KHAN YOUNIS/CAIRO/JERUSALEM: An Israeli attack killed two children in Gaza on Saturday, medics and relatives said, in violence that has persisted in the Palestinian enclave despite a fragile ceasefire.
The children’s uncle said an Israeli drone fired on Fadi and Goma Abu Assi, brothers aged 10 and 12, while they were gathering firewood to help their wheelchair-bound father east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
“They are children...what did they do? They do not have missiles or bombs, they went to gather wood for their father so he can start a fire,” Mohamed Abu Assi told Reuters as their funeral took place.
At the funeral, the children’s father wept over the body of one of the boys whose white shroud had been peeled back to show his face.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
At least 354 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect on October 10, Gazan health authorities say. Israel says three of its soldiers have been killed by militants’ gunfire in that time.
The level of violence has reduced since the ceasefire, but Israel has continued to strike Gaza and conduct demolitions in territory it occupies there.
Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel signed a truce on October 9 after two years of war but left the most intractable disputes for further talks.
Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the ceasefire commitments and of pushing back against later steps required by US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan.
Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed more than 69,700 Palestinians, most of them civilians, health officials in Gaza say. Much of the territory is in ruins.
Israel began its offensive after a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 in which 1,200 people were killed and about 250 were taken to Gaza as hostages, according to Israel’s tally.
Israeli attack kills two children in Gaza, medics say
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Israeli attack kills two children in Gaza, medics say
- At least 354 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect on October 10
Syria’s growth accelerates as sanctions ease, refugees return
- Economy grows much faster than World Bank’s 1% estimate, fueling plans for currency’s relaunch
NEW YORK: Syria’s economy is growing much faster than the World Bank’s 1 percent estimate for 2025 as refugees flow back after the end of a 14-year civil war, fueling plans for the relaunch of the country’s currency and efforts to build a new Middle East financial hub, central bank Governor AbdulKader Husrieh has said.
Speaking via video link at a conference in New York, Husrieh also said he welcomed a deal with Visa to establish digital payment systems and added that the country is working with the International Monetary Fund to develop methods to accurately measure economic data to reflect the resurgence.
The Syrian central bank chief, who is helping guide the war-torn country’s reintegration into the global economy after the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime about a year ago, described the repeal of many US sanctions against Syria as “a miracle.”
The US Treasury on Nov. 10 announced a 180-day extension of the suspension of the so-called Caesar sanctions against Syria; lifting them entirely requires approval by the US Congress.
Husrieh said that based on discussions with US lawmakers, he expects the sanctions to be repealed by the end of 2025, ending “the last episode of the sanctions.”
“Once this happens, this will give comfort to our potential correspondent banks about dealing with Syria,” he said.
Husrieh also said that Syria was working to revamp regulations aimed at combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism, which he said would provide further assurances to international lenders.
Syria’s central bank has recently organized workshops with banks from the US, Turkiye, Jordan and Australia to discuss due diligence in reviewing transactions, he added.
Husrieh said that Syria is preparing to launch a new currency in eight note denominations and confirmed plans to remove two zeroes from them in a bid to restore confidence in the battered pound.
“The new currency will be a signal and symbol for this financial liberation,” Husrieh said. “We are glad that we are working with Visa and Mastercard,” Husrieh said.
