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:
- The
whole situation has been changed - morally, and possibly legally - by
South Africa filing a complaint of genocide against Israel, lodged at
the ICJ. An expedited hearing has been requested, and will likely be
ignored by Israel and the USA, but will make continued US support more
vulnerable. See: “South Africa launches case at UN court accusing Israel of genocide” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/29/south-africa-accuses-israel-of-committing-genocide-in-gaza “Nation
asks international court of justice to issue provisional measures
ordering ceasefire; Israel describes case as ‘blood libel’ ... In March
2022, the ICJ ordered Russia to halt its offensive in Ukraine, an order
which was supposed to be legally binding, but Moscow ignored it
anyway. ... Last year, the court ruled that the Gambia could bring a
genocide claim against Myanmar. The court also ruled in a case between
Croatia and Serbia that depriving a people of food, shelter, medical
care and other means of subsistence constitutes genocidal acts. ...
The international criminal court (ICC) is already investigating possible
war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by both _____ and
Israel” and “S. Africa files case at ICJ alleging Israel has violated Genocide Convention in Gaza” https://youtu.be/JK_drm0Incs?si=1KuGqsnddMl7KyaK and “South Africa launches case at UN court accusing Israel of breaching Genocide Convention” https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/south-africa-launches-case-at-un-court-accusing-israel-of-breaching-genocide-convention/m010o9el7 and “South Africa launches case at top UN court accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza” https://apnews.com/article/south-africa-israel-un-court-palestinians-genocide-ffe672c4eb3e14a30128542eaa537b21 and “South Africa launches case at top UN court accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza” https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/south-africa-launches-case-at-top-un-court-accusing-israel-of-genocide-in-gaza and “South Africa files genocide case against Israel at World Court” https://www.reuters.com/world/south-africa-seeks-international-court-justice-genocide-order-against-israel-2023-12-29/
When I look at what Israel is doing in Gaza, and the ineffective response of the world as a whole, I think Israel and _____ could not have more thoroughly destroyed a workable, constructive world order if they had actively collaborated (which, to be clear, they have not).
I also consider Israel’s actions in the last few months in Gaza have put that nation and Jewish people everywhere at risk - and I fear the massive increase in antisemitic attacks is just a start ... In my opinion, this creation of elevated risk for Jewish people - combined with racism against Jewish people of colour - creates doubt as to whether Israel’s foundational reason for existence is being met - and that reason is: to ensure that the world has a safe place of refuge for Jewish people ...
In
addition, the clear continuance of abuses of hostages - including of
children - by _____ is something that should be drawing world concern,
sympathy, and caring, but Israel’s actions and apparent limited care for the hostages means that is being lost.
On that, anyone who thinks that Israel driving all Palestinians out of Gaza (which is allegedly one of the covert goals of this operation) would mean an end to conflict in that region is incompetent and/or blinded by bias/anything-goes-loyalty and/or amathia - after all, remember that expulsion (see here, here, here, here, and especially here but also here, as fault could be argued to exist on both sides) failed to bring peace back in the 1940s ...
Another point to keep in mind here is that Israel’s unquestioned past military supremacy (albeit with US help) has been changing. This site now ranks Israel’s military strength at 18th, which is below that of Egypt (14th) and Iran (17th),
and makes US military support even more critical. If political support
in the USA for Israel declines too far, that military support could be
put at risk - already, in my opinion, Israel’s loss of support exceeds
the loss of support for Palestinians that _____ caused on 7th October ...
- “Netanyahu [allegedly] Advocates Ethnically Cleansing Palestinians of Gaza: Believe him the First Time” https://www.juancole.com/2023/12/netanyahu-ethnically-palestinians.html The reported events in that cabinet meeting are staggering, and, if true, destroy Israel’s claims to any sort of moral standing
- an opinion that “It’s not shocking to see Israeli children celebrate the Gaza genocide | Israel-Palestine conflict | Al Jazeera” https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2023/12/13/its-not-shocking-to-see-israeli-children-celebrate-the-gaza-genocide “Israel
has long been indoctrinating its children to believe Palestinians are
less than human, and thus not worthy of empathy or compassion.” but “Like Tal Mitnick, I refused to serve Israel as a soldier. It’s important to understand why” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/29/tal-mitnick-israel-soldier-military-service-society “Military service defines who you are in Israeli society but dissent has a long tradition, despite the many obstacles”
- “Flooding _____ tunnels with seawater risks ‘ruining basic life in Gaza’, says expert | Israel-Gaza war | The Guardian” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/23/israel-flooding-_____-tunnels-seawater-risks-ruining-basic-life-gaza-expert
on peace/ceasefires:
- “Who are the Israeli refuseniks picking jail over the Gaza war? | Israel-Palestine conflict News | Al Jazeera” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/27/who-are-the-israeli-refuseniks-picking-jail-over-the-gaza-war ““I believe that slaughter cannot solve slaughter,” he said. “The criminal attack on Gaza won’t solve the atrocious slaughter that _____ executed. Violence won’t solve violence. And that is why I refuse.””
- “‘We don’t want the kids to be afraid of each other’: the Jews and Arabs uniting to heal rifts of war | Israel-Gaza war | The Guardian” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/27/jews-arabs-uniting-war-jaffa-tel-aviv-standing-together-peace
on human rights and human suffering (on both sides) aspects:
- “Many hostages released by _____ still being treated for trauma | Israel-Gaza war | The Guardian” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/28/many-hostages-released-by-_____-still-being-treated-for-trauma The trauma includes being drugged (including children),
sensory deprivation, and sexual assault - which a UN expert has been
warning about. The article also addresses the trauma being caused to
Palestinian children. This adds to the rage being felt by all
- “Israelis have killed the same Percentage of Gazans in 11 Weeks as Allies did Italians in all of WW II” https://www.juancole.com/2023/12/israelis-percentage-italians.html This is a very striking, and very telling, comment ... “Photos: The staggering human toll of Israel’s war on Gaza | Israel-Palestine conflict | Al Jazeera” https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2023/12/25/photos-israel-palestine-war An interview which included the following opinion: “Israeli response to 7th Oct “equivalent to a weapon of mass destruction over civilian population” ” https://www.france24.com/en/video/20231223-israeli-response-to-oct-7th-equivalent-to-a-weapon-of-mass-destruction-over-civilian-population
on military aspects:
- “Gaza war puts US’s extensive weapons stockpile in Israel under scrutiny | Israel-Gaza war | The Guardian” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/27/gaza-war-puts-us-extensive-weapons-stockpile-in-israel-under-scrutiny “Israel appears to be receiving munitions from stockpile, but there has been little transparency” and “A Growing Butcher’s Bill: Israel’s War Spending - The Australian Independent Media Network” https://theaimn.com/a-growing-butchers-bill-israels-war-spending/
regionally:
- “More than 20 countries join US-led coalition to protect Red Sea shipping” https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20231222-more-than-20-countries-join-us-led-coalition-to-protect-red-sea-shipping and “Analysis: Has the US-led Red Sea force calmed shippers amid H_____ attacks? | Israel-Palestine conflict News | Al Jazeera” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/25/analysis-has-the-us-led-red-sea-force-calmed-shippers-amid-H_____-attacks The question is not as simple as it seems: read the article and “India’s navy deploys warships to Arabian Sea after tanker attack | Israel-Palestine conflict News | Al Jazeera” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/26/indias-navy-deploys-warships-to-arabian-sea-after-tanker-attack
- “H______ say they carried out drone attack on Israeli port of Eilat” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/26/uk-maritime-group-reports-drones-explosion-off-yemen-coast
- “Israeli air strike in Syria kills top Iranian military adviser | Syria's War News | Al Jazeera” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/25/israeli-air-strike-in-syria-kills-top-iranian-general and “Israeli strikes kill Hezbollah fighter as violence on Lebanon border grows | Israel-Palestine conflict News | Al Jazeera” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/27/israel-air-raid-kills-hezbollah-fighter-and-two-relatives-in-south-lebanon and “Israel says time running out to reach diplomatic solution in Lebanon” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/28/israel-says-time-running-out-to-reach-diplomatic-solution-with-lebanon These are reminders of the risk of escalation See also “Could Israel’s Gaza war drag Iraq into another conflict? | Israel-Palestine conflict News | Al Jazeera” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/26/could-israels-gaza-war-drag-iraq-into-another-conflict & “New drone attack targets US troops in Iraq” https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20231225-new-drone-attack-targets-us-troops-in-iraq “The
number of attacks targeting the coalition, which deployed troops to
Iraq to fight the Islamic State group, has surged since the start of the
Israel-_____ war” and “Fears of regional escalation as Israel warns of ‘multi-front’ war | Israel-Gaza war | The Guardian” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/26/fears-of-regional-escalation-as-israel-warns-of-multi-front-war and “Security Council discusses crisis in the Middle East; UN chief warns of conflict’s ‘further spillover’” https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/12/1145182
- “Iran says it executed four people it claims engaged in ‘sabotage’ for Israel” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/29/iran-executed-four-people-engaged-in-sabotage-for-israel
- “Turkey’s Erdoğan says Netanyahu no different than H_____ as Gaza is bombed | Israel-Palestine conflict News | Al Jazeera” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/27/turkeys-erdogan-says-netanyahu-no-different-than-hitler-as-gaza-is-bombed Israel’s criticism of Erdoğan is valid, and a point of concern regarding Turkey for around a century, but is not commensurate
internationally:
- an opinion piece on “Reversing America’s Ruinous Support for Israel’s Assault on Gaza - War on the Rocks” https://warontherocks.com/2023/12/reversing-americas-ruinous-support-for-israels-assault-on-gaza/ and “Why US double standards on Israel and Russia play into a dangerous game | US news | The Guardian” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/26/why-us-double-standards-on-israel-and-russia-play-into-a-dangerous-game
- “Israel denies visas to UN staff as it hits back against Gaza war criticism | Israel-Palestine conflict News | Al Jazeera” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/25/israel-denies-visas-to-un-staff-as-it-hits-back-against-gaza-war-criticism This is only exacerbating Israel’s extreme self destruction of its reputation and “Palestine Solidarity Crackdown: Challenges in the US and Europe” https://www.juancole.com/2023/12/palestine-solidarity-challenges.html “Israel’s 2023 genocide of Palestinians in Gaza has horrified many around the world and drawn widespread public outcry, with unprecedented levels of solidarity organizing taking place across the globe. Millions have gathered in the streets, issued public statements, and mobilized to block corporate and state-led support not only for the Israeli regime’s recent onslaught but for its decades-long colonial occupation of Palestine. But as this unparalleled solidarity has emerged, so too has extraordinary repression at every level.” and “[a social media platform] is [allegedly?] Systemically Censoring Palestine Content” https://www.juancole.com/2023/12/[social media platform]-systemically-censoring.html and “Why has cricketer Khawaja been barred from showing solidarity with Gaza? | Israel-Palestine conflict News | Al Jazeera” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/26/why-has-cricketer-khawaja-been-barred-from-showing-solidarity-with-gaza “Khawaja and his supporters point out that this rule has not stopped other players from displaying such messages in the past. For example, West Indies players were permitted to wear “Black Lives Matter” logos on their shirts during a test series against England in 2020” The clear double standards are of the gravest concerns, including concerns about possible racism. The claims that politics can and should be kept out of sport are nonsense, as those who broke the sporting boycott of apartheid South Africa were actively supporting the abuse of human rights and “Joe Biden’s reluctance to call for ceasefire may leave him at odds with his party | Biden administration | The Guardian” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/22/joe-bidens-reluctance-to-call-for-ceasefire-may-leave-him-at-odds-with-his-party In addition to the major catastrophe now, this does not bode well for the next US presidential elections
- “Revealed: how US residents are funding illegal settlements in the West Bank | Israel-Gaza war | The Guardian” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/23/crowdfunding-us-residents-fund-settlements-west-bank Hmm ...
- “Israeli campaign Israel | The Guardian” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/23/israeli-campaign-to-kill-_____-leaders-likely-to-backfire-say-earlier-assassination-targets “A
worldwide campaign of assassinations of _____ leaders announced by
senior Israel officials is likely to be counterproductive, impractical
and ineffective, targets of previous such efforts have suggested” It also causes trauma to at least some of those doing the assassinations
Note: as with other mass murderers/serial killers/and the like, 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.
Note also that the genocidal intent of the VEs I refuse to name is clear, according to this from experts in that topic.
My links for activism post may aid any activism you may decide to do on any/all of these.
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.
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