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Midwives in Gaza: Delivering Babies with a Hot Knife and No Medical Supplies

by خانم هاشمی

In the war-torn Gaza Strip, midwives face unimaginable challenges. With hospitals bombed, medical supplies depleted, and emergency services blocked, many women give birth under dire conditions—sometimes with nothing more than a heated blade or a scrap of tissue. In some cases, these midwives put their own lives and those of the mothers at stake.

One midwife, Yasmeen Ahmed, who worked in the C-section ward of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, described a harrowing night: “I felt I could die along with my baby. The pains came at midnight, and no one was there to help. My children cried in fear. I laid a carpet on the floor, and without any painkillers, I delivered my child. I cut the umbilical cord, dressed him, and began breastfeeding right away.”

The Calamity Behind the Numbers

According to UNFPA, there are about 55,000 pregnant women trapped in Gaza, and some 13,000 births occur each month—many high-risk. Health reports warn that the collapse of maternal care could trigger surges in maternal and neonatal mortality, miscarriages linked to stress, and premature deliveries.

Hospitals like Al-Shifa have had to shut down or transfer their maternity wards due to bombardments and shortages.

A Knife Sear and a Paper Bandage

Midwife Sahar Adel Aqil recounts how she once delivered a friend’s baby in the seventh month of pregnancy while under fire. “We were besieged and lacked any tools. I heated a knife over fire to sterilize it, cut the umbilical cord, and used tissue paper as a bandage.”

These midwives often attend newborns born to wounded mothers, amputees, or casualties of war—sometimes stitching wounds or performing emergency surgeries based solely on scant training and improvisation.

Midwives Under Fire

The Ministry of Health in Palestine has emphasized that midwives are themselves targets. With shortages of anesthesia, antibiotics, blood supplies, neonatal incubators, and ventilators reaching collapse levels, the health system teeters on the brink.

Warnings from the World Health Organization stress that without intervention, maternal and neonatal deaths will soar.

Beyond Survival: The Human Toll

Yasmeen and Sahar’s stories reflect the struggle for dignity and life. Yasmeen once delivered her baby alone during a blackout, after Al-Shifa’s maternity services were moved to Al-Helou Hospital. Sahar has treated victims of violence, stitched wounds, and comforted grieving mothers—all amid bombs and uncertainty.

These testimonies offer a vivid window into the brave but heart-wrenching role of midwives in Gaza, women who, in the firestorm of conflict, stand between life and death for mothers and infants.

en.jahanbanou.ir

From: radionisaa

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West Asia

UN Condemns Israel’s Attacks on Iranian Women

by خانم هاشمی

At a side event on the sidelines of the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Reem Alsalem, the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls, addressed the “Human Rights Impacts of the 12-Day Israeli and U.S. Attack on Iran.” She argued that Israel’s actions toward Iranian women and girls constitute deliberate, gendered, discriminatory violence.

Targeted Violence Based on Iranian Identity

Alsalem began by thanking Iran’s permanent mission for organizing the event, before unpacking the magnitude and implications of the attacks by the Israeli regime, especially upon women and girls. She asserted that these attacks on Iranian civilians are not random or incidental; rather, they amount to a form of targeted, discriminatory violence directed at individuals because of their Iranian identity and exacerbated by their gender.

She emphasized that the consequences are serious, long-term, and gender specific. Women and girls in Iran have suffered disproportionate harm, ranging from loss of life to trauma, disruption of healthcare, displacement, and social stigmatization.

Part of a Broader Pattern

The rapporteur placed the Iranian situation in a wider context: since October 2023, Israel has launched military assaults beyond its borders, affecting at least five additional countries. In four of those cases, she noted, women and children—girls in particular—were killed indiscriminately.

She also referenced a June 2025 statement by the Israeli Minister of Defense, asserting that “residents of Tehran will pay the price,” which she interpreted as evidence of intent to punish civilians. Verified information from Iran and Lebanon suggests that hundreds of women and girls have been killed or wounded. Among the casualties are pregnant women—such as in the attack on the Tajrish area on June 15, 2025. She noted that survivors, especially pregnant and breastfeeding women, endure unique vulnerabilities.

Violations of International Humanitarian and Women’s Rights Norms

Alsalem asserted that these assaults amount to clear violations of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions. She listed offenses including intentional killing, disproportionate attacks, unnecessary destruction of civilian property, and infliction of extreme suffering. She further argued that the strikes breach obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which emphasizes the protection of women and girls in conflict zones.

Ripple Effects from Gaza: Normalizing Violence

Turning to Gaza, Alsalem warned that the systematic genocide being perpetrated against Palestinian women—characterized by mass killing and brutal crimes—is eroding the rules-based international order. She cautioned: “What happens in Gaza does not stay in Gaza.”

She argued that weakening protection for civilians, especially women and children, during conflict has ripple effects globally. The normalization of mass killing of Palestinian women, she said, lowers the threshold for similar illegal and cruel acts elsewhere, such as in Iran. The widespread media coverage of the genocide in Gaza, especially targeting women and girls, risks normalizing such violence universally.

What Must Be Done

In closing, Alsalem posed the question: “What should be done?” She insisted that a principled, human-rights–centered response requires the international community to unequivocally condemn Israeli crimes against women and girls—not just in Iran, but in all contexts.

She urged that such indiscriminate attacks be explicitly recognized as violence against women and girls, and that accountability and justice be pursued. She stressed that accountability mechanisms, both current and future, must robustly integrate a gendered lens—something that, she cautioned, has too often been neglected.

Alsalem reminded her audience that only six weeks remain until the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325. She insisted that to remain credible in assessment and evaluation, the international community must seriously recognize the dangers of ignoring Israeli crimes against women and girls in all theaters.

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From: mizan

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West Asia

A Mother’s Grief and a Call to Humanity: A Personal Story from the Midst of War

by faeze mohammadi

In the winter when the world was gripped by the pandemic, I walked down First Avenue with a profound, gut-wrenching grief. I had only heard my daughter’s heartbeat three times before it fell silent forever. It was my fifth pregnancy, and after that, the world transformed into a merciless place for me. During sleepless nights in the small hours, I would replay those three beats like a lost melody, asking myself: Does grief this deep require permission? Must motherhood be realized to earn the right to mourn?

Three years later, on October 6th, I went under anesthesia for an egg retrieval procedure. I woke up this time with a new hope, my 18-month-old daughter waiting for me at home. But sitting on the couch, watching a series, turned into witnessing a catastrophe unfold on the news: reports of a surprise attack, rockets, demolished barriers, and hostages. City by city plunged into darkness, water supplies were cut, and the first bombs began to fall. And I, a mother who saw myself in those children, found myself watching the mothers of Gaza.

In late 2023, Palestinian children at a press conference, in a language not their native tongue, pleaded with the world for salvation. One child said: “We invite you to protect us.” The statement was both generous and devastating. As Audre Lorde said, the principle of nurturing—in both women and men—can be the salvation of our humanity. We are all mothers in this sense: when we answer the call to save one another, when we choose survival and education.

This invitation is a window into our own maternal selves. Today, in a world where children are bleeding in the streets of Gaza, the question asked of us transcends the boundaries of politics and religion: Can we answer this call? Can we protect the children for whom no one is the mother, except for all of us?

Guardian

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SportWest Asia

Free Mahdieh Esfandiari: Iranian Athletes Demand Justice

by خانم هاشمی

Following the six-month detention of Mahdieh Esfandiari, an Iranian woman residing in France, on charges of supporting the people of Gaza, 165 Iranian female athletes issued an open letter to the UN Secretary‑General, calling her arrest “illegal and inhumane” and demanding her immediate and unconditional release.

An Unlawful and Inhumane Detention

Dear Mr. António Guterres,
Honorable Secretary‑General of the United Nations,

We, a group of women athletes, speak with deep concern regarding the illegal arrest of Ms. Mahdieh Esfandiari, a citizen of the Islamic Republic of Iran, detained by French authorities since 28 February 2025. Held in solitary confinement with severe physical restrictions and denied access to medical services, we hereby declare:

In our modern era—where humanity has reached quantum frontiers of thought and technology—freedom of expression must not be sacrificed at the altar of lobbying by those whose hands are stained with the blood of innocent children.

A Legacy of Humanity Silenced

Ms. Mahdieh Esfandiari was nurtured in a civilization that, centuries ago, introduced the timeless message, “Human beings are members of one another“—a message that now shines above the entrance of the United Nations and reminds the world of the institution’s foundational philosophy. She embodies this humanistic legacy and, with her voice—not in the name of politics, but in the name of humanity—cried out: “Genocide is the disgrace of humanity, and killing children is history’s greatest shame.”

Silencing Truth: A Deep Wound to Freedom of Expression

Esfandiari spoke the unvarnished truth, yet the forced silence imposed upon her symbolizes a profound wound to the body of free speech. Suppressing the voice of truth is not only an injustice against one individual—it is a betrayal of the values that the UN and the global community claim to uphold.

To the Secretary‑General

Her six‑month detention by France—if met with silence or inaction—amounts to complicity in injustice and legitimizing blatant deception. History records such alliances meticulously. Recognition of Palestine’s rights is only meaningful when paired with genuine action against oppression and injustice—not by curbing freedom of thought and expression.

From the World of Sports to Universal Values

Sport teaches us to strive for fairness, justice, and mutual respect. These values extend beyond the arenas—they must anchor our social and human domains as well. We categorically condemn double standards in human rights and call on all international bodies, human‑rights institutions, sports federations, and defenders of freedom worldwide to stand beside us in this cause.

A Unified Call for Action

The world today needs a unified voice against injustice and discrimination more than ever. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Mahdieh Esfandiari—a step that would honor not just a courageous individual, but the universal values of human rights and humanity itself.

Signatories

Sareh Javanmardi, Zahra Nemati, Reyhaneh Mobini, Minou Maddah, Mahrooz Saei, Mobina Ne’matzadeh, Nahid Kiani, Melika Mirhosseini, Meshkat al‑Zahra Safi, Yasaman Yazdani, Neda Shahsavari, Najmeh Khedmati, Elahe Ahmadi, Hanieh Rostamian, Golnoush Sebtollahi, Mobina Fallah, Gisa Baybourdi, Maryam Barbat, Samira Khakkhah, Faranak Partoazar, Fateme Hemmatizadeh, Nazanin Eydian, Hamideh Esmaeilnejad, Melika Norouzi, Zahra Arab‑Rostami, Elham Hashemi, Mahla Mahrooqi, Hanieh Shahvari, Samseh Shahvari, Fatemeh Mojallal, Mahsa Javvar, Zeynab Norouzi, Zahra Alizadeh‑Saveh, Atena Kiashmashki, Samaneh Birami Baher, Azam al‑Sadat Sanaei, Elham Modir Dehghan, Asal Heydari, Fatemeh Esmaeili, Arezu Izadi, Romina Salek, Taraneh Ahmadi, Fereshteh Eghtedari, Sahel Khorasan‑zad, Aylar Donyadust, Fereshteh Hassanzadeh, Fatemeh Hosseini Kahaki, Fatemeh Mamani, Zahra Shokoohi, Roghieh Mohammadian, Mahya Amirkhani Dehbaneh, Asal Zafaranlu, Dina Klavandi, Mastaneh Seyf‑Abadi, Mobina Ali‑Nesab, Anahita Zahedifar, Farzaneh Tavassoli, Fereshteh Karimi, Nasimeh Gholami, Sara Shirbeigi, Shahla Behroozi‑Rad, Hiva Afzali, Hediyeh Kheirabadi, Maedeh Shourgashti, Tania Kargar‑Pour, Tarannum Akbarzadeh, Kiana Kamal‑zadeh, Roksana Razqian, Anahita Mahtar‑pour, Atousa Eslami, Hajer Safarzadeh, Sara Adria, Mahla Samiei, Mojdeh Mardani, Maryam Khodabandeh, Zahra Haji‑Lari, Mina Restaqi, Mobina Adel‑Nejad, Elahe Rezaqi, Kijan Maghsoudi, Seyyedeh Zahra Hosseini, Ghazaleh Hosseini, Ghazal Hosseini, Reyhaneh Karimi, Elahe Mansourian, Sohaila Mansourian, Shaharbano Mansourian, Yasaman Bagherzadeh, Zahra Kiani, Fatemeh Khalili, Mobina Vatan‑Parast, Hadiseh Norouzi, Elnaz Ghasemi, Fatemeh Marykh, Nastaran Farahani Goudarzi, Elnaz Yarmohammadi, Hanieh Karimi, Fa’ezeh Shahryari, Edna Eisayani, Kimia Yazdian Tehrani, Sheida Shojaei, Mahla Abedi, Farnaz Khoda Moradi, Mahsa Karani, Ghazal Zamani, Dolaram Vakili, Hadis Nasr Azadani, Fa’ezeh Sadat Abedini‑Nejad, Shokooh Tayyareh Khajavi, Setayesh Rajabi, Elahe Pourabdian, Fatemeh Jalilian, Mahdieh Shabani, Melika Boroun, Setayesh Pir‑Najm‑al‑Din, Shiva Lakzaei, Sara Bahmanyar, Atousa Golshad Nejad, Pegah Zangeneh, Fatemeh Sadeghi, Farahnaz Arbab, Maedeh Shams‑Ebrahim‑Abadi, Zeynab Milayi, Zahra Zare’, Maedeh Rangrez‑zadeh, Afsaneh Hessami‑Fard, Kajan Rostami, Fa’ezeh Ashourpour, Masoumeh Ghadami, Laya Afzooni, Maryam Ghazi‑Rad, Hasti Vahedi, Mobina Karimi, Aytek Salamat, Nasrin Shahi, Zahra Gholam‑zadeh, Fa’ezeh Ahmadi, Roghieh Shojaei, Parasto Habibi, Elham Salehi, Hashemieh Moteghian, Zeynab Moradi, Leila Kabak‑zan, Elnaz Darabian, Hanan Kaab Amir, Fa’ezeh Dibaei, Atena Mohammadi‑ha, Batoul Jahangiri, Vajiheh Houshmand, Fereshteh Moradi, Fatemeh Haji Siari, Farzaneh Jamshidi‑Nejad, Athare Akhavin, Zahra Namazi, Fatemeh Hemmati, Somayeh Rahimi, Farzaneh Asgari, Maryam Yavarpour, Mahdieh Mohammadian, Zahra Aghaei, Niko Rouzbehani, Helia Haji Abadi, Fatemeh Yousefi, and Seyyedeh Leila Mousavi.

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From: tasnim

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West Asia

Sexual Appeal: A Smokescreen for War Crimes

by خانم هاشمی

The Israeli military is attempting to rehabilitate its image by disseminating erotic content. In these images, female Israeli soldiers are portrayed in a way that shifts viewers’ emotions toward sexual arousal.

According to a report by MintPress News, Israel is using sexual imagery as a tool to whitewash its crimes. This is being done through active social media accounts and media campaigns that showcase female soldiers in provocative poses.

A Deliberate Strategy

The report states that this phenomenon is not accidental but is part of an official Israeli government strategy. The goal is to divert attention from images of atrocities in Gaza and to attract young men through sexually charged content. In this content, Israel’s military identity is displayed with sexual allure to normalize the army’s crimes.

The report emphasizes that as the Israeli offensive continues, dozens of social media accounts affiliated with the Israeli military have been activated, each with hundreds of thousands or even millions of followers. The Israeli government has legitimized these accounts and uses them as a tool to “recruit young people.”

After the war began on October 7, 2023, most social media users witnessed the devastation of civilian areas in Gaza. However, at the same time, many young men encountered a different side of the Israeli army: accounts with names like “Israeli Army Girls” or “Hot Army Girls” that have large followings and post sexual content alongside military propaganda.

Famous Faces and Sensational Posts

Some female Israeli soldiers also have personal accounts. The most famous is Natalia Fadieev, who serves in the military police and goes by the alias “Gun Waifu.” She posts sexual images along with slogans in support of the Israeli regime and has attracted millions of followers. On TikTok alone, she had 2.7 million followers before her account was suspended.

Her content includes both hateful rhetoric against Muslims and claims that reports of Israeli atrocities are false. For example, she wrote, “Let’s go capture some Muslims,” and in another post, she asked her male followers, “Look into my eyes, do you really think I could commit a war crime?”

This sexual display isn’t limited to social media. Israeli media also uses provocative images when reporting the deaths of some female soldiers. For instance, an Israeli journalist published a memo about the death of Karin Wernikoff, who was killed in the October 7 attack, featuring a photo of her in tight athletic wear, sexually posing for the camera.

This image drew significant backlash. One user said, “Using her body to garner sympathy is a moral low,” while another wrote, “What kind of memorial is this that reminds us of a porn film?”

Official Endorsement and PR Campaigns

The idea of displaying provocative images and presenting female Israeli soldiers as a “sexual force” was an initiative of the Israeli government itself. In 2017, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched a public relations campaign to boost its image in the U.S. As part of this plan, it sought to collaborate with American partners to publish semi-pornographic images of female soldiers. This resulted in a partnership with the men’s magazine Maxim, which published articles with headlines like “Meet the Hot Female Israeli Soldiers Who Are Heating Up the Internet,” “See This Hot Israeli Girl Turned Swimsuit Model’s Instagram,” and “Hot Israeli Army Girls.”

David Dorfman, a media advisor for the Israeli Consulate in the U.S., explained the reason for this campaign: “Men of this age have no feeling towards Israel, and we consider this a problem. As a result, we came up with an idea that could attract them.”

Sexual Appeal: A Smokescreen

Celebrity Engagements and Media Portrayals

Another effort by the Israeli army to improve its image was inviting famous American personalities to visit its female units. In 2017, the comedian Conan O’Brien traveled to Israel and filmed a segment training with female soldiers. Two years later, actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld also visited at the invitation of the Israeli government.

The use of sexual imagery was not confined to these platforms. Hebrew newspapers close to the power circle also published such images in obituaries for fallen soldiers. The Times of Israel published a provocative photo in a report on the death of Romi Eliyahu Bernat.

In another report on the death of Liraz Nissan, who was killed while fleeing the Supernova music festival, a semi-nude photo of her at age 20 was published.

Another example is Shani Louk, a young woman killed on October 7, 2023. When announcing her death, the Israeli government’s official Instagram page posted several erotic photos of her. These actions show that the government directly promotes such content.

Using Sexual Attraction to Recruit Jews

According to Israeli law, all Jews have the right to an Israeli passport and to immigrate to the country. To encourage this, the government arranges free trips to the occupied territories, each costing thousands of dollars. Before the trip, applicants’ beliefs are vetted to ensure they are not pro-Palestinian. To date, nearly one million young people have participated in these trips.

On these trips, a program called “Birthright” is run by the Israeli government. According to staff, this program actively encourages sexual relations between local Jews and visitors, even facilitating these encounters.

MintPress News reported that statistics show Jews who travel to the occupied territories through this program are 160% more likely to marry a Jewish partner. This policy also helps solve the Israeli “demographic problem.”

Alongside these encounters, participants are taught a distorted history of the Israeli state, visit important sites, and often meet with Netanyahu. Netanyahu has promised to allocate more than $100 million in government funding to support this program.

Sexualized Images on Dating Apps

Another way Israeli soldiers link military life with sexuality is by posting their photos on profiles on Israeli dating apps. According to one estimate, over a third of these profiles show men and women in Israeli army uniforms.

These images vary: some show soldiers in uniform, smiling and holding a weapon, while others show them looting Palestinian property, standing in front of destroyed buildings, enjoying the devastation of Gaza, and even intentionally vandalizing mosques.

Although this phenomenon has shocked many international observers, soldiers have become a highly sought-after commodity in the Israeli dating market. A reserve soldier told the newspaper Haaretz, “Ever since I started my reserve duty and uploaded my pictures in uniform, girls have been more interested in me. I feel like the uniform is like standing next to a Ferrari—it shows a person’s social status.”

A Widespread Public Relations Effort

Israel is not the only state that tries to increase support for its military by publishing provocative images; the U.S. does the same. However, the Israeli government openly and widely promotes these images, something the U.S. military does not do to the same extent.

Given that the Israeli regime sees Western support as essential for its colonial project, it heavily funds this propaganda method. As a result, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ public relations budget has increased by over 2,000% and now stands at $150 million. A portion of this budget is used to attract young people and create a sexualized image of soldiers.

MintPress News further noted that the impact of this campaign is unclear. Only 9% of Americans under 35 support Israel’s actions in Gaza, while this number is 49% for people over 55. This lack of support is also seen among young American Jews, most of whom considered Israel an “apartheid state” even before October 7, 2023.

This difference in opinion is rooted in the different media consumed by different generations. Older Americans who still trust newspapers and TV news support Israel, while younger generations, exposed to diverse opinions on social media, have moved away from this view.

Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the pro-Israel organization Anti-Defamation League, stated, “We have a big problem with TikTok.” This clear bias in favor of Israel led U.S. lawmakers to declare a ban on the platform last March.

In conclusion, despite all these sexual and corrupt tactics, such actions have not been able to stop the wave of negative sentiment toward the Israeli regime and its actions in Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and other countries. MintPress News wrote: “It has become clear that you cannot use sexual attraction to absolve yourself of committing crimes.”

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West Asia

Martyrdom of Mariam Abu Dagga Highlights Gaza Press Tragedy

by خانم هاشمی

In the latest Israeli strike on Gaza, at least 20 people—including five journalists—were martyred at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Among the fallen were Mariam Abu Dagga, Mohammed Salama, Hussam al-Masri, Moaz Abu Taha, and Ahmed Abu Aziz. These targeted attacks continue to silence independent reporting and deepen the humanitarian crisis in the besieged territory.

Deadly Double-Strike at Nasser Hospital

On August 25, 2025, Israeli warplanes struck the Nasser Hospital complex in Khan Younis in two successive “double-tap” strikes. The first attack devastated the hospital’s upper floors—where journalists often stationed themselves for live coverage—while the second strike hit medics, rescuers, and journalists who had rushed to assist at the scene. In total, at least 20 people were martyred, including five journalists, and several more were wounded.

Journalists Killed in the Attack

  • Mariam Abu Dagga – A 33-year-old freelance visual journalist who contributed to the Associated Press and other outlets; known for reporting on starving children in Gaza.
  • Mohammed Salama – A cameraman for Al Jazeera.
  • Hussam al-Masri – A Reuters contractor and photographer operating a live broadcast feed at the hospital.
  • Moaz Abu Taha – Freelance journalist who worked with Reuters among others.
  • Ahmed Abu Aziz – Journalist associated with Middle East Eye and other outlets, later succumbed to wounds after the strike.

A Calculated Attempt to Muzzle Truth

Mohammed Yassin, head of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, condemned these killings as deliberate attempts to “silence the voice of truth and prevent documentation of Israeli crimes.” He criticized the ongoing media siege, noting that journalists continue to report under inhumane conditions—without electricity, internet, or basic protections—even as their homes and families are destroyed. Yassin also exposed Israel’s restriction on foreign press access to Gaza, designed to maintain media blackout and censorship.

Pressing the World for Protection of Journalists

The Palestinian Government Media Office reported that media-related fatalities in Gaza have now surpassed 240 journalists since the war began in October 2023. It urged the international community to intervene—calling for an immediate halt to attacks on journalists and the safe entry of foreign journalists into Gaza to ensure independent coverage and accountability.

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West Asia

Nada Hisham: A Voice Surviving Beneath Gaza’s Rubble

by خانم هاشمی

Nada Hisham, a 19-year-old Palestinian from Gaza who lost seven members of her family in an Israeli attack and was barely rescued from beneath the rubble, shared her harrowing story at a charity event in Washington, urging the world to become a voice for justice in Gaza.

The Tragic Ordeal in Gaza

At an event hosted by the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) in Washington, D.C., Nada Hisham recounted the bitter moments of her rescue after her home in Gaza was bombed. In that attack, seven of her siblings along with her grandmother were killed, while she herself lay trapped under the debris for hours—suffering broken legs and a dislocated shoulder.

A Sister’s Final Embrace

Nada described the final moments shared with her younger sister Elham: “Elham was embracing me, and she would not let go of my leg until her last breath.” It was a Palestinian journalist, Motaz Azaiza, whose photograph of that scene drew attention and led to her identification and rescue. The powerful image later became one of Time magazine’s top 10 photos of 2023.

Escape from Gaza for Treatment

Thanks to PCRF’s support, Nada was able to leave Gaza to receive medical care—a journey nearly impossible for many due to strict restrictions at the Rafah crossing and the need for coordination between Israel and Egypt.

Her story is not only a personal testimony of survival but also a piercing reminder of the countless unheard voices still trapped under the weight of war, whose lives and futures depend on the world’s willingness to act.

A Testament of Resilience

Nada concluded her remarks with a stirring testament to her spirit:
“Israel may have taken everything precious from me—my family, my home, my peace… but as long as I draw breath, it will never break my spirit.”

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West Asia

Water and Salt: Gaza’s Children Endure Another Night

by خانم هاشمی

Heba al-Ghamari is one among countless mothers in Gaza fighting a daily battle against famine—and often losing. In a place where aid might fall from the sky but never reach the ground, her children’s supper these days is nothing more than water with salt.

A Daily Struggle for Food

In central Gaza, in a crowded kitchen that used to serve soup, Heba al-Ghamari maneuvers among empty pots in a desperate effort to feed her three young children amid a devastating food crisis. Before dawn each day, she queues at public food distribution centers—sometimes returning empty-handed, or with aid that barely suffices for a single meal.

The Pain of Helplessness

During one chaotic distribution, Heba’s hand was badly burned when boiling soup spilled amid a crowd of desperate people. She describes the heartbreak when her youngest child pleads for a piece of bread in the morning—and she has nothing to give. Many nights, her family survives on just water and salt.

No Shelter, No Aid, No Healing

The family lives in a derelict building with no sanitary or medical facilities. Heba’s body is riddled with flea bites, and her child suffers from a foot infection. Yet she must ignore these health needs just to keep trying to feed her children.

Falling Through the Cracks

“There are airdrops,” Heba says bitterly, “but they never reach us.” Her family hasn’t benefitted from any such aid.

A Cry for Fairness

In a plea to the Arab world and the international community, Heba demands equitable distribution of food and water. She calls for an end to the ongoing nightmare and urges, “We want only for the crossings to open and the war to end. We can no longer stand in these long lines for meals that aren’t even enough for our children”.

Worsening Conditions Across Gaza

  • The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has declared famine in Gaza City, warning it may spread to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis, potentially affecting over 640,000 people by September.
  • Malnutrition and starvation are rising at catastrophic levels. In August alone, 138 deaths—including 25 children—were linked to malnutrition, and more than 130,000 children under five could die by mid-2026 without urgent aid.
  • UNRWA warns of a six-fold increase in child malnutrition since March, describing famine as “manufactured and fabricated”.
  • Hospitals are overwhelmed: many wards are filled with skeletal, malnourished children and face critical shortages of therapeutic food and medical supplies.

Conclusion

In Gaza’s shattered landscape, Heba al-Ghamari’s story is heartbreaking but representative. Her daily fight to feed her own children with nothing but water and salt echoes the suffering of countless families. As global observers name famine and aid agencies sound alarms, her plea remains simple yet urgent: open the crossings, end the war, and let humanity reach those who’ve been forgotten.

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From: alarab

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West Asia

Migrant Women in Israel Condemned to Sexual Slavery!

by خانم هاشمی

In the 1990s, Israel became a hub for widespread human trafficking. The sex industry revolved around hidden apartments, brothels, and escort services in central cities, where trafficked women were exploited and enslaved. Most had no knowledge they would enter the sex trade and had no clear sense of their fate. They came from Eastern Europe and other nations—drawn by the prospect of better income than at home.

A Promise Unfulfilled: From Soviet Support to Post-Collapse Vulnerability

Under the Soviet system, women benefited from relatively strong social supports—state-run childcare open from morning to evening, free higher education with scholarships, and automatic job placement—that fostered their participation in society. But following the Soviet collapse in 1991, these structures vanished. Economic collapse, inadequate laws, and diminishing social services left women particularly vulnerable. Many female-dominated jobs lost value, parenting support systems collapsed, and women bore increased financial burdens while still fulfilling traditional roles, fueling family breakdowns, rising divorce rates, and economic despair, especially among single mothers—about 40 percent of whom fell below the poverty line in the 1990s.

Crime, Corruption, and the Rise of Trafficking

In the wake of the USSR’s dissolution, organized crime and governmental corruption surged. Returning veterans from regional wars often became criminal enforcers. Trafficking networks capitalized on this, exploiting familiar language and shared cultural ties to lure women westward. With abrupt exposure to Western lifestyles—especially for women from remote villages—many lacked the tools to recognize or resist deceptive recruitment tactics.

Entering the Mirage of Sexual Trafficking

During the 1990s, Israel’s sex industry took root in concealed apartments, brothels, and escort services across central cities—structures that ensnared trafficked women unaware they were entering sexual exploitation. Many were deceived by promises of higher earnings and safe conditions.

Slow Recognition and the Shift in Policy

Up to 2003, Israeli authorities largely ignored trafficking. That year, a parliamentary inquiry marked the first public exploration of societal perceptions of trafficking—not as a human rights violation, but rather a “migrant labor problem,” an ethical issue rather than a rights infringement. Only afterward did governmental efforts—such as prosecuting traffickers, supporting victims, and prevention—begin to take shape.

Between 2002 and 2008, many trafficked women either returned home or left Israel. Those who remained—particularly single mothers or women with children from Israeli fathers—found themselves excluded from citizenship despite their children qualifying. Even after escaping prostitution, many fell into violent relationships and lacked legal protections. This exclusion intensified discrimination, especially for mothers whose children were Israeli citizens.

A Vicious Recycling of Exploitation

While deportation policies temporarily reduced trafficking inflows, domestic demand remained high. A grim cycle emerged: former victims became brothel operators, coercing other women into sex work. This “victim-to-manager” model perpetuates a brutal circle of exploitation.

Legislative Gaps and Enforcement Failures

Despite Israeli claims of fighting trafficking, efforts fall short. Although the 2006 Anti-Trafficking Law criminalizes trafficking, slavery, and forced labor—with penalties reaching up to 16 years’ imprisonment—its practical enforcement is hampered by loopholes, such as failing to adequately define coercion, deception, or force, allowing many traffickers to evade prosecution.

Voices from the Field

Naama Goldberg, director of the Israeli NGO Lo Omdot MeNegged (“We Won’t Stand Indifferent”), clarifies that “prostitution” refers to women working in their home countries, while “trafficking victim” denotes those deceived or forced into exploitation abroad. She states that most trafficking to Israel now occurs through deception rather than physical force. She also notes an uptick in survivors arriving post-Ukraine war—from Arab, Jewish, Ukrainian, and Russian communities—lured by promises of being “high-end escorts” with affluent clients, only to face daily exploitation by around ten men and far lower earnings. “There’s no way to do sex work without violence or degradation,” she explains.

The Invisible Web: Social Media Recruitment and Urban Normalization

Traffickers increasingly use social platforms—Instagram, Telegram—to target vulnerable women with misleading job offers, warm video chats, and free flight promises. Some accept these offers under family pressure, unaware of the reality awaiting them.

In cities across Israel, sex trafficking has moved off the streets. In Tel Aviv, it now unfolds openly in residential buildings, normalizing the phenomenon. Emma, a building manager near Ben Yehuda Street, recounts elderly residents terrified by constant comings and goings, rumors of forced prostitution, and even spousal coercion.

Trafficking rings in Israel appear to be run by complex networks, often led by Russian-speaking residents. Recently, indictments were filed against a family organizing the trafficking and exploitation of Israeli and foreign women. Previously, Dina Dominitz, the Justice Ministry’s anti-trafficking coordinator, warned of criminal groups bringing Ukrainian, Moldovan, Belarusian, Russian, and Georgian women into Israel under the guise of tourism for prostitution. According to Israel’s Justice Ministry data over 2017–2021, 325 victims were officially recognized—71 percent women; 40 percent suffered sexual exploitation, and 44 percent endured slavery-like conditions.

Continuing Challenges and the Cost of Impunity

Despite laws penalizing sex buyers, enforcement remains weak. Police tolerance in southern Tel Aviv and poor law application have undermined progress—highlighted in reports presented to the Justice Committee.

A System Resistant to Change

Recruitment is brazenly marketed via social media and websites: tempting images of upscale locales like Eilat’s Red Sea, Herzliya’s yachts, and Tel Aviv’s clubs, combined with promises of $65,000 monthly salaries and luxurious apartments. Some boast an 80 percent success rate for border entry, claiming they “have no trouble with the police”—even sharing women’s social media chats confirming easy crossing. Yet Israel’s most accessible entry point—the Jordanian border—has become a major trafficking route from Eastern Europe and Latin America, promising glamorous jobs but delivering labor in coercive and impoverished conditions.

Following heightened security at Ben Gurion Airport, crossing has become unpredictable and stressful, with some women detained for days, phones confiscated, and messages, photos, and videos scrutinized to assess travel purpose.

Harrowing Tales from the Ground

Women recount violent assaults and pervasive crime in Bat Yam, notorious internationally as a Russian-language prostitution hub. Many arrived with tourist visas and intentions of consensual sex work but instead faced trafficking, theft, violence, and extortion. Port city Eilat similarly emerged as an entry point where traffickers exploit job postings—even from reputable sites—to lure victims.

Official Neglect: The Dark Shadow Behind Rights Rhetoric

Israel—despite its legal powers and resources—has displayed contradictory and inadequate responses to trafficking. Years of neglect, poor enforcement, and insufficient victim support have enabled traffickers to refine their operations. Superficial measures have failed to stem the cycle of exploitation, inflicting profound human and social damage on vulnerable migrant women. Israel’s failure to defend fundamental human dignity starkly contradicts its global human rights posture.

en.jahanbanou.ir

From: farhikhteganonline

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West Asia

Organized Rape Under the Shadow of Global Silence

by faeze mohammadi

A report submitted to the Knesset’s Special Committee for Foreign Workers has revealed that out of 654 Thai female workers surveyed in Israel’s agricultural sector, every single one reported having been sexually assaulted.

A new report presented to the Israeli Knesset’s Special Committee on Foreign Workers has uncovered a horrifying reality: all 654 surveyed Thai women working in Israel’s agricultural sector stated they had been sexually assaulted.

The report emphasized that this shocking figure highlights the severity of the crisis and the neglect of these workers’ rights. Despite this, the Israeli government has yet to establish a safe and effective mechanism for these victims to file complaints. A representative from Israel’s Ministry of Labor admitted that the current structures are inadequate for handling the complaints of these migrants.

The Jerusalem Post

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