Qatar Sentences Eight Retired Indian Navy Officers To Death On Charges Of Spying For Israel
New Age Islam News Bureau
27 October 2023
Eight former
Indian Navy officers who were arrested in Doha last August have been sentenced
to death by a court in Qatar. File photo/Reuters
------
Arab World
·
Riyadh to
host 2024 Music Cities Awards
·
Saudi
Arabia welcomes resumption of talks between warring Sudanese parties in Jeddah
·
Islamic
World District Project, An Urban Attraction in Madinah
·
KSrelief,
UNHCR discuss global aid efforts
·
Saudi FM
receives phone call from Ukrainian counterpart
-------
India
·
Muslim
League Holds Massive Pro-Palestine Rally Of Tens Of Thousands Of People In
Kerala, Calls Israel A Terror State
·
'Not A
Matter To Score Brownie Points': Opposition Leaders On Qatar Death Verdict To 8
Indians
·
Shashi
Tharoor refers Hamas as terrorists at IUML pro-Palestine rally
--------
Europe
·
EU Leaders
Support "Humanitarian Pauses" And Israel-Palestine Peace Initiatives
·
Greenwich
Islamic Centre: Mosque Leader Accused Of Hateful Sermon Over Israel-Hamas
Conflict
·
Sweden
Will Not Expel Man Behind Recent Quran Burning Demos Despite Deportation Order
·
200
British citizens say they are trapped in Gaza
·
Russian
war kills 509 Ukrainian children, most casualties reported in Donetsk Oblast
·
21
Ukrainian citizens killed in Israel, foreign ministry says
·
Hamas
official says cease-fire needed before hostages can be freed — Russian
newspaper
·
EU urges
‘corridors and pauses’ as UN warns ‘nowhere’ safe in Gaza
--------
Mideast
·
US Will
‘Not Be Spared’ If Israel-Hamas War Escalates – Iran
·
Hamas:
Continuation Of War On Gaza Will Send Entire Region Out Of Control
·
Gaza
Releases Names Of Almost 7,000 Palestinians Killed After Biden's ‘Shameless’
Remarks
·
Israeli
poll finds 49% support for holding off on Gaza invasion
·
Israeli
airstrike targets mosque in Gaza Strip, many feared dead
·
Eight More
Aid Trucks Expected To Cross Into Gaza On Friday -UN Official
·
Israel
Ground Forces And Jets Raided Central Gaza: Army
·
Save the
Children halts north Yemen operations after staffer death
·
Gaza's
doctors refuse to abandon patients as Israel bombs hospitals
·
Iran court
rules US must pay $420mn in damages over 1980 Tabas terror attack
·
Israeli
forces come under two missile attacks in Eritrea, senior officer killed
-------
North America
·
US
Presidential Candidate, Florida Governor Ron Desantis, Says He Sent Weapons To
Israel
·
Bulgaria
arrests man who called in video for ‘Jihad’ against Israelis and Americans
·
US forces,
allies attacked 16 times in Iraq and Syria this month: Pentagon
·
US
Republicans propose splitting Israel and Ukraine aid
·
US strikes
two sites used by Iranian forces in Syria: Pentagon
-------
Southeast Asia
·
Malaysia’s
Royalty Elects Sultan IbrahimIskandar As New King
·
Israeli
Army Kills Families Of 2 Indonesian Hospital Doctors In Gaza Air Raid
·
Anwar
receives courtesy call from JusufKalla, discusses Palestinian issue
·
Cops bust
armed gang terrifying Kinta Valley residents with multiple crimes
·
Criminal
activities by foreigners in eastern Sabah: 17 boats, five individuals detained
in ops
-------
Pakistan
·
Pakistan
Tehreek-i-Insaf Team Meets ‘Sworn Rival’ Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl Chief As Ice
Melts
·
IHC Turns
Down Imran Khan's Bail, Cancellation Of FIR Pleas In Cipher Case
·
Special
flight takes 132 stranded Afghans to UK
·
Pakistan
reaffirms support for Kashmiris’ right to self-determination
·
Abettors
of ‘illegal immigrants’ will be punished, warns Sindh home minister
·
Parvez
Elahi discharged in one case, remanded in another
·
Repatriation
of Afghans residing illegally in Pakistan continues
·
PM, US
Ambassador discuss prevailing situation in Gaza
·
COAS lauds
role of armed forces in fighting terrorism
--------
South Asia
·
Serving
the People is a Fundamental Obligation of the Islamic Emirate: Hanafi
·
Afghan
Migrants in Pakistan Say Situation Getting Worse
·
2 killed,
9 injured in Kabul blast: official
·
Pakistan
to close Spin Boldak border with Afghanistan, sparking concerns
·
Over 5,000
Afghan migrants return home from Pakistan and Iran
·
Pakistan
won’t extend deadline for expelling illegal immigrants: Interior Minister
·
Bangladesh
to send more workers to Libya
·
IMO
Introduces Umrah Guide Feature For Muslims Worldwide
-------
Africa
·
Kenyan MP Farah
Maalim, Censured For Wearing Traditional Palestine Scarf As A Symbol Of
Solidarity
·
Teenage
Nigerian Student Confesses To Abducting, Killing Five-Year-Old Boy After
Collecting
·
Court
quashes proscription of IPOB as terrorist group
·
Red Sea: Ethiopia
"Will Not Assert Its Interests Through War", Assures Abiy Ahmed
·
Niger: HRW
and Amnesty call for "arbitrary" release of detainees
Compiled by
New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/qatar-indian-navy-spy-israel/d/130989
------
Qatar Sentences Eight Retired Indian
Navy Officers To Death On Charges Of Spying For Israel
Eight former
Indian Navy officers who were arrested in Doha last August have been sentenced
to death by a court in Qatar. File photo/Reuters
------
Andrew England in London
27 October 2023
The Indian government “expressed deep
shock” at the verdict, adding that “all legal options are being explored”.
Qatar has made no public statements
about the convictions, which come as its government plays a crucial role in
brokering negotiations between Israel and Hamas to secure the release of
civilian hostages captured by the Palestinian militant group during its October
7 assault on the Jewish state.
A person briefed on the case confirmed
to the Financial Times that the eight Indians had been charged with spying for
Israel. They will be able to appeal against their sentences.
Qatar rarely carries out the death
penalty. The last execution in the Gulf state was in 2020 and before that in
2003, said the person briefed on the case.
The Indian government statement said the
Indians had been detained in Qatar in August last year.
Israel did not immediately respond to a
request for comment.
Four hostages have been released, and
officials in Doha, the Qatari capital, which hosts Hamas’s political office,
are working on securing a deal to free the remaining civilian hostages. But
Hamas, which controls Gaza, wants Israel to agree a pause in bombing to allow
fuel and other aid into the besieged strip, according to a person briefed on
the negotiations.
Hamas’s attack, in which more than 1,400
people were killed, according to Israeli officials, triggered a war between
Israel and the Islamist group. Israel has responded by launching an offensive
against Hamas which has killed more than 7,000 people in Gaza, according to
Palestinian health officials.
The convictions risk sparking a
diplomatic dispute between New Delhi and Doha, which have a strong trade
relationship.
India’s external affairs ministry said
it attached “high importance to this case and has been following it closely”.
“The ministry will continue to extend
all consular and legal assistance and will also take up the verdict with Qatari
authorities,” it said in a statement.
A Qatari trade official was quoted in
the local press as saying in July that India was the gas-rich Gulf state’s
second-largest trade partner. The official added that trade volume between the
two countries had increased by about a third in 2021 and 2022 to reach $17.2bn.
Qatar is home to hundreds of thousands
of Indian workers, who account for a large part of the migrant labour force.
Doha has also been keen to boost tourism
with India, including by playing host to Indian weddings.
Source: ft.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.ft.com/content/c1649e9e-ec0f-4a1b-b4c2-acddf5c0b0bc
-----
Muslim Leaders Want PM Modi To Lay
Foundation Of Ayodhya Mosque After The Consecration Ceremony Of Ram Temple
FILE - An
illustration of the upcoming Ram Temple in Ayodhya, used for representational
purposes only. (Photo | PTI)
-----
Oct 27, 2023
AYODHYA: A section of the Muslim community
has made an appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lay the foundation stone
of the mosque in Dhannipur village of Sohawal tehsil, about 25 km away from
here, when he visits the holy town on January 22 for the consecration ceremony
of Ram Temple.
"Modi is India's PM. He is for
Hindus and Muslims both. If he is coming to inaugurate the 'Ibadatgaah' (place
of worship) of Hindu brothers, then he should also lay the foundation for the
masjid," said Mufti Hisbullah Badshah Khan, president, Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind,
Ayodhya.
Athar Husain, secretary of Indo-Islamic
Cultural Foundation, the Ayodhya Masjid Trust, said, "We wanted to build a
free cancer hospital, a mosque, a community kitchen and a research centre
dedicated to Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah Faizabadi, the hero of 1857 freedom
struggle. The PM's presence can serve our goal. We will welcome him."
Iqbal Ansari, former litigant in the
Ayodhya case, said, "Modi is not the PM of any particular community. He is
doing everything for the temple, he should do it for the masjid too."
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/muslim-leaders-want-pm-modi-to-lay-foundation-of-ayodhya-mosque/articleshow/104738049.cms
---------
UK: Labour, Tories Losing Muslim Vote
Because Of Support For Genocide In Gaza
Thousands of
protesters gather in central London to demonstrate solidarity with the
Palestinian people and demand an immediate ceasefire in London, United Kingdom
on October 21, 2023. [Wiktor Szymanowicz – Anadolu Agency]
------
October 26, 2023
Muslim voter support for the leading
parties in the UK has seen a significant drop as a result of Israel’s genocidal
bombing campaign in Gaza.
In a poll carried out ten days after
Israel launched its attack, Muslim Census and MEND found that 98 per cent of
respondents have a negative view of both the Conservative and Labour parties
following their response to events in Israel and Palestine.
With almost the same number – 96 per
cent – saying the situation had changed their voting intention.
Labour’s response has led to a dramatic
drop of 66 per cent in the Muslim Labour vote. If this were to be extrapolated
for the entire audience using ONS Census 2021 data, Labour would risk losing
votes from 1.5 million Muslims, the Muslim Census revealed.
The Conservative vote also dropped eight
per cent, it added.
It found that the majority of the almost
29,000 respondents would not vote if an election was held tomorrow, while 21
per cent would opt for independent candidates and only 4.9 per cent and 0.6 per
cent would choose Labour and the Conservatives respectively.
“This survey should be a seismic wake up
call for the Labour leadership, it cannot take the Muslim vote for granted
anymore. If the party wants to retain this vote, on issues like the Genocide in
Gaza it will have to ensure its positions are in line with international law
and justice,” MEND CEO, Azhar Qayum, said.
Source: middleeastmonitor.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231026-uk-labour-tories-losing-muslim-vote-because-of-support-for-genocide-in-gaza/
---------
Hezbollah Says To Stand With Gaza Even
‘If World Armies Line Up Against It’
A
Palestinian man walks on building rubble following Israeli strikes on the Rafah
refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip on October 25, 2023. (Photo by AFP)
------
26 October 2023
Lebanon’s resistance movement Hezbollah
will not relent in supporting the Gaza Strip even if armies from around the
world line up against the besieged Palestinian territory, says a senior
official.
Sheikh Nabil Qaouk, deputy head of the
executive council of Hezbollah, said Thursday Hezbollah’s latest operations
near the border have proven that Gaza is not alone.
Resistance fighters in Yemen, Iraq,
Syria, and Lebanon, he said, will continue backing the blockaded Palestinian
territory “with their weapons and blood.”
Hezbollah fighters have hit an Israeli
Merkava tank near the border area in southern Lebanon, according to a statement
posted on the resistance movement
He said despite the enemy’s maritime
military buildup, Hezbollah has not abandoned its duty to support Gaza. If all
the fleets of the world’s armies gather, he added, Hezbollah will neither stop
supporting Gaza, nor will it stop protecting the Lebanese nation.
On Wednesday, Hezbollah targeted the
Branit barracks and another Israeli post facing the town of Naqoura in southern
Lebanon. Resistance fighters also successfully targeted an Israeli battle tank
in the area of Avivim, killing and wounding a number of soldiers onboard the
armored fighting vehicle.
Israel has been bombarding Gaza since
October 7, following the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas’ surprise
Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying regime.
Israeli drones and artillery units have
struck southern Lebanon after Hezbollah resistance fighters targeted an Israeli
tank with a guided missile on the border.
The Lebanese resistance movement has
praised the Hamas operation, saying armed resistance is the only way to
confront Israel.
Hezbollah has already warned it will
join Hamas and its allies in the fight against Israel if the regime escalates
its aggression on Gaza and in case foreign military forces intervene to help
the regime.
Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary General
Sheikh Naim Qassem also stated on October 24 that the Lebanese movement is at
the core of the regional resistance campaign to defend the Gaza Strip against
the occupiers.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/26/713463/Hezbollah-Qaouk-Gaza
---------
CAIR: Americans Send Almost 225,000
Messages to Congress Urging Ceasefire in Gaza Amidst Israel’s War Crimes
Photo: CAIR
-----
Ismail Allison
October 26, 2023
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/25/23) – The
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil
rights and advocacy organization, announced today that participants in its
congressional action alert have collectively sent almost 225,000 messages to
Congress, urging support for a ceasefire in response to war crimes, including
genocide, in Gaza by Israel.
CAIR is also disclosing which
congressional offices have received targeted messages from its click-and-send
action alert and which members of Congress have gone on to co-sponsor and
support the adoption of H.Res. 786 – Ceasefire Now Resolution in the U.S. House
of Representatives.
SEE: Action Alert: Urge Your Members of
Congress to Address Root Cause of Mideast Violence, Support the Ceasefire Now
Resolution!
Read: CAIR Ceasefire Now Action Alert
Data: Has Your Member of Congress Received a Message?
Share: CAIR-Los Angeles Facebook Video:
Ceasefire Now. Save the Children of Gaza
In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs
Director Robert McCaw said:
“As concerned members of the Muslim
community, it is our moral duty to engage in meaningful dialogue with our
representatives in Congress. We must urgently address the ongoing humanitarian
crisis in Gaza and advocate for an immediate ceasefire. Without our voices,
Congress may only hear from those who support unchecked military actions and
seek to rationalize civilian casualties among the Palestinian population. By
speaking up and actively engaging with our elected officials, we can work
towards a just and peaceful resolution.”
The top 10 Senators who have received
CAIR’s action alert messages include: Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) with 12,824
messages; Laphonza Butler (D-CA) with 11,048 messages; Ted Cruz (R-TX) with
7,431 messages; John Cornyn III (R-TX) with 6,794 messages; Dick Durbin (D-IL)
with 6,564 messages; Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) with 6,564 messages; Kirsten Gillibrand
(D-NY) with 4,758 messages; Chuck Schumer (D-NY) with 4,746 messages; Debbie
Stabenow (D-MI) with 3,801 messages; and Gary Peters (D-MI) with 3,801
messages.
The top 10 members of Congress in the
House who have received CAIR’s messages include: Representatives Sean Casten
(D-IL), with 2,061 messages; Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), with 1,162; Rashida Tlaib
(D-MI) with 1,099 messages; Keith Self (R-TX) with 997 messages; Gerry Connolly
(D-VA) with 980 messages; Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) with 978 messages; Debbie
Dingell (D-MI) with 918 messages; Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX) with 870 messages;
Young Kim (R-CA) with 791 messages; and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) 789.
At the onset of the outbreak of
violence, CAIR initially set a target of 1,000 messages to Congress. However,
the response has far exceeded expectations, with some 75,000 individuals
answering the call to action. As a result, more than 225,000 emails have been
dispatched to members of the U.S. House and Senate by our supporters. CAIR is
now expanding its challenge to all those concerned about Palestinian lives and
well-being to join us in taking action 100,000 times, to collectively send at
least 300,000 messages to Congress.
About the Congressional Ceasefire Now
Resolution:
The primary goal of the Ceasefire Now
Resolution, sponsored by a diverse group of dedicated members of Congress,
calls on the Biden Administration to urgently seek a de-escalation and
ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine. It also emphasizes the vital need
for sending humanitarian aid to Gaza, with a primary goal of saving innocent
lives caught in the crossfire of the ongoing conflict. CAIR-LA Executive
Director HussamAyloush also participated in the joint-congressional press
conference announcing the introduction of the resolution.
Endorsed by CAIR and nearly 50 other
organizations, the Ceasefire Now Resolution offers an alternative to a looming
bipartisan resolution endorsed by 390 other members of Congress, led by House
Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul and Ranking Member Gregory W.
Meeks. That resolution essentially provides an open-ended endorsement for
Israel’s ongoing bombing campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in the loss of
thousands of Palestinian civilian lives.
BACKGROUNDER:
Yesterday, CAIR called Israeli attacks
on Gaza “genocide” after the death toll of Palestinians topped 5,000, including
more than 2,000 children.
CAIR also said U.S. officials will be
complicit in the ethnic cleansing of Gaza unless they intervene after the
Israeli government announced that any Palestinian civilians who refuse to leave
their homes in north Gaza could be identified as accomplices with a terrorist
organization, and presumably targeted for killing by Israeli forces.
CAIR condemned a recent deadly Israeli
airstrike targeting the Greek Orthodox Church campus in Gaza that killed 17
people.
Israel’s far-right defense minister has
said that Israel is fighting “human animals” and that the entire Gaza
population would be treated accordingly through a “complete siege” on the Gaza
Strip that blocks all supplies of electricity, food and fuel. UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres he is “deeply distressed” by that
blockade.
According to the Geneva Convention,
states must allow the free passage of medical supplies, food, and other relief
supplies for the benefit of a civilian population.
The Rome Statute of the International
Criminal Court states that it a war crime to: “Intentionally using starvation
of civilians as a method of warfare by depriving them of objects indispensable
to their survival, includin[sic] impeding relief supplies as provided for under
the Geneva Conventions.”
Collective punishment is also prohibited
by Article 33 of the Geneva Conventions, which states: “No protected person may
be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. Collective
penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are
prohibited.”
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil
rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American
Muslims.
La misión de CAIR esproteger las
libertadesciviles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y
empoderar a losmusulmanesenlosEstadosUnidos.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-americans-send-almost-225000-messages-to-congress-urging-ceasefire-in-gaza-amidst-israels-war-crimes/
---------
Arab World
Riyadh to host 2024 Music Cities Awards
October 26, 2023
LONDON: Saudi Arabia has been selected
to host the Music Cities Awards in 2024, an annual global competition that
honors ‘outstanding applications of music for economic, social, environmental
and cultural development.’
About 100 music experts are expected to
participate in the event, which will take place from Nov. 14 to 16 next year at
the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, the Saudi Music
Commission said on Thursday. In addition, the Saudi Center for Music will host
a six-week, intensive music-education program.
The hosting of the awards reflects the
Ministry of Culture’s efforts to boost international cultural exchanges in line
with the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030 plan to develop and diversify the
Kingdom’s economy, officials said.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2398241/saudi-arabia
--------
Saudi Arabia welcomes resumption of
talks between warring Sudanese parties in Jeddah
October 26, 2023
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia welcomed on
Thursday the resumption of talks between the representatives of the Sudanese
Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Jeddah.
A statement issued by the Kingdom's
Foreign Ministry stated the the talks held in Jeddah on Thursday, October 26,
was facilitated by Saudi Arabia and the United States, in partnership with
representatives of the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on
Development (IGAD).
Within this framework, Saudi Arabia
urged the SAF and the RSF to resume the talks based on what was agreed between
them in the Jeddah Declaration of May 11, 2023, in terms of "commitment on
protecting civilians", and the short-term ceasefire agreement signed by
the parties in Jeddah on May 20, 2023.
Saudi Arabia confirmed its keenness on
unity, prevailing wisdom, halting the conflict to stop the bloodshed, and
alleviating the suffering of the Sudanese people.
Halting all forms of conflict is
important to end the crisis in Sudan and reach a political settlement, under
which security, stability and prosperity will be achieved for the country and
its people.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/637115/SAUDI-ARABIA/Saudi-Arabia-welcomes-resumption-of-talks-between-warring-Sudanese-parties-in-nbspJeddah
-------
Islamic World District Project, An Urban
Attraction in Madinah
26 Oct, 2023
The "Islamic World District"
project, one of the most important projects implemented in Madinah as part of
the Knowledge Economic City projects, provides quality housing and hospitality
services to enrich the religious and cultural experience of visitors and
pilgrims during their visit to Madinah.
The project aims to construct the district at
the southeastern part of the area adjacent to the Haramain High-Speed Railway
Station, where the project has been re-planned over an area of 900,000 square
meters in response to the Saudi Vision 2030 programs; Pilgrim Experience
Program, which aims to facilitate hosting of pilgrims, facilitate their access
to the two holy mosques, and provide high-quality services to visitors and
pilgrims, and the Quality of Life Program, which aims to improve the lifestyle
of individuals and families.
Key objectives of the project include
providing permanent housing, hospitality and lodging services, and various
supporting services. The project also includes pedestrian walkways that link
all parts of the site, green spaces, event venues, an interactive museum of the
Prophet's biography, and shopping centres with Madinah urban design.
The Islamic World District project is located
within the urban area of Madinah, on a direct main line to the Prophet's Holy
Mosque from the eastern side, five kilometres away. It is connected to the
Al-Haramain High-Speed Railway Station in the city and the Prince Mohammed bin
Abdulaziz International Airport, facilitating pilgrims' movement between the holy
mosques.
The project is a cultural landmark and an
investment catalyst that provides Madinah's residents and visitors with a
distinctive lifestyle and integrated services through delivering the project's
main idea of developing a smart city with integrated services within a healthy
environment.
Source: alriyadhdaily.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
http://alriyadhdaily.com/article/f62aa59a653c492ba1818731e9a82979
--------
Saudi FM receives phone call from
Ukrainian counterpart
October 26, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister
Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a phone call from his Ukrainian counterpart
DmytroKuleba on Thursday, Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the call, the two officials
discussed the latest developments in the Ukrainian-Russian crisis as well as
global efforts concerning the war in Gaza.
Prince Faisal reaffirmed the Kingdom’s
continuous support of all political solutions aimed at maintaining
international peace and security, which ensure the protection of civilians and
adhere to the principles of international humanitarian law.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2398281/saudi-arabia
-------
India
Muslim League Holds Massive
Pro-Palestine Rally Of Tens Of Thousands Of People In Kerala, Calls Israel A
Terror State
Oct 27, 2023
KOZHIKODE: Tens of thousands of people
converged on Kozhikode beach on Thursday afternoon in the largest pro-Palestine
rally to take place in the country which was organized by IUML ever since the
Israel- Palestine conflict. Chanting 'Solidarity with Palestine' and 'Down with
Zionism' and holding banners which were written even in Arabic which read
'Indians with Palestine', 'End the Genocide in Gaza', IUML activists, including
hundreds of women, formed a sea of humanity along the beach.
Inaugurating the rally, IUML state
president Panakkad Syed SadikaliShihabThangal said that Israel was the biggest
terrorist nation in the world and added that the Indian government was trying
to whitewash Israel. Thangal said that while all the Prime Ministers from
Jawaharlal Nehru to Manmohan Singh, including even A B Vajpayee, had sided with
justice and had taken a stand against Israeli occupation of Palestine, the
current central government was trying to dilute that stand and whitewash
Israel.
However, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who
was the chief guest at the function, in his keynote address 'tacitly' referred
to Hamas as terrorists which prompted a response from IUML leader M K Muneer.
"Terrorists attacked Israel on
October 7 and killed 1,400 people and took 200 as hostages and in retaliation
Israel has killed over 6,000 people in the bombings carried out in Gaza which
has still not stopped," Tharoor said, however, adding that the Israeli
response to the attack was disproportionate and in contravention of the human
rights conventions.
"When the terrorists killed
innocent children and women, the world condemned it. Now, we the world,
including all of us, are condemning the Israeli bombings as well," Tharoor
said.
However, Tharoor's remarks prompted a
response from Muneer. Without naming Tharoor, Muneer said in his speech that
when Bhagat Singh and Subhas Chandra Bose fought for the independence of the country,
their actions were termed as extremism and terrorism by the British and
likewise the fight for independence of Palestine in Gaza is being portrayed by
the imperial forces as terrorism. "It is fight for independence by
Palestinians but what Israel is doing is ethnic genocide. We are with the
resistance of the people of Palestine, and we should be able to identify
between resistance and attack," Muneer said.
"Just because this rally is
organized by IUML, one should not think that it is a Muslim issue. It is a
human rights issue. The bombs fall on people irrespective of their
religion," Tharoor said, adding that it might well be one of the most
important political rallies seen in India and perhaps across the world in
defence of human rights and in favour of peace.
The rally began with SadikaliThangal
reciting prayers for peace in Palestine. IUML national secretary P K
Kunhalikutty presided over. IUML had also intended to make the rally party's
show of strength and the influence the Thangal family holds among the Muslim
community. The party had not invited any of the Muslim organisations, including
Samastha. However Samastha frontal organization leader Nazer Faizi Koodathayi
attended the programme.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kozhikode/iuml-holds-massive-pro-palestine-rally-thangal-calls-israel-a-terror-state/articleshow/104741890.cms
---------
'Not a matter to score brownie points':
Opposition leaders on Qatar death verdict to 8 Indians
Poulomi Ghosh
Oct 27, 2023
PM Modi must bring the Navy veterans
back to India as he boasted how Islamic countries loved him, AIMIM chief
Asaduddin Owaisi said.
As New Delhi is set to contest the Qatar
court's verdict of a death sentence to eight former Indian Navy personnel,
opposition parties pilloried the government for not taking up the issue
seriously when opposition MPs referred to the issue in Parliament. AIMIM chief
Asaduddin Owaisi said PM Modi must bring the officers back as he
"boasted" how much Islamic countries love him. Congress MP Manish
Tewari said the government never took the requests of the family members,
Ex-Servicemen League and even MPs seriously.
"This is not a matter where we need
to indulge in 'he said, she said' or score brownie points. The lives of 08 very
senior naval personnel are at stake," the Congress MP wrote.
We're now on WhatsApp. Click to join.
"Their families were never informed
what the charges against them were. Even the Lawyer engaged for their defence
was I am informed evasive with the families," Manish Tewari added.
"The Indian National Congress has
noted with the greatest anguish, distress and shock the most disturbing
developments in Qatar regarding 8 former officers of the Indian Navy. It hopes
and expects that the Govt of India will use its diplomatic and political
leverage with the Qatar government to the maximum to ensure that the officers
have full recourse to appeals and also do the utmost to get them released at the
earliest," the Congress said in its statement on the death verdict.
Qatar death verdict to 8 Indians: What
is the case?
Eight former Navy personnel -- seven
officers and one sailor -- were working for Al Dahra Global Technologies and
Consultancy Services, a private firm owned by an Oman Air Force officer that
provided training and other services to Qatar’s armed forces and security
agencies.
They were arrested in August 2022 and
the charges against them were never declared because of confidentiality but it
is believed to be espionage. The company shut the shop after the arrest of the
eight Indians.
Managing director of the company
Commander Purnendu Tiwari (retd) -- one of the eight -- received the Pravasi
Bharatiya Samman award in 2019 for his services in furthering the bilateral
relationship between India and Qatar.
Their bail pleas continued to be
rejected and they were not allowed to meet their families until India
intervened and got consular access.
New Delhi expressed deep shock at the
verdict and said it would explore all legal options.
When Qatar summoned Indian envoy over
Nupur Sharma's comment on Prophet
In 2022, Qatar expressed displeasure
over then-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma's comment on the Prophet. Qatar
summoned the Indian envoy and expected a public apology. While the BJP
suspended Nupur Sharma, the Indian government made it clear that the comments
came from fringe elements and did not reflect the views of the Indian
government.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/qatar-death-verdict-8-indians-congress-owaisi-manish-tewari-reaction-101698366474303.html
-----------
Shashi Tharoor refers Hamas as
terrorists at IUML pro-Palestine rally
Shaju Philip
October 27, 2023
Tharoor refers Hamas as terrorists at
IUML pro-Palestine rallyTharoor was the chief guest at the Palestine solidarity
rally in Kozhikode. The IUML handpicked Tharoor as the keynote speaker at the
event, bypassing prominent faces of the party’s state leadership, considering
the erudition of the diplomat-turned politician on international affairs.
At a rally organised by Congress ally
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) in Kozhikode on Thursday in solidarity with
Palestine, Congress Working Committee member and party MP Shashi Tharoor
referred to Hamas as terrorists.
Tharoor was the chief guest at the
Palestine solidarity rally in Kozhikode. The IUML handpicked Tharoor as the
keynote speaker at the event, bypassing prominent faces of the party’s state
leadership, considering the erudition of the diplomat-turned politician on
international affairs.
It may be recalled that the CWC in a
resolution on October 9 had reaffirmed its support to the Palestinian cause
without mentioning the October 7 attack carried out by Hamas on Israel.
“The CWC expresses its dismay and
anguish on the war that has broken out in the Middle East where over a thousand
people have been killed in the last two days. The CWC reiterates its
long-standing support for the rights of the Palestinian people to land,
self-government and to live with dignity and respect. The CWC calls for an
immediate cease-fire and for negotiations to begin on all outstanding issues
including the imperative issues that have given rise to the present conflict,”
the CWC resolution had said.
However, the party did a course
correction later when its spokesperson PavanKhera condemned the Hamas attack on
Israel. “The Congress unequivocally condemns the attack on the innocent
civilians of Israel by Hamas,” Khera had said on October 13.
Referring to the present bout of war
between Hamas and Israel, Tharoor said, “On October 7, terrorists attacked
Israel, killed 1,400 people and took 200 hostages. In answer to that, Israel
has so far killed 6,000 people. They have stopped the supply of food, water and
fuel to Gaza. Hospitals are bombed. Innocent people are being killed every day.
What is happening is the violation of war laws and Geneva Convention, which
have provisions for protecting the innocent civilians.’’
He continued. “one thing I want to say.
When those terrorists massacred unarmed people, the world had condemned it.
Now, everyone is condemning the Israel bombing. Terrorist acts took place from
both sides. Eye for eye would make the whole world blind. What we are seeing
now is a heinous reaction. We are seeing a disproportionate reaction,’’ he
said.
Tharoor said the death toll in the
latest bout of crisis in the last 19 days is more than the casualty that took
place in the last 15 years. “Around 1,400 Israelis and 6,000 Palestinians have
been killed so far. The West Bank region had not witnessed any terrorism.
However, 102 Palestine people and one Israeli were killed,” he said.
Tharoor said the issue should not be
considered as a Muslim issue on the ground that the rally is being conducted by
IUML, a secular and democratic party. “None should think that this is a Muslim
issue. It is a matter of human rights. War knows no religion. Christians in
Gaza were also killed in the bombing,’’ he said.
At the same venue, senior IUML leader
and party legislator Dr M K Muneer, apparently took a dig at Tharoor.
Muneer, in his address, said, “When
Bhagat Singh and Subhas Chandra Bose fought for the freedom of the country, it
was recorded in British history as an act of terrorism and extremism. At Gaza,
the fight of Palestine for freedom would be an act of terrorism in the eye of
imperialistic forces. But the children at Gaza now say that they were now
offering namaz not five times a day, but six times. The children say every day
they have ‘janaza’ (funeral prayer). The fight of Palestine is freedom struggle
and that of Israel is genocide. We are with that defence of Palestine. We
should be able to differentiate between defence and attack,’’ he said.
Since the latest crisis in the Middle
East, both Congress and CPI(M) in Kerala have been treading cautiously on the
issue, considering visible ‘pro-Palestine’ sentiments in the state. CPI(M)
central committee member K KShailaja had come under fire from within the party
itself after she dubbed Hamas as terrorists. Later, she had to drop the
“terror’’ tag from Hamas, in a clarification on her views on the crisis.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/tharoor-refers-hamas-as-terrorists-at-iuml-pro-palestine-rally-9001220/
--------
Europe
EU leaders support "humanitarian
pauses" and Israel-Palestine peace initiatives
27 OCTOBER 2023
Following a summit in Brussels, leaders
of European Union states issued a cautious statement concerning the escalation
in the Middle East, calling for "humanitarian pauses" and reaffirming
Israel’s right to defend itself.
Source: statement shared by
EcaterinaCasinge, spokeswoman for the European Council, as reported by European
Pravda
Details: EU leaders reiterated their
condemnation of Hamas for its terrorist attacks on civilians, called on Hamas
to release all hostages, and "strongly" emphasised "Israel’s
right to defend itself in line with international law and international
humanitarian law".
The European Council also called for
"continued, rapid, safe and unhindered" humanitarian access and aid
"to reach those in need through all necessary measures including
humanitarian corridors and pauses for humanitarian needs".
The European Union supported the
two-state solution and the "holding of an international peace
conference" proposed by Spain "soon".
The statement issued by EU leaders also
touched on the need to fight dissemination of disinformation and illegal
content, stressing the legal responsibility of social media platforms in this
context.
Source: pravda.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/10/27/7425927/
--------
Greenwich Islamic Centre: Mosque leader
accused of hateful sermon over Israel-Hamas conflict
Josh Salisbury
27 October 2023
A south London mosque leader has been
accused of spewing hate in a sermon about the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
Greenwich Council said it denounced the
remarks by Muhammad Abdullah Shakir, an imam at the Greenwich Islamic Centre in
Plumstead.
In footage of a sermon, purported to
have taken place on October 20 in response to events in Gaza, he is alleged to
have asked God to "forgive all Muslims” and “lead them to victory over
their enemy”.
Speaking in Arabic, he is alleged to
have said: “Curse the infidels who turn people away from the path of Allah and
fight your messengers and good people."
He is alleged to have then added:
"Protect Al-Aqsa Mosque from the usurping Jews," according to a
translation.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque is a holy site for
Muslims in Jerusalem. The Standard has contacted the Greenwich Islamic Centre
for comment.
MP for Greenwich and Woolwich Matthew
Pennycook said: “I am aware of footage circulating on social media that appears
to show anti-Semitic hate being preached at the Greenwich Islamic Centre.
“I condemn the remarks in question in
the strongest possible terms. I have informed the relevant authorities and
expect action to be taken.”
Greenwich council leader Anthony Okereke
and opposition leader Matt Hartley jointly called for an investigation.
“To say our Jewish friends are not
welcome here belies the integral contribution they have made to the community
we have shared for centuries,” they said in a statement.
“Instead we say to them, you are valued.
You are our neighbours and our friends. We will stand up against hate and as a
community, we will refuse to let anyone make you feel unsafe or unwelcome.
"It comes as no surprise to us that
members of our Muslim community have also condemned Imam Shakir’s words and we
are glad to stand in solidarity with them against hatred in all its
forms."
In a statement on Wednesday about the
Israel-Hamas conflict, the mosque said it “condemns any violence that targets
civilians”.
“The relentless bombing campaign has
resulted in the tragic loss of innocent children, women, and elderly
individuals,” it said.
“As we stand with the Palestinian
people, we condemn any violence that targets civilians and call for an
immediate end to these atrocities.”
Mr Shakir is listed as one of two imams
at the mosque on its website. The website states that the mosque aims to
“create a conducive environment for effective interaction between Muslims and
non-Muslims.”
According to the charity’s accounts, the
mosque earned £1.17m in the year ending September 2022, of which £202,000 came
from Government grants.
Source: uk.news.yahoo.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/greenwich-islamic-centre-mosque-leader-075313259.html
--------
Sweden will not expel man behind recent
Quran burning demos despite deportation order
26 October 2023
Simon Johnson
STOCKHOLM/COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Sweden's
migration agency said on Thursday it had decided to deport an Iraqi man who
burned copies of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, but that the order would not
be carried out because the man would risk torture in his home country.
In August, Sweden raised its terrorism
alert to the second-highest level and warned of an increase in threats against
Swedes at home and abroad after Quran burnings outraged Muslims and triggered
threats from jihadists.
Several actions were led by Salwan
Momika, a refugee from Iraq who says he wants to protest against the whole
institution of Islam and ban its holy book.
"Yesterday, the Migration Agency
decided to recall his status and residency permit and decided that he should be
deported," a spokesman for the Swedish Migration Agency told Reuters.
He said the reason was that the man had
given false information on his application for residency.
However, the spokesman said Sweden could
not carry out the deportation order as the man would risk torture and inhumane
treatment if he were to be sent to Iraq. If the situation changes, the man will
be deported, he added.
In July, the agency said it was
re-examining Momika's residency permit.
"I am not leaving Sweden. I will
live and die in Sweden. The Swedish Migration Agency has made a serious
mistake. I suspect there are hidden political motives behind this decision. I
will appeal," Momika told Swedish public broadcaster SVT.
Anti-Islam activists have burned several
copies of the Quran in Sweden and Denmark, two of the most liberal countries in
the world that allow trenchant criticism of religion in the name of free
speech. But many Muslims view desecrating the Quran, which they see as the
literal word of God, as a grave offence.
Last week, a Tunisian gunman killed two
Swedish football fans in Brussels in an attack which Sweden's prime minister
said showed that Europe must bolster security to protect itself. The gunman
identified himself as a member of the Islamic State and claimed responsibility
in a video posted online.
(Reporting by Simon Johnson, writing by
Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Tomasz Janowski)
Source: uk.news.yahoo.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/sweden-expel-man-behind-recent-153358575.html
---------
200 British citizens say they are
trapped in Gaza
October 26, 2023
LONDON: About 200 British citizens have
informed UK authorities that they are in Gaza, and Border Force officials have
been dispatched to Egypt to assist them in leaving.
Downing Street clarified that the figure
is only for those who have registered their whereabouts, and that the actual
number of UK nationals in Gaza remains uncertain, the Guardian reported on
Thursday.
“We obviously want to ensure that those
British nationals that do want to leave can get out of Gaza. That’s something
that we’ve been working on intensely over the past few days,” UK Prime Minister
Rishi Sunak’s official spokesperson told reporters.
“In terms of whether all of the numbers
that are registered do want to leave, I can’t be definitive. But clearly, we
are working to enable crossings to be able to open so that people can leave
should they wish,” he said.
He added that this included discussions
with the Israeli and Egyptian governments, as well with “regional leaders who
have influence in Gaza.”
Although there have been no reports of
any British nationals killed or missing, he emphasized the severity of the
humanitarian crisis unfolding in the besieged Palestinian enclave.
Israel has allowed a small amount of aid
to get through Rafah crossing in recent days, which UN chief Antonio Guterres
said was “a drop of aid in an ocean of need,” and has not opened the crossing
to people wanting to move from the territory into northeast Egypt.
Rishi Sunak said that Border Force
officials had been stationed in Egypt with the hope of a “humanitarian pause”
in Israel’s military operations to allow British nationals to leave.
Sunak said that for Britons to depart
there “needs to be a safer environment, which of course necessitates specific
pauses, which are distinct from a cease-fire,” the Guardian reported.
The prime minister added: “We’re very
keen to be able to bring them out and bring them home. What I can tell you is
we’ve pre-positioned Border Force teams to Egypt, so that if there is a possibility
for our nationals to cross the Rafah crossing, we’re ready to get them in and
bring them back.
“It is not something we can do
immediately but when the moment arises, we’ll be ready to take it quickly.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2398211/world
--------
Russian war kills 509 Ukrainian
children, most casualties reported in Donetsk Oblast
OLENA MUKHINA
27/10/2023
Russia’s war against Ukraine has killed
509 children and injured 1139, Ukraine’s Prosecutor’s General Office has
informed.
The highest number of casualties have
been reported in Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Kherson oblasts, prosecutors say.
In addition, Ukraine has returned only
386 children out of 19,546 who were forcibly deported by Russian troops.
Ukraine’s Prosecutor’s General Office has also added that 13 Ukrainian children
have suffered from sexual abuse during combat actions.
Earlier, the International Criminal
Court (ICC) issued warrants of arrest for the President of Russia, Vladimir
Putin, and the Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Office of the
President, Maria Lvova-Belova.
The ICC found them guilty of committing
war crimes, specifically the unlawful deportation and transfer of children from
occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia.
In August 2023, the Center of National
Resistance of Ukraine said Russia sent Ukrainian children from occupied
territories to military camps to “re-educate” and encourage them to join the
armed forces.
On 1 August, the Gvardeets
military-patriotic camp opened in the Russian town of Penza. According to the
Center, the invaders took teenagers from six occupied cities and villages –
Mariupol, Kirovske, Yenakiieve, Horlivka, Shakhtarsk, Makiiivka, and Donetsk to
the camp to provide basic military training to them.
The propaganda program included visits
to nearby museums, performances by pro-Kremlin artists, and activities to
prepare children mentally and physically to defend Russia.
Watch the “Abducted Childhood” movie which
sheds light on Russian crimes against Ukrainian children that may be qualified
as “genocide” and “crimes against humanity” by the International Criminal Court
here.
Source: euromaidanpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://euromaidanpress.com/2023/10/27/russian-war-kills-509-ukrainian-children-most-casualties-reported-in-donetsk-oblast/
-------
21 Ukrainian citizens killed in Israel,
foreign ministry says
OLENA MUKHINA
26/10/2023
As a result of the HAMAS attack on
Israel, 21 Ukrainian citizens have been killed, and one is reported missing,
according to the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oleg
Nikolenko, UkrInform reports.
“Unfortunately, the number of casualties
among Ukrainians in Israel has risen. Currently, we have confirmed information
that 21 Ukrainians have been killed, while one is reported missing. In Gaza,
three casualties have been reported, including two children and an adult, along
with six injured, three of whom are children. The citizens have sustained
injuries of different severity, and medical assistance is being provided to
them,” noted Nikolenko.
He also informed that Ukrainian
diplomatic institutions maintain constant communication with 357 Ukrainians,
including 208 women, who have requested evacuation from Gaza.
However, while the “Rafah” border
crossing between Gaza and Egypt is currently closed, there are no current
possibilities to provide help to them.
On 7 October 2023, Palestinian militant
groups led by Hamas launched a large-scale invasion of Israel from Gaza,
reportedly killing at least 1,300 Israelis, including 260 civilians, in a music
festival massacre. Hamas justified the attack as revenge for increased
settlements, the blockade, and settler violence. Israel responded with
airstrikes in Gaza after clearing Hamas forces from its territory.
The USA, the EU, Ukraine, and a number
of other countries have condemned the attacks on Israel.
Earlier, Ambassador of Israel to
Ukraine, Michael Brodsky said the HAMAS terrorist attack on the State of Israel
on 7 October resulted in the murder of 23 Ukrainian citizens, with one more
reported missing.
Source: euromaidanpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://euromaidanpress.com/2023/10/26/21-ukrainian-citizens-killed-israel-foreign-ministry-says/
--------
Hamas official says cease-fire needed
before hostages can be freed — Russian newspaper
October 27, 2023
MOSCOW: The Palestinian Hamas group that
controls Gaza cannot release hostages seized during its attack on Israel until
a cease-fire is agreed, the Russian newspaper Kommersant quoted a member of a
Hamas delegation visiting Moscow as saying.
It quoted Abu Hamid as saying Hamas
needed time to locate all of those who had been taken from Israel to Gaza by
various Palestinian factions in a Hamas attack on Oct. 7.
“They seized dozens of people, most of
them civilians, and we need time to find them in the Gaza Strip and then
release them,” Hamid said.
Kommersant quoted him as saying a calm
environment was needed to complete this task. Hamas said on Thursday around 50
of the hostages had been killed in Israeli air strikes.
Israel has urged Russia to expel the
visiting Hamas delegation, calling their invitation to Moscow “deplorable.”
Russia has ties to all the key players
in the Middle East, including Israel, Iran, Syria, the Palestinian Authority
and Hamas.
It has repeatedly blamed the current
crisis on a failure of US diplomacy, and called for a cease-fire between Israel
and Hamas and the resumption of talks aimed at finding a peace settlement.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2398516/middle-east
---------
EU urges ‘corridors and pauses’ as UN
warns ‘nowhere’ safe in Gaza
27 Oct 2023
KHAN YUNIS (Palestinian Territories),
Oct 27 — EU leaders have demanded “humanitarian corridors and pauses” in
Israel’s war against Hamas, urging aid access for civilians trapped in besieged
Gaza, where the United Nations says “nowhere is safe.”
Concern is growing about the regional
fallout from the conflict, with Washington warning Iran against escalation
while striking facilities in Syria it says were used by the Iranian
Revolutionary Guard Corps and others.
Israel has carried out relentless
strikes on Gaza since Hamas gunmen stormed across the border on October 7,
killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, in the deadliest attack since Israel’s
creation.
The Israeli strikes have killed more
than 7,000 people, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health
ministry, with growing calls for protection of innocents caught in the
conflict.
Late Thursday, EU leaders called for
“continued, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and aid to reach
those in need through all necessary measures including humanitarian corridors
and pauses for humanitarian needs”.
Just 74 trucks of food, water and
medicine have been permitted to enter Gaza, home to 2.4 million people, since
the conflict began — a figure described by aid groups as vastly insufficient.
Before the conflict, around 500 trucks
entered daily, according to the United Nations.
Israel has cut supplies of food, water
and power to Gaza and insisted no fuel can be imported as it could be used by
Hamas.
That has forced 12 of the territory’s 35
hospitals to close, and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA has
started to “significantly reduce its operations.”
“Without fuel, there will be no
humanitarian response, no aid reaching people in need, no electricity for hospitals,
no access to clean water, and no availability of bread,” UNRWA
Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said.
‘Impossible choices’
Israel defends its operations, with
staunch backing from allies including Washington, and has demanded Hamas
release 224 foreign and Israeli hostages it seized on October 7.
The fate of the hostages remains a
complicating factor for Israel’s planned ground operation.
Hamas’ armed wing said Thursday that
“almost 50” Israeli hostages had been killed in Israeli bombing raids, a claim
that AFP could not verify.
Four hostages have been released, but
for relatives of those left behind, the anguish continues.
“Our lives stopped,” said Moran
BetzerTayar, of the day her nephew and his wife were abducted.
She told a press conference in France
she was “worried sick” and desperate to keep the fate of the hostages in the
public eye.
Rights groups and international
organisations have demanded the immediate release of hostages, who include
women and children.
Inside Gaza, the punishing strikes have
left people “with nothing but impossible choices” the UN’s humanitarian
coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory said Thursday.
“Nowhere is safe in Gaza,” Lynne
Hastings said in a statement.
‘Wherever we go, we will die’
Israel has repeatedly urged civilians in
northern Gaza to move south for their safety, but strikes have also hit
southern areas and evacuation routes, Hastings said.
Around 45 per cent of all housing in
Gaza has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN, citing local
authorities, and satellite images show vast swathes of destruction.
Rahma Saqallah fled south with her
family, heeding Israeli warnings. But after strikes killed her husband and
three of her children, she was heading back home.
“Wherever we go, we will die,” she told
AFP, as she prepared to leave the southern city of Khan Yunis to return to Gaza
City with her surviving child.
“They told us to leave for the south and
then they killed us (here).”
Hamas on Thursday released a list of
almost 7,000 names of people it said had been killed in Israeli strikes, after
US President Joe Biden cast doubt on the toll from the territory.
The list of 6,747 names gave the age,
sex and identity card number of each victim, adding that 281 bodies had not yet
been identified. Another 1,600 people, including 900 children, are missing and
may be under rubble, according to the UN, citing local authorities.
The war’s surging death toll is by far
the highest since Israel unilaterally withdrew from the coastal territory in
2005 — a period that has seen four previous Gaza wars.
The situation has been exacerbated by
dire medical shortages, with operations now carried out without anaesthetic and
ice-cream trucks turned into makeshift morgues.
There are fears that the toll will grow
exponentially if Israel launches a ground operation that Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu says is being prepared.
Israeli troops entered northern Gaza on
Wednesday for a “targeted raid” that came in “preparation for the next stages
of combat”, the military said.
US warns Iran against escalation
Israel faces growing calls to ensure its
response does not cause increasing civilian casualties.
“Israel has to do everything in its
power, as difficult as it is, to protect innocent civilians,” Biden said this
week.
An expansion of fighting on the ground
also risks a wider regional conflagration, with Iran’s foreign minister warning
US officials and military.
“We do not welcome the expansion and
scope of the war in the region,” Hossein Amir-Abdollah said at the UN.
“But I warn if the genocide in Gaza
continues, they will not be spared from this fire.”
American and allied forces in Iraq and
Syria have been attacked at least 16 times this month, according to the
Pentagon, which blamed Iranian-backed groups.
And the US military struck two
facilities in eastern Syria used by Iranian forces and affiliated groups,
Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday, stressing they were “separate and
distinct” from the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Biden also sent a rare “direct message”
to Iran’s supreme leader warning against further escalations, the White House
said.
“My warning to the Ayatollah was that if
they continue to move against those troops, we will respond, and he should be
prepared. It has nothing to do with Israel,” Biden said.
Exchanges of fire across the
Israel-Lebanon border have prompted the evacuation of tens of thousands of
people on either side.
And six people were wounded after a
rocket fired in the conflict hit the Egyptian border town of Taba on Thursday,
Egyptian media reported. — AFP
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2023/10/27/eu-urges-corridors-and-pauses-as-un-warns-nowhere-safe-in-gaza/98654
---------
Mideast
US will ‘not be spared’ if Israel-Hamas
war escalates – Iran
26 Oct, 2023
The US will “not be spared from this
fire” if Israel’s “genocide” against the Palestinian people continues, Iranian
Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told the UN General Assembly in New
York on Thursday.
“I say frankly to the American statesmen
and military forces who are now managing the genocide in Palestine, that we do
not welcome the expansion of the war in this region,” Amir-Abdollahian said in
his address.
“But I warn [that] if the genocide in
Gaza continues, they will not be spared from this fire,” he continued. “This is
our home and West Asia is our region. We do not compromise with any party and
any side and have no reservations when it comes to our home’s security.”
US President Joe Biden has pledged that
Washington will “stand forever” with Israel, and is currently pushing Congress
to authorize a $14 billion package of military aid for the Jewish state.
Meanwhile, the US has positioned two aircraft carrier groups and other naval
assets, a squadron of F-16 fighter jets, air defense systems, and 900 troops to
the Middle East since Hamas militants launched their surprise attack on Israel
on October 7.
Biden and his officials have declared
that these deployments are intended to dissuade Iran from getting involved in
the conflict, either directly or by instructing Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.
Tehran, however, has argued that Washington’s full-throated backing of West
Jerusalem makes escalation more likely.
“It’s a great shame that the American
president announced that the US would dispatch hundreds of planes, ships and
trucks filled with military equipment to the occupied territories to support
the mass murder that Israel is committing in Gaza but has managed to coordinate
plans for only 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid to enter the besieged
enclave,” Amir-Abdollahian said on Sunday.
“If the US and the Israeli regime do not
stop their crimes against humanity immediately, there will be a possibility of
anything at any moment and the region may spin out of control,” he added.
Speaking to Al Jazeera last week,
Amir-Abdollahian cautioned that an Israeli ground operation in Gaza – which the
Israeli military has been preparing to launch for weeks – would result in “many
other fronts being opened.”
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/news/585904-iran-warns-us-israel/
--------
Hamas: Continuation of war on Gaza will
send entire region out of control
26 October 2023
The Palestinian resistance movement of
Hamas has warned that the continuation of the Israeli regime's war of
aggression against the Gaza Strip would "send the entire region out of
control."
Ismail Haniyeh, head of the movement's
Politburo, sounded the warning on Thursday, the 20th day of a relentless war by
the regime against the coastal sliver that has so far claimed more than 7,000
lives.
"Indeed, today the region has
turned into a hot plate," Haniyeh added.
Hamas urges mass protests in the coming
days to demand the opening of the Rafah border crossing and an end to Israel
The Hamas official, however, also
declared, "On the 20th day of this war, we affirm that the resistance in
Gaza is doing well."
The regime launched the war after Hamas
and its fellow Gaza-based resistance movement of the Islamic Jihad launched
their biggest operation against Israel in years in a surprise offensive, dubbed
Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, in response to the occupying regime’s intensified
crimes against the Palestinian people.
Around 1,500 Israeli forces and illegal
settlers were killed in the operation and hundreds of others were taken
captive.
Hamas says it has enough Israeli
captives to swap them for the release of all Palestinian prisoners.
"It has been 20 days that, led by
al-Qassam Brigades (Hamas' military wing), the resistance has kept up its
strikes, protected its borders, and sent across its message in blood,"
Haniyeh said.
"The occupation will not be able to
recover due to the strategic strike and resounding defeat it suffered," he
added.
"The current movement should not
stop here, and the al-Aqsa Storm should continue for the sake of the future
generations of the resistance forces," Haniyeh said, adding, "This
battle will change the course of history and will move towards achieving the
highest goals of this people, who have suffered from historical
injustice."
The Hamas leader said the resistance was
a "national liberation movement," while "terrorism is the
occupier and those who support it and remain silent about massacres."
Haniyeh, meanwhile, addressed Tel Aviv's
plunging Gaza into a humanitarian crisis by blocking water, food, and
electricity to the besieged territory since the onset of the warfare.
"I call for the opening of all
crossings, especially the Rafah crossing, and the entry of everything Gaza
needs without restrictions or conditions," he said.
"We call for the speedy delivery of
everything Gaza needs, and it is unacceptable for the enemy to control what
should enter the strip."
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/26/713478/Palestine-Israel-Hamas-warning-war-Gaza
-------
Gaza releases names of almost 7,000
Palestinians killed after Biden's ‘shameless’ remarks
27 October 2023
The health ministry in Gaza has released
the names of nearly 7,000 Palestinians killed in Israel’s ongoing aggression on
the besieged Strip, a day after US President Joe Biden “shamelessly” questioned
the casualty figure.
Biden on Wednesday said he had “no notion
that the Palestinians are telling the truth about how many people are killed.”
He confirmed that the Israeli aggression
has killed “innocents”, but justified that, saying “it’s the price of waging a
war."
Refuting his remarks, the health
ministry in Gaza published a 210-page report on Thursday, listing every
Palestinian killed since Israel began the aggression on October 7.
It includes the names, ages, genders,
and ID numbers of every victim, with an English version of the report expected
to be published soon, according to the ministry.
Ashraf al-Qedra, a spokesman for the
ministry, said the US administration was "devoid of human standards,
morals and basic human rights values" for "shamelessly" casting
doubt on the death toll.
"We decided to go out and announce,
with details and names, and in front of the entire world, the truth about the
genocidal war committed by the Israeli occupation against our people," he
said.
According to the report, 6,747
Palestinians were killed, including 2,913 children, between October 7 and 3
p.m. local time on October 26. The ministry said it did not name an additional
281 people who had been killed because their bodies could not be identified,
bringing the total to 7,028.
The ministry also said the actual death
toll is likely to be much higher than the announced figure as the report
excludes those buried without being brought to the hospital, those for whom
hospitals were unable to complete registration procedures, and people missing
under the rubble, who number about 1,600, with many of them feared dead.
"We confirm that the doors of the
Ministry of Health are open for all institutions to have access," Qedra
said in a statement.
"Let the world know that behind
every number is the story of a person whose name and identity are known. Our
people are not nobodies who can be ignored."
Despite Biden questioning the accuracy
of the casualty figure, the HuffPost revealed that the US State Department
recently cited the Palestinian health ministry in Gaza in nearly 20
"situation reports".
Biden's remarks were decried by the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as “shocking and dehumanizing”.
CAIR also stressed that Biden should apologize.
"Countless videos coming out of
Gaza every day show mangled bodies of Palestinian women and children – and
entire city blocks leveled to the ground,"
Nihad Awad, CAIR's executive director.
"President Biden should watch some
of these videos and ask himself if the crushed children being dragged out of
the ruins of their family homes are a fabrication or an acceptable price of
war. They are neither."
Israel launched the war on Gaza on
October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise
Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli
regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against
Palestinians.
Tel Aviv has also blocked water, food,
and electricity to Gaza, plunging the coastal strip into a humanitarian crisis.
The regime has further ordered 1.1
million people in the north of Gaza to evacuate and move south of the coastal
sliver.
However, it has continued to rain down
bombs on the south, killing large numbers of Palestinians.
The United Nations says about half of
the Palestinians in Gaza have been made homeless, still trapped inside the
besieged enclave.
The world body’s human rights office
says Israel’s complete siege of Gaza, combined with the evacuation order, could
amount to a forcible transfer of civilians, breaching international law.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/27/713492/Gaza-releases-names-Palestinians-killed
-------
Israeli poll finds 49% support for
holding off on Gaza invasion
Oct 27, 2023
Almost half of Israelis want to hold off
on any invasion of Gaza, according to a poll published on Friday, in what may
indicate a dip in support for the planned next stage of the counter-offensive
against Hamas militants holding some 200 hostages.
Israel vowed to annihilate Hamas in
response to the Palestinian Islamists' killing and kidnapping spree in its
southern communities on Oct. 7, and has been stepping up tank and infantry
raids in concert with heavy shelling of the enclave.
Asked if the military should immediately
escalate to a large-scale ground offensive, 29% of Israelis agreed while 49%
said "it would be better to wait" and 22% were undecided, the poll
published in the Maariv newspaper said.
The daily said the results contrasted
with its Oct. 19 poll that found 65% support for a major ground offensive.
"From a breakdown of the answers,
it emerges that there is no division in accordance with political camp or
demographics, and that it is almost certain that the developments on the matter
of the hostages, which is now topping the agenda, have had a great impact on
this shift (in opinion)," Maariv wrote.
Hamas freed four hostages over the last
week amid efforts by regional mediator countries to arrange a larger-scale
release.
Hamas says around 50 hostages have been
killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza. One ex-hostage said she had been held, along
with at least two dozen others, in an underground Hamas tunnel and bunker
complex that is a focus of Israel's offensive.
Maariv polled a representative sample of
522 adult Israelis. The margin of error was 4.3%, the newspaper said.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/world/israel-hamas-war/news/israeli-poll-finds-49-support-holding-gaza-invasion-3454106
---------
Israeli airstrike targets mosque in Gaza
Strip, many feared dead
27.10.2023
Mehmet Nuri Ucar and HafalDekmak
Israel carried out an airstrike on the
Al-Abyad Mosque in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday, with many feared dead.
The attack was part of a series of
airstrikes on the Al-Shati Refugee Camp, the Palestinian news agency WAFA
reported.
Al-Abyad Mosque, which was targeted with
several missiles, was destroyed, it added.
The conflict in Gaza began when the
Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood – a multi-pronged
surprise attack on Oct. 7 that included a barrage of rocket launches and
infiltrations into Israel by land, sea and air.
Hamas said the incursion was in
retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli
settlers against Palestinians.
The Israeli military then launched a
relentless bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
Nearly 8,500 people have been killed in
the conflict, including at least 7,028 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.
Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been
running out of food, water, medicine and fuel, and aid convoys allowed into the
enclave have carried only a fraction of what is needed.
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israeli-airstrike-targets-mosque-in-gaza-strip-many-feared-dead/3034029
--------
Eight more aid trucks expected to cross
into Gaza on Friday -UN official
October 27, 2023
GENEVA: Another eight trucks carrying
food, medicine and water are expected to cross into the Gaza Strip on Friday, a
senior United Nations official said, as a combination of technical, political
and security issues were hindering deliveries.
“We have gotten in approximately 74
trucks. We’re expecting another eight or so today,” Lynn Hastings, the UN
Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, told reporters
in Geneva. Hastings said detailed negotiations were taking place with Israel in
a bid to secure more humanitarian crossings in the densely populated enclave,
which has been hit by unrelenting air strikes that have killed thousands in
response to surprise attacks by Hamas gunmen on Oct. 7.
“In addition to the technical issues and
the security issues, there are political issues as well,” Hastings said. “And
there’s a certain amount of pressure on the government of Israel in terms of
its domestic politics.”
There is still no agreement to get fuel
into Gaza, and the UN Palestinian refugee agency has said the absence of fuel
was jeopardizing life-saving humanitarian operations there.
Officials are also grappling with the
issue of deciding how to distribute the scant aid.
“We are aware of the 1,000 patients that
require dialysis and over 100 children and babies that are in incubators, so we
do our best to try and make the prioritization in accordance with the greatest
needs,” Hastings said.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2398581/middle-east
--------
Israel ground forces and jets raided
central Gaza: army
October 27, 2023
GAZA STRIP: The Israeli army said Friday
its ground forces backed by fighter jets and drones carried out a “targeted
raid” in Gaza over the past day, as it prepares for a land invasion.
“During the last day, IDF ground forces,
accompanied by IDF fighter jets and UAVs, conducted an additional targeted raid
in the central Gaza Strip,” an army statement said.
“The IDF identified and struck numerous
terror targets, including anti-tank missile launch sites, military command and
control centers, as well as Hamas terrorists,” it said, saying troops “exited
the area at the end of the activity.”
Black-and-white footage released by the
military showed a column of armored vehicles as a thick cloud of dust billowed
into the sky after the strikes.
The army conducted a similar ground
operation using tanks and infantry the previous night in the northern part of
the Palestinian territory.
The latest incursions came after Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated earlier this week that Israel was
“preparing for a ground offensive.”
On October 7, throngs of Hamas gunmen
poured from Gaza into Israel, killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and
kidnapping 224 more, according to Israeli officials.
In retaliatory Israeli air and artillery
strikes, at least 7,028 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip, including
2,913 children, according to figures released by the Hamas-controlled health
ministry.
The fatalities in Gaza are the highest
there since Israel unilaterally withdrew from the Palestinian territory in
2005.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2398481/middle-east
---------
Save the Children halts north Yemen
operations after staffer death
October 27, 2023
DUBAI: Save the Children is suspending
its operations in northern Yemen after one of its staff died in detention in
the country’s rebel-held capital, it said on Thursday.
Father-of-four Hisham Al-Hakimi, who
worked as the group’s Safety and Security Director, was detained on September 9
while off duty, the British charity said.
“No charges or legal proceedings were filed
by authorities or reason given for his detention in” Sanaa, which is controlled
by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, the charity said in a statement.
It did not provide details on the
circumstances or cause of death of Hakimi, 44, who joined the organization in
2006.
“Save the Children will be suspending
operations in northern Yemen with immediate effect,” the charity said.
Yemen erupted into conflict in 2014 when
Houthi rebels seized Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led military coalition to
intervene the following year to prop up the internationally recognized
government.
The war has triggered one of the world’s
worst humanitarian tragedies, with two-thirds of the population currently
requiring humanitarian aid, including more than 11 million children.
From 2015 through 2022, Save the
Children reached seven million people across Yemen, four million of them
children, according to its website.
The suspension announced on Thursday
will halt programs such as health and nutrition, education, child protection,
food security and livelihoods in the country’s north, much of which is held by
the Houthi rebels.
The charity’s projects in southern Yemen
will be unaffected by the suspension.
The move coincides with a deepening
humanitarian crisis in the Arabian Peninsula’s poorest country, despite a lull
in fighting since a six-month truce expired in October.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2398421/middle-east
---------
Gaza's doctors refuse to abandon
patients as Israel bombs hospitals
26 October 2023
Doctors in northern Gaza are sounding
the alarm about a humanitarian "catastrophe" as Israel continues its
ferocious bombardment of the besieged Palestinian coastal territory for a third
week, media reports say.
As Israel prepares for its planned
ground invasion of Gaza, it has warned residents in the north to flee south to
avoid being targeted. That includes hospitals.
But health officials at Gaza's biggest
hospitals have insisted the evacuation of the wounded and displaced would be
impossible.
In Gaza's biggest hospital, al-Shifa,
doctors are faced with a massive influx of casualties, added to the thousands
of displaced civilians taking shelter there.
Bassel Amr, a volunteer ICU physician,
said that the number of the wounded brought in all at once is bigger than the
hospital’s capacity.
"We have 17 operation rooms that
are prepared at the same time during massacres and ready to be used. But that
is not enough. Most of the wounded need operations," he was quoted by the
Middle East Eye as saying.
"But we only have the capacity to
deal with 17 people at a time, while the rest wait for their turn, and some die
in front of your eyes and you cannot help them because the operation rooms are
full," he added.
"The wounded keep dying in front of
your eyes but there’s nothing we can do."
The most traumatizing situation faced by
doctors is the fact that they have to prioritize some cases over others.
"We are left in a situation where
we have to make the difficult decision to risk the life of one patient in order
to save the life of another," Amr
noted
Amr also pointed out that the hospital
has no space for post-operative care, and many patients have to sleep in the
intensive care units, which he says hinders the work of doctors. This forces
doctors to treat patients on the floor.
"The hospital won't be able to deal
with any other crisis in the coming days as its equipment and necessary tools
are already running out," he warned.
The United Nations Children’s Agency
(UNICEF) has decried the “staggering” number of children casualties in Gaza.
Gaza hospitals are dangerously
overcrowded
As almost 1.4 million people in Gaza are
now internally displaced, thousands have taken shelter in hospitals.
Al-Shifa Hospital alone is now home to
62,000 displaced people and viruses are spreading rapidly. This compounds the
lack of sterilization in the hospital for patients, which makes them vulnerable
to infections.
Amr added that the type of wounds
received by his hospital, mainly scarring and disfigurations, indicates another
health crisis after the end of hostilities.
"Many of the wounded will live but
will have to be on medication for a long time to manage the pain, which may
lead to addiction. Others will live with disabilities."
In addition, international organizations
have warned about the spread of water-borne diseases and scabies because of a
lack of clean water in the besieged territory.
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital operating in a
state of panic
Meanwhile, at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital
in central Gaza, the obstetrics department has been converted from delivery
rooms and clinics into operating rooms for treating the wounded.
One doctor working in the obstetrics and
neonatology department said that the hospital staff is operating "in a
state of panic, fear and shock" as Israel has warned them to flee and
already bombed a building adjacent to the hospital.
"One night, I was working in my
department caring for sick newborns when the Israeli occupation shelled a house
next to the hospital. My colleagues and I tried to secure the children,"
the doctor said.
Many Gaza hospitals remain out of
service
On Wednesday, the United Nations Office
for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that at least 12 out
of the 35 hospitals in Gaza are now out of service because of damage from
Israeli bombardment.
OCHA added that 46 out of 72 healthcare
clinics have also shut down, leaving thousands of people without any form of
medical aid.
The remaining clinics and hospitals are
running on generators and have few resources to treat patients who have been
critically wounded or are in intensive care.
Many Palestinians have seen their family
almost completely wiped out as a result of Israel’s bombardment of on Gaza.
Fuel to run out completely
Since Israel cut off all electricity,
fuel and water to Gaza on 9 October, hospitals have been overwhelmed, with a
lack of life-saving resources and a high volume of critically wounded patients.
Patients who have been wounded in air
strikes, pregnant women, children and people with kidney failure are some of
the worst affected. The hospitals that are still working are running on
generators, which health officials say won't last long.
They say this will lead to the instant
death of thousands of people, including newborn babies in incubators, wounded
people in intensive care units, and kidney dialysis
This comes as doctors and health
officials have been warning for days that fuel is set to run out completely by
Thursday.
No shrouds for burial
Hussam al-Madhoun, another doctor,
highlighted a similar situation at al-Awda hospital in northern Gaza. He said
the hospital "has no space to walk" as thousands of civilians have
also taken refuge there from the Israeli bombing.
Similar to al-Shifa, al-Awda doesn't
have enough room for casualties and is suffering a severe shortage of supplies.
“In the beginning, there was a scarcity
of medical supplies, now there is a scarcity of available beds at the intensive
care unit, and of oxygen, medical and sterilization materials," al-Madhoun
said.
He added that Gaza is now suffering from
a shortage of shrouds. "There is nothing worse than not finding enough
shrouds to cover the martyrs, so you wrap them with garbage bags and old pieces
of cloth."
UNRWA facing a critical 24 hours to
secure fuel
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees
faces a critical 24 hours to secure fuel or be forced to close shelters
providing crucial aid to hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Gaza.
UNRWA is providing shelter and
assistance to 600,000 people at its 150 facilities in the Gaza Strip, where
Israeli air strikes have displaced about one million people.
“The coming 24 hours are very critical
and we have to make some really tough decisions,” UNRWA spokeswoman Juliette
Touma said on Wednesday.
“If we don’t have fuel we will not be
able to drive our cars and deliver the assistance nor are we able to drive our
trucks to the borders to pick up what very little is coming on the convoys,”
she said.
The agency needs fuel to run water
facilities and deliver flour to bakeries amid shortages of food and water. It
may also be forced to close health clinics, which are running on electric
generators.
Earlier on Wednesday, the agency said
its shelters are "four times over their capacities – many people are sleeping
in the streets as current facilities are overwhelmed".
UNRWA has 13,000 staff in Gaza, with 125
health staff working in rotating shifts at health centers. So far, 29 have been
killed by Israeli airstrikes.
On Sunday, Philippe Lazzarini, the
agency's commissioner general, said that "without fuel, we will fail the
people of Gaza whose needs are growing by the hour, under our watch. This
cannot and should not happen”.
"No fuel will further strangle the
children, women and people of Gaza," he said.
UN says ‘nowhere is safe in Gaza’
Lynn Hastings, the UN’s Humanitarian
Coordinator in Palestine, has said
Israel’s system of notifying Gaza residents before airstrikes make “no
difference”.
“For people who can’t evacuate – because
they have nowhere to go or are unable to move – advance warnings make no
difference.”
“When the evacuation routes are bombed,
when people north as well as south are caught up in hostilities, when the
essentials for survival are lacking, and when there are no assurances for
return, people are left with nothing but impossible choices. Nowhere is safe in
Gaza,” she added.
Israel has frequently demanded the
eviction of Palestinians from the north of Gaza to the south but also continues
to bomb the southern half of the territory and has even attacked convoys of
displaced people trying to comply with its orders.
US State Department officials have
prepared dissent cables over Biden’s unwavering support for Israel’s crimes in
Gaza.
Israel, with the cover of the US,
targeting civilians
A spokesman for Palestine’s health
ministry has called on the world to take urgent action, as the death toll in
Gaza exceeds 7,000.
“The Ministry of Interior is undertaking
its role to support our people, where nothing is sacred to Israel, and people,
trees, homes, are being destroyed, hundreds are being killed over the past few
hours,” he said
“Entire neighborhoods have been wiped
out in central Gaza, with even civil defense crews being targeted,” he stated.
“The occupation is carrying out
massacres non-stop, and the bombings are increasing overnight. With the cutting
off of electricity, it is making treating patients more difficult,” he added.
“Israel, with the cover of the US, is
targeting civilians. On the 20th day of attacks on Gaza, we call on people all
around the world to take urgent action and to break your silence. The United
Nations must take action as we are suffocating with no water, fuel, food or
electricity.”
British doctors fear publicly speaking
up about Gaza
British doctors fear publicly speaking up
about Gaza's worsening humanitarian situation could lead to them losing their
jobs. Among those who spoke to MEE were Palestinian doctors who said they had
been “forced to hide their grief”
50 captives killed due to Israeli
airstrikes in Gaza: Hamas
Abu Obeida, a spokesman for the
al-Qassam Brigades, an armed wing of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas,
issued a statement saying the estimated number of Israeli captives killed in
Gaza due to the strikes was around 50.
Qatar is involved in negotiations for
the release of captives. On Wednesday, Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed
Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said that negotiations to secure the release of
hostages were progressing and he was hopeful there would soon be a
breakthrough.
Qatar's foreign ministry urged
de-escalation and warned that an Israeli ground assault on the densely
populated enclave would make freeing hostages "much more difficult."
The Gaza health ministry said on
Thursday that at least 7,028 people have been killed in the besieged strip by
Israeli strikes since October 7.
At least 140 Palestinians are killed in
a fresh round of Israeli airstrikes overnight and in the morning across the
fully blockaded Gaza Strip.
The Israeli attacks on Gaza have
targeted places of gathering, including hospitals, schools, mosques and
churches, displacing more than one million in the densely-populated region,
which is home to more than 2 million people.
According to the Palestinian health
ministry, the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip has so far killed at
least 6,546, people and left over 18,000 others wounded.
Israel has also blocked water, food and
electricity to Gaza, plunging the coastal sliver into a humanitarian crisis.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/26/713476/Gaza-Palestine-US-Israel-hospital-
-------
Iran court rules US must pay $420mn in
damages over 1980 Tabas terror attack
26 October 2023
An Iranian court has ruled that the
United States must pay $420 million in damages to survivors of a terrorist
attack by the US military in Iran’s central Tabas Desert back in 1980.
The Tehran Legal Court of International
Relations issued the verdict on Thursday, saying Washington has been sentenced
for the crimes committed during the invasion of Tabas in the failed
"Operation Eagle Claw," which led to the massacre of civilians.
In their terrorist operation, US forces
attacked ordinary bus passengers and drivers passing by for no reason.
Iran reminds the US of its failure in
Operation Eagle Claw in Tabas Desert in 1980, advising Washington to learn
lessons from its historic defeat.
The latest court decision came after 13
survivors of the terror attack as well as one of the hostages taken by the US
forces in the Desert filed a lawsuit against the US government.
The court ruled that the US government
must pay $140 million for the “material and moral” damage it caused the
plaintiffs and $280 million in “punitive damages.”
Therefore, the US government has to pay
a total of $420 million in compensation to the survivors, the verdict
concluded.
On April 25, 1980, the United States
launched the covert military operation in an attempt to airlift the US embassy
staff held in the Iranian capital, Tehran.
However, a sandstorm hit and brought
down the group of US military aircraft in the Tabas Desert, killing eight
American servicemen and resulting in the failure of the mission. Inspections
showed a helicopter crashed into a C-130 Hercules transport plane as five other
choppers were stranded in the storm.
The units involved in the operation were
from the US Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps.
The Operation Eagle Claw was an
“absolute catastrophe” and "stands as a warning to the president of the
United States" against initiating war with Iran, a political analyst says.
The Tabas incident occurred during the
administration of President Jimmy Carter, and many believe it played a major
role in Carter’s defeat in the 1980 presidential election.
Iran commemorates the event every year
as a symbol of the failure of US plots against the Islamic Republic.
During the takeover of the embassy,
documents were discovered that proved some of the American embassy staff had
been working with US intelligence agencies. Some 52 Americans were held in
Tehran for 444 days, but later released unharmed.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/26/713458/Iran-court-US-damages-Tabas-Operation-Eagle-Claw
--------
Israeli forces come under two missile
attacks in Eritrea, senior officer killed
27 October 2023
Israeli forces have come under attack in
Eritrea with reports saying the armed offensive led to the killing of a senior
officer amid an ongoing war between Palestinian resistance groups in the
besieged Gaza Strip and the Israeli regime.
Lebanon's Arabic-language al-Mayadeen
television news network, citing military sources, reported the development on
Thursday and said two missile attacks were carried out against Israeli forces
stationed in Eritrea.
“The first attack took place at an
Israeli base in the Dahlak Archipelago, and another attack targeted the highest
peak of Mount AmbaSuir, where Israeli forces use as an observation post in the
Red Sea,” the news network said.
The source said the Dahlak Archipelago
is the Israeli forces’ largest base abroad and hosts the regime’s air fleet
which includes dozens of fighter jets.
The sources also confirmed the killing
of a senior Israeli military officer during the raid.
No group or individual has so far
claimed responsibility for the attacks, and Israeli authorities have yet to
comment on the reports.
Over the past 21 days, the Israeli war
machine has been actively operating against Palestinian civilians across the
besieged Gaza Strip.
More than 7,000 civilians have been
killed by Israel’s ferocious bombardment since October 7th, with 3,000 children
among the casualties.
On October 7, Hamas-led Palestinian
resistance groups launched their biggest operation against Israel in years in a
surprise offensive, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, in response to the
occupying regime’s intensified crimes against the Palestinian people.
Since then, Israel has pressed ahead
with a relentless bombardment of Gaza. The death toll in Gaza since the start
of Israeli aggression has reached over 7,000 with more than 18,000 wounded.
Tel Aviv has also blocked water, food,
and electricity to Gaza, plunging the besieged territory into a humanitarian
crisis.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/27/713498/Israeli-forces-missile-attacks-al-Mayadeen-television-news-network-Eritrea
-------
North America
US Presidential Candidate, Florida
Governor Ron Desantis, Says He Sent Weapons To Israel
26 Oct, 2023
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has sent a
shipment of drones, body armour, and helmets to Israel, and has organized the
transport of weapons and ammunition to the Jewish state from a private
supplier, his office said on Thursday.
A spokesman for DeSantis told multiple
US media outlets that the delivery was organized following a request by
Israel’s consul general in Miami, MaorElbaz-Starinsky.
However, there is confusion over the
shipment, with Elbaz-Starinsky telling the Associated Press that he never made
such a request. “Nothing went through me,” he said. “We were never in
communication on any shipments of arms or ammunition. The only thing that I
have dealt with sending is medical supplies.”
Despite Elbaz-Starinsky’s denial,
DeSantis’ spokesman insisted to CNN that the governor worked with the Israeli
diplomat to “help get weapons and ammunition to Israel through private
parties.” However, a CNN source said that the state of Florida did not directly
transport the weapons and ammo, leaving it unclear how DeSantis participated in
their delivery to Israel.
The supplies left Florida for Israel
last Tuesday, the source said.
“It is not illegal for the governor of a
state to offer a measure of foreign assistance to another country,” White House
spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday. “There are laws and regulations which
govern how the export process is handled and that’s all done through [The
Department of] Commerce. I couldn’t speak with authority today about whether
the governor has checked all those boxes or not.”
Foreign aid, particularly military aid,
is usually the purview of the federal government. The Pentagon has flown
multiple shipments of arms, ammunition, and equipment to Israel since the war
with Hamas broke out earlier this month, and Biden is currently pushing
Congress to pass a $14 billion package of military aid for Israel, which he has
tied to $61 billion in funding for Ukraine, despite protest from Republican
lawmakers.
However, DeSantis has taken a number of
independent actions in support of Israel since the conflict began. The governor
has arranged charter flights to transport Americans home from Israel, sent
shipments of medical supplies, and ordered universities in Florida to ban the Students for Justice in Palestine
organization.
While these moves have garnered media
attention, they have not succeeded in boosting DeSantis’ poll numbers.
According to a USA Today survey published on Monday, just 12% of Republican
voters want the Florida governor to be their party’s nominee for president next
year, compared to 58% who back former President Donald Trump for the position.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/news/585903-ron-desantis-israel-weapons/
-------
Bulgaria arrests man who called in video
for ‘Jihad’ against Israelis and Americans
October 26, 2023
Bulgarian police have arrested a
50-year-old man who recorded a video message called for “Jihad” and mass
attacks against Israelis and Americans, the Interior Ministry and Prosecutor’s
Office said at a joint news conference on October 26.
Believed to have been born in Beirut,
the man has been in Bulgaria since 1996, with humanitarian status since 2004.
IlainaKirilova of the Sofia City
Prosecutor’s Office said that at 5pm on October 25, the office had received a
report from the State Agency for National Security about a video “showing a
person wearing certain clothing typical of the representatives of Palestine and
calling for revenge because of what is happening in the territory of
Palestine”.
“Immediate measures have been taken,”
Kirilova said.
Deputy City Prosecutor HristoKrastev
said: “The person is stateless but is believed to be a Palestinian born in
Beirut. In the video he calls for a holy war against Israelis and Americans”.
The man was stopped on the Trakia
Motorway at the entrance to Sofia and taken into 72-hour custody. If found
guilty under the relevant section of the Criminal Code, he could be sent to
prison for up to eight years.
In 2017, the man was convicted of
assisting illegal residents in Bulgaria after he was caught on Trakia Motorway
transporting six irregular migrants from Afghanistan. He offered a 200 euro
bribe to the police patrol who stopped him and was arrested.
He was given a suspended sentence, and
after the probationary period, was deemed to be rehabilitated.
The man is married and has secondary
education. The news conference was told that he had combat experience and had
participated in military operations.
His identity as the man in the video was
confirmed by facial recognition technology, and examination showed that the
video was made using one of the phones confiscated in his home.
He is to appear in Sofia City Court for
a hearing on an application by prosecutors for him to be remanded in custody
pending the outcome of his trial.
Source: sofiaglobe.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://sofiaglobe.com/2023/10/26/bulgaria-arrests-man-who-called-in-video-for-jihad-against-israelis-and-americans/
--------
US forces, allies attacked 16 times in
Iraq and Syria this month: Pentagon
27 October 2023
Amid regional outrage over the United
States' heavy support for the Israeli regime's ongoing onslaught against
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the US says its forces and their allies have
been attacked at least 16 times across Iraq and neighboring Syria this month.
Since October 17, "US and coalition
forces have been attacked at least 12 separate times in Iraq [and] four
separate times in Syria," Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder
told journalists on Thursday.
Ryder said the latest of the attacks
took place in the Kurdistan region in northern Iraq on Thursday, causing
"no casualties" and "some minor damage to infrastructure."
The Pentagon has also confirmed that 19
American troops have been diagnosed with "traumatic brain injury"
following the attacks.
The attacks have been carried out with
"a mix of one-way attack drones and rockets," Ryder said.
Iraqi resistance forces reportedly wage
drone strike against airbase housing American troops.
There are roughly 2,500 American troops
in Iraq and some 900 in Syria as part of, what Washington claims to be, a
fighting force against Daesh. The US has kept the forces there, although, the
Arab countries and their allies defeated the Takfiri terrorist group in late
2017.
Earlier this month, Iraq’s anti-terror
group Kata’ib Hezbollah threatened to target American bases in Iraq and the
entire region if the United States intervened in the Israeli regime's October
7-present war against Gaza that has so far claimed more than 7,000
Palestinians, mostly women and children.
Iraq’s anti-terror group Kata’ib
Hezbollah threatens to target American bases in Iraq and the entire region if
the US intervenes in the Israeli regime’s onslaught against Gaza.
The US, Israel's biggest and oldest
allies, has provided Israel with thousands of arms consignments since the
initiation of the war, and has backed Tel Aviv's ferocious attacks on the
Palestinian territory as a means of "self-defense."
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/27/713481/United-States-forces-attacked-Iraq-Syria-Israel-war-Gaza
--------
US Republicans propose splitting Israel
and Ukraine aid
26 Oct, 2023
A group of US Republican senators have
introduced a standalone bill that would prevent Washington sending a proposed
$61 billion to Ukraine while approving $14 billion in military aid to Israel.
US president Joe Biden has attempted to leverage the GOP’s support for West
Jerusalem against its skepticism towards Kiev by tying aid for the two
countries together, the senators claimed.
Introduced on Thursday by Kansas Senator
Roger Marshall, Ohio’s J.D. Vance, Utah’s Mike Lee, and Ted Cruz of Texas, the
‘Israel Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2023’ would provide $10.6 billion in
direct military aid to Israel, along with $3.5 billion in grants for foreign
military sales and $200 million to beef up security at US embassies and offices
in the country.
President Joe Biden has already asked
Congress to pass a $14 billion military aid package for Israel but insists it
be passed as part of an overall $106 billion national security funding bill
including $61.4 billion for Ukraine and $13.6 billion for border security in
the US.
“My colleagues and I firmly believe that
any aid to Israel should not be used as leverage to send tens of billions of
dollars to Ukraine,” Senator Marshall said on Thursday. “It is unreasonable for
the administration to exploit an aid package for Israel to siphon off billions
of taxpayer dollars in yet another blank check for Ukraine,” Lee added.
Marshall, Vance, and Lee all voted
against the last Ukraine aid package, while Cruz voted in favor.
Democrats hold a one-seat majority in
the Senate, but need to win over nine Republicans in order to pass Biden’s
bill. While Minority Leader Mitch McConnell lent his support to the bill
earlier this week, South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds told Politico that the
package was essentially “dead,” and unlikely to pass.
The bill’s chances are even more slim in
the House of Representatives, where the narrow Republican majority succeeded in
removing $6 billion in funding for Kiev from a government spending bill earlier
this month. Following the bill’s passage, a group of hardline conservative
Republicans voted to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy over his reluctance to
insist on single-issue bills and his alleged negotiation of “a secret side-deal”
with Biden to funnel money to Ukraine, in the words of Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz.
McCarthy’s replacement, Mike Johnson,
was elected speaker on Wednesday. An ally of former President Donald Trump,
Johnson has voted against two packages of aid for Ukraine since last year, and
questioned whether Kiev was being “entirely forthcoming and transparent about
the use of this massive sum of taxpayer resources.”
On Israel, however, Johnson has pledged
to do whatever he can to “provide the support and resources necessary to rid
the Middle East and the world of Hamas’ terrorist regime.” In his first action
as speaker, Johnson introduced a resolution condemning the Palestinian militant
group and declaring that the House “stands with Israel.” The resolution passed
by 412 votes to 10.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/news/585881-republicans-israel-aid-bill/
-------
US strikes two sites used by Iranian
forces in Syria: Pentagon
October 27, 2023
The US military launched airstrikes
early Friday on two locations in eastern Syria linked to Iran’s Revolutionary
Guard Corps, the Pentagon said, in retaliation for a slew of drone and missile
attacks against US bases and personnel in the region that began early last week.
The US strikes reflect the Biden
administration’s determination to maintain a delicate balance. The US wants to
hit Iranian-backed groups suspected of targeting the US as strongly as possible
to deter future aggression, possibly fueled by Israel’s war against Hamas,
while also working to avoid inflaming the region and provoking a wider
conflict.
Information about the specific targets
and other details were not yet provided.
According to the Pentagon, there have
been at least 12 attacks on US bases and personnel in Iraq and four in Syria
since Oct. 17. Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said 21 US personnel were injured
in two of those assaults that used drones to target Al-Asad Airbase in Iraq and
Al-Tanf Garrison in Syria.
In a statement, Defense Secretary Lloyd
Austin said the “precision self-defense strikes are a response to a series of
ongoing and mostly unsuccessful attacks against US personnel in Iraq and Syria
by Iranian-backed militia groups that began on October 17.”
He said President Joe Biden directed the
narrowly tailored strikes “to make clear that the United States will not
tolerate such attacks and will defend itself, its personnel, and its
interests.” And he added that the operation was separate and distinct from
Israel’s war against Hamasa.
Austin said the US does not seek a
broader conflict, but if Iranian proxy groups continue, the US won’t hesitate
to take additional action to protect its forces.
According to the Pentagon, all the US
personnel hurt in the militant attacks received minor injuries and all returned
to duty. In addition, a contractor suffered a cardiac arrest and died while
seeking shelter from a possible drone attack.
The retaliatory strikes came as no
surprise. Officials at the Pentagon and the White House have made it clear for
the past week that the US would respond, with Ryder saying again Thursday that
it would be “at the time and place of our choosing.”
“I think we’ve been crystal clear that
we maintain the inherent right of defending our troops and we will take all necessary
measures to protect our forces and our interests overseas,” he told reporters
during a Pentagon briefing earlier in the day.
The latest spate of strikes by the
Iranian-linked groups came in the wake of a deadly explosion at a Gaza
hospital, triggering protests in a number of Muslim nations. The Israeli
military has relentlessly attacked Gaza in retaliation for the devastating
Hamas rampage in southern Israel nearly three weeks ago, but Israel has denied
responsibility for the Al-Ahli hospital blast and the US has said its
intelligence assessment found that Tel Aviv was not to blame.
The US, including the Pentagon, has
repeatedly said any strike response by America would be directly tied to the
attacks on the troops, and not connected to the war between Israel and Hamas.
Such retaliation and strikes against Iranian targets in Syria after similar
attacks on US bases are routine.
In March, for example, the US struck
sites in Syria used by groups affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard after
an Iranian-linked attack killed a US contractor and wounded seven other
Americans in northeast Syria. American F-15 fighter jets flying out of Al-Udeid
Air Base in Qatar struck several locations around DeirEzzor.
US officials have routinely stressed
that the American response is designed to be proportional, and is aimed at
deterring strikes against US personnel who are focused on the fight against the
Daesh group.
US officials have not publicly tied the
recent string of attacks in Syria and Iraq to the violence in Gaza, but Iranian
officials have openly criticized the US for providing weapons to Israel that
have been used to strike Gaza, resulting in civilian death.
The Pentagon, meanwhile, has beefed up
air defenses in the region to protect US forces. The US has said it is sending
several batteries of Patriot missile systems, a Terminal High Altitude Area
Defense (THAAD) battery and additional fighter jets.
The THAAD is being sent from Fort Bliss,
Texas, and the Patriot batteries are from Fort Liberty in North Carolina and
Fort Sill in Oklahoma. An Avenger air defense system from Fort Liberty is also
being sent.
Officials have said as much as two
battalions of Patriots are being deployed. A battalion can include at least
three Patriot batteries, which each have six to eight launchers.
Ryder said Thursday that about 900
troops have deployed or are in the process of going to the Middle East region,
including those associated with the air defense systems.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2398441/middle-east
-------
Southeast Asia
Malaysia’s Royalty ElectsSultan
IbrahimIskandarAs New King
October 27, 2023
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s royalty on
Friday elected Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar to be the new king, as the
country’s current monarch steps down next year.
Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy
with a unique system where the post of king rotates between the heads of its
nine Islamic royal Malay houses every five years.
Sultan Ibrahim, 64, of the southern
Johor state, was picked as the Muslim-majority nation’s 17th king after a
special meeting was held this morning between the nine rulers, a palace
official said in a statement.
“I inform that the Conference of Rulers
... have agreed to declare that His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, Sultan of Johor
Darul Ta’zim has been elected as His Majesty the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong,”
Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal Syed Danial Syed Ahmad said.
Sultan Ibrahim’s reign will last five
years from Jan. 31, 2023. He will replace Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah
of Pahang as the country’s new Yang di-Pertuan Agong or “He Who is Made Lord.”
Al-Sultan Abdullah, who will end his
rule as supreme monarch on Jan. 30, ascended to the throne in 2019 when Sultan
Muhammad V of Kelantan abdicated after just two years as head of state.
It was the first time a Malaysian king
abdicated, with no official reason given for the resignation.
Syed Danial also said Sultan
NazrinMuizzuddin Shah of Perak was elected as the deputy king, whose role
encompasses the functions of the head monarch when he is away from office.
Though the vote for head monarch is held
by ballot, appointments to the role follow a rotation held since the country’s
independence from British colonial rule in 1957.
“The Conference of Rulers — consistent
of nine Malay rulers — will offer to the state ruler first on the list,
although the said ruler can refuse,” BowerGroupAsia director HafidziRazali told
Arab News.
“In the instance of refusal, the
Conference will offer (the post) to the next state on the list.”
The influential Sultan Ibrahim of Johor
is the ruler of Malaysia’s southernmost peninsular state which borders
Singapore by a causeway.
Holding significant business interests,
he has shares in major Malaysian firms and commands his own private army, the
only state allowed to do so.
A motorcycle enthusiast, he leads an
annual motor vehicle tour of the state, taking him and his entourage through a
public visit of Johor’s 10 districts.
Malaysia’s kings play a largely
ceremonial role in the country’s day-to-day affairs as executive power rests
with the prime minister.
They can appoint a lawmaker who holds a
parliamentary majority as the country’s premier and exercise certain
discretionary powers during a national crisis.
“The king serves as the final arbiter
and point of reference,” Hafidzi said.
After a five-day political impasse in
November, following an election that led to a hung parliament, Al-Sultan
Abdullah named Anwar Ibrahim as the country’s prime minister.
He had met with several lawmakers
including Anwar and his rival Muhyiddin Yassin before making the decision.
Malaysia’s kings also have the power to
pardon convicts and are the country’s symbolic heads of Islam. Portraits of the
king and his queen are placed in government buildings.
Sultan Ibrahim in his new role was
“expected to place a strong emphasis on political stability, inter-race
cohesion, unity, and pro-business or investment environment,” Hafidzi said.
“His role symbolizes the historical
legacy of the Malay sultanates, as well as representing the guardianship of the
special relationship between the monarchy, the Malay race and Islam.”
Malaysia’s royalty has a lineage that
dates back to the 15th century, and it commands great respect from the
country’s population of 33 million, especially from the Muslim, ethnic-Malay
majority.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2398566/world
--------
Israeli army kills families of 2
Indonesian Hospital doctors in Gaza air raid
October 26, 2023
Jakarta: The Israeli army has killed the
families of two doctors working at the Indonesia Hospital in Gaza, the NGO that
funds the facility said on Thursday, amid a surge in strikes targeting the
relatives of Palestinian doctors.
The families of doctors Mohammad Al-Ran,
who is the head of the surgery department, and Muayyad Al-Ran, were among those
killed in an Israeli air raid on Thursday morning.
Since Tel Aviv started to bombard the
besieged enclave following an Oct. 7 attack by the Gaza-based militant group
Hamas, more than 6,500 people have been killed in the raids and over 17,000
injured, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The air strikes have also targeted
dozens of health centers and doctors in the densely populated territory.
The Indonesia Hospital in north Gaza,
which is funded by the Indonesian NGO Medical Emergency Rescue Committee, or
MER-C, was one of the first health facilities hit by Israeli missiles at the
beginning of the escalation.
“The news is true. We are still looking
into the details now,” FikriRofiul Haq, a MER-C volunteer at the hospital, told
Arab News in a text message.
Clips shared widely on social media
showed the moment the doctors received the news over the phone, as they were
surrounded by colleagues trying to comfort them.
“The targeting of surgeons, who are very
much needed by war-injured patients, is a cruel and inhuman decision. Doctors
and other health workers are protected by the Geneva Convention,” Sarbini Abdul
Murad, chairman of MER-C’s executive committee in Jakarta, told Arab News.
“In Gaza, health workers are often
targeted by Israeli attacks. Not only doctors, even the Indonesian Hospital has
also received threats.”
The World Health Organization has so far
documented 171 Israeli attacks on health facilities in the occupied Palestinian
territories, including 75 in the Gaza Strip. The strikes have killed at least
16 health workers on duty.
These attacks occur as Gaza hospitals
are overwhelmed by thousands of patients with traumatic wounds from incessant
bombardment, and are also filled with tens of thousands of people seeking
shelter.
Health facilities in Gaza are struggling
to function as crucial supplies, such as fuel and medicines, have run out.
According to the WHO, six hospitals were already forced to shut down due to a
lack of fuel.
“Without fuel, medicines and health
supplies, Gaza’s hospitals are on the precipice of an unimaginable humanitarian
catastrophe,” the WHO said in a statement on Thursday.
“WHO calls for immediate and
uninterrupted access into and across Gaza, so that its ailing health system can
be urgently revived.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2398001/world
-------
Anwar receives courtesy call from
JusufKalla, discusses Palestinian issue
27-10- 2023
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Anwar Ibrahim received a courtesy call from former Indonesian vice-president
Muhammad JusufKalla and his wife, Mufidah at Seri Perdana, Putrajaya last
night.
Anwar posted on his Facebook page about
the visit, stating that they had discussed developments of the Palestinian
issue, a matter that gravely affected JusufKalla.
“We also took the opportunity to talk
about moderate Islamic thinking and preaching efforts in the Malay region
through knowledge and religious activities.
“This is in line with the current role
held by BapakJusufKalla as Dewan Masjid Indonesia (DMI) chief,” he posted.
The Prime Minister expressed hope that
the meeting would continue on JusufKalla’s long legacy that is synonymous with
the special relationship between Malaysia and Indonesia.
Anwar also uploaded several photographs
taken during the visit. – Bernama
Source: thesundaily.my
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thesundaily.my/local/anwar-receives-courtesy-call-from-jusuf-kalla-discusses-palestinian-issue-IB11675629
---------
Cops bust armed gang terrifying Kinta
Valley residents with multiple crimes
27 Oct 2023
IPOH – Residents of the Kinta Valley can
breath easier after a violent gang that has been menacing households and
businesses in the area with multiple criminal acts was busted by the police
this week.
Members of the main quartet in the
group, which is called 'GengJiva', are believed to have been linked to at least
24 violent crimes and 34 property crimes.
They allegedly caused injuries while
carrying out the litany of armed robbery and housebreaking acts in various Ipoh
city areas, particularly in Taman Canning, Taman Ipoh Timur and Bercham.
According to Ipoh Police chief ACP
Yahaya Hassan, the gang has been effectively crippled with the arrest of the
four individuals in an operation on Oct 23.
Those caught include the leader and
mastermind. The three men and a woman are all aged between 26 and 35.
The police are confident that they have
solved the 24 cases of violent acts and 34 property crimes suspected to have
been committed by the group around Ipoh.
"We believe we have crippled
'GengJiva’, which has been active in several housing estates, after arresting
the four suspects, including the gang leader,” Yahaya said in a statement late
last night.
He said the police mounted a raid at a
house in Taman Syabas. They managed to seized various items, such as knives,
mobile phones and a motorcycle.
He added that two of the men and the
woman tested positive for Methamphetamine. All four suspects, who already have
prior criminal records, have been remanded for further investigations.
The delicate operation to nab the group
was executed at 5.45pm on Tuesday by a team which included the Criminal
Investigation Department’s special crime unit known as D9.
They were accompanied by officers from
the Ipoh district police headquarters.
The investigations are being carried out
under Section 395 of the Penal Code which deals with alleged gang robbery, and
Section 397 which is related to the act of “robbery when armed or with attempt
to cause death or grievous hurt”.
If convicted under Section 395, they can
be imprisoned for up to twenty years, and shall also be liable to whipping.
Section 397 is applicable for an
offender who is armed with or uses a deadly weapon, or causes grievous hurt to
any person, or attempts to cause death or grievous hurt.
If found guilty under this, the offender
faces punishment by whipping in addition to any other punishment to which he
may be liable under the Penal Code.
The investigation team is now compiling
the facts and evidences, and will refer the completed investigation papers to
the deputy public prosecutor for suggested charges to be laid.
Yahaya extended the police’s
appreciation to members of the public for providing valuable information that
led to the arrests. – The Vibes, October 27, 2023
Source: thevibes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/99647/cops-bust-armed-gang-terrifying-kinta-valley-residents-with-multiple-crimes
--------
Criminal activities by foreigners in
eastern Sabah: 17 boats, five individuals detained in ops
27 Oct 2023
LAHAD DATU – The authoritative agency
overseeing the security of much of Sabah against foreign incursions, the
Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom), has seized 17 pump boats and detained
five individuals in connection with numerous criminal activities, ranging from
drug-trafficking, piracy, illegal border crossing, smuggling and illegal
fishing.
Its commander, Datuk Victor Sanjos, said
the seizures and arrests were carried out in multi operations codenamed Ops
GasakLautPamboat (OGL Pambot) and Integrated Operations in Semporna and Kunak
on October 25.
“The operations in both districts
involved the collaboration of 210 officers and personnel from federal and state
enforcement and security agencies, as well as local authorities,” he said in a
statement here yesterday.
The authorities involved included the
Royal Malaysia Police, the Marine Police Force, the 17th and 14th Battalions of
the General Operations Force, the Malaysian Armed Forces, and other entities.
Under the OGL Pambot operation in
Semporna, 17 individuals and 18 boats were inspected along the coastal and
water routes used by boats to access Pekan Semporna, he said.
Three individuals, including illegal
immigrants from the Philippines, were detained and were handed to the
Immigration Department.
The case is now being investigated under
Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. It deals with unlawful entry
into Malaysia by a person other than a citizen.
“Additionally, a boat owner was fined,
and 17 boats were confiscated and handed over to the Sabah Ports and Wharves
Department Semporna, for disposal,” Sanjos said.
Meanwhile, 115 individuals were also
inspected during the operation in areas identified as transit points for
cross-border criminals and concentrations of illegal immigrants in water
villages in the Kunak district.
“As a result of these inspections, two
individuals were apprehended by the Narcotics Crime Investigation Division of
the Kunak District Police Headquarters.
“The matter is now being investigated
under Section 12(2)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for the possession of
approximately 0.20 grams of syabu,” he said.
Sanjos meanwhile advised all boat owners
in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone to obtain their boat licences to avoid
actions, adding that ESSCom will continue to hold future operations
periodically to maintain control in the maritime and land areas in the region.
He also called on the public to assist
the agency in reporting abuses and security incidents by calling ESSCom
operations centre at 089-863181 or WhatsApp at 011-63311072. – The Vibes,
October 27, 2023
Source: thevibes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/99643/criminal-activities-by-foreigners-in-eastern-sabah-17-boats-five-individuals-detained-in-ops
--------
Pakistan
Pakistan Tehreek-i-InsafTeam Meets
‘Sworn Rival’ Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl Chief As Ice Melts
Kalbe Ali
October 27, 2023
ISLAMABAD: Demonstrating a flexibility
that is quite unlike with its traditional stance, a delegation of the Pakistan
Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday paid a visit to the residence of Jamiat
Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
While leaders of both the parties termed
it a “non-political event”, saying that the PTI delegation — led by former
National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser — had only come to condole with Maulana
Fazl over the death of his mother-in-law, political analysts and experts are
declaring it a “significant development” against the backdrop of the bitter
rivalry between the two parties in the past.
Both the Maulana and PTI Chairman Imran
Khan are known to be “bitter political rivals” and not only the members of the
two parties, but also their heads had been seen launching personal attacks
against each other.
The “condolence meeting”, according to
sources, lasted for more than an hour and the PTI delegation members even
offered Maghrib prayers led by the Maulana himself.
Besides Mr Qaiser, the PTI delegation
included former minister in Imran Khan’s cabinet Ali Mohammad Khan, former MNA
Junaid Akbar and ex-senator Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif.
Talking to Dawn, Barrister Saif stated
that the sole purpose of the visit was to offer condolences over the death of
Maulana Fazl’s mother-in-law and not any political motive.
However, he added, whenever politicians
met, they discussed “political situation”.
Stating that it was the first “formal
contact” between the two parties, he said the JUI-F chief had already declared
that the treatment being meted out to PTI chairman Imran Khan was
“inappropriate” and that they expressed gratitude to the Maulana over his
remarks.
He said both sides agreed that elections
in the country should be held on time and in a free, fair and transparent
manner and that all political parties should have a level playing field.
He said the matter of the expulsion of
the unregistered Afghan refugees from the country also came under discussion
during the meeting.
Barrister Saif did not rule out the
possibility of more meetings between the two parties in future.
Responding to a question, he said they
visited the JUI-F chief in line with a decision taken by the PTI’s core
committee in a recent meeting.
He further said that the delegation had
undertaken the visit with the formal approval of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, who
is currently incarcerated in the Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi.
JUI-F spokesperson Hafiz Hamdullah while
talking to Dawn said his party had no enmity with the PTI or its leadership,
and did not rule out more such contacts to discuss the political situation.
“We have been saying from day one that
the PTI had been imposed on the country through the use of force in July 2018
elections,” he said, adding: “We have also said that the PTI agenda and their
way of politics was not right, but better late than never, and the flexibility
shown by the PTI leadership is a welcoming step.”
He said when the PTI leaders were behind
bars, the Maulana had openly expressed that it was not a right time to speak
against Imran Khan.
The PTI delegation’s visit also shows
that they have realised that Maulana Fazlur Rehman had a presence in the
country’s politics, he said.
“They have acknowledged the Maulana as
imam,” he said while referring to the offering of prayers by the PTI leaders at
the Maulana’s residence, stating that sooner or later, the PTI would also
acknowledge the Maulana as imam in politics.
Mr Hamdullah declared that an electoral
alliance with the PTI was not a point of discussion in the current situation
when its leader was behind bars.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1784082/pti-team-meets-sworn-rival-fazl-as-ice-melts
--------
IHC turns down Imran Khan's bail,
cancellation of FIR pleas in cipher case
October 27, 2023
Awais Yousafzai
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Islamabad High
Court (IHC) Aamer Farooq on Friday turned down Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
Chairman Imran Khan's petitions seeking bail and cancellation of the first
information report (FIR) in the cipher case.
The IHC chief justice announced the
verdict today which was reserved on October 16 after hearing arguments from
both sides.
During the last hearing, Khan's lawyer,
Sardar Latif Khosa, had contended that the FIR could not be registered against
his client as the federal cabinet of the former prime minister had declassified
the cipher.
He further stated that the ex-premier
enjoyed immunity as provided in Article 248 of the Constitution that protects
the president, governor, prime minister, federal minister, minister of state,
chief minister and provincial minister for their “act done or purported to be
done.”
What is ciphergate?
The controversy first emerged on March
27, 2022, when Khan — less than a month before his ouster in April 2022 — while
addressing a public rally waved a letter before the crowd, claiming that it was
a cipher from a foreign nation that had conspired with his political rivals to
have PTI government overthrown.
He did not reveal the contents of the
letter nor did he mention the name of the nation it came from. But a few days
later, he accused the United States of conspiring against him and alleged that
Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Affairs Donald Lu had
sought his removal.
The cipher was about former Pakistan
ambassador to the US Majeed's meeting with Lu.
The former prime minister, claiming that
he was reading contents from the cipher, said that "all will be forgiven
for Pakistan if Imran Khan is removed from power".
Then on March 31, the National Security
Committee (NSC) took up the matter and decided to issue a "strong
demarche" to the US for its "blatant interference in the internal
affairs of Pakistan".
Later, after his removal, then-prime
minister Shehbaz Sharif convened a meeting of the NSC, which came to the
conclusion that it had found no evidence of a foreign conspiracy in the cable.
In the two audio leaks that took the
internet by storm and shocked the public, the former prime minister,
then-federal minister Asad Umar, and then-principle secretary Azam could
allegedly be heard discussing the US cipher and how to use it to their
advantage.
On September 30, the federal cabinet
took notice of the matter and constituted a committee to probe the contents of
the audio leaks.
In October, the cabinet gave the green
signal to initiate action against the former prime minister and handed over the
case to the FIA.
Once FIA was given the task to probe the
matter, it summoned Khan, Asad Umar, Shah Mahmood Qureshi and other leaders of
the party, but the PTI chief challenged the summons and secured a stay order
from the court.
The Lahore High Court (LHC), in July
this year, recalled the stay order against the call-up notice to Khan by the
FIA.
The charge sheet added that Qureshi
“aided and abetted” Imran and, therefore, was liable for the act in the same
manner.
However, both the accused pleaded not
guilty.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1123275-ihc-turns-down-imran-khans-bail-cancellation-fir-pleas-in-cipher-case
-------
Special flight takes 132 stranded
Afghans to UK
October 27, 2023
RAWALPINDI: The UK has started the
evacuation of Afghan refugees, eligible for asylum, from Pakistan more than two
years after they left Kabul following the Taliban takeover in 2021.
Around 3,000 Afghans, many of whom
worked for the British army, were evacuated to be provided residence in the UK.
They have been stuck in Pakistan since
last year when the UK authorities made accommodation arrangements a
prerequisite for repatriation.
Their repatriation became a contentious
issue for the UK government after two refugees, eligible for the relocation,
filed a case in a London court, forcing London to expedite the repatriation.
On Thursday, a chartered flight with 132
Afghan refugees onboard departed the Islamabad International Airport for
London’s Stansted Airport at 3:15pm.
On the occasion, special security
arrangements were made at the airport. Women and children were also among the
refugees evacuated to the UK.
On Tuesday, a British High Commission
delegation met senior officials of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority and
discussed measures regarding special flights for the transfer of Afghan refugees.
A senior official said the repatriation
of all Afghan refugees will be completed in mid-December, with one or two
weekly chartered flights from Islamabad.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1784079/special-flight-takes-132-stranded-afghans-to-uk
-------
Pakistan reaffirms support for
Kashmiris’ right to self-determination
Syed Irfan Raza
October 27, 2023
ISLAMABAD: As the nation observes
‘Kashmir Black Day’ today, marking the 76 years of Indian armed forces’ illegal
occupation in Kashmir, President Dr Arif Alvi and caretaker Prime Minister
Anwaarul Haq Kakar have assured the Kashmiri people of Pakistan’s unwavering
support for their legitimate struggle for the right to self-determination.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office
spokesperson, at a weekly press briefing, said that the people of Kashmir have
never accepted, nor will they ever accept, the illegal occupation of their land
or India’s systematic campaign to suppress them through force, turning them
into a disempowered minority in their homeland.
The spokesperson reaffirmed that
Pakistan will continue to provide political, moral, and diplomatic support to
“our Kashmiri brothers and sisters until they realise their inherent right to
self-determination as per the UNSC resolutions”.
She said the script being enacted by
Israeli occupation forces in Palestine was being replicated by India in held
Kashmir.
‘Kashmir Black Day’ marks 76 years of
illegal Indian occupation
“Like the Palestinian people, the people
of Jammu and Kashmir continue to wait for the UN Security Council to ensure the
implementation of its own resolutions that recognise their right to
self-determination.
Rooted in the colonial past, the Jammu
and Kashmir dispute, like the Palestine question has been on the UN Security
Council’s agenda for over seven decades,“ she pointed out.
Meanwhile, in his message, President
Alvi said that Oct 27, 1947, was one of the darkest days in the history of
Jammu and Kashmir.
“Over the last seventy-six years, India
has not only reneged on its obligations to the people of Jammu and Kashmir but
has also disregarded multilateralism by backtracking on UNSC resolutions,” he added.
The people of the held Kashmir have
endured endless oppression during this period. However, India has failed to
weaken their resolve to realise their inalienable right to self-determination.
Most militarised region
PM Kakar, in his message, noted that
over the last 76 years, India has employed various methods to perpetuate its
illegal rule over Kashmir. However, since Aug 5, 2019, there has been an
intensified campaign to ‘Indianise’ Kashmir and disempower the Kashmiri people
in their own land.
The Indian occupation has taken several
measures to achieve these nefarious designs, including gerrymandering electoral
constituencies, adding non-Kashmiris to voter rolls, issuing domicile
certificates to outsiders, and introducing new laws on land and property
ownership.
These undemocratic and illegal actions
directly violate relevant UNSC resolutions and the Fourth Geneva Convention, he
said.
Today, held Kashmir remains one of the
most militarised regions in the world.
The PM emphasised that recent
developments in the Middle East have shown that long-standing disputes should
not be allowed to persist.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1784075/pakistan-reaffirms-support-for-kashmiris-right-to-self-determination
--------
Abettors of ‘illegal immigrants’ will be
punished, warns Sindh home minister
October 27, 2023
KARACHI: The caretaker provincial
government on Thursday warned that action would be taken against anyone found
to have provided shelter to illegal immigrants, who would be taken into custody
for deportation after Oct 31, the deadline set by the authorities for them to
voluntarily return to their respective countries.
Addressing a press conference, Home
Minister retired Brig Haris Nawaz said that the federal government had decided
to repatriate all foreigners illegally staying in Pakistan to their country of
origin. He said that all the provincial governments were taking action against
illegal immigrants.
He said that the illegal immigrants who
were voluntarily returning to their countries were being given return
facilities.
The home minister asked all such
foreigners to ensure their voluntary return home by Oct 31, after which they
would be arrested and deported. The process would start on Nov 1, he said.
Brig Nawaz said that arrangements had
been made to facilitate voluntary return of illegal immigrants to their
homeland in a good manner and in this process women, children, elderly people
and others would be properly looked after.
However, after the Oct 31 deadline, no
illegal immigrant would be allowed to stay on in the country and their
deportation would be ensured, he categorically stated.
He said that over 200,000 illegal
immigrants had been identified so far.
He made it clear that action would be
taken against those who would provide shelter to illegal immigrants.
“Full support is being obtained from
Nadra and other related institutions to identify illegal immigrants; they will
be dealt with effectively and deported to their country of origin,” he added.
The caretaker provincial home minister
said that the federal government had also decided to take strict action against
makers of fake identity cards and other documents for foreigners.
Brig Nawaz said that the help of dignitaries
would also be taken to deport illegal immigrants. They would be sent to their
home countries in a respectful manner, he added.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1784019/abettors-of-illegal-immigrants-will-be-punished-warns-sindh-home-minister
---------
Parvez Elahi discharged in one case,
remanded in another
October 27, 2023
Wajih Ahmad Sheikh
LAHORE: A judicial magistrate on
Thursday discharged PTI President Parvez Elahi in a case of alleged corruption
in sugar quota allocation to mills, but granted his two-day physical remand to
the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) in another case related to illegal
appointments in the Punjab Assembly.
A team of the ACE brought Mr Elahi from
Adiala jail on a one-day transit remand to present him before the magistrate at
district courts.
The ACE alleged that Mr Elahi had
“illegally” allowed the establishment of Rahim Yar Khan Sugar Mills in 2007
when he was the Punjab chief minister.
During his second stint in 2022, it
said, Mr Elahi got Punjab Industries Control on Establishment and Enlargement
Amendment Bill passed from the Punjab Assembly to let RY Khan Sugar Mills
enhance its crushing capacity to 50,000 tonnes per day after paying the fee.
Yasmin Rashid, Omar Cheema and Khadija
Shah’s judicial remand extended
The agency said that Mr Elahi’s son,
Moonis Elahi, was a shareholder and partner in the sugar mills, and all these
illegal actions were taken to benefit him.
Rana Intezar Hussain, President of the
Lahore Bar Association, represented Mr Elahi and opposed the physical remand.
He asserted that the PTI leader had no connection to these charges.
Judicial Magistrate Imran Abid announced
his verdict on the remand request, discharging Mr Elahi in the case. However,
the magistrate approved a two-day physical remand for Mr Elahi to the ACE in
another case related to alleged illegal appointments in the assembly.
Previously, the magistrate had denied
the remand of Mr Elahi to the ACE in this case, and a special court for
anti-corruption had released him on bail. The prosecution challenged the bail
in the Lahore High Court (LHC), which suspended the special court’s decision
with instructions for a review. Mr Elahi also filed a petition in the LHC
against the withdrawal of his bail by the special court.
Justice Sultan Tanvir Ahmad heard
Elahi’s petition on Thursday and reserved a verdict.
In a brief chat with reporters, Mr Elahi
said it appeared that all the relief was for Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif.
PTI leaders’ remand extended
Separately, an anti-terrorism court on
Thursday extended the judicial remand of PTI-Punjab President Dr Yasmin Rashid,
former governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema, former MNA Robina Jameel and fashion
designer Khadija Shah in the May 9 riots cases.
The police presented the PTI leaders and
activists before the court on expiry of their 14-day judicial remand as final
challans (investigation reports) in the May 9 cases are still awaited.
Judge Abhar Gul Khan directed the police
to ensure submission of the challans by the next hearing and extended the
judicial remand of the suspects till Nov 9.
In a brief conversation with reporters,
Dr Rashid challenged Nawaz Sharif to contest election against her, suggesting
that if Sharif was brave, he should run in the upcoming election.
Mr Cheema, without naming anyone, stated
that they wanted to make him and others hold a press conference. “If we wanted
to leave PTI, we would have done so earlier,” he said.
ATC issues robkar
In a relevant development, an
anti-terrorism court issued a release order for Khadija Shah in two cases
related to attacks on the Jinnah House and Askari Tower during the May 9 riots.
Her husband provided surety bonds of
Rs1.4 million as directed by the LHC. The court had granted her bail on Oct 18,
but the police arrested her in a third case related to May 9 to stop her
release.
A hearing for a contempt petition
against her fresh arrest is scheduled before the high court for today (Friday).
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1784081/parvez-elahi-discharged-in-one-case-remanded-in-another
---------
Repatriation of Afghans residing
illegally in Pakistan continues
October 27, 2023
The voluntarily repatriation of illegal
foreign nationals to their countries is continuing and only four days are left
for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country.
The government has asked all
undocumented foreign nationals to leave Pakistan by 31st of this month,
otherwise law enforcement agencies will take action as per the law of
land.
Meanwhile, the voluntary repatriation of
Afghans residing illegally in Pakistan is continuing on daily basis through
Torkham and Chaman border crossings.
Source: radio.gov.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.radio.gov.pk/27-10-2023/voluntary-repatriation-of-afghans-residing-illegally-in-pakistan-continues
---------
PM, US Ambassador discuss prevailing
situation in Gaza
October 26, 2023
US Ambassador to Pakistan David Blome
called on Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar in Islamabad, today.
The Prime Minister highlighted steps
being undertaken by the Government in priority areas, particularly for
stabilization of the economy, repatriation of illegal foreigners, as well as
the ongoing electoral process.
Regional developments, including the
situation in Gaza, were also discussed.
The Prime Minister also emphasized the
significance of strong ties between Pakistan and the United States.
Source: radio.gov.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.radio.gov.pk/26-10-2023/us-ambassador-to-pakistan-calls-on-pm
-------
COAS lauds role of armed forces in
fighting terrorism
October 26, 2023
Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir says
intelligentsia and civil society have greater responsibility to ensure people,
especially youth stay aware and steadfast against hostile propaganda onslaught
being launched through soft offensive against state institutions of Pakistan.
He was addressing participants of
National Security Workshop - 25 in Rawalpindi on Thursday.
Forum was also apprised regarding host
of measures being taken to curb activities of illegal spectrum to include
smuggling, power theft, narcotics prevalence, border control measures, and
repatriation of illegal foreigners from Pakistan.
The Army Chief said that Armed Forces of
Pakistan and its security and intelligence setups have fought the menace of
Terrorism in an exemplary manner despite sustained and varied support of
inimical forces. He said Success will be ours InshAllah with the continued
support of the people of Pakistan”.
On the subject of repatriation and
deportation of illegal foreigners, the Army Chief expressed safety and security
of each Pakistani is of paramount importance which cannot be allowed to be
compromised at any cost.
He also highlighted the economic
positivity generated by multiple proactive steps especially Special Investment
Facilitation Council.
General Syed Asim Munir said army is
fully engaged in enabling national and provincial responses in different
domains in step with other institutions of the state for the collective good of
the people of Pakistan.
He said we are a resilient nation that
has endured the tests of time on its path to achieving peace and stability.
Source: radio.gov.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.radio.gov.pk/26-10-2023/coas-lauds-armed-forces-for-fighting-terrorism-in-an-exemplary-manner
--------
South Asia
Serving the People is a Fundamental
Obligation of the Islamic Emirate: Hanafi
2023-10-26
KABUL (BNA): Maulawi Abdul Salam Hanafi,
the Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs of the Islamic Emirate,
has emphasized that serving the people is a fundamental obligation of the
Islamic Emirate.
He assured me that effort would be
spared in fulfilling this duty.
In a meeting with health experts and
doctors from Cure International Hospital, Hanafi expressed his appreciation for
their efforts in providing health services to the public.
He reiterated that ensuring life and
financial security for the public, especially in terms of health services, is
one of the basic obligations of the Islamic Emirate.
The leadership of the government is
committed to making every effort in this regard.
During the meeting, Dr. Yousef Khan, the
president, and Syed AlfatHashemi, the chief physician of Cure Hospital,
provided information about the health activities carried out by their staff.
They expressed their commitment to
providing standardized and high-quality services to the public with their
dedicated health staff.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://bakhtarnews.af/en/serving-the-people-is-a-fundamental-obligation-of-the-islamic-emirate-hanafi/
-------
Afghan Migrants in Pakistan Say
Situation Getting Worse
October 25, 2023
Afghan refugees in Pakistan have
criticized the lack of attention by international institutions for the
situation of Afghan refugees living in Pakistan.
The Afghan Refugee Council in Pakistan
has said that Pakistan's mistreatment of migrants is increasing with each
passing day. The council added that Afghan refugees are being detained and
deported from their homes and shops.
It is now four days before the
deportation of illegal Afghan migrants from Pakistan.
"The migrants were returned from
their homes and shops where they had businesses and closed their shops. There
is no one to give sanctuary for them. "The government of Pakistan is doing
this very seriously,” said Siyal Mohammad Wesal, a member of Afghan Refugees
Council in Pakistan.
"The Pakistani police have mistreated
Afghan refugees, and the government has ordered shops to be evacuated and even
ordered that homes should not be provided to Afghan migrants," said
Hadisa, an Afghan migrant in Pakistan.
The head of the council of the Islamic
Emirate in Pakistan criticized the detaining of those Afghans who have legal
documents. Abdul JabarTakhari asked the government of Pakistan to give more
time for Afghan migrants.
"We want the Pakistani government to show
leniency. The amount of time Pakistan has given to Afghans is short. Afghans
cannot leave Pakistan in such a short time," said Abdul JabarTakhari.
"There have been meetings with
Pakistani officials and these problems have been shared, but so far we have not
reached a positive conclusion. We hope that the Pakistani authorities will
reconsider this," said Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, the spokesman for the
Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation.
Meanwhile, Pakistani Interior Minister
Sarfraz Bugti said Afghan migrants could not withdraw dollars from the country
and could only bring less than 50,000 Afs out of the country.
"It's impossible for anyone to take
the dollar out of here. No smuggling will be allowed. As I told you, they can
only make less than 50,000 Afghanis out of the country," said Sarfraz
Bugti.
The chargé d'affaires of Afghanistan
Permanent Mission to the United Nations said in his speech to the UN General
Assembly that Afghan migrants are faced with various challenges.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185740
--------
2 killed, 9 injured in Kabul blast:
official
Fidel Rahmati
October 27, 2023
The security official in Kabul says that
based on initial information, an explosion occurred on Thursday evening,
resulting in 4 casualties in the 18th district of Kabul city.
The security official has announced in a
press release that the death toll from this explosion is 2 people, with 9
others wounded. An investigative team has been dispatched to the scene to
determine the cause of the explosion.
Residents of the Dasht-e-Barchi area
claim that this explosion occurred in a sports hall at the bakery station.
Eyewitnesses say the explosion occurred around 7:30 PM on Thursday evening in
the people’s sports hall.
As of now, no information has been
provided regarding the casualties resulting from this explosion.
According to eyewitnesses and locals,
the explosion happened while many athletes were training in this sports hall.
The Taliban security authorities in
Kabul have not yet commented on this incident.
Based on images and video clips released
from the explosion scene, one building floor caught fire, and the continuous
sound of ambulances can be heard.
The Dasht-e-Barchi Hazara-populated area
in western Kabul has witnessed the bloodiest terrorist attacks over the past
two years, targeting people in religious places, educational centres, sports
halls, and other public places.
So far, no individual or group has
claimed responsibility for this incident.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/2-killed-9-injured-in-kabul-blast-official/
----------
Pakistan to close Spin Boldak border
with Afghanistan, sparking concerns
Fidel Rahmati
October 26, 2023
Pakistan has decided to close the Spin
Boldak border, Afghanistan, effectively limiting the movement of residents from
both sides of the border. Until now, people from both sides could freely travel
across the border without requiring visas. This move has prompted significant
reactions and concerns within Pakistan and beyond its borders, giving rise to
discussions about the potential consequences.
The closure of the Spin Boldak border by
Pakistan will substantially change the ease of travel between the Afghans and
Pakistanis.
On the other hand, Chief of Army Staff
(COAS) Gen Asim Munir emphasized the importance of the safety and security of
all Pakistanis during the National Security Workshop. He made it clear that
compromising this security was not an option.
This statement came from discussions
regarding the repatriation and deportation of illegal foreigners residing in
Pakistan.
Earlier this month, the government, in a
meeting chaired by caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar and attended by
COAS Munir, issued an ultimatum to undocumented immigrants, including Afghan
nationals, to leave Pakistan by a specific deadline or face imprisonment and
deportation. The decision also enforced the requirement for passports and visas
for border crossings, with electronic Afghan identity cards accepted only until
October 31.
COAS Munir stressed that the safety and
security of every Pakistani citizen was non-negotiable and praised the armed
forces’ efforts in combating terrorism. He expressed confidence that with the
support of the Pakistani people, they would continue to succeed in this
endeavour.
On Thursday, Afghanistan’s Ministry of
Refugees and Repatriation reported the return of around 5,179 immigrants from
Pakistan and Iran. According to an official in Islam Qala Herat, 3,591
individuals, including families, entered the country both forcibly and voluntarily.
Additionally, the ministry noted that
approximately 1,585 Afghan migrants were forcibly returned from Pakistan
through the Spin Boldak border on the previous day.
Recently, a notable increase in the
detention and repatriation of Afghan migrants in Pakistan and Iran has
occurred, primarily due to their lack of legal residency documents. Despite
calls from the United Nations and certain Western countries over the past month
urging Pakistan and Iran to halt deportations, both countries have maintained
their stance on repatriating Afghan migrants.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Sarfaraz
Bugti, clarified in the Senate that there are no intentions to extend the
migrant expulsion deadline, dispelling misconceptions. Bugti stressed that the
government’s directive pertains to all illegal migrants, not just Afghans. Any
potential extension of the deadline will be subject to discussion among
authorities, as per the Interior Minister.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/pakistan-to-close-spin-boldak-border-with-afghanistan-sparking-concerns/
----------
Over 5,000 Afghan migrants return home
from Pakistan and Iran
Fidel Rahmati
October 26, 2023
The Ministry of Refugees and
Repatriation of Afghanistan has reported that over 5,000 Afghan migrants have
returned to their country due to the ongoing deportation trend from Pakistan
and Iran.
On Thursday, the Ministry announced that
approximately 5,179 immigrants from Pakistan and Iran had returned to the
country.
The border official in Islam Qala Herat
has stated that among these migrants, 3,591 individuals, including families,
have entered the country both forcibly and voluntarily.
Furthermore, the Ministry has added that
approximately 1,585 Afghan migrants returned to the country forcibly through
the Spin Boldak border from Pakistan yesterday.
However, some migrants identified as
vulnerable and needing assistance have been referred to the International
Organization for Migration (IOM) to receive aid.
Recently, many Afghan migrants in
Pakistan and Iran have been detained due to the lack of legal residency
documents and are often repatriated to Afghanistan.
Despite repeated requests from the
United Nations and some Western countries in the past month for Pakistan and
Iran to refrain from deporting Afghan migrants, these countries have remained
firm in their decisions.
The Interior Minister of Pakistan,
Sarfaraz Bugti, stated that there are no plans to extend the migrant expulsion
deadline, addressing misconceptions in the Senate.
Sarfaraz Bugti emphasized, “We talked
about expelling illegal residents, but the message was conveyed as if we were
only expelling Afghans. The government’s message was not just for Afghans; it
was for all illegal migrants.”
The Interior Minister of Pakistan
confirmed that there is no current proposal to extend the migrant expulsion
deadline, with any potential extension to be discussed by authorities if
proposed.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/over-5000-afghan-migrants-return-home-from-pakistan-and-iran/
Pakistan won’t extend deadline for
expelling illegal immigrants: Interior Minister
Fidel Rahmati
October 26, 2023
Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz
Bugti urged illegal immigrants residing in Pakistan to return to their home
countries voluntarily. He announced on Thursday that the government has now
completed the plan for repatriating these individuals.
He has confirmed no plans to extend the
deadline for expelling migrants from the country. On Thursday, the Interior
Minister of Pakistan, Sarfaraz Bugti, clarified that the decision to expel
illegal immigrants after November 1st has been misunderstood and
misinterpreted, emphasizing that Pakistan’s intention is not limited to Afghan
nationals.
He made this statement during a session
of the Permanent Committee of the Pakistani Senate, addressing the
misconceptions surrounding Pakistan’s declaration regarding the departure of
foreign migrants.
Sarfaraz Bugti emphasized, “We talked
about expelling illegal residents, but the message was conveyed as if we were
only expelling Afghans. The government’s message was not just for Afghans; it
was for all illegal migrants.”
The Interior Minister of Pakistan announced
the government’s intention to expel illegal Iranian migrants, particularly
those from the Baloch community. Additionally, he emphasized that the Pakistani
authorities regard individuals holding refugee cards or visas as guests.
The High-Level Committee of the
Pakistani government recently announced that all illegal migrants living in the
country have until November 1st to leave Pakistan.
This decision has faced significant
criticism both domestically in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Several human rights
organizations have expressed concerns about it.
Bugti expressed hope that after November
1st, a single-entry system for travelling to Pakistan will be established, and
“anyone wishing to come to Pakistan should have a passport with them.”
He emphasized that no country allows
someone to come and live there illegally.
The Interior Minister of Pakistan stated
that there is currently no proposal to extend the deadline for the expulsion of
“illegal” migrants. If such a proposal is made, authorities will discuss it.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/pakistan-wont-extend-deadline-for-expelling-illegal-immigrants-interior-minister/
--------
Bangladesh to send more workers to Libya
Oct 27, 2023
Bangladesh has signed a memorandum of
understanding with Libya, aiming to expand labour market for Bangladesh, send
more workers through regular channels, and ensure their safety.
The MoU will play a pivotal role in
preventing irregular migration of Bangladeshis to Libya, the Expatriates'
Welfare Ministry said in a press release yesterday.
The MoU on "joint cooperation in
the field of recruitment of workers" was signed between the ministry and
Libyan labour and rehabilitation ministry on Wednesday in Tripoli.
Expatriates' Welfare Minister Imran
Ahmad signed the MoU.
The minister requested the Libyan
authority to implement a "zero migration cost" policy for Bangladeshi
workers and ensure their social protection there.
He also urged Libya to acknowledge the
workers' prior learning certifications granted by Bangladesh authorities, ease
the process of sending remittances through banking channels, and regularise
undocumented Bangladeshis without complications.
Bangladesh has sent about 1.22 lakh
migrant workers to Libya for employment since 1976 till June this year, says
Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training data.
Following the civil war in Libya in
2011, about 36,000 Bangladeshis were repatriated from the North African
country.
Later in 2012 and 2015, the government
banned migration of workers to Libya over security reasons. It lifted the
embargo in February last year.
Shariful Hasan, associate director of
Brac Migration Programme, told The Daily Star that while the MoU is a positive
sign, it should be questioned whether Libya's instability and workers'
vulnerabilities, along with other issues that prompted Bangladesh to impose the
embargo, were considered before inking it.
Currently, an estimated 20,000- 25,000
Bangladeshis, including the undocumented ones, are believed to be residing in
Libya, according to an official of the Bangladesh embassy in Tripoli.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thedailystar.net/nrb/migration/skilled-migration-more/news/labour-market-expanding-beyond-gulf-southeast-asia-3441101
--------
IMO Introduces Umrah Guide Feature For
Muslims Worldwide
OCTOBER 27, 2023
DHAKA, Bangladesh, Oct. 27, 2023
/PRNewswire/ -- With a vision to make the process of Umrah easier for Muslims
around the world, the globally popular instant messaging platform, imo, has
integrated an Umrah Guide feature within its app earlier this month. With an
array of sub-features, this new addition is designed to help pilgrims with
information regarding the Umrah processes through Umrah tips, location based
services, communication opportunities for pilgrims, and more.
Elderly Umrah pilgrims sometimes suffer
from illnesses or discomfort while performing the pilgrimage which can be
physically demanding especially during the summer months. Additionally, many
first timers and even regulars happen to miss or be unaware of parts of the
process, seeking details on how to perform Umrah or Hajj accurately—as a
solution, imo has introduced the Umrah Guide feature specifically designed for
Muslims embarking on the Journey Makkah to perform Umrah. It includes a
step-by-step guide explaining the processes to follow while providing elaborate
Umrah tips. It also carries in-depth information on Umrah ritual locations,
illustrated through a satellite map for clear guidance. Beginning from
November, this feature will allow visitors to share their locations with loved
ones, ensuring a safer journey. Moreover, for the pilgrims having trouble
connecting to family and friends at home, imo serves quality communication
services across different countries, including the ones with weak network
conditions. Consequently, this enables the Umrah pilgrims to stay connected
throughout this blessed period.
The features within the Umrah Guide
include Umrah Smart Assistant, Explanation of Umrah, Step-by-step, Umrah
Location Guide, Location Sharing with Family, and International Calling Service
that is suitable for weak networks, allowing users to save data while making
voice and video calls free of charge. To utilize these features, the user needs
to find the Umrah service channel on the imo App and click on it to enter the
Umrah Guide. In the Umrah Guide, the Umrah Map is displayed at the top, and the
corresponding Umrah Steps are shown at the bottom.
Mehran Kabir, Business Director of imo
Messenger, said, "Umrah is an extremely special pilgrimage for Muslims
around the globe. We have come up with this feature with the aim of providing
assistance to our Muslim users looking to embark on this blessed journey. With
the Umrah tips and guides available on imo, I believe our users will be able to
perform Umrah more conveniently while sharing the experience with their loved
ones back at home."
Source: asiaone.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.asiaone.com/business/imo-introduces-umrah-guide-feature-muslims-worldwide
--------
Africa
Kenyan MPFarah Maalim, Censured For
WearingTraditional Palestine ScarfAs A Symbol Of Solidarity
26-10- 2023
A Kenyan Member of Parliament (MP) found
himself at the centre of controversy as he was instructed to remove a
traditional Palestinian scarf he was wearing during a sitting.
Farah Maalim, the MP in question, stated
that he was wearing the scarf as a symbol of solidarity with the Palestinians
in Gaza, who were enduring the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Mr. Maalim expressed the view that
Palestine required the support of all individuals in Kenya during these
challenging times.
However, his gesture was met with
opposition from the Speaker of the National Assembly, who deemed the scarf a
violation of parliamentary regulations.
Furthermore, fellow MPs joined in the
criticism, accusing the legislator of displaying disrespect towards the rules
of the House.
This incident comes days after Kenyan
authorities briefly detained three individuals for their involvement in a
pro-Palestinian gathering in the capital, Nairobi.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/10/26/kenyan-mp-censured-for-wearing-palestine-scarf/
--------
Teenage Nigerian Student Confesses To
Abducting, Killing Five-Year-Old Boy After Collecting Ransom
October 26, 2023
A 17-year-old secondary school student,
Elijah Anthony, has explained why he killed a five-year-old primary school
pupil, Dawon Pam, of Bukuru community of Jos South Local Government Area of
Plateau State.
The suspect, who is a neighbour to the
family of the victim, disclosed that he killed the boy because of economic
hardship.
“Hardship and suffering was what
prompted me to commit the crime. I later realized that the victim who happened
to be my neighbour had already seen my face and might expose me if released.
According to Daily Trust, narrating how
he and his friend kidnapped and killed the victim, he said, “On the 13th of
this month (October), my friend and I planned and kidnapped the boy while he
was moving around and we hid him in an uncompleted building.
“When the parents and relatives realized
that the boy was nowhere to be found, they started searching for him. I pretend
as if I didn’t know where he was. I even participated in searching for him. We
later demanded ransom and five days after, I killed the boy. I strangled him to
death and buried him,” the suspect added.
While parading the suspect alongside
other 36 suspects, the state commissioner of police, Okoro Julius, said the
suspect had collected N400,000 ransom before killing the victim, adding that
the police were able to arrest him after tracking a phone number that was used
to negotiate the ransom.
The CP also explained that the
kidnappers had earlier asked for N5m ransom, but was able to receive NN400,000,
adding that upon the receipt of the report, a team of police operatives led by
SP OkalaUgbede swung into action and was able to track the kidnappers.
“On 23/10/2023, one of the culprits,
Elijah Anthony, 17yrs, was arrested. Upon interrogation, he admitted to have
committed the crime,” he said.
The police commissioner said in the last
one month, the command arrested 39 suspects, recovered 11 fabricated rifles,
seven locally-made pistols and ammunition, calling on citizens to cooperate
with the police to get rid of criminals in the state.
Source: saharareporters.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://saharareporters.com/2023/10/26/teenage-nigerian-student-confesses-abducting-killing-five-year-old-boy-after-collecting
---------
Court quashes proscription of IPOB as
terrorist group
27 October 2023
Lawrence Njoku, Enugu
An Enugu High Court, presided over by
Justice Anthony Onovo, has voided the proscription of the Indigenous People of
Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation.
The Federal Government under Muhammadu
Buhari and governors of the SouthEast region had, in 2017, proscribed the
secessionist group, while the leader, NnamdiKanu, was clamped into detention.
The court, yesterday, also declared that
self-determination was not a crime and should not, therefore, be used as a
basis to arrest, detain and prosecute the IPOB leader.
Kanu, through his Special Counsel,
AloyEjimakor, had in January this year, approached the court to seek
nullification of the proscription and terrorist tag on the group, based on the
fact that it is a registered organisation with membership exercising their
right of association.
He had sought de-listing of the
organisation as a terrorist group in line with the provisions of the African
Charter and the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as restraining the
government from proceeding with criminal proceedings against Kanu.
Delivering judgment on the matter,
Justice Onovo agreed that the African Charter is binding on Nigerian courts.
He declared that in practical
application of the Terrorism Prevention Act, the executive or administrative
action of the South East Governors Forum (SEGF) and the Federal Government,
which directly led to the proscription of IPOB, its listing as a terrorist
group and the consequent arrest, detention and prosecution Kanu is illegal,
unconstitutional and amounts to infringement of his fundamental right.
The judge ordered the Federal Government
and South East governors to issue official letter(s) of apology to Kanu for the
infringement of his fundamental rights; and publication of the letter(s) in
three national dailies.
The court awarded jointly or severally
the sum of N8 billion to Kanu as monetary damages claimed against the Federal
Government and South East governors for the physical, psychological, property
and other damages he suffered as a result of the infringements on his
fundamental rights.
Ejimakor commended the court as the last
hope of the common man.
He stated: “We are grateful that justice
has prevailed over this matter since 2017. The court has reaffirmed the hopes
of the common man in the judiciary. You have saved thousands of lives.”
Source: guardian.ng
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://guardian.ng/news/court-quashes-proscription-of-ipob-as-terrorist-group/
--------
Red Sea: Ethiopia "will not assert
its interests through war", assures Abiy Ahmed
26-10- 2023
Ethiopia has no intention of invading
another country and "will never assert its interests through war",
assured its Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Thursday, a few days after a speech
that raised concerns about Addis Ababa's possible claims to the Red Sea.
In a televised speech on October 13, Mr.
Abiy said that "Ethiopia's existence as a nation is linked to the Red
Sea", that his country needed a port, and that "peace" in the
region depended on "balanced mutual sharing" between landlocked
Ethiopia and its neighbors.
The second most populous country in
Africa, with around 120 million inhabitants, Ethiopia has no direct access to
the Red Sea, one of the world's major trade crossroads, unlike its neighbors
Eritrea and Djibouti.
Although he said he had "no wish to
interfere in the affairs" of other countries and wanted to
"peacefully" assert his demand for a port on the Red Sea, Mr. Abiy's
speech worried some observers, particularly in a context of apparent tensions
with neighboring Eritrea.
"Ethiopia has never invaded any
country and will not do so in the future," assured Mr. Abiy in a speech
delivered on Thursday in central Addis Ababa, on the occasion of the
"Defense Forces Day" celebrated every year.
"Our recent request for access to
the sea has raised fears that Ethiopia is leading an invasion. I want to assure
you that Ethiopia will not assert its interests through war", continued
the Ethiopian Prime Minister.
Abiy Ahmed's rapprochement with Eritrea
earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, but his aura then seriously faded
when he sent the federal army to quell the rebellious authorities of the
northern region of Tigray. The war in Tigray, which lasted from November 2020
to November 2022, claimed several hundred thousand lives.
Modern Ethiopia briefly had access to
the Red Sea when it gradually annexed Eritrea, a former Italian colony, in the
1950s.
It has lost this access since a conflict
between the two countries between 1998 and 2000, a few years after Eritrea
became independent in 1993, and Ethiopia now depends on the port of Djibouti
for its exports and imports.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/10/26/red-sea-ethiopia-will-not-assert-its-interests-through-war-assures-abiy-ahmed/
---------
Niger: HRW and Amnesty call for
"arbitrary" release of detainees
27-10- 2023
The NGOs Human Rights Watch (HRW) and
Amnesty International on Thursday called for the immediate release of those
detained "arbitrarily" in Niger by the military regime that emerged
from the July 26 coup d'état, while also denouncing a crackdown on journalists
and government opponents.
The Nigerien authorities "should
release all those arbitrarily detained", say the two NGOs in a press
release.
The military regime must "ensure
respect for human rights and guarantee freedom of the press", said HRW
Sahel researcher IlariaAllegrozzi, quoted in the text.
The two NGOs point out that since the
coup that overthrew him, President Mohamed Bazoum has been held in his
presidential residence with his wife and son. They add that several ministers
of the deposed regime have been incarcerated in various prisons throughout the
country.
Amnesty International and Human Rights
Watch "consider their detentions to be arbitrary because they are
politically motivated".
They also claim that "the
authorities have threatened, harassed, intimidated and arbitrarily arrested
journalists, young people and alleged political opponents, as well as people
expressing critical opinions".
Journalists in Niger "are under
increasing pressure to carry out their activities", they point out, adding
that "local and international journalists have been threatened, verbally
harassed online and physically assaulted".
The two organizations mention, for
example, the case of Nigerian journalist Samira Sabou, who was arrested on
September 30 and charged with, among other things, "production and
dissemination of data likely to disturb public order", before being
released provisionally on October 11.
They also denounce the suspension of
broadcasting by Radio France Internationale (RFI) and France 24, ordered by the
military authorities in early August.
"Self-censorship has become a
survival tactic for many of us", said a Nigerien journalist quoted by HRW.
NGOs are also reporting physical
violence committed by regime supporters in the streets of Niamey.
According to Ousmane Diallo, Sahel
researcher at Amnesty International's West and Central Africa office,
"freedom of expression, dissent and press freedom are essential to the
enjoyment of other rights and to government accountability".
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/10/26/niger-hrw-and-amnesty-call-for-arbitrary-release-of-detainees/
-------
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/qatar-indian-navy-spy-israel/d/130989