Middle East Press on: Israel, Gaza, Genocide, Palestine, Lebanon: New Age Islam's Selection, 10 January 2025
By New Age Islam Edit Desk
10 January 2025
Israel Destroyed Gaza ‘For Generations To Come’ And The World Stayed Silent
Surviving Winter: Gaza’s Mothers Speak Out
When It Comes To Genocide And Palestine, The World Is — Deliberately — Getting Its Priorities Wrong
Now Is A Critical Moment For Lebanon
When It Hits Close To Home
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Israel Destroyed Gaza ‘For Generations To Come’ And The World Stayed Silent
January 9, 2025
The first official reference to Gaza becoming increasingly uninhabitable was made by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in 2012, when the population of the Gaza Strip was estimated at 1.8 million inhabitants.
The intention of the report, “The Gaza Strip: The Economic Situation and the Prospects for Development,” was not merely to prophesise, but to warn that if the world continued to stand idle in the face of the ongoing blockade on Gaza, a humanitarian catastrophe was imminent.
Yet, little was done, though the UN continued with its countdown, increasing the frequency and urgency of its warnings, especially following major wars.
Another report in 2015 from UNCTAD stated that the Gaza crisis had intensified following the most destructive war to that date, the year before. The war had destroyed hundreds of factories, thousands of homes and displaced tens of thousands of people.
By 2020, though, based on the criteria set by the UN, Gaza should have become ‘uninhabitable’. Yet, little was done to remedy the crisis. The population grew rapidly, while resources, including Gaza’s land mass, shrank due to the ever-expanding Israeli ‘buffer zone’. The prospects for the “world’s largest open-air prison” became even dimmer.
Yet, the international community did little to heed the call of UNCTAD and other UN and international institutions. The humanitarian crisis – situated within a prolonged political crisis, a siege, repeated wars and daily violence – worsened, reaching, on 7 October, 2023, the point of implosion.
One wonders if the world had paid even the slightest attention to Gaza and the cries of people trapped behind walls, barbed wire and electric fences, whether the current war and genocide could have been avoided.
It is all moot now. The worst-case scenario has actualised in a way that even the most pessimistic estimates by Palestinian, Arab, or international groups could not have foreseen.
Not only is Gaza now beyond “uninhabitable”, but, according to Greenpeace, it will be “uninhabitable for generations to come”. This does not hinge on the resilience of Palestinians in Gaza, whose legendary steadfastness is hardly disputed. However, there are essential survival needs that even the strongest people cannot replace with their mere desire to survive.
In just the first 120 days of war, “staggering” carbon emissions were estimated at 536,410 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Ninety per cent of that deadly pollution was “attributed to Israel’s air bombardment and ground invasion,” according to Greenpeace, which concluded that the total sum of carbon emissions “is greater than the annual carbon footprint of many climate-vulnerable nations.”
A report issued around the same time by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) painted an equally frightening picture of what was taking place in Gaza as a direct result of the war. “Water and sanitation have collapsed,” it declared last June. “Coastal areas, soil, and ecosystems have been severely impacted,” it continued.
But that was over seven months ago, when parts of Gaza were still standing. Now, almost all of Gaza has been destroyed. Garbage has been piling up for 15 months without a single facility to process it efficiently. Disease is widespread, and all hospitals have either been destroyed in the bombings, burned to the ground, or bulldozed. Many of the sick are dying in their tents without ever seeing a doctor.
Without any outside assistance, it was only natural for the disaster to worsen. Last December, Medecins Sans Frontieres issued a report titled “Gaza: Life in a Death Trap“. The report, a devastating read, describes the state of medical infrastructure in Gaza, which can be summed up in a single word: non-existent.
Israel has attacked 512 healthcare facilities between October 2023 and September 2024, killing over 1,000 healthcare workers. This means that a population is trying to survive during one of the harshest wars ever recorded, without any serious medical attention. This includes nearly half a million people suffering from various mental health disorders.
By December, Gaza’s Government Media Office reported that there are an estimated 23 million tonnes of debris resulting from the dropping of 75,000 tonnes of explosives – in addition to other forms of destruction. This has released 281,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide into the air.
Once the war is over, Gaza will be rebuilt. Though Palestinian sumud (steadfastness) is capable of restoring Gaza to its former self, however long it takes, a study conducted by Queen Mary University in the UK said that, for the destroyed structures to be rebuilt, an additional 60 million tonnes of CO2 will be released into an already severely impacted environment.
In essence, this means that even after the devastating war on Gaza ends and the rebuilding of the Strip concludes, the ecological and environmental harm that Israel has caused will remain for many years to come.
It is baffling that the very Western countries, which speak tirelessly about environmental protection, preservation and warning against carbon emissions, are the same entities that helped sustain the war on Gaza, either through arming Israel or remaining silent in the face of the ongoing atrocities.
The price of this hypocrisy is the enduring suffering of millions of people and the devastation of their environment. Isn’t it time for the world to wake up and collectively declare: enough is enough?
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250109-israel-destroyed-gaza-for-generations-to-come-and-the-world-stayed-silent/
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Surviving Winter: Gaza’s Mothers Speak Out
January 9, 2025
As the harsh months of winter descend on Gaza, countless families find themselves in a desperate struggle for survival. Among them is Fida Soboh, a 39-year-old mother of seven, who lives in a fragile tent after being displaced by the ongoing conflict. Originally from Al-Zahra City, Fida’s story captures the unimaginable challenges faced by Gaza’s displaced population, where flimsy shelters offer little protection against the heavy rainstorms and freezing temperatures.
“The tent is an ongoing struggle due to the thin fabric, and no matter how many layers we wear or how many blankets we use, we cannot escape it when rain leaks into the tent, soaking our bedding and clothing,” Fida explained. “Cooking is difficult, and meals are often cold. The children try to study, but the lack of light and warmth make it nearly impossible, and they can’t stand it. The exposure to cold and dampness has affected their health, and it’s a daily battle to keep them warm, dry and safe.”
She also works tirelessly as a humanitarian for ActionAid, striving to bring aid and relief to others in her community who face similar struggles. Balancing her lived experiences with her dedication to helping others, Fida embodies resilience and determination even in the face of unimaginable challenges.
She is one of more than 1.6 million Palestinians — out of 1.9 million displaced — living in fragile tents and makeshift shelters, often little more than plastic sheets. These shelters provide minimal defence against the cold and rain, which has already caused widespread flooding. In recent days, hundreds of makeshift shelters have been inundated, leaving families in even more desperate conditions.
For Fida, the most heart-breaking part of the crisis is its impact on her children. “The biggest challenge is keeping them healthy. The cold and dampness make them more susceptible to illness, and there is little access to proper medical care. Flooding is another major issue; it destroys what little we have and creates an unsafe and unhygienic environment. The emotional toll of seeing my children suffer while feeling helpless to provide better conditions is the hardest part. Even I worry if we will get through the next storm.”
Her experiences are echoed by other mothers across Gaza who face the same grim reality day in, day out. Their names have been changed.
Dalia lives in a tent on the beach in Nuseirat with her family. “My children, my husband and I are suffering a lot from the cold,” she said. “We do not have enough tarpaulins… Yesterday we were flooded. [The water] washed over us and everything we have got wet.”
Mariam, meanwhile, described her fears for her young children: “We live here in a tent in the cold and freezing temperatures, and I am afraid for my young children with the severe cold. We have a shortage of blankets and clothes… and the tarps here leak [water] into the tent. Tonight, it was very cold [and there were] whirlwinds and rain. The tent was torn because of the strong wind, and rainwater leaked in on us. We woke up and found all the mattresses wet, and my little daughter woke up, and she had wet herself. I looked for a change [of clothing] for her and found the bag of clothes completely wet.”
“We are in a very cold area… Yesterday we were exposed to a very difficult situation… which is the rain. [The tents were] leaking, and the mattresses and blankets were wet, and our clothes are still wet, and we do not have any change [of clothing]. So, we waited until the clothes dried on our bodies.”
Fida faced the added heartbreak of losing her husband last year. “Losing my husband has left an emotional and practical void. He was our pillar, providing stability and support. Without him, I’ve had to take on the roles of both parents, which is overwhelming. Financially, his absence has left us struggling, especially now that resources are stretched thin. The priority of ensuring my children’s safety and well-being in such harsh conditions feels heavier without him by my side.”
Reflecting on the toll that the crisis has taken on her personally, Fida said that the situation has taken an “immense toll” on her well-being. “Emotionally, I feel a constant weight, anxiety and fear for my children’s safety and future. Losing my husband has deepened my sense of loss, leaving me feeling unbearably alone as I face these challenges. There are moments where I feel overwhelmed by sadness and desperation, especially when I see my children suffering in ways I cannot fully shield them from.”
At the same time, added Fida, she found surprising inner strength born out of necessity. “My grief and pain have also fuelled my determination to keep going, to fight for my family and to be a source of stability for my children in a world that feels anything but stable. My feelings are a mix of resilience and hope that our suffering will end, and one day we will rebuild a life of dignity and peace.”
January and February are the coldest months in Gaza, and this winter has already claimed the lives of at least seven babies who have frozen to death, with more deaths feared if urgent aid does not arrive.
The shortages are staggering. In December, just 24 trucks carrying desperately needed shelter materials were able to enter central and southern Gaza, while only 136 reached northern Gaza. With such limited aid, families are left without essential items like weatherproof tents, blankets and warm clothing.
Fida’s message to the world is both urgent and heartfelt.
“We are real people with dreams, families and hopes for the future. The cold, flooding and displacement are not temporary hardships; they are ongoing problems that rob us of our dignity and safety. We want the world to see us, to recognise our humanity, and to act to help us rebuild our lives.”
She stressed the need for both immediate and long-term support. “The immediate support we need is weatherproof tents, blankets, warm clothing and food; this is crucial for survival. Long-term support, such as education for our children, mental health services, and economic opportunities, will help us move from survival into rebuilding our lives. Above all, advocating for lasting peace and stability is the absolute solution we need.”
Riham Jafari, Advocacy and Communications Coordinator at ActionAid Palestine, told Middle East Monitor that not only are Palestinians facing the constant threat of death from Israeli military attacks in Gaza, where nowhere is safe, but they are also at risk from the freezing cold weather and heavy rainfall, which has already claimed several lives.
“However, restrictions on aid mean people do not have the very basics they need — such as blankets, warm clothes, waterproof tents and tarpaulins — to protect themselves,” she explained. “Children are going to bed shivering in wet clothes because their parents have no way to keep them dry and warm, and as we enter the coldest time of the year, the situation will only get worse. Shelter items, as well as food, clean water and medicines, must be allowed into Gaza immediately.”
The NGO official pointed out that colleagues and staff at partner organisations and their children are struggling to survive themselves. “Despite the bombs, hunger and the freezing cold, they strive to meet the humanitarian needs of the people on the ground. But they need basic aid. ActionAid demands an end to the blockade on Gaza, and we call for an unrestricted flow of humanitarian relief to the Gaza Strip to fully support our colleagues and partners in their critical work this Winter. We call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire.”
Fida Soboh’s story, alongside those of Dalia, Mariam and Dareen, represents the resilience of Gaza’s mothers, who continue to care for their families despite unimaginable challenges. Their experiences are a powerful reminder of the urgent need for international action. Without immediate aid and long-term solutions, the winter will claim even more lives, and families like theirs will remain trapped in a cycle of despair.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250109-surviving-winter-gazas-mothers-speak-out/
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When It Comes To Genocide And Palestine, The World Is — Deliberately — Getting Its Priorities Wrong
By Ramona Wadi
January 9, 2025
As Israel’s ban on the UN Refugee and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) looms closer, the language used by officials deals more with possibilities than realities. The reason, it seems, is to give Israel enough of an advantage in carrying out its genocide, while Palestinians remain trapped by the atrocities that the international community refuses to halt.
For example, last year US President Joe Biden signed an agreement – allegedly temporary – banning US funding for UNRWA for a year. A recent report by Axios, however, notes that the outgoing Biden administration has warned the Trump administration transition team that “there could be a humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza if Israel bans UNRWA from operating.
“We wanted them to know what is going to happen 10 days into their presidency,” an unnamed US official was quoted as telling Axios. “We thought it was the responsible thing to do. It’s a catastrophe waiting to happen.”
Keeping in mind that in his first presidency, Donald Trump cut off all funding to UNRWA and led other countries following suit, while Biden temporarily restored aid and suspended it again in his last year as president, the scene is set for complicity with Israel’s decision.
Meanwhile, Gaza has been experiencing a humanitarian catastrophe as a result of genocide which is being fragmented into existing separate catastrophes, such as famine, displacement, cold and lack of shelter. UNRWA’s possible forced ending of its operations in Gaza, however, is now being touted as the humanitarian catastrophe without any acknowledgement of the current catastrophes induced by genocide carried out by the settler-colonial state of Israel.
Only decolonisation can do that. What Israel is doing, through colonialism and genocide, is to create more Palestinian refugees. “A catastrophe waiting happen”, therefore is not correct. The catastrophe has been ongoing for decades, and if UNRWA is banned from operating, Palestinians in Gaza will be facing the worsening of an already existing catastrophe that is also the international community’s doing given that it substituted Palestinian political rights for the humanitarian paradigm. All, of course, in the service of Israeli colonial expansion.
In a letter to the UN General Assembly dated December 2024, the international organisation’s Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote that the cessation of UNRWA’s activities “would have devastating consequences” particularly since no alternative to the agency has been set up to replace it.
Coming from the UN, and the Secretary-General in particular, such discourse is reminiscent of the countdown to Gaza becoming unliveable. Yet, when unliveable transitioned to completely destroyed once the genocide started, the UN mellowed its discourse once again. Guterres is now warning of impending devastating consequences, but what of all that has happened since the 1947 Partition Plan and subsequent ethnic cleansing? Each step in Israel’s colonial expansion brought about consequences that were both directly related to the implementation of settler-colonial ideology, which the international community endorsed without hesitation.
While UNRWA’s work is crucial, it is also important to recognise its limitations which stem from the fact that the international community invests more in colonialism and genocide than it does in the humanitarian paradigm. UNRWA was supposed to be as temporary as Israel’s colonisation was purportedly envisaged and imparted to the rest of the world and to the Palestinian people. Now that the world is witnessing a genocide that it doesn’t want to stop, what is really the greatest problem? UNRWA’s demise, or the web of complicity which endorses and participates in Palestine’s destruction and the genocide of the Palestinian people? The world is getting its priorities wrong.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250109-when-it-comes-to-genocide-and-palestine-the-world-is-deliberately-getting-its-priorities-wrong/
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Now Is A Critical Moment For Lebanon
By Jpost Editorial
January 10, 2025
Lebanese lawmakers elected army chief Joseph Aoun as head of state on Thursday, filling the vacant presidency with a general who enjoys US approval and showing the diminished sway of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group after its devastating war with Israel.
“I will work to ensure that the right to carry arms is exclusive to the state,” Aoun said after his victory was announced. “I promise to reconstruct what Israel destroyed in the south and Beirut’s southern suburbs.
“We will work towards the best of relations with Arab countries,” he continued. “We have a historic opportunity to reestablish relations with Syria.”
In becoming president, a post reserved for a Maronite Christian in Lebanon’s sectarian system, he will follow in the footsteps of other former army commanders who have assumed the post, including the last head of state Michel Aoun, who is of no relation.
Aoun’s election is a chance for a fresh start for Lebanon after years of domination by Hezbollah – the country has had no president since 2022 and, therefore, no counterbalance to Hezbollah’s influence.
There is also the hope that as a former army commander, he will be able to influence the implementation of the Lebanese Army’s control over the southern part of the country, part of the ceasefire terms signed between Israel and Hezbollah. The 60-day ceasefire is set to end on January 26.
Commitment to peace
If Aoun is committed to bringing peace to Lebanon and can stand up to Hezbollah, he could well steer Lebanon toward a stability it has not known for years, and reinforce the fragile truce.
Without a president, Lebanon cannot appoint a new prime minister, leaving it governed by a caretaker government and paralyzed at a moment when international support, including massive financial support, hinges on functional governance.
This financial support is more crucial now than even before the war since the reconstruction costs in Lebanon – in Beirut as well as in southern Lebanon – are staggering.
Some in Israel were quick to welcome Aoun’s election. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar welcomed Aoun’s election and expressed hope that Lebanon might see a better future under his leadership.
“I congratulate Lebanon on electing a new president after a prolonged political crisis,” Sa’ar stated on social media. “I hope that the election will contribute to strengthening stability, a better future for Lebanon and its residents, and good neighborliness.”
Shortly after the message was posted, KAN News reported that National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi told ministers not to address the appointment in any public statements. “The election of the president in Lebanon is an internal event and should not be addressed,” KAN quoted Hanegbi as saying.
Sa’ar message is the perfect way for Israel to begin the new presidency. Reaching out a hand and declaring a desire for stability, a better future for the Lebanese people, and, perhaps, even a chance to work together and work toward peace – something Israel and Lebanon have never had.
The Lebanese people did not start firing rockets at Israel’s citizens on October 8. They have not built tunnels or attacked military installations or bases. They have not snuck under the noses of the “ever-watchful eyes” of the United Nations to build a terror regime in southern Lebanon.
If the Lebanese people want peace, with their new president, and they are willing to throw off the shackles of Hezbollah’s rule of terror, Israel should be willing to talk.
Hezbollah has been decimated since it started attacking Israel. Its leader, Hassan Nasrallah was assassinated inside his war room deep underground. Exploding beepers, walkie-talkies, and pagers caused thousands of injuries to the group’s terrorists. This should prove to them that Israel can strike when it has to. The group is not what it was.
If, however, Aoun’s election is merely a return to the status quo – a figurehead president who cannot keep control of the reins of Hezbollah – then there will be little to be optimistic about.
This is his opportunity to show the Lebanese people, Hezbollah, Israel, and the wider world that he means business and is serious about improving the fortunes of his country.
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-836900
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When It Hits Close To Home
By Zvika Klein
January 9, 2025
Every time there is a terrorist attack or news of soldiers falling in combat, I, like most Israelis, rush to see if I know or knew them. This week, it hit close to home in an unexpected way. A terrorist attack occurred near Kedumim in Samaria, just a 10-15 minute drive from where I grew up. I’ve driven on that road so many times, and sadly, it’s been the site of numerous terrorist attacks.
Then the names of the victims began to emerge. One of the three killed was a police officer, St.-Sgt.-Maj. Elad Yaakov Winkelstein, 35. His face looked so familiar in the photograph. I tried to place him. I sat down in the middle of our news desk and asked myself out loud - "how do I know him?"
Later, my childhood WhatsApp group from Ginot Shomron, usually dormant, sprang to life. Discussions about the victims began—one of whom had worked at the girls’ high school some of my friends had attended.
I asked my friends, “Was Elad my chanich (a camper or participant) when I was a madrich (counselor) in Bnei Akiva?” Tamar, whose brother is in that age group, confirmed it: “Yes, he was your chanich.”
That was so many years ago. I remember him as a sweet young boy, sharp and observant, part of a group of third or fourth-grade boys I tried to mentor every Shabbat afternoon. It was a challenging but rewarding experience. In the recent photograph, he had gray hair on the sides of his head, but I still see that curious boy from so long ago.
“The clock is ticking”
It feels surreal to watch heads of Samaria’s municipalities speaking at the crime scene. One of them went to preschool with me, and we later served in the same army unit. Another, closer in age to my younger sister, is someone I remember as a kid.
This attack wasn’t the act of a lone wolf looking to make a statement. It’s part of a larger, ideological plan fueled by Iran. As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week, “We will reach the despicable murderers and settle accounts with them and with anyone who assisted them. No one will go unpunished.”
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi visited the scene and declared, “The clock is ticking for these terrorists. We will find out who perpetrated this attack and reach them. We will act swiftly to bypass the town on this route and make the route safer.”
This is no isolated incident. Recent intelligence shows that Iran’s proxies are actively funding terror cells in northern Samaria to destabilize the region. The IDF’s operations in places like Jenin and Tulkarem have already uncovered RPG launchers and other weapons meant to target Israeli civilians.
No partner for peace
This tragedy forces us to confront the uncomfortable truth: Is there truly a partner for peace? As I wrote in previous weeks, the evidence says no. A significant proportion of Palestinians harbor deep antisemitism, fuelled by a hatred so profound that they’re willing to die to harm the only Jewish state. Full stop.
Defence Minister Israel Katz reiterated this sentiment, saying, “Israel will not tolerate a Gaza-like reality in the West Bank.” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a resident of Kedumim, added, “The terror in the West Bank is the same as the terror from Iran and Gaza, and it must be defeated.”
The world needs to understand this. Israelis no longer have patience or sympathy for narratives that paint Israel as the aggressor. The events of October 7 shattered any illusions of coexistence with those who view our very existence as a threat.
Judea and Samaria: Our history, our future
Judea and Samaria, the West Bank, as some call it, are deeply rooted in our history. These lands are where the stories of the Bible unfolded. It’s time to think differently—throw out outdated, unrealistic plans and create a vision that recognizes the stark realities we face.
As Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, said, “Establishing new settlements is the appropriate Zionist answer to murderous terror. We will continue to build and be built in the Land of Israel.”
We must also take tragedies like this and transform them into a call to action. As Jews, we honor those who were killed by continuing to build. They kill, and we rebuild.
At the same time, we are a nation that values life above all else. We do not glorify war or bloodshed. However, we must continue this war until all our hostages are home and the residents of the Gaza border area—and beyond—can return safely to their homes.
They kill, we rebuild
This attack has left a deep mark on me personally. Elad, who once sat as a young boy in my Bnei Akiva group, is now another name added to the long list of Israelis lost to terror. But like all Israelis, I refuse to let fear dictate my life.
We grieve, we remember, and we rebuild—stronger than ever. As Lt.-Gen. Halevi said, “We will intensify and continue this combat.” This is our story, and it is one we will continue to write with courage, with deeply rooted faith and traditions. They kill, we rebuild. This is how we honour our past and secure our future.
Back to my WhatsApp group, one of my old-time friends, Racheli, concluded in a text message with a crying emoji: "Bereaved madrichim, it's actually a thing." Who ever thought that this would be a term we would use. May his memory be a blessing.
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-836909
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