From the news on: the war in West Asia [Content Warning - links to reports on bigotry/hate, violence including SA & CSA/abuse/war, genocide, language. Reader discretion is advised]

Note: CONTENT WARNING - some of this content is about upsetting, disturbing or triggering events & attitudes. Seek competent help - including professional - if you need it. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that linked articles may contains names and/or images of deceased people. READER CAUTION IS RECOMMENDED! For anyone distressed by anything in this post, or for any other reason considering seeking support, resources are available in Australia here, here, and here. In other nations, you will have to do an Internet search using terms such as “mental health support - <your nation>” (which, for instance, may lead to this, this, and this, in the USA, or this, this, and this, in France [biased towards English-language - my apologies]), or perhaps try https://www.befrienders.org/. 

Note: in my “from the news” posts, quotes are shown italicised and blue, my comments are in a different shade of blue, and “good” items are shown in green. I have loosely grouped the posts where such seemed reasonable, but that is subjective (i.e., my opinion - others are free to disagree), and challenging, as some posts belong in multiple “groups”.

Reporting on recent and currently ongoing tragic events in West Asia, in Israel, Gaza, and adjoining nations, includes the following:

• there has been an agreement for a partial hostage swap to enable a four day ceasefire - see:   “Breakthrough as Israel, _____ agree to ceasefire, hostage swap”   https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/middle-east-news/2023/11/22/israel-vote-gaza-hostage-release   and   “Israel and _____ agree deal for release of some hostages and four-day ceasefire”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/22/israel-_____-war-hostages-freed-deal-ceasefire   “Fifty Israeli hostages held in Gaza will be freed over four days in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners and a lull in Israeli military operations”   and   “50 Israeli Hostages to be exchanged for 150 Palestinian "Prisoners" - Why the Prisoners are also Hostages”   https://www.juancole.com/2023/11/exchanged-palestinian-prisoners.html   and   “What Aid Agencies can hope to Achieve under the Strict Limits of the 4-Day Pause”   https://www.juancole.com/2023/11/agencies-achieve-strict.html   but   “The New Humanitarian | Pause promises little humanitarian respite for Gaza’s battered residents”   https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2023/11/22/humanitarian-pause-promises-little-respite-gaza-residents   and   “UN delivers more aid into Gaza on first day of humanitarian pause”   https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/11/1143957   and   “24 hostages returned to Israel on first day of truce”  https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/2023/11/25/israel-_____-hostage-swap-2  
  

• See also   “The pressure on Netanyahu is starting to tell – this truce shows something has changed”   https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/nov/21/pressure-benjamin-netanyahu-potential-truce-gaza-hostages   (note that, as mentioned as part of the article at https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/21/analysis-how-israel-could-gain-from-a-pause-in-the-gaza-war, ammunition stocks may be running low, and that may be an influence as well - that is from an article I am not linking to, as I have concerns over it)   and   “Under pressure, Netanyahu agrees to a ceasefire and hostage deal with _____. Are his days now numbered?”   https://theconversation.com/under-pressure-netanyahu-agrees-to-a-ceasefire-and-hostage-deal-with-_____-are-his-days-now-numbered-218348 

• “Confusion as columns flee on foot from Gaza’s largest hospital”   https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/middle-east-news/2023/11/19/al-shifa-exodus   and   “IDF publishes footage of what it says is _____ tunnel at al-Shifa hospital”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/19/idf-israel-army-footage-claims-_____-tunnel-al-shifa-hospital-gaza    but see also   “What Israel’s video of ‘_____ tunnel’ under al-Shifa tells us”   https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/20/what-israels-video-of-_____-tunnel-under-al-shifa-tells-us   “The structure of the tunnel raises questions about whether it is indeed a _____-built pathway”   and   “Israel arrests Gaza hospital director and bombs 300 targets amid truce delay”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/23/israels-army-arrests-gaza-hospital-director-and-bombs-300-targets-amid-truce-delay   “IDF claims al-Shifa hospital was _____ command and control centre as footage of tunnels and underground rooms appears ... The IDF took a group of journalists to visit the tunnels on Wednesday, and video reports appeared showing lengthy tunnels reinforced with concrete blocks. A bathroom and an empty tiled room with electric sockets could be seen on the footage, although its purpose could not be discerned from the filmed material”   this is a major development that backs up Israel's claims   and   “Patients killed in shootout at Gaza ["the Indonesian"] hospital”   https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/2023/11/20/israeli-tanks-hospital-north-gaza   and   “War and health crisis in Gaza a ‘recipe for epidemics’ warns WHO”   https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/11/1143802   and   “Gaza’s next tragedy: Disease risk spreads amid overcrowded shelters, dirty water and breakdown of basic sanitation”   https://theconversation.com/gazas-next-tragedy-disease-risk-spreads-amid-overcrowded-shelters-dirty-water-and-breakdown-of-basic-sanitation-217516  and   “Israel's Sustained Bombing Created Massive Gaza Disease Risk: Overcrowded Shelters, Dirty Water and breakdown of Basic Sanitation”   https://www.juancole.com/2023/11/sustained-overcrowded-sanitation.html   

• “The Humanitarian Pause in Gaza Proves Diplomacy Works: Now we need a Real Ceasefire”   https://www.juancole.com/2023/11/humanitarian-diplomacy-ceasefire.html   and   “Israelis and Palestinians: It will be Worse Next Time”   https://www.juancole.com/2023/11/israelis-palestinians-worse.html  
  

• “'Using Jewish Pain': How Europe's Far Right Is Exploiting Jews, Muslims and the War in Gaza”   https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/2023-11-14/ty-article-magazine/.premium/using-jewish-pain-how-europes-far-right-is-exploiting-jews-muslims-and-the-gaza-war/0000018b-ca31-dd30-a5ff-eff10c840000   “Over a month into the war between Israel and _____, far-right European parties are eyeing an opportunity to position themselves as friends of the Jewish community as they rail against the ‘danger’ of Muslim immigrants. Political scientists say the embrace won't last”   but   “Thousands march to press Israel's government to do more to free hostages held in Gaza”   https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231118-israeli-march-for-release-of-gaza-hostages-reaches-jerusalem   and   “View from The Hill: as war rages in the Middle East, Australian parliamentarians try to promote understanding”   https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-as-war-rages-in-the-middle-east-australian-parliamentarians-try-to-promote-understanding-217818   but also   “The long, dark history of antisemitism in Australia”   https://theconversation.com/the-long-dark-history-of-antisemitism-in-australia-217908   Content Warning: “Readers are advised this essay contains historical terms and images which are now considered outdated and offensive”   &   “Students reject apology over antisemitic bullying at Melbourne school”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/21/students-reject-apology-over-antisemitic-bullying-at-melbourne-school   

• “BRICS condemns Israel war on Gaza in signal to the West”   https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/11/21/brics-condemns-israel-war-on-gaza-in-signal-to-the-west    and   “The USA has special rules for satellites over one country: Israel”   https://www.npr.org/2023/11/16/1212889717/satellite-images-us-israel-gaza   and   “The True Military Assistance Tradeoff Is Between Israel and Taiwan - War on the Rocks”   https://warontherocks.com/2023/11/the-true-military-assistance-tradeoff-is-between-israel-and-taiwan/  

• “Keeping Gaza online: Telecom heroes risk life and limb under Israel’s bombs”   https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/21/keeping-gaza-online-gazas-telecom-heroes-risk-life-and-limb-under-israels-bombs  
  

• “Yemen’s Houthi rebels hijack an Israeli-linked ship in the Red Sea and take 25 crew members hostage”   https://apnews.com/article/israel-houthi-rebels-hijacked-ship-red-sea-dc9b6448690bcf5c70a0baf7c7c34b09   - see also   “Did Iran-Backed Houthi Rebels Hijack an Israeli-owned Car Carrier in the Red Sea?”   https://youtu.be/--3B0KgX-Ug?si=BXfjH1ZjQNJYIBEe   &   “Helicopter Assault on MV Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea by Houthi/Yemeni Forces”   https://youtu.be/oq-CuORNJcs?si=4FiwylOLbcamiuYI   &   “Yemen’s Houthi rebels seize cargo ship in Red Sea and call Israeli vessels ‘legitimate targets’”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/20/yemen-houthi-rebels-seize-cargo-ship-galaxy-leader-red-sea-israel   See also this analysis:   “Analysis: Can the US, Israel stop Yemen’s _ from seizing more ships?”   https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/20/analysis-can-the-us-and-israel-stop-the-houthis-from-seizing-more-ships   “the options to prevent further hijackings are limited to three: sending armed ships to accompany commercial traffic, destroying or severely limiting the Houthi offensive capacity at sea, and persuading them to refrain from attacking ... It seems that again Iran is the key”  
  

• “Israeli strike kills three journalists near Lebanon border”   https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/21/israeli-strike-kills-three-journalists-near-lebanon-border   &   https://observers.france24.com/en/middle-east/20231123-journalists-killed-in-south-lebanon-what-the-images-show-us-about-israeli-involvement   and   “With All Eyes on Gaza, Israel Tightens Its Grip on the West Bank”   https://www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-north-africa/east-mediterranean-mena/israelpalestine/all-eyes-gaza-israel-tightens-its  
  

• “Assessing Israel’s Approach to Proportionality in the Conduct of Hostilities in Gaza”   https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/assessing-israel-s-approach-to-proportionality-in-the-conduct-of-hostilities-in-gaza    and   “‘There is no alternative’ is the last resort of those defending morally wrong acts”   https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/nov/19/there-is-no-alternative-last-resort-defending-morally-wrong-acts-gaza-rwanda   and   “The Humanitarian Paradigm and the Normalization of Ethnic Cleansing”   https://www.juancole.com/2023/11/humanitarian-normalization-cleansing.html   and   “There has been much talk of war crimes in the Israel-Gaza conflict. But will anyone actually be prosecuted?”   https://theconversation.com/there-has-been-much-talk-of-war-crimes-in-the-israel-gaza-conflict-but-will-anyone-actually-be-prosecuted-217785   and   “The New Humanitarian | What’s Unsaid | Genocide or not, what difference does a word make?”   https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/podcasts/2023/11/23/whats-unsaid-genocide-or-not-what-difference-does-word-make  and   “A Threshold Crossed: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution | HRW”   https://www.hrw.org/report/2021/04/27/threshold-crossed/israeli-authorities-and-crimes-apartheid-and-persecution   &   “Human Rights Watch Responds: Reflections on Apartheid and Persecution in International Law | Human Rights Watch”   https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/07/09/human-rights-watch-responds-reflections-apartheid-and-persecution-international-law   &   “Prosecuting the Crime against Humanity of Apartheid | Journal of International Criminal Justice | Oxford Academic”   https://academic.oup.com/jicj/article/21/2/405/7231934?login=true   and   “When Palestinians "Die" and Israelis get "Killed" in the same War”   https://www.juancole.com/2023/11/palestinians-israelis-killed.html  
  

• “Rights groups condemn ‘police repression’ at ‘peaceful’ pro-Palestine rally in Sydney”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/22/nsw-premier-defends-police-conduct-after-dozens-arrested-at-pro-palestine-rally-in-sydney   “The organisers, Palestine Justice Movement Sydney and Unionists for Palestine, along with civil rights groups, condemned the police for their response after riot squad and mounted officers forcibly tried to disperse the crowds, which included children”   See also  https://politicalmusingsofkayleen.blogspot.com/2023/11/protecting-right-to-protest-another.html   and   “Fears tough new hate speech powers for NSW police could have ‘chilling effect’ on public debate”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/22/fears-tough-new-hate-speech-powers-for-nsw-police-could-have-chilling-effect-on-public-debate   “New South Wales police will be handed the power to lay charges for threats and incitement to violence based on race and religion in a reform introduced to state parliament amid rising tensions over the conflict in Gaza”   As someone who is a member of several minority groups, I actually support the principle of banning hate speech - which is in accordance with international conventions (i.e., enforceable laws): the important issues will be in the details, and if NSW police are the decision makers, that is a concern given their often deplorable record over many decades   and   “Francesca Albanese on Australian media’s Gaza blind spots and accepting a reporter’s apology”   https://www.crikey.com.au/2023/11/20/francesca-albanese-australian-media-gaza-blindspots/  
  

Note: as with other mass murderers, violent extremists crave publicity, so I refuse to give that to them - I will avoid using their names (which is a policy adopted by good law enforcement and media for other mass murderers), and I will not give them the satisfaction of being described with the T word. 

This is explained further in my post at https://politicalmusingsofkayleen.blogspot.com/2023/10/from-news-on-war-in-west-asia-content_25.html.  

Note also that the genocidal intent of the VEs I refuse to name is clear, according to this from experts in that topic.

 

Assumptions / basis 

In writing this, I have assumed / started from the following: 

• this blog states quite clearly that it is about political and human rights matters, including lived experience of problems, and thus I will assume readers are reasonable people who have noted the content warning in the post header;

Possible flaws 

Where I can, I will try to highlight possible flaws / issues you should consider:

• there may be flawed logical arguments in the above: to find out more about such flaws and thinking generally, I recommend Brendan  Myers’ free online course “Clear and Present Thinking”; 
  
• I could be wrong - so keep your thinking caps on, and make up your own minds for yourself.
  

 

If they are of any use of interest, the activism information links from my former news posts are available in this post. 

 

If you appreciated this post, please consider promoting it - there are some links below.

Remember: we need to be more human being rather than human doing, and all misgendering is an act of active transphobia/transmisia that puts trans+ lives at risk.