First UN Plane Arrives at Sanaa Airport Days After Israeli Bombing
Authorities at Sanaa International Airport announced the arrival of the first United Nations flight just days after the airport was subjected to intense Israeli bombing, which caused extensive damage to many of its facilities and buildings.
The plane arrived on Thursday morning following the airport's rehabilitation, according to the Director-General of Sanaa Airport, Khalid Al-Shayef.
In a post on the X platform, Al-Shayef stated that the airport is now ready to receive flights and is expected to handle ten UN flights today.
The airport was recently targeted by a series of Israeli strikes that caused widespread damage to its infrastructure and facilities, and also destroyed several Yemeni aircraft parked on-site.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Saudi Gazette
2 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
MWL chief delivers Stanford lecture on values amid global ideological conflicts
Saudi Gazette report CALIFORNIA — The Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL) and President of the Association of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa, delivered a keynote lecture at Stanford University titled 'Values in the Face of Contemporary Conflicts.' The lecture examined the root causes and dangers of ideological—both religious and intellectual—conflicts, emphasizing the importance of understanding, coexistence, and collaboration among diverse belief systems. Dr. Al-Issa distinguished between natural religious and intellectual differences that reflect life's reality and the more destructive ideological clashes that divide societies and nations, offering both diagnoses and proposed solutions. The event included an overview of international law and humanitarian law, with an analysis of their application in modern global crises. Dr. Al-Issa also outlined the MWL's global initiatives aimed at promoting peace, social cohesion, and value-based development, and provided an expanded discussion on Islamic principles, underlining the distinction between authentic Islamic teachings and misrepresentations by individuals or groups. A special emphasis was placed on the Makkah Charter, highlighting its Islamic consensus, foundational vision, and universal values. Following the lecture, Dr. Al-Issa engaged in an open Q&A session that included surveys and dialogue with the audience. In addition, Dr. Al-Issa met with several Silicon Valley business leaders to discuss topics related to the digital economy, Islamic economic regulations, AI ethics, and charitable work as tools for combating poverty. He also reviewed projects presented by 25 Stanford undergraduate students inspired by their recent visit to Makkah and Umrah during Ramadan. These initiatives, part of the 'Establishing the Muslim Life' program, explored ways to implement the values of the Makkah Charter globally. The event was attended by faculty, students, and invited guests from Stanford University. Many participants praised the depth and relevance of the lecture and proposed that the content be expanded into a university-published book.
Saudi Gazette
3 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
New US ceasefire proposal for Gaza falls short of key demands, Hamas says
GAZA — Hamas has said it's reviewing the latest US proposal for a new ceasefire in Gaza and hostage release deal, though reports suggest the Palestinian armed group may reject it. Full details of the agreement have not yet been disclosed, but senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said the proposal favored the Israeli position and failed to meet any of Hamas' key demands, chiefly a commitment from Israel to end the war, withdraw its forces from Gaza and permit unrestricted aid access to the territory. It comes after the White House said Israel had accepted the proposal. "The Zionist response, in essence, means perpetuating the occupation and continuing the killing and famine," said Bassem Naim, a top Hamas official. He added that the proposed deal "does not respond to any of our people's demands, foremost among which is stopping the war and famine." Nonetheless, he said the group would study the proposal "with all national responsibility." Though US Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff has not publicly disclosed the contents of the ceasefire proposal, a Hamas official and an Egyptian mediator confirmed key elements of the plan. The proposal reportedly includes a 60-day pause in fighting, with guarantees of serious negotiations toward a long-term truce and assurances that Israel will not resume hostilities after hostages are released, as it did following the March ceasefire. Israeli forces would withdraw to the positions they held before that truce collapsed. In return, Hamas would release 10 living hostages and several bodies over the course of the pause, in exchange for more than 1,100 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, including 100 serving long sentences for deadly attacks. The deal would also allow hundreds of trucks carrying food and humanitarian supplies to enter Gaza daily. Aid groups warn that the nearly three-month Israeli blockade - only slightly eased in recent days - has brought much of Gaza's population to the brink of famine. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that the war in Gaza will not end until all hostages are freed and Hamas is either dismantled or forced into exile. He has also stated that Israel intends to retain indefinite security control over Gaza and support what he calls the "voluntary emigration" of a significant portion of its population. These plans have been widely condemned by Palestinians and much of the international community, with experts warning that forced displacement would likely violate international law. Hamas, for its part, has insisted it will only release the remaining hostages -- its key source of leverage -- in exchange for a lasting ceasefire, the release of more Palestinian prisoners, and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The group has also expressed willingness to hand over governance to a committee of politically independent Palestinians tasked with overseeing reconstruction. Meanwhile, Israel has continued its bombardment of the strip overnight, issuing forced displacement orders for five more areas in northern Gaza on Friday morning. Israeli airstrikes on the northern Gaza area of Jabaliya killed at least 12 people, including three women, according to Shifa Hospital, where the bodies were taken. One strike reportedly hit a home, killing six members of the same family, while additional strikes targeted people in the street, the hospital said. Palestinians are also still struggling to access aid, as chaos erupts at food distribution sites amid reports of Israeli smoke bombs and gunfire. Aid distribution hubs set up by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation are guarded by private security contractors, with Israeli forces positioned nearby. However, the UN and other humanitarian groups have rejected the new system, arguing it is inadequate to meet the needs of Gaza's population and allows Israel to use food as a means of control. — Euronews
Saudi Gazette
4 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Gaza subjected to forced starvation, top UN official says
LONDON — The UN's humanitarian chief has said people in Gaza are being subjected to forced starvation by Israel. In an interview with the BBC, Tom Fletcher said he believed this had led to a change in the international response to Gaza. Asked if his assessment of forced starvation amounted to a war crime, he said: "Yeah, it is. It is classified as a war crime. Obviously, these are issues for the courts to take the judgement on, and ultimately for history to take a judgement on." Fletcher also expressed regret for saying recently that 14,000 babies could die within 48 hours in Gaza if aid was not allowed in -- a claim the UN later drew back -- and acknowledged a need to be "precise" with language. Israel began to allow limited aid into Gaza last week, after an almost three-month blockade had halted the delivery of supplies such as food, medicine, fuel and shelter. It also resumed its military offensive two weeks after imposing the blockade, ending a two-month ceasefire with Hamas. Israel said the steps were intended to put pressure on the armed group to release the 58 hostages still held in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Since the easing of the blockade, scenes of chaos have broken out at aid distribution centers run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — a US- and Israeli-backed group. The UN, which refuses to cooperate with the GHF, said 47 people were injured earlier this week after crowds overwhelmed one of the centers. Fletcher said: "We're seeing food set on the borders and not being allowed in when there is a population on the other side of the border that is starving, and we're hearing Israeli ministers say that is to put pressure on the population of Gaza." He said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should "absolutely" disavow a statement made by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich — who had said people in Gaza would be "totally despairing understanding that there's no hope and nothing to look for", and would be looking to relocate to begin a "new life in other places". "We would expect governments all over the world to stand for international humanitarian law, the international community is very, very clear on that," Fletcher said. He called on Netanyahu to ensure that "this language, and ultimately, this policy... of forced displacement, isn't enacted". Israel has faced growing international criticism over its conduct of the war. On Tuesday, the EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said: "Israeli strikes in Gaza go beyond what is necessary to fight Hamas." Her remarks followed an intervention by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who declared he "no longer understands" Israel's objectives. Earlier this month, the leaders of the UK, France and Canada called on the Israeli government to "stop its military operations" and "immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza". In response, Netanyahu accused them of siding with Hamas. On 14 May, Fletcher called on the UN Security Council to act to prevent genocide in Gaza. Asked why he had made that statement, he referred to reporting from colleagues on the ground in Gaza. "What they're reporting is forced displacement. They're reporting starvation, they're reporting torture, and they're reporting deaths on a massive scale," he said. Fletcher said in the cases of Rwanda, Srebrenica and Sri Lanka, "the world had told us afterwards that we didn't act in time, that we didn't sound a warning". "And that's my call to the [UN] Security Council and the world right now, 'will you act to prevent genocide?'" Fletcher came under strong criticism from Israel after he claimed 14,000 babies in Gaza would die in 48 hours if aid was not allowed into the Strip. The Israeli Foreign Ministry accused Fletcher of ignoring Hamas's atrocities and echoing their propaganda. "It's not humanitarian work, it's blood libel," the ministry said at the time. Fletcher said: "At the point when I made those comments, we were desperately trying to get that aid in. "We were being told we couldn't get it in, and we knew that we'd probably have a couple of days, a window to get as much aid in as possible, and that was being denied, and we were desperate to get that in. And so yes, we've got to be utterly precise with our language, and we've clarified that." Asked about his claim – repudiated by Israel — that thousands of lorries were waiting on the border to enter Gaza, Fletcher repeated that he especially needed to be "careful and really precise". He agreed there was a risk of being seen to hype the situation, but he added: "I'm not going to stop speaking up for the need to save these lives in Gaza, to save as many survivors as possible. That's my job, and I've got to do it better, and I will do it." He said mediation and negotiation was the way to resolve the crisis in Gaza and repeated his call for Hamas to release the Israeli hostages being held by the militant group. "We all want to see those hostages freed and back with their with their families," he said. "I don't know now what the aim of this war is anymore. I think it has clearly gone beyond just the hostage releases. There's a lot of talk about finishing off Hamas. "And clearly, as many people have said, there can't be a part for Hamas in the new equation, the new governance of Gaza and the Palestinian territories." Fletcher rejected Israeli claims Hamas was stealing large amounts of food aid. "I don't want to see any of that aid getting to Hamas. That matters to us because these are our principles, neutral, impartial, independent. Its in our interest to stop that aid getting to Hamas and ensure it gets to civilians." "As a humanitarian, my interest is just in getting as much of that aid in as possible, as quickly as possible, and saving as many lives as we're allowed to do in the time we have." Fletcher is also dealing with crises in Ukraine, Sudan and Syria, among others, and said the world was facing a "profoundly dangerous" moment. "The Security Council is polarized, divided," he said. "That means it makes it much harder for us to end conflicts; the conflicts we're dealing with are more ferocious, there's more impunity, and they're lasting longer. "It's getting harder and harder to end wars and we humanitarians... deal with the consequences." Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas's cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. At least 54,249 people have been killed in Gaza since then, including 3,986 since Israel resumed its offensive, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry. — BBC
