Latest news with #AbdelHakim
Al Jazeera
12-08-2025
- General
- Al Jazeera
‘I knew these giants, Al Jazeera's Mohammed Qreiqeh and Anas al-Sharif'
Deir el-Balah, Gaza – The first time I met Mohammed Qreiqeh was at al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City on January 31 when we had just returned from southern Gaza to the north. I went to Al Jazeera's media tent at the hospital, where he was. Photographer Abdel 'Abed' Hakim and I introduced ourselves, and we all chatted – about the situation, the war and our displacement to the south. At the time, Anas al-Sharif was doing a live report. I felt a warm sense of familiarity. I was finally seeing Anas, whose reports we had followed throughout our displacement. He didn't look different from how he did on screen, but he had a strong presence in person. We approached Anas after he finished his report and spoke briefly. He knew Abed well, but it was the first time I met him. He spoke with humility and an easy smile during our short conversation – he had to go report across northern Gaza. My brief meeting with Anas and Mohammed that day felt like standing before giants, powerful and unshakable. In their presence, I felt like nothing compared to their strength, determination and persistence despite the horrors that had unfolded in the north. Those of us reporting from the south often marvelled at their strength, and we were always proud of them. I met Mohammed and Anas several times after that. On April 13 when al-Ahli Arab Hospital in the centre of Gaza City was struck by two missiles, the meeting was brief but warm – the kind that you could feel how ready they were to help at any moment. That day, Mohammed advised me to focus on certain points and pointed me towards a place to get important interviews and information. Moments later, he excused himself to go live on air. This was something Anas and Mohammed shared: tireless work and a willingness to help any journalist on the ground, especially as veterans who knew every inch of northern Gaza. The last time I saw Anas was last week outside al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. I had gone there to film an interview. We exchanged a quick greeting because, as always, he was busy and getting ready for a live broadcast. I watched him gesture to his cameraman where to set up under the blazing sun. For a moment, I observed him, his energy and professionalism, despite the wave of Israeli incitement and threats against him. My parting words to him were: 'Stay safe,' because we all knew he could be a target at any moment. When the news came of his assassination on Sunday night, it was a catastrophe, not only for journalists, but for all Palestinians who considered Anas a son, someone who told their stories. Everyone hoped the news was wrong, but it wasn't. And it carried another blow: Mohammed, Moamen Aliwa, Mohammed Noufal and Ibrahim Zaher had also been targeted. Al Jazeera Arabic's entire northern Gaza crew had been wiped out – correspondents, cameramen and equipment – erased. The charges against them were ready-made, fabricated. But everyone knows Israel fears only one thing: the truth. It was a moment when I hated everything. I hated journalism – now a lie for a world that does not hear us or see us, a world that waits for our deaths, waits for us to become the news instead of delivering it. It was a moment heavy with futility, with the shamelessness of the crime and yet heavier with the rage that the crimes go unpunished. Why wasn't Anas protected? Why was he left alone, facing death at any moment? Why did we have to watch this as just another news item? Journalism has become a fear and a curse that shadows us all, every moment. Anas, Mohammed and their colleagues are no longer here to hold the microphones or cameras, but their voices, courage and relentless pursuit of truth will remain etched in Gaza's memory.
Khaleej Times
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Khaleej Times
'I have Dh4,000 in fines': Sharjah residents thankful for discount, vow to drive safer
Several motorists have expressed their gratitude after Sharjah announced a 35 per cent discount on traffic fines, calling it a relief and a chance to reset. Many admitted they had racked up fines while rushing or due to honest mistakes and now hope others will also take the opportunity to drive more responsibly. The Sharjah Executive Council, chaired by Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem bin Sultan Al-Qasimi, announced that motorists who pay within 60 days of committing a violation will receive a 35 per cent discount. The reduction applies not just to fines, but also to late penalties, vehicle impoundment, and storage fees. For payments made after 60 days and before one year, a 25 per cent discount on the financial penalty alone will apply. Over Dh4,000 in fines Sharjah resident Anurag Tari, who works in the insurance industry, said the discount was a huge relief. 'I checked yesterday, I have Dh4,290 in fines. That's a lot, especially with school fees and rent coming up,' he said. 'Most of my violations are from the morning rush, speed limits, and many parking tickets I got when I left my car on the side for just five minutes,' said Anurag, thanking the Sharjah government. 'This is a kind gesture, but it's also a wake-up call. I have learned my lesson. No more rushing or parking fines from now on,' added Anurag. 'Don't wait for discounts, follow rules' Abdel Hakim, a Sudanese expat working at a gym as a trainer in Muweilah, said that while he appreciated the discount, he hoped all motorists would take road safety more seriously. He has been fined twice for not wearing a seatbelt, a few times for parking and thrice for not following the lane on the highway. 'The fine for not following the lane is a dispute and I have reached out to the traffic department and they are quite helpful,' he said. 'These rules are there for a reason. I am thankful for the 35 per cent reduction, it makes a difference when you don't earn a big salary. But I also feel guilty. We shouldn't wait for offers to follow rules,' said Abdel Hakim. He added that he now wears his seatbelt whenever he even sits in his car and pays for parking, even if it's for a few minutes. 'It's about protecting yourself and others. This is not just about money, it's about safety.' Syed Hashim, a 39-year-old sales executive and father of two living in Al Nahda, often finds himself rushing during school drop-offs. 'I usually drop my kids near Al Ghubaiba in the mornings and then head out for shopping or errands before work,' he said. 'One day I ended up getting a Dh300 fine for blocking the road, but honestly, I was stuck because other cars had cornered me and I couldn't move even if I wanted to," he narrated. Imran added that he has unknowingly violated rules a few times. 'Once, I drove in the truck lane while trying to avoid a congested route. And another time, I didn't pay for parking in Al Majaz 2. I thought paid parking ends at 10pm, like in most areas, but apparently it's till midnight there. I had taken the family out for dinner and came back to a fine.' He said the new discount scheme is a huge relief. 'These may seem like small mistakes, but the fines quickly add up. I am grateful to the authorities for this decision. It gives people like me a second chance," he said.
