International

Middle East

Why Israel wants to erase the context in the war on Gaza

The dehistoricisation of what is happening helps Israel pursue genocidal policies in Gaza

by Ilan Pappe,* Israel/England

(23 November 2023) On October 24, a statement by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres caused a sharp reaction by Israel. While addressing the UN Security Council, the UN chief said1 that while he condemned in the strongest terms the massacre committed by Hamas on October 7, he wished to remind the world that it did not take place in a vacuum. He explained that one cannot dissociate 56 years of occupation from our engagement with the tragedy that unfolded on that day.

US, Israel to open second front in Lebanon

by M. K. Bhadrakumar,* India

(16 November 2023) The announcement late Sunday night by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) headquartered in Doha about the arrival of a Ohio-class American nuclear submarine in its “area of responsibility” presages a significant escalation of the situation around the Palestine-Israel conflict.
Middle East

Israel and the United Nations

by Karin Leukefeld,* Germany/Syria

(16 November 2023) Israel has problems with the United Nations. When it comes to the country’s conflict with Palestine, Israeli diplomats quickly are out of control and challenge the world organisation and its member states. The ongoing bombardment of the population in Gaza, of densely populated neighbourhoods, refugee camps, schools, hospitals, civilian infrastructure, journalists and their families show that Israel is ignoring central agreements of international law.

The great Chinese realignment

by Guy Mettan,* Geneva

(16 November 2023) Responding to a Chinese invitation, I participated for around eight days in various meetings organised on the “Third New Silk Roads Summit” which was held in Beijing on October 17 and 18. By its scale, this forum was the largest international event since the Winter Olympic Games were held in February 2022. More than 130 countries, dozens of heads of state, prime ministers, and ministers from all backgrounds and all obediences were to be seen there, with the notable exclusion of Westerners and the G7, only represented by neighbouring Japan and a few leaders from the Balkans.
Middle East

ICRC: “We are on the brink of collapse”

Further escalation in Gaza will claim incredible human toll

Interview with ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger conducted by Gordana Mijuk (NZZ am Sonntag)

(9 November 2023) Interview with ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger conducted by Gordana Mijuk (NZZ am Sonntag)
Middle East

October 2023 – News from the war

by Karin Leukefeld,* Syria/Germany

(1 November 2023) Little is known these days about what is happening to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories in the West Bank. The news is dominated by Israeli or US sources; voices from Gaza or the West Bank hardly appear.