In this episode of Occupied Thoughts, FMEP Fellow Ahmed Moor speaks with political strategist and former FMEP Fellow Rania Batrice together with Maya Berry, Executive Director of the Arab American Institute, and Margaret Zaknoen DeReus, Executive Director of the IMEU Policy Project. They discuss the role of Israel’s genocide in Gaza – and the U.S.’s facilitation of it through weapons and political support – in the 2024 elections, drawing from newly available data, including the IMEU Policy Project’s January 2025 poll, which shows that “Gaza was a top issue for Biden 2020 Voters Who Cast A Ballot For Someone Besides Harris.”  They look at voter behavior among Arab Americans and in many other communities, at relationships between the Democratic Party and grassroots activists, and at the ways in which Arab Americans have been blamed for the Democratic loss.

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Recorded on March 14, 2025

Key Resources:

• New Poll Shows Gaza Was A Top Issue For Biden 2020 Voters Who Cast A Ballot For Someone Besides Harris, from the IMEU: https://www.imeupolicyproject.org/postelection-polling
• Depressing the Vote: Genocide and 2024 US Presidential Race, Halah Ahmad, Al Shabaka: https://al-shabaka.org/briefs/depressing-the-vote-genocide-and-2024-us-presidential-race/

Rania Batrice is the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, an activist and strategist for progressive change, a public relations specialist, and a political consultant. Rania has worked as a Democratic operative for over twenty years, lending her expertise across political, non-profit, legislative strategy and crisis management both in the United States and around the world. For Bernie Sanders’ 2016 run for president, she served as Iowa Communications Director, the National Director of Surrogates and as Deputy Campaign Manager. In addition to Rania’s expertise in strategy, policy and communications, her portfolio includes over 15 years of experience in conflict resolution, mediation, and organizational development. Her firm, Batrice and Associates, has worked for social justice through a variety of avenues, collaborating with organizations including Human Rights Watch, the Arab American Institute, March for Our Lives, Color of Change, March For Science, Sunrise Movement, and NDN Collective and more. Rania has been a featured speaker for a wide range of events, including addressing climate change at the Social Good Summit, the UN Youth Climate Summit and the UN General Assembly.

Maya Berry is Executive Director of the Arab American Institute (AAI), a non-profit, nonpartisan, national civil rights advocacy organization founded to nurture and encourage direct participation in our political and civic life to mobilize a strong, educated, and empowered Arab American community. She previously worked at AAI, establishing its first government relations department, which she led for five years before becoming Legislative Director for House Minority Whip David Bonior, where she managed the Congressman’s legislative strategy and developed policies on international relations, human rights, immigration, civil rights and liberties, and trade.

Margaret Zaknoen DeReus is the executive director of the Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU) and its sister organization, the IMEU Policy Project.

Ahmed Moor is a Palestinian-American writer born in Gaza. He is an advisory board member of the US Campaign for Palestinian rights, co-editor of After Zionism (Saqi Books) and is currently writing a book about Palestine. He also currently serves on the board of the Independence Media Foundation. His work has been published in The Guardian, The London Review of Books, The Nation, and elsewhere. He earned a BA at the University of Pennsylvania and an MPP at Harvard University.

1. New from FMEP

2. Gaza

3. Region/Global

4. River to the Sea

5. U.S. Scene

6. Perspectives//Long Reads

NEW FROM FMEP

Ceasefire Possibilities, Political Dynamics, Regional Aspirations, and the Trump Administration (New Occupied Thoughts Episode)

FMEP Fellow Peter Beinart speaks with analyst Mouin Rabbani about the current state of affairs, including: the potential for Gaza ceasefire negotiations, Palestinian political dynamics and possibilities, Israeli aspirations and actions in Syria and the Syrian regime’s response, and the Trump administration’s “unpredictable and erratic” policymaking.

Harvard Professors on Censorship, Repression, and Opportunities for Speaking Up on Palestine (New Occupied Thoughts episode)

“FMEP Fellow Peter Beinart talks with two Harvard professors – Dr. Eman Ansari & Dr. Aaron Shakow – about censorship on college/university campuses and how scholars can respond.”

Who Are ‘JINO Jews’ and Why Do Conservatives Hate Them? (Zeteo 3/6/25)

“Mehdi talks to [FMEP President Lara Friedman], a leading expert on antisemitism about the demonization of liberal Jews, the conflation of anti-Zionism with antisemitism, and the crackdown on free speech when it comes to Israel.”

FMEP Legislative Round-Up March 7, 2025 (Lara Friedman)

1. Bills, Resolutions; 2. Letters; 3. Hearings; 4. Selected Members on the Record; 5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements See also FMEP Legislative Round-Up February 28, 2025 (Lara Friedman)

Settlement & Annexation Report: February 28, 2025 (Kristin McCarthy)

De Jure Annexation Proceeds, Govt Set to OK Jerusalem-Area Annexation Bill; Reestablishing Gaza Settlements; The Ongoing “Gazafication” of the West Bank; More Settlement News & Analysis; The Trump-Netanyahu Mind Meld & U.S. Politics; Eliminating Civil Society Space in Israel

GAZA

Exclusive: U.S. holding secret talks with Hamas (Axios 3/5/25)

“The Trump administration has been holding direct talks with Hamas over the release of U.S. hostages held in Gaza and the possibility of a broader deal to end the war, two sources with direct knowledge of the discussions tell Axios. Why it matters: The talks — held by U.S. presidential envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler — are unprecedented. The U.S. had never before engaged directly with Hamas, which it designated a terrorist organization in 1997…The talks have focused in part on the release of U.S. hostages, which is within Boehler’s remit as hostage envoy.” See also Scoop: Israel objected to secret U.S.-Hamas talks in tense call (Axios 3/7/25); U.S. proposes ceasefire extension in exchange for hostages (WaPo 3/6/25)

White House rejects Arab plan for postwar Gaza, insists on Trump’s (Al Monitor 3/5/25)

“The White House publicly rejected a joint plan put forth by Arab states to establish security in postwar Gaza. “The current proposal does not address the reality that Gaza is currently uninhabitable and residents cannot humanely live in a territory covered in debris and unexploded ordnance,” Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for President Donald Trump’s National Security Council, said in a statement late on Tuesday. “President Trump stands by his vision to rebuild Gaza free from Hamas. We look forward to further talks to bring peace and prosperity to the region,” the statement read. The rejection came within hours after Arab officials gathered in Cairo adopted Egypt’s $53 billion counter proposal for postwar Gaza, designed to enable the territory’s population of 2.2 million people to remain within the ravaged enclave as Gulf states provide funding for recovery and reconstruction.  Egypt’s plan would have Hamas cede its claim to governance over the enclave and make way for a body of technocrats to run Gaza before a reformed Palestinian Authority takes power there. Elections would be held within one year under the proposal.” See also Trump issues ‘last warning’ to Hamas to release all remaining hostages held in Gaza (AP 3/6/25); Trump posts ‘Shalom Hamas’ and says Gazans will be ‘DEAD’ if they keep holding hostages (JTA 3/5/24); Israel prepares Gaza ‘hell plan’ to pile pressure on Hamas – reports (Guardian 3/3/25); ‘We have nothing left to lose’: Gazans respond to Trump’s warnings (Al Jazeera 3/7/25); Trump Shares His AI Vision of Gaza’s Future, With Belly Dancers, Cocktails and Elon Musk (Haaretz 2/26/25)

Arab leaders endorse $53bn plan to rebuild Gaza as alternative to Trump idea (Guardian 3/4/25)

“Arab leaders have endorsed a $53bn (£42bn) plan to rebuild Gaza under the future administration of the Palestinian Authority (PA), in a rushed attempt to present an alternative to Donald Trump’s idea for a property development-style plan. Trump’s suggestion involved a relocation of the Palestinian population that has been widely criticised as effectively endorsing ethnic cleansing…The new proposal, presented at an Arab League summit in Cairo, focused on emergency relief, rebuilding shattered infrastructure and long-term economic development.” See also Gaza ceasefire talks stall, as Egypt proposes long-term reconstruction plan (Guardian 3/1/25); What’s behind Abbas’ amnesty gesture as Dahlan, others eye role in postwar Gaza? (Al Monitor 3/5/25); Arab summit adopts Egypt’s alternative plan to Trump’s Gaza takeover: What to know (Al Monitor 3/4/25)

Israel cuts off humanitarian supplies to Gaza as it seeks to change ceasefire deal (Guardian 2/2/25)

“Israel has cut off humanitarian supplies to Gaza in an effort to pressure Hamas into accepting a change in the ceasefire agreement to allow for the release of hostages without an Israeli troop withdrawal…Aid officials said that even with the restoration of food deliveries, the lack of drinkable water, the near-complete destruction of Gaza’s hospitals and clinics, the lack of shelter in the midst of winter, and the buildup of untreated sewage among the rubble could all be lethal to the surviving population of 2.2 million people. Netanyahu made his announcement, which his office claimed had US backing, after the breakdown of talks in Cairo aimed at maintaining the ceasefire as it approached the end of its first six-week phase, over whether the truce should advance to a second phase.” See also Gaza aid ops in peril as millions of promised USAID dollars frozen under Trump’s cuts (TOI 3/7/25) Israel outlines plan to control all aid entering Gaza (WaPo 3/5/25); Israeli block on aid raises health fears for Gaza’s undernourished population (Guardian 3/2/25); ‘If UNRWA implodes tomorrow, there’d be no alternative’ (Ghousoon Bisharat & Meron Rapoport//+972 Magazine 2/27/25); Israel halts aid shipments to Gaza after ceasefire expires (Axios 3/2/25)

Weeks after Israeli withdrawal, Gazans still search for the missing in Netzarim (Ruwaida Kamal Amer//+972 Magazine 3/4/25)

“Thousands of Palestinians have made the arduous journey across Gaza’s central corridor, as Civil Defense workers slowly uncover human remains.”

Israel’s War Decimated Gaza’s Farmlands and Killed Most of its Livestock (Rasha Abu Jamal//Drop Site 3/6/25)

“The bombing has destroyed agricultural land and poisoned the soil, while Israel’s sweeping blockade has made water scarce for farmers who once provided a third of Gaza’s food needs.”

Rights group says Israel has systematically abused Palestinian health workers for their profession (CNN 2/27/25)

“Israel has systematically targeted Palestinian healthcare workers in Gaza, arbitrarily detaining them without charge or access to legal counsel, and submitting them to torture and abuse, according to a new report by Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI). Between July and December, lawyers working with the Israeli nonprofit group said they visited over two dozen Palestinian medical workers, including physicians, nurses and paramedics, aged between at least 21 and 69, who had spent more than six months in isolation after having been seized by Israeli forces. In the 21-page report released Wednesday, PHRI said that the testimonies from healthcare personnel indicate that their arrests were primarily used by Israel to gather intelligence rather than investigate their alleged involvement in armed conflict or link them to criminal activity. “This suggests a systemic policy that violates human rights and, more broadly, indicates that such arrests are arbitrary and unlawful under international legal standards,” PHRI said.” See also More than 160 Gazan medics held in Israeli prisons amid reports of torture (Guardian 2/25/25)

Hamas Official Expresses Reservations About Oct. 7 Attack on Israel (NYT 2/24/25)

“Mousa Abu Marzouk, the Qatar-based head of Hamas’s foreign relations office, said in an interview with The New York Times that he would not have supported the attack if he had known of the havoc it would wreak on Gaza. Knowing of the consequences, he said, would have made it “impossible” for him to back the assault…Mr. Abu Marzouk has said that he was not informed about the specific plans for the Oct. 7 attack, in which roughly 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage, but that he and other Hamas political leaders had endorsed its overall strategy of attacking Israel militarily. “If it was expected that what happened would happen, there wouldn’t have been Oct. 7,” as far as he was concerned, he said. He also suggested that there was some willingness within Hamas to negotiate the future of the group’s weapons in Gaza — which has been a sticking point in negotiations with Israel — taking a position that other Hamas officials have rejected. A compromise might help Hamas and Israel avoid a renewal of the war, analysts say. Israel has said that it wants Hamas to dismantle its military capabilities.”

REGION/GLOBAL

Why We Asked the ICC to Investigate Biden for Aiding and Abetting Genocide (Sarah Leah Whitson//The Nation 3/3/25)

“In late January, our organization, which works to reform US foreign policy in the Middle East, filed a 172-page legal brief to the International Criminal Court urging it to investigate former President Joe Biden, former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for aiding and abetting war crimes, crimes against humanity, starvation, and genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The court has already charged the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, for committing these same crimes. Seeking the prosecution of US officials in the only global criminal court was not a decision we took lightly, particularly as the court faces threats from the United States itself. But the evidence against Biden, Blinken, and Austin is so overwhelming and the devastation to Palestinians so horrific that we felt it was our duty as a US-based organization to demand accountability for their crimes. Article 25 of the Rome Statute, which governs the ICC, defines accessorial support for a crime as a crime itself. To be held liable for aiding and abetting an international crime under the Rome Statute, there must be evidence that a person has not only substantially contributed to crimes but knew such contribution would facilitate the commission of crimes. It was not difficult to document such evidence.” See also BREAKING: ICC Asked to Investigate Biden and Blinken Over War Crimes Allegations (Zeteo 2/24/25); ICC urged to investigate Biden for ‘aiding and abetting’ Gaza war crimes (Guardian 2/24/25)

Israeli army escorts ultra-Orthodox Jews to religious site in south Lebanon: What to know (Al Monitor 3/7/25)

“A group of Israeli civilians escorted by the military entered southern Lebanon on Friday to visit a religious site in what Lebanon’s army called a violation of international law and the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire agreement that came into effect in November. The group of roughly 250 ultra-Orthodox Israelis entered the tomb where they believe Babylonian Jewish scholar Rabbi Ashi was buried. The tomb is located on the outskirts of Houla in southern Lebanon and lies on the Blue Line — a demarcation line established by the UN in 2000 between Israel and Lebanon.” See also World Bank estimates $11B reconstruction bill for Lebanon after Israeli war (Al Monitor 3/7/25); Israel Launches Major Air Assault on Damascus (Drop Site 2/25/25); US designates Yemen’s Houthi group as foreign terrorist organization once again (Guardian 3/4/25)

Make no mistake: ‘No Other Land’ is a victory for the Palestinian struggle (Samah Salaime//+972 Magazine 3/7/25)

“No sooner had directors Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Hamdan Ballal, and Rachel Szor accepted the Academy Award for best documentary for their film “No Other Land” — which tells the story of Israel’s ongoing  ethnic cleansing of the Masafer Yatta region in the occupied West Bank, including Basel and Hamdan’s own communities — than the attacks began. Israeli Culture Minister Miki Zohar accused the film of “defamation” and “distort[ing] Israel’s image,” urging movie theaters in Israel to refrain from screening it. Many in the Israeli media rushed to denounce it as “propaganda” or “worse than a lie,” while the directors received a barrage of venomous hatred on social media. We have grown accustomed to this level of Zionist blindness from Israeli politicians, journalists, and citizens, especially after Yuval and Basel faced similar vilification in the wake of their acceptance speeches at the 2024 Berlinale. What many of us didn’t anticipate, however, was how severe the backlash would be from some pro-Palestinian activists, organizations, and influencers…Then came the official statement from the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), an arm of the BDS movement, which declared that the film “certainly violates” its guidelines on anti-normalization…To cut through the noise of this messy and toxic debate, I decided to see what those actually living in Masafer Yatta — whose villages are raided daily by Israeli settlers, soldiers, and bulldozers — had to say about the film and the controversy it has engendered…“I don’t know what the BDS people are talking about,” Jihad Al-Nawaja, head of the village council in Susiya, told +972. “What do they want from us? I want you to quote me word-for-word: I swear to you, after many years of struggle, confrontations, arrests, beatings, and demolitions, I know — not think, know — that without people like Yuval and Jewish activists from Israel and around the world, half of Masafer Yatta’s lands would have been confiscated and razed by now. Our steadfastness here is thanks to their help…Tariq Hathaleen, an activist from the village of Umm Al-Khair, explained: “Everything we stand for here is in real danger. We have been under daily attacks from settlers. On the same evening that the whole world was talking about [“No Other Land”] winning the Oscar, the settlers organized themselves and came to take revenge. To all those scrutinizing the legitimacy of our struggle, I say: take your statements, turn them into juice, drink it, and calm down.” See also No Other Land directors criticise US as they accept documentary Oscar: ‘US foreign policy is helping block the path’ to peace (Guardian 3/2/25); “Stop the Ethnic Cleansing”: Watch Oscar Speech of Palestinian & Israeli Directors of “No Other Land (Democracy Now 3/3/25)

RIVER TO THE SEA

Israel developing ChatGPT-like tool that weaponizes surveillance of Palestinians (Yuval Abraham//+972 Magazine 3/6/25)

“The Israeli army is developing a new, ChatGPT-like artificial intelligence tool and training it on millions of Arabic conversations obtained through the surveillance of Palestinians in the occupied territories, an investigation by +972 Magazine, Local Call, and the Guardian can reveal. The AI tool — which is being built under the auspices of Unit 8200, an elite cyber warfare squad within Israel’s Military Intelligence Directorate — is what’s known as a Large Language Model (LLM): a machine-learning program capable of analyzing information and generating, translating, predicting, and summarizing text. Whereas LLMs available to the public, like the engine behind ChatGPT, are trained on information scraped from the internet, the new model under development by the Israeli army is being fed vast amounts of intelligence collected on the everyday lives of Palestinians living under occupation…“AI amplifies power,” an intelligence source who has closely followed the Israeli army’s development of language models in recent years explained. “It allows operations [utilizing] the data of far more people, enabling population control. This is not just about preventing shooting attacks. I can track human rights activists. I can monitor Palestinian construction in Area C [of the West Bank]. I have more tools to know what every person in the West Bank is doing. When you hold so much data, you can direct it toward any purpose you choose.”…Nadim Nashif, director and founder of the Palestinian digital rights and advocacy group 7amleh, echoed these concerns. “Palestinians have become subjects in Israel’s laboratory to develop these techniques and weaponize AI, all for the purpose of maintaining [an] apartheid and occupation regime where these technologies are being used to dominate a people, to control their lives. This is a grave and continuous violation of Palestinian digital rights, which are human rights.”’ See also Revealed: Israeli military creating ChatGPT-like tool using vast collection of Palestinian surveillance data (Guardian 3/6/25); Microsoft workers protest sale of AI and cloud services to Israeli military (AP 2/25/25)

State of Siege: Israel is conducting its largest mass expulsion campaign in the West Bank since 1967 (Mariam Barghouti//Drop Site 3/6/25)

“Qassas’s killing is part of a sweeping Israeli military assault, dubbed “Operation Iron Wall,” that has largely emptied four refugee camps in the northern West Bank—Jenin, Tulkarem, Faraa, and Nur Shams—forcing over 40,000 Palestinians to flee their homes in the largest forced displacement in the territory since the 1967 war. Israeli troops have bulldozed roads and destroyed homes, buildings, water and electricity lines, and other civilian infrastructure. On February 23, Israel’s Defense Minister said Israeli troops would remain in some of the refugee camps for the coming year and that displaced residents would not be allowed to return. Israel launched Operation Iron Wall on January 21, two days after the Gaza “ceasefire” went into effect. More than 60 Palestinians, including 11 children, have been killed by Israeli forces and state-backed settlers in the West Bank since then. With the Gaza ceasefire deal in peril as a result of Netanyahu’s sabotage and Israel—even further emboldened by the re-election of Donald Trump—on an aggressive and violent rampage in the region, tens of thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank face one of the most dire realities imposed on them by Israel in decades.” See also West Bank residents cannot return to cleared camps, says Israeli defence minister (FT 2/23/25); As Israel widens war in West Bank, settlers see their influence pay off (WaPo 3/6/25); IDF Decides Not to Investigate Illegal Expulsion of Palestinian Families by Soldiers in West Bank (Hagar Shezaf//Haaretz 3/4/25)

The Gazafication of the West Bank: ‘Is This Really Happening Again?’ (Diana Buttu//Zeteo 3/2/25)

“Netanyahu is doing what his government promised all along: level the West Bank just as it did Gaza.” See also How a 12-year-old boy was killed in the West Bank – video analysis (Guardian 3/1/25);

Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes in Jerusalem hit new record (Georgia Gee and Dikla Taylor-Sheinman//+972 3/6/25)

“According to data collected by Ir Amim, an Israeli non-profit tracking demolitions, 2024 saw a record number of Palestinian home demolitions in East Jerusalem. Most of the 255 structures — 181 of them homes — were destroyed for being built without a permit, which is almost impossible for Palestinians to obtain. To avoid severe penalties, including heavy fines and even imprisonment, residents had no choice but to carry out 108 of these demolitions themselves. 2025 began much the same, with 46 demolitions and counting.” See also 90,000 Muslim worshipers pray peacefully at Al-Aqsa on first Friday of Ramadan (TOI 3/7/25)

Israel’s Shin Bet says Netanyahu policies helped pave way for 7 October (Guardian 3/5/25)

“Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet, has said Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies were among the underlying causes of the 7 October 2023 attack in which Hamas and other militants killed about 1,200 Israelis. In its report on the 7 October attack, Shin Bet acknowledged its own responsibility, admitting it was aware of warning signs that Hamas was planning an operation, but the agency, also known as the General Security Service (GSS), did not grasp the scale, timing and location of the planned attack. However, the report also argued that a string of Israeli government policies helped pave the way for the Hamas assault. Among the main reasons for a Hamas military build-up before the attacks, an eight-page public summary of the report listed an Israeli “policy of quiet” towards the group, apparently referring to a policy of restraint in the use of force to keep Hamas’s military capability in check. It also listed Netanyahu’s acquiescence in the flow of funds from Qatar to Gaza, a policy designed to divide Palestinians by boosting Hamas at the expense of the Palestinian state. The Shin Bet report also pointed to the daily Jewish prayers that have been taking place in recent years in the compound around Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque, known to Jews as the Temple Mount. The prayers violate a 58-year-old understanding with Jordan that only Muslims should be allowed to pray at the al-Aqsa and the esplanade around it, but they were championed by the governing coalition’s former national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir. “The cumulative weight of violations on the Temple Mount, the treatment of [Palestinian] prisoners and the perception that Israeli society had been weakened because of the damage to social cohesion” were all contributory factors to Israel’s vulnerability to attack, the report said.” See also IDF spokesman Hagari to retire from military, in move widely seen as dismissal (TOI 3/7/25); Netanyahu said to have promoted ‘civilian arrangement’ with Hamas days before Oct. 7 (TOI 3/7/25)

Seized, settled, let: how Airbnb and Booking.com help Israelis make money from stolen Palestinian land (Guardian 2/27/25)

“Exclusive analysis carried out by the Guardian found 760 rooms being advertised in hotels, apartments and other holiday rentals in illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, on two of the world’s most popular tourism websites. Taken together, the listings that appear on either Airbnb or Booking.com could host more than 2,000 people as of August 2024.”

U.S. SCENE

Rubio Bypasses Congress to Send Israel $4 Billion in Arms (NYT 3/4/25)

“Secretary of State Marco Rubio has invoked “emergency authorities” to bypass Congress and send $4 billion in weapons to Israel, the second time in a month that the Trump administration has skirted the process of congressional approval for sending arms to the country…The Pentagon announced details of that sale to Israel on Friday. The announcement lists several possible mixes of bombs that would be delivered, including more than 35,000 2,000-pound bombs. Israel has been dropping 2,000-pound bombs in Gaza, a densely populated strip of 2 million people that is about the size of Las Vegas. U.S. military officers have said the bombs are unsuitable for urban combat.” See also Far-Right Israeli Minister Visits Washington After Years of Being Shunned (NYT 3/5/25); Israel’s Smotrich gets warm embrace in Washington, first visit under Trump (Al Monitor 3/5/25); Exclusive: GOP staffers told to call occupied West Bank Judea and Samaria (Axios 2/26/25); Trump repeals Biden directive linking U.S. arms to human rights (WaPo 2/24/25)

Scoop: State Dept. to use AI to revoke visas of foreign students who appear “pro-Hamas” (Axios 3/6/25)

“Secretary of State Marco Rubio is launching an AI-fueled “Catch and Revoke” effort to cancel the visas of foreign nationals who appear to support Hamas or other designated terror groups, senior State Department officials tell Axios. Why it matters: The effort — which includes AI-assisted reviews of tens of thousands of student visa holders’ social media accounts — marks a dramatic escalation in the U.S. government’s policing of foreign nationals’ conduct and speech. The reviews of social media accounts are particularly looking for evidence of alleged terrorist sympathies expressed after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, officials say…”This should concern all Americans. This is a First Amendment and freedom of speech issue and the administration will overplay its hand,” said Abed Ayoub, head of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee…Ayoub said “the blueprint” for the new program can be found in Operation Boulder of 1972, when the Nixon administration infiltrated and surveilled pro-Palestinian groups, which he said infringed on the rights of U.S. citizens as well as foreign nationals. “With the advent of AI, it’s even scarier because they’re policing speech and using faulty technology,” Ayoub said.” See also US to revoke student visas over ‘pro-Hamas’ social media posts flagged by AI – report (Guardian 3/6/25); Columbia University’s Secret Disciplinary Process for Students Critical of Israel (Murtaza Hussain//Drop Site 3/4/25); State Department revokes first visa of foreign student linked to ‘Hamas-supporting disruptions’ (Fox News 3/6/25); Trump’s threat to punish universities that allow ‘illegal protests’ draws tentative support from Jewish leaders (Jewish Insider 3/5/25); Head of DOJ antisemitism task force: We’ll put Hamas supporters in jail ‘for years’ (JNS 2/26/25)

Trump Administration Live Updates: Columbia University Loses $400 Million in Federal Grants and Contracts (NYT 3/7/25)

“The Trump administration announced on Friday that it had canceled $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University because of what it described as the school’s failure to protect Jewish students from harassment. The announcement escalated the administration’s targeting of Columbia, where protests last year over the war in Gaza set off a nationwide debate over free speech, campus policing and antisemitism, and led to similar demonstrations at schools nationwide…The statement said that the cancellations represented the “first round of action” and that additional cancellations were expected to follow. Columbia currently holds more than $5 billion in federal grant commitments, the statement said. The school also faces three federal investigations into allegations of antisemitism on campus that have been announced over the past several weeks.” See also Columbia Expelled Student Protesters For the First Time in Over 50 Years. But Activists Won’t Back Down. (The Nation 3/7/25);

Why the ADL is encouraging Jews to invest in Tesla (Arno Rosenberg//The Forward 2/27/25)

“The Anti-Defamation League wants you to help them combat antisemitism by purchasing shares in a new stock market fund — ticker symbol “TOV,” which means “good” in Hebrew — that invests in companies the advocacy group says it has vetted with “rigorous Jewish values-inspired research.” But the ADL isn’t sharing its precise methodology for selecting companies, and some of the fund’s largest initial holdings are in companies with a checkered record on what the group says are its top priorities for the fund, including antisemitism and green energy…Among the top 10 holdings of TOV are Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, Amazon and Tesla. Roughly 2% of the fund is invested in Tesla, the primary source of wealth for Elon Musk, who is currently leading the Trump administration’s efforts to slash federal spending and workers — and who has for years been embroiled in antisemitism scandals as well as tussles with the ADL itself.” See also JLens launches pro-Israel fund on New York Stock Exchange (JI 2/27/25)

PERSPECTIVES//LONG READS

Palestine, Israel and the Arab-Israeli Conflict (Joel Beinin and Lisa Hajjar//MERIP 2025)

“This primer provides an overview of key actors, organizations, historic events, political developments and diplomatic initiatives that have shaped the status and fate of Palestinians and the State of Israel from the late nineteenth century to the present.”

Archiving Gaza: The Race to Save Evidence of War Crimes and Mass Destruction (Lila Hassan//Drop Site 3/4/25)

“In addition to what Palestinian journalists have published in the international press, photos and videos posted on social media have comprised nearly all of the war-time evidence to emerge from inside Gaza. People and organizations across the world have stepped in to help preserve this genocide’s history. They have been scraping, verifying, and storing information from social media before it can be removed; working on technological solutions for long-term search and storage; collecting witness testimony and other information from inside Gaza for submission to international courts; creating open-source tools to document civilian casualties by Israeli airstrikes; and compiling potentially incriminating statements made by Israeli political and military officials. Their efforts are loosely organized, under-resourced, and often not connected with one another.”

How Palestine Became the Testing Ground for Israeli Military Exports (Antony Lowenstein//Zeteo 3/5/25)

“The Israeli defense industry is making record profit by selling weapons it used on Palestinians.”

How an Anguished Mother Became Netanyahu’s Fiercest Foe (Ruth Margalit//NYT 3/3/25)

“The gaze of Einav Zangauker — whose son, Matan, was captured by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, and remains a hostage in Gaza — is one that has seen the other side. It’s a gaze of anguish. Of torture, rage, sleeplessness and steel. It’s a gaze that the entire Israeli public has come to recognize, because Einav — she is now known by her first name only — is the country’s most visible representative of the hostage crisis and its fiercest opponent of the war…Einav, a former house cleaner from the hardscrabble southern town Ofakim, voted for Netanyahu and his Likud party in every election in which he ran. But she is convinced that he has torpedoed past deals to free the hostages and may blow up the current cease-fire before all the captives are released.”

A Progressive Education Nonprofit’s Silence on Gaza (Alex Kane//Jewish Currents 2/25/25)

“Facing History & Ourselves, which is known for its model lessons on genocide, has angered staff and disappointed teachers with its refusal to provide resources about Gaza.”

 

1. New from FMEP

2. Gaza

3. Region/Global

4. River to the Sea

5. U.S. Scene

6. Perspectives//Long Reads

NEW FROM FMEP

FMEP Legislative Round-Up February 21, 2025 (Lara Friedman)

1. Bills, Resolutions; 2. Letters; 3. Hearings; 4. Selected Members on the Record; 5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements; See also FMEP Legislative Round-Up February 14, 2025 (Lara Friedman)

FMEP’s Weekly Settlement Report: February 21, 2025 (Kristin McCarthy)

Israel Advances Plans for 1,000 New Settlement Units; Israel Moves to Seize Armenian Patriarchate Land in Old City of Jerusalem; Settlers to Convene Conference Demanding Establishment of Gaza Settlements; Israel’s “Gazafication” of the West Bank Continues: News & Analysis; Settler Terrorism Continues; Knesset’s Multi-Pronged Attack on Civil Society; See also Settlement & Annexation Report: February 14, 2025 (Kristin McCarthy)

The Boomerang Effect: Power and Resistance in the U.S. and Palestine (Occupied Thoughts episode)

FMEP Fellow Ahmed Moor speaks with human rights attorney Professor Noura Erakat about her relationship to Palestine, the movement for Palestinian freedom, and the how she sees the ties among different and overlapping movements for justice and liberation. Drawing upon Noura’s recent article in the Boston Review, “The Boomerang Comes Back,” the two look at the ways in which state violence in the U.S. and Palestine reflect each other, the efforts to desensitize Americans to violence against Palestinians in both the U.S. and Palestine, and the political movement and mass mobilization that will guide us forward.

Criminalize, Censor, Surveil: Escalating Repression Against Advocates for Palestinian Rights (Occupied Thoughts episode)

FMEP Fellow Peter Beinart speaks with Dima Khalidi, the founder and director of Palestine Legal, the leading organization defending the civil and constitutional rights of people in the U.S. speaking out for Palestinian freedom. They discuss the different mechanisms that the Trump administration uses criminalize, censor, and repress people who speak out for Palestinian rights, including surveilling social media and applying racketeering and anti-terror laws to speech activity related to Israel. They also look at the historical context of repression over the last ten years plus, the concrete application and impact of labeling Palestinian advocacy as antisemitism, and how the effort to crush the Palestine movement opens the door to crushing all dissent in the United States.

Dissent & Resigning from Harvard (Occupied Thoughts episode)

FMEP Fellow Ahmed Moor speaks with Jay Ulfelder, a political scientist and former Program Director of the Nonviolent Action Lab at Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. The two discuss Jay’s decision to resign from Harvard Kennedy School after the school adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which would cause Jay to, as he wrote in his resignation letter, “risk running afoul of the university’s anti-discrimination policies and harming the work of the Lab and the Ash Center” if he were to continue to speak publicly about Israel, Gaza, and Zionism. (You can read the full resignation letter below.) Additionally, the two discuss modeling practices for predicting genocide and political violence as well as the relationship between suppression of dissent and growing authoritarianism.

Sumūd: Poetry, Art, Steadfastness, and Joy (Occupied Thoughts episode)

FMEP Fellow Hilary Rantisi speaks with Malu Halasa and Jordan Elgrably, editors of the new book Sumūd: A New Palestinian Reader. They discuss the meaning of sumūd to different people — how it encompasses steadfastness, coping with ongoing oppression, as well as joy and celebration of Palestinian identity — and the variety of voices and media they platform in this new anthology. They recite a few poems published in the book and discuss the the unique ways that poetry and art can enter a person’s heart and consciousness and offer a window into Palestinian culture and experience more broadly.

Where Are Palestinian Children’s Human Rights? (Essay by Lara Friedman)

February 11, 2025 marked the release of a new collection of essays entitled, “For Gaza’s Children: Progressive Black, Brown and Jewish Writers and Poets Speak Out,” published by Third World Press, and edited by Marc Lamont Hill, Haki R. Madhubuti and Keith Gilyard (Editors). FMEP’s Lara Friedman was honored to contribute an essay to this collection.

GAZA

Israel-Hamas swap to go ahead despite claim child hostages were killed with ‘bare hands’ (Guardian 2/21/25)

“Israelis and Palestinians are bracing for another tense hostage, prisoner and detainee exchange on Saturday amid uproar in Israel over allegations that two child hostages were “brutally murdered” by Hamas, and the group’s failure to deliver the body of their mother, instead returning the corpse of an unidentified woman. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Friday afternoon that autopsy results and military intelligence concluded that members of Hamas “used their bare hands” to kill Ariel Bibas, four, and his 10-month-old brother, Kfir, when they were seized in October 2023…In Israel and around the world, the fate of the Bibas family has come to embody the trauma of the Hamas attack that ignited the war in Gaza. Hamas said early in the conflict that the boys and their mother, Shiri, 32, were killed in an Israeli bombing in November 2023. There was no immediate comment from the militant group on the IDF’s allegation. The remains of the Bibas children, 85-year-old Oded Lifshitz, and a fourth unidentified person who was supposed to be Shiri Bibas, were handed over to Israel on Thursday as part of the first stage of a fragile ceasefire agreement. Earlier on Friday, Hamas said Shiri’s body had been “mistakenly mixed” with others who were killed and buried under the rubble in Gaza, after the Israeli military said DNA testing showed the woman’s body released was not Shiri Bibas or any other hostage.” See also Shiri Bibas not among returned bodies, Israel says, accusing Hamas of ‘serious violation’ (Guardian 2/21/25); Red Cross collects body from Hamas, will transfer it to IDF; Hamas claims it is Shiri Bibas (TOI 2/21/25); UN human rights chief: Hamas ‘parading’ of hostages’ bodies is ‘abhorrent and cruel’ (TOI 2/20/25); With Coffins and Taunts, Hamas Hands Dead Hostages to Israel (NYT 2/20/25)

Arab leaders discuss alternative to Trump Gaza plan at Saudi Arabia meet (Al Jazeera 2/21/25)

“The leaders of seven Arab countries have held talks in Saudi Arabia in an attempt to hash out a plan for the future of Gaza. The gathering on Friday in Riyadh was meant to respond to a plan raised by US President Donald Trump for the US to “take over” Gaza, permanently forcibly displace its residents and turn the Palestinian enclave into the “Riviera” of the Middle East. Arab leaders have roundly rejected Trump’s proposal, saying it throws out decades of work towards Palestinian self-determination, treads on the rights of residents of Gaza and will perpetuate a regional cycle of violence. They hope to present an alternative plan with unified support at a March 4 Arab League meeting in Cairo, Egypt. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had called the Riyadh meeting, which was attended by Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad Al Sabah and Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.” See also Egypt is developing a plan to rebuild Gaza, countering Trump’s call to depopulate the territory (AP 2/17/25); Egypt draws up Gaza reconstruction plan that would exclude Hamas (Guardian 2/16/25); Jordanian King Rebuffs Trump Proposal to Displace Palestinians in Gaza (NYT 2/11/25); Europe working with Arab states on alternative to Trump’s Gaza plan (FT 2/13/25); Saudi Arabia spearheads Arab scramble for alternative to Trump’s Gaza plan (Reuters 2/14/25); Jordan and Egypt Warn Gaza Displacement Will Solidify Hamas Presence Along Israel’s Borders (Haaretz 2/9/25); Jordan, home to millions of Palestinians, fears Trump’s Gaza proposal (WaPo 2/9/25); Despite rejection of Trump’s Gaza plan, Hamas and PA at odds over postwar control (Al Monitor 2/15/25); Trump’s Gaza plan unites jihadist and far-right circles, experts warn (The Guardian 2/14/25); Rubio Meets Saudi Crown Prince for Talks on Gaza and Ukraine (NYT 2/17/25)

Trump: ‘I Am Committed to Buying, Owning Gaza’; When Palestinians Have an Alternative, ‘They Won’t Want to Return’ (Haaretz 2/10/25)

“U.S. President Donald Trump insisted on Sunday that he is “committed to buying and owning Gaza,” adding that letting Palestinians currently living there go back once they are removed from the territory would be a “big mistake.”…”As far as moving back, there’s nothing to move back to,” Trump told reports aboard Air Force One. “The remainder” of Gaza, Trump said, “will be demolished. You can’t live in those buildings right now. We’ll make into a good site for future development by…somebody.”…”It’s a big mistake to allow the Palestinians or the people to be living in Gaza to go back yet another time. We don’t want Hamas going back, think of it as a big real estate site.” According to him, “the only reason they’re talking about returning to Gaza is because they don’t have an alternative. When they have one, they won’t want to return” “The U.S. is going to own it and will very slowly – we’re in no rush – develop it. We’re going to bring stability to a totally war-torn part of the Middle East that has caused tremendous problems. It’s totally demolished right now but will be reclaimed, leveled out, fixed up,” he said.” See also Netanyahu ‘committed’ to Trump’s plan to take over Gaza (The Guardian 2/17/25)’; “High on Trump”: Netanyahu sees Trump’s Gaza gambits as Israel’s big chance (Axios 2/12/25); The Settler Plot to Recolonize Gaza (The Nation 2/11/25)

Hamas offers handover of all hostages to Israel if next phase of ceasefire agreed (Guardian 2/19/25)

“Hamas has said it is ready to release all its remaining hostages in a single exchange if the ceasefire agreement with Israel moves forward to a second phase next month. The offer came as the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, signalled his readiness to talk about a second phase of the Gaza ceasefire after an extended delay, by appointing one of his closest advisers, Ron Dermer, a US-born cabinet minister and former ambassador to Washington, to lead the Israeli delegation to the talks…Completion of the second phase would in effect represent the end of the war, but the far-right wing of Netanyahu’s coalition adamantly opposes such a step if it leaves Hamas as a significant force inside Gaza. The Israeli prime minister, however, has come under pressure to do so from Donald Trump’s special envoy, the US president’s friend and fellow real-estate developer, Steve Witkoff, who said over the weekend: “Phase two is absolutely going to begin.’” See also Trump: ‘I really am’ fine with any decision Israel makes — continue truce or resume war (TOI 2/21/25); Three Israelis and 369 Palestinians released after week of ceasefire tensions (Guardian 2/15/25); Israel and Hamas complete fifth hostage-prisoner swap (Guardian 2/8/25); Hostage families question delay in ceasefire talks as Hamas proposes freeing all captives (WaPo 2/19/25); Who are the Palestinians released by Israel in exchange for hostages? (WaPo 2/16/24); Who are the Israeli hostages released in the ceasefire with Hamas? (WaPo 2/15/25); Hamas Report to Mediators Accuses Israel of Pervasive Gaza Ceasefire Violations (Jeremy Scahill & Sharif Abdel Kouddous//Drop Site 2/11/25)

Living in the Open: Palestinians in Gaza Still Face Israeli Attacks and Impossible Conditions as They Return Home (Drop Site 2/20/25)

“It’s been just over a month since the fragile agreement between Israel and Palestinian resistance groups came into effect and Palestinians who faced mass forcible displacement were able to return to their homes, neighborhoods, and land. Many now face daunting prospects of rebuilding, especially in northern Gaza, where the destruction is near total and families set up tents on top of the rubble where their homes used to be. Hossam Shabat and Rasha Abou Jalal, two reporters working in northern Gaza, both sent us dispatches describing the life-threatening obstacles people now face to restart their lives—and the violence they still face from the Israeli military under the so-called “ceasefire.”’ See also With Fighting Stilled, Gazans Face New Trauma: Searching for Their Dead (NYT 2/14/25)

Explosive Remnants in Gaza Cause Dozens of Casualties (Abubaker Abed//Drop Site 2/13/25)

“Up to 10% of munitions fired by Israel into Gaza have failed to detonate, leaving behind deadly hazards for years to come.”

Israeli soldiers used an 80-year-old Gazan as a human shield. Then they killed him (Illy Pe’eri//+972 2/16/25)

“A senior officer in the Israeli army’s Nahal Brigade tied an explosive cord around the neck of an 80-year-old Palestinian man and forced him to serve as a human shield, ordering him to scout out abandoned houses under threat of having his head blown off. After he had served his purpose, the soldiers ordered the man to flee with his wife, but upon being spotted by another battalion they were both shot dead on the spot. Soldiers present at the scene told the Israeli investigative outlet The Hottest Place in Hell that this incident took place in May in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City… “the commander decided to use them as ‘mosquitoes,” one soldier explained, referring to a recently exposed procedure by which the army forces Palestinian civilians in combat zones to serve as human shields to protect soldiers from being shot or blown up.”

Medical evacuations from Gaza slow amid uncertainty over right of return (WaPo 2/19/25)

“For many Palestinians with critical injuries or chronic illnesses, a medical evacuation out of the Gaza Strip is the only way to access lifesaving care. But now, after President Donald Trump proposed to empty Gaza of its inhabitants, aid workers and doctors say they fear that those leaving the territory could be forfeiting their ability to one day return home.”

U.S.A.I.D. Turmoil Threatens Key Aid Supplies to Gaza, Officials Say (NYT 2/7/25)

“With almost all U.S.A.I.D. staff set to be placed on administrative leave by Friday night, there will be only a handful of officials left to sign off on and audit hundreds of millions of dollars in outstanding payments to the agency’s partners on the ground in Gaza…The team that organizes emergency aid supplies in dozens of crisis zones around the world each year, of which Gaza was just one, is down to just 70 staff members from more than 1,000. This is expected to slow or prevent the delivery of food packages to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, as well as tents, mattresses, blankets, hygiene kits and medical treatment, according to three officials and an aid worker. All four people spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the news media. While the aid agency does not operate inside Gaza, it has provided roughly $1 billion in aid to international aid groups on the ground since the war began in October 2023 — about a third of the total aid response, according to the United Nations. Hundreds of millions of dollars have yet to be disbursed and now may never be transferred to United Nations agencies and other major aid organizations, three officials said. “They’re making an already fragile cease-fire more fragile,” said Dave Harden, a former U.S.A.I.D. mission director for Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. “Lifesaving aid to Gaza is going to be disrupted.”’

Freed Israeli hostages tell families of torture while held by Hamas (WaPo 2/13/25)

“The signs of extreme malnutrition evinced by some of the recently released Israeli hostages were only the most visible evidence of the torture they recall enduring in Hamas captivity. The 16 Israeli hostages freed in recent weeks after being held in Gazan tunnels and homes for more than a year have begun to provide accounts to their families of being beaten, chained, burned and violently interrogated, according to relatives.” See also Back in Israel, Freed Hostages Tell of Abuse, Starvation to Family of Those Still Held by Hamas (Haaretz 2/10/25); ‘Time is running out’: frailty of freed hostages raises pressure on Netanyahu (Guardian 2/14/25)

Detained Gaza doctor Hussam Abu Safia seen shackled in new video (Al Jazeera 2/20/25)

“The detained director of Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital has been shown in shackles in a video on Israeli media that has been condemned by his family. It’s the first time Dr Hussam Abu Safia has been seen since his arrest in December.”

Medical evacuations from Gaza slow amid uncertainty over right of return (WaPo 2/19/25)

“For many Palestinians with critical injuries or chronic illnesses, a medical evacuation out of the Gaza Strip is the only way to access lifesaving care. But now, after President Donald Trump proposed to empty Gaza of its inhabitants, aid workers and doctors say they fear that those leaving the territory could be forfeiting their ability to one day return home.”

REGION/GLOBAL

Israel likely to strike Iran in coming months, warns U.S. intelligence (WaPo 2/12/25)

“Israel is likely to attempt a strike on Iran’s nuclear program in the coming months in a preemptive attack that would set back Tehran’s program by weeks or perhaps months but escalate tensions across the Middle East and renew the prospect of a wider regional conflagration, according to U.S. intelligence. The warnings about a potential Israeli strike are included in multiple intelligence reports spanning the end of the Biden administration and the beginning of the Trump administration, none more comprehensive than an early January report produced by the intelligence directorate of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Defense Intelligence Agency. The report warned that Israel is likely to attempt a strike on Iran’s Fordow and Natanz nuclear facilities in the first six months of 2025.” See also Trump, Netanyahu have ‘full understanding’ on Iran as Israel mulls strikes on nuclear sites (Al Monitor 2/14/25); On first Mideast tour, Rubio warns Iran, praises Trump’s Gaza plan (WaPo 2/16/25); White House confirms war crimes prosecutor first target of ICC sanctions (Reuters 2/10/25)

Lebanon to hold funeral of slain Hezbollah leader Nasrallah on Sunday (Al Monitor 2/21/25)

“Lebanon is preparing for the burial of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, nearly five months after he was killed in an Israeli air strike. The country is expected to come to a halt for a few hours on Sunday for the funeral which is scheduled for 1pm (11:00 GMT) at the Camille Chamoun sports stadium on the outskirts of capital Beirut…The Lebanese group has announced strict security measures and urged security forces to help manage crowds that are expected to number in the tens of thousands, with people pouring in from Hezbollah strongholds across the country as well as from abroad…Nasrallah was killed on September 27 in an Israeli air strike as he met commanders in a bunker in Beirut’s southern suburbs.”

Israel says troops will stay in Lebanon past ceasefire deadline (WaPo 2/17/25)

“Israel said Monday that its troops would remain in southern Lebanon past a Tuesday deadline for their full withdrawal as part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal that halted 14 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. The Israeli military said it would stay in what it called “five strategic points” in southern Lebanon and withdraw the rest of its forces. There was no immediate response from Beirut, but Lebanese officials have previously rejected any further delay in the Israeli withdrawal.” See also IDF strikes Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon, citing ‘direct threat’ to Israel (TOI 2/14/25); The Lebanese Villages Recently Destroyed by Israel (Sharif Abdel Kouddous//Drop Site 2/21/25)

Satellite Images Reveal Israel Built Seven Outposts in Syria (Haaretz 2/18/25)

“The IDF established bases along the demilitarized zone from Syrian Mount Hermon to Tel Kudna, as part of preparations for a prolonged presence in the area.” See also Curfews, Roadblocks, House Raids—Israeli Military Entrenches Inside Syria (Hoda Matar//Drop Site 2/14/25)

 

RIVER TO THE SEA

Palestinian Displacement in the West Bank Is Highest Since 1967, Experts Say (NYT 2/17/25)

“A weekslong Israeli military operation across several West Bank cities has displaced roughly 40,000 Palestinians from their homes, in what historians and researchers say is the biggest displacement of civilians in the territory since the Arab-Israeli war of 1967…The Israeli military says the operation is solely an attempt to stifle rising militancy in Jenin, Tulkarem and near Tubas, targeting gunmen who they say have carried out or are planning terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians. Palestinians fear it is a veiled attempt to permanently displace Palestinians from their homes and exert greater control over areas administered by the Palestinian Authority, a semiautonomous body that has also battled the militants in recent months. Many of the displaced are the descendants of refugees who were expelled or fled from their homes during the wars surrounding the creation of the state of Israel in 1948, a period known in Arabic as the Nakba. The renewed displacement, even if temporary, raises painful memories of the central trauma in Palestinian history.” See also UN says 40,000 displaced in West Bank as Israel accused of readying annexation (Middle East Eye 2/11/25); Israeli army demolishes homes in Jenin, continues raids across West Bank (Al Jazeera 2/7/25); PHOTOS: Israel ravages West Bank refugee camps (+972 Magazine 2/12/25); Dozens of Israeli Settlers Attack Palestinians in the West Bank; Six Wounded, No Arrests (Hagar Shezaf//Haaretz 2/15/25); Palestinians in West Bank Sue Israeli Army, Police for Failing to Stop Settler Riot Despite Advanced Warning (Haaretz 2/21/25)

Israeli Army Expands Open-fire Orders in West Bank, Leading to Surge in Palestinian Civilian Deaths (Haaretz 2/10/25)

“The IDF Central Command has expanded its open-fire orders in the operation in the West Bank, resulting in a high number of deaths of Palestinian civilians, according to Israeli army sources…Maj.-Gen. Bluth ordered that IDF forces may shoot to kill anyone “messing with the ground” and that there is no need to apply the procedure for arresting a suspect in these cases. The order’s objective is to prevent terrorists in the West Bank from planting explosive devices on roads where IDF forces operate, but combat sources say that the expanded order has made soldiers on the ground “trigger-happy.”Another change in the open-fire orders taking place on the ground was made by Brig.-Gen. Dolf. Since the start of the current operation in the northern West Bank on January 21, the IDF allows residents in areas where it is operating to evacuate by car from the combat zones. The army sources told Haaretz that Brig.-Gen. Dolf ordered that forces may fire live rounds at any vehicle coming toward a checkpoint from a combat zone to force the driver to stop before reaching it…In one incident on Sunday, soldiers shot to death a man and woman in her eighth month of pregnancy, when they drove in their car toward an IDF checkpoint near Tul Karm. The IDF’s preliminary investigation found that the man was shot and killed inside the car without trying to breach the checkpoint or threaten the soldiers. His pregnant wife, Sundus Shalabi, 23, was able to get out of the car and was shot three times in the chest…According to the investigation, the pregnant woman “looked suspiciously at the ground.” She was unarmed, and no weapons were found near her that might have served as evidence she was trying to place an explosive device.” See also Two Palestinian Teens Killed by IDF Fire in Separate West Bank Incidents, Health Ministry Says (Haaretz 2/21/25)

3 buses explode near Tel Aviv in suspected ‘terror attack’: What to know (Al Monitor 2/20/25)

“A branch of Hamas in the occupied West Bank purportedly claimed credit for a series of bus bombings near Tel Aviv on Thursday, marking an escalation in the conflict weeks after Israel launched a significant military operation across the northern West Bank. A Telegram channel claiming to represent Hamas’ armed brigade in the West Bank city of Tulkarm posted a message Thursday evening that stated, “The revenge of the martyrs will not be forgotten as long as the occupier is present on our land. This is a jihad of victory or martyrdom.” Israeli media reported at around 9:00 p.m. local time (2:00 p.m. ET) that three empty buses had exploded in the Tel Aviv suburb of Bat Yam, and two other bombs were found in the central city of Holon before they went off. Israeli police ordered public transport operators to search for more bombs and began a manhunt for the suspects. There were no injuries, per the reports. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the military to intensify operations in the West Bank in response to the incident.” See also In visit to Tulkarem, Netanyahu calls to expand West Bank counterterror operation (TOI 2/21/25)

Trump administration freezes funds to Palestinian security forces (WaPo 2/19/25)

“The Trump administration has stopped all funding to the Palestinian Authority security forces as part of the global freeze on foreign assistance, according to U.S. and Palestinian officials. The freeze comes at a critical time for the embattled authority as it struggles to maintain its rule in pockets of the Israeli-occupied West Bank and jockeys to govern a postwar Gaza Strip. The security forces, which are chronically underfunded and widely unpopular, are nonetheless considered a linchpin to the Palestinian Authority’s ability to maintain law and order in both territories. Washington last stopped direct aid to the authority during Trump’s first term but continued to fund training and reform for the security forces.”

Palestinian Authority ends ‘martyr’ payments in possible gesture to Trump (Al Monitor 2/10/25)

“Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he would abolish the system of payments to Palestinian militants and their families for attacks against Israelis, a move widely seen as a goodwill gesture toward the Trump administration. Abbas issued a decree Monday revoking laws “related to the system of paying financial allowances to the families of prisoners, martyrs and the wounded,” the Palestinian Authority’s WAFA news agency reported.”

Released From Detention, Owners of East Jerusalem Bookstore Still Don’t Know Why They Were Arrested (Nir Hasson//Haaretz 2/13/25)

“Even amid a surfeit of news from the Middle East, the Israel Police’s raid on the Educational Bookshop in East Jerusalem succeeded in finding a prominent place in the global headlines. That is no surprise: It would be hard to find a journalist stationed in Jerusalem who doesn’t know of the shop and its owners, the Muna family. On Wednesday, a day after they were released from jail, Ahmed and Mahmoud Muna recounted the Kafkaesque affair of their arrest on the charge of selling books. On Sunday, six police officers arrived at the store’s two outlets on Salah al-Din Street and for two hours inspected the bookshelves, leafed through books, and used their phones to scan and translate titles appearing on spines in a hunt for suspicious books. In the end, they collected between 100 and 150 titles and wrapped them in big garbage bags…The store is used by foreign diplomats, researchers and journalists. Not surprisingly, diplomatic representatives from eight countries, as well as a representative of the European Union, appeared at the court hearing.” See also Palestinian booksellers decry detention by Israeli police over ‘public disorder’ (Guardian 2/14/25); Palestinian booksellers released to house arrest after police raid sparks outcry (TOI 2/11/25); In Israel, Selling Books About Palestinians Is Now ‘Incitement to Terrorism’ (Haaretz 2/10/25); After raid, Israel puts Jerusalem bookshop owners under house arrest: What to know (Al Monitor 2/11/25)

Our film is going to the Oscars. But here in Masafer Yatta, we’re still being erased (Basel Adra 2/10/25)

“As the world watches ‘No Other Land,’ Israeli settlers are raiding and burning our villages while soldiers arrest us, abuse us, and demolish our homes…Despite the exciting success of the film in festivals and among journalists and audiences around the world, however, the situation here on the ground is deteriorating rapidly and the future looks bleak. Over the past 16 months, Israeli settlers and the military have taken advantage of the atmosphere of the war to reshape reality in Masafer Yatta in favor of settlers and their outposts, intensifying their efforts to displace us from our land. Even as I write this, the Israeli army is conducting a major demolition operation in the community of Khalet A-Daba, razing homes, toilets, solar panels, and trees.” See also ‘Even if We Win an Oscar, I Will Go Back to My Cruel Reality in the West Bank’ (Interview with Basel Adra in Haaretz 2/13/25); The Settler Strategy Accelerating Palestinian Dispossession (Dalia Hatuqa//Jewish Currents 2/3/25); The Palestinian Father Begged the Israeli Troops to Postpone the Demolition Due to the Cold, to No Avail (Haaretz 2/14/25); Israel Demolishes 11 Buildings in West Bank’s Masafer Yatta, Raising Fears of Expulsion for Residents (Haaretz 2/11/25); For Over a Year, Israeli Authorities Ignored Settlers’ Attacks. Then This Happened (Haaretz 2/20/25); Palestinians in the West Bank Describe How Israeli Settlers Are Seizing Land (Dalia Hatuqa//Rolling Stone 2/9/25); ‘Last nail in the coffin’: Israeli settlers push on with fresh West Bank land grab (Guardian 2/13/25)

Inside the Oscar-Nominated Film That No Studio Will Touch (NYT 2/19/25)

“No documentary this season has been more talked about or acclaimed than “No Other Land,” which chronicles the besieged community of Masafer Yatta in the occupied West Bank as Israeli forces demolish residents’ homes and expel families from the land they have lived in for generations, claiming the area is needed for a military training ground. Directed by the Palestinian filmmakers Basel Adra and Hamdan Ballal alongside the Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, “No Other Land” has received critical acclaim and collected many honors on the festival circuit. After winning the best documentary award at its Berlin International Film Festival premiere last February, the film also earned the same prize at the Gotham Awards and from major critics’ groups in New York and Los Angeles. Just weeks ago, it received an Oscar nomination. Still, no American studio has been willing to pick up this hot-button film, even though distributors typically spend this time of year eagerly boasting about their Oscar-nomination tallies.”

Left-wing Israeli NGOs Fear Knesset Bill Will Spell a Death Sentence for Their Work (Haaretz 2/19/25)

“Human rights groups are concerned about a bill, approved in a preliminary Knesset vote on Wednesday, that would no longer require Israeli courts to hear petitions filed by nonprofits that raise most of their money from foreign governments. The legislation also calls for organizations receiving donations from foreign political entities to be taxed at an 80 percent rate unless the finance minister, with the approval of the Knesset Finance Committee, decides otherwise. Today, all nonprofits in Israel are tax-exempt. An examination conducted by Haaretz found that most of the non-governmental organizations whose access to the courts would be blocked are human rights groups critical of government policy. Most of them are opposed to the occupation, defend the rights of West Bank Palestinians and Israeli Arabs and promote the rights of Israeli Arab women. Those groups include the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Peace Now, Breaking the Silence, Physicians for Human Rights–Israel, Ir Amim, Bimkom, Combatants for Peace, HaMoked, B’Tselem, Yesh Din, IsraAID, the Committee Against Torture and Gisha.”

Knesset passes law prohibiting entry into Israel for October 7, Holocaust deniers (TOI 2/20/25)

“The legislation, sponsored by New Hope MK Mishel Buskila, extends an existing entry ban on those advocating boycotts against Israel, applying it to those denying the Holocaust and the October 7 massacre, as well as those advocating for the prosecution of Israelis for actions taken during their service in the IDF or other security services. The law also applies to people working for organizations that make such statements.”

U.S. SCENE

Jewish man mistakes two Israeli tourists for Palestinians and opens fire on them in Miami (Guardian 2/17/25)

“A Jewish man in Miami Beach is facing charges of attempted murder following accusations that he opened fire on two men he believed were Palestinians but reportedly turned out to be Israeli visitors…While in custody, Brafman spontaneously told detectives that while he was driving his truck, “he saw two Palestinians and shot and killed both”, arrest documents said…Further complicating the incident, one of the injured men reportedly posted “death to the Arabs” in a message on social media after the shooting. “My father and I went through a murder attempt against anti-Semitic background,” he wrote.” See also Man charged in Florida shooting thought victims were Palestinians, police say (WaPo 2/21/25)

‘The pump is primed to suppress Palestine advocacy. Trump just has to let it flow’ (Jonathan Adler interviews Zaha Hassan//+972 2/17/25)

“Zaha Hassan, a Palestinian human rights lawyer and fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, as well as one of the leading experts in Washington on Israel-Palestine and U.S. foreign policy, is a co-editor of “Suppressing Dissent: Shrinking Civic Space, Transnational Repression and Palestine-Israel”. Published just two days after the November elections, the volume brings together scholars, lawyers, and analysts to show that, even with a long history of repression, the space for civic discourse on Palestinian rights is rapidly diminishing. The collection of 14 chapters traces this trend across Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories as well as in the United States and, increasingly, the Arab world. It also details the deeply worrying phenomenon of transnational repression: the Israeli government’s documented efforts, for at least the last decade, to export its suppression of Palestinian civil society and shut down Palestine advocacy in the United States, with troubling implications for the free speech rights of all Americans. Since October 7, the backlash against pro-Palestinian activists and students across the United States, and universities’ submission to government pressure, has seemed stunningly swift and severe. Here, “Suppressing Dissent” makes an important contribution by outlining the key legal and regulatory mechanisms that have enabled this crackdown — from the ban on material support to terrorist organizations, to the elevation of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism to delegitimize criticism of Israel. These are mechanisms with deep roots in Congress and executive action, and now they will be at Trump’s disposal.” See also The Columbia Network Pushing Behind the Scenes to Deport and Arrest Student Protesters (Natasha Lennard & Akela Lacy//The Intercept 2/15/25); Harvard’s new antisemitism policy hurts Jews, helps Trump (Jonathan Feingold//The Hill 2/13/25); Revelations of Israeli spyware abuse raise fears over possible use by Trump (Guardian 2/10/25)

The Perils of Universities’ Unscholarly Antisemitism Reports (Peter Beinart//Jewish Currents 2/14/25)

“In theory, these investigations are a good idea. In an era in which antisemitism appears to be rising alongside other forms of bigotry, it’s worth asking how Jewish students feel and what can be done to keep them safe. The reports chronicle genuine incidents of harassment, and even violence: slurs, swastikas, physical assaults. Columbia’s antisemitism report details Jewish students “having necklaces ripped off their necks and being pinned against walls” and being “followed, stalked, and subjected to ethnic slurs and hateful statements.” Universities should examine their culture and procedures to try to prevent such abuse. But the reports also classify as antisemitic many statements that aren’t directed at Jews per se, but simply challenge the legitimacy of Israel and Zionism. And that conflation reveals a basic methodological flaw. Understanding the relationship between antisemitism and pro-Palestinian activism requires understanding the experience not only of Jewish students who feel threatened by that activism, but of Palestinians—an experience that shapes the way pro-Palestinian activists of all backgrounds, including Jewish ones, talk about the Jewish state. The reports make no such effort. They are profoundly unscholarly documents. Reading them, one might think that America’s leading experts on the relationship between Zionism, Palestinian nationalism, and Jew-hatred reside not at universities like Columbia, Penn, UCLA, and the University of Washington, but at pro-Israel advocacy groups like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). And by preferring those organizations’ analysis of antisemitism to the analysis of actual scholars, the task forces help enable the repression that the American Jewish establishment desires.” See also For Colleges, Defining Antisemitism Hasn’t Gotten Any Easier (Chronicle of Higher Education 1/28/25); New civil rights chief at Education Department has antisemitism experience from first Trump term (JI 2/13/25); JD Vance is Merely the Latest Conservative Christian to Use Nazi Camps to Cleanse His Antisemitism Sins (Joel Swanson//Religion Dispatches 2/13/25)

‘No to ethnic cleansing’: over 350 rabbis sign US ad assailing Trump’s Gaza plan (The Guardian 2/13/25)

“More than 350 rabbis, alongside additional signatories including Jewish creatives and activists, have signed an ad in the New York Times in which they condemn Donald Trump’s proposal for the effective ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Gaza. The ad, which was signed by rabbis including Sharon Brous, Roly Matalon and Alissa Wise, as well as Jewish creatives and activists including Tony Kushner, Ilana Glazer, Naomi Klein and Joaquin Phoenix, says: “Trump has called for the removal of all Palestinians from Gaza. Jewish people say no to ethnic cleansing!”’ See also Hundreds of U.S. Rabbis, Jewish Celebrities Condemn Trump Gaza Plan in NYT Ad (Haaretz 2/13/25)

‘Some things I say will be incorrect’: Musk walks back administration’s Gaza condoms claim (Times of Israel 2/12/25)

“US Department of Government Efficiency chief Elon Musk appears to walk back the Trump administration’s claim that the previous administration allocated $50 million in condoms for Gaza…“Some of the things I say will be incorrect and should be corrected,” Musk replies.” See also Accused of Nazi salute at CPAC, Steve Bannon says it was just a wave (TOI 2/21/25); ‘We’ll Never Surrender’: Steve Bannon Appears to Perform Nazi Salute at CPAC (Haaretz 2/21/25)

A century-old Zionist group is being rebooted — and wants Jews to ‘fight back’ on the street (JTA 2/11/25)

““Ronn” was Ronn Torossian, an infamously hard-charging public relations executive who had recently devoted considerable resources to relaunching a century-old Jewish group called Betar. Like the Anti-Defamation League and many other Jewish organizations after Oct. 7, 2023, Betar wanted to fight antisemitism — but not with statements or lawsuits. Instead Torossian, a devotee of the early-20th century Revisionist Zionist thinker Ze’ev Jabotinsky who preached the power of Jewish self-defense and founded the original Betar movement in a pre-state Israel, wanted to fight fire with fire…Over the last several months, Betar has steadily built an army of pro-Israel agitators who respond to pro-Palestinian protesters with a mix of online trolling, counter-demonstrations and direct physical threats.” See also NYC real estate expo promoting sale of ‘stolen land’ in Palestine descends into violence (MEE 2/19/2025)

Georgia’s First Jewish Senator Is Losing Jewish Support (NYT 2/15/25)

“Democratic donors and Jewish leaders are so unhappy with Jon Ossoff over his position on Israel that some have quietly urged Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, to run against him.”

Former Biden Administration Advisor Slams Netanyahu for Obstructing U.S. Efforts at Gaza Hostage Deal (Haaretz 2/19/25)

“Ilan Goldenberg, a top advisor to former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, provided the most in-depth accounting of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s efforts at obstructing U.S. diplomacy over the course of the Gaza war…Goldenberg’s piece further represents the first real accounting from a senior Biden administration official on what the previous administration could have done differently in hopes of securing a cease-fire…”I believe that getting a deal in May was not possible. Hamas was taking a hard line and holding out for a regional war,” acknowledged Goldenberg, who was tapped by the Harris campaign as Jewish outreach director, explicitly because of his ability to articulate both Biden and Harris’ Middle East policy. “But also, Netanyahu’s behavior was deeply problematic, as evidenced by accounts from other members of the war cabinet; leaks from the Israeli negotiators; his refusal to engage seriously on a day after plan; and his bad faith engagement with President Biden,” he continued…He stressed, however, that “it says a lot about Netanyahu that he cared more about preserving his government than getting the hostages out, since he could have had support for a deal from much of the Israeli opposition at any time.”’

PERSPECTIVES//LONG READS

Gaza Must Be Rebuilt by Palestinians, for Palestinians (Mosab Abu Toha//New Yorker 2/12/25)

“But whom would the United States take Gaza from? Israeli forces levelled entire neighborhoods and then withdrew. My friend Ahmad, from Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza, told me that people have returned to their neighborhoods not to resume their old lives but “to live over the rubble of their houses.” But even the rubble in Gaza has meaning to us. It is where our loved ones lived and died. When the time comes, we are the only people who will be removing what must be removed, only to reuse it to rebuild…I won’t bother correcting Trump’s numbers. Instead, I have a question. Who said Gazans are worried about dying? There are many people around the world who worry about dying, including some Americans who don’t have health insurance or who live in areas that are at risk of wildfires. But our worry is not about dying. Palestinians are worried about being killed by Israeli soldiers, settlers, bombs, and bullets. How do you stop people from being killed? Not by removing the people who have been shot and bombed—but by stopping the people who are doing the shooting and bombing.”

The Drama, Delusion, and Dangers of Trump’s Gaza Plan (Rami G. Khouri//Arab Center DC 2/6/25)

“The most significant and troubling aspect of the Trump proposal is that it clarifies how the United States and Israel now work as a formal team that uses immense military power to run amok across the Middle East and perhaps further afield. The Trump proposal, apparently whimsical, spontaneous, and unstudied, offers no serious details about what will happen to Gaza and its indigenous Palestinian population, so we should not waste time analyzing mythical ideas or eventualities. The big development is how the American-Israeli alliance now formalizes with a bang the heretofore sporadic destruction of the body of international humanitarian and human rights laws and protections that were created after WWII to prevent a recurrence of crimes like the Nazi Holocaust against European Jews. Israel has long ignored these legal and moral safeguards in its actions in Palestine and the Middle East, attacking, occupying, and annexing Arab territories at will and disrupting and destroying the lives of millions of people.”

Starving Palestine: Israeli colonialism and the struggle for food sovereignty in Masafer Yatta. (Words by Manal Shqair, Photographs by Ali Awad // Vittles 2/10/25)

“Since Israel began its genocide of Gaza in October 2023, the accelerated erosion of traditional food systems has made Palestinians increasingly vulnerable to Israel’s mechanisms of violence; the starvation campaign Israel has waged on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip for the past sixteen months demonstrates this. But these systems of dispossession have been at play for much longer. For the past few decades, for instance, Israel has regularly sprayed herbicides on the eastern farmlands of the Strip to undermine agrarian life. In Masafer Yatta and across the West Bank, Israel’s colonial legislations have disrupted the relationships with, and strong sense of responsibility for, the land, animals and plants that Palestinian communities have maintained for centuries. Food plays a major part in how this is done.”

What Did the War in Gaza Reveal About American Judaism? (Isaac Chotiner interviews Peter Beinart//New Yorker 2/13/25)

“Both of them [one democratic state or the so-called two state solution] at this point are completely unrealistic. What is realistic is that Israel maintains permanent control over millions of Palestinians who lack basic rights and, indeed, moves toward the destruction of the Palestinian people through active expulsion and death. If you had to put a gun to my head and ask me what I think is the most realistic likelihood that we will see over the coming decades and generations, it would be what I would call an American-style solution to the Palestinian question. By which I mean the nineteenth-century American solution to Native Americans. You just continue this process and it grinds away without restraint until basically the population is destroyed as a functioning political entity.” See also Peter Beinart’s ‘Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza’ Expertly Dismantles Pro-Israel Propaganda — But Does it Adequately Reckon with the Genocide? (Brant Rosen//Religion Dispatches 2/19/25)

The Demon of Ethnic Cleansing Has Been Let Out of the Bottle in Israel (Aluf Benn//Haaretz 2/9/25)

“Trump has normalized the discourse around ethnic cleansing in Gaza, revealing the aspirations of many Jews in Israel. The prime minister and defense minister have turned population transfer into government policy, advancing Kahane’s legacy.”

Why does Trump’s Gaza plan sound so familiar? Because the Nazis tried it first (Eric Kurlander//The Forward 2/12/25)

“Imagine the leader of a global superpower announcing a plan for removing an entire ethnic group from a territory they’ve long inhabited. Neighboring states would have to make land available to that superpower to resettle the displaced peoples. The refugees would “have their own administration in this territory” but they would “not acquire … citizenship” since any “sense of responsibility towards the world” would forbid making “the gift of a sovereign state” to a people “which has had no independent state for thousands of years.” No, the plan described in brief here is not President Donald Trump’s Gaza plan, proposing a United States takeover of Gaza and mass relocation of its Palestinian population. It is the so-called “Madagascar Plan,” devised by Nazi Germany in 1940 to “resettle” European Jews. That plan was the Third Reich’s final major proposal for removing the Jews from the Greater Germanic Reich Adolf Hitler envisioned in Mein Kampf prior to the “Final Solution” — the indiscriminate shootings of Jewish men, women, and children on the Eastern Front, leading to mass killings in death camps and gas chambers in late 1941. In that history lies a warning: Plans for the mass relocation of a population seen as troublesome or dangerous can rapidly devolve into the loss of sovereignty, of human and civil rights, and, eventually, ethnic cleansing.”

The Madness of Donald Trump (David Remnick//New Yorker 2/5/25)

“To Benjamin Netanyahu’s delight, Trump proposes the wholesale ethnic cleansing of Gaza and the creation of a new “Riviera.”’

When a Jew shot by another Jew cries ‘Death to Arabs!’ (Orly Noy//+972 2/19/25)

“It sounds like the plot of a particularly absurd black comedy: an American Jew goes out to hunt Palestinians on the streets of Miami, mistakenly identifies a father and son — both Israeli Jews — as Palestinian, and immediately unloads a magazine on them; the two miraculously survive and escape. At the hospital, the son publishes a post saying that he and his father “survived an attempted murder motivated by antisemitism,” signing off the post with the popular Israeli slogan, “Death to Arabs.”…In fact, one could say he didn’t make any mistake: he did end up shooting Arabs, just the “wrong” kind. In that sense, he was no different from his victim, who rushed to write “Death to Arabs,” right before realizing that his attacker was a racist Jew. Mizrahim may continue to deny their Arab identity, to scorn it, to distance themselves from it — but in the end, a bullet will remind them: after all, you are Arab too.”

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1. New from FMEP

2. Gaza

3. Region/Global

4. River to the Sea

5. U.S. Scene

6. Perspectives//Long Reads

NEW FROM FMEP

FMEP Legislative Round-Up February 7, 2025 (Lara Friedman)

1. Bills, Resolutions; 2. Letters; 3. Hearings; 4. Selected Members on the Record; 5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

Settlement & Annexation Report: February 7, 2025 (Kristin McCarthy)

1. East Jerusalem Settlement Plans to Watch; 2. Israel Pushing Raze Palestinian Homes in Sheikh Jarrah, Build New Settlement Enclave; 3. High Court Orders Zanuta Return, Again; 4. High Court Orders Investigation Into Settler Municipal Councils; 5. Settler Population Grew 2.3% in 2024; 6. Trump to Decide on West Bank Annexation In Four Weeks; 7. Bonus Reads

Mapping Life & Land: Beirut Urban Lab (Occupied Thoughts episode)

FMEP Fellow Dr. Nour Joudah speaks with Ahmad Gharbieh, professor at the American University of Beirut and co-founder of the Beirut Urban Lab, an interdisciplinary research space. They discuss the process and value of critical cartography, which analyzes maps as instruments of power, looking at who has the authority to create maps and what is included and represented within them. And they speak about Beirut Urban Lab’s critical mapping of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, its invasion of southern Lebanon, and attacks on Beirut, and the links between mapping and policy-making.

“Centering Human Life, Disrupting Injustice Without Replicating It”: Introducing 2025 FMEP Fellow Hilary Rantisi (Occupied Thoughts episode)

FMEP’s Sarah Anne Minkin speaks with Hilary Rantisi, one of FMEP’s 2025 non-resident Fellows. They discuss Hilary’s work as a longtime educator seeking to teach the critique of power, her childhood and many years living in the West Bank, and how she understands the dynamics of the current moment in the context of Palestinian history and identity, highlighting the Palestinian values of sumud – steadfastness – and return. Hilary also discusses the challenges of false accusations of antisemitism undermining the telling of Palestinian lived experience, such as by the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which weaponizes accusations of antisemitism to quash critique of Israel and advocacy for Palestinian rights.

GAZA

Trump doubles down on kicking Palestinians out of Gaza (Politico 2/6/25)

“U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated Thursday that Palestinians should be removed from Gaza after Israel’s war on the coastal enclave is done. The Palestinians should be resettled into “far safer and more beautiful communities,” fitted with “new and modern homes,” Trump said in an early morning post on Truth Social. The forced evacuation would give Palestinians “a chance to be happy, safe, and free,” he added. Trump called the project “one of the greatest and most spectacular developments of its kind on Earth,” which he claimed would not require any U.S. military presence.” See also Trump says Israel would hand over Gaza after fighting is over, no US troops needed (Reuters 2/6/25’); Netanyahu endorses voluntary migration of Gaza Palestinians: ‘A remarkable idea’ (JTA 2/6/25); Trump’s Gaza Takeover Would Violate International Law, Experts Say (NYT 2/5/25); UN chief warns against ‘ethnic cleansing’ after Trump’s Gaza proposal (Guardian 2/5/25)

Trump shocks supporters with US ‘own’ and ‘rebuild’ Gaza plan (Responsible Statecraft 2/4/25)

“In remarks that sent shock waves across the American political spectrum, left and right, Trump said he wants the U.S. to empty the Gaza strip of its nearly two million inhabitants, and develop it like a property owner. In fact he said he wanted the U.S. to “own it” and did not rule out sending our troops to get the job done. Here’s the video. “The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it too,” he said, with a smiling Benjamin Netanyahu next to him. “We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings, level it out. Create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area. Do a real job, do something different.” He claimed that leaders all over the Middle East think it’s a great idea and that it won’t be a rebuilt place for “a specific group of people” but for people “all over the Middle East.”’ See also What is making Gaza ‘uninhabitable’? Unexploded bombs and more. (WaPo 2/6/25)

From Saudi Arabia to Australia and China, world leaders denounce Trump’s plan to ‘take over’ Gaza (Al Monitor 2/5/25)

“Saudi Arabia, a key US ally in the region, swiftly rejected Trump’s latest comments, expressing its “firm and unwavering” support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. In a statement released shortly after Trump’s remarks on Wednesday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry affirmed Saudi Arabia’s “unequivocal rejection of any infringement on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, whether through Israeli settlement policies, land annexation or attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land.” The ministry stressed that just and lasting peace in the region can only be achieved once Palestinians obtain their legitimate rights under international resolutions, “as has been previously clarified to both the previous and current US administration.” The statement called on the international community to ease the suffering of the Palestinian people, “who will remain committed to their land and will not budge from it.”…Egypt was also quick in rejecting Trump’s proposal even as the US president expressed confidence that Cairo and Amman would accept his plan to relocate Gazans to their territory. “They won’t tell me no. I want to remove all the residents of Gaza,” Trump said on Tuesday. “It will happen.” On Wednesday, Cairo expressed its continued support for the “legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.”…In a phone call on Wednesday, Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani agreed on the need to rebuff any attempts to displace the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, stressing the necessity of ensuring Palestinians remain on their land…Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas strongly rejected Trump’s calls to take over Gaza and relocate Palestinians, calling them a “serious violation of international law.”…Meanwhile, Hamas leaders have come out in force to denounce Trump’s remarks. Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri rejected the idea of removing Palestinians from Gaza, warning that his group “would not allow these plans to pass.”…In Israel, Trump’s comments were met with praise from several leaders, including far-right officials…China rebuffed any plans to seize Gaza and forcibly transfer the Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters on Wednesday. He affirmed that Beijing “has always believed that Palestinians governing Palestine is the fundamental principle for postwar governance in Gaza.”…Elsewhere in Europe, several countries also rejected plans to displace the Palestinians.” See also Rubio heads to Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Israel on first Mideast visit (Al Monitor 2/7/25); Trump’s proposal to displace Gazans may impede efforts with Saudi Arabia (WaPo 2/7/25)

Jordan ready for war with Israel if Palestinians are expelled into its territory (Middle East Eye 2/4/25)

“Jordan is ready to declare war on Israel in the event that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempts to forcibly expel Palestinians into its territory, Middle East Eye understands. The warning comes in the wake of repeated statements from US President Donald Trump that he would like to see Jordan and Egypt take in Palestinians as part of a move to “clean out” the Gaza Strip. Well-placed sources in Amman and Jerusalem told MEE that the last thing Jordan wants is war and it is eager for a peaceful solution. But they are adamant that the Jordanians will close the border if refugees begin to cross into the country.  If the Israelis seek to re-open it, that would be “a casus belli,” one source said. The Jordanians are under no illusion they could win a war with Israel, but believe they would have no choice but to fight.” See also Egypt said privately warning Trump’s Gaza plan endangers peace treaty with Israel (TOI 2/6/25); Trump’s bid to push out Gazans is an ‘existential threat’ to Jordan, say analysts (TOI 2/6/25); Trump proposal to displace Gazans draws swift backlash in Arab world (WaPo 2/5/25); ‘Worst nightmare’: Egypt and Jordan put in impossible bind by Trump Gaza plan (Guardian 2/6/25)

‘Gaza is not for sale’: Palestinians dismiss Trump’s ethnic cleansing plan (Mahmoud Mushtaha//+972 2/5/25)

“Trump’s words, uttered with characteristic nonchalance, have sparked shock and outrage around the world. Some dismiss his proposal as just another soundbite. Others warn of the deeper ramifications for regional stability. Human rights groups call it a clear violation of international law. Yet in Gaza, most people barely blinked. Fifteen months of relentless Israeli bombing and siege have left the Strip in ruins. Hunger is everywhere. The healthcare system has collapsed. Even with the ceasefire, there is still a severe shortage of clean water and fuel, and no way out. Besides, Palestinians have heard this kind of talk for generations: statements by Israeli and Western leaders that treat our land and lives as something to be bargained over, taken away from us, or wiped off the map altogether. The idea of “owning” Gaza isn’t just an absurd political statement, but represents the latest iteration of a century-old campaign to erase Palestinian existence…In the streets of Gaza, Palestinians responded to Trump’s words with a mix of anger, exhaustion, and dark humor. Many who spoke to +972 see it as yet further evidence that global powers treat their lives as disposable. Others worry that such rhetoric could pave the way for even more displacement.”

Israeli military to prepare ‘voluntary departure’ plan for Gazans, echoing Trump proposal (WaPo 2/6/25)

“Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Thursday that he has instructed the military to draft a plan to “allow voluntary departure” of Gaza residents from the enclave — days after President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal for the United States to “take over” the Gaza Strip and remove all the people living there…Katz cited Spain, Ireland and Norway — governments that have criticized Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza and which are unlikely to agree to cooperate with Trump’s proposal — as places that could take in Palestinians. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said in response: “No one should enter into a debate about where the Palestinians, and in particular Gazan Palestinians, should go. The land of the Gazan Palestinians is Gaza.”’ See also Israel’s defense minister tells the army to prepare to relocate Palestinians from Gaza (NPR 2/6/25)

Population Transfers Approved by America? It’s on the Table. (Daniel Levy//NYT 2/4/25)

“It is hard to exaggerate the traumatic resonance of displacement and population transfer in collective Palestinian memory. This history helps explain the Palestinian determination to remain in the newly devastated territory and the widespread outcry to this relocation proposal and its long-term radicalizing potential…Mr. Trump’s relocation idea joins a long list of Washington’s illusions about settling the conflict in the Middle East: that Israel is more likely to make peace if treated with indulgence in response to accusations of violations of international law; that resistance to Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories has a military solution; and that normalizing Israel’s relations with Arab states, with which it is not in conflict, can work as an end run around dealing with Palestinian dispossession and denial of self-determination and rights. In the current environment, suggestions of depopulation, whether intended as a practical proposition or not, cannot be taken lightly…These displacement plans do not end with Gaza. The West Bank, where Israel is escalating military operations, is considered by many right-wing extremists in Israel to be the real prize, and Jordan the preferred destination for Palestinians living there. None of this offers a future of security for Israelis, either. They risk creating an even more destabilized environment for those neighbors being called on to absorb the relocated Palestinians, and the displacements would serve as a rallying cry and recruitment lure for resistance movements across the region.” See also For Trump, Gaza becomes latest target of U.S. manifest destiny (Ishaan Tharoor//WaPo 2/4/25)

Bomb the area, gas the tunnels: Israel’s unbridled war on Gaza’s underground (Yuval Abraham//+972 2/6/24)

“The Israeli army intensively bombarded residential areas in Gaza when it lacked intelligence on the exact location of Hamas commanders hiding underground, and intentionally weaponized toxic byproducts of bombs to suffocate militants in their tunnels, an investigation by +972 Magazine and Local Call can reveal. The investigation, based on conversations with 15 Israeli Military Intelligence and Shin Bet officers who have been involved in tunnel-targeting operations since October 7, exposes how this strategy aimed to compensate for the army’s inability to pinpoint targets in Hamas’ subterranean tunnel network. When targeting senior commanders in the group, the Israeli military authorized the killing of “triple-digit numbers” of Palestinian civilians as “collateral damage,” and maintained close real-time coordination with U.S. officials regarding the expected casualty figures. Some of these strikes, which were the deadliest in the war and often used American bombs, are known to have killed Israeli hostages despite concerns raised ahead of time by military officers. Moreover, the lack of precise intelligence meant that in at least three major strikes, the army dropped several 2,000-pound bunker-buster bombs that killed scores of civilians — part of a strategy known as “tiling” — without succeeding in killing the intended target.”

Deaths from Israel’s attacks on Gaza close to 62,000 as missing added (Al Jazeera 2/3/25)

“Authorities in Gaza have updated the death toll from Israel’s war on the enclave to 61,709, having added thousands who are missing and now presumed dead. The head of the Gaza Government Information Office told a news conference that the bodies of 76 percent of the Palestinians killed in the conflict have been recovered and brought to medical centres. However, at least 14,222 people are still believed to be trapped under the rubble or in areas inaccessible to rescuers. Speaking at Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital, Salama Maarouf told reporters that among the death toll are 17,881 children, including 214 newborn infants.”

Jabaliya Is Now a City of Rubble (Abubaker Abed//Drop Site 2/5/25)

“The destruction in northern Gaza is beyond imagination. On Sunday, I made the journey from my home in Deir al-Balah to Gaza City, my first time north after 15 months of Israel’s genocide. The three-hour, 16-kilometer walk was an arduous trek through debris and dust—that is all that is left. Every block looks like it has been hit with several powerful earthquakes. The sheer scale of it affected me physically. No building was spared in the Israeli assault…I am still in northern Gaza—sleeping inside the wreckage of one of my friends’ homes. The rain is torrential and threatens to waterlog us at any point. Israeli drones are buzzing overhead. The nightmare hasn’t ended. I am desperate for a cup of clean water here, for a plate of food. Donald Trump should know that these living conditions are better for me than living in a castle anywhere else in the world.”

Gazans dreamed of returning to Rafah. The reality is a nightmare (Ruwaida Kamal Amer//+972 2/4/25)

“Few have gone back to Gaza’s southern city, where Israeli forces on the border are still firing at civilians. Those who have barely recognize their own homes.”

Hamas names three Israeli hostages to be released after alleging ceasefire breach (Guardian 2/7/25)

“Hamas has named the three hostages to be released on Saturday under the ceasefire deal as Eli Sharabi, Ohad ben Ami, and Or Levy. The release of the names was delayed by several hours after Hamas accused Israel of delaying the delivery of aid and other equipment in breach of the terms of the ceasefire Israel dismissed the claims it had delayed aid supplies as “completely unfounded”. It said it had allowed thousands of trucks carrying food, aid, and shelters into Gaza. Global aid agency the Norwegian Refugee Council said humanitarian efforts in Gaza remained in an “emergency crisis setting”.” See also Hamas releases U.S. hostage Keith Siegel; Rafah crossing reopens for Gazan patients (2/1/25); 183 Palestinian security prisoners released after Hamas sets free 3 civilian hostages (TOI 2/1/25); Palestinian prisoners sent to Egypt, Turkey as Tunisia declines: What we know (Al Monitor 2/5/25); Rafah crossing reopens for Gaza’s sick and injured children after months of closure (Guardian 2/1/25); Over 100 journalists sign letter requesting Egyptian authorities to allow access to Gaza through Rafah crossing (Sharif Abdel Kouddous//Drop Site 2/3/25)

U.S.A.I.D. Turmoil Threatens Key Aid Supplies to Gaza, Officials Say (NYT 2/7/25)

“With almost all U.S.A.I.D. staff set to be placed on administrative leave by Friday night, there will be only a handful of officials left to sign off on and audit hundreds of millions of dollars in outstanding payments to the agency’s partners on the ground in Gaza, raising alarm about how those groups will fund their operations. Of more than 200 officials in the agency’s Mideast team, just 21 will remain in post to manage its entire regional portfolio, according to an internal agency email reviewed by The New York Times. The team that organizes emergency aid supplies in dozens of crisis zones around the world each year, of which Gaza was just one, is down to just 70 staff members from more than 1,000. This is expected to slow or prevent the delivery of food packages to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, as well as tents, mattresses, blankets, hygiene kits and medical treatment, according to three officials and an aid worker. All four people spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the news media. While the aid agency does not operate inside Gaza, it has provided roughly $1 billion in aid to international aid groups on the ground since the war began in October 2023 — about a third of the total aid response, according to the United Nations. Hundreds of millions of dollars have yet to be disbursed and now may never be transferred to United Nations agencies and other major aid organizations, three officials said. “They’re making an already fragile cease-fire more fragile,” said Dave Harden, a former U.S.A.I.D. mission director for Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. “Lifesaving aid to Gaza is going to be disrupted.”’

REGION/GLOBAL

Trump imposes sanctions on ICC, accusing it of targeting US and Israel (Guardian 2/6/25)

“Donald Trump has signed an executive order that authorises aggressive economic sanctions against the international criminal court (ICC), accusing the body of “illegitimate and baseless actions” targeting the US and Israel. The order grants the US president broad powers to impose asset freezes and travel bans against ICC staff and their family members if the US determines that they are involved in efforts to investigate or prosecute citizens of the US and certain allies…Israel’s prime minister strongly applauded Trump’s move. Netanyahu posted: “Thank you, President Trump, for your bold ICC executive order. It will defend America and Israel from the anti-American and antisemitic corrupt court that has no jurisdiction or basis to engage in lawfare against us.”…The order signed by Trump on Thursday suggests the US will target specific individuals listed in an annex to document, but it was not immediately clear which individuals were included.” See also Imposing Sanctions on the International Criminal Court (White House 2/6/25); Israel follows US in boycotting UN Human Rights Council (Al Jazeera 2/6/25); EU chiefs chastise Trump for sanctioning the ICC (Politico 2/7/25); Netanyahu presses Senate lawmakers to pass ICC sanctions legislation (Jewish Insider 2/6/25); Schumer says Trump’s ICC executive order removes provisions Democrats objected to (JI 2/6/25);

Netanyahu: ‘The Saudis can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia’ (Jerusalem Post 2/7/25)

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Saudi Arabia had enough land to provide the Palestinians with a state in a Channel 14 interview on Thursday. “The Saudis can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have a lot of land over there,” he said. When questioned about a Palestinian state as a condition of normalization, Netanyahu said he “would not make an agreement that would endanger the State of Israel.” “Especially not a Palestinian state. After October 7? Do you know what that is? There was a Palestinian state, it was called Gaza. Gaza, led by Hamas, was a Palestinian state, and look what we got – the biggest massacre since the Holocaust,” the prime minister said. The interview was conducted during Netanyahu’s Washington visit, which began with a joint press conference with US President Donald Trump in which the president announced his plan for the US to control the Gaza Strip. Additionally, the two discussed the potential for normalization with Saudi Arabia, with Netanyahu saying, “I think peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia is not only feasible, I think it’s going to happen.” However, shortly after the press conference, the Saudi foreign ministry stated it would not discuss ties with Israel without the establishment of a Palestinian state.”

Google Lifts a Ban on Using Its AI for Weapons and Surveillance (Wired 2/4/25)

“Google announced Tuesday that it is overhauling the principles governing how it uses artificial intelligence and other advanced technology. The company removed language promising not to pursue “technologies that cause or are likely to cause overall harm,” “weapons or other technologies whose principal purpose or implementation is to cause or directly facilitate injury to people,” “technologies that gather or use information for surveillance violating internationally accepted norms,” and “technologies whose purpose contravenes widely accepted principles of international law and human rights.”…In a blog post on Tuesday, a pair of Google executives cited the increasingly widespread use of AI, evolving standards, and geopolitical battles over AI as the “backdrop” to why Google’s principals needed to be overhauled.” See also WhatsApp says journalists and civil society members were targets of Israeli spyware (Guardian 1/31/25)

In Southern Lebanon, Protests Are Growing Against the Israeli Occupation (Bilal Ghazeye//Drop Site 2/4/25)

“Barred from returning home, displaced civilians from southern Lebanon are setting up camps outside their villages where Israeli troops remain.” See also US demands Hezbollah be omitted from Lebanon government (Al Jazeera 2/7/25); US envoy visits Lebanon, says US ‘grateful’ to Israel for defeating Hezbollah (Al Monitor 2/7/25); Trump administration imposes first Iran sanctions since taking office (Al Jazeera 2/6/25)

Netanyahu gives Trump ‘golden pager’ in apparent reference to Lebanon attack (Guardian 2/6/25)

“In photos circulating online, the golden pager can be seen mounted on a piece of wood, accompanied by a golden plaque that reads in black lettering: “To President Donald J. Trump, Our greatest friend and greatest ally. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.” Israeli media reported that the Israeli prime minister, who is wanted by the international criminal court for war crimes, also gave the US president a regular pager. The gift was reportedly a nod to Israel’s deadly operation last September against Hezbollah, during which thousands of handheld pager beeper devices and walkie-talkies belonging to Hezbollah detonated simultaneously across Lebanon. The explosions killed at least 37 people, including children as young as nine years old, and left thousands wounded.”

RIVER TO THE SEA

Israeli military sets off massive explosions, destroying buildings in Jenin (WaPo 2/2/25)

“The Israeli military blew up at least 20 buildings in the West Bank city of Jenin on Sunday, staging controlled demolitions that thundered across the region, where troops have been battling local militants in an operation dubbed Iron Wall. Footage from local news channels showed the simultaneous explosions erupting in the northern West Bank and sending plumes of smoke towering over Jenin city and its adjacent refugee camp. Videos of the aftermath showed extensive damage on the ground: homes turned to ash and rubble, cars destroyed and small fires still burning amid the debris…The Palestine Red Crescent Society said it was evacuating people who were trapped and providing them with medical care. On Saturday, at least five people were killed in Israeli strikes in the Jenin area, including a 16-year-old, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.” See also Violent Israeli raids forcibly displace 26,000 Palestinians in West Bank (Al Jazeera 2/6/25)

Israel Plans Jewish Neighborhood in Sheikh Jarrah, Putting Dozens of Palestinian Families at Risk of Eviction (Haaretz 2/4/25)

“The Jerusalem Municipality is advancing a construction plan for a Jewish neighborhood in the Sheikh Jarrah area of East Jerusalem, whose population is overwhelmingly Palestinian. According to the plan, dozens of Palestinian families are expected to be evicted, and 316 residential units and public buildings will be constructed in their place. The neighborhood is planned to be built on lands that have been at the forefront of legal battles in recent years between Sheikh Jarrah’s residents and settler organizations, accompanied by protests and violent confrontations. Residents and civil society organizations claim that the purpose of the plan is to displace Palestinians from the neighborhood…The new plan is part of several Jewish construction projects that Israel has started promoting in East Jerusalem and beyond the Green Line, coinciding with the change in the U.S. administration and the re-entry of Donald Trump into the White House.” See also Israeli Settler Indicted After Opening Fire on Palestinian Family Harvesting Olives in the West Bank (Haaretz 2/7/25)

Oscar-nominated ‘No Other Land’ is a jolt of moral clarity (WaPo 2/6/25)

‘“No Other Land,” the Oscar-nominated documentary (and odds-on favorite to win), is the record of an atrocity: the erasure of a people from the land on which they’ve lived for centuries…“No Other Land” documents Israelis bulldozing houses, schools and entire villages in the West Bank, forcing Palestinian families to move into caves, and shooting anyone who objects too vociferously…Since no U.S. distributor has worked up the nerve to pick up “No Other Land,” the film is being released on an ad hoc basis in major markets. As an act of citizen journalism, it’s a document as damning as they come, and it lands in this endless, bitterly complex struggle like an argument that refuses to be rationalized away. “Aren’t you ashamed?” shouts one of the Palestinians as a man cuts her village’s water. Her cry ripples out far beyond the West Bank, Israel and the Middle East.” See also ‘No Other Land’: An Eye-Opener About the West Bank and the Movies (NYT 1/31/25)

U.S. SCENE

Inside Trump’s Hastily Written Proposal to ‘Own’ Gaza (NYT 2/5/25)

“When President Trump announced his proposal for the United States to take ownership of Gaza on Tuesday, he shocked even senior members of his own White House and government. While his announcement looked formal and thought-out — he read the plan from a sheet of paper — his administration had not done even the most basic planning to examine the feasibility of the idea, according to four people with knowledge of the discussions, who were not authorized to speak publicly…Inside the U.S. government, there had been no meetings with the State Department or Pentagon, as would normally occur for any serious foreign policy proposal, let alone one of such magnitude. There had been no working groups. The Defense Department had produced no estimates of the troop numbers required, or cost estimates, or even an outline of how it might work…It is unclear whether Mr. Trump previously discussed the matter in any detail with the Israelis…In his second presidential term he has put his imperialist impulses on display. He has said he wants the United States to buy Greenland, refusing to rule out military force despite the existence of a U.S. base there. He has said he wants to take back the Panama Canal and that Canada should become America’s 51st state. He has said he thinks the United States should be entitled to Ukraine’s natural resources as repayment for all the military aid America has sent to help the Ukrainians defend themselves against the Russians. Mr. Trump views foreign policy as a real estate deal maker.” See also Trump’s Gaza ‘Riviera’ echoes Kushner waterfront property dreams (Reuters 2/5/25); Trump’s Gaza Plan Reflects Broader Push for Annexation of Palestinian Land (NYT 2/6/25)

‘He’s lost it’: Trump call to take over Gaza blasted by Democrats, boosted by loyalists (TOI 2/5/25)

“US President Donald Trump’s declaration on Tuesday that the US will take over the Gaza Strip and resettle its roughly 1.8 million residents elsewhere was welcomed as a “miracle” by members of the Israeli government and endorsed by some of Trump’s most stalwart allies in the US — but rejected as “crazy,” “dangerous,” and “insane” by Democrats, as foreign countries assured the press their positions on the conflict hadn’t changed…Following Trump’s comments, members of his administration lined up to support the proposal…In the US Congress, some of Trump’s fiercest allies began rallying around the proposal…Trump’s remarks were also met with early skepticism from many Republicans, including some who are typically supportive of the president…Among Democrats, the rejection was unequivocal…Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen — among the harshest critics in Congress of Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza — said on MSNBC: Trump “just said that it will be United States policy to forcibly displace 2 million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip — that is ethnic cleansing by another name…And Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who is of Palestinian descent, wrote: “Palestinians aren’t going anywhere. This president can only spew this fanatical bullshit because of bipartisan support in Congress for funding genocide and ethnic cleansing. It’s time for my two-state solution colleagues to speak up.”’ See also West Bank? No, Judea and Samaria, Some Republicans Say. (NYT 2/4/25); Trump’s Gaza plan suggests his pro-settler advisers are in the ascendant (Guardian 2/7/25);

Inside Netanyahu’s meeting with evangelical leaders in Washington (Jewish Insider 2/5/25)

“The meeting — which one attendee said came at a “historic time to make decisions” — was organized by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be U.S. ambassador to Israel, one day before the prime minister’s meeting with Trump in the Oval Office. No meeting with American Jewish leaders had been scheduled yet for Netanyahu’s six-day visit…Christian leaders in attendance — who traveled to Washington from cities including Dallas and San Diego for the meeting — also included: Pastor John Hagee, founder of Christians United for Israel; Pastor Jentezen Franklin, who leads the Free Chapel; Ralph Reed, founder of the Faith and Freedom Coalition; and Pastor Paula White, who was recently reappointed to serve as Trump’s lead faith advisor…“There’s one person on the planet right now who unites the evangelicals globally and that’s Benjamin Netanyahu,” [Founder of The Friends of Zion Heritage Center Mike] Evans said. “They think the world of him and he has enormous support among evangelicals, especially here in the U.S.” Evans noted that everyone in the room was a “major evangelical player that President Trump listens to and respects,” as well as “incredibly strong supporters of the State of Israel.”’ See also Why Netanyahu Met Musk and Evangelicals, Not U.S. Jews, Before His Date With Trump (Haaretz 2/4/25); Rubio’s new undersecretary of state was fired from first Trump administration over ties to white nationalists (Jewish Insider 2/4/25)

Analysis: Trump’s Gaza relocation plan signals shift in Jewish political influence (Jacob Kornbluh//The Forward 2/5/25)

“Reaction to President Donald Trump’s radical proposal to have the United States take control of the Gaza Strip and relocate its 2 million Palestinian residents hinted at a realignment of Jewish political influence in which fringe Zionist activists and their ideas are replacing the establishment groups that have long held sway in Washington. Mainstream pro-Israel groups were, perhaps, stunned into silence: the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and the Federation movement had not issued press releases or posted on social media by Wednesday afternoon. AIPAC, the premier pro-Israel lobbying group, did not directly respond to the Gaza proposal…Meanwhile, far-right politicians in Israel and American Zionist groups previously seen as gadflies exulted over headlines worldwide that seemed to be taking their approach seriously for the first time.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi establishes task force to prosecute Oct. 7 crimes (JI 2/7/25)

“In one of her first official acts after being sworn in on Wednesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi established a joint task force dedicated to investigating the perpetrators of the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks and seeking justice for their victims. The scope of the body’s work goes beyond the attacks that took place more than a year ago. Bondi described a need to address “the ongoing threat posed by Hamas and its affiliates, both domestically and abroad.” The remit of Joint Task Force October 7 will not be limited to terrorist violence — it is also tasked with prosecuting “antisemitic civil rights violations” and “other federal crimes” committed by Hamas supporters domestically, including on U.S. college campuses.” See also Trump threat to deport pro-Palestinian students mirrors rightwing Heritage blueprint (Guardian 2/2/25)

Right-Wing Group Sends Trump Deportation List Over Palestine Activism (TNR 1/31/25)

“A far-right, extremist group has compiled a list of foreign students and teachers that it thinks should be expelled from the United States for protesting against Israel, and turned it over to officials in the Trump administration. Betar, a Revisionist Zionist organization inspired by European fascist movements, has been using facial recognition and soliciting tips to identify protesters at rallies and encampments opposing Israel’s brutal war in Gaza over the past year…Levy told Salon that his organization has given its list to attorney general nominee Pam Bondi, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump adviser Stephen Miller, U.N. ambassador nominee Elise Stefanik, and other members of the Trump administration. The list isn’t just composed of protesters, either: Betar is targeting academics who advocate for Palestine or who teach an “alternate history” that conflicts with the organization’s worldview. This, according to Levy, includes people who advocate for a one-state solution: a single, secular democratic state encompassing both Israel and the Palestinian territories.”

Columbia students just sued the university for attacks on pro-Palestine activism (Drop Site 2/3/25)

“Three students from Columbia University filed a lawsuit on Monday morning against the school administration for their suspensions related to their pro-Palestine activism on campus. Among the claims in the complaint, the students state that the university violated its own policies during the disciplinary process, that the university targeted the students for their views, and that it violated New York’s landlord tenant laws when it evicted the students from university housing.” See also Administrators at Harvard Divinity School quit, say school condoned hate (Religion News 2/6/25)

Campaign spending at pro-Israel political action committees up in 2024 (JNS 2/6/25)

“The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which sharply boosted its lobbying last year in the midst of Israel’s war with Hamas and a corresponding surge in antisemitism, more than doubled its political action committee campaign spending as Americans elected a new president and decided whether Republicans or Democrats would control Congress. AIPAC and its affiliated super PAC United Democracy Project reported spending $95.1 million on the 2024 elections, including donations to endorsed candidates and independent advertising campaigns on behalf of them, according to new Federal Election Commission filings. That’s more than double the $44 million spent during the 2022 races and mirrors the large increase in lobbying spending last year by Jewish groups last year…AIPAC outspent every other political committee identified as pro-Israel by OpenSecrets…The RJC [Republican Jewish Coalition] and its super PAC spent $19.7 million during the 2024 elections, more than four times the $4.5 million spent during the 2022 campaigns…The third biggest PAC by campaign spending, J Street, increased its 2024 campaign spending to $14.6 million, up from $8.6 million in the previous election.”

PERSPECTIVES//LONG READS

The Boomerang Comes Back (Noura Erakat//Boston Review 2/5/25)

“Simply put, most people have no idea to what extent this genocide is being perpetrated not only by Israel but also by the United States. For a solid majority of the center-left, what is happening in Gaza is tragic but ultimately less important than the most significant existential threat: the ascendance of Trump. During the run-up to the election, the argument goes, we Palestinian and Arab Americans should have understood that resisting fascism in the United States is the primary goal and gotten in line accordingly. But resisting fascism is our collective goal. We just know that in order to resist it, we have to fight it on two fronts of U.S. state violence: at home and abroad. Because if the United States, together with Israel, manages to disembowel the ICJ, the ICC, the UN, and a broader global order built after the Holocaust and World War II, no one is safe. The fact that Israel has committed genocide, turned humans into walking bombs in its pager attack in Lebanon, and decimated countries while the UN Security Council watches passively should concern all of us. As Colombian President Gustavo Petro warned back in December 2023, “What we are seeing in Gaza is a rehearsal of the future.”…By now, it should be clear that conservative agendas continue to use Palestine as a Trojan horse. Yet the liberal establishment has not raised the alarms. Worse, they have often served as the right’s complicit partner, oblivious to the precedents that Trump is now inheriting: broader police power, unaccountable presidential power, generalized repression, and gross restrictions on speech. The vicious culture of anti-Palestinian racism they have helped normalize strengthens Trump’s insidious narrative of migrants as terrorist threats, all as part of a massive push to facilitate deportations, ramp up surveillance, and further militarize the border…For fifteen months, Palestinians and their allies protested relentlessly and, at times, heroically, not only to stop a genocide but to salvage and preserve core humanitarian principles governing life within the United States, insisting that genocide is suicide. Surviving this next chapter demands that we see ourselves as the rest of the world sees us too.”

Palestinians have a clear message for Donald Trump over Gaza: ‘We are here, we won’t leave’ (Yara Hawari//The Guardian 2/5/25)

“In the face of all of this, Palestinians have not been passive actors – just as they never have been. Over the past 16 months, Palestinians in Gaza have also shown us what resistance to genocide looks like. They have refused to leave their homeland after massive destruction – the likes of which we have not seen in our lifetime. After Trump’s comments, Palestinians in Gaza have defiantly taken to social media to tell the leader of the most powerful country in the world that they will not leave their land. For example, the Gaza-based journalist Abubaker Abed wrote: “How can my future be decided by someone else? … We are here. And we won’t leave.” This is hardly surprising. For more than seven decades, the Palestinian people have endured systematic killing, incarceration and displacement from their ancestral homeland by the Israeli regime. Yet they have fought their erasure tooth and nail. So while Trump’s comments are alarmingly genocidal, it is clear that he underestimates the Palestinian determination to stay on their land.”

After the Ceasefire: Three Palestinians from northern Gaza reflect on returning to their devastated homes. (Jewish Currents 2/7/25)

“Jewish Currents spoke to three Palestinians from northern Gaza about what the ceasefire has meant for the prospect of rebuilding their lives. Ahmad Abu Yahia reflects on the pain of returning to a home he’d once shared with his brother Khalil (who spoke to Jewish Currents in the weeks after October 7th, 2023 and was killed by Israel soon after); Hamza Salha, who has written for Jewish Currents about his family’s original displacement from their hometown of Barbara, talks about going back to what remains of his home in Jabalia; and Maram Faraj explains why, even as she misses her home in Gaza City, her family has decided to remain in the south for now. These dispatches have been edited for length and clarity.”

A Primer on Lebanon—History, Palestine and Resistance to Israeli Violence (Lara Deeb, Maya Mikdashi, Tsolin Nalbantian, Nadya Sbaiti// MERIP Winter 2024)

For Lebanon, the 2024 assault marked the country’s deadliest days since the civil war’s end in 1990. It also took place in the context of a sequence of crises that began with the popular uprising in 2019, and its subsequent repression, and continued through the Covid pandemic, Beirut port explosion, a power vacuum and an economic collapse from which Lebanon had only just begun to recover. These crises are indelibly linked to Lebanon’s positioning vis-a-vis multiple powers in the region and beyond. In its relatively short history since 1920, Lebanon has been the object of avaricious interests driving various interventions that have been both a boon and a detriment to the tiny country. It has also been plagued by a corrupt and nepotistic political class. Since World War II, Beirut—and Lebanon more broadly—has served as a political, cultural and social refuge for Arab populations and ignominious political figures alike…This primer situates the latest Israeli war on Lebanon and resistance to it within the broader context of Lebanon’s political development and its relationship to Palestine. The primer begins by offering a historical overview of Lebanon’s formation that describes the role of external and internal forces in shaping the country throughout the twentieth century (Part I and Part II). It then details how regular Israeli violence as well as Palestinian and Lebanese resistance movements and political parties fit into this trajectory (Part III). The primer ends with an explanation of the series of recent crises that have exacerbated the devastating effects of the latest Israeli attacks on Lebanon and its ongoing ceasefire violations (Part IV).”

Trump’s EO to ‘Combat Antisemitism’ Wields Jewish Safety as a Weapon to Crush Palestine Solidarity (Ben Lorber//Religion Dispatches 2/6/25)

“Last week, Trump released an executive order pledging to combat antisemitism by ordering a draconian crackdown on Palestine solidarity protests. That same day, reporters leaked a memo from an agency within Pete Hegseth’s Department of Defense ordering personnel to stop marking Holocaust Remembrance Day, along with other calendrical commemorations like MLK Day and Women’s History Month—an early sign of the Defense Secretary’s efforts to implement anti-DEI policies in the military. The coincidence illustrates the grim contradiction at the heart of MAGA antisemitism: instrumentalizing Jewish safety as an authoritarian weapon with one hand, while the other systematically shreds the fabric of liberal pluralism, which has kept American Jews relatively safe. And in the week since, MAGA has moved quickly towards implementing its crusade against civil rights and dissent across campuses and communities…The MAGA movement’s antisemitism agenda is quite clearly a chilling assault on human rights and free speech. But it’s all the more frustrating and disorienting when Christian nationalists cynically position themselves as defenders of Jews while pursuing policies inimical to the safety and thriving of Jewish communities, along with our friends and neighbors.”

Gaza’s Telecommunications: Occupied and Destroyed (Ali Abdel-Wahab//Al Shabaka 2/3/25)

“For Palestinians in Gaza, who have endured over 17 years of Israeli blockade and many more decades of Israeli colonial occupation, the internet serves as a critical lifeline: a channel to communicate with the outside world and share their lived reality with an international audience. Aware of its potential, the Israeli regime has long sought to dominate and suppress the Palestinian digital landscape…Meanwhile, it trapped Gaza in the past, with only 2G access—making it one of the most digitally isolated regions in the world. Since the onset of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, these digital challenges have escalated into a full-blown crisis…This policy brief examines the devastating impact of the Israeli regime’s actions on Gaza’s telecommunications infrastructure and internet access. It situates Israel’s attack on the communications sector within the broader framework of neo-colonialism. It explains how Israel’s stranglehold on the Palestinian digital infrastructure strengthens its political and economic hegemony, which is one of the most important features of the Zionist settler colonial project. It also highlights the resilience of Palestinians resisting enforced communication blackouts. It finally offers actionable recommendations for the international community to support enhanced digital access in Gaza and break its technological dependence on Israel.”

Israel Is Not Committing Genocide in Gaza. But It May Be on the Way There (Benny Morris//Haaretz 1/30/25)

“Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza. The prosecutor in The Hague and all the learned professors, from Omer Bartov on down, who talk about a genocide, are wrong…But the genocide may be in the offing. Israel may be on the way there, already deep in the loop that leads to mass murder, shaping the hearts and minds of the public…These are the same Israelis that speak aloud or in whispers about uprooting the Palestinians from their land, about exile and transfers…They do not see Palestinians as human beings…The dehumanization that has to take root before mass murder is already here…The Jewish public appears largely indifferent to the mass killing in Gaza, including of women and children. It is apathetic toward the starving of Palestinians in the West Bank by means of banning them from working in Israel, and to the violent harassment of Palestinians there, including in the past year as were killed at the hands of settlers. The dehumanization is evident every day, apparent from the soldiers’ testimonies; from the killing of civilians in Gaza; from the brutality shown by soldiers and jailers while detainees, some from Hamas and some civilians, are led half-naked to the detention camps; from the routine of beatings and torture in the detention camps and prisons themselves. The Jewish-Israeli public is indifferent to all of it…The trigger will come – and then the genocide will follow…”

The damage of Trump’s Gaza plan has already been done (Meron Rapoport//+972 2/7/25)

“But this plan is worse than the sum of its parts. Even if it does not advance even by an inch, it has already had a profound impact on Jewish-Israeli political discourse. Indeed, it would perhaps be more accurate to say that Trump’s proposal has tapped into a deep undercurrent in Jewish-Israeli society. Standing alongside Trump at the press conference, Netanyahu was the first to welcome the president’s initiative. “This is the kind of thinking that can reshape the Middle East and bring peace,” he proclaimed. To nobody’s surprise, the leaders of Israel’s messianic right were also quick to express their own glee at the proposal, treating Trump’s press conference as if it were divine revelation. But they were far from the only ones. Benny Gantz, who quit the government over the direction of the war in Gaza, described Trump’s transfer plan as “creative, original, and interesting.” Yair Lapid, head of the centrist Yesh Atid party, called the press conference “good for Israel.” Yair Golan, leader of the Zionist-left Democrats party, merely commented on the idea’s impracticality. It was as if politicians across the Zionist spectrum had simply been waiting for the moment when ethnic cleansing would receive a “Made in America” stamp of approval before embracing it. This transferist poison will not be purged from Israel’s bloodstream anytime soon. And the consequences could be catastrophic for the entire region…Once the American president proposes transfer as a solution to the “Palestinian problem,” and once all of Israel — from the religious-fascist right to the liberal center and even the Zionist left — embraces it, the message to Palestinians is clear: there is no possibility of compromise with Israel and its American patron, at least in its current form, because they are determined to eliminate the Palestinian people.”

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1. New from FMEP

2. Gaza

3. Region/Global

4. River to the Sea

5. U.S. Scene

6. Perspectives//Long Reads

NEW FROM FMEP

FMEP Legislative Round-Up January 31, 2025 (Lara Friedman)

1. Bills, Resolutions; 2. Letters; 3. Hearings; 4. Selected Members on the Record; 5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

Settlement & Annexation Report: January 31, 2025 (Kristin McCarthy)

Bill to Allow Israelis to Buy West Bank Land Advances in Knesset; 2. Weekly Settlement Advancements Continue for Ninth Week; 3. On First Day in Office, Trump Cancels Sanctions on Violent Settlers; 4. Bonus Reads

GAZA

‘They will do it, okay?’: Trump insists on Jordan, Egypt taking in Gazans (TOI 1/31/25)

“US President Donald Trump insisted on Thursday that Jordan and Egypt will support a proposal to resettle Palestinians in their countries rather than in a rebuilt Gaza Strip, despite flat refusals from both countries to consider the move. “They will do it. They will do it. They’re gonna do it, okay? We do a lot for them, and they’re gonna do it,” Trump said when asked about the proposal during a photo op in the Oval Office. Both Egyptian President Abdel Fatah el-Sissi and Jordan’s King Abdullah explicitly rejected the proposal on Wednesday…Trump said earlier this week that the issue would be discussed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he travels to Washington next week.” See also Trump doubles down on proposal to move Gazans; insists Egypt and Jordan will agree (TOI 1/28/25); Trump says to ‘clean out’ Gaza, urges Arab countries to take more refugees (WaPo 1/26/25); Trump repeats suggestion Palestinians should leave Gaza for Egypt and Jordan (Guardian 1/28/25); Palestinians, Jordan, Egypt reject Trump’s idea to send Gazans out of Strip (TOI 1/26/25); Trump suggests his plan for Gaza Strip is to ‘clean out the whole thing’ (CNN 1/26/25); Thousands in Egypt protest Trump’s push to transfer Palestinians (Al Monitor 1/31/25)

Exclusive: Trump Middle East envoy says rebuilding Gaza could take 10 to 15 years (Axios 1/30/25)

‘“What was inescapable is that there is almost nothing left of Gaza,” Witkoff told Axios. “People are moving north to get back to their homes and see what happened and turn around and leave … there is no water and no electricity. It is stunning just how much damage occurred there,” he said…The White House envoy spent much of his day on Wednesday in the Gaza Strip inspecting the situation from the ground and from the air. He was the first U.S. official to visit Gaza in 15 years…Witkoff, a real estate developer, assesses that the demolition and moving of the debris alone will take five years. The process of assessing the potential impact of the many tunnels under Gaza on building new foundations could take another few years. The reconstruction itself would take another few years, he said. “There has been this perception we can get to a solid plan for Gaza in five years. But its impossible. This is a 10 to 15 year rebuilding plan,” he said.”…He said that from what he saw during his visit Gaza is “uninhabitable.” “There is nothing left standing. Many unexploded ordnances. It is not safe to walk there. It is very dangerous. I wouldn’t have known this without going there and inspecting,” he said.” See also Bombs buried in Gaza rubble put at risk thousands returning to homes, say experts (Guardian 1/25/25)

Three Israelis and five Thais freed from Gaza as Trump envoy meets hostages’ relatives (Guardian 1/30/25)

“Three Israelis and five Thai citizens held in Gaza have been freed, as Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy met hostages’ relatives, reportedly telling them he was optimistic the ceasefire would hold to allow the return of all the living and the dead…Buses carrying Palestinian prisoners due to be freed were sent back to Israeli jails in the early afternoon, before a new release time of 5pm was announced. Later on Thursday, buses arrived in the West Bank city of Ramallah carrying some of the prisoners…Shortly after Thursday’s handover, Hamas confirmed the death of Mohammed Deif, the head of its military wing, six months after Israel announced he had been killed. It was the first statement that Hamas has released on Deif’s condition since the Israeli military said last August that he had been killed in an airstrike in southern Gaza the month before.” See also Militants struggle to hold back crowds during chaotic Gaza hostage handover (Al Monitor 1/31/25); UNRWA says Emily Damari’s allegations she was held in its facilities ‘grave,’ demand probe (TOI 1/31/25); Hamas to free three Israeli hostages in next ceasefire swap (Al Monitor 1/31/25); American hostage slated to be released by Hamas after 15 months (WaPo 1/31/25); Crowds greet militant leader Zakaria Zubeidi among prisoners released in Ramallah (Guardian 1/30/25)

Hamas frees 4 female Israeli soldiers; fragile Gaza ceasefire holds (WaPo 1/25/25)

“Four female Israeli soldiers held hostage were released by Hamas in Gaza City and 200 Palestinian prisoners were released by Israel on Saturday, the start of a second week of a planned six-week ceasefire deal that has halted 15 months of fighting and allowed Hamas to project an image of resilience. Hours before releasing the hostages, the militants paraded the women, dressed in army green, in a public square in Gaza and forced them to climb a stage, smile and raise their arms for a gaggle of cameramen…Later Saturday, 200 Palestinian prisoners were released from the Ofer and Ketziot prisons as part of the ceasefire agreement, a spokesperson for the Israel Prison Service said. Among them was Wael Qassem, the leader of a Hamas cell in East Jerusalem and one of the most prominent of some 120 prisoners serving life sentences who were included in the ceasefire deal, according to an organization that represents Palestinian prisoners. Qassem received 35 life terms for involvement in deadly attacks against Israelis during the second intifada, the mass Palestinian uprising of the early 2000s.” See also Hamas reemerges in Gaza, badly bruised but still with influence (WaPo 1/25/25); Hamas Choreographs a Show of Force as It Hands Over the Hostages (NYT 1/25/25);

Displaced Palestinians begin returning to devastated northern Gaza (WaPo 1/27/25)

“Palestinians displaced from northern Gaza began a long-awaited journey home Monday…Video footage showed throngs of people walking along the coastal al-Rashid road, marking the first time since the early weeks of the 15-month war that Israel has allowed Palestinians to cross the Netzarim Corridor, which splits the enclave in two, and enter the north, where some of the worst fighting and destruction has happened. Hamas called the return a “victory” against what it said were plans for the forced displacement of Palestinians.” See also Displaced Gazans confront ruin: ‘Worse than I had imagined’ (WaPo 1/27/25); Gazans find fragments of life along with remains of loved ones (WaPo 1/26/25); Israel’s Bombs May Have Stopped, But the Genocide Is Not Over (Diana Buttu//Zeteo 1/29/25); Displaced Palestinians return to northern Gaza – in pictures (Guardian 1/31/25)

“A City of Ghosts” — Returning to Rafah to Find Death and Destruction (Abubaker Abed//Drop Site 1/29/25)

“After the “ceasefire” went into effect last week, Israel repeatedly violated the agreement, killing dozens of civilians returning to their devastated neighborhoods, the majority of them in Rafah. More than 80 Palestinians have been killed across Gaza since the ceasefire took hold, Dr. Zaher al-Wahaidi, director of the information center at the Ministry of Health, told Drop Site News—49 of them in Rafah alone. Meanwhile, the official toll of confirmed deaths in Gaza continues to shoot up as dozens of bodies are retrieved from under the rubble. Over 470 bodies have been recovered since January 19, al-Wahaidi said—150 of them in Rafah.”

Gaza’s Rafah crossing set to reopen Saturday, to be run by PA with EU monitors (TOI 1/31/25)

“Gaza’s Rafah Border Crossing with Egypt is set to reopen Saturday under the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. It will be run by Palestinian Authority representatives alongside monitors from the European Union, according to officials familiar with the discussions…The source explained that injured Palestinians would be evacuated through the crossing, “as per the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release agreement.”’ See also The deadly cost of Israel’s restrictions on foreign doctors in Gaza (Patricia Martinez Sastre//+972 1/30/25); UN chief urges evacuation of 2,500 children from Gaza as doctors warn of ‘imminent risk’ of death (Guardian 1/30/25); Israel’s war inflicted ‘life-threatening danger’ on pregnant women and girls in Gaza, Human Rights Watch says (CNN 1/29/25); Key Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt reopening for medical evacuations (Al Jazeera 1/31/25)

Gaza Checkpoint to Be Staffed by U.S. Special Forces Veterans Hired by Private Security Firm (Haaretz 1/30/25)

“Some people have been recruited and are already at the checkpoint, said the spokesperson, speaking on condition of anonymity. He did not say how many contractors were already in Gaza…The deployment of armed U.S. contractors in Gaza, where Hamas remains a potent force after 14 months of war, is unprecedented and poses the risk that Americans could be drawn into fighting as President Donald Trump’s administration seeks to keep the Israel-Gaza war from reigniting.” See also US security firm hiring special forces veterans to staff key Gaza checkpoint (TOI 1/31/25); Gaza checkpoint to be staffed by scores of armed American contractors (Reuters 1/30/25)

How to Measure Famine (Alex De Waal//LRB 2/6/25)

“The level of urban starvation in Gaza has not been seen since the Dutch Hunger Winter and the siege of Leningrad during the Second World War.”

REGION/GLOBAL

‘We rely on God, then on UNRWA’: Palestinians fear drastic effects as Israeli ban on UN agency comes into force (CNN 1/30/25)

“Israel’s ban on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) came into effect on Thursday, and Helles relies almost fully on the organization to support her family in the devastated enclave…Helles is among millions of Palestinians relying on the UN agency for sustenance, education and livelihoods, not only in Gaza but also across the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem. In October, Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, passed two bills – one barring UNRWA from activity within Israel, and another banning Israeli authorities from any contact with UNRWA. The second bill revokes a 1967 treaty that allows the agency to provide services to Palestinian refugees in areas under Israel’s control. The legislation came into effect Thursday, and it is expected to severely restrict UNRWA’s activities, with a potentially devastating human impact…Days before the ban, the UN warned against its detrimental effects, while Israel insisted the agency is replaceable, and that it is committed to the flow of aid into Gaza. UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said on Tuesday that its implementation will be “disastrous.” “The government of Israel claims that UNRWA’s services can be transferred to other entities,” Lazzarini said, adding that his agency is unique in its mandate “to provide public-like services,” which “can only be transferred to a functioning state.”’ See also International Unrwa staff leave as Israel’s ban on activity takes effect (Guardian 1/30/25); Norway says sending $24 million to UNRWA after Israel ban (TOI 1/30/25); Israel insists it is going ahead with Unrwa ban – what it may mean for Palestinians (The Guardian 1/27/25); Gaza ‘ceasefire at risk’ if UNRWA forced to stop operations (Al Jazeera 1/31/25);

Inside Witkoff’s Gaza visit: Trump’s envoy assures Israel on next steps (Al Monitor 1/31/25)

“Israel’s military brass took US envoy Steve Witkoff on a tour of the devastated Gaza Strip this week, setting the stage for the key White House meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump scheduled for Feb. 4…“We took him to a huge Hamas tunnel under the Philadelphi route,” a senior Israeli diplomatic source told Al-Monitor, speaking on condition of anonymity, referring to the border area between Gaza and Egypt across which Hamas for years smuggled weapons and other material into the besieged enclave. “Witkoff understood the problem, understood the constraints, and also understood who are the good guys here and who are the bad. He has a pragmatic business vision and an excellent sense of people and opportunities. It was an excellent tour.”…Thus, while Netanyahu will try to talk Trump into backing the resumption of fighting after Hamas releases hostages in the first phase of the deal, he is also preparing for a more likely scenario that would force him to conclude the war, following through on the second phase of the agreement. The latter scenario is likely the reason for the intriguing meeting this week between Witkoff and two influential political figures — Bezalel Smotrich, finance minister and leader of the Religious Zionism party, and Aryeh Deri, head of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party; the meeting upended the boycott of Smotrich adopted by the Biden administration over his hardline views. The Religious Zionism leader holds the key to the Netanyahu government’s survival, having announced that his party will walk out unless Israel resumes the fight against Hamas. Netanyahu currently heads a coalition of 62 Knesset members (out of 120), which makes for a very small majority. Without Religious Zionism, he would no longer have a majority.”

Trump invites Netanyahu to White House as envoy visits Saudi Arabia, Israel (Al Monitor 1/28/25)

“Axios reported that in Saudi Arabia, Witkoff met with Hussein al-Sheikh, a senior adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, marking the first meeting between Palestinian leadership and the new Trump administration. He was also expected to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. These meetings signal the beginning of a push toward the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Riyadh previously said that normalization with Israel would be contingent on a credible path to Palestinian statehood. The US president, for his part, has made clear that expanding the Abraham Accords by brokering Israel-Saudi normalization is a foreign policy priority.” See also Trump invites Netanyahu to the White House (Jewish Insider 1/28/25); Scoop: Trump lifts Biden’s hold on 2,000-pound bombs to Israel (Axios 1/25/25)

Israeli defense minister: Troops could stay in Syria buffer zone ‘indefinitely’ (Al Monitor 1/28/25)

“Visiting Mount Hermon on the Syrian side of the border, now under Israel’s control, Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday that the Israeli military would remain there indefinitely…”I came here to ensure that the Israeli military is well prepared for both defense and offense, for a prolonged stay at the Hermon outposts,” Katz said. He added that Israel will engage with “friendly populations” in southern Syria, “with an emphasis on the large Druze community, which has historic and close family relations with our Druze brothers in Israel.”’

Lebanon says Israeli troops killed 24 ahead of ceasefire extension (WaPo 1/27/25)

“The deadline Sunday for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon was marked by violence as hundreds of people, eager to return home after months of displacement, ignored warnings from the military and marched back into still-occupied villages along the border…Hezbollah and Lebanon’s government condemned Israel’s failure to withdraw and urged the international community to pressure Israeli officials to adhere to the agreement. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, also called on the Israeli military to “avoid firing at civilians within Lebanese territory.”’ See also Israeli forces open fire on Lebanese civilians for a second day after U.S. extension of fragile ceasefire (WaPo 1/26/25); WH announces extension of Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, avoiding renewed fighting (Axios 1/26/25)

New Zealand requires Israelis to disclose IDF service details as condition for entry (Times of Israel 1/28/25)

“Israelis of reserve service age who applied for tourist visas to New Zealand have been asked to report whether they had served in the Israel Defense Forces — as almost all Israeli citizens are required to do — and whether they are active reservists. Those who answered affirmatively were required to complete detailed questionnaires about their military service…Australia has been operating a similar policy, and at least two Israelis have been denied entry as a result…New Zealand’s Immigration Authority (INZ), reached for comment, did not deny the details of this report, but said that serving in the current war did not automatically disqualify Israelis from entering the country…During the same period, the authority saw 259 applications from Palestinian passport holders, of which 177 were approved, 53 declined, 21 are in progress and the remainder have been withdrawn, it added.” See also Hind Rajab Foundation says it filed criminal complaint against [Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai] Chikli that forced him to cancel Belgium trip (TOI 1/28/25)

South Africa and Malaysia to launch campaign to protect international justice (Guardian 1/31/25)

“South Africa and Malaysia will launch a campaign to protect and uphold the rulings of the international court of justice (ICJ) and the international criminal court (ICC) in the face of what they describe as defiance of ICJ orders and attempts by US Congress to hit the ICC through the use of sanctions. The aim of the nine-nation Hague Group – which includes Colombia, Bolivia, Chile, Senegal and Namibia – is to defend the institutions and rulings of the international legal order.”

RIVER TO THE SEA

After Gaza ceasefire, Israel turns its firepower on the West Bank (Basel Adra//+972 1/28/25)

“Two-year-old Laila Al-Khatib is the youngest victim of Israel’s military campaign in Jenin, while road closures suffocate the entire territory…Laila’s killing did not occur in isolation. Since the morning of Jan. 21, only two days after the Gaza ceasefire came into effect, the Israeli army has been engaged in a major military campaign in the northern West Bank. The army says the operation, named “Iron Wall,” is intended to “preserve the IDF’s freedom of action” and suppress armed resistance in the occupied territory, and follows on the heels of a seven-week campaign by the Palestinian Authority (PA) against armed groups in Jenin refugee camp. The Israeli military’s activity is also focused on Jenin and its environs, as well as Tulkarem. So far, the operation has killed 16 Palestinians in Jenin and three in Tulkarem, while causing widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure in both cities, and forcibly displacing thousands of Palestinians from their homes…Conditions in [Jenin refugee] camp are rapidly deteriorating. Schools have been shut since the start of the PA’s operation in early December, while the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has been unable to provide any services for over a month. Electricity has also been completely cut off from the camp.” See also Israeli strike kills 10 Palestinians in West Bank, health ministry says (BBC 1/30/25); A Week Into IDF Operation ‘Iron Wall,’ the Jenin Refugee Camp Has Become a Ghost Town (Haaretz 1/30/25);

Israel Escalates West Bank Military Assault, Invading Areas Across the North (Mariam Barghouti//Drop Site 1/31/25)

“An Israeli airstrike on a crowded neighborhood in the village of Tamoun in the northern West Bank on Wednesday killed at least 10 Palestinians, one of the single deadliest strikes in the West Bank in months. Minutes later, Israeli forces raided the city of Qalqilya and surrounding areas, escalating the military assault. Israeli troops backed by drones and fighter jets have now taken hold of all of the major districts in the north of the occupied territory. Barely 48 hours after the “ceasefire” in Gaza came into effect on January 19, Israel announced “Operation Iron Wall,” a large-scale military operation to “defeat terrorism in Jenin.” What began in the Jenin refugee camp has expanded to Tulkarem, Tubas, Qalqilya, Nablus, and Jericho. Dozens of homes have been destroyed and thousands of families have been forcibly displaced. In the span of 10 days, at least 37 Palestinians have been killed, including a two-year-old who was shot with a bullet to the head at home in Jenin…In a publicized visit to the Jenin camp on Wednesday, Israeli defense minister Israel Katz, declared that troops would maintain a permanent presence there once the military operation was over. “We have declared war on Palestinian terror in the West Bank,” he said. “After the operation is completed, IDF forces will remain in the camp to ensure that terror does not return.”

Israeli Gov’t Orders the Blocking of Dozens of West Bank Roads Through End of Hostage Deal (Haaretz 1/22/25)

Israeli leadership ordered the army to operate dozens of checkpoints on roads leading to Palestinian cities in the West Bank and check every Palestinian vehicle passing through them…Meanwhile, there are huge traffic jams all across the West Bank, greatly affecting Palestinians’ daily routines…On Monday, travelers reported delays of six hours at checkpoints on roads in the Ramallah area. Large traffic jams were also reported in the Nablus and Jericho areas. Travelers from Jericho reported that 20-minute commutes were now three hours long.” See also Israeli Ministers Push Bill to Enable Jews to Privately Buy West Bank Land (Haaretz 1/26/25)

We won’t let them sabotage this’: Hostage families fight to keep ceasefire alive (Oren Ziv//+972 1/30/25)

“Amid fears that Netanyahu will torpedo the deal, hostage families are escalating their protests — even appealing to the ICC to intervene.”

U.S. SCENE

What Trump’s antisemitism executive order actually means for college students and schools (Arno Rosenfeld//The Forward 1/30/25)

“The executive order on antisemitism signed by President Donald Trump Wednesday was far less sweeping than the rhetoric that preceded and surrounded it. But the order’s primary directive appeared to lay the groundwork for more dramatic action in the coming months, heartening those who believe such action is overdue while prompting fear for international students. The order requires every federal agency to provide the White House  — within the next two months —  with a description of any legal tools they can use to combat antisemitism and a list of open legal complaints related to campus antisemitism. The order is “creating a process,” said Alyza Lewin, president of the Brandeis Center, which advocates for pro-Israel college students. “Let’s learn the lay of the land, let’s see what all of our options are and then let’s make a very thoughtful, determined decision on how to move forward — that’s responsible.”…Alex Morey, an attorney at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said that although the order did not actually direct schools themselves to begin this monitoring she was worried that some may seek to do so anyway…“These are not students that got arrested at a protest or vandalized a building, these are students who just went out and protested,” she said. “What we don’t want to see is schools saying, ‘Hey, Students for Justice in Palestine, I’m going to need a list of everyone in that club and we’re going to comb it for foreign students.’”’ See also Trump antisemitism executive order invokes anti-KKK law and targets ‘leftist, anti-American’ universities (Arno Rosenfeld//The Forward 1/29/25)

Trump’s Executive Order Targets Pro-Palestine Students And Free Speech on Campuses (In These Times 1/30/25)

“[Radhika Sainath, the Senior Staff Attorney at Palestine Legal]: What the order does is it expands on Trump’s 2019 executive order that directed the education department to adopt a distorted definition of anti-semitism, which brands virtually all speech of Israel as anti-Jewish into federal civil rights law. During his 2024 election campaign, Trump made it clear he would threaten to pull billions in federal funding from universities for allowing pro-Palestine protests. This order is acting in that vein. It follows a January 20th expanded travel ban executive order that would justify targeting international students and others who support Palestinian rights by calling for expanded vetting of individuals to both ban entry and to justify removing them based on ideological witness tests. It appears to order universities to monitor and report on its own students and professors, and to call this McCarthyite would not be an understatement at all. It’s a dangerous authoritarian attempt to scare students from speaking out against Israel’s genocide in Gaza by threatening them with prosecution and even deportation for non-citizens. It really strikes at the heart of students’ free speech rights. It goes without saying that targeting Palestine rights activists for punishment based on their viewpoints violates the First Amendment.” See also Trump order targets pro-Palestinian activists to ‘combat antisemitism’ (Guardian 1/29/25); Why Did the US Block a Canadian Professor From His Own Book Event? (Dave Zirin//The Nation 1/21/25)

Top USAID career staff placed on immediate leave (Politico 1/27/25)

“The Trump administration has ordered dozens of top career employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development to go on administrative leave, according to six people told of the decision. The order — sent via email to members of the senior executive and senior Foreign Service — was issued close to the end of the business day Monday and was effective immediately, according to two current USAID officials and three former USAID officials told of the communication. It comes as USAID and the State Department have been ordered to impose halts on a vast number of humanitarian and related programs around the world…The cuts have left many offices within the agency entirely devoid of senior non-political leadership.” See also $50 million for condoms in Gaza? There’s no evidence for the White House claim. (WaPo 1/29/25); Fact or fiction? Trump repeats false claim that US sends condoms to Gaza (Guardian 1/29/25)

Critics Denounce Harvard’s Decision to Adopt Controversial Definition of Antisemitism (Inside HigherEd 1/28/25)

“Harvard University is facing backlash for its decision to incorporate the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, a polarizing definition that some believe chills political speech opposing Israel’s government, into the institution’s nondiscrimination policy. The policy now calls for officials to consider the IHRA’s examples of antisemitism, many of which highlight discrimination against Zionism—support of the existence of a Jewish national state, which many Zionist advocates argue is an inherent part of some Jewish people’s Jewish identity…Alyza Lewin, president of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, a nonprofit that combats antisemitism and the plaintiff in one of the two lawsuits against Harvard, said that these actions are the most comprehensive any university has taken to remediate a hostile environment toward Jewish students. “What we would suggest is that what Harvard is committed to do in the settlement agreement should now become the floor,” said Lewin…Ahead of this academic year, some universities began to incorporate the definition into their formal policies. Harvard is now the second prestigious East Coast institution to do so. New York University was the first, last summer, to begin considering Zionists a protected class.” See also Program Director at HKS Nonviolent Action Lab To Resign Over Antisemitism Settlements (The Crimson 1/25/25); “Operation Wrath of Zion” Aims to Dox and Deport Pro-Palestinian Protestors in New York City (Drop Site 1/30/25); A Well-Connected NYU Parent Is Trying to Get Students Deported (The Intercept 1/31/25)

PERSPECTIVES//LONG READS

Who will lead the Palestinians? This is a question they must be allowed to debate and answer themselves (Dana El-Kurd//The Guardian 1/27/25)

“This takes us to the main crisis plaguing internal Palestinian politics today: a leadership that is seen as absent or illegitimate. Palestinian leadership currently takes two forms. There is the political bureau of Hamas, which has an acting head negotiating in Qatar, and the Fatah-run Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. Neither has risen to the occasion; it remains unclear how either intends to pursue Palestinian national claims beyond this moment. Indeed, the fact that there are two actors claiming to represent the people is the clearest sign of the political stagnation Palestinians face…A majority of Palestinians reject the idea of the Palestinian Authority governing Gaza alone. The PA is seen as the institution that has presided over the deterioration of living conditions and the national movement. It is true that PA institutions provide some basic services, but accusing Abbas and the PA of betraying the Palestinian cause is a common theme in Palestinian discourse. It is important to recognise the fact that, despite international opprobrium and its designation by the US and its allies as a terrorist organisation, Hamas has gained some legitimacy among Palestinians since the war began…For any solutions to be sustainable, Palestinian society must be on board. This means allowing Palestinians to choose their leadership, so that whoever negotiates on their behalf actually has legitimacy in their eyes. It also means allowing Palestinians the space to negotiate internally, without reprisals and assassinations, in order to come up with ways to move beyond the Fatah-Hamas binary. And it means the international community should take bold and creative solutions seriously, rather than ignore any manifestations of Palestinian agency. Nothing less will resolve the immediate crisis of suffering and devastation in Gaza – and nothing less will achieve a long-term peace.”

There’s No Auschwitz in Gaza. But It’s Still Genocide (Amos Goldberg & Daniel Blatman//Haaretz 1/30/25)

“Genocide is any action that leads to the destruction of a collective’s ability to exist, not necessarily its total annihilation. It is estimated that nearly 47,000 people have been killed in Gaza and over 110,000 injured. The number of those buried under the rubble may never be known. The vast majority of the victims are noncombatants. According to the United Nations, 90 percent of Gaza’s population have been displaced from their homes multiple times and are living in subhuman conditions that only increase mortality levels. The murder of children, starvation, destruction of infrastructure, including that of the health care system, destruction of most homes, including the erasure of entire neighborhoods and towns such as Jabalya and Rafah, ethnic cleansing in the northern Strip, destruction of all of Gaza’s universities and most cultural institutions and mosques, destruction of government and organizational infrastructure, mass graves, destruction of infrastructure for local food production and water distribution – all these paint a clear picture of genocide. Gaza, as a human, national-collective entity, no longer exists. This is precisely what genocide looks like.” See also Genocide Denial in Holocaust Studies (Raz Segal//Jacobin 1/27/25)

‘A moral wreckage that we need to face’: Peter Beinart on being Jewish after Gaza’s destruction (Interview by Ahmed Moor//The Guardian 1/27/25)

“And I feel like there is a kind of pathology that exists in many Jewish spaces, among people who in other aspects of their lives are humane and thoughtful. Yet when it comes to the question of Gaza, and more generally the question of Palestinians and their right to be free, a certain set of blinders come down. My hope is that I can get them to see that something has gone very profoundly wrong in the way we think about what it means to be Jewish. I felt like I needed for my own sanity to write something which addressed this moral catastrophe in the hopes that maybe I will change some people’s minds. Maybe there is also a whole group of younger Jews who are themselves profoundly alienated and bewildered and deeply angry. There’s a kind of moral, cultural, even theological wreckage that Jews now have to face. I want to help them think about how they rebuild.

States Don’t Have a Right to Exist. People Do. (Peter Beinart//NYT 1/27/25)

“In today’s Washington, which seethes with partisan acrimony, Democrats and Republicans at least agree on this: Israel has a right to exist…This is not the way Washington politicians generally talk about other countries. They usually start with the rights of individuals, and then ask how well a given state represents the people under its control. If America’s leaders prioritized the lives of all those who live between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, it would become clear that asking if Israel has a right to exist is the wrong question. The better question is: Does Israel, as a Jewish state, adequately protect the rights of all the individuals under its dominion? The answer is no.”

Two States, Together: An Alternative Vision for Palestinians and Israelis (Dahlia Scheindlin//Century Foundation 1/28/25)

“Although Israelis and Palestinians are in one of the ugliest and most violent phases of their history, there is an alternate scenario for Israel and Palestine, too. Global and regional forces, along with Israeli and Palestinian domestic conditions, could converge in unexpected ways to support an end to the war, especially now that there is a ceasefire. These developments could, in turn, serve as an opening to advance a long-term final status solution based on Palestinian self-determination. But for such a transformation to take place, the Israel–Palestine conflict needs a fresh idea—one based on equal rights, which cuts through the fears and resentments on both sides, honors ancestral connections to the land, and prioritizes mutual needs like security, the economy, climate, natural resources, and public health. There is really only one realistic and pragmatic solution remaining that satisfies these aims: a confederation of two sovereign nations living peacefully in partnership on the same land.”

Israel, Trump, and the Gaza Deal (Amos Harel//Foreign Affairs 1/29/25)

“What happens next, then, will depend primarily on the U.S. president. The incoming administration has big plans. For many months, Trump’s aides and advisers have been speaking about the regional arrangements Trump wants to establish. His main goal seems to lie in multibillion dollar technology and defense deals between the United States and Saudi Arabia. An accompanying step would be a grand Israeli-Saudi normalization deal, similar to the one the Biden administration tried to push through in the fall of 2023. (Hamas leaders later described thwarting that deal as one of their motivations for launching the October 7 attacks.) In order to achieve these goals, Trump will need the cease-fire in Gaza, along with its counterpart in Lebanon, to hold as long as possible—whether or not both sides are really interested in peace…If Netanyahu moves forward with implementing the second stage of the deal, including a full withdrawal from the strip, his government will probably fall. And even if it somehow survives, miraculously, for a few more weeks until the end of March, it will likely collapse at that point, due to a developing political crisis concerning efforts to exempt all ultra-Orthodox (haredim) men from mandatory military service.”

Make no mistake: Israel’s far right is planning for a Gaza without Palestinians (Ben Reiff//The Guardian 1/28/25)

“Recent polls overwhelmingly suggest that the prime minister would have difficulty returning to power if elections were held today. So his political survival – and his ability to fend off the completion of his corruption trial and accountability for possible failings in the lead-up to the 7 October attack – now rests in the hands of a man [Minister of Finance Betzalel Smotrich] whose vision for Gaza is one of permanent Israeli control and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. In that ambition, Smotrich seems to have found an ally in the new occupant of the White House. “You’re talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing and say: ‘You know, it’s over’,” Trump told reporters over the weekend, suggesting that residents of Gaza could be permanently relocated to Egypt or Jordan. According to senior Israeli officials, this was no slip of the tongue. Indeed, some reports suggest that Netanyahu views the idea favourably, and a Trump transition official has already floated the possibility of temporarily relocating people from Gaza to Indonesia.”

The Estimated Cost of the Gaza War on the Israeli Economy (Mtanes Shihadeh//Arab Center DC 1/27/25)

“The current war has specific peculiarities that have made projections and economic costs high. These include: 1. Israel entered the war with an unstable economic situation because of political fractures in Israeli society in the past year, the global economic decline, and high prices, inflation, and interest rates, although these did not turn into a serious economic crisis. 2. There was a precipitate decline in several economic indicators during 2023 and the international standing of the Israeli economy as well as a threat of a decline in Israel’s credit rating. 3. For the first time since 1948, the war started after a military offensive inside Israeli towns in the south of the country. The war has greatly affected the home front, causing serious destruction to the infrastructure and housing in those towns. 4. Economic activity was almost completely disrupted in the southern regions for more than a month. Economic activity in the heart of Israel also declined for several weeks and was followed by a stoppage in the northern towns as a result of Hezbollah’s opening of the support front. It finally ceased completely with the large-scale Israeli attack on Lebanon in September 2024 that led to the disruption of civil and economic activity in the northern towns. 5. For the first time, Israel has moved large numbers of Jewish residents from their homes in border towns in the south and north—some 150,000 citizens—and relocated them to shelters in other areas at the government’s expense. 6. This was the first time since 1973 that the Israeli Army has recruited, at a high cost, nearly 300,000 troops. 7. The war on Gaza and Lebanon is one of the longest wars Israel has fought since its establishment in 1948. 8. The Israeli military has used vast quantities of weapons since the beginning of the genocidal war on Gaza, which translates into significant costs to the Defense Ministry’s budget. 9. A high number of dead and injured soldiers and increasing numbers of those with physical and psychological disabilities cannot rejoin the labor market completely or partially. This means that the Ministry of Defense will have to bear the brunt of their funding.”

On the “Victims of the Victims” (Ussama Makdisi//Jewish Currents 1/17/25)

“However much they were victims in the past, and however much they carry with them the stamp of this past, Israeli Jews have, through their own actions, been transformed into a new kind of subject. With crucial exceptions like historian Ilan Pappé, who reminds us that the secular affiliation to power is a choice made and unmade, Israeli Jews are now in the position of being oppressors. They are in the ongoing act of making victims of Palestinians. Both Israeli Jews and Palestinians are obviously human, both deserve equality and freedom, and the two are bound together. But, at present, only one is the oppressor; the other is the oppressed. If we can’t maintain this basic, obvious ethical distinction between oppressor and oppressed, colonizer and colonized, then history becomes an idol of anachronism rather than a tool to break the narcissism of perpetual victimhood.”

‘In Gaza, They’re Amputating Limbs Without Painkillers. Imagine Your Child Going Through That’ (Haaretz 1/25/25)

“Dr. Guy Shalev, executive director of Physicians for Human Rights Israel, describes the country’s deliberate destruction of Gaza’s health system…”We are seeing a systematic and systemic assault: destruction of the hospitals, prevention of medical evacuations, more than 1,000 medical personnel killed, 300 wounded; more than 100 medical staff taken into custody and being held in Israel. There aren’t many specialist doctors in Gaza. If the only surgeon who’s a specialist in vascular diseases is being held in Israel, there is no care for all his patients. Vascular diseases were the chief cause of death in Gaza prior to October 7…You see systematization. You see scope. You see systematic raids on hospitals, which include destruction, sometimes total, of a facility, and the arrest of hundreds of medical personnel…Medical personnel are being arrested intentionally… I think that the arrests of the physicians are part of a campaign to delegitimize the whole system. The ability to arrest them and then to attach an accusation of terrorism to them serves the narrative that we do not attack the health system, but that the system is part of Hamas’ military alignment. From my point of view, the desire to degrade the health system, which is, as I said of and for the people, represents a desire to harm this society irreversibly.”

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1. New from FMEP

2. Gaza

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5. U.S. Scene

6. Perspectives//Long Reads

NEW FROM FMEP

FMEP Legislative Round-Up January 24, 2025 (Lara Friedman)

1. Bills, Resolutions; 2. Letters; 3. Hearings; 4. Selected Members on the Record; 5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

The Escalation of Israel’s Gaza-fication of the West Bank (New Occupied Thoughts podcast episode)

FMEP’s Lara Friedman speaks with preeminent journalist Dalia Hatuqa about the current realities of Israel violence carried out both by the Israeli military and Israeli civilians (settlers) against Palestinians in the West Bank — including the situation in the months leading up to 10/7/23; the dangerous deterioration of conditions following 10/7/23, through the onset of the current Hamas-Israel ceasefire in Gaza;  and the ongoing — rapid, dramatic — escalation of Israeli violence and destruction in the West Bank in the wake of that ceasefire.

Genocide and self-involvement: on being Israeli as Israel commits a historic crime (New Occupied Thoughts podcast episode)

FMEP Fellow Ahmed Moor interviews Israeli author, academic, and political commentator Ori Goldberg about how Israeli society reckons – or not – with Palestinians, with committing this genocidal war in Gaza, and with the centrality of the military in Israeli society. The two discuss Ori’s path to becoming a dissident, including how he navigates Zionism, anti-Zionism, and his sense of belonging in Israel.

A toxic environment for those who dare to question (New Occupied Thoughts podcast episode)

FMEP Fellow Peter Beinart interviews Professor Katherine Franke, former faculty at Columbia University’s law school, about student activism and escalating repression at Columbia since October 7th, 2023. Katherine Franke just retired from Columbia, saying “I have come to the view that the Columbia University administration has created such a toxic and hostile environment for legitimate debate around the war in Israel and Palestine that I can no longer teach or conduct research.” Peter and Katherine discuss the specific circumstances that led to Katherine’s retirement, including extensive harassment; the conflation of Palestinian rights advocacy with antisemitism; and how the Israel/Palestine dynamics on campus point to broader threats to teaching, research, and activism on a range of issues.

GAZA

Hamas names four female Israeli soldiers it will release from Gaza this weekend (Guardian 1/24/25)

“Hamas has published the names of four female Israeli soldiers being held captive in Gaza who it says it plans to release this weekend as part of the continuing ceasefire agreement between the armed group and Israel. In the hours following the release of the names, however, the office of Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to indicate it believed Hamas had breached the fragile ceasefire deal because the four names did not include that of the remaining female civilian hostage in Gaza. Israeli media later reported the Israeli prime minister had consulted his security chiefs and decided to move forward, believing Hamas’s decision to release female soldiers before female civilians to be a violation of the ceasefire agreement but not one serious enough to end the process entirely…All those named by Hamas for the next exchange are female Israel Defense Forces (IDF) observation troops who were abducted in Nahal Oz during the group’s surprise attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, when their base was overrun.” See also Three hostages released by Hamas reunited with mothers after ceasefire deal (Guardian 1/19/25); Three Israeli hostages and 90 Palestinians freed as Gaza ceasefire takes hold (WaPo 1/20/25);

‘Arduous and Difficult’: Palestinians Search for Bodies Under the Gaza Rubble (Haaretz 1/22/25)

“As the ceasefire begins, a Gaza civil defense spokesman stated that up to 10,000 bodies may still be trapped under rubble, with around 2,800 bodies “evaporated” in Israeli bombings” See also Drone footage shows the scale of destruction in Gaza’s Rafah – video (Guardian); This Is What Gaza Looks Like Today: The Scale of Destruction Caused by Israel Is Revealed (Haaretz 1/21/25)

Palestinians begin search for Gaza’s missing as they return to ruined homes (Guardian 1/20/25)

“After the first night in Gaza for more than a year without the sound of drones or bombing overhead following the successful implementation of a ceasefire, people in the besieged Palestinian territory have begun returning to destroyed homes and searching for missing loved ones. The truce that took effect on Sunday with the release of the first three hostages held by Hamas in exchange for 90 Palestinians from Israeli jails was greeted with euphoria as a large influx of desperately needed aid supplies entered the strip. By Monday, however, the celebrations largely gave way to shock and sorrow, as the strip’s 2.3 million population began to assess the scale of the devastation wreaked by Israel in retaliation for the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack. In Israel, joy at the three hostages’ safe return was tempered by anger and surprise at Hamas’s show of force at the hostage handover after 15 months of gruelling combat.” See also ‘My neighborhood was one of the most beautiful in Gaza. All that’s left is rubble’ (Ahmed Ahmed//+972 1/23/25)

Gaza at Last Welcomes More Aid. It Needs a Deluge. (NYT 1/24/25)

“The United Nations moved as much food into Gaza in three days this week as it did in the entire month of October, the interim head of the U.N. humanitarian office for Gaza, Jonathan Whittall, said in a briefing on Thursday. Other U.N. agencies and aid groups were distributing medical supplies and fuel to power hospitals and water wells, among other types of assistance, and helping to repair critical infrastructure. Tents were set to enter soon, and bakeries were expected to start supplying bread by Friday, according to the United Nations. Since the start of the cease-fire, civilian police officers belonging to the Hamas government have re-emerged, which appears to have restored some security and order to the enclave…COGAT, the Israeli government agency that oversees policy in Gaza and the West Bank, did not respond to a request for comment, but it said in a post on social media on Friday that 4,200 aid trucks had entered the Gaza Strip over the past week after being inspected.” See also Ceasefire brings flood of aid to Gaza, but security challenges remain (WaPo 1/24/25)

Hamas Takes Charge in Gaza After 15 Months of War (NYT 1/23/25)

“Since the cease-fire started on Sunday, Hamas has been working overtime in an attempt to show it still controls Gaza, even after Israel killed thousands of its members and demolished its tunnels and weapons factories in retaliation for the Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border attack that killed an estimated 1,200 people…Later on the first day of the cease-fire, dozens of Hamas militants turned up at Saraya Square in Gaza City to hand over three hostages to the Red Cross for release to Israel, the first of 33 to be freed as part of the deal. The appearance of the militants didn’t suggest they were on their last legs: They appeared to be wearing clean uniforms, in good shape and driving decent cars. It is not clear just how many fighters, police officers, bureaucrats and political leaders survived the war or just where the militants had been hiding. But by showcasing the handover in such a public way, Hamas made clear that it was still standing in a part of Gaza that had seen some of the most devastating bombing attacks of the war.” See also US intel figures show Hamas has recruited up to 15,000 new fighters during Gaza war (Times of Israel 1/24/25)

Leaked documents expose deep ties between Israeli army and Microsoft (Yuval Abraham//+972 1/23/25)

“Microsoft has a “footprint in all major military infrastructures” in Israel, and sales of the company’s cloud and artificial intelligence services to the Israeli army have skyrocketed since the beginning of its onslaught on Gaza, according to leaked commercial records from Israel’s Defense Ministry and files from Microsoft’s Israeli subsidiary. The documents reveal that dozens of units in the Israeli army have purchased services from Microsoft’s cloud computing platform, Azure, in recent months — including units in the air, ground, and naval forces, as well as the elite intelligence squad, Unit 8200. Microsoft has also provided the military with extensive access to OpenAI’s GPT-4 language model, the engine behind ChatGPT, thanks to the close partnership between the two companies. These revelations are the product of an investigation by +972 Magazine and Local Call in collaboration with The Guardian. It is based in part on documents obtained by Drop Site News, which has published its own story. The investigation shows how the Israeli army deepened its reliance on civilian tech giants after October 7, and comes amid growing protests by cloud company employees who fear that the technology they developed has helped Israel commit war crimes.” See also The Israeli Military Is One of Microsoft’s Top AI Customers, Leaked Documents Reveal (Drop Site 1/23/25); Revealed: Microsoft deepened ties with Israeli military to provide tech support during Gaza war (Guardian 1/23/25)

Google rushed to sell AI tools to Israel’s military after Hamas attack (WaPo 1/21/25)

“Google employees have worked to provide Israel’s military with access to the company’s latest artificial intelligence technology from the early weeks of the Israel-Gaza war, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post. The internal documents show Google directly assisting Israel’s Defense Ministry and the Israel Defense Forces, despite the company’s efforts to publicly distance itself from the country’s national security apparatus after employee protests against a cloud computing contract with Israel’s government. Google fired more than 50 employees last year after they protested the contract, known as Nimbus, over fears it could see Google technology aid military and intelligence programs that have harmed Palestinians…Google has AI policies that pledge the company will not apply the technology to uses that harm people. Its human rights program says the company reviews its products and policies for compliance with international standards like the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights and invites employees to raise any concerns they have about the company’s work.”

Nearly 40,000 Palestinian Children Orphaned by War in Gaza (Rasha Abou Jalal//Drop Site 1/22/25)

“For the children of Gaza, the carnage is unprecedented in recent history. Over 14,500 children have been killed since October 2023, according to the health ministry. Of the 1.9 million people — 9 out of 10 residents in Gaza — who have been internally displaced, half of them are children, according to UNICEF. Many of the children who survived, belong to a new generation of Palestinian orphans.” See also Questions from Palestinian Children in Gaza (New visuals from Visualizing Palestine)

The Palestinians killed waiting for the Gaza ceasefire to come into force (Al Jazeera 1/19/25)

“During the agonising wait between the Gaza ceasefire announcement and its implementation, Israel killed another 141 Palestinians, including 19 after the truce was scheduled to begin. These are the stories of the last victims before the bombing stopped.”

U.S. Security Contractors Going to Gaza to Oversee Truce, Officials Say (NYT 1/23/25)

“American security contractors have been enlisted to help handle the return of displaced Palestinians to the Gaza Strip’s devastated north, the next step in the cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas, according to four officials familiar with the matter. The contractors are poised to help secure a key zone that splits Gaza in two and is known as the Netzarim corridor, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The contractors are intended to screen vehicles ferrying Palestinians from the enclave’s south for weapons, the officials said.”

REGION/GLOBAL

Israel to UN: Palestinian relief agency UNRWA must leave Jerusalem by January 30 (Haaretz 1/24/25)

“The UN Palestinian relief agency UNRWA must “cease its operations in Jerusalem, and evacuate all premises in which it operates in the city” by Jan. 30, Israel’s U.N. envoy told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a letter on Friday. A law banning UNRWA’s operation on Israeli land and contact with Israeli authorities takes effect on Jan. 30. Israel annexed East Jerusalem in a move not recognized abroad.”

Israel delays Lebanon withdrawal deadline: What we know (Al Monitor 1/24/25)

“The Israeli government announced Friday that its troops will not fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Sunday despite the deadline set in the Nov. 27 deal with Hezbollah. Under the agreement, both Hezbollah militants and Israeli forces were to gradually withdraw from southern Lebanon, with the Lebanese army expected to take control of areas previously held by Hezbollah and Israel’s troops to fully exit within 60 days. Israel attributes the delay to concerns that the Lebanese army has not yet fully secured the region or dismantled Hezbollah’s infrastructure…There was no immediate response from the Lebanese government or Hezbollah. However, on Thursday, Hezbollah issued a statement condemning any delay in the 60-day withdrawal, calling it “a blatant violation of the agreement and an ongoing infringement of Lebanese sovereignty.”’ See also Israel said seeking 30 more days to withdraw from Lebanon, citing Hezbollah violations (Times of Israel 1/23/25); U.S. calls for Lebanon ceasefire extension after Israel says IDF won’t withdraw by deadline (WaPo 1/24/25)

Saudi Arabia to invest $600 billion in U.S., crown prince tells Trump (WaPo 1/23/25)

“The pledge by Mohammed, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, came days after Trump suggested that he could be willing to visit the kingdom for his first official trip abroad in return for substantial investments.”

Houthis release crew of Galaxy Leader after more than a year of captivity (WaPo 1/22/25)

“Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Wednesday released the crew of the Galaxy Leader, a commercial ship the militants hijacked in November 2023 as they began attacking ships in the Red Sea in support of Hamas…The decision to release the crew was tied to the agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, the Houthi-run al-Masirah news channel reported, citing a statement from the rebel group. The Houthis made the move “in coordination with the Hamas movement and the mediation of the Sultanate of Oman” — a neighbor of Yemen whose government has often mediated between the Houthis and other countries — al-Masirah reported.”

Trump redesignates Houthis as Foreign Terrorist Organization (Jewish Insider 1/22/25)

“President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Wednesday designating Yemen’s Houthi rebels as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), reversing a Biden-era policy that had removed the group from the State Department’s list of global terror groups. The move grants the U.S. government additional sanctions authority, giving Trump more tools to go after the Iran-backed Yemeni terror group.”

The Sheikh, the Mogul and the Diplomat: The Trio Who Sealed the Gaza Truce (NYT 1/17/25)

“The Qatari prime minister, working with both President Biden’s envoy and President-elect Donald J. Trump’s representative, formed an unlikely partnership.”

Trump Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff says he’s open to ‘dialogue’ with Hamas, praises Qatar (Jewish Insider 1/23/25)

“Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, said on Wednesday that he welcomed the potential for “a dialogue” with Hamas and heaped praise on Qatar for helping facilitate the cease-fire deal between Israel and Gaza, despite facing scrutiny for previous ties to the Gulf nation. Asked by Fox News’ Dana Perino to respond to a top Hamas official telling The New York Times, “We are prepared for a dialogue with America in achieving understandings on everything,” Witkoff replied, “I think it’s good if it’s accurate.” “I think you can get everybody on board in that region. I really do. With a new sense of leadership over there,” Witkoff added, noting that “everybody” in this case included Qatar.” See also Dermer: Israel did not promise the Saudis a Palestinian state (Jewish Insider 1/22/25)

Gaza Ceasefire Deal: Respite but No End to Colonial Occupation (Al Shabaka 1/21/25)

“In this roundtable, Al Shabaka analysts Shatha Abdulsamad, Basil Farraj, Talal Abu Rokbeh, and Diana Buttu weigh in on the different aspects of the ceasefire deal and what they mean in the broader context of Israeli settler colonial occupation of Palestine.”

RIVER TO THE SEA

Israel Invades Jenin Days After Signing Gaza “Ceasefire” (Sharif Abdel Kouddous & Mariam Barghouti//Drop Site 1/21/25)

“Israel launched a major military operation on Jenin in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, raiding the city with troops, military vehicles, and bulldozers backed by airstrikes, drones, and Apache helicopters. At least nine Palestinians have been killed and more than 40 wounded in the ongoing operation, according to the Ramallah-based Palestinian health ministry, which Israel has dubbed “Operation Iron Wall.”’ See also From the Palestinian Authority’s Siege to Israel’s Assault, Jenin Residents Face Another Wave of Violence (Zeteo 1/24/25); At least 10 killed, dozens wounded in Israeli attacks across Jenin (Al Jazeera 1/21/25); Hundreds flee Jenin amid Israel’s deepening West Bank crackdown (Guardian 1/23/25)

As Gaza ceasefire takes hold, Israeli forces turn to Jenin – a regular target seen as a center of Palestinian resistance (Maha Nassar//The Conversation 1/22/25)

“The Israeli military has destroyed infrastructure, closed entrances to local hospitals and forcibly displaced about 2,000 families, according to reports on the raids. As it was, life for inhabitants of the densely populated camp – home to some 24,000 Palestinian refugees – was hard. The West Bank director of UNRWA, the U.N. agency overseeing refugees, recently described camp conditions as “nearly uninhabitable.”…As a scholar of Palestinian history, I see this recent episode as the latest chapter in a much longer history of Palestinian displacement and defiance of Israeli occupation. Understanding this history helps explain why the Jenin camp in particular has become a target of Israeli offensives and a center of Palestinian militant resistance.”

‘It’s not the damage, it’s the terror’: Israeli settlers run riot after ceasefire deal (Guardian 1/23/25)

“Sinjil, home to about 5,000 people, was one of several Palestinian towns and villages targeted by a wave of Israeli settler violence in the past few days, triggered by the implementation of a ceasefire and hostage release deal in the war in Gaza. At least six villages across the West Bank – Sinjil, Turmus Ayya, Ein Sinya and Luban e-Sharkiya near Ramallah, and Funduq and Jinsafut, near Nablus – were targeted on Sunday and Monday night by dozens of Israeli men and boys. Many wore masks, residents said. Health authorities said 21 Palestinians were injured in the attacks. The rioters threw molotov cocktails and rocks, breaking windows and setting several houses and cars on fire in each place they targeted in protest at the release of 90 Palestinian women and children held in Israeli jails in exchange for three Israeli hostages held in Gaza…In Funduq, one Israeli was killed and another injured by what appeared to be police or IDF fire.” See also Online Calls to Action Preceded a Settler Onslaught in the West Bank, and Once Again Palestinians Were Left Unprotected (Haaretz 1/23/25); Most Settler Violence Complaints by Palestinians Are Closed Without Indictment (Haaretz 1/18/25); At Smotrich’s orders: Amnesty International loses tax benefits in Israel (Arutz 7 1/20/25)

Who are the Palestinian prisoners released by Israel? (Al Jazeera 1/20/25)

“The Israeli-occupied West Bank has erupted in celebrations after 90 Palestinian prisoners, most of them women, were released from Israeli jails as part of an Israel-Hamas ceasefire. Families in the West Bank waited until early on Monday to receive their loved ones, most of whom had been detained without charge…The prisoners – 69 women and 21 children – were released about 1am on Monday (23:00 GMT on Sunday)…Only eight of the 90 prisoners were arrested before October 7, 2023…” See also Who are the Israeli hostages released in the ceasefire with Hamas? (WaPo 1/20/25); Defying Israel, thousands celebrate prisoners’ release in West Bank (Oren Ziv//+972 1/20/25)

In the West Bank, Palestinian unemployment is now Israeli policy (Haithem S.//+972 1/21/25)

“Ever since the beginning of Israel’s assault on Gaza in October 2023, Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have been suffering from an acute unemployment crisis. In the first six months of the war, the unemployment rate nearly tripled, with over 300,000 workers losing their main source of income. Over half of those people were working inside Israel until the authorities revoked their work permits following the Hamas attack of October 7…In my village of Umm Al-Khair in the South Hebron Hills, most families no longer have any source of income. On top of a frightening uptick in settler attacks and home demolitions in our community, most residents now find themselves in financial ruin. Already well into the second year of this reality, we are still without solutions or adequate financial assistance.”

Israeli military chief of staff Halevi resigns over Oct. 7 failures (Al Monitor 1/21/25)

“In a letter sent to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday, Halevi said he will resign effective March 6, after two years and two months in office. He also said in his letter he was resigning in keeping with his promise since Oct. 7, 2023, to take responsibility for the failure that allowed Hamas to invade southern Israel. “My responsibility for this terrible failure accompanies me every day and every hour. This will continue for the rest of my life,” he wrote. Halevi added that he had made the decision to resign a long time ago but waited for the right timing, “when the Israeli military has the upper hand on all fronts and the deal for bringing back the hostages is on its way.”’

U.S. SCENE

Trump revokes sanctions on Israeli settlers in West Bank: What we know (Al Monitor 1/21/25)

“Trump reversed a slew of Biden’s policies in an executive order called “Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions.” Those included sanctions imposed by Biden on Israeli settlers…It imposed sanctions on 17 Israeli individuals and 16 entities, while stopping short of sanctioning senior Israeli officials supporting the settlement expansion. Reactions: Trump revoking this policy was a key wish of far-right Israeli groups that believed Trump’s victory would mean backing for further Israeli settlements in the West Bank and perhaps US backing for an Israeli annexation of the territory. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich thanked Trump in a post to X on Tuesday. “Mr. President, your unwavering and uncompromising support for the State of Israel is a testament to your deep connection to the Jewish people and our historical right to our land,” he wrote.” See also Trump Halts Sanctions on Israeli Settlers, Threatens to Seize Assets of War Crimes Investigators (The Intercept 1/22/25); New Secretary of State Rubio holds first call with Netanyahu: US support for Israel ‘a top priority’ (Times of Israel 1/23/25)

Trump UN nominee backs Israeli claims of biblical rights to West Bank (Guardian 1/21/25)

“Donald Trump’s nominee for US ambassador to the United Nations has endorsed Israeli claims of biblical rights to the entire West Bank during a Senate confirmation hearing, aligning herself with positions that could complicate diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. The New York congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a Republican, was confronted on Tuesday over her backing of a position that aligns her with the Israeli far right, including Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich and former national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. “You told me that, yes, you shared that view,” the Democratic Maryland senator Chris Van Hollen said during questioning. “Is that your view today?” “Yes,” Stefanik said…Stefanik again criticized what she has called anti-Israel bias at the UN, dismissing the institution as a “cesspool of antisemitism” and echoing Trump administration positions that led to US withdrawal from the UN human rights council and Unesco during his first term. “Our tax dollars should not be complicit in propping up entities that are counter to American interests, antisemitic, or engaging in fraud, corruption or terrorism,” Stefanik said.” See also Trump’s UN envoy pick Stefanik blasts organization’s ‘antisemitic rot’ (Al Monitor 1/21/25); Trump’s ambassador nominee questions U.S. funding of ‘antisemitic’ U.N. (WaPo 1/21/25)

See also:
Neo-Nazis Love the Nazi-Like Salutes Elon Musk Made at Trump’s Inauguration (Wired 1/20/25);
Elon Musk makes Holocaust jokes after Netanyahu defends him as ‘great friend of Israel’ (The Forward 1/23/25);
Elon Musk has made some disturbing comments about Jews. Here’s a list (12/3/24);
ADL excuses Musk salute as ‘awkward gesture’ (The Forward 1/21/25);
Let’s Call the ADL What It Is: an Ally of Fascists (Eva Borgwardt//The Nation 11/1/24);

A Columbia professor criticized Israeli students. It put her job at risk. (WaPo 1/22/25)

“Law professor Katherine Franke drew colleagues’ complaints, and a university investigation, when she spoke out about Gaza protests on the Ivy League campus.”

Harvard settles antisemitism lawsuits with promises to police anti-Zionist speech (JTA 1/21/25)

“Harvard University has settled two lawsuits with Jewish groups accusing the school of fostering an antisemitic environment in the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, as President Donald Trump retakes office with a promise to more heavily police universities for such cases. As part of the settlements, Harvard says it has agreed to an unspecified monetary payout; to change its policies around anti-Zionist speech and devote more resources to study antisemitism; and to pursue a new partnership with an Israeli university. It will also partner with the Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, one of the groups that had sued the school, “to host a variety of events on campus.”…The agreement reflects a wish list of many pro-Israel groups that demanded a more forceful response from universities to the explosion of pro-Palestinian activism on their campuses…Harvard’s move to consider some attacks on Zionists as violations of its non-discrimination policy follows similar steps from New York University and some other schools…In its statement, the Ivy League school said that rhetoric violating the policy could include “excluding Zionists from an open event, calling for the death of Zionists, applying a ‘no Zionist’ litmus test for participation in any Harvard activity, using or disseminating tropes, stereotypes, and conspiracies about Zionists (e.g., ‘Zionists control the media’), or demanding a person who is or is perceived to be Jewish or Israeli to state a position on Israel or Zionism to harass or discriminate.”’ See also Harvard’s new approach to antisemitism is dangerous (Kenneth Roth//Boston Globe 1/23/25); Harvard expands its definition of antisemitism – when does criticism of Israel cross a line? (Joshua Shanes//The Conversation 1/24/25); Harvard agrees to controversial definition of antisemitism in legal settlement (Guardian 1/21/25)

‘No Other Land’ Palestinian film set in occupied West Bank earns Oscar nomination (New Arab 1/23/25)

“A Palestinian film produced by a Palestinian journalist and an Israeli film director has earned an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary on Thursday at the 97th Academy Awards. ‘No Other Land’, nominated under the documentary feature film category, centres around the struggles Palestinian journalist Basel Adra faces as he tries to save his occupied West Bank village from Jewish settlers. The film is a production by Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal and Yuval Abraham and garnered widespread acclaim at the Berlin International Film Festival, the International Documentary Association and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards.” See also This Oscar-nominated documentary about demolitions in the West Bank has no US distributor — but is still coming to theaters (JTA 1/23/25); No Other Distribution: How Film Industry Economics and Politics Are Suppressing Docs Sympathetic to Palestine and Critical of Israel (IDA 1/15/25)

PERSPECTIVES//LONG READS

The Fallacy of the Abraham Accords (Khaled Elgindy//Foreign Affairs 1/23/25)

“Indeed, the central premise of the Abraham Accords—that regional peace and stability could be achieved while sidelining Palestinians—has been totally upended by Hamas’s October 7 assault on Israel, and everything that has happened since. A cease-fire deal that went into effect this week underscores the centrality of the Palestinians to regional security and stability, but it also potentially creates diplomatic space for renewed Israeli-Saudi engagement under Trump’s leadership…For the Saudis, the price of normalization with Israel has increased considerably since October 7 and the ensuing assault on Gaza. Whereas the country’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, had previously sought only a rhetorical commitment from Israel to a Palestinian state, Riyadh is now demanding concrete steps toward statehood…Moreover, as the costs of regional engagement with Israel have gone up, the expected returns have only gone down. The one thing Saudi and other Gulf leaders value above all else is stability. But the last 15 months—which have seen Israel’s annihilation of Gaza, an extensive war with and occupation of Lebanon, tit-for-tat strikes with Iran, and the invasion and seizure of large swaths of Syrian territory following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime—have been anything but stable. If the promise of the Abraham Accords was peace and stability, the reality of Netanyahu’s so-called new Middle East has been one of endless bloodshed and instability. What is on offer today is not a vision involving the peaceful integration of Israel in the region but one based on Israel’s violent domination of it.”

The political calculations that allowed the Gaza ceasefire could yet be its undoing. (Yair Wallach//New Statesman 1/22/25)

“The sight of Hamas militiamen openly roaming in Gaza makes a mockery of Netanyahu’s “total victory”. Yet the re-emergence was inevitable given the lack of any alternative plan. The emergence of a legitimate Palestinian governing body in Gaza could prompt calls to establish a Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank. This is anathema for Netanyahu and his government. Instead, we may be seeing a revival of his and Hamas’s belligerent pact. The group’s survival provides Netanyahu with an excuse to extend the war indefinitely, as he fears he would be forced out once it is over. It is widely assumed he will try to sabotage the negotiations over the ceasefire’s next phase and resume the fighting.”

Hypothetical, but Plausible: How to End the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict for Good, Right Now (Dahlia Scheindlin//Haaretz 1/23/25)

“If Israel maintains its current path, it will soon complete the de facto annexation of the West Bank. The cease-fire arrangement in Gaza will collapse after the first stage, the hostages will die, fighting resumes and Israel establishes a military government to occupy Gaza, with settlements to follow. The Palestinian national movement is smashed, Israel becomes a theocratic imperial actor ruling through subjugation of noncitizens mounting permanent insurgency, while suppressing residual dissent and opposition among its citizens forever. This option should no longer sound shocking – and certainly not to readers of this column. Until recently, no global force proved willing or capable of halting this process as it has taken shape during the war. And over decades, Israel has a well-established pattern of leveraging wars, even defensive wars, to conquer, hold, historicize and annex territory. This pattern is so successful, it has become a paradigm for Israeli policy. But there are other trajectories and scenarios. In a parallel world, Israel and the Palestinians could seize on the cease-fire as a gateway to a comprehensive, long-term vision for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by political agreement…History also serves up stunning overnight upheavals.”

In Gaza, We’re Caught Between Hope and Despair (Eman Alhaj Ali//The Nation 1/23/25)

“Despite the suffering that has been engulfing us throughout these terrible months, the streets in Gaza have come alive over the past days, with people joyfully clapping and chanting together. Many people in Gaza counted down the minutes until 8:30 am, when the ceasefire officially started. These were the first days of celebration we had in many months…As I walk through the streets now that the ceasefire is here, joy and sadness mix all around me. Our home, once full of life, is now burnt and partially destroyed, just like so many others. Everywhere I look, I see ashes and ruins, and I feel deep sorrow for those who didn’t come home—who are forever missed at their dinner tables. I see the same pain in the faces of those around me. Some people cry as they celebrate, mourning the lives lost while dreaming of a better future. Others search for missing loved ones or wander aimlessly, still holding onto hope for a reunion.” See also Gaza ceasefire: How I survived Israel’s genocidal war (Maha Hussaini//Middle East Eye 1/19/25)

The war will only end when Israelis understand this simple truth (Orly Noy//+972 1/24/25)

“Most Israelis now support a Gaza ceasefire. But they still fail to realize that where there is oppression there will always be resistance.”

 

1. New from FMEP

2. Gaza

3. Region/Global

4. River to the Sea

5. U.S. Scene

6. Perspectives//Long Reads

NEW FROM FMEP

FMEP Legislative Round-Up January 17, 2025 (Lara Friedman)

1. Bills, Resolutions; 2. Letters; 3. Hearings; 4. Selected Members on the Record; 5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

Settlement & Annexation Report: January 17, 2025 (Kristin McCarthy)

1. Settlement Advancement Continue on Weekly Basis; 2. Judge Rules on Five Cases, All in Favor of Settlers Claims in Batan al-Hawa; 3. New Bimkom-Ir Amim Report: Planning in East Jerusalem Completely Halted by New Protocol; 4. New Data Confirms: Settlers Face Virtually NO Accountability for Crimes Against Palestinians & Their Property; 5. Al-Haq and Partners File Additional Info on Booking.Com Settlement Business; 6. Trump Invites Settler Leaders to Attend Inauguration; 7. Bonus Reads

Holding Israel and the US accountable for Gaza (New Occupied Thoughts episode)

FMEP’s 2025 Palestinian Non-residential Fellow Ahmed Moor speaks with Sarah Leah Whitson, Executive Director of DAWN, a research and advocacy organization focused on U.S. policy in the MENA (Middle East/North Africa) region. They discuss DAWN’s approach to analyzing U.S. interests and policy as well as a range of mechanisms for accountability, including this December 2024 lawsuit regarding U.S. military support for Israel.

Introducing FMEP’s 2025 Fellow Ahmed Moor: How to act when “the urgency of the need in Palestine isn’t met by the pace of change.” (New Occupied Thoughts episode)

FMEP’s Sarah Anne Minkin speaks with writer Ahmed Moor, one of FMEP’s 2025 Palestinian Non-resident Fellows, about his family and background, the values that guide his writing, and how he understands and engages with Palestinian survival in this moment. They also discuss urgent questions around navigating activism, policy change, and fraught conversations in a reality in which, in Ahmed’s words, “ the urgency of the need in Palestine isn’t met by the pace of change.”

GAZA

Here’s what we know about the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal (WaPo 1/16/24)

Hamas and Israel reached a ceasefire and hostage release deal Wednesday following more than 15 months of war that has laid waste to the Gaza Strip and divided Israelis. Israel’s government needs to ratify the deal, which was mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar…The first stage of the three-phase agreement includes a 42-day ceasefire, according to Qatar’s Foreign Ministry…An Israeli official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations, said Tuesday that the captives released in the first stage would be children, women, injured people and those 50 and older. The first phase will also include a “withdrawal and redeployment of Israeli forces outside densely populated areas,” the Qatari ministry said. Internally displaced people in Gaza will be allowed to return to their homes. This period will also see a surge of much-needed humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave. The volume of aid entering Gaza is supposed to reach more than 500 trucks per day during this period, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Wednesday — a more than sixfold increase over the average number in December. Negotiations for the second phase of the deal — during which the remaining living hostages would be released and Israel would withdraw completely from Gaza — are supposed to begin in coming weeks.” See also Israeli strikes kill 86 in Gaza since ceasefire announced, officials say (ABC 1/16/25)

Israeli cabinet convenes to vote on ceasefire deal with Hamas (Guardian 1/17/25)

“Israel’s cabinet has convened to vote on a ceasefire deal to exchange dozens of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinians in Israeli jails and pause the 15-month war in Gaza for an initial six weeks. The agreement, which was earlier approved by the security cabinet, would halt fighting and bombardment in Gaza’s deadliest-ever war. The security cabinet vote came after an unexpected delay that sparked fears that last-minute disagreements between Israel and the Palestinian militant group might scuttle the agreement. Far-right members of the coalition government of the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, also threatened to vote against the deal or quit the government, potentially derailing months of work to end the conflict.” See also Ceasefire deal delayed as Netanyahu bargains with far-right allies (WaPo 1/16/25); Israeli security cabinet approves Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal (Axios 1/17/25); Katz releases all settlers in administrative detention, ties it to Palestinians’ release (Times of Israel 1/17/25)

Arab officials: Trump envoy swayed Netanyahu more in one meeting than Biden did all year (Jacob Magid//Times of Israel 1/15/25)

“A “tense” weekend meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and incoming Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff led to a breakthrough in the hostage negotiations, with the top aide to US President-elect Donald Trump doing more to sway the premier in a single sit-down than outgoing President Joe Biden did all year, two Arab officials told The Times of Israel on Tuesday. Witkoff has been in Doha for the past week to take part in the hostage negotiations, as mediators try to secure a deal before Trump’s January 20 inauguration. On Saturday, Witkoff flew to Israel for a meeting with Netanyahu at the premier’s Jerusalem office. During the meeting, Witkoff urged Netanyahu to accept key compromises necessary for an agreement, the two Arab officials on Monday told The Times of Israel on condition of anonymity. Neither Witkoff nor Netanyahu’s office responded to requests for comment.” See also ‘A stern message’: how return of Trump loomed over Gaza ceasefire negotiations (The Guardian 1/15/25); Trump and Biden both claim credit for Gaza ceasefire deal (AP 1/15/25)

Top Trump official says US will back renewed Israeli offensive in Gaza if needed (Times of Israel 1/16/25)

“US President-elect Donald Trump’s top national security nominee has said the US will back Israel if it needs to reenter Gaza, while speaking out in support of a ceasefire-hostage deal with Hamas and crediting his future boss with its apparent success. Florida Rep. Mike Waltz, who is in line to become the White House’s national security adviser, also said Washington would not impose curbs on arms supplies to Israel, while criticizing the outgoing administration for trying to hold Israel back.” See also PA ‘has completed all preparations to take full control of the Gaza Strip’ despite not being part of Israel-Hamas deal (Jack Khoury//Haaretz 1/17/25)

Israel-Hamas Cease-fire May Not Advance to Second Phase, Foreign Diplomats Warn (Haaretz 1/17/25)

“Foreign diplomats have expressed concern over the past few days that efforts to sabotage the hostage deal by both sides will continue during implementation of the deal’s first stage. One cause for concern among the U.S., Qatar and Egypt is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hostile line ahead of the next stage of negotiations and his continued public insistence on removing Hamas from power in Gaza as a condition of ending the war. “Under the current conditions, there won’t be a second stage to the deal,” a foreign mediator told parties in Israel. “Hamas won’t willingly enter into an agreement that will lead to its destruction. Netanyahu’s tactics are wrong and won’t bring the last hostages home or end the war,” he said.” See also Qatar’s PM calls for Gaza ceasefire agreement to be ‘fully implemented’ (Al Jazeera 1/17/25)

Five Journalists in Gaza Reflect on Ceasefire Announcement (Sharif Abdel Kouddous//Drop Site 1/16/25)

“Shrouq Aila: How do I feel? To be honest, there is a lot of fear because the occupation has lost it. They are bombing in a crazy way…It’s a time of uncertainty and devastation and happiness at the same time. Mixed feelings. Heartbreak and relief, negative and positive. A combination of these feelings. But really, the uncertainty is looming around us. It’s not only me, it’s all around, because they have been bombing since the ceasefire announcement was made. My personal feeling is that I’m terrified because, firstly, I’m not ready to accept the reality that everything is gone in the north. That my husband and home are gone. I’m super excited to get back to the north but at the same time, I don’t want to go back to the north. That’s what I mean by mixed feelings. But the most important thing is for the killing to stop. The healing process is going to take time, not only for me but for all Palestinians in Gaza. And at least we can begin the stage of healing, otherwise we will remain stuck in the denial stage under genocide. So we take a baby step with this ceasefire and then everyone can begin to grieve.” See also What Are the Three Phases of the Gaza Ceasefire Deal? (Mohamed Mhawish//Institute for Palestine Studies 1/15/25); ‘Thank God’: Palestinians express joy over Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal (The Guardian 1/15/25); ‘I pray to God it succeeds’: Fragile hope spreads in Gaza as ceasefire deal reached (Ahmed Ahmed & Ruwaida Kamal Amer//+972 1/15/25); ‘Honestly, I feel numb’: Gazans react to cease-fire deal. (NYT 1/16/25);

In first, US acknowledges PM added conditions that hampered hostage talks in July (TOI 1/15/25)

“For months, Biden officials publicly insisted that Hamas was the main obstacle to a deal, and while sometimes said “both sides” were not cooperative, avoided ever singling out Netanyahu. Israeli, Arab and US officials all told The Times of Israel on condition of anonymity that Netanyahu was also chiefly to blame at times for breakdowns in negotiations, particularly in July when he added conditions to his earlier proposal regarding the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, which torpedoed the negotiations.” See also ‘A mix of emotions’: truce supporters and opponents take to Israel’s streets (Guardian 1/17/25); ‘Our fight is not over’: relatives of hostages welcome ceasefire – and vow to keep going (Guardian 1/15/25); Ben Gvir says his party will quit government if cabinet implements hostage-ceasefire deal (TOI 1/16/25)

US says Hamas has replaced almost all killed fighters in Gaza with new recruits (Middle East Eye 1/14/25)

“Hamas has been able to recruit almost as many new fighters as Israel killed during its ferocious offensive on the Gaza Strip, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a farewell speech where he said that mediators were “on the brink” of a ceasefire. Blinken’s remarks on Tuesday at The Atlantic Council in Washington DC provide a rare window into US intelligence assessments of Hamas’s strength, which is likely to ruffle Israel’s positioning after a potential ceasefire, given its stated objective of “total victory and the eradication of Hamas”…While Israel succeeded in decapitating Hamas’s leadership in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, Blinken suggested that the group remains a power in the Gaza Strip and could complicate plans for post-war governance of the enclave.” See also Blinken Slams Israeli and Palestinian Leadership, Says Israel ‘Must Abandon’ West Bank Annexation (Haaretz 1/14/25);

Satellite photos show the Gaza Strip before and after the devastation of the Israel-Hamas war (AP 1/16/25)

“The Israel-Hamas war, now nearing a potential ceasefire, has devastated the Gaza Strip. Satellite photos offer some sense of the destruction in the territory, which has been largely sealed off to journalists and others. Some of the images have illustrated a likely buffer zone, wanted by Israel despite international objections, which would take some 60 square kilometers (23 square miles) out of the enclave. In all, the strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea is about 360 square kilometers (139 square miles), and Palestinians hope it will be part of a future state, along with the West Bank and east Jerusalem…Gaza City, the dense major city in the strip, has been decimated, with buildings destroyed and roads filled with rubble…Corey Scher of City University of New York and Jamon Van Den Hoek of Oregon State University have been studying Gaza since the start of the war on Oct. 7, 2023, after Hamas entered Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 others hostage. Their latest assessment, published Thursday, estimates 59.8% of all buildings in Gaza likely have been damaged in the war.”

Israel’s Ban on UNRWA Is Set to Take Effect. So What Will Happen in Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank? (Haaretz 1/17/25)

“The laws passed by Israel against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) will come into effect in two weeks. Their implementation is expected to halt all UNRWA services in East Jerusalem, and within weeks, an extensive network of schools, clinics, and welfare services in the West Bank is also likely to cease operations. However, the heaviest toll is anticipated to be borne by hundreds of thousands of Gaza Strip residents who rely on UNRWA for food distribution, medical services, and refugee camps – services that are also expected to collapse…According to several sources, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has refused any direct discussion with Israel on replacing UNRWA. The U.S., conducting talks with Israel on behalf of the UN, is working on a temporary solution to maintain humanitarian operations in Gaza during the transition period.”

Albina Abu Safiya: ‘The Israeli army deliberately targeted my husband’ (Ruwaida Kamal Amer//+972 1/17/25)

“On Dec. 27, Israeli forces arrested Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in the city of Beit Lahiya, in a raid that forced the last functioning health facility in northern Gaza to shut completely. After storming the hospital, soldiers reportedly rounded up the medical staff outside, forced them to remove their clothes, and set fire to the building. Shortly after the raid, Israeli forces released video footage that showed Abu Safiya entering a military vehicle upon soldiers’ orders, but for days afterward his whereabouts remained unknown. Despite the evidence of his arrest, the Israeli army insisted almost a week later that it still “had no indication of [Abu Safiya’s] arrest or detention” — only to confirm the following day that the hospital director had indeed been arrested “on suspicion of involvement in terrorist activities,” a claim for which it provided no evidence…Human rights and international aid groups, including the World Health Organization, Amnesty International, and Medical Aid for Palestinians, have condemned Israel’s raid on the hospital and called for Abu Safiya’s release. Abu Safiya emerged as an icon of Palestinian resilience in the face of Israel’s genocidal onslaught over the past year, consistently calling attention to Israel’s intentional targeting of hospitals and pleading with the international community to intervene. Throughout the Israeli army’s latest campaign in northern Gaza since early October 2024, he refused to evacuate Kamal Adwan Hospital and abandon his patients as Israeli forces bombed and subsequently stormed the facility…+972 spoke with Abu Safiya’s wife, Albina Abu Safiya, who sought refuge in Gaza City with relatives after being separated from her husband shortly before his arrest.”

REGION/GLOBAL

Could Other Countries Prosecute Soldiers in Gaza? (Annie Hylton//New Yorker 1/11/25)

“A growing legal movement has turned to the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows national courts to take on war-crimes cases, regardless of where those crimes were committed or the nationality of the perpetrator.” See also ICC prosecutor sees ‘no real effort’ by Israel to probe alleged Gaza war crimes (Reuters 1/17/25)

Civilian casualties of explosive weapons at highest level in more than a decade (Guardian 1/14/25)

“Civilian casualties from bombing or other explosive violence have reached their highest level globally in more than a decade, an annual study has concluded, reflecting the intense bombing of Gaza and Lebanon and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), a monitoring group, said 61,353 non-combatants had been killed or wounded during 2024, an increase of 67% on last year, previously the largest amount it had counted since it began its survey in 2010. Israeli military action accounted for 55% of the total number of civilians recorded as killed or wounded during the year at 33,910, while Russian attacks in Ukraine were the seconded highest cause of death or injury at 19% (11,693).” See also CPJ [Committee to Protect Journalists] finds that Israel is one of the top three jailers of journalists (New Arab 1/17/25)

RIVER TO THE SEA

The Palestinian Authority’s Assault on the West Bank Resistance (Mariam Barghouti//Drop Site News 1/13/25)

“A stronghold of Palestinian armed resistance in the occupied West Bank, the city of Jenin and the refugee camp within it have been repeatedly raided, bombed, and besieged by the Israeli military in an attempt to crush the Jenin Brigade—a politically diverse militant group of mostly third-generation refugees who believe armed resistance is key to liberating Palestinian lands from Israeli occupation and annexation. Over the past 15 months, the Israeli military has killed at least 225 Palestinians in Jenin, making it the deadliest area in the West Bank. But the current operation, which is being billed as a campaign to “restore law and order,” is the longest and most lethal assault by Palestinian security forces in recent memory. While the PA claims to be rooting out armed factions and individuals accused of being “Iranian-backed outlaws,” according to multiple residents and eyewitnesses, the operation is a suffocating siege, with indiscriminate violence, mass arrests, and collective punishment. Sixteen Palestinians have been killed so far, with security forces setting up checkpoints around the city and refugee camp, cutting electricity to the area, and engaging in fierce gun battles.”

With Al Jazeera ban, the PA lifts a page from Israel’s playbook (Yara Hawari//New Arab 1/14/25)

“On January 1 2025, the Palestinian Authority suspended Al Jazeera’s reporting in the West Bank, with the news outlet posting footage of PA security officers handing a suspension order to a staff member in their office in Ramallah. No, this isn’t déjà vu — we’ve seen these images before. The PA’s decision to ban Al Jazeera comes just eight months after Israeli soldiers raided the very same office and presented the news network with a closure order that prevented Al Jazeera from operating within the 1948 territories. Israel has since extended the ban…As well as the suspension of operations, the PA order prevents all local telecommunication companies and channels from broadcasting anything from Al Jazeera — even access to their websites have been blocked. The alleged reason for this order is that Al Jazeera was publishing “inciting material and misleading reports that were causing unrest” in its coverage of the PA’s brutal siege of the Jenin refugee camp…The reality, however, is that this is a coordinated effort with the Israeli regime to suppress the armed resistance in the northern West Bank. Whilst this kind of coordination is not new — indeed the PA’s very existence is predicated on it — the levels of brutality are unprecedented.”

‘Cutting the Head Off 200 Organizations’: Inside Israel’s War on NGOs That Aid Palestinians (Haaretz 1/13/25)

“International organizations that provide aid in the West Bank and war-torn Gaza are contending with a new Israeli ruling that may jeopardize their ability to work, officials in the field say. On December 9, the Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry announced that the registration of international nongovernmental organizations would now fall under its purview…”The team will be authorized to refuse registry to organizations or overturn a registration if the organization is found to act against the interests of the State of Israel,” the statement read. “Among the considerations: denying the Jewish and democratic nature of the state, supporting armed resistance or maintaining ties to terror groups, criminal activity that endangers the public order, promoting the delegitimization of Israel or calling to boycott it.”[Allegra] Pacheco, the international human rights lawyer, noted that a major pillar of humanitarian work is advocating “for the rights of the most vulnerable, and they do that in the framework of international law. So, here you can see the conflict that emerges when the humanitarian organization advocates under international law for Palestinians in Gaza, or even in the West Bank – because international law says settlements are illegal and settlers shouldn’t be there, and settlers shouldn’t be attacking Palestinians, and the army bears responsibility to protect them.”

Ben Gvir says he repeatedly foiled hostage deals, urges Smotrich to help him stop this one (TOI 1/14/25)

“In a post on X, together with a video in which he called on far-right ally Smotrich to join him in telling Netanyahu that they would bolt the coalition if the current hostage deal proposal went through, Ben Gvir said that they have managed to stop previous efforts to reach an agreement…“In the last year, using our political power, we managed to prevent this deal from going ahead, time after time,” he stated.”

My Bedouin Village Was Destroyed So That Israel Can Build a Jewish Village in Its Place (Raad Abu al-Kiyan//Haaretz 1/10/25)

“I’m a resident of Umm al-Hiran, and in recent years, the head of the village local committee. I’m 46 years old, married with eight children (six girls, two boys), and I work as an environmentalist in Be’er Sheva. This past November 14, I also became an “evacuee.” That’s a familiar status in the country over the past year – the difference being that Bedouin evacuees, unlike members of Jewish communities who were evacuated from their homes because of the war, do not receive support from any public authority – not of a financial, educational or social-welfare nature. Our situation really is different. I was evicted from my village and my home so that the state can build a village and a home for others in its place, while I was obligated to demolish my family’s home with my own hands.” See also ‘I Guess Everything Is Allowed’: How the Systematic Eviction of Israel’s Bedouin Works (Haaretz 1/12/25)

Our heads are being smashed in as the world turns a blind eye (Hamdan Ballal//Humans of Masafer Yatta 1/16/25)

“Settler terrorism and violence against Palestinians in Masafer Yatta continues to increase, and the lack of accountability or legal action gives these extremist settlers greater power and freedom to attack who and whatever they wish. For example, repeated settler attacks have prevented the Palestinian population from plowing their land or grazing it, and there is no law in the world that holds them accountable for these actions that go against all international laws and norms. The attacks are an attempt to pressure Palestinians out of Masafer Yatta and into Area A – effectively ethnically cleansing the area, and enabling the settlers to seize all land and property left behind. The village of Susiya, one of several in the region that is regularly targeted, was subjected to more than five such attacks in less than a month.”

IDF in Crisis, Despite a Cease-fire: Why Fewer Israelis Were Turning Up to Fight in Gaza (Dahlia Scheindlin//Haaretz  1/15/25)

“As the conflict with Hamas became Israel’s longest war, it has taken its toll – on morale, economic subsistence and mental health – leading to declining rates of reservists responding to call-up notices. The repercussions go far beyond the IDF and Gaza.” See also Some Israeli soldiers refuse to keep fighting in Gaza (AP 1/13/25)

U.S. SCENE

Kamala Harris Paid the Price for Not Breaking With Biden on Gaza, New Poll Shows (Ryan Grim//Drop Site News 1/15/25)

“From 2020 to 2024, Democrats saw a staggering dropoff in support at the presidential level, with some 19 million people who voted for Joe Biden staying home (or not mailing in their ballots) in 2024. Now, a new survey conducted by YouGov suggests Biden’s support for Israel’s unrelenting assault on Gaza played a surprisingly large role in the choice of those previous Biden supporters not to vote. The top reason those non-voters cited, above the economy at 24 percent and immigration at 11 percent, was Gaza: a full 29 percent cited the ongoing onslaught as the top reason they didn’t cast a vote in 2024…Before firmly demonstrating that Gaza cost Democrats the election, it’s important to keep a handful of caveats in mind. Even if October 7 and the resulting genocide had never happened, it’s fair to assume some number of those non-voters still would not have voted, and would have cited a different top reason for not voting. Citing a top reason for not voting is far different than it being the only reason not to vote. And because the turnout drop off was smaller in swing states, Gaza may not have been decisive on its own. Whenever surveys confirm views we already hold, or tell us things we want to be true, it’s worth approaching their findings with increased skepticism. Still, even the most biased poll can only manufacture so much of a response. Even if the true numbers aren’t as stark as this survey found, it points in a clear direction: Biden’s ruthless support for Israel’s genocide, and the refusal of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris to break with him, hurt her among voters who stayed home.” See also How Biden’s Foreign Policy Destroyed His Presidency (Jeet Heer//The Nation 1/17/25); Biden Says He Urged Netanyahu to Accommodate Palestinians’ ‘Legitimate Concerns’ (NYT 1/17/25); Palestinians dedicate West Bank olive grove to Jimmy Carter (AP 1/13/25)

A Year of Empty Threats and a “Smokescreen” Policy: How the State Department Let Israel Get Away With Horrors in Gaza (ProPublica 1/15/25)

“Time and again, Israel crossed the Biden administration’s red lines without changing course in a meaningful way, according to interviews with government officials and outside experts. Each time, the U.S. yielded and continued to send Israel’s military deadly weapons of war, approving more than $17.9 billion in military assistance since late 2023, by some estimates. The State Department recently told Congress about another $8 billion proposed deal to sell Israel munitions and artillery shells….For this story, ProPublica spoke with scores of current and former officials throughout the year and read through government memos, cables and emails, many of which have not been reported previously. The records and interviews shed light on why Biden and his top advisers refused to adjust his policy even as new evidence of Israeli abuses emerged.” See also The ambassador’s farewell warning: You can’t ignore the impact of this war on future US policymakers (Times of Israel interview with US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew 1/12/25);

Biden policy on Israel-Gaza sparks warnings, dissent, resignations (CBS News 1/12/25)

“U.S. policy on Gaza has led to widespread dissent at the State Department, with some questioning how far Washington is going in its support of Israel. Thirteen officials, including from the State Department, White House and Army, have publicly resigned in protest. Many believe U.S. policy on Gaza runs counter to American values and threatens national security…The U.S. has sent $18 billion in American military assistance to Israel since the war began, largely in the form of taxpayer-funded weapons. Most of the bombs and all of the fighter jets come from the U.S., said [Josh] Paul, who spent 11 years as a director in the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.” See also Secretary Antony J. Blinken: “Toward the Promise of a More Integrated Middle East” (U.S. Department of State 1/14/25); Laying out postwar Gaza vision, Blinken raps Israel’s war strategy, shunning of PA (TOI 1/14/25); Former Biden Officials Slam U.S. Failure to Curb Israel’s Disproportionate Use of Force in Gaza (Haaretz 1/13/25); Former CIA employee pleads guilty to leaking files on Israel’s Iran strikes (Al Jazeera 1/17/25)

Hegseth: Israel should kill ‘every last member of Hamas’ (Jewish Insider 1/14/25)

“Pete Hegseth, the veteran and Fox News personality turned President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be secretary of defense, testified at his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday that his Christian faith dictates his commitment to supporting Israel and that he wants to see the U.S. ally kill “every last member of Hamas.” See also Mark Zuckerberg, Miriam Adelson to Be Among the Co-hosts of Trump’s Inaugural Gala (Haaretz 1/15/25); Columbia Professor Says She Was Pushed to Retire Because of Her Activism (NYT 1/10/25)

 

PERSPECTIVES//LONG READS

A ceasefire won’t stop Israel’s genocidal agenda (Tariq Kenney-Shawa//+972 1/16/25)

“It is too early to tell if this agreement will hold. Israel’s long tradition of violating ceasefires, coupled with the demands of Israeli ministers to continue the genocide, give us reason to be skeptical. But news of the truce has brought indescribable relief to millions in Gaza who have faced a campaign of annihilation for over a year. If the ceasefire in Gaza does hold, it will be the material result of dynamics introduced by the incoming Trump administration — a reminder of how easily Washington can influence Israel’s actions if it actually wants to…But the president-elect and those he surrounds himself with have also made it clear that they intend to make Netanyahu’s cooperation worth the trouble. If the Israeli prime minister sees the ceasefire through even just its first stage, he will expect a return on his investment — and his price will be further mass displacement of Palestinians from both Gaza and the West Bank…The Israeli media is already reporting that Trump’s ceasefire “gift bag” to Netanyahu could include a long list of treats, from lifting sanctions on Israeli NSO Group’s spyware Pegasus and on violent Israeli settlers, to giving Washington’s blessing to major West Bank land theft or outright annexation, and permitting or even facilitating a direct attack on Iran.”

Biden & Trump take credit for Gaza ceasefire (Annelle Sheline//Responsible Statecraft 1/15/25)

“The achievement of a Gaza hostage deal and temporary ceasefire ahead of Trump’s inauguration demonstrates the power that the U.S. had all along. The Biden administration simply refused to use American leverage to push Netanyahu, despite U.S. officials’ assertions that they were “working tirelessly towards a ceasefire.” In his remarks about the deal, and in his response to journalists afterwards, President Biden sought to take full credit. He pointed out that this was the deal he proposed in May, yet did not acknowledge that it was Trump’s willingness to pressure Israel to reach a ceasefire in time for his inauguration that actually achieved the deal, which Biden had failed to for months…Speculation on social media and after Biden’s remarks was rife about how long the deal is likely to last. After boasting that he achieved his goal of a ceasefire by his inauguration, Trump may lose interest in reining in Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The deal may last through the first phase of 42 days, but beyond that the Israeli press has reported that Netanyahu promised Smotrich that the fighting would resume. If he wished, Trump could contribute to a more lasting ceasefire by maintaining pressure on Netanyahu and upholding U.S. laws that would end American security assistance to Israel due to its human rights abuses and blocking of humanitarian aid.”

A Year After Israel Bombed My Family’s Home, I’m Still Trapped in the Ruins (Mohamed Mhawish//The Nation 1/13/25)

“While the physical scars have mostly healed, the emotional ones remain as fresh as the day Israel brought my home down on me and my family.”

Reproductive Health Under Genocide: The Struggle of Palestinian Women in Gaza (Al Mezan Center for Human Rights 1/12/25)

“Al Mezan’s new thematic report, ‘Reproductive Health Under Genocide’, delves into the multifaceted challenges faced by Palestinian women in Gaza amid the ongoing genocide and highlights the devastating impact of Israel’s genocidal policies on the reproductive rights and health of Palestinian women. This report examines the near-total disruption of maternal healthcare directly caused by Israel’s destruction of hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies, compounded by the lack of medical supplies, equipment, and electricity. Women—especially pregnant and nursing mothers—are deprived of critical antenatal, postnatal, and obstetric care, as well as essential nutritional support and hygiene products, putting their lives at grave risk. Topics covered include the catastrophic effects of malnutrition on pregnant and postpartum women, the rise in premature births, and the challenges of giving birth during a genocide. The report also highlights the shortage of medical supplies and laboratory services, emphasizing the impact on both physical and psychological health, as women endure fear, insecurity, and the loss of dignity in precarious living conditions.”

Hallways of Dislocation: The poetry of Fady Joudah (Hussein Omar//The Nation 1/14/25)

“In his new volume of poetry, […], published more than 15 years after the first, Joudah retains his focus on the questions of dislocation but now directs his attention to the impossibility of healing amid the protracted and ongoing Nakba…This grim reminder is just one of the themes in […]. Others include the need for as well as the difficulties of mourning. “We need to differentiate / between the dead and the not here,” Joudah writes, and yet he notes that this, too, is often impossible. Many are either buried beneath the rubble or have been vaporized by the heat produced by bombs. How can one grieve if all the traditional places of mourning, such as grave sites, don’t exist? How can one grieve when funeral rites—which finalize the separation between the living and the dead—cannot be held?…Beyond these keenly observed and beautifully rendered descriptions of Palestine’s tragedy, Joudah’s poems offer a startling diagnosis of our narrowing political horizons and even a prognosis for how we might act within them. Of the many things that have perished in Gaza besides human lives—international law, morality, the myth of the civilized West—it is the death of language that Joudah grieves most: “From time to time, language dies. / It is dying now. / Who is alive to speak it?”…If language itself is being annihilated, Joudah’s poems challenge us to ask, what is the function of speech in a time of such untold suffering? What can language do when the sight of mutilated bodies doesn’t jolt us into action but instead numbs us into indifference?”

 

1. New from FMEP

2. Gaza

3. Region/Global

4. River to the Sea

5. U.S. Scene

6. Activism/Repression 

7. Perspectives//Long Reads

NEW FROM FMEP

FMEP Legislative Round-Up January 10, 2025 (Lara Friedman)

1. Bills, Resolutions; 2. Letters; 3. Hearings; 4. Selected Members on the Record; 5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

Settlement & Annexation Report: January 10, 2025 (Kristin McCarthy)

Six Consecutive Weeks of Settlement Advancements; 2. Israel Expands Jurisdiction of Adam Settlement to “Legalize” Nearby Outpost, Formalize Violent Dispossession of Palestinians; 3. Israel Renews Plan for Yeshiva in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem; 4. Smotrich Increases Subsidy Program for Illegal Farming Outposts; 5. Court Tells IDF To Publish More Land Allocations in Advance; 6. Rapid Outpost Growth Caps 2024; 7. Bonus Reads

Phoenix of Gaza: a 360° view of Palestinian agency and life (Occupied Thoughts podcast)

FMEP Fellow Nour Joudah speaks with Cal State University-San Bernadino Professor Ahlam Muhtaseb. Dr. Muhtaseb is co-founder of the Phoenix of Gaza XR, an interactive virtual reality experience that captures the untold stories of Gaza’s people and its transformation and provides a deep dive into the lives of those who endure and rebuild. The project itself started well before the current genocide, but as a result has taken on a new form and meaning. Professors Joudah and Muhtaseb discuss the Phoenix of Gaza XR as a project and how audiences are responding to it, as well as the relationship between technology and social justice and the challenges and changes they’ve seen over many years of teaching on Palestine in the U.S.

Why Some Israelis Refuse to Serve in the IDF (Occupied Thoughts podcast)

FMEP Fellow Peter Beinart speaks with Atalya Ben Abba and Mattan Helman of the Israeli Refuser Solidarity Network. They discuss what makes a person refuse to serve in the Israeli military, how the Israeli military treats refusers, and the surprising solidarity inside military prisons.

GAZA

Gaza war death toll could be 40% higher, says study (Reuters 1/10/25)

“An official Palestinian tally of direct deaths in the Israel-Hamas war likely undercounted the number of casualties by around 40% in the first nine months of the war as the Gaza Strip’s healthcare infrastructure unravelled, according to a study published on Thursday. The peer-reviewed statistical analysis published in The Lancet journal was conducted by academics at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Yale University and other institutions. Using a statistical method called capture-recapture analysis, the researchers sought to assess the death toll from Israel’s air and ground campaign in Gaza between October 2023 and the end of June 2024. They estimated 64,260 deaths due to traumatic injury during this period, about 41% higher than the official Palestinian Health Ministry count. The study said 59.1% were women, children and people over the age of 65. It did not provide an estimate of Palestinian combatants among the dead.” See also Traumatic injury mortality in the Gaza Strip from Oct 7, 2023, to June 30, 2024: a capture–recapture analysis (The Lancet 1/9/25); Israeli strikes kill dozens in Gaza amid stepped up ceasefire push (Reuters 1/8/25); Israel launches strikes on Gaza at turn of year (WaPo 1/1/25); Five Journalists Killed in Gaza Strike, Palestinian Officials Say (NYT 12/26/24); About 30 killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza as truce talks set to resume (Guardian 1/3/25); Israeli strikes kill 17 people in Gaza, nearly all of them women or kids (AP 1/7/25); More than 40 dead in strikes on Gaza City, civil defense says (WaPo 1/2/25)

Israel Loosened Its Rules to Bomb Hamas Fighters, Killing Many More Civilians (NYT 12/26/24)

“An investigation by The New York Times found that Israel severely weakened its system of safeguards meant to protect civilians; adopted flawed methods to find targets and assess the risk of civilian casualties; routinely failed to conduct post-strike reviews of civilian harm or punish officers for wrongdoing; and ignored warnings from within its own ranks and from senior U.S. military officials about these failings. The Times reviewed dozens of military records and interviewed more than 100 soldiers and officials, including more than 25 people who helped vet, approve or strike targets. Collectively, their accounts provide an unparalleled understanding of how Israel mounted one of the deadliest air wars of this century. Most of the soldiers and officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were barred from speaking publicly on a subject of such sensitivity. The Times verified the military orders with officers familiar with their content. In its investigation, The Times found that: Israel vastly expanded the set of military targets it sought to hit in pre-emptive airstrikes, while simultaneously increasing the number of civilians that officers could endanger in each attack. That led Israel to fire nearly 30,000 munitions into Gaza in the war’s first seven weeks, more than in the next eight months combined. In addition, the military leadership removed a limit on the cumulative number of civilians that its strikes could endanger each day. On a few occasions, senior commanders approved strikes on Hamas leaders that they knew would each endanger more than 100 noncombatants — crossing an extraordinary threshold for a contemporary Western military. The military struck at a pace that made it harder to confirm it was hitting legitimate targets. It burned through much of a prewar database of vetted targets within days and adopted an unproven system for finding new targets that used artificial intelligence at a vast scale.” See also How Israel Weakened Civilian Protections When Bombing Hamas Fighters (NYT 12/26/24);

Reports of optimism about Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal (Guardian 1/6/25)

“Israel and Hamas appear to be edging closer towards a ceasefire and hostage release deal that could bring the bloodshed in the Gaza Strip to an end amid reports of optimism among decision makers. The latest round of negotiations intended to broker a lasting truce in the 15-month-old conflict resumed in Qatar on Sunday. Hamas said on Monday that it had given mediators a list of 34 Israeli captives seized during the group’s attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, which triggered the war, who could be freed as part of the “first phase of a prisoner exchange deal”…Despite the latest talks, Israel has stepped up airstrikes on the Palestinian territory that killed at least 100 people over the weekend, local health officials said…The same list of 34 hostages was first put forward in July 2024, according to the office of the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Israeli and western intelligence services estimate that at least one-third of the remaining 95 or so Israeli captives in Gaza have been killed.” See also Trump envoy says president-elect is ‘driving’ Gaza hostage talks (WaPo 1/7/25); Exclusive: UAE discusses post-war Gaza government with US and Israel (Reuters 1/7/25)

Fate of U.N. Palestinian refugee agency in limbo as Israel readies ban (WaPo 1/7/25)

“The U.N. agency that provides aid and services to millions of Palestinians across the Middle East may soon be forced to end its operations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as Israel prepares to enact twin laws banning the organization’s work in Israeli territory and prohibiting contact between its staff and government officials. The legislation, passed with near-unanimity by Israel’s Knesset in October, is set to go into effect later this month. It could compel the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to dismantle what is essentially a quasi-state in the Palestinian territories, built over generations to serve a growing population of refugees and their descendants. Israel has already taken significant steps to handicap UNRWA’s operations in Gaza, where it alleged last year that 19 of the agency’s 13,000 workers participated in the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. An internal U.N. investigation found in August that nine of the accused “may have been involved” and that Israel provided insufficient or no evidence for the other cases. Still, Israel has restricted aid deliveries and damaged or destroyed hundreds of the agency’s buildings in strikes the military says targeted Hamas. Now, there are fears that the agency could be crippled by a similar crackdown in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where together it provides employment, education, health care and sanitation services to more than 900,000 registered refugees. Entire communities have relied on UNRWA for generations, and Palestinian officials say that even if they could fill the gaps left by the agency, doing so could strip the refugees of their legal status, which includes the right to return to their homes in what is now Israel.” See also UNRWA said preparing to shutter Gaza, West Bank offices after Israel votes to limit its operations (Times of Israel 1/3/25); Finance Minister Smotrich Says Gaza Aid Will Be Reduced to Minimum Required by Int’l Law After Trump Sworn In (Haaretz 1/9/25); Israeli Lawmakers Call on Military to Destroy Food, Water and Power Sources in Gaza (Haaretz 1/3/25); ‘Flatten’ Gaza, Halt Aid: The Israeli Division Commander Overseeing Gaza’s Brutal Netzarim Corridor (Haaretz 1/1/25)

Social order in Gaza will collapse if Israel ends cooperation with UN aid agency, official says (Guardian 1/5/25)

“Social order in Gaza is likely to collapse further if Israel goes ahead with its threat this month to end all cooperation with the UN refugee agency for Palestinians, Louise Wateridge, its senior emergency officer, has warned…“If we’re no longer able to communicate to the Israeli authorities, we no longer have a deconfliction process in place, so none of our buildings will be de-conflicted or protected any more, and we simply won’t be able to be there,” she said. She said the levels of lawlessness already occurring in the Kerem Shalom crossing had so far not spread across Gaza due to the societal ties Palestinians have with each other and their relationship with Unrwa…Northern Gaza remains off-limits to the agency, she said. In its latest update, Unrwa said that between 6 October and 30 December 2024, the UN attempted to reach besieged areas in the north 164 times; of these, 148 attempts were denied by the Israeli authorities and 16 were impeded. Wateridge said many Palestinians displaced from the north arrived without any male members of the family, with the women saying they had either been arrested or shot.” See also Three Gaza hospitals face imminent closure as latest Israeli raids kill 50 (Al Jazeera 1/9/25)

Monitoring the status of hostages still in Gaza after Hamas’s attack (WaPo 1/9/25)

“A total of 251 people were taken in the attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. We’re tracking what happened to each of them. 61 remain hostage in Gaza…They have been in captivity for 460 days…117 have been freed or rescued…73 have been confirmed killed.” See also IDF confirms death of hostage Hamza Ziyadne, day after father Youssef laid to rest (TOI 1/10/25)

Israel faces mounting pressure over detention of Gaza hospital chief (NBC 1/4/25)

“Israel faced mounting pressure Saturday over its detention of a Gaza hospital chief during a raid on one of the last functioning medical facilities in the battered north of the Palestinian enclave. Israel has confirmed in recent days it is holding Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya and defended its assault that shut down Kamal Adwan Hospital, saying that the prominent pediatrician was suspected of “involvement in terrorist activities, and for holding a rank” in Hamas, which it said had made the site a stronghold along with another militant group. But rights groups and United Nations officials have questioned those claims, which Israel made without providing evidence, urging the U.S. ally to release Abu Safiya or at least disclose his whereabouts as fears grow for his safety. Concerns for the hospital director’s well-being come as Israel faces growing scrutiny over a military offensive that the U.N. Human Rights Office said this week had pushed Gaza’s health care system to “the brink of total collapse.” Israeli airstrikes killed at least 170 people, including several children, in Gaza over the past week and hit an Israeli-declared humanitarian zone, local officials said, deepening the humanitarian crisis in the enclave as it grapples with the effects of a winter under siege.” See also ‘We’re Still Breathing, and We Don’t Want to Die’: Testimonies From the Inferno in Northern Gaza (Haaretz 1/2/25); Israel storms northern Gaza’s last hospital as remaining residents forced south (Ahmed Ahmed// +972 Magazine 12/27/25); Israeli Army Arrests 240 in Raid of One of North Gaza’s Last Hospitals, Including Its Director (Haaretz 12/29/24);

‘Every moment I fear losing another child’: Newborns freeze to death in Gaza tents (Ruwaida Kamal Amer//+972 Mag 1/9/25)

“As Israel continues its campaign of ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza, 2.3 million Palestinians concentrated in the center and southern parts of the Strip are desperately trying to survive the harsh winter in makeshift shelters and tents. In December and January, average low temperatures in Gaza can drop to as low as 9 degrees Celsius (45 degrees Fahrenheit), accompanied by strong winds and heavy rains. In these conditions, Palestinian parents are in a constant state of anxiety about losing their children to winter illnesses and hypothermia.” See also Gaza didn’t get enough winter shelters. Now babies are dying in the cold. (WaPo 1/6/24); What It’s Truly Like to Sleep in a Damp, Frigid Tent: A Report From Gaza (Drop Site 1/1/25); The Children Who Left Gaza (NYT 12/27/25)

Gazans Disappear in Israeli Military Custody. The Army Claims It Doesn’t Know Where They Are (Hagar Shezaf//Haaretz 12/31/24)

“Since the outbreak of the war, the fate of many Gazans who were last seen in the custody of Israeli military (IDF) remains unknown. The army claims it has “no information” about them being detained or arrested. However, the last time they were seen, they were being detained or arrested by Israeli troops…Since the start of the war, many Gazans detained by the military were brought to detention facilities in Israel, while others have been held within Gaza…For many months, the state refused to provide any information on the detainees to their families and also denied Red Cross representatives to visit the detention facilities in Israel.”

We Can’t Afford to Ignore This Threat to the People of Gaza (Abdullah Shihipar//The Nation 1/9/25)

“Gaza is no longer recognizable. Since Israel’s genocide began last year, more than 60% of its buildings have been destroyed or damaged – leading to more than 42 million tons of rubble. Satellite images taken before and after October 2023 show the impressions of buildings and homes in one image and a landscape awash in brown dust in the other. The sheer amount of dust is the most defining feature of these pictures – they are notably more sepia tone in color. What was once part of a free-standing structure became pulverized, aerosolized, and inhaled before settling on the ground. The genocide has caused countless threats to the health of people in Gaza. But this dust—the particles emanating from the rubble that now blankets every part of the region—is a threat we don’t talk about that much. We should start talking about it more because it will imperil public health in Gaza for many years to come.”

 

REGION/GLOBAL

Israel Blocks UN Probe Into Hamas Sexual Crimes From October 7 to Avoid Inquiry Into Abuse of Palestinians (Haaretz 1/8/25)

“Israel is blocking the United Nations from investigating sexual crimes committed by Hamas during its October 7 attack, fearing it would require granting access to probe allegations of sexual violence against Palestinians in Israeli detention. A thorough investigation could have led to Hamas being added to the UN’s blacklist of entities suspected of sexual violence in conflicts. Pramila Patten, the UN’s Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, has requested permission to investigate Hamas’ alleged crimes. However, she stipulated that her team must also be allowed to access Israeli detention facilities to examine claims of sexual violence by Israeli soldiers. Israel has refused the request.” See also Ireland Joins South Africa’s Genocide Case Against Israel (NYT 1/7/25)

Israel’s covert Syria operation signals planning for potential Iran strike (Al Monitor 1/3/25)

“Israel’s military command on Thursday revealed details of a clandestine operation carried out in Syria four months ago to destroy an Iranian-built missile production facility…The Israeli military censors division decided to share details of the raid, which was reported in foreign media in mid-September, comes as Israel is working to convince the incoming Trump administration about the need to strike Iran sometime this year. The increasing talk in Israel about a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities comes as Tehran recalibrates its own strategy on the eve of Donald Trump’s presidency. The regime in Tehran is limping after Israel’s severe blows to Hamas and Hezbollah in Gaza and Lebanon, and after an Oct. 26 aerial raid that damaged Iran’s aerial defenses and the collapse of the Syrian regime that had provided it a foothold in the region. Many researchers concur that Tehran is deciding whether to start rehabilitating its proxies, air defense systems and missile production capabilities or to charge ahead toward production of a nuclear bomb.” See also Israel launches air raids on power station, ports in Yemen (Al Jazeera 1/10/25); 20 Israeli jets attack two ports and a power plant used by Houthis in Yemen (TOI 1/10/25); Joseph Aoun elected president of Lebanon, ending two-year void (Al Monitor 1/9/25); Who is Joseph Aoun, Lebanon’s army chief turned president? (Middle East Eye 1/9/25)

Some Israeli soldiers traveling abroad are facing war crimes inquiries over their Gaza service (JTA 1/6/24)

“Israeli soldiers who have posted on social media about their service in Gaza are increasingly facing scrutiny abroad — sometimes prompting their swift evacuation from countries where they are vacationing…Israeli officials have identified more than a dozen instances where soldiers traveling abroad have faced war crimes complaints, they disclosed in a Knesset meeting on Monday, according to Israeli media reports. No soldier has yet faced any formal charges abroad…An organization formed in Belgium during the war, the Hind Rajab Foundation, has taken the lead on identifying and applying legal pressure against Israeli soldiers who have posted potential evidence of war crimes on social media…In one widely publicized instance, a soldier traveling in Sri Lanka fled abruptly on Israeli officials’ advice last month. The soldier had posted a video of what he said was a dead civilian as fellow soldiers jokingly called him “The Terminator,” according to the Hind Rajab Foundation. Israeli authorities also reportedly advised a reserve officer to leave Cyprus in November. He had reportedly posted from Gaza, “We’re here in Rafah — we won’t stop until we burn all of Gaza.”’ See also IDF restricts media coverage of soldiers to protect them from risk of legal action (Guardian 1/8/25)

Bild published pro-Netanyahu disinformation. Where is the outcry? (Hanno Hauenstein//+972 Magazine 1/7/25)

“The so-called “Bibileaks” scandal has caused a firestorm in Israel in recent months. After it emerged that classified material was leaked from the Israeli military to a spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then manipulated and passed to foreign media outlets — in an apparent attempt to influence the Israeli public’s perception of the ceasefire negotiations, while bypassing the military censor — the spokesperson and a military reservist were arrested in November and face charges that could carry significant prison sentences. In the UK, meanwhile, there has been a major public outcry against the Jewish Chronicle after it was revealed — in part through reporting by +972 Magazine — that the newspaper had published entirely false material via this pipeline, causing several of its leading writers to quit in protest. Yet in Germany, where the country’s biggest newspaper, Bild, similarly published misinformation fed to it by the Netanyahu aide, there has been very little inquest at all.”

U.S., European Countries Join Effort to Release Israeli Held by Iranian-backed Militia in Iraq (Haaretz 1/10/25)

“Israel is ramping up diplomatic efforts to secure the release of Elizabeth Tsurkov, who has been held captive in Iraq for almost two years. Israel’s coordinator for hostages and missing persons, Gal Hirsch, met on Wednesday with Tsurkov’s family in Israel, along with Hirsch’s counterparts from Austria, Britain, Canada, Germany and the United States. Communications on the matter are taking place under the media’s radar.” See also these FMEP podcasts with Elizabeth Tsurkov: Israeli & Palestinian Response(s) to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine, March 2022; The Extremist Through-Line in Israel’s Domestic & Regional Policies, January 2021; Israeli & Palestinian Expert Perspectives, September 2020;

RIVER TO THE SEA

‘To Be or Not to Be’: Jenin Operation Could Seal the Palestinian Authority’s Fate (Jack Khoury//Haaretz 1/7/25)

“Palestinian Authority security forces have been operating in the Jenin refugee camp for nearly a month as tensions amid a rise in armed conflict with Palestinian militias in the West Bank. As of Sunday, 11 people have been killed, six of them police and five of them civilians, including a journalist and a father and son killed over the past weekend. Witnesses say that among the civilians killed, only one was a militant, and that the rest were bystanders. The operation has also left many wounded…The Jenin Brigades assert that the PA is cracking down on them to show Israel that it is in control of the areas it governs in the West Bank. A source close to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas say the operation is also related to discussions of its role in the Gaza Strip after the war. “If [Abbas] and the [Palestinian] Authority are unable to enforce order in a city like Jenin, how can you expect [them] to enforce order in the Gaza Strip and around the West Bank?” the source said…Opponents of the Jenin operation claim that the PA is losing the last of its legitimacy and that internal Palestinian squabbling will lead to nothing but its collapse. But with the backing of the business community, the PA may be able to leverage its operation in Jenin into securing control of the West Bank and as a segue to regaining control of the Gaza Strip.” See also The power struggle taking place in the Israeli-occupied West Bank (NPR 1/8/25); ‘This is basically a civil war’: West Bank in fear as Palestinian Authority battles militant groups (Guardian 1/6/25); What’s behind Palestinian Authority closure of Al Jazeera TV, websites (Al Monitor 1/6/25)

Strikes, raids in West Bank follow Hamas killing of three Israeli settlers (WaPo 1/8/25)

“Three Palestinians were killed, including two children, in an Israeli airstrike in the West Bank on Wednesday, Palestinian officials said, as arrests, raids and strikes continued across the occupied territory in the wake of an attack that killed three Israelis on Monday. Late Wednesday, the al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing, claimed responsibility for the Monday attack in a statement on Telegram.” See also Israeli leaders threaten ‘war’ in the West Bank after terror attack (JTA 1/7/25); West Bank Settlers Hope Trump Will Back Annexation Dreams (NYT 1/6/25); Israel Wants to Turn the West Bank Into Rubble, Just Like Gaza (Haaretz Editorial 1/8/25); Israeli Troops Arrested and Abused a Palestinian Human Rights Activist. The Pretext? A Video Found on Her Phone (Haaretz 1/10/25)

Israeli settlers vandalize Palestinian property across West Bank: What we know (Al Monitor 1/7/25)

“Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian property throughout the West Bank on Monday night, Palestinian media and an Israeli rights group said, as the security situation in the occupied territory worsens.” See also Settlers said to rampage through Palestinian villages after deadly terror shooting (Times of Israel 1/7/25); Settlers riot in West Bank village for 3rd time in days after terror shooting (TOI 1/10/25)

Israel to locally produce heavy bombs, reducing reliance on US after shipment holdup (Times of Israel 1/7/25)

“Defense Ministry Director General Eyal Zamir said the deals were “laying the foundations for expanding manufacturing independence in two critical areas for the IDF’s operational sustainability: domestic production of heavy air munitions and establishing a national raw materials plant.” “Both agreements will ensure sovereign capability in producing bombs and munitions of all types,” he said in remarks provided by the ministry…The Defense Ministry said in August that the US has sent over 50,000 tons of armaments and military equipment to Israel since the war began.” See also Israel signs deals to produce its own heavy bombs (WaPo 1/7/25)

Israel’s Exploitation of Palestinian Labor: A Strategy of Erasure (Ihab Maharmeh//Al Shabaka 1/5/25)

“Since the start of the genocide in Gaza, Palestinian laborers working in the Israeli market have become a top target for Israel’s Civil and Economic Affairs Cabinet and the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Among a series of decisions taken by the Israeli government following October 7, 2023, was the cancellation of work permits for more than 140,000 Palestinian workers from the West Bank and Gaza. Additionally, thousands of these workers were illegally detained and transferred to detention centers. At the same time, the Israeli government began formal discussions with various Asian governments to recruit thousands of foreign workers to replace the Palestinian labor force. This policy brief situates the Israeli government’s current actions against Palestinian workers within the broader historical context of the Zionist settler-colonial project’s relationship with Palestinian labor. It reveals a recurring pattern in which Israel summons, exploits, expels, or replaces the Palestinian workforce based on its needs. This calculated approach, as the brief argues, is designed to systematically dismantle Palestinian political, economic, and social structures, ultimately advancing the goal of Palestinian erasure.”

With Gaza war and Trump’s return, Silicon Valley embraces a military renaissance (Sophia Goodfriend//+972 Magazine 12/31/25)

“At Israel’s first DefenseTech Summit, corporate leaders and army officials openly touted their partnership in AI-driven warfare and surveillance.”

U.S. SCENE

Scoop: Biden notifies Congress of $8 billion arms sale to Israel (Axios 1/3/25)

“The State Department has notified Congress “informally” of an $8 billion proposed arms deal with Israel that will include munitions for fighter jets and attack helicopters as well as artillery shells, two sources with direct knowledge tell Axios…This will likely be the last weapons sale to Israel the Biden administration approves. It comes amid claims from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his supporters in recent months that Biden had imposed a silent “arms embargo” on Israel. Some Democrats pushed the administration to condition arms sales to Israel based on Israel’s handling of the war effort and the humanitarian situation in Gaza, but Biden declined to do so. This is a long-term agreement, according to the sources. Some production and delivery of the munitions can be fulfilled through current U.S. stocks, but the majority will take one or more years to deliver.” See also Biden’s Last Multi-billion Arms Sale to Israel Leaves an Explosive Legacy (Ben Samuels//Haaretz 1/6/24); The Interview: Antony Blinken Insists He and Biden Made the Right Calls (NYT 1/4/25)

US House votes to sanction International Criminal Court over Israel (Reuters 1/10/25)

“The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Thursday to sanction the International Criminal Court in protest at its arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister over Israel’s campaign in Gaza. The vote was 243 to 140 in favor of the “Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act,” which would sanction any foreigner who investigates, arrests, detains or prosecutes U.S. citizens or those of an allied country, including Israel, who are not members of the court…The Senate’s newly appointed Republican majority leader, John Thune, has promised swift consideration of the sanctions act in his chamber so that Trump can sign it into law shortly after taking office.” See also Poland says it will not arrest Netanyahu for ICC should he attend Auschwitz memorial (Times of Israel 1/9/25)

The 119th Congress, Brought to You by Record Spending From the Israel Lobby (Jezebel 1/8/25)

“Earlier this week, Congress said goodbye to two key progressive voices: former Reps. Cori Bush of Missouri and Jamaal Bowman of New York. Both members lost their highly competitive primary races last summer, after the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and its affiliated super PACs poured about $20 million into the campaigns of their opponents, Wesley Bell and George Latimer, respectively. Bush and Bowman were specifically targeted by AIPAC because they were two of the first voices to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. But it wasn’t just Bell and Latimer. AIPAC poured record-shattering amounts of money into campaigns for the 119th Congress. According to a new report in Sludge, AIPAC contributed at least $45.2 million members of Congress who won in 2024. During the 2022 cycle, AIPAC gave a total of $13 million in campaign contributions to members of the 118th Congress, per Open Secrets. “No single organization has ever contributed as much money to congressional candidates’ campaigns as AIPAC did during the 2023-24 election cycle,” Sludge’s report states. Of the 535 members, 349 House members and senators—or 65% of Congress—received funding from AIPAC.”

Jimmy Carter’s Post-Presidential Human Rights Legacy (Human Rights Watch 1/8/25)

“The late US President Jimmy Carter’s human rights legacy includes his role long after leaving office in 1981. His partnership with Human Rights Watch and many other nongovernmental organizations helped achieve important advances in international law, including treaties to hold war criminals to account, to prohibit landmines and cluster munitions, and to ban the use of children as soldiers…Carter and the Carter Center, which he and his late wife, Rosalynn, founded in 1982, also supported the establishment of a permanent international criminal court. During the 1998 UN diplomatic conference held in Rome, the Carter Center worked together with civil society from around the globe to build support for the treaty that – once it entered into force –established the International Criminal Court (ICC). After the UN conference, Carter reached out personally to dozens of world leaders urging them to ratify the treaty, called the Rome Statute.”

ACTIVISM/REPRESSION

 

Investing firm to stop assessing human rights risk in ‘contiguous territorial disputes’ after scrutiny from pro-Israel groups (Asaf Elia-Shalev//JTA 1/7/25)

“When investors need help navigating business decisions in conflict zones they turn to specialized firms that are supposed to help them keep clear of human rights abuses. But one of the biggest firms offering advice on environmental, social, and governance issues recently announced that when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it will no longer have anything to say. The conflict is just too complicated to weigh in on, Morningstar announced last month, following years of pressure by pro-Israel groups who charged that the ESG field effectively fuels Israel boycotts. The company said it devised a new policy that ends coverage of human rights issues connected to “disputes concerning contiguous territories” after an investigation of alleged anti-Israel bias in the company’s research and analysis…The policy change caps off a series of reforms implemented by Morningstar in response to scrutiny by a coalition of pro-Israel groups, including the Jewish Federations of North America, The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League.” See also Morningstar, subsidiary Sustainalytics remove anti-Israel investment ratings (JNS 1/3/25); After fighting anti-Israel bias at Morningstar, Jewish groups focus on MSCI (JNS 1/9/25)

In the Knesset, ADL chief admits failure to extinguish the post-Oct. 7 ‘inferno of antisemitism,’ calls for new strategies (Jewish Insider 1/7/25)

“[ADL CEO Jonathan] Greenblatt did not offer concrete recommendations to innovate the field of combating antisemitism, but said that fresh thinking was sorely needed…“We need the kind of genius that manufactured Apollo Gold Pagers and infiltrated Hezbollah for over a decade to prepare for this battle. We need the kind of courage that executed Operation Deep Layer inside Syria and destroyed Iranian missile manufacturing capabilities to undertake this mission…” Greenblatt pushed for the State of Israel to consider the fight against antisemitism online and around the world to be another front (alongside Gaza, Lebanon, West Bank, Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Iran) that the country must contend with. “Capturing TikTok might seem less meaningful than holding on to Mount Hermon. Libelous tweets certainly might seem less deadly than missiles from Yemen. But this is urgent because the next war will be decided based on how Israel and its allies perform online as much as offline. Make no mistake, it’s real,” he said.” See also Israel’s foreign minister is looking for a way to spend $150 million on public diplomacy (Jewish Insider 12/26/24); Israel has spent millions trying win hearts and minds abroad. It’s about to spend 20 times more. (JTA 12/27/24)

How Trump and the GOP Plan to Dismantle the U.S. pro-Palestinian Movement (Ben Samuels//Haaretz 12/23/24)

“Aggressively anti-Palestinian appointees, who tend to describe all campus protesters as Hamas supporters, will soon steer both foreign and domestic policy, creating a Trump administration united in seeking a crackdown on the pro-Palestinian movement in the U.S. despite any other differences.” See also Scoop: Heritage Foundation plans to ‘identify and target’ Wikipedia editors (Arno Rosenfeld//The Forward 1/7/25)

Quaker group pulls NYT ad over paper’s refusal to let it call Israel’s Gaza bombing ‘genocide’ (Guardian 1/8/25)

“The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a Quaker organization that advocates for peace, said on Monday the group cancelled a planned advertisement in the New York Times in response to the paper refusing to allow it to refer to Israel’s actions in Gaza as a genocide…The group claimed a representative with the advertising team at the New York Times suggested they use the word “war” instead of “genocide”.” See also Historians Condemn ‘Scholasticide’ in Gaza at Conference (Inside Higher Ed 1/5/25)

 

PERSPECTIVES//LONG READS

The Case for Hope for Palestinians (Khaled Elgindy//NYT 1/3/25)

“The current reality for Palestinians is nothing short of cataclysmic…But there are also powerful forces working in Palestinians’ favor that cannot be overlooked. The rapidly growing international solidarity movement, the historic prospect of the international community holding Israel to account and the Palestinians’ own extensive reservoir of talent and resilience hold out the promise that there is, despite the depth of the current crisis, a better future ahead. Like other cataclysmic moments in Palestinian history, the continuing Gaza catastrophe will leave an indelible imprint on Palestinians’ national consciousness. A war that has killed more than 17,000 children and unleashed widespread starvation and disease could do nothing less. Left to fester, the human suffering and collective trauma, combined with a breakdown in social order in Gaza and a growing sense of despair, are precisely the conditions that could lead to generations of instability and violence. In the near term, Palestinians will also face a new challenge: the incoming Trump administration…But there is an opportunity for a different future. Such attempts to silence Palestinian voices are themselves a response to one of the Palestinians’ most powerful tools: the global recognition of the justice of their cause…The persistence of protests on university campuses across North America and Europe in particular, despite the repression and smears often wielded against them, highlight the profound generational change in how many in the West view the issue, from a dominantly pro-Israel narrative to one more focused on Palestinian rights and humanity. While the campus protests might be dismissed as politically insignificant, they point to a deeper shift in public opinion that could eventually produce a change in policy.”

Will Israeli apartheid live longer than president Carter? (Sami Abu Shehadeh//New Arab 12/31/24)

“So, how would president Carter have addressed a genocide? Firstly, to end this atrocity, we need to accept the facts – something the current US administration has systematically refused to do. How would he have dealt with students demonstrating against the complicity of their institutions with war crimes? How would he have dealt with racist and discriminatory institutions fundraising in the US to support illegal colonial-settlements? He would have likely recognised the responsibility his country bears and would have at least raised awareness about activities that violate the basic principles enshrined in the constitution. To achieve a long-lasting peace and to resolve the situation in Palestine – the way president Carter wanted – there must be a shift. We can no longer treat the resolution of the “Jewish question” or the “Palestinian question” in isolation. Anyone who seeks a historical compromise, must establish a solution based on the values of justice, freedom and equality for all, for Israelis and Palestinians.”

Can Genocide Studies Survive a Genocide in Gaza? (Mari Cohen//Jewish Currents 12/19/24)

“Now these simmering tensions in the field—crystallized within competing academic associations and journals—have burst into public view in disparate responses to the aftermath of October 7th. “Conservative Holocaust scholars tend to argue that Hamas demonstrates antisemitism reminiscient of that of the Nazis, while many genocide scholars see Israel as perpetrating a genocide, the crime of crimes associated in everyone’s mind with the Nazis,” said Amos Goldberg, a historian of the Holocaust at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The former camp has more support from donors, administrators, local politicians, and the Jewish organizations that have played a significant role in building the field; as a result, academics like Segal who apply their analysis of genocide to Israel’s actions have sometimes found themselves marginalized or embattled at institutions with ostensible commitments to genocide prevention…Indeed, some fear that the field’s tendency to exceptionalize Israel will render it impotent—or worse. “What’s the point of this field?” said A. Dirk Moses, a historian who serves as senior editor at the Journal of Genocide Resesarch. “Is it, in fact, enabling the mass killing of Palestinians in the name of self-defense and genocide prevention? If that’s the case, then the field is dead—not only incoherent, but complicit in mass killing.”’

The term ‘antisemitism’ is being weaponised and stripped of meaning – and that’s incredibly dangerous (Rachel Shabi//Guardian 12/31/24)

“Over a year into Israel’s assault on Gaza, which some experts have described as a genocide, accusations of antisemitism raised to counter criticism of Israel have gone into overdrive. Such claims have been made against protesters crying out for an end to the bloodshed in Gaza and against the UN and aid agencies warning of a humanitarian catastrophe. They have been levelled at global news channels and the international court of justice; against actors, artists, pop stars and even British-Jewish film-makers. So sweepingly and speech-chillingly are such claims made by Israel’s diehard defenders that the very term “antisemitism” is losing its meaning. It is exactly as the British-Jewish philosopher Brian Klug warned 20 years ago: “When antisemitism is everywhere, it is nowhere.” Blanket misuse has, troublingly, turned the term into a feature on an Israeli politician’s lingo-bingo scorecard. And all this is happening precisely at a time when antisemitism is increasing globally. When Britain’s Jewish community has experienced verbal and physical attacks. When Jewish schools and synagogues have been dealing with death threats and desecrations. In the past 18 months, a Jewish woman was stabbed in her home in France, there have been shootings at schools in Canada and we saw a full-blown antisemitic riot in Dagestan in Russia…A true understanding of what has gone so wrong with our discussion of antisemitism – and how to put it right – will not just fortify the left in this urgent political moment. It will also consolidate our antiracist endeavours. It will yield inclusiveness, moral clarity and cohesion. And most of all, it will help us to make sense of the alarming, divisive and destructive rightwards shift of the world – because only then do we stand a chance of changing it.”

What is the duty of the Israeli left in a time of genocide? (Hadas Binyamini//+972 1/3/25)

“Israeli leftists have been more divided and marginalized than ever since the October 7 assault, with joint Palestinian-Jewish struggle at a breaking point. Yet their sights remain set on long-term political change.“

Democrats have become the party of war. Americans are tired of it (Matt Duss//The Guardian 1/9/25)

“Like Clinton, Harris this year seemed far more interested in boasting about the US’s “lethal” military and campaigning alongside the torture advocate Liz Cheney (while also touting the endorsement of her father, the “war on terror” architect Dick Cheney) than in articulating a vision of peace and stability. Meanwhile, in the last few weeks before the election, the Trump campaign noticeably leaned into an anti-war message, with JD Vance making the rounds hailing the now president-elect as a “candidate of peace”. A brief review of Trump’s first administration should make clear how ridiculous such a claim was…But it was even more baffling that Democrats had left the anti-war lane wide open for him by leaning into a tired, curdled militarism as a substitute for an actual foreign policy vision. In foreign policy as elsewhere, Democrats positioned themselves as defenders of a set of ideas and assumptions that most Americans no longer trust. As Trump takes office and Democrats prepare to enter the political wilderness, we need to reckon with how they got this so wrong. When Joe Biden took office in 2021, I never imagined I would write this, but by the end of his presidency he will have done more damage to the so-called “rules-based order” than Trump did. Fifteen months and counting of support for Israel’s horrific assault on Gaza has violated virtually every international norm on the protections of civilians in war and left America’s moral credibility in tatters. Biden showed that international law is little more than a cudgel to be used against our enemies while being treated as optional for our friends.”

 

1. New from FMEP

2. Gaza

3. Region/Global

4. River to the Sea

5. U.S. Scene

6. Perspectives//Long Reads

NEW FROM FMEP

FMEP Legislative Round-Up December 20, 2024 (Lara Friedman)

1. Bills, Resolutions; 2. Letters; 3. House GOP Goes All-In on Targeting Israel Protest/Speech on Campus. 4. Selected Members on the Record; 5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

Settlement & Annexation Report: December 20, 2024 (Kristin McCarthy)

1. De Facto Annexation: Israel Applies Domestic Urban Renewal Law to Settlements, Easing High-Density Construction; 2. High Court Orders Illegal Settler Construction Dismantled; 3. Knesset Caucus to Push Bill Preventing West Bank Exit; 4. Israeli Demolitions Continue Alarming Spike; 5. Israel is Expanding Settlements in the Golan Heights, As Army Moves to Expand Occupation of Syrian Land; 6. Bonus Reads

Eyewitness to Israel’s Intentionally Created Health Apocalypse in Gaza (Occupied Thoughts episode)

FMEP President Lara Friedman speaks with Dr. Tammy Abughnaim, an American physician who has been to Gaza twice since 10/7/23, serving as a humanitarian physician and has worked at Al-Aqsa Hospital and Nasser Medical Complex; and Dr. Yara Asi, assistant professor at the University of Central Florida in the School of Global Health Management and Informatics and a 2023 Palestine fellow for the Foundation for Middle East Peace.

Can Syria Rebuild? (Occupied Thoughts episode)

FMEP Fellow Peter Beinart and Maha Yahya, Director of the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center, discuss the new developments in Syria. They look at how Syria’s new leaders governed in the areas they controlled over the last few years, why some Syrian minorities are fleeing to Lebanon, and whether Turkey will pursue the Kurds in Syria.

Connecting the Bullets: Guns on the Kitchen Table to Organized Crime to Crimes Against Humanity (Occupied Thoughts episode)

FMEP’s Sarah Anne Minkin speaks with attorney and activist Meisa Irshaid, activist and author Rela Mazali, and Professor Jonathan Metzl about the proliferation of guns in civilian spaces in Israel/Palestine. They discuss the the acceleration of organized crime and gun violence in Palestinian communities inside of ’48 Israel, the mass armament of Jewish Israeli citizens, mostly men, on both sides of the Green Line, spearheaded by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, and the links between militarization, occupation, and crimes against humanity.

 

GAZA

Israel accused of act of genocide over restriction of Gaza water supply (Guardian 12/19/24)

“Israel’s restriction of Gaza’s water supply to levels below minimum needs amounts to an act of genocide and extermination as a crime against humanity, a human rights report has alleged. Human Rights Watch (HRW) investigated Israeli attacks on the water supply infrastructure in Gaza over the course of its 14-month war there. It has accused Israeli forces of deliberate actions intended to cut the availability of clean water so drastically that the population has been forced to resort to contaminated sources, leading to the outbreak of lethal diseases, especially among children. Israel’s actions have killed many thousands of Palestinians and constitute an act of genocide, HRW argues, citing declarations by ministers in the country’s ruling coalition that Gaza’s water supply would be cut off as evidence of intent. The 184-page report, Extermination and Acts of Genocide, comes after an Amnesty International report this month concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza.” See also Israel’s Crime of Extermination, Acts of Genocide in Gaza (Human Rights Watch 12/19/24); Gaza death trap: MSF report exposes Israel’s campaign of total destruction (Medicins Sans Frontieres 12/19/24)

Gaza strikes leave dozens of people dead as Israeli bombardment continues (WaPo 12/20/24)

“Israeli strikes in Gaza left 77 people dead over 24 hours, the Gaza Health Ministry said early Friday. Later in the day, more strikes followed. Eight people were killed in a strike on a building in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, according to the two hospitals where bodies were brought. A strike on a building in the Jabalya refugee camp in Gaza’s north killed 10 people, including seven children, and left 15 injured, Gaza civil defense force spokesman Mahmoud Bassal said in a statement. In a civil defense force video sent out after the Jabalya strike, Bassal holds up the lifeless body of a small child. “Why do they kill? Why are these children killed?” he asks, his voice full of grief and anger. “Imagine this little girl is your daughter, imagine she is your child.”’

‘People Simply Vaporized’: Israeli Attacks on the South Gaza Humanitarian Zone Have Killed Scores of Palestinians (Nir Hasson//Haaretz 12/17/24)

“The strike was one of several strikes on Mawasi – an area the IDF has classified as a humanitarian zone to which it directs Gaza’s civilian population. Despite its humanitarian classification, the IDF has never refrained from striking it, and scores of people are estimated to have been killed there to date. The UN says the strikes in the zone have intensified recently…The strikes in Mawasi are different in character from the bombings in urban areas. Rather than destroying buildings – from which dust-covered, panicked wounded are pulled – strikes on Mawasi involve huge bombs that leave giant craters in the dunes. There are some reports of people completely disappearing due to the intensity of the explosion and the lack of shelter that could protect against the bombings. “It looks like Nagasaki,” said Georgios Petropoulos, head of the Gazan branch of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. “They counted the bodies, but there are people who simply vaporized. Ten or twenty people who were known to be in the tents have simply vanished,” he said. “I was at the hospital after the bombing, it looked like a slaughterhouse, blood everywhere.”

‘No Civilians. Everyone’s a Terrorist’: IDF Soldiers Expose Arbitrary Killings and Rampant Lawlessness in Gaza’s Netzarim Corridor (Yaniv Kubovich//Haaretz 12/18/24)

‘”The forces in the field call it ‘the line of dead bodies'” a commander in Division 252 tells Haaretz. “After shootings, bodies are not collected, attracting packs of dogs who come to eat them. In Gaza, people know that wherever you see these dogs, that’s where you must not go.” The Netzarim corridor, a seven-kilometer-wide strip of land, stretches from near Kibbutz Be’eri to the Mediterranean coast. The IDF has emptied this area of Palestinian residents and demolished their homes to construct military roads and military positions…A recently discharged Division 252 officer describes the arbitrary nature of this boundary: “For the division, the kill zone extends as far as a sniper can see.” But the issue goes beyond geography. “We’re killing civilians there who are then counted as terrorists,” he says…These accounts of indiscriminate killing and the routine classification of civilian casualties as terrorists emerged repeatedly in Haaretz’s conversations with recent Gaza veterans…An officer in Division 252’s command recalls when the IDF spokesperson announced their forces had killed over 200 militants. “Standard procedure requires photographing bodies and collecting details when possible, then sending evidence to intelligence to verify militant status or at least confirm they were killed by the IDF,” he explains. “Of those 200 casualties, only ten were confirmed as known Hamas operatives. Yet no one questioned the public announcement about killing hundreds of militants.”’

‘Everything is gone’: how Israeli forces destroyed Jabaliya refugee camp (Guardian 12/18/24)

“A chronicle of Jabaliya’s destruction, using eyewitness accounts, satellite imagery and video footage.” See also Israeli Knesset Members Plan Resettlement of Gaza in Observation Tour (Haaretz 12/20/24)

‘My hands are paralyzed from torture’: Gazans reveal horrors of Ofer Camp (Oren Ziv//+972 12/19/24)

“Inmates at Israel’s shadowy new facility face non-stop abuse — from deadly beatings and electric shocks, to constant handcuffing and skin diseases.”

Israeli Strike Kills Gaza Man Who Went Viral For Tribute To Slain Granddaughter (HuffPost 12/16/24)

“An Israeli strike in Gaza has killed an elderly Palestinian man known from a touching video that went viral last year of him grieving his 3-year-old granddaughter, also slain in an airstrike. Khaled Nabhan was killed Monday during an Israeli attack on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, according to reports. Khaled Nabhan drew global attention after CNN reported in November 2023 on the Israeli military bombing his home and killing his grandchildren, 3-year-old Reem and 5-year-old Tariq. His daughter and the children’s mother, Maysa, was injured. At the time, the video spread on social media of him gently cradling Reem’s body, nuzzling her with his beard, opening her eyes to kiss them and tearfully telling her in Arabic, “Rouh al rouh,” which means “You are the soul of my soul.”’

Faced with mounting public anger, a weakened Hamas starts to compromise (WaPo 12/16/24)

“With its military power depleted and its political influence on the wane, Hamas is under growing public pressure to help bring the war in Gaza to an end…Last week, Hamas publicly softened its negotiating position with Israel. A new proposal for a 60-day pause in hostilities and the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners includes key concessions from Hamas, which relented on its demands for a complete halt to the war and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces, a Hamas official told The Washington Post. The group is still insisting that displaced Palestinians be allowed to return to northern Gaza, the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media. As diplomats shuttle back and forth between Cairo and Doha, Qatar’s capital, to discuss the proposal, Egypt has been working separately to broker a postwar Gaza governance agreement between Hamas and its political rival, the Fatah party, which controls the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under his own domestic pressures, has refused to put forward a “day-after” plan and has ruled out the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza, a key U.S. and Palestinian request. He has also rejected any role for the remnants of Hamas, saying Israel will keep fighting in Gaza until the Islamist movement has been eradicated. In the meantime, powerful members of Netanyahu’s far-right coalition are pushing to annex and resettle the enclave, and some have proposed expelling Palestinians by “encouraging voluntary immigration.” Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for 17 years, is at its weakest point, according to residents, Palestinian officials and analysts, reduced to pockets of guerrilla fighters and increasingly incapable of governing.” See also Gaza ceasefire talks continue, but no apparent breakthrough (WaPo 12/19/24); Israel says hostage-ceasefire deal with Hamas closer than ever: What we know (Al Monitor 12/16/24); Israel keeps up Gaza bombardment as ceasefire talks intensify (Reuters 12/19/24)

REGION/GLOBAL

Were Israel’s Yemen strikes trial run for major attack on Iran? (Al Monitor 12/20/24)

“The recent large-scale Israeli operation against targets in Yemen took weeks to plan, but does not point to Israeli leaders having sidelined what they consider the biggest threat to Israel — Iran. On Dec. 19 at 2:30 a.m., dozens of Israeli Air Force fighter jets, loaded with fuel and one-ton bombs, took off toward Yemen, more than 1,120 miles away. Their flight path took them along the Red Sea coastline, past the ballistic missile the Houthi rebels had fired from Yemen toward Israel at the very same time. As the warplanes dropped their bombs, the warhead of the Houthis’ Iranian-supplied missile landed on an empty school building in suburban Tel Aviv, destroying it…The Israeli attack was the third in the past six months launched against Yemen in retaliation for some 400 missiles and drones that Israel accuses the Houthis of firing at it. The pilots dropped some 60 bombs on power stations and fuel depots, hitting Sanaa, the Yemeni capital, for the first time as well as the Red Sea ports of Hodeidah and Ras Issa. The attack caused widespread power outages throughout the country…Israel regards the Houthi drones and missiles, most of which were intercepted, as nuisance attacks or harassment on the sideline of the main arena, Iran. Some in Israel even regard the three retaliatory strikes on Yemen as a “pilot project” in preparation for a possible attack on equidistant Iran.” See also Israel builds flexible presence in Syria as window opens to strike Iran (Al Monitor 12/13/24); Houthis and Israel trade strikes after missile hits Israeli school (WaPo 12/19/24); Syria’s collapse and Israeli attacks leave Iran exposed (WaPo 12/17/24); Israel approves plan to expand settlements on occupied Golan Heights (WaPo 12/15/24)

After Assad’s fall, a new Middle East ‘order’ is taking shape (Ishaan Tharoor//WaPo 12/20/24)

“Fear and hope color the unfolding drama in Syria in equal shades. After the stunning fall of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, attention has centered on the new dispensation taking shape in Damascus — and the powerful regional actors that may be influencing it. Analysts have already declared geopolitical winners and losers: Iran and Russia, Assad’s longtime backers, are licking their wounds; Turkey and Arab monarchies that supported the Syrian rebels to varying extents are in the ascendance. Israel, which carried out a ruthless bombing campaign on Syrian military targets and moved ground forces across the disputed Golan Heights into Syrian territory clearly feels emboldened, too. As the Islamist rebel group that ousted Assad takes the reins in steering the country’s political transition, Western governments are starting to reengage a country long in the diplomatic cold. On Tuesday, the French flag was hoisted above France’s embassy in Damascus for the first time in 12 years. And on Friday, a U.S. delegation was in Syria, the first American diplomatic visit to Damascus in more than a decade…Assad’s fall has made some dynamics clear. The regime’s demise was prefigured by Israel’s tactical decimation of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy that was vital to securing the Assad regime over a decade of civil war. Furthermore, after defending him for years, both Iran and Russia were unable or even unwilling to keep Assad in power. His ousting represents a political sea change in the Middle East.” See also U.S. officials in direct contact with Syria’s new leaders (WaPo 12/14/24); Netanyahu says Israel will occupy Syria buffer zone for foreseeable future (Guardian 12/18/24); Turkey condemns Israel plan to double Golan Heights population (Guardian 12/16/24); U.S. lifts bounty on Syria’s interim leader amid diplomatic outreach (WaPo 12/20/24); US scraps $10M bounty on HTS leader Golani after meeting in Damascus (Al Monitor 12/20/24)

Israel will close its Ireland embassy over Gaza tensions as Palestinian death toll nears 45,000 (AP 12/15/24)

“Israel said Sunday it will close its embassy in Ireland as relations deteriorated over the war in Gaza, where Palestinian medical officials said new Israeli airstrikes killed over 46 people including several children. The decision to close the embassy came in response to what Israel’s foreign minister has described as Ireland’s “extreme anti-Israel policies.” In May, Israel recalled its ambassador to Dublin after Ireland announced, along with Norway, Spain and Slovenia, it would recognize a Palestinian state. The Irish Cabinet last week decided to formally intervene in South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, which accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Israel denies it.” See also Israel to shutter Ireland embassy, citing ‘antisemitic rhetoric of the Irish government’ (JTA 12/16/24); Fearing Arrest, Netanyahu Reportedly to Skip Auschwitz Liberation’s 80th Anniversary in Poland (Haaretz 12/20/24)

For Syrians in the Golan, Assad’s fall sparks hope and uncertainty (Baker Zoubi//+972 12/13/24)

“Residents of the occupied Jawlan celebrated the regime’s collapse, but remain wary amid political instability and further Israeli encroachment inside Syria.” See also Israel approves plan to expand settlements on occupied Golan Heights (WaPo 12/15/24)

Vatican Nativity scene with Christ child on Palestinian keffiyeh removed (Catholic Herald 12/11/24)

“A Nativity scene displayed at the Vatican that depicted the infant Jesus resting upon a Palestinian keffiyeh has now been removed after causing significant controversy. When the scene was unveiled on 7 December in the Vatican’s Paul VI audience hall, the placing of the infant Jesus upon a piece of cloth that serves as the traditional Palestinian head dress lead many to interpret the gesture as a political statement on the part of the Holy See. The black-and-white chequered keffiyeh is widely seen as a pro-Palestinian symbol. The Nativity scene, designed by two artists from the Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem, was described by the Palestine Chronicle as “a poignant nod to the Palestinian struggle”, yet received blowback from the Israeli and Jewish communities.”

RIVER TO THE SEA

What’s behind PA’s crackdown against Hamas, Islamic Jihad in Jenin? (Daoud Kuttab//Al Monitor 12/19/24)

“Mohammad Mustafa, the mild-mannered, US-trained former World Bank official who is the current prime minister in Ramallah, made a rare statement on Dec. 14 during a visit to Jenin, praising the crackdown and warning against “those who want to destroy the country.”…Armed members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad operate widely throughout the camp. Israel accuses the groups of being part of Iran’s so-called Axis of Resistance and says Tehran has for years smuggled small arms into the West Bank. Jenin has long been a flashpoint for tensions between Palestinian security forces and armed factions, but saw a major escalation in December. PA members arrested a prominent member of the Jenin Battalion — an umbrella organization of militant groups — and militants responded by seizing two government vehicles, sparking direct confrontations.”

U.S. asks Israel to approve urgent military aid to Palestinian security forces (Axios 12/15/24)

“The Biden administration asked Israel to approve U.S. military assistance to Palestinian Authority security forces for a wide-ranging operation the PA is conducting in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Palestinian, U.S. and Israeli officials told Axios. Why it matters: The security operation to regain control in the city of Jenin and its refugee camp from militants is the largest conducted by Palestinian security forces in years. Palestinian and Israeli officials said the operation is focused on a local armed group that includes militants affiliated with both Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and Hamas. Both groups receive funding from Iran. “This operation is a make or break moment for the Palestinian Authority,” one Palestinian official said. Palestinian and U.S. officials said Palestinian leadership launched the operation out of fear that Islamist militants — emboldened after armed rebels took control of Syria — could try to overthrow the Palestinian Authority.”

Bibi Netanyahu Is Failing Ever Upward (Noa Landau//NYT 12/19/24)

“The Israeli prime minister’s endurance can be traced back to several political factors, including a decade of echo-chamber building within Israeli media and Bibi’s own sophisticated and cynical exploitation of Israelis’ deep yearning for unity after Oct. 7. But perhaps the strongest force keeping Mr. Netanyahu in power is the most basic: his fractured, increasingly nonexistent opposition. The vast majority of those who loathe him as a leader do not oppose the war itself, nor the way it has been conducted. They want him out of power but they have no coherent alternative vision. For the past year, all Mr. Netanyahu has had to do was hold on to power — and pass the blame.”

Israeli Settlers, Jerusalem Municipality Exploiting War to Evict Palestinians From East Jerusalem, Residents Say (Nir Hasson//Haaretz 12/19/24)

“Silwan residents these incidents add up to a full assault by the authorities on their village. The Jerusalem municipality and the settler organizations, they say, are exploiting the war to push them out and bring the Judaization of Silwan to a new level…”Everybody in Silwan feels that they are using the war to evict us and demolish our homes,” says Zuhair Rajabi, a neighborhood resident. “And no one can say a word.” Indeed, the data on house demolitions in East Jerusalem reinforces the view that the municipality is taking advantage of the state of emergency to step up the pace of home demolitions. According to the NGO Ir Amim, some 243 structures have been demolished this year, more than in any single year since 1967. Of those, 171 were homes…The demolition of nine homes in Al-Bustan follows the razing of 15 others in the past year. Another 85 face demolition orders. After that, the entire neighborhood is slated to disappear. In 2010, Nir Barkat, who was then Jerusalem’s mayor, unveiled a program to raze the entire neighborhood and create a park to be called Gan Hamelech (the King’s Garden) in its place. The archeological park is designed to link up with the City of David National Park, which is administered by the Elad nonprofit.” See also Candidate for Israel’s Top Court Lives in House Illegally Built on Private Palestinian Land (Haaretz 12/20/24)

U.S. SCENE

US violating law to fund Israel despite alleged human rights abuses, lawsuit says (Guardian 12/17/24)

“The state department is facing a new lawsuit brought by Palestinians and Palestinian Americans accusing the agency of deliberately circumventing a decades-old US human rights law to continue funding Israeli military units accused of widespread atrocities in the occupied Palestinian territories. The lawsuit, which was filed on Tuesday, marks the first time that victims of alleged human rights abuses are challenging the state department’s failure to ever sanction an Israeli security unit under the Leahy Law, a 1990s-era law that prohibits US military assistance to forces credibly implicated in gross human rights violations. The plaintiffs include Amal Gaza, a pseudonym for a mathematics teacher from Gaza who has lost 20 family members; Shawan Jabarin, the director of the Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq, who endured six years of arbitrary detention in the West Bank; and Ahmed Moor, a Palestinian American with relatives in Gaza who have been repeatedly displaced by the ongoing Israeli offensive…Along with two other plaintiffs, they are demanding judicial intervention to force the US to comply with the law.” See also 77 House Democrats accuse Israel of violating arms sales laws (Guardian 12/13/24); Family of US activist killed in West Bank says Blinken offers no prospect of US inquiry (Reuters 12/16/24); Why isn’t Israel being held accountable for killing my wife and other innocents? (Hamid Ali//The Hill 12/14/24)

The Democrats’ stubborn refusal to learn from the campus protests for Palestine (Ahmed Moor//+972 12/17/24)

““I didn’t feel like my views were represented by either party,” Sophia Rosser, a third-year student at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, told me. For Rosser, the fact that Harris seemed to back all of Biden’s policies, especially his support for Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, highlighted contradictions in her campaign. “I can’t think of her attempt to solve the housing crisis without thinking about the fact that 90 percent of people in Gaza have been displaced,” she said…This was a common sentiment among young voters I spoke to in Pennsylvania: a refusal to accept that achieving progressive political priorities at home must come at the cost of continuing a destructive, illiberal policy abroad. Democrats, they argue, can no longer afford to be “progressive except Palestine.” And thousands of them, like Rosser, are university students who participated in protests and joined encampments over the past year. Rather than take their concerns seriously, Democratic politicians and party leaders spent much of the past year berating and belittling students for their vocal opposition to Israel’s genocide, and smearing them as being motivated by hatred of Jews.” See also US won’t sanction Smotrich and Ben Gvir before end of Biden’s term — officials (Times of Israel 12/19/24); Huckabee addresses settlement-focused One Israel Fund as ‘quirky right-wing’ cause goes ‘mainstream’ (eJewish Philanthropy 12/20/24)

‘Tired of writing about dead kids’: why a US state department worker resigned over Israel-Gaza policy (Guardian 12/18/24)

“Casey resigned from the state department in July after four years at the job, discreetly leaving the post unlike other recent high-profile government departures. Now seated at his kitchen table in the quiet suburbs of northern Michigan, Casey reflected on how, as one of only two people in the entire US government explicitly focused on Gaza, he became an unwilling chronicler of a humanitarian catastrophe. “I got so tired of writing about dead kids,” he said. “Just constantly having to prove to Washington that these children actually died and then watching nothing happen.” Casey’s work function included documenting the humanitarian and political landscape through classified cables, research and reporting. But his disillusionment wasn’t sudden. It was a slow accumulation of bureaucratic betrayals – each report dismissed, each humanitarian concern bulldozed by political expediency.”

Defunding Dissent (Will Alden//Jewish Currents 12/19/24)

“Donors’ break with abortion funds is just one example of a quiet crackdown currently underway inside the veiled world of American philanthropy. In conference rooms, Zoom meetings, and email inboxes, largely hidden from public view, funders who style themselves as champions of progressive values are conditioning their grants on support for—or, at least, silence about—Israel’s brutal campaign in Gaza, denying resources to organizations they had previously supported and praised. More than 40 interviews with people on either side of the grantmaker–grantee divide reveal a pattern of funding decisions that punish expressions of Palestinian solidarity, affecting social justice organizations that work on a range of domestic issues, from police violence and the prison system to environmental justice and the affordable housing crisis. For funders—including prominent Jewish family foundations like Schusterman—the enforcement of Israel-related guardrails lays bare the contradictions inherent in a philanthropic portfolio that pursues a progressive domestic agenda while promoting allegiance to the Jewish state.”

Viet Thanh Nguyen broke a BDS rule. Now he is its vocal advocate (Edo Konrad & Alaa Salama//+972 12/17/24)

“Refusing interviews with what he calls the “mainstream Israeli media,” Nguyen knows his decision to support the boycott, juxtaposed with the publication of his work in Israel, not only carries immediate repercussions — it demands grappling with questions of accountability, complicity, and the role of writers and cultural movements in political movements, especially during times of mass violence. His position on Israel today, as he put it in an interview with +972 Magazine, is unequivocal: no collaboration without a clear renunciation of colonization and apartheid.”

PERSPECTIVES//LONG READS

How Many People Have Died of Starvation in Gaza? (Alex de Waal//World Peace Foundation 12/17/24)

“We don’t know how many people in Gaza have perished from starvation and related health crisis. But we have good reason to fear that the toll will be high. The humanitarian data for Gaza are poor and inference from the existing data to a death toll is a hazardous exercise with a wide margin for error, as this paper will show. However, absence of evidence is not evidence for absence. Israel and defenders of Israel have criticized the Integrated food security Phase Classification (IPC) data and analysis, but the alternative data and analysis they have put forward do not add up to a refutation. What Israel needs to do is to facilitate high quality data gathering by humanitarian agencies, to provide an accurate determination of levels of suffering and needs. This paper covers the following: (a) the question of what is included in excess mortality in humanitarian emergencies; (b) methods for estimating mortality in these circumstances; (c) some estimates for mortality derived from these approaches; and (d) how Gaza’s humanitarian emergency compares to others.”

The Palestinian Struggle: From Genocide to Global Realignment (Tareq Baconi//Al Shabaka 12/17/24)

“While the Palestinian movement is experiencing unprecedented momentum through global grassroots support and solidarity, we must become more strategic in translating this popular power into political power. Questions of international law, foreign policy toward Global South actors, and global governance require deliberate and coordinated engagement. These are not merely abstract concerns but urgent, practical considerations for advancing the Palestinian cause on the world stage. Today’s strategic deficit is not incidental but the product of decades of systematic repression. The Israeli regime worked relentlessly to dismantle the revolutionary leadership of the 1960s and 1970s—through co-optation, imprisonment, exile, and assassination—leaving a vacuum in institutional capacity and decolonial vision. Rebuilding this revolutionary infrastructure is an urgent priority. Without it, foreign interests and Western hegemony will continue to impose paradigms that marginalize Palestinian rights and reinforce settler-colonial oppression. The critical question today is how to seize this moment—marked by the genocide in Gaza and the global attention it has drawn—to revitalize our revolutionary legacy. This is not a call to return to the past, as such a return is neither possible nor desirable. Instead, we must reimagine decolonization and revolutionary politics for our current era, defined by interconnected global challenges and shifting power structures. Resuscitating a decolonial project rooted in our history but oriented toward the future is our most urgent task. It is through this work that we can chart a path toward justice, liberation, and self-determination for Palestinians and all oppressed peoples.”

The New Old Warfare (Sophia Goodfriend//Boston Review 12/16/24)

“The reality is that the revolving door between tech, venture capital, and the military does little to enhance security. Israeli officials themselves have stated that an overreliance on supposedly state-of-the-art surveillance and weapons systems contributed to the devastating security failures on October 7…All the death and destruction in Gaza over the last year has done little to dislodge this institutionalized conceit. Within weeks of declaring war against Hamas, Israel’s military circulated press releases claiming state-of-the-art AI-powered targeting systems were augmenting its killing capacities. As the ground troops rolled in, military heads boasted that algorithmically enhanced tanks were allowing units to wage war with lethal precision. And as soldiers reoccupied the strip, security officials announced that the war was yielding a steady stream of data to build up new defense technology products. Their press releases were aimed at the private sector. Transnational firms like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Palantir signed over a host of computing infrastructure and AI systems over the past year. Defense tech startups have also rushed to the battlefield to begin product testing…But these are just slogans. As investigative reporting from Yuval Abraham with +972 Magazine has made clear, most of the algorithmic weaponry determining where bombs fall—most notably, AI-assisted targeting systems called Lavender, Where’s Daddy?, and The Gospel—have simply lent the veneer of technical rationality to a military bent on largely indiscriminate destruction. The billions poured into engineering and maintaining these technologies have done nothing to achieve Israel’s stated goals of decimating Hamas or bringing the remaining hostages home. Instead, it has turned most of Gaza into a death zone.”

How antisemitism, Israeli nationalism and anger over Gaza clashed in Amsterdam (WaPo 12/18/24)

“Israeli officials have characterized it as a premeditated pogrom, reminiscent of the darkest days of Jewish persecution in Europe. Pro-Palestinian activists and other locals contend they were attempting to defend their city from the aggressive provocations of Israeli soccer fans, and to protest the bloodshed of Israel’s war in Gaza…But a Washington Post review of more than 100 videos, WhatsApp and Telegram chats, and interviews with more than 30 witnesses found that neither of the dominant narratives accurately reflect how the violence unfolded. There was some planned coordination — among taxi drivers and other locals who used messaging apps to organize a show of force, with at least one chat referring to a “Jew hunt.” Those conversations took place after, and in many cases in response to, episodes the night before the match, when Maccabi supporters pulled down a Palestinian flag and damaged a taxi. Neither The Post nor Dutch investigators came across plans for orchestrated violence in the days ahead of the match. The Post found that the violence that unfolded was not one-sided. Israeli fans were harassed, chased and in some cases beaten. But video of one of the earliest post-match altercations, shared by multiple news organizations as an example of attacks on Israelis, in fact shows Maccabi supporters as the aggressors.”

Is Israel Really Building an Empire Across the Middle East? (Dahlia Scheindlin//Haaretz 12/19/24)

“In the early months of 2024, an Arab colleague from a Middle Eastern country asked what in the world Israel was trying to do. Israel seemed to be acting like the expanding Muslim empire of the early Middle Ages, the colleague said anxiously, poised to conquer the whole Middle East. It sounded like a paranoid or at least heavily exaggerated view of Israel as a perennial evil expansionist aggressor…But frankly, it’s getting harder to push back against the “empire” claim. After months of limited, if deadly, escalations with Hezbollah, Israel escalated to full-scale war in September; the pager explosions and killing Hassan Nasrallah were a prelude to a full-scale air and ground invasion, designed to remove the military threat of Hezbollah forever. But what was the added security value of calling Lebanon “part of the promised land,” as an esoteric new group called Wake up the North did back in June? In November, Ze’ev Erlich, known by his community as a “Land of Israel” researcher from the West Bank settlement of Ofra, was killed in Lebanon. He had apparently attached himself to the army and was reportedly researching an ancient fortress…to re-historicize Lebanon’s territory as part of his “Land of Israel” research…This week, the IDF also admitted that members of Wake up the North had gotten into Lebanon – and pitched tents…In the meantime, Syria’s wretched dictator Bashar Assad has fallen and fled, vanquished by rebels. In response, Israel moved forthwith into the Golan Heights demilitarized zone within Syria, for the first time since the 1974 armistice terms… [Netanyahu] stated that Israel will stay put in Syrian territory – which he called a “very important place” – for now.”

Defining genocide: how a rift over Gaza sparked a crisis among scholars (Alice Speri//Guardian 12/20/24)

“A pair of reports published this month by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch mark a significant contribution to the raging debate over how to characterize a war that has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians and decimated Gaza. But the reports – the first found that Israel is committing genocide, the second acts of genocide – are unlikely to quell deep divisions in the academic field of Holocaust and genocide studies, whose scholars study mass violence. The dichotomy in the discipline is at the core of the tension, creating a split between those who hold that the Holocaust was a unique event and those who believe in a comparative view. The conflict has tapped into a foundational question: what is genocide studies for?”

1. New from FMEP

2. Gaza

3. Region/Global

4. River to the Sea

5. U.S. Scene

6. Perspectives//Long Reads

NEW FROM FMEP

FMEP Legislative Round-Up December 13, 2024 (Lara Friedman)

1. Bills, Resolutions; 2. Letters; 3. Hearings; 4. Selected Members on the Record; 5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

Settlement & Annexation Report: December 13, 2024 (Kristin McCarthy)

1.More Demolitions in Silwan Imminent, Threatening Displacement and Replacement; 2. Israel Seizes Land Northwest of Jerusalem, Possibly to Expand Settlement; 3. Israel Demolishes Structures in “Agreed Upon Reserve” Near Bethlehem; 4. Weiss Details Work Towards Gaza Settlements; 5. Settlers Move on Plans to Settle South Lebanon & Syria; 6. U.S. Senator Intro’s Bill to Compel U.S. Adoption of Settler Terminology “Judea and Samaria”; 7. U.S. Democrats Introduce Bill to Codify Biden’s Sanctions on Violent Settlers; 8. Bonus Reads

How and Why South Africans Care About Palestinians (Occupied Thoughts episode)

FMEP Fellow Peter Beinart speaks with writer and editor William Shoki about the history of South Africa and Israel, how South Africa’s government sees its global role, and how South Africans think about Israel/Palestine in comparison to post-apartheid South Africa.

GAZA

Israel’s war in Gaza amounts to genocide, Amnesty International report finds (Guardian 12/4/24)

“The 296-page report examining events in Gaza between October 2023 to July 2024, published on Thursday, found that Israel had “brazenly, continuously and with total impunity … unleashed hell” on the strip’s 2.3 million population, noting that the “atrocity crimes” against Israelis by Hamas on 7 October 2023, which triggered the war, “do not justify genocide”. Israel has “committed prohibited acts under the Genocide Convention, namely killing, causing serious bodily or mental harm, and deliberately inflicting on Palestinians in Gaza conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction” with the “specific intent to destroy Palestinians” in the territory, the report said. It marks the first time Amnesty has alleged the crime of genocide during an ongoing conflict, and builds on a March report by the UN special rapporteur for Palestine that concluded “there are reasonable grounds to believe” Israel was committing genocide against Palestinians…“We did not necessarily start out thinking we would come to this conclusion. We knew there was a risk of genocide, as the international court of justice said,” Budour Hassan, Amnesty’s Israel and occupied Palestinian territories researcher, told the Guardian. “When you join the dots together, the totality of the evidence, it is not just violations of international law. This is something deeper.”’ See also “You Feel Like You Are Subhuman”: Israel’s Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza (Amnesty International 12/4/24); Amnesty says Israel committing acts of genocide in Gaza. Here’s what to know. (WaPo 12/4/24); Middle East latest: Israeli strikes in Gaza kill more than 50 people, including kids (AP 12/12/24); Palestine is most dangerous country for journalists, Reporters Without Borders says (Guardian 12/12/24)

Gazans face extreme hunger as ‘real famine’ spreads from north to south (Ruwaida Kamal Amer//+972 12/4/24)

“Since the start of October, when the Israeli army encircled northern Gaza and began subjecting it to a campaign of expulsion and extermination, no goods — including humanitarian supplies — have entered the area. In early November, a UN panel warned that famine was imminent in the besieged area in the north of the Strip, where around 75,000 Palestinians were estimated to still remain. Local organizations have since urged the UN and international bodies to formally declare a famine. Now, with the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) forced to pause aid deliveries through the Kerem Shalom crossing in the south, hunger and malnutrition across the enclave are set to intensify…“In the north of the Strip, there is a real famine,” Adnan Abu Hasna, an UNRWA spokesman, told +972. “The situation is very dangerous: there is no food, potable water, or any supplies. All health facilities have collapsed, and there are dozens of bodies lying in the streets and under the rubble.”…Even as northern Gaza bears the brunt of Israel’s policy of starvation, Palestinians throughout Gaza are going hungry…According to the UN, food security conditions are “alarmingly deteriorating” in the central and southern areas of the Strip — with wheat flour shortages forcing bakeries to close, and only 16 percent of the population able to receive reduced monthly food rations.” See also Cash Crisis in Gaza: “I barter my belongings to eat” (Abubaker Abed//Drop Site 12/6/24)

Revenge, fire and destruction: A year of Israeli soldiers’ videos from Gaza (WaPo 12/3/24)

“In the 14 months since the Israeli military launched its invasion of Gaza, videos and photographs have repeatedly shown its forces demolishing entire buildings, including homes and schools, as well as looting and torching them. Other visuals have Israeli soldiers posing next to dead bodies and calling for the extermination and expulsion of Palestinians. Running through many of these images is the theme of exacting revenge on Gaza for the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack, the bloodiest day in Israel’s history — with Hamas posting videos of atrocities committed by its fighters in attacks on Israeli civilians. Israeli soldiers have posted thousands of photos and videos from the battlefield, recording their actions in the war and broadcasting them on social media. Though the Israel Defense Forces have ordered troops not to film and post “revenge” videos, they have continued to appear online throughout the war. The result is a vast cache that gives a rare and troubling view of how some elements of the Israeli military have conducted themselves during one of the most deadly and destructive wars in recent memory. The Washington Post verified more than 120 photos and videos of the war in Gaza posted between October 2023 and October 2024, most of which were recorded by soldiers or shared publicly on their personal social media accounts. They show soldiers blowing up or setting fire to buildings — and often celebrating the destruction — occupying destroyed buildings, mocking Palestinians and calling for the Israeli resettlement of Gaza…Legal experts who reviewed videos compiled by The Post said in the most egregious cases soldiers are effectively logging evidence of possible violations of international humanitarian law.”

My Brother, Chef Mahmoud Almadhoun, Died Because He Fed Gaza’s Starving Citizens (Hani Almadhoun//The Nation 12/11/24)

“For two consecutive Thanksgivings, I have mourned the deaths of my brothers, both killed by the Israeli military in Gaza. Last year, my brother Majed and his family were killed in their sleep by an Israeli air strike. This past November 30, my brother chef Mahmoud Almadhoun was targeted by an Israeli drone just 30 yards from the shelter in northern Gaza where his seven children waited for him. Mahmoud’s killing wasn’t just an attack on my family; it was a message. He wasn’t a fighter—he was a father, a humanitarian, and a man devoted to his community. His only “crime” was slowing the ethnic cleansing of northern Gaza through tireless efforts to organize aid, deliver meals, and sustain those around him. I believe his killing was not an accident; it was meant to silence the helpers—the humanitarians who stand in the way of Gaza’s complete erasure. When the Israeli military ordered Palestinians in northern Gaza to flee south last October, our family chose to stay. They knew the history and the trauma of the Nakba too well and refused to be forcibly displaced again…Mahmoud wasn’t the only high-profile victim in northern Gaza last week. His friend the head of the ICU at Kamal Adwan Hospital was killed by the Israeli military a day earlier. Their deaths sent a chilling message: No one is safe, not even humanitarians.” See also Targeted aid killings: How Israel starved a population and sowed chaos in northern Gaza (The New Humanitarian 12/3/24);

Death march from Beit Lahia (Hossam Shabat//Drop Site 12/6/24)

“The Israeli military forced thousands of Palestinians in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, to flee from one of the last remaining shelters and surrounding homes in the besieged town in the early hours of Wednesday morning, sending men, women and children on an hours-long death march under heavy artillery shelling and gunfire…Leaving much of their scant belongings behind, civilians were forced to walk for an hour and a half, along Salah al-Din road—the main thoroughfare running through the enclave—before being forced to pass through an Israeli checkpoint…At the checkpoint, Israeli troops separated the men and detained them as their families screamed in desperation. Witnesses described children clinging to Israeli tanks in a desperate attempt to stay with their fathers…Two weeks ago, the UN estimated that between 100,000 and 131,000 people had been displaced from the North Gaza governorate to Gaza City since October 6. As of November 18, between 65,000 and 75,000 people were estimated to remain in North Gaza, according to the UN, accounting for less than 20% of the population there before Israel’s military campaign there began.” See also Israeli strikes kill at least 200 in Gaza as UN halts aid deliveries after more trucks stolen (CNN 12/1/24); Israeli attacks kill dozens of Palestinians hours after UN demands ceasefire in Gaza (Guardian 12/12/24)

Patterns of harm analysis (Airwars 12/12/24)

“This report focuses on the pattern and intensity of civilian harm during the opening weeks of Israel’s campaign in Gaza, comparing the level of civilian harm with military campaigns documented by Airwars over a decade of work in some of the world’s most intense and complex conflict zones…By almost every metric, the harm to civilians from the first month of the Israeli campaign in Gaza is incomparable with any 21st century air campaign. It is by far the most intense, destructive, and fatal conflict for civilians that Airwars has ever documented…Families were killed together in unprecedented numbers, and in their homes. More than nine out of ten women and children were killed in residential buildings. In more than 95 percent of all cases where a woman was killed, at least one child was also killed. On average, when civilians were killed alongside family members, at least 15 family members were killed. This is higher than any other conflict documented by Airwars.”

Death feels imminent for 96% of children in Gaza, study finds (Guardian 12/11/24)

“A new study of children living through the war in Gaza has found that 96% of them feel that their death is imminent and almost half want to die as a result of the trauma they have been through. A needs assessment, carried out by a Gaza-based NGO sponsored by the War Child Alliance charity, also found that 92% of the children in the survey were “not accepting of reality”, 79% suffer from nightmares and 73% exhibit symptoms of aggression. “This report lays bare that Gaza is one of the most horrifying places in the world to be a child,” Helen Pattinson, chief executive of War Child UK, said. “Alongside the levelling of hospitals, schools and homes, a trail of psychological destruction has caused wounds unseen but no less destructive on children who hold no responsibility for this war.”’ See also ‘We can’t give up on 1 million children’: the charity bringing psychological first aid to Gazans (Guardian 12/7/24)

Claims of Hamas fighters in Gaza hospitals may have been exaggerated, says senior ICC prosecutor (Guardian 12/11/24)

“Claims about the presence of Hamas fighters in hospitals in Gaza under siege by Israel’s military have been “grossly exaggerated”, a top prosecutor at the international criminal court (ICC) has said. Andrew Cayley, who is leading the ICC’s Palestine investigation, questioned the reliability of claims about military activity in Gaza’s hospitals which have been made to justify Israeli attacks on healthcare facilities in the territory…According to the latest figures published by the World Health Organization (WHO), of the 35 hospitals in Gaza it has evaluated only 17 are described as “partially functioning”. Five are “fully damaged” and 13 are categorised as “non-functional”…He said Gaza’s health system is now barely functioning. “Airstrikes, sieges, raids on hospitals. Add to that lack of fuel, electricity, food, medicine. That’s why the system has collapsed.”’ See also Palestinian rivals Hamas, Fatah agree on committee to run post-war Gaza (Al Monitor 12/3/24);

REGION/GLOBAL

How Israel used a power vacuum to destroy Syria’s military assets (WaPo 12/12/24)

“The battle plans had been drawn up years ago, and when the Syrian state fell suddenly, Israel wasted no time putting them in motion. The hundreds of strikes Israel carried out across Syria this week constituted one of the largest single operations in its history, experts said — effectively destroying its neighbor’s military capabilities in a matter of days. In parallel, Israeli forces have seized military posts in southern Syria, beyond a U.N.-monitored buffer zone established after the 1973 Yom Kippur war…U.S. officials told The Washington Post that Washington had given its blessing years ago to Israeli freedom of action in Syria, including airstrikes, as a self-defense measure, and that it extended to the present. The officials emphasized that Israel neither needed nor asked for U.S. approval or assistance for its operations in Syria since the rebel takeover…In the skies, meanwhile, Israeli airplanes began by targeting “chemical and biological weapons and long-range ballistic missiles,” said Eisin…Successive waves of strikes, the military said, took out Syrian missiles, drones, fighter jets, attack helicopters, tanks, radar systems and the country’s small naval fleet, sitting unprotected in the western port of Latakia…On Wednesday, the commanding officer of Israel’s 210th Division said that at least seven brigades, including special combat forces, were operating along the Syrian border and inside Syria. IDF international spokesman Nadav Shoshani said in a briefing Tuesday that the deployment of troops in the buffer zone “and a few additional points” is temporary but set no end date. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that troops would remain “until security on our border can be guaranteed.”’ See also Israel Says Its Troops Will Stay in Seized Territory for Now (NYT 12/12/24); Benjamin Netanyahu says Golan Heights will remain part of Israel ‘for eternity’ (Guardian 12/9/24); Israel’s Defense Minister Tells IDF to Prepare for Winter Stay on Syrian Side of Mount Hermon (Haaretz 12/13/24)

Iran’s supreme leader accuses U.S. and Israel of orchestrating Assad ouster (WaPo 12/11/24)

““The main plotter, the main planner, the main agent, the main command room is in the United States and in the Zionist regime,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday to a crowd of hundreds packed into a Tehran hall to hear his address. His remarks, while steeped in the Islamic Republic’s rhetorical tradition of condemnations of Israel and its Western allies, verged at moments into rare confluence with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s characterizations of Assad’s fall. In an address earlier this week, Netanyahu said the collapse of the Assad regime was “a direct result of the blows” Israeli forces “have dealt to Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran.”…Khamenei sharply criticized Israeli military actions in Syria since Assad’s fall — a campaign of heavy airstrikes and the movement of ground forces into Syrian territory along Israel’s border. He praised Iran’s military and intelligence services and said Syria’s army was too weakened for help from Tehran to have made a difference. And he pledged that setbacks in Syria would only strengthen the resistance against the United States and Israel.”

Why Europe Has Gone Cold on Israel’s Blitz and ‘Temporary’ Occupation in Syria (Amir Tibon//Haaretz 12/12/24)

“In the four days that have passed since the collapse of the Assad regime, Israel has done three extraordinary things there. First, it took over the demilitarized zone established as part of the 1974 Israeli-Syrian armistice. Then it went further, conquering the peaks of Mount Hermon. On top of that, it initiated an unprecedented aerial bombing campaign, decimating most of the country’s military capabilities before the rebel groups that had toppled the regime could get their hands on them. There was radio silence from Israel’s allies throughout these dramatic events, as they watched in astonishment the Israeli response unfold. The first governments to offer an official response were Arab ones, particularly those of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, who issued critical statements denouncing Israel for breaching Syrian sovereignty. They sounded the alarm that the Netanyahu government was perhaps seeking to permanently occupy Syrian territory, using the fog created by Bashar Assad’s stunning loss to create facts on the ground…Two senior European diplomats told Haaretz at the start of the week that their governments saw the logic behind Israel’s swift move to capture Mount Hermon, and that they not only understood but fully supported any Israeli actions to wipe out the remaining reserves of chemical weapons left behind by the Assad regime. Yet by the middle of the week, the diplomatic winds were blowing in a different direction: France, Germany and Spain all issued statements calling on Israel to withdraw from the demilitarized zone. They also stressed concerns that Israeli actions taken since the fall of the regime could lead to tensions with whichever government ends up replacing it in Damascus.”

‘As much and as quickly as possible’: Israeli settlers eye land in Syria, Lebanon (Illy Pe’ery//+972 12/12/24)

“The Nachala movement — led by Daniella Weiss, who has been spearheading efforts in recent months to resettle Gaza — expressed a similar sentiment in a post on Facebook…“In Gaza, in Lebanon, in the entire Golan Heights including the ‘Syrian Plateau,’ and in the entire Mount Hermon,” it added — attaching a biblical map titled “Abraham’s Borders,” in which Israel’s territory includes the entirety of Lebanon as well as most of Syria and Iraq. This is not mere talk; these groups mean business. Nachala has already mapped out where it plans to build new Jewish settlements across the Gaza Strip, and claims that more than 700 families have committed to move when the opportunity arises (Daniella Weiss herself has already been into Gaza with a military escort to scout out potential locations). And last week, Uri Tsafon, which has bided its time over the past year, made its first attempt at a land grab in southern Lebanon — where Israeli soldiers are still present following the ceasefire deal.”

Mossad Chief Discusses Hostage Deal With Qatari PM in Secret Doha Visit as Hamas Reportedly Drops Key Demand (Haaretz 12/12/24)

“Mossad chief David Barnea made a secret trip to Doha on Wednesday to meet with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Al Thani and discuss a hostage release deal. Barnea’s trip comes as Israel, Hamas and mediators attempt to complete a deal by next month, in keeping with the short timetable set by President-elect Donald Trump, who called on the parties to reach an agreement by the time he takes office on January 20. Barnea and Al Thani also met to discuss a cease-fire and hostage deal over a week ago in Vienna. The Wall Street Journal reported that in recent days Hamas has backed down from one of its central demands and agreed to a deal that would entail a temporary Israeli army presence in the Philadelphi route and Netzarim corridor after the cease-fire goes into effect. According to the report, Hamas “has also agreed it wouldn’t run or have a presence in the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza” and that Hamas has presented mediators with a list of hostages – including American citizens – it is prepared to release in the first stage of the truce. Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz told U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Wednesday that there is now a chance for a new deal that would enable the return of all the hostages, including those who hold U.S. citizenship. Katz’s statement, which was officially publicized by the Defense Ministry, is an unusual public comment by Israel on the negotiations with Hamas, which have been operating under the radar in the past weeks.” See also 
The ‘Ceasefire’ in Lebanon is a Ticking Bomb (Jeremy Scahill & Sharif Abdel Kouddous//Drop Site 11/27/24)

Fearing war crimes claims, Israel warns 30 soldiers not to travel abroad: What we know (Al Monitor 12/4/24)

“The Israeli military warned 30 soldiers and officers who fought in Gaza to avoid traveling abroad or to return from vacation abroad, reports revealed on Wednesday. The warnings came after pro-Palestinian groups filed complaints with the ICC and national courts abroad against several Israeli soldiers and officers, alleging war crimes in the Gaza Strip, Ynet reported on Wednesday. It also follows the decision by the International Criminal Court last month to issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza.” See also Netanyahu Must Be Brought to Justice. But We Can’t Stop There. (Dyab Abou Jahjah for the Hind Rajab Foundation//The Nation 12/11/24) See also Norway’s sovereign fund divests from Israel’s Bezeq over West Bank links (Al Monitor 12/4/24)

RIVER TO THE SEA

As Israel bans UNRWA, Palestinians stand to lose schools and clinics, not only in Gaza (NPR 12/3/24)

“But new legislation requiring Israel to cut ties with UNRWA has thrown the future of Qalandia and the agency’s other schools into doubt. A question mark also hangs over dozens of UNRWA-operated health clinics and the wide-ranging social services the agency provides, not only in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, but also in war-torn Gaza. Without the cooperation of Israel that has existed since UNRWA’s inception some 75 years ago, many fear the agency cannot continue functioning, as supplies and staff are halted at Israeli checkpoints…What’s more, UNRWA is the second-largest employer in the West Bank after the Palestinian Authority, so the agency’s collapse would throw even more people out of work.

Israeli soldiers systematically abusing Palestinians in Hebron, report reveals (Oren Ziv//+972 12/9/24)

“Random detentions, abuse, and humiliation by Israeli soldiers without cause: this is what daily life has looked like for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron in recent months, according to testimonies gathered by the human rights group B’Tselem and published in a new report last week. While most Palestinian armed resistance in the West Bank is concentrated in the northern cities of Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nablus, Israeli soldiers seem to have decided that, after October 7, all Palestinians are Hamas supporters — and nobody is innocent. “It appears that Palestinian residents of Hebron may, at any moment, fall victim to brutal violence openly inflicted on them as they go about their daily affairs,” the report explains. “The victims were chosen randomly, with no connection to their actions.”…The uptick in harassment and abuse of Palestinians in Hebron is not happening in a vacuum. Since October 7, the Israeli army has killed over 730 Palestinians in the West Bank — in part due to the re-adoption of significant air power in the territory for the first time since the end of the Second Intifada nearly 20 years ago. Simultaneously, Israeli settlers have ethnically cleansed over 50 rural Palestinian communities with the military’s backing.” See also Unleashed: Abuse of Palestinians by Israeli Soldiers in the Center of Hebron (B’Tselem, December 2024 Report); Israeli soldiers conducting campaign of ‘beatings and abuse’ in Hebron (Guardian 12/3/24); Four Palestinians Have Died in Shin Bet Interrogations Since War Started (Hagar Shezaf//Ha’aretz 12/12/24)

The West Bank villages wiped off the map by Israeli settler violence (Oren Ziv//+972 12/4/24)

“According to new data gathered by the left-wing Israeli NGO Kerem Navot, which monitors Israel’s dispossession of Palestinian land in the West Bank, at least 57 Palestinian communities have been forced to flee their homes since October 7 as a result of Israeli settler attacks. Of these, seven have been partially displaced — meaning the expulsion of at least one residential cluster, located several hundred meters away from the next — and 50 have been wiped off the map entirely. Most of the displacement has been concentrated in four areas: the northern Jordan Valley, east of Ramallah, southeast of Bethlehem, and the South Hebron Hills. “Unsurprisingly, most new outposts have been established in these areas,” Etkes explained. “There is a direct link between their establishment and the rise in violence [against Palestinians].”’ See also ‘I lost my wife and my land’: A deadly olive harvest season ends in the West Bank (Imad Abu Hawash//+972 12/12/24); On the Road to Annexation, Israel Is Intentionally Causing Economic Collapse in the West Bank (Haaretz 11/19/24)

Israel committing Gaza war crimes and ethnic cleansing, says Moshe Yaalon (Al Jazeera 12/2/24)

“Former Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon has accused Israel of committing war crimes and ethnic cleansing in the Gaza Strip, echoing the allegations by the International Criminal Court against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant. Yaalon, a former army chief of staff, told Israeli media that hardliners in Netanyahu’s far-right cabinet were looking to chase Palestinians from northern Gaza and wanted to re-establish Jewish settlements there…In an interview with the private DemocratTV channel, Yaalon said, “The road we are being led down is conquest, annexation and ethnic cleansing.” Pressed on the “ethnic cleansing” appraisal, he said: “What is happening there? There is no more Beit Lahiya, no more Beit Hanoon, the army intervenes in Jabalia and in reality, the land is being cleared of Arabs.”’ See also Expulsion and Talk of Depopulating Gaza? That’s Exactly What Ethnic Cleansing Looks Like (Former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon//Haaretz 12/6/24); The real reason a former Israeli army chief called out ethnic cleansing in Gaza (Mero Rapoport//+972 12/5/24); Show and Tell: Why Israeli Settlers Are Happy to Reveal Their Plans for Gaza (Haaretz 11/27/24)

Netanyahu takes the stand in his corruption trial. Here’s what to know. (WaPo 12/10/24)

“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu testified Tuesday in his corruption trial, becoming the country’s first sitting leader to take the stand as a criminal defendant and marking an unprecedented moment in its political history…Netanyahu has tried for years to avoid appearing in court, with critics accusing him of undermining Israel’s judicial system, most recently by encouraging members of his right wing Likud party to call for the firing of the attorney general…The stakes have never been higher — both for Netanyahu, who may ultimately face jail time, and for the court itself, which the prime minister’s far-right supporters have characterized as a threat to democracy. Here’s what to know.” See also Israeli government orders officials to boycott left-leaning paper Haaretz (Guardian 11/24/24); Israeli, International Journalists Assail Government Boycott of Haaretz (Haaretz 11/26/24); ‘The whole foundation is rocking’: inside the explosive film about the investigation of Benjamin Netanyahu (Guardian 12/2/24); The Bibi Files review – tapes and testimony expose paranoia and petulance of Netanyahu family (Guardian 12/11/24)

U.S. SCENE

Congress Keeps Trying to Hide the True Gaza Death Toll (The Intercept 12/12/24)

“Tucked into a $895 billion Pentagon bill making its way through Congress is a little-noticed provision to further conceal the death toll in Gaza — the latest effort by U.S. policymakers to cast doubt on casualty figures reported by Palestinian health officials…The death toll provision of the must-pass bill, which passed 281-140 with 81 Democratic votes, has received significantly less attention. It would bar the Pentagon from publicly citing as “authoritative” casualty data from the Gaza Health Ministry, effectively concealing the full extent of the death toll in Gaza in the military’s public communications. The data from Palestinian authorities has been the only consistent and reliable count of the death toll out of Gaza over the last 14 months, with Israel consistently denying human rights workers access to the enclave and preventing foreign media journalists from entering…International human rights bodies, including the United Nations, have long relied on the data from the Gaza Health Ministry and considered it credible and in line with their own findings.”

Trump’s Israel Instincts Don’t Matter (Peter Beinart//Jewish Currents 11/26/24)

“The president will criticize Israeli behavior in ways that surprise the media and rattle his allies on the pro-Israel right. But it won’t matter, because he is again surrounding himself with passionate supporters of the Jewish state. And given Trump’s ignorance, laziness, and incompetence, his pro-Israel advisers will maneuver around him to ensure that Israel enjoys a free hand…If anything, Trump’s advisers will be even more uniformly pro-Israel than they were the first time around. At the beginning of Trump’s first term, his establishment-minded secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, and his secretary of defense, James Mattis—both of whom opposed moving the US embassy to Jerusalem—at times sought to counterbalance hardline advisers like Kushner, Friedman, and Greenblatt. But now that Trump has fully vanquished the GOP’s comparatively cautious old guard, he has appointed a Middle East team filled with extremists. Huckabee has said there is no such thing as a Palestinian. Stefanik has used allegations of antisemitism to launch an assault on campus free speech. Rubio is close to mega-donor Miriam Adelson, who reportedly wants the US to bless Israel’s annexation of the West Bank. And now that Trump is 78, and in evident decline, it’s even less likely that he’ll have the physical stamina and mental coherence to override a team that appears dedicated to letting the Israeli government pursue policies that crowd Palestinians into ever smaller ghettos, where their choices range from misery to expulsion to death.” See also U.S. Nonprofit Raised $300,000 for Israeli Sniper Unit Associated With Killings of Unarmed Palestinians (Drop Site 12/11/24)

Scoop: Internal Project Esther documents describe conspiracy of Jewish ‘masterminds’ seeking to dismantle Western values (Arno Rosenfeld//The Forward 12/6/24)

“The Heritage Foundation’s Project Esther, a conservative plan to counter antisemitism, sees the problem as one in which a handful of “masterminds,” including Jews like George Soros and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, are seeking to “dismantle Western democracies, values and culture,” according to internal Heritage documents obtained by the Forward. The documents, a pitch deck that Heritage used in trying to build support from Jewish foundations and other organizations, also outline several tactics the group plans to use to undermine a collection of anti-Zionist nonprofits and progressive groups that it refers to as the Hamas Support Network. The actions include identifying “foreign members vulnerable to deportation” and enlisting law enforcement to “generate uncomfortable conditions” for progressive activists.The think tank, which also produced the controversial Project 2025 blueprint for a second Trump administration, has struggled to attract Jewish supporters for its antisemitism plan, which appears to have been assembled by several evangelical Christian groups. Project Esther focuses exclusively on left-wing critics of Israel, ignoring the antisemitism problems from white supremacists and other far-right groups.” See also U.S. Nonprofit Raised $300,000 for Israeli Sniper Unit Associated With Killings of Unarmed Palestinians (Drop Site 12/11/24)

How the Trump administration and congressional Republicans may crack down on pro-Palestinian protesters (NBC 11/24/24)

“Judging from what has been pushed thus far, there are several legal measures most likely to be used once Trump returns to Washington. One would be deporting foreign college students in the U.S. on a visa after they’re found to have openly advocated for Hamas or another U.S.-designated terror group, or after they participated in an unauthorized campus protest and were suspended, expelled or jailed. Another measure would be to pursue federal prosecutions of demonstrators who block synagogue entrances or disrupt Jewish speakers at events. A third approach is to charge protest leaders and nonprofits that aid in fundraising for protest groups with failing to register with the U.S. Justice Department as an “agent of a foreign principal.” And a fourth avenue is to open investigations into protest leaders who are in direct contact with U.S.-designated terror groups while advocating on their behalf.” See also Deportations, lawsuits, increased scrutiny: How the Trump administration could handle campus antisemitism (Forward 11/27/24); ‘Climate of fear within philanthropy sector’ and ‘silencing’ taking hold over Gaza, new findings suggest (Alliance 12/10/24)

PERSPECTIVES//LONG READS

A year ago, an Israeli airstrike buried me alive. I’m still clawing my way out (Mohammed R. Mhawish//+972 12/10/24)

“Eventually, they took us to the hospital. I remember the dulled lights, the cold metal of the stretcher, the hurried whispers of the doctors. They poked and prodded at me. Their faces were grim as they cataloged the fractures to my elbow, seven fingers, and both ankles, as well as to my wife’s arm; my internal bleeding; and the scratches and bruises on all of us that would take months to fade. But the real damage wasn’t something they could see or treat. In the days that followed, I struggled to speak, eat, or sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I was back under the rubble, choking on dust, hearing my son’s faint cries and wondering if this time I wouldn’t wake up. I stopped speaking altogether — not because I didn’t have words, but because none of them felt big enough to hold what I was feeling. How do you describe the way it feels to watch everything you love reduced to nothing? These days, as I mark the one-year anniversary of that attack from exile in Cairo, I still hear the explosion in my dreams. I still wake up in a cold sweat, reaching out to make sure my son is breathing beside me. The physical scars have mostly healed, but the emotional ones remain as fresh as the day it happened. People tell me I should be grateful we survived, and I am. But surviving isn’t the same as living.” See also The Underground Network Helping Gazan Refugees Survive in Egypt (The Nation 12/9/24)

Trump’s Return: Implications for the Palestinian Struggle (Tariq Kenney-Shawa,Hanna Alshaikh,Abdullah Al-Arian,Andrew Kadi//Al Shabaka 11/20/24)

“While many aspects of the incoming Trump administration’s foreign policy plans remain uncertain, they will undoubtedly continue to have devastating consequences for the Palestinian people. In this roundtable, Al-Shabaka analysts Tariq Kenney-Shawa, Abdullah Al-Arian, Andrew Kadi, and Hanna Alshaikh offer insights into how Trump will compare to his predecessor, what his presidency will mean for US policy across the Arab region, what lies ahead for Palestine solidarity organizing in the US, and the material impact will be on the ground in Palestine.”

‘I Would Like for Israelis to Understand That Zionism Is Racism’ (Haaretz 11/23/24)

“’Lyd,’ co-directed by Palestinian journalist and activist Rami Younis, depicts what life might have been like if there hadn’t been a Nakba. Banned in Israel, the film is drawing crowds in North America. ‘To this day, apart from the Arab world and a few bleeding-heart left-wingers – no one actually acknowledges what happened to us,’ Younis says in an interview”

For Those Who Know They Have Not Done Enough to Stop Israel’s War on Gaza (Haggai Mattar//The Nation 12/3/24)

“Like me, perhaps, these people have learned of the many harrowing crimes that nations have committed throughout history and have asked themselves: where were the people of conscience? Like me, perhaps, they believed they would have acted differently, would have been among the righteous. And yet, like me, when history came knocking and demanded they step up, they too have found their actions wanting.
Perhaps, like me, they simply needed to be reminded that failure is not predetermined…If, like me, you feel like you have not done enough to stop the onslaught funded and backed by your government, this is the time to act. The new U.S. administration is clearly going to be an enemy of Palestinian rights—more hostile even than the Biden administration—which puts more responsibility on ordinary civilians to act. It may not be easy, it may require you to go up against a government that, as in Israel, actively wants to silence you. But, as one of your own great freedom fighters wrote, power concedes nothing without a demand. It is time for you to join us by promoting the BDS campaign in whatever way you can—at work, at university, vis-à-vis your retirement fund, your union or our religious community, and most importantly the incoming administration, which in spite of everything we know about it may somehow still be open to stopping this madness. As much as Trump is committed to Israel, to Netanyahu, to annexation and settlements, he also wants to keep Arab gulf countries on his side, and minimize wars so he can cut back on American spending and active intervention in the region. That internal contradiction in Trump’s priorities could be something we can exploit.” See also Grappling with Jewish fears in a just Palestinian struggle (Haggai Matar//+972 11/26/24)

History will judge Biden harshly on Gaza (Senator Chris Van Hollen//WaPo 12/2/24)

“President Biden has a limited amount of time to take action. But even at this late hour, it is critical that he do so — even at the risk that President-elect Trump will reverse course. The United States must send a strong signal to the people of Israel, to Palestinians and to the world that we will not stand idly by as the extremist Netanyahu government dismantles the possibility of peace in the Middle East and ignores the root causes of conflict: the need for security and self-determination for both Israelis and Palestinians. To send this signal, President Biden should immediately impose sanctions on the ultraright members of the Netanyahu government who have fomented violence and supported expanded settlements on the West Bank, including Smotrich and Ben Gvir. The United States must draw a red line against further settlements, not just in words but in deeds. It’s also time to acknowledge that the Netanyahu government has violated its assurances under National Security Memorandum 20 and that it is not in compliance with the Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act (Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act). As documented by leading human rights organizations, the Netanyahu government has arbitrarily restricted desperately needed humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza and has used American weapons in contravention of international humanitarian law. These determinations should trigger a pause in U.S. offensive security assistance — a consequence the Netanyahu government must face until it comes into compliance. In addition to these actions, the administration should ban the import of any goods from settlements in the occupied territories or, at the very least, take the long-overdue step of reinstating the labeling policy that differentiates products made there from those made in the state of Israel. And it must continue to show its support for UNRWA — and encourage our allies to support its efforts — especially in light of the Knesset’s recent vote to ban the organization. Last, but perhaps most important, the Biden administration should recognize a state of Palestine, subject to terms set out by the United States.”

Why I resigned as chairman of Amnesty Israel (Daniil Brodsky//The Forward 12/10/24)

“But even before the report came out — one week before, to be exact — I resigned my position as chair of the board of Amnesty Israel. I didn’t step down because of the imminent controversy over the conclusions of Amnesty International’s report. I resigned because I could no longer chair a branch that did not treat Palestinians as equal partners, and I could not sign off on a critique of Amnesty International’s report that pretends to be an expert minority opinion, but is instead little more than the expression of an Israeli-Jewish worldview, to the exclusion of Palestinian voices.”

How a hostage family leader became one of the loudest anti-war voices in Israel (Edo Konrad & Oren Ziv//+972 12/6/24)

“Polls show that Metzger’s views are today in line with the vast majority of the Jewish-Israeli public, which has shifted over the last year from wall-to-wall support for the war to an overwhelming majority in favor of a negotiated deal to end it and return the hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. She came to the conclusion “early on” that the war had to end, and like many others, she couldn’t comprehend how every soi-disant military “victory” — from the invasion of Rafah to the assassinations of Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, and Hassan Nasrallah — wasn’t bringing the release of the hostages any closer…Metzger is convinced that Netanyahu’s doctrine of “total victory” is a euphemism for abandoning the remaining abductees. “It was clear to me from the start that Netanyahu wasn’t seriously considering anything but the military route,” she says…Despite the respectable showings at the weekly protests in support of the hostage families, Metzger feels the activists have been left with little recourse. But there is one act she believes could force the government to end the war and cut a deal: conscientious objection, a phenomenon that gained popularity during last year’s protests against the government’s judicial overhaul, but became a near-treasonous position following the Hamas attacks.”