Day: 7 October 2023

Sky News Arabia quoted the official Israeli Broadcasting Authority as saying, ‘Hamas militants took control of at least three settlements in the Gaza Strip, about 5 hours after the movement’s surprise attack began this morning.’ Pictures and videos showed Hamas resistance fighters in a number of Israeli settlements near Gaza, after they stormed across the border.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

The head of the political bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement “Hamas”, Ismail Haniyeh, confirmed that the Palestinian resistance is engaged in these historical moments in a heroic epic whose title is Al-Aqsa, our sanctities, and our prisoners, as its central and fundamental cause is the criminal Zionist aggression that took place against the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Haniyeh said in a press statement today, Saturday: “The Zionist aggression reached its peak during the past days, as thousands of fascist criminal settlers desecrated the Shrine of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and performed their prayers there in preparation for imposing Zionist sovereignty over it, which is the step towards which we had information that he was going on by imposing sovereignty over Al-Aqsa Mosque, even if the world remained silent, we would not remain silent regarding this desecration and this intention of aggression.

He added, “We are confident that all of our nation, from east to west, from north to south, and everywhere, will be part of the battle to defend the Prophet’s site, may God bless him and grant him peace.”

Haniyeh called on every Muslim everywhere and all the free people of the world to stand in this just battle in defense of Al-Aqsa and the Prophet’s mission, to do whatever they can, stressing: “This is not the time to wait and watch, and it is not the time for victory in the heart only, but victory in action.”

He continued: “The enemy besieging Gaza has planned to surprise it and escalate the aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip, in addition to the settlement and aggression that continues every moment in the West Bank, which seeks to uproot our people and expel them from their land, and the occupation continues to detain our prisoners for decades, and its violation of the agreements when it re-arrested the liberators from the Loyalty of the Free People deal.

He added: “For all this, we are waging a battle of honor, resistance and dignity to defend Al-Masra and Al-Aqsa under the title announced by Commander-in-Chief Abu Khaled Al-Deif, the Al-Aqsa flood. This flood began in Gaza and will extend to the West Bank and abroad and every place where our people and nation are present.””

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani received, this Saturday morning, the Minister of State for Gas Affairs in Turkmenistan, A. Maqsad Babayev, and his accompanying delegation.

During the meeting, according to a statement by Al-Sudani’s office, they discussed bilateral relations between the two countries, ways to develop them, and strengthening cooperation frameworks in the field of energy and gas, which culminated in the signing of a joint memorandum of understanding to import Turkmenistani gas to Iraq, to meet the needs of production stations and the electrical system from it.

Al-Sudani blessed the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Electricity and the Turkmen Ministry of Gas, to supply gas, and an Iraqi delegation is scheduled to go to Turkmenistan on the twenty-fifth of this month to sign contracts.

The Prime Minister stressed: “The government has paid great attention to the energy sector in Iraq and has made it one of its most prominent priorities and a basis for developing and diversifying the economy, and developing other vital sectors.

He explained: “Iraq possesses a great wealth of gas, but it needs time to invest it optimally, after delaying this matter for years,” indicating that the trend to import Turkmenistan gas comes within the government’s vision and strategy to diversify sources of gas imports, as well as diversify energy sources to ensure the continuity of operation of power generation plants.

For his part, Babayev conveyed the greetings of the President of Turkmenistan to the Prime Minister, and expressed his country’s desire to strengthen joint cooperation between Iraq and Turkmenistan in various fields, in a way that contributes to developing relations between the two countries and achieves the interests of their peoples.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on today, Saturday,the Palestinian and Israeli sides to exercise the utmost restraint and avoid exposing civilians to further risks.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry warned, in a statement on its Facebook account, of “serious repercussions as a result of the escalation of violence, which would negatively affect the future of truce efforts.” It also warned of the dire risks of this escalation.

The Arab Republic of Egypt called on international actors involved in supporting efforts to resume the peace process to intervene immediately to stop the ongoing escalation.

The statement urged Israel to stop attacks and provocative actions against the Palestinian people, and to adhere to the rules of international and humanitarian law with regard to the responsibilities of the occupying state.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement, Muhammad al-Deif, announced earlier today the start of Operation “Al-Aqsa Flood” to put an end to “Israeli violations.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The Head of Al-Nasr coalition, Haider Al-Abadi, affirmed his support for the right of the Palestinians to their land and state, and their right to resist the occupation and achieve freedom and sovereignty.

Al-Abadi said in a blog post on the X website: “The Zionist occupation of Palestine violates the rights of peoples and international resolutions, and the international community must support the Palestinian right and force the occupier to evacuate.”

He added: History has proven that the future belongs to the peoples and their rights are against every occupier, usurper, and tyrant.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Al Jazeera satellite channel announced: “The Palestinian resistance launched a new missile attack towards Israeli sites and cities.”

The Commander-in-Chief of the Al-Qassam Brigades, Muhammad Al-Deif, announced this morning the start of Operation “Al-Aqsa Flood,” stressing that “the first strike that targeted the enemy’s positions, airports, and military fortifications exceeded 5,000 missiles and shells.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The Free Patriotic Movement’s Metn branch followed today, with great concern, the unfolding events taking place on the northern Metn coast, especially the scattered disputes between groups of Lebanese and Syrians of known affiliations, and the resulting reactions that may drag the country to undesirable consequences that serve agendas of foreign interests at the expense of national interests. In an issued statement on Saturday, the Movement considered that the existential danger that the Lebanese are experiencing today due to the Syrian displacement results from: 1- Not accepting FPM’s demand, in the person of its leader, MP Gebran Bassil, to control the country’s borders and displacement ever since 2011 and accusing him of racism 2- Failure of the successive Social Affairs Ministers from 2011 to 2021 to carry out their duties towards the issue of displacement 3- Reluctance of the caretaker government and some of the security and military apparatuses responsible for controlling the borders to carry out their duty and launch a practical plan to address the conditions of the displaced. Finally, the FPM statement stressed that “addressing the existential crisis of displacement is not through hate speech and violence promoted by supporters of parties that have tolerated and welcomed the issue of displacement for 12 years, but rather with each party assuming its national responsibility and taking the initiative to control the borders and develop a national plan to accelerate the displaced’s return.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon

Weather inshore today until 6:00 pm on Saturday will be hot with slight dust to blowing dust at places at times, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather report, warning of strong wind at places at times.

Offshore, it will be slightly dusty, the report added, warning of strong wind high sea.

Wind inshore will be northwesterly 10 to 20 knot gusting to 30 knot at places at times.

Offshore, it will be northwesterly 15 to 25 knot gusting to 32 knot at places.

Visibility inshore will be 03 to 05 kilometers or less at places at times, offshore it will be 05 to 09 kilometers.

Sea state inshore will be 3 to 5 feet. Offshore will be 4 to 8 feet, rises to 10 feet at places.

Area High Tide Low Tide Mini ———- —————- ——————- ————- Messaid 13:31 ** : ** 01:59 ** : ** 28 Wakrah: 11:32 22:24 02:16 ** : ** 30 Doha: 11:45 ** : ** 02:11 23:26 32 Al Khor: 09:36 19:55 00:32 16:41 28 Ruwais 10:22 ** :** 04:04 17:28 31 Dukhan: 03:52 15:36 09:36 22:29 30 Sunrise: 05:28 LT Sunset: 17:14 LT ——————

Source: Qatar News Agency

At least 15 people perished and over 40 others received injuries in a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck western Afghanistan on Saturday, said officials.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the epicenter was 40 kilometers northwest of Herat city, the provincial capital in Afghanistan?’s west.

The earthquake was followed by seven aftershocks of magnitudes between 4.6 and 6.3.

Afghan National Disaster Management Authority spokesman, Mullah Jan Sayeq in a statement to media confirmed that at least 15 people lost their lives in three villages of the Zinda Jan district of Herat while over 40 have received injuries in the earthquake where tremors were felt in three western provinces of Afghanistan, including Farah and Badghis.

“These are the preliminary numbers. There is the possibility the numbers could increase,” the spokesman said.

He also confirmed reports of landslides in nearby rural and mountainous areas having a possibility of people trapped under collapsed buildings.

A large number of people, including women and children, came out of their houses and buildings as aftershocks continued for quite some time. Earlier last year, around 1,000 people lost their lives when a 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck Paktia province of Afghanistan.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

Israeli troops shot dead four Palestinians on Saturday during clashes along demarcation lines in the West Bank.

Among the deaths was Ahmad Rabi, 13, who was shot during the confrontations in Qalqiliah in the north of the West Bank, the Palestinian ministry of health said in a statement. Corpses of two other martyrs were taken to Palestine medical center in Ramallah and Jericho hospital.

Local sources said the young man, Omran Jubran, was shot in the head at a checkpoint. Mohammad Jarboua, 24, succumbed to injuries he had sustained when the occupation troops shot him south of Nablus.

The Gaza violence rippled to parts of the West Bank on Saturday where Israeli occupation troops shot the four Palestinians during the clashes along the demarcation lines.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Red Crescent said medics had to aid 51 wounded Palestinians in several areas in the West Bank.

Saturday was one of the bloodiest days in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian strife, as it kicked off with a wide-scale attack by the Palestinian Hamas movement, where the fighters burst into a chain of Israeli outposts on the fringes of Gaza, killing or capturing scores of Israelis.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyah declared that the operation, “Al-Aqsa flood” was intended to avenge the Israelis’ recurring attacks on Al-Aqsa mosque and the Palestinian people.

Source: Kuwait News Agency