Middle East Experience

October 7 survivor Sabine Taasa, who lost her husband and 17-year-old son during the Hamas attack, urged UN experts to stop blaming Israel for the war and focus on the trauma inflicted on Israeli children."I need you to stop blaming us," said Taasa, 48, whose son's murder was filmed by his killers. Before Hamas militants burst into Taasa's home in the village of Netiv Haasara in southern Israel, her eldest son Or -- who was on his way to the beach -- called her.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: 'Stop blaming us,' October 7 survivor tells UN

Meta's Oversight Board ruled on Wednesday that the standalone use of the phrase "From the River to the Sea," a slogan oft-used by pro-Palestinian users, does not violate the company's content policies. The phrase "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," has been used as a rallying cry for many since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, with Israel accusing those who use it of "anti-Semitism."
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Meta clears use of Palestinian slogan 'From the River to the Sea'

Lebanon's health ministry said Israeli strikes killed a woman and wounded five other people in the country's south on Wednesday, nearly 11 months since hostilities broke out between Israel and Hezbollah.Hezbollah, an Iran-backed movement, has exchanged near daily cross-border fire with Israeli forces since Palestinian militants Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, triggering war in the Gaza Strip."Israeli enemy artillery fire targeting the locality of Qabrikha killed a woman and wounded two other people, including a 12-year-old," the ministry said in a statement.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Lebanon health ministry says woman dead in Israeli strikes

A handwritten letter by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Colorado Christian University Chancellor Donald Sweeting.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Colorado Christian University receives handwritten letter from Israeli PM Netanyahu

To mark 24 years since the October 2000 riots, the Arab Higher Monitoring Committee has called for a strike affecting businesses, schools, and public places. The strike also protests the ongoing war.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Arab-Israeli community announces general strike marking 24 years since October 2000 riots

Lt. Gen. Ahmad Fathy Khalifa’s visit came in response to Israel demanding control of the Philadelphi Corridor, said one expert.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: What’s behind Egyptian commander’s visit to Gaza border amid Israel spat?

Diplomatic and business traffic is gaining steam between Dubai and Beijing after a first-of-its-kind think-tank forum, a high-level welcome for a Tianjin official to the UAE, and a major deal with ADNOC this week.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: How UAE-China ties expand around Tianjin chief visit, Adnoc deal

The deaths of the six hostages were a shocking and powerful reminder to the public that there are still living hostages surviving in Gaza and that the death of each one of them is a tragedy.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Mass protests show limit of public's ability to endure the hostage situation

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has agreed to extend its nondiscrimination policies to protect Jewish students from harassment based on Zionist aspects of their identity.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Illinois U expands nondiscrimination policies to protect Jewish students' Zionist identity

“We've suffered yet another huge setback here.” Kirby said, but that “doesn't mean we're not going to keep trying," John Kirby told reporters
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: ‘Killing of hostages makes it more difficult to close deal,' US says