Latest news with #HaniHazaimeh
Arab News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Netanyahu's ‘relocation' agenda and a silent world's complicity
A long-buried nightmare has clawed its way back to the heart of Israeli far-right politics. This delusion refuses to fade, no matter how many times it has been condemned, debunked or disguised in diplomatic rhetoric. It is the old vision of 'transfer,' a sterilized label for a dark, decades-old objective: the forced removal of Palestinians from their land. What was once a fringe ideology has now become mainstream policy, championed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's increasingly radical and emboldened coalition. The vocabulary may have changed, but the intent remains the same: to ethnically engineer the landscape of Palestine and reshape its demography under the pretext of security and national interest. But there is nothing secure about driving a population into statelessness. There is nothing legitimate about starving a people, demolishing their homes and denying them the right to exist on their own land. In Gaza, this doctrine has been weaponized into policy. With every missile strike, every decimated neighborhood and every hospital overwhelmed with the injured and dying, the outlines of this grotesque vision become clearer. Israeli leaders talk openly of 'voluntary migration,' while simultaneously making Gaza unlivable. This is not policy — it is premeditated displacement. It amounts to ethnic cleansing. The evidence is not just in UN reports or press releases — it is in the images seared into the global conscience Hani Hazaimeh The humanitarian toll is staggering. According to the Arab League, the death toll from Israel's military campaign in Gaza has risen to more than 52,500, with injuries surpassing 118,000 since October 2023. The majority of the victims are women and children. Thousands more remain buried under rubble, uncounted and unnamed. Hospitals have been bombed, schools obliterated and entire families annihilated in their homes. The burned bodies of children, charred beyond recognition, are not collateral damage — they are the physical remnants of a doctrine that sees Palestinian existence as expendable. No one can claim ignorance. The evidence is not just in UN reports or press releases — it is in the images seared into the global conscience. A mother clutching the lifeless bodies of her twins. A paramedic breaking down after pulling his daughter's corpse from the wreckage. Rows of white-shrouded bodies, lined up in makeshift morgues or open fields because cemeteries are full. This is a humanitarian catastrophe of historic proportions. And yet, the world's most powerful nations continue to offer cover for Israel's actions. The US, the EU and others have failed not only morally but strategically, emboldening a regime that is now openly toying with the idea of permanent population removal — an idea once considered politically radioactive but now disturbingly palatable in some circles. This is a humanitarian catastrophe. And yet, the world's most powerful nations continue to offer cover for Israel's actions Hani Hazaimeh Israel's far-right ministers speak of a 'solution' that requires Palestinians to leave, to be absorbed by Egypt, Jordan or anywhere else but here. It is the logic of colonialism reanimated in the 21st century. It is not just an attack on Gaza — it is an assault on international law, human dignity and the very idea that people have a right to their homeland. The Palestinian cause is not just about politics — it is about humanity. It is about a people denied the right to live in peace, to raise their children without fear, to mourn their dead without hearing the roar of jets overhead. The dream of a two-state solution fades further with each airstrike, replaced by a nightmare of perpetual occupation and suffering. The international community must wake up to the reality that what is happening in Gaza is not a war — it is a campaign of forced disappearance. This is genocide under a different name, carried out with digital precision and bureaucratic coldness. And behind it stands a political fantasy resurrected from the darkest corners of Israeli settler ideology. The question now is not whether we see what is happening. It is whether we are willing to act. Because history has a long memory. It will remember who stood for justice — and who watched silently as an entire people were driven into the abyss.
Arab News
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
The cynicism behind Israel's ‘protection' of Syria's Druze
The Israeli government's recent justification for its airstrikes on Syrian territory — citing the protection of the Druze minority — defies logic, morality and credibility. It is a breathtaking display of political insolence, one that insults the global conscience while revealing the darker strategic motives behind Israel's regional policies. How can a state that has waged one of the most systematic campaigns of dispossession and repression against the Palestinian people now claim to be a champion of minority rights? This grotesque contradiction is not a mistake — it is a deliberate strategy. By invoking the protection of minorities in Syria, Israel is not just seeking to justify its illegal military actions. It is actively laying the groundwork for a broader, long-standing agenda: the fragmentation of Syria into sectarian and ethnic cantons. This policy, rooted in expansionist ideology and geopolitical calculations, aims to dismantle the remaining strongholds of Arab sovereignty that resist Israeli hegemony in the region. The idea of dividing Syria into Druze, Alawite, Sunni, Kurdish and Christian enclaves is not new. Israeli think tanks and military planners have floated such visions for decades as part of the so-called Yinon Plan — a strategy to weaken neighboring Arab states by exacerbating internal divisions and rendering them ungovernable. Syria, due to its central role in the Axis of Resistance and its geographic and political proximity to Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq, has long been a target of this policy. It is actively laying the groundwork for a broader agenda: the fragmentation of Syria into sectarian and ethnic cantons. Hani Hazaimeh Israel's targeting of Syria under the pretext of minority protection, therefore, is not about human rights. It is about fragmentation — turning Syria into a patchwork of mini-states that pose no threat to Israel's regional ambitions and that can be manipulated or co-opted individually. Moreover, by presenting itself as the 'defender' of certain minorities like the Druze, Israel is attempting to sow distrust and fear among Syrian communities, deepening sectarian fissures and potentially inciting communal conflict. It is a colonial tactic rebranded in a modern setting: divide, destabilize and dominate. This cynical exploitation of minority rights stands in stark contrast to Israel's domestic record. Inside Israel, Palestinian citizens face institutionalized discrimination, economic marginalization and surveillance. In the West Bank, settlers routinely terrorize Palestinian communities under the protection of the Israeli army. In Gaza, Israel has turned the Strip into a humanitarian catastrophe zone, with its latest assault resulting in mass civilian deaths and infrastructure collapse. How can such a state claim to have the moral authority to lecture others on the protection of minorities? The international community must not be fooled. Israel's interventionist rhetoric regarding Syria is not rooted in humanitarian concern — it is an extension of an expansionist doctrine that has no regard for international law or the sovereignty of other nations. If left unchecked, this policy threatens to tear apart what remains of Syria's territorial integrity and ignite further chaos across the region, from Iraq to Lebanon and Jordan. True regional peace and security will never be achieved through bombs masquerading as benevolence or through schemes that weaponize ethnic and sectarian identities. It will only come through justice, genuine respect for sovereignty and a global stand against policies that exploit human suffering for strategic gain.
Arab News
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood ban a turning point
Jordan's decision to formally ban all activities of the dissolved Muslim Brotherhood marks a watershed moment in the kingdom's modern political history — a decision that could reverberate well beyond its borders. Announced by Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya on Wednesday, the move came on the heels of a shocking revelation: a foiled plot involving the manufacture of rockets by individuals allegedly linked to the group. This development sent shock waves through Jordan's security apparatus and fundamentally reshaped the national discourse on the role of political Islam within the state. Since the establishment of the Jordanian state in 1946, the Muslim Brotherhood has played a paradoxical role — at once an integrated actor in Jordan's political development and a perennial source of ideological friction. Its founding in Jordan was marked by a pragmatic collaboration with the Hashemite monarchy, built on mutual concerns about communism and Arab nationalism. Over the decades, the Brotherhood crafted a unique position within the kingdom's political architecture. Unlike its outlawed counterparts in neighboring states, Jordan's Brotherhood operated with relative openness, participating in parliamentary elections, running charitable institutions and mobilizing support through grassroots networks. Throughout the latter half of the 20th century and into the 2000s, the Brotherhood managed to straddle the line between loyalty to the monarchy and advocacy for a distinct sociopolitical agenda rooted in Islamic principles. It garnered support from a wide spectrum of society, particularly among those in the middle and lower classes, who felt marginalized by the economic liberalization policies of successive governments. Its role in advocating for the Palestinian cause — especially during crises such as the ongoing Gaza war — further amplified its resonance with the Jordanian public, culminating in a stronger-than-expected performance in the 2024 legislative elections. What once served as a pressure valve for societal grievances has, in the eyes of the state, transformed into a potential vector for subversion Hani Hazaimeh However, what once served as a pressure valve for societal grievances has, in the eyes of the state, transformed into a potential vector for subversion. The recent discovery of a clandestine rocket-manufacturing operation, allegedly orchestrated by the son of a senior Brotherhood figure, has shattered long-held assumptions about the group's strict adherence to nonviolence. Although the Brotherhood's leadership was quick to disavow any connection to the plot and reiterated its commitment to peaceful activism, the incident has nonetheless cast a dark cloud over the movement's credibility and internal coherence. In response, the government launched a sweeping crackdown: banning all Brotherhood-related activities, shuttering affiliated offices, freezing financial assets and pursuing legal action against anyone promoting or collaborating with the outlawed group. The tone was unambiguous — Jordan would no longer tolerate political entities that, under the guise of ideological pluralism, harbor or inspire elements posing a threat to national cohesion. Domestically, the ban has reignited fierce debates. Supporters of the move argue that Jordan's stability must come above all else, particularly in a region plagued by insurgencies and ideological militancy. Critics, however, warn of the dangers of conflating dissent with subversion. For many Jordanians, especially those disillusioned by stagnant political reforms and economic hardship, the Brotherhood once symbolized an alternative — albeit an imperfect one. Its community-driven initiatives, female-led platforms and focus on social justice filled a void left by traditional political parties. Yet, the exposure of violent plots has irreversibly undermined the group's moral capital, casting doubt on whether it can still claim the mantle of peaceful opposition. Regionally, Jordan's decision represents more than a domestic policy shift — it is a calculated geopolitical signal. By outlawing the Brotherhood, Amman aligns itself more explicitly with a regional bloc that includes Egypt and the UAE, both of which have adopted aggressive stances against Islamist movements. Jordan's pivot thus underscores its intent to stay firmly within the fold of Western-aligned, security-focused regimes that prioritize order over ideological pluralism. Regionally, Jordan's decision represents more than a domestic policy shift — it is a calculated geopolitical signal Hani Hazaimeh The timing of this crackdown is especially significant. The Middle East remains in flux due to the devastating conflict in Gaza, which has intensified regional polarization and exposed the fragile fault lines running through many Arab societies. With Iran-backed militias expanding their influence in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, and with extremist networks seeking new footholds amid growing public anger, Jordan's leadership is understandably concerned about the risks of internal radicalization. The foiled rocket plot — believed to be targeting security installations — was not just an act of criminal defiance, it was a direct challenge to the state's monopoly on force and legitimacy. The path forward is fraught with uncertainty. The Brotherhood's ideological imprint will not vanish overnight. While the organization may be structurally dismantled, its supporters are unlikely to simply abandon their beliefs. The risk of splinter groups radicalizing or operating underground is real. To mitigate this, Jordan must walk a careful line: safeguarding national security without extinguishing avenues for legitimate political expression. This moment also presents an opportunity. The end of the Brotherhood's formal political role could open space for new, reform-minded movements that advocate transparency, inclusivity and constructive engagement. But such developments will only materialize if the state demonstrates a genuine commitment to democratic renewal, economic equity and responsive governance. Simply replacing one set of actors with another will not address the deeper societal grievances that fueled the Brotherhood's rise in the first place. In essence, Jordan's ban on the Muslim Brotherhood is not merely the closing of a political chapter — it is the culmination of a complex and often uneasy relationship between religion, ideology and statehood. It is also a bold recalibration of the kingdom's political doctrine in response to an evolving regional order marked by ideological polarization and shifting alliances. Whether this move ushers in a new era of stability or sows the seeds of future discord will depend largely on what the government does next — not just in terms of repression or security, but in its ability to offer a compelling, inclusive vision for the nation's future. • Hani Hazaimeh is a senior editor based in Amman. X: @hanihazaimeh
Arab News
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
The UN in Gaza: When an institution becomes useless
The ongoing Israeli war on Gaza has once again exposed the UN as a paralyzed, ineffective institution incapable of upholding its own charter, let alone protecting the innocent. More than 61,000 Palestinians — most of them women and children — have so far been killed in an onslaught that has reduced the Gaza Strip to rubble. More than 110,000 people have been injured, while over 14,000 remain missing and are presumed dead. Entire neighborhoods have been flattened. Hospitals, schools and UN shelters have been obliterated. And what has the UN done in response? Issued statements. Held meetings. Released press releases. In other words, nothing meaningful. The international community is witnessing, in real time, the systematic destruction of a civilian population. Israeli forces have targeted hospitals where wounded children lie in intensive care. Journalists and humanitarian workers have been killed despite being clearly identified. UNRWA facilities — schools, clinics and warehouses — have been struck repeatedly, often despite prior notification of their coordinates to Israeli forces. More than 180 UN workers have been killed since Oct. 7, 2023 — the highest death toll of humanitarian workers in any conflict in the organization's history. And yet, despite these blatant violations of international law, the UN remains frozen in its tracks, incapable of taking decisive action. Why? Because the institution has become a hostage to geopolitics. The Security Council — designed to ensure global peace and security — has become a theater of power politics. Any resolution that dares to criticize or attempt to restrain Israel's actions is immediately vetoed by the US, rendering international law effectively toothless. This is not a failure of oversight. It is a failure of will, a failure of structure and a failure of purpose. The very mechanisms designed to hold aggressors accountable have been hijacked by those determined to protect them. In this case, the US government has used its veto power to shield Israel from scrutiny and responsibility — effectively making the UN complicit in its silence. Despite Israel's blatant violations of international law, the UN remains frozen in its tracks, incapable of taking decisive action Hani Hazaimeh Meanwhile, UNRWA — the only lifeline for more than 2 million Palestinians in Gaza — is being dismantled from within. Western nations, under Israeli pressure and based on unproven allegations against a few employees, have suspended or cut funding to the agency altogether. The result? Starving families. Collapsing healthcare. Children deprived of education. These are not just policy decisions — they are death sentences for an already besieged population. Instead of defending its own agency and the people it serves, the UN appears to be surrendering. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued repeated warnings about the catastrophe in Gaza, but they have fallen on deaf ears. When he invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter in December 2023 — the first such move in decades — to draw attention to the crisis, the UNSC still failed to act. A US veto blocked a ceasefire resolution supported by more than 150 countries. The message was clear: even genocide can proceed uninterrupted, so long as one superpower permits it. The consequences of this moral collapse are profound. Not only is the UN failing the Palestinians, but it is also sending a dangerous message to oppressed peoples everywhere: that international law is selective and human rights are negotiable. What faith can anyone have in the global order when it tolerates collective punishment, ethnic cleansing and the targeting of civilians? What good are the Geneva Conventions if there is no one to enforce them? This failure also carries long-term costs. The credibility of the UN — already in question — is now in freefall. In the Global South, where memories of colonialism and double standards still linger, the UN's impotence in Gaza is seen as further proof of its irrelevance. Countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America are increasingly asking whether the current global order truly serves their interests or merely those of the powerful few. It is time to confront an uncomfortable truth: the UN, in its current form, is no longer fit for purpose. If the UN cannot act when its own buildings are bombed, when its staff are killed and when an entire population is pushed to the brink of extermination, then what exactly is it for? Diplomatic theater? A stage for the powerful to polish their image while atrocities rage on? There must be a reckoning. The UN must either undergo fundamental reform — starting with the abolition of the UNSC veto — or it must accept that it has become a relic of a bygone era. An institution born from the ashes of the Second World War, with the solemn promise of 'never again,' now finds itself watching helplessly as 'again' unfolds in real time. The UN must either undergo fundamental reform or it must accept that it has become a relic of a bygone era Hani Hazaimeh What does reform look like? It means empowering the General Assembly to override UNSC vetoes in cases of mass atrocities. It means insulating humanitarian agencies like UNRWA from political manipulation. It means establishing mechanisms to enforce international law that do not rely on the will of superpowers. Most of all, it means recognizing that the current structure rewards inaction, breeds impunity and undermines the very ideals the UN was created to uphold. The people of Gaza do not need more speeches. They need action. They need protection. They need justice. As bombs continue to fall and families are buried in mass graves, the clock is ticking — not only on their survival but on the moral relevance of the international community itself. The world does not need another powerless institution issuing empty statements while war crimes are broadcast live. It needs structures that can act, enforce the law and protect the defenseless. If the UN cannot do that, then it must step aside and make room for new mechanisms of accountability. Regional organizations, coalitions of conscience or even emerging international tribunals may ultimately take up the mantle the UN has so shamefully dropped. In Gaza, we are witnessing not just a humanitarian disaster, but the collapse of the global order's moral foundation. Unless the UN finds the courage to act — not merely speak — it will be remembered not as the guardian of peace and justice, but as a bystander to genocide. Until then, Palestinians will continue to suffer and the UN will remain what it has tragically become: an institution that watches but never acts.
Arab News
30-03-2025
- General
- Arab News
Gazans deserve a future free from fear
As the crescent moon began rising, signaling the arrival of Eid Al-Fitr, millions across the Muslim world prepared to celebrate. At this usually joyful time, streets are adorned with colorful lights, families gather for festive meals and children run through neighborhoods, their laughter echoing through the night. But in Gaza, there is no celebration — only silence, grief and the relentless sound of warplanes overhead. The only lights piercing the darkness are those of explosions, the only gatherings are funerals and the only thing children receive is the unbearable trauma of war. How can one celebrate when Palestinians in Gaza are burying their loved ones? How can one embrace joy when there is unimaginable grief? The contrast is too painful to ignore. Eid is meant to be a time of reflection, gratitude and renewal of faith. It marks the end of Ramadan, a month of patience, sacrifice and devotion. But for the people of Gaza, fasting was not by choice — it was forced upon them by an unrelenting siege, by bombed-out bakeries, by an economic stranglehold designed to starve them into submission. For decades, the Palestinian people have endured dispossession, displacement and systematic violence. But what the world is witnessing today is an escalation of brutality that surpasses even the horrors of the past. Hospitals have been turned into graveyards. Entire families have been wiped out. Children who survived one bombing wake up to find themselves orphaned after the next. The land beneath them is scorched, their dreams shattered before they even have the chance to imagine a future. Yet, despite the scale of the tragedy, the response from much of the world remains woefully inadequate. Statements of outrage flood social media, yet the siege remains unbroken. Protests erupt in capitals across the world, but governments still hesitate to take decisive action. Diplomatic pressure is no longer enough. Economic sanctions, arms embargoes and political isolation should be on the table. Hani Hazaimeh The suffering of Gaza is not an accident of war. It is the result of a deliberate strategy of occupation, blockade and collective punishment. Every airstrike, every demolished building, every restriction on food, water and medical supplies is part of a calculated effort to break the will of an entire people. And yet, despite clear evidence of war crimes, Western powers continue to supply Israel with weapons, diplomatic cover and unwavering political support. Where is the decisive action that matches the gravity of the moment? Diplomatic pressure is no longer enough. Economic sanctions, arms embargoes and political isolation should be on the table. There must be consequences for a regime that commits war crimes with impunity. If Western powers refuse to act because of their own strategic interests, then it falls upon the Arab and Islamic world to lead the way. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab League and other regional bodies must take coordinated, concrete steps — whether through legal action at the International Criminal Court, the severing of economic and trade relations or the provision of direct and sustained support to the Palestinians. The world must understand that the Palestinian struggle is not just a regional issue — it is a moral and humanitarian crisis that demands global intervention. While governments and institutions bear the greatest responsibility, individuals cannot afford to be passive observers. Silence is complicity. The power of collective action has already shown its strength. Protests in cities across the world have kept Palestine in the global consciousness. Student movements, labor unions and civil society groups have mobilized in ways that challenge governmental and corporate complicity. The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement has proven that economic pressure works. The fight for Palestinian liberation does not end with a ceasefire — it ends only when occupation, apartheid and oppression are dismantled. The children of Gaza deserve to live, to laugh and to celebrate, just as every child should. They deserve more than temporary aid; they deserve a future where they are free from fear, where they are not trapped in an open-air prison, where they can dream beyond the next airstrike. Until that day comes, our joy will always be incomplete and our celebrations will carry the weight of their suffering.
