The Ministry of Health in Gaza said, "The Martyr Mohammed al-Durra Children's Hospital, east of Gaza City, is out of service."

She explained that the hospital was put out of service due to the extensive damage it sustained two days ago, following an Israeli attack. The bombing also damaged the intensive care unit, and the occupation forces deliberately bombed the hospital's alternative energy panels.

Medical sources confirmed that the continued blockade of food and medicine supplies indicates that the children of the Gaza Strip are facing a dangerous and catastrophic situation.

With the closure of Al-Shaheed Mohammed Al-Durra Hospital, the number of hospitals out of service since the start of the aggression on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, has risen to 37.

Four citizens were injured on Thursday by live bullets and beatings during an Israeli occupation forces raid on Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus.

The director of the Red Crescent Society's emergency and ambulance center in Nablus, Amid Ahmed, said that ambulance crews dealt with a 15-year-old child who was shot in the knee by the occupation forces, and a 21-year-old man who was shot in the foot, while two children suffered fractures when the occupation forces attacked them.

Security sources also confirmed that occupation forces arrested the two brothers, Wiam and Islam Qaraan, during a raid on Balata camp.

Local sources reported that Israeli special forces stormed the "Hashashin neighborhood" inside Balata camp, besieging a house, while the occupation forces sent in additional reinforcements.

The death toll from the Israeli occupation's aggression on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, has risen to 51,355 dead and 117,248 wounded.

Medical sources reported that the death toll includes 1,978 dead and 5,207 wounded since March 18.

It said that 50 dead and 152 wounded arrived at hospitals in the Gaza Strip during the past 24 hours.

It explained that a number of dead remain under the rubble of destroyed homes and facilities, and on the roads, and that ambulances and specialist teams are unable to reach them due to limited resources.

Khalil Al-Daqran, medical director of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, said that the Gaza Strip has entered the fifth stage of malnutrition, the most severe according to the World Health Organization's classification, due to the strict blockade imposed by the Israeli occupation.

He added in a statement to Voice of Palestine that Gaza's children are experiencing the most severe stages of malnutrition due to a lack of food and baby formula, which threatens their lives.

Al-Daqran pointed out that approximately 200,000 patients with chronic diseases are at risk of death due to the depletion of their medications.

The Palestinian Central Council continues its 32nd session today, Thursday, under the title: "No to displacement and no to annexation - steadfastness in the homeland - saving our people in Gaza and stopping the war - protecting Jerusalem and the West Bank - yes to comprehensive Palestinian national unity." The session opened yesterday in the Ahmed Shuqairy Hall at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah.

In a speech before the Council, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that putting the Palestinian house in order on a unifying national basis is essential to confronting current challenges. He warned of grave dangers that are closer to a new Nakba, threatening our existence and heralding the liquidation of our national cause.

The Central Council session will discuss the Israeli genocidal war being waged against our people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem. It will also examine the mechanism for managing the affairs of the Gaza Strip, the ongoing attempts at forced displacement, as well as the siege, annexation, starvation, colonialism, and land seizure.

The meeting will also discuss the internal Palestinian situation, including "restoring and strengthening national unity within the framework of the Palestine Liberation Organization," the creation of the position of Vice President of the PLO's Executive Committee, and any new developments.

The Palestinian Central Council held thirty sessions between 1985 and 2018, including two extraordinary sessions in 1988 and 1999, an emergency session in 2003, seven of which were held in Tunisia, four in Baghdad, the Iraqi capital, four in Gaza, and 15 sessions in Ramallah.

In 2022, the 31st session of the Palestinian Central Council was held, under the title: "Developing and Activating the Palestine Liberation Organization, Protecting the National Project, and Popular Resistance." This session resulted in the election of a new body to preside over the Palestinian National Council, the election of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Palestinian National Fund, and the completion of the membership of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Today, Thursday, the Israeli occupation forces demolished a residential building in the town of Za'tara, east of Bethlehem.

Za'tara Municipality Director Taher Mohsen reported that an Israeli army force stormed the town and took up positions in the eastern Al-Sulaibiya area. The force demolished a three-story residential building, each measuring 150 square meters, owned by Mohammad Bakirat.

According to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, the occupation authorities carried out 58 demolition operations last month, with 13 in Tulkarm Governorate, 8 in Jerusalem Governorate, 7 in Nablus Governorate, and 7 in Jenin Governorate.

The Commission noted that the demolition operations carried out by the occupying state aim to restrict Palestinian construction and natural growth in Palestinian villages and towns under the pretext of lacking permits, in an attempt to displace Palestinians and isolate them in narrow cantons and enclaves.

She pointed out that the escalating measures of the occupying state aimed at annexing the West Bank and imposing occupation sovereignty, which are currently being implemented, declare a true, ongoing war against our people, represented by a series of measures, most notably intensive demolitions, the closure of villages and cities, the seizure of citizens' lands, and waves of settler attacks, within the framework of a systematic policy to impose a coercive, repulsive environment on citizens.

Israeli occupation forces launched an arrest campaign in the West Bank on Thursday.

In the northern Jordan Valley, the director of the Prisoners Club in Tubas, Kamal Bani Odeh, reported that the occupation forces arrested the brothers Mahmoud, Muhammad, Ahmad, and Mishaal Jarir Rabaya, as well as the young man Muhammad Ahmad Jahalin from Bardala in the northern Jordan Valley.

Last night, armed settlers attacked Bardala village, attempting to steal livestock from residents on the western outskirts of the village. The attack resulted in several injuries from live bullets, and the burning of residential buildings, sheep pens, and greenhouses.

Since settlers established a colonial outpost on the western outskirts several months ago, the village has witnessed repeated attacks against citizens, their property, farms, and livestock.

In Bethlehem, the occupation forces arrested Yousef Murad Salhab (24 years old) from the Al-Saff Street area in Bethlehem, and Muhammad Jumaa Zaoul (18 years old) from the village of Husan to the west. They also searched a number of homes in the village and wreaked havoc in them.

The forces also stormed most parts of the governorate: the town of Tuqu', the cities of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour, and the areas of Jabal al-Mawaleh, Rakhma, Rafidah, and Handazah to the east.

In Nablus, an occupation force stormed several neighborhoods of the city, raided and searched a number of homes, ransacked their contents, and arrested citizens Hassan Al-Zagha from the Al-Maajin neighborhood and Abdullah Al-Aker from Asira Street.

In Jenin, occupation forces arrested citizen Abdul Rahman Tahaineh after raiding and searching his home.

In Hebron, occupation forces arrested Imad Azghair from the municipality suburb south of Hebron, as well as Raed Azmi Ghneimat and Tariq Badawi Ghneimat from the town of Surif in the north. They searched the detainees' homes and ransacked their contents.

Media activist Mohammed Awad said that the occupation forces raided the town of Beit Ummar in the north, and stormed the home of citizen Mahmoud Mohammed Musleh Awad after breaking the main door, and destroyed the furniture and electrical appliances, and damaged food supplies, and assaulted his brother, Sultan (25 years old), by beating him with rifle butts and hands, after which he was transferred to a medical clinic to receive treatment. The occupation soldiers also stormed the home of citizen Salah Ahmed Abdel Hamid, searched it and ransacked its contents.

The occupation forces also raided the Al-Fawar and Al-Arroub camps, the towns of As-Samu, Dura, and Surif, and several neighborhoods in the city of Hebron.

The occupation forces have intensified their campaign of house raids and arrests in towns and villages in Jenin Governorate since the start of the Israeli aggression on the city and refugee camp of Jenin 93 days ago.

The Saudi-owned Al-Majalla website published a new draft framework for negotiations aimed at achieving a permanent ceasefire in Gaza on Wednesday, indicating the possibility of progress in resolving the conflict between Hamas and Israel and ending the war on the Strip and its civilians. Efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have paved the way for a comprehensive approach to peace that seeks not only to halt the bloody Israeli war but also to resolve the pressing issue of the Israeli prisoner crisis.

This initiative proposes a commitment from all parties to engage in constructive dialogue, which enhances hope for a sustainable solution and stability in the region.

A Hamas delegation began a visit to Cairo yesterday to discuss a ceasefire in Gaza, following a visit by a Qatari delegation to Washington. The following is the text of the draft:

The two sides agreed on the following:

1- In accordance with the understandings between the United States and the mediators (Qatar - Egypt), and as a special gesture to the United States, Hamas will release American citizen Aiden Alexander on the first day of this framework.

2- Announcing a framework for a temporary ceasefire for 45 days (cessation of military operations and temporary cessation of air traffic), during which Israeli detainees and Palestinian prisoners will be released, humanitarian aid will resume, and negotiations will begin on the terms of a permanent ceasefire.

3- On the second day, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the first phase of the January 19, 2025 agreement regarding hostages and prisoners, Hamas will release 5 living Israeli hostages from the “List of 59” presented by Israel. In exchange, Israel will release 66 prisoners serving life sentences and 611 prisoners from Gaza arrested after October 7, 2023. They will be released simultaneously according to an agreed-upon mechanism, without public parades or ceremonies.

Following the release of five living Israeli detainees, the Israeli army will begin redeploying to its positions on March 2, 2025, in the Rafah area and the northern Gaza Strip.

4- On the second day, humanitarian aid and relief will resume in accordance with an agreed-upon humanitarian protocol. The work of accredited UN agencies and other international organizations will continue. Rehabilitation of infrastructure will begin, and the entry of equipment and supplies necessary to shelter internally displaced persons will begin. An agreed-upon mechanism will be put in place to ensure that aid reaches civilians only.

5- On the second day, after the release of 5 living Israeli detainees, the Israeli army will begin redeploying to its positions on March 2, 2025, in the Rafah area and the northern Gaza Strip.

6- On the third day, negotiations will begin under the auspices of the mediators/guarantors on the necessary arrangements for a permanent ceasefire, including:

A - Keys and terms for exchanging all remaining Israeli detainees for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

B - Israeli military redeployment and security perimeter.

C- Disarmament of the Gaza Strip.

Arrangements for the "day after" in the Gaza Strip that will be put forward by either side.

e - Declaration of a permanent ceasefire.

7- On the seventh day, Hamas will release four living Israeli detainees from the "List of 59" presented by Israel. In exchange, Israel will release 54 prisoners serving life sentences and 500 detainees after October 7, 2023. They will be released simultaneously according to an agreed-upon mechanism, without public parades or ceremonies. The guarantors of this agreement will make every effort to ensure the safety of the remaining hostages.

8- On the seventh day, after the release of the four living Israeli hostages, the Israeli army will redeploy east of Salah al-Din Street to the location of 2/3/2025, and the freedom of movement of the civilian population (without carrying weapons) will be facilitated through the Netzarim crossing without restrictions.

Negotiations on arrangements for a permanent ceasefire should be completed within 45 days, and upon agreement, the remaining detainees (living and dead) from the list of 59 submitted by Israel will be released.

9- On the tenth day, Hamas will provide full information (proof of life and medical reports) on all remaining living detainees, while Israel will provide full information on Palestinian prisoners arrested from the Gaza Strip after October 7.

10. On the 20th day, Hamas will release 16 deceased Israeli detainees in exchange for 160 martyred Gazans. They will be released simultaneously according to an agreed-upon mechanism, without public displays or ceremonies. In addition, Hamas will provide evidence of the deaths of the remaining Israeli detainees. In return, Israel will provide information on the number of martyred Gazans it is holding. An agreed-upon mechanism will be established to support the release of the remaining deceased detainees, including the provision of necessary means.

11. Negotiations on arrangements for a permanent ceasefire should be completed within 45 days, and upon agreement, the remaining detainees (living and dead) from the list of 59 submitted by Israel will be released. If negotiations on arrangements for a permanent ceasefire are not concluded within the above-mentioned time period, and as long as further releases of Israeli detainees continue, the temporary ceasefire may be extended on terms and for a period agreed upon by the two parties.

12- The guarantor mediators (the United States, Egypt, and Qatar) will make every effort to ensure the completion of the above-mentioned negotiations to reach an agreement on the necessary arrangements for a permanent ceasefire, in accordance with their determination to achieve this goal.

Jordanian Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya announced last night, Wednesday, that the Muslim Brotherhood's activities had been banned, declaring it an illegal organization.

Al-Faraya indicated in a press conference that any activity by the group, regardless of its nature, is considered a violation of the law and requires legal accountability. He announced the acceleration of the work of the dissolution committee tasked with confiscating the group's assets in accordance with relevant judicial rulings.

Al-Faraya affirmed that "membership in the so-called dissolved Muslim Brotherhood is prohibited," in addition to "promoting the group's ideas under penalty of legal accountability."

Al-Faraya also announced a decision to "close any offices or headquarters used by the dissolved Muslim Brotherhood throughout the Kingdom, even if they are in partnership with any other entities," under penalty of legal accountability.

The Interior Minister warned that "political forces, media outlets, social media users, civil society organizations, and any other entities are prohibited from engaging with or publishing material related to the so-called dissolved Muslim Brotherhood, or any of its affiliates and branches, under penalty of legal accountability."

He explained that "these decisions were taken based on the state's unwavering commitment to the safety of our society, to protecting it from actions that disturb security and order, distort best political practices, and to preserve its security and stability."

Last week, Jordanian Minister of Communications and government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani announced the arrest of 16 individuals accused of involvement in manufacturing missiles and drones with the aim of "sowing chaos and sabotage within the kingdom." The Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan denied any connection to the matter.

In a time when the pace of events is accelerating and facts are intertwined with rumors, serious journalism remains a beacon of awareness and a voice writing history from the heart of the moment. Among these beacons, Al-Quds newspaper stands tall, bearing the name of the eternal capital of Palestine, shouldering the burden of words and the responsibility of meaning.

Since its founding in Jerusalem in 1951, the newspaper has strived to be more than just a media outlet; it has been, and continues to be, a daily mirror of Palestinian reality and a window through which Palestine looks out onto itself and the world. Its pages reflect the concerns of the people, and their voices are expressed in the forms of news, analysis, and opinion.

Al-Quds enjoys a special status among Palestinian and Arab newspapers, not only because it is the most widely circulated newspaper locally, but also because it has managed to maintain relative independence in a complex political and media environment. Over the decades, it has succeeded in striking a delicate balance between national commitment and professionalism, remaining present on the ground and engaging with events without losing its credibility or slipping into sharp alignments.

In its opinion articles, you find Palestine in all its complexity: from politics to culture, from resistance to daily life. In each issue, the newspaper attempts to open new windows for thought and pose questions before offering answers. This is what makes it a true school of print journalism.

Despite the major challenges facing print journalism, including financial crises and declining circulation in favor of digital media, Al-Quds newspaper continues its quiet battle, determined to survive and lead. It has developed its online platforms and expanded its presence in the digital space, without abandoning its venerable print essence.

It is not just a newspaper; it is a witness to the times and a partner in the collective formation of Palestinian consciousness. If Jerusalem is a city that never ages, then its newspaper is the same, renewed every day with the ink of truth and living up to its name: Al-Quds.

Thirteen civilians were killed and others wounded in Israeli shelling of several areas in the Gaza Strip since dawn on Thursday.

In the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, northwest of Gaza City, six members of one family—a father, a mother, and their four children—were killed when the occupation forces bombed their home.

In central Gaza, three civilians were killed and others injured when Israeli forces shelled a tent housing displaced people from the Farajallah family in the al-Sawarha area, west of al-Nuseirat.

In Khan Yunis, a man and his wife were killed when the occupation forces bombed the home of the al-Najjar family in the Qizan al-Najjar area south of the city. Two children were also killed and others were injured when a tent housing displaced persons was bombed in the al-Attar area of Khan Yunis' Mawasi district.

According to medical sources, more than 17,000 children have been killed since the beginning of the occupation's aggression on the Gaza Strip.

The death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 51,305, and the number of injuries to 117,096 since the start of the aggression on October 7, 2023.

Israeli media reported that there is no final agreement on Gaza, despite intense US pressure on mediators from Egypt and Qatar to influence Hamas. The negotiations are currently at a delicate stage.

Israel's Channel 12 reported that the current negotiations are seeking to reach an agreement based on the proposal presented by US Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff, before any military escalation.

She pointed out that US pressure is focused on trying to pass this proposal without any new initiatives being put forward so far.

For its part, the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper quoted Israeli officials as confirming that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz are insisting on presenting an image that Israel is still trying to exhaust all opportunities to reach a deal, despite the complexities of the situation.

In a related context, the Israeli Channel 10, citing an official, reported that "Israel has decided to give negotiations an additional opportunity before deciding to expand the military operation in Gaza," stressing that "there is no new initiative currently on the table."

An Israeli source told i24 that "no new proposal has been put forward by the mediators yet," indicating that the negotiations remain deadlocked, despite ongoing attempts to salvage them.

If Arabs, Muslims, and Christians do not realize that Jerusalem is a title, a conscience, and a goal, they will have lost much of what they are proud of: much of their past, much of their dignity, much of their convictions, much of their faith, and much of their aspirations for dignity, independence, and sovereignty.

The Israeli colonial expansionist project targets Palestine, its entire map and all its details, erasing its Arab, Islamic, and Christian past, its Arab, Islamic, and Christian human demographic presence, and planning, working, and programming to Judaize, Israelize, Hebraize, and Zionize it.

The steadfastness of the people of Jerusalem, supported by the Palestinians of the 1948 territories, the sons of Carmel, Galilee, the Triangle, the Negev and the mixed coastal cities, where the people of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, whether Muslims or Christians, are unable to reach Jerusalem to perform their duties, their feelings and their bias towards Jerusalem, its people, its mosques and churches. The conflict, its title, manifestations and actions by the colony, its tools, systems, parties and rabbis, is violent, racist and extremist, working in a hurry, seeking to shorten the factors of time to impose facts and realities and to modify the landmarks and systems, in the direction of Jerusalem being the unified capital of the colony, alongside the Palestinian West Bank as Judea and Samaria.

The steadfastness of Jerusalem, with its Palestinian organizations, the Awqaf Council, and the employees of the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf, 972 full-time employees who serve as guardians of presence and loyalty, supported by the people of the interior: their parties, foremost among them the Islamic Movement with its southern and northern branches, their representatives, and their mayors, deserve respect, appreciation, and noble action, nationally, regionally, and religiously.

Demonstrations of steadfastness and local support are not enough. The Arab, Islamic, and Christian duty is a necessity, a duty, and a responsibility. Jerusalem is the first of the two Qiblas, the second of the two mosques, and the third of the two Holy Sanctuaries for Muslims, and the place of resurrection of Jesus Christ for Christians. It is the capital not only of Palestine, but also a global address that needs care and preservation in the face of the colonial policies that seek to steal and plunder it, erase its past and what it represents, change its landmarks, and replace its inhabitants, which requires the utmost degree of Arab, Islamic, and Christian attention.

As long as it is the first of the two Qiblahs for Muslims and the place of Isra’ and Mi’raj of our Master Muhammad, and the second of the two mosques: the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, and the third of the two Holy Mosques, why is it not linked to the binding duty of making every pilgrim performing the Hajj pilgrimage, and every pilgrim performing the Umrah rites pay: a contribution and a tax, and a duty, however modest, but its proceeds will contribute to covering the needs of the people of Jerusalem, especially the people of the Old City and its residents, and the programs of the Jerusalem Endowments Council, and everything that can be achieved, and not to be limited to the Jordanian effort in covering the necessary needs of the Jerusalem Endowments Council and the employees of the Ministry of Endowments, in addition to what is provided by the Palestinian Authority, which is officially and arbitrarily prohibited from performing its duties towards Jerusalem, and the punishment and accountability of its employees and the closure of their institutions dedicated to Jerusalem and for Jerusalem.

The struggle over Jerusalem is a glaring title, and it is a priority for the colonizer, as it is a national, religious and patriotic duty for all Palestinians inside their homeland. The gathering of tens of thousands of worshippers on Fridays, holidays and special occasions is nothing but the realization of this meaning, goal and struggle. Al-Quds newspaper is nothing but an authentic and expressive title, for decades, about what is happening in and for Jerusalem, and a wall of resistance for and from it. It was born in the Holy City before the occupation in 1967, when the city was part of the lands of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Its heritage has remained steadfast, and it is a distinctive platform that must be preserved and protected because it is exposed, like the institutions of Jerusalem, to pressure and deliberate weakening, on the path to decline and retreat.

Supporting Al-Quds and Al-Quds newspaper is a duty, a necessity, and a need. Will what can be done to sustain and strengthen it be met as part of the conflict and as part of the tools of the struggle against the colony, its projects, and its aggression?

.....

Al-Quds newspaper is an authentic outlet that reflects what is happening in and for Jerusalem. It was born in the Holy City before the 1967 occupation, when the city was part of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Its heritage remains steadfast, serving as a distinctive platform that must be preserved and protected.

I am fortunate to have lived in that beautiful time, when newspapers were omnipresent, adding beauty and carrying messages to the readership every morning. I was also among the luckiest because, ever since I was a child, I became familiar with the smell of paper and ink. I was born into a reading family that read Al-Quds newspaper every day, and that childhood had an impact on who I became later on. I lived for years dreaming of becoming a writer for the newspaper, and I never thought that dream would come true. Rather, I thought it was like many dreams that are dashed halfway through. As I grew older, I learned that newspapers have a scent unlike any other book or paper. They are closer than anything else and have something that distinguishes them from everything else.

The Al-Quds newspaper vendor would roam the city streets and the neighborhood where I lived, the "madhouse neighborhood," which coincidentally was called "the mountain," on a bicycle, delivering the newspaper to readers who waited for it every morning. This was a custom that disappeared in the age of technology and the proliferation of satellite television, before the arrival of social media, which is expanding today while demand for printed newspapers declines. Online browsers have become a constant for generations, via smartphones and mobile devices.

Once upon a time, the newspaper vendor I remember so well, with his Palestinian keffiyeh on his head, would arrive at the family shop every morning. Everyone would take turns reading the pages with their different topics. Al-Quds newspaper would pass from hand to hand, each with his own interest in the issues covered. Some would race to solve the crossword puzzles, which had a daily column in each issue. My habit, however, was to start reading the newspaper from its last page, where the cartoons were drawn in color, and then turn the pages from the end to the beginning, unlike what the others did. This habit stuck with me without me knowing the reason behind it.

Times have changed. Technology has advanced rapidly, screens have begun to replace paper, and many newspapers have retreated in the face of the internet flood. However, Al-Quds newspaper, which has always carried a national identity and a sincere sense of belonging, has remained a shining name, keeping pace with this development with intelligence and responsibility. It launched its electronic platforms and communicated with new generations using their language and tools, while simultaneously preserving its print image, which continues to be printed, read, and anticipated every morning.

It is true that, in the last decade, the newspaper vendor has disappeared from the neighborhood, and so has his voice and presence, just as many other things have disappeared in the hustle and bustle of life and the development that has befallen the country and its people. However, Al-Quds newspaper, which bears the name of the city and its history, and whose launch had a legacy and impact, and throughout its years remained faithful to the spirit of the beginnings, despite the change of means and the succession of generations. It was never merely a newspaper circulated by people, but rather it was and still is a voice and an identity, and a mirror of a cause and a homeland.

Today, whenever I hold the Al-Quds newspaper, I close my eyes and go back there... to that beautiful time, the quiet neighborhood, my childhood home, my family, to the voice of my father reading aloud, to the newspaper vendor calling out in the neighborhood, and to my first dream that grew with me and found a place for itself between the lines of a newspaper that is still strongly present among us, preserving its name and its design, and keeping pace with the development of modernity across its various platforms.

.........

Technology has advanced rapidly, screens have begun to replace paper, and many newspapers have retreated in the face of the internet. However, Al-Quds newspaper, which has always carried a national identity and a sincere sense of belonging, has remained a shining name, keeping pace with this development with intelligence and responsibility.

Dr. Nader Andraos, Professor of Sociology at Harvard University, published an analytical article in the electronic magazine "Al-Furat" in its March 28, 2025 issue, titled "Secular Criticism of the Book of Exodus: The Confrontation between Edward Said and Michael Walzer." The article focuses on Professor Edward Said's criticisms of the methodology and theses of the American Jewish thinker Michael Walzer, one of the most important theorists of "just war" and the main exponent of the "liberal Zionist" school. Dr. Nader diverges in his approaches between Walzer's methodology and Edward's methodology, after revealing the most important political and intellectual visions of Michael Walzer regarding his position on the Zionist entity.

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate that all currents of Zionist movements, from liberal, socialist, right-wing, biblical, and racist Zionism, have, with the intensification of the Palestinian and Arab struggle against the entity, diminished the distinction between them, to the point that they have become almost all a single Zionist current, with no clear boundaries between them. This article begins with a concise summary of Dr. Nader's approaches in his article—with my own adaptation—which brings to the surface the essence of the "liberal/secular Zionist" theses that legitimize and justify the usurpation of Palestine. These theses serve the right-wing and populist Zionist movement.

Dr. Nader begins by defining what is meant by liberal Zionism: "The intellectual and political trend that defends the legitimacy of the Zionist project based on concepts stemming from the liberal heritage, such as rights, citizenship, and religious freedom, and considers the two-state solution a just solution to the Palestinian issue." Dr. Nader analyzes the crisis faced by the thinkers of this movement, which is represented by "a fundamental contradiction between insisting on adhering to human rights and their universality, while simultaneously presenting liberal arguments for adhering to the Zionist project and the State of "Israel"."

Walzer published his book, Exodus and Revolution, in which he employed "the Jewish religious tradition to present a secular reading of the story of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, as a model for every liberation movement." By basing liberal Zionism on religious heritage, Walzer sought to make it a competitor to another Zionism he considered harmful to the Zionist project: right-wing Zionism, which relied on the same heritage. After writing this book, Edward Said published a critical review of Walzer's book, in which he demonstrated the failure of Walzer's attempt to reverse his intention: "Instead of secularizing religion, he sanctified it by relying on an interpretive reading devoid of history." The subject of his book, Exodus and Revolution, is to answer the question: What is the role of religious traditions in shaping history? Walzer began exploring this question in his doctoral dissertation, published in 1965, entitled "The Revolution of Saints," a sociological and historical study of the role of certain trends in the Christian Reformation movement that led to the birth of Protestantism in shaping the modern world morally and politically. Walzer then authored his massive three-volume book, The Jewish Political Tradition, published between 2000 and 2018, which re-reads and reconstructs political philosophy in the Talmud. Dr. A rare example of Walzer's background is that he (Michael Walzer was never a Marxist or a pacifist. While criticizing the Vietnam War, Walzer makes clear in Just and Unjust Wars that he is not against wars in principle. The book was an attempt to clarify his moral position, combining an updated version of the medieval just war theory with various "historical explanations" from the Peloponnesian Wars, an ancient Greek war between Athens and Sparta, to the Vietnam War and the 1967 War. Walzer admits that his motivation for writing the book was to try to explain why he opposed the Vietnam War on the one hand, and supported Israel in the 1967 War on the other. Walzer began to see the Book of Exodus and the Prophet Moses everywhere he turned. The American Founding Fathers referred to the Book of Exodus, as did Oliver Cromwell, the author of the Glorious Revolution against the British monarchy, abolitionists, liberation theologians, and finally the civil rights movement. Walzer concluded that the Book of Exodus must be the basic model that contains the key to all revolutionary movements.) Walzer sought to distinguish between two types of Zionism: "Exodus Zionism" and "Messianic Zionism." Exodus Zionism focuses on the memory of the Israelites' flight from Egypt, their forty-year wandering in the desert, and their arrival at the Promised Land. Messianic Zionism, on the other hand, focuses on the future return of the Messiah and the resurrection that precedes His return. Walzer explains the difference between the two Zionisms: Exodus Zionism prioritizes human political autonomy and the ability to shape their own history. It tells the story of a human struggle against oppression and the journey through it to political maturity. Messianic Zionism, by contrast, is less "tragic" in its expression. It dreams of a sudden doomsday, not slow learning in the desert. "Exodus Zionism is moderate, rational, translatable, and accessible to revolutionaries and secular appropriation. Messianic Zionism belongs to the right-wing, from whom Walzer goes to great lengths to distance himself." The book aims to present a position that allows liberal Zionism to compete with right-wing Zionism on the same religious and textual level. However, this justification between the Zionism of the Book of Exodus and the Zionism of resurrection-based salvation is inaccurate. The story of the Exodus of the Israelites is itself apocalyptic. It includes the conquest of the "Canaanite" land and commands from the Jewish god, Yahweh, to slaughter its inhabitants. Michael Walzer says, "The Canaanites were explicitly excluded from the concern of the moral world. The commandments of Deuteronomy command that they should be expelled or killed, all of them—men, women, and children—and their idols should be destroyed." Here the article alerts us that this is what we would call genocide by today’s standards. However, Walzer quotes medieval Talmudic rabbis, including Maimonides of Andalusia, who invalidated this commandment. According to commentators, “the commandment applied only to a specific group of people mentioned in the text, who no longer exist or are currently unrecognizable.” This important issue was the subject of Edward Said’s response to Walzer in his book “Reading Canaanite,” published in 1986. It was the main point of confrontation between Edward Said and Michael Walzer. Said published an article entitled “Zionism from the Point of View of Its Victims.” In it, he argued that Zionism had no choice but to cling to the myth that the land of Palestine was a land without a people, or that even if it had a population, they were either “not of moral concern to the world,” or “nonexistent and no longer recognizable.” Edward Said found in Michael Walzer’s book, in which he ignored The very existence of the Palestinians confirms this analysis. Therefore, he began to refute his theses, which he promoted as secular liberalism: (Walzer's sole preoccupation was with right-wing Zionism, which relies on the Torah's commandment to kill all women and children to justify its actions. However, he was not concerned with the current reality in occupied Palestine. Rather, Walzer ignored the actual history that complicates his argument. For example, he says: "This commandment has no practical implications. The Jews returning to the land will not encounter the Hittites or the Amorites," but he does not name the Jews who will encounter them.) Edward Said describes Michael Walzer's interpretive tactic as "implication by postponement." By this, he means that Walzer promises to "discuss the problems posed by what he says later, but does not do so and continues to postpone them until they are forgotten and their impact is neutralized." The result, according to Edward, is "a false progressive label on deeply conservative ideas. He even offered a free gift to "loyal Zionism" and its dreams of the Day of Judgment." Edward Said criticizes the approach of this "liberal" Zionist, who champions the Zionist entity as part of the national liberation movement. He points out that the era of decolonization was supposed to have ended by the 1970s and 1980s, both intellectually and politically, with the exception of Nicaragua and South Africa. (The Western Left supported the Zionist entity before 1967 because it was a "socialist" experiment, especially when the alliance with the United States was not essential to its security. However, after 1967, this image of the entity became less credible due to the increased influence of the army, the entrenchment of the 1967 occupation, and the growing dependence on support from an external superpower, America—all traditional hallmarks of settler colonialism.) On the other hand, the New Left presented itself as opposed to the Vietnam War and the Cold War. How, then, can support for the Zionist entity be maintained in light of moral inconsistency? This dilemma defined the analytical model followed by Michael Walzer, as described by Edward Said. Walzer's goal was to convince his generation of the New Left that supporting the Zionist entity was not a renunciation of their progressive commitments. Edward Said therefore describes this element of Michael Walzer's argument as "rhetorical, with theoretical implications. There is a contradiction in Walzer's work between his claim to adhere to a universal argument, valid for every place, culture, and time, and his parallel commitment to the identity politics he discusses in his book *Spheres of Justice*, where he argues that "there is no single formula for equality since societies have their own standards of justice." In other words, Walzer prioritizes ethnic, religious, and national identities as the most important framing of the problem. Here, Walzer cites the position of the French novelist Albert Camus, focusing specifically on Camus's relationship with his French-Algerian origins and the Pieds-Noirs community during the Algerian War of Independence. Albert Camus criticized the excessive violence used by the Algerian National Liberation Front in its resistance to French colonialism and sympathized with those of his own identity—the French occupation—even though he represented the anti-colonial position in French intellectual circles. Walzer concludes from this example that the critic—meaning himself—“must speak only to those of his own identity—that is, the usurping Zionists—in order to address their conscience, and that identity, loyalty, and belonging take priority over abstract moral principles.” Thus, Michael Walzer’s aims are revealed when he emphasizes the importance of criticism, reflection, and commitment to universal ideals such as just war, while at the same time emphasizing the need for community and belonging. His goal is to “repackage the ethno-religious aspect of the Zionist project within frameworks that appear, on the surface, progressive and secular. This results in a closed moral universe in which the boundaries of the local community are accepted without question, and ethno-religious forms of identity and authority take priority.” Dr. It is rare that Edward Said rejects the notion of attachment to a particular identity as a sufficient measure of any critical act, even though he accepts the importance of this attachment, replacing it with what he considers another essential element: the extent to which the critic exposes himself to exclusion from his community. This seems to be the problem with the author of Exodus and Revolution. (Walzer exposes himself to no risk in any of his arguments. They satisfy both his "secular," or political, and "religious" commitments, because he has not risked either.) Edward Said has shown how "Israeli" citizenship, in particular, is defended by Walzer on ethnic and religious grounds, meaning that it cannot be a state "for all its citizens." That is, Edward insisted on highlighting the contradiction between ethnic and civic identity. The liberal Zionist Michael Walzer, while "secularizing" the Book of Exodus from the biblical narrative as a political wisdom that can be adopted and replicated by all liberation movements, as Zionism did in Palestine, has considered "secular history to be an infinite extension of the biblical narrative." Dr. Nader concludes his deconstructive article by saying, "The purpose of invoking the confrontation between Edward Said and Michael Walzer today is to expose the ways in which liberal Zionism relies on ethnic-religious myths and simultaneously denies them. Liberal Zionism's most dangerous illusion is that it believes it can control the consequences of its desires. Once myths and desires are invoked, control becomes difficult. Ultimately, any attempt to pit good ethnic-religious desires against evil ethnic-religious desires is doomed to collapse and fail. This is because the basis for this distinction is always left to those willing to risk realizing their myths. When the myths are realized, liberal intellectuals can keep their consciences clear because they are able to project their desires onto others and then claim that they are victims of the tragedy of history repeating itself." And that they "had good intentions..."

Methodology of Muhammad Abed al-Jabri and Samir Amin:

The transformations that the Zionist movement has undergone since its inception have demonstrated that its various forms of "communist" and "socialist" Zionism were encouraged and theorized by the Soviet Union, the socialist bloc, and the international communist parties affiliated with the Soviet center, including the Arab communist parties. This secular Zionism, which, in the early stages of the establishment of this entity, was able to play an influential role among the Zionist workers in Palestine. It was the one that promoted the idea of the “two-state solution,” which originally emerged from Soviet Moscow. It was not adopted by all UN resolutions related to the usurpation of Palestine, and was later adopted by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and rejected by most Palestinian and Arab leftist organizations not subject to the Soviet center. This “labor” and “socialist” Zionism, in light of the intensity of the Palestinian-Zionist conflict, soon saw its distinction from the rest of the currents of the liberal Zionist movement, the brutal neoliberalism, the religious Torah, and the populist racism diminish, and they all almost agreed on the major goals of the Zionist ideology based—according to the vision of the thinker Muhammad Abed al-Jabri, and with my modification—on the religious Torah “doctrine,” the racist Jewish “tribe,” and the “spoils” they seized from the wealth and lands of Palestine, as mentioned by “Yahweh” when he promised them a kingdom containing honey and milk and whatever their souls desired, and what the Zionist movement promised them, with all its diversity. Later, in a land without a people, for a people without a land!

The fusion and intermingling of all the currents of global Zionism into a single melting pot, into an entity of the “peripheries” of capitalism—according to the vision of the economic thinker Samir Amin, and with my own modification—is an essential feature of the “globalized” phase of post-imperialist fascist capitalism, in which the capitalist “center” countries, such as the United States, Britain, and France, have been able to erase the vast distinction between their right-wing parties—the American Republican Party and the British Conservative Party—and the liberal, labor, and even socialist parties—the American Democratic Party, the British Labor Party, and the French Socialist Party—so that all their positions and programs reflect the new goals of current fascist capitalism.

Thus, the disappearance of the distinction between the currents of the Zionist movement paralleled the disappearance of the distinction between the labor/socialist parties and the right-wing and populist parties in Europe and the United States. Just as the Zionist entity itself, as one of the parties within the capitalist camp, became a parasitic capitalist entity dependent on the main capitalist center, it transformed, like the capitalist centers, from "imperialist" capitalism to "fascist" capitalism.

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Said published an article entitled "Zionism from the Point of View of Its Victims," in which he argued that Zionism had no choice but to cling to the myth that Palestine was a land without a people, or that even if it had a population, they were either "not of moral concern to the world," or "nonexistent and no longer recognizable."

The fact that Al-Quds newspaper has reached a circulation of 20,000 indicates its ability to endure and continue as a leading media outlet, despite the tremendous developments and transformations in the media industry, technology, and techniques used. This is simply because it enjoys the trust of its audience, who rely on it as a primary source of information, whether in the West Bank, Jerusalem, or other regions.

This is due to Al-Quds' status and leadership as a popular and influential newspaper in Palestinian public opinion, due to the quality of its content, comprehensive coverage, credibility, and journalistic exclusivity. This is reflected in its wide circulation and distribution, which has led individuals, companies, and institutions to prefer advertising in it. This is in addition to Al-Quds' status as an active partner in Palestinian political, social, economic, sports, and media life.

Al-Quds newspaper, one of the most prominent Palestinian press institutions, has witnessed a qualitative transformation in its media structure in recent years, through its continuous adoption of technological developments, keeping pace with international standards and enhancing its ability to reach and influence. This was most notable through the digital transformation and expansion of electronic publishing. The newspaper established an integrated website (www.alquds.com), offering updated content in real-time, including breaking news, articles, analyses, and multimedia, thus strengthening the newspaper's presence in the digital space. The newspaper also allocated a specialized team to manage digital content, working to constantly update news and provide live coverage of events and activities. Al-Quds also launched a smartphone application that supports both operating systems, allowing the public to easily follow the news through instant notifications and content tailored to their interests. The newspaper has also developed its visual tools, now relying on professional photos, video clips, photo reports, and infographics, making the content more attractive and interactive. Al-Quds also maintains active accounts on various platforms, managed with high professionalism, contributing to the delivery of news to various audience segments.

Al-Quds newspaper has succeeded in establishing a model for advanced digital Palestinian journalism, adept at engaging its audience through both traditional and modern media. Thanks to this forward-looking vision, Al-Quds is no longer merely a print newspaper, but rather a multi-media platform capable of competing regionally and positioning itself as a national journalistic authority with popular and professional influence.

Since its founding by the late Mahmoud Abu Al-Zuluf in 1951, Al-Quds newspaper has been one of the most prominent landmarks of contemporary Palestinian journalism. Over the course of more than seven decades, it has played a pivotal role in shaping Palestinian national consciousness, documenting events, and keeping pace with the political and social struggle, despite the complexities of the reality and the restrictions imposed by the Israeli occupation.

Al-Quds newspaper has also managed to establish itself in the heart of Jerusalem, giving it a unique geographic and political position among Palestinian newspapers. Al-Quds has also played the role of the unofficial spokesperson for the Palestinians, covering all political, social, economic, and cultural issues affecting the Palestinian people. It has maintained an editorial line and policy that reflects the aspirations of Palestinian citizens and embodies the pulse of the Palestinian street, without submitting to anyone.

On the national level, the newspaper documented Israeli violations against Palestinians from the First Intifada to the aggression on Gaza and Jerusalem, providing comprehensive field coverage. It contributed to preserving Palestinian national identity by emphasizing the symbolism of Jerusalem and its place in the collective Palestinian and Arab consciousness. During the two intifadas and many other pivotal junctures, the newspaper served as a platform for political and intellectual debate on resistance, national rights, and the choices of the Palestinian people.

Al-Quds newspaper is truly a Palestinian journalism school, having produced generations of prominent Palestinian journalists who received advanced professional training and later participated in building independent media institutions, both local and international. The newspaper has established a tradition of professional journalism, including investigations, opinion pieces, investigative journalism, and field reports.

Al-Quds newspaper also contributed to connecting the Palestinian diaspora to the homeland, through supplements and reports that highlighted daily life inside and shared concerns. The newspaper did not limit itself to political affairs, but rather established a pioneering platform for cultural and intellectual writing, by hosting elite writers in the fields of literature, history, philosophy, and cultural criticism. It also worked to highlight Palestinian creativity, encourage young writers, and document cultural life.

The role played by Al-Quds newspaper in the history of Palestinian journalism extends beyond its media function to multiple roles in documentation, enlightenment, and defense of national identity. It has been able to balance journalistic professionalism with national commitment, and between print presence and digital development, making it an institution firmly rooted in Palestinian consciousness and an integral part of the battle for existence and steadfastness in Jerusalem and throughout Palestine.

There are many painful photos and news items presented by Al-Quds newspaper, not least of which are the first photos of the Sabra and Shatila massacre in 1982, the photos of the martyrs on the front page, especially the photo of the mother of the martyr Yasser Hamduni carrying his coffin, scenes of grieving mothers, demolished homes, and mourners at the funerals of the martyrs, news of the invasion of Jenin camp in 2002, reports on prisoners and their families, news and photos of the aggression on the Gaza Strip. There are also the painful scenes of the martyred journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, and the attempted assassination of her colleague, journalist Ali Al-Samoudi, who, despite working for Al Jazeera, enjoyed a close professional relationship with the newspaper and its readers, and covered the news with them on the ground for decades.

In a complex and restrictive media environment, Al-Quds newspaper has established itself as a free platform for opinion and expression, adhering to its national, social, and professional responsibilities. From its founding to the present day, the newspaper has embodied an exemplary model in defending freedom of speech, providing a space for intellectual and political pluralism, and expressing Palestinian public opinion across its diverse spectrums.

Despite operating in an environment under Israeli occupation, Al-Quds newspaper has played a courageous role in publishing news, investigations, and articles documenting the occupation's violations and criticizing its practices against the Palestinian people. Although it still faces heavy censorship, repeated threats from the occupation, restrictions on its distribution, and the arrest of some of its journalists, Al-Quds newspaper has continued to publish the truth and expose repressive policies, reflecting a deep commitment to freedom of expression, opinion, and the press.

Al-Quds newspaper also opened its pages to all segments of Palestinian society, including political opponents, human rights activists, and independent academics, at a time when other media outlets were narrow or biased. The newspaper published critical articles addressing internal issues such as corruption, political division, weak institutions, and public freedoms, without self-censorship or conformity with official discourse, which strengthened public confidence in it as an independent media outlet.

Over the years, Al-Quds newspaper has adopted a clear stance in defense of fundamental rights and freedoms, most notably freedom of opinion and expression, the right to demonstrate, and the freedom of association.

In its coverage, it has given ample space to activists and human rights organizations to shed light on the violations suffered by citizens, whether by the occupation or the Palestinian National Authority, reflecting its commitment to professionalism and justice.

Through its daily columns, opinion pieces, and analytical articles, Al-Quds contributed to establishing a culture of dialogue, respect for other opinions, and creating space for constructive debate among various political and intellectual trends. The newspaper helped break the barrier of fear in expression, especially in the post-Oslo period, when internal censorship and restrictions on freedoms escalated. It served as a "safety valve" for journalists and intellectuals to express their opinions. Therefore, Al-Quds was not merely a news transmitter; it was an active defender of freedom of speech, striving to maintain a balance between operating in a turbulent environment and adhering to the principles of media freedom. It did not hesitate to raise major questions about the government's performance and clearly presented the demands of the people, making it a pressure tool against any practices that hinder freedoms or suppress public opinion.

In my humble opinion, Al-Quds newspaper represents a fundamental pillar in the structure of free Palestinian media. It has not merely been a transmitter of information, but rather an institution that has played a pivotal role in safeguarding freedom of opinion and expression, protecting pluralism, and promoting a culture of human rights. Its experience constitutes an important reference for understanding the relationship between the media and the authorities, and between journalism and society, in the context of occupation and internal restrictions. Al-Quds newspaper has proven that journalism can be the first line of defense for freedoms, a promoter of awareness, and a means for national and social liberation, making it more than just a newspaper, but a national and cultural institution par excellence.

Finally, my greetings to the management of Al-Quds newspaper, to the editor-in-chief and editors, and to all the correspondents who work in the field, providing the newspaper with news, reports, information, and testimonies from the scene. I salute and appreciate you. You are soldiers of words and images, and ambassadors of truth in a time of deception. Despite the pressures, obstacles, and dangers you face in carrying out your noble mission, you continue with steadfastness and courage to convey the truth and defend freedom of speech, under all circumstances.

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Al-Quds was not merely a news provider; it was an active advocate for freedom of expression, striving to maintain a balance between operating in a turbulent environment and adhering to the principles of media freedom. It did not hesitate to raise major questions about the government's performance and clearly articulated the people's demands.

Al-Quds newspaper had an objective impact on news content and on everyone who worked as an editor, writer, or reporter for the newspaper. Objectivity, in its philosophical sense, reflects the journalistic conscience on pages readers read daily.

In journalistic tradition, the journalistic conscience sits on the seesaw of justice, distinguishing one writer from another based on their professional experience. This includes not injecting subjectivity into the content, but rather emphasizing accuracy and credibility, and avoiding the use of defamatory and libelous expressions for professional and humanitarian reasons.

This is what Al-Quds newspaper has been and continues to be since its founding. Its editorial board was led by the late Mahmoud Abu Al-Zuluf, and it gained the respect of the public. It extended beyond that broad framework to include institutions, organizations, and all Palestinian nationalists who were awaiting the newspaper's publication. This was in circumstances that were different from those we are experiencing today, with its development encompassing the most modern media outlets, using contemporary technologies that our previous generation had not witnessed at the beginning of the profession.

My relationship with Al-Quds newspaper was exceptional, due to the editorial staff's openness to short stories from Palestinian camps and remote villages, far from the cities and their personalities, whose statements occupied large spaces on the newspaper's pages, and the mutual respect among colleagues in the profession.

Perhaps I can do justice to this newspaper, by giving it the professional praise it deserves, for its distinction from other Palestinian newspapers, by returning to the pages of a sacred memory from the history of the Palestinian people, to recount an honorable event that was completed by professional and national affiliation, even if there is a moral separation between professionalism and nationalism in the media profession.

I heard the landline ring in my office at the Bethlehem Press Bureau. I picked up the receiver and the caller introduced himself as Naji al-Ali from London. That was in 1985—two years before the first intifada—and he told me he'd moved to work at the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Qabas there.

Naji asked me to help publish his cartoons in a local Palestinian newspaper in occupied Jerusalem.

I welcomed the idea and promised to discuss the matter with the late editor-in-chief of Al-Quds newspaper, Mahmoud Abu Al-Zuluf. I met him the next day in his office. Abu Al-Zuluf welcomed the idea, and signs of pleasure were evident on his face at Naji's call. He also promised to publish his drawings at the top of the last page, but he asked me to inquire from Naji about the amount of compensation appropriate for his publications.

I replied to Abu Al-Zulf: I will ask Naji for clarification and I will reply to you by phone.

The next day, I picked up the phone and dialed Naji's phone number. When he answered, I told him what had happened and asked him what the reward would be for publishing his cartoons in Al-Quds newspaper.

Naji did not hesitate to respond, but quickly told me that he did not want a reward, but only hoped that his drawings would be published in a newspaper in occupied Palestine.

The next day, I left Bethlehem for Jerusalem to hand-distribute the newsletter. I met with the late Professor Abu al-Zuluf and told him that Naji al-Ali had no intention of receiving a reward for his cartoons. However, Abu al-Zuluf insisted that he would send a special reward and asked me to tell Naji al-Ali to begin sending his cartoons immediately.

But the late Aba Al-Zulf added a question: How could Naji send his drawings? I told him that I had a fax machine that would allow me to receive the drawings and any other journalistic texts.

At that time, there were no fax machines in Palestinian newspapers, as this technology was new.

I told Abu Al-Zuluf that I had a fax machine in my office, and that I could receive these drawings daily and deliver them to the editorial department at Al-Quds newspaper, as the newspaper did not have a fax machine.

Abu Al-Zulf agreed, and then Naji began sending his drawings to the Bethlehem office every afternoon, so that I could skip the last minute of receiving press materials and send them before publication.

Naji continued this for months, and then suddenly, the calls from London stopped. The next day, unlike his usual response, I heard nothing from him. I immediately inquired about the matter and learned from the media, which rushed to report that he had been shot and assassinated. He remained in intensive care until his martyrdom on August 29, 1987.

The news hit me like a thunderbolt. At that moment, I was only aware of the caricatures Naji published, including in Al-Quds newspaper, which expressed the reality of the nation and the suffering of the Palestinian people in their homeland and in the diaspora. The shadow of sadness has haunted me ever since, because assassination is an unforgivable crime.

May God have mercy on our late teacher Abu Marwan and our friend, the martyred cartoonist Naji Al-Ali.

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Perhaps I can do justice to this newspaper, by giving it the professional praise it deserves, for its distinction from other Palestinian newspapers, by returning to the pages of a sacred memory from the history of the Palestinian people, to recount an honorable event complete with professional and national affiliation.

In a time when facts change as titles do, and identities are distorted in the corridors of politics and media, "Al-Quds" remains as proud as its name, as firm as the roots of the Holy City that earned the honor of its name, writing what the occupation is trying to erase with fire. It was not born from a vacuum, but in the heart of a city groping its way through the ashes of the Nakba, bleeding silently, and resisting without noise, in a city that has experienced "defeats" and disappointments, when it "fell" under occupation twice, so "Al-Quds" was building a homeland from ink, and crafting words into a weapon, a memory in the face of oblivion and displacement. It was not just a daily newspaper, but a protection project, when everything in it was threatened with loss.

As an act of resistance, raising the voice of the voiceless, and preserving the memory of the place from Judaization and oblivion, it was more than a newspaper; it was a national project in the face of liquidation, and a home for the free word. Since that day, “Al-Quds” has been fighting on two fronts: truth and survival. It breathed from the heart of the city, broadcasting its pulse and pain to the world. On the day Jerusalem was occupied for the last time, “Al-Quds” found itself in the heart of the battle, but it did not withdraw. Rather, it repositioned itself and advanced despite censorship and restrictions, to document an epic chapter in the story of a people, and to bear witness to the moment of the defeat of despair, the breaking of fear, and the rise of the word from under the rubble, advancing through the ranks like a shot of awareness.

Since its first issue, Al-Quds has not been merely a daily newspaper. It has not slid into populist media or noisy headlines, choosing accuracy over sensationalism and sobriety over noise. It has been a guardian of the word and a faithful narrator of the epic, writing the chapters of its catastrophe, as well as its heroism and steadfastness over decades.

Twenty thousand is not just a number in the publication register, but twenty thousand testimonies of the steadfastness of those who lived through the Nakba, tasted the bitterness of the Naksa, and rose up for Jerusalem and its holy sites. They told the stories of martyrs and prisoners, refugees and camps. They lived through the time of siege and victory, the time of division and moments of reconciliation, resistance and negotiations, daily stories of pain and oppression, in a spot that never rests, boiling like a cauldron, and with it the planet Earth.

From Jerusalem, it set out, not as a ream of paper, but as a platform and a dialogue arena with the world, carrying the pulse of the street, moving between ancient alleys, through closed gates, carrying the sorrows of stolen homes, documenting the battles of Sheikh Jarrah, Silwan, Bab al-Amud, and others, which there is no room to recount; making every line in its archive a testimony to the time of Jerusalem, and every image a mirror of the memory of a city for which wars are waged. It carried what major institutions did not carry, from oppression and censorship, to security and economic restrictions. It stood in the face of the digital media wave that swept through the largest newspapers. It lived through and kept pace with the transformation, and continued to serve as a journalistic school for entire generations of journalists, a platform that transcended political divisions, and a gathering place under the umbrella of Jerusalem, the capital. It was the voice of Al-Aqsa Mosque on the day its minarets fell silent. Each issue of Al-Quds was a picture of Palestine as it is, not as it is intended to be. It was a space for those who find no one to tell their stories, combining the national with the humanitarian, the struggle with the daily, politics with culture.

In its twenty thousandth issue, we do not celebrate the life of a journalist, but rather the word that creates steadfastness, with the power of ink in the face of gunpowder. We do not celebrate a number, but a journey. We do not celebrate paper, but a memory. We celebrate “Al-Quds,” which stood firm in the time of fall, advanced in the time of retreat, and remained faithful to its first message, a witness to the time of the Palestinian, to the open battle, and the rest of the warrior, to the massacre and the human tragedy, and to the dream that has not yet been fulfilled.

So peace be upon “Jerusalem” in the heart of the battle, and peace be upon the ink if it rises up and stands up, and peace be upon the word if it becomes the edge of a sword, and peace be upon “Jerusalem” in its twenty thousandth issue, as in its first issue, and peace be upon the mother of Jerusalem, the beacon of the earth and the gate of heaven, the throne of steadfastness and the destination of hearts, the beginning of every dream and the disappointment of “every stubborn tyrant.”

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On the day Jerusalem was occupied for the last time, it found itself at the heart of the battle. Yet it did not retreat; rather, it repositioned itself and advanced despite censorship and restrictions, documenting an epic chapter in the story of a people. It bore witness to the moment when despair was defeated, fear was shattered, and the word rose from the rubble, advancing through the ranks like a shot of awareness.

Anyone who doesn't remember the sight of "Jerusalem" on the morning table doesn't know how Palestinians begin their day. From house to house, from generation to generation, the newspaper has been our mirror and the beginning of our day from the occupied land.

Since my childhood, the name "Al-Quds" has meant more than a city and more than a newspaper. It has meant home, identity, and an unfailing memory. I would see the newspaper arrive at our house every morning, like a loyal visitor bearing news of the homeland, the pain of the people, and the dignity of the letter.

I grew up reading the ink of Jerusalem, and I accompanied its letters just as I accompanied my father, Dr. Saeb Erekat, on the paths of politics and struggle. I learned that a word is a position, that documentation is a responsibility, and that writing is not a luxury, but an act of resistance. "Al-Quds" was not just a newspaper we read; it was part of the fabric of daily life in every Palestinian home, north and south, in the homeland and diaspora.

In every issue, Al-Quds carried people's faces, mothers' voices, martyrs' wills, and prisoners' whispers. It recorded history as it was, without embellishment or falsification, presenting it faithfully to generation after generation. It was the Palestinian's eye on the world, and the world's eye on Palestine.

Mahmoud Abu Al-Zulf, the man who viewed national journalism as a tool for building awareness, established a platform that has remained resilient despite all challenges. He was one of the few who realized early on that the media is not just a transmitter of news, but a bearer of the message of national dignity. Today, his sons Walid, Marwan, Ziad, and Caroline, along with their mother, Eileen Abu Al-Zulf, may God grant her good health and wellness, continue this great journey with loyalty and responsibility, carrying their father's banner and remaining faithful to his legacy, which has become an integral part of the Palestinian national consciousness.

My father, however, believed that free speech was no less important than any negotiations or political decisions. He viewed Jerusalem as a platform that reflected the pulse of the people and conveyed the Palestinian voice to where it should be heard. He was among the first to establish the Jerusalem Talk column, which over the years has become a free space for discussion and analysis of major issues affecting the fate of the nation and its people.

Today, I proudly continue this legacy, writing my weekly volunteer column in Jerusalem for the tenth consecutive year as part of my social and national responsibility toward my cause. I write because I believe the art of writing is a tool for raising awareness, a means of sustaining thought, and a bridge connecting generations in the battle for memory and belonging.

Jerusalem is the platform of the free writer and thinker, the voice of the unpaid pen. Those who write in Jerusalem write with their mind and conscience, not dictated by anyone or paid for. It is the address of the free writer and the honest mirror of the pulse of a people who do not compromise their freedom and dignity.

In this special issue, number twenty thousand, I can only say: Thank you to Jerusalem, the platform of dignity and the mirror of the homeland. Behind every issue stands an editorial team no less courageous than any resistance fighter on earth, a liberation army of a different kind, carrying the pen as a weapon, the truth as a banner, and waging the battle of the word every day with unwavering determination. Thank you to everyone who wrote a letter with sincerity, and to everyone who reads with the feeling that in this newspaper is their voice, their memory, and their future. Yes, writing is resistance, and documentation is a responsibility, and from Jerusalem, and for the sake of Jerusalem, the word will remain our weapon, the ink our promise, and the message an unwavering trust.

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Mahmoud Abu Al-Zuluf, the man who saw national journalism as a tool for building awareness, established a platform that has endured despite all the challenges. He was one of the few who realized early on that the media is not just a transmitter of news, but also a bearer of the message of national dignity.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump is determined to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and that he prefers to do so through negotiations rather than military means. However, Rubio said the United States would be prepared to see Tehran develop a civilian nuclear program as long as it does not enrich uranium.

"We don't want a war," Rubio told far-right journalist Bari Weiss on her podcast "Honestly," according to a transcript of the interview distributed by the State Department to accredited journalists, including a correspondent for Al-Quds newspaper.

He added, "We don't want to see a war. This is not a president who campaigned on wars. As he has said very clearly, Iran will not have a nuclear weapon, and he reserves every right to prevent that from happening, but he would prefer that there be no need to resort to military force, whether by us or anyone else. He would prefer that it be negotiable."

Rubio expressed confidence in US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, the lead US representative in the ongoing nuclear talks with Iran, saying, "We have good people negotiating."

"The Iranians have expressed a willingness to talk. We will talk to them," Rubio asserted, adding, "If Iran wants a civilian nuclear program, it can have one, just like many other countries in the world. That is, it imports enriched material."

Rubio emphasized the "complexity" of a war with Iran, explaining that "any military action at this point in the Middle East, whether against Iran by us or anyone else, could actually lead to a broader conflict."

He pointed out that "Iran has spent billions of dollars developing military capabilities that we see, for example, being used in Ukraine now, using drones and the like."

It is noteworthy that a third round of US-Iranian nuclear talks is scheduled to be held next Saturday in Oman.

While Washington asserts Iran's openness to a nuclear agreement that could prevent a military confrontation, experts say Tehran is fortifying its deeply buried tunnels connected to its main nuclear facilities amid ongoing US and Israeli threats to launch an attack on Iran to destroy its nuclear program.

Trump, whose first administration (in 2018) withdrew the United States from the 2015 agreement aimed at preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, threatened to bomb Iran unless a deal was quickly reached that ensured the same goal.

Trump's withdrawal has led Iran to violate many of the agreement's restrictions. Western powers suspect it is seeking the capability to assemble a nuclear weapon, a charge Tehran denies.

Iran stated that advanced centrifuges would be assembled in a single complex instead of a facility at the Natanz plant, the centerpiece of its nuclear program, which it said was destroyed by sabotage in 2020.

Experts believe that Iran's fortified complexes are being built much deeper than the Iranian uranium enrichment facility buried at Fordow, near the holy city of Qom.

The ongoing construction work (fortifications) at the complexes is also believed to confirm Tehran's determination to reject Israeli demands that any talks with the United States lead to the complete dismantling of its nuclear program, as Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu wants. He insists on the Libyan model, emphasizing its right to peaceful nuclear technology.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi visited China on Wednesday for consultations ahead of the talks in Oman, which will be led by Araqchi and Witkov. A technical meeting between nuclear experts from the two countries will also be held on Saturday in the Omani capital, Muscat.

"It is essential for us to keep our friends in China informed of developments and consult with them," Araghchi told Iranian state television, stressing that it is too early to judge the outcome of the Iranian-US talks, but that the negotiations are moving in the right direction.

China was a party to the 2015 nuclear deal before Trump withdrew from it.

The Iranian minister added, "China has played an important and constructive role on the nuclear issue in the past, and the same role will certainly be necessary in the future."

With its exuberant presence and its rich, warm, and abundant giving, Al-Quds today turns 20,000 in its long history, and it is at its most radiant with what it offers in terms of new content, elegant form, and high ceilings of freedom, integrating with its parallel digital arms, making it a destination for those seeking reliable news, in a time when fake news is spreading like mushrooms after rain on the walls of new media, whose owners seek “trends” at the expense of truth.

Because it was, and still is, a landmark in the media landscape, a saying has been circulating in past eras, reflecting the extent of the newspaper's presence in the collective consciousness: "Whoever dies and their obituary is not published in Al-Quds, it is as if they never died. Whoever succeeds and their congratulations are not published in Al-Quds, it is as if they never succeeded."

By royal decree, Al-Quds was born on March 7, 1967, by merging the Al-Jihad and Al-Difaa newspapers, and was published in the city of Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the Filastin and Al-Manar newspapers were merged to create Al-Dustour newspaper in Amman. However, Al-Quds quickly stopped publication for more than a year, following the 1967 war, before resuming publication on November 19, 1968.

The competition was fierce between the daily newspapers published in the Holy City, Al-Quds, Al-Fajr, Al-Shaab, and Al-Nahar. I was honored to be the editor-in-chief of Al-Shaab after the dismissal of its editor-in-chief, my friend Akram Haniyeh, in 1986. One of the funny things about this competition was that Mahmoud Yaish, the owner of Al-Shaab, may God have mercy on him, had a beautiful presence. He would get angry if a piece of news was published in Al-Quds but not in Al-Shaab. One morning, he started to reprimand me about a piece of news published in Al-Quds but not in Al-Shaab. When I denied hearing about the news, he confirmed its existence and had placed his hand on it published in the newspaper. I then said to him, “Brother Abu Ali, you put your finger on a piece of news on the page ‘Jerusalem Twenty Years Ago,’” and we laughed, along with everyone in the newsroom.

In the twentieth century of the newspaper that drove the media landscape, we remember the departed editors and staff who gave their pens and souls to ensure the newspaper's continued daily publication. Foremost among them was the newspaper's owner and founder, the late Mahmoud Abu Al-Zuluf, who was generous and courageous, running the institution as if it were a family.

Dr. Abdul Majeed Suwailem: Al-Quds' long-standing success is not only due to financial factors, but also the result of a close relationship and mutual trust between the newspaper and its audience.

Talal Okal: The newspaper, which bears the name, identity, and narrative of Jerusalem, has defied the rapid technological developments that have swept away many print publications.

Nabhan Khreisha: The newspaper chronicled Palestinian events and daily life under occupation and became an indispensable source for researchers.

Nujoud Al-Qassem: "Al-Quds" is distinguished by its consistent visual identity, which reflects its sobriety and professionalism, in addition to its credibility in presenting diverse content.

Dr. Aqel Salah: "Jerusalem" was a source of inspiration for prisoners in the occupation's prisons, and they felt it was the "cultural and national spirit that connected them to the outside world."

Muhammad Joda: Al-Quds newspaper is a bridge between the past and the present and a living memory that documents the Palestinian pulse in all its manifestations.

Thaer Thabet: "Jerusalem" was a narrative of a homeland and a fragrant scent emanating from between the lines, reflecting the memory of the Palestinian people and the details of their daily lives.

Murad Al-Sabaa: Al-Quds newspaper's digital presence has strengthened its position amid the significant decline in print journalism worldwide.

For nearly 74 years, the Jerusalem-based newspaper Al-Quds has continued to weave its story with the Palestinian conscience, not only as a media platform, but also as a daily companion that accompanies readers through the details of their lives, from their first mornings to their daily preoccupations. Preserving its identity despite technological advancements, the newspaper reached its 20,000th circulation on Thursday.

Despite the changes of time and the advancement of technology, "Al-Quds" has remained present in some cafes, offices, and homes. Eyes gaze upon its letters and hearts cling to them as an authentic voice reflecting the pulse of the Palestinian street, according to what readers, writers, political analysts, and journalists confirmed in separate conversations with Al-Quds.

They say that at a time when the world is witnessing the decline of print journalism in the face of the digital media's advance, Al-Quds has succeeded in preserving its standing thanks to its credibility and professionalism, and its historical and cultural roots in the Palestinian cause. Moreover, its daily presence has never been merely a habit, as important as it is, but rather a reflection of a relationship of trust and a mirror of the memory of a people for whom the word and its documentation remain a form of steadfastness.

Hajj Yassin Al-Saadi: Half a Century of Loyalty to Al-Quds Newspaper

For more than half a century, Hajj Yassin al-Saadi, known as Abu Samer, has not spent a single morning without reading Al-Quds newspaper.

In his tailor shop in the center of Jenin, his daily ritual begins with opening the newspaper and reading it from the first page to the last. If he doesn't have time while working, he takes it home to catch up on what he missed.

Hajj Yassin Al-Saadi, who is over eighty years old, says: “Reading the newspaper is a daily habit. I can’t start my day without it. When I’m busy sewing clothes for customers, you find my guests turning the pages instead of me.”

Abu Samer Al-Saadi recalls the glory days of the venerable print newspaper Al-Quds, which used to be a large, limited-page publication, describing it as a "volume." He laments the current situation, with its fewer pages. Despite this, he still clings to the newspaper and continues to follow it. He says, "Despite its small number of pages today, I continue to follow it and read it."

Mamoun Abu Hamdieh: I start my morning with a cup of coffee and Al-Quds newspaper.

For his part, Mamoun Abu Hamdieh, a young man from Ramallah and an avid reader, makes sure to start his day with an unchanging ritual: a hot cup of coffee and Al-Quds newspaper.

For Mamoun, in his mid-thirties, no morning is complete without flipping through the pages of the newspaper, which he considers more than just a source of news, but an authentic Palestinian heritage that must be preserved.

Mamoun says, "For me, Al-Quds newspaper represents a daily connection to the nation's issues. It is the collective memory that preserves the pulse of the Palestinian street and conveys its daily concerns and details."

Mamoun asserts that over the past years, Al-Quds newspaper has proven its position as one of the most important media outlets in Palestine, serving as a primary and reliable source for reporting news from the Palestinian public, despite the rapidly evolving events and complex political landscape.

Abu Hamdieh believes that over time, the newspaper has not lost its stature despite the major changes that have occurred in the media landscape, as Jerusalem remains a prominent and indispensable part of the Palestinian fabric.

Ayman Abdel Latif: A passion for paper and memories of youth

Despite the digital transformations that have changed the face of journalism, Al-Quds newspaper continues to represent an emotional space and a daily memory for many readers, as Ayman Abdel Latif, who has been associated with the newspaper since his university years some 25 years ago, recounts.

Abdul Latif says, "I've been reading Al-Quds newspaper daily for many years. While I don't buy it as much as I used to, I don't let a day go by without browsing it, whether on the website or in PDF files." For Ayman, reading the newspaper wasn't a passing habit, but rather a daily ritual that had accompanied him since the beginning of his university studies.

He recalls his beginnings, saying, "Since I was in my first year of university, I used to go to the university library every day just to browse Al-Quds. Later, at my workplace, we received the newspaper every day, and I used to make sure to read it before the start of the school day."

This daily relationship has transformed over time into a digital form, but nostalgia for the past still haunts Ayman, who says, "Technological advancements have changed the way we access newspapers, but holding the paper still brings a special passion and unparalleled pleasure."

Ayman Abdel Latif sees Al-Quds more than just a newspaper, but a friend who has carried his memories and concerns since his youth. "We have memories with it... During some painful events, we followed the details through it, and we carried them with us everywhere," he says.

Even at pivotal moments in his life, Jerusalem was present, as Ayman recalls: “When I graduated from university, I would check the job listings there every day, looking for a job opportunity, even though many companies were posting their advertisements there.”

Amani Khalil: "Jerusalem" is part of a personal and family memory.

Although Amani Khalil isn't a daily reader of Al-Quds newspaper, her relationship with it carries a special emotional dimension, linked to her memories of her late father, who made sure to buy the newspaper and bring it home every day, creating a family ritual that remains etched in her memory.

Amani recounts: “I didn’t browse Al-Quds newspaper daily, but I have fond memories of it. My father, may God have mercy on him, used to buy the newspaper regularly, and I was young at the time.”

Amani adds, "Even during my university days, I would read it when my father brought it home, and I still remember those moments as cherished memories, not only with the newspaper, but with my father as well."

For Amani, Al-Quds newspaper represents more than just a news outlet; it is part of a personal and family memory, linked to morning scenes and the warmth of daily gatherings in the family home.

As time has passed, Amani's way of following the news has changed, but she hasn't lost her respect for the status of print journalism. She says, "Currently, I browse the news online and on social media, but I believe that print newspapers remain an unforgettable legacy."

Amani highlights the importance of considering new ways to preserve this legacy and calls on those in charge of print newspapers to seek financing solutions that ensure their continuity in the digital media era.

Amani points out that "the way news and reports are presented could be one of the things that could be developed to keep pace with the times and retain its readers."

A milestone in the history of Palestinian journalism

For his part, writer and political analyst Dr. Abdul Majeed Sweilem believes that Al-Quds's 20,000th issue represents a milestone in the history of Palestinian journalism. It reflects the newspaper's deep-rooted roots in the Palestinian collective consciousness and its continuity over decades despite challenges, both financial and political. This demonstrates the newspaper's solid foundations, enabling it to endure and remain influential.

Suwailem explains that Al-Quds' long-standing success is not solely due to financial factors, but rather, more importantly, is the product of a close relationship and mutual trust between the newspaper and its audience.

"Anyone who follows the evolution of the media realizes that just as people become accustomed to a radio station or television channel, they become accustomed to a particular newspaper," Suwailem says. "This habit develops into something resembling an addiction, with some readers only feeling content after reading Al-Quds. This in itself is a true testament to the newspaper's place in the Palestinian consciousness."

An authentic Palestinian voice facing the challenges of time

Suwailem points out that this association is not a courtesy, but rather a tangible reality, emphasizing that what distinguishes the newspaper is its diligent and constant monitoring of citizens' daily issues and its immersion in the details of Palestinian concerns, which has strengthened people's sense that it belongs to them as they belong to it.

"This deep relationship, built over many years and reflected in the newspaper's continuity, is a badge of pride for us. It is a dedicated and recognized social relationship," Suwailem says.

Suwailem points out that Al-Quds newspaper has managed to maintain its legacy despite the transformations taking place in the world of journalism, saying, "Had the newspaper not been so well-established and well-established, it would not have been able to endure and continue, especially in light of the financial crises and global decline facing print journalism."

Suwailem points out that one of the secrets to Al-Quds's continued success is its ability to maintain a strong relationship with its audience, a relationship that has formed the foundation of its long media career and enables it to remain an authentic Palestinian voice in the face of the challenges of time, technology, and occupation.

The secret to survival is a deep connection to Jerusalem.

For his part, writer and political analyst Talal Okal asserts that the Al-Quds newspaper's journey and continuity are a symbol of the resilience of Palestinian identity in the face of technological and political challenges.

Awkal emphasizes that the newspaper, which bears the name, identity, and narrative of Jerusalem, deserves all the pride and admiration for defying the era of rapid technological developments that have swept away many print publications.

Awkal explains that the primary reason for its continued existence is its deep connection to Jerusalem, as if by its continuity it is affirming the holy city's continued existence as a Palestinian city, defying plans to alter its identity, affiliation, and history.

Okal emphasizes that the credit for this achievement also goes to the scholars, intellectuals, writers, journalists, and correspondents who carried the newspaper's banner and its enlightening message. These individuals preserved the newspaper's identity and its role as a media beacon, adhering to its principles of documenting the Palestinian narrative and conveying the voice of Jerusalem to the world.

Awkal points out that every letter, picture, drawing, or effort made to protect and sustain the newspaper represents a contribution to defending the Palestinian cause.

Awkal extends a special tribute to everyone who has contributed to the newspaper's journey, emphasizing that Al-Quds newspaper is not merely a media outlet, but rather a national symbol that embodies the resistance to marginalization and cultural erasure.

Awkal calls for the continuation of this pioneering role, so that the newspaper remains a voice defending Palestinian rights, rooted in Jerusalem's heritage and looking forward to the future of free media.

A fundamental pillar of the Palestinian media landscape

For his part, journalist Nabhan Khreisheh asserts that Al-Quds newspaper has been a fundamental pillar of the Palestinian media landscape under Israeli occupation, preserving national identity through its comprehensive coverage of political, social, and cultural events and its support for the Palestinian people's struggle against the occupation.

Khreisha explains that Al-Quds newspaper, founded in 1951 and considered the oldest Palestinian newspaper, served as a vital media bridge connecting Palestinians in the West Bank, Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, and the diaspora, especially before the spread of the internet, by accurately and comprehensively reporting news from various regions.

Khreisheh points out that the newspaper faced harsh conditions due to the strict Israeli military censorship imposed on all press publications in Jerusalem prior to 1993. Despite these restrictions, Al-Quds succeeded in striking a delicate balance between reporting the truth and avoiding closure, strengthening its position as a key platform for Palestinian intellectuals and writers.

Khreisha asserts that the newspaper provided a space for public debate, publishing articles and analyses by politicians and intellectuals that contributed to shaping the political and cultural awareness of Palestinian society, making it an influential voice in promoting national identity.

Enhanced online presence required

Khreisheh emphasizes the newspaper's documentary role, which has chronicled Palestinian events since its founding, including the 1967 setback, the uprisings, negotiations, and Israeli attacks, as well as its documentation of daily life under occupation. This documentation has made Jerusalem an indispensable source for researchers and writers interested in Palestinian history. Despite political and censorship challenges, the newspaper has maintained its continuity for decades, reflecting the depth of its roots and the strength of its presence.

However, Khreisha warns of the current challenges facing Al-Quds newspaper, particularly with the rise of online media and the new generation's preference for faster digital platforms. To overcome this obstacle, the newspaper seeks to keep pace with the digital age through an integrated strategy that combines preserving its traditional identity with embracing digital transformation.

Khreisha recommends enhancing online presence through smartphone apps for Android and iPhone, search engine optimization (SEO), and active engagement on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

Khreisheh calls for the production of diverse digital content, such as video reports, podcasts, and interactive stories, with a focus on in-depth and objective coverage of Palestinian issues, linking local and international contexts to enhance credibility in the face of the information chaos on the internet and social media platforms.

Balance between professional and national line

Journalist Nujoud Al-Qassem emphasizes the importance of Al-Quds newspaper's pioneering role in preserving Palestinian national identity. Its continued publication of a print edition, its diverse content, and its professional and credible coverage of the Palestinian cause have made it a solid media icon since its first issue in 1951, continuing through its current circulation of 20,000.

Al-Qassem explains that Jerusalem has provided a vital platform for spreading national awareness, defying the strict Israeli censorship it faced under the occupation, while maintaining a balance between professional and nationalist approaches.

Al-Qassem asserts that Al-Quds' journey has not been easy, as it has overcome the challenges of censorship and harsh political conditions to become the voice and image of the Palestinian people, especially during a sensitive period when the occupation has realized the danger the media poses to its settlement project.

Al-Qassim points out that the newspaper has published 20,000 issues, representing a massive archive of reports, stories, and photos that tell the story of the Palestinian cause and document the suffering of Palestinians and the policies of the occupation, making it an indispensable reference for researchers and scholars.

Al-Qassem asserts that Jerusalem has witnessed remarkable development in recent times, through a variety of topics, improved editing, and attractive headlines, which has strengthened its position in the Palestinian press.

However, according to Al-Qassim, the newspaper today faces strong competition from digital media and television, making modernization an urgent necessity to preserve its long history.

Her website needs interactive content.

Al-Qassim asserts that the continuation of the print edition reflects the long history of Al-Quds newspaper, especially as international media organizations have abandoned print publication, while the newspaper has maintained this relationship as part of its documentation role.

Al-Qassim points out that Al-Quds newspaper is distinguished by its consistent visual identity, including its logo, design, and colors, which reflect its sobriety and professionalism, as well as its credibility in providing diverse content that can be easily distinguished from others.

Despite its digital transformation while maintaining its editorial policy, Al-Qassim emphasizes the need for her website to include interactive content such as videos, infographics, and podcasts to attract young people who prefer images and short videos.

Al-Qassem explains that this development requires significant financial investments to compete with digital media, which is backed by vast resources. However, she notes that this development is essential to reaching new generations and preserving Jerusalem's audience.

Al-Qassem calls on the Al-Quds newspaper's management to continue combining its tradition with its modernity, while emphasizing professional and national standards, to remain an influential Palestinian voice defending rights in an age of information chaos.

"Jerusalem" is an icon of steadfastness and a national lever.

For his part, writer and political researcher Dr. Aqel Salah asserts that Al-Quds newspaper represents a unique model of national and media resilience, having maintained its presence and continuity despite 74 years of challenges and harsh occupation practices since its founding. He commended its continuous contributions in the national, political, cultural, and media arenas.

Salah said, "Al-Quds newspaper, its entire management, its current and former editors-in-chief, and its staff salute you for your steadfastness and continued distinguished contributions, despite the insane targeting of the city of Jerusalem and its institutions. You are the owners of the right, the voice, and the word, the national media discourse that emanates from the ancient alleys of Jerusalem."

Salah adds, "Al-Quds is not just a newspaper. It is a major national media institution, troubling the occupation because it is one of the few media institutions still operating from the heart of the city, carrying the name of Jerusalem to the world. It is the beating heart of Jerusalem and a political and cultural media message that must continue to defend the Palestinian cause."

A corner of Jerusalem and a symbol of steadfastness

Salah points out that Al-Quds newspaper was accessible to prisoners in occupation prisons, and they felt it was "the cultural, political, and national spirit that connected them to the outside world." He calls for keeping pace with developments and continually improving its performance in order to continue its role in confronting the occupation.

Salah explains that the launch of Al-Quds newspaper in 1951 was linked to Palestinian nationalist activism following the 1948 Nakba. The newspaper bore the name "The Holiest Spot in Palestine and the World," and was associated with the ancient history of the holy city. He emphasizes that the newspaper has been, and continues to be, a national and cultural lever in the political struggle against the occupation's settlement projects.

Despite the challenges posed by technological advancements and digital media, Salah asserts that Al-Quds newspaper maintains its presence and credibility through the development of its print edition, website, and high-quality editorial content that objectively covers the issues of the Palestinian people, particularly national and political issues.

He called on the newspaper's editors to preserve this great national heritage, while also calling on official Palestinian institutions to support the newspaper as "a pillar of Jerusalem and a symbol of steadfastness." He emphasized that "supporting Al-Quds newspaper is support for Jerusalem itself and for the city's components, which are confronting the occupation's schemes by all means."

A milestone in the journey of free Palestinian media

For his part, writer and political analyst Mohammed Joda said that the celebration of the 20,000th issue of Al-Quds, one of the oldest Palestinian newspapers, is a historic event that represents a significant milestone in the journey of free Palestinian media.

Joudah affirms that this achievement is "a testament to the continuity and deep commitment to the national media's mission in confronting challenges."

Joudah explains that this number is not merely a statistic, but rather the embodiment of a long history of media work that combines the authenticity of print journalism with the modernity of digital publishing.

Joudeh points out that Al-Quds newspaper, established as the oldest Palestinian newspaper, has been able to preserve its heritage by adhering to three fundamental pillars: credibility, professionalism, and national affiliation. It has also successfully navigated the digital transformation experience with professionalism without abandoning its original identity, language, or editorial principles.

Joudeh describes Al-Quds newspaper as "a bridge between the past and the present" and "a living memory that documents the Palestinian pulse in all its manifestations." He asserts that the secret to its survival lies in its ability to keep pace with the times while adhering to its national roots.

Joudeh paid tribute to the newspaper's journalistic and administrative staff, and to everyone who contributed to cementing the newspaper's presence in the consciousness of Palestinians and Arabs, expressing his pride in everyone who has carried the message since its founding.

Joudeh emphasizes the newspaper's role as a media beacon that continues to persevere and excel, calling for greater creativity and influence in serving the Palestinian cause.

A novel about a homeland, not just paper and ink

As the 20,000th issue of Al-Quds newspaper is published, journalist Thaer Thabet, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education's educational media official, recalls the special feelings he has associated with the newspaper, which has accompanied him since the beginning of his career and continues to this day as a reader and daily follower.

Thabet, who has a special love for numbers and the language of arithmetic, says, "The 20,000-page documented issue of the newspaper draws me back to memories and stories of this ancient newspaper, with which I began as a volunteer, then a reporter, and finally a columnist while studying journalism and media in Nablus."

Thabet adds, "The euphoria I felt when my name was first published in a report in Al-Quds newspaper, nearly 20 years ago, is immeasurable. It was an exceptional moment that connected me emotionally to the newspaper, just as it is connected to the emotions of all Palestinians."

Thabet says, "Jerusalem, the spiritual and religious capital of Palestine, is linked in our memories to the newspaper, which was not just paper and ink, but rather a narrative of a homeland, a fragrant scent emanating from between the lines, reflecting the memory of the Palestinian people and the details of their daily lives."

Thabet acknowledges that print journalism faces significant challenges in light of the digital media boom, but he commends Al-Quds' ability to balance print, website, and digital (PDF) versions, emphasizing that it has been able to maintain its presence and a consistent name in the media landscape.

Thaer Thabet looks to the future, saying, "On this day, as the 20,000th issue of Al-Quds is published, I congratulate it on its survival and renewal. We all hope that the day will come when the newspaper will feature a headline that says, 'Jerusalem is Liberated.' This is the dream of every Palestinian: to see these headlines translated into print, in the newspaper we love."

A story of resilience in the face of challenges

Journalist Murad Al-Sabaa says that reaching the 20,000th issue of Al-Quds is a national and historic achievement for Palestinian journalism, reflecting the resilience of this venerable media institution in the face of political and technical challenges, particularly in light of the unprecedented escalation currently taking place in Palestine in the West Bank and Gaza Strip due to the ongoing Israeli aggression.

Al-Saba' explains that since its launch, Al-Quds newspaper has enjoyed a broad public reach across Palestine, particularly during periods of intifadas, and has contributed profoundly to deepening Palestinian national sentiment and enhancing awareness of the Palestinian cause.

Al-Sabaa says, "This number – 20,000 – comes at a critical time for the Palestinian cause, especially the war of extermination, and confirms the newspaper's continued role as a national voice that reflects the concerns of the Palestinian people, documents the history of the Palestinian cause, and is emotionally connected to the eternal capital, Jerusalem."

The importance of Al-Quds newspaper transcends geographical boundaries.

Al-Saba' points out that Al-Quds newspaper remains the leading print newspaper in Palestine, and is a key source of accurate news and analysis for the older generation of parents and grandparents, who lack experience using social media. He says, "The newspaper is distinguished by its high professionalism and accuracy in reporting news, which makes it a reliable source for a wide segment of the Palestinian public."

Al-Saba' points out that the importance of Al-Quds newspaper transcends geographical borders, as its name is deeply linked to Palestinian awareness in the diaspora. Furthermore, it is marketed externally through digital versions and provides its content via a modern website, providing an opportunity for a wide audience interested in following developments in Palestinian affairs. He asserts that its digital presence has strengthened its position in light of the significant decline in print journalism worldwide.

Al-Saba' affirms that the continued existence of Al-Quds newspaper holds great symbolic and national value in Palestinian memory, as it represents the foundation of national awareness and the true expression of the Palestinian cause. He emphasizes the need to support it as a media pillar that continues to fulfill its mission despite the many challenges.

Saudi Arabia affirmed on Wednesday that peace is the strategic choice for the Middle East, and that regional security requires accelerating the search for a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

This came during the 163rd session of the Arab League ministerial meeting in Cairo, Egypt. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan was represented by his deputy, Eng. Walid Al-Khuraiji. During the meeting, Al-Khuraiji stressed the Kingdom's support for the brotherly Palestinian people, pointing to the need to sustain and implement the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, obligating the Israeli occupation to respect international law, and halting the crimes it is committing against Palestine and its brotherly people.

Al-Khuraiji reiterated the Kingdom's complete rejection of calls to displace the Palestinian people from their land and of any attempts to impose solutions that do not fulfill the Palestinian people's legitimate aspirations for self-determination.

He affirmed Saudi Arabia's continued engagement with partner and friendly countries through the "International Coalition for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution" to advance the implementation of the two-state solution. He also noted the Kingdom's emphasis on the importance of joint Arab action and its commitment to maintaining coordination among Arab countries at all levels to confront common challenges, unify visions, and achieve security, stability, and prosperity in the region.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to continuing military operations in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, stressing that his government will not back down from its primary goal of "recovering the kidnapped soldiers and eliminating Hamas."

Netanyahu said in statements reported by Hebrew media that his government "will never give up on achieving victory in the war," adding, "We are determined to recover the detainees, and we will not allow the establishment of any Islamic caliphate, neither in the north nor in the south nor anywhere else."

Netanyahu pledged to continue military pressure on Hamas "until its complete elimination," stressing that the threat threatens not only Israel but the entire West.

"If the extremists defeat us, the Western world will be their next target," he said, believing that defeat by Iran would open the door to a direct threat to Western countries.

In a related context, Netanyahu pledged to continue working to prevent Iran from possessing a nuclear weapon, saying, "No country will prevent us from holding Iran accountable, and if necessary, we will stand alone."

Two citizens were killed and others were injured when the Israeli occupation forces targeted a group of civilians in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip.

Medical sources announced that the death toll from the ongoing airstrikes on several areas in the Gaza Strip since dawn today has risen to 37.

After a heated session in which far-right Israeli ministers attacked the new army commander, Eyal Zamir, and threatened to dismiss him, the Israeli government's security cabinet decided to reconvene Thursday evening to approve a plan to intensify strikes on the Gaza Strip and prevent the entry of relief aid.

Political sources said the final session, held Tuesday evening, followed a phone call between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, in which it appeared that Netanyahu had been granted an additional deadline to end military operations in order to subdue Hamas and compel it to accept Israeli conditions for disarming.

According to Channel 11, the sources confirmed that Trump is asking Netanyahu to accelerate his military operations because the war has gone on too long. It is supposed to end with a long-term truce agreement that ensures Hamas's withdrawal from the battlefield.

However, in the absence of a clear plan for the day after, the military finds it difficult to accept the political leadership's view that a swift decision should be made. Yedioth Ahronoth reported that government ministers are pushing for "setting a deadline" for moving to the "decisive phase," while Netanyahu and his Defense Minister, Yisrael Katz, insist on demonstrating that "Israel is still exhausting the negotiating track" at this stage.

Kan 11 reported, citing an unnamed senior official, that Israel has decided to give the ongoing negotiations "another chance" before moving to expand military operations in the Gaza Strip. The official said that Tel Aviv has not received any new proposal from the mediators, noting that efforts are currently focused on pushing Hamas to accept the proposal of US envoy Steve Witkoff.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is leading the push to move to the "decisive phase." He held three meetings with Netanyahu over the past week, during which his main message was that "Israel cannot remain in a state of war forever."

Smotrich warned of "the slow depletion of reserve forces, the worsening economic damage, and the distancing of the goals set for the war: toppling Hamas and recovering the hostages."

Yedioth Ahronoth quoted military sources as saying that "achieving both goals simultaneously is not possible," while the families of the prisoners warned of "the conflict between these goals," demanding that the return of their loved ones be prioritized. The newspaper also quoted cabinet ministers as saying that the prevailing belief is that "the chances of a deal succeeding in the current situation appear slim." They added, "If Hamas continues to reject the offers presented, there is no point in wasting any more time."

The newspaper's sources within the cabinet indicated that the next phase should include "a broad mobilization of reserve forces, the introduction of several military divisions into Gaza, and the use of heavier firearms than those used so far." They noted that "the impression of some cabinet members is that Netanyahu is still hesitant, but may agree, under pressure, to discuss setting a deadline (for the prisoner exchange negotiations) and expanding the offensive" on the Gaza Strip.

A disagreement emerged during the session with the army chief of staff, who rejected Smotrich's request to impose military rule over the Gaza Strip and assume responsibility for distributing aid to the population according to Israeli interests. When Zamir said that "the army will not undertake such tasks that make it a food distributor," Smotrich replied that "its duty is to silently carry out the government's orders, otherwise we are looking for someone who will accept this task." Smotrich threatened on Wednesday that he would bring down the government if this did not happen.

Political sources said that Smotrich prevented the cabinet from making any decision regarding the entry of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, which has been halted for more than a month, and stated that "the continued lack of military progress and the entry of humanitarian aid to Hamas while our kidnapped people are there is not an option." He added, "The prime minister is the highest authority. A war must be waged to defeat Hamas, occupy Gaza and impose a temporary military rule until another solution is found, return the kidnapped people and implement the Trump plan (to displace Gazans), or this government has no right to exist."

The Defense Minister told the cabinet that within 10-15 days, Israel would be forced to bring humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, while Zamir stressed that "the Israeli army will not be the entity distributing it," according to the Ynet website.

Smotrich responded to Zamir, saying, “The army doesn’t choose its missions. We decided and said that you must prepare for this. We decide what you do and you decide how you will carry it out. If you can’t carry it out, we will bring someone else who can. If you don’t know how, we will find someone else who knows how to carry it out. We decide that aid that reaches Hamas will not enter, and I don’t care how you do it. If you don’t know how to carry it out, tell the political echelon, ‘I don’t know.’ The army doesn’t choose its missions in a democratic system.”

Ynet quoted cabinet ministers as saying that Smotrich's tone toward Zamir was "very firm." One minister said that Smotrich "actually exploded at Zamir," telling him, "You're not going to stand here and tell us you won't carry out the mission. That won't happen. Only the political echelon decides what the missions are."

military rule

Channel 12 reported on Wednesday that establishing military rule would entail "enormous costs," including employing thousands of soldiers in military-related duties for at least a year. "No army chief of staff, including Zamir, has approved of it, nor has the defense minister." The channel added that "Smotrich does not understand the depth of the problem he finds himself in," and that by attacking Zamir, he was "looking for a figure to climb on in order to attract votes in his favor, especially since Smotrich himself approved Zamir's appointment to his position, but he is suffering from a severe political crisis; polls indicate that he will lose in any upcoming elections."

Israeli occupation forces tightened their security measures at military checkpoints around Nablus on Wednesday evening.

According to local sources, the occupation forces tightened their security measures at checkpoints, closing some of them, including Awarta and Al-Murabba'a to the south, and Deir Sharaf and Surra to the west. They detained a number of citizens, checked their IDs, and searched their vehicles, causing traffic congestion.

Checkpoints are heavily manned by the military most of the time, impeding citizens' movement and access to their homes and workplaces in other West Bank cities.

The Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, released a video message on Wednesday from an Israeli prisoner in the Gaza Strip, calling on Israelis to demonstrate in front of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's home to conclude a prisoner exchange deal.

Prisoner Omri Miran, 48, said: “I celebrated my second birthday here (in captivity), and I was unable to celebrate. I spent a year and a half in captivity, and there was no happiness.”

Tel Aviv estimates that there are 59 Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip, 24 of whom are still alive. Meanwhile, more than 9,500 Palestinians are languishing in its prisons, suffering torture, starvation, and medical neglect, many of whom have died, according to Palestinian and Israeli human rights and media reports.

Miran added: "We live in constant fear of (Israeli) bombardment, and a (prisoner exchange) deal must be reached as soon as possible so that we do not return to being in coffins."

With American support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, leaving more than 168,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 11,000 missing.

Miran addressed the Israelis, saying, "I want you to come out in a huge demonstration in front of Netanyahu's house." He expressed his hope that his daughters would participate in the demonstration "so he can see them on television."

In response to Netanyahu's intransigence and evasion of concluding an agreement, Hamas announced its readiness to immediately begin negotiations on a "comprehensive package" to release Israeli prisoners in one go in exchange for an end to the genocide, a full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Miran also addressed the Israelis, saying: "Don't believe Netanyahu. Military pressure (the war of extermination) is killing us. Only a prisoner exchange deal will bring us back home."

He continued: "Do everything you can to return home as soon as possible. I really miss my daughters, my wife, and my friends. The situation is very difficult, and I thank everyone who is working to bring us back safely."

"Netanyahu's supporters don't care about us, they would rather see us die," he continued.

He added, "I ask the prisoners who left here (the Gaza Strip) to demonstrate and speak to the media so that the people understand how difficult our situation is."

He continued: "They turned to (US President Donald) Trump. He seems to be the only powerful person in the world who can pressure Netanyahu to agree to a deal that will return us to our homes in peace."

He added: "The crossings (in the Gaza Strip) are closed, and no food or supplies are entering, so we are getting less food."

Israel has been blockading Gaza for 18 years. Some 1.5 million Palestinians, out of a population of approximately 2.4 million, have been rendered homeless after the war of annihilation destroyed their homes. Gaza has entered a state of famine due to Tel Aviv's closure of the crossings to humanitarian aid.

Miran continued: "Netanyahu, (Minister of Strategic Affairs and head of the negotiating delegation Ron) Dermer, (Finance Minister Bezalel) Smotrich, and (National Security Minister Itamar) Ben-Gvir, you are the reason behind October 7 (2023). Because of you, I am here, and you will cause the collapse of the state."

On that day, Hamas attacked 11 military bases and 22 settlements adjacent to the Gaza Strip, killing and capturing Israelis, in response to "the daily crimes of the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people and their holy sites, especially Al-Aqsa Mosque," according to the movement.

By the end of March 1, 2025, the first phase of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel had concluded. The agreement, which had entered into force on January 19, 2025, was brokered by Egypt and Qatar and supported by the United States, and the Palestinian movement had adhered to it.

But Netanyahu, who is wanted by international justice, evaded the start of the second phase and resumed the genocide in Gaza on March 18, responding to the most extreme wing of his right-wing government and advancing his own political interests, according to Hebrew media.

For decades, Israel has occupied territories in Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon, and refuses to withdraw from them and establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, along the pre-1967 borders.

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor stated that the Israeli project in the Gaza Strip has reached its most revealing peak, as Israel no longer conceals its intentions regarding its plan to displace Palestinians from their homeland. Rather, it has begun to announce it openly and in official discourse at the highest levels, and is implementing it through a series of field and institutional measures that reframe the crime and present it as “voluntary migration.” It is exploiting the complete international silence that has provided it with a safe environment to continue committing the crime and achieve this level of impunity without deterrence or accountability.

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor stated in a press release today that Israel is moving forward with the final phase of its crime and original goal: the mass expulsion of Palestinians outside Palestine, specifically outside the Gaza Strip. This comes after spending a year and a half committing genocidal crimes, including the killing and wounding of hundreds of thousands, the obliteration of entire cities, the near-total destruction of the Strip, the systematic dismantling of living conditions there, and the forced and systematic displacement of its population within its borders, as part of a plan aimed at eliminating the Palestinian community as an entity and existence.

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor noted that the plans to forcibly displace Palestinians represent a direct extension of Israel's decades-long, systematic colonial-settler project, based on the erasure of Palestinian existence and the seizure of land. It warned that what distinguishes this phase from previous ones is that it is taking on a more dangerous and widespread character, targeting 2.3 million people who have been subjected to comprehensive genocide and deprived of the most basic rights, under systematic coercive conditions characterized by extreme cruelty and the complete deprivation of the minimum living conditions, in a deliberate attempt to push them towards departure as their only option for survival.

It pointed out that while Israel has succeeded in undermining the basic principles of international law and the rules of targeting and protection, it is now reimposing its narrative, relying on its excess power and the international community’s abandonment of its legal and moral obligations, to market the crime of mass expulsion of Palestinians as “voluntary migration,” in a blatant attempt to redefine ethnic cleansing and forced displacement using false terms such as “humanitarian considerations” and “individual choice,” despite its clear contradiction with the facts on the ground and the established legal provisions of international law that regulate this type of crime.

It stressed that forced displacement is a separate crime under international law, which involves the expulsion of persons from areas where they are lawfully present, using force or the threat thereof, or through other coercive means, without recognized legal justification.

It explained that coercion in this context is not limited to the use of direct military force, but also includes the creation of a coercive environment that makes remaining practically impossible or poses a real threat to life, dignity, or livelihood. This coercive environment includes multiple forms, such as fear of violence, persecution, detention, intimidation, starvation, or any other coercive circumstances that effectively strip individuals of their free will and force them to leave.

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor called on all states to hold accountable those complicit and complicit with Israel in committing these crimes, most notably the United States and other states that provide Israel with any form of support or assistance related to the commission of these crimes, including providing aid and engaging in contractual relations in the military, intelligence, political, legal, financial, media, economic, and other fields that contribute to the continuation of these crimes.

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor emphasized that the continuation of these crimes would not have occurred without Israel's illegal presence on Palestinian land, which constitutes the structural root of all cycles of violence, oppression, and destruction. It emphasized that any genuine response to the escalating crisis in the Gaza Strip cannot succeed unless it begins by removing this illegal colonial presence, as the original source of all violations, and guaranteeing the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, freely and independently, on their entire national territory. It considered that this is the way to stop the ongoing crime of genocide, halt individual and collective forced displacement schemes, dismantle the apartheid system, and build a serious path towards justice, accountability, and the preservation of human dignity.

Since Wednesday morning, areas west of Jerusalem have been witnessing widespread forest fires that remain out of control, despite the efforts of dozens of firefighting teams supported by aircraft. These teams are struggling to contain the blazes, which have spread to several areas, particularly in the settlements of Beit Shemesh and Beit Meir.

Hebrew media reported that the fire, which broke out in forests near Jerusalem, quickly spread to the outskirts of settlements, forcing authorities to urgently evacuate residents and close major roads, most notably Highway 1, for fear of endangering residents.

In a significant development, the Israeli fire services declared a state of alert in six major areas, summoning all active firefighting crews.

The Jerusalem District Fire Chief confirmed that the fires are still burning in several areas, causing damage to homes in the town of Mesilat Zion, where the flames have reached the outskirts.

While firefighting operations are still underway, the Israeli Channel 10 reported that the Israeli occupation army has begun intervening with teams from the Home Front Command to provide field support, but the air force has not yet joined the firefighting efforts.

In the south, crews were able to achieve "relative control" over another fire that broke out in the interior plain near Tel Aviv, with cooling and extinguishing operations continuing.