Latest news with #ArabLeague
Dubai Eye
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Dubai Eye
Arab League Council rejects changes to Ibrahimi Mosque status
The Arab League Council has reaffirmed its complete rejection of any attempts to alter the current status of the Ibrahimi Mosque and its surroundings in the Old City of Hebron. It cited reported efforts to restrict access, silence the call to prayer, alter its features or disconnect it from its Palestinian context. The council held Israeli forces responsible for what it described as violations in this regard. The council emphasized the importance of maintaining Palestinian administrative authority over the mosque and its vicinity, referring to it as an Islamic endowment overseen by the Palestinian Ministry of Islamic Endowments. It warned that Israeli actions at the site, which it characterized as attempts to assert control, are part of broader efforts to reshape the area. The council called on the international community to uphold and enforce relevant international resolutions. The statement was issued in response to reported Israeli government plans to revoke the Hebron municipality's authority over the Ibrahimi Mosque and its surrounding area. The statement was released at the conclusion of a session of the council at the level of permanent representatives. The meeting was chaired by Jordan, at the request of the State of Palestine and with the support of other member states. Ambassador Hossam Zaki, Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League, along with permanent ambassadors from member states, were in attendance. The council reiterated its support for the 2017 UNESCO decision that listed the Ibrahimi Mosque and the Old City of Hebron as World Heritage in Danger, stating that recent developments appear to contravene this designation. It also stated that Israel does not possess sovereignty over Palestinian territories and heritage sites, warning that the Israeli plan represents a significant escalation that could alter the historical identity of the site and affect Palestinian cultural heritage. The council further warned of potential consequences for religious sites and regional stability. The council called for adherence to the 1997 agreement signed between the Palestine Liberation Organisation and Israel, which provides that the administration of the Ibrahimi Mosque remains under the authority of the Hebron Municipality. It condemned Israeli measures aimed at increasing control over parts of Hebron and the mosque, which the council said change the historical and legal status of the area and restrict Palestinian access. It urged the United Nations Secretary-General to take effective measures to ensure civilian protection in Hebron. The council also stressed the need to send an urgent monitoring mission to Hebron, in line with previous decisions of the World Heritage Committee, to evaluate the situation on the ground. It called for renewed diplomatic efforts to document and monitor developments in and around the Ibrahimi Mosque. Additionally, the council urged the UN Special Rapporteurs on freedom of religion and human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories to investigate and report on the situation. It also requested that Arab League missions and councils of Arab ambassadors communicate the contents of the resolution to their host governments.
Sharjah 24
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Sharjah 24
Arab Parliament for the Child welcomes delegations to Sharjah
The session will be held from 22 to 26 July 2025, under the generous patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, with the support and close follow-up of His Excellency Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League. Djibouti and Palestine Among the First to Arrive Djibouti and Palestine were the first delegations to arrive at UAE airports, followed by the remaining participating countries: Morocco, Mauritania, Libya, the Sultanate of Oman, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Republic of Iraq, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Republic of Lebanon, the State of Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. In total, 14 countries are represented, with 56 child parliamentarians accompanied by official representatives from their national parliaments and child-focused institutions. Warm Reception at UAE Airports Delegations were warmly welcomed by reception teams from the General Secretariat of the Arab Parliament for the Child, in collaboration with the General Secretariat of the Sharjah Consultative Council and the Parliament's institutional partners. Children and accompanying officials were received with generous Emirati hospitality, provided with all necessary facilities, transported to their accommodation in Sharjah, and briefed on the session's schedule and planned activities. A Dialogue Platform on Cultural Identity The event forms part of the Arab Parliament for the Child's commitment to empowering Arab children to voice their perspectives on childhood issues, enhance their dialogue skills, and strengthen their awareness of Arab cultural identity. This year, the child parliamentarians will discuss the theme 'The Cultural Identity of the Arab Child' during a wide-ranging dialogue session that reflects their visions and provides a pioneering Arab model of parliamentary work for children. Message from the Secretary-General On this occasion, His Excellency Ayman Othman Al Barout, Secretary-General of the Arab Parliament for the Child, welcomed the arrival of the delegations, noting that Sharjah's hosting of this significant event reflects the visionary leadership's dedication to child development. He said: 'We are pleased to welcome Arab child parliamentarians from across the region to Sharjah, a city that embraces their dreams and offers them a platform to speak, engage, and practise their parliamentary roles in a safe and open environment. The participation of 14 Arab countries underscores the growing status of the Arab Parliament for the Child and embodies the spirit of Arab unity for a brighter future for our children.' Looking Forward to an Enriching Session Al Barout added: 'We value the institutional partnerships that support the Parliament in fulfilling its mission, and we look forward to a fruitful and enriching session that will broaden the horizons of the Arab child and deepen their connection to their identity and heritage. All of this takes place in an environment that nurtures innovation and meaningful dialogue. The official session, set to open under the dome of the Arab Parliament for the Child, will stand as a meeting point of childhood and leadership, of ideas and aspirations—a moment the Arab world will witness with pride, from east to west.'
Arab Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Arab Times
Kuwait reiterates strong rebuke over unjust Israeli siege of Gaza
KUWAIT CITY, July 22, (Agencies): The State of Kuwait reiterated its condemnation and denunciation of the unjust blockade imposed by the Israeli occupation on the Gaza Strip, a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Monday. The statement added that the unjust blockage is a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, and disregards relevant international legitimacy resolutions, particularly Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2417, which condemns the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare in conflict situations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the State of Kuwait's condemnation of these grave and brutal crimes, including the killing of food seekers. The statement stressed the need for the international community and the Security Council to fulfill their legal and moral responsibilities and work to ensure the implementation of UN resolutions, lift the blockade imposed on the people in Gaza Strip, and to allow the immediate entry of humanitarian aid. The ministry also called to halt the genocide and systematic starvation on the Palestinian people. Meanwhile, the Arab League held an extraordinary session at the level of permanent representatives on Tuesday to address the ongoing starvation siege imposed on the Gaza Strip. The session, chaired by Jordan and requested by Palestine, focused on the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, particularly the Israeli occupation's deliberate starvation of Gaza's population. Discussions also addressed Israeli occupation plans to establish a so-called 'humanitarian city' in southern Gaza, described during the session as a closed, racially segregated detention zone, which is a continuation of forced mass displacement and genocide. The session further highlighted the grave repercussions of the Israeli occupation's targeting of mosques and churches, particularly efforts to strip the Hebron Municipality of its authority over the Ibrahimi Mosque in favor of a so-called 'religious council' affiliated with illegal settlements. The Council also reviewed possible political, legal, and diplomatic measures at both the Arab and international levels to confront these serious violations. Kuwait was represented at the session by its Permanent Representative to the Arab League, Ambassador Talal Al-Mutairi. Israeli troops for the first time Monday pushed into areas of a central Gaza city where several aid groups are based, in what appeared to be the latest effort to carve up the Palestinian territory with military corridors. Deir al-Balah is the only Gaza city that has not seen major ground operations or suffered widespread devastation in 21 months of war, leading to speculation that the Hamas militant group holds large numbers of hostages there. The main group representing hostages' families said it was 'shocked and alarmed' by the incursion and demanded answers from Israeli leaders. Israel says the seizure of territory in Gaza is aimed at pressuring Hamas to release hostages, but it is a major point of contention in ongoing ceasefire talks. The U.N. food agency, meanwhile, accused Israeli forces of firing on a crowd of Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid over the weekend. The Gaza Health Ministry called it one of the deadliest attacks on aid-seekers in the war that has driven the territory to the brink of famine. In the latest sign of international frustration, the United Kingdom, France and 23 other Western-aligned countries issued a statement saying 'the war in Gaza must end now.' They harshly criticized Israel's restrictions on humanitarian aid and called for the release of the 50 hostages remaining in Gaza. Associated Press reporters heard explosions and saw smoke rising from parts of the city that were ordered evacuated on Sunday. The Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said it was the first time ground troops had operated in the area. A man living in the evacuation zone, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said Israel dropped pamphlets at dawn ordering people to evacuate. Two hours later, tanks rolled into the area. He said his 62-year-old father, who had spent the night elsewhere, fled from house to house as Israeli forces moved in and saw them flattening structures with bulldozers and tanks. Both men managed to leave the evacuation zone. The World Health Organization said Israeli forces raided its main staff residence in Deir al-Balah, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot toward the coast. 'Male staff and family members were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot and screened at gunpoint,' the U.N. health agency said in a statement. It said two staff and two family members were detained, with three later released and one still being held. The WHO said its main warehouse in the city, which is in the evacuation zone, was damaged by an explosion and a fire, hurting the agency's ability to help hospitals and emergency medical teams. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric had earlier said two U.N. guesthouses in Deir al-Balah were damaged by shrapnel. He said the cause was still being investigated but that heavy Israeli airstrikes had been reported in the area. Local and international staff will continue to work there, he said. The military declined to say if it had ordered the evacuation of aid groups based in the city, saying only that it maintains continuous contact with them and facilitates their relocation when necessary. Separately, the military announced that a 19-year-old soldier was killed and an officer was severely wounded in combat in southern Gaza. Tens of thousands of people have sought refuge in Deir al-Balah during repeated waves of mass displacement in Gaza. The U.N. humanitarian coordinator says 87.8% of Gaza is now under evacuation orders or inside Israeli military zones, 'leaving 2.1 million civilians squeezed into a fragmented 12 per cent of the Strip, where essential services have collapsed.' Israel has taken over large areas of Gaza and split the territory with corridors stretching from the border to the sea as it seeks to pressure Hamas to release more hostages. In response to the Deir al-Balah incursion, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum warned in its statement that 'the people of Israel will not forgive anyone who knowingly endangered the hostages - both the living and the deceased. No one will be able to claim they didn't know what was at stake.' Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war and killed around 1,200 people. Fewer than half of the 50 hostages still in Gaza are believed to be alive. Israel blames the deaths of Palestinian civilians on Hamas because the militants operate in densely populated areas, and it accuses the group of prolonging the war because Hamas has not accepted Israel's terms for a ceasefire. The World Food Program, in a rare condemnation, said the crowd surrounding its convoy in northern Gaza on Sunday 'came under fire from Israeli tanks, snipers and other gunfire.' It said 'countless lives' were lost. A photographer working with the AP counted 51 bodies at two hospitals. The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 80 people were killed. Israel's military said it fired warning shots 'to remove an immediate threat' and questioned the death toll reported by the Palestinians. It declined to comment on the WFP statement. Hundreds of people have been killed while seeking food in recent weeks, both from U.N. convoys and separate aid sites run by an Israelibacked group that has been mired in controversy. The Palestinian death toll from the war has climbed to more than 59,000, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Its count does not distinguish between militants and civilians, but the ministry says more than half of the dead are women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas government, but the U.N. and other international organizations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties. Gaza health officials said at least 18 people, including three women and five children, were killed in Israeli strikes overnight and into Monday.
Egypt Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
President Sisi reaffirms Egypt's unwavering support to AL
CAIRO, July 20 (MENA) – President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday reiterated Egypt's commitment to supporting the Arab League, in light of the pan-Arab body's pivotal role in promoting joint Arab action and closing Arab ranks to overcome region's complex and unprecedented challenges. This came during president Sisi's meeting with Secretary General of the Arab League of Arab Ahmed Abul Gheit. The meeting addressed the latest developments pertinent to Arab crises and issues, mainly the situation in Gaza Strip and the West Bank, as well as the massive efforts being made by Egypt and Qatar to reach a ceasefire and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, according to Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed el Shennawi. The meeting tackled prospects of pursuing a just and comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian cause through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, in accordance with international legitimacy, the protection of the rights of the Palestinian people and the prevention of their displacement. The meeting also touched on the latest developments in Syria and Libya, in addition to the situation in Sudan and the ongoing efforts to restore security and stability there. The meeting tackled the political and security situations in the Horn of Africa and the security of the Red Sea. For his part, Abul Gheit commended Egypt's wise stances, which contribute to restoring security and stability in the Middle East, especially through its support for a just and final solution to the Palestinian issue, as the only path to achieving lasting and comprehensive peace in the region. (MENA)
Saba Yemen
a day ago
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Democratic Front for Liberation of Palestine welcomes statement of 25
Gaza - Saba: The Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine welcomed the statement issued in London by 25 foreign ministers, calling for an end to the war in the Gaza Strip, saving the population from death by fire and starvation, and rejecting their displacement from the Strip or their detention in a large prison called the "Humanitarian City." In a statement received by the Yemeni News Agency (Saba) on Monday, the Democratic Front praised "every action aimed at halting the effects of the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip and pressuring the enemy state to stop its war, withdraw its army from the Strip, and leave our people the sacred choice of self-determination on their land, far from any colonial projects, whatever their source." In the same context, the Democratic Front called on "the Arab countries whose representatives will meet at the Arab League to take effective and influential decisions to halt the heinous crimes committed daily by the fascist junta in the occupying entity. This junta is wanted by international justice at the International Criminal Court in The Hague for committing genocide, and by the International Criminal Court for its military-political leaders committing war crimes against our people." The Democratic Front emphasized the need for Arab countries to take positions that rise to the occasion, including withdrawing Arab ambassadors from the occupied entity, expelling enemy ambassadors, and imposing a complete economic boycott, including preventing the transfer of materials to the enemy through neighboring Arab countries. It also called for the activation of financial and economic power, as well as Arab diplomacy, to isolate the occupying entity internationally, halt its supply of weapons, and consider it a rogue state rebelling against international legitimacy. It also called for referring the issue of a ceasefire and breaking the siege in the Gaza Strip to the Security Council, and for adopting a cohesive position that prevents the Washington representative from resorting to using the veto. The Front called for the provision of the necessary aid to support the situation in the Gaza Strip, including what the situation requires in terms of food, environment and health, while at the same time providing decent shelter for those whose homes were destroyed, so that they can return to live in their ruins, and providing the necessary mechanisms to remove the rubble, and recover more than ten thousand bodies from under the rubble, and transferring the injured, wounded and sick in critical condition for treatment abroad. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
