Faux feminism has left the planet

On Monday, April 14, six elite American women blasted off into space from west Texas on a self-piloting rocket ship developed by the space technology company Blue Origin, owned by bazillionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The “crew” of the much-ballyhooed all-female flight – marketed by Blue Origin as a giant leap not only for womankind but for the entire world – included pop star Katy Perry, television personality Gayle King, and Bezos’s fiancee Lauren Sanchez, author of the children’s book The Fly Who Flew to Space and the organiser of the wannabe feminist space excursion.

In preparation for the star-studded spectacle, Elle magazine ran a fawning cover story on the “historic mission”, which the magazine described as “the first time anybody went to space with their hair and makeup done”. By the end of the article, which is basically a continuous succession of aneurysm-inducing lines, one finds oneself with little hope for the world aside from that an asteroid would strike and just put an end to it all.

Perry, for example, is quoted as declaring that “we are going to put the ‘ass’ in astronaut”, while also sharing the scintillating logistics of celebrity space travel: “I was like, What am I going to wear?” Then there’s an exchange between Sanchez, who predicts that “we’re going to have [eye]lash extensions flying in the capsule!”, and King, who wonders if the lashes will “stay on”, prompting the response from Sanchez: “Mine are glued on. They’re good.”

Fellow “crew” member Aisha Bowe, an aerospace engineer and entrepreneur, explains that she “wanted to test out” her hair to make sure it was rocket-ready: “So I skydived in Dubai with similar hair to make sure I would be good.”

None of this is to say, of course, that women can’t care about their eyelashes and hair. But in a world in which a whole lot of women don’t have money to eat – much less skydive in one of the planet’s most expensive places to see how their hair might fare during an 11-minute, multimillion-dollar jaunt in outer space – such chatter does nothing to further female empowerment.

It does everything, however, to reinforce inequality – and makes a mockery of Sanchez’s pre-flight claim that “we’re going to be able to come back and inspire people and bring people together.” Following the completion of Monday’s flight, she was quoted as reflecting on her quick inspection of the Earth from above: “You look at this, and you’re like, ‘We’re all in this together.’”

To be sure, it requires an astronomical hypocrisy to invoke a collective “we” when not all of “us” are engaged to the world’s second-richest human, who as of March had a net worth of $231.2bn. We’re also not really “in this together” when Bezos himself is actively abetting the obliteration of solidarity in the United States, cosying up to President Donald Trump – whose anti-feminist agenda is, mind you, clear as day – as he goes about happily dismantling whatever semblance of rights remain in the country.

The Blue Origin website assures visitors that the company “exists for the benefit of Earth” and boasts a “passion for preserving Earth”, which is “humanity’s forever home”. To that end, Blue Origin allegedly strives “to minimize our carbon footprint and promote sustainable practices in all aspects of our operations” – reusable rockets, reusable engines, and so on – which ultimately amounts to nothing but your typical corporate claptrap that allows the super-rich to keep annihilating the earth and its atmosphere while claiming not to.

And it’s not just Blue Origin that has enabled Bezos’s own carbon footprint to asphyxiate “humanity’s forever home”. He remains the executive chairman and largest shareholder at Amazon, which, as the Washington, DC-based group Food & Water Watch noted last year, has generated hundreds of millions of pounds of plastic packaging – “part of a larger crisis clogging our planet with plastic pollution and setting our climate ablaze”.

The report explains that as plastic breaks down, “it gets into the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe, harming humans and ecosystems around the globe.”

No wonder the rich are looking to escape.

Obviously, Bezos is not singlehandedly responsible for the Earth’s demise. There are plenty of other plutocrats who have done their fair share while preaching sustainability, including Elon Musk – the world’s richest person, founder of the space technology company SpaceX, and aspiring coloniser of Mars.

But Blue Origin’s “historic” publicity stunt has put a faux feminist face on a system predicated on destruction and inequality – one in which Americans must continue to die of poverty on a huge scale so that the elite minority can ride around in self-piloting rockets. Why spend billions of dollars to alleviate terrestrial suffering when you can shoot for the stars instead?

In the end, the stunt did not receive quite the rave reviews that were expected from the press and social media commentariat. It was so bad, in fact, that even The New York Times felt compelled to use the word “capitalism” in its assessment that “Blue Origin’s all-female flight proves that women are now free to enjoy capitalism’s most extravagant spoils alongside rich men.”

Indeed, this is capitalism on rocket fuel – taking acute socioeconomic injustice and blasting it into outer space.

Perry, who dramatically kissed the ground after descending from the rocket ship, professed to now “feel super connected to love” and pronounced the trip “all for the benefit of Earth”.

The vast majority of the earth’s inhabitants would no doubt be forgiven for failing to detect any sort of “benefit” – like, say, the Palestinian women and children currently being bombed to smithereens in the US-backed genocide in the Gaza Strip.

In the meantime, we can only hope everyone’s eyelash extensions stayed on.

Faux feminism has left the planet

On Monday, April 14, six elite American women blasted off into space from west Texas on a self-piloting rocket ship developed by the space technology company Blue Origin, owned by bazillionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The “crew” of the much-ballyhooed all-female flight – marketed by Blue Origin as a giant leap not only for womankind but for the entire world – included pop star Katy Perry, television personality Gayle King, and Bezos’s fiancee Lauren Sanchez, author of the children’s book The Fly Who Flew to Space and the organiser of the wannabe feminist space excursion.

In preparation for the star-studded spectacle, Elle magazine ran a fawning cover story on the “historic mission”, which the magazine described as “the first time anybody went to space with their hair and makeup done”. By the end of the article, which is basically a continuous succession of aneurysm-inducing lines, one finds oneself with little hope for the world aside from that an asteroid would strike and just put an end to it all.

Perry, for example, is quoted as declaring that “we are going to put the ‘ass’ in astronaut”, while also sharing the scintillating logistics of celebrity space travel: “I was like, What am I going to wear?” Then there’s an exchange between Sanchez, who predicts that “we’re going to have [eye]lash extensions flying in the capsule!”, and King, who wonders if the lashes will “stay on”, prompting the response from Sanchez: “Mine are glued on. They’re good.”

Fellow “crew” member Aisha Bowe, an aerospace engineer and entrepreneur, explains that she “wanted to test out” her hair to make sure it was rocket-ready: “So I skydived in Dubai with similar hair to make sure I would be good.”

None of this is to say, of course, that women can’t care about their eyelashes and hair. But in a world in which a whole lot of women don’t have money to eat – much less skydive in one of the planet’s most expensive places to see how their hair might fare during an 11-minute, multimillion-dollar jaunt in outer space – such chatter does nothing to further female empowerment.

It does everything, however, to reinforce inequality – and makes a mockery of Sanchez’s pre-flight claim that “we’re going to be able to come back and inspire people and bring people together.” Following the completion of Monday’s flight, she was quoted as reflecting on her quick inspection of the Earth from above: “You look at this, and you’re like, ‘We’re all in this together.’”

To be sure, it requires an astronomical hypocrisy to invoke a collective “we” when not all of “us” are engaged to the world’s second-richest human, who as of March had a net worth of $231.2bn. We’re also not really “in this together” when Bezos himself is actively abetting the obliteration of solidarity in the United States, cosying up to President Donald Trump – whose anti-feminist agenda is, mind you, clear as day – as he goes about happily dismantling whatever semblance of rights remain in the country.

The Blue Origin website assures visitors that the company “exists for the benefit of Earth” and boasts a “passion for preserving Earth”, which is “humanity’s forever home”. To that end, Blue Origin allegedly strives “to minimize our carbon footprint and promote sustainable practices in all aspects of our operations” – reusable rockets, reusable engines, and so on – which ultimately amounts to nothing but your typical corporate claptrap that allows the super-rich to keep annihilating the earth and its atmosphere while claiming not to.

And it’s not just Blue Origin that has enabled Bezos’s own carbon footprint to asphyxiate “humanity’s forever home”. He remains the executive chairman and largest shareholder at Amazon, which, as the Washington, DC-based group Food & Water Watch noted last year, has generated hundreds of millions of pounds of plastic packaging – “part of a larger crisis clogging our planet with plastic pollution and setting our climate ablaze”.

The report explains that as plastic breaks down, “it gets into the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe, harming humans and ecosystems around the globe.”

No wonder the rich are looking to escape.

Obviously, Bezos is not singlehandedly responsible for the Earth’s demise. There are plenty of other plutocrats who have done their fair share while preaching sustainability, including Elon Musk – the world’s richest person, founder of the space technology company SpaceX, and aspiring coloniser of Mars.

But Blue Origin’s “historic” publicity stunt has put a faux feminist face on a system predicated on destruction and inequality – one in which Americans must continue to die of poverty on a huge scale so that the elite minority can ride around in self-piloting rockets. Why spend billions of dollars to alleviate terrestrial suffering when you can shoot for the stars instead?

In the end, the stunt did not receive quite the rave reviews that were expected from the press and social media commentariat. It was so bad, in fact, that even The New York Times felt compelled to use the word “capitalism” in its assessment that “Blue Origin’s all-female flight proves that women are now free to enjoy capitalism’s most extravagant spoils alongside rich men.”

Indeed, this is capitalism on rocket fuel – taking acute socioeconomic injustice and blasting it into outer space.

Perry, who dramatically kissed the ground after descending from the rocket ship, professed to now “feel super connected to love” and pronounced the trip “all for the benefit of Earth”.

The vast majority of the earth’s inhabitants would no doubt be forgiven for failing to detect any sort of “benefit” – like, say, the Palestinian women and children currently being bombed to smithereens in the US-backed genocide in the Gaza Strip.

In the meantime, we can only hope everyone’s eyelash extensions stayed on.

Hamas accuses Israel of weaponising aid as Gaza’s hunger crisis worsens

Hamas has accused Israel of openly using starvation as a weapon of war, a day after Israel’s defence minister pledged to maintain a blockade on aid entering Gaza.

Aid deliveries into the Palestinian territory have been halted since March 2, weeks before Israel broke a temporary ceasefire by restarting aerial bombardment on March 18 and later relaunched its ground assault.

Speaking on Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the blockade as a “main pressure lever” against Hamas, saying there were no plans to ease restrictions – despite UN warnings that malnutrition is rapidly worsening in Gaza.

In response, Hamas condemned Katz’s remarks as “a public admission of committing a war crime”.

Israel is “depriving innocent civilians of basic necessities of life, including food, medicine, water and fuel, for the seventh consecutive week”, the group said in a statement posted to Telegram on Thursday.

“We renew our calls for the international community to take action to stop the starvation and blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip,” it added.

In March 2024, the United Nations’ International Court of Justice ruled Israel must ensure the delivery of essential aid – including food, water, fuel and medical supplies – into Gaza. Israel has repeatedly defied the binding order, claiming that Hamas misuses aid.

‘Food consumption sharply deteriorating’

According to Israel’s Kan broadcaster, Israeli defence figures estimate Gaza’s remaining food supplies could be depleted within a month.

The Israeli army is brainstorming ways to deliver aid “without it reaching Hamas”, including proposals for “stationary aid centres” managed by international organisations in zones secured by Israeli forces, Kan reported.

Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh, reporting from Amman, said sources in UN agencies have told her that Israel wants to pre-approve who receives aid – essentially vetting beneficiaries in advance.

“Already we have heard from the United Nations that this is something that cannot be acceptable,” she said.

The reports come as the UN escalates warnings about deepening hunger in Gaza.

The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that 3,696 children were newly admitted with acute malnutrition in March – an 80 percent increase from February.

“Food consumption in Gaza has sharply deteriorated due to the blockade on the entry of humanitarian aid and other critical supplies now in its seventh week,” OCHA said.

Odeh added: “This is the official Israeli policy: No food, no water, no aid for Gaza, while Israel takes more and more of the territory’s land.”

Palestinians gather to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, April 8 [Hatem Khaled/Reuters]

Hamas accuses Israel of weaponising aid as Gaza’s hunger crisis worsens

Hamas has accused Israel of openly using starvation as a weapon of war, a day after Israel’s defence minister pledged to maintain a blockade on aid entering Gaza.

Aid deliveries into the Palestinian territory have been halted since March 2, weeks before Israel broke a temporary ceasefire by restarting aerial bombardment on March 18 and later relaunched its ground assault.

Speaking on Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the blockade as a “main pressure lever” against Hamas, saying there were no plans to ease restrictions – despite UN warnings that malnutrition is rapidly worsening in Gaza.

In response, Hamas condemned Katz’s remarks as “a public admission of committing a war crime”.

Israel is “depriving innocent civilians of basic necessities of life, including food, medicine, water and fuel, for the seventh consecutive week”, the group said in a statement posted to Telegram on Thursday.

“We renew our calls for the international community to take action to stop the starvation and blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip”, it added.

In March 2024, the United Nations ‘ International Court of Justice ruled Israel must ensure the delivery of essential aid – including food, water, fuel and medical supplies – into Gaza. Israel has repeatedly defied the binding order, claiming that Hamas misuses aid.

‘ Food consumption sharply deteriorating ‘

According to Israel’s Kan broadcaster, Israeli defence figures estimate Gaza’s remaining food supplies could be depleted within a month.

The Israeli army is brainstorming ways to deliver aid “without it reaching Hamas”, including proposals for “stationary aid centres” managed by international organisations in zones secured by Israeli forces, Kan reported.

Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh, reporting from Amman, said sources in UN agencies have told her that Israel wants to pre-approve who receives aid – essentially vetting beneficiaries in advance.

“Already we have heard from the United Nations that this is something that cannot be acceptable”, she said.

The reports come as the UN escalates warnings about deepening hunger in Gaza.

The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that 3, 696 children were newly admitted with acute malnutrition in March – an 80 percent increase from February.

“Food consumption in Gaza has sharply deteriorated due to the blockade on the entry of humanitarian aid and other critical supplies now in its seventh week”, OCHA said.

Odeh added: “This is the official Israeli policy: No food, no water, no aid for Gaza, while Israel takes more and more of the territory’s land”.

Palestinians gather to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, April 8]Hatem Khaled/Reuters]

Hamas accuses Israel of weaponising aid as Gaza’s hunger crisis worsens

Hamas has accused Israel of openly using starvation as a weapon of war, a day after Israel’s defence minister pledged to maintain a blockade on aid entering Gaza.

Aid deliveries into the Palestinian territory have been halted since March 2, weeks before Israel broke a temporary ceasefire by restarting aerial bombardment on March 18 and later relaunched its ground assault.

Speaking on Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the blockade as a “main pressure lever” against Hamas, saying there were no plans to ease restrictions – despite UN warnings that malnutrition is rapidly worsening in Gaza.

In response, Hamas condemned Katz’s remarks as “a public admission of committing a war crime”.

Israel is “depriving innocent civilians of basic necessities of life, including food, medicine, water and fuel, for the seventh consecutive week”, the group said in a statement posted to Telegram on Thursday.

“We renew our calls for the international community to take action to stop the starvation and blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip”, it added.

In March 2024, the United Nations ‘ International Court of Justice ruled Israel must ensure the delivery of essential aid – including food, water, fuel and medical supplies – into Gaza. Israel has repeatedly defied the binding order, claiming that Hamas misuses aid.

‘ Food consumption sharply deteriorating ‘

According to Israel’s Kan broadcaster, Israeli defence figures estimate Gaza’s remaining food supplies could be depleted within a month.

The Israeli army is brainstorming ways to deliver aid “without it reaching Hamas”, including proposals for “stationary aid centres” managed by international organisations in zones secured by Israeli forces, Kan reported.

Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh, reporting from Amman, said sources in UN agencies have told her that Israel wants to pre-approve who receives aid – essentially vetting beneficiaries in advance.

“Already we have heard from the United Nations that this is something that cannot be acceptable”, she said.

The reports come as the UN escalates warnings about deepening hunger in Gaza.

The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that 3, 696 children were newly admitted with acute malnutrition in March – an 80 percent increase from February.

“Food consumption in Gaza has sharply deteriorated due to the blockade on the entry of humanitarian aid and other critical supplies now in its seventh week”, OCHA said.

Odeh added: “This is the official Israeli policy: No food, no water, no aid for Gaza, while Israel takes more and more of the territory’s land”.

Palestinians gather to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, April 8]Hatem Khaled/Reuters]

Israeli strike on media tent extends journalist death toll in Gaza

At least two people have died in an Israeli airstrike on a Gaza media tent.

According to local media, several other reporters were also seriously hurt by the bombing that occurred early on Monday near Khan Younis’ Nasser Hospital. Israel has been accused of deliberately targeting the press during its occupation of the enclave, and this is just the most recent incident to result in journalist casualties.

According to Palestine’s Wafa news agency, the tent was set on fire outside the hospital in southern Gaza at around 2 a.m., killing journalist Helmi al-Faqawi and a man by the name of Yousef al-Khazindar.

The tent was caught on fire in footage that the Quds News Network posted online. Some members of the crowd outside made an effort to put the flames out.

Nine people, six of them journalists, were injured in the attack, according to reports, “some seriously.”

Hassan Eslaih and Ihab al-Bardini, both of whom had been hospitalized, were captured on camera by the Quds News Network, who claimed they were “struck by shrapnel in the head, which exited through his eye.”

After suffering “severe burns,” journalist Ahmad Mansour reportedly fought for his life.

At least 13 people were killed in the Israeli attacks on Gaza on Monday morning, according to medical sources cited by Al Jazeera Arabic.

According to the network, three people were killed in the attacks on Gaza City’s Zeitoun district and two at the Jabalia refugee camp.

According to Wafa, two people were killed west of Deir el-Balah and one more in the al-Jurun neighborhood north of Gaza City.

Deadliest journalistic war

The media tent was attacked the day after journalist Islam Meqdad was killed along with her husband and child, increasing the number of casualties reported by media representatives in Gaza.

According to its Costs of War project, the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs claims that Israel’s occupation of Gaza has become the deadliest media worker-ever conflict.

Since the start of the war in the enclave following Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, according to a report from the US-based think tank last week, 232 journalists and media workers have been killed by Israeli forces.

Every week, 13 journalists and media personnel are killed by the bombardment on average.

In an Israeli army attack in Khan Younis on April 6, 2025, journalist Islam Meqdad was killed along with her son and five other family members.

According to the report, more journalists have been killed in the conflict than in the US war against Afghanistan, the Vietnam War, the Yugoslavian War, and all other conflicts combined.

The think tank continued, “how many journalists in Gaza were simply the victims of Israel’s bombardment,” adding that it was unclear how many were actually targeted.

However, it cited Reporters Without Borders (RSF)’s (RSF) documentation of 35 cases that the military was likely to target and kill journalists because of their work.