Why Does No One Care About These Palestinians?

by Khaled Abu Toameh • April 14, 2020 at 5:00 am

Those in the international community expressing concern about the possible spread of the virus in the Gaza Strip are ignoring the existing tragedy of the Palestinians in Syria, particularly those held in various Syrian government-controlled prisons.
While Palestinian Authority leaders have been urging Israel to release Palestinian prisoners in Israel out of fear they may be infected with coronavirus, these same leaders have left, without saying a word, hundreds of Palestinians held in Syrian jails.
"Such practices represent flagrant violations of international law which criminalizes all forms of torture and mistreatment against civilians," the Action Group for Palestinians of Syria (AGPS) stated.
An Arab persecuting or torturing an Arab never seems to be condemned by the international community.... The reason the world does not care about the atrocities committed against Palestinians in Syria: they cannot blame Israel for them.
Unfortunately, the Palestinians of Syria live in an Arab country. Were those Palestinians living in the West Bank or the Gaza Strip, the international media, the United Nations and human rights organizations would have interrupted the daily media fare of coronavirus by shouting day and night about Israel's purported persecution of the Palestinians.

Palestinian refugees have lost all hope of returning to the Yarmouk refugee camp after the Syrian authorities revealed a plan that would radically change the conditions of the camp by building tall buildings and opening new roads, according to a report by the pan-Arab newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat. Pictured: Yarmouk refugee camp, near Damascus, on May 22, 2018, days after Syrian government forces regained control over the camp. (Photo by Louai Beshara/AFP via Getty Images)

As the world is busy combating the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, Palestinians are continuing to "disappear" in Syrian prisons -- or otherwise die. Those in the international community expressing concern about the possible spread of the virus in the Gaza Strip are ignoring the existing tragedy of the Palestinians in Syria, particularly those held in various Syrian government-controlled prisons.

The international community also does not seem to care if a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria is about to be wiped off the face of the earth.

The reason the world does not care about the atrocities committed against Palestinians in Syria: they cannot blame Israel for them.

An Arab persecuting or torturing an Arab never seems to be condemned by the international community.

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A Coronavirus Primer

by Gatestone Institute Editorial Staff • April 14, 2020 at 4:00 am

Pictured: The ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. (Image source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Important note to our readers: As a public service, the Gatestone staff has gathered the following information from established and credible internet sources along with published medical journals to try to give you a deeper understanding of the COVID-19 and the means to contain it.

However, Gatestone is not a medical authority and you will definitely want to consult your personal physician or health care professional first please as a precaution.

As a reminder, please continue to stay social distanced: we all hope to have many years ahead of us to pursue our shared examination of public policy, foreign affairs, and our nation's domestic agenda.

Cordially,
The Staff at Gatestone

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