Category: Foreign Affairs

GAZA: Roughly 800,000 people have been forced to flee Rafah since Israel launched a military operation in the area on 6 May, the head of UN Palestine refugee agency UNRWA said on Saturday in a renewed appeal for greater protection of civilians in Gaza, safe humanitarian access and, ultimately, a ceasefire.

‘Once again, nearly half of the population of Rafah or 800,000 people are on the road,’ Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini wrote in post on the social media platform X. formerly Twitter.

He said that following evacuation orders demanding people to flee to so-called safe zones, people mainly went to the middle areas in Gaza and Khan Younis, including to destroyed buildings.

‘The claim that people in Gaza can move to ‘safe’ or ‘humanitarian’ zones is false. Each time, it puts the lives of civilians at serious risk,’ Lazzarini stated.

‘Gaza does not have any safe zones,’ he added. ‘No place is safe. No one is safe.’

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI: The UAE is following with deep concern media reports on the tragic accident of the helicopter carrying the Hon. Dr Ebrahim Raisi, President of Iran, His Excellency Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a number of officials.

In a statement, Saif Mohamed Al Zaabi, UAE Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran, expressed his sincere wishes of success to the search and rescue operation, and extended his prayers for the well-being of the Hon. President and H.E. Amir-Abdollahian, and their accompanying delegation.

Furthermore, Al Zaabi emphasised the UAE’s position of standing in solidarity with the neighbouring Iranian nation in light of these critical circumstances.

Al Zaabi stressed that the embassy has received instructions and directives from the wise leadership of the UAE to assist Iran, and to be immediately available to support in every possible way the search and rescue operations.

Source: Emirates News Agency

CAIRO: Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry Friday said that all land crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip must be opened for full, safe, and unhindered access of humanitarian and relief aid into the strip.

Shoukry made the remarks in a phone call with Sigrid Kaag, the United Nations Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

During the call, the two sides discussed the humanitarian fallout of the Israeli military operations in Rafah.

Source: Emirates News Agency

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) General Secretariat is closely monitoring reports regarding the Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his accompanying delegation Helicopter hard landing.

In a statement, the OIC Secretary-General, Hissein Brahim Taha, expressed solidarity and support to Iran in this difficult time.

Iran State Television said that the helicopter made a “hard landing” on its way back from East Azerbaijan Province, where President Raisi participated in the inauguration ceremony of a joint dam between Iran and Azerbaijan, with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev.

Iran’s Interior Minister, Ahmad Vahidi, told State Television that the unstable weather conditions are hampering efforts to reach the location of the helicopter.

Iranian news agency (IRNA) reported that President Raisi, as well as Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and some other officials, were among the passengers of the helicopter.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, said Sunday that citizens must not be worried because the management of the country will not be interrupted, following news of the incident with the Iranian president, Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter.

Iranian state television quoted Khamenei as saying in his first response to a major helicopter accident, along with his accompanying delegation, “The Iranian people do not worry. There will be no disruption in the country’s affairs.” Earlier on Sunday, the Iranian president participated in the inauguration ceremony of a joint dam between Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, in the presence of his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev. On his way back, the helicopter transporting Raisi had experienced a “hard landing,” according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Sunday that they are closely monitoring with concern reports regarding the helicopter incident of the Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi, and his accompanying delegation.

In a statement, the ministry expressed on behalf of the State of Kuwait best wishes and safety of the Iranian President and his accompanying delegation.

The ministry affirmed its support for Iran in this delicate circumstance.

Source: Kuwait News Agency