Israeli plan for Gaza takeover must be halted immediately, UN rights chief says
The plan runs contrary to the ruling of the International Court of Justice that Israel must bring its occupation to an end as soon as possible, to the realisation of the agreed two-state solution and to the right of Palestinians to self-determination, Turk said in a statement.
Israel's political-security cabinet approved a plan early on Friday to take control of Gaza City, as the country expands its military operations despite intensifying criticism at home and abroad over the devastating almost two-year-old war.
Earlier Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israel intended to take military control of the entire Gaza Strip.
'On all evidence to date, this further escalation will result in more massive forced displacement, more killing, more unbearable suffering, senseless destruction and atrocity crimes,' Turk said.
'Instead of intensifying this war, the Israeli Government should put all its efforts into saving the lives of Gaza's civilians by allowing the full, unfettered flow of humanitarian aid. The hostages must be immediately and unconditionally released by Palestinian armed groups.' - REUTERS
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Sinar Daily
17 minutes ago
- Sinar Daily
Why Gaza's hope lies in democracies, not monarchies
NEARLY two years have passed since the war in Gaza erupted in October 2023, and yet the violence and suffering continue unabated. Images of devastation and the slaughter of civilians dominate our news feeds, igniting worldwide outrage including here in Malaysia. Malaysians, like many across the Muslim world, speak of the ummah as a global Muslim community, and we lament the absence of collective action to end the atrocities in Gaza. We question why wealthy Gulf states, despite their resources, have done so little beyond issuing statements of concern. Part of the answer, while uncomfortable, is straightforward: political structure determines outcomes. Authoritarian monarchies in the Arab world are not beholden to public opinion. When I hear of people claiming the tides are changing in the Arab world, I can't help but remind them of this fact. Authoritarian Arab leaders of either monarchies or republics are insulated from popular sentiment, which limits their response even if their populations strongly empathise with the plight of Palestinians. No doubt, surveys confirm the people's empathy. A 2024 study by the Arab Center in Washington found that 92 per cent of Arabs view the Palestinian cause as a regional concern instead of just a Palestinian one with near-unanimous agreement in Gulf states like Saudi Arabia. Arab Barometer data further reveal that 86 per cent of respondents consider Israel's occupation a threat to their own national security. And yet, despite this overwhelming support for Palestine among ordinary Arabs, their governments remain largely unresponsive. The reason is clear: authoritarian regimes only react when their own power is threatened and not when their people demand moral clarity or regional solidarity. Paradoxically, the fate of Gaza may not rest with leaders in Muslim-majority nations, but rather with public opinion in democratic societies of major world powers where elected officials must answer to voters. A boy walks with crutches as he inspects the scene in the aftermath of overnight Israeli bombardment on a camp sheltering displaced people in the Mawasi area of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on August 5, 2025. (Photo by AFP) In the United States, public attitudes have shifted significantly. A 2025 Pew Research Center survey showed that a majority of Americans (53 per cent) now hold unfavorable views of Israel, with Democratic support sharply declining. Gallup reports that 55 per centof USadults now favor the establishment of a Palestinian state, with 76 per centof Democrats and 53 per centof independents backing the idea. A Brookings Institution analysis notes that Democratic sympathy for Palestinians rose from just 16 per centin 2001 to 59 per centin 2025, while sympathy for Israel plummeted to 21 per cent. These shifts are not just academic; they are impacting politics. In New York's recent Democratic primary, progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani ran on a clear pro-Palestine platform, among other social issuesand defeated establishment-backed former Governor Andrew Cuomo (who is now running as an independent). This victory wasn't just symbolic. It was proof that voter sentiment is reshaping political realities. Protests in US cities further demonstrate the strength of this movement. Harvard's Nonviolent Action Lab recorded over one million Americans participating in pro-Palestinian rallies across more than 2,600 events compared to only 442 pro-Israel events. Ceasefire resolutions have been passed in over 100 local governments, with about 65 per centof Americans supporting an immediate 'ceasefire now.' Similar democratic dynamics are unfolding across Europe. Massive protests in Spain, Ireland, Germanyand the UK have not only influenced public discourse but have also nudged governments toward calling for ceasefires and reassessing their unconditional support for Israel. A Palestinian man reacts to the destruction after an overnight strike on the Sheikh Radwan Health Centre in the north of Gaza City on August 6, 2025. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP) In democracies, where public sentiment cannot be ignored forever, moral convictions can evolve into concrete policy change. Importantly, this momentum is being driven by young people. Across campuses in the United States and Europe, students are demanding institutional divestment from Israel and challenging political complacency. Youth-led movements have forced university boards to debate Gaza-related policies and compelled lawmakers to clarify their positions. The same energy exists in Malaysia although not as structured as counterparts in the West. Instead, our youth has been vocal through social media campaigns, boycotts, forumsand even street protests to play their part in advocating for justice in Palestine. In a hyper-connected world, we should not discount Malaysian voices. With support from the government, our calls for peace in Gaza are amplified. Young Malaysians do have power. Even if not in positions of foreign policy leadership, the youth do influence the moral direction of our country. We have our electoral system to thank for that as the government cannot ignore voters' demands if they wish to stay in power. Through sustained advocacy, education and solidarity movements, Malaysian youth can actually strengthen Malaysia's diplomatic voice and join the growing global pressure that is reshaping narratives and, potentially, outcomes. Will the war in Gaza end soon? We cannot say. But one thing is clear: democratic public opinion matters, especially in nations where policies can shift with the electorate's will. It is this grassroots pressure that may finally tip the balance. The silence of Arab leaders, unfortunately, is louder than the wishes of ordinary Muslims in the Middle East. The youth in democratic nations need to remember they stand on the right side of history. While authoritarian regimes remain silent, democracies can - and increasingly do - respond. That is our hope. That is our leverage. And that may be how this war finally ends. Syaza Shukri, PhD, is an associate professor and the current Head at the Department of Political Science, IIUM. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of Sinar Daily.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Israel plans to ‘take control' of Gaza City, sparking wave of criticism
JERUSALEM: Israel's military will 'take control' of Gaza City under a new plan approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet, touching off a wave of criticism Friday from both inside and outside the country. Nearly two years into the war in Gaza, Netanyahu faces mounting pressure to secure a truce to pull the territory's more than two million people back from the brink of famine and free the hostages held by Palestinian militants. Israel's foe Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 attack triggered the war, denounced the plan to expand the fighting as a 'new war crime'. Staunch Israeli ally Germany meanwhile took the extraordinary step of halting military exports out of concern they could be used in Gaza, a move Netanyahu slammed as a reward for Hamas. Under the newly approved plan to 'defeat' Hamas, the Israeli army 'will prepare to take control of Gaza City while distributing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population outside combat zones', the premier's office said Friday. Netanyahu in a post on X said 'we are not going to occupy Gaza -- we are going to free Gaza from Hamas'. He said that the territory's demilitarisation and the establishment of 'a peaceful civilian administration... will help free our hostages' and prevent future threats. Israel occupied Gaza from 1967, but withdrew its troops and settlers in 2005. Netanyahu's office said the cabinet had adopted 'five principles', including Gaza's demilitarisation and 'the establishment of an alternative civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority'. The plan triggered swift criticism from across the globe, with China, Turkey, Britain and numerous Arab governments issuing statements of concern. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the Israeli plan a 'dangerous escalation' that risks 'deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians'. Diplomatic sources told AFP that the UN Security Council will meet on Sunday to discuss the plan. 'March of recklessness' Announcing the suspension of military shipments to Israel, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said it was 'increasingly difficult to understand' how the new plan would help achieve legitimate aims. In Israel, there were mixed reactions to the cabinet's decision, while Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military had already begun preparing for its implementation. The main campaign group for hostages' families also slammed the plan, saying it amounted to 'abandoning' the captives. 'The cabinet chose last night to embark on another march of recklessness, on the backs of the hostages, the soldiers, and Israeli society as a whole,' the Hostage and Missing Families Forum said. Out of 251 hostages captured during Hamas's 2023 attack, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the military says are dead. An expanded Israeli offensive could see ground troops operate in densely populated areas where hostages are believed to be held, local media have reported. Some Israelis, meanwhile, offered their support. 'As they take control of Gaza, they will eliminate Hamas completely -- maybe not completely, but at least a good percentage of them,' said Chaim Klein, a 26-year-old yeshiva student. The Israeli army said last month that it controlled 75 percent of the Gaza Strip. 'We are human beings' Gaza residents said they feared further displacement and attacks as they braced for the next onslaught. 'They tell us to go south, then back north, and now they want to send us south again. We are human beings, but no one hears us or sees us,' Maysa al-Shanti, a 52-year-old mother of six, told AFP. Hamas on Friday said the 'plans to occupy Gaza City and evacuate its residents constitutes a new war crime'. It warned Israel that the operation would 'cost it dearly', and that 'expanding the aggression means sacrificing' the hostages held by militants. International concern has been growing over the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, where a UN-backed assessment has warned that famine is unfolding. The World Health Organization said at least 99 people have died from malnutrition in the territory this year, with the figure likely an underestimate. Gaza's civil defence agency said a 19-year-old was seriously injured during the delivery of aid by an airdrop over Gaza City. 'There are daily injuries and fatalities caused by the heavy parcels falling on people's heads in densely populated areas,' said civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal, adding that stampedes and overcrowding at aid drop sites frequently lead to casualties. Bassal said Israeli strikes across Gaza on Friday killed at least 16 people. Israel in recent months has eased some restrictions on aid entering Gaza, but the United Nations says the amount allowed into the territory remains insufficient. Israel's offensive has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, according to Hamas-run Gaza's health ministry. The 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. - AFP
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Harvard patents targeted by Trump administration
The Trump administration on Friday ordered a comprehensive review of Harvard University's federally funded research programs, and threatened to take title to or grant licenses from the school's lucrative portfolio of patents. In a letter to University President Alan Garber and obtained by Reuters, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick accused Harvard of breaching its legal and contractual requirements tied to the research programs and patents. Lutnick also said the Commerce Department has begun a 'march-in' process under the federal Bayh-Dole Act that could let the government take ownership of the patents or grant licenses. Signed in 1980, that law ensures that Americans benefit from inventions funded through taxpayer dollars, a senior administration official said. 'The Department places immense value on the groundbreaking scientific and technological advancements that emerge from the Government's partnerships with institutions like Harvard,' Lutnick wrote. He said that carried a 'critical responsibility' for Harvard to ensure that its intellectual property derived from federal funding is used to maximize benefits to the American people. Harvard did not immediately respond to requests for comment. President Donald Trump has made bolstering the country's manufacturing and economic competitiveness a priority of his second White House term, including by raising tariffs on imports from dozens of countries. ADDED PRESSURE Friday's letter ratchets up White House pressure on Harvard, which it has accused of civil rights violations for failing to address antisemitism on campus. Harvard sued in April after the administration began stripping or freezing billions of dollars of federal research money. Lutnick demanded that Harvard provide by September 5 a list of all patents stemming from federally funded research grants, including how the patents are used and whether any licensing requires 'substantial U.S. manufacturing.' As of July 1, 2024, Harvard held more than 5,800 patents, and had more than 900 technology licenses with over 650 industry partners, according to a university website. Other schools that have faced federal funding losses have included Columbia University, which last month agreed to pay more than $220 million to settle the government's antisemitism claims. The New York Times has said Harvard was open to spending up to $500 million to settle similar claims. Signed by President Jimmy Carter about six weeks before he left the White House, the bipartisan Bayh-Dole Act was sponsored by Senators Birch Bayh of Indiana and Bob Dole of Kansas. Carter said at the time it was important that industrial innovation promote U.S. economic health, and the legislation 'goes far toward strengthening the effectiveness of the patent incentive in stimulating innovation in the United States.' Many civil rights experts, faculty and White House critics believe the Trump administration's targeting of schools is a pretext to assert federal control and threaten academic freedom and free speech. - Reuters
