Day: 6 July 2023

We had to flee. Or my daughters and I would have been killed,” Fatina al-Ghoul says, weeping as she looks back at a pile of rubble that was once her home.

A bulldozer has already arrived and is clearing up debris from her street, which has been left in ruins.

She and nine other women, her family and neighbours, fled their homes in Jenin’s refugee camp during one of the largest Israeli operations in the occupied West Bank in years.

Fatina’s family is one of hundreds now returning to what’s left of their homes, decimated by drone strikes and fighting between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and armed Palestinians.

The IDF described it as a “counter-terrorism operation”, saying they were targeting weapons stores and manufacturing facilities belonging to militant groups in the area.

But the Palestinian foreign ministry condemned the operation as “open war against the people of Jenin”.

Hundreds of Israeli troops backed by drone strikes entered Jenin refugee camp – where almost 24,000 people live in an area of less than half a square kilometre – on Monday morning, triggering intense gun battles with armed Palestinians inside.

Palestinian health officials said 12 Palestinians were killed over the next two days, including four children, and that more than 100 others were injured. The Israeli military said one of its soldiers was killed as its forces started to withdraw on Tuesday night.

“My house has been completely destroyed. Everything is broken and burned. It’s all damaged,” Fatina says.

Several local hospitals also told the BBC that they were struggling to cope with the fallout from the fighting.

Thousands of locals also took to the streets on Wednesday for the funerals of those killed. So far, it has been confirmed to the BBC that eight of the dead were members of the military wings of the main Palestinian factions.

Guns were fired in support of the deceased fighters.

Many residents say they blame the Palestinian Authority (PA), the main governing body of the Palestinians in the West Bank, for not protecting them during the operation.

Videos circulating online showed two PA representatives forced to leave a funeral after being chastised by the crowd.

Residents complained that at the beginning of the operation the PA’s security forces simply allowed the Israeli military vehicles to enter the city.

Fatina says she also blames the PA for their lack of action. “This is our home. We are living in fear, and we are the only ones left to protect it.”

“There are agreements between the PA and Israel. The PA has not broken the agreement and security services have done their job during the military operation according to what it was asked to do by the Palestinian leadership,” Mayor of Jenin City and PA member Akram Rajoub told the BBC.

One fighter from a Palestinian militant group said that Israeli forces had successful destroyed several of its facilities, including a storage unit containing explosives.

However, the scale of the operation inside a densely populated city and refugee camp was criticised by the UN’s human rights chief.

For many residents like Fatina, immediate access to drinking water, food and shelter is now critical.

“Tonight we will sleep on the streets. We can’t even sit down inside the house. There is nowhere else to go, for us or any of our neighbours.”

Source: BBC

A campaign of tweets will be launched today, at nine o’clock in the evening, on the social networking site “Twitter” on the occasion of the anniversary of Imam Ali’s “Wilayah” day guardianship, peace be upon him.

The organizers called for reviving this occasion on the day of completion of religion and completion of grace, the day when the command was revealed from God to His Messenger, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him and his family, by announcing Ali, peace be upon him, as the guardian of the believers.

So he said unanimously among the Muslims “Whoever I am his master, this Ali is his master,” and conveying the message of the Messenger of God, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him and his family, when he said, “Let the present inform the absent,” by participating in the extensive tweet campaign on the hashtags:

#”Wilayah” day

#And _ victory _ from _ his _ victory

Tweet bank link: bit.ly/alwilaya44

Source: Yemen News Agency

Today, the people of Sa’ada province commemorated “Wilayah” day of Imam Ali, peace be upon him, with rhetorical and festive activities in 11 squares in the various directorates of the province.

During the ceremony that was held in Sa’ada city, in the presence of a number of ministers, the governor of Sa’ada, Muhammad Jaber Awad, noted the large attendance and mass interaction to commemorate “Wilayah” day in the province center and other squares in the districts.

He pointed out the importance of commemorating “Wilayah” day and consolidating its concept in the souls, to follow the example of Imam Ali, peace be upon him, his courage, sacrifices, and support for the true Islamic religion.

While Abdullah Al-Ghalbi reviewed the appropriate speech, the incident of guardianship and the communication of the Prophet Muhammad, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him and his family, in response to God in conveying the proof, completing the blessing, and perfecting the religion.

He affirmed the firm stance of the Yemeni people against the Zionist enemy and the forces of global hegemony and arrogance and their tools of agents, mercenaries, and his constant support for the Palestinian people and resistance until the victory is achieved.

The ceremony, which was attended by heads of military, security, social bodies and leaders, included paragraphs of folklore, an expression of joy at the commemoration of Wilayah Day, ” Eid al-Ghadir”, and the singing participation of the Sa’ada band.

Source: Yemen News Agency

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi, on Thursday held extensive talks with Omani Minister of Foreign Affairs, Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi, ahead of the meetings of the 11th session of Jordanian-Omani Joint Ministerial Committee. During the meeting, the two ministers affirmed “depth of the historical, strategic and brotherly” relations between the two countries and their joint keenness to develop ties in various fields. The two FMs said this effort comes in implementation of directives of His Majesty King Abdullah II and His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, and agreed to continue steps to increase joint cooperation aimed to carry out outcomes of the summit that brought together the two countries’ leaders last October in Muscat, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. The two ministers also discussed a slew of regional issues, foremost is the Palestinian cause and efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis. The duo presided over 11th session of the Joint Jordanian-Omani Ministerial Committee, which convened in implementation of outcomes of the recent Royal visit to Oman. Moreover, the FMs went over opportunities to expand fields of joint political, economic, investment, tourism and cultural cooperation. The FMs also signed minutes of the committee meeting, which aims to institutionalize joint “broader” cooperation in various fields, as well as a memorandum of understanding and four executive programs in the fields of industrial estates, educational cooperation, youth, consumer protection, and the environmental field.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Higher Council for Science and Technology Chairman, Prince El Hassan bin Talal, discussed Thursday regional and international cooperation on the Great Rift Valley line to direct regional policies to meet human and environmental needs and focus on sustainable development. During a dialogue session entitled: “Tackling the Great Rift Valley: resilience in the Region by Linking the Environment, food, energy and water systems,” Prince El Hassan discussed the “need to direct greater” attention to the management of shared water basins linked to the Rift Valley to work on water sustainability and enhance the efficiency of natural resource management. He called to form a commission for countries bordering the Red Sea to exchange experiences and discuss common challenges to reach solutions for enhancing regional partnerships. Prince El Hassan noted the “importance” of promoting human dignity and empowering the people of the Great Rift Valley to face future challenges, especially those related to climate change. “Belonging to the region is a fundamental pillar for countering the challenges of the Great Rift Valley, especially the natural ones that have begun to appear, the latest of which is the earthquake in Turkey and Syria,” he said. He urged strengthening regional cooperation, expanding responsibilities and active participation. He noted the “need” to look at the countries of the Levant and Arabian Peninsula from “a holistic view” as an inclusive region with close ties. Edamah Association for Energy and Water and Jordan Bromine organised the session. Ambassadors, experts and activists concerned with energy and water issues and food joined the session.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Jordan and Oman’s foreign ministers held a meeting Thursday in Amman to discuss Jordan-Oman “strategic” ties and efforts to develop bilateral cooperation. In a conference, after chairing the meeting of the eleventh session of the Jordanian-Omani Joint Ministerial Committee, the two ministers discussed Jordan and Oman’s efforts to expand cooperation following the summit meeting between His Majesty King Abdullah and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said in Oman in 2022. After the committee meetings, the two ministers signed five memorandums of understanding and action programmes in industry, investment, education, consumer protection, environment and youth. The Foreign Minister of Jordan, Ayman Safadi, told journalists that during the King’s visit to Oman in 2022, nine memorandums of understanding and executive programmes were signed, and in follow-up to the outputs of the visit, five memos and executive programmes were signed today. Safadi added that the two countries worked to sign 22 new cooperation agreements in the economic, investment, tourism, commercial and cultural sectors. Safadi added that the agreements signed today come after signing an investment agreement to find the legal formula to enable the Omani Investment Authority to invest in Jordan. “The steps we are taking are clear, the sectors that target them are specific, the political guidance from the leadership is clear, and our work is continuing, God willing, to raise the ties [between Jordan and Oman] to their highest level,” Safadi added. He said that he and his Omani counterpart agreed that there would be follow-up committees in the two countries whose main task would be to submit quarterly reports on the level of achievement in implementing the plans. Safadi noted the importance of the role of the private sector and the activation of the Jordan-Omani Businessmen Council. Safadi said the meetings focused on the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories “in light of the serious deterioration that we have witnessed in the past days as a result of the Israeli aggression on Jenin.” “We affirm that the only way to realise security and stability is finding a real political horizon towards achieving a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution,” he added. Safadi noted the “need” to take action for calm, a step towards starting “effective” negotiations to end the Israeli occupation based on the two-state solution. Safadi briefed his counterpart on his visit to Syria as part of pan-Arab efforts to end the Syrian crisis through negotiations. On the upcoming Security Council meeting called by the UAE and the Jordanian coordination, Safadi said, “Certainly we, as Arab countries, coordinate continuously. The fraternal state of UAE is the Arab representative in the Security Council. “It plays its role fully in conveying and adopting the Arab point of view and working to deal with it at the Security Council.” “The position on the Palestinian issue is one. All Arab countries agree that the only way to resolve the conflict is the two-state solution, and all countries agree on rejecting the Israeli escalation. “All countries agree that an environment conducive to achieving security and stability cannot be created unless the legitimate rights of the Palestinians are met.” Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi said, “We feel great satisfaction with the results achieved during these meetings and the memorandums of understanding and executive programmes we signed today.” He added that the meeting identified future courses of action, “and we look forward to translating these results into a tangible reality that people will feel.” Albusaidi added, “The Omani-Jordanian ties are exemplary based on a strong political will from the monarchs of the two countries.” “There is no doubt that the central issue is the Palestinian cause, and I think the position is quite clear to everyone regarding the strategic importance of ending the Israeli occupation of the occupied Palestinian territories so that our region and the world can enjoy the prosperity and stability of this region,” he said.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Israeli settlers this evening attacked Palestinian commuters on the northern West Bank roads injuring one person and damaging cars, according to a local official. Ghassan Daghlas, an official, said settlers threw rocks at Palestinian vehicles in Huwara, south of Nablus. One person was injured in the hand and some cars had their windows smashed, he said. The settlers also attacked a Palestinian ambulance and obstructed its movement.

Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA

The Israeli occupation forces targeted and severely damaged the Latin church in Jenin during their recent aggression against the northern West Bank city and its refugee camp, which lasted for two days. The parish priest of Jenin, Fr. Labib Deibs, told WAFA that the church was severely damaged in addition to the fire in it and damage to the prayer room after it was directly targeted by the Israeli occupation forces. He pointed out that the Latin Patriarch of Palestine, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, is going to visit the church to inspect the destruction and devastation as a result of the Israeli aggression. Deibs valued the role of specialized institutions and activists in Jenin, who continue to work to repair the damages in the church in a message confirming the unity of blood and destiny among the one people. The Israeli occupation forces launched a massive aggression against Jenin and its refugee camp at dawn last Monday, which lasted for two days and resulted in the killing of 12 people, including five children, and more than 140 injured, including 30 seriously, in addition to the destruction of the camp’s infrastructure and severe damage to homes and property.

Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA