Sabra, Shatila: A Heinous Massacre

Dozens of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon participated in commemorating the 42nd anniversary of the Sabra and Shatila massacre at the shrine of the victims of the massacre in the Palestine Martyrs Cemetery near Shatila camp, south Beirut.

The event was held at the invitation of the “Popular Conference of Palestinians Abroad” (an independent international body) and Palestinian institutions in Lebanon to commemorate the anniversary of the bloody massacre that was committed on the 16-17-18, 1982 September, under the supervision of the Israeli occupation army.

In his speech, Yasser Ali, a member of the General Secretariat of the PCPA, stressed the “necessity of holding the Israeli occupation entity and all countries that provide support to the killing machine accountable for committing massacres against the Palestinian people and bringing them to justice.”

“We must all, as Palestinian refugees, mobilize all energies to support and back the Palestinian people inside the Gaza Strip and the West Bank with all available means and capabilities,” he said.

In turn, Sami Hamoud, director of the “Thabit for the Right of Return” organization (civil society) and a member of the PCPA, called for “the necessity of holding the occupation accountable in international forums to achieve justice for the victims of the Palestinian people who are still being subjected to the crimes of the occupation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.”

He called for “mobilizing international energies and supporting the case filed by the State of South Africa at the International Court of Justice to achieve some justice for the Palestinian people who have been suffering the scourge of wars for more than 76 years.”

Hamoud said that “the massacres committed by the Israeli occupation entity on a daily basis will not deter the Palestinian people from continuing their just and legitimate resistance to seize their rights guaranteed by international laws and charters to liberation and self-determination,” according to Quds Press.

Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation army has continued its aggression on the Gaza Strip for 345 days, with American and European support, as its warplanes bomb the vicinity of hospitals, buildings, towers and homes of Palestinian civilians and destroy them over the heads of their residents, and prevent the entry of water, food, medicine and fuel.

The ongoing aggression by the occupation on Gaza has led to the martyrdom of more than 41,206 martyrs, the injury of 95,337 others, and the displacement of 90% of the population of the Strip, according to data from the United Nations.

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Arab States Must Withdraw Envoys to Stop Gaza Slaughter – Kuwaiti Analyst

Kuwaiti observer and political analyst Walid Al-Ahmad called on Arab countries that have diplomatic and economic relations with Tel Aviv to “take decisive and effective steps to pressure the Israeli occupation to stop the war on Gaza.”

Al-Ahmad stressed on the “Manchet Press” program, on Kuwait’s official state television, Sunday, the “necessity of considering options such as withdrawing ambassadors with Israel and threaten to stop trade and economic dealings with the Jewish entity.”

“These measures, if implemented effectively, would leave a painful impact on the Israeli economy, which may push it to reevaluate its policies and meet Arab demands,” he explained.

“Pressure should not be limited to Israel only, but also directed towards the United States of America, which is considered the main supporter of Israel,” he added.

“Strengthening economic and diplomatic relations with global powers such as Russia and China can be a powerful tool to send a clear message to Washington about the need to review its policies supporting Israel,” he pointed out.

Kuwait and “despite its small size, is a large country in its giving and positions,” adding it “was the first among the Gulf and Arab countries to strengthen its relations with China, which highlights its pioneering role in changing the balance of economic power,” the political analyst said.

“In light of the current situation, where the United States dominates most global agreements, tenders and treaties, Kuwait’s move towards China is a smart strategic move, and through this step, Kuwait has opened the way for other Gulf countries to consider cooperation with China, which enhances the diversity of strategic economic options in the region,” he explained.

The Israeli occupation army has been continuing its aggression on the Gaza Strip for 345 days, with American and European support. Its aircraft are bombing the vicinity of hospitals, buildings, towers, and homes of Palestinian civilians, destroying them over the heads of their residents, and preventing the entry of water, food, medicine, and fuel.

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Israel Promises Africans With ‘Residence’ if They Fight in Gaza


The latest scandal of Israeli officials telling African asylum seekers that they would be given legal status if they served in the Israeli army and fought  in the war against Gaza is causing shock waves.

The story first reported in Haaretz and then the other Israeli newspapers is trending on the social media with much commentary.

There are approximately 30,000 African asylum seekers in Israel, primarily young men who are looking for permanent stay in Israel.

Israeli officials have latched on the idea and gave decided to lure them to join the Israeli army to fight in Gaza, and no doubtedly in the brewing war on the Israeli-Lebanese border with Hezbollah despite the risks

Many of these workers, including around 3,500 Sudanese citizens, have sneeked into Israel and hold temporary status granted by Israeli courts due to delays in processing asylum applications.

Although the story have only just come to light, Israeli officials have tried to recruit these workers soon after the war on Gaza started after 7 October, 2023, and have continued eversince, especially in the months when the war become “bloody” for the Israelis.

Sources within Israel’s security establishments show that this initiative, being conducted under the guidance of legal advisers, aims to utilize asylum seekers’ desire for permanent residency to bolster military personnel and exploiting vulnerable people from Africa for these combative and quite often dangerous roles acccording to the Quds News Network.

This is while the Anadolu, ran the Haaretz story saying the Israeli government is telling its asylum seekers from different African countries it would grant them permanent residency if the join the Israeli army and fight in its war against the Palestinians in Gaza.

It added that Israeli defense officials are realizing that they could use the asylum seekers to bolster their military presence in Gaza by exploiting their deep wishes to obtain permanent residence in Israel.

Citing defense officials, the newspaper says these procedures are conducted “in an organized manner, with the guidance of defense establishment legal advisers,” according to the Turkish news agency.

However, “the ethical considerations of recruiting asylum seekers have not been addressed,” and so far, “no asylum seekers who contributed to the war effort have been granted official status.”

“Some people have expressed objections to the practice, arguing that it exploits people who have fled their countries due to war,” according to the Haaretz daily stated, adding that these voices have been silenced.

The South African Foreign Ministry on 18 December, 2023 warned that any South African citizens who join the Israeli army in the ongoing Gaza conflict could face prosecution at home.

The South African government is gravely concerned by reports that some South African citizens and permanent residents have joined or are considering joining the Israeli forces in the war in Gaza and the other Occupied Palestinian Territories, a ministry statement said as reported by Anadolu.

“Such action can potentially contribute to the violation of international law and the commission of further international crimes, thus making them liable for prosecution in South Africa,” it emphasized.

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UAE Will Not Back an Israeli Gaza Post-War Plan Without a Palestinian State

The United Arab Emirates said it will not back Israel in its post-war plan in Gaza unless a Palestinian state is established.

UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan posted on X , Saturday: “The United Arab Emirates is not ready to support the day after the war in Gaza without the establishment of a Palestinian state.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu published online in May a post-war plan for Gaza, claiming the Palestinians “would enjoy unparalleled prosperity” once it is implemented.

Palestinians in Gaza would run the plan under Israeli occupation, supervised by a coalition of Arab states, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, Jordan and Morocco.

However, the UAE Foreign Minister slammed Netanyahu, saying he “lacked legitimate authority to implement this step or take any similar measures” and making it clear that the UAE was not consulted on the Gaza plans.

“Furthermore, the UAE refuses to be involved in any plan aimed at providing cover for the Israeli presence in the Gaza Strip,” a statement released by the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

“When a Palestinian government is formed which meets the hopes and aspirations of the brotherly Palestinian people, and is distinguished by integrity, competence and independence, the UAE will be fully prepared to provide all forms of support to that government,” it added.

In late July, the UAE stressed the need for a “temporary international mission” that addresses the enormous humanitarian fallout of the war in Gaza after the war comes to an end.

“Consolidating peace and security and ending the humanitarian suffering should begin by the deployment of a temporary international mission in Gaza with a formal invitation from the Palestinian government,” UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy told the official WAM news agency.

Al Hashimy added that the mission must put Gaza on a pathway to eventual reunification with the occupied West Bank under the rule of the Palestinian Authority according to the Quds News Network.

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Yemeni Tel Aviv Ballistic Shocks Israeli Psychology

Dr Marwan Asmar 

The Israeli government and army are in a shocked mood, Sunday morning, over the ballistic missile, all the way from Yemen – that landed in the east of Tel Aviv and just six kilometers from Ben Gurion Airport.

The defense missiles, some the best in the Israeli military, including the Iron Dome, the Arrow and David’s Sling, saw the route of the Hatem 2 ballistic missile but failed to intercept it as it crashed in the surrounding forest areas of Tel Aviv causing mass fires with its shrapnels reaching the airport and a train station on the outskirts of Modi’in in central Israel with reports of damage according to the Israeli Haaretz.

Social media video clips show a train was hit on a rail line with smoke billowing out of it with one suggesting it was a  “direct hit to Israeli infrastructure” and that “Israel on fire.”

Shock psychology

The incoming surface-to-surface missile created havoc in the psychology of Israelis, most of whom were still asleep.  

As they heard the sirens warnings triggered in all areas of the so-called Greater Tel Aviv, all Israelis – reported to be 2,365,000 by the Hadshot Bazman website – tried to get to the underground shelters as quickly as possible with nine people being injured as a result of the “stampede-like” situation and “crush” that happened for sirens started bellowing at 6 pm in the morning.

Israeli security expert Yossi Melman said the single Yemeni missile breached the entire layered defense system of Israel as the Yemen missile was able to bypass 22 defense posts and whose counter-missiles were unable to shoot the single ballistic down, and turning Israel’s top-dollars defense systems into a laughing stock.  

Israeli media reports say the military has already opened an investigation into the missile but they point also this is the third Yemeni success whose ballistic missiles targeted Tel Aviv, Eilat and now the Ben Gurion Airport.

The Houthis are saying nothing can stop us now for continually targeting Israel until the war on Gaza is stopped.  

The Yemenis are saying this is just the beginning. 

The Yemeni Defense Minister and Chief of General Staff in Sanaa issued, Saturday, a stern warning to the “enemies of the nation and the evil trio of America, Britain, and Israel,” stating what is coming will be “harsher and more severe than anything they have faced in the past,” as reported in the almayadeen website.

Israeli Army Radio reported “the ballistic missile launched from Yemen traveled a distance of approximately 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles), taking around 15 minutes of flight time according to Anadolu. Yet it was not detected in time. The Israeli army says it is investigating why.

But this is surely to be a psychological blow to the Israeli military which is already under intense pressure from Hezbollah trajectories from the north to stop the war that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu refuses to.

Dr Marwan Asmar 
E-mail: [email protected]

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