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, nuclear risks. 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/. 

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

• an in-depth interview, covering considerable history, background, and nuance, with Juan Cole, founder of the “Informed Comment” news site:   “Palestine’s Obituary”   https://www.juancole.com/2023/11/palestines-obituary.html   and   “For Israelis and Palestinians, Peace and Freedom Must Go Hand in Hand”   https://freedomhouse.org/article/israelis-and-palestinians-peace-and-freedom-must-go-hand-in-hand   West Asia “remains the least free region covered by our annual Freedom in the World report. Resolving it will require a shared recognition that all people deserve to live in freedom, and that over the long term only a sustained investment in democracy—a governance system designed to protect human rights and reconcile competing interests—can ultimately deliver peace”   and   “Israel’s attempt to destroy _____ will breed more radicalisation, UN expert says”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/07/israels-attempt-to-destroy-_____-will-breed-more-radicalisation-un-expert-says   

• warning: this includes graphic material, but reminds what happened on 7^th October, and gives an understanding of how it was hidden beforehand:   “A deadly cascade: how secret _____ attack orders were passed down at last minute”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/07/secret-_____-attack-orders-israel-gaza-7-october  

• “'We are failing again': UN, US resignations highlight splits over Israel's Gaza assault”   https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20231105-we-are-failing-again-un-us-resignations-highlight-splits-over-israel-s-gaza-assault   “While many Western leaders and officials were quick to express their support for Israel in its war against _____, there have been signs of dissent in senior US and UN circles over the West’s unwavering backing of Israel's massive retaliatory bombardments on Gaza. Some have even quit their posts”   
  

• “Israel launches major strikes on Gaza as violence flares up on Lebanon boundary”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/05/israel-launches-major-strikes-on-gaza-as-violence-flares-up-on-lebanon-boundary   
  

• “The UN is calling the Israel-_____ war a ‘graveyard of children’. In an adult conflict, the young are suffering most”   https://theconversation.com/the-un-is-calling-the-israel-_____-war-a-graveyard-of-children-in-an-adult-conflict-the-young-are-suffering-most-216633   and   a disturbing (but NOT graphic) video “Girl cries for help under rubble of her destroyed home in Gaza”   https://www.aljazeera.com/program/newsfeed/2023/11/5/girl-cries-for-help-under-rubble-of-her-destroyed-home-in-gaza   and   “The Second Casualty”   https://theaimn.com/the-second-casualty/   (description of harm to children - including one graphic description [but no image])   

• “Gaza: ‘Unfolding catastrophe’ makes humanitarian ceasefire more urgent”   https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/11/1143267   (I understand half a million people are at risk of starvation)  
  

• “In Israel’s Eilat, residents fear war from the north and south”   https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/5/in-israels-eilat-residents-fear-war-from-the-north-and-south   and   “What’s Israel’s Hannibal Directive? A former Israeli soldier tells all”   https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/11/3/whats-the-hannibal-directive-a-former-israeli-soldier-tells-all  
  

• “Protests in Israel target Netanyahu over release of captives”   https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/4/protests-in-israel-target-netanyahu-over-release-of-hostages   and   “Israeli hostages’ relatives call for concessions to secure their release”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/05/israeli-hostages-relatives-call-for-concessions-to-secure-their-release  
  

• “Gaza could see return of PA in case of a ‘political solution’, says Abbas”   https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/5/gaza-could-see-return-of-pa-in-case-of-a-political-solution-says-abbas   and   “Palestinian Authority should play key role in a future Gaza, says Antony Blinken”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/05/dozens-killed-in-strike-on-gaza-refugee-camp-as-antony-blinken-meets-mahmoud-abbas   but   “Netanyahu says Israel will have ‘overall security responsibility’ in Gaza after war”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/07/netanyahu-israel-consider-tactical-pauses-gaza  
  

• “Far Rightwing Israeli Gov't's Actions risk fueling Global Anti-Semitism While [US] Republicans Stoke Islamophobia”   https://www.juancole.com/2023/11/rightwing-republicans-islamophobia.html   and   “Antisemitic acts have ‘exploded’ in France since 7 October, interior minister says”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/06/antisemitic-acts-have-exploded-in-france-since-7-october-interior-minister-says   and   “Austria sees rise in anti-Semitic attacks against backdrop of Israel-_____ war”   https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20231105-austria-sees-rise-of-anti-semitism-against-backdrop-of-israel-_____-war   and   “Israel-_____ Conflict puts China's Strategy of 'Balanced Diplomacy' in the Middle East at Risk”   https://www.juancole.com/2023/11/conflict-strategy-diplomacy.html   and   “Pressure continues for Gaza ceasefire as Israel demands release of hostages”   https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/middle-east-news/2023/11/06/pressure-gaza-ceasefire   and   “‘Biden, you can’t hide’: Tens of thousands march in US for Gaza ceasefire”   https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/5/biden-you-cant-hide-thousands-rally-in-washington-for-gaza-ceasefire   and   “Protesters stage sit-in demanding ceasefire in Gaza at Statue of Liberty”   https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/nov/06/statue-of-liberty-protest-gaza-ceasefire   but   “Organisers of pro-Palestine march in London fear Met poised to impose ban”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/06/organisers-of-pro-palestine-marches-fear-ban-on-saturdays-protest-in-london   

• “Netanyahu reprimands Israeli minister over Gaza ‘nuclear option’ comment”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/05/netanyahu-reprimands-israeli-minister-over-gaza-nuclear-option-comment   “Neither Eliyahu nor his party leader ... would ... have inside knowledge of Israel’s nuclear capabilities – which it does not publicly acknowledge – or the power to activate them. ... The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing the families, issued a statement condemning Eliyahu’s remarks.”  
  

• a guide to “Separating Fact from Fiction on Social Media in Times of Conflict”   https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/how-tos/2023/10/26/separating-fact-from-fiction-on-social-media-in-times-of-conflict/  
  

• “Legal action attempts to force Australia to reveal if arms exports are supporting Israel assault on Gaza”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/nov/06/legal-action-attempts-to-force-australia-to-reveal-if-arms-exports-are-supporting-israel-assault-on-gaza   “Palestinian human rights groups allege Israel may be using Australian technology in serious human rights abuses”  
  

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. 

 

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.