Gaza

Palestinians wait at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, in the southern Gaza Strip. (Mohammed Zaanoun)

My humiliation does not make Israel more secure

The 100-mile journey of leaving Gaza took 12 hours, six checkpoints, and interrogations so humiliating that a year later, I am still reliving the trauma. By Anas Almassri On July 31, 2018 the Palestinian Civil Affairs office called me at 10:08 a.m., while I was sitting at my desk in Gaza on what had begun…

By +972 Magazine September 24, 2019

Palestinian fishermen prepare their nets near the sea in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on March 10, 2019. (Abed Rahim Khatib/ Flash90)

What do Palestinians in Gaza really think about the Israeli elections?

On the eve of the elections, four young Palestinians in Gaza open up about their thoughts on Israeli political parties, whether they think there’s hope for change, and what life is like under siege. By Yuval Abraham Muhammad The electricity cuts out at 2pm in Gaza, but Muhammad has charged his phone in advance so he’ll have enough battery…

By +972 Magazine September 12, 2019

Young Palestinians Mohammed Ehsen, 21, Bassem Abu Ubaid, 33 , who had their legs amputated following injuries during the Great Return March, Gaza Strip, on June 3, 2019. (Abed Rahim Khatib/ Flash90)

How to tell the stories of the siege when you cannot enter Gaza

In a new podcast, I hoped to capture the impacts of the Gaza blockade that are mostly invisible to the outside world. There was just one problem: I can’t go there. By Lital Firestone When I first dreamed up the idea of doing a podcast about Gaza, I hoped to use the medium to get answers to…

By +972 Magazine September 3, 2019

Latest

Omar Odeh helped establish a follow up committee dealing with the affairs of Palestinian refugees from Syria who fled to Gaza. (Mohammed Al-Hajjar)

Displaced again: Palestinian refugees from Syria struggle to survive in Gaza

With surging unemployment rates and high rents, Palestinian refugees who fled the Syrian war for Gaza are struggling to climb out of poverty. Like many Gazans, they hope to leave the strip in search of a better life. By Amjad Yaghi In mid-2012, Egyptian police arrested Omar Odeh for violating the conditions of his residence permit and overstaying his…

By +972 Magazine August 21, 2019

Palestinians wait to cross into Egypt through the Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip after it was opened by Egyptian authorities for humanitarian cases, on February 7, 2017. (Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90)

Israel’s ‘humanitarian’ offer to Tlaib made me cringe. Here’s why

As the director of an organization that promotes the right to freedom of movement in Gaza, when I heard that Israel is offering you the chance to make a ‘humanitarian’ visit to your family, I felt a familiar cringe. An open letter to Reps. Tlaib and Omar. By Tania Hary Dear Representative Omar and Representative Tlaib,…

By +972 Magazine August 16, 2019

Palestinians evacuate a protester during a Great Return March protest near the Gaza fence, east of Gaza City, November 2, 2018. (Mohammed Zaanoun/Activestills.org)

Israeli army knew it was unnecessarily killing Gaza protesters in real time

The Israeli army admits that it secretly changed its policy once it realized that shooting unarmed protesters in the leg was lethal. Rights group says the revelation is an admission that Israel was killing protesters without any justification. The Israeli military reportedly changed open-fire regulations for its snipers deployed along the Israel-Gaza fence after it…

By Edo Konrad July 24, 2019

Illustrative photo of Israeli soldiers arresting a Palestinian man in the West Bank, June 23, 2018. (Wisam Hashlamoun/Flash90)

The origins of Israeli racism lie in our hyper-militarized society

Israel was established and continues to exist in a mentality of constant war. Our racism is only a symptom. One of the most influential institutions in Iranian politics is the Guardian Council. Among its many roles, the Council filters out presidential candidates, deciding who can and who cannot run in the elections. It even has the…

By Orly Noy July 1, 2019

Mohamed Saleh in his home in Gaza. (Jen Marlowe)

WATCH: Caught in Israel’s permit system, Gaza children fear for their lives

What happens when children in Gaza need to leave the strip for medical care that is unavailable there? Filmmaker Jen Marlowe gives us a look into the lives of the families as they navigate the often Kafkaesque process of getting permission from the Israeli army to leave the besieged strip for medical treatments. By Jen Marlowe Jen…

By +972 Magazine June 20, 2019

The Abu Mutlaq family, with Ghalib holding a photo of his deceased daughter Aya. (Jen Marlowe)

Permission denied: Gaza children struggle to get medical care

With severe medicine shortages and an overstretched health care system in Gaza, children in need of medical treatments can only find them outside the strip. Yet Israel’s convoluted, arbitrary permit process leaves them waiting in pain, often missing life-saving care. By Jen Marlowe GAZA — Noha Saleh called me at seven in the morning on March 18 from Erez,…

By +972 Magazine June 20, 2019

Palestinians walk through the wreckage of a building that was damaged by Israeli air strikes in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on May 5, 2019. (Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90)

Civilians deliberately targeted in Gaza attacks, reports find

Two separate investigations by B’Tselem and Human Rights Watch determine that the Israeli army and Palestinian armed groups unlawfully targeted civilian populations during the most recent Gaza escalation. Israel killed 13 Palestinian civilians who weren’t involved in hostilities or affiliated with militant groups in its latest military campaign in Gaza, according to a new report by B’Tselem released…

By Oren Ziv June 14, 2019

Mohammed Halabi, former director of World Vision in Gaza who was arrested in 2016 by Israel for unsubstantiated claims of diverting funds to Hamas, is still behind bars. (World Vision)

After 3 years, accusations against Gaza World Vision head remain unproven

Mohammed Halabi, arrested in 2016 by Israel on accusations of diverting charity funds to Hamas, is still behind bars. Dozens of court hearings later, the state has yet to present evidence against him. By Antony Loewenstein “I’ve never heard of any case like this in Israel before,” says Maher Hanna. “Even in the [nuclear whistle-blower] Mordechai Vanunu case,…

By +972 Magazine June 14, 2019

Members of Sol Band (Left to Right) singer Rahaf Shamaly, oud player Said Fadel, and lead singer Hamada Naserallah. (Hind Khoudary)

‘To sing is not a right in the Gaza Strip’

With mounting social and political restrictions under Hamas rule, musicians are struggling to develop their music careers in the strip. Many seek to leave in search of opportunities elsewhere. By Hind Khoudary GAZA CITY — Abed Nasser, the owner of Cedar restaurant in Gaza City, broke the news to his customers in a Facebook post:…

By +972 Magazine June 6, 2019

Roman Levin arriving at the base which he used to serve at, to announce his refusal to continue serving in the Israeli army.

Israeli army sentences conscientious objector to 30 days behind bars

Roman Levin will serve another 30 days in military prison for refusing to continue his military service due to his opposition to the occupation. By +972 Magazine An IDF disciplinary body sentenced Israeli conscientious objector Roman Levin to 30 days in military prison last week for his refusal to continue serving in the military. Upon completing his…

By +972 Magazine May 27, 2019