CAIRO: A shark attack off Egypt’s Red Sea coast killed a tourist and injured another, authorities said Sunday, with an Italy foreign ministry source identifying both as Italian nationals.
“Two foreigners were attacked by a shark in the northern Marsa Alam area, which led to the injury of one and the death of the other,” Egypt’s environment ministry said in a statement.
A source at the Italian foreign ministry told AFP the man killed was a 48-year-old resident of Rome. The injured man was 69 years old.
They were both taken to hospital in Port Ghalib, around 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Marsa Alam, the Egyptian ministry said.
Authorities have closed the area to swimmers for two days following the incident, which the ministry said occurred in “deep waters outside the designated swimming area.”
The Red Sea is a major tourist destination whose marine life make it popular with divers.
It is also a key employer and source of foreign currency for Egypt, a country of 107 million people trying to navigate out of its worst ever economic crisis.
Last month, at least four people died when a large wave hit and capsized a dive boat carrying more than 30 tourists of various nationalities off Marsa Alam.
Deadly shark attacks are a near-yearly occurrence in Egypt’s Red Sea, where marine experts warn unregulated construction, over-fishing, and irresponsible tourism practices contribute to changing the ecosystem and shark behavior.
In June 2023, a shark attack killed a Russian off the Red Sea resort city of Hurghada.
Italian tourist killed in Egypt shark attack: foreign ministry source
https://arab.news/vr6j5
Italian tourist killed in Egypt shark attack: foreign ministry source
- An Italy foreign ministry source identified both as Italian nationals
- Authorities have closed the area to swimmers for two days following the incident
Jordan condemns Israeli raid on UNRWA headquarters in Jerusalem
- Philippe Lazzarini said Israeli police, municipal officials, forcibly entered the compound in East Jerusalem
- Jordan said Israeli measure aims to undermine UNRWA’s significance
LONDON: Jordan condemned an Israeli police raid on the headquarters of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees headquarters in Sheikh Jarrah in occupied East Jerusalem on Monday, calling it a violation of international law.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign and Expatriate Affairs, Ambassador Fuad Majali, said that Jordan rejects Israel’s systematic efforts to limit the operations of UNRWA and undermine its essential role in providing crucial services to Palestinian refugees.
Philippe Lazzarini, the chief of UNRWA, said that Israeli police, along with municipal officials, forcibly entered the UNRWA compound in East Jerusalem.
“Police motorcycles, as well as trucks and forklifts, were brought in and all communications were cut. Furniture, IT equipment and other property was seized. The UN flag was pulled down and replaced with an Israeli flag,” Lazzarini said in a statement.
He added that any actions taken by Israel do not affect the compound’s status as a UN site, which is immune to interference.
Majali said that Israeli measures aim to undermine UNRWA’s significance, as the agency supports the right of Palestinian refugees to return and receive compensation in accordance with international law.
He urged the international community to address Israeli actions targeting UNRWA and ensure the essential political and financial support needed for its services to Palestinian refugees.
The Jordanian ministry on Monday also condemned statements made by extremist Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who reiterated his rejection of the establishment of a Palestinian state.
It said that Israel does not hold sovereignty over the occupied West Bank. The expansion of Israeli settlements undermines the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination, the end of the occupation and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state, the ministry added, according to Petra news agency.
