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Articles by Omar Sabbour
Israel has declared war on the promise of a strong, democratic Syria
Egyptian conflict analyst and graduate student The end of 2024 delivered a surprising turn of events in the 13-year-long war in Syria. Bashar al-Assad's regime collapsed spectacularly when faced with a limited operation by rebel forces. Amid the turmoil, Israel expanded its occupation of Syrian land in the south of the country, expelling hundreds of Syrians from their homes. It also launched a devastating campaign of aerial bombardment, wiping out the Syrian air force and military capabilities.
Yes, the EU intended to deport Syrians back to Assad all along
A mere two months after the announcement of the €1 billion EU-Lebanon aid package aimed at curbing Syrian migration flows to Europe and facilitating the return of Syrians to "safe areas" inside Syria, the Lebanese Government has begun handing Syrians back to the Assad regime. Already, dozens have been arrested since returning. Last week, one Syrian was reportedly killed under torture. Warnings by human rights groups immediately followed the announcement of the EU-Lebanon deal in early May.
Yes, the EU has subsidized the forced return of Syrians to Assad
A mere two months after the announcement of the €1 billion EU-Lebanon aid package aimed at curbing Syrian migration flows to Europe and facilitating the return of Syrians to "safe areas" inside Syria, the Lebanese Government has begun handing Syrians back to the Assad regime. Already, dozens have been arrested since returning. Last week, one Syrian was reportedly killed under torture. Warnings by human rights groups immediately followed the announcement of the EU-Lebanon deal in early May.
German guiltwashing in times of genocide
On December 14, we, a group of students at Freie Universität Berlin, occupied a lecture hall in an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people. The occupation was the first of its kind in Germany. It was peaceful although a group of counterprotesters tried to disrupt it. The reaction of the university, however, was to call the police to clear the protesting students. Twenty of us were detained, including myself.
War on Gaza: Israeli forces make arrests in Nasser Hospital, as Rafah and Deir al-Balah bombed
Israeli forces on Saturday carried out arrests in Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, the largest medical facility still functioning in the besieged enclave. The facility was raided by Israeli forces on Thursday, and areas within its vicinity have come under repeated attacks in recent days.
US 'will continue to send weapons to Israel' while pushing for ceasefire
US President Joe Biden's administration is preparing to send arms to Israel even as Washington pushes for a ceasefire in Gaza, according to a report on Friday in the Wall Street Journal citing current and former American officials. The planned weapons delivery includes MK-82 bombs and KMU-572 Joint Direct Attack Munitions that add precision guidance to bombs, as well as FMU-139 bomb fuses. The value of the arms is estimated to be in the "tens of millions of dollars", according to the report.
War on Gaza: Children sleep in chicken cages in Rafah as families grow desperate to find shelter
Finding shelter in the Gaza Strip, whether in a basic tent on the street or in an overcrowded classroom, has become a luxury for hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians. Israel's offensive has rendered Gaza almost uninhabitable in just four months. The Israeli army has destroyed or damaged more than half of the buildings in Gaza and continues to steadily shrink safe or liveable spaces across the besieged enclave.
War on Gaza: Why I resigned from my European crisis-response role
Over the past few years, I have worked in the humanitarian and developmental sector as a lead analyst in a team of external consultants advising European donor governments on their crisis response in conflict zones. I recently handed in my resignation due to the EU’s continued refusal to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. I can no longer work on a donor’s crisis response in one country, while they enable a crisis in another.
Solidarity, Inc. Part I: The Industrialisation of Solidarity
Ten years have passed since the outbreak of the Arab Spring in 2011. At the time, hopeful, young Arab activists such as myself had grown up only knowing political failure. We were raised watching the United States bomb Baghdad and Fallujah, and Israel doing the same in Gaza. We were raised to the images of Abu Ghraib and the helplessness of our Arab governments – without exception – that so often were too fearful to even say a word.
Kronstadt as Revolutionary Utopia: 1921-2021 and Beyond - Our Recap
20 April 2021 8 min read Much to our benefit, members of The Commoner were able to help organise, support, and watch a wonderful conference on the Kronstadt Rebellion of red sailors against the Soviet Government. Held on March 20-21, the conference featured film screenings, readings, and panel discussions with historians, activists and journalists.
I see you, Bashar al-Assad
With the potential last stand underway in Idlib, let history record some of the contradictions revealed over the years by one of the most successfully-marketed pied pipers of our age, Bashar al-Assad. The following is an open letter to Bashar al-Assad, President of Syria. *** As the famous Ibn Khaldun phrase goes, "The tyrants bring the invaders". Bashar al-Assad, you are truly are a pied piper.
Stop the War Coalition is not against Western intervention
For years, the Stop the War Coalition's leadership has justified either the group's silence, or routinely promoted Assad apologisms as evidence the Syrian regime is supposedly subject to a "US plot" to overthrow it. Most recently, much outrage was raised at the famous missile strike on a Syrian regime airfield following the chemical attack on the Syrian village of Khan Shaykhoun in April.
In Syria, the Stop the War Coalition is not against Western intervention
Comment: As Raqqa gets destroyed, the Stop the War Coalition is nowhere to be heard, leaving Syria solidarity protesters to demonstrate in front of US embassies alone, writes Omar Sabbour. For years, the Stop the War Coalition's leadership has justified either the group's silence, or routinely promoted Assad apologisms as evidence the Syrian regime is supposedly subject to a "US plot" to overthrow it.
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