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Al-Ahram Weekly
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Remembering veteran Egyptian actress Dalal Abdel-Aziz - Screens - Arts & Culture
Egyptian actress Dalal Abdel-Aziz died four years ago today at the age of 61. She passed away due to complications of COVID-19 on 7 August 2021, just three months after the passing of her husband of 37 years, renowned comedian Samir Ghanem 1937-2021). The couple are survived by two daughters, actresses Donia and Amy. Abdel-Aziz was born on 17 January 1960 in Zagazig city in Sharqiya governorate. She graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, before moving to Cairo, where she launched her career with director Nour El-Demerdash. She started with a small role in a TV series in 1977 before gaining critical acclaim in the 1980s for her outstanding performances in TV and film. She starred in tens of TV series, films and plays in a career that spanned more than four decades. In 1998, Abdel-Aziz was awarded Best Actress at the Television Awards Festival. Abdel-Aziz divided her time between theatre, television, and film. She starred in several plays, including Fares wa Bani Khaiban (Fares and the Losers, 1987), Akhouya Hayess wa Ana Layess (My Brother Is Happy and I'm Lost, 1992), and Hobb fil-Takhshibah. The latter Hobb Fil Takhshibah (Love in Prison, 1994) starring Hisham Abdel-Hamid, George Sidhom and Diaa Al-Merghany, directed by Samir Seif and written by Youssef Maati. Her cinematic career started to pick up in the 1980s, when she starred in Adel Sadek's Nehayet Ragol Tazawag (The End of a Man Who Was Married, 1983) starring Samir Ghanem, Poussy, Hala Fakher and Ali Al-Sherif. She went on to star in Yarab Walad (A Boy Child, Amen, 1984), Basamat Fawk Al-Maa (Prints on Top of Water), Al-Ragol Yoheb Martein (The Man Loves Twice, 1987), Al-Aghbiaa Al-Thalatha (The Three Idiots, 1990), among other titles. In the 2000s, she appeared in Asrar Al-Banat (Girls' Secrets, 2001), Asef Ala Al-Ezaag (Sorry for the Inconvenience, 2008), in Amr Salama's Sonei fi Masr (Made in Egypt, 2014), and Moataz Al-Toni's Samir wi Shahir wi Baheir (Samir and Shahir and Baheir, 2010). On television, Abdel-Aziz participated in numerous grand productions like Layali Al-Hilmyia (Hilmyia Nights, 1987:1989) in its two seasons alongside number of great actors. In the late years, she also appeared in TV series Lahfa (2015) alongside her daughters Donia and Amy Samir Ghanem, and was a guest of honor in TV series Nelly wi Sherihan (Nelly and Sherihan) again with her two daughters. In 2017, together with her husband Samir and her daughter Donia, she participated in the TV series La La Land. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Leaders
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Leaders
UNICEF Decries Unconscionable Attack on Gaza Aid Queue
The head of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), Catherine Russell, expressed profound dismay over the tragic killing of children during an aid distribution in central Gaza on Thursday. She described the incident as 'unconscionable,' highlighting the loss of 15 Palestinians, including nine children and four women, who were waiting for nutritional supplements provided by Project Hope, a UNICEF partner organization. The attack occurred in Deir Al-Balah, where an additional 30 people sustained injuries, including 19 children, with reports indicate that an Israeli strike caused the devastation. 'The killing of families trying to access life-saving aid is unconscionable,' Russell stated in her official statement. Heartbreaking Stories of Loss Among the victims was Donia, a mother whose one-year-old son, Mohammed, was killed. She shared that her son had spoken his first words to her just hours before the attack. 'Donia now lies in a hospital bed, critically injured by the blast, clutching Mohammed's tiny shoe,' Russell lamented. 'No parent should have to face such tragedy.' Russell emphasized that this incident reflects the cruel reality many in Gaza confront today. After months of insufficient aid entering the territory, the conflict parties have failed to uphold their basic responsibilities to protect civilians. 'The lack of aid means children are facing starvation while the risk of famine grows,' she warned. She cautioned that the number of malnourished children will continue to rise until life-saving aid and services resume at full scale. Urgent Call for Compliance with International Law 'International law is clear: all parties to the conflict have an obligation to protect civilians and ensure the safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance,' Russell asserted. She urged Israel to urgently review its rules of engagement to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law, particularly regarding the protection of civilians, including children. Additionally, she called for a thorough and independent investigation into this incident and all allegations of violations. The UN reiterated its condemnation of civilian killings in Gaza. Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric informed journalists in New York about the ongoing humanitarian crisis. He noted that the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, stresses that all parties must prevent excessive civilian deaths and injuries during wartime. Dire Humanitarian Situation in Gaza OCHA reported another strike on Thursday that hit the office of a humanitarian partner in Gaza City, resulting in the deaths of three staff members. Dujarric updated journalists on the dire fuel situation in Gaza, which severely impacts both the population and humanitarian efforts. A UN team managed to bring approximately 75,000 liters of fuel from Israel into the beleaguered enclave on Wednesday, marking the first such provision in 130 days. However, Dujarric warned that fuel supplies are still running low. 'We and our humanitarian partners need hundreds of thousands of liters of fuel each day to maintain essential life-saving operations,' he stated. The amount delivered recently is insufficient to cover even one day of energy requirements. One aid partner reported that fuel shortages could soon cut off clean drinking water supplies to about 44,000 children, increasing the risk of cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, and other waterborne illnesses. Meanwhile, UN partners providing education services reported that between October 2023 and June 2024, 626 temporary learning spaces have been established in Gaza, enrolling 240,000 students, nearly half of whom are girls. However, only 299 spaces currently operate due to ongoing displacement orders, funding shortfalls, and other challenges. Humanitarian Workers Face Hunger Humanitarian partners in Gaza, including first responders, health workers, and aid workers, continue to deliver food and assistance under intolerable conditions. 'They themselves are facing hunger,' Dujarric noted. 'A number of our own colleagues are also facing hunger, water scarcity, and threats to their personal safety, just like everyone else in Gaza.' Dujarric reiterated the UN's long-standing message that 'this catastrophic situation must end.' He stressed that 'a ceasefire is not only urgent; it is long overdue,' while also calling for the unconditional and immediate release of all hostages. Short link : Post Views: 23
The Journal
10-07-2025
- Health
- The Journal
One-year-old boy spoke his first words hours before he was killed by Israeli strike in Gaza
ISRAELI STRIKES KILLED at least 66 people in Gaza today, including multiple children, one of whom was a one-year-old boy whose mother said had spoken his first words just hours before he died. Ten children were killed while they and their mothers were waiting to receive nutritional supplements from UNICEF's Project Hope in Deir el-Balah. UNICEF's executive director Catherine Russell said the mothers were seeking 'a lifeline for their children after months of hunger and desperation'. Among them was Donia, whose 1-year-old boy Mohammed was killed in the strike. 'She said he spoke his first words to her just hours earlier,' Russell said. 'Donia now lies in a hospital bed, critically injured by the blast, clutching Mohammed's tiny shoe. No parent should have to face such tragedy.' Russell said this was another example of the 'cruel reality' of life for children and families in Gaza. 'The killing of families trying to access life-saving aid is unconscionable,' she added. Sara Al-Nouri mourns over the body of her 13-year-old sister, Sama, who was killed in the strike at the Project Hope clinic Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo The US-based charity Project Hope, which runs the facility, said the victims were waiting for the clinic to open to receive treatment for malnutrition, infections and illness. The charity gave a toll of 15 dead, including 10 children and two women. Its president and chief executive Rabih Torbay called the strike 'a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.' Yousef Al-Aydi, 30, was among dozens of people – most of them women and children – in the queue. 'Suddenly, we heard the sound of a drone approaching, and then the explosion happened,' he told the AFP news agency by phone. 'The ground shook beneath our feet, and everything around us turned into blood and deafening screams.' Israel has expanded its military operations in Gaza, where the war has created dire humanitarian conditions for the population of more than two million people. Advertisement The Israeli military told AFP that it targeted a Hamas militant in Deir el-Balah who had infiltrated Israel during the group's 7 October 2023 attack. It said it 'regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals and operates to minimise harm as much as possible', adding the incident was under review. 'Killed instantly' Mohammed Abu Ouda, 35, was also in the queue at Project Hope. 'What was our fault? What was the fault of the children?' he asked. 'I saw a mother hugging her child on the ground, both motionless – they were killed instantly.' AFP was unable to independently verify the tolls and details because Israel does not allow media access to Gaza. Four people were killed and several injured in a separate pre-dawn air strike on a home in Al-Bureij camp in central Gaza, civil defence agency official Mohammed al-Mughair added. AFP footage from Al-Bureij showed a family including three young children sitting among rubble outside their tattered tent after an air strike hit a house next door. Elsewhere, three people, including a woman, were killed by Israeli gunfire on civilians near an aid centre in the southern city of Rafah, the civil defence agency said. More than 600 people have been killed around aid distributions and convoys in Gaza since late May, when Israel began allowing a trickle of supplies, the United Nations said in early July. The European Union said it had struck a deal with Israel to open more crossings for aid, as well as to repair infrastructure and protect aid workers. The war began after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, leading to the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures. Israel's war on Gaza has now killed at least 57,762 people, most of them civilians, according to the territory's health ministry. With reporting from AFP Need more information on what is happening in Israel and Palestine? Check out our FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to navigating the news online. Visit Knowledge Bank Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Scoop
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
UNICEF Deplores ‘Unconscionable' Killing Of Families Lining Up For Aid In Gaza
10 July 2025 Catherine Russell said she was appalled by the reported killing of 15 Palestinians, including nine children and four women, who were waiting in line for nutritional supplements provided by Project Hope, a UNICEF partner organization. The incident occurred in Deir Al-Balah. An additional 30 people were injured, including 19 children. News reports indicate that it resulted from an Israel strike. 'Mothers seeking a lifeline' 'The killing of families trying to access life-saving aid is unconscionable,' she said in a statement. ' These were mothers seeking a lifeline for their children after months of hunger and desperation.' They included Donia, whose one-year-old son, Mohammed, was killed. She reported that the boy had spoken his first words to her just hours earlier. 'Donia now lies in a hospital bed, critically injured by the blast, clutching Mohammed's tiny shoe,' said Ms. Russell. ' No parent should have toface such tragedy.' A 'cruel reality' For the UNICEF chief, 'this is the cruel reality confronting many in Gaza today after months of insufficient aid being allowed into the territory, and parties to the conflict failing to uphold basic responsibilities to protect civilians.' She explained that ' the lack of aid means children are facing starvation while the risk of famine grows,' warning that 'the number of malnourished children will continue to rise until life-saving aid and services are resumed at full scale.' 'International law is clear: all parties to the conflict have an obligation to protect civilians and ensure the safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance,' she said. 'We call on Israel to urgently review its rules of engagement to ensure full compliance with international humanitarian law, notably the protection of civilians including children, and to conduct a thorough and independent investigation of this incident and all allegations of violations.' UN condemns killings The UN yet again condemned the killing of civilians in Gaza, Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric toldjournalists in New York. Furthermore, the UN humanitarian affairs office OCHA 'stresses that parties are bound by international humanitarian law to prevent such excessive death and injury of civilians in the midst of war,'he added. OCHA reported that another strike on Thursday reportedly hit the office of a humanitarian partner in Gaza City. Three staff there were killed. Fuel running out Mr. Dujarric also updated journalists on the dire fuel situation in Gaza, which impacts both the population and humanitarians. A UN team managed to bring roughly 75,000 litres of fuel from Israel into the beleaguered enclave on Wednesday, marking the first such provision in 130 days. He warned, however, that fuel is still running out and services will shut down if greater volumes do not enter immediately. Water services at risk ' We and our humanitarian partners need hundreds of thousands of litres of fuel each day to keep essential lifesaving and life-sustaining operations going, meaning the amount entered yesterday isn't sufficient to cover even one day of energy requirements,' he said. One aid partner reported that fuel shortages could soon cut off supplies of clean drinking water to about 44,000 children, he added, which would further increase the risk of cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery and other waterborne illnesses. Meanwhile, UN partners providing education services said that between October 2023 and this June, 626 temporary learning spaces have been established in Gaza, with 240,000 students enrolled, roughly half of them girls. However, only 299 spaces are currently operational due to the ongoing displacement orders, funding shortfalls and other challenges. Aid workers also going hungry Humanitarian partners in Gaza – who include first responders, health workers, and aid workers – 'continue to deliver food and other assistance under intolerable conditions, and they themselves are facing hunger,' said Mr. Dujarric. 'A number of our own colleagues are also facing hunger. They also face water scarcity and threats to their personal safety, just like everyone else in Gaza,' he added. The Spokesperson reiterated the UN's long-standing message that 'this catastrophic situation must end.' He stressed that 'a ceasefire is not only urgent, it is long overdue,' while also calling for the unconditional and immediate release of all hostages. West Bank operations Mr. Dujarric also addressed the situation in the West Bank, where humanitarians report and continue to warn of the intensification of Israeli operations in the northern areas. ' These operations are causing massive destruction, driving further humanitarian needs and dampening hopes of thousands of displaced families that they will eventually be able to go back home,' he said. 'Meanwhile, attacks, harassment and intimidation by Israeli settlers against Palestinians have become a daily reality.' He cited a settler attack on 3 July that led to the displacement of the Mu'arrajat East Bedouin community in the central West Bank. 'This is the ninth community to be fully displaced in the Ramallah and Jericho areas since January 2023 following the recurrent attacks by Israeli settlers.'
CairoScene
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Donia Wael Debuts All-Girl Band in Live Session for Single ‘Ezay'
Donia Wael closes her EP with a lush live session for 'Ezay', performing for the first time with an all-female backing band. Jun 16, 2025 Egyptian singer-songwriter Donia Wael wraps up her emotionally layered EP 'Bifkrny Beek' with a final single and live session titled 'Ezay' - and despite being the end of the record, this release comes with a fresh beginning. For the first time, Donia performs alongside an all-female live band, a move that deepens the intimacy of the song and expands her sonic identity. The session features four rising musicians in Egypt's alternative scene: Maram Elsabbagh (Keys), Randa Shoukry (Electric Guitar), Dalia Abdelaziz (Percussion), and Sama Sherif (Cello). Set in a warmly lit space framed by retro Arabic film posters, the performance balances softness with clarity, matching the arc of Donia's EP: heartbreak, reflection, and quiet strength. 'Ezay' marks a sonic and visual shift, her vocals more assured, her storytelling more grounded. This release follows Donia's recent turns in acting ('Rivo', 'El Harsha El Sabaa') and viral music success ('Bekya', 'El 3asal'), now returning to music with sharpened focus and collaborative spirit.
