Abu Zarafah and Red Cross Predictions

We may be on the verge of being drawn into a global war, following Trump’s recent threats. It may be worthwhile to recall the warnings of some, such as the brother “Abu Zarafa,” who has apparently continued to spread panic among people through his “disgusting” interviews, predicting that a world war was imminent. He first dated it to October 2024, then adjusted it to 2026, and finally shifted it to 2027. I am not naive, nor do I believe that war will never come, but I find it absurd for someone to predict a third world war without taking any necessary precautions. Abu Zarafa has made a habit of repeatedly forecasting its occurrence, only to return home and sleep peacefully after having instilled enough terror in the minds of his gullible listeners and those with weak hearts. Logically, no sane person would stay within the walls of their home after announcing to their neighbors that the house is about to explode! Either he is a liar who knows it, or he is deluded.

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If a third world war were to break out—and I completely rule out that possibility—one entity would have extraordinary importance: the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the most respected, conservative, and secretive organization in its field. It is an independent and neutral body that applies the Geneva Conventions. Within the framework of its role, its president has the right to travel freely to all conflict zones and meet with all parties. Mirjana Spoljaric currently heads the committee. Like her predecessors, she avoids interviews and public statements due to the organization’s neutral nature. However, as an exception, she spoke with a representative of The New York Times, following the recent escalation in ongoing violations of the laws of war and the rising probability of a global conflict. The world has become more dangerous and unstable; international conflicts now number 130, double the figure from 15 years ago and the highest recorded since World War II.

Mirjana states: “One of the main causes of wars is the desire of some to remain in power, making violence the only way to remove them from office. If you ask me about the likelihood of a third world war, I must honestly say I do not know. Even the International Committee of the Red Cross did not realize it was living through World War II while it was happening.”

“I have visited Gaza more than once during military operations. My organization contributed to facilitating the release of hostages and the return of Palestinian detainees. I have visited Ukraine and Myanmar, and most recently Iran and Iraq. I never go to any conflict zone without people telling me their desire for the fighting to stop. I see children without mothers or fathers, amputees. The world seems meaningless when witnessing such things. And when we go to those in power, they tell us there is nothing they can do. At that point, I am unable to understand or reconcile what I see with what I hear.”

“Millions of Palestinians in Gaza are now forced to live in an area covering no more than 30 percent of the Strip’s territory, and more than 80 percent of buildings there have been destroyed or damaged. The situation in Gaza is hell on earth, and I have spoken to people stripped of their human dignity. Were the laws of war respected here? What I said about Gaza remains true and realistic to this day. What has happened there, and what has occurred to Palestinians and Israelis inside it, exceeds all legal, ethical, and humanitarian standards. Many parties are complicit in what has happened and is still happening. The worst aspect now is depriving people of their human dignity. A perception has emerged that providing adequate food is pathological; for some, it is enough to survive among the ruins, while others see it differently. This is the application of double standards, and this will backfire on us. We cannot assume that certain conditions are sufficient for one group while not applying to others.”

This can be observed in how we measure humanitarian needs in Europe compared to South Sudan or Somalia; we continue, driven by instinct, to apply double standards.” — Ahmad Al-Sarraf