Latest news with #Attar
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘Our hearts ache': the fight for survival in Gaza amid Israel's new offensive and no aid
At about 2am on Sunday, Basel al-Barawi was dozing fitfully in his home in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza. For hours, he had listened fearfully to the sound of explosions and shooting. Then there was a massive blast. Barawi ran out to the street and saw that his cousin's house had been bombed, with 10 people inside. The strikes on Beit Lahiya came days after Israel launched a major new offensive, named Operation Gideon's Chariots. 'They were all martyred. Only a six-year-old girl survived, and she is now in the hospital. We started pulling them from under the rubble – their features were disfigured, their bodies covered in dirt, their clothes torn. Their skin had turned grey from the ash and dust. I felt my heart tearing apart as I carried them and handed them over to others,' the 46-year-old university lecturer said. Hours later, Barawi loaded his own family into a battered hired car along with as many belongings as could fit. They headed south towards Gaza City in search of relative safety. 'I went there without knowing where we would settle, and I don't know anyone around me … Our bodies and faces are no longer as they were before the war. We don't recognise ourselves, so how can others recognise us?' he told the Guardian. Abdel Khaleq al-Attar had also fled to Gaza City after witnessing the bombing of Barawi's cousins. Attar and his family had been living in a tent, after being displaced eight times during the 19 month-long conflict. 'It was one of the hardest nights Beit Lahiya has ever experienced,' the 23-year-old said. 'When we evacuated, we only brought personal belongings and two blankets. The road was dangerous and exhausting. There were hundreds of people walking while carrying their belongings, others sitting on the roadside completely worn out. Now we are sleeping in our tent in the street.' Hundreds have died in waves of airstrikes in Israel's new offensive, mostly civilians according to medical and civil defence officials in Gaza, though the leader of Hamas in Gaza has reportedly been killed too Now in Gaza City, Attar faces another threat. Gaza has been under a tight blockade imposed by Israel 11 weeks ago and stocks of food, medicine and fuel are almost exhausted. Israel says the measure is necessary to prevent Hamas exploiting aid to fund its military and other operations. However, the consequences for the shattered, traumatised population are clear. The small supplies of essentials are unaffordable for many, and food security experts have described a critical risk of famine amid already soaring acute malnutrition. Few in Gaza place much confidence in the announcement on Sunday night by Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, that 'basic aid' would now be allowed into Gaza. 'We are facing real starvation. I have three children to feed,' Attar, a labourer, said. The war in Gaza was sparked by a surprise attack launched by Hamas into Israel in October 2023, which killed 1,200, mostly civilians. The militant Islamist organisation also took 251 hostages, of whom 57 remain in Gaza, though more than half are thought to be dead. The successive Israeli offensives have killed more than 53,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians. The Israeli military did not offer an immediate comment on the strikes in Beit Lahiya but had previously said it followed international law and took 'feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm'. Israel also accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields – which the group denies. Israel issues evacuation orders before some strikes to warn civilians of forthcoming operations but no recent such orders appear to cover Beit Lahiya. Among the war's most recent casualties was Nesma Salem's older brother. The 20-year-old student and her family decided to flee Beit Lahiya on Friday morning after nights spent 'in utter darkness, in every sense of the word'. But as they loaded her brother's car with their belongings for the trip to Gaza City, artillery shells began to fall nearby. 'People started fleeing in all directions. We tried to get out as fast as we could, but we weren't fast enough,' Salem said. There were three sudden explosions. When Salem looked around, she saw bodies scattered in the street – children, men and women. 'I turned around and saw my brother Rajeb lying on the ground. He told me he was OK, but then he lost consciousness. I checked his pulse – it was still there. I tried to find someone to help carry him or treat him, but everyone around us was injured themselves,' Salem said. 'I ran back home and found my uncle who helped carry my brother. Then ambulances transported him to the hospital. The doctor checked him and immediately declared him dead. I couldn't believe it. I begged the doctor to check again, to try to resuscitate him. They said there was no hope. I started screaming.' Rajeb Salem, who was 22, was hastily buried in Beit Lahiya. Then the family fled. 'My father drove my brother's car, but many of our belongings were lost or damaged in the strikes so we only managed to bring some food, summer clothes, and blankets. The road was exhausting, packed with cars full of displaced families' belongings, rubble everywhere, and the sky covered in smoke from the nonstop bombardment,' Nesma Salem said. The family found shelter in the house of a relative in Gaza City, already overcrowded with fugitives from elsewhere. They too face hunger as well as grief and shock. 'Our stock of aid is gone. The flour is gone. We used to grind pasta and bake it as a bread substitute – now even the pasta is finished. Today, we ground lentils and kneaded into dough,' said Salem. She has little interest in the continual rumours of a new ceasefire. 'What difference does it make to me? Will they bring my brother back to life? I no longer care about ceasefires or Beit Lahiya. I will never go back there. I can't imagine our home without my brother in it … Our hearts ache.'
Morocco World
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Morocco World
Master Musicians of Jajouka Electrify Jnan Sbil at Fez Sacred Music Festival
Fez – The legendary Master Musicians of Jajouka, led by Bachir Attar, delivered a hypnotic performance in the lush gardens of Jnan Sbil last night as part of the 28th edition of the Fez World Sacred Music Festival. Their haunting, trance-inducing melodies, carried by the piercing wail of the ghaïta (Maghrebi oboe) and the relentless pulse of frame drums, transported the audience into a realm where ancient ritual and modern transcendence collide. Bachir Attar, leader of the Masters of Jajouka, spoke passionately to Morocco World News (MWN) about his musical heritage at the Fez World Sacred Music Festival. 'We are very happy to present ourselves at this festival,' he said. 'It's a great opportunity for Moroccans to learn about Jajouka. While not widely known here, important music researchers recognize its value. That's why we're honored to share this deep Moroccan tradition.' 'This is Morocco's oldest music, yet many have never heard it,' Attar continued. 'Being here at Fez's Sacred Music Festival is truly special. It's incredible how our music came from a small village near Ksar El Kebir to reach global stages. We've worked with legends – the Rolling Stones, Slash, Aerosmith, even Howard Shore who composed Lord of the Rings. He visited my village and we created music for The Cell starring Jennifer Lopez.' Attar said that his work wasn't about personal fame. 'It's about honoring my family's musical legacy, thousands of years old but little recognized.' He recalled memorable collaborations: 'The Rolling Stones had us on their Steel Wheels album – the track Continental Drift became beloved. Slash told me he adored it when we met at Woodstock '94.' 'This journey was never about me – it's preserving my family's art. Without them, I wouldn't have done this. Alhamdulillah, we've given this music the global platform it deserves.' His final words carried quiet pride: 'We've put Morocco's musical soul on the world stage – that's what matters most.' A legacy that echoes through time The village of Jajouka, nestled in the Rif Mountains, has been a wellspring of mystical sound for centuries. Their music, rooted in Sufi tradition and the rites of Boujeloud (the half-man, half-goat Pan-like figure), has captivated Western artists since the 1960s. The Rolling Stones' Brian Jones immortalized their sound in his 1968 album Brian Jones Presents the Pipes of Pan at Jajouka, while icons like Bob Dylan, Ornette Coleman, and William S. Burroughs, and most artists of the Beat Generation, have all fallen under their spell. Last night's performance was no exception. As the first notes of the ghaïta sliced through the air, the crowd, from festival pilgrims to local Moroccans, was immediately entranced. The musicians, clad in traditional green robes, worked their way through complex polyrhythms and spiraling harmonies and ended up creating a sonic masterpiece that felt primal and timeless. From the Beat Generation to Fez The connection between Jajouka and Western counterculture runs deep. As Bob Dylan once sang in 'Thunder on the Mountain', a line that could have been written for this very night: 'I don't need any guide, I already know the way.' Indeed, the Beat Generation found their way to Morocco in the 1950s, with William Burroughs, Brion Gysin, Paul Bowles, and Allen Ginsberg all drawn to the hypnotic sounds of Jajouka. Gysin even helped bring them to global attention by introducing them to Jones. Last night, Bachir Attar and his ensemble proved that their music remains as vital as ever. The interplay between the oboe's serpentine melodies and the relentless throb of percussion created an almost hallucinatory effect, blurring the line between sacred ritual and ecstatic celebration. The Fez World Sacred Music Festival, now in its 28th year, has long been a meeting point for spiritual and artistic traditions from across the globe. This year's theme, 'Renaissances' found a perfect expression in the Master Musicians of Jajouka, whose performance was less a concert than a ceremony, one that left the audience exhilarated and deeply moved. As the final notes faded into the night, the crowd erupted in applause, many visibly awestruck. For those who witnessed it, last night was a journey. And as Dylan might say, they didn't need a guide. The music showed them the way. Tags: Fez World Sacred Music FestivalJajoukaSufi music
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Time of India
'Slapped me, grabbed my phone and threw it away': TTE assaults man for asking him to speak in Kannada on Hampi Express
A TTE on the Mysuru-Hubballi Hampi Express allegedly slapped a passenger, Mahmad Basha Attar, for requesting him to speak in Kannada. The incident occurred in Bengaluru, prompting Attar to file a grievance in Koppal. HUBBALLI: An incident involving a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) on train no. 16591 Mysuru-Hubballi Hampi Express has come to light. The TTE allegedly slapped a Koppal-bound passenger in Bengaluru on Thursday night. This follows a report of an Air Force official reportedly attacking a Kannadiga salesman and filing a complaint, claiming he was insulted in Kannada. Mahmad Basha Attar, a resident of Bhagyanagar in Koppal, told TOI that he was travelling from Mysuru to Koppal on Thursday in the S-3 coach. "A TTE came checking the tickets of all passengers, and I requested him to speak in Kannada. I started recording the conversation with him on my mobile phone. He suddenly slapped me, grabbed my smartphone, and threw it away. He called his colleagues, including chief TTE Dixit and security personnel. Some women co-passengers explained to them that I just told him to speak in Kannada. Though Dixit was kind enough to tackle the situation in a cordial way, our coach TTE was not ready to listen and kept saying he doesn't know Kannada and only speaks in Hindi. He even threatened me with booking a case for trying to interrupt his duties. However, other co-passengers warned him of escalating the incident to the next level, and he kept quiet," he explained. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Find Out How to Secure Quality Healthcare for Seniors Over 65 in the Philippines LocalPlan Search Now Undo In the video clip, the TTE says he doesn't know Kannada, and the clip ends there. Attar said that as the TTE grabbed his mobile phone and threw it away, the display went defunct, and he could not record the next incident. He has filed a grievance at Station Manager's office in Koppal on Friday. Condemning the incident, B Girishanand Jnansundar, Koppal district President of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, said that many North Indian TTEs behave rudely with Kannadigas for not speaking in Hindi. "SWR should either teach Kannada to all its staff or appoint Kannada-speaking people in all of its front offices or services. Though the sources and destination of the Hampi Express fall in Karnataka, railway employees are very insensitive towards the Kannada language and land. We are planning to submit a memorandum to SWR through the Koppal station master within 2-3 days," he stated. Manjunath Kanamadi, CPRO, SWR, said that this issue has been conveyed to the highest authority of the commercial wing. "We will ensure that no such issues will be repeated in the future," he assured.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The Chicago surgeon treating wounded in Syria, Ukraine and Gaza
Dr. Samer Attar remembers all his patients, he said — and there are a lot of them. The Chicago surgeon, 49, recently finished a fifth mission to Gaza and he's also treated the wounded in Syria and Ukraine, risking life and limb to help the victims of war. Attar is also a professor of surgery at Northwestern University. "I can't repair the world. But I can stand next to you. I can live amongst you. I can share your grief. I can feel your fear. I can serve your community," Attar told 60 Minutes after a recent trip to Gaza. "I can bear witness to your suffering. And then just make some noise about it. And it's not much, but it beats burying your head in hatred and violence and ignorance." The Wounds of War 60 Minutes viewers first met Attar in Syria — his parents' home country — in 2017. At the time, hospitals were being bombed, and more than 800 medical staffers had died in attacks. It was Attar's fourth trip to the war zone. He was there as a volunteer with the Syrian American Medical Society. "You work with the understanding that you might find yourself dead, or crippled, or dismembered on the floor next to the people you're trying to save," Attar told 60 Minutes at the time. Healing and Hope Dr. Attar continued visiting the war-torn country, including after a 2023 earthquake. At the time, he told 60 Minutes about a surgery he performed to help a 12-year-old girl. Correspondent Scott Pelley asked Attar what moments of progress like that meant to him. "It means that there are days where you fight bouts of helplessness and hopelessness, and you wonder what exactly you're accomplishing, and you feel like you're trying to empty the ocean with a small cup because it never ends, and the suffering never ends and it never seems to be going away," Attar said. "But it's those, it's those brief flashes that are enough to keep you going for another month." Going for another month — and beyond 60 Minutes spoke with Attar most recently in the Gulf state of Qatar, where some of his patients from Gaza have evacuated amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Attar described hospitals flooded with people in need and operating on patients on floors smeared with dirt and blood. "The bombs land so close you feel the hospital shaking," Attar said. "At times the fighting and conflict is so intense you feel like the hospital will-- is gonna collapse on top of you." Greenlanders respond to Trump: "It will never be for sale" "Warfare": Recreating an Iraq War firefight in real-time José Andrés on feeding the needy, and feeding the soul
CBS News
06-04-2025
- Health
- CBS News
The Chicago surgeon treating wounded in Syria, Ukraine and Gaza
Dr. Samer Attar remembers all his patients, he said — and there are a lot of them. The Chicago surgeon, 49, recently finished a fifth mission to Gaza and he's also treated the wounded in Syria and Ukraine, risking life and limb to help the victims of war. Attar is also a professor of surgery at Northwestern University. "I can't repair the world. But I can stand next to you. I can live amongst you. I can share your grief. I can feel your fear. I can serve your community," Attar told 60 Minutes after a recent trip to Gaza. "I can bear witness to your suffering. And then just make some noise about it. And it's not much, but it beats burying your head in hatred and violence and ignorance." 60 Minutes viewers first met Attar in Syria — his parents' home country — in 2017. At the time, hospitals were being bombed, and more than 800 medical staffers had died in attacks. It was Attar's fourth trip to the war zone. He was there as a volunteer with the Syrian American Medical Society. "You work with the understanding that you might find yourself dead, or crippled, or dismembered on the floor next to the people you're trying to save," Attar told 60 Minutes at the time. Dr. Attar continued visiting the war-torn country, including after a 2023 earthquake . At the time, he told 60 Minutes about a surgery he performed to help a 12-year-old girl. Correspondent Scott Pelley asked Attar what moments of progress like that meant to him. "It means that there are days where you fight bouts of helplessness and hopelessness, and you wonder what exactly you're accomplishing, and you feel like you're trying to empty the ocean with a small cup because it never ends, and the suffering never ends and it never seems to be going away," Attar said. "But it's those, it's those brief flashes that are enough to keep you going for another month." 60 Minutes spoke with Attar most recently in the Gulf state of Qatar, where some of his patients from Gaza have evacuated amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Attar described hospitals flooded with people in need and operating on patients on floors smeared with dirt and blood. "The bombs land so close you feel the hospital shaking," Attar said. "At times the fighting and conflict is so intense you feel like the hospital will-- is gonna collapse on top of you."
