UAE declares holiday on June 27 for Islamic New Year
On this occasion, the Authority extended its congratulations to the leadership, government, and people of the United Arab Emirates, as well as to the Arab and Islamic nations, praying to Almighty God to return it upon them with continued health and well-being.
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Dubai Eye
4 hours ago
- Dubai Eye
Israel says it has taken first steps of military operation in Gaza City
Israel's military announced the first steps of an operation to take over Gaza City on Wednesday and called up tens of thousands of reservists while the government considered a new ceasefire proposal to pause nearly two years of war. "We have begun the preliminary operations and the first stages of the attack on Gaza City, and already now IDF forces are holding the outskirts of Gaza City," Brigadier General Effie Defrin, Israel's military spokesperson, told reporters. A military official briefing reporters earlier on Wednesday said reserve soldiers would not report for duty until September, an interval that gives mediators some time to bridge gaps between Hamas and Israel over truce terms. Hamas has accepted a proposal put forward by Arab mediators for a 60-day ceasefire that would involve releasing some of the remaining hostages and freeing Palestinian prisoners in Israel. The Israeli government, which has said all the 50 remaining hostages must be released at once, is studying the proposal. Israeli authorities believe that 20 hostages are still alive. Many Gazans and foreign leaders fear a storming of Gaza City would cause significant casualties. Israel says it will help civilians leave battle zones before any assault begins. But after Israeli troops clashed with Hamas fighters in the Palestinian enclave on Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the Israeli leader sped up the timeline for taking control of Hamas strongholds and defeating the militant group that triggered the conflict with an attack on Israel in October 2023. The Israeli statements signalled Israel was pressing ahead with its plan to seize Gaza's biggest urban centre despite international criticism of an operation likely to force the displacement of many more Palestinians. Defrin said troops were already operating on the outskirts of Gaza City, and Hamas was now a "battered and bruised" guerrilla force. "We will deepen the attack on Hamas in Gaza City, a stronghold of governmental and military terror for the terrorist organization," the spokesman said. Israel's military called up tens of thousands of reservists on Wednesday in preparation for the expected assault on Gaza City, as the Israeli government considered a new truce proposal. Israel's security cabinet, chaired by Netanyahu, approved a plan this month to expand the campaign in Gaza with the aim of taking Gaza City, where Israeli forces waged fierce urban warfare with Hamas in the early stages of the war. Israel currently holds about 75 per cent of the Gaza Strip. Many of Israel's closest allies have urged the government to reconsider, but Netanyahu is under pressure from some far-right members of his coalition to reject a temporary ceasefire, continue the war and pursue the annexation of the territory. One far-right member, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, announced final approval on Wednesday of a widely condemned Israeli plan for a settlement project in the occupied West Bank that he said would erase any prospect of a Palestinian state.
Dubai Eye
21 hours ago
- Dubai Eye
Israel calls up tens of thousands of reservists before new Gaza offensive
Israel's military called up tens of thousands of reservists on Wednesday in preparation for an expected assault on Gaza City, as the Israeli government considered a new proposal for a ceasefire after nearly two years of war. The call-up signals Israel is pressing ahead with its plan to take control of Gaza's biggest urban hub despite international criticism of an operation likely to force the displacement of many more Palestinians. But a military official briefing reporters said reserve soldiers would not report for duty until September, a move that gives mediators some time to bridge gaps between Hamas and Israel over ceasefire terms. The official said that as part of planning for a new offensive in Gaza there would be five divisions operating in the enclave but most reservists were not expected to serve in combat in Gaza City. "We will be moving into a new phase of combat, a gradual, precise and targeted operation in and around Gaza City, which currently serves as Hamas' main military and governing stronghold," the official said. Israel's security cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, approved a plan this month to expand the campaign in Gaza, with the aim of seizing Gaza City. Many of Israel's closest allies have urged the government to reconsider but Netanyahu is under pressure from some far-right members of his coalition to reject a temporary ceasefire, continue the war and pursue the annexation of Gaza. The war began on October 7, 2023 when gunmen led by Hamas attacked southern Israeli communities, killing some 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and taking 251 hostages including children into Gaza. Over 62,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's campaign, according to Gaza health officials. Hamas has accepted a proposal put forward by Arab mediators for a 60-day ceasefire that would involve releasing some of the hostages and freeing Palestinian prisoners in Israel. The Israeli government, which has said all the 50 remaining hostages must be released at once, is studying the proposal. Israeli authorities believe that 20 hostages are still alive. Many Gazans and foreign leaders fear an assault on Gaza City would cause significant casualties. Israel says it will help civilians leave battle zones before any assault begins. ISRAEL STRIKES GAZA CITY SUBURBS Israel's military, which is continuing its campaign in Gaza, struck Gaza City's eastern suburbs overnight in a bombardment which Gaza health authorities said killed at least 19 people. Israel's military campaign has caused widespread devastation across the Gaza Strip, which before the war was home to about 2.3 million Palestinians. Many buildings, including homes, schools and mosques have been destroyed, while the military has accused Hamas of operating from within civilian infrastructure. Most Gazans have been displaced multiple times and forced into densely packed areas along the Mediterranean coast, including in Gaza City. Israeli officials have said evacuation orders would be issued to Gaza City residents before any force move in. Polls show strong Israeli public support for ending the war if it ensures the release of the hostages, and a rally in Tel Aviv urging the government to pursue such a deal drew a huge crowd on Saturday. Hamas has said it would release all remaining hostages in exchange for an end to war. Israel says it will not end the war before the group disarms.
Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
Egypt's environment minister approves new measures to curb pollution
Egypt's Acting Environment Minister and Local Development Minister, Manal Awad, chaired on Tuesday the third meeting of the Waste Management Regulatory Authority's board since its recent reformation, approving a set of new measures designed to strengthen the country's waste management system, the ministry announced in a statement. Presiding over her first session since assuming the environment portfolio, Awad stressed the board's role in supporting national environmental policy and advancing Egypt's integrated waste management agenda. The meeting was attended by Yasser Abdullah, head of the Waste Management Authority, along with representatives from relevant ministries and technical experts. During the session, the board approved regulatory amendments governing licences and permits issued under Waste Law No. 202 of 2020, including new mechanisms for appeals. It also endorsed the introduction of independent licences for companies handling construction and demolition waste, which will be linked to a digital monitoring system to ensure proper disposal at designated sites. Awad instructed coordination with the Housing Ministry and the Industrial Development Authority to allocate areas in new urban communities and industrial zones specifically for such waste. In another step, the council approved reducing licence fees for rice straw collection in order to encourage contractors to continue collecting the crop residue and prevent open-air burning. The decision also included integrating data with the agriculture and planning ministries to improve monitoring and management. Members were additionally briefed on the 'Port Said Initiative,' a pilot project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to reduce waste generation, with a particular focus on plastics. The council recommended replicating the initiative across other governorates as part of broader efforts to cut pollution and improve environmental sustainability. © 2025 Daily News Egypt. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
