
Israeli Military Prepares to Relocate Residents to Southern Gaza
Israel has said it plans a new offensive to seize control of the northern Gaza City, the enclave's largest urban center.
Meanwhile, the United Nations is warning that levels of starvation and malnutrition in Gaza are at their highest since the war began. Palestinians are drinking contaminated water as diseases spread, while some Israeli leaders continue to talk openly about the mass relocation of people from Gaza.
Another 11 malnutrition-related deaths occurred in Gaza over the past 24 hours, the territory's Health Ministry said Saturday, with one child was among them. That brings malnutrition-related deaths during the war to 251.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Asharq Al-Awsat
2 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Hamas Rejects Israel's Gaza Relocation Plan
Hamas said on Sunday that Israel's planned Gaza relocation plan by Israel constitutes a "new wave of genocide and displacement" for hundreds of thousands of residents in the area. The group said the planned deployment of tents and other shelter equipment by Israel in southern Gaza Strip was a "blatant deception". Israel began preparing for an invasion of Gaza City and other populated parts of the besieged strip, aimed at destroying Hamas. The military body that coordinates its humanitarian aid to Gaza said Sunday that the supply of tents to the territory would resume. COGAT said it would allow the United Nations to resume importing tents and shelter equipment into Gaza ahead of plans to forcibly evacuate people from combat zones 'for their protection.' The majority of assistance has been blocked from entering Gaza since Israel imposed a total blockade in March after a ceasefire collapsed when Israel restarted its offensive. Deliveries have since partially resumed, though aid organizations say the flow is far below what is needed. Some have accused Israel of 'weaponizing aid' through blockades and rules they say turn humanitarian assistance into a tool of its political and military goals. Israel's air and ground war has already killed tens of thousands of people in Gaza and displaced most of the population. The United Nations is warning that levels of starvation and malnutrition in Gaza are at their highest since the war began. The Hamas-led attack in 2023 killed around 1,200 people in Israel. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed 61,897 people in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry, which does not specify how many were fighters or civilians but says around half were women and children. On Sunday, two children died of malnutrition related causes in Gaza, bringing the total over the last 24 hours to seven, according to the ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals. The UN and independent experts consider it the most reliable source on casualties. Israel disputes its figures but has not provided its own.


Arab News
6 hours ago
- Arab News
Jeddah mental health center unveils robot to support addiction recovery
JEDDAH: Eradah Mental Health Complex in Jeddah recently unveiled a robot, named 'Raseen,' as part of the digital health transformation underway in Saudi Arabia. Raseen is Eradah's digital assistant, designed to support patients on their recovery journey and raise community awareness about the dangers of substance abuse through advanced artificial intelligence and interactive educational content. The name of the humanoid robot is derived from the Arabic word for sobriety, symbolizing a state of abstinence from drugs and alcohol while striving for balance in health, psychology, society and spirituality. Unlike traditional robots that perform simple tasks such as serving drinks or working in restaurants, Raseen is an interactive humanoid. Dressed in traditional Saudi attire, he listens to questions, analyses them, and responds with scientifically accurate answers. Powered by advanced AI algorithms and precise scientific programming, Raseen exceeds the capabilities of ordinary chatbot systems, enabling its use in a variety of fields, including awareness campaigns, psychological support, administrative functions and more. Dr. Khalid Al-Oufi, general supervisor of Eradah, told Arab News: 'Raseen participates in international days, forums and conferences related to mental health and addiction. 'He also visits schools, universities, government facilities, walking tracks and sports clubs, where he privately listens to people's concerns about mental health and addiction and provides clear, detailed responses.' Al-Oufi, who is also a consultant psychiatrist, addiction specialist and head of the addiction division at the Saudi Psychiatric Association, added: 'Raseen also raises awareness about the risks of mental illness and addiction, methods of early detection and intervention, available psychiatric services and how to access them, as well as prevention strategies to avoid relapse.' In outpatient clinics and inpatient wards, Raseen plays a role in patient education during individual and group therapy sessions. The robot explains the nature of psychiatric disorders and addiction, prevalence rates, causes and triggers, types of mental illnesses and narcotics, warning signs, complications, prognosis with or without treatment, and behavioral as well as pharmacological treatment options. Al-Oufi further explained that Raseen supports administrative and professional development by educating staff about their rights and responsibilities, workplace policies and procedures, job descriptions and organizational structures. He helps staff to understand Vision 2030 and the health sector transformation plan while offering suggestions for improvement and addressing employees' inquiries. AI in mental health: promise and challenges The use of artificial intelligence in mental health is multifaceted. While there are concerns about job displacement, social isolation and ethical considerations, AI offers powerful opportunities to enhance access to care and strengthen mental health support. Experts from the National Centre for Mental Health Promotion emphasize the importance of striking a careful and ethical balance between the benefits and challenges of AI to ensure a positive impact. According to the NCMHP, AI has the potential to play a crucial role in diagnosis and treatment. While this can improve medical outcomes, the NCMHP stresses that overreliance on AI could undermine the human connection between patients and caregivers, potentially leading to diminished trust. Ethical issues remain at the forefront, particularly regarding data privacy and algorithmic bias. Data breaches or misuse of personal information could erode public trust in technology and fuel anxiety over privacy concerns. Nevertheless, the NCMHP notes that the future of AI in mental health is promising. AI-driven applications and chatbots are being continuously developed to provide mental health support, and the number of AI tools in healthcare is expected to increase fivefold by 2035.


Arab News
18 hours ago
- Arab News
US suspends visas for Gazans after far-right influencer posts
WASHINGTON: The US government said Saturday it is suspending visitor visas for Gazans after a far-right influencer with the ear of President Donald Trump complained that wounded Palestinians had been allowed to seek medical treatment in the United States. The announcement came one day after a series of furious social media posts by Laura Loomer, who is known for promoting racist conspiracy theories and claiming that the 9/11 terrorist attacks were an inside job. 'All visitor visas for individuals from Gaza are being stopped while we conduct a full and thorough review of the process and procedures used to issue a small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas in recent days,' the State Department, which is led by Marco Rubio, wrote on X. In a series of posts on X Friday, Loomer called on the State Department to stop giving visas to Palestinians from Gaza who she said were 'pro-HAMAS... affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood and funded by Qatar,' without providing evidence. Loomer's target was the US-based charity HEAL Palestine, which said last week it had helped 11 critically wounded Gazan children — as well as their caregivers and siblings — arrive safely in the US for medical treatment. It was 'the largest single medical evacuation of injured children from Gaza to the US,' the charity said on its website. 'Truly unacceptable,' Loomer wrote in another X post. 'Someone needs to be fired at @StateDept when @marcorubio figures out who approved the visas.' 'Qatar transported these GAZANS into the US via @qatarairways,' she said. Qatar is 'literally flooding our country with jihadis,' she added. Loomer said she had spoken to the staff of Republican Tom Cotton, who chairs the Senate intelligence committee, adding that they were 'also looking into how these GAZANS got visas to come into the US.' Republican Congressman Randy Fine explicitly commended Loomer after the visa change was announced, in a sign of her sway over some US policy. 'Massive credit needs to be given to @LauraLoomer for uncovering this and making me and other officials aware. Well done, Laura,' Fine wrote on X. The Palestine Children's Relief Fund, a US-based charity, called on the Trump administration to 'reverse this dangerous and inhumane decision.' Over the last 30 years the charity has evacuated thousands of Palestinian children to the US for medical care, it said a statement. 'Medical evacuations are a lifeline for the children of Gaza who would otherwise face unimaginable suffering or death due to the collapse of medical infrastructure in Gaza.' Though Loomer holds no official position, she wields significant power, and is reported to have successfully pushed for the dismissal of several senior US security officials she deemed disloyal to Trump. In July, Loomer took aim at a job offer made to a highly qualified Biden-era official for a prestigious position at the West Point military academy. The Pentagon rescinded the offer one day later. Trump also fired the head of the highly sensitive National Security Agency, Timothy Haugh, and his deputy Wendy Noble in April at the apparent urging of Loomer, after she met with the president at the White House. 'No other content creator or journalist has gotten as many Biden holdovers fired from the Trump admin!' Loomer posted on X Saturday.