Thẻ: Gaza war

UN exposes companies involved in Israeli settlements

~ Đào Thu Hằng ~ Bình luận về bài viết này

amnesty.uk.org

TripAdvisor listing of settler-managed historical sight on Palestinian land

TripAdvisor listing of settler-managed historical sight on Palestinian land

The image above is a TripAdvisor listing of a heritage site managed by settlers in the village of Susiya – on Palestinian land. The UN has released a list of over 100 other companies that also have business interests in Israeli settlements built on Palestinian land.

But why is this a problem?

Illegal Settlements

In 1967, Israel began the process of building settlements on occupied Palestinian territory.

Firstly, what is a settlement?

It is Israel’s building of villages, towns and cities on occupied Palestinian territory.

What makes them illegal?

The transfer of Israeli civilians to these settlements is illegal under international law. In fact it is a war crime according to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Hundreds of thousands Displaced

Since 1948, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians had to flee their homes to escape violence or were forcibly removed. Not just their they lost their land and businesses too. Many are remain in refugee camps till this day. Here they have become parents and even grand parents.

Suffocating laws

Some Palestinians stayed behind and refused to give up their land. Their lives have been made impossible as consecutive governments have introduced discriminatory laws and policies, in the hope they will eventually leave. But as the settlements continue to expand some are still standing their ground.

What TripAdvisor doesn’t show you

(A resident of Susiya shows us a water system installed on his land for the sole benefite of the nearby settlement)

The Palestinian village of Susiya, in the occupied West Bank is home to around 300 Palestinians. The village has a few tents and shacks, a couple of water cisterns and some sheep. There is no access to electricity or running water.

Tiếp tục đọc “UN exposes companies involved in Israeli settlements” →

Gaza Doctor Corrects CNN Anchor: ‘This Is Not a Humanitarian Crisis… This Is Genocide’

~ Đào Thu Hằng ~ Bình luận về bài viết này

commondreams.org

“History books will be written on this and countries will have to reckon—media agencies will have to reckon—with their major role in the genocide,” said Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan.

Brett Wilkins

Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan appears on CNN

Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan (left) pushes back on CNN anchor Kate Bolduan’s (center) description of the Gaza genocide as a “humanitarian crisis” during an October 7, 2024 interview. 

(Photo: CNN screen grab)

Oct 11, 2024

Human rights advocates on Friday highlighted a rare instance in which a U.S. corporate media outlet allowed a pro-Palestinian voice to set the record straight about Israel’s crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Earlier this week, CNN “News Central” aired a panel segment on the anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel and Israel’s retaliatory war. Anchor Kate Bolduan noted that around 1,200 people were killed during the Hamas attack—although she did not say that at least some of them were slain by Israeli forces in “friendly fire” incidents and under the Hannibal Directive—and that 250 others were kidnapped.

Tiếp tục đọc “Gaza Doctor Corrects CNN Anchor: ‘This Is Not a Humanitarian Crisis… This Is Genocide’” →

Japanese trading giant Itochu to cut ties with Israeli defense firm over Gaza war

~ Đào Thu Hằng ~ Bình luận về bài viết này

By Juliana Liu and Chie Kobayashi, CNN

Published 2:57 AM EST, Tue February 6, 2024

Itochu is one of Japan's biggest trading houses and is based in Tokyo.

Itochu is one of Japan’s biggest trading houses and is based in Tokyo. Toru Hanai/ReutersHong Kong/TokyoCNN — 

One of Japan’s biggest trading firms, Itochu, has decided to end its partnership with a major Israeli defense company due to the war in Gaza.

The sprawling conglomerate, best known outside Japan for its Family Mart chain of convenience stores, said its aviation unit will cut ties with Elbit Systems, which bills itself as Israel’s largest defense contractor, by the end of February.

The decision was made following a January ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) — the top court of the United Nations — and guidance given by Japan’s Foreign Ministry to observe the court’s findings in “good faith,” a spokesperson for Itochu told CNN on Tuesday.

Last month, the ICJ ordered Israel to prevent genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, but stopped short of calling for Israel to suspend its military campaign in the war-torn enclave, as South Africa, which had filed the case to the court, had requested.

The court said Israel must “take all measures” to limit the death and destruction caused by its military campaign, prevent and punish incitement to genocide and ensure access to humanitarian aid

Itochu’s announcement was first made Monday by Tsuyoshi Hachimura, the company’s chief financial officer, during an earnings presentation.

Itochu Aviation, Elbit Systems and Nippon Aircraft Supply signed a cooperation agreement in March 2023, months before war broke out between Israel and Gaza.

Itochu, which reported revenues of $104 billion in 2023, has faced small-scale, student-led protests in Tokyo against its partnership with Elbit since January. Its Family Mart chain has also been the target of calls for boycotts in Muslim-majority Malaysia over the agreement.

Hachimura sought to explain the deal on Monday, telling investors: “The partnership was based on a request from the Japan’s Defense Ministry for the purpose of importing defense equipment for the Self-Defense Force necessary for Japan’s security.”

During a November earnings call, Elbit CEO Bezhalel Machlis said the company had “ramped up production” to support the Israel Defense Forces, which uses its services “extensively.”

— CNN’s Hanako Montgomery and Heather Chen contributed reporting.

Journalist casualties in the Israel-Gaza war

~ Đào Thu Hằng ~ Bình luận về bài viết này

CPJ.org December 21, 2023 4:07 PM EST

The Israel-Gaza war has taken a severe toll on journalists since Hamas launched its unprecedented attack against Israel on October 7 and Israel declared war on the militant Palestinian group, launching strikes on the blockaded Gaza Strip.

CPJ is investigating all reports of journalists and media workers killed, injured, or missing in the war, which has led to the deadliest period for journalists since CPJ began gathering data in 1992.

As of December 21, 2023, CPJ’s preliminary investigations showed at least 68 journalists and media workers were among the more than 20,000 killed since the war began on October 7—with more than 19,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza and the West Bank and 1,200 deaths in Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told Reuters and Agence France Press news agencies that it could not guarantee the safety of their journalists operating in the Gaza Strip, after they had sought assurances that their journalists would not be targeted by Israeli strikes, Reuters reported on October 27.

Journalists in Gaza face particularly high risks as they try to cover the conflict during the Israeli ground assault, including devastating Israeli airstrikes, disrupted communications, supply shortages and extensive power outages.

As of December 21:

CPJ is also investigating numerous unconfirmed reports of other journalists being killed, missing, detained, hurt, or threatened, and of damage to media offices and journalists’ homes.

Israel’s PM Netanyahu Bragged He Has America Wrapped Around His Finger

~ Đào Thu Hằng ~ Bình luận về bài viết này

“This isn’t about pro-Israel or anti-Israel, this guy (Netanyahu) is pro-war, he is anti-peace, …Netanyahu doesn’t want a peace deal, he didn’t it then, he doesn’t want it now…Netanyahu gets elected when there is war. It’s all about his personal interest. …He is never gonna make peace, he openly brags about it. The Gaza war isn’t accident. It’s exactly what Netanyahu wants, for it keeps him in political power.“

In the video, which is from 2001, Netanyahu — who reportedly did not know his speech was being recorded — speaks frankly in Hebrew about relations with the Clinton White House and the peace process. As noted in Haaretz, Netanyahu seems to boast of his knowledge of the US by saying, “I know what America is. America is a thing you can move very easily, move it in the right direction. They won’t get in their way.””*

Wars create opportunities for peaceful change: Will the Gaza war serve as a case in point?

~ Đào Thu Hằng ~ Bình luận về bài viết này

mei.edu

December 7, 2023 Elie Podeh

Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images

History teaches us that wars, unfortunate as they are, can sometimes create opportunities for major changes that were previously unthinkable, improbable, or impossible. World War I, World War II, the First Gulf War, and many other conflagrations led to formidable political, military, and economic changes. Some of these conflicts and their immediate consequences laid the ground for future wars (like the punitive Versailles peace treaty following World War I), but others gave rise to peaceful arrangements (like the multilateral political and economic institutions as well as security alliance systems that emerged after World War II). The history of the Arab-Israeli conflict is no different. Indeed, all the major Israeli-Arab wars, as well as the many violent Israeli-Palestinian clashes, offered opportunities for change. Some were seized; others were squandered.

When a chain of circumstances produces a favorable opportunity, a liminal period is created, which makes it possible to achieve a breakthrough in a deadlocked conflict. The opportunity may arise from a military or political event that significantly affects the status quo. Particularly when this event causes a traumatic experience affecting both leadership and society, the likelihood of significant change occurring increases. If this moment — or opportunity — is not seized, it is likely to disappear.

While war is still raging in Gaza following Hamas’ brutal Oct. 7 attack on Israel, it nonetheless arguably offers an opportunity for a profound shift in the modalities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which looked unlikely in the period preceding the war. Based on analysis of several examples from the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, one can assert that in order to seize the opportunity, both sides will need legitimate leaderships that enjoy international support and are willing and determined to make concessions and build trust.

Opportunities seized

Tiếp tục đọc “Wars create opportunities for peaceful change: Will the Gaza war serve as a case in point?” →

International calls for cease-fire in Gaza grow louder

~ Đào Thu Hằng ~ Bình luận về bài viết này

As calls grow louder for a Gaza ceasefire, Netanyahu is providing few clues about his strategy or post-war plans

11/12/2023 November 12, 2023

DW.com Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu continues to oppose a cease-fire despite pleas from around the world. In the meantime, more than 200 hostages are still being held captive by Hamas, and civilian casualties in Gaza are growing amid Israel’s ongoing offensive.

theconversation.com

More than five weeks into Israel’s war with Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not outlined his future vision for Gaza.

He has said many times the war will continue until Hamas is eradicated. But his battle plan for achieving that objective is far from clear.

As calls grow louder around the world for a ceasefire, Israel is finding itself under increasing pressure to respond. This is placing more scrutiny on Netanyahu’s overall strategy for prosecuting the war – and what could happen after it’s over.

Tiếp tục đọc “International calls for cease-fire in Gaza grow louder” →

Jewish New Yorkers occupy Statue of Liberty to demand Israel-Gaza ceasefire

~ Đào Thu Hằng ~ Bình luận về bài viết này

aljazeera.com

Activists from Jewish Voice for Peace group unfurl banners reading ‘Palestinians should be free’ at the base of New York landmark.

Activists from Jewish Voice for Peace occupy the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty
Activists from Jewish Voice for Peace occupy the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. [Stephanie Keith/Getty Images via AFP]

Published On 7 Nov 20237 Nov 2023

Hundreds of US Jewish activists have peacefully occupied New York’s Statue of Liberty to demand an end to Israel’s “genocidal bombardment” of civilians in Gaza and a ceasefire.

Dressed in black T-shirts emblazoned with the slogans “Jews demand ceasefire now” or “Not in our name”, the protesters from the Jewish Voice for Peace group on Monday unfurled banners reading “The whole world is watching” and “Palestinians should be free” at the base of New York’s landmark.

It was the latest pro-Palestinian protest to take place in the United States since the start of the war a month ago.

On Saturday, tens of thousands of demonstrators, gathered in Washington, DC to call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and to denounce US policy of support for Israel.

Tiếp tục đọc “Jewish New Yorkers occupy Statue of Liberty to demand Israel-Gaza ceasefire” →