Tag: #palestine

  • One month of Israeli attacks, death toll crosses 10,000 in Gaza: What we know about day 32

    A month has passed since the declaration of war by Israel on Palestine. More than 10,000 people in Gaza have been killed including 4,104 children, while many are still trapped under the debris of destroyed infrastructure. Israeli blockades have led to scarcity of fuel, food and electricity.

    ‘Little pauses’, no ceasefire: Netanyahu

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that there will be no ceasefire until the hostages being held in Gaza are released, adding that only “tactical little pauses” will be accepted.

    “An hour here, an hour there – we’ve had them before,” Netanyahu said in an interview with ABC News. “I suppose we’ll check the circumstances, in order to enable goods, humanitarian goods, to come in, or our hostages, individual hostages, to leave.”

    While many around the world are calling for a ceasefire, the US has urged for a “humanitarian pause” without specifying the duration of the pauses.

    Considering the casualties and destruction of Gaza, human rights groups and organisations are calling for an immediate ceasefire.

    On the contrary, Hamas has reportedly offered to set hostages free if Palestinian captives are released from Israeli jails.

    Netanyahu also told ABC News that Israel would have “overall security responsibility” after the fighting with Hamas is over “for an indefinite period”, implying a continued occupation of the territory.

    Job losses costing Palestinians $16m a day

    The UN’s labour agency has revealed that job losses in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank are costing Palestinians $16m a day.

    The International Labour Organization (ILO) reported on Monday that 182,000 jobs have been lost in Gaza (61 percent of total employment).

    An additional 208,000 jobs losses have been recorded in the occupied West Bank, (24 percent of total employment).

    Aid into Gaza

    The Palestinian Red Crescent teams received 93 trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent through the Rafah crossing on Monday.

    The supplies consisted of food, water, relief items, medical equipment and medications.

    Since October 21, a total of 569 trucks have been sent whereas before October 7, 750 to 850 trucks used to enter Gaza daily.

    Israel, however, has still not allowed fuel into Gaza.

  • Despite calls for her removal from Sephora, Huda Beauty donates one million dollars to Gaza

    Despite calls for her removal from Sephora, Huda Beauty donates one million dollars to Gaza

    Huda Kattan, the brains behind the successful beauty brand ‘Huda Beauty’, has consistently raised her voice to end the ongoing genocide in Gaza. The beauty mogul went viral a few weeks ago when she shut down an Israeli supporter who threatened to boycott her products.

    “I don’t want blood money,” Huda fired back.

    Since then, Israeli supporters are circulating a petition to attempt to remove Huda Kattan’s products from beauty giant retailer Sephora. But despite the backlash, Huda Beauty announced on its Instagram account that the brand was donating one million dollars to humantarian organisations in Gaza.

    “it’s been A MONTH of immense suffering in Gaza, and unfortunately things are getting worse.

    It’s important that we always stand on the side of the oppressed & use our platforms to shed light on any injustice. We cannot stand by and pretend like this is not happening.

    Our Huda Beauty brands, including Huda Beauty, Kayali and WISHFUL will be donating $1 million to humanitarian organisations in Gaza.

    This is only because of you that we are able to make this donation, so thank you for your support. Together we can bring change.”

    Social media users applauded Huda’s heroic stance.

  • After Selena Gomez faces backlash on Palestine, her beauty brand donates to Gaza

    After Selena Gomez faces backlash on Palestine, her beauty brand donates to Gaza

    Selena Gomez landed in controversy after she released a tone-deaf statement about the Israeli onslaught on Gaza where more than 10,000 civilians have been killed in airstrikes. Selena joined more than 400 celebrities who signed a petition calling for US President Joe Biden to ensure a ceasefire in Gaza.

    The singer’s bestselling beauty brand ‘Rare Beauty’ has announced it will be making donations to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and International Red Cross/ Red Crescent Society, as well as to UNICEF to provide urgent medical and humanitarian relief to the civilians of Gaza.

    “Rare Beauty will be making donations to the International Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies – Magen David Adom, & Palestinian Red Crescent Society – who are providing urgent care on the ground. We will also be donating to UNICEF to help get urgent medical relief & resources to the children of Gaza.”

    Magen David Adom is an Israeli national medical service who are not based in Gaza.

    Palestinian civilians have stressed time and time again they are no longer receiving donations as the Rafah border crossing in the South of Gaza remains closed. Civilians in Northern Gaza report they have not received any water or fuel.

    Social media users shut down Rare Beauty’s ‘damage-control’ statement.

    Selena Gomez caused outrage on social media when she released a statement on her Instagram stories, writing that she had been on a social media break because of the violence in the Middle East. After the statement was criticised for being insensitive, the ‘Only Murders In The Building’ actress threatened to shut down her Instagram account, leading to users slamming her for having a “victim complex”.

  • Poet Rupi Kaur rejects White House invitation for Diwali citing ‘genocide’ of Palestinians

    Canadian poet and illustrator Rupi Kaur has released a statement on her X account, announcing that she rejected an invitation from the White House for Diwali. In her statement, the ‘Milk And Honey’ writer said she rejected the invite because of USA’s active participation in the genocide of Gaza.

    The Palestinian death toll has risen to 10,000 since Israel begun it’s bombardment of the Gaza strip.

    “Today, the American government is not only funding the bombardment of Gaza, they continue to justify this genocide against Palestinians- regardless of how many refugee camps, health facilities, and places of worship are blown to bits. They reject the call for a humanitarian ceasefire- a baseline action being demanded by the United Nations, organisations like Doctors Without Borders, Red Cross and a majority of countries. The UN says 70% of the dead are women and children. We have seen Israel use phosphorus bombs, which Amnesty International says must be investigated as a war crime. We’ve seen footage on CNN of Israeli settlers kicking out and occupying the homes of Palestinians in the West Bank.”

    “As a community,” Rupi further urges. “We cannot remain silent or agreeable just to get a seat at the table. It comes at too high a cost to human life. Many of my contemporaries have told me in private that what’s happening in Gaza is awful, but they aren’t going to risk their livelihood or “a chance at creating change from the inside”. There is no magical change that will happen from being on the inside. We must be brave. We must not be tokenized by their photo-ops. The privilege we lose from speaking up is nothing compared to what Palestinians lose each day because this administration rejects a ceasefire.”

    Social media users applauded Rupi’s heroic stance against the White House. With many Gazan’s like Palestinian academic Refaat writing:

    “Thank you from Gaza.”

    “This is principle, solidarity, and love in action. If only other writers, actors, “activists” and public figures from South Asia and the Middle East had Rupi’s courage and heart,” Fatima Bhutto wrote.

  • What is olive harvesting season in Palestine?

    You have probably come across posts about the olive harvest season in Palestine. But do you know what it is?

    A festive season in Palestine, olive harvest falls every year in the months of October and November.

    In 2021, Al Jazeera reported that about 80,000 to 100,000 Palestinian families financially depend upon the olive harvest which includes more than 15 percent women.

    Palestine Trade Center (PalTrade) reported that the olive sector was worth $160m and $191m.

    But over the years, strict Israeli control, settler attacks and a poor capitulation due to harsh climate has affected the festivity.

    ‘The olive season in Palestine is much more than an economic practice, it’s a palpable example of one of Palestine’s many “cultural ecosystem services.”’, writes Dr. Yara Dahdal, projects manager at Nature Palestine Society in a blog post.

    Cultural ecosystem services, as Dr. Dahdal explains, are the “intangible benefits that people gain from ecosystems through recreation, tourism, intellectual development, spiritual enrichment, reflection, and creative and aesthetic experiences”.

    These have “positive impacts on human health and social ties, and solid cultural connections to identity. In this sense, the olive harvesting season in Palestine is an integrated socio-ecological system, extending its benefits beyond the total number of tons of harvested olives each year”, she adds.

    History

    As Palestine has been harvesting olives for thousands of years, olives became a symbol of their resilience against Israeli occupation.

    In 2008, the United Nations revealed that almost half of all cultivated land in the occupied West Bank and Gaza is planted with approximately 10 million olive trees.

    Whereas in 2019, Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics reported that about 177,000 tonnes of olives were pressed, producing 39,600 tonnes of olive oil – roughly 30,000 litres (7,925 gallons).

    Jenin, Tubas and Northern Valleys produced the highest quantity of olive oil, followed by Tulkarm and Gaza.

    Israeli attacks

    A 2012 study published by The Applied Research Institute Jerusalem (ARIJ) revealed that Israeli authorities have uprooted 800,000 Palestinian olive trees in the West Bank since 1967.

    Data by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) revealed that in a single year alone (August 2020 – August 2021), more than 9,300 trees were wrecked in the West Bank.

    In addition to the destruction, Palestinian farmers in the West Bank need Israeli permits to access their land in restricted areas near illegal Israeli settlements.

    Israeli settlements are Jewish communities built illegally on Palestinian land. Today, between 600,000 and 750,000 Israeli settlers live in at least 250 illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

    In most cases, Palestinian farmers are, in fact, prohibited to access most of their land close to settlements.

  • Seven water facilities ‘directly hit’ in Gaza: What we know about day 31

    In the month that has passed since Israel declared war on Gaza following the Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7, almost 9,800 Palestinians have been killed.

    200 people in Gaza killed in a night

    Palestinian Health Ministry revealed that last night’s Israeli air raids killed more than 200 people.

    Palestinian activist Saleh al-Jafarawi shared a video from one of the areas attacked by Israel.

    450 Hamas positions targeted, Israel claims

    Since October 7, Israel has claimed to have hit about 450 Hamas targets which include fighters, military compounds, observation posts, antitank missile launch posts and tunnels.

    According to Al Jazeera, the army has also claimed to have tracked down an opening to Hamas’s tunnels close to the Sheikh Hamad Hospital in Gaza.

    And while schools and hospitals have been targeted by Israel on assertion that Hamas is using these facilities and civilian infrastructure as a means to defend its underground operations, Hamas has, time and again, denied the claims.

    Thousands of civilian casualties have resulted in the attacks on UN-run facilities, refugee camps, schools, mosques and churches, resulting in the killing of civilians.

    Joint statement by humanitarian organisations

    The heads of 18 humanitarian organisations, including the UN, have issued a rare joint statement calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Israel and Palestine.

    “Enough is enough,” the statement said. “This must stop now.”

    The letter signed by the heads of the 18 organisations is known by Inter-Agency Standing Committee.

    175 medical staff killed since October 7

    Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila has reported that since October 7, 175 medical personnel and 34 civil defence workers have been killed in the Gaza Strip.

    Additionally, 16 out of 36 hospitals and 51 out of 72 clinics are no longer in service after they have either been attacked by Israel or they are out of fuel and medicine to keep the centres running.

    70 Palestinians arrested in occupied West Bank

    At least 70 Palestinians have reportedly been arrested during raids in the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Commission and the Prisoner’s Society.

    Since October 7, more than 2,000 people have been arrested including 49 women and 17 journalists.

    Water facilities destroyed

    The UN relief agency has revealed that seven water facilities in the Gaza Strip were “directly hit and sustained major damage” on Saturday and Sunday.

    Credits: Al Jazeera

  • Remember the Palestinian girl who stood up to Israeli soldiers? She just got arrested

    Remember the Palestinian girl who stood up to Israeli soldiers? She just got arrested

    Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi was arrested on Sunday night by Israeli forces in the West Bank, AJ Plus has reported. Tamimi’s house was raided at night while also arresting her mom. She was arrested under claims she was ‘inciting terrorism’.

    The arrest happens at a time Gaza suffers under severe Israeli bombardment, with 9,500 civilians killed, 4000 among them children.

    In the West Bank, where the Hamas has no authority, violence has soared after Gaza was attacked. On November 2, 3 Palestinians were killed during an Israeli raid.

    “Israeli soldiers raided Ahed Tamimi’s home, turned everything upside down and held her mother in another room, preventing her from being with her daughter,” Dena reported.

    The Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gabir posted a picture of Ahed caught by soldiers in her room where he was seen congratulating the IDF for capturing the ‘terrorist’. The post recieved extensive backlash for intentionally targeting innocent civilians over baseless charges..

    “ahed represents the spirit of resistance. she’s literally the definition of standing up against the oppressor……years after this photo these cowards STILL continue to arrest her time and time again not knowing there’s millions just like her,” a user wrote.

    Ahed made international headlines as the face of the Palestinian resistance when viral videos showed her confronting Israeli soldiers even slapped a soldier in December 2017.

  • Journalists embedded with IDF slammed

    CNN’s Fareed Zakaria has revealed the process journalists have to comply with for coverage while being embedded with the Israeli military in its ground fight with Hamas in Gaza.

    A CNN journalist went into Gaza on an IDF embed. The journalists embedded with the IDF Gaza operate under the observation of Israeli commanders in the field and are not permitted to move unaccompanied within the Gaza Strip.

    “As a condition to enter Gaza under IDF air support, outlets have to submit all materials and footage to the Israeli military for review prior to publication. CNN has agreed to these terms….”

    People slammed the revelation on X (formerly Twitter).

    Some considered it to be the norm in war journalism due to security concerns of the army.

    However, many journalists stated that complete control is avoidable inspite the element of security.

  • Israel attacked 2,500 targets in Gaza since Oct 7: What we know about day 30

    Israel attacked 2,500 targets in Gaza since Oct 7: What we know about day 30

    Blinken meets Abbas

    US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

    Abbas called for an “immediate ceasefire” and allowing humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

    While Blinken reassured America’s commitment to ensure humanitarian assistance and resuming essential services in the besieged Gaza, he did not call for a ceasefire.

    Arab world versus the US on ceasefireA press conference was held in Amman on Saturday where US Secretary of State Blinken dismissed his Jordanian and Egyptian counterparts, Ayman Safadi and Sameh Shoukry, calling to urge Israel for an immediate ceasefire.

    “We don’t accept that this is self-defence,” Safadi said. “It cannot be justified under any pretext and it will not bring Israel security, it will not bring the region peace.”

    But Blinken believes that a ceasefire would “leave Hamas in place to regroup and repeat attacks”.

    Attack on Maghazi refugee camp

    According to Wafa news, 51 Palestinians have been killed as Israel bombed Gaza’s Maghazi refugee camp.

    Infectious diseases reported in UNRWA shelter

    The UN’ has revealed that overcrowding in UNRWA shelters is leading to diseases.

    “Overcrowding conditions continue to create severe health and protection risks,” the UN stated.

    More than 530,000 Palestinians are said to be seeking refuge.

    A number of cases of acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea and chicken pox have been reported in UNRWA shelters.

    Additionally, due to overcrowdedness in the shelters, people are sleeping in the streets around UNRWA shelters.

    Israel bombs Azhar University in Gaza

    Israel has bombed Al-Azhar University in Gaza.

    A video was posted by Palestine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Amal Jadou on X (formerly Twitter).

    Israeli army attacked 2,500 targets in GazaThe Israeli army has claimed to have attacked more than 2,500 targets inside the Gaza Strip since October 7.

    Chad cuts ties with Israel

    Chad is the latest country to recall its ambassador from Israel in the light of “the unprecedented tide of deadly violence” inside Gaza.

    “In front of such tragedy, Chad condemns the loss of numerous innocent civilians and calls for a ceasefire for a durable solution to the Palestinian issue,” the statement read.

    Thousands take to streets in Washington DC

    On Saturday, tens of thousands of people gathered in Washington DC to protest against US President Joe Biden’s support for Israel’s attacks on Gaza.

    “Biden, Biden, you can’t hide; we charge you with genocide,” the protesters chanted on Saturday.

  • Saudi opens ‘Riyadh Season’ with Shakira performance amidst harsh criticism for concerts during Palestinian genocide

    Saudi Arabia opened its exclusive entertainment event ‘Riyadh Season’ with a performance by Colombian-Lebanese artist Shakira. This was the fourth edition of the festival, with many celebrities including Portuguese football player Christiano Ronaldo, rappers Eminem and Kanye West.

    Pictures and videos of the event circulated on social media, causing an uproar. Questions were raised as to Saudia’s celebration of a festival when the Palestinians are being bombed in Gaza with more than 9000 killed in Israeli airstrikes.

    Many also expressed outrage after a man named Farkhan was removed from Tyson Fury vs Francis Ngannou event for waving the Palestinian flag.