its leadership. The Generals lack understanding of time and history and repeating the 1971 story of the loss of East Pakistan. Pakistan is NOT for sale and its destiny and future belong to the PEOPLE of Pakistan , and NOT to the whim of Few Generals. Read More
‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’ Day 116:
Israeli forces carry out assassination raid inside Jenin hospital disguised as doctors
Mondoweiss: Israeli forces continue to besiege Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, and carried out an assassination raid inside a Jenin hospital disguised as doctors and civilians. A truce and captive exchange deal between Israel and Hamas could be confirmed soon. Read More
Potential Hamas-Israel deal for 45-day truce and captive exchange
Mondoweiss: On Tuesday, Hamas political chief, Ismail Haniyeh said the movement received a proposal following Paris talks over the weekend, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the CIA, to reach a truce and captive exchange deal. Haniyeh said that Hamas is studying the proposal, and its priority remains “to stop the brutal aggression against Gaza and the complete withdrawal of the [Israeli] occupation forces from the [Gaza] Strip.” Read More
Israeli forces kill three Palestinians in Ibn Sina Hospital in Jenin
Israel puts Nasser Hospital under siege for a second week
Red Crescent loses communication with team rescuing girl in Gaza
Israeli activists attempt to block aid trucks entering Gaza
Potential Hamas-Israel deal for 45-day truce and captive exchange
Israeli forces raid West Bank towns and kill nine Palestinians in 48 hours
Israel starving Palestinians to force them out of Gaza: Monitor
Anadolu Agency: A Europe-based human rights monitor said Israel is starving Palestinians as a means of war to push them out of Gaza or even kill them, as Palestinians are also left with no access to clean water amid Israel's blockade and incessant attacks, which have destroyed civilian infrastructure in the blockaded enclave. The chairperson of Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor Ramy Abdu told Anadolu Agency (AA) about the famine in Gaza, which is under relentless Israeli attacks and blockade, and the difficult conditions faced by Gazans. Read More
The Horrors of Gaza
By Raqif Makhdoomi: The Genocide is continuing, the figures mentioned are going up each passing second and while you read a word of this article a Palestinian dies and the figures go up with each word you read. Gaza is experiencing food shortage, housing problems, health infrastructure is crashing and remember Gaza is suffering with each and every problem that comes and doesn’t come in your mind. It’s the worst form of Genocide that’s happening. Read More
Israel seeks destruction of Palestinian refugee agency and establishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza
Chris Marsden, Thomas Scripps: Israel responded to the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) ruling last Friday, requesting it to “take all measures within its power” to avoid acts of genocide, by redoubling its efforts to starve the Palestinians and planning for the repopulation of Gaza with Jewish settlements. The same day that the ICJ’s preliminary findings were issued, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said that Israel had provided the organisation with information alleging that 12 of its employees had taken part in the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led incursion and participated in massacres. Read More
‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’ Day 115:
Israel pushes Gazans further south; U.S threatens further regional violence
Mondoweiss: The U.S. government threatens further regional violence on the heels of drone attack that killed three American troops in Jordan. Human rights groups slam countries for pulling funding for UNRWA as Palestinians in Gaza face famine and starvation. Read More
Since ICJ ruling, hundreds have been killed, hospitals under attack
Palestinians pushed farther south in Gaza
Gazans starve as world powers cut off funding to UNRWA
Israeli politicians discuss plans to ‘re-settle’ Gaza
U.S. threatens to escalate regional violence
Freezing Aid to Gaza: Israel’s International War against the UNRWA
by Dr Binoy Kampmark: Within hours of the ICJ order, Israel, bruised and outraged by a body its officials have decried as antisemitic and favourably disposed to Palestinian propaganda, found an excuse to flaunt the ruling. 12 employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), the agency responsible for distributing aid in Gaza, were accused (not found) by Israel’s intelligence agency Shin Bet, of involvement in the Hamas attacks of October 7. The response from UNRWA was swift. Contracts were terminated, an investigation was launched, including a full inquiry into allegations made against the organisation. The agency’s commissioner general, Philippe Lazzarini promised, on January 27, that, “Any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution. Read More
The ICJ’s Provisional Orders: The Genocide Convention Applies to Gaza
by Dr Binoy Kampmark: The grant of provisional measures was, however, more conservative than that sought by Pretoria. Conspicuously missing was any explicit demand that Israel pause its military operations. That said, the judgment did little to afford Israel’s leaders and the IDF comfort from the obligatory reach of the Genocide Convention, an instrument they had argued was irrelevant and inapplicable to the conduct of “innovative” military operations. Read More
‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’ Day 114:
UN chief urges Western countries to restore funding to UNRWA
Mondoweiss: Thousands of Israelis protested in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem calling on Netanyahu to resign, while others attempt to block aid trucks from entering Gaza. Meanwhile, the UN said it has suspended the employees who Israel alleges took part in October 7. Read More
UN chief urges U.S. to restore funding to UNRWA
For second time since 2018, U.S. halts donations to UNRWA
‘I did not find a bite of food or a tent. I slept under the rain.’
Palestinians bury relatives in Nasser Hospital as Israeli forces lay siege to Khan Younis
Israeli forces raid towns in West Bank, Palestinians detonate explosive device in Qabatiya
‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’ Day 113:
A day after ICJ ruling, U.S. and allies withdraw funding to UNRWA
MONDOWEISS: At least five countries have pulled their funding from the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees over Israeli claims that staff members participated in the October 7 attack. Israel keeps killing Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Read More
UNRWA once again in the crosshairs
Israeli forces kill Palestinian in the West Bank, exchanges of fire continue on all fronts
War on Gaza, We, the People and the ICJ Delivers Judgment
By Dr. Mahboob A. Khawaja: America and Israel’s shared trajectory of political cynicism about the consequences of the war comes to scrutiny by the legal power of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Today’s judgment shows strength of reasoning and will of people and calls upon Israel to “take all measures to prevent genocide in Gaza” and stop killing of people and provide humanitarin aid and report back within a month to the ICJ of measures taken to ensure compliance to the verdict. Read More
Applying ICJ Orders Implies a Ceasefire in Gaza: South Africa
Telesure: On Friday, South African Foreign Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor warned that a ceasefire in Gaza is essential for Israel to comply with the measures demanded by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). "How do you provide aid and water without a ceasefire? If you read the order, by implication a ceasefire must happen," Pandor said in statements to the press after leaving the Court.Read More
61 Palestinian Journalists Are Imprisoned in Brutal Conditions
Telesure: Shurua Asad, the spokeswoman for the Palestinian Journalists' Union, denounced that Israel is holding 61 journalists in poor conditions. Among them, 15 were detained in the first eight months of 2023, and another 46 after the conflict with Hamas erupted. This means a significant increase in media employees detained by Israel since the outbreak of the war in October. Read More
Houthi authorities order US and British aid workers out of Yemen within 30 days
Jurist: Houthi authorities have sent a letter to the UN’s acting humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, Peter Hawkins, requesting that all British and American nationals leave Yemen within a month. The letter comes as US and British forces continue strikes against targets in Yemen. Houthi forces had been targeting ships in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a busy shipping lane between Yemen and Eritrea, calling for an end to Israel’s strikes on Palestine.Read More
Thousands in India flock to a recruitment center for jobs in Israel despite the Israel-Hamas war
Thousands of Indians flocked to a recruitment center on Thursday for jobs that would take them to Israel despite the three-month Israeli-Hamas war that is devastating Gaza and threatening to ignite the wider Middle East, the Associated Press reported from Lucknow.Read More
Five Variables Defining Our Future
By Pepe Escobar: Losers Don’t Dictate Terms. The difference now, compared to all those decades ago of an imperial free lunch, is “an immense shift of technological advance”, away from North America and the US, to China, Russia and selected nodes across Asia. The key reason Saudi Arabia, now a BRICS 10 member, is being so meek on the genocide in Gaza is because their hefty US dollar reserves are hostage to the Hegemon. Read More
‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’ Day 112:
In a historic moment, ICJ moves forward with genocide case against Israel
Mondoweiss: While the court stopped short of calling for a ceasefire, Israel is ordered to allow aid into Gaza, punish incitement to genocide, and take more protective measures for civilians – even as the situation on the ground remains cataclysmic. Read More
Palestinians in Gaza frustrated that ICJ ruling stops short of a ceasefire
Al Jazeera: Palestinians in Gaza have welcomed some aspects of the ICJ ruling, such as orders that more humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza. But many have expressed anger that the court stopped short of calling for an end to Israel’s assault, which has fueled a humanitarian crisis and displaced more than 80 percent of the population. Read More
Key Developments
ICJ rules overwhelmingly in favor of South Africa but stops short of calling for a ceasefire
Gaza: Israeli forces kill Palestinians waiting for aid, as Khan Younis hospital runs out of food
Israeli forces and settlers attack Palestinians in the West Bank
U.S., Israeli officials meeting with Egyptian and Qatari negotiators to hash out hostage deal
‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’ Day 111:
Hospitals under siege, UNRWA shelter bombed in southern Gaza
Mondoweiss: Israeli forces bomb Gaza’s perimeter to prepare for a “buffer zone” as medical staff in Nasser Hospital dig graves in anticipation of a large number of fatalities due to Israel’s ongoing siege on the hospital. Read More
Hospitals have a target on their back
Israel attacks UN shelter, kills 12
Food used as a ‘weapon of war’
Netanyahu disparages Qatari mediating role in prisoner exchange negotiations
Khan Younis besieged as Netanyahu calls for the “eradication of the new Nazis”
by Thomas Scripps: Israel focussed its genocidal assault in Gaza on the southern city of Khan Younis Wednesday, as leading Israeli officials promised no let-up in the slaughter. The Israel Defense Forces encircled the city on Tuesday and demanded the evacuation of a swathe of its crowded downtown area, including the main Nasser and two smaller hospitals and housing 88,000 residents plus 425,000 already displaced people. Read More
Scenes from War: ‘Gaza as we know it no longer exists’
by Dr Marwan Asmar: Israel continues to destroy neighborhoods in Gaza, whether its in the north of the strip or in the south. Everything, according to the Israeli war machine, is fair game because the people here are not civilians but Hamas fighters even if they are babies and toddlers. Israel calls it self-defense. The world, excluding the USA and most western governments, call it Genocide but the Israelis are in no mood to listen. Read More
Genocide in Gaza as an Opportunity: What Ben-Gvir Wants in the West Bank
by Dr Ramzy Baroud: Perhaps Ben-Gvir’s greatest achievement, so far, is his ability to create a perfect amalgamation between the political interests of the settlers, the government and its security apparatus. His aim, however, is not merely stealing yet more Palestinian land, or expanding a few settlements. He wants a religious war, one which will ultimately lead to the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, not just from Gaza but from the West Bank as well. The war in Gaza is a perfect opportunity for these sinister goals to be achieved. For now, this genocidal war continues to create opportunities for religious Zionism to acquire new followers, and to lay deeper roots within Israel’s political establishment. A sudden end to the war, however, could represent the marginalization of religious Zionism for years to come. Read More
Houthis Emerge as Latest Threat to U.S. Control Over Global Shipping
By John P Ruehl: A powerful symbol of the U.S.-led global security order is increasingly under threat by the Yemeni rebel group. The lack of a robust international response has laid bare vulnerabilities as the U.S. attempts to shore up the world’s maritime routes in the aftermath of the COVID-19 disruption to supply chains. Read More
How The War On Gaza Has Stalled The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)
Celebrating India’s Republic Day in Occupied Kashmir
Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman, ‘World Forum for Peace Justice’ says that India's war crimes in Kashmir are notorious. Soldiers kill civilians with impunity. Rape and torture are routinely practiced but never punished. Indeed, Indian law grants virtual legal immunity to any type of war crime or crime against humanity perpetrated in Kashmir. Read More
‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’ Day 110:
Israeli forces encircle Khan Younis as Gazans risk famine
Mondoweiss: As Netanyahu attempts to prolong war on Gaza, Israeli forces and tanks bomb Khan Yunis and lay siege around the city’s major hospitals. Meanwhile, Gazans are turning to animal fodder for food as starvation sets in. Read More
In Gaza, ‘there is no fresh water, no food, no flour‘
Israel kills members of Zamel family and encircles Khan Younis hospitals
Hamas and Israel engage in mediated talks to reach prisoner exchange deal
PA condemns Netanyahu’s attempt to prolong war, settler attacks rise in West Bank
‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’ Day 109:
Israeli forces storm Al-Khair Hospital, bomb Palestinians sheltering in tents in Khan Younis
BY MUSTAFA ABU SNEINEH: As Israel continues to attack the Palestinian health infrastructure in the southern Gaza Strip, the Israeli military announced 21 soldiers were killed in fighting when resistance forces struck a building being wired for detonation by Israeli forces. Read More
Israel bombs vicinity of Nasser Hospital, storms Al-Khair Hospital
Israeli forces bomb Palestinians sheltering in tents in Khan Younis
Israeli military announces 21 soldiers killed in Gaza in single day
Israelis storm Knesset meeting
Hamas and Islamic Jihad release videos of targeting Israeli forces
Israeli forces kill Palestinian teen, settlers burn Palestinian car showroom
Netanyahu outlines his plan to ethnically cleanse and seize Gaza for Israel
WSWS: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has bluntly spelled out his plan to ethnically cleanse and then seize Gaza for Israel. In doing so he rejected domestic demands for a ceasefire tied to the release of hostages and denied face-saving claims made by the United States administration to justify its support for genocide that there will be some form of Palestinian mini-state established in its aftermath. Read More
The Four Horsemen of Gaza’s Apocalypse
By Chris Hedges: Joe Biden’s inner circle of strategists for the Middle East — Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan and Brett McGurk — have little understanding of the Muslim world and a deep animus towards Islamic resistance movements. They see Europe, the United States and Israel as involved in a clash of civilizations between the enlightened West and a barbaric Middle East. They believe that violence can bend Palestinians and other Arabs to their will. They champion the overwhelming firepower of the U.S. and Israeli military as the key to regional stability — an illusion that fuels the flames of regional war and perpetuates the genocide in Gaza. Read More
Israeli Foreign Minister Presents Idea For Artificial Island Off Gaza In EU Meeting
Huffpost: Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Monday presented his idea for the creation of an internationally financed and owned artificial island three miles off the coast of Gaza that in his view would “promote deep positive changes in the Gaza Strip and a better future in the Middle East” during a meeting in Brussels. Read More
Hamas: October 7 was necessary to confront Israel’s plans
Middle East Monitor: Hamas said yesterday that the 7 October resistance operation on Israel was a “necessary step” to confront the Israeli plans aimed at “liquidating the Palestinian cause”. In an 18-page report on the attack, released in Arabic and English, the movement said the Palestinian people’s struggle with the Israeli occupation and colonialism did not begin on 7 October 2023, but with 30 years of British colonialism and 75 years of Zionist occupation.Read More
Hamas document explains October 7 attack, calls on international community to end Israeli occupation
Mada Masr: Hamas put forth a set of demands to the international community in a document titled, “This is our story… Why Operation al-Aqsa Flood?” released by the Gaza government media office on Sunday. The release comes amid reports claiming that Hamas and Israel have shown willingness to resume negotiations for a second prisoner exchange deal, which Hamas officials have conditioned upon a comprehensive ceasefire agreement. Read More
Hamas says October 7 attacks 'necessary step' but admits to 'faults'
Le Monde: Palestinian militant group Hamas said Sunday, January 21, its October 7 attacks in southern Israel were a "necessary step" against Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. But the Islamist group admitted in a 16-page report justifying the attack that "some faults happened... due to the rapid collapse of the Israeli security and military system, and the chaos caused along the border areas with Gaza."Read More
Bloody red line: Israel risks dragging another Arab country into war
RT.COM: Israel plans to recapture the Philadelphi Corridor, but experts warn that might be a bad idea. The 14km border that separates Gaza from Egypt has been used for years by militants in the enclave to smuggle weapons, technology, money, and personnel. To stop that from happening, Israel is now mulling the possibility of reoccupying it. It's been more than a hundred days since Israel kicked off its Iron Swords operation in Gaza following the bloody attack of October 7, when more than 1,200 Israelis were brutally murdered at the hands of Hamas militants. Read More
Why US strikes will only embolden the Houthis, not stop their Attacks on Ships in the Red Sea
By Sarah G. Phillips: As the Houthi militant group in Yemen ramps up its attacks on vessels in the Red Sea – ostensibly in response to what it calls Israel’s “genocidal crimes” in Gaza – the US and UK have responded with multiple military strikes in the last week. The US has also re-listed the group as a global terrorist organisation. The hope is these strikes will pressure the Iran-aligned Houthis to back down. It won’t, however. Short of a complete halt to Israel’s war in Gaza and a 180-degree shift in Western support for Israel’s approach, there is little that will dissuade the Houthis to change course in the foreseeable future. Read More
War on Yemen? Don’t Expect A Cakewalk
By Mike Whitney: The Biden administration is in the process of re-imposing the 7 year-long embargo on Yemen that cut off food, water and essential medical supplies to the civilian population. This is how Washington weaponizes the “terrorist” designation in order to use famine as an instrument of foreign policy. The clear intention is to starve the population into submission so the US can advance its geopolitical agenda in the region. In this case, Washington’s strategic objectives remain largely concealed from the general public, so we will list them here. Read More
Sudan: A forgotten crisis the world must pay attention to now
The war in Sudan which entered its ninth month last week continues to cause extreme suffering for millions across the country and in neighboring states, with women and children experiencing the conflict’s impacts most acutely. Recent fighting in eastern and southern Sudan – including in areas that had been spared the worst of the conflict up until mid-December – has added to the trauma and displacement experienced by so many, and compounded fears for what’s next. Read More
In opening a Hindu temple on the site of a former mosque, Narendra Modi is following an old Hindu nationalist ploy
By Vikram Visana: Pronouncing the fulfilment of “the dream that many have cherished for years”, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated a new Hindu temple at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh in the north of the country. It is built on the site of a mosque that was destroyed by Hindu nationalists more than 30 years ago. When the Hindu nationalists demolished the 16th-century Babri Masjid mosque, they did so in the belief that it had been built by the Muslim Mughal emperor Babur on the site of an ancient Hindu temple that marked the birthplace of the god Ram. But the historical and archaeological evidence for the existence of this is hotly debated by experts. Read More
Ayodhya Consecration: Death of Secularism
by Frank Huzur: BJP went ahead with the consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya today, on 22nd January, despite objections from various quarters. The Congress and other opposition parties boycotted the event, seeing it as a political stunt by BJP to take credit ahead of Lok Sabha elections. Shankaracharyas also protested saying the temple complex is not fully constructed yet, but Modi wants to claim ownership of the Mandir for votes. More importantly, January 22nd holds great historical and constitutional significance as the day when the ‘Objective Resolution’ was unanimously adopted in 1947. This resolution laid down the ideals of democracy, secularism, justice, liberty, equality and fraternity which were incorporated as the fundamental principles and Preamble of the Indian Constitution. Read More
In The Name Of Ram: An Unholy Alliance Of State And Religion
by Bhavya Kumar: India is a secular republic, meaning, one has the right to practice and profess their faith. While the consecration of the Ram temple might be viewed by some as an exercise of this right, there is an insidious silence about the State’s vulgar and ostentatious participation in the same. An unholy alliance between State and religion, which was formed back in 2014, has come to full force for this occasion. Sociologically speaking, the State has displayed an impeccable understanding of the effectiveness of operationalizing both the Intellectual State Apparatus (ISA) and Repressive State Apparatus (RSA) to its benefit. The concept of ISA and RSA has been coined by Louis Althusser. Read More
‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’ Day 108: Israel is systematically obliterating Gaza, section by section
Mondoweiss: As Israeli forces surround yet another hospital in Gaza, Hamas releases a letter clarifying its motives behind the October 7 attack, reiterating the Palestinian demand for the right to self-determination. Read More
Hospitals under attack in southern Gaza
In Gaza, ‘the situation gets worse by the hour.’
Israeli soldiers accused of looting
Hamas media office releases report, ‘Our narrative’
Ansar Allah acting ‘in solidarity’ with Palestine, says Irish EU parliamentarian
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The Journal of America Team:
Editor in chief:
Abdus Sattar Ghazali
Senior Editor:
Prof. Arthur Scott
Special Correspondent
Maryam Turab
