#electronic intifada

[hussyknee]

Applying a conservative estimate of four indirect deaths per one direct death9 to the 37 396 deaths reported, it is not implausible to estimate that up to 186 000 or even more deaths could be attributable to the current conflict in Gaza. Using the 2022 Gaza Strip population estimate of 2 375 259, this would translate to 7·9% of the total population in the Gaza Strip

(Source: The Lancet)

The Lancet is one of the oldest and highest impact peer-reviewed medical journals in the world. Deliberate undercounting of deaths is a key feature of genocides.

The Electronic Intifada estimated it at 193,000 a few days before.

The reported number of martyrs on Wednesday this week was 37,718. It’s important to note that this number only includes martyrs who have been identified by name and civil ID number through the beleaguered health ministry in Gaza. Given the breakdown of reporting systems due to heavy destruction of infrastructure and personnel, this number, even with its limited parameters, is a gross underestimation. Based on more accurate figures of approximately 370 people killed daily, multiplied by 264 days of genocide, the actual number is closer to 97,680 martyred. (Per OCHA estimate of 15 martyrs per hour: Over the course of 264 days, which amounts to 6,336 hours, this number would roughly be 95,040).

...

Based on these estimates, both conservative and data-driven, respectively, the actual figures are likely as follows: • 377,280 buildings destroyed completely or partially • 95,040—97,680 martyred • 221,760 injured • 24,750 dead or dying from starvation • 42,000 missing (presumed dead, kidnapped by Israel’s occupying forces or possibly trafficked). The following ranges represent conservative estimate or lower range of data-driven population estimates: • 17,050—94,049 with chronic illnesses dead from lack of medication • 14,408—255,985 dead from epidemics resulting from Israel’s assault This means the actual number of dead is closer to 194,768—511,824 people, with 221,760 injured. And counting.

(Source: The Electronic Intifada)

Israel surrounded the last remaining hospital in the Gaza Strip with tanks and ordered it evacuated and shut down 12 hours ago.

If you still want to believe the pussy-footing toll of counted and reported deaths that can stand up to Western propaganda, after nine fucking months of dropping more than 70,000 tons of bombs on a 41 kilometer strip, exceeding World War II bombings in Dresden, Hamburg, London combined, rather than the statistical breakdown of humanitarian orgs and medical journals, then have at. There's no point telling you to believe the victims and question your own biases towards your own heavily propagandized establishments.

But if you can do basic math, then please use The Lancet's estimated death toll. The massacre of 8% of the Gaza Strip is a conservative estimate and still apocalyptic. Resist all attempts to diminish it. Remember that this is the result of the United States's obstruction of justice and open-handed abetting of genocidaires. Keep fighting.

Btw:

While the war itself is estimated to have generated between 420,265 and 652,552 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) so far—equivalent to burning more than 1.5 million barrels of oil—this figure soars to more than 61 million tonnes when pre-and post-war construction and reconstruction are included. This is more than the annual emissions of 135 individual nations—but there is currently no legal obligation for militaries to report or be held accountable for their emissions.

(Source: EuroNews)

[kropotkindersurprise]

The martyred Palestinian resistance leader Yahya Sinwar on the front lines in Gaza. [video]

[victusinveritas]

I heard this read out loud by Nora Barrows-Friedman on Electronic Intifada the other day. Holocaust stories being written in front of our eyes.

[good-old-gossip]

After three days in detention, Palestinian-American journalist Ali Abunimah, executive director of Electronic Intifada (EI), was deported from Switzerland on January 27, drawing condemnation from the UN rapporteur and rights groups

Journalist Ali Abunimah has been released from detention by Swiss authorities and deported from the country after being held for three days, the American-Palestinian journalist said on Monday evening.

Abunimah, the executive director of the online news site Electronic Intifida, was detained by Swiss authorities on Saturday ahead of a planned speaking event in Zurich, sparking condemnation by activists and UN experts.

“On Monday evening I was brought to Zurich airport in handcuffs, in a small metal cage inside a windowless prison van and led all the way to the plane by police,” he wrote on X. “This is after three days and two nights in a Swiss prison cut off from communication with the outside world, in a cell 24 hours a day with one cell mate, not even permitted to contact my family.”

He said he was accused of “offending Swiss law”, without being given any specific charges. The journalist said he believed his crime was “being a journalist who speaks up for Palestine and against Israel’s genocide”.

Electronic Intifada is a US-based website founded in 2001 that describes itself as “an independent online news publication focusing on Palestine”.

Citing an entry ban, Swiss police said over the weekend that a 53-year-old American had been detained, and that further measures were being considered under its immigration laws.

Abunimah said that he was “hauled off to prison like a dangerous criminal”, while Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, who said at the start of the war that there were no civilians in Gaza, “received a red carpet welcome in Davos”.

[fiercynn]

Shocked by what he had just been told, my brother shouted, “Our building is going to be bombed.” My mother was already wearing her jilbab. She had a feeling in her gut that something bad was going to happen. She and my eldest brother ran to the door. I wasn’t prepared properly. So I covered myself with a scarf and followed my mother. I noticed that my youngest sister wasn’t with us, so I rushed back into our home and found her trying to catch Layla, our terrified cat. My sister held Lalya in her arms and followed us. Everyone in our building evacuated through the backyard. They went into the area behind the building. Then, we went to our aunt’s house. It was the closest place we could go by foot. Just a few minutes later, we heard the bombing begin. And we realized what it feels like when everything you have is gone – except your soul. I was confused. Should I feel happy to be alive? Or sad that my laptop, books, clothes and memories have all been bombed? [x]

shahd safi for electronic intifada on october 24, 2023. shahd safi is a journalist and teacher in gaza.

[goeatsomeveggies]

PLEASE PLEASE FOLLOW THESE ACCOUNTS ON IG!

I can't stress enough how y'all should be following these two news outlets.

They are GREAT!

The Mondoweiss has the most insightful and intelligent analysis about Palestine.

And the Electronic Intifada uplifts the most soulful, beautiful, touching stories about Palestine.

[nando161mando]

'Since the 1980s, the Israeli military has refused to disclose its open-fire regulations, despite various petitions to the High Court of Justice.

According to political sociologist Yagil Levy, since the Second Intifada, “the army has not given soldiers written rules of engagement,” leaving much open to the interpretation of soldiers in the field and their commanders.

As well as contributing to the killing of over 38,000 Palestinians, sources testified that these lax directives were also partly responsible for the high number of soldiers killed by friendly fire in recent months.'

[zigcarnivorous]

This week, the Associated Press reported rather matter of factly that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “is examining a plan to seal off humanitarian aid to northern Gaza in an attempt to starve out Hamas militants, a plan that, if implemented, could trap without food or water hundreds of thousands of Palestinians unwilling or unable to leave their homes.”

Any Palestinians remaining in northern Gaza – a large area including Gaza City – “would be considered combatants – meaning military regulations would allow troops to kill them – and denied food, water, medicine and fuel.”

But that intensified genocide-by-starvation plan is already well underway. On Saturday, the United Nations World Food Programme said that no food aid has entered northern Gaza since 1 October.

“People have run out of ways to cope, food systems have collapsed, and the risk of famine is real,” Antoine Renard, WFP country director for Palestine, said.

In reality, Palestinians in northern Gaza, particularly children, have been starving to death for months as the direct result of Israel’s declared policy of cutting off all life-sustaining supplies to the territory.

Yet while Israel is open about its intentions, it could not carry out this mass-murder by starvation without the aid and support of the United States – which still purports to be working towards getting more aid into Gaza.

Following the news brief from Nora Barrows-Friedman, we’ll speak about the situation with Laila Al-Arian.

An Emmy and Peabody award-winning journalist, Laila is executive producer of Al Jazeera’s flagship documentary series Fault Lines. A recent episode, “Starving Gaza,” documents how the United States government has been knowingly covering up for Israel as it deliberately starves Palestinians to death. You can watch it here: • How Israel’s man-made ...

This is a segment from The Electronic Intifada's day 376 livestream. Ali Abunimah, Nora Barrows-Friedman, Jon Elmer and Asa Winstanley were joined by EI contributor Abubaker Abed live from the Gaza Strip, and award winning journalist Laila Al-Arian. You can watch the entire broadcast here:

[anarcho-yorpism]

A Ramadan of Heartbreak, by Abubaker Abed, in Gaza

in The Electronic Intifada, 27 March 2024

[eccentricecologist]

As Khalek and this writer discussed, it is not necessary to view Trump as having any sort of sympathy with the Palestinian struggle to understand what might be behind his surprising willingness to pressure Israel now. While Trump is often unpredictable and mercurial, a consistent aspect of his worldview is that he does not view America’s traditional “allies” as anything more than client states who are taking advantage of American largesse. He appears to have no sentimental attachment to them, nor does he see them as vital to his “America First” agenda. This was his view of NATO in his first term, when he accused Germany, supposedly the bedrock of the transatlantic security alliance, of “making a fortune” off US troops stationed in the country. Demanding billions from ostensible allies and partners, he thundered, “Why should we defend countries and not be reimbursed?” He has now doubled down on that position. He’s even turned on Canada, the largest US trading partner, saying the US is being exploited and does not need Canada’s goods. He’s even called for the US to absorb Canada as its 51st state. Given Trump’s disdain for countries that have long been revered as – albeit subordinate – partners by the transatlantic ruling classes, the question is why would he treat Israel any differently? This is especially the case when Israel has long been the biggest recipient of American largesse. At the very least, Trump seems likely to take the approach that with America paying Israel’s bills, America will give the orders. While the Gaza deal is not yet done, the progress made in a few days with Trump’s intervention underscores that Washington giving the orders is and has always been the true nature of the US-Israel relationship. These developments expose without a shadow of a doubt that the Biden administration’s failure to achieve a ceasefire was always wilful, and that the Democratic Party government positively chose to arm and support the genocide.

[...]

What Trump’s bigger plans are for the region remain to be seen. As has been widely noted, one of his most generous campaign donors is fanatically pro-Israel billionaire Miriam Adelson. She has denied reports that she conditioned her $100 million gift on Trump’s support for Israeli annexation of the occupied West Bank. But there’s no doubt that she and other elements of Trump’s base will be pushing for and using their positions near and within the administration to implement extreme anti-Palestinian measures, including even more domestic repression of the Palestine solidarity movement, something Trump himself has promised. And no one should be surprised if and when Trump delivers. But Trump is returning as president of a United States that is significantly weaker in relative terms than when he first took office, given the continued rise of China, Russia and new multipolar formations such as BRICS. The United States may no longer be able to unilaterally impose its will on the whole world, but it can impose its will on Israel, its tiny genocidal dependency in Southwest Asia. For the sake of the Palestinian people in Gaza, let’s hope the pressure from Trump brings an end to the horrific bloodshed as quickly as possible.

- Ali Abunimah, via the Electronic Intifada

In my opinion, a very good analysis of why Trump has moved the way he did with regards to the genocide in Palestine and how he and his base are likely to move afterwards

[because--palestine]

Washington Post plans hit piece over EI's accurate reporting about 7 October

I have to share this (and this again) as Israel's defence at the ICJ today parrots blatantly the numerous times debunked Israeli propaganda fallacies about Oct 7.

[fiercynn]

Death is all around us, hovering around like killer bees waiting to give that killer blow. Many experience death in ways 100 times more traumatic and daunting than what I went through with the loss of Salma. I can only imagine what it’d be like. We are being massacred, slandered and dehumanized, just “human animals” that deserve to die. Our crime: We want nothing but to live free from the ugliness of war and its brutal consequences. We want to live free from occupation, free from oppression, free from the idea that this will one day happen again. It’s only day five. How much more? How much longer? Someone please feel something! No one seems to care for the lives of 2.3 million people caged in Gaza. [x]

- mahmoud nasser writing for electronic intifada on october 19, 2023. he and his family are in khan younis in south gaza waiting, like thousands others, for an opportunity to make it through the rafah crossing into egypt, which is blocked and was previously being bombed by israel.

[houseofpurplestars]

"...insinuated in these outcries is an illusion of choice, a choice of a life we can live if only we want to..."

[soisthislife]

[angelnumberdigest]