October 6, 2024
Anniversary of Al Aqsa Flood operation against Israel
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali
October 7, 2024 marks the first anniversary of Al Aqsa Flood operation which returned the Palestine issue top of the Arab and Islamic agenda that was overshadowed by normalization of relations between Israel and Arab countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, the cradle of Islam.
The normalization was now in a “reset” situation, and in September this year, even Prince Salman, the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia stated that the kingdom would not establish ties with Israel until a Palestinian state has been created.
The Al Aqsa Flood operation, launched by Hamas resulted in the death of over 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of about 240 Israelis.
Israeli response to the Al Aqsa Flood operation was genocide of Palestinians. As of October 6, 41,825 Palestinians were killed and 96,910 injured by Israel. According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights chief Volker Türk most of the dead are women and children.
Ismail al-Thawabta, the head of Gaza’s Government Media Office, told Anadolu that at least 16,859 children since October 7, 2023 were killed. He further added that "around 25,973 Palestinian children now live in Gaza without one or both parents due to the Israeli aggression."
As of Sept. 25, Israeli military operations damaged or destroyed nearly 60% of buildings in Gaza, according to an analysis of satellite data conducted by Jamon Van Den Hoek of Oregon State University and Corey Scher of CUNY Graduate Center.
An estimated 227,591 housing units have been damaged or destroyed, along with 68% of the enclave's road network, according to two recent analyses from the UN Satellite Center.
"Only 17 of 36 hospitals remain partially functional, and all suffer from a lack of fuel, medical supplies, and clean water," Oxfam said this week.
All of Gaza’s population of 2.1 million is now in need of humanitarian assistance, and more than two million Palestinians - half of them children - are living without access to sufficient water, food, shelter and medical care.
Tellingly, the people of Gaza remain steadfast in the face of genocide by Israel. Despite the unimaginable suffering they endure, they continue to resist, their faith serving as a source of strength and courage.
One year after intensive bombing and killings the Israeli army was unable to dismantle Hamas, that was the professed objective of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
On the eve of the first anniversary of Operation al-Aqsa Flood, the Palestinian resistance continues its operations by targeting the Israeli forces and confronting Israeli attempts to infiltrate the northern Gaza Strip. The resistance continues to bombard Israeli settlements around Gaza with rockets.
The al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement (PIJ), announced that its fighters had bombarded Askalan and the surrounding settlements with a barrage of rockets. The Israeli Channel 13 confirmed that it monitored the launch of 3 rockets from the Gaza Strip toward southern Askalan.
According to Raphael S. Cohen, director of the Strategy and Doctrine Program of RAND Corporation, prior to the October 7 attack, Israel thought it had contained, deterred, and appeased Hamas—by a mixture of building a wall around Gaza, fighting small scale prior wars, and letting economic aid into Gaza and providing limited permits for Gazans to work in Israel. Consequently, the Israeli leadership thought they had the Hamas problem in hand. And as October 7 demonstrated, they did not.
Yedioth Ahronoth, a leading Israeli newspaper, citing Israeli security sources wrote recently that Hamas is working to consolidate its authority again in the areas of Gaza that the Israeli forces vacated and no one in Gaza stands against Hamas, and no one challenges its rule.
To borrow, Dr. Fadi Zatari, of Zaim University, Türkiye, Hamas’ ‘Al Aqsa Flood’ operation will forever be considered a turning point in the contemporary history of the Palestinian resistance movement. Planning and executing such an operation targeting the world’s most technologically advanced military state is not a small feat considering Hamas’ limited resources. The attack has shattered the myth and image of Israel as an impenetrably strong state.
The Al Aqsa Flood has rekindled international interest in the Palestinian issue, once again positioning it at the forefront of both regional and international discourse, Dr. Zatari concludes.
According to Anjes Calamar, the Secretary General of Amnesty International, today's diplomatic complicity in the catastrophic human rights and humanitarian crisis in Gaza is the culmination of years of erosion of the international rule of law and the global human rights system. This decay, so evident in the destruction of Gaza and the Western response to it, signals the end of the rules-based order and the beginning of a new era.
Over the past 20 years, the doctrine and methods of the "war on terror" have been adopted or emulated by governments around the world. They have been used to extend the reach and scope of state "self-defense" measures and to prosecute, with the slightest restraint, any people or authorities deemed to fall under the loosely defined but widely applied label of "terrorist threat."
The extremely large number of civilian murders in Gaza committed in the name of self-defense and the fight against terrorism is a logical consequence of that framework, which has perverted and almost dismantled international law, and with it the principle of universality. With good reason, one could argue that universality has never been applied to the Palestinians, who, as the Palestinian-American intellectual Edward Said described it, have since 1948 been "victims of victims, refugees of refugees,” Calamar concluded.
Abdus Sattar Ghazali is the Chief Editor of the Journal of America (www.journalofamerica.net) Email: asghazali2011 (@) gmail.com
Hezbollah's indomitable resolve
"Israel," backed by the US, has relentlessly sought to cripple resistance movements in Lebanon and Palestine; yet their fundamental misreading of the Resistance has led to repeated failures.
Despite repeated efforts by “Israel” and the US to dismantle resistance movements, especially in Lebanon and Palestine, these attempts have consistently fallen short. The core reason for this failure lies in the West’s misreading of the Resistance itself—the Resistance is rooted in deep historical injustices, sustained ideological strength, and has a great capacity to adapt. While leaders may be targeted and eliminated, their movements continue to thrive, fueled by an unwavering dedication to justice and freedom.
The assassinations of key figures like Hezbollahﾒs Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Commander Hajj Imad Mughniyeh, and Commander Fouad Shokor, among others, have not resulted in Hezbollah’s downfall over the years. Instead, the group has only grown stronger, showcasing the inability of “Israel” and the US to truly understand the dynamics of the Lebanese Resistance. These movements are not reliant on individual leaders; they are deeply rooted in collective resilience and continue to thrive despite targeted assassinations.
It’s clear that since the beginning of the war on Gaza, “Israel”, fully backed by the US, sought to dismantle Hezbollah through decisive strikes. This strategy began with the assassination of Commander Fouad Shokor in late July, followed by a series of pager attacks and the assassination of more Hezbollah officials. However, the martyrdom of Sayyed Nasrallah was meant to be the critical blow, aimed at triggering Hezbollah’s collapse and internal disintegration.
Common tactics like economic sanctions, military interventions, and targeted assassinations have been repeatedly used by the US and “Israel” to dismantle Resistance groups. However, history has shown that these strategies have failed.
Take the Gaza Strip, for example—besieged since 2007. “Israel” not only attempted to crush the Palestinian Resistance through relentless military assaults and a blockade but also to turn the people of Gaza against the Resistance by deepening their humanitarian suffering. The plan was clear: starve the population, deny them basic necessities, and push them to blame the Resistance for the hardships. Yet, rather than fracture the relationship, “Israel’s” siege had the opposite effect. The daily brutality, from bombings to the blockade that strangled their livelihoods, only reaffirmed for many in Gaza why resistance was essential for their survival and dignity.
The birth of resistance
Hezbollah was founded in 1982 in direct response to the Israeli occupation of Lebanon, which persisted until 2000. The Resistance movement succeeded in forcing the Israeli military to retreat from Lebanese territory, marking the first time “Israel” withdrew without a formal ceasefire agreement. This significant victory was largely attributed to Hezbollah's unwavering resistance efforts.
The Israeli withdrawal elevated Hezbollah's regional influence, establishing it as more than just a Lebanese resistance group—it became a symbol of Arab defiance against Israeli occupation.
This triumph not only bolstered Hezbollah’s military reputation but also fortified its position as a central force in Lebanon’s political landscape, intertwining its political influence with its military strength.
That said, it can be confidently stated that Hezbollah emerged from the war and invasion, which shaped it into a highly resilient organization. Its structure is designed to withstand losses, allowing it to regenerate leadership and produce new generations of military commanders, ensuring the continuity of its operations despite any setbacks.
The US and 'Israel’s' misreading of Hezbollah and Sayyed Nasrallah
On September 27, with backing from the US, "Israel" assassinated Sayyed Nasrallah, expecting this to cause the downfall of the resistance movement. Although the impact of Sayyed Nasrallah's martyrdom on Hezbollah and the wider Axis of Resistance is hard to assess fully, it does not indicate that Hezbollah is close to collapsing. The group's resilience extends beyond any one individual leader.
"Israel" and the US fail to grasp the true essence of his leadership. People didn't rally behind him solely for his persona; they supported him because he represented their struggle for justice and liberation. Although he was a respected figure, the cause he embodied will endure beyond his lifetime.
Believing that Hezbollah would fall apart without Sayyed Nasrallah is a serious misunderstanding and a view that reduces the group—a deeply rooted movement—to just one person. This reinforces the stereotype that Middle Eastern organizations depend only on charismatic leaders instead of having strong institutions, resilience, and community support. It also shows a more expansive Western mentality that ignores the ability of non-Western groups to operate as complex political or military organizations that can survive the loss of a single leader.
Similarly, while "Israel's" targeting of some of Hezbollah's military leaders was a significant setback that could have weakened many other countries, Hezbollah's ability to continue attacking "Israel" shows that it remains operationally strong and organized. The reason Hezbollah can handle such big losses is its strong leadership structure, which allows for smooth transitions even during tough times.
Hezbollah’s institutional resilience
This resilience was particularly clear in 2008 when Hezbollah lost its top military leader, Hajj Imad Mughniyeh. He was not only a key figure but also the innovator of the Resistance's "New School of [hybrid] Warfare." Instead of weakening Hezbollah, his martyrdom, along with that of his successor, Sayyed Mustafa Badereddine, in 2013, actually led to a significant increase in the group's military strength. Hezbollah's tactics have since been adopted by its allies throughout the Resistance Axis.
Following the assassination of Hajj Imad, Hezbollah significantly advanced its rocket technology and strategic approach, building upon the robust foundation he had established. The group enhanced its missile capabilities by acquiring more sophisticated, longer-range, and precision-guided systems while refining its military tactics and operational planning to ensure its growth as a powerful force. Additionally, Hezbollah expanded its cyber capabilities, enabling it to conduct intelligence operations and engage in cyber warfare.
A prime example of Hezbollah's evolution is its performance in Syria during the crucial Battles of Qusayr in 2013 and Aleppo, where the group demonstrated a range of tactical, strategic, and logistical strengths that significantly bolstered its global position.
Similarly, after the assassination of Sayyed Fouad Shokor on July 30, Hezbollah significantly increased its military operations, indicating a strategic change from simply retaliating with rocket strikes to executing more precise and impactful attacks. The group's ability to carry out precision-guided missile strikes on Tel Avivﾠshowed a significant advancement in its military capabilities, showing that Hezbollah could not only respond but also directly target the heart of “Israel”, despite the loss of a key military leader.
After the assassination of Sayyed Nasrallah, Hezbollah also escalated its operations, hitting more high-value targets and showcasing its ability to strike with precision, striking the heart of "Israel". This not only reinforced the group's strength but also demonstrated the depths of its operational capabilities, all without revealing the full extent of its military power.
On that note, Hezbollah has established a system with multiple lines of commanders. Several individuals have overlapping roles, which helps quickly fill any gaps left by fallen leaders, enabling fast reorganization and continuous operations. This ability to regenerate leadership is crucial to Hezbollah's resilience, as the loss of leaders has never crippled the movement.
The role of and commitment to ideological resilience
Hezbollah's resilience comes from its deep ideological commitment to resisting "Israel" and defending Lebanon's sovereignty. The group's strong connection with its local community ensures that its military leadership has widespread support from people who see resistance not just as a political choice but as a vital necessity for survival.
Hezbollah’s support for Gaza’s Resistance groups shows its important role in the larger fight against Israeli occupation. Even with the loss of its leaders, Hezbollah remains strong in supporting and influencing Resistance efforts across the region. It is part of a network of allies dedicated to opposing "Israel's" existence, and this coordination makes it harder for "Israel" and its Western allies to succeed.
However, allow me to tell you this—there was a man, for thirty years, whom people around the world waited for. He grew up in the suburbs of Beirut, from the south of Lebanon, a place attacked by the very forces he grew to fight against. He lived among people who suffered under the brutal occupation and carried their anger.
Yet he didn’t stand alone. He walked a path forged by those who came before him, who fought for liberation. Together, they built the foundation upon which we stand today, a land free from the chains of occupation. His legacy is not just one of resistance but of continuity—a flame passed down from generation to generation.
For years, when we would head to our hometowns in the liberated south of Lebanon, it was always with songs commemorating the victories he helped us achieve. He brought us triumph, restored our pride, and reclaimed our dignity. Yes, we’ve suffered a loss, a great one, we lost Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah - but it will never cripple the unwavering resistance of Hezbollah. What the West and the Israeli occupation don’t realize is this: We now carry even more blood to shed in vengeance.
No one willingly spills their blood unless they are bound by loyalty—to their land, their principles, their identity. Every stone, every inch of soil, is worth rivers of blood. And that is what “Israel” and the US fail to grasp—the resilience that flows through us like the veins of the earth. But I understand their confusion. How can an apartheid state comprehend the bond to land when they stand on stolen ground? On stolen ideas and culture? On a stolen history? How could America, born from the displacement and murder of its Indigenous peoples, ever understand?
Who could ever fathom how a mother can ululate as she throws rice at her martyr son’s coffin, proud of his sacrifice? Because for us, there is no greater honor than to give, to love, to offer oneself to the land. They will never understand that we are like seeds—each time they try to bury us, we rise again, sprouting from the soil, stronger and more defiant. Therefore, they will never be able to eliminate the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon.
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/hezbollah-s-indomitable-resolve
Palestinian Resistance confronts Israeli incursion in north Gaza
As the Israeli occupation launches a new assault on northern Gaza, Palestinian Resistance factions remain steadfast in confronting their attempts at incursions.
The Israeli occupation admitted on Sunday that an Israeli soldier died of previous wounds he sustained in the Gaza Strip.
The recognition comes at a time when the Palestinian resistance is confronting the occupation's attempts to infiltrate east of Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip.
The al-Qassam Brigades announced that its fighters fiercely confronted the Israeli occupation forces across several combat axes in northern Gaza, on Sunday.
The al-Quds Brigades fighters, in cooperation with the al-Qassam Brigades, were able to snipe an Israeli soldier east of Beit Hanoun, in the northern region of the Gaza Strip.
For its part, the al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades, in cooperation with the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, targeted the enemy's command and control site in the Netzarim axis with heavy mortar shells.
The Israeli occupation is launching a new assault on northern Gaza, committing massacres and launching fire belts in the region, while dropping leaflets threatening people to evacuate and move south.
A spokesperson for the occupation's forces announced that the 162nd Division has begun military operations in the Jabalia area, pointing to the full siege on the area.
According to Al Mayadeen’s correspondent, the IOF are initiating a ground incursion east of Jabalia amid fierce clashes with the resistance.
Our correspondent further clarified that the Resistance is engaged in fierce clashes with the occupation forces in the eastern axes of Jabalia and the Jabalia camp. Tal al-Zaatar and the vicinity of the Fadous area in Beit Lahia are also under heavy Israeli shelling.
Nowhere is safe
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior in Gaza called on residents not to move to the southern part of the Strip, but rather to relocate to the nearest neighboring residential area until the danger passes.
The Ministry of Interior affirmed that the occupation's claims of "safe areas in the southern part of the Strip are false, noting that all governorates of the Strip are being targeted, as the occupation commits massacres in all areas without exception, including in the tents of displaced people."
The Israeli occupation paved the way for its northern incursion by launching more than 50 airstrikes on various areas in the region during the night. These strikes targeted many inhabited homes, as well as the Jabalia Club, which shelters thousands of displaced people, and service facilities, resulting in the deaths of dozens of martyrs and injuries.
The eastern and western areas of northern Gaza witnessed intense Israeli bombardment, the heaviest in five months, targeting inhabited homes.
Amid the relentless bombardment, the IOF targeted and murdered Palestinian journalist Hassan Hamad, who was only 20 years old.
Another school massacre
Local media reported that the occupation continues to besiege dozens of families inside homes and schools sheltering displaced people, following the incursion of occupation vehicles in areas east of the Jabalia camp.
They also added that Quadcopter drones are firing at the surroundings of homes in the Jabalia camp in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
Additionally, the occupation committed two massacres after bombing the Ibn Rushd school, which shelters displaced people in the al-Zawaida area in the central part of the Strip.
Gaza's Government Media Office announced on Sunday that the Israeli occupation army committed two brutal massacres in the Central Governorate (Deir al-Balah) by bombing a mosque and a school sheltering displaced persons, resulting in at least 26 martyrs and 93 injured in a preliminary toll.
"The occupation army carried out two horrific massacres in the Central Governorate by shelling the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Mosque, adjacent to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, and Ibn Rushd School, both of which are housing hundreds of displaced people. As a result of these massacres, there are currently 24 martyrs and 93 injuries."
Day 366 in Gaza: 41,870 killed, 97,166 injured by 'Israel'
"Israel" continues to obstruct the routes and operations of medical, Civil Defense, and rescue crews, leaving victims trapped beneath the rubble.
Israeli occupation forces committed three massacres overnight in the Gaza Strip, killing 45 Palestinians and injuring 256 more, on the 366th day of the brutal, genocidal war they launched against civilians.
Some of the victims were transported to barely functional hospitals. Still, the majority remain trapped beneath the rubble, unable to be rescued, as "Israel" continues to obstruct the routes and operations of medical, Civil Defense, and rescue crews.
This raises the total death toll in Gaza to 41,870, in addition to 97,166 injured, an overwhelming majority of whom are women and children.
IOF commits massacres in mosque, school in Gaza
Gaza's Government Media Office announced on Sunday that the Israeli occupation army committed two brutal massacres in the Central Governorate (Deir al-Balah) by bombing a mosque and a school sheltering displaced persons, resulting in 26 martyrs and 93 injured in a preliminary toll.
"The occupation army carried out two horrific massacres in the Central Governorate by shelling the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Mosque, adjacent to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, and Ibn Rushd School, both of which are housing hundreds of displaced people. As a result of these massacres, there are currently 24 martyrs and 93 injuries."
According to the statement, these two brutal massacres come after a series of attacks carried out by the occupation army, which bombed 27 houses, schools, and displacement centers across various governorates of the Gaza Strip in the past 48 hours. This ongoing bombardment has resulted in dozens of martyrs and injuries, coinciding with the dire health situation in Gaza, which is home to over 2.4 million people.
Israel kills 26 in attack on Gaza mosque, school; orders more evacuations
Dozens of Palestinians killed and wounded as the Israeli army announces new evacuation orders for northern Gaza.
At least 26 Palestinians have been killed and many others wounded after Israeli forces attacked a mosque and a school sheltering displaced people in central Gaza’s Deir el-Balah, the strip’s Health Ministry said.
“The number of martyrs brought to hospitals as a result of the occupation’s targeting of displaced people in the Ibn Rushd school and al-Aqsa Martyrs Mosque reached 26, with several more wounded,” the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
“The Israeli occupation committed three massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, resulting in 45 martyrs and 256 injuries arriving at hospitals during the past 24 hours,” it added.
The ministry said the overall death toll since the war on Gaza began a year ago had reached 41,870, with 97,166 Palestinians injured.
In a statement, the Israeli military claimed, without providing evidence, that the mosque and school were being used by the Palestinian group Hamas as “command and control” centres……
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/6/israel-kills-26-in-strike-on-gaza-mosque-school-orders-more-evacuations
Askalan hit with resistance rockets, one Israeli soldier killed in Gaza
The al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement, announced that its fighters had bombarded Askalan and the surrounding settlements with a barrage of rockets.
On the eve of the first anniversary of Operation al-Aqsa Flood, the Palestinian resistance continues its operations by targeting the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) and confronting Israeli attempts to infiltrate the northern Gaza Strip. The resistance continues to bombard Israeli settlements around Gaza with rockets.
The al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement (PIJ), announced that its fighters had bombarded Askalan and the surrounding settlements with a barrage of rockets.
The Israeli Channel 13 confirmed that it monitored the launch of 3 rockets from the Gaza Strip toward southern Askalan.
Palestinian Resistance confronts Israeli incursion in north Gaza
On Sunday, the Israeli occupation forces acknowledged the death of an Israeli soldier due to previous wounds sustained in the Gaza Strip, in addition to recording several injuries among its soldiers during the confrontations in the Strip.
The IOF announced the dead soldier was a fighter from the 129th Hashan Battalion, 8th Brigade, who succumbed to his wounds after being seriously injured on June 15 in a battle in the northern Gaza Strip.
The IOF also admitted to 3 fighters being seriously injured in northern Gaza, including a combat officer from the 424th Shaked Battalion the Givati Brigade, and two soldiers from the 932nd Battalion of the Nahal Brigade.
The recognition comes at a time when the Palestinian Resistance is confronting the occupation's attempts to infiltrate east of Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip.
The al-Qassam Brigades announced that its fighters fiercely confronted the Israeli occupation forces across several combat axes in northern Gaza, on Sunday.
The al-Quds Brigades fighters, in cooperation with the al-Qassam Brigades, were able to snipe an Israeli soldier east of Beit Hanoun in the northern region of the Gaza Strip.
For its part, the al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades, in cooperation with the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, targeted the enemy's command and control site in the Netzarim axis with heavy mortar shells.
The Israeli occupation is launching a new assault on northern Gaza, committing massacres and launching fire belts in the regio while dropping leaflets threatening people to evacuate and move south.
A spokesperson for the occupation's forces announced that the 162nd Division had begun military operations in the Jabalia area, pointing to a potential siege.
According to Al Mayadeen’s correspondent, the IOF is initiating a ground incursion east of Jabalia amid fierce clashes with the resistance.
Our correspondent further clarified that the Resistance is engaged in fierce confrontations against the occupation forces in the eastern axes of Jabalia and the Jabalia camp. Tal al-Zaatar and the vicinity of the Fadous area in Beit Lahia are also under heavy Israeli shelling.
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/askalan-hit-with-resistance-rockets-1-iof-member-killed-in-g
Anadolu Agency – October 6, 2024
Beirut's southern suburb suffers 'heaviest night of attacks' with 30 airstrikes by Israeli warplanes
Airstrikes hit several areas, including gas station near Airport Road, building on Barjaoui Street in Ghobeiry district, and other locations in Safir and Burj al-Barajneh, reports media
Israeli warplanes carried out more than 30 overnight airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburb, marking the "heaviest night" of attacks since Israel expanded its military offensive against Lebanon on Sept. 23.
Lebanon's official National News Agency reported on Sunday that the strikes targeted various locations across Beirut's southern suburbs, resulting in widespread damage and a thick cloud of smoke that covered the area. The airstrikes were heard across the capital, Beirut.
According to the report, the airstrikes hit several areas, including a gas station near Airport Road, a building on Barjaoui Street in the Ghobeiry district, and other locations in Safir and Burj al-Barajneh.
In a statement, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee claimed that the Israeli Air Force targeted "weapons and infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah in Beirut."
He added that the strikes were based on “precise intelligence, aimed at Hezbollah's arms depots and other military structures.”
He also claimed that Hezbollah stored weapons and operated out of residential buildings.
Hezbollah has yet to respond to the latest Israeli accusations, though the group has previously denied similar claims from the Israeli army.
Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the start of Israel's war on Gaza, which has killed over 41,800 people, most of them women and children, following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas last October.
At least 2,036 people have since been killed, over 9,500 injured, and 1.2 million others displaced, according to Lebanese authorities.
The international community has warned that Israeli attacks in Lebanon could escalate the Gaza conflict into a wider regional war.
Anadolu Agency – October 6, 2024
Israeli army orders more evictions of northern Gaza residents after 100 airstrikes since Saturday evening
Army ordered Gazans to move south to the Al-Mawasi area in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis
After more than 100 airstrikes since Saturday evening, the Israeli army issued a new warning to northern Gaza residents on Sunday morning to evacuate their homes and relocate to the Al-Mawasi area in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis.
In a statement, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee claimed that "the region remains an active combat zone," warning residents to obey evacuation orders.
Adraee added that two main roads, Al-Rashid Street (coastal road) and Salah al-Din Street, have been designated as open "humanitarian corridors" to allow residents to relocate to the “humanitarian zone” in Al-Mawasi.
Several times during the one-year conflict in Gaza, Israel has ordered mass evacuations to "safe" or "humanitarian" areas.
Human rights organizations and international observers condemned the inhumane orders and the resulting mass suffering of Palestinians. Furthermore, Palestinians were often attacked by the Israeli military both on their way to such "safe areas" and after they arrived.
On July 13, the Israeli army targeted camps of the displaced people in Al-Mawasi, killing more than 90 Palestinians and injuring nearly 300 others, according to official Palestinian sources.
Israel has continued its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas last Oct. 7, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.
More than 41,800 people have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 96,900 others injured, according to local health authorities.
The Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the entire population of the territory amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine.
Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.
What October 7 means in the history of Israel-Palestine conflict
October 7 has outmoded old codes in the history of Israel-Palestine conflict, leaving global observers questioning its long-term implications and potential trajectories.
BY Murat SofuogluT
The roots of the Israel-Palestine conflict can be traced back to the late 19th century with the emergence of the Zionist movement, which aimed to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Since then, the region has been embroiled in a series of wars, occupations, and revolts.
This is not the first time the conflict has flared so violently. From the Arab-Israeli war in 1948, to the Six-Day War in 1967, and the Lebanon War in 1982, not to mention the two Palestinian Intifadas, the region has endured countless violent flashpoints. But what sets October 7 apart is Hamas’s ability to hold Israeli territory, even if only for a brief time—something no Palestinian resistance group had achieved before.
Hamas fighters managed to capture the Re’im military base, the headquarters of Israel’s Gaza division, in an operation that saw all Israeli soldiers stationed thereﾠkilled or captured. While Israeli forces eventually retook the base, it shook Israel’s sense of military superiority.
Why October 7 is different?
For many Palestinian commentators, the events of October 7 are without precedent. “Not that I recall,” Kamel Hawwash, a Palestinian professor, writer and a political analyst, tells TRT World, referring to the October 7’s uniqueness in terms of holding Israeli territory in the long conflict.
Sami al-Arian, another Palestinian academic, echoed this view, noting that while Hamas had attacked Israel many times, this was the first occasion where they briefly held Israeli ground.
“One could also add that this is the first time since the 1973 war where Israel was attacked first. Even then this time Israel was attacked in its "own" territory unlike 1973, where Egypt attacked it in the Sinai and the Syrians in the Golan Heights,” Arian tells TRT World.
The Sinai Peninsula, which was invaded by Israel twice, first in the late 1950s and second between 1967 and 1982, is an Egyptian territory and the Golan heights, which have been under Tel Aviv’s occupation since 1973, are also officially part of Syria.
Joost Hiltermann, Middle East Program Director at the International Crisis Group, reflected on the significance of October 7. “We’ve never seen anything like this before,” he said, but added that in some ways, it was a continuation of the long-standing patterns of the conflict.
Hiltermann described the attack as “a combination of everything that came before,” pointing to the various stages of Palestinian resistance, from state-backed efforts by Egypt and other Arab countries in the 1960s and 1970s, to the Intifadas andﾠmultiple Gaza wars with Israel.
Some analysts drewﾠparallels with the October War of 1973, another pivotal Arab-Israeli conflict that also began in early October. However, this time, Israel was attacked within its borders, a stark contrast to 1973, when Egypt and Syria targeted Israeli-occupied territories.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks killed 1,180 Israelis including civilians, wounding 2,400 as the Palestinian resistance group took 251 hostages in Gaza. After the attack, Israel killed nearly 42,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.
What October 7 Changed?
Before October 7, Israel felt confident that the long-standing political equation in the Middle East, which historically refused to acknowledge the existence of a Jewish state in a predominantly Muslim Arab region, had shifted in its favour. Several Arab states had begun normalising relations with Israel, thanks to mediation by the Trump administration.
“Prior to October 7, Israel appeared to be writing the final chapter of its settler-colonial project in Palestine. It had nearly subdued the Palestinian leadership, fractured the nominal unity of Arab support for Palestine, and was prepared to annex much of the West Bank,” says Ramzy Baroud, a Palestinian author and analyst, referring to these normalisations, the marginalisation of the Palestinian Authority, and the ongoing Gaza siege.
Baroud describes Netanyahu’s 2023 UNﾠspeech as “the pinnacle of a devastating moment in history,” when the Israeli prime minister presented a map that excluded any Palestinian territories, calling it the “New Middle East.” In Netanyahu’s vision, “Palestine didn’t exist as a political reality, and Palestinians were no longer relevant as a nation with agency and aspirations,” says Baroud.
However, two weeks after Netanyahu’s UN speech, the unexpected events of October 7 altered everything, “reinstating Palestinians at the centre of any future peace in the Middle East, neutralizing Israel’s military capacity to impose political outcomes through violence, and exposing the normalisation between Israel and Arab states as an untenable farce,” Baroud adds.
The October 7 attack allowed Hamas to “very effectively disrupt” Israel’s integration into the Middle East, particularly through the proposed India-Middle East-EuropeﾠEconomic Corridor, “starting a new war,” according to Hiltermann. However, he also believes that Hamas has not achieved much overall.
Regional repercussions
Israel’s international standing has come under pressure. Western countries, particularly in Europe, have become more vocal in their criticism of Israeli actions. Meanwhile, Palestinian supporters have gained ground in the court of global public opinion.
Following October 7, Israel’s regional diplomacy, notably its talks with Saudi Arabia, which had been moving toward normalisation have been stalled. Saudi Arabia has refused to normalise with Tel Aviv, seeing the Gaza carnage as unacceptable. Countries such as Türkiye, South Africa, and Iran renewed their criticism of Israel’s actions, while at the UN, major powers such as China and Russia voiced concerns over Israel’s conduct.
UN experts warned Israel that it risks becoming aﾠﾓpariahﾔ state. Unlike the US, in UN platforms, China and Russia, the two major states,ﾠcondemned Israeli pager and walkie-talkie attacks in Lebanon, which is also seen as a violation of humanitarian law, as some European states like Spain and Ireland warned Tel Aviv on further violations.
Baroud argues that a new form of legitimacy is emerging globally, aligned with Gaza and in opposition to Israeli occupation and human rights abuses. This shift, he suggests, is replacing the old order, as Israel persists with what he describes as “unspeakable atrocities” in the face of the Palestinians’ “legendary resistance.”
“Legitimacy now belongs to those standing in solidarity with Gaza, fighting and dying for Gaza, and expanding the boundaries of the conflict in Gaza’s name. Anyone on the other side of this equation has suffered unprecedented delegitimisation.”
October 7 has undoubtedly altered the landscape of the Israel-Palestine conflict. What was once considered a settled political equation, with Israel firmly in control and Palestinian hopes fading, has now been thrown into uncertainty. The attack not only exposed Israel’s vulnerabilities but also reaffirmed that peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved without addressing the Palestinian question.
“This means that the post October 7 period will undoubtedly force the rewriting of the political and geopolitical rules that governed Palestine, in fact the whole Middle East in recent decades, including Israel’s position vis-à-vis Arab states, and the US-centered regional power paradigm as well,” says Baroud.
SOURCE: TRT World
Human Rights violations in India-administered Kashmir
A new report has documented the increased repression of civic spaces and violations of human rights that have taken place in India-adminstered Kashmir since August 2019.
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) has documented widespread human rights violations that have resulted from the legal changes implemented in India-administered Kashmir since August 2019.
The 50-page report, titled "Your Land is Our Land – India’s Land Rights Violations in Kashmir", analyses the consequences of the abrogation of India-administered Jammu & Kashmir’s statehood on land-related laws.
It also documents the impact of these changes on a range of socio-economic and political rights.
"The Indian government’s obliteration of Jammu & Kashmir’s legal framework, which had protected land rights for decades, has already had a disastrous impact on the Kashmiri people," FIDH Asia Desk Deputy Director Juliette Rousselot said.
"Thousands have already been evicted from their lands and lost their homes. Key EU and UN institutions, including the UN Human Rights Council, must wake up to this human rights crisis and start putting public pressure on the Indian government to adhere to its own international legal obligations."
On 5 August 2019, the Indian government unilaterally revoked the special status of Jammu & Kashmir, which had been partially protected by Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution since 1950.
These constitutional safeguards were key to relationship with India, UN resolutions and had also been central to the protection of land rights in India-administered Kashmir.
By October 2020, the majority of Jammu & Kashmir’s progressive land laws had been either amended or repealed, resulting in evictions, destruction of property, and land confiscation that affected thousands of Kashmiris.
The report also details the increased repression of civic space and violations of human rights that have taken place in India-administered Kashmir, including the criminalisation of civil society, and arrests of human rights defenders and journalists.
"Jammu & Kashmir has often been used by the Indian government as a testing ground for its tactics of repression," FIDH Vice-President Fatia Maulidiyanti said.
"Human rights violations and attacks on civil society in Jammu & Kashmir must be a matter of serious concern in India and beyond, as Delhi’s abusive policies and actions risk having far-reaching and long-lasting effects."
The report is dedicated to Khurram Parvez, a Kashmiri human rights defender and FIDH Deputy Secretary General, who has been arbitrarily detained since November 2021 over "politically motivated charges" under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Parvez and his colleagues at the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) and the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) have long faced attacks and reprisals by the Indian authorities for documenting the "grave human rights violations" that have been committed in India-administered Kashmir.
India and Pakistan each administer part of Kashmir, but both claim the entire territory. Rebel groups have been fighting against India's rule for Kashmir’s independence or merger with Pakistan.
Rights groups have accused India of using repression to suppress the movement for Self -determination.
