Middle East & North Africa

Human rights groups urge UN not to adopt IHRA anti-Semitism definition which weaponises criticism of Israel

05 Apr 2023; MEMO: 60 human rights organisations have urged the United Nations not to adopt the controversial and inaccurate definition of anti-Semitism created by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), over concerns that it would be weaponised to suppress any criticism of Israel.

Arab League condemns Israel crimes at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa

05 Apr 2023; MEMO: The Arab League, on Wednesday, called on the UN Security Council to intervene to halt Israeli "crimes" at the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in Occupied East Jerusalem, Anadolu News Agency reports.

In a statement issued following an emergency meeting in Cairo, the Arab League condemned Israeli assaults against worshipers inside Al-Aqsa complex.

Yemen Called For Int’l Support To Tackle Landmine Crisis

ADEN, Apr 5 (NNN-YPA) – The Yemeni government, yesterday requested immediate international assistance, to tackle the country’s grave landmine crisis that poses a major hurdle to restoring stability.

On the occasion of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, the Yemeni government warned of the grave threat posed by landmines and unexploded ordnances, as the conflict in the country enters its ninth year.

Israeli Police Clashed With Palestinian Worshippers In Al-Aqsa Mosque

RAMALLAH, Apr 5 (NNN-WAFA) – Israeli police raided Al-Aqsa Mosque, in Jerusalem’s Old City, and clashed with dozens of Palestinian worshippers last night, after the latter barricaded themselves in the mosque ahead of the eve of Passover, Israel Radio reported.

There were injuries during the clashes that broke out in the mosque and some other neighbourhoods in the old city, according to media reports.

Top Saudi, Iranian diplomats to meet in China, say media, officials

RIYADH, April 5 (Reuters) - The top envoys for Saudi Arabia and Iran will meet in Beijing on Thursday, an Iranian official and a Saudi-owned newspaper said, as the two regional rivals work to hash out next steps of their diplomatic rapprochement amid a China-brokered deal.

The meeting between Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amirabdollahian, will be the first formal meeting between Saudi Arabia and Iran's most senior diplomats in more than seven years.

Palestine: Israel launches airstrikes on Gaza in response to rocket firing

GAZA, April 5 (Xinhua) -- Israel on early Wednesday carried out intensive airstrikes on military facilities in the Gaza Strip in response to rockets fired from the Palestinian enclave, Palestinian and Israeli sources said.

Security sources in Gaza said that the airstrikes targeted two military posts of the armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement of Hamas in southwest and central Gaza Strip.

The posts suffered severe damage with no injuries reported.

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