World War 3

Prof. Mazin Qumsiyeh

The Israel/USA (Epstein empire) attack on eight countries in the past 2.5 years is the opening salvo of World War 3 (WW3) and has catastrophic consequences for people and the environment but the knowledge of this and a global uprising are spreading despite censorships and could halt it (see material and links below). Calculations show Israel alone produced more pollution and climate gas emissions in one year from its genocidal campaigns than most industrialized countries do from ALL their sources. The Pentagon is the world’s single largest institutional polluter, spewing carbon, contaminating water, and scarring landscapes across the globe. Combining investigative journalism, striking visuals, and stories from impacted communities, this film challenges audiences to rethink the hidden costs of a global military empire and its planetary consequences. Provocative, urgent, and eye-opening, this is a documentary that will change how you see both the military and environmentalism.  And now that the Epstein coalition (led by Israel) is attacking oil infrastructure and water desalination in Iran and beyond, the environmental catastrophe is mushrooming. It is urgent that you and we all ACT.

But if this pollution does not kill us, the starting World War III will (Israeli/US client UAE government just attacked water desalination plants in Iran). The Great War (later dubbed WW1) was started after the late 20th century decline and dissolution of empires (like the Austro-Hungarian empire) and creation of the political concept of Nation States. It could have ended less catastrophically had te Zionist movement not dragged the US into the war in exchange for the French Cambon and the British Balfour declarations in 1917 in support of Zionism. WW2 might have been averted. The League of Nations (LN) was formed in January 1920 with headquarters in Switzerland claiming to want peace through diplomacy. The LN failed as the European states bickered among each other on resources and spoils of earlier empires and failed to stop states from violating its mandates: Japan invading Manchuria (1931) Italy invading Ethiopia (1935) Germany invading Poland, the USA expansionism and wars on a number of Latin American Countries etc. We can draw parallels between the failure of the LN and the United Nations (UN) which replaced it in 1946 but WW3 will be far more cataclysmic. The UN failed to stop states from violating its mandates: Israel invading and occupying several countries and committing genocide, US invading Venezuela, Libya and others and lately Iran. The LN failure to stop "might makes right" invasions led to World War II. Will the UN analogous failure lead to WW3. I say possibly even though we now have nuclear weapons (danger is higher) and we have many more countries with divergent interests (193 states members of the UN). But I think the failure now is far more dangerous than the early failures. The conquests and conflicts in the 16th to 19th century were driven by European empires' expansions and rivalry. Conflicts in the 20th century (WW1, WW2, Vietnam, Korea etc) were driven by "nation states" competing for influence and hope of repeating empires (e.g. the not so "cold" war). All caused huge suffering and misery while enriching many individuals and certain families of elites. But even genocides they engendered (Congo, Namibia, Armenia, etc.) and the other atrocities were localized and not truly globalized. The 21st century opening act of WW3 portend a far more dangerous potential: A self-fulfilling prophecy of bringing Armageddon. Without delving deeply into the ideology that drives these, Maung wrote that "Both messianic Israel of Judeo-Fascists and MAGA USA with fanatical Christian Zionists, will destroy humanity at large.... It is destroying 'democracy in America' and the US Constitution." (link). I would add to his analysis this prophetic letter from Thomas Jefferson to Mordecai Noah May 28, 1818: "I thank you for the Discourse on the consecration of the Synagogue in your city, with which you have been pleased to favor me. I have read it with pleasure and instruction, having learnt from it some valuable facts in Jewish history which I did not know before. Your sect by its sufferings has furnished a remarkable proof of the universal spirit of religious intolerance inherent in every sect, disclaimed by all while feeble, and practiced by all when in power. Our laws have applied the only antidote to this vice, protecting our religious, as they do our civil rights, by putting all on an equal footing. But more remains to be done, for although we are free by the law, we are not so in practice." But that constitution is trampled and gone and there is no separation of religion from state in the Epstein duo of Israel & USA. They bring on us a global war and doom. A revolution in the USA and globally is thus beginning and we hope it is not too late to stop the suicidal madness. Join the global uprising (intifada).

"In such a world of conflict, a world of victims and executioners, it is the job of thinking people, not to be on the side of the executioners.” Albert Camus

Now for thoughtful analyses from others:
Max Blumenthal (link and link)
Yakuv Rabkin- At its root, the assault on Iran is inseparable from the question of Palestine (link)

Chris Hedges & Alastair Crooke (link)
Prof. Jeffrey Sachs (link)
Prof. Jiang (video) and (another video) 
Watch "The Trust Fall" on the voice for freedom of speech: Julian Assange (video)
Prof. John Mearsheimer : Is Trump’s War Beyond Control? (link)
Ambassador Chas Freeman (video)
Jonathan Cook on morbid cult (link and link)
Shooting protesters at US Embassy in Pakistan (ten killed) (video)

Forty nations meet in The Hague to discuss measures against Israel’s West Bank annexation (link)

Iran

“The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: now is the time of monsters.” 

~Antonio Gramsci

How do you sort through lies in the fog of a regional war that is likely going to lead to a global war? More importantly how do you get crucial information that helps you act to stop the madness devastating people and our environment. The cost of this war to the environment and people (lives and livelihoods) is far more than even some "experts" predict. Pollution from sunk ships. Tens of thousands of bombs and rockets fired (in the 2.5 years more bomb explosive power than WWI and WWII combined including Hiroshima and Nagasaki). More journalists killed in these 2.5 years than in the wars before combined over 110 year. War greenhouse gas emissions, depleted uranium, white phosphorous, fires etc. have also ravaged our planet (yet to be calculated). There is also the devastating impact on human life. Infrastructure devastated including schools and hospitals (repeating the mantra still ongoing in Gaza and Lebanon and Yemen). US War Secretary Hegseth (see below about this guy) stated it is not going to be a "fair fight" and indeed not. The US even under the current president attacked 8 countries and in its 250-year short history (Iran is 5000 years) attacked over 50 countries (only 20 years of its history not in war) and Israel in its even shorter 78-year old regime attacked dozens of countries including also eight in the past year. Israel ethnically cleansed most of Palestine; now 8.5 million Palestinian refugees or displaced people recently including Gaza. It also ethnically cleansed people from the occupied areas of South Syria, and is now ethnically cleansing south Lebanon to create "greater Israel". But where to get information in the fog of war and propaganda? Ignorance makes people commit atrocities.

Before I answer this question, please sped time to learn a bit about the country your and my tax money (US, EU, Australia, Israel etc.) is bombing and destroying (it is important to know Iran even if you consider it an enemy). 3/4 of US citizens could not even point to it on a map!! So here are three links
is videos of the beautiful country: Wikipedia on Iran-must read 

Video on Iran and another

guess if the image is from Iran, Palestine, Lebanon or Yemen

Genocide is a commonality in such colonial systems whether native Americans during colonization of that country or this country (Palestine). And government always lies. The reasons for all the dozens of wars started by the US in the past 80 years were all lies and the outcomes are destructions that merely benefit elites and props up arms manufacturers' profits. The media run by Zionists stooges now are more in line with governments than ever before. So the best advise I give: do not believe anything the so called mainstream media and government officials tell you. The amount of economic and people damage all around is covered up while this psychological war/PR is blazing. Smart people don't buy it especially the young generation in the West. This is a war to save pedophiles from exposure by Zionists and to advance what they think is Zionist interests. It won't work: it is suicidal to the apartheid genocidal Israeli regime as it is to our planet. U.S. Commanders are telling troops that this is religious war and it will enhance the arrival of Jesus (Link to Video). War Secretary Hegseth is a Zionist racist crusader- check his tattoos (Link to Video).  Hegseth reminds me of another war criminal who dubbed himself a "Christian Zionist" and articulated his hope Zionism will help bring "armagedden" (BTW you cannot be Christian and Zionist at the same time). Orde Wingate, who committed war crimes before his death in 1944. See this wiki article. These officials and "mainstream media" lied about previous wars and they lie about the current one but this is far more dangerous. So where to get information? Unfortunately not easy. You have to read many individual sources but look for those who are not profiting from war: independent analysts: not paid by governments or "intelligence" agencies or working for mainstream media). Also look for those who compile information such as ElectronicIntifada DemocracyNow Middle East Monitor, Middle East Eye, and IMEMCNews. It takes time but you can always skim the information to get the big picture and why it matters (a danger to all of us and our planet). More importantly to act. I have shared analysis and data sources weekly during the accelerated genocide in Palestine sometimes with action ideas (for more action ideas see What you Can Do link with 74 actions). Here are some more compilation for today wit insights you won't find in mainstream media:

Israeli agents are sending drones to attack oil fields and storage depots in the UAE and "Saudi" Arabia to start a bigger regional war. The impact of this on the environment like he complete destruction of tree cover in the Gaza strip or pollution in the seas or emitting millions of tons of greenhouse gases from Jets. Happening: Link to Video and another Video

We would not be surprised if Zionists bomb the area of the Al-Aqsa mosque and blame it on Iranian missiles. Some Zionists are already saying so (Link to Video).

International Union of Scientists condemns Israel/USA military aggression on Iran (Link).
The Palestinians and Jewish Unity organization statement (Link).

(Coutercurrents independent media) Crusade Against Iran and Conquest of the Arab World (Link)
Tucker Carlson (Link to Video) 
A US Marine at the White House in protest -broke his arm (Link to Video)

Phil Giraldi (Link to Video)
Scott Ritter (Link to Video)
Mel Gibson tried to warn us (Link to Video)
Marouf (Link to Video)
Professor Jiang WIII (Link to Video)
Ali Khamenei’s assassination will likely backfire- here is why (Link to Article)
Catching on on Facebook (among millions of similar posts) (Link) .
More on the Ecocide caused by Apartheid Genocidal Israel (Link)
and on voice of Hind Rajab (Link) BBC World Service Life and Death in Gaza (Link).

Israel violates international law by destroying a UN headquarter in occupied Jerusalem (Link to Video).
"Flagrant War Crime": Investigation Recreates 2025 Israeli Massacre, Cover-Up of 15 Gaza Aid Workers (Link to Video).

"No Traces of Life" by Forensic Architecture (Link).

"Ecocide in Gaza: A War Waged on Farmland and Ecosystems" (Link to Video)

What happened in 1948 is becoming more exposed and is the main reason for the mess we are in. Link

7 countries in 5 years

As a Palestinian I have witnessed the daily toll of murder of our children (21,000 children, thousands of them toddlers just in the past 2.5 years). But this only increased my horror at seeing other Children killed by the Zionist (US/Israel joint at the hip regime) in Lebanon, Yemen, Sudan and elsewhere. But I was especially struck by the lack of western coverage of the bombing Saturday of an elementary school in Iran that killed over 100 girls. The sight of a father going trough the bloodied backpack of his daughter made me cry so much. Till when are we going to put up with this genocidal maniac regime that had a lock on the world (via blackmail mostly ala Epsteingate, tip of the iceberg). When will we have a global uprising. Zahra Golpayegani, the 14-month-old granddaughter of Sayyed Ali Khamenei among many other civilians was also martyred with other innocent civilians in the US-Israeli illegal aggression against the Leader’s residence. This is the same leader who made a religious Fatwa that forbids development of a nuclear weapon even though he and all Iranian leaders knew that they would have been safer with nuclear weapons (ala North Korean leader who Trump befriended since he had nuclear weapon and ballistic missiles!).

Trump made his choice: he had to chose between joining in Israeli expansionist empire building wars or have the rest of the videos and documents released that will get him impeached and jailed. He made his choice and bombed seven countries in one year - the last is Iran (but tis is not going to help him). He had to secure Venezuela's oil before destabilizing our region. But could it be that after the war (if it ever ends) Trump will still face the legal consequences of rape of children? The extent of propaganda against Iran is amazing. Now that Iran is attacked illegally and unprovoked and for the second time by the US/Israel (Epstein) regime, the regional war already started. Surprises and mistakes happen daily now. Three US F-15 Jets costing $360 million were downed over Kuwait. The offices of ICC-wanted war criminal Netanyahu was bombed. US embassies from India to Pakistan to Iraq to Lebanon are besieged by the masses. Evacuations of foreign militaries happening throughout the region (e.g. the foci of imperial extensions in Cyprus and UAE). Oil and gas prices are going way up (10% in the first two days). Inflation is skyrocketing. The world economy is going into a downward spin and the global war is a matter of days or weeks ahead with no winners except cockroaches as they resist nuclear radiation. Those who were not paying attention to our (Palestine) wake-up calls or those Jews who were tricked to think that might makes right ("we rather be feared than loved") miscalculate badly to their and our detriment. The genocide and ethnic cleansing in Palestine has provided a global wake-up to the stark choice: Zionism (total destruction, genocidal/suicidal game) OR peace. Will it be too late to end this nightmare?

Reminder Gaza genocide still going on.

US General Wesley Clark (former NATO supreme commander) in 2007: US/Israel plan to take down 7 countries in 5 years - I guess they updated the schedule since because of their difficulties in the other countries. But this Iran thing may spell the end of Zionism stranglehold on the US!
https://rumble.com/v104ppz-2007-general-wesley-clark-the-us-plans-to-attack-7-countries-in-5-years.html

We have a global war to try vainly to erase this: What happened in 1948
https://archive.md/M12kJ

Israeli soldiers watch someone they shot bleed to death, take photos, and ten kidnap his body
https://www.facebook.com/910224/videos/pcb.10113888169932930/1647534029731564

Addameer issues a detailed report on Israeli camps of torture, rape, and death
https://www.addameer.ps/sites/default/files/publications/in%20the%20Context%20of%20Crimes%20Committed%20Against%20Palestinian%20Prisoner.pdf

Demand DNC publicly release internal report showing Biden/Harris catastrophic support of Gaza genocide led to their loss
https://support.adc.org/a/dnc-release-election-report

Green Party-USA statement on state of the union
https://www.gp.org/greens_say_the_current_state_of_the_union_is_appalling

Norway Nobel Prize compromised (Epstein again?) https://youtu.be/oxy88Z3lNg4

Endorse the Gaza flotilla
https://mailchi.mp/f99e2a34dcf4/us-boats-to-gaza-sailing-to-break-the-blockade-3003487

Scholars supporting Francesca Albanese
https://voelkerrechtsblog.org/open-letter-unsr-albanese/

Ethnic Cleansing in the West Bank: It's Even Worse Than You Think: Invitation to an Online Film Salon Sunday March15, 2026, 3 pm ET/ 12 noon PT. Watch the curated videos included in the registration confirmation email at your convenience ahead of the discussion. Join the Q&A discussion with: Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man: Director for Israel-Palestine at DAWN; former Editor-in-Chief, +972 Magazine; Mazin Qumsiyeh: Director, Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability; author; activist; Mai Shahin: Specialist, nonviolent communication & trauma therapy; Co-founder, Satyam Homeland Peace Center; Ken Dorph (Moderator): Developmental economist specializing in the Arab world; writer and speaker. Register at: Tinyurl.com/VFHL-March2026 Watch the Trailer: Tinyurl.com/VFHL-March2026Trailer

Worthwhile analytical reads
Ali Abunimah: An enormous crime against Iran
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/enormous-crime-against-iran
Prof. Zarni https://open.substack.com/pub/maungzarni/p/three-crucial-facts-on-the-savage
Prof. Jeffrey Sachs https://youtu.be/OvuXahWSVzc
https://youtu.be/nPo8lxyjkCY
Lowkey https://youtu.be/NxdjzsuAQMg
Charles Eisenstein on Iran war: power and blowback
https://charleseisenstein.substack.com/p/the-iran-war-power-and-blowback
Mearsheimer https://www.facebook.com/reel/1461121452037252
Prof. Marandi https://youtu.be/j19w0ur90jA
https://glenndiesen.substack.com/p/seyed-m-marandi-israel-and-us-launch
Scott Ritter https://scottritter.substack.com/p/ritters-rant-078-rumors-of-war

What we are facing in Palestine is not Israel but a global conspiracy with Western and Arab leaders - subservient disgusting and blackmailed.
https://johnmenadue.com/post/2026/02/globalisation-of-occupation-when-genocide-becomes-an-international-project/
Why this non-Muslim supports the Islamic Republic of Iran
https://english.almayadeen.net/articles/opinion/why-this-non-muslim-supports-the-islamic-republic-of-iran

Stay Humane, act, and keep hope and Palestine alive
Mazin Qumsiyeh
A Bedouin in cyberspace, a villager at home
Professor, Founder, and (volunteer) Director
Palestine Museum of Natural History
Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability
Bethlehem University
Occupied Palestine
http://qumsiyeh.org
http://palestinenature.org
Facebook pages
Personal https://www.facebook.com/mazin.qumsiyeh.9
Institute https://www.facebook.com/PIBS.PMNH

Davos

Marx once quipped "History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce" and Hegel stated that “what we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history.” I am no Marxist and I am no fan of Hegel's philosophy but was thinking that each reflects on their time (in the case of Marx he was thinking about the rise of Napoleon III as the French empire declined) or makes sweeping generalizations. I will try to avoid this as I make a few comments on the rise of Trump and his new "board of Peace" signed at this gathering that happens annually in the WEF at Davos: see my own contribution to irritating Davos attendees here: http://qumsiyeh.org/theworldeconomicsforumcontroversy/

I found myself rereading older literature from Franz Fannon, Howard Zinn, Edward Said, and others to make sense of what is happening and migt be coming down soon. I actually listened to Trump’s speech given at Davos. It was so full of lies as all his other speeches. For example, the US did not have a 'phenomenal' growth under him. The GDP growth for 2025 is in line with previous several years averages at 2.5% (China's average for past 5 years is 5.34%). More importantly, the US National Debt rose significantly and now stands at a staggering $38 TRILLION (that is $125,000 per every single person living in the USA). This is not counting corporate and personal debts which are also astronomical. All are projected to get worse as interest payments grow, US dollar continues to decline (inflation to continue to go up), and military spending from one to $1.5 trillion annually starting in 2027.

The tyrannical egomaniac running the USA is setting the earth on fire and the US public is being distracted with anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric and actions (the usual divide and conquer). But for him and his billionaire friends, they merely got richer (Trump got $1.5 billion richer in one year of the presidency per NY Times). This will be studied by historians after the next global war with comparisons drawn to the likes of Hitler, Musolini, Niron, or Genkiz Khan. But what is more interesting is how world leaders and business leaders bend their knee to this buffoon even when they know he is not going to spare them once they become the vassal rulers of provinces of the empire. [Governor Newsom of California and Canada’s prime minister said so openly]. But what about the so-called 'Board of Peace' created to replace the UN and for which its charter appointed Trump as its head with veto power FOR LIFE (unless he decides to step aside and appoint a replacement to his liking). Craig Mokhiber sarcastically wrote: “Mussolini has announced that he is establishing a ‘Board of Peace’ to rule over the survivors of the holocaust and to take over their property, and he has invited Hitler to be a member of the board. The plan has been endorsed by the League of Nations”! And notice the now signed charter clearly has a mission that will extend globally (not merely Gaza). That is why many western countries did not join us. But vassals like the UAE government and Hungary’s neo-Nazi President signed on. Netanyahu enthusiastically will join (he avoided going to Davos because there is an arrest warrant for him from the International Court of Justice).

Reminder 1:  "Master's Tool will not dismantle the Master's House" The late black feminist poet, writer and activist Audre Lorde

Reminder 2: This is day 838 since the invasion of Gaza and acceleration of the (still ongoing) genocide to finish off the work started in 1948 of ethnic cleansing. Three more journalists were murdered in Gaza over the weekend (now over 255 journalists murdered by the apartheid regime)

Reminder 3:Keep pushing to release all the Epstein files including links to Mossad, videos used to blackmail the likes of Trump and Clinton and find all the other lurking Epsteins.

More good people writing logic
1) Robert Reich https://www.facebook.com/reel/504783866018406
2) Maung Zarni about Davos and changing world order https://maungzarni.substack.com/p/at-davos-the-canadian-pm-former-banker
3) Benjamin Fogel: Sopranoes/Monroe
https://jacobin.com/2026/01/trump-sopranos-venezuela-monroe-doctrine
4) Alastaire Crooke: Trump aims for Venezuela, Cuba & Latin America
https://strategic-culture.su/news/2025/12/17/trumps-geo-politics-correcting-the-imperial-model-shaping-the-incoming-economic-architecture/
5) John Kiriakou (ex CIA) on Israeli role in fomenting anti-Iran and anti-Islam hatred  https://x.com/Partisan_12/status/2011362104402751649
6) US Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson on same issue
https://x.com/SprinterPress/status/2012164631926596023
7) Canada's PM Carney on end of US empire https://youtu.be/dTvFnC-oFGw
8) Chris Hedges on the last elections https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/the-last-election
9) Sani P. Meo founder of the best color magazine in Palestine (and I venture to say globally): This Week in Palestine, This month's theme is “Jerusalem: The Heartbeat and Unbroken Spirit of Palestine” now accessible online at www.thisweekinpalestine.com

An astonishingly strong documentary on the French-German broadcaster ARTE about the systematic torture in Israeli jails. The systematic dehumanization being orchestrated f.i. by dogs & rape Palestinian prisoners L'enfer des prisons israéliennes | ARTE https://youtu.be/PHizfeozVws

Amnesty on why this is genocide
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/12/amnesty-international-concludes-israel-is-committing-genocide-against-palestinians-in-gaza/
and on why Israel is apartheid
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/02/israels-apartheid-against-palestinians-a-cruel-system-of-domination-and-a-crime-against-humanity/
BTselem on why Israel is a racist apartheid state
https://www.btselem.org/publications/fulltext/202101_this_is_apartheid
and HRW https://www.hrw.org/report/2021/04/27/threshold-crossed/israeli-authorities-and-crimes-apartheid-and-persecution

Stay Humane, act, and keep hope and Palestine alive

War and Oil: Connecting the dots

 By Mazin B. Qumsiyeh

(and why everyone should boycott Chevron) [footnotes below]

The U.S. and Israel have a special arrangement since 1979 under which the United States would supply oil to Israel if Israel could not secure enough oil on its own due to shortage or supply disruption [1]. This pact is unique: No other country receives a similar guaranteed emergency oil supply from the U.S. and the agreement has been extended routinely with the last a extension for ten years! [2]. The US sent refined fuel to Israel to bomb Gaza in 2008/2009 even when gas prices at the pump got higher for US citizens [3].  In 2023, 60% of the crude oil imported by Israel (totals imports $3.23 billion) came from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan to Turkish ports through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (in which Chevron has the largest stakeholder- Chevron is also to be the main beneficiary of the attack on Venezuela). The percentage rose to 70% of crude supply through that pipeline between late 2023 and late 2025 [4]. Refined imports of $1.35 billion worth came mostly from Russia, Egypt, Turkey, and Romania. The U.S. is the sole documented supplier of military-grade jet fuel (JP-8) under aid programs during the war [4] of course paid for by US taxpayers to decimate Gaza and dramatically increasing greenhouse gases.

In 2020 Chevron completed a major acquisition of U.S.–based Noble Energy, which had been the lead developer of Israel’s largest offshore natural gas fields. This deal brought Chevron’s operations directly into Israel’s energy sector [5]. Chevron integrated into its global portfolio the "Tamar and Leviathan" offshore gas fields (Most portions of these belong to Palestine based on UN partition lines) and at least part of the ownership of the current Gaza strip [6]. In 2025, Egypt signed a deal to import $35 billion in gas from the Chevron operated gas fields (and a new "Nitzana" pipeline) off the coast of Gaza benefitting the apartheid state and the rich Chevron. Hence the ethnic cleansing and genocide on Gaza continues to empty it and allow for money to continue flowing. Here are the biggest institutional shareholders of Chevron (and people should write to them to divest): The Vanguard Group, Inc.; State Street Corporation; Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.; BlackRock Inc. And ofcourse boycott Chevron stations [See 7].

Venezuelan people and most of the world are fully aware that 1) Trump consulted with his partners in crime (Chevron CEO and Netanyahu) but not Congress when he decided to bomb for oil (and rare minerals), 2) The market bumbed up Chevron stock price upon hearing the news [8], 3) They are merely a stepping stone for taking over other countries (Panama, Canada, Greenland, Cuba)... But the imperial power WILL fail. I leave that to another analysis. But in the meantime do continue to act and we all need to work harder to stop the lunatics pushing us to WWIII.

[1] https://www.energy.senate.gov/services/files/894BE546-C7E6-4BC4-A3F0-9E352549109B
[2] https://www.israelnationalnews.com/flashes/323545
[3] https://wespac.org/2009/01/16/us-taxpayers-spending-over-one-billion/
[4] https://oilchange.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Israel-Gaza-Fuel-Data-v2.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
[5] https://israel.chevron.com/en/about
[6] https://www.timesofisrael.com/chevron-seals-acquisition-of-noble-energy-which-operates-in-israel-gas-fields/
[7] https://bdsmovement.net/chevron https://afsc.org/BoycottChevron
[8] https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/05/market-sees-chevron-the-big-venezuela-winner-but-oil-majors-face-a-long-road.html

2026

كما في الأعوام السابقة، شهد عام ٢٠٢٥ أحداثًا جيدة وأخرى سيئة، لكن ما يميزه حقًا هو شدة كليهما. وبينما أرغب في إلقاء نظرة سريعة على الماضي والتطلع إلى المستقبل، فإن عامي الجديد سيكون بمثابة بذل جهد أكبر للعيش في الحاضر. يُقال إن الماضي قد انتهى، والمستقبل سلسلة من الهدايا (عملنا). كلمة "Present" في اللغة الإنجليزية تعني الحاضر وأيضا الهدية. والكلمات ذات المعاني المتعددة تحمل حكمة الأجيال. في اللغة العربية، ترتبط كلمة الحاضر بالزمن وأيضا بالحضور الذهني بالانغماس في الموقف وبوعي عميق، وهو ما شاع استخدامه أيضًا على يد الراهب البوذي ثيت نات هان. الكلمة الصينية للأزمة 危机 (wēijī)، تجمع بين "الخطر" (危، wēi) و"الفرصة" (机، jī). مفهوم شائع خاصة في الثقافة الغربية بعد أن استخدمه جون كنيدي، مما يعكس وجهة نظر فلسفية مفادها أن التحديات في الأزمات تُتيح فرصًا للتغيير الإيجابي أو لحظات محورية. في حين أن الحرف wēi يعني بوضوح الخطر، فإن jī (أو 機) كان يعني في الأصل "نقطة حاسمة" أو "لحظة فارقة"، وليس بالضرورة "فرصة" بمعزل عن غيره، ولكن استخدامه في 机会 (jīhuì، بمعنى فرصة) تتفق لتفسيرات متعددة، مؤكدةً أن الأزمة نقطة تحول تحمل في طياتها إمكانية التهديد والفائدة. لذا بينما أستعرض أحداث عام ٢٠٢٥ وأتطلع إلى عام ٢٠٢٦ أرجو ملاحظة أنني أحافظ على هذا الوعي الحاضر. كما أعتقد بتواضع أن هذا إلى جانب وجود الناس من حولي والاهتمام بهم، هو أفضل هدية يمكننا تقديمها لأنفسنا. هذان الجانبان هما ما يجعلان الحياة جديرة بالعيش حتى في أصعب الظروف. كما قالها جدي (1908-1999) أن سر الحياةأ تكون كدا وودا.  في هذا الاستعراض للأحداث، أتناول الجوانب الإيجابية والسلبية، وفي النهاية أقدم توقعاتي لعام ٢٠٢٦.

عام ٢٠٢٥ في فلسطين والعالم

 

وفقًا للإحصاءات الرسمية (التي صدرت بشأنها شهادات وفاة)، قُتل ٢٢٩٠٠ فلسطيني في عام ٢٠٢٥ (٧٠٣٥٥ منذ ٧ أكتوبر ٢٠٢٣). وأُصيب ٥٧٨٠٠ في عام ٢٠٢٥ (١٧١٠٦٤ منذ ٧ أكتوبر ٢٠٢٣). لكن البيانات الديموغرافية المنشورة في مجلات مرموقة تشير إلى أن الأعداد أكبر بمرتين إلى ثلاث مرات بسبب إلى تدمير أنظمة الرعاية الصحية والوفيات المبكرة بسبب الأمراض والمجاعة الناجمة عن الحصار الإسرائيلي ومنع دخول المساعدات الإنسانية. 70% من الضحايا من الأطفال والنساء. كاد النظام الطبي في غزة أن ينهار تمامًا بسبب تضرر المرافق ونقص الإمدادات والهجمات على البنية التحتية للرعاية الصحية، مما أدى إلى تفاقم أزمة الصحة العامة، مع تفشي الأمراض المعدية وعودة ظهور فيروس شلل الأطفال. دُمر أكثر من 95% من المباني والبنية التحتية الأخرى في قطاع غزة. ما يقرب من مليوني شخص بلا مأوى. أصدرت محكمة العدل الدولية رأيًا يفيد بأن وجود إسرائيل في الأراضي الفلسطينية المحتلة غير قانوني وينتهك حظر التمييز العنصري والأبارتهايد، وأكدت حكمها بإمكانية وقوع إبادة جماعية جارية، وأنه يجب على إسرائيل السماح بدخول المساعدات الإنسانية. انتهكت إسرائيل جميع اتفاقيات وقف إطلاق النار التي أبرمتها، ليس فقط في عام 2025، بل في تاريخها الاستعماري القصير منذ عام 1948. منذ إعلانها وقف إطلاق النار الأخير مع حركة المقاومة في غزة (خطة ترامب/نتنياهو)، انتهكتها إسرائيل مئات المرات. قُتل أكثر من 1045 مدنياً فلسطينياً على يد قوات نظام الفصل العنصري هنا في الضفة الغربية. وأُصيب أكثر من 2500 شخص، وتشرّد أكثر من 65000 في الضفة الغربية (نتيجة لتدمير منازلهم في عمليات التطهير العرقي). يُعدّ الجيش الإسرائيلي أكبر منظمة إرهابية على وجه الأرض. تسارعت تداعيات الإبادة الجماعية عالمياً. سقطت الأقنعة عن وجوه الكثيرين. استيقظ الملايين، وعندما تُفتح أعيننا على الاستعمار والإبادة الجماعية والتطهير العرقي، ونرى أن الحكومات الغربية تدعم ذلك لأن السياسيين يتلقون رشاوى أو يتعرضون للابتزاز، لا يمكننا تجاهل الحقيقة. لذا، تسارع العمل من أجل السلام والعدالة عالمياً وباتت قضية فلسطين نقطة ضعف النفاق الغربي وستساعد في تفكيك الإمبريالية والاستعمار في عصرنا.

في معهد فلسطين للتنوع الحيوي والاستدامة - جامعة بيت لحم، ورغم عدم الاستقرار السياسي والاقتصادي، وبفضل جهود المتطوعين والداعمين من جميع أنحاء العالم، حققنا عامًا مثمرًا للغاية. عملنا هو من أشكال المقاومة بما في ذلك التصدي للإبادة الجماعية والتدمير البيئي. ستتلقون تقريرنا السنوي خلال أسابيع قليلة، ولكن باختصار، فقد قمنا بما يلي: 1) تنظيم أكثر من 25 رحلة ميدانية في أنحاء الضفة الغربية رغم الإغلاقات، 2) تنظيم وتوسيع مجموعاتنا العلمية، 3) نشر 20 ورقة بحثية (والمساهمة في 7 أخرى)، مع التركيز بشكل خاص على الآثار البيئية والاجتماعية للإبادة البيئية، وإبادة الجامعات، وإبادة الصحة في غزة، 4) الوصول إلى آلاف الشباب من خلال متحفنا المتنقل والثابت وحدائقنا وورش العمل التفاعلية، 5) تنظيم محاضرات وندوات لأكثر من 11000 بالغ حول العالم حول العدالة البيئية وحقوق الإنسان، 6) تقديم الدعم المادي والاستراتيجي للمجتمعات في الضفة الغربية وقطاع غزة لسد الفجوة بين العلم والبقاء، 7) العمل على سد الفجوات بين العلم والسياسة فيما يتعلق بالقدرة على التكيف مع تغير المناخ والاستخدام المستدام للموارد الطبيعية, 8) تمثيل المصالح البيئية الفلسطينية في مؤتمرات إقليمية ودولية رئيسية (خمس دول)، 9) الانتهاء من بناء المتحف الجديد والتحضير للافتتاح الكبير عام ٢٠٢٦، ١٠) أُطلقت مشاريع من بينها هيكلة الحما في منطقة العرقوب (بدعم من ناشيونال جيوغرافيك) وبنك بذور وطني، ١١) الترشِح لجائزة نوبل للسلام مُسلطةً الضوء على الأهمية العالمية للمقاومة البيئية.

لا تزال أمامنا مخاطر جمة عام ٢٠٢٦: ١) صراعات إقليمية وعالمية أشعلتها جشع القوى الإمبريالية والاستعمارية، من فنزويلا إلى فلسطين وكشمير وتايوان (وخطر تبادل نووي كبير)، ٢) مخاطر تغير المناخ والتلوث والاستغلال المفرط للموارد الطبيعية، ٣) العنصرية والحركة ضد المهاجرين والشعوب الأصلية ومحاولات تجريدنا من إنسانيتا وتدميرنا، ٤) الديكتاتوريات والفساد (خاصة هنا في فلسطين) والحركات اليمينية والفاشية عالميا... وغير ذلك الكثير. لكن هناك انتفاضة عالمية ستتسارع وتيرتها بسبب انتشار الوعي وفقدان الوظائف لا سيما للشباب. إن هذا التحول ليس سهلاً، ولكنه حتمي. وهذا يُعيدني إلى التأمل وما يقوله البوذيون: المشاركة ببهجة في أحزان هذا العالم. لذا قمت أنا وجيسي و7 متطوعون آخرون بجولة في الحديقة اليوم وسنزرع بعض النباتات ونزيل الأعشاب الضارة ونعتني بجراح الأرض (الجراح التي ألحقها بها البشر). إذا رغبتم بالانضمام إلينا أي وقت راسلونا عبر البريد الإلكتروني info@palestinenature.org

نتمنى لكم ولأحبائكم عامًا جديدًا سعيدًا وسالما وآمنا.

New Year Message

As in other years, there is the good and the bad that happened in 2025 but the intensity of both is what is rather unusual.  And while I do wan to briefly look back and look ahead, my own new year will be to push even harder to live the present. The past it is said is done, the future is a succession of presents (our work). The word 'present' in the English language refers to a gift. Words with dual meaning sometimes carry wisdom of the ages. In Arabic the world Al-'hader (the present in the sense of time) is rooted in the immersion in the situation (not a mere presence but a deep mindfulness (popularized also by Buddhist monk Thích Nhất Hạnh).  AI tells me that "The idea that the Chinese word for "crisis," 危机 (wēijī), combines "danger" (危, wēi) and "opportunity" (机, jī) is a popular concept, especially in Western culture after being used by John F. Kennedy, reflecting a philosophical view that challenges in crises present chances for positive change or pivotal moments. While the character wēi clearly means danger, jī (or 機) originally meant "crucial point" or "incipient moment," not necessarily "opportunity" in isolation, but its use in 机会 (jīhuì, meaning opportunity) makes the combined interpretation resonate, highlighting that a crisis is a turning point with potential for both threat and benefit". So while I will recap 2025 and look forward to 2026, please note I keep this mindfulness (present, alhader). I also humbly think that this combined with having people around and caring for people is the best gift (present) we can give ourselves. The two aspects are what makes life worth living even in very difficult circumstances.  In this recap of what happened I cover both good and bad issues and at the end give predictions for 2026.

2025 in Palestine and globally

According to official statistics (those issued death certificates) 22,900 Palestinians were killed in 2025 (70,355 since 7 October 2023). 57,800 were injured in 2025 (171,064 since 7 October 2023). But demographic data published in respectable journals suggest the numbers are two to three folds more (due to destruction of health care systems and premature deaths due to diseases and starvation resulting from the Israeli blockade and denial of entry of humanitarian aid. 70% of the casualties are children and women. Gaza's medical system neared complete collapse due to damaged facilities, supply shortages, and attacks on healthcare infrastructure resulting in severe public health crisis escalated, with outbreaks of infectious diseases and the re-emergence of poliovirus type 2 after being eradicated for 25 years. >95% of buildings and other infrastructure were destroyed in the Gaza Strip. Almost 2 million people are homeless. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an opinions finding Israel's presence in the occupied Palestinian territory to be unlawful and in breach of the prohibition on racial discrimination and apartheid and emphasizing its ruling of plausibility of genocide ongoing and that Israel must allow humanitarian aid. Israel broke every ceasefire it had done not just in 2025 but in its short colonial history since 1948. Just since declaring the last ceasefire with the resistance movement in Gaza (the Trump/Netanyahu “peace plan”), Israel violated it hundreds of time. Over 1045 Palestinian civilians were murdered by the apartheid regime forces here in THE WEST BANK. Over 2500 were injured and over 65,000 were made homeless in the West Bank (ethnic cleansing homes destroyed).  The Israeli army is the largest terror organization on earth. The fallout from the genocide accelerated globally. Masks fell from many people. Millions became awake and once you open your eyes to colonialism, genocide, ethnic cleansing and see that the western governments support this because politicians are bribed and/or blackmailed. You cannot unsee it. So the work for peace and justice globally accelerated leveraging Palestine as it provided the Achilles heel of western hypocrisy and will help undo imperialism and colonialism in our time.  

In our Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) at Bethlehem University and despite the political and economic instability: with the help of volunteers and supporters around the world, we had a very productive year. Our work is a form of resistance including in challenging the genocide and ecocide. In a few weeks you will receive our annual report but briefly we: 1) Conducted over 25 field trips across the West Bank despite closures, 2) Curated and expanded our collections, 3) Published 20 research papers (and assisted in 7 others), with a specific focus on the environmental and social impacts of ecocide, scholasticide, and medicide in Gaza, 4) Reached thousands of youth through our Mobile Museum, on-site gardens, and interactive workshops, 5) Facilitated lectures and seminars for over 11,000 adults worldwide on environmental justice and human rights, 6) Provided material and strategic support to communities in the West Bank and Gaza, bridging the gap between science and survival, 7) Worked to bridge science-policy gaps regarding climate resilience and the sustainable use of natural resources in a conflict zone, 8) Represented Palestinian environmental interests at major regional and international conferences on biodiversity and climate action, 9) Finalized construction for the new museum and are preparing for a grand opening in 2026, 10) Launched projects including the Hima structure (supported by National Geographic) and a national Seed Bank, 11) nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, highlighting the global importance of environmental resistance.

As we look to 2026, we still face many dangers: 1) Regional and global conflicts created by greed of imperialists and colonizers ranging from Venezuela to Palestine to Kashmir to Taiwan (the threat of a nuclear exchange is significant), 2) threats of climate change, pollution and overexploitation of natural resources, 3) Racism and dehumanization of immigrants and indigenous people, 4) Dictatorships, right wing and fascist movements... and much more. But there is a global uprising (intifada) which will accelerate due to loss of jobs especially for young people. The transition is not easy but is inevitable. This brings me back to mindfulness and what the Buddhists say: to have joyful participation in the sorrows of this world. Thus, Jessie and I and the other volunteers will take a walk around the garden today and maybe do some planting and weeding and tending to the wounds of mother earth (wounds inflicted by fellow human beings). If you like to join us in the present today or tomorrow do email us at info@palestinenature.org

Happy and peaceful new year 2026 to you and yours.

Love

Mazin & team
Palestine Museum of Natural History
Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability
Bethlehem University
Occupied Palestine
http://qumsiyeh.org
http://palestinenature.org
facebook pages
Personal https://www.facebook.com/mazin.qumsiyeh.9
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