InsideMENA - Israel’s Genocidal Acts against Palestinian Women’s Healthcare

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This is the Observatory, and here is InsideMENA, the EST’s bimonthly newsletter that uncovers the latest news from the Middle East and North Africa touching upon the EU’s interests and beyond, as well as a light dose of culture pills you can find at the end.

And now, without further ado, let’s dive right InsideMENA!

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Edited by Hafssa Fakher Elabiari and Sibilla Gosso

Note that the information, views and opinions set out in the newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of the editors, of the European Student ThinkTank, and of their affiliated-entities or institutions.

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Israel’s Genocidal Acts against Palestinian Women’s Healthcare

By Hannah

Targeting reproductive capacity. In what the UN has condemned as “genocidal acts ,” Israel has systematically destroyed maternity wards and IVF clinics in Gaza, attacking Palestinian women’s healthcare across the strip, and destroying the reproductive capacity of Palestinians in Gaza as a group. The siege imposed on Gaza has prevented the entry of essential, lifesaving medical aid, including medication and equipment needed to ensure safe pregnancies, deliveries and postpartum and neonatal care. These actions are violations of the Rome Statute a nd the Genocide Convention. This is on top of the “unprecedented scale” of female deaths in Gaza, adding another layer to the gender-based violence in Gaza, as a result of the deliberate targeting of residential buildings and the use of starvation as a weapon of war.

Gendered violence. Additionally, the UN report outlines how the IDF has consistently used sexual violence as a weapon of warto “dominate and destroy” the Palestinian people. This violence has become “standard operating procedure,” including the use of rape, sexual assault, attacks on genitals, forced public stripped and nudity. Palestinian boys and men have been subjected to repeated abuse as collective punishment, used to humiliate and intimidate victims. These actions constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. Importantly they highlight that the Israeli leadership has either explicitly given these orders or provided implicit encouragement.

This report comes just days before Israel resumed bombarding Gaza, shattering the fragile ceasefire and killing over 400 people in one night, including many children. Israel has once again issued evacuation orders for parts of Northern and Central Gaza, forcing thousands of Palestinians – who had been permitted to return to their homes – to move again.

Mediation: Saudi Arabia’s Latest Nation Branding Bid

By Michele

On March 11th, Ukrainian and American officials met in Riyadhto negotiate a potential agreement to end Russia’s invasion. The previous day, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) welcomed Ukrainian President Zelenskyy for preliminary discussions. Notably, on the 11^th of February, Riyadh hosted Russian and American officials for the most extensive talks since the beginning of the invasion in 2022.

Saudi Arabia’s role as a mediator is not unprecedented, as it brokered multiple prisoner exchanges between the two sides, and is not limited to Russia’s war on Ukraine. Riyadh is stepping up its conflict resolution efforts in many high-profile ongoing conflicts, including Sudan’s civil war and, more recently, by hosting Arab leaders to propose a regional alternative to Trump’s outrageous plans for Gaza’s future.

As conflicts proliferate regionally and globally, this is a welcome development. But why is Saudi Arabia investing so heavily in mediation? Firstly, to bolster the nation’s image. MBS’s leadership has caused significant damage to the kingdom’s reputation, and actively contributing to de-escalating and ending conflicts could significantly improve it. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has evolved its international standing, balancing between powers in a multipolar world, Riyadh wants to capitalise on its position as an important partner for both the US and China, as well as the EU and Russia, presenting itself as a pivotal intersection of East and West interests. In recent years, its ambiguity was criticised in the West, particularly regarding Ukraine, but becoming a key mediator would make its neutrality valuable to all sides.

Other Gulf states have followed the same path: Oman and Kuwait have historically been important mediators, and Qatar has played the same role throughout Israel’s war on Gaza. Now, Saudi Arabia aims to follow their example on a larger scale, to reap the diplomatic and reputation gains of mediation.

Damascus Strikes a Deal with the SDF

By Hafssa

Reversing conflict dynamics. Last week, the Syrian government signed a deal to reintegrate the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into the state. In a move both surprising and long-awaited. President al-Sharaa sat down with SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi, raising hopes for Syria’s path toward unity. If implemented, the agreement will grant the government control over the oil-rich region of northern Syria, and expand the army’s territorial reach. In other words, it would spare the government the hassle of reasserting control over a region that has long been outside its grasp. Plus, with multiple spoilers – including Israel and remnants of the former regime – present, engaging with the SDF has become more of a necessity than simply a diplomatic manoeuvre.

Unresolved questions. While the agreement was celebrated among Syrians (as it should), it remains to be seen to what extent the SDF is willing to compromise its autonomy vis-à-vis the army and state institutions. What would an ‘SDF 2.0’ look like within the army? Is it true that Abdi is abandoning the autonomous project he has long advocated for? If so, what is he seeking in return? Perhaps it’s because the SDF no longer enjoys the luxury of Iranian and Russian support. What could jeopardise compliance with the agreement during the implementation period? And what about the US-SDF alliance, especially concerning counterterrorism? These are some of the critical questions that need to be carefully considered.

Türkiye remains cautious. Syria’s neighbour is closely monitoring these developments with caution. The SDF maintains close links with Ankara’s primary adversary, the PKK/YPG, and the optimistic scenario of the SDF fully reintegrating into the Syrian state could signal the end of Kurdish separatism, especially since PKK leader Öcalan’s called on Kurdish fighters to lay down their arms. However, Türkiye remains cautious as its least favourite scenario is a neighbouring government with Kurdish factions operating autonomously. Ankara will be talking a lot with the Syrians and the Americans to prevent one of its worst nightmares. Kolay gelsin, good luck!

Everyone Wants to Talk about the Nuclear Deal with Iran

By Fatin

Beijing takes the lead. Last week, senior diplomats from Iran, Russia, and China met in Beijing to explore a path forward for Iran’s long-stalled nuclear negotiations. The talks, led by the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, highlighted the urgent need to lift unilateral sanctions and resume dialogue amid rising geopolitical friction. This meeting was a preliminary step for Iran, Russia, and China to align their positions on the nuclear deal, rather than a full restart of negotiations. It also signalled to the US that, despite President Trump’s ties with Moscow, Washington now faces a more unified opposing bloc.

Washington is taking a different route. In an unexpected move, Trump personally sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, via the UAE. His messagewas blunt: resume negotiations and reach a deal, or brace for a renewed ‘maximum pressure’ campaign, which could include harsher sanctions and possible military confrontation. But Khamenei, unwavering as ever, dismissedTrump’s letter as deceptive, warning that Washington’s excessive demands would only "tighten the knot of sanctions and increase pressure on Iran." His rejection showed Iran’s refusal to engage with what it sees as a coercive and insincere approach from the US.

Meanwhile, Brussels is struggling to have a say. Kaja Kallas – the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs – recently emphasised the importance of a multilateral diplomatic approach during a UNSC session on EU-UN cooperation. She showcased the 2015 Nuclear Deal as a key example, stating, "There is no sustainable alternative to a diplomatic solution." Yet, the EU now finds itself sidelined. Despite hosting three rounds of talks with Iranian officials since September 2024, there have been no tangible results. Worse, Brussels is caught in a paradox: advocating diplomacy while condemning Iran’s military support for Russia in Ukraine. The EU’s once-central role in the JCPOA negotiations is fading, leaving it to navigate a delicate and increasingly challenging balancing act.

Time is running out. The JCPOA is set to expire in 2025, along with the last remaining enforcement mechanisms that have applied some pressure on Iran. Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but recent findings by the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) suggest otherwise. The IAEA’s March report revealed a concerning 50% increase in Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, now estimated to be 40 times the JCPOA’s original limit. These figures heighten fears that Tehran is inching closer to nuclear weapons capability, deepening global concerns.

Now, a bit of culture…

In this section, we uncover some of the most listened and watched musicians, writers or YouTubers of the MENA or new publications, articles or books either from or on the region. If you have any suggestions, you’re always welcome to tell us via our email!

A forgotten genocide. You may be familiar with the Holocaust or the Rwandan genocide, but have you ever heard of the Libyan genocide? Between 1929 and 1934, the people of eastern Libya endured the brutality of the Italian fascist colonial regime. Around 83,000 Libyans perished and 110,000 had been forcibly displaced to horrific concentration camps. In Genocide in Libya: Shar, a Hidden Colonial History, Libyan scholar Ali Abdullatif Ahmida delves into an invisible genocide that has never been recognised or apologised for. Drawing on oral history, Ahmida explores how evidence was destroyed to cover up the atrocities committed across the shore. The Arabic word ‘Shar’ (شر) is rooted in the testimonies of survivors who associated it with death, loss and starvation. Ahmida’s work, the product of ten decades of research, documents how silence has been used as a tool of domination and as a form of resistance.

A special anniversary. On March 15th, thousands of Syrians gathered in Daraa to commemorate the 14th anniversary of the Syrian revolution, despite the ongoing threat of Israeli airstrikes. Daraa holds a special value among Syrians, as it was one of the first cities to witness blood and destruction in 2011.

Let the MENA Speak

Did you know that Farsi is not related to Arabic, even though it is written in Arabic script? Farsi has been written in many scripts, and the Arabic script was only introduced following the Muslim conquest of Persia in the 7th century. While Farsi and Arabic share many words, their similarities are shallow. The first is an Indo-European language whereas the second is an Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, language.

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