French press sources revealed a state of embarrassment that prevailed in diplomatic circles following US President Donald Trump's request for leaders of Arab and Islamic countries to join the normalization path. The polite, though unofficial so far, refusal reflected a gap in visions between Washington and the region's capitals regarding the future of the conflict in the Middle East.

During a phone conference held by Trump last Saturday with leaders from Gulf countries, Pakistan, and Turkey, a long and surprising silence prevailed from the interlocutors. This silence came in response to Trump's proposal to normalize relations with Israel once an anticipated agreement with Iran is reached, which observers considered a leap over the complex reality on the ground.

Through his 'Truth Social' platform, Trump stressed that the countries participating in diplomatic efforts are obligated to sign the 'Abraham Accords' at the same time. The US President considered this step a repayment for the efforts made by the United States in trying to resolve the complex regional crises that have plagued the region for years.

Despite these pressures, the concerned countries maintained official silence, while their diplomatic circles began to explain the reasons for the impossibility of responding to the American demand at the present time. Trump's request primarily targets pivotal countries such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Qatar, given their strategic roles in mediation efforts with Iran and Hamas.

Regarding the Saudi position, attention is focused on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose country has maintained a steadfast and unwavering stance. Riyadh affirms that any step towards normalization is organically linked to an irreversible path towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, which the current Israeli government rejects outright.

Researchers believe that Benjamin Netanyahu's government and the Israeli Knesset have placed significant obstacles in this path after adopting resolutions rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state. This Israeli intransigence has made the issue of Saudi normalization a postponed matter, especially amidst the ongoing war and the fall of thousands of victims in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Reports indicate that Arab public opinion, angered by the continuous Israeli bombing, represents additional pressure on decision-makers in the region. Diplomatic risk at this time seems to have uncalculated consequences, especially with the growing gap between American promises and the tragic reality experienced by Palestinians under occupation.

Despite Gulf apprehension about Iranian policies, Saudi Arabia does not seem willing to engage in a security system led by Israel. Instead, Riyadh seeks to strengthen an Arab-Islamic Sunni axis that includes regional powers such as Egypt, Turkey, and Pakistan, away from absolute dependence on American-Israeli projects.

Former diplomats believe that regional competition between some Gulf capitals prevents the expansion of the 'Abraham Accords' in the way Trump dreams of. Experts described the US President's requests as lacking realism, especially when he previously suggested that Iran itself join these agreements, ignoring decades of mutual hostility.

Academic circles describe the current US administration as 'detached from reality' in its understanding of the dynamics of the new Middle East. The escalation initiated by Washington and Tel Aviv against Tehran has cost the region's countries dearly, making them more cautious about engaging in diplomatic adventures with uncertain outcomes.

In Pakistan, observers believe it is almost impossible to change foreign policy towards the Palestinian issue in response to fleeting desires from the White House. Popular and political sentiment in Islamabad rejects recognition of Israel without a just and comprehensive solution that guarantees the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people in their land.

It seems that Trump's attempts are essentially aimed at crafting a media narrative that shows the success of his strategy in containing Iran and reshaping the region. However, this illusion clashes with the realities on the ground, where the Palestinian issue remains the primary driver of stability or explosion in the Middle East, far from fragile normalization deals.

Normalization will not happen unless Israel is willing to commit to an irreversible path towards the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Alfat Al-Kurd, a field researcher at the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories (B'Tselem), presented a moving testimony documenting the scale of the tragedy experienced by the Gaza Strip under the ongoing genocide. Al-Kurd affirmed that women represent the most affected segment, paying the highest price for Israeli war crimes that systematically aimed to dismantle homes and society.

The researcher recounts her bitter personal experience, having lost her father, brother, and his family, who are still under the rubble, before being forced to displace six times within the Strip to escape the intense bombardment. Al-Kurd described the displacement journey from the Shuja'iyya neighborhood to Al-Shifa Hospital, then to Al-Maghraqa and Khan Yunis, reaching Rafah, where her family lived in tents lacking the most basic necessities for human life.

Human rights and UN data point to a catastrophic reality, where occupation forces have killed over 38,000 women and girls, while approximately 11,000 others have suffered permanent disabilities that will accompany them for life. These figures reflect a direct targeting of the Palestinian social fabric and the community's ability to continue, turning the lives of survivors into a bitter daily struggle for survival.

The testimony touched upon tragic stories of women who lost their children before their eyes, such as the story of Safaa Al-Farmawi, whose 15-year-old daughter, Ghazal, was martyred by Israeli army bullets while trying to obtain a food parcel in Rafah. This incident reflects the extent of the famine used by the occupation as a weapon of war, where the journey to find bread turns into a direct confrontation with death.

Women in displacement centers and tents suffer from inhumane conditions, lacking privacy and basic sanitation facilities, forcing many to use worn-out cloth pieces as alternatives for sanitary supplies. This bitter reality is accompanied by a complete collapse of the healthcare system, making pregnancy monitoring or obtaining necessary medical care impossible for thousands of pregnant women.

Severe malnutrition and a lack of essential vitamins have led to the spread of diseases among newborns, while mothers are unable to breastfeed their infants due to hunger and general physical weakness. Families face extreme difficulties in securing formula milk, which has become scarce, putting the lives of an entire generation of Palestinian children at stake amidst a deafening international silence.

Nabila Abdel Nabi, a mother of six, describes her life as having turned into a continuous tragedy and an endless hell, spending her nights crying over the plight of her family. These feelings reflect the state of existential doubt and uncertainty that dominates the women of Gaza, who have often become the sole breadwinners for their families after losing their men.

Women in Gaza issued an urgent appeal to the world, demanding an immediate end to the genocide that has stripped them of their homes, freedom, and privacy. The testimonies affirmed that steadfastness in the face of this escalating violence is a form of resistance, as women insist on preserving their identity and motherhood despite systematic Israeli attempts to erase Palestinian existence.

The genocide committed by Israel means the systematic dismantling of all aspects of life and the destruction of any possibility for a Palestinian future in the Gaza Strip.

Today, Israel is no longer facing a fleeting military or security crisis, but a deep moral and historical crisis that touches the very essence of the Zionist project itself, after the masks have fallen before the world, and the reality of the colonial and racist practices upon which the occupation state was founded, from its inception until today, has been exposed.

For many decades, the Zionist movement sought to present Israel as the "eternal victim" and the state representing Jews worldwide, exploiting the historical tragedy suffered by Jews in Europe during World War II to create unprecedented political, moral, and media immunity for itself. But what is happening in Palestine, especially in Gaza, has brought forth the great moral question before humanity: How can those who claimed to represent the historical victim practice such a degree of killing, starvation, destruction, and siege against an unarmed people under occupation?

The behavior of the occupation state, especially under the governments of the extreme religious and nationalist right led by Benjamin Netanyahu, reveals an arrogant mentality that considers Israel an entity above international law and above human values themselves. The Palestinian, in the extreme Israeli political and security discourse, is not seen as a human being with a natural right to life, freedom, and dignity, but as a demographic and security obstacle that must be subjugated, uprooted, or isolated.

Hence, war crimes and daily violations are no longer mere "military errors," but have become a systematic policy: killing civilians, destroying infrastructure, starving populations, targeting hospitals, torturing prisoners, and destroying the conditions for human life. These are practices that are no longer hidden from the world despite all attempts at media and political cover-up.

More dangerous than that, however, is that these policies are based, among wide segments of the Zionist and religious right, on a biblical and mythical narrative that considers Palestine a "promised land," and deals with Palestinians as mere "gentiles" who do not possess equal rights. Herein lies the danger of mixing religion, politics, and colonialism, when interpreted religious texts become a cover for settlement, uprooting, and military force.

However, this narrative is not exclusive to Jewish Zionism alone, but also intersects with evangelical Christian Zionist currents in the United States and Europe, which have linked support for Israel to religious doctrines and mystical prophecies, and have given the Zionist project broad political and ideological cover. This was clearly evident during the era of Donald Trump, who provided Israel with unprecedented political, strategic, and symbolic support.

But history holds its cruel ironies. Israel, which always tried to monopolize the role of the victim, has gradually begun to transform in the eyes of wide segments of global public opinion into a model of an occupation state, apartheid, and settler colonialism. This transformation is no longer limited to the peoples of the Arab and Islamic world, but has extended to Western universities, trade unions, human rights organizations, independent media, and even within Jewish circles themselves.

The Gaza war has revealed the extent of the moral contradiction within the Western system that speaks of human rights and democracy, while continuing to support the occupation politically and militarily. Therefore, the ready accusations of "anti-Semitism" are no longer able to silence free voices as before, because the world is increasingly distinguishing between Judaism as a respected heavenly religion and Zionism as a colonial and racist political project.

Here it must be clearly emphasized: rejecting the occupation and exposing its crimes does not mean hostility to Jews as Jews, but rather it is a humanitarian, moral, and legal stance against colonialism, discrimination, and organized violence. The Palestinian issue is not a religious conflict, but rather the issue of a people whose land has been uprooted, whose people have been displaced, and who continue to struggle for their natural right to freedom, independence, and self-determination.

History has proven that military force alone does not create legitimacy, and that all colonial projects, no matter how much military superiority and international support they possess, collapse when they lose their moral and human legitimacy. From South Africa to Algeria to other experiences of peoples, the moment the moral narrative collapsed was the beginning of the countdown to the collapse of systems of oppression and colonialism.

Today, Israel appears to be in an unprecedented historical dilemma: it possesses military power, but it is losing its moral image; it has official Western support, but it is losing global public opinion; and it triumphs with fire and destruction, but it defeats itself at the level of human consciousness and conscience.

As for the Palestinian people, despite the killing, siege, starvation, and attempts at annihilation, they continue to assert their historical and human presence, and affirm that peoples are not defeated as long as they cling to their right to life, freedom, and dignity.

By: Said Arikat

May 27, 2026

News analysis

Washington, D.C- When Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen published his sweeping denunciation of decades of U.S. policy toward Israel and Palestine, he did more than simply criticize Prime Minister Netanyahu. He effectively declared that the old bipartisan consensus is collapsing — and that the Democratic Party can no longer survive, politically or morally, by defending it.

The significance lies not just in what Van Hollen said in his article published in the New York Times on Tuesday, but in who is saying it. He is not a fringe activist but a senior Democratic senator from Maryland, a state embedded in Washington’s foreign-policy culture. His argument therefore carries the weight of an insider acknowledging that the architecture underpinning unconditional American support for Israel is no longer sustainable.

For decades, Democratic leaders tried to maintain two contradictory positions: professing support for Palestinian statehood while financing and diplomatically shielding Israeli governments that systematically destroyed its possibility. Van Hollen’s article openly admits this contradiction, puncturing one of modern American foreign policy’s central myths — that Washington was an honest broker.

His argument reflects a deeper societal shift. Poll after poll has shown a dramatic erosion of public support for Israel’s conduct in Gaza, especially among younger Americans, independents, Arab Americans, Black voters, and progressives. What was once near-automatic sympathy has increasingly been replaced by anger over images of devastated neighborhoods, starving civilians, bombed hospitals, and mass displacement. Van Hollen understands that this transformation is no longer marginal; it is structural.

That is why his language is strikingly direct. He does not merely criticize “excessive force.” He references apartheid in the West Bank, speaks of ethnic cleansing, and acknowledges that respected scholars and human rights organizations have concluded genocide may be occurring in Gaza. Such terminology would have been politically unthinkable for a mainstream Democratic senator only a few years ago.

Equally important is his recognition that Democratic administrations themselves bear responsibility. That admission breaks with the habit of portraying the crisis as solely the product of Republican extremism. Van Hollen argues that both parties enabled Israel’s trajectory toward permanent occupation and ultranationalism. His critique of former President Biden is especially notable: rather than a restraining force, Biden repeatedly failed to use American leverage even as Gaza was subjected to devastating collective punishment. This reflects growing frustration among Democratic voters who believe the administration’s rhetoric about human rights collapsed under the weight of unconditional military support.

That frustration became politically explosive during the 2024 election cycle. The war alienated large sections of the Democratic coalition, particularly young voters and Arab American communities in states like Michigan. Van Hollen explicitly warns that Democratic hypocrisy damaged the party’s credibility. This may be his most politically revealing point: the realization that support for Israel is no longer cost-free within Democratic politics.

For decades, organizations like AIPAC exercised enormous influence by framing criticism of Israeli policy as politically dangerous. Van Hollen openly challenges that structure of fear, arguing that Americans increasingly reject AIPAC’s positions. This signals an awareness that the lobby’s traditional power may be weakening, especially among Democratic voters who view Gaza through the lens of universal human rights rather than Cold War-era alliances.

Here the essay becomes historically significant. Van Hollen is signaling the emergence of a post-consensus Democratic foreign policy on Israel-Palestine. He is not advocating a revolutionary break with Israel itself and repeatedly affirms its right to security. But he argues that unconditional military and diplomatic protection must end. Conditioning arms transfers, recognizing a Palestinian state, sanctioning extremist settlers, and threatening consequences for annexation — once dismissed as politically radioactive — are now entering mainstream Democratic discourse.

The broader consequence may extend beyond Israel-Palestine. Gaza has become a moral test case for American credibility. Washington cannot claim to defend international law in Ukraine while appearing indifferent to mass civilian suffering in Gaza. Much of the Global South now sees American policy as deeply selective and hypocritical. Van Hollen appears to recognize that continuing this contradiction weakens American legitimacy internationally.

Yet the essay also reveals the limits of the Democratic establishment’s evolving position. Even while condemning Israeli actions in unusually harsh terms, Van Hollen still frames the two-state solution as the ultimate horizon, despite the reality that settlement expansion has fragmented the West Bank beyond territorial viability. Critics will argue that the political conditions for a genuine Palestinian state have already been systematically destroyed. Still, his willingness to acknowledge that failure distinguishes him from much of the Democratic leadership.

His most consequential line may be the warning that future Democratic presidential candidates will not be trusted if they supported bombing Gaza while refusing to confront Netanyahu’s policies. That sentence reads less like commentary and more like a declaration of ideological war within the party. He may be right. A generational rupture is clearly underway. Younger Americans increasingly do not view Israel through the emotional framework that shaped older generations after the Holocaust or the 1967 war. Instead, they see military occupation, asymmetrical violence, and a humanitarian catastrophe broadcast daily across social media. Attempts to suppress criticism by equating it automatically with antisemitism have begun losing effectiveness, especially among younger voters deeply suspicious of censorship and political double standards.

Whether Van Hollen’s vision ultimately prevails remains uncertain. The institutional forces defending the old order remain extraordinarily powerful. Congress is still heavily aligned with pro-Israel lobbying networks, and many Democratic leaders remain reluctant to challenge them openly. But something fundamental has undeniably shifted. A senior Democratic senator has now publicly declared that unconditional support for Israel has failed morally, strategically, and politically. More importantly, he is saying that millions of Americans already know it. That may prove the beginning of a profound realignment in American politics — one whose consequences will reverberate far beyond Gaza, Israel, or even the Democratic Party itself.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ruled out any negative impact of the recent military strikes targeting southern Iran on the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran. Rubio clarified in press statements that the US administration still sees a real opportunity to reach an agreement that ends the current conflict, emphasizing that diplomatic work is proceeding in parallel with field actions.

US Central Command announced on Monday that it had carried out a series of 'defensive strikes' targeting missile launch platforms and military boats belonging to the Iranian side. In contrast, authorities in Tehran confirmed four deaths as a result of these attacks, which targeted Iranian vessels in the area near the strategic Larak Island located within the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking to reporters during his official visit to the Indian city of Jaipur, Rubio indicated that the Qatari capital, Doha, is currently witnessing rounds of intensive discussions. He added that negotiators are focusing on precise and vital details in the draft initial agreement, expecting that the final results will materialize in the coming days if the positive spirit in the discussion continues.

The US Secretary of State conveyed President Donald Trump's clear stance on this crisis, as the White House seeks to conclude a 'good deal' that guarantees American interests and regional security. Rubio affirmed that Washington is putting its weight behind the negotiation path as a strategic option to end the war, considering that the absence of a strong agreement means not entering into any commitments that do not serve stability.

These field and political developments come at a sensitive time, as senior Iranian negotiators have arrived in Qatar to participate in a new round of talks. These efforts aim to break the stalemate that led to Iran imposing a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global energy supplies that has been significantly affected in recent months.

Rubio stressed the necessity of keeping international waterways open to navigation, describing Iranian actions in the Strait of Hormuz as illegal and lacking international legitimacy. He added in a firm tone that the strait will be opened 'by any means necessary,' considering that the continued blockade represents an unsustainable situation for the international community and cannot be accepted under any circumstances.

The US Secretary concluded his remarks by emphasizing that the United States is trying through diplomatic channels to bring about a sustainable end to the conflict, but at the same time, it will not hesitate to protect its interests. International circles are awaiting the outcome of the Doha meetings, amid escalating tension that threatens navigation security in one of the most important geopolitical regions in the world.

I think there's a lot of discussion going on about specific points in the initial document, so it's going to take a few days.

Washington's Message

Washington – Said Erikat – 25/5/2026

The correspondent for Al-Quds newspaper learned via an email received on Monday from a senior American official at the US State Department, who requested anonymity, that Washington holds "Hezbollah" fully responsible for the ongoing military escalation on the Lebanese-Israeli border. It believes that the party is undermining opportunities for de-escalation and ongoing negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, at a time when regional and international communications are intensifying to prevent the situation from sliding into a wider confrontation.

The American official stated, in a briefing provided "on a background not directly attributable," that "Hezbollah has repeatedly ignored requests for a ceasefire with Israel, including a recent ultimatum directed at it," adding that "Israel will never be asked to passively absorb attacks on its forces and civilians, and this is not the Biden administration's era."

The official pointed out that since April 17, the party has launched more than a thousand drones and over 700 rockets, "in an attempt to obstruct ongoing negotiations between Lebanon and Israel," considering that "the current situation is no longer sustainable."

In a clear escalation in American rhetoric towards the party, the official said that "Hezbollah bears full responsibility for the current situation after violating the ceasefire on March 2, and it is now seeking to deprive the Lebanese people of the opportunity for peace and reconstruction."

He added that the party views any negotiation path led by the Lebanese state as an "existential threat," because the success of the Lebanese government in reaching a ceasefire with American support "will strip Hezbollah of its power and its narrative based on resistance."

These statements come at a highly sensitive regional moment, where the war in Gaza intersects with the open confrontation in southern Lebanon, while American and Western pressure on the Lebanese government is increasing to control the borders and implement security understandings that prevent the expansion of the war.

Observers believe that the language used in the American stance reflects a significant shift compared to American rhetoric in past years. Washington today appears more willing to fully adopt the Israeli narrative and link any prospect of economic aid and reconstruction in Lebanon to weakening Hezbollah's political and military influence.

The statements also reveal a clear American bet on the role of the Lebanese state in any future settlement, in contrast to an attempt to isolate the party internally and portray it as an obstacle to stability. However, this bet clashes with a highly complex Lebanese reality, where "Hezbollah" still enjoys a wide political, popular, and military presence, in addition to being considered by a segment of Lebanese as a fundamental deterrent force against Israel.

The American message reflects a strategic shift in Washington's approach to the Lebanese file. The American administration is no longer just talking about containing the escalation, but has directly linked Lebanon's economic and political future to reducing Hezbollah's role. This shift means that any aid or reconstruction projects may become conditional on redrawing internal Lebanese balances. However, this approach carries significant risks, because excessive external pressure on the Lebanese structure may lead to counterproductive results and reinforce the party's narrative that the United States and Israel are seeking to impose political realities by force and economic blackmail.

In contrast, the American narrative ignores a fundamental aspect of the scene, which is that the Lebanese-Israeli border has been in a state of continuous escalation since the outbreak of the Gaza war, and a large part of Arab and Lebanese public opinion sees Hezbollah's actions as an extension of a broader regional battle related to defending Palestinians. Therefore, reducing the crisis to the responsibility of the party alone does not express the complexities of reality, but rather seems closer to a complete adoption of the Israeli security vision. Moreover, talk of "peace and reconstruction" loses much of its credibility in light of the continued massive destruction in Gaza and open American military and political support for Israel.

The most important question remains related to the ability of the Lebanese state itself to play the role Washington desires. Lebanon is experiencing one of its deepest economic and political crises, and its institutions suffer from weakness and sharp division, while political forces seem unable to produce a unified national vision towards war and peace. In light of this reality, any attempt to isolate "Hezbollah" by political or economic force may push the country towards further internal division. What is required in Lebanon, according to many observers, is not only to avoid war, but also to build a national consensus that protects Lebanese sovereignty and prevents the country from becoming an arena for regional and international score-settling.

The recent summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his American counterpart Donald Trump witnessed extraordinary moments of tension, as informed press sources reported that the Chinese leader broke his usual silence and raised his voice at Trump. This unprecedented outburst occurred during the discussion of the Japanese issue, specifically the nationalist tendencies adopted by the new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, which are causing great concern in Beijing.

According to what international media sources reported from seven informed officials, Xi launched a scathing attack on current Japanese military policies, describing them as an attempt to 'remilitarize' that directly threatens regional stability. In contrast, Trump did not back down from his position, clearly informing his Chinese counterpart that he rejected this assessment, emphasizing that Tokyo finds itself compelled to develop its defensive capabilities to confront the growing missile and nuclear threats from North Korea.

The repercussions of this confrontation were not limited to closed rooms, as reports indicate that the American President, immediately after leaving Chinese airspace, initiated an urgent phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi. During the call, Trump reaffirmed the United States' ironclad commitment to defending Japan, in a move interpreted as a swift and direct response to the Chinese pressures exerted during the summit.

Takaichi's military policies represent dangerous remilitarization and a direct threat to regional peace.

Warplanes belonging to the United States and Israel launched an aerial attack targeting Iranian boats in the area south of the strategic Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Media sources reported that the bombing, which occurred on Monday, resulted in the death of at least four people, while efforts to count the total number of casualties are still ongoing, amid official assurances that the field situation in Bandar Abbas has returned to normal.

For its part, press reports quoted American officials as saying that the raids targeted a site for surface-to-air (SAM) missile systems in the Bandar Abbas area. A senior official explained that this move came in direct response to an attempt to target American fighters by those systems, describing the operation as falling within defensive measures to protect air forces in the region.

In a related context, informed sources stressed that these airstrikes do not necessarily mean the collapse of existing ceasefire understandings, but rather are a localized reaction to direct threats. International circles are cautiously monitoring the repercussions of this escalation in vital waterways, especially with the continued military tension in the Gulf region and the Strait of Hormuz.

US strikes in Iran are defensive and do not indicate the end of the ceasefire agreement.

International press reports, citing diplomatic sources in the Middle East, have revealed advanced discussions between the United States and Iran aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The proposed plan includes resuming navigation in the vital waterway approximately 30 days after the two parties reach a formal agreement to end the ongoing hostilities between them.

For his part, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated that the ongoing negotiations have led to tangible results on several issues included in a potential memorandum of understanding. Despite this progress, Baghaei stressed that reaching understandings does not necessarily mean that Tehran is close to signing a final agreement at this time.

The Iranian official indicated that his country is currently focused on ending the war, emphasizing that nuclear issues are not part of the current discussions. He also noted that the fluctuation in the positions of American officials still constitutes an obstacle to completing the agreement, describing talk of an imminent agreement as premature.

In a related context, Tehran announced the imposition of financial fees for what it described as 'navigation services' it provides to ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian Foreign Ministry affirmed that these fees are allocated to cover the costs of necessary measures to protect the marine environment in the Gulf and the Sea of Oman, denying that these amounts are traditional transit fees.

On the American side, Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed that Washington has a solid proposal regarding the reopening of the Strait, reflecting the seriousness of diplomatic efforts. Rubio's statements from New Delhi confirmed the continuation of American efforts despite the cautious statements recently issued by the White House regarding the timeline for the agreement.

US President Donald Trump had lowered optimistic expectations, indicating that he had instructed his representatives not to rush into any deal. Trump wrote on his social media platform that time is on the side of the United States, stressing the continuation of a full naval blockade on Iran until a comprehensive agreement is signed and ratified.

Media reports indicate that the US administration believes that the approval of Tehran's supreme leadership on the terms of the agreement may take several additional days. The US Secretary of State affirmed that President Trump will not accept a 'bad deal' and that he does not feel time pressure to complete the process before all American conditions are guaranteed.

The agreement under discussion aims to allow oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz again, which represents the lifeline for one-fifth of global oil supplies. This news immediately impacted global markets, with Brent crude and West Texas crude prices experiencing a significant decline of more than 5% immediately after news of progress in the negotiations spread.

According to informed sources, the terms of the latest proposal include the release of a portion of frozen Iranian assets in foreign banks as a gesture of goodwill. However, there are still obstacles related to the implementation mechanism, as Iranian media accuse Washington of obstructing some provisions related to the full release of these funds.

Initial understandings also include a temporary lifting of sanctions imposed on Iran's oil, gas, and petroleum product sectors during the negotiation period. This step will allow Tehran to resume exporting its vital resources to support its struggling economy, in exchange for committing to de-escalating hostilities and ensuring navigation security.

Despite the current focus on military and navigational aspects, the nuclear file still looms as a postponed and complex issue. Marco Rubio stated that nuclear talks require a long time due to their technical nature, indicating that negotiations on uranium enrichment may begin 60 days after the Strait is opened.

On the other hand, Israel entered the crisis, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirming that he coordinated with President Trump to ensure that any final agreement would lead to an end to the Iranian nuclear threat. The Israeli side insists on the necessity of strict guarantees to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear military capabilities under the guise of political agreements.

Within the framework of regional mediation, the Pakistani Prime Minister expressed his hope to host a new round of talks very soon to bridge viewpoints. Islamabad had hosted a previous round in mid-April, but it failed then to break the deadlock in the relationship between Washington and Tehran.

The world remains in anticipation of what the coming days will bring, as the opening of the Strait of Hormuz represents a strategic step to reduce regional tensions and stabilize energy markets. With continued economic and field pressures, it appears that both parties are seeking to achieve a delicate balance between security demands and political gains amidst volatile international circumstances.

We have something solid on the table regarding their ability to open the Strait of Hormuz.

Waves of international solidarity with the besieged Gaza Strip are escalating through the 'Flotilla of Steadfastness,' which represents a global humanitarian movement refusing to surrender to policies of ethnic cleansing. These men and women, who believed in justice, decided to seize freedom across the seas after the international system failed to end the suffering of two million people facing systematic killing and starvation for two decades.

This maritime movement comes as a balm for Gaza's wounds, which have been subjected to a comprehensive genocidal war since early October 2023. The organizers have proven that popular will can confront apartheid, turning Gaza into a beacon for free people who refuse the terrible silence regarding the escalating humanitarian tragedy in the Strip.

The flotilla was subjected to brutal acts of piracy by the Israeli occupation navy, with approximately 50 boats targeted on May 18th. Despite the violent attacks and the arrest of participants, the political message of the flotilla reached the world, confirming the failure of the isolation policy pursued by the occupation for decades.

Testimonies from released activists revealed atrocities committed by occupation forces inside detention centers, including physical and psychological torture. Human rights sources confirmed that activists faced harsh conditions aimed at breaking their will and preventing them from repeating attempts to break the naval blockade on Gaza.

Australian activist Violet Coco gave shocking testimony about being subjected to repeated beatings and sexual harassment in dark rooms belonging to the occupation authorities. She also pointed out the deliberate deprivation of essential medications for sick activists, such as insulin and blood pressure medications, in a blatant violation of international laws.

For her part, activist Gemma O'Toole described the Israeli treatment as causing her deep psychological trauma and unspeakable sadness due to the brutality she witnessed. These practices were not limited to verbal intimidation but extended to direct physical assaults during arrests and interrogations.

Activist Soraya Mac Ewan recounted details of her arrest for up to 80 hours, during which she was severely beaten by soldiers. She explained that occupation soldiers were abusing activists while chanting the Israeli national anthem, in an attempt to humiliate international solidarity activists and deter them from their positions.

The Flotilla of Steadfastness includes 428 activists from 44 countries around the world, reflecting the widespread global rejection of Israeli crimes. These elites of scientists, intellectuals, human rights defenders, and influencers are now exerting increasing political and human rights pressure that embarrasses the occupation in international forums.

These movements come at a time when the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached its peak, with the occupation completely destroying more than 300,000 housing units. Another 80,000 units were damaged, forcing millions of Palestinians to displace and live in very cramped spaces not exceeding 40% of the Strip's area.

Neither the health nor the education sector was spared from the destruction machine, as hospitals, schools, mosques, churches, and popular markets were targeted by bombing. This systematic destruction aims, according to observers, to make the Gaza Strip an uninhabitable place and push its people towards forced displacement.

The occupation's failure to uproot Palestinians from their land parallels its failure to stop the 'waves of freedom' coming from the high seas and oceans. The more brutality and piracy against the boats, the greater the global determination to participate in these flotillas, which have become a badge of honor for every free person.

The 'Freedom Flotilla' has transformed from a mere humanitarian initiative to provide aid into an international political crisis pursuing the leaders of the occupation. The increasing global awareness of the seriousness of aggressive Israeli policies has made the issue of the Gaza siege a strongly present file under the spotlight of the media and human rights organizations.

These heroic activities confirm that supporting the Palestinian people is not impossible, but a possible act that requires rising up and abandoning helplessness. The participants in the flotilla share the pain and hardship with the people of Gaza, to convey a message that Gaza is not alone in confronting fascism.

The Flotilla of Steadfastness will remain a witness to an era in which free people refuse to submit to the policy of brute force, affirming that the occupation will vanish no matter how much it arms itself and oppresses. These unbreakable sails will continue to sail towards the ports of Palestine until the shackles are broken and the unjust siege is permanently lifted.

Free popular will is stronger than the policy of ethnic cleansing, and the occupation can be besieged by the free people of the world who sailed towards Gaza.

The Palestinian issue has once again taken center stage in the global sports scene, after Barcelona and Spanish national team star Lamine Yamal's celebration of the Spanish League title turned into a widespread digital battle. The young player raised the Palestinian flag during the coronation ceremony, a moment that sparked a wide wave of solidarity, but in return ignited an organized incitement campaign that sought to criminalize him and link his humanitarian solidarity to a discourse of violence.

A technical analysis conducted by a specialized team in tracking misinformation revealed the trajectory of this digital campaign, as it monitored a sharp escalation in hostile interactions against Yamal starting from May 10th. The analysis clarified that the attack peaked on May 12th and 13th, coinciding with the spread of photos and videos documenting the moment he raised the Palestinian flag among his teammates in the Catalan team.

According to the monitored data, nearly half a million accounts participated in interacting with the player's name with a total of nearly one million posts, but the hostile side was represented by more than 39,000 incitement posts. This wave was led by Israeli accounts and others belonging to the Spanish-speaking far-right, which deliberately mixed solidarity with the Palestinian people with support for terrorism.

A review of the accounts involved in the attack showed extensive use of Israeli and US symbols and flags, in addition to far-right slogans associated with the Spanish 'Vox' party. A noticeable presence of the Salvadoran flag was also observed in some accounts, indicating the involvement of right-wing circles from outside the direct geographical scope of the crisis in the defamation campaign.

In terms of linguistic distribution, Spanish dominated 71% of the attack content, followed by English at 25%, while the remaining percentages were distributed among other European languages. This linguistic diversity reflects a clear attempt to internationalize the attack on the young player and transform a sporting act of solidarity into a cross-border international political polarization issue.

Geographically, the inciting accounts were concentrated in Spain at 36%, followed by Mexico at 14%, then the United States at 10%. Technical sources also monitored the participation of accounts from France and Venezuela, confirming that the campaign was not merely a spontaneous local reaction, but a coordinated digital wave aimed at influencing global public opinion.

Yamal's hostile discourse relied on specific keywords aimed at demonizing the act of solidarity, with terms such as 'terrorism,' 'Hamas,' and 'anti-Semitism' frequently appearing alongside the player's name. These posts sought to create a false mental link between the Palestinian flag and brutality, in an attempt to pressure the club and the national team to take punitive measures against him.

Official Israeli figures emerged at the forefront of the incitement, most notably Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz, who not only verbally attacked Yamal but also demanded his expulsion from the Spanish national team. Katz considered raising the Palestinian flag to be explicit support for what he described as terrorism, calling on the Barcelona club management to declare its innocence of its talented player's actions.

In the Spanish-speaking digital space, Salvadoran activist Eduardo Menoni led a parallel campaign, using his influence as a right-wing political analyst to attack the player. Menoni is known for his staunch defense of Israeli policies and has publicly called for an end to Yamal's international career with the Spanish national team in response to his political stance.

The analysis also monitored the involvement of influential accounts with ambiguous identities, including an account based in India, which published direct accusations against the player of supporting violence. Other accounts participated in publishing videos of Israeli influencers tearing up the player's shirt, a symbolic gesture reflecting the extent of the hatred directed against him.

Among the interesting observations in the technical analysis is the participation of nearly 4,400 low-impact accounts, where the number of followers of each does not exceed one hundred people. Despite their individual weak influence, their coordinated collective action contributed to increasing the momentum of the campaign and giving it a character that suggests the existence of popular consensus against the player's actions.

The data also revealed the creation of hundreds of new accounts during the current year specifically to participate in such digital campaigns, with 569 recent accounts being monitored. This pattern indicates the use of 'electronic armies' or fake accounts that are activated during crises to direct public opinion and exert psychological pressure on public figures who sympathize with Palestine.

The total number of accounts created in the last three years that participated in the attack reached approximately 2,616 accounts, which reinforces the hypothesis of a ready digital infrastructure for incitement. These accounts operate according to an organized strategy aimed at intimidating athletes and artists and preventing them from showing any sympathy for humanitarian issues related to Palestinians.

In conclusion, this fierce campaign against Lamine Yamal reflects a state of concern among pro-Israel circles about the growing awareness of the Palestinian issue in global sports circles. Despite attempts at intimidation and distortion, reality has proven that the voice of solidarity is still able to penetrate stadiums and reach millions, transcending the boundaries of digital censorship.

Israel Katz considered the player's action to be support for terrorism and demanded that Barcelona club issue a statement disavowing the young star's actions.

Israeli occupation forces and machinery stormed Al-Bustan neighborhood in Silwan town, south of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem, this Monday morning. Bulldozers began carrying out extensive demolition and leveling operations targeting citizens' properties, a step that comes within the systematic forced displacement policy pursued by the occupation authorities against the steadfast residents of the neighborhood.

Official sources in Jerusalem Governorate reported that the demolition operations affected a two-story residential house belonging to citizen Fayez Awad, in addition to the demolition of a 'barracks' facility owned by the Ruwaidi family. The assaults also included the leveling of retaining walls and agricultural lands belonging to other citizens, amid a strict security cordon imposed by the occupation forces, preventing residents from accessing their properties or salvaging their contents.

Through this field escalation, the imposition of exorbitant fines, and repeated eviction notices, the occupation authorities seek to empty the area of its indigenous inhabitants. These measures aim to gain full control over Palestinian lands to implement Judaization settlement projects, most notably the 'King David Gardens' plan and tourist bus parking lots, based on biblical claims aimed at changing the city's identity.

Al-Bustan neighborhood is considered one of the most targeted areas in Silwan town, where hundreds of Jerusalemites who have lived there for decades face the threat of demolition and displacement. This attack comes in the context of the occupation's continuous attempts to change the geographical and demographic character in the immediate vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, which deepens the suffering of Palestinian families facing the specter of displacement at any moment.

Occupation authorities escalate their policy of demolition and leveling with the aim of expelling Palestinian residents and seizing their lands to establish settlement projects.

The memoirs of Emir Abdelkader al-Jazairi encapsulate the journey of an exceptional leader who managed to combine the ideology of armed resistance with the genius of state-building simultaneously. This historical journey began after the fall of Algiers in 1830 and the signing of the surrender treaty, when an urgent need arose for a national leadership to unite the scattered tribes under one banner to confront French colonial expansion.

On November 27, 1832, a historic pledge of allegiance took place in the Mascara region under the 'Dardara Tree,' where Abdelkader bin Muhieddine was appointed Emir of the Believers. This choice came after his father, who declined leadership due to old age, endorsed him, betting on his son's courage and shrewdness, which had been evident in the early battles of Oran.

Emir Abdelkader's movement was not merely a military rebellion; it was a renaissance project that sought to establish a modern state with clear institutional features. He divided the country into eight administrative provinces and established a government comprising five ministers with specific tasks, reflecting an advanced vision for managing public and political affairs at that time.

On the military front, the Emir succeeded in organizing a regular army and building fortified castles across the high plateaus to serve as strategic refuges. He also focused on establishing factories for weapons and ammunition, realizing that true independence required self-sufficiency in military equipment to confront a regular army that outnumbered and out-equipped his forces.

Victories of the resistance forced French commanders to the negotiating table, resulting in the signing of the 'De Michel' treaty in 1834. This treaty served as an implicit diplomatic recognition of the Emir's authority and opened avenues for him to communicate with other international powers that were competing with France in the region.

The Emir's political gains evolved with the signing of the 'Tafna' treaty in 1837, in which Paris recognized his sovereignty over two-thirds of Algerian territory. Abdelkader used this truce to strengthen the pillars of his state and expand his administrative influence, while the French viewed the agreement as a warrior's respite to regroup their forces.

Emir Abdelkader invented the concept of 'Zmala,' a mobile capital that included thousands of people, treasuries, and administrative facilities, making it difficult for the occupation to strike at the heart of the state. This mobile city was an embodiment of the resistance's flexibility and its ability to adapt to the conditions of the asymmetrical warfare imposed by the colonizer.

France responded to the Emir's military genius by adopting a 'scorched earth' policy under the command of General Bugeaud, aiming to isolate the resistance from its popular base. This policy included destroying crops and displacing tribes allied with the Emir, creating immense humanitarian and economic pressure on the resistance army.

The fall of 'Zmala' into the hands of French forces dealt a devastating blow to the war effort, as the Emir lost most of his wealth and treasury, and the families of his senior commanders were captured. This loss led to a decline in morale and the dispersal of supporting forces, especially after increasing military pressures from multiple directions.

Amidst deteriorating conditions and the difficulty of securing supplies for the army, the Emir convened a consultative council to make a fateful decision regarding the continuation of fighting. The council favored saving lives and preserving what remained of the forces, so surrender negotiations began with the French commander 'Lamoricière' based on specific conditions.

Emir Abdelkader stipulated, in exchange for laying down arms, a guarantee of safe passage and the right to move with his followers to Alexandria or Acre in the Arab East. French commanders officially agreed to these terms, and the surrender took place in December 1847, with the Emir boarding a ship, believing his destination was Jerusalem or Damascus.

The French deception soon became apparent when the Emir realized that the ship was heading towards French ports instead of the East, in a clear breach of written agreements. The Emir transformed from a state leader into a prisoner in French castles, sparking a wave of international criticism and concern in European political circles regarding French conduct.

Despite imprisonment and exile, Emir Abdelkader remained in the Western imagination a symbol of the 'Noble Arab,' with historians likening him to Saladin al-Ayyubi in his wartime ethics. His personal integrity and his desperate defense of his country above any personal interest made his cause transform from a local matter into a global conscience issue.

Emir Abdelkader's memoirs remain a historical document witnessing a pivotal stage in modern Algerian history, laying the first foundations of the resistant national identity. The Emir's story is an epic that combines the ambition of institution-building with the bitterness of colonial betrayal, his memory remaining alive as the father of modern Algerian state institutions.

I accepted this position so that I would have the right to be the first to go to the battlefield.

International press sources reported that the Israeli occupation army has significantly expanded its field control within the Gaza Strip in recent months. These movements involve strengthening military fortifications and shifting separation lines with areas where Palestinian resistance is present, reflecting a trend towards imposing a new security reality.

Reports clarified that the area controlled by the occupation now approaches 60% of the total area of the Strip, having increased from 53% since last October. These developments raise serious concerns about military separation zones turning into permanent borders, further complicating any future political settlement.

The occupation army has pushed what is known as the 'Yellow Line,' which defines the separation areas, deeper into the Strip's territory. In some areas, this line intersected with Salah al-Din Road, which is the main artery connecting the north and south of the Strip, further impeding movement.

Satellite images showed the establishment of extensive military fortifications in the central region of the Gaza Strip, including deep trenches and high earthworks. The construction of at least seven new fully fortified military sites was also observed to counter any field threats.

Data indicates that some of these military sites have been paved with asphalt and include more than a dozen permanent buildings, which is an indicator of the occupation's readiness for a long-term presence. This infrastructure reflects a strategy of entrenching positions rather than the temporary presence previously announced.

Amid stalled political settlement efforts, observers believe that these fortifications deepen the geographical division within Gaza. This comes at a time when the occupation authorities insist on continuing military operations and refusing to fully withdraw from the areas they have encroached upon.

Field sources confirmed that dozens of Palestinians have been martyred near the 'Yellow Line' since the last ceasefire came into effect. The occupation army claims to target those it describes as 'suspects,' while residents confirm that the victims are civilians who lost their way due to the unclear new separation lines.

Sources quoted diplomats as saying that a number of Arab governments refuse to contribute to funding the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip under the current situation. These funders stipulate clarity of political and security vision before commencing any large-scale construction operations amidst ongoing destruction.

Diplomat Nikolay Mladenov warned that solidifying the current situation would make it very difficult to change in the near future. He pointed out that the continued construction of permanent military installations entrenches the reality of dividing the Strip and undermines opportunities for establishing a unified Palestinian administration.

In a related context, the occupation army continues excavation and search operations for resistance tunnels that may connect different control areas. The army announced the destruction of tens of kilometers of underground networks since the cessation of major combat operations last October.

To increase field control, the occupation placed concrete barriers painted yellow to define the boundaries of closed military zones. This step came after repeated incidents of shooting at civilians who approached these lines, whose features were previously unclear.

The occupation also introduced what is called the 'Orange Line,' an additional security zone within areas where Palestinians are allowed to move. This line requires international relief organizations to coordinate in advance and in a complex manner with the army before any trucks or medical teams can cross.

For his part, researcher Ofer Guterman considered that Israel seeks to strengthen its defensive posture in preparation for the possibility of renewed fighting at any moment. He added that the military establishment is working to improve its field conditions to ensure superiority should current understandings collapse.

In conclusion, the field reality indicates that the Gaza Strip is heading towards a state of military 'status quo' that serves the occupation's goals of control and dominance. With the continued construction of fortifications, the chances of returning to the pre-war situation remain slim amidst increasing security and political complexities.

The more we solidify the current situation, the more difficult it becomes to change, and there are real fears of a permanent division of the Gaza Strip.

Farmers and experts in Sudan confirmed that the sharp rise in global fuel and fertilizer prices, resulting from regional military tensions, will force them to reduce cultivated areas during the current summer season. This decline in agricultural activity threatens a severe shortage of food production in a country already suffering from the ravages of civil war and widespread famine.

Field sources reported that the costs of essential agricultural inputs have reached unprecedented levels, which will exacerbate the crises caused by the internal conflict. Strategic crops such as sorghum and millet are expected to be affected, in addition to cash crops designated for export like sesame, placing the exhausted Sudanese economy before additional challenges.

Data from the United Nations indicates that Sudan is one of the countries most vulnerable to the repercussions of regional crises, due to its heavy reliance on neighboring and Gulf countries to secure more than half of its fertilizer needs. The ongoing conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces has also made the country entirely dependent on importing fuel from abroad to operate machinery and irrigation pumps.

Sudan today stands at the forefront of countries affected by a looming global food crisis, especially with the shrinking budgets of international aid for relief. A global hunger monitor warned that about 19.5 million people, representing more than 40% of the total population, face critical levels of food insecurity, with a real risk of famine in several regions.

Although Sudan's enormous agricultural potential has always attracted investors, the sector has suffered for decades from mismanagement and armed conflicts. About two-thirds of the country's population depends on agriculture as a primary source of livelihood, making any deterioration in this sector a fatal blow to the livelihoods of millions of Sudanese families.

Sadiq Al-Amin, an analyst at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), stated that recent regional conflicts have doubled the existing challenges, warning of a potential 40% decrease in overall production. He added that the continuation of these price shocks threatens to escalate the current food crisis to unprecedented catastrophic levels.

In areas controlled by the army in the center and east of the country, farmers are trying to resume their activities, but financial obstacles stand in their way. In the Al-Jumouia project south of Omdurman, farmers had hoped for a promising season after the area was recovered, but they were shocked by a 67% increase in fertilizer prices and more than double for fuel.

Farmers complain that the costs of operating diesel irrigation pumps now consume all expected profits, making agriculture an economically losing venture. Officials in the Al-Jumouia project indicated that only 500 feddans out of a total of 10,000 feddans have been cultivated, a serious indicator of declining production halfway through the agricultural season.

In a related context, the Al-Jazeera project, which was once Sudan's food basket, has faced significant infrastructure deterioration since the outbreak of fighting. Heads of agricultural associations confirmed that the absence of repair operations for canals and pumps, coupled with stagnant crop prices against rising costs, has led farmers to refrain from cultivating wheat and corn.

Sudan's Agricultural Bank, responsible for financing farmers, is suffering from near-total paralysis as a result of its impact by the conflict that hit the country's financial sector. Farmers say that the bank imposes harsh conditions and high prices for inputs, while buying products at low prices, trapping them in a cycle of accumulated debt with endless consequences.

For its part, the Sudanese Ministry of Agriculture announced attempts to establish a new fund in cooperation with the Agricultural Bank to finance farmers and alleviate the burden of fuel costs. Official sources in the ministry clarified that work is underway to rehabilitate irrigation canals and repair pumps in several vital locations to save what can be saved from the current season.

In the states of Darfur and Kordofan, the absence of security represents the greatest threat to the production of groundnuts and gum arabic, where looting and intimidation are widespread. Displaced farmers confirm that the lack of funding and machinery, in addition to the levies imposed by armed groups at checkpoints, has made agriculture an impossible task in those areas.

Field reports indicate that many agricultural machines and tractors have been looted during armed raids, while agricultural workers have been forcibly recruited to fight. This mass displacement of people from fertile agricultural areas has led to vast areas of land remaining unprepared or uncultivated for the upcoming season.

In conclusion, experts in agricultural supply companies believe that delivering supplies to conflict areas has become a costly and risky adventure. Small farmers, who cultivate only to secure their daily sustenance, remain the weakest link in this chain, facing the direct risk of hunger in the absence of government and international support.

Regional war has made matters worse, and Sudan's total agricultural production could decrease by at least 40 percent.

The media and political arena in Israel is witnessing an escalating wave of incitement against European countries, against the backdrop of stances condemning the Israeli attack on Freedom Flotilla activists. These tensions come at a time when international accusations against Tel Aviv of committing war crimes are increasing, coinciding with the continuation of the genocidal war that has entered its second year in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Israeli writer Sharon Luxemburg, in an article published in 'Maariv' newspaper, criticized the European view of the occupation army's behavior towards international solidarity activists. She considered that large parts of Europe adopt double standards and evaluate events completely differently when it comes to Israel, ignoring other humanitarian disasters in the world.

Sources indicated that European media coverage of the Freedom Flotilla event took long hours of live broadcasting and intensive political discussions. The writer believes that this attention reflects an unjustified focus on Israel, as if global crises of wars, refugees, and famines have ended, and only the pursuit of Israeli actions remains.

Luxemburg mentioned that this phenomenon is not new, but rather a continuous approach adopted by major international media institutions in their daily coverage. Despite Israel's population not exceeding ten million, it receives extensive news coverage not even granted to the most powerful superpowers in the current international system.

Sources explained that every Israeli move, whether military, political, or even cultural, is placed under the microscope of intense European scrutiny. This constant spotlight creates continuous international pressure on decision-makers in Tel Aviv and contributes to shaping a global public opinion hostile to Israeli policies in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The matter was not limited to political and military aspects but extended to cultural and entertainment events that are supposed to be far from conflicts. The European Song Contest 'Eurovision' has, in recent years, turned into a sharp political confrontation arena, witnessing widespread calls for boycott and massive popular protests against Israeli participation.

The writer spoke about the absurdity of a singing competition turning into a complex geopolitical discussion merely because of the presence of an Israeli representative. She considered that this reflects the extremely complex relationship between Europe, Jews, and the Middle East, making any media content related to Israel provoke waves of global anger and controversy.

Sources confirmed that videos coming from Gaza or occupied Jerusalem turn within minutes into digital battlegrounds for opinions and accusations. This rapid spread of information contributes to strengthening the Palestinian narrative and exposes the practices of the occupation to the European public, which has become more sensitive to human rights issues.

Israeli circles believe that Israel is no longer treated as an ordinary state but has become a global symbol used by political parties to define their identity and agendas. Among the radical European left, taking an anti-Israel stance has become an integral part of the political identity and principles promoted by these activists.

In contrast, the European right tries to portray Israel as a symbol of the struggle against what they describe as 'radical Islam,' placing the Hebrew state at the heart of internal European tug-of-war. In both cases, the preoccupation with Israel remains dominant in public discussions, exceeding its geographical size or demographic impact in the Middle East region.

This Israeli incitement reflects a state of internal anxiety regarding the erosion of international legitimacy and increasing isolation in the old continent. The accusations directed at Europe of bias are primarily aimed at diverting attention from the essence of the conflict, which is the continuous occupation and the siege of the Gaza Strip, which has led to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.

Reports indicate that Israeli elites fear that European popular sympathy with the Palestinian cause will turn into political decisions and economic sanctions. Therefore, media discourse is employed to attack European journalistic institutions and accuse them of exaggerating events related to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict at the expense of other global issues.

It seems that Israel's attempts to escape international responsibility clash with the reality of media coverage that transmits the details of the genocidal war moment by moment. The scenes coming from Gaza leave no room for doubt about the extent of human suffering, making it difficult for European governments to ignore the pressures of their peoples demanding justice.

In conclusion, the Freedom Flotilla and the international reactions that followed remain a testament to the depth of the gap between the Israeli narrative and the reality seen by the world. While Tel Aviv tries to portray itself as a victim of media coverage, the international community sees its actions as a blatant violation of international laws and norms that require accountability.

Israel is no longer just a state; it is a global symbol used by all political parties in the world to define themselves, far exceeding the size of a small state in the Middle East.

Amidst the rubble of destruction and the harsh conditions imposed by the siege on the Gaza Strip, a new hope has emerged for hundreds who lost their sight, as the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced the resumption of the national corneal transplant program. The Specialized Eye Hospital in Gaza City hosted these qualitative operations after a forced three-year hiatus due to successive wars and the collapse of the healthcare system. This step comes at a sensitive time when the Strip is suffering from a severe shortage of essential medicines and medical supplies.

Inside the operating rooms, whose equipment was not spared from the effects of the war, Dr. Hussam Dawood, a consultant in ophthalmology and eye surgery, led the first surgical operations, which were crowned with brilliant success. Medical sources reported that local teams were able to overcome the enormity of field obstacles and the scarcity of surgical instruments necessary to complete this complex medical procedure. This success represents a stark challenge to the policy of obstruction that the health sector has faced for many months.

Dr. Hussam Dawood affirmed that this case marks the actual launch of the national corneal transplant campaign, noting that preparing and maintaining surgical instruments was the most prominent challenge facing the team. He explained that the insistence on restoring this program aims to reduce the long waiting lists for patients living in almost complete darkness. These operations primarily rely on local expertise honed by years of successive crises.

Patient Beirut Al-Nakhalah, who was the first beneficiary of this program, described her feelings after regaining her sight as beyond description and cannot be reduced to words. Al-Nakhalah said that she did not expect such a complex operation to be performed inside Gaza under the current circumstances, especially after its complete cessation throughout the months of conflict. She added that the return of these operations brings life and colors back to thousands of patients who had lost hope of treatment abroad.

This medical achievement is rooted in the values of humanitarian solidarity that characterize Palestinian society in Gaza, as the transplanted corneas came as a donation from the family of martyr Mahmoud Abu Sisi. The family decided to donate their son's corneas to the Ministry of Health, in a noble step that gave two patients a new chance to see the world again. This stance reflects the extent of cohesion among the residents in the face of the policies of death and destruction surrounding them from all sides.

Martyr Abu Sisi's father expressed his humanitarian stance by referring to the psychological difficulty he initially faced, but he chose to give life to others as an ongoing charity for his son's soul. He affirmed that his son's martyrdom was a motive to help patients continue their lives and overcome their visual impairments. These individual initiatives are considered the main pillar upon which the national corneal transplant program is based, given the prevention of importing corneas from abroad.

Field reports indicate that the resumption of these operations goes beyond the purely medical dimension, to constitute a cry against the siege and the slow death policy pursued by the occupation. In light of the severe deprivation of the most basic treatment rights, Palestinians invent their own means of survival and continuity. These operations are a clear message about the ability of national cadres to innovate despite the lack of logistical capabilities.

Looking at the numbers, health statistics reveal a humanitarian catastrophe, with about 700 people in the Gaza Strip directly losing their eyes during the recent war. Among these, 600 injured people lost one eye, while nearly 100 people live in complete darkness after losing both eyes. Fears are growing that these numbers will increase amid the continued direct targeting of civilians in residential areas.

Health authorities in Gaza warn that thousands more, mostly children and youth, are at risk of losing their sight due to complex injuries from explosion shrapnel. Fire belts and heavy shelling cause direct injuries to the retina and cornea, requiring urgent surgical interventions that are not always available. Amid continued Israeli restrictions on the movement of medical supplies, local solidarity remains the only available window to save what can be saved.

These operations represent the beginning of the national corneal transplant campaign, and the biggest challenge was preparing surgical instruments given the current reality of hospitals.

Nineteen Islamic countries have expressed their categorical rejection of the separatist 'Somaliland' region's intentions to open an embassy with the Israeli occupation authorities in occupied Jerusalem. In a joint statement, these countries considered this step a departure from international consensus and a blatant challenge to resolutions of international legitimacy that affirm the special status of the holy city.

The statement was issued under the coordination led by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and included a wide list of countries, among them Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Palestine, Pakistan, and Indonesia. The drafting of the statement saw successive updates to include additional countries such as Kuwait, Algeria, Morocco, Bangladesh, and Mauritania, reflecting the extent of regional dissatisfaction with this move.

The foreign ministers of the signatory countries stressed that such a step by an internationally unrecognized entity is an illegal act and has no legitimate effect. They affirmed that tampering with the legal and historical status of occupied Jerusalem is a direct assault on the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to their eternal capital.

The statement condemned in the strongest terms what it described as the 'alleged embassy,' noting that any attempts to establish an illegal reality in Jerusalem are doomed to failure. The ministers also reiterated that East Jerusalem remains occupied territory under international law, and its character cannot be changed through unilateral agreements.

In a related context, the 19 countries affirmed their full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, declaring their rejection of any moves that undermine this sovereignty. They considered the separatist region's dealings with the occupation authorities a threat to regional stability and interference in the internal affairs of Arab and African countries.

The 'Somaliland' region announced in mid-May its intention to proceed with the establishment of a diplomatic representation in Jerusalem, a step that received immediate welcome from the occupation government. Through this step, the region aims to gain international recognition, breaking its political isolation that has persisted since its declaration of secession in the 1990s.

Mohammed Haji, who presents himself as the region's ambassador to the occupation, stated that the embassy would soon open its doors in Jerusalem, claiming increasing strategic cooperation with Tel Aviv. Haji indicated in his statements that Israel, in turn, intends to open a representative office in Hargeisa, the capital of the separatist region.

These developments come months after Tel Aviv's official recognition of 'Somaliland' in December 2025, a move that angered the central government in Mogadishu. Somalia at the time considered the Israeli recognition a violation of its sovereignty and an incitement to divide the country, calling on the international community to take a firm stance.

It is worth noting that the 'Somaliland' region has managed its affairs independently administratively and securely since 1991, but it has failed over the past decades to obtain official recognition from the United Nations or the African Union. The region now appears to be seeking to exploit political shifts in the region to build alliances with the Israeli occupation in exchange for political support.

The joint statement of the Islamic countries concluded by emphasizing the necessity of adhering to United Nations resolutions that prohibit the establishment of diplomatic missions in occupied Jerusalem. Diplomatic sources warned that proceeding with this step would lead to negative repercussions on the region's relations with its Arab and Islamic surroundings, affirming that Palestinian rights are inalienable.

East Jerusalem has been occupied Palestinian territory since 1967, and any steps aimed at changing its legal and historical status are considered null and void.

A Palestinian child and woman were martyred today, Monday, as a result of rocket shelling carried out by 'Apache' attack helicopters belonging to the occupation army, targeting a gathering of displaced persons' tents in the vicinity of Street 5, west of Khan Yunis city, south of the Gaza Strip. Medical sources reported that the attack also resulted in injuries of varying severity to 17 citizens, in addition to fires breaking out in a number of tents housing displaced families, leading to a state of panic and destruction in the densely populated area.

Medical sources at the Kuwaiti Specialized Field Hospital stated that the bodies of the two victims arrived at the hospital, where they were identified as Menna Allah Nabil Abu Labda, a 6-year-old child, and Hanan Abdel Nasser Mahmoud, a 31-year-old citizen. These raids come at a time when the western areas of Khan Yunis city are subjected to intense military pressure and continuous airstrikes targeting shelters and already dilapidated infrastructure.

In another field development northwest of the Strip, medical teams announced the martyrdom of citizen Nidal Shalha, who succumbed to his serious injuries sustained days ago due to shelling that targeted civilians near the 17th roundabout in the Al-Tawam area. These successive injuries and deaths reflect the scale of the humanitarian tragedy experienced by the residents of the Strip as the aggression enters its twentieth month, amidst a near-total paralysis of medical facilities operating with minimal means of survival.

Regarding official statistics, data from the Ministry of Health in Gaza confirmed an increase in the total number of victims of the ongoing aggression since October 7, 2023, to 72,797 martyrs, in addition to 172,821 injured. The ministry clarified that hospitals received 6 martyrs during the past twenty-four hours, including one death due to previous injuries, along with 5 victims who fell in recent raids and 8 other wounded.

The humanitarian suffering continues to worsen inside shelters and tents that lack the minimum safety requirements, as the occupation continues to target these areas with various combat means from air and land. Observers confirm that the intensification of helicopter raids on displaced persons' tents aims to increase pressure on civilians in areas that the occupation previously claimed were 'safe,' thereby deepening the health and environmental crisis throughout the besieged Gaza Strip.

Hospitals received 6 martyrs and 8 wounded in the past 24 hours, amidst the continued direct targeting of shelters.

The poem "A Lover from Palestine," penned by the late poet Mahmoud Darwish in 1966, remains a landmark in his early creative journey. At the age of twenty-five, Darwish managed to weave an extraordinary relationship between land and body, transforming Palestine from a geographical space into a beloved embodied in memory and identity, where the distinctions between romantic love and the militant attachment to life dissolve.

The poem begins with a simultaneous declaration of pain and loyalty through his words "Your eyes are a thorn in the heart," as the poet paints a picture of a homeland that inhabits daily details; he sees it in the mountains of thorns, the wheat jars, the ray of tears, all the way to the alleyways of the camps and the salt of the sea. This elaboration in describing the features of the 'beloved/homeland' reflects the poet's desire for complete fusion with the land to reclaim his lost human existence due to exile and occupation.

At the climax of the poem, the rhythmic repetition of the word "Palestinian" stands out seven times, encompassing voice, birth, death, and handkerchief, transforming the national cause into an eternal love story. Darwish concludes by shifting from the language of romance to words of sacrifice, describing himself as the "knight of knights" who transforms his poems into lightning and thunderbolts in the face of the occupier, asserting that the "eagles" born of the Palestinian people cannot surrender, and that the resistant word is capable of shaking the foundations of the occupation, no matter how long it lasts.

Palestinian eyes and tattoo.. Palestinian name.. Palestinian dreams and concerns

A state of disappointment and frustration is escalating within the Israeli military establishment, in light of the continuous inability to find an effective defensive system to counter the explosive drones launched by Hezbollah. Hebrew press reports confirmed that these drones have become a constant and deadly nuisance for the occupation army forces deployed in the northern sector and southern Lebanon, claiming the lives of soldiers almost daily without an organized response.

Media sources explained that the absence of technical solutions from the army leadership has pushed soldiers in the field to improvise and search for primitive means to save their lives. These attempts included collecting financial donations to purchase protective nets, using football goal nets provided by local authorities, in addition to using banana farm nets donated by farmers in border areas.

Reserve Major 'T' recounted his bitter experience after a three-month service tour, during which he had to work intensively to raise funds to secure these nets for the soldiers. He pointed out that discovering the ability of ordinary football nets to stop drones was the only available solution for forces who feel abandoned by the military leadership in the face of a sophisticated aerial threat.

The Israeli officer revealed that he was misled by a senior army official who claimed there was a huge stock of up to 200,000 meters of nets in military warehouses. Despite promises to secure this equipment immediately upon contact, the reality on the ground proved these claims false, as no official supplies reached the forces, who still rely on personal initiatives and donations.

'T' strongly criticized the political and security leadership's preoccupation with secondary issues such as the military service evasion law, instead of holding emergency sessions to discuss the drone threat that has existed for five years. He described the current situation as a dismal failure, demanding the necessity of finding real solutions instead of leaving soldiers to face death with primitive means that are not commensurate with the technical threat posed by Hezbollah.

For his part, Reserve Lieutenant Colonel 'Sh', who serves in an armored unit inside Lebanese territory, confirmed that drones have become the most dominant and influential element in daily military operations. He explained that forces are forced to hide in fortified places and wait for long periods until the aerial threat subsides, which hinders field movements and imposes a state of partial paralysis on unit activity.

Officer 'Sh' added that he contacted local farmers to obtain abandoned banana farm nets to use as physical barriers against suicide drones. Despite his repeated demands to the army to provide concrete blocks to secure these nets, he received no response or support, expressing his anger at the disregard for urgent field demands aimed at protecting the lives of soldiers on the front lines.

In contrast, the spokesperson for the occupation army tried to defend the military establishment's position, claiming that more than 230,000 square meters of protective nets had been provided to various units. He indicated in his statements that there were plans to purchase an additional 280,000 meters for later distribution, but these figures starkly contradict the testimonies of officers and soldiers who confirm their continued reliance on sports nets and farm nets.

For me, this is failure itself. Find a solution. The situation is truly frustrating, and this threat has existed for five years.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, announced her official withdrawal from participating in the activities of the 'Hay Festival' International. This stance came in protest against the existing partnership between the festival organizers and the American company 'Airbnb', which specializes in digital property rentals.

Albanese affirmed that her decision stems from the principle of rejecting normalization with entities that profit from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. She clarified that the sponsoring company directly contributes to supporting an economic system that perpetuates the occupation, annexation, and forced displacement of Palestinians from their lands.

Albanese was not alone in this stance, as Professor Eyal Weizman, a prominent architect and thinker, also announced his withdrawal from the festival in solidarity with these principles. Weizman holds the position of Professor of Spatial Cultures at Goldsmiths, University of London, and is known for his academic activism against occupation policies.

It is worth noting that the 'Hay Festival' literary festival is currently being held in the town of 'Hay-on-Wye' in Wales, United Kingdom, and continues until the end of May. The festival is classified as one of the most important cultural and literary forums worldwide, which gives the withdrawal of human rights figures from it a wide international resonance.

The UN Rapporteur emphasized in a post on the 'X' platform that human values cannot be fragmented or made conditional on specific circumstances. She stated that silence in the face of violations should not be the price for comfort or cultural prestige, considering the withdrawal a cry against the continued support for settlements.

Official festival data shows that 'Airbnb' is associated with the event as a strategic partner and official sponsor, which has angered human rights defenders. The company faces continuous international criticism for listing properties located within settlements built on usurped Palestinian lands.

This stance coincides with the escalating pace of settlement expansion in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since the current Israeli government took office in late 2022. Reports indicate an unprecedented expansion of settlement outposts, which the United Nations considers a clear violation of international law.

Statistics indicate the presence of approximately 750,000 Israeli settlers distributed among hundreds of settlements and pastoral outposts throughout the West Bank. Among these, about a quarter of a million settlers reside in occupied East Jerusalem, complicating the prospects for establishing a geographically contiguous Palestinian state.

Settlement expansion has been accompanied by an escalation on the ground by the occupation army and settlers, including widespread demolition operations of Palestinian structures and livelihoods. These measures, according to observers, aim to impose a new reality that paves the way for the official annexation of the West Bank to Israeli sovereignty.

In a related context, a report by the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission revealed that the occupation carried out dozens of demolition operations last month alone. These operations affected inhabited homes and agricultural facilities in the governorates of Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Bethlehem, leading to the displacement of dozens of families.

Palestinians view these moves, including the cancellation of Jordanian legislation and allowing settlers to own land in areas 'A' and 'B', as 'creeping annexation'. These steps are considered a complete undermining of international agreements and UN resolutions that stipulate the illegality of demographic changes in the occupied territories.

The withdrawal of Albanese and Weizman highlights the moral responsibility of international cultural institutions in choosing their partners. It also strengthens international boycott campaigns targeting companies involved in supporting the infrastructure of the Israeli occupation in the Palestinian territories.

Values cannot be conditional, and silence cannot be the price of comfort.

The US Central Command announced a series of airstrikes targeting missile launch sites and mine-laying boats in the southern region of Iran. Military sources confirmed that these operations are part of self-defense and protection of US forces from imminent threats, putting previous security understandings at risk.

These strikes coincided with the arrival of senior Iranian negotiators in the Qatari capital, Doha, to participate in a new round of talks aimed at ending the months-long conflict. Observers believe that this field escalation could undermine diplomatic efforts to reach a comprehensive agreement that ends the state of tension that has gripped the region and affected the stability of the global economy.

Inside Iran, official sources reported hearing violent explosions near the strategic coastal city of Bandar Abbas just before midnight local time. Despite local authorities confirming that the situation in the city had returned to normal, investigation committees began inspecting the targeted sites to assess the extent of the damage resulting from the US shelling.

This military development threatens the fragile ceasefire that began on April 8th between Washington and Tehran. These strikes come at a very sensitive time, as international powers seek to consolidate de-escalation and prevent the region from sliding into a comprehensive and open confrontation that could disrupt global energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

For his part, US President Donald Trump entered the crisis with firm stances via social media platforms, demanding that Tehran hand over its enriched uranium stockpile. Trump proposed transferring this 'nuclear dust' to the United States for destruction or disposal on-site under strict international supervision to ensure it is not used in the future.

Trump's demands were not limited to the nuclear file but extended to the political and diplomatic aspects in the Arab region. He urged major Islamic countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Pakistan, to join the 'Abraham Accords' and normalize their relations with Israel as a prerequisite for the success of any peace agreement with the Islamic Republic.

In a related context, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed that reaching an agreement with Iran is still possible despite the recent military operations. Rubio indicated during his visit to India that the ongoing negotiations in Qatar will determine the future path, emphasizing that Washington seeks a 'good' deal or no deal at all.

On the Lebanese front, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his army's intention to intensify military operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Netanyahu vowed to crush the military capabilities of the party, confirming that he had asked the army command to accelerate the pace of attacks and not slow them down under any circumstances.

Recent hours witnessed a widespread Israeli escalation, including more than 85 airstrikes targeting the cities of Tyre and Nabatieh and many towns in southern and eastern Lebanon. These raids led to a new wave of displacement from the southern suburbs of Beirut, amid reports of the destruction of dozens of Hezbollah's infrastructure within one day.

For its part, Tehran insists that any final agreement with the United States must include an immediate and comprehensive cessation of Israeli military operations in Lebanon. The Iranian leadership considers the stability of the Lebanese front an integral part of the regional 'understanding' currently being negotiated in Doha through Pakistani mediation.

In Doha, the high-level Iranian delegation includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati. The participation of the Central Bank Governor aims to resolve the issue of frozen Iranian funds abroad, which is one of the basic pillars in the proposed draft memorandum of understanding between the two parties.

Global markets reacted quickly to these developments, with oil prices showing significant fluctuations in recent trading. West Texas Intermediate crude fell by more than 5% to levels of $91, while Brent crude recorded a slight increase, reflecting concerns about the possibility of closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

In response to the continuous Israeli violations of the ceasefire, Hezbollah announced the execution of missile attacks targeting barracks and military sites in northern Israel. The party confirmed in a statement that these operations come in response to the recent Israeli escalation that affected civilians and infrastructure in various Lebanese regions.

In conclusion, the regional scene remains suspended between the muzzles of cannons and negotiation tables, as diplomacy races against time to contain the US-Iranian escalation. International capitals await the results of the Doha talks and whether they will succeed in defusing the major explosion in light of the strict conditions imposed by the White House and the ongoing military operations.

US forces conducted defensive strikes in southern Iran today to protect our forces from threats posed by Iranian forces.

Hebrew media sources have revealed new shifts in the field strategy of the Israeli occupation army in southern Lebanon, as the army has begun to reduce the size of its forces deployed in the region. This step comes amidst escalating threats resulting from Hezbollah's use of explosive drones and guided missiles that have directly targeted troop gatherings.

Reports clarified that the army command decided to concentrate the remaining forces in strategic, dominant positions and centers designated for sweeping operations and destroying military infrastructure. This measure aims to reduce vulnerable friction points exploited by Hezbollah fighters to carry out precise attacks using indirect projectiles and aerial suicide weapons.

In a related context, the head of Israeli Military Intelligence (AMAN), Major General Shlomi Binder, is leading what has been described as a 'war of minds' against the party. This war includes daily intelligence assessments aimed at reorienting limited resources towards qualitative paths, including tracking drone launch cells and disrupting logistical supply lines.

Through these operations, Israeli intelligence seeks to build a broad target bank that includes Hezbollah's leadership figures, in preparation for carrying out focused assassinations. This plan relies on precise monitoring of the movements of field and political leaders when suitable operational opportunities arise that ensure accurate hits.

Security sources indicated that current trends within the General Staff lean towards resuming ground incursions deep into Lebanese territory. Field commanders believe that maintaining continuous movement and constant maneuvering is the only way to reduce human and material losses resulting from the advanced aerial threats possessed by the party.

For his part, a reserve officer in military intelligence affirmed that intensive Israeli activity by land and air aims to push Hezbollah fighters northward, away from the border. The officer claimed that the party is forced to deplete its human reserves in Beirut and the Beqaa Valley to compensate for the losses it incurs on the front lines of the confrontation.

On the political front, sources revealed close coordination and continuous dialogue between the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah's leadership to manage the current battle. It appears that the Secretary-General of the party, Sheikh Naim Qassem, is heavily relying on Iranian support and international diplomatic pressure to reach a ceasefire.

The main obstacle in the ongoing negotiations with Washington is Tehran's insistence on linking the Lebanese arena to any comprehensive regional agreement. This is something Israel categorically rejects, as it insists on separating the fronts and ensuring special security arrangements in southern Lebanon to prevent the return of military threats to its northern borders.

Currently, the Israeli army adheres to the directives of the political level, which stipulate working in a limited manner and focusing on sweeping areas previously controlled. These operations include searching hideouts and tunnels and destroying missile platforms discovered in recent weeks in border villages.

However, there is a consensus among military commanders that remaining in a static defensive posture exposes forces to serious risks from mortar fire and attack aircraft. Therefore, pressure is being exerted to expand the scope of ground operations to lift immunity from the party's strongholds in deeper areas, including the southern suburbs of Beirut.

The upcoming military decisions are closely linked to the results of indirect negotiations with Iran, as the security establishment is considering two difficult options. Either a gradual withdrawal if an agreement guaranteeing security is reached, or an expansion of the ground offensive to include new geographical areas not yet reached by forces.

The general atmosphere within decision-making circles in Tel Aviv indicates that the army is closer than ever to resuming large-scale offensive operations. This trend coincides with intensified airstrikes targeting command and control centers and strategic weapons depots belonging to the party across Lebanese territory.

Israeli intelligence faces a significant challenge in tracking the 'new modes of operation' devised by Hezbollah fighters to circumvent aerial surveillance. This confrontation requires continuous updating of technical and human resources used in information gathering, especially given the multiple open fronts that are draining Israeli resources.

The field situation in southern Lebanon remains prone to further escalation in the absence of a clear political horizon to end the ongoing confrontation. The 'war of minds' between the two sides continues as a crucial element in determining the course of the battle, with each side seeking to impose its field equations before reaching any final settlement.

The Israeli army is closer to resuming the incursion in parallel with carrying out intensive military strikes if the political path fails.

The Palestinian Prisoner's Club issued strong warnings about a rapid and dangerous wave of 'scabies' disease sweeping through prisoner sections in Israeli occupation prisons, confirming that the prison service deliberately uses the disease as a tool of physical and psychological torture. The club clarified in a statement that the Israeli system adopts medical crimes as a systematic policy of slow killing, which has led to the death of 89 prisoners since the start of the current aggression, with infectious diseases and medical negligence being among the primary causes of their deaths.

Recent legal visits by lawyers revealed shocking levels of health deterioration within the detention centers, where rooms have turned into infested environments lacking the most basic human living conditions. This deterioration is due to severe overcrowding and a lack of general hygiene, in addition to depriving prisoners of natural ventilation and sunlight, and forcing them to wear wet clothes for long periods, which has contributed to turning prisons into hotbeds for the spread of skin epidemics.

Field data indicates that the infection is spreading terrifyingly, with at least three infected individuals in an advanced stage of the disease recorded in every room housing eight prisoners. The widest outbreak is concentrated in 'Ofer', 'Megiddo', 'Naqab', and 'Jalameh' prisons, which are experiencing the highest levels of overcrowding and violations, amid a complete absence of any preventive or therapeutic measures by the prison administration, which merely monitors without real medical intervention.

The statement described the symptoms suffered by the prisoners as very severe, with boils, ulcers, and acute inflammations appearing on their bodies, causing intense itching that prevents them from sleeping or resting. Human rights sources confirmed that a number of prisoners have completely lost the ability to move for more than five months as a result of the worsening skin infections reaching critical stages, amid their deliberate deprivation of essential medicines and medical supplies.

In a step aimed at obscuring the extent of the health catastrophe, the prison administration canceled all lawyers' visits to infected prisoners, which hinders the documentation of cases and the communication of their suffering to the world. Accordingly, the Prisoner's Club issued urgent appeals to the World Health Organization and relevant international institutions, demanding immediate intervention to save the lives of prisoners and hold the occupation authorities accountable for their ongoing medical crimes against detainees.

The occupation relies on medical crimes as a policy of slow killing, with 89 prisoners and detainees whose identities have been announced since the start of the war having died as a result of these policies.

The pace of extermination and forced displacement in the Gaza Strip is escalating through a series of daily airstrikes and systematic targeting of displacement shelters, resulting in the martyrdom of approximately 900 people since the last ceasefire agreement. These massacres coincide with a catastrophic deterioration in the healthcare system and a severe shortage of medical supplies, putting the lives of thousands of wounded and sick people at risk amidst a suffocating siege.

Field sources reported that the Israeli occupation army has taken control of about 60% of the Strip's area, where it is carrying out extensive demolition operations of residential blocks on both sides of the 'Yellow Line'. This military geographical expansion raises fundamental questions about the true objectives of this escalation, and whether Tel Aviv seeks to swallow what remains of the besieged Palestinian territory.

Mohannad Mustafa, an expert in Israeli affairs, believes that Benjamin Netanyahu's government, through this escalation, seeks to implement a comprehensive military operation aimed at fully occupying the Strip. Mustafa explained that Netanyahu is deliberately working to obstruct the basic provisions of the agreements, including hindering the entry of humanitarian aid and preventing the formation of a national committee to manage Gaza's affairs.

The recent military movements are linked to Netanyahu's troubled political situation, as he faces crucial elections next mid-September without achieving tangible accomplishments. Observers believe that failure to resolve the Gaza issue will have catastrophic consequences for his political future, pushing him to exploit the Palestinian front as a propaganda tool to restore his declining popularity among Israeli voters.

In contrast, Kenneth Katzman, a researcher in strategic studies, presents a different view, considering that the common goal between Tel Aviv and Washington is not permanent occupation, but rather the dismantling of the resistance's military capabilities. Katzman points to international arrangements led by UN parties to deploy an international force and an administrative committee immediately after the current regional confrontation with Iran ends.

For his part, political analyst Iyad Al-Qara refuted the Israeli and American narrative regarding the resistance's weapons, describing it as merely a pretext to evade international obligations. Al-Qara affirmed that Palestinian factions showed great flexibility in the Cairo negotiations, expressing their readiness to discuss all issues through the proposed administrative committee, provided there are genuine international guarantees.

Al-Qara explained that Netanyahu is exploiting the American administration's preoccupation with other regional issues to launch a 'mini-war' based on assassinations, reduced aid, and the evacuation of residential blocks. This policy comes as part of an attempt to impose a new demographic and geographical reality away from the eyes of the international community, exploiting the global inability to impose binding resolutions on the occupation.

A huge human block estimated at 2.2 million people is currently present in the remaining 40% of the Strip's area, which portends an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. Experts confirm that any attempt at a full invasion will collide with strategic obstacles, including increasing international pressure and the exhaustion of the Israeli army on multiple fronts between southern Lebanon and the West Bank.

Field data indicate that the occupation, despite its control over large areas, has failed over two and a half years of the war of extermination to achieve its strategic goals of eliminating the resistance. This war has so far resulted in more than 70,000 martyrs, yet Palestinian factions are still able to manage the battle and confront infiltration attempts on various axes.

On the international level, striking shifts have begun to appear in the positions of European countries that were considered allies of the occupation, such as Britain and Italy, which have begun to review their military support. This decline in international cover, coinciding with the reserve forces crisis within Israeli society, may put an end to Netanyahu's ambitions for full military expansion within the Gaza Strip.

The world can no longer tolerate a new extermination against 2.2 million people crowded into the remaining 40% of the Strip's area.

New York City is preparing to organize its annual Israel Solidarity March on Fifth Avenue, a tradition that began about 62 years ago as the city's largest demonstration of sympathy. However, the 2026 edition is witnessing a dramatic shift with Mayor Zohran Mamdani's official announcement of his boycott of the event, marking the first time in history that the city's mayor will be absent from this Zionist march.

The organizers of the march expressed clear concern about the expected decline in participant numbers this year compared to previous years, and tried to justify this reluctance by the rise of anti-Semitism. But political readings indicate that the real reason lies in the inability of many, including large segments of the Jewish community, to salute a state steeped in the blood of civilians.

This march comes at a time when Israel is facing accusations of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip, where statistics indicate that more than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed. Continuing to organize solidarity celebrations amidst this widespread destruction reflects a state of moral blindness among traditional Zionist institutions that ignore the tragedy of millions of displaced people.

An Israeli ministerial delegation, including figures from the far-right, among them ministers belonging to the Ben-Gvir and Smotrich parties known for their racist stances, is scheduled to participate in the march. These ministers openly compete to make statements calling for the erasure of Gaza and its transformation into Jewish settlements, making participation in the march a blessing for these genocidal tendencies.

Human rights sources have questioned the moral utility of saluting a state that has caused tens of thousands of children to become disabled and orphaned, in addition to destroying southern Lebanon and displacing its residents. Israel in 2026 is no longer the state that can be celebrated in the streets of New York, but has become, in the eyes of large segments of the world, a pariah and rogue state.

The boycott announced by Mamdani, as a human rights advocate, represents a strong slap to the propaganda that tries to beautify the image of the occupation in the United States. It is illogical to raise Israeli flags in Manhattan while 2.3 million people live in tents for the third consecutive year without the most basic necessities of life, such as water or electricity.

The holding of this march under the current circumstances is a blatant disregard for international law and the moral values that Western democracies claim to protect. Instead of solidarity with the military force that continues bombing and destruction, a city like New York should have organized solidarity marches with the oppressed and victims in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Ultimately, it seems that the waters of the Hudson River are no longer able to wash away the innocent blood shed in the Middle East, and American awareness is beginning to change significantly towards the Palestinian issue. The mayor's absence from the official platform of the march is a clear indication that the era of automatic flattery of Israel has begun to wane, even in its historically most supportive cities.

Your salute to these ministers will be a salute to explicit and public genocide, and everyone with a living conscience must boycott this event now.

Sheikh Mohammed Mahmoud Hassan Abu Teir is considered an exceptional model in the history of the Palestinian national movement, having spent nearly 44 years of his life behind the bars of Israeli occupation prisons. Abu Teir was born in the village of Umm Tuba in occupied Jerusalem in 1951, and grew up in a resistant family that offered martyrs and prisoners, which shaped his militant personality from an early age.

The journey of suffering and heroism for Sheikh Abu Teir began with his first arrest in 1974, followed by a series of arrests that consumed more than half of his life. Despite the long years of captivity, he remained steadfast in his principles, as he was released in the last stop of his prison journey on May 21, 2026, to return once again to the arena of national action.

Abu Teir received his primary education in UNRWA schools in Jerusalem and obtained his high school diploma from Al-Aqsa Sharia School, before moving on to university studies in Jordan and Beirut. Despite his preoccupation with academic achievement in Sharia and Arabic language specializations, the call of resistance was stronger, which prompted him to engage early in military work.

In his early days, Abu Teir joined the ranks of the Fatah National Liberation Movement under the nom de guerre 'Tariq bin Ziyad', and received intensive military training in resistance camps in Lebanon and Syria. This early experience laid the first foundations for his career as a field commander capable of forming resistance cells and confronting the occupation's schemes in occupied Jerusalem.

His prison years witnessed a profound intellectual transformation in Abu Teir's journey, as he moved to the Islamic current and contributed to the establishment of the Islamic Group inside Ramla Prison in the mid-1970s. From inside his cell, he led many demanding strikes and confronted the repressive practices of the prison administration with steadfastness, meeting Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in 1984.

With the emergence of the Hamas movement, Abu Teir joined its military wing, the 'Al-Qassam Brigades', and worked alongside prominent leaders such as the martyr Saleh Al-Arouri and the Awadallah brothers. He was known at that stage as 'Omar Al-Mukhtar' or 'Sayyidi Omar', a title that accompanied him for a long time, expressing respect and appreciation for his leadership and spiritual status among his comrades.

Abu Teir's journey was not limited to military work, but extended to include political and parliamentary work, as he won membership in the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006. Abu Teir represented the city of Jerusalem within the Change and Reform Bloc, which made him a direct target for the occupation, which sought to remove elected Jerusalemite symbols through repeated arrests.

In 2010, the occupation authorities took an unjust decision to deport Sheikh Abu Teir and a number of his fellow Jerusalemite deputies to the city of Ramallah in the West Bank. Despite the years of forced deportation, Abu Teir refused to compromise his sacred identity or replace it with Palestinian Authority identity cards, insisting on his inherent right to return to his birthplace.

Sheikh Abu Teir firmly believes that resistance is the only effective way to liberate historical Palestine and ensure the return of refugees to their homes. He strongly criticizes political agreements that he believes aim to liquidate the cause, always calling for the necessity of reforming the Palestine Liberation Organization and involving all active forces in it.

Abu Teir faced continuous restrictions, including being banned from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Old City, as well as a continuous travel ban since 1985. This year witnessed his release as part of the famous 'Ahmed Jibril' prisoner exchange deal, in which he was responsible for overseeing the list of released prisoners thanks to his experience and shrewdness.

Sheikh Abu Teir documented his rich experience in a massive book titled 'Sayyidi Omar', in which he reviewed, over 600 pages, pivotal stations in the history of Palestinian resistance and his bitter and inspiring memories in prisons. The book was published by Al-Zaytouna Center in Beirut, becoming an important reference for future generations on prison literature and the history of the prisoner movement.

Those close to him and his fellow prisoners describe him as 'Mandela of Palestine', in reference to his legendary steadfastness that did not waver despite the passage of decades and changing political circumstances. His comrades confirm that Abu Teir could have lived in prosperity away from persecution, but he chose the path of sacrifice and altruism in defense of the constants of the Palestinian people.

Sheikh Mohammed Abu Teir remains a living symbol of Jerusalemite steadfastness, as he continues from his voluntary exile in Ramallah to defend his just cause. His journey, which spanned more than seven decades, summarizes the story of a people who refuse to be broken and insist on achieving their freedom, no matter the sacrifices and the length of years of captivity and deportation.

Resistance is the most important factor for restoring historical Palestine, and the Palestinian people are capable of steadfastness until they achieve their freedom.

The diplomatic tension between the Israeli occupation and the European Union is escalating following the interception of international relief fleets heading to the Gaza Strip. Instead of achieving the deterrence goals sought by extremist ministers, the scene of activists' arrests turned into an international platform that revealed the extent of humanitarian suffering in the besieged Strip.

Sources reported that occupation forces arrested a group of humanitarian activists who sought to break the starvation blockade imposed on Gaza. These volunteers, representing several countries, confirmed through their movement that the Palestinian cause remains a compass for the global conscience rejecting colonial policies.

In a significant development, Irish President Catherine Connolly officially announced the arrest of her sister, Dr. Margaret Connolly, a human rights activist. The Irish presidency described the incident as an 'illegal abduction' that took place in international waters, putting the occupation in a legal and moral predicament before the international community.

The Irish President expressed her pride in her sister's humanitarian stance, while observers warned that this step would deepen Tel Aviv's international isolation. This incident is expected to lead to an unprecedented diplomatic crisis with Ireland, which already takes critical positions towards the occupation's practices.

Coinciding with these events, extremist minister Itamar Ben Gvir continued his provocations by storming the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque accompanied by groups of settlers. Ben Gvir raised the occupation flag inside the courtyards under heavy protection, in a move Palestinian sources considered an attempt to ignite the situation and change the existing historical status quo.

These developments come as Palestinians commemorate the seventy-eighth anniversary of the Nakba, recalling the roots of the conflict that has continued for decades. Despite attempts by powers supporting the occupation to marginalize the issue, relief fleets have proven that international solidarity is still alive and active.

Analysts believe that the occupation relies on the weapon of starvation as a political tool against the residents of Gaza, betting on continued American cover. However, the entry of prominent professional and political figures into the relief confrontation has begun to tighten the noose on these policies and embarrass silent European capitals.

Historically, the occupation entity was no stranger to international isolation, as these events remind us of Yasser Arafat's historic speech before the United Nations in 1974. Since then, the methods of popular and international resistance have evolved to include politically and morally besieging the occupation in all forums.

Ben Gvir's extremist behaviors, from distributing weapons to settlers to abusing prisoners, have contributed to shaping a firm international stance against the current government. These actions, which contradict international humanitarian law, have made even the occupation's allies express their displeasure at the lack of political prudence among Tel Aviv's leaders.

In the occupation prisons, the 'empty stomachs' weapon stands out as one of the most prominent tools of struggle mastered by Palestinians to confront administrative detention. Freedom Flotilla activists have drawn inspiration from this spirit of struggle to confront the naval blockade, emphasizing that hunger can turn into an effective weapon against the jailer.

The relief ship project represents a direct threat to the Israeli blockade strategy, and therefore naval forces rush to abuse activists and confiscate ships. This repeated clash puts the global conscience to a real test about the seriousness of saving civilians from imminent famine.

The volunteers who joined the fleets proved that humanitarian work can turn into a resistant political act that breaks the barrier of fear. These activists recorded their names in the annals of heroism, affirming their loyalty to the people of Gaza who face the war machine and blockade alone.

The future of Irish-Israeli relations remains subject to the repercussions of the arrest of the President's sister, which may open the door to stricter European measures. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether human conscience will triumph over policies of brute force and biased political protection.

The arrest of the sister of a European head of state represents a fundamental shift in the nature of the clash between the occupation and international solidarity movements.

* The emergence of informal channels due to Israel's tightening of monetary movement control, which led to a large cash flow through parallel means. * It is realistic not to rely on the return of clearance in the immediate term, and what is required is "zeroing out clearance" and alleviating burdens on citizens. * In the absence of clearance funds and salary delays, it is not enough to ask people to be patient; rather, policies that directly alleviate daily burdens must be adopted. * What is needed are well-thought-out political and economic measures and the development of more equitable tax tools. * We need to adopt a stricter supply policy, and government consumer institutions can be established. * We are facing a long confrontation that requires building comprehensive economic and social immunity consistent with reality. * Gaza cannot wait for comprehensive reconstruction to begin life; what is needed is to operate the economy from the bottom up. * It is important to create a widespread production state that transforms agriculture and industry into real tools for resilience. Ramallah - Special Interview "Al-Quds" - The financial crisis, primarily the shekel surplus, is deepening amidst complex economic transformations and the severe financial crisis faced by the Palestinian Authority. This necessitates, according to businessman and economic analyst Dr. Samir Hulileh, a comprehensive reformulation of economic policies to align with the new social reality.

Hulileh emphasizes in a special interview with "Al-Quds" that the financial crisis has become linked to strategic choices affecting the structure of the Palestinian economy itself, amidst the absence of a unified vision for the Palestinian National Authority that defines how to deal with the crisis and its limits, especially the shekel surplus crisis and mechanisms for controlling it in a way that aligns with national interest and alleviates the accumulated pressures on the financial system and banks.

Hulileh stresses that avoiding a deeper financial crisis requires moving from crisis management to producing effective economic policies capable of enhancing local revenues and reducing reliance on external sources, in addition to adopting well-considered interventions in basic commodity prices and taxes. The following is the text of the interview:

Sources of the Shekel Surplus * First, what are the causes of the shekel surplus crisis in the Palestinian market?

The shekel surplus raises real questions, especially with the decline in the number of Palestinian workers inside Israel, who historically were among the main sources of shekel inflow into the Palestinian market, in addition to the large spending by Palestinians from inside Israel during their visits to the West Bank.

According to a study prepared in 2019, Palestinians from inside Israel spent between 9 to 10 billion shekels annually in the West Bank, while Palestinian workers brought in about 15 billion shekels in cash, totaling approximately 25 billion shekels annually. This figure was almost equivalent to the volume of Palestinian imports from Israel, which are paid in shekels.

At that time, the shekel surplus was estimated at about 18 billion shekels annually, and a mechanism was adopted to transfer about 1.5 billion shekels monthly to the Israeli Central Bank.

Causes of the Shekel Crisis Worsening * But why has the crisis worsened today despite the decline of some traditional channels?

After the Corona pandemic, the Palestinian and Israeli economies witnessed a remarkable recovery, especially between 2021 and 2023, with the shekel-related cash cycle rising from about 35 billion shekels to current estimates ranging between 40 and 45 billion annually, an unjustified increase by traditional standards.

Therefore, new and informal channels for shekel flow emerged, amidst Israel's tightening of control over monetary movement within its borders, in contrast to the weak ability to control it in the Palestinian territories, which led to a large cash flow through parallel means.

Huge Price Differences * What are the most prominent of these informal channels you are talking about?

There are huge price differences between the Palestinian and Israeli markets, most notably cigarettes, where the price difference sometimes reaches 50%, which created widespread smuggling and selling operations that generate large quantities of shekels in cash.

The same applies to the meat file, where the Palestinian quota exempt from duties, amounting to five thousand tons annually, is exploited for resale inside Israel at double prices, instead of being directed to reduce local prices.

The repercussions of the war, both on Gaza and the tension with Iran, also contributed to an unofficial Israeli demand for dollars and gold through Palestinian money changers, which led to an increase in dollar exchange rates outside official channels.

In addition, real estate purchases and shopping in West Bank cities confirm the existence of a wide informal economic movement that has become the main driver of the accumulation of shekel surplus in Palestinian banks.

What is happening has created a black market that is constantly expanding and requires special policies from the concerned authorities to contain and address it.

What is Required from Palestinians to Deal with the Crisis * What policies are required from Palestinians to deal with the shekel surplus crisis?

The main question does not fall solely on the shoulders of the Monetary Authority, but on the official economic bodies, primarily the Ministry of Economy, to determine Palestinian economic policy: Are we interested in the continuation of all forms of shekel flow, or are there activities that should be controlled or limited?

Some paths may create a consumer market and revitalize the local economy, especially with the importance of Palestinians from inside Israel as a major economic incubator for the West Bank, given their higher income level and purchasing power compared to Palestinian citizens, which reflects on stimulating the markets of cities such as Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarm, and Qalqilya, especially after the decline in employment inside Israel, the contraction of the economic cycle, and the disappearance of the Gaza market, which constituted about 35 to 40% of West Bank sales.

Practical Mechanisms to Control the Shekel Surplus * What are the practical mechanisms through which the shekel surplus can be controlled?

The beginning is to understand the paths through which the shekel flows, then make a clear economic decision about whether these flows serve the Palestinian interest or not.

If it is decided to maintain them, means of dealing with the surplus should be considered instead of merely complaining.

The most realistic solution, as happened in 2019, is to seek the assistance of a neutral international body agreed upon by the Monetary Authority and the Israeli Central Bank to examine the sources of the shekel surplus and determine its actual size, while raising the ceiling of annual quantities received by Israel to match current economic changes.

Alternatives in Case of Israeli Refusal * And what are the alternatives if Israel refuses to cooperate?

Then the Authority will be forced to adopt internal policies that reduce reliance on the shekel, such as adopting preferential exchange rates for salaries and taxes in dinars or dollars, in coordination with Jordan, with the aim of gradually strengthening the presence of other currencies in the Palestinian market.

Repercussions of the Shekel Surplus Crisis * What are the most prominent economic and social repercussions of the shekel surplus on society?

The direct and greatest impact falls on the banking sector, as banks bear the primary burden due to the accumulation of large shekel deposits that are not matched by sufficient demand within the Palestinian market.

It is true that part of the banking facilities consists of debit current accounts, but it remains limited compared to the volume of accumulated liquidity.

Banks also face additional challenges related to financing imports from Israel, most of which are paid in shekels, at a time when banks rely on transfers and transactions with international financial institutions that use the shekel within a complex system of guarantees and banking policies.

The citizen is not the primary victim currently, as the main problem affects banks whose vaults are filled with a cash surplus of limited utility and return.

However, the continuation of the crisis without solutions may expand its repercussions in the future, especially with the escalation of Israeli policies and the possibility of targeting the Palestinian banking relationship with Israeli banks, which may complicate the entire financial scene.

More Realistic Solutions * What are the proposed solutions to overcome the crisis?

There are measures such as reducing reliance on cash and promoting electronic payments, but they are not enough to clear the existing surplus.

The most realistic solution is international intervention through a neutral party, preferably American and acceptable to both sides, to assess the volume and sources of the shekel, then raise the ceiling of quantities that Israel recovers annually to match the actual increase in cash circulation, in addition to more effective Palestinian and international action to pressure for a sustainable solution.

Practical Solutions Amidst the Clearance and Salary Crisis * Amidst the clearance and salary crisis, are there still practical solutions that can enhance citizens' resilience, or is only more patience required?

In my opinion, there are many practical solutions, but the real challenge lies in the government's ability to take responsibility for implementing them.

What is happening is not a purely financial or economic crisis, but a clear political attack led by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich with the aim of weakening the Palestinian Authority and perhaps overthrowing it. Therefore, the confrontation requires a comprehensive political decision that goes beyond the capacity of the technocratic government alone.

What is required, in my estimation, is a unified political stance involving the presidency, the Palestine Liberation Organization, and national forces, because crisis management requires will and calculated confrontation.

Steps Under the Ceiling of Indirect Confrontation * What is the nature of the steps that can be taken without reaching a direct confrontation?

The discussion is not about a major escalation or a breach of agreements, but about well-thought-out political and economic measures within the existing framework, including the Paris Protocol, to prove that Palestinians have tools of influence, and that the Israeli side is not the only one controlling the economic arena.

The problem, in my estimation, is not only related to Israel's strength or policies, but also to the state of Palestinian weakness and inability that allowed the situation to be exposed to this extent.

Not Relying on the Clearance File * And how do you view the issue of clearance funds in the coming period?

It is realistic not to rely too much on the return of clearance in the immediate term; the current Israeli government, according to indicators, will continue the same approach in the coming months, and therefore the crisis must be dealt with on the basis of the absence of these revenues, and any potential breakthrough should be considered an exception, not a rule, and therefore "zeroing out clearance" is what is required.

Alleviating Burdens by Zeroing Out Clearance * You propose the concept of "zeroing out clearance for Israel," what do you mean by that?

Zeroing out clearance for Israel means reformulating Palestinian economic policy to suit the social and economic state of emergency we are experiencing.

When about 70% of the population lives below the income level necessary to cover the minimum family living expenses, the priority becomes the social agenda, not any other consideration.

In the absence of clearance funds and salary delays, it is not enough to ask people to be patient; rather, policies that directly alleviate daily burdens must be adopted, and direct efforts must be made, within the scope of the Paris Protocol, to zero out the withheld clearance funds by reducing taxes.

The beginning is with taxes imposed on basic commodities. For example, the tax on gas cylinders can be significantly reduced in the coming months, so that their price drops from about 85 shekels to about 40 or 45 shekels, because the largest part of their current price consists of taxes that used to go to enhance clearance, and they no longer reach the Palestinian treasury.

The same applies to diesel, especially since transportation consumes about 18% of Palestinian family spending due to the absence of public transport and citizens' reliance on diesel-powered vehicles.

Here, the tax can be reduced to the minimum, which will significantly lower the price and give families greater resilience.

Extent of Impact on the Palestinian Government * But wouldn't that lead to a financial loss for the government?

What is happening is an emergency measure, and this is not an actual loss for the Palestinian treasury as much as it is deductions that were originally going to Israel as part of the withheld clearance funds, and if things return to normal, these policies can be reconsidered.

Therefore, reducing taxes on basic commodities today is a social and economic gain for the Palestinian citizen, not a financial drain on the government.

Measures to Reduce Reliance on Israel * Are there other measures to reduce financial reliance on Israel?

Yes, among them is temporarily stopping the import of new cars and allowing the import of vehicles one year old, so that customs duties are paid inside Palestine instead of Israeli ports, which saves hundreds of millions of shekels annually.

Customs duties on luxury cars and luxury goods must also be restructured, and the tax burden on the financially capable must be increased, in addition to reviewing corporate tax and value-added tax to match the rise in poverty and unemployment.

However, the success of these policies requires a unified political decision starting from the Palestinian leadership and translated into a single economic discourse in the face of Israeli pressures.

Financial Resilience Amidst the Current Crisis * Can financial resilience be considered an essential part of national resilience amidst the current crisis?

Certainly, financial resilience has become an integral part of national resilience, as it is not possible to build comprehensive economic and social immunity realistically in the face of Israel, which continuously uses political, economic, security, and settlement pressure tools, while the Palestinian side remains in a waiting position.

Betting on a change in Israeli governments or upcoming elections alone is not enough, because the policies imposed in recent years, especially by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have created a new reality within the West Bank, both at the level of the Israeli civil administration and the Israeli security institutions associated with the settlements.

Therefore, what is required is not to violate existing agreements, but to use the available tools within them, especially the margins provided by the Paris Protocol that can be invested by Palestinians.

Integrated Economic Vision * And what is the required international role to confront these pressures?

We need an integrated economic vision built in partnership between the private sector and civil society, and conveyed to the United States and its decision-making centers, whether at the level of Congress or the American administration.

If it is not possible to receive official representatives from the Authority, economic and civil delegations can explain the serious repercussions of Israeli policies and demand more effective American and European intervention, and legal and documentary preparations must also be made for any potential path before international courts in the future.

Emergency Budget Resilience * How can the emergency budget remain resilient amidst the escalating financial deficit?

What is required is to enhance local revenues through different methods, not by increasing the burden on the citizen, but by restructuring the tax system.

Reliance on consumption taxes and customs related to Israel can be reduced, and in return, more equitable local tax tools can be developed. The problem is that the Palestinian economy relies mainly on value-added tax and customs, while income tax remains very limited compared to other countries, as a result of adopting a low tax model that does not keep pace with the current crisis, and the original intention is to activate income tax.

Reformulating Palestinian Economic Policy * How can economic policy be reformulated to adapt to the current crisis and enhance citizens' resilience?

We are forced to reconsider Palestinian economic policy to suit the current circumstances, and the Ministry of Finance and the government have the technical capacity to search for alternatives if a clear political decision is available.

What is required are specialized workshops that re-adjust the economic system without violating existing agreements, and in a way that strengthens the Palestinian budget and limits Israel's financial benefit.

Even if the salary crisis continues and employees continue to receive half their salaries, reducing basic costs such as transportation and energy can significantly alleviate their living burden.

Practical Policies to Alleviate Living Burdens * What practical policies can be adopted to alleviate living burdens?

What is required is to adopt a stricter supply policy towards basic commodities, similar to the experiences of countries like Jordan and Egypt.

The issue is not only the availability of goods, but their prices and mechanisms for controlling them. It is unacceptable that the prices of bread or meat in Palestine are much higher than in neighboring countries despite similar import sources and the absence of customs duties on some products. Balanced pricing policies can be imposed, so that markets and bakeries are obliged to provide basic items at low prices for poor segments, in exchange for different profit margins on other goods. * Who should lead this process?

In the absence of a Ministry of Supply, the Ministry of National Economy, in cooperation with the relevant ministries, must lead a policy of control and pricing of basic materials, with the aim of protecting the most vulnerable groups, including those affected by the widespread economic crisis. * What is your assessment of the effectiveness of indicative price lists in controlling markets?

Unfortunately, even these lists have become ineffective, as actual market prices are often lower than the indicative prices themselves, rendering them without real impact. What is required is not flexibility in application, but clear firmness, so that a price ceiling is set for basic commodities, and if prices exceed this limit, intervention is direct, including the option of state intervention in distribution if necessary, because the issue has become linked to national and livelihood security.

Direct State Role in the Market * Do you propose a direct state role in the market?

Yes, consumer institutions or even government bakeries can be established, or a direct support system through coupons for basic materials, so that citizens receive bread, rice, or other basic commodities at clear subsidized prices, as the idea is for citizens to feel real protection, not superficial measures.

Authority's Handling of the Crisis * How do you evaluate the Authority's current approach to dealing with the crisis?

There is clear hesitation, as if the solutions are temporary, but the crisis is prolonged, and we cannot wait any longer, especially since the new Israeli policies are ongoing and do not seem likely to change soon. Even in the international context, there are no guarantees to amend the laws imposed on us.

Economic and Social Immunity * What is the general framework for the solution?

We are facing a long-term confrontation that requires building economic and social immunity, by reducing basic costs such as fuel, and converting available resources to strengthen 40% of the locally based economy instead of relying on the declining 60% external economy. The goal is to protect society from poverty and build an integrated social and economic program for resilience.

What is Needed to Revitalize Gaza's Economy * How do you evaluate the performance of the economy in Gaza? And what is needed to revitalize it?

Throughout the years of war in Gaza, we lived in a state of perpetual waiting: American intervention, UN action, or international initiatives, as if we had abandoned our responsibility to build internal solutions.

This waiting weakened us instead of protecting us, while we should have worked to gradually build elements of local "economic immunity," away from continuous Israeli obstruction and the postponement of all political solutions. * What are the most prominent elements of this proposed economic immunity?

The elements of this proposed economic immunity in the Gaza Strip begin with meeting basic needs. It should have been initiated early on to repair damaged bakeries and distribute flour to them to ensure the provision of free or low-cost bread for people. Indeed, about 45 bakeries have been rehabilitated through international efforts, but this effort must turn into a comprehensive policy that includes food industries, cattle and sheep farms, and even the re-operation of agricultural wells to gradually restore agricultural production.

Dealing with the Rubble File * What about managing the physical effects of the war, such as rubble?

The rubble file is a clear example of the absence of initiative. A national project was launched to recycle rubble and convert it into building materials or bricks for paving roads in previous wars, especially since it does not require complex technologies as much as it requires simple labor and field management, and it constitutes an economic lever and employment for thousands of young people. However, in this war, it did not turn into a widespread project, and the waiting policy of donor countries in this regard was sufficient, despite the success of limited experiences at this stage.

Other Possible Solutions * Are there other examples of possible solutions?

Yes, there are current experiences such as projects to rehabilitate damaged homes, where hundreds of housing units have been renovated at a relatively low cost, enabling hundreds of families to leave tents with funding and supervision from the Palestinian Housing Council.

As for the solid waste file, which has accumulated in hundreds of thousands of tons in Gaza, and despite the fact that 55-60% of solid waste can be converted into organic fertilizer to improve soil and employ hundreds of young people, without the need for complex technology, this project has not been started immediately by official bodies or local authorities, and has become a project awaiting international funding and the reconstruction file. * What is the main message of this approach?

The message is that Gaza cannot wait for comprehensive reconstruction to begin life; what is needed is to restore life by operating the economy from the bottom up: agriculture, small industries, waste management, and the restoration of damaged infrastructure.

There are available resources and funding from institutions and organizations, but the most important thing is to activate a local will that makes people produce, live, and rebuild their lives despite the harsh conditions. We are not talking about reconstruction; we are talking about restoring life only, and this is not impossible.

Agriculture as the Safety Valve of Economic Immunity * How can the agricultural sector contribute to strengthening economic resilience?

Agriculture is a fundamental sector in strengthening community resilience and the safety valve for economic immunity, but in many cases, it has become a source of pressure on the consumer due to exports to Israeli markets and rising prices domestically. Globally, agriculture is considered a "refuge for the poor" because it provides additional income, not basic income, as is the case for some employees who have been able to earn between one thousand and two thousand shekels monthly from their additional work in agriculture in addition to their salaries.

What is required is to significantly expand local production instead of focusing on exports to Israel, with a clear policy from the Ministry of Agriculture to regulate imports and exports in a way that primarily serves the local market.

It is not possible to prevent selling at higher prices, but local supply can be increased so that internal self-sufficiency becomes the basis.

There are great untapped potentials, such as hydroponics and other means that allow high production in small areas and with very low water costs, even in homes. * How can the agricultural sector be practically activated?

This is done by encouraging people to engage in home and cooperative farming, and providing simple technical and financial support. Each group of employees or families can invest in small plots of land to generate additional income, and there are successful cooperative models that can be built upon. The goal is to create a widespread production state that makes society less dependent on the market, and transforms agriculture into a real tool for resilience instead of remaining a limited or seasonal activity.