Latest from Al Mayadeen
Al Mayadeen
2 days ago
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
'Israel' establishes first civilian court in West Bank settlement
Israeli news sources reported Tuesday that a rabbinical court in the illegal West Bank settlement of Ariel has been formally recognized as an independent judicial body, marking a dangerous precedent: the first civilian court officially established beyond the borders internationally recognized as "Israel". A spokesperson for the rabbinical court system confirmed the move, framing it as part of the occupation's broader effort to "expand state infrastructure," particularly religious and legal authority, deep into Palestinian land under military occupation. Previously operating as a satellite of the Petah Tikva rabbinical court, the Ariel court will now function five days a week and serve the nearly 500,000 illegal Israeli settlers living across the West Bank. In the apartheid system imposed by 'Israel,' rabbinical courts exercise broad jurisdiction over personal status matters for Jewish settlers, including marriage, divorce, and conversion, jurisdiction denied to Palestinians under occupation. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Sephardic Chief Rabbi David Yosef made the underlying political intent clear. "We came here today to strengthen settlement in the Land of Israel, as the establishment of the first permanent court in Judea and Samaria is a significant step for the approximately half a million [Israeli] residents" of the area, he said, invoking the biblical term for the West Bank. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a key figure in the Netanyahu government's pro-settlement wing, celebrated the court's establishment as a milestone in deepening Israeli control. "The court will strengthen [our] grip on the land of the Land of Israel," he declared. It is worth noting that Smotrich also holds a portfolio within the Security Ministry that gives him considerable influence over the "Civil Administration and COGAT—bodies" that govern the day-to-day lives of Palestinians in Area C of the West Bank. This move is being widely interpreted by critics and legal experts as a form of "creeping annexation". Under the Fourth Geneva Convention, an occupying power is prohibited from transferring parts of its civilian infrastructure, including courts, into occupied territory. By institutionalizing a civilian religious court within a settlement, "Israel" not only entrenches its presence in the West Bank but also blurs the legal line between "recognized" occupied territory and non-recognized occupied Palestinian territory. Moreover, human rights groups and international observers have expressed concern that this judicial expansion is part of a broader Israeli strategy to incrementally erase the distinction between the state and the occupied territories. The development coincides with mounting calls within the Israeli government to formally annex the West Bank. On that note, Justice Minister Yariv Levin recently told settler leader Yossi Dagan that annexation should move forward, a position echoed by other senior officials. Read more: 'Israel' defies law, approves 22 illegal West Bank settlements
Al Mayadeen
2 days ago
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
Israeli forces escalate raids in Tulkarm, al-Khalil, Beit Lahm
The Israeli occupation intensified its repressive measures against residents of Tulkarm refugee camp on Wednesday, targeting Palestinians attempting to collect their belongings from homes marked for demolition. The escalation is part of the occupation's ongoing assault on the city of Tulkarm and its camp, now in its 157th consecutive day. On Tuesday, the Israeli occupation forces issued demolition orders for 104 homes and buildings in Tulkarm camp under the pretext of 'military purposes.' Residents were given a 72-hour window, starting Wednesday, to vacate their properties. Simultaneously, a suffocating siege remains in place around Nur Shams refugee camp, now in its 144th day, with military patrols and armored vehicles stationed throughout alleyways and camp entrances. The ongoing aggression has so far led to the martyrdom of 13 Palestinians, including a child and two women. It has also resulted in widespread destruction of infrastructure, homes, shops, and civilian vehicles. Over 5,000 families have been forcibly displaced from the two camps, while more than 600 homes have been entirely demolished. The camps' entrances remain sealed off, turning both areas into nearly lifeless zones under siege. Israeli forces stormed a kindergarten on Martyrs' Street in al-Khalil on Wednesday, detaining more than 70 Palestinian children and assaulting the teaching staff. In Beit Lahm, occupation forces raided al-Khader town, focusing their operations in the Umm Rukba area south of the town, where they broke into and searched a local home. The intensifying military campaign across the occupied West Bank reflects the broader pattern of collective punishment and displacement exercised by the Israeli regime amid its ongoing war on Gaza and crackdown on resistance across Palestine. Israeli occupation forces and settlers launched a wide-ranging escalation across several areas of the northern occupied West Bank on Saturday, carrying out detentions, violent assaults, and road closures, particularly in and around the city of Nablus. In the village of Urif, south of Nablus, Israeli forces detained the parents of martyr Muhannad Shahada, one of the Palestinians involved in the recent 'Eli operation, as well as his brother Ihab Shahada, who was arrested from his workplace inside the territories occupied since 1948. The move is part of the occupation's policy of targeting relatives of Palestinian fighters. Elsewhere, in the village of Tell, southwest of Nablus, Israeli forces arrested a young man named Mahmoud Asida during a dawn raid. Later in the day, the village came under attack by dozens of Israeli settlers, who raided the Kafrour area under the protection of occupation soldiers. Read more: 'Israel' killed 16,800+ students in Gaza, West Bank since Oct. 2023 Palestinian youth confronted the settler assault, triggering fierce confrontations, which saw Israeli soldiers fire live ammunition at local residents, amid a state of high tension and mass mobilization in the village of Tell. Meanwhile, settlers gathered at an entrance to Nablus, demanding what they called 'permanent control' over Joseph's Tomb—a move widely condemned as a deliberate provocation and part of broader efforts to impose new settlement realities in the occupied West Bank. Read more: Israeli forces storm West Bank towns, shut down Christian sites In a further escalation, Israeli forces also stormed the town of Aqaba, north of Tubas, and later raided the city of Tubas, expanding their military operations beyond the Nablus region.
Al Mayadeen
2 days ago
- Business
- Al Mayadeen
WFP reviews BCG ties after Gaza aid role sparks outrage: FT
The World Food Programme (WFP) has initiated a comprehensive review of its partnership with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) following public backlash over the firm's undisclosed role in a controversial aid initiative linked to Gaza. The decision comes after the Financial Times (FT) revealed that BCG contributed to modeling the financial implications of relocating Palestinians from Gaza and supported the establishment of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an "Israel"- and US-backed body tasked with distributing aid in the war-ravaged enclave. GHF has drawn widespread criticism from humanitarian organizations and UN officials, particularly after reports emerged that hundreds of Palestinians were killed while attempting to access its aid distribution hubs. The WFP, which has worked with BCG since 2003, said it did not know of the firm's involvement in GHF until the media disclosures. In a statement to the FT, the agency expressed "shock and grave concerns," condemning BCG's "lack of transparency in not having informed us." "WFP is emphatic that the work of its partners aligns with our core values, mission, and policies," the agency said, adding, "Given these recent revelations, WFP has begun a comprehensive review of its work with BCG." In its response, BCG claimed that two partners involved in the Gaza-related work acted without proper authorization and were terminated in June. The controversy surrounding BCG is part of a larger wave of criticism of GHF, which has been described by the United Nations as a "fig leaf" for "Israel's" ongoing genocide. Numerous humanitarian organizations have refused to cooperate with GHF, citing concerns over its operational model and the safety of civilians attempting to access aid. According to the UN, more than 800 Palestinians have been killed while trying to reach GHF-operated centers, which are heavily guarded by Israeli forces and US private contractors. The UK Parliament's International Development Committee has requested that BCG clarify its activities in Gaza. Meanwhile, Save the Children suspended its partnership with the firm on June 13, shortly after BCG confirmed its involvement with GHF. Further controversy erupted after the FT reported that BCG had contributed to a financial reconstruction plan for Gaza. That plan reportedly included cost estimates for the "voluntary relocation" of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, an aspect that has drawn widespread condemnation as a potential blueprint for forced displacement. While BCG has pledged to forgo the $4 million it had planned to bill for its work with GHF, critics remain skeptical. Observers have pointed to the broader ethical implications of private firms shaping post-war reconstruction agendas in war zones, particularly without full transparency. Launched in May, the GHF reportedly oversees four aid distribution hubs in Gaza, while the enclave remains devastated by nearly two years of Israeli bombardment. The United Nations has warned that the entire population of 2.1 million is at imminent risk of famine, according to the FT.
Al Mayadeen
2 days ago
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
Ukrainian forces struggle to hold eastern frontlines: NYT
Ukrainian troops are struggling to hold the city of Kostyantynivka amid Russian drone attacks, as it becomes the focal point in the latest phase of Russia's summer offensive in eastern Donetsk Republic, The New York Times has reported. The city, now partially encircled, is a critical gateway to Ukraine's last major line of defense in Donetsk. Its fall would expose northern cities to Russian drones and move Moscow closer to capturing the entire region. One injured Ukrainian soldier was left stranded in the forest at night after his unit informed him they couldn't evacuate him, as the road back to their base had turned into a death trap. Details of the May operation, shared by soldier Chaosov, an officer from the 93rd Mechanized Brigade, and confirmed by drone footage obtained by NYT, highlight the dire conditions Ukrainian troops are facing. Russia has now captured over two-thirds of Donetsk, but to seize the rest, it must take the remaining Ukrainian-held urban centers crucial for military logistics. Kostyantynivka stands as the southern gateway to a string of cities forming Ukraine's last major defense belt in the region. Russian forces have established a 16-kilometer-deep (10-mile) pocket around the Ukrainian forces, partially surrounding them from the east, south, and west. According to six Ukrainian soldiers and officers in the area, nearly every movement inside this pocket is tracked and targeted by Russian drones 24/7. Troops often remain trapped for weeks without rotation or medical evacuation. 'It's extremely difficult to deliver supplies, to rotate troops — to do anything, really,' said "Makas," an officer in Ukraine's 12th Azov Brigade. With the looming threat of a full-scale Russian attack on Kostyantynivka, Ukraine braces for what could be a prolonged and bloody battle. Soldiers speculate whether Russia will launch a direct offensive, as it did in Bakhmut in 2023, or encircle the city using a pincer strategy, echoing the tactics employed in the capture of Avdiivka. In either case, Ukrainian troops warn that Russia's enhanced drone warfare capabilities are giving Moscow an edge not seen in previous battles.
Al Mayadeen
2 days ago
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
UNRWA Chief: We cannot be partners in forced displacement in Gaza
The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, stated that 'we cannot remain silent or be partners in large-scale forced displacement in the Gaza Strip.' A second Nakba? Israeli officials state they plan yet another mass displacement of the Palestinian people in #Gaza towards would de-facto create massive concentration camps at the border with Egypt for the Palestinians, displaced over and over across generations.…Lazzarini's remarks come amid increasing international concern over the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, where over 1.9 million Palestinians have been displaced due to more than twenty months of continuous "Israeli" aggression. He emphasized that there is no alternative to a permanent ceasefire, the release of captives, the entry of humanitarian aid, and a commitment to the two-state solution. UNRWA has warned that families in Gaza are in desperate need of assistance, with the population facing extreme food shortages. The agency noted that civilians have come under fire and been run over while trying to access limited food supplies. These incidents highlight the growing danger for Gaza's population as conditions worsen by the day. The agency continues to document violations against civilians attempting to obtain basic humanitarian aid, with the Palestinian Ministry of Health reporting the martyrdom of 773 and the wounding of 5,101 while they were attempting to get aid. The ongoing war has resulted in the displacement of over 1.9 million Palestinians, as well as the widespread destruction of Gaza's infrastructure, including healthcare facilities, schools, and essential services. Humanitarian organizations have consistently sounded the alarm over the Gaza humanitarian crisis, warning that continued military operations risk pushing the region into irreversible collapse. In #Gaza, children queue for water trucks that often never of going to school or playing like children should, they are waiting in the is childhood in 90% of families lack safe drinking water as fuel shortages cripple water 2025, UNRWA faces what it describes as a critical financial crisis. The agency began the year with zero financial reserves and $35 million in liabilities. The situation is further complicated by rising humanitarian needs due to "Israel's" ongoing war on Gaza. UNRWA's budget requirement for 2025 stands at $1.7 billion, but funding remains significantly below this threshold. In early 2024, 16 donor countries, including the US, Germany, and the UK, suspended contributions following Israeli allegations against UNRWA staff, resulting in the loss of $438 million, more than half of the agency's expected funding. Although several donors, such as Germany, the UK, and the EU, have since resumed partial support after internal UN reviews, the funding shortfall continues to threaten core operations, including food, health, and education services. The war has also inflicted heavy losses on UNRWA staff and infrastructure, with over 270 staff members killed and more than 200 facilities damaged or destroyed since October 2023. With continued "Israeli" restrictions on the entry of aid and operational movement, the agency warns of possible service cuts or even collapse if emergency funding is not secured. #CeasefireNow #Gaza remains under immense strain due to Israeli constraints on its operations and ongoing political efforts to undermine its legitimacy. Observers warn that this is part of a broader plan to dismantle the agency and erase the Palestinian refugee cause from the international agenda. Despite these challenges, Lazzarini reaffirmed the agency's unwavering commitment to Palestinian refugees and called on the international community to act urgently to prevent further deterioration in Gaza.
