Middle East Archives

Israel Is Committing Genocide, Scholars Body Declares

1Sep

By No Comments

Human rights, Legal Battles, International Law, Justice, Middle East, 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, Legal Battles, International Law, Justice, 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...

18Jun

By Ali AltawilNo Comments

Middle East, WAR: Dispatches & Dialogue

A Poem from Gaza: “Inside a Hospital”

Al Aqsa Hospital: 'In The Hush Before the Storm, The Fear of Everything' Ali Altawil, M.D. is a general practitioner and writer bearing witness to and shedding light on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, capturing lived realities with a poetic voice. He works at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the heart of Gaza, where he and his family endure the same struggles as the people he serves. Through his profession and his words, he resists oppression and holds on to the hope of a better tomorrow. If you’d like to support his work, visit his GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-me-save-my-life-and-pursue-my-education. Inside a hospital in Gaza,What does the scene look like?Tear-filled eyes.Pale faces.Breaths held…in trembling chests.A silence, thick.But not the peaceful kind,no…...

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

12Jun

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy and International Law, Domestic Politics, Middle East, 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...

Trump Escalates Battle With Universities

23May

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Democracy, Diplomacy and International Law, Middle East, Types of News: Brief, United States

Trump Escalates Battle With Universities

DHS Says Harvard Conducts ‘Pro-Terror’ Activities May 23, 2025—As part of its ongoing battle to control U.S. federally-funded universities, the Trump Administration amplified its criticism of Harvard University on Thursday, accusing the 388-year old U.S. institution of carrying out “pro-terrorist conduct.” Harvard University responded forcefully, saying the government is trying to "control whom we hire and what we teach." The university was quick to file a lawsuit, which a federal judge supported with a restraining order against the government on Friday. But the federal action leaves both the university and students in limbo. Specifically, the Department of Homeland Security decertify the institution’s student and exchange visitors program. “This administration is holding Harvard...

Trump Seeks Payback from U.S. Bombing Campaign, Demanding Free Passage Through Suez Canal

29Apr

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Geopolitics, Global Trade, Middle East, Types of News: Analysis

Trump Seeks Payback from U.S. Bombing Campaign, Demanding Free Passage Through Suez Canal

Trump wants Egypt to give U.S. ships free passage through the Suez Canal April 29, 2025—In just three weeks alone this Spring, the United States spent nearly a billion dollars bombing Yemen. That doesn’t include the cost of the $70 million jet fighter that fell off the USS Harry S. Truman on Monday. Now, President Trump is looking for payback. In the Middle East, he’s demanding free passage for U.S. ships on Egypt’s Suez Canal that connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. He wants the same free ride through the Panama Canal in the Americas. "Those Canals would not exist without the United States of America," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, adding that he asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to make it happen immediately. Typical fees for U.S. ships transporting t...

Trump’s Costly—And Possibly Criminal—Targeting Against Yemen

5Apr

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Geopolitics, Global Trade, Legal Battles, International Law, Justice, Middle East, Types of News: Analysis

Trump’s Costly—And Possibly Criminal—Targeting Against Yemen

Trump May Have Just Committed A War Crime April 5, 2025—Donald Trump, president of the United States, may have just committed a war crime. Late Friday night, he tweeted a video of a drone bomb attack against men gathering in a large circle in a desert. He wrote, “These Houthis gathered for instructions on an attack. Oops, there will be no attack by these Houthis!” It’s not clear from the satellite footage what was happening on the ground, but logic suggests that it was more likely a tribal celebration than a war-planning meeting. The Eid Festival Eid al-Fitr is the first of the two main Muslim festivals that takes place in the Spring at the conclusion of Ramadan. Celebrations differ by country. Eid lasts anywhere from two to five days, commencing with the sighting of the new...

The Geneva Conventions Are Failing All of Us

4Apr

By Patti MohrNo Comments

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

The Geneva Conventions Are Failing All of Us

Israel's Lawless Assaults On Civilians, Health Care Workers Endangers The World April 4, 2025--On March 23, the Israeli military executed 15 paramedics and ambulance workers who were supposed to be protected from warfare under international law. After the Israeli military killed them, it denied access to the site for days. When Red Crescent workers the finally gained access reached the area, they found a mass grave of the 15 bodies along with the mangled remains of their ambulances and fire engine. Some of the bodies were found with their hands and feet tied. Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the vehicles were “uncoordinated vehicles were advancing suspiciously.” A lone survivor said the Israeli military shot directly at the UN Red Crescent vehicles. The ambulances had...