Author: Gulf News Week

Bethlehem lights tree after two years, mixing hope with sorrow amid Gaza war and economic hardship from Israeli siege.Bethlehem, occupied West Bank – For the first time in two years, the Christmas tree in Bethlehem lit up the night sky, restoring a glimmer of joy to the birthplace of Jesus after seasons overshadowed by Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.Palestinians watching the lighting said the celebration carried a dual meaning: Hope in the Nativity and a yearning for freedom from the Israeli siege gripping Bethlehem and cities across the occupied territory.At the same time, residents say the celebrations remain dimmed by the…

The World Food Programme’s Carl Skau says the fighting is stopping aid from reaching millions in desperate need.Sudan faces a “massive” humanitarian aid crisis, with millions of starving people being denied access to vital food supplies as fighting rages in the war-torn country, the World Food Programme (WFP) has warned.WFP Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau told media on Sunday that his organisation was assisting 5 million people across the nation, including 2 million in hard-to-reach areas, but it was not enough.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4RSF alleges SAF forces struck crucial border crossing in Sudan near Chadlist…

Germany is Israel’s second-largest arms supplier, fifth-largest export partner, and one of its staunchest supporters.German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is visiting Israel for the first time since taking office in May.His visit comes just days after Germany decided to lift a three-month suspension on arms exports to Israel that it said could be used in the Gaza Strip.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3The rise of global boycotts against Israel’s genocide in Gazalist 2 of 3‘Unlawful’: Rights group decries Germany lifting arms embargo on Israellist 3 of 3Berlin shutdown of pro-Palestine conference was unlawful, court rulesend of listMerz, who…

Syrians gathered to celebrate days before the December 8 anniversary, which will mark the day the capital was liberated.Damascus, Syria – Around Damascus’s Umayyad Square, children leaned out the windows, waving Syria’s green, white and black flag as fireworks burst in the sky.December 8, the anniversary of liberation for the capital and the country as a whole, was two days away, but crowds had already begun to gather in the square.Nearby, standing alone and watching the festivities, stood Abu Taj, 24. Ten years earlier, he had left his home in the Aleppo countryside when his house was destroyed in fighting…

Palestinians hope first Christmas tree lighting ceremony in three years will encourage tourists to return to the city, which has been undergoing a severe economic crisis.Between Israel’s genocidal war on people in Gaza and near-daily Israeli assaults on Bethlehem and other cities across the occupied West Bank, Palestinians have endured great suffering over the past two years. They have had little to celebrate, and for the past years, all public Christmas celebrations were cancelled.But Saturday brought a glimmer of hope to the crowds who gathered in Bethlehem’s Manger Square, outside of the Church of the Nativity, to watch the Christmas…

At least seven Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks as military pushes deeper beyond truce demarcation line.An elderly woman and her son were among at least seven Palestinians killed in the latest Israeli attacks in Gaza, as the military continues to operate across the “yellow line” ceasefire demarcation.Health officials reported the killings on Saturday in Beit Lahiya, Jabalia, and Zeitoun, including a 70-year-old woman and her son, who were hunted down and killed by a drone in Gaza City.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Arab, Muslim nations reject Israel exit-only plan for Gaza’s Rafah crossinglist 2 of 3Gaza ceasefire…

Syrian president accuses Israel using pretexts to justify military actions across the region as he commits to holding elections within the next five years.Doha, Qatar – Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa accused Israel of stoking regional tensions to divert attention from the “horrifying massacres” it has committed in Gaza.Speaking to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Saturday during the Newsmaker Interview at the Doha Forum, al-Sharaa said Israeli leaders “often exports crises to other countries” as they increasingly invoke security pretexts to expand military action.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Israeli attacks on Syria: What happened, who did Israel claim it…

Conservative influencers are playing a central role in a new campaign of weaponising Islamophobia.Qatar is not a big country, but lately it occupies an astonishing amount of space in the imagination of a growing ecosystem of far-right influencers, pseudo-journalists, pro-Israel think tanks and dubious analysts. According to them, Qatar is orchestrating various global conspiracies.Two figures illustrate this pattern quite well. Laura Loomer, a US-based influencer who acts as an unofficial loyalty enforcer for US President Donald Trump, has reinvented herself as an expert on “Qatar infiltration” and the Muslim Brotherhood. In recent months, Loomer has tweeted about Qatar approximately twice per…

Qatar’s PM, Turkish FM speaking at Doha Forum urge urgent progress to next phase as Gaza truce violations mount.Doha, Qatar – Qatar’s prime minister has warned that the Gaza ceasefire is at a “critical moment” and could unravel without rapid movement towards a permanent peace deal, as Turkiye’s foreign minister also cautioned that the process could lose momentum.Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani told the Doha Forum on Saturday that what exists on the ground amounts to merely a “pause” in hostilities rather than a genuine ceasefire.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Trump gets FIFA’s new…

Arrests made after President Aoun met UNSC delegation, which will visit south to get ‘real picture’ of what is going on.The Lebanese army arrested six people after gunmen attacked international peacekeepers patrolling in the south of the country, as a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) delegation was to embark on a visit to the zone.The army said in a statement on Saturday that its intelligence directorate had detained six Lebanese suspects in connection with Thursday’s attack, which saw six men riding on three mopeds opening fire on a UN peacekeepers’ patrol vehicle without hurting anyone.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist…