Ujjain Garba Bans Non-Hindus, Makes ‘Tilak’ and Aadhaar A Must, Law Enforcement Authorities Don't Seem To Mind
New Age Islam News Bureau
18 October 2023
The report noted that the law enforcement authorities don't seem to mind
these arbitrary rules citing the event was private.
-----
India
·
Army Welfare Group To Stage Protest Against
Centre To Demand Answers On Pulwama Attack
·
Taj Mahal drowning amid 470 illegal buildings:
There are 470 illegal structures, including restaurants, cafes, emporiums
·
Supreme Court refuses to accord recognition to
same-sex marriages, leaves it to Parliament
·
Two BSF personnel injured as Pakistan rangers
open fire along IB in Jammu
-------
Mideast
·
Lebanon’s
Hezbollah Calls For ‘Day Of Rage’ Over Gaza Hospital Strike
·
UN’s
Guterres Denounces ‘Collective Punishment’ Of Palestinians
·
Hezbollah
targets Merkava tank, causes casualties among Israeli soldiers
·
Flames of
US-Israeli bombs to soon devour Zionists: President Raeisi
·
What is
Islamic Jihad, the group being blamed by Israel for bombing at Gaza hospital?
·
Israel-Hamas
war: What we know about the deadly blast at a Gaza City hospital
·
Thousands
march in Amsterdam in support of Palestinians
·
Israel’s
forcible transfer of Gazan civilians amounts to crimes against humanity: UN
·
Palestinians
dispute Israel's claim of resuming water supply to Gaza Strip
·
‘Gaza food
situation getting worse by minute’
--------
North America
·
CAIR-LA
Condemns Attacks Against Pro-Palestine UCLA Students, Calls for Investigation
and Ban by School
·
CAIR
Action Alert: Urge Your Members of Congress to Support the Ceasefire Now
Resolution Today!
·
FBI:
Jewish, Muslim Americans seeing increasing number of threats
·
US Muslim
group CAIR condemns Israel's 'war crime' over hospital attack in Gaza
·
Biden
heads to Middle East inflamed by Gaza hospital blast
--------
Arab World
·
Saudi
Arabia denounces forced displacement of Palestinians, demands an immediate
ceasefire
·
GCC
commits $100 million for urgent humanitarian aid in Gaza
·
No heroes
in Hamas-Israel conflict, only victims: Former Saudi intelligence chief
·
KSrelief
distributes tons of food aid in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Philippines
·
Saudi
deputy minister meets Pakistan ambassador to the Kingdom
·
Saudi Hajj
minister meets with head of Turkish religious affairs
·
Saudi FM
arrives in Muscat for GCC ministerial meeting on Gaza
--------
Europe
·
Amnesty
International Slams French Ban On Pro-Palestine Protests
·
International Criminal Court Must Investigate
Israeli War Crimes: Palestinian Envoy To UK
·
Palestinian
NGO Tells UK To Stop Arms Sales To Israel
·
UK
university suspends students over Gaza rally
·
Israeli
embassy in Brazil protests comments by Lula’s party on Gaza
·
Russia,
UAE call for emergency UN Security Council meeting Wednesday: Diplomat
·
British MP
fears for Palestinian relatives trapped in Gaza in Israeli siege
·
UK-based
surgeon treating patients in Gaza says London police harassed his family
--------
Southeast Asia
·
PAS Rescinds Its Annual Congress Invite To
Embassies Whose Govts Openly Back Israel Regime
·
Indonesian
Hospital In Gaza Overwhelmed By Dead, Wounded From Israeli Attacks
·
PM Anwar
Condemns Bombing Of Gaza Hospital, Mocks Hypocrisy From The West Amid 'Madness'
·
Called Up
By Washington, Ambassador To The US Nazri Aziz Insists Malaysia Has No Sympathy
For Israeli Regime
·
'No same
sex marriages registered in Malaysia', says minister during parliament question
time
·
Pragmatic
But Passionate: Anwar Continues Nation’s Advocacy For Palestine
--------
Africa
·
Secure Release Of 30 Zamfara Varsity Female
Students, Reps Task Security Agencies
·
Terrorists
Refuse To Release Five Female Students Of Nigerian University In Katsina
Despite Collecting Over N2million Ransom Somali TV Journalist killed in
Mogadishu suicide bombing
·
DRC:
journalist Stanis Bujakera still in custody
·
Niger: 6
soldiers killed in fighting near Burkina
-------
Pakistan
·
Pakistani
NGOs Beset By ‘Visa Denials’ In Quest To Help Gazans
·
Road-to-Makkah
project to be initiated from Lahore, Karachi airports too
·
Guns fall
silent in Wadh as rival armed groups vacate trenches
·
FM Jilani
to represent Pakistan at OIC Gaza moot today
·
PM Kakar
strongly condemns Israeli attack on Hospital in Gaza
·
PM Kakar, President
Putin discuss Middle East, bilateral ties in Beijing
·
Palestinians
CPEC manifests win-win cooperation: Kakar
·
No room
for dialogue with planners, attackers of May 9, says Sarfraz Bugti
·
Saudi
decision on cutting Pakistan Hajj groups ‘final’
-------
South Asia
·
Japan
commits $4.46 million in earthquake aid for Afghanistan
·
Over 500
Afghan migrant families return home from Pakistan
·
Fearing
Earthquakes, Herat Residents Live in Tents
·
$93M
Needed for Quake-affected People in Herat: UN
·
US Senator
Calls to Cut Funding to Afghanistan
·
200 Afghan
Journalists Sign Letter to Pakistan's Acting PM
·
Delegation
Will Travel to Turkey to Address Refugee Issues: Ministry
·
ECRM
Approved Amendments Proposed by Inter-ministerial Committee
·
PM calls
upon global leaders to stop wars
Compiled by
New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/ujjain-garba-bans-tilak-aadhaar/d/130927
-----
Ujjain
Garba Bans Non-Hindus, Makes ‘Tilak’ and Aadhaar A Must, Law Enforcement
Authorities Don't Seem To Mind
The report noted that the law enforcement authorities don't seem to mind
these arbitrary rules citing the event was private.
-----
Oct 18,
2023
UJJAIN/INDORE:
A Garba organizer in Ujjain has put up posters "banning" non-Hindus
from entering the Navratri celebrations, claiming that it was a move to
'prevent love jihad'. Its members are checking Aadhar cards before letting
people in.
Law
enforcement authorities don't seem to mind. Ujjain SP Sachin Sharma said,
"It is their private function and they have issued passes for entry to the
event. What is the objection in this?"
The
organizer, Sankalp Sanskriti Sanstha, also enforced a rule that every male
Garba attendee would be 'welcomed with a Tilak'. "The Tilak will deter
non-Hindus, thus exposing them," Bahadur Singh Rathore, president of
Sanstha, told TOI.
This
Garba is quite popular in these parts and it's being held for the fifth year in
a row on a public ground in Nanakheda on Indore-Ujjain road. Over 5,000 people
visit the celebrations. The organisers are making announcements about the
restrictions for entry to the event.
"We
are not against any religion, but we want to put an end to love-jihad and
restrict entry to those trying to spread animosity. Garba events were used to
mislead Hindu girls into marrying men of other religions," Rathore
claimed.
Asked if
it was legal to prevent anyone thus, he said, "We are not stopping anyone
if they visit with women of their families."
District
collector Kumar Purshottam told TOI that he was not aware of 'any such thing'.
"The initial permission was given by the local SDM. If a complaint is
made, I will review it in accordance with the law," he said.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/indore/ujjain-garba-bans-non-hindus-makes-tilak-aadhaar-a-must/articleshow/104511472.cms
------
Summit
With Arab Leaders Called Off As US President Joe Biden Heads To Israel
U.S. President Joe Biden boards Air Force One for travel to Tel Aviv,
Israel, from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., on October 17, 2023.. | Photo
Credit: Reuters
-----
18.10.23
President
Joe Biden's efforts to tamp down tensions in the escalating war between Israel
and Hamas faced massive setbacks even before he departed for the Middle East on
Tuesday, as Jordan called off the president's planned summit with Arab leaders
after a deadly explosion at a Gaza hospital killed hundreds.
Biden
now will visit only Israel and will postpone his travel to Jordan, a White
House official said as Biden departed.
The postponement
of the Amman summit comes after Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas withdrew from
the scheduled meetings in protest of the attacks, which the Hamas-run Health
Ministry in Gaza blamed on an Israeli airstrike. The Israeli military said it
had no involvement and pinned the blame on a misfired Palestinian rocket.
“This
war and this aggression are pushing the region to the brink,” Ayman Safadi,
Jordan's foreign minister, told al-Mamlaka TV, a state-run network. He said
Jordan would only host the summit when all participants agreed on its purpose,
which would be to “stop the war, respect the humanity of the Palestinians, and
deliver the aid they deserve.”
The
cancellation reflects an increasingly volatile situation that will test the
limits of American influence in the region as Biden visits Wednesday.
Biden's
decision to put himself in a conflict zone — the same year he made a surprise
visit to Ukraine — demonstrates his willingness to take personal and political
risks as he becomes heavily invested in another intractable foreign conflict
with no clear end game and plenty of opportunity for things to spiral out of
control.
The
high-stakes presidential trip is emblematic of Biden's belief that the United
States should not turn back from its central role on the global stage and his
faith that personal diplomacy can play a decisive role.
“This is
how Joe Biden believes politics works and history is made,” said Jon Alterman,
a senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies
who worked on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee while Biden was a member.
There's
been no water, fuel or food delivered to Gaza since the brutal October 7 attack
by Hamas that killed more than 1,400 Israelis and triggered the unfolding war.
Mediators have been struggling to break a deadlock over providing supplies to
desperate civilians, aid groups and hospitals.
As the
humanitarian crisis grows, so too does the concern of a spiraling conflict that
stretches beyond the borders of Gaza. There have already been skirmishes on
Israel's northern border with Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group that's based in
Southern Lebanon.
“There's
a lot that can go wrong on this trip,” Alterman said.
Biden's
travels will be rife with security concerns, and visits by other US officials have
been disrupted by rocket launches into Israel. Additional Israeli airstrikes in
Gaza could also prompt more condemnation at a time when Biden is intending to
demonstrate solidarity with the United States' closest ally in the region.
The US
has subtly shifted its message over the past week, maintaining full-throated
support for Israel while slowly turning up the diplomatic volume on the need
for humanitarian assistance in Gaza, as Biden and aides have heard increasingly
dire predictions about the potential for images of suffering Palestinians to
ignite protests and broader unrest throughout the Middle East.
US
officials said it has become clear that already limited Arab tolerance of
Israel's military operations would evaporate entirely if conditions in Gaza
worsened.
Their
analysis projected that outright condemnation of Israel by Arab leaders would
not only be a boon to Hamas but would likely encourage Iran to step up its
anti-Israel activity, adding to fears that a regional conflagration might
erupt, according to four officials who spoke to The Associated Press on
condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration thinking.
US
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, bouncing back and forth between Arab and
Israeli leadership ahead of Biden's visit, spent seven and a half hours meeting
Monday in Tel Aviv in an effort to broker some kind of aid agreement and
emerged with a green light to create a plan on how aid can enter Gaza and be
distributed to civilians.
It was
on the surface a modest accomplishment, but US officials stressed that it
represented a significant change in Israel's position going in — that Gaza
would remain cut off from fuel, electricity, water and other essential
supplies.
Biden
has a long track record of showing public support for Israel while expressing
concerns privately to the Israelis about their behaviour.
“He
believes the only way to get inside the Israelis' heads is to demonstrate
profound empathy, but also to be there,” Alterman said.
In the
US, Biden has won rare praise from Republicans over his leadership on Israel,
but prospects for providing additional aid are uncertain. The administration
has said it would ask for more than USD 2 billion in aid for both Israel and
Ukraine, though House Republicans remain in disarray.
Still,
Biden is committed to both Ukraine and Israel.
“We're
the United States of America, for God's sake, the most powerful nation in the
history of the world,” he said this week on CBS' “60 Minutes” when asked
whether the wars in Israel and Ukraine were more than the U.S. can take on at
once. “We have the capacity to do this and we have an obligation to. ... And if
we don't, who does?”
In
Israel, Biden was expected to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and
other Israeli officials. His plans to then meet in Jordan with King Abdullah
II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Palestinian leader Mahmoud
Abbas were scrapped.
The
Israel-Palestinian conflict has been ongoing for decades, and to a large
extent, it's involved the same cadre of men. Netanyahu is the longest-serving
prime minister in Israeli history. Abbas has been Palestinian president for
nearly 20 years. Abdullah II has been king since 1999 — Biden has called the
Jordanian king a loyal ally in a “tough neighbourhood." El-Sissi is the
newest leader, president since 2014.
It's
important for these leaders, too, to avoid a prolonged and engulfing regional
escalation, particularly as Egypt and Jordan face growing economic tumult.
In
September, the International Monetary Fund issued a report saying that Egypt
and Jordan are among the countries in the region that “stand at the brink of a
debt crisis.” Egypt in particular is struggling with high inflation.
Neither
nation wants to absorb refugees. Jordan already has a large Palestinian
population, and the country is coping with hundreds of thousands of refugees
from neighbouring Syria, Iraq and elsewhere.
With
tens of thousands of troops massed along the Israel-Gaza border, Israel has been
expected to launch a ground invasion — but plans remain uncertain. U.S.
officials have refused to say whether the Israelis were holding off in order
for Biden to visit.
“We are
preparing for the next stages of war,” Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Richard
Hecht said. “We haven't said what they will be. Everybody's talking about a
ground offensive. It might be something different.”
Meanwhile,
the death toll is mounting even without the war's next stage. Israeli strikes
on Gaza have killed at least 2,700 people and wounded more than 9,700,
according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Nearly two-thirds of those killed were
children, a ministry official said.
Another
1,200 people across Gaza are believed to be buried under the rubble, alive or
dead. More than 1 million Palestinians have fled their homes — roughly half of
Gaza's population — and 60% are now in the approximately 8-mile-long
(14-kilometer-long) area south of the evacuation zone, according to the United
Nations.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/summit-with-arab-leaders-called-off-as-us-president-joe-biden-heads-to-israel/cid/1974035
------
Hundreds
Under Al-Ahli Arabi Hospital Rubble After Israeli Strike On Gaza Hospital Kills
Up To 700
Bodies of people killed in Israeli airstrike on the Ahli Arab Hospital,
are brought to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
-----
17 October 2023
The
health ministry in the Gaza Strip says hundreds of victims are trapped under
the rubble of al-Ahli Arabi Hospital after up to 700 people were killed in
Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday.
Thousands
of civilians were seeking medical treatment and shelter in the hospital from
relentless Israeli airstrikes.
The
attack is the deadliest Israeli airstrike since 2008, the Palestinian Civil
Defense said.
“The
massacre at al-Ahli Arabi Hospital is unprecedented in our history. While we’ve
witnessed tragedies in past wars and days, but what took place tonight is
tantamount to genocide,” spokesman Mahmoud Basal said.
The
media office of Hamas described the attack as a "war crime."
"The
hospital was housing hundreds of sick and wounded, and people forcibly
displaced from their homes" because of other strikes, a statement said.
The
Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) condemned the Israeli attack as genocide.
Palestinian
Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas declared three days of mourning
following the Israeli air strike.
Photos
from al-Ahli Hospital showed fire engulfing the hospital halls, shattered glass
and body parts scattered across the area.
This
comes as the humanitarian situation is getting worse by the hour in Gaza, with
hospitals facing a collapse.
The
World Health Organization (WHO) is warning of an imminent catastrophe in the
territory.
The
WHO’s director-general strongly condemned the deadly strike on the al-Ahli
Hospital.
In a
post on social media platform X, TedrosAdhanomGhebreyesus called for the
“immediate protection of civilians” and for the Israeli regime’s “evacuation
orders to be reversed.”
Iran,
Turkey, Qatar, Egypt and Jordan condemned the Israeli airstrike on the
hospital.
Iranian
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kan'ani called the attack as a brutal act
of war crime and genocide.
"The
Zionist regime... by committing this heinous and atrocious crime, once again
revealed its savagery and inhumanity to the world and proved that it has no
slightest adherence to the principles and rules of international law during
times of war," he said.
Several
hospitals in Gaza City have become refuges for Palestinians hoping to be spared
Israeli bombardments, which began on October 7.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/17/712917/Palestine-Israel-Gaza-Al-Ahli-Baptist-Hospit
---------
'Not In
Our Name': American Jewish Activists Lead March To White House Over Israel's 'Genocide'
On Gaza
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
-----
17
October, 2023
On
Monday afternoon, 16 October, a coalition of progressive US Jews led more than
a thousand people on a march to the White House to demonstrate against the
Israeli blockade and new war on Gaza.
The
gathering, which began at Farragut Square in downtown Washington, DC, brought
together mainly leftist Jews, led by If Not Now and Jewish Voice for Peace, and
Palestinians and others.
Demonstrators
of all ages, including the elderly and pregnant women, held various signs, many
of which reference Jewish support for human rights.
One of
the largest was displayed at the park's centre, which read, "Never again
is now," a reminder of the words widely used since the Holocaust,
"Never again."
The
gathering took place just over a week after Hamas launched a surprise attack on
Israel from Gaza, prompting a severe response by Israel, with a blockade
already in place and a ground war appearing imminent. This has prompted fears
among many of a genocide in Gaza.
Rabbi
Miriam Grossman of congregation Kolot Chayeinu in Brooklyn, New York, gave an
impassioned speech that seemed to capture the mood of a crowd that was
simultaneously grappling with lives lost and trying to prevent further loss of
life.
My heart
is with each of you here today. My heart is especially with each of you who is
mourning the death and the murder of a loved one," she said, noting the
thousands of recent deaths of Israelis and Palestinians.
"We
face a cycle of death and violence and fear that existed long before last week
but that is only becoming more entrenched in this moment. We are here, not only
to mourn and pray. We are here to fight back. We are here as American Jews to
tell our government: Not in our name," said the rabbi, eliciting chants
from the crowd repeating the words: Not in our name.
The
speeches were followed by traditional Jewish songs in Hebrew, with one of the
speakers reminding the crowd that the language had been used for liturgical
purposes long before the state of Israel was established.
As the
demonstrators got ready to march to the White House, with some planning on
practising civil disobedience by blocking the building's entrances, an
organiser assured the crowd that they would be offered legal and medical
support should they face arrest.
One of
the demonstrators, 80-year-old Joyce Ravitz, was blunt about why she'd shown
up. "Genocide. I'm terrified that the Israelis want to commit genocide.
Since the state of Israel was founded, they've been killing Palestinians,"
she told The New Arab as she marched with her nephew towards the White House.
Ravitz
said she became involved in peace movements following a trip in her early teens
to Israel, where she saw Arabs living in poverty while Jews were living much
better.
"I
was raised a Zionist," she said. "History is so important. As an
adult, I learn more and more about Israeli history."
She sees
Israel as an important factor in the rise of Hamas due to the country's
treatment of the Palestinians.
"Because
of the way they treat Palestinians, I can completely understand people being
attracted to violence. I'm completely against violence. I'm completely against
what Hamas did and completely against what Israel has been doing for 70-some
years," she said.
She
added, "It's really good to see so many people here today. I'm really
happy about that. I suspect on Wednesday there will be even more."
As the
crowd marched to the White House, they alternated between various chants. When
they reached the premises, they broke into at least two groups, unfurling large
banners reading: Ceasefire.
As a
smaller break-out group steadfastly stood by the entrance, the police called
for backup. Eventually, as expected, several were arrested for blocking
entrances to the White House, part of what appeared to be a larger plan of
getting those in the building to talk about the conflict.
A larger
Jewish-led march in support of Palestinian civilians in Gaza is planned for
Wednesday in the US capital.
Source: newarab.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.newarab.com/news/not-our-name-us-jews-lead-march-white-house-over-gaza
--------
Saudi
Arabia Leads Condemnation Of Israeli Airstrike On Gaza Hospital That Killed
Hundreds, Categorically Rejects Brutal Attack
Photo:
Arab News
-----
October
17, 2023
RIYADH:
Saudi Arabia on Tuesday led global condemnations of the Israeli airstrike on a
Gaza hospital that killed hundreds.
The
Kingdom condemned in the “strongest terms” an Israeli air strike that killed
about 500 Palestinians at a Gaza City hospital crammed with patients and
displaced people on Tuesday.
“Saudi
Arabia categorically rejects this brutal attack, which is a flagrant violation
of all international laws and norms, including international humanitarian law,”
the foreign ministry said.
The
ministry also denounced Israel for its “continuous attacks against civilians
despite many international appeals” to stop.
“This
dangerous development forces the international community to abandon double
standards and selectivity in applying international humanitarian law when it
comes to Israeli criminal practices. It requires a serious and firm stance to
provide protection for defenseless civilians,” a ministry statement said.
The
Kingdom also stressed the necessity of opening safe corridors immediately to
deliver food and medicine to civilians trapped in Gaza, and said it holds
Israeli forces fully responsible for their continued violation of all
international norms and laws.
Russia’s
foreign ministry said on Wednesday that the strike on the hospital in Gaza was
a shocking crime, adding that Israel should provide satellite images to prove
that it was not involved in the attack.
Foreign
Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Radio Sputnik that the attack was a
shocking “dehumanizing” crime.
Here are
some of the other global reactions to the brutal strike:
Egyptian
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi issued a statement on Tuesday, saying: “I
condemn in the strongest of terms Israel’s bombardment” on a hospital in Gaza,
and calling it a “clear violation of intl law.”
Palestinian
health authorities said the deaths at the hospital in Gaza were caused by an
Israeli air strike, but the Israeli military blamed a failed rocket launch by a
Palestinian militant group
French
President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday “nothing can justify targeting
civilians” after the deadly strike on a Gaza hospital and called for
humanitarian access to the coastal strip “without delay.”
“Nothing
can justify a strike against a hospital. Nothing can justify targeting
civilians. France condemns the attack on the Al-Ahli Arabi hospital in Gaza
which caused so many Palestinian victims. We think of them,” he wrote on X.
“Humanitarian
access to the Gaza Strip must be opened without delay.”
UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was “horrified” by the deadly strike on a
hospital in Gaza, he said in a social media post Tuesday.
“My
heart is with the families of the victims. Hospitals and medical personnel are
protected under international humanitarian law,” Guterres said in the message
on X.
The UAE
strongly condemned the Israeli attack in a foreign ministry statement saying it
“expresses its deep regret for the loss of life and conveys its condolences to
the families of the victims, wishing a swift recovery for all those injured.”
It
stressed “the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities and to ensure that
civilians and civilian institutions are not targeted.”
The UAE
called on the international community to intensify efforts to reach an immediate
ceasefire to prevent further loss of life.
Kuwait
on Tuesday “strongly condemned and denounced the Israeli occupation forces'
barbaric airstrike on the Baptist Al-Ahli Hospital in the Gaza Strip, where
hundreds of innocent civilians were killed,” the state news agency said.
“The
occupation forces targeting of hospitals and public facilities is a violation
of the International Humanitarian Law,” a statement by the foreign ministry
said.
The
Organization of Islamic Cooperation also denounced the attack.
OIC
chief Hissein Taha considered the attack a “war crime” and a “crime against
humanity,” the OIC said on X.
Taha
held the Israeli occupation accountable for its crimes, terrorist practices,
and brutal attacks against the Palestinian people, which contradict all human
values and constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.
The
Muslim World League condemned “in the strongest terms” the attack.
MWL
chief Sheikh Abdulkarim Al-Issa denounced in a statement this “brutal crime
that devoids its perpetrators of all religious and human values, calling on the
international community to assume its responsibilities towards protecting
civilians from these horrific massacres.”
Qatar’s
foreign ministry also issued a statement in which it strongly condemned the
Israeli airstrike saying, “the expansion of Israeli attacks over the Gaza Strip
to include hospitals, schools, and other population centers is a dangerous
escalation.”
Jordan’s
foreign ministry issued a statement on Tuesday strongly condemning the Israeli
attack. King Abdullah said Israel’s bombing of the Gaza hospital was a
“massacre” and a “war crime” that one cannot be silent about.
Meanwhile,
Turkiye’s foreign ministry condemned in the strongest terms Israel’s “barbaric
attack” on the Gaza hospital.
“We are
deeply indignant that hundreds of Palestinians lost their lives and many more
were injured as a result of the targeting of a hospital in Gaza today, and we
condemn these barbaric attacks in the strongest terms,” the Turkish statement
said.
EU chief
Charles Michel said targeting civilian infrastructure in Gaza breaks
international law after a deadly strike on a hospital.
“We got
this information when we were together during this virtual meeting with the
leaders. It seems to be to be confirmed and an attack against a civilian
infrastructure is not in line with international law,” Michel said after a
videoconference of EU leaders.
Canadian
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the Israeli strike on the hospital in Gaza
was “horrific and absolutely unacceptable.”
Trudeau
told reporters that “it’s not acceptable to hit a hospital.”
The
World Health Organization condemned the deadly Tuesday strike and demanded the
immediate protection of civilians and health care in the Palestinian enclave.
“WHO
strongly condemns the attack on Al Ahli Arab Hospital,” the UN health agency’s
director-general TedrosAdhanomGhebreyesus said on the social media platform X,
formerly Twitter.
The health
ministry in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory said Israeli air strikes on the
hospital compound sheltering displaced people had killed over 200 people.
“Early
reports indicate hundreds of deaths and injuries,” said Tedros.
“We call
for the immediate protection of civilians and health care, and for the
evacuation orders to be reversed.”
Iran’s
foreign ministry strongly condemned the Israeli air strike, saying it had
killed and injured hundreds of “unarmed and defenceless people.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2393166/middle-east
----------
India
Army
welfare group to stage protest against Centre to demand answers on Pulwama
attack
18.10.23
Imran
Ahmed Siddiqui
The
Confederation of Ex-Paramilitary Forces Welfare Associations is planning to
hold a protest march in Delhi next month to demand a white paper on the Pulwama
terror attack from the Narendra Modi government and fixing of accountability
for the lapses that led to the killing of 40 CRPF soldiers in Kashmir in
February 2019.
The
national coordinator of the association, Ranbir Singh, told The Telegraph on
Tuesday that the plan is to organise the protest march on November 26, which is
celebrated as Samvidhan Divas (Constitution Day).
“We plan
to bring widows and family members of the 40 CRPF jawans who were killed in the
terror attack. It has been over four years since the Pulwama attack and the
government has failed to fix accountability and responsibility on those
officials whose failure led to the killing of our 40 jawans,” Singh said.
He said
the current government, which always uses the nationalism plank during
elections, has yet to come clean on what led to the killing of the 40 CRPF
personnel. The jawans were killed when a bomb blew up the bus they were
travelling in.
“The
families of the 40 slain CRPF jawans have every right to know who was
responsible for the negligence of intelligence reports that proved fatal for
our jawans,” Singh said.
He
flagged former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik’s allegation that the
government had refused an aircraft to ferry the CRPF jawans despite
intelligence reports of a possible terror attack.
Addressing
a media conference in Delhi, Malik last month demanded a Supreme
Court-monitored probe into the Pulwama terror attack.
Malik
had said: “Modi had politicised the killings of 40 CRPF soldiers and the IAF
strikes in Balakot during the Lok Sabha polls and had even asked first-time
voters to dedicate their vote to the valiant soldiers who carried out the air
strike in Balakot.”
The
Pulwama attack had taken place eight weeks before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
He
added: “It has been over four years since then, but the Modi government has
failed to fix accountability. Winning elections is his only priority. The
people of this country need to remain alert that similar attacks can happen
this time too before the parliamentary polls.”
Members
of the Confederation of Ex-Paramilitary Forces Welfare Associations, including
Singh, had also spoken at the media conference.
“Instead
of fixing responsibility, the government is trying to silence those who are
demanding accountability from them by sending central investigating agencies,”
Singh said.
In an
interview to The Wire news portal on April 14, Malik had said that when he had,
as the then Jammu and Kashmir governor, blamed the 2019 Pulwama massacre on the
Centre’s own lapses, Modi had told him “tum abhichupraho (you keep quiet now)”.
After
Malik’s allegations, the CBI had issued summons to him for questioning in
connection with an alleged health insurance scam in the Union Territory.
Neither
the PMO nor any other government wing has responded to Malik’s claims in the
interview till now.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/army-welfare-group-to-stage-protest-against-narendra-modi-government-to-demand-answers-on-pulwama-attack/cid/1974039
------
Taj
Mahal drowning amid 470 illegal buildings: There are 470 illegal structures,
including restaurants, cafes, emporiums
Oct 18,
2023
AGRA:
There are 470 illegal structures, including restaurants, cafes, emporiums, in a
restricted area that falls within 500m radius of the Taj Mahal in Agra. Some of
these encroachments are decades old, and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
had lodged FIRs in majority of these cases but local authorities have not taken
any step to remove these.
TOI has
accessed the list of such illegal structures sent by the director-general of
ASI to the UP government and district administration last year for removal.
ASI
officials claimed that despite the issue being raised several times with the
local authorities, encroachments have not been removed. Superintending
archeologist Raj Kumar Patel said that the ASI's jurisdiction is limited to
filing FIRs in cases of unauthorised construction around protected monuments.
The ASI director-general's office has the power to issue demolition notices but
it is the duty of the Agra Development Authority (ADA) and local administration
to act on them.
According
to an ASI report, 248 new illegal constructions mushroomed in the radius of
100m to 300m of the protected monument and its sub-circles during 2015-2022.
Some of them are within as close as 50m radius of the world heritage site.
Currently, construction up to 100m around protected monuments is prohibited,
while an area up to 200m beyond the prohibited area is regulated under the
Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, which has
stringent rules in terms of construction-related permit. In December 2017, the
Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) authority filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court
maintaining that a "no construction zone" had been declared within
500m radius of the Taj. It was following the apex court's orders in 1996 that
the TTZ authority was set up to monitor the progress of implementation of
various schemes for Taj's protection.
"Illegal
structures raised in violation of norms flourish with support from local
administration as staffers get a cut from money generated by businesses
operating from these spaces," said an ASI-approved tourist guide.
Divisional
commissioner, Ritu Maheshwari, who also heads the ADA and TTZ authority, told
TOI on Tuesday, "I will look into the details of the entire matter. Time
bound action will be taken to remove illegal constructions and encroachments
around the Taj and other monuments."
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/taj-drowning-amid-470-illegal-buildings/articleshow/104507696.cms
-----
Supreme
Court refuses to accord recognition to same-sex marriages, leaves it to
Parliament
18.10.23
R.
Balaji
A
five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court by a 3:2 majority on Tuesday
refused to accord legal recognition to same-sex marriage and said only
Parliament can, if necessary, confer such a right.
The
majority also overruled the minority opinion that members of the LGBTQ
community have the right to adoption like a heterosexual couple or parent.
However,
the bench by a unanimous majority asked the Centre to expedite the process of
providing legal entitlements like provident fund and pension and other such
benefits in keeping with their entitlements, if any.
Chief
Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and the second senior-most judge, Justice
Sanjay Kishan Kaul, delivered the minority verdict upholding the right of the
LGBTQ community to marry and saying the State had a duty to confer and protect
such a right. The majority opinion of Justices Ravindra Bhat, Hima Kohli and
P.S. Narasimha said only Parliament can legislate on such rights.
Since it
is the majority opinion that prevails, effectively the Supreme Court has ruled
that members of the LGBTQ community have no fundamental or constitutional right
to marry.
Only 34
of the 194 countries recognise same-sex marriage.
The apex
court passed the judgment while dealing with a batch of PILs filed by members
of the LGBTQ community seeking recognition of their marriage and quashing or
reading down the provisions of the Special Marriages Act, 1954, that recognise
a marriage as that between a man and a woman.
CJI
Chandrachud, who pronounced the minority judgment along with Justice Kaul, said
at the outset that the judges had agreed on some issues and disagreed on
various other matters.
The
following are the conclusions of the majority opinion delivered by Justices
Bhat, Kohli and Narasimha:
• There
is no unqualified right to marriage except that recognised by statute including
space left by custom.
• An
entitlement to legal recognition of the right to union — akin to marriage or
civil union, or conferring legal status upon the parties to the relationship
can be only through enacted law. A sequitur of this is that the court cannot
enjoin or direct the creation of such regulatory framework resulting in legal
status.
• The
above findings should not be read as to preclude queer persons from celebrating
their commitment to each other, or relationship, in whichever way they wish,
within the social realm.
•
Previous judgments of the apex court, including the five-judge bench ruling
decriminalising gay sex and holding that queer and LGBTQ+ couples have the
right to union or relationship (under Article 21), “be it mental, emotional or
sexual”, flowing from the right to privacy, right to choice, and autonomy,
will, however, not grant them any right to claim entitlement to any legal
status for the said union or relationship.
• The
challenge to the SMA (Special Marriage Act) on the ground of
under-classification and discrimination is not made out, hence the plea of the
petitioners to read various provisions in a “gender-neutral” manner so as to
enable same-sex marriage is unsustainable.
•
Equality and non-discrimination are basic foundational rights. The indirect
discriminatory impacts in relation to earned or compensatory benefits, or
social welfare entitlements for which marital status is a relevant eligibility
factor, for queer couples who in their exercise of choice form relationships,
have to be suitably redressed and removed by the State.
“These
measures need to be taken with expedition because inaction will result in
injustice and unfairness with regard to the enjoyment of such benefits,
available to all citizens who are entitled and covered by such laws,
regulations or schemes (for instance, those relating to employment benefits:
provident fund, gratuity, family pension, employee state insurance; medical
insurance; material entitlements unconnected with matrimonial matters, but
resulting in adverse impact upon queer couples),” the majority verdict said.
“As held
earlier, this court cannot within the judicial framework engage in this complex
task; the State has to study the impact of these policies, and entitlements....
Consistent with the statement made before this Court during the course of proceedings
on 03.05.2023, the Union (government) shall set up a high-powered committee
chaired by the Union Cabinet Secretary to undertake a comprehensive examination
of all relevant factors.... In the conduct of such exercise, the concerned
representatives of all stakeholders, and views of all states and Union
Territories shall be taken into account,” the court added.
•
Transgender persons in heterosexual relationships have the freedom and
entitlement to marry under the existing statutory provisions.
• CARA
(Central Adoption Resource Agency) and the central government should
appropriately consider the realities of de facto families, where single
individuals are permitted to adopt and thereafter start living in a
non-matrimonial relationship.
“In an unforeseen
eventuality, the adopted child in question could face exclusion from the
benefits otherwise available to adopted children of married couples. This
aspect needs further consideration by the authorities concerned as the court is
not the appropriate forum.
•
Furthermore, the State shall ensure — consistent with the previous judgments of
the apex court in the K.S. Puttaswamy, NavtejJohar, Shakti Vahini and Shafin
Jahan cases — that the choice exercised by queer and LGBTQ couples to cohabit
is not interfered with and they do not face any threat of violence or coercion.
“All
necessary steps and measures in this regard shall be taken. The respondents
(State) shall take suitable steps to ensure that queer couples and transgender
persons are not subjected to any involuntary medical or surgical treatment,”
the majority verdict said.
• That
queer couples have the right to exercise their choice, cohabit and live without
disturbance is incontestable. In the same vein, that they are owed protection
against any threat or coercion to their life is a positive obligation imposed
on the State and its instrumentalities.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/supreme-court-shatters-hopes-of-rainbow-communities-refuses-to-accord-recognition-to-same-sex-marriage/cid/1974036
----
Two BSF
personnel injured as Pakistan rangers open fire along IB in Jammu
18th
October 2023
By PTI
JAMMU:
Two BSF personnel were injured after Pakistan Rangers "resorted to
unprovoked firing" on border guards along the International Border (IB)
here, officials said on Wednesday.
The
Pakistan Rangers opened fire around 8.15 a.m. on Tuesday on the troops at the
Vikram post in the Arnia sector, following which the BSF jawans fired in
retaliation, the Border Security Force (BSF) said in a statement.
Two BSF
personnel received bullet injuries in the firing and were immediately provided
medical assistance, the statement said.
The
firing incident will be taken up with the Pakistan Rangers and a protest will
be lodged with them, sources said. The sources said that a sniper was used to
target the two BSF troopers from the opposite Pakistan post of Iqbal and
Khannor.
The duo
were engaged in some electrification work near the post when the firing
started, they said.
India
and Pakistan signed a ceasefire agreement on February 25, 2021, in which both
nations agreed to strictly observe all agreements on ceasefire along the Line
of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and other sectors.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/oct/18/two-bsf-personnel-injured-as-pakistan-rangers-open-fire-along-ib-in-jammu-2625043.html
------
Mideast
Lebanon’s
Hezbollah calls for ‘day of rage’ over Gaza hospital strike
October
18, 2023
BEIRUT:
Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah movement Tuesday called for a “day of rage” to
condemn a strike on a Gaza Strip hospital as hundreds of demonstrators gathered
at the French and US embassies in protest.
Hezbollah,
an ally of Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, blamed the hospital attack on
Israel, calling it a “massacre” and a “brutal crime,” while Israel’s army
blamed a rocket misfired by Islamic Jihad, another Gaza-based militant group.
The
health ministry in Gaza, ruled by Hamas militants at war with Israel, said at
least 200 people were killed in an Israeli strike on the hospital where
displaced people had sheltered in the coastal enclave.
“Let
tomorrow, Wednesday, be a day of rage against the enemy,” Hezbollah said in a
statement, calling on fellow Muslims and Arabs to “move immediately to streets
and squares to express intense anger.”
Following
Hezbollah’s call, hundreds of demonstrators scuffled with Lebanese security
forces outside the US embassy in the suburb of Awkar, where protesters hurled
stones and set a building on fire, according to AFP correspondents.
Police
fired several rounds of tear gas to disperse protesters, with medics rushing in
to treat cases of suffocation.
“Death
to America” and “death to Israel,” the protesters chanted, many of them
covering their faces with Palestinian keffiyeh scarves, the correspondents
said.
Hundreds
also gathered at the French embassy in Beirut, raising Hezbollah flags and also
hurling stones which piled up at the embassy’s main entrance.
Palestinian
refugee camps in the southern cities of Sidon and Tyre erupted in anger as
Palestinian factions in Lebanon called for mass rallies on Wednesday to condemn
the hospital strike.
Caretaker
Prime Minister Najib Mikati declared Wednesday a national day of mourning.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2393221/middle-east
--------
UN’s Guterres
denounces ‘collective punishment’ of Palestinians
October
18, 2023
BEIJING:
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday that
attacks by militant group Hamas on Israel did not justify the “collective
punishment” of Palestinians, and called for an immediate cease-fire.
Speaking
at an economic forum in China, Guterres condemned the October 7 Hamas attacks
on Israel that killed more than 1,400 people as “acts of terror” that could not
be justified.
“But
those attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian
people,” Guterres said.
He
appealed for an “immediate humanitarian cease-fire” in the war between Israel
and Hamas in Gaza, reiterating what he called “two urgent humanitarian
appeals.”
Guterres
called on Hamas for the “immediate and unconditional release of hostages,”
referring to at least 199 people kidnapped by the militants during their
offensive, the deadliest in Israel’s history.
Guterres
also called on Israel to “immediately allow unrestricted access of humanitarian
aid to respond to the most basic needs of the people of Gaza, the overwhelming
majority of whom are women and children.”
“I call
for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire to provide sufficient time and space
to help realize my two appeals and to ease the epic human suffering we are
witnessing,” Guterres said.
“Too
many lives and the fate of the entire region hang in the balance.”
Guterres
said was “fully aware of the deep grievances of the Palestinian people after 56
years of occupation.”
“But as
serious as these grievances are, they cannot justify the acts of terror
committed by Hamas on October 7,” he said.
The UN
chief earlier said he was “horrified” by a deadly blast that ripped through a
hospital in Gaza late Tuesday, killing hundreds of people.
Hamas
has blamed Israel for the hospital strike. Israel has said it was caused by a
rocket misfired by Islamic Jihad militants in Gaza.
“My
heart is with the families of the victims. Hospitals and medical personnel are
protected under international humanitarian law,” Guterres said in a post on X.
Guterres
also condemned an attack on a school run by the UN in a Gaza refugee camp that
killed six people.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2393281/world
------
Hezbollah
targets Merkava tank, causes casualties among Israeli soldiers
18
October 2023
Lebanon’s
Hezbollah resistance movement has targeted an Israeli Merkava tank, causing
casualties among the regime’s soldiers, Al Mayadeen TV channel reports.
The
Israeli tank was hit at the al-Raheb military site on the border between
Lebanon and the occupied territories at Wednesday dawn, leaving deaths and
injuries among the armored vehicle’s crew.
On
Tuesday, Hezbollah fighters targeted another Merkava tank, killing and wounding
Israeli forces.
The
“Islamic resistance fighters attacked the armored vehicle near the barracks in
Manara with a guided anti-tank missile,” Hezbollah military wing said in a
statement posted on its Telegram channel.
On
October 15 and 16, Hezbollah fighters hit two more Merkava tanks in attacks on
Israeli troops stationed in border areas.
The
Hezbollah attacks come amid Israel’s deadly bombing campaign on the Gaza Strip,
which followed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm of the Palestinian resistance movement
Hamas on October 7.
Hezbollah
praised the Hamas operation, saying armed resistance is the only way to
confront the Israeli “aggression”.
‘Hamas,
Hezbollah coordinating war’s next moves’
A senior
Hamas representative in Lebanon said that the Gaza-based Palestinian group and
Hezbollah are closely coordinating their next steps in fighting against Israel.
“We have
very strong relations with Hezbollah. We were cooperating with Hezbollah before
the attack on Israel and after and now we are in full cooperation,” Ahmed
Abdul-Hadi, the head of Hamas’ political bureau in Beirut, told the Politico
news website.
He also
noted that despite close cooperation with Hezbollah, the October 7 operation
was all Hamas’s work.
“This operation
was organized by the al-Qassam Brigades (the military wing of Hamas) and later
other Palestinian organizations joined the operation. This was purely a
Palestinian mission – its planning and execution. Not even our loyal allies
knew what was coming,” he explained.
Abdul-Hadi
further said that Hezbollah is now “geared for a major war” against Israel in
the north, while Hamas would burst Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s
“dream” of driving it out of Gaza.
He
described a possible Israeli ground offensive against Gaza as one of the key
triggers that could bring Hezbollah fully into the conflict.
“Hezbollah
will pay no attention to threats from anyone against it entering the war; it
will ignore warnings to stay out of it. The timing of when Hezbollah wants to
enter the war or not will relate to Israeli escalation and incidents on the
ground, and especially if Israel tries to enter Gaza on the ground,” the Hamas
official said.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/18/712932/Hezbollah-targets-Merkava-tank-causes-casualties-among-Israeli-soldiers
--------
Flames
of US-Israeli bombs to soon devour Zionists: President Raeisi
17
October 2023
Iranian
President Ebrahim Raeisi has vehemently condemned the brutal attack by the
Israeli regime on a hospital in Gaza City that has claimed the lives of
hundreds of people.
"The
flames of the American-Israeli bombs that were dropped on the heads of the
oppressed wounded Palestinians at Gaza's al-Ahli Baptist Hospital would soon
devour Zionists," the chief executive wrote in a post on X, formerly known
as Twitter, on Tuesday.
Earlier
in the day, at least 500 civilians, mainly women and children, were killed by
Israeli airstrikes on the facility amid a relentless war by the regime on the
besieged Gaza Strip, the territory's health ministry said.
At least 500 civilians have been killed in an
Israeli airstrike on Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in the besieged Gaza Strip.
The
actual death toll could be far higher since, according to the ministry,
"hundreds of victims are still under the rubble."
The
strikes came while thousands of civilians were seeking medical treatment and
shelter at the hospital from incessant Israeli airstrikes.
The war
had already killed thousands of people, including hundreds of women and
children.
"The
silence of no noble person is permissible in the face of this war crime,"
Raeisi added, saying the Islamic Republic had declared Wednesday a day of
public mourning over the tragedy.
Foreign
Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, meanwhile, wrote in a post on X that, in the
aftermath of the "appalling crime," time had come for "the
humanity to unite internationally against this bogus regime...and its killing
machine," calling the Israeli regime "more hateful than [the Takfiri
terrorist group of] Daesh."
Also on
Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry condemned the deadly atrocity in the strongest
terms, calling the massacre as a "savage war crime" and an instance
of "genocide."
Iran
condemns a hugely deadly attack by the Israeli regime against a hospital in
Gaza City in the strongest terms.
By
perpetrating this "bestial and appalling crime, the Zionist regime once
again showed its ferocious and vicious nature to the entire people of the
world," spokesman Nasser Kan'ani said.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/17/712927/Iran-president-Israel-bombing-Gaza-hospital
---------
What is
Islamic Jihad, the group being blamed by Israel for bombing at Gaza hospital?
Oct 18,
2023
An
explosion tore through a Gaza hospital late Tuesday, claiming the lives of at
least 500 people. The incident triggered worldwide condemnation and led to
violent protests in multiple Muslim nations. The blame for the tragedy was
exchanged between Israel and Palestinians. US President Joe Biden, en route to
the Middle East, expressed his profound sorrow and outrage over the incident.
Biden has also cancelled his trip to Jordan.
Hamas
authorities in Gaza said that the explosion at the Ahli Arab Hospital was the
result of the latest Israeli airstrikes. However, the Israeli Defense Forces
pointed fingers at Palestinian militants, contending that an outgoing Islamic
Jihad rocket had misfired.
Here is
all you need to know about Islamic Jihad:
Islamic
Jihad is a Palestinian Islamist militant group that was formed in 1981 as a
splinter of the Muslim Brotherhood. It is one of the factions that opposes the
peace process with Israel and seeks to establish an Islamic state in Palestine.
It is also allied with Hamas, the dominant force in Gaza, and receives support
from Iran and Syria. Here is a brief overview of the group and its role in the
conflict:
History
and ideology
Islamic
Jihad was founded by FathiShaqaqi, a Palestinian doctor who was inspired by the
Iranian revolution and the writings of Sayyid Qutb, an Egyptian Islamist
thinker. Shaqaqi believed that armed struggle was the only way to liberate
Palestine from Israeli occupation and to create an Islamic society based on
Sharia law. He also rejected any political compromise or negotiation with
Israel, considering it a usurper of Muslim lands. Shaqaqi was assassinated by
Israeli agents in Malta in 1995, and was succeeded by Ramadan Shalah, who led
the group until 2018, when he was replaced by Ziyad al-Nakhalah. Islamic Jihad
is considered more radical and less pragmatic than Hamas, and has often clashed
with the Palestinian Authority over its security cooperation with Israel.
Activities
and tactics
Islamic
Jihad is mainly active in the Gaza Strip, where it has a strong presence in
refugee camps and poor neighborhoods. It also operates in the West Bank, but to
a lesser extent. The group's armed wing is called Al-Quds Brigades, which means
Jerusalem Brigades. It is responsible for carrying out attacks against Israeli
military and civilian targets, such as suicide bombings, rocket fire,
shootings, and stabbings. Islamic Jihad has also been involved in several wars
with Israel, such as the 2008-2009 Gaza War, the 2012 Gaza War, and the 2014
Gaza War. In these conflicts, Islamic Jihad has coordinated with Hamas and
other factions to launch rockets and mortars at Israeli towns and cities, as
well as to infiltrate Israeli territory through tunnels and ambushes. Islamic
Jihad claims that its attacks are a response to Israeli aggression and
oppression, and that it is defending the rights and dignity of the Palestinian
people.
Relations
with other actors
Islamic
Jihad is part of the Alliance of Palestinian Forces, a coalition of factions
that reject the Oslo Accords and advocate for armed resistance against Israel.
It is also a member of the Axis of Resistance, a regional alliance that
includes Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, and Hamas. Islamic Jihad has received
financial, military, and political support from Iran, which considers it a
proxy force against Israel. Iran has also mediated between Islamic Jihad and
Hamas when tensions have arisen between them over issues such as strategy,
governance, and resources. Islamic Jihad has maintained close ties with Syria,
which hosts its political headquarters in Damascus. Islamic Jihad has also
expressed solidarity with other Islamist groups in the region, such as
Hezbollah in Lebanon, al-Qaeda in Yemen, and the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/what-is-islamic-jihad-the-group-being-blamed-by-israel-for-bombing-at-gaza-hospital/articleshow/104513381.cms
-----
Israel-Hamas
war: What we know about the deadly blast at a Gaza City hospital
Oct 18,
2023
NEW
DELHI: Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City was hit by a huge explosion on Tuesday,
killing hundreds of Palestinians who were injured or seeking shelter there,
according to the health ministry run by Hamas. The ministry said at least 500
people died in the blast at al-Ahli hospital.
The
ministry said the blast was caused by an Israeli airstrike, but the Israeli
army said it was a rocket fired by Islamic Jihad, a smaller and more extreme
Palestinian militant faction allied with Hamas.
The
ministry said at least 500 people died in the blast at al-Ahli hospital.
Here is
what we know so far:
*The
scene was horrific at the al-Ahli hospital. Verified videos showed flames
engulfing the building and the hospital grounds littered with mutilated bodies,
many of them children. Blankets, school bags and other personal items were
scattered on the grass.
*Hamas
denounced the hospital blast as “a terrible slaughter” and blamed Israel for
it.
*The
Israeli army said Islamic Jihad was responsible for the blast, saying the group
had launched a volley of rockets near the hospital and that “multiple sources
of intelligence" confirmed this.
* An IDF
spokesperson said: "Intelligence from multiple sources we have in our
hands indicates that Islamic Jihad is responsible for the failed rocket launch
which hit the hospital in Gaza."
*The
army's chief spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, told reporters that there were
no Israeli air, ground or naval attacks in the area when the blast happened. He
said radar detected incoming rocket fire at the same time, and communications
intercepted between militant groups showed that Islamic Jihad had fired the
rockets.
*Hagari
also showed aerial footage taken by a military drone that revealed a blast that
he said did not match Israeli weapons. He said the explosion took place in the
parking lot of the building.
According
to a report in the Daily Mail, the claim of IDF was backed up by Justin Bronk,
a senior research fellow in airpower and technology at the Royal United
Services Institute, who said video of the explosion did not match with the type
of weapons Israel typically uses.
As per
Daily Mail report, Bronk wrote on X: "For what it's worth, this doesn't
look or sound quite like an air strike using the typical IAF 1000lb or 2000lb
JDAM/Mk80 series to me. Incoming projectile sounds like it's under power and
the explosion frames visible look like largely propellant fire rather than HE
[high explosive] detonation..."
*Islamic
Jihad, however, rejected those accusations, saying Israel was “trying hard to
dodge responsibility for the cruel massacre it carried out.”
*The
group cited Israel’s order to evacuate al-Ahli and its previous bombing of the
hospital complex as evidence that the hospital was an Israeli target. It also
said the magnitude of the explosion, the direction of the bomb's descent and
the degree of the damage all indicated Israel.
In
recent days, hundreds of Palestinians had taken shelter in al-Ahli and other
hospitals in Gaza City, hoping to avoid shelling after Israel ordered all
residents of the city and nearby areas to move to the south of Gaza.
Before
the deaths at al-Alhi Hospital, Israeli attacks on Gaza had killed at least
2,778 people and injured 9,700, the Gaza Health Ministry said. A ministry
official said almost two-thirds of those killed were children. Health
authorities said another 1,200 people in Gaza were thought to be trapped under
debris, alive or dead.
On
October 7, Hamas attacked southern Israel and killed more than 1,400 people,
mostly civilians. It also took some 200 people prisoner into Gaza. Since then,
Hamas militants in Gaza have fired rockets every day at Israeli cities.
(With
inputs from agencies)
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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-----
Thousands
march in Amsterdam in support of Palestinians
17
October 2023
Hundreds
marched in support of Palestine in Amsterdam on Sunday, protesting ahead of a
looming Israeli ground offensive as the conflict between the Palestinian
resistance movement Hamas and Israel has been escalating following a surprise
attack by the militant group last week.
The
demonstration comes as Israel has ordered an evacuation of Gaza in preparation
of a ground offensive which is expected to affect the population of 2.3 million
people in the Gaza Strip severely.
Human
rights organizations and a representative of the UN's aid agency warned of dire
consequences for the people living in the area. Nearly 400,000 people have left
their homes at the time of writing, heeding the Israeli evacuation order,
according to media reports.
Hamas
launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, October 7, firing thousands
of rockets as its militants on the ground broke through into Israeli territory,
in what the group described as 'Operation Al-Aqsa Flood'.
Israel
responded with airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and issued a formal declaration of
war on Hamas, warning residents to leave their homes.
At the
time of publication, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, 2,670 people
have been killed in the Gaza Strip while Israeli authorities reported that at
least 1,300 of its citizens were dead following the latest fighting.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/17/712911/Thousands-march-in-Amsterdam-in-support-of-Palestinians
-------
Israel’s
forcible transfer of Gazan civilians amounts to crimes against humanity: UN
17 October 2023
The
United Nations human rights office has said Israel’s brutal blockade of the
Palestinian enclave of Gaza, combined with the evacuation order and forcible
transfer of civilians, could amount to a crime against humanity.
Spokesperson
RavinaShamdasani said in the Swiss city of Geneva on Tuesday that the forced
relocation of civilians has been classed as a crime against humanity and is
punishable by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“We are
concerned that this order, combined with the imposition of a complete siege of
Gaza, may not be considered as lawful temporary evacuation and would therefore
amount to a forcible transfer of civilians in breach of international law,” she
said.
“Those
who managed to comply with the Israeli authorities’ order to evacuate are now
trapped in the south of the Gaza Strip, with scant shelter, fast-depleting food
supplies, little or no access to clean water, sanitation, medicine and other
basic needs,” Shamdasani said.
"We
have grave fears about the toll on civilians in the coming days. Military
operations show no signs of abating."
On
October 12, Israel ordered 1.1 million people in the north of Gaza to evacuate
and move south of the enclave as the regime forces prepare for a ground
invasion of the besieged Gaza Strip.
Israel’s
bombardment has already pushed Palestinians in the besieged enclave into
smaller areas and spaces.
"International
law requires that any lawful temporary evacuation by Israel, as the occupying
power, of an area on the basis of the security of the population or imperative
military reasons must be accompanied by the provision of proper accommodation
for all evacuees," Shamdasani said
The
total death toll from Israel’s aggression against the Gaza Strip has risen to
some 3,500, with over 1,000 children among the victims. About 12,500 have been
injured since Israeli air raids began.
The
spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry says the resistance front’s hands
are not tied up, and the Tel Aviv regime must expect all scenarios amid the
bloody onslaught against the Gaza Strip.
Rising
death toll, and flattened buildings with no food, water and electricity
supplies; are what Israel’s non-stop strikes, shelling and complete blockade
have brought to the Gaza Strip.
The
regime’s fresh air raids killed 80 Palestinians in Rafah and Khan Younis in the
southern Gaza Strip.
Israel
intensively bombs areas near the southern towns of Khan Younis and Rafah in the
besieged Gaza Strip, as the Israeli aggression enters its 11th day.
Israeli
attacks also took the life of a Palestinian journalist in the north, bringing
to 16 the number of journalists killed by the regime’s bombardments since
October 7.
Israel
launched its assaults against the besieged Palestinian territory following the
Palestinians’ Operation al-Aqsa flood.
The
humanitarian situation is getting worse by the hour in the besieged Gaza, with
hospitals facing a collapse.
The
World Health Organization (WHO) is warning of an imminent catastrophe in the
territory. The WHO also said it needs urgent access to Gaza to deliver aid and
medical supplies.
According
to the UN Palestinian agency, UNRWA, fuel reserves at all hospitals across Gaza
are expected to last for only 24 hours.“The shutdown of backup generators would
place the lives of thousands of patients at serious risk,” it said.
Separately,
the World Food Programme (WFP) said that its food supplies in the besieged
enclave were running low, but it was stockpiling supplies in the Egyptian city
of El Arish.
“We call
for unimpeded access, safe passage to desperately needed humanitarian supplies
to Gaza,” WFP’s regional communication lead for the Middle East and North
Africa, AbeeraEtefa said.
Aid
trucks have been heading to the Rafah crossing on the Egypt border, but it remains
uncertain whether the supplies can cross into southern Gaza.
The
Palestinian foreign ministry has called on the International Criminal Court
(ICC) to complete its ongoing investigations into Israeli crimes against
Palestinians.
Also on
Tuesday, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh, during a press
conference in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah accused Israel of
committing 'genocide' during the ongoing aggression against Gaza.
"This
is a war crime, genocide, and unprecedented destruction," Shtayyeh said.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/17/712916/UN-Palestine-Israel-Gaza-ICC-Ravina-Shamdasani--
---------
Palestinians
dispute Israel's claim of resuming water supply to Gaza Strip
17
October, 2023
Palestinians
in the besieged Gaza Strip dispute Israel's claims that it resumed supplying
water to the Palestinians in the coastal enclave under US pressure.
Since
the launch of the new Israeli war on Gaza eleven days ago, the occupation
government decided to tighten its illegal blockade and suspended supplying the
territory with water and electricity supplies.
"Since
then, we have never witnessed any water inside our homes," Mohammed
al-Nakhala said to The New Arab. "[Israelis] completely destroyed our
lives, not only our houses."
"We
can barely take some water from the ground wells. We use a bucket tied to a
long rope and lower it into the well to obtain a little water that could not be
enough for one family too," he added.
On
Sunday, 15 October, Israel claimed that it resumed the water supply to the
southern Gaza Strip after intense pressure from the Biden administration.
Israel has control of water sources, and Palestinian authorities must pay to be
supplied.
Amna
Mohammed, a woman based in Rafah, said, "Both Israel and the US are just
liars as none of the Palestinians got any water or electricity."
"Israel
has increased our suffering in Gaza, not merely through attacking our homes but
also by imposing its illegal blockade on us without even taking care of our
human rights as we have lived under the occupation for more than 70
years," the mother of four said.
To get
some water, thousands of Palestinians in the coastal enclave, mainly in the
southern parts of Gaza, are forced to wait hours in long queues to buy salty,
undrinkable water.
"Previously,
we used to obtain such kind of water freely as the municipalities supplied our
houses with it, but now we pay about US$30 to get 1,000 litters of water,"
Salim al-Farra, a Khan Younis-based man, said to TNA.
Al-Farra
stressed that Israel's claims "were wrong, and Israel is trying to market
itself to the world as a state that respects the human rights in Gaza."
"If
the current crises continue, we will absolutely die from thirst and hunger
because of the lack of the basic supplies for our normal life," the
middle-aged said.
Many
other communities in Gaza are now forced to use unclean water from wells, which
increases the risk of the spread of transmitted diseases, especially with the
electricity outage, which has contributed to the shortage of water supplies and
lack of treatment for the water, according to UNRWA Commissioner-General
Philippe Lazraini.
He
warned of the danger of cutting off water to Gaza, stressing that it is
necessary for fuel to be delivered to Gaza to allow pumping systems to supply
water for two million people.
Similarly,
the spokesperson for the Hamas interior ministry, Eyad Al-Bozom, said on Monday
that Israel had not permitted water supplies to be turned back on in Gaza, as
had been reported by the international press.
"The
residents drink unhealthy water, posing a serious health crisis threatens the
lives of the citizens," he added.
During
regular times, the coastal enclave depends on Israel for a third of its
available drinking water, the Gaza Water Authority says.
Groundwater
is the primary source in the Gaza Strip for the population to meet their water
needs for various purposes, whether human, agricultural or industrial,
according to the Water and Environmental Quality Authority in the Palestinian
Territories.
The
sector contains groundwater sources, but many wells were destroyed due to
pollution or dried up and damaged due to years of overuse, according to a
previous report by the Washington Post.
According
to the World Health Organisation, the water quality in Gaza is "severely
deficient" due to increasing salinity, contamination with some pollutants,
and insufficient treatment options.
More
than 90 per cent of the water in Gaza's only aquifer is no longer suitable for
drinking.
Other
water sources include desalination or wastewater treatment plants, but they
stopped working after Israel cut off electricity to the Strip in an act that many
legal experts are calling "collective punishment" and a "war
crime".
Source: newarab.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.newarab.com/news/palestinians-rebuke-israeli-claims-resuming-water-gaza
---------
‘Gaza
food situation getting worse by minute’
Oct 18,
2023
The UN's
World Food Programme said the food situation in the besieged and blockaded Gaza
Strip was worsening, with only four or five days of stocks left in the shops.
WFP said
stocks were getting low in warehouses inside the Palestinian enclave, but at
the shop level, the situation was even more acute.
"The
situation in Gaza is getting worse by the minute: the humanitarian situation
but also of course the food security situation," WFP's Middle East
spokeswoman Abeer Etefa, told reporters at the UN in Geneva via video-link from
Cairo.
"The
current stocks of essential food commodities are sufficient for only two weeks
-- and that's at the wholesalers' level," she said, with the warehouses
located in Gaza City in the north of the territory and shops having
difficulties replenishing supplies.
"Inside
the shops, the stocks are getting close to less than a few days, maybe four or
five days of food stocks left."
Etefa
said that out of five flour mills in the Gaza Strip, only one was operating due
to security concerns and the unavailability of fuel.
"So,
the bread supply is running low and people are lining up for hours to get
bread," she said.
Only
five bakeries out of 23 in Gaza contracted by WFP were still in operation, she
added. "Our food supplies within Gaza are running really short," said
Etefa.
Aid
agencies have been flying supplies into El Arish airport in Egypt -- around 20
kilometres away from the Rafah border crossing and the only one into the Gaza
Strip not controlled by Israel.
So far
Egypt has kept the crossing closed to aid going in or foreign nationals trying
to flee, as Israel has repeatedly struck the Palestinian side of the crossing.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/world/middle-east/news/worlds-biggest-book-fair-hit-tensions-3446441
--------
North America
CAIR-LA
Condemns Attacks Against Pro-Palestine UCLA Students, Calls for Investigation
and Ban by School
Ismail
Allison
October
17, 2023
(LOS
ANGELES, CA – 10/17/2023) – The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today condemned a recent attack
targeting students at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) while
they attended a virtual Palestine Emergency Panel.
On Oct.
11, professors at UCLA hosted a panel for students titled “The Crisis in
Palestine” in one of the classrooms on campus. After learning that the space
had reached capacity, a group of students decided to watch the webinar on a
laptop outside the meeting room.
During
the webinar, four men entered the building and greeted a fifth man who was
standing and watching the group of students as they viewed the webinar. The
group then approached the students, allegedly threatening them and calling them
terrorists. One of the men reportedly slammed the laptop shut before throwing
it into the trash can, prompting several students to begin recording the
interaction on their phones. Another student’s laptop was also allegedly slammed
by one of the perpetrators.
A UCLA
campus security guard and another UCLA staff member—who entered the hallway
when they heard yelling—attempted to ward off the perpetrators, who were seen
on video pushing over trash bins while calling the students “mother-f***ing
terrorists” and threatening to tear the students’ “heads off.” The men allegedly continued their barrage of
threats and insults as the students quickly left the building for their safety.
One of
the students later allegedly saw three of the men attending an on-campus vigil
for Israel, showing that UCLA security did not apprehend or remove the men from
campus.
In a
statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director HussamAyloush said:
“This is
not the first attack on individuals showing solidarity for Palestine, and it
won’t be the last. UCLA must understand and acknowledge how statements made by
its leadership have led to these kinds of attacks. We have received disturbing,
direct reports from students victimized for showing solidarity with the Palestinian
cause.
“Initiating
an investigation is only the first step in addressing the damage caused by the
University’s biased statement. UCLA must take immediate action to right this
wrong, including standing with us to publicly condemn these attacks on
pro-Palestine supporters and ensure that perpetrators of these acts are held
appropriately accountable.”
In a
statement, CAIR-LA Civil Rights Managing Attorney Dina Chehata, Esq. said:
“We have
recently seen UCLA’s leadership put out one-sided statements strongly condemning
Hamas’ recent attack but never explicitly condemning Israel for its mass
perpetration of war crimes against Gaza’s civilian population. We have pleaded
with our trusted institutions to be courageous and to stop dehumanizing
Palestinians and their struggle for liberation. What we are seeing now is a
direct consequence of the University’s biased statements, which have emboldened
these men to attack pro-Palestinian students with impunity.
“I
cannot fathom how UCLA allowed these men to walk free, remain on campus, and
attend another campus event after they had verbally and physically attacked
students in the presence of a UCLA security guard. Where is UCLA’s statement
condemning this violence on their own campus? Where is UCLA’s statement
decrying the unfolding genocide against Gaza’s citizens, which has been
condemned by the international community and under international law? We are
tired of the selective outrage. It is time for UCLA and other institutions of
higher learning to serve as safe harbors for all their students.”
To
report any bias incidents, contact CAIR-LA’s Civil Rights Department at (714)
776-1177 or click
here to file a report.
CAIR-LA
is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy
organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect
civil rights, promote justice and
empower American Muslims.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-la-condemns-attacks-against-pro-palestine-ucla-students-calls-for-investigation-and-ban-by-school/
--------
CAIR
Action Alert: Urge Your Members of Congress to Support the Ceasefire Now
Resolution Today!
Ismail
Allison
October
17, 2023\
(WASHINGTON,
D.C., 10/17/23) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is urgently
calling on all Americans who value peace and justice for all people to reach
out to their members of Congress and request the following actions in response
to the ongoing violence in Israel and Palestine:
• In the
U.S. House of Representatives: Co-sponsoring and supporting the Ceasefire Now
Resolution, championed by Representatives Cori Bush, Rashida Tlaib, André
Carson, Summer Lee, and Delia C. Ramirez.
• In the
U.S. Senate: Support the introduction of a Senate companion to the Ceasefire
Now Resolution.
•
Acknowledge the loss of lives and recognize the humanity on both sides,
including Israelis and Palestinians.
• Demand
that the United States reassert its leadership role as a negotiator in pursuit
of a lasting peace. This includes addressing the root causes of violence and
ending Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and its apartheid
policies.
ACT NOW:
CONTACT YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS!
At the
start of the outbreak of violence, CAIR initially aimed for 1,000 messages to
Congress, but it has since received over 25,000 responses of its call to
action, resulting in more than 75,000 emails sent to members of the US House
and Senate by supporters. We now challenge all those who care about Palestinian
lives and wellbeing to send at least 100,000 messages to Congress.
The
primary goal of the Ceasefire Now Resolution, sponsored by a diverse group of
dedicated members of Congress, calls on the Biden Administration to urgently
seek a de-escalation and ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine. It also
emphasizes the vital need for sending humanitarian aid to Gaza, with a primary
goal of saving innocent lives caught in the crossfire of the ongoing conflict.
CAIR-LA Executive Director HussamAyloush also participated in the
joint-congressional press conference announcing the introduction of the
resolution.
Endorsed
by CAIR and nearly 50 other organizations, the Ceasefire Now Resolution offers
an alternative to a looming bipartisan resolution endorsed by 390 other members
of Congress, led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul and
Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks. That resolution essentially provides an
open-ended endorsement for Israel’s ongoing bombing campaign in Gaza, which has
resulted in the loss of thousands of Palestinian civilian lives.
On
Tuesday, October 17, CAIR condemned Israel’s latest war crime in Gaza: the
bombing of a hospital that claimed the lives of hundreds of people. CAIR is
actively urging the Biden administration to oppose Israel’s “self-declared war
crimes” after the Israeli government declared a “siege” on the entire civilian
population of Gaza and escalated a mass bombing campaign that has killed
thousands, including over 3,000 Palestinians, including more than 1,000 Palestinian
children. These actions are a violation of international law and constitute war
crimes.
CAIR
believes that the world cannot return to a status quo in which Israeli human
rights abuses continue to escalate, Palestinian rights diminish, and Palestinian
men, women, and children perish without public notice until a war erupts. Our
nation must intervene impartially to end this violence before more innocent
lives are lost.
The
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties
and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam,
protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-action-alert-urge-your-members-of-congress-to-support-the-ceasefire-now-resolution-today/
---------
FBI:
Jewish, Muslim Americans seeing increasing number of threats
Oct. 18, 2023
PORTLAND
Ore. (KPTV) - The FBI says it is tracking increasing numbers of threats made
toward Jewish and Muslim American in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.
The FBI
released a statement saying it’s increasing engagement with religious and
community partners:
“We saw
something brutal and barbaric happen halfway around the globe and there is a
valid reason for communities across our country to be in a heightened state of
vigilance, that is not to say that they should be fearful. The FBI is
increasing our engagement with our religious and community partners and we want
to make sure the communities are part of the solution so we don’t let something
tragic happen in our own backyard. We want to remind the public that if you see
something with immediate safety concerns contact 911, if you see something you
want to report to the FBI call us at 1-800-CALL-FBI or report a tip online at
tips.fbi.gov.”
“It’s
escalated beyond threats unfortunately,” said Corey Saylor, the Research and
Advocacy Director with CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations. “In
Chicago, a 6-year-old boy was stabbed 27 times and the man who murdered him
said it had to do with what’s going on in the Middle East right now. We have an
assault in Florida where a young woman was punched in the head and then we have
a lot of community members who are just plain old being intimidated whether it
be at work or at school.”
Local
law enforcement confirms they have received information on threats to several
organizations in the Portland metro area.
The
Portland Police Bureau provided the following statement, saying it has
increased patrols:
“Our
precinct commanders are fully aware of the tension felt locally as it relates
to the violence overseas. PPB has been in contact with Jewish and Muslim
leaders. Since last week we’ve been increasing patrols around their houses of
worship, etc. involving both Jewish and Muslim organizations and we will
continue to do so as call loads allow.
We have
learned a threatening email was sent to the Islamic Social Services of Oregon
State located in Southwest Portland. We have an officer following up on that
incident. A similar email was sent to the Islamic Society of Greater Portland,
which is located in Washington County and we’re told the incident was reported
to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
PPB and
WCSO will coordinate investigative efforts.”
The
Washington County Sheriff’s Office also released a statement, saying it’s
increased patrols as well:
“The
Washington County Sheriff’s Office has received information about a
non-specific threat towards a Washington County Mosque, and part of the Islamic
Society of Greater Portland (ISGP). We take this very seriously and are
investigating and working closely with ISGP, as well as our local and federal
law enforcement partners. To ensure the safety of the ISGP and its members, we
joined with our local partners and increased patrols around Mosques in and
around the area.
As
always, we encourage community members to report to their local law enforcement
agency if they become aware of any threats to our community. Working together,
we can best maintain everyone’s safety.”
The
Islamic Society of Greater Portland released a statement regarding threats to
community members:
“We at
ISGP are deeply saddened and concerned by the recent threats directed at our
community members. Our primary concern is the safety and well-being of all. We
have reported it to local law enforcement and trust they and their
investigative unit to take the appropriate measures. We urge everyone to
promote understanding and peace during these challenging times and to remember
that violence and hatred solve nothing.”
CAIR
also issued a statement following a threatening message sent to the Oregon
Islamic organization and is calling for law enforcement to look into it as a
possible hate crime.
Saylor
echoed WSCO’s statement and said those who are threatened or intimidated should
go to law enforcement.
“A study
from UC-Berkley Othering & Belonging Center found that 85% of Muslims who
had been subjected to a hate crime don’t report it,” said Saylor. “That’s what
the bigots want. They want us paralyzed and unable to act. We just can’t do
that. If you find yourself on the receiving end of bigotry it is worth reaching
out to organizations like CAIR, local law enforcement, and telling them about
it. That’s how you take your tragedy and help protect others from the same kind
of thing. Islamophobia, anti-Arab bigotry, anti-Semitism, racism, all of that
is completely unacceptable.”
Source: kptv.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.kptv.com/2023/10/18/fbi-jewish-muslim-americans-seeing-increasing-number-threats/
----------
US
Muslim group CAIR condemns Israel's 'war crime' over hospital attack in Gaza
18.10.2023
The
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned "Israel’s latest
war crime in Gaza" after a hospital bombing that left hundreds of people
dead.
"CAIR,
the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, also called
on the Biden administration to demand an immediate ceasefire," it said
Tuesday in a statement.
It also
reiterated its call for the "Biden administration to oppose Israel’s
'self-declared war crimes' after that nation’s government declared a 'siege' on
the entire civilian population of Gaza and escalated a mass bombing campaign
that has killed thousands, including more than 1,000 children," according
to the statement.
"After
this heinous war crime, the international community can no longer turn a blind
eye to the suffering of the Palestinian people under a cruel campaign of
killing and displacement,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad,
who is Palestinian-American.
More
than 500 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital
in Gaza on Tuesday, Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra told Anadolu.
Footage
on social media showed corpses scattered across the hospital grounds.
According
to an Anadolu reporter, thousands of Palestinians were at the hospital when the
building came under bombardment.
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/us-muslim-group-cair-condemns-israels-war-crime-over-hospital-attack-in-gaza/3024251
---------
Biden
heads to Middle East inflamed by Gaza hospital blast
Oct 18,
2023
US
President Joe Biden flies to Israel on Wednesday to signal support for its war
against Hamas after a deadly blast at a Gaza City hospital inflamed tensions
and led to the cancellation of his planned summit with Arab leaders.
A Gaza
health ministry spokesperson said hundreds died at the Al-Ahli al-Arabi
hospital after what Palestinian officials said was an Israeli air strike.
Israel
blamed the blast on a failed rocket launch by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad
group, which denied responsibility.
The
health ministry spokesperson, Ashraf Al-Qudra, said hundreds were killed and
rescuers were still pulling bodies from the rubble. Earlier, a Gaza civil
defence chief gave a death toll of 300, while health ministry sources put it at
500.
Regardless
of who was responsible or how many may have died, the incident has inflamed a
region already in crisis since Hamas carried out an Oct. 7 cross-border rampage
against communities in southern Israel in which at least 1,300 people died.
Al
Jazeera carried footage showing a frantic scene as rescue workers scoured
blood-stained rubble for survivors. Rescuers and civilians were shown carrying
away at least four victims in body bags.
Before
Tuesday's blast, health authorities in Gaza said at least 3,000 people had died
in Israel's 11-day bombardment that began after the Oct. 7 assault, which
caught Israel by surprise and led to nearly 200 people being taken to Gaza as
hostages.
In one
sign of the fraught situation facing Biden, Jordan canceled a planned summit
with the U.S. president, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Abbas canceled plans to meet Biden after the
hospital blast.
In
another, Palestinian security forces fired tear gas and stun grenades to
disperse protesters in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah who were
throwing rocks and chanting against Abbas as popular anger boiled.
Protests
also took place at Israel's embassies in Turkey and Jordan and near the U.S.
embassy in Lebanon, where security forces fired tear gas toward demonstrators.
Speaking
to reporters as Biden flew to Tel Aviv, White House national security
spokesperson John Kirby said Biden would put "tough questions" to
Israeli leaders but did not give details.
Biden
will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli war cabinet
seeking to get a sense of Israel's plans and aims, Kirby said.
"He'll
be asking some tough questions, he'll be asking them as a friend, as a true
friend of Israel, but he'll be asking some questions of them," Kirby said.
Biden
has previously said the United States does not want the conflict to metastasize
into a wider war, and that it wants humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza despite
an Israeli "siege" that has blocked food, fuel and water supplies.
"We
feel optimistic that that kind of assistance will start to flow," Kirby
said.
Biden
will also meet with Israeli first responders and families of those who lost
loved ones or whose family members are hostages of Hamas. An estimated 200
people were taken back to Gaza as hostages after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
Biden
left Washington on Tuesday on what was supposed to be a complex diplomatic mission,
aimed at showing support for long-time U.S. ally Israel, calming the region and
shoring up humanitarian efforts for Gaza.
It was
unclear what he could accomplish in the wake of the hospital strike,
conflicting reports about responsibility, and the cancellation of the summit in
Jordan. Kirby said Biden planned to speak with Abbas and Sisi on his way back
to Washington.
"This
sort of murky but horrific event makes diplomacy harder and increases
escalation risks," said Richard Gowan, U.N. director at International
Crisis Group.
Reporting
By NidalMughrabi in Gaza and by Steve Holland aboard Air Force One; Additional
reporting by Costas Pitas, Rami Ayyub and Jeff Mason; Writing by Arshad
Mohammed; Editing by MiralFahmy and Stephen Coates
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/world/israel-hamas-war/news/biden-heads-middle-east-inflamed-gaza-hospital-blast-3446521
--------
Arab World
Saudi
Arabia denounces forced displacement of Palestinians, demands an immediate
ceasefire
October
17, 2023
RIYADH:
Saudi Arabia denounced on Tuesday the forced displacement of the Palestinian
population, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and lifting the blockade
on the enclave.
The
statement, made during a Cabinet meeting in Riyadh chaired by King Salman,
called for the return to the peace process under the Arab Peace Initiative
which seeks to establish an independent Palestinian state along the 1967
borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The
Cabinet reviewed discussion on Gaza held between Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Salman and leaders of Turkiye, Iran, and France, as well as with the US
Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The
Cabinet also appraised the outcomes of the eighth session of the Saudi-Russian
Joint Committee whicfocussed on advancing cooperation across crucial sectors to
fulfill future objectives.
The
Cabinet acknowledged the Kingdom’s endorsement of maritime safety and global
trade efforts during the Council of Ministers’ meeting of the Indian Ocean
Association of States, emphasizing the protection of international navigation
rights.
The
Cabinet also recognized the United Nations’ choice of Riyadh as the host city
for the 2024 Global Internet Governance Forum. This selection underscores the
Kingdom’s global digital leadership and its dedication to leveraging
infrastructure to realize sustainable development goals and serve both
communities and business sectors.
Source: arabnews.com
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GCC
commits $100 million for urgent humanitarian aid in Gaza
October
17, 2023
MUSCAT —
The Ministerial Council of the Cooperation Council of the Gulf States (GCC) has
announced immediate financial contributions of $100 million for a rapid and
vital humanitarian aid operation in Gaza.
This
commitment was made during the council's 43rd extraordinary meeting held on
Tuesday in Muscat.
The
Council reiterated its steadfast support for the joint initiative proposed by
Saudi Arabia, the European Union, and the League of Arab States to revive the
Middle East peace process, in collaboration with Egypt and Jordan.
Affirming
its position on ending Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian Territories,
the Council expressed strong support for the Palestinian people's right to
self-determination.
They
advocated for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on
the borders of 1967, with East Jerusalem designated as its capital.
The
meeting commenced with expressions of gratitude to Sultan Haitham Bin Tareq for
the audience granted to foreign ministers and the GCC Secretary-General.
A
central focus of the discussions was the escalating violence and illegal
bombings in the Gaza Strip, prompting a unified stance from the ministers.
The
Council urgently called for an immediate ceasefire, demanding an end to
Israel's military operations in Gaza.
They
stressed the imperative need to lift the illegal blockade, allowing unfettered
access for humanitarian aid, relief supplies, and basic necessities.
Restoration
of essential services such as electricity, water, and the delivery of fuel,
food, and medicine to Gaza's inhabitants was underscored.
Additionally,
the Council expressed unwavering support for the resilience of the Palestinian
people in their homeland, cautioning against any attempts to displace or
transfer them.
All
involved parties were called upon to protect civilians, refrain from targeting
them, and adhere strictly to international law and humanitarian principles.
The
release of innocent hostages and detainees, especially vulnerable groups like
women, children, the sick, and the elderly, was emphasized. The Council
advocated for international protection for the Palestinian people.
Furthermore,
the Council urged the global community to take necessary measures within the
bounds of international law in response to Israel's illegal actions, including
its policy of collective punishment against Gaza's civilian population.
The
meeting concluded with a call to the United Nations Security Council, urging
the implementation of past resolutions and the adoption of new ones to ensure
Israel's compliance with international law.
The
Council categorically rejected any plans or intentions by Israel to invade Gaza
or displace Palestinian populations.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
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No
heroes in Hamas-Israel conflict, only victims: Former Saudi intelligence chief
October
18, 2023
RIYADH:
Israel and Hamas should be condemned because of their acts against civilians,
Saudi Arabia’s former intelligence chief insists, but maintains that the
Palestinians have a right to resist Israel’s military occupation.
Prince
Turki Al-Faisal condemned “Hamas’ targeting of civilian targets of any age or
gender, as it is accused of,” and said the acts go against Islamic injunctions
about harming civilians and desecrating places of worship.
“But
equally, I condemn Israel’s indiscriminate bombing of Palestinian innocent
civilians in Gaza and the attempt to forcibly drive them into Sinai.”
“There
are no heroes in this conflict. Only victims,” Prince Turki told a gathering at
the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University in Houston on Tuesday.
Prince
Turki, who once served as the Kingdom’s top diplomat in the US and the UK,
said: “All militarily occupied people have a right to resist their occupation —
even militarily.”
But
Prince Turki sees a different approach being more fruitful for Palestinians.
“I
prefer the other option: civil insurrection and disobedience. It brought down
the British Empire in India and the Soviet Empire in Eastern Europe.”
Ten days
ago, Hamas operatives crossed the Gaza border into Israeli settlements killing
more than a thousand Israelis including soldiers and civilians.
Israel
has vowed to wipe out Hamas and has since rained down bombs on Gaza killing
more than 3,000 civilians, including an attack on a hospital that killed
upwards of 500 people on Tuesday.
But
Prince Turki said that two wrongs do not make a right and that both parties in
the conflict deserve condemnation.
Hamas
had gifted the higher moral ground to an unpopular Israeli government that even
half of the Israeli public view as “fascist, miscreant, and abhorrent,” Prince
Turki said.
“Israel
has overwhelming military superiority and we see in front of our eyes, the
devastation and oblivion it is bringing to the people of Gaza.”
He
condemned Israel for targeted killings and the indiscriminate arrest of
Palestinian children, women and men in the West Bank.
Prince
Turki also took issue with the current framing of events involving the struggle
of the Palestinian people.
“I’ve
been hearing a repeated phrase in American media: unprovoked attack. What more
provocation is required to make it provoked than what Israel has done to the
Palestinian people for three quarters of a century.”
“I refer
you to the article in the Middle East Monitor of Feb. 17, 2014, under the
title: ‘Israeli army veterans admit role in massacre of Palestinians in 1948’ —
read it and weep as I did.”
He said
between May and July Israel has killed 450 Palestinians, including 67 children.
“This
bloodletting must stop.”
Prince
Turki also called out the differing reactions to the actions of Palestinians
and Israelis during the conflict.
“I
condemn Western politicians for shedding tears when Israelis are killed by
Palestinians, but refuse to even express sorrow when Israelis kill
Palestinians.”
Source: arabnews.com
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KSrelief
distributes tons of food aid in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Philippines
October
18, 2023
RIYADH:
Saudi aid agency KSrelief has distributed tons of food aid to the most
vulnerable in Afghanistan, Lebanon and the Philippines.
On
Tuesday, KSrelief gave out 23 tons and 250 kg of food parcels to
earthquake-affected families in Enjil district in Afghanistan’s Herat province,
benefiting 375 families or 2,250 individuals.
In
Lebanon, KSrelief distributed 875 cartons of dates in Tripoli to Syrian and
Palestinian refugees, as well as vulnerable Lebanese families.
In the
Philippines, KSrelief handed out 8,070 food parcels to families in Marawi City.
In
cooperation with the World Health Organization, KSrelief inaugurated an oxygen-generating
station at Tarim Hospital in Yemen’s Hadhramaut governorate. The station will
produce 100 oxygen cylinders per day.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi
deputy minister meets Pakistan ambassador to the Kingdom
October
17, 2023
Ambassador
Ali Al-Yousef, Saudi deputy minister for consular affairs, on Tuesday met Ahmed
Farooq, the ambassador of Pakistan to the Kingdom.
During
the meeting, the two sides reviewed bilateral relations and discussed regional
and international developments of common concern.
On
Monday, Farooq visited the Ministry of Culture’s Culinary Commission and met
with CEO Mayada Badr. The two discussed enhancing cooperation within the
culinary sector.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi
Hajj minister meets with head of Turkish religious affairs
October
17, 2023
RIYADH:
Saudi Arabia’s Hajj and Umrah Minister, Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, met with
the head of Turkiye’s Directorate of Religious Affairs, Ali Arbash, on Tuesday
during an official visit to Turkiye, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Al-Rabiah
briefed Arbash on the Kingdom’s initiatives to facilitate the arrival of
pilgrims.
Saudi
Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism announced on Tuesday that it has expanded access
to its electronic tourist visa to Turkish nationals. Holders of the tourist
visa can visit the Kingdom for tourism purposes or to perform Umrah outside the
Hajj season. They can also visit friends and relatives, and attend events,
exhibitions and conferences.
It was
also announced that direct flights from Ankara and Gaziantep to Madinah will
increase seating capacity by 380 percent.
Meanwhile,
Flynas will launch six direct flights per week from Ankara to Jeddah.
Al-Rabiah,
who began a two-day visit to Turkiye on Monday, is accompanied by a high-level
delegation representing the public and private sectors.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi FM
arrives in Muscat for GCC ministerial meeting on Gaza
October
17, 2023
RIYADH:
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan participated in a Gulf
Cooperation Council ministerial meeting on Tuesday to discuss the latest
developments in the Gaza Strip, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The
meeting, held in Muscat, was chaired by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr
Albusaidi.
Discussions
covered developments in the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly
Israel’s escalating military operations and the bombing of residential
neighborhoods in Gaza, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 2,800 civilians
in the besieged enclave.
It also
reviewed the risks facing the region due to the humanitarian crisis in
Palestine.
On
Monday, Prince Faisal was in Kuwait City, where he was received by Kuwait’s Crown
Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at Bayan Palace.
The two
officials also discussed the conflict in Gaza and international efforts to
defuse the situation, as well as ways to protect Palestinian civilians from
Israel’s escalating military operations in the enclave.
Source: arabnews.com
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Europe
Amnesty
International slams French ban on pro-Palestine protests
October
17, 2023
LONDON:
Human rights group Amnesty International has condemned a decision by French
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin to ban protests in support of the
Palestinians.
He gave
officials across France “strict instructions” to ban “pro-Palestinian
demonstrations” on Oct. 12 “because they are likely to generate public order
disturbances,” an official document cited by Agence France-Presse said. He
added: “The organization of these prohibited demonstrations should lead to
arrests.”
Amnesty
called on the French government to “protect and facilitate the rights” of
people to peacefully express their political views, in this instance to
demonstrate support for the Palestinian people.
“The ban
on all demonstrations in support of the Palestinians in France constitutes a
serious and disproportionate attack on the right to demonstrate,” said
Jean-Claude Samouiller, president of Amnesty International France.
“Faced
with the atrocities committed by Hamas in southern Israel, and also the
blockade and very heavy bombings in the Gaza Strip, it is important that civil
society actors can mobilize peacefully and publicly, in particular those
calling on those engaged in the conflict to respect the rights of civilian
populations.
“This is
why there cannot be a systematic ban on the right to peacefully demonstrate
support for the rights of the Palestinian populations.”
He
added: “Under international law, a ban on demonstrations can only be considered
as a last resort. Authorities should always seek to protect and facilitate the
rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in the first place.
“A ban
can only be legal if it is motivated by a specific threat and if it is
demonstrated that no other less restrictive measure could guarantee public
order.”
Source: arabnews.com
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International
Criminal Court Must Investigate Israeli War Crimes: Palestinian Envoy To UK
October
17, 2023
LONDON:
The International Criminal Court must investigate Israel’s siege of Gaza,
Palestine’s ambassador to the UK said on Tuesday, adding that Tel Aviv has
committed war crimes in its 10-day bombardment of the enclave’s 2 million
people.
The
Israel Defense Forces have killed medical and rescue teams with airstrikes as
they attempted to reach civilians, HusamZomlot told a press briefing attended
by Arab News.
He
described Israel’s alleged use of white phosphorus and “disproportionate,
lethal” bombardments as a war crime, calling on ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan to
“take his job immediately and with responsibility.”
Zomlot
said: “The sad fact is that a Palestinian is being killed every five minutes.
We won’t allow another round of mass ethnic cleansing in Palestine. We won’t
allow for a second Nakba.”
The
Arabic word for “catastrophe” is used to describe the expulsion of 750,000
Palestinians from their homeland in 1948.
Despite
ordering Palestinians in northern Gaza to move south ahead of a massive ground,
sea and air assault, Israel has also killed civilians abiding by the edict, in
a violation of international law, Zomlot said, adding: “This is the time for Karim
Khan and for the ICC to investigate the white phosphorus and investigate any
crimes.
“However,
international actors — the US included, and the UK — should stop blocking the
ICC from doing its work, its business, its mandate. The West must stop shielding
Israel from any accountability.”
Zomlot
called for the immediate opening of humanitarian aid channels into Gaza. Last
week, Israel launched what it termed a “complete siege” of the enclave, cutting
off power, food and water.
Defense
Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel is “fighting human animals and we are acting
accordingly.”
The
death and injury toll from Israel’s bombardment of Gaza is far higher than
reported, Zomlot said, adding that the latest conflict is only adding to the
enclave’s “16 years of utter misery” since the 2007 blockade.
Calling
for an immediate cease-fire, he said: “What we need right now isn’t revenge but
justice.”
Zomlot
spoke about the personal toll that the “100 years of conflict” has had on his
family. “My own grandparents were forced out of their homes. I’ve lost family.
I know the price of losing civilians,” he said, adding that he is “very
worried” about the potential for the war to expand, rating his concern as “nine
out 10.”
He said:
“I’m worried about community cohesion and relations everywhere, because I don’t
see that international leadership that will cuddle and hug others equally and
cool things down.”
Zomlot
condemned Western news outlets — naming the BBC, Sky News and CNN — for
contributing to the escalation of violence, calling on the media to provide
context to the fighting.
“This
(conflict) didn’t start on Oct. 7,” he said. “There’s a lot of misinformation,
and the UK media in particular needs to be much more careful. We need to make
sure that the media is there to simply tell the truth.
“Media
shouldn’t work as political campaigning agencies. Last week, I was completely
and utterly disheartened by the lack of focus, the lack of carefulness (in news
reporting).”
Source: arabnews.com
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Palestinian
NGO tells UK to stop arms sales to Israel
18 Oct 2023
LONDON,
Oct 18 — A Palestinian rights group has threatened legal action against Britain
unless it revokes all arms export licences to Israel, which it says has
violated international law with its bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
West
Bank-based Al-Haq, which documents alleged rights violations by Israel and the
Western-backed Palestinian Authority, asked in a letter sent on Monday to trade
minister Kemi Badenoch for Britain to confirm that no British “weapons are
being used in Israel/Palestine or against Palestinians”.
Or,
Britain should “immediately suspend and/or revoke all extant licences to Israel
and undertake not to grant any further licences until Israel ceases to violate
international law”.
Israel
has bombarded the Gaza Strip with air strikes that have killed about 3,000
Palestinians, and driven around half of the 2.3 million Gazans from their
homes.
If it
does not receive a full response by October 30, Al-Haq’s lawyers said the group
will consider taking legal action against Britain for unlawfully licensing arms
exports that could be used in breach of international law.
The
group said there is “clear evidence that Israel has repeatedly and gravely
breached international law in these last 10 days alone” since the Hamas assault
on Israel.
A
Department for Business and Trade spokesperson said: “At present there are no
immediate plans to stop arms export licences to Israel.
“All
export licences are kept under continual review, with applications assessed on
a case-by-case basis against strict criteria.”
The
Israeli embassy in London did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Campaign
Against Arms Trade (CAAT) — which brought an unsuccessful case against Britain
over allowing arms exports to Saudi Arabia — yesterday also called for the
immediate suspension of all licences for arms exports to Israel. — Reuters
Source: malaymail.com
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UK
university suspends students over Gaza rally
October 18, 2023
LONDON:
Students from the Palestine Society at SOAS (School of Oriental and African
Studies) on Tuesday said the university had “suspended students following a
rally in solidarity with Gaza”.
The SOAS
Palestine Society posted to X saying, “URGENT: @SOAS University of London,
renowned for its so called progressive politics, has officially begun taking
steps suspending its own students following a rally in solidarity with Gaza.
This is a clear act of political repression. Please read on and share widely.”
The
tweet said that on Oct 9, the Palestine Society and its student community held
a rally in solidarity with the people of Gaza and that hundreds of students
joined the demonstration.
On
October 13 and 14, the statement said “students were suspended and given
warnings through disciplinarians by the university” and said the action by the
university demonstrated “a targeted act of political repression for those who
stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people”.
“We
extend our full solidarity with Palestine and condemn the repressive actions
taken by management of SOAS. We call for all students suspended to be allowed
to continue their studies and attend lectures,” it said.
The
university’s Palestine Society posted the link to an online petition, in which
it demands that the university drop all disciplinary proceedings against those
involved in the protest, revoke the formal warnings given to Palestine Society
Committee members and re-establish the right to protest on the steps of the
main building. It also called on the Student Union to advocate on behalf of
students’ right to protest and pressure the university to meet these demands.
Author
and activist Fatima Bhutto condemned SOAS’ actions against students, saying on
X, “I am so disappointed in @SOAS. I was always proud of being a @SOASalumni
but not today. All solidarity with @SoasPalestine.”
Scores
of Twitter users echoed similar condemnations, calling the university out for
being “on the wrong side of history” and for being “alarming attacks on freedom
of expression”.
Several
SOAS alumnus tweeted that the university’s actions were “shameful” and at odds
with its reputation for being an inclusive and regressive educational institution.
Massive
pro-Palestine rallies have taken place in London after Israel’s retaliatory
bombing of Gaza in the wake of Hamas’ shock attack last week, attracting
thousands of protestors condemning Israel’s actions.
Palestine
societies at the School of Oriental and African Studies, Queen Mary, University
College London and the University of Warwick were among those protesting
against Israel, and demanding justice for Palestinians.
The UK
Education Secretary last week wrote to university vice chancellors asking them
to deal “swiftly and decisively” with any threats to Jewish students’ safety in
the aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel and resulting Gaza blockade.
Gillian
Keegan claimed the government had seen evidence of support for Hamas, following
reports that some pro-Palestinian student organisations had backed the group.
In a
letter seen by The National, she wrote: “Following the barbaric terrorist
attacks upon Israel at the weekend, we are writing to express our deep concern
for the welfare of Jewish students and to ask that you act swiftly and
decisively against any threats, be they implicit or explicit, to their safety
and welfare. “We have seen evidence of a number of student societies that
support Palestinians sending out inflammatory messages that show support for
Hamas, which is, as you know, a proscribed terrorist organisation,” Ms Keegan
wrote.
The
letter came after The Times revealed multiple academics at Oxbridge and Russell
Group universities had posted statements “appearing to justify” Hamas’s attacks
on Israel, with some facing investigation.
Source: dawn.com
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Israeli
embassy in Brazil protests comments by Lula’s party on Gaza
October
18, 2023
BRASILIA:
The Israeli embassy in Brazil protested Tuesday against a resolution by the
party of leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva that accuses Israel of
“genocide” and “war crimes.”
“It is
very unfortunate that a party that defends human rights compares the terrorist
organization Hamas, which goes from house to house to murder entire families,
with what the Israeli government is doing to protect its citizens,” the embassy
in Brasilia posted on X, formerly Twitter.
“There
must be a strong separation between the Hamas terrorist organization and the
Palestinians,” the embassy added, in response to a resolution published Monday
by the Lula’s Workers Party, or PT.
The text
by the PT, co-founded by Lula in 1980, condemned “the unacceptable attacks,
murders and kidnappings of civilians, committed by both Hamas and the State of
Israel, which is carrying out, at this very moment, a genocide against the
population of Gaza, through a series of war crimes.”
The
party hit back at the embassy’s comments on Tuesday, calling the interpretation
of its resolution “false” and “malicious.”
And it
blamed Israel for a strike on a hospital in Gaza Tuesday that has left hundreds
dead.
“Whoever
represents in Brazil the government that carries out an attack of this nature
has no moral authority to speak of human rights,” said the Workers’ Party.
Hamas
launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7. Israel has bombed Gaza in
retaliation and warned of a ground invasion, with thousands of people killed in
the fighting so far.
Lula has
called for a humanitarian corridor to evacuate civilians from Gaza.
Source: arabnews.com
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Russia,
UAE call for emergency UN Security Council meeting Wednesday: Diplomat
October
18, 2023
MOSCOW:
Russia and the United Arab Emirates called Tuesday for an emergency United
Nations Security Council meeting following the deadly strike on a hospital in
the Gaza Strip that left at least 100 dead.
“Russia
and the United Arab Emirates have called for an urgent public meeting of the
United Nations Security Council in the morning of October 18 over the strike on
a Gaza hospital,” the Russian ambassador to the UN, Dmitry Polyanski, said on
Telegram.
The
Security Council on Monday already rejected a Russian resolution condemning
spiralling violence in the Middle East.
Delegates
had refused to back a motion that did not single out Hamas for its surprise
attack on Israel that left at least 1,400 people dead.
Israel
has responded to the attack with air strikes that have left about 3,000 Gazans
dead.
The
council instead plans to vote on a second text, proposed by Brazil, with
unequivocal language condemning the Islamist group and which appears to have
broader support.
The vote
was originally planned for Tuesday evening, but was then postponed for
Wednesday at around 1400 GMT.
Source: arabnews.com
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British
MP fears for Palestinian relatives trapped in Gaza in Israeli siege
October
17, 2023
LONDON:
British MP Layla Moran has expressed fears for her relatives in Gaza who are
unable to move to safety inside what she called an “open-air prison,” The
Guardian reported on Tuesday.
Moran,
who became the UK’s first MP of Palestinian heritage in 2017, told “Good
Morning Britain” that her extended family had been forced to take refuge in a
church after their house was hit by an Israeli airstrike.
The
show’s presenter Richard Madeley faced criticism for having asked “With your
family connections in Gaza, did you have any indication of what was going to
happen?” in relation to the attack by Hamas.
Many,
including Liberal Democrat candidate Liz Jarvis, considered the question
“appalling” and called for an apology from Madeley.
Appealing
for the opening of humanitarian corridors, Moran said it was impossible for her
elderly relatives to relocate to a safe location where they would not be
targeted by Israeli airstrikes.
She
said: “That’s the problem with the geography of Gaza as a whole. It’s essentially
an open prison, so you wouldn’t be able to move easily from one place to
another.
“They
have heard that there are convoys of people trying to move that have also been
hit and they just don’t feel it’s safe to move.”
Moran
said her relatives were running out of food and had been forced to resort to
drinking dirty water.
She
added: “I don’t believe it’s right that my family is being held accountable for
what Hamas has done.
“This is
a cycle of violence. My worry now is that this is radicalizing another
generation on all sides. We have to stop this hatred. We have to bring people
together and find a way through.”
Source: arabnews.com
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UK-based
surgeon treating patients in Gaza says London police harassed his family
October
17, 2023
LONDON:
A British-Palestinian surgeon based in London who has traveled to Gaza to treat
patients at a hospital claimed that his family faced harassment from UK
counter-terrorism police.
Prof.
Ghassan Abu-Sittah, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon with a practice in
central London, traveled to Gaza on Oct. 7, The Guardian reported on Tuesday.
He has been working at Dar Al-Shifa hospital, providing round-the-clock care to
the wounded.
The
surgeon has made several media appearances live from Gaza, shedding light on
the plight of injured children and medics trapped amid Israel’s bombardment and
siege on the enclave.
He told
BBC Newsnight that the officers showed up at his home in London and
interrogated his wife on why he had traveled to the Palestinian territory, who
paid for his ticket and which charity he was helping.
A
spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police told The Guardian: “On 16 October,
police officers responding to a report that a man was planning to travel to a
war zone attended an address in north London where they spoke with one of the
occupants.
“Having
identified that the man had left the UK for humanitarian purposes, the officers
signposted the occupant to current FCDO advice,” the spokesperson added,
referring to the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Abu-Sittah,
speaking live from Gaza, told Newsnight: “I think it’s a brutal attempt at
harassment and silencing us.”
He
added: “It’s now been taken up by (my) lawyers.
“I need
to find out why someone thought it would be a good idea for them to show up at
my house and ask my wife which part of the hospital I’m in, and why did I go,
and who paid for my ticket and which charity do I work for.
“At
these times, these difficult times, my family is seeing this bombing unfold
knowing I’m in the midst of it. To have them harassed in this way has been just
bizarre.”
Abu-Sittah
has become an advocate from the frontline of the hospital in Gaza, telling the
world about the humanitarian crisis and near-impossible conditions there.
“I
remain committed to speaking out on behalf of my patients and on behalf of the
wounded here, on behalf of these families that are being destroyed. There are
50 families that are wiped out of the civil register; that means the
grandparents, the parents and the grandchildren are all killed.”
He said
it was his “duty to bear witness to the carnage being committed against them so
it would stop.”
The
surgeon has promised to remain in Gaza until there is a ceasefire. “I can’t now
turn my back on my patients. I can’t turn my back on my colleagues. I came here
knowing that this is a war zone, and you have a moral duty as a doctor towards
your patients, and caring for your patients who can’t evacuate and can’t get
away,” he told BBC Radio 4’s “Today” program on Monday.
Abu-Sittah
first came to Gaza as a medical student during the first intifada in the late
1980s, The Guardian reported. He returned during the second intifada of the
early 2000s and attended to the injured during the Israel-Gaza conflicts of
2008-09, 2012 and 2014.
He has
worked in various combat zones since graduating from medical school in Glasgow,
including Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Lebanon.
In
London, Abu-Sittah has a practice near Harley Street where he treats facial
deformities and trauma injuries alongside “signature procedures” including
facelifts, lip lifts, chin augmentations and “gummy smile” corrections.
During
his tenure as the director of the plastic and reconstructive surgery department
at the American University of Beirut’s medical center, he spent 40 percent of
his time treating people with war injuries from across the Middle East.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the
full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2392986/world
--------
Southeast Asia
PAS
Rescinds Its Annual Congress Invite To Embassies Whose Govts Openly Back Israel
Regime
By Hajar
UmiraMdZaki
18 Oct
2023
KUALA
LUMPUR, Oct 18 — PAS said today that it has cancelled invitations to its annual
congress or “muktamar” this weekend to embassies whose countries have openly
expressed their backing of Israel's “Zionist regime" and its attacks on
Gaza and the West Bank.
Its
secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said the move was a way for the
Islamist party to express solidarity with Palestine, and the muktamar itself
will use the cause as its theme.
“Several
resolutions have been tabled as a symbol of PAS’ commitment to the struggle for
the liberation of Palestine in conjunction with the organisation of 69th PAS
Annual Muktamar on October 20 to 22, 2023 at IDCC Shah Alam, Selangor," he
said in a statement.
The
content throughout the muktamar will follow the concept of 'PAS solidarity for
the Palestinian struggle' starting by affirming this in the president's keynote
speech, followed by a number of events to express PAS' support for the
Palestinian liberation effort (among them 'wehdah' prayer, donation collection,
demonstrations), as well as the launch of welfare aid and a development project
in Gaza run by PAS Relief together with non-government organisation partners.
He
further confirmed the attendance of global NGOs and political parties from
Palestine, Turkiye, the Middle East, West Asia and the Nusantara region, in
addition to Perikatan Nasional’s component parties and local NGOs.
Takiyuddin,
who is also the Larut MP, also clarified that the former two-time prime
minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad also has confirmed his attendance.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/10/18/pas-rescinds-muktamar-invite-to-embassies-whose-govts-openly-back-israel-regime/96948
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Indonesian
hospital in Gaza overwhelmed by dead, wounded from Israeli attacks
October
17, 2023
NATALIA
LASKOWSKA
SHEANY
YASUKO LAI
JAKARTA:
An Indonesian-run hospital in Gaza has been overwhelmed by the dead and wounded
from daily Israeli airstrikes, its staff said on Tuesday, as they struggle to
provide shelter and emergency medical care to survivors.
Operated
by the Indonesian NGO Medical Emergency Rescue Committee, or MER-C, the
hospital in Beit Lahiya was one of the first targets hit during the Israeli
assault on Gaza which, according to local authorities, has killed nearly 3,000
people and wounded another 12,000, mostly women and children.
“The
residents of Gaza are staying outside the hospital building. The unimaginable
number of casualties is overwhelming health workers,” Sarbini Abdul Murad,
chairman of MER-C’s executive committee, told Arab News.
Indonesian
staff from MER-C remained on the site, helping Palestinian doctors as attacks
on residential buildings, clinics and convoys of evacuees continue across the
densely populated enclave, which under Israel’s siege has for over a week been
cut off food, fuel, water, and medical supplies.
“We ask
the international community to pressure Israel to allow humanitarian access so
that aid can enter Gaza, otherwise there’ll be a humanitarian catastrophe,”
Murad said.
Trucks
loaded with foreign aid are reaching Rafah, the crossing between Gaza and
Egypt, but mediations to let them in have not been successful since Israeli
airstrikes forced the border post to shut down last week.
“Health
services in the Gaza Strip are in a medical crisis because the number of
casualties is surging, and medical personnel are exhausted. They are on duty 24
hours a day to attend to patients who continue to arrive. Until now there has
been no aid,” FikriRofiul Haq, a 23-year-old MER-C volunteer, told Arab News
over the phone from Gaza.
“The
Israeli side is also targeting ambulances that are evacuating victims.”
There
was no more space for bodies at MER-C’s mortuary. At least 300 people have been
pronounced dead at the hospital since the attacks started on Oct. 7. Another
1,500 have been treated for injuries.
“There
are so many dead bodies piling up on the sidewalk around the hospital. Until
now I’m seeing families of the victims trying to find their loved ones,” Haq
said.
“We’re
getting similar news from Al-Shifa Hospital, the biggest hospital in the Gaza
Strip. They are facing the same conditions and were going to dig a mass grave
for those killed by the Israeli attacks.”
While
multiple attacks on Gaza have occurred in the past years, the latest assault is
the deadliest the impoverished enclave has ever seen.
Facing
Israeli blockade since 2007, the 362 sq. km strip of land — home to 2.3 million
people — was devastated by airstrikes in 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2021.
Until
now, the worst was the escalation in July-August 2014, which killed more than
2,250 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and 74 Israelis, mostly soldiers.
Israel
that year flattened parts of the enclave, saying it aimed at stopping rocket
strikes fired from Gaza toward its territory.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2392976/world
---------
PM Anwar
condemns bombing of Gaza hospital, mocks hypocrisy from the West amid 'madness'
18 Oct
2023
By
Muhammad Yusry
PUTRAJAYA,
Oct 18 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has today joined the worldwide
condemnation of the bombing of a hospital in Gaza which killed 500
Palestinians, said to be from an Israeli air strike.
Anwar reiterated
the need to end the Israel-Hamas war, highlighting that women and children will
bear the brunt of the violence.
“That's
why we say it's best to stop it. It's time for us to calm down the situation
and stop. If this continues the victims are women and children. This has
reached the level of madness and humanity has been lost.
“And the
most regrettable is the Western country that talks about human rights,” he said
after officiating the Path Towards Greater Prosperity for Malaysia' Symposium
at Putrajaya International Convention Centre here.
“This
seems to have a category, there are first-class people, there are servants and
this is what we object to as hard as possible. But now there is. I don't care
about the various accusations. The root is, stop it,” he added.
Anwar
also said he would meet Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed
bin Salman Al-Saud to discuss the Palestine-Israel conflict.
"After
the Asean and Gulf Cooperation Council, in Riyadh tomorrow, Prime Minister
Mohammed bin Salman asked me to see him for a day to discuss.
"I
will think whether there is a need to discuss with some leaders whether I
should tour several states or just by phone calls," he said.
Reuters
reported that the blast was the bloodiest single incident in Gaza since Israel
launched a bombing campaign to retaliate for an October 7 Hamas assault on
southern Israeli communities that killed 1,300 people. The strip is a 45km-long
enclave and home to 2.3 million people.
The
Palestinian Authority health minister, Mai Alkaila, accused Israel of a
massacre. A Gaza civil defence chief said 300 people were killed and a health
ministry official said 500 were killed.
The
United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk called the hospital strike
totally unacceptable, insisting that the perpetrators must be held to account,
while the European Union chief Charles Michel also said that targeting civilian
infrastructure in Gaza breaks international law.
Meanwhile,
the World Health Organisation condemned the deadly strike and demanded the
immediate protection of civilians and health care in the strip.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/10/18/pm-anwar-condemns-bombing-of-gaza-hospital-mocks-hypocrisy-from-the-west-amid-madness/96919
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Called
up by Washington, ambassador to the US Nazri Aziz insists Malaysia has no
sympathy for Israeli regime
By Hajar
UmiraMdZaki
18 Oct
2023
KUALA
LUMPUR, Oct 18 — Malaysia’s commiseration is only for Palestine, its ambassador
to the United States Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz has reportedly said
amid pressure by Washington.
The
former minister asserted that any sane government would never ever sympathise
with the oppressive Israeli authorities, after the United States Department of
State informed him of its displeasure with Malaysia's stance.
“The
major powers have never expressed sympathy for the plight of Palestinian
children and the elderly who have suffered for decades due to Israel's inhumane
actions.
“How is
it possible that Malaysia will give sympathy to those who act inhumanely like
the Israeli regime?” he was quoted saying by Astro Awani.
He also
echoed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's call for Israel to cease its
assault on Gaza and the establishment of a humanitarian corridor in Rafah,
Egypt.
“Israel
doesn't need to play the victim in this matter because their actions so far
have been far more violent and inhumane,” he told the news organisation.
Nazri
also said that the US State Department should not question Malaysia’s support
for Hamas as they were legitimately voted in by Palestinians in their election.
“Malaysia
respects the support of the Palestinians in Gaza who have chosen Hamas as their
administrator. There is no reason for Malaysia not to be with the Palestinians
in their efforts to claim the rights that have been usurped by Israel.
“Malaysia
will also not succumb to any pressure from any party for the support given to
Hamas and Palestine,” he reportedly said.
Nazri
also accused the US State Department of sidelining Malaysia after Foreign
Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir was allegedly snubbed when tried to get
in touch with the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken.
“They
gave very weak excuses. It was as if they wanted to belittle Malaysia by only
allowing Zambry to contact Blinken's deputy,” he said, referring to Victoria
Nuland.
Yesterday,
Anwar said he had extended Malaysia's “unwavering” support for the Palestinians
in a phone call to Hamas' head of political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/10/18/called-up-by-washington-ambassador-to-the-us-nazri-aziz-insists-malaysia-has-no-sympathy-for-israeli-regime/96934
---------
'No same
sex marriages registered in Malaysia', says minister during parliament question
time
Farah Marshita Abdul Patah
October
18, 2023
KUALA
LUMPUR: The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs),
Datuk MohdNa'im Mokhtar, has affirmed that there have been no reported cases of
same-sex marriages in the country.
MohdNa'im
stated that existing laws, specifically the Act and Enactments of Islamic
Family Law, only recognise marriages between men and women.
He
mentioned that in the records of the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and
state Islamic religious departments, there is no record of same-sex marriages
being registered.
"That
is very clear. In fact, if such a marriage were to take place and they intended
to register it... this is impossible because the law does not permit it.
"As
long as the marriage is valid under Islamic law, which is between a man and a
woman, then the marriage can be registered," he said during the Minister's
Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was
responding to a supplementary question from Sri Gading member of parliament
Aminoluda Hassan on whether Jakim has information about same-sex marriages
following Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim becoming prime minister.
Earlier,
MohdNa'im mentioned that the government is continuously working to address LGBT
(lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) issues to prevent them from becoming
more widespread through various ongoing efforts.
However,
he noted that this issue requires attention and cooperation from all parties to
support each other.
He
mentioned that through the collaboration between Jakim and the Health Ministry,
four series of Mukhayyam (rehabilitation camp) programmes within the LGBT
community, involving a total of 220 participants, were successfully conducted
throughout 2023.
"Through
this programme, participants receive religious guidance and health awareness.
"Additionally,
14 series of The Training of Trainees for Prostar (Healthy Without AIDS
Programme for Adolescents) 2.0 programmes were also successfully conducted in
all states as advocacy, education and prevention programmes related to LGBT
issues throughout 2023," he said.
Source: nst.com.my
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/10/968465/no-same-sex-marriages-registered-malaysia-says-minister-during-parliament
---------
Pragmatic
but passionate: Anwar continues nation’s advocacy for Palestine
18 Oct
2023
KUALA
LUMPUR – In a world where international relations, political ties and national
stances are often influenced by pragmatic self-interests, the consistency of
Malaysia’s stand towards the Palestinian cause remains noteworthy.
At the
helm of this unwavering support now is Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,
a figure who has amplified Malaysia’s voice against the injustices faced by
Palestinians.
Anwar’s
recent statements underscore his deep-seated commitment to this issue.
Rejecting
Western pressure to condemn “militant” nationalist movement Hamas, Anwar
emphasised the historical relationship between Malaysia and Hamas and the
legitimate electoral mandate the group received in Gaza.
His
remarks stress a fundamental principle: the right of the people to
self-determination.
Regardless
of the political stance on Hamas, the underlying message was clear: Malaysia
recognises and respects the choice of the Gazan people.
Beyond
mere rhetoric, Anwar has actively called for pragmatic measures to alleviate
the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
Despite
criticisms at home, he has been keen to clarify that sending troops overseas is
not a matter of mere impulse.
Instead,
it requires the collective decision of regional allies, taking into
consideration logistical and strategic constraints.
Further
establishing Malaysia’s humanitarian stance, Anwar has also urged the
establishment of a humanitarian corridor in Rafah and a cessation of bombardment.
The
emphasis on creating safe channels for aid signifies Malaysia’s genuine intent
to support distressed civilians caught in the crossfire.
His
commitment to addressing Israel’s occupation of Palestine is evident through
his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia.
During
the Asean and Gulf Cooperation Council Summit, he plans to discuss the need for
meetings with other world leaders to address this crisis. This proactive
approach highlights Malaysia’s dedication to finding a solution.
Anwar’s
call for Israel to abandon its “politics of dispossession” also provides a
crucial insight into his broader vision for the region: a peaceful coexistence
based on justice, respect, and acknowledgment of the rights of the Palestinian
people.
It is a
vision rooted in a belief that the plight of Palestinians is not just an “Arab”
or “Muslim” issue but a fundamental human rights concern; this is made more
clear by how Palestinians of other faiths such as Christians have also been met
with violence from Israeli authorities and even settler communities.
Malaysia:
Palestine’s perpetual friend
Malaysia’s
history of supporting the Palestinian cause is hardly a young, brief one: the
nation has, year after year, administration after administration, consistently
used international platforms to raise its voice against the continued
oppression of Palestinians.
Moreover,
Malaysia has remained a staunch advocate for the rights of Palestinians on
various international platforms, including the United Nations.
Anwar
has repeatedly called for recognising the root cause: the prolonged occupation
of Palestine and the subsequent longstanding suffering of Palestinians.
Wisma
Putra has also not shied away from using strong terms, urging the international
community to take a stand against what it terms as an Israeli “apartheid
administration”.
Additionally,
Anwar has announced a RM10 million aid package for Palestine, underlining
Malaysia’s commitment to providing humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian
people.
The
government is also looking into raising a total of RM100 million for the
Palestinians.
This aid
is crucial, especially given the dire situation in Gaza, where access to basic
necessities like food and medical supplies has become increasingly challenging,
largely due to Israel’s blockade.
Malaysia’s
position is clear in that it stands against actions that harm innocent
civilians, and the government is determined to expedite humanitarian aid to
prevent a worsening humanitarian crisis.
On the
ground, rallies in Kuala Lumpur often see thousands expressing solidarity with
Palestinians, reflecting the collective sentiment of the Malaysian population.
This
sentiment is in tandem with the government’s foreign policy, with Malaysia
being a vocal supporter of Palestinian rights and maintaining no diplomatic
ties with Israel.
Under
the leadership of Anwar, Malaysia has not just passively observed the
occupation of Palestine, but has actively intervened through diplomatic,
humanitarian, and advocacy roles.
The
country’s consistent stance is a testament to its unwavering commitment to
justice, self-determination, and human rights. – The Vibes, October 18, 2023
Source: thevibes.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/99462/pragmatic-but-passionate-anwar-continues-nations-advocacy-for-palestine
---------
Africa
Secure
Release Of 30 ZamfaraVarsity Female Students, Reps Task Security Agencies
KehindeAkintola
October
17, 2023
The
House of Representatives on Tuesday tasked all the Security Agencies to ensure
immediate release of 30 female Undergraduates of Federal University Gusau.
The
resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion of Urgent Public
Importance sponsored by Hon. KaburuAhmadu.
In his
lead debate, Hon. Ahmadu, who solicited the House intervention, expressed grave
concern over the plight of the remaining 30 female students of the Federal
University Gusau, Zamfara State who are still in the hands of their captors.
In his
lead debate, Hon. Ahmadu bemoaned the gruesome manner in which these bandits
continue to terrorize citizens in the North-West region.
To this
end, the House called on the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the Inspector
General of Police to immediately ensure the release of the girls from the
bandits and that the relevant Committees of the House should ensure compliance.
In his
remarks, Hon. Inuwa Garba observed that the situation is disturbing as academic
institutions seem unsafe as is the intention of the bandits, especially in the
Northern region of Nigeria.
He
therefore appealed to the Northern Governors to call a high stakeholders’
meeting to ensure this menace is nipped for the good of girl-child education as
they seem to be the primary targets of these bandits.
Also
speaking, Hon. BappaMisau bemoaned the widespread of these types of abductions
in different parts of Northern Nigeria.
He
called on the House to compel the security agencies to be more proactive in
carrying out their duties of ensuring safety of Nigerians.
He also
frowned at all incidence of treating these bandits with kid gloves.
In his
contribution, Hon. Etabnabene Ben called for the establishment of
State/community policing to fish out local bandits.
He also
advocated for Local Government autonomy where the Chairmen and Councillors can
stand as the chief security officers of the locality and coordinate security at
the grassroots.
After
robust debate on the motion, the Speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas referred to the
joint Committees on Legislative Compliance, Defense, Army, Air Force and Police
for further legislative action.
Source: tribuneonlineng.com
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https://tribuneonlineng.com/secure-release-of-30-zamfara-varsity-female-students-reps-task-security-agencies/
---------
Terrorists
Refuse To Release Five Female Students Of Nigerian University In Katsina
Despite Collecting Over N2million Ransom
October
17, 2023
Terrorists
who kidnapped five female students of Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina
State, Northwest Nigeria, have refused to release them despite collecting about
N2.5million from the victims’ families.
SaharaReporters
earlier reported how the terrorists kidnapped the students at a hostel in the
school 13 days ago.
BREAKING:
Terrorists Invade, Abduct Five Female Students Of Nigeria's Federal University
In Katsina
SaharaReporters
also reported that the kidnappers contacted one of the victims, Muhammad
Fatima’s father, Muhammed Saba Ibrahim, to demand N2 million for the release of
his daughter.
Speaking
further on the matter on Tuesday during a conversation with SaharaReporters, a
cousin of Fatima said that the family later negotiated with the terrorist to
reduce the demanded ransom.
“The
parents negotiated with them to reduce the ransom to 0.5million (N500,000) and
we paid per head for the five students,” Fatima’s cousin said.
He added
that despite paying this agreed sum, the terrorists still refused to release
the abductees.
“They
demanded another ransom from both the government and the school management,” he
added.
When
asked about how much the new demand made by the terrorists was, he stated, “We
didn't hear that from the government but they demanded N2million per head from
the School management.”
Source: saharareporters.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://saharareporters.com/2023/10/17/terrorists-refuse-release-five-female-students-nigerian-university-katsina-despite
---------
DRC:
journalist StanisBujakera still in custody
17
October, 2023
Despite
protests demanding for his release, the Congolese journalist StanisBujakera,
remains in prison. The court has once again rejected a request for his release
from detention and provisional liberty, fearing that he might go on the run.
StanisBujakera,
who works for Reuters and JeuneAfrique magazine, was detained on September 8
and transferred to prison less than a week later on suspicion of spreading
false information.
His
arrest followed a JeuneAfrique article published in late August, which
suggested that Congolese military intelligence had killed opposition politician
CherubinOkende the month before.
The
article -- which was unsigned -- was based on an alleged confidential memo from
a separate intelligence agency. Congolese authorities have said the memo is a
fake.
Bujakera's
trial began on Friday inside the Makala prison in the Democratic Republic of
Congo's capital, according to an AFP reporter present.
The
33-year-old's lawyers successfully petitioned the court on Friday to delay the
proceedings by one week in order to better prepare their case.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.africanews.com/2023/10/17/drc-journalist-stanis-bujakera-still-in-custody/
--------
Niger: 6
soldiers killed in fighting near Burkina
17
October, 2023
Six
soldiers and 31 "terrorists" were killed in fighting on Sunday and
Monday in the Téra zone, in western Niger near Burkina Faso, the Nigerien
Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.
“From
Sunday October 15 to Monday October 16, 2023, the Defense and Security Forces
(FDS) of Operation Niya on a mop-up mission had a series of clashes with
terrorist elements in the Lemdou area 50 km to the north -west of Téra",
explains the ministry in a press release sent to AFP.
“Six
soldiers died” and 18 others, injured, were evacuated to Niamey, specifies the military
regime which came to power in a coup at the end of July.
Nigerien
soldiers "reacted with bravery" by "routing the enemy" and
killing "31 terrorists", he assures, a toll which could not be
confirmed from an independent source.
The
fighting took place in the Tillabéri region (west), in the middle of the
so-called “three borders” zone between Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali , which has
become a hideout for Sahelian jihadists affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the EIGS.
In
recent weeks, several attacks have devastated Niger in this area, destabilized
by jihadists for several years.
The
heaviest death toll was recorded at the beginning of October with 29 soldiers
killed in a “complex attack” by suspected jihadists northwest of Tabatol, a
town near Mali.
At the
end of September, 16 soldiers were killed in another attack in the town of
Kandadji and in mid-August, at least 17 soldiers died near the border with
Burkina.
Niger
has been governed since July 26 by a military regime that came to power in a
coup that overthrew elected President Mohamed Bazoum .
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.africanews.com/2023/10/17/niger-6-soldiers-killed-in-fighting-near-burkina/
--------
Pakistan
Pakistani
NGOs beset by ‘visa denials’ in quest to help Gazans
Shazia
Hasan
October
18, 2023
KARACHI:
As the humanitarian situation in Gaza becomes desperate after days of
relentless bombing by Israeli forces, global aid organisations have said the
time was “running out to save millions of people” in the Gaza Strip. Yet, no
aid is being allowed inside the besieged enclave.
Like
global aid agencies, non-governmental organisations in Pakistan are also ready
to provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, but they cite blockade and
logistical issues as key challenges.
“All
routes to Gaza are closed. It’s all sealed,” Faisal Edhi of the Edhi Foundation
told Dawn, adding his heart bleeds for the Palestinians.
While
all crossings into Gaza from Israel are closed, the only entry point is the
Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt. However, that, too, has been left
inoperable due to Israeli air strikes.
Faisal
Edhi claims Egypt ‘not issuing visas to aid workers’; Saylani partners with
Turkish NGO to send money
According
to MrEdhi, aid agencies in Pakistan could enter from the Egyptian side, but the
North African country was “refusing visas to Pakistanis.
He
recalled that three years ago, when Israel was bombing Gaza, his organisations
tried to reach Gaza via Rafah, “but then Egypt turned down our visa
applications”.
He
presumed Egypt was “afraid” granting visas to humanitarian bodies would not sit
well with the US.
Amjad
Chamdia of Saylani Welfare Trust also said going to Gaza through any country
was not possible.
“Even
people from neighbouring countries cannot reach there as borders are sealed,”
he said.
According
to MrChamdia, the people of Gaza have no food, water, electricity or cooking
gas. “Everything has been cut off, and they are being tortured and killed.”
Alternative
ways to help
As it
was impossible to send relief goods to Gaza, some NGOs in Pakistan have joined
hands with global organisations to send money to the besieged region.
MrChamdia
said his organisation has found a way to send money to Gaza.
“We are
joining hands with NGOs from Turkiye to help them,” he explained.
He added
that in a day, Saylani Welfare Trust will start a donation drive for the people
of Gaza. “The money will be used in feeding the people of Gaza who have
succeeded in exiting the besieged enclave.”
The
organisation will also work with Turkish NGOs who are providing food and
medical aid for the Palestinians who have escaped from Gaza.
“They
are homeless. Besides, winter is also approaching. The money we collect will
help buy food and aid for them.”
Alkhidmat
Foundation, the relief wing of Jamaat-i-Islami, has also partnered with
international aid organisations and NGOs that have access to the area to send
relief goods.
The
foundation’s Karachi CEO, Naveed Ali Baig, said his organisation “has stepped
up relief activities for people in Gaza in the wake of the increased aggression
by Israel”.
He
disclosed that Alkhidmat’s volunteers were providing food, water, medical
supplies and other necessary items to the Palestinian civilians.
MrBaig
also appealed to people to support their relief efforts and help those stuck in
Gaza.
“A total
blockade of food, water, fuel and electricity has been imposed on Gaza,
creating a humanitarian crisis on a massive scale. Palestinians are looking
towards their fellow Pakistani Muslims to come to their aid at this crucial
moment. I appeal to the public to step forward and donate generously for this
cause,” he said.
No
political motives
MrEdhi
said aid organisations only want to help people and don’t have any political
motives.
“But we
are being stopped from even doing that,” said a dejected MrEdhi.
According
to Alkhidmat Foundation’s MrBaig, thousands of men, women and children are
severely wounded due to “the incessant and indiscriminate carpet bombing by
Israeli forces and in need of help”.
MrChamdiya
also said Israel and America were “treating Palestinians like animals”.
“They
have forgotten about human rights there. [The US] likes to be known as the
upholder of human rights, and here it is turning its back to the worst human
rights atrocities.”
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1781726/pakistani-ngos-beset-by-visa-denials-in-quest-to-help-gazans
---------
Road-to-Makkah
project to be initiated from Lahore, Karachi airports too
Bakhtawar
Mian
October 18, 2023
ISLAMABAD:
Saudi government has accepted Pakistan’s request to initiate the Road-to-Makkah
project from Lahore and Karachi airports in order to provide maximum facilities
to pilgrims, senior officials of the Ministry of Haj informed a senate
committee here on Tuesday.
The
committee appreciated the initiative and also suggested starting the
Road-to-Makkah project from Peshawar and Quetta as well. At present, the
project is only from the Islamabad airport.
The
Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony held its
meeting at Parliament House. Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri presided
over the meeting.
During
the meeting, a thorough discussion took place concerning the reduction of Haj
group organisers from 905 to 46, following directives from the Saudi government
relayed through the Ministry of Haj.
The
officials said that a letter in this regard has already been dispatched to the
Saudi Arab government, in light of the recommendation of the committee, urging
a deferral of this reduction for the current year and a gradual reduction in
subsequent years, adding that the ministry eagerly awaits a response from the
Saudi government.
Representatives
from the Haj Organizers Association of Pakistan were also present during the
meeting. They emphasized the necessity for representatives of the Ministry of
Religious Affairs to engage in a constructive dialogue with the Pakistani
Director General Haj and officials of the Saudi Ministry of Haj to address
their concerns.
The
committee was informed that altering the Saudi Ministry of Haj’s decision to
reduce the number of organisers seemed improbable.
Consequently,
the committee chairman stressed the importance of being fully prepared for the
upcoming Haj arrangements.
The
committee chairman emphasised the need for the continuation of efforts by the
Ministry of Religious Affairs to address the issue. He suggested that Saudi
authorities should be conveyed Pakistan’s concerns and should be requested to
review their decision.
After
detailed deliberations, it was decided that another letter would be sent to the
Saudi Ministry of Religious Affairs and also suggested the caretaker minister
for religious affairs to engage with his Saudi counterpart to further advocate
for Pakistan’s position. The committee sought a progress report on the matter
in 15 days.
Those
who attended the meeting included senators Molvi Faiz Mohammad, Professor Sajid
Mir, NaseebullahBazai, Hafiz Abdul Karim, Haji Hidayatullah and Gurdeep Singh.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1781653/road-to-makkah-project-to-be-initiated-from-lahore-karachi-airports-too
--------
Guns
fall silent in Wadh as rival armed groups vacate trenches
Saleem
Shahid
October 18, 2023
QUETTA:
Two rival groups of the Mengal tribe involved in armed clashes in the Wadh of
Khuzdar district for past several weeks have finally vacated their trenches,
which were later occupied law enforcement personnel deployed there by the
administration, on Tuesday.
Caretaker
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Ali Mardan Domki confirmed the development, as
the trenches were vacated after the provincial apex committee in its last week
meeting had given them a four-day ultimatum.
Officials
in Wadh said the control of the vacated trenches have been taken by the
security forces which were deployed by the administration. “Police, Levies and
personnel of Frontier Corps have occupied the trenches vacated by the rival
armed group,” said a senior district administration official.
Talking
to Dawn, district officials said both groups withdrew their armed men from the
trenches before the end of the deadline.
Law
enforcement personnel take control of trenches
They
claimed normality had returned to the throbbing Wadh town after the ceasefire
and withdrawal of armed men who had been sitting in the trenches with heavy
weapons, including machine guns, rocket launchers and mortar shells.
Life
remained suspended in Wadh town and surrounding areas for past two months as
all bazaars, shops, businesses and shopping centres remained closed and people
in large numbers relocated to Khuzdar, Hub, and Quetta due to the intermittent
gun battles, which had claimed 10 lives and left at least 18 people including
bus passengers injured.
During
these gunfights, government offices, educational institutions, including
college and schools, also remained closed as buildings of some offices and
schools were damaged by mortar shells and rockets.
Officials
said traffic on the Quetta-Karachi highway was also plying without any hurdle,
after the trenches were vacated. Bazaars and shopping centres also began
opening in Wadh as people were witnessed sitting at the tea stalls, showing the
return of normalcy in the town.
However,
Wadh town residents said: “All business centres and shops have not opened so
far, as traders and people running these businesses went to other areas.
Complete restoration of businesses will take a few more days.”
Heavy
contingent of police and FC were patrolling Wadh town to meet any untoward
incident.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1781730/guns-fall-silent-in-wadh-as-rival-armed-groups-vacate-trenches
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FM
Jilani to represent Pakistan at OIC Gaza moot today
Iftikhar
A. Khan
October 18, 2023
ISLAMABAD:
An extraordinary session of the OIC Executive Committee will held today
(Wednesday) to discuss the crisis in Gaza and the humanitarian situation of the
besieged civilians there.
Caretaker
Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani has reached Jeddah to attend the meeting,
co-convened by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
The
foreign minister has been engaged in consultations with his counterparts from
OIC countries. In the lead-up to this extraordinary session, he held telephone
conversations with the foreign ministers of Egypt, Iran, Türkiye and the UAE.
During
these consultations, the foreign minister expressed Pakistan’s deep concern on
the current situation in Gaza resulting from the Israeli bombardment and siege
of the enclave. He will continue these consultations with in-person meetings in
Jeddah.
As far
as Wednesday’s extraordinary session of the Executive Committee is concerned,
the foreign minister has underlined Pakistan’s priority for a collective demand
by OIC for a ceasefire and provision of humanitarian assistance through
corridors so that food, medicine, water and other necessary supplies may reach
the people of Gaza without further delay.
Subsequent
efforts should be directed towards a just, comprehensive and lasting solution
to the Palestinian question anchored in international law and in line with
relevant United Nations and OIC resolutions.
A
viable, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine should be established on
the basis of pre-1967 borders, with Al Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
In his
statement at the ministerial meeting, FM Jilani will present Pakistan’s serious
concern about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and emphasise the urgent
need for ceasefire, lifting of the siege and provision of relief assistance to
the people of Gaza.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1781728/fm-jilani-to-represent-pakistan-at-oic-gaza-moot-today
--------
PM Kakar
strongly condemns Israeli attack on Hospital in Gaza
October
18, 2023
Caretaker
Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar has strongly condemned the Israeli attack on
Al-Ahly Al-Mamadany Hospital in Gaza.
In a
tweet on Wednesdy, he said targeting a hospital, a sanctuary for those in need,
is an indefensible act of inhumanity. He said international humanitarian law
gives protection to hospitals and medical personnel.
The
Prime Minister demanded an end to this indiscriminate targeting and urged the
international community to act swiftly to stop the violence and hold those
responsible accountable.
During
an interaction with the UN Secretary General in Beijing, the Prime Minister
said the global community should urge
Israel to stop killing innocent Palestinians.
Source: radio.gov.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.radio.gov.pk/18-10-2023/pm-kakar-strongly-condemns-israeli-attack-on-hospital-in-gaza
---------
PM
Kakar, President Putin discuss Middle East, bilateral ties in Beijing
October
18, 2023
Caretaker
Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar met Russian President Vladimir Putin and
discussed a wide range of issues including bilateral ties and the prevailing
situation in the Middle East.
In the
meeting held on the sidelines of the Third Belt and Road Forum for
International Cooperation in Beijing on Tuesday, the two leaders reviewed
bilateral cooperation with a special focus on trade, investment and energy.
They
expressed satisfaction with the steady expansion of Pakistan-Russia relations
and stressed the need for enhanced cooperation in diverse fields.
President
Putin received PM Kakar before they held a meeting that encompassed bilateral,
regional, and international affairs.
They
also discussed the prospects of enhancing Eurasian connectivity and Pakistan's
pivotal role in regional integration through rail, road and energy corridors.
The PM
stressed the need for enhanced regional integration for the economic
development of the entire region and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to
further expanding and strengthening bilateral cooperation with Russia in the
areas of trade and investment, energy, connectivity and counterterrorism.
The
leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments, including the
evolving situation in the Middle East.
In his
opening remarks, Prime Minister Kakar said Pakistan and Russia had a
convergence of interests on the issue of terrorism, and called for enhanced
cooperation and a common approach among the neighbouring countries of
Afghanistan.
He said
the neighbouring countries should be the foremost to take the initiative and
cooperate in the fields of intelligence, defence and counter-terrorism.
Coming
to bilateral cooperation, Kakar said Pakistan was an energy-deficient country
of 240 million population. Pakistan’s energy minister had recently attended an
Energy Week event in Russia where he had a “fruitful and constructive engagement”
with the Russian team.
The
Russian team had come up with concrete proposals for enhancing energy
cooperation, he added.
Citing
his previous visit to Russia as a senator, the prime minister said he was
“mesmerised” by the Russian architecture particularly representing Christianity
and churches. He said both countries were also close in terms of cultural and
ethical values which were not popular beyond that region.
In his
remarks, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Pakistan and Russia celebrated
the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year.
Citing
friendly bilateral relations, he said there existed a huge potential for
cooperation between Pakistan and Russia.
President
Putin said both sides, during interactions here, would exchange views and
discuss the vision, and steps needed to be taken to strengthen cooperation in
multiple areas.
He said
trade relations between the two countries had increased and this year, Russia
had supplied around a million tons of cereals to Pakistan.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1120370-pm-kakar-president-putin-discuss-middle-east-bilateral-ties-in-beijing
--------
Palestinians
CPEC manifests win-win cooperation: Kakar
October
18, 2023
BEIJING:
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has said that the China-Pakistan
Economic Corridor, one of the signature projects under the Belt and Road
Initiative, is a practical manifestation of win-win cooperation and shared
prosperity and a commendable endeavour in building a China-Pakistan community
with a shared future.
“All
these elements also form the bedrock of President Xi Jinping’s visionary Belt
and Road Initiative,” he said in an exclusive interview with China Daily
published here on Tuesday.
The
prime minister lauded the Belt and Road Initiative for having “advanced
inclusive development to reduce poverty and inequality, improved people’s
ability to pay taxes and enhanced governments’ ability to retire their debts”.
He
explained that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which has brought about a
direct investment of $25.4 billion to Pakistan and created a total of 236,000
jobs, is key to the nation’s socioeconomic progress.
“Strategically
located, the port is now functional and regularly handling cargo ships
including transhipment trade for Afghanistan. A free economic zone is in place
offering lucrative incentives for local, Chinese and other international
investors,” Kakar said, adding that a new international airport will also be
inaugurated, bringing the port closer to its vision of serving as the hub of
regional trade and connectivity.
The
prime minister emphasized that the “foolproof safety and security of Chinese
personnel and institutions is our topmost priority”, adding the Pakistani
government has put in place stringent security protocols to safeguard Chinese
workers and entrepreneurs. Kakar said he has high expectations for the forum,
during which he will meet with Chinese leaders.
In an interaction
with representatives of leading Chinese think tanks and scholars, Kakar termed
CPEC a manifestation of a strategic relationship and said the project has
proved as a “catalyst of growth, poverty alleviation and job creation”. “The
CPEC is a beacon of progress and prosperity. It is not just an economic
corridor, but a symbol of Pak-China strategic trust,” he said.
PM Kakar
said the CPEC had transformed the socio-economic landscape of Pakistan,
upgrading modern infrastructure, enhancing regional connectivity and ensuring
energy security. He expressed confidence that as a project of socio-economic
prosperity and sustainable development, CPEC would usher in a new era of
development and regional prosperity. He recalled that the Chinese vice
president during his visit to Pakistan in August outlined five corridors of
comprehensive development including growth, livelihood, innovation, greenness,
and openness. He proposed that the next phase of CPEC should be deeper
integration of the economy, so as to tap the potential of development for the
mutual benefit of the two countries. Kakar said being a native of Balochistan,
he was cognizant of the potential of the area and added that in collaboration
with China, we are poised to unlock opportunities for progress and regional
connectivity in Gwadar.”
In their
remarks, Chinese academics and scholars underscored the importance and
significance of CPEC as a great partnership between Pakistan and China under
BRI. They also reaffirmed the continued interest of Chinese companies to invest
in Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones and to contribute to the further growth of
CPEC, enhanced regional connectivity and sustainable development.
In a
related development, Kakar also attended a state banquet, hosted by Chinese
President Xi Jinping for the world leaders participating in the 3rd Belt and
Road Forum. The prime minister was accompanied by senior ministers of his
cabinet, the PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.
Held at
the iconic Great Hall of the Peoples, the banquet was attended by the heads of
state/government of Russia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Mongolia, Hungary, Sri Lanka,
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Papua New Guinea, Mozambique and Chile, among several
other world leaders.
At the
banquet, the prime minister was welcomed by President Xi and First Lady Madame
Peng Liyuan. On the occasion, Prime Minister Kakar also held informal
interactions with the world leaders attending the event.
The
prime minister arrived in Beijing on Monday to attend the 3rd Belt and Road
Forum at the invitation of President Xi.
The
caretaker prime minister held a meeting with Kenya’s President Williams Ruto
and discussed ways to deepen economic cooperation.
Meanwhile,
China’s leading newspaper People’s Daily presented its copy to Caretaker Prime
Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar during his visit to Beijing.
Xu Wei
from the Political Desk of People’s Daily presented the copy to the prime
minister. The prime minister in his post on social media platform X said,
Honored to be presented with a copy of People’s Daily, China by Xu Wei from the
Political desk of the newspaper.” He termed it a “testament to the shared
understanding and bonds between our nations.”
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1120337-palestinians-cpec-manifests-win-win-cooperation-kakar
--------
No room
for dialogue with planners, attackers of May 9, says Sarfraz Bugti
October
18, 2023
Ansar
Abbasi
ISLAMABAD:
Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti has said that in his view, there is no room for
any dialogue with the attackers and planners of May 9.
Talking
to The News, he said like the caretaker government, President Dr Arif Alvi also
has a limited role, as the latter has completed his tenure.
The
interior minister was contacted for his comment on PTI’s request to President
Arif Alvi for initiation of the dialogue process between PTI, other political
parties and the military establishment.
Sarfraz
Bugti, who is presently visiting China as part of Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq
Kakar’s delegation, said officially there is nothing under consideration in
relation to the dialogue process between political parties, including PTI, and
the establishment.
He,
however, insisted he always said the May 9 violence was an organised and
well-planned attack against the state of Pakistan. He said the planners and
perpetrators of May 9 attacks should be punished and the writ of the government
in this regard must not be compromised. He said in his view there is no
question of getting into the dialogue process with such elements.
The PTI
has approached the president with the request to initiate a dialogue process
between the PTI, political parties and the military establishment. It is not
clear as yet whether the president would make any such initiative or not.
In the
past before the May 9 attacks, the president had reportedly made an effort for
a contact between Imran Khan and the present military establishment, but it
failed. Imran and the PTI leaders have been admitting the establishment is not
talking to the PTI at any level.
Before
the appointment of the incumbent Army Chief, President Arif Alvi had said he
was trying in his personal capacity to bring the stakeholders together and
resolve their differences to reduce political polarisation in the national
interest.
Without
divulging further details, the president had said although it was not his
constitutional role to end the impasse, he was trying to mediate between the
sides to defuse the tensions.
He had
further said PTI chief Imran Khan had authorised him to put forward his demands
of early elections to the establishment, underscoring he was merely mediating
between the sides and “not brokering any deal for anyone”. Later, it was
revealed the president had arranged in the Presidency a meeting between Imran
Khan and former Army Chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa.
In the
wake of May 9 attacks, the president appears to be in an awkward position to
initiate the dialogue process as is the desire of PTI, which under Imran Khan
is considered by the military authorities responsible for the attacks. In the
post-May 9 situation, the military authorities repeatedly referred to the May 9
conspiracy and the “mastermind” and “planners” but avoided directly naming
anyone.
However,
a day before May 9, the ISPR in a press release had responded to Imran Khan’s
statement against some senior military officials, saying, “PTI chairman has
levelled highly irresponsible and baseless allegations against a serving senior
military officer without any evidence. These fabricated and malicious
allegations are extremely unfortunate, deplorable and unacceptable.”
The May
8 press release had added, “This has been a consistent pattern for the last one
year, wherein military and intelligence agencies officials are targeted with
insinuations and sensational propaganda for the furtherance of political
objectives. We ask the political leader concerned to make recourse to legal
avenues and stop making false allegations. The institution reserves the right
to take legal course of action against patently false and mala fide statements
and propaganda.”
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1120341-no-room-for-dialogue-with-planners-attackers-of-may-9-says-sarfraz-bugti
--------
Saudi
decision on cutting Pakistan Hajj groups ‘final’
October
18, 2023
ISLAMABAD:The
Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony convened
on Tuesday to discuss the implications of the Saudi government's decision to
significantly reduce the number of Pakistani Hajj Group Organizers (HGOs) from
905 to only 46.
Chaired
by Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, the committee gathered with the participation
of the additional secretary of the religious affairs ministry and a team of
senior officials, as well as representatives from the Hajj Organizers
Association of Pakistan (HOAP).
During
the meeting, it was disclosed that a letter had already been sent to the Saudi
Hajj and Umrah Ministry, requesting a postponement of this reduction for the
current year and proposing a gradual decrease in the number of group organizers
in the following years.
Although
the religious affairs ministry eagerly awaited a response from the Saudi
authorities, it was emphasized that it was unlikely for the Saudi Ministry of
Hajj and Umrah to reconsider its decision. The committee recommended that the ministry
should prepare for the possibility of the Saudi decision remaining unchanged.
After a
thorough discussion, the committee suggested that the Caretaker Minister of
Religious Affairs, Aneeq Ahmed, should engage with his Saudi counterpart to
advocate Pakistan's position. Furthermore, the committee directed the Hajj
director-general to address the concerns of Hajj pilgrims with the relevant
Saudi authorities.
It was
also revealed that Saudi authorities had approved a proposal for the launch of
the 'Road to Makkah' project from Lahore and Karachi airports. The committee
proposed extending this facility to airports in Peshawar and Quetta as well.
Source: tribune.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2441704/saudi-decision-on-cutting-pakistan-hajj-groups-final
--------
South Asia
Japan
commits $4.46 million in earthquake aid for Afghanistan
Fidel
Rahmati
October
17, 2023
The Japanese government made an announcement
on Tuesday regarding its commitment to provide $4.46 million in aid to assist
the victims of the earthquakes that occurred in western Afghanistan.
According
to a statement from Japan’s foreign ministry, $3 million of this aid will be
channelled through international organizations, while the remaining $1.46
million will be allocated to Japanese non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
This
assistance addresses various needs, including food, healthcare, and other
essential requirements for the affected population.
The
statement also reaffirmed Japan’s dedication to supporting the people of
Afghanistan and its ongoing efforts to enhance the humanitarian situation in
the country.
The
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has
revealed that recent earthquakes in Herat province have directly affected
around 43,000 people.
During a
video conference with reporters on Monday, Daniel Anders, the Humanitarian
Coordinator for the United Nations in Afghanistan, underscored that these
earthquakes have further strained individuals already struggling with poverty
and hardship.
Mr.
Anders highlighted budget challenges for Afghan aid. Agencies aid 1.14M with
damaged homes. 40 years of conflict, food insecurity, droughts, and recession
worsened the crisis.
OCHA
reports 43,000 affected by earthquakes in Herat, requiring $93.6M. District
impact: 8,500 in RobatSangi, 7,500 in ZindaJan, 3,400 in Gulran, 717 in Herat
city, 133 in Kohsan. Recent quakes caused casualties and damage, with the UN
tallying 1,500 deaths and 2,000 injuries in Herat.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.khaama.com/japan-commits-4-46-million-in-earthquake-aid-for-afghanistan/
---------
Over 500
Afghan migrant families return home from Pakistan
Fidel
Rahmati
October
17, 2023
The
Provincial Directorate of Afghan Refugees in Nangarhar province has announced
that 534 Afghan migrant families have returned from Pakistan as part of the
ongoing trend of Afghan migrants returning to Afghanistan.
On
Tuesday, the government announced through a press release that these migrants
had entered the country via the Torkham border on Monday.
According
to the head of the Afghan migrants in Nangarhar province, 534 families,
totalling 3,032 individuals, have been registered with the Migration
Directorate for assistance and have been referred to the offices of the
International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
On the
other hand, officials in the Taliban administration have announced that 3,165
Afghan migrants returned to the country from Iran on Monday.
According
to an Iranian border official, 304 migrants in need have been referred to the
International Organization for Migration for assistance.
It is
worth noting that the Ministry of Migrants and Repatriates of the current
administration of Kabul has also reported the return of 384 Afghan migrant
families from Pakistan voluntarily and involuntarily.
This
comes amidst increasing trends of Afghan migrants being expelled from Iran and
Pakistan despite growing concerns and reactions about their deportation.
The
Pakistan Ministry of Interior has issued a warning, stating that all foreign
nationals, including Afghan migrants, must leave the country by the end of
October without proper legal documentation, or they will face deportation.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.khaama.com/over-500-afghan-migrant-families-return-home-from-pakistan/
----------
Fearing
Earthquakes, Herat Residents Live in Tents
Nasir Ahmad Salehi
October
17, 2023
As
deadly earthquakes rocked western Herat province, residents of the province are
living in tents on the roadsides, fearing the recurrence of natural disasters.
Living
in tents has become difficult for these people as children have gotten sick
with various diseases.
“It has
been nine days since we moved here and those who can afford to have bought
tents -- those who cannot are living in the open,” said Atifa, a resident of
Herat.
“We have
one tent and three to four of us sleep outside and the rest of us sleep inside
the tent, we are eight people in total,” said Abdul Mubin Jami, a resident of
Herat.
Health
officials at the provincial hospital of Herat province said most of the people
have been suffering from trauma after the earthquakes took place.
Dozens
of Herat citizens go to the hospital to get treatment because of anxiety and
trauma.
“As most
of the victims of the earthquake most likely have injuries, all the residents
of Herat city are mentally affected,” said QadimMuhammadi, a senior doctor in
Herat’s provincial hospital.
In the
meantime, the Director-General of the World Health Organization on X said that
Herat city has turned into a city of tents.
The UN
official ensured the residents of Herat that they will be provided with tents.
“Herat
city has become a tent city, families are sleeping in open spaces in parks, in
small tents, as they are afraid to be inside because of aftershocks and more
earthquakes. The WHO Afghanistan team is supporting partners to set up health
tents where people can get health care services.” said
TedrosAdhanomGhebreyesus, Director-General of World Health Organization.
Herat
province was rocked by several earthquakes and aftershocks almost ten days ago
which led to families fleeing their houses and living on streets in tents.
The lack
of tents and drastic rise in prices of tents in Herat province have made it
difficult for the province’s residents to cope with the new situation.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185587
---------
$93M
Needed for Quake-affected People in Herat: UN
Fatema
Adeeb
October
17, 2023
The
United Nations said that the recent earthquakes have affected more than 43
thousand people in the eastern Herat province.
Speaking
at a news conference, the UN Deputy Special Representative, Resident and
Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan said they will need over $93 million
in the upcoming six months for the betterment of lives of the earthquake’s
victims.
“From
our initial assessment, we registered some 1,500 deaths and about 2,000
injuries. And in addition, we also realized that 43,000 people have been
directly impacted and affected by these earthquakes,” said Daniel Peter Endres,
the Deputy Special Representative, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for
Afghanistan.
In the
meantime, the earthquake-affected people in Herat province ask for urgent
assistance saying that they are living in the worst situation.
“Most of
the people are concerned about the lack of water, we ask for the water tankers
to come closer to populated areas so that people can access them,” said Abdul
Karim, a Herat resident.
“It has
been a long time since we are out of our houses, we are 12 to 13 people in our
family that includes children and the elderly. Children are crying all the
time,” said Abdul Haq, another needy person.
It comes
as the recent earthquake has killed over 2,500 people and destroyed many
villages in different districts of Herat province.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read the
full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185588
------
US
Senator Calls to Cut Funding to Afghanistan
October
17, 2023
A US
senator has criticized the process of sending money to Afghanistan under the
Islamic Emirate.
The
Senator says that he has suggested legislation preventing US money flowing into
Afghanistan.
“I have
introduced legislation to stop all funds from going to Taliban controlled
Afghanistan. And will do so again this week!” reads the X post of Rand Paul.
But the
Islamic Emirate has urged the United States and other countries of the world to
continue providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.
“Unfortunately,
the aid has been less in the development sector; we ask for the continuation of
aid in the development sector and the international community’s assistance to
Afghanistan must increase not decrease,” said Abdul Latif Nazari, Deputy
Minister of Economy.
Meanwhile,
economic analysts said that the US is the largest donor for Afghanistan and
that the stopping of its aid will damage the economy of Afghanistan.
“If US
aid to Afghanistan halts, the situation will become quite difficult for the
Afghan government to be managed considering that there will be no alternative
to US aid,” said Abdul ZuhoorModaber, economic analyst.
Earlier,
Michael McCaul, the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, had
criticized the access of the Islamic Emirate to assistance provided by the US,
but the Afghan caretaker government has repeatedly denied the claims.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185589
---------
200
Afghan Journalists Sign Letter to Pakistan's Acting PM
October
17, 2023
Two
hundred journalists, led by the Federation of Journalists in Exile, have
written a letter to Pakistan's acting prime minister calling for a ban on their
deportation.
Afghan
journalists in Pakistan are in a dire situation and their families will also
face danger if they are deported from Pakistan, the letter said.
Earlier,
the Islamic Emirate pledged they would talk with Pakistani officials and said
that Afghan refugees should be treated appropriately in the country.
"This
decision to deport migrants and refugees from Pakistan has raised deep concerns
among our colleagues," the letter said.
Members
of the Federation of Afghan Journalists are extremely concerned about the
situation of these journalists and their families due to the uncertainty of the
results of their visa extension applications.
"The
psychological problems that we journalists face are being expelled from our
homes in case we are arrested by the Pakistani police or deported from
Pakistan," said Shafiullah Doost, a member of the Federation of Afghan
Journalists in Exile.
Meanwhile,
a number of Afghan journalists in Pakistan say they have arrived with many
challenges but are now worried about their deportation.
"You
know that the offensive of Pakistani forces to detain Afghan refugees in this
country is very intense and in most cases the program is implemented in such a
way that all human ethics are violated," said Mohammad Jan Tamkin, head of
the cultural committee of the Afghan Federation of Afghan Journalists in Exile.
"Afghan
journalists have been in indescribable conditions in Pakistan for two years and
no institution has paid attention to them," said Faizullah Turk, a
reporter.
Earlier,
officials of the Islamic Emirate in talks with Pakistani officials said that
Afghan refugees should be treated appropriately in the country.
"The
Afghan refugees are living in different countries, but the attitude must be
humane and they should not be forced to leave their homes or be persecuted and
pressured," said Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of
Afghanistan.
Concerns
have been raised as Pakistan's interior minister said he would deport more than
1.7 million Afghan refugees illegally in Pakistan by November 1. However, the
Pakistani officials' comments were met with sharp reactions from Kabul.
Source: tolonews.com
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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185590
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Delegation
Will Travel to Turkey to Address Refugee Issues: Ministry
October
17, 2023
The
Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations said that in the near future a
delegation will travel to Turkey to solve the problems of the migrants.
Abdul
Rahman Haqqani, in a meeting with Turkey's ambassador to Afghanistan, called on
them to provide work for them instead of deporting Afghan refugees, the
ministry spokesman said.
Meanwhile,
a number of Afghan refugees in Turkey said that Turkey, Iran and Pakistan are
in a difficult situation.
The
acting Minister of Refugees and Repatriations met with Turkey's new ambassador
to Afghanistan and asked him to provide the Afghan refugees with the
opportunity to work instead of forcibly deporting them.
A
spokesman for the ministry said that during the meeting, the two sides
discussed solving the problems of migrants in Turkey and that an Afghan
delegation would travel to Istanbul in the near future.
"Acting
Minister of Refugees and Repatriations met with the Turkish Ambassador to
Afghanistan and discussed the problems of Afghan refugees in the country. In
the near future, an Afghan delegation is also expected to travel to Turkey to
solve the problems of the migrants," said Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, the
spokesman of the ministry.
A
spokesman for the ministry added that Abdul Rahman Haqqani، in a meeting with Turkey's
ambassador to Afghanistan، said that in order to address the challenges of migrants،
Islamic Emirate refugee
attaches’ should be allowed in Turkey.
At the
same time, some Afghan migrants have said that they are being persecuted more
often by the Turkish, Iranian and Pakistani police.
"In
recent days, the problems of Afghan migrants in Turkey have increased, one of
the most serious problems here is the arrest of Afghans and harassment by the
police, which must be stopped." said Faisal Nizami, a migrant.
"When
the Pakistani government sets a deadline for migrants, then the persecution of
Afghan refugees in the country has increased," said Ali Hussaini, a
migrant.
While
there are about two weeks left for the interim government's deadline to deport
illegal immigrants, a number of migrant rights activists insist Pakistan needs
to reconsider.
"The
Afghan government must take action and solve the problems that exist between
the two countries in order to reduce the pressure on Afghan refugees,"
said Mir Ahmad Raoofi, President of the Council of Refugees in Pakistan.
"Afghan
immigrants in Iran are not treated well and they can buy a phone SIM card by
obtaining legal documents," said Mohammad Khan Talebi, an Immigrant Rights
Activist in Iran.
The
Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations also reported that on October 16, more
than 3,000 people were forcibly and voluntarily returned from Iran and more
than 500 families were removed from Pakistan.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185592
--------
ECRM
Approved Amendments Proposed by Inter-ministerial Committee
2023-10-17
KABUL
(BNA) The Economic Commission Regular meeting (ECRM) on Tuesday, chaired by
Deputy PM Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, after extensive deliberation,
approved the proposed amendments to the Inter-ministerial Investment
Committee’s procedures.
This
committee’s establishment aims to streamline the process of attracting both
domestic and foreign investments, foster coordination among relevant ministries
and departments in investment planning stages, create an investment-friendly
environment and ensure effective management while offering essential
information to potential investors about projects in Afghanistan.
Furthermore,
following a thorough discussion, the plan for constructing Jahan Park in
Kabul’s eleventh district by the public-private partnership received initial
approval.
The
Kabul Municipality was tasked with reopening negotiations with the contracting
company to determine the contract period and address other significant
concerns. According to this plan, the private sector will invest 960 million
Afghanis in 150 jeribs of land, with 35 percent of the revenue allocated to the
Kabul Municipality.
The Park
is expected to be completed within three years, in compliance with city
regulations, and equipped with all necessary amenities.
Additionally,
the meeting saw a decision to promote domestic salt production to meet the
country’s needs.
The
Ministry of Mines and Petroleum was instructed to reduce the royalty on raw
materials for domestic salt production and processing factories.
The
Ministry of Industry and Commerce was directed to allocate space in provincial
industrial parks provide comprehensive support to all factories and ensure that
they meet the required standards. Those failing to meet the standards will be
mandated to reach compliance promptly.
This
strategy aims to achieve self-sufficiency in salt from domestic sources. The
Food and Drug Authority has been tasked with enforcing strict measures to
prevent substandard salt from entering the market.
Finally,
the committee led by the Ministry of Water and Energy was entrusted with the
responsibility of devising a comprehensive plan for determining and securing
properties related to water dams and riverbeds. This plan will be presented at
the next Economic Commission meeting.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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https://bakhtarnews.af/en/ecrm-approved-amendments-proposed-by-inter-ministerial-committee/
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PM calls
upon global leaders to stop wars
Oct 18,
2023
Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called on world leaders to put an end to wars,
saying that women and children are the worst victims of any conflict.
"We
don't want any war. Not as a politician or a prime minister, but as a mother,
I'm calling upon world leaders to stop the arms race," she said.
The
prime minister said the world first witnessed the Russia-Ukraine war last year
and now the Israeli attack on Palestine this year.
She said
this while addressing a gathering of women entrepreneurs at her GanoBhaban
residence following the inauguration of the Joyeeta Tower in the city's
Dhanmondi.
Earlier
in the morning, the prime minister inaugurated the 12-storey Joyeeta Tower that
was built on one bigha land at a cost of Tk 168 crore.
Hasina
said the tower was built to help grassroots women market their products easily
and thus become self-independent financially.
Briefly
describing the measures taken by her government for women's welfare, she said,
"We've introduced the system of reserving posts for women in union,
upazila, and district councils mainly to explore women's leadership from the
grassroots."
The
premier also urged women to bring every inch of land under cultivation against
the backdrop of the global economic recession and rise in inflation.
"We
have to grow our own food. So, grow whatever you can by utilising every inch of
your fallow lands," she said.
Hasina
finally called upon all to vote her party to power again in the upcoming
general election to sustain the country's development.
"The
people of the country got freedom by voting for the boat [AL electoral symbol].
Today, Bangladesh has the status of a developing country," she said.
The
premier said that Bangladesh is now witnessing democracy as her party is in
power.
"People's
rights are now guaranteed, economic progress is being ensured, and the country
is moving forward," she added.
Source: thedailystar.net
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the full text of the original
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/pm-calls-upon-global-leaders-stop-wars-3446281
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/ujjain-garba-bans-tilak-aadhaar/d/130927