A chilling scenario detailing Israel’s plan to liquidate northern Gaza through starvation and extermination was revealed by +972 Magazine. Originally published in Hebrew by journalist Meron Rapoport, the Israeli magazine outlined a hypothetical operation that bears a striking resemblance to current events in Gaza. Presented as a simulation of Israel’s plan in 2025, the key elements of the extermination plan – from the motives for mass expulsion to specific military strategies – align disturbingly with the ongoing assault on Gaza.

Dubbed “Operation Order and Clean-up”, the plan in Rapoport’s scenario involves ordering the temporary evacuation of all Palestinian residents north of the Netzarim Corridor, ostensibly for their safety. However, the true intention, as openly declared by far-right ministers like Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, is to impose a complete siege on the area, cutting off all supplies of water, food and fuel until those who remain surrender or die of starvation.

Disturbingly, signs are that the blueprint for Gaza’s extermination is already being implemented. This week, the World Food Programme (WFP) announced that no food aid whatsoever has entered northern Gaza since 1 October, 2024. WFP has said it is unclear how long remaining food supplies in the north will last, as they have already been distributed to shelters and health facilities.

Rapoport’s scenario mirrors proposals from influential Israeli figures like Giora Eiland. Eiland’s plan, unveiled recently, calls for ordering all residents of northern Gaza to leave within a week, before imposing a total siege on the area. The plan explicitly states that those who remain would either surrender or die of starvation.

Referred to since as the “General’s plan,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also shared details of the proposal during a closed meeting of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee at the end of last month. It was initiated by Eiland, who is described in Israel as a “strategist” of the Gaza war and is among those consulting with Netanyahu during Israel’s genocidal campaign.

Other influential figures who are said to be charting a course towards the extermination of Palestinians in Gaza include Professor Uzi Rabi, a senior researcher at Tel Aviv University. In a radio interview on 15 September, Rabi reportedly suggested: “Remove the entire civilian population from the north, and whoever remains there will be lawfully sentenced as a terrorist and subjected to a process of starvation or extermination.”

Rapoport references several sources to argue that, while he is presenting a hypothetical scenario, any plan for Gaza’s eradication would closely resemble the actions Israel has been carrying out over the past year. A report in Ynet indicated that government ministers had been pressuring Netanyahu to “cleanse” northern Gaza of its inhabitants as early as August. Additionally, a proposal titled “From a murderous regime to a moderate society: The transformation and reconstruction of Gaza after Hamas”, authored by Israeli academics, was submitted to decision-makers. The study called for the “total defeat” of Hamas as a precondition for starting a process of “deradicalisation” of Palestinians in Gaza. The strategy paper recommends aid to be delivered only when areas have been “purged” of Hamas, a goal that is widely considered unrealistic.

“Liquidation,” Digital, Dream / Dreamland v3 / Clip2Comic, 2024.

Critics, including those generally supportive of Israel, have cast doubt on the feasibility of Israel’s stated goals of “total victory” and “purging” Hamas. They argue that Israel’s strategy of widespread destruction and indiscriminate killing is likely to backfire, fostering resentment and resistance among Palestinians for generations to come. Moreover, the tendency for Israeli officials and their supporters to blur the lines between combatants and civilians in Gaza provides a dangerous justification for what the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has deemed a plausible case of genocide.

Numerous statements from Israeli officials support this view. For instance, Israeli President Isaac Herzog implied that there were no innocent civilians in Gaza and attempted to justify attacks on civilians by claiming that the entire Gazan population was responsible for the 7 October attacks. Likewise, Rami Igra, a former Mossad director, argued that, due to Gazans voting for Hamas, there is: “No such thing as a non-combatant population in the Gaza Strip.”

The rhetoric justifying indiscriminate violence against Palestinians in Gaza has not been confined to Israeli officials. Prominent supporters of Israel abroad have echoed similar sentiments, blurring the distinction between combatants and civilians. In a particularly troubling example, Alan Dershowitz and Andrew Stein, writing for the New York Post, openly questioned the innocence of Gaza’s civilian population. They provocatively asked: “Just how many of Gaza’s civilians are entirely ‘innocent’?” and went further, challenging: “Who exactly are these ‘civilians’ and just how innocent are they?”

The scenario outlined in +972 Magazine exposes how the deliberate blurring of the distinction between civilians and combatants is integral for a plan to eradicate Gaza. The strategy, which effectively treats all Palestinians as legitimate targets, paves the way for Israel’s mass extermination policy. Far from being hypothetical, this approach mirrors actual practices in Gaza. An example cited by Rapoport comes from a commander of the Israeli Air Force’s drone squadron, who told Ynet in August about an operation in Nuseirat Camp: “Whoever did not flee, even if he was unarmed, as far as we were concerned, was a terrorist. Everyone we killed should have been killed.”

Speculating on what 2025 holds in store for Israel following a policy of mass extermination in Gaza, the article states that one of the consequences is likely to be the possible declarations of genocide by the ICJ and arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court for Israeli leaders.

While the article presents this as a potential future scenario, it emphasises that the open discussion of plans to starve and exterminate hundreds of thousands of people demonstrates the current state of Israeli society. Rapoport warns that despite potential obstacles, including international pressure and domestic opposition, the scenario is not far-fetched given the accelerated process of dehumanisation towards Palestinians in Israeli society since 7 October.

The author concludes by stating: “And regardless of what happens over the coming months, the very fact that open proposals to starve and exterminate hundreds of thousands of people are up for debate demonstrates precisely where Israeli society stands today.”

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.

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( Middle East Monitor ) – To be humanised is to be recognised as worthy of life, respect and the fundamental right to be seen and heard. Yet, for Arabs, this acknowledgement has persistently been withheld, rendering their humanity invisible in the global narrative.

Arabs have long been cast beneath the weight of dehumanising labels—“terrorists,” “violent,” “oppressive,” “uncivilised.” These narratives, woven into the very fabric of Western media and culture, strip away our humanity.

This is the legacy of Orientalism, a concept defined by Edward Said, the Palestinian-American scholar and activist. He described it as the lens through which the West distorts the East, painting us as exotic, backwards and uncivilised, all to justify its own dominance.

The lingering impact of Orientalism remains, and in our desire to dismantle every stereotype the West has forced upon us, we find ourselves yearning to become like it. We believe that if we speak its language, share its educational background and consume what it consumes, we may finally be seen as worthy—perhaps even a little more human. Or so we thought.

A stark example of this obscured reality is the ongoing genocide in Gaza. As I scroll through social media, a platform that gives the people of Gaza a chance to be seen and heard, it’s clear that after 12 months of war, we are witnessing ethnic cleansing. Yet, despite this, people are still pleading, begging viewers not to scroll past and asking for donations to their cause. Even Palestinian children, speaking at a press conference in Gaza, were forced to plead for protection in English, desperate to be understood by the world, in particular, the Western world.

This act of speaking in English—a language not their own—reflects the painful reality that Palestinians must conform to the standards of the Global North just to be acknowledged. Their cries, if spoken in Arabic, might fall on deaf ears, for it is not enough to suffer; they must articulate their suffering in a language that the world is willing to hear. This begs the question: what does it truly mean to be humanised if one must strip away their identity to be seen as human at all?

Through the lens of Palestine, the question of humanisation takes on an urgent and poignant meaning. The Palestinian experience reveals that the struggle to be humanised is not just about being seen but about being recognised in one’s own truth.

For Palestinians, humanisation has indeed been conditional—tied to their ability to fit Western narratives, whether through language, media portrayals or appeals to shared values that the Global North deems acceptable. A striking example is Bisan Owada’s series for AJ+, where she documents her daily life under Israel’s bombardment, often having to convey her story in ways that resonate with Western audiences.

This reflects the broader issue: Palestinian voices are only acknowledged when they align with global powers’ moral comfort. For instance, the necessity for Palestinians to speak in English or frame their suffering within Western frameworks highlights this conditionality.

Moreover, Palestinian narratives rooted in their own culture, language and experiences—especially when expressed in Arabic—are frequently disregarded or mistranslated, sometimes to dangerous degrees.

A poignant example of this occurred when Israeli Defense Forces at Al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital in Gaza misinterpreted a sheet of paper written in Arabic. They assumed it contained a list of Hamas members, but in reality, it merely listed the days of the week. This misreading speaks volumes about how deeply language and cultural misunderstandings contribute to dehumanisation. Palestinians, speaking in their native language and living their everyday realities, are often seen through a lens of fear or suspicion, making their humanity visible only when it fits the established narrative.

Through this lens, we see that humanisation, as it relates to Palestine, is a fractured concept. It becomes clear that true recognition of Palestinian humanity can only come when they are seen as complete beings—not only as victims, but as people with their own culture, language and right to self-determination.

The dehumanisation of Palestinians reflects a broader pattern that impacts Arabs across the world. The portrayal of Arabs as violent, backwards or inferior is not limited to the context of Palestine; it seeps into global narratives about the Arab world. Whether in media, politics or public discourse, Arabs are often reduced to caricatures—devoid of complexity, individuality and humanity. This dehumanisation transcends borders, making it easier for Western powers to justify military interventions, political oppression and the silencing of Arab voices.

Across the Middle East, Arabs face a similar struggle for recognition. From Iraq and Syria to Yemen and Lebanon, narratives painting Arabs as perpetual threats or victims perpetuate this dehumanisation. In Western media, Arab suffering is often overshadowed or diminished unless framed in ways that suit geopolitical interests. Even in diaspora communities, Arabs confront the burden of having to constantly prove their worth, navigating stereotypes that follow them wherever they go.

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

The impact is profound. This dehumanisation denies Arabs the right to define their own identity, history and future. It creates a world where Arab voices are only acknowledged if they conform to dominant narratives, while their struggles for justice and freedom are either overlooked or dismissed. This global phenomenon renders Arabs, like Palestinians, as less deserving of empathy, less worthy of protection and ultimately less human in the eyes of the world. We see this play out in Lebanon today, where the dehumanisation of Palestinians in Gaza has extended into another Arab nation, perpetuating a cycle of disregard for Arab lives.

By broadening the conversation from Palestine to the wider Arab experience, it becomes clear that this form of dehumanisation is deeply entrenched. It is a legacy of colonialism, Orientalism and power imbalances that persist in global systems. To combat this, there must be a collective effort to reframe how Arabs are perceived—not as objects of pity or fear, but as complex, whole individuals with their own stories, struggles and humanity.

True humanisation for Arabs, including Palestinians, requires dismantling the structures that perpetuate their dehumanisation and recognising them on their own terms. This means acknowledging Arab identity without forcing them to fit Western norms, such as the expectation for Arabs in the media to distance themselves from their culture to appear “civilised”.

Historical recognition is also key, as the long-standing impact of colonialism across the Arab world, from the Sykes-Picot Agreement to ongoing conflicts, is often erased or minimised in global narratives. For example, the struggles of Iraqis post-invasion or the humanitarian crisis in Yemen are frequently framed through Western geopolitical interests rather than the voices and experiences of Arabs themselves.

In essence, being humanised is to be seen in the entirety of one’s identity, history and rights. Arabs, including Palestinians, deserve to be regarded not through the distorted lenses of terrorism, resistance or oppression, but as whole human beings—worthy of empathy, justice and respect on their own terms, in their own land and in their own voice.

Without this recognition, the concept of humanisation remains but a flicker, incomplete and conditional, a mere shadow of the profound dignity that is their rightful due.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.

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( Middle East Monitor ) – Just days after her inauguration as the first female president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum called for the recognition of the State of Palestine as a step towards achieving peace in the Middle East, and reaffirmed her country’s longstanding support for the Palestinian people.

“We condemn the aggression currently taking place,” said Sheinbaum, “and we also believe that the state of Palestine must be fully recognised, just as Israel is.”

The president condemned the violence in the Middle East and outlined what Mexico’s position will be during her term in office. “This has been Mexico’s position for many years,” she pointed out, “and it remains the same. We seek peace above all.”

Speaking at her daily press conference, the new president addressed Israel’s actions in the region, stressing that mutual recognition of a Palestinian state is key to finding a diplomatic solution to end the violence in Gaza. Sheinbaum also stressed that “war will never lead to a good outcome,” urging a peaceful resolution to the conflict and calling on international institutions to take a more active role. “The United Nations should be much more proactive as an institution in the pursuit and construction of world peace,” she insisted.

Furthermore, the Mexican president recalled that the previous Mexican government, led by Andrés Manuel López Obrador, condemned the aggression of the Israeli government. “The previous government condemned the aggressions of the Israeli state against Palestine and what is currently happening in the world. There is concern about the risk of this conflict expanding to Lebanon and Syria, which could greatly complicate the situation in the Middle East.”

She also mentioned that Mexico joined Chile’s complaint at the International Court of Justice regarding Israel’s disproportionate response following the attacks of 7 October last year. “The international community is aware of the growing complexity of the Middle East conflict with its potential for expansion,” she noted. The leaders of both Chile and Mexico emphasised the latter’s commitment to international legal mechanisms in seeking justice and accountability.

Claudia Sheinbaum is the daughter of Jewish parents, but she rarely discusses her heritage. When she does, she tends to express a more distant connection to Judaism than many others in Mexico’s Jewish community, which has been present since the country’s early days and now numbers about 59,000 people in a population of 130 million.

“Of course I know where I come from, but my parents were always atheists,” Sheinbaum told the New York Times in a 2020 interview. “I never belonged to the Jewish community, and we grew up kind of removed from that.”

Sheinbaum’s Jewish heritage has made her the target of a smear campaign. False rumours have circulated that she is not a Mexican citizen and was “born in Bulgaria”.

Despite being part of the Latin American Jewish community, which is often associated with Israel, she supports left-wing governments in the region, such as those in Venezuela, Brazil, Nicaragua and Mexico, many of which have a strong anti-Israel stance.

Since the war broke out last year, Sheinbaum has condemned attacks on civilians, called for a ceasefire and expressed her support for a Palestinian state. Her consistent stance highlights her long-term commitment to advocating for peace and the recognition of Palestinian rights. Moreover, she has extended a helping hand to some 30,000 Palestinians living in Mexico.

“Many of my relatives from that generation were exterminated in concentration camps,” she wrote in a 2009 letter to La Jornada, in which she also condemned what she described as the “murder of Palestinian civilians” during an Israeli bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment.

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Israel’s Maariv newspaper reported that the first seven months of the year witnessed the emigration of 40,000 Israelis, equivalent to three times the emigration rates before the war, as 2,000 more people immigrate monthly than the rates from previous years.

Moreover, nearly one million Israelis have obtained foreign passports in recent years as an insurance policy in the event of a comprehensive war.

Regarding financial transfers abroad, the newspaper reported that Israelis transferred $7 billion abroad in deposits during the first seven months.

The newspaper also described this as a “brain drain”, as the immigrants included doctors, scientists, pharmacists and high-tech experts after being presented with attractive offers to work for foreign companies.

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Gaza is home to the largest number of amputee children in modern history, a senior UN official told the Security Council on Wednesday.

Director of the Financing and Partnerships Division of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Lisa Doughten, said women and children are hard-hit by the trauma of the war and each day ten children are losing one or both of their legs.

Video: “Gaza: ‘Everyday 10 children loose 1 or both legs’”

“Gaza is home to the largest cohort of child amputees in modern history,” she said, also noting that women there are three times more likely to miscarry or die from childbirth. “We cannot claim ignorance to what is happening — nor can we afford to look away,” she emphasised, repeating calls for the Council and Member States to act, adding: “These atrocities must end.”

She warned that the systematic and permanent targeting of the health sector has deprived more than two million people in the Gaza Strip of receiving basic health services, where more than 50,000 pregnant women are deprived of maternity care.

Doughten’s full remarks were,

“Humanitarian partners report that women and children are hard hit by the trauma of this war each day. According to UNRWA, 10 children are losing one or both of their legs. Gaza is home to the largest cohort of child amputees in modern history. Women are three times more likely to miscarry and three times more likely to die from childbirth.

And yet, humanitarians are not giving up.

Madam President, we also remain deeply concerned about the worsening situation in the West Bank. Over the past year, Israeli military operations along with rampant settler violence and house demolitions have led to a sharp rise in fatalities, widespread destruction, and forced displacement.

Just last week, on October 4, 18 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed in an airstrike on a residential building in the Tarm refugee camp. This was the single deadliest incident carried out by Israeli forces in the West Bank since OCHA began systematically documenting casualties in 2005.”

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A whole year has passed since the Israeli war on Gaza, during which Israel has crossed all humanitarian, political and military lines.

It does not seem that the Israeli Prime Minister has any clear strategy other than remaining in power for as long as possible. After Israel assassinated Hezbollah Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, Netanyahu’s popularity seems to be on the rise, which boosts his ability to remain in power today. It is also not unlikely that he will seek to prolong the war for another reason, which is his unwillingness to give Democratic presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, any part in stopping the war and he prefers to wait for the results of the US elections to see whether Trump wins, as Trump will deal with him better than the Democrats, even with Biden’s blatant support for Israel and providing it with all the weapons it needs to sustain the war.

The war will end one way or another at some point. Post-war Jordan will face a major dilemma in terms of its approach to the future relationship with Israel. Official Jordan used a justification that seemed convincing in the past in the context of it promoting the signing of a peace treaty with Israel to its citizens. This justification was that signing the treaty forced Israel to recognise the Jordanian state and the Jordanian borders, which would kill the notion of an alternative homeland, which practically means emptying the Palestinian land of its population and claiming the existence of a Palestinian state in Jordan rather than on Palestinian soil. Jordan even insisted on including an explicit text in the treaty against any attempt at mass displacement of the population (i.e. from the Palestinian territories to Jordan).

In addition, after Netanyahu and the extreme right came to power, the official Jordanian position was that Israel’s stubborn position on the peace process was not the end of the road, and that Netanyahu would leave power at some point, and that Jordan should wait until a more flexible and balanced Israeli prime minister comes to power, allowing for the resumption of talks with Israel about ways to end the Occupation and establish a Palestinian State.

Image of Amman by Heike Hartmann from Pixabay

The Israeli war on Gaza has greatly weakened these two justifications. It has become clear that one of Israel’s main goals of the war is to get rid of as many Palestinians as possible in Gaza, either by directly killing them or by making Gaza an uninhabitable place after Israel destroyed all the needs of life in the Strip, including road, electricity and water networks, schools, hospitals and places of worship. Moreover, Israeli settlers in the West Bank continue to attack Palestinian population centres, with the support of the Israeli army, in blatant attempts to ethnically cleanse the Palestinians, in preparation for creating or taking advantage of conditions that would allow for their displacement.

The second argument, which was the hope for an Israeli prime minister with whom Jordan could reach an understanding regarding the establishment of a Palestinian State coming to power, has also collapsed, especially after the Israeli Knesset passed a law last July, with the approval of all major Israeli parties, including the opposition, against the establishment of a Palestinian State.

The current division in Israel is only between those who support Netanyahu and those against Netanyahu, but with regards to the Palestinian issue, there is almost an Israeli consensus on rejecting the Palestinian State. This stubborn Israeli popular and official position is not expected to change, as Israeli society has been increasingly radicalised in the past twenty years, and there is no significant Israeli popular critical mass calling for peace, neither now nor in the foreseeable future.

Hence, Jordan faces a real dilemma in the post-war period. Resuming economic and security cooperation with Israel will expose the government to a direct confrontation with an angry and rejecting public opinion and will give Israel the impression that Jordan is not serious in its opposition to Israeli policies. However, continuing with the current Jordanian position, which is ahead of other Arab countries in terms of its harsh criticism of Israel, will expose it to serious pressure from the US and others.

Therefore, the outcome of the Jordanian elections is extremely important. Rather than just being a stark expression of where the Jordanian public opinion stands, the Jordanian decision-maker can use these results to resist any external pressures that Jordan may be exposed to.

The crossroads that Jordan will face is of great importance, and it calls for a serious national dialogue about the future of the Jordanian-Israeli relationship. While cancelling the peace treaty may not be on the table for several reasons, examining the remaining options and choosing the best of them is a national need because it is clear that returning to the status quo between Jordan and Israel before 7 October is neither possible nor acceptable.

This article appeared in Arabic in Al Quds on 7 October, 2024.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.

Marwan Muasher is vice president for studies at Carnegie, where he oversees research in Washington and Beirut on the Middle East. Muasher served as foreign minister (2002–2004) and deputy prime minister (2004–2005) of Jordan, and his career has spanned the areas of diplomacy, development, civil society, and communications.

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( Middle East Monitor ) – Hamas launched a ground, air and naval attack on Israel, resulting in the killing of 1,200 Israelis and the capturing of two hundred and fifty hostages of Israeli military and civil personnel on 7 October, 2023. Today marks almost exactly one year since the start of the Gaza War. Resultantly, Israel, portraying itself as a victim of Hamas’s terrorist attack, despite its status as an oppressive occupying power under international law and United Nations (UN) resolutions, launched a full-scale invasion of Gaza. This has since expanded to Lebanon, and now a full war looms between Iran and Israel.

The horrors of war resulted in the killing of an estimated 43,000 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them women and children, with tens of thousands displaced. Not to mention, hundreds of thousands of innocent people in Gaza have been wounded. Additionally, Israel critically damaged vital infrastructure of the Gaza Strip, such as hospitals, schools, universities and refugee camps, under the pretext of the elimination of Hamas. However, natural observers opined that most Israeli attacks are aimed at the extermination of the Gaza population, somewhat referred to as a genocidal campaign against Palestinians, rather than knocking out Hamas.

Israeli military adventurism didn’t stop at the Gaza Strip, but expanded its operation and attacks to the West Bank, Golan Heights, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon to scale the war to a regional one. Unfortunately, despite calls for ceasefire and negotiation, Israel refused to engage in any peace talks. On the contrary, Israel has embarked on the assassination of high-profile leaders of the Axis of Resistance backed by the Iranian regime. From the killing of Ismail Haniyeh to the assassination of Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah, the message from Israel was clear: we don’t stop at Gaza, but the ultimate goal is to drag Iran into regional war to undo the Axis of Resistance and the Iranian regime itself.

International experts were divided on Israel’s actions in the region, especially given the backdrop of the upcoming US presidential election. Some experts believe that an escalation of the conflict in Gaza could potentially boost Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s domestic approval ratings while simultaneously diverting international attention from the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

Others believed a regional war could undermine the Axis of Resistance, which could continually pose a threat to the existence of Israel while dragging Iran into conflict could revigorate Western political, financial and military support to Israeli campaigns in the region. Israel also has misplaced hope of regime change if the US and Iran are at war.

“Total War,” Digital, Dream / Dreamland v3, 2024

However, the strategic patience of Iran diminished when Israel crossed all the brightest red lines of Iran with the assassination of Nasrallah. On 1 October, Iran launched almost 200 ballistic missiles towards Israel, some of which were unable to be anticipated by Israel’s Iron Dome. Iran clearly stated that the country has the right to defend itself in the wake of unwanted Israeli aggression and jingoism. However, Israel is considering attacking nuclear sites or oil facilities inside Iran in retaliation for Iranian ballistic missiles. In that response, Iran also made it clear that such provoked Israeli actions would be dealt with by attacking any oil facilities in the region.

Therefore, the ongoing crisis will be the perfect recipe for regional war and beyond, which has severe consequences for the global economy. Attacks on oil facilities in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Peninsula could have severe global consequences. This region accounts for one-third of the world’s oil and gas resources, making it crucial to international energy markets. It comprises vital trade routes, including the Red Sea and Persian Gulf and strategic chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb. Any disruption in this area, particularly given Iran’s and its proxies’ influence over these critical waterways, could cause oil prices to soar. Such a scenario would likely trigger a domino effect, adversely impacting international trade, global production and supply chains worldwide.

For example, the Houthis have engaged in launching multiple missiles towards Israelis in solidarity with Palestinians. They also blocked the shipping route of Bab-el-Mandeb, causing serious disruption to trade activities of the Red Sea. Meanwhile, the Iraq-based militia, which is backed by the Iranian regime, also hinted that any direct attack on Iran would be dealt with by attacking military bases of the US in the country and beyond. Therefore, Iran possesses multiple strategic options for engaging in a confrontation with Israel.

Unfortunately, during the whole course of events, relentless support of the US has emboldened Israeli jingoism. Consequently, the Middle East is sitting at the tender box of looming regional war, which gives nothing but instability, chaos, violence and the cycle of war. Since the 7 October attacks, the US, under the US President Joe Biden administration, has provided unabated, shored-up Israeli war crimes in Gaza in the name of self-defence of Israel, by offering political, economic, military and diplomatic approval of Netanyahu’s policies. Recently, the US has approved a $20 billion military package to Israel in support of the ongoing war, which already expanded beyond the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, other critical components of the US, such as Congress, the Pentagon, the State Department and American mainstream media, openly supported Israeli adventurism in the Middle East despite the low approval ratings of the American public for another Middle East war in which the US will actively participate.

Therefore, one can easily conclude that owing to the Jewish lobby in the US, US foreign policy has become deeply entrenched with the strategic goals of Israel in the region. Furthermore, in the presence of US bases and troops in the Middle East, which is estimated at around 40,000, Israel knows that without the full-fledged support of the US, Israel will be unable to beat Iran.

However, there is also a catch-22 situation for the US as it can’t abandon its strategic partner Israel, which consumes financial and military resources and the goodwill of the US among the international community. Presently, the US has also deeply committed to Ukraine’s war against Russia, in which Ukraine is unable to reclaim its territory from Russia despite the full support of the US and its Western neighbours. Meanwhile, the US’ biggest rival and strategic competitor is neither Russia nor Iran, but China, as it is reaching the zenith of economic development and modernisation of Chinese troops for recapturing Taiwan and reclaiming its greater dominance and share in the South China Sea and beyond. On that front, the US has pursued the Indo-Pacific Policy for economic, technological and military containment of China in that theatre of war. However, the ongoing war in the Middle East has shifted the US’ focus from Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East – a blessing in disguise for both Russia and China.

At the same time, Arab sheikh kingdoms with strong ties with the US for security and economic purposes are equally worried about the spillover effects of the ongoing crisis. Many of these kingdoms feared that Iran and its proxies might target US bases and oil facilities in their respective kingdoms, which would have dire consequences for their security and economies. Furthermore, most of them also fully know that their public opinion is heavily pro-Palestinian, irrespective of age groups. The defiance shown by Iran and its Axis of Resistance in favour of Arab Palestine is also seen positively by the Arab street population. In that context, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar, especially those who have strong ties with Iran, are pushing hard that Arab monarchies are neutral in the ongoing crisis between Iran and Israel.

Moreover, one year of the Gaza War also evaporated much of the goodwill of the Abraham Accords 1.0, which set the stage for normalisation among UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Israel to exchange economic development, technological transfer and formation of a common front against Iran. Before the eruption of the Gaza war, there is news in the air of such normalisation between Israel and Saudi. However, the current crisis in the Middle East has hindered progress on such an initiative. Owing to pressure from Arab public opinion, most monarchies are putting their eggs in the basket of the Palestine cause.

The one-year events of the Gaza War have provided many lessons. First, the Palestinian cause will endure until Palestinians achieve a sovereign and independent state. Second, Iran and its Axis of Resistance, despite many setbacks, will continue its efforts for the Palestine cause and their dominance in the region. Third, Israel, despite its tactical victories, will shortly be less secure, vulnerable and more dependent on the US. Fourth, the US’ prolonged support for Israel’s aggressive regional policies may gradually diminish its global power and influence. This commitment risks depleting significant economic and military resources, potentially compromising US efforts in other strategic areas, such as Ukraine and its policy of containing China. Fifth, China and Russia will be able to gain much influence in the Middle East. Lastly, the UN and its key components, like the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly and the International Court of Justice, are unable to exact their power regarding the matter of peace and security.

The world’s great powers appear to have overlooked historical lessons: lasting peace in the region hinges on Palestinian self-determination and the establishment of a viable, sovereign Palestinian state. Therefore, immediate action must be taken to secure a ceasefire and halt Israel’s war crimes against Palestinians. Meanwhile, Western powers should engage Iran and re-integrate it as a responsible state in the international community. Otherwise, geopolitical tensions, regional skirmishes and proxy wars will threaten global peace, security and economy.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment.

Sher Ali Bukhari is an independent journalist based in Lahore who writes on Foreign policy and regional and global issues.

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( Middle East Monitor ) – The world of activism was shaken by the tragic news of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi’s death at the hands of Israeli forces in the West Bank. Her demise has sparked a renewed conversation about the Occupation of Palestine, the struggles of the Palestinian people, and the role of international activists who stand with them. Eygi, a committed Turkish-American activist, was more than just a participant in protests; she embodied the global solidarity that has long fuelled the resistance against oppression in the region. Her life, words, and ultimate sacrifice bring to light the harrowing reality of the conflict and the urgent need for international intervention.

Aysenur Ezgi Eygi: A voice for the voiceless

Born in Turkiye, Eygi was deeply rooted in her faith, and her activism was a reflection of her commitment to the principles of justice, equality and submission to Allah. In her writings, she emphasized the importance of the ummah, the global Muslim community, as a collective entity that transcends national borders and personal struggles. “The ummah is important, I need to support my journey in full submission to Allah,” she once wrote, revealing the spiritual foundation of her activism. Her unwavering belief in the power of the Muslim community to effect change, coupled with her determination to stand against oppression, made her a prominent figure in the pro-Palestinian movement in Turkiye.

Her commitment took her to the frontlines of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where she witnessed the daily horrors faced by Palestinians under Occupation. It was in the West Bank where she met her tragic end, killed by Israeli forces while peacefully advocating for human rights. Her death has now become a rallying cry for activists around the world, highlighting the grave dangers faced by those who dare to challenge the Israeli Occupation.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict: A brief historical overview

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the longest and most contentious in modern history. Its roots can be traced back to the early 20th century when the region, then part of the Ottoman Empire, became the focal point of competing nationalist movements. The establishment of Israel in 1948 led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, an event known as the Nakba, or “catastrophe”. Since then, the conflict has been marked by wars, Intifadas and ongoing military Occupation.

The West Bank, where Eygi was killed, has been under Israeli military Occupation since the Six-Day War in 1967. Despite numerous international resolutions calling for Israel to withdraw and end its Occupation, the situation has only worsened over the years. The construction of illegal Israeli settlements, the fragmentation of Palestinian Territories, and the severe restrictions on movement have turned life in the West Bank into a daily struggle for survival.

Human Rights violations in the Occupied Territories

The human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (oPt) are well-documented. According to a 2021 report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), over 5,300 Palestinians were injured by Israeli forces in the West Bank that year alone. The UN Human Rights Council has repeatedly condemned Israel’s actions, particularly the excessive use of force against civilians and the systematic expansion of illegal settlements. The situation has been described by many as a form of apartheid, with Israel implementing a system of segregation that denies Palestinians basic rights and freedoms.

The killing of activists like Aysenur Ezgi Eygi further exposes the dangers faced by those who seek to shed light on these injustices. Human rights defenders, both Palestinian and international, are often targeted by Israeli forces. The UN has reported numerous cases of activists being detained, harassed and even killed while documenting human rights abuses in the region. The targeting of activists is a clear violation of international law, yet accountability remains elusive.

UN facts and numbers on the conflict

The United Nations has consistently called for an end to the Israeli Occupation and the establishment of a two-state solution, but progress has been slow. According to UN data:

• As of 2022, there are approximately 475,000 Israeli settlers living in over 250 illegal settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
• More than 5.7 million Palestinian refugees are registered with the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), most of whom are descendants of those displaced in 1948.
• In 2023 alone, over 200 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, including women and children.

Despite international calls for restraint, the cycle of violence continues, with civilians on both sides paying the highest price. The UN’s repeated condemnations of Israeli actions, including the expansion of settlements and the use of excessive force, have largely been ignored, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.

The global response and Eygi’s enduring legacy

The death of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi is a stark reminder of the cost of standing up for justice in the face of overwhelming force. Her life’s work, however, has not been in vain. In Turkiye and beyond, her legacy as a passionate advocate for the Palestinian cause continues to inspire new generations of activists. She is remembered not only for her bravery but also for her deep sense of responsibility toward the ummah and her unwavering commitment to the principles of Islam.

Internationally, Eygi’s death has sparked renewed calls for accountability. Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have condemned her killing and urged the global community to take stronger action to protect activists in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. There is also growing pressure on the United Nations to take more decisive action, with some calling for sanctions against Israel for its continued violations of international law.

Aysenur Ezgi Eygi’s tragic death in the West Bank has left a void in the global activist community, but her legacy lives on. Her words, “Ummah is important, I need to support my journey in full submission to Allah”, resonate with the countless individuals who continue to stand against oppression and injustice. Her life serves as a reminder that the fight for Palestinian liberation is not just a local struggle but a global one, requiring the solidarity and support of people from all walks of life.

In her memory, the world must redouble its efforts to bring peace and justice to Palestine, ensuring that the sacrifices of activists like Eygi are not in vain. The international community must act swiftly and decisively to hold Israel accountable for its actions and to protect those who risk their lives in the pursuit of justice.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment.

Via Middle East Monitor

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