Aletho News

ΑΛΗΘΩΣ

Trump says US will ‘take over’ Gaza Strip

RT | February 5, 2025

US President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will assume control over the Gaza Strip, vowing to rebuild the war-torn enclave and create economic opportunities for its future residents. When asked whether US troops would be deployed to Gaza, Trump vowed to “do what is necessary.”

Trump made the remarks on Tuesday following his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. The US president reiterated his view that Palestinians should be permanently resettled elsewhere, adding that the US would “take over” Gaza and lead efforts to clear the destruction left by 15 months of war between Israel and Hamas.

“The US will take over the Gaza Strip. And we will do a job with it, too. We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site,” Trump said, promising to “level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings.”

Asked to clarify what exactly he meant by a “takeover,” the US leader said he envisions a “long-term ownership position” that would supposedly bring “great stability” to the entire Middle East. “Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land, developing it, and creating thousands of jobs,” Trump claimed.

Trump also said he is not ruling out deploying US troops to support his Gaza development plan. “We’ll do what is necessary. If it’s necessary, we’ll do that. We’re going to take over that place,” he said.

Approximately 92% of homes in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed or severely damaged, and around 1.9 million people – more than 90% of Gaza’s population – have been displaced since the war broke out in October 2023, according to the UN. Trump, a former real estate mogul, has repeatedly referred to Gaza as a “demolition site” in recent weeks.

When asked who would populate Gaza once the US “takes over” and redevelops it, and whether the Palestinian people would be able to return, Trump responded:

“I envision… the world’s people living there. I think the potential in the Gaza Strip is unbelievable. And I think the entire world, representatives from all over the world, will be there and they’ll live there… Palestinians also,” he said. “I don’t want to be a wise guy. But the Riviera of the Middle East – this could be so magnificent.”

February 4, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, War Crimes | , , , | 3 Comments

Hamas says Israel ‘blocking humanitarian protocol’ as talks begin for phase two of Gaza ceasefire

The Cradle | February 4, 2025

Hamas announced in a statement on 4 February that talks for the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip have begun, accusing Israel of “obstructing the humanitarian protocol” that comes as part of the deal.

“The contacts and negotiations [with mediators] for the second phase have begun, and we are concerned and interested in the current phase in sheltering, relief, and reconstruction for our people in the Gaza Strip. The occupation is obstructing the humanitarian protocol in the ceasefire agreement and is evading and procrastinating in implementing it,” said spokesman Abdul Latif al-Qanou on Tuesday.

“Shelter and relief for our people is an urgent humanitarian issue that cannot tolerate evasion or procrastination by the occupation. Rebuilding hospitals, repairing roads and water wells will restore life to Gaza after the massive destruction there,” he added.

Israel said it would send a team to the Qatari capital, Doha, in the coming days for discussions.

According to the terms of the ceasefire agreement, negotiations regarding the implementation of the second phase of the deal were supposed to begin on 3 February – the 16th day since the truce began.

The deal is made up of an initial 42-day stage in which 33 Israeli captives are supposed to be released in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. Two more 42-day stages are expected, in which the remainder of the Israeli captives are supposed to be released in exchange for a much larger, undetermined number of Palestinian prisoners.

Over a dozen Israeli captives have been released so far in exchange for over 580 Palestinians who were detained in Israeli prisons.

However, Israel has continued to bar the entry of essentials such as reconstruction materials, equipment to help recover thousands of bodies still trapped under rubble, and tents urgently needed by displaced civilians returning to their destroyed cities – as required in the ceasefire deal.

February 4, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism | , , , | 1 Comment

Egypt’s options for the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza

By Mahmoud Hassan | MEMO | February 4, 2025

US President Donald Trump’s insistence that Egypt and Jordan will accept displaced Palestinians from the Gaza Strip raises significant concerns about a potential deal being negotiated behind closed doors to facilitate their forced displacement. In other words: ethnic cleansing. The final details of such a deal may not yet be fully formed, especially given the official rejection by the six-party Arab meeting in Cairo last Saturday. Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE concluded their meeting with a call for the US administration to pursue the moribund two-state solution.

Let’s be clear, though. The displacement plan is not a direct consequence of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood in October, 2023, or the subsequent genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza. Ethnic cleansing has been on the table since the 1940s, although attempts have failed repeatedly.

It is a concern, however, that Trump’s rhetoric this time was stated with immense confidence and an implicit threat. “We do a lot for them [Egypt and Jordan],” he said last Thursday, “and they will do this.” Rebuilding Gaza, added the US president, will take 15 years.

Trump reiterated his statement on Friday, reported Reuters: “Jordan and Egypt will accept people from Gaza. I heard someone say they wouldn’t, but I think they will. I’m confident they will.”

The carrot-and-stick approach has long been used by Trump to advance his agenda.

He has already offered Egypt incentives by exempting it, along with Israel, from the US freeze on aid to countries worldwide.

The US president may resort to courting his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, with an official invitation to the White House, a package of financial assistance from Gulf nations, economic and military deals, and the potential write-off of part of Egypt’s external debt (which stands at a staggering $153 billion). These incentives could serve to soften Cairo’s stance.

Egyptian opposition figures warn that there may be undisclosed negotiations taking place, with concerns that Al-Sisi could leverage the situation for his own benefit, using it to solidify his grip on power and push for more constitutional amendments allowing a fourth presidential term and an extension of his rule until 2036.

Fuelling these suspicions is the reality that the Egyptian president faces a significant internal crisis due to failed economic policies and dwindling public support. Moreover, regional and Western actors fear that his regime might collapse as that of Bashar Al-Assad did in Syria. This gives Washington leverage, allowing it to hint at backing a suitable alternative to prevent instability in Egypt; such pressure could influence Al-Sisi’s stance.

Egypt’s response appears inconsistent and disjointed across multiple levels. On one hand, Al-Sisi personally declared Egypt’s rejection of Palestinian displacement during a press conference with Kenyan President William Ruto in Cairo. He described such displacement as an injustice in which Egypt could not participate, reiterating that the solution lies in establishing a Palestinian state with historical rights, based on the pre-June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Egypt escalated its stance by orchestrating what appeared to be staged protests at the Rafah border crossing last Friday.

These demonstrations were coordinated with security agencies, involved pro-government parties and lawmakers from both parliamentary chambers, and featured slogans condemning the displacement plan. At the same time, the Egyptian authorities denied permission to the Civil Democratic Movement (a coalition of liberal and leftist parties) to organise a protest outside the US Embassy in Cairo against the same issue.

And last month, the Cairo regime renewed the detention of 173 young Egyptians for an additional 45 days pending investigation, following their participation in pro-Palestine demonstrations on 20 October, 2023.

Despite this public stance, Al-Sisi appeared to be courting Trump again, stating that the American president’s leadership could usher in a “golden age of peace” in the Middle East. According to a statement from the Egyptian presidency, Al-Sisi emphasised that the international community was counting on Trump’s ability to reach a historic and lasting peace agreement that would resolve the long-standing conflict in the region.

Jamal Al-Masri, an expert in Palestinian affairs, noted that the Egyptian government is attempting to manufacture a facade of popular support for its position. This, he argued, is meant to send a message to Washington that accepting the displacement plan could destabilise the Egyptian regime, threaten national security and provoke public unrest that might even lead the military to remove Al-Sisi from power.

Although Egypt’s options are limited, they are not non-existent. One possibility is reviving the idea of relocating displaced Palestinians to the Negev Desert (12,500 square kilometres), which is occupied by Israel and borders Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. Al-Sisi actually suggested this plan at the onset of the Gaza war in October 2023.

A political analyst who requested anonymity warned that an undeclared displacement operation could take place. Egypt might quietly accept a certain number of displaced Gazans as “refugees”, integrating them in a manner similar to that of Syrian and Sudanese refugees already in the country. Another scenario could involve receiving injured Palestinians and their companions under humanitarian pretexts, without ensuring their return to Gaza. Additionally, Gazan families might be resettled informally in Rafah and El-Arish within Egypt.

Adam Boehler, the US special envoy for hostage affairs, has urged Egypt and Jordan to present alternative solutions if they reject the displacement plan. He noted that Trump has proposed what he considers a suitable option for both countries but remains open to other alternatives.

Egypt is unlikely to escalate tensions or confront the US administration directly, especially given the strong support that Trump provided to Al-Sisi during his first term (2017-2020), when he famously referred to him as “my favourite dictator.”

Egypt could, however, manoeuvre out of US pressure by leveraging its role as a mediator in negotiating a ceasefire agreement and securing a hostage exchange deal between Israel and Hamas. Cairo’s strategic importance to Israel, which is acknowledged openly by Israeli officials, also provides it with some diplomatic leverage.

It could also further consolidate Arab and Islamic opposition to the displacement plan and seek backing from global powers such as Russia and China. Additionally, the popular rejection of displacement, both within Egypt and among Palestinians, could be used to pressure Washington into reconsidering its approach.

A particularly significant card Egypt could play is the potential collapse of the Egypt-Israel peace treaty if forced displacement to Sinai proceeds. Such a scenario might provoke Palestinian attacks from Egyptian territory on Israeli targets, significantly escalating tensions. This is an outcome that Washington would certainly wish to avoid.

Observers also suggest strengthening the Palestinian Authority’s control over Gaza, accelerating reconstruction efforts, and possibly deploying an international or Arab peacekeeping force to separate Gaza from Israeli settlements.

If displacement fails as an option, Trump might pivot towards allowing Israel to annex settlements in the West Bank or resume military operations against Hamas.

Ultimately, realpolitik will likely shape upcoming negotiations between Egypt and the US. Both Trump and Al-Sisi share an interest in removing Hamas from power, ensuring Israeli security and preventing a repeat of the 7 October incursion. However, for Egypt to agree to a displacement plan, it would require massive concessions that Al-Sisi might be unwilling, or unable, to provide due to the significant political, security and strategic risks involved.

With upcoming diplomatic engagements, including Jordan’s King Abdullah’s visit to Washington next week, and ongoing behind-the-scenes negotiations between Egyptian and US officials, the coming days are bound to bring new developments. The outcome will depend on how far Trump is willing to push his carrot-and-stick approach.

February 4, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, War Crimes | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Malaysia announces conference to support Palestine reconstruction efforts

MEMO | February 1, 2025

The Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday that it will be holding a conference to support reconstruction efforts in Palestine.

The Malaysian Foreign Ministry explained that it is coordinating with Japan to hold the fourth session of the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD) in Malaysia this year. It noted that the initiative reflects Malaysia’s proactive role in securing international support and strengthening cooperation to ensure the sustainability and impact of reconstruction efforts in Palestine.

The ministry noted that the conference is in line with the recent statement made by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim regarding the urgent need to accelerate reconstruction efforts in Palestine.

It also indicated that it is: “Fully committed to working side by side with Japan within the framework of the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development to respond to the Palestinians’ clear call for assistance.”

The Malaysian Foreign Ministry pointed out that within the framework of these efforts, it aims to contribute to the reconstruction of basic infrastructure, including a school, a hospital and a mosque, as a sign of the collective commitment of the government, the private sector and the people of Malaysia.

It said that it will seek, along with Japan, to engage CEAPAD participants in securing the necessary commitments for the success of the group’s efforts to redevelop Gaza. This includes a series of coordination meetings before the conference to guarantee that aid and contributions to Palestine are provided more efficiently and sustainably for long-term development.

The Malaysian Foreign Ministry stressed its steadfast support for the Palestinian cause and its continued work closely with its regional and international partners to assure that the fourth CEAPAD conference is translated into concrete actions.

February 1, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Solidarity and Activism | , , , | Leave a comment

‘Israel’ lost the Gaza war and must accept the reality: Report

Al Mayadeen | February 1, 2025

The threats by Israeli officials to destroy resistance movements in the Gaza Strip have diminished following the ceasefire agreement and the exchange of prisoners. This has shifted to discussions about “Israel’s” failure to achieve the war’s objectives, amid growing media criticism of “Israel’s” inability to secure victory despite claims of “absolute victory.”

Meanwhile, the Hamas movement has reasserted itself as a dominant force in shaping the future of the Gaza Strip, with its influence expanding towards the West Bank.

The Israeli failure is reflected in opinion polls, where responses to a question about the return of Gaza residents to the northern part of the Strip revealed that only 4% of respondents believe the war’s objectives were fully achieved. In contrast, 57% feel the objectives were not fully met, and 32% believe the objectives were not achieved at all.

‘Israel’ completely failed in its war on Gaza

The threats by Israeli officials to destroy the Resistance movements in the Gaza Strip have subsided following the ceasefire deal and the exchange of prisoners, shifting the focus to discussions about the Israeli occupation’s failure to achieve the war’s objectives.

In this context, Itamar Ben-Gvir, head of the Jewish Power Party and resigned Police Minister, encapsulated the prevailing sentiment in Israeli discourse by stating, “The horrific images from Gaza—referring to the release of Israeli captives by Palestinian Resistance movements—show that what happened in the Gaza Strip is not a complete victory, but a complete failure,” further describing the deal as an act of unparalleled recklessness.

Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth quoted a senior officer in the Israeli military’s General Staff as saying that “Israel, during the 15 months of the war on Gaza, has not achieved the war’s goals, which were to eliminate Hamas both militarily and administratively.”

The Israeli occupation’s failure to achieve its objectives in the war against the Gaza Strip, which started on October 7, 2023, has sparked attention from various experts and commentators in “Israel”. Among them, lawyer and penal law expert Doron Nir-Tzavi, who in an interview with Israeli Channel 7, emphasized that the true victor in any war is the side that “successfully achieves its goals.”

Since “Israel” set four goals for itself—destroying Hamas as a military force, dismantling Hamas’ authority in the Gaza Strip, ensuring the Israeli occupation is not exposed to “threats from Gaza”, and securing the return of all kidnapped individuals—it has failed to achieve any of these objectives. As a result, it is the party that did not win, according to the reports.

‘No achievements’ 

Former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo spoke to Israeli Channel 12, stating that while the Israeli army may have won the individual battles, “Israel” ultimately lost the war. He further emphasized that the proposal to create a buffer zone on the Gaza Strip border, 300 to 800 meters deep, to protect Israeli settlements, reflects “Israel’s” failure in the war. Pardo remarked, “This is not how you end a war, and this is not how you win a war.”

Former Mossad official Rami Igra highlighted in an interview with Israeli channel i24news that it is clear to everyone in “Israel” that the Israeli army failed to eliminate Hamas’ authority. He pointed out that no one in “Israel” planned for the aftermath or sought to establish an alternative authority to replace Hamas.

As mentioned in the interview, the clear outcome is that the lack of an alternative to Hamas’ authority means it continues to control the Gaza Strip, which is the reality on the ground. Igra further noted that “Israel” has, perhaps unwillingly, abandoned its goal of eliminating Hamas. The situation indicates that Hamas will remain in Gaza and is likely to grow stronger in the West Bank, which will force “Israel” to pay a significant price in the future.

‘Fruitless victory’

In an interview with Channel 12, former advisor to the Israeli Security Ministry, reserve Lieutenant Colonel Alon Avitar, stated, “Hamas is like a player who enters the field and says, if I don’t play, no one will play. That is, Hamas says that it will remain in power, whether directly or from behind the scenes, but in any case, it is the one dictating matters in the Gaza Strip. As for Israel, it must swallow the big frog in the story of absolute victory.”

In an article published in Haaretz, writer and linguist Rubik Rosenthal argued that everyone in “Israel knows they lost the Iron Swords war. Netanyahu knows it, the Smotrich-Ben Gvir duo knows it, Halevi knows it, and the whole world knows that Israel lost, failing to achieve any of the goals of the war.”

The article noted that despite “Israel destroying the enemy’s country, killing tens of thousands of its soldiers and citizens, eliminating its leaders, and blocking kilometers of its tunnels,” Rosenthal emphasized that there is no image of victory for “Israel” in this war, and therefore, no “fruits of victory.”

Hamas rebuilds itself militarily and authoritatively

In his analysis, Haaretz military affairs analyst Amos Harel stated that “there is no basis for the boasts of absolute victory by Netanyahu’s supporters” and emphasized that “one would have to be a foolish follower, who has lost all his control mechanisms, to believe that Israel defeated Hamas.”

Harel also pointed out that despite the massive military blow Hamas received, it did not surrender. Instead, it is gradually regaining its civil authority in the Gaza Strip and beginning to restore its military infrastructure. That said, this reality contradicts Netanyahu’s statements about the “goals of the war and the promises he made during it”.

Avi Issacharoff, an analyst on Arab affairs at the Walla website, criticized the Israeli government during an interview with Channel 12 for selling the public empty slogans about “absolute victory.” He argued that the government failed to achieve its primary goal of eliminating Hamas’ rule, which remains intact.

Zvi Yehezkeli, an Arab affairs commentator for the Israeli i24news channel, stated that Hamas is the dominant force in the Gaza Strip. He emphasized that it is evident to everyone that Hamas is the primary authority in Gaza, and it is the group with which “Israel” coordinates.

Yehezkeli further stated that the images Hamas intentionally broadcasts during the release of Israeli captives are not aimed at the people of Gaza, but rather at the international community. He noted that Hamas uses these images to demonstrate “how Israel was unable to achieve what it wanted in the Gaza Strip.”

February 1, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, War Crimes | , , , , | Leave a comment

Rebuffing US resettlement bid, Russia affirms Palestinians’ right to Gaza

MEMO | January 31, 2025

The Palestinian people, including those in Gaza, have an indisputable right to live on their land, the Kremlin said on Friday in response to US President Donald Trump suggesting the resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan, Anadolu Agency reports.

“The Gaza Strip is an integral part of the territory of the future Palestinian State, along with East Jerusalem and the West Bank of the Jordan River. The right of the people of Palestine includes the right of the people of Gaza to live on their land, it is indisputable, it should not be questioned,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, told a press briefing in Saransk, Russia, taking a question from Anadolu.

She reaffirmed that Russia’s position on Gaza and its inhabitants remains firm and unchanged.

“We support a comprehensive political resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on internationally recognised legal frameworks, including UN General Assembly decisions, UN Security Council resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. The outcome should be the establishment of an independent Palestinian State within the “1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, coexisting peacefully and securely alongside Israel,” she said.

This approach, rooted in international law and historical justice, is supported by the vast majority of countries, including Arab nations, she said.

“We firmly believe that only implementation of a two-state solution can ensure lasting peace in the Middle East,” she added.

Trump had earlier suggested that Jordan and Egypt, both of which border Gaza, should house displaced Palestinians. “You’re talking about a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing,” he said.

The suggestion drew widespread condemnation.

January 31, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, War Crimes | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Israel releases 110 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for eight captives

Press TV – January 30, 2025

Israel has released 110 Palestinian prisoners after a temporary delay ordered by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu even as Hamas had released eight captives in the third phase of the prisoner swap.

The prisoners released on Thursday evening included 30 minors, 32 Palestinian who had received life sentences, and 48 others who were serving prison terms of different duration.

Most of them reunited with their families in the occupied West Bank, while 23 of them were sent to Egypt. The prisoners released on Thursday were all men, aged 15 to 69.

The released inmates transported by Red Cross buses to both Palestinian territories were greeted with cheers by thousands of joyful Palestinians.

Zakaria Zubeidi, Mohammed Abu Warda and Mohammed Aradeh were among the high-profile Palestinians released on Thursday.

Israeli drones dropped leaflets on the Gaza Strip warning Palestinians not to hold flags or banners or celebrate the release of prisoners in any way, Al Jazeera reported.

Israeli soldiers often attack crowds that gather near prisons to celebrate the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Earlier Thursday, 12 Palestinians were wounded by Israeli soldiers in Beitunia, near the prison in the West Bank where Palestinian prisoners were due to be released.

Two Palestinians were wounded by live bullets, two by rubber bullets and eight by tear gas, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.

Earlier in the day, Hamas released three Israeli captives, a female soldier and two settlers, plus five Thai nationals, fulfilling its part of the third phase of the prisoner swap, paving the way for Israel to to release 110 Palestinian prisoners, as scheduled.

However, Netanyahu said in a statement that he had ordered a halt to the release of Palestinians until further notice, claiming that the handover of eight captives had been conducted in a “chaotic” condition.

The Israeli premier said the exchange would be delayed until mediators secured guarantees from Hamas of “the safe exit of our hostages in the next rounds.”

Surrounded by masked Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters, the captives made their way through large Palestinian crowds toward the Red Cross vehicles on Thursday without any incident.

Also a day after a second exchange of Israeli captives held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners, Netanyahu ordered Israeli troops to prevent Palestinians from returning to their homes in northern Gaza.

Israel said then Hamas had failed to free a captive who it claimed should have been released, but Hamas denied such an arrangement had ever been agreed.

The holdup left hundreds of thousands of Palestinians stranded behind an Israeli military barrier for two days before being allowed to head to their homes.

Israeli forces fired on the crowds on three occasions, killing two people and wounding nine, including a child, according to al-Awda Hospital, which received the casualties.

Israel has pulled back from several areas of Gaza as part of the ceasefire, which came into effect last Sunday.

The ceasefire is aimed at ending the 15-month Israeli war on Gaza and freeing captives still held in Gaza in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Over six weeks, Hamas will release 33 Israeli captives – about one-third of those in captivity – in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

In the last two exchanges, Hamas released seven Israeli captives in return for 290 prisoners, nearly all of whom were Palestinians, except for one Jordanian.

A fourth exchange scheduled for Saturday will involve the release of three Israeli men, according to Netanyahu’s office.

January 30, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Subjugation - Torture | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Two prisoners from Gaza announced dead in Israeli detention

Palestinian Information Center – January 29, 2025

GAZA – Palestinian rights groups said on Wednesday that two prisoners from the Gaza Strip were martyred in Israeli jails.

This came in a joint statement released by the Commission of Detainees’ and Ex-Detainees’ Affair, the Palestinian Prisoner Society, and Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association.

The martyred prisoners have been identified as Mohamed al-Asali and Ibrahim Ashour.

Mohamed al-Asali was kidnaped by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) from Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City in March 2024. Later, his family received information that he was in Ashkelon prison before receiving another response to a request about his fate saying he died and then a response claiming that he was still in Ashkelon. The last response from the IOF affirmed that he died on May 17, 2024.

Asali, a father of four kids, did not suffer from any chronic health issues. During the war, all his brothers were martyred and only his father survived. His mother was buried in Ramallah after she passed away as she was having medical treatment in Occupied Jerusalem.

As for Ibrahim Ashour, he was kidnaped on February 14, 2024 from Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, south of Gaza. He also had no health problems before his detention.

The three organizations accused the Israeli occupation of deliberately killing Palestinian detainees and manipulating information about their fate.

The martyrdom of Asali and Ashour has brought to 58 the number of the Palestinian prisoners killed by Israel since its genocidal war on Gaza started in October 2023. 37 of those detainees are from the Gaza Strip.

January 29, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, War Crimes | , , , , | Leave a comment

Dear world: This is what Palestinian unity looks like

Palestinians, displaced by Israel forces, return their houses through Al-Rashid Street on the coastal strip in Gaza City, Gaza on January 27, 2025. [Anadolu Agency]
By Ramzy Baroud | MEMO | January 29, 2025

Even those of us who have long emphasised the importance of the Palestinian people’s voice, experience and collective action in Palestinian history must have been shocked by the cultural revolution resulting from the Israeli war against the people in Gaza. By cultural revolution, I mean the defiant and rebellious narrative evolving in Gaza, where people see themselves as active participants in the popular resistance, not just mere victims of the Israeli war machine.

When the ceasefire was announced on the 471st day of the Israeli genocide, the Palestinians in Gaza rushed onto the streets in celebration. Media outlets reported that they were celebrating the ceasefire, but judging by their chants, songs and symbolisms they were celebrating their collective victory, steadfastness (sumud) and resilience against the powerful Israeli army, which has been and remains supported by the US and other Western countries.

Using basic tools, they hurried to clean their streets, clearing debris to allow the displaced to search for homes. Although their homes were probably destroyed by Israel – 90 per cent of Gaza’s housing units were, according to the United Nations – they were still happy, even if they could only sit on the rubble. Some prayed atop concrete slabs, some sang in large, growing crowds, and others cried but insisted that no power could ever uproot them from Palestine again.

Social media was flooded with Palestinians expressing a mix of emotions, although they were mostly defiant, expressing their resolve not just in political terms, but also in other ways, including humour.

Of course, the bodybuilders returned to their gyms to find them also mostly destroyed. Rather than lament their losses, though, they salvaged machines and resumed training amid collapsed walls and ceilings punctured by Israeli missiles.

There was also a father and son who composed a song in the ahazej style, a traditional Levantine vocalisation.

The son, overjoyed to find his father alive, was reassured by him that they would never abandon their homeland.

As for the children – 14,500 of whom were killed by Israel, according to UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) – they resumed their childhood. They laid claim to destroyed Israeli tanks in Rafah, Beit Hanoun and elsewhere as their new playground equipment.

One teenager pretended to be a scrap metal salesman and yelled, “An Israeli Merkava tank for sale,” as his friends filmed him and laughed. “Make sure you send this video to [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu,” he added before moving on, unfazed.

This does not mean that Gaza is free of unimaginable pain, which is difficult for the rest of the world to fully comprehend. The emotional and psychological scars of the war will last a lifetime, and many will never recover fully from the trauma. But Palestinians in Gaza know that they cannot afford to grieve in the usual way. So, they emphasise their identity, unity and defiance as ways to overcome grief.

In parallel with its military assault on Gaza since 7 October, 2023, Israel has invested heavily in dividing the Palestinian people and trying to shatter their spirit. In Gaza, it dropped millions of flyers from warplanes on starving refugees, urging them to rebel against Palestinian factions by providing Israel with names of “troublemakers”. The Israeli army offered large rewards for such information, but little was achieved.

These flyers also called for tribal leaders to take control of their areas in exchange for food and protection. To punish those who resisted, Israel systematically killed clan representatives and councillors who tried to distribute aid throughout Gaza, especially in the north where famine was devastating.

Against overwhelming odds, though, Palestinians remained united.

When the ceasefire was declared, they celebrated as one nation. With Gaza destroyed, Israel’s actions obliterated Gaza’s class, regional, ideological and political divisions. Everyone in Gaza became a refugee: the rich, poor, Muslim, Christian, city dwellers and refugee camp residents; all were affected equally.

The unity that remains in Gaza, after one of the most horrific genocides in modern history, should serve as a wake-up call. The narrative that Palestinians are divided and need to “find common ground” has proven false.

With the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank aiding Israel’s war on Jenin and other refugee camps, the old notion of political unity through a merger of the PA and various Palestinian factions is no longer viable. The reality is that the fragmentation of the Palestinian political landscape cannot be solved through mere political agreements or negotiations between factions.

A different kind of unity has already taken root in Gaza and, by extension, across Palestinian communities in occupied Palestine and the rest of the world. This unity is visible in the millions of Palestinians who have demonstrated against the war, chanted for Gaza, cried for Gaza, and developed a new political discourse around it.

This unity does not rely on talking heads on Arabic satellite channels or secret meetings in expensive hotels. It needs no diplomatic talks. Years of endless discussions, “unity documents” and fiery speeches only led to disappointment.

The true unity has already been achieved, felt in the voices of ordinary people who no longer identify as members of factions. They are Gazzawiyya. Palestinians from Gaza, and nothing else.

This is the true unity that must now form the foundation of a new discourse.

January 29, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Solidarity and Activism | , , | Leave a comment

Live from Bethlehem – Jason Jones on the Trump Effect on Gaza

If Americans Knew | January 27, 2025

Eric Metaxas interviews Jason Jones about his thoughts on the Trump effect on the Gaza agreement.

Full video at:    • Live from Bethlehem – Jason Jones on …  

– See Jones’ articles and bio at https://israelpalestinenews.org/trump…

January 28, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Video | , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Egypt’s Parliament rejects plans for Palestinian resettlement after Trump’s call

MEMO | January 27, 2025

The Egyptian Parliament reiterated rejection, on Monday, of any plans aimed at relocating the Palestinian people from their land, warning that such actions pose “a grave threat” to regional security and stability, Anadolu Agency reports.

“We cannot overlook the significant danger posed by the proposals being circulated regarding the relocation of Palestinians from their land,” Parliament Speaker, Hanafi Gebali, told a parliamentary session.

“These ideas completely disregard the well-established fact that the Palestinian cause is not merely a population issue or a geographical dispute, but a cause of a people striving for their legitimate and historical rights.

“Everyone must realise that the Palestinian people are not merely a group seeking shelter. They are a people with a rich history, sacred land and inalienable rights that cannot be erased with time. They will never relinquish these rights, nor will the Arab nation before them,” Gebali affirmed.

The Egyptian Speaker warned that any proposals bypassing Palestinian rights “pose a grave threat to regional security and stability”.

“The only solution for achieving lasting peace is implementing the two-state solution, which ensures the Palestinian people can establish their independent state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, while also ensuring the security and stability of the entire region.”

“Egypt, which has sown the seeds of peace in the region for many years, reaffirms today that it will continue to defend the rights of the Palestinian people and firmly reject any attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause or infringe upon the rights of this great people,” he said.

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump called to “just clean out” Gaza and resettle Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan, describing the enclave as a “demolition site” after Israel’s genocidal war.

Egypt, Jordan, the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation issued statements and immediately rejecting any call for the displacement or relocation of Palestinians from their land.

Trump’s proposal came a week after a ceasefire agreement took effect in Gaza on 19 January,  suspending Israel’s genocidal war that has killed more than 47,300 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and injured more than 111,000 since 7 October, 2023.

The Israeli onslaught has left more than 11,000 people missing, with widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis that has claimed the lives of many elderly people and children in one of the worst global humanitarian disasters ever.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

January 27, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, War Crimes | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tens of thousands of Palestinians return to north Gaza after one year of displacement

(Photo credit: MEE/Ahmed Aziz)
The Cradle | January 27, 2025

Tens of thousands of Palestinians began returning to the northern Gaza Strip via the Netzarim corridor on 27 January after over a year of displacement and a genocidal Israeli war.

Video footage documented the first moments that the displaced civilians flooded through the Netzarim corridor to return to their homes in the north.

“Vehicles continue to enter via the Netzarim corridor through Salah al-Din Street after undergoing electronic inspection [in accordance with the ceasefire agreement],” Al Jazeera’s correspondent reported on 27 January.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are expected to return for the first time since being displaced at the start of the war in October 2023 and in the months that followed.

“The scenes of the return of the masses of our people to the areas from which they were forced to flee, despite their destroyed homes, confirm the greatness of our people and their steadfastness in their land, despite the depth of the pain and tragedy,” Hamas said in a statement.

Member of the Hamas political bureau Ezzat al-Rishq said the return of Palestinians to their homes “shatters all the dreams and illusions of the occupation in displacing [the Palestinian] people.”

Israel had been blocking the return of the displaced after the second round of prisoner exchanges took place on Saturday – demanding the return of a female Israeli soldier Arbel Yehud as part of the swap and accusing the resistance movement of obstructing the deal. Yehud is being held by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) movement.

It was agreed over the weekend that she would be released on Thursday in exchange for Israel allowing the return of the displaced to northern Gaza, which, along with other areas in the enclave, was destroyed and ethnically cleansed throughout the war.

Israeli authorities released 200 Palestinians from Israeli prisons on 25 January as part of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas. The resistance movement released four female Israeli soldiers as part of the deal earlier that day.

One hundred fourteen Palestinian prisoners were transferred from Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank for release in Ramallah, 16 were returned to Gaza, and 70 were exiled outside Palestine, WAFA news agency reported. Egypt will host them for 48 hours before they are sent to Tunisia, Algeria, and Turkiye – which all agreed to receive them.

January 27, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism | , , , , , | Leave a comment

« Previous Entries     Next Entries »