Current Final

Category: Politics

  • US government official resigns over ‘provision of lethal arms to Israel’

    US government official resigns over ‘provision of lethal arms to Israel’

    A senior US State Department official has resigned from his position on Wednesday in the light of the Biden administration’s role in the Israel-Palestine escalation.

    Josh Paul, director of congressional and public affairs at the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, posted a letter on his LinkedIn account announcing his resignation and the reasoning behind it.

    While he clarified his stance on October 7 and deemed the Hamas attack on Israel as “a monstrosity of monstrosities,” he also stated that “I believe to the core of my soul that the response Israel is taking, and with it the American support both for that response, and for the status quo of the occupation, will only lead to more and deeper suffering for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people – and is not in the long term American interest.”

    “I cannot work in support of a set of major policy decisions, including rushing more arms to one side of the conflict, that I believe to be shortsighted, destructive, unjust, and contradictory to the very values that we publicly espouse”, he added

    In the latest developments following October 7, Israel has been more aggressive in its attacks in Gaza which has resulted in the killings of more than 3,300 Palestinians whereas Biden pledged to support Israel in its so-called right to defend through and through.

    “When I came to this bureau … I knew it was not without its moral complexity and moral compromises, and I made myself a promise that I would stay for as long as I felt … the harm I might do could be outweighed by the good I could do,” Paul acknowledged in his letter.

    “In my 11 years I have made more moral compromises than I can recall, each heavily, but each with my promise to myself in mind, and intact. I am leaving today because I believe that in our current course with regards to the continued – indeed, expanded and expedited – provision of lethal arms to Israel – I have reached the end of that bargain.”

    He also pointed out that “I fear we are repeating the same mistakes we have made these past decades, and I decline to be a part of it any longer.”

    HuffPost spoke to Paul following his resignation.

    “I’ve been surprised by how many have said, ‘We absolutely understand where you’re coming from, we feel similarly and understand’”, he said.

  • Surgeries conducted on floor, without anaesthesia: What do we know about day 12

    Tuesday night, an Israeli air raid on al-Ahli Arab Hospital killed more than 500 Palestinians.

    Biden meets Netanyahu

    President Biden landed in Tel Aviv, Israel, today, to meet PM Benjamin Netanyahu, less than a day after more than 500 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air strike at a hospital.

    Without any proof to back up his claim, Biden said that the al-Ahli Arab Hospital bombing seems to be carried out by the “other team, not you”, indirectly putting the blame on Palestinians.

    Read more: ‘Civilised world must unite to defeat Hamas’: Netanyahu meets Biden

    Read more on false information from day 12:
    Israel tries deflecting blame for hospital attack; evidence proves otherwise

    “Time is OVER!”

    Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has called for unity across the world to stand up to Israel after the hospital bombing, calling it a “massacre of … innocent women and children”.

    “After the terrible crime of the Zionist regime in the bombing and massacre of more than a thousand innocent women and children in the…hospital the time has come for the global unity of humanity against this fake regime more hated than ISIS and its killing machine,” he wrote on social media.’

    Protests across the world

    The hospital bombing led to spontaneous protests across the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond but many ended with confrontations with security forces.

    Palestinians got together in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, the Lebanese gathered in capital Beirut outside the US Embassy, hundreds gathered outside the French embassy in Tunis, all of which were interrupted and dispersed by the police.

    Other major protests were recorded in Jordan, Turkey, and Iraq.

    EU and Russia want facts

    The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is “saddened” by the recent hospital attack in Gaza.

    She posted on X saying, “There is no excuse for hitting a hospital full of medical staff and civilians,

    “All the facts have to be established and those responsible must be held accountable.”

    Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has asserted that Israel must provide satellite images to prove their claims that they were not involved in the Gaza hospital attack.

    RIA news agency quoted her as saying that “Russia classifies the attack as a crime and an act of dehumanisation”.

    UN calls for ceasefire

    United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has now called for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in the Israel-Gaza war.

    The UN Security Council is also said to vote on a Brazilian-drafted resolution on Wednesday to halt the escalation between Israel and Hamas and to continue humanitarian aid into Gaza Strip.

    The head of World Health Organization (WHO) post on X saying, “We need violence on all sides to stop,” and the situation in Gaza is “spiralling out of control”.

    “Every second we wait to get medical aid in, we lose lives. For four days, WHO supplies have been stuck at the border. We need immediate access to start delivering life-saving supplies.”, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said

    Surgeries without anaesthesia

    Gaza already lacks enough healthcare facilities due to the Israeli blockade and after the attack on al-Ahli Arab Hospital, 350 people were rushed to al-Shifa Hospital which was already assisting a large number of wounded patients from other Israeli air strikes.

    According to reports by the Palestinian health ministry in Gaza spokesperson Ashraf al-Qidra, some of the victims were decapitated, disembowelled or were missing limbs.

    And because the number of patients is now beyond capacity, doctors are forced to perform surgeries on floors and in the halls, mostly without anaesthesia.

    “We need equipment, we need medicine, we need beds, we need anaesthesia, we need everything,” Abu Selmia told The Associated Press.

    “Viable” solution is needed, says El-Sisi

    In a news conference in Cairo while visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, President el-Sisi asked Israel to shift the affected Palestinians to Negev desert instead of expecting Egypt to host them.

    “There is the Negev desert in Israel. The Palestinians can be moved to Negev desert until they [Israel] do what they wish to do with the military operatives in the Gaza Strip before returning [the Palestinians] back,” he said.

    “If the Palestinians are transferred to Egypt, the military operation initiated by Israel may last for years and years to come. In this case, Egypt will continue to bear the consequences and Sinai will be a base for operations against Israel and in this case, Egypt will be labelled as a base for terrorists,” he said.

    “The acts by Israel, cutting power, water, electricity is a means to forcibly transfer Palestinians to the Sinai Peninsula, which we totally reject.”

    Casualties, arrests

    Israeli forces have detained 65 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and since October 7, the number has now reached 750 excluding the detained workers from Gaza which are yet to be confirmed.

    Additionally, 61 Palestinians have been killed and more than 1,250 injured.

    As for Palestinians in Gaza, more than 3,300 have been killed while 13,000 injured, according to Palestinian health minister.

    On the contrary, the death toll in Israel remains at 1,400, with another 3,500 injured.

    Jordan cancels US summit

    Biden was due to visit Jordan but after the hospital attack, the meeting was cancelled.

    White House spokesperson John Kirby, however, said that the decision was “mutual” and that the reason was the declaration of a three-day mourning after the hospital attack.

    Credit: Al Jazeera

  • ‘Civilised world must unite to defeat Hamas’: Netanyahu meets Biden

    ‘Civilised world must unite to defeat Hamas’: Netanyahu meets Biden

    President Biden landed in Tel Aviv, Israel, today, to meet PM Benjamin Netanyahu, less than a day after more than 500 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air strike at a hospital.

    Without any proof to back up his claim, Biden said that the al-Ahli Arab Hospital bombing seems to be carried out by the “other team, not you”, indirectly putting the blame on Palestinians.

    Last night, following the attack, Biden took to X to say that he had directed his “national security team to continue gathering information about what exactly happened”.

    However, his claims are already inclined in support of Israel. Al- Jazeera reports that he also drew comparisons of Hamas to ISIL (ISIS), saying that atrocities committed by Hamas militants made ISIS look “somewhat rational”.

    Biden also posted on X saying “I’m proud to be in Israel to honor the courage, commitment, and bravery of the Israeli people.

    Americans are grieving with you following last week’s terror attacks.”

    On the other hand, Netanyahu asserted that Israel will do everything to ensure the protection of civilians. Contrary to his words, more than 3,000 Palestinians have been killed.

    And while both the leaders were in a meeting, it was reported by Al Jazeera that a residential building in Khan Younis was targeted which resulted in the death of seven people and left forty seriously injured.

  • PM Kakar, President Putin decide to increase collaboration in various fields.

    PM Kakar, President Putin decide to increase collaboration in various fields.

    Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting on the sidelines of the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing. They talked about a variety of topics, including trade, investment, and energy cooperation.

    During their conversation on Tuesday, the two leaders conveyed their contentment with the consistent growth of relations between Pakistan and Russia while emphasising the necessity of increased collaboration in various fields.

    President Putin received PM Kakar before they held a meeting that encompassed bilateral, regional, and international affairs.

    They also talked about the potential for improving Eurasian connectivity along with Pakistan’s crucial role in regional integration through rail, road, and energy corridors.

    The prime minister highlighted the significance of increased regional cooperation to foster economic growth in the region and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthen and enhance its bilateral relations with Russia in areas such as energy, connectivity, trade, investment, and the fight against terrorism.

    The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments, including the evolving situation in the Middle East.

  • Good news for Imran Khan

    Good news for Imran Khan

    Former Prime Minister and Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Imran Khan, who is currently in Adiala jail, facing Cipher case trial, can finally take a breath of relief.

    The judge of a special court under the Official Secrets Act has granted permission to Imran Khan to speak to his sons over the phone.

    Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain, the judge of Islamabad’s official secret court, heard the request to allow a telephonic conversation between the Chairman of PTI and his sons. Imran Khan’s lawyer, Shiraz Ranjha, appeared before the court.

    During the hearing, the judge stated that no information had been received yet regarding the telephone conversation with the Adiala Jail Superintendent. However, the judge added that if any information came to light concerning the telephone conversation in the jail, he would address it accordingly.

    Lawyer Shiraz Ranjha said during the hearing that Imran Khan wants a bicycle for exercise in jail.

    Judge Zulqarnain responded that he had already issued directives to the jail officials for providing a cycle, to which Ranjha said he could provide the cycle today if the court allowed.

    “I do not want the cycle to be misused such that the jail superintendent keeps using the cycle. We also have to keep the jail manual in mind. For us, the security of an under-trial prisoner is important,” the judge said.

    At this, the lawyer offered that the court may appoint a person in whose supervision the cycle could be used.

    After a brief adjournment, the court resumed the hearing, during which Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain mentioned that certain SOPs had been brought to his attention, prohibiting the accused from speaking.

    He further stated that he would look into the matter of telephone conversation according to jail manual regulations.

    However, he requested written authorization for international communication from the jail manual. He stated, “I grant permission for telephonic conversation in your favor.”

    The judge, in a one-page written order, directed the Adiala jail superintendent to ensure that Khan speaks to his sons over the phone.

    The judge also noted that the jail superintendent had “submitted his comments with the respect of SOPs in which there is no doubt that this sought of desired communication through telephone or by other mode in abroad are not warranted, specifically case in hand which is of Official Secret Act Court but the agonies of [the] family cannot [be] kept isolated”.

  • Nawaz’s legal team files protective bail to prevent him from being arrested

    Nawaz’s legal team files protective bail to prevent him from being arrested

    The legal team of frmer prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif has filed a bail petition in Islamabad High Court (IHC) to prevent officials from arresting him when he reaches Pakistan on October 21.

    Sharif was declared a proclaimed offender by IHC in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia cases due to non-compliance. After that, he went to London in November 2019 for medical treatment with the permission of the court.

    An accountability court sentenced Nawaz Sharif for 10 years in 2018 in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia references.

    His appeal against the sentence was rejected by an IHC bench comprising of IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Mohsin Akhtar Kayani for non-compliance.

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) suspended the sentence of the three-time former prime minister in Al-Azizia reference in 2019 because of his medical condition.

    Nawaz Sharif is also a fugitive in the Toshakhana case.

    His legal team has filed three protective bail applications, requesting that the IHC direct authorities not to arrest Sharif when he returns to country on October 21.

    After that, the court sent out a notice on Nawaz’s request for protective bail and requested an answer from the NAB by tomorrow.

  • Court nullifies lifetime imprisonment of  PML-N’s Hanif Abbasi in ephedrine quota case

    Court nullifies lifetime imprisonment of  PML-N’s Hanif Abbasi in ephedrine quota case

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) has discharged Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hanif Abbasi in the ephedrine quota case, as well as nullifying his lifetime sentence.

    A two-member bench announced the decision on the PML-N leader’s appeal against the sentence.

    In the last hearing, Justice Aalia Neelum and Justice Asjad Javed Ghural had reserved the judgement after hearing arguments from lawyers.

    Hanif Abbasi was sentenced to life imprisonment by a special court on July 21, just a few days before 2018 general elections for control of narcotics substance (CNS).

    In 2012, he and his co-accused were charged by the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) for misusing 500kg of ephedrine, citing Sections 9-C, 14, and 15 of the Control of Narcotics Substances (CNS) Act. He was contesting election in NA-60, Rawalpindi against main rival, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad of Awami Muslim League. However, he was disqualified after being found guilty in the case.

    The PML-N leader said in an appeal that the sentence was politically motivated, and there were eight suspects in case, but only the appellant got convicted. It was also mentioned in the appeal that the appellant didn’t misuse the ephedrine quota but the trial court ignored this fact and announced its decision.   

    “I was kept away from two elections (due to the case) and my daughter was also kicked out of her job,” Abbasi claimed. He also shared that his younger brother was kept in illegal confinement for 14 days.

    “If Sheikh Rashid contests the election, then the competition will be in the polls,” said Abbasi.

  • Israel tries deflecting blame for hospital attack; evidence proves otherwise

    Israel tries deflecting blame for hospital attack; evidence proves otherwise

    On Tuesday night, Israel targeted Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza in an air-strike that killed more than 1000 civilians.

    Media reports state that thousands of Palestinians were present in the hospital for treatment and refuge when it was attacked.

    As the world recoiled in horror, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Intelligence from multiple sources we have in our hands indicates that Islamic Jihad is responsible for the failed rocket launch which hit the hospital in Gaza.”

    However, fact-checking organisations and journalists are proving otherwise. Evidence show that the former digital media officer of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, shared a post announcing that “the Israeli Air Force has hit a hospital in Gaza”.

    “It was determined that Naftali, who deleted the post after a short time, tried to manipulate the world public opinion by sharing posts claiming that “the missile that hit the hospital was fired from Gaza””

    Additonally, the official Israeli state account posted a video blaming Hamas for the bombing of the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital but later removed it on realizing it was filmed after the attack and had a time stamp proving so.

    The Palestinian Ambassador to the UN also rebutted the claims being made by Israel.

    Busting false information

    Communications Directorate’s Center for Combating Disinformation, a Turkish fact checking body, said on X:

    “The claim that ‘(Palestinian group) Hamas, not Israel, carried out the attack’ on the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza’s al-Zaytoun neighbourhood is false,”

    After analysis of widely circulated media posts it was deducted that the “images shared by Israeli propaganda accounts claiming that a ‘Hamas missile hit the hospital’ were from 2022,” not 2023.

    The Anadolu Agency quotes the centre in which it has been pointed out “the Israeli army demanded the immediate evacuation of hospitals, alleging that they were being used as shelters,” reinforcing that Israeli forces were “deliberately” carrying out the deadly attacks.

    “The claim shared on some social media accounts that ‘Gaza’s official account admits that Hamas carried out the hospital attack’ is not true,

    “’Gaza Report’ account cited as the basis for the claim is not the official account of Gaza or any Palestinian institution,”

    “It has been determined that the account was used for manipulation purposes.”

  • Strict action will be taken against officials who neglect duties in polls, says Sikandar Sultan Raja

    Strict action will be taken against officials who neglect duties in polls, says Sikandar Sultan Raja

    Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja warned government officials that strict action will be taken against them if they will show “political bias”, adding that free and fair elections are necessary for a strong democracy.  

    A day earlier, while heading a meeting at the Provincial Election Commission Secretariat, Raja Sikandar said that all resources will be brought into service for unbiased and peaceful polls. He also offered assurances that Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will provide full support to the provincial government.

    “There will be no tolerance for any form of political bias among government employees, and immediate action will be taken if such complaints arise,” warned the CEC.

    The ECP secretary briefly detailed preparations for general elections as well as revised the electoral rolls and process of voter registration.

    On the other hand, Sindh election commissioner also informed the meeting about preparations for general elections in the province.

    The Sindh chief secretary also told the huddle that Sindh government will fully cooperate with ECP in the upcoming polls.

  • ‘This will be a long war; the price will be high’, says Israel: What do we know about day 11

    ‘This will be a long war; the price will be high’, says Israel: What do we know about day 11

    Palestinians arrested in occupied West Bank

    Israeli forces in have arrested around 30 Palestinian workers in the occupied West Bank, as per Al Jazeera Arabic.

    Up until the Hamas attacks of October 7, around 14,000 workers from Gaza were living in Israel and were heavily examined for security purposes.

    Their employment in Israel was a part of the deal between the Gaza labour ministry and Israel which helped money come into the Gaza Strip whereas Israel benefited from cheap labour and were able to avoid Israeli labour laws.

    After the escalation of Israel’s attacks on Gaza, the workers have been “dumped” in the occupied West Bank by their employers, interrogated, and sent to refugee camps. 

    Southern Gaza: 71 reported killed in Israeli air raids

    Another night went by in the southern Gaza Strip with Israel carrying out air raids, killing 71 people.

    Many of those killed were women and children.

    Medical sources have confirmed that hundreds were wounded in the air raids while houses were also bombed in Rafah and Khan Younis.

    The Israeli military has claimed to have carried out more than 200 strikes.

    The injured are being sent to hospitals that are already overcrowded while on the other hand, many people are still trapped in the rubble of bombed buildings.

    Northern Gaza: Heavy shelling

    Currently, reports of heavy Israeli artillery shelling are being reported from different areas in the northern Gaza strip. 

    So far, there are no reports of casualties.

    11,000 people injured in Gaza

    A World Health Organization official reports 11,000 injured people in Gaza, half of whom are women and children.

    So far, 115 attacks have been made on health facilities in Gaza.

    As for casualties, 2,800 people have been killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza since October 7.

    16 journalists killed in current fighting

    The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) released a statement reporting the killings of at least 15 journalists since October 7, including 11 Palestinians, three Israelis and one Lebanese.

    Eight journalists were reported injured and three others were reported missing or detained.

    Israeli captives under Hamas

    Hamas’s Qassam Brigades have claimed to have 200 Israeli captives whereas other Palestinian groups are said to be having 50 more. A spokesperson said the Qassam Brigades has stated that they will release captives with foreign nationalities “as soon as it was feasible to do so”.

    ‘This will be a long war; the price will be high’

    The defence minister of Israel, Yoav Gallant, has stated that the attack on Gaza will be “a long war” and “the price will be high”.

    A “great ally”, as described by Gallant after his meeting with Blinken, the US has been deploying aircraft carriers to the eastern Mediterranean. 

    The minister believes that no matter the time and cost the war against Hamas takes, Israel will win.

    On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden is also expected to pay a visit to Israel to express his support  while the country prepares for the potential ground operation against Hamas in Gaza, Anthony Blinken has said. 

    A total of 500 Palestinians, including those that Israel alleges are Hamas members, have been arrested across the West Bank. 

    Iran’s strongest warning so far

    On Monday night, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian gave his most stern statement so far, warning of a possible preemptive strike in the coming hours.

    He asserted that Iran-backed groups will not allow Israel to commit atrocities in Gaza, mentioning Lebanon’s Hezbollah who has exchanged cross-border fire with Israel in the past week. 

    At least 55 Israeli police officers killed since war started

    The Israeli police say at least 55 officers have been killed since the war started on October 7.

    Police added the latest officer to lose his life was Mumtaz Enin Sivan, a member of the Bedouin community police unit in the Negev region of the country’s south.

    UN says concerned by risk of waterborne diseases in Gaza

    On one hand, Gaza is said to be running out of water due to Israel’s embargo while on the other hand, the UN has said that there is a risk of an outbreak of waterborne diseases.

    “Concerns over dehydration and waterborne diseases are high given the collapse of water and sanitation services, including today’s shutdown of Gaza’s last functioning seawater desalination plant,” the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) said in a statement.

    Southern Gaza reportedly received water for three hours on Tuesday that could only provide for only 14 per cent of the population.

    $10m in assistance to Gaza civilians from Japan

    Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa has stated that Japan will provide $10m in assistance for the people in Gaza.

    Credit: Al Jazeera