Israel orders army to plan to let Palestinians leave Gaza

Displaced Palestinians walk through a muddy road amid the destruction in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on February 6, 2025. (AFP)
Displaced Palestinians walk through a muddy road amid the destruction in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on February 6, 2025. (AFP)
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Updated 07 February 2025
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Israel orders army to plan to let Palestinians leave Gaza

Displaced Palestinians walk through a muddy road amid the destruction in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on February 6, 2025.
  • “I have instructed the IDF to prepare a plan to enable voluntary departure for Gaza residents,” Katz said
  • Israeli Defense Minister said they could go “to any country willing to accept them”

JERUSALEM: Israel’s defense minister ordered the army on Thursday to prepare for “voluntary” departures from Gaza, after US President Donald Trump proposed moving Palestinians out of the territory.
The idea sparked uproar from leaders in the Middle East and beyond, and the Trump administration appeared to walk back some of the suggestions.
Hours later, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said he had instructed the military to formulate a plan for Palestinians to leave Gaza, which has been ravaged by more than a year of war.
“I have instructed the IDF (military) to prepare a plan to enable voluntary departure for Gaza residents,” Katz said, adding they could go “to any country willing to accept them.”
Trump announced his proposal to audible gasps on Tuesday at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the first foreign leader to meet him at the White House since his inauguration.
The United Nations warned any forced displacement of Palestinians would be “tantamount to ethnic cleansing.”
Trump insisted “everybody loves” the plan, saying it would involve the United States taking over Gaza, though he offered few details on how more than two million Palestinians would be removed.
His administration later appeared to backtrack, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying any transfer of Gazans would be temporary.
Trump doubled down on his proposal on Thursday, however.
“The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting,” he said on his Truth Social network.
“No soldiers by the US would be needed! Stability for the region would reign!!!”
Hamas’s spokesman condemned Trump’s statements as “absolutely unacceptable.”
“Trump’s remarks about Washington taking control of Gaza amount to an open declaration of intent to occupy the territory,” Hazem Qassem said.
“Gaza is for its people and they will not leave.
“We call for the convening of an emergency Arab summit to confront the displacement project.”
Netanyahu, speaking to Fox News on Wednesday, called the proposal “remarkable” and hailed Trump as Israel’s “greatest friend.”
“I think it should be really pursued, examined, pursued and done, because I think it will create a different future for everyone.”
Katz said Trump’s plan “could create broad opportunities for Gaza residents who wish to leave, help them integrate optimally in host countries, and also facilitate the advancement of reconstruction programs for a demilitarised, threat-free Gaza.”
Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich — who has repeatedly expressed support for Trump’s proposal to relocate Gazans, and who vowed Wednesday to “definitively bury” the idea of a Palestinian state — said he welcomed Katz’s move.
Much of Gaza has been levelled by the war sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, the deadliest in the country’s history, but Palestinians residing in the coastal territory have vowed not to leave.
For them, any attempt to push them out of Gaza recalls the “Nakba,” or “catastrophe” — the mass displacement of Palestinians during Israel’s creation in 1948.
“They can do whatever they want, but we will remain steadfast in our homeland,” said 41-year-old Gazan Ahmed Halasa.
Israelis in Jerusalem largely welcomed Trump’s proposal, though some doubted it could be carried out.
“I really like what he said, but in my wildest dreams... it’s hard for me to believe it will happen, but who knows,” said 65-year-old Refael.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump wanted Palestinians to only be “temporarily relocated” out of Gaza.
“It’s not a liveable place for any human being,” she said.
Trump, who also suggested he might visit Gaza, implied it would not be rebuilt for Palestinians.
Even before Tuesday’s announcements, Trump had suggested residents of Gaza should move to Egypt and Jordan, both of which have flatly rejected any resettlement of Palestinians on their territory.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas rejected the proposal, calling it a “serious violation” of international law and insisting that “legitimate Palestinian rights are not negotiable.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized “the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people... to simply live as human beings in their own land.”
His spokesman Stephane Dujarric, when asked about Trump’s plan, said: “Any forced displacement of people is tantamount to ethnic cleansing.”
Israel’s military offensive in response to Hamas’s attack has left much of Gaza in ruins, including schools, hospitals and most civil infrastructure.
Human Rights Watch said the destruction of Gaza “reflects a calculated Israeli policy to make parts of the strip unliveable.”
Trump’s plan “would move the US from being complicit in war crimes to direct perpetration of atrocities,” said HRW regional director Lama Fakih.
In a bid to address the dire humanitarian situation, aid has been rushed into the territory since a fragile ceasefire took effect on January 19.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said Thursday that more than 10,000 aid trucks had crossed into Gaza since the truce went into effect, calling it “a massive surge.”


Oman to to take part in London Design Biennale for first time

Oman to to take part in London Design Biennale for first time
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Oman to to take part in London Design Biennale for first time

Oman to to take part in London Design Biennale for first time
  • Omani architect Haitham Al-Bousafi will showcase a work titled ‘Memory Network’ at the event in June

LONDON: Oman will participate in the London Design Biennale, one of the most prestigious events of its kind in the world, for the first time this year.

Omani architect Haitham Al-Bousafi will showcase a work titled “Memory Network” at event venue Somerset House in central London, overlooking the River Thames, the Oman News Agency reported.

The country is participating at the biennale as part of its efforts to showcase Omani culture and heritage on a global stage as part of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth initiatives, officials said.

Oman’s cultural strategy for 2021-2040 aims to foster innovation and cultural diversity through the promotion of the arts and design as pathways to sustainable development and creative communication, the news agency added.

The 5th London Design Biennale will run from June 5 to 29.


Red Cross says office in Gaza damaged in ‘attack’

Smoke rises from Israeli bombardment west of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on March 24, 2025. (AFP)
Smoke rises from Israeli bombardment west of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on March 24, 2025. (AFP)
Updated 47 min 43 sec ago
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Red Cross says office in Gaza damaged in ‘attack’

Smoke rises from Israeli bombardment west of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on March 24, 2025. (AFP)
  • ICRC said in a statement that the incident had a direct impact on the humanitarian organization’s ability to operate
  • Israel resumed intensive bombing of Gaza last week

GENEVA: The International Committee of the Red Cross said an ICRC office in the southern Gaza Strip was damaged by an explosive projectile on Monday, adding that no staff were wounded.
The ICRC said in a statement that the incident had a direct impact on the humanitarian organization’s ability to operate.
“Today, an office of the ICRC in Rafah was damaged by an explosive projectile despite being clearly marked and notified to all parties,” the statement said.
“Fortunately, no staff were injured in this incident, but this has a direct impact on the ICRC’s ability to operate. The ICRC strongly decries the attack against its premises.”
The Geneva-based ICRC said international humanitarian law afforded special protection to humanitarian relief and medical personnel, medical facilities, and objects used for humanitarian relief operations.
“They must be respected and protected in all circumstances to ensure the continuity of care. They must never be attacked,” the ICRC said.
“The parties must do their utmost to ensure their safety by providing clear and strict instructions to weapon bearers.”
The ICRC said that on Sunday contact was lost with emergency medical technicians from the Palestine Red Crescent Society and their whereabouts remain unknown.
Furthermore, humanitarian workers in Gaza were killed and injured last week, it added.
Israel’s military pressed ground operations across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, encircling part of Rafah city near the Egyptian border, almost a week into a renewed assault on the Palestinian territory.
Israel resumed intensive bombing of Gaza last week, citing deadlock in indirect negotiations on next steps in the truce with Hamas after its first stage expired this month.
“The escalation of hostilities in Gaza over the past week has had significant humanitarian impacts, with hundreds of civilians killed, some of whom remain buried under rubble while others have been left behind unable to be rescued,” the ICRC said.
“New evacuation orders and intense hostilities are causing people to flee without a clear sense of areas that are safe, and many people have nowhere else to go. Many have been forced to leave behind their tents and belongings.
“The resumption of hostilities and violence is causing a loss of hope on all sides.”


UAE provides $64.5m grant to Palestinian hospital in East Jerusalem

UAE provides $64.5m grant to Palestinian hospital in East Jerusalem
Updated 53 min 13 sec ago
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UAE provides $64.5m grant to Palestinian hospital in East Jerusalem

UAE provides $64.5m grant to Palestinian hospital in East Jerusalem
  • Omar Abu Zayda, director general of Al-Makassed Hospital, thanks the nation for its ongoing support and says it has consistently stood by the Palestinian people
  • The grant will help fund operational expenses, upgrades and staff wages, and enable the World Health Organization to provide essential medicines and other supplies

LONDON: The UAE has awarded a $64.5 million grant to Al-Makassed Hospital, a key medical institution serving Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem.

The support, which will help fund operational expenses, facility upgrades and wages for medical staff, was approved under the directives of the Emirati president, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the Emirates News Agency reported.

Omar Abu Zayda, the director general of Al-Makassed Hospital, thanked the UAE for its ongoing support.

“The UAE’s unwavering commitment to supporting the Palestinian healthcare sector allows us to sustain our operations and fulfill our duties efficiently,” he said.

“Since its founding by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, the UAE has consistently stood by the Palestinian people, particularly in Jerusalem.”

The grant is particularly significant because it will help to enhance healthcare services, particularly for women and children, Abu Zayda added.

Al-Makassed Hospital, located on the Mount of Olives, serves more than 66,000 people in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. Established in 1968, a few months after Israeli forces occupied the city, it has more than 250 beds and employs about 950 medical and administrative staff. It also operates a specialized residency program for training, from which more than 540 medical specialists have graduated.

Sheikh Theyab bin Mohammed Al-Nahyan, the chairperson of the UAE’s International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council, reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to support for all members of Palestinian society.

Tareq Ahmed Al-Ameri, who chairs the UAE Aid Agency, said authorities in the country continue to collaborate with international organizations to help enhance healthcare services in East Jerusalem and Gaza.

“Al-Makassed Hospital … is a crucial medical facility, specializing in cardiac surgeries, pediatric and orthopedic clinics, medical research, and comprehensive healthcare services,” he added.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization, said the Emirati support for the hospital enables the WHO to provide essential medicines and other medical supplies.

It will also enable Al-Makassed to “scale up its medical imaging capacity, improve the obstetrics and gynecology department, and help to train over 100 residents across 11 specialties,” he added.


Palestinian NGO says teen dies in Israeli prison

Walid Khaled Abdullah Ahmad. (Ahmad family photo)
Walid Khaled Abdullah Ahmad. (Ahmad family photo)
Updated 24 March 2025
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Palestinian NGO says teen dies in Israeli prison

Walid Khaled Abdullah Ahmad. (Ahmad family photo)
  • One of thousands of Palestinians in Israeli custody, Ahmad was 63rd Palestinian inmate to die in Israeli jail since the Oct. 2023 outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war

RAMALLAH: The Palestinian Prisoners Club advocacy group said Monday that a teenage inmate died in an Israeli jail, decrying a spike in deaths in custody since the start of the Gaza war.
In a statement, the group announced the death of Walid Khaled Abdullah Ahmad, 17, in Meggido prison in northern Israel under unknown circumstances.
Israel’s Prison Service said in a statement that a 17-year-old prisoner had died Sunday at the facility.
“His health condition is covered by medical confidentiality,” the statement said.
One of thousands of Palestinians in Israeli custody, Ahmad was the 63rd Palestinian inmate to die in an Israeli jail since the October 2023 outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, according to the Prisoners Club.
The advocacy group said Ahmad, from the town of Silwad near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, was detained on September 30. It was not clear what led to his arrest.
The Prisoners Club said that a “growing number” of detainees have died in Israeli custody due to “systematic abuses” throughout the Gaza war.
“This period has been the deadliest in the history of the Palestinian prisoners’ movement since 1967,” it said, referring to the year Israel seized Palestinian territories including the West Bank in a war.
Rights groups including Israel’s B’Tselem have documented numerous deaths of Palestinians in Israeli prisons during the Gaza war.
B’Tselem has also reported worsening detention conditions for Palestinians, including “systematic mistreatment” and “torture,” which Israeli authorities have denied.
The Prisoners Club said in September there were at least 250 Palestinian minors in Israeli custody.
According to non-government group Defense for Children International Palestine, “each year approximately 500-700 Palestinian children, some as young as 12 years old, are detained and prosecuted in the Israeli military court system. The most common charge is stone-throwing.”


Lebanon contacts US to avert threat of Israel strikes on capital

Residents check the site of Saturday’s Israeli airstrike in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP
Residents check the site of Saturday’s Israeli airstrike in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP
Updated 24 March 2025
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Lebanon contacts US to avert threat of Israel strikes on capital

Residents check the site of Saturday’s Israeli airstrike in the southern port city of Tyre, Lebanon, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP
  • Israel launched air strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday, killing eight people, in response to rocket fire that hit its territory for first time since Nov. 27

BEIRUT: Lebanese leaders have been in intensive contact with Washington and Paris to prevent Israel from bombing Beirut, a Lebanese official said Monday, after heavy Israeli strikes on the country at the weekend.
Israel launched air strikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday, killing eight people, in response to rocket fire that hit its territory for the first time since a ceasefire took effect on November 27.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that following rocket fire on Metula, a town in northern Israel, “Metula’s fate is the same as Beirut’s.”
The official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam “made diplomatic contact with France and the United States... as well as with the UN to achieve de-escalation following Israeli threats to target Beirut.”
The US, France and the United Nations belong to a ceasefire monitoring mechanism.
During two months of full-scale war leading up to the ceasefire, Israeli air strikes pounded the south Beirut bastion of Iran-backed Hezbollah but sometimes also struck in the city center.
Salam “emphasized the need to control security and prevent a repeat of rocket fire” against Israel, the official added.
No party has claimed responsibility for the rocket fire, which a military source said was launched from an area north of the Litani River, between the villages of Kfar Tebnit and Arnoun, near the zone covered by the ceasefire agreement.
The agreement stipulates that only the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers may be deployed south of the Litani River, with Hezbollah required to dismantle its infrastructure and withdraw north of the river.
Israel missed two deadlines to withdraw all its forces across the UN-demarcated Blue Line, the de facto border, and continues to hold five positions it deems “strategic.”
Hezbollah denied involvement in the rocket fire.
The Lebanese army said later it dismantled three makeshift rocket batteries in the area, about 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the Israeli border.
A military source told AFP the army detained two Syrians who were “working as guards at a farm near the rocket-launching site.”
The Syrians reported seeing a car with several men who set up the launchers and fired the rockets before leaving.
The war severely weakened Hezbollah, which remains a target of Israeli air strikes despite the ceasefire.