Latest news with #PalestineNewspaper
Days of Palestine
07-07-2025
- General
- Days of Palestine
Khan Younis: Gaza's Breadbasket Turns into Wasteland
DayofPal– Farming in Khan Younis was never just a profession; it was a way of life. For generations, this southern Gaza city was known as the 'breadbasket' of the Strip, feeding its people with fresh vegetables, fruits, and poultry. But today, that legacy lies in ruins. Since the start of Israel's ongoing military assault in late 2023, Khan Younis has been reduced to rubble. Fertile lands have become craters, greenhouses lie in twisted heaps of metal, and the farmers who once cultivated the land now live as displaced refugees. The city has been all but erased from Gaza's agricultural map, a devastating blow to the Strip's already fragile food security. According to data from the United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as of July 2025, over 61.5% of Khan Younis's farmland has been either destroyed or rendered unusable. For Khalil Abu Hamed, a farmer from New Abasan, the loss is deeply personal. 'I used to grow tomatoes, eggplants, and zucchini on five dunams,' he told Palestine Newspaper. 'It was my only source of income. Now I'm living in a tent with my family in the Mawasi area. My house is gone. My land is gone. The Israelis destroyed everything, I couldn't even save my irrigation system or farming tools.' Abu Salim Al-Najjar, another farmer, lost his poultry farm, one of the largest in the Mawasi region. 'More than 15,000 birds died in just two weeks,' he said. 'The bombing destroyed the shelters. We ran out of feed and water. We used to supply half of Gaza's poultry. Now I don't even have a place to live.' Their stories reflect a far grimmer and more widespread reality of the current war. According to the FAO, more than 80% of Gaza's farmland has suffered direct damage. Over 71% of greenhouses have been destroyed, and nearly 83% of irrigation wells are no longer operational. In Khan Younis alone, approximately 2,600 hectares of cultivated land have been obliterated. Access to what remains is nearly impossible, blocked by military zones, rubble, or the threat of attack. Agricultural and environmental expert Nizar Al-Wahidi says Khan Younis is no longer Gaza's agricultural heartland, but a 'critical weak point' in the food security system. 'The eastern part of the governorate, where most open fields and greenhouses were located, has been systematically bulldozed,' Al-Wahidi told Palestine Newspaper. 'The western part has been paralyzed by mass displacement. Even the Mawasi area, once the largest poultry hub in Gaza, has been devastated, causing a dangerous shortage of animal protein.' The impact of this destruction, Al-Wahidi warns, will be felt for months, if not years. 'Gaza's agricultural sector is on the brink of total collapse,' he said. 'Without immediate recovery efforts, the consequences will be catastrophic.' The numbers back up his warning. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), 93% of Gaza's population is currently facing some level of food insecurity. Of those, 44% are classified as being in an 'emergency' state, while 12% are in outright 'catastrophe.' These levels are directly linked to the destruction of Gaza's food production and the collapse of supply chains, the result of sustained Israeli military actions. Shortlink for this post:
Days of Palestine
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
Calls Intensify for International Protection of 'Madleen' Humanitarian Ship
DaysofPal — International legal experts and humanitarian organizations are urgently calling for the protection of the Madleen ship and its crew of solidarity activists as it nears Gaza, amid growing fears of an Israeli military interception. The vessel, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, carries a symbolic humanitarian cargo and a powerful message: 'life, not weapons of death.' Reports from Hebrew media indicate that Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has ordered the military to prevent the ship from reaching Gaza's shores. The Madleen, which recently passed Egypt's coast, now enters what organizers call 'the most critical hours' of the mission. Speaking to Palestine Newspaper, Dr. Fouad Baker, legal advisor at the International Criminal Court, warned that any military action against the vessel would constitute a flagrant violation of international law. 'The Madleen is a peaceful, civilian ship. Targeting it is not just an attack on humanitarian relief—it's a political crime designed to spread fear and deter global solidarity.' Legal Grounds for Protection Dr. Baker emphasized that the Geneva Conventions, particularly the Fourth Convention, explicitly protect civilians and humanitarian missions during armed conflict. Any obstruction of aid or targeting of the Madleen could qualify as a war crime under: Article 8 of the Rome Statute (war crimes), Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention (prohibition of collective punishment). He condemned the absence of international protective measures and blamed global inaction on either complicity or the paralysis of institutions like the UN. 'Protection for these activists is not a favor—it is a legal and moral obligation. Their safety is a test of the international community's conscience,' he said. Baker also called for the immediate formation of a legal committee to monitor the ship's journey and document any violations in real time. A Mission of Peace Under Threat The Madleen, which departed Italy on June 1, carries 12 international activists, including: Greta Thunberg (Swedish climate activist), Liam Cunningham (Irish actor), Rima Hassan (French MEP). The group is delivering symbolic aid to Gaza, aiming to break the blockade that has suffocated the enclave for more than 17 years. Amnesty International has voiced strong support for the flotilla, calling it 'an essential act of solidarity.' The organization warned against interference, stating: 'There is no justification for obstructing humanitarian aid to Gaza amid catastrophic hunger and mass displacement. The Freedom Flotilla must be allowed to complete its peaceful mission without intimidation or attack.' This appeal follows the recent attack on the Global Conscience ship, which was hit by drones near Maltese waters in May, causing engine damage. These incidents highlight an alarming trend of militarized responses to humanitarian efforts. A Genocide Underway Since October 7, 2023, Israel—with full U.S. support—has launched a brutal war on Gaza, which many legal experts and UN officials now describe as genocide. Over 192,000 Palestinians have been killed, wounded, or declared missing. Civilian infrastructure has collapsed, and mass starvation is sweeping the Strip. With the Madleen nearing Gaza, the world watches. Will it act to uphold international law—or allow another humanitarian mission to be silenced? Shortlink for this post:
Days of Palestine
12-05-2025
- General
- Days of Palestine
Gaza Families Burn Remains of Their Homes for Survival
DaysofPal- In a scene that starkly illustrates the growing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, many families are now burning the remnants of their destroyed homes to cook food for their children. With cooking gas supplies cut off by the Israeli blockade, residents have resorted to using wood scraps, plastic, and even their broken furniture to survive. Since the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023, Gaza's supply of cooking gas has come to a complete halt. More than two million residents have been forced to adopt dangerous and improvised alternatives, often at the expense of their health and environment. Although the Israeli occupation temporarily allowed limited gas shipments during a short-lived ceasefire, this access ended abruptly after the collapse of the truce on March 18, 2024 — a deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar with U.S. support. Burning Their Belongings to Stay Alive Mohammad Mousa, a former carpenter and father of six, now uses parts of his furniture to light fires and prepare meals for his family. 'I can't afford firewood anymore,' he told Palestine Newspaper. 'It used to cost one shekel; now it's three. I haven't worked since the war began, and I've spent everything I had just moving between areas to keep my children safe from airstrikes.' With safety elusive in every corner of the besieged enclave, Mousa says what's left of his home has become fuel for survival. 'The war has made firewood our only option, but its soaring price has turned it into another crisis on top of many.' The story is the same for Kamal Obeid, a father of four, who says he's reduced to burning plastic and paper indoors after running out of furniture to burn. 'At first, I bought wood, but the price drained my savings. Then I turned to whatever I could find — plastic, trash, anything,' he said. 'Now my kids are sick. The air inside our home is toxic.' Fires Born from Rubble Mouin Abd Al-Al, displaced from his destroyed home in Gaza's Al-Nasr neighborhood, is gathering debris from what's left of his house just to cook food. 'Everything I owned is gone,' he said. 'Now, I pick up broken wooden panels to make a fire. This is how we eat.' But the health toll is mounting. With people burning plastic and other non-household materials, residents are increasingly suffering from respiratory illnesses. Abd Al-Al says he experiences frequent headaches, blurred vision, and difficulty breathing. 'Sitting in front of this fire has become a daily routine — not by choice, but by necessity,' he said. A Cry for Help Amid the Ashes As the blockade tightens and airstrikes continue, residents are pleading with the international community to act. From under the rubble and rising smoke, Gazans are calling for an immediate end to what they describe as a genocide and for humanitarian aid — especially cooking gas, food, and medicine — to be allowed into the Strip. 'We're not asking for luxuries,' said one resident. 'Just the bare essentials to keep our children alive.' With every passing day, the fires burning in Gaza are no longer just for cooking — they are a symbol of a people struggling to hold on in the face of total devastation. Shortlink for this post:
Days of Palestine
12-05-2025
- Days of Palestine
The Sea Took Ahmed, the Occupation Took His Boat and Family
DaysofPal- At dawn on Friday, May 9, brothers Ahmed and Mohammed Miqdad set out from the shores of Al-Shati Refugee Camp in western Gaza City. Aboard their modest fishing boat, they carried only worn-out nets and the desperate hope of feeding their families. By 6:30 a.m., what began as a quiet morning at sea had turned into a deadly ambush. As they began hauling in their nets, three shells fired from Israeli naval gunships shattered the stillness. The boat was struck directly. Twenty-seven-year-old fisherman Ahmed Ali Othman Miqdad was killed instantly. His older brother Mohammed, 32, suffered life-threatening injuries. Now, their brother Ayoub Miqdad stands at the shore, eyes fixed on the horizon, praying that the waves will return Ahmed's body. 'One of the shells hit him directly—his body was torn apart,' he told Palestine Newspaper, grief-stricken. 'We're still searching for him. No grave. No shroud. Just the sea, wrapping him in salt and sorrow.' Ayoub and several local fishermen continue to scour the coastline in the hope of retrieving any trace of Ahmed's remains—seeking, at the very least, a dignified burial. Anything more human than letting the sea remain the only witness to his death. Ahmed leaves behind a grieving wife and two young children: two-and-a-half-year-old Ali, and infant Karaz, just shy of three months old. 'He died a father, but his children will grow up with no memory of him, no grave to visit—only a fading photograph,' Ayoub said. Mohammed now lies in the intensive care unit at Al-Shifa Medical Complex—barely functioning after months of war and supply shortages. He suffered shrapnel wounds to his chest, abdomen, and pelvis. 'His life hangs by a machine and our prayers,' Ayoub added. A Home Reduced to Rubble The Miqdad family's tragedy doesn't end at sea. They now live in a makeshift tent next to the ruins of what was once their home. 'Our four-storey house in Al-Shati Camp sheltered five families,' Ayoub said, pointing to the collapsed structure. 'We returned to find it completely destroyed. Now we live beside it, in tents, waiting for reconstruction that may never come.' The brothers' fishing boat—their only source of income—was also obliterated in the shelling. It supported four families. 'We fished just enough to eat and sold the rest to cover our children's basic needs. Now we have nothing,' Ayoub said. Under Siege at Sea Since the outbreak of Israel's war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, the Strip has faced an intensified maritime blockade. Thousands of fishermen have been barred from the sea, cutting off their primary means of survival. Local data indicates that around 150 fishermen have been killed since the war began—50 of them while simply trying to feed their families. Most of Gaza's fishing boats, even the smallest wooden ones crafted with care, have been destroyed or rendered unusable. The fishing sector, once a lifeline for many, has been all but decimated. Gaza is home to approximately 4,500 licensed fishermen, with another 1,500 individuals dependent on related industries such as fish markets, boat repair, and ice production. More Than a Number Ahmed Miqdad is not just another entry in Gaza's growing list of the dead. He was a father, a husband, a brother—a vital part of Gaza's vanishing fishing community. The sea that once gave his family life has now become his final resting place. In Gaza, every wave carries a story. And in every torn net lies the wreckage of a dream. Shortlink for this post:
