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By Shaimaa Eid

Sheikh Radwan market, west of Gaza City, looks like a ghost town.

Broken stalls, shuttered shops, and sunken, hungry eyes dominate a place that was once teeming with life.

Israel’s latest ban on allowing food, water, fuel, electricity and medicine into two million people in the Gaza Strip is nearly at its two-month mark.

And as famine rears its head again in Gaza, desperation is setting in.

Markets are empty of food, medicines are scarce and prices are rising.

In a pharmacy near the market, Ihab Ghanem, 32, was asking for a package of formula milk for his youngest child.

“I went to three pharmacies this morning and couldn’t find any type of infant formula,” Ihab told The Electronic Intifada.

His search at Sheikh Radwan market proved equally fruitless and even if it hadn’t, he said, “prices have become exorbitant.”

He was left despairing about the impact on his children’s health.

“I try to feed them simple alternative foods, but it’s not enough, and their digestive systems can’t tolerate it.”

Food as luxury

Elsewhere in the market, Ramez al-Amsi had similarly been trying to find food for his children. Accompanied by his son, Yazan, 3, father and son had been asking about prices.

But the answer was always the same: Supplies are nearly depleted, and prices for what is left are prohibitive.

On the other side of the market, Majdi Shbeir, 26, stood in front of his empty stall. His shop – in the same market – had been destroyed in December 2023, and he had been selling what food supplies he could source in this little improvised stall since.

Now, he has nothing left.

“Customers come and leave because we simply don’t have what they need,” he told The Electronic Intifada.

The famine gripping Gaza also stripped the last holiday season of its joy. Severe food shortages and skyrocketing prices made even the simplest eid traditions such as offering hospitality and sharing sweets impossible for many.

Samar Shaheen, a mother of three, is feeling the scarcity in a way only a parent could.

“Even basic food has become a luxury. This Eid, my children did not ask me for sweets or new clothes,” Samar said. “They only asked if there would be enough food for tomorrow.”

They still do.

Samar, whose home in Beit Lahia was destroyed in September 2024, said she and her children are sheltering in a school given over to displaced families west of Gaza City.

Genocidal grandstanding

On 27 April the UN’s World Food Program announced that it had run out of food in Gaza, 54 days after Israel imposed the total blockade.

That blockade is now being challenged by the UN at the International Court of Justice in the Hague.

Israel remains unrepentant. Responding to the ICJ hearing, Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, described the UN’s protest against its blockade as part of a “systematic persecution.”

“The UN has become a rotten, anti-Israel, and antisemitic body,” Saar declared on 28 April.

In Gaza, there is little time for such genocidal grandstanding.

Samar al-Tawil, a mother of four, stood in front of an empty stall trying to secure rice at less than exorbitant prices.

“I can no longer tell my children that what they want is unavailable. They keep crying, and their father and I are powerless to find a solution,” she said.

And fresh water is at a premium. With no electricity, the desalination plant in Deir al-Balah has stopped functioning, greatly reducing the availability of fresh water in the north.

In the Al-Saftawi neighborhood in northwest Gaza, Fadwa Hamad, 60, said residents were desperate for water.

“We stand in long lines,” she said, describing how people can wait hours for rare water deliveries. But mindful of Israel’s closure, she said most were in survival mode.

“We just try to ration as much as possible.”

Shaimaa Eid is a journalist based in Gaza.

1 May 2025

Source: countercurrents.org

By Quds News Network

Gaza (Quds News Network)- With Israel’s blockade on food, medicine and other supplies now in its 60th day, people in Gaza are struggling to survive and are adopting coping strategies now stretched to the limit.

Since the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal ended on March 1, Israel has blocked all humanitarian aid from entering the Palestinian territory, in violation of the agreement’s terms.

Human rights organizations and several countries have condemned the move, accusing Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war.

On March 18, Israel resumed its assault on Gaza, killing over 2,200 civilians so far—most of them women and children.

According to a report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), widespread displacement has forced many people to abandon food supplies and emergency stocks secured during the ceasefire signed in January.

Bread from UN-supported bakeries is no longer available, and most people cannot bake for themselves due to acute shortages of cooking fuel and the soaring cost of wheat flour, the report said.

Families are mixing crushed pasta with flour to make bread, which means smaller and less frequent meals. They are also giving bread to children or allocating just one piece per family member per day, it said.

People must rely on aid supplies as farmers and breeders can’t access their land, as 70 percent of the enclave has been designated as a “no-go” area or is under displacement orders by the Israeli military, the report added.

Jonathan Whittall, head of OCHA in Gaza, warned on Saturday that Gaza is on the verge of “full-scale famine conditions.”

“The coming days in Gaza are going to be critical. Today, people are not surviving in Gaza. Those that aren’t being killed with bombs and bullets are slowly dying,” Whittall told journalists at a news conference in Gaza City.

“As humanitarians, we can see that aid is being weaponized through its denial,” he said. “There’s no justification for the denial of humanitarian assistance.”

The World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday all of its bakeries have shut down and all of its stocks inside Gaza have now been fully depleted.

The remaining charity kitchens in Gaza have said they may have to shut down within days unless aid is allowed in.

The Gaza Government Media Office said on Friday that famine is no longer a looming threat and is becoming a reality. It said 52 people have died due to hunger and malnutrition, including 50 children. It also said more than 65,000 children have sought treatment for severe malnutrition.

1 May 2025

Source: countercurrents.org

By Dr Marwan Asmar

Fires are raging in Israel. Flames have started in the West Jerusalem hills and are feared to be creeping into northern Israel with around 119 fire crews, 10 firefighting planes, and a helicopter deployed to extinguish the blaze, according to The Jerusalem Post.

Israel has asked for international help especially from countries like Italy, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus and Bulgaria to attempt to put down the raging fires that are spreading because of high winds. Later reports, and with the inability to contain the fires, Israel called for more help from England, France, Czech Republic, Sweden, Argentina, Spain, North Macedonia, and Azerbaijan.

[https://twitter.com/ME_Observer_/status/1917633910957301921]

The wild fires that started, Wednesday, are trending on the social media with images and videos of what are seen as apocalyptic scenes never seen before in Israel. The blazes, starting from the hills of western Jerusalem have spread to the areas of Tel Aviv in the north with up to eight Israeli municipalities affected with one blogger simply saying “Israel is burning.”

[https://twitter.com/stairwayto3dom/status/1917544463460688078]

Reports show that people on the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv Highway abandoning their cars and running across the wilderness, anywhere, away from the raging fires consuming forests and natural habitats. Reports also suggest that 10,000 Israeli have been evacuated by over-worked Israeli firefighters who fear the battle will be long.

The highway as well as trains between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv have since been closed because of the consuming danger.

As soon as they started, Israeli government officials quickly declared a national state of emergency as raging fires spread to settlements and military bases near Jerusalem with soldiers caught in the blazes with reports that blazes raged in 29 locations such as Nataf, Eshtaol, Ramat Raziel, Giv’at Ye’arim, and Kisalon.

[https://twitter.com/MenchOsint/status/1917602568622203391]

The fires from Jerusalem have also moved south and west due to the raging winds and weather conditions with the Israeli army being deployed to assist firefighting teams as the fires latched on to cars and other vehicles. New blazes have been reported to as far away as in Ashkelon, Ashdod and its port bordering to the so-called Gaza envelope, the territory that houses Jewish settlements and military basis.

The speed winds in Israel are expected to increase dramatically in the coming hours and days with Israeli hospitals recording 12 injuries so far due to smoke inhalation and burns. For the first time in 77 years, Israeli local councils have canceled so-called Independence Day celebrations, that is, when Israel was created in 1948 on Palestinians lands.

Nobody really knows how the fires have started while Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir rushed to accuse local Palestinians of arson but this is hearsay.

Dr Marwan Asmar is a journalist from Jordan

1 May 2025

Source: countercurrents.org

By Prof. Junaid S. Ahmad

It was an old script, dusted off and recycled with all the subtlety of a Bollywood B-movie plot: an attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir—tragic, condemnable, and as predictable as New Delhi’s response. Within hours, India’s government, with its reflexes honed more for propaganda than forensics, pointed a convenient finger at Pakistan. No evidence necessary. No investigation needed. Pakistan, they declared, was the mastermind behind the attack—once again cast as the perennial villain in the feverish imagination of the Indian state.

But let us pause the theater of the absurd and ask: is this really about tourists? Or is it yet another episode in a decades-long tragicomedy, where Kashmiris are the unacknowledged protagonists, and the world looks away as the two nuclear-armed neighbors play out their rivalry on the bones of a betrayed land?

India’s narrative is as old as it is tired. According to Delhi, no Kashmiri could possibly resist Indian occupation unless manipulated by Islamabad. Every protest, every stone thrown, every cry for justice is attributed not to lived experience but to cross-border mischief. In this vision, Kashmiri agency vanishes into the misty mountains—replaced by Pakistani puppetry. It’s a lazy narrative, and like all lazy narratives, it serves power beautifully.

Of course, New Delhi has long insisted that Pakistan breeds and exports jihadists like a cottage industry with government subsidies. Militants, they say, are packaged, blessed, and dispatched to attack Hindus and Indian forces alike in the valley. But this myopic fixation on Pakistani interference erases a fundamental truth: the resistance in Kashmir is indigenous, born of humiliation, violence, and the unfulfilled promise of self-determination.

The defining moment came in 1989, when Kashmiris, weary of India’s iron grip, erupted in a mass uprising. It wasn’t Pakistan that lit that fire. It was Indian repression, systemic disenfranchisement, and the daily violence that punctuated Kashmiri life. India responded not with dialogue, but with military escalation. The world looked away as thousands were killed, raped, tortured—many simply “disappeared” into the black hole of occupation. The valley became a graveyard not just of lives, but of international law, human rights, and broken UN promises.

And speaking of broken promises, let us not forget Article 370—the so-called special autonomous status of Kashmir. Once a fig leaf for democratic pretense, it was unceremoniously scrapped by the Modi regime in 2019, effectively annulling even the illusion of Kashmiri autonomy. With one stroke of bureaucratic penmanship, New Delhi declared that Kashmiris no longer had any say in their political destiny. The plebiscite once promised by the United Nations? It now resides in the dustbin of diplomatic memory, alongside such quaint notions as “international consensus” and “moral responsibility.”

In light of all this, the timing of the recent Pahalgam attack has prompted many a raised eyebrow among serious analysts. It’s almost too convenient, the way this tragedy aligns with broader geopolitical currents. One might even suspect that someone, somewhere, wanted a dramatic pretext. After all, nothing galvanizes hyper-nationalism like a well-timed tragedy. And in the age of algorithmic outrage and 24-hour media hysteria, a few bodies are often enough to rewrite the headlines and reshape public opinion.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the border, the Pakistani military leadership has its own set of embarrassments. The once-hailed China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), touted as the gateway to prosperity, has devolved into a geopolitical headache. With Chinese workers targeted by attacks, and Beijing reportedly growing weary of Islamabad’s inability to secure its investments, the generals are now reduced to polite begging. “Please continue the investments,” they say to their Chinese patrons, even as the country sinks into political and economic chaos.

It doesn’t help that Pakistan’s ruling junta—because let’s call it what it is—has entirely lost credibility. It governs through fear, fraud, and force, repressing the most popular political movement in the country, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by the charismatic, imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Once seen as a political phoenix, Khan now rots in a dungeon alongside thousands of political prisoners—guilty, apparently, of the grave crime of not toeing the military’s preferred line.

Yet, amid this domestic fiasco, the generals find time to serve Washington’s strategic whims. In the grand ‘New Cold War’ chessboard being set up against China, Pakistan has become the pawn that doesn’t even pretend to be a rook. It dutifully obeys the dictates of its Western overlords but is rebuked for not obeying them hard enough. Gwadar port, a critical node in China’s Belt and Road vision, is reportedly too ambitious for America’s taste. And so, the sabotage begins—cloaked in whispers, intelligence operations, and the ever-helpful triple alliance of Mossad, CIA, and RAW.

Yes, Kashmiri activists have long alleged that this trinity operates openly in their homeland—not even bothering with subtlety anymore. Their presence is felt in surveillance, subversion, and in the inexplicable string of events that always seem to benefit global hegemonic interests. That such allegations are dismissed by the mainstream media as conspiracy theories says more about the media than it does about their veracity.

Then comes the cherry on this blood-soaked cake: the visit of U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance to India—right as tensions peaked. One can only marvel at the timing. It’s as if the empire likes to be present when the kindling is lit, just to make sure the fire starts properly.

And what about the Indian state’s own behavior in Kashmir? Far from acting as a democratic steward, it has gone full totalitarian. Tens of thousands have been arrested. Homes demolished. Dissent criminalized. Surveillance intensified. The Valley has become an Orwellian nightmare, where silence is survival, and speech is sedition.

In the midst of this, parallels between Zionist ideology and Hindutva fascism become too glaring to ignore. Both are supremacist ideologies fueled by historical grievance and modern state violence. Both use collective punishment as a political tool. Both present themselves as eternal victims even while acting as ruthless aggressors. And both enjoy the unwavering support of the American empire.

Which brings us full circle. The spectacle of Kashmir is not just a regional conflict. It is a nexus of military adventurism, geopolitical ambition, and nationalist delusion. It is where the dreams of empire intersect with the nightmares of the oppressed.

And so the farce drags on—predictable as a soap opera and just as manipulative. Another tragedy cues another round of sanctimonious speeches, staged condemnations, and strategic handshakes with foreign dignitaries whose only allegiance is to the choreography of empire. Meanwhile, the Kashmiri cry for justice ricochets through the mountains, reduced to background noise in the geopolitical theatre of the absurd.

But make no mistake: this isn’t a conflict—it’s a spectacle. One where Delhi dons the costume of civilization while bulldozing homes, and Islamabad polishes its victimhood medals while muzzling dissent and kneeling before foreign masters. Kashmir, in this grotesque pageant, is not a land of people—it is a chessboard, a bargaining chip, a pretext.

The tragedy is not just the violence—it’s the insult to intelligence. That we are meant to forget history, overlook occupation, and believe in the bedtime stories spun by two deeply compromised states. That we are supposed to cheer for one side while both trample the truth.

But fairy tales don’t last forever. The day will come—perhaps not soon, but inevitably—when the survivors will seize the pen from the pretenders and write history not in the language of power, but in the vocabulary of resistance. And on that day, neither Delhi’s jackboots nor Islamabad’s begging bowls will be spared scrutiny. Until then, let the record show: the world watched, and the world lied.

Prof. Junaid S. Ahmad teaches Law, Religion, and Global Politics and is the Director of the Center for the Study of Islam and Decolonization (CSID), Islamabad, Pakistan.

30 April 2025

Source: countercurrents.org

By Nayeema Ahmad Mahjoor

‘Despite the challenges, we participated in the elections with unwavering determination. We unequivocally condemned the Pahalgam attack, and our selfless actions saved tourists at the cost of our own safety. Yet, our efforts were met with hate, jingoism, humiliation, and unjust searches and arrests. Is this how people should be treated?’ Aarif (name changed due to security concerns), a pony rider, expressed his frustration when I inquired about the situation in his hometown near Pahalgam.

The terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, has left twenty-five tourists and one local dead, with many more injured. Following the attack, India blamed Pakistan and pledged to respond with an iron fist. Pakistan has denied involvement and demanded an international probe to identify the perpetrators. The world is holding its breath as both countries enter a war mode, with ammunition and deployment in full swing.

The moist eyes, shrunken face, and wrinkled expressions of Aarif told the story of every soul in Kashmir who, while not only deprived of their livelihood by this terror incident, has been scarred and made insecure by the horrible experience of questioning and quizzing by security forces.

‘I am a target for both: them and these (referring to Pakistan and Indian security forces). They both want me dead. Look at my fate. The tourists were taken to safe places or asked to leave Kashmir. Where will I go? Is there any place safe for me? How many times do I have to prove my loyalty? Or is this how it is?’ His voice broke as he wiped his tears.

I found myself at a loss for words to comfort him, unable to muster the courage I had shown earlier when he was dejected and wanted to pretend to be a gunman, seeking a chance to end his life. That day, convincing him to earn a living, care for his family, and live a normal life was easy. Now, it felt impossible, as he had lost hope for the future despite facing many life odds.

‘When every Kashmiri was labelled a terrorist, we were beaten and kicked out, not even given a place to rent in many states. Why? Either believe in us or leave us to our fate.’ He didn’t look at me.

It took time to process his pain, but the rage in his eyes was unsettling, and I, too, felt apprehensive about the future of my youth, born under the shadow of a gun.

After nearly six years, I reached out to him once more. He required guidance during that period, and now, he feels adrift and disheartened.

The untimely passing of his father abruptly shattered his aspiration to earn a degree. With three sisters and an ailing mother to support, he was compelled to seek employment within the district, constrained by the heavy presence of security forces and rigid patriarchal norms. The summer income from tourism and yatra, coupled with his earnings from menial labour, became the lifeline for his family. ‘My fate has been unjust. I am forced to learn to limp, not walk.’ He would sigh each time he reflected on his dream of obtaining a degree.

Aarif embodies the grief and frustration of sixty per cent of youth who find themselves at a crossroads, as their education, degrees, and livelihoods are adversely affected following the Pahalgam attack.

Kashmir has been the site of numerous attacks, yet the media’s portrayal has endangered every Kashmiri. The relentless animosity directed at Kashmir has resulted in assaults on students in educational institutions, their forced exodus from the state, and the closure of many businesses.

How ironic it is to hear the world discussing Kashmir while only Kashmiris are silenced.

This situation has persisted for ages, but since 2019, not a single voice from Kashmir has been permitted to share their story. A singular narrative has dominated, conveying to the world that the situation in Kashmir has changed, that the people have changed, and that daily life continues as it does in other states of India. Interest in visiting the picturesque region of Kashmir has surged.

Instead of addressing the fundamental issues faced by over one crore people, mainstream media has showcased videos of tourists revelling in the beauty of the region, leading the world to believe that conditions in Kashmir have improved mistakenly.

Undoubtedly, for several years, while 1.5 to 2 million Hindus have come annually for the Amarnath Yatra, 3 million tourists have visited for sightseeing, with every effort made to ensure a conducive environment. However, particular areas of Jammu have witnessed a rise in violent attacks. The local population has been navigating these challenges while quietly earning their livelihoods. Yet, watching the media has become a source of anguish since the abrogation of Article 370, which was perceived as both a triumph and a defeat for the local populace.

Only two narratives have captured the attention of mainstream media: the influx of tourists into Kashmir and various terrorist incidents. How does a population of 12 million feel politically, economically, or socially powerless after the withdrawal of the region’s internal autonomy? This issue has been settled and forgotten. Why are hundreds of prisoners incarcerated without charges? How are individuals being dismissed from their jobs for trivial social media posts, and what challenges do they face daily? Mainstream media remains indifferent to these Concerns, which persist as local media faces silencing and suppression.

Kashmiris attempting to share their stories of helplessness through social media have encountered harassment on many occasions. It seems that the voices of ordinary people are neither to be heard nor allowed to speak, although only two countries in the world impose such strict bans on social media: North Korea and Burma, both of which do not claim to be democracies.

Historically, pro-freedom Kashmiris have boycotted assembly or parliamentary elections on numerous occasions. However, this time, social media has played a pivotal role in encouraging public participation in voting, even among those who had never voted before and were sceptical of Indian democracy.

The tumultuous last thirty-five years have fostered divisions and distances among various communities. Reconciliation seemed impossible. Families in Kashmir found themselves split between Pakistan and India, often not having met for decades. Social media has provided a corridor for these families, allowing them to reconnect by sharing stories of past sorrows. Many superstitions have been dispelled, differences have been discussed, and the wall of hatred has, to some extent, been dismantled.

In response to attacks on tourists in Pahalgam, a unified voice emerged through social media. Kashmiris from diverse backgrounds came together for the first time, sending a powerful message of unity against terror. Despite numerous restrictions, they lack the strength to endure the bloodshed that has impacted nearly every household.

Yet, is the use of social media acceptable only as long as it avoids addressing the issues faced by the Kashmiri people, refraining from demanding their political rights or a life free from harassment? These are the questions that people often whisper to one another.

If mainstream media has already stifled the voices of Kashmiris, should social media discussions be encouraged or suppressed to prevent an eruption of dissent?

Those who advocate for democracy must recognise that, under its guise, they may inadvertently support the authoritarian regime in Kashmir. Here, the space for locals has diminished, job opportunities have dwindled, and homes are being demolished as a form of collective punishment.

Aarif is not alone in his agitation and anger regarding the response of the majority population in India following the attack; instead, the entire community feels disheartened by the constant demand to prove their loyalty.

Nayeema Ahmad Mahjoor is a journalist

30 April 2025

Source: countercurrents.org

By Kumar Sanjay Singh

Post-Pahalgam attack on 22 April 2025, BJP led NDA government has racheted up a war hysteria. A majority of the Parliamentary opposition has aquised by offering unconditional support to any steps that the government initiates to take to task the culprits and their ‘patrons’. Thereby, the BJP led NDA l8has been has been given a carte blanche, at least in the domain of foreign policy viz., the liberty to decide upon the contuors of Indo-Pak relationship that could forefront a military option over diplomacy.

That the largest opposition party, the INC believes that foreign policy is the decisive arena to address the challenges posed by the killing of tourists at the hands of seven armed militants of The Resistance Front, some of whom were speaking in Pashto, appears to be a strategic choice. Indeed, the leadership of the INC seems to be vigilant in ensuring that any statement issued by party leaders, that are raising policy and administrative failures of the central government, need to be refrained with as they distract from the party line of extending unconditional support to the government to tackle the issue of militancy in  Kashmir.

The letter to all PCC chiefs, CLP leaders, party general secretaries and in-charges, MPs, MLAs/MLCs and heads of various departments and frontal organisations, by AICC General Secretary Mr. K C Venugopal is instructive. “At this critical juncture, when our collective resolve is being tested, the Indian National Congress must exemplify unity, maturity, and responsibility- virtues that have defined our conduct through decades of national service, in government and in opposition alike…It is, therefore, hereby directed that all comments, statements, and representations- whether by party leaders, spokespersons, media panellists, or official handles of the Congress Social Media Department- must strictly adhere to the CWC resolution…Any deviation, misrepresentation, or off-the-cuff remark that diverges from the official line shall be deemed a serious breach of party discipline.” It may be pertinent to point out here that a member of the highest echelon of the Congress party tagged Mr. Venugopal’s post on the X handle.

Yet, it will be sobering to remember that BJP’s response to the Pahalgam killings is not limited to the domain of foreign policy alone. Indeed, it is tagged with the agenda of communal polarization. On the foreign policy front BJP has been racheting up a muscular military approach towards Pakistan. In a political meeting in Bihar, PM Modi said India will pursue terrorists to the ends of the earth and give them “a punishment bigger than they can imagine.” A raft of diplomatic measures were unveiled: suspending the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, downgrading bilateral ties, and shutting down the Attari checkpost. Finally, the decisive step, underscoring the preference of military over diplomacy, was taken when, on 29 April 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi empowered the armed forces to decide on their targets and timing of response in India’s counter attack against terrorists over the Pahalgam terror attack.

Even as the war drums are getting louder with every passing day the right-wing groups are leveraging the Pahalgam attack to deepen a campaign of oppression against the country’s largest minority group. The intensity of such campaigns are strongest in BJP ruled states. Rallies with lit candles and tiki torches have been organized that equate nationalism with political Hinduism (Hindutva) and anti-nationalism with Muslims. Official machinery has been used to harass Muslim migrants from other parts of the country in the name of a drive against  “illegal Bangladeshis” and Rohingya. Gujarat tops the list with arrest of 6,500 suspected Bangladeshis. Kashmiris in other states have reported harassment and violence. Killings of Muslims were reported in two states, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.

There have been widespread demolition of properties of Muslims. In Kashmir, houses of alleged active militants were turned into rubble through controlled blasts, while several residences of alleged militant supporters were searched, and hundreds of local people were detained. Facing an outcry from regional parties, including the ruling National Conference (NC), security forces’ operation to demolish houses of suspected terrorists was apparently stopped. However, the major crackdown on supporters of terror outfits has intensified.

The government in Gujarat also announced a demolition drive at a Muslim slum, the state’s home minister, Harsh Sanghavi, said that about 2,000 huts had been razed in a drive against “illegal Bangladeshis.”

In this backdrop, while INCs decision to present a national united front in face of a low intensity cross border warfare may be strategically correct but inadequate. If the opposition doesn’t highlight and resist the attempt by the BJP to leverage war hysteria against Pakistan to indulge in communal polarization of our society, it will fail in the task of securing secularism in India.

Kumar Sanjay Singh, Associate Professor, Department of History, Swami Shraddhanand College, Delhi University

2 May 2025

Source: countercurrents.org

By  Dr Ram Puniyani

The killing of 26 tourists and injuring of many more tourists in Baisaran in Kashmir was a tragedy beyond words. The terrorists claimed to be part of Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Tayyaba’s front ‘The Resistance Front’, who have taken the responsibility for this dastardly act. They identified people by religion and brutally fired upon them. One of the people killed was Syed Adil Shah, the one who used to take the tourists on pony.

The rescue was done mainly by Muslims, till the Helicopters arrived and the injured were treated by a team of Muslim doctors. Whole of Kashmir observed Bandh and the slogans of ‘Hindu Muslim Bhai Bhai’ (Hindus and Muslims are brothers) were in the air. The Prime Minister at that time was in Saudi Arabia; he returned and instead of visiting the site of terror, went to attend the election rally. PM Modi did not Chair the all party meeting as he rushed to Bihar where sitting on the dais he was seen joking with BJP’s ally Niteesh Kumar. All the opposition parties; very correctly pledged their support to the ruling coalition in countering the after effects of the terror attack.

This strategy of his was in contrast to his visiting Godhra in Gujarat when he rushed to the site of coach burning within half an hour of the disaster and directed that the burned bodies be taken to Ahmedabad where a procession was taken out with the dead bodies.

The social media was abuzz with messages demonising the terrorists as Muslims. ‘They asked the religion first’ was the central point of spreading Hate against Muslims. This trend is so prevalent here already where Muslims are killed on the pretext of beef and love jihad. They are denied (sale or rent) after asking their names. They are denied jobs because of their religion. The Government and Godi media over projected the Muslim angel of the terror attack. It totally blanked out the failure of security and the absent role of Intelligence in the incident. This is quite akin to the Pulwama case where a mass hysteria was created about the terror attack but failed to take up the issue of how could RDX come in despite the heavy security already in place. This time there is news that there was some indication of impending attack, what was the Government doing to prevent it? One has to cross so many military barricades to reach Baisaran, how can terrorists do that?

After the tragedy the local Muslims, the pony handlers, the auto rickshaw pullers and hotel owners (all Muslims) helped the travellers and decided not to charge them any money. The airlines on the contrary made hay by increasing the airfares taking advantage of the situation. Many Kashmiri students faced harassment in their hostels (were asked to leave) and Kashmiris in different parts of the country faced harassment.

The Indian Government decided the measures to stop the Indo Pak water treaty. Pakistan leadership stated that violating the water treaty is like an act of war. The clouds of confrontation are uncomfortably very much there in the sky.

This terrorism is a bane of Kashmir. Its genesis has been a complex phenomenon. The dissatisfaction among the Kashmiris began with the dilution of the Treaty of accession, when Sheikh Abdullah the lion of Kashmir started feeling the discomfort due to that. He started loud thinking; whether it was a mistake to accede to India. This dissatisfaction had a total Kashmiriyat colour. Kashmiriyat is a culture which synthesises Vedanta Tradition, Buddhist values and Sufi teachings.

This got complicated with Pakistan’s promotion of dissatisfaction and giving it a violent form. In the 1990s as Al Qaeda terrorists became stronger, similar elements turned the purely Kashmiriyat resistance into a communal issue. Kashmiri Pundits were harassed and they emigrated from the valley when V.P. Singh Government, supported by BJP was in power in the centre. Pro BJP Jagmohan continued to oversee the operations in Kashmir when the Pundit exodus took place. He provided facilities for them to emigrate. The move of locals to ensure security and protection to Pundits was thwarted.

While Atal Bihari Vajpayee coined ‘Insaniyat, Kashmiriyat and Jamhiruyat’ (Humanism, Kashmiriyat and democracy) was the best formula coined to ensure peace in the region. The democratic process in Kashmir has been thwarted most of the the time. Instead the measures to suppress the popular will have been the main hall mark from the last many decades. Earlier also elections in Kashmir were not so fair, that is true.

With Modi coming to power initially demonetisation was put forward as a panacea for controlling the terrorism. Demonetisation was an all round failure. Then came the abolition of article 370. This along with demoting Kashmir from statehood to Union territory was touted as the solution to the problem of terror. Claims were made by Home Minister Amit Shah that there is peace and terrorism has been curtailed, which encouraged the tourists from all over the country to travel to Kashmir.

Sporadic acts of terror against Kashmiri Pundits and others kept occurring and tormenting the spirit of Kashmir. Now a Union territory, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is not a part of security cover. Last time Mr. Amit Shah called a high level security meeting, Abdullah was kept out of the process. The Central Government is totally controlling the law and order!

How can terrorism be eliminated? The high handed approach to divert the locals from managing the affairs of the state is a big obstacle to the countering of terror. The repeated failure of security, Pulwama and now Pahalgam is a matter of deep concern. Kashmir as part of India deserves full support from all over India to walk on the path of peace where Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Jamhuriyat has to play a big role. The statehood of Kashmir and strengthening of democratic process is the need of the hour. Our fellow citizens in Kashmir need an atmosphere where due security is provided and tourists can keep flocking to Kashmir fearlessly. Tourism being the main lifeline for survival of the locals deserves utmost consideration in Kashmir policy.

As the nation stands solidly with the ruling Government, the Government in turns needs to take the suggestions of opposition in a serious manner. As some said, war is no solution, war itself is a problem.

2 May 2025

Source: countercurrents.org

By Quds News Network

Occupied Palestine (Quds News Network)- Palestine has become the world’s deadliest place for journalists and media workers, as Israel’s war on Gaza targets not just lives but the truth—dozens of reporters killed, others arrested, and media outlets reduced to rubble.

Every year on May 3, UNESCO commemorates World Press Freedom Day. It is being marked today with Israel’s war on Gaza becoming the deadliest for journalists and media workers.

“When we lose a journalist, we lose our eyes and ears to the outside world. We lose a voice for the voiceless,” Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement last year.

“World Press Freedom Day was established to celebrate the value of truth and to protect the people who work courageously to uncover it.”

“Press freedom is under threat in every region of the world. States harass, detain, torture and even kill media workers, simply for doing their jobs,” the Commissioner said in a statement on Saturday.

World’s Most Dangerous State for Journalists

Reporters Without Borders said on Friday in its World Press Freedom Index 2025 that Israeli forces killed nearly 200 journalists and media workers in the first 18 months of its war in Gaza, at least 42 of whom were killed while doing their job, adding that Palestine has become the world’s most dangerous state for journalists amid the Israeli war.

“Trapped in the enclave, journalists in Gaza have no shelter and lack everything, including food and water,” said the Paris-based group, which is also known by its French acronym RSF.

“In the West Bank, journalists are routinely harassed and attacked by both settlers and Israeli forces, but repression reached new heights with a wave of arrests after 7 October, when impunity for crimes committed against journalists became a new rule.”

At least 212 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since the start of the Israeli assault in October 2023, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office.

“The Government Media Office condemns in the strongest terms the targeting, killing, and assassination of Palestinian journalists by the Israeli occupation,” the Office said in a statement on Saturday.

“We call on the International Federation of Journalists, the Federation of Arab Journalists, and all journalistic bodies in all countries of the world to condemn these systematic crimes against Palestinian journalists and media professionals in the Gaza Strip,” it added.

Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has been considered the deadliest for journalists and media workers in the world in 30 years.

The Office said that Israel targeted journalists “in an attempt to suppress the Palestinian narrative and erase the truth. However, the occupation failed to break the will of our great people.”

Israel’s assault on Gaza has been the “worst ever conflict” for journalists, according to a recent report by the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs.

The report, titled News Graveyards: How Dangers to War Reporters Endanger the World, said the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip had “killed more journalists than the US Civil War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War (including the conflicts in Cambodia and Laos), the wars in Yugoslavia in the 1990s and 2000s, and the post-9/11 war in Afghanistan, combined”.

“In 2023, a journalist or media worker was, on average, killed or murdered every four days. In 2024, it was once every three days,” said the report.

“Most reporters harmed or killed, as is the case in Gaza, are local journalists.”

The Center for Protecting Palestinian Journalists (PJPS) said that the killing of journalists is part of a series of human rights violations committed by the Israeli occupation.

In its annual report, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said a record number of journalists were killed in 2024, with Israel responsible for more than two-thirds of those deaths.

The committee’s chief Jodie Ginsberg said in the statement, “The war in Gaza is unprecedented in its impact on journalists and demonstrates a major deterioration in global norms on protecting journalists in conflict zones, but it is far from the only place journalists are in danger.”

At least 85 journalists died throughout 2024 at the hands of the Israeli military during Israel’s war on Gaza, the CPJ said, with 82 of those who were killed being Palestinians.

The advocacy group also accused Israel of attempting to stifle investigations into the killings, shift blame onto journalists for their own deaths, and ignoring its duty to hold its own military personnel accountable for the killings of so many media workers.

In a recent report, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) described 2024 as “one of the worst years” for media professionals. It condemned the “massacre taking place in Palestine before the eyes of the entire world.”

Arrest and Detention

Israeli occupation forces have carried out at least 180 arrests among Palestinian journalists both in the West Bank and Gaza since the start of the genocide, Palestinian prisoner defense groups said on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day.

Among the 180 arrests, 49 Palestinian journalists who were detained after the genocide began remain behind bars, in addition to six others who were arrested beforehand.

Prisoner groups noted that the occupation continues to forcibly disappear Palestinian journalists Nidal Al-Wahidi and Haitham Abdel Wahid who were abducted from Gaza. Since October 7, the occupation has refused to reveal their fate – whether they are alive or not – despite efforts by numerous human rights organizations and ongoing demands for information. It is known that the occupation employed enforced disappearance broadly against detainees from Gaza.

Among the 49 detained journalists, 19 are being held under the so-called “administrative detention” policy without trial or charge. This policy has affected thousands of Palestinians in an ongoing attempt to impose greater control and censorship, depriving them of their right to freedom of opinion and expression, and preventing them from exposing the occupation’s crimes that permeate every aspect of Palestinian life. Many journalists have been subject to administrative detention — some have been released, while others remain imprisoned. One such case is journalist Nidal Abu Aker from Bethlehem, who has spent nearly 20 years in occupation prisons, most of it under administrative detention.

Detained journalists face all the violations endured by other prisoners, including systematic torture, severe beatings, starvation, medical neglect, and continuous humiliation and abuse. They are held under harsh and degrading detention conditions and are continuously deprived of their rights.

Gaza’s Media Sector Devastated

According to the Gaza Media Office:

1. A total of 143 media institutions have been targeted, including 12 print newspapers, 23 digital news platforms, 11 radio stations, and 4 satellite television channels operating within Gaza.
2. Furthermore, the offices of 12 Arab and international TV networks have been destroyed.
3. 44 homes belonging to journalists were attacked by Israeli airstrikes, while 21 influential social media activists have lost their lives.
4. Printing facilities have been bombed, critical broadcast and production equipment—including cameras and live transmission vehicles—has been destroyed, and numerous digital platforms and social media accounts have been suspended or blocked under claims of “violating community standards.”

The estimated financial loss to Gaza’s media sector has exceeded $400 million, reflecting the scale of a “comprehensive assault that has not only targeted infrastructure and lives but also aimed to silence the voice, image, and narrative of a people.”

212 Stories: Here Are Some

1. Wafa Aludaini, a prominent English-speaking reporter who worked with international news outlets, was killed alongside her husband, Mueir Aludaini, and their two children in an Israeli attack on Septemer 30, 2024.

She was mourned by many fellow journalists who praised her dedication to bringing the stories of Palestinians to the world.

“Aludaini was well-known among European media outlets and conveyed the suffering of our people in English, which she was a master of,” Ahmed Abu Artema, a Palestinian journalist and friend of Aludaini, said.

“The justification for her targeting are her words and work as a journalist,” he added.

2. Al Jazeera Arabic journalist Ismail al-Ghoul and his cameraman Rami al-Rifi were killed in an Israeli air attack on July 31, 2024. The reporters were killed when their car was hit in the Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City.

Days before his death, Ismail sent a message to a colleague, expressing the emotional toll of nearly 300 days of relentless war in Gaza.

“Let me tell you, my friend, that I no longer know the taste of sleep. The bodies of children and the screams of the injured and their blood-soaked images never leave my sight. The cries of mothers and the wailing of men who are missing their loved ones never fade from my ears.”

“I can no longer bear the sound of children’s voices from beneath the rubble, nor can I forget the energy and power that reverberates at every moment, turning into a nightmare. It is no longer easy for me to stand before the rows of coffins, which are locked and extended, or to see the dead people more than the living who are fighting death beneath their homes, not finding a way out to safety and survival.

“I am tired, my friend.”

3. Ahmed Mansour succumbed to burns sustained a day after an Israeli strike on a tent where reporters were known to reside in Khan Younis was set on fire on April 7, 2025.

In a widely shared clip, the correspondent for the local Palestine Today news agency was seen engulfed in flames as colleagues desperately attempted to save him.

“Ahmad burned in front of the whole world,” his wife said at his funeral. “The whole world saw him as he was burning, and nobody was able to help him.”

4. Among those tragically lost in Israel’s targeting of Palestinian journalists is Hossam Shabat, a 23-year-old journalist working for Al Jazeera Mubasher. He was killed in an Israeli airstrike on his car in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza, on 24 March 2025.

Before Hossam’s death, his name was circulating on social media after he told Al Jazeera that Israeli forces were targeting journalists, threatening their families, and warning them to leave their work or face destruction.

His final social media posts reveal just how dedicated he was to telling the truth. In his last message, posted after his death, he wrote: “If you’re reading this, it means I have been killed — most likely targeted — by the Israeli occupation forces.”

In the post, he also wrote: “I fulfilled my duty as a journalist. I risked everything to report the truth, and now, I am finally at rest — something I haven’t known in the past 18 months.”

Reflecting on 18 months of documenting Gaza’s suffering — during which he often slept wherever he could, endured hunger, and risked his life to expose the truth — Hossam described how his work involved taking photos, recording videos, and sharing news updates to reveal the devastation Gaza’s civilians were facing to the world.

He once wrote, “Getting out alive from this war was a miracle for my family,” highlighting the danger of his work, which was driven by his love for his homeland and strong sense of responsibility.

4 May 2025

Source: countercurrents.org

By Quds News Network

Gaza (Quds News Network)- At least 57 people, the majority of whom were children, sick, and elder people, have died from malnutrition in the Gaza Strip since the start of the Israeli genocide in October 2023, as Israel’s blockade of the Palestinian enclave enters its third month.

Since March 2, Israel has closed Gaza’s main crossings, halting the flow of food, medical aid, and other humanitarian supplies. This blockade has caused a severe and unprecedented decline in living conditions, with human rights organizations accusing Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war against Palestinians.

A statement by the Gaza Government Media Office on Saturday confirmed that the number of deaths from malnutrition is expected to increase as the crossings into Gaza remain closed and the entry of aid, baby formula and nutritional supplements have been prevented by Israel.

It added that the vast majority of victims were children as well as sick and elderly people.

It said: “We condemn in the strongest terms the continued use of food by the Israeli occupation as a weapon of war and its imposition of a stifling blockade against more than 2.4 million people in the Gaza Strip by completely closing the crossings for the 63rd consecutive day.”

The Office called on “the international community, humanitarian organisations and human rights organisations to take immediate and effective action and exert pressure by all means to open the Rafah border crossing and all other crossings.”

On Saturday, a baby girl, identified as Janan Saleh al-Sakafi, died of malnutrition and dehydration in the Rantisi Hospital, west of Gaza City.

Israel also resumed its genocide in Gaza on March 18 after violating the ceasefire agreement signed in January, killing over 2,200 Palestinians and wounding more than 5,700—mostly children and women, according the Palestinian Health Ministry.

The United Nations has repeatedly warned of humanitarian catastrophe, with the enclave on the brink of “full-scale famine conditions.”

On Friday, Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for the Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), said the Israeli siege is collectively punishing children, women, older people and men in Gaza.

The UN’s World Food Programme said last week that its food supplies had been “depleted” amid the siege, warning that community kitchens upon which thousands of Palestinians rely would be forced to close.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians of all ages are experiencing high levels of food insecurity in Gaza, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system, a global hunger watchdog.

Children in the enclave have not only faced relentless bombardment, but are also being deprived of essential goods, services and lifesaving care, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement on Friday.

“With each passing day of the aid blockade, they face the growing risk of starvation, illness and death – nothing can justify this,” Russell said. “The sea they used for fishing has been restricted. Bakeries are closing, water production is declining, and market shelves are almost bare.”

In the past month, she said, families have been forced to choose between showering, cleaning, and cooking as access to water is quickly deteriorating.
Vaccines are also running out, Russell warned, and diseases are spreading rapidly.

“Malnutrition is also on the rise,” she said, adding that more than 9,000 children have been admitted for treatment of acute malnutrition since the beginning of the year.

On Saturday, Dr. Munir al-Bursh, the General Director of the Ministry of Health, announced that Gaza has entered the fifth phase of famine. This phase poses the greatest danger to the lives of residents and means witnessing cases of mass deaths.

“We have seen a doubling in child mortality under the age of five, rising from 13 deaths per 1,000 children to 32 per 1,00”, al-Bursh said. “We call on the UN Security Council to declare a state of famine in Gaza and to open humanitarian corridors to deliver food and medicine.”

Gaza Enters Fifth Phase of Famine as Israel Continues to Block Aid for Third Month

Gaza has entered the fifth phase of famine, according to Moneer Al-Boursh, the General Director of the Ministry of Health. This phase poses the greatest danger to the lives of residents and means witnessing cases of mass deaths. The Israeli blockade continues to prevent essential supplies of food, medicine, and water from entering the strip.

“We have seen a doubling in child mortality under the age of five, rising from 13 deaths per 1,000 children to 32 per 1,00”, Al-Boursh said.  “We call on the UN Security Council to declare a state of famine in Gaza and to open humanitarian corridors to deliver food and medicine.”

Earlier this morning, baby girl named Janan Saleh al-Sakafi had died of malnutrition and dehydration at Rantisi Hospital, west of Gaza City. Since the onset of the ongoing Israeli genocide in October 2023, 57 people have died from malnutrition, as reported by Gaza’s Government Media Office.

The medical community in Gaza warns that the situation is critical. Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis stated that children are experiencing severe malnutrition, making medical follow-up difficult due to a lack of treatment supplies. The ongoing blockade indicates a catastrophic future for the children of Gaza.

Since March 2, Israel has closed Gaza’s main crossings, halting the flow of food, medical aid, and all humanitarian supplies. This blockade has led to a severe decline in living conditions. Human rights organizations stress that Israel uses starvation as a weapon of war against the Palestinian people.

The situation escalated further when Israel resumed its attacks on Gaza on March 18, violating a ceasefire agreement. Over 2,200 Palestinians have died, and more than 5,700 have been injured, with children and women bearing the brunt of the Israeli attacks.

The United Nations has repeatedly warned of a looming humanitarian catastrophe, stating that Gaza is on the brink of “full-scale famine conditions.” Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), highlighted that the Israeli siege collectively punishes children, women, and the elderly.

The UN’s World Food Programme reported last week that its food supplies have been “depleted” amid the siege. Community kitchens, vital for thousands of Palestinians, face closure. Hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza are experiencing high levels of food insecurity, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).

4 May 2025

Source: countercurrents.org

As the Freedom Flotilla boat Conscience prepared to sail to deliver life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza, it was struck twice in a drone attack last night.

While the attacker has not yet been confirmed, you know as well as I do that Israel is so hellbent on forcibly starving Gaza that it will destroy any prospect of sustaining life.

Contrary to reports, the 18 international human rights activists on the boat are still at sea with aid on board. As night begins to fall in Malta, they fear another imminent attack. Demand that the Maltese government protect their vessel.

This is the time to be brave. Keep fighting. Read the latest updates below.

• Recent reports confirm the Biden administration never pushed Israel for a ceasefire, allowing Israel to mass murder Palestinians with impunity.
• Trump threatened to illegally strip Harvard University of its tax-exempt status today in an attempt to intimidate universities into complying with his repression plan.
• Palestinians in Gaza are on the brink of a forced famine, as Israel has blocked any humanitarian aid from entering Gaza for two months—with full U.S. backing. Tell Congress to act now.

• You’ve collectively sent 1.2 million emails to universities nationwide to demand they protect student rights amid repression. Meanwhile students refuse to back down, protesting across the country.
• Mohsen Mahdawi is free! Mohsen, a Palestinian student at Columbia University, has been released after over two weeks in ICE detention. You also helped pressure the Trump administration to reinstate thousands of student visas.
• In Morocco, protests have taken off to block and delay Maersk ships from docking. Dockworkers resigned in protest of Maersk’s role in shipping weapons for Israel to commit genocide.
• Your support has spread awareness about where our tax dollars are going, driving a spike in traffic with 18,000 active users visiting the Not My Tax Dollars map this past month.

• SOS: The Freedom Flotilla ship carrying life-saving aid to Gaza was attacked in a drone strike overnight before it even departed. Demand emergency protection. 
• Plan a protest May 12-18 during the 77 Years of Ongoing Nakba international week of action.
• The Nakba (Arabic for “catastrophe”) has been ongoing for 77 years. Tell your members of Congress to cosponsor the resolution to recognize the ongoing Nakba.
• Demand that the Michigan State Attorney General drop the charges against University of Michigan Gaza solidarity encampment protesters.
• Organize an action on Anti-Chevron Day on May 21 for the Boycott Chevron campaign. Pressure Chevron to cut ties with Israel and stop fueling environmental destruction.

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AHMAD ABUZNAID

Executive Director

USCPR Action

5 May 2025