Israel Flag Stickers Pasted On Pune Roads with the Intention Of Disturbing Social Harmony, Amid The Hamas-Israel Conflict
New Age Islam News Bureau
23 October 2023
According to
the police, some people allegedly pasted stickers of the Israel flag on roads
in Kondhwa, Bhawani Peth, Nana Peth and Pune cantonment areas with the
intention of disturbing social harmony
Israel flag
stickers
-----
India
·
UP Govt
Sets Up SIT To Probe Foreign Funding Of Madrasas To Check How the Money is
Being Spent
·
Medical Supplies,
Disaster Relief: India Sends Humanitarian Aid To Palestine
·
AIADMK Is
Only Party That Fights For Muslims, Says EPS
·
Durga Puja
Festival In Baripada, Orissa, Sends A Message Of Hindu-Muslim Unity
·
MP Danish
Ali Says Yet to Be Heard by Parliamentary Committee About Abuse From BJP MP
-------
Europe
·
Global Solidarity:
Ukraine’s Spirit of Tolerance Embraced by Muslims at Home and Abroad
·
Hamas
Kills Israeli Soldier During Raid To Free Hostages, As Rishi Sunak Calls For
Release Of Remaining 200 Captives
·
British
Muslim Charities Must Do More To Speak Up For Palestine
·
UK shifts
policy on stranded Afghans’ relocation
·
Rallies
held across Europe in support of Palestinians
--------
Arab World
·
Saudi
Arabia, Malaysia issue joint statement at end of PM’s visit
·
Saudi
ambassador to Ghana presents his credentials as non-resident envoy to Togo
·
Malaysia
And Saudi Renew Determination In Maintaining International Peace, Stability And
Security
-------
Mideast
·
Gaza: 42%
Of Housing Units Destroyed Or Damaged In Israeli Attacks, UN Says
·
China
Supports Legitimate Demands Of Arab, Islamic States
·
Biden’s
Pro-Israeli Remarks Anti-Democratic, Inhuman: Iranian President
·
Israel
evacuates more areas near Lebanon as clashes with Hezbollah intensify
·
Dispute
between Iraqi military and Kurdish Peshmerga turns deadly, killing 4
·
Iran FM:
Israel’s ultimate goal is forced displacement of Palestinians to Sinai, Jordan
·
Israeli
bombing of Gaza has killed nearly 2,000 Palestinian children
-------
Southeast Asia
·
Prolonged
crisis: PM deliberates with Arab leaders as bloody conflict with Israel wears
on
·
World must
wake up from hypocrisy towards Palestine: Anwar
·
Singapore
Prime Minister visits Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
--------
Africa
·
Tunisians
Gather Outside French Embassy In New Rally In Support Of Palestinians
·
Terrorists
attack Customs office in Yobe, kill officer
·
Israel-Hamas
War: Two States Creation Key To Conflict Resolution, Says octogenarian Prof
·
More than
1,400 African migrants reach Spain’s Canaries
------
South Asia
·
Cases
against BNP-Jamaat leaders: Trials Now Rolling Well Into The NightTill Around
3:45pm
·
Everyone
Enjoys Religious Freedom In Bangladesh: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
·
Social
Media Boom Over Theme-Based Puja Pandals Boost Bangladeshis To Step In Bengal
·
Kazakhstan’s
aid for Herat earthquake victims reaches Balkh
·
Facing
Winter, Islamic Emirate Retirees Despair Over Unpaid Pensions
·
Refugee-Focused
Attachés in Iran, Pakistan: Ministry
·
D-8 agrees
joint statement supporting Palestine
·
Graft
Case: Judge gets death threats for convicting Tarique, Zubaida
·
Over 59K
illegal Afghan nationals repatriated to their country
-------
Pakistan
·
At UN:
Pakistan Calls For Resuscitate Two-State Solution To End Palestinian Crisis
·
Caretaker
Religious Affairs Minister Assails Muslim Rulers For Ignoring Plight Of
Besieged Palestinians
·
PTI
convention derailed in Lahore as 80 held in police raids
·
Nawaz
resumes political activities at Jati Umra residence
·
Pakistan
ex-PM Imran Khan indicted in leaked documents case
·
Bushra
Bibi's brother escapes ACE arrest
·
Six killed
in Loralai accident
-------
North America
·
Muslim Residents
of Livingston Urge Township Council to Condemn Islamophobia
·
Candlelight
Vigil Held For Plainfield Boy Killed In Alleged Hate Crime For Being Muslim
·
Post-9/11
Fears Resurface For Chicago-Area Arabs, Muslims In Wake Of War, Rising Hate
Crimes
·
US citizens
urged to leave Lebanon amid ‘unpredictable’ situation
·
Biden
walks a tightrope with his support for Israel as his party’s left urges
restraint
·
Pentagon
amps up posture in Middle East in response to ‘escalations’
·
Gaza
crisis can spread across Middle East, warns US
Compiled by
New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/hamas-israel-flag-harmony/d/130956
-----
Israel Flag Stickers Pasted On Pune Roads
with the Intention Of Disturbing Social Harmony, Amid The Hamas-Israel Conflict
According to
the police, some people allegedly pasted stickers of the Israel flag on roads
in Kondhwa, Bhawani Peth, Nana Peth and Pune cantonment areas with the
intention of disturbing social harmony
Israel flag
stickers
-----
23rd October 2023
Neha Khan
Pune: Stickers with pictures of Israel
flag have been found pasted on roads in some parts of Maharashtra’s Pune city
following which the police have registered four FIRs against a number of
people, officials said on Monday.
According to the police, some people
allegedly pasted stickers of the Israel flag on roads in Kondhwa, Bhawani Peth,
Nana Peth and Pune cantonment areas with the intention of disturbing social
harmony and disrespect late Friday night, against the backdrop of the
Hamas-Israel conflict.
The cases have been registered under
Indian Penal Code Section 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause
a riot if rioting be committed if not committed) with Samarth, Khadak, Lashkar
and Kondhwa police stations, the officials said.
“Some people pasted Israel flag stickers
on roads in the jurisdiction of Samarth and Khadak police stations. We have
registered two offences against five people,” Deputy Commissioner of Police
(Zone I) Sandeep Singh Gill said.
An offence was also registered against
four people for the alleged act with Lashkar police station, DCP (Zone II)
Smartana Patil said.
Besides, a case was registered against
unidentified persons with Kondhwa police station, another official said.
Source: siasat.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.siasat.com/israel-flag-stickers-pasted-on-pune-roads-police-register-4-cases-2742458/
-------
Tens Of Thousands Of French People
Demonstrate To Stop Zionist Aggression Against Gaza
A damaged
poster on a lamppost shows an image of Israeli citizens who have allegedly been
kidnapped by the militant group Hamas, during a pro-Palestinian demonstration
in London, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/David Cliff)
------
[23/October/2023]
PARIS October 23. 2023 (Saba) - About
30,000 people demonstrated on Sunday in the French capital, Paris, demanding an
end to the Zionist aggression against the Gaza Strip at the invitation of
French left-wing parties.
According to Agence France-Presse,
participants in Place de la République in Paris chanted several slogans “Israel
is a killer, Macron is an accomplice, there is no peace without ending
settlements.”
This is the first demonstration that was
not banned by the French capital police, but during the demonstration the
police forces arrested ten people.
The demonstration in Paris came at the
invitation of the “For a Just and Lasting Peace” coalition, which raised a
banner under the statue of the Republic calling on France to “request an
immediate ceasefire in Gaza” and “stop the Israeli massacre.”
During the Paris demonstrations, the
leader of the “Unsubdued France” movement, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, expressed his
rejection of the visit of the Speaker of the French Parliament to “Tel Aviv,”
in light of the continued Zionist aggression against the Palestinians.
Mélenchon published a video clip of
French protests against the aggression on Gaza, which has been going on for 16
days, and accompanied it with the saying “This is France.”
In the French city of Marseille, in the
south of the country, a march was organized in which about a thousand people
participated.
For his part, the head of the French
Solidarity Association with Palestine, Bertrand Heilbron, denounced “Macron’s
granting Israel a license to kill.” In parallel, left-wing politicians
condemned “Israel’s” crimes and its long history of violence and crimes.
Source: saba.ye
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3274427.htm
--------
Arab League Raises Alarm Over
Humanitarian Catastrophe In Gaza Caused By Israeli Occupation
A rescuer
reacts during the search for victims or survivors in a car covered by the
rubble of a house destroyed in an Israeli strike in Gaza. (AFP)
------
October 22, 2023
RIYADH: The Arab League on Sunday
highlighted the region’s efforts to provide immediate support to the
Palestinian people to mitigate the consequences of Israel’s intensifying
military operations in Gaza, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The statement came during a joint press
conference organized by the Arab League in partnership with the Arab Red
Crescent and Red Cross Organization, held in Cairo to address the dire
humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
Arab League Assistant Secretary-General
Haifa Abu Ghazaleh said that children, women, and the elderly comprise 70
percent of the casualties in Gaza. The number of internally displaced
individuals in the besieged enclave is estimated at 1 million, with 513,000 having
sought refuge in facilities of UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
The World Health Organization has
documented 59 attacks on healthcare personnel in Gaza, in addition to 69
military assaults on healthcare facilities. Over 37 healthcare workers have
lost their lives, and many others have sustained injuries. Thirty-two
ambulances were rendered inoperative, and seven clinics have been forced to
cease their operations entirely.
Abu Ghazaleh highlighted that continuous
communication is underway with the Palestinian Ministry of Health to identify
urgent requirements to bolster the Gaza healthcare sector.
In addition, the Council of Arab
Ministers for Health is collaborating with the Egyptian Red Crescent to deliver
urgent humanitarian aid to the enclave.
Dr. Saleh bin Hamad Al-Tuwaijri,
secretary-general of the Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Organization,
emphasized the organization’s role in monitoring Israel’s breaches of
humanitarian law and presenting them at international forums.
Al-Tuwaijri urged the international
community to put a halt to Israel’s “war crimes” in Gaza, where 2.5 million
people risk dying as a result of bombardment and blockade.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2395906/middle-east
--------
Palestinian PM Shtayyeh Calls For United
Front Against Israeli Blitz
Palestinian
Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh attends a cabinet meeting in the West Bank
city of Ramallah, Oct. 16, 2023. (AP)
-----
October 22, 2023
RAMALLAH, SARAJEVO: Palestinian Prime
Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh called on Sunday on the international community to
create “united front” to stop Israel’s attacks in the Gaza Strip.
“We place at the top of our priorities
stopping the Israeli aggression and
bringing in medical and relief aid to prevent a major humanitarian
catastrophe,” Shtayyeh said during a meeting with 25 ambassadors,
representatives and consuls.
Meanwhile, several thousand people
gathered in Sarajevo city center on Sunday, waving Palestinian and Bosnian
flags and demanding a halt to the Israeli offensive in Gaza.
Some chanted: “Genocide, genocide,”
while a large and prominent banner read “Yesterday Srebrenica, today Gaza,”
referring to the 1995 massacre in the Bosnian town, Europe’s worst atrocity
since World War Two in which Serb forces killed an estimated 8,000 Muslim men
and boys.
Other demonstrators held banners with
slogans including “Stop the war” and “Free Palestine.”
Regionwide, smaller pro-Palestinian
protests took place on Sunday in Belgrade and the Montenegrin capital
Podgorica.
Sarajevo Mayor BenjaminaKaric told
protesters the city knew “how it is to live without water and food and see
children being killed,” referring to the 1992-95 siege during which Serb forces
killed an estimated 11,000 people in the city including 1,600 children.
Separately, Germany’s chancellor and
president strongly denounced a rise in antisemitism in Germany in the wake of
the war in separate appearances on Sunday that stressed the same idea that it
is unacceptable for such hatred to flourish in the nation that perpetrated the
Holocaust.
In Berlin, thousands of people gathered
at a demonstration called to show opposition to antisemitism and support for
Israel. People carried Israeli flags or posters with photos of some of the
people reported to be missing or held by Hamas as hostages.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2395996/middle-east
--------
Stop Using Uncouth Language Like ‘Kafir’
On Each Other, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tells MPs
Dewan Rakyat
Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul speaks at the Parliament in Kuala Lumpur October
23, 2023. — Bernama pic
------
By Muhammad Yusry
23 Oct 2023
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 — MPs were today
warned against using uncouth words that cause hurt or hostility to each other
in the Dewan Rakyat, such as “kafir”, “Zionist” and “Jew”.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari
Abdul said such insensitive language should not be used in Parliament, and
cited Standing Order 36(10)(C).
“We've had four days of Budget 2024
debates over the past week. In the debates of the honourable members, various
arguments, and stances have been expressed that push towards sensitive matters
that are troubling.
“Statements that cloud the atmosphere
and touch on the sensitivity of the labelling harmony between us. These include
the statements ‘kafir’, ‘Zionist’ and ‘Jew’ between the Yang Berhornat.
“I urge all Yang Berhormat to stop the
issue and statements of ‘kafir’, ‘Zionist’ and ‘Jews’,” he said.
Johari said MPs should lead by example
and prioritise national issues, not use Parliament to push partisan or personal
political views.
In a later press conference outside the
House, Opposition MP Datuk Seri Idris Ahmad questioned the Speaker’s decision
to prohibit the federal lawmakers from uttering the word “kafir”, saying that
it was a word to refer to non-Muslims.
“The term is in the Quran and Hadith.
“All of a sudden we are not allowed to
say it.
“We have faith in the teachings of
Islam. This is a Muslim, this is a non-Muslim. But why does this word
supposedly have a bad connotation?” the Bagan Seri MP who is also PAS
vice-president asked.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/10/23/stop-using-uncouth-language-like-kafir-on-each-other-dewan-rakyat-speaker-tells-mps/97892
---------
India
UP Govt Sets Up SIT To Probe Foreign
Funding Of Madrasas To Check How the Money is Being Spent
23rd October 2023
LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government
has formed a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by an
Additional Director General rank officer, to probe into the funds received from
abroad by madrasas in the state.
There are around 25,000 madrassas in
Uttar Pradesh and over 16,500 are recognised by the state Board of Madrasa
Education.
“We will see how the money received
through foreign funding is spent. We will check if the money is being used to
run madrasas or for any other activities,” said Additional Director General,
ATS, Mohit Agarwal.
The other two members of SIT are the
Director of the Minority Welfare Department J. Reebha and the SP, Cyber Cell,
Triveni Singh. The agency will focus more on madrasas active in districts along
the Indo-Nepal border.
Agarwal said that no time frame has been
mentioned by the government yet to complete the probe. Both the registered and
non-registered madrasas will be part of the probe.
The SIT has already sought details of
madrasas from its board. Last year in August, the Yogi Adityanath-led
government directed district magistrates to conduct a survey of unrecognised
madrasas. During the two-month survey, 8,449 madrasas that were not recognised
by the state madrasa education board were found to be functioning.
Apart from Lakhimpur Kheri, Pilibhit,
Shravasti, Siddhartha Nagar and Bahraich adjacent to the Nepal border, more
than 1,000 madrassas are being run in many other nearby areas.
Sources said that the number of madrasas
in these areas has increased rapidly in the last few years.
Besides, information was also received
about these madrasas getting foreign funding.
The minority welfare department had also
investigated unrecognized madrasas in many districts, in which it was also
revealed that many madrasas were receiving foreign funding as a source of
income.
Recently, ATS arrested three active
members of a gang involved in the illegal entry of Bangladeshi citizens and
Rohingyas. The investigation revealed that foreign funding of Rs 20 crore was
received in three years through a Delhi-run NGO, which was being used to help
them.
Source: newindianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/oct/23/up-govt-sets-up-sit-to-probe-funding-of-madrasas-2626492.html
---------
Medical supplies, disaster relief: India
sends humanitarian aid to Palestine
23.10.23
India on Sunday sent humanitarian aid to
Palestine in addition to what is routinely routed through the United Nations
Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in a move that is unlikely to go down well with
the Modi government’s Right-wing ecosystem that is more inclined to the Zionist
policies of Israel.
Announcing the fresh assistance,
external affairs ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said an Indian Air Force
C-17 flight carrying nearly 6.5 tonnes of medical aid and 32 tonnes of disaster
relief material for the people of Palestine had left for El-Arish airport in
Egypt. El-Arish is one of the closest airports to the Gaza Strip and is used
mostly by Palestinians.
The relief material being sent includes
essential life-saving medicines, surgical items, tents, sleeping bags,
tarpaulins, sanitary utilities and water purification tablets, among other
necessary items.
India’s decision to send additional aid
to Palestine came a day after the first convoy of humanitarian aid to the
under-seige Gaza Strip was allowed in through the Rafah border with Egypt on
Saturday.
On Thursday, when asked if India was
planning to extend any humanitarian aid to Palestine in view of the situation
in Gaza, Bagchi had pointed out: “We have been supporting Palestine and
Palestinian refugees through significant contribution to the UN Relief and
Works Agency, UNRWA. A total of $29.53 million has been contributed to the
UNRWA between 2002 and 2023.
“The Indian annual contribution was
actually increased from $1.25 million to $5 million in 2018. And we have
pledged this annual contribution of $5 million for the next two years. If there
are any further developments, we will share that with you. We are looking at
the situation.”
India’s support for the Palestinian
cause has been an integral part of the nation’s foreign policy through successive
governments of all political hues and has continued even as New Delhi developed
relations with Israel. In 1974, India became the first non-Arab state to
recognise the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) as the sole and
legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.
In 1988, India became one of the first
countries to recognise the Palestinian State. In 1996, India opened its
Representative Office in Gaza, which was later shifted to Ramallah on the West
Bank in 2003.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/medical-supplies-disaster-relief-india-sends-humanitarian-aid-to-palestine/cid/1974934
--------
AIADMK Is Only Party That Fights For
Muslims, Says EPS
Oct 23, 2023
SALEM: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi
K Palaniswami made a strong pitch to woo Muslim voters on Sunday, stating that
the opposition party was the only political outfit in the state that fights for
Muslims whether it was in power or not.
Speaking to an audience, mostly
comprising Muslims, who had come to join the AIADMK in Salem on Sunday, EPS
said his party had to align with the BJP "owing to circumstances". He
said, "Alliances are temporary, but our ideology is permanent. We have
never compromised on our principles.'' On the other hand, the DMK was
opportunistic and was never genuinely interested in the welfare of Muslims, he
said.
Eps
EPS said the DMK was deliberately
spreading lies that AIADMK was anti-Muslim due to its alliance with the BJP and
was creating a myth that the DMK was their protector. "After we came out
of the BJP alliance, (chief minister) Stalin is scared that Muslims would
desert the DMK. Now Stalin and his son Udhayanidhi are spreading lies that we
will realign with the BJP,'' EPS said. EPS, who has been going all out to woo
Muslims ever since the AIADMK walked out of the NDA, said his party was not the
'B team' of BJP as alleged by the DMK.
EPS said AIADMK cadres nurture
brotherhood with people from all religions. "Whether it was
PuratchiThalaivar (M G Ramachandran) or Amma (J Jayalalithaa), AIADMK has been
guarding Muslims and Christians,'' he said. Buttressing the AIADMK's 'secular
ideals', EPS said all religions are sacrosanct for people, who follow those
respective faiths. "So no one has the right to interfere in other
religions. This is a democratic country. No one is a slave to anyone,'' he
said. He said every individual has the right to practice their religion
independently. "That's how India has always been. AIADMK too follows that
path," EPS said.
Whenever the rights of Muslims are
infringed upon, the only party that fights for them is the AIADMK. "On the
other hand, the DMK is opportunistic. They allied with the BJP in 1999 and
enjoyed power for five years," he said.
EPS alleged that even though the DMK was
part of INDIA front, it was "not making any efforts to get Cauvery water
by pressuring ally Congress" which governs Karnataka.
Continuing his attack on the DMK over
NeeT, EPS questioned the logic behind the signature campaign launched by
Udhayanidhi Stalin. "How will the signatures help in banning Neet?"
he asked, adding that Neet was a national test and endorsed by the Supreme
court.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/salem/aiadmk-is-only-party-that-fights-for-muslims-says-eps/articleshow/104636202.cms
---------
Durga Puja Festival In Baripada,
Orissa,Sends A Message Of Hindu-Muslim Unity
22 OCT 2023
PRADEEP PATTANAYAK
The Durga puja fervour has already
gripped one and all across Odisha with puja committees pulling out all the
stops to make their respective Pandals attractive. While huge and lavish
Pandals of some committees are turning heads, some other Pandals have stood out
from others due to one or the other reasons.
One such puja committee is Tentuladanga
Puja Committee in Bairpada town of Mayurbhanj district. Of the several puja
committees in the town, the aforesaid puja committee is unique because it sends
out a heart-warming message of communal harmony and brotherhood.
A Muslim, Kohinoor Islam has been at the
helm of affairs for the last 38 years. Since inspection of the committee, he
has been taking the lead in organising the puja. Not only his family members
but also members of his community are taking part in the puja, helping removal
of distinctions between cast and religion.
For such gestures, Kahinoor has been
lapping up words of appreciation from all quarters of the society.
“Once we discussed about why our women
should go to other Pandals to offer puja and why we shouldn’t start our own
puja in our locality. Then we decided to host Durga puja in our locality. But
the members asked me to take the lead. Since then, I have been known as the
founder of this puja committee,” said Kahinoor.
Source: odishatv.in
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://odishatv.in/news/odisha/durga-puja-festival-in-baripada-sends-a-message-of-hindu-muslim-unity-218188
---------
MP Danish Ali Says Yet to Be Heard by
Parliamentary Committee About Abuse From BJP MP
22 OCT 2023
New Delhi: Bahujan Samaj Party MP Danish
Ali, who had to hear Islamophobic slurs and abuses in Parliament from BJP
leader and MP Ramesh Bidhuri in the Special Session of Parliament in October,
has written to the Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Prakash Birla, on the “violation of
established parliamentary procedures’’ in the conduct of the proceedings of the
privileges committee and the ethics committee.
Ali is a complainant against Bidhuri in
the privileges committee. He has raised the point that the committee has heard
the “accused” member (Bidhuri) without hearing him.
In the matter of the complaint filed by
Ali and several other Opposition MPs against Bidhuri for his abuse against Ali,
related specifically to his faith, the privileges committee has surprisingly
heard the BJP MP – but Ali has not been heard as yet. Bidhuri has meanwhile
been assigned charge of the BJP election in Tonk, seen as an area where Muslims
are significant in terms of their presence and impact on electoral politics.
Rajasthan votes on November 25.
Ali has compared what the privileges
committee is doing in his case with what is happening in the ethics committee.
The matter of Lok Sabha MP MahuaMoitra where she is alleged to have asked
questions in lieu of favours has been handed to the ethics committee — where
the complainant, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, has been given pre-eminence, and
called in “to present oral evidence on October 26”, reports The Telegraph.
Ali also happens to be a member of the
ethics committee. He also expressed concern over the chairman “openly” speaking
to the media “stating that he has received an affidavit in connection with a
complaint of alleged ethical misconduct against Ms. MahuaMoitra’’.
Moitra had also pointed to the
impropriety of the ethics committee going public in her case.
Ali in his letter is reported to have
said that the established Parliamentary procedure is to call the complainant
before the panel first, before calling in to hear the accused. “However, in
contravention of all set norms, the member, who is accused of making unbecoming
remarks against me, appears to have been called and it is proved by the fact
that I have not been called for the committee to place my position till now,”
said Ali.
Source: thewire.in
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://thewire.in/politics/mp-danish-ali-says-yet-to-heard-about-abuse-from-bjp-mp-ramesh-bidhuri
--------
Europe
Global Solidarity: Ukraine’s Spirit of
Tolerance Embraced by Muslims at Home and Abroad
October 22, 2023
Kyiv Post
Muslim representatives at the
international “Crimea Global: Understanding Ukraine Through the South”
conference, in the forum’s penultimate panel, discussed the ways the global
community of Muslims could support the liberation of Crimea and the future of
Ukraine, and how Ukraine can serve as a model for those countries to secure
their own progress.
The Crimea Platform, an international
consultation and coordination format initiated by Ukraine, hosted the
conference event in Kyiv on Oct 14-16 with over 70 speakers and panellists from
over 30 nations, concentrating on how formerly and currently colonized
countries can work together with Ukraine to promote independence and
sovereignty. The panel of Muslim groups provided some useful insight into the
interaction that would mutually benefit Crimea and other predominantly
Muslim-population regions of the globe.
Russian aggression against Muslims was a
topic of particular interest given the historical and current persecution of
the Muslim population in Crimea by Moscow, discussed by a panel with Muslim
community leaders from Ukraine/Crimea, Syria, Malaysia and Guinea.
Attendees of Crimea Global:
Understanding Ukraine Through the South. Photo: OleksandrAvramenko, Kyiv Post.
How Muslims are affected by Russian
aggression in Crimea and the potential for global solidarity
This topic was discussed by Muslim
leaders from Ukraine (Crimean and non-Crimean), Malaysia, Guinea, and Syria,
who warned that Moscow is repeating the oppression of Crimean Muslims that it
had employed before as the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union.
Zelensky, Erdogan Discuss Pressing
Issues
Panel members said that in Ukraine
Muslims are treated with not just tolerance but hospitality, as are other
diverse members of ethnic and religious groups. One panelist noted that there
is no radicalism against the 130-plus nationalities and ethnicities in the
country and scoffed at the notion of neo-Nazis running Ukraine. They said that
nearly every city and town has a mosque, prayer house, or Muslim community
center.
Diallo Issa Saddio, President of the
African Council in Ukraine, came from Guinea in 1986, married a Ukrainian wife
and has been living here since then. He said African Muslims came to Ukraine
after the full-scale invasion and assisted volunteer battalions in rebuilding
efforts in Bucha and Irpin and providing general humanitarian medical support.
He said he was personally thanked for his service in Ukraine by the leader of
the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
In contrast, Diallo said Putin promised
food to Africa, which never appeared, and then destroyed grain in Odesa. He
said that Putin does export authoritarianism to Africa by supporting dictators.
Mohammad Fazril Bin Mohd Saleh,
Secretary General of the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia, said that Ukraine,
given the Crimean situation, has an opportunity to show the world how to gather
support from Muslims globally. He highlighted Russian violence against Muslims
in Chechnya, Syria, along with Crimea. He also compared the destruction in
Mariupol to the destruction Putin and Syrian President Bashar Al Assad caused
in Aleppo, including the deliberate targeting of Syrian civilians.
The panel also discussed the oppression
of Muslims within the Russian Federation, including the destruction of mosques
and the Kremlin conscripting Muslims to go fight other Muslims in Ukraine in
violation of the tenets of Islam.
The group concluded that Ukraine has an
opportunity to form global solidarity with the vast population of Muslims
around the world, especially given the plight of Crimean Tatar Muslims.
Crimea Global: Understanding Ukraine
Through the South speakers, panelists and participants. Photo:
OleksandrAvramenko, Kyiv Post.
The Crimea Platform organizational
mission statement:
“The Platform aims to increase the
effectiveness of the international response to the ongoing occupation of Crimea
and mounting security threats, respond to growing security threats, increase
international pressure on the Kremlin, prevent further human rights violations
and protect victims of the occupation regime, and achieve the main goal –
de-occupation of Crimea and its peaceful return to Ukraine.”
Source: kyivpost.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/23073
--------
Hamas kills Israeli soldier during raid
to free hostages, as Rishi Sunak calls for release of remaining 200 captives
23 October 2023
Kit Heren
Benjamin Netanyahu brought together his
war Cabinet to assess the state of the conflict, as Israel continues to hold
Gaza under total siege.
Meanwhile Hamas met with the foreign
minister of Iran and Israel continued to clash with Lebanon on its northern
border, sparking fresh fears the conflict could spread into a wider regional
war.
The IDF also hit Syrian airports with
airstrikes again.
Israel's General Hagari confirmed that
one soldier had been killed and three had been injured during the raid in the
Khan Younis city, in southern Gaza.
The soldiers were trying to rescue some
of the roughly-200 hostages taken by Hamas during its attacks on October 7.
Hamas said that it had fought with
Israel in the south of the territory, destroying a tank and two bulldozers.
Israel confirmed the death and the three
injuries from an anti-tank missile.
"An IDF (Israel Defense Forces)
soldier was killed, one was moderately injured, and two were lightly injured as
a result of an anti-tank missile launched toward an IDF tank and an engineering
vehicle," the army said.
Israel has repeatedly hinted at a ground
invasion that will see its troop enter the dense urban environment, which sits
on top of a miles-long underground tunnel system dubbed the "Gaza
metro".
The Israeli Defence Forces also said it
had hit an “Egyptian position near the border” in a statement on Sunday, and
expressed sorrow.
Meanwhile Palestinian media said that
Israeli air strikes had killed more than 400 people, which they called the
'heaviest bombardment' since the October 7 Hamas attack.
Dozens were killed in the Jabalia
refugee camp in northern Gaza, according to local officials. These figures have
not been verified independently.
It comes as world leaders including
Rishi Sunak and Joe Biden ramp up diplomatic efforts to prevent the war
triggering wider bloodshed across the Middle East.
Source: lbc.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/israel-hamas-kills-soldier-raid-hostages/
---------
British Muslim charities must do more to
speak up for Palestine
22nd October 2023
Human Aid & Advocacy says that
British Muslim charities must move beyond just focussing on aid delivery and
use their considerable influence and reach to speak up in support of our
Palestinian brothers and sisters and against apartheid Israel.
The ongoing tragic attacks by Israel in
Gaza have sparked a natural desire for people to help, and our charities have
been doing an excellent job at facilitating relief efforts for Gaza.
Although support is often encouraged
through donating to charities and providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians,
it is also crucial to recognise that humanitarian aid alone cannot resolve the
deep-seated issues Palestinians face.
There is often a notion that charities cannot
be “political” and must be neutral. However, UK charity law permits political
activity, and the Charity Commission states that” “Charities can undertake
political activity in support of their charitable aims.”
Furthermore, in its guidance the Charity
Commission elaborates that: “Charities are free to participate in public
debates and to use their voice to try to influence decisions which will support
the work of the charity.”
To know how to respond adequately we can
pose these questions to ourselves: “What do our Palestinian brothers and
sisters need from us? How can we utilise the resources and audiences we have to
fulfil those needs?”
Palestinians are yearning for
liberation, and their needs are not limited to immediate supplies like food,
medicine, or fuel. Muslim charities have a moral obligation to speak out. This
is what our Palestinian beneficiaries need, and what our donors expect.
Remaining silent about Israeli apartheid
and colonial subjugation is not an option; let us utilise the blessings and
resources Allah has entrusted us with to truly assist Palestine in its moment
of struggle by raising our voices.
Therefore, our call to our companions in
the Muslim charity sector is to come together and leverage the influence and
reach we have to vocalise the support for ending 75 years of apartheid and
illegal occupation in Palestine, echoing the clear voice of the oppressed.
While continuing to provide vital
humanitarian aid, let us not remain silent in the face of this oppression. As
Desmond Tutu said: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have
chosen the side of the oppressor.”
Human Aid & Advocacy calls upon
Muslim charities to raise your voice in the following ways:
Lobby the UK Government
Call on the UK Government to bring about
an immediate ceasefire and end of Israeli aggression in Gaza and the West Bank.
Additionally, call for the opening of a humanitarian corridor to provide vital
aid into the Gaza Strip, and for the UK Government to withdraw its support for
Israel, which is only emboldening Israel to commit further war crimes and
ethnic cleansing.
Oppose Israel’s apartheid and colonial
domination
It has now been recognised by numerous
leading NGOs, both Israeli and international, as well as a former head of
Mossad, that Israel is an apartheid regime. Moreover, their occupation of
Palestine has been regarded by multiple human rights bodies as illegal. We have
a right to voice this opinion, so let’s use our platform to advocate for the
end of Israeli apartheid and colonial domination.
Expose the Israeli state and all those
who support it as being guilty of war crimes and genocide
The daily bombardment of the Gaza Strip,
the most densely populated region in the world, alongside the use of white
phosphorus, targeting of hospitals, and the cutting off from access to food,
water and electricity, constitute war crimes and amount to ethnic cleaning and
genocide.
Advocate for the Palestinian people’s
right to resist
Over 700,000 indigenous Palestinians
were ethnically cleansed from their homes by Zionist militias during the
creation of Israel in 1948. The Gaza Strip is the most densely populated region
in the world because the majority of the 2.1 million people living there were
dispossessed of their homes and forced to seek refuge in Gaza by the Israeli
occupation. Palestinians in the West Bank and in other occupied territories are
subjugated and persecuted daily by Israeli police, soldiers and colonial
settlers. International law affirms the right of Palestinian people to resist
military occupation and colonial subjugation, including the use of armed force.
Counter the propaganda
Use your platforms to counter the
propaganda and false narratives that seek to both delegitimise the Palestinian
struggle for freedom and support Israeli war crimes.
Show solidarity with the Palestinian
people and their struggle for freedom
Fly the Palestinian flag in your home,
your business, your car. Attend demonstrations in support of Palestine. Show
the Palestinian people and the world that you have not abandoned them and that
you stand shoulder to shoulder with them in their struggle for freedom.
Conclusion
As charities working within the British
Muslim sphere, we must coordinate our efforts to support Palestinian survivors
in their continual struggle to free themselves from the yoke of colonial
domination and oppression. This cannot be achieved purely by humanitarian aid
alone, but requires us all to use our voices and platforms to advocate for real
change.
Charities often prioritise humanitarian
aid after the conflict has ended, however there is a need for us to influence
change before mass death and destruction. Through advocacy, we can prevent or
limit the dire impact of crises’.
To support charities in advocating for
Palestine, Human Aid & Advocacy have put together a guidance document with
evidence-based resources on what Muslim Charities can say regarding Palestine.
Source: 5pillarsuk.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://5pillarsuk.com/2023/10/22/british-muslim-charities-must-do-more-to-speak-up-for-palestine/
--------
UK shifts policy on stranded Afghans’
relocation
October 23, 2023
THE UK government has decided to reverse
its policy on the repatriation of Afghans living in Pakistan and Iran, who are
eligible for asylum, The Independent has 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 made accommodation arrangements a prerequisite for repatriation.
Hundreds are also trapped in Iran waiting for the relocation.
The UK government has pledged to move
all Afghans eligible for resettlement even without a confirmed accommodation
before coming to Britain, as per the British newspaper.
The decision came after Pakistan issued
an ultimatum to all undocumented foreign nationals to leave by Nov 1 or risk
deportation. British diplomats posted in the two countries have “explicitly
warned” their government that refugees could not be protected from arrests and
deportation, The Independent reported.
Two Afghans, eligible for the
relocation, have also filed a case against the UK government.
During the hearing on Friday, Lisa
Giovannetti KC, on behalf of the UK government, informed the court that a
decision has been made to “change to government policy” and “allow ARAP cases
and ACRS, those eligible under those schemes to be resettled to the UK without
a prior requirement for settled accommodation”.
She was referring to the two UK
government’s schemes to resettle Afghans in the country. The first is the
Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) — for Afghans who worked
directly with British forces and their families — and the second is the Afghan
Citizen Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) for those who worked in British-run civil
schemes or are in vulnerable minority groups.
The lawyer added that the resettlement
would proceed under the ARAP scheme, and the immigrants would be housed “into
suitable accommodation as a primary option as quickly as possible”. “But if
transitional accommodation is required, this will be provided, including hotel
accommodation if necessary,” The Independent reported.
The relocated Afghans will be kept in
armed forces homes in the UK.
Earlier, documents submitted in the
court stated that UK PM Rishi Sunak, in a bid to cut costs, had instructed
government departments only to relocate Afghans if an accommodation, other than
hotels, was arranged for them, according to BBC.
The lawyers also said the UK was trying
to expedite the relocation while negotiating with the Pakistani government to
expedite this process.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1782978/uk-shifts-policy-on-stranded-afghans-relocation
-------
Rallies held across Europe in support of
Palestinians
22 October 2023
Thousands of people have held
demonstrations in European cities, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza,
which has been under incessant Israeli bombing since October 7.
The pro-Palestinian protests were held
in Brussels, Sarajevo and Paris on Sunday.
The protesters gathered in front of the
EU headquarters in Brussels, chanting "free, free Palestine" and
“boycott Israel” while waving Palestinian flags.
Some people booed at the mention of EU
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was criticized for not being
fast enough to declare publicly that the bloc expected Israel to abide by
international law, which has been widely seen as pro-Israel.
Police estimated that some 12,000 people
attended the protest which was the first major pro-Palestine rally in the
Belgian capital since the start of the Israeli regime’s bloody onslaught
against the blockaded territory.
Israel launched the war on Gaza on
October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas launched a surprise
attack against the occupying regime.
According to the Health Ministry in
Gaza, Israeli strikes on Gaza have so far killed over 4,650 Palestinians,
including more than 1,870 children. More than 14,000 people have also been
injured.
Several thousand people also gathered
Sunday in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo at a pro-Palestinian rally, with the
support of city hall and Mayor BenjaminaKaric who attended the rally.
Elsewhere, thousands of people waving
Palestinian flags and chanting “Gaza, Paris is with you” gathered for the first
pro-Palestinian demonstration allowed by police in the French capital, Paris. According
to police figures, around 15,000 people turned out at the Place de la
Republique.
Pro-Palestine protests also took place
over the weekend in other European capitals to call for the end of Israeli
aggression in the besieged area and the safe delivery of aid.
Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian
demonstrators march through central London, condemning Israel
Police in London said nearly 100,000
people marched in the British capital on Saturday in an event organized by
pro-Palestinian groups. Demonstrators held signs reading "Freedom for
Palestine", "Stop Bombing Gaza" and "End Israeli
Apartheid", condemning Israel's brutal war on the Gaza Strip and the
British government's unconditional support for Tel Aviv.
Meanwhile, despite a ban on
demonstrations issued by Berlin police, several hundred pro-Palestine
demonstrators marched unhindered through the streets of the German capital.
Similar calls were also heard in Rome
where hundreds of demonstrators marched in the streets with the cry of “free
Palestine” and holding a banner reading "No peace until we get
freedom".
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/22/713236/Pro-Palestine-rally-Europe-ceasefire-Gaza-Strip-Israeli-shelling-Brussels-Sarajevo-Paris--
-------
Arab World
Saudi Arabia, Malaysia issue joint
statement at end of PM’s visit
October 22, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and Malaysia issued
a joint statement on Sunday at the end of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar
Ibrahim’s visit to the Kingdom.
During a meeting with Ibrahim at
Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed
his appreciation for Malaysia’s support for Saudi bids to host Expo 2030 and
the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Ibrahim thanked the Kingdom for serving
the two holy mosques and pilgrims, and praised the high level of coordination
between the two countries to achieve the comfort of Malaysian pilgrims.
Regarding the situation in Gaza, the two
sides stressed the need to stop all forms of military escalation in the
Palestinian territories and to protect civilians.
They also said the international
community must play its role in pressuring Israel to stop its plans to occupy
the Gaza Strip and warned against the forced displacement of Palestinians.
The two countries called on the
international community to work to compel Israel to respect international laws
and to allow international humanitarian organizations to carry out their role
in providing humanitarian and relief aid to the Palestinian people.
The countries stressed the importance of
intensifying efforts to reach a comprehensive and just settlement of the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict and returning to serious and effective
negotiations to achieve peace in accordance with the principle of a two-state
solution, the relevant international legitimacy resolutions, and the Arab Peace
Initiative.
Ibrahim also welcomed the Kingdom’s
resumptions of diplomatic relations with Iran. The two countries stressed the
importance of Tehran’s commitment to the peacefulness of its nuclear program,
full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the
importance of regional countries participating in any negotiations for a
nuclear deal.
The two sides agreed to enhance
cooperation in the following areas:
Renewable energy and technology related
to it
Environment, water, agriculture and food
security
Communications, technology, digital economy,
innovation, and space
Transportation and logistics
Sustainable tourism
Higher education, research, innovation,
and media
Health and supporting global initiatives
to confront current and future pandemics, risks, and health challenges
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2395956/saudi-arabia
---------
Saudi ambassador to Ghana presents his
credentials as non-resident envoy to Togo
October 22, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi Ambassador to Ghana Sultan
bin Abdulrahman Al-Dakhil on Sunday presented his credentials as the
non-resident envoy to Togo, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
President of Togo Faure Gnassingbe
received Al-Dakhil in the West African country’s capital city of Lome after
having also recently met with Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel
Al-Jubeir.
Al-Jubeir expressed Saudi Arabia’s
gratitude for Togo’s support for the Kingdom’s bids to host Expo 2030 and
football’s 2034 World Cup.
In July, Al-Dakhil presented his
credentials to Ghanaian President Nana AddoDankwaAkufo-Addo, in the capital
Accra.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2396016/saudi-arabia
--------
Malaysia and Saudi renew determination
in maintaining international peace, stability and security
23 Oct 2023
RIYADH, Oct 23 — Saudi Arabia and
Malaysia have reaffirmed their commitment to bolster coordination and intensify
efforts aimed at preserving international peace, stability, and security.
This determination was expressed in a
joint statement released following the visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk
Seri Anwar Ibrahim to the Kingdom on Saturday.
The statement, issued on Sunday by Saudi
Arabia and made available to Bernama, highlighted many accomplishments
resulting from the meeting between Anwar and Saudi Crown Prince and Prime
Minister Mohammed bin Salman.
Both parties have also reached an
agreement to strengthen cooperation in defence and security fields and to
coordinate on matters of mutual interest, including the combatting of various
forms of crime. This collaborative effort aims to enhance security and
stability in the two brotherly nations.
On the current conflict in Gaza Strip,
both sides emphasised the international community’s crucial role in exerting
pressure on Israel to halt its plans to invade the Gaza. They also strongly
cautioned against the forced displacement of Palestinians and the severe
consequences it would entail.
The importance of intensifying efforts
to achieve a comprehensive and equitable resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli
conflict was underscored. This includes pursuing a genuine path for substantive
and effective negotiations that align with the principles of the two-state
solution, relevant international legitimacy resolutions, and the Arab Peace
Initiative. These negotiations should guarantee the Palestinian people’s right
to establish their independent state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based
on the 1967 borders.
The discussion also touched upon
security, stability, and the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, as well as
the Yemeni crisis and Saudi Arabia’s role in facilitating dialogue among Yemeni
parties, along with its economic support for Yemen.
The statement applauded Malaysia’s
positive reception of the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi
Arabia and Iran, acknowledging its potential contribution to regional security
and stability.
Both parties stressed the importance of
activating the Saudi-Malaysian Coordination Council and its subcommittees to
align with the aspirations of their respective leaderships, fostering an
enhanced and developed partnership in areas of mutual interest.
The statement also highlighted Prince
Mohammed bin Salman’s appreciation for Malaysia’s support for Riyadh’s bids to
host the World Expo 2030, World Cup 2034, and the Asian Organization of Supreme
Audit Institutions (Asosai) 2027.
Additionally, it noted Malaysia’s
gratitude for the Kingdom’s efforts in servicing the two holy mosques and their
visitors, encompassing pilgrims, Umrah performers, and other visitors.
In the realms of economics, trade, and
investment, both sides expressed their determination to bolster investments and
invite Malaysian companies to explore the investment opportunities presented by
the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 programs and projects.
The parties also expressed their intent
to enhance cooperation in Islamic financing by providing Sharia-compliant
financing products and services, particularly in the realm of Islamic Murabaha.
While the Malaysian side welcomed the
“Saudi Green” and “Middle East Green” initiatives supporting Saudi Arabia’s
climate change efforts, the Saudi side applauded Malaysia’s recent launch of
the National New Renewable Energy Roadmap (NREP).
Furthermore, both sides have agreed to
intensify cooperation in various domains, including renewable energy and its
technologies, environmental initiatives, digital economy, tourism, higher
education, healthcare, agriculture, and food industries. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/10/23/malaysia-and-saudi-renew-determination-in-maintaining-international-peace-stability-and-security/97835
-------
Mideast
Gaza: 42% of housing units destroyed or
damaged in Israeli attacks, UN says
22 October, 2023
ِAt least 42 percent of all housing units in the Gaza Strip have been
destroyed or damaged as a result of Israel's continuous strikes, the UN
humanitarian office said.
"About 15,100 housing units were
destroyed, and 10,656 housing units were rendered uninhabitable," the
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said
in a press statement sent to The New Arab.
"Moreover, 139,000 housing units
were subjected to minor to moderate damage, pointing to the destruction of
entire neighborhoods, especially in Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia, Shujaiya, the area
between Gaza and the Beach refugee camp, and AbasanKabira in Khan Yunis,"
OCHA added.
The statement explained that an
assessment of the North Gaza Governorate area, conducted by the United Nations
Satellite Center, identified 927 destroyed buildings and 4,337 buildings that
suffered moderate to severe damage, equivalent to about 15 percent of all
buildings in that area.
The evaluation was based on comparing
images collected on 15 October 2023 with those collected on 1 May 2023,
according to OCHA.
OCHA stressed that Israel's attacks have
continued "unabated" at a time when the cumulative death toll has
reached over 4,385 Palestinians, of whom 62 percent are children and women,
while more than 1,000 Palestinian people have been reported missing and are
presumed to be trapped or died under the rubble.
According to the Ministry of Health in
Gaza, 98 Palestinian families lost ten or more members. Ninety-five Palestinian
families lost between 6 and 9 members, and 357 families lost between two and
five members.
The ministry reported that the number of
deaths reported in Gaza in the current round of fighting is about 84 percent
higher than the total number of deaths during the 50-day round of fighting in
the summer of 2014, when 2,251 Palestinians were killed.
Because of the ongoing Israeli
airstrikes, about 1.4 million people are internally displaced in Gaza, with
about 566,000 people living in precarious conditions at 148 emergency shelters
designated for UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA.
Source: newarab.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.newarab.com/news/gaza-42-housing-units-destroyed-damaged-israel
--------
China supports legitimate demands of
Arab, Islamic states
Oct 23, 2023
TEHRAN, Oct. 23 (MNA) – Chinese Foreign
Minister Wang Yi stated that Beijing stands by Palestine in the Gaza war and
supports the legitimate demands of Arab and Islamic countries.
Wang Yi emphasized that all parties in
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should put aside geopolitical considerations
and promote international reconciliation for lasting peace, and stated that
they support the legitimate demands of Arab and Islamic countries on the
Palestinian issue, Turkiye News Paper reports.
According to the statement made by the
Chinese Foreign Ministry, Minister Wang exchanged ideas on the ongoing conflict
between the Israeli regime and Palestine in a telephone conversation with
Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir. Stating that China is against
all kinds of attacks that harm innocent civilians and violate international
law.
"In the Palestinian issue, we
always stand by peace, international law, and the legitimate demands of Arab
and Islamic countries," Wang noted.
Wang emphasized that he supported the
joint statement of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the
Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) on the situation in the Gaza Strip.
"When it comes to war and peace,
all parties should put aside geopolitical considerations, adhere to conscience,
and prevent greater humanitarian disasters by achieving an international
consensus that will end the war as soon as possible," Wang emphasized.
Source: mehrnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://en.mehrnews.com/news/207448/China-supports-legitimate-demands-of-Arab-Islamic-states
--------
Biden’s Pro-Israeli Remarks
Anti-Democratic, Inhuman: Iranian President
Oct 23, 2023
TEHRAN, Oct. 23 (MNA) – Iranian
President Ebrahim Raeisi has strongly condemned his American counterpart's
recent pro-Israeli remarks as "reactionary, anti-democratic, and
inhuman."
Ebrahim Raeisi made the remark while
addressing a Cabinet session on Sunday. He was referring to Joe Biden's
statements during his visit to the occupied territories earlier this month,
when he noted, "I have long said: If Israel didn’t exist, we would have to
invent it."
Describing Biden's remarks as
"reactionary, anti-democratic, and inhuman," the Iranian president
said, "Such statements amount to unwanted admission of the fake nature of
the usurping Zionist regime."
Raeisi added, "The Americans must
answer this question: Which international law, agreement or regulations are
compatible with such remarks?"
The Israeli regime claimed existence in
1948, after occupying huge swathes of Palestinian territories during a
Western-backed war. It occupied more land in another war in 1967. Ever since,
it has built hundreds of illegal settlements on the occupied territories,
imposed the most aggressive restrictions on the movements of Palestinian
people, and waged near-daily violent attacks against them.
The regime has, however, invariably
evaded accountability for its crimes thanks to unbridled political support from
the United States, its biggest and oldest ally, which has consistently used its
veto power to strike down anti-Tel Aviv resolutions at the United Nations
Security Council.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Raeisi said
Biden's comments also serve as a "warning" to Muslim states in the
region, adding, "Such remarks are indicative of the fact that for the
United States, preserving the Zionist regime is considerably more important
than [protecting] the lives of human beings, especially women and
children."
The Iranian president's remarks came on
the 16th day of a barbaric onslaught by the Israeli regime against the
Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip, which has so far killed more than
4,700 Gazans and left more than 15,000 others injured.
“Today, the question posed to
governments, world powers, and international organizations by the people of the
world is how they can allow an arrogant regime [like Israel] to kill the
oppressed women and children of Palestine in such a barbaric and bloody manner
with the US support right in front of their eyes,” Raeisi said.
He added, "What is happening in
Gaza against the oppressed people of this region is a clear example of war
crimes and crimes against humanity."
Stressing the necessity of bringing to
justice the "criminal leaders of the US and Zionist regime as the main
perpetrators and supporters of these crimes," Iran's President said,
"We are certain that the unjustly-spilt blood of the oppressed people of
Gaza will speed up the fall of the Zionist regime and liberation of the Holy
al-Quds."
Source: mehrnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://en.mehrnews.com/news/207439/Biden-s-pro-Israeli-remarks-anti-democratic-inhuman
---------
Israel evacuates more areas near Lebanon
as clashes with Hezbollah intensify
22 October 2023
The Israeli regime has added more
villages to its list of places near Lebanon that need to evacuate amid an
intensifying confrontation with the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah.
The regime said on Sunday it would
evacuate 14 more communities in the northern occupied territories near Lebanon,
a week after it moved residents out of 28 border-area villages and the nearby
town of KiryatShmona.
The Israeli regime has evacuated those
communities to temporary accommodation as it fears heavy casualties from
cross-border clashes with Hezbollah.
Hezbollah attacks on the Israelis have
killed at least six, including five soldiers, since they began less than two
weeks ago in support of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas and its
operation against Israel.
Nearly 40 people have been killed on the
Lebanese side of the border, according to statements from Hezbollah and
Lebanese security forces.
The confrontation is the largest to
erupt between Hezbollah and Israel since they fought a major war in 2006.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu visited Israeli troops on the Lebanese border on Sunday as he sought
to warn Hezbollah against scaling up attacks against the Israeli regime.
“We will strike it with a force it
cannot even imagine,” said Netanyahu in reference to a potential escalation
with Hezbollah.
The Lebanese resistance movement
Hezbollah has launched a series of retaliatory strikes against the positions of
the Israeli occupation forces across the country’s southern border.
Hezbollah has warned it could expand its
attacks if the Israeli regime intensifies its brutal campaign against people in
the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian enclave where Hamas is based.
The resistance group has also warned any
foreign intervention in the Palestinian conflict may cause the war to spread to
other parts of the region.
More than 4,600 people have been killed
in Gaza since Israel launched its assaults on the enclave on October 7, the day
when Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupiers, killing
1,400 settlers and troops.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/22/713233/Israel-evacuations-Lebanon-Hezbollah-Gaza-war
--------
Dispute between Iraqi military and
Kurdish Peshmerga turns deadly, killing 4
October 23, 2023
BAGHDAD: The Iraqi military and Kurdish
Peshmerga forces briefly clashed Sunday in a dispute over control of a
strategic military post, resulting in four deaths, Iraq’s military spokesperson
and a military source said.
The dispute was over who controls three
vacated posts previously in the hands of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)
militants. It marked further tension in a fragile alliance between the Iraqi military
and Kurdish Peshmerga forces of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region inside
federal Iraq.
Two security officials said the posts
are located in Mount QarahDagh within the Makhmour district, a strategic
location that borders Irbil and Nineveh, between the two regions.
On Thursday, the PKK announced they were
vacating the positions, citing what they said was the declining threat of the
extremist Daesh group in the area. They had held the military position since
2014, during the global war on the group.
But Peshmerga fighters from the
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the ruling party in Iraqi Kurdistan, tried to
retake the positions on Sunday, triggering the clashes, sources said.
Iraqi military spokesman Yahya Rasool
said three were killed and seven others were wounded in the fighting, without
mentioning the identities of the casualties.
But army and Peshmerga sources said that
two Iraqi army soldiers and one Peshmerga fighter were killed instantly, and
Peshmerga lieutenant colonel died of his wounds later.
Six Iraqi soldiers and five Peshmerga
fighters were wounded. Two of the Iraqi soldiers were in critical condition,
said health service sources.
The clashes lasted for around two hours
before abating when commanders from both sides sought to defuse tensions, said
military and Peshmerga sources.
Iraqi army troops are still in control
over the mountainous positions, said three army sources.
But both sides are sending
reinforcements to the area, said military sources, calling the situation
“fragile.”
Last time armed clashes broke out
between the two parties was in 2017 when Iraqi government forces launched a
surprise offensive in retaliation for an independence referendum organized by
the Kurdish regional government.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2396061/middle-east
--------
Iran FM: Israel’s ultimate goal is forced
displacement of Palestinians to Sinai, Jordan
22 October 2023
Iran's foreign minister says the
ultimate goal behind the Israeli regime's bloody attacks against the besieged
Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank is to force Palestinian people to leave their
motherland.
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remark
in a Sunday phone call with his Egyptian counterpart, SamehShoukry.
Israel began the war on Gaza on October
7, following Operation al-Aqsa Storm, which was launched by Gaza-based
Palestinian resistance groups in response to the regime’s campaign of bloodshed
and destruction against Palestinian people.
According to Palestinian Health
Ministry, Israeli strikes on Gaza have so far left over 4,700 Palestinians
dead, including more than 1,870 children, at least 1,000 women, and nearly 200
elderly people. More than 15,000 people have been injured.
The regime has also ramped up its
violent attacks across the occupied West Bank, killing more than 90
Palestinians since Operation al-Aqsa Storm started.
During his phone conversation, Iran's
top diplomat lauded Egypt’s efforts to stop the Israeli war on Gaza and pave
the way for humanitarian aid to reach the territory.
“The ultimate goal of the fake and
occupying Israeli regime is forced displacement of the people of Gaza and the
West Bank to the Sinai region in Egypt and parts of Jordan,” Amir-Abdollahian
said.
Washington is also now involved in a
“proxy war” on Gaza, the Iranian foreign minister said.
He added, “In fact, Tel Aviv [regime] is
trying to have the Palestinian government established outside the historical
land of Palestine, but the resistance has proved to be a real obstacle that
does not allow Zionists’ dream to come true.”
Amir-Abdollahian also declared the
readiness of Iran's Red Crescent Society to send humanitarian aid to the people
of Gaza through Egypt.
Shoukry, for his part, said his country
was opposed to further spread of the war, arguing that the Palestinian nation
must remain in its own land.
‘Defending Palestinians, duty of all
followers of Abrahamic religions’
In a related development also on Sunday,
Iran's foreign minister wrote a letter to Vatican’s Secretary for Relations
with States Paul Richard Gallagher.
In his letter, Amir-Abdollahian said the
recent crimes committed by the Israeli regime, including bombardment of
al-Mamdani Hospital and a historical church in the Gaza Strip, where women and
children had sheltered, “reveal another facet of the Zionist regime’s savage
and brutal nature.”
Israel’s Tuesday airstrike on al-Mamdani
Hospital, also known as al-Ahli Arab Hospital, killed nearly 500 Palestinians,
triggering global outrage at the slaughter of people, many of whom were taking
shelter from more than two weeks of ruthless Israeli bombing of the besieged
territory.
A “large number” of displaced people
sheltering at a church compound in Gaza have been killed in an Israeli air
attack, the Palestinian interior ministry says.
A subsequent Israeli strike on the Greek
Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza City also killed a large number of
displaced people sheltering at the church compound.
“This [attack on a church] proves that
the Israeli regime applies its systematic apartheid not only to Muslims, but
also to followers of all Abrahamic religions, including Christians,” Iran's
foreign minister said.
Noting that “today, we are facing a new
version of modern savagery in the occupied Palestinian territories,"
Amir-Abdollahian added, “At this critical and determining juncture, defending
and protecting the rights and lives of the Palestinian nation is a duty for all
followers of Abrahamic religions.”
He concluded his letter by saying,
“Without a doubt, unity among Muslims, Christians and Jews in countering the
crimes of the Zionist regime will play an effective role in restraining
Zionists’ extremist measures, restoring calm to the world, and establishing
moral values.”
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/22/713242/Iran-FM-Hossein-Amir-Abdollahian-Egypt-Sameh-Shoukry-Sinai-Jordan
--------
Israeli bombing of Gaza has killed
nearly 2,000 Palestinian children
22 October, 2023
Israel's relentless bombing campaign in
Gaza has killed nearly 2,000 Palestinian children.
The latest escalation was sparked on 7
October, when Hamas launched a surprise attack inside Israel, killing 1,400
people.
Since then, Israeli attacks have killed
over 4,650 people in Gaza, including at least 1,873 Palestinian children.
It means children make up around 40
percent of those who have lost their lives to the bombardment so far.
"More than 4,600 children are
injured as hospitals run out of fuel, electricity, and medical supplies,"
rights group Defence for Children International – Palestine said in a post on
social media platform X on Sunday.
Israel imposed a full siege on Gaza,
tightening previous longstanding restrictions, following the Hamas attack.
While an aid convoy arrived in the strip
on Saturday and another entered the crossing with Egypt on Sunday, the
situation remains bleak for Palestinian civilians living there as basic
supplies are in short supply.
Source: newarab.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.newarab.com/news/gaza-israel-bombing-has-killed-1873-palestinian-children
--------
Southeast Asia
Prolonged crisis: PM deliberates with
Arab leaders as bloody conflict with Israel wears on
23 Oct 2023
ISTANBUL – Malaysia regrets the stance
adopted by several Western nations seen as unwilling to support humanitarian
issues in Gaza, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
He said Malaysia is resolute in its
position that all forms of attacks on civilians, including Palestinian women
and children, must be stopped, and humanitarian assistance must be provided to
them.
However, he mentioned that several Arab
leaders he has met with so far have provided positive responses to the issues
raised by Malaysia regarding the developments in Gaza.
“Many Islamic countries have made
positive determinations. Stop the attacks and intensify efforts to assist the
people of Gaza from a humanitarian perspective,” he said during a press
conference at the end of his two-day working visit to Turkiye.
Earlier, Anwar had a meeting with
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Vahdettin Palace here, where they
discussed various issues, including trade, economic cooperation, bilateral
relations and more.
Prior to that, the prime minister also
held meetings with Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek, Foreign Minister
HakanFidan, and the country’s National Intelligence Organisation director
Ibrahim Kalin.
Anwar said that Turkiye was seen as
being at the forefront in terms of providing aid to the Palestinian people, as
the country had worked on channelling various forms of medical aid to Gaza
despite the logistical issues.
Meanwhile, the prime minister said the
conflict in Gaza was worrisome because if Israel persisted in invading and
capturing the territory, it would lead to a prolonged crisis involving many
Arab countries.
Describing the situation in Gaza as
“insanity”, he said Malaysia remains steadfast on its stand that the aggression
and the apathy towards women and children in Gaza must be stopped.
“I cannot understand why Israelis don’t
understand that what was a Holocaust episode in the past is now being imposed
on others,” he said.
Anwar later departed from Istanbul to
continue his working visit in Egypt where he is expected to hold a meeting with
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, with humanitarian issues to continue to be the
main topic of discussion.
Speaking in Cairo last night, the prime
minister had urged all parties, including the world’s major powers, to work
towards a ceasefire in Gaza to ease tensions in the region.
He said the killing of children, women
and innocent Palestinians in Gaza must stop.
"Malaysia is not a big country, not
an Arab country, not a Gulf country that neighbours Palestine. But we are
responsible for voicing the conscience of the Ummah and the Palestinian
people," he said when speaking at the meet-and-greet session with the
Malaysian diaspora and students in Egypt here last night.
Anwar also regretted the stance adopted
by several Western powers that did not seem interested in stopping the cruelty,
oppression and killing of Palestinians in Gaza, besides being cold towards the
efforts of sending humanitarian aid to Gaza. – Bernama, October 23, 2023
Source: thevibes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/99561/prolonged-crisis-pm-deliberates-with-arab-leaders-as-bloody-conflict-with-israel-wears-on
--------
World must wake up from hypocrisy
towards Palestine: Anwar
22 Oct 2023
KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Anwar Ibrahim said that the world must wake up and see the stark hypocrisy
through situations unfolding in Gaza.
Anwar said there is too much
contradiction and hypocrisy in the arena of international politics, and it must
be stopped.
“Well, I would say that a good student
of history and geopolitics wouldn’t be necessarily surprised.
“You talk about human rights at one end,
and you deny rights to the others, for example, I make reference, you condemn
Russia for the aggression because of Russia’s decision to take a Russian
enclave in Ukraine, fair.
“That is condemned, but with the Israeli
aggression and taking over of legitimate Palestinian land, that is condoned…not
only that, it is supported and defended,” he said in an interview with Arab
News on Friday, on the sidelines of the inaugural Asean-GCC Summit in Riyadh.
Describing the situation in Gaza as
“insanity”, Anwar said Malaysia remains steadfast on its stand that the
aggression and the apathy towards women and children in Gaza must be stopped.
“I cannot understand why Israelis don’t
understand that what was a Holocaust episode in the past is now being imposed
on others,” he said.
Commenting on the opening remarks by
Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman at the summit, Anwar said Malaysia was fully
behind the efforts of Saudi Arabia and the GCC to bring the crisis to a close.
“I happen to have to be the earliest
responders…immediately, my response was to thank him and to say that we are
with you and the GCC, because what you say when you take the lead, it will have
a powerful impact compared to Asean nations.
“Without exaggeration, to say that the
opening remarks of the crown prince were very touching to me…they were
passionate and it is timely that a leader in the Arab world takes a firm
position on humanitarian grounds,” he said.
He added that the Crown Prince has
played a pivotal role in the region including hosting and coordinating the GCC
and Asean Riyadh Summit.
He said the foreign ministers’ conference
was not an ordinary conference, but did secure some basic parameters and
understanding of collaboration, particularly on humanitarian assistance.
“I have to take note of that and thank
him…more importantly, the diplomatic nuances, is to then discuss specifically
the role of some of the big companies there.
There are some of our own companies
here, how we can utilise each other’s experience in terms of research, new
technology, green transmission, trade and investment.
“I will use every minute to make sure
that we secure something important for both countries,” Anwar said.
Meanwhile, in an interview with Asharq
Al-Awsat, Anwar urged the international community to do everything in their
power to guarantee peace in the Gaza Strip as thousands of innocent lives have
been lost due to the attack by Israel.
Anwar said Malaysia believes everyone
must work together to stop this madness of the continued killing of innocents
by Israel in Palestine, specifically in the Gaza Strip.
“We took a very strong position together,
with our brothers, friends, allies, and neighbours.” This heinous act must end.
The international community must do everything in its power to guarantee peace.
“And I mean peace for all (...) but Gaza
is now under siege, and people are struggling to live, there is no water, no
electricity, no food and no medicine. The situation is truly tragic,” the prime
minister said. – Bernama, October 22, 2023
Source: thevibes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/99557/world-must-wake-up-from-hypocrisy-towards-palestine-anwar
-------
Singapore Prime Minister visits Sheikh
Zayed Grand Mosque
23 Oct 2023
Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of
Singapore, today visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (SZGM), accompanied by
Dr. Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, as part of
his official visit to the UAE.
The UAE Ambassador also accompanied him
to Singapore, Gamal Al Suwaidi, and the Ambassador of Singapore to the UAE
Kamal R Vaswani.
The Singaporean premier and his
accompanying delegation began their tour with a visit to the final resting
place of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and recalled the Founding
Father’s qualities and wise approach that enriched the culture of tolerance and
peaceful coexistence among various nations of the world.
The Singaporean PM toured the mosque and
was briefed about its halls and external corridors.
During the tour, they were briefed about
the mosque’s noble message that highlights notions of coexistence, tolerance,
and openness to other cultures, inspired by the nation’s late founder’s rich
legacy, and about the mosque’s leading role in highlighting the Islamic
culture’s true essence and promoting cross-cultural communication worldwide.
At the end of the visit, the guest was
presented with two of the Centre’s distinctive publications. The first titled
"Spaces of Light,” showcasing the winning photographs in the "Spaces
of Light” photography award, annually organised by the Centre in celebration of
the scenic aesthetics and visual culture of the mosque, and another copy of a
book titled "Houses of God” about places of worship in the Islamic
history.
Source: gulftoday.ae
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2023/10/23/singapore-prime-minister-visits-sheikh-zayed-grand-mosque
-------
Africa
Tunisians gather outside French embassy
in new rally in support of Palestinians
22 Oct 2023
Thousands of Tunisians gathered outside
the French embassy in the capital, Tunis, on Saturday in support of the
Palestinians and demanding the departure of the ambassador.
This as Israel continues to bomb the
Gaza Strip after Palestinian militant group, Hamas, launched a deadly attack
across the border on 7 October.
Many Tunisians criticise Paris for
supporting Israel in its war with Hamas.
Demonstrators also called for the
criminalisation of any normalisation of relations with Israel.
"We're here to support Gaza and
Palestine. We, all the Tunisian people, are always with Palestine," said
demonstrator MarwenMeghri.
Hamas militants killed 1,400 people,
mainly civilians, and took 212 hostages back to Gaza in the attack.
Gaza's health ministry on Sunday said
that Israel's retaliatory air and missile strikes have killed at least 4,741
Palestinians and wounded 15,898.
"The people of Tunisia express
their unequivocal condemnation of the massacres and genocide perpetrated
against the Palestinian people," said Tayeb Bouaicha who also took part in
Saturday’s demonstrations.
Over a million of the densely populated
enclave's 2.3 million people have reportedly been displaced since the start of
the fighting.
Israel has also placed the Gaza Strip
under ‘total siege”, blocking food, fuel, water and medical supplies from
entering the area.
The United Nations said the first
humanitarian aid convoy of 20 trucks was allowed through the Egyptian border
crossing into Gaza on Saturday, following days of difficult negotiations.
It brought life-saving medical supplies
and some food into the Palestinian enclave.
A second convoy was due to cross into
the Gaza Strip on Sunday.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.africanews.com/2023/10/22/tunisians-gather-outside-french-embassy-in-new-rally-in-support-of-palestinians/
---------
Terrorists attack Customs office in
Yobe, kill officer
Mohammed Babangida
October 22, 2023
Terrorists suspected to be members of
Boko Haram killed an assistant superintendent of customs, Ahmed Usman, when
they attacked “Customs House” in Geidam town of Yobe State on Saturday.
“Customs House” is the office of the
Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in Geidam, a local government area which is the
farthest northern part of Yobe State.
The NCS confirmed the attack and killing
of its officer in what it called a “formidable threat” to the airport-attacked
office.
“In a valiant stand against suspected
Boko Haram insurgents, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), with timely
reinforcement from the Nigerian Army, thwarted an attack on the Customs Office
in Geidam town, Yobe State, demonstrating unwavering courage and resilience
against the enemies of the state.
“The Customs Office faced a formidable
threat but was bravely defended, safeguarding the facility and the families of
fellow officers and men,” the NCS in a statement by its spokesperson,
AbdullahiMaiwada, said.
The statement, which was made available
through the NCS official X (Twitter) handle, said Mr Usman was killed while
trying to repel the attack.
“During this harrowing encounter,
Assistant Superintendent of Customs II, Ahmed Usman, born on 2 April 1983, and
a dedicated NCS member since 24 February 2009, tragically paid the ultimate
sacrifice.
“He hailed from Pindiga Town, Akko Local
Government Area in Gombe State, leaving behind a grieving wife and five
children – three boys and two girls,” the statement added.
Mr Maiwada said the Comptroller General
of Customs, Bashir Adewale, has extended his “heartfelt” condolences to the
family of the deceased officer.
“He emphasised the crucial role of
community engagement in the shared pursuit of safety and security, urging all
citizens to contribute to these collective endeavours actively,” Mr Maiwada
said.
A Daily Trust report revealed that the
terrorists stormed the Customs House in a Volkswagen Golf and Land Rover
vehicles around 10 p.m. and began shooting sporadically.
“They struck when they were sure the
customs officers had retired home. Panicked by the rain of bullets, the
officers scampered for safety, some escaped through the gate, while others
scaled the fence.
“Unfortunately, one of the officers,
Usman Gombe, was shot dead while attempting to climb the fence,” a security
source told our correspondent,” the report quoted a security source.
Since 2010, the North-east and parts of
other countries especially Chad and Niger Republic, have been witnessing a
series of terrorist activities by Boko Haram insurgents, members of ISWAP and
Ansaru.
Yobe, alongside Borno and Adamawa, is
the worst-hit state in terms of terrorist activities.
Source: premiumtimesng.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/636039-terrorists-attack-customs-office-in-yobe-kill-officer.html
---------
Israel-Hamas War: Two States Creation
Key To Conflict Resolution, Says octogenarian Prof
October 22, 2023
A Professor of Political Science,
BolajiAkinyemi, says the 1948 United Nations Resolution creating two states is
key to the resolution of the long conflict between Palestine and Israel.
He also said Nigeria should not take
sides in the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist militant
group Hamas.
“We should not take sides and we don’t
need to take sides,” an octogenarian Akinyemi said in a live appearance on
Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
According to Prof Akinyemi, a former
Minister of External Affairs, the call for peace in the Middle East by the
Federal Government of Nigeria is the best position to take.
At a time when the war between Russia
and Ukraine was yet to subside, Hamas militants from Gaza stormed across the
border into Israel on October 7, launching a raid that killed at least 1,400
people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death on the
first day, according to Israeli officials.
They also seized more than 200 hostages
in the worst-ever attack in Israel’s history.
Israel has hit back with a relentless
bombing campaign which has so far killed more than 4,600 Palestinians, mainly
civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Hours after the war commenced, the
Nigerian Government called for de-escalation and ceasefire between both warring
parties.
Speaking on Sunday, Prof Akinyemi, also
a former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs
(NIIA), said Nigeria should be neutral.
He said, “We should be neutral. I
congratulate President Tinubu for the position he’s taken. We should be for
peace, we should be calling for a ceasefire, we should be calling for
humanitarian corridors that allow water, medicine, food to be going in.
“We should also be suggesting the way
forward, ultimate way forward: 1948 United Nations Resolution creating two
states – the Palestinian State and an Israeli State; those are the things that
are key to a resolution of the conflict in that place.
“We should not take sides and we don’t
need to take sides. And in any case, the problem in that place is so complex.
There are no good guys and there are no bad guys. So, there is no need for us
to be righteous in our position.”
The don said there are religious
implications to the war even though it is not a religious issue, adding that
Nigerian leaders looking at the issue from religious perspective are wrong
because “there are more Christians among the Palestinians”.
Prof Akinyemi said urban terrorism is
likely if the war is not brought under quick control as there are terrorists on
both sides who are dominant in all cities of the world.
The ex-minister also said that the war
is already having economic impact around the world and Nigeria won’t be spared
from the ripple effect.
According to him, the price of crude
will continue to go up as long as the war continues and Nigeria will pay higher
prices for petroleum products and lesser prices for the crude and this will
have a negative effect on Nigeria’s economy.
Source: channelstv.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.channelstv.com/2023/10/22/israel-hamas-war-two-states-creation-key-to-conflict-resolution-says-prof-akinyemi/
---------
More than 1,400 African migrants reach
Spain’s Canaries
October 23, 2023
MADRID: More than 1,400 African migrants
have reached Spain’s Canary Islands this weekend, with one vessel bringing a
single-boat record of 321 people, authorities said Sunday.
A total of 1,457 migrants had reached
the Spanish islands off the western African coast between Friday night and
Sunday morning, the authorities said on X, formerly Twitter, adding to a recent
spike in arrivals.
An emergency services spokesman said all
of the arrivals hailed from sub-Saharan Africa.
Saturday saw 321 people reach the island
of El Hierro aboard one vessel, a rescue services spokesperson told AFP,
surpassing the previous record for a single boat of 280 on October 3.
Spanish broadcaster TVE showed images of
a multicolored vessel crammed with smiling and waving passengers reaching port.
Latest data from Spain’s interior
ministry show 23,537 migrants reached the Canaries between January 1 and
October 15.
The first fortnight of this month alone
saw 8,561 arrivals — a record for a fortnight since a previous migration crisis
in 2006.
Interior Minister Fernando
Grande-Marlaska last week said on a visit to the archipelago the spike in
numbers resulted from political “destabilization in the Sahel.”
The Canaries route has been favored in
recent years with controls having been tightened in the Mediterranean.
However, many barely seaworthy vessels
have not made it to shore as thousands of migrants risk their lives on the long
and dangerous crossing from Morocco or Western Sahara — 100 kilometers (60
miles) away.
Others try even riskier routes from
Mauritania, Senegal and even Gambia, around 1,000 kilometers away.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2396091/world
-------
South Asia
Cases against BNP-Jamaat leaders: Trials
Now Rolling Well Into The NightTill Around 3:45pm
Oct 23, 2023
Chaitanya Chandra Halder, Shariful Islam
On August 28, when Golam Akter Iqbal
finally came out of a Dhaka court, he looked pale, his eyes sunken from
fatigue. He had a very long day at the Additional Chief Metropolitan
Magistrate's Court-3.
In the packed courtroom, the proceedings
began at 10:30am and continued till around 3:45pm. After a break of about 15
minutes, the hearing resumed around 4:00pm and lasted till 8:00pm, three hours
beyond the official 9:00am-5:00pm court hours, according to one of his lawyers.
At 71, Iqbal has high diabetes, blood
pressure, an enlarged prostate, and a failing vision.
But the ward-level BNP leader also has
52 cases against him, and must present himself before courts for frequent,
prolonged hearings in these cases over arson, explosion, vandalism and attack
on police.
Iqbal, from the capital's Shantinagar,
has spent a good part of the last 10 years in court corridors. But for the last
few months, he has been shuttling between courts almost every day except for
the holidays.
Cases against BNP men
In the past, hearing dates would be
months apart and hardly any prosecution witness would appear to testify. The
interval between hearings has now shortened, as the trial is now moving fast
upon government instructions to quickly dispose of old cases like those Iqbal
is facing.
The Daily Star can confirm seven such
night-time trials between August 28 and October 18 – all involving BNP and
Jamaat leaders and activists.
On August 28, for example, the court
recorded statements of 16 witnesses, all police personnel, in two phases. The
hearing of one case against Iqbal lasted from 10:30am to 12:15pm, and that of
another from 5:30pm to 8:00pm, the lawyer said, requesting anonymity.
"The court was able to record
testimonies of only three witnesses during the office hour. As darkness fell, I
pleaded with the court to fix another date to complete recording the witness
depositions. But the court continued with the hearing," the lawyer added.
"I have been practising in Dhaka
courts for 17 years. I have never seen any night-time trials in my
career," said Syed Zaynul Abedin Mesbah, who is not representing Iqbal,
but is a defence lawyer for at least 700 cases filed against BNP leaders and
activists.
The Daily Star has analysed the court
records of the last six hearings in one case and five hearings in another case
filed against Iqbal with Bangshal police. The records show the intervals
between hearing dates have grown noticeably shorter, even falling within days,
since July this year.
In one case, his last six hearings at
the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court-3 were on September 20
last year, and January 1, May 22, August 23, August 28 and September 13 this
year.
The same court heard the other case on
December 15 last year, and April 30, June 11, August 28 and September 19 this
year.
Asked about the legality of court
proceedings at night, Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Abdullah Abu said,
"It may have happened once or twice. But when you have such a large number
of witnesses before the court, you cannot help but break the norm."
THE RUSH TO FINISH
On October 10, Law Minister AnisulHuq
admitted to The Daily Star that the government has instructed the prosecution
to take steps for quick disposal of old cases.
"Since there is a backlog of cases,
I have asked the public prosecutor's office to be active ... . Otherwise, the
trials would not end," he said, adding that the government did not issue
any separate order to dispose of the cases against BNP leaders.
But a mid-level police officer, who was
present during Iqbal's trial on August 28 to make sure that his junior officers
gave their statements "properly", told The Daily Star they have clear
instructions from the government to finish off the trials involving BNP and
other opposition party leaders before the national election.
The urge on the part of the prosecution
to do so is evident in the way proceedings of some 250 cases, filed against top
BNP leaders and key activists a decade ago in the capital, are progressing over
the last few months.
Many of these leaders are potential
candidates in the upcoming election, and their conviction might mean they will
be ineligible to contest in the polls.
Multiple lawyers dealing with some of
these cases said a number of Dhaka courts have been recording depositions of
prosecution witnesses beyond court hours.
Latest on October 18, Metropolitan
Magistrate Court-14 held trial proceedings until 8:30pm, Metropolitan
Magistrate Court-6 until 8:00pm and Additional Metropolitan Magistrate Court-2
until 7:00pm, lawyers representing the accused BNP and Jamaat leaders and
activists told The Daily Star.
The Metropolitan Magistrate Court-14
recorded statements of 11 prosecution witnesses from 1:00pm to 8:30pm in a case
filed with Paltan police, said Mohi Uddin Chowdhury, a lawyer for accused BNP
leader Rafiqul Alam Majnu.
At the Additional Metropolitan
Magistrate Court-2, a defence lawyer for BNP leader Mohammad Adil requested the
court to set another date for hearing after the clock struck 5:00pm. But the
court rejected the plea and recorded statements of five more prosecution
witnesses.
The lawyer, requesting anonymity, said
the court did not consider his appeal although he told the court that he was
feeling unwell.
BNP leaders say this is proof that the
government is using the judiciary to keep their leaders and activists busy in
courtrooms, even at nights, before the election.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's Adviser
Habibur Rahman Habib is one. Along with 18 others, Habib faces a case over
alleged vandalism in front of Jamuna Future Park during a political programme
on January 4, 2015.
Not a single hearing took place all
these years as no prosecution witnesses -- all police members -- appeared
before the court, said his lawyer Syed Zaynul Abedin Mesbah.
When witnesses skip hearings repeatedly,
the court first sends summons twice, followed by an arrest warrant (courts can
issue arrest warrants for witnesses too). When this does not work, the court
sends non-bailable arrest warrants first to the police commissioner, then to
the police chief and finally to the home ministry, asking them to produce the
witnesses before the court to testify.
"In Habib's case, all these legal
options were exhausted, but no prosecution witnesses appeared before the court
all these years," he said.
Suddenly on August 17, all seven
prosecution witnesses, including the investigation officer, came to the
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court-3 and testified.
"The testimony began around 4:00pm
and continued till 8:30pm," Zaynul said.
On October 9, Habib and several other
BNP leaders were sentenced to four years in prison in this case.
Advocate Abu Bakar Siddique, who is
representing hundreds of BNP and Jamaat leaders and activists in dozens of
cases, also gave a similar account of how cases against opposition men are
suddenly coming to life after nearly a decade.
On July 24 and October 1, prosecution
witnesses, all of them police officers, appeared before two courts to testify
in two cases for the first time since Paltan police filed the cases in 2013
over vandalism and crude bomb explosions.
In the first case, the proceedings lasted
eight hours till 8:30pm, with about an hour's lunch break, at Dhaka
Metropolitan Special Tribunal-13. The court recorded depositions of seven
witnesses in presence of all 13 suspects, including Jamaat leaders Al Amin and
Nurul Alam.
In the second instance, Additional Chief
Metropolitan Magistrate Court-2 heard testimonies of nine police officers in a
separate case against the 13 over the same incident until around 9:00pm, Abu
Bakar said.
Like in the case of Habib, the BNP
chairperson's adviser, not a single prosecution witness came to the court over
the last one decade despite repeated summonses, arrest warrants, and
non-bailable arrest warrants, he added.
'DESPERATE TO PUNISH'
BNP leaders allege the government has
taken the move to imprison their leaders and activists to "vacate the
field" ahead of the general election.
They say the move also aims to keep
thana and ward-level BNP leaders and workers busy in courts so they cannot join
the anti-government movement.
"The government is desperate to
punish our leaders and workers using the courts to hold an election like the
ones in 2014 and 2018," BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir
told The Daily Star.
He also alleged that since assuming
power in 2009, the Awami League government has been using the state machinery
in a planned way to file "ghost cases" against thousands of BNP
leaders and workers.
There is no official data on the number
of cases filed against opposition party leaders and activists.
According to BNP's case record
preservation cell, 1,41,633 cases have been filed against 49,26,492 leaders and
activists of the party and its affiliated organisations since 2009 till
September this year.
The Daily Star could not independently
verify the data, but if the BNP count is right, its leaders and activists were
sued in 10,000 cases every year or 27 cases every day since Awami League took
office in 2009.
In Dhaka division alone, 15,079 cases
have been filed against 6.16 lakh leaders and workers during the same period,
according to BNP's case record preservation cell.
In different Dhaka courts, trials of
around 30 cases are at the final stage, meaning judgments in these cases are
expected in the coming months. Recording of witness depositions is underway in
some 220 other cases.
Around 15,000 central, thana and
ward-level leaders of BNP and its associate bodies are accused in these 250
cases filed between 2012 and 2015, mainly on charges of vandalising and
torching vehicles, blasting crude bombs, and obstructing police to carry out
their duties.
According to BNP sources, at least 97
leaders and activists of BNP and its front organisations have been convicted
and jailed across the country over the last eight months or so. At least 59 of
them are from Dhaka, including Jubo Dal Organising Secretary Ishaq Sarkar,
former ward councilorHamidur Rahman and Dhaka city Jubo Dal (north) Convener
Sharifuddin Jewel.
BNP leader Amanullah Aman is already in
jail on corruption charges. Iqbal Hasan Mahmood Tuku faces an arrest warrant
after he was convicted in a graft case and sentenced to nine years in prison.
Lawyers say there are hundreds of BNP
leaders and activists who face more than 50 cases each, and their trials have
gathered pace. They have to come to the court almost every day for hearings in
three to four cases.
Dhaka City (south) Chhatra Dal Joint
Convener Golam Rabbani Robin is one of them. A civil engineer, he has lost his
job as he needs to appear before the courts almost every day in the 62 cases he
faces.
"Brother, I am tired of coming to
the court every day. I would rather be hanged than tortured this way," he
said.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/cases-against-bnp-jamaat-leaders-trials-now-rolling-well-the-night-3450586
--------
Everyone Enjoys Religious Freedom In
Bangladesh: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
Oct 23, 2023
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday
said her government is determined to ensure equal rights for all citizens
irrespective of their religions and castes.
"We believe that everyone in the
country regardless of religion and caste will enjoy equal rights," she
said while exchanging greetings with Hindu devotees at the Durga Puja mandap in
the city's Dhakeshwari temple.
Durga Puja, the biggest religious
festival of the Hindus, is being celebrated across Bangladesh amid festivities
and tight security.
The premier said all irrespective of
religion and caste unitedly fought for the independence of Bangladesh in 1971
and, so all have equal rights here.
"We all are the children of this
soil. We'll live in this land enjoying our respective rights."
The PM asked the Hindu community to pray
for Bangladesh and its progress during the festival.
She said Durga Puja is being celebrated
in joyful and peaceful manner throughout the country and all the relevant
government agencies, including police, and her party members are working
sincerely so no untoward incident happens during the festival.
This time Durga Puja is being celebrated
at over 32,000 puja mandaps across the country amid the peaceful environment,
she went on.
The PM greeted all the Hindu community
people in Bangladesh and throughout the world.
Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Parishad
President JL Bhowmik and MahanagarSarbajanin Puja Committee President Manindra
Kumar Nath spoke on the occasion.
Later, Hasina visited Dhaka Ramakrishna
Mission and exchanged greetings with devotees.
Speaking there, she assured the Hindu
community that her government will always stand by their side and facilitate
them to enjoy their rights as it did in the past.
"You were born on this soil. So, we
all will live in this land enjoying all due rights here. I can at least say
that when we are in power, we definitely give this assurance and will be beside
you."
"This country belongs to all ….
Think always that this land is yours too."
Principal of Ramakrishna Math and
Mission Swami Purnatmananda Maharaj delivered the welcome speech.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/everyone-enjoys-religious-freedom-bangladesh-3450261
--------
Social media boom over theme-based Puja
pandals boost Bangladeshis to step in Bengal
23.10.23
Subhashis Chaudhuri
A large number of people from
neighbouring Bangladesh has been entering Bengal's Nadia district through the
Gede border during Durga Puja this year to visit the crowd-puller pandals in
Kalyani, in an unusual trend, which may possibly be attributed to social media.
Ever since some of the
"theme-based" Kalyanipandals were inaugurated, Bangladeshi nationals
from places such as Darshana, Kushtia, Magura, Jibannagar, Chuadanga and
Jessore, have been visiting them. This happened after many of the Kalyanipandals
became popular on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and
YouTube, visitors said.
In most cases, the Bangladeshi visitors
have been returning to their homes by the evening after pandal-hopping
throughout the day.
However, some have decided to stay in
India during the entire festivities, with Calcutta as a part of their
pandal-hopping itinerary.
Local sources said that Bangladeshi
visitors have mostly been arriving early in the morning at the Gede check post,
through Darshana in Bangladesh, to catch Sealdah-bound local trains to arrive
in Kalyani.
BikashKundu, a resident of Magura in
Bangladesh, who arrived at Gede on October 17, said: “Some Puja pandals in
Kalyani became extremely popular on social media, and were noticed not only in
Bangladesh but globally.”
Social media has been a game-changer and
has been creating a whole new level of fascination around Durga Puja pandals
among many people like us in Bangladesh. Easy railway communication to India
has bridged the gap between our two countries.... I made a weeklong plan to
visit Durga Puja pandals in both Kalyani and Calcutta,” Kundu added.
Subarna Ghosh, a resident of Chuadanga
in Bangladesh, who came to Kalyani with her son, said: “Every year, we spend
Durga Puja at our home in Bangladesh, but this time we decided to come to India
after watching Puja pandal videos on social media.”
Pandals such as the Grand Lisboa (Macau)
model of the Luminous Club, the Char Dham replica of the A9 Block Square Park
and the Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir replica of the Rathtala Puja Committee
have been drawing large crowds in Kalyani.
The Puja committees began work around
six months ago and their pictures and videos have been getting "massive
views" on social media for weeks.
Sources at the Gede Customs and
immigration check post said that normally around 2,000 Bangladeshi nationals
enter Nadia district every day to visit Calcutta, mainly for medical and
business needs. In other years, the number had been the same during Puja. But
unlike in the past years, that number went up to around 3,000 daily over the
past week.
DinabandhuMahaldar, the secretary of the
Gede Land Port Society — an organisation of currency exchangers and traders —
said: “For about the past seven days, many people from Bangladesh have been
coming to Nadia.”
“However, while exchanging money, they
have been asking us for details regarding Kalyani and its best Puja pandals....
This is a new trend and definitely a first for me,” he added.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read the
full text of the original
https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/social-media-boom-over-theme-based-puja-pandals-boost-bangladeshis-to-step-in-bengal/cid/1974942
--------
Kazakhstan’s aid for Herat earthquake
victims reaches Balkh
October 22, 2023
Fidel Rahmati
Local officials in Balkh province have
reported the arrival of a much-needed humanitarian aid consignment from
Kazakhstan intended for the earthquake victims in Herat. This significant
gesture of support has brought hope to the affected region.
On a Saturday, the humanitarian aid
consignment made its way to Balkh through the Hairatan port, representing a
lifeline for those struggling in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake.
The consignment comprises both food and
non-food items, generously provided by Kazakhstan, and has been officially
received by the local authorities in Balkh.
Among the essential items included in
the aid packages are flour, rice, oil, dairy products, clothing, and blankets,
reflecting the diverse needs of the earthquake victims.
The representative of Kazakhstan, who
facilitated this act of compassion, highlighted the importance of international
solidarity in times of crisis.
Officials in Balkh have expressed their
gratitude for this support, emphasizing their commitment to promptly forwarding
these aid supplies to the affected individuals in Zinda Jan district, Herat.
Kazakhstan’s proactive response to the
earthquake crisis in Herat included dispatching a shipment of humanitarian aid.
This vital aid package contained much-needed health equipment and medicine and
involved the deployment of 45 health workers to assist and provide medical care
to the earthquake victims.
Kazakhstan’s comprehensive approach to
aid delivery, combining essential supplies and skilled personnel, underscores
its commitment to aiding those affected by natural disasters and contributing
to the recovery efforts in Herat.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/kazakhstans-aid-for-herat-earthquake-victims-reaches-balkh/
--------
Facing Winter, Islamic Emirate Retirees
Despair Over Unpaid Pensions
October 22, 2023
As winter approaches, civil servant
retirees called on the Islamic Emirate to pay their retirement pensions.
Payenda is one of these retirees, who
has worked at the Ministry of Economy for many years, and she is not satisfied
with her life’s bad conditions.
With the arrival of the cold season,
Payenda said that he is struggling with severe conditions.
“I have a patient, the father of
children had heart surgery and we are supposed to visit the doctor on Tuesday,
but we have no money,” Payenda said.
“I am here to receive my retirement
pension, I need to pay house rent, I have a patient who had surgery lately, for
how long should I keep begging,” said Zarifa, another retiree.
Some retirees appealed to the Islamic
Emirates to consider their request, otherwise they will expand protests.
"Why don't they give us our right,
is it given free or for God's sake? this is our own money, so why don't they
give it to us, we are from this country,” said Abdul Khaliq, a retiree.
“We don’t want to bother people, or else
we can ban the main roads, venues and even we can break the doors. They can
just arrest us, nothing else,” said Ahmad Omer, another retiree.
The Islamic Emirate has not commented on
the issue, but earlier said that the plan for the payment of pensions for the
retired government workers has been sent for confirmation to the office of the
Islamic Emirate’s leader.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185661
-------
Refugee-Focused Attachés in Iran,
Pakistan: Ministry
October 22, 2023
The deputy minister of Refugees and
Repatriation (MoRR), Abdul Rahman Rashid, said that attachés focused on refugee
issues are active in various cities of Iran and Pakistan in order to address
the challenges of the Afghan refugees.
In an interview with TOLOnews, Rashid
said that the Islamic Emirate will soon send refugee attachés to Ankara and
Istanbul in Turkey.
“In Iran, we have attachés in the cities
of Mashhad, Tehran and Zahedan to assess the problems of the refugees. We also
offered to have attachés in Turkey’s cities of Ankara and Istanbul,” he said.
Rashid said that negotiations have been
conducted with the Turkish officials to facilitate the return of the Afghan
refugees to Afghanistan. He also said that a delegation from Turkey will visit
Afghanistan to discuss the fate of the Afghan refugees.
“They have agreed that a delegation will
come from Turkey to Afghanistan and will meet with the officials of the
Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation,” he said.
This comes as refugees’ rights activists
stressed the importance of refugee-focused attachés to address the challenges
of the Afghan nationals abroad.
“The contacts of the international
organizations relevant to the affairs of the refugees and efforts to prevent
the deportation of the refugees are the responsibilities of the refugee
advocates,” said Asif Stanikzai, a refugees' rights activist.
This comes as more than 6,000 Afghan
refugees have returned to Afghanistan within the past six days, according to
official statistics.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185668
-------
D-8 agrees joint statement supporting
Palestine
Oct 23, 2023
D-8 commissioners yesterday agreed to
adopt a joint declaration to express steadfast solidarity and support for the
Palestinians after Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen forwarded the proposal.
During the inaugural day of the two-day
meeting of the 47th session of the D-8 Commission in Dhaka yesterday, Masud
reiterated Bangladesh's unwavering support for the Palestinian's right to
self-determination and a separate state for them in line with the two-state
solution based on the 1967 borders.
Condemning the horrific atrocities
against the innocent civilians in Gaza by the Israeli occupation forces, he
called for an immediate cessation of violence in Gaza.
He also called for humanitarian access
to the conflict zones in order to save lives of the innocent civilians,
according to a press release.
The D-8 Secretary-General, Ambassador
IsiakaAbdulqadir Imam, D-8 commissioners from the D-8 member states and officials
from the D-8 secretariat are participating in the meeting.
During the meeting, Masud requested the
D-8 commissioners to adopt a joint declaration to express steadfast solidarity
and support for the Palestinian People.
The D-8 commissioners and the D-8
secretary-general echoed the proposal of Bangladesh and agreed to adopt a joint
declaration at the 47th session of the D-8 Commission.
Appreciating D-8's remarkable journey of
26 years as an economic bloc, Masud further urged them to deliver tangible outcomes
of this economic cooperation by combining efforts of the member states.
Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh
Hasina assumed the chairmanship of the Developing-Eight Organization for
Economic Cooperation (D-8) from the president of Turkiye on 08 April 2021 at
the 10th D-8 Summit.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/world/israel-hamas-war/news/d-8-agrees-joint-statement-supporting-palestine-3450456
---------
Graft Case: Judge gets death threats for
convicting Tarique, Zubaida
Oct 23, 2023
A Dhaka judge has received death threats
two and a half months after his court sentenced BNP acting chairman Tarique
Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman to prison in a graft case.
On August 2, Judge Md Asaduzzaman of the
Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court of Dhaka sentenced Tarique to nine
years and Zubaida to three years in prison in their absence in the case filed
in 2007.
"On October 17, we got two letters,
containing death threats for judge Md Asaduzzaman for convicting BNP acting
chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman," Shah MdMamun, nazir
of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court, told The Daily Star.
A general diary was filed with Kotwali
Police Station that day.
Asaduzzaman also served as a judge at
the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court and Metropolitan Special Tribunal-1 of
Dhaka.
The GD mentioned the names of Jahir
Uddin of Bogura'sSherpur and Hatem Ali Sowdagor of Chattrogram's Sadar area as
the writers of the letters.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/graft-case-judge-gets-death-threats-convicting-tarique-zubaida-3450386
--------
Over 59K illegal Afghan nationals
repatriated to their country
October 22, 2023
The repatriation of illegal foreign
nationals to their homeland from different parts of country continues, as only
nine days are left for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country.
The government has asked undocumented
foreign nationals to leave Pakistan by 1st of next month otherwise law
enforcement agencies will take action as per law.
Meanwhile, a total of 59,561 Afghan
refugees have, so far been repatriated. This will have a positive impact on the
region.
The Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees
has made appropriate arrangements to facilitate the repatriation of Afghans.
Besides, security officers of Pak Army,
police personnel, government administration, traffic police and FC personnel
are also actively engaged at the border for safe return of the Afghan
nationals.
Source: radio.gov.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.radio.gov.pk/22-10-2023/over-59000-illegal-afghan-nationals-repatriated-to-their-country
--------
Pakistan
At UN: Pakistan calls for resuscitate
two-State solution to end Palestinian crisis
October 22, 2023
At the United Nations, Pakistan has
stressed the need to resuscitate the two-State solution of Palestinian crisis
for durable peace in the region.
Speaking in a debate on the
contributions of regional mechanisms for peace and security in the Security
Council, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the world body, Munir Akram said the
two-state solution is the only option for a durable peace in the Holy Land.
He expressed the hope that after the
Security Council’s failure, the General Assembly will take action and demand an
immediate ceasefire; full, unhindered, and sustainable humanitarian access to
the suffering people in Gaza, and ensure that they are not displaced within or
outside Gaza.
Speaking about the Security Council’s
shortcomings, Munir Akram said these arise mainly due to the veto power of the
five permanent members.
He said the Security Council, which has
the primary responsibility to promote world peace, has failed to “stop the
slaughter in Gaza”, as it also failed in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Pakistani envoy said the Security
Council’s failures can be addressed by making it more representative and
democratic, by enlarging the voice of the majority of small and medium sized
states, and more accountable through the democratic method of periodic
elections.
Source: radio.gov.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.radio.gov.pk/22-10-2023/pakistan-calls-for-resuscitate-two-state-solution-to-end-palestinian-crisis
---------
Caretaker Religious Affairs
MinisterAssails Muslim Rulers For Ignoring Plight Of Besieged Palestinians
2023-10-23
Sardar Sikander Shaheen
ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Religious Affairs
Minister Aneeq Ahmed has lambasted the leaders of the Muslim countries for not
reaching out to the people of Palestine for support against the backdrop of
ongoing atrocities of Israel in Gaza.
“Not a single leader from the Muslim
countries visited Palestine to offer their support— on the other hand, the
heads of the countries like the United States and the United Kingdom openly
visited Israel and offered their complete support to that state,” the caretaker
minister said, speaking at a conference here on Sunday.
He also took on the Organisation of
Islamic Countries (OIC) for its “passive posturing” on the issue. “It’s high
time the OIC shun this passive posturing— the OIC is looking at the world
against Israel’s atrocities on Palestine— Isn’t the OIC part of the world? The
OIC better do something concrete to stop endless bloodshed in Palestine instead
of relying on cosmetic resolutions that stand far from materialisation,” he
said.
“Where have our pride and dignity gone?
Israel continues to spill the blood of the innocent Palestinians. The big
global powers and standing with Israel today.
And the result is: more than 4,000 of
our brothers and sisters in Palestine have embraced martyrdom, so far— what
have we done to stop that? European Union is offering support to Gaza victims,
where is the Muslim world?” he deplored.
“The Palestinians are collecting the
bodies of their children in pieces— what could be worse than that,” the
caretaker minister lamented.
Referring to the recent visit of the US
Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Israel, Ahmed said, “When the American
foreign minister landed in Israel, he said that he was there as a Jew – and
extended his full support to Israel. Is there anyone who can give a befitting reply
to the American foreign minister?”
He said seven hospitals have closed down
in Gaza and there is dire urgency for humanitarian support as existing stocks
are getting exhausted. The caretaker minister demanded of the Muslim states to
stop giving airspace to Israel’s flights and end diplomatic ties with it.
Source: brecorder.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40269451/minister-assails-muslim-rulers-for-ignoring-plight-of-besieged-palestinians
--------
PTI convention derailed in Lahore as 80
held in police raids
Mansoor Malik
October 23, 2023
LAHORE: At least 80 PTI workers were
captured during an overnight crackdown, while the residence and offices of a
local party leader and his family were raided in the early hours of Sunday
morning in what appeared to be a bid to block a workers’ convention that the
party had planned after obtaining ‘formal maiden permission’ from the district
administration.
PTI candidate for National Assembly from
NA-123 (Kahna Nau), Advocate Afzaal Azeem Pahat had formally sought permission
to hold a corner meeting in the constituency and preparations were accordingly
afoot. PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif has contested from this constituency in
the past.
However, the police raided Mr Pahat and
his elder brother’s residence and offices early in the morning.
According to PTI leaders, police entered
the private quarters without warrants and harassed the men, as well as the
women and children of their household. Police also picked up some 80 PTI
workers and supporters from the convention venue and Mr Pahat’s law offices.
Following the crackdown, the planned
convention did not take place.
Condemning what he described as “state
terrorism” against party workers, PTI secretary general Omar Ayub Khan
commented, “One country, two systems”.
“PTI Workers Convention organisers’ home
and law chambers are raided and vandalised, but a convicted, absconder
prisoner, Mian Nawaz Sharif, is given full protocol,” he lamented in a posting
on X.
The party pointed out that it had
obtained permission for the public meeting from the deputy commissioner’s
office, which had directed the DIG (Operations) and the Chief Traffic Officer,
Lahore, to take the required measures in this connection.
On the other hand, the deputy
commissioner’s spokesman, when contacted, told Dawn that the DC office had
never issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the public/corner meeting. It
claimed they had only issued a letter to the DIG Police (Operations) and CTO
Lahore, for “necessary action” and then afterwards neither the PTI applicant
nor the civil administration approached the DC office for formal permission.
The spokesman claimed the DC office also
did not recommend launching any legal action.
Answering a question whether the PML-N
had sought a formal NOC for holding workers’ conventions and corner meetings in
Lahore, the spokesman said such small events did not need NOC from the DC
office but were managed at a lower level i.e. the police station concerned.
The raid
Posting a video on social media, Mr
Pahat said police raided his and his brother’s law chambers and ransacked
furniture and fixtures and took away CCTV cameras, an LCD and documents. “The
police [came] in 15-20 vehicles [and] raided and ransacked a lawyer’s office
which was tantamount to terrorism,” Mr Pahat stated and added that he would
“take them to task”.
PTI Lahore information secretary Shayan
Bashir told Dawn that convention preparations were being made but the news of
police and plainclothesmen raid early in the morning created panic among
supporters.
Even after Mr Pahat’s law chamber had
been ransacked, the party continued its preparations for the convention but the
situation changed completely when police brought in several prison vans to the
venue at around 1:30pm.
He alleged that police baton-charged
party workers and even thrashed journalists and YouTubers, who were there to
cover the convention. He said some workers escaped and reached Mr Pahat’s law
chamber but they were chased by the police. Police picked up some 80 PTI
workers and took them away in prison vans.
The spokesman sarcastically said PTI
workers have now realised what level-playing field is and added the encouraging
aspect was that several people had still mustered up courage to come out on
roads carrying party flags. He alleged that PML-N was holding workers’
conventions and corner meetings without getting any permission from the DC
office.
Summing up the situation, secretary
general Ayub Khan said the Punjab police along with armed men in plainclothes
had raided the house of Mr Pahat without a warrant. Attaching a video, he
stated that plain-clothed and baton-wielding people could be seen in the video
and police did not show any warrants upon request.
He stated that permission for the
convention was granted by the DC as per the Lahore High Court’s instructions.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1783000/pti-convention-derailed-in-lahore-as-80-held-in-police-raids
--------
Nawaz resumes political activities at
Jati Umra residence
October 23, 2023
By Muhammad Saleh Zaafir
LAHORE/ ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister
and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) supremo, Nawaz Sharif, resumed his
political activities soon after his return to Pakistan on Saturday by
addressing a huge public rally in Lahore and on Sunday holding meetings with
his party leaders and representatives of other political parties at his Jati
Umra residence.
A meeting with the PMLN leaders was
attended by former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, PMLN Chief Organiser Maryam
Nawaz, former finance minister Ishaq Dar, former law minister Azam Tarar, Hamza
Shehbaz and other party leaders.
The meeting discussed in detail the
current political and economic situation of the country and reviewed the
Minar-e-Pakistan Jalsa.
Azam Tarar briefed the meeting about
legal and judicial issues concerning Nawaz Sharif’s case and the upcoming court
proceedings on October 24.
Nawaz told the meeting the PMLN had
launched the lawyers freedom movement and it always respected law. He said he,
Maryam Nawaz, party leaders, including Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz, faced
baseless cases, but never ridiculed courts and law. He said with the grace of
Allah Almighty, the party leaders were acquitted in all false cases.
Nawaz Sharif expressed his satisfaction
over the Minar-e-Pakistan rally and appreciated the organisers. He also praised
the party’s publicity campaign, including the new party anthem.
The meeting decided the Pakistan
Democratic Movement (PDM) parties would be contacted again and Nawaz Sharif
would act as the focal person for the move. Party sources said it was also
decided in the meeting that Shehbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif would start
political contacts in the next two days.
Nawaz Sharif will personally contact
various leaders, including Asif Ali Zardari, Maulana Fazlur Rahman, Attaullah
Mengal and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, party sources said adding he would thank the
PDM leadership over its support to the Shehbaz Sharif’s government.
The meeting decided the PMLN would not
adopt the policy of confrontation with the Peoples Party.
Meanwhile, Awami National Party (ANP)
leader Ghulam Ahmed Bilour met Nawaz Sharif at Jati Umra. Later, he told
journalists that Nawaz Sharif would lead the country on the path to development
if institutions cooperated with him. He said Nawaz Sharif had steered the
country out of economic crisis in the past and hoped that he would do something
good again.
To a question, he said elections should
be held on time. He termed Nawaz Sharif’s rally at the Minar-e-Pakistan huge.
Separately, PMLN Senior Vice President
and Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz Sunday thanked people for according a warm
welcome to three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif on his return to the country
on Saturday.
She said in her post on X: “A huge thank
you to the people from all corners of Pakistan who joined the people of Lahore
to give a phenomenal welcome to their leader, their quaid.”
Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif is set to appear
before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday and submit his petitions for
restoration of his pending but suspended appeals in Al-Azizia and Avenfield
cases along with confirmation of his interim bail granted last week that will
end tomorrow.
He will also appear in an accountability
court separately for bail in the Toshakhana case the same day. The legal team
of the PMLN supremo consists of senior lawyers including Senator Azam Nazir
Tarar and Amjad Pervez who were also present on Saturday noon when Nawaz
Sharif’s biometrics were carried out at the Islamabad International Airport.
The sources pointed out that the police
of the federal capital have made elaborate security arrangements ahead of
former prime minister’s appearance in the courts. The PMLN leadership has asked
its workers to maintain discipline and observe norms during the court
proceedings in and outside the court rooms.
Sources said that Nawaz Sharif will have
a hectic schedule during the first week after his return from self-imposed
exile. He is also reaching NathiaGali today (Monday), from where he will be
proceeding towards Islamabad for appearing before the courts.
The former prime minister will also hold
meetings with other political leaders during his stay in Islamabad. The former
allies in the PDM government have expressed desire for calling on Nawaz Sharif
and he will be meeting them separately in the days to come, the sources added.
Nawaz Sharif will be having a meeting
with Maulana Fazlur Rehman to offer his condolences on the demise of his
mother-in-law and share his grief with PMLN leader Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on
the death of his son who died in a road accident in July this year.
Sources said the PMLN will constitute a
team next week consisting of party stalwarts who will spearhead the
arrangements for a countrywide electoral campaign.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1121954-nawaz-resumes-political-activities-at-jati-umra-residence
---------
Pakistan ex-PM Imran Khan indicted in
leaked documents case
October 23, 2023
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: Jailed former
Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was on Monday charged with leaking
classified documents, a prosecutor said, a charge that carries a prison term of
up to 14 years.
Since being ousted from power last year,
Khan has been tangled in a slew of legal cases he says are designed to stop him
from contesting upcoming elections in January 2024.
The populist politician was jailed in
August for three years over graft but when his sentence was overturned, he was
instead kept in custody on the far more serious charge of sharing state
documents.
“He has been indicted today and the
charge was openly read out,” Shah Khawar of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation
Agency (FIA) said outside Adiala Jail, where Khan is being held.
The case relates to a cable that Khan
touted as proof that he was ousted as part of a US conspiracy backed by the
powerful military establishment, according to a report by the FIA.
The United States and Pakistan’s
military have denied the claim.
The vice-chairman of Khan’s Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, a former foreign minister,
has also been indicted over the case.
A PTI spokesman said both men were
charged under the colonial-era Official Secrets Act in a trial “conducted
within the court premises with no access to public or media.”
“We are going to challenge it,” Khan’s
lawyer Umar Khan Niazi told reporters.
Khan’s lawyers say the crime he has been
charged with carries a possible 14-year prison term, and in the most extreme
circumstances, the death penalty.
Former cricketing superstar Khan enjoys
enormous support in Pakistan, but his campaign of defiance against the powerful
military establishment, which spread through the nation after his ouster, has
met with a fierce backlash.
Pakistan’s military has directly ruled
the country for roughly half of its 76-year history, and continues to exercise
enormous power.
A sweeping anti-Khan crackdown saw
thousands of his supporters rounded up and almost the entire senior party
leadership forced underground. Many later abandoned the PTI, denouncing Khan’s
tirades against the military.
“He is facing legal matters but the
intent of the regime is quite clear — that they don’t want to leave any corner
for his escape, regardless of whether the charges are real or fabricated,”
political analyst Rasul Bakhsh Rais said.
Pakistan is currently led by an interim
government, with polls already pushed back several months to January 2024.
Khan’s primary opponent, three-time
prime minister Nawaz Sharif, returned to Pakistan on Saturday, ending four
years of self-imposed exile.
Sharif was jailed for graft and barred
from contesting the 2018 elections — in which Khan swept to power — but he left
mid-way through his sentence to receive medical care in the United Kingdom,
ignoring court orders to return.
Prior to his coming back, a court granted
Sharif a fresh protective bail to pave the way for him to arrive in his
political heartland of Lahore on the weekend.
The fortunes of Pakistan’s leaders rise
and fall on their relationship with the military and Pakistan’s courts are
often used to tie up lawmakers in lengthy proceedings that rights monitors
criticize for stifling dissent.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2396126/world
--------
Bushra Bibi's brother escapes ACE arrest
October 23, 2023
LAHORE:The Anti-Corruption Establishment
(ACE) Punjab raided the house of a brother of former first lady Bushra Bibi
overnight, however, no arrest was made, an ACE spokesperson said on Sunday.
According to the spokesperson, the ACE
was conducting raids to arrest fugitives wanted in various cases of corruption,
including several former lawmakers. He added that the crackdown on fugitives
would continue till their arrest.
The overnight raids were conducted in
Sahiwal, Okara and Pakpattan districts to arrest former members of the National
Assembly, Rai Hasan Nawaz and Rai Murtaza Iqbal, former Punjab Assembly member
Naeem Ibrahim, and a political leader Saleem Sadiq.
Read also: ACE gets transit remand of
Bushra Bibi’s ex-husband
A raid was also conducted to arrest
Ahmed Mujtaba, brother of former first lady Bushra Bibi, wife of former prime
minister Imran Khan. “However, all the accused escaped from the spot and no
arrest could take place,” the spokesperson added.
“Anti-corruption crackdown is ongoing to
arrest fugitive suspects. The DG [director genera] anti-corruption has directed
for speeding up the efforts to arrest the accused, and stressed that all the
wanted accused will be arrested and brought to justice,” the spokesperson said.
Source: tapinto.net
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2442467/bushra-bibis-brother-escapes-ace-arrest
---------
Six killed in Loralai accident
October 22, 2023
QUETTA:
At least six people were killed and four
others injured in a collision between a passenger coach and a pick-up van in
Loralai district on Saturday.
According to details, the traffic
accident took place in the Musakhel area near Loralai in which six people died
on the spot. After the accident, the bodies and the injured were shifted to
Basic Health Unit.
As soon as the collision between the
passenger coach and the van took place, the local people along with the rescue
workers participated in the rescue activities.
Last month, five members of a family,
including a young boy and three women, were killed and four others injured in a
head-on collision between a car and pick-up van on Dera Road, near Loralai.Home
horizontal 3 and Pak (national)
Source: tapinto.net
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2442403/six-killed-in-loralai-accident
-------
North America
Muslim Residents of Livingston Urge
Township Council to Condemn Islamophobia
October 22, 2023
Danielle Santola
LIVINGSTON, NJ — After passing a
resolution declaring the Township of Livingston’s support of the State of
Israel in the wake of recent attacks, the Livingston Township Council heard
from a handful of residents who expressed concern over a lack of effort to
protect the Muslim and Arab community as well.
As hate crimes against Palestinians have
become more frequent across the country as a result of the ongoing violence
against the people of Israel and Gaza at the hands of Hamas, Muslim residents
of Livingston urged the township council to recognize the fear that
Palestinian-Americans have also felt over the two weeks. In addition to fearing
the increase of Islamophobia as a result of the attacks, the Palestinian
families of Livingston also fear for relatives residing in areas besieged by
the current war, they said.
Among those who spoke was Naureen
Akhter, a mother of three and resident of Livingston since 2018 who said she is
a public servant and wrote postcards in support of the current council members
during the last election cycle, but that she found the resolution to be
controversial.
“I come here because a war that's being
waged thousands of miles from here has repercussions in our community,” said
Akhter. “Today, with Resolution 23-229, ‘Support for the State of Israel,’
without discussion because it was deemed controversial, I’m here to say that it
is controversial. As council member Klein said, there needs to be space for the
grief and pain of Palestinian families.
Her comments continued as follows:
“In that text or any text that condemns
Hamas’ attacks on civilians must also acknowledge the decades-long blockade of
Gaza that cramps 2.2 million people into 140 square miles, restricting freedom
of movement and the flow of goods and electricity, the same resolution must
also acknowledge the 2,808 civilians dead as a result of the siege on Gaza—30
of them American citizens, and over 1,000 of them children.
"If this council is truly
representative of the community here, you will acknowledge that members of this
community have family trapped in Gaza at the Rafah crossing unable to come home
because Israel has bombed it for a fourth time today. In your resolution, you
state, 'Whereas remaining silent emboldens terrorist groups like Hamas, and we
as members of the Livingston Town Council stand together in support and voice
to condemn these extremist actions.'
"I, as a Livingston resident, stand
up to voice that I won't be silent as Israel cuts off food, water and
electricity, exacerbating what many human rights organizations have deemed ‘a
humanitarian crisis.’ I will not be silent as a million people are given an
order to evacuate—notice, a task that UN Secretary General António Guterres has
deemed impossible. I will not stand by as my taxpayer dollars are going towards
the genocide of the Palestinian people.
"So let me state for the record,
this resolution is indeed controversial and does not represent the diversity of
our community. Relatedly, with calls for ethnic cleansing and dehumanizing
language from not this town's elected officials but others using terms like
'barbarian' and 'human animals' to describe the people of Palestine, we've seen
a rise in Islamophobia and hate crimes. Last week, a student at Mount Pleasant
Middle School was called a terrorist. Yesterday, as council member Klein
pointed out, in Plainfield, Illinois, Wadea Al-Fayoume was stabbed 26 times in
an Islamophobic hate crime.
"As our community mourns the loss
of this young boy and prays for his mother's recovery, we are saddened but not
surprised. We know that inflammatory rhetoric is inevitably followed by
harassment and hate. So I asked the town: How are you working to keep your
Muslim residents safe? Will you firmly stand against Islamophobia and bigotry
as fervently as you've stood against—and rightfully so—anti-Semitism so that
our town's Muslim and Arab communities feel seen and represented?”
Another longtime resident, a Livingston
High School alumna identified only as Salma, spoke about her positive
experience at Livingston Public Schools and her hope that the community will
continue to treat residents of different backgrounds with the same respect she
felt at the time.
Source: tapinto.net
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.tapinto.net/towns/livingston/sections/government/articles/muslim-residents-of-livingston-urge-township-council-to-condemn-islamophobia
--------
Candlelight vigil held for Plainfield
boy killed in alleged hate crime for being Muslim
OCTOBER 22, 2023
ANDREW RAMOS
OAK BROOK, Ill. (CBS) -- Community
members gathered Sunday evening in the western suburbs to light a candle and
reflect on the loss of Wadea Al Fayoume. The 6-year-old boy from Plainfield was
killed while his mother was left critically injured in what officials say was a
hate crime.
As CBS 2's Andrew Ramos reports,
emotions are still very raw one week after the attack.
Many in Oak Brook and across the country
are still coming to terms with the horrific murder of Wadea. While the tragedy
continues to resonate, a sliver of good news is now on the horizon.
People came from several surrounding
suburbs and as far as the city to gather in Oak Brook to light a candle in what
has been a dark week.
Six-year-old Wadea was remembered at the
vigil organized by concerned parents and community members still grappling with
the Plainfield child's murder.
Police say one week ago the boy and his
mother Hanan Shaheen were attacked by their landlord, 71-year-old Joseph Czuba.
They say Czuba targeted them simply because they were Muslim.
Czuba stabbed the boy to death and
critically injured his mother. He has been arrested and charged with a hate
crime in the case.
"I myself have a 6-year-old,"
said organizer Sakeena Mirza. "I don't want anything like that happening
to any 6-year-old."
"It just hurts to see that people
are suffering and to see that little boy there. It's just not fair," said
ZareemaKhader.
Wadea's tragic story sent shockwaves
across the globe amid the ongoing conflict in the Mideast.
World leaders took note.
"A little boy 6 years old didn't do
anything to anyone. I feel that strongly across the board," said Sec. of
State Antony Blnken.
In what has become a glimmer of hope in
this tragic tale, 32-year-old Shaheen was released from the hospital on
Thursday and placed in temporary housing.
There has been an ongoing community
based effort to raise funds for the family to help pay to rehouse his
32-year-old mom. So far it has raised more than $600,000.
Source: cbsnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/candlelight-vigil-held-for-plainfield-boy-killed-in-alleged-had-crime-for-being-muslim/
--------
Post-9/11 fears resurface for
Chicago-area Arabs, Muslims in wake of war, rising hate crimes
Oct 23, 2023
Layla Hedroug is a junior at Yale
University on the East Coast. But while classes go on at the Ivy League school,
she’s back home with her family in Chicago’s suburbs.
When the latest war broke out in Gaza,
Hedroug, 20, started fearing for her safety as a Muslim woman who wears a hijab
— perhaps the most visible representation of Islam at a time when anti-Arab
hate and Islamophobia are on the rise.
“In this predominantly Arab Muslim
community,” she said outside a mosque in south suburban Bridgeview, “I’ve never
felt more unsafe than I do now. Even standing here, I don’t know what people’s
intentions are.”
Hedroug wasn’t yet born in 2001, but for
Muslims and Arab Americans who were, the past two weeks have brought dark
memories of the hate they felt in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks 22 years ago
and the anguish of seeing neighbors and communities turn on them because of
their religion.
Since the war started two weeks ago, two
Chicago-area Muslim schools have received violent threats, a suburban man was
charged with a hate crime for threatening to shoot two Muslim men and another
suburban man allegedly told a woman, “Go back to your country.”
Many Muslim schools have been on soft
lockdowns. And 6-year-old Palestinian American Wadea Al-Fayoume was killed in
an alleged hate crime because of his ethnicity and Muslim faith, authorities
said.
Sadia Nawab, a Pakistani American Muslim
living in Chicago’s suburbs, was 12 at the time of the 9/11 attacks. And she
remembers the hate well.
The same Mosque Foundation that held
Wadea’s funeral services was targeted after the 9/11 attacks with violent
threats, protests and police investigations, according to Nawab and news
reports from the time. Two days after the attacks, a group of high schoolers
marched toward the mosque after school let out in an “anti-Arab rally,”
“shouting insults at passing cars occupied by people who appeared to be
Arabic,” the Chicago Tribune reported at the time.
“We had someone slaughter a dog and put
the dog’s head right by the doors of the mosque,” Nawab recalls. “We had our
school windows broken. We had bomb threats. We had people with bats coming and
driving through the neighborhood.”
Now 34, Nawab said her community is
again taking precautions. Some are making sure to carry IDs in case they’re
stopped by police. Others are locking their doors in neighborhoods they have
otherwise felt safe in.
“We’re definitely a lot more cognizant,”
she said. “Unfortunately, we’ve seen this before, 20 years ago, after 9/11. So
we’re just preparing to make ourselves more safe.”
Like many, Nawab blames politicians and
the media for advancing dangerous rhetoric and incomplete framing around the
war in Gaza. News stories often leave out context about Israel’s 56-year
occupation of Palestinian land, the 16-year blockade of Gaza and the West Bank,
and what human rights groups have referred to as an apartheid government.
Without that context, the public doesn’t sympathize with Palestinian suffering,
Nawab said.
Politicians have also used the words
“barbaric,” “savage” and “animals” to describe Palestinian militants, leaning
on tropes used against Arab people. And media outlets have printed and aired
similar views, including that pro-Palestinian protesters are “pro-Hamas”
supporters.
That manifested at Yale with a student
writing “Death to Palestine” on their dorm room door and calling Islam a
“barbaric religion,” Hedroug said.
“I’ve had to lock my doors, carry pepper
spray,” she said. “We walk in groups now. I fear for my hijabi sisters who are
walking around the campus because we’re an even greater minority there.”
Hedroug has also heard professors repeat
unverified claims about the war that have spread in American media.
So Hedroug came back to the Chicago area
last week and attended Wadea’s funeral with her mother. They didn’t know the
boy’s family but wanted to honor his life.
The 71-year-old man who fatally stabbed
Wadea had started fearing for his safety after listening to conservative talk
radio about Israel and Gaza, prosecutors said.
“The western media continues to
perpetuate these harmful narratives and rhetoric that we have to pay the price
for — our children have to pay the price for, as we’ve seen today,” Hedroug
said. “Even though he’s so far removed from the conflict, he’s not overseas, he
gets slaughtered at the hands of somebody taking these measures into their own
hands, feeling entitled enough, emboldened by these narratives.”
MinnaHassaballa, 22, said many Muslims
are trying to find support in community events, collective prayers and vigils.
“I worry more about the elders in our
community,” Hassaballa said. “My grandparents, people who would be more
susceptible to the more nefarious people who are actually looking to hurt
them.”
Friends and family are warning each
other to be safe while running errands like filling up gas or going to the
grocery store. And news of hate crimes deepen that anxiety, she said.
EmanAbdelhadi, a University of Chicago
assistant professor of sociology who has studied Muslim American life, said the
language used by politicians and media to describe Arabs and Muslims and frame
Palestinian life and Gaza often “translates into acts of violence.”
“When politicians use dehumanizing
language to talk about Muslims and Arabs, it gives people permission to act on
the notion that we aren’t human beings,” Abdelhadi said.
“The cumulative effect of all of these
actions is to put people on high alert and make you feel like you don’t belong
in this society, you’re this unwanted outsider.”
Abdelhadi said anti-Arab and Islamophobic
sentiments are “deeply rooted” in American culture. And while it might fade
into the background sometimes, “it comes back with a vengeance” as soon as
Muslims are in the news.
“People understood it didn’t go away but
thought we made significant progress,” she said. “And this feels like a 20-year
regression in the narratives about Muslims and Arabs.”
Source: chicago.suntimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/10/22/23925893/muslim-palestinian-arab-fears-crimes-hate-israel-gaza-plainfield-wadea-al-fayoume
---------
US citizens urged to leave Lebanon amid
‘unpredictable’ situation
23 October 2023
The US embassy in Beirut has urged
American citizens to leave Lebanon due to the “unpredictable” security
situation amid Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip.
In a statement released on Sunday, the
diplomatic mission recommended that the Americans check flight options at
Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport, monitor local media reports, and
follow the instructions of security and emergency response officials.
“US citizens who wish to depart Lebanon
should leave now, due to the unpredictable security situation. There are still
commercial flights available, but there is reduced capacity,” it added.
The embassy also presented a crisis
intake form for those who “need a financial assistance loan from the US
government to purchase tickets on a flight to depart Lebanon, or are interested
in receiving messages from the US Department of State.”
It further urged US citizens, who choose
not to depart Lebanon, to prepare “contingency plans for emergency situations.”
On Tuesday, the US State Department
raised its travel advisory level for Lebanon to “Level 4: Do Not Travel,”
citing the security situation related to “rocket, missile, and artillery
exchanges” between Israel and the Hezbollah resistance movement.
It also authorized the voluntary,
temporary departure of family members of US government personnel and some
non-emergency personnel from the US embassy in Beirut.
The travel alert comes amid the exchange
of fire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters on the Lebanese border at
a time when the Tel Aviv regime is conducting a bloody bombing campaign on the
besieged Gaza Strip.
The regime evacuated those communities
to temporary accommodation as it fears heavy casualties from cross-border
clashes with Hezbollah.
Israel’s relentless aerial assaults have
killed 4,741 Palestinians and injured 15,898 others. Authorities in Gaza say 40
percent of those killed were children.
Israel launched the war on Gaza on
October 7 after the Palestinian resistance group Hamas waged the surprise
Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity.
It has also blocked water, food and
electricity to the Gaza Strip, plunging the coastal enclave into a humanitarian
crisis.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/23/713253/US-citizens-urged-leave-Lebanon-unpredictable-situation
--------
Biden walks a tightrope with his support
for Israel as his party’s left urges restraint
October 22, 2023
WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden told a
crowd of Democratic donors over the weekend about a decades-old photo he took
with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an aside that seemed intended to
illustrate his long support of Israel and track record of speaking bluntly with
the conservative Israeli leader.
Biden said he’d written on the photo of
himself as a young senator and Netanyahu as an embassy hand, “Bibi, I love you.
I don’t agree with a damn thing you say.’” He told donors at a Friday night
fundraiser that Netanyahu still keeps the photo on his desk and had brought it
up during Biden’s lightning visit to Tel Aviv last week.
As expectations grow that Israel will
soon launch a ground offensive aimed at rooting out Hamas militants who rule
the Gaza Strip, Biden finds himself facing anew the difficult balancing act of
demonstrating full-throated support for America’s closest ally in the Middle
East while trying to also press the Israelis to act with enough restraint to
keep the war from spreading into a broader conflagration.
Biden has literally, and figuratively,
wrapped Netanyahu in a warm embrace since the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas. He’s
repeatedly promised to have Israel’s back as it aims to take out the militant
group that controls the Gaza Strip and carried out the brutal attacks that
killed 1,400 Israelis and captured more than 200 others.
But he also increasingly is paying
greater public heed to the plight of Palestinians and the potential
consequences of a hard-line Israeli response.
White House officials say Biden, during
his visit to Tel Aviv last week, asked Netanyahu “tough” questions about his
strategy and the way forward. Biden himself told reporters on his way back from
Israel that he had a “long talk” with Israeli officials “about what the
alternatives are” to a possible extended ground operation. US defense officials
were also consulting with Israel on the matter.
“We’re going to make sure other hostile
actors in the region know that Israel is stronger than ever and prevent this
conflict from spreading,” Biden said Thursday in a nationally televised address
on assisting Israel and Ukraine in their wars. “At the same time ... Netanyahu
and I discussed again yesterday the critical need for Israel to operate by the
laws of war. That means protecting civilians in combat as best as they can.”
Both Secretary of State Antony Blinken
and the executive director of United Nations’ World Food Program, Cindy McCain,
offered grim warnings Sunday that the situation on the ground is only becoming
more complicated.
Blinken on NBC’s “Meet the Press” warned
“there’s a likelihood of escalation” against US forces stationed in the region
by Iranian proxies. Iran is the biggest financial backer of Hamas, Hezbollah
militants in Lebanon and Shiite militias in Iraq.
McCain said on ABC’s “This Week” that
the humanitarian situation her organization is confronting in Gaza is
“catastrophic.”
As well, Biden and Pope Francis spoke on
the phone for about 20 minutes Sunday, addressing the need to “pinpoint paths
of peace” in world conflicts, the Vatican press office said in a brief
statement.
The pressure on Biden for a balanced
approach comes from Arab leaders in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and beyond who have
seen large protests erupt in their capitals over the crisis in Gaza. It also
comes from European officials, who have expressed horror at the most brutal
attack on Israeli soil in decades, but also underscored that the Israelis must
abide by international and humanitarian law. Biden also faces scrutiny from
people in the younger and more liberal wing of his Democratic Party, who are
more divided over the Israel-Palestinian issue than the party’s centrist and
older leaders.
Less than week into the war, dozens of
lawmakers wrote to Biden and Blinken urging them to ensure the protection of
Israeli and Palestinian civilians by calling for Israeli military operations to
follow the rules of international humanitarian law, the safe return of
hostages, and diplomatic efforts to ensure long-lasting peace. That was
followed by more than a dozen lawmakers introducing a resolution urging the
Biden administration to call for an immediate de-escalation and cease-fire.
Three members of the Democratic caucus —
Reps. Delia Ramirez of Illinois, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania and Rashida Tlaib
of Michigan — wrote to Blinken last week about the “lack of meaningful
information” about the status of US civilians, particularly those in Gaza and
the West Bank. The administration has said some 500 to 600 US citizens may be
in Gaza.
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minnesota, has
suggested that the administration has demonstrated a double standard when it
comes to valuing the lives of innocent Israelis and Gaza residents. Israel’s retaliatory
bombing campaign has killed more than 4,000 Palestinians, according to the
Hamas-run Health Ministry. Many of the victims are women and children.
“How do you look at one atrocity and
say, ‘This is wrong,’ but you watch as bodies pile up as neighborhoods are
leveled?” Omar asked at a news conference. “Israel has dropped more bombs in
the last 10 days than we dropped in a whole year in Afghanistan. Where is your
humanity? Where is your outrage? Where is your care for people?”
Inside the administration there has been
debate over whether Biden is pursuing a policy too closely aligned to Israel’s.
Last week, at least one department
official resigned, saying he could no longer support what he called a
“one-sided” policy that favors Israel at the expense of the Palestinians.
“I cannot work in support of a set of
major policy decisions, including rushing more arms to one side of the
conflict, that I believe to be short-sighted, destructive, unjust and
contradictory to the very values that we publicly espouse,” Josh Paul, an
11-year veteran of the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs,
wrote in a statement posted to his LinkedIn account on Wednesday.
Other State Department officials have
expressed similar concerns and some of them spoke at a series of internal
discussions for employees that were held on Friday, according to people
familiar with the events who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private
conversations. Many of those comments were angry and emotional, these people
said.
Blinken sent a department-wide memo
Thursday urging employees to remember the administration’s broader goals for
equal justice and peace for both Israel and the Palestinians.
Biden administration officials,
meanwhile, in their interactions with their Israeli counterparts have witnessed
trauma — and rage — that is palpable.
The most significant announcement to
come out of Biden’s visit to Israel this past week was getting Egypt and Israel
to agree to allow a limited number of trucks carrying food, water, medicine and
other essentials into Gaza via the Rafah border crossing
While the agreement to allow some aid
into to Gaza appeared to be minor considering the enormity of the humanitarian
crisis, US officials said it represented a significant concession in the
position Israel held before Blinken’s meeting with Netanyahu on Monday and
Biden’s talks with the Israeli leader on Wednesday.
During the Blinken-Netanyahu talks, US
officials familiar with the discussions said they had become increasingly
alarmed by comments from their Israeli counterparts about their intention to
deny even supplies of water, electricity, fuel, food and medicine into Gaza, as
well as the inevitability of civilian casualties.
Those comments, according to four US
officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe private
conversations, reflected intense anguish, anger and outright hostility toward
all Palestinians in Gaza.
The officials said that members of the
Israeli security and political establishment were absolutely opposed to the
provision of any assistance to Gazans and argued that the eradication of Hamas
would require methods used in the defeat of the Axis powers in World War II.
One official said that he and others had
heard from Israeli counterparts that “a lot of innocent Germans died in WWII”
and had been reminded of the massive deaths of Japanese civilians in the US
nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Similarly, Biden and his top aides heard
deep anguish from some of the high-ranking Israeli officials involved in the
private talks, according to a US official familiar with the matter.
As he wrapped up his 7 1/2-hour visit to
Tel Aviv, Biden compared the Oct. 7 assault to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on
the United States that killed nearly 3,000 people and he recalled the rage
Americans felt and the desire for justice by many in the United States. He also
urged the Israelis to remember American missteps after 9/11, an era that left
the US military ensconced in a 20-year war in Afghanistan.
“I caution this: While you feel that
rage, don’t be consumed by it,” he said. “After 9/11, we were enraged in the
United States. And while we sought justice and got justice, we also made
mistakes.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2395976/world
---------
Pentagon amps up posture in Middle East
in response to ‘escalations’
October 22, 2023
WASHINGTON, VATICAN CITY: The US warned
against any “escalation” in the Middle East in the wake of Israel’s war with
Hamas, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Sunday, hours after the Pentagon
moved to step up military readiness in the region.
The US has seen a “prospect of
significant escalation of attacks on our troops” in the region, Austin said,
adding that the US military was preparing for “the ability to respond.”
“If any group or any country is looking
to widen this conflict and take advantage of this very unfortunate situation
that we see, our advice is: don’t,” he told ABC News.
“We maintain the right to defend
ourselves and we won’t hesitate to take the appropriate action,” he added.
His comments came hours after the
Pentagon said it was upping readiness in the region in response to “recent
escalations by Iran and its proxy forces.”
Austin ordered the activation of air
defense systems and notified additional forces that they may be deployed soon.
Austin did not say how many US troops would be added to those already in the
region.
The Pentagon’s moves came after what
Austin had earlier described in a statement as “detailed discussions” with
President Joe Biden.
“These steps will bolster regional
deterrence efforts, increase force protection for US forces in the region, and
assist in the defense of Israel,” Austin said.
The steps continued the Biden administration’s
response since Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip stormed Israel on Oct. 7,
taking more than 200 hostages and killing at least 1,400 people.
Israel has since vowed to destroy Hamas,
and says around 1,500 of the group’s fighters were killed in clashes before its
army regained control of the area initially under attack.
Austin said he had activated deployment
of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense or THAAD battery and additional
Patriot battalions “throughout the region.”
He added: “Finally, I have placed an
additional number of forces on prepare-to-deploy orders as part of prudent
contingency planning, to increase their readiness and ability to quickly
respond as required.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
told NBC News actions by Iran and its proxies could spark an escalation and
that the US hoped for more hostages to be released by Hamas.
Tensions are rising along Israel’s
northern border with Lebanon after the Israeli army traded fire with the
Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah amid fears of a new front opening as
Israel battles Hamas.
In south Lebanon on Saturday, Hezbollah
said four of its fighters were killed. Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad
said one of its fighters was also killed.
Armed factions close to Iran have
threatened to attack US interests in Iraq over Washington’s support for Israel.
Multiple Iraqi bases used by US-led coalition troops have been targeted in
several attacks in recent days.
China calls for truce
China believes “force is not a way to
resolve” the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and is once again calling for a
ceasefire, its envoy for the Middle East pleaded in Egypt, the Foreign Ministry
said on Sunday.
Egypt on Saturday hosted a “summit for
peace” where UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for swift “action to
end this godawful nightmare.”
Beijing’s envoy for the Middle East,
Zhai Jun, met Arab League chief Ahmed AboulGheit on the sidelines of the
summit.
The Chinese diplomat called for an
“immediate ceasefire and an end to the fighting as quickly as possible,” his
ministry said in a statement.
“China believes that force is not a way
to resolve the problem and that responding to violence with violence will only
lead to a vicious circle of revenge,” Zhai said according to the statement,
which mentioned neither Israel nor Hamas.
China has so far maintained good
relations with Israel, but it has supported the Palestinian cause for decades
and traditionally backs a two-state solution.
China said on Thursday it was “deeply
disappointed” by the US decision to veto a UN Security Council resolution
calling for a “humanitarian pause” in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Washington justified its veto because
the text did not mention Israel’s right to defend itself.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said it was
“crucial to prevent the conflict from expanding or even losing control and
causing a serious humanitarian crisis,” as he met with Egyptian Prime Minister
Mostafa Madbouli in Beijing on Thursday.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2395991/world
--------
Gaza crisis can spread across Middle
East, warns US
October 23, 2023
Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON: US secretaries of state and
defence warned on Sunday that the fighting between Israel and Hamas could lead
to a broader conflict throughout the Middle East and America will retaliate if
its troops were attacked.
The two senior most members of the Biden
administration used Sunday talk shows to claim that Iran and its proxies wanted
to widen the conflict, but the United States would do what it can to prevent
this.
“If any group or any country is looking
to widen this conflict and take advantage of this very unfortunate situation
that we see, our advice is: don’t,” US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin told ABC
News. “We maintain the right to defend ourselves, and we won’t hesitate to take
the appropriate action,” he warned.
In an interview with CBS News, US
Secretary of Antony Blinken was asked if “very high tensions” could force
Washington to pull US personnel out of the area. “We are concerned at the
possibility of Iranian proxies, escalating their attacks against our own
personnel, our own people. We’re taking every measure to make sure that we can
defend them and if necessary, respond decisively,” Secretary Blinken said.
Commenting on the possibility of
withdrawing US personnel from the region, he said the United States did not
want further escalation but was ready for it. “Not at all what we’re looking
for, not all we want, but we’ll be prepared, if that’s what they choose to do,”
he said.
Secretary Blinken further explained this
point in another interview to NBC News, saying: “We are concerned. In fact, we
expect that there’s a likelihood of escalation, escalation by Iranian proxies
directed against our forces, directed against our personnel.” The United
States, he said, was taking steps to make sure that it can “effectively defend
our people and respond decisively if we need to.”
In this interview, Mr Blinken also
discussed Gaza’s future, saying that while Israel did not want to restore the
situation that existed before Hamas’ Oct 7 raid, it did not want to govern Gaza
once the war was over.
“One thing’s for sure. Israel cannot go
back to the status quo. And again, no country would be able to accept that,”
said Mr Blinken when asked who would govern Gaza once the war was over. “At the
same time, what I’ve heard from the Israeli’s is absolutely no intent, no
desire to be running Gaza themselves.”
“So, something needs to be found that
ensures that Hamas can’t do this again, but that also doesn’t revert to Israeli
governance of Gaza, which they do not want and do not intend to do,” he
explained.
“There are different ideas out there
about what could follow. But all of that, I think, needs to be worked on. And
it’s something that needs to be worked on even as Israel is dealing with the
current threat.”
Both secretaries were reminded of
Jordan’s King Abdullah II’s remarks this weekend calling the war in Gaza a
“collective punishment of a besieged and helpless people.”
In his impassioned speech, the King of
Jordan also said that “Palestinian lives seem to matter less than Israeli ones.
Our lives matter less than other lives, the application of international law is
optional and human rights appear to have boundaries based on races and
religions.”
Secretary Blinken, while responding to
the king’s remarks said: “Every life- Palestinian, Israeli, Jewish, Muslim,
Arab, every life has equal worth.”
He also recalled the killing of a
six-year-old Palestinian child in Chicago last week, noting that he was
murdered mercilessly, although he had nothing to do with the conflict.
“But this is on Hamas. And the fact is,
Hamas doesn’t represent the Palestinian people. It doesn’t represent their just
cause, it doesn’t represent their aspiration, and legitimate aspiration for a
state,” said the chief US diplomat.
Both secretaries said Israel would
continue its ground offensive to ensure that it did not face the Oct 7 like
situation again but Secretary Austin acknowledged that it would be difficult
for Israel to do so.
Secretary Austin, however, said any
military operation to remove Hamas from Gaza would be difficult for Israel
given that the territory was densely populated and urban, where combat is
“extremely difficult” and “goes at a slow pace,” and Hamas utilises a large
network of underground tunnels.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1782986/gaza-crisis-can-spread-across-middle-east-warns-us
--------
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/hamas-israel-flag-harmony/d/130956