No, Gaza is not “the hungriest place on earth”
June 8, 2025 | AIJAC staff
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) spokesperson Jens Laerke had a similar fit of hyperbole, claiming that “Gaza is the hungriest place on earth.” He clearly had not checked his declaration with the World Food Programme (WFP) or hunger-tracking NGOs such as Action Against Hunger or Concern Worldwide.
Houthi deal is a dangerous blow to US credibility and deterrence
May 14, 2025 | Oved Lobel
This general and by now predictable pattern of Trump’s threatening rhetoric followed quickly by unilateral US capitulation, whether on foreign or trade policy – always spun as a victory without accomplishing anything of substance – has made the world a far more dangerous place for US allies and partners.
Military strikes alone won’t stop the Houthis without direct pressure on Iran
March 20, 2025 | Oved Lobel
If the US Administration’s rhetoric is not simply bluster and does reflect the intent of the Administration to restore freedom of navigation through the Red Sea – including via direct strikes against Iranian assets, a much more devoted interdiction campaign and orchestrating a ground component – there are reasons to hope this operation in Yemen could succeed where previous ones have failed.
Israel didn’t target the IVF clinic
March 14, 2025 | Bren Carlill
Media reporting on a recent UN commission report has focused on the destruction of frozen embryos at an IVF clinic in Gaza. The UN and media imply that Israel intended to destroy the embryos. However, evidence does not support this.
Pay-for-Slay is likely still Pay-for-Slay
March 7, 2025 | Alana Schetzer
When embattled Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas announced that the PA would restructure its ‘pay-to-slay’ policy – its system of financially rewarding imprisoned terrorists, or the families of terrorists killed – in late January, the news was met with a mix of cautious optimism and scepticism.
The missing pieces of the Thai hostages story
February 21, 2025 | Allon Lee
On January 30, the world’s eyes were focused on Israeli hostages… as they were released in Gaza after close to 500 days in captivity. Far less attention was given to five Thai workers… who found their freedom after also being kidnapped on October 7, 2023. To set the record straight, here’s some information on the treatment and benefits provided to the Thai nationals by Israel and Israelis, as reported in the Israeli and Thai media.
The latest IDF raid on the Kamal Adwan Hospital debunks absurd UN report
January 9, 2025 | Oved Lobel
This is the calibre of “analysis” one expects nowadays from anti-Israel activists masquerading as UN legal experts and officials. This is a pity, because there are genuine legal and ethical discussions to be had in terms of IHL, IDF conduct and medical units and facilities in Gaza being abused by Hamas. Unfortunately… few are interested in engaging in them.
The Axis of Resistance is not dead yet
December 19, 2024 | Oved Lobel
This regime has shown itself to be remarkably durable and innovative when it comes to exporting the Islamic Revolution and attacking Israel, even under arguably worse domestic, regional and international circumstances than these. Barring a collapse of the regime or a coherent containment policy by the US and its allies – and despite whatever pragmatic and temporary retrenchment and policy adjustments may be necessary in the short term – it will attempt to regenerate the axis, and likely succeed.
Iranian human rights have significantly worsened since the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests
December 18, 2024 | Alana Schetzer
The last year has seen the war on the Iranian people’s human rights intensified. The number of executions continues to soar, new laws have been introduced further restricting women, minority groups are increasingly being disproportionately targeted, and sexual abuse is being weaponised against those who defy the regime’s laws.
A Fork in the Road for Lebanon
December 16, 2024 | Oved Lobel
The fall of Assad could eventually herald a truly independent future for Lebanon. It could also result in no substantial change to the status quo, with the venal and feckless leaders in Lebanon simply doing nothing, as has been their wont historically. Or it could return Lebanon to its darkest days.
UNIFIL, the LAF and the myth of Lebanese sovereignty
November 13, 2024 | Oved Lobel
The idea that UNIFIL will suddenly be able to assist the LAF in doing what it has always been inherently incapable of doing, and in the name of an illusory “Government of Lebanon”, recalls that famous definition of insanity. Any proposed diplomatic solution to the current war based on the fatally flawed formula of 1701 is doomed to fail.
“Backbone”? UNRWA delivers just 13% of the aid in Gaza
November 8, 2024 | Ahron Shapiro
In Senate Estimates on November 7, Foreign Minister Penny Wong doubled down on her Government’s commitment to support the UN’s dedicated Palestinian agency UNRWA as the conduit for humanitarian aid for Gaza. In doing so, she parrotted the UN Security Council’s recent statement that UNRWA is the “backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza”.
