Bitte Hammargren
@bitteham.bsky.social
Middle East & Turkey Analyst. Writer & journo. Senior Associate at the Swedish Institute of Int’l Affairs, UI.se. Ex FOI.se Analyst and ex SvD.se Correspondent. Likes and RTs not always endorsements. Mostly in Swedish or English here. bittehammargren.com
Belgium Joins South Africa's ICJ Case Accusing Israel of Genocide in Gaza
Belgium thus joined a growing list of countries – including Brazil, Colombia, Ireland, Mexico, Spain and Turkey – that have intervened in the legal action www.haaretz.com/world-news/e...
Belgium thus joined a growing list of countries – including Brazil, Colombia, Ireland, Mexico, Spain and Turkey – that have intervened in the legal action www.haaretz.com/world-news/e...
Belgium joins South Africa's ICJ case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza
By Filing a Declaration of Intervention in the Ongoing Proceedings, Belgium Joined a Growing List of Countries – Including Brazil, Colombia, Ireland, Mexico, Spain and Turkey – That Have Intervened in...
www.haaretz.com
December 24, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Belgium Joins South Africa's ICJ Case Accusing Israel of Genocide in Gaza
Belgium thus joined a growing list of countries – including Brazil, Colombia, Ireland, Mexico, Spain and Turkey – that have intervened in the legal action www.haaretz.com/world-news/e...
Belgium thus joined a growing list of countries – including Brazil, Colombia, Ireland, Mexico, Spain and Turkey – that have intervened in the legal action www.haaretz.com/world-news/e...
Reposted by Bitte Hammargren
To the surprise of few by this point. www.wsj.com/world/middle...
Israel Won’t Leave Gaza, Will Build Settlements, Defense Minister Says
Israel Katz’s statements are at odds with President Trump’s multiphase peace plan for the enclave.
www.wsj.com
December 23, 2025 at 9:26 PM
To the surprise of few by this point. www.wsj.com/world/middle...
Reposted by Bitte Hammargren
The Palestinian writer and human rights activist Raja Shehadeh has been documenting life under Israeli occupation for decades. On “The Interview,” he said he believes that peace between the Israelis and Palestinians is possible, but much would need to be fundamentally reconsidered. trib.al/R03CH7A
December 20, 2025 at 6:51 PM
The Palestinian writer and human rights activist Raja Shehadeh has been documenting life under Israeli occupation for decades. On “The Interview,” he said he believes that peace between the Israelis and Palestinians is possible, but much would need to be fundamentally reconsidered. trib.al/R03CH7A
Reposted by Bitte Hammargren
Marco Rubio in his press conference today seems to have implied that total disarmament by Hamas is not realistic and likely will not be the model
December 19, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Marco Rubio in his press conference today seems to have implied that total disarmament by Hamas is not realistic and likely will not be the model
Reposted by Bitte Hammargren
President Trump has officially signed into law a full and unconditional repeal of the Caesar Act.
There are no more steps to repeal, Caesar sanctions are gone.
There are no more steps to repeal, Caesar sanctions are gone.
December 18, 2025 at 11:56 PM
President Trump has officially signed into law a full and unconditional repeal of the Caesar Act.
There are no more steps to repeal, Caesar sanctions are gone.
There are no more steps to repeal, Caesar sanctions are gone.
Witkoff will host a meeting with senior officials from Qatar, Turkey and Egypt on how to implement the second phase of the Gaza plan. Israel will not participate, according to sources. www.axios.com/2025/12/18/w...
Scoop: Witkoff to meet Qatari, Egyptian and Turkish officials in Miami on Gaza deal
The White House is deeply frustrated with Netanyahu's slow-walking.
www.axios.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Witkoff will host a meeting with senior officials from Qatar, Turkey and Egypt on how to implement the second phase of the Gaza plan. Israel will not participate, according to sources. www.axios.com/2025/12/18/w...
Reposted by Bitte Hammargren
An infant froze to death in Gaza last night, starved and cold.
December 18, 2025 at 8:21 PM
An infant froze to death in Gaza last night, starved and cold.
Reposted by Bitte Hammargren
The Associated Press has tracked 145 cases of sabotage and disruption that Western officials blame on Russia since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. They say Moscow wants to drain Europe’s investigative resources.
#APPhoto : KPRM
bit.ly/4aoSVEc
#APPhoto : KPRM
bit.ly/4aoSVEc
December 18, 2025 at 8:30 AM
The Associated Press has tracked 145 cases of sabotage and disruption that Western officials blame on Russia since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. They say Moscow wants to drain Europe’s investigative resources.
#APPhoto : KPRM
bit.ly/4aoSVEc
#APPhoto : KPRM
bit.ly/4aoSVEc
Träffade en distriktssköterska på en vårdcentral idag. ”Jag har världens bästa jobb; jag träffar så många olika människor”, sa hon efter många år i yrket. Sen råkade jag hos en frisör med rötter i Jemen som berättade om alla trevliga kunder som kommer till hans salong. They made my day.
December 18, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Träffade en distriktssköterska på en vårdcentral idag. ”Jag har världens bästa jobb; jag träffar så många olika människor”, sa hon efter många år i yrket. Sen råkade jag hos en frisör med rötter i Jemen som berättade om alla trevliga kunder som kommer till hans salong. They made my day.
Major cities across Sudan, including the capital, Khartoum, and coastal city Port Sudan, have been plunged into darkness after drone strikes hit a key power plant in the country’s east.
Drone strike plunges Sudan major cities into darkness as civil war rages https://aje.io/75rckx
December 18, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Major cities across Sudan, including the capital, Khartoum, and coastal city Port Sudan, have been plunged into darkness after drone strikes hit a key power plant in the country’s east.
Reposted by Bitte Hammargren
I Spanien bygger man nu klimatskyddsrum inför nästa sommars extremvärme, efter över 3 800 värmerelaterade dödsfall bara nu i somras. ”Förödande torka och värmeböljor är inte längre sällsynta. Detta är det nya normala", säger premiärminister Pedro Sanchez
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Spain to open climate shelter network ahead of next summer
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez says the shelters will be in public buildings across the country.
www.bbc.com
December 18, 2025 at 10:38 AM
I Spanien bygger man nu klimatskyddsrum inför nästa sommars extremvärme, efter över 3 800 värmerelaterade dödsfall bara nu i somras. ”Förödande torka och värmeböljor är inte längre sällsynta. Detta är det nya normala", säger premiärminister Pedro Sanchez
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Bitte Hammargren
Reporting that Erdogan wants Putin to take back S-400s.
And my question is why would Putin agree to that? The benefits of keeping Turkey and the US at odds is, intrinsically, a win. And was from the moment that Erdogan agreed to purchase them.
And my question is why would Putin agree to that? The benefits of keeping Turkey and the US at odds is, intrinsically, a win. And was from the moment that Erdogan agreed to purchase them.
S-400 füze savunma sistemi, Cumhurbaşkanı Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ile Rusya Devlet Başkanı Vladimir Putin arasındaki görüşmede gündeme geldi. Bloomberg'in iddiasına göre Erdoğan Putin'den S-400'leri geri almasını istedi.
Bloomberg: Erdoğan Putin’den S-400’leri geri almasını istedi
Türkiye-Amerika Birleşik Devletleri (ABD) ilişkilerinde ciddi bir sorun olan Rusya yapımı S-400 füze savunma sistemi, Cumhurbaşkanı Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ile Rusya Devlet Başkanı Vladimir Putin arasındaki görüşmede gündeme geldi. Bloomberg'in iddiasına göre Erdoğan Putin'den S-400'leri geri almasını istedi.
medyascope.tv
December 17, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Reporting that Erdogan wants Putin to take back S-400s.
And my question is why would Putin agree to that? The benefits of keeping Turkey and the US at odds is, intrinsically, a win. And was from the moment that Erdogan agreed to purchase them.
And my question is why would Putin agree to that? The benefits of keeping Turkey and the US at odds is, intrinsically, a win. And was from the moment that Erdogan agreed to purchase them.
I very much liked this piece on Cultural Muslims by Selim Koru. And besides, I guess you may call me a Cultural Christian.
open.substack.com/pub/kulturka...
open.substack.com/pub/kulturka...
On Cultural Muslims
How Muslim identity in the West is becoming more like Judaism
open.substack.com
December 17, 2025 at 10:05 AM
I very much liked this piece on Cultural Muslims by Selim Koru. And besides, I guess you may call me a Cultural Christian.
open.substack.com/pub/kulturka...
open.substack.com/pub/kulturka...
Same procedure as every year. Israel, United States, Micronesia and five more countries voted against the right of self-determination for the Palestinian people at the UN, while 164 countries voted in favor.
December 16, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Same procedure as every year. Israel, United States, Micronesia and five more countries voted against the right of self-determination for the Palestinian people at the UN, while 164 countries voted in favor.
Reposted by Bitte Hammargren
A Lebanese immigrant disarms a mass shooter targeting Jews in Australia.
December 14, 2025 at 2:29 PM
A Lebanese immigrant disarms a mass shooter targeting Jews in Australia.
Reposted by Bitte Hammargren
WHO chief says Israel blocking vital medical equipment from Gaza - https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/who-chief-says-israel-blocking-vital-medical-equipment-gaza
WHO chief says Israel blocking vital medical equipment from Gaza
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<span class="field field-title">WHO chief says Israel blocking vital medical equipment from Gaza</span>
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<div class="content">
<div class="field field-field-text"><p data-end="78" data-start="0">The head of the World Health Organization says Israeli restrictions continue to obstruct the entry of laboratory and diagnostic equipment into Gaza, hampering urgent medical response efforts.</p>
<p data-end="437" data-start="273">Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X that his agency faces “challenges” from Israel when attempting to bring essential medical supplies into the besieged territory.</p>
<p data-end="677" data-start="439">“Many items have been denied entry on the grounds of being classified as dual-use,” he said, stressing that the equipment is “vital” for the “timely detection, response, and treatment of people” suffering from acute respiratory illnesses.</p>
<p data-end="890" data-start="679">Tedros also expressed concern over deaths reported in Gaza over the past day during severe weather, suggesting that many of them could have been avoided if Israel had not restricted the flow of humanitarian aid.</p>
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www.middleeasteye.net
December 13, 2025 at 8:02 PM
WHO chief says Israel blocking vital medical equipment from Gaza - https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/who-chief-says-israel-blocking-vital-medical-equipment-gaza
Torbjörn Nilsson om vår tids vägval för Europa och det Tidöpartierna duckar för.
www.svd.se/a/e71mkO/tor...
www.svd.se/a/e71mkO/tor...
Ojdå, de råkade visst missa det viktigaste | Torbjörn Nilsson
KOMMENTAR. De ställde sig framför Ulf Kristerssons nya kåk och berättade om nästa mandatperiod. Men om vår tids stora ödesfråga – vår tids reformation – sades ingenting.
www.svd.se
December 13, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Torbjörn Nilsson om vår tids vägval för Europa och det Tidöpartierna duckar för.
www.svd.se/a/e71mkO/tor...
www.svd.se/a/e71mkO/tor...
Glad lucia på er alla. Här med ett ljus från Urshult i Småland som lyser som en lykta.
December 13, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Glad lucia på er alla. Här med ett ljus från Urshult i Småland som lyser som en lykta.
Israeli right-wing activists are attempting to promote Jewish settlement in southern Lebanon, Syria and Gaza. The incidents have increased during periods of reduced fighting.
www.ynetnews.com/article/s1kk...
www.ynetnews.com/article/s1kk...
‘Our historical right’: the groups pushing to settle in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria
Several fringe groups have crossed military frontiers in recent months, pushing ideologically driven efforts to establish Jewish settlements, prompting arrests, military warnings and political pressur...
www.ynetnews.com
December 13, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Israeli right-wing activists are attempting to promote Jewish settlement in southern Lebanon, Syria and Gaza. The incidents have increased during periods of reduced fighting.
www.ynetnews.com/article/s1kk...
www.ynetnews.com/article/s1kk...
Älskar Luciafirande. Så idag blev det två konserter, eller vad vi nu ska kalla yngsta barnbarnets fina lussefirande på föris där de sjöng svenska julsånger och José Felicianos Feliz Navidad. Och sen konsert i Hedvig Eleonora där ungdomskören sjöng änglalikt i vackra arrangemang.
December 12, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Älskar Luciafirande. Så idag blev det två konserter, eller vad vi nu ska kalla yngsta barnbarnets fina lussefirande på föris där de sjöng svenska julsånger och José Felicianos Feliz Navidad. Och sen konsert i Hedvig Eleonora där ungdomskören sjöng änglalikt i vackra arrangemang.
Precis som ledarskribenten konstaterar: Så här kan vi inte ha det.
www.hallandsposten.se/asikter/leda...
www.hallandsposten.se/asikter/leda...
För vinstdrivna friskolor är lönsamhet viktigare än likvärdighet
LEDARE: Kan en friskolekoncern inte tjäna pengar på sina elever blir konsekvensen att man stänger skolan – och dumpar ansvaret för skoleleverna på kommunen.
www.hallandsposten.se
December 11, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Precis som ledarskribenten konstaterar: Så här kan vi inte ha det.
www.hallandsposten.se/asikter/leda...
www.hallandsposten.se/asikter/leda...
Reposted by Bitte Hammargren
En högerextrem konspirationsteori har tagit över USA:s utrikespolitik och den liberala demokratin står inför en ödesstund. Regleringen av techbolagen måste bibehållas och de traditionella partierna hålla linjen mot ytterkantshögern, skriver Åsa Wikforss.
Åsa Wikforss: Så gör Putin och techoligarkerna för att roffa åt sig allt de kan
En högerextrem konspirationsteori har tagit över USA:s utrikespolitik och den liberala demokratin står inför en ödesstund.
www.dn.se
December 10, 2025 at 7:05 AM
En högerextrem konspirationsteori har tagit över USA:s utrikespolitik och den liberala demokratin står inför en ödesstund. Regleringen av techbolagen måste bibehållas och de traditionella partierna hålla linjen mot ytterkantshögern, skriver Åsa Wikforss.
For more than two years foreign journalists have been denied entry to Gaza, and are continuously being hindered from carrying out their duty as reporters and photo journalists. www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_ent...
High Court lets government delay response on bid to allow foreign journalists into Gaza, for the 9th time
* * *
www.timesofisrael.com
December 9, 2025 at 10:02 PM
For more than two years foreign journalists have been denied entry to Gaza, and are continuously being hindered from carrying out their duty as reporters and photo journalists. www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_ent...
In sporting a noose pin, closely resembling that of the hostages' ribbon, Itamar Ben-Gvir is as blatant in his disregard for Jewish lives as he is for Palestinian lives, at least when it suits him, writes Haaretz. www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
The perverse twisting of a symbol of hope and freedom into one of darkness and death
In Sporting a Noose Pin, Closely Resembling That of the Hostages' Ribbon, Ben-Gvir Is as Blatant in His Disregard for Jewish Lives as He Is for Palestinian Lives
www.haaretz.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:31 PM
In sporting a noose pin, closely resembling that of the hostages' ribbon, Itamar Ben-Gvir is as blatant in his disregard for Jewish lives as he is for Palestinian lives, at least when it suits him, writes Haaretz. www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
Eftersom butiksdöden gör våra städer så mycket tråkigare skulle jag vilja gå med i rörelsen Våga Vägra Näthandel – om det nu fanns en sådan. Har i vart fall lovat mig själv att jag ska handla alla julklappar över disk i en butik. #VågaVägraNäthandel
December 9, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Eftersom butiksdöden gör våra städer så mycket tråkigare skulle jag vilja gå med i rörelsen Våga Vägra Näthandel – om det nu fanns en sådan. Har i vart fall lovat mig själv att jag ska handla alla julklappar över disk i en butik. #VågaVägraNäthandel