Iran begins lifting restrictions after virus lockdown

Iranians, some wearing personal protective equipment, walk past shops in the southeastern city of Kerman on April 11, 2020, amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. (AFP)
Short Url
Updated 12 April 2020
Follow

Iran begins lifting restrictions after virus lockdown

  • Government offices outside Iran’s capital, Tehran, reopened on Saturday with a third of all employees working from home, state media reported

TEHRAN, DUBAI: Iran began reopening government offices on Saturday after a brief nationwide lockdown to help contain the worst coronavirus outbreak in the Middle East, which has killed more than 4,300 people in the country.
Authorities had ordered most government agencies and all nonessential businesses to remain closed for a week after the Nowruz holiday ended on April 4.
President Hassan Rouhani urged Iranian to respect health protocols to guard against the virus.
“Easing restrictions does not mean ignoring health protocols ... social distancing and other health protocols should be respected seriously by people,” Rouhani was quoted as saying.
Government offices outside Iran’s capital, Tehran, reopened on Saturday with a third of all employees working from home, state media reported. Women who have young children were given priority in deciding who works remotely. Businesses outside the capital were also allowed to reopen.
Businesses in Tehran will be allowed to reopen next Saturday, provided they register with authorities and follow guidelines on social distancing set out by the Health Ministry. Government offices in the capital will reopen with two-thirds of employees coming in.
The Health Ministry, meanwhile, reported another 125 deaths, bringing the overall toll to 4,357. Iran has reported more than 70,000 confirmed cases, and authorities say more than 40,000 have recovered.

For weeks, Iran declined to impose the kind of wide-scale lockdowns adopted by other Middle Eastern countries, even as the number of confirmed cases and fatalities steadily climbed. The virus has also infected and killed a number of senior Iranian officials.
Authorities have defended their response, saying they have to consider the economic impact of any quarantine measures since the country is under severe U.S. sanctions.
In a separate development, Iran executed one of the alleged ringleaders of a prison break last month, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. It said Mostafa Salimi had been on death row for killing two policemen during a prison riot in 2004.
Around 70 convicts escaped from a prison in the western city of Saqqez on March 27 after fighting with the guards. Iran has temporarily released around 90,000 prisoners, but those held in Saqqez were not among them.
IRNA quoted a local prosecutor as saying authorities had arrested 65 of the escaped prisoners and were still searching for the other nine.


France will recognize State of Palestine: Macron

Updated 6 sec ago
Follow

France will recognize State of Palestine: Macron

PARIS: France will recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday.
“True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine. I will make a formal announcement at the United Nations General Assembly in September,” the French head of state wrote on X and Instagram.
Including France, Palestinian statehood is now recognized by 142 countries, according to an AFP tally, though Israel and the United States strongly oppose recognition.
France would be the most significant European power to recognize a Palestinian state.
“The urgent priority today is to end the war in Gaza and rescue the civilian population,” Macron wrote.
“We must finally build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability and enable it, by accepting its demilitarization and fully recognizing Israel, to contribute to the security of all in the Middle East.”

Former guard says Gaza Humanitarian Foundation contractors opened fire at civilians at aid sites

Updated 24 July 2025
Follow

Former guard says Gaza Humanitarian Foundation contractors opened fire at civilians at aid sites

  • Ex-soldier reveals he saw colleagues using pepper spray, throwing stun grenades at people collecting aid
  • Gunfire, explosions heard in footage from GHF aid center amid reports death toll has passed 1,000

LONDON: Security personnel hired by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation fired at unarmed Palestinian civilians trying to get aid, a former US soldier who worked for the group has said.

The soldier told Israeli TV station Channel 12 there was “no fixing” the GHF system, and that it “needs to be put to an end.”

About 1,000 people are thought to have died trying to obtain aid at four GHF distribution points in Gaza since it took over operations from several UN-backed and affiliated groups in May.

The UN has said that famine threatens hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the enclave, with numerous reports of people unable to get enough food from the GHF.

The unnamed former soldier told Channel 12 via video that he saw security personnel shooting at people in an attempt to move them from a distribution center, “shooting in their direction, shooting at them, shooting at their feet … to get them to leave.”

He also said he had seen a contractor spray “an entire can of pepper spray” into the face of a man on his hands and knees picking up needles, which he said was “lethal.”

In another incident, he saw another contractor throw a stun grenade at a woman waiting for aid.

“This thing hit her and she just drops, just lifeless, collapsed to the ground. It looked like she had been killed,” he added.

The Associated Press previously interviewed two GHF contractors who confirmed stun grenades and pepper spray were regularly used against crowds at aid sites.

In video footage provided by the contractors to the AP of civilians trying to collect aid at a GHF center, the sound of bullets and stun grenades can be heard.
They said that many contractors were often heavily armed while on site, but were frequently unvetted and unqualified for the job. 

The former soldier, who served 25 years with the US military, said the four GHF sites were hard for civilians to reach.

“The sites were not set up in locations, nor were they set up in a way that was conducive to distributing or delivering humanitarian aid to a needy population,” he said. “Most of them don’t have shoes, no water, going through active warzone areas.”

The GHF, backed by the US and Israel, uses private US companies to exclude UN employees from its operations. Israel claims UN-led aid convoys were frequently hijacked by Hamas and other groups in Gaza.

GHF aid centers are based in areas controlled directly by the Israeli military, with international journalists unable to access the sites.

The UN agency for Gaza, UNRWA, has criticized the GHF’s methods, with its chief, Philippe Lazzarini, saying: “The so-called ‘GHF’ distribution scheme is a sadistic death trap. Snipers open fire randomly on crowds as if they are given a license to kill.”

In a statement the GHF told Sky News: “This is a disgruntled former contractor who was terminated for misconduct a month ago. GHF launched an immediate investigation as soon as these allegations were brought to our attention. Based on time-stamped video footage and witness statements, we have concluded that the claims made are categorically false.

“At no point were civilians under fire at a GHF distribution site. The gunfire heard in the video was confirmed to have originated from the IDF, which was outside the immediate vicinity of the GHF site.

“The gunfire was not directed at individuals, and no one was shot or injured. We take the safety and security of our operational sites extremely seriously. When behaviour falls short of our standards, we take action. The contractor seen shouting in the video is no longer part of our operations.

“We remain focused on our core mission — delivering food to the people of Gaza in a safe, direct, and uninterrupted manner, as we have done since launching operations on 27 May. Since then, we have distributed nearly 85 million meals to residents of the Gaza Strip.”


Lebanon’s president urges unity to seize Arab support, pledges no more wars

Updated 24 July 2025
Follow

Lebanon’s president urges unity to seize Arab support, pledges no more wars

  • Grand mufti urges implementation of UN Resolution 1701, opposes new agreements
  • Joseph Aoun commended the collaboration between Mufti Derian and the Druze spiritual leader, Sheikh Aql Sami Abi Al-Mona, during Syria’s Sweida clashes

BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Thursday warned that his country cannot endure another war, stressing that national unity and Arab cooperation are key to Lebanon’s recovery.

“The Lebanese can no longer withstand any additional war,” Aoun said, as he urged leaders to reject divisions and foreign meddling, and instead harness growing regional support to rebuild the nation.

He was speaking to a delegation of prominent Sunni religious leaders headed by Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian at the Republican Palace.

The president condemned what he termed Lebanon’s historical “fatal error” —seeking foreign backing against domestic opponents. “We all saw the devastating consequences of this approach,” Aoun said. “Instead, I want to strengthen partnerships with my brothers and allies domestically to counter external threats, regardless of their source.”

Aoun cited Israel as exemplifying the divide-and-conquer strategy that, he said, Lebanon must resist through internal unity. “Our cohesion confronts this approach and addresses all challenges,” he said.

The president gave reassurances about the country’s future, saying that “Lebanon is secure, and we will not return to warfare rhetoric. Our framework is Lebanon itself, destined only for stability and prosperity.”

Fresh from diplomatic talks in Manama, where Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa on Wednesday announced plans for a permanent diplomatic mission in Beirut, Aoun praised recent interfaith coordination that prevented regional tensions from destabilizing Lebanon.

Highlighting the emerging opportunities for Lebanon’s recovery, his call was to seize the support offered by Lebanon’s regional neighbors.

 “We have tremendous prospects ahead of us. You witness how our Arab brothers are extending their hands and approaching us. We must capitalize on these chances and transform our nation’s circumstances.”

He commended the collaboration between Mufti Derian and the Druze spiritual leader, Sheikh Aql Sami Abi Al-Mona, during Syria’s Sweida clashes, calling it evidence of “elevated national consciousness and profound responsibility.”

The president criticized those “spreading rumors to intimidate citizens against one another,” while celebrating the dual contributions of Lebanon’s Sunni community: internal moderation and affirming Lebanon’s Arab identity.

Aoun praised the community’s sacrifices, noting religious and political leaders who died serving Lebanon, from clerics Sheikh Ahmed Assaf, Mufti Hassan Khaled, and Mufti Subhi Al-Saleh, to prime ministers Riad Al-Solh, Rashid Karami, and Rafic Hariri.

“No individual possesses the power to eliminate another in Lebanon, nor does anyone hold superior merit,” Aoun said. “United, we all serve Lebanon’s interests. Divided, we destroy the entire nation, leaving no protection for anyone.”

Aoun reported significant progress in government reform, claiming achievements unseen in nearly 15 years — recognition he attributed to international observers. While acknowledging the absence of quick fixes, he emphasized making the most of available opportunities.

Addressing corruption — which he identified as Lebanon’s core problem alongside impunity — Aoun vowed continued action. “Corruption recognizes no boundaries of color, sect, or denomination,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Mufti Derian expressed deep concern over the prevailing “fear and anxiety among the Lebanese,” warning that the country is entering a precarious phase during continued Israeli aggression.

He emphasized that UN Resolution 1701, which brought an end to the 2006 war, has been implemented solely by the Lebanese side, while Israel has consistently failed to respect its obligations under the resolution.

The November 2024 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was intended to revive the terms of UN Resolution 1701, which calls for Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territory, a halt to Hezbollah’s military operations near the southern border, and full control of arms by the Lebanese state. But little progress has been made.

“Even the ceasefire that followed was unilateral, respected and implemented only by Lebanon. According to what we are witnessing, new agreements are now being proposed. Let Resolution 1701, which encompasses all relevant matters, be implemented in full, and let new agreements be dispensed with,” Mufti Derian said in a call for international accountability.

He added: “The Lebanese people have endured immense hardship in recent years, facing one crisis after another, and yet they have remained resilient. Today, more than ever, they need to feel the presence of a state that stands to protect them.”

He reaffirmed support for Aoun in upholding the oath of office, “which we regard as a vital gateway to rescuing both Lebanon and its people. In this critical moment, we look to you to help steer the country through uncertainty, as citizens grow increasingly anxious over the prospect of renewed Israeli aggression. We stand behind the Arab consensus, whatever all Arabs agree upon, we support,” Mufti Derian told Aoun.

He praised Aoun’s efforts to restore Lebanon’s influential position in the region, citing his regional visits and the trust he enjoys among Arab and international partners. He also commended the president’s commitment to preserve stability among Lebanon’s diverse communities.

“The voice of moderation and centrism must prevail among all Lebanese,” Derian said, calling for cooperation.

Lebanon is facing mounting international pressure to implement the US plan, which calls for setting a timetable for the process of restricting arms to the state in implementation of the ceasefire agreement.

US Special Envoy Tom Barrack highlighted the issue on Wednesday upon his departure from Lebanon after a three-day visit filled with meetings with Lebanese officials. Barrack confirmed from Beirut airport that “there is no deadline for this, and your neighbors are the ones who set the timetable, not the United States,” referring to Israel.

On the security front, the Central Internal Security Council convened a high-level meeting, bringing together senior military, security, and judicial officials.

Lebanon’s Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar emphasized the importance of sustained field operations, calling for intensified patrols and a reinforced security presence in Lebanese regions to uphold internal stability. He also highlighted the need to strengthen existing measures along the Syrian border to ensure tighter control and enhanced national security.

The Lebanese Army Command announced that army units arrested 78 Syrians at the Assi-Hermel and Chadra-Akkar checkpoints for illegally entering Lebanese territory.

The army also said that an Intelligence Directorate patrol raided the homes of wanted individuals in Beirut’s southern suburbs, specifically in the Bir al-Abed area, and arrested four citizens.


Greece invites Libya to maritime zone talks to ease strained ties

Updated 24 July 2025
Follow

Greece invites Libya to maritime zone talks to ease strained ties

  • The move is aimed at mending relations between the two neighbors
  • Therefore, any communication with Libya was not easy, Mitsotakis said

ATHENS: Greece has invited Libya’s internationally recognized government in Tripoli to start talks on demarcating exclusive economic zones in the Mediterranean Sea, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said late on Wednesday.

The move is aimed at mending relations between the two neighbors, strained by a controversial maritime deal signed in 2019 between the Libyan government and Turkiye, Greece’s long-standing foe, which mapped out a sea area close to the Greek island of Crete.

“We invite — and I think you may soon see progress in this area — we invite the Tripoli government to discuss with Greece the delimitation of a continental shelf and an exclusive economic zone,” Mitsotakis told local Skai television.

Greece this year launched a new tender to develop its hydrocarbon resources off Crete, a move that Libya has objected to, saying some of the blocks infringed its own maritime zones.

Law and order has been weak in Libya since a 2011 uprising that toppled dictator Muammar Qaddafi, with the country divided by factional conflict into eastern and western sections for over a decade.

Therefore, any communication with Libya was not easy, Mitsotakis said. He indicated that Greece was determined to continue talking to both the Tripoli-based government and a parallel administration based in Benghazi.

In recent months, Athens has sought closer cooperation with Libya to help stem a surge in migrant arrivals from the North African country to Greece’s southern islands of Gavdos and Crete and passed legislation banning migrants arriving from Libya by sea from requesting asylum.

In an incident earlier this month, the European Union migration commissioner and ministers from Italy, Malta and Greece were denied entry to the eastern part of divided Libya, shortly after meeting the internationally recognized government that controls the west of Libya.


Israeli lawmakers pass symbolic motion on West Bank annexation

Updated 24 July 2025
Follow

Israeli lawmakers pass symbolic motion on West Bank annexation

  • The bill was passed by a vote of 71 to 13, with 36 other lawmakers absent in the Knesset
  • Some 500,000 Israelis live in settlements in the occupied West Bank, which is home to around three million Palestinians

JERUSALEM: More than 70 Israeli lawmakers passed a motion on Wednesday urging the government to impose sovereignty over the West Bank, though the symbolic move does not affect the Palestinian territory’s legal status.
The non-binding vote in Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, was backed by members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition, as well as some opposition lawmakers.
They said that annexing the West Bank “will strengthen the state of Israel, its security and prevent any questioning of the fundamental right of the Jewish people to peace and security in their homeland.”
“Sovereignty in Judea and Samaria” — the name Israel uses for the West Bank, which it has occupied since 1967 — was “an integral part of the realization of Zionism and the national vision of the Jewish people,” the text stated.
It passed by a vote of 71 to 13, with 36 other lawmakers absent.
Hussein Al-Sheikh, deputy to Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas, said the motion was “a direct assault on the rights of the Palestinian people” that “undermines the prospects for peace, stability and the two-state solution.”
“These unilateral Israeli actions blatantly violate international law and the ongoing international consensus regarding the status of the Palestinian territories, including the West Bank,” he wrote on X.
Some 500,000 Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank, which is home to around three million Palestinians.
Israeli settlement there is regularly condemned by the UN and is considered illegal under international law.
It is seen as one of the main obstacles — along with ongoing violence between the two sides — to a lasting peace agreement through the creation of a viable Palestinian state with authority over the West Bank and Gaza Strip.