JERUSALEM: Hundreds of hunger-striking Palestinian prisoners ended their 40-day fast on Saturday after reaching a compromise with Israel for additional family visits, Israeli and Palestinian officials said.
Israel prison service spokeswoman Nicole Englander said the inmates declared an end to the strike Saturday morning. She said it came after Israel reached a deal with the Palestinian Authority and the Red Cross for prisoners to receive a second family visit each per month.
Hundreds of prisoners observed the strike they said was aimed at improving prison conditions.
The hunger strike had evolved into one of the longest such protests with this many participants since Israel’s 1967 capture of territories Palestinian seek for their state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
Englander said 1,578 prisoners participated in the hunger strike overall and 834 ended their fast Saturday. She said 18 were being treated in hospitals.
Many Israelis view the prisoners as terrorists and have little sympathy for their demands. More than 6,000 Palestinians are currently in prison for offenses linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, for charges ranging from stone-throwing to weapons possession and attacks that killed or wounded Israeli civilians and soldiers.
Palestinians rallied behind the hunger strikers as national heroes, relishing a rare break from deep divisions between two rival political groups, the Islamic militant group Hamas which runs Gaza and Fatah, the movement of Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas who administers autonomous enclaves in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Palestinians hoped the protest will draw the attention of a seemingly distracted international community as the Israeli occupation hits the 50-year mark in early June.
Support for the prisoners is an emotional consensus issue; hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been jailed by Israel at one time or another since 1967.
Israel’s public security minister, Gilad Erdan, alleged that the hunger strike was motivated by a power struggle in Abbas’ Fatah movement. He claimed that imprisoned strike organizer Marwan Barghouti cynically exploited his fellow prisoners to boost his standing in Fatah and secure his position as a possible successor to Abbas. Barghouti’s family has denied such claims.
Qadoura Fares, who runs the Prisoners’ Club advocacy group, said negotiations took place between Israel officials and a committee from the prisoners, including Marwan Barghouti. He said negotiations began on Friday and were the first since the strike began.
Barghouti is serving five life terms after being convicted by an Israeli court of directing two shooting attacks and a bombing that killed five people. In prison since 2002, he never mounted a defense, saying the court had no jurisdiction over him.
Earlier this month, Israel released footage it said shows Barghouti breaking his fast. Palestinians say the video is a fabrication.
Palestinian prisoners end mass hunger strike
Palestinian prisoners end mass hunger strike
Hezbollah launches ‘explosive-laden drone’ attack on northern Israel
- Hezbollah fighters launched ‘explosive-laden drones targeting enemy soldiers and officers’
- At least 390 people have been killed, in Lebanon, in nearly seven months of cross-border violence
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Hezbollah said it attacked northern Israel on Tuesday with “explosive-laden drones,” a day after an assault claimed by the Iran-backed movement killed two soldiers there.
Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged regular cross-border fire since Palestinian militant group Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attack on southern Israel sparked war in the Gaza Strip.
In recent weeks Hezbollah has stepped up its attacks, which it says are in support of Gazans and its ally Hamas, and Israel’s military has struck deeper into Lebanese territory.
Hezbollah fighters on Tuesday launched “explosive-laden drones targeting enemy soldiers and officers,” the group said in a statement.
At the same time, other drones “targeted one of the Iron Dome (air defense system) platforms,” the militants said, adding in separate statements that they carried out other attacks on northern Israel, including with guided missiles.
Israel’s army said on Tuesday that two soldiers had been killed a day earlier in the north.
On Monday, Hezbollah claimed a drone attack on troops near northern Israel’s Metula, with the Israeli military saying “a UAV (drone) was identified crossing from Lebanon” into the area.
In Lebanon, at least 390 people have been killed in nearly seven months of cross-border violence, mostly militants but also more than 70 civilians, according to an AFP tally.
Israel says 13 soldiers and nine civilians have been killed on its side of the border.
Tens of thousands of people have been displaced on both sides.
PM Sharif says Saudi business delegation’s visit to benefit Pakistan’s economic future
- The prime minister says the Saudi minister leading the delegation described it as ‘a new era’ for Pakistan
- Pakistan is seeking foreign investment to navigate a path to economic recovery as it seeks another IMF bailout
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed confidence on Tuesday the Saudi business delegation’s visit to Pakistan would prove beneficial for his country while applauding his cabinet ministers for playing a constructive role in their dealings with the visiting investors.
The delegation, which comprised representatives of 30-35 Saudi companies, was led by the kingdom’s Saudi Assistant Minister of Investment Ibrahim Al-Mubarak and arrived in Pakistan on Sunday.
Its members held several business-to-business meetings to explore investment opportunities in various economic sectors of the country.
The prime minister said in the opening remarks of the cabinet meeting the delegation was satisfied with its engagements in Pakistan before returning to the kingdom. He particularly mentioned the head of the delegation, saying he praised the performance of Pakistani ministers.
“He said, ‘We are very satisfied and happily returning.’ And he said, ‘I will report that we have seen a new era in Pakistan.’ In this, the commerce minister has a very big role, as does the ministers of petroleum and finance,” the PM told the cabinet meeting.
“It augurs very well for our future,” he added.
The kingdom’s business delegation’s visit to Islamabad followed Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan’s visit to Islamabad last month, when he was briefed by the authorities on various avenues to invest in the country.
Pakistan is trying to navigate a path to economic recovery by securing an International Monetary Fund bailout.
It also needs foreign investment to help fight a chronic balance of payments crisis.
Macklemore shares teaser for new song in support of Gazans
DUBAI: American rapper Macklemore is set to release a new song this week in support of Palestine.
Titled “Hind’s Hall,” the track honors Hind Rajab, the 6-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed by Israeli soldiers in Gaza while waiting to be rescued.
Drawing its inspiration from the global student protests, the singer released a teaser of the track on his Instagram feed and said that all proceeds from its sale would be donated to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
“The people, they won’t leave / What is threatening about divesting and wanting peace? / The problem isn’t the protests, it’s what they’re protesting / It goes against what our country is funding / Block the barricade until Palestine is free,” he sings.
“What you willing to risk? / What you willing to give? / What if you were in Gaza? / What if those were your kids? You’d want the world to stand up / And the students finally did.”
The full song has yet to be released on streaming platforms.
Closing Bell: TASI edges down to close at 12,357 points
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index dipped on Tuesday, losing 14.51 points, or 0.12 percent, to close at 12,357.99.
The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR7.03 billion ($1.87 billion) as 70 of the listed stocks advanced, while 150 retreated.
Similarly, the MSCI Tadawul Index decreased by 1.42 points, or 0.09 percent, to close at 1,547.71.
The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu slipped by 49.36 points, or 0.18 percent, to close at 26,741.64. This comes as 24 of the listed stocks advanced while as many as 28 retreated.
The best-performing stock of the day was Batic Investments and Logistics Co., whose share price surged by 6.36 percent to SR3.51.
Other top performers include Development Works Food Co. Ltd and Electrical Industries Co., whose share prices soared 5.42 percent and 4.97 percent to SR128.40 and SR5.70, respectively.
Other top performers include Saudi Co. for Hardware and Zahrat Al Waha for Trading Co.
The worst performer was Saudi Real Estate Co., whose share price dropped by 7.61 percent to SR22.34.
Other worst performers were Al-Baha Investment and Development Co. as well as Americana Restaurants International PLC, whose share prices dropped by 7.14 percent and 5.07 percent to stand at SR0.13 and SR3.18, respectively.
Additional poor performers include United Cooperative Assurance Co. and AlSaif Stores for Development and Investment Co.
On the announcements front, Americana Restaurants International PLC announced its interim financial results for the period ending on March 31, with revenues amounting to SR1.85 million, down from SR2.21 million in the corresponding period in 2023.
The company attributed the 16.3 percent decline to lower like-for-like sales due to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region, as well as reduced sales volumes in March due to shifts in consumer behavior during Ramadan.
Net profits also decreased by 51.8 percent to reach SR105,090 in the first three months of 2024 compared to SR217,984 in the same period last year.
According to a statement by the company on Tadawul, this decrease was attributed to lower sales due to the geopolitical situation and the onset of Ramadan, as well as higher depreciation charges and rent expenses on account of new store openings during the period.
Saudi Real Estate Co. also announced its financial results for the same period, with revenues surging by 8.8 percent to reach SR427.6 million, compared to SR393 million in 2023.
The increase was primarily driven by a 28 percent surge in revenues from infrastructure projects, totaling SR56 million, and a 23 percent increase in rental revenue, totaling SR15 million.
However, the company’s net profits decreased in the first quarter of this year to SR2.9 million, marking a 67.4 percent decline compared to the same quarter in 2023.
This decline, as stated in an official Tadawul announcement, was attributed to an increase in cost of revenues resulting in a 13 percent increase, totaling SR34 million, a 14 percent rise in general and administrative expenses amounting to SR5 million, and an increase in finance costs by 14 percent with the amount of SR8 million
Saudi, Russian foreign ministers discuss ties in phone call
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan on Tuesday received a phone call from his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
The Saudi Press Agency said both ministers discussed bilateral ties and issues of common interest.
