Israel’s move to take control of the Rafah crossing into Egypt has sparked sharp debate about its end goal: Is this the start of a long-threatened invasion of the southern Gaza city, or an attempt to pressure Hamas to ease conditions for a ceasefire and the release of hostages?
I am just returning from a solidarity tour in Ukraine. I promised myself I would not write about it, at least not until the emotional passions had cooled. Reportage is a dish best served cold. But perhaps, at times, perspectives forged in the heat of anger and despair may have their place too.
Hamas said it had agreed to a ceasefire proposal put forward by Qatar and Egypt to halt fighting with Israel in Gaza. However, Israel rejected Hamas’ acceptance, saying its forces would continue their operation in Rafah to eradicate the Palestinian militant group.
Israeli officials seized Al Jazeera equipment on Sunday, hours after the nation’s Cabinet approved a decision to shutter the Qatar-based TV news network’s operations in the Jewish state — an unprecedented step towards an international media outlet.
Moving, surprising, inspiring, terrifying, shocking … This is a selection of images from our planet, over the last 48 hours.
Turkey stopped all trade with Israel as of Thursday, according to two Turkish officials familiar with the matter, adding to already high-running tension between the once-close allies over the war in Gaza.
OP-ED
The misapprehension that ‘might is right’ in international relations was the case in the time of 19th-century colonial conquest when territories could be legally seized. The practice of the Israeli state is in closer conformity to that earlier understanding of international law than later developments that have ensued. Part One in a series.
By Raymond Suttner
OP-ED
At the level of mass struggle, it has been a very long time since international mass action of this type has been seen and never before on anything like this scale in support of the Palestinians. Two or three years ago it may be that hardly anyone outside of the Middle East knew the colours of the Palestinian flag.
By Raymond Suttner
OP-ED
It may be unprecedented that a state by its actions declares itself outside the realm of international law, ignoring binding decisions of the International Court of Justice. Part 3 in a series.
By Raymond Suttner
OP-ED
It’s hard to believe that Israel’s war on the Palestinians receives unqualified support from almost all states that are classified as democratic, in Europe and the US. Opponents of the war are experiencing increasing repression in many of these states.
By Raymond Suttner
Daily Maverick condemns the killings of scores of journalists since 7 October in the Israel-Gaza war and the targeting of the eyes of war, regarded as requiring special protection under the Geneva Conventions.
The allegation is essentially as follows: the ANC, which for years has been teetering on the verge of bankruptcy, announced in early January that it had managed to stabilise its finances. It didn’t really give any specifics on how this had been accomplished. In the same week, South Africa approached the International Court of Justice in the Hague to ask that Israel’s actions in Gaza be classified as genocide. To some people, the timing of these two events is suspicious.
By Rebecca Davis
South Africa says a court preventive order will force the UN General Assembly and the Security Council to stop the sale of arms to Israel.
By Ferial Haffajee
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