23-10-2025

Month: December 2023

Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says an Israeli air strike killed at least 70 people in the Al-Maghazi refugee camp in the centre of the strip.

A spokesman said the death toll was likely to rise given the large number of families living in the area.

The Israeli military told the BBC it was looking into reports of the strike.

It comes as Israeli and Arab media say Egypt, which borders the Gaza Strip, has put forward a new proposal for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Dozens of injured people were rushed from Maghazi to nearby Al-Aqsa Hospital with footage showing some children’s faces covered in blood and body bags piled outside.

The health ministry says three houses were hit in the attack late on Sunday.

According to ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra, a densely populated residential block was destroyed.

People in Al-Aqsa Hospital after the reported air strike

A father said he had lost his daughter and grandchildren, adding that his family had fled from the north for safety in central Gaza.

“They lived on the third floor of one of the buildings,” he said. “The wall collapsed on them. My grandchildren, my daughter, her husband – all gone.

“We are all targeted. Civilians are targeted. There is no safe place. They told us to leave Gaza City – now we came to central Gaza to die.”

The Palestine Red Crescent Society says “intense” Israeli air strikes have led to the closure of main roads between Maghazi and two other refugee camps, Al-Bureij and Al-Nuseirat, “hindering the work of ambulances and rescue teams”.

In a statement to the BBC, the Israeli military said it had received “reports of an incident in the Maghazi camp”.

“Despite the challenges posed by Hamas terrorists operating within civilian areas in Gaza, the IDF [Israeli Defense Forces] is committed to international law including taking feasible steps to minimize harm to civilians,” it added.

According to the health ministry, more than 20,000 people have been killed – mostly children and women – and 54,000 injured in Gaza since 7 October, when Hamas and other Palestinian groups attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 240 hostages.

 

Earlier on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war had come at a “very heavy price” for his country.

The Israeli military said more than a dozen soldiers had been killed in Gaza since Friday, bringing the total for the ground offensive launched after 7 October to 156.

Saturday was one of its deadliest days but Mr Netanyahu said there was “no choice” but to keep fighting.

Mourners at the funeral of an Israeli soldier in Haifa on Sunday

The new ceasefire proposal by Egypt would be implemented in three parts:

  • The first phase of the ceasefire would see a humanitarian pause of seven to ten days during which Hamas would release all civilian hostages in exchange for some Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails
  • In the week-long second phase, Hamas would release all Israeli female soldiers in return for more prisoners and the exchange of corpses held since 7 October
  • The third phase, which would last a month, would see the release of the remaining hostages and a number of Palestinian prisoners and Israel withdrawing from the Gaza Strip and suspension of all aerial activities.

Indirect negotiations would be held in Egypt with Qatari and US participation.

An Israeli source told Maariv newspaper that the Egyptian initiative could lead to negotiations. Hamas says it is studying the proposal.

Meanwhile, the Danish shipping giant, Maersk, says it is preparing to resume shipping operations through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The announcement came after an international military operation, led by the US, was deployed to prevent the targeting of commercial ships by drones from areas of Yemen controlled by Houthi rebels. The Houthis have declared their support for Hamas and have said they would target any ship travelling to Israel.

Maersk and other shipping companies stopped sending ships through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal earlier this month as a result of drone attacks. US Central Command said two days ago that a US navy destroyer had shot down four drones in the Red Sea launched from Yemeni territory.

In another development, Pope Francis appealed for peace in the Middle East as he presided over a Christmas Eve Mass at Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

Referring to the war between Israel and Hamas, the Pope said Jesus’s message of peace was being drowned out by the “futile logic of war” in the very land where he had been born.

King Charles III will deliver his festive message to the nation and Commonwealth standing beside a replantable Christmas tree.

Buckingham Palace has released an image of the monarch in front of a living tree, which is kept in a pot so it can be used next year.

Sustainable decorations are hanging from its branches, an apparent nod to the King’s environmental campaigning.

The Christmas message is due to be broadcast at 15:00 GMT on Monday.

The King will deliver his message from a room leading on to Buckingham Palace’s balcony, with the Victoria Memorial on the Mall visible over his shoulder.

While it is not known what the King intends to cover in the second festive address of his reign, the self-penned message is likely to touch on issues close to the monarch.

In 2022, the message followed a similar template to the one established by his mother Queen Elizabeth II, combining personal reflections with references to topical issues facing the country and the Christian faith.

The King has continued to speak out on environmental issues since ascending to the throne, including giving a speech at the recent COP28 Climate Change summit in Dubai.

The King and Queen Camilla were seen leaving a church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham on Christmas Eve morning

It is the first time a replantable tree has been used as part of the backdrop for the annual festive address.

The trees, which advocates say are better for the environment than alternatives, are dug up at the roots and kept in a pot so they can be replanted after Christmas and reused the following year.

Sustainable decorations made of materials like paper, wood and glass, as well as natural adornments like pine cones and dried oranges, can be seen hanging from its branches.

The King and Queen will spend Christmas at Sandringham House in Norfolk and are expected to attend a church service in the morning.

Nawaz Sharif, Maryam file nomination papers from different constituencies

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Sunday filed nomination papers from different constituencies for the general elections

PML-N leader Bilal Yasin submitted the nomination papers on behalf of Nawaz Sharif from NA-130 (Lahore-XIV), while Maryam submitted her papers for two National Assembly (NA-119 and NA-120) constituencies.

Maryam also submitted nomination papers from four constituencies of the Punjab Assembly — PP-159, PP-160, PP-165 and PP-80.

In the 2018 general elections, PTI’s Rahat Aman Ullah Bhatti won the NA-119 (Sheikhupura 1) constituency and PML-N’s Rana Afzaal Hussain stood runner-up, whereas PML-N’s Rana Tanveer Hussain won NA-120 (Sheikhupura 2) and PTI’s Ali Asghar Chaudhry was runner-up.

On the other hand, NA-130 was won by PTI with PML-N turning up as the second-largest party of the constituency.

PTI won PP-159 and 160 seats of Lahore with a slim margin in the last general elections, while PML-N stood runner-up in both constituencies. On the flip side, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif won PP-165 seat effortlessly last time, but the PML-N lost the PP-80 by a wide margin to the PTI.

Bilawal challenges Sharif brothers in their stronghold

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has challenged the Sharif brothers in their stronghold of Lahore in the February 8 polls.

The PPP chief on December 22 filed nomination papers from the NA-128 constituency in Lahore which has been traditionally the stronghold of the PML-N with the party securing a majority of seats from the provincial capital in the last many elections.

Along with Bilawal, PPP’s Hafiz Ghulam Mohiuddin also filed nomination papers from the NA-128 and PP-170 constituencies while the party’s Misbah-ur-Rehman filed nomination papers for the PP-169 seat in the same constituency.

PML-N’s Mian Ahmed Subhan is expected to contest elections against the PPP chief in the NA-128 constituency.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has also announced contesting polls from three constituencies including Lahore.

The much-awaited general elections will take place on February 8, 2024, with the national poll organising authority finally issuing the schedule following the Supreme Court’s order.

President, PM call for following Quaid’s principles as nation celebrates his 147th birthday

ISLAMABAD: The top political leaders of the country including caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Monday stressed the need to forge unity for the continuity of democracy, peaceful coexistence and rule of law on the occasion of the 147th birthday of the founder of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

The 147th birth anniversary of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, is being celebrated with zeal and fervour on Monday (today).

The day dawned with gun salutes at the federal and provincial capitals and a graceful change of the guards ceremony was held at the mausoleum of the father of the nation in Karachi.

Special programmes have been arranged by various social, political, governmental and non-governmental organisations and various forums to celebrate the birthday of Pakistan’s founder.

The participants of the events will pay rich tribute to Jinnah for his tireless efforts and visionary leadership.

These observances of Quaid’s birthday are being widely covered by local media focusing on his legacy.

In his message, President Dr Arif Alvi said Quaid-e-Azam was the great benefactor of the nation whose tireless efforts led to the creation of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the Sub-continent.

Dr Arif Alvi said Quaid-e-Azam advocated for the rights of the Muslim community.

The president said the current situation demanded following the vision of the father of the nation and his guiding principles in letter and spirit to promote unity and democratic values.

President Alvi stressed upon unity, hope and justice for the promotion of Islamic ideals, moral values, unity and brotherhood.

In his message on the occasion, PM Kakar said, “Quaid-e-Azam had gathered the Muslims under one banner for waging a struggle for the realisation of a separate new Muslim state on the global map.”

Extending facilitation to the nation on Quaid’s birthday, the PM said that the entire nation was celebrating the occasion with zeal, fervour and reverence. He said that they were blessed with a great leader who led the Muslims of the sub-continent and achieved a separate homeland.

“On this day, we should reaffirm our commitment to the national unity and prosperous and progressive Pakistan,” he said.

The prime minister said that the personality of the Quaid-e-Azam was still a beacon of guidance owing to his unmatched character and extraordinary leading qualities.

His resolve and undeterred will had infused the Muslims with firm determination and courage to face all the ordeals in the continuation of their struggle and in way of achievement of their great goal, Prime Minister Office Media Wing, in a press release, quoted the prime minister as saying.

“Quaid’s principles of ‘unity, faith and discipline’ should be the guiding principles for all as a nation to realize the democratic state as conceived by their founder,” he emphasised.

The prime minister further observed that by following the message of unity, faith and discipline, and by rendering huge sacrifices, the Muslims of sub-continent achieved the collective objective.

“Quaid’s quality of impeccable character led the Muslims to their destination. Due to his adherence to principles, integrity and strong faith, even his foes also respected him,” the prime minister opined. He said Quaid’s life was a reflection of constitutional struggle and political acumen.

The caretaker prime minister said that being a nation, it was apt to act upon the principles of Quaid which would be the best way to pay him tribute.

On August 11, 1947, in his speech, Quaid had made it clear that every individual would have the complete freedom of practicing faith and religion in Pakistan, he said and underlined the need to reiterate Quaid’s message of interfaith harmony.

Congratulating the nation on Jinnah’s birthday, former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said, “We will build Pakistan of Quaid, then Pakistan will rise once again.”

Former president Asif Ali Zardari said the national anthem of Pakistan reflected the philosophy of Quaid-e-Azam, which stated that the source of power was the people.

Hamas says 200 killed in 24 hours of Israeli strikes on Gaza

Despite growing calls for restraint and for more aid to reach war-stricken Palestinians, Israel showed little sign of modulating its 11-week-old “Operation Swords of Iron” — which aims to rout Hamas.

Fighting is now centred on Gaza City and the southern city of Khan Yunis, both considered strongholds of the Palestinian militant group that carried out bloody October 7 raids into Israel.

After reports of heavy Israeli shelling, grey and black smoke rose over the north of the coastal territory and in Khan Yunis.

The refugee camp-turned-city is the birthplace of Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ leader in Gaza and the man Israel holds most responsible for the October attacks.

The Israeli Army chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, visited troops on the ground in Khan Yunis, telling them that the operation had been “very impressive, truly very impressive, both the attack here and carrying out the operation in a secure manner”.

Outside a morgue at the city’s Nasser Hospital, grieving relatives prayed, wept and stared vacantly as they tried to process incalculable loss.

Hamas authorities said the death toll from this war has now surged beyond 20,000.

“This is a genocide,” said resident Rafat Al Aydi.

Israel denies directly targeting civilians and says the war against Hamas is vital to ensure the October raids on farms, villages and kibbutzim that killed an estimated 1,140 people can never be repeated.

– ‘We want a ceasefire’ –

In Washington, President Joe Biden said he had another “long talk” with Israel’s hawkish prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

The White House said the discussion focused on the “objectives and phasing” of Israel’s military operation, as well as “the critical need to protect the civilian population including those supporting the humanitarian aid operations”.

Israeli officials gave a terse readout of the call, saying “the Prime Minister made it clear that Israel would continue the war until all of its goals have been achieved”.

A total of 144 Israeli troops have been killed since the ground offensive began almost a month ago.

Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, has had testy relations with a string of US presidents. But disagreements over how the Gaza war is being prosecuted, when it will end, and what happens the day after, have strained ties ever further.

On Friday, the United States allowed the passage of a UN Security Council resolution that effectively called on Israel to allow “immediate, safe and unhindered” deliveries of life-saving aid to Gaza “at scale”.

World powers had wrangled for days over the wording, and at Washington’s insistence toned down some provisions — including removing a call for a ceasefire.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has accused Israel of “creating massive obstacles” for aid deliveries.

For Palestinians in Gaza‘s southern city of Rafah, the prospect of aid alone was not enough.

“We don’t want food, we want a ceasefire,” said Mahmud al-Shaer.

Ahmad al-Burawi, who was displaced from Beit Lahia further north, added: “We just want to return to our lands, that’s all. We want a solution” to end the war. “People are dying,” he said.

The war has displaced about 80 percent of Gaza‘s 2.4 million population, according to UN estimates.

– ‘Lost contact’  –

 

Israelis, including friends and relatives of the 129 captives still believed held in Gaza, demonstrated again on Saturday in Tel Aviv.

Hamas’s armed wing said it “lost contact” with militants tasked with guarding five of the hostages, including three elderly men who appeared in a hostage video the group released this week.

“We believe that those hostages have been killed” in Israeli strikes, said spokesman Abu Obeida without providing evidence.

Talks aimed at resuscitating a truce and prisoner swap appeared to be stalled.

An earlier truce allowed 80 Israeli hostages to be released in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners, but ended after one week.

– Drone strike off India –

Far from Gaza, a new attack on shipping Saturday showed the war is already spilling over into the broader region.

Maritime agencies said a drone strike damaged a chemical tanker in waters off Veraval, India.

There was no claim of responsibility, but the Pentagon said it was a “one-way attack drone fired from Iran”.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels have repeatedly fired drones and missiles at ships in the Red Sea, saying they are targeting Israeli-linked vessels in solidarity with Gaza.

Iranian deputy foreign minister Ali Bagheri on Saturday said the Huthis act on their “own decisions and capabilities”.

There also have been cross-border skirmishes between Israeli forces and Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah movement which, like Hamas, is backed by Iran.

Turkey targets ‘terrorists’ in Iraq and Syria after 12 soldiers killed

Turkey launched air operations “against terrorist targets in the north of Syria and Iraq”, its defence ministry said Saturday, after 12 of its soldiers were killed over two days.

In a press release on its website, the ministry said “29 targets, including caves, bunkers, shelters, oil installations and warehouses, were destroyed” during the operation carried out at 10 pm (1900 GMT).

An AFP correspondent as well as the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported strikes on Saturday evening against two oil sites in northeast Syria, near the Turkish border, without reporting any victims.

Two separate attacks on Turkish bases in northern Iraq killed a dozen of its soldiers.

Ankara has operated several dozen military posts in the area for the past 25 years in its decades-old war against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group blacklisted by Turkey and many of its Western allies as a terrorist organisation.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday called for retaliation against “terrorists” in northern Iraq and Syria.

“The blood of our soldiers has not been wasted, the separatist villains will be made to account for the blood they have shed,” he said.

“We will continue with a vengeance to implement our strategy to eliminate terrorism at its source until the last terrorist is eliminated.”

Ankara initially announced the deaths of six soldiers on Saturday, who “fell martyred in a clash with terrorists”.

It later announced six other soldiers had been killed in northern Iraq in an earlier attack Friday night, which it attributed to the PKK.

According to Turkish media reports, Friday and Saturday’s attacks occurred near Hakurk and Zap.

In October, Erdogan vowed to continue stepping up its strikes on “terrorist” targets in Iraq and Syria.

The PKK claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on October 1 that injured two police officers in Ankara.

‘Iranian drone’ hit tanker ship in Indian Ocean, claims Pentagon

A US Department of Defense official has claimed that a chemical tanker operating in the Indian Ocean was hit by an Iranian drone.

“The motor vessel CHEM PLUTO, a Liberia-flagged, Japanese-owned, and Netherlands-operated chemical tanker was struck at approximately 10 a.m. local time (6 a.m. Greenwich Mean time) today in the Indian Ocean, 200 nautical miles from the coast of India, by a one-way attack drone fired from Iran,” the official said in a statement on Saturday.

A one-way attack drone is designed to impact its target rather than return to its origin, according to CNN.

“There were no casualties and a fire on board the tanker has been extinguished,” the defense official said.

“No US Navy vessels were in the vicinity,” the statement said, adding Naval Forces Central Command was communicating with the struck vessel.

The Indian coast guard posted on social media that there are 21 crew members on board and that “the vessel has started making way towards Mumbai”.

It was the first time the Pentagon has openly accused Iran of directly targeting ships since the start of Israel´s war on Palestinian group Hamas, which is backed by Tehran.

The attack came amid a flurry of new drone and missile attacks by Yemen´s Iran-backed Houthi rebels on the vital Red Sea shipping lane since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, with the group claiming to act in solidarity with Gaza.

Saturday´s Indian Ocean attack took place around 10am local time (0600 GMT) and caused no casualties aboard the vessel, a Pentagon statement said, adding that a fire was extinguished.

The US military “remains in communication with the vessel as it continues toward a destination in India,” it added.

The drone strike occurred 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) off the coast of India, it said, adding that no US Navy vessels were in the vicinity.

The Pentagon statement said the MV Chem Pluto ship flew under a Liberian flag and was operated by a Dutch entity, although the ship is owned by a Japanese company.

Imran Khan petitions Supreme Court against IHC order on Toshakhana

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan Saturday petitioned the Supreme Court against the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) order on the Toshakhana case.

With hopes of relief for Khan, who remains “disqualified” to hold any public office for five years, the move comes as the party scrambles for the removal of a ban on the former prime minister, which is the only way for him to contest in upcoming general elections.

In the latest blow to the incarcerated PTI supreme leader ahead of the February 8 polls, the IHC had earlier dismissed his plea seeking suspension of the trial court’s verdict in the Toshakhana case.

In his plea filed in the IHC — the same court that had suspended his sentence — Khan had sought to nullify the conviction.

In the fresh petition, Khan appealed the IHC’s verdict to be stayed, stating that his sentence in the Toshakhana case had already been suspended.

He contended that he is being denied his fundamental right to contest elections due to the suspension of only his sentence instead of the entire order of conviction by the trial court, which bars him from running for office.

 

“That taking advantage of the error in the order of the Islamabad High Court … wherein although the sentence of the petitioner was suspended but the order was not, the Election Commission of Pakistan issued a notification … and disqualified the applicant under article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, without even giving him an opportunity of being heard thereby blocking the fundamental rights, as enshrined under article 2, 2A, 4,9, 10A 15, 16, 17 & 25 of the Constitution, of the petitioner, to contest elections who at the time was heading the largest political in the country,” the petition stated.

The IHC’s two-member bench had on December 21 turned Khan’s request for the suspension of his conviction, which would have paved the way for his eligibility to stand in elections. Now, there’s only one day left to submit nomination papers.

IHC’s two-member bench — comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri — said in its order that the PTI founder’s petition was not maintainable, therefore, it was dismissed.

The 70-year-old cricketer-turned-politician was sent to jail for three years on August 5 after being found guilty of selling state gifts during his 2018-22 tenure as prime minister — charges he denies.

PM Kakar’s govt becomes Pakistan’s longest-serving caretaker set-up

ISLAMABAD: The caretaker government of Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has become the longest-serving interim set-up in Pakistan’s history as the general elections — supposed to be held within 90 days of the premature dissolution of the National Assembly — delayed owing to fresh delimitation of constituencies

It has been 131 days since the incumbent caretaker prime minister assumed office following the dissolution of the lower house in August this year. The second longest-serving interim government was led by Mian Muhammad Soomro for 130 days, from November 16, 2007 to March 24, 2008.

PM Kakar took oath as the eighth caretaker premier on August 14, 2023, and his appointment’s notification was issued on the same day.

Previously, Justice Nasirul Mulk remained the caretaker prime minister for 79 days from June 1, 2018, to August 18, 2018. Justice Mir Hazar Khan Khoso was the interim prime minister for 71 days, from March 25, 2013, to June 4, 2013.

Malik Meraj Khalid served as the caretaker prime minister for 104 days, from November 5, 1996, to February 16, 1997. Moeenuddin Ahmad Qureshi became the caretaker premier for 92 days, from July 18, 1993 to October 18, 1993.

Balakh Sher Mazari’s tenure was the shortest. He served for 38 days as the chief executive, from April 18, 1993, to May 26, 1993.

While Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi led the caretaker set-up as a premier for 91 days, from August 6, 1990, to November 5, 1990.

Multiple weather warnings have been issued for the north and west of Scotland, disrupting travel ahead of Christmas.

Snow fell overnight into Saturday morning in the north of the country including in Aberdeen and Inverness.

A Met office yellow weather warning for rain was in place for much of western Scotland until 23:45 on Saturday.

An additional warning for snow and ice in the north expired at 15:00.

The weather made for difficult travelling conditions as people made their way home for Christmas – the AA estimated that 16.4 million car journeys would take place in the UK on Saturday.

The snow gates between Berriedale and Helmsdale near Caithness had to be closed earlier, causing congestion on the A9 but have since reopened.

There was flooding on the A9 near Tomich

Posts on social media said vehicles were stuck near Braemore junction, and there were reports of an accident near Golspie.

There was also a road closure further south on the A9, near Tomich due to flooding.

Meanwhile, in Argyll and Bute, the A83 Rest and Be Thankful closed on Saturday afternoon due to increased “hillside saturation levels”.

The Old Military Road diversion via Glen Croe will operate under convoy through the night on Saturday.

A yellow warning for rain remains in place for the West of Scotland

Speed restrictions have been put in place on the railways, causing delays and cancellations on services to Inverness, Aberdeen and Oban.

Services between Inverness and Beauly were cancelled until 13:00 due to a landslip.

CalMac sailings to Uist, Colonsay, Coll and Tiree have been cancelled for the remainder of Saturday due to the windy conditions.

Cove Rangers appealed for help to clear snow from Balmoral Park

Scottish League One side Cove Rangers appealed for volunteers to help clear snow from their pitch ahead of a match with Edinburgh City.

The game was able to go ahead with a delayed kick-off time of 15:30.

A number of other matches including Ross County v Hibernian and Dundee v Aberdeen were called off due to waterlogged pitches.

The Met office has also issued weather warnings for wind on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Gusts of 50mph are expected widely while areas such as Lewis, Orkney, Sutherland and Caithness could see gusts reaching 70mph.

Meteorologist Liam Eslick said: “People should make sure to leave more time, especially in exposed areas, it could affect rail networks and ferries.

“People travelling on roads should take care and stay away from high-sided vehicles, and for people who are at home and are going for walks, stay away from coasts.”

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