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Interview: ‘Not A Far-Off Goal’ — Palestinian Scholar Salman Abu-Sitta on the Right of Return

Pitasanna Shanmugathas | University of Windsor Faculty of Law, CA | January 14, 2025

Dr. Salman H. Abu-Sitta, a Palestinian academic, is renowned for his extensive work documenting Palestine’s land and people, as well as developing a practical return plan for Palestinian refugees. He founded the Palestine Land Society (PLS), accredited by the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP), and established the Palestine Land Studies Center at the American University of Beirut (AUB), housing over 40 years of his research.

Author of more than 400 articles and several landmark atlases — including the Atlas of Palestine 1948 and the Atlas of Palestine 1871-1877 — he has also created a series of poster maps related to Al Nakba. His memoir, Mapping My Return, offers a personal account of Al Nakba in southern Palestine. A former member of the Palestine National Council, Abu-Sitta has participated in numerous international forums on Palestinian rights and delivered a notable address, A Palestinian Address to Balfour, at the University of Edinburgh in 2022.

Abu-Sitta spoke to JURIST’s Senior Editor for Long Form Content, Pitasanna Shanmugathas, about his childhood in Palestine before the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 on his land, how he and his family survived the Nakba, his family’s current situation in Gaza, and his detailed proposal for implementing the Palestinian Right of Return.

Pitasanna Shanmugathas: Dr. Abu-Sitta, you were born in Palestine in 1937, in the Beersheba district. Could you describe what life in Palestine was like during your childhood, before the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948? 

Dr. Salman Abu-Sitta: I was born in 1937 in al-Ma’in Abu-Sitta, a 6,000-hectare area in the Beersheba district that my family had owned for over 200 years. Al-Ma’in, named after my family, was part of a vibrant agricultural community. We cultivated wheat, barley, grapes, figs, and almonds, and raised sheep, camels, and cattle. My father built a school in 1920, a flour mill, with four silos for our wheat and barley, reflecting our self-sufficient and prosperous ways of life. Education was highly valued in my family — my father built the first school in 1920 at his expense, by the 1930s, my brothers were pursuing high school in Jerusalem and by 1944, four of them were in university in Cairo.

Palestine at that time was a land of established communities, rich culture, and resilience. However, British policies under the Mandate, such as facilitating Jewish immigration and land acquisition, began to destabilize the country. My father and relatives resisted, fighting the British in World War I, including at the Suez Canal, and later during the Arab Revolt of 1936-1939. My brother led the Revolt in the Beersheba district, where we expelled British forces for a year and even established a local government.

This resilience was met with brutal suppression by the British, who bombed Palestinian villages and supported the growing Zionist movement. By 1948, the situation reached a devastating climax. On May 14, 1948, the Zionist militia Haganah attacked our land with 24 armored vehicles, burning our homes, destroying the school my father built, and expelling us from al-Ma’in. That day, coinciding with the declaration of the state of Israel, marked the beginning of my life as a refugee — a status I have endured for over 28,000 days.

I never saw a Jew in my life before. I never knew who they were. As a child, I could not comprehend how strangers could come from distant lands to take what was ours, displacing a people with over 4,000 years of recorded history. This tragedy shaped my life’s mission: to document and preserve Palestinian history and advocate for our right of return. I’ve published several works, including the Atlas of Palestine and the Return Journey Atlas, which chronicle our land’s transformation and provide a blueprint for reclaiming it.

Our history and connection to the land remain deeply ingrained in my identity and my work, as I strive to ensure that the world recognizes the truth of what happened and the injustice that Palestinians continue to seek.

Shanmugathas: Talk about what was Israel’s purpose behind the Nakba.

Abu-Sitta: The Nakba was a deliberate effort to erase all traces of Palestinian existence. Even the roads that connected al-Ma’in to other towns like Beersheba, Gaza, and Rafah were obliterated and replaced with new roads designed to serve the settlers. It was as though they sought to rewrite the geography itself, erasing not just our physical presence but also our history. My family, along with thousands of others, was forced to seek refuge in the Gaza Strip. I was just 10 years old, witnessing the complete destruction of my home and community — a trauma that shaped my identity and my lifelong commitment to documenting and preserving our history.

After finding refuge in the Gaza Strip, not yet Israeli-occupied, my family’s priority was survival and education. My father sent me to Cairo, where my older brothers were already studying. I completed my schooling there and earned a degree in civil engineering. Later, I pursued a PhD in civil engineering at University College London, which shaped my career as a professor and later as an international engineer. Yet, no matter how far my journey took me, I was haunted by questions about what happened to al-Ma’in after we were forced to leave.

When I began investigating, I discovered that settlers had built four kibbutzim on our land — Nirim, Ein Hashlosha, Nir Oz, and Magen. These weren’t organic communities but part of a military strategy. The kibbutzim were constructed on elevated points for strategic advantage and surrounded by trenches, barbed wire, and fortifications. Their goal was clear: to prevent us, the refugees, from returning. They knew that we were just a kilometer away in the Gaza Strip and would always dream of going home.

This militarized transformation of our land starkly contrasted with the organic way our community had developed over centuries. Where our lives had been intertwined with the natural landscape — fields, orchards, and wells — the kibbutzim were built with cold, calculated precision. Aerial photos from the 1950s to the 1970s show how the destruction of our homes and the construction of settlements unfolded step by step. The settlers built huts first, then fortifications, and eventually brought Jewish immigrants from Europe and other places to inhabit them.

Shanmugathas: You mentioned that as a result of the Nakba you and your family became refugees in the Gaza Strip. Do you currently have family in Gaza, and if so, how have they been affected by Israel’s assault on Gaza following the October 7 attacks? 

Abu-Sitta: Yes, most of my family still lives in Gaza, and their suffering is indescribable. The ongoing assault on Gaza has turned life into an unimaginable horror. Communication with them is almost impossible — telephones are often down, and when I do manage to speak to someone, the news is always devastating. For instance, in Khan Yunis, their homes have been completely destroyed, leaving them with no choice but to flee to Al Mawasi, a coastal area. There, they are living in makeshift tents, exposed to the elements. The tents are drenched in water from the rain, and with the harsh winter temperatures, the situation has become life-threatening. Seven children have already frozen to death from the cold. Now eight.

Sending them any form of aid is nearly impossible. Banks have been destroyed, making money transfers unfeasible. Even if money could reach them, it would do little, as basic necessities are unavailable or exorbitantly expensive. For example, a kilogram of tomatoes now costs 10 to 20 times its normal price. The scale of suffering is unimaginable. Some 200,000 people in Gaza — 10% of its population — have been killed or injured. To put that into perspective, that would be the equivalent to 34 million Americans being affected in a similar manner.

This is a genocide happening in real-time, visible to the world through the screens of our phones and televisions. It’s not a distant historical event — it’s unfolding now. UN agencies like UNICEF and OCHA have documented the atrocities extensively. The evidence is undeniable. Yet, despite this, the world remains paralyzed. Over 160 member states of the United Nations have called for a ceasefire, but their efforts have been vetoed multiple times by the United States. The U.S., in turn, provides Israel with the bombs, financial resources, and political cover necessary to sustain this assault.

As a historian and someone deeply familiar with global injustices, I find it astonishing that such atrocities can occur with the world watching and yet so little action being taken. No one can claim ignorance. Those who speak out — students, activists, and scholars — are silenced, often with severe repercussions. The question now is how individuals and nations will respond, knowing what is happening and understanding the consequences of inaction.

Shanmugathas: To our readers at JURIST who might be unaware, could you explain the concept of the Palestinian right of return? 

Abu-Sitta: The concept of the right of return is, first and foremost, a universal and inalienable right for everyone. You may recall that on December 10, 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations. Article 13 states that everyone has the right to leave their country and to return to it.

The very next day, on December 11, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly passed the famous Resolution 194, which affirmed that refugees must be allowed to return. This resolution contained three key elements:

  • First, refugees must be allowed to return to their homes
  • Second, they must receive relief until this happens.
  • Third, mechanisms must be created to facilitate their return.

Israel refused to allow the refugees to return but permitted relief efforts, as it was their responsibility to provide for the refugees they had displaced. However, Israel soon abdicated this responsibility, which was then transferred to the United Nations and managed by the United Nations Reliefs and Works Agency (UNRWA). Now, not only does Israel refuse to implement the right of return, but it is also attempting to dismantle UNRWA altogether.

The third element in resolution 194 was the establishment of UNCCP to plan the return of the refugees. It is still in existence but Israel does not allow its action.

Since its passage, Resolution 194 has been reaffirmed by the United Nations 135 times, making it one of the most repeatedly endorsed resolutions in UN history. This repeated affirmation effectively elevates it to the status of customary international law. No other resolution in UN history has been reaffirmed as frequently as this one.

People often ask whether the right of return is both legal and feasible. To address this, I conducted a study to demonstrate how it could be practically implemented.

Shanmugathas: Yes, and I want to get into the specifics of your proposal for the right of return. Before doing so, how would you respond to the argument that the Palestinian right of return is not binding under international law? Critics often claim that UN General Assembly Resolution 194 is merely a recommendation without legally binding force, as only UN Security Council Resolutions have binding authority. 

Abu-Sitta: That argument is incorrect for two reasons. First, the right of return is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as an inalienable right. While it is true that UN General Assembly resolutions are non-binding, this case is an exception because Resolution 194 has been reaffirmed by the United Nations 135 times. This repeated affirmation has elevated it to the status of customary international law.

No other resolution in the history of the United Nations has been reaffirmed so frequently. Legal experts, such as John Quigley and Mallison, have extensively argued that Resolution 194 has transcended the usual limitation of General Assembly resolutions and now constitutes customary international law. Moreover, it is important to note that Resolution 194 did not create the right of return; it simply reaffirmed this inalienable right.

Second, it is contrary to the principles of justice to argue otherwise. You cannot justify bringing people via smuggler ships, arming them with foreign support, allowing them to dispossess, kill, and displace an existing population, and then claim that such actions are acceptable. This defies both legal and moral standards.

Shanmugathas: You gained international attention for formulating a proposal to implement the Palestinian right of return without displacing Israel’s existing population. When did you first release this proposal, and how would the right of return work in practice?

Abu-Sitta: I think I first presented this proposal in 1998 at a conference in London. The essence of my proposal is that Palestinians can return to their homeland without displacing the Israeli population. Many of my European friends, who support the Palestinian cause, argue that the return of Palestinians would lead to displacement of Jews who now live there. They suggest that if Palestinians return, it will create a “Jewish Nakba,” forcing Jews to leave and return to Europe. I challenge this reasoning, as it is both morally and legally flawed.

This argument suggests that we, the displaced Palestinians, have fewer rights to our land than the foreign settlers who arrived with military support, committed atrocities, and took our land. To me, this is not only a racist argument, but an illegal one. The logic is akin to saying that if a burglar enters your home, kills half your family, forces you into a shed, and claims your house as his own, the argument would be that the burglar has the right to remain simply because he has been there for some time. This reasoning is utterly unjustifiable.

Even if we take this argument at face value, the situation is far simpler than many believe. I’ve collaborated with institutions like Forensic Architecture at Goldsmiths College, using aerial photographs, maps, and historical records to trace the process of destruction and rebuilding. What struck me most in my research was the emptiness of the land. In my research, I found that 88% of Israel’s Jewish population resides in only 12% of the land, specifically in three major areas: Tel Aviv, Haifa, and West Jerusalem. The rest of the land is either militarized or occupied by kibbutzim, which were deliberately planted not as organic farming communities, but as fortified military outposts designed to keep Palestinian refugees from returning. These settlements were surrounded by trenches, barbed wire, and machine guns, particularly near Gaza, West Jerusalem, and the Lebanese border. The land outside of these concentrated areas is largely uninhabited, which presents a clear opportunity for the return of Palestinians without displacing anyone.

Despite the portrayal of densely populated Israeli settlements, vast stretches of former Palestinian land are nearly uninhabited. The reality is that most of the land is not occupied in the way people might think.

The key to implementing the right of return lies in the legal status of the land. No Israeli living in what is now called Israel has a title deed to the land they occupy. All the land in Israel is controlled by the Israel Land Administration (ILA), which holds the land of all Palestinian refugees and leases it out to kibbutzim and settlements. These settlers are not landowners — they are renters, leasing the land from the Israeli government, which acts as a landlord. But, for example, if the Israel Land Administration were transformed into the Palestinian Land Administration, Palestinians could return to their land, reclaiming what is legally theirs based on the documentation they hold.

In practical terms, the return of Palestinians could be achieved swiftly. I have mapped out the return routes for each refugee camp, detailing where each person originally came from in Palestine and how they can return. The distances are short — no more than 50 kilometers at most and in some cases, as little as 1 kilometer for those in Gaza. Refugees could easily walk home, and for others, buses could be arranged, with travel times of no longer than 40 minutes. This is not a complicated or far-off goal; the logistics are simple and feasible.

The real barrier to implementing this solution is not logistics, but the political factors that prevent its realization. The international community, particularly the United States and European powers, continues to block any meaningful action to secure the right of return. These countries provide military and political support to Israel, which prevents the United Nations and other international bodies from enforcing international law. The tragedy is that the solution is already clear, yet it is being blocked by powerful interests that prioritize political alliances over justice.

I would also like to point out that our case is actually simpler than many historical examples, such as the situation in Bosnia. When the Serbs attacked Bosnia and took over homes, the situation was far more difficult, as many people had settled into those homes, and there were complex issues of property rights and ownership. In contrast, the case of Palestine is much simpler. The majority of the land is either uninhabited or controlled by the Israeli government, and the rightful Palestinian owners still have legal documentation for their land.

The return of Palestinians to their homes could be done much more easily and quickly, and I am confident that it could be achieved within less than a month if the political will existed.

Shanmugathas: In your proposal, you divide Israel’s demography into three categories, Area A, Area B and Area C. Your proposal mentions that Area C would have a majority Palestinian population, Area B would be a mixed population, and Area A would remain predominantly Jewish. Currently, there are about 8 to 9 million displaced Palestinian refugees, while Israel’s Jewish population is approximately 7 million. Could you elaborate on the specifics of how these 9 million refugees would be allowed to return without significantly displacing Israel’s existing population? 

Abu-Sitta: Drop the idea of A, B, C. I used that framework 15 years ago when it was a very approximate concept. Now, I approach it place by place, kilometer by kilometer. It is much, much simpler than that. The Israeli population occupies only 12% of the area currently called Israel. If you exclude open spaces, roads, and public areas, they actually live on just 2% to 2.5% of Israel, which itself constitutes 78% of historical Palestine.

We have no difficulty identifying where the 9 million displaced Palestinians live today and where they originally came from. Palestine is divided into 1,200 villages and cities, each with clearly defined land areas. We know exactly where the people from each village or city are, as these communities remain intact and connected. They can return to their specific lands without any issue.

The obstacles they would face fall into two groups: the first group is the Israeli army, which, in the future, should no longer exist. I envision — and hope — that the Israeli army will eventually be brought to the Hague, to the International Criminal Court, for its extensive war crimes. There isn’t a single member of the Israeli army who is free from such crimes.

Assuming the Israeli army is removed from the equation and held accountable at the Hague, the remaining obstacle is the kibbutzim. As I’ve explained the kibbutzim were established with the aim of holding refugee lands and preventing Palestinians from returning. If the kibbutz residents want to remain on a small portion of the land where their houses are located, I offer them the option to rent that space. However, they must return the rest of the land to its rightful owners. According to international law, this process would involve restitution and possibly compensation, principles that have been well established over the past 76 years.

It is not my duty to compensate settlers who have caused the disruption of Palestinian lives for 76 years. That duty falls to them — the perpetrators of these crimes. Restitution, whether material or non-material, is their responsibility. International law categorizes several types of restitution. Material restitution includes compensation for the use of land and property over time. The United Nations has already addressed this issue. There is a specific resolution, known as the Refugees’ Revenue Resolution, which obliges Israel to record the benefits it derived from refugee lands. This has already been documented, and we have the figures.

Non-material restitution, on the other hand, pertains to losses such as the deprivation of nationality, the destitution faced by refugees worldwide, the loss of identity, and the disruption of families. These elements are also well established under international law. Both forms of restitution — material and non-material — are essential for justice and the restoration of Palestinian rights.

Shanmugathas: In your proposal, you highlight the economic difficulties faced by the kibbutzim and the limited contribution of agriculture to Israel’s GDP. You suggest that the return of Palestinian refugees could help revitalize these areas and restore agricultural productivity. Could you elaborate on how this would work, how you envision the economic integration of Palestinian refugees into these areas, and how it would contribute economically? 

Abu-Sitta: Most Palestinian refugees are rural people, as Palestine in 1948 was 70% rural and 30% urban. For thousands of years, these rural communities thrived and built a rich history. In contrast, Israelis who seized the land were reluctant farmers, resulting in agriculture contributing only 1% to Israel’s GDP.

Today, Israel’s economy relies heavily on technology, with 75% of its income derived from Silicon Valley industries that require minimal land — about 4 to 10 square kilometers could house all Israeli industry without impacting production. If necessary, they could even relocate their operations, perhaps to Cyprus.

The real issue lies with the kibbutzim, which control vast tracts of land and serve as extensions of the Israeli military. These lands are used for aggression, wars, and military camps, which would be unnecessary in the absence of conflict.

Another issue is water. Israel consumes 2,000 million cubic meters of water annually, three-quarters of which is stolen from Arab countries, including Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon. Yet, despite diverting massive amounts of water, agriculture contributes just 1% to the GDP, an egregious misuse of resources.

This inefficient, artificial economy underscores that the right of return is entirely feasible. The obstacles are not logistical but political, driven by the same powers that repeatedly veto international efforts to address these injustices.

Shanmugathas: Your proposal implicitly advocates for a one-state solution, diverging from the longstanding international consensus of a two-state solution. Critics argue that the unconditional return of eight to nine million Palestinian refugees, as you propose, would result in Jews no longer being the majority in the Israeli state and thus is not practically feasible as Israel would perceive it as an existential threat to its survival. Academic Noam Chomsky once asserted that if Israel were ever put in a position where it was forced to accept the right of return, Israel would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons to prevent it from happening. How do you respond to this? 

Abu-Sitta: I know your good intentions, otherwise I would not answer this question. I will not justify a crime or ask the victim to accept it. The two-state solution is inherently flawed, and history proves this. Since 1948, dozens of so-called peace plans — designed by the West to legitimize Israel’s actions — have all failed. Why? Because they attempt to normalize the theft of Palestinian land.

What does a two-state solution mean? It means taking land from Palestinians and giving it to settlers from abroad. Imagine telling a Palestinian refugee to remain in a tent while someone from Poland, like Netanyahu, occupies their home and land. For example, Netanyahu lives in Caesarea, [a town in present-day Israel] originally home to the Bushnak family, to which my brother is married. Should my sister-in-law be expected to give up her ancestral home to someone who arrived from Poland?

The answer is clear: no one would accept this. The issue isn’t about coexistence but justice. If any Israeli or Zionist can justify this theft logically or legally, I would willingly concede my land. But they cannot. Justice demands the right of return and the restoration of stolen homes and land.

Shanmugathas: The Geneva Initiative, negotiated in 2003 by former Israeli Minister Yossi Beilin and former Palestinian Authority Minister Yasser Abed Rabbo, presents a detailed two- state solution framework with specific attention to the refugee issue. The Geneva Initiative proposes an international commission to oversee implementation, including a valuation process for property claims using United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine (UNCCP) and Custodian for Absentee Property records, with a dual-track system for small and large claims under strict timelines. Refugees must apply for property claims within two years and resolve them within five, with oversight from the UN, UNRWA, Arab host countries, and international donors. 

The initiative offers five resettlement options: relocation to a Palestinian state, land swap areas, third-country resettlement, limited return to Israel, or remaining in host countries. By contrast, your proposal focuses on the direct physical return of refugees, emphasizing that 88% of Israel’s Jewish population resides on only 12% of the land. How would you respond to arguments that the Geneva Initiative’s compromise-based approach might be more feasible and politically viable with Israeli leaders and international stakeholders? 

Abu-Sitta: The Geneva Initiative is just one of the dozens of so-called peace proposals that have all failed. Where is it now? In the dustbin of history. And where is Yasser Abed Rabbo, one of its architects? Politically irrelevant. These proposals fail because they are built on fundamental injustice, forcing victims to accept their victimhood while ignoring their rights. The Geneva Initiative is no different. It violates basic principles and prioritizes compromise over justice.

Shanmugathas: Many point to the absence of a strong, principled Palestinian leadership as a critical challenge to establishing a just solution to the conflict. The Palestinian Authority (PA) is often criticized for corruption and acting as an enforcer of Israel’s occupation of the West Bank. There is division between political factions like Fatah in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza. Figures like Marwan Barghouti are seen by some as a potential incorruptible leader. What do you think needs to happen for Palestinians to have principled, effective leadership? 

Abu-Sitta: This is a vital question to end on. As a Palestinian, I oppose the PA, which was essentially created by Israeli occupation forces to suppress its own people, akin to Quisling’s role during the Nazi occupation of Denmark. The PA has lost legitimacy, as its leadership has not been re-elected in over 15 years, and it functions as a Western-funded tool to stifle Palestinian resistance.

For decades, I have called for new elections for the Palestinian National Council, representing all 14 million Palestinians globally. Starting with Edward Said in 2000, we pushed for such elections in 2003, 2007, and at international conferences, including one I organized in 2017 in Istanbul with 6000 attendees. Despite our efforts, colonial powers and financial support for the PA have undermined these calls, ensuring a leadership that prioritizes external interests over the Palestinian people’s will.

Elections must be held, allowing Palestinians to freely choose their leaders. Whether it’s Marwan Barghouti, who has shown resilience and principle during his years in Israeli detention, or others, it’s the people’s choice. Personally, I prefer younger leaders—highly qualified, articulate, and in their 30s—who can bring fresh energy and lead for decades. These individuals, many of whom I know from Europe and Arab countries, are well-educated in law, politics, and global affairs.

While elders like me can offer guidance and share experience, it’s time for the next generation to lead.

February 19, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Timeless or most popular | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Israel forcibly removes students and shuts down UNRWA school in occupied Jerusalem

MEMO | February 18, 2025

The Israeli authorities have forcibly removed students and shut down a school run by the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in occupied Jerusalem, Wafa news agency has reported.

The Jerusalem governorate reported that Israeli occupation forces stormed the UNRWA-affiliated Jerusalem Boys’ Elementary School in Wadi Al-Joz district, and ordered staff to close the institution after forcibly removing students.

The move follows an order by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to enforce the ban on UNRWA operations in the city. Under the new restrictions, UNRWA activity within “areas under Israeli sovereignty” is now prohibited, including the operation of representative offices and providing services. Israelis are also prohibited from having any contact with the agency. Jerusalem was annexed by the occupation state in the 1980s, in a move which is not recognised by the majority of countries as annexation of territory acquired by force of arms is illegal under international law.

In May 2024, the UNRWA management was forced to close the headquarters under the pressure of attacks by illegal settlers, which reached the point of its buildings being set on fire twice in one week. The Israel Lands Authority announced on 10 October last year the seizure of the land on which the UNRWA headquarters is located in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of occupied East Jerusalem, and the transformation of the site into an illegal settlement outpost containing 1,440 housing units. All of Israel’s settlements and the settlers who live on them are illegal under international law.

The occupation regime also targeted the UNRWA Kalandia Training Centre (KTC), with the Israel Lands Authority issuing a decision on 14 January 2024 demanding that UNRWA vacate it and pay retrospective occupancy fees of 17 million shekels (about $4.76 million), on the pretext of constructing and using buildings without a permit.

UNRWA provides essential services, including humanitarian aid, healthcare and education, to more than 110,000 registered Palestinian refugees in Jerusalem alone. The UN agency operates two refugee camps, Shuafat and Kalandia, in the occupied city.

February 18, 2025 Posted by | Illegal Occupation | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Less than 7% of pre-conflict water levels available in Gaza, Oxfam warns

MEMO | February 18, 2025

Israel has destroyed 1,675 kilometres of water and sanitation networks in Gaza leaving a “dangerously critical” situation for Palestinians in the enclave, Oxfam warned yesterday.

“In North Gaza and Rafah governorates, which have suffered the most destruction, less than seven per cent of pre-conflict water levels is available to people, heightening the spread of waterborne diseases,” it added.

Warning against a restart of bombing, Oxfam said: “Any renewed violence or disruption to fuel and the already inadequate aid would trigger a full-scale public health disaster.”

Oxfam’s Humanitarian Coordinator in Gaza, Clemence Lagouardat, said: “Now that the bombs have stopped, we have only just begun to grasp the sheer scale of destruction to Gaza’s water and sanitation infrastructure. Most vital water and sanitation networks have been entirely lost or paralyzed, creating catastrophic hygiene and health conditions.”

In the North Gaza governorate, almost all water wells have been destroyed by Israeli occupation forces. Over 700,000 people have returned to find entire neighbourhoods wiped out. For the few whose homes remain standing, water is non-existent due to the destruction of rooftop storage tanks, Oxfam explained.

In Rafah, over 90 per cent of water wells and reservoirs have been partially or completely damaged, and water production is less than five per cent of its capacity before the conflict. Only two out of 35 wells are currently operational.

Oxfam added that “Despite efforts to resume water production since the ceasefire, the destruction of Gaza’s water pipelines means that 60 per cent of water is leaking into the ground rather than reaching people.”

The lack of safe water, combined with untreated sewage overflowing in the streets has triggered an explosion of waterborne and infectious diseases. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 88 per cent of environmental samples surveyed across Gaza were found contaminated with polio, signalling an imminent risk of outbreak. Infectious diseases including acute watery diarrhoea and respiratory infections – now the leading causes of death – are also surging, with 46,000 cases, mostly children, being reported each week.

Lagouardat said: “Israel continues to severely impair critical items needed to begin repairing the massive structural damage from its air strikes. This includes desperately needed pipes for repairing water and sanitation networks, equipment like generators to operate wells.”

The charity added that its own water pipes, fittings and water tanks had been held up for over six months, they have now been approved for entry into the enclave, however, they have not entered yet.

February 18, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, War Crimes | , , , , | Leave a comment

Smotrich orders seizure of $90m in Palestinian funds to benefit Israeli settlers

The Cradle | February 18, 2025

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich signed an order on 17 February to seize NIS 320 million ($90 million) in Palestinian tax funds to use as compensation for families of Israelis affected by the war.

“There is no more moral and just signature than to prevent the Palestinian Authority from funding terrorism and to garnish its funds for the benefit of the families of terror victims. This is a necessary step in our national struggle against terrorism and against the Palestinian Authority that encourages it,” Smotrich stated.

In August, the finance minister confiscated NIS 100 million (nearly $27 million) from the Palestinian Authority (PA) in Ramallah, accusing it of supporting “terrorism.”

Israel’s security cabinet was set to meet on Monday to discuss whether to move forward with negotiations on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire.

If agreed to, the second phase is intended to see Hamas release dozens of remaining captives from Gaza, while Israel would release hundreds more Palestinian prisoners. Israeli forces are supposed to withdraw entirely from Gaza, and a lasting truce should go into effect.

However, Smotrich and other Jewish supremacist ministers have said they would quit Netanyahu’s ruling coalition if the war does not resume.

On Saturday, the Israeli finance minister announced that US President Donald Trump’s plan to expel Palestinians from Gaza will start within weeks, with the displacement starting slowly but accelerating with time.

“Preparations have started amongst our teams, alongside teams of the US President Donald Trump,” Smotrich told reporters, according to Israel’s Channel 12.

He explained that the plan involves two parts. “One is to find countries that can receive people, and two, it’s a huge logistical operation to take such a large number of people out of here.”

Palestinians in Gaza have rejected Trump’s plan to ethnically cleanse them from their homes and lands, while rights groups have said that the plan is illegal under international law.

February 18, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Illegal Occupation | , , , , | Leave a comment

Trump displacement of Palestinians is unlikely, says former head of Saudi intelligence

MEMO | February 18, 2025

A former head of Saudi Arabian intelligence has ruled out the possibility of US President Donald Trump sending troops to “expel the Palestinians” from Gaza and liquidate the Palestinian cause. Prince Turki Al-Faisal called on people not to be disturbed by Trump’s statements.

He made his comment to Al-Arabiya channel on Sunday, adding that what Trump says is not necessarily what the world will do, because talk is easy, but action has its conditions.

“I doubt that [Trump] will consider sending an army to expel the Palestinians, so there is no need for confusion or chaos surrounding his statements,” said Al-Faisal. He described the comments as being suggestive of Trump’s “arrogance”.

The former Saudi official stressed the importance of a unified Arab position to confront the challenges related to the Palestinian issue. “If the Arabs stand as a group, no one will be able to influence it.”

Al-Faisal touched on this principle applying to the Palestinians as well. “It is better for our Palestinian brothers to leave the differences aside and to be one unit, rather than for things to be scattered as they are now. If there is a difference between the leaders, they must fix what is between them.”

Nevertheless, he insisted that a united Arab position is necessary even if the Palestinians differ. “This does not prevent the Arab world from taking clear, firm and strong positions, and the Arab world is required to stand as one unit.”

The prince described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement about establishing a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia as “disgusting arrogance”, and pointed out that the kingdom has already responded comprehensively to what was said.

February 18, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism | , , , , , | 1 Comment

With US Or Against US? America’s ultimatum to Arab leaders

By Robert Inlakesh – Al Mayadeen – February 18, 2025

For 15 months, the majority of the Arab and Muslim World’s leaders sat back as the first live-streamed genocide took place inside the land of Palestine. Praying for a return to the status quo that once supported their rules, they have now been faced with an ultimatum. Now, it’s time to pick a side.

While US President Donald Trump presented his idea of clearing out Gaza’s civilian population, taking control of the territory, and reconstructing it, he did so using the tone of someone believing such actions would be humanitarian in nature. In reality, what was being proposed was an invasion, mass murder, and ethnic cleansing.

To be clear, the likelihood of such an invasion occurring is slim, not least because it involves an enormous amount of planning to implement correctly and there is simply no evidence that any moves are being made in this direction. However, the threat of such a monstrosity alone has proven enough to instantly mobilise the Arab and Muslim nation’s leaderships in a way we have not witnessed in decades.

Suddenly, they woke up, after behaving as if the people of the Gaza Strip were not being mass murdered on an industrial scale, on the land of the Prophets, on the land of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Holy Sepulchre. Not even the invasion of Lebanon, the murder of some 3,000 people, nor the occupation of more Syrian lands, nor the threats of annexation in the West Bank, had mobilised these leaders. The screams of Gaza’s youths, the tears of Gaza’s mothers, the honor stripped from the tortured and raped, nothing registered.

But now, for the first time, we feel a pulse. Why? Because everyone’s head is on the chopping block. A glimpse was caught of what Donald Trump’s proposed future could cause and the likes of Jordanian King Abdullah II realised they are just another Arab in the eyes of the Israeli-US alliance, nothing more and nothing less. The only reason they remain is because they capitulate. This was Trump’s true message; it was not so much as a threat but a reminder.

Without delving too deep into the issue of an American invasion of Gaza, it would prove disastrous in so many ways that it seems unrealistic on the face of things. This is not least due to the enormous costs involved in a US occupation that could travel north of hundreds of billions in US taxpayer dollars, while the US soldier casualties would be high and place enormous domestic pressure on Trump. This would likely be America’s new Vietnam, as the star-spangled coffins would trigger outrage across the States.

A US invasion would also fail to achieve the objectives set out by Trump, because Palestinians will not leave willingly and this could easily turn into a situation where the US army picks up from where the Israelis left off; inflicting Genocide. If the ethnic cleansing would work partially, the destabilizing effects would be horrific.

As mentioned above, the majority of the leaders of Arab and Muslim nations may have stood aside and allowed the Gaza Genocide to unfold, yet their populations are now more motivated to defeat the Zionist occupiers than ever before.

Opening the ‘gates of hell’

When Hamas announced that it would postpone the weekly prisoner exchange arrangement until the Israelis allowed sufficient humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement, Donald Trump’s reaction was to threaten opening the “gates of hell”. Despite the threats that came from Trump and Netanyahu, the Israelis caved under pressure and were quickly set to allow the prisoner exchange to go ahead as planned.

Whether the US President is truly the mastermind behind his own rhetoric or not, which is quite frankly unlikely, reading between the lines has actually helped achieve four objectives:

  1.  The outrageous and illegal proposals that Trump has put forth have helped save the image of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in front of his extremist coalition.
  2. The rhetoric has therefore given the Zionist regime more wiggle room to reach the second phase of the agreement, as the more extreme elements in the regime now feel as if they will get to complete their ethnic cleansing, settlement, and occupation endeavors.
  3. Upon the initial conclusion of the ceasefire agreement, the momentum in terms of popular understanding of power dynamics – manufactured as a result of the ongoing media war – had Hamas painted as the victor and the Zionist regime a loser. Trump managed to suddenly shift the conversation and manipulate popular understandings of who is in control and “winning” the war.
  4. It has brought together the Arab and Muslim leaders who were previously inactive or distant from the post-war Gaza plan.

Donald Trump is actively speaking as if he is a more extreme Zionist fanatic than Netanyahu, but is yet to follow through on any of his threats. If he continues to speak in such a way, it is possible that the US will have to start following through on some of the President’s rhetoric, however, in order for Washington to maintain credibility.

The reality in the region is that the leaderships of West Asia are still trying to revert back to the status quo that existed pre-October 7, 2023. Now they are having to come to terms with the fact that this is no longer an option.

Although this may seem hyperbolic, the “Israel” that everyone knew from before is no more, it no longer exists. To those who have studied the issue closely, this was somewhat inevitable. Right now, we are living through a scenario that occurred prior to 1948, where the Zionist regime had to try and define itself. For some time, they managed through their military superiority to pacify those around them or overcome armed confrontations with brute force, all while developing their economy and pretending as if they were operating a European State in the Eastern Mediterranean.

This was never going to last, not least because the Palestinian to Jewish population inside the borders of historic Palestine had become roughly 50/50. On top of this, the fastest growing Jewish group has been the Haredim (Ultra-Orthodox), who do not serve in the army and don’t even believe in the worth of modern Nation States. Yet, all Israelis wanted the West Bank and to rule over occupied Jerusalem. With land concessions to the Palestinian Authority off the table, there were only ever going to be two options that the Zionists were going to have to choose from: Commit a genocide or mass ethnic cleansing; or both.

With the rise of right-wing nationalist religious fundamentalism, the secular-leaning right-wing system that modelled itself off of “Western Liberal Democracies” suddenly found itself under threat. Prior to October 7, 2023, this was a dominant theme in Israeli politics, where the religious ultra-nationalists were challenging the somewhat contradictory vision that was held onto by around half of the Israeli Jewish population.

What happened here is that the secular-leaning Israelis were trying to cling onto their delusion that they could simply live in a liberal Jewish supremacist Apartheid colony forever and expect a level of stability that they had long enjoyed due to the overwhelming power of their military. On the other hand, the extremist right-wing coalition of Benjamin Netanyahu that won power in late 2022 began to present an alternative vision in a way that hadn’t been done before.

Then came the wakeup call, Hamas launched Operation al-Aqsa Flood, and the Zionists were forced to wrestle with the fact that you cannot continue oppressing the Palestinian people and expect them to simply go away or give up on their struggle for national liberation. Because of the racist collective narcissism trained into the minds of the Zionist settlers, they reacted in the most emotional way possible. This is why Zionists in the West have also been working overtime to suppress any criticism; their racism is being challenged.

The knee-jerk reaction of the Zionists was to think “how dare these people challenge our supremacy”. For the first time in its history, the Zionist Entity had been militarily torn to pieces and proven incapable of overcoming an indigenous resistance force armed primarily with light weapons and self-produced armaments. US-Israeli supremacy in West Asia appeared to be crumbling, so the occupying entity and its imperialist backer responded in the only way they know how, mass murder.

What happened in Gaza was a frenzy of racist violence that was supposed to “teach a lesson” to the Arab and Muslim peoples that they will remain forever inferior. The genocide was calculated to send a message: resist our supremacy and you will die.

Two things are now happening:

  1. The “Israel” of the past died, now it is scrambling to redefine and recreate itself.
  2. The US is attempting to revive its efforts to transform the region through normalisation and the construction of new trade routes, but is going to do so using maximum force in order to put down any semblance of dissent.

So where does this all fit into Donald Trump’s crazy threats? It’s simple. The United States is projecting its intention to remodel the entire region. This message is clear, yet it won’t likely come through a US invasion of Gaza, rather from putting tremendous pressure on the nations of the region to capitulate and work as slaves of the US-Israeli alliance.

If Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia do not capitulate, their leaderships will be replaced by ones that do. In the event that either a US invasion of Gaza or mass ethnic cleansing occurred, Egypt would be destabilised and likely face a limited Israeli incursion into the Sinai, while the Jordanian government could be toppled, or at the very least the nation will be totally destabilised, then, in the backdrop, Saudi Arabia could also be in the cross-hairs.

Hundreds of thousands of Gazans being ethnically cleansed into the Kingdom of Jordan would inevitably birth a new Palestinian Resistance front also, which could happen regardless at this point.

The ethnic cleansing of Palestine between 1947-49 left a major scar on the Arab World as a whole, one that has never healed. What just occurred in Gaza is a much deeper wound that will inspire Resistance until the end of the Zionist regime. Although it is often not factored into the equation, the Israelis also murdered 3,000 people in Lebanon too, including the late Secretary General of Hezbollah, Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah.

A mistake often made by the imperialists and settler colonialists is assuming that because a population appears pacified today, it will also be tomorrow. In reality, revolutions and resistance movements take time, with mass mobilisation sometimes occurring due to what could be perceived as mere chance when it emerges.

Meanwhile, the US is now offering the same option to the Arab and Muslim World that was presented by George W. Bush Jr. upon his announcement of the so-called “War on Terror”: “You are either with us or with the terrorists!”

It may be presented in a different way, but the truth is that there is no way to play the role of holding a middle-ground position. Now is the time, submit to being a slave, even losing your territory, pride and stability; or you decide to resist. The problem for a nation like Jordan is that if you resist, you may also be overthrown.

Donald Trump’s comments for now were designed to force the Arab and Muslim leaders to come to a joint consensus and present an alternative plan to his insane proposal, which appears to be working. Interestingly enough, it appears as if this is actually helping to allow for the Gaza ceasefire to reach phase 2.

Unfortunately for these leaders, the Palestinian issue they now face is not over with Gaza. In the event of the Israelis annexing the West Bank, this could eventually trigger the downfall of the Palestinian Authority and/or initiate a major uprising. In such a scenario, the Israeli military could then seek to ethnically cleanse large swathes of the West Bank too. The destination of these displaced refugees could also end up being Jordan.

Even former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned, in his second last address about foreign policy, of the collapse of the normalization agreements between the Zionist regime and its neighbours in Amman and Cairo. Speaking at a conference organised by the Atlantic Council, Blinken used the first part of his speech to espouse pure Israeli propaganda, before speaking candidly on a few issues towards the latter half of his address. He stressed that without a so-called “Two-State solution”, the normalisation deals with Egypt and Jordan could collapse.

If a resistance front opens inside Jordan, it could be the beginning of the end for the Zionist regime. Jordan shares the largest, mostly undefended, land border with occupied Palestine. Once a major resistance movement is rooted there, the war would expand in such a way that no one is capable of predicting. It is also clear that the Zionists seek to continue their aggression against Iran, Yemen, and to degrade Hezbollah at all costs in Lebanon.

All of what is mentioned above will not likely just unfold overnight, everything takes time. Yet there is no question that the war is far from over.

February 18, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, War Crimes, Wars for Israel | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Forced displacement of Palestinians from occupied West Bank ‘largest since 1967’

The Cradle | February 17, 2025

The mass displacement carried out by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank is the largest since 1967, according to experts cited by the New York Times (NYT) on 17 February.

“What makes this moment unprecedented is not only the scale of the displacement but also the accompanying discourse, which increasingly normalizes the idea of permanent forced displacement,” said Maha Nassar, a Palestinian historian at the University of Arizona.

“This represents a significant escalation in the longstanding conflict, one that threatens to fundamentally alter the political and demographic landscape of the region,” she went on to say.

At least 55 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli army began its operations in the occupied West Bank last month – which were kicked off by a massive assault on Jenin and its refugee camp that remains ongoing.

The operation quickly expanded to include other cities and towns, including Tulkarem, Tubas, and Nablus.

In Jenin and Tulkarem alone, at least 26,000 Palestinians have been uprooted from their homes. Israeli forces have been destroying houses and wiping out infrastructure. Homes that have not been destroyed are being emptied out, taken over by occupation forces, and transformed into military posts.

“The Israelis have two objectives – first, to push refugees from the northern West Bank toward the central areas, aiming to erase the refugee camps entirely. The second goal is to eliminate resistance and weaken the Palestinian Authority’s ability to govern,” a displaced resident of Tulkarem told NYT.

The Israeli army launched a new raid in Nablus on Monday, after a violent raid in its Old City a day earlier – which injured at least 14, including several children.

Video footage showed Israeli forces opening fire on school children in the Old City of Nablus on Sunday.

Reinforcements have continued to arrive in Jenin and Tulkarem. In Jenin, the assault has been ongoing for nearly a month.

The UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) warned last week that the forced expulsion of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank is “escalating at an alarming pace.”

“Jenin Camp stands empty today, evoking memories of the Second Intifada. This scene stands to be repeated in other camps,” UNRWA stated, noting that 40,000 Palestinians have recently been displaced from the occupied West Bank.

“Repeated and destructive operations have rendered the northern refugee camps uninhabitable, trapping residents in cyclical displacement,” the UN agency added.

February 17, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, War Crimes | , , | Leave a comment

Spring is in the air in US-Russia ties as Trump’s revolution gains momentum

By M. K. BHADRAKUMAR | Indian Punchline | February 16, 2025 

What emerges from the dramatic happenings of the past week is that the 3-year chronicle of US-Russia rivalry and the NATO’s proxy war in Ukraine was a crisis engineered with great deliberation by the Anglo-American nexus per a pernicious agenda conceived by the neocon liberals wedded to globalism ensconced in the Washington and London establishment to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia.

In less than a month since President Donald Trump returned to Oval Office, in a series of bold moves, he began dismantling the Iron Wall that descended on Central Europe. Its impact is already visible, as communication channels with Moscow have been flung open, as evident in the new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s call to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Saturday and their agreement to meet at delegation level in Saudi Arabia next week. 

The Trump administration will allow the resumption of normal diplomatic work as well as discuss the early return of diplomatic properties unilaterally seized by the Obama – Biden administrations in wanton acts of motiveless malignity and hubris, in violation of Vienna accords. Trust Russia to reciprocate!

The downstream salience of the readouts in Moscow and Washington, here and here, on the Rubio-Lavrov phone conversation is the mutual agreement between the two leaderships — Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin — for US-Russian interactive exchanges at various levels is being followed through with a view to improve bilateral relations as well as “on key international issues, including the situation in Ukraine, developments in Palestine and the broader Middle East, as well as other regional matters.” 

Furthermore, a team designated by the White House comprising apart from Rubio, the US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and the president’s Middle East envoy (who also works on Ukraine-Russia issues) Steve Witkoff will meet a Russian team led by Lavrov as early as this week ahead. The inclusion of Witkoff, a ‘result-oriented’, pushy negotiator and old friend of Trump is particularly interesting. Witkoff flew into Moscow for an unpublicised solo visit last week, which appears to have been productive. 

Clearly, Trump has drawn lessons from his first term and is determined not to get emasculated again in the Washington ‘swamp’. This is where Witkoff comes in.

Trump’s approach and political style is utterly fascinating. Trump began shifting gear no sooner than he managed to put together a team of like-minded people who are “loyalists” to head the Justice Department, Pentagon, the Treasury, etc. — and, importantly, to forcefully regenerate the authority of the attorney general and the national intelligence agency to serve his agenda. 

Thus, in the final analysis, it is immaterial that his administration is packed with pro-Israel figures or has a sprinkling of hardliners on China. For, it is Trump who will call the shots. Surprises could be in store in policy twists and turns. 

This should already give sleepless nights to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu whom Trump has sensitised apropos his intention to improve relations with Iran. To my mind, Trump may not even follow through his dramatic announcement of “taking over” Gaza, et al. 

The pattern appearing with regard to relations with Russia is that Trump levels with Putin first and passes down decisions to the state department and other agencies to follow through. Equally,  the mechanism of summitry is being revived as the locomotive of big power relations. There is already talk of Trump holding summit meetings with Putin in Saudi Arabia and with Xi Jinping. Trump will likely look for a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping at some point.

Such an approach necessitates cutting down the role and influence of the Deep State which had throttled Trump’s presidency through the 2016-2020 period. The challenge facing Trump is formidable, given the nexus between the Democratic Party and the Deep State, and the mischief potential of mainstream media which is largely under their control and hostile towards Trump. 

In a glaring instance this week, the Wall Street Journal deliberately misrepresented certain remarks by Vice-President JD Vance to vitiate the air in the nascent US-Russia tango. According to the story, Vance allegedly stated that the US might use economic and military leverage against Russia, and the option of sending the US military to Ukraine “remains under consideration” in case Moscow refuses to resolve the conflict in good faith. Moscow immediately sought clarification and a rebuttal had to be issued by Vance himself to set the record straight. 

Vance wrote on X: “The fact that the WSJ twisted my words in the way they did for this story is absurd, but not surprising considering they have spent years pushing for more American sons and daughters in uniform to be unnecessarily deployed overseas.” 

Trump has repeatedly expressed distrust of US intelligence agencies. According to CNN, all employees (approx. 22,000 people) at the CIA have received letters whereby they are given two options: to continue his/her service without guarantees of job retention in the future or to leave under the so-called deferred dismissal program at own request, while retaining salary and additional preferences until end-September. 

Interestingly, a code was sewn inside these letters that tracks the re-sending of the letter by the recipient, as a guarantee against leaks which was the practice used when dismissing employees of the former Twitter after its acquisition by billionaire Elon Musk, who is now considered one of Trump’s closest advisers and heads the quasi-Department of Government Efficiency overseeing the reduction of federal government! 

Again, the disbandment of USAID, which traditionally worked as the “B Team” of the CIA to promote colour revolutions and regime changes, etc. can also be seen in the light. According to Vladimir Vasiliev, chief researcher at the Institute of USA and Canada of the Russian Academy of Sciences, who closely studies this topic, Trump has declared war on the CIA, which he blames for his electoral defeat in 2020.

Vasiliev estimates that so far, the fight against the deep state in foreign and domestic intelligence is proceeding steadily, but will now “accelerate” with the confirmation of former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard for the post of head of national intelligence, and Kash Patel for the post of FBI director.

On the other hand, the Delhi grapevine, which is dominated by fellow travellers of the defunct Biden regime is that the Deep State will ultimately have the last laugh and Trump may not even be allowed to complete his 4-year term. But to my mind, that is wishful thinking.

Trump’s grit should not be underestimated. Nor the seamless resources and tools at his command to queer the pitch of the disarray within the Democratic Party, which traditionally provided the requisite political cover for the Deep State. 

There is, conceivably, a method in Trump’s provocative moves, with some able help from Elon Musk and Steve Bannon, to stir up the pot in European politics, including Germany and Britain, who constitute the high ground of Euro-Atlanticism in the continent, which serves to prevent a coalescing of liberal-globalist cliques within the transatlantic system.

Patel has hinted that sufficient incriminating evidence of misuse of power is available to damn the Old Guard all the way up to Biden himself. Trump cannot be unaware of the high importance of pre-empting a Democratic backlash. The federal judges in Democrat-ruled states are openly challenging Trump’s methods. Suffice to say, Trump’s credibility to entrap the Old Guard in a cobweb of protracted litigation will be a game changer.

The latest poll shows that Trump enjoys a soaring 77% support for cleaning up the swamp. The optic of this crusade is going to be hugely consequential to Trump’s ability to push both his domestic and foreign policy programme.

February 16, 2025 Posted by | Mainstream Media, Warmongering | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Israeli troops used 80-year-old Palestinian as human shield in Gaza before killing him

Press TV – February 16, 2025

Israeli forces have tied explosives around the neck of an elderly Palestinian man in the Gaza Strip and forced him to act as a “human shield” before killing him and his wife, according to an investigation by Israeli media.

The Israeli news website HaMakom revealed that the incident took place last May when Israeli soldiers from several different brigades amassed near the house of a Palestinian couple, both in their 80s, in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood.

“Fighters who were with the force at the time of the incident… said that in one of the houses in the neighborhood that the force cleared, an elderly Palestinian couple in their 80s was present,” the report said.

“They said they had nowhere to run, and that they could not evacuate to Khan Yunis. The man was walking with a walking stick and they said they simply would not be able to walk all the way there.”

The report added that the Nahal Brigade, the Carmeli Brigade and the Multidimensional Unit, decided to use the elderly Palestinian man, who was not named in reports, as a “human shield.”

An Israeli soldier told HaMakom that after explosives were placed around the Palestinian man’s neck, he was told “that if he does something wrong or not the way we want, the person behind him will pull the rope and his head will detach from the body.”

The soldier added, “That’s how he walked around with us for eight hours, even though he’s an 80-year-old man and even though he couldn’t run away from us. And that’s knowing that there’s a soldier behind him who can pull the rope at any second – and he’s done.”

According to the report, after the elderly Palestinian was forced to enter homes and tunnel allegedly used by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, the soldiers ordered him and his wife to leave the area for al-Mawasi, a small area that was just 1km wide and was being used to house hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.

However, it added, no other battalions were informed that the couple would be making their way south and within 100 meters of being allowed to leave they were both shot dead.

“They died like that, in the street,” another soldier was quoted as saying.

The report highlighted that the decision to use the elderly man as a human shield was part of a long-standing tactic called the “mosquito protocol” which involves Israeli soldiers ordering Palestinians to enter potentially booby-trapped locations – houses, tunnels, and other structures – ahead of the regime’s troops.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported in August that the Israeli occupation army had repeatedly used innocent Palestinians to enter homes and tunnels in its war on Gaza.

During the 15 months of the Israeli regime’s genocidal war against the people of Gaza that began in October 2023, over 48,000 Palestinians were killed, most of them children and women.

Amid severe shortages of essential resources such as food, water, and medical supplies due to deliberate restrictions, the Israeli war on Gaza has forcibly displaced almost all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.

On January 15, the Israeli regime, having failed to achieve any of its war objectives including the “elimination” of Hamas or the release of captives, was forced to agree to a ceasefire deal with the Gaza-based resistance movement.

February 16, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, War Crimes | , , , , | 1 Comment

RAF operated surveillance flights over Gaza on captives release days

Al Mayadeen | February 16, 2025

The Royal Air Force (RAF) conducted surveillance flights near Gaza on each of the five days during the ceasefire when Palestinian Resistance released Israeli captives, Declassified UK revealed.

No such planes were observed heading toward the Strip on the remaining days of the truce.

No information is available on whether the sixth exchange saw similar reconnaissance flights.

The latest flight, operated by a Shadow R1 spy plane, took place on February 8, the same day three Israeli captives— Eli Sharabi, Or Levy, and Ohad Ben Ami — were released. Evidence uncovered by Declassified suggests the plane was airborne at the time of the release.

Other captives were freed on February 1 and on January 19, 25, and 30 as part of the ceasefire deal between “Israel” and Hamas. Among them was British-Israeli Emily Damari. RAF aircraft were also active during these releases, according to flight data.

The surveillance planes take off from Britain’s RAF Akrotiri base in Cyprus, heading toward Gaza before switching off their transponders.

Before the ceasefire, these reconnaissance missions occurred almost daily, with the UK government claiming they were assisting “Israel” in locating captives.

‘What intelligence is RAF Akrotiri sharing with Israel?’

Labour MP Brian Leishman said, as quoted by Declassified, “The ongoing use of a British military base in Cyprus with spy planes flying near Gaza is concerning. The purpose of these flights, the activities they undertake, and what happens with any information they gather should be both questioned and explained.”

Campaigners in Cyprus are also skeptical of the UK government’s justification for the continued surveillance.

Melanie Steliou, a Cypriot actress and spokesperson for Social Alliance — a movement affiliated with Cyprus’ main opposition party AKEL — told Declassified, “The explanation that the flights from RAF Akrotiri are only for rescuing captives is not convincing.”

“Why are these flights continuing during a ceasefire? Why are they near Gaza during captive releases? What intelligence is RAF Akrotiri sharing with Israel?”

“Are they only sharing intelligence, or is the involvement of the bases at a greater level, creating even more risks for Cyprus and its people? These are legitimate questions,” Steliou said.

A spokesperson for Britain’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) also said, as quoted by Declassified, “The UK’s operational mandate has been narrowly defined to focus on securing the release of the captives only.”

They claimed that RAF flights in the Eastern Mediterranean during the truce “did not enter Gazan airspace and at all times operated in accordance with the ceasefire and captive release agreement between Israel and Hamas.”

However, the UK military may be violating the spirit, if not the letter, of the ceasefire agreement. The original text of the deal between “Israel” and Hamas stipulated that during the first phase, “all aviation (military and reconnaissance) in the Gaza Strip shall cease for 10 hours a day, and for 12 hours on the days when captives and prisoners are being exchanged.”

This condition was meant to provide Palestinians with respite from Israeli bombardment and assure Hamas that “Israel” would not collect intelligence on captive movements or locations for use if the ceasefire collapsed.

The potential for the UK military to gather intelligence on Hamas during these releases raises concerns that “Israel” could later use such information to resume its offensive against Gaza. The Shadow R1 planes are capable of collecting data for “target acquisition”.

Cypriot concerns grow over British military presence 

The surveillance flights from Cyprus have sparked protests outside Akrotiri air base, where Britain retained 3% of the island following its independence in 1960.

Steliou stated, “What has been going on at the bases for the past 16 months has basically opened a Pandora’s box for the actual existence of the British bases in Cyprus. Cypriot citizens who in the past might have turned a blind eye to the activities on the British bases are now more aware than ever of the implications and the dangers these activities entail for the entire population.”

“We have a right as citizens of this island to know how the British bases are involved in the ongoing genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza. These activities, amongst others, make the bases a target which consequently lead to Cyprus being a target,” Steliou added.

She stressed that Social Alliance, AKEL, and other groups on the island have urged Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides to demand answers from the British government.

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Akrotiri in December and thanked RAF personnel there, saying, “Quite a bit of what goes on here can’t necessarily be talked about all of the time. We can’t necessarily tell the world what you’re doing.”

February 16, 2025 Posted by | Deception, Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, War Crimes | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Israel’ targeting police officers in Rafah violates ceasefire: Hamas

Al Mayadeen | February 16, 2025

Hamas has denounced an Israeli drone strike that targeted police officers in Rafah this Sunday morning, killing three officers. The attack occurred while the officers were securing the entry of humanitarian aid, and Hamas has labeled it a “serious violation” of the ceasefire agreement currently in place.

In an official statement, the movement reiterated its belief that “Israel’s” actions show a deliberate disregard for the terms of the ceasefire. Hamas pointed out that “Israel” had promised to allow the entry of caravans and heavy machinery to Gaza but failed to follow through, as evidenced by their announcement today that these supplies would be denied entry. This breach adds to “Israel’s” ongoing failure to maintain the truce, according to the Palestinian movement.

The statement also criticized “Israel’s” delay in beginning the second phase of negotiations, casting doubt on its commitment to the agreement brokered by international mediators. Hamas further accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of obstructing the peace process, using the time to continue military aggression and pursue policies that could lead to further war crimes.

Hamas condemned the attack and all other violations of the ceasefire and humanitarian protocols, holding “Israel” fully responsible for the repercussions. The movement called on international mediators to step in and pressure “Israel” to fulfill its commitments, including stopping its violations of the ceasefire, implementing the full humanitarian protocol, and immediately starting the second phase of peace talks.

Israeli violations tantamount to agreement failure: Gaza Media Office

In a similar vein, Salama Maarouf, the Director of the Government Media Office in Gaza said earlier today that “Israel’s” refusal to allow the entry of mobile homes and heavy equipment to Gaza constitutes a clear violation of its commitments under the ceasefire agreement and its accompanying humanitarian protocol.

In statements to Al Mayadeen, Maarouf emphasized that “Israel’s” refusal is tantamount to declaring the failure of the ceasefire agreement, despite the Palestinian Resistance’s commitment to its obligations as long as the occupation upholds its own.

He added that the Israeli occupation’s actions are clear proof to the world which party is obstructing the agreement, underscoring the need for mediators to intervene and pressure “Israel” to fulfill its commitments.

Maarouf also highlighted that “the catastrophic living conditions endured by the Palestinian people in Gaza due to the genocide and humanitarian crisis cannot withstand further delays, evasion, or obstruction of the entry of shelter materials and other essential supplies.”

The Palestinian official urged mediators and the international community to assume their responsibilities, respond immediately to Gaza’s urgent needs, and put an end to the ongoing suffering by compelling “Israel” to cease its violations and its exploitation of the plight of 2.4 million people in Gaza.

The Government Media Office in Gaza has repeatedly pointed out that “Israel” continues to stall and delay the implementation of the humanitarian protocol, while the humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorates at an alarming rate.

Despite the entry of 801 aid trucks into the besieged Gaza Strip on Wednesday, humanitarian organizations warn that “Israel” continues to severely limit the flow of essential supplies, in violation of the ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.

According to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the aid deliveries were made “through interactions with the Israeli authorities and the guarantors for the ceasefire deal.” However, the agency cautioned that restrictions remain stringent, particularly on critical supplies like fuel and medical equipment.

It is noteworthy that Hamas intended to postpone the prisoner exchange set for February 15 due to the ongoing Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement before mediators intervened to overcome obstacles hindering the completion of the implementation of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement. The violations include Palestinians being shot at, tanks trespassing the permitted distance, and preventing the entry of heavy equipment, medical supplies, and caravans.

February 16, 2025 Posted by | Deception, Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, War Crimes | , , , , | 1 Comment

Osasuna fans call for expelling ‘Israel’ from FIFA, UEFA

Al Mayadeen | February 16, 2025

Fans of Spain’s La Liga joined the wave of pro-Palestine protests sweeping European football stadiums during Saturday night’s match between Osasuna and Real Madrid.

During the game, Osasuna supporters displayed a banner reading, “Show ‘Israel’ the red card,” mirroring a similar sign waved by Scotland Celtic’s fans during Wednesday’s Champions League match against Bayern Munich. Both messages called for “Israel’s” suspension from FIFA and UEFA over its war on the Gaza Strip.

Attention now turns to the Spanish League and how it will respond to the Osasuna supporters.

The Green Brigade, a prominent Celtic fan organization, urged football supporters worldwide to demand “Israel’s” exclusion from international competitions. In a statement on the X platform, the group announced: “At the start of the second half we will wave the sign calling on UEFA and FIFA to suspend Israel from all activity. We call on you to do the right thing, and join soccer fans around the world who support this message.”

“‘Israel’ is committing genocide, ethnic cleansing and apartheid. In the last 15 months, at least 382 Palestinian footballers and 235 other athletes have been killed, including 96 children and 286 youths. The Israeli occupation has destroyed 147 football facilities and 140 other sports venues across Palestine. These crimes have no place in our beautiful game,” the Celtic fans wrote.

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is expected to launch an investigation and impose sanctions on Celtic over its fans’ actions, likely including a financial penalty, as it has done in similar cases in the past.

February 16, 2025 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Solidarity and Activism, War Crimes | , , , | 1 Comment

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