Climate activists arrested in latest UK airport disruption

Climate activists arrested in latest UK airport disruption
Above, climate activists block entry gates inside Heathrow Airport’s departure area. (X:@JustStop_Oil/Guy Smallman)
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Updated 01 October 2024
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Climate activists arrested in latest UK airport disruption

Climate activists arrested in latest UK airport disruption
  • Protests targeting aviation during the summer travel season are organized by climate groups from across Europe

LONDON: Several climate activists were arrested Thursday after staging a protest at London’s Heathrow Airport, the latest such disruption by the Just Stop Oil group targeting airports.

Police said seven people were arrested after they blocked a “passenger search area” at Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, adding that “minimal disruption” was caused.

Just Stop Oil, which has planned or carried out at least four such protests in July, said 17 were arrested in relation to the action, with seven at the airport and at least ten elsewhere.

A picture posted by the group on social media showed several people blocking entry gates inside Heathrow Airport’s departure area, carrying orange slogans saying “oil kills” and “sign the treaty.”

The protests targeting aviation during the summer travel season are organized by climate groups from across Europe as part of the “Oil Kills” coalition.

They are demanding that governments sign an international treaty pledging to end oil, coal and gas extraction and burning by the end of the decade.

Earlier this week, two Just Stop Oil protesters were arrested for spraying Heathrow’s departure walls and boards with paint, and eight others for blocking gates at Gatwick Airport, the UK’s second busiest.

Heathrow and Gatwick airports previously obtained court orders to stop environmental activists from entering their grounds.


Has the UN failed the Gaza test?

Has the UN failed the Gaza test?
Updated 10 sec ago
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Has the UN failed the Gaza test?

Has the UN failed the Gaza test?
  • UN chief defends group’s actions against accusation it is not doing enough for Palestine

NEW YORK: As the war in Gaza continues unchecked, many across the Middle East and the world believe the UN has failed the Gaza test.

They feel that fear of confronting the US and Israel has led the organization to retreat from the very international laws it was created to uphold, undermining its own credibility.

However, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres insists that “there is no fear in the UN Secretariat building to confront anybody.”

In an interview with Arab News on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Guterres stated: “If I can be proud of anything, it is that my voice has been loud and clear in defense of the UN Charter, in defense of international law, in defense of international humanitarian law, and in defense of the right to self-determination of peoples, particularly the Palestinian people.

We have no real power, let’s be honest. The body of the UN that holds some power is the Security Council, and that body is paralyzed.

Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General

“I don’t think the UN can be accused of not being very clear in all these aspects, just as we have been clear in Ukraine and many other situations around the world.”

Guterres argues that blaming the UN for the failure to end the war in Gaza distracts from the real culprits: “Let’s be clear. The responsibility for the war lies with those who wage it.

“Could the UN have done more? I genuinely never felt we had the opportunity to do more than what we have done from the very beginning.

“We have called for a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and effective humanitarian aid since the start. Our voice has been loud and clear.

Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General

“We have pressured all parties, especially those with direct influence over Israel. But let’s be honest: It’s impossible to convince those who do not want to be convinced.”

Guterres further emphasized: “We have no real power, let’s be honest. The body of the UN that holds some power is the Security Council, and that body is paralyzed.”

The primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security lies with the Security Council.

However, the dynamics and composition of this 15-member body reflect the historical context in which the UN was established in 1945, following the Second World War.

The veto power was granted to the victorious nations, which now include China, the UK, Russia, France, and the UK.

Tarek Al-Banai, Kuwait’s permanent representative to the UN, who has led negotiations for Security Council reforms alongside his Austrian counterpart for the past two years, highlighted the troubling reality that a single veto-wielding permanent member can obstruct action, even when a majority supports a motion.

He told Arab News: “The use or misuse of the veto has been a central focus for member states.

“Unfortunately, one member or a combination of members with that ability can halt the international community’s movement toward addressing critical issues, such as the genocide currently happening in Gaza.”

This unconditional US military and diplomatic support for Israel has been especially evident during the current war in Gaza, exacerbating internal divisions within the Security Council and severely impacting its ability to act. Since Oct. 7 of last year, the US has exercised its veto power four times against resolutions calling for ceasefires or humanitarian pauses in Gaza.

Despite this, the Security Council did manage to pass three resolutions — two concerning the entry of aid and one calling for a ceasefire during Ramadan.

However, even when the US abstained on Resolution 2728, allowing it to pass, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield undermined it by claiming it was non-binding, further weakening the Security Council and deepening divisions, reinforcing what many have described as US and Western “double standards.”

Nonetheless, the Security Council is just one institution among many within the UN system.

While these entities are interconnected, their responsibilities and approaches to conflict vary significantly.

These include the secretary-general, the General Assembly, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, the World Health Organization, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Human Rights Council, the International Court of Justice, and UNICEF.

Guterres, who identifies as a humanitarian, expressed to Arab News that he has been “deeply saddened” by his inability to do more for Gaza, where the humanitarian crisis has reached catastrophic levels and the specter of famine looms over the embattled enclave.

“There have consistently been a series of obstacles — many caused directly by the Israeli authorities, as well as by insecurity in the area, where law and order have completely broken down,” he said.

“The proof that we are not doing more due to these obstacles is evident in the vaccination efforts for polio. When these obstacles are removed, humanitarian action becomes possible.

“It’s not that the UN isn’t capable of doing more; it’s that we have not been allowed to. When we are permitted to act, we do and we deliver, as evidenced by our past actions.

“However, I always say there is no humanitarian solution to humanitarian problems; the solution is always political.

“That is why we need to stop the war. We must create a clear roadmap for a two-state solution, one that aligns with the international community’s previous deliberations and allows Israelis and Palestinians to live together in peace and security.”

 


Massive blast outside Karachi Airport in Pakistan injures at least 4

Massive blast outside Karachi Airport in Pakistan injures at least 4
Updated 3 min 42 sec ago
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Massive blast outside Karachi Airport in Pakistan injures at least 4

Massive blast outside Karachi Airport in Pakistan injures at least 4
  • Police and the provincial government said a tanker exploded outside the airport, which is Pakistan’s biggest

KARACHI: A massive blast outside Karachi Airport on Sunday injured at least four people and destroyed several vehicles, officials said.
Police and the provincial government said a tanker exploded outside the airport, which is Pakistan’s biggest.
But the provincial home minister, Zia Ul Hassan, told local TV station Geo that it was an attack on foreign nationals.
Videos showed flames engulfing cars and a thick column of smoke rising from the scene.


Carrying pro-Hezbollah signs at Gaza and Lebanon protests a ‘criminal act,’ says British minister

Carrying pro-Hezbollah signs at Gaza and Lebanon protests a ‘criminal act,’ says British minister
Updated 06 October 2024
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Carrying pro-Hezbollah signs at Gaza and Lebanon protests a ‘criminal act,’ says British minister

Carrying pro-Hezbollah signs at Gaza and Lebanon protests a ‘criminal act,’ says British minister
  • The Metropolitan Police made at least 17 arrests during the protests, including two individuals suspected of supporting banned organizations

LONDON: A British government minister warned on Sunday that displaying support for Hezbollah constituted a “criminal act.”

Science Secretary Peter Kyle said any show of support for the group, a proscribed terrorist group in the UK, should be punished after signs with pro-Hezbollah slogans were seen during a pro-Palestine demonstration in central London over the weekend.

The Metropolitan Police made at least 17 arrests during the protests, including two individuals suspected of supporting banned organizations, Sky News reported.

The force said it was “aware” of social media posts showing people “holding placards with messages of support for Hezbollah,” adding that the footage had been passed to specialized officers.

Kyle appeared on the Sky News program “Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips” and stated law enforcement agencies had “the full support” of the home secretary, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the government “in doing what they need to do to make sure that criminal acts like that are tackled.”

The protests come amid rising tensions in the Middle East, with Israel conducting targeted raids against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran launching missiles into Israel.

The Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks has led to more than 2,600 protests in the UK over the past year, resulting in 550 arrests.

UK political and faith leaders, including Starmer, have called for calm and rejected any incitement of hate, urging communities to unite ahead of the first anniversary of the Hamas attack that has seen around 42,000 people killed, according to Gaza health authorities.

The prime minister, writing in The Sunday Times, said the “flames from this deadly conflict now threaten to consume the region,” adding “the sparks light touchpapers in our own communities here at home.”

He continued: “During difficult times, our differences and diversity should bind us together more strongly, not drive us apart. But there are always some who would use conflict abroad to stoke conflict here.

“Since Oct. 7, we have watched vile hatred against Jews and Muslims rise in our communities. Any attack on a minority is an attack on our proud values of tolerance and respect. We will not stand for it.”


Nearly 1,000 migrants cross Channel into UK on same day as 4 killed

Firefighters provide assistance to an injured migrant after a vessel carrying dozens trying to cross the Channel to England sank
Firefighters provide assistance to an injured migrant after a vessel carrying dozens trying to cross the Channel to England sank
Updated 06 October 2024
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Nearly 1,000 migrants cross Channel into UK on same day as 4 killed

Firefighters provide assistance to an injured migrant after a vessel carrying dozens trying to cross the Channel to England sank
  • Figure for Saturday is the highest single-day number of migrants making the cross-Channel journey this year
  • On same day, a boy and three adults died after overloaded boats got into trouble during the crossing

LONDON: A record 973 migrants crossed the Channel on small boats on the same day in which four died while attempting the journey from France to England, UK Home Office figures showed Sunday.
The figure for Saturday is the highest single-day number of migrants making the cross-Channel journey this year, surpassing the previous high of 882 set on June 18.
On the same day, a two-year-old boy and three adults died after overloaded boats got into trouble during the dangerous crossing attempted by several thousand every year.
The tragedies bring the number of migrants killed attempting Channel crossings this year to 51, according to Jacques Billant, France’s prefect for the Pas-de-Calais region.
Over 26,600 migrants have crossed the Channel on small boats in 2024 according to UK Home Office figures.
The deaths on Saturday were likely caused due to the victims being crushed in overloaded dinghies, according to authorities and prosecutors.
UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said on Saturday that it was “appalling that more lives have been lost in the Channel.”
“Criminal smuggler gangs continue to organize these dangerous boat crossings,” she wrote on X.
“The gangs do not care if people live or die — this is a terrible trade in lives.”
Keir Starmer’s new Labour government has been at pains to reduce cross-Channel arrivals in small boats, a key issue in this year’s general election in July.
The government has repeatedly pledged to “smash the gangs” of people smugglers who organize the perilous journeys.


Thousands rally in Jakarta to mark one year since start of Gaza war

Thousands rally in Jakarta to mark one year since start of Gaza war
Updated 06 October 2024
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Thousands rally in Jakarta to mark one year since start of Gaza war

Thousands rally in Jakarta to mark one year since start of Gaza war
  • Indonesians have held huge protests since Israel’s deadly onslaught on the territory
  • Protesters in Indonesian cities of Bandung, Surabaya also staged protests on Sunday

JAKARTA: Thousands of Indonesians rallied in front of the US Embassy in Jakarta on Sunday to protest Washington’s “double standard” policy on Palestine as they mark a year since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza.

Indonesia has been a staunch supporter of Palestine for decades, with its people and authorities seeing Palestinian statehood as mandated by their own constitution, which calls for the abolition of colonialism.

Protesters were mostly dressed in black and white and wore traditional Palestinian scarves on Sunday morning as they waved Palestinian flags and carried banners reading: “Free Palestine,” “Forgive us Gaza,” and “Stop Genocide.”

A group of protesters who had marched toward the US embassy were holding mock-ups of dead Palestinian babies while others stepped on a banner featuring a portrait of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“We are standing here in front of a building housing an embassy, or we can say, the ‘Embassy of Double Standards, the United States.’ We are here to reject all forms of double standard, because we are no different than our brothers in Palestine. This is not a religious issue … this is an issue for humanity,” Abdullah Muharrik, one of the protest’s youth coordinators, told demonstrators.

“As we mark one year of genocide, we must remember that this did not begin on Oct. 7 last year, this started more than 70 years ago, and we must note that the colonization that took place … must be abolished.”

Israeli forces have killed nearly 42,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 94,000 others since they escalated attacks on Gaza last October, according to estimates from the strip’s health ministry.

The real toll, however, is believed to be much higher as the ministry’s data does not include people buried under rubble, those who died of their injuries or who starved to death, as Israeli forces have been blocking international aid.

Sunday’s demonstration in Jakarta was organized by an alliance of Islamic mass organizations and youth groups, which also called for the new Indonesian government to continue fighting for a free Palestine and to reject normalizations with Israel.

Demonstrators hold placards and wave Palestinian and Indonesian flags during a pro-Palestinian rally on the eve of the first anniversary of the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Jakarta on Oct. 6, 2024. (AFP)

Indonesia’s President-elect Prabowo Subianto will take office on Oct. 20 to replace incumbent President Joko Widodo, whose cabinet included Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, who has been vocal in representing Jakarta’s support for Palestine. The Southeast Asian nation has no diplomatic relations with Israel.

The protest in the Indonesian capital also called on the US not to veto UN Security Council resolutions, as such moves would “destroy humanity.”

Sarah Motiva, from the youth-led community group dedicated to Palestine advocacy Baik Berisik, urged demonstrators to continue voicing their support for Palestinians.

“We have the power of social media, creativity and spirited souls to use (social media) platforms to continue advocating for Palestine, so we can win with our pro-Palestine narrative in the world,” Motiva said.

“Continue to educate as many young people as possible to make noise on social media, so that we can pressure zionist Israel.”

Indonesian protesters have held a number of huge demonstrations since the beginning of Israel’s deadly onslaught on Gaza, calling for a permanent ceasefire in the besieged enclave and demanding Washington to stop its support for Tel Aviv.

Indonesians in other parts of the country, including Bandung, West Java and Surabaya, East Java, also took to the streets on Sunday in solidarity with Palestine.

“Our demonstration today is nothing compared to what our (Palestinian) comrades have to go through — oppression and genocide — at the hands of zionist Israel,” Amirsyah Tambunan, secretary general of the Indonesian Ulama Council, said at the Jakarta rally.  

“Let us continue to voice up for justice, let us continue to reject oppression and genocide … Free Palestine!”