Israel-Hamas war, Gaza genocide

[SvennoJ]

Hamas ‘more isolated than ever’ after al-Assad’s fall: Netanyahu

Netanyahu tells reporters that Israel is using “all the tools it has” to ensure its security after the change in leadership in Syria and says the fall of al-Assad is the “direct result of the heavy blows [Israel] landed on Hamas, on Hezbollah and on Iran”.

The Israeli prime minister also said Hamas is “more isolated than ever” after the fall of al-Assad.

“It expected help from Hezbollah – we took that away. It expected help from Iran – we took that as well,” Netanyahu said. “It expected help from the Assad regime – OK, that won’t happen anymore.”

Netanyahu added that Hamas’s growing isolation would potentially “open doors” for a captive release deal although he added that it is “too early” to say whether a deal will succeed.

Netanyahu reiterated that he will not stop the war now.

Growing isolation? The Palestinian cause is only getting more support around the world, while Israel is getting more and more isolated on the world stage.

Starving a Nation: The UN Special Rapporteur's Call for Accountability in Gaza, Palestine

In his press statement on 18 October 2024, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Michael Fakhri, discussed the critical issue of starvation and food sovereignty in Palestine. Fakhri highlighted the "systemic issue" behind the ongoing humanitarian crisis, stating that "starvation is the result of choices that are made over decades." He emphasized that Israel's blockade and siege of Gaza, which began in 2000, led to "profound rates of hunger and malnutrition," ultimately enabling the "starvation campaign" of 2023, which caused widespread food insecurity. Fakhri called for accountability beyond just individuals, stressing the need to hold "countries and corporations accountable" for their role in perpetuating this crisis.

Fakhri also addressed the broader context of violence against Palestinians, noting that Israel's "attack against UNRWA which is not just an UN agency," but one that ensures food security for refugees in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and the occupied territories. He warned that the uprooting of olive trees by Israeli forces and settlers is a direct attack "against the Palestinian people as a people," symbolizing the destruction of both their ancestral heritage and future generations. Fakhri concluded with a stark warning: Israel's "attempt to erase the Palestinians from history and from their land" is tied to its ongoing annexation plans, with the ultimate goal of "fully annexing Palestinian territory."

https://www.un.org/unispal/document/right-to-food-report-17jul24/