UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations chief on Tuesday denounced the “systematic” looting of humanitarian aid in Gaza, a day after the territory’s Hamas authorities said 20 people were killed in a security operation targeting such actions.
“Armed looting has become systematic and must end immediately. It is hindering life saving aid operations and further endangering the lives of our staff,” said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
“However, the use of law enforcement operations must be lawful, necessary and proportionate.”
Israel imposed a total siege on Gaza in the early stages of the war last year, and the UN warned on November 9 that famine was looming in some areas due to a lack of aid.
Aid distribution in Gaza is complicated by shortages of fuel, war-damaged roads and looting, as well as fighting in densely populated areas and the repeated displacement of much of the territory’s 2.4 million people.
Several humanitarian officials have told AFP on condition of anonymity that almost half the aid that enters Gaza is looted, especially basic supplies.
On Monday, Gaza’s interior ministry said it had carried out a major operation targeting looters.
“More than 20 members of gangs involved in stealing aid trucks were killed in a security operation carried out by security forces in cooperation with tribal committees,” the ministry said in a statement.
It said the operation was “the beginning of a broad security campaign that has been long planned and will expand to include everyone involved in the theft of aid trucks.”
On Tuesday, the US-based Washington Post newspaper cited a UN memo as saying some of the gangs were receiving “passive if not active benevolence” or “protection” from the Israel Defense Forces.
Dujarric said he was unaware of the memo, but that the allegation was “fairly alarming” if true.
“The idea that the Israeli forces may be allowing looters or not doing enough to prevent it is frankly, fairly alarming, given the responsibilities of Israel as the occupying power to ensure that humanitarian aid is distributed safely,” he said.
UN chief slams ‘systematic’ looting of Gaza humanitarian aid
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UN chief slams ‘systematic’ looting of Gaza humanitarian aid
- Aid distribution in Gaza is complicated by shortages of fuel, war-damaged roads and looting
- On Monday, Gaza’s interior ministry said it had carried out a major operation targeting looters
Hostages freed from Gaza painfully piece together a changed world
- Hostages freed as part of a tenuous ceasefire in Gaza are confronting a flood of information about loved ones and destroyed communities
- Their families are grappling with how to fill them in on what they missed without potentially deepening their trauma
RAMAT GAN, Israel: After 484 days of captivity in Gaza, Keith Siegel had many questions. Was his 97-year-old mother still alive? Which of his neighbors was killed in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack? Why did it take so long to free him?
With minimal access to media, the dual American-Israeli citizen only learned months after he was captured that his son had survived the attack that launched the war in Gaza. He had heard that his family and others’ were advocating for hostages’ freedom. But beyond that, he knew very little about life outside his confines in Gaza.
“He really wanted to know everything as soon as possible, just to put all the question marks away and to know what happened,” said his daughter, Elan Siegel.
Hostages freed as part of a tenuous ceasefire in Gaza are confronting a flood of information about loved ones and destroyed communities, and are still figuring out their place in a changed world. Their families are grappling with how to fill them in on what they missed without potentially deepening their trauma.
Experts say it is important to be cautious.
“The information is definitely traumatic so you have to really be sensitive, careful and monitor the pace in which you expose the information,” said Einat Yehene, who heads the rehabilitation division at the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
Paraded by Hamas, then by shattered reality
For many freed captives, catching up has been excruciating.
Eli Sharabi, 52, had no exposure to media during his 16-month ordeal, according to his brother, Sharon Sharabi.
Forced to speak at a staged Hamas ceremony before his release, a gaunt Sharabi told a crowd of masked militants and journalists that he was looking forward to seeing his wife and two teenage daughters back in Israel.
Then he learned the crushing reality shortly after his arrival in Israel: all three had been killed at home during the Oct. 7 attack.
“Beyond the emotional burden and difficult experiences he faced in captivity, he had to bear this horrible loss on the first day that he left from there,” his brother told Israeli Army Radio.
Or Levy, 34, was dealt a similar blow upon being freed. That is when he learned that his wife, Einav, was killed on Oct. 7.
“For 491 days, he held onto hope that he would return to her,” his brother, Michael Levy, told reporters.
Levy was reunited with his young son, who hit key developmental milestones, like being potty trained, while his father was in captivity. “It took you a long time to come back,” the 3-year-old told his father, according to Israeli media.
Facing uncertainty even after being freed
The first person Keith Siegel asked about upon returning home was his mother, Gladys. When his wife’s eyes welled up, he immediately understood she had died, his daughter recounted.
Siegel picked up some information about his family while in captivity. Months into the war, he heard his daughter on the radio, speaking about how his son had survived Hamas’ attack. Other freed hostages have also reported hearing messages from their families through the news media.
Yarden Bibas, who was freed earlier this month, was told by his captors that his wife, Shiri, and their two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, were dead. But he was also told they were spotted in Tel Aviv, according to Israeli media.
Now that he is out, he still lacks clarity. They remain in Gaza, and the Israeli government has said it has “serious concern” for their lives.
A relentless need to know more
Beyond their personal lives, freed hostages are also taking in more than a year’s worth of world events: President Donald Trump is back in the White House; Israel and Iran engaged in their first direct attacks; Israel killed the longtime chief of the militant group Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah.
Keith Siegel’s family is sharing information sparingly, as one might with a child. “You answer only what he asks and not more than that,” his daughter, Elan, said.
But the questions are relentless.
Siegel wanted to know what happened to his community of Kfar Aza. Was anyone watering the plants? Who was killed in Hamas’ attack?
“We asked him if he’s sure that he’s ready. And he said ‘yes,’ that he just wants to know. So I read him the list of 64 people” who were killed, his daughter said. She said his reaction to the news has been muted because “it’s almost like he forgot how to feel” while in captivity.
Siegel’s photo has been a mainstay at protests and on banners highlighting the plight of hostages, making him recognizable across Israel. Ahead of his release, dozens of Israelis posted videos of themselves on social media making his favorite pancake recipe.
Siegel’s wife, Aviva, who was freed from captivity in the early weeks of the war, prepared a book for him that includes notes from the important figures she had lobbied on his behalf — from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to former US President Joe Biden.
Siegel was especially befuddled by the revelation that world leaders knew about his captivity.
His daughter, Elan, recalled him saying: “If they knew, how can it be that I was there for so long?”
Pakistan takes steps to enhance workforce skills for Middle Eastern job market — official
- Government is integrating interpersonal and problem-solving skills into technical and vocational training
- Pakistan heavily relies on remittances which is a key source of foreign exchange for its struggling economy
ISLAMABAD: A senior Pakistani official said on Friday the government had taken key measures to bridge the skills gap and boost the global competitiveness of people aspiring to work abroad, particularly in the Middle East, to better integrate them into the international job market, state media reported.
Pakistan relies heavily on remittances sent by its overseas nationals, a key source of foreign exchange that serves as a lifeline for its struggling economy. Many Pakistani workers seek jobs in Gulf countries, where demand for skilled labor remains high.
At the same time, the government has been working to open legal avenues for employment abroad following a series of tragic boat accidents involving illegal immigrants attempting to reach European shores, with dozens of Pakistanis among the victims.
Parliamentary Secretary for Federal Education and Professional Training Farah Naz Akbar shared the government’s strategy for workforce development while responding to questions during a National Assembly session.
“The government is integrating life skills and soft skills — such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, interpersonal skills and work ethics — into technical and vocational training programs,” the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency said while reporting on her briefing to the assembly. “These skills are highly valued by Middle Eastern employers and are crucial for workplace success.”
“The curriculum is also being updated to reflect the latest industry trends and technologies, ensuring that Pakistani workers are equipped with relevant knowledge and skills to meet evolving job market demands in the Middle East,” it added.
Akbar said as part of these reforms, Pakistan has established the Pakistan Skill Company and the Pakistan Skill Development Fund to centralize and improve technical and vocational training across the country, aiming to create better employment opportunities for workers abroad.
To align Pakistani qualifications with international standards, the government has revised National Vocational Qualification Framework (NVQF) regulations, ensuring that workers’ certifications meet the requirements of both European Union (EU) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Akbar said authorities were shifting toward competency-based training programs, which emphasize practical skills and hands-on experience, ensuring that workers are not only trained but also proficient in job-specific skills required by Middle Eastern employers.
She noted the measures were part of a comprehensive strategy to strengthen Pakistan’s labor force and increase employment opportunities for skilled workers in the Middle East.
New Zealand’s O’Rourke’s four wickets limit Pakistan to 242 in tri-series final
- Final is a dress rehearsal for opening Champions Trophy match between the two sides on Wednesday
- Pakistan’s batting ace Baber Azam scored confident 29, reaching 6,000 runs in one-day internationals
KARACHI: New Zealand pace bowler Will O’Rourke took four wickets to restrict Pakistan to a modest 242 runs in the tri-series final in Karachi on Friday.
O’Rourke finished with 4-43 and was ably supported by spinners Mitchell Santner (2-20) and Michael Bracewell (2-38) as Pakistan were dismissed in 49.3 overs after they won the toss and batted.
Skipper Mohammad Rizwan top-scored with a 76-ball 46, while Salman Agha hit 45 off 65 balls, with slow and variable bounce on the National Stadium pitch proving tough for batting.
The final is a dress rehearsal for the opening match of the Champions Trophy between the same teams at the same venue on Wednesday.
Pakistan lost opener Fakhar Zaman to O’Rourke in the fourth over for 10 and then Saud Shakeel for eight.
Babar Azam looked good for his 29 runs, hitting four boundaries and a six, and reached 6,000 runs scored in one-day internationals when he was on 10.
He was playing his 123rd innings, the joint fastest to reach the 6,000-runs milestone with South African Hashim Amla.
Azam fell to a miscued shot off Nathan Smith, leaving Pakistan struggling at 54-3.
Rizwan and Agha, who shared a match-winning 260-run partnership against South Africa on Wednesday, then revived the innings with an 88-run stand.
Rizwan hit four boundaries and a six but he and Agha fell within 19 runs of each other to end any hope of a big total.
Tayyab Tahir hit a 33-ball 38, also with four boundaries and a six, while Faheem Ashraf (22) and Naseem Shah (19) added 39 invaluable runs to get Pakistan past 240.
EU chief warns a failed Ukraine would ‘weaken the United States’
- A failed Ukraine would weaken the United States, von der Leyen told Munich Security Conference
MUNICH: EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Friday warned that forcing Ukraine into a bad deal would harm US interests, as she urged President Donald Trump to work together for a “just peace.”
“A failed Ukraine would weaken Europe, but it would also weaken the United States,” von der Leyen said at the Munich Security Conference.
Pakistani actors Kubra Khan and Gohar Rasheed share photos from Grand Mosque after nikkah in Makkah
- Khan and Rasheed remain among the most recognized faces in Pakistan’s entertainment industry
- One of the images on social media shows them in the attire worn by pilgrims performing Umrah
KARACHI: Pakistani actors Kubra Khan and Gohar Rasheed announced their wedding on Friday, sharing photos on Instagram taken at the Grand Mosque in Makkah with the Kaaba, the black cubic structure at the center of Islam’s most sacred mosque, in the background.
Khan and Rasheed remain among the most recognized faces in Pakistan’s entertainment industry. With their marriage now public, fans and colleagues have flooded social media with congratulatory messages, celebrating their union.
Arab News attempted to contact both actors for further comments but did not receive a response. Most of their friends also refrained from speaking on the matter, though some confirmed that the nikkah, the Islamic marriage contract requiring mutual consent, took place in the Grand Mosque earlier this week on February 12.
“Under the Kursi [throne] of Allah… 70 thousand angels as witnesses and Rehmat [mercy] pouring down on us like rain… Qubool hai,” the two actors said in a joint Instagram post, referencing the belief in divine presence and blessings during their marriage and mentioning their acceptance of the bond in the last two words.
The images with the post showed the couple in the white attire worn by pilgrims performing Umrah, including a close-up of their hands placed on the Kaaba with wedding rings and another of them smiling at each other against the sacred black cube.
The Grand Mosque is considered the most sacred site in Islam, where millions of Muslims gather to perform Hajj and Umrah each year.
Kubra Khan, born Rabia Iqbal Khan, is a British-Pakistani actor known for her roles in popular television dramas such as “Sang-e-Mar Mar,” “Alif” and “Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay,” as well as films like “Na Maloom Afraad” and “Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2.”
Gohar Rasheed has built a reputation with performances in “Mann Mayal,” “Ishqiya” and “The Legend of Maula Jatt.” The two actors have been close friends for years and co-starred in the drama “Jannat Se Aagay,” fueling long-standing speculation about their relationship.
