Day: 8 June 2023

Investigators commissioned by the UN’s top human rights body have accused Israel of “delegitimising and silencing civil society” by outlawing Palestinian human rights groups and labelling their members as “terrorists.”

The findings came in the annual report, published on Thursday, by the Human Rights Council’s “Commission of Inquiry.”

The commission, led by a three-member team of human rights experts, was established in 2021 following an 11-day Israeli military raid on Gaza. Israel accuses the rights council, and the commission, of being unfairly biased.

The report said most of the violations it had uncovered were committed by Israel as part of a campaign it says is aimed at “ensuring and enshrining its permanent occupation at the expense of the rights of the Palestinian people.”

Former UN human rights chief Navi Pillay, who leads the commission, accused Israeli and Palestinian authorities of “limiting the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful association.”

“We were particularly alarmed by the situation of Palestinian human rights defenders, who are routinely subject to a range of punitive measures as part of the occupation regime,” she said.

Israeli crackdown

Thursday’s report said the Israeli crackdown on the Palestinian human rights groups was “unjustified and violated fundamental human rights, including the rights to freedom of association, expression, opinion, peaceful assembly, privacy and the right to a fair trial.”

It also aimed at Israel’s deportation of a Palestinian human rights activist last year from the occupied East Jerusalem to France. Israel has accused the activist, Salah Hammouri, of an outlaw group membership.

Chris Sidoti, a member of the commission, said there was “no doubt” that the deportation “constitutes a war crime.”

In a statement released by its UN mission in Geneva, Israel rejected the report’s findings. “The Commission of Inquiry against Israel has no legitimacy. It never had,” it said.

It accused the commission members of having “pre-existing biased prejudices” and compared the commission’s public hearings to gather information for the report to “kangaroo trials.”

Source: TRTworld.com

The Adviser to the President of the Supreme Political Council for Diplomatic Affairs – Head of the High-level Technical Committee concerned with following up on the implementation of the Child Protection Action Plan, Ambassador Abd al-Ilah Hajar, met on Thursday with the co-chairs of the United Nations Country Task Force – United Nations Resident Coordinator William David Gresley, and the United Nations Children’s Fund Resident Representative UNICEF in Yemen, Peter James Hawkins.

During the meeting, progress in the implementation of the Plan of Action for the Protection of Children was discussed.

During the meeting, Ambassador Stone reaffirmed the National Rescue Government’s commitment to implementing the Child Protection Action Plan signed between the Government and the United Nations in April 2022 and its activities and programmes for the protection of children.

It reviewed progress in the implementation of the Action Plan over the past period.

Gresley and Hawkins commended the progress made in the implementation of the Plan of Action and reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to providing all possible support in this regard.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Head of the Foreign Minister’s Office, Ambassador Waheed Abdulwahab Al-Shami.

Source: Yemen News Agency

Israeli occupation forces attacked Palestinian houses and seized an excavator in Zweidin community, east of Yatta city, in the southern occupied West Bank, according to a local activist. Osama Makhamra, an anti-settlement activist, said that the heavily-armed soldiers stormed the community and showered the houses with tear gas canisters, causing several to suffocate. He added that the soldiers rounded up a resident of the community and seized an excavator used in the course of land reclamation works, close to Zif locality. The Palestinians in the Zweidin area, which includes the communities of Arab As-Saray’a, An-Najada, Al-Hathalin, and Ad-Deerat, continue their struggle against the seriously escalating Israeli violations, including the attempts to displace them for the benefit in illegal construction and expansion of the Israeli colonies, in violation of International Law. In May 2022, Israel’s top court gave the army the green light to forcibly expel some 1,300 Palestinians living in twelve villages or hamlets making up the Masafer Yatta area, which relies heavily on animal husbandry as the main source of livelihood, marking one of the largest expulsions carried out by the State of Israel in recent decades. Located in Area C of the West Bank, under full Israeli administrative and military control, the area has been subjected to repeated Israeli violations by settlers and soldiers targeting their main source of living – livestock. It has been designated as a closed Israeli military zone for training since 1980s and accordingly referred to as Firing Zone 918. Israeli violations against the area include demolition of animal barns, homes and residential structures. Issuance of construction permits by Israel to local Palestinians in the area is non-existent.

Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA

HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani was accorded on Thursday an official reception ceremony upon his arrival at the Palace of the Nation in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe.

HE President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon led well-wishers to welcome HH the Amir upon his arrival at the Palace of the Nation.

The ceremony started with playing the Qatari and Tajik national anthems before HH the Amir inspected the Guard of Honor. 21 artillery rounds were fired to welcome HH the Amir.

HH the Amir then shook hands with Their Excellencies members of the Tajik official delegation and senior officials, while HE the President of the Republic of Tajikistan shook hands with Their Excellencies members of the official delegation accompanying HH the Amir.

Source: Qatar News Agency

The State of Qatar participated in the 17th meeting of the GCC Accreditation Center (GAC)’s board of directors, which was held virtually.

In the meeting, the State of Qatar was represented by Assistant of Chairperson of Qatar General Organization for Standards and Metrology and member of the center’s board of directors Eng. Nawaf Ibrahim Al Hamad Al Mana.

The several important topics on the meeting’s agenda included reviewing a report of GAC’s Director-General during the period from December 2022 to May 2023, following up with the recommendations of the 16th meeting held in Riyadh on Dec. 13, 2022, in addition to reviewing the memorandum of the center’s general administration regarding the position of GAC’s Director-General and reviewing and proving the minutes of the 17th meeting of GAC’s board of directors.

Source: Qatar News Agency

Qatar Aeronautical Academy celebrated the graduation of 90 students for the 2022-2023 academic year from six majors, including graduates of the first batch of advanced master’s students in aviation safety management.

HE Minister of Transport Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti handed over the certificates to the graduates, including nine graduates of the advanced master’s program in air safety management, 24 graduates of the pilot training department, 33 graduates of the aircraft engineering and maintenance department, three graduates of the advanced program in airport operations management, and 20 graduates of the air observation department, and one graduate from the meteorology department.

On this occasion, HE Director General of Qatar Aeronautical Academy Sheikh Jabor bin Hamad Al-Thani delivered a speech to congratulate the graduates, praising their efforts to achieve this success to be part of the march of progress in the aviation world.

HE Director General of Qatar Aeronautical Academy said that the Academy has worked hard to provide the best and latest international programs in the field of aviation, adding that it has made great efforts over the past years to reach a prestigious position, by concluding many agreements, memorandums of understanding, and accreditations from international universities to raise the level of disciplines offered to the students and to provide them with the opportunity to study the field of aviation sciences in multiple disciplines such as commercial aviation, aircraft engineering and maintenance, air control, meteorology, airport operations management, security management and passports.

He added that the Academy has modernized its training aircraft fleet, recruited the most qualified trainers, brought in the latest equipment for training, increased the technical training laboratories, and enhanced the Academy’s library so the students can carry out their tasks and responsibilities of aviation specialties, especially as the aviation service sector and market are witnessing is tremendous competition and development.

The ceremony witnessed the graduation of the first batch of the advanced master’s program in aviation safety management, which is a new addition to the achievements of Qatar Aeronautical Academy, and an affirmation of its continuous pursuit of development to obtain advanced levels of air safety and security with the support and supervision of the Ministry of Transport.

The Academy has launched an advanced master’s program in air safety management in cooperation with the National School of Civil Aviation of France (ENAC), which is accredited by the French transport ministry.

Nine students, most of whom are employees of the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) and Qatar Aeronautical Academy, have enrolled in the program in line with their work and specialization.

Source: Qatar News Agency

The Adviser to the President of the Supreme Political Council for Diplomatic Affairs – Head of the High-level Technical Committee concerned with following up on the implementation of the Child Protection Action Plan, Ambassador Abd al-Ilah Hajar, met on Thursday with the co-chairs of the United Nations Country Task Force – United Nations Resident Coordinator William David Gresley, and the United Nations Children’s Fund Resident Representative UNICEF in Yemen, Peter James Hawkins.

During the meeting, progress in the implementation of the Plan of Action for the Protection of Children was discussed.

During the meeting, Ambassador Stone reaffirmed the National Rescue Government’s commitment to implementing the Child Protection Action Plan signed between the Government and the United Nations in April 2022 and its activities and programmes for the protection of children.

It reviewed progress in the implementation of the Action Plan over the past period.

Gresley and Hawkins commended the progress made in the implementation of the Plan of Action and reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to providing all possible support in this regard.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Head of the Foreign Minister’s Office, Ambassador Waheed Abdulwahab Al-Shami.

Source: Yemen News Agency

The Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC) on Thursday released a statement congratulating His Majesty King Abdullah II on the 24th anniversary of his Ascension to the Throne, which is observed every year on June 9. The sentiment was collectively shared by Muhammad Thuneibat, the Chairman of JPMC’s Board of Directors, the company’s CEO, board members, and all of its employees. In the same spirit, Thuneibat also extended heartfelt congratulations to both His Majesty the King and His Highness Prince Al-Hussein bin Abdullah II, the Crown Prince, marking the anniversary of the Great Arab Revolt and Army Day. These historic events are significant occasions in Jordan’s calendar, reflecting the strong sense of nationalism inherent in every Jordanian. Thuneibat, on behalf of the entire JPMC, voiced sincere well-wishes to His Majesty the King and the Crown Prince. In his statement, he emphasized the importance of these commemorative occasions to all Jordanians, expressing hope for continued health and wellness for the King. The statement concluded with an earnest expression of goodwill for the future, with Thuneibat expressing hope for further progress and prosperity for the Jordanian people and the nation as a whole.

Source: Jordan News Agency