Hezbollah’s deputy chief speaks in first address after Nasrallah’s killing

Hezbollah’s deputy chief speaks in first address after Nasrallah’s killing
An image grab taken from Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV shows deputy chief Naim Qassem delivering a speech from an undisclosed location on September 30, 2024.(AFP)
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Updated 30 September 2024
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Hezbollah’s deputy chief speaks in first address after Nasrallah’s killing

Hezbollah’s deputy chief speaks in first address after Nasrallah’s killing
  • Naim Qasim appears in televised speech, telling Lebanese to be “reassured, victory is our ally”
  • This is Qassem's first speech since Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in Israeli airstrike

RIYADH: Lebanon’s Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qasim appeared in a televised speech on Monday, telling Lebanese to be “reassured, victory is our ally, we need a bit of patience”

In his speech Qassem vowed to fight on, saying the group was prepared for a long war in his first speech since the leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed, and addeed that the group would choose a new secretary-general based on the mechanism within Hezbollah.

Qassem’s speech on Monday comes days after Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli strike on Friday.

Qassem added that despite the killing of Hezbollah’s top military commanders over the past months, Hezbollah was now relying on new commanders.

“Israel was not able to affect our (military) capabilities,” Qassem said.

“There are deputy commanders and there are replacements in case a commander is wounded in any post.”

Israel has in recent days escalated its attacks on Lebanon and the intensifying Israeli bombardment over two weeks has killed a string of top Hezbollah officials.

Hezbollah’s deputy leader vowed to continue fighting Israel and said the militant group was prepared for a long war after much of its top command was wiped out, including its leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

In his speech Qassem said that if Israel decided to launch a ground offensive, Hezbollah fighters are ready to fight and defend Lebanon.


Palestine Action wins bid to challenge UK ban under anti-terrorism laws

Palestine Action wins bid to challenge UK ban under anti-terrorism laws
Updated 20 sec ago
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Palestine Action wins bid to challenge UK ban under anti-terrorism laws

Palestine Action wins bid to challenge UK ban under anti-terrorism laws
LONDON: The co-founder of a pro-Palestinian campaign group on Wednesday won her bid to bring a legal challenge against the British government’s decision to ban the group under anti-terrorism laws.
Huda Ammori, who helped found Palestine Action in 2020, asked London’s High Court to give the go-ahead for a full challenge to the group’s proscription, which was made on the grounds it committed or participated in acts of terrorism.
Palestine Action has increasingly targeted Israel-linked companies in Britain, often spraying red paint, blocking entrances or damaging equipment. It accuses Britain’s government of complicity in what it says are Israeli war crimes in
Gaza.
Earlier this month, the High Court refused Ammori’s application to pause the ban and, following an unsuccessful last-ditch appeal, Palestine Action’s proscription came into effect just after midnight on July 5.
Proscription makes it a crime to be a member of the group, carrying a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.
Judge Martin Chamberlain granted permission for Ammori to bring a judicial review, saying her case that proscription amounted to a disproportionate interference with her and others’ right to freedom of expression was “reasonably arguable.”
Dozens of people
have been arrested
for holding placards purportedly supporting the group since the ban, and Ammori’s lawyers say people expressing support for the Palestinian cause have also been subject to increased scrutiny from police.
However, Britain’s interior minister Yvette Cooper has said violence and criminal damage have no place in legitimate protest and that Palestine Action’s activities – including breaking into a military base and
damaging two planes
– justify proscription.
Israel has repeatedly denied committing abuses in its war in Gaza, which began after Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel from Gaza on October 7, 2023.

Algeria to resume Lebanon flights in mid-August

Algeria to resume Lebanon flights in mid-August
Updated 8 min 59 sec ago
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Algeria to resume Lebanon flights in mid-August

Algeria to resume Lebanon flights in mid-August
  • Announcement comes after Algerian-Lebanese summit in Algiers
  • Discussions will be held on establishing a maritime line between his country and Tripoli to enhance industry and commerce, says Algerian president

BEIRUT: Air Algerie has announced the resumption of flights to Beirut, starting on Aug. 14.

The announcement follows an Algerian-Lebanese summit between the countries’ presidents, Joseph Aoun and Abdelmadjid Tebboune, held in Algiers on Tuesday.

Algeria’s Tebboune confirmed he had issued instructions for Air Algerie to resume flights to Beirut, with two weekly flights starting within the next two weeks. Tickets are already on sale through the airline’s commercial offices and website.

Tebboune also said discussions would be held on the establishment of a maritime line between Algeria and the port of Tripoli, in northern Lebanon. The link would aim to boost industry and commerce, especially during the country’s reconstruction phase.

He pledged “unwavering support to Lebanon” in the area of renewable energy, including the construction of solar power plants.

“Agreements covering financial, economic and cultural cooperation will be signed in the near future,” Tebboune said during a joint press conference with Aoun following the summit.

Aoun said: “Lebanon aspires to enter every brotherly Arab country and every Arab home with love and brotherhood. We do not interfere in the affairs of our brothers, nor do they interfere in ours —except to support what is in the best interest of each of us and for all our nations, in a spirit of full respect and genuine cooperation.”

On Tuesday, Tebboune awarded Aoun the Order of National Merit, Athir class, the highest honor Algeria can bestow upon heads of state. It was presented “in recognition of the relations of brotherhood and mutual understanding, and the historically significant positions shared between Algeria and Lebanon.”

The summit included bilateral talks which resulted in “important decisions to activate cooperation and strengthen relations between the two countries in various fields.”

A joint statement said discussions focused on reconstruction efforts following extensive damage caused by Israeli attacks on Lebanon, during which the Lebanese delegation presented a detailed memorandum outlining the country’s reconstruction needs.

During a press conference with Aoun, Tebboune reiterated Algeria’s commitment to Lebanon’s security and stability. He also highlighted efforts at Security Council level to stop Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty and to support the UN resolution to renew the mandate of UNIFIL.

The summit also saw a decision to “activate the political consultation mechanism between the two countries, which has been held once since 2002, and to announce assistance in the field of renewable energy, the construction of solar power plants, and other areas.”

The Algerian president confirmed the need to expedite the convening of the first session of the Algerian-Lebanese Joint Committee as a new starting point and a driving framework for effective, sustainable cooperation.

Aoun said Arab solidarity was essential for Lebanon’s strength.

“I have great hopes of rescuing my country from imminent dangers and restoring a state with all its attributes, chief among them full, undiminished and exclusive sovereignty over its entire territory and all its people,” he said.

Aoun praised Algeria’s “steadfast support for Lebanon,” adding it “has consistently been present in Arab efforts to help Lebanon overcome its crises and resolve its internal and external conflicts.”

As part of the summit, Lebanese Minister of Information Paul Morcos and Algerian Minister of Communication Mohamed Meziane signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening media cooperation between the two countries.

On the second day of his visit, Aoun visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa in Bab El Oued district. The church, perched on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean, was the first Catholic church in Africa in the name of the Virgin Mary. Designed by French architect Jean-Eugene Fromageau, it was completed in 1872.

Aoun left a message in the church’s guest book that said: “It is no surprise that the Virgin Mary inspires a culture of coexistence, dialogue and mutual respect among civilizations and religions in Algeria. For Christians, she has always been a mother, an intercessor, and a symbol of love and devotion. Few things capture the nobility of this historic cathedral’s message, standing for a century and a half as a witness to humanity’s journey in Algeria, better than the words engraved upon it: ‘Our Lady of Africa, pray for us and for the Muslims’.”

Aoun also visited the Great Mosque of Algiers, locally known as Djamaa El-Djazair, where Sheikh Mamoun Al-Qasimi spoke to him about the religious values and true meanings of Islam, which he said included moderation and openness toward other religions.

The Great Mosque of Algiers is the largest mosque in Africa. Its main prayer hall can accommodate 32,000 worshippers and the entire complex, including the courtyard and outdoor areas, can host up to 120,000 people. It is the world’s third-largest mosque after the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah.

In 2021 it received the International Architecture Award from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum for Architecture and Design and the European Center for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

Aoun also left a note in the mosque’s guest book that said: “The Great Mosque of Algiers undoubtedly fosters a spirit of coexistence, tolerance, and moderation. These values resonate throughout Algeria, in the heart of its people, and in the soul of all visitors.”


UAE president commends UK prime minister on statement to recognize Palestinian state

UAE president commends UK prime minister on statement to recognize Palestinian state
Updated 30 July 2025
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UAE president commends UK prime minister on statement to recognize Palestinian state

UAE president commends UK prime minister on statement to recognize Palestinian state
  • Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahya, Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasize need for just, lasting peace between Israelis, Palestinians through 2-state solution

LONDON: UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan discussed with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer the developments in the Middle East, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and their commitment to enhancing regional security and stability.

During the call on Wednesday, the two sides emphasized the need for a just, lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians through a two-state solution in order to promote stability and a better future for the region.

He praised the British prime minister’s statements on Tuesday on recognizing the state of Palestine in the upcoming UN General Assembly in September.

Sheikh Mohammed called for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to help residents in the Palestinian coastal enclave.

The two leaders also discussed cooperation and ways to enhance ties between Abu Dhabi and London in various sectors.


US envoy Witkoff expected in Israel

US envoy Witkoff expected in Israel
Updated 26 min 53 sec ago
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US envoy Witkoff expected in Israel

US envoy Witkoff expected in Israel
  • The US news site Axios reported that Witkoff would set off Wednesday
  • Witkoff has been involved in indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas

JERUSALEM: Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, is expected to visit Israel soon, a senior Israeli official told AFP on Wednesday.

The US news site Axios reported that Witkoff would set off Wednesday but the Israeli official could not confirm this.

Witkoff has been involved in indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire deal in Gaza, which broke down last week when Israel and the US recalled their delegations from talks in Doha.

Netanyahu announced the following day that Israel, together with its US allies, was “considering alternative options to bring our hostages home.”


Israeli minister hints at annexing parts of Gaza

Israeli minister hints at annexing parts of Gaza
Updated 30 July 2025
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Israeli minister hints at annexing parts of Gaza

Israeli minister hints at annexing parts of Gaza
  • The comment by security cabinet member Zeev Elkin came a day after Britain said it would recognize a Palestinian state in September

JERUSALEM/CAIRO: Israel could threaten to annex parts of Gaza to increase pressure on the militant group Hamas, an Israeli minister said on Wednesday, an idea that would deal a blow to Palestinian hopes of statehood on land Israeli now occupies.

The comment by security cabinet member Zeev Elkin came a day after Britain said it would recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes steps to relieve suffering in Gaza and reaches a ceasefire in the war with Hamas.

France, which said last week it will recognize a Palestinian state in September, and Saudi Arabia issued a declaration on Tuesday, also backed by Egypt, Qatar and the Arab League, outlining steps toward implementing a two-state solution. As part of an end to the Gaza war, they said Hamas “must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority.”

Israel has denounced moves to recognize a Palestinian state as rewarding Hamas for its October 2023 attack that precipitated the war.

POSSIBLE ULTIMATUM TO HAMAS

Accusing Hamas of trying to drag out ceasefire talks to gain Israeli concessions, Elkin told public broadcaster Kan that Israel may give the group an ultimatum to reach a deal before further expanding its military actions.

“The most painful thing for our enemy is losing lands,” he said. “A clarification to Hamas that the moment they play games with us they will lose land that they will never get back would be a significant pressure tool.”

Mediation efforts aimed at reaching a deal that would secure a 60-day ceasefire and the release of remaining hostages held by Hamas ground to a halt last week, with the sides trading blame for the impasse.

Israel is facing mounting international pressure over the situation in Gaza, where a global hunger monitor has warned that a worst-case scenario of famine is unfolding. The Gaza health ministry reported seven more hunger-related deaths on Wednesday, including a two-year-old girl with an existing health condition.

MONSTROUS’

Families of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza appealed for no recognition of a Palestinian state to come before their loved ones are returned.

“Such recognition is not a step toward peace, but rather a clear violation of international law and a dangerous moral and political failure that legitimizes horrific war crimes,” the Hostages Family Forum said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said Britain’s decision “rewards Hamas’ monstrous terrorism.” Israel made similar comments last week after France’s announcement.

Two Hamas officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the demand for the group to hand its weapons to the PA, which now has limited control of parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Hamas has previously rejected calls to disarm, while Israel has ruled out letting the PA run Gaza.

Netanyahu said this month he wanted peace with Palestinians but described any future independent state as a potential platform to destroy Israel, so control of security must remain with Israel.

His cabinet includes far-right figures who openly demand the annexation of all Palestinian land. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Tuesday that reestablishing Jewish settlements in Gaza was “closer than ever,” calling Gaza “an inseparable part of the Land of Israel.”

AID GOING IN, BUT NOT ENOUGH

A two-year-old girl being treated for a build-up of brain fluid died overnight of hunger, her father told Reuters on Wednesday.

“Mekkah, my little daughter, died of malnutrition and the lack of medication,” Salah Al-Gharably said by phone from Deir Al-Balah. “Doctors said the baby has to be fed a certain type of milk...but there is no milk,” he said. “She starved. We stood helpless.”

The deaths from starvation and malnutrition overnight raised the toll from such causes to 154, including at least 89 children, since the war’s start, most in recent weeks.

On Sunday the Israeli military announced steps to ease the supply of food into Gaza, including daily pauses in military operations in some areas and corridors for aid.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the United Nations and its partners had been able to bring more food into Gaza in the first two days of pauses, but the volume was “still far from enough.”

“Most aid is still being offloaded by crowds before reaching where it is supposed to go. But market monitoring shows prices for basic goods are starting to drop – which could point to better operating conditions if aid flows further increase,” it said in an update.

The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked communities in southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking another 251 hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

Since then, Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip has killed more than 60,000 people and laid waste to much of the territory, the Gaza health ministry says.