Latest news with #OccupyGaza
India Today
13-08-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Israel changes goalpost in Gaza, but will that mean a win?
The war in Gaza took an ugly turn on August 7, when the Security Cabinet in Israel approved a new war plan proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to occupy Gaza. The plan is anchored on five principles: disarming Hamas, returning all hostages (living and the dead), completely demilitarising Gaza, complete Israeli security control, and establishing a civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian told reporters that "we intend to control all of Gaza. We don't want to keep Gaza. We want a security perimeter. We want to hand Gaza over to Arab forces that will govern Gaza properly." The plan was approved despite major reservations by the Israeli Defence Forces Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, who argued that such an operation would endanger hostages and could lead to Israeli military rule in cost of this conflict has reached unprecedented proportions in the modern era. Over 61,000 civilians have been killed in Israeli strikes (the figures could be much larger), and a population of over 2 million has been displaced internally multiple times. To add to the misery, a food crisis is now adding to the list of dead, a fact acknowledged by the Israeli government too, though is new about 'Occupy Gaza'? On the face of it, the new plan only looks to reinforce the current Israeli occupation in Gaza and further intensify military operations. As a result, it reduces any chance of an early ceasefire or end to the war. More importantly, from an Israeli person's perspective, it puts the lives of remaining hostages in Hamas custody in grave danger — of the 251 hostages initially taken, 50 are still in Hamas custody, and only 20 are expected to still be new plan envisages the expansion of ground operations to take over Gaza City completely. The operations would be expanded into the 'central camps' and beyond, the city of Deir al-Balah and the tented camps in Muwasi, a vast cluster of displacement camps along the coast. The IDF has identified them as the remaining Hamas strongholds. These are also areas where Hamas may be holding hostages in tunnels or other secret the new plan, the ongoing military operation in Gaza, Operation Gideon's Chariots, has been wound up. In the three months since its launch, the number of civilians killed in Gaza in IDF operations dramatically rose (from 53,500 in April to more than 61,000 at the beginning of August) by more than 6,500. Of these, more than 1,500 have been killed at food collection points established by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a joint initiative by Israel and the US to provide food aid to people in with previous operations, Operation Gideon's Chariots failed to achieve its stated objectives. As a result, Hamas continues to inflict casualties on the IDF. Almost 900 IDF soldiers have already lost their lives in the war; more than 48 have been killed since the launch of the operation. The IDF is also no closer to the destruction of Hamas than it was in May. Hostages continue to be in Hamas custody, and all attempts at getting them back through a ceasefire deal have Israel achieved its military objectives?When the war started in October 2023, Israel had set itself three clear objectives: completely dismantling the military capabilities of Hamas, ensuring that Gaza does not pose any military threat to Israel in the future, and bringing back all hostages safely. In September 2024, just before it launched military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, it added a fourth objective, the "safe return" of northern the defeat of Hezbollah and the decimation of its top leadership, Israel could claim the achievement of its fourth objective. But the three primary objectives remain despite being battered, remains effective in Gaza. Over the past 22 months, most estimates suggest that almost 12,000 to 15,000 Hamas cadres have been eliminated, although the IDF estimates are higher at almost 23,000. But the worrying thing for Israel is that thousands of cadres have been recruited afresh and that there is yet no alternative to Hamas in Gaza. Ceasefire remains elusive, and hostages remain in Hamas there an end state?Israel's insistence on a military solution which aims at the complete annihilation of Hamas poses serious questions. The new plan also threatens the lives of thousands of people living in concentrated areas of cities and camps in Gaza. Refusal to allow international aid agencies to distribute aid and the failure of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to deliver food to the starving population are adding to pressure, including that from the US, Israel's principal benefactor. The decision by countries like France, the UK, Australia, etc., to recognise the State of Palestine too is adding pressure on Israel, the refusal to accept any end state unless Hamas is eliminated — even at the cost of the lives of remaining hostages — is causing widespread protests and opposition. More than a dozen retired senior officials, including IDF chiefs of staff, intelligence chiefs, Shin Bet and Mossad directors, and police commissioners, issued a joint statement on August 10 calling to end the war, arguing that Israel has racked up more losses than victories and that the fighting has dragged on for political reasons rather than strategic military need. Families of hostages are out on the streets protesting against the grave danger their loved ones would face once the IDF launches the new a complete victory in Gaza, there is no scenario of a 'day after' as admitted by many senior Israeli officials who, in the same breath, also acknowledge the improbability of achieving this aim. The war in Gaza is therefore doomed to carry on, motivated more by political greed than military logic. The people in Gaza, meanwhile, face another long and scary period of starvation, death, destruction and relocations.(Col Rajeev Agarwal is a Foreign Policy Expert and a Senior Research Consultant at Chintan Research Foundation, New Delhi)- Ends(Views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author)Tune InMust Watch
Time of India
08-08-2025
- Science
- Time of India
UAE: Emiratis to get hands-on training in space mission, satellite engineering under new national programme
The SMSE Programme, launching in September 2025, is the National Space Academy's fourth cohort since its founding in early 2023/ Image: National Space Academy The UAE Space Agency's National Space Academy has partnered with EDGE Group to launch a new ten-week programme aimed at training Emirati professionals in satellite engineering and space mission design, the Emirates News Agency reported. With hands-on modules delivered by EDGE subsidiaries BEACON RED and FADA, the initiative marks a significant step in building sovereign space capabilities and nurturing homegrown expertise to drive the UAE's ambitious space agenda. A strategic push for Emirati space talent The Space Mission and Satellite Engineering (SMSE) Programme, introduced by the National Space Academy, is designed to cultivate the next generation of Emirati engineers, mission leaders, and space system architects. The initiative stems from the UAE's strategic emphasis on building a self-sufficient, innovation-driven space sector, with a particular focus on developing a skilled national workforce. Netanyahu Under Fire From Biggest Israel Ally; EU, UK BASH 'Occupy Gaza' Plan, Back IDF This programme is being launched under the UAE Space Agency's umbrella in close collaboration with EDGE, the Abu Dhabi-based advanced technology and defence conglomerate. Specifically, two EDGE subsidiaries,FADA and BEACON RED, will be responsible for delivering technical content and hands-on training across the programme's key components. Programme details – Curriculum, structure and locations Set to run from 16 September to 20 November 2025, the SMSE programme spans ten weeks and is open exclusively to UAE nationals. It will be delivered across multiple locations, including the UAE Space Agency headquarters in Abu Dhabi, BEACON RED's advanced training centre, and FADA's specialist facilities. Participants will engage in both in-person and online sessions, guided by local and international experts from across the space industry. The curriculum comprises five core modules: Designing Space Missions (DSM) Applied Space Systems Engineering (ASSE) Space System Verification and Validation (SSVV) Space Mission Operations (SMO) Central Case Project (CCP) – a capstone component that simulates the complete lifecycle of a real satellite mission, from planning to justification. The course emphasises practical learning, involving hands-on lab work, project-based applications, and exposure to industry-standard software and tools. Site visits to prominent aerospace and technology organisations within the UAE are also included to provide real-world operational context. The programme targets: Emirati professionals in the government and private space sectors Academic researchers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Recent graduates holding a bachelor's degree or higher Applications close on 25 August 2025. The role of EDGE, BEACON RED and FADA EDGE Group, established on 5 November 2019 by H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, is one of the UAE's largest defence and technology conglomerates, with over 12,000 employees across 25 entities, including EDIC, EAIG, and Tawazun Holding. Its involvement in SMSE demonstrates its expanding footprint into advanced space capabilities. BEACON RED, founded in 2018, is a wholly owned EDGE subsidiary under its Electronic Warfare & Intelligence cluster. While its core offerings include cyber threat intelligence, incident response, and national security training, the company plays a crucial role in enabling space-related training as part of EDGE's space and cyber technologies portfolio. FADA, another EDGE subsidiary, focuses exclusively on sovereign space capabilities. The company develops Earth observation satellites and secures satellite infrastructure against cyber threats. It is actively contributing to the UAE's Sirb constellation, a radar imaging satellite project, and provides end-to-end space platform development, including SAR, optical, and infrared payloads. National Space Academy – Building long-term capacity The National Space Academy, launched in 2023 under the UAE Space Agency's Transformational Projects, plays a foundational role in building the nation's space capabilities through specialised education and practical training. As the UAE advances its ambitions in space, the Academy serves as a central platform for cultivating technically skilled and mission-ready Emiratis. Its inaugural pilot programme, held in early 2023, marked the successful launch of the Academy's activities, training 51 participants over two phases from January to June. Since then, the Academy has built on this momentum with targeted, industry-aligned cohorts each year. The second cohort, titled Space Applications , ran from May to August 2024. Developed in collaboration with Bayanat, it focused on remote sensing and satellite image processing, introducing participants to practical uses of Earth observation technologies. The third cohort, Applied Space System Engineering , launched later in 2024, again in partnership with EDGE Group through BEACON RED, delivering a 10-week intensive programme to candidates from five space-related entities. It provided hands-on training in engineering principles behind satellite systems. The Space Mission and Satellite Engineering (SMSE) Programme now becomes the fourth cohort, expanding the Academy's offerings into mission design, operations, and end-to-end satellite systems training. More than just an educational initiative, the Academy supports: Specialised employment opportunities within the UAE's space sector Development of innovation hubs linking research and applied technologies The broader shift toward a knowledge-based economy By scaling its curriculum with real-world applicability and industry collaboration, the Academy continues to position itself as a key pillar in the UAE's long-term vision for a globally competitive space sector.
