Day: 28 June 2023

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has added Russia’s military forces to his annual “list of shame” of parties to armed conflict who commit grave violations against children. Unfortunately, he again omitted Israel, which belongs on the list. This sends a mixed message about the UN’s willingness to hold powerful governments accountable, said Jo Becker, Human Rights Watch Advocacy Director, Children’s Rights Division. ‘Globally, violations against children occurred on a shocking scale in 2022. The UN verified over 24,000 instances in which armed forces or groups killed or injured children, subjected them to sexual violence, abduction, or recruitment as soldiers, or attacked schools and hospitals. Over half the violations took place in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Israel/Palestine, Somalia, Syria, and Ukraine,’ she wrote. ‘Israel’s continued omission from the list of shame does a grave disservice to Palestinian children. The secretary general’s report found Israeli forces responsible for 975 child casualties and 110 attacks on schools and hospitals in 2022. The UN has attributed over 6,700 Palestinian child casualties to Israeli forces from 2015-2020. While the secretary-general has never included Israel in his list, he has included other forces or groups responsible for far fewer violations,’ said Becker, adding that ‘the secretary-general’s continued unwillingness to hold Israeli forces accountable for massive violations puts many children at risk.’ The Advocacy Director stressed that Guterres should hold all governments to account for their violations, regardless of their influence. ‘The stigma attached to the secretary-general’s ‘list of shame’ is considerable. Israel and other countries have resorted to aggressive lobbying and, in some cases, even UN blackmail, to stay off the list of the worst violators. The only credible way off is to sign and implement a concrete action plan with the UN to end violations. The secretary-general needs to hold all governments to account for their violations, no matter how powerful.’

Source: Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA

Israeli settlers, protected by soldiers, today attacked Palestinian residents in the village of Um al-Akhouas in Masafer Yatta, in the south of the occupied West Bank, after the village residents and activists confronted the settlers who attempted to build tents on their lands. Ratib al-Jubour, coordinator of the Popular Committees to Resist the Wall and Settlements in South Hebron, told WAFA that the settlers came from the illegal settlements of Mitzpe Yair and Beni Yacov Dalia. He said the soldiers detained four siblings from the village and three Israeli and international anti-settlements activists after they confronted the settlers. Ten other people suffered bruises and cuts after being attacked by settlers and were treated at the location.

Source: Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA

The State of Palestine is appalled by the decision of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to, once again, omit the Israeli occupation army and settler militias from the list of children’s rights violators, despite the fact that his reports detail the overwhelming evidence about Israel’s systemic violations of the rights of Palestinian children, today said the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates. ‘Israel is a serial violator of Palestinian children’s rights. The evidence is clear and unequivocal. Israel, its occupying forces, and settler militias have killed and injured over 7000 Palestinian children over the past eight years alone, with full impunity. The occupying Power deliberately targets children and deprives them of their right to life. It detains and tortures children as young as 12 years old and deprives them of their basic rights to counsel and family visits. All these crimes and more are thoroughly documented by relevant United Nations bodies and Special Procedures. That is why they are included in the Secretary General’s reports every year,’ it said. ‘By his omission, the Secretary-General will embolden Israel to continue its unilateral and ludicrous denial of the applicability of international law, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to Palestinian children, thus excusing its clear and well-defined legal obligations in this regard. This deliberate failure has alarming implications for impunity worldwide. It is inexcusable,’ added the Foreign Ministry. ‘Like all criminal actors, Israel attempts to offer lopsided interpretations of international law and conducts disinformation campaigns to justify its violations and crimes against Palestinian children. Such morally, legally, and politically corrupt tactics should not have been entrained. ‘Instead, Israel and all violators of children’s rights must be held accountable for their violations. Willfully exempting Israel from facing consequences for its well-documented crimes is inconsistent with international law and resolutions that form the basis for the protection of children in armed conflict and accountability for violators. The protection of children in armed conflict is the Secretary-General’s foremost moral, legal and political obligation. Palestinian children cannot be the exception. That is unacceptable,’ the Foreign Ministry concluded its statement.

Source: Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA

Chiefs of tribes and clans host relatives and loved ones during Eid Al-Adha and honor their guests with rich feasts at a “modhif,” a huge house built from reeds.

The chiefs (sheikhs) and notables of the tribe gather at a “modhif” to look into the tribeal issues and settle problems.

The chiefs honor their guests with rich meals and inquire about condition of the tribe members during these gatherings.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

Big group of Kuwaiti citizens gathered in the early hours of the morning Wednesday to perform Eid Al-Adha prayer chanting (LabAik Allahom LabAik, La Sharek Lak Labeik) amidst spiritual, joyful and celebrated atmosphere.

People from all ages greeted each other as they gathered in mosques and playgrounds for Eid Al-Adha prayer.

The mosques and playgrounds are especially granted by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs for Eid Al-Adha prayers in all governorates as it is commonly known every year.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

The Royal Jewelry Museum is an art and history museum in the Zizenia neighborhood of Alexandria, Egypt.

It is located in the former palace of Princess Fatma Al-Zahra’. The building’s halls contain an inestimable collection of jewels and jewelry of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty.

Built in 1919, the museum is packed with unique relics, jewelries, some engraved with diamond and ruby stones dating back to 1805, including a necklace for the wali Ali Pasha and gems for King Fuad I, King Faruk, his spouse Fozia and gifts from the Shah of Iran.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

The State of Qatar affirmed that it is committed to supporting the United Nations’ efforts in countering terrorism and stressed the importance of the constant evaluation and follow-up to combat terrorist threats through cutting-edge technologies.

This came during a remark delivered by HE Major General Dr. Nasser Saeed Al Hajr, Vice-Chairman of the National Counter-Terrorism Committee, during the two-day UN High-level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies of Member States that was convened in New York within the 2023 Counter-Terrorism Week.

HE Major General Dr. Nasser Saeed Al Hajr reiterated the State of Qatar’s condemnation to all terrorist acts as unprovoked criminal acts regardless of their motives and whoever their perpetrators are, when and wherever they have been committed.

He reaffirmed the State of Qatar’s commitment to undertaking its active role in the international community and supporting the UN’s efforts in preventing and combating terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism.

His Excellency pointed out that the State of Qatar is the largest supporter of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and provides annual grant of USD15 million which has been renewed until 2026.

He outlined that such a grant would benefit numerous programs and vital projects UNOCT is carrying out to implement its mandate in policies, coordination and c acity-building, adding that among the global programs that achieved concrete results include: “Countering Terrorist Travel Program, Global Program on Countering Terrorist Threats against Vulnerable Targets, Autonomous and Remotely Operated Systems (AROS), Security of Major Sporting Events and Promotion of Sport and Its Values as a Tool to Prevent Violent Extremism”.

Vice-Chairman of the National Counter-Terrorism Committee added that such a support has been utilized in organizing successful global and regional conferences and occasions, including the first UN Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism that was convened last September, pointing out that the rapid evolving of global terrorism landscape requires persistent evaluation and follow-up, in pursuit of keeping up with variations in the techniques and structures of terrorist groups and places of their operations, including threats posed by the cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Financial Assets, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and 3D printing.

In concluding his statements, HE Major General Dr. Nasser Saeed Al Hajr, Vice-Chairman of the National Counter-Terrorism Committee, considered the UN 2023 Counter-Terrorism Week an opportunity to share information and coordinate efforts on conflicts and emerging threats, in addition to laying out best practices and modern means to counter them, wishing that these efforts would succeed in activating multi-literalism and institutional cooperation to eliminate the scourge of abhorrent terrorism.

Source: Qatar News Agency

The Katara Cultural Village Foundation is organizing a number of events and activities to celebrate Eid Al Adha over three days, receiving thousands of visitors of all ages and nationalities.

Events and activities held on the occasion include a fireworks show in the evening on the Katara corniche, and the Katara Eidiah activity held over the three days.

The Arab Postal Stamps Museum at Building 22 hosts an exhibition of Islamic stamps on the Hajj pilgrim, in addition to screening a documentary about the city of Makkah using VR, in cooperation with the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs. The exhibition is open to the public from 16:30 to 20:00 during the three days of Eid.

The Thuraya Planetarium at Building 47 is presenting a number of shows and 3D films.

Wisdom Square is witnessing a theatrical play for children on positive thinking and the importance of harnessing the mind to overcome life challenges and obstacles.

The Katara Oud Center is organizing a number of musical evenings. The center has invited amateurs and lovers of playing the oud to present their skills and musical pieces, during the daily activity held at 20:00. Additionally, the Qatar Armed Forces Band Regiment will perform on Thursday.

Source: Qatar News Agency