Middle East Eye

Ione Belarra, former Spanish minister and leader of the Podemos party, talks about Israel’s propaganda tactics. “There is a total dehumanisation. Palestinian victims die without names, without families, without a story. Meanwhile, Israeli hostages, the people killed have names, stories, families, and are known.” Belarra points out that Israel systematically dehumanises Palestinians to justify actions against them and swiftly criminalises anyone who speaks up. She also highlights the fact that Israel has managed to impose silence, making any discussion about this conflict nearly impossible.

Unicef spokesperson James Elder appeared on Sky News to discuss the current health conditions and what he calls the “zones of death” in Gaza. He noted that the number of children’s deaths is being matched by those dying from diseases, saying: “That’s what we get when they’re pushed to these zones that they’re anything other than safe.”

“You perform a role that is inestimable in impossible conditions.” French journalist Wilson Fache sent a letter of solidarity to journalists reporting in Gaza. In his video address, Fache says the morality of journalists in Gaza was being “questioned by those who have no morality”.

Former US State Department official Josh Paul on why he resigned over US arms transfers to Israel

Sophie Hamilton, a store manager at the Goldie restaurant in Philadelphia, USA, was terminated from her job for expressing solidarity with Palestine. In an exclusive interview with MEE, Hamilton said that Goldie had fundraised for United Hatzalah, described to her as a “nonpartisan, non-military aligned” group. However, her research showed that the organisation openly provided supplies and aid to the Israeli army. She found it unacceptable and did not wish to support this.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be tried for war crimes as “the Butcher of Gaza”, just like former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic. Milosevic was known by some as “the Butcher of the Balkans” and was tried in The Hague for being connected to war crimes committed in the Yugoslav Wars. Erdogan made the comments while addressing Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul, where he added that “Netanyahu’s expansionism” would not be limited to Gaza and Ramallah and that other Muslim countries would be next. He also said that the path to peace in the Middle East lies through the establishment of a Palestinian state, and expressed Turkey’s will to cooperate with other countries to “undertake responsibilities for establishing and securing peace”.

“What shocked me the most were the children with atrocious injuries and at the same time having lost their parents.” The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spolgjaric, talked about the extent of destruction in Gaza and the devastated state of its healthcare facilities during a visit to the European Gaza hospital on Monday. “We are facing a situation here that will not be healed by sending in more trucks.” She called for providing protection to the civilians in Gaza, and asserted that there must be a political solution, as well as a humanitarian one, to “alleviate and reduce the suffering.”

Former US State Department official, Josh Paul, said Israel declared a charity a terrorist entity after it raised allegations about the rape of a 13-year-old boy in an Israeli prison. Paul made the comments while speaking with Christiane Amanpour on CNN on Monday. According to Paul, the charity’s allegations were believed to be credible by the State Department, who then passed them on to the Israeli government. Israel then responded by raiding the charity’s offices, taking their computers and labelling them a terrorist entity. The former State Department official resigned in October over moral objections to the US deciding to transfer arms to Israel during its assault on Gaza.

“I was woken up by birds bashing into my window… I guess they’re just trying to escape the noise.” Unicef spokesperson James Elder shared an audio recording to X, formerly Twitter, documenting his thoughts and describing the atmosphere as Israel bombed Khan Younis on Sunday overnight.

Michelle Dewberry reacts to the decision by Havering Council to reverse its earlier stance on a Hanukkah installation, following an offer of assistance from the Muslim Association of Britain.

A leading Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, has detailed how unverified and inaccurate accounts of the 7 October Hamas attack and alleged atrocities committed by Palestinian fighters, led to the widespread publication of stories that appear to be false. Haaretz cross-referenced some of these allegations provided by Israeli officials and soldiers as well as search and rescue volunteers, in a report published on Sunday, and found that they did not add up.

“They were blindfolded, their headscarves removed .. [soldiers] jeered and laughed at them.” A former Palestinian prisoner recounts how Israeli soldiers treated women detained as they evacuated from northern Gaza to the south using the so-called safe corridor.

"I want them to destroy every element of Hamas they can get their hands on." US Marco Senator Rubio was confronted in the halls of Congress by Medea Benjamin, an American peace activist who challenged him over his support for Israel's assault on Gaza.

The Jerusalem Post removed an article and posts that wrongly claimed a Palestinian baby killed in Gaza was a doll, without explanation or apology. They only stated on social media that an article not meeting their standards was deleted, without specifying which one. The baby, identified as Muhammad Hani al-Zahar, was killed in an Israeli air strike.

“When a child is killed in Gaza, it’s because somebody made a decision that was worth it.” A new report by journalist Yuval Abraham has revealed that the Israeli army has used artificial intelligence to create civilian destruction as a military tactic to put civilian pressure on Hamas.

“Speaking out is a risk, but it's a risk I'm willing to take for the people of Gaza.” Georgetown Law graduate Jinan Chehade speaks out after her job offer from prominent law firm Foley & Lardner LLP was rescinded over her support for Palestinian rights. In an exclusive interview with MEE, Chehade said that she’s going to pursue legal action against the firm. “Today I'm speaking out and pursuing legal action to set a precedent that we cannot be picked out one by one, that we deserve our rights as well.”

Relatives at al-Ahli hospital in Gaza mourned their loved ones who were killed by Israeli bombardment after the end of the truce. Mahmud Basal, Gaza civil defence spokesman said that the Israeli forces are targeting inhabited houses and people walking on the streets. "Since early this morning and after the end of the truce in Gaza. The Israeli forces started the bombardment operations and continued striking the inhabited houses in the Gaza Strip.”

“Israel operates two systems of law in the occupied territories. Palestinians under the military. Israelis under civil law.” A report by CNN's Nima Elbagir sheds light on the controversial Israeli justice system and how Palestinians in the West Bank are subject to the jurisdiction of Israel's military courts, while Israeli settlers arrested in the West Bank are tried in civilian courts within Israel. CNN broke down the numbers in a list of 300 Palestinian prisoners identified by Israel as eligible for release. 80% are listed as just detained, which means they have not been formally sentenced. The report talks about Fatima Shahin, who spent seven months in an Israeli prison. She was initially accused of attempting to murder an Israeli in the West Bank. However, she was never formally charged with any crime.

How and why did Qatar become the go-to mediator between Hamas and Israel?

Israeli warplanes wiped out 50 buildings in the Shujaiya neighbourhood in Gaza

"Can I just say how deeply offensive this is? Please, my family, have nothing to do with Hamas. A family member of mine who died worked for the UN, his job was an engineer and he taught people how to fish." UK Member of Parliament Layla Moran interrupted Esther McVey on BBC Question Time while McVey was claiming that Hamas uses civilians to protect their fighters and infrastructure. Moran said that her family has nothing to do with Hamas, yet a family member of hers was killed in Gaza. Sharing her views on the war, Moran emphasised the importance of caring for civilians, saying: “You don't have to pick a side. You can stand with Israel and care about innocent civilians in Palestine.”

The conflict in Gaza has resonated deeply in Jordan, from the royal family to the streets, observes David Hearst, Editor-in-chief of Middle East Eye. Queen Rania's candid appearances on CNN and the government's stern warnings to Israel signify the kingdom’s serious stance. Hearst sheds light on the groundswell of public sentiment in Jordan, where tribes and citizens alike are vocalising their solidarity with Palestinians. He underscores the strategic implications of Israel's actions in Gaza, particularly the anxieties over the West Bank and long-held beliefs within Israeli politics about relocating Palestinians to Jordan. Furthermore, Hearst discusses the potential reawakening of Palestinian identity among Jordanians, hinting at a significant shift in regional dynamics. This evolving scenario, he suggests, could open up a new front for Israel on its eastern border, ending decades of relative quiet.

“There are some voices who say that we should not be talking about Palestine. Those are the same voices who said ten years ago we should not be talking about justice.” A group of climate activists, including members of the Climate Justice Coalition, held a press conference and a gathering on the sideline of COP28 in Dubai, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.