I’m dreading spending Christmas Day alone while my boyfriend is off galavanting
Ghada Ageel This morning, I opened social media to search for Gaza news. I had to scroll for a while through my newsfeed before seeing the first mention of my homeland. Yet, the news we receive from Gaza through friends, family and social media is no less grim than it was a year ago. Its people continue to cry out for help, hoping the world would hear them. For three months, Dr Hussam Abu Safia, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza, sent appeals for help to the world, as the Israeli army besieged the hospital, cut off supplies, bombarded it, slaughtered people in its vicinity and injured some of the medical staff and patients inside. In a video appeal posted on December 12, Dr Abu Safia lamented: “We are now without any capacity and providing a low-level service. I hope that there are listening ears. We hope that there is a living conscience that hears our plea and facilitates a humanitarian corridor to the hospital so that Kamal Adwan Hospital continues its work to provide services.” But his cries for help fell on deaf ears. The day after Christmas, Israeli bombardment killed a woman at the hospital’s front gate and five medical workers: Dr Ahmed Samour, a paediatrician; Esraa Abu Zaidah, a laboratory technician; Abdul Majid Abu al-Eish and Maher al-Ajrami, paramedics; and Fares al-Houdali, a maintenance technician. Shrapnel shattered the skull of nurse Hassan Dabous inside the hospital, putting his life in danger. Yesterday, Israeli soldiers stormed the hospital and set it on fire, expelling 350 patients and kidnapping Dr Abu Safia and other medical staff. This horrific news barely made a blip in international media; there were no reactions from foreign governments or leading institutions, except a few Middle Eastern states and the WHO. Israel has clearly been successful in normalising its brutal attacks, destruction of Palestinian hospitals, and killing of Palestinian patients and medical staff. There was also no reaction from the world when earlier this month, Dr Said Joudeh, the last remaining orthopaedic surgeon in north Gaza, was assassinated on his way to work at the barely functioning al-Awda Hospital in Jabalia refugee camp. Dr Joudeh was a retired surgeon who felt compelled to return to work because of the desperate shortage of doctors caused by Israel’s targeted killings. Just a week before his murder, he had learned that his son, Majd, had been killed. Despite his grief, Dr Joudeh continued his work. Israel is seeking to eliminate all aspects of civilian life in northern Gaza as part of a policy to depopulate it. For this reason, it is targeting civilian infrastructure across the north and obstructing its functioning. The few medical facilities were the last remaining vestiges of civilian life. Apart from trying to exterminate medical workers, the Israeli army is also systematically blocking civil defence teams and ambulances from saving lives in the north, often hitting and killing them when they try to do so. And it is not just appeals from the north that are being ignored. The whole of Gaza has been stricken by famine as Israel has dramatically decreased the number of humanitarian and commercial trucks entering the Gaza Strip. Hunger is omnipresent and is affecting even those who may have some means to buy food but cannot find any. My cousin, an UNRWA teacher, recently told me about his visit to his sister, who was ill and displaced in Deir el-Balah. While he was visiting, he could not sleep. He had not eaten bread for 15 days, but it was not his own gnawing hunger as a diabetic that kept him up. It was the cries of his sister’s children who begged for just a piece of bread. Desperate to comfort them, my cousin told them story after story until they drifted to sleep. But he remained awake, haunted by their hunger and his own. Apart from food, Israel is also blocking the delivery of much-needed materials to build shelters. Four babies have already frozen to death since the start of this month. Amid the famine and harsh winter, Israeli bombardment of homes and tents of the displaced has not stopped. On December 7, a distant relative, Dr Muhammad al-Nairab, lost his wife and three daughters when the Israeli army hit their home in Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood, west of Gaza City. Two of his daughters, Sally and Sahar, were doctors, helping save lives. They no longer can. When my niece, Nour, a mother of two, reached out to her uncle, Dr Muhammad, to extend her condolences, she found the pain of his loss intolerable. I spoke to her shortly after. Her words pierced through the despair like a scream: “When will the world hear us and see us? When will these massacres matter? Are we not human?” On December 11, another family was hit not far from Dr Muhammad’s home in Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood. That Israeli attack killed Palestinian journalist Iman al-Shanti, along with her husband and three children. Days before her murder, Iman shared a video of herself reflecting on the reality of genocide. “Is it possible for this level of failure to exist? Is the blood of the people of Gaza so cheap to you?” she asked the world. There was no answer. Just like war crimes against Palestinians have been normalised, so has Palestinian death and pain. This normalisation not only silences their suffering but also denies their humanity. Yet for Palestinians, the pain of loss is anything but normal – it lingers, sinking into the soul, raw and unrelenting, carried in the echoes of those they have lost, both inside and outside Gaza. It is a transnational pain, a grief that crosses borders and defies boundaries, binding Palestinians in exile to those enduring the horrors of genocide. In a December 3 social media post, journalist Dayana al-Mughrabi, who is currently displaced in Egypt, captured the unending grief of Gaza’s people: “Our loved ones don’t die once, they die many times after their actual death. A person died the day he died, then he died again the day his watch that I kept on my wrist for years was broken. He died again when the teacup he used to drink from shattered. That person died yet again on the day that reminds us of their actual date of death, and after their burial, when the coffee residue was washed from his last cup, and when I saw someone collecting the rest of his medicine to get rid of it. Those we love continue to die many times – they never stop dying – not a single day.” While this replaying of death happens more than 45,000 times, the world seems ready to move on from Gaza. Fifteen months into this genocide, advocates and activists across the globe are devastated and exhausted by the endless destruction in Gaza and the overwhelming silence and acceptance of it. As a native Palestinian and third-generation Palestinian refugee, despite the indelible marks left on the soul by genocide – marks that time cannot erase – I refuse to lose hope. I am reminded of the words of Czech dissident Vaclav Havel: “Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.” The South Africa case against the apartheid regime at the International Court of Justice and the work of the International Criminal Court are not just significant – they are crucial in establishing Israel’s status as a pariah, one among nations that have sought the eradication of entire peoples. The world must not forget Gaza. Now, more than ever, its cries must be heard and the call for justice must be answered. Courtesy: aljazeeraPlatinum Group Metals Ltd. Reports 2024 Annual Results
JAMES MADDISON and Brennan Johnson were spotted enjoying the darts at Ally Pally following Tottenham's 2-2 draw with Wolves. Ange Postecoglou 's men conceded a late equaliser in North London, before the Australian coach confirmed the players were "hurting". The Spurs players have been given Monday and Tuesday off to recover from a demanding Christmas period - which has seen them play 10 games since November 28. And Maddison and Johnson - who scored Spurs' second goal - took the time to head to the darts to watch the likes of Luke Humphries , Gerwyn Price and Peter Wright. The pair could be seen smiling from their tables as they took in the raucous Ally Pally atmosphere. Maddison, 28, is known as a big fan of the sport - and often mimes throwing a dart after scoring a goal. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL But it has been a difficult time for Spurs following just one win in seven Premier League games. After the match, Postecoglou said: "It hurts me because I'm responsible ultimately. I'm the person in charge. So of course it hurts. "When I see how hard they are trying, it hurts even more because you want them to get a reward and I think today they deserved a reward for their efforts even though they were dipping into their reserves of energy, which I don't even know where they got from. "I wanted them to get a reward for their efforts. Most read in Football CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS READ MORE on all the build-up to the Ally Pally extravaganza... All the info: All the action as it happens in our LIVE BLOG Everything you need to know about the Ally Pally extravaganza How much prize money can be won? What is the format for the tournament ? Who are the Sky Sports presenters and pundits ? News, features and interviews: Mardle to take step back after tragic death of wife Donna Emma Paton reveals rise as Queen of Darts MVG pays tribute to Wayne Mardle's wife Donna Watch Littler hit 180 as Bullseye makes return to TV Littler reveals why he broke down in tears Sosing diagnosed with serious and rare condition after falling ill at Alexandra Palace Barry from EastEnders entertains crowd with singing 'Weird Kettering lad' Ricky Evans wins one of the 'greatest games ever' "It hurts immensely. At the same time it's my responsibility for where we're at right now and it's my responsibility to try to get us out of it." The Spurs boss also explained why he is giving the players two days off. Follow all the action from the World Darts Championship as it happens with SunSport's LIVE blog He added: "It was always planned. We knew this is the first week where we don't have a midweek game, so I think the whole group probably needs a couple of days just to get away from everything and recover. "It'll do them good to have a couple of days to themselves with their families and give them a chance to recover mentally as much as physically." Spurs have now failed to win at home in their last five league games - an unwanted feat not managed since 2008. While seven wins in 19 league games means they are a point nearer to the relegation zone than they are to the top four. Yet Postecoglou still believes his side can achieve something in the league this season. The Aussie, whose team are through to the Carabao Cup semi-finals and still in Europe, added: "I just feel that at some point we'll get a relatively healthy squad and when we do that we'll be able to perform at a high level consistently and we've already shown this year we can beat anyone. "There's a chance there you can go on a run. "But at the moment that's secondary to the first bit, we have to try to get some support for the players - both mentally and physically and in terms of numbers to give them the opportunity to play at their best." Meanwhile, Rodrigo Bentancur is now banned for Saturday’s hosting of Newcastle after a needless foul in stoppage time on Rodrigo Gomes earned him his fifth yellow card of the season. Had he waited a week, the cautions picked up in the first half of the campaign would have been wiped. READ MORE SUN STORIES Postecoglou added: "It was an unfortunate moment, didn't really need to happen and I'd much rather he didn't make that tackle and was available for the next game. "The players are obviously hurting, they want to turn this around and it's not for the want of trying."CATL Launches the Bedrock Chassis That Withstands 120 km/h Impact Without Catching Fire or Exploding
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WOLF DEADLINE NOTICE: ROSEN, SKILLED INVESTOR COUNSEL, Encourages Wolfspeed, Inc. Investors to ...The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has charged state governments policymakers to take advantage of technology to drive economic prosperity in their states. He also urged them to develop policies that would harness competencies of the youth to enable them secure remote jobs. While emphasizing the importance of adopting a strategic mindset and integrating technology into everyday workflows, he urged participants to start with small changes in their own offices and inspire others to adopt strategic approaches to problem-solving. He noted that effective service delivery starts with individual commitment and grows into collective action. He stated this at a capacity building Workshop held at FutureMap Academy, in Hadejia, Jigawa state. The theme of the workshop is “AI for Office Productivity, Design Thinking, Agriculture, Health, Education, Energy, and Climate Change.” The participants included academics, professionals, startup founders, students, government officials, and representatives from non-governmental organizations, Highlighting the need for state policymakers to identify and harness their resources effectively, Inuwa said the large pool of computer science graduates from Jigawa state could be empowered to contribute to the state’s development if equipped with the right skills and opportunities. Sharing his personal experience and journey into digital transformation, explained how local mentors can inspire the next generation to explore careers in technology. He shared the success stories of young Nigerians who transitioned from being workers in organisations to a high-paying remote role with foreign companies. The DG advocated for integrating technology into various sectors, including agriculture, to create diverse employment opportunities. In his remarks, Representative of Huawei, Dr. Nihinlola Mary Fafore, According to her, In partnership with stakeholders, Huawei aims to bridge the digital divide, foster innovation and entrepreneurship, and enhance employability among young Nigerians. She said the initiative is part of Huawei’s efforts to develop a robust tech ecosystem in Nigeria, ensuring that no region is left behind in the journey towards technological advancement.
( MENAFN - EIN Presswire) Book Cover for Eco Reign Debut sci-fi author L. Galuppo explores eerie parallels between real-world drone sightings and her upcoming novel Eco Reign set for release in March 2025 L Galuppo Eco Reign Books email us here Visit us on social media: Instagram TikTok Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above. MENAFN24122024003118003196ID1109028519 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.