Day: July 9, 2024

Ten persons have been reported injured in nine road accidents within the last 24 hours, the Traffic Management Center said on Tuesday.

Source: National news agency – Lebanon

Ramallah-Ma’an- The Commission of Prisoners’ Affairs and the Prisoners’ Club said that the number of arrests among lawyers since the beginning of the war of extermination has reached no less than 30 lawyers, including two female lawyers.

The Prisoners Authority and the Prisoners Club added, in a joint statement, today, Tuesday, on the occasion of Palestinian Lawyer’s Day, that the occupation carried out systematic crimes against lawyers during their arrests, and they were subjected to all retaliatory measures, as are all detainees in the occupation’s prisons.

They stressed that the occupation has historically targeted lawyers and human rights activists, and this has escalated over the past few years, with the increasing talk about the possibility of prosecuting the occupation in the International Criminal Court, and prosecuting Palestinian human rights and civil institutions.

The Authority and the Club continued that the arrests are one aspect of the restrictions on the work of Palestinian lawyers. Since t
he beginning of the war of extermination, legal teams working in human rights institutions, specifically those who visit and represent detainees, have been subjected to many restrictions on their work, with the aim of undermining their role, as well as with the aim of keeping the Palestinian detainee completely isolated from the world, in addition to the series of restrictions imposed on lawyers working in military courts, which constitute a major shift in the ability to continue performing their work within the occupation’s military courts in order to follow up on the cases of detainees.

In a previous statement by the Authority and the Club, the most prominent restrictions imposed by the occupation on lawyers were reviewed, as the prison administration prevented them from visiting detainees at the beginning of the aggression. After attempts by the relevant institutions, the lawyers were able to resume visits, although a large number of obstacles remained, most notably: the prison administration deliberately
declared a state of emergency upon the lawyer’s arrival at the prison in order to cancel the visit after he had traveled a long distance for it, and this was repeated many times, in addition to procrastination in providing responses to requests to submit a visit, which sometimes extended for two weeks or more, in addition to the attacks and threats that detainees were exposed to in prisons before and after they left to meet the lawyer. It also recently prevented a group of lawyers from making visits to detainees.

The Commission and the Club pointed out that the occupation continues to impose the crime of enforced disappearance against the majority of Gaza detainees, by preventing legal teams and the Red Cross from communicating with them, noting that the institutions’ recent attempts after the amendments that affected some of the regulations related to Gaza detainees, enabled some lawyers to visit a limited number of them under strict procedures, such that the lawyer is subjected to a complete search, and is
prevented from entering any paper with any notes on it for the detainee.

The Authority and the Club stressed the importance of the great and important role played by Palestinian lawyers, especially in the phase of the war of extermination that we are witnessing, and the unprecedented level of crimes, and called for the necessity of working to protect the role of legal teams and supporting them by international human rights institutions in the face of the series of restrictions to which they are exposed, in order to carry out their important and necessary role at all levels.

Source: Maan News Agency

Ramallah – Ma’an – The Ministry of Education and Higher Education announced today the availability of a number of scholarships in Morocco and Tunisia for the year 2024-2025, in the fields of master’s, doctorate, and higher specialization in medicine.

The Ministry called on students wishing to compete for these scholarships to visit its website http://www.mohe.pna.ps to view all the details.

Source: Maan News Agency

Bethlehem – Ma’an – The Israeli occupation authorities released on Tuesday evening the detainee Moaz Khalil Abayat (37 years old) from Bethlehem, after he spent 9 months in administrative detention, and he is in a difficult and shocking health condition.

The Prisoners Club stated in a statement that Abayat was released from the Negev prison, which has been and continues to be a prominent symbol of torture and abuse crimes against detainees since the beginning of the war of extermination.

He added that the detainee, Abayat, was severely beaten during his arrest in late October 2023, specifically on his feet, and later faced a series of severe beatings, in addition to the crime of torture. The way he appeared today reflects sufficient testimony to what he was subjected to throughout his detention, in addition to the crime of starvation and medical crimes that were central reasons for the martyrdom of detainees after October 7.

The Prisoners Club pointed out that the first words of the detainee, Abayat, after
his release were that he had been “attempted to kill” more than once.

He pointed out that Abayat had been arrested twice before his current arrest. He is married and has five children, and did not suffer from any health problems before his arrest. It is worth noting that thousands of detainees face death in the occupation’s prisons, and this is increasing with the passage of time and with the continuation of the current torture operations, which are unprecedented in their level and intensity.

He added that in light of the aggression against detainees, the occupation continues to escalate the crime of administrative detention, as the number of administrative detainees has reached no less than 3,380 detainees by the beginning of this month, including women and children, all of whom are subject to sham and formal trials under the pretext of having a “secret file”, noting that hundreds of administrative detainees are sick and the vast majority of them are former detainees who spent years in occupation prisons.

T
he Prisoners Club held the occupation authorities fully responsible for the situation in which the detainee Moaz was released, renewing its demand for international human rights institutions to assume their necessary responsibilities in the face of the ongoing war of extermination and crimes against detainees as one aspect of this extermination.

Source: Maan News Agency

Bethlehem – Ma’an – The heat wave is expected to intensify further tomorrow, Wednesday, with temperatures rising in all areas and hot to very hot weather prevailing in all areas, with the maximum temperature in Jerusalem reaching 35 degrees Celsius.

On Thursday and Friday, the heat wave will continue to affect the region, with hot to very hot weather prevailing in all areas during the day, and pleasant weather during the night.

Starting from Saturday, temperatures will begin to drop, with the maximum in Jerusalem reaching 32 degrees Celsius, and will continue to drop next Sunday, with the temperature reaching 29 degrees Celsius.

Source: Maan News Agency

Ramallah – Ma’an – The Israeli occupation forces have arrested at least (16) citizens from the West Bank since yesterday evening until Monday morning, including a girl, in addition to former detainees.

The Commission of Prisoners’ Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club reported that the arrests were distributed across the governorates of Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah, Tubas, and Salfit, specifically the town of Haris, where the occupation continues to conduct field investigations of dozens of the town’s residents.

They pointed out that the arrests were accompanied by attacks and threats against the detainees and their families, in addition to widespread acts of vandalism and destruction in citizens’ homes.

It is noteworthy that the occupation forces have arrested more than 10,800 citizens from the West Bank, including Jerusalem, since the beginning of the ongoing war of extermination and comprehensive aggression against our people. This toll includes those who were arrested from their homes, through mi
litary checkpoints, those who were forced to surrender themselves under pressure, and those who were held hostage.

Source: Maan News Agency

Geneva – Ma’an – The World Health Organization sounded the alarm on Tuesday about the escalating medical services crisis in the Gaza Strip, warning that new Israeli evacuation orders in Gaza City are impeding the treatment of the injured.

‘There is no safe corner of Gaza in reality,’ said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a statement posted on the X platform. ‘Recent reports of evacuation orders in Gaza City will further hamper the delivery of very limited, life-saving care.’

The World Health Organization reported that major hospitals such as Al-Ahli Hospital are out of service, and ‘patients have either been forced to self-evacuate, discharged early before recovering, or referred to other hospitals.’

She added that Kamal Adwan and Indonesian hospitals are facing severe shortages of fuel, beds and medical supplies to treat trauma.

The Indonesian hospital is currently operating at three times its capacity and is struggling to cope with the influx of patients, she said, while Al-Helu Hospit
al, which is among the buildings subject to the evacuation order, continues to operate, but only partially. Meanwhile, Al-Sahaba and Al-Shifa hospitals, which are close to the evacuation areas, are still operating, although their situation is precarious.

She added that in addition, 6 medical institutions and 2 primary health care centers are located within the evacuation areas, which increases the pressure on the health care infrastructure.

In this context, Ghebreyesus warned that these vital medical facilities could soon be out of service due to hostilities in neighboring areas or obstacles to accessing them.

The World Health Organization called for a ceasefire to ensure that medical aid reaches those most in need and that the wounded receive appropriate care.

In the same context, World Health Organization spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said at a United Nations press conference in Geneva that out of 36 hospitals in Gaza, only 13 are operating, and only partially.

Jasarevic explained that “patients and medica
l staff evacuated three hospitals in one week in southern Gaza, fearing that intensified military operations could render health facilities inoperable or inaccessible.”

He stated that “the cumulative capacity of beds in the six partially operating hospitals in southern Gaza, 3 in Deir al-Balah and 3 in Khan Younis, now stands at 1,334 beds.”

“There are a total of 11 field hospitals in the Strip, three of which had to temporarily close, and four of which are partially operational due to hostilities in Rafah and reduced accessibility,” Jasarevic said, adding that “most of the field hospitals in Rafah will move to the central area.”

Jasarevic confirmed that “no WHO trucks crossed into Gaza last week since the Kerem Shalom crossing was closed” by the Israeli occupation authorities.

Source: Maan News Agency

Gaza – Ma’an – The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades announced that it targeted “a Zionist force that had taken refuge inside a house with two tandem missiles in the vicinity of al-Hawashi Mosque in the Shuja’iyya neighborhood.”

In another statement, the Brigades said that they had sniped “a Zionist soldier and directly hit him in the industrial area in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, west of Gaza City.”

Source: Maan News Agency

Gaza – Ma’an – The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said that the occupation’s prevention of humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip is a Zionist crime that comes as a continuation of the war of genocide.

She added that the behavior of the enemy government and the settlers is the practice of the ugliest forms of starvation war against civilians who are facing a comprehensive war of extermination.

She stressed that the humanitarian catastrophe and the expanding famine are the result of a criminal Zionist decision supported by the complicit American administration.

The statement said, “The continuation of the war of starvation threatens a humanitarian disaster, and the international community must force the occupation to allow aid to enter without obstacles.”

Source: Maan News Agency

KUWAIT, The Kuwaiti cabinet convened its weekly meeting at Bayan Palace on Tuesday under the chairmanship of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Youssef Saud Al-Sabah briefed the meeting on the outcomes of the visit to Kuwait by Iraqi Minister of Interior Lt.-Gen. Staff Abdul-Amir Al-Shemmeri and his entourage on Sunday.

The visit aimed to strengthen the security relations between Kuwait and Iraq, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Shereeda Abdullah Al-Mousharji said following the meeting.

Sheikh Fahad Youssef apprised the meeting of the contents of the meetings of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime Minister with the Iraqi minister, Al-Mousharji told reporters.

The meeting focused on the 2023 report of the Government Performance Foll
ow-up Agency and received a presentation from GPF Chairman Sheikh Ahmad Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on the results of overseeing the implementation of the ministerial decrees over the last year.

The ministers also reviewed the implementation of government projects and the results of opinion polls, conducted by the GPF regarding government services.

They discussed the observations contained in the report of the State Audit Bureau regarding the implementation of the FY 2022-2023 budget.

The cabinet praised the efforts made by the GPF chairman and leaders to improve the performance of the government agencies.

At the end of the meeting, the cabinet decided to instruct all government bodies to implement the recommendations and observations of the GPF and report to the agency on a quarterly basis.

The cabinet asked the GPF to prepare a presentation on its activities and the efforts of the government bodies to address any shortcomings in their respective performances on a quarterly basis.

Minister of Education an
d Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Dr. Adel Mohammad Al-Adwan briefed the meeting on the preparations of the Ministry of Education for the 2024-2025 academic year.

He elaborated on the progress of the rehabilitation of educational facilities and the efforts to meet the needs of students in the new academic year.

The meeting approved the minutes of the supreme committee on verification of Kuwaiti citizenship, which, pursuant to Act 15 (1959) and the subsequent amendments, included cases of withdrawing the citizenship from persons who got it in fraudulent ways.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

LONDON, The State of Kuwait and the UK King’s Foundation signed an agreement on multi-sectoral cooperation in the framework of the 125 anniversary of Kuwait-UK partnership.

The document was inked at the Kuwait Embassy in London on Tuesday by Kuwait Ambassador to the United Kingdom Bader Al-Awadhi and Executive Director of the Foundation Colin Mackenzie-Blackman in the presence of Kuwait’s Assistant Foreign Minister for Europe Affairs Sadeq Marafi, UK Ambassador to Kuwait Belinda Lewis and Chairperson of AlSadu Society Sheikha Bibi Al-Du’aij Al-Sabah.

Under the deal, both sides will cooperate in producing Tartan – a traditional Scottish woolen cloth, and initiating two horticultural installations for the Highgrove House – the private residence of King Charles III and Queen Camilla near Tetbury in Gloucestershire.

The two installations aim to educate visitors of the gardens of the Highgrove, which are open for the public between March and October, on horticultural cooperation between both countries.

The dea
l provides for experience sharing between both sides in horticulture, agriculture and food security for three years, Ambassador Al-Awadhi told KUNA following the signing ceremony.

“The deal reflects the historical relationship between the State of Kuwait and the United Kingdom,” he said, noting that the deal will give momentum to cultural exchanges.

On his part, Kuwait’s Assistant Foreign Minister Marafi said he is looking forward to the implementation of the agreement to help train the Kuwaiti horticulturalists.

Hailing the document, Ambassador Lewis said that cooperation in conserving the traditional crafts and creative skills highlights the deep-rooted relationship between both countries.

Both sides respect the history and culture of each other, and are keen on exchanging experience in various areas, she added.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

KUWAIT, Acting Chief of Kuwait Fire Force (KFF) Lieutenant General Khaled Fahad explored on Tuesday with EU Ambassador to Kuwait Anne Koistinen cooperation in fields of common interests.

In a press release, KFF said that Lieutenant General Fahad received Koistinen and her delegation, which included officials from EU’s Department of Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, where they discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in fields of civil protection and firefighting.

Source: Kuwait News Agency