‘Beacon Of Hope’: Amid Gaza War, Indian Muslims Take Care of Kolkata Synagogues

New Age Islam News Bureau

09 November 2023

 

Masood Hussain the sole caretaker of Neveh Shalome, Kolkata’s oldest synagogue [Monideepa Banerjie/Al Jazeera]

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India

·         Hindus, Muslims Come Together to Celebrate Unity on Kali Puja Pitch in Kolkata

·         Two ISIS Operatives Plotting Attack in Jerusalem, Claims Jharkhand ATS

·         India bars protests in Kashmir that support Palestinians

·         UP Cabinet Meet InAyodhya Today: CM Yogi Visits Ram Mandir Construction Site, ‘Historic Decisions’ Likely

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North America

·         Hezbollah's Anti-Ship Missiles Bolster Its Threat to US Navy

·         Canada PM Trudeau calls for significant humanitarian pause in Gaza

·         US military attacks Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, associated group in Syria

·         Fierce Fighting in Gaza City; US Says Palestinians Must Govern Gaza Post-War

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Mideast

·         UNRWA School Celebrates Hamas's 'Jihad Warriors' In Gaza - Report

·         Hamas Says Brothers in Yemen Determined, Have Will to Fight with Palestinian People

·         WHO Warns Of ‘Worrying Trends’ in Disease Spread in Gaza

·         Palestine number one issue for Muslim world, mankind

·         Zionist-American aggression aircraft targets vicinity of al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza

·         Hamas official says no Gaza evacuations into Egypt

·         Iran: G7 expected to fulfil responsibility, stop support for Gaza genocide

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Europe

·         Macron Says France Will Be ‘Ruthless’ Against Antisemitism

·         German anti-racism group reports rising attacks against Muslims

·         Spanish minister backs legal initiative to bring Israel before ICC for 'war crimes' in Palestine

·         Putin, Erdogan and Raisi Make Visits in Central Asia

·         Spain’s Ione Belarra: Israel must end ‘genocide’ of Palestinians in Gaza

·         Western and Arab officials are gathering in Paris to find ways to provide aid to civilians in Gaza

·         London’s creative community sell-out event raises awareness on Palestine

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Pakistan

·         Karachi kids march against Gaza genocide

·         Anti-Terrorism Case Against 150 Punjab University Students For ‘Violent’ Protest

·         PM warns of trans-regional spillover of Gaza war

·         SHC refuses to issue notices on plea against deportation of Afghan refugees

·         Caretaker PM in Uzbekistan to attend ECO Summit today

·         NED issues notice to student for raising fund for Palestinians

·         IHC reserves order on Qureshi’s bail plea in cipher case

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Arab World

·         Yemen Vows to Keep Up Pro-Palestine Operations Until Israel Ends Gaza War

·         Yemen Shoots Down Advanced American Drone 'Spying In Support Of Israel'

·         KSrelief team in Egypt to facilitate Gaza aid

·         Saudi development fund CEO receives Malawi finance minister

·         Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs Concludes Course for Imams and Preachers in Comoros

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South Asia

·         ‘Moral Duty to Stand Up’: Rohingya Activists Join in Solidarity with Palestinians

·         Baradar meets Afghan investors in Iran, urges them to return home

·         UN’s Bennett urges for Identification of perpetrators of Kabul attack

·         EU provides €61 million aid package to Afghanistan

·         Afghanistan: Islamic State Claims Responsibility for Kabul Minibus Explosion

·         Afghanistan calls for international aid to help with huge refugee influx

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Southeast Asia

·         Ex-Penang DCM Ramasamy Says RM1.52m Crowdfund to Pay Dr Zakir Naik Is ‘Best Deepavali Present’

·         Criticised for sexual innuendo, Langkawi MP says sorry in Parliament for ‘wear nothing’ remark 

·         High-Level Committee on terrorism control discusses containment measures

·         Palestine-Israel conflict: Police tighten border security

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Africa

·         CAN, Islamic Group React as ICC Ranks Nigeria ‘Most Dangerous Place for Christians’ Globally

·         German chancellor meets Tinubu, reveals plan to deport 14,000 Nigerians

·         Group Writes Tinubu, Seeks Immediate Suspension OfMatawalle As Minister Over Alleged

Corruption, Terror Sponsorship

·         Tunisian Foreign Minister arrives in Riyadh for special summit

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL:    https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/gaza-war-indian-synagogues-muslims/d/131080

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‘Beacon Of Hope’: Amid Gaza War, Indian Muslims Take Care of Kolkata Synagogues

 

Masood Hussain the sole caretaker of Neveh Shalome, Kolkata’s oldest synagogue [Monideepa Banerjie/Al Jazeera]

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By Monideepa Banerjie

9 Nov 2023

Kolkata, India – The afternoon sun streams through tall stained-glass windows into the Maghen David Synagogue in the city of Kolkata, the capital of the eastern Indian state of West Bengal.

Anwar Khan, in his starched white uniform, with the name of the synagogue embroidered on his breast pocket, is at work. He puts the ornately polished teakwood chairs with well-kept rattan seats in symmetrical lines. Visitors to the synagogue are rare these days as there are very few Jewish people left in the sprawling city.

But that doesn’t dim Khan’s diligence or pride in his job. The 44-year-old is the synagogue’s chief caretaker. He dusts, sweeps and swabs to keep the temple clean.

Some 4,000km (2,485 miles) away, Israel has been bombing Gaza relentlessly for a month now, killing more than 10,000 Palestinians. The assault began on October 7 after Hamas fighters entered Israeli territory, killed more than 1,400 people and took more than 200 people captive.

But in the tranquil halls of the Maghen David Synagogue, the Palestine-Israel conflict finds no echo.

“They stand and do their namaz [prayer]. We sit and do our namaz. That is the only difference between us,” says Khan, who since the age of 20 has been a caretaker at the 140-year-old Renaissance-style synagogue on Brabourne Road in Kolkata’s busiest business and wholesale market district.

Until about 75 years ago, the synagogues in Kolkata throbbed with life. The first Jews arrived in the city towards the end of the 18th century. Today, the number of synagogues in the bustling city – once the capital of the British empire in the Indian subcontinent – has shrunk from five to three, while the size of the Jewish community is down from more than 5,000 at its peak to just 20.

But there has been one constant for more than two centuries: the caretakers of the synagogues. For generations now, they have come from a village called Kakatpur in Puri district, about 500km (310 miles) south of Kolkata in the neighbouring Odisha state.

And they are all Muslim.

Between the three synagogues in the city, there are six Muslim caretakers, all of whom stay on the premises in quarters provided for them and go home occasionally to visit their families. They start work early in the day, cleaning, dusting, polishing and making sure the lights and other electrical devices are in order. They also escort guests and visitors around, something that happens seldom these days.

It is not as if the Jews of Kolkata or the Muslim caretakers of the synagogues are oblivious to the horrors of the Israel-Hamas war or Israel’s bombing of Gaza.

Like many other cities around the world, Kolkata, too, has witnessed pro-Palestinian protests by left-leaning activists and some Muslim groups. Muslims comprise about 27 percent of the population of West Bengal, where a political party opposed to the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in power.

But the Muslim caretakers say they have come under no pressure from their families or the community for working at synagogues.

“For me, this [synagogue] is the house of ‘Khuda’ [God] just like our own ‘Khuda ka ghar’ [mosque],” says Khan. “It is very sad that Muslims and Jewish people are fighting today in Gaza and Israel. But their house of God is also our house of God. We will take care of it all our life.”

Masood Hussain, 43, is the sole caretaker of Neveh Shalome, Kolkata’s oldest synagogue that sits next to Maghen David. He says he goes regularly to a local mosque for prayers, but no one has quizzed him about his Jewish connection.

“We go to our mosque for prayers but no one has said anything, neither the ordinary people nor the religious leaders,” he says.

A college dropout, Hussain came to Kolkata from Odisha 10 years ago, following in the footsteps of his father and father-in-law who also took care of the synagogue. A tall, lean man, who has two college-going daughters back home, Hussain points towards a small exhibition of photos of Kolkata’s earliest Jews. He knows their names and their histories by heart.

“Nobody has asked: ‘Why do you work for the Jewish people?’ No one in my family or community has said: ‘Quit your job,’” says Hussain.

“We go to offer namaz at our masjid [mosque]. No one says anything there either. The maulvi [imam] is very friendly. We have tea together. He has never said, ‘Masood, why do you do this?’ If he says something, I will respond. But I believe all problems should be solved peacefully.”

When asked about the anti-Israel protests in the city, Hussain says there has never been an attack on the synagogues. “And there never will be one, not in Kolkata. The people of Kolkata are very good. But if it happens, we will face it. At worst, what will happen? We will be killed. But this is God’s house. For this house of God, we are ready to face anything.

“Till we Muslims are here, we will be the first to confront anyone from our community [who] comes here [to create trouble]. If that happens, we will do a muqabla [resistance]. Nothing will happen to synagogues while we are alive.”

Centuries-old bond

The bond across faiths that’s visible at the synagogues goes back to the early 1800s, when Neveh Shalome was built  At that time, the Jewish community was about 300 strong, and came mostly from Iraq and Iran – the Baghdadi Jews – following the footsteps of wealthy Aleppo-born businessman Shalom Obadiah Cohen, believed to be the first Jew to have arrived in Kolkata, in 1798.

Kolkata, then known as Calcutta, was a coveted destination, where business was brisk for traders in jewels, textiles and, among other items, opium. The Jewish community flourished, along with the Parsis, the Armenians and the Chinese who flocked to the city that was the headquarters of the East India Company.

But with the creation of Israel in 1948, many in Kolkata’s Jewish community left. Families moved to Israel, and also to the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, as a newly independent India was convulsing in the aftermath of a bloody partition and devastating communal riots.

Today, of the 20 Jews left in the city, most are more than 70 years old. In all, India today has only an estimated 5,000 Jews, from a high of 30,000.

David Ashkenazy, president of the board that runs Beth El Synagogue, the honorary secretary of Maghen David and a board member at Neveh Shalome, is not sure how Muslims from a village hundreds of kilometres away came to be synagogue caretakers. But he confirms that the job has been passed on from generation to generation.

Khan, the Maghen David caretaker, got the job because his father Khalil Khan and grandfather Ajju Khan were caretakers at Beth El Synagogue and argued his case when he was seeking work.

That Muslim caretakers from another state should form a connection with then-immigrant Jews isn’t surprising, suggests Ashkenazy.

“We were both strangers in a new land – the Jews from Baghdad and these Muslims from a village 500km south,” he says. “Some of our dietary laws are also similar.”

“I don’t even think about it. It is normal. It is natural,” says Jael Silliman, a celebrated Kolkata-based Jewish author, painter and women’s rights activist, referring to the amity between the city’s Muslims and Jews. “We, Baghdadi Jews, lived together with Muslims in the Ottoman Empire and across the Middle East for centuries. We are Arab Jews.”

Silliman cites another example of that Kolkata bond: the city’s Jewish Girls’ School, founded in 1881, where 90 percent of students are Muslim.

“That, too, is a beacon of hope, like the Muslim caretakers of our synagogues,” she says.

‘Muslims natural choice for caretakers’

Initially, in Kolkata, rich Bagdadi Jews would hire Muslims as cooks in their homes, says NavrasJaatAafreedi, assistant professor of history at Kolkata’s Presidency University, where he offers a course in global Jewish history.

“The prominent factors behind Jewish and Muslim amity were no idol worship and similar dietary restrictions,” he says, “the latter prompting the Baghdadi Jews to employ Muslims as cooks.

“Once the synagogues came up, Muslims were a natural choice for caretakers,” he adds. “In India, the Arab-Israeli conflict has not dented the historic cordiality between the Jews and Muslims.”

Yet, the ongoing war in Gaza is on the minds of the caretakers.

“Our ‘mazhab’ [faith] doesn’t teach us to hate,” says Sheikh Gufran, the oldest of Maghen David’s three caretakers as he meticulously polishes the teak pews of the synagogue.

“Whenever I offer namaz, I pray for the people of all religions suffering in the war [in Gaza and Israel]. Muslims are in pain there. Jews are in pain. I hope their suffering ends soon,” says the 48-year-old.

Ashkenazy hands over some religious books to Gufran and asks him to dust them carefully. The books are old and precious, and need to be handled with care.

It is time for Gufran’s prayers too. He steps out of the synagogue, faces west and begins to pray in the courtyard.

Source: aljazeera.com

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US Muslim Group Slams White House's 'No Red Line' Policy Amid Civilian Casualties in Gaza

 

National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby speaks at the White House Press Briefing in Washington DC., United States on November 07, 2023. ( Celal Gunes - Anadolu Agency )

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09.11.2023

The US-based Muslim advocacy group the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) strongly criticized the White House on Wednesday over its "no red line" stance concerning Israel amid ongoing civilian casualties in Gaza due to Israeli airstrikes.

CAIR "strongly condemned White House representative John Kirby for once again declaring there are no 'red lines’ or number of civilians the Israeli government can kill that would cause the US to stop supporting (Israeli Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu’s genocidal attacks on civilians in Gaza," said the group in a statement.

Its statement referenced recent comments by Kirby, the National Security Council spokesperson, who, when asked "is it still the case the administration has no red lines at all" regarding the Israeli operations in Gaza, confirmed "that is still the case."

Robert McCaw, CAIR's government affairs director, said every such declaration without "red lines" emboldens the Israeli government to escalate their military actions against civilian targets such as refugee camps, apartment buildings, bakeries, ambulances and places of worship.

"We call on Admiral Kirby—who nearly shed tears when speaking about Ukrainian civilians–to recognize that Palestinians are human beings too, and we call on the White House to end our nation’s complicity in Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing attempt at genocide," said McCaw.

He said Israel "is committing war crimes" with American taxpayer dollars and US support.

Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since the Palestinian resistance group Hamas initiated a cross-border attack on Oct. 7.

At least 10,569 Palestinians, including 4,324 children and 2,823 women, have been killed.

The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is nearly 1,600, according to official figures.

Source: aa.com

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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-muslim-group-slams-white-houses-no-red-line-policy-amid-civilian-casualties-in-gaza/3047960

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UAE Council for Fatwa Studies and Ijtihad Launches Abu Dhabi Charter for Scientific Developments

 

Representative Image

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9/11/2023

The UAE Council for Fatwa has announced the launch of the Abu Dhabi Charter for Scientific Developments; and the Emirates Global Prize for Fatwa Studies and Ijtihad' (Independent Opinion).

The announcements were made at the conclusion of the Second International Conference for the UAE Council for Fatwa. The two-day event kicked off in Abu Dhabi under the patronage of Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

More than 160 experts and specialists in Islamic and natural sciences, including muftis, lawyers, doctors, engineers, academics, thinkers, astronomers, and astronauts, representing 50 countries participated in the event.

The Abu Dhabi Charter for Scientific Developments is directed towards Fatwa institutions and bodies specialising in Fatwa and Islamic Shari'a.

It advocates for the unification of efforts, the exchange of expertise, and the identification and formulation of the most accurate possible perspectives on scientific advancements, with the aim of achieving a religiously sound and balanced conceptualization that aligns with the challenges and changes of the modern world.

In the meantime, the award addresses outstanding Fatwa institutions and research centres working in the field of Islamic Iftaa. It is launched in line with the UAE's strategic vision and plans to deliver its future and enhance the status of scientific research.

The award aims to encourage official Fatwa institutions to compete positively in the field of fatwa research and studies, enable scientific research and serious studies in developing the Iftaa system, and enhance its contribution to development areas.  It also seeks to promote human values and consolidate the principles of moderation and tolerance in the development of Fatwa.

Source: gulftoday.ae

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https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2023/11/09/uae-council-for-fatwa-launches-abu-dhabi-charter-for-scientific-developments

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British Muslims Observe Islamophobia Awareness Month Amid Increasingly ‘Hostile Political Environment’

 

Muslims can be seen outside the East London Mosque in London, England. (File/AFP)

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November 08, 2023

LONDON: Muslims in the UK are observing Islamophobia Awareness Month against the backdrop of the conflict in Gaza and “an exceptionally hostile political environment,” the Muslim Council of Britain said on Wednesday.

The negative political climate is “only further exacerbated by divisive comments from senior politicians such as the home secretary,” Suella Braverman, an MCB spokesperson told Arab News.

Braverman has described pro-Palestinian demonstrators who take to the streets of the UK in support of a ceasefire in Gaza as taking part in “hate marches.” And in a letter to senior police officers, she said that waving a Palestinian flag or chants that advocate freedom for Arabs in the region could constitute a criminal offense.

There has been an increase in violence against British Muslim communities in the past month, since the war in Gaza began, the MCB said, with police recording a 140 percent increase in Islamophobic offenses in London alone.

“Over the course of the now month-long attack on the Gaza Strip, we have seen a surge of hate crime at home,” the MCB spokesperson said.

“We have also seen Islamophobic attacks across the UK, including the attempted arson on an Oxford mosque in which the perpetrator threw a petrol can at the mosque that had ‘IDF’ (the abbreviation for Israel Defense Forces) scrawled over it; a man attacking a Muslim woman with a concrete slab in broad daylight; and alcohol being poured over Muslim worshippers praying at a protest.”

The head of London’s Metropolitan Police, Sir Mark Rowley, has said there is scope for “sharper” laws to deal with extremism and that he would support a review of the legal definition of the word, after his force was criticized for the way it has handled ongoing weekly pro-Palestinian protests in London.

According to The Observer newspaper, government officials have drawn up proposals to broaden the definition of extremism to include anyone who “undermines” the country’s institutions and values.

Civil rights groups fear that such a move would “criminalize dissent” and dramatically suppress freedom of expression. There is concern that a broader legal definition could be used to crack down on freedom of speech and penalize legitimate organizations and individuals.

Sal Naseem, 47, is an expert on inclusive culture and the former regional director for London at the Independent Office for Police Conduct. He has actively campaigned against Islamophobia after witnessing it first-hand while growing up in southwestern Scotland.

Any proposal that could limit free speech must be developed in accordance with the laws on equality and must not legally discriminate against any particular group, he said.

“Muslims are very much protected under the equality law in the UK, and what we are seeing now as a result of the conflict in Israel and Palestine is the rising tide of Islamophobia being peddled out, particularly in the right-wing media,” Naseem said, adding that narratives that routinely demonize Muslims are being touted and explored.

“But the consequences of that are that there are nearly 4 million Muslims that live in England, and you’re almost treating them as a monolith; you’re looking to demonize Muslims and I think, particularly at this time, we have to fight against anything which looks to divide us, to marginalize us.

“Islamophobia is one of those forms of permissive discrimination, which is sadly being given a sheen of respectability in this country. And if you look at the proposals around extremism, I'm sorry, there are shadows of McCarthyism in that and we have to really, really be guarded and careful that terrible events in the Middle East are not used to limit freedoms in this country.”

Although many Muslims are afraid speak out currently for fear of being targeted and other repercussions, Naseem said they are entitled to protection under the law if they are being treated unfairly because of their faith and should report any Islamophobic incidents.

“It’s not an acceptable thing and the law very clearly states that,” he added. “So where we are seeing these things, we need to report them, we need to complain about them through the mechanisms that are available. They are the only mechanisms there but we need to have confidence in taking these things through the systems that we have.”

Naseem said that the nature of Islamophobia has changed over the years and is now more indirect than it used to be, but it still exists even if it is harder to report.

“The experience I had of general discrimination, and Islamophobia in particular, was pretty acute,” he said. “It was open hatred, vitriol and violence. It wasn’t from everybody, but from a minority of people it was opened hatred.

“These days, Islamophobia and how it’s affected me has been much more subtle. It’s there but it’s in terms of ‘othering’ comments, trolls on social media, or marginalizing organizational processes and cultures.

“It’s not overt these days, or very rarely will it be overt. But actually, when it’s not it’s much harder to deal with.”

Zaheer Ahmad, 47, the CEO of EqualityX, an organization that celebrates outstanding Muslim talent and champions the achievements of inclusive Muslim employers, said that although Muslims have a role to play in combating Islamophobia, it’s not fair to put the onus entirely on them.

“I look at this from the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion, which is my area of expertise,” he said. “I don’t think the sole responsibility to combat Islamophobia rests with Muslim communities. We wouldn’t ask women to take on the responsibility of tackling sexism, or ethnic minorities to eradicate racism.

“Islamophobia is a societal issue and must be tackled through concerted and coordinated efforts by all of us, Muslims and non-Muslims.

“Yes of course, there is a role Muslims can play. For example, they can play an active part in educational efforts to help increase awareness of the lived experiences of Muslims and engage with a wide range of stakeholders to influence decision-making to build alliances. They can also proactively report incidents of Islamophobia to the relevant authorities.”

Islamophobia Awareness Month, which takes place in the UK in November each year, was founded in 2012 with the aim of showcasing the positive contributions of Muslims to society, as well as making people more aware of Islamophobic behavior.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2405646/world

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Jamaat-e-Islami Holds Students March to Highlight Israeli Atrocities on Palestinian Children

 

Karachi JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman speaks as he is surrounded by children on November 8, 2023, in Karachi. — Facebook/Jamaat e Islami Karachi

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November 09, 2023

Karachi: Echoes of "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" were heard on Shahrah-e-Quaideen on Wednesday afternoon as tens of thousands of students participated in the Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) children march for the Palestine cause.

The JI had organised the march to express solidarity with the Palestinian children as at least half of the over 10,000 people killed in Gaza by Israeli bombardments, during the fresh wave of terrorism, have been children.

The participants of the march chanted slogans against the Israeli war crimes in Gaza. The student participants carried banners, placards and artworks highlighting the Israeli brutalities.

Several schools on the occasion deposited generous donations by their students for the people of Gaza. Medical response camps were set up, and water vans and ambulances were also made available at the venue.

Many students also delivered speeches and recited poems in support for the oppressed Palestinians. A Karate show was also held at the stage.

Speaking to the marchers, Karachi JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman lamented the hypocrisy of the rulers of the Muslim bloc. He said that some two billion Muslims lived on the globe with strong armies, weaponry and even nukes, but despite all the might, Muslim rulers and generals had lost their weight just because of their cowardice and selfishness.

On the other hand, he added, the Western governments had sided with Israel despite all its crimes against humanity in Gaza and other parts of Palestine. However, he lauded all the people of conscience who had been protesting against Israel across the world.

Rehman said Israel was an illegitimate and terrorist state. He stated Israel was enjoying the naked support of the United States as the latter wanted to strengthen its political agenda in the Middle East.

Lambasting the US, he said it had a history of killings. The US used fake propaganda to invade Iraq and Afghanistan, the JI leader said.

The Israeli army had insulted the Qibla e Awal and Muslims in Aqsa under the plan for a greater Israel and the conquest of Madina was also a part of this plan, Rehman said, adding that the issue of Palestine was a part of our faith and belief.

He was of the view that Israel could not defeat Hamas and Palestinians and all what it could do was committing war crimes.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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 https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1127337-ji-holds-students-march-to-highlight-israeli-atrocities-on-palestinian-children

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India

 

Hindus, Muslims Come Together to Celebrate Unity on Kali Puja Pitch in Kolkata

 Nov 9, 2023

KOLKATA: A number of Kali Pujas in Muslim-dominated neighbourhoods in the city have seen people from the community join hands with their Hindu counterparts to celebrate the festival - from maintaining proper puja vidhis to cooking bhog - in a show of unity and religious and social harmony.

TOI dropped in for a visit at Godhuli club in Mominpore to see Jawed Nihal, Mohammed Arid, Firoz Ahmed and Mohammed Tarique busy overseeing various aspects of puja minutiae - from arranging essentials, talking to the priest, working on pandals and last-minute planning of cultural programmes - along with club members Biplab Sen, Moloy Kundu, Sanjay Chatterjee and Ranjan Nandi.

This club has been organising Kali Puja since 1954.

"For 69 years now, we have been organizing this puja together," said Serajul Karim, the club's general secretary. "In fact, one of the major rituals involves 108 bael leaves. For this, Muslim youths go out at night to collect the leaves from a Hindu family. The leaves are then offered to the Goddess," Karima added.

Sen, a senior member of the club, said their aim was to include members of all communities.

"Religion is no hindrance to being involved with the puja here. This is a small attempt on our part to drive away all negativity and spread the message of love and unity," he said.

'We're together in festivities & crises'

In a four-decade-old puja on Braunfield Row in Kidderpore, Muslim members took over the task of organizing the Kali Puja after most Hindus moved away. "By the end of the 80s, most Hindus living in the area started relocating to other places and there was a time when there was no one to organise the Kali Puja, and it was about to be closed," said Mohammed Alam, secretary, Mominpore Sporting Club. "That is when members of the Muslim community came forward and joined hands with the handful of Hindus still living here to ensure the puja continued. It has only grown in popularity. We are proud of the participation of both communities."

Alam said they also organise Durga Puja and facilitate Chhath Puja celebrations, even as the Hindus celebrate Eid with equal gusto.

Nabayubak Sangha on Mayurbhanj Road, in its golden jubilee year, has modelled their pandal in the shape of Alibaba's cave of treasure, which also has a social message: greed and exclusivity can lead to one's downfall, but inclusivity and unity can help tide over challenges.

"Our puja is organized right at the epicentre of the place that had witnessed tension last year over a trivial matter," said Rahul Das, the treasurer of the puja committee. "Rumours had blown the issue out of proportion. But we ensured both Hindus and Muslims stayed together in the hour of crisis and we were able to come out stronger from the situation. Through our puja, we want to send out a strong message - all of us are together in our celebrations as well as times of crises."

On Wednesday, while Das and club president Dipak Gupta were busy overseeing last-minute preparations, TOI found Shahid Ali, Mohammed Azim and Shafique Alam discussing the preparations of bhog and prasad and preparing a list of items they need to buy. "God lives in every human being. Whatever religion one may subscribe to, we are here to promote that message. In this puja, there is no religious divide. We participate in the puja like any other member, the same way the Hindu members do during Eid or Miladi Nabi," said Azim, a senior club member.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/hindus-muslims-come-together-to-celebrate-unity-on-kali-puja-pitch/articleshow/105080722.cms

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Two ISIS operatives plotting attack in Jerusalem, claims Jharkhand ATS

November 9, 2023

Jharkhand’s Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) claimed that it has arrested two youths, Ariz Hasnain and Mohammad Naseem, on charges of their alleged involvement with the terrorist organization ISIS. The arrests took place in Godda and Hazaribagh districts of the state.

According to the ATS, it received information indicating that Ariz Hasnain, a resident of Rahmat Nagar, Godda, was actively propagating the ideology of ISIS through social media platforms with the intention of radicalizing individuals.

“Jharkhand ATS had received the information that Ariz Hasnain, a resident of Rahmat Nagar under Asanbani PS, Godda, was spreading ISIS ideology through social media and radicalising innocent people. Acting upon the information, ATS interrogated him and found his association with ISIS. During sustained interrogation, he revealed another person named Mohammad Naseem also associated with ISIS. ATS has also recovered the suspicious chats on Ariz’s mobile through Telegram,” ATS was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

“Ariz wanted to go to Palestine and carry out a Fidayeen attack at Majid Al Aqsa to free it from Jews,” it added.

Naseem had sent two books titled ‘Jihad’ and ‘Kufra with Tagoot’ to Ariz, promoting ISIS’s extremist ideology, the ATS claimed

In a separate operation, a joint team consisting of the Uttar Pradesh ATS and Chhattisgarh police claimed they arrested another suspected ISIS terrorist named Wajihuddin in Durg. Wajihuddin, a resident of Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, was detained in Smriti Nagar under the Supela police station area. He claimed to be associated with SAMU (Students of Aligarh Muslim University) and to support the ideology of ISIS.

“In the preliminary interrogation, Wajihuddin informed that he was associated with SAMU (Students of Aligarh Muslim University) and supporter of the ideology of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, a middle-east terror group),” the release claimed.

Source: muslimmirror.com

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India bars protests in Kashmir that support Palestinians

November 08, 2023

SRINAGAR, India: From Western capitals to Muslim states, protest rallies over the Israel-Hamas war have made headlines. But one place known for its vocal pro-Palestinian stance has been conspicuously quiet: Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Indian authorities have barred any solidarity protest in Muslim-majority Kashmir and asked Muslim preachers not to mention the conflict in their sermons, residents and religious leaders said.

The restrictions are part of India’s efforts to curb any form of protest that could turn into demands for ending New Delhi’s rule in the disputed region. They also reflect a shift in India’s foreign policy under populist Prime Minister Narendra Modi away from its long-held support for the Palestinians, analysts say.

India has long walked a tightrope between the warring sides, with historically close ties to both. While India strongly condemned the Oct. 7 attack by the militant group Hamas and expressed solidarity with Israel, it urged that international humanitarian law be upheld in Gaza amid rising civilian deaths.

But in Kashmir, being quiet is painful for many.

“From the Muslim perspective, Palestine is very dear to us, and we essentially have to raise our voice against the oppression there. But we are forced to be silent,” said Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a key resistance leader and a Muslim cleric. He said he has been put under house arrest each Friday since the start of the war to keep him from leading Friday prayers at the region’s main mosque.

Anti-India sentiment runs deep in the Himalayan region which is divided between India and Pakistan and claimed by both in its entirety. In 2019, New Delhi removed the region’s semiautonomy, drastically curbing any form of dissent, civil liberties and media freedoms.

Kashmiris have long shown strong solidarity with the Palestinians and often staged large anti-Israel protests during previous fighting in Gaza. Those protests often turned into street clashes, with demands for an end of India’s rule and dozens of casualties.

Even beyond Kashmir, Indian authorities have largely stopped protests expressing solidarity with Palestinians since the war began, claiming the need to maintain communal harmony and law and order.

Some people have been briefly detained by police for taking part in pro-Palestinian protests even in states ruled by opposition parties. The only state where massive pro-Palestinian protests have taken place is southern Kerala, which is ruled by a leftist government.

But in Kashmir, enforced silence is seen not only as violating freedom of expression but also as impinging on religious duty.

Aga Syed Mohammad Hadi, a Kashmiri religious leader, was not able to lead the past three Friday prayers because he was under house arrest on those days. He said he had wanted to stage a protest rally against “the naked aggression of Israel.” Authorities did not comment on such house arrests.

Source: arabnews.com

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UP cabinet meet in Ayodhya today: CM Yogi visits Ram Mandir construction site, ‘historic decisions’ likely

Nov 09, 2023

Aniruddha Dhar

CM Yogi Adityanath and his cabinet colleagues offered prayers at Hanuman Garhi temple on Thursday morning, before the cabinet meeting at Ramkatha Museum.

The Uttar Pradesh cabinet will hold its meeting on Thursday in Ayodhya as the city gears up for the opening of the Ram temple in January next year. The date -- November 9 – holds significance as the Supreme Court on this date in 2019 passed its verdict in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi case, paving the way for the construction of Ram Temple.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath and his cabinet colleagues offered prayers at Hanuman Garhi temple on Thursday morning, before the cabinet meeting at Ramkatha Museum.

This is the first time the state's executive body will gather in the holy city. The museum has been decorated grandly. Posters of Lord Shri Ram and Lord Hanuman have been put up in the cabinet meeting hall.

Source: hindustantimes.com

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https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/up-cabinet-meet-in-ayodhya-today-cm-yogi-visits-ram-mandir-construction-site-historic-decisions-likely-latest-news-101699509700814.html

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North America

 

Hezbollah's Anti-Ship Missiles Bolster Its Threat to US Navy

November 09, 2023

(Reuters) - Powerful Russian anti-ship missiles acquired by Hezbollah give it the means to deliver on its leader's veiled threat against U.S. warships and underline the grave risks of any regional war, sources familiar with the group's arsenal say.

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah warned Washington last week his group had something in store for the U.S. vessels deployed to the region since war erupted last month between the Palestinian group Hamas and Israel, shaking the wider Middle East.

Two sources in Lebanon familiar with the Iran-backed group's arsenal say he was referring to Hezbollah's greatly enhanced anti-ship missile capabilities, including the Russian-made Yakhont missile with a range of 300 km (186 miles).

Reports by media and analysts have for years indicated that Hezbollah acquired Yakhont missiles in Syria after deploying there more than a decade ago to help President Bashar al-Assad fight a civil war.

Hezbollah has never confirmed possessing the weapon.

The Shi'ite group's media office did not immediately respond when reached for comment for this story.

Washington says its Mediterranean naval deployment - comprising two aircraft carriers and their supporting ships - aims to prevent the conflict from spreading by deterring Iran, which backs groups including Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Hezbollah perceives the U.S. warships as a direct threat because of their ability to hit the group and its allies.

Nasrallah said in a speech on Friday that the U.S. warships in the Mediterranean "do not scare us, and will not scare us".

"We have prepared for the fleets with which you threaten us," he said.

The White House said after Nasrallah delivered his Friday speech that Hezbollah must not exploit the Hamas-Israel war, and the United States did not want to see the conflict expand into Lebanon.

One of the sources said Hezbollah's anti-ship capabilities had developed enormously since 2006, when the group first demonstrated it could strike a vessel at sea by hitting an Israeli warship in the Mediterranean during a war with Israel.

"There's the Yakhont, and of course there are other things besides it," the source said, without elaborating.

The source added that use of this weapon by Hezbollah against hostile warships would indicate the conflict had escalated into a major regional war.

Source: tolonews.com

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https://tolonews.com/index.php/world-185949

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Canada PM Trudeau calls for significant humanitarian pause in Gaza

November 08, 2023

OTTAWA: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday called for a significant humanitarian pause in the Gaza conflict to allow for the release of all hostages and the delivery of enough aid to address civilian needs.

Canada had previously called for a series of halts in the fighting to allow aid into the Palestinian enclave but had steered clear of advocating a longer pause in the fighting that has killed thousands since the Islamist group Hamas launched an attack on Israel last month.

“I don’t need to describe the horrors. This is why we are calling for a significant humanitarian pause that will allow us to release all the Jewish hostages and ... continue to evacuate foreign citizens from Gaza,” Trudeau told reporters.

“This pause must allow the delivery of real and substantial aid, enough aid to relieve this abominable humanitarian crisis for people and civilians in Gaza.”

Trudeau cited a “terrifying” rise in antisemitism globally and in Canada, where he said Molotov cocktails had been thrown at synagogues. He also noted increasing Islamophobia.

“This is not who we are as Canadians. This is something that is not acceptable in Canada, period ... Canadians are scared in our own streets right now,” he said.

“We must be there to understand the fear and pain that millions of Canadians are feeling.”

Trudeau also said “heavy lifting” would be needed to work on a two-state solution that would lead to a viable Palestinian state and a safe, secure, viable Israel.

The creation of an independent country for Palestinians in territory Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war has long been the aim of international peace efforts, but the process has been moribund for years.

Source: arabnews.com

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US military attacks Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, associated group in Syria

Hamdi Yildiz 

09.11.2023

The US military has announced that it conducted airstrikes in Syria against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and associated groups.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Thursday on social media platform X that airstrikes had targeted a facility used by the IRGC and associated groups.

"We will take all necessary measures to defend our people against those who are responsible for the attacks and will respond at a time and place of our choosing," it added.

The statement said airstrikes were carried out in response to attacks on US citizens in Syria and Iraq, but it did not specify the exact location in Syria where they occurred or provide details about the outcome.

Source: aa.com.tr

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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-military-attacks-irans-islamic-revolutionary-guard-corps-associated-group-in-syria/3048058

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Fierce Fighting in Gaza City; US Says Palestinians Must Govern Gaza Post-War

November 09, 2023

Washington/Gaza/Occupied Jerusalem: Street battles raged in Gaza City with Hamas using tunnels to ambush Israeli forces, as the United States said Palestinians must govern Gaza post-war, countering Israeli comments that it would control security indefinitely.

The Israeli military said its troops had advanced into the heart of Gaza City, Hamas’ main bastion and the biggest city in the seaside enclave, while the Hamas group said its fighters had inflicted heavy losses.

Hamas’ armed wing on Wednesday released a video that appeared to show intense street battles alongside bombed out buildings in Gaza City.

Israeli tanks have met heavy resistance from Hamas fighters using underground tunnels to stage ambushes, according to sources with Iran-backed Hamas and the separate Islamic Jihad group.

Israel struck Gaza in response to a cross-border Hamas raid on southern Israel on Oct. 7 in which gunmen killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and took about 240 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Palestinian officials said 10,569 people had been killed as of Wednesday, 40% of them children.

Israel says 33 of its soldiers have been killed.

Palestinian-led governance

As the Israel-Hamas war enters its second month, Washington has begun discussing with Israeli and Arab leaders a future for the Gaza Strip without Hamas rule.

While a plan has yet to emerge, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken outlined Washington’s expectations for the besieged coastal territory.

“No reoccupation of Gaza after the conflict ends. No attempt to blockade or besiege Gaza. No reduction in the territory of Gaza,” Blinken said on Wednesday at a press conference in Tokyo.

Blinken said there may be a need for “some transition period” at the end of the conflict, but post-crisis governance “must include Palestinian-led governance and Gaza unified with the occupied West Bank under the Palestinian Authority.”

On Monday, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told ABC News that Israel will “for an indefinite period” have security responsibility for the enclave after the war.

Israeli officials have since tried to clarify they do not intend to occupy Gaza after the war, but they have yet to articulate how they might ensure security without maintaining a military presence.

Israel withdrew its forces from Gaza in 2005.

The Palestinian Authority (PA), which exercises limited self-rule in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, says Gaza, where Hamas has ruled since 2007, is an integral part of what it envisions for a future Palestinian state.

Khalil al-Hayya, a member of Hamas’ leadership, told the New York Times that the group’s assault on Israel was intended to shatter the status quo and open a new chapter in its fight against Israel.

“We succeeded in putting the Palestinian issue back on the table, and now no one in the region is experiencing calm,” he said, according to the newspaper on Wednesday.

Saleh al-Arouri, an exiled Hamas commander, told Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV on Wednesday that its fighters are determined to inflict losses on Israeli forces in ground battles in Gaza.

“The more (Israel) spreads and expands on the ground, the deeper its losses will become”, he said.

A clip from the Hamas video released on Wednesday showed fighters in Gaza running past piles of debris and stopping to fire shoulder-propelled missiles at Israeli tanks. Another showed them shooting rifles from perches behind buildings and dumpsters.

Reuters was not able to authenticate the footage.

Israel bombs tunnels

Chief Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said on Wednesday that “Hamas has lost control in the north” of Gaza.

Israel’s combat engineers were using explosive devices to destroy Hamas’ tunnel network that stretches for hundreds of kilometres (miles) beneath Gaza, he said.

The military said it had destroyed 130 tunnel shafts so far. Israel has blamed Hamas for civilian deaths in Gaza, saying that it is using Gazans as human shields and hiding arms and operations centres in residential areas.

Israeli troops took foreign reporters to the edges of Gaza City on Wednesday.

Journalists saw a devastated landscape where every building within sight was scarred by battle.

Walls were blown away while bullet holes and shrapnel dotted the facades and palm trees were shredded and broken.

Lieutenant Colonel Ido, deputy commander of the 401st Brigade, who did not give his last name, said that by the time soldiers reached these buildings, all the families had left.

“So we know that everyone here is our enemy. We have not seen any civilians here. Only Hamas,” he said, standing in a badly damaged children’s bedroom that was painted pink.

Soldiers on the press tour said that beneath the family apartment were two floors of workshops used to make weapons, including drones discovered in five wooden boxes. It was not possible to verify the claim.

50,000 Palestinians head south

Some 50,000 Palestinian civilians left the north on Wednesday, Hagari said, during a four-hour window of opportunity announced by Israel.

The Israeli military has repeatedly told residents to evacuate the north or risk being trapped in the violence.

At least 19 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a house near a hospital in north Gaza’s Jabalia refugee camp on Wednesday, the enclave’s interior ministry said.

There was no immediate Israeli comment or details on the reported attack, which if confirmed would be the third on Gaza’s largest refugee camp in a week.

UN officials and G7 world powers stepped up appeals for a humanitarian pause in the war to assist civilians in Gaza, where necessities including food, medicine and fuel are running out.

Negotiations mediated by Qatar, where several Hamas political leaders are based, are trying to secure the release of 10 to 15 hostages in exchange for a one- to two-day humanitarian pause in Gaza, a source briefed on the talks said on Wednesday.

Source: brecorder.com

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Mideast

 

UNRWA school celebrates Hamas's 'jihad warriors' in Gaza - report

NOVEMBER 8, 2023

A school in Nablus run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) posted a video to its official Facebook page in which a young student called for the victory of Hamas’s “Jihad warriors” in Gaza and evoked Mohammad’s defeat of the Jews at Khaybar, per a new report from the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se).

In the video, several dozen assembled students call out "Amen" after each line recited by the boy, who is flanked by what appears to be an UNRWA school administrator. It also shows students reading a passage from a fifth-grade Islamic Education textbook that incites violence and Jihad against Israel, per the report.

The report also documented several examples of teachers at UNRWA schools in Gaza praising the attacks on social media, and found ties between Hamas terrorists and UNRWA schools.

At least 14 teachers had taken to social media to praise the massacre, both while the atrocities were still ongoing and weeks later.

Sarah Alderawy, an UNRWA teacher in Gaza, took to Facebook on October 7 to post a video of Hamas terrorists shooting at Israeli cars that day. The video was captioned with a verse from the Quran that read "We will surely come to them with soldiers that they will be powerless to encounter, and we will surely expel them in humiliation, and they will be debased."

UNRWA teacher Ebrahim Al Azaia posted a video on Facebook of a rocket landing in a parking lot in Israel. He included the caption "What a splendid sight!" Afab Talab, a teacher at an UNRWA school in Gaza, posted on the day of the attacks that they represented the "first real victory" on the way to liberating all of Palestine, along with a video montage of the infiltrations, the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier, and Israelis at a party fleeing for their lives.

The report also found that more than 100 Hamas terrorists were confirmed to have graduated from UNRWA schools, and stated that is statistically likely that the majority of the 3,000 terrorists who perpetrated the October 7 massacre attended UNRWA institutions, which make up half of all schools in Gaza. In one terrorist’s car, a diploma from an UNRWA-run school was found. 

UNRWA, which has received nearly $1 billion from the US over the past 5 years, and similar amounts from the UK, EU, and others, uses textbooks written by the Palestinian Authority, which have been found to consistently promote Jihad, antisemitism, and suicide attacks against Israelis. The report gave several more examples of this from 2023 textbooks, including excerpts from math and science lessons. In one example, a fourth-grade math problem reads: “The number of martyrs of the First Intifada (the Intifada of Rocks) is 1,392 martyrs, and the number of martyrs of the Al-Aqsa Intifada is 4,673. The number of martyrs in the two intifadas is _________ martyrs.”

Another demonstrates Newton’s Second Law of Physics by displaying an animation of a Palestinian aiming a slingshot at approaching Israeli soldiers, and asks students to identify the forces that affect the projectile after its release from the slingshot and spring. First-graders are taught as part of a grammatical exercise that "Jihad is one of the gates to paradise.”

A chapter discussing the role of women in combat in Islam glorifies a woman who fatally stabbed a Jew as "justly an example of a brave Muslim woman in defense of the Muslims."

Most graphically, an eighth-grade Arabic textbook contains a story for reading comprehension glorifying suicide attacks against Israeli soldiers. The story praises Palestinian fighters in the battle of Karameh, describing how they "wore explosive belts, thus turning their bodies into fire burning the Zionist tank." An illustration is shown depicting a Palestinian spraying bullets at Israeli soldiers in a tank. The story then describes how the soldiers' bodies and body parts became "food for wild animals on land and birds of prey in the sky."

UNRWA's history of using educational materials that glorify terrorism

Glorification of terrorism in textbooks used by UNRWA has been reported on for several years. UNRWA's policy is to use textbooks that are provided by local educational authorities, despite this not being listed as a requirement in the UN's mandate to the organization. An UNRWA official told The Jerusalem Post in 2020 that the organization’s protocol was to review all educational materials given to its teachers by local educational authorities, but rather than to censor or refuse to use them, to instruct its teachers to simply skip over potentially inciting material.

UNRWA’s chief spokeswoman told Foreign Policy Magazine in 2021 that “there is zero tolerance” in UNRWA schools for “incitement, antisemitism, and discrimination.”

However, UNRWA has itself directly published material containing the glorification of terrorism and antisemitism. An IMPACT-Se report from 2021 found that UNRWA had sent its schools self-study materials for students to use at home during the coronavirus pandemic, which "egregiously violated" UN, UNESCO, and UNRWA's stated values and standards. The material, which contained the official UNRWA symbol, contained antisemitic material as well as calls for "martyrdom, violence, and Jihad," per the report.

UNRWA subsequently acknowledged that it had "mistakenly" published inappropriate material for student use, and stated that the issue had been dealt with and that future instances would be prevented through a rigorous review process. However, a July 2022 report by IMPACT-se found that self-published material from UNRWA continued to encourage "jihad, violence, and martyrdom," as well as "antisemitism, conflict discourse, hate, andintolerance."

Former US president Donald Trump cut off all American funding for UNRWA in 2018, drawing outcry from Palestinian rights advocates. President Joe Biden restored the US’s relationship with the organization in 2021, with the US having sent nearly $750 million to the organization over the past three years.

Source: jpost.com

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Hamas says brothers in Yemen determined, have will to fight with Palestinian people

[09/November/2023]

GAZA November 09. 2023 (Saba) - Ghazi Hamad, the member of the Political Bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) praised the Yemeni heroics, saying the brothers in Yemen are determined and have the will to fight with the Palestinian people.

This came during his speech to al-Mayadeen, pointing out that he cannot say that there is an approach to agreeing on a truce in the Gaza Strip.

Hamad pointed out that Prime Minister of the Zionist enemy Benjamin Netanyahu claims that he is working to liberate prisoners held by the Hamas movement, but he does not agree with any ideas in this regard.

Hamad added Netanyahu is the main obstacle to finding solutions to the issue of prisoners with (Hamas) explaining that “Israel” does not seem interested or serious in reaching a deal on the issue of prisoners.

He continued saying the Palestinian resistance informed the mediators of its readiness to deal with the issue of prisoners with a high degree of clarity and has specific demands, pointing out that what is happening in the field is being controlled and with great ability by al-Qassam Brigades.

Hamad said “I challenge the occupation to display pictures proving its control over leaders from Hamas.”

He stressed that the entire Palestinian people reject the American position on the issue of the future of Gaza or elsewhere.

Hamad also pointed out that the position of the Palestinian Authority must be strong and firm, and it must say that governing Gaza is a Palestinian matter, saying “We have the ability and power to thwart the American plan.”

Source: saba.ye

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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3279214.htm

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WHO warns of ‘worrying trends’ in disease spread in Gaza

 09 Nov 2023

GENEVA, Nov 9 — The Gaza Strip faces an increased risk of disease spreading due to Israeli air bombardments that have disrupted the health system, access to clean water and caused people to crowd in shelters, the World Health Organization warned yesterday.

“As deaths and injuries in Gaza continue to rise due to intensified hostilities, intense overcrowding and disrupted health, water, and sanitation systems pose an added danger: the rapid spread of infectious diseases,” WHO said.

“Some worrying trends are already emerging.”

It said that the lack of fuel in the densely populated enclave had caused desalination plants to shut down, which increased the risk of bacterial infections like diarrhoea spreading.

While there have been extremely limited deliveries of food, water and medicine to Gaza, Israel has refused to let fuel in due to concerns about its possible diversion by Hamas despite calls from the United Nations and humanitarian aid groups.

WHO said that more than 33,551 cases of diarrhoea had been reported since mid-October, the bulk of which among children under five.

It said the number of children affected marked a significant increase compared to an average of 2,000 cases monthly in that age group throughout 2021 and 2022.

The lack of fuel has also disrupted the collection of solid waste, which WHO said created an “environment conducive to the rapid and widespread proliferation of insects, rodents that can carry and transit diseases.”

It said that it was “almost impossible” for health facilities to maintain basic infection prevention measures, increasing the risk of infection caused by trauma, surgery and childbirth.

“Disrupted routine vaccination activities, as well as lack of medicines for treating communicable diseases, further increase the risk of accelerated disease spread,” it warned. — Reuters

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2023/11/09/who-warns-of-worrying-trends-in-disease-spread-in-gaza/101097

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Palestine number one issue for Muslim world, mankind

Nov 8, 2023

TEHRAN, Nov. 08 (MNA) – President Ebrahim Raeisi said Wednesday that the Palestine issue today is the number one issue for the Islamic world and the entire mankind.

He made the comments in a ceremony of singing cooperation documents sitting alongside President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe, where he arrived on Wednesday for the ECO meeting.

Stating that there is no barrier to the development of relations between Iran and Tajikistan, the Iranian President stressed that, despite being under sanctions, the Islamic Republic of Iran has much potential in various fields.

"Iran has good potential in the fields of energy, agriculture, industry, and mines, and we are ready to share our experiences with the people of Tajikistan," he said adding that, "With many cultural similarities with Tajikistan, we can have very good cooperation; It was decided to take steps to develop the Persian language by activating the cultural sectors of the two countries."

"We must preserve our common cultural assets against the Western cultural invasion; Our shared cultural commonalities is a great asset for both Iran and Tajikistan,"  he added.

"Palestine today is the top issue of the Islamic world and the humanity," Raeisi said elsewhere.

High-ranking officials of Iran and Tajikistan signed 18 cooperation documents and memorandums in the presence of the two presidents.

Source: mehrnews.com

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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/208125/Palestine-number-one-issue-for-Muslim-world-mankind     

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Zionist-American aggression aircraft targets vicinity of al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza

[09/November/2023]

GAZA November 09. 2023 (Saba) - The Zionist-American aggression warplanes targeted at dawn on Thursday the vicinity of al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City with several raids.

Local sources said that the aggression warplanes fired several missiles at continuous intervals around al-Shifa Medical Complex, which led to the fall of missile fragments in the hospital yard, in conjunction with the launch of flares in the sky of Gaza City, specifically the beach camp.

They added that the aggression warplanes also bombed the vicinity of al-Nasr Hospital in western Gaza, killing three citizens and wounding dozens.

The artillery of the Zionist-American aggression continues to shell and rocket fire east of Rafah, specifically near the eastern fence separating the Gaza Strip.

Source: saba.ye

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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3279208.htm

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Hamas official says no Gaza evacuations into Egypt

November 09, 2023

GAZA STRIP: No wounded Palestinians or dual nationals were evacuated Wednesday from the Gaza Strip to Egypt via the Rafah crossing, a Palestinian official said.

The crossing point remained closed due to Israel’s refusal to approve the list of wounded who were to be evacuated, a Hamas official told AFP.

The war started over a month ago when Hamas militants crossed into Israel and killed about 1,400 people, mainly civilians, and seized 239 hostages, according to Israeli officials,

Aiming to destroy Hamas, Israel retaliated with a relentless bombardment and ground invasion of the Gaza Strip that, according to the Hamas-run Palestinian territory’s health ministry, has killed more than 10,500 people, also mostly civilians.

The Rafah terminal — which connects the bombarded Gaza Strip to Egypt — reopened on November 1 to allow the evacuation of foreigners and dual nationals stranded in the small Palestinian territory.

There was then a two-day closure after deadly Israeli strikes hit ambulances headed for the border, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent and the Hamas-run health ministry.

Israel’s military said it had targeted an ambulance used by a “Hamas terrorist cell.”

An AFP journalist at the Rafah crossing point Wednesday saw a large crowd of people hoping to cross into Egypt during the day.

Mazen Danaf, who holds a German passport, told AFP that the situation in Gaza is “horrible.”

“There is no electricity, no water, no fuel, the hospitals are crowded,” he said.

Egypt has said it would help evacuate around 7,000 foreigners through the crossing.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2405766/middle-east

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Iran: G7 expected to fulfill responsibility, stop support for Gaza genocide

 09 November 2023

Iran says the Group of Seven (G7) was expected to fulfill its international responsibilities vis-à-vis Israel's war crimes and condemn genocide in Gaza as the regime pushes ahead with its criminal acts against the besieged Strip.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani made the announcement on Thursday as he strongly condemned as "groundless" a statement by the G7 foreign ministers and the High Representative of the European Union and a separate one by the foreign and defense ministers of Japan and Britain leveling accusations against the Islamic Republic.

The G7 foreign ministers were expected to carry out their responsibility and condemn Israel's measures that are in violation of human and international rights in the Gaza Strip and end their support for Tel Aviv's war crimes and genocide in the blockaded territory, he said.

He added that the ministers were also expected to make efforts to "immediately and unconditionally" put an end to military attacks as well as the blockade in Gaza and ensure Gazans' access to international humanitarian aid.

The war started after the territory's resistance movements waged a surprise attack against the occupying entity, dubbed Operation al-Aqsa Storm, in response to its decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

At least 10,569 Palestinians, including 4,324 children and 2,823 women, have been killed in Israeli aerial and ground attacks so far.

It has also imposed a “complete siege” on Gaza, cutting off fuel, electricity, food and water to more than two million Palestinians living there.

A UN experts say the widespread and systematic bombardment of housing and civilian infrastructure in Gaza amounts a crime against humanity

Kan'ani further rejected as "false and ridiculous" the claims that Iran's support for the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas and the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement has destabilized the region.

"Since the very first day of the crisis in Gaza, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been making constant efforts to stop the military attacks by the aggressive Zionist regime on Gaza and save the lives of defenseless citizens and residents," the Iranian spokesperson said.

He added that the occupation of the Palestinian territories, massacre and genocide of the Palestinian people and destruction of their homes and farms, attacks on religious and Islamic sites, hospitals and medical centers and measures against human rights and international law are among the crimes the Israeli regime has been committing against the oppressed citizens of Palestine.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he dismissed allegations about the human rights situation in Iran, saying the issue of human rights has a high religious and moral position in the Islamic establishment and the Constitution.

Kan'ani urged those countries advising Iran to respect human rights to review their dark record in this regard and end their support for Israel's child-killing, war crimes and genocide in Gaza.

The spokesman also reacted to the G7 foreign ministers' request from Iran to live up to its obligations regarding nuclear non-proliferation and fulycoopearte with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"As it has been repeatedly announced, nuclear weapons have no place in the military doctrine of the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said, reiterating once again the completely peaceful nature of Tehran's nuclear program.

"Iran has fulfilled all its commitments in this regard, which has been verified by the IAEA on several occasions," Kan'ani emphasized.

He reaffirmed Iran's foreign policy on the promotion of stability and security in West Asia and emphasized that the military presence of extra-regional countries is among the most important reasons behind insecurity and instability in the region.

Kan'ani also dismissed claims about Iran's support for Russia’s war against Ukraine and interference with vessels’ freedom of navigation, saying all such allegations are baseless and politically-motivated.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/11/09/714291/Iran-Nasser-Kan-ani-G7-Japan-Britain-foreign-ministers-statements-Gaza-Israel-Palestine-nuclear-program-human-rights-Ukraine-war-Hezbollah-Hamas

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Europe

 

Macron says France will be ‘ruthless’ against antisemitism

November 08, 2023

PARIS: France will firmly combat antisemitism, President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday, pointing to a surge in incidents of hatred against Jews since the attack by Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7 and subsequent fighting in the Gaza Strip.

There have been 1,159 antisemitic acts in France since Oct. 7, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said earlier on Wednesday, more than three times the number of such acts in 2022.

Those acts include spray-painting swastikas or stars of David on walls, but also insults and assault, Darmanin said, amid a global surge in antisemitic acts.

“Antisemitism is resurfacing, in words, on the walls,” Macron said in a speech. “The Republic does not and will not compromise, and we will be ruthless against those who carry that hatred.”

France is home to Europe’s largest Jewish and Muslim communities and conflicts in the Middle East tend to lead to tensions there.

French prosecutors opened a probe last week over a video showing a group of youths’ antisemitic chants.

Prosecutors are also investigating whether two Moldovans who admitted to daubing Stars of David on the walls of Parisian properties did so at the behest of someone abroad.

Europe 1 radio said last week that an individual in Russia had directed the operation. Le Monde daily spoke of pro-Russian bots spreading pictures on social media. Police and the interior ministry said they could not comment on this.

In France, as elsewhere in Europe, the Israel-Hamas war is splitting left-wing parties and beyond.

A march against antisemitism planned for Sunday by the heads of both houses of parliament has left parties divided on whether to attend, after the far-right National Rally said it would take part.

Source: arabnews.com

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German anti-racism group reports rising attacks against Muslims

08.11.2023

Oliver Towfigh Nia

Germany’s Muslim community is facing growing attacks since the start of the war against the Gaza Strip, a Berlin-based nongovernmental human rights organization said Wednesday.

“In recent weeks we have seen an increase in anti-Muslim racism. We currently have three documented anti-Muslim incidents per day. This applies to the two and a half weeks before October 31st,” the head of the Alliance Against Islamophobia and Anti-Muslim Hate (CLAIM), Rima Hanano, said in an interview with public broadcaster, BR.

“At the same time, I would like to point out that there is a large number of unreported cases because many people do not report anti-Muslim attacks or they are not well recorded,” she said.

Hanano expressed concern about a series of major anti-Muslim hate crimes in Germany in recent weeks.

“Mosques across the country receive threatening letters and hate mail, and there are attempts at arson. For example, children are bullied at school because of their adherence to Islam. Or they are expected to position themselves because of their Muslim affiliation,” she said. “People are verbally attacked on the street and equated with terror and insulted as 'terrorists'. These are cases that reach us,” said Hanano.

The human rights activist pointed out that “every second person in Germany” backs anti-Muslim resentments.

CLAIM has documented 53 cases of anti-Muslim threats, violence and discrimination in the last two-and-a-half weeks, including 10 attacks on mosques.

The center-left government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz had also expressed concern about mounting anti-Muslim racism.

Any attacks on Muslims in Germany, for religious or other reasons, are “absolutely unacceptable,” government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said last week at a news conference in Berlin.

“The nearly 5 million Muslims in Germany have every right to be protected,” he added.

Source: aa.com.tr

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Spanish minister backs legal initiative to bring Israel before ICC for 'war crimes' in Palestine

09 November 2023

Spain's social rights minister, Ione Belarra, has backed a legal initiative to bring the Israeli regime before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for "war crimes" in Palestine.

Belarra on Wednesday asked any dual-nationals from Palestine and European countries and their family members who are victims of war crimes to contact French lawyer Juan Branco to bring Israel's crimes before the national jurisdictions and at the International Criminal Court, "free of charge."

Branco earlier wrote on X platform (formerly known as twitter) that he agreed to represent "any victim of war crimes or crimes against humanity as well as any member of their family” free of charge.

We’ve been asked to represent dual-nationals from Palestine and European countries, both in national jurisdictions and at the International Criminal Court.

We have agreed to represent pro-bono any victim of war crimes or crimes against humanity as well as any member of their…

Several Spanish ministers have slammed the ongoing Israeli “genocide” in the Gaza Strip, urging their government to do more to stop the regime’s atrocities against Palestinians.

Belarra is one of the European politicians who has spoken out against Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.

“Bombing hospitals, refugee camps, children, defenseless elderly people, Israel is demonstrating the worst of humanity. How long will European leaders make us accomplices of this barbarism,” she wrote earlier.

She has also demanded that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu be brought before the ICC for war crimes and urged European officials to put economic sanctions on Netanyahu and break off ties with the Israeli regime.

"We need exemplary economic sanctions on Netanyahu and all those responsible for the genocide of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. We also need an immediate arms embargo. Europe can and must act with autonomy and seek peace," she said in an interview last month.

We need exemplary economic sanctions on Netanyahu and all those responsible for the genocide of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. We also need an immediate arms embargo. Europe can and must act with autonomy and seek peace. pic.twitter.com/asNERZwVuF

Spanish Minister of Social Rights calls on European leaders to cut ties with Israel to end genocide in Gaza amid global calls for a ceasefire.

This is while other European officials have also urged their respective countries to adopt sanctions against Tel Aviv. In the recent acts, Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Sutte has demanded sanctions against Israel over its bloodshed in the war-torn Gaza Strip.

Moreover, the UK's media outlets reported on Wednesday that Shadow Minister for the New Deal for Working People Imran Hussain has resigned from the main British opposition party, mounting pressure on the party leader Keir Starmer over his refusal to back a ceasefire in Gaza.

Belgium says it wants sanctions against Israel over its constant bombing of the war-torn Gaza Strip.

Israel waged the war on Gaza on October 7, after the territory’s resistance movements Hamas carried out a surprise attack against the occupying entity, dubbed Operation al-Aqsa Storm, in response to unrelenting Israeli crimes against Palestinians.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, the death toll from indiscriminate Israeli bombardments has surpassed 10,500 people, including 4,324 children and 2,823 women, while over 30,000 have been either injured or remain unaccounted for.

Source: presstv.ir

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Putin, Erdogan and Raisi make visits in Central Asia

November 09, 2023

ASTANA: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Kazakhstan on Thursday, while Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi were expected in Uzbekistan, amid renewed diplomatic interest in the region.

Central Asia’s former Soviet republics have sought to diversify their partnerships as Moscow’s sway over the region – which it considers as under its sphere of influence – has waned since Russia invaded Ukraine.

The Russian leader and his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev nevertheless praised their countries’ relationship in interviews ahead of their planned meeting in Astana.

“Our strategic partnership is truly forward-looking,” Putin said, while Tokayev praised an “alliance with a rich past and a bright future”.

But three decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union, with Russia bogged down in Ukraine, other world powers are investing in Central Asia.

China has become a major partner across the whole region with its Belt and Road Initiative, a gigantic infrastructure project.

And Putin’s trip to Kazakhstan comes a week after French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit – and as the European Union, the United States, Iran and Turkiye seek to strengthen ties there.

Raisi and Erdogan in Tashkent

More than 1,000 kilometres south, a summit of the Economic Cooperation Organisation will be held in Uzbekistan’s capital Tashkent.

The city will host the Iranian and Turkish presidents, as well as Pakistani Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and Central Asian leaders.

The war between Israel and Hamas is not on the agenda, Uzbekistan said.

On October 7, Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel that killed more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli authorities.

Aiming to destroy Hamas, Israel responded with a relentless bombardment and ground invasion of the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 10,500 people, many of them children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.

Tehran, which backs Hamas, said it did want to discuss the conflict, state-run agency IRNA said.

Raisi already discussed the conflict during a meeting with Tajik leader Emomali Rahmon on Wednesday.

And Erdogan – who hardened his tone against both Israel and its Western supporters – is likely to bring the issue to the table.

Most of the talks are expected to focus on trade, humanitarian cooperation and transport.

Central Asian countries, which are landlocked, are trying to gain access to the sea including via Pakistan.

Russia is under pressure in the region but it remains a key partner.

It renewed investments in the energy sectors, having been excluded from most of the European market by sanctions triggered by the invasion of Ukraine.

Moscow has launched large-scale energy projects, including by launching gas supplies to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan.

It is also discussing building nuclear power plants and hydroelectric projects in several countries.

Source: brecorder.com

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Spain’s Ione Belarra: Israel must end ‘genocide’ of Palestinians in Gaza

By Graham Keeley

8 Nov 2023

Madrid, Spain – In an interview with Al Jazeera, a Spanish minister has called on the international community to sanction Israel, which she accused of a “planned genocide” of Palestinians in Gaza.

Ione Belarra, the Spanish minister for social rights and leader of the far-left Podemos party, also condemned world leaders for an apparent double standard – saying while human rights abuses in Ukraine have been decried, there is a “deafening silence” on the victims of Israeli bombardment.

“The Israeli state must end this planned genocide against the Palestine people,” Belarra said on Wednesday.

“Why can we give lessons in human rights in other conflicts and not here when the world is watching in horror? The deaths of thousands of children, the mothers desperately shouting because they are witnessing the killing of their children.

“There is a deafening silence of so many countries and so many political leaders who could do something. I speak about what I know well, which is the European Union. It seems the display of hypocrisy, which the European Commission is showing, is unacceptable.”

Spain and other nations should break off diplomatic relations with Israel in protest against its assault on Gaza, she insisted.

On October 7, the Palestinian group Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, carried out an unprecedented attack in Israel, killing more than 1,000 Israelis and taking hundreds captive.

With the stated aim to crush Hamas, Israel then began bombarding Gaza, one of the world’s most densely populated areas, killing more than 10,000 people, including many children.

Spanish citizens have been caught on both sides of the crisis.

El Pais newspaper, citing diplomatic sources, has reported that Ivan Illarramendi, who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, has died. He was living in a kibbutz.

Spain is also among the Western nations trying to evacuate some of its citizens from Gaza.

Europe ‘losing opportunity’ to take action

Soon after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February last year, the European Union was quick to sanction Russian President Vladimir Putin and his aides.

Belarra suggested the EU mirror its “fast action” in the case of Israel.

“They reacted [over the Ukraine war].

“We are losing the opportunity. At the moment, we could do lots of things,” she said, including economic sanctions on Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who she described as a “war criminal”, and his political circle.

The politicians responsible for “pushing the button” should be brought before the International Criminal Court and tried for approving bombing campaigns that target civilian populations – “a flagrant breach of human rights”, she said.

“I am demanding my country and other countries break diplomatic relations with Israel. I think this would send the right political message, which is we don’t want to have anything to do with this war criminal like this leader,” she said.

“We have to act and we have to be more firm despite the fact [that Israel] is very powerful and has powerful friends.”

Belarra’s party, Podemos, is the junior partner in Spain’s acting left-wing coalition government, which is led by the Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

Spain has demanded the release of more than 200 hostages taken during the Hamas attack and called for a truce. It is also calling for humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gaza, where food has become scare and health and water services are on the brink of collapse.

José Manuel Albares, the Spanish foreign minister, told Spanish television RTVE on Wednesday that Madrid will double aid for the civilian population of Gaza to $43m.

‘More dignified position’

The war has polarised political parties across Europe, and seen thousands of protesters take to the streets across the continent to demand a ceasefire.

A series of pro-Palestinian marches have taken place in Madrid, Barcelona, and other Spanish cities in recent weeks without any official restrictions.

Spain has a large Muslim population of about two million people, according to government statistics. About 50,000 Jewish people also live in the country.

Spain’s stance has differed from neighbouring France, which has banned pro-Palestinian marches. Germany and the United Kingdom have also cracked down on pro-Palestinian activism.

Belarra condemned European governments, without naming them, for “criminalising” the pro-Palestinian movement.

“The [Spanish] government is maintaining a more dignified position than other countries of the European community, which are criminalising the pro-Palestinian movement, banning demonstrations. What I want is that Spain does more, that Spain does all it can,” she said.

Ignacio Molina, a foreign policy expert at the Autonomous University of Madrid, said Spain is somewhat of an outlier in Europe for its position on Palestine, but stressed that Belarra’s views contrast with the government, whose line has been more balanced.

“Spain has a good relationship with Israel, but like Ireland and some other European countries, it is among the more sympathetic towards the Palestinian cause,” he told Al Jazeera.

“Spain only started diplomatic relations with Israel in 1986, but it has made sympathetic gestures towards Israel, like offering Spanish citizenship to Sephardic Jews.”

In 2015, the Spanish government announced Sephardic Jews, who were expelled from Spain in 1492, were to be offered citizenship as a way of atoning for the expulsion by Catholic monarchs.

On Tuesday, Spain honoured United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has been criticised by Israel over his remarks that the Hamas attacks “did not happen in a vacuum”.

Source: aljazeera.com

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Western and Arab officials are gathering in Paris to find ways to provide aid to civilians in Gaza

November 09, 2023

PARIS: Officials from Western and Arab nations, the United Nations and nongovernmental organizations are gathering Thursday in Paris for a conference on how to provide aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip during Israel’s war with Hamas, including proposals for a humanitarian maritime corridor and floating field hospitals.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who has called for a “humanitarian pause” in the war, wants the conference to address the besieged Palestinian enclave’s growing needs including food, water, health supplies, electricity and fuel.

Over 50 nations are expected to attend including several European countries, the United States and regional powers like Jordan, Egypt and the Gulf countries, the French presidency said. Also attending is Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh.

Israeli authorities won’t participate in Thursday’s conference, the Elysee said.

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, the UN’s top aid official and the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross are expected to provide details about urgent needs in the Gaza Strip.

More than 1.5 million people — or about 70 percent of Gaza’s population — have fled their homes, and an estimated $1.2 billion is needed to respond to the crisis in Palestinian areas.

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides will present his plan for a humanitarian sea corridor to Gaza which he has said aims for a “sustained, secure high-volume flow of humanitarian assistance to Gaza in the immediate, medium and long term.” Ships would deliver the aid from Cyprus’ main port of Limassol, some 255 miles away (410 kilometers.)

French officials said they are also considering evacuating injured people onto hospital ships in the Mediterranean off the Gaza coast. Paris sent a helicopter carrier off the Cyprus coast and is preparing another with medical capacities on board for that purpose.

Thursday’s discussions will also include financial support and other ways to help Gaza’s civilians.

France is expected to announce some additional funding. Since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, Paris has provided an additional 20 million euros ($21.4 million) in humanitarian aid for Gaza, through the UN and other partners and sent 54 tons of aid via three flights to Egypt.

On Tuesday, the German government said it will provide 20 million euros in new funding, in addition to releasing 71 million euros already earmarked for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees following a review it launched after the Hamas attack.

European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are also attending the conference. The 27-nation bloc is the world’s top aid supplier to the Palestinians. It has sent almost 78 million euros this year.

Source: arabnews.com

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London’s creative community sell-out event raises awareness on Palestine

November 08, 2023

LONDON: An ensemble of London-based creative collectives hosted an event on Sunday to raise awareness and mobilize action on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Palestine.

“Arts Action Palestine,” which quickly sold out its 600-seat venue, invited a large number of London grassroots organizations in the creative space to host workshops and activities. Its aim was to bring in a wide demographic and reach new audiences.

The program featured a lecture by Hazem Jamjoum from the Palestinian Policy Network, a panel discussion with Jews for Justice, soundscapes, and an eclectic mix of cultural expressions, including soundscapes, live music and spoken word by Palestinian artists.

A selection of borrowed books and archival resources was on display for visitors to browse at the library corner, while six-hour showcases of short films by Palestinian filmmakers were screened throughout the day-long event.

“A hard realization for me over the last few weeks was seeing how many of my friends weren’t speaking up for Palestine,” Dania Arafeh, a key organizer of the event and founder of fashion online market 3eib, told Arab News.

“Because of the misinformation being spread by the media and the Zionist rhetoric that governments are using, it becomes difficult for people to call it out for what it is: ethnic cleansing.” the 29-year-old said.

“For them, it’s this complex thing that they don’t know enough about. So our aim for today is to target those people,”

The event placed a particular focus on including action-focused workshops, such as making posters and signing petitions. Human rights lawyers also volunteered to help attendees write personalized, legally backed emails to their MPs.

Azl Collective, one of the event’s organizers, hosted a workshop for writing the names of Gazans who were killed by Israel’s attacks on the besieged enclave.

“We came up with the idea of writing the martyrs’ names as a powerful way of remembering them as individuals and human beings, not just a number on a screen,” Shiza Naveed, co-founder of Azl, told Arab News.

“This is just about making sure people aren’t desensitized and aren’t doubting these official numbers. Overall, it’s been really heartwarming to see the turnout,” the 24-year-old said.

More than 10,300 Palestinians have been killed by Israel’s attacks on Gaza in the past 32 days, including more than 4,100 children, according to the Gazan Health Ministry.

The Israeli siege of the territory has denied its 2.2 million residents access to basic items such as food, water, fuel and electricity.

London has been home to one of Europe’s largest pro-Palestine demonstrations in recent weeks, with an estimated total of 1 million people protesting on the capital’s streets.

“I think all of us being here at this moment is opening our eyes to other causes,” Azl Co-Founder Heide Sarah Affi told Arab News.

“Those of us who believe in a free Palestine, we’ve already been seeing the interconnectedness behind colonialism, oppressive world powers, and Western imperial interests affecting all of us,” the 28-year-old said.

Lama, a university student from Saudi Arabia, said that she found the program educational, particularly Jamjoum’s detailed history lesson.

“What really stood out to me was the diversity of the crowd. It was filled with people of all ages and ethnicities who were there to willingly educate themselves on the issue, and that itself made me really happy,” she said.

“I grew up learning about the Palestinian issue at school and at home. Moreover, I was raised around many Palestinian friends who had to leave their country, so I’ve always been aware and passionate when it came to this subject,” she said.

Another attendee, Sidiq, said: “It felt great to be a part of something that is actually doing something to help because sitting on our phones fighting for peace from our fingertips doesn’t always feel like you’re doing much, but being here as part of a community that is there for one cause is very empowering.”

While the tickets to Arts Action Palestine were free, optional donations went toward Medical Aid for Palestinians and Palestine Solidarity Campaign UK.

Source: arabnews.com

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Pakistan

 

Karachi kids march against Gaza genocide

2023-11-09

KARACHI: A ‘Palestine unity march’ of schoolchildren taking was staged here Wednesday to condemn the Israeli bombings in Gaza, and to show displeasure to the US and European support to the genocide of Palestinians.

Children paraded on the ShahraeQaideen Road, showing solidarity with Palestine against the Jewish state’s atrocities in Gaza. The march was organised by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi chapter.

Nearly 10,000 people of Gaza, half of them children, have been killed already in Israeli bombings, which have got a huge military and diplomatic support from the US and its European allies.

The protesting children shouted chants against the occupation Jewish army and Israel for killing thousands in Gaza, with banners, placards and artworks in hands to highlight Zionist nation’s cruelties.

Children also gave away donations to support the people of Gaza for medical aid, ration, and other basic needs of life. Many students also gave speeches and recited poems to highlight the miseries of Palestinians in the continuing war.

“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” the students chants rattled the surroundings as JI Karachi Chief, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman again shamed the Muslim rulers for their ‘cowardice’, shying from setting face against the Jewish state.

The Muslim world with huge weapon stocks and armies, he said, cannot help the underdog Palestinians in the war which Israel has waged on Gaza, because they lack courage. He urged the “spineless” leaders of the Muslim countries to raise their voice effectively.

Source: brecorder.com

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Anti-Terrorism Case Against 150 Punjab University Students For ‘Violent’ Protest

November 9, 2023

LAHORE: The Garden Town police on Wednesday lodged an anti-terrorism case against 150 students of the Punjab University for holding a ‘violent’ protest.

The police also nominated 18 student leaders, including Islamic Jamiat Tulaba Nazim Usman Gujjar, and formed teams for conducting raids for the arrest of the students.

Lodged on the complaint of police inspector Mohammad Nadeem, it was alleged in the FIR that over 150 students of the university gathered at Barkat Market and blocked both sides of the road for traffic the other day. They allegedly turned violent and attacked the police which was discharging security duties at the spot.

The inspector alleged that the students snatched weapons, tortured the police personnel and dragged them on the roads.

They also thrashed some personnel of anti-riot force when they came to rescue their colleagues.As a result, five policemen suffered multiple injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals, according to the FIR.

The police alleged the students took law into their hand as they tore uniform of the policemen, injured them seriously and snatched from them official weapons and the act is liable to be treated as terrorism. The police also invoked other sections of the PPC.

There were some reports that the police teams entered the Punjab University, raided the hostels of the students and made some arrests.

Similarly, police teams raided the private premises suspecting that the students were in hiding.

Source: dawn.com

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PM warns of trans-regional spillover of Gaza war

November 09, 2023

Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has called for enhanced engagement with the Western capitals to make Israel realize that the Gaza war can trigger a spillover effect beyond the region.

In an interview with Arab News, the Prime Minister said Western capitals, particularly Washington and London need to make realize the Israeli side that they are contributing to destabilize the region.

He called for an immediate cessation of violence and labeled Israel's assault on Gaza genocide, clearly.

The Prime Minister said he will attend an extraordinary session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Sunday in Riyadh to discuss Israel’s attacks on Palestine.

He said Israel cannot just kill children and say that it has got the right to defend itself.

The Prime Minister said it is the license to barbaric retaliation. He said that the entire Muslim nation should think over about its contribution in science and technology and defence.

The Prime Minister also criticized governance structures in Muslim nations, saying their challenges are deeper than the mere quagmire of the Palestinian situation:

Source: radio.gov.pk

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SHC refuses to issue notices on plea against deportation of Afghan refugees

November 9, 2023

Ishaq Tanoli

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday declined to issue notices on a petition filed against the deportation of illegal Afghan immigrants.

While questioning the maintainability of the petition, a two-judge bench headed by Justice NaimatullahPhulpoto asked the petitioners as to how the SHC could interfere in policy matters.

The bench also directed the lawyer for petitioners, Sara Malkani, to satisfy it as to how the petitioners were aggrieved persons.

Rights activist Sheema Kermani and 14 others petitioned the SHC and asked it to restrain the federal and provincial authorities concerned from detaining and deporting Afghans on the ground that it was beyond the mandate of a caretaker government to make such decision.

Bench seeks arguments on maintainability of petition filed by Sheema Kermani, others

At the outset of the hearing, the bench turned down the request of the lawyer for petitioners to issue notices to the respondents and remarked that the petition was impugning the state’s policy and how the court could intervene in such matter.

The counsel contended that the policy in question had been adopted by the caretaker government without the mandate to make such a decision.

The bench also observed that the petitioners had no standing since they were not directly aggrieved and added that the fundamental rights could not be claimed by non-citizens.

The lawyer cited a precedent of superior court and submitted that in public interest matters, an aggrieved person may be a concerned citizen genuinely seeking to uphold fundamental rights and Articles 9 and 10 referred to a person and not a citizen.

Justice Phulpoto remarked that the court would not intervene in the state’s policy and the foreigners illegally residing in Pakistan were being deported.

The bench also remarked that the petitioners should note that Saudi Arabia had far stricter polices than Pakistan about foreigners violating visa conditions.

It further said that the articles referred by the lawyer for petitioners were also pertaining to the citizens and people of Pakistan.

Adjourning the hearing for a date to be fixed after three weeks, the bench in its order said, “Counsel for petitioners is directed to satisfy the Court as to how the petitioners are aggrieved persons and as to how this Court can inference in the policy matters under Article 199 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973”.

Citing the chief secretary, ministry of interior and ministry of states and frontier regions as respondents, the petitioners submitted that on Oct 3, the unelected caretaker federal government had decided to rollback Pakistan’s 40-year-old policy protecting refugees and to expel all foreigners residing in Pakistan without a valid visa.

They submitted that around 1.32 million people had proof of registration cards (POR Cards) issued by the federal government in collaboration with UNHCR and nearly 840,000 had been issued Afghan citizen cards by the government in collaboration with the international organisation of migration while a large number of refugees including those who had come to Pakistan since Taliban’s takeover in 2021 and had submitted applications with UNHCR for POR cards and their applications were pending.

The petitioners also maintained that Sindh police had commenced the mass arrests of Afghan refugees including women and children to implement the plan of the caretaker federal government.

They alleged that the ongoing detention and deportation of persons alleged to be illegal immigrants were being made in violation of fundamental constitutional rights to due process, fair trial and opportunity for a hearing or legal representation.

They contended that the policy decision of the apex committee of the caretaker government about deportation made no distinction between refugees and illegal immigrants and respondents had failed to develop a rights-based legal and policy framework to regulate registration and voluntary repatriation of refugees.

Source: dawn.com

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Caretaker PM in Uzbekistan to attend ECO Summit today

November 09, 2023

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, who is in Tashkent, Uzbekistan will attend the 16th Summit of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) today.

The Prime Minister will reaffirm Pakistan's commitment to ECO Vision 2025 and to promotion of regional cooperation in the areas of trade, transport, connectivity, energy, tourism and economic growth and productivity.

Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar will present Pakistan's vision for the future work of the organization and promotion of regional connectivity and mutual prosperity.

The Prime Minister will attend the reception organized in honor of the leaders of the ECO countries.

Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar will also meet President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, in which bilateral relations, regional and global issues will be discussed.

The Prime Minister is also expected to leave for the historic city of Samarkand today, where he will visit the shrine of Hazrat Imam Bukhari.  

Source: radio.gov.pk

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NED issues notice to student for raising fund for Palestinians

November 09, 2023

Karachi: The NED University of Engineering and Technology has served a show-cause notice to its student, Zaeem ur Rehman, over raising a fund for Palestinians on the campus.

The show-cause notice issued by the university’s registrar stated that on October 25, Rehman along with his friend was collecting donations for a "Palestine Fund" as the representative of a religious political party on the campus, without obtaining permission from the varsity.

Such an act is equal to misconduct, the notice reads, adding that the student violated the varsity’s regulations for discipline, conduct, welfare and code of honour as well as the undertaking provided by him.

The notice, dated October 30, 2023, sought an explanation from the student for his act within seven days.

Rehman, in his reply, said he and other students had decided to raise funds at the varsity for the people of Palestine who are suffering from Israeli atrocities. He added that the donation boxes were seized by the university security before the collection drive could start.

He said the security personnel told him and his fellows that raising funds on the campus was not allowed, without the permission of the varsity administration. Following this, he said he moved an application before the university registrar, which to his surprise was rejected later.

He contested the claims made against him in the notice by the varsity, saying that he wanted to support Palestinians on a humanitarian basis and had no political motivations. He hoped that the university would not take any disciplinary action against him and would resolve this matter amicably. Rehman said the show-cause notice caused him and his family distress.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1127333-ned-issues-notice-to-student-for-raising-fund-for-palestinians

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IHC reserves order on Qureshi’s bail plea in cipher case

November 09, 2023

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday reserved its order on a bail application of former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the cipher case.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq inquired the counsel if the charge framed against the applicant really pertains to connivance with the main accused or it is about having possession of a cipher copy and its misuse.

The Federal Investigation Agency’s special prosecutor submitted that the prosecution has sufficient evidence about the applicant’s connivance in the cipher case and he could therefore not be entitled to bail.

He said that applicant being foreign minister should have stopped the then prime minister from making such a speech, but he instigated the former prime minister to make the cipher information public.

Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s bail application as well as the trial court’s order with regard to his indictment in the cipher case.

The applicant’s counsel, Ali Bukhari, submitted that the applicant had not been provided with the complete record of the case, and copies of the charge sheet had been provided only after the lodging of protest. He said that it is the responsibility of the foreign minister to bring to the knowledge of the prime minister whatever he come to know, and the prime minister has to place the information before the cabinet. He said that the principal secretary of PM has to prepare the agenda of the cabinet meeting.

Special Prosecutor Raja Rizwan Abbasi submitted that the applicant was indicted by the trial court after the completion of all the legal formalities on October 23, and copies of the charge sheet were provided to the applicant according to the law.

The court asked the special prosecutor whether copies were provided to the applicant according the law. The special prosecutor submitted that the applicant was indicted on charges of conniving with the former prime minister in the cipher case. He said that the applicant remained twice foreign minister of the country and his speech shown that he was aware about the secrecy in the cipher case.

Abbasi said that applicant had said in his speech as foreign minister that he himself was not disclosing the secret, but he had told the prime minister about the secret and that a plan was being made and who were involved in this planning.

He said that the applicant did not deny his words and admitted in a TV programme that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman had rightly disclosed the cipher. The special prosecutor said there was no example in the world in which any official had made public the information in the cipher in this manner.

Special Prosecutor Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi submitted that the applicant’s counsel was not allowing the trial court to proceed further and wanted the trial court to record statements of three witnesses on every hearing. He said that trial proceedings could be completed if the court gives the prosecution 15 to 20 days or one month at most.

The chief justice observed that it is a jail trial of the applicant instead of an in-camera trial, and jail trial proceedings do not mean open public court proceedings. The court inquired the prosecution counsel how the jail trial of the applicant was being carried out.

Special Prosecutor Shah Khawar said that public access to the jail trial is not prohibited but limited. The chief justice observed that only those persons who are allowed by the prison authorities can witness the trial proceedings in the jail. The applicant’s counsel submitted that Shah Mehmood Qureshi did not use the word ‘cipher’ anywhere in his speech. The court after hearing the arguments of the counsel reserved the order on the bail application.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1127323-ihc-reserves-order-on-qureshi-s-bail-plea-in-cipher-case

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Arab World

 

Yemen vows to keep up pro-Palestine operations until Israel ends Gaza war

 09 November 2023

Yemen’s Ansarullah resistance movement has vowed to continue operations in support of the innocent people of the Gaza Strip until Israel ends its bloody onslaught on the besieged Palestinian territory.

Ansarullah spokesman Mohammed Abdul-Salam made the pledge in a post shared on social media on Wednesday, after Yemen’s Armed Forces shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone which was conducting a “hostile espionage” operation in support of the Israeli regime.

“The downing of the American drone shows that our armed forces will continue their operations in support of Gaza until the Israeli acts of aggression stop,” he said.

Abdul-Salam also noted that the Yemeni armed forces had reaffirmed their readiness to counter all hostile maneuvers against Yemen’s national sovereignty by bringing down the American UAV over the country’s territorial waters.

Over the past month, the Yemeni Army has carried out several missile and drone strikes against Israeli targets in response to the occupying regime’s war crimes in Gaza.

The prime minister of Yemen’s National Salvation Government announced recently that Ansarullah fighters are “part of the Axis of Resistance” against Israel.

“It is one axis and there is coordination taking place, a joint operations room, and a joint command for all these operations,” Abdulaziz bin Habtour said. “We cannot allow this arrogant Zionist enemy to kill our people.”

Israel waged the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian Hamas resistance group conducted Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

Since the start of the aggression, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 10,569 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 26,475 others.

It has also imposed a “complete siege” on the coastal sliver, cutting off fuel, electricity, food and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/11/09/714284/Yemen-vows-keep-up-operations-until-Israel-ends-Gaza-war

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Yemen shoots down advanced American drone 'spying in support of Israel'

08 November 2023

Yemen's Armed Forces have announced shooting down of an advanced American drone as the aircraft was performing an operation in support of the Israeli regime.

The MQ-9 Reaper drone was brought down using a surface-to-air missile as the aircraft was flying in the airspace over Yemen's territorial waters, the Armed Forces said in a statement on Wednesday, Yemen's al-Masirah television network reported.

The aircraft was struck while carrying out an "hostile espionage" operation within the framework of the United States' military support for the Israeli regime, the statement added.

"Yemen's Armed Forces lay emphasis on their legitimate right to defend the country and confront all hostile threats," said the forces' spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree.

"These hostile maneuvers do not serve to prevent the Yemeni Armed Forces from conducting military operations against the Zionist regime [of Israel] and in support of the Palestinian nation," he added.

The Yemeni Army has recently conducted several military operations against Israeli targets in response to the occupying regime's October 7-present war against the Palestinian territory of the Gaza Strip, which has so far killed more than 10,500 Palestinians.

On Tuesday, the country's Armed Forces said they had launched a large-scale drone strike against "sensitive" targets in the occupied territories in a show of support for Palestinian people in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Yemeni Armed Forces launch a large-scale drone strike against ‘sensitive’ targets in Israel in support of Palestinian people in the besieged Gaza Strip.

On October 31 too, the forces had launched large-scale military strikes against Israeli targets using a "large batch of ballistic and winged missiles, and a large number of drones."

Yemeni Armed Forces have launched large-scale military strikes against Israeli targets in the occupied territories in support of the Palestinian people.

Yemen's military has vowed to keep up the strikes as long as the occupying regime presses on with its war against Gaza.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/11/08/714275/Yemen-strikes-United-States-drone-spying-Israel-war-Gaza

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KSrelief team in Egypt to facilitate Gaza aid

November 09, 2023

RIYADH: A team from the Saudi aid agency KSrelief based in the Egyptian capital Cairo is helping to coordinate the Kingdom’s delivery of aid to the Gaza Strip, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

KSrelief officials met with the executive director of the Egyptian Red Crescent, Rami Al-Nazer, and UNICEF representative, Jeremy Hopkins, and Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari to discuss ways to speed up the transportation of shelter materials, food baskets, and medical supplies through the Rafah Border Crossing into Gaza.

The center, in line with the directives of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, recently launched a national campaign on the Sahem platform to provide aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

Donations as of Thursday had reached more than $112 million.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2405876/saudi-arabia

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Saudi development fund CEO receives Malawi finance minister

November 08, 2023

Saudi Fund for Development CEO Sultan Al-Marshad on Wednesday received Malawi’s Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Simplex Chithoyla Banda and his accompanying delegation.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the progress of the Saudi fund’s development projects in Malawi and ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries.

Earlier, the Saudi fund announced its participation in the Saudi-Arab-African Economic Conference, which kicks off Nov. 9.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2405681/saudi-arabia

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Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs Concludes Course for Imams and Preachers in Comoros

Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance concluded yesterday the specialized course for imams and preachers in Moroni, the capital of the Union of the Comoros.

 Saudi Vice Ambassador to the Comoros Waleed Mosly, Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs of the Comoros DjaeAhamadaChanfi, and the Mufti of the Comoros Abu Bakr Abdullah Jamal Al-Layl attended the event.

 The four-day course is part of the ministry's programs implemented abroad to disseminate religious knowledge, the Islamic moderate approach consistent with the Holy Quran and Sunnah, and to spread moderation and reject extremism.

Source: alriyadhdaily.com

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http://alriyadhdaily.com/article/308ea56c5581461ab5f3656c6d375838

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South Asia

 

‘Moral duty to stand up’: Rohingya activists join in solidarity with Palestinians

November 08, 2023

SHEHAB SUMON

DHAKA: Rohingya activists are expressing solidarity with Palestine as they drew parallels on Wednesday between their plight in Myanmar and Israel’s deadly onslaught in Gaza, which has killed over 10,000 Palestinian civilians in a month. 

More than 700,000 Rohingya fled Rakhine State to neighboring Bangladesh in 2017 following a brutal crackdown by the Myanmar military that the UN said amounted to genocide, with the ongoing persecution of the minority group killing around 25,000 people. 

The Rohingya, which the UN described as “one of the world’s most persecuted minorities,” have faced decades of discrimination and repression in Myanmar, where they are not recognized as an indigenous ethnic group and which denies them the right to claim citizenship. 

With more than 10,000 Palestinian civilians — over 40 percent of whom are children — killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, Rohingya activists are calling attention to the similarities between Israel’s deadly onslaught in the densely populated enclave and their own plight. 

“Both situations involve a significant number of civilians, particularly children, being caught up in the violence,” Korim Ullah, a Rohingya rights activist in Cox’s Bazar, told Arab News. “Thousands of children have died in Gaza. In my village of Tula Toli, the Myanmar military shot, burned alive and drowned children.” 

In 2017, the Myanmar army destroyed hundreds of homes in Tula Toli village and killed an estimated 500 people in an operation the Human Rights Watch described as “a massacre of unspeakable brutality.” 

Ullah said: “It is our shared experience of suffering, displacement, and statelessness that has created a sense of empathy and kinship. Our solidarity stems from a desire to support others who are going through similar hardships, to raise awareness of human rights abuses, and to advocate for international intervention and support.”

For Nay San Lwin, a Rohingya activist based in Europe and co-founder of the Free Rohingya Coalition, expressing solidarity with the Palestinians is a matter of principle. 

“Being a member of an oppressed community, I consider it my moral duty to stand up, speak out, and show solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters who have endured oppression for over 75 years,” Nay told Arab News over WhatsApp.

“Genocide is a process. All genocides that have occurred worldwide share similarities. We were driven out of our homes and thousands were killed under the pretext of a so-called ‘clearance operation’ in 2017. The same thing is happening in Gaza,” he said. “The suffering of the Palestinians began in 1948, and they rightfully deserve freedom and peace. The occupation must come to an end.” 

For over a month, Israel has continued its deadly daily bombardment of the enclave in retaliation for an attack by the Gaza-based militant group Hamas, which killed around 1,400 Israelis. 

While thousands of people across the globe have taken to the streets demanding an end to the ongoing violence in Gaza, many Western governments have said that “Israel has the right to defend itself.” 

Those same countries, which include the US and UK, have stood with the victims and survivors of the Rohingya genocide and provided billions of dollars in humanitarian aid.

I am very disappointed to see nations that have stood by our side in our quest for justice and accountability fail to do the same for the people of Palestine,” Maung Sawyeddollah, founder and executive director of Rohingya Students Network, told Arab News. 

The Rohingya people have “suffered the horrors of genocide at the hands of Myanmar military,” he said, describing it as “unimaginable violence.

“And now, witnessing the hard suffering of these Palestinian people, I am deeply disheartened … In many ways, it surpasses the injustice we have faced,” Sawyeddollah said. 

“We, the Rohingya people, extend an unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people. And we call upon all the nations to work toward an immediate ceasefire in Palestine.” 

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2405551/world

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Baradar meets Afghan investors in Iran, urges them to return home

 November 8, 2023

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the deputy prime minister for Economic Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), met with a number of Afghan investors based in Tehran on Tuesday and assured them of the Islamic Emirate’s support.

He also called on them to return home.

Baradar highlighted the improvement in security for Afghan citizens and businessmen since the re-establishment of the Islamic Emirate, which he said now allows them to conduct business safely.

Mullah Baradar also discussed the stabilization of the economic situation, citing the reduction of corruption and bureaucracy to facilitate investment.

He mentioned efforts to provide adequate electricity for industry, develop industrial parks, lower taxes on raw materials, and initiate highway reconstruction for improved trade, the support for domestic products through increased import taxes on items Afghanistan produces and the promotion of Afghan products at exhibitions.

Baradar noted that foreign investors, such as Turkish, Iranian, Arab, and British companies, are engaging in mining contracts and that a dedicated committee involving relevant ministries and agencies was formed under the deputy prime minister’s office so as to streamline the investment process and minimize bureaucracy.

“Security threats, corruption, and drug-related issues have been addressed, and the focus is on cultivating wheat, cotton, and other agricultural products,” Baradar told investors.

He also stressed the importance of investing in essential sectors like food production, medicine, energy, mining, agriculture, transportation, infrastructure, communication, and health. He called upon all Afghans, regardless of ethnicity or language, to contribute to the country’s development, urging Afghan experts, national businessmen, industrialists, and investors worldwide to invest in various sectors.

He reminded them of their responsibility to help their homeland thrive, emphasizing the rich potential of Afghanistan. He encouraged Afghan investors living abroad to seize the current opportunity to contribute to their country’s recovery after four decades of hardship and conflict.

At the end of the meeting, Baradar said that honor and respect is given at home and raised the issue of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, and how they are being treated.

He told the investors at the meeting that it would be better if they returned to their homeland with honor and dignity.

During his visit to Iran, Baradar also toured a technology exhibition. Joining him were Ruhollah Dehghani Firouz Abadi, Iran’s Vice President for Science and Technology, and several other officials from both nations.

In his address at the exhibition, Baradar acknowledged Iran’s historical cooperation with Afghanistan and praised its remarkable technological progress even in challenging circumstances.

He expressed the desire for Iran to offer educational opportunities in technology and engineering to Afghan students, a step toward resolving issues in this field.

He also noted Afghanistan’s past potential for technical education, which had been hindered by the four-decade-long conflict but now stands as a focus for the Islamic Emirate’s leadership, working to provide educational and developmental opportunities for Afghan youth in technology and engineering.

Vice President Ruhollah Dehghani Firouz Abadi, responsible for technology in Iran, assured Baradar of Iran’s readiness to collaborate with Afghanistan in the realm of technology.\

Source: ariananews.af

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https://www.ariananews.af/baradar-meets-afghan-investors-in-iran-urges-them-to-return-home/

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UN’s Bennett urges for Identification of perpetrators of Kabul attack

Fidel Rahmati

November 8, 2023

In response to the recent attack on a civilian bus in western Kabul, the United Nations Special Rapporteur has called for an urgent and thorough investigation to identify the culprits behind the explosion.

On Wednesday, Richard Bent, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, expressed his concerns, saying, “This is the third attack on the Hazaras in Afghanistan in less than a month.”

He called for a “comprehensive and transparent” investigation into the attacks targeting the Hazara community in Afghanistan.

It should be noted that the ISIS group claimed responsibility for the explosion in western Kabul. The group targeted a passenger bus of the Coaster type in the western outskirts of Kabul yesterday evening, resulting in the death of seven people and injuring more than 20 others.

Media reports, citing the ISIS-affiliated Telegram channel known as “Amaq,” have indicated that the perpetrators of this attack targeted a Coaster passenger bus, marking the second such deadly explosion claimed by ISIS in western Kabul in the past month.

ISIS has claimed that 30 people were killed or injured in this explosion. However, the spokesperson for the Kabul Security Command stated that seven people were killed and 20 others were injured as a result of this explosion.

The “Hasht-e Sobh” newspaper, citing its sources, has reported higher casualty figures from this explosion than what the Taliban have claimed.

According to the report by this media outlet, the explosion in western Kabul on the evening of the previous day resulted in the death of 8 individuals and the injury of 38 others.

Local sources reported an explosion in the Dasht-e Barchi area in western Kabul on Tuesday. According to eyewitnesses, a Coaster passenger bus was targeted in the “Golai Mahatab Qala” area.

This is the second deadly explosion in western Kabul in the past month, with the first one targeting athletes in a sports club and the second targeting passengers inside a passenger bus.

Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has also condemned the deadly explosion that occurred last night in Dasht-e Barchi.

The deadly explosion at the Mawj Sports Club and the explosion in a Shia mosque in the city of Pul-e Khumri, Baghlan province, are two other recent explosions that have directly targeted the Hazara community in the past month.

Source: khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/uns-bennett-urges-for-identification-of-perpetrators-of-kabul-attack/

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EU provides €61 million aid package to Afghanistan

Fidel Rahmati

November 8, 2023

The European Union has announced a significant humanitarian aid package of 61 million euros to continue supporting the Afghan people.

On Wednesday, the European Union made a significant announcement on its social media platform X, revealing a generous humanitarian aid package of 61 million euros intended to assist the people of Afghanistan. This announcement underscores the European Union’s unwavering commitment to supporting the Afghan population during challenging times.

It is planned that this funding will be used in various sectors, including support for nutrition, shelter, protection, and other essential needs for the people of Afghanistan.

The European Union has stated that this funding is allocated explicitly to earthquake survivors and newly displaced migrants.

According to the announcement, this new package from the European Union will help address the food crisis in Afghanistan, where nearly half of the population is grappling with severe food insecurity.

This assistance comes as the European Union had previously provided 94 million euros in humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan earlier this year.

A portion of these funds will be directed to earthquake victims in Herat, as OCHA had previously requested 93 million dollars to aid those affected by the earthquake in Herat.

Source: khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/eu-provides-e61-million-aid-package-to-afghanistan/

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Afghanistan: Islamic State Claims Responsibility For Kabul Minibus Explosion

 08 NOV 2023

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the minibus explosion in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, that killed at least seven people and injured more than 20 late Tuesday.

The Sunni militant group said its members detonated an explosive device on the bus carrying Shiite Muslims, reported the Associated Press.

The blast happened in Kabul's western Shiite neighbourhood of Dashti Barchi, according to police spokesman Khalid Zadran. This was the second bombing to have struck the area in as many weeks.

Earlier on October 26, four people were killed and seven were wounded in an explosion at a sports club in the neighbourhood. IS had claimed responsibility for that attack as well.

Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), ISIS’s regional affiliate, has frequently targeted the Shia sect of Islam, attacking Shia schools, hospitals, and mosques in the Dashti Barchi area of Kabul. Hundreds of people, particularly minority sects like the Hazaras and the Shia, have been killed in IS attacks.

The ISKP, mainly based in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province, has been a major rival of the Taliban since they seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021.

The IS was also responsible for the bombing of the Kabul airport in August 2021 that killed 170 civilians and 13 US soldiers, while it has also carried out attacks on Pakistani and Russian missions and an attack on a hotel favoured by the Chinese.

Source: outlookindia.com

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https://www.outlookindia.com/international/afghanistan-islamic-state-claims-repsonsibility-for-kabul-minibus-explosion-news-329516

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Afghanistan calls for international aid to help with huge refugee influx

8th November 2023

The Afghan authorities are seeking international aid to manage the huge refugee influx as neighbouring Pakistan is expelling hundreds of thousands of Afghan nationals.

“We call on international community (including) Muslim countries to help,” the Islamic Emirate’s candidate to the UN, Suhail Shaheen, told Anadolu Agency, pointing to the rush of incoming refugees through border openings with Pakistan in Torkham and Spin Boldak.

“It is a humanitarian issue,” Shaheen emphasised, adding that around 300,000 undocumented Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan since November 1.

Last month, Islamabad announced that all undocumented foreigners, primarily Afghan refugees, would be deported, with an October 31 deadline.

Shaheen said the Pakistani government gave “a short notice” to Afghans to leave the nation.

He said the incoming refugees are in urgent need “for their settlement, food, drinking water, blankets, and tents.”

The international community “can help Afghan refugees who have been deprived of their many properties in Pakistan … even they have been harassed by police and security forces of Pakistan,” he argued.

“Now, they are inside Afghanistan and this is where the international community can help.”

The refugee influx into Afghanistan comes at a time when the IEA is working to fix the economy, and while no nation has recognised the administration and international funding has dried up.

Nearly one million people are targeted under what Islamabad calls the “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan” – most of whom are Afghans.

The UN and the Afghan administration have urged Islamabad to halt such plans.

The IEA has formed 12 committees – Shaheen is part of media committee – to overlook repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan. They have established tent cities in the two border cities to receive their citizens.

The United Arab Emirates, according to the Afghan authorities, have shipped around 20,000 tents for the incoming refugees.

In the first four days from the beginning of November, more than 60% of arrivals from Pakistan were children, data by the UN humanitarian office revealed.

“Their condition is desperate, with many having traveled for days, unclear of where to return to and stranded at the border,” it said on Tuesday, calling for urgent funding to provide immediate post-arrival assistance to the refugees.

Meanwhile, Shaheen rejected Pakistan’s accusation that militancy inside the South Asian neighbour of Kabul was because of Afghanistan.

“The security problem in Pakistan has not been (there) since the last two years. “It has been there for last 20 years in Pakistan,” Shaheen told Anadolu.

Early on Wednesday, Pakistan’s interim Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar claimed that “militant attacks” in the country increased by 60% since the Afghan Taliban reclaimed power in August 2021.

“During the last two years when the Afghan Taliban returned to power, terrorist attacks have increased by 60% while suicide attacks increased by 500% in Pakistan,” Kakar said in Islamabad, adding that 2,267 Pakistanis lost their lives in those attacks.

Kakar said Islamabad shared “all the details” with the Afghan interim government, “but they did not take action against TTP terrorists who are living in Afghanistan and using that soil against us.”

“It is not something made by the government in Kabul,” Shaheen replied. “They (Pakistan) have the same problem. Those attacks are happening 200 kilometers (124 miles) inside the country,” he said of Pakistan, which has faced mounting attacks by the homegrown Tehreek-e-Taliban-e-Pakistan (TTP) group.

“We have told them (Pakistan) to please produce some evidence on it (use of Afghan soil) so we can take action but we are hearing only accusation through the media,” Shaheen said, reiterating Kabul’s commitment that Afghan soil will not be used against Pakistan or any other country.

The TTP is a conglomeration of several Pakistani militant groups that Islamabad claims are currently inside Afghanistan.

Kabul, however, denies that its soil is being used against Islamabad.

Source: 5pillarsuk.com

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https://5pillarsuk.com/2023/11/08/afghanistan-calls-for-international-aid-to-help-with-huge-refugee-influx/

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Southeast Asia

 

Ex-Penang DCM Ramasamy says RM1.52m crowdfund to pay Dr Zakir Naik is ‘best Deepavali present’

09 Nov 2023

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 — With Deepavali just days away, former DAP politician P. Ramasamy is probably heaving a sigh of relief at having one less worry to cloud his celebration of the festival of lights.

he former Penang deputy chief minister was able to garner the RM1.52 million required to pay controversial Muslim preacher Dr Zakir Naik as ordered by the High Court on November 2, after losing a defamation suit filed by the latter.

“Crowdfunding last 7 days, from November 2, 2023, at 2.30pm until November 9, 2923, 11am. Total of 7 days; 164 hrs and 30 minutes. Less than 7 days.

“Fantastic effort on the part of donors from all sections of the society,” he posted on his Facebook account today.

He described the financial show of support as “the best Deepavali present” and called on members of the public to stop their donations as the target had been met.

Ramsamy said the fund totalled RM1,523,187.38.

The crowdfund was initiated after the High Court ruled in favour of Dr Zakir’s two defamation suits against Ramasamy that were filed in 2019.

Judge Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz ordered Ramasamy to pay Dr Zakir

Dr Zakir’s two defamations ordered Ramasamy to make a public apology to Dr Zakir and pay the latter damages in compensation within 30 days of the ruling.

The amount included RM1 million for general damages, RM100,000 for compensatory damages, RM100,000 for aggravated damages, and RM250,000 for exemplary damages, and RM70,000 in court costs.

But Ramasamy said he intends to appeal the verdict, and if the Court of Appeal decides in his favour, the funds raised will be donated to those in need.

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/11/09/ex-penang-dcm-ramasamy-says-rm152m-crowdfund-to-pay-dr-zakir-naik-is-best-deepavali-present/101138

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Criticised for sexual innuendo, Langkawi MP says sorry in Parliament for ‘wear nothing’ remark 

By Syed JaymalZahiid

09 Nov 2023

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 — Opposition lawmaker Datuk Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah offered up an apology in the Dewan Rakyat today after being heavily criticised over a remark directed towards Seputeh MP Teresa Kok that was seen as sexist and offensive.

The Langkawi MP from Bersatu had said that Kok should go to his constituency “wearing nothing” in response to her remarks that the island, under Perikatan Nasional control, would bar women from wearing shorts.

“I would like to apologise for a mistake I made when debating the Budget 2024 bill on October 26,” Mohd Suhaimi said in the lower House of Parliament.

“This apology is addressed to the speaker and members of the House, who might find it insulting or be offended by what I had said.

“As MP of the legendary island, I hold Langkawi close to my heart and any issues affecting its people should not be made trite by anyone,” he said, reading aloud from a text.

Mohd Suhaimi's remark had been made during Budget 2024's policy stage debate triggered uproar and sparked accusations of sexual harassment.

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/11/09/criticised-for-sexual-innuendo-langkawi-mp-says-sorry-in-parliament-for-wear-nothing-remark/101132

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High-Level Committee on terrorism control discusses containment measures

08-11- 2023

PUTRAJAYA: The High-Level Committee on Terrorism Control (JPTKK) which met today discussed the importance of having containment measures to ensure Malaysians were free from any influence of thoughts leading to violence that can threaten or damage the country’s reputation.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who chaired the meeting said he had raised measures to contain activities that lead to violence in the community.

He said the containment measures included continuous monitoring of communication technologies such as social media and gaming which could potentially be used as a medium to spread terrorist propaganda.

“The latest geopolitical situation is seen to be capable of influencing the expanding of terrorist activities and has the potential to exploit current issues that are particularly sensitive to Muslims,“ he said in a statement issued in conjunction with the meeting.

At the domestic level, Ahmad Zahid said the threat of terrorism was dealt with through counter-radicalisation measures to curb the spread of beliefs and ideologies, especially online, as well as through community-building programmes as a preventive measure.

He said awareness programmes were also implemented based on three cores, namely patriotism, religiousness and preventive measures through programmes broadcast on television, publications, radio broadcasts, social media and talks.

Ahmad Zahid said that at present, the latest trends and developments on terrorism issues and threats in Malaysia and abroad could have direct implications on national security.

According to him, although the main threat at the global level is seen to have decreased since 2020, there are still two main groups that remain as global terrorist threats, namely Al-Qaeda and DAESH, where continuous efforts through Counter Terrorism operations have not yet succeeded in completely rooting them out.

He said the government was also monitoring the latest situation and updating information on individuals and entities listed by member countries through the 1267 Committee established under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1267 (1999).

Ahmad Zahid said the meeting also discussed the latest developments in Gaza and matters relating to the support for the Palestinian people in the country to ensure order and the well-being of Malaysians are maintained. – Bernama

Source: thesun.my

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https://thesun.my/local/high-level-committee-on-terrorism-control-discusses-containment-measures-CF11728479

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Palestine-Israel conflict: Police tighten border security

08-11- 2023

IPOH: Police are tightening security controls at national borders and entry points, and are also keeping a close watch on individuals in the country who might be targeted in connection with the conflict involving Israel and Palestine.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan MydinPitchay said that follow-up actions would be taken if there were any attempts by any parties to violate the country’s laws.

“There is nothing to be worried about at the moment, our records also show that we were able to make early detection of actions that could pose threats to the country’s security,” he told a press conference after officiating the 54th Anniversary Celebration of the VAT 69 Commando special forces team at Sultan Nazrin Shah Parade Square here today.

In another development, Ayob Khan said police have submitted an investigation paper to the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) regarding a case involving a man suspected of posting threatening messages to Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek on social media.

He said charges will be made under Section 507 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

“The police have also received further instructions to obtain a forensic report from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC),” he said.

Police were reported to have arrested the 28-year-old man in Setapak and had also obtained a three-day remand order against the man for investigation under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code. – Bernama

Source: thesun.my

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://thesun.my/local/palestine-israel-conflict-police-tighten-border-security-GF11727724

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Africa

 

CAN, Islamic group react as ICC ranks Nigeria ‘most dangerous place for Christians’ globally

November 8, 2023

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and the Jama’atuNasril Islam (JNI) have reacted to a recent rating of Nigeria as the most dangerous place for Christians in the world.

Politics Nigeria reports that a recent report by the International Christian Concern (ICC) asserted that Nigeria might be the “most perilous” place for Christians across the world.

“Nigeria is arguably the most dangerous place to be a Christian in the world today,” the report stated.

The ICC report detailed 55 attacks in Nigeria, resulting in the death of 549 Christians during a four-month period from March to July.

Reacting to the development, Ibrahim Kufena, the JNI secretary in Kaduna State, said it was not enough for the ICC to make such a statement against Nigeria.

According to him, the ICC should show instances and the locations where such alleged persecutions were made.

“That’s a general statement, let them be specific. They should give instances, places and so on, if not they are just trying to bring misunderstanding between us, if we react.”

Also reacting, some church leaders described the situation as unfortunate but called for caution in approaching such reports.

While the Anglican Church expressed concerns regarding external attacks on the Church and emphasized that Christians must not despair, CAN urged church leaders to reconsider their indiscriminate visits to government officials.

They stressed that such visits could divert attention from more pressing issues affecting Christians, such as the ongoing persecutions in various religious communities.

However, the PFN noted the importance of considering the broader context surrounding religious persecution in the country.

Reflecting on these issues, Simon Dolly, the CAN’s secretary, North-Central Zone, called on church leaders to refocus their efforts on addressing pressing issues.

“The persecution of Christians in Nigeria is an unfortunate circumstance that requires immediate attention. Church leaders need to reconsider their indiscriminate visits to government officials as it diverts attention from the pressing issues that affect Christians and the Church,” said Pastor Dolly.

Source: politicsnigeria.com

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https://politicsnigeria.com/can-islamic-group-react-as-icc-ranks-nigeria-most-dangerous-place-for-christians-globally/

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German chancellor meets Tinubu, reveals plan to deport 14,000 Nigerians

Goodness Adaoyiche

November 8, 2023

The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, expressed concerns over the increasing number of Nigerians seeking asylum in his country.

This is even as he disclosed that about 14,000 Nigerians living in Germany risk deportation.

Scholz said this during a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Tuesday.

He attributed it to the spike in the number of Nigerians seeking asylum, with a great number of them without identification cards.

The German chancellor noted that approximately 12,500 Nigerians are in a condition of tolerance in Germany as a result of the Nigerian government’s reluctance to admit people without the necessary identity documents.

“The current spike in Nigerians filing initial asylum claims in 2023 has sparked worries. Nearly 14,000 Nigerians might be deported, and the great majority of them do not have the necessary identification cards,”  Scholz said.

“We are prepared to collaborate in order to enhance migration,” the statement stated, adding that Germany would be happy to send back any Nigerian national who has behaved well.

On his part, President Tinubu reiterated his administration’s readiness to allow people to return, especially those who are recognised as fellow citizens and have behaved well.

“Nigeria is prepared to welcome them back “as long as they have behaved well,” but only if they stand to gain something from it. Rather, we ought to cease providing the 640 million euros in development funding,” Tinubu said.

“If someone is a compatriot and has behaved well, we are willing to accept them back. We’re prepared to collaborate in order to enhance migration,” he declared.

Source: politicsnigeria.com

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https://politicsnigeria.com/german-chancellor-meets-tinubu-reveals-plan-to-deport-14000-nigerians/

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Group Writes Tinubu, Seeks Immediate Suspension OfMatawalle As Minister Over Alleged Corruption, Terror Sponsorship

November 8, 2023

Agroup, Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately suspend Bello Matawalle as the Minister of State for Defence.

The organisation also urged the President to direct the anti-corruption body Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the alleged misappropriation of Zamfara State resources by Matawalle, who is the immediate former governor of the state.

In a letter dated November 8, 2023 and addressed to Tinubu, the Global Coordinator of the group, Comrade Frederick OmoyomaOdorige, made reference to an interview granted to Arewa Twitter by the state Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Abdulmalik Gajam, in which he accused Matawalle of sponsoring terrorism and misappropriating public funds.

The organisation therefore urged President Tinubu to ensure that Matawalle is “immediately suspended from office and prosecuted”.

It also urged the President to “kindly direct EFCC to investigate the huge misappropriation of the resources of the people of Zamfara State as firmly alleged”.

It asked the President to probe “why and how the State Security Service cleared Matawalle for ministerial appointment against these weighty allegations”.

In the letter copied to the Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the organisation, said, “We write to you with reference to the very strong indictments made by the Zamfara State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Abdulmalik Gajam, against Bello Muhammad Matawalle, your Minister of State for Defence, who was also the former governor of Zamfara state.

“Gajam stated categorically, that Matawalle ‘granted asylum at the Government House to bandits... How can someone who granted asylum to bandits be a Minister of Defence? He was distributing Hilux vans to bandits but could not invest in mass transit for the people of his state.’

“These weighty allegations mean that the activities of Matawalle pose huge danger to national and regional security. Though the terrorists of Matawalle may have their base in Zamfara state, they might also have extended their murderous activities to other states of the federation.

“Recall that 63,111 Nigerians were killed during the administration of your predecessor. 1,228 of our compatriots were killed within the first quarter of 2023 and at least 900 persons were kidnapped.

“The number is still counting under your administration. Their criminal network may not be unconnected with the unresolved disappearance of 178,459 arms and ammunition from the armoury of the Nigerian police.

“Most of the huge sums of money budgeted into security go into the drain because terrorism and the blood of our people is now a big business for some persons in and out of government. Our compatriots are slaughtered and given mass burials while villages are being razed. Now, millions of our compatriots have become refugees in their country. “In realisation of this, the Niger state governor just established a refugee commission to address the problems of Internally Displaced Persons. In some parts of Nigeria, our citizens reportedly pay taxes to terrorists - including Niger state.

“As you and the Vice President travel the world to woo foreign investors, the results may be counter-productive when these countries discuss that your government protects terrorists. No matter what Matawalle spent on your election campaign, the interest of the country must come first.

“As chairman of ECOWAS, it is a regional security risk if you continue to sustain the appointment of a sponsor of terrorism as minister of state for defence. It also means that national resources and classified information will be freely shared with terrorists.

“Recall that the US government sanctioned six Nigerian sponsors of terrorism who were named by the government of the United Arab Emirates. Till date, the suspects have been shielded by the Nigerian government from prosecution. Now, the case of Matawalle has further exposed the decadence.

“Sir, we hope that our letter will not be ignored. We may need to take further actions on the international front after 16 November 2023.

“We believe that you shall use your good office to do the needful for the security of our country,” the letter added.

Source: saharareporters.com

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https://saharareporters.com/2023/11/08/group-writes-tinubu-seeks-immediate-suspension-matawalle-minister-over-alleged

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Tunisian Foreign Minister arrives in Riyadh for special summit

November 09, 2023

Tunisia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Tunisians Abroad, Nabil Ammar and the accompanying delegation arrived in Riyadh Thursday to take part in the Saudi-African Summit, Arab Extraordinary Summit, and Islamic Summit.

Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Tunisia, Abdulaziz bin Ali Al-Saqr, welcomed Tunisia’s ambassador to the Kingdom, Hisham Fourati, and other officials at King Khalid International Airport on Thursday.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2405836/saudi-arabia

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