Day: May 15, 2021

Turkey and others have made efforts to end tensions between Israel and Palestine with the primary condition being Israel leaving Al-Aqsa Mosque, the former head of Hamas said on late Friday.

Khaled Mashal, who is currently responsible for Hamas abroad, evaluated Israel’s violations of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and the stage that followed attacks on the Gaza Strip during an interview with Turkey’s TRT Arabic.

Mashal said Israel was playing with fire that sparked the current crisis by raiding Al-Aqsa Mosque and stressed that Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza warned Israel for several days to stop attacks on Jerusalem.

“This is a national struggle because we were a people living on this land, and the invaders came and displaced us. So this is a resistance to the invaders,” he said. “We are not fighting them because they are Jews, but because they are invaders. We have the right to defend our land.”

He said no one can deprive Palestinians of the right to resistance and underscored that Israel cannot deprive Palestinians of the right to be near Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque.

– Hamas’ conditions for ending tensions

Mashal said there is movement by Turkey, Egypt, Qatar and the US to control the escalation between Gaza and Israel.

“The most important conditions are the exit of occupying Israel from Al-Aqsa Mosque, the recognition of freedom of worship to our people and Muslims in Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the cessation of the displacement of Palestinians in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood,” said Mashal.

He emphasized that resistance groups have been able to improve their military capabilities despite the embargo on the Gaza Strip.

– Palestine vs. Israel

Israeli forces in recent days have attacked Palestinians protesting in solidarity with residents of the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem, who were evicted by an Israeli court.

The occupying forces also raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque during special night prayers during Ramadan.

The subsequent escalation of tensions resulted in airstrikes by Israel on Gaza, killing more than 120 Palestinians, including children and women, according to health officials. At least 920 others have been injured, in addition to heavy damage to residential buildings.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. It annexed the entire city in 1980, in a move never recognized by the international community.

Source: Anadolu Agency

A major Indian opposition party expressed concern about escalating violence in East Jerusalem and urged the government on Friday to proactively work as a member of the UN Security Council to restore peace.

Anand Sharma, deputy leader of the Indian National Congress in the Upper House, or Rajya Sabha, and head of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, said in a statement that spiraling violence in Gaza and Israel, which coincides with the Muslim holy festival of Eid al-Fitr is distressing and a matter of grave concern for the world.

“Palestinian people’s right to pray at Al-Aqsa mosque without any restriction must always be respected and not violated,” he said, before adding that Palestinians have the same right as Israelis to live in dignity in a secure environment.

The incidents in Jerusalem are outrageous, said Sharma.

Israel’s ongoing heavy bombardment of Gaza has caused extensive damage to residential buildings and according to UN estimates, 10,000 Palestinians have been forced to leave their homes in Gaza “due to the ongoing hostilities” during an Israeli offensive.

At least 126 Palestinians, including 31 children and 20 women have been killed, and more than 900 injured during the offensive.

“The escalation of the conflict, air attacks on Gaza and the rocket attacks by Hamas have resulted in the tragic loss of innocent human lives, especially the children and the elderly and also injuries to many civilians,” said, the party, adding that the substantial destruction of public property and infrastructure has resulted in hardship and disruption.

It also urged an immediate end to hostilities between Israel and Hamas, as well as immediate UN Security Council intervention to restore peace.

Tensions have been running high in the Sheikh Jarrah area in occupied East Jerusalem for the past month as Israeli settlers swarmed in following an Israeli court order for the eviction of Palestinian families.

Palestinians are protesting for the residents of Sheikh Jarrah, who have been targeted and threatened with expulsion by Israeli forces.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and annexed the entire city in 1980 — a move that has never been recognized by the international community.

Source: Anadolu Agency

More than 1.4 billion coronavirus vaccine shots have so far been given worldwide, figures by the Our World in Data showed on Saturday.

China is the most vaccinated country with 366.91 million jabs, according to the website data. It is followed by the US with more than 268.4 million shots. India has given 180.45 million shots, the UK with 54.8 million, Brazil with 52 million. Germany has administered 39.41 million jabs, France with 27.46 million and Italy with 26.49 million.

The list continues with Turkey that has given more than 25.7 million jabs. It is followed by Russia, Indonesia, and Mexico.

The country with the most doses of vaccine in terms of population is the East African island nation of Seychelles, with 131 doses per 100 people.

– Turkey ranks 9th worldwide

According to Health Ministry data, Turkey has administered more than 25.73 million jabs since a nationwide immunization campaign began on Jan. 14.

More than 14.92 million Turks have received their first doses, while over 10.8 million have been fully vaccinated.

Most COVID-19 vaccines are administered in two jabs, so the number of jabs given does not mean the vaccination of same number of individuals has been completed.

Since December 2019, the pandemic has claimed over 3.36 million lives in 192 countries and regions, with more than 162 million cases reported worldwide, according to figures compiled by the US’ Johns Hopkins University.

The US, India, and Brazil remain the worst-hit countries in terms of the number of infections.

Source: Anadolu Agency

More than 1.4 billion coronavirus vaccine jabs have been administered worldwide, according to the Our World in Data website.

China is the most vaccinated country with 366.91 million jabs, said the site, followed by the US with more than 266.5 million. India has 178.36 million, the UK with 54.8 million, Brazil has given 50.31 million shots to residents, Germany has 38.65 million and France has more than 27.46 million. Italy has administered 25.95 million jabs.

The list continues with Turkey with more than 25.6 million jabs, followed by Russia, Indonesia and Mexico.

The country with the most doses of the vaccine in terms of population was the East African island nation of Seychelles, with 131 doses per 100 people.

– Turkey ranks 9th in vaccinations

According to Health Ministry data, Turkey has administered more than 25.6 million jabs since a nationwide immunization campaign began on Jan. 14.

More than 14.86 million Turks have received their first dose, while over 10.77 million have been fully vaccinated.

Most COVID-19 vaccines are administered in two jabs, so the number of jabs administered does not mean the vaccination of the same number of individuals has been completed.

The global pandemic has spread to more than 200 countries and regions.

According to the Worldometer website, the number of cases is more than 162.3 million, while an excess of 3.36 million people have died from the virus.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Afghanistan’s foreign minister spoke over the phone with his Palestinian counterpart on Saturday to convey Kabul’s steadfast support in the wake of Israel’s brazen aggression.

Mohammad Haneef Atmar told Riyad Al-Maliki that Afghanistan and other Islamic and peace-loving countries view Israel’s attacks as unacceptable and want an immediate end to the violence, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

He said Afghanistan condemns “the escalation of attacks and encroachment on the Palestinian people during the holy month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.”

“Atmar expressed the deepest condolences of President Ashraf Ghani and the people of Afghanistan to the Palestinian government and people over the martyrdom of dozens of Palestinian civilians, including women and children, and offered condolences and best wishes for recovery to the injured,” read the statement.

Afghanistan remains committed and supports the legitimate right of Palestinians to have an independent Palestinian state within the defined borders in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution of 1967, the statement added.

The Palestinian foreign minister thanked the Afghan government for its sympathy and called for Islamic countries and the world’s peace-loving nations to support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, it further said.

Atmar also invited al-Maliki to visit Afghanistan at an appropriate time.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The US told Israel that the security of journalists and independent media is a “paramount responsibility” after Israeli warplanes hit the offices of media groups in Gaza City on Saturday.

“We have communicated directly to the Israelis that ensuring the safety and security of journalists and independent media is a paramount responsibility,” said White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki on Twitter.

On Saturday, Israeli warplanes destroyed a building in Gaza with offices of various media groups, including Al Jazeera and the Associated Press.

“We are shocked and horrified that the Israeli military would target and destroy the building housing AP’s bureau and other news organizations in Gaza,” Associated Press CEO and President Gary Pruitt said in a statement.

An Anadolu Agency correspondent reported that several Israeli missiles hit the Al-Jala Tower.

The 13-story building, one of Gaza’s oldest multi-story buildings, had a total of 60 units, including offices of media companies, legal firms, and doctors.

Al Jazeera also condemned Israel’s attack, and called on international community to protect journalists.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Israeli attacks on the blockaded Gaza Strip killed eight more Palestinians early Saturday, taking the death toll to 144, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Six children and two women were killed by Israeli forces in the latest attack against a residential house.

The sole survivor was a 2-month-old baby, said Health authorities in Gaza who stated that a “massacre” was not adequate to describe what happened.

Meanwhile, Hamas’ military wing, the Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades, announced that Ashdod, Beersheba, was hit by rockets in response to an attack on a house in the Al-Shati refugee camp and to avenge Palestinians killed in the occupied West Bank.

Three Palestinians, including two siblings, were killed in late-night attacks by Israeli war jets on the Tel Kuleybu area in northern Gaza.

Total fatalities in Gaza includes 37 children and 22 women, while the number injured exceeds 950 since Monday, said a statement from the ministry.

Israeli forces carried out nearly 30 airstrikes between Friday evening and Saturday morning targeting northern Gaza.

The Kuleybu Mosque was completely destroyed in an attack, Gaza’s Ministry of Foundations and Religious Affairs said in a statement.

Before that attack, Israel killed seven civilians, including five children and two women.

Witnesses said the bodies were taken to Shifa hospital after the bombing of a house belonging to the Abu Hatab family in the Al-Shati refugee camp.

A search for missing people under the rubble is underway, they said.

Israeli warplanes resumed airstrikes Friday on the blockaded Gaza Strip, causing heavy damage to residential buildings across the enclave.

Meanwhile, 11 Palestinians were killed Friday as Israeli forces clashed with demonstrators to disperse rallies in parts of the West Bank.

Also, Lebanese authorities announced that a Lebanese youth was killed when Israeli artillery fire targeted protesters along the Israeli security fence in the south of the country.

Tensions have been running high in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem and at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Damascus Gate since the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan as Israeli forces and settlers assaulted Palestinians.

Tensions moved from East Jerusalem to Gaza after Palestinian resistance groups there vowed to retaliate against Israeli assaults on Al-Aqsa Mosque and Sheikh Jarrah if they were not halted.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. It annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move never recognized by the international community.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Ireland’s foreign minister on Saturday condemned Israeli attacks having killed dozens of children over the last five days alone.

“32 children killed since Monday in Gaza by Israeli fire – that’s approx 1/4 of all fatalities – It’s not acceptable!,” wrote Simon Coveney on Twitter, linking to a news report by Ireland’s RTE called Family of 10 killed in Gaza attack, US envoys arrives for talks.

“Israel has int. legal obligation to protect children in conflict & r not doing so! Ireland will speak forcefully again at UNSC tomorrow,” he added.

The UN Security Council – including Ireland, currently holding a two-year non-permanent seat through December 2022 – will meet on Sunday to discuss the situation in Israel and the Gaza Strip.

At least 10 Palestinian civilians, including eight children, were killed early Saturday when Israeli warplanes bombed and destroyed a residential house in the Al-Shati refugee camp in western Gaza City.

A total of 139 people, including 39 children and 22 women, have been killed and 950 more injured since Israel started attacks on Gaza last Monday.

The air raids on Gaza were preceded by days of tensions and Israeli aggression in occupied East Jerusalem, where hundreds of Palestinians were assaulted by Israeli forces and settlers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.

The tension spread from occupied East Jerusalem to Gaza after Palestinian resistance groups there vowed to retaliate for Israeli assaults if they were not halted.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move never recognized by the international community.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday spoke over the phone with his US counterpart Joe Biden to discuss the latest developments in Palestine, an official said.

Abbas received a phone call from Biden and they discussed the latest developments and events in the region, Hussein al-Sheikh, a central committee member of Palestine’s ruling Fatah group, said on Twitter.

On Thursday, Abbas spoke with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to reduce the tension in the region.

On Saturday, Israeli warplanes destroyed a building in Gaza City with offices of various media groups, including Al Jazeera and the Associated Press.

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip in airstrikes since May 10, killing at least 139 people, including 39 children and 22 women, and injuring 950 more people.

At least five multi-story buildings have also been destroyed in the Israeli air raids on the besieged Palestinian territory.

Source: Anadolu Agency