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Israel has revoked 200 permits for Palestinians from Gaza to work in Israel after a worker was accused of planning to carry out a bomb attack, the internal security agency Shin Bet said in a statement on Thursday.
The Shin Bet said the suspect was identified as a 31-year-old resident of the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, who was arrested on October 30.
In his interrogation, he confessed that he was sent by Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian armed group, to plant an explosive device on an Israeli bus in southern Israel, according to the Shin Bet.
He was trained in preparing IEDs by an explosives expert in the Gaza Strip, and began operating to collect materials for assembling a bomb during his entries into Israel, the Shin Bet said, adding that the materials were seized during his arrest.
Following the incident, the Shin Bet said it decided to cancel 200 permits for Gaza workers who have militant family members. ■
Kenyan security forces said Monday they had detained an al-Shabab suspect who had planned attacks in coastal Lamu county.
Police said Mustafa Khalib Muhumed, a resident of Tana River county, was arrested for providing confidential information to al-Shabab to facilitate its operations in the northeast, Tana River and Lamu counties.
"He (Khalib) was also tasked with reporting on security operations in the northeast and Lamu county to facilitate al-Shabab improvised explosive device (IED) attacks and ambushes against security personnel. of Kenya," police said in a security report.
The coastal cities of the East African nation are the backbone of the country's thriving tourism industry, which has been plagued by fears of terror attacks and the kidnapping of foreigners by the al-Shabab group at resorts. near the border with Somalia.
According to police, at the time of his arrest, the suspect had just delivered a detailed surveillance report on a security facility for an attack. ■
- An improvised explosive device (IED) detonated on the road to Timbuktu, Mali, on Monday morning injured three UN peacekeepers, a UN spokesman said.
"The UN condemns the attack and wishes the peacekeepers a speedy recovery," said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Blue helmets assigned to the UN mission in Mali, known as MINUSMA, were in a convoy near the town of Douentza, in the Mopti region.
The mission, which suffers a high casualty rate, is also harassed mainly by Western countries withdrawing their forces from MINUSMA.
The spokesman said that the UN headquarters is aware of the withdrawals and some speculation about them in recent days.
"For some of the countries, this is something that has been discussed for a while and the timing of the deployments was already planned," he said. "For others, it is clear, of course, that Mali has very particular security challenges. We appreciate the sacrifices that people have made because so many peacekeepers have lost their lives."
"So we understand your concerns," Haq said, adding that MINUSMA "is assessing the impact of the withdrawals and planned withdrawals on our operations, and we are already in discussions with several countries to fill any gaps." ■
Pakistan's army has killed two terrorists during an operation in the Kech district of the country's southwestern Balochistan province, the army said in a statement.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistan's army, said security forces launched an intelligence-based operation on Friday night in the Balor area in the Hoshab region of Kech district. .
According to the ISPR, the operation was launched against the terrorists linked to shooting incidents against security forces and civilians and the placement of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on the roads.
"As a result of continuous intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance of the area, the location of the terrorists was identified and security forces were dropped in with helicopters," the ISPR said, adding that two terrorists were killed in the exchange of fire after that they started shooting. on security personnel.
The ISPR said a cache of weapons and ammunition, including IEDs, from the terrorists was discovered, and security forces remain determined to thwart attempts to sabotage Balochistan's peace, stability and progress. ■
A steep rise in civilian casualties in Somalia, due largely to attacks by the Al-Shabaab armed group, has exacerbated an already grim human rights and humanitarian situation for the people of Somalia, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said Monday.
According to the latest UN figures, at least 613 civilians have been killed and 948 injured so far this year – the highest number since 2017 and more than a 30 percent rise from last year.
Most of the casualties, 315 killed and 686 injured, have been due to Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), at least 94 percent of which were attributed to Al-Shabaab.
Other casualties have been caused by State security forces, clan militia and other unidentified actors.
“This year has brought an abrupt halt to a general decline in deaths and injuries documented since 2017,” said Türk.
“I am deeply concerned that more Somalis continue to lose their lives on a daily basis.”
“All parties to the conflict must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and ensure that civilians are protected.
This also includes armed elements engaged alongside the Government in the conflict against Al-Shabaab, as well as international forces.”
“I call on the Government of Somalia to take all necessary steps – in cooperation with the international community – to strengthen the protection of civilians, in line with international human rights norms and standards and international humanitarian law,” the High Commissioner added.
Other casualties have resulted from Al-Shabaab suicide bombings, the most recent of which was on 29 October near the Ministry of Education in the capital Mogadishu, and left at least 121 people dead and 333 injured, according to Somalia’s Ministry of Health.
Most of the casualties were civilians.
An earlier Al-Shabaab attack on Mogadishu’s Hayat Hotel on 21 August killed at least 22 civilians and injured 30.
In addition to the deliberate targeting of civilians, latest information gathered by the United Nations Human Rights Office indicates that in recent months Al-Shabaab has destroyed numerous wells and poisoned another in the Hiraan region, at a time when Somalis are facing extreme hardship due to drought in many parts of the country.
Al-Shabaab also destroyed part of the riverbank of the Shabelle river, houses, a bridge, the disabling telecommunication antennas and 11 schools.
“Such wanton destruction is reprehensible, particularly given the difficult humanitarian situation, with the consecutive failure of five rainy seasons and large-scale displacement in the country,” Türk said.
“Deliberately targeting civilians and destroying, as such, objects indispensable to the civilian population constitute war crimes under international law.
They must stop.”
The UN Human Rights Chief also stressed the crucial need for accountability for gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law – key to prevent the fuelling of vicious cycles of violence.
On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the suicide bombing in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on 14 October 2017, the United Nations today joined the people and government of Somalia in remembering the victims and survivors of the deadly attack.
“Time may have passed, but the widespread pain caused by this horrific attack remains, and our thoughts are with those who lost family and friends, as well as those who were injured,” said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia.
, James Swan. “The United Nations stands firm with all Somalis in its tireless efforts to end terrorism and move Somalia forward on its path to peace and stability,” he added.
The 2017 attack, which killed more than 500 people and injured more than 300, ranks as the deadliest terrorist bombing in Africa, involving the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Amid ongoing troop rotations in Mopti, female peacekeepers serving in the Pakistani contingent reflect on their many accomplishments with pride.
Pakistan is one of the countries that has served the most troops and police in UN peacekeeping operations.
However, in Mopti, Central Mali, this contingent brings much more than just troops: having built a state-of-the-art military hospital from scratch, Pakistani peacekeepers also provide vital medical assistance for Blue Helmets from each contingent who are injured while serving.
in the line of duty, as well as Malian civilians and members of the Malian Security and Defense Forces (MDSF).
Inside the Level 2 hospital, a key logistical asset for MINUSMA, Pakistani women take pride in being at the forefront of urgent medical and surgical care, reflecting their country's long-standing commitment to championing the role of women in promoting of sustainable peace and security.
A Challenging Context Lt. Col. Ambreen EHSAN and Maj. Farah Javed FAROOQI, part of the pioneering team that built this innovative field medical facility, describe the honor they feel in serving humanity by serving their country.
“Pakistan has played a leading role, especially in military medical services, and has maintained high standards of medical services for peacekeepers as well as war-affected civilians,” explains Lt. Col. Ambreen EHSAN.
This is no small thing in the extremely volatile security environment in Mali. The United Nations Peace Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) is one of the most dangerous places in the world for Blue Helmets.
Since the Mission was founded in 2013, more than 250 MINUSMA peacekeepers have lost their lives while trying to bring lasting peace to the West African nation.
Blue Helmets not only continue to be the deliberate target of armed terrorist groups, but also regularly face threats posed by landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), causing life-threatening injuries that the Pakistani medical contingent is the first to try.
Maj Farah Javed FAROOQI emphasizes that “a challenging environment like this has really chiseled and honed our professional effectiveness in terms of providing medical care in the field, in terms of safely evacuating casualties from the field to medical facilities and then providing assistance.
for Save lives.
medical and surgical care in our hospital.
In hindsight, our professional effectiveness and skills were tested over and over again; however, we overcame all challenges and played an important role in keeping the peace.” A Strong Commitment to Health and Peace Since 1960, Pakistan has contributed more than 200,000 service men and women to 46 UN missions around the world.
The nation's commitment to peace is evident and Lieutenant Colonel Ambreen EHSAN makes it clear that this is part of his ethos.
"Since the inception of Pakistan, the nation has been trying to support the oppressed nations of the world."
Maj Farah Javed FAROOQI agreed, chiming in that "our founding ancestor Muhammad Ali Jinnah said 'our goal must be inner peace and outer peace, this is what we fight for here and beyond the borders of our country.
Throughout their year-long deployment, both women Blue Helmets have embodied these core values for their nation and have played a central role in building lasting peace in Mali. From managing casualties to managing emergencies doctors, their work has earned them the respect and trust of their patients and fellow peacekeepers The best and the brightest The Pakistan Army selects the best officers and soldiers to send on the many peacekeeping missions which it contributes troops to, so the Mopti military hospital's success in terms of customer satisfaction is no surprise First-time peacemaker Maj Farah Javed FAR OOQI admits that she leaves fully conscious due to the overwhelming response of gratitude towards her team's performance, both from patients and visiting dignitaries.
"Nothing makes you happier and more fulfilled than treating and bringing smiles to the faces of people who have suffered and who have been hurt, physically and mentally."
Lt. Col. Ambreen EHSAN agrees.
"Establishing a hospital from the ground up and building and maintaining international standards for patient care and achieving full patient satisfaction has been our honor and pride."
Despite their enthusiasm to return to their families after more than a year of rewarding service in central Mali, the duo admit that a certain amount of sentimentality set in on the eve of their departure.
Recalling her first peacekeeping experience in Mali, Maj Farah Javed FAROOQI describes his stay as unforgettable.
“It is a beautiful land, a land carpeted in red, with beautiful people, big giving hearts and soft language, and we have been made to feel trusted enough to give them the best care we could in our professional capacity.”
Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo has given reason for Saturday’s security raid at Eke-Ututu Market in Orsu Local Government Area.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that security operatives raided and burnt some shops in the market after materials for Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were allegedly uncovered in the place.
Addressing newsmen on the development at the Government House in Owerri on Wednesday, Uzodimma said that bandits operating in the area use the IEDs to fight security operatives.
He said that a Major in the Nigerian Army on duty around Orsu Awo-idemmili died last month from an explosion from the device.
“Last Saturday, a joint security force, which arrested a bandit, took him after his confession to guide them to where they operate from and manufacture the explosives.
“It turned out to be Eke-Ututu Market.
“They discovered four shops where fertilisers, ammonium sulphate and electrical gadgets used in manufacturing explosives were packed,” the governor said.
He said the Captain, who led the operation, together with another officer, was currently lying critical at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri.
He further said that the soldiers recovered all the weapons and fertilisers used by the bandits to manufacture IEDs.
“In the process, they burnt down shops and this is consistent with our policy.
“However, they were so tactful that no innocent life was lost.
“They were able to destroy all the shops, where the items were stored,” Uzodimma said.
He expressed concern that rather than visit the scene to ascertain the true situation of event, opposition candidates preferred to condemn the activities of security agencies.
He said that some were so brazen to blackmail the security agencies, questioning why they should go there at all.
He said that traders were not allowed into the market “without paying taxes to unknown gunmen.
“These are illegitimate taxes to enable people to open their shops.
“This is what we have been fighting all through,” he said.
Uzodimma said that his administration would stop at nothing in the fight against terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping in the state.
“It is not politics.
It is about the security of lives and property of our people,” he said.
According to him, the state government will continue to support security agencies to work efficiently.
The governor, who expressed regrets over the “collateral damage” suffered during the raid, promised to replace and rebuild the market.
“So, when Eke-Ututu Market is destroyed to give Imo peace, the Government will also rebuild it.
“If in the process, there are innocent traders who lost their items, government will work out a compensation for them.
“But government has a responsibility to fight crime,” Uzodimma said.
He urged community leaders, residents and visitors with useful information on the bandits’ hideouts to volunteer it to help in their arrest.
The governor said that the operation was exclusively executed by a combined team of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Police.
He said that contrary to speculation, “no local vigilante, called Ebubeagu, joined in the operation”.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Burkinabé peacekeeper receives UN Woman Police Officer of the Year award
Burkinabé peacekeeper receives UN Woman Police Officer of the Year award
Award
By Busayo Onijala
Lagos, Aug. 31 Chief Warrant Officer Alizeta Kinda of the Burkina Faso National Police has received the United Nations Police Officer of the Year award.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the award is given yearly, to a woman police officer currently serving in a United Nations peace operation for exceptional performance.
The award, which was presented to Kinda on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the third UN Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS), was co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Canada and Norway.
It was monitored by NAN via the UNWebTV.
Mr Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations said the award was granted to Kinda for her service to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).
According to him, MINUSMA is one of the difficult and dangerous missions.
Lacroix said it was a mission in which it was often very difficult to reach women and girls to give support and information regarding their rights in order for them to become better aware of their needs.
“Chief Warrant Officer Kinda and her team have devoted themselves to this difficult task by organizing, as it was, information sharing sessions, that allowed them to reach more than 1000 women.
“Her efforts were very important to create an environment of trust that allowed victims to find themselves or feel that they could trust in the process that allowed them obtain support.
”
Lacroix noted that the Women, Peace and Security Agenda stressed the need to accelerate efforts to achieve gender parity,.
He said that achieving parity was not about just numbers but mostly about enabling women and men to have a fully equal and meaningful role in the workplace.
“By serving as a role model, and as a leader for her fellow police officers and members of the community, Officer Kinda is really an inspiration to all of us and her work shows what can be accomplished when we support and empower women police officers,” Lacroix said.
NAN also reports that Kinda currently serves as a gender focal point with MINUSMA.
Her efforts to promote and improve understanding of gender, child protection and human rights issues in Menaka have led to increased reporting of cases of sexual and gender-based violence to the Malian Security Forces.
In her remarks, she expressed gratitude to the UN for recognizing and valuing her work in MINUSMA beyond her expectations.
“I am pleased that despite the terrorist threats, the IED and rocket attacks, the efforts of my colleagues and myself are receiving accolades and I am happy that I have invested in contributing to women’s capacity building.
“During my deployment, I observed that women in Mali did not always feel independent and autonomous, especially in areas outside Bamako, so I set myself the personal goal of changing that.
”
According to her, she developed and implemented a project to help 50 local women make and sell eco-friendly bags.
This, she said, allowed them to pay for their children’s school fees, as well as medical expenses, with the support of the Human Rights section.
Kinda noted that together with her colleagues, workshops and conferences were organized for boys and girls to raise awareness on the attitudes and behaviors necessary to be protected from dangers in their daily activities.
“We focused on the importance of keeping girls in the school system in a sustainable manner, the value of joining the ranks of the Malian security forces as well as the harms of early marriage.
“With this knowledge, I sincerely hope that the younger generations of Menaka are better equipped to contribute to the fight against sexual and gender based violence, advocate for the school education of the girl and understand the importance of the presence of women in the Malian security forces.
“This award makes me a UN ambassador for peace and promotion of gender.
I promise to hold the torch high by continuing to honour the UN through my work and my daily commitment,” she said
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Troops have neutralised two combatants of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its Eastern Security Network (ESN) along Ekeututu-Ihitte-Nansa Road in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo.
The Director Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement in Enugu on Wednesday, said that the members of the proscribed group were taken out by the joint security forces on Tuesday.
Nwachukwu said that the security personnel were drawn from 34 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army, Obinze, near Owerri in Imo.
He said that others were drawn from the Nigerian Navy, Air Force and other security agencies within the South-East.
He said: “The troops encountered the dissidents while carrying out a raid operation around the general area of Orsu, Ihitte, Ukwa and Ihitte-Nansa.
“The neutralised members had taken position to launch one of their primed rocket launchers, when they were engaged and taken out by the vigilant troops.
“The fearless troops were unhurt, as Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) deployed by the irredentists exploded at Ekeututu Market, destroying some of the shops in the market.
“Ekeututu Market has recently become a flash point as dissidents often ambush troops, using explosives and firearms from within and around the market, while troops are on routine patrol.
”
The army spokesman said that after the incident, the Explosive Ordnance Device (EOD) team recovered several IEDs planted along the road as well as locally fabricated rocket launchers.
According to Nwachukwu, troops will continue to ensure that there is no safe haven for all criminal elements operating around Orsu and Orsumoghu areas of Imo and Anambra respectively.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
