Home
The devastating impact of 15 months of war on Gaza
The devastating impact of 15 months of war on Gaza
By Emma Graham-Harrison, The Guardian, 15 January 2025
The Israeli response to Hamas’s attacks on 7 October 2023 has killed tens of thousands, left most schools and hospitals in ruins, and caused long-term damage to agricultural land in the territory
Israel began bombing Gaza on 7 October 2023, after Hamas crossed the border, killed approximately 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage to Gaza.
When ground operations began a week later, most observers in Israel and beyond expected the fighting to last weeks. Instead, it extended for 15 months until Wednesday’s announcement of a ceasefire, to become Israel’s longest war since the 1948 conflict that led to the country’s creation.
The majority of those killed by militants on 7 October were civilians, and the scale and ferocity of the attack was unprecedented. So was the scale and ferocity of Israel’s response.
After one brief ceasefire and hostage release deal in November 2023, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to keep fighting, promising “total victory” over Hamas.
The impact of the campaign on civilians living in Gaza led to accusations of genocide, including from rights groups, scholars and foreign governments. South Africa brought a case to the international court of justice.
Omer Bartov, a former soldier in the Israel Defense Forces and historian of genocide, wrote that by May 2024 “it was no longer possible to deny that Israel was engaged in systematic war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocidal actions”.
The UN Human Rights Office said in November that data on verified deaths indicates “an apparent indifference to the death of civilians and the impact of the means and methods of warfare”.
Even Israel’s staunchest ally, the United States, restricted some weapons shipments over the concerns, and in September the UK suspended some arms export licences owing to Israel’s conduct of the war.
Netanyahu and his former minister of defence Yoav Gallant have been issued with arrest warrants by the international criminal court for alleged war crimes relating to the conflict. The Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif has also been issued with an arrest warrant.
Below is a summary of the cost of the war for Gaza and its people.
The dead and wounded in Gaza
More than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed inside Gaza by Israeli attacks, according to health officials in the territory. Most of the dead are civilians, and the total represents about 2% of Gaza’s prewar population, or one in every 50.
More than 40,000 have been identified, including 13,319 child victims, the youngest only a couple of hours old. The elderly dead include a 101-year-old great-great-grandfather.
Another 110,000 have been wounded, over a quarter of whom now live with life-changing injuries including amputations, major burns and head injuries.
Yet these figures do not tell the full story of Palestinian losses. The official count of the war dead includes only those killed by bombs and bullets, whose bodies have been recovered and buried.
About 10,000 people killed by airstrikes are thought to be entombed in collapsed buildings, because of the lack of heavy equipment or fuel to dig through steel and concrete ruins looking for them.
A study published this month found the official toll underestimated deaths from traumatic injuries in the first nine months of the war, failing to capture two in every five casualties. That would suggest that by October 2024 “the true mortality figures probably exceeded 70,000”, the authors wrote.
Hunger, lack of shelter and medication, the rapid spread of infectious diseases and the collapse of the healthcare system have killed many other Palestinians during the war. Authorities plan to count those dead when the fighting stops, Dr Marwan al-Hams, the director of field hospitals at the ministry of health, has said.
Israeli officials question the death toll given by the authorities in Gaza, arguing that because Hamas controls the government there, Gaza’s health officials cannot provide reliable figures.
But doctors and civil servants in the territory have a credible record from past wars. After several conflicts between 2009 and 2021, UN investigators drew up their own lists of the dead and found they closely matched ones from Gaza.
‘Domicide’ and displacement
Israel’s campaign of intense aerial bombing and mass demolitions has levelled swathes of Gaza, and left whole neighbourhoods barely habitable.
Nine in 10 homes in the territory have been destroyed or damaged, the latest UN figures show. Schools, hospitals, mosques, cemeteries, shops and offices have also been repeatedly hit.
The devastation is so intense that some experts say that the large-scale destruction of homes and the infrastructure of daily life should be recognised as a new war crime: “domicide”.
Even where homes are still standing, many residents have been forced to leave. Eighty percent of Gaza’s territory was placed under evacuation orders that were still active in late December.
Some 1.9 million people have been displaced, 90% of the population, with many of them forced to move repeatedly.
Hundreds of thousands now are living in tent cities and severely overcrowded shelters with poor sanitation and access to little clean water. Shelters have also been attacked.
For rebuilding to start, Gaza will need a staggering clean-up operation. The war has left over 40m tonnes of debris, in collapsed buildings that may be laced with explosives including boobytraps and unexploded bombs. It could take over a decade to remove, a top UN de-mining official warned in spring.
The Israeli military says its fight is against Hamas and not Gaza, that its bombardment is proportional to threats and that it makes every effort to warn citizens of imminent attacks.
Schools and education
Almost every school building in Gaza has been damaged or destroyed, and none are in operation. Gaza’s 660,000 school-age children have not had any access to formal education for more than a year.
The war will set education back there by up to five years, and risks creating a lost generation of permanently traumatised youth, a study by Cambridge academics and the UN found.
There were 564 school buildings in Gaza on 7 October 2023. Of these, 534 have been damaged or destroyed and 12 are classified as “possible damage”. The status of the remaining 18 schools is “currently not known”, Unicef said in an October report.
Schools run by the Unrwa agency for Palestinian schools have been converted into emergency shelters. They host large numbers of displaced people and are clearly marked on maps, but many have been bombed, with some targeted multiple times.
Israel says strikes targeted Hamas fighters, claiming they shelter in the buildings and use civilian residents as human shields.
Hospitals and healthcare
Israeli forces repeatedly bombed, besieged and attacked hospitals in Gaza throughout the war. Medics were killed, injured, detained and tortured.
There were 654 attacks on health facilities recorded since the start of the war, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in January 2025.
Over 1,050 healthcare workers, including nurses, paramedics, doctors, and other medical personnel were killed, many in their place of work. Dozens of others were detained, and at least three died in Israeli custody.
At the end of 2024, just 17 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals were even partially functional. Services were boosted by 11 field hospitals, but Israeli controls on the entry of aid and relief workers meant these were often short of doctors and medical supplies.
A UN commission concluded that Israel’s “relentless and deliberate attacks on medical personnel and facilities” constituted war crimes.
They amounted to “a concerted policy to destroy Gaza’s healthcare system as part of a broader assault on Gaza”, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory found.
The lack of hospitals, healthcare staff and medication compounded the suffering of people injured in the war, and suffering from diseases caused or compounded by lack of shelter, food and clean water.
In 2024, more than 1.2 million respiratory infections were recorded, along with 570,000 cases of acute diarrhoea, UN figures showed.
Hunger and aid shortages
Israeli controls on aid entering Gaza, and the destruction of agricultural production inside the territory, led to widespread hunger and malnutrition.
In November 2024, the UN said aid and commercial shipments into Gaza were at the lowest levels since October 2023, and an international watchdog said famine was likely “imminent” in the northern Gaza Strip.
In January the UN said 96% of children under two years old and women in Gaza were not getting their required nutrients, 345,000 people faced catastrophic food shortages, and 876,000 faced emergency levels of food insecurity.
Malnutrition in pregnancy and childhood stunts mental and physical development, so many children who survived the war will endure lifelong impacts from food shortages.
Israel said it did not limit aid shipments and blamed logistics failures at aid agencies, or Hamas theft of food aid, for any shortages.
Environment
At least half Gaza’s tree cover has been razed, soil and water have been contaminated and there is huge damage to agricultural land. The destruction will have long-term impacts on ecosystems, biodiversity, food security and the health of residents, ecologists and academics say.
Some damage has come directly from Israeli attacks on farms and other infrastructure.
By March this year, approximately 40% of the land in Gaza previously used for food production had been destroyed, an investigation by Forensic Architecture found. Satellite analysis revealed to the Guardian shows farms devastated and nearly half of the territory’s trees razed.
The Israeli military damaged or destroyed least 31 of 54 water reservoirs by late August, Human Rights Watch found. Toxic residue from munitions and fires have polluted both soil and water supplies.
Other forms of damage have been indirect. When Israel cut off fuel, electricity and chemical supplies within the first week of the war, all wastewater treatment and most sewage pumping plants were forced to shut down, leading to sewage overflows into the sea and groundwater.
Amid widespread aid shortages Gaza’s hungry and freezing residents have also burned toxic plastics and cut down trees to use the wood for fuel and cooking.
The war in numbers
Palestinians killed in Gaza: 46,707
Children confirmed killed in Gaza: 13,319
Palestinians reported buried under rubble in Gaza: 11,000
Palestinians injured in Gaza: 110,265
Palestinians displaced in Gaza: 1.9 million (90% of the population)
Attacks on healthcare facilities during the war: 654
Health workers killed: 1,060
Schools damaged or destroyed: 534 (95% of schools)
Children out of formal education: 660,000 (all school-age children)
Homes damaged or destroyed: 436,000 (92% of total)
People killed inside Israel on 7 October 2023: about 1,200
People abducted to Gaza from Israel on 7 October 2023: 251
Hostages still in Gaza in January 2025: 101 (37 believed dead)
Disclaimer
Opinions expressed in this article remain those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The New Arab, its editorial board or staff or CEMAS Board.
ACLED's 2025 Conflict Watchlist
ACLED's 2025 Conflict Watchlist
LONDON - Informed by the Conflict Index findings, in Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) 2025 Conflict Watchlist, we identify 10 crisis areas that are likely to evolve in the coming year, both for better and for worse. The Watchlist goes beyond showcasing violent hotspots and instead offers a view into some of the world’s most complex crises. This year's Watchlist examines the latest data while providing analysis of key trends to monitor in the coming months. The 2025 Watchlist includes:
- Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon
- Iran and its allies
- Myanmar
- Mexico
- The Sahel and Coastal West Africa
- Sudan
- Ukraine
- Colombia
- Pakistan
- and the Great Lakes region.
To download the report, visit: https://acleddata.com/conflict-watchlist-2025/?utm_source=Armed+Conflict+Location+%26+Event+Data+Project&utm_campaign=02540c432e-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_09_21_06_50_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_26a454684a-02540c432e-99497315
Torture, rape, abuse: New Palestinian testimonies reveal horrors of Israel's prisons
Torture, rape, abuse: New Palestinian testimonies reveal horrors of Israel's prisons
By Ahmed Basyouni, The New Arab, 14 November 2024
In-depth: Harrowing testimonies from Tariq Abed and Al-Araby TV journalist Mohammed Arab reveal shocking details of torture, rape, and abuse in Israeli jails.
Since Israel's war on Gaza began last October, thousands of Palestinians, including residents, medical staff, patients, and captured fighters have been detained and taken to Israel, usually shackled and blindfolded, according to the UN.
Within Israel's network of prisons, Palestinians face arbitrary, prolonged, and incommunicado detention, with documented evidence of horrific torture, rape, abuse, and other cruel and degrading treatment. At Least 53 Palestinians have died in Israeli jails over the past year as a result of these conditions.
The number of prisoners detained from Gaza is in addition to the 11,600 Palestinians currently held in Israeli jails.
Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, The New Arab's Arabic-language sister edition, has published the testimonies of two Palestinian detainees held in Israel's prison network since the war began.
Tariq Abed and Al-Araby TV correspondent Mohammed Arab were detained in Gaza eight months ago. Their testimonies were taken by two lawyers - Khaled Mahajna and 'M. A.' - who visited the prisoners in Ofer jail on 14 July 2024.
This is journalist Mohammed Arab's second testimony and Tariq Abed's first.
Mohammed Arab was transferred to Ofer Prison on 2 July 2024 after being interviewed by lawyers on 19 June 2024. The testimony he gave, which was aired on Al-Araby TV, caused global outrage, leading to calls to close the notorious Sde Teiman army base due to crimes against humanity and war crimes being committed there.
A number of Israeli soldiers were also referred for investigation.
Warning: This article contains details of graphic sexual violence and torture that readers may find upsetting
Mohammed Arab's second testimony
(When Mohammed Arab came in to be interviewed he was blindfolded and his wrists and ankles were shackled. He was wearing clean clothes, which contrasted with the initial visit on 19 June).
How are you, Mohammed? Are you OK? We want to tell you we have spoken with your family, your children are OK, they say hello, and say they can't wait to see you
Mohammed Arab: My family are still alive? Thank God for their safety…I am not OK. I underwent exhausting interrogation and continuous questioning after your last visit before I was transferred.
Did you know I was brought here a few days after your visit? Three soldiers took me for questioning in another ward. Every question concerned what I'd said to you in the interview [...]
They threatened to torture me - on top of the relentless beating. Their final threat was that they'd kill me for the leaks aired on Al-Araby TV, and how the world exploded at what was happening in Sde Teiman prison.
(Mohammed didn't know he was in Ofer prison when asked if he knew where he was)
I believe I'm in Sofa camp near Gaza, no?
You're in Ofer military prison in Ramallah
MA: It seems they don't intend to let me go. They took us in Israeli army vehicles, me and 100 other prisoners, we were blindfolded […]
Are you still being medically neglected? Are you still being tortured? Interrogated?
MA: What happened to us in Sde Teiman is still happening to us here, but to varying degrees. Like last time, there are threats of beating if we make any movement; we’re forbidden from talking, from turning or raising our heads.
We're still being beaten - we're beaten like it's the first day of our arrest, every day is like day one in everything, the pain, the screaming, the torture, the interrogation, we haven't got used to it and we haven't acclimatised.
There are over 100 sick prisoners here with me, all of them from Gaza. Some have chronic diseases, some have been injured under torture, and all of them scream from the pain, as there is no treatment.
They beat us exactly where it hurts […]. Firstly I want to tell you what happened after your visit. What I saw I can't believe even now.
Do you mean in Sde Teiman prison? What happened?
MA: Yes…one day after your visit, a group of soldiers came with dogs, they came to where we were. They selected prisoners at random from every age group … children, young men, old men. They made them lie on the ground, face down, their hands tied behind their heads.
They made the dogs attack them, tearing at the skin and flesh of the prisoners […], then they stood them up and put them in a corner where there was a big "iron window". They put [the prisoners'] hands on the window, then began beating them on their backs, their buttocks, and their legs from behind.
Then they set the dogs on them again, and then one of the soldiers tried to get one of the dogs to rape one of the prisoners! They teach their dogs to have sex with prisoners! Can you imagine?
(Mohammed Arab went silent briefly, then carried on hesitantly)
They raped prisoners in front of my eyes, they killed prisoners in front of my eyes!
How? They raped prisoners? You mean they brought female soldiers and stripped the men for example? Do you know who was killed? Do you know who was raped?
MA: No! There were no female soldiers there at all, they brought a prisoner they selected randomly; his name is 'H.M.' and they started torturing him until his screaming echoed in the space - they were hitting him viciously.
Then they stripped him naked, put his body on the ground, and lifted up his buttocks then they brought a fire extinguisher, and started beating his backside with it. Then they inserted the fire nozzle into his anus and opened it…they raped him with a fire extinguisher, and they emptied it inside him, they were saying to him in broken Arabic: "We want to put out your pain and make you forget it"…then he lost consciousness.
They transferred him with me here, and he is in a bad psychological state, in shock until now - he doesn't speak to anyone.
They attacked another prisoner called "J.M." in the same way - they beat him and abused him, and brought in dogs to rape him. They stripped him naked and put the dogs on top of him, they were ripping at his flesh, then a soldier came carrying an "electrical baton", which emitted high-voltage electric shocks, and they started beating the prisoner on his genitals.
One of the prisoners, from the "S" family - an older man of around sixty who had health problems - was always asking them for treatment and asking to be transferred to a hospital or the health ward.
They ignored his request. The soldiers assaulted him because he wasn't sitting correctly, they beat him savagely until he lost consciousness. They then kept beating him, until he died in their hands. When they realised he was dead, they picked him up and took him to an unknown location - no one knows anything about him.
(A soldier entered and said it was the end of the visit)
Tariq Abed's testimony
Tariq Abed is a prisoner from the Gaza Strip. He was kidnapped over 160 days ago, kept in an Israeli military camp in the Gaza envelope for 45 days, and then taken to an unknown location for 20 days. When asked about where he was before, he said he didn't know, but that he had been in Ofer since 4 August 2024.
He was interrogated once. The questions were about Hamas, rockets, and fighters, and were accompanied by beating and torture. To each question he would answer: I'm a civilian, I'm a civilian. Tariq was brought before a court once during the month of Ramadan, and the interview was conducted via a soldier's smartphone.
The judge extended his detention indefinitely, on charges of communicating and dealing with Hamas.
How are you? Are you ok?
Tariq Abed: I'm not OK, thanks be to God for all his trials. They torture us constantly, they beat everyone all the time, there is no place to rest here. I don't know what we've done to deserve all this death, beating and torture! How [would they be] if it were us occupying them? How [would they be] if it were us besieging them and killing them?
We're sorry to hear this, we hope that God will ease for all of us, as you said, this trial. Can you tell us about your situation in the prison?
TA: Compared to what I hear from prisoners they've transferred here? I'm in bliss! Ofer prison differs to prisons I've been in before, in appearance.
It consists of small concrete rooms, without any ventilation, and each room is around 6x5 metres in size. The room contains iron bedframes, and 16 prisoners are in each [room]. The beds have no mattresses or pillows, and there are no blankets. At times, the number of prisoners in the room rises to around 25 [...]
There is a small opening in the room's door which is used to give food to us. Most of the time our wrists are tied. The food is passed through this opening (he gestures towards the opening in the door), and we eat while our hands are still tied. Some of the others eat like camels, God strengthen them, as their hands were broken.
The food is terrible, even worse than in previous prisons I've been in […] each prisoner gets 100g of bread, a cucumber or a tomato, and a small bag of yoghurt, and this meal is given to us three times a day as breakfast, lunch, dinner.
In the rooms, the toilet is exposed to everyone and we relieve ourselves in front of each other. The toilet is the Arab type, not the Western type. The rooms are monitored by cameras which stay on overlooking the toilet. There's a tap over the cubicle, but the water from it is drinking water… We're only allowed to shower for one minute. My clothes have only been changed once since I arrived, so there's no point in showering if your clothes themselves are dirty… so I am not dishonest, I did change my shirt and had a haircut a few weeks ago.
How were you and the prisoners treated? Were you tortured?
TA: During Ramadan, they said to us: "We've prepared a play for you"…they brought three Qurans into the room we were in. Then they chose three young men, made them sit on clean mattresses, and took pictures and videos of them like that. When this ended, the officer started ripping up the Qurans in front of the prisoners, before trampling on them.
In Ofer, there are two wards which the soldiers called "Hell" and "Purgatory", which are designated for torture.
We can't see what happens from inside the rooms, but we hear the screaming of other prisoners being tortured.
A few days ago, the prisoners in rooms 5, 6 and 7 were badly beaten. The soldiers went in with their dogs and attacked all the prisoners, breaking the hands of most of them.
I was in the opposite room and watched what was happening through the small opening and heard the prisoners' screams and the sounds of the assault. I heard them crying. The reason for the beating was that they were making noise.
The soldiers are always coming in wearing masks, uttering obscene insults, mocking our symptoms, cursing God and religion, insulting Islam, describing us with the worst words, and threatening us with rape and murder.
They have raped prisoners here, sexually humiliated them, and filmed everything. There was a prisoner called "M.N." who had been suffering from severe pains in his body for days. He asked to be taken to the clinic, and he was taken, but instead of receiving treatment, he was beaten and then returned to his place, and whenever he cried out from the pain, they beat him more.
(A soldier entered, and said it was the end of the visit and took Tariq)
This is an edited translation from our Arabic edition. To read the original article click here.
Translated by Rose Chacko
Disclaimer
The opinion expressed in this aper is that of the author and does not necessarily reflect that of the CEMAS Board.
Ceaseless hours in northern Gaza
Ceaseless hours in northern Gaza
By SHAHD ABUSALAMA, Declassified UK, 15 October 2024
ISRAELI OCCUPIED GAZA - My family is experiencing what they say is ‘the worst stage of genocide’ as Israel attempts to empty and annex northern Gaza.
Jabalia Refugee Camp in northern Gaza, where I was born and raised, has been facing relentless, indiscriminate Israeli bombing, targeting concentrations of displaced Palestinians.
Entire neighbourhoods have been razed to the ground. Torn bodies are bleeding to death in the streets or amongst the rubble while paramedics and firefighters are denied safe passage to evacuate the killed and injured.
The remaining survivors in my family there have been displaced multiple times, with some of them besieged inside their homes under heavy and constant bombardment. They are dispersed, dispossessed and grieving their losses while expecting to be the next victim of Israel’s killing machines at any moment.
My family have been experiencing what they describe as “the worst stage of genocide”. This is contrary to the misleading news of Israel classifying Gaza as a “secondary battleground” and shifting most of its military resources to fight Hezbollah on its northern front in Lebanon.
It feels like genocide is being repeated all over again, but on a wider scale and at a faster pace, undeterred and unlimited to any boundaries.
Nearly half a million Palestinian refugees have remained north of the Gaza Valley, resisting Israel’s criminal “evacuation” orders — the forced displacement and dispossession of Palestinians which re-escalated soon after 7 October 2023.
Those refugees include most of my uncles, aunts, cousins and their children, dear neighbours, teachers and childhood friends. They refused to follow Israel’s orders to “head south” because the Nakba (Catastrophe) of 1948 and uninterrupted violence that shaped their lives ever since taught them that perceived temporary displacement can become a permanent reality.
Israel’s collective punishment which they have been enduring for resisting forced displacement, leaves me at loss for words to give justice to its gruesome and apocalyptic nature.
Siege
Earlier this month, on 5 October, for the third time since the beginning of the Gaza genocide, Israeli forces imposed a siege on northern Gaza, including the areas of Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia, Jabalia Refugee Camp and Jabalia Town, completely segregating it from the south.
Since 1 October they have also cut off all humanitarian supplies to the north, leaving people to die if not by bombs, then by forced starvation.
This brutal siege is part of the “Generals’ plan” which would, if successful, “change the reality” on the ground in Gaza, as reportedly described by retired Israeli General Giora Eiland. He has envisioned emptying northern Gaza of civilians and starving out or killing anyone who stays as a legitimate “target”.
While Israeli media are publicly speaking about Israel’s ambitions to empty and annex northern Gaza, Western media continue to repeat its official talking lines, presenting this third major invasion of the area in terms of “self-defence” to eliminate the regrouped Palestinian resistance.
Last month, in a closed meeting between members of the Israeli parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, Eiland proposed this siege plan as an “effective military tactic” to “destroy Hamas”. “What matters to [recently assassinated Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar is land and dignity, and with this manoeuvre, you take away both land and dignity”, he said.
This “Generals’ Plan” is now playing itself out for people in northern Gaza, including the surviving members of my family.
Unimaginable times
In my previous article for Declassified, I reported Israel’s killing of my cousin Yousef on 1 November 2023, for whom we continue to grieve amid the consistent shrinking of my extended family.
In an unanticipated turn of events, however, Yousef’s younger brother Wasim and his wife Mona welcomed their first baby on 7 October 2024 amid this recent siege on northern Gaza. They called their newborn boy Yousef, insisting on his memory as a reminder of our people’s desire to live and determination to ensure justice, freedom and dignity for future generations.
Baby Yousef arrived during unimaginable times that led to the displacement of his family twice in the span of one week.
He is one of 22 relatives now crammed together in a partially destroyed house in Gaza City that was left abandoned by its original owners.
With no access to clean water, food or other necessities of survival, Mona’s wounds from the birth of Yousef are not healing, causing inflammations, extreme pain and breastfeeding difficulties.
Her stitches from birth keep reopening because of malnutrition and lack of sanitation and medical care.
Israeli drones
Amidst anxiety over the survival of Mona and the newborn baby, an eight year-old cousin, Ilyas, sustained severe injuries in the Beach Camp, located along the Mediterranean Sea coastline in northern Gaza.
Shortly after escaping Jabalia Refugee Camp to what they hoped would be a safer place, an Israeli drone targeted Ilyas while playing marbles with other children in Beach Camp, leaving five killed, most of whom were children and elderly people.
Despite Ilyas’ critical physical condition and mental health, he was released from Gaza’s Al-Ahli Baptist hospital four days later as the facility is increasingly overwhelmed with a constant flood of injured people amid Israel’s mounting atrocities.
The burden on Ilyas’ family doesn’t end here. Ilyas is the youngest brother of Abood Abusalama, one of my closest cousins who has been tirelessly working from northern Gaza as a frontline reporter. At times, he has been my only channel of communication with family survivors when Israel cuts off telecommunications.
Abood has been busy documenting atrocities that didn’t spare children of his own family or his colleagues.
Targeting journalists
This latest ethnic cleansing campaign on Jabalia has been accompanied by escalating and deliberate targeting of journalists in northern Gaza, showing that Israel wants to suppress the truth about what is happening.
In a single day, 9 October, Abood documented Israel’s killing of Mohamed al-Tanani, a cameraman for Al-Aqsa TV, and the maiming of his colleague Tamer Lubbad and Fadi al-Wahidi, a cameraman for Al Jazeera Arabic.
Despite constant risks, he continues to do what he deems a duty towards his people, who have been practically abandoned by the international community, particularly Western mainstream media which continue to offer lip service to Israel’s mounting crimes.
In a report published in September, Gaza’s health ministry released information on 34,344 Palestinians killed in attacks by Israeli forces between October 2023 and 31 August this year, in a continuously rising death toll that has now surpassed 42,500.
Some 11,300 of out of the more than 14,100 children killed were also identified, 20 percent of whom were born and killed during the genocide.
If we follow the logic presented by the July 2024 Lancet report, the real number of deaths could have exceeded 200,000 by now.
Systematic elimination
It has never been as crystal clear that Israel is systematically eliminating the Palestinians from their land under the rubric of eliminating Hamas.
Even as Israel proclaimed “victory” for the elimination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in the southern district of Rafah, and allies from the US to the UK and Germany rushed to offer their congratulations, news of endless massacres continued to flood in from northern Gaza.
As genocide continues to accelerate and claim more innocent lives with each passing day, it seems as if Israel has concluded that the only way to exist as a settler-colonial and apartheid state is through perpetual mass extermination and devastation of the Palestinian people, and any Arab opposition.
Israel cannot expect to get away with committing a genocide against a whole people they have repeatedly dispossessed, occupied and demeaned since their existence on their ethnic cleansing, with no consequences.
This genocide, often described as the most-televised genocide in history, will be imprinted in the minds of generations to come, and that is not limited to the Palestinians, but will include every person of conscience. Oppression breeds resistance, and such unprecedented terror can only be met by a more determined resistance.
Author
Dr. Shahd Abusalama is a Palestinian scholar, activist and artist, born and raised in Jabalia Refugee Camp, northern Gaza. Her Ph.D. from Sheffield Hallam University explored the historical representations of Gaza and its refugees in documentary films, and will be published by Bloomsbury this year, under the title, ‘Between Reality and Documentary’.
Disclaimer
The opinion expressed in this aper is that of the author and does not necessarily reflect that of the CEMAS Board.
Page 2 of 57
Warning: Illegal string offset 'active' in /home/cemasorg/public_html/templates/northsouthnews/html/pagination.php on line 90
Warning: Illegal string offset 'active' in /home/cemasorg/public_html/templates/northsouthnews/html/pagination.php on line 96
Warning: Illegal string offset 'active' in /home/cemasorg/public_html/templates/northsouthnews/html/pagination.php on line 90
Warning: Illegal string offset 'active' in /home/cemasorg/public_html/templates/northsouthnews/html/pagination.php on line 96
Warning: Illegal string offset 'active' in /home/cemasorg/public_html/templates/northsouthnews/html/pagination.php on line 90
Warning: Illegal string offset 'active' in /home/cemasorg/public_html/templates/northsouthnews/html/pagination.php on line 96
Warning: Illegal string offset 'active' in /home/cemasorg/public_html/templates/northsouthnews/html/pagination.php on line 90
Warning: Illegal string offset 'active' in /home/cemasorg/public_html/templates/northsouthnews/html/pagination.php on line 96
Warning: Illegal string offset 'active' in /home/cemasorg/public_html/templates/northsouthnews/html/pagination.php on line 90
Warning: Illegal string offset 'active' in /home/cemasorg/public_html/templates/northsouthnews/html/pagination.php on line 96
Warning: Illegal string offset 'active' in /home/cemasorg/public_html/templates/northsouthnews/html/pagination.php on line 90
Warning: Illegal string offset 'active' in /home/cemasorg/public_html/templates/northsouthnews/html/pagination.php on line 96
Warning: Illegal string offset 'active' in /home/cemasorg/public_html/templates/northsouthnews/html/pagination.php on line 90
Warning: Illegal string offset 'active' in /home/cemasorg/public_html/templates/northsouthnews/html/pagination.php on line 96
Warning: Illegal string offset 'active' in /home/cemasorg/public_html/templates/northsouthnews/html/pagination.php on line 90
Warning: Illegal string offset 'active' in /home/cemasorg/public_html/templates/northsouthnews/html/pagination.php on line 96
Warning: Illegal string offset 'active' in /home/cemasorg/public_html/templates/northsouthnews/html/pagination.php on line 90
Warning: Illegal string offset 'active' in /home/cemasorg/public_html/templates/northsouthnews/html/pagination.php on line 96
Warning: Illegal string offset 'active' in /home/cemasorg/public_html/templates/northsouthnews/html/pagination.php on line 90
Warning: Illegal string offset 'active' in /home/cemasorg/public_html/templates/northsouthnews/html/pagination.php on line 96
Main News
Mediterranean
Lebanon’s Army in Limbo: History, Constraints and Uncertain Futures
Israeli settlers torch Palestinian homes amid record year of settler terror in West Bank
What we know about the reported US-Iran MOU, Lebanon's place in it
Foundations of Zionism: Sabri Jiryis on the making of a colonial project in Palestine
Africa
Navigating Financial Gateways and Security in Interactive Gaming
The intricate architecture of the modern interactive gambling ecosystem requires consumers to possess a highly analytical mindset, particularly regarding financial logistics and digital security. Gone are the days when a flashy banner advertisement and a rudimentary software interface were sufficient to attract and retain a dedicated audience. Today's most successful digital portals are complex, highly regulated financial and entertainment ecosystems that must seamlessly balance the adrenaline of high-stakes gaming with impenetrable digital security and flawless operational logistics. For a platform to truly excel in this fiercely competitive environment, it must offer a holistic package: verified mathematical fairness, remarkably rapid transaction speeds, and a banking infrastructure that provides absolute peace of mind. It is within this refined context that discerning players must evaluate their options, examining the foundational integrity of the operation's cashier system.
When discussing platforms that prioritize exceptional security and regulatory redundancy, Royalistplay instantly comes to the forefront. This destination distinguishes itself significantly in the market through its dual licensing from both the prestigious UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority. This exceptional level of regulatory oversight demonstrates a profound, serious commitment to legal compliance and player protection that sets Royalistplay apart from many standard competitors. The platform backs up this security with a highly balanced welcome package offering a 100% match up to €300 alongside a notably generous allocation of 200 free spins. Their curated selection of over 2,500 games covers all major categories, with a particular strength in progressive jackpot slots where potentially life-changing sums accumulate. Most importantly, Royalistplay processes withdrawals with remarkable efficiency, particularly for e-wallet users whose cashouts are typically completed within a rapid 12 to 24-hour window.
Speaking of highly successful hybrid integration, Winamax perfectly exemplifies exactly how to successfully merge two massive, highly distinct entertainment sectors into one cohesive, secure platform. Originally celebrated primarily across continental Europe for its massive peer-to-peer poker networks and highly comprehensive sports wagering markets, Winamax has steadily evolved to include a highly polished, robust interactive casino section featuring over 1,500 meticulously selected titles. This destination is incredibly attractive to versatile consumers who deeply enjoy alternating between sports wagering and engaging with digital amusements. Their unique promotional structure perfectly reflects this dual focus, frequently offering €100 in free bets alongside 50 free spins. Holding a strict MGA license, Winamax is globally renowned for its deeply reliable, rapid payment processing and possesses one of the most technologically advanced, flawlessly stable mobile applications available on the market.
Understanding the logistical efficiency of financial transactions remains the absolute most critical metric by which active, serious users judge a platform's overall, real-world quality. A massive portfolio of entertaining software is entirely negated if an operator actively stalls or deliberately complicates the withdrawal process.
- E-wallet solutions, primarily driven by major global brands like PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller, consistently offer the absolute most rapid transaction speeds, frequently settling accounts within a highly efficient 24 to 48-hour cycle.
- Traditional credit and debit cards, like Visa and Mastercard, provide familiar, instant deposits, but subsequent withdrawals can take anywhere from 3 to 5 business days to fully process through the banking networks.
- Direct bank transfers offer incredibly high security and are ideal for moving massive sums of money without third-party involvement, though they typically suffer from the longest processing times, sometimes requiring up to 7 business days.
- Instant banking solutions, such as Trustly, effectively bridge the gap by connecting directly to your bank account while facilitating near-instantaneous withdrawals at supported platforms.
- Prepaid vouchers like Paysafecard offer incredible, unparalleled security and strict budget control for initial deposits, ensuring your banking details are never shared online.
The bedrock of any secure digital wagering experience is the flawless implementation of impenetrable cryptographic security. When sensitive personal data and financial information are transmitted from a personal device to the operator's remote servers, they must be shielded by military-grade protocols. Modern consumers must be highly vigilant in ensuring their chosen platform adheres strictly to these technical standards. The presence of Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption is entirely non-negotiable for protecting all personal and financial data. Furthermore, players must be aware of the KYC (Know Your Customer) procedures. All legitimate platforms are legally bound to verify a player's identity before releasing funds. Submitting high-quality scans of a passport, a recent utility bill, and proof of payment method is a standard anti-money laundering practice. Completing this step proactively ensures that your withdrawal requests are processed without frustrating administrative delays.
Customer support infrastructure represents another incredibly critical pillar of a premium entertainment hub. Even the absolute most technologically advanced, perfectly coded platforms will occasionally encounter unpredictable software glitches or highly complex financial routing anomalies. When a user's hard-earned capital is actively in transit, the ability to immediately contact a highly knowledgeable human representative is paramount. Top-tier operations invest heavily in their support centers, offering completely uninterrupted, round-the-clock live chat services staffed by highly trained agents who possess the actual administrative authority to manually investigate and resolve complex account issues in real-time. This level of immediate accessibility provides a profound psychological safety net.
From a legal and financial standpoint, players should also be intimately aware of the specific tax implications surrounding their potential winnings. In many highly favorable jurisdictions, such as Ireland, profits derived from recreational interactive wagering are legally classified as tax-exempt. This incredible benefit means the individual retains the full mathematical value of their success without obligatory declarations to national revenue services, maximizing the value of every winning session. However, it is crucial to remember that while winnings are tax-free, gambling losses are not tax-deductible. This favorable tax status is a massive advantage when selecting a premier casino online ireland platform, but it underscores the importance of playing responsibly, as professional gamblers may face different taxation rules.
Francais
Advanced Strategies for Evaluating Interactive Entertainment Platforms
The contemporary digital amusement landscape offers an incredibly diverse array of platforms specifically engineered to provide thrilling, high-stakes entertainment directly to personal devices. As technological capabilities have expanded exponentially, so too has the sophistication of these interactive wagering hubs. Today's enthusiasts are presented with options that range from heavily gamified adventure portals to colossal, encyclopedic libraries containing thousands of distinct interactive titles. The pursuit of identifying a premier destination requires looking past superficial marketing campaigns and thoroughly analyzing the foundational technology, the diversity of the software portfolios, and the strictness of their regulatory adherence. By understanding the unique value propositions of different operators, consumers can accurately align their personal preferences with the optimal digital environment.
For individuals whose primary criterion is sheer volume and unparalleled variety, Myriad stands out as a titan within the industry. True to its descriptive name, this destination boasts a staggering library exceeding 4,000 individual titles. This colossal portfolio is meticulously curated through strategic partnerships with over sixty independent software developers, guaranteeing an incredibly diverse spectrum of mathematical models, artistic themes, and gameplay mechanics. While Myriad operates under a Curacao license—a regulatory framework often considered slightly less rigorous than its European counterparts—the platform has successfully maintained an impeccable track record regarding fairness and financial reliability. Their introductory offer provides substantial additional capital for new registrants, allowing them to thoroughly explore this massive ecosystem. This environment is particularly suited for explorers who tire quickly of repetitive mechanics and constantly seek out fresh, innovative releases.
Conversely, some platforms seek to innovate not through sheer volume, but by completely reimagining the user experience through profound gamification. Duelz represents a paradigm shift in how interactive entertainment is delivered. Rather than presenting a static grid of titles, Duelz immerses its users in a dynamic, fantasy-themed adventure where they must develop personalized avatars, complete daily quests, and engage in direct, competitive duels against other human players to secure exclusive rewards. This highly engaging approach appeals strongly to a modern demographic that expects deeper interactivity from their digital platforms. Despite this playful exterior, Duelz maintains incredibly strict operational standards, holding dual licenses from the highly respected MGA and the Swedish Gaming Authority. Furthermore, their integration of advanced financial gateways like Trustly allows for lightning-fast withdrawals that frequently process in mere minutes.
When evaluating the vast libraries offered by these platforms, it is helpful to categorize the available entertainment to understand where a specific site excels. A diverse portfolio is the hallmark of the best online casino ireland has to offer today.
- Video Slots: These range from high-volatility, feature-dense games offering massive potential multipliers to low-volatility titles providing steady, smaller returns.
- Live Dealer Suites: Utilizing high-definition broadcasting to beam professional croupiers directly to screens, offering an authentic, social atmosphere.
- Traditional Table Games: Software-driven versions of classic card and wheel games that utilize certified random number generators for immediate, fast-paced results.
- Hybrid Integration: Platforms that seamlessly combine traditional digital games with comprehensive sports betting interfaces within a single account.
- Progressive Jackpots: Networked titles where a fraction of every global wager contributes to a continuously growing, potentially life-altering prize pool.
Speaking of hybrid integration, Winamax perfectly exemplifies how to successfully merge two massive entertainment sectors. Originally celebrated across continental Europe for its peer-to-peer poker networks and comprehensive sports wagering markets, Winamax has evolved to include a highly polished, robust interactive gaming section. Featuring over 1,500 meticulously selected titles, this destination is incredibly attractive to versatile consumers who enjoy alternating between analyzing sporting events and engaging with traditional digital amusements. Their promotional structure reflects this dual focus, frequently offering a combination of complimentary sports bets alongside spins for their software library. Winamax is also renowned for possessing one of the most technologically advanced and stable mobile applications available, ensuring a flawless experience regardless of the user's physical location.
The bedrock of any secure digital wagering experience is the implementation of impenetrable cryptographic security and the continuous validation of mathematical fairness. When data is transmitted from a personal device to the operator's servers, it must be shielded by advanced protocols. Modern consumers must be highly vigilant in ensuring their chosen platform adheres to strict technical standards. Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption, universally denoted by a locked padlock icon within the browser's designated address bar, is mandatory for protecting all personal and financial data. Furthermore, visible certification seals from highly respected, independent auditing laboratories, such as eCOGRA, iTech Labs, or GLI, prove the integrity of the random number generators used in the games.
The logistical efficiency of financial transactions remains the most critical metric by which active users judge a platform's overall quality. A massive portfolio of entertaining software is entirely negated if an operator actively stalls or complicates the withdrawal process. An exceptional digital destination will support a highly diverse array of financial gateways to accommodate all preferences. E-wallet solutions consistently offer the most rapid transaction speeds. Traditional banking methods, while inherently secure and universally trusted, rely on older infrastructural networks that can delay receipt of funds by three to seven business days. Progressive platforms are also increasingly integrating direct banking services, which effectively bridges the gap, offering the security of a direct bank connection with the speed of a modern digital wallet.
Customer support infrastructure represents another critical, yet frequently overlooked, pillar of a premium entertainment hub. Even the most technologically advanced platforms will occasionally encounter software glitches or financial routing anomalies. When a user's capital is actively in transit, the ability to immediately contact a knowledgeable human representative is paramount. Top-tier operations invest heavily in their support centers, offering uninterrupted, round-the-clock live chat services staffed by highly trained agents who possess the administrative authority to manually investigate and resolve complex account issues. This level of immediate accessibility provides a profound psychological safety net.
Another crucial element of player protection is understanding the terms and conditions tied to promotional offers. Wagering requirements dictate how many times a bonus amount must be played through before it converts into withdrawable cash. A platform might offer a massive 200% match, but if the wagering requirement is set at an unreasonable 50x or 60x, the statistical probability of converting that bonus is incredibly low. Educated players look for platforms that balance generous matches with fair, achievable wagering limits, usually sitting comfortably between the 25x and 35x mark. Additionally, checking for game contribution weights is vital, as slots usually contribute 100% to these requirements, while table games may only contribute 10%.
Ultimately, engaging with digital wagering must be viewed through the lens of responsible recreation. The inherent mathematical realities dictate that the operator will systematically secure a profit over an extended timeline. Recognizing this fundamental truth allows individuals to engage with the software purely for its entertainment value. By proactively utilizing reality checks, establishing strict financial deposit ceilings, and strictly adhering to predetermined session lengths, enthusiasts can ensure their participation remains a thrilling, positive addition to their leisure activities, completely safeguarded against the potential pitfalls of unregulated behavior.
