Palestinians fight for their lives and their stolen lands

[Anthea]

Hamas marks 38 years of resistance

On its 38th anniversary, Hamas hails the Al-Aqsa Flood as a milestone in the struggle for Palestinian freedom amid the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza

The Islamic Resistance group, Hamas, has priorities that include ending the war, completing the delivery of aid, implementing the ceasefire, and upholding the right to Resistance for liberation, Khalil al-Hayya, head of the Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, stated.

In a speech commemorating the 38th anniversary of the founding of Hamas, al-Hayya highlighted that Hamas’ focus in the coming period is to address the challenges and risks the Palestinian cause is facing. He emphasized the importance of continuing efforts to halt hostilities, particularly by completing the delivery of humanitarian aid and reopening the Rafah crossing.

He also stressed the need to implement the ceasefire agreement, calling on the US administration, and specifically President Donald Trump, to pressure the occupation into compliance.

Al-Hayya invoked the memory of those martyred during Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, foremost among them the martyred leader of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and the martyred commander Saeed Izadi, "Hajj Ramadan", the commander of the Palestine Corps of the IRGC’s Quds Force.

Al-Hayya noted that the anniversary comes amid a different reality for the Palestinian cause, as the Palestinian people endure difficult days and severe suffering due to Israeli aggression and a campaign of collective extermination.

He praised the freedom-fighting leader Raed Saad, “Abu Muadh,” "who dedicated his life to his religion and homeland, fought in the path of God, and lived pursued by the occupation." Al-Hayya also emphasized the suffering of Palestinians in the West Bank, who face a systematic campaign of terror, and those in the territories occupied in 1948, who endure occupation and racism under ongoing oppression and land grabs.

He also confirmed that Palestinians in exile and the diaspora continue to face hardships and deprivation, along with attempts to erase their identity.

Despite these challenges, the Resistance leader maintained, the longstanding Israeli narrative has collapsed, new convictions have emerged among rising Palestinian elites, and the Palestinian people and Resistance have achieved a series of strategic victories, such as breaking the myth of strategic deterrence, exposing Israeli claims, taking its leaders and soldiers to international courts, and revealing its grim image to the world.
Resistance, weapons are a legally recognized right

Al-Hayya noted that the Resistance has succeeded in restoring the natural status of the Palestinian cause, which had declined over the past decades, and in raising the project of resistance as a hope for Arab and Islamic peoples on the path to liberation and return.

He confirmed that the Resistance and its weapons are a legitimate right guaranteed under international law, pointing out that the movement is open to considering any proposals that preserve this right while ensuring the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

In his closing remarks, al-Hayya stressed the importance of strengthening national unity, restoring the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s standing, and pursuing legal accountability against the occupation and politically isolating it. He called for action at the regional and international levels to expand support for the Palestinian cause.

He also expressed gratitude to all who have supported the Palestinian people and stood with their cause, especially mediators in Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye, affirming that Hamas “will remain loyal to its goals of liberating Palestine.”

Hamas affirms its adherence to ceasefire, while Israel violates it

Meanwhile, the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, on the 38th anniversary of its founding, described the Al-Aqsa Flood as a “prominent milestone in the Palestinian people’s journey toward freedom and independence, leaving the occupation unable to achieve its goals despite its war machinery.”

Hamas commemorated its anniversary amid the ongoing aggression on the Gaza Strip, which has affected more than two million Palestinians, and continues alongside Israeli crimes in the occupied West Bank and occupied al-Quds.

The movement emphasized that it has adhered to all the terms of the ceasefire agreement, while the occupation continues to violate it daily, highlighting "Israel's" failure to respect ceasefire agreements. Hamas called on mediators and the US administration to pressure the occupation into implementing the agreement and to condemn its ongoing systematic breaches.

It also stressed its categorical rejection of any form of trusteeship or mandate over the Gaza Strip or any part of the occupied Palestinian territories, warning against acquiescing to attempts at displacement or the restructuring of the sector according to enemy plans.

The movement affirmed that the Palestinian people decide their own leadership, are capable of managing their affairs independently, and have the legitimate right to defend themselves, liberate their land, and establish their fully sovereign state with al-Quds as its capital.

Hamas calls on Arab, Islamic nations to pressure Israel

Hamas called on the Arab and Islamic nations, including leaders, governments, peoples, and organizations, to take urgent action and exert all possible efforts to pressure the occupation to end its aggression, reopen crossings, deliver aid, and immediately implement relief, shelter, and reconstruction plans to provide natural living needs for more than two million Palestinians.

The movement pointed out that Israeli crimes during the two years of extermination and starvation in Gaza, the West Bank, and al-Quds are systematic and documented, and they do not lapse with time. Hamas urged the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court to continue pursuing and prosecuting the occupation and its criminal leaders, so as to prevent them from evading accountability.

Hamas affirmed that it will remain steadfast in its principles, loyal to the blood and sacrifices of its people and prisoners, maintaining its values and identity, and defending the aspirations of the Palestinian people across all areas of the homeland and in refugee camps and the diaspora, until liberation and return are achieved.

The rights of Palestinian detainees

Regarding Israeli plans targeting al-Quds and the al-Aqsa Mosque, Hamas described them as “illegitimate", asserting that they “will not succeed in imposing Judaization, settlement expansion, or erasing the city and mosque’s features, as al-Quds will remain the eternal capital of Palestine, and the al-Aqsa Mosque will remain purely Islamic.”

Hamas also highlighted the rights of Palestinian detainees, stating that the occupation government’s crimes against them constitute a "sadistic and systematic policy of revenge, turning prisons into direct killing fields." The movement stressed that the liberation of Palestinian detainees remains a top national priority and expressed concern over the international silence on their just cause, calling on the international community and human rights organizations to pressure the occupation to stop its crimes against them.

Regarding Palestinian national unity, Hamas called for a reorganization of the Palestinian house under a unified strategy of resistance, as it is the only way to confront occupation schemes and their supporters.

Israel poses a threat to regional stability

Hamas noted that the ongoing war of extermination, starvation, and sovereignty violations by the Israeli occupation in Palestine and some Arab countries demonstrates that the Israeli entity has become a "rogue state", posing a real threat to the security and stability of the region and international peace, necessitating international action to curb its actions, stop its terrorism, isolate it, and end its occupation.

The movement praised the efforts and sacrifices of all Resistance forces and free peoples worldwide who supported the Palestinian people and Resistance. Hamas called for unifying the nation’s efforts and resources in all fields toward liberating Palestine and ending the occupation

Hamas also welcomed the global grassroots solidarity movement with Palestine and appreciated all official and popular positions supporting the Palestinian cause, calling for the escalation of popular and solidarity campaigns against the occupation until achieving legitimate rights to freedom and independence.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... of-resista

[Anthea]

Israeli strikes pound Gaza
children battle worsening illnesses

Gaza’s health system nears collapse as winter sets in and hospitals overflow with sick children, while relentless Israeli attacks leave more devastation across the Strip

Israeli warplanes launched a new wave of airstrikes on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday, accompanied by heavy gunfire from military vehicles positioned north of the city.

Simultaneously, Israeli artillery shelled areas east of the al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. According to local sources cited by the Palestinian news agency WAFA, Israeli military vehicles also opened intense fire toward the telecommunications building near the Abu Hamid roundabout in central Khan Younis.

Meanwhile, civil defense teams in Gaza City retrieved 14 bodies from beneath the rubble of the Salem family home, which was destroyed during earlier Israeli attacks on the city.

Toll on the rise

Medical sources announced today that the death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 70,665, the majority of whom are children and women, since the start of the Israeli genocide on October 7, 2023.

The same sources explained that the number of injuries has risen to 171,145 since the start of the offensive, while a number of victims remain trapped under the rubble, inaccessible to ambulance and rescue teams.

In 24 hours, two were killed and six others were wounded and transferred to Gaza Strip hospitals.

The total number of fatalities and wounded since the ceasefire agreement on October 11, 2023, has reached 393 martyrs and 1,068 wounded, with 632 bodies recovered.

Infectious diseases sound alarm

As the humanitarian crisis deepens, health officials are raising alarm over a rapid rise in infectious diseases, particularly among children.

Khalil al-Daqran, spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Health, stated that Gaza's healthcare system is under immense strain, facing its most critical situation since the ceasefire was announced. In an interview for Sanad News Agency, al-Daqran warned of a widespread outbreak of respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses among children, noting that hospitals are receiving patients at four times their bed capacity.

The crisis is expected to worsen as Gaza enters the winter season, with falling temperatures, heavy rainfall, and strong winds threatening the health and safety of forcibly displaced families.

A spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) emphasized the urgent need for immediate humanitarian intervention in Gaza. The official highlighted that ongoing rainfall is exacerbating already dire conditions, further compounding the suffering of forcibly displaced Palestinians living in overcrowded and unsanitary shelters.

In this context, Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza reported that rain has flooded a large number of tents sheltering displaced people in several areas across the Strip. Moreover, a house wall collapsed due to rain onto a tent, causing injuries, our correspondent added.

Genocide continues

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported on Sunday that more than 1,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip died while waiting for medical evacuation permits from Israeli authorities between July 2024 and late November 2025.

Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative in the occupied Palestinian territory, told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York that Gaza’s health authorities recorded 1,092 deaths during this period. He noted that the figure is likely underreported, as it reflects only documented cases.

Peeperkorn urged more countries to accept patients from Gaza and called for medical evacuation operations to resume to the West Bank, including the eastern part of al-Quds.

He highlighted the severe strain on Gaza’s healthcare system, noting that 18 out of 36 hospitals and 43 percent of primary health care centers were partially operational. There was a critical shortage of essential medicines and medical supplies, particularly for heart disease treatment and other urgent care needs.

Despite some improvements in approvals for supplies entering Gaza, Peeperkorn described the process as “slow and unnecessarily complicated.” WHO continues to face obstacles in bringing laboratory reagents and critical lab equipment into the territory, with many items blocked for being classified as dual-use.

He called on Israeli authorities to provide “blanket approval” for medical supplies to enter Gaza to address urgent needs.

Peeperkorn warned that Storm Byron had exacerbated the suffering of already displaced families in Gaza. He also noted that winter conditions, combined with inadequate water and sanitation, are expected to trigger a rise in acute respiratory infections, hepatitis, and diarrheal diseases. Children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses remain particularly at risk.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... ening-illn

[Anthea]

9,300 Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons

Rights groups say about 9,300 Palestinian detainees are held in Israeli prisons, with rising administrative detentions and hundreds of children in custody

Palestinian detainee advocacy groups have released updated statistics showing the scale of detentions in Israeli prisons, highlighting sharp increases in administrative detention and the detention of minors.

The figures are based on records from prisoner institutions and data published by the Israeli Prison Service as of December 2025.

The groups emphasized that the statistics do not include Palestinians held in military detention camps operated by the Israeli army, where access to detainees and records is significantly more restricted.

9,300 detainees held in Israeli prisons

The total number of Palestinian detainees currently held in Israeli prisons stands at approximately 9,300. The vast majority are being held without trial, either awaiting legal proceedings or under administrative detention orders.

Only 1,254 of the detainees are serving sentences issued by Israeli courts following convictions.

According to the data, at least 3,350 detainees are being held under administrative detention, a practice that allows Israel to detain individuals for indefinite, renewable periods without formally charging them. Authorities cite undisclosed “security” reasons to justify the detentions.

Advocacy groups say the policy strips detainees of basic legal protections and violates international norms of due process.

Children and women among the detained population

The rights groups report that 51 Palestinian women are currently held in Israeli prisons, including two girls.

The number of detained Palestinian children has reached 350, with most minors held in Ofer and Megiddo prisons.

Child detainees are frequently subjected to military court proceedings and held under conditions that rights organizations say fall below international legal standards for the treatment of minors.

Military classification, detainees held outside prison system

In addition to administrative detention, "Israel" classifies at least 1,220 Palestinian detainees as “unlawful combatants". This designation allows extended detention without trial or access to regular legal proceedings. The classification also applies to some Arab detainees from Lebanon and Syria, in a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.

Advocacy groups note that this number does not include Palestinians from Gaza held in military detention camps, where no public figures have been released.

Calls for monitoring and legal accountability

Palestinian detainee institutions say the updated figures reflect the growing scope of Israeli detention policies and their impact on Palestinian society.

The groups are calling for ongoing international monitoring of the conditions of detention and increased scrutiny of the legal frameworks being used.

They also stress the need to ensure that detainees, especially women and children, are protected under international humanitarian and human rights law.

Administrative detention by Israel has long been criticized by international human rights organizations, who stated that the practice constitutes a violation of the right to a fair trial.

Israeli military courts maintain authority over most Palestinian detainees, including minors, and have a conviction rate exceeding 95%. The number of detentions skyrocketed following the start of the Israeli onslaught on Gaza and heightened tensions in the West Bank, with mass arrests targeting individuals without formal charges.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... jority-wit

[Anthea]

Gaza death toll mounts
daily amid winter disaster

Gaza’s Health Ministry reports a rising death toll and a worsening health crisis as hospitals face extreme pressure due to continued Israeli aggression and widespread disease outbreaks among children

One Palestinian was killed, and another was injured in the continued Israeli aggression on Gaza, which comes in a glaring violation of the ceasefire agreement, the Ministry of Health in Gaza stated, as per hospital records.

Many martyrs remain trapped beneath the rubble or stranded in the streets, as rescue crews remain unable to access their locations due to damaged roads and ongoing aggression

According to the Health Ministry, Israel has committed 394 ceasefire violations since October 11, 2025, resulting in 1,075 injuries and the recovery of 634 bodies, bringing the total number of casualties from the aggression launched by Israel on October 7, 2023, to 70,668 martyrs and 171,152 injuries.

Weather conditions add to tragedy

Meanwhile, extreme weather conditions and the absence of sturdy infrastructure have caused the collapse of a home over its owner, Mahdi Mohammed al-Helou, leading to his martyrdom. The tragic winter has left 12 people dead, 11 of whom were martyred after surrounding structures collapsed, and one of whom died freezing.

Health Ministry spokesperson Khalil Al-Daqran warned that the health sector in Gaza is facing unprecedented strain since the declaration of the ceasefire. Speaking to Sanad News Agency, Al-Daqran said a massive influx of patients, particularly children, is overwhelming the already-strained hospitals.

He noted a sharp rise in infectious diseases, especially respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses among children. The number of patients seeking medical care now exceeds hospital capacity by four times, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

Civil defense overwhelmed

Gaza Civil Defense warned that severe winter weather has sharply worsened the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, triggering building collapses, mass flooding, and further civilian deaths.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Gaza's Civil Defense said at least 17 residential buildings have collapsed completely since the onset of recent weather systems, while more than 90 others suffered dangerous partial collapses, posing an immediate threat to thousands of residents.

The organization added that nearly 90% of shelter centers across Gaza have been fully flooded, while all displacement tents have been damaged or inundated, leaving thousands of families without temporary shelter.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... oyed-healt

[Anthea]

Cold weather claims more lives

Cold weather is claiming more lives across Gaza as ongoing Israeli attacks, flooded shelters, and a collapsing health system deepen an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced on Thursday that one person was killed and 13 others were wounded in the past 24 hours as Israeli attacks and the worsening humanitarian situation continue to devastate the Strip. The ministry warned that many victims remain trapped beneath rubble and in areas unreachable by ambulance and civil defense teams due to ongoing bombardment, destroyed roads, and severe winter conditions.

According to the ministry, 395 people have been killed and 1,088 injured since the declared ceasefire on 11 October 2025, with 634 bodies recovered during that period. Despite the temporary halt in wide-scale airstrikes, Israeli drone fire, targeted raids, and the collapse of structurally compromised buildings continue to produce casualties on an almost daily basis.

The overall death toll from the Israeli assault, which began on October 7, 2023, has now climbed to 70,669 martyrs with 171,165 people injured. Health officials stress that these figures remain incomplete, as rescue crews are unable to access dozens of destroyed neighborhoods in northern and central Gaza, where entire families are believed to still be buried under rubble.

The ministry also reported the death of one-month-old Saeed Usaid Abdeen, who succumbed to severe cold amid Gaza’s collapsing living conditions. His death raises the number of people who have died from cold and the ongoing weather depression to 13, underscoring what health authorities describe as an entirely preventable humanitarian tragedy.

Civil Defense teams have also reported widespread flooding, the collapse of 17 residential buildings, and dangerous partial collapses in more than 90 others, as winter storms strike a displaced population largely living in torn tents and unheated classrooms.

Gaza's freezing emergency

Doctors warn that children, the elderly, and the chronically ill face the highest risk, especially as hospitals operate at four times their capacity and struggle to treat a surge of hypothermia cases, respiratory infections, and waterborne illnesses. Aid groups say that winterization supplies remain critically insufficient, with only a fraction of the promised shelter materials entering Gaza due to ongoing Israeli restrictions.

The crisis is compounded by continued ceasefire violations: since the truce began, the Israeli occupation has carried out more than 760 attacks, incursions, and shootings, killing hundreds of civilians and obstructing humanitarian operations. That said, aid entry remains far below agreed levels, with daily truck arrivals reaching only 39% of what was pledged.

Authorities urged the international community to intervene to ensure safe humanitarian access, enable reconstruction, and prevent additional deaths as winter intensifies, reiterating that updated interactive casualty data is available through the ministry’s official platform.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... -siege-and

[Anthea]

Jordan detains Al Mayadeen's
Mohammad Faraj, no explanation

Jordanian authorities have had Al Mayadeen's journalist and member of the Arab National Congress, Mohammad Faraj, detained as he was returning with his wife, fellow journalist Rana Abi Jumaa, to Jordan for a holiday last week

Faraj, a Jordanian national, was stopped at Amman Airport last Friday. Al Mayadeen learned that he was interrogated in isolation. No charges or legal context were given for his detainment by authorities thus far.

Moreover, the Jordanian authorities have not yet provided any information about his current whereabouts or the charges based on which he was detained, nor have they offered any explanation to his wife or family regarding his situation or the conditions of his detention.

Faraj was visiting his family in Jordan with his wife. Upon his arrival at Queen Alia Airport in Amman, he was stopped, and his luggage was thoroughly searched before he was taken to an unknown destination. His family was told that he would be released shortly, yet it has received no information whatsoever so far.

Al Mayadeen stresses that any assurances provided so far remain informal, with no supporting documentation or direct access granted to his family, despite repeated requests.

Calls for immediate clarification, call for action

Al Mayadeen Media Network calls on all relevant and responsible Jordanian authorities to immediately reveal the whereabouts and condition of Faraj and allow his wife and family to visit and check on him. It also calls for his immediate release. and move toward his prompt release.

Al Mayadeen also calls on Jordan’s media professionals and intellectuals to show solidarity with their colleague Mohammad Faraj and to urge authorities to release him immediately. It also appeals to the wider Arab journalism community to publicly support the detained Jordanian journalist.

Faraj is a journalist, presenter, political commentator, and documentary producer, and he is also a member of the Arab National Conference.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... s-no-expla

[Anthea]

Gaza health crisis deepens amid virus surge

The director general of Gaza’s Ministry of Health has warned of a sharp rise in the spread of viral illnesses across the Strip, as severe shortages of medicines continue to endanger the population and push the healthcare system closer to collapse

Munir al-Barsh said the situation has been exacerbated by an intense cold wave, which has deepened living, health, and medical hardships, particularly in shelters and heavily damaged areas. He noted that the conditions have had “direct repercussions on patients, the elderly, and children.”

Speaking to Al Mayadeen, al-Barsh said that approximately 19,000 patients and wounded individuals are awaiting treatment outside the Gaza Strip, but the Israeli occupation continues to refuse permission for them to travel. He warned that the restrictions threaten patients’ lives and further strain an already exhausted healthcare system.

Al-Barsh also stressed that the Ministry of Health lacks essential surgical supplies, alongside a severe shortage of medications for chronic diseases. He said medical teams are facing unprecedented challenges in responding to the rapidly growing needs under these conditions.

The World Health Organization has similarly warned that around 16,500 patients, including 4,000 children, are still awaiting medical evacuation from Gaza. The organization cautioned that any further delays could prove fatal, particularly amid the collapse of the health system, adding that recovery for critical cases could take years without an expansion of evacuation efforts.

Children battle worsening illnesses

Israeli warplanes launched a new wave of airstrikes on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday, accompanied by heavy gunfire from military vehicles positioned north of the city.

Simultaneously, Israeli artillery shelled areas east of the al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. According to local sources cited by the Palestinian news agency WAFA, Israeli military vehicles also opened intense fire toward the telecommunications building near the Abu Hamid roundabout in central Khan Younis.

Meanwhile, civil defense teams in Gaza City retrieved 14 bodies from beneath the rubble of the Salem family home, which was destroyed during earlier Israeli attacks on the city.

1,000+ Gaza residents died awaiting evacuation

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported on Sunday that more than 1,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip died while waiting for medical evacuation permits from Israeli authorities between July 2024 and late November 2025.

Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative in the occupied Palestinian territory, told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York that Gaza’s health authorities recorded 1,092 deaths during this period. He noted that the figure is likely underreported, as it reflects only documented cases.

Peeperkorn urged more countries to accept patients from Gaza and called for medical evacuation operations to resume to the West Bank, including the eastern part of al-Quds.

He highlighted the severe strain on Gaza’s healthcare system, noting that 18 out of 36 hospitals and 43 percent of primary health care centers were partially operational. There was a critical shortage of essential medicines and medical supplies, particularly for heart disease treatment and other urgent care needs.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... ine-shorta

[Anthea]

Israeli strike on school sheltering
displaced in Gaza kills five

Seven Palestinians were killed after an Israeli airstrike hit a school sheltering displaced people in Gaza City during a wedding gathering

Spokesman for the agency, Mahmud Bassal, told AFP that "five martyrs have been recovered as a result of the Israeli shelling of the shelter at the Gaza Martyrs School," in the Tuffah neighbourhood east of Gaza City.

The attack occurred while displaced families were gathered at the school during a wedding celebration for two residents, turning the event into what witnesses described as a scene of bloodshed.

In a separate crime a day earlier, east of Khan Younis, Israeli occupation forces attacked a woman as she was inspecting her home. Four young men attempted to rescue her but were also killed in the attack, local sources said.

The bodies of the five martyrs reportedly remain lying in the streets, as rescue efforts continue to face severe constraints amid ongoing bombardment and restrictions.

Gaza is facing a worsening humanitarian crisis as heavy winter storms compound the devastation caused by ongoing Israeli attacks and a prolonged blockade, leaving displaced families exposed, homes collapsing, and emergency services overwhelmed.

Winter storms flood tents, collapse homes

Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Gaza reported that thousands of displacement tents were flooded overnight as a harsh winter storm swept across the Strip. The tents, which lack insulation or protective infrastructure, offered little shelter from heavy rain and strong winds.

The correspondent added that more than 50 homes have collapsed in recent days, particularly buildings already cracked and weakened by Israeli bombardment. Torrential rainfall and strong gusts caused damaged structures to disintegrate, in some cases collapsing onto their residents.

The Gaza Civil Defense said its crews were responding to the collapse of a residential home on al-Shifa Street in Gaza City, amid fears of further collapses as storms continue.

Describing the situation, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent said Gaza's residents are now facing "a new war called winter," as the Strip lacks emergency shelter, relief supplies, and basic protective materials.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... gaza-kills

[Anthea]

Settler gangs herd livestock to
force Palestinians off their land

The Guardian sheds light in a new report on a daily confrontation in the Jordan Valley, where gangs of teenage Israeli settlers attack from a nearby hilltop outpost at dawn, driving goats into the Palestinian village of Ras Ein al-Auja in what residents describe as a calculated campaign of harassment aimed at forcing them off their land

As the animals approach, Palestinians, men, women, and children, withdraw into their tents and makeshift shelters. Any attempt by Palestinians to resist risks drawing in Israeli occupation forces, property seizure, or detention without trial under Israel’s system of administrative detention.

Instead, a small group of volunteers steps forward. Each day, they position themselves between the settlers and the village, attempting to block what the settlers openly describe as an effort to overrun the community with livestock and force residents to leave.

On one recent Saturday, volunteers formed a human barrier around Palestinian homes, waving away goats as they encroached.

“The settlers are trying to provoke the local people into protecting themselves,” Amir Pansky, a retired Israeli army major who now volunteers in the village, told The Guardian.

“But if they do, the army and police will storm the community and arrest everyone. We are a protective presence because we are putting our bodies between the Jewish settlers and the Palestinians,” Pansky added.

The encounters often escalate into a tense confrontation. For every move made by the volunteers, the settlers' goatherds respond with counter-maneuvers, stepping within inches of the defenders’ faces. Shouting matches erupt as volunteers attempt to hold their ground.

The settler gangs film the confrontations on their phones, narrating events as they unfold, while volunteers wear body cameras to guard against false accusations of assault.

The dynamic resembles a strategic contest, until it suddenly shifts. At one point, settlers released a herd of about 50 camels from an outpost uphill, driving them toward another side of the village. The unexpected move forced the volunteers to split up, scrambling to block the new advance.

Despite moments that verge on the surreal, the situation is dangerous. The settler gangs carry sticks and clubs and have used them to attack volunteers in the past. Older settlers remain nearby, some armed.

Not an isolated incident

On Dec. 3, attackers on all-terrain vehicles raided the compound housing international volunteers in Ras Ein al-Auja, spraying several of them with pepper spray.

During the camel incident, a man in a light brown uniform with an assault rifle arrived in a white pickup truck and walked alongside the settler youths in a visible show of support.

Israeli activists identified him as Gabriel Kalish, the security coordinator for the nearby settlement of Me’vo’ot Yericho, about nine kilometers down the Jordan Valley. Kalish declined to speak with The Guardian, saying only, “This land belongs to the Jews.”

As a settlement security coordinator, Kalish’s salary and weapons are funded by "Israel". Activists say his repeated presence during settler incursions underscores the link between settler gangs on the ground and Israeli occupation forces pushing for the usurpation of more Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank.

Some settlers openly acknowledge that objective. Lev Taor, a young settler seen herding goats through the village days earlier, was blunt. “I came with my flock to protect the land,” he said. “The goal is to expel these people.”
Fear keeps Palestinian families on alert as settler attacks loom each night

Life in Ras Ein al-Auja has steadily narrowed. Villagers can no longer graze animals on the western slopes of the Jordan Valley as previous generations once did. Since the start of the genocide in Gaza and the sharp escalation of land usurpation across the West Bank, roughly 700 Palestinians have been largely confined to the village itself.

Their community now consists of huts, tents, and animal shelters lining a seasonal creek flowing from a spring toward the Jordan River. Many families have sold livestock and rely on purchased feed, but they have so far refused to abandon the area entirely.

“It was very quiet here before,” said Naef Ja’alin, a village resident. “You could graze your flock in every direction without problems. The settlers started harassing us years ago, but since Oct. 7, they’ve come closer and closer. Now nobody takes their herd outside the village.”

Sleeps with his shoes on, ready to run if family is attacked at night

Settler outposts now surround the village on two sides, and Palestinians have been barred from accessing the local spring, once among the most important water sources in the Jordan Valley.

Ja’alin credits the volunteers for helping the Palestinian community.

The volunteers themselves come from varied backgrounds. They are trying to compensate for what they view as the failure, or complicity, of their governments in the abuse of Palestinian civilians.

Israeli volunteers belong to a group called Looking the Occupation in the Eye. Many are former military officers.

“What matters to me is what I’ll tell my grandsons about what I was doing during this disaster created by the Israeli government,” said Doron Meinrath, a senior volunteer. “I want to be able to look in the mirror and say I did everything I could.”

Meinrath, like Pansky, said the Israeli army has shifted to what he views as an enabler of ethnic cleansing in the West Bank.

“For children here, this is the first time they’ve seen a Jewish person who isn’t attacking them,” he said. “It’s important to show that not all Jewish people are the same.”

Unarmed Civilian Protection in Palestine

International volunteers arrive through groups such as Unarmed Civilian Protection in Palestine, which seeks to shield Palestinians through non-violent presence.

Josie, a volunteer from north Wales who asked not to use her full name, said she could not remain comfortable at home while witnessing such injustice.

“Families are being driven from their homes, and there’s no one to call,” she said. “If they call the police, they end up in jail. It’s devastating that the world stands up for Ukraine but fails Palestinians in the same way.”

She described the recent pepper-spray attack as a sign that the volunteers are disrupting settler plans. “It shows we are interfering,” she said. “We’re making it harder for them to take what they want.”

Rising attacks target volunteers as their protection efforts grow

Attacks on international volunteers have increased as their presence becomes more effective. In late November, three Italians and a Canadian were assaulted and robbed near Areeha. On Dec. 7, masked settlers armed with clubs attacked a Palestinian family home near al-Mughayyir, injuring a 13-year-old boy, his grandmother, and international volunteers from several countries.

One of them, British volunteer Phoebe Smith, sustained serious bruising and a deep arm wound but said she intended to return.

“I want to support the family and show them we can’t be pushed away,” she said. “Their life and livelihood are tied to staying on that land.”

Smith, a former charity worker in the UK, said coming to Palestine was her way of moving beyond passive solidarity. “It felt like one small way of not just watching from the sidelines,” she stressed.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... -out-of-th

[Anthea]

Winter storms ravage shelters

Winter storms are worsening conditions for displaced families in Gaza, with tents flooding, shelters collapsing, and nearly 55,000 families affected, according to the UN

Winter weather conditions are intensifying the humanitarian crisis facing displaced Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where tens of thousands of families are living in makeshift tents after their homes were destroyed following more than two years of war.

In interviews with RIA Novosti, displaced Palestinians described how winter storms have sharply worsened living conditions in Gaza, where thousands of families remain confined to fragile tents with little protection from rain or cold.

A displaced Palestinian woman identified as "Umm Salim," who is caring for 17 orphaned grandchildren in a worn-out tent, told RIA Novosti that more than 20 people are sharing a single shelter. She said the tent does not protect them from rain, leaving blankets and clothing soaked, while children, none older than 14, struggle to cope with the cold.

She added that securing food for such a large family has become increasingly difficult. When supplies run out, she explained, she sometimes places a pot of water on the fire to give children the impression that a meal is being prepared until they fall asleep.

Families struggle to secure what little shelter remains

RIA Novosti reported that rainwater has flooded the few belongings displaced families still possess, destroying what remains of their personal property. Many families have been forced to physically hold onto their tents as strong winds threaten to tear them away.

Inside one displacement tent in Gaza, a displaced woman called Nadia Mahmoud said families have reached their breaking point after years of war, with winter conditions compounding their hardship.

She explained that she spent hours attempting to drain water from inside the tent and used iron rods salvaged from rubble to reinforce the structure, placing her remaining belongings in one corner to prevent them from being carried away by the wind.

Another displaced resident, Ramzi Jamil, said floodwaters destroyed his family's blankets and possessions. He told the agency that his needs have been reduced to basic warmth and shelter, explaining that he lacks access to tarps and blankets necessary to protect his children from the cold.

Nearly 55,000 families affected

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has confirmed that nearly 55,000 families across Gaza have been affected by recent rainfall, with shelters and belongings damaged or destroyed by winter storms.

Medical organizations have warned that deteriorating living conditions are increasing the risk of disease outbreaks among displaced populations. Health groups have specifically cautioned against the spread of cholera and polio amid ongoing restrictions on the entry of medicines and medical supplies into the Gaza Strip.

Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) said its teams have recorded elevated rates of respiratory infections in Gaza and warned that cases are expected to rise further throughout the winter season

According to estimates by Gaza's Government Media Office, approximately 1.5 million Palestinians are currently living in severe humanitarian conditions due to the collapse of essential services, shortages of basic supplies, and ongoing restrictions on aid access linked to the Israeli blockade.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... -of-famili