Author: Gulf News Week
Christmas returns to Bethlehem with joy and sorrow amid hardships, as Palestinians unite in celebration and resilience.Bethlehem, occupied West Bank – Manger Square and the narrow alleyways that surround it filled with the sound of drums and brass as Bethlehem’s scout troupes marched through in their pristine uniforms.They sang Christmas carols and played traditional Palestinian music, combining a celebration of Christmas with their own national identity.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Christmas joy returns to Bethlehem amid Israeli raids across West Banklist 2 of 3Israeli forces injure dozens in occupied West Bank raidlist 3 of 3Victory against Israeli…
Fewer than 50,000 Christians now live in Palestine, under threat from Israel’s illegal occupation and attacks.Palestinian Christians have gathered at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem for the first time since Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza began in 2023 to celebrate Christmas.Bethlehem’s mayor says the municipality has chosen to restore the city’s festivities after a long period of darkness and silence.At a Christmas market, Safaa Thalgieh, a mother from Bethlehem, told media’s Nida Ibrahim: “Our joy doesn’t mean people are not suffering, have lost their loved ones, or are desperate, but we can only pray that things get better.”…
Syrian officials confirm the arrest of ISIL leader Taha al-Zoubi in a security operation near Damascus.Syria’s Ministry of Interior has announced the arrest of Taha al-Zoubi, a leading figure in the ISIL (ISIS) group, in the Damascus countryside, the country’s SANA news agency reported.The report said a “tightly executed security operation” was carried out that led to the arrest of al-Zoubi, adding that “a suicide belt and a military weapon were seized in his possession”.SANA quoted Brigadier General Ahmad al-Dalati, head of internal security in the Damascus countryside, as saying the raid targeted an ISIL hideout in Maadamiya, southwest of Damascus,…
A lone goal by the Manchester United forward is enough for Ivory Coast to successfully begin their AFCON title defence.Holders Ivory Coast squandered a number of chances, but Amad Diallo’s goal early in the second half was enough to beat Mozambique 1-0 and give them a winning start to their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title defence.In the opening Group F game on Wednesday in Morocco, the Ivorians battled to break down their opponents in a competitive first half but took firm control after the break without converting the many chances they created.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of…
Former Man City forward Riyad Mahrez scores twice in Algeria’s 3-0 win against Sudan in Group E.Captain Riyad Mahrez has scored in each half as 2019 champions Algeria have eased to a 3-0 win over 10-man Sudan in their opening game at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).Mahrez got the opener on Wednesday after just 82 seconds to the delight of the Algerian fans, who made up the vast majority of the 16,115-person crowd at Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Man Utd’s Bruno Fernandes ‘impossible’ to replace, says Amorimlist 2 of…
Iran says UN nuclear watchdog must first define ‘post-war conditions’ following US strikes on its nuclear facilities in June.Iran has rejected calls to allow inspections of nuclear facilities bombed during attacks by the United States in June, saying the United Nations nuclear watchdog must first define “post-war conditions” governing access to sites hit by military attacks.Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting in Tehran on Wednesday, Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation, said Tehran would not permit inspections of facilities struck by the US until the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) establishes a clear framework for such visits,…
The RSF has rejected the plan proposed by Sudanese prime minister, which calls on the paramilitary group to withdraw.Sudanese Prime Minister Kamil Idris on Monday presented a proposal before the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), seeking to end the country’s nearly three-year war that has created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with some 14 million people displaced.The North African nation descended into civil war in April 2023 after a power struggle broke out between Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo.Recommended Stories list of 4…
Libya mourns military chief Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, who was seen as a unifying figure amid deep political divisions.The Libyan army’s Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, has been killed in a plane crash in Turkiye while returning from an official visit to Ankara.Turkish officials said the private aircraft, which was heading back to Tripoli on Tuesday, requested an emergency landing due to an electrical failure just minutes after takeoff, but then lost contact.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Libya: A Voice for Reconciliationlist 2 of 3Donga’s Diary: Libya’s Decade of Warlist 3 of 3Presidents…
Joint IDF–Shin Bet operation targeted two senior Hamas figures involved in funding and weapons production; attack occurred during ongoing truce. JERUSALEM – Israeli forces said on Wednesday they had killed a top Hamas financial officer in a targeted strike earlier this month, revealing details of an operation that also eliminated a senior military commander described as a key planner of the October 7 attacks. Abdel Hay Zaqut, a financial official within Hamas’s armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, was killed on December 13 alongside Raed Saad, who headed Hamas’s weapons production and was seen by Israel as one of the…
Christmas is a story of empire, injustice and the vulnerability of ordinary people caught in its path.Every December, much of the Christian world enters a familiar cycle of celebration: carols, lights, decorated trees, consumer frenzy and the warm imagery of a snowy night. In the United States and Europe, public discourse often speaks of “Western Christian values”, or even the vague notion of “Judeo-Christian civilisation”. These phrases have become so common that many assume, almost automatically, that Christianity is inherently a Western religion — an expression of European culture, history and identity.It is not.Christianity is, and has always been, a…