Trump versus the Gulf of Mexico
This month during a rambling news conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate, United States President-elect Donald Trump announced his latest vision for revising the map of the world: âWeâre going to…
Four words that bear significance to the happy news of a Gaza ceasefire
I have wrestled with what to say in this urgent moment, long yearned for and that often appeared beyond reach during these last 15 hideous months.One of the questions that…
Ceasefire in Gaza: A fragile calm amid unending struggle
The announcement of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza undoubtedly marks a critical moment in the ongoing conflict. For those of us who have witnessed, experienced, and then watched, mourned, and…
Letâs rejoice the ceasefire, but also make sure Gaza is allowed to recover
Israelâs Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has finally agreed to a ceasefire deal.The agreement marks the end of the Israeli assault on Gaza that began on October 7, 2023, and left…
No child should ever see the horrors of Gaza
For 15 months now, Gazaâs children have been reduced to a statistic. The death toll reported gives a specific count for children. Malnourishment and starvation are reported in terms of…
Israel has declared war on the promise of a strong, democratic Syria
The end of 2024 delivered a surprising turn of events in the 13-year-long war in Syria. Bashar al-Assadâs regime collapsed spectacularly when faced with a limited operation by rebel forces.Amid…
The genocide has left me feeling like a stranger in my own homeland
I was born and raised in Bani Suheila, a town of 40,000 people in the Khan Younis governorate of Gaza. It was a place where everyone knew each other. We…
Tunisiaâs revolution 14 years on: âThe emperor has no clothesâ
Fourteen years ago, on January 14, 2011, Tunisians filled Habib Bourguiba Boulevard, the central thoroughfare of Tunis, with cries of freedom and dignity as they celebrated the ousting of dictator…
The whataboutery in African debates on solidarity with Gaza is misplaced
In August 2023, I took up the position of director of the Centre for African Studies (CAS) at the University of Cape Town. One of the important commitments I inherited…
Why I wonât stop telling Gazaâs stories
There is a look I have come to recognise â the way a childâs eyes widen when they see me, wearing a press vest and holding the microphone. It is…
Israel may burn Gaza schools, but Palestinians shall resist
My school in Khan Younis refugee camp was one of my favourite places. I had dedicated teachers and a deep love for learning, so much so that education became my…
The short shelf life of corporate DEI
Over the last few days and months, a slew of United States corporations, including Amazon, McDonaldâs, Walmart, Ford, John Deere and Meta (the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp),…