Middle East

Israel’s Obligation vis-a-vis West Bank and Gaza in Face of Coronavirus Pandemic: Global Human Rights Organizations

( Human Rights Watch) – With over 250 identified COVID-19 Palestinian patients in the West Bank and potentially dozens in the Gaza Strip we, the undersigned organizations, express grave concern in the face of a potential human catastrophe. The Palestinian healthcare system, with a dire lack of equipment, medicines, and expertise, will be unable to […]

Epidemics

Palestinians are Helpless before Coronavirus, Hung out to Dry again by World Community

Ramona Wadi

( Middle East Monitor ) – As Gaza tries to impede the spread of coronavirus, humanitarian aid, albeit necessary, is yet another reminder of how the international community continues to deny Palestinians their political rights and, as a result, the opportunity for autonomous decision-making. In March, Qatar announced it will provide $150 million to help […]

Donald Trump

After Trump picked Feud with Shiite Nat’l Guard, Iraqi PM-designate says 1/2 US Troops will Leave Iraq this year, the Rest in ’21

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The current nominee to be the next prime minister of Iraq, Adnan al-Zurfi, says that He has asked the US ambassador in Iraq for a timeline for a withdrawal of the some 5,000 US troops from his country. His statement came just a couple days before the US Halliburton oil […]

Donald Trump

With 53,000 Covid-19 Cases, Iran Can’t get Needed Medical Supplies: Trump Admin must Ease Sanctions

Human Rights Watch

(Washington DC) – Broad US-imposed economic sanctions are negatively affecting the Iranian government’s ability to adequately respond to the mounting health consequences of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The US should take immediate action to ease US sanctions and expand licensing of sanctions-exempt items to ensure Iran’s access to essential humanitarian resources during the pandemic. According […]

Israel/ Palestine

Top 7 Lessons from Israeli-Occupied Palestine on Surviving Lockdown

Ramzy Baroud

By Ramzy Baroud | @RamzyBaroud | – ( Middle East Monitor ) – Call it a ‘quarantine’, a ‘shelter-in-place’, a ‘lockdown’ or a ‘curfew’, we Palestinians have experienced them all, though not at all voluntarily. Personally, the first 23 years of my life were lived in virtual ‘lockdown’. My father’s ‘quarantine’ was experienced much earlier, […]

Israel/ Palestine

Israel Blocks Coronavirus Respirators, Aid, to Gaza until Remains of 2 Israeli Invaders are Returned

Middle East Monitor

By Motasem A Dalloul | @abujomaaGaza | ( Middle East Monitor ) – In response to a humanitarian appeal launched by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza to obtain $23 million in urgent aid, in addition to medicine and medical equipment including 250 respirators in order to deal with the coronavirus in the besieged […]

Israel/ Palestine

Radical Futures: When Palestinians Imagine

Al-Shabaka

“We must tell stories that are different from the ones we’re being brainwashed to believe… Remember this: another world is not only possible, she is on her way.” – Arundhati Roy

Israel/ Palestine

Despite Covid-19 Dangers, Israel ignores Pleas to Safeguard the Health of Palestinian Prisoners (Many Uncharged) in its Jails

Ramona Wadi

( Middle East Monitor ) – Unsurprisingly, Israel has not heeded requests to safeguard the health of Palestinian prisoners in its jails. Besides recommending “precautionary measures”, which are likely to provide no protection in confined spaces, it seems that Israel will persist with its medical neglect strategies, which have resulted in Palestinian prisoners dying. Yet […]

Donald Trump

Threatening Iran: Mired in Incompetence on Covid-19 at Home, Trump Tests Wagging the Dog

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – AFP quotes Trump as saying at a news conference and then on Twitter: “”We don’t want hostility, but if they are hostile to us, they’re going to regret it like they’ve never regretted anything before . . . If this happens, Iran will pay a very heavy price, indeed! . […]