FinPol Digest

 Israel’s relentless assault on Syria, with more than 400 strikes following Bashar al-Assad’s dramatic flight to Russia, signals an unprecedented shift in regional dynamics. These actions include military incursions into the demilitarized buffer zone and targeted strikes on Syrian infrastructure. Despite UN protests, Israel has continued its campaign, citing self-defense. However, the scale and intensity of these operations demand a closer examination of Israel’s true motives. For decades, Israel has justified its actions in Syria as a means to counter Iranian influence. Yet Iran’s denial of a military presence in Syria has undermined this narrative. Israel now claims to target Syrian military infrastructure to prevent weapons from falling into the hands of groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). This justification reflects a broader pattern of labeling opposition forces as extremists to legitimize military actions. Critics argue that these shifting explanations obscure Israel’s st...

  A Programme of Empty Promises Canada’s Gaza visa programme was introduced with high hopes, offering a lifeline to Palestinian families trapped in the war-torn enclave. However, what began as a beacon of hope quickly turned into a source of frustration and heartbreak. Families like Omar Omar’s, who have been advocating tirelessly for over a year, feel let down by the programme’s inefficiencies. “We have lost so much back in Gaza, and this struggle is tearing apart our lives here,” Omar lamented. With the bombings showing no signs of abating, families are left grappling with an overwhelming sense of betrayal. Navigating an Overcomplicated Process From its launch, the Gaza visa scheme faced criticism for its complex and invasive application requirements. Applicants were asked to provide information far beyond what is typical for visa processes, including detailed work histories and descriptions of scars or injuries. Many families struggled to navigate these additional hurdles, which...

  Israel's military continues its heavy bombardment of southern Beirut, hitting the city's southern suburbs for the second consecutive day. These air strikes have devastated key areas, including the Dahiyeh district, where several buildings were levelled. The ongoing attacks have resulted in significant casualties, including at least eight people killed in the village of Dawhit Aramoun, just south of Beirut. Among the victims were three women and three children, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. The region is bracing for further violence as Israel's air force intensifies its strikes, while the Lebanese government awaits a ceasefire proposal from international powers, particularly Washington. Casualties Mount as Israel and Hezbollah Exchange Fire The deadly exchange between Israeli forces and Hezbollah has escalated since early October, with both sides ramping up their offensive operations. The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reports that, since October...

  Fadi Aldeeb’s participation in the Paris Paralympics is more than just a personal achievement; it is a powerful statement of resilience, advocacy, and the enduring struggle of the Palestinian people. Nine months ago, Aldeeb experienced a devastating loss when his brother was killed in an Israeli attack on their home in Gaza. This tragic event has become a driving force behind his mission at the Paralympics, where he competes not only for himself but for the entire Palestinian community. Aldeeb, who left the Gaza Strip a decade ago to pursue a career in wheelchair basketball, has since made his mark in Turkey, Greece, and now France. However, the pain of his brother's death is ever-present, fueling his determination to be a voice for his people on the international stage. Reflecting on the tragic day, Aldeeb recalled, "On December 6, I had a French league game, and when I was finished, I found my brother had called me many times. … I tried to call back, but there was no conne...

  The assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Iran has sparked a significant geopolitical crisis, with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) holding Israel responsible. The OIC’s condemnation, coupled with Iran’s vow of retaliation, has set the stage for potential further conflict in the Middle East. The Incident and Immediate OIC Response Last week’s assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran has been described by the OIC as a grave violation of international norms. Following an extraordinary session in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the 57-member organization issued a statement declaring Israel “fully responsible for this heinous attack.” The statement also denounced the act as a “serious infringement” of Iran’s sovereignty. Iran’s reaction was swift and stern. Promising “harsh punishment” for Israel, Iranian officials have indicated that retaliation is imminent. This development has heightened the already tense atmosphere in the region, with potential ramification...

  The Israel-Palestine conflict has once again erupted into violence, claiming over 200 lives after a surprise attack by Hamas militants. The recent escalation of tensions in the region has raised concerns about the prospects for peace and stability in the Middle East. The conflict between Israel and Palestine has deep-rooted historical and political complexities, and it often flares up into violence. In this latest episode, the catalyst for the recent hostilities was a surprise attack by Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, on Israeli territory. The attack involved the firing of numerous rockets towards Israeli cities and towns. In response to the rocket attacks, Israel launched a military operation aimed at targeting Hamas infrastructure and leaders. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) carried out airstrikes in Gaza, where Hamas is based, in an attempt to quell the rocket fire. The Israeli government maintains that it is acting in self-defense and aims to protect its citizens from ...

The current violence is mainly taking place in the West Bank and East Jerusalem - areas occupied by Israel since the 1967 Middle East war. Although the starting point is debatable, it started in March 2022 and has continued since then. After a series of deadly Palestinian attacks rocked Israel for days, the Israeli military launched an open-ended operation in the West Bank in response, which resulted in frequent raids into the occupied territories. In what ways has it gotten worse? Over the past year, Israeli military operations and Palestinian attacks have resulted in many injuries and deaths, but what sets this period apart is the scale of loss of life and the number of incidents in which multiple people have been killed. At least 146 Palestinians - militants, civilians, and attackers - were killed by Israeli forces last year, the highest number since UN records began in 2005. As a result of attacks by Palestinians or Israeli Arabs, 29 Israelis, and two foreign nationals were killed...

 Democrats in the US Senate argue that the Abraham Accords and the two-state solution for Palestine-Israel are not in conflict. Their argument is effectively made if we think of two-state diplomacy as being outmoded in its current form. Israel's planned annexation of Palestinian territory was temporarily halted by the Abraham Accords, but colonial and illegal settlement growth persisted.  The Abraham Accords confirm that "two states" will never come into existence, yet the senators continue to speak of the two-state solution as though it were still an option. In that regard, the agreements reveal international inconsistency regarding Palestine. The Abraham Accords validated the claims made for years by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about how insignificant Palestine has become to Arab leaders. Netanyahu and the US senators, who are currently downplaying the effect of the Abraham Accords on the consequences that Palestinians face as a result of Israel's set...

 A Palestinian man - Ahmed Kahla, 46, from Ramon, near Silwad in the occupied West Bank - shot dead by Israeli soldiers on 15 January posed no threat or danger and should not have been killed, the Israeli military admitted on Monday. Kahla was shot in the neck from close range. The Israeli army initially described him as a terrorist who had tried to carry out an attack. They claimed that the man got out of his car with a knife and ran toward soldiers, intending to stab them. However, Israeli media said a leaked preliminary report found Kahla was shot dead unnecessarily. A video showed a struggle with soldiers before the father of four was killed. Kahla's 20-year-old son Qusai, who was with his father at the time, said their car was stopped at the temporary checkpoint and a soldier threw a sound bomb at the car's front windscreen. "My father opened the window and started arguing with the soldier," Qusai recounted, adding when his father asked why they were being attac...

 Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al-Saud announced on Thursday that there would be no normalization of ties with Israel without a Palestinian state, news agencies reported. "We have said consistently that we believe normalization with Israel is something that is very much in the interest of the region," he told Bloomberg TV during an interview held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. But he stressed: "True normalization and true stability will only come through giving the Palestinians hope, through giving the Palestinians dignity." According to Bloomberg, the foreign minister said an agreement to create a Palestinian state would be a precondition to establishing formal diplomatic ties with Israel. Israel normalized ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Morocco in 2020. The deal, known as the Abraham Accords, was signed in a bid to normalize diplomatic relations, establish economic agreements and support social exch...

 Britain's Minister for the Middle East, on Wednesday, reiterated the UK's "continued support" for the Palestinian people and the commitment to a two-state solution, Anadolu News Agency reports. Minister Tariq Ahmad will visit the Occupied Palestinian Territories and have talks with the Palestinian Authority leadership, the Palestinian public, faith leaders, and young people. "My visit comes at a difficult but important time for the Palestinian people, and I want to re-emphasize UK support to the Palestinian people and our unwavering commitment to a negotiated two-state solution as the only means of ending this conflict," Tariq Ahmad said in a statement. He will also announce £3.7 million ($4.47 million) of additional funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to support food assistance to 1.2 million of the most vulnerable Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the statement said. "Visits to various parts of the We...

 Israeli occupation authorities arrested 410 Palestinians, including women, children, journalists, activists, and community leaders, for expressing their opinion on social media, according to a report by the Palestine Centre for Prisoners Studies (PCPS). The report, co-authored by the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Prisoners' Affairs, the Palestinian Prisoners' Society, Addameer Association for Prisoner Care and Human Rights, and the Wadi Hilweh Centre highlighted Israel's use of a new 'Vigilance Unit' to monitor Palestinian social media accounts and issue recommendations to the security authorities to arrest them on the pretext that their opinions and publications call for incitement and violence. PCPS Director, Riyad Al-Ashqar, said the Israeli courts charged the detainees with "incitement" for simply expressing their opinion on social media, including posting a picture of a martyr or merely mentioning his/her name, or issuing an invitation to protect Al...

 The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas issued a statement yesterday criticizing the EU over Resolution no. 2949/2022 (RSP), on the prospects for a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. In a political memorandum, Hamas said the resolution "contained several inaccuracies and contradictions about the Palestinian issue", noting that it "is heavily biased against the Palestinians' inherent and legitimate rights to freedom, return and self-determination." Among the issues raised with the resolution, the movement said it has sided with the Israeli occupation's narrative while ignoring the Palestinian people's legitimate right to resistance and self-defense. "Voting against this right is considered a great sin that Europeans have committed, once again. This vote also reflects the double standards with which the European Union deals with issues of peoples and freedoms around the world." "In recent months, we have seen the European posit...

 More than 600 Palestinian children were kept by Israeli courts under house arrest in 2022, the Commission for Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs said on Tuesday. In a statement, the Commission said that the Israeli occupation authorities resort to house arrest in occupied East Jerusalem as a form of punishment for children under the age of 14 because Israeli law does not permit their imprisonment. Courts usually order the detention of children in their homes for a period during which the cases against them are examined and a ruling is issued. This process may take a few days or up to a year or more. The sentence issued against the child does not, however, take into account the period spent in house detention. During this period, children are forced not to leave their homes;  they must wear a tracking device, and will not be allowed to attend a school or even go to a clinic without being accompanied by a supervisor. Very often, parents are forced to sell their homes or use the...

 Secretary-General of the Middle Easterner Association, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, cautioned Thursday, that the Israeli infringement in the Involved Palestinian Domain is raising in a way that could lead what is happening to detonate just before the worldwide local area's sight, which appears to have deserted its liability to accomplish the vision of a two-state arrangement through talks. Aboul Gheit pushed, during his introductory statements at the Association for the Mediterranean gathering held Thursday, that "the arising worldwide emergencies shouldn't eclipse the issues and emergencies distressing the Bedouin district, on top of which is the Palestinian reason, which can't be overlooked or underestimated, as the Palestinian public experience the ill effects of a system of Occupation that must be portrayed as politically-sanctioned racial segregation." He approached European nations to perceive the Palestinian State on the boundaries of 4 June 1967, with East Jerusa...

 Palestine wasn't forgotten by football fans at the opening of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar yesterday, Al-Resalah has reported. Fans chanted their support for Palestine and called for the protection of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Arab and international football fans chanted together "With souls and blood, we sacrifice for Palestine." They also raised Palestine and Qatar flags together. Even though the Palestine national team didn't qualify for the tournament, Palestinian football supporters and pro-Palestine activists are using the World Cup to spread awareness about the Palestinian cause and expose Israeli crimes. The government of Qatar is one of the biggest supporters of the Palestinians and has provided a large space in the fan zone for the Palestinians and their supporters to raise the issue of the occupation of their land. The Palestine flag was projected onto the sides of Qatari buildings. According to Al-Resalah reporter Alaa Shamali, the sizable Palestinian pre...

A senior Palestinian police officer has accused the Israeli occupation authorities of intentionally facilitating the entry of drugs in the besieged Gaza Strip, Al-Resalah has reported. According to Colonel Anwar Zo'rob on Wednesday, the drugs not only destroy addicts but also the social fabric of the Palestinians in the enclave. Zo'rob pointed out that the Israeli authorities prevent the Palestinians from having access to the technology which helps in the fight against drug smuggling. At the moment, he explained, the Palestinian police use specially-trained dogs to sniff out drugs being brought into Gaza. Last month, the police seized 580 bags of hashish and thousands of pills. Most of the criminals who have also started to grow cannabis plants in Gaza, said Zo'rob, have been caught and punished. Drug dealers in occupied Palestine face lengthy prison terms when caught and put on trial.

 US President Joe Biden and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on Friday discussed the situation in Palestine and stressed the importance of maintaining calm between Palestinians and the Israeli occupation. Bassam Rady, Al-Sisi's spokesperson, said that Biden and Al-Sisi discussed several issues during their meeting, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The US president valued Egypt's "tireless and significant efforts" in this context, including pacifying the situation between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Egypt Today reported. Al-Sisi affirmed Egypt's unwavering position on reaching a just and comprehensive solution that ensures the rights of the Palestinian people based on international resolutions. Meanwhile, Al-Sisi discussed strengthening coordination and consultation with the US on various political, security, and regional issues, as well as continuing to promote and strengthen partnerships across various fields of cooperation within the fr...

The Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad's Jerusalem Committee yesterday condemned the distorted Israeli curriculum imposed on Palestinian students in occupied Jerusalem, Quds Press reported. This came following the distribution of books that include false information about Palestine and Israel at Al Eman Schools. In a written statement, the committee said that the distribution of these books means the school "is taking part in the process of Israelis Palestinian education and is contravening on the culture of the Palestinian students who are having their civilization wiped out." "This measure is considered a stab in the back of the Palestinians who fought for Jerusalem, the Palestinian resistance and resilience." The parents of students at the school had previously agreed with the administration of Al Eman Schools that Israeli books would not be accepted, but the schools retreated from the deal following pressure from Israeli occupation authorities. In J...

 The number of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike inside Israeli jails rose to 50 after 20 prisoners joined the open-ended hunger strike yesterday, the Palestinian Prisoners' Club (PPC) said. According to the PPC, 30 prisoners have been on hunger for 16 days in protest of their unfair detention without charge or trial. The PPC said 28 of the 30 hunger strikers had been placed in solitary confinement in the Israeli prison of Ofer since they started the hunger strike. Last month, administrative detainees in Israeli prisons sent a message in which they stressed that fighting back against Israel's use of administrative detention will continue. They stated that the Israel Prison Services' actions "are no longer governed by the security obsession as an actual driver of the occupation, but rather are acts of revenge due to their past." Israel has escalated its administrative detention policy against Palestinians as the number of administrative detainees currently e...