Region

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi emphasized that the ongoing war in Gaza is causing widespread destruction and claiming tens of thousands of lives, describing it as a disgraceful humanitarian tragedy that will remain etched in history.In a speech marking the 43rd anniversary of Sinai Liberation Day, President El-Sisi stated that from the very beginning, Egypt's stance has been clear and unequivocal, calling for a ceasefire, the release of hostages and detainees, and the delivery of sufficient humanitarian aid, while firmly rejecting any displacement of Palestinians from their land.He added that Egypt, as history has shown, stands as a steadfast barrier against attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause. He stressed that the reconstruction of Gaza must proceed in accordance with the Arab-Islamic plan, without any form of displacement, to safeguard the legitimate rights of Palestinians and protect Egypt's national security.President El Sisi reiterated that just and comprehensive peace can only be achieved through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, in line with international legitimacy. He affirmed that this is the sole guarantee for ending cycles of violence and revenge, paving the way for lasting peace.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) warned that Israel's blockade of Gaza, now in place for over 50 days, is causing a rapid depletion of essential humanitarian supplies - including food, fuel, medical aid, and childhood vaccines.In its latest update on the situation in Gaza, the agency reported that its flour supplies completely run out, and just two days ago, it had only 250 food parcels left in stock.UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the situation is dire, as children are starving, the sick are not receiving medical treatment, people are dying, stressing that the time has come to lift the restrictions - immediately.The ongoing restrictions on aid and other supplies have driven the cost of basic necessities to unprecedented levels. According to a market monitoring analysis released this month by the World Food Programme (WFP), the blockade has severely weakened Gaza's already fragile economy, with massive price hikes for food and other essential goods.WFP reported that prices have soared between 150% and 700% above pre-war levels-and in some cases, by as much as 1400% compared to prices during the temporary ceasefire. In April alone, prices were 50% higher than in March. Cooking gas, in particular, surged by 4000% compared to before the war, and by 600% since the February ceasefire.UNRWA added that many families are resorting to unsafe and makeshift methods for cooking, using waste materials and firewood due to the lack of fuel.During his daily press briefing in New York, Dujarric said that a UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) team - accompanied by Acting Humanitarian Coordinator Suzanna Tkalec - visited Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis. They also toured the main desalination plant in southern Gaza, which has been operating at just 15% capacity since early March due to power cuts imposed by Israel.

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfig Al Rabiah emphasized that the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the Grand Mosque in Makkah has significantly enhanced crowd management and rapid emergency response, without disrupting the sanctity of the holy site.He also noted that the Nusuk application, which provides over 100 digital services in 20 languages, facilitated the issuance of more than 13 million permits to visit Al Rawdah Al Sharifah in 2024, a significant increase from 4 million in 2022.During his address at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Dr. Al Rabiah stated that serving the Guests of Allah is not merely a duty but an honor and a sacred trust. He reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's commitment to ensuring a seamless, dignified, and spiritual journey for pilgrims.The minister highlighted several groundbreaking initiatives that have transformed services for pilgrims, including the electronic pathway in collaboration with over 80 countries and the introduction of smart cards that connect pilgrims with their personal and medical information, facilitating movement and ensuring their safety.Dr. Al Rabiah revealed that Saudi Arabia welcomed over 18.5 million pilgrims and Umrah performers in 2024, reflecting the outcomes of investments in infrastructure and humanitarian innovation.He also stressed the importance of preserving Islamic heritage, stating that the Kingdom has restored 55 Islamic and cultural sites to strengthen visitors' connection to the rich Islamic history of Makkah and Madinah. (QNA)

/General, April 25 (QNA) - Five Palestinians from the same family were martyred early this morning after an Israeli airstrike targeted their tent in southern Gaza.According to the Palestinian news agency (WAFA), the strike hit a tent belonging to a family in Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis, killing a man, his pregnant wife, and their three children.In a separate incident, a three-year-old child died from severe burns after a fire broke out in their tent in the same area.Meanwhile, Israeli artillery shelled Qizan Rashwan neighborhood in southwestern Khan Younis.Since the beginning of the Israeli assault on Gaza on October 7, 2023, the death toll climbed to 51,355, with 117,248 people injured, amid mounting UN and international warnings over the worsening humanitarian crisis.The Israeli occupation resumed its offensive on Gaza on March 18, following a two-month pause under a ceasefire agreement that took effect on January 19. However, Israel repeatedly violated the terms of the ceasefire during that time, continuing airstrikes across the Strip, causing further casualties, refusing to implement humanitarian protocols, and tightening its suffocating blockade on the territory, which is now facing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.

Syria has embraced a UK government decision to lift sanctions on 12 entities in the Middle Eastern nation.A statement from the Syrian Foreign Ministry said the updates to UK Syria sanctions regulations is a constructive step towards normalizing international relations and supporting the urgent needs of the Syrian people.The UK Treasury announced in a statement today that 12 Syrian entities, including the Ministries of Defense and Interior and media outlets, were no longer on the previously prepared sanctions list.Welcoming the move, the Syrian foreign ministry said that lifting sanctions on key sectors such as financial services and energy production, along with removing restrictions on the Syrian Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Interior, and national media institutions, will directly contribute to improving the conditions of Syrians.It added that these measures will enable Damascus to initiate vital reforms in the public and security sectors, as well as attract the investments needed to rebuild Syria's infrastructure and national economy.The statement affirmed Syria's readiness to work with all international partners committed to peace, stability, and the reconstruction of Syria. (

Gaza rescue teams and medics said Israeli air strikes killed at least 55 people on Thursday, as the military threatened an even larger offensive if hostages were not freed soon.Israel resumed its military assault in the Gaza Strip on March 18, after the collapse of a two-month ceasefire that had brought a temporary halt to fighting in the blockaded Palestinian territory.Israel's army chief, visiting troops in Gaza on Thursday, threatened to expand the offensive in Gaza if hostages were not released.The warning came as the army issued fresh evacuation orders for northern areas of Gaza ahead of a planned attack.Earlier in the day, six members of one family -- a couple and their four children -- were killed when an air strike levelled their home in northern Gaza City, the civil defence agency said in a statement.Nidal al-Sarafiti, a relative, said the strike happened as the family was sleeping.Nine people were killed and several wounded in another strike on a former police station in the Jabalia area of northern Gaza, according to a statement from the Indonesian hospital, where the casualties were taken.In another deadly attack, the bodies of 12 people were recovered after the Hajj Ali family home, also in Jabalia, was struck, the civil defence said.Another 28 people were killed in strikes across the territory, medics and the civil defence agency reported.They came as the Israeli military ordered Palestinians living in the northern areas of Beit Hanoun and Sheikh Zayed to evacuate ahead of an attack.The United Nations has warned that Israel's expanding evacuation orders across Gaza are resulting in the "forcible transfer" of people into ever-shrinking areas.Aid agencies estimate that the vast majority of Gaza's 2.4mn residents have been displaced at least once since the war began.In the aftermath of a strike in Khan Younis, AFP footage showed bodies on the ground, including those of a young woman and a boy in body bags, surrounded by grieving relatives kissing and stroking their faces.Since Israel resumed its military operations, at least 1,978 people have been killed in Gaza, raising the overall death toll to at least 51,355 since the war began, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.The military acknowledged on Thursday that Israeli tank fire had killed a UN worker in the central Gaza city of Deir el-Balah last month, according to an investigation's initial findings.It had initially denied operating in the area where a Bulgarian employee of United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) was killed on March 19.Bulgaria said it had received an "official apology" from Israel over the killing.The findings came after the military on Sunday reported on a separate probe into the killing of 15 Palestinian emergency workers in Gaza.It admitted that operational failures led to their deaths, and said a field commander would be dismissed.

The Jordanian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources signed a strategic agreement today to establish the National Advanced Natural Gas Company (Watani), a joint venture between the Jordan Petroleum Products Marketing Company (JoPetrol) and the Jordan Liquefied Gas Company. This agreement aims to enhance energy security and utilize national resources.During the signing ceremony, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Dr. Saleh Al Kharabsheh stated: "the creation of Watani aligns with our national strategy to secure reliable energy supplies and reduce dependence on imports." He highlighted the importance of the Risha gas field as a cornerstone of Jordan's energy future, with plans to ramp up production to 418 million cubic feet per day by 2030 well above the Kingdom's current needs for electricity generation, according to Jordan News Agency (Petra).Dr. Al Kharabsheh explained that the project aims to deliver gas to industrial cities and the residential sector, starting with Amman and Zarqa, contributing to reducing energy costs across various sectors.JoPetrol's CEO, Eng. Khaled Zoubi, considered the new company a strategic step toward a more efficient and sustainable energy future.The establishment of Watani comes within the framework of the Economic Modernization Vision 2033, enhancing reliance on local natural gas from the Risha field and providing reliable solutions for industry, transportation, and other sectors, supporting the Jordanian economy and creating a favorable regulatory environment for investment.

The death toll from the ongoing Israeli genocide in the Gaza Strip, since Oct. 7, 2023, has risen to 51,355 martyrs, in addition to 117,248 injured.In a statement on Thursday, medical sources said that around 50 martyrs and 152 injured people had arrived at hospitals across the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 1,978 and the number of wounded to 5,207 since the renewed aggression.They noted that a number of the martyrs remain buried under the rubble of destroyed homes and facilities, as well as on the streets, as ambulances and other specialists cannot reach them due to limited resources.The Israeli occupation forces resumed their aggression on the Gaza Strip on March 18, following a two-month pause. This has resulted in more deaths and injuries, and exacerbated the suffering of Palestinians amidst ongoing refusal to implement humanitarian protocols and a stifling blockade of the Strip, which is experiencing an unprecedented tragedy.

Thirteen Palestinians were martyred and others wounded early Thursday in Israeli shelling of several areas in the Gaza Strip.The Palestinian news agency (WAFA) reported that six Palestinians from one family were killed in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, northwest of Gaza City, after the Israeli occupation bombed their house.Three Palestinians were martyred and others were wounded in Israeli shelling that targeted a tent housing displaced family west of Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip.A man and his wife were martyred in Israeli shelling of a family house south of Khan Yunis. Additionally, two children were martyred and others were wounded in a shelling of a tent housing displaced persons in the Khan Yunis area.According to medical sources, more than 17,000 children were martyred since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. The death toll has risen to 51,305, with over 117,096 wounded since Oct. 7, 2023.

Saudi Crown and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud discussed Wednesday with Jordan's King Abdullah II a number of issues on the Arab and Islamic scene, as well as developments in the Middle East.During the Jordanian king's visit to Saudi Arabia, the two sides discussed issues related to regional security and stability.They also discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and the prospects for developing them in various fields.

Three Palestinian civilians were killed Wednesday in an Israeli occupation airstrike that targeted a group of civilians in the city of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.Medical sources reported that the martyrs, a man, his wife, and his daughter, were targeted by Israeli airstrikes while they were on a street in the city center.Israeli artillery shelled the eastern areas of Gaza City, and Israeli aircraft continued to fire north of the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, destroying residential buildings and areas in several parts of the city.Today, the death toll from the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip has risen to 51,305 martyrs and 117,096 wounded since October 7, 2023.The Israeli occupation resumed its aggression on the Gaza Strip on March 18, following a two-month pause under a ceasefire agreement that went into effect on January 19. However, the occupation has violated the terms of the ceasefire throughout the two months, continuing its bombing of various areas in the Gaza Strip, causing casualties and injuries. It has also refused to implement the humanitarian protocol, and has tightened its stifling blockade on the Strip, which is experiencing an unprecedented humanitarian tragedy.

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan reaffirmed its support for the efforts undertaken by the State of Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the United States of America to achieve an immediate ceasefire and ensure the delivery of sufficient humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Jordan emphasized the importance of implementing the prisoner exchange agreement, which was reached through the efforts of the three countries, in all its phases.While presiding over the 163rd session of the Council of the Arab League at the ministerial level held Wednesday at the headquarters of the League in Cairo, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan Ayman Safadi said: "There is no priority today more important than halting the Israeli aggression on Gaza and ending the killing, destruction, starvation and deprivation of all necessities suffered by our people in the Strip."He added that Jordan will continue to work with its Arab brothers and the international community to secure an immediate ceasefire and allow the entry of sufficient humanitarian aid into Gaza.Safadi also pointed to the continued efforts by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to halt illegal Israeli escalation in the occupied West Bank, which, he warned, risks triggering an explosion of the situation and undermines the two-state solution. He reaffirmed the Kingdom's unwavering commitment to safeguarding the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, preserving their identity and the historical and legal status quo, under the framework of the historic Hashemite custodianship.The Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed that peace cannot be achieved unless the Palestinian people obtain all their legitimate rights, asserting: "An independent, sovereign Palestinian state, with occupied Jerusalem as its capital, must emerge along the Jun. 4, 1967, lines, living in security alongside Israel, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant international resolutions."He further underscored: "This is the only way to achieve the just and comprehensive peace we all desire."Safadi concluded by affirming that a just peace remains the only true guarantee for the security of the region and its peoples. (

An Israeli air strike on a school sheltering displaced families in Gaza killed 10 people on Wednesday.Israeli strikes killed 36 people across the besieged territory, while Germany, France and Britain urged Israel to end its blockade on aid entering.Since a January ceasefire collapsed on March 18, Israeli attacks have killed more than 1,600 Palestinians, many of them civilians, according to the Gaza health authorities, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced as Israel seized what it calls a buffer zone of Gaza's land.Israel has also imposed a blockade on all goods into Gaza, including fuel and electricity, since the beginning of March.Medics said the air strike on the Yaffa School in the Tuffah area of Gaza City set fire to tents and classrooms.The Israeli military said Hamas and allied group Islamic Jihad were operating within the school and that it took precautions to reduce harm to civilians before it struck there.Some furniture was still in flames several hours after the strike as people sifted through blackened classrooms and the schoolyard in search of their belongings.The foreign ministers of Germany, France, and Britain jointly called on Israel to adhere to international law and allow the unhindered passage of humanitarian aid into Gaza.They also urged for the ceasefire to be restored and for remaining hostages held by resistance group Hamas to be released."Humanitarian aid must never be used as a political tool and Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor subjected to any demographic change," the ministers said in a statement.The Gaza Health Ministry said an Israeli missile hit the upper building of the Durra Children's Hospital in Gaza City, damaging the intensive care unit and destroying the solar panel system that feeds the facility with power. No one was killed.Hamas says it is prepared to free the hostages only as part of a deal that ends the war, but it has rejected demands to lay down its arms.

Israeli occupation forces carried out widespread raids across numerous Palestinian cities and villages in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday.According to Palestinian news agency (WAFA) the raids were conducted in various areas across the governorates of Bethlehem, Ramallah, Tulkarm, Hebron, and Nablus.The occupation forces erected military checkpoints, intensified security measures at entrances of some towns, and detained scores of Palestinians, including children, while storming homes and conducting field interrogations.WAFA further reported that during the hours-long raids, the occupation forces turned some houses into interrogation and investigation centers.Cities and villages across the West Bank continue to face ongoing assaults by Israeli occupation forces, including incursions, raids, arrests, home seizures, vandalism, and the destruction of property.

Director of Supply and Equipment at the Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza Mohammed Al Mughair, said that the Israeli occupation army destroyed last night, in several violent raids, bulldozers and heavy equipment designated for rescue operations and the recovery of the bodies of victims and the wounded from under the rubble of destroyed buildings in the Gaza Strip.In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al Mughair said that the raids resulted in the destruction of nine large bulldozers after they were targeted inside the Jabalia Municipality headquarters in the northern Gaza Strip.He noted that the nine pieces of equipment were brought in two batches during the recent ceasefire.He added that civil defense crews used bulldozers to retrieve the bodies and remains of martyrs from under the rubble and to clear roads to improve response times in the southern Gaza Strip.Al Mughair emphasized that the Israeli occupation's targeting of these equipment and bulldozers, as well as others belonging to municipalities in Gaza, is a clear violation of the 1977 Additional Annex on Humanitarian Intervention, which stipulates the protection of civil defense equipment and vehicles.For its part, the Palestinian Center for Missing and Forcibly Disappeared Persons condemned the crime of destroying bulldozers and heavy equipment by the occupation forces, which were designated for rescue operations, recovering the bodies of victims, and rescuing the injured from under the rubble of destroyed buildings in the Gaza Strip.The center explained in a press release that this deliberate targeting comes despite repeated appeals by local and international bodies, including an appeal launched by the center in recent days to the international community and United Nations organizations to allow the entry of this equipment into the besieged Gaza Strip to help recover the bodies of missing children under the rubble.

Saudi Arabia has embraced the growing international support for a conference scheduled to be co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France to resolve the Palestinian issue and implement the two-state solution.This came during a Cabinet session held today, chaired by HRH Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.The Cabinet stressed the need for an immediate return to the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians.Saudi Minister of Media Salman bin Yousef Al Dosari explained in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session that the Cabinet discussed the consultations and communications between Saudi Arabia and friendly countries regarding regional and international developments, prospects for cooperation, and ways to support and enhance it in various fields.He added that the Cabinet renewed Saudi Arabia's commitment to its active role in supporting efforts aimed at establishing international security and stability and alleviating the humanitarian suffering of affected and needy peoples.

Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud held a meeting Tuesday with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, currently visiting Saudi Arabia.During the meeting, both leaders discussed aspects of bilateral relations and explored ways to enhance and develop cooperation across various fields.The discussions also covered the latest regional and international developments, ongoing efforts to achieve security and stability, and the exchange of views on issues of mutual interest.

The Israeli military launched one of the biggest waves of strikes in Gaza for weeks on Tuesday, residents said, and health officials issued a new warning that healthcare faced total collapse from Israel's blockade of all supplies.Gaza's health ministry said a UN-backed polio vaccination campaign meant to target over 600,000 children had been suspended, putting the enclave at risk of the revival of a crippling disease that once had been all-but eradicated.In diplomacy to end the conflict, a Hamas delegation was expected to arrive in Cairo for talks. Two sources familiar with the mediation effort said the delegation would discuss a new offer which would include a truce for 5 to 7 weeks following the release of all hostages and an end to fighting.Gaza residents said Israeli forces bombed several areas across the enclave from tanks, planes, and naval boats. The attacks hit houses, tent encampments and roads, they added.Israel has imposed a total blockade on all supplies to Gaza since the start of March and relaunched its military operations on March 18 after the collapse of a ceasefire.Since then, Israeli strikes have killed more than 1,600 Palestinians according to the Gaza health authorities, and hundreds of thousands have been forced from their homes as Israel seized what it calls a buffer zone of Gaza land.The United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced on Tuesday that the Gaza Strip is facing "the worst humanitarian situation" since the start of the Israeli assault on Oct. 7, 2023, due to Israel’s continued obstruction of humanitarian aid deliveries, a QNA report said.Deputy spokesperson for OCHA, Jens Laerke, stated that humanitarian aid has not entered the Strip for 50 days, while commercial goods have been halted for even longer.He stated that a steady slide into a full-blown catastrophe can clearly be seen in Gaza. Right now, the humanitarian situation in Gaza may be the worst it has been since the war began.Israel's 18-month bombing campaign has rendered nearly all buildings in the Gaza Strip uninhabitable, and Gaza's 2.3 million people now mostly live in the open under makeshift tents. Since the total blockade was imposed last month, all 25 UN-supplied bakeries making bread have been shut.

The death toll from Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023, has hit 51,266 fatalities, with 116,991 injuries.In a statement, medical sources reported that the number of casualties since the onset of the Israeli onslaught on the Strip on March 18 reached 1,890 martyrs and 4,950 injured.The statement added that the Gaza hospitals received 26 martyrs and 60 injured over the past 24 hours, highlighting that several martyrs are still under the rubble of bombed-out homes and facilities and on the roads, with paramedics and specialized personnel unable to reach them due to lack of potential.On March 18, the Israeli occupation forces resumed their offensive in the Gaza Strip after a two-month respite under a ceasefire deal that took effect on Jan. 19.However, Israel breached the terms of this deal throughout the two months and continued to bombard multiple areas across the enclave, which led to casualties.It also rejected enforcing the humanitarian protocol and stepped up its siege on the Strip, which is experiencing an unprecedented humanitarian tragedy.

Medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported that 602,000 children are at risk of permanent paralysis and chronic disabilities unless the Israeli occupation allows the entry of polio vaccines, which have been halted for 40 days.The blockade on vaccines hampers efforts to implement the fourth phase of the polio prevention campaign, the sources added.They also stressed that Gaza's children are facing serious and unprecedented health complications due to the lack of proper nutrition and drinking water.Polio vaccination campaigns are an essential part of public health programs carried out by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in cooperation with international organizations such as UNICEF and the World Health Organization. Given the exceptional conditions in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing siege and Israeli aggression, vaccination campaigns are implemented in phases to ensure that as many children as possible are reached.From 2022, three phases of the national polio vaccination campaign have been launched in Gaza, targeting children from infancy up to 5 years old. Despite logistical challenges, the campaign has achieved relatively wide coverage.The fourth phase was intended to enhance community immunity and prevent the spread of the virus, but the Israeli occupation's blockade on vaccine entry for over 40 days has delayed the start of this phase, endangering the lives of more than 600,000 children.