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Dear Friend,
This issue brings together reports and reflections from a world marked by war, displacement, ecological breakdown, democratic erosion, and deepening inequality. Several articles focus on Gaza and occupied Palestine, where continuing violence, allegations of abuse, and attacks on human rights documentation raise urgent questions about accountability, international law, and the political structures that enable impunity.
The issue also examines widening crises elsewhere: conflict and humanitarian breakdown in Africa, tensions across South Asia, the restructuring of global geopolitics, and the growing economic burdens imposed on ordinary people. From caste violence and citizenship controversies in India to the expansion of surveillance systems online, many contributions explore how power increasingly operates through exclusion, fear, and control.
At the same time, this edition carries essays that look toward alternatives rooted in solidarity, ecological balance, democratic participation, and ethical imagination. Discussions on self-managed socialism, indigenous ecological knowledge, climate politics, literature, and public ethics remind us that resistance is not only about opposing injustice, but also about imagining different ways of living together.
As always, Countercurrents remains committed to publishing independent voices that connect immediate events to their deeper political, economic, and historical contexts.
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In Solidarity
Binu Mathew
Editor
Countercurrents.org
PALESTINE
Israel Commits Massacre in Gaza on First Day of Eid, Killing 10 in Strike on Residential Building
by Quds News Network
An Israeli strike on a residential building in central Gaza City killed ten Palestinians, including women, children, and elderly people, on the first day of Eid Al-Adha, according to medical sources. The attack took place despite a US-backed ceasefire that Palestinian officials and international observers say has been repeatedly violated. Among those killed were siblings Nour, 12, and Yamen, 13. The youngest victim was nine years old and the oldest was 81. UN human rights chief Volker Turk condemned the continuing attacks, describing the ongoing killings of Palestinians in homes, shelters, and public spaces as evidence of “sweeping impunity.”
UN Adds Israel to Sexual Violence Blacklist Amid Reports of Abuse Against Palestinians
by Quds News Network
The United Nations has added Israel to its blacklist for sexual violence against Palestinians following mounting reports of abuse in Israeli prisons and detention centers. The decision comes amid investigations and testimonies documenting allegations of torture, sexual assault, medical neglect, and mistreatment of Palestinian detainees since the start of the Gaza war. Reports by UN bodies, human rights organizations, journalists, and medical groups have described patterns of abuse in detention facilities, while calls continue for independent monitoring and access by humanitarian agencies. Israel has rejected the allegations and criticized the UN decision as politically motivated.
Euro-Med Monitor announces exceptional measures in response to Israeli disinformation and threats, reaffirms continuation of its work
by Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor
Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has announced major operational changes following what it describes as an escalating Israeli campaign of disinformation, threats, and incitement targeting the organisation and its staff. Measures include suspending operations at its Geneva office, closing offices in the occupied Palestinian territory and Lebanon, and shifting to virtual and limited field-based work. The organisation says nearly 40 staff members and affiliates have also been barred from entering Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Despite the restrictions and threats, Euro-Med Monitor says it will continue documenting alleged human rights violations and advocating for accountability and justice.
Euro-Med Monitor Under Attack for its Exemplary Human Rights Effort to Document Wrongdoing in Occupied Palestine: Richard Falk
by Richard Falk
Richard Falk defends the work of Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor amid escalating attacks by Israeli officials and pro-Israel groups. He argues that the organization has played a crucial role in documenting human rights abuses in occupied Palestine under dangerous conditions since 2011. Falk links the recent smear campaign to Euro-Med’s documentation of sexual violence against Palestinian detainees, cited in a New York Times column by Nicholas Kristof. The article also connects these attacks to wider efforts to silence human rights advocates and independent investigators exposing violations in Gaza and the occupied territories.
The Nazis Hid Their Crimes: Israel Boasts About Them
by Laala Bechetoula
Laala Bechetoula’s article argues that Israel’s assault on Gaza represents an unprecedented form of openly declared mass violence carried out under global visibility and political protection. Drawing on reports from international organizations, humanitarian agencies, and genocide scholars, the article documents the destruction of civilian life, cultural institutions, water systems, healthcare, and journalism in Gaza. It also examines the political role of the United States and Arab governments in enabling the crisis. The piece calls for public action through boycott campaigns, protest movements, and political pressure while framing Gaza as a defining moral test for the contemporary world.
Blood Libels and Sexual Violence: Israel, Palestinian Prisoners and The New York Times
by Dr Binoy Kampmark
Dr Binoy Kampmark examines the controversy surrounding a New York Times report by Nicholas Kristof on allegations of sexual violence against Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli custody. The article traces the political backlash from Israeli officials, including accusations of “blood libel” and threats of legal action against the newspaper. It also reviews the evidence cited by Kristof, including interviews, human rights reports, and UN findings, while exploring the wider implications for journalism, accountability, and public discussion of abuses committed during the Gaza conflict.
ATTACK ON IRAN
Attack on Iran: Costs, Profit and Loss
by A Correspondent
This article examines the economic, social, and human costs of modern warfare through a class and political economy perspective. Drawing on estimates of U.S. military spending, the article contrasts war expenditure with cuts to healthcare and food assistance programs. It also explores the wider consequences of the conflict, including inflation, environmental damage, disrupted education, labor burdens, and the long-term costs of reconstruction across the region. The article argues that official calculations rarely capture the full impact of war on ordinary people, whose lives and livelihoods continue
INTERNATIONAL LAW
The Promise and Failure of International Law
by Utkarsh Mishra
Utkarsh Mishra examines the gap between the ideals of international law and the realities of global power politics. The article looks at the limits of institutions such as the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court when major powers and their allies refuse accountability. Drawing on recent developments involving Gaza, sanctions on ICC officials, and selective enforcement of international norms, it argues that international law often functions unevenly in practice. At the same time, the article stresses the continuing importance of legal institutions in documenting atrocities, preserving historical records, and keeping open the possibility of future accountability and reform.
AFRICA
Ebola Outbreak Deepens Africa’s Humanitarian Crisis Amid Expanding Conflicts
by Bharat Dogra
A widening Ebola outbreak is compounding an already severe humanitarian crisis across Africa, where conflicts, displacement, hunger, and collapsing health systems have left millions at risk. The article examines how wars in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other regions are deepening instability while aid delivery becomes increasingly difficult. Restrictions linked to Ebola are further obstructing humanitarian access to vulnerable populations. Bharat Dogra warns that nearly 200 million people may now require urgent assistance, with the possibility of catastrophic loss of life if peace efforts and large-scale humanitarian responses are not strengthened without delay across the continent.
COUNTER SOLUTIONS
Imagination, Climate Politics, and the Battle Beyond Big Oil
by Bill McKibben
Bill McKibben reflects on the role of imagination in confronting the climate crisis, arguing that technological change alone is not enough without cultural and political shifts. From electric vehicles and renewable energy to public policy and climate communication, he examines how entrenched fossil fuel interests continue to shape public perception and slow collective action. The article highlights efforts by activists, writers, artists, and policymakers to build broader public engagement around climate solutions. McKibben also points to global advances in clean energy adoption, emphasizing that social imagination and political will remain essential in shaping a viable and equitable future.
Writing and Talking to Whom, Why and to What End
by Michael Albert
Michael Albert reflects on the political purpose of writing, speaking, and organizing in a time shaped by cynicism, fragmentation, and media saturation. He examines whether activists should focus on reassuring like-minded audiences or engage people who are indifferent, hostile, or doubtful about the possibility of fundamental change. The article contrasts resignation with long-term transformative politics, arguing that revolutionary communication must build solidarity, strategy, and confidence while also supporting immediate struggles against war, fascism, inequality, and ecological collapse. Albert also questions whether progressive media and activism are adapting effectively enough to confront today’s political and cultural conditions.
Developing a Model of Self-Managed Socialism: Lessons From the Spanish Revolution
by Tom Wetzel
Tom Wetzel revisits the Spanish Revolution of the 1930s to explore how worker self-management and democratic planning were practiced on a large scale. Drawing on the experiences of the CNT unions, workplace collectivization, industrial federations, and community participation, the article examines efforts to build a socialist alternative rooted in direct working-class control rather than state bureaucracy. It highlights experiments in health care, transport, manufacturing, and popular education while also reflecting on the political conflicts that contributed to the revolution’s defeat. The essay argues that these historical experiences remain relevant for contemporary debates on eco-socialism and participatory democracy.
Water, Desertification, and the Rebirth of Territories- What If We Reconciled with Water?
by El Habib Ben Amara
Water, drought, and urbanization are deeply connected in arid regions. In this article, El Habib Ben Amara examines how modern cities accelerate desertification by draining rainwater instead of retaining it in soils and ecosystems. Drawing on Saharan traditions such as foggaras, oases, and earthen architecture, the article argues for a different approach to urban planning based on water conservation, agroecology, and climate-adapted design. It highlights how restoring local water cycles can strengthen food security, cool cities, and rebuild ecological resilience in North Africa and beyond. The piece presents water not as a problem to remove, but as the foundation of sustainable territories.
Adivasis, the Indigenous People: Their Role in Biodiversity Conservation
by Jigmath Laskit Wangmo
This award-winning essay by Jigmath Laskit Wangmo reflects on the role of Adivasi communities in protecting India’s biodiversity through traditions rooted in respect for nature, sustainable resource use, and collective responsibility. Drawing connections between Adivasi life and the ecological practices of Ladakh, the essay highlights how indigenous knowledge systems preserve forests, wildlife, water, and local ecosystems. It also examines the threats posed by displacement, climate change, and the erosion of traditional knowledge. The essay argues that India’s environmental future depends on recognizing, protecting, and learning from indigenous communities and their long-standing relationship with nature.
CHILDREN AND SOCIAL MEDIA
Age Verification Is Not Child Protection If It Builds a Digital Checkpoint Society
by Matt Yao
Age verification laws are increasingly being promoted as tools for protecting children online, but they also raise serious concerns about privacy, anonymity, and access to public digital spaces. Matt Yao argues that systems based on facial scans, ID checks, or algorithmic age classification risk turning the internet into a monitored checkpoint society. The article examines developments in the UK and Australia, the impact on vulnerable groups, and the broader implications for freedom of expression and digital rights. It calls for child protection measures that focus on regulating platforms and harmful design practices without expanding systems of surveillance and identity verification.
LITERATURE
The Death of Literature Is a Dangerous Myth
by Preeti Kalra
Preeti Kalra examines the growing marginalization of literature in universities shaped by market-driven priorities and employability metrics. The article argues that reducing the humanities to communication skills and content creation weakens critical thought, ethical reflection, and imagination. Drawing on literature, theatre, and history, it highlights how stories, poems, plays, and performances have shaped public conscience and social change. From climate crisis to artificial intelligence, the piece stresses that contemporary challenges require not only technical expertise but also human understanding. Literature, the article contends, remains essential to memory, empathy, and the moral imagination of society.
CHINA-PAKISTAN SUMMIT
Pakistan Between the Dragon and the Eagle: The China–Pakistan Summit and the Emerging Geopolitics of Strategic Balancing
by Suresh Deman
Pakistan’s deepening partnership with China signals a major shift in the emerging global balance of power. This article examines the recent China–Pakistan summit in the context of U.S.–China rivalry, CPEC, Indo-Pacific geopolitics, and the changing architecture of the Global South. It argues that Pakistan is attempting to balance ties with both Beijing and Washington while navigating economic crisis and regional insecurity. The article also explores the implications for India, where growing China–Pakistan strategic convergence is likely to intensify security competition, strengthen India–U.S. alignment, and reshape geopolitical calculations across South Asia and the wider Eurasian region.
SOUTH ASIA
The Violence of Miscalculation at the India–Bangladesh Border
by Dr Ranjan Solomon
Dr Ranjan Solomon examines the deepening crisis along the India–Bangladesh border, where aggressive border policing, forced deportations, and allegations of extrajudicial violence continue to raise serious human rights concerns. The article documents testimonies of torture, arbitrary killings, and the lack of accountability for abuses committed by security forces. It also highlights the humanitarian realities faced by impoverished border communities caught between migration pressures, smuggling networks, and securitized state responses. The piece argues that legal impunity and the normalization of excessive force have transformed the border into a zone where due process and human rights are routinely undermined.
INDIA
Indians in Wonderland: Courts, Citizenship and the Crisis of Democracy
by Hiren Gohain
Hiren Gohain examines the role of the Election Commission and the Supreme Court in controversies surrounding the SIR process and voter citizenship verification. The article argues that constitutional guarantees of universal franchise have been narrowed through restrictive interpretations and administrative procedures that placed millions of voters under suspicion. It also critiques the judiciary for focusing on procedural legality rather than substantive complaints about disenfranchisement and electoral fairness. The piece reflects on how legal and institutional processes can reshape democratic rights and citizenship in contemporary India.
Economic Crisis Amidst Government Helplessness
by Ch Narendra
Ch Narendra examines India’s deepening economic strain amid rising fuel prices, inflationary pressures, weakening domestic production, and growing dependence on imported energy. The article argues that the widening gap between wholesale and retail inflation signals mounting burdens that will eventually fall on ordinary people through higher living costs and economic insecurity. It also critiques the government’s response, including appeals for restrained consumption and efforts to protect foreign exchange reserves, while questioning policy decisions related to taxation, energy self-reliance, and dependence on external powers. The piece presents the current situation as a structural economic crisis shaped by policy failures and global instability.
Cow-Beef Politics Coming full circle
by Dr Ram Puniyani
Dr Ram Puniyani examines how cow-beef politics has reshaped social relations, electoral discourse, and everyday economic life in India. The article traces the rise of vigilante violence, the impact of lynchings on Muslim communities, and the burden placed on poor farmers and cattle traders. It also highlights the contradictions within debates around food habits, nationalism, and religious identity, drawing on historical references from Swami Vivekananda and V.D. Savarkar. The piece argues that communal politics has deepened social fear and distorted public discourse while leaving vulnerable communities to bear the consequences.
Mamata Banerjee Must Return to Centre Stage in Bengal Politics
by Arun Srivastava
Arun Srivastava examines the post-election crisis facing the Trinamool Congress after the BJP’s sweeping victory in the 2026 Bengal Assembly elections. The article analyses the BJP-RSS strategy to weaken the TMC’s grassroots structure, the wave of defections and internal dissent within the party, and the growing pressure from central agencies. It also reflects on Mamata Banerjee’s political choices, Abhishek Banerjee’s role in generational change within the party, and the broader shifts in Bengal’s political economy and social base. The piece argues that Mamata’s active return to the political arena remains crucial for the future of opposition politics in West Bengal.
EDUCATION
When School is Only the First Shift: Increasing Shadow Education in India
by Anjali Sidhwani
A growing number of students in India now spend their evenings in tuition centres after regular school hours, reflecting the rapid expansion of “shadow education.” Drawing on recent survey data and personal field observations, this article examines how exam pressure, competitive entrance tests, parental aspirations, and declining trust in formal schooling are driving the rise of private coaching. It also highlights the role of teachers, market-oriented education systems, and widening socio-economic inequalities in sustaining this parallel structure. As coaching becomes central to academic success, the article questions what this means for the future purpose and credibility of schools in India.
ENVIRONMENT
NGT Takes Cognisance Of Alleged Illegal Encroachment Of Forest Land By Wonderla Water Park In Odisha
by Prakash Kumar Samantsinghar
The National Green Tribunal’s Eastern Zone Bench has taken cognisance of allegations of illegal encroachment of deemed forest land and environmental violations by Wonderla Holidays Limited in Odisha’s Khordha district. Acting on a petition by environmental activist Dillip Kumar Samantaray, the Tribunal issued notices to multiple state and central authorities and constituted a Joint Committee to investigate the claims. The petition alleges unauthorized construction, tree felling, groundwater extraction without clearance, and use of forest land without prior approval. The Committee has been directed to submit its factual and action taken report within four weeks before the next hearing in August 2026.
CASTE VIOLENCE
When the Obscene Erupts: Caste Violence and the Schizophrenic Modernity of India
by Skand Priya
Skand Priya’s article examines caste violence in post-independence India through a study of atrocities, discrimination, and institutional exclusion across rural, industrial, and service sectors. Drawing on cases from Kilvenmani and Khairlanji to Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi, the essay argues that caste persists not as a relic of the past but as a structural feature of modern India. It traces how Dalit assertion—through demands for land, education, dignity, and rights—often provokes violent or institutional responses designed to preserve hierarchy. The article situates these patterns within debates on modernity, democracy, labour, and social justice.
PHILOSOPHY
Socrates and Thiruvalluvar: Two Civilizations, One Ethical Vision
by Pon Chandran
https://countercurrents.org/2026/05/socrates-and-thiruvalluvar-two-civilizations-one-ethical-vision/
An exploration of the ethical parallels between ancient Greek philosopher Socrates and Tamil sage Thiruvalluvar reveals striking similarities in their understanding of virtue, justice, and inner moral order. Drawing from Platonic dialogues and the Thirukkural, the article examines how both traditions reject power-based morality and place ethical responsibility within the individual. While Socrates emphasizes rational inquiry and the harmony of the soul, Thiruvalluvar roots virtue in compassion, domestic life, and social interconnectedness. The comparison highlights two distinct philosophical paths that converge on a shared belief: human flourishing depends on self-mastery, integrity, and ethical living.
MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY
Menstruation Doesn’t Stop at School: Why Indian Workplaces Need Period-Friendly Policies
by Mahashweta Chakrabarty and Aditya Singh
India has expanded access to menstrual products through school programmes and awareness campaigns, but workplace conditions have not kept pace. This article examines how many women across factories, farms, offices, markets, construction sites, and domestic work continue to face unsafe or inadequate conditions during menstruation. It highlights the absence of clean toilets, water, privacy, disposal facilities, rest spaces, and support for menstrual pain in many workplaces. The authors argue that menstrual health must be treated as part of occupational health policy, especially in informal work sectors, and call for period-friendly workplaces that ensure dignity, safety, and basic rights for working women.
TRIBUTE
When Physicians Write the Nation: Rizal and the Ethics of Speaking Beyond the Body
by Ghassan Shahrour
Ghassan Shahrour’s article examines the life and legacy of José Rizal, the Filipino physician and writer who used literature to confront colonial power and social injustice. Moving from Rizal’s work to present-day conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine, the essay reflects on the ethical responsibilities of physicians who witness suffering shaped by war, inequality, and political violence. It argues that medicine cannot be fully separated from the conditions that produce illness and harm. Physicians who speak beyond the clinic are not abandoning medicine, but extending its commitment to human dignity, public truth, and collective care.
TOURISM
Hedonism of Holiday Makers in Ibiza
by Bhabani Shankar Nayak
Ibiza’s global image as an island of pleasure and nightlife masks growing tensions around tourism, inequality, and sustainability. Bhabani Shankar Nayak examines how policies promoting ultra-luxury tourism and restricting visitor numbers risk transforming Ibiza into an exclusive enclave for the wealthy while eroding its cosmopolitan culture and diversity. The article contrasts consumerist “hollow hedonism” with a more humane vision of holidays rooted in leisure, recovery, and shared happiness. It argues that tourism should remain accessible and inclusive rather than becoming a privilege shaped by class-based policies and profit-driven models of sustainable development.
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