Anadolu Agency – November 24, 2023
Israel-Hamas war live: Gaza truce begins after seven weeks of war
The four-day humanitarian pause between the Israeli army and Hamas came into effect on Friday morning in all areas of the Gaza Strip, temporarily stopping attacks for prisoner exchange and aid.
The pause commenced at 7 a.m. local time (0500GMT).
Israel estimates that at least 239 Israelis are being held by Hamas following the cross-border attack by the Palestinian group on Oct. 7.
Israel launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip following a cross border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.
The Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has soared to 14,854, the government media office in the blockaded enclave said Thursday. The victims include 6,150 children and over 4,000 women, while more than 36,000 people have been injured, it said.
The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/4-day-humanitarian-pause-takes-effect-in-gaza/3063223
Anadolu Agency – November 23, 2023
Gaza death toll from Israeli attacks tops 14,800
Victims include 6,150 children, 4,000 women, government media office says
By Muhammed Sabry |
GAZA CITY, Palestine
The Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has soared to 14,854, the government media office in the blockaded enclave said Thursday.
“The victims include 6,150 children and over 4,000 women, while more than 36,000 people have been injured.”
Around 7,000 people remain unaccounted for, including more than 4,700 children, the media office said.
The Israeli attacks have also left 88 mosques destroyed, 174 others partially damaged, while three churches were targeted.
Israel launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip following a cross border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.
The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/gaza-death-toll-from-israeli-attacks-tops-14-800/3063063
Anadolu Agency – November 23, 2023
US Senate candidate offered $20M to run against Palestinian American Rep. Rashida Tlaib
By Servet Gunerigok
WASHINGTON
Democratic candidate Hill Harper has said that he was offered $20 million in campaign support by a businessman to drop his Senate bid and challenge American Palestinian Representative Rashida Tlaib in a primary race in the US state of Michigan.
The Politico news website, which initially broke the news citing a source with direct knowledge of the matter, reported that Harper declined the alleged offer from donor Linden Nelson during a call on Oct. 16.
In a post on Wednesday, Harper said "he did not intend for a private phone call to become public, but now that it has, here’s the truth," adding that one of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)'s largest donors offered him $20 million to run against Tlaib.
"I said no. I won’t be bossed, bullied, or bought," Harper wrote.
Tlaib has recently been a focal point in the US political arena due to her remarks against Israel and her advocacy for a cease-fire in Gaza amid Tel Aviv's conflict with Hamas. The House also passed a censure against the Muslim lawmaker earlier this month.
In the US, congressional elections are held every two years, during which all 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for election, while one-thirds of the 100 seats in the Senate are contested.
In these elections, members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms, while members of the Senate serve six-year terms.
The number of representatives from each state in the House of Representatives is determined based on the population density of the electoral districts within the states, whereas each state is represented by two senators.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-senate-candidate-offered-20m-to-run-against-muslim-rep-rashida-tlaib/3063068
Anadolu Agency – November 24, 2023
Native Americans express support for Palestinian people, saying US aid to Israel 'must end'
Native American activists mark annual Day of Mourning to dispel 'Thanksgiving myth'
By Servet Gunerigok
WASHINGTON
Native American activists gathered Thursday in the state of Massachusetts to mark the 54th annual National Day of Mourning to honor their ancestors.
The annual event, which falls on the Thanksgiving holiday observed in the US, was organized by the United American Indians of New England at Cole's Hill in Plymouth.
Kisha James, an enrolled member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) and the Oglala Lakota Nation, said the native activists gathered to mourn their ancestors, tear down settler mythologies and speak truth to power.
"Once again on so-called Thanksgiving Day, United American Indians of New England and our supporters are gathered on this hill to observe the National Day of Mourning for the Indigenous people murdered by settler colonialism and imperialism from Turtle Island to Palestine," said James.
"Turtle Island" is a term used by some Indigenous peoples to refer to the continent of North America.
She said the National Day of Mourning was established 53 Thanksgivings ago when her grandfather, Wamsutta Frank James, an Aquinnah Wampanoag man, was invited by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to speak at a banquet celebrating the 350th anniversary of the arrival of the pilgrims.
"However, the speech that Wamsutta wrote, which was based on historical fact rather than the sham version of history perpetuated in the Thanksgiving myth, was a far cry from complementary. In his speech, Wamsutta not only named atrocities committed by the pilgrims, but he also reflected upon the fate of the Wampanoag at the hands of settler invaders," she said.
James also pointed out that some Wampanoag ancestors had welcomed the pilgrims and saved them from starvation, only to receive in return "genocide, the theft of our lands, the destruction of our traditional ways of life, slavery, starvation and never-ending oppression" from the settlers.
"When people perpetuate the myth of Thanksgiving, they are not only erasing our genocide but also celebrating it," she said. "We did not simply fade into the background as the Thanksgiving myth says. We have survived and flourished. We have persevered."
During her speech, James expressed support for the Palestinian people, pledging to continue their efforts "until Palestine is free."
Mahtowin Munro, co-leader of the United American Indians of New England, also addressed the gathering, expressing solidarity with refugees and migrants who she said are being forced to leave their home countries due to US policies.
She highlighted the "misguided" notion held by the pilgrims and Puritans that they were entering a wilderness provided for them by their God, as if the lands were empty and awaiting their arrival.
"This idea is so embedded that even today I hear from school children and adults alike that the Europeans brought civilization here, and that Indigenous peoples were not actually doing anything with the land," said Munro.
She said the settler invaders renamed the streets and villages and rivers, adding: "They actively erase the existence of people who lived here and continue to live here. And this certainly sounds familiar to Palestinians."
"When I look at Gaza, I see two reflections of all the Indigenous people killed in the wave after wave of massacres here in North America, in Congo, in Haiti, in Australia, and Ireland, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Algeria -- people around the world whose only crime has been to exist and resist settler colonialism," she added.
"The Palestinian people need reparations to rebuild. Occupation and settlements must end, US aid to Israel must end. Palestine must be free," said Munro.
Later, the crowd, carrying Palestine flags, chanted "Free, Free Palestine.”
Since 1970, Indigenous people and their allies have gathered at noon on Cole's Hill in Plymouth to observe the National Day of Mourning on the US Thanksgiving holiday.
According to the organizers' website, many Native people do not celebrate the arrival of the pilgrims and other European settlers. For them, Thanksgiving Day serves as a reminder of the genocide of millions of Native people, the theft of Native lands, and the erasure of Native cultures.
Dating back to the early 17th century when English Pilgrims, seeking religious freedom, settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November.
Yeni Safak – November 23, 2023
How can a new order be established in the Middle East?
By Kadir Üstün
The prisoner exchange agreement reached between Israel and Hamas marks a significant turning point in the course of the war. The agreement implies that Israel has stepped back from its pledge to halt operations until all prisoners are released. However, it is clear that Israeli attacks will continue after a brief hiatus. Predicting that the release of all Hamas prisoners will take months, if not years, it is not difficult to anticipate that the conflict will intermittently intensify and persist for an extended period. The events since October 7 have become the foremost agenda item in the region, transforming the pursuit of a solution to the Palestinian issue into a new driving force. Therefore, in the coming period, we can expect the Gaza war to continue with its ups and downs, while diplomatic efforts for a final resolution intensify.
PERPETUAL STATE OF WAR IN GAZA
We know that Israel will not withdraw from Gaza without significantly debilitating Hamas's military infrastructure and capacity, even if it means committing war crimes. On the other hand, it is evident that Israel's sustainability in ignoring international public pressure, backed by Washington and Western capitals, is limited. Therefore, Israel will attempt to downplay its war crimes by highlighting its efforts to protect civilians, allow humanitarian aid passage, and claim a temporary cessation of operations for the prisoner exchange. While seeking to reduce international public outrage, Israel will strive to prevent Hamas from regaining strength and continuing its attacks by persisting with military operations. Knowing that eliminating Hamas is not feasible, Israel is likely to create a perpetual state of war in Gaza in the coming period.
Israel will face difficulties in determining who will govern Gaza while continuing its operations against Hamas. The Palestinian Authority will be reluctant to manage the cities destroyed by Israel. While the Netanyahu government claims it can govern for a certain period, stating that it will not allow Hamas to return to power and considering the occupation of Gaza, it is creating a challenging situation. If Israel proceeds with the occupation of Gaza, against Washington's opposition, it will assume the responsibility for the administration of the Gaza Strip and, therefore, the responsibility for the humanitarian crisis. Opting for a more likely scenario, Israel may choose to establish a puppet government, allowing it to continue military operations when necessary without taking on the responsibility.
IRAN'S STRATEGIC POSITION
Israel's Gaza war has demonstrated that the Palestinian issue can no longer be ignored, and regional normalization is impossible without resolving this problem. Before October 7, we knew that the United States had informally reached an understanding with Iran on the nuclear issue, and within this framework, Tehran refrained from provocative steps in uranium enrichment. By releasing $6 billion in Iranian funds in the context of the prisoner exchange agreement, Washington took a step to reduce tension with Iran. Iran, which has entered a normalization process with Saudi Arabia, has shown that it is in a more advantageous position in the region after Hamas's attack on Israel. Aware of its strength against Israel through Hezbollah in Lebanon, Shia militias in Iraq and Syria against the United States, Iran does not hesitate to use this power as a deterrent. Iran's strategic position has strengthened without engaging in an all-out war against Israel and the United States.
SAUDI ARABIA'S PRIORITIES
In contrast, before October 7, Saudi Arabia sought security agreements with the United States and nuclear technology in exchange for normalization with Israel. With the outbreak of the Gaza war, normalization with Israel became impossible in the short term, and Saudi Arabia is now forced to prioritize the resolution of the Palestinian issue. Taking steps in this direction by convening the Islam-Arab summit in Riyadh, the Saudi leadership neutralizes the closest potential threat by normalizing with Iran and simultaneously negotiates with Washington on a comprehensive package to secure its security concerns. Unhesitant to dance with China when necessary, Saudi Arabia attempts to turn Washington's efforts to break China's influence into an opportunity for Saudi interests. By unequivocally supporting Israel, Washington weakened its hand in negotiations with the Saudis, as improving the situation of the Palestinians, a condition for normalization with Israel, has become an imperative.
We are entering a period where the Gaza war will continue in some form, Iran's rivalry with the United States and Israel will be managed in a controlled manner, and Saudi Arabia will be obliged to take the lead in Israel-Palestine peace. The realities revealed in the strategic picture that emerged in the region after October 7 underscore that the establishment of a stable Middle East order is impossible without resolving the Israel-Palestine issue. We are leaving behind a period where regional countries pursued their national interests and embarked on the path of normalization with Israel, trying to forget the Palestinian issue under the influence of Washington's suggestions. The greatest regional obstacle to Saudi Arabia's focus on securing its security concerns and concentrating on economic development is highlighted as the Palestinian issue. The unsolvability and conflict processes that strengthen Iran's position are evident as not serving the interests of countries such as Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. Therefore, the resolution of the Palestinian issue emerges as an indispensable prerequisite for establishing a new order in the Middle East.
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The Journal of America Team:
Editor in chief:
Abdus Sattar Ghazali
Senior Editor:
Prof. Arthur Scott
Special Correspondent
Maryam Turab
