Right-Wing Ecosystem Cites the Attack on Israel to Lash Out At “Islamist Jihadi Terrorism”, Kashmir Militants and Pakistan, Calls for The Supply of Indian Missiles for Use Against Hamas

New Age Islam News Bureau

09 October 2023

 

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India

·         Stone-Pelting Near Hazaribagh Mosque After ‘Objectionable Slogans’ By Group Returning From VHP Event; 3 Injured

·         Nuh communal violence: Mohammad Shahid Alam arrested in attempt to murder case in Sohna

·         Israeli tourists in India keen to return home, wait for flights to restart

·         'Indian nationals in Israel and Gaza safe,' claim officials

·         PM Modi holds bilateral talks with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan

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South Asia

·         Afghanistan Earthquake: Death Toll Rises to Over 2,400, Ten Rescue Teams Deployed Near Herat

·         Islamic Emirate Supports Legitimate, Historical, Legal Rights of Palestinian People

·         UN Agencies Label Deportation of Afghan Refugees as Human Rights Violation

·         Deputy PM Baradar Expresses Condolences to Earthquake Victims in Herat, Badghis

·         US monitors Northwest Afghanistan earthquake impact, provides urgent aid

·         Sweden wants free, fair election in Bangladesh, State secretary tells PM

·         Five Ansar Al Islam members held in city

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Mideast

·         Death Toll Rises to More Than 1,100 After Weekend of Conflict in Israel and Gaza

·         Erdogan opens modern Turkish state’s first new church

·         Erdogan says Turkey will ramp up diplomacy in Israel-Palestine conflict

·         Iran Calls on Muslim States to Take Actions Helping Palestine

·         Raeisi hails Palestinian op. for making Islamic Umma proud

·         Raeisi holds phone calls with Islamic Jihad, Hamas chiefs

·         Hamas praises al-Aqsa Storm, vows liberation of Palestine

·         Hamas: Our fighters have captured more Israeli forces, taken them to Gaza Strip

·         Iran FM: Muslim countries must join hands in defending Palestinians, al-Aqsa

·         At least 11 killed in Turkish strike on northeast Syria: Monitor

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Pakistan

·         Kakar stresses two-state solution to Palestine issue

·         President urges world to play role for peaceful resolution of Israel-Palestine conflict

·         Security forces kill one terrorist in North Waziristan

·         Imran’s ex-aide joins PM Kakar’s cabinet, to look after investment portfolio

·         Pakistan offers support for Afghan quake victims

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Southeast Asia

·         Malaysia remains committed to restoring rights of Palestine, says Zahid

·         PAS directs members to gather in solidarity with Palestine after Friday prayer this week

·         Kota Baru cops arrest 15-year-old boy for stealing from surau donation box

·         Zahid unveils plan to invigorate halal industry and create 25,000 jobs

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Africa

·         Libyan Sharia Research and Studies Council hails Palestine's "Operation Al-Aqsa Storm"

·         Senegal, a West African exception amid the coups

·         France suspends visas, leaving student from Sahel anxious

·         African states react to Hamas-Israel hostilities

·         Terrorists kill ten, abduct several others in fresh Zamfara attack

·         We are not against Nigerian govt, says El-Zakzaky’s Islamic Movement

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North America

·         Israeli And Palestinian Supporters Hold Competing Rallies Across US Amid War in Gaza

·         CAIR-NJ Calls on NJ Elected Officials to Meet with Palestinian Human Rights Advocates, Stands in Solidarity with Gaza

·         Biden ‘betrayed’ promise to reassess Saudi ties over Khashoggi murder: Activists

·         Origin of US weaponry used by Hamas must be investigated – congresswoman

·         Americans get poorer as Washington throws cash at Ukraine and migrants

·         Joe Biden sends US ships near Israel after Zionists suffer major blow by Hamas

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Arab World

·         Saudi Arabia Calls for End to Escalation of Israel-Hamas Violence

·         Saudi Arabia expresses sorrow for victims of Afghan quakes

·         Saudi officials hold talks with Croatian, Swedish foreign ministers in Riyadh

·         Saudi delegation to participate in WHO regional committee meeting

·         KSrelief distributes 3,600 school bags in Somalia

·         Saudi Arabia sets up Imam Faisal bin Turki Royal Reserve covering Asir, Jazan and Makkah regions

·         Custodian of Two Holy Mosques Receives Written Message from Transitional President of Burkina Faso

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Europe

·         UK's Sunak calls Canadian PM for de-escalation in Ottawa-Delhi row

·         France to blame for any new conflict with Armenia – Azerbaijan president

·         Egyptians express Palestine solidarity as officials call for calm

·         Russia eyes return to UN rights body despite Ukraine war

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL:   https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/israel-islamist-jihadi-hamas-right-wing/d/130860

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Right-Wing Ecosystem Cites the Attack on Israel to Lash Out At “Islamist Jihadi Terrorism”, Kashmir Militants and Pakistan, Calls for The Supply of Indian Missiles for Use Against Hamas

 

Representational image

File picture

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09.10.23

J.P. Yadav

The Right-wing ecosystem has cited the attack on Israel to lash out at "Islamist Jihadi terrorism", Kashmir militants and Pakistan, and called for the supply of Indian missiles to Tel Aviv for use against Hamas.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had condemned the "terrorist attacks" in a message of "solidarity" with Israel.

Through Saturday and Sunday, hashtags like #IStandWithIsrael, #IndiaWithIsrael and #BharatWithIsrael gained traction on various social media platforms, with known pro-BJP handles dominating the discussions.

The BJP's official X handle sought to exploit the West Asian crisis for domestic political mileage, saying what Israel was facing today, India had suffered during the UPA years.

"What Israel is facing today, India suffered between 2004-14. Never forgive, never forget...," a pinned post on the BJP X handle said on Sunday.

A video with clips of various terror attacks in India was attached to the post.

The BJP handle, however, overlooked the attacks the country had faced when the party was in power. The 1999 Kargil invasion, the hijack of the IC-814 Air India flight, and the 2001 Parliament attack happened during the tenure of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.

During Modi’s tenure, India witnessed the deadly attack on a military camp in Uri (2016), followed by the Pulwama attack (2019) that killed around 40 CRPF men. Terror attacks in Kashmir continue despite the government’s “all is well” stand since the dilution of Article 370 in August 2019.

Right-wing social media users have, however, posted hardly any solidarity message for the people of Manipur, a state in the grip of sectarian violence for more than five months. The cue seems to have come from the top, with Modi continuing to maintain his deafening silence on the northeastern state.

On Saturday and Sunday, Right-wing social media users cited the Israel attacks to claim that Hamas, the Lashkar-e-Toiba, the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Jaish-e-Mohammed are “different faces of the same Islamist Jihadi terrorism”, some putting Pakistan in the same group. Many slammed Indian “liberals” for allegedly supporting the “Jihadis slaughtering Jews”.

An X user, Major Gaurav Arya (retd), called for the use of Indian missiles to attack Hamas and “stand with the Israeli brothers”.

“Israel has been a true friend of India. It stood with us when no one did... Israel is under attack... It is time to send Brahmos and Pinaka to Tel Aviv. Hamas must feel the ‘thundering of fire’. Let us stand with our Israeli brothers,” Arya, known to adopt ultra-nationalist positions in military matters, posted on Saturday.

On Sunday, Arya hit out at Pakistan, claiming the country was celebrating the Hamas attack on Jews. “Wait for 48 hours and you will see the same Pakistanis playing the victim card. Wait for cries of Islamophobia,” he wrote.

Opponents of the Right wing hit back by pulling out a 2018 post on X (then Twitter) from Modi that described Palestine as a long-time friend.

“Friendship between India and Palestine has stood the test of time. The people of Palestine have shown remarkable courage in the face of several challenges. India will always support Palestine’s development journey,” Modi had posted in 2018 when he visited Palestine.

Source: telegraphindia.com

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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/what-israel-is-facing-today-india-suffered-between-2004-14-under-upa-bjp/cid/1972033

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Afghanistan Earthquake: Death Toll Rises to Over 2,400, Ten Rescue Teams Deployed Near Herat

 

Afghanistan Earthquake, Photo CNBC

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By CNBCTV18.com

Oct 9, 2023

The deadliest earthquake in years struck Afghanistan, claiming the lives of over 2,400 individuals, the Reuters reported the Taliban administration on Sunday. The quakes, occurring on Saturday in the western part of the country, hit approximately 35 km (20 miles) northwest of Herat city, with one registering a magnitude of 6.3, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

These tremors rank among the most fatal earthquakes of the year globally, following the tragic earthquakes in Turkey and Syria in February, which claimed an estimated 50,000 lives.

Janan Sayeeq, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Disasters, conveyed to Reuters that the death toll had risen to 2,445, with the number of injured revised down to "more than 2,000". Initially, he had stated that 9,240 individuals had been injured.

Additionally, Sayeeq said that 1,320 houses were either damaged or destroyed. The death toll surged from the earlier reported 500, as stated by the Red Crescent on Sunday.

In response, ten rescue teams were dispatched to the affected area, which shares a border with Iran, as confirmed by Sayeeq during a press conference.

Source: cnbctv18.com

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https://www.cnbctv18.com/world/afghanistan-earthquake-death-toll-rises-to-over-2400-ten-rescue-teams-deployed-near-herat-17989001.htm

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More Than 123K Displaced in Gaza After Attack, UN Says; US Sending Warships, Ammunition to Israel

 

Aftermath of Israeli strikes in Gaza

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John Bacon and Vanessa Arredondo

USA TODAY

The rapidly intensifying war between Israel and Palestinian militants roared through a second day Sunday, with the Israeli Security Cabinet formally declaring war and the death toll surpassing 1,100 — a figure that may include some Americans.

More than 600 Israelis have been killed since Hamas militants began their assault Saturday on almost two dozen Israeli towns and army bases, ZAKA, a volunteer group that handles human remains after terror attacks, told Israeli media. ZAKA said 250 bodies were found at a music festival near the Gaza border. As of Sunday evening, more than 123,000 people in Gaza were displaced due to fear and concerns about the destruction of their homes, according to the United Nations.

Dozens of Israelis, and apparently some Americans, were taken hostage, officials on both sides said. Palestinian authorities said more than 300 fighters and civilians have been killed by Israeli counterattacks in Gaza. Each side reported thousands of wounded.

The violence began Saturday, when the first of thousands of rockets fired from Gaza pounded parts of southern and central Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Hamas militants infiltrated Israeli areas near the Gaza border, killing and wounding civilians and Israeli security forces and taking hostages, prompting the Israel military to strike back.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said U.S. officials are working to verify reports that several Americans have been killed and others taken hostage.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh blamed Israel for the war, accusing it of "creating a climate of hatred, violence, incitement, and violating international law."

'We are at war:'Israel's Netanyahu says as Hamas launches surprise multi-front attack

A ball of fire and smoke rise from an explosion on a Palestinian apartment tower following an Israeli air strike in Gaza City, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.

Biden assures Netanyahu of US support

President Joe Biden spoke Sunday with Netanyahu, discussing the hostages that include entire families, the elderly, and young children, the White House said. Biden emphasized that there was no justification for terrorism and that all countries must "stand united in the face of such brutal atrocities."

Biden updated Netanyahu on the intensive diplomatic efforts undertaken by the U.S. over the last 24 hours in support of Israel and assured the prime minister that "additional assistance" for the Israeli Defense Forces was en route to Israel with more to follow in the coming days.

In a message on X Sunday afternoon, Biden reaffirmed his "full support" for the people of Israel and said the U.S. will remain "in close contact over the coming days."

Also Sunday, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke with with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Harris expressed condolences on behalf of her and her husband for the victims of the attacks and all those affected. 

− Francesca Chambers

US sending warships, ammunition to Israel

The Pentagon is rushing warships, warplanes, and ammunition to the Middle East and to Israel, the Defense Department said Sunday. The USS Gerald Ford Strike Group, including its namesake aircraft carrier, as well as several destroyers and cruisers, have been sent to the eastern Mediterranean, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement. In addition, the region's squadrons of F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 warplanes are being bolstered.

The Pentagon also will begin shipping equipment and ammunition to the Israeli Defense Forces starting Sunday.

“My thoughts continue to be with the people of Israel and the many families who have lost loved ones as a result of the abhorrent terrorist attack by Hamas,” Austin said.

− Tom Vanden Brook

Blinken: Some Americans may have been killed, taken hostage

Blinken, making the rounds on Sunday talk shows, said U.S. officials are working to verify reports that Americans have died and that others may be held hostage.

“Any American anywhere who is being detained or held hostage, that is going to be a priority for this government, for this administration, and for me, but I don’t want to get ahead of where we are," Blinken said on NBC's Meet the Press. "We have reports; we need to verify them.”

As of Sunday evening, U.S. defense officials in a private briefing for House representatives said at least four American citizens were killed in the attacks in Israel, and that number is expected to rise, according to CNN.

Israel will “do anything” to free hostages taken in Gaza, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Maj. Doron Spielman told CNN.

12 Tennesseans in Israel reported safe

Twelve Tennesseans in Israel were reported safe after arriving on a church mission just a day before Hamas fighters launched a surprise attack.

The members of First Baptist Church Knoxville are safely residing inside the walls of the Old City in Jerusalem, according to updates from the church and its 12 travelers in Jerusalem.

“We plan to continue our travel plans and appreciate those who have reached out to us with concern and prayers,” senior pastor Brent McDougal said in a Facebook post around 1 a.m. ET Sunday.  “We are deeply saddened by the violence not far from us but it has been eye-opening to be so near to the tension and war that has marked this area for millennia.”

The missionaries arrived in Tel Aviv on Friday and have since made their way to Jerusalem. Their original plan was to stay until Oct. 21, but the group is monitoring the situation on an hour-to-hour basis, The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.

— Liam Anderson, Nashville Tennessean

Students offer their perspective: 'Issue is so not black and white'

Michele Naideck, 27, felt frustrated, worried and scared when she woke up to the news of the attacks. Naideck is an Israeli-American in her fourth year of medical school at Ben-Gurion University, in Beersheba, 25 miles from Gaza.

The 27-year-old has been living in Israel for the last three years but moved back to the United States for her studies. But many of Naideck’s loved ones live in the Middle Eastern country, including her family and her boyfriend along with his family.

Naideck noted the complexity of the conflict and said she spent her time in Israel "really trying to understand the Palestinian perspective,” adding that she’s had “a lot of criticisms of this government and the occupation.”

But with her loved ones in potential danger and hearing about the violence, Naideck was left “questioning her morals” over the weekend as the conflict unfolded.

"This issue is so not black and white," Naideck told USA TODAY. "People who aren't directly involved in the (Israeli-Palestinian) conflict, don't understand that it's not black and white."

“I feel pretty negative about the whole thing,” Naideck added. “This is not gonna help any long-term solution at all. This is really destroying me. I feel like any chance of hope and peace in the near future.”

Haneen Shaath, 25, said the situation between Gaza and Israel “is not a conflict and not a war.”

Shaath is a master's student at Pennsylvania State University, studying international affairs. But the 25-year-old grew up in Gaza and has seen aggression in her homeland for years.

Shaath told USA TODAY that there is unequal power between Palestinians and Israel. And the current situation has left her anxious. On the weekend, Shaath said she lost communication with her family for over 12 hours after the power was shut down in different parts of the Gaza Strip.

— Thao Nguyen

3 British men dead or unaccounted for, families say

Three British men were said to be either dead or missing following the Hamas surprise attack on Israel, The Associated Press reported.

Nathanel Young, 20, was killed while serving in the Israel Defense Forces, his sister, Gaby Shalev, said on Facebook. The Israeli Embassy in London later confirmed his death, the news outlet reported.

Berlin residents British photographer Danny Darlington and his German girlfriend, Carolin Bohl, have not been heard from after they hid in a bunker at kibbutz Nir Oz, Bohl’s brother-in-law Sam Pasquesi told AP. On Sunday, his family was informed that the couple’s bodies had been identified.

Jake Marlow, 26, was working security at a music festival near kibbutz Re’im when rockets began flying overhead just before dawn. He called his mother Lisa and texted her an hour later, but that was the last she heard of her son. The Israeli Embassy in London did not know of Marlow’s condition, the AP said.

Palestinian prime minister blames Israel for war

Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh was quoted in Palestinian media outlet Al Ayyam as saying Israel "bears full responsibility for what is happening, by creating a climate of hatred (and) violence" and violating international law. Shtayyeh said the international alignment behind Israel encourages the Israeli government and military to commit more crimes "against our people" in Gaza.

"We have always warned of the seriousness of the repercussions that will result from continuing the siege of our people in the Gaza Strip, and continuing to storm cities, towns, villages, and camps, violating sanctities, attacking Muslim and Christian worshipers," Shtayyeh said.

Report: US officials seek to determine Iran’s connection to Israel attack

Despite multiple reports linking Iran to the surprise attack led by Hamas against Israel Saturday, U.S. officials are unable to confirm that the country had a hand in its planning and execution, CNN reported Sunday evening.

U.S. officials told the news outlet that it was too early to determine Iran’s role in the conflict, but leaders acknowledged Iran’s connections to and long history of aiding Hamas.

On Sunday, the Wall Street Journal reported that senior members of Hamas and other militant groups said Iranian security officials helped plan the attack on Israel.

Meanwhile Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, praised the attacks on X, formerly Twitter, writing that the "Zionist regime will be eradicated at the hands of the Palestinian people and the Resistance forces throughout the region."

How to get out of Israel

The U.S. embassy in Israel tried to provide information for anxious Americans in the country. A statement said the situation remains "unpredictable" and that people should follow the advice of local governments to increase security awareness and safety. The statement added that "Mortar and rocket fire may take place without warning."

U.S. citizens in Israel who need assistance were told to contact the closest U.S. embassy or consulate using the crisis intake form.  Family members can also submit information on behalf of a U.S. citizen.

"U.S. citizens who wish to leave and can do so safely are advised to check the status of the border crossings or verify flights have not been canceled before heading to the Ben Gurion Airport," the statement said.

U.S. citizens can find additional information regarding steps to take in case of mortar and rocket fire in the Country Information for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza

Cory Booker leaves Israel after sheltering in place when attack began

en. Cory Booker, D-N.J., was in Israel when the attacks began Saturday. Booker, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, arrived Friday for meetings ahead of the Abraham Accords summit in Tel Aviv, where he was scheduled to speak Tuesday. Booker and his staff, in Jerusalem when Hamas launched their attacks, sheltered in place for safety, according to a statement from his office.

"We are grateful that Senator Booker and our colleagues were able to safely depart Israel earlier today," Maya Krishna-Rogers, Booker's spokesperson, said in a statement Sunday.

− Candy Woodall

Israel conducts deadly counterstrikes

Israel carried out dozens of airstrikes in the southern Gaza town of Rafah overnight. One strike slammed into three homes in the crowded Shaboura refugee camp, killing 19 members of the same family, according to a family member who posted the names on his social media. The Associated Press reported that surviving family members and neighbors filled al-Farouk mosque and prayed over the bodies of those killed before marching to the nearby cemetery for burial, some carrying the bodies.

Israeli Defense Forces also said on social media that it struck two "operational situation rooms" located inside mosques used by Hamas in Gaza. The IDF also struck Hamas' intelligence headquarters, a military compound used by Hamas' aerial forces, and an aerial weapons production site. The IDF said it killed at least 400 Palestinian terrorists both in Israel and in strikes in Gaza.

The Gaza health ministry said 370 Palestinians have been killed and another 2,200 have been wounded in the Gaza Strip.

In Gaza, outrage at Israeli retaliation

The Palestinian media outlet Al Ayyam described what it called an "Israeli massacre" in Gaza.

It said the Ministry of Health in Gaza was appealing to citizens to go to hospitals and blood banks to donate blood for the more than 2,000 people reported wounded there. Many people were reported missing in Gaza, some of whom apparently died at a border crossing bombed by Israel after a large number of Palestinians arrived there, Al Ayyam reported.

Others were arrested by the occupation forces, the media outlet said.

Celebs show solidarity for Israel

Gal Gadot, Kylie Jenner, Nina Dobrev, and more celebrities have shown solidarity for Israel amid the country's escalated conflict with Palestinian militants. "I stand with Israel you should too. The world cannot sit on the fence when these horrific acts of terror are happening!" Gadot posted Saturday on Instagram. The "Wonder Woman 1984" star is Israeli.

Bruno Mars planned two nights in Israel as part of his ongoing world tour. His first concert in Tel Aviv went on without a hitch on Wednesday, but his Saturday performance was canceled. The organizer promised refunds to all ticket holders, adding, "We stand with the residents of Israel, IDF fighters and the security forces in these difficult moments."

− Naledi Ushe

A member of the Israeli forces runs past a fire raging in a house in Ashkelon following a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on southern Israel. Palestinian militant group Hamas has launched a "war" against Israel, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, after barrages of rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory.

Conflict could prompt return of $5-a-gallon gas to US

Oil prices may spike on Monday, the first trading day following the outbreak of violence in Israel. But experts don’t expect a long-term impact on oil and gas prices unless the conflict itself escalates. The crisis is playing out in a major oil-producing region − neighboring Saudi Arabia is a leader in oil exports − but Israel and Palestine are not major oil producers.

A gallon of regular gas costs $3.71, on average, in the United States, according to motor vehicle club AAA. Gas prices are down from this time last week, last month, and last year.

“It’s a developing situation,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at gas price tracker GasBuddy, speaking via email to USA TODAY. The conflict “isn’t too much a problem unless the fighting spreads to other countries that do produce a significant amount of oil, as has happened sometimes in the past.”

 - Daniel de Visé

US airlines cancel some flights to Israel

Major American airlines including Delta, United, and American have limited or canceled flights in and out of Ben Gurion International Airport outside of Tel Aviv. The Federal Aviation Administration asked pilots to be cautious while flying in Israeli airspace. United said in a statement to USA TODAY that flights to Tel Aviv will be suspended "until conditions allow them to resume."

It’s not just airlines based in the United States that are canceling or delaying flights: Air France, Lufthansa, Emirates, Ryanair and Aegean Airlines also canceled flights. Swiss Airlines announced it has canceled all flights to and from Ben Gurion International Airport until Monday.

“We fully understand the situation of the passengers affected by the flight cancellations. SWISS is closely monitoring the development of the situation and is in close contact with the authorities. Based on this, we will decide on the resumption of flights between Switzerland and Israel,” the airline said.

The American Airlines pilots' union directed its members in an email Sunday evening to refuse flights to Israel due to the ongoing conflict, The Associated Press reported.

“It is not prudent or appropriate to knowingly put our flight crews and passengers in harm’s way by maintaining flights into a war zone,” Union president Ed Sicher said in the message.

− Sarah Al-Arshani

Conflict dates to biblical times

The war comes from a dispute rooted in pre-biblical times. Though its borders have shifted over the years, Palestinian territories used to be what is now Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank.

Both Israeli Jews' and Palestinian Arabs’ history, culture, and identity are linked to the Palestinian territories and to the ancient city of Jerusalem, “one of the most bitterly contested cities on earth,” according to The Associated Press.

Britain was given control of Palestine by the League of Nations in 1920, under an order called the British Mandate. In 1917, the British government signaled its support for the establishment of a Jewish state in Israel with the Balfour Declaration. Read more.

− George Petras and Janet Loehrke

What is Simchat Torah? Religious holiday celebrations interrupted

The attack came on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, reviving memories of the 1973 war that began with a surprise attack on Yom Kippur.

Simchat Torah, which means "the joy of the Torah," is “supposed to be a day of rejoicing when Jews celebrate completing the end of the Torah cycle and beginning again," said Ruth Franklin, a Jewish writer and a finalist for the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature.

Simchat Torah is part of the holiday Shemini Atzeret. In Israel, they are celebrated on the same day and often referred to interchangeably. For Jewish people outside Israel, Shemini Atzeret is usually a two-day celebration, with Simchat Torah occurring on the second day.

At one synagogue about 90 minutes north of the epicenter of the attacks, half the people celebrated and danced with the Torah while the other half arrived in their uniforms and left their neighborhoods to serve, said Yael Eckstein, president and CEO of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.

- Jeanine Santucci and Krystal Nurse

Jewish communities on alert across the US

Jewish communities across the U.S. are on guard in the wake of the Israel-Gaza conflict as local institutions report a spike in antisemitic threats and concerns.

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued “public safety concern” bulletins to state and local law enforcement on Saturday when the conflict broke out and said they are monitoring domestic threats to the U.S., according to CNN.

In Utah, the Salt Lake City Police Department law on Sunday acknowledged "unspecified threats" targeting several Jewish community centers across the state, a local CBS station reported. Local law enforcement responded to at least three fake bomb threats made against synagogues and other institutions.

Law enforcement all over the country is increasing patrols as a safety precaution.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams told CNN that there are no specific or credible threats against the Jewish community in the city, which is home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel, but police are on alert.

In Pennsylvania, the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg issued a statement urging increased security and vigilance in the region. The organization said local police will be increasing law enforcement presence in the community.

In California, the Los Angeles Police Department said on Twitter that it would increase patrols as a result of the overseas conflict.

Fighting between Israel and Hamas has historically contributed to rises in antisemitic incidents in the country, according to a 2022 report by the Anti-Defamation League. There was a 148% increase of antisemitic attacks in the U.S. following a conflict between both parties in May 2021 as anti-Israel protests took place in several American cities.

“While we have always seen a rise in antisemitic activity during periods of increased hostilities between Israel and terrorist groups, the violence we witnessed in America during the conflict last May was shocking,” said ADL CEO Jonathan A. Greenblatt in the report. “It seemed as if the working assumption was that if you were Jewish, you were blameworthy for what was happening half a world away.”

Source: usatoday.com

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2023/10/08/israeli-hamas-palestinian-war-live-updates/71109683007/

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Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl Terms Attack on Israel A ‘Historic Success’

 

JUI-F chief says former PM Imran Khan was being funded by Israel and India. SCREENGRAB

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October 09, 2023

PESHAWAR: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that his party has always understood the position of Palestinians as “correct” and consistently stood by the innocent.

“We reiterate the position that we are with our Palestinian brothers. The attack of the Palestinian Mujahideen on Israel is a historic success and a historic battle. The Palestinian Mujahideen have freed their territories from the usurpation of Israel,” the JUI-F chief said while addressing a news conference on Sunday.

Fazl announced expressing solidarity with the people of Palestine in every district across the country on Friday. He congratulated the Palestinian people, saying that the world was thinking that the Palestinian issue was dead.

“A section of us [Muslim world] tried unsuccessfully to recognise Israel, however, the latest incident proved that the Palestine issue is not dead,” Fazl said, adding that the attack destroyed Israel's defence system and its arrogance.

“It should be acknowledged that Israel is not a great force as exaggerated,” Fazl said, appealing to the Palestinian brothers that human rights should be respected.

“Respect … don't harm children, women, and civilians. Palestinians should prove how Islam and Muslims protect human rights.”

The JUI-F chief called upon the United Nations to fulfil its duty. “The 1967 resolutions should be implemented.” He said that the Al-Aqsa Mosque should be handed over to the Muslims, calling for an immediate and full meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

“Respectable friendly countries expect a role from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and other Islamic countries considering the current objective situation,” the JUI-F chief said. “Determine your position from a new angle. Plan to ensure the establishment of peace in the Middle East as peace cannot be established without recognising Palestine and handing over their country to them.”

Source: tribune.com.pk

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

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2440092/jui-f-terms-attack-on-israel-a-historic-success

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In Parliament, Putrajaya Calls Out Global Community’s Hypocrisy Over Palestine By Pointing At Support For Ukraine

 

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has today highlighted the contrast in how the international community responded to calamities in Palestine and Ukraine. — Bernama pic

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By Anis Zalani

09 Oct 2023

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has today highlighted the contrast in how the international community responded to calamities in Palestine and Ukraine.

In his speech during the Dewan Rakyat's debate on the Palestine-Israel crisis, Zahid pointed to how swiftly the Western powers extended support to Kiev which faced invasion by Russia but not towards the Palestinians who are facing oppression from Israel.

“Why are there two different approaches? For instance, in the Ukraine crisis, the Western powers swiftly provided support to Kiev. Unfortunately, when it comes to Palestine, it is entirely disregarded.

“Moreover, any community that has long lived under oppression, suffering, and injustice without defence will certainly have a breaking point. This is what has happened in Palestine all along. The provocations and oppressions have escalated since the Israeli regime, backed by radical factions, took control of Tel Aviv,” he told the Dewan Rakyat.

He ended his speech by appealing for the MPs to back several motions, including for Malaysia to advocate the absolute freedom of the Palestinians from Israel’s illegal occupation, including the rightful return of lands seized by Israel and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Other motions included for Malaysia to express its deep concern over the deteriorating situation in Palestine, and for the United Nations Security Council to take immediate action, urging all involved parties to cease all acts of violence and conflict, and urging the international community to step up and increase pressure on all parties involved to promptly halt hostilities.

During the speech, Zahid highlighted Israel’s extreme provocations which included incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque and its vicinity while religious Muslim and Christian visitors were performing their respective prayers, which he said clearly demonstrates that Israel is aggressively attacking without considering the sanctity of other religions.

Zahid added the foreign policy position of the current administration in the Palestine-Israel conflict is clear and unchanged, with the struggle to free Palestinian land and the rights of the Palestinian people as one of its priorities.

On Sunday, Israel declared war on the Palestinian militant group Hamas after the latter launched a surprise assault from Gaza, amid a death toll which has surged above 1,100.

Gaza officials reported at least 413 deaths in the impoverished and blockaded enclave of 2.3 million people, which was hammered by Israeli air strikes on 800 targets ahead of what many feared may be a looming ground invasion.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Israeli air attacks and shelling targeting houses and apartment buildings have displaced some 123,538 Palestinians in Gaza

More than 700 Israelis have been killed since Hamas launched its large-scale attack, according to the latest toll from the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Monday — the country’s worst losses since the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday reiterated that Malaysia remains in solidarity with the struggles of the Palestinians, saying the international community has continued to take one-sided actions regarding all forms of cruelty and oppression against the Palestinians.

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/10/09/in-parliament-putrajaya-calls-out-global-communitys-hypocrisy-over-palestine-by-pointing-at-support-for-ukraine/95249

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India

 

Stone-pelting near Hazaribagh mosque after ‘objectionable slogans’ by group returning from VHP event; 3 injured

By Abhishek Angad

Ranchi | October 9, 2023

A group of people returning from a VHP event in Ranchi raised “objectionable slogans” in front of a mosque in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh district on Sunday night, after which local residents threw stones at their bus, police said.

Three people were injured in the incident that took place at 8.30 pm beside Pelawal Mosque, near Katkamsandi area of Hazaribagh. Police said the process of registering an FIR was underway and that members of both communities would be arrested.

“The passengers of the bus were returning from Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s Shaurya Yatra held in Ranchi. It seems they were workers of the VHP and other outfits. As soon as they reached the mosque on Sunday night around 8.30 pm, they stopped the bus and started raising objectionable slogans. Seeing this, locals reacted and started pelting stones towards the bus. Three people were injured,” Hazaribagh SP Manoj Ratan Chothe told The Indian Express.

Chothe said a police patrolling team was in the vicinity and that the incident unfolded in front of them.

“The stone-pelting was not unprovoked. However, the action of neither side can be justified, and we are in the process of identifying those involved, after which they will be arrested,” the SP said.

Hazaribagh district has seen communal tensions over the years, particularly during the time of the Ram Navami festival.

Source: indianexpress.com

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https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jharkhand-hazaribagh-mosque-stone-pelting-vhp-8974475/

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Nuh communal violence: Mohammad Shahid Alam arrested in attempt to murder case in Sohna

By: Express News Service

Gurgaon | October 9, 2023

The Gurgaon police Saturday arrested a man from Tikona Park in Sohna in connection with an attempt to murder case registered during the communal violence in Haryanan’s Nuh in July.

The police said this was the second arrest in the case and identified the accused as Mustafa alias Kiradla, a resident of Nat Colony in Sohna. They arrested another accused, Mohammad Kaif, on September 13.

The police said on July 31, a person filed a written complaint at the Sohna city police station in Gurgaon, reporting that on the same day, when he was heading from Sohna Bazaar towards Ambedkar Chowk, during communal clashes, an unknown person intentionally shot at him with the intent to kill. The police registered a case at the Sohna city police station based on this complaint.

The police also said a man who had allegedly posted provocative posts on X, formerly Twitter, intending to incite clashes and increase communal hatred, was apprehended Friday.

The accused has been identified as Mohammad Shahid Alam, a resident of Khaira Village, Bhagalpur, Bihar, who was booked on August 8.

During the police interrogation, it was revealed that the accused had been living in Delhi since 2016 and had posted provocative content during the violence in Gurgaon to seek revenge for the burning of a mosque and the murder of an imam.

On July 21, communal violence erupted between Muslims and Hindus in the Nuh district of Haryana during an annual pilgrimage organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad. Later, incidents of communal violence were reported from Gurgaon and Sohna, leading to at least seven deaths and injuries to over 200 people.

Source: indianexpress.com

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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/nuh-communal-violence-man-arrest-murder-sohna-8974441/

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Israeli tourists in India keen to return home, wait for flights to restart

Oct 9, 2023

AJMER/KULLU: Israeli tourists had been celebrating the seven-day Sukkot festival at the Bed Chabad in Rajasthan's Pushkar when news of the Hamas attack on Israel broke. Out of about 350 Israelis in the touristy town, 150 left for Delhi in response to the crisis.

Many Israelis, who are trained and experienced in dealing with such situations, were eager to return to their homeland. Military service is mandatory for Israeli citizens over 18, and many are eager to fulfil their responsibilities during these trying times.

Security measures were heightened at the Bed Chabad of Israelis, a community centre for Jews in Pushkar, and the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) conducted inspections as a precaution. The rabi at the Chabad held special prayers for those who died in the attack.

"No one slept when they came to know about the terrorist attack. We have friends, families, relatives who are either dead or wounded," said Yuval Barbi, a singer and tourist, on Sunday. Highlighting the personal toll it has taken on Israelis, Barbi stressed that the attack was not just a war but an act of hate against humanity.

A similar anxiety was seen among a number of Israeli visitors in Himachal Pradesh, known for its appeal to tourists from that country.

More than 50 Israelis who had been vacationing in the Parvati valley of Kullu district have decided to cut short their trips due to the ongoing conflict back home. The Israelis, who had been staying in various villages, are cancelling their travel plans in India and awaiting the resumption of flights to Israel. Many airlines, including Air India, have suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv.

The Israeli tourists, who typically bring vibrancy to the region, have been deeply affected by the news of the attack. Many were glued to their phones, watching videos shared by their relatives.

"It hurts a lot. All my three brothers are in the military, and one is with us in India. He is dying to get back to help the country. We are small country and a close community," said Yiska, a graphic designer, in Pushkar.

Despite the sombre mood, they are determined to go back to Israel as soon as flights resume.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/israeli-tourists-keen-to-return-home-wait-for-flights-to-restart/articleshow/104268918.cms

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'Indian nationals in Israel and Gaza safe,' claim officials

08th October 2023

By PTI

JERUSALEM: There have been no untoward incidents involving Indians living and working in Israel so far amid escalating tensions in the region, even as the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv received requests from its citizens, including tourists, stranded in the country to facilitate their safe exit.

Israel witnessed a surprise and unprecedented multifront attack -- by air, land, and sea -- by the Hamas militant group, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern parts on Saturday morning.

At least 350 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed and more than 1,900 injured in Israel - the deadliest day for the country in at least 50 years.

In the Gaza Strip, there are nearly 300 deaths and about 1,500 wounded in Israel's counterattack, media reports said on Sunday.

There are about 18,000 Indian nationals living and working in Israel and so far there have been no untoward incidents reported involving them, informed sources told PTI.

The Indian embassy has received requests from Indian tourists stranded in the country to facilitate their exit. Most of the tourists are travelling in groups. There are also some businessmen visiting Israel who have gotten caught up in the escalation and are looking to be evacuated.

The Indian mission in Tel Aviv and the Representative Office of India in Palestine on Saturday issued advisories asking Indian nationals on respective sides to "remain vigilant" and "directly contact the Office" in case of an emergency.

Embassy sources told PTI that they are readily available to all Indian nationals around the clock and have been proactively guiding them.

A big chunk of Indians living in Israel work as caregivers but there are also about a thousand students, several IT professionals and diamond traders.

Bindu, a doctoral student at Hebrew University, told PTI that she "followed the instructions in letter and spirit throughout the day" on Saturday and felt safe.

She said that all Indian students are in touch with each other and are constantly taking stock of the situation.

Some other students, when contacted, also said that they see the situation coming under control and "we should not spread panic unnecessarily".

Vikas Sharma, a postdoctoral fellow at the Givat Ram campus of Hebrew University said that "there is a tense situation in Israel because of the attack, but all the Indian students are safe. Most of the students are staying in dorms and accommodations provided by the institutions. We are in contact with each other as well as the Indian embassy through WhatsApp."

Caregivers in Israel also are inclined towards staying put and focusing on following the instructions of the Home Front through the link shared by the Indian mission.

Elle Prasad, who lives in Ashkelon where the maximum number of rockets have fallen, said that "they have to be very alert so that they reach the shelter house as soon as possible after the siren wails".

Another caregiver, Vivek, said that the situation was worrisome but they are all okay and in constant touch with the embassy.

An Indian national living in Gaza, when contacted, said that the situation was "scary" but she and her family were safe.

"There is no internet connection and electricity. The situation is scary but we are fine," she told PTI.

"In view of the current situation in Israel, all Indian nationals in Israel are requested to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities. Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary movement, and stay close to safety shelters," the Embassy said in its advisory.

The advisory gave relevant phone numbers in case of emergency and also provided URLs for Israeli Home Front Command and Preparedness brochures.

The advisory was issued in English, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages.

On Sunday, Israel continued to carry out attacks on Gaza but some infiltrators holed up in the southern parts of Israel continued to be engaged in firefights with Israeli soldiers.

Minor escalation was reported on Israel's northern border with Lebanon during the morning hours but soon seemed to have calmed down.

Source: newindianexpress.com

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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/oct/08/indian-nationals-in-israel-and-gaza-safe-claim-officials-2622020.html

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PM Modi holds bilateral talks with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan

 New Delhi

PTI, October 09, 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held wide-ranging talks with visiting Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan with a focus on boosting overall bilateral ties.

President Hassan arrived here on Sunday on a four-day visit.

Ahead of the Modi-Hassan talks, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the Tanzanian president's visit is an opportunity to take the long-standing ties between the two countries to "new levels".

Earlier in the day, the visiting leader was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

President Hassan will also participate in a business and investment forum in Delhi on October 10.

Source: thehindu.com

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https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pm-modi-holds-talks-with-tanzanian-president-hassan/article67398777.ece

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South Asia

 

Afghanistan Earthquake: Death Toll Rises to Over 2,400, Ten Rescue Teams Deployed Near Herat

By CNBCTV18.com

Oct 9, 2023

The deadliest earthquake in years struck Afghanistan, claiming the lives of over 2,400 individuals, the Reuters reported the Taliban administration on Sunday. The quakes, occurring on Saturday in the western part of the country, hit approximately 35 km (20 miles) northwest of Herat city, with one registering a magnitude of 6.3, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

These tremors rank among the most fatal earthquakes of the year globally, following the tragic earthquakes in Turkey and Syria in February, which claimed an estimated 50,000 lives.

Janan Sayeeq, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Disasters, conveyed to Reuters that the death toll had risen to 2,445, with the number of injured revised down to "more than 2,000". Initially, he had stated that 9,240 individuals had been injured.

Additionally, Sayeeq said that 1,320 houses were either damaged or destroyed. The death toll surged from the earlier reported 500, as stated by the Red Crescent on Sunday.

In response, ten rescue teams were dispatched to the affected area, which shares a border with Iran, as confirmed by Sayeeq during a press conference.

Source: cnbctv18.com

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https://www.cnbctv18.com/world/afghanistan-earthquake-death-toll-rises-to-over-2400-ten-rescue-teams-deployed-near-herat-17989001.htm

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Islamic Emirate Supports Legitimate, Historical, Legal Rights of Palestinian People

2023-10-08

KABUL (BNA): The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is closely following the recent events that took place in the Gaza Strip and considers everything that is happening as a result of Israeli aggression and the ongoing violation of the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy places for Muslims.

It considers the Palestinian people’s defense of their freedom and independence of their country and their resistance against the occupation legitimate for them.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan affirms its support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on its historical lands, which is a legitimate, historical, and legal right of the Palestinian people to defend the independence of the country.

The IEA appeals to Islamic countries and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the international community, and especially those countries that have a clear influence in the region, to stand up to Israeli aggression against the innocent Palestinian people and cooperate to resolve thePalestinian-issuee based on granting legitimate rights to the Palestinians.

Source: bakhtarnews.af

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https://bakhtarnews.af/en/islamic-emirate-supports-legitimate-historical-legal-rights-of-palestinian-people/

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UN Agencies Label Deportation of Afghan Refugees as Human Rights Violation

2023-10-08

KABUL (BNA): The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have jointly declared the expulsion of Afghan refugees from Pakistan as a violation of human rights.

They have urged Pakistan to reconsider this decision.

Both organizations have appealed to Pakistan to continue supporting Afghan refugees, emphasizing that their return should be voluntary, safe, and free from pressure.

The UNHCR and IOM have also requested other countries to halt the forced repatriation of Afghan citizens.

According to UNHCR statistics, there are 3.7 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan, but only 1.3 million possess residency documents.

This development follows the interim government of Pakistan’s decision to set a deadline for hundreds of thousands of Afghan citizens to leave the country by the end of this month, a move that has elicited global reactions.

Source: bakhtarnews.af

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https://bakhtarnews.af/en/un-agencies-label-deportation-of-afghan-refugees-as-human-rights-violation/

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Deputy PM Baradar Expresses Condolences to Earthquake Victims in Herat, Badghis

2023-10-08

KABUL (BNA): Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, has extended his heartfelt condolences to the victims of the earthquake in Herat and Badghis provinces.

He prays for the repose of the souls of the deceased and a speedy recovery for those injured. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar has instructed the ministries and departments of the natural disaster response organs to promptly reach the disaster site.

He emphasized the importance of utilizing all available resources to save the lives of injured citizens and provide necessary assistance.

Source: bakhtarnews.af

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https://bakhtarnews.af/en/deputy-pm-baradar-expresses-condolences-to-earthquake-victims-in-herat-badghis/

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US monitors Northwest Afghanistan earthquake impact, provides urgent aid

Fidel Rahmati

October 9, 2023

On Sunday, Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, stated that his country is closely monitoring the earthquake’s impact in northwestern Afghanistan. He wrote on social media, “The United States is carefully tracking the impact of yesterday’s (Saturday) earthquake in northwestern Afghanistan. Our humanitarian partners are responding with urgent aid to support the people of Afghanistan.”

Following a 6.3 magnitude earthquake in northwestern Afghanistan, 2053 individuals have lost their lives, and more than ten villages in the Zendeh Jan district of Herat have been destroyed.

Approximately two days after the earthquake, Iran is the only country in the world to have dispatched its relief teams to Herat. At the same time, China has announced that its Red Cross will provide around $200,000 in American dollars to aid earthquake victims in the region.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is dedicated to sending search and rescue teams, vital medicines, food supplies, and shelter materials to assist our Afghan neighbours during these difficult times. We stand in solidarity with them and extend our support and assistance, Ubaidur Rehman Nizamani said.

Japan has stated that it is collaborating with international organizations to deliver necessary assistance to earthquake survivors in western Afghanistan swiftly.

The United States and other major Western and Islamic countries have yet to announce financial and technical assistance for the rescue and relief of earthquake victims in Herat.

This is despite the limitations of the Taliban government’s resources and the slow progress in rescue efforts, which will likely increase the number of casualties.

Source: khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/us-monitors-northwest-afghanistan-earthquake-impact-provides-urgent-aid/

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Sweden wants free, fair election in Bangladesh, State secretary tells PM

 Oct 9, 2023

Swedish State Secretary for International Development Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Diana Janse, today said her country wants to see a free, fair and inclusive election in Bangladesh.

Diana Janse said when she called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in response, told the Swedish state secretary that her government is committed to holding free and fair elections.

Source: thedailystar.net

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

https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/sweden-wants-free-fair-election-bangladesh-state-secretary-tells-pm-3438576

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Five Ansar Al Islam members held in city

08 Oct 2023

DHAKA, Oct 8, 2023 (BSS) - Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police yesterday arrested five members, including its nayab Amir Kabir of banned militant outfit Ansar Al Islam from Jatrabari area.

The arrested were identified as - Sakhawatul Kabir alias Anis alias Rafiq,45, Ihsanur Rahman alias Murad alias Saif, 26, Bakhtiar Rahman alias Nazmul,30, Usuf Ali Sarker, 31 and Jahadul Islam alias Ashraf, 35.

Md. Asaduzzaman, Additional Police Commissioner, CTTC, DMP disclosed this at a press conference at Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Media center today.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of CTTC police conducted a drive in Jatrabari area and arrested the members of the banned militant outfit.

The CTTC team also recovered two foreign pistols and 15 round of bullet from their possession.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Mehedy Hasan today granted a five-day remand to the members of Ansar Al Islam, after police produced them before the court seeking a 10-day remand prayer.

Source: bssnews.net

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https://www.bssnews.net/news/151536

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Mideast

 

Death Toll Rises to More Than 1,100 After Weekend of Conflict in Israel and Gaza

Nimo Omer

9 Oct 2023

At about 6:30am local time on Saturday, Hamas, the Palestinian para-military group, launched an unprecedented, surprise attack by land, air and sea, firing thousands of rockets from Gaza and launching an incursion into southern Israel taking over several Israeli towns. The offensive, which Hamas have called “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood”, took place a day after the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Yom Kippur war and caught the Israeli government and military completely off guard. It has been described as an “intelligence failure for the ages”.

Both the Israeli military and Hamas have confirmed that Israeli civilians and military personnel have been taken hostage. As of this morning, at least 700 Israelis have been killed and 100 are thought to have been taken captive. Israel’s retaliation has killed over 413 Palestinians, including 78 children in Gaza, and injured a further 2,000. That number is expected to continue to rise. Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has responded quickly and unsparingly to the attack, vowing to turn “all the places that Hamas hides in” into “rubble”. Save the Children has denounced the violence, adding that the magnitude of the attacks in Israel and Gaza will have consequences that will last long after the immediate crisis.

There has been widespread international condemnation of Hamas’s offensive: Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer both said Israel has an absolute right to defend itself; the US announced it was sending military support to Israel and many other western, African and Latin American countries disavowed Hamas’s actions. Russia, China, Turkey and several Arab states issued general appeals for restraint, while Iran solely blamed Israel for the violence.

Today’s newsletter is a rundown of what has happened so far and why.

On the last day of the Jewish high holiday of Simchat Torah, sirens were heard as far as Tel Aviv, alerting people to a barrage of rockets that were heading from the Gaza Strip. Hamas said they had launched 5,000 rockets – the IDF’s figure stood at 2,200. At the same time, Palestinian gunmen had entered Israel. Within hours, militants had infiltrated three military bases and raided the border towns of Sderot, Be’eri, and Ofakim.

Israel have said more than 100 hostages, including women and children, have been taken into Gaza by Hamas, which hugely complicates any Israeli military operation to free them, Peter Beaumont reports. The hostages include festival-goers who were attending an all-night party celebrating the Jewish holiday near the Gaza-Israel border, where 260 bodies were later found. Airlines have suspended flights into Tel Aviv, all schools across Israel and Gaza are closed and businesses have pulled their shutters down. For now, life has come to a halt.

How has Israel responded?

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyhu vowed to destroy Hamas and launched a large scale offensive, firing a wave of retaliatory airstrikes on Gaza, destroying dozens of buildings. In a televised statement he said: “Our enemy will pay a price the type of which it has never known. We are in a war and we will win it.”

He also told Gaza residents to “get out of there now” ahead of an Israeli military attack. However, they have no way to get out. Since 2007 Gaza has been under a full land, sea and air blockade, leading many to question where Gaza residents were expected to go as the borders into Israel and Egypt have been shut. Approximately 20,000 people have taken shelter in United Nations schools and hospitals.

Israeli warplanes continued “intense” strikes in the territory, and have targeted several buildings in the centre of Gaza City, including Palestine Tower, an 11-storey building that houses Hamas radio stations, a mosque in Khan Yunis, a school where 225 people were said to be sheltering from rocket fire and Watan Tower which services as a hub for internet providers. Most areas are without electricity as Israel has stopped supplying Gaza with power and fuel, as well as food and water. The unending shelling has made Gaza’s already dire humanitarian situation even worse, with under-equipped hospitals making appeals for blood donors.

Why did this happen?

Hamas said the attack was in response to the scenes of Israeli settlers praying inside the compound of al-Aqsa mosque in East Jerusalem and due to the treatment that Palestinians have faced over the decades. The area around the mosque is religiously significant to Jewish people and Muslims alike. Jews are not allowed to pray inside al-Aqsa compound, doing so, according to Guardian analysis, is highly provocative.

Experts and analysts however have said that the attack was not solely caused by these events – not least because this offensive would have taken months of preparation and planning. The incursion follows recent surges of conflict in Jerusalem and the Israeli-occupied West Bank: 2022 was one of the deadliest years for West Bank Palestinians with at least 146 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces. In February, there was a settler attack in Huwara so violent that the Israeli military called it a pogrom (a violent riot incited with the aim of massacring or expelling an ethnic or religious group).

There has also been a marked escalation in the number of attacks against Israelis as the political situation has deteriorated in recent years: in 2022, 29 Israelis and two foreign nationals, 27 of which were civilians, were killed in attacks by Palestinians or Israeli Arabs, the deadliest year for Israelis since 2015.

The election of Israel’s hard right government, and the de facto annexation of the West Bank which began earlier this year, demonstrated how unstable the situation had become. A poll that was conducted towards the end of last year found that support for the peace process had plummeted to an all time low: Palestinian support for armed struggle was increasing and more and more Israelis believed that they should go to war.

The global context

In his analysis, Peter Beaumont pointed towards the US-brokered normalisation deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia as a significant factor. “The reality is that while Hamas has dressed up the attack as a response to Israeli incursions around the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, it chose to trigger this conflict – at this time and in the way it did – as a way to impose itself in that wider diplomacy,” Beaumont writes.

The attack has happened during a highly sensitive diplomatic moment that could see an alliance between the two countries – a situation that would be alarming for Iran and Hamas. Patrick Wintour’s analysis provides comprehensive insight into how this will change the picture of Middle Eastern diplomacy.

What will happen next?

Hamas leaders have called on Palestinians to join the fight and “sweep away the [Israeli] occupation”, meanwhile the Israeli military has called for mass mobilisation of its army reserves. The IDF has said that it has secured 22 locations but is continuing to sweep through others.

And there are growing concerns that the outbreak of violence could spark a broader regional conflict that could draw in Lebanon’s military group, Hezbollah. A sizeable war will cause significant civilian casualties, on both sides, and is unlikely to stabilise a region that has long simmered with unresolved tensions.

Source: theguardian.com

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

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/09/monday-briefing-israel-hamas-gaza

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Erdogan opens modern Turkish state’s first new church

October 09, 2023

ISTANBUL: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday inaugurated the first church built with government backing in overwhelmingly Muslim Turkiye’s 100-year history as a post-Ottoman state.

The Mor Ephrem Syriac Orthodox Church’s opening marks an important cultural and political moment for both Turkiye and its powerful leader.

Erdogan drew widespread condemnation during his two-decade rule for converting ancient churches into mosques and making Islamic conservatism into a leading social force.

He has always countered that he was simply restoring the rights of pious Muslims in the staunchly secular republic founded by field marshal Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in 1923.

Erdogan laid the first stone for the church’s construction for Istanbul’s 17,000-strong Assyrian Christians in 2019.

“We are seeing big problems today across many parts of the world,” Erdogan told the faithful as all-out war raged between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.

“But the solidarity shown here today — I find it very important,” Erdogan said.

“We always protect the oppressed against the oppressor. That is our duty.”

Assyrian Christianity traces its history to communities that lived in the first century AD in a region stretching from southeastern Turkiye to Syria and Iraq.

Its main church moved from the Turkish city of Mardin to Damascus in 1932.

Some small Turkish churches have been quietly restored and re-opened in the past 100 years.

Erdogan said on Sunday that 20 existing churches had been repaired since his Islamic-rooted party came to power in 2002.

But the Mor Ephrem “is the first newly built church to open its doors since the founding of the Turkish Republic,” Assyrian community leader Sait Susin told AFP by telephone.

“We are very happy.”

Erdogan drew international indignation for converting Istanbul’s iconic Hagia Sophia — once the world’s largest cathedral — from a museum into a mosque in 2020.

The United Nations cultural body UNESCO expressed “grave concern” at the time.

Erdogan brushed the criticism aside and did exactly the same thing to Istanbul’s Byzantine-era Chora Church later that same year.

Greece called that conversion “yet another provocation against religious persons everywhere.”

Erdogan came under particularly strong attacks at home for unveiling a new mosque in 2021 on Taksim Square — an Istanbul gathering point built around a monument celebrating Ataturk’s foundation of the secular Turkish state.

The new Istanbul church can accommodate 750 worshippers.

Erdogan wavers in his speeches between robustly defending pious Muslims and embracing Turkiye’s numerous communities.

He told supporters on the eve of the first round of May’s presidential election that he had written a “love letter” to Turkiye.

“We have penned a love letter for every individual of our nation, without any distinction of origin or religion,” he told the crowd.

He ended that day by leading Muslim prayers at the Hagia Sophia mosque.

Erdogan edged out his secular rival in a runoff election two weeks later.

Source: arabnews.com

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

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2387796/middle-east

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Erdogan says Turkey will ramp up diplomacy in Israel-Palestine conflict

08 October, 2023

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that Turkey was determined to ramp up diplomatic efforts to achieve calm in the fighting between Israeli and Palestinian forces, but added that a two-state solution was the only way to achieve regional peace.

Turkey, which has supported Palestinians in the past, hosted members of the Islamist group Hamas which launched the attack on Israel, and backed a two-state solution, said on Saturday it was ready to help de-escalate tensions.

Speaking in Istanbul, Erdogan repeated a call for both sides to avoid steps that will exacerbate the conflict, and added that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was at the root of all problems in the Middle East.

"So long as this problem is not resolved in a fair way, our region will continue to live in longing of peace," Erdogan said.

"Lasting regional peace will only be possible by finding a final solution to the Palestinian-Israeli issue. In this regard, as we have always underlined, the preservation of the two-state solution perspective is very important."

He added the formation of an independent Palestinian state, in line with the borders set out in 1967, with its territorial integrity intact, and with Jerusalem as its capital was now "a necessity that cannot be delayed."

"As justice is delayed, unfortunately the price of this is paid by Palestinians, Israelis, and our whole region," Erdogan said.

The fighting comes as Ankara was working to repair ties with Israel after years of acrimony over the status of Jerusalem and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Since fighting began on Saturday, Turkey's foreign minister Hakan Fidan has held calls with his U.S., Palestinian, Spanish, Qatari, Saudi, Iranian, Egyptian, and Jordanian counterparts to discuss the matter.

Erdogan warned against "adding fuel to the fire" on Sunday, and said Turkey was ready to do whatever it can to ease tensions and stop the violence.

"We are determined to continue the diplomatic efforts we have started to re-establish calm by intensifying them. We call on all parties with a say in the region to sincerely contribute to peace," he said.

On Sunday, Israel's envoy to Ankara said it was too early to discuss mediation and said Hamas' attack showed the group should have no presence in Turkey or elsewhere.

Source: newarab.com

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https://www.newarab.com/news/erdogan-says-diplomacy-can-resolve-hamas-israel-conflict

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Iran calls on Muslim states to take actions helping Palestine

Oct 9, 2023

TEHRAN, Oct. 09 (MNA) – Iran's Foreign Minister has called on all Muslim countries to join hands in defending the Palestinian people and the al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remark in a late Sunday phone call with Taliban Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

Iran calls on Muslim states to take actions helping Palestine

The two sides discussed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip, including Operation al-Aqsa Storm, which is the biggest military operation against the occupying regime in years.

Hamas Resistance movement launched the large-scale operation on Saturday with a heavy barrage of rockets in response to the Israeli regime’s desecration of al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence.

More than 700 Zionist settlers and troops have died as a result of the operation and over 2,000 others have been injured. Zionist media outlets have reported that approximately 750 Zionist soldiers and settlers were missing.

During their phone call, Amir-Abdollahian and Muttaqi discussed the resistance of Palestinian people against the occupation of their country and frequent violations of the al-Aqsa Mosque by Zionist settlers.

Amir-Abdollahian noted that all Muslim countries must be united in their defense of the oppressed people of Palestine and al-Aqsa Mosque.

Muttaqi, for his part, said the Taliban’s foreign ministry is keeping a close watch on the ongoing developments in Gaza and has already issued a strongly-worded statement in support of the Palestinian people and in condemnation of Zionist occupiers.

Amir-Abdollahian also expressed his condolences to Muttaqi over the recent deadly earthquake in Afghanistan, along with sympathy of the Iranian government and nation for the Afghan people.

He added that Iran has already dispatched relief and rescue teams to quake-stricken regions and they arrived there on Sunday evening.

Muttaqi expressed his gratitude for the Iranian people’s help and sympathy and the dispatch of rescue teams from Iran.

Earlier on Sunday, it was announced that the death toll from Afghanistan’s 6.2-magnitude earthquake and its aftershocks has exceeded two thousand.

Afghanistan Disaster Management Authority’s spokesperson Mullah Janan Saiq said more than 2,000 people have died and over 9,000 have been injured.

Noting that the death toll could rise, he added that the tremors caused heavy damage in northwestern Herat and Badghis provinces.

Iran calls on Muslim states to take actions helping Palestine

In a phone call with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein on Sunday night, Amir-Abdollahian once again stressed the need for the Islamic countries to take measures to assist the Palestinians in their fight against the Israeli regime's crimes.

Emphasizing the legitimate right of the Palestinian nation to resist aggression and occupation, the top Iranian diplomat said that the anti-Zionist operations of the Palestinian Resistance groups are a natural response to the continuous aggression of the Zionist regime against the Islamic holy sites and the Palestinian nation.

The two sides also discussed the bilateral relations between Tehran and Baghdad during the phone conversation.

Source: mehrnews.com

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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/206895/Iran-calls-on-Muslim-states-to-take-actions-helping-Palestine

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Raeisi hails Palestinian op. for making Islamic Umma proud

Oct 8, 2023

TEHRAN, Oct. 08 (MNA) – In a phone call with two Palestinians resistance groups leaders, President Ebrahim Raeisi hailed the Al-Aqsa Storm operation for making the Islamic Umma proud.

In the phone call on Sunday afternoon, Raeisi praised the courageous and victorious operations of the Palestinian Mujahideen in the occupied territories and considered the authority, dignity and pride of the Palestinian resistance to be the pride of the Islamic Ummah.

Stating that the unwavering will of the Palestinian nation and the mujahidin on the path towards God promises the final victory of the Palestinians over the usurping Zionist regime, the president clarified, "What happened with the victorious operation of the Palestinian mujahidin in the occupied territories is the materialization of the 70-year long-awaited dream of the Palestinian nation and the Islamic nation."

"God willing, we will soon say prayers together in Al-Aqsa Mosque," he asserted.

Ismail Haniyeh, for his part, tanked the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation on behalf of the Palestinian Mujahideen and the Palestinian nation for support to the Palestinian resistance.

The head of Hamas's Political Bureau further presented a report on the various aspects of the Al-Aqsa Storm operation, cited the aggression and insult of the Zionist enemy to the holy area of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinian worshipers as one of the main reasons for carrying out the operation.

Haniyeh said that in the ongoing battle, despite the lack of equipment and facilities, the Palestinian Mujahideen were able to disrupt the order in the Zionist regime by their surprise large-scale operation.

Haniyeh stressed, "What has been achieved on the battlefield against the Zionist enemy has been thanks to blessings of God, the support of the Islamic Ummah, and the Islamic Republic of Iran is at the top of all, and God willing, it will end up with the final victory of the Palestinian nation."

Raeisi's phone conversation with Islamic Jihad secretary general:

In the telephone conversation with Ziyad Nakhala, president Raeisi said that "What happened in the occupied territories and in the battle with the usurping Zionist regime was a huge and unique event in the past 70 years, and you really made the Islamic nation happy with this innovative and victorious operation."

Raeisi went on to state that the Zionist regime is collapsing and the Resistance Front is conquering the apex of victory, and clarified, "We consider the final victory of the Palestinian nation to be a divine promise, and the Iranian nation is always standing by the freedom-loving and independent nations, and the Palestinian freedom-loving nation is at the top of them."

The Secretary General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, for his part, expressed his sincere thanks on behalf of the Palestinian people for the support of the Leadership, government and people of Iran in the telephone conversation.

Nakhala presented a report on the achievements of the resistance forces in the occupied territories and the situation of the Zionist enemy, saying, "With the help of God, these blessed days and these victories will continue with strength, and the Palestinian nation is steadfast in the path of resistance.

Source: mehrnews.com

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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/206892/Raeisi-hails-Palestinian-op-for-making-Islamic-Umma-proud

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Raeisi holds phone calls with Islamic Jihad, Hamas chiefs

Oct 8, 2023

TEHRAN, Oct. 08 (MNA) – The Iranian president Ebrahim Raeisi held separate telephone conversations with the Secretary General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas movement about the developments in Palestine.

The phone calls between President Raeisi and the Islamic Jihad secretary-general Ziyad al-Nakhalah and Hamas's Ismail Haniyeh took place amid the ongoing Palestinian Resistance groups operation "Al-Aqsa Storm".

No further details have come out about the content of the phone conversation yet.

The Israeli regime media said on Sunday that the Zionists' death toll in the Palestinian operation has risen to more than 600, with the injured numbers increasing to more than 2,000.

Source: mehrnews.com

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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/206885/Raeisi-holds-phone-calls-with-Islamic-Jihad-Hamas-chiefs

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Hamas praises al-Aqsa Storm, vows liberation of Palestine

Oct 8, 2023

TEHRAN, Oct. 08 (MNA) – Hamas has extolled as historic” its latest retaliatory operation against the Israeli regime in the occupied territories and vowed that the attacks on the illegal entity will continue until the full liberation of Palestine.

Khaled al-Qaddoumi, the Hamas representative in Iran, made the statement in an interview with Press TV on Sunday.

“What has happened today is a historic moment which has been achieved by the Palestinian soldiers and Palestinian people in the confrontation of the last 74 years against the Israeli occupation,” Qaddoumi said. “Our people have waited a long time that the international community could serve any of their own legitimate rights and return any of those legitimate rights to them.”

Stressing that there is a rightist fanatic regime headed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the occupied territories, Qaddoumi said Hamas had sent many messages to the international community to expose the regime’s explicit crimes and torture against Palestinian people but there was no response.

“Palestinians launched Operation Al-Aqsa Storm to tell the international community that al-Aqsa and al-Quds mean Palestine and this operation has started for the liberation of Palestine; all Palestine from the river to the sea,” the Hamas official said, referring to a call for a Palestinian state extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, the territory controlled by the Israeli regime. 

The international community, Qaddoumi said, has left Palestine and Palestinians alone. “Our only option and our fate is to fight the Israeli regime. Today, we have started the battle of liberation of Palestine, all Palestine, and no body is able to stop it.”

On Saturday, Hamas launched its large-scale operation with a heavy barrage of rockets in response to Israel’s desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence.

More than 700 Israeli settlers and troops have died as a result of the large-scale operation and over 2,000 others have been injured.

Israeli media outlets have reported an approximate 750 Israeli soldiers and settlers missing so far.

Hospital officials in the Gaza Strip have recorded the death of more than 370 Palestinians and the injury of roughly 2,200 others. A large number of buildings, homes, and public facilities have also been badly damaged due to heavy Israeli bombardments.

Source: mehrnews.com

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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/206893/Hamas-praises-al-Aqsa-Storm-vows-liberation-of-Palestine

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Hamas: Our fighters have captured more Israeli forces, taken them to Gaza Strip

09 October 2023

The military wing of Hamas resistance movement says its fighters have managed to capture a new group of Israeli forces, as a large-scale operation continues against the occupying regime.

The announcement was made by spokesman for al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Ubaida, through a recording released late Sunday.

He said al-Qassam fighters succeeded during their Sunday assaults, which marked the second day of Operation al-Aqsa Storm, to take a new group of enemy troops captive and transfer them to the Gaza Strip.

Operation al-Aqsa Storm, which got underway by the Gaza Strip-based resistance factions on Saturday, is the biggest operation launched by Palestinian groups against the occupying entity in years. It has so far led to the death of more than 700 Israeli settlers and troops while, according to unofficial estimates, approximately 750 Israeli soldiers and settlers have gone missing.

Speaking in a televised speech on Sunday, the secretary general of Islamic Jihad resistance movement said the best way for Israel to prevent more of its forces from being taken captive or killed is to own up to its defeat in the face of the Palestinian resistance.

"[The number of] the enemy's prisoners of war, including soldiers and settlers that we have captured in Gaza, [amounts to] dozens and more. In fact, I can say that their number is far higher than this," Nakhala said, adding, "The Islamic Jihad alone has more than 30 enemy captives."

The Islamic Jihad

Elsewhere in his remarks, Abu Ubaida revealed that al-Qassam fighters have documented cases in which the Israeli military has killed a number of its own soldiers after they were taken captive by Palestinian fighters.

According to Abu Ubaida, al-Qassam fighters managed to reach the Mavki'im area south of Ashkelon, which is located in the southern part of the occupied territories, during their Sunday battle.

He added that once in the Mavki'im area, Palestinian fighters engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli forces, which led to a large number of deaths and injuries among the enemy’s ranks.

The Palestinian fighters, the spokesman said, were still engaged in "violent and heroic" clashes in several areas near the Gaza Strip, including Ofakim, Sderot, Yad Mordechai, Kfar Azza, Be'eri, Yatid and Kissufim.

"A number of our fighters were able to withdraw safely from the Urim base [in the Negev Desert], which houses the Israeli regime's Intelligence Unit 8200, after completing their mission there and finishing off a large number of enemy forces," Abu Ubaida said.

He also hailed Palestinian people who “are making their victory, [while] awaiting their freedom and inflicting pain, heartbreak, and defeat on their enemy with the help of their heroic Mujahideen and fighters.”

Following the start of the operation on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Gazan fighters had managed to take no more than "dozens" of Israelis captive.

Later the same day, Abu Ubaida retorted by saying that the number of Israeli captives was far higher than what Netanyahu believed.

Hamas says the number of Israelis taken captive in its ongoing operation against the regime is many times more than "dozens."

"Today, you talked about dozens of prisoners and we reassure you, Netanyahu, that your prisoners are many times more than this number, and you must keep track of your soldiers well," Abu Ubaida said.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/08/712344/Palestine-Israel-Hamas-captures-new-group-Israeli-soldiers

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Iran FM: Muslim countries must join hands in defending Palestinians, al-Aqsa

08 October 2023

Iran's foreign minister has called on all Muslim countries to join hands in defending the Palestinian people and the al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remark in a late Sunday phone call with Taliban’s caretaker foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi.

The two sides discussed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip, including the ongoing Operation al-Aqsa Storm, which is the biggest military operation against the occupying regime in years.

Hamas resistance movement launched the large-scale operation on Saturday with a heavy barrage of rockets in response to Israel’s desecration of al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence.

More than 700 Israeli settlers and troops have died as a result of the operation and over 2,000 others have been injured. Israeli media outlets have reported an approximate 750 Israeli soldiers and settlers missing so far.

The OIC has expressed concern about the new developments in the occupied Palestinian territories.

During their phone call, Amir-Abdollahian and his acting Afghan counterpart discussed the resistance of Palestinian people against the occupation of their country and frequent violations of al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli settlers.

Amir-Abdollahian noted that all Muslim countries must be united in their defense of the oppressed people of Palestine and al-Aqsa Mosque.

Mottaqi, for his part, said Taliban’s foreign ministry is keeping close watch on the ongoing developments in Gaza and has already issued a strongly-worded statement in support of the Palestinian people and in condemnation of Zionist occupiers.

Amir-Abdollahian also expressed his condolences to Muttaqi over the recent deadly earthquake in Afghanistan, along with sympathy of the Iranian government and nation for the Afghan people.

He added that Iran has already dispatched relief and rescue teams to quake-stricken regions and they arrived there on Sunday evening.

Muttaqi expressed his gratitude for Iranian people’s help and sympathy as well as dispatch of rescue teams from Iran.

The death toll from a series of earthquakes in Afghanistan that has hit the northwestern part of Afghanistan has passed two thousand.

Earlier on Sunday, it was announced that the death toll from Afghanistan’s 6.2-magnitude earthquake and its aftershocks has exceeded two thousand.

Afghanistan Disaster Management Authority’s spokesperson Mullah Janan Saiq said more than 2,000 people have died and over 9,000 been injured.

Noting that the death toll could further rise, he added that the tremors caused heavy damage in northwestern Herat and Badghis provinces.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/08/712345/Iran-Foreign-Minister-Hossein-Amir-Abdollahian-Taliban-Amir-Khan-Muttaqi

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At least 11 killed in Turkish strike on northeast Syria: Monitor

October 09, 2023

QAMISHLI, Syria: A Turkish air strike Monday killed 11 Kurdish security personnel and wounded dozens at a training center for police in Kurdish-held northeast Syria, a war monitor said.

“Eleven killed and dozens wounded after a Turkish war plane targeted a training center” belonging to the internal security forces, known as the Asayish, on the outskirts of Al-Malikiyeh in Hasakah province, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Kurdish force reported the strike in a statement, saying that “a number of our forces were killed and others wounded.”

AFP correspondents said authorities in the area have called for blood donations.

Amid the chaos of Syria’s long-running civil conflict, Syria’s Kurds have carved out a semi-autonomous area in the country’s northeast.

Since Thursday, Turkiye has been bombing sites in the area, hitting civilian and military targets and infrastructure and causing casualties, according to Kurdish authorities.

Turkiye’s defense ministry said Friday it had launched the new wave of air strikes in retaliation for an attack in Ankara earlier this month that wounded two security personnel.

A branch of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) — listed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies — claimed responsibility for the first bombing to hit the Turkish capital since 2016.

Turkiye launched strikes on PKK positions in northern Iraq hours after the October 1 attack, with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan saying days later that the assailants “came from Syria and were trained there.”

The US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces led the battle that dislodged Daesh group fighters from their last scraps of territory in Syria in 2019.

Turkiye views the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) that dominate the SDF as an offshoot of the PKK.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2387836/middle-east

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Pakistan

 

Kakar stresses two-state solution to Palestine issue

October 09, 2023

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Sunday said that Pakistan stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people and would utilise all multilateral fora like the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to galvanize a collective stance for the protection and dignity of Palestinians in the manner that supported their demand.

In an interview with the social media platform “Talk Shock”, the prime minister said Pakistan had always taken a firm stance on the Palestine issue and reaffirmed its position as "a friend of Palestine’.

He said that Pakistan would continue extending diplomatic, social and political support to them at all global fora. The PM stressed that the two nations’ state was the key to the solution of Palestine and Israel conflict, which would bring stability in the Middle East.

He also categorically reiterated that Pakistan did not recognize Israel. Palestinians had reached an agreement with Israel over the two-state mechanism, but the due right was constantly denied by Israel, he added.

The caretaker prime minister cautioned that unless ‘the Palestine Question’ was addressed, the issue of radicalization would increase and stressed that the two political issues, Palestine and Kashmir, should be resolved.

To a question, he said that Pakistan wanted normal relations with all its neighbours but with regard to India, there were three parties, including Kashmiris. Their demands and aspirations should be met by India and if they were not made part of the normalisation process with regard to bilateral ties by India, it would amount to ‘non-starter’.

Caretaker Prime Minister Kakar said the Chief of Army Staff believes in the civilian supremacy.

On the question of release of PTI Chairman Imran Khan before election, the prime minister said that not the government, rather the court is to take decision on Imran’s release.

About the ICC Cricket World Cup being played in India, the prime minister said like every Pakistani, it was his desire that the Green Shirts should bring laurels to the country. He said, so far, there was no practical proposal to visit India in this regard, adding India should have issued visas to Pakistani fans and journalists. Sports should be kept aloof from politics, he said. “We would have issued visas to Indians if the World Cup was held in Pakistan.”

Source: thenews.com.pk

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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1117351-kakar-stresses-two-state-solution-to-palestine-issue

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President urges world to play role for peaceful resolution of Israel-Palestine conflict

October 08, 2023

President Dr. Arif Alvi says progress towards peace cannot be materialized without condemnation of usurpation and brutalization of Palestinian rights and people by Israel.

In a tweet on the social media platform X, he said continuous annexation of land, illegal settlements, disproportionate reactions and killings. The result is no hope and no progress towards peace.

The President said time has come to move forward in line with UN resolutions. He said international community can play a big role today towards world peace.

Source: radio.gov.pk

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https://www.radio.gov.pk/08-10-2023/president-urges-world-to-play-role-for-peaceful-resolution-of-israel-palestine-conflict

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Security forces kill one terrorist in North Waziristan

October 08, 2023

One terrorist was killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in Razmak area of North Waziristan.

According to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorist

Known as Azeem Ullah alias 'Ghazi', the killed terrorist remained actively involved in various terror activities against security forces and killing of innocent civilians.                       

The ISPR said sanitization has been carried out to eliminate any other terrorist in the area. Locals of the area have appreciated the operation.

Source: radio.gov.pk

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Imran’s ex-aide joins PM Kakar’s cabinet, to look after investment portfolio

October 09, 2023

ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has appointed a former donor and aide of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan as his Special Assistant on Investment.

Texan-Pakistani businessman Muhammad Tahir Javed has been given the investment portfolio and has joined the cabinet with immediate effect, according to a notification by the Prime Minister’s Office.

The PM has approved the same perks and privileges as the minister of state for Muhammad Tahir Javed, who has donated money to and campaigned for Imran Khan and the PTI in the United States when he was the prime minister.

Tahir Javed owns US-based multi-million dollar health company Riceland Healthcare.

Tahir Javed describes himself as a Pakistani American entrepreneur, investor, business magnate and philanthropist on his social media profiles.

Tahir Javed campaigned for Imran Khan and the PTI while the party was in power but he has become a fierce critic of Imran Khan in recent months, calling Imran a failure as PM, whose only claim to fame is his celebrity status as a cricketer.

He said in a recent interview that he did his best for Imran Khan and campaigned for him, especially during Khan’s visit to the USA in November 2019 but it turned out that Imran Khan was not trustworthy. He has said that Imran Khan’s visit to the US was a waste because it didn’t materialise into any success or benefits for Pakistan.

But when Imran Khan was in power, Tahir Javed publicly complimented Imran Khan for his “successful” USA visit and for highlighting important issues close to Pakistan’s objectives.

In November 2019, Imran Khan especially paid tribute to Tahir Javed for his services, saying “Mr Tahir Javed has been instrumental in setting up a Pakistan Congress Foundation that has played a key role in revival and activation of Congressional Pakistan Caucus at the 116th Congress.”

Tahir Javed has boasted that he personally arranged Imran Khan’s meetings with over 60 US senators during his visit. In the pictures released, Tahir Javed was seen standing next to Imran Khan during these meetings in the USA and the two also met at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington at the conclusion of the visit.

Tahir Javed met Imran Khan in Islamabad and said: “Had the immense pleasure to meet up with Honorable Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan. Congratulated him for giving the rights to overseas Pakistanis to exercise their vote in the future ballot exercises & commended him on his speech at the UN general assembly on Islamophobia.”

After Imran Khan was removed in a vote of confidence, Tahir Javed turned against Imran Khan and said that President Joe Biden didn’t speak to him despite the best efforts of Khan because he didn’t trust him and didn’t like several statements he issued on international matters.

Considered close to Hilary Clinton and several Democratic Party leaders, Tahir Javed has said that Imran Khan’s public support for Taliban annoyed the US govt beyond any limits. He has said that Imran Khan should not have conducted the foreign policy matters in the manner he did.

Tahir Javed, who has claimed that he is close to the Joe Biden administration, has vowed that he will bring investment to Pakistan from overseas in his new role and has offered full support to the interim administration. He has said that Pakistan’s problems are of short-term nature and will be overcome soon.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1117360-imran-s-ex-aide-joins-pm-kakar-s-cabinet-to-look-after-investment-portfolio

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Pakistan offers support for Afghan quake victims

October 09, 2023

ISLAMABAD:The Pakistani leadership expressed deep sadness and condolence on Sunday over loss of precious lives and properties in a devastating earthquake that hit Western regions of Afghanistan on Saturday.

More than 2,000 people were killed and more than 9,000 injured in earthquake, the Taliban administration said, in the deadliest tremors to rock the quake-prone mountainous country in years.

“The government and people of Pakistan are deeply saddened by the devastating earthquake in Western regions of Afghanistan yesterday, resulting in tragic loss of life and widespread damage to property,” said a statement issued by the Foreign Office spokesperson.

“We extend our sincerest condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones and pray for the early and complete recovery of the injured,” the statement added. “Pakistan stands in complete solidarity with the brothers and sisters in Afghanistan during this difficult time.”

The Foreign Office said that Pakistani government was in contact with the Afghan authorities to get the first-hand assessment of the urgent needs of those affected by the earthquake. “Pakistan will extend all possible support to the recovery effort,” it said.

Separately, President Dr Arif Alvi expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the devastating earthquake in Herat province. In a statement, Arif Alvi called upon the international community and the Islamic world to support Afghanistan in this hour of need.

In a tweet on social media platform of X, Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani expressed Pakistan’s solidarity with of Afghanistan in the wake of 6.3 magnitude powerful earthquake that jolted Herat province.

“Our condolences with families of victims who have lost their loved ones in the devastating earthquake in Afghanistan. We are in touch with Afghan authorities to help with rescue/relief work,” Jilani wrote on the microblogging website.

Source: tribune.com.pk

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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2440091/pakistan-offers-support-for-afghan-quake-victims

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Southeast Asia

 

Malaysia remains committed to restoring rights of Palestine, says Zahid

09 Oct 2023

By RAGANANTHINI VETHASALAM, MARTIN CARVALHO, ARFA YUNUS and MAHADHIR MONIHULDIN

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia remains unwavering in its stance and policy on the Palestine-Israel conflict, says Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“The stance and foreign policy of the Madani government in the Palestine-Israel conflict is clear and remains unchanged.

"The struggle to liberate the land and rights of the Palestinian people will remain a core priority of the Malaysian government’s foreign policy,” the Deputy Prime Minister said when tabling a special motion on the crisis in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Oct 9).

Condemning Israel’s illegal occupation, he said Malaysia remains strong in its position that the absolute rights to form an independent and sovereign state with East Jerusalem as its capitol had to be returned to the Palestinians.

Malaysia, he said, has voiced its strong and firm position at every occasion and platform possible including at international forums such as the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Non-Aligned Movement and the UNHCR Council.

“The Prime Minister himself has stressed Malaysia’s position on the Palestinian issue in his speech at the UN General Assembly in New York on Sept 22, 2023,” he said.

He said Malaysia’s firmness is also evident through its frequent statements condemning all forms of provocation and violence by the Israeli regime.

“This includes pressing the international community, especially the United Nations Security Council to continue to pressure the Israeli regime to stop all apartheid policies and inhumane actions against Palestinians,” he said.

“Malaysia had also joined a few countries in filing a written statement to the International Court of Justice on July 25 on the illegal occupation and land grab by Israel on Palestinian territories which has been ongoing since 1967,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid said the country will continue to support concrete, realistic and fair solutions, which are in line with the resolutions of the UNSC and within legal provisions.

“This includes supporting the legitimacy of an independent nation formed by Palestinians which is free from Israel’s invasion and efforts to expand Jewish settlements in the West Bank,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia’s unconditional support is clear from various aspects including political, economical, financial aid, capacity development and redevelopment of infrastructure.

Apart from government aid, he said Malaysia continues to channel humanitarian aid and donations sourced from public donations.

“This is conducted by the Humanitarian Trust Fund for the People of Palestine (AAKRP), which is managed by the Foreign Ministry. NGO’s wanting to help Palestinians can use this channel,” he said.

Adding that Malaysia is concerned over the rising death toll, the innocent lives lost and the destruction caused by the war, he said UNSC must immediately act by calling all parties to end violence and war.

The international community must also increase pressure on all parties to stop the violence for peace and stability, he said.

Ahmad Zahid said it is important to reflect on what prompted the move, as Palestine has been subjected to Israeli occupation for 75 years.

Israeli forces clashed with Hamas on Sunday (Oct 8), 24 hours after a surprise attack in which nearly 500 people were killed in the deadliest day of violence for 50 years.

Source: thestar.com.my

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https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/10/09/malaysia-remains-committed-to-restoring-rights-of-palestine-says-zahid

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PAS directs members to gather in solidarity with Palestine after Friday prayer this week

By Hajar Umira Md Zaki

09 Oct 2023

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 — Islamist party PAS has today directed its members to organise rallies in solidarity with Palestine after Friday prayer this week.

An internal memo issued by its secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan also urged Muslims nationwide to join its peaceful protests at select mosques.

“You are requested to mobilise, command and organise the attendance of members, advocates, PAS supporters, and Muslims under your administrations from the levels of branches, divisions and wings to attend in force to such gatherings,” the memo said.

On Sunday, Israel declared war on the Palestinian militant group Hamas after the latter launched a surprise assault from Gaza, amid death toll which has surged above 1,100.

Gaza officials reported at least 413 deaths in the impoverished and blockaded enclave of 2.3 million people, which was hammered by Israeli air strikes on 800 targets ahead of what many feared may be a looming ground invasion.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Israeli air attacks and shelling targeting houses and apartment buildings have displaced some 123,538 Palestinians in Gaza

More than 700 Israelis have been killed since Hamas launched its large-scale attack, according to the latest toll from the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Monday — the country’s worst losses since the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday reiterated that Malaysia remains in solidarity with the struggles of the Palestinians, saying the international community has continued to take one-sided actions regarding all forms of cruelty and oppression against the Palestinians.

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/10/09/pas-directs-members-to-gather-in-solidarity-with-palestine-after-friday-prayer-this-week/95223

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Kota Baru cops arrest 15-year-old boy for stealing from surau donation box

09 Oct 2023

KOTA BARU, Oct 9 — A 15-year-old student was handed over to the police yesterday for allegedly stealing from a donation box of a surau in Kampung Dalam Pupuh here.

Kota Baru deputy police chief Supt. Mohd Suhaimi Ali said the boy was believed to have been stealing from the surau donation box since last month.

He said the theft was uncovered when the caretaker of the surau suspected something amiss when she noticed a bicycle parked there.

“Based on the (police) report, the incident happened at about 11.40 am yesterday when the caretaker, a woman in her late 50s, saw a suspicious-looking bicycle at the surau.

“She went into the surau to check and saw the donation collection box opened with the money missing,” he said in a media statement here today.

He said police would request an order to remand the boy for investigation under Section 380 of the Penal Code. — Bernama

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/10/09/kota-baru-cops-arrest-15-year-old-boy-for-stealing-from-surau-donation-box/95227

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Zahid unveils plan to invigorate halal industry and create 25,000 jobs

October 9, 2023

KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has unveiled an ambitious plan to invigorate the halal industry, with a standout highlight being the creation of a whopping 25,000 new jobs.

In a recent statement, Zahid detailed his comprehensive approach to bolster the halal sector.

"In our strategic collaboration with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim), we aim to raise the bar in terms of laboratory standards and cultivate a greater number of experts dedicated to the issuance of halal certificates," said Zahid.

He stated that he is actively working with institutions to shape a new generation of graduates skilled in halal management under Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

"These graduates are poised to meet the surging demand for expertise within the halal industry.

"These positions encompass roles as auditors and halal practitioners, which have emerged as a result of collaborative efforts with the Higher Education Ministry," he said.

This impressive job growth demonstrates the potential for the halal industry to contribute significantly to Malaysia's economic development.

He said that both Muslims and non-Muslims can work together harmoniously within the halal industry.

"This is our product and top priority, and let us move forward to cooperate," he added.

Source: nst.com.my

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https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/10/964740/zahid-unveils-plan-invigorate-halal-industry-and-create-25000-jobs

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Africa

 

Libyan Sharia Research and Studies Council hails Palestine's "Operation Al-Aqsa Storm"

08/10/2023

Libyan Fatwa House's Sharia Research and Studies Council hailed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm that was launched by the Palestinian resistance movement in the occupied territories, reaffirming support for the resistance forces and congratulating Sunday the Islamic nation on this "great victory achieved by the resistance groups in Gaza against the Israeli occupation."

The Council said that this victory was a favor from Allah bestowed on "mujahideen," adding that "perhaps Allah saw in them patience and steadfastness through which they deserved His help and support.” It also expressed astonishment at some media outlets from Muslim countries making equal the victim and the executioner, as they called on the Palestinians to stop resisting their enemy, and called for calm and self-control.

The statement added that this call was the same as issued by the occupying forces and their supporters from the West, ignoring what the occupation had been doing for eight decades, including massacres and demolition of Palestinian homes, and desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The statement said that it would have been more appropriate for those countries' statements to bear their legitimate responsibility and carry out what Allah had imposed on them of jihad, by defending the sanctities of Muslims, which were being violated in Palestine. It also mentioned that whoever was incapable of jihad with oneself, then jihad with money, which was demanded by the rich, merchants, and businessmen before anyone else, should not be spared.

The Council called on scholars, preachers, writers, bloggers, media figures, and all other personalities of public opinion to support the "mujahideen with their words", stressing the need to convey facts, and refute lies and suspicions with arguments and evidence.

Source: libyaobserver.ly

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https://libyaobserver.ly/news/libyan-sharia-research-and-studies-council-hails-palestines-operation-al-aqsa-storm

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Senegal, a West African exception amid the coups

October 9, 2023

As coups d'État become increasingly common across Africa, Senegal continues to stand as an exception. This West African nation has never experienced a coup since gaining independence in 1960. According to Alioune Tine, a member of the Afrikajom think tank, this exceptional record can be attributed largely to the maturity of its military.

"There is a democratic culture, and there is also a strong commitment to defending this democratic culture. At the same time, we have a well-trained army. If you know the Senegalese army, I have worked with senior officers in Senegal, and frankly, it's an army of intellectuals. It's an army that, in my opinion, understands the boundaries and is aware of them."

The crises of 1968 and the violent riots in 2021 and 2023 seem to confirm this observation. The Senegalese army has consistently upheld its principles. However, to preserve this tradition, analysts urge politicians, especially those in power, to remain vigilant.

"In Senegal, authorities need to be extremely cautious in managing political affairs in our country. Today, it is essential that democratic principles, the rule of law, political freedom, and press freedom are vigorously preserved because the mishandling of these elements can potentially inspire certain institutions like the army and gendarmerie. This has occurred in many African countries," said Momar, Dieng.

At a time when coups are occurring in neighboring countries, Senegalese people are hoping that the specter of coups remains distant from their minds, despite the current tensions in the country. When questioned on the matter, political figures, such as this former member of the Pastef party, are aware of the danger.

"A coup d'état has never been a solution in a normal system. In almost all countries where you see these coups, it's because the system is not functioning properly. That's why I appeal to leaders and political actors to ensure that Senegal regains its former glory," explained Momath Talla Ndao, Ex-Pastef party member.

This image is being severely tarnished by the deteriorating political climate as the country heads towards a crucial presidential election on February 25th.

Source: africanews.com

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https://www.africanews.com/2023/10/09/senegal-a-west-african-exception-amid-the-coups/

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France suspends visas, leaving student from Sahel anxious

08 Oct 2023

The diplomatic fallout between France and the Sahel countries is causing uncertainty and anxiety among students who intend to go to Paris for their studies.

Ophélie Ouédraogo, a first-year medical student in Montpellier, was due to leave for France at the start of the new academic year but now she's stuck due to visa annulation.

"I'm taking the distance learning courses because unfortunately, I wasn't able to leave because my passport was blocked at the consulate due to the suspension of visas. So I contacted my university and my preparatory school, which gave me the opportunity to take these distance learning courses," said Ophélie Ouedraogo, a medical student.

Thousands of students from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are now stranded after French consular services there were closed, for security reasons according to Paris. The likes of Ophelie have to follow up on their classes online a situation that wasn't planned for given her medicine courses.

"It has a bit of a psychological impact because you didn't expect to be stuck here. You expected to leave in... well, not as soon as possible, but in the best possible conditions to be able to start... for example, as I'm doing a year of medicine, to be able to start my year of medicine well. But now the situation has changed. We can't control the situation, so we're stuck here and, as best we can, we're trying to stay positive, even if it's complicated sometimes, but we always stay positive," said Ophélie.

Over the past three years, military juntas have forcibly taken over the leadership of countries facing jihadism and plunged into deep crisis, and have pointed the finger of blame for their ills at France historically.

The suspension of visa issuance by local consulates is just one aspect of what Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has called the "downsizing of our embassies".

It affects not only students but also researchers and artists. The cultural world in France was up in arms when news of the suspension reached artists. The government was accused of retaliating at the expense of culture.

Source: africanews.com

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https://www.africanews.com/2023/10/08/france-suspends-visas-leaving-student-from-sahel-anxious/

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African states react to Hamas-Israel hostilities

8 Oct, 2023

A number of African leaders on Saturday called on the sides in the Hamas-Israeli conflict to stop hostilities, to restart negotiations and resume discussions on the implementation of “the principle of two states.”

Moussa Faki Mahamat, the head of the African Union, urged both parties to “return, without preconditions, to the negotiating table to implement the principle of two states living side by side.” The denial of the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people, particularly by an independent and sovereign state, is the main cause of the permanent Israeli-Palestinian tension, he said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Egypt called for the exercising of maximum self-restraint to avoid further bloodshed and to protect lives. The country’s foreign ministry said in a statement that the continuation of violence can lead to dangerous consequences, which would negatively affect the future of truce efforts. Cairo urged the active parties to resume peacemaking and called on Israel to stop provocative acts against the Palestinian people.

The Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar called for de-escalation and a ceasefire between the warring sides. Tuggar said the cycle of violence and retaliation only serves to perpetuate an “unending cycle of pain and suffering” for the civilian population that bears the brunt of every conflict.

“We are, therefore, calling for a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue,” the minister stated.

South Africa called “for the immediate cessation of violence, restraint, and peace between Israel and Palestine.”

“The new conflagration has arisen from the continued illegal occupation of Palestine land, continued settlement expansion, desecration of the Al Aqsa Mosque and Christian holy sites, and ongoing oppression of the Palestinian people,” the country’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation said in a statement published on Saturday.

It also said previous UN resolutions for a two-state solution should be reconsidered, and that South Africa “seeks to ensure a lasting and durable peace that produces a viable, contiguous Palestinian State, existing side-by-side in peace with Israel, within the 1967 internationally recognised borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

The Algerian Foreign Ministry in its statement condemned Israel and the “brutal air strikes by occupation forces” on Gaza that were launched after the offensive by Hamas, describing them as a “blatant violation of all international laws.”

Korir Sing’Oei, principal secretary at Kenya’s foreign ministry, condemned Hamas’ attack, writing on X: “We repudiate the planners, funders and implementers of this heinous attack. While Israel has a right to retaliate, a peaceful path to resolving this unfortunate development is urged.”

Early on Saturday, Palestinian armed group Hamas launched a major surprise attack from Gaza, attacking multiple locations in southern Israel and launching barrages of rockets into Israeli territory. Israel conducted multiple retaliatory airstrikes on Gaza, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the escalation as a “war,” announcing the call-up of reservists.

Source: rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/africa/584347-african-leaders-hamas-israel-hostilities/

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Terrorists kill ten, abduct several others in fresh Zamfara attack

Mohammed Babangida

 October 8, 2023

Ten people were killed and several others injured when terrorists attacked a convoy of vehicles on Magami – Gusau road in Zamfara State on Saturday.

Several passengers were also abducted while the terrorists burned three vehicles in the convoy.

The attack occurred around 3:00 p.m. at Dogon Tsauni, while a convoy of several vehicles was moving from Magami to the state capital, Gusau.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the wounded vigilante and other passengers have been rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Gusau. The bodies of those killed in the attack have been deposited at the centre’s mortuary.

“We took ten corpses into the mortuary yesterday (Saturday). Five of them were vigilantes. The level of injuries suffered by some of the people brought into the hospital is sickening,” a nurse at the hospital told PREMIUM TIMES. He asked for anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press.

He said some of the wounded had bullet wounds with bruises while others were trampled on in the commotion.

A local source from Dansadau who asked not to be named for safety reasons said most of those involved were from his community.

“The vigilante group members were providing security to the vehicles when the terrorists ambushed them around Dogon Tsauni. They started firing shots thereby forcing the drivers to stop. The vigilantes were in the vehicles too and so far, five of them (vigilante) and five passengers have been confirmed dead but they could be several others because we’re yet to get to the place to look for more dead bodies,” he said.

The source said one of the vehicles burnt, a truck, was carrying about 100 bags of soybeans to the state capital.

The police spokesperson in the state, Yazeed Abubakar, didn’t respond to calls and SMS sent to him by this reporter for more details about the attack.

Magami is 53 kilometres from Gusau but due to the security challenges confronting the state, vehicular movements have become minimal. The highway, which also links the state capital with Dansadau, has become notorious for recording terrorist activities.

Soldiers and vigilantes usually escort vehicles convoys from the two main towns in the area, Magami and Dansadau, to Gusau and other major towns in the state.

Zamfara State and other North-west, especially Sokoto and Katsina, are witnessing an upsurge in terrorist attacks.

Twenty-five students of the Federal University of Gusau were abducted about two weeks ago. In Katsina State, five students of Federal University Dutsin Ma were also abducted less than a week ago while terrorists launched a three-day consecutive attack on separate villages in Binji Local Government of Sokoto State.

Source: premiumtimesng.com

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https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/nwest/631819-terrorists-kill-ten-abduct-several-others-in-fresh-zamfara-attack.html

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We are not against Nigerian govt, says El-Zakzaky’s Islamic Movement

Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

October 8, 2023

Leader of the Islamic Movement in Kwara State, Shiekh Abdullahi Berende, said the group is not against the Nigerian government.

Rather, he pointed out that the movement is against the application of the country’s constitution, adding that the constitution “is not healthy.”

Sheikh Berende stated this in Ilorin at a unity week organised by the movement.

The theme of the event is “Peaceful coexistence panacea to peace and progress.”

The religious leader added that the movement led by Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky was one of the most vilified religious groups in Nigeria.

He hinted that Sheikh El-Zakzaky’s love for Nigeria is unequalled, adding that “no Nigerian loves the country more that the leader of the Islamic Movement.”

To substantiate this, he revealed that El-Zakzaky has scores of pastors and Christian leaders as friends.

Said he: “Despite this vilification and persecution, the movement has been going about its affairs in an orderly and peaceful manner.

“We are not against Nigeria as a nation. Nigerians as a people are not our enemies. Nigerian government is not our enemy. We are not against President Bola Tinubu.

“What we are opposed to is the application of the Nigerian constitution. The laws should have human face. The constitution, as it is, cannot do anything good for the nation.

“Government has over the years, pitched adherents of both Christianity and Islam against one another to cheat the people.

“Nigerians are highly religious people but are very much ungodly.”

He opined that the division and disunity between Muslim and Christian leaders are the causes of crisis and tension in the world. 

Source: thenationonlineng.net

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https://thenationonlineng.net/we-are-not-against-nigerian-govt-says-el-zakzakys-islamic-movement/

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North America

 

Israeli and Palestinian supporters hold competing rallies across US amid war in Gaza

October 09, 2023

NEW YORK: Supporters of Israel and backers of the Palestinian cause held competing rallies in several American cities Sunday over the conflict that has killed hundreds and wounded thousands in the Middle East.

In New York City, a skirmish broke out between opposing demonstrators near the United Nations compound after a large group of Palestinian supporters rallied in Times Square. Palestinian Americans protested outside the Israeli consulates in Atlanta and Chicago. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led a Jewish community gathering to support Israel at a synagogue in San Francisco.

The demonstrations and involvement of American political leaders show the far-reaching ramifications of a conflict that has already prompted the US to order naval forces deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean, ready to assist Israel. Here’s what reaction around the country has looked like:

New York

In New York City, police ringed the United Nations compound as scores of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered a block away, chanting and waving flags. Metal barricades kept them on sidewalks as officers worked to separate them from an opposing group across the street, some waving Israeli flags.

As some pro-Palestinian demonstrators were leaving, men yelling and carrying Israeli flags crossed the barricades. A short skirmish broke out in the crowd, with one man ripping away an Israeli flag and throwing it to the sidewalk, where people stomped on it. Police quickly separated the two sides.

“We want to show the world that when Palestine rises up in resistance, the diaspora rises with it,” Munir Atalla, of the Palestinian Youth Movement, said before the scuffle.

In Times Square, social media earlier showed Palestinian supporters rallied, with police barricades separating the crowd from a pro-Israel group. The pro-Palestinians eventually marched away chanting “free, free Palestine, long live Palestine” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” as tourists and onlookers snapped photos.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, condemned the planned pro-Palestinian rally in a statement on Saturday night, calling it “abhorrent and morally repugnant.” Other political leaders in New York have issued similar statements.

Atlanta

In Atlanta, more than 75 people demonstrated at the Israeli consulate Sunday afternoon, chanting slogans in support of Hamas and calling for an end to US aid to Israel.

“We’re here because we think everyone in the United States is funding Israeli apartheid,” said Natalie Villasana, a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation. She said US military aid would be better spent on problems in the United State, although demonstrators also argued that Hamas’ actions were justified by Israeli actions.

Talia Segal, a student at nearby Georgia Tech, came as a counter-protester, carrying an Israeli flag fringed with the rainbow of the LGBTQ+ pride movement.

“Terrorism is never justified. Their target was Israeli civilians,” said Segal, who is Jewish and said she fears for her family in Israel.

Chicago

In Chicago, Priscilla Reed was among hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators who rallied outside the Israeli consulate. Many waved Palestinian flags or wore keffiyeh, the black and white checkered scarfs that have come to symbolize Palestinian solidarity. Their chants, in both English and Arabic, included, “Netanyahu you will see, Palestine will be free!”

Reed, a retired teacher, said the attacks by Hamas were in response to Israel’s “systemic daily violence against Palestinians.”

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2387771/world

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CAIR-NJ Calls on NJ Elected Officials to Meet with Palestinian Human Rights Advocates, Stands in Solidarity with Gaza

Ibrahim Hooper

October 8, 2023

(Newark, NJ, 10/08/2023) – The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned New Jersey elected officials’ ignoring of the Palestinian peoples’ suffering at the hands of Israel’s latest onslaught of Gaza and called on them to meet with Palestinian human rights advocates.

CAIR-NJ has also written to local and state officials with suggested language, additional background information, and resources for their use.

SEE: Israel retaliation kills 230 Palestinians after Hamas operation

Israeli forces killed at least 232 people and wounded 1,600 others in the Gaza strip in the last 24 hours. 

The growing civilian casualty toll comes in response to Hamas’s latest offensive, which killed at least 250 Israelis and wounded hundreds more. The assault on Israel came as a response to the Israeli Defense Forces’ most recent assault on al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and its ongoing siege and blockade of Gaza. 

The United Nations has called Israel’s aggressions in Gaza and the Occupied West Bank “illegal under international law” and a “substantial obstacle to peace.”

SEE: Security Council Expresses ‘Concern’, ‘Dismay’ over Israeli Settlement Expansions, Adopting First Presidential Statement on Question of Palestine in Years

A number of New Jersey elected officials issued statements in support of Israel’s latest aggressions in Gaza. The New Jersey chapter of American Muslim in Palestine announced a call to join protests in surrounding areas organized by The People’s Forum, Al-Awda, and others. 

In a statement, CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Dina Sayedahmed said:

We have long condemned, and continue to condemn, Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. For nearly two decades, Israel has kept Gaza in an open-air prison through its illegal ongoing land, air, and sea blockade. That the people of Gaza effectively broke out of prison — resisting an occupation that is not only inhumane but also illegal under international law — is inevitable and should not be unexpected. We stand with Gazans and Palestinians as they demand dignity.

We also condemn New Jersey elected officials’ statements in support of Israeli apartheid. To paint an image of one-sidedness is both inaccurate and unethical, and an affront to the Palestinian American families and communities here in New Jersey that have long held up Paterson, Clifton, and other areas throughout the state through community service, business, medicine, legal work, education, and more. 

In the same ways that these elected officials have supported the Ukrainian people’s sovereignty, resistance, and will, they must also do the same for Palestinians, who’ve lived under Israeli apartheid and occupation for the better half of the last century. We urge them to meet with human rights attorneys from Al Mezan Center for Human Rights and to make space for Palestinian defenders of human rights to speak to the reality of Israeli oppression, which very directly affects the thriving Palestinian American constituency here in New Jersey. 

We call on those who support human rights and liberty to join local actions here in New Jersey and surrounding areas in support of the Palestinian call for freedom.

In a statement, the National Lawyers Guild emphasized the legitimacy of the right of the Palestinian people to resist illegal military occupation, apartheid and ethnic cleansing, and urges the United States to stop enabling and arming Israel’s perpetration of its atrocities.

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.   

Source: cair.com

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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-nj-calls-on-nj-elected-officials-to-meet-with-palestinian-human-rights-advocates-stands-in-solidarity-with-gaza/

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Biden ‘betrayed’ promise to reassess Saudi ties over Khashoggi murder: Activists

09 October 2023

Human rights campaigners say US President Joe Biden has broken his pre-election promise to re-evaluate relations with Saudi Arabia over the state-sponsored murder of insider-turned-critic Jamal Khashoggi.

Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident and Washington Post columnist, was killed and dismembered by Saudi agents in the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate on October 2, 2018.

A subsequent investigation by the US spy agency CIA concluded that the murder had been committed on the orders of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

On his 2020 presidential campaign trail, Biden pledged that his administration would seek to make Saudi Arabia “the pariah that they are” and signaled that “they have to be held accountable” for rights abuses.

He also called for justice for the slain journalist and pledged to “reassess” Washington’s relationship with Riyadh and make sure America “does not check its values at the door to sell arms or buy oil.”

The US president, however, has since performed a volte-face by saying that the United States “will not walk away” from the Middle East and leave a vacuum to be filled by China, Russia, or Iran.

Vali Nasr, professor of international affairs and Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins, said the accusations that the Biden administration had abandoned its stance on Khashoggi’s brutal assassination were justified.

According to The Guardian, Nasr argued that “realpolitik” had driven Washington to deepen ties after China brokered a peace deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia in March.

“The US wants to drive a wedge between China and Saudi Arabia,” Nasr said. “The increased involvement of China in the Persian Gulf has been a concern to Washington, and when the Chinese were able to resolve an intractable problem between the Saudis and Iran, it told Washington that China’s involvement in the region was more than just commercial.”

The US is currently pushing for a mega-deal, which could include a normalization pact between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

Under the deal, Riyadh would secure American backing for a civilian nuclear program, as well as access to advanced weapons. In exchange, the kingdom would take major steps to distance itself from China and Israel would allow an independent Palestinian state.

Nearly two dozen US Senators express concern over the security guarantees Saudi Arabia is reportedly demanding from Washington in exchange for normalizing ties with Israel.

Activists said Biden’s latest diplomatic overtures to Saudi Arabia sully Khashoggi’s memory.

“It is a betrayal not just of Jamal Khashoggi and the millions of people of Saudi Arabia whose lives Prince Mohammed has destroyed, but also of the promises President Biden made to the American people to end support for this autocratic, sociopathic government,” said Sarah Leigh Whitson, executive director of pro-democracy group Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN).

“Now he is going a step further by committing America to unprecedented security guarantees that would obligate American servicemen and women to uphold the rule of this dictator... It’s a sad reflection of a misplaced priority that the US must maintain hegemony and pre-eminence in the Middle East at all costs, which is pathetic because we now live in a multi-polar world.”

On Wednesday, 20 Democratic US senators sent a letter to Biden, saying they were concerned about deepening security ties with Riyadh.

“A high degree of proof would be required to show that a binding defense treaty with Saudi Arabia – an authoritarian regime which regularly undermines US interests in the region, has a deeply concerning human rights record and has pursued an aggressive and reckless foreign policy agenda – aligns with US interests,” the letter read.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/09/712360/Biden-betrayed-promise-reassess-Saudi-ties-Khashoggi-murder

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Origin of US weaponry used by Hamas must be investigated – congresswoman

8 Oct, 2023

Washington must work with Israel to investigate the origins of US-made weaponry used by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in its ongoing attack against the country, Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said on Sunday.

The congresswoman claimed that some of the weapons used by Hamas may have originated from Ukraine or Afghanistan, and these must be tracked to determine their source.

“We need to work with Israel to track serial numbers on any US weapons used by Hamas against Israel. Did they come from Afghanistan? Did they come from Ukraine? Highly likely the answer is both,” the congresswoman wrote on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Thus far, no solid evidence has emerged to support these claims. However, at least one unverified video circulating online showed a Hamas militant “thanking” Ukrainians for weaponry while showcasing assorted US-made pieces, including a standard-issue M136 anti-tank grenade launcher.

The US has been pouring military aid into Ukraine for over a year and a half, propping up Kiev in its fight against Moscow. Ukraine has faced repeated allegations of misusing and selling off weaponry, with items ranging from firearms to mines and guided anti-tank missiles repeatedly surfacing for sale on the dark net.

In Afghanistan, the entire arsenal of its now-defunct army, created with the direct and years-long involvement of the Pentagon, fell into the hands of the Taliban after the Islamist group took over the country in August 2021.

Source: rt.com

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

https://www.rt.com/news/584370-greene-us-weaponry-probe/

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Americans get poorer as Washington throws cash at Ukraine and migrants

8 Oct, 2023

As Uncle Sam continues to pump billions of dollars into Kiev’s flagging fight against Russia and provide tempting handouts to illegal migrants, why is the average American worker forced to live paycheck to paycheck?

Here’s a question that most people have considered at least once in their lives, and probably a lot recently: How much annual income would you need to feel financially secure? For the average American, the magic number comes out to be $233,000 a year, according to a survey by Bankrate.

To bring the ’99 percent’ back down to Earth, the US Census Bureau released some sobering data that dashed those elusive six-digit dreams. Inflation-adjusted median household income fell to $74,580 in 2022 – a 2.3% decline from the 2021 average of $76,330. This marks the third-straight annual decrease since the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020, taking a wrecking ball to the heart of the economy.

The bad news doesn’t end there for US consumers, who are now struggling with the consequences of a foreign conflict in a distant land and a wide-open border. Those factors have prompted the cost of living to surge higher than it has in over four decades amid runaway inflation. In June 2022, the year-over-year inflation rate, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, hit a jaw-dropping 9.1%, the highest it’s been since the administration of former President Ronald Reagan.

A significant reason for the increase in inflation happened on March 3, 2022, when President Joe Biden signed an executive order to ban the import of Russian oil, liquefied natural gas, and coal to the US. This decision has had disastrous results for the local economy. Since Biden’s inauguration, the cost of gasoline alone had jumped at one point by 100% (as of September 27, the average price of regular gas was $3.832 per gallon, according to the AAA, while gas prices were an average of $2.3 per gallon when Biden entered office), forcing just about everything else to skyrocket, including the number of poor people.

The poverty rate in the US exploded last year, the first increase in 13 years, according to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the rate was 12.4%, up 4.6 percentage points from 2021, according to the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM), a method for tallying government welfare programs and tax credits designed to assist low-income families.

Meanwhile, the Expectations Index, determined by consumers’ short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions, sunk to 73.7 in September. That follows a drop to 83.3 in August. The worrisome part is that an Expectations Index below 80 generally indicates an impending recession.

An economic tragedy is already quietly happening for millions of American consumers who are now living paycheck to paycheck precariously and who have been forced to use the payment method of last resort to make ends meet: the almighty credit card, with its exorbitant interest fees. On this score, the US economy has broken yet another record, although not in a way that could be considered something to cheer about.

“US credit card debt rose by $45 billion to $1.03 trillion in the second quarter from the first quarter, a 4.6% quarterly increase,” The Street reported. “It’s the first time in US history that household credit card balances topped the $1 trillion mark as the number of credit card accounts expanded by 5.48 million to 578.35 million in the quarter.” When consumer debt suddenly equals the amount the US spends on its military-industrial complex, you know there’s a problem.

Clearly, the US has some serious domestic issues that need to be resolved, but instead, it would rather fund a totally senseless proxy war against a nuclear power halfway around the world.

Washington has given Ukraine close to $100 billion in aid, with more in the pipeline, since Moscow launched its military operation in February 2022. The cash, however, has not only been used to fund Ukraine’s military. Billions of dollars have subsidized participants of the Ukrainian economy, like farmers and small business owners, market players whose counterparts in the US desperately need help, too. A recent study conducted by the Council on Foreign Relations shows that more than $30 billion – around 40% of total US aid to Ukraine as of July 31 – has been financial or humanitarian assistance that is not directly connected to military support. Military funding comes out to around $50 billion.

As if that were not enough, the Biden administration continues to welcome illegal migrants at a price that is more than what is being spent fighting a proxy war against Russia in Ukraine. Yes, you read that right; the annual cost of providing care for the millions of illegal migrants entering the US is $150.7 billion, according to the Fiscal Burden of Illegal Immigration on United States Taxpayers (FAIR).

In August, US Border Patrol recorded 232,972 migrant encounters along the southwestern border, a jump from 183,494 in July. The number of crossings for September is predicted to be higher than the previous month.

So here we have two concurrent events – a disastrous military conflict in Ukraine and a leaky US border – that are sucking away precious funds from the American taxpayer. It’s important to note that the king’s ransom that is being handed over to support these deranged Democratic agendas will never be returned, not in our lifetime. Instead, it will just be added to the unsustainable US national debt load, which is currently at $33 trillion, according to the US Debt Clock. That is an astronomical sum of money that we or future generations will someday be forced to deal with, and probably sooner rather than later.

What American citizen could possibly believe that any of this government funding has been a good investment for the American people? Well, they’re representatives in Washington, DC, for one. In May, ‘conservative’ US Senator Lindsey Graham, during a meeting with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in Kiev, pronounced joyfully that “the Russians are dying” and aid to Ukraine is “the best money we’ve ever spent.” Aside from discounting the chances that such an “investment” could have towards unleashing World War III, Graham never thought for a second that such funds could have gone far at rebuilding America’s crumbling infrastructure, like that non-existent wall on the US-Mexico border. It would have been a wonderful work program for the US economy.

In short, it’s just another day in the discombobulated American empire, which, much like its ancient Roman precursor, could learn the lesson of overexpansion and overspending in the most brutal way imaginable – with its total and complete dissolution.

Source: rt.com

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Joe Biden sends US ships near Israel after Zionists suffer major blow by Hamas

October 09, 2023

Days after resistance group Hamas conducted its potent response against the unabated Zionist brutality, President Joe Biden sent US ships for deployment near Israel in support of the oppressive Israel Sunday as Washington released further military assistance to fight against Palestinians.

In a statement, the Pentagon said that it was sending the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its accompanying warships to the eastern Mediterranean while boosting fighter aircraft squadrons in the region.

A confirmation was also provided by the US Central Command Sunday afternoon that ships and planes started moving to their ordered positions.

The US — a major arms supplier of Israel — announced its support to Te Aviv after Saturday's surprise attack from the Gaza Strip, vowing "rock solid" support and warning parties to stay out of the standoff.

In conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden "conveyed that additional assistance for the Israeli Defense Forces, according to White House, with more to follow over the coming days.

"The leaders also discussed ongoing efforts to ensure that no enemies of Israel believe they can or should seek advantage from the current situation," it said in a statement.

The US president further "pledged his full support for the Government and people of Israel in the face of an unprecedented and appalling assault by Hamas."

Hamas later accused the US in a statement of "actual participation in the aggression against our people by moving the aircraft carrier."

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict's worst escalation in decades has killed more than 600 lives on the Israeli side, the government press office said. At the same time, Gaza officials reported at least 400 people embraced martyrdom in brutal Israeli air strikes.

Netanyahu called a long war ahead, with tens of thousands of occupied Israeli forces already deployed to battle holdout Hamas forces and prepare a possible Gaza ground offensive.

Fears of escalation

The conflict has stoked fears of a wider conflagration. Lebanon's Hezbollah movement said Sunday it had fired shells and missiles at Israeli positions.

With tensions rising, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he was sending forces to "bolster regional deterrence efforts after discussions with Biden."

"As well as the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier, this deployment includes a guided missile cruiser and four guided missile destroyers," Austin said in a statement.

"The US government will be rapidly providing the IDF with additional equipment and resources, including munitions," added Austin, who also spoke with his Israeli counterpart Sunday.

The movement of US ships and planes and the aid to Israel "underscores the United States' ironclad support for the IDF and the Israeli people."

The US Sunday afternoon led calls for condemnation of a Hamas assault on Israel at the United Nations Security Council.

"I expect to hear from the other Council members very strong condemnation of these heinous acts of terrorism committed against the Israeli people and their government," senior US diplomat Robert Wood told reporters.

American hostages

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier that Biden ordered his administration to give Israel "everything it needs in this moment to deal with the attacks from Hamas."

"A number of Americans may also have been taken hostage," Blinken said.

"We have reports that several Americans were killed. We're working overtime to verify that. At the same time, there are reports of missing Americans and there again, we´re working to verify those reports," Blinken said.

He told ABC that "this is a massive terrorist attack that is gunning down Israeli civilians in their towns, in their homes, and as we've seen so graphically, literally dragging people across the border with Gaza."

"So, you can imagine the impact this is having throughout Israel. And the world should be revolted at what it has seen," Blinken added.

State and local authorities throughout the US — including in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Houston — said there would be increased security presence at US synagogues in the coming days, though there was no specific threat.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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Arab World

 

Saudi Arabia calls for end to escalation of Israel-Hamas violence

October 08, 2023

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Sunday called for an end to the escalation of violence following Saturday’s surprise attack on Israel by the Palestinian Hamas group.

Israel pounded the Palestinian enclave of Gaza on Sunday, killing hundreds of people in retaliation for one of the bloodiest attacks in its history that killed several hundred Israelis.

Airstrikes hit housing blocks, tunnels, a mosque and homes of Hamas officials in Gaza, killing more than 400 people, including 20 children, in keeping with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pledge of “mighty vengeance.”

Prince Faisal’s comments came during a phone call he received from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2387541/saudi-arabia

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Saudi Arabia expresses sorrow for victims of Afghan quakes

October 09, 2023

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Sunday expressed its “profound sorrow” for the victims of earthquakes that occurred in western Afghanistan, killing and injuring a large number of people, Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom’s support and solidarity with the Afghan people during “this great tragedy,” it said in a statement.

More than 2,400 people were killed in earthquakes 35 km (20 miles) northwest of the city of Herat, the Taliban administration said on Sunday, in the deadliest tremors to rock the quake-prone mountainous country in years.

The ministry offered condolences and sympathy to the families of the deceased, and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

Source: arabnews.com

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Saudi officials hold talks with Croatian, Swedish foreign ministers in Riyadh

October 08, 2023

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received Croatia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic-Radman in Riyadh on Sunday.

During the reception, the two reviewed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen them in all fields and discussed developments in the regional and international arenas.

Prince Faisal also received his Swedish counterpart Tobias Billstrom to discuss aspects of cooperation between the two kingdoms and ways to enhance and develop them in all fields, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The two sides also touched on the importance of intensifying bilateral and multilateral work, and enhancing economic cooperation opportunities in light of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, in a way that serves common interests and contributes to achieving sustainable development goals.

Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman also met with Billstrom to discuss ties and prospects for joint cooperation.

Source: arabnews.com

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Saudi delegation to participate in WHO regional committee meeting

October 09, 2023

RIYADH: Saudi Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel is leading a delegation participating in the 70th session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

The event will run from Oct. 9-12 in Cairo under the slogan “United for a healthier future,” and will address some of the most important challenges regarding public health in the region.

Some of the topics on the agenda include eradicating polio, developing mental healthcare, tackling preventable deaths of newborns and children, and managing non-communicable diseases.

The Saudi delegation will present a report to member states outlining the progress and challenges in implementing the Kingdom’s Vision 2023 reform plan.

The session will also announce who will be the new WHO regional director for the eastern Mediterranean.

Source: arabnews.com

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KSrelief distributes 3,600 school bags in Somalia

October 08, 2023

RIYADH: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief has distributed 3,600 school bags in the Somali districts of Waberi, Hamar Weyne, Hamar Jajab and Shangani, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The distribution has come as part of a project aimed at securing and distributing stationery for students in Somalia.

This initiative is part of the humanitarian assistance provided by Saudi Arabia, represented by KSrelief. The goal is to support the educational sector in countries in need, enhance the educational environment, and provide essential study supplies for male and female students.

Meanwhile, a team from KSrelief recently visited Amman, Jordan, to assess the progress of a project aimed at improving the lives of refugees and the host community.

The project is being implemented in collaboration with the International Medical Corps and focuses on providing vital mental health and child protection services to the most vulnerable individuals.

Specifically, the project aims to deliver high-quality support in areas such as mental health, social services, and child protection to approximately 2,800 individuals residing in the host community and refugee families in Jordan.

This initiative is part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing commitment to assisting Syrian refugees and vulnerable populations in Jordan, while also contributing to the development of a comprehensive healthcare system.

Source: arabnews.com

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Saudi Arabia sets up Imam Faisal bin Turki Royal Reserve covering Asir, Jazan and Makkah regions

October 08, 2023

JEDDAH — A royal order has been issued to establish Imam Faisal bin Turki Royal Reserve, spanning three administrative regions of Asir, Jazan and Makkah, and extending to the Kingdom's territorial waters in the Red Sea.

The reserve will be under the supervision of the Council of Royal Reserves, chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. The Imam Faisal bin Turki Royal Reserve will be the third-largest in the Kingdom, and the biggest with regard to a wide variety of plants. It is one of the most diverse in terms of ecological and geographical features, which are unique and enchanting.

The 30,152.7 square-kilometer reserve includes sea, coastlines, peaks, plains, deserts and valleys, as well as rich animal, fish, and plant resources. It is culturally distinguished by its arts and architecture, and showcases its authenticity through popular folklore that embodies the cultural identity of each region.

Speaking on the occasion of establishing the new reserve, the Crown Prince said that Saudi Arabia is determined to develop its natural resources and improve the quality of life within the Saudi territories. He noted that the Imam Faisal bin Turki Royal Reserve is just one of several royal reserves that have been developed and supported in the Kingdom.

“These reserves are important contributors to national development, in a way solving numerous environmental challenges experienced worldwide. They help achieve environmental balance, preserve natural sites and the wealth of the Kingdom’s lands, support scientific research in various fields, strengthen the tourism and entertainment sectors, protect and sustain natural resources, and achieve environmental balance," he said.

The Crown Prince disclosed that the reserve’s biological diversity will support all life forms within it, improving human health, ensuring clean air, reducing the impact of climate change, and increasing resistance to natural diseases. These benefits will help the development of societies that prioritize the well-being of human beings and their cultural identity while preserving the environment, he pointed out. “We are determined to enhance the quality of life in Saudi Arabia by developing natural resources, improving infrastructure, promoting sustainability of non-oil economic resources, and increasing job and investment opportunities within the Kingdom,” he added.

The reserve is established as part of the Kingdom’s efforts to conserve the natural resources of its extensive lands and have a positive impact by following the best international practices. Its goal is to ensure the sustainability of the environment for current and future generations by improving the natural surroundings, plants and wildlife, and promoting their growth and development.

Moreover, eco-tourism is encouraged, while hunting and overgrazing are discouraged, and logging is prohibited, and the vegetation cover is preserved and increased. The movement within the reserves is organized in a way that does not harm the villages, abandoned areas, or citizens’ property within its scope. The Saudi leadership is committed to providing its citizens and residents the opportunity to enjoy this beautiful country. The land is public property of the nation, according to the relevant regulations and instructions.

This will be the eighth Saudi royal reserve and the result of the Saudi leadership’s commitment to preserving environmental and biological diversity, achieving sustainable ecosystems, improving plant productivity, and protecting endangered species.

As stipulated in the Saudi Vision 2030, the reserve will contribute to the goal of protecting and enhancing the natural environment in the Kingdom by adopting a comprehensive vision to preserve valuable ecosystems, and environmental and natural components, reintroduce wildlife in each region, ensure water balance and biodiversity, combat desertification, and sustain wildlife.

The reserve will increase the percentage of royal reserves in the Kingdom from 13.5 percent to 14.9 percent, contributing to the achievement of the Saudi Green Initiative goal of ensuring the protection of 30 percent of land and marine areas by 2030.

It will preserve and restore natural ecosystems and biodiversity. It will also enhance the heritage and the history of the areas within the reserve; it contains over 100 heritage villages, and is bound to contribute to sustainable national economic development, engage and support local communities through job opportunities, promote volunteer work, and provide exceptional eco-tourism experiences.

The new reserve expands the total area of the royal reserves to approximately 300,000 square kilometers, together with other reserves such as the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve, the Imam Saud bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve, King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, King Salman Royal Reserve, Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve, and King Khalid Royal Reserve.

Source: saudigazette.com.sa

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https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/636567/SAUDI-ARABIA/Saudi-Arabia-sets-up-Imam-Faisal-bin-Turki-Royal-Reserve-covering-Asir-Jazan-and-Makkah-regions

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Custodian of Two Holy Mosques Receives Written Message from Transitional President of Burkina Faso

08 Oct, 2023

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, received a written message from Transitional President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso concerning the relationship between the two countries and ways to improve coordination on matters of mutual interest.

 During his visit to Riyadh today, the High Representative and Special Adviser to the Transitional President of Burkina Faso handed a message to Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah.

 The two sides discussed regional and international issues and their efforts to address them.

 The meeting was attended by the Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Political Affairs, Dr. Saud Al-Sati.

Source: alriyadhdaily.com

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Europe

 

UK's Sunak calls Canadian PM for de-escalation in Ottawa-Delhi row

 08 October 2023

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has talked to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the recent row between Ottawa and Delhi over the death of a Sikh separatist. 

In a late-night phone call on Friday, the two leaders discussed the Ottawa-Delhi row during which Trudeau updated Sunak on the situation relating to Canadian diplomats in India.

The two leaders, in separate statements, had emphasized adhering to the rule of law while de-escalating the tense situation.

The British leader emphasized the importance of respecting sovereignty and the rule of law, as well as the need for de-escalation, according to the statement released by No. 10 Downing Street.

“Prime Minister [Sunak] reaffirmed the UK’s position that all countries should respect sovereignty and the rule of law, including the principles of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," the UK Prime Minister’s office said.

It added that the British leader told his Canadian counterpart, "He hoped to see a de-escalation in the situation,” and agreed to remain in contact with him until the Ottawa-Delhi row has been resolved.

Relations between India and Canada have dramatically nosedived in recent weeks with both sides expelling diplomats amid a row over the killing of a separatist Sikh leader.

“The leaders emphasized respect for the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the need to ensure the safety and security of their citizens. They underscored the importance of de-escalation in this context. Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Sunak agreed to remain in close contact and to continue working together to tackle global issues," read the Canadian government’s statement.

The ongoing diplomatic row between India and Canada -- both close London allies and members of the Commonwealth of Nations, a large group of former territories of the British Empire -- over the June killing of Canadian-Indian Hardeep Nijjar in Vancouver prompted Sunak to call Trudeau on Friday to stress the need for the de-escalation of tensions.

Also on Friday, the US ambassador to India had reportedly told his team that Washington may “need to reduce contact” with New Delhi's officials if the Ottawa-Delhi row were to continue.

Canada desperately strives to gathers allies as tensions rise with India over the murder of a Separatist leader.

The Ottawa-Delhi row has been going on for months, and Trudeau last month gave a statement in the Canadian Parliament alleging India's involvement in Nijjar's assassination. In the statement, the PM said that Canadian security forces were "actively pursuing credible allegations" linking Indian government agents to the murder of the Khalistan Tiger Force leader in British Columbia in June.

The accusation, however, was strongly rejected by India as “absurd and motivated".

Source: presstv.ir

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France to blame for any new conflict with Armenia – Azerbaijan president

8 Oct, 2023

France’s move to supply military aid to Armenia could inflame tensions in the South Caucasus and lead to fresh conflict, Azerbaijan’s president Ilham Aliyev has said.

Aliyev has been critical of the European Union’s (EU) position on Baku’s dispute with Yerevan, and pulled out of EU-brokered talks scheduled with Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan earlier this month. At the summit, Brussels said it was standing by Armenia in the regional dispute.

In a telephone call with the President of the European Council Charles Michel, Aliyev was critical of the EU’s position, and particularly that of France, according to a statement issued by Baku on Saturday.

“Due to the well-known position of France, Azerbaijan did not participate in the meeting in Granada,” the statement from the office of the Azerbaijani president said.

“The head of state emphasized that the provision of weapons by France to Armenia was an approach that was not serving peace but one intended to inflate a new conflict, and if any new conflict occurs in the region, France would be responsible for causing it.”

During an October 3 diplomatic visit to Yerevan, France’s Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna agreed on the provision of future contracts with Armenia to supply military assets, which, she said, will help ensure its defenses. Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron had criticism for Azerbaijan, saying Baku seems to have difficulties following recognized international law.

Aliyev’s comments follow Azerbaijan’s 24-hour military operation in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh last month, which triggered a mass exodus of about 120,000 ethnic Armenians in the region, most of whom went to Armenia.

The Azerbaijani president insisted that he had acted in step with international law, saying that eight villages in Azerbaijan remained “under Armenian occupation” and emphasizing the importance of liberating them.

The former Soviet states have been involved in a decades-long geopolitical rivalry, largely due to Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized borders being home to tens of thousands of ethnic Armenians.

Source: rt.com

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Egyptians express Palestine solidarity as officials call for calm

08 October, 2023

Egyptians expressed solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing fighting between armed faction Hamas and Israel, as their country's officials called for calm.

Hours after the Hamas attacks broke out on Saturday, Egypt’s foreign minister Sameh Shoukry warned in a statement quoted by local and international news outlets of the "crucial consequences" of the escalating violence between the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

Egypt urged both sides to exercise maximum restraint and avoid exposing civilians to further risks, warning that “an escalation of violence would have a negative impact on the future of peace talks.”

The foreign ministry called on Israel to cease its attacks and provocations against the Palestinians and to adhere to the rules of international humanitarian law as relates to an occupying state.

On Monday, Egypt’s president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received a phone call from Jordan’s King Abdullah II during which they discussed efforts to avoid a deadly escalation of conflict. 

“The two states [Egypt and Jordan] have been in a state of peace with Israel for decades now. Both have interests with the Zionist state and they won’t jeopardise them at any cost,” a prominent political analyst told The New Arab on condition of anonymity.

Cairo has historically been a key mediator in the Arab-Israeli conflict for decades.

“The public reaction to the ongoing escalation of aggression is one thing and any form of calculations that politicians have in mind is another. The two leaders can never risk angering Israel’s major supporter, the US, by any means,” the analyst added.   

Pro-regime TV talk show hosts and journalists have been critical of Israel, taking the side of Hamas as activists and public figures took to social media platforms to denounce the Israeli government.

“Journalists have no choice but to play it safe with the public by unifying their rhetoric ahead of presidential elections [due in December this year] for Sisi to garner support inside the country. Egyptians have long been known for antagonising Israel,” a high-profile political sociologist, who also declined to be named, told TNA.

Since 2007, Egypt and Israel have imposed a strict blockade on the Gaza Strip after Hamas assumed power following clashes with the rival Fatah faction that rules the occupied West Bank.

In 2013, following the military coup led by then-defence minister Sisi that overthrew Egypt’s first democratically-elected president, a war of words was waged against Hamas and Palestinians in Gaza, accusing them of being behind militancy in North Sinai and allowing the infiltration of jihadists into Egypt.

After he took office in 2014, Sisi fostered warmer ties with Tel Aviv, advocating a two-state solution and co-existence between Palestinians and Israelis.

It was not until 2017, when Hamas dropped its affiliation to the Muslim Brotherhood, legally outlawed in Egypt since 2014, that the Egyptian regime softened its tone towards the Palestinian faction.

Hamas’ weekend armed campaign marked exactly 50 years and one day after Egypt launched a surprise military attack in the Sinai Peninsula on 6 October 1973, also known as the Yom Kippur War, inflicting heavy losses on the Israeli army and restoring parts of the occupied Egyptian lands seized by Israel in 1967.

Source: newarab.com

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https://www.newarab.com/news/egyptians-express-palestine-support-officials-urge-calm

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Russia eyes return to UN rights body despite Ukraine war

October 9, 2023

UNITED NATIONS: Russia, which was ousted from the UN Human Rights Council after its forces invaded Ukraine, will attempt a return to the body on Tuesday — an uncertain move that will provide a gauge of its international support.

The UN General Assembly will vote that day to elect 15 new members to the Geneva-based UN body, for terms running from 2024 to 2026.

The council’s 47 members are allocated by region, and each large regional group usually pre-selects its own candidates, which the General Assembly then generally approves.

But this year two groups have more candidates than available seats: Latin America (candidates from Brazil, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Peru will contest three seats), and Eastern Europe (Albania, Bulgaria and Russia will vie for two seats).

Washington opposes Moscow’s attempt

Moscow’s candidacy has drawn scepticism, and the vote will come just days after a Russian missile attack on the Ukrainian village of Groza killed more than 50 people in a scene of carnage.

“We hope UN members will firmly reject [Russia’s] preposterous candidacy,” a State Department spokesperson said on condition of anonymity.

“Members of Russia’s forces have committed violations of international humanitarian law, including war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine,” the spokesperson added.

Mariana Katzarova, a top UN expert, recently said repression inside Russia had intensified since its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, reaching levels “unprecedented in recent history”.

To be elected to the rights council, a country needs 97 votes of the UN’s 193 member countries. In April 2022, 93 countries voted to suspend Russia from the council, while 24 opposed that move.

That majority vote against Russia was less lopsided than other resolutions defending the territorial integrity of Ukraine, with around 140 countries approving.

But the situation with the rights council is more complex, as some countries also seen as rights offenders fear they may face the same fate.

Secret vote

The vote Tuesday will be by secret ballot — perhaps shining a clearer light on a fragmented world in which several developing countries have grown weary of the West’s persistent focus on Ukraine.

“I think Western diplomats in New York are rather worried Russia could sneak back into the Human Rights Council” in what would be “a public relations disaster for the UN on a massive scale,” said Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group.

“Russia has always argued that many UN members sympathize with it in private but won’t support it in public for fear of antagonising Western powers,” he added. “Moscow will hope that this supposed silent majority supports it in this secret vote.”

Vassily Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador to the UN, pushed back, saying: “There are no beacons of democracy or rogue states, as is sometimes being portrayed. No member state can claim to be immune from human rights violations.”

Louis Charbonneau of the NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) conceded that no member of the council “has an unblemished rights record,” but added that “every UN member nation should recognise that the council has membership standards for which Russia and China show despicable disregard”.

His group has called on member countries to also refrain from voting for Beijing, citing its violations of the rights of China’s Uyghur minority.

China, however, risks little in the vote: It is one of four countries in the Asian regional group vying for four open seats.

HRW is also calling for countries to oppose Cuba’s candidacy, while another NGO, the International Service for Human Rights, opposes not just the Russian and Chinese candidacies but also that of Burundi.

Other candidates on Tuesday are Ivory Coast, Malawi, Ghana, Kuwait, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands and France.

Source: dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1780111/russia-eyes-return-to-un-rights-body-despite-ukraine-war

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