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New Straits Times
a day ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
New alliance emerging to challenge Western accounts of Gaza
AMID the rubble of journalists' tents and the unceasing wail of ambulances, the world is witnessing not merely death but also the murder of meaning. Israel's assault on Gaza can no longer be concealed behind euphemisms like "conflict" or "retaliation". However, Western mainstream media continues to deploy language that obscures the crime. In a world flooded with information, the denial of meaning is the most insidious and dangerous form of violence. Mainstream alternative media such as Middle East Monitor, Al Jazeera and TRT World have consistently rejected this narrative. Journalists like Anas al-Sharif were killed not because they bore arms, but because they bore witness — reviving Gaza's sufferings for the world to see. The world is no longer reliant on the Western media's selective framing as a new narrative alliance is emerging. From the Islamic world, BRICS, Africa, Latin America and digital activists, a coordinated media movement is reshaping the global map of meaning. Outlets such as RT (Russia), PressTV (Iran), TRT World (Turkiye) and networks across Africa and Latin America portray Palestinian suffering as a symbol of resistance against Western hegemony and moral hypocrisy. Beyond the established alternative media platforms such as Democracy Now, The Intercept, and Grayzone, more contrarian outlets like Unz Review have also entered the fray, amplifying voices that frame Israel's actions in Gaza as genocidal and morally indefensible. This reflects the widening spectrum of dissent in Western discourse. On digital platforms, influencers like Motaz Azaiza and thousands of activists have become "field journalists" who build global empathy. They stream live footage, testimonies and humanitarian appeals that transcend linguistic and cultural boundaries. Hashtags like #GazaGenocide, #EndIsraeliApartheid and #FreePalestine have become narrative battlegrounds that rival official propaganda. In Australia, a historic wave of mobilisation has swept across Sydney and Melbourne. Up to 300,000 people recently joined the "March for Humanity" across Sydney Harbour Bridge to demand a ceasefire, sanctions on Israel and recognition of Palestinian statehood. Writers like Omar El Akkad and activists like Nidzara Ahmetasevic have criticised the moral duplicity of the West, which failed to learn from the genocide in Bosnia. Malaysian media has the potential to bridge the voices of the Global South with Western consciousness. On the issue of Palestine, we must no longer rely on Western news agencies whose coverage often favours Israel and marginalises the Global South. Renowned academic and thinker Professor Datuk Dr Ahmad Murad Merican has urged Malaysian media to lead efforts in declaring Asean a "Genocide-Free Zone", with deep reporting and regional advocacy. Our media can elevate historical witnesses like Gaza's journalists as icons of humanity; embed narratives of compassion, inclusivity and sustainability in its coverage; and build regional networks that unite voices from Asean, BRICS+, D-8 and the Global South. Thus, Malaysia joining The Hague Group and supporting South Africa's legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice is not merely a diplomatic gesture, it is also a narrative declaration that Malaysia stands with truth. The genocide in Gaza is not just a humanitarian tragedy — it is also a test of global honesty, media courage and the resilience of meaning. The multipolar media alliance — rising from the Islamic world, BRICS, Africa and Latin America — has forged a battleground not of weapons, but of witness, empathy and interpretation. They do not merely report — they resurrect the meaning that was meant to be erased.
Scoop
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Recognise Palestine? Then Free Marwan Barghouti!
The world's most important hostage – must be released. The powerful Western countries have signalled that in the face of the genocide they may recognise the state of Palestine. States need leaders. That's why Marwan Barghouti – often dubbed the Palestinian Mandela – must be freed. A former head of Israel's Mossad spy agency, Ephraim Halevy, agrees with calls by leaders from across the Middle East for Barghouti's release: 'Barghouti is popular with his people, he has a clear position, he speaks Hebrew well and can negotiate; all of which qualifies him to lead a new path. We have to be creative in dealing with the future in the West Bank as well and the rest of the territories, as there are millions of Palestinians, and transferring two million Palestinians from Gaza is unrealistic,' Halevy told Middle East Monitor. States need leaders The UK, France, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and a baker's dozen of Western-aligned states have signalled they may finally join humanity and recognise the right of Palestine to exist as a state. They are doing so at a moment when the physical existence of the Palestinian people in Palestine is in peril due to the US-Israeli genocide. If this is not simply another hollow, performative gesture real things must happen: first and foremost the lifting of the siege and the ending of the man-made famine. Simultaneously, Palestine needs a credible leadership to negotiate its future. Why call for recognition of a state when hundreds of the top leadership of that future state are held in cruel captivity? These hostages seldom receive any attention – in contrast to the remaining 20 or so hostages held by Hamas and other groups. Who decides who represents Palestine? In typical Western fashion the announcement of potentially recognising the Palestinian state comes with a swag of conditions – foremost that Hamas, the most popular movement in Palestine, the winner of the last free and fair elections in both the West Bank and Gaza, must not be part of any government. OK, so, if the Palestinians bow to that condition, who will be the leaders of this state? Who has the standing with all the factions of the Palestinian polity? Marwan Barghouti could be such a man. The geriatric and thoroughly discredited Mahmoud Abbas, unelected leader of the Palestinian Authority, is largely seen as a tool of the US and Israel. Over 90% of Palestinians want him gone. In contrast, Barghouti is a revered figure, respected by all Palestinian organizations. He consistently polls as the most popular leader. The Israelis have murdered many of the Palestinian leaders (along with targeted assassinations of hundreds of writers, professors, lawyers, doctors and other people crucial to state-building). They even killed the lead negotiator in the hostage release process. It is vital that the West ensures Barghouti is protected from further mistreatment. It is also worth dismissing the lie that Israel has no Palestinian partner to negotiate with; Barghouti has the will and the attributes. The blockage is actually Western complicity in ethnic cleansing, land stealing and the overall Greater Israel Project. Barghouti: the most important political prisoner During the past 23 years in Israeli prisons Barghouti has been beaten, tortured, sexually molested and had limbs broken, as documented by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. What hasn't been broken is the spirit of the greatest living Palestinian – a symbol of his people's 'legendary steadfastness' and determination to win freedom from occupation. As I wrote in 2024: 'Barghouti, the terrorist, rotting in jail. Barghouti, the indomitable leader who has not given up on peace. Barghouti, loved by ordinary people as 'a man of the street'. Barghouti, supporter of the Oslo Accords. Barghouti, the 15 year-old youth leader standing beside Yasser Arafat. Barghouti, once a member of parliament and Fatah secretary-general. Barghouti, leader of Tanzim, a PLO military wing, choosing militancy after the betrayal of the Oslo promise by the Americans and Israelis became fully clear. Barghouti, a leader of the intifada that restored hope to a broken people. Barghouti, the scholar and thinker. Barghouti, the political strategist and unifier.' Marwan is the most famous Palestinian prisoner but it should never be forgotten that the entire Palestinian people have been held in bondage for generations. The West should force the Israelis to release Barghouti – and thousands of other hostages held by Israel. To do so publicly and successfully would be a powerful statement of future intentions. The release of one man cannot, however, change the world: it will take a genuine course correction by the West to use their collective power to force the Israelis to abandon the endless killings, starvation, land thieving and other lawlessness in the Palestinian lands. The West must stop posturing and start acting If the Western states fail to quickly move to change facts on the ground, it will suggest that the whole exercise was only intended to achieve political cover for the pro-genocidal forces of the US and the other enablers like Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Netanyahu is driving both the Palestinians and Israel to destruction. Ironically, the Palestinian Marwan Barghouti could save Israel from moral death and, simultaneously, the Palestinians from further physical destruction. He is a leader that the West and the Israelis, if they chose, could negotiate with. As Alon Liel, formerly Israel's most senior diplomat, said a couple of years ago: Barghouti is 'the ultimate leader of the Palestinian people,' and 'he is the only one who can extricate us from the quagmire we are in.' One final point: negotiating with terrorists The West has made it clear they believe Hamas are too monstrous, too terroristic to be involved in a peace process. But the West is entirely comfortable with the racist, fascist, genocidal leaders of Israel remaining at the helm of their country. There is a reason for this and one the West needs to front up to: racism and contempt for the Palestinians as a people. Barghouti and hundrds of other leaders have endured torture and worse without our side raising even an eyebrow. The recent skite videos posted by IDF soldiers committing rape-murder inside Sde Temein prison says it all - they rightly assumed their depraved criminality would be sanctioned by the state and silently tolerated by the West. War crimes are fine and no barrier to leadership if these crimes are committed by regimes that we are deeply committed to. After all, as our leaders repeatedly tell us: we share values with the Israelis. I'll give the last word to Marwan Barghouti. 'Resistance is a holy right for the Palestinian people to face the Israeli occupation. Nobody should forget that the Palestinian people negotiated for 10 years and accepted difficult and humiliating agreements, and in the end didn't get anything except authority over the people, and no authority over land, or sovereignty.' It is time to change that and to stand with humanity. Free Marwan Barghouti! Eugene Doyle
Business Insider
24-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Egypt's top capitalists offer a hand of friendship to Burkina Faso's Ibrahim Traoré
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with the president of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traoré, earlier this week and delivered a written message from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in a major move, geared towards strengthening pan-African unity. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty delivered a letter from President El-Sisi to Burkina Faso's President Ibrahim Traoré. The message emphasized Egypt's commitment to fostering peace, security, and bilateral relations within Africa. Abdelatty's visit aimed to enhance economic ties, focusing on private sector collaboration between Egypt and Burkina Faso. Contents of the letter emphasized Egypt's resolve to advance peace and security throughout the African continent by deepening bilateral relations and expanding collaboration with Burkina Faso in strategic areas. The North African country is eager to strengthen trade, investment, and economic ties, Abdelatty said in remarks made during his visit. He mentioned that fostering collaborations between the private sectors of the two countries was one of the main goals of his visit. Abdelatty was accompanied by a high-level delegation of 30 businesspeople and senior executives from some of Egypt's most prominent public and private companies, as seen on the Middle East Monitor. These stakeholders work in essential industries such as construction, energy, agriculture, medicines, and textiles. The foreign minister reiterated their willingness to support Burkina Faso's development goals under President Traoré's leadership. The delegation's engagement not only represents Egypt's increasing diplomatic involvement with West Africa, but it also positions Egyptian businesses to participate in the development of important infrastructural and industrial sectors in Burkina Faso. Abdelatty's trip to Ouagadougou is part of a larger five-nation West African tour that covers Nigeria, Niger, Mali, and Senegal, MedaAfrica notes. Egypt's regional outreach demonstrates its determination to reinvigorate strategic relationships and provide creative solutions to Africa's critical development and security concerns. In addition to economic discussions, Abdelatty thanked the Burkinabé government for supporting Dr. Khaled El-Anany, Egypt and Africa's candidate for the position of Director-General of UNESCO.
Middle East Eye
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Tunisian president shows photos of starving Palestinian children to US envoy during visit
Tunisian President Kais Saied greeted the US senior adviser for Arab, Middle Eastern and African affairs at Carthage Palace in Tunis with photos of starving Palestinian children in Gaza, saying it was "time for all of humanity to wake up". In a video posted by Tunisian news network Carthage, a sombre-looking Saeid can be seen welcoming and shaking hands with a smiling Massad Boulos, declaring in Arabic' "Now my conversation is with you and directed to you about a number of issues that concern us and the whole world", in a short clip of the video translated by Middle East Monitor. "I believe you know these photos well," he said, showing the Lebanese-American Boulos a photo of a toddler holding a silver bowl of sand. "A child crying, eating sand in occupied Palestine." 'This is one image among many others,' Saied added. 'Eating sand in the 21st century. He found nothing to eat. And with sand in his hand." He then showed billionaire businessman Boulos an image of an emaciated child, whose neck and head are being supported by someone's hand. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'Another image of a child on the verge of dying because he couldn't find anything to eat. And surely, you have many other images. This is absolutely unacceptable. This is a crime against humanity.' The camera then cut to a third image of a child with sunken eyes who was also emaciated. 'A child on the verge of death, also nearly dying of hunger. And he may already have passed away.' Saied continued to show more harrowing photos to Boulos - including three Palestinian men carrying children wrapped in white shrouds - while Boulos stood with his hands clasped, silently nodding. At one point Saied told Boulos that "international legitimacy was crumbling day by day". Boulos - whose son is married to US President Donald Trump's daughter Tiffany - is in the region to make his first official visit to Libya on Wednesday amid rising tensions in the capital city Tripoli and neighbouring Sudan, as reported by Middle East Eye earlier this month. More than 100 humanitarian organisations warned on Wednesday that "mass famine" was spreading in the Gaza Strip after Israel blocked humanitarian aid from entering in early March and has been providing woefully inadequate aid via the controversial US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund since the end of May. MEE reported on Tuesday that renowned expert on famine, Professor Alex de Waal, accused Israel of 'genocidal starvation' of Palestinians in Gaza with its continued deadly siege on the enclave. Over 100 humanitarian groups sound alarm on starvation of staff in Gaza Read More » At least 101 Palestinians, including 80 children, have died of starvation since Israel's blockade resumed in March, including 15 who died of malnutrition on Monday, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Meanwhile, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid at distribution sites run by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, in place since May and manned by Israeli soldiers and US security contractors. De Waal told MEE's live show on Tuesday that the UN is not in a position to declare famine due to Israel's obstruction of access to humanitarians and investigators who could gauge the extent of hunger. However, he said, 'it is actually relatively straightforward if you are perpetrating a famine to shut out access to essential information and then say no one has declared famine'. 'Concealment of famine is an instrument of those who perpetrate it,' he added. De Waal said that famine is unfolding in Gaza in 'a wholly predicted manner'. De Waal is executive director of the World Peace Foundation, affiliated with the Fletcher School of Global Affairs at Tufts University, and the author of Mass Starvation: The History and Future of Famine. He explained that a healthy adult will take 60 to 80 days of total deprivation of food to die of starvation. With semi-starvation, it would take a lot longer.
Middle East Eye
15-07-2025
- Health
- Middle East Eye
Dr Hussam Abu Safiya is in critical condition following torture and starvation in Israeli prison
Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, a paeditrican and former director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza who was detained by Israel, is in critical condiiton, Middle East Monitor reported on Monday. Since he was detained by Israeli forces without charge in December and put into the notorious Ofer prison in Israel, he has lost nearly half of his body weight his lawyer Ghaid Ghanem Qassem said due to forced starvation. He was severely beaten on 24 June, his lawyer said, and sustained injuries to his rib cage, face, head, and neck. Dr Abu Safiya is currently suffering from high blood pressure and a heart condition but has been denied medication or access to specialist medical care by Israeli prison authorities. Qassem said he was being held in solitary confinement in an underground cell, where the sun does not enter, as well as enduring torture. Qassem added that glasses that were delivered to Dr Abu Safiya were deliberately broken. Chairman of the Euro-Med human rights monitor Ramy Abdu visited Dr Abu Safiya on 9 July, and reported that he was being held in harrowing conditions. The Israeli military has disproportionately targeted health workers since its war began.
