Israel has lost support of international public

Arab countries welcome Gaza cease-fire deal

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Arab countries welcomed Wednesday’s announcement of a Gaza cease-fire deal between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, the result of more than a year of intensive negotiations with Egyptian, Qatari, and US mediators. “I welcome the cease-fire agreement in Gaza after over a year of strenuous efforts mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the US,” Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said on Facebook. He emphasized the urgent need to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. “This agreement highlights the importance of quickly providing critical aid to the people of Gaza to address the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe, without any obstacles, until a sustainable peace is achieved through a two-state solution,” he said Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to supporting a just peace, remaining a steadfast partner in achieving it, and defending the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. Jordan’s Foreign Ministry praised the efforts of Egypt, Qatar, and the US to reach the agreement, emphasizing the “need for full adherence to it.” The statement quoted Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi as stressing the “need to launch an immediate international initiative to deliver sufficient and sustainable humanitarian aid to address the humanitarian disaster caused by the Israeli aggression on Gaza.” It highlighted that Jordan, “under the guidance and follow-up of King Abdullah II, will continue providing humanitarian aid to Gaza and supporting the Palestinian people in their pursuit of their full legitimate rights to achieve a just peace.” Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati also welcomed the announcement of a cease-fire deal. “This announcement closes a bloody chapter in the history of the Palestinian people, who have suffered greatly due to Israeli aggression,” said Mikati, saying he hopes the cease-fire “will be sustainable and that Israel will adhere to it, paving the way for a final resolution to the Palestinian issue and granting Palestinians their legitimate rights.” – Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, Yemen, Libya Saudi Arabia also welcomed the news, stressing “the need for adherence to the agreement, the cessation of Israeli aggression on Gaza, the complete withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the (Gaza) Strip and all Palestinian and Arab territories, and the return of displaced people to their areas.” The Saudi Foreign Ministry also stressed “the importance of building on this agreement to address the root cause of the conflict by enabling the Palestinian people to obtain their rights, foremost among them the establishment of their independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.” United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan also welcomed the deal. He commended “the efforts made by Qatar, Egypt and the United States to achieve this agreement,” voicing hope that it “will pave the way to end suffering, prevent further loss of life, and put an end to the crisis and tragic conditions in the Gaza Strip.” The Iraqi Foreign Ministry also said that it “welcomes the agreement, which comes after significant sacrifices and immense suffering by the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.” The ministry called the cease-fire efforts “a reflection of the importance of international cooperation to end civilian suffering and ensure regional stability.” Similarly, Yemen, through a Foreign Ministry statement, praised joint mediation efforts by Qatar, Egypt and the United States that led to the agreement, “which is expected to end the war in Gaza and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.” Mohamed Menfi, the head of Libya’s Presidency Council, welcomed the cease-fire announcement, voicing hope for a smooth implementation of its terms. “The Palestinian cause will remain the central cause to the Libyan people,” Menfi said on X, stressing Libya’s longstanding support for the Palestinian cause on all international platforms. On the organizational front, the International Union of Muslim Scholars welcomed the “cessation of aggression on Gaza and commended the resilience and sacrifices of its people,” calling in a statement for “the reconstruction of Gaza.” Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani confirmed the agreement, which is set to come into effect on Sunday. He outlined the first phase, which will last for 42 days and include the release of 33 Israeli detainees in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners. The announcement comes on day 467 of Israel’s genocide against Gaza, which with US backing has killed and wounded more than 156,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The war 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.

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PLO warns of grave repercussions from Israeli laws targeting UNRWA

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 A senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) warned Thursday of severe consequences from two Israeli laws targeting the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) that are set to take effect soon. The first law, passed in October by Israel’s Knesset, or parliament, bans the UN agency’s operations within Israel. The second revokes a 1967 agreement between Israel and UNRWA. Ahmed Abu Holi, a member of the PLO Executive Committee, said that “implementing these laws could undermine UNRWA’s mandate in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank while eliminating its presence in East Jerusalem.” “This will deprive millions of refugees of vital services, including education, health care and life-saving emergency aid, leading to a humanitarian collapse in Gaza,” he said in a statement on his Facebook page. Abu Holi urged UN General Assembly member states and the UN Security Council to take decisive action to pressure Israel to halt enforcement of the laws and counter efforts to dismantle or undermine UNRWA’s mandate. The refugee agency itself issued a warning last Saturday saying that time was running out before the Israeli ban takes effect at the end of January. This would block the organization from providing services to Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, according to comments by UNRWA’s Director of Communications, Juliette Touma, in an interview with Ireland’s RTE. The laws, finalized by the Knesset on Oct. 28, will force UNRWA to cease operations in areas under Israeli jurisdiction, shut down its offices, and close any associated bank accounts.  Israeli authorities have alleged that some UNRWA staff were involved in the cross-border attacks on Israel by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. UNRWA, established in the aftermath of the 1948 Nakba to assist displaced Palestinian refugees, operates in five regions: Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. The agency currently supports approximately 5.9 million Palestinians, according to its data. The Israeli army has continued a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed over 46,000 people, mostly women and children, since Oct. 7, 2023, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire. In November last year, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense 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.

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Thousands rally in Istanbul on New Year’s Day to support Palestine

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Tens of thousands gathered at Istanbul’s Galata Bridge on New Year’s Day to express solidarity with Palestine. Participants marched from mosques across the historic peninsula and beyond after early morning prayers, carrying Turkish and Palestinian flags. The event was organized by the National Will Platform, a coalition of 308 NGOs. The demonstrators prayed for an end to the Israeli massacre in Palestine before assembling on the bridge, which spans the iconic Golden Horn, to demand international action against the ongoing atrocities. Protesters chanted slogans such as “Murderer Israel will be held accountable” and “Martyrs do not die.” The Israeli army has waged a genocidal war on Gaza, killing over 45,500 people, mostly women and children, since a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire. In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

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UN special rapporteur criticizes proposed Israeli draft bill on prison guards

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UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese strongly criticized an Israeli draft bill aimed at recruiting volunteers as prison guards, warning that it could lead to increased abuses against Palestinian detainees. In a post Sunday on X, Albanese called the proposal “so sickening,” saying “Israel MUST BE STOPPED: starting with its politicians, its soldiers, its settlers, and its ideological fanatics.” “We must save the Palestinians from the depravity of the century,” she emphasized. The draft bill, introduced by Zvika Fogel, a member of parliament with the far-right Jewish Power party, was outlined in a tweet thread by Itay Epshtain, an expert on international humanitarian law. The bill aims to expand Israel’s prison guard force with volunteers holding full authority over detainees, citing a rise in incarcerations due to ongoing conflicts. Epshtain said the political motivation behind the bill is “to bring violent extremists into the Israeli Prison Service, where they can torment Palestinian detainees and prisoners.” He added that an explanatory note accompanying the legislation highlights the need for increased staffing to manage the growing number of incarcerated Palestinians. Albanese’s remarks reflect broader international concerns over the treatment of Palestinian prisoners under Israeli custody. Human rights groups have warned that the inclusion of volunteers in prison services could exacerbate existing abuses and lack of accountability. The bill is expected to be reviewed by Israel’s Ministerial Committee for Legislation. Albanese and other advocates have urged the global community to intervene and address what they view as a dangerous and unjust policy. Israel has killed more than 45,500 people in Gaza since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023 and reduced the enclave to rubble. In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense 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.

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5 journalists killed in Israeli airstrike near Gaza hospital

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Five journalists from the Al-Quds Today channel were killed early Thursday when an Israeli airstrike struck their broadcasting van near al-Awda Hospital in Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp, according to Palestinian officials and media reports. The journalists were covering events at the hospital when the vehicle, marked with the word “PRESS” in large red letters, was hit. The victims have been identified as Fadi Hassouna, Ibrahim al-Sheikh Ali, Mohammed al-Ladah, Faisal Abu al-Qumsan and Ayman al-Jadi. Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif reported that al-Jadi was waiting for his wife, who was in labor with their first child, outside the hospital at the time of the attack. Footage from the scene showed the van engulfed in flames as civil defense teams worked to recover the bodies and extinguish the fire. The Israeli military confirmed the strike, saying it targeted a vehicle carrying members of Islamic Jihad.  “Prior to the attack, many steps were taken to reduce the chance of harming civilians, including the use of precision weapons, aerial observations and additional intelligence information,” the military said in a post on X. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the deaths, calling for accountability. Israel has continued a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed nearly 45,400 people, most of them women and children, since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. Last month, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

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5 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza Strip

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 Five Palestinians were killed and several others wounded on Saturday in Israeli airstrikes targeting civilian gatherings in western Gaza City and eastern Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. “Four Palestinians were killed, and others were injured in an Israeli drone strike on a group of civilians in Al-Shati Camp west of Gaza City,” a medical source told Anadolu. In a separate incident, Gaza’s Civil Defense said their teams recovered “the body of a Palestinian targeted by an Israeli drone in the Khirbat al-Adas area, northeastern Rafah.” Israel launched a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed more than 45,200 people, mostly women and children, since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last month for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense 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 Gaza.

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Israel, Hamas close to reaching ‘small’ cease-fire deal

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Israel and Hamas are close to reaching a “small” cease-fire deal, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported Sunday, citing political sources. The broadcasting authority quoted the unnamed Israeli sources as saying that the two sides are close to finalizing a deal that would include a two-month cease-fire. The deal would also involve the release of prisoners under “humanitarian cases,” including the elderly, women, the wounded and the sick, and the withdrawal of the Israeli army from parts of the Gaza Strip, the sources said, without providing further details. Hamas and mediating countries Egypt and Qatar have not commented on the report. A Hamas delegation led by deputy leader Khalil al-Hayya left Cairo late Sunday after a meeting with the head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service, Maj. Gen. Hassan Rashad, during which they discussed efforts to implement a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. The delegation emphasized its commitment to ensuring the success of these efforts and ending the aggression against the Palestinian people. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed earlier in a conversation with families of Israeli hostages in Gaza that the fall of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad regime on Sunday might contribute to an agreement on a hostage swap in Gaza. Israel estimates that there are currently 101 Israeli prisoners held in Gaza. Mediation efforts led by the US, Egypt and Qatar to reach a cease-fire and prisoner swap agreement between Israel and Hamas have failed due to Netanyahu’s refusal to halt the ongoing conflict. Israel has been conducting a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of more than 44,600 people, the majority of whom are women and children, since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7 last year. Last month, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

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Turkish president urges Muslim unity to stop Israeli attacks on Palestine

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 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday emphasized the importance of unity and joint action for Islamic countries in response to Israel’s ongoing onslaught in Gaza. President Erdogan said the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and occupied Palestinian territories since Oct. 7, 2023, have once again demonstrated the critical importance of Islamic nations’ unity and solidarity. He made these remarks in a video message to the International Humanitarian Summit on “The Future of Gaza,” which was organized in Istanbul by Türkiye’s Diyanet Foundation and Al Khair Foundation. “In full view of the world, nearly 50,000 of our Palestinian sisters and brothers, most of them children and women, have been martyred,” he said, adding: “As a result of Israel’s bombardments directly targeting civilians, over 100,000 innocent Palestinians have been injured.” He lamented that Israel’s attacks on Lebanon have resulted in over 3,500 deaths and that “places of worship, schools, hospitals, and all aspects of civilian infrastructure have been targets of Israel’s assaults.” “In the face of these attacks, Türkiye stands in full solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters,” he vowed. “Over the past year, we have especially sought to extend a helping hand to our sisters and brothers in Gaza and Lebanon,” Erdogan stressed, recalling: “With over 86,000 tons of aid delivered, we are among the countries providing the most support to Palestine.” He pointed out that the amount of aid delivered to Lebanon has exceeded 1,300 tons, adding: “We are continuing our diplomatic efforts to ensure that Islamic countries respond collectively to the oppression in Gaza and act together.” “Our struggle will continue until the occupation and massacres in Palestine come to an end and an independent, sovereign, and territorially unified Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, is established based on the 1967 borders,” he underlined, expressing his belief that “the international humanitarian aid summit will support us in this struggle.” Israel has launched a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas in October last year, killing over 44,300 people, most of them women and children, and injuring over 104,900. The second year of genocide in Gaza has drawn growing international condemnation, with officials and institutions labeling the attacks and blocking of aid deliveries as a deliberate attempt to destroy a population. Last week, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense 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 deadly war on Gaza.

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2024 deadliest year for humanitarian workers, 281 Killed

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The United Nations reported Friday that 2024 has become the deadliest year on record for humanitarian workers, with 281 deaths so far—surpassing the previous high of 280 in 2023. This tragic milestone is primarily driven by violence in the Middle East, with the highest number of fatalities occurring in Gaza. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlighted the exceptional risks faced by aid workers, healthcare staff, delivery personnel, and other humanitarians operating in conflict zones. “Humanitarians are working courageously and selflessly in places like Gaza, Sudan, Lebanon, Ukraine, and beyond. They show the best humanity has to offer, and they are getting killed in return,” said OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke. He stressed that these deaths would send shockwaves through the humanitarian community, particularly those working on the front lines of conflict. According to the U.N., most of the victims were national staff (268 people), while 13 were international personnel. The majority of these deaths occurred in Gaza, where 230 aid workers have been killed. The figures come from the Aid Worker Security Database, a project funded by the U.S. and managed by the U.K.-based group Humanitarian Outcomes. While Gaza is the epicenter of this violence, the U.N. noted that threats to humanitarians extend to other conflict zones, including Afghanistan, Congo, South Sudan, Sudan, Ukraine, and Yemen, where incidents of violence, kidnapping, harassment, and arbitrary detention have been reported. Since the conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted on October 7, 2023, a total of 333 humanitarians have lost their lives, with the war itself causing more than 44,000 deaths in Gaza, according to local health officials.

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Netanyahu: ICC arrest warrant against me “black day in history”

Africa /

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision on Thursday, November 21, to issue arrest warrants against him and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of committing war crimes during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. In a defiant statement, Netanyahu called the ruling a “black day in the history of nations,” and criticized the ICC, which he said had become “the enemy of humanity.” He rejected the charges, which include accusations of starvation, murder, and persecution, arguing that Israel had provided “hundreds of thousands of tons of food” to Gaza, and blamed Hamas for the humanitarian crisis. The ICC panel, however, found that there were reasonable grounds to believe both men were responsible for crimes against humanity, particularly related to the ongoing starvation in Gaza. Despite this, Netanyahu stated that the arrest warrants would not deter him from continuing Israel’s military campaign. The ICC’s move marks a significant moment, as it is the first time that a sitting leader from a major Western ally has been accused of war crimes by the global court. However, since Israel is not a state party to the ICC, the practical implications of the warrants remain uncertain, especially given the strong support Netanyahu has from the United States and other allies. The decision has already raised tensions with Israel’s European partners, some of whom signaled they may act on the warrants should Netanyahu travel abroad. However, Netanyahu’s government has dismissed the ICC’s jurisdiction, with the United States and Israel both rejecting the court’s authority on the matter. The ICC’s chief prosecutor had requested the warrants six months prior, and the decision further isolates Netanyahu and Gallant on the international stage, increasing the diplomatic pressure on Israel.

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