Elisabeth Schmidt-Hieber

They raped a man. They gang-raped him. They raped him so brutally that he had to be hospitalized. Doctors documented the injuries. The video of the assault was leaked. Now the rapists are free. This is not just unlawful and immoral. It is sick! #ThisIsIsrael

Introducing the #DamascusDossier investigation: A collaboration from ICIJ, NDR and 24 media partners in 20 countries uncovers harrowing new details about former Syrian president Bashar Assad’s regime and one of the most brutal state-run killing systems of the 21st century.

The lack of pressure on Israel to release the thousands of Palestinian hostages (including CHILDREN) says a lot about what Peace that lays ahead, for the Palestinians. There cannot be peace without justice, human rights and dignity of ALL. Palestinian lives matter.

Breaking news; Here is the security camera footage from the Family vessel of the Sumud Flotilla, stationing just outside Tunis port. So: 1. Sound of something that the crew identified as a drone. 2. Crews sounds the alarm and calls for help. 3. Explosion. Draw your conclusions.

Webinar tomorrow on 9 September on countering an #ISIS resurgence in #Syria.

Learning today about @UNODC_AD #AlternativeDevelopment coffee initiatives in various countries at the 4th coffee research talk @BOKUvienna #SustainableDevelopment #SustainableLives #ConflictPrevention #CommunityWellbeing

1️⃣ Israel has cut Gaza off—no communications, while bombing the starving, wounded, displaced again and again. 2️⃣ GHF is not aid—it’s a criminal enterprise. 3️⃣ Abu Shabab is not security—it’s a criminal gang, a surrogate militia accelerating Gaza’s collapse. ❗️States serious about stopping THIS must send their navies—with food, medicine, doctors, nurses. Now.

What else needs to happen for the unacceptable to be stopped?

On 22 May, @UNLazzarini sent a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel. The letter addresses serious allegations made by the Government of Israel against UNRWA. One year on, Israel has neither provided evidence nor pursued legal proceedings—the claims remain unsubstantiated. 🔗 unrwa.org/newsroom/offic…

"More than 1 in every 50 UNRWA staff in #Gaza has been killed in this atrocious conflict. This is the highest staff death toll in United Nations history," United Nations Secretary-General @antonioguterres told the press ahead of the annual memorial service in honour of @UN personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty. There must be justice and accountability for the crimes and violations of international law committed in the Gaza Strip, including against UNRWA.

Sign the petition, help stop the arms shipment #Gaza @Avaaz secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/do…

There has been no safe, dignified & significant aid in #Gaza for more than 3️⃣ months now. People’s suffering is unconscionable, deepening further on a daily basis. We have got to & must go back to bringing in aid at scale to people wherever they are and deliver it safely. The only way to do this is through the United Nations including @UNRWA. We have the expertise, experience & ressources. We demonstrated tangible impact during the ceasefire, when obstacles were lifted. Delaying the decision to properly respond to the deepening hunger will further push down people in Gaza to an endless bottom & deepen dehumanization.

“#Gaza: aid distribution has become a death trap. Mass casualties including scores of injured and killed among starving civilians due to gunshots this morning. This is according to reports from international medics on the ground. A distribution point by the Israeli- American plan was put far south in #Rafah This humiliating system has forced thousands of hungry and desperate people to walk for tens of miles to an area that’s all but pulverized due to heavy bombardment by the Israeli Army. Aid deliveries and distribution must be at scale and safe. In Gaza, this can be done only through the United Nations including UNRWA. The State of Israel must lift the siege and allow the UN safe and unhindered access to bring in aid and distribute it safely. This is the only way to avert mass starvation including among 1 million children. With competing narratives and disinformation campaigns in full gear, international media must be allowed into Gaza to independently report on the ongoing atrocities including this morning’s heinous crime.” – @UNLazzarini

Jordan's authorities have silenced critical voices by blocking independent news outlets. We call on @moi_jor and @PrimeMinistry to lift the ban and respect freedom of expression. Independent journalism is essential to democracy. #FreePress #Jordan article19.org/resources/jord…

🚨NEW REPORT – China is expanding its digital authoritarian model of cybersecurity governance across the Indo-Pacific, posing a grave threat to people’s rights – regionally and globally. Learn more: article19.org/resources/chin…

Over the past 20 months, the Government of Israel has continuously made unsubstantiated claims against @UNRWA and its neutrality. These claims have put the lives of UNRWA staff at serious risk and harmed the reputation of the Agency. Here are extracts from a letter I recently sent to the Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs 👇

#Gaza: a war on children. In addition to heavy bombardments, starvation is threatening the future of the children in Gaza. What’s urgently needed is a political will to allow the UN and partners to provide assistance at scale without hindrance or interruption Allow us to do our work.

🚨Launch of the Europe Press Freedom Report Press conference - 5 March, 10 a.m. CET You can attend in person at the Residence Palace (room Maelbeek), Brussels or online via Zoom Register to participate in the online event 👉 go.coe.int/TYndb #EuropeForFreeMedia

📢7amleh, in collaboration with the Palestinian Digital Rights Coalition and dozens of international organizations, has launched #ReconnectGaza, a global campaign to demand the rebuilding of Gaza’s telecommunications network and safeguard the right to communication as a fundamental human right. This campaign comes in response to the deliberate destruction of Gaza’s telecommunications infrastructure amidst the genocidal onslaught, which has left millions cut off from the world, restricted emergency response efforts, and further crippled an already devastated economy. Estimates indicate that 75% of the telecommunications infrastructure has been damaged, with 50% completely destroyed. The denial of connectivity has paralysed essential services, blocking healthcare coordination, disrupting education, and cutting off Palestinians from the digital economy. 🌍The #ReconnectGaza campaign aims to gather international support to push for real, lasting change, ensuring that Palestinians in Gaza are no longer left in the dark. 7amleh calls on everyone to join the campaign, amplify its message, and demand action from decision makers. Connectivity is not a privilege; it is a fundamental human right. Together, we can ensure that Gaza’s voice is heard and that its people can reclaim their right to communicate, work, and rebuild their future. ✊Join #ReconnectGaza Campaign: 7amleh.org/reconnectgaza/… #لنُعِد_الاتصال_لغزّة

“I was at a hospital in Damascus, examining the bodies there and trying to come to terms with the possibility that my father’s body might be among them,” Sana Mustafa, a human rights activist who returned from the US to Syria after the fall of the regime to search for her missing father, recounts to Raseef22. “Dozens of other families were with me. As soon as the refrigerator door opened, a journalist from a Western outlet rushed in before us to take pictures and film the scene, stepping over the bodies without regard for the bereaved families,” says Sana. “We were all completely shocked by her behavior. It’s not something I will ever forget.” This unprofessional and inhumane pursuit of "scoops” and “exclusives" was evident in numerous incidents documented and corroborated by Raseef22. One instance involved a journalist covering a solidarity gathering in central Damascus. Upon learning about the presence of a recently released detainee, the journalist bombarded him with intrusive questions, showing no regard for his emotional and physical state or readiness to discuss his "experience." While it is crucial to shed light on such issues and expose the crimes of the fallen regime, many media figures and journalists treated this extremely sensitive moment as a mere "trend," without regard for professional or humanitarian considerations, nor for the victims themselves. Perhaps the most notable example of unprofessional coverage was CNN correspondent Clarissa Ward’s fabricated video report about what she describes as the "moment of liberation" for a detainee from Sednaya Prison. It was revealed that the event was staged; the man appearing in the footage was actually a former Syrian intelligence officer. According to multiple corroborated testimonies obtained by Raseef22, some journalists even took it upon themselves to remove documents, files, and CDs from places like detention centers, keeping them for the purpose of creating media content later on, with no oversight or permission from the new authorities. Searching for tragedy: How international media is mishandling coverage in Syria | by Syrian journalist Zeina Shahla Full article: bit.ly/3CQ5sBV