middle east Archives

Arab Group Condemns Israel’s Illegal Annexation Plans

10Feb

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy, International Law, Legal Battles, Middle East, Types of News: Brief, Types of News: Videos

Arab Group Condemns Israel’s Illegal Annexation Plans

Israeli Settlers and Military Committed a Thousand Crimes in a Week, Report Finds February 10, 2026—The Arab Group, a regional coalition of 22 member states, called on the international community to condemn the Israeli government’s plans to annex the occupied West Bank—a key part of the territory meant for a Palestinian state. Led by Riyad Mansour, Palestine’s representative to the United Nations, the group of ambassadors from Arabs states said it is building diplomatic support to prompt the UN Security Council—the principal body for resolving international disputes—to act. “We want the Security Council to shoulder its responsibility and show resolve and determination,” Mansour said. “We stand for defending international law. We stand for justice. We stand for the rights of the P...

Hopes, Fears As Rafah Border Reopens After Long Delay

2Feb

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Foreign Aid, International Development, Middle East, Types of News: Brief

Hopes, Fears As Rafah Border Reopens After Long Delay

Israel's Ban on 37 Humanitarian Aid Group Goes Into Effect March 1 Rafah border crossing reopens under heavy restrictions. February 2, 2026—The Gaza-Egypt border reopened today after a year of being closed by the Israeli government. Although strict controls remain in place, the Rafah border crossing is open to foot traffic. The United Nations reported that Israel will allow 50 Palestinians to enter and exit Gaza each day, but only on foot. Furthermore, Egypt and the European Union will be involved in supervising the crossing. Observers have mixed reactions about what it means. Ali Shaath, a technocrat appointed as chair of the Palestinian National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, called it a “window of hope.” However, Israeli airstrikes that killed 30 people in a displac...

ICJ: Israel Must Allow Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Through UN Agencies

22Oct

By Patti MohrNo Comments

International Law, Legal Battles, Middle East, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, UN Security Council, Types of News: Brief

ICJ: Israel Must Allow Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Through UN Agencies

Judgment Strikes Blow to Israeli Laws Against UNRWA October 22, 2025—The International Court of Justice, the highest judicial body of the United Nations, ruled today that Israel is obligated as the occupying power to allow humanitarian aid to the people in the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, the court ordered Israel 1.) to respect the prohibition on the forcible transfer of a population and 2.) allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit detainees. Today’s decision comes at the request of the UN General Assembly, specifically after Israel’s legislature voted to block UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, from work. The ICJ is considering three separate cases relating to Israel-Palestine. Today’s 71-page Advisory Opinio...

Israel Spending Millions on U.S. Influence Campaign Targeting Christians

15Oct

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Corruption, Bribes, Illicit Finance & Money Laundering, Domestic Politics: United States, Middle East, Types of News: Analysis

Israel Spending Millions on U.S. Influence Campaign Targeting Christians

PR Campaign Plans to Bring the 10/7 Experience to Mega Churches and College Campuses October 15, 2025—The Israeli government is investing millions of dollars in an influence campaign targeting American Christians. The purpose, according to new filing reports in the Justice Department’s FARA system, is to encourage Christians in the United States to have a favorable view of the Israeli nation-state, question the longstanding U.S. policy of a two-state solution, and associate Palestinians with Hamas and extremism. The story is part of a larger PR blitz by the Israeli Foreign Ministry with an annual budget of $150 million, the Times of Israel reported. It is separate than a $1.5 million a month campaign called the Esther Project run by former Trump campaign strategist Brad Parscale thro...

4Sep

By Ali AltawilNo Comments

Middle East, Type of Post: Essays & Travel Writing, WAR: Dispatches & Dialogue

Poem: Gaza, Once a City

Gaza city, like a flower born of ashes that taught us how to love life. By Ali Altawil, M.D. There was a small homeland,gazing out over the seaas if guarding a dream,Its name was Gaza…Not just a city,but the heartbeat of a soulthat never knew surrender,A flower born of ashes,That taught us how to love life,Even as the shadow of deathhovered in its sky each evening.Gaza…Her simplicity shone brighter than any grandeur,And her people wove love from pain,They smiled through wounds,And dreamed,for dreaming ran in their veins like faith and blood.Gaza…She loved life…If not for herself,Then for her children,Those who knew nothing but how to adore her,For she was their mother, their child, their friend,The story we tell when time grows heavy,And we need a lesson in resilience. Gaza…The me...

Israel Is Committing Genocide, Scholars Body Declares

1Sep

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Human rights, International Law, Legal Battles, Types of News: Brief

Israel Is Committing Genocide, Scholars Body Declares

Association Calls on States to Prevent and Punish Israel for Its Genocide September 1, 2025—A leading international organization studying genocide declared that the Israeli government has “engaged in systematic and widespread crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide” in Gaza. The resolution by the International Association of Genocide Scholars adds to a growing collection of declarations and reports by international bodies, human rights organizations, scholars of holocaust studies, and investigative bodies that have concluded Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide. The IAGS approved its resolution on August 31, 2025. It is a strong indictment of Israel’s attacks against civilians in Gaza. It cites not only military actions, which have killed over 59,000 people—the actua...

Nonprofits File ICC Complaint Against Israeli Officers for Killing Journalists

14Aug

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Human rights, International Law, Legal Battles, Middle East, Types of News: Analysis

Nonprofits File ICC Complaint Against Israeli Officers for Killing Journalists

Israeli Precision-Drone Strike Assassinated 7, Including 6 Journalists August 14, 2024—Following the weekend precision-targeted strike on a tent housing an Al Jazeera crew, the Israeli military came under condemnation and scrutiny by multiple nonprofits, lawmakers, UN officials, and news organizations. Two organizations went further. They assigned criminal culpability to the Israeli officers who reportedly ordered the attack. The Hind Rajab Foundation and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court against seven Israeli Defense Force officers, including Major Gen. Tomer Bar. Lieutenant Gen. Eyal Zamir, Major Gen. Yaniv Asor, Gen. “A” (Unit 8200), Palmachim Airbase Commander, “Black Snake” Sq Commander, and Colonel Avichay Adraee, ac...

Extreme Famine Reaches Gaza Due to Israel’s Draconian Aid Restrictions

30Jul

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Foreign Aid, International Development, Human rights, Middle East, Types of News: Brief

Extreme Famine Reaches Gaza Due to Israel’s Draconian Aid Restrictions

Gaza Population Tips From Mass Starvation to Mass Death, Crisis Group Reports July 30, 2025--Stage 4 and 5 famine has reached the Gaza Strip, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) platform, the world's monitor on famine. The entire population faces acute food insecurity while a half a million people face starvation. "Nineteen months into the conflict, the Gaza Strip is still confronted with a critical risk of Famine. Over 60 days have passed since all humanitarian aid and commercial supplies were blocked from entering the territory. Goods indispensable for people’s survival are either depleted or expected to run out in the coming weeks," the IPC warning said. Defying international law against using starvation as a weapon of war, Israeli has repeate...

Israel Bombs Syrian Capital of Damascus, Amid Sectarian Conflict

16Jul

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Geopolitics, Middle East, Types of News: Brief

Israel Bombs Syrian Capital of Damascus, Amid Sectarian Conflict

Military Strikes Weaken Israel-Syrian Rapprochement Since Fall of Assad Image pulled from social media on X July 16, 2025—The Israeli government conducted military strikes against Syria today, hitting sites in the capital of Damascus and in the southern part of the country where sectarian clashes continue. The military strikes killed three people and injured 34 others, according to the Syrian government. The conflict weakens warming relations between Western countries, including the U.S. and European governments, with the new Syrian regime. They also suggest the rapprochement between Israel and Syria in the wake of the fall of the 24-year reign of the Bashar al-Assad regime may only be an illusion. The Assad regime fell to Israel and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebels led...

Less Than 4 Percent of People in Gaza Want Hamas to Lead, Poll Shows

12Jun

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy, Middle East, Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Brief

Less Than 4 Percent of People in Gaza Want Hamas to Lead, Poll Shows

June 12, 2025—Only 4 percent of the population in Gaza wants Hamas to remain in control, according to a recent poll commissioned by Zogby Reseach Services. In a poll conducted by Zogby for the Tony Blair Institute from April 9 to May 12, 2025, the majority of people in Gaza stated that they would prefer government by the Palestinian Authority (35 percent) or a transitional international coalition that works with local administrators (27 percent). Palestinian Authority Commits to Major Reforms & Elections It comes at a time when the PA outlined plans for reforms and governance. It also comes ahead of a major international conference for a two-state solution cosponsored by France and Saudi Arabia. Today, French President Emmanuel Macron released a letter from PA President Mah...