First Time Here? Readers suggest starting with the expanded Gaza Explainer in #133 and #120.
Tags: 4 Min Read; Raf Analysis; Relief
The current “mainstream western press” conversations about Gaza and its people remind me of a few basics:
The current destruction in Gaza is, it seems to me, "to scale" with the destruction of prior conflicts. It may be useful to recall that the IDF has sent ground forces into Gaza some number of times (2008-2009, 2012, 2014, 2023+). There are about five other engagements via rockets (Gaza) and bombs (Israel). If the scale of each conflict is measured (e.g. initial violence vs. destruction footprint in Gaza), I estimate that today's Gaza is, in relative terms, commensurate with earlier conflicts.
The "Gaza is open air prison" language used by Palestinian activists is dangerously, violently, misleading. A real blood libel. Hamas was able to import everything it wanted (equipment and arms of all kinds in enormous quantity), and exit from Gaza was tightly controlled and restricted by Hamas and Egypt.
Demand/desire in Gaza to emigrate has been high for many years. In other words, the current war may have increased “emigration desire,” but this force has been strongly present for ten+ years. (Recall that over 110,000 Gazans came up with the $4,000-$5,000 fee to exit Gaza when this was possible during the first 8+ months of the current conflict). IOW about %5 of the population of Gaza got out when they could.
Hamas does not meet the criteria to qualify as "freedom fighters." In no revolutionary or anti-colonial conflict were masses of civilians forced to sit in the crossfire. Calling Hamas and PIJ "freedom fighters" is another example of violently dangerous language. Bill Maher has been one of the few voices to say clearly: "Hamas is a criminal mafia." The fact this concept has failed to enter the mainstream conversation is a material part of the problem.
Putting the West's Far Left (who use the language above) to the side, what about the language of the American Right?
Mike Huckabee, the Trump administration's US ambassador to Israel on Feb 9:
"Under Trump's leadership, we will see things in the Middle East on a biblical scale."
Given what Huckabee's crowd reads and emphasizes in their bible, I do not find that reassuring at any level.
Gaza facts are facts. Why not offer Iran a trade? Lift sanctions in exchange for building a large city for refugees from Gaza? The point: Start turning large knobs to move the conversation forward. Otherwise the future will be more of the same.
Dept of The Invisible
Items invisible in the Western media. (Now combined with the Postmark concept, to help consolidate topics by locale.)
Iran
The rate of collapse of the Iranian currency is accelerating - a new low
During trading on Feb 9 in the Tehran markets, the Iranian Rial fell by about 4%.
On Feb 8, it traded at 900,000 rials per dollar and on Feb 9 it closed at a value of 937,000 rials per dollar.Is one million rials to the US dollar around the corner?
About Nasrallah's Elimination, former Minister of Defense
Lebanon-Syria Border
Open gunbattles between the Lebanese and Syrian armies in one or two spots on their border.
There are also IDF attacks on Hezbollah weapons trafficking routes, including on tunnels under the Syria-Lebanon border.
Gaza
A social media channel from Gaza:
Above: The IDF spokesperson in Arabic announces this morning to the residents of Gaza:
Residents are allowed to return on foot to the northern Gaza Strip via both Salah al-Din Road and the coastal route (Al-Rashid Street).
Vehicles traveling north are still subject to inspection on Salah al-Din Road.
The movement of armed individuals or the transfer of weapons along these routes to the northern Gaza Strip is strictly prohibited and constitutes a violation of the agreement.
Approaching the Rafah crossing, the Philadelphi Corridor, or IDF forces is not allowed.
London
Relief Area
Pre-Alef: Geneva: Red Cross
(Short video, English subs)
Alef
Bet
>It was free, so I took it…
(I first thought this a spoof on a few documented incidents of IDF soldiers taking road signs of towns in Syria and Lebanon. I now see it as a simple interpretation of the “Free Palestine” slogan. If it’s free, I’ll take it!)
Gimmel
Dalet
Rabbits
Reluctant Northerners [who don't want to return to the North]
Ashkenazi Ultra-Orthodox
Other Rabbits
Ultra Orthodox
Refusers
Zionists -- envelope: Draft Notice
Hey
Vav: Syria: Before & After
(Assad & Iran on the left, al-Julani & Turkey on the right)
Zayin
New in Dahieh, Lebanon: A Restaurant / Bakery named "Nasrallah on the Coals"
The business owner wanted to emphasize that he prepares the food in a wood-fired oven. What he ended up with was "Al-Sayyid Hassan on the Coals."
To his credit, he put it in parentheses, but still - the image of Hassan Nasrallah roasting in hell on burning coals is the real winner here.
Chet
Tet
Yod
Caricature by the Palestinian (identified with Hamas) Mahmoud Abbas:
"They will leave and we will stay"The sign reads: "Netzarim Axis" with an X through it.
(The Netzarim Axis is an east-west road that cuts across Gaza, dividing north from south. The IDF withdrew from this area as part of the current disengagement process. [This Abbas is not _that_ Abbas.])
Chaf
On the one hand, the current noise in the press is exactly that: Noise. On the other, the noise faces the facts head on instead of waving them away.
Hand waving only gets anyone so far. At a certain point, the hand waver looks a fool. I am reminded that in the first days of the war, folks like P.A. President Abbas said things to effect, "What do you expect with two million people [essentially sitting on their hands]?" My response at the time: Voluntary emigration is the only answer. The world steps up, offers places to go and perhaps even a positive incentive to relocate. Funds going into Gaza should be managed by Swiss accountants.
Current headlines are closer to that than ever.
To Peace,
Raf
(Thank you A.K., M.T., B.M., R.G.)