Latest news with #AbdRabbo
Eyewitness News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Gaza rescuers say 52 killed in Israeli strikes, including 33 in a school
GAZA CITY - Rescuers said devastating Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 52 people on Monday, 33 of them in a school turned shelter. The civil defence agency said many of the casualties at the school in Gaza City were children, while the Israeli military said the site was housing "key terrorists". Israel has stepped up a renewed offensive to destroy Hamas, drawing international condemnation as aid trickles in following a nearly three-month blockade that has sparked severe food and medical shortages. World leaders meeting in Spain called for an end to the "inhumane" and "senseless" war, while aid groups said the trickle of aid is not nearly enough to staunch the hunger and health crises. In Gaza City, civil defence agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal said that an early-morning Israeli strike on the Fahmi Al-Jarjawi school, where displaced people were sheltering, killed "at least 33, with dozens of injured, mostly children, including several women". The Israeli military said it had "struck key terrorists who were operating within a Hamas and Islamic Jihad command and control centre embedded in an area that previously served as the 'Faami Aljerjawi' School", adding that "numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians". Throughout the war sparked by Hamas's unprecedented 7 October 2023 attack, Israel has accused the Palestinian militant organisation and its allies of using civilian infrastructure such as schools and hospitals as command centres, claims the groups have denied. JERUSALEM DAY Another strike killed at least 19 people "after the warplanes targeted the Abd Rabbo family's home early this morning in the town of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip", Bassal said. Israel has expanded its Gaza offensive, activating tens of thousands of reservists as it aims for the defeat of Hamas. The military said Monday that over "the past 48 hours, the [air force] struck over 200 targets throughout the Gaza Strip, including terrorists, weapon storage facilities, sniper and anti-tank missile posts, tunnel shafts, and additional terrorist infrastructure sites". It also said it had detected three projectiles launched from Gaza toward communities in Israel Monday, as the country prepared to celebrate Jerusalem Day, an annual event marking its capture of the city's eastern sector in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. READ: UN chief says Gaza war in 'cruellest phase' as aid trucks looted "Two projectiles fell in the Gaza Strip and one additional projectile was intercepted by the (air force) prior to crossing into Israeli territory," it said. US President Donald Trump, whose administration has strongly backed Israel in its campaign, said Sunday he wanted to "see if we can stop that whole situation as quickly as possible". The same day, as Arab and European nations gathered to seek an end to the conflict, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares called for an arms embargo on Israel. He also called for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza "massively, without conditions and without limits, and not controlled by Israel", describing the territory as humanity's "open wound". 'HUNGER, DESPERATION' Israel last week partially eased an aid blockade on Gaza that had exacerbated widespread shortages of food and medicine. COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body that coordinates civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories, said that "107 trucks belonging to the UN and the international community carrying humanitarian aid... were transferred" into Gaza on Sunday. But critics charge that is nowhere near enough, and just a fraction of the aid that was shipped in during a two-month ceasefire. After some of its aid trucks were looted last week, the World Food Programme called on Israel "to get far greater volumes of food assistance into Gaza faster", saying: "Hunger, desperation and anxiety over whether more food aid is coming is contributing to rising insecurity." Meanwhile, Jake Wood, the head of a controversial US-backed group preparing to move aid into Gaza, announced his resignation, saying it was impossible to do his job in line with principles of neutrality and independence. The GHF has vowed to distribute about 300 million meals in its first 90 days of operation and said in a statement it would begin "direct aid delivery" on Monday. The UN and international aid agencies have said they will not cooperate with the group, amid accusations it is working with Israel while lacking any Palestinian involvement. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said on Sunday that at least 3,785 people had been killed in the territory since a ceasefire collapsed on 18 March, taking the war's overall toll to 53,939, mostly civilians. Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Militants also took 251 hostages, 57 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 who the Israeli military says are dead.
Nahar Net
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Gaza rescuers say 52 killed in Israeli strikes, including 33 in a school
by Naharnet Newsdesk 26 May 2025, 11:49 Rescuers said devastating Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 52 people on Monday, 33 of them in a school turned shelter. The civil defense agency said many of the casualties at the school in Gaza City were children, while the Israeli military said the site was housing "key terrorists". Israel has stepped up a renewed offensive to destroy Hamas, drawing international condemnation as aid trickles in following a nearly three-month blockade that has sparked severe food and medical shortages. World leaders meeting in Spain called for an end to the "inhumane" and "senseless" war, while aid groups said the trickle of aid is not nearly enough to staunch the hunger and health crises. In Gaza City, civil defense agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal said that an early-morning Israeli strike on the Fahmi Al-Jarjawi school, where displaced people were sheltering, killed "at least 33, with dozens of injured, mostly children, including several women". The Israeli military said it had "struck key terrorists who were operating within a Hamas and Islamic Jihad command and control center embedded in an area that previously served as the 'Faami Aljerjawi' School", adding that "numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harming civilians". Throughout the war sparked by Hamas's unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack, Israel has accused the Palestinian militant organization and its allies of using civilian infrastructure such as schools and hospitals as command centers, claims the groups have denied. - Jerusalem Day - Another strike killed at least 19 people "after the warplanes targeted the Abd Rabbo family's home early this morning in the town of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip", Bassal said. Israel has expanded its Gaza offensive, activating tens of thousands of reservists as it aims for the defeat of Hamas. The military said Monday that over "the past 48 hours, the (air force) struck over 200 targets throughout the Gaza Strip, including terrorists, weapon storage facilities, sniper and anti-tank missile posts, tunnel shafts, and additional terrorist infrastructure sites". It also said it had detected three projectiles launched from Gaza toward communities in Israel Monday, as the country prepared to celebrate Jerusalem Day, an annual event marking its capture of the city's eastern sector in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. "Two projectiles fell in the Gaza Strip and one additional projectile was intercepted by the (air force) prior to crossing into Israeli territory," it said. US President Donald Trump, whose administration has strongly backed Israel in its campaign, said Sunday he wanted to "see if we can stop that whole situation as quickly as possible". The same day, as Arab and European nations gathered to seek an end to the conflict, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares called for an arms embargo on Israel. He also called for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza "massively, without conditions and without limits, and not controlled by Israel", describing the territory as humanity's "open wound". - 'Hunger, desperation' - Israel last week partially eased an aid blockade on Gaza that had exacerbated widespread shortages of food and medicine. COGAT, the Israeli defense ministry body that coordinates civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories, said that "107 trucks belonging to the UN and the international community carrying humanitarian aid... were transferred" into Gaza on Sunday. But critics charge that is nowhere near enough, and just a fraction of the aid that was shipped in during a two-month ceasefire. After some of its aid trucks were looted last week, the World Food Program called on Israel "to get far greater volumes of food assistance into Gaza faster", saying: "Hunger, desperation and anxiety over whether more food aid is coming is contributing to rising insecurity." Meanwhile, Jake Wood, the head of a controversial US-backed group preparing to move aid into Gaza, announced his resignation, saying it was impossible to do his job in line with principles of neutrality and independence. The GHF has vowed to distribute about 300 million meals in its first 90 days of operation, and said in a statement it would begin "direct aid delivery" on Monday. The U.N. and international aid agencies have said they will not cooperate with the group, amid accusations it is working with Israel while lacking any Palestinian involvement. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said on Sunday that at least 3,785 people had been killed in the territory since a ceasefire collapsed on March 18, taking the war's overall toll to 53,939, mostly civilians. Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Militants also took 251 hostages, 57 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 who the Israeli military says are dead.
Observer
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Observer
French Weeks highlights photographer's tribute to a timeless land
As visitors step through the threshold of the Stal Gallery in Muscat, they are greeted by a vivid tapestry of images that beckon them to unravel the story of Oman through the lens of French-Syrian photographer Ammar Abd Rabbo. The air thrums with anticipation, a palpable connection forming between the observer and the world captured within each frame. Abd Rabbo's photographs transcend mere visuals; they are portals that transport onlookers into the heart of Omani life – where the stones speak of ancient histories, the faces reflect the dignity of everyday existence, and the landscapes hum with a silent poetry. It is an invitation to connect, to reflect, and to experience a cultural dialogue rich with emotion and insight. French Weeks highlights photographer's tribute to a timeless land Organised in collaboration with the French Embassy in Oman, this exhibition is a key highlight of the "French Weeks" programme, a vibrant celebration of Franco-Omani relations through art, dialogue, and exchange. This marks the first time Ammar Abd Rabbo shares his personal archive of Oman with the public, bringing forth a collection titled 'Oman In My Eyes.' The exhibition features 37 exquisite images, drawn from nearly three decades of his journey which began with his initial visit to the Sultanate in 1996. The photographs encapsulate evocative portraits, traditional ceremonies, snapshots of everyday life, street photography, and rare moments from national sporting events of the past. They portray not only the physical evolution of Oman but also the profound connection and affection Abd Rabbo has developed for the country. 'Oman has never left me,' he expresses. "Since my first journey in 1996, almost 30 years ago, this country has etched into me its lines of stone and light, its silent and dignified faces, its still poetry within movement." For Abd Rabbo, photography transcends mere documentation; it is 'a kind of poetry and music' – a unique form of visual storytelling that seeks to elicit contemplation and emotional resonance. French Weeks highlights photographer's tribute to a timeless land What distinguishes this exhibition is the humanistic and lyrical perspective he employs in portraying his subjects. Abd Rabbo's art avoids the snares of spectacle and formality, opting instead to honour the quiet dignity woven into the fabric of daily life, reflecting the timeless essence of a country in transition. His photographs resonate with both personal and universal themes, encouraging viewers to pause and ponder the concepts of identity, change, and memory. Born in Damascus in 1966, Ammar Abd Rabbo's early life was spent in Libya and Lebanon before he moved to France in 1978, following the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War. A student of political science at the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris, he ventured into photojournalism with renowned agencies such as Sygma, Sipa Press, and AFP. Over the past thirty years, his work has graced more than a hundred magazine and book covers and found its way into leading international publications including Time Magazine, Le Monde, Paris Match, Der Spiegel, and Asharq Al Awsat. French Weeks highlights photographer's tribute to a timeless land His lens has traversed a myriad of subjects, capturing the stark realities of war in Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, and Syria, alongside significant global events like the Cannes Film Festival and Paris Fashion Week. Abd Rabbo's portraits of renowned figures, such as world leaders and cultural icons like Michael Jackson and Stephen Hawking, sit alongside tender depictions of ordinary people navigating extraordinary challenges. In conflict zones, he chooses to focus not on combat, but on the resilience of civilians – a perspective central to his poignant 2016 photo book Alep, À Elles Eux Paix. Abd Rabbo's work has been showcased globally in esteemed institutions and cultural events, including Banksy's Dismaland in the UK, the Venice Biennale, MAXXI Museum in Rome, and the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris. He has held solo exhibitions in cities like Doha, Dubai, Beirut, and Paris, and in 2018, he was honoured with the title of Chevalier of the French Order of Arts and Letters, recognising his meaningful contributions to the arts. French Weeks highlights photographer's tribute to a timeless land In 'Oman In My Eyes,' Ammar Abd Rabbo invites visitors to engage with his ongoing relationship with the Sultanate – a journey enriched by admiration, curiosity, and profound emotional resonance. Each image serves as a thoughtful meditation on place and presence, offering a rare and timeless view of Oman through the eyes of a seasoned storyteller. This exhibition promises to attract a diverse audience – from art enthusiasts and cultural historians to photography aficionados and members of the Franco-Omani community. It pays tribute to Oman's evolving landscape while celebrating the enduring connections fostered through art and cultural exchange. Visitors are heartily invited to explore this powerful visual narrative and immerse themselves in Oman as seen through the discerning eyes of a photographer whose work resonates with both gentleness and depth. The exhibition will be open to the public from 27 April to 12 May 2025 at Stal Gallery Ammar Abd Rabbo
