PALESTINE

Fri 05 Jun 2026 7:22 am - Jerusalem Time

Arab Group at UN warns: Settlements tear apart West Bank, eliminate two-state solution

The Arab Group at the United Nations issued a strongly worded statement, warning of the serious consequences of recent Israeli occupation policies in the occupied Palestinian territories. The group clarified that the accelerating pace of settlement expansion poses a direct threat to the integrity and geographical unity of the Palestinian territories, necessitating urgent international action to stop these violations.

Arab diplomatic sources confirmed that the current settlement plans are not only aimed at confiscating land, but systematically seek to divide the West Bank into isolated cantons. This geographical division aims to prevent the establishment of a contiguous and viable Palestinian state, which represents a stab in the back of international efforts aimed at achieving stability in the region.

The statement stressed that the policies pursued by the occupation government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu and the extremist ministers Smotrich and Ben Gvir, put a definitive end to peace opportunities. The Arab Group considered that these practices reflect an ideological orientation that refuses to recognize legitimate Palestinian rights and insists on imposing a new reality by force of arms and settlements.

The Arab Group also pointed to a clear and dangerous coordination between the field operations that are devouring the geography of the West Bank and the political discourse of the occupation leaders. This harmony aims to close any future political horizon, making talk of a two-state solution impossible in light of the continued urban settlement expansion at the expense of Palestinian lands.

In conclusion of its statement, the Arab Group called on the international community to bear its legal and moral responsibilities towards the Palestinian people. It affirmed that silence on these settlement crimes encourages the occupation authorities to proceed with destroying what remains of opportunities for justice, stressing the need to take effective steps to protect the two-state solution from complete collapse.

The occupation's settlement expansion plan aims to geographically divide the West Bank and eliminate the chances of a two-state solution.

ARAB AND WORLD

Thu 04 Jun 2026 8:10 pm - Jerusalem Time

US efforts for a ceasefire in Lebanon falter amid Hezbollah's rejection and warnings of a field 'catastrophe'

US diplomatic efforts aimed at imposing a calm in Lebanon are facing serious challenges, as political interpretations varied regarding the recent announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Experts and analysts agreed that the next phase is fraught with significant security risks, especially given the wide gap between Washington's conditions and the aspirations of the parties on the ground.

In this context, Hezbollah's Secretary-General, Sheikh Naim Qassem, announced the party's categorical rejection of the US announcement regarding the situation in southern Lebanon. Qassem affirmed that military operations will not cease until a real and comprehensive ceasefire is achieved, including a clear schedule for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territories within a specific and unambiguous timeframe.

On the official Lebanese side, President Joseph Aoun considered the US announcement to be the 'last chance' that must be seized to avoid further destruction. Aoun held the parties rejecting the agreement fully responsible for future repercussions, indicating that the current situation can no longer tolerate further political maneuvers at the expense of the country's security.

Washington had revealed a preliminary agreement between Israel and Lebanon to establish 'experimental zones' under the exclusive control of the Lebanese Armed Forces. This proposal, which came after a fourth round of negotiations in Washington, aims to exclude all non-governmental parties from military presence in those areas, amid intense internal debate in Israel about the feasibility of the agreement.

For his part, Professor of International Law Dr. Ali Fadlallah criticized the content of the US announcement, describing it as completely ignoring Lebanese sovereign interests. Fadlallah pointed out that Donald Trump's communication with Hezbollah through intermediaries days ago proves that military power on the ground is the primary driver of the negotiation process, away from traditional official channels.

In an assessment of the field situation, academic Charbel Maroun described what is happening in the South as a true 'Lebanese catastrophe' by all humanitarian standards. Maroun explained that military operations have completely leveled 68 villages, in addition to the displacement of more than 120,000 citizens, and the fall of thousands of victims, both dead and wounded, in the absence of leverage for the negotiating delegation.

Data issued by military sources south of the Litani River indicate the extent of continuous Israeli violations, with the destruction of more than 11,000 homes documented since the end of last November. The sources confirmed that the continued shelling and the fall of hundreds of martyrs after previous truce announcements have eroded the Lebanese public's trust in any international promises that do not guarantee a complete withdrawal.

Regarding the regional role, observers noted the Iranian behavior, which only began to move effectively when the threat reached the heart of the capital Beirut and its southern suburbs. It appears that Tehran is seeking to establish its presence as an essential party in any 'grand bargain' planned by the US President, despite Washington's stated attempts to exclude it from arrangements for the future of the South.

Analysts concluded that reaching a sustainable truce at present seems almost impossible given the lack of alignment between the warring forces and the negotiating parties. With Israel's insistence on continuing field escalation and Hezbollah's rejection of US conditions, the Lebanese arena remains open to all escalatory possibilities in the coming days.

Hezbollah will not stop its operations until a real ceasefire is achieved and an Israeli withdrawal is scheduled within a specific timeframe.

PALESTINE

Thu 04 Jun 2026 8:09 pm - Jerusalem Time

Soumaya Ghannouchi: Gaza is experiencing a 'fake truce' and the occupation is repeating the genocide model in Lebanon

Tunisian writer Soumaya Ghannouchi shed light on the ongoing tragedies in the Gaza Strip, considering that what the international community promotes about a ceasefire is nothing but a fake narrative behind which daily crimes hide. Ghannouchi affirmed that the Eid images coming from the Strip revealed a bitter reality that completely contradicts the calm political discourse that Western capitals are trying to market.

The writer stated that the occupation continues to implement its expansionist plans and direct military aggression against civilians, in a clear attempt to forcibly displace them outside the Strip's borders. This escalation comes amid absolute international silence, and even complicity in falsifying facts by claiming the truce's steadfastness while Palestinian blood flows in the streets and markets.

The article monitored tragic scenes from the Eid days, including the martyrdom of the mother 'Hidayah' in front of her daughters while buying Eid clothes, and the burning of displaced persons' tents that no longer provide any protection for their occupants. These events confirm that the Israeli war machine does not differentiate between a religious occasion or a displacement area, but rather targets the Palestinian presence everywhere.

Ghannouchi pointed out that statistics issued by UN sources confirm the martyrdom of more than 26 Palestinians during the Eid days alone, most of them women and children. These numbers make the debate about the existence or non-existence of a truce worthless for the victims who are killed in both cases, revealing the extent of deception in the current political discourse.

Reports indicate that occupation forces have killed about 1,000 Palestinians since the announcement of the so-called October truce, raising the total number of martyrs and missing persons to nearly 73,000. This reality proves that the Palestinian side largely adhered to the calm, while the occupation continued to violate it systematically and daily without deterrence.

The writer criticized the new international definition of a truce, which seems to grant the occupation the right to launch raids, demolish homes, and kill civilians without it being described as a violation. In contrast, news headlines are filled with accusations of 'escalation' if any slight reaction comes from within the besieged Gaza Strip.

Ghannouchi considered that this falsification aims to remove the Gaza issue from the top of global news headlines and alleviate popular pressure on Western governments. This atmosphere allows the occupation to continue its attack, while political leaders market themselves as peacemakers through illusory initiatives that have no basis on the ground.

The writer paused at the role of Tony Blair, the former British Prime Minister, describing his statements about the 'plan to end the war' as the height of political deception. Ghannouchi questioned the fate of the victims who fell on Eid, emphasizing that Blair avoids answering the identity of the party launching daily raids and expanding its military control.

She also revealed the collapse of the promises of the alleged 'Peace Council,' where reconstruction plans and the entry of international forces disappeared in suspicious silence. International press sources indicated that this council's fund has become completely empty, confirming that the real mission was to manage public perceptions, not to stop the war of extermination.

In a related context, Ghannouchi drew attention to Benjamin Netanyahu's statements in which he boasts of controlling 60% of the Strip's area and his endeavor to raise this percentage. These statements, coinciding with his ministers' calls for 'voluntary migration,' reveal the true intentions of the occupation to transform Gaza into an area completely under its control.

The writer warned that the absence of international consequences has created a state of arrogance in the occupation, leading to the transfer of the same criminal patterns to Lebanon. The scenes coming from southern Lebanon, of the destruction of towns and the targeting of journalists and medical facilities, have become a repeated version of what happened and is happening in Khan Yunis and Gaza.

She explained that the targeting of the health sector in Gaza has reached unprecedented global levels, with more than 1,700 medical personnel martyred since the beginning of the aggression. This pattern, which has been normalized in Gaza, is now expanding to Lebanon, sending a clear message that the immunity granted to the occupation will lead to an expansion of the scope of targeting.

Ghannouchi touched upon Jonathan Pollard's statements, which considered the confrontation with Iran merely a prelude to targeting countries like Turkey and Egypt in the future. Although these countries are mediators in negotiations, the Israeli mentality shaped by impunity sets no limits to its future military aggression.

The writer concluded her article by emphasizing that Gaza remains the central issue and the cornerstone of everything happening in the Middle East, because it is the spot where all red lines have been removed. What has been tried and tested in Gaza, from collective punishment and displacement, will continue to threaten the entire region unless the occupation faces real consequences for its actions.

The new definition of a truce grants Israel the right to continue raids and kill civilians, yet the world insists on calling this situation a ceasefire.

PALESTINE

Thu 04 Jun 2026 8:09 pm - Jerusalem Time

On their International Day.. Gaza's Children Pay the Price of Aggression Amidst Loss, Disability, and Psychological Trauma

While the international community commemorates the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression on June 4th each year, the Gaza Strip is drowning in a flood of horrific testimonies that redefine childhood as a period burdened by loss and pain instead of play and growth. This tragedy is embodied in hospital rooms and shelters, where an entire generation faces the consequences of a war that not only destroyed stones but also disfigured the bodies of children and left deep scars on their souls.

Sham Iyad Azzam, an 11-year-old girl, represents this pain; she woke up on the first day of Eid al-Adha to fires engulfing her home, losing her sister Sidra and her leg, which was amputated from the knee. Sham is currently undergoing intensive treatment at Al-Shifa Hospital, struggling with her fears of a future where simple movement requires the help of others, amidst constant anxiety about not being able to reintegrate into her social environment.

In another scene of suffering, the entire Aliwa family lies in one hospital room after an Israeli bombing caught them sleeping on the third day of Eid. The father, Musa, the mother, Nermin, and their four children, including twins, suffer from complex fractures in their pelvises and feet, in an incident that turned the joy of Eid into a difficult treatment journey under the rubble and then on hospital beds.

As for seven-year-old Ghada Dababesh, the aggression took her right arm while she was playing on a swing in a school sheltering displaced people in the Al-Tuffah neighborhood. Ghada recounts in brief words how play turned into a nightmare of smoke and explosions, finding herself today suffering from what is medically known as 'phantom limb pain,' where her brain continues to send pain signals to an arm that is no longer there.

Ghada's psychological suffering goes beyond physical pain, as the little girl faces a feeling of being different from her peers and clear introversion for fear of bullying, while her family tries to support her through alternative educational centers. Her story confirms that injury is not just an organic amputation, but a forced قطع from practicing the simplest daily life details such as eating, writing, and playing.

In another corner of the Strip, the tragedy of complete orphanhood emerges in the story of the two children, Jana and Hazem Al-Ajal, who lost their parents and all their family members in a single bombing that killed 19 people. Jana, the only survivor of her immediate family, today suffers from behavioral disorders and severe emotional outbursts, and avoids talking about her parents in a desperate attempt to escape the bitter reality of loss.

Psychological specialists indicate that what Gaza's children are experiencing goes beyond traditional patterns of trauma, with Dr. Osama Emad describing the situation as 'complex and cumulative traumas.' These effects appear in the form of persistent nightmares, social phobia, and physical manifestations such as enuresis and stuttering, as well as a noticeable delay in linguistic and cognitive development due to deprivation of education.

Mental health experts warned that continuous exposure to scenes of violence and destruction generates aggressive and impulsive behaviors in children, especially in the absence of regular family and school support. The continuation of this reality without relief and systematic interventions may lead to the emergence of a generation suffering from long-term behavioral and cognitive disorders, threatening the social fabric of Palestinian society in the future.

Turning to numbers, medical sources in the Ministry of Health revealed shocking statistics reflecting the systematic targeting of childhood, with 21,638 children martyred since the beginning of the aggression. This toll represents about 30% of the total martyrs, indicating that children are the most affected group by the ongoing military operations in residential areas.

The data details that among the child martyrs, there are 6,410 children under the age of five, and 1,073 infants who were martyred before the age of one. Medical sources also recorded the deaths of 162 children due to hunger and severe malnutrition, a dangerous indicator of the deterioration of food security and the collapse of the health system in the besieged Strip.

As for the injured, more than 45,000 children have suffered varying injuries, including about 1,000 children who underwent amputations of their limbs, which represents 20% of the total recorded amputation cases. This group faces enormous challenges due to the lack of prosthetics and specialized rehabilitation centers, in addition to the need for 5,000 injured to travel urgently to receive treatment abroad.

The phenomenon of orphanhood has become a major social crisis, with estimates indicating that approximately 60,000 children have lost one or both parents during the months of war. These children today lack not only material care, but also the psychological and emotional protection provided by the family, placing a heavy burden on society and relief organizations with limited resources.

The stories coming from Gaza on the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression confirm that the war has not left a single home without affecting a child, whether by killing, injury, or orphanhood. The live testimonies of Sham, Ghada, and Jana remain a cry in the face of a global conscience that contents itself with commemorating annual events while the war machine continues to harvest the lives and futures of innocent children.

In conclusion, hope remains dependent on real international interventions that go beyond verbal condemnation to provide protection and treatment for thousands of children facing disability and psychological trauma. The current generation of Gaza needs a comprehensive national and international rehabilitation strategy to ensure that these physical and psychological scars do not turn into a permanent obstacle that deprives them of their natural right to life.

I was playing on the swing, then I heard an explosion and saw smoke, then they cut off my hand.

ARAB AND WORLD

Thu 04 Jun 2026 8:09 pm - Jerusalem Time

Washington Announces Ceasefire Agreement Between Lebanon and Israel: Exclusive Control for Lebanese Army and Disarmament of Militants

The US State Department revealed that the Lebanese and Israeli sides have reached a formal ceasefire agreement, following the conclusion of the fourth round of intensive talks hosted in Washington D.C. This development represents a fundamental shift in the course of the border conflict, establishing a new security framework aimed at ending the ongoing hostilities.

The announced agreement includes the establishment of specific experimental zones within Lebanese territory, where exclusive control and security authority will be vested solely in the Lebanese Army. Sources emphasized that this step aims to test the Lebanese state's ability to assert its effective sovereignty, paving the way for the expansion of this experiment in later stages.

The agreement stipulates the necessity of excluding all non-state armed factions and entities from these experimental zones, with mechanisms in place to ensure they do not return. Washington considers empowering the Lebanese Army to impose its full control as the cornerstone that will pave the way for a comprehensive and lasting peace and security agreement between the two parties.

The American statement affirmed that shaping the future of relations between Beirut and Tel Aviv is the exclusive responsibility of the sovereign governments in both countries, free from external interference. The United States also declared its categorical rejection of any attempts by states or non-governmental actors to hijack Lebanese decision-making or mortgage the country's future to regional agendas.

In the spirit of building trust, both parties reaffirmed the absence of any hostile intentions in their mutual relations, committing to continue direct negotiation channels to resolve all outstanding issues. This commitment aims to reach a comprehensive settlement that ends the state of conflict and ensures the stability of shared borders under direct international auspices.

The agreed-upon security framework includes explicit provisions related to dismantling the infrastructure of illegal armed groups and preventing their rearmament in any form. Sources clarified that any final agreement to cease hostilities must be signed directly between the two governments and under the direct supervision of the US administration to ensure precise implementation.

The talks witnessed a consensus among the participating parties in condemning Iranian movements in the region, with Tehran's attacks and activities described as a key factor in undermining stability in the Middle East. The US State Department also reiterated its absolute rejection of any parallel negotiation tracks that might distract efforts to reach a final solution through the American channel.

For its part, the Israeli side emphasized during the talks that achieving national security and preserving its territorial integrity are closely linked to the disarmament of Hezbollah and the complete dismantling of its military capabilities. Tel Aviv insists on the necessity of continuing direct negotiations under American leadership as the sole means to address security threats and achieve the vision of sustainable peace.

In contrast, the Lebanese delegation stressed the necessity of mutual respect for internationally recognized borders and the immediate and comprehensive cessation of all combat operations affecting national sovereignty. Beirut affirmed its adherence to the principles of its territorial integrity and the full assertion of state sovereignty over all areas, considering the strength of the national army as the sole guarantee of stability.

The future of the relationship between Israel and Lebanon must be decided exclusively by the sovereign governments of the two countries, and we reject any attempt to hold Lebanon's future hostage.

PALESTINE

Thu 04 Jun 2026 5:55 pm - Jerusalem Time

'Mosquito and Hornet' Protocols: How the Occupation Turns Palestinians into Human Shields in Gaza?

Recently, terms such as 'Mosquito Protocol' and 'Wasp Protocol' have emerged in Israeli military circles, describing a systematic policy based on using Palestinian civilians and prisoners as human shields. These practices, which have escalated during the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip, aim to reduce the risks faced by soldiers when storming buildings and sites suspected of containing explosive devices or ambushes.

The 'Mosquito Protocol' primarily relies on forcing Palestinian detainees to enter facilities and homes before the invading forces to verify that they are free of dangers. Human rights reports have documented that this practice has become common among military factions, where civilians are pushed into potential death zones to avoid casualties among Israeli soldiers.

The 'Wasp Protocol,' on the other hand, refers to a more complex operation involving the transfer of prisoners from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip specifically to carry out dangerous reconnaissance missions. These prisoners are forced to wear Israeli military uniforms and have cameras attached to their heads, in an attempt to camouflage and use them as field intelligence tools under threat of arms.

The Israeli organization 'Breaking the Silence' revealed that resorting to these methods came as a 'practical' alternative after the increasing losses among dogs trained to detect explosives. Former soldiers reported that military leaders did not consider any ethical implications for these practices, but rather considered them an effective means of preserving the lives of soldiers at the expense of Palestinian lives.

In a painful testimony, Palestinian Ayman Abu Hamdan recounted details of his detention in the summer of 2024, where he was forced to wear military clothes and search booby-trapped houses in the northern Gaza Strip. Abu Hamdan confirmed that the soldiers threatened him with direct killing if he refused to comply with orders, highlighting the extent of psychological and physical terror practiced against detainees.

For its part, journalistic sources quoted Israeli officers' confessions confirming that orders to use human shields were sometimes issued by high-level military commanders. These sources indicated that some units would assign at least one Palestinian to each military squad to ensure 'clearing' paths before the troops advanced.

The Hebrew newspaper 'Haaretz' documented the incident of a Palestinian prisoner's death in the southern Gaza Strip after a commander in the 'Nahal' Brigade used him to search a building. Investigations reveal that soldiers call these victims 'Shawish,' a derogatory term reflecting the cheapening of their lives in exchange for the safety of the attacking forces.

International media platforms also circulated photos and videos showing Palestinian prisoners, some injured, tied with ropes and forcibly pushed towards destroyed homes. These scenes clearly show surveillance cameras mounted on their bodies to transmit live and direct footage of what is happening inside the buildings to the army's control devices.

In a related context, the head of the Prisoners' Affairs and Ex-Prisoners' Commission affirmed that these practices often aim to eliminate prisoners after their missions are completed to bury the facts with them. He described this policy as an unprecedented moral decline and a full-fledged war crime that requires urgent international intervention to hold those responsible accountable.

Reports indicate that the use of children and adolescents was not excluded from these protocols, with sources quoting Israeli soldiers using teenagers as young as 16 as human shields. These youths are placed in direct confrontation with death without any regard for international laws protecting minors in armed conflicts.

Legally, the use of civilians as human shields constitutes a blatant violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. These actions are considered war crimes that do not expire, as international laws prohibit endangering the lives of civilians or prisoners for military objectives.

In conclusion, the testimonies of survivors and investigative reports leaked from within the Israeli army remain conclusive evidence of the 'Mosquito and Wasp' methodology. As the war continues, human rights demands are escalating for an independent international investigation into these violations, which redefine the concept of crimes against humanity in the modern era.

You have no other choice, do it or we will kill you.

ARAB AND WORLD

Thu 04 Jun 2026 5:55 pm - Jerusalem Time

New York Times: Trump Administration Ignored Intelligence Warnings Preceding Iran's Closure of Strait of Hormuz

The 'New York Times' revealed in an extensive report that the administration of US President Donald Trump ignored clear intelligence and military indicators that preceded the outbreak of confrontation with Iran. The newspaper explained that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard conducted massive maneuvers under the title 'Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz' in mid-February, which served as a final warning that Washington did not take seriously enough.

With the outbreak of war, Iranian forces were able, within a few days, to impose complete control over the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to target oil tankers with swarms of fast boats and drones. This move led to a complete paralysis of international navigation and a crazy surge in energy prices, putting the White House before a strategic challenge it had not accurately calculated.

Three months after the crisis, Tehran is now using its grip on the Strait as its most important leverage in negotiations regarding its nuclear program. President Trump's reaction reflected a state of severe annoyance, as he described Iranian leaders as 'crazy bastards' on social media platforms, threatening them with 'hell' unless the waterway was opened immediately.

For their part, former US officials who participated in war scenario simulations confirmed that what happened was not surprising, as studies for many years concluded that closing the Strait would be the inevitable Iranian response to any American attack. Dennis Ross, former National Security Council official, stated that the focus was always on the Strait as the first expected Iranian reaction in any conflict.

In a related context, former National Security Advisor John Bolton confirmed that Trump had been fully aware of this possibility for many years. Bolton expressed his surprise at the administration's lack of preparedness for this outcome, especially since the Strait of Hormuz had always been at the heart of discussions related to the regime change plans in Tehran that he had promoted.

In contrast, White House spokeswoman Olivia Wells defended the administration's position, asserting that prior planning was in place and that the President was aware of Iran's intentions to obstruct navigation. She indicated that US forces took preemptive measures to destroy Iranian mine-laying vessels, but the reality on the ground proved more complex than expected.

Observers believe that Trump fell into the trap of underestimating Iran's defensive capabilities, while overestimating the US military's ability to forcibly reopen the Strait when needed. It seems that some officials in the administration based their assessments on the false premise that Tehran would not close the Strait because it would represent 'economic suicide' for them, as they rely on it for their oil exports.

But Tehran surprised American military planners by relying primarily on coastal missiles and low-cost drones instead of entirely on traditional naval mines. This tactical shift made it difficult for traditional defense systems to secure large tankers, as drones provided the ability to continuously harass navigation without high costs.

The roots of this geographical dilemma date back to the Cold War era, where approximately 20% of global oil supplies pass through this narrow strait. Despite historical warnings issued by former presidents such as Barack Obama, the recent escalation, which included airstrikes that killed senior Iranian leaders, pushed Tehran to resort to its most extreme military options.

Former CIA analyst Kenneth Pollack indicated that the American pursuit of regime change is what prompted the Iranians to decide to close the Strait as an existential option. It seems that Trump had hoped for a rapid collapse of the Iranian government that would prevent it from carrying out its threats, encouraged by the Prime Minister of the occupation, Benjamin Netanyahu.

On the political front, Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced pressure from Democratic senators to ensure that no concessions would be made to Iran in exchange for opening the Strait. Rubio had previously stated that closing the Strait would unite the world against Iran, but reality showed significant hesitation from international allies to engage in direct military confrontation.

Despite Trump's announcement of warships escorting oil tankers, this step was not effectively translated on the ground due to the high risks. Washington's attempts to form an international coalition also encountered British and French conditions demanding a political agreement first, leaving the United States to face the crisis alone.

Saudi Arabia, according to the report, warned of the risks of military escalation spiraling out of control, which prompted Trump to backtrack on 'Operation Freedom' to rescue stranded tankers. This hesitation reflected the gap between the administration's escalatory rhetoric and its actual ability to secure international waterways in an unconventional war.

In conclusion, the newspaper stressed that any unilateral American attempt to open the Strait would require a large-scale ground and air operation to clear the Iranian coast of missile platforms and drones. This completely contradicts Trump's election promises to end 'endless wars' and avoid involvement in major military conflicts in the Middle East.

It is impossible to believe that Trump was surprised by the closure of the Strait; the more important question is why the administration was not prepared for this inevitable outcome?

PALESTINE

Thu 04 Jun 2026 5:09 pm - Jerusalem Time

On the Day of Victims of Aggression.. Gaza Children Face a War of Annihilation That Robs Them of Their Right to Life and Education

The international community's commemoration of the 'International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression' coincides with a catastrophic reality experienced by hundreds of thousands of children in the Gaza Strip, where the Israeli war machine has turned their lives into a series of displacement and deprivation. While the United Nations established this day in 1982 to highlight the suffering of children in conflicts, Gaza's children find themselves outside the scope of international protection amidst widespread destruction that has affected their homes and schools.

Field data confirms that the basic priorities for children in the Strip have shifted from playing and learning to the arduous search for a livelihood and a drink of water among the rubble. Thousands of young children spend long hours in queues or moving between dilapidated displacement tents that lack the most basic necessities for a dignified life, reflecting the depth of the humanitarian crisis imposed by the ongoing aggression.

Official statistics issued by medical and human rights sources indicate that the war of annihilation has claimed the lives of more than 21,000 Palestinian children, a number that reflects a direct targeting of the future generations in Gaza. Among these martyrs, there are approximately 19,000 school students who dreamed of a stable educational future before the occupation's aircraft destroyed their dreams and schools over their heads.

The Israeli killing machine did not differentiate between age groups, as reports documented the martyrdom of more than 450 infants, and over a thousand children who had not yet completed their first year. Bombing operations also affected more than 5,000 children under the age of five, highlighting the extent of brutality in dealing with unarmed civilians in populated areas.

In addition to the martyrs, the war left more than 44,000 children with varying injuries, many of whom suffer from permanent disabilities and deprivation of necessary medical care. The collapsed health system faces severe difficulties in providing treatment to these injured due to the systematic targeting of hospitals and the prevention of essential medical supplies from entering.

Starvation has emerged as one of the cruelest tools of war, with medical sources recording the deaths of more than 200 children due to severe malnutrition and dehydration inside shelters and tents. This suffering is exacerbated by the tight siege that prevents sufficient food aid from reaching them, placing thousands of other children under the threat of slow death.

On the social front, the war has left a major humanitarian tragedy with approximately 58,000 children losing one or both parents, finding themselves facing the burdens of life without family support. These orphans live in harsh psychological and social conditions, as displacement centers lack psychological and social support programs capable of accommodating this magnitude of trauma.

The educational process in the Gaza Strip suffered a devastating blow, after most schools were either turned into rubble or overcrowded shelters for displaced people. Hundreds of thousands of students have been deprived of their right to education for the second consecutive year, threatening the loss of an entire generation and the spread of illiteracy and ignorance due to the deliberate destruction of educational infrastructure.

Experts and psychologists warn of the long-term repercussions that this war will have on the mental health of children who have witnessed scenes of killing and destruction daily. Repeated exposure to bombing and the loss of personal safety instills deep psychological disorders in young children that may last for decades, unless urgent intervention is made to end their suffering.

Medical sources reported that the aggression has not completely stopped despite announced agreements, with 947 Palestinians martyred and thousands more injured since October 2025 due to ongoing Israeli violations. These figures confirm that the policy of direct targeting of civilians, especially children, continues in various forms, disregarding all international laws.

In displacement camps, children are forced to walk kilometers to fetch water for their families, or search through piles of waste for materials that can be used for heating or selling. This bitter reality has robbed children of their childhood and turned them into forced laborers in an environment that lacks the simplest public safety standards, amidst the spread of diseases and epidemics.

The International Day of Children Victims of Aggression remains a cry in the face of a global conscience that stands helpless to stop the bloodshed in Gaza. With the ongoing repercussions of the war of annihilation, the Palestinian child remains the weakest link, paying the highest price with their lives and future amidst a suspicious international silence regarding the crimes committed against humanity.

More than 21,000 children have been martyred since the beginning of the annihilation, including approximately 19,000 school students, amidst international silence and the exacerbation of the humanitarian crisis.

PALESTINE

Thu 04 Jun 2026 5:09 pm - Jerusalem Time

The sole survivor of the Labad family.. Child Hala wakes up to the tragedy of her family's annihilation in Tal al-Hawa

Nine-year-old child Hala Hassan Rabah Labad woke up to a tragic reality after losing her entire family in an airstrike that targeted their home in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City. Her small world instantly transformed from family warmth to harsh solitude, as she became the sole survivor of a massacre that erased her family members' names from the Palestinian civil registry. Hala is now in Al-Shifa Hospital, surrounded by bandages and shock, completely unaware that the night she spent with her sisters was their last farewell.

Rescue and search operations under the rubble in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood stopped at Hala's body, which was still breathing, to emerge from the debris carrying an unhealing scar of loss. Medical sources described the child's condition as physically stable but suffering from deep psychological trauma due to the explosion that shook her bed and ended the lives of everyone she loved. This tragedy comes at a time when the targeting of unarmed civilians in densely populated residential areas of Gaza City is escalating.

The tragedy of the Labad family occurred as part of a series of bloody massacres committed by the occupation army on Thursday dawn, where human rights and field organizations monitored 12 new violations of the ceasefire agreement in the Strip. These violations included intense artillery shelling and gunfire, in addition to direct targeting of inhabited residential apartments. These attacks caused a state of panic among citizens who had hoped for relative calm after the recent understandings.

Medical sources at Al-Shifa Hospital reported the martyrdom of 9 people and the injury of 15 others with varying degrees of wounds, as a result of warplanes targeting four residential apartments in the western and southern areas of Gaza City. The raids were not limited to the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood but also affected an apartment belonging to the Al-Ghoul family in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, and another belonging to the Muhanna family near the Abu Yousef Al-Qouqa roundabout in Al-Shati camp. These simultaneous attacks reflect a determination to inflict the greatest possible human losses among civilians.

The suffering of the residents of the Gaza Strip continues with ongoing airstrikes targeting residential buildings without prior warning, raising the daily toll of child and female victims. Field sources confirm that targeting the family of child Hala and other families represents a blatant violation of international and humanitarian laws. Amidst this escalation, the fate of survivors like Hala remains suspended between the pain of loss and the challenges of survival in an environment destroyed by the Israeli war machine.

The world of child Hala transformed from family warmth to absolute silence, leaving her as the sole witness whose breath was snatched from the rubble of complete orphanhood.

ARAB AND WORLD

Thu 04 Jun 2026 5:09 pm - Jerusalem Time

Unprecedented American Pressure on Muscat to End its Neutrality Towards Tehran

International press reports have revealed an escalation in tensions between Washington and Muscat, as the Sultanate of Oman faces increasing pressure from the United States due to its adherence to a traditional policy of neutrality in the escalating conflict with Iran. This pressure comes amidst American accusations that Muscat maintains close relations with Tehran and avoids taking decisive stances against its activities in the region.

Informed sources reported that Omani officials moved from the first days of the confrontation to open secret channels of communication with Tehran, in a diplomatic effort to contain the repercussions of the military conflict. These efforts succeeded in securing air corridors for some Gulf countries, which Muscat considered a success reflecting its position as a trusted mediator between the two parties to the conflict.

However, the American administration began to view this neutrality as an indirect alignment with the Iranian side, which prompted Washington to exert intense pressure for a clearer stance. President Donald Trump's administration went further by hinting at imposing economic sanctions, and even issuing military threats based on intelligence information.

American intelligence reports claim that Muscat was considering joining an Iranian plan aimed at imposing financial fees on ships crossing the strategic Strait of Hormuz. For its part, the Omani authorities completely denied these allegations, affirming their full commitment to the freedom of international navigation and their intention not to impose any financial restrictions on ships.

In the context of the official response, Omani Information Minister Abdullah Al-Harrasi affirmed that his country is ready to work with the United States and all international partners to enhance regional stability. Al-Harrasi explained that Muscat always seeks to protect common interests and prevent any disturbances that could threaten the security of the sensitive region.

Oman's strategy throughout the war has been based on maintaining a delicate balance between its historical alliance with Washington and its geographical and political ties with Tehran. Muscat believes that this approach offers the only opportunity to maintain stability and open avenues for diplomatic solutions away from the language of weapons.

Despite this approach, the Sultanate has been subjected to sharp criticism from Washington and some regional allies who demand a tougher stance towards Iran. Muscat fears that abandoning its neutrality could turn it into a direct target for Iranian responses, as happened with other countries during previous periods of tension.

For her part, researcher Sanam Vakil believed that the threats issued by the Trump administration reflect an American conviction that the Sultanate has become closer to Tehran than it officially declares. She pointed out that Omani policy is currently subject to unprecedented American scrutiny that affects the constants of its non-aligned foreign policy.

It was noted that Oman avoided issuing direct condemnations of Iran regarding the attacks targeting maritime navigation or the missile strikes that the region has recently witnessed. This position is consistent with Omani diplomatic traditions that prefer to keep channels of dialogue open with everyone to avoid sliding into a comprehensive confrontation.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi had called from the beginning of the conflict for the necessity of avoiding escalation, warning that the continuation of the confrontation weakens the entire region. Al-Busaidi also put forward the idea of reviewing regional security relations with international powers in light of the rapid developments taking place on the scene.

In contrast, sources recorded that Iran directed fewer strikes towards Omani interests compared to its neighbors, which reinforced American suspicions about the nature of the understandings between the two countries. However, officials confirmed that Muscat provided limited logistical support to American forces at the beginning of military operations without direct involvement.

US President Donald Trump sparked widespread controversy by hinting at the possibility of military strikes against Oman if its cooperation with Tehran's plans in the Strait of Hormuz was proven. Treasury Secretary Scott Pisent also threatened economic sanctions, before receiving official assurances from Omani Ambassador Talal Al-Rahbi denying those intentions.

Omani diplomacy is currently working to contain this crisis through an international campaign that highlights the Sultanate's role in protecting navigation and ensuring the flow of global trade. These efforts include coordination with the United Nations to ensure the safe passage of food and humanitarian aid ships heading to the African continent.

In conclusion, these pressures revealed serious challenges facing Muscat in maintaining its historical role as a regional mediator amidst the sharp polarization. It appears that the trust gap between Washington and Muscat has widened, especially after Oman refrained from signing international statements condemning Iranian naval movements.

Omani policy towards Iran has opened the door to unprecedented American scrutiny of a country that has long built its foreign policy on neutrality.

PALESTINE

Thu 04 Jun 2026 5:09 pm - Jerusalem Time

Chair of the British Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee: London Failed Palestinians and Allowed Israel to Evade Punishment

Emily Thornberry, Chair of the British Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee for the Labour Party, directed sharp and unprecedented criticism at her country's government, accusing it of failing to take effective measures to pressure the Israeli occupation. Thornberry considered that London failed to defend the principles of international law and let down the Palestinian people amidst the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Sources indicated that these statements came during an event organized by Medical Aid for Palestinians and the Council for Arab-British Understanding in Westminster. The Labour MP attacked what she described as 'hesitation and lack of ambition' in British foreign policy towards the Palestinian issue, emphasizing that current stances do not rise to the level of crimes committed on the ground.

Thornberry criticized the way US President Donald Trump handled the Gaza file, especially after his announcement of a ceasefire. She said that this announcement did not change the tragic reality, but rather caused a decline in international attention to the issue while the killing machine continues to claim the lives of Palestinian civilians daily.

Sources noted that Thornberry had not previously directed this level of public criticism at her government's Middle East policy, which gives her statements significant political weight within the Labour Party. This shift comes at a time when popular and political pressures are increasing to take firmer stances against ongoing Israeli violations.

Regarding the decision to recognize the State of Palestine, Thornberry clarified that the step taken by the government eight months ago was important but remained 'ink on paper.' She affirmed that the absence of political will prevented this recognition from turning into an integrated political path that would push towards achieving a two-state solution or change the bitter reality experienced by Palestinians.

The British MP stressed that talking about a ceasefire in Gaza completely contradicts the facts on the ground and reports from the Strip. She pointed out that hundreds of Palestinians were killed in the period following Trump's truce announcement, which proves the lack of seriousness of these announcements in protecting civilians or stopping the bloodshed.

Thornberry also addressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statements about controlling large areas of the Gaza Strip, considering them evidence of the occupation's complete sense of impunity. She affirmed that the absence of international accountability is the primary driver for the continuation of settlement and aggressive policies in the occupied territories.

The MP expressed her deep disappointment with London's stance on international law, noting that Britain, which claims to defend international justice, failed the Palestine test. She said that this historical shortcoming contributed to leaving the Palestinian people alone in facing one of the most horrific stages of abuse and forced displacement.

Thornberry criticized the British government's delay in responding to the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion on the illegality of the occupation, despite hundreds of days having passed since its issuance. She called for the necessity of accepting the court's legal conclusions and translating them into immediate practical steps, including a comprehensive review of relations with entities associated with settlements.

The Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee demanded a comprehensive ban on the import of products originating from illegal Israeli settlements. She stressed the need to impose strict sanctions on individuals and entities involved in settlement activity, and to prevent British companies from participating in any activities that support the perpetuation of the occupation.

Thornberry called on the British government to lead an international movement in cooperation with countries that have recently recognized Palestine to form a united front against settlement expansion. She affirmed that the goal should be to make the occupation economically and politically costly to the extent that it forces Israel to reconsider its expansionist policies in the West Bank.

The MP warned against the repetition of the Gaza scenario in the West Bank, where Palestinian families are subjected to displacement and systematic killing amidst suspicious international silence. She said that merely issuing written condemnations is no longer acceptable, and that delay in serious international action will lead to humanitarian catastrophes that cannot be remedied in the future.

In conclusion of her statements, Thornberry called on London to play an active leadership role instead of merely observing or following US policies. She affirmed that the time has come to prove Britain's ability to have a real impact on the course of events and protect what remains of opportunities to achieve justice for the Palestinian people.

It is worth noting that these criticisms come amidst a severe deterioration in humanitarian conditions within the Gaza Strip, where displaced people live in harsh conditions amidst widespread destruction. These statements place the British government under increasing pressure to review its foreign policies and adopt positions consistent with its international legal and moral obligations.

Britain has fallen short in fulfilling its responsibilities towards the Palestinians, and this shortcoming has contributed to their abandonment during one of the most difficult stages in their modern history.

PALESTINE

Thu 04 Jun 2026 5:09 pm - Jerusalem Time

Health in Gaza: 11 martyrs in one day, total toll exceeds 72,000

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip reported in its daily statistical update that hospitals received 11 martyrs and 32 injured as a result of attacks carried out by the occupation forces during the past twenty-four hours. These injuries and deaths come amidst ongoing military operations targeting various areas of the Strip, exacerbating the already deteriorating humanitarian crisis.

Official data issued by the Ministry revealed that the number of victims since the eleventh of last October, the date associated with the start of ceasefire understandings, has risen to 947 martyrs and 2,935 injuries. Medical teams and rescue crews have also been able to recover 781 bodies from various sites that had been bombed at earlier times.

Regarding the cumulative toll since the aggression erupted on October 7, 2023, medical sources confirmed that the number of officially documented martyrs has reached 72,956. Meanwhile, the number of injured and wounded individuals dealt with by the dilapidated health system has risen to 173,043 people, suffering from injuries of varying severity.

The Ministry emphasized in its statement that there are large numbers of victims who are still missing, with many trapped under the rubble of destroyed homes or in rugged roads. Civil defense and ambulance crews face enormous challenges preventing them from reaching these targeted areas to recover bodies or provide relief to trapped injured individuals.

Field reports indicate that the continued Israeli shelling directly hinders any attempts to recover victims, increasing the likelihood of a rise in the number of martyrs due to bleeding or lack of immediate medical care. Health authorities appeal to the international community to intervene to secure safe corridors for rescue teams to carry out their humanitarian missions in the affected areas.

Amidst these horrific figures, the Gaza Strip is experiencing a state of paralysis in vital facilities, with remaining hospitals overcrowded with patients and wounded amidst a severe shortage of medical supplies and fuel. Sources confirm that the health situation has reached unprecedented catastrophic stages threatening the lives of thousands of injured people who require urgent surgical interventions.

A number of victims are still under the rubble and in the streets, amidst the difficulties faced by ambulance and civil defense crews in reaching them.

PALESTINE

Thu 04 Jun 2026 5:09 pm - Jerusalem Time

From Gaza to Capitol Hill.. A military doctor approaches a historic victory for Palestine in New Jersey elections

American military doctor and surgeon Adam Hamawi is close to achieving an unprecedented political accomplishment in New Jersey, as he leads the scene in the Democratic Party primaries. This race is seen as a vital indicator of the growing strength of the pro-Palestine movement and its ability to mobilize support within American electoral bases.

Media reports indicate that Hamawi, who is competing in the state's 12th district, represents a new voice challenging traditional influence within the party. This district, which includes vital areas such as Trenton and Princeton University, is considered one of the most secure areas for Democratic candidates in the upcoming general elections.

Hamawi's professional background gives him exceptional weight; he is a former military surgeon in the US National Guard who served on several international fronts. However, the major turning point in his career was his volunteering for medical work in the Gaza Strip during the recent Israeli aggression, where he witnessed the extent of the humanitarian tragedy firsthand.

During his presence in Gaza, Hamawi found himself trapped with his colleagues inside a hospital after the occupation forces took control of the border crossings. This harsh experience prompted the American doctor to return to his country carrying a living testimony, trying to convey the voice of the victims to the decision-makers in Washington.

Hamawi faced a great shock upon his return, as he found widespread disregard from members of Congress who refused to listen to his field testimony about the collapse of the health system in Gaza. This frustration was the main driver for his decision to run for elections, believing that real change requires a direct presence in Parliament.

Hamawi emphasizes in his statements that what he witnessed in the Palestinian territories is unlike any other conflict he participated in around the world, considering that the issue goes beyond relief work to the necessity of amending American foreign policies. Observers believe that his victory will represent the first breakthrough for a candidate who places Gaza at the heart of his electoral agenda.

For his part, Democratic Representative Ro Khanna considered that Hamawi's rise reflects a radical shift in the awareness of the Democratic voter towards the Palestinian issue. Khanna pointed out that voices that have long been marginalized are finally getting a real platform to influence the party's future directions.

In contrast, Hamawi's rise did not go unopposed, as pro-Israel organizations launched intensive media campaigns against him. These attacks attempted to link the American doctor to controversial entities based on opinion articles and old reports lacking direct evidence, in an attempt to hinder his electoral progress.

Hamawi responded to these accusations by describing them as a systematic smear campaign targeting his clear political positions on human rights in Palestine. He affirmed that the medical institutions he previously worked with had received official recognition from American administrations, including the administration of former President Bill Clinton.

The Democratic candidate stressed that using the accusation of terrorism against Muslims has become an exhausted political tool to silence critical voices. He clarified that he will continue to be proud of his military and medical service to the United States, and these pressures will not deter him from continuing his political path.

Hamawi's campaign relies heavily on small donations and grassroots support, away from the influence of major lobbying groups like 'AIPAC'. He has succeeded in building a broad coalition that includes leftist forces and human rights organizations that see him as an honest alternative to the traditional party establishment dominated by political money.

Hamawi's resume stands out as an additional strength, as Senator Tammy Duckworth gratefully recalls how he saved her life in Iraq. This record of field military service makes it difficult for his opponents to question his patriotism or loyalty to supreme American interests.

Political circles are cautiously awaiting Tuesday's results, as Hamawi competes with Sue Altman in a heated race that reflects the division of Democratic elites. His supporters believe that his arrival in Congress will give a strong boost to the progressive current that demands an end to unconditional military support for the Israeli occupation.

In conclusion, Adam Hamawi represents a model for a candidate who combines professional competence and ethical commitment to international humanitarian issues. His success in reaching Washington will undoubtedly mark a milestone in the history of Palestinian and Arab political representation within the American legislative institution.

I witnessed the horrors of wars in many regions, but what I saw in Palestine was completely different, and human rights work alone is not enough to bring about change without reaching decision-making centers.

PALESTINE

Thu 04 Jun 2026 2:11 pm - Jerusalem Time

Political Protests in New York Following Smotrich's Participation in a Pro-Occupation March

Political circles in New York City witnessed a storm of sharp criticism following the appearance of Israeli occupation finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, at a march organized to support Israel. American officials expressed their displeasure at the presence of the minister, known for his far-right stances, considering that his presence casts a negative shadow on the event.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul directly condemned Smotrich's participation, noting that his rhetoric is characterized by extremism and incitement to societal divisions. Hochul affirmed that the principles promoted by the Israeli minister completely contradict the human and political values adopted by New York State, despite her continuous affirmation of general support for Israel.

For his part, New York City Councilman Zahran Mamdani expressed his deep shock at Smotrich's invitation to participate in such a public event in the city. Mamdani explained in press statements that he chose not to participate in the march in protest against the presence of figures representing an extremist current that rejects peaceful solutions.

Mamdani considered that the vision presented by the occupation finance minister reflects a dangerous trend towards the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, as this vision ignores basic human rights. He added that the policies advocated by Smotrich disregard the safety of civilians and children who pay the price of the armed conflict.

Informed sources indicated that these criticisms reflect a growing gap between Democratic leaders in the United States and far-right ministers in the occupation government. Observers believe that Hochul's and Mamdani's statements represent increasing political pressure aimed at isolating extremist voices that hinder international efforts for de-escalation.

In a related context, the march witnessed a clear division among participants, with some expressing reservations about the presence of Smotrich, who faces international accusations of inciting violence and expanding settlements. These developments come at a sensitive time for US-Israeli relations due to differing positions on managing the conflict in the region.

In conclusion, this incident highlights the extent of the challenges faced by Israeli right-wing figures in international forums, especially in major cities that include political and ethnic diversity. Smotrich's positions remain a subject of wide debate, with critics arguing that they contribute to fueling the conflict and undermining opportunities for stability in the Middle East.

Smotrich represents extremist and divisive rhetoric, and his positions are inconsistent with the values on which New York is founded.

OPINIONS

Thu 04 Jun 2026 1:29 pm - Jerusalem Time

A New Future, A New Path


Gershon Baskin

There are moments in the life of nations when the old political language no longer works, old leadership no longer inspires, and old excuses no longer convince anyone. Palestinians are living through such a moment. So are Israelis. The region stands before a rare opening to turn tragedy into a new political horizon.The war in Gaza must genuinely end not only with the silence of guns but with the birth of a new political reality. Otherwise, it will become another chapter in the same failed history: destruction, mourning, promises of reconstruction, more occupation, more extremism, more despair, and then the next explosion. That is not a future. That is a trap.Two political arenas now require immediate work.The first is the Palestinian arena. The Palestinian people must hold new national elections – presidential and legislative – as Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas promised in his letter to French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman one year ago.According to that promise, elections must take place within one year of the end of the war in Gaza. They should happen before the next Israeli elections. Palestinians must not arrive at Israel’s next political turning point with the same exhausted leadership, the same paralyzed institutions, and the same claim that “there is no Palestinian partner.”Those elections must include Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. These are not three separate political realities. They are one integral territorial unit – the territory of the future State of Palestine. Any political process that treats Gaza as separate will not create a Palestinian state. It will create another temporary arrangement that collapses under the weight of its own dishonesty.A new Palestinian election law must be passed before elections are held. The principle must be clear: one authority, one law, one gun. No armed group, militia, organization that maintains weapons outside state authority, or party that supports armed struggle should be allowed to run. Democracy cannot be the license to undo itself. It cannot be built under competing guns.This is not a demand made for Israel’s benefit. It is a Palestinian national interest. A state that does not control its weapons is not a state. A government that cannot enforce the law equally on all is not a government. A political system in which armed factions compete with elected institutions is not democracy. It is a formula for civil conflict, corruption, foreign manipulation, and permanent weakness.The Palestinian people deserve better: a democratic, accountable, modern political system that serves citizens rather than factions, protects freedoms, encourages pluralism, and opens a real horizon for independence, prosperity, and peace. Women, young people, civil society, the private sector, professionals, and local leaders must not be decoration in the next Palestinian political system. They must be at its center.The recent Fatah Central Committee elections proved, once again, Fatah’s irrelevance as a vehicle for the future. The old guard reelected itself. The same faces, habits, political culture, and inability to speak to the younger generation, to Gaza, to the diaspora, to women, to professionals, and to people who want dignity and honest government rather than slogans and patronage.Fatah was once a national liberation movement. Today it looks like the party of yesterday. It still carries historical legitimacy, but that is not enough to govern the future. A movement that cannot renew itself cannot renew a people. A leadership afraid of democracy cannot build a democratic state. A party whose internal elections reproduce the past cannot lead a national rebirth.That is why the Palestinian people need new directions, new parties, and a new language of national responsibility. They need movements that speak honestly about freedom, democracy, rule of law, economic development, equality, nonviolence, regional integration, and peace. They need politics that does not confuse militancy with strategy, slogans with achievement, or survival of the leadership with liberation of the people.That is also why ideas such as “New Path,” founded by a large group of representatives of the younger generations like former Fatah activist Samer Sinijlawi, matter. A new Palestinian political path must be built on the conviction that the Palestinian people deserve a democratic, just, and modern system – one that serves citizens rather than factions; protects freedoms; rejects violence as a political tool; and seeks independence through diplomacy, regional partnership, and accountable governance.The European Union must use its influence on Abbas and the Palestinian Authority; Arab countries must do the same. Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Morocco should speak with one voice: Palestinian national renewal is essential, not just cosmetic political and institutional reforms. Elections must be held. The law must be changed. The old system must open the door to a new generation.The second arena is regional and international. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and Jordan must coordinate a serious political campaign toward US President Donald Trump. Recent events have shown that Trump has influence over Israeli decision-making that no other world leader has. No Israeli prime minister – Benjamin Netanyahu or anyone else – can ignore a determined American president, especially if backed by the Arab region and a clear package of security, normalization, development, and peace.The next Israeli government will not voluntarily end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, accept a Palestinian state, or dismantle permanent occupation. It will move only if there is a powerful external framework that makes the price of refusal higher than the price of agreement. That framework must come from Washington, but it must be pushed, shaped, and supported by the Arab region.The Arab states should tell Trump directly: The time has come to turn points 19 and 20 of his own plan into an action plan. A “credible pathway” to Palestinian self-determination and statehood cannot remain a phrase in a document. A “political horizon” cannot remain diplomatic decoration. These words must become a timetable, a mechanism, and a binding political process.The future Palestinian state must be part of a broader regional architecture: demilitarized, deradicalized, democratic, and developed. It must live alongside Israel within a regional system of security cooperation, economic development, diplomatic relations, and mutual recognition. This is about a new Middle East in which Israeli security and Palestinian freedom are interdependent realities.Palestine will never be free if Israel does not have security. Israel will never be secure if the Palestinians do not have freedom. That must guide the next phase.This will not happen by itself, by Israeli generosity, or by more international statements. It will happen only if Palestinians, Arabs, Europeans, Americans, and peace-minded Israelis act together with urgency and clarity.The sequence is clear. End the war in Gaza for real. Pass a new Palestinian election law based on one authority and one gun. Build new Palestinian political forces. Hold Palestinian elections in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. Push Trump to move Israel toward a real two-state agreement. Embed that agreement in a regional security and economic architecture.Make the promise of Palestinian statehood real – not someday, not after another generation of suffering, but within a defined political process that begins now. Somewhere in that process, Israel will also hold elections and, hopefully, remove the disastrous Netanyahu-Bezalel Smotrich-Itamar Ben-Gvir regime.The region does not need another slogan. It needs a new path. The Palestinians do not need recycled leadership. They need a new future. Israelis do not need another illusion that the conflict can be managed forever. They need to understand their security depends on Palestinian freedom.A new future is possible. But it will not be given to us. It must be made. And it must begin now.


ARAB AND WORLD

Thu 04 Jun 2026 1:23 pm - Jerusalem Time

For the first time in its history.. Germany loses the race for non-permanent membership in the Security Council

The halls of the United Nations General Assembly witnessed a major diplomatic surprise, as Germany failed to secure a non-permanent seat on the International Security Council for the term extending between 2027 and 2028. This failure came after fierce competition within the Western European and Other States group, where Berlin was unable to garner enough votes to surpass its competitors on the old continent.

According to the ballot results announced by the international organization, Portugal garnered 134 votes, while Austria received 131 votes, granting them the right to represent the European group in the Council. In contrast, Germany's tally stopped at only 104 votes, which represents its first electoral loss in this race since it began its ambitious participation to be present at the center of international decision-making.

Germany, which represents the largest economy in the European continent and a prominent member of the G7, is considered one of the basic pillars of regional and international security and politics. Despite its long history of occupying this seat for six previous terms, the recent voting results reflected shifts in the balance of power and support within the 193-member General Assembly.

In a related context to the elections, Zimbabwe succeeded in securing the seat allocated to the African continent after obtaining the support of 182 countries, benefiting from being the sole candidate from the continent. Trinidad and Tobago also secured representation for the Latin American and Caribbean region by obtaining 181 votes in a ballot that saw no significant competition for this geographical seat.

As for the Asian group, matters remained pending a second round of voting after none of the candidates managed to decide the outcome from the first round. The Philippines and Kyrgyzstan are competing for the seat allocated to the continent, amid international anticipation for what the upcoming decisive rounds will yield to complete the structure of non-permanent members for the next phase.

It is scheduled that the five countries that will be finally chosen will begin their official duties on January 1, 2027, where they will replace Pakistan, Somalia, Greece, Denmark, and Panama. These countries will join the list of current non-permanent members whose membership ends at the end of 2027, namely Bahrain, Colombia, Latvia, Liberia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This shift comes at a sensitive time when the United Nations faces increasing pressure to reform the Security Council and expand the representation of developing countries and major non-permanent states. Germany has been one of the most prominent advocates for this reform for many years, but its recent failure may cast a shadow over its diplomatic efforts aimed at strengthening its leadership role within the international institution.

These results are a diplomatic surprise for Germany, which has held a non-permanent seat on the Security Council during six previous terms and continuously calls for the reform of the international system.

ARAB AND WORLD

Thu 04 Jun 2026 1:23 pm - Jerusalem Time

British Museum postpones lecture on 'Jewish History' amid fears of protests

The international cultural scene witnessed widespread controversy following the British Museum's decision in London to postpone an academic lecture dedicated to 'Ancient Jewish History'. This step comes amidst escalating global boycott indicators against the occupying state at both official and popular levels, leading observers to consider the decision a reflection of the international climate rejecting the occupation's policies, even in aspects that appear purely academic or historical.

Israeli security affairs expert, Uzi Rabi, considered what happened at the British Museum a momentous event that goes beyond a mere scheduling glitch. Rabi explained that the museum is not just a lecture hall, but a global cultural institution and a temple of memory and antiquities, noting that postponing the discussion of the ancient 'Kingdoms of Israel and Judah' reflects the conflict's shift from the contemporary political sphere to a struggle over the origin of the historical narrative.

Israeli sources indicated that this postponement represents a kind of 'cultural strangulation' that does not rely on direct censorship orders or judicial decisions, but rather stems from a general atmosphere imposed by popular pressure. These sources believe that venerable cultural institutions now prefer to avoid holding events related to Jewish or Israeli identity for fear of disruption by protesters opposing the occupation's policies and the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip.

In the context of justifying the position, it is believed that the British Museum management seeks to protect its staff and public from any potential security tensions that might accompany the event. However, Israeli criticism sharply rebuked this approach, considering that the true test of culture lies in the ability to withstand 'external noise' rather than succumbing to threats, which raises questions about who has the right to determine what is said within the halls of global museums.

Hebrew reports claimed that the message conveyed to Jews in Britain through this measure indicates that the dissemination of their culture has become conditional on the approval or silence of others. Analysts claimed that turning a lecture on ancient Near Eastern history into a 'security event' reflects a crisis in Western society that has begun to move away from the traditional Israeli narrative, and subjects history to 'political filtering' resulting from the current conflict in the Palestinian territories.

Observers believe that this development is not just a fleeting incident, but part of a broader context of avoiding support for the occupation in major Western capitals, including London. This incident confirms the growing criticism directed at Israel in international academic and cultural forums, where crimes committed against the Palestinian people have become an obstacle to passing any activities that attempt to promote the Israeli narrative, even if they are cloaked in the guise of ancient history.

Postponing this lecture means that Israel is facing cultural strangulation, as a venerable institution prefers to postpone a historical event for fear of threats from opponents.

PALESTINE

Thu 04 Jun 2026 1:23 pm - Jerusalem Time

Settlement plan to seize historical lands between Sebastia and Al-Masoudiya in Nablus

The area located between the towns of Sebastia and Al-Masoudiya, northwest of Nablus city, is facing a new settlement threat, as the occupation authorities seek to confiscate vast areas of private agricultural land. Farmer Jawad Ghazal stands as a witness to this encroachment, expressing his shock at the decision to transform his land, inherited from his family, into a settlement park serving settlers and preventing its legitimate owners from accessing it.

Sources reported that the occupation uses the pretext of tourism projects and public parks as a cover to impose its full control over archaeological and agricultural sites in the Nablus countryside. The towns of Sebastia and Al-Masoudiya are among the most targeted areas due to their historical significance, and residents fear that these projects will isolate Palestinian villages and stifle the urban and agricultural expansion of the indigenous population.

Speaking about the daily suffering, Ghazal affirmed that farmers in that area live in a constant state of anxiety due to repeated attacks by the occupation army and settlers. He pointed out that he personally was subjected to abuse and severe beating about a year ago while on his land, considering that these practices primarily aim to intimidate Palestinians and push them to voluntarily leave their properties to facilitate settlement expansion operations.

Observers warned that the establishment of the settlement park would paralyze the movement of farmers and deprive dozens of families of their sole source of livelihood, which depends on the bounty of this land. This step is considered part of a systematic policy to change the demographic and geographical character in the northern West Bank, threatening to cut off geographical communication between the Palestinian towns surrounding Nablus city.

Despite the continuous threats, the residents of the area cling to their historical right to their lands, affirming their continued steadfastness in the face of Judaization schemes. Farmers appealed to the international community for the necessity of intervention to stop the theft of lands that is taking place under misleading tourism pretexts, stressing that this land represents their identity and memory that cannot be relinquished, no matter the sacrifices.

This land is part of our lives and our identity, and we will not give up our right that we inherited from our fathers and grandfathers, no matter the pressures.

ARAB AND WORLD

Thu 04 Jun 2026 1:23 pm - Jerusalem Time

Marwahin Massacre 2006: When Occupation Missiles Targeted White Flags and Children's Bodies

The massacre in the border town of Marwahin, which occurred on July 15, 2006, remains a living testament to the brutality of the Israeli occupation during the July War. On that day, the forced displacement route from the village towards the city of Tyre turned into a mass execution site for civilians, for whom raising white flags above their simple truck offered no protection.

The tragedy began when the occupation army issued strict orders to the residents of Marwahin to evacuate their town immediately under threat of intense shelling. Faced with this threat, the residents initially tried to take shelter in a UN facility, but circumstances prevented them from staying there, forcing them to risk taking the rugged displacement route.

The displaced boarded a 'pickup' truck belonging to a citizen nicknamed 'Abu Kamel', and children filled the back of the truck, clearly visible to any reconnaissance aircraft. Despite witnesses' affirmations of white flags being raised, symbolizing their civilian identity, the occupation's missiles did not hesitate to tear apart the bodies of those on board at the intersection of the town of Tayr Harfa.

This treacherous attack resulted in a horrific massacre that claimed the lives of 23 civilian martyrs, including 14 children and 7 women, according to documentation by international human rights organizations. Entire families were annihilated in this targeting; the Al-Abdullah family lost 13 of its members, while 6 members of the Ghannam family were martyred in a matter of moments.

Marwahin village is located in the Tyre district, atop Mount Balat overlooking northern occupied Palestine, and is inhabited by about 3,000 people from the 'Al-Qleitat' clan. This village is considered one of the sensitive border points that has faced repeated aggressions, but the 2006 massacre remained the deepest wound in the memory of its residents and South Lebanon in general.

Survivors recount painful details of those moments, where the truck's engine broke down minutes before the targeting, making it an easy target for Israeli malice. While 'Umm Kamel' survived because she chose to stay in a neighboring village, she lost her husband and grandchildren who had come to spend their summer vacation in their peaceful village.

The occupation forces were not content with the initial shelling; they prevented rescue and civil defense teams from reaching the site for long hours by targeting anything that moved. The bodies of the martyrs remained in the open for a period before being transported and temporarily buried in a mass grave in the city of Tyre, to later return to the soil of Marwahin after the cessation of aggression.

This massacre comes within the context of the July War, which erupted after Hezbollah's capture of two Israeli soldiers on July 12, 2006. Israel then launched a comprehensive aggression that lasted 33 days, causing massive destruction to Lebanese infrastructure and leading to the martyrdom of about 900 citizens and the injury of thousands.

Historical reports indicate that the Israeli aggression that year was not merely a reaction, but a premeditated military operation aimed at breaking the will of the Lebanese. However, the Israeli 'Winograd' Committee later concluded that the war constituted a major strategic failure for the military and political establishment in Tel Aviv.

Combat operations ended on August 14, 2006, following the issuance of UN Resolution 1701, which stipulated a cessation of hostilities and an expansion of UNIFIL's mandate. Despite the silence of the guns, stories like the Marwahin massacre continued to remind the world of the occupation's blatant violations of international humanitarian law.

Documenting these massacres in the 'Unforgettable Memory' files aims to preserve the Palestinian and Lebanese narrative in the face of attempts to erase it. The massacre in Marwahin is not just a number in the records of war, but a story of children slaughtered while dreaming of returning to their homes in peace.

Marwahin borders the villages of Al-Zaloutiyeh, Shehin, and Ramiya, forming part of the western sector that witnessed the fiercest confrontations and aggressions. The relationship of the people of these villages with their land remains strong, despite their proximity to Israeli settlements built on stolen Lebanese and Palestinian lands such as 'Zar'it'.

Every year, the people of the South remember their victims with tears and prayers, affirming that the right to justice does not expire. The images of the funerals of the Marwahin martyrs, which filled the streets of Tyre and the village later, remain an icon of Lebanese steadfastness in the face of a killing machine that does not distinguish between a child and a fighter.

Marwahin today, with all its pain and hope, remains a witness to a pivotal stage in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Through the sacrifices of its people, it confirms that white flags may be raised in a plea for peace, but in the eyes of the occupation, they are merely a signal to identify new targets for shelling.

The white flags raised above the displaced persons' truck did not deter the occupation army from committing one of the most heinous massacres of the July War.

PALESTINE

Thu 04 Jun 2026 1:23 pm - Jerusalem Time

Clearance Crisis Suffocates Health Sector: Depletion of Hundreds of Medicines Threatens Lives of Thousands of Patients in Palestine

The Palestinian Ministry of Health has issued an urgent distress call, warning of a real danger threatening the lives of thousands of patients in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In an official statement, the Ministry clarified that central warehouses are suffering from a severe shortage of hundreds of essential medicines and medical supplies, placing the health system before an unprecedented challenge that could lead to the cessation of vital services.

Official bodies attribute this escalating crisis to the continued detention of Palestinian clearance funds by the Israeli occupation authorities, which are taxes collected by Tel Aviv on behalf of the Authority. The value of these detained funds has exceeded five billion dollars, as Israel has refused to transfer them for over a year, causing a near-complete paralysis of the general budget and limiting its ability to meet its obligations to suppliers.

According to statistical data issued by the Ministry, 726 types of medicines and medical consumables have reached zero stock in warehouses, including emergency medicines and essential treatments. Reports indicate that 180 types of essential medicines out of 520 have completely run out, which portends the suspension of scheduled surgical operations and a decline in the quality of healthcare provided in government hospitals.

Cancer patients are the most affected group by this crisis, with about 4,000 patients facing an imminent threat to their lives due to the absence of treatment protocols. The Ministry revealed the depletion of 50 types of oncology drugs out of 97 types allocated for this purpose, meaning that more than half of the patients are deprived of their chemotherapy doses and supportive treatments essential for their continued lives.

The crisis has not stopped at medicines only but has extended to laboratories and specialized medical consumables, with 79 types of laboratory materials and 265 medical consumables running out. This severe shortage has led to widespread disruption in diagnostic and surgical services, exacerbating the suffering of patients who rely on dialysis sessions and chronic treatments that require precise and continuous medical follow-up.

Informed sources confirm that clearance funds represent the backbone of the Palestinian economy, accounting for up to 68% of total public revenues. The detention of these funds for more than 15 months has led to a sharp decline in the ability to pay dues to local and international pharmaceutical companies, causing a severe slowdown in supply operations and strategic stock reaching critical levels that threaten the complete collapse of the health sector.

The lives of thousands of patients, including more than 4,000 cancer patients, are now threatened due to the depletion of hundreds of types of medicines and medical consumables from our warehouses.

ARAB AND WORLD

Thu 04 Jun 2026 1:23 pm - Jerusalem Time

Israeli raids target southern Lebanon amid sharp division in Tel Aviv over ceasefire agreement

Israeli occupation drones intensified their aerial raids this Thursday morning, targeting several towns and villages deep in southern Lebanon, just hours after leaks about a conditional ceasefire agreement reached under American auspices. Field sources reported that the shelling hit civilian cars and vital sites in the Nabatieh district, resulting in civilian casualties and extensive material damage.

In details of the attacks, an Israeli drone targeted a car on the Zifta-Al-Numairiya road, injuring three people with varying degrees of severity, who were subsequently transferred to the hospital. The raids also hit the Kafr Tibnit roundabout and the emergency intersection between Kafr Rumman and Haboush, in a field escalation that reflects the occupation's insistence on continuing military operations despite international diplomatic efforts.

For its part, the Israeli occupation army confirmed in an official statement the continuation of its operations within Lebanese territory, claiming that the goal is to remove what it described as threats directed against its citizens. This stance raises major questions about the seriousness of commitment to any ceasefire understandings recently announced in Washington, portending a new round of escalation.

On the internal political front in Israel, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir launched a scathing attack on the agreement, describing it as a 'grave mistake' that would allow Hezbollah to regain its military strength. Ben-Gvir demanded an emergency meeting of the ministerial cabinet ('the War Cabinet') to vote against the agreement, considering the Lebanese state a partner in military operations and not to be trusted.

Ben-Gvir accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of succumbing to pressure from the American administration, indicating that Netanyahu's advisors are leading him towards wrong strategic choices. The extremist minister stressed the necessity of saying 'no' to the United States in critical moments, warning that Hezbollah would return next time more dangerous and powerful if this agreement were passed.

In a related context, Israeli Security Minister Yisrael Katz stated that Israeli forces would not withdraw from the positions they had seized in southern Lebanon, specifically the strategic Beaufort Castle area. Katz clarified that military operations would continue against Hezbollah's infrastructure, emphasizing that field action would remain in place based on Israel's perceived security necessities.

Journalistic sources indicated that Katz tried to balance defending the government's decision, based on the importance of the alliance with Washington, with asserting no concession of field gains. This contradiction in Israeli statements reflects the extent of the division within the ruling coalition on how to deal with the northern front and the required security guarantees.

On the Lebanese side, civil defense bodies in the Tyre region issued urgent appeals to displaced persons, urging them to wait and not return immediately to their border villages. The bodies warned of the dangers of war remnants and unexploded bombs at raid sites, emphasizing the need to await official statements that define safe return routes to preserve the lives of citizens.

In the field, Hezbollah announced the execution of a series of military operations during the night hours, targeting gatherings of occupation soldiers in the areas of Yahmar al-Shaqif, Debbine, and al-Qantara. The party also confirmed its confrontation with an advanced Israeli drone of the 'Hermes 450' type in the western sector's airspace, forcing it to leave Lebanese airspace, as part of what it described as defending Lebanese territory.

The agreement is unenforceable, the Lebanese state is not trustworthy, and Hezbollah has not left the area south of the Litani River.

ARAB AND WORLD

Thu 04 Jun 2026 1:22 pm - Jerusalem Time

In a historic move, the US House of Representatives votes to restrict military action against Iran

The US House of Representatives set a historic precedent by passing a resolution explicitly calling for a halt to military action against Iran, a move observers considered a direct rebuke to the war policies pursued by President Donald Trump's administration. This move reflects a growing tension within Congress regarding the executive branch's right to unilaterally make decisions of war and peace, away from legislative oversight.

The voting results showed a sharp division, with the resolution passing by a majority of 215 votes to 208 against. The session witnessed a notable breakthrough within the Republican Party after four representatives joined the Democratic bloc. These representatives, Thomas Massie, Brian Fitzpatrick, Tom Barrett, and Warren Davidson, broke party lines to support restricting the president's military powers in the Iranian file.

These developments come at a sensitive time when Washington is witnessing a deep constitutional debate about the scope of the White House's powers in managing external military operations. Lawmakers from both parties are demanding the necessity of establishing controls to prevent a slide into large-scale armed conflicts without obtaining prior and clear authorization from the legislative authority, especially in light of the mutual threats with Tehran.

On another front, the Senate made progress in a parallel legislative path related to the financial settlement bill, where the majority voted 53 to 46 to move forward with discussions. This week is expected to see a series of open votes on amendments to the bill, which primarily aims to secure the necessary funding for US immigration agencies.

In internal electoral affairs, the Iowa primary elections sparked a major surprise with Republican Representative Randall Feenstra's loss to businessman Zach Lahn in the gubernatorial race. The importance of this result lies in the fact that Feenstra had direct and strong support from President Donald Trump, raising questions about the extent of Trump's influence on party bases.

The Democratic Party also made additional gains in Iowa, where Representative Josh Turk secured a comfortable victory over his progressive opponent, Senator Zach Wahls. This victory boosts Democrats' hopes of potentially shifting the balance of power in the Senate during the upcoming general elections, by snatching seats historically counted on the other side.

As for California, uncertainty still hangs over the results of major races, including the state governor and Los Angeles mayor, with reports indicating that vote counting may take several days. However, current Mayor Karen Bass's qualification for the runoff in the mayoral race has been confirmed, amidst anticipation of the final results in this pivotal state.

This vote reflects the escalating division within Congress regarding the administration's powers to use military force without clear authorization.

ARAB AND WORLD

Thu 04 Jun 2026 1:22 pm - Jerusalem Time

Israeli Supreme Court rules against legality of preventing Red Cross visits to Palestinian prisoners

The Israeli Supreme Court, on Wednesday evening, issued a unanimous and definitive ruling that the government's policy of preventing the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) from visiting Palestinian prisoners in prisons and detention centers is illegal. The court ordered the immediate cancellation of this ban, considering that the measures imposed since October 7, 2023, lack the necessary legal basis for their continuation.

Media sources reported that the court accepted a petition challenging the strict restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities following the outbreak of the war on the Gaza Strip, which included depriving prisoners of communication with the international committee and preventing the latter from being provided with any information regarding their health conditions or places of detention. Deliberations indicated that these restrictions remained in effect even after Israel recovered a number of its detainees in the Strip.

In the reasoning for the ruling, drafted by Justice Dafna Barak-Erez, the court stressed that the executive authority failed to provide convincing practical or legal justifications to support the continued isolation of prisoners from international oversight. The judge clarified that the court had given the government multiple deadlines to update its position in line with field changes, but the government's responses remained insufficient to prove the legitimacy of this ban.

The judicial body affirmed that the primary pretext initially relied upon by the government was linked to the issue of Israeli detainees in Gaza, but it considered that this link does not constitute a permanent legal basis for depriving Palestinian prisoners of their fundamental rights. The court concluded that the adopted policy starkly contradicts applicable laws and international obligations imposed on the occupying authorities.

For its part, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) promptly welcomed this judicial decision, affirming its full readiness to resume its humanitarian tasks within Israeli detention centers as soon as possible. The committee clarified in press statements that this ruling restores the اعتبار (credibility/importance) of its pivotal role in monitoring detention conditions and ensuring the treatment of detainees in accordance with international standards approved by the Geneva Conventions.

The ICRC stressed that the Fourth Geneva Convention grants it an inherent right to visit prisoners and conduct private interviews with them without supervision, which represents a fundamental guarantee to prevent violations. It indicated that it would immediately begin coordinating with the relevant Israeli authorities to arrange a schedule of field visits to prisons holding thousands of Palestinian detainees, including those from the Gaza Strip.

Human rights organizations and prisoners had initiated a petition to the court in February 2024, protesting the complete absence of the Red Cross's role and the escalating reports of ill-treatment. This legal action came amidst a wave of international and local criticism of the tragic conditions inside prisons, which witnessed an unprecedented deterioration in the level of medical and living services provided to prisoners.

These judicial developments come at a sensitive time, as the Israeli Prison Service faces increasing accusations of adopting retaliatory policies against detainees since Itamar Ben-Gvir took over the Ministry of National Security. These pressures coincide with human rights reports documenting systematic torture in army detention camps, making the resumption of Red Cross visits a vital step to document and stop these violations.

The government failed to provide a legal basis to justify the continuation of this policy, despite being given repeated opportunities to present its justifications and update its position.

PALESTINE

Thu 04 Jun 2026 9:24 am - Jerusalem Time

Displacement Plans and Occupation Expansion: Gaza Faces a Strategy of 'Gradual Strangulation'

Amidst the international community's preoccupation with complex regional issues, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued escalating statements paving the way for a new phase of aggression against the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu confirmed that his forces, which previously controlled half of the Strip's area, have expanded their influence to 60%, with clear instructions issued to the army to advance and control 70% of the total area, in a clear violation of previous understandings.

The statements did not stop at the military field dimension but extended to demographic objectives, as Security Minister Israel Katz tweeted, confirming the government's commitment to preventing any civilian or military control by Hamas. Katz clearly indicated that the 'voluntary displacement' project for Palestinians is still ongoing and will be implemented at the time and in the manner Israel deems appropriate, reflecting a complete disregard for international positions rejecting displacement.

This harmony between Netanyahu and Katz reveals a strategy of 'strangling Gaza' through gradual occupation, where the former undertakes the task of military expansion on the ground, while the latter promotes the ultimate goal of emptying the land of its inhabitants. These moves come at a time when Israel continues to use starvation, denial of medicine, and control over the movement of individuals as essential tools of war to subdue the popular base.

On the ground, statistics issued by the Ministry of Health indicate a dangerous escalation in the number of casualties, with May recording 119 martyrs, the highest toll since October. Since the signing of what is known as the 'Trump Agreement,' 933 Palestinians have been martyred and thousands more injured, proving that political agreements have not stopped the killing machine but have turned it into a daily attrition at a calculated pace.

International media reports indicate that what Israel calls 'voluntary migration' is nothing but a systematic ethnic cleansing operation, as forcing residents to leave after destroying their homes and infrastructure and depriving them of food cannot be considered a free choice. The choice between death under bombardment or exile is the epitome of coercion and compulsion practiced against unarmed civilians.

Within the military establishment, voices are emerging pushing for a comprehensive military decisive action, with generals like Yaniv Asor leading a push for a wide-ranging offensive aimed at completely disarming the resistance within a few weeks. Despite preoccupation with other fronts, this option remains strongly on Netanyahu's table, especially with the approaching 2026 election calculations and his need to achieve a decisive 'victory image.'

Multiple strategies are being discussed within Israeli leadership circles, prominent among them the 'gradual plan' which proposes dividing the Strip into geographical and demographic squares to be dealt with separately. This plan is based on evacuating residents from north to south and destroying all remaining signs of life in the evacuated areas to ensure no return, while opening security routes for inspection and external displacement.

The occupation authorities deliberately obstruct any reconstruction projects or the establishment of an organized administrative authority within the Strip, with the aim of perpetuating chaos and making Gaza an uninhabitable place. This approach aims to push families to leave for fear of their children's future, which represents the core of the Israeli plan to liquidate the Palestinian issue through its Gaza gateway.

In contrast, Israeli security elites believe that time is on their side in the absence of real international or regional pressure, and with the army controlling all crossings and entry points to the Strip. Nevertheless, the steadfastness of the people of Gaza on their land remains the sole and primary obstacle to the implementation of these infernal plans, which requires Palestinian and Arab support that goes beyond verbal statements.

The current phase is the most difficult and decisive test for the Palestinian cause, as Netanyahu races against time to transform the temporary occupation into a permanent reality imposed by force of arms. The bet remains on the ability of the Palestinian people in Gaza to thwart displacement plans, considering that their presence on their land is the only key to protecting the future of Palestine and its national identity.

Katz affirmed Israel's intention to expel Palestinians under the guise of 'voluntary migration,' but the choice between humanitarian catastrophe or exile is not a voluntary choice but ethnic cleansing.

PALESTINE

Thu 04 Jun 2026 7:15 am - Jerusalem Time

Occupation withdraws Division 252 from northern Gaza and deploys Division 99 to continue operations

The Israeli occupation army announced on Wednesday the withdrawal of military Division 252 from areas in the northern Gaza Strip, after four months of intensive military operations. These operations caused massive destruction to residential neighborhoods and infrastructure, leaving widespread waves of forced displacement of Palestinian residents in those areas.

Sources reported that the withdrawn division, which comprises more than 10,000 soldiers, has completed its assigned combat missions in the north. A statement by the occupation army clarified that Division 99 will take over in the next phase, to follow up on military activities and ensure continued field control in the area that witnessed fierce confrontations.

The occupation army command claimed that Division 252 forces, during their presence, managed to destroy weapons depots and observation points, in addition to targeting above-ground and underground infrastructure. However, military sources did not provide any independent field evidence to support these claims, amid continuous obfuscation regarding the true extent of losses or details of the remaining military deployment within the Strip.

In a related context, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed his field ambitions, indicating that Israeli forces currently control about 60% of the Gaza Strip's area. Netanyahu affirmed that the military plan aims to raise this percentage to 70% in the coming period, which reflects the occupation's intention to expand the area of permanent military presence.

These field movements come at a time when reports indicate that Israel had previously announced its control over 53% of the total area of the Strip. The discrepancy in the announced figures shows the extent of confusion or continuous changes in field plans that follow partial withdrawals linked to political understandings or international pressures, including what is known as the former US administration's plan.

Regarding human losses, the toll of the ongoing aggression since October 7, 2023, continues to record catastrophic numbers, with Palestinian medical sources reporting the martyrdom of about 73,000 and the injury of 173,000 others. Statistics confirm that the vast majority of victims are women and children, amid destruction affecting nearly 90% of vital and civilian facilities in Gaza.

Despite the official announcement of a ceasefire that came into effect in October 2025, the field reality indicates the continuation of military operations and intermittent shelling. The occupation also continues to impose strict restrictions on the entry of humanitarian and medical aid, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and leading to more civilian casualties daily due to hunger and lack of healthcare.

Division 252 completed its mission in the northern Strip, and Division 99 will take over the continuation of military operations in the area during the next phase.

PALESTINE

Thu 04 Jun 2026 7:15 am - Jerusalem Time

Erosion of purchasing power of salaries.. Decline of the dollar doubles the burdens of families in Gaza

The effects of the decline in the dollar exchange rate against the shekel in the Gaza Strip are no longer confined to economic figures, but have extended to deeply impact the living conditions of thousands of families. These families primarily rely on salaries, aid, and external financial transfers denominated in the American currency. With the ongoing war and the deterioration of income sources, the actual value of these funds is eroding against the requirements of the local market, which deals in shekels.

Citizen Wael Al-Hosari recounts the suffering of his family, which used to depend on the income of his wife and daughter from working in international institutions. The decline in the exchange rate has led to an increasing inability to cover basic needs. Al-Hosari explained that the family was forced to forcibly reorder its priorities, by reducing expenses to a minimum and focusing only on food and medicine, while postponing the purchase of any other necessities that were considered normal before the crisis.

In another humanitarian context, the story of child Imran emerges, who needs continuous physical therapy sessions due to an injury he sustained during the war. His mother, Sumaya Salman, says that a donor from outside the Strip covers the treatment expenses through dollar transfers. However, the decline in the exchange rate has reduced the family's ability to provide full sessions, transportation, and medicines, threatening a health relapse for the injured child.

For his part, economic analyst Ahmed Abu Qamar confirmed that the decline of the dollar has direct effects on a wide segment of Palestinians, especially given the local market's reliance on three main currencies. He pointed out that this decline leads to the erosion of personal savings and weakens the purchasing power of employees who receive their salaries in hard currency, especially with the insane rise in commodity prices within the Strip.

Abu Qamar explained that the degree of impact varies among social groups, with the greatest harm falling on families awaiting remittances from abroad or who have dollar-denominated bank savings. In contrast, families who receive their income in shekels and have dollar-denominated obligations may benefit, but the overall framework indicates a decrease in real income and an increase in economic pressures on a society already exhausted by the ravages of war.

In light of these fluctuations, economic experts advise the necessity of diversifying savings and not relying on a single currency to avoid sudden losses. The option of distributing savings among the dollar, shekel, and gold remains the most effective way to reduce risks, although employees who receive their salaries in dollars find themselves with very limited options to face this difficult living reality.

The decline of the dollar was not just a change in currency prices, but turned into a daily burden that affected the standard of living and family stability.

PALESTINE

Thu 04 Jun 2026 7:14 am - Jerusalem Time

A delegation from Ein Arik Village Council visits the Chinese Embassy in Ramallah

A delegation from Ein Arik Village Council met with the Embassy of the People's Republic of China to the State of Palestine today, Wednesday. They were received by Li Xin, Chargé d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Palestine, and embassy advisors. The two sides discussed joint cooperation and ways to enhance it to serve the local community.

The delegation, which included village council members Randa Al-Halawa and Mahmoud Shuqair, and advisory committee members Husni Shilo and Abdullah Awad, and was attended by Mr. Muhammad Alloush, briefed them on the general situation of the town and current needs in the field of infrastructure and projects.

The meeting also touched upon the fierce attack carried out by settler militias in the villages west of Ramallah, specifically Ein Arik village, where settler militias assault citizens and prevent them from accessing their lands, in addition to the spread of pastoral settlement outposts that have begun to control vast areas of the village's lands.

The delegation informed Mr. Xin about the situation in the town and briefed him on the projects that the council is implementing with many specialized bodies, most notably the preservation of heritage sites in the old town, as well as agricultural projects.

The delegation noted that Ein Arik represents a microcosm of the homeland in coexistence, brotherhood, harmony, and joint work among all its people.

They appreciated all the efforts made by the People's Republic of China in supporting the State of Palestine in international forums, as well as its continuous support for the institutions of the State of Palestine and the local community, and the depth of relations between the two countries and the two brotherly peoples.

Chargé d'Affaires Li Xin welcomed the visiting delegation and expressed full readiness for cooperation and support from the People's Republic of China for some of the town's needs, in addition to including them in the upcoming budgets for projects supervised by the embassy for funding and implementation.

Both sides affirmed their keenness to continue cooperation and joint work in the areas of training and programs available through the embassy, contributing to the development of human resources skills.

At the end of the meeting, the village council delegation presented a commemorative gift to Ambassador Li Xin.

PALESTINE

Thu 04 Jun 2026 7:14 am - Jerusalem Time

Netanyahu: Hamas disarmament to be coordinated with US 'Peace Council'

The head of the Israeli occupation government, Benjamin Netanyahu, revealed the mechanisms for coordination with the American side regarding the future of the Gaza Strip, indicating that decisions related to disarming the Hamas movement and the timing of implementing these steps will be made through direct consultations with the "Peace Council." Netanyahu clarified that this council, established by US President Donald Trump last year, is responsible for overseeing the stages of a gradual ceasefire.

Netanyahu affirmed, in an interview with American media, that his government is in the process of determining the nature of the upcoming moves in the Strip in cooperation with the newly established American body, stating: "We will make the decision regarding the timing and type of actions in Gaza in agreement with the Peace Council." These statements come amidst the absence of any immediate official comment from the Council or the US administration regarding the mechanisms of this field cooperation.

It is worth noting that the US administration had approved in mid-January a comprehensive structure for managing what it called the "transitional phase" in the Gaza Strip. This structure includes four main bodies: the Peace Council, the Gaza Executive Council, in addition to the National Committee for Gaza Management and the International Stabilization Force, which are the bodies aimed at shaping the new security and political reality in the Strip.

We must decide when to take action in Gaza, and we will determine its type with the Peace Council.

PALESTINE

Thu 04 Jun 2026 7:14 am - Jerusalem Time

The Health Sector in the West Bank Faces a 'Death Sentence': 80% of Medications Depleted and Debts Haunt the Ministry

The health sector in the West Bank is going through its most critical phase in decades, as medical sources revealed a severe deterioration in medication stocks, affecting the most vulnerable groups. The sources confirmed that the current crisis directly impacts the lives of thousands of patients, amid the Ministry's inability to provide essential treatments due to suffocating financial pressures. Official bodies are preparing to issue detailed statements clarifying the extent of the catastrophe, which could lead to a complete halt of vital services in government hospitals.

Figures released by the Ministry of Health indicate a huge gap in supplies, as the number of available medication types has decreased from 1260 to only 260 types on the shelves. This severe shortage has left more than a third of the essential medicines list with zero stock, including half of cancer medications and delicate medical consumables such as surgical sutures. The Ministry asserts that Israel's continued withholding of Palestinian clearance funds is the direct cause of this paralysis affecting the core of the medical system.

On the ground, the cries of patients and their families have grown louder, as those suffering from chronic diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis face the risk of slow death due to the interruption of biological treatments. Specialist doctors confirm that the absence of these medications, especially 'Infliximab', leads to severe and irreversible health relapses. Palestinian families are living in daily terror, unable to purchase alternatives from the private market, which is also suffering from a scarcity of supplies.

In parallel with the medication shortage, human resources are suffering from a severe salary crisis that has led to a comprehensive strike by doctors and nurses in the public sector since the beginning of May. Services in more than 400 government clinics and hospitals have been limited to emergency and life-saving cases only, exacerbating the suffering of citizens. Observers believe that this strike is a natural result of accumulated financial dues and the inability of employees to continue providing services under harsh living conditions.

In an attempt to contain the situation, the Ministry of Health formed a crisis cell to discuss ways to secure the minimum medical supplies with suppliers and private companies. These efforts face the obstacle of accumulated debts exceeding 2.6 billion shekels, including huge amounts owed to pharmaceutical companies that have lost their ability to import from abroad. The health scene in the West Bank remains dependent on the ability to release the withheld funds, amid warnings that lives do not wait for budgets or postponed political solutions.

All available solutions will not stop the crisis as long as Israel continues to withhold clearance funds, which represents a death sentence for Palestinian patients.

PALESTINE

Thu 04 Jun 2026 7:14 am - Jerusalem Time

Ben Gvir Vows to Silence Mosque Minarets: Israeli Legislative Moves Spark Widespread Palestinian Anger

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has once again stirred controversy and provocation after appearing in a video clip vowing to work towards silencing mosque minarets in the occupied Palestinian territories. The extremist minister claimed that the sounds of the Adhan (call to prayer) disturb him and prevent him from sleeping, affirming his determination to change this reality that has existed for decades.\n\nThese statements come in a heated political context, as the far-right government seeks to impose legal and on-the-ground restrictions on the religious and cultural manifestations of Palestinians. Observers considered Ben Gvir's remarks not merely a personal opinion, but a reflection of governmental trends aimed at curtailing freedom of worship under regulatory pretexts.\n\nOn the legislative front, the Israeli Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved a bill proposed by Ben Gvir's "Jewish Power" party, which aims to regulate the use of loudspeakers in places of worship. The new law requires obtaining prior and complex licenses before broadcasting the Adhan via external loudspeakers, placing mosques at the mercy of security decisions.\n\nThe draft law includes strict punitive provisions, granting the Israeli police broad powers to raid mosques and immediately stop loudspeakers if they are deemed to "violate" standards. The law also allows for the confiscation of sound equipment and the imposition of hefty fines that could exceed $17,000 on the authorities responsible for the mosque.\n\nFor his part, the Imam of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, affirmed his absolute rejection of these measures, which he described as aggressive towards Islamic holy sites. Sabri stressed that the Adhan is an integral part of faith and Sharia, considering that whoever is bothered by the sound of truth should leave the land rather than try to change its identity.\n\nIn a related context, the Chief Justice of Palestine, Mahmoud Al-Habbash, described the Israeli moves as a "declaration of religious war" explicitly targeting the essence of Palestinian existence. Al-Habbash indicated that these desperate attempts fall within a systematic policy to uproot Palestinians from their land and erase their historical and religious connection to their holy sites.\n\nThe reactions were not limited to the official level but extended to ignite social media platforms, where thousands of Palestinians and Arabs expressed their overwhelming anger at Ben Gvir's statements. Activists considered these steps to accelerate the state of explosion in the region, emphasizing that tampering with the Adhan is a transgression of all red lines.\n\nAnalysts believe that the timing of this law reflects the far-right's desire to escalate religious confrontation to win over hardline electoral bases. Concerns are growing that the final approval of the law in the Knesset could lead to a new wave of protests and confrontations in Jerusalem and the occupied interior.\n\nPalestinian territories are witnessing a state of alert amid the continuation of policies targeting national and religious identity, as citizens view the Adhan as a symbol of steadfastness and survival. Popular events confirm that attempts to silence minarets will be met with widespread popular resistance that refuses to compromise on the most basic rights to practice religious rituals.\n\nIn conclusion, the draft law awaits final readings in the Israeli Knesset, amidst international and regional warnings of the repercussions of tampering with the status quo in the holy cities. Ben Gvir's statements remain fuel that ignites the fuse of tension in a region already suffering from continuous on-the-ground escalation and suffocating political pressures.\n\nThe Adhan is an Islamic law and worship, in which the occupation authority has no right to interfere, and whoever claims it bothers them should leave.