Hamas Attacks on Israel ‘Did Not Happen in A Vacuum’: 31 Harvard Student Organizations
New Age Islam News Bureau
10 October 2023
Harvard University student groups
face backlash for blaming Israel for terror attack on its soil. (Unsplash)
----
India
·
Bilkis Bano And the Murder of
Seven of Her Family Members Case: Supreme Court Adjourns Hearing on Remission
Pleas
·
Congress Vows Support to
Palestinians; Expresses Concern Over the Loss of Lives Due to The Israel-Hamas
Conflict
·
Fear among Keralites in Israel
as Hamas conflict soars
·
Security tightened out Israel
embassy, Chabad House by Delhi Police
·
Two LeT ultras killed in
encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian
·
Omar Abdullah slams election
commissioner Rajiv Kumar and EC on Jammu & Kashmir elections
·
Jharkhand CM cautions masses
not to fall prey to BJP’s tactics of communal division for electoral gains
·
At JNU, Tanzanian president
lauds Indian charm: ‘Very difficult to resist’
------
Europe
·
Pig's Head Left Outside
Proposed Mosque In 'Hate Crime' As Police Step Up Patrolsin Lancashire
·
London Road: Police deployed to
brawl at Sheffield Mosque and make arrest
·
Demonstration in London in
support of Palestinians in Gaza
·
Iranian police arrest Sweden
gang leader: Report
·
British students’ express
solidarity with Palestinians
·
UK minister backed failed probe
into SAS war crimes in Afghanistan
·
Russia sends dozens of drones
into Ukraine in latest air strike
·
White House hopes to include
Ukraine in Israeli aid package – media
·
EU reverses course on Palestine
aid
·
UK rushes to move
asylum-eligible Afghans from Pakistan
---------
Mideast
·
UNRWA: Israeli Airstrikes
Displaced 137 thousand Palestinians to Our Schools in Gaza
·
Israel Says It Found 1,500
Hamas Militant Bodies as Warplanes Continue to Pound Gaza
·
Palestine still first issue of
Islamic world: parl. speaker
·
Israel poured bombs on
Palestine kids as gift on Children Day
·
Israeli attacks destroy six
mosques, four schools in Gaza
·
A Rocket Fired by Hamas Hit a
Mosque Near Jerusalem Built by Kadyrov in Honour of His Father
·
Islamic Jihad Claims
Responsibility for Operation in Southern Lebanon Against Israel Soldiers
·
Israeli Warplanes Destroy
Residential Building Near Gaza’s Largest Hospital
·
Israeli airstrikes cut off
internet, communications in large areas of Gaza strip
-------
North America
·
US Confirms 11 Citizens Killed
in Israel-Hamas War, Warns Lebanon’s Hezbollah Not to Get Involved
·
US says Americans likely held
by Hamas after 'ISIS-level savagery'
·
Pro-Palestine demonstrators
rally in New York against Israeli government
·
US has enough weapons for
Israel, Ukraine and more – Pentagon
·
Trump’s darkening language
sparks fears of violence
·
Do Not Get Involved in Israel
Crisis, Top U.S. General Warns Iran
·
US Rushes Air Defences and
Munitions to Aid Israel After Hamas Attacks
--------
South Asia
·
After 3 Days, Victims Remain
Trapped After Herat Earthquake
·
35 Aid Team Arrived in Herat to
Help Earthquake-Affected People: Spokesman
·
Turkish Officials Visit and Aid
Earthquake Victims in Herat
·
5 workers suffer burn injuries
in explosion ‘from gas line leak’
·
Hunt for survivors in Afghan
quake rubble
·
Another 5.1 magnitude
earthquake strikes Afghanistan’s Herat
--------
Arab World
·
Saudi Crown Prince Affirms
Unwavering Support for Palestinian Rights
·
Saudi Arabia Trying to Contain
Israel-Hamas Fighting, Says Mohammed Bin Salman
·
Saudi Crown Prince Receives
Phone Call from Palestinian President
·
Arab foreign ministers to meet
Wednesday on Gaza: Arab League
·
Saudi crown prince discusses
escalation in Gaza with Jordanian, Egyptian leaders
·
Houthis abduct Yemeni teachers’
union head over salary demands
---------
Pakistan
·
1,700 ‘Illegal’ Afghan
Nationals Arrested In Karachi So Far: Home Minister
·
PTI Slams Harsh Conditions
Faced By Imran In Custody
·
2 Soldiers Martyred; 5
Terrorists Killed In Operation In Balochistan’s Zhob District: ISPR
·
Imran, Qureshi to be indicted
in cipher case on Oct 17
·
ECP again delists contempt case
against Fawad
·
ECP to hear plea for Imran’s
removal today
·
Former PTI leader blames Imran
for May 9 riots
--------
Southeast Asia
·
Islamic Preachers May Get
Minimum Wage As An Allowance In The Budget 2024, Says Zahid Hamidi
·
PAS, With Perikatan Nasional
Organising Gathering in Support of Palestine on Oct 13
·
In Johor, unemployed man jailed
two years for using fake Pahang 'Datuk Seri' title
·
Saifuddin Nasution:
Recommendation on Allah issue to be sent to Conference of Rulers for further
action soon
·
Muslim Groups In Malaysia, Indonesia
Call For End To Violence In Israel
--------
Africa
·
South Africa's Governing Party
Calls for Peace Between Israel and Palestine
·
Kidnappers Threatened to Take
Me to Kaduna for Ritual – Abuja Female Lawyer Recounts Ordeal
·
Kano State Government Fixes
Friday for Mass Wedding Of 1800 Intending Couples
·
Security operatives kill 67
kidnappers, rescue 20 victims in Bauchi
·
Sudan: three civilians killed
in hospital bombardment
·
Kenya court puts Haiti
deployment on temporary hold
Compiled by
New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/hamas-attacks-israel-harvard/d/130869
-----
Hamas Attacks on Israel ‘Did Not Happen
in A Vacuum’: 31 Harvard Student Organizations
Harvard University student groups
face backlash for blaming Israel for terror attack on its soil. (Unsplash)
----
October 09, 2023
LONDON: Israel is “entirely responsible
for all unfolding violence,” and the attacks by Hamas “did not happen in a vacuum,”
31 Harvard student organizations have said.
Releasing a “Joint Statement by Harvard
Palestine Solidarity Groups on the Situation in Palestine,” the organizations
said Israel had forced Palestinians to live in an “open-air prison for over two
decades.”
The statement added: “The apartheid
regime is the only one to blame. Israeli violence has structured every aspect
of Palestinian existence for 75 years.
“From systematized land seizures to
routine airstrikes, arbitrary detentions, military checkpoints, enforced family
separations, and targeted killings.”
The statement followed attacks against
Israel on Saturday by Hamas that have left at least 700 dead, thousands injured
and over 100 kidnapped.
Citing Israeli officials’ “promise” to
“open the gates of hell” in response to the attacks, the statement said
Palestinian civilians would bear the brunt of Israeli reprisals as it urged the
Harvard community to stop the “annihilation” of Palestinians.
Princeton professor of jurisprudence and
director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals & Institutions
blasted the statement.
Robert George wrote on X: “31 — yes 31 —
Harvard organizations have declared that the murders, rapes, kidnappings, and
other atrocities committed by Hamas against innocent people are in no way the
fault of Hamas but are rather entirely the fault of ... Israel.”
Among the groups to have signed the
letter are Harvard’s African American Resistance Organization and Harvard Jews
for Liberation.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2388081/world
---------
‘People Of India Stand Firmly with
Israel’, India Strongly and Unequivocally Condemns Terrorism: PM Modi
Prime
Minister Narendra Modi with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, (PTI
file)
-----
Oct 10, 2023
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday
said he received a call from his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu who
informed him about the current situation in the Jewish country following
attacks by terrorist group Hamas.
“I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for
his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of
India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and
unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”, the
prime minister posted on social media platform X.
The war between Israel and Hamas entered
the fourth day. The toll has surpassed 1,500 on both the sides. About 900
people have died in Israel, including 260 people who were shot by Hamas gunmen
at a music festival near the Gaza border. In Palestine, almost 690 people have
died in the retaliatory action from Tel Aviv.
On Saturday, the day Hamas carried out
coordinated attacks on Israel, Modi had expressed shock. Taking to social media
platform X, the prime minister had said,"Deeply shocked by the news of
terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent
victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this
difficult hour".
As per the United Nations Office of
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs more than 1, 87,500 people have been
displaced in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/people-of-india-stand-firmly-with-israel-pm-modi-netanyahu-speak-on-hamas-attacks-101696929271193.html
-----
Hamas Praises Al-Aqsa Storm as
‘Legitimate’ Palestinian Right to Self-Defence
The file
photo shows a member of the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Gaza
Strip-based Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas.
------
09 October 2023
The Palestinian resistance movement
Hamas has lauded the recent surprise attack against Israel as a “legitimate
right” of the Palestinians in response to the illegal entity’s decades-long
aggression and the silence of the international community.
Hamas made the statement on the third
day of Operation al-Aqsa Storm, the largest military operation against the
regime in decades.
Since Saturday, the resistance groups in
the besieged Gaza Strip have fired over 5,000 rockets at the occupied
territories. Israeli media outlets report that more than 900 settlers and
troops have been killed, with over 2,600 others injured as a result.
“The battle of al-Aqsa Storm is a
legitimate right for our people to defend themselves, their land, and their
sanctities, in light of the continued aggression of the occupation and the
silence and failure of the world to put an end to its escalating terrorism, and
its denial of all the rights of our people and their aspirations to liberate
their land and achieve a return to it,” Hamas said.
Listing the reasons behind the
large-scale operation, Hamas referred to the escalating violations by Israeli
settlers against the al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied Old City of al-Quds and the
regime’s prevention of Muslim worship.
Hamas denounced the Israeli settlement
expansion in the occupied West Bank and al-Quds.
The resistance movement also said one of
the reasons for launching Operation al-Aqsa Storm was Israel’s escalation of
violations and crimes against Palestinian prisoners.
“There is an ethnic cleansing going on.
It was obvious the writing was on the wall, written in the blood of the
Palestinians,” Ofer Cassif said.
Hamas pointed to “the brutal war waged
by the fascist occupation regime against our people in the occupied West Bank,
and the policy of segregation, racial discrimination and ethnic cleansing” in
addition to “the continuation of the unjust siege on the Gaza Strip for more
than 16 years, and the catastrophic effects it has had on more than two million
Palestinian citizens.”
Hamas renewed its call “to all countries
of the world, to assume their political and humanitarian responsibilities, to
do justice to our people and support their legitimate struggle for freedom and
self-determination, and to establish their independent, fully sovereign state
with al-Quds as its capital, and to end the longest and most dangerous ongoing
occupation in the world.”
Since early Saturday, the large-scale
multi-pronged operation has featured heavy rocket barrages and surprise attacks
by resistance fighters against Israeli forces and settlers in the occupied
territories.
Palestinian resistance leaders have
described the operation as a decisive answer to the regime’s unabated campaign
of bloodshed and destruction.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/09/712406/Hamas-Aqsa-Storm-Israel
---------
Urge Your Members of Congress to Address
Root Cause of Mideast Violence: CAIR
Photo: CAIR
-----
Ismail Allison
October 9, 2023
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/9/23) – The
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is urging all Americans who care
about peace and justice for all people to reach out to their members of
Congress and request they take the following actions in response to the ongoing
violence in Israel and Palestine:
Acknowledge the loss of lives and
recognize the humanity on both sides, including Israelis and Palestinians.
Express support for an immediate
ceasefire.
Demand the United States to reassert its
leadership role as a negotiator in pursuit of a lasting peace. This entails
addressing the root causes of violence, terminating Israel’s occupation of
Palestinian territories, and ending the Israeli government’s apartheid
policies.
The key to achieving enduring peace
remains addressing Israel’s unlawful occupation of Palestinian lands, apartheid
state policies, and the ongoing violations of Palestinian human rights.
“We call upon Congress to endorse the
appeal for an immediate ceasefire and to leverage its influence in advocating
for a just and enduring peace that encompasses an end to the occupation and the
establishment of a permanent solution that respects the rights and dignity of
all people,” said CAIR Director of Government Affairs Department Robert S.
McCaw. “The Israeli government has for decades utilized American taxpayer funds
to support its apartheid occupation and perpetrate human rights violations
against Palestinian civilians. Congress cannot permit this to persist if we
genuinely aspire to secure a lasting peace.”
CAIR believes that the world cannot
return to a status quo in which Israeli human rights abuses continually
increase, Palestinian rights decrease, and Palestinian men, women and children
die without any public notice until a war breaks out. Our nation must impartially intervene to end
this violence before more innocent people die.
The Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR) is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy
organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil
rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-action-alert-urge-congress-to-address-root-cause-of-mideast-violence-israels-occupation-of-palestinian-lands/
-------
Afghanistan Earthquake: Toll Crosses
4,000, Nearly 2,000 Houses Destroyed
Nearly 2,000
houses have completely collapsed after the recent earthquake in Afghanistan.
(Photo: Reuters)
------
Reuters
New Delhi,
Oct 10, 2023
The earthquakes that hit western
Afghanistan on Saturday have killed or injured more than 4,000 people,
officials said on Monday.
About 2,000 houses have been completely
destroyed in the two 6.2-magnitude earthquakes, said the Afghanistan National
Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA).
"So far, the statistics we have
received regarding casualties are unfortunately exceeding 4,000 people.
According to our data, in about 20 villages, approximately 1,980 to 2,000
houses have completely collapsed," Mullah Saiq, spokesman for ANDMA, said
at a press conference in Kabul.
The earthquakes stuck Herat Province and
neighbouring areas on Saturday afternoon, with the first tremor occurring at
around 11.10 local time (0640 GMT).
A total of more than 1,000 rescuers in
35 rescue teams from different institutions are carrying out relief efforts in
the affected areas, said the spokesman.
Mohammad Hasan Akhund, Afghanistan's
acting prime minister, led a group of officials to visit the affected region in
Herat Province on Monday.
Source: indiatoday.in
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/afghanistan-earthquake-death-toll-houses-damaged-2446847-2023-10-10
-------------
India
Bilkis Bano And The Murder Of Seven Of
Her Family Members Case: Supreme Court Adjourns Hearing On Remission Pleas
10th October 2023
y Jaison WilsonExpress News Service
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday
adjourned to October 11 the final hearing on pleas challenging the remission
granted last year to all the 11 convicts in the gang-rape case of Bilkis Bano
and the murder of seven of her family members during the 2002 Gujarat riots.
A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and
Ujjal Bhuyan said the apex court has received written submissions of the
petitioners and they have been taken on record. The court will conclude the
hearing of the matter on the same day.
Eleven convicts were prematurely
released on August 15, 2022, following a decision by the Gujarat government.
While taking the batch of pleas challenging their release, the top court said
it was only considering the “correctness” of the Gujarat government’s decision
to release the convicts early.
Last month, the apex court observed
whether the persons convicted in the Bilkis Bano case had the privilege of
being released on parole for several days and several times. The top court had
on August 17 said state governments should not be selective in granting
remission to convicts and the opportunity to reform and reintegrate with
society should be given to every prisoner.
The Gujarat government had defended its
decision of premature release of all
convicts. Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she
was gang-raped while fleeing the communal riots that broke out in the state of
Gujarat after the Godhra train-burning incident. Her three-year-old daughter
was among the seven family members killed by a mob during the riots.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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the full text of the original
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/oct/10/bilkis-case-hearing-on-remission-pleas-adjourned-2622471.html
------
Congress Vows Support to Palestinians;
Expresses Concern Over the Loss of Lives Due to The Israel-Hamas Conflict
10th October 2023
By Preetha NairExpress News Service
NEW DELHI: Expressing concern over the loss of lives due
to the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Monday
reiterated its long-standing support for the rights of the Palestinian people
to land, self-government, and to live with dignity and respect.
“The CWC calls for an immediate
cease-fire and for negotiations to begin on all outstanding issues including
the imperative issues that have given rise to the present conflict,” it said in
a statement. “The CWC expresses its dismay and anguish on the war that has
broken out in the Middle East where over a thousand people have been killed in
the last two days,” said the resolution.
The four-hour-long CWC meeting was
presided over by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge. Senior leaders Sonia
Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi also attended the meeting. Earlier,
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had said “the party condemns the brutal attacks
on the people of Israel”. The Working Committee also passed a unanimous
resolution for conducting the caste census across the country, which it said
will set a new paradigm of development.
Retaliation has just begun: Bibi
Warning of more strikes on Gaza in,
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel’s
retaliation for the Hamas attack has “only just begun”
Israel strikes 2,400 targets on Monday
Israeli forces struck 2,400 Hamas
targets on Monday, over and above 1,200 air strikes between Saturday and Monday
morning
Source: newindianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/oct/10/cong-vows-support-to-palestinians-2622421.html
------
Fear among Keralites in Israel as Hamas
conflict soars
10th October 2023
By Anu Kuruvilla, Express News Service
KOCHI: As the Israel-Hamas conflict
intensifies, the nearly 7,000-strong Malayali diaspora in this region of West
Asia is living in fear. Though they are all safe, the heavy shelling,
especially in the towns bordering the Armistice Agreement Line, has the
community worried.
“The only casualty has been a young
woman who sustained injuries after a shell fell near the house where she lives
as a caregiver,” said Soloman, a member of the Israeli Malayali Association.
Unlike in the past, the current situation is serious, he said. “Many of the new
arrivals, who joined as caregivers, are finding it difficult to adjust to the
war-like situation. The condition in the border towns such as Ashkelon and
Beersheba is grim,” he said.
According to Soloman, the shelling has
been heavy along the border. “The problem is that the buildings resonate not
only because of the shells being fired from Gaza but also due to those sent
from the Israeli side. If Hamas fires 40 shells, Israel replies with double
that number,” he added.
“This conflict will drag on and may even
escalate,” says Betty Joseph, who has been working as a caregiver in Israel for
the past five years.
“In the past, shelling was restricted to
the border. It used to be like fireworks during Christmas. However, this time
Hamas fighters have infiltrated Israeli land. Though the Israeli army has
managed to free many towns, there are some areas like Ashkelon where some
fighters are holed up.” The militants have been barging into houses and killing
people irrespective of nationality, she added.
“The Israeli government has directed
everyone to stay indoors and not venture out. That is because of the presence
of Hamas. Shoot-on-sight orders are in place,” says Sonia Benny, who arrived in
Israel nine months ago. Sonia lives in Ashkelon as a caregiver to a 67-year-old
woman who suffers from dementia. Though the situation is grim, we are being
taken care of by Israelis, she says.
“Our safety has been given utmost
importance. The reason why we come here to work is the good pay and the safe
work environment that this country provides. We have never been discriminated
against unlike in other places,” Sonia adds.
On whether he would like to be
repatriated, Soloman said, “As of now, all flights have been grounded and the
possibility of the airport being reopened in the near future seems distant.”
According to Norka department, the state
is in contact with the Malayali diaspora. “We are in touch with the consulate
and also the community associations. The diaspora is safe for now,” said Norka.
“Only 500 members of the Malayali community are registered with Norka, while
another 500 are members of associations. Others have been either recruited via
agencies or landed jobs while working in Gulf countries,” said the Norka
official.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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the full text of the original
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/oct/10/fear-among-keralites-in-israel-as-hamas-conflict-soars-2622372.html
------
Security tightened out Israel embassy,
Chabad House by Delhi Police
Oct 10, 2023
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police has beefed
up security around the Israeli embassy and Chabad House here in the wake of the
Israel-Hamas conflict, an official said on Tuesday. The local police stationed
around the embassy in New Delhi and Chabad House, located in Chandni Chowk in
central Delhi, has been directed to maintain a tight vigil, he said.
The officer added that authorities have
directed to increase the vigil around both the installations.
Israel witnessed a surprise and
unprecedented attack by Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern
parts on Saturday morning. At least 700 people have been killed and more than
2,100 injured in Israel. In the Gaza Strip, there are nearly 500 deaths and
over 2,000 wounded in Israel's counterattack, according to reports.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/security-tightened-out-israel-embassy-chabad-house/articleshow/104301941.cms
------
Two LeT ultras killed in encounter with
security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian
10th October 2023
By PTI
SRINAGAR: Two terrorists of the
proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba were killed in an encounter with security forces in
Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district on Tuesday, police said.
The encounter broke out in the early
hours of Tuesday after security forces launched an anti-militancy operation
following information about the presence of ultras in the district's Alshipora
area, they said.
"Two terrorists killed. Search
going on. Further details shall follow," the Kashmir Zone Police said in a
post on X.
The police claimed one of the slain
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) ultras was involved in the killing of bank guard Sanjay
Sharma earlier this year.
"Killed terrorists have been
identified as Morifat Maqbool and Jazim Farooq alias Abrar of terror outfit
LeT. Terrorist Abrar was involved in the killing of Kashmiri Pandit late Sanjay
Sharma," Additional Director General of Police (Kashmir Zone) Vijay Kumar
said in a post on X.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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the full text of the original
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/oct/10/two-let-ultras-killed-in-encounter-with-security-forces-in-jammu-and-kashmirsshopian-2622547.html
----
Omar Abdullah slams election
commissioner Rajiv Kumar and EC on Jammu & Kashmir elections
10.10.23
Muzaffar Raina
Former chief minister Omar Abdullah on
Monday asked chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar why he was denying the
democratic right to elections to Jammu and Kashmir residents.
Omar’s question was prompted by Kumar’s
insinuation that the time for elections in Jammu and Kashmir has not arrived
yet.
“With regard to Jammu and Kashmir, you
will be informed about the decision about whatever the right time is, in the
eyes of the commission, taking into consideration security and other elections
in the state,” Kumar said at a media conference in Delhi on Monday.
Kumar was asked what was “holding up the
Election Commission” from announcing the polls and whether they had any
discussion with the government on it.
Jammu and Kashmir is without an Assembly
since 2018. Calls for holding elections here have gained momentum after the
INDIA combine trounced the BJP in Kargil’s civic elections, the results of
which were announced on Sunday. The results are seen as a rebuff to BJP’s claim
that its policies are backed by residents of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir
state.
Omar, whose National Conference emerged
as the major partner in the Kargil elections, appeared shocked by the chief
election commissioner’s remarks.
“I do not have much to complain about
the BJP, which is a political party and sees everything through (the prism) of
gain or loss. If I have any complaint, it is against the Election Commission.
With regrets I am saying that even today when the chief election commissioner
was asked about elections… his reply was that the decision will be announced
after taking into consideration all factors,” Omar told a news conference.
“I want to ask him what are these
factors? We think the only factor is the fear factor, the BJP’s fear factor.
Before this, the BJP would hide behind the Raj Bhavan, now it is hiding behind
the chief election commissioner. Regretfully, the chief election commissioner
and Election Commission, instead of taking its decisions independently, are
taking decisions exclusively on the BJP’s directions. Otherwise, they have no
excuse,” he added.
Omar said the BJP has no courage to even
hold urban and panchayat elections in Jammu and Kashmir (which are due next
month), and holding Parliament elections here was a compulsion for them.
The former chief minister said he wanted
to hear from the chief election commissioner whether the situation has worsened
in Jammu and Kashmir to the extent that they can’t hold elections here.
“If they have worsened, tell us. So far
the world is told that the situation has vastly improved here since 2019...
that more than a crore tourists have visited the place. If that is all true,
then tell us what factors you are considering,” he asked.
“You cannot deprive people of their
rights. Election is their right. Do we not have the same rights as states such
as Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram? If elections
can be held there in time, why not here?”
Omar said he has a direct question from
the people of Jammu and Kashmir to the chief election commissioner to “please
tell” them about the factors because of which they are denied their democratic
rights. He reminded Kumar of a statement that he made earlier this year that
there was a vacuum in Jammu and Kashmir, which needed to be filled.
Asked about lieutenant governor Manoj
Sinha’s recent claim that 80 per cent of people backed his dispensation, Omar
said the LG was fond of the figure 80. He cited Sinha’s claims about Rs 80,000
crore investment coming to Jammu and Kashmir and 80 per cent of people not
paying electricity dues here to buttress his claim.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/omar-abdullah-questions-election-commissioner-rajiv-kumar-on-jammu-and-kashmir-elections/cid/1972279
------
Jharkhand CM cautions masses not to fall
prey to BJP’s tactics of communal division for electoral gains
10.10.23
Animesh Bisoee
Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren
exuded confidence in returning back to power in the 2024 Assembly polls and
cautioned masses not to fall prey to the BJP’s tactics of communal division for
electoral gains.
Addressing a gathering at Sarath in
Deoghar district during the foundation laying ceremony of the Rs 484.35 crore
Sikatiya mega lift irrigation scheme on Monday evening, Soren said: “For 20
years this state was ruled by the Opposition (BJP) but they failed to take the
state on the path of development. However, we are trying to take the state
towards development and they (BJP) are trying to pull my leg through different
means. But they do not know that their conspiracy will not succeed as crores of
people of Jharkhand are with me.”
“Today we have laid the foundation stone
and in 2024 we will start water supply through pipelines to reach farmers'
fields in the upland through pumps. In the coming years, our government will
provide water supply to fields even in high altitude areas so that farmers get
water supply throughout the year,” said Soren, showing confidence in retaining
power in the state.
Soren, who is heading a JMM-Congress-RJD
coalition government in Jharkhand, accused the opposition led by the BJP and
its ally Ajsu of spreading lies about him being corrupt.
“Opposition parties are calling me
corrupt. They do not feel ashamed of repeating the same lies daily. They do not
know our government has the support of adivasis, moolvasis (original settlers)
and minorities. This was seen in the recent bypoll at Dumri where the
Opposition candidate got a drubbing,” said Soren.
In the recent past, Soren had alleged
that his repeated demand for outstanding royalty dues has led to the Centre
unleashing federal agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against him.
The chief minister skipped the ED’s
fifth summons in Ranchi last week over alleged money laundering charges
pertaining to a land scam and instead approached Jharkhand High Court
challenging the ED summons. The case has been listed for October 11.
Soren launched a scathing attack
indirectly on the BJP for falling back on communal politics for electoral gains
across the country.
“These conspirators in the Opposition
parties in Jharkhand only do politics in the name of Hindu-Muslim. Will our
stomachs be filled by doing Hindu–Muslim? Can we get jobs by doing
Sikh-Christian? We will get jobs only by taking out vacancies and bread can be
great by enabling irrigation facilities for the farmers. The Opposition parties
only know how to spread the poison of communalism in society. However their
ploy has not succeeded in the states where people do not fall prey to their
communal agenda,” said Soren.
The comment came amid reports of
injuries to Bajrang Dal (youth wing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad) members when
their bus was pelted with stones by a mob on Sunday night. The Bajrang Dal
members were returning to Hazaribagh after participating in the Shaurya Yatra
in Ranchi. The incident took place near a mosque in Hazaribagh.
Hazaribagh SP Manoj Ratan Chothe said
that police were investigating the incidents and arrests would be made only
after a probe. He claimed that a particular community had alleged that the bus
stopped in front of the mosque and the passengers shouted provocative religious
slogans.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/jharkhand/hemant-soren-cautions-masses-not-to-fall-prey-to-bjps-tactics-of-communal-division-for-electoral-gains/cid/1972293
------
At JNU, Tanzanian president lauds Indian
charm: ‘Very difficult to resist’
By Sreelakshmi B
Oct 10, 2023
Tanzanian President Hassan was conferred
with the honorary doctorate by JNU on Tuesday, becoming the first woman to be
bestowed the honour.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan
on Tuesday hailed India during her speech at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in
New Delhi. Recollecting her experience in the country the first time she
visited here, Hassan said, "The world says, there is no midway in falling
in love with India, be it an Indian song, an Indian movie, or Indian cuisine,
it is very difficult to resist an Indian charm. I experienced it when I came to
India for the first time in 1998 to study in Hyderabad."
"I stand here as a family member of
Jawaharlal Nehru University and no more as a visiting guest. This is what makes
India irresistible. This is what makes India, the Incredible India..." she
added.
Hassan was also conferred with the
honorary doctorate by JNU, becoming the first woman to be bestowed the honour.
"This honorary degree will forever
be etched in my history, the first to be awarded to me by a foreign country.
This is the first one to be conferred by a foreign university..." she
said.
The event was also attended by Union
minister Dharmendra Pradhan and external affairs minister S Jaishankar.
Speaking on India's relations with
Tanzania Jaishankar said, “Economic ties between our two countries have always
been a strong pillar. Our trade relations with Tanzania date back several
centuries, when traders from the western coast of India first travelled to east
Africa along the maritime route for trade and commerce. Despite the global
disruption and challenges posed by the (COVID-19) pandemic, our bilateral trade
has witnessed strong growth from both sides.”
Hassan is on a four-day visit to India.
On Monday, she met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During a joint media
interaction, both India and Tanzania pledged to expand cooperation in areas
ranging from trade and investment to defence and counter-terrorism.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news
-----
Europe
Pig's Head Left Outside Proposed Mosque
In 'Hate Crime' As Police Step Up PatrolsIn Lancashire
10 Oct 2023
Lorraine King, Amy Walke
Police are appealing for information
after a pig’s head was left outside the site of a proposed mosque in
Lancashire.
Officers were called to Barnoldswick
following a report of a racially aggravated public order offence on Sunday at
2.10pm. It was reported that the pig’s head had been left outside the former
Methodist church building.
The pig's head is a direct insult to
Muslims, who abstain from pork because the animals are considered 'impure'.
Lancashire Police have said the incident
is being treated as a potential hate crime and efforts are ongoing to identify
the individual responsible. Enquiries are ongoing which includes house to house
visits and CCTV is being trawled through, Manchester Evening News reports.
Officers will also visit local butchers
and abattoirs in the hope of identifying a suspect. Police patrols have also
been stepped up as a precaution and anyone with information or concerns should
stop an officer and speak to them.
Inspector Claire Pearson, from the
Pendle and Ribble Valley Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “I want to make it
clear that we do not tolerate hate of any form and we are taking this incident
extremely seriously.
“We have a dedicated team of officers
assigned to this case and they are working around the clock to identify those
responsible. I am sure the residents of Barnoldswick will be equally as
appalled by this behaviour and I want to appeal directly to them to contact the
police if they have any information or footage which would assist us in our
enquiries.”
Ibrar Ahmed, from the Barnoldswick
Islamic Centre, said: "This incident is not aligned with the spirit of
Barnoldswick, where Muslims have been an integral part of the community since
the 1960s. The Barnoldswick Islamic Centre remains committed to fostering peace
and harmony, working alongside everyone in our town to promote understanding.
The Barnoldswick we know and call home is a place of friendship and respect,
and together, we'll ensure it stays that way."
Anyone with information which could
assist with enquiries is asked to email forcecontrolroom@lancashire.police.uk
or call 101, quoting log 845 of October 8 2023.
Source: mirror.co.uk
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https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/pigs-head-left-outside-proposed-31148195
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London Road: Police deployed to brawl at
Sheffield mosque and make arrest
9th Oct 2023
Claire Lewis
Police were deployed to reports of a
disturbance on London Road in Sheffield yesterday and discovered that violence
had flared at a nearby mosque.
South Yorkshire Police said offers
arrived on London Road afer being called at 2.19pm on Sunday, October 8 and it
was reported that a fight had broken out at the Bait-Ul Mukarram Jame Mosque.
One man was found to be injured and
another was arrested at the scene.
South Yorkshire Police said: "We
were called to reports of a disturbance on London Road at around 2.19pm
yesterday (Sunday, October 8).
"It is reported that a fight had
broken out involving a number of people at the Bait-Ul Mukarram Jame Mosque .
"A man in his 40s was taken to hospital
with a cut to his head. His injuries are not life threatening.
"A 41-year-old man was arrested on
suspicion of section 18 wounding. He has been released on police bail while
enquiries continue."
Source: thestar.co.uk
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https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/crime/london-road-police-deployed-to-brawl-at-sheffield-mosque-and-make-arrest-4365431
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Demonstration in London in support of
Palestinians in Gaza
October 09, 2023
LONDON: A large demonstration in support
of Palestinians in Gaza was held in London on Monday night.
Protesters gathered outside the Israeli
Embassy in the capital to demand an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestine.
The event was organized by several UK
groups, including Friends of Al-Aqsa, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop
the War, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, the Muslim Association of
Britain, and the Palestinian Forum in Britain.
Dr. Ismail Patel, founder of FOA, said:
“We have gathered here in London to say Palestinians must be free, Israel must
end the occupation, (and) we will stand with the Palestinians until they are
free.
“European governments and the British
government must stop supporting Israel’s racist xenophobia against
Palestinians.”
Israel intensified its bombardment of
the Gaza Strip on Monday, vowing to destroy the “military and governing
capabilities” of the enclave’s Hamas rulers, as Israeli soldiers fought to
dislodge Gaza gunmen from areas of southern Israel.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant
announced that “no electricity, no food, no water, no gas” would be allowed to
enter Gaza.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2388216/world
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Iranian police arrest Sweden gang
leader: Report
October 09, 2023
LONDON: Iranian police have arrested the
leader of Sweden’s most violent gang, accused of carrying out a spate of fatal
bombings and shootings, The Times reported on Monday.
However, Swedish news outlets having
circulated audio purportedly of Rawa Majid — nicknamed the Kurdish Fox and head
of the Foxtrot gang — denying he had been taken into custody after claims he
was caught at the Turkiye-Iran border.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson
on Monday said he had unconfirmed “intelligence” that Majid had been detained.
Kristersson told Swedish media outlet
SVT that “given the outstanding criminal charges against him, this could have a
very big impact,” but said he did not want to go into more detail at present.
Sources told SVT that Majid, who was
raised in Sweden by Iraqi-Kurdish parents, may have been arrested because he
was carrying fraudulent papers.
In 2023 alone, his Foxtrot gang has been
linked to dozens of deaths, including civilians caught in the crossfire, in a
series of well-orchestrated and bloody turf wars usually carried out by boys as
young as 13. Twelve fatalities were reported in September alone.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2388121/world
--------
British students express solidarity with
Palestinians
October 09, 2023
LONDON: British students have expressed
solidarity with the Palestinian people amid the escalation of fighting between
Hamas and Israel.
Palestine societies at the School of
Oriental and African Studies, Queen Mary, University College London and the
University of Warwick described the attacks launched by Hamas — a proscribed
organization in the UK — as “resistance” to the 75-year-old occupation of
Palestinian lands by Israel.
UCL’s Justice for Palestine society
wrote on Instagram: “Our brave and hard-working Palestinian people, those
freeing the world, Palestinian resistance, in these historical moments are
engaged in a heroic fight for Al-Aqsa Mosque, our sacred sites, and prisoners.
“Over the last few days, thousands of
fascist and criminal settlers desecrated the shrine of the Prophet (Muhammad)
and performed their prayers there to impose sovereignty over the area. If the
world will be silent, we will not be silent about this aggression.”
The SOAS Palestine Society said:
“Palestinian people have the right to resist occupation by any means
necessary.”
The Warwick Action for Palestine society
said it “stood in solidarity” with the resistance to a “military colonial
occupation.”
Jewish campus leaders condemned support
for the attacks. The Union of Jewish Students urged student union chiefs to
“take harsh action against this despicable celebration of violence,” which it
said had left Jewish students fearing for their safety.
Seeking to quell concerns, UK Home
Secretary Suella Braverman said she expects police to “use the full force of
the law” and punish support for Hamas after a series of incidents in London
that appeared to celebrate the attacks against Israel.
In the capital, the Metropolitan Police
said it had stepped up patrols in sensitive areas, vowing a “zero tolerance”
approach to displays of support for the attacks.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2388076/world
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UK minister backed failed probe into SAS
war crimes in Afghanistan
October 09, 2023
LONDON: The UK’s minister for veterans’
affairs in 2019 raised concerns in private over a decision to shut an
investigation into the conduct of UK special forces in Afghanistan, despite
supporting the move in public later.
The BBC reported that Johnny Mercer had
written to Ben Wallace, the defense minister at the time, to warn against the closure
of the probe, on the grounds that war crimes allegations against British forces
were credible.
Known as Operation Northmoor, the
investigation was launched in 2014 to look into 675 alleged cases of wrongdoing
by British forces in Afghanistan.
But the investigation — which explored
the conduct of the elite Special Air Service during raids — was closed in 2019
with no resulting charges.
It was alleged that the SAS had been
involved in the murders of dozens of unarmed civilians during operations in
Afghanistan.
A BBC “Panorama” documentary in 2022
revealed evidence that one SAS squadron had killed 54 people in suspicious
circumstances during a single six-month tour of the country. That documentary
led to the opening of a public inquiry by the government.
Mercer, when arguing against the closure
of Operation Northmoor, highlighted concerns that SAS members may have killed
unarmed civilians and planted weapons on corpses to provide false justification
for shootings, The Times reported.
He also warned that the government could
suffer reputational damage if it failed to investigate the allegations.
The minister had pushed for the
government to publicly acknowledge that “things went wrong on such operations”
in Afghanistan.
But despite his private concerns over
the investigation’s closure, Mercer backed the move publicly.
He told the Sunday Telegraph that the
axing was “another significant moment as we retake ground ceded over the years
to those who seek to rewrite history and line their own pockets, with no regard
at all for the damage they have done to some of our nation’s finest people.”
Mercer also told the House of Commons
that the allegations “that our armed forces operated so-called death squads in
Afghanistan was simply not true.”
Since its closure, Operation Northmoor
has faced criticism over an apparent failure to conduct interviews with central
witnesses and gather important evidence.
The Royal Military Police was
responsible for the investigation, but its officers told the BBC that they were
prevented from conducting interviews with SAS personnel by “senior military
figures.”
The public inquiry launched in 2022 in
the wake of the “Panorama” documentary was set to begin hearing evidence on
Monday.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2388001/world
--------
Russia sends dozens of drones into
Ukraine in latest air strike
October 10, 2023
Russia launched 36 Iranian-made attack
drones against southern Ukraine overnight, damaging infrastructure in the Odesa
region, authorities said.
The strikes targeted the Odesa, Mykolaiv
and Kherson regions, the Ukrainian military reported, adding that air defense
systems destroyed 27 drones.
Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper said unspecified
“logistics infrastructure” had been struck but that no injuries were reported.
Reuters could not independently verify
the information. There was no immediate comment from Russia.
Russian forces have carried out regular
missile and drone strikes on infrastructure in southern Ukraine in recent weeks
and months, targeting port facilities in particular.
Separately, the Kherson regional
administration said Russia had struck the region 79 times with mortars,
artillery and drones over the past day, wounding four people and damaging
several buildings.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2388451/world
------
White House hopes to include Ukraine in
Israeli aid package – media
10 Oct, 2023
Top White House officials are
considering whether to include more Ukraine funding in an emergency aid package
for Israel, multiple news outlets have reported. One staffer suggested the move
would force “far-right” lawmakers to authorize additional aid for Kiev.
Though President Joe Biden had already
announced that military assistance was “on its way” to Israel following a
surprise attack by Palestinian militants over the weekend, the White House has
signaled that it would soon ask Congress to approve additional aid for the
Jewish state.
Lawmakers in both parties and senior
administration officials have hinted that the aid package could also include
provisions for Ukraine, unnamed sources told the Washington Post, NBC News and
other outlets on Monday.
US has enough weapons for Israel,
Ukraine and more – PentagonREAD MORE: US has enough weapons for Israel, Ukraine
and more – Pentagon
Though no final decision has been made,
one anonymous official told the Post that the move would be wise because it
“jams the far right” – referring to Republicans who vocally support Israel but
are skeptical of continued aid to Ukraine. White House spokesman John Kirby,
meanwhile, declined to say whether the two aid packages would be linked, only
stating “We believe both are important.”
While debate over the aid is likely to
be contentious, the Pentagon has insisted that it has plenty of weapons for all
US partners. During a background briefing on Monday, a senior defense official
told reporters that Washington could “continue our support both to Ukraine,
Israel, and maintain our own global readiness,” noting that the US has been
able to meet “every request that our Israeli counterparts have made.”
Israel is among the largest recipients
of US foreign aid, taking in some $3.3 billion in American tax dollars in 2022
alone – a comparable amount to previous years – according to US government
statistics. Since the conflict with Russia escalated in February 2022, Ukraine
has also become a major beneficiary, with the White House approving at least
$45 billion in direct military aid through 47 separate transfers.
Both Republicans and Democrats have
largely voiced support for Israel after the deadly Hamas attack early on
Saturday morning, which has prompted harsh retaliation by the Israel Defense
Forces (IDF) and an intense bombing campaign on Gaza. More than 1,500 people
have been killed on both sides of the conflict so far, while Palestinian
fighters claim to have captured more than 100 Israeli and foreign hostages
during their raids.
Thousands of Israelis and Palestinians
have evacuated their homes due to the violent flare-up, while the IDF has
called on 300,000 reservists as it mobilizes for a larger conflict. Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that his country was in a state of
“war” as the attack unfolded, and said on Monday that the military response was
“just getting started.”
Source: rt.com
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EU reverses course on Palestine aid
9 Oct, 2023
The European Union will not suspend aid
payments to the Palestinian Authority, its foreign policy chief Josep Borrell
said on Monday evening, contradicting an earlier announcement by Enlargement
Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi.
“The review of the EU’s assistance for
Palestine announced by the European Commission will not suspend the due
payments,” Borrell said in a statement, adding that this would have amounted to
“punishing all the Palestinian people,” damaged the EU interests in the region,
and “only further emboldened terrorists.”
Several hours earlier, Varhelyi
announced that the “scale of terror and brutality against Israel and its
people” by Hamas was a “turning point” for the bloc, and that “there can be no
business as usual” going forward. He said the European Commission would put
€691 million ($728.8 million) in aid to the Palestinian Authority under review
and suspend all payments right away.
Varhelyi’s announcement came two days
into clashes between the Palestinian militant movement Hamas and the Israeli
military, which has claimed hundreds of lives on both sides. Shortly
afterwards, however, Israel ordered a “complete siege” of Gaza, cutting off the
supply of water, food and electricity to more than 2 million Palestinians in
the territory.
Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Jean
Asselborn was reportedly the first senior European official to challenge
Varhelyi’s proclamation, saying the decision must be made by the 27 member
states and that foreign ministers were due to discuss the matter on Tuesday.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel
Albares called Varhelyi and conveyed “his disagreement with the decision, which
the foreign ministers were not aware of,” broadcaster ABC reported, citing
unnamed government officials.
JanezLenarcic, the EU commissioner for
humanitarian aid and crisis management, also contradicted his Hungarian
colleague, saying that, while he “most strongly” condemns Hamas, EU aid “will
continue as long as needed.”
In a press release “clarifying”
Varhelyi’s remarks, the European Commission said it was “launching an urgent
review of the EU’s assistance for Palestine,” but was not suspending any
payments because “there were no payments foreseen.”
“The objective of this review is to
ensure that no EU funding indirectly enables any terrorist organization to
carry out attacks against Israel. The Commission will equally review if, in
light of the changed circumstances on the ground, its support programs to the
Palestinian population and the Palestinian Authority need to be adjusted,” the
statement added.
Source: .rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/584493-eu-palestine-aid-review/
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UK rushes to move asylum-eligible
Afghans from Pakistan
October 10, 2023
THE UK government has expedited the
process to move hundreds of Afghan refugees, who are eligible for asylum, out
of Pakistan following the crackdown on illegal foreign nationals, The
Independent reported.
According to the report, around 3,000
Afghans, many of whom worked for the British army, were evacuated to be
provided residence in the UK following the Afghan Taliban’s takeover of Kabul
in August 2021. They have been stuck in Pakistan since last year when the UK
authorities stopped chartering flights for them and demanded they arrange
housing in Britain before travelling.
They were being housed in Islamabad’s
hotels, one of which was raided by the police during the ongoing operation.
Some Afghan nationals whose visas had expired were arrested and released only
after the intervention of the UK High Commission’s staff, The Independent
claimed.
The UK government has started looking
for accommodation for these refugees and will then arrange flights for their
relocation.
Independent report estimates around
3,000 refugees still in Islamabad, awaiting resettlement
Around 20-30 Afghan families were flown
to the UK last week on commercial flights, and more will be moved in future.
According to the report, around 2,300
Afghans in Pakistan are eligible for the UK Ministry of Defence’s resettlement
scheme, while another 700 are eligible to be brought to the UK on a Foreign
Office scheme.
One of the Afghan nationals, who worked
as an interpreter with British forces, told The Independent he has been waiting
in Pakistan “for nearly two years”.
“New families are going to the UK every
day, but I am still waiting, and I am so bored from life. Life is very hard and
tiring, and no one listens to us. No one understands our problems. I live with
a broken heart like a despondent and lonely person,” he was quoted by The
Independent as saying.
The UK government has said it was
honouring the commitments made to the Afghan nationals.
“We continue to honour our commitments
to bring eligible Afghans to the UK, and we are issuing new visas to people in
Afghanistan and other countries for resettlement here,” a government
spokesperson told The Independent.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1780263/uk-rushes-to-move-asylum-eligible-afghans-from-pakistan
--------
Mideast
UNRWA: Israeli Airstrikes displaced 137
Thousand Palestinians to our schools in Gaza
October 10, 2023
The United Nations Relief and Works
Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) stated that 137000 Palestinians were
displaced to their schools due to the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza
Strip.
In a statement, UNRWA said that there
are approximately 137 thousand Palestinians displaced in 64 UNRWA shelters,
adding that the numbers are likely to increase amid the continued violent
Israeli bombardment and air strikes.
A UNRWA school sheltering displaced
Palestinian families in the Gaza Strip was directly hit on Sunday. The school,
sheltering more than 225 people, was severely damaged. No casualties were
recorded among the displaced.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported
that Israeli airstrikes claimed the lives of almost 687 Palestinians including
at least 91 children and 61 women, with 2,751 others injured.
hree students at UNRWA schools in Khan
Younis and Beit Hanoun are confirmed to be among the casualties.
Source: daysofpalestine.ps
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https://daysofpalestine.ps/unrwa-israeli-airstrikes-displaced-137000-palestinians-to-our-schools-in-gaza/
------
Israel says it found 1,500 Hamas
militant bodies as warplanes continue to pound Gaza
October 10, 2023
JERUSALEM: Israel’s military said about
1,500 bodies of Hamas militants were found in Israeli territory as, as it said
it had largely gained control in the country’s south and “restored full
control” over the border on the fourth day of fighting following an
unprecedented surprise attack.
Spokesperson Richard Hecht said no Hamas
fighters have crossed into Israel since last night, although infiltrations
could still be possible. Israel has previously reported 900 soldiers and
civilians killed, and Palestinian authorities have reported about 700 deaths in
Gaza and the West Bank.
Warplanes pound Gaza
Israeli warplanes pounded downtown Gaza
City, home to Hamas’ centers of government, with relentless bombardments into
early Tuesday, after Israel’s prime minister vowed retaliation against the
Islamic militant group that would “reverberate for generations.”
The 4-day-old war has already claimed
1,600 lives, as Israel saw gunbattles in the streets of its own towns for the
first time in decades and neighborhoods in Gaza were reduced to rubble. Hamas
also escalated the conflict, pledging to kill captured Israelis if strikes
targeted civilians without warning.
Israel said that Hamas and other militant
groups in Gaza are holding more than 150 soldiers and civilians snatched from
inside Israel after the attack caught its vaunted military and intelligence
apparatus completely off guard.
The Israeli military said it had largely
gained control in the south and “restored full control” over the border.
Spokesperson Richard Hecht said no Hamas fighters have crossed into Israel
since last night, although infiltrations could still be possible.
As the Israeli military activated
300,000 reservists in a massive mobilization, a major question was whether it
will launch a ground assault into the tiny Mediterranean coastal territory. The
last ground assault was in 2014.
Thousands of Israelis were evacuated
from more than a dozen towns near Gaza, and tanks and drones were deployed to
guard breaches in the Gaza border fence against new incursions. In Gaza, tens
of thousands fled their homes as airstrikes leveled buildings.
The moves, along with Israel’s formal
declaration of war on Sunday, pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the
offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely
populated, impoverished Gaza Strip.
'Flee to Egypt'
The Israeli military revised on Tuesday
a recommendation by one of its spokespeople that Palestinians fleeing its air
strikes in the Gaza Strip head to Egypt, saying in a follow-up statement that
the main crossing on that border was currently closed.
Briefing foreign reporters,
Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Hecht said he would advise Palestinian refugees to
"get out" through the Rafah crossing on Gaza's southern border with
Egypt.
His office then issued a statement.
"Clarification: The Rafah crossing was open yesterday, but now it is
closed," it said.
On Monday evening, Egyptian security
sources and a witness said operations at Rafah had been disrupted by what they
described as a strike on the Gaza side.
“We have only started striking Hamas,”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a nationally televised
address. “What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate
with them for generations.”
On Monday, Israel found more bodies from
Hamas’ stunning weekend attack into southern Israeli towns. Rescue workers
found 100 bodies in the tiny farming community of Be’eri — around 10 percent of
its population — after a long hostage standoff with gunmen.
The Israeli military said more than 900
people already have been killed in Israel. In Gaza, more than 680 people have
been killed, according to authorities there; Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters
are among them. Thousands have been wounded on both sides.
In response to Israel’s aerial attacks,
the spokesman of Hamas’ armed wing, Abu Obeida, said Monday night that the
group will kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians
in their homes in Gaza “without prior warning.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen
warned Hamas against harming any of the hostages, saying, “This war crime will
not be forgiven.” Netanyahu appointed a former military commander to manage the
hostage and missing persons crisis.
Israel and Hamas have had repeated
conflicts in past years, often sparked by tensions around a Jerusalem holy
site. This time, the context has become potentially more explosive. Both sides
talk of shattering with violence a yearslong Israeli-Palestinian deadlock left
by the moribund peace process.
The surprise weekend attack by Hamas
left a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria. That fomented
calls to crush Hamas no matter the cost, rather than continuing to try to
bottle it up in Gaza. Israel is run by its most hard-right government ever,
dominated by ministers who adamantly reject Palestinian statehood.
Hamas, in turn, says it is ready for a
long battle to end an Israeli occupation it says is no longer tolerable.
Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose
under unending Israeli control and increasing settler depredations in the West
Bank, the blockade in Gaza and what they see as the world’s apathy.
Attacks by both sides created more
scenes of devastation Monday. In Israel’s southern coastal city of Ashkelon, a
man holding a crutch with one hand and an older boy with the other joined
evacuees being shepherded from a street after a rocket blew out the front of a
house.
In Gaza, Palestinians passed the bodies
of the dead through dense crowds of men in the rubble in the Jebaliya refugee
camp.
Early Monday evening, the sound of
explosions echoed over Jerusalem when a volley of rockets fired from Gaza hit
two neighborhoods — a sign of Hamas’s reach. Israeli media said seven were
wounded.
Israeli warplanes carried out an intense
bombardment of Rimal, a residential and commercial district of central Gaza
City, after issuing warnings for residents to evacuate. Amid continuous
explosions, the building housing the headquarters of the Palestinian
Telecommunications Company was destroyed.
Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have razed
790 housing units and severely damaged 5,330, the UN Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said early Tuesday. Damage to three water
and sanitation sites have cut off services to 400,000.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant
ordered a “complete siege” on Gaza, saying authorities would cut electricity
and block the entry of food and fuel.
Tens of thousands of Gaza residents
continued to flee. The UN said Tuesday that more than 187,000 of Gaza’s 2.3
million people have left their homes — the most since a 2014 air and ground
offensive by Israel uprooted about 400,000.
UNRWA, the UN agencies for Palestinian
refugees, is sheltering more than 137,000 people in schools across the
territory. Families have taken in some 41,000 others.
In the southern Gaza city of Rafah, an
Israeli airstrike early Monday killed 19 people, including women and children,
said Talat Barhoum, a doctor at the local Al-Najjar Hospital.
After breaking through Israeli barriers
with explosives at daybreak Saturday, an estimated 1,000 Hamas gunmen rampaged
for hours, gunning down civilians and snatching people in towns, along highways
and at a techno music festival attended by thousands in the desert. Palestinian
militants have also launched around 4,400 rockets at Israel, according to the
military.
Source: arabnews.com
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Palestine still first issue of Islamic
world: parl. speaker
Oct 10, 2023
TEHRAN, Oct. 10 (MNA) – Iranian
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says that Palestine is still the
first issue of the Islamic world.
Palestine was, is, and will be the first
issue of the Islamic world, Ghalibaf said in a parliament open session on
Tuesday.
Undoubtedly, as always, the necessary
support will be provided to the Palestinian people until the realization of
their rights, he added.
He went on to say that Iran is trying to
hold consultations with the heads of the Islamic countries over the Zionists'
crimes and supporting Palestinians.
On Saturday, Palestinian Resistance
group Hamas launched a large-scale operation with a heavy barrage of rockets in
response to the Israeli regime's desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and
increased settler violence. The Israeli regime's military forces also announced
it was launching Operation 'Iron Swords' in retaliation for the attack.
On Sunday night, Zionist Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu voted to put the regime officially at war.
Earlier this week, the Iranian president
issued a message on the ongoing Palestinian battle against the Zionist regime
known as the Al-Aqsa Storm Operation, saying he is confident that Palestinians
will come out victorious.
Source: mehrnews.com
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Israel poured bombs on Palestine kids as
gift on Children Day
Oct 10, 2023
TEHRAN, Oct. 10 (MNA) – Iran’s Foreign
Ministry spokesman says the child-killing Israeli regime poured lethal bombs
and missiles on Palestinian kids as gifts on Children’s Day.
In a post on his X account on Tuesday,
Nasser Kan’ani said that the occupying entity has killed dozens of Palestinian
children in its aerial assaults on the besieged Gaza Strip.
“On Children’s Day (October 8), the
child-killing Israeli regime gave Palestinian children in Gaza gifts made of
bombs, missiles, and fire, and it took the lives of more than 90 innocent
children in the past two days,” he wrote, referring to the date that is
celebrated annually in Iran under the aegis of UNICEF in honor of children.
“The bright future of Palestine lies in
the hands of today’s children who will make the future of this land. This is
what the usurping Zionist regime has always been afraid of,” Kan’ani added.
He also emphasized that all children
have the right to live without discrimination based on the Convention on the
Rights of the Child (CRC).
The Iranian diplomat attached to his
post the pictures of Palestinian fathers holding their slain children in their
arms.
Israel launched deadly strikes on the
densely-populated Gaza Strip on Saturday after the Palestinian Hamas resistance
group waged a surprise attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the
usurping entity.
Hamas said that its operation came in
response to Israel’s violations at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East al-Quds
and growing settler violence.
The Gaza Health Ministry said 704
Palestinians, including 143 children and 105 women, have been killed by Israeli
strikes.
Iran says the Palestinian operation is a
natural and legitimate response to the Tel Aviv regime’s crimes against the
oppressed nation.
Source: mehrnews.com
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Israeli attacks destroy six mosques,
four schools in Gaza
OCTOBER 10, 2023
The ongoing Israeli aggression on the
Gaza Strip for the third day in a row resulted in the destruction of six
mosques and four schools since the outbreak of the aggression on Saturday.
The Palestinian News Agency (WAFA)
reported that the occupation aircraft destroyed four mosques in Gaza City, a
mosque in Khan Yunis, and another in Beit Lahia.
The occupation aircraft also bombed four
schools belonging to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees
(UNRWA), partially destroying them, reported WAFA.
The death toll of the ongoing Israeli
aggression against the Gaza Strip and the West Bank has risen to 508 martyrs on
Monday and 2,800 injured, in addition to major destruction of homes,
residential buildings, property and infrastructure. In another context, the
Israeli occupation forces continued on Monday to tighten their military
measures in the northern governorates for the third consecutive day by closing
checkpoints and entrances to cities, towns, and villages and obstructing the
movement of Palestinian citizens.
OVER 70,000 DISPLACED
IN UNRWA SCHOOLS
The UN Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced that nearly 74,000 displaced people are
now in 64 UNRWA schools and shelters, with numbers likely to increase as heavy
shelling and airstrikes continue on civilian areas, QNA added.
An UNRWA school sheltering displaced
families in the Gaza Strip was hit directly. The school, sheltering more than
225 people, was severely damaged, UNRWA said.
UNRWA teams are providing families with
shelter and clean water. Supplies are being prepared to deliver to families,
including food, hygiene kits and cleaning supplies.
UNRWA has called for an immediate
ceasefire and a halt to the violence everywhere, it added.
Schools and other civilian
infrastructure, including those sheltering displaced families, must never come
under attack, UNRWA said.
MINISTRY WARNS ON
HEALTH SITUATION
The Palestinian Ministry of Health has
warned that the mounting Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip has aggravated
the health situation as hospitals are facing a major shortage of electricity,
medicines, and fuel due to the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip.
Most areas in Gaza are off the grid because
the Israeli entity has stopped supplying Gaza with energy after imposing a full
blockade, with the national supplier being unable to supply the Strip with
electricity needs which is obviously less than 20%.
The persistent crisis of electricity
poses a challenge for the health system and a risk for hundreds of wounded
people and patients in the sensitive sections, the ministry said in a
statement.
It added that technical and engineering
crews are operating around the clock to ensure the operation of electric
generators that require 40,000 litres of diesel per day in case of a power
blackout for 12 hours. The ministry has called on the international community
and all relevant entities to ramp up pressure on the Israeli occupation to
recommission the power grids because lack of electricity will pose danger to
the health and humanitarian system and have called for urgent action on the
part of all entities to provide these essentials.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian News Agency
(WAFA) pointed out that the occupation’s fighter jets are directly targeting
ambulance vehicles and have so far targeted an ambulance vehicle carrying
wounded people and have destroyed it, with the medical crew being injured, and
stressed that since the onset of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, the occupation
has been intentionally targeting civil and ambulance vehicles carrying injured
people.
For the third day, the occupation
warplanes continued launching hundreds of airstrikes on Gaza targeting
residential towers and critical infrastructures.
Source: gulf-times.com
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A Rocket Fired by Hamas Hit a Mosque Near
Jerusalem Built by Kadyrov in Honour of His Father
9 OCTOBER 2023
At least one person was wounded in Abu
Ghosh and several residents of another Jerusalem suburb, Beitar Illit, were
injured during the shelling.
The mosque in Abu Ghosh was opened by
the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov in 2014 and named after his father. Abu
Ghosh authorities reported that $10 million was spent on the construction,
including $6 million from the Chechen government.
Despite this, Ramzan Kadyrov expressed
support for Palestine, calling on the international community to make a
"unanimous and fair decision" on the situation in the region. He
called on the leaders of Muslim countries to form a coalition.
"Create a coalition and call on
those whom you call friends, Europe and the entire West, not to bomb civilians
under the pretext of destroying militants," the Chechen leader said.
"We support Palestine. And we are
against this war, which, unlike other conflicts, can escalate into something
bigger," Kadyrov said in a telegram channel. He also expressed his
readiness to send Chechen units to the region.
"If necessary, our units are ready
to act as a peacekeeping force to restore order and counteract any
disturbers," he said.
Background. Meanwhile, it was reported
that Hamas threatened to start killing hostages from Israel in case of attacks
on civilians in Gaza. Israel said it was ready to continue strikes, despite the
hostages.
Source: mind.ua
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Islamic Jihad claims responsibility for
operation in southern Lebanon against Israel soldiers
October 9, 2023
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, on
Monday, claimed responsibility for an operation it carried out in southern
Lebanon against Israeli soldiers, Anadolu Agency reports.
the Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing
of the Islamic Jihad movement, said in a statement
Earlier, the Israeli army announced the
killing of “a number of militants who crossed the border from Lebanon.”
Israeli Channel 12 reported that “three
Israeli soldiers were injured in a clash” with gunmen who infiltrated the
border.
In a related development, one Hezbollah
member was killed on Monday in Israel’s attack on southern Lebanon, according
to Al-Mayadeen TV, which is known for being close to the Lebanese Hezbollah
group.
According to the official Lebanese
National News Agency, Israeli artillery shelled, on Monday, the outskirts of
the border town of Marwahin in the south of Lebanon.
“Israeli bombardment was renewed on the
outskirts of the Marwahin border in southern Lebanon with phosphorus shells,”
it added.
On Sunday, Lebanon’s Hezbollah
reaffirmed its support for Palestinian Resistance, saying it is “not neutral”
in the ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas.
The Gaza-based Resistance group, Hamas,
launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel early Saturday, firing a
barrage of rockets. It said the surprise attack was in response to the storming
of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Occupied East Jerusalem and growing settlers’ violence.
In retaliation, the Israeli army
launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The number of Palestinians killed by
Israeli forces in Gaza has risen to 560, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said on
Monday amid ongoing fighting. It also said the number of injured people surged
to 2,900.
The Interior Ministry in Gaza said the
Israeli army has “intensified its aggression” on Gaza with hundreds of raids.
The Israeli army said it had struck over
500 targets in overnight raids on Gaza, which they claimed were targets
belonging to the Hamas and Islamic Jihad groups.
At least 800 Israelis have been killed
and over 2,616 others wounded in the fighting, according to local media.
Source: middleeastmonitor.com
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Israeli Warplanes Destroy Residential
Building Near Gaza’s Largest Hospital
October 10, 2023
Israeli occupation warplanes targeted a
Palestinian residential building near Gaze’s largest hospital.
Local Palestinian sources reported that
Israeli warplanes completely destroyed the Al-Badrasawi building near Al-Shifa
Hospital in Gaza, causing partial destruction in the hospital.
Since Saturday, Israeli warplanes have
been bombing densely populated neighborhoods in the occupied Gaza Strip.
The Gaza Health Ministry said the death
toll from the Israeli attacks had reached almost 678, including 91 children and
61 women, with 2,751 others injured.
In a statement, the Israeli air force
said it had dropped some 2,000 munitions and more than 1,000-ton bombs on Gaza
in the last 20 hours.
Source: daysofpalestine.ps
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Israeli airstrikes cut off internet,
communications in large areas of Gaza strip
October 10, 2023
GAZA CITY: Israeli airstrikes on Monday
destroyed large parts of the Al-Rimal neighbourhood in Gaza City, leading to
large internet and communications outages.
Israeli warplanes destroyed a number of
buildings, including residential ones, flattening them to the ground, said an
Anadolu correspondent.
The reporter said the fighter jets
destroyed a Palestinian Telecommunications Company building, causing a
widespread outage of communications and the internet.
The raids also caused extensive damage
to homes and property and caused great panic among them, with power outages
hitting large areas.
Al-Shifa Medical Complex was also
damaged in the airstrikes.
The recent clashes in Palestine involving
Hamas, the ruling authority in Gaza, and the Israeli regime have resulted in
the loss of hundreds of lives on both sides since Saturday, Oct 7.–
BERNAMA-ANADOLU
Source: nst.com.my
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North America
US Confirms 11 Citizens Killed In
Israel-Hamas War, Warns Lebanon’s Hezbollah Not To Get Involved
October 10, 2023
United States’ President, Joe Biden, has
said several Americans are likely being held hostage by Palestinian militant
group, Hamas, after its surprise attack on Israel, and that at least 11 US
citizens were killed in the assault.
Hamas dragged off about 150 hostages in
its weekend onslaught on southern Israel from Gaza, an attack that a senior US
defense official said involved “ISIS-level savagery”.
Hamas threatened on Monday to kill the
hostages if retaliatory Israeli air strikes continue “targeting” Gaza residents
without warning.
The threat came after Israel imposed a
total siege on the Gaza Strip, cutting off the water supply, which sparked UN
fears of an increasingly dire humanitarian situation.
Biden said that Washington, which has
moved an aircraft carrier closer to Israel in a show of support, was working
with its key ally on efforts to recover the hostages after the
“heart-wrenching” attacks.
“Sadly, we now know that at least 11
American citizens were among those killed — many of whom made a second home in
Israel,” Biden said in a statement after meeting his national security team at
the White House.
“While we are still working to confirm,
we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by
Hamas,” he added.
“I have directed my team to work with
their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including
sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government
to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts.”
Biden added that the safety of American
citizens at home or abroad was his “top priority as president”.
Reeling from the Palestinian Islamist
group’s unprecedented ground, air and sea attacks, Israel has counted 800 dead
and launched a withering barrage of strikes on Gaza that have raised the death
toll there to 687.
The United States sent its largest
aircraft carrier and five other warships near Israel in a show of support on
Sunday, while boosting fighter aircraft squadrons in the region.
A senior US defence official said Monday
said the hostages were the subject of intense engagement with the Israelis.
“There are continual conversations
across the US government with all of our Israeli counterparts about the
situation of hostages that Hamas is holding in Gaza,” the official told
journalists.
The US official also likened the attacks
by Hamas to the notorious brutality of the Islamic State jihadist group, which
is known by the acronym ISIS.
“This is ISIS-level savagery that we
have seen committed against Israeli civilians — houses burned to the ground,
young people massacred at music festivals,” the official said.
The United States has meanwhile warned
other parties not to get involved, as fears of a regional conflagration grow.
Lebanese militant group Hezbollah should
not make the “wrong decision” of opening a second front against Israel as it
battles Hamas, the defence official said.
Source: saharareporters.com
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---------
US says Americans likely held by Hamas
after 'ISIS-level savagery'
October 10, 2023
Washington: President Joe Biden said
Monday that 11 Americans are dead and others are likely being held hostage by
the Palestinian fighters group Hamas after a surprise attack on Israel using
what a US official called "ISIS-level savagery."
As fears grew that the conflict could
turn into a regional conflagration, the White House said there was no intention
to put US boots on the ground but warned Iran and other actors not to get
involved.
Biden and the leaders of France,
Germany, Italy and Britain meanwhile pledged their support for their ally
Israel to defend itself as the death toll there rose to 800, while in Gaza, 687
people have died.
Hamas dragged off about 150 hostages in
its weekend onslaught on southern Israel from Gaza and has threatened to kill
them if retaliatory Israeli air strikes continue "targeting" Gaza
residents without warning.
Biden said that Washington, which has
moved its biggest aircraft carrier and other warships closer to Israel in a
show of support, was working with its key ally on "hostage recovery
efforts."
"Sadly, we now know that at least
11 American citizens were among those killed – many of whom made a second home
in Israel," Biden said in a statement after meeting his national security
team at the White House.
"While we are still working to
confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those
being held by Hamas," he added.
The White House would be lit in the blue
and white colors of the Israeli flag on Monday night in a sign of US "ironclad"
support.
Biden was due to deliver further remarks
on the "terrorist attacks in Israel" on Tuesday, the White House
said.
A senior US defense official said Monday
that the hostages were the subject of intense engagement with the Israelis.
"There are continual conversations
across the US government with all of our Israeli counterparts about the
situation of hostages that Hamas is holding in Gaza," the official told
journalists.
The US official also likened the attacks
by Hamas to the notorious brutality of the Islamic State jihadist group, which
is known by the acronym ISIS.
"This is ISIS-level savagery that
we have seen committed against Israeli civilians – houses burned to the ground,
young people massacred at music festivals," the official said.
The White House said that while it was
sending fresh military aid to Israel to deter its "enemies," there
was no question for now of the United States getting involved in the conflict.
"There's no intention to put US
boots on the ground," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told
reporters.
Kirby said that there was no "hard
or tangible evidence" linking Iran to the Hamas attack, even if there was
a "degree of complicity" due to Tehran's support for the group.
Iran has denied any involvement.
Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron,
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak issued a joint statement saying they
"support Israel in its efforts to defend itself," the White House said.
The French presidency's version of the
statement also warned Iran not to "spread the conflict beyond Gaza." Afp
Source: nst.com.my
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Pro-Palestine demonstrators rally in New
York against Israeli government
October 10, 2023
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian
demonstrators gathered in New York on Monday to voice their condemnation of the
Israeli government's actions and to call for the United States to cease its
support for its Middle East ally.
The demonstration in the heart of
Manhattan followed a significant weekend raid by Palestinian group Hamas into
Israel.
Amidst a heavy police presence,
demonstrators of all ages gathered outside the Israeli consulate general,
waving Palestinian flags and displaying signs with slogans such as "Israel
go to hell!" and "NYC stands with Gaza."
On the opposite side of the street, a
pro-Israel group stood behind security barriers, engaging in verbal
confrontations with the pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
These protests marked the second
consecutive day of tense counter-protests in the city, with pro-Palestinian
residents and supporters of Israel facing off.
Young activists, wearing Palestinian
keffiyeh headscarves, took turns using a megaphone to demand a "free
Palestine" and the "end of the colonisation and occupation of our
Arab land."
They asserted that "Zionism is
racism" and chanted slogans like "No justice, no peace" and
"No justice on stolen land." Their placards drew comparisons between
the situation in Gaza and the Jewish uprising in the Warsaw ghetto during World
War II.
Leena Abukuwaik, a 45-year-old
Palestinian American, expressed her distress, saying that her family in Gaza,
including her brother, two sisters, and numerous cousins, were in an uncertain
situation, with no news of their well-being.
Ray Gordon, an 81-year-old American
retiree, protested against the use of US tax dollars to arm Israel, calling for
an end to all US aid to the country. When asked about Hamas' attack on Israel
and the resulting loss of hundreds of Israeli civilians, Gordon expressed his
belief that such an event was inevitable, stating, "what goes around comes
around."
Maryam Alaniz, a 27-year-old doctoral
student, denounced civilian casualties while also criticising the tactics of
Hamas. She emphasised the need for a democratic Palestinian struggle organized
by the Palestinian people themselves.
The demonstrations in New York reflect
the deep divides and impassioned opinions surrounding the ongoing Middle East
conflict, with voices on both sides expressing their grievances and concerns.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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US has enough weapons for Israel,
Ukraine and more – Pentagon
10 Oct, 2023
Washington can meet all of Israel’s requests
for weapons, equipment and ammunition while continuing to support Kiev, a
Pentagon spokeswoman told reporters on Monday.
“We are able to continue our support
both to Ukraine, Israel, and maintain our own global readiness,” a senior
Department of Defense official said in a background briefing.
“While we are providing and will
continue to provide a significant amount of support to Ukraine, we are careful
about ensuring we can also respond to other crises and contingencies, support
other partners and maintain our own military readiness and our ability to
support others,” the official later added.
The US has been able to meet “every
every request that our Israeli counterparts have made” and anticipate
“continual delivery” on some of those requests, the official also said. While
declining to discuss specifics, the spokesperson said this did apply to ‘Iron
Dome’ systems and other air defenses.
The Pentagon is “working as fast as
possible” to expedite the delivery of “critically needed” ammunition and
equipment, as well as contacting military contractors to expedite pending
Israeli orders.
When reporters voiced concerns about how
the US weapons might be used, the Pentagon official said there were “robust
end-use monitoring practices and procedures” in place, and that the US was “in
constant dialogue with the Israelis about their operational plans.”
US cargo planes have already begun
landing in Israel, even as the government announced a “total siege” of Gaza in
reprisal for Hamas incursions that began on Saturday. The conflict, which began
on Saturday, is the bloodiest that Israel has seen since 1973.
The Pentagon has described the
deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to the eastern
Mediterranean as “an unequivocal demonstration in deed and not only in words of
US support for Israel’s defense.” The carrier is intended to “serve as a
deterrent signal to Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah, and any other proxy across the
region who might be considering exploiting the current situation to escalate
conflict,” the official said.
Source: rt.com
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Trump’s darkening language sparks fears
of violence
10 Oct 2023
WASHINGTON, Oct 10 — Donald Trump’s
populist, politically incorrect language is often framed as an asset but a
troubling escalation in his incendiary rhetoric is prompting fears over the
potential for violence among his inflamed supporters.
In recent days, the irascible former US
president and 2024 candidate has implied that the country’s top military
officer should be executed and joked about the elderly husband of a political
foe being attacked in a home invasion.
Critics say he hit a new low last week
with comments about illegal immigrants so extreme that the Anti-Defamation
League, a Jewish advocacy group, saw echoes of Nazi rhetoric.
“Nobody has any idea where these people
are coming from, and we know they come from prisons, we know they come from
mental institutions, insane asylums, we know they’re terrorists,” Trump told
conservative news site The National Pulse.
“Nobody has ever seen anything like
we’re witnessing right now. It is a very sad thing for our country. It’s
poisoning the blood of our country.”
The ADL’s Jonathan Greenblatt told MSNBC
television that Trump appeared to have been fed the line by someone familiar
with Hitler’s infamous complaint of Jews “causing a blood poisoning of
Germany.”
Gag order
Trump’s exhortations to violence are
nothing new — he suggested that protesters should be “roughed up” at a rally in
2016 and that looters should be shot during the 2020 racial protests over the
police murder of George Floyd.
His months-long campaign of lies
claiming that he had been cheated in his 2020 election loss culminated in
addressing an angry crowd in Washington on January 6, 2021, which then went and
attacked the US Capitol.
Many participants in the ransacking of
the seat of US democracy later told investigators that they considered that they
were acting on Trump’s orders.
Trump’s inflammatory remarks used to
shock America, generating days of coverage. His language no longer raises the
stir it once did in a fatigued political and media establishment watching him
cruise to the Republican nomination as the 2024 presidential election
candidate.
Yet recent comments — particularly his
mocking of a hammer attack on the 83-year-old husband of Democratic former
House speaker Nancy Pelosi, as well as a call for shoplifters to be shot on
sight — has provoked outrage.
Last week the judge in Trump’s civil
fraud trial in New York imposed a gag order after the Republican smeared a
court clerk on social media and posted a link to her Instagram account.
Trump has also repeatedly described the
attorneys leading the multiple civil and criminal cases he faces as “monster”,
“deranged” and “psycho”. African American legal officials, he says, have been
“racist”.
‘Racist, hateful, despicable’
The 77-year-old is often accused by
opponents of “stochastic terrorism” — an academic term meaning the public
demonisation of perceived adversaries to incite statistically probable but
individually unpredictable acts of violence.
Many of Trump’s targets in Congress and
the government — from Republican Senator Mitt Romney to recently retired top
government scientist Anthony Fauci — have disclosed having to take on private
security after threats from the presidential candidate’s supporters.
Greenblatt blamed the Republican
tycoon’s “racist, hateful, despicable” rhetoric about immigration in part for
the massacres of Latinos and Jews in El Paso and Pittsburgh in 2018 and 2019
that left 34 people dead.
“Violent rhetoric leads to violent
actions. And so this isn’t (just) dangerous, it’s explosive,” he told MSNBC.
“It’s like lighting a fuse and just waiting for the bomb to go off.”
Trump’s comments about immigration
“recall the worst racism of 1930s Germany,” added Gerard Filitti, senior
counsel at US-based Jewish and pro-Israel advocacy group The Lawfare Project.
“It is troubling that Donald Trump at
times appears to use inflammatory rhetoric that injects a measure of divisive
ethnonationalism into what would otherwise be straightforward discussions of
policy,” Filitti told AFP.
“Language like ‘poisoning the blood of
our country’ is cringeworthy at best, and at worst sows doubt among voters as
to what Trump’s true beliefs are.” — AFP
Source: malaymail.com
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Do Not Get Involved in Israel Crisis,
Top U.S. General Warns Iran
10 Oct 2023
(Reuters) - The United States' top
general on Monday warned Iran not to get involved in the crisis in Israel and
said he did not want the conflict to the broaden, as Lebanese armed group
Hezbollah fired a salvo of rockets onto northern Israel
The White House earlier on Monday said
that Iran was complicit even though the United States has no intelligence or
evidence that points to Iran's direct participation in attacks in Israel by
Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
Asked what his message for Iran was,
General Charles Q. Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said:
"Not to get involved."
Israeli shelling on Lebanon killed at
least three Hezbollah militants on Monday, and Israel said one of its officers
was killed during an earlier cross-border raid claimed by Palestinians in
Lebanon.
The cross-border violence marked a
significant expansion of a conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants in
Gaza to the Israeli-Lebanese border further north.
Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel fought
a brutal month-long war in 2006.
"We want to send a pretty strong
message. We do not want this to broaden and the idea is for Iran to get that
message loud and clear," Brown told a small group of reporters traveling
with him to Brussels, in his first public comments since being confirmed to the
job last month.
The U.S. military is "surging"
fresh supplies of air defenses, munitions and other security assistance to
Israel to help it respond to an unprecedented weekend attack by Hamas.
On Sunday, the Pentagon announced that
it was sending an aircraft carrier strike group closer to Israel.
"It sends a very strong message of
support for Israel. But it's also to send a strong message of deterrence to
contain broadening this particular conflict," Brown said.
He compared Hamas' actions to those of
Islamic State militants.
Brown has been the deputy commander of
U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East,
and oversaw coalition air operations against Islamic State.
Source: tolonews.com
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https://tolonews.com/world-185470
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US rushes air defenses and munitions to
aid Israel after Hamas attacks
October 10, 2023
The United States is swiftly providing
critical support, including air defences, munitions, and other security
assistance, to aid Israel's efforts in dealing with the crisis in response to
the recent devastating attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Israel,
according to a senior US defense official.
Planes have already been dispatched with
essential supplies, and Washington is actively coordinating with Israeli counterparts
to determine and meet their most pressing requirements, the US official said
while speaking on condition of anonymity to Pentagon reporters.
While the extent of Israel's requests
for security assistance has not been disclosed, the US is also reaching out to
the defence industry to expedite pending Israeli orders and considering
utilising its own military stockpiles to assist.
The US official reassured that they are
capable of supporting both Ukraine and Israel simultaneously without
compromising their global readiness.
The surprise attack by Hamas on Israel
over the weekend resulted in a significant loss of life and the seizure of
hostages, prompting Israel to declare war. The escalating violence has raised
concerns of a potential major conflict in the Middle East.
The senior US official drew a parallel
between the tactics used by Hamas and the brutality of ISIS, echoing Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's assessment of the attack.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden confirmed
that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed in Israel and
expressed concern that US citizens may also be among the Hamas hostages,
according to the White House press release.
Biden has directed his team to
collaborate closely with Israeli counterparts, including sharing intelligence.
Regarding claims of Iran's involvement
in the attack, based on a report by the Wall Street Journal, the US defence
official acknowledged Iran's historical support for Hamas and Hezbollah.
However, there is no current evidence corroborating the specifics of the Wall
Street Journal story, and it remains unverified.
As the situation continues to develop,
the United States remains committed to assisting Israel in its response to the
crisis while simultaneously addressing its global obligations.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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------
South Asia
After 3 Days, Victims Remain Trapped
After Herat Earthquake
October 9, 2023
Three days have passed since the
devastating earthquake in Herat province, and rescue operations are continuing
as many people are stranded under the wreckage.
Zindajan district of Herat was the
epicenter of the 6.3 magnitude earthquake on Saturday that left hundreds of
people killed and injured.
TOLOnews’ footage shows that almost
every house in the affected villages have been destroyed.
“I hope to pray to God when I find
people if they are alive. They will die of starvation and thirst unless they
cannot breath,” said Jalaluddin, a resident.
According to residents, many victims are
still under the wreckage and the rescuing facilities are not sufficient.
“1,700 people were living here. Maybe
between 300 to 400 of them might have been taken out, the rest remained
stranded,” said Abdul Raziq, a resident of Herat.
The earthquake destroyed around 15
villages of the district. The survivors are spending their nights under tents
and open areas.
“The night was so windy and the children
were freezing. They cannot counter this cold weather,” said Taaj Mohammad.
The earthquake also faced widespread
reactions across the world.
Source: tolonews.com
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35 Aid Team Arrived in Herat to Help
Earthquake-Affected People: Spokesman
October 9, 2023
Ministry for Natural Disaster Management
officials in a news conference announced that 35 aid groups are sent to the
province.
Speaking at a press conference in Kabul
on Monday, the ministry's spokesman, Janan Saiq, said that these groups are
currently working to rescue the caught under the rubbles and to address the
needs of the victims.
“35 teams, numbering more than 1,000,
have gone to the site to help those trapped in villages under the rubble” Saiq
said.
He noted that Mullah Abdul Ghani
Baradar, deputy prime minister for economic affairs, headed a delegation to
Herat to address the challenges of earthquake victims and monitor the fair
distribution of aid.
“There is a delegation from the Ministry
of Disaster Management and another delegation has been sent by Mawlawi
Hibatullah, the leader of the Islamic
Emirate, to cooperate fully with those
affected.” Saiq said.
He also warned about the possibility of
earthquake aftershocks in some western provinces, especially Badghis and Herat
in the coming days.
Based on initial reports over 2,400
people have died and more than 2,000 others received injuries in the
earthquake, which mostly affected Zindajan district of Herat.
Source: tolonews.com
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Turkish Officials Visit and Aid
Earthquake Victims in Herat
2023-10-09
KABUL (BNA): Jang Onal, the Turkish
Chargé d’Affaires in Kabul, and Sinan Ilkhan, the Turkish Consul General in
Herat, visited the areas damaged by the recent earthquake in Zindajan district
of Herat province today.
They distributed relief packages to 500
families who were affected by the disaster.
The Turkish Embassy in Kabul also
announced that it will soon provide another 2,000 aid packages to the
earthquake victims in Herat province.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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--------
5 workers suffer burn injuries in
explosion ‘from gas line leak’
Oct 10, 2023
Five workers suffered burn injuries in
an explosion while digging soil in Namapara area under Cantonment Police
Station in Dhaka this morning.
They were rushed to Sheikh Hasina
National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery for treatment.
The injured are Siyam, 20, Mehedi, 23,
Juel, 21, Mumin, 22, and Delowar, 24.
This incident occurred around 7:00am
when they were digging soil for a Wasa line, Anisur Rahman, a supervisor of the
workers, told reporters at the hospital.
During the work, gas started leaking
from an underground gas line. As one of workers attempted to ignite a lighter,
an explosion took place causing the fire, he said.
Five workers were injured in the
explosion during digging soil and they are receiving treatment at the burn
institute with different degrees of burns on their bodies, inspector Bachchu
Mia, in-charge of the hospital's police outpost told The Daily Star.
Cantonment Police Station has been
informed of the incident for further investigation, he said.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/accidents-fires/news/5-workers-suffer-burn-injuries-explosion-gas-line-leak-3439366
--------
Hunt for survivors in Afghan quake
rubble
October 10, 2023
HERAT: Afghan rescue workers scrambled
to pull survivors and bodies from beneath the rubble on Monday, two days after
the deadliest earthquakes in years hit the northwestern city of Herat and
surrounding villages.
The Taliban administration said at least
2,400 people had been killed and many more injured in the quakes, which were
among the world’s deadliest this year after tremors in Turkiye and Syria, in
which an estimated 50,000 people were killed.
Periodic aftershocks continued to shake
the affected areas on Monday, officials said, forcing already scared people out
of their homes.
Neighbours Pakistan and Iran have
offered to send rescue workers and humanitarian aid, while China’s Red Cross
Society offered cash relief. A technical team from Iran has arrived in the
area, Mullah Janan Sayeeq, spokesman for the Ministry of Disaster Management,
said during a press conference.
“I ask all countries, to help us in this
crucial time,” said Sayeeq. He said people were trapped under rubble in two
villages and teams were working to free them.
The spokesman for Herat’s governor,
Nissar Ahmad Elyias, said more than a dozen villages around Herat had been hit.
Need for shelter
Mullah Sayeeq said that aside from those
killed and injured, thousands had been affected with 20 villages — made up of
over 1,900 houses of around 10,000 people — destroyed. Many survivors remained
under the open sky as medical and food aid reached them.
The WHO head of emergency response, Alaa
AbouZeid, said there was a huge need for shelter as temperatures drop. “We have
cases who receive treatment and should go back home, but, unfortunately, they
do not have (a home to go back to),” he said, adding that people were even
afraid to enter partially damaged homes.
The WHO said more than 11,000 people had
been affected from 1,655 families, whilst the UN said “100 per cent” of homes
in 11 villages were totally destroyed.
“Two-thirds of those with severe
injuries who are admitted in the hospital I have seen yesterday are children
and women,” Dr AbouZeid said.
He also warned that financing the
humanitarian operations remained critical, with global attention and funding
shifting away from Afghanistan.
PM Kakar saddened
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq
Kakar on Monday expressed deep sorrow over the loss of precious lives and
property in the devastating earthquake in Afghanistan.
“Our hearts go out to the affected
communities. We stand in solidarity with the Afghans during this difficult
time. I have instructed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to
send maximum support to the affected,” he said in a post on X, formerly
Twitter.
He said the Afghan government had
specifically asked for sending a medical team, a field hospital, 50 tents and
500 blankets. “On my instructions, in addition to the relief goods, all the
requested items are being dispatched in the afternoon today (Monday), with more
relief goods to follow,” he added.
Source: dawn.com
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--------
Another 5.1 magnitude earthquake strikes
Afghanistan’s Herat
Fidel Rahmati
October 9, 2023
On Monday evening, October 9, 2023, a 5.1
magnitude earthquake struck Herat, marking the province’s third earthquake of
the day, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Additionally, another earthquake with a
magnitude of 4.7 shook Herat province around noon on Tuesday.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported that
the recent earthquake’s epicentre was near the village of Qarah Bagh in the
centre of Gulran district, Herat province.
Hours earlier, another earthquake with a
magnitude of 4.9 also occurred in Herat.
The first earthquake shook western
Afghanistan before lunchtime on Monday.
According to the European-Mediterranean
Seismological Center information, this earthquake occurred 50 kilometres
northwest of Herat.
Reports indicate that a powerful
earthquake in western Afghanistan on Saturday resulted in over 2,000 casualties
and more than 10,000 injuries.
Additionally, this earthquake and
subsequent aftershocks over the past two days caused extensive damage,
including the destruction of 13 villages and the collapse of numerous
residential homes in Herat province.
In Herat province, many earthquake
victims are deeply worried about their future and families. One victim
expressed, “We have lost our homes, and the lives we worked hard to build are
now in ruins. With winter approaching in a month, the situation will become
even tougher, especially for orphaned children.”
An anonymous relief worker in Herat
province highlighted the dire situation for earthquake survivors, especially
women and children in the Zindajan district. Many women are suffering mentally
and physically, with some losing their babies due to shock and inadequate
medical care, all compounded by the loss of loved ones, home destruction, and
earthquake fear.
Source: khaama.com
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Arab World
Saudi Crown Prince affirms unwavering
support for Palestinian rights
October 10, 2023
RIYADH —Crown Prince and Prime Minister
Mohammed bin Salman reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's unwavering support for the
Palestinian people's legitimate rights during a phone call with Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday.
The leaders engaged in a comprehensive
dialogue, addressing the military escalation in Gaza and its adjacent areas.
They expressed deep concern over the deteriorating situation, recognizing the
threat it poses to civilian lives and regional security and stability.
Following a series of diplomatic
discussions, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman underscored the Kingdom's proactive
efforts to collaborate with international and regional stakeholders, aiming to
bring a swift end to the ongoing escalation and prevent its further
proliferation in the region. He emphasized the significance of upholding
international humanitarian law and refraining from targeting civilians.
Moreover, the Crown Prince reiterated
Saudi Arabia's commitment to stand by the Palestinian people in their pursuit
of legitimate rights, including a dignified life, the realization of their
hopes and aspirations, and a just and lasting peace.
President Mahmoud Abbas expressed
heartfelt gratitude to the Kingdom's leadership, acknowledging its steadfast
stance and dedicated efforts in supporting the Palestinian people and their
just causes.
In a separate conversation, Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman and King Abdullah bin Al-Hussein of Jordan delved into the
escalating situation in Gaza, reiterating concerns about its impact on civilian
lives and regional stability.
Additionally, in talks with President
Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt, the leaders concurred on the imperative to
intensify both international and regional efforts to halt the escalation in
Gaza and its surroundings, emphasizing the need to prevent its proliferation in
the broader region.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
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------
Saudi Arabia trying to contain Israel-Hamas
fighting, says Mohammed bin Salman
October 10, 2023
Saudi Arabia is making efforts to
contain the fighting between Israel and Hamas, Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman
(MBS) told Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas Tuesday as the resistance group
launched its surprise attack against Tel Aviv, inflicting heavy losses.
According to Saudi media reports, the
Saudi leader expressed his country's solidarity with the Palestinian people in
a conversation with Abbas saying the oil country continued "to stand by the
Palestinian people to achieve their legitimate rights to a decent life, achieve
their hopes and aspirations, and achieve just and lasting peace."
The surprise attack was launched by
Hamas early Saturday with heavy rocket fires killing over 1,000 people in the
occupied country. Israel in escalating measures announced an unprecedented
blockade to the Gaza Strip in which the supply of food and fuel to war-ravaged
Palestinians would be banned.
Israel's foreign ministry said that at
least 1,000 Israelis have been killed, while Palestine's health ministry said
that the number of martyrs rose to 687.
The spiralling violence kicked off amid
speculation that Saudi Arabia, which has never recognised Israel, would agree
to normalise ties as part of a deal in which it would obtain security
guarantees from the United States as well as assistance in developing a
civilian nuclear programme.
However, MBS told Fox News last month
that the Palestinian issue was "very important" for Saudi Arabia,
home to the holiest sites in Islam in Mecca and Medina.
"We need to solve that part. We
need to ease the life of the Palestinians," MBS said.
Analysts say any progress towards
normalisation has now been dealt a heavy blow by the ongoing fighting.
The 38-year-old has also spoken about
the crisis by phone with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordan's
King Abdullah II, according to Saudi Press Agency.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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Saudi crown prince receives phone call
from Palestinian president
October 10, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas discussed the
military escalation in Gaza and its surroundings and the deteriorating
situation that threatens the lives of civilians and the security and stability
of the region.
In a phone call, the crown prince
reiterated that Saudi Arabia, in communication with all international and
regional parties, is exerting all efforts to stop the ongoing escalation and
prevent its expansion in the region, emphasizing the necessity of adhering to
international humanitarian law and not targeting civilians.
He also stressed the Kingdom’s
continuous stand by the Palestinian people to achieve their legitimate rights
to a decent life, realize their hopes and aspirations, and achieve just and
lasting peace, the Saudi Press Agency said Monday.
Abbas extended his thanks to the
Kingdom’s leadership, appreciating its firm positions and efforts to stand with
the Palestinian people and their just cause.
Source: arabnews.com
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Arab foreign ministers to meet Wednesday
on Gaza: Arab League
October 09, 2023
CAIRO: Arab League foreign ministers
will meet Wednesday to discuss “Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip” following
a surprise assault by Hamas on Israel, the regional bloc announced.
The “extraordinary meeting” in Cairo
will seek to find “avenues of political action at the Arab and international
level,” as Israel keeps pounding targets in Gaza following Saturday’s attack,
Arab League deputy chief Hossam Zaki said in a statement.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2388096/middle-east
--------
Saudi crown prince discusses escalation
in Gaza with Jordanian, Egyptian leaders
October 10, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman discussed with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Egypt’s
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in phone calls the military escalation in Gaza
and its surroundings and the worsening situation threatening the lives of
civilians and the security and stability of the region.
It was agreed during the calls on the
need to intensify international and regional efforts to stop the escalation in
Gaza and its surroundings and prevent its expansion in the region, the Saudi
Press Agency said on Monday.
The Crown Prince affirmed that the
Kingdom stands by the Palestinian people to achieve their legitimate rights, realize
their hopes and aspirations, and achieve just and lasting peace.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2388376/saudi-arabia
--------
Houthis abduct Yemeni teachers’ union
head over salary demands
October 09, 2023
SAEED AL-BATATI
AL-MUKALLA: The Houthi militia in Yemen
on Sunday kidnapped the leader of a major teachers’ union amid a crackdown on a
growing public movement demanding payment for public employees.
The Yemeni Teachers Club said that armed
Houthis in Sanaa encircled the residence of its chairman, Abu Zaid Al-Kumaim,
who was later kidnapped.
The club demanded the immediate release
of Al-Kumaim and the payment of public worker wages.
“We were disappointed to learn of the
club president’s arrest at a time when we were expecting our government to
reconsider the issue of the interruption of our salaries as educators and
teachers for up to eight years, and work to ensure their regular payment and
end our suffering,” the club said in a statement.
Tens of thousands of public employees in
Houthi-controlled regions have not been paid since late 2016, when the Houthis
ended payments in protest of the Yemeni government’s move of the central bank
headquarters from Sanaa to Aden.
The Yemeni government accused the
Houthis of looting the bank’s foreign currency reserves to finance military
operations.
Public pressure on the Houthis has grown
lately following reports that the militia had generated millions of dollars in
cash from Hodeidah ports since April 2022 during the UN-brokered truce.
Al-Kumaim infuriated the Houthis by
inciting teachers to engage in a months-long strike to coerce the militia into
paying out salaries. Before kidnapping the club’s leader, the Houthis replaced
striking teachers and school principals with loyalists.
Ismail Al-Jalai, a Yemeni politician in
Sanaa who was present during the arrest, said that a group of armed men from
Houthi security and intelligence led by Khaled Sharafuddin surrounded
Al-Kumaim’s home on Sunday morning before storming inside.
The move prompted a terrified Al-Kumaim
to exchange fire with the Houthi raiders, who he mistook for robbers.
Al-Jalai said that Al-Kumaim, who was
yelling that he had not committed a crime, surrendered himself to a prosecutor,
adding that the Houthis accused him of collusion with the “aggression,”
referring to the Arab coalition and the Yemeni government.
According to Al-Jalai, Al-Kumaim’s
rejoinder to the assailants was: “My brothers, I want my salary and the
teacher’s salaries, and nothing else.”
The arrest of Al-Kumaim has prompted
outrage and condemnation from Yemeni politicians, teachers, journalists and the
general public, who have demanded that the militia pay public employees and
cease persecuting teachers.
“I fully support him, and he is innocent
of any allegations brought against him, and seeking teachers’ pay is not a
crime,” Nasser Hassan Al-Kumaim, a software engineer in Sanaa, said on his
Facebook page.
“We condemn, criticize and hold the
authorities in Sanaa totally accountable for his safety and health. We demand
that he be released immediately.”
Abdul Rahman Maazeb, a member of the
government’s parliament, said that the Houthis took advantage of the Yemeni
public’s focus on the conflict in Palestine to abduct Al-Kumaim.
“The common people expected them to go
to Palestine to support it, not to Al-Kumaim’s house to detain a teacher
demanding his and his colleagues’ salaries,” Maazeb said on the social media
platform X.
Some Yemeni commentators, including
Mohammed Al-Magaleh, who have long been viewed as Houthi supporters, criticized
the Houthi raid and implored Yemeni teachers to pressure the militia to release
Al-Kumaim.
“This person defended your rights, so it
is disgraceful for you to remain mute about his arrest, which has no legal
basis other than his defense of your right to human dignity,” Al-Magaleh said
on X.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2388246/middle-east
--------
Pakistan
1,700 ‘Illegal’ Afghan Nationals
Arrested In Karachi So Far: Home Minister
Sindh interim Home Minister retired
Brigadier Haris Nawaz on Monday said authorities have so far arrested 1,700
Afghan nationals “illegally residing” in Karachi.
October 9, 2023
“All illegal immigrants living in Sindh
would be deported,” he said in a media talk outside the office of West Zone
deputy inspector general of police.
The development comes a week after the
caretaker government gave an ultimatum to all undocumented immigrants,
including Afghan nationals, to leave Pakistan by October 31, or else risk
imprisonment and deportation to their respective countries.
It was decided that movement across the
border would be subject to passports and visas, while electronic Afghan
identity cards (or e-tazkiras) would only be accepted until Oct 31.
After the passage of the deadline, the
authorities will kickstart an operation targeting illegal properties and
businesses owned by immigrants or those being run in collaboration with
Pakistani nationals.
Following the government deadline, a
crackdown has commenced across the country on illegal immigrants, particularly
Afghan citizens.
Last week, a meeting of the Sindh Apex
Committee, attended by caretaker Chief Minister retired Justice Maqbool
Baqar and Chief of Army Staff Gen Syed Asim Munir, was informed that pockets
where illegal Afghan nationals were concentrated in the province had been
identified.
The provincial government had informed
the meeting that an action plan to implement the federal government’s policy on
illegal foreigners’ repatriation plan had been shared with the interior
ministry.
Talking to media persons today, Nawaz
said the Sindh government was preparing a mechanism under which registered
immigrants would not be touched.
He said committees led by concerned SSPs
and deputy commissioners were being formed in which representatives of all
institutions would be included in action against illegal immigrants.
Illegal Afghans, the home minister
stated, would be sent back home in buses through the Chaman border in
Balochistan, while registered Afghans would not be touched.
Talking about the law and order situation
in the province, Nawaz said, “We have adopted an extraordinary policing
policy”.
He added that the policy would help
improve the situation of street crimes and other lawlessness.
“We would not allow any corrupt mafia to
become active again,” the caretaker minister vowed, adding that the “system”
that existed earlier would not be allowed to continue.
The home minister further stated that an
artificial water shortage was being created in Karachi after the government’s
recent crackdown against illegal hydrants and water thieves.
Source: dawn.com
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---------
PTI slams harsh conditions faced by
Imran in custody
October 10, 2023
Imran Adnan
LAHORE:Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
has vehemently decried what it termed the “unlawful, unconstitutional, and
inhumane treatment” endured by former premier and PTI Chairman Imran Khan, who
is now considered a “prisoner of conscience” during his incarceration.
On Monday, the PTI core committee
strongly criticised the ongoing actions of what it referred to as
"kangaroo courts" handling “false and fabricated cases” against Imran
Khan.
The committee expressed profound
scepticism about the role played by judges responsible for delivering justice
to the former premier at various levels.
The committee pointed out that earlier
instances, such as the conduct of Judge Humayun Dilawar and Islamabad High
Court (IHC) Chief Justice Amir Farooq in the Toshakhana Case, “exhibited clear
bias”.
It further contended that the conduct of
Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain, presiding over the cipher case, was also “highly
prejudiced and inimical to justice and fairness”.
The committee noted that Imran Khan's
cases had been entrusted to judges who, in its view, “facilitated”
unconstitutional and undemocratic state elements, thereby placing law and
justice in the “rear view mirror”.
The committee deplored the
transformation of courts into "kangaroo courts" through the
involvement of “compromised judges” lacking professional integrity and ethical
values, terming it highly detrimental.
The committee emphasised that Imran
Khan, as both a client and chairman of the country's “largest political party”,
had unequivocally expressed a lack of confidence in IHC Chief Justice Aamir
Farooq.
Read also: Imran, Qureshi to be indicted
in cypher case on October 17
It alleged that the IHC chief justice
had developed a tradition of withholding judgments on critical legal matters,
thereby denying Imran Khan access to justice.
Furthermore, the committee revealed that
a petition against Justice Amir Farooq was pending in the Supreme Court.
It called upon the chief justice of
Pakistan (CJP) to “promptly” take note of judicial interference by “compromised
judges” in subordinate courts.
The committee urged the CJP to expedite
the hearing of the pending petition against Justice Aamir Farooq and safeguard
Imran Khan's right to a fair trial by entrusting the cases to impartial judges.
During the core committee meeting, the top
judge was also requested to take “immediate notice of the suspension of the
Constitution, deviations from it, and the evasion of elections within the
stipulated constitutional period of 90 days”.
The committee lamented that the nation
had been “deprived” of its Constitution, with the Supreme Court allocating
valuable time and resources to matters of “lesser significance”.
It underscored that the state's survival
and development hinged entirely on upholding the Constitution's paramount
status and the rule of law.
Source: tribune.com.pk
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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2440195/pti-slams-harsh-conditions-faced-by-imran-in-custody
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2 soldiers martyred, 5 terrorists killed
in operation in Balochistan’s Zhob district: ISPR
October 9, 2023
Iftikhar Shirazi
Two soldiers embraced martyrdom while
five terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation in the
general Sambaza area of Balochistan’s Zhob district, the army’s media wing said
on Monday.
According to a statement released by
Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces conducted the operation
on the night of October 8 and 9.
“During the conduct of the operation,
terrorists were surrounded and after an intense exchange of fire, five
terrorists were sent to hell,” it said.
“However, in the ensuing exchange of
fire, Major Syed Ali Raza Shah (Age 31 years, resident of Sargodha District),
who was leading the operation from the front, and Havaldar Nisar Ahmed (Age 38
years, resident of Vehari District), having fought gallantly, paid the ultimate
sacrifice and embraced Shahadat,” the ISPR said.
The military’s media affairs wing said
the security forces of Pakistan were indebted and proud of the brave men and
paid homage to their chivalry and sacrifices for the motherland.
“It further strengthens our resolve to
uproot the menace of terrorism from the country,” it said, adding that
sanitisation of surrounding areas was underway to eliminate other terrorists in
the area.
In a post on social media platform X,
Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar honoured the martyred soldiers. “Their
dedication reinforces our resolve to eliminate terrorism from Pakistan,” he
said.
Interim Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti
expressed his grief over the death of the soldiers, saying the nation was
standing with the Pakistan Army in the fight against terrorism.
PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif saluted
the martyred men and said their sacrifices would never be forgotten.
Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in
terror activities in recent months, especially in KP and Balochistan, after the
TTP ended its ceasefire with the government in November last year.
In July, as many as 12 soldiers of the
Pakistan Army embraced martyrdom in separate military operations in the Zhob
and Sui areas of Balochistan.
That was the military’s highest
single-day death toll from terrorist attacks reported this year. Before this,
10 personnel were martyred in a ‘fire raid’ in Balochistan’s Kech district in
February 2022.
Earlier this month, data compiled by the
Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) said the number of
militant attacks in August was the highest tally for monthly strikes in almost
nine years.
There were 99 attacks across the
country, the highest number in a single month since November 2014, the report
had said.
Source: dawn.com
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Imran, Qureshi to be indicted in cipher
case on Oct 17
October 10, 2023
Malik Asad
ISLAMABAD: A special court formed under
the Official Secrets Act on Monday decided to indict former prime minister
Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case
on October 17.
The cipher case pertains to a diplomatic
document, which reportedly went missing from Mr Khan’s possession. The PTI
alleges that it contained a threat from the United States to oust the former
prime minister from office.
Special court judge Abual Hasnat
Zulqarnain, after resuming the proceeding against Mr Khan and Mr Qureshi in
Adiala Jail, ordered the distribution of copies of the challan (charge sheet)
among the defence counsel.
Special prosecutor Syed Zulfiqar Abbas
Naqvi informed the court that due to the sensitivity of some official
documents, they could not be shared with the defence counsel.
The court decided to indict Mr Khan and
Mr Qureshi on Oct 17 and also summoned witnesses on the said date.
Sources privy to the proceedings told
Dawn that during the jail trial, Mr Khan sought the facilities to which he is
entitled to as a former PM.
He informed the judge that the jail
administration did not allow him to take a walk within the premises and also
sought permission for exercise.
Talking to media persons after the
proceedings in the cipher case, Mr Khan’s counsel Barrister Salman Safdar said
that Mr Khan protested before the judge for being deprived of certain basic
facilities and sought to be dealt on a par with the other inmates. He said that
the government intends to commence the trial in haste with secret hearings,
while Mr Khan wants an open and fair trial.
Post-arrest bail petition
Separately, the counsel for Mr Khan
concluded his arguments before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on the
post-arrest bail petition, saying that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)
had implicated the former prime minister in cipher case with erroneous
interpretation of the Official Secrets Act.
Mr Khan’s lawyer argued before the
single-member bench of the IHC, comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, that the
Official Secrets Act is mainly meant for charges related to espionage and
sharing the sensitive information with an enemy country.
He argued that the cases registered
under this act were tried by the military courts, and this is the first case in
which a special court is proceeding against an alleged violation of the secrets
act.
He pointed out loopholes in the
registration of the first information report (FIR), Mr Khan’s detention, his
subsequent remand to judicial custody, and the submission of the challan.
The counsel said that the prosecution
invoked the wrong sections of the Official Secrets Act for disclosure of cipher
in public.
He claimed that the previous government
amended this act in August this year in order to implicate Mr Khan. However,
since the cipher issue had surfaced the previous year, the prosecution could
not have applied the amended law against Mr Khan retrospectively, he added.
Barrister Safdar claimed that the
previous government booked Mr Khan in over 180 politically motivated cases out
of which the former premier applied for bail in 21 cases, and the cipher case
is one of them.
He requested the court to grant bail to
Mr Khan, as two other accused in this case, including Asad Umar and former
principal secretary Azam Khan, were already on pre-arrest bail.
Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi, the special
prosecutor of the FIA, informed the court that Mr Umar and Mr Azam have not
been nominated as accused in the challan submitted to the trial court.
Justice Farooq adjourned further hearing
in this case till Oct 12.
Toshakhana case appeal
In a related development, an IHC
division bench comprising CJ Farooq and Justice Babar Sattar reserved an order
on the civil miscellaneous application seeking to implead the state as a party
in the appeal filed by Mr Khan against his conviction in the Toshakhana case.
Sardar Latif Khan Khosa, Mr Khan’s
counsel, also requested the court to suspend the conviction and order of the
Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) that disqualified the PTI chairman from
holding public office.
After hearing the arguments, the bench
reserved its order, which will be announced later.
Later on, while speaking to the media,
Advocate Khosa claimed that Mr Khan is being slow poisoned in the jail. He said
that the jail administration must give assurance to the IHC for his safety and
protection of life.
The same bench also issued a notice to
the National Accountability Bureau on the petition filed against the dismissal
of Mr Khan’s pre-arrest bail petition in £190 million corruption case.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1780230/imran-qureshi-to-be-indicted-in-cipher-case-on-oct-17
---------
ECP again delists contempt case against
Fawad
October 10, 2023
Mumtaz Alvi
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of
Pakistan (ECP) has again delisted the contempt of the Election Commission case
against Fawad Chaudhry, fixed for today (Tuesday) for ‘unknown reasons’.
According to the cause list, issued by
the Election Commission’s Media Coordination and Outreach Wing, “It is
circulated for the information of general public that the following hearing on
October 10, 2023 before the Election Commission regarding use of intemperate
language and contemptuous remarks against ECP on January 24, 2023, stands
delisted”.
Then senior vice president of Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf Fawad Chaudhry had resorted to a blistering attack on the
electoral body in the media talk, which was seen by the Election Commission as
contemptuous. After conducting hearing a number of times, he had submitted a
reply to the commission’s notice that was rejected and he was asked to appear
before the forum.
The Election Commission will also
announce its order same day in the case relating to final delimitation, 2022,
concerning District Shikarpur, Sindh.
The electoral body is set to announce
its final order regarding the application for grant of ‘tulip’ as an election
symbol of Hassar-e-Muslim (party) for which a notice was sent to one Shahzad
Qaiser.
Order will be passed and announced about
the statement of assets and liabilities, submitted by ex-MNA Abid Raza from
Gujrat-IV, NA-71 constituency, about the financial year 2021-2022.
Moreover, as per the cause list, an
order in relation to an internal dispute in All Pakistan Muslim League and the
election symbol will be announced by the Election Commission on October 13.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1117652-ecp-again-delists-contempt-case-against-fawad
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ECP to hear plea for Imran’s removal
today
Amna Ali
October 10, 2023
ISLAMABAD:Today, the country's polls oversight
authority will hear a petition seeking removal of former prime minister Imran
Khan as the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
The Election Commission of Pakistan
(ECP) will also hear an application requesting the authority not to assign an
election symbol to the former ruling party for the upcoming elections.
According to a cause list issued on
Monday, a five-member bench, led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Raja
Sikandar Sultan and comprising the ECP’s four provincial members, will hear
these petitions.
The petition for the removal of Imran
Khan as head of the PTI party was filed by Khalid Mehmood Khan.
The ECP in November last year
disqualified the PTI chief as a lawmaker for one term in view of an omission on
his part to mention the gifts he acquired from the official gift repository
during his term as the prime minister in his statement of assets and liability.
When a trial court on August 5 convicted
Imran Khan in the same case, the ECP also issued a notification stating that
the former premier stood disqualified for five years.
Another application listed for hearing
seeks action against the PTI “as the party is still receiving funds from
foreign entities". The petition is also moved by Khalid Mehmood Khan.
The application that requests the ECP to
declare the PTI party as ineligible to obtain an election symbol is filed by
Imran Khan’s former aide Awan Chaudhry under Section 215(4) of the Election
Act, 2017 read with Election Rules, 2017.
The same bench will also hear a petition
filed against former PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry for alleged use of derogatory
language against the polls oversight authority.
Source: tribune.com.pk
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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2440299/ecp-to-hear-plea-for-imrans-removal-today
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Former PTI leader blames Imran for May 9
riots
October 10, 2023
LAHORE:Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
(PTI) South Punjab president Sadaq Ali Abbasi has accused former prime minister
Imran Khan of being responsible for the May 9 riots that rocked the country and
led to a massive countrywide crackdown on the party.
He claimed that Imran’s confrontational
narrative with institutions and the army played a key role in instigating the
violence.
Abbasi, who recently reappeared after
absence since his unofficial arrest on September 1 in Islamabad, stated that
there was a faction within the party, including leaders like Shirin Mazari and
Shahbaz Gill, that unnecessarily exaggerated facts during meetings with Imran.
He argued that instead of leading to
reconciliation, Imran's resistance tactics have caused the disintegration of
PTI, leaving no room for a peaceful resolution.
In an interview with a private news
channel, Abbasi also stated that he felt no pressure to resign from PTI but
made the decision himself, adding that he could no longer shoulder the burden
of the May 9 riots.
Read Only ‘law-abiding’ PTI leaders to
contest elections: PM
Abbasi further revealed Imran’s alleged
opposition to the appointment of Army Chief Syed Asim Munir and disclosed that
on May 6, he and others were instructed to organise a rally aimed at exerting
pressure on the establishment, eventually resulting in a plan to disrupt
Rawalpindi.
It is pertinent to note that on October
3, Abbasi was granted bail by the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Rawalpindi for
the GHQ attack case. He had been abducted from outside Parliament Lodges, and a
petition seeking his recovery was still pending before the Islamabad High Court
(IHC).
Abbasi presented himself before the
Rawalpindi ATC and applied for pre-arrest interim bail. The judge approved the
bail, requiring a surety bond of Rs50,000.
Source: tribune.com.pk
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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2440292/former-pti-leader-blames-imran-for-may-9-riots
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Southeast Asia
Islamic preachers may get minimum wage
as an allowance in the Budget 2024, says Zahid Hamidi
10 Oct 2023
KAJANG: Increased allowances for
preachers under the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) might be
on the cards during the upcoming Budget 2024.
The Deputy Prime Minister alluded to
this while officiating the Madani Mualaf Convention at the Institut Latihan
Islam Malaysia (ILIM) in Bangi on Tuesday (Oct 10).
When met by reporters, Datuk Seri Dr
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi explained that the allowances for these preachers needed to
be more due to the challenges faced in their duties.
“In the past, these preachers or
‘mubalighs’ were categorised as spreading the Islamic teachings voluntarily.
However, the state Islamic bodies and Jakim have taken several initiatives to
place them as contracted preachers. The allowances given to them, in relative
terms, are still low.
“We will wait for the announcement by
the Prime Minister this Friday when his speech for the Budget is read. I am
unsure if this is part of the Budget, but it is what we asked for,” he said.
When asked if such allowances would
align with the set minimum wage, he said that it should be by right.
“By right, that is the way. Allowances
and pay for contract workers must at least be on par with the minimum wage,” he
said.
Source: thestar.com.my
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https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/10/10/islamic-preachers-may-get-minimum-wage-as-an-allowance-in-the-budget-2024-says-zahid-hamidi
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PAS, With Perikatan NasionalOrganising
Gathering in Support of Palestine on Oct 13
10 Oct 2023
R. SEKARAN
PETALING JAYA: PAS, with Perikatan
Nasional, is organising a peace rally on Friday (Oct 13) in the wake of skirmishes
between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip in the Middle East.
Deputy PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi said
the gathering, themed "Save Masjidil Aqsa", would be held in front of
the National Mosque after the Friday prayers.
"The war in the Middle East
symbolises the awakening of Islam in Palestine who have been imprisoned in
their own country by Zionists, subjecting them to persecution and torture,
including the intrusion into the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
"Hundreds of lives have been lost
in the Middle East war and thousands injured, many of them women, children and
senior citizens, and we can't remain silent in this hour of need," said
Afnan in a statement on Tuesday (Oct 10).
"PAS is calling all Muslims and
Malaysians to come to the National Mosque to show solidarity with the
Palestinian people.
"Let us be with one heart, with no
racial barriers or religion, colour or political alignment and show solidarity
with our fellow human beings," added Afnan.
Source: thestar.com.my
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https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/10/10/pas-organising-gathering-in-support-of-palestine-on-oct-13
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In Johor, unemployed man jailed two
years for using fake Pahang 'Datuk Seri' title
By Ben Tan
10 Oct 2023
KOTA TINGGI, Oct 10 — A 50-year-old
unemployed man was sentenced to two years of prison by the Sessions Court here
today after he pleaded guilty to using a false “Datuk Seri” title five years
ago.
Imran Tolot made the guilty confession
as soon as the charge was read out by the court interpreter in front of Judge
Hayda Faridzal Abu Hasan.
According to the charge, the father of
three used the Datuk Seri title from Pahang without receiving any award that
carries the said title from the state for business purposes without written
permission from His Majesty the Sultan of Pahang.
The offence took place on April 19, 2018
at about 11am at Hotel Amansari Bandar Penawar near here.
For that, the accused was charged under
Section 3(1)(c) of the Pahang Emblems, Titles and Awards (Prevention of
Improper Use) Enactment 2017 which can be punished under Section 3(3) of the
same enactment read together with Section 17 of the Offences Relating to Awards
Act 2017.
Those found guilty can be punished with
a fine between RM250,000 and RM500,000 or imprisonment for up to five years or
both.
The prosecution was represented by
Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Irsyad Mardi, while the accused was
unrepresented.
Imran pleaded with the court for a
minimum sentence as he has three children who are still schooling, in addition
to suffering from diabetes and a condition with his nerves.
He appealed to the court not to impose a
fine as he did not have any money due to being unemployed in addition to
requesting for a minimum prison sentence.
Muhammad Irsyad said the offence
committed by the accused by misusing the fake title has tarnished the good name
of the Pahang royal institution and if not prevented the same offence may be
repeated by others.
Hayda Faridzal then sentenced Imran to
two years imprisonment starting from the date of his arrest.
Meanwhile, Kota Tinggi police deputy
chief Deputy Superintendent Nik Azaham Nik Aziz said the man was arrested last
Wednesday after he was believed to be involved in a non-existent contract to
supply food at the Petronas Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development
(RAPID) project in Pengerang.
“Investigations revealed that the
victims were required to make a RM100,000 payment in order to secure the
contract to supply food.
“While deceiving the victim, the suspect
introduced himself as a 'Datuk Seri' to convince his victims that the food
contract could bring good returns,” he said in a statement today.
Nik Azaham said police confiscated a
Pahang royalty member loyalty card in the name of the suspect, a mobile phone
and some documents during the arrest.
He said checks showed that the suspect
was not bestowed any “Datuk Seri” title by any state royal institution.
“The police would like to advise the
public to always be vigilant before accepting any business offers that promise
good profits and also dealing with unknown individuals with a title or award,”
he said.
The public may check a person’s title or
award authenticity at the official government portal at www.istiadat.gov.my.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/10/10/in-johor-unemployed-man-jailed-two-years-for-using-fake-pahang-datuk-seri-title/95446
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Saifuddin Nasution: Recommendation on
Allah issue to be sent to Conference of Rulers for further action soon
By R. Loheswar
09 Oct 2023
PUTRAJAYA, Oct 9 — After five days of
meetings with various religious groups, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin
Nasution said they are about to send their recommendations to the Conference of
Rulers for the next step in the Allah issue.
He said the ministry and a myriad of
religious leaders from all races discussed the issue concerning the use of the
word Allah by non-Muslims by outlining complete and comprehensive guidelines
for the council's perusal.
“We are trying to form new
administrative directives for any future cases such as the one that just
happened so the authorities can be guided accordingly.
“We touched on all aspects of this issue
from the Federal Constitution to laws governing us and we will send all our
findings and recommendations to the Conference of Rulers in due time,” he said
when met at Putrajaya.
The issue of the use of the word “Allah”
stemmed when the government abandoned its appeal against a lower court ruling
on a Sarawakian woman’s right to use “Allah” in her religious learning a few months
back.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC),
representing the home ministry, notified the Court of Appeal on April 18 that
it does not wish to pursue the appeal.
The High Court, in a landmark decision
in 2021, ruled that Jill Ireland could use the word “Allah” in her religious
education.
Based on court records, the appeal was
withdrawn through a notice of discontinuance filed on April 18.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/10/09/saifuddin-nasution-recommendation-on-allah-issue-to-be-sent-to-conference-of-rulers-for-further-action-soon/95274
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Muslim groups in Malaysia, Indonesia
call for end to violence in Israel
10 Oct 2023
KUALA LUMPUR/JAKARTA – Muslim groups in
Malaysia and Indonesia have called for an end to the violence as the war
between Israeli and Hamas forces in the Gaza Strip continued to escalate, with
more than 1,200 people killed.
They have urged the United Nations
Security Council to intervene, while some are organising solidarity gatherings
in support of Palestine, saying that the root cause of the conflict is Israel’s
continued occupation of Palestinian territory.
The UN Security Council met behind
closed doors in an emergency session, but failed to achieve a unanimous
decision needed for a joint statement.
The leaders of both South-east Asian
countries also issued statements condemning the war, which was sparked when
Islamist militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israeli towns
last Saturday.
Israel retaliated by declaring a state
of war, launching air strikes and ordering what its Defence Minister Yoav
Gallant has called “a complete siege” of Gaza. It has mobilised some 300,000
reservists, a sign it could be planning a ground assault.
Most of the Western world have condemned
the Hamas attacks and expressed solidarity with Israel. Neither Malaysia nor
Indonesia has diplomatic relations with Israel.
Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry expressed
deep concern on Sunday over “the loss of so many lives” in the latest
escalation around the Gaza Strip, and urged all parties to exercise “utmost
restraint and de-escalate”.
It said the root cause of the conflict
was the “prolonged illegal occupation, blockade and sufferings, the desecration
of the Al-Aqsa, as well as the politics of dispossession at the hands of Israel
as the occupier”.
The Al-Aqsa Mosque, located in the heart
of Jerusalem’s Old City, is regarded as the third-holiest site in Islam, after
Mecca and Medina.
The heightened recent violence at the
holy site has sparked wider awareness among Malaysians over the
Israel-Palestine conflict.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed
the nation’s solidarity with Palestine, and accused the “international community
of lopsided actions with regard to all kinds of brutality and oppression
against Palestinians”.
The opposition Parti Islam SeMalaysia
(PAS), the largest single party in Malaysia’s Parliament, has told its rank and
file to hold solidarity gatherings at mosques nationwide on Friday to “show
PAS’ stance and solidarity with the holy pursuit of Palestinians, especially in
defending the Al-Aqsa Mosque”.
A group of Malaysian Muslim NGOs issued
a joint statement on Sunday urging both Muslims and Christians to back the
effort to “free Al-Aqsa and other holy sites”. They also called on the
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, which represents Muslim-majority nations,
“to convene an emergency meeting to issue a solidarity note to Palestinian
fighters”. The group comprises the Alliance of World Masaajid in Defence of
Al-Aqsa, Secretariat for Ulama Assembly of Asia, Secretariat Palestine of
Malaysia and Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisation.
In Gaza, a mosque built a decade ago as
a result of efforts and contributions from Malaysians was destroyed after it
was bombed by Israeli forces on Saturday, according to the Muslim Care Malaysia
Society.
“Our hearts are shattered to see the
magnificent mosque that was funded by the people of Malaysia destroyed as a
result of a bomb attack by Israel,” it said on its Facebook page on Sunday.
Indonesia’s largest Muslim group
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), which has more than 50 million members, urged the
cessation of conflict to prevent further civilian casualties.
Dr Ahmad Fahrur Rozi, the NU leader in
charge of religious affairs, told The Straits Times on Monday: “We hope and
call for Palestine and Israel to cease fire, negotiate and end violence under
the supervision of the UN Security Council and the international community to
achieve peace and justice for all parties. War will only cause prolonged
suffering to the people.
“Israel must acknowledge Palestine’s
sovereignty in order to live side by side peacefully. The accumulation of
violence against the Palestinians will continuously cause chaos and loss for
all parties.”
He said that NU supported Palestine’s
independence by way of peaceful means and diplomatic negotiations. It will
monitor the situation and adjust its measures such as fund raising and the
distribution of humanitarian aid to Palestine in step with the Indonesian
government’s stance.
In its official statement on Monday, NU
called for Muslims and NU members to pray for the victims killed in the
escalating violence, and for the establishment and justice.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s small Labour
Party and the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions said they will stage a
protest to be attended by hundreds of workers on Tuesday in Jakarta, where they
will call for the end of war between Israel and Palestine, party president Said
Iqbal said on Monday.
Mr Sudarnoto Abdul Hakim, chairman of
foreign affairs and international cooperation at the Indonesian Ulema Council,
which is Indonesia’s Muslim clerical body, said Hamas’ attacks against Israel
were reactions over “arbitrary actions” by the Israeli authorities carried out
“within a long period and systematically”, causing “the destruction of the
sovereignty of the Palestinians”.
He condemned Israel’s retaliatory
attacks, which damaged an Indonesian hospital in Gaza.
Indonesian non-governmental organisation
Indonesian Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C) reported that the Israeli
strikes hit an Indonesian hospital in Beit Lahia, North Gaza, killing one of
its workers.
“I am very regretful of what Israel has
done and Israel must take the responsibility. Israel completely has no respect
for humanitarian aid from Indonesia conveyed through Mer-C,” Mr Sudarnoto said.
The chairman of Indonesia’s
Islam-leaning National Mandate Party, Mr Zulkifli Hasan, strongly condemned
Israel’s attacks damaging the Indonesian hospital in Gaza, calling the
attackers “ignoring human rights, humanity and freedom”.
Former Indonesian vice-president Jusuf
Kalla said that Hamas’ attacks against Israel were “part of its struggle to
seize independence”.
“These were attacks conducted with
secrecy and extraordinary planning, and rarely happened,” said Mr Kalla, who
chairs the Indonesian Mosque Council.
Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry said on
Sunday it was deeply concerned about the escalating conflict between Palestine
and Israel. “Indonesia urges the immediate end of violence to avoid further
human casualties,” it said in a statement. “The root of the conflict is
Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory that must be resolved in accordance
with the parameters agreed upon by the United Nations.”
At least 13 Indonesians live in the Gaza
strip, and none was hurt in the recent attack, according to the ministry.
Source: straitstimes.com
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/muslim-groups-in-malaysia-indonesia-call-for-end-to-violence-in-israel
--------
Africa
South Africa's governing party calls for
peace between Israel and Palestine
9 Oct, 2023
South Africa’s largest political party,
the African National Congress (ANC), has called for peace in the Gaza Strip.
Hundreds of people have been killed in a spiralling conflict between Israel and
Hamas that started over the weekend.
Israel has launched strikes on Gaza since
Saturday, when Hamas militants embarked on deadly attacks in Israel and fired
rockets at the country.
The ANC issued a statement calling for
UN resolutions and international law to be affirmed, saying the international
community can no longer avoid its duty to act. It called for the world to
intervene and ensure the implementation of a two-state solution based on the
‘1967 borders,’ the demarcation lines drawn after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
that still serve as Israel’s internationally recognized boundaries.
The party said Israel had pushed
Palestinians to the brink with its persistent policy of seizing their land,
which had triggered the Palestinian groups to respond.
“It can no longer be disputed that
apartheid South Africa’s history is occupied Palestine’s reality. As a result,
the decision by Palestinians to respond to the brutality of the settler Israeli
apartheid regime is unsurprising,” the ANC said.
African states react to Hamas-Israel
hostilitiesREAD MORE: African states react to Hamas-Israel hostilities
South Africa and Israel resumed
diplomatic relations after the end of Apartheid, but contemporary ties are
strained and limited due to the Palestinian issue.
In February this year, Israel accused
South Africa and Algeria of being behind the removal of an Israeli
representative at the African Union (AU) assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – a
claim that was denied by both countries.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa
has not yet spoken publicly about the violence. Still, the Department of
International Relations and Cooperation said no lasting peace in the region is
possible “in the absence of a just and comprehensive resolution of the
conflict.”
Other African leaders have issued
statements calling for an immediate cessation of the violence between Hamas and
Israel.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/africa/584435-south-africa-peace-israel-palestine/
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Kidnappers Threatened To Take Me To
Kaduna For Ritual – Abuja Female Lawyer Recounts Ordeal
October 10, 2023
An Abuja-based lawyer, Opeyemi Adewale,
has recounted her ordeal in the hands of suspected kidnappers who abducted her
in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on September 26, 2023.
Adewale narrated in an interview with
PUNCH that her husband and colleagues parted with N1million before she was
released.
She said her ordeal started when she
boarded a 14-seater bus on the evening of September 26 at a park in Lugbe not
knowing that it was a “one-chance” bus.
The lawyer said she realised that she
was in trouble when, six minutes into the trip, the man who sat beside her
started attacking her.
She said it was at that point that she
realised that out of all the occupants of the bus, only she and two other women
were real passengers while others were members of the gang.
She explained, “They started beating me
and the other two ladies in the vehicle. When they were done, they asked what I
do for a living, I lied that I was a teacher that just resigned. They asked how
much I earned, I said it was less than N30,000. Then they asked about my
husband, I said he too is a poor trader.
“They checked my bag, saw my ATM card,
and requested my PIN. They emptied my account, collected all the cash on me and
asked me to call my family that they were taking us to Kaduna and that one
Alhaji was going to use us for a ritual but if we could call someone to pay a
ransom of N1m they would release us.”
She said as she was making attempts to
speak with her family members to raise funds for her release, her abductors
kept driving around the city.
According to her, around midnight, her
husband and colleagues were able to raise funds that were sent to the robbers
before she was released.
Adewale added that the money that was sent
for her release was paid into her account while the robbers withdrew the money
from a POS operator.
Contacted, the FCT Police Public
Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said concerted efforts were being put in
motion to end the activities of kidnappers and “one-chance” operators in the
capital city.
“If we tell you what we are doing now,
the goal will be defeated but I can tell you that we are working on it,” she
said.
Source: saharareporters.com
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Kano State Government Fixes Friday For
Mass Wedding Of 1800 Intending Couples
October 10, 2023
The Kano State Government has announced
that all preparations for the planned mass wedding have been completed and it
has set aside Friday, 13 October 2023 for the conduct of the sponsored mass
weddings of 1,800 couples across the 44 local government areas of the state.
The state governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir
Yusuf disclosed this after inspecting all arrangements made at the state Hisbah
Board’s premises to ascertain the level of progress so far achieved in regard
to the planned mass wedding scheme.
SaharaReporters had last week reported
that the state government sceened out intending couples for the mass wedding
who tested positive for Hepatitis B, HIV, sickle cell and pregnancy.
The spokesperson of Hisbah Board, Lawan
Fagge, had said the persons were found with one health issue or the other at
the point of pre-marital test screening they were subjected to as part of the
conditions for taking part in the state-sponsored wedding.
Fagge said the affected spouses were
replaced in the ongoing exercise and subjected to counselling and medications.
Meanwhile, the state governor on Monday
expressed satisfaction with the level of preparation so far on ground and
commended Hisbah board and the ministry of health for executing the
responsibilities given to them, particularly, as he found out that the exercise
involved the less privileged, and
persons with disability.
The governor also expressed dismay at
the decayed and abounding uncompleted buildings of offices at the Hisbah state
headquarters for over eight years without completion.
“Despite the significant role played by
Hisbah Board in ensuring peace, security, mitigating marriage couples and
societal vices the board has not received proper attention from the previous
administration in the last 8 years. This government will ensure that the board
receives all the necessary attention it needs,” said governor Abba.
Speaking earlier, the Commander General
of Hisbah Board, Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa described the government efforts
on the planned sponsored mass weddings of 1800 couples programme as timely,
adding that the scheme would no doubt assist people especially during this
hardship as well as curb the menace of sexual abuse.
Source: saharareporters.com
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Security operatives kill 67 kidnappers,
rescue 20 victims in Bauchi
Muhammad AlabiraNabordo
October 10, 2023
A combined team of security operatives
has killed 67 gunmen suspected to be kidnappers terrorising the Lere
communities in the Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
The team also rescued 20 kidnapped
victims in the area.
This is just as the state governor, Bala
Mohammed, donated 30 brand new motorcycles and the sum of N10 million to assist
the local security in their operations.
The District Head of Lere, Jamilu Bawa,
said on Monday that the operation was carried out jointly by the police,
soldiers, and members of local hunters and vigilantes over the weekend.
Mr Bawa, who received the governor in
his palace in Lere town, said during the operation, 20 kidnapped victims were
also rescued unhurt.
He told the governor that eight AK-47
rifles and rounds of ammunition were recovered from the bandits while many of
them escaped with gunshots.
The monarch said members of the
vigilantes in the area were battle-ready to ensure that the bandits were completely
flushed out while the remaining victims still in captivity were rescued safely.
Responding, Governor Mohammed said the
issue of insecurity is becoming worrisome in the state but assured that his
administration would continue to be on its toes to protect the lives and
properties of innocent citizens.
He said his administration would
continue to support and equip security agencies to aid them in the fight
against insecurity all over the state.
“Without security and relative peace, no
development can take place anywhere in the state.
“I urged the security agencies to be
vigilant about those trooping into the state from the northwestern states by
ensuring proper profiling to separate the good from the bad.
“I hereby donate 30 brand new
motorcycles and the sum of N10 million to assist the local security in their
operations”, the governor said.
Also, the state Commissioner of Police,
Awwal Muhammad, said his men would continue to collaborate with sister security
agencies to ensure a crime-free Bauchi State.
He explained that the recent operation
in the area was a successful one, which led to the neutralisation of some of
the bandits as well as the safe rescue of some of the kidnapped victims.
Mr Muhammad further assured that the
remaining kidnapped victims will be rescued unhurt while the bandits will be
cleared to make the area free for the people to live peacefully.
He also called for support and
cooperation from the people of the state by volunteering useful information
that would lead to arresting the criminals operating within the communities.
PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the Tafawa
Balewa Local Government Area is among four local government areas in the state
that are always attacked by bandits.
The others are Ningi, Toro and Alkaleri
LGAs.
Both the governor and the commissioner
of Police visited the Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area to encourage the
citizens and the security operatives to flush out the criminals.
Source: premiumtimesng.com
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Sudan: three civilians killed in
hospital bombardment
09 Oct 2023
At least three civilians were killed on
Monday in Sudan when shells fell on a hospital, a medical source said, as
fighting between rival generals continued unabated.
"Shells fell on Al-Nau hospital in
Omdourman, the northern suburb of the Sudanese capital Khartoum, the source
told AFP.
Omdourman is the scene of violent
fighting between the regular army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane and
the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of his former deputy, Mohamed
HamdaneDaglo, who have been at war since 15 April.
Human rights groups have accused both
sides of targeting health facilities.
In August, Médecins Sans Frontières
(MSF) warned that Al-Nau hospital "is one of the last health facilities
open in Omdourman".
"It is also the only facility with
an emergency trauma room or surgical capacity in northern Omdurman, where all
the city's wounded are brought", said MSF.
According to the United Nations, more
than 70% of the country's hospitals are out of action.
They have been bombed or occupied by
fighters, and the stocks of those that are still functioning have been
exhausted or looted.
Although most of the fighting was
confined to the capital and the western region of Darfur, it has spread to
areas south of Khartoum, according to witnesses.
In the town of Jabal Awliya, 50
kilometres south of the capital, doctors "have had to stop all work at the
hospital since yesterday evening because of heavy artillery shelling", a
doctor told AFP."Dozens of wounded" remained in hospital, awaiting
urgent treatment, he added.
To date, more than 9,000 people have
been killed in the Sudanese conflict, according to an estimate by the NGO Armed
Conflict Location & Event Data Project (Acled), which is widely considered
to be an underestimate. Monday's bombings came a day after fighting resumed in
El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state, 350 kilometres south of
Khartoum.
One child was killed and at least 16
others wounded in the fighting, while houses were destroyed, said a committee
of pro-democracy lawyers who documented the massacres.
The UN estimates that nearly 5.5 million
people have been displaced and made refugees by the fighting in Sudan.
Source: africanews.com
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Kenya court puts Haiti deployment on
temporary hold
10 Oct 2023
A Kenyan court on Monday temporarily
suspended a government plan to send police to Haiti on a UN-backed mission
aiming to restore calm to the gang-infested Caribbean nation.
The UN Security Council last week
approved a Kenyan-led multinational security force for the troubled country,
with Nairobi promising 1,000 police officers.
But a Nairobi court granted an interim
injunction on Monday in a case brought by opposition politician EkuruAukot, who
argued the deployment was unconstitutional as it was not backed by any law or
treaty.
Aukot, a lawyer who helped draft Kenya's
revised 2010 constitution, charged that Kenya was deploying its police abroad
at a time it had failed to quell insecurity within its own borders.
"I am satisfied that the
application and petition raise substantial issues of national importance and
public interest that require urgent consideration," High Court judge Enock
Mwita ruled.
"A conservatory order is hereby
issued restraining the respondents from deploying police officers to Haiti or
any other country until 24th October 2023," the ruling seen by AFP said.
Haiti, the Western Hemisphere's poorest
nation, has been in turmoil for years, with armed gangs taking over parts of
the country and unleashing brutal violence, and the economy and public health
system also in tatters.
Details of Kenya's deployment are still
not finalised, with parliament yet to approve the move as required by law.
- No 'shortcuts' -
The UN-backed mission -- initially
approved for one year -- envisions Kenyan police on the offensive with their
Haitian counterparts, who are outnumbered and outgunned by gang members.
The force aims to provide
"operational support to the Haitian National Police, including building
its capacity through the planning and conduct of joint security support
operations," according to the UN resolution passed last week.
The mission will also aim to create
conditions to hold elections, which have not taken place in Haiti since 2016.
Kenya's involvement has been criticised
at home, with many questioning the wisdom of such a risky mission.
Rights watchdogs also say Kenyan police
have a history of using sometimes lethal force against civilians, and that they
pose an unacceptable risk in Haiti where foreign troops have committed abuses
in past interventions.
President William Ruto has defended the
deployment as a "mission for humanity."
Interior Minister KithureKindiki said on
Sunday the state will ensure it seeks the requisite parliamentary approvals and
will not employ "any shortcuts".
"Kenyans should not worry. We still
have insecurity issues but we will ensure that the deployment does not
compromise the safety of our nation," Kindiki said.
Kenya is seen as a democratic anchor in
East Africa, and has participated in peacekeeping operations in its immediate
region including in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia as well as
other parts of the world.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2023/10/10/kenya-court-puts-haiti-deployment-on-temporary-hold/
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URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/hamas-attacks-israel-harvard/d/130869