NBA star Kyrie Irving memorializes Gaza's youngest activist as his profile picture
Yaqeen, recognized as Gaza's youngest media activist, was killed on May 24, 2025, during an airstrike in the besieged enclave. Her work documenting daily life under the aggression had gained her recognition for raising awareness of the situation facing children in Gaza.
Irving's advocacy for Palestine is not new. The NBA star has consistently used his visibility to address the conflict, often at the cost of facing criticism. Throughout his career, he has made symbolic gestures, such as wearing a keffiyeh, during games and post-game press conferences, as well as donning jewelry featuring the map of Palestine and a key, symbolizing the right of return for Palestinian refugees.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Roya News
an hour ago
- Roya News
Albanese says Hamas should be viewed as political movement, not as murderers
Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, said Sunday that Hamas must be understood as a political and administrative force rather than dismissed solely as a violent organization. Speaking on the group's role in Gaza, Albanese argued that it holds significant responsibilities beyond its military wing. 'Hamas is not a band of murderers or heavily armed fighters, as it is often depicted in various narratives,' she said. - Role in governance - Albanese noted that Hamas has been the governing authority in Gaza since winning what she described as the most democratic election in the region, stressing that its control came through a political process rather than force. She pointed to the movement's establishment of schools, hospitals, and public institutions as evidence of its governing role. According to the rapporteur, many of the portrayals of Hamas in mainstream discourse lack context. 'People often repeat certain narratives without truly understanding the administrative and service role Hamas plays in Gaza,' she added. - Criticism of corporate complicity - Albanese also turned her attention to the economic side of the conflict, recalling her recent accusations that more than 60 multinational corporations, including leading weapons and technology firms, have directly or indirectly aided 'Israel's' military campaign in Gaza and the expansion of settlements in the West Bank. She described the war in Gaza as a 'campaign of genocide,' one that is being fueled not only by politics and security but also by financial gain. 'At a time when lives are being lost in Gaza and the West Bank is facing escalating violence, this report highlights a crucial reason why Israel's genocide continues: it is profitable for many involved,' Albanese said.
Roya News
an hour ago
- Roya News
Rights group blasts UN General Assembly for lack of action on Gaza genocide
The Gaza Tribunal, a civil initiative made up of international academics, legal experts, and human rights advocates, is calling for urgent UN intervention to shield civilians in the war-ravaged enclave. Speaking at a press briefing in Istanbul on Monday, the tribunal's chair Richard Falk, a former UN special rapporteur on Palestinian rights, urged governments to act before the crisis reaches a point of no return. The group is pressing for the UN General Assembly to be granted authority to send an armed, protective mission into Gaza, citing the collapse of aid delivery and the worsening conditions for the civilian population. 'The aim was the empowerment of the UN General Assembly to organise a protective, armed intervention in Gaza to overcome the disruption of humanitarian aid and the continuing devastation and destruction of the people,' said Falk, a 94-year-old American professor emeritus of international law. - Background to the call - The Gaza Tribunal was established in London in 2024 with the stated goal of galvanizing public opinion and pushing governments to act 'to end the genocide' in Gaza. Its members argue that the UN Security Council has been paralyzed by political divisions, leaving the General Assembly as the only viable path forward. 'We urge governments around the world to take immediate steps to empower the veto-free UN General Assembly that ... so far has been frustrated in its attempts to end the Gaza genocide,' the group declared in a statement. Since the October 7, 2023, 'Israel' has launched a military campaign in Gaza that health officials in the territory say has killed more than 61,944 Palestinians. Aid agencies warn that the enclave faces catastrophic shortages of food, water, and medicine. - Possible legal avenues - Falk suggested that governments could turn to existing international frameworks such as the 1950 'Uniting for Peace' resolution, which allows the General Assembly to act when the Security Council is blocked, or the 2005 Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine, designed to prevent atrocities like those in Rwanda and Bosnia. 'If we do not take action of a serious and drastic kind at this time, (it) will be too late to save the surviving people,' Falk warned. - Differing views - 'Israel' has rejected accusations of genocide and maintains that it does not deliberately obstruct humanitarian assistance. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has argued that international calls to stop the war only strengthen Hamas' determination to continue fighting. Meanwhile, Amnesty International on Monday accused 'Israel' of pursuing a 'deliberate policy' of starving civilians in Gaza, a claim that 'Israeli' officials have repeatedly denied.
Roya News
4 hours ago
- Roya News
Hamas agrees to 60-day Gaza ceasefire in proposed prisoner deal
Hamas has delivered its response regarding the proposed captive and truce deal to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani during a meeting in Egypt on Monday, according to Axios reporter Barak Ravid, citing a diplomatic source. Sources said the movement handed its reply to both Qatari and Egyptian mediators, with one informed official confirming that Hamas has agreed to the Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange. The approval reportedly came following a joint meeting between Egyptian and Qatari officials and the Hamas delegation in Cairo. According to the proposal, the agreement would include a 60-day truce in exchange for Hamas releasing 10 captives, alongside intensified humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza to ease the worsening crisis. The plan also calls for 'Israel' to allow safe routes for aid convoys and withdraw its forces from certain areas re-entered after the collapse of the previous ceasefire on March 2. If accepted, the proposal will be relayed to the 'Israeli' government through Washington, which would pressure 'Israel' to agree and halt its military operation in Gaza City, sources said. The deal also envisions Egypt, together with Qatar and the United States, providing guarantees to Hamas. During the truce period, intensive negotiations would be held, with US pressure on 'Israel' to reach a final agreement to end the war in Gaza, including arrangements for the post-war phase.
