Latest news with #AbuAmsha
CBC
31-07-2025
- General
- CBC
Dinner in Gaza: A meal for one, split among seven
A father of five living in a tent west of Gaza City says "it's a good day" if his family eats one meal. According to a global hunger monitor a "worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out" in the region. We follow the Abu Amsha family to show you what it's like to search and buy food after months of an Israeli imposed blockade and two years of war.
Spectator
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Spectator
What's happening in southern Syria – and why Israel is involved
Over the last 24 hours, southern Syria has seen a sharp escalation in violence involving Syrian government forces, local Druze militias, and Israeli airpower. The developments centre on the city of As-Suwayda and the surrounding region, home to much of Syria's Druze population, and have drawn renewed attention to the complex relationship between the Druze community, the Syrian regime, and Israel. The Syrian army has begun heavily shelling areas in and around As-Suwayda. Israeli aircraft launched strikes against regime positions in Suwayda and Daraa, and reportedly targeted a military convoy belonging to Abu Amsha, a Turkish-backed militia commander. Then, this morning, three Israeli drones entered Damascus airspace and struck the General Staff building in Umayyad Square – a move the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation described as a message to Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa. In response to the unfolding situation, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was granted permission to leave his court hearing early and returned to the Kirya for emergency consultations. By this morning, Israel had moved reinforcements to its northern border. The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) reported that dozens of suspects attempted to infiltrate Israeli territory from Syria, specifically in the Khader area. In cooperation with the Border Police, Israeli forces worked to prevent infiltration and to disperse the gathering. At the same time, a number of Druze Israeli civilians crossed the border fence into Syrian territory near Majdal Shams. Some of them were reportedly attempting to reach the front lines near Suwayda on foot, approximately 40 miles away, in order to defend fellow Druze communities under attack. Some of the Druze who infiltrated Syria yesterday were found to have weapons. The IDF stated that it is working to safely return those individuals. It emphasised that this is a serious incident that constitutes a criminal offence and endangers both the public and IDF personnel. Israeli forces say they are continuing to monitor the situation and maintain readiness for a range of scenarios; Israeli media claimed that the airstrikes had helped Druze militias repel Syrian forces from parts of Suwayda. What explains this sudden surge in hostilities – and why is Israel involving itself? At the centre of the picture is the Druze minority. Numbering roughly one million across the region, the Druze are a religious community with roots in 11th-century Egypt and theological elements drawn from Islam, Greek philosophy, and other traditions. The religion is closed to converts, and Druze identity is passed on only by birth. A strong belief in reincarnation, strict community ethics, and a tradition of political pragmatism define Druze communal life. In Syria, the Druze have historically tried to remain apart from major power struggles. But since the outbreak of the civil war, they have found themselves increasingly vulnerable, particularly as jihadist factions, including remnants of Isis, reassert themselves in the south. Reports suggest that Druze communities in and around Suwayda had been under mounting pressure from both the Assad regime and Islamist groups. In late April, tensions escalated dramatically after a group of Syrian Druze were allowed to visit religious sites in Israel for a pilgrimage. Upon returning to Syria, they were accused by jihadist figures of being Israeli agents,. Clerics in several mosques reportedly called for jihad against the Druze. Since then, there have been reports of targeted attacks, executions, and armed assaults on Druze areas. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported that more than 200 people have been killed in recent clashes; of those, 92 were Druze, including 21 civilians who were reportedly executed by government forces. A video circulated yesterday appearing to show Syrian soldiers forcibly shaving the moustaches of Druze men – a deliberate act of humiliation and disrespect. Such images have compounded the sense of crisis. The violence has been carried out by forces loyal to Syria's new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa. Al-Sharaa, who lacks international credentials and is perceived by some as a jihadist figure, has quickly become a source of both moral and strategic concern for Israeli policymakers. While some argue the killings reflect decentralised militias acting independently, the broader implications for Israel's security posture and diplomatic strategy are clear. Israel's defence establishment has responded with both clarity and force. Following yesterday's strikes, defence minister Israel Katz warned al-Sharaa that 'the Syrian regime must leave the Druze in Sweida alone and withdraw its forces.' He added: 'Israel will not abandon the Druze in Syria and will enforce the disarmament policy we have decided upon. The IDF will continue to attack regime forces until their withdrawal from the area – and will soon raise the level of responses against the regime if the message is not understood.' This broader context may explain Israel's decision to intervene militarily. Although Israel has no formal relationship with the Druze across the border, it has a deep, enduring bond with its own Druze citizens – roughly 150,000 in number. These citizens are not just integrated but often serve at the very heart of Israeli society and national defence. Druze Israelis have long volunteered for the IDF, often serving in elite combat units, special forces, and leadership roles. Their loyalty and bravery have been recognised and respected across Israeli society. Many have paid the ultimate price, including during the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023, when Druze fighters were among the first to mobilise and defend Israeli communities. That day, described by some as a national reckoning, also proved a moment of profound solidarity between the Jewish and Druze populations of Israel – reaffirming a relationship built on shared sacrifice and mutual respect. Speaking with me a few months ago, Khalifa Khalifa, a Druze Israeli journalist and former soldier, explained the sense of kinship many Druze feel with Jews in Israel and around the world. 'We are Arabs who love the Jewish people,' he said, describing how Druze identity has often brought the community into conflict with both Islamist and authoritarian regimes in the region. He explained how reincarnation beliefs, communal solidarity, and historical persecution have shaped Druze attitudes towards bravery, defence and belonging. This may help explain why Israel is taking a keen interest in the fate of the Druze in Syria. While humanitarian concern plays a role – Israel has allowed some wounded Druze Syrians into Israeli hospitals in the past – the logic is also strategic. Southern Syria is unstable, with multiple actors vying for control. Supporting local Druze forces may be a way for Israel to contain threats close to its border without deploying ground troops. Meanwhile, prospects for normalising relations between Israel and Syria have significantly worsened. A proposed non-aggression pact, which may have involved Israeli withdrawal from recently captured Syrian territory, now appears politically untenable. Public trust is essential for any such arrangement, yet the current atrocities have deeply undermined confidence in Syria's leadership. Inside Israel, there is growing discomfort with the idea of legitimising a regime associated with civilian executions and sectarian violence. This morning, Israel's Druze leadership issued a dramatic statement: 'We call on all members of the community to prepare by any means necessary to cross the border in order to assist our brothers being slaughtered in Syria.' The situation remains fluid. Turkey has raised its alert level but has not yet intervened. Syria has announced further reinforcements to the south. And within Israel, political leaders are monitoring developments closely. Whether this becomes a larger regional flashpoint or remains a limited conflict will depend on what happens next. For now, the events of the past day have put the Druze – and their unique position in the region's tangled politics – back in the spotlight.
Rudaw Net
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
UN urges thorough screening of militants joining Syrian army
Also in Syria Syrian president calls Trump's decision to lift sanctions 'brave, historic' Syrian militants continue abuses in north Syria despite integration: HRW Trump meets Syria's Sharaa, urges him to normalize ties with Israel SDF, UN envoy welcome Trump's decision to lift Syria sanctions A+ A- NEW YORK - The United Nations on Wednesday called for proper screening of Syrian National Army (SNA) militants being integrated into Syria's official military structure, with many fighters accused of serious human rights abuses in northern Syria. 'I believe that decisions on integrating forces into the national army should be taken, of course, by the Syrian officials, but they need to take care to make sure that they screen people to make sure that all basic human rights norms and standards are fully observed,' Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson to the UN Secretary-General, told Rudaw. He was commenting on a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report on Wednesday detailing the continued detention and extortion of civilians by Turkish-backed SNA factions in northern Syria despite their integration into the Syrian state apparatus. 'It's up to the Syrian authorities, as they develop their institutions, to make sure that they have appropriate institutions to ensure accountability, both for the government but also for any abuses committed in the past,' Haq stressed. Syria's new authorities have come under fire, particularly from the Kurds, for appointing militia commanders complicit in serious human rights abuses, particularly Ahmad al-Hayes, better known as Abu Hatem Shaqra, the former leader of the SNA's Ahrar al-Sharqiya, and Mohammad Hussein al-Jassim (Abu Amsha), the notorious commander of the Suleiman Shah Brigade. In 2021, the US sanctioned Hayes, accusing him of serious human rights violations, including trafficking Yazidi women and children, and connections with the Islamic State (ISIS). He is also accused by Syrian Kurds of killing popular Kurdish politician Hevrin Khalaf during Turkey's 2019 military offensive against the Kurdish-led SDF in northern Syria. Washington has also sanctioned Abu Amsha for 'serious human rights abuses' in the Afrin region and for ordering his militants to 'forcibly displace Kurdish residents and seize their property' in northern Syria. According to HRW, hundreds of citizens 'remain detained in SNA-run, Turkish-supervised prisons' despite the removal of most SNA checkpoints in and around the Kurdish city of Afrin in northern Syria.
Observer
13-04-2025
- Health
- Observer
Gaza hospital hit as Israel intensifies assault
GAZA: An Israeli air strike early on Sunday heavily damaged one of the few functioning hospitals in Gaza, with the Israeli military saying it had targeted a Hamas "command and control centre" operating within the facility. Since the outbreak of war, tens of thousands of Gazans have sought refuge in hospitals, many of which have suffered severe damage in the ongoing hostilities. The strike on Al Ahli Hospital in northern Gaza — also known as the Baptist or Ahli Arab Hospital — caused no casualties, but came a day after Israeli forces seized a key corridor in the territory and signalled plans to expand their campaign. It also came as aid agencies and the United Nations warned that medicines and related supplies were rapidly running out in Gaza as casualties surged. "The bombing led to the destruction of the surgery building and the oxygen generation station for the intensive care units," Gaza's civil defence rescue agency said. The strike came "minutes after the (Israeli) army's warning to evacuate this building of patients, the injured and their companions", the agency said. Photographs showed massive slabs of concrete and twisted metal scattered across the site after the strike. The blast left a gaping hole in one of the hospital's buildings, with iron doors torn from their hinges. Onlookers sifted through the rubble, while some retrieved equipment from a media van also damaged in the strike. Iraq's Aletejah TV said one of its live broadcast vehicles was hit by the strike. A separate air strike on Sunday on a vehicle in the central city of Deir Al Balah killed seven people including six brothers, the civil defence agency said. Mahmud Abu Amsha, who witnessed the strike, said those killed were distributing aid. "They do not care about children or people being killed... This aid was being provided to the displaced people," Abu Amsha said. Israel has extended its offensive across much of Gaza. On Saturday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced that the military planned to expand its offensive as it completed the takeover of the "Morag axis" between the southern cities of Rafah and Khan Yunis. The corridor is part of what he called "the Israeli security zone". Patients, relatives and medical personnel evacuated the Al Ahli Hospital in haste following the military's warning. Many found themselves stranded in the surrounding streets. Naela Imad, 42, had been sheltering at the hospital but had to rush out of the complex. The Israeli military asserted that Hamas fighters were operating from inside the hospital compound. Security forces "struck a command and control centre used by Hamas in the Al Ahli Hospital" for planning and executing attacks, the military said. Hamas condemned what it described as a "savage crime" committed by Israel "with blatant US cover and complicity". Qatar, which helped mediate a fragile ceasefire between the warring parties that fell apart last month, also denounced the strike, calling it "a heinous crime against unarmed civilians". Hospitals, protected under international humanitarian law, have repeatedly been hit by Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war between Israel and the Palestinian groups on October 7, 2023. Al Ahli was heavily damaged by an explosion in its car park on October 17, 2023, leaving multiple fatalities. Aid agencies and the UN say that only a few of Gaza's 36 hospitals remain partially functional. British Foreign Minister David Lammy on Sunday urged Israel to stop carrying out "deplorable attacks" on hospitals in Gaza after an Israeli strike on one of the territory's few functioning hospitals. "Al Ahli Hospital has been attacked repeatedly since the conflict began," Lammy posted on X. "These deplorable attacks must end. Diplomacy not more bloodshed is how we will achieve a lasting peace." Meanwhile, the Palestine Red Crescent Society said on Sunday that a medic who had been missing since an Israeli attack on ambulances in Gaza last month is currently being held by Israeli authorities. "Asaad al Nsasrah is being held by the Israeli occupation authorities. His fate had remained unknown since he was targeted along with other PRCS medics in Rafah," PRCS said in a statement, referring to the attack that left 15 medics and rescuers dead. — AFP
Khaleej Times
13-04-2025
- Health
- Khaleej Times
Gaza hospital heavily damaged as Israel intensifies assault
An Israeli air strike early on Sunday heavily damaged one of the few functioning hospitals in Gaza, with the Israeli military saying it had targeted a Hamas "command and control centre" operating within the facility. Since the outbreak of war, tens of thousands of Gazans have sought refuge in hospitals, many of which have suffered severe damage in the ongoing hostilities. The strike on Al Ahli Hospital in northern Gaza — also known as the Baptist or Ahli Arab Hospital — caused no casualties, but came a day after Israeli forces seized a key corridor in the territory and signalled plans to expand their campaign. It also came as aid agencies and the United Nations warned that medicines and related supplies were rapidly running out in Gaza as casualties surged. "The bombing led to the destruction of the surgery building and the oxygen generation station for the intensive care units," Gaza's civil defence rescue agency said. The strike came "minutes after the (Israeli) army's warning to evacuate this building of patients, the injured and their companions", the agency said. AFP photographs showed massive slabs of concrete and twisted metal scattered across the site after the strike. The blast left a gaping hole in one of the hospital's buildings, with iron doors torn from their hinges. Onlookers sifted through the rubble, while some retrieved equipment from a media van also damaged in the strike. Iraq's pro-Iran Aletejah TV said one of its live broadcast vehicles was hit by the strike. A separate air strike on Sunday on a vehicle in the central city of Deir El Balah killed seven people including six brothers, the civil defence agency said. Mahmud Abu Amsha, who witnessed the strike, said those killed were distributing aid. "They do not care about children or people being killed... This aid was being provided to the displaced people," Abu Amsha told AFP. Patients on streets Israel has extended its offensive across much of Gaza. On Saturday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced that the military planned to expand its offensive as it completed the takeover of the "Morag axis" between the southern cities of Rafah and Khan Yunis. The corridor is part of what he called "the Israeli security zone". Patients, relatives and medical personnel evacuated the Al-Ahli hospital in haste following the military's warning. Many found themselves stranded in the surrounding streets. Naela Imad, 42, had been sheltering at the hospital but had to rush out of the complex. "Just as we reached the hospital gate, they bombed it. It was a massive explosion," she told AFP. "Now, me and my children are out on the street. We've been displaced more than 20 times. The hospital was our last refuge." The Israeli military asserted that Hamas militants were operating from inside the hospital compound. Security forces "struck a command and control centre used by Hamas in the Al Ahli Hospital" for planning and executing attacks, the military said. Hamas condemned what it described as a "savage crime" committed by Israel "with blatant US cover and complicity". Qatar, which helped mediate a fragile ceasefire between the warring parties that fell apart last month, also denounced the strike, calling it "a heinous crime against unarmed civilians". Hospitals targeted Hospitals, protected under international humanitarian law, have repeatedly been hit by Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7, 2023. Al Ahli was heavily damaged by an explosion in its car park on October 17, 2023, leaving multiple fatalities. Aid agencies and the UN say that only a few of Gaza's 36 hospitals remain partially functional. The Gaza war broke out after Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel which resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Gaza's health ministry said on Sunday that at least 1,574 Palestinians had been killed since March 18 when the ceasefire collapsed, taking the overall death toll since the war began to 50,944.
