Gaza

AFP/MENA: Israel is easing its blockade of Gaza to allow construction materials and other goods into the enclave under the terms of a truce deal mediated by Egypt. The decision allows private companies and individuals to import construction materials that were previously restricted exclusively to international aid groups under the terms of Israel’s blockade, AFP [...]

For those who still cling to the idea of an Axis of Resistance, Khaled Meshaal today symbolically punctured this balloon as in defiance of the Assad regime, Iran, and Hezbollah, he raised the flag of the Syrian opposition:

Scott McConnell writes: If a man from Mars descended to observe Israel’s attack on the Gaza strip, he would have seen one group of humans trapped in a densely populated area, largely defenseless while a modern air force destroyed their buildings at will. He might have learned that the people in Gaza had been essentially [...]

Meir Javedanfar writes: After eight days of fighting, on the 21st of November, Israel and Hamas declared a ceasefire. One of the questions which has been addressed since the start of the recent round of fighting has been: what has been the role of Iran? Iran’s role has mainly been that of a weapon supplier [...]

Rami Zurayk and Anne Gough write: Since its creation in 1948, Israel has used food and nutrition as a means to entrench its military and territorial occupation of Palestine. While all eyes are turned today to the savage eradication of children and entire families in Gaza through operation “Pillar of Cloud”, Israel pursues its long-term [...]

Juan Cole writes: 1. The Israeli blockade on Gaza exports and non-military imports must be lifted altogether. Ben White points out that the restrictions on goods brought into Gaza via Israel are still very substantial, despite Israeli assertions that the blockade has been eased. And, the blockade on exports is almost complete, with some minor [...]

Peter Beaumont reports from Cairo: As frantic diplomatic efforts continued to secure a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, which saw the US secretary of state, Hilary Clinton, arrive in Cairo on Wednesday vowing to work to find an end to the latest conflict, details of the stumbling blocks in the negotiations began to [...]

Ynet reports: Hamas’ Deputy Politburo chief Mousa Abu Marzook posted a message on his Facebook page condemning the execution of six people accused of being Israel collaborators. He demanded that those behind the act be tried. “The way these collaborators were killed and the images after their death are totally unacceptable and those responsible must [...]

The Gaza Parkour Team show off their moves during training on October 26. (Music: “Speaking in Tongues” by Hilltop Hoods.) A few days ago as they continued their training in Khan Younis at the southern end of the Gaza Strip, Israeli bombs started to fall. “We did this video to convey message to the world [...]

Wasseem El Sarraj writes: The bombing started on al-Hijriyah (the first day of the Muslim New Year); I was off of work because of the associated national holidays and was looking forward to a four-day long weekend. I have since spent those four days trapped in my home, in Remal, Gaza, an affluent neighborhood inside [...]