DUBAI: Jordanian authorities have denied a rumored lockdown by police forces in Al-Ruwaished, alleged to be part of ongoing crackdown on drug dealers in the area.
The anti-drug campaign in the country’s eastern area is making significant progress and drug dealers are spreading false information to relieve some of the pressure on them, according to the Public Security Directorate’s (PSD) statement on state news agency Petra on Tuesday.
The statement also refuted claims that security forces are preventing the local community in Al-Ruwaished from going about their daily lives, calling the rumors ‘unfounded and completely false’.
All public utilities, shops, gas stations and bakeries are open for business as usual, contrary to what some are trying to promote, said the statement.
PSD clarified that house searches ‘were conducted in accordance with the law and were limited to the residences of drug trafficking and promotion suspects.’
The security directorate said in its statement that Al-Ruwaished is an unrestricted open region, accessible by both local communities and outsiders.
Security forces deployed in the region have been targets of shootings by drug dealers in the area, which demonstrates the danger these people pose to society, wrote PSD in its statement.
They also emphasized that attempts to mislead public opinion will not deter security forces from operating in northern Badia or from going after drug dealers, nor will they succeed in undermining trust between security personnel and local citizens.
Jordanian security forces deny ‘lockdown’ rumors in Al-Ruwaished
https://arab.news/rt7z5
Jordanian security forces deny ‘lockdown’ rumors in Al-Ruwaished
- All public utilities, shops, gas stations and bakeries are open for business as usual
- Security forces deployed in the region have been targets of shootings by drug dealers in the area
EU warns Israel suspending Gaza NGOs would block ‘life-saving aid’
BRUSSELS: The EU warned Wednesday that Israel's threat to suspend several aid groups in Gaza from January would block "life-saving" assistance from reaching the population.
"The EU has been clear: the NGO registration law cannot be implemented in its current form," EU humanitarian chief Hadja Lahbib posted on X, after Israel said several groups would be barred for failing to provide details of their Palestinian employees.
"IHL (international humanitarian law) leaves no room for doubt: aid must reach those in need," Lahbib wrote.
NGOs had until December 31 to register under the new framework, which Israel says aims to prevent "hostile actors or supporters of terrorism" operating in the Palestinian territories, rather than impede aid.
Israeli authorities announced Tuesday that organisations which "refused to submit a list of their Palestinian employees in order to rule out any links to terrorism" had received notice that their licences would be revoked as of January 1, with an obligation to cease all activities by March 1.
Israel has not disclosed the number of groups facing a ban, but it has specifically called out Doctors Without Borders (MSF) for failing to meet the rules. It accused the medical charity of employing two individuals with links to Palestinian armed groups.
The Israeli government told AFP earlier this month that 14 NGO requests had been rejected as of November 25.
Several NGOs said the new rules will have a major impact on aid distribution in Gaza, with humanitarian organisations saying the amount of aid entering Gaza remains inadequate.
While an accord for a ceasefire that started on October 10 stipulated the entry of 600 trucks per day, only 100 to 300 are carrying humanitarian aid, according to NGOs and the United Nations.
COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body responsible for Palestinian civilian affairs, said last week that on average 4,200 aid trucks enter Gaza weekly, which corresponds to around 600 daily.
