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 currrently ongoing war in West Asia (I object to the colonial term “Middle East”), in imperialistic Israel, Gaza, and adjoining nations, includes the following:
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.
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 VE group I refuse to name is, and has been for some time, clear, according to this
from experts in that topic. Information suggests that several thousand
of the Palestinian deaths to date are likely to be from that group -
maybe up to 20% (as a maximum) of the total: the rest - more than 80% -
are innocent civilians, including babies, toddlers, and children.
In my opinion, a safe place for Jewish people has to exist because of the world’s collective failures in the 1930s and 40s (the problem was not only Germany, but every nation that rejected Jewish asylum seekers/refugees [including my nation - although Yorta Yorta man William Cooper was a notable “upstander”] or allowed antisemitism - and that continues now) ... but
the Arab nations’ proposal for a single nation with Arab and Jewish
provinces should have been given more consideration, IMO, and now that MUST be as part of a two state solution, lest Israel’s foundation and existence be inherently based on an injustice - which, as part of correcting an injustice, intrinsically morally weakens that foundation and existence.
Note also: mainstream media continues to fail to report on the sexual assaults by _____ (which may be a bias resulting from having a majority cismale editors); media bias towards Israel has been reported, but I have not seen that in the media I read; this, on when criticism of Israel becomes antisemitism;
and Israel’s conduct since the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin and the
collapse of the Oslo Accords has - in addition to devastating and often displacing and killing its victims - been damaging of its standing (and devastating to those people on the receiving end), and its conduct now risks an even more self-damaging Pyrrhic “victory”.
- a serving US service member has committed a protest death by self immolation in front of an Israeli Embassy - see “A momentous - world shaking - action for Gaza?” https://politicalmusingsofkayleen.blogspot.com/2024/02/a-momentous-world-shaking-action-for.html which includes initial news links on this. This may be a decisive turning point in official attitudes towards the genocide being committed by Israel in Gaza as part of its self destructive Pyrrhic "victory" against the vile terrorist who committed such acts of barbarity on 7th October last year.
- “The Danger of Regional War in the Middle East” https://www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-north-africa/east-mediterranean-mena/israelpalestine/danger-regional-war-middle-east “Only a ceasefire in Gaza holds the promise of a regional de-escalation. President Biden’s comment that he believes there will be a ceasefire by 4 March, a few days before the start of the holy month of Ramadan, offers some reason for hope. The high-intensity sparring between Iran-backed forces, on one hand, and the US and its allies, on the other, has caused military and civilian casualties. It has not precipitated a larger confrontation involving Iran itself only because both Washington and Tehran have signalled that they do not want such a head-on clash.”
- “After the Israel-_____ War, a Transitional Trusteeship for Gaza | Lawfare” https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/after-the-israel-_____-war-a-transitional-trusteeship-for-gaza An
excellent examination, drawing on the lessons of history (including
Ariel Sharon) and places such as Timor Leste, of what could work - and
what wouldn’t “Israel's 'day after' plan for Gaza has been revealed: Here's what we know” https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/israels-day-after-plan-for-gaza-has-been-revealed-heres-what-we-know/o7x3mrid9 “Israel’s
leader Benjamin Netanyahu has put forward a plan for Gaza when the war
is over, that offers little concession to Palestinian aims” So ... it seems to be a disingenuous pretence ...
- “Thousands of Israelis march to demand immediate hostage deal, end of Netanyahu govt • FRANCE 24” https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=avCxECxFkuI “Thousands Protest in Israel, Demand Netanyahu Step Down, new Elections, Hostage Deal” https://www.juancole.com/2024/02/thousands-netanyahu-elections.html The protests calling for a change of government date back well before the 7th October - to when anti-democratic changes to Israel’s highest courts were proposed
- “‘Until death’: The Bedouin clan resisting violent settler displacement | Israel War on Gaza | Al Jazeera” https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/2/26/until-death-the-bedouin-clan-resisting-violent-settler-displacement “With all eyes on Gaza, Israel steps up demolitions of Palestinian homes | Occupied East Jerusalem News | Al Jazeera” https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/2/25/with-all-eyes-on-gaza-israel-steps-up-demolitions-of-palestinian-homes
- “Palestinian PM Shtayyeh hands resignation to Abbas over Gaza ‘genocide’ | Israel War on Gaza News | Al Jazeera” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/26/palestinian-pm-submits-resignation-to-mahmoud-abbas-over-gaza-aggression & “Palestinian prime minister resigns, says he's making way for next stage of governing Gaza” https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/palestinian-prime-minister-resigns-says-hes-making-way-for-next-stage-of-governing-gaza/0fdru33im
- “How Was Israel Caught Off-Guard? - War on the Rocks” https://warontherocks.com/2024/02/how-was-israel-caught-off-guard/ And
there was the misogynistic ignoring of warnings because they came from
female intelligence officers - which the male author of this article
also missed (I linked to reports on this some time ago)
on peace/ceasefires:
- “Joe Biden hopeful of Gaza ceasefire by Monday as details of proposal emerge” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/26/israel-gaza-ceasefire-biden & “Gaza peace deal efforts pick up pace as Israel prepares ground invasion of Rafah” https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/gaza-peace-deal-efforts-pick-up-pace-as-israel-prepares-ground-invasion-of-rafah/vxy13zgje “Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his war cabinet for a
briefing by intelligence chiefs who had returned from a meeting with
mediators about a possible second Gaza ceasefire” “_____ and Israel pour cold water on Biden’s hopes of imminent ceasefire” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/27/_____-and-israel-pour-cold-water-on-bidens-hopes-of-imminent-ceasefire & “_____, Israel cautious over truce talks despite Biden remarks” https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/_____-israel-cautious-over-truce-talks-despite-biden-remarks/h6npt92pt “_____
is weighing a proposal, agreed by Israel at talks with mediators in
Paris last week, for a ceasefire that would suspend fighting for 40
days, which would be the first extended truce of the five-month-old war” but also, subsequently, “Mass death at Gaza aid delivery threatens truce talks” https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/middle-east-news/2024/03/01/gaza-truce-jeopardy (more reports on that event below) This
topic is highly fluid and subject to changeable, sometimes conflicting,
reports: I’ll wait and see what actually happen or not
on human rights and human suffering (on both sides) aspects:
- “UN chief appalled by ‘tragic human toll’ of Gaza war” https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/02/1147082
- “UN’s Palestinian aid agency ‘at breaking point’ after $450m budget shortfall” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/25/uns-palestinian-aid-agency-at-breaking-point-after-450m-budget-shortfall “UN agency warns of ‘looming famine’ in Gaza amid Israel war | Israel War on Gaza News | Al Jazeera” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/26/no-aid-delivery-in-northern-gaza-since-more-than-a-month-unrwa
- “All
parties to the Gaza conflict have been responsible for “clear
violations of international humanitarian law including possible war
crimes”, according to the UN’s top human rights official” https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/02/1147007 “More than 100 Palestinians have been killed seeking aid in Gaza. This is what we know” https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/more-than-100-palestinians-have-been-killed-seeking-aid-in-gaza-this-is-what-we-know/pu71lfw2a “Dozens of people died while trying to access aid trucks in northern Gaza on Thursday” “Wong sends message to Israeli ambassador after 'catastrophe' near Gaza aid trucks” https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-01/wong-sends-message-to-israeli-ambassador/103536112 Similar events in the breakup of the former Yugoslavia and the US-led invasion of Iraq were quite significant
- “The Thai hostages still missing after the _____ terror attacks | DW News” https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Jpeua8qUHmY
- “Has Israel complied with ICJ order in Gaza genocide case?” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/26/has-israel-complied-with-icj-order-in-gaza-genocide-case An assessment presents evidence that Israel has NOT complied See also “Gaza genocide case: Has Israel complied with ICJ orders?” https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/interview/2024/02/26/gaza-genocide-case-has-israel-complied-icj-orders “An international law professor weighs the Israeli response and what it says about the effectiveness of the UN’s top court” and “‘Beaten, stripped, used as human shield’: Gaza victim recalls Israel terror | Israel War on Gaza | Al Jazeera” https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/2/23/beaten-stripped-used-as-a-human-shield-gaza-man-recounts-israel-terror “Israel mulling ‘evacuation plan’ as Rafah offensive looms | Israel War on Gaza News | Al Jazeera” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/26/israeli-army-presents-plans-to-war-cabinet-as-rafah-offensive-looms Hmm ... “Netanyahu’s Last Battle Promises no Victory, just Slaughter in Rafah” https://www.juancole.com/2024/02/netanyahus-promises-slaughter.html
- “Conscious and Unconscionable: The Starving of Gaza” https://theaimn.com/conscious-and-unconscionable-the-starving-of-gaza/ “If
Israel’s intention had been to demonstrate some good will in averting
any insinuation that genocide was taking place, let alone a systematic
policy of collective punishment against the Palestinian population,
little evidence of it has been shown. If anything, the suspicions voiced
by South Africa and other critics aghast at the sheer ferocity of the
campaign are starting to seem utter plausible in their horror” ““Golden
time” seasonal farming production destroyed and lost in northern Gaza
amid mounting fears of worsening hunger and starvation” https://theaimn.com/golden-time-seasonal-farming-production-destroyed-and-lost-in-northern-gaza-amid-mounting-fears-of-worsening-hunger-and-starvation/
on military aspects:
- “UN-Appointed Human Rights Experts Demand Halt of Arms Shipments to Israel for Violations of Laws of War” https://www.juancole.com/2024/02/appointed-shipments-violations.html
regionally:
- “Red Sea attacks in Sympathy with Gaza Escalate as Yemeni H_____s’ Resilience Surprises Biden” https://www.juancole.com/2024/02/sympathy-resilience-surprises.html This was resilience was predicted by experts when the attacks first started (I included at least one link to a report on this) “US and UK launch fresh wave of missile strikes against H_____ targets in Yemen” https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/us-and-uk-launch-fresh-wave-of-missile-strikes-against-h_____-targets-in-yemen/jwbxj5w62 “H_____s are recruiting record fighters. How will this affect Yemen? | Israel War on Gaza | Al Jazeera” https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/2/23/h_____s-are-recruiting-record-fighters-how-will-this-affect-yemen HOWEVER “Red Sea Shocks and the New More Stable Normal - War on the Rocks” https://warontherocks.com/2024/02/red-sea-shocks-and-the-new-more-stable-normal/ “...
leverage is limited: Commerce invariably adjusts to disruptions and
markets stabilise around a new normal. The crisis in the Red Sea
demonstrates this effect, though in an unexpected way. Months of H_____
attacks ... has done little to move oil prices, while the impact on
supply has been negligible. Markets, in effect, shrugged off the Red Sea
disruption ... the effect of repeated crises in global energy
supply chains has forced a de-risking of energy flows, based around
geopolitical as well as commercial relationships. Formerly risk-heavy
ties, such as Europe’s dependence on Russia or America’s dependence on
the Middle East, don’t play as much of a role in the global energy
economy as they once did.” This
is major, and removes much of - if not all - of the justification for
actively attacking the H_____, as opposed to concentrating on reactive
defence On the other hand, “Red Sea attacks are making it too risky to ship medical supplies to Sudan” https://www.news24.com/news24/africa/news/red-sea-attacks-are-making-it-too-risky-to-ship-medical-supplies-to-sudan-20240228
- “Israeli jets bomb eastern Lebanon for the first time since Gaza war began | Israel War on Gaza News | Al Jazeera” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/26/israeli-jets-bomb-eastern-lebanon-for-the-first-time-since-gaza-war-began This shows a potentially significant spread of the conflict “Displacement and upheaval in southern Lebanon as Israel intensifies airstrikes” https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news-feature/2024/02/29/displacement-upheaval-southern-lebanon-israel-airstrikes
internationally:
- “Anticipating the Gaza-Driven Terrorism Surge | Lawfare” https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anticipating-the-gaza-driven-terrorism-surge
- “‘Lawfare’ on Israel’s war on Gaza reaches Germany. Will the case succeed? | Israel War on Gaza News | Al Jazeera” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/26/lawfare-on-israels-war-on-gaza-reaches-germany-will-the-case-succeed “Top
German officials, including Chancellor Scholz, are being sued for
allegedly ‘aiding genocide’ in a case that raises awareness and loads
pressure”
- “France blames Russia’s FSB for anti-Semitic Star of David graffiti campaign” https://www.france24.com/en/france/20240223-france-blames-russia-s-fsb-for-anti-semitic-star-of-david-graffiti-across-paris “How anti-Muslim hate speech is spreading in India | Islamophobia News | Al Jazeera” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/26/_____-to-halal-how-anti-muslim-hate-speech-is-spreading-in-india
- “A Copper’s Skewed Logic: Politicising Palestinian Visas” https://theaimn.com/a-coppers-skewed-logic-politicising-palestinian-visas/ A thorough examination and outline of the double standards / hypocrisy / “biases” being advocated for by the conservatives
On a personal note:
- “Post
No. 2,724 - And another social media platform gone ... (for me)
[Content Warning: discussion of sexual assaults and atrocities,
including mass atrocities]” https://gnwmythr.blogspot.com/2024/03/post-no-2724-and-another-social-media.html
My links for activism post may aid any activism you may decide to do on any/all of these. If you do, don’t get too fixated on specific instances of problems - important though they may well be: take a moment to also consider the broader issues these incidents and groups of incidents may suggest/reveal.
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.
Copyright © Kayleen White 2016-2024 NO AI
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