Browsing: Region
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia emphasized that adherence to international law and the Charter of the United Nations is a fundamental pillar for the maintenance of international peace and security and the protection of civilians in situations of armed conflict.This came in a speech delivered by Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dr. Abdulaziz AlWasil, during the meeting of the Security Council on Wednesday, on “Upholding International Law in Situations of Armed Conflict.”Saudi Arabia stressed the need to protect civilians, civilian objects, humanitarian and medical workers, respect the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of states, and avoid interference with their internal affairs.It stressed the importance of upholding international law without double standards and enhancing accountability for violations, which consolidates respect for international rules and principles. He also called for the primacy of dialogue and peaceful means, and supporting mediation efforts aimed at addressing and settling conflicts, and reducing their humanitarian and security repercussions. In conclusion, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its efforts to promote respect for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, and to support international efforts aimed at achieving security and stability and settling disputes by peaceful means. Related Story Source link
Israel has added a tender for 2,167 housing units to its E1 settlement expansion plan, Israeli rights groups said of a project that critics say endangers a future Palestinian state. The project would bisect the Israeli-occupied West Bank and cut it off from East Jerusalem, fragmenting the land Palestinians hope will form the heart of a state.The tender for 2,167 units is in addition to a tender for 1,234 units announced at the end of August, bringing the total number of housing units to 3,401, Israeli rights group Ir Amim said in a statement issued late on Wednesday. The decision was condemned by a representative for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday who said the E1 tenders were in violation of international law. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, an ultra-nationalist in the governing right-wing coalition, has said the plan would “bury” a Palestinian state. The tender is scheduled to open for bidding on October 25, two days before Israel is due to hold a parliamentary election. Ir Amim said the bidding date showed the government’s resolve to push ahead with the E1 project and “create an increasingly irreversible reality on the ground ahead of the elections.” The Prime Minister’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Source link
Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty discussed regional developments and ways to strengthen bilateral relations during a phone call with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement Wednesday that during the call, Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt’s support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, stressing Egypt’s unequivocal rejection of all Israeli violations and attacks against Lebanese sovereignty.The Egyptian minister also stressed the importance of Israel’s complete withdrawal from the occupied Lebanese territories and the full and non-selective implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. He reaffirmed his country’s support for Lebanese state institutions, foremost among them the Lebanese Armed Forces, to enable them to fulfill their responsibilities and extend state authority throughout Lebanese territory.The call addressed the rapidly evolving regional developments and efforts to de-escalate tensions, as well as the repercussions of developments in the Red Sea on the safety and security of maritime navigation, the free flow of international trade and energy supplies. Related Story Source link
At least 20 people, including five children, died, and dozens remained missing on Wednesday after a Gaza apartment building collapsed from damage sustained in earlier Israeli strikes, the territory’s civil defence agency said, giving an updated toll.The bodies of “20 martyrs have been recovered from the rubble of a building that collapsed… Among the dead are five infants, while dozens of people remain trapped beneath the debris,” said Mahmoud Bassal, the spokesperson for the civil defence agency, which operates as a rescue force under Hamas authority. Source link
Syrian Foreign and Expatriates Minister Asaad Hassan Al Shaibani and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed in a phone call bilateral relations and ways to strengthen cooperation between Syria and the US. During the call, Al Shaibani welcomed the US decision to lift sanctions on Syria, stressing the need for continued coordination to complete the necessary executive and technical measures to ensure that the decision has a practical and tangible impact on the economic and banking sectors.The two sides stressed the importance of continued support for Syria’s stability and economic growth.The call also covered regional developments and Syria’s role in supporting regional stability on the political and economic fronts, emphasizing the importance of continued consultation and coordination on issues of mutual interest. Related Story Source link
Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone south of Makkah on Tuesday evening before it entered the prohibited airspace of the holy city, the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen said. Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said the Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces intercepted the drone at 6:50 p.m. on Sept. 15 before it entered the restricted airspace over Makkah. Al-Maliki described the incident as the Houthis’ second attempt to target Makkah, citing an earlier ballistic missile launch on July 27, 2017. He said the latest attempt targeted a city of profound religious significance to Muslims worldwide and sought to endanger and intimidate pilgrims, citizens and residents. Al-Maliki said the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims is a “red line,” adding that the coalition would not hesitate to take necessary measures to deter further Houthi attacks. Source link
Israel's defence minister said Wednesday it was only a matter of time before the country resumes full-scale war in Gaza and moves to force out its two million Palestinians.Israel Katz, who is known for outspoken remarks, was responding to criticism from another right-wing contender ahead of October 27 elections. He said that an October 2025 ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump had ‘supreme value for all Israelis’ by leading to the return of remaining hostages and ensuring ‘a commitment by the United States’ to disarming Hamas.’We all understand that this is not going to happen — and the IDF is prepared, once given the directive to eliminate Hamas, to finish the job so that we can also implement the migration plan,’ Katz said in a statement, referring to the Israeli military.He said earlier this month that Israel was ready to remove Palestinians from Gaza by sea and land but was waiting for the United States, which he said was discussing where the two million people would go.US Ambassador Mike Huckabee has denied any plan to ‘displace people out of Gaza against their will’. Source link
Israeli colonists stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque Tuesday under heavy protection from Israeli occupation forces.165 colonists entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound through the Moroccan Gate, conducted provocative tours of the courtyards, and performed Talmudic rituals, WAFA news agency reported.Groups affiliated with the so-called “Temple organizations” had called on their supporters to participate widely in the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and perform rituals inside the compound, citing Jewish celebrations as a pretext.Israeli occupation authorities exploit Jewish holidays to close roads and impose restrictions on Palestinian movement across the West Bank, including Jerusalem, worsening their daily hardships and further restricting freedom of worship, while facilitating the movement of Israeli colonists and confining Palestinians within their cities, villages and towns. Source link
Israel’s military shot and killed a Palestinian man during a raid in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, Palestinian health officials said, while the army said it fired at someone who tried to seize a soldier’s weapon.The Palestinian health ministry announced the death of 54-year-old Ziad Mohammad Jaber by “Israeli army gunfire in Umm al-Sharayet, in the city of Al-Bireh”, near Ramallah in the central West Bank. In the early hours of Tuesday, the Palestine Red Crescent Society said its crews were treating someone who sustained “a critical live-fire gunshot wound to the abdomen and thigh” during a military raid in Umm al-Sharayet. It said the casualty was being transferred to hospital. Source link
-Saudi Arabia on Tuesday issued brief alerts over possible attacks in the holy city of Mecca and in the Jeddah and Taif governorates, after the kingdom was repeatedly targeted by the Iran-backed Houthis in recent days. The alerts, including the first one issued in Mecca since the Middle East war began, were quickly lifted, according to the Saudi civil defence. They came a day after a series of ballistic missile and drone attacks launched from Yemen, which injured 13 people in the kingdom’s south Source link