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Israeli protesters demand early elections, release of hostages

By
IFP Media Wire
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Israel Protest

The protesters, gathered at Horev junction in the city of Haifa, were carrying banners with slogans such as “Elections Now” and “Save the Hostages”.

In the city of Rehovot, dozens of people protested in front of the Weizmann Institute of Science, chanting slogans against Netanyahu, according to the newspaper.

In the coastal town of Caesarea, protesters rallied in the rain before marching toward one of the private residences of Netanyahu. Some were seen calling for the prime minister’s removal, chanting, “Guilty, guilty, guilty!”

And in Tel Aviv, demonstrators gathered at Habima Square to call for immediate elections.

“The government of Israel declares in its actions that it is not competent and that the good of the state and its citizens are not at the top of its mind,” the protesters said in a statement.

“We will go out to demonstrate that our future depends only on us – we the people will determine our destiny!,” they added.

Israelis have been protesting almost daily, demanding early elections and the release of hostages in Gaza, but major demonstrations are held on Saturdays.

Israeli officials estimate that there are around 136 hostages still held in Gaza since Hamas launched an attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Palestinian resistance factions, led by Hamas, captured around 250 people in towns and cities near Gaza and last November exchanged dozens of them with Israel during a seven-day humanitarian pause.

In return, Palestinian prisoner institutions reported that Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners from its jails during the pause, including 71 women prisoners and 169 children.

Israel launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7 that killed at least 27,200 Palestinians and injured 66,500 following a surprise attack by Hamas. Nearly 1,200 Israelis are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attack.

The Israeli offensive has left 85% of Gaza’s population internally displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Ex-Pakistan’s PM, wife get 7-year jail for marriage law violation

By
IFP Media Wire
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Imran Khan

The civil court, set up inside the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi city where Khan is imprisoned, delivered the sentence on Saturday in the presence of the couple. It also slapped a fine of a million rupees ($3,560) on them.

The case against the couple was filed last year by Bibi’s former husband Khawar Maneka, who alleged that his divorced wife did not observe the necessary three-month break required under Islamic law before remarrying Khan.

Maneka claims he divorced his wife in November 2017. Khan announced his third marriage with Bibi in February 2018, months before he became the prime minister.

It is Khan’s third conviction this week – and a second for his wife – in advance of general elections on Thursday.

On Tuesday, Khan, along with his close aide Shah Mehmood Qureshi, was sentenced to 10 years in jail for leaking a confidential cable – called cypher – sent by a former Pakistani ambassador to the United States.

Khan claimed the document contained evidence that the Pakistani military, in collusion with his political opponents and US officials, conspired to have him removed from power in April 2022. Washington and the Pakistani army have denied the charge.

A day later, Khan and Bibi were sentenced to a 14-year imprisonment and fined 1.5 billion rupees ($5.3m) in a case related to the illegal sale of gifts they received when Khan was the prime minister.

Bibi has been put under arrest at Khan’s Islamabad residence.

Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari, an official belonging to Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, told Al Jazeera the haste with which the judgments against Khan were passed made a “mockery of the law”.

“The way these trials are being conducted leaves a huge question mark on the February 8 elections. This is a test case for Pakistan’s higher judiciary,” he added, calling the marriage case “fake” and questioning the judiciary for taking it up.

“In a way, it’s a victory for Imran Khan. It proves that every other charge on him is also false, hence such ridiculous cases and sentences are being slapped on him. It also shows that while other countries are concentrating on economic progress, this is the level that we are operating at here,” he continued.

PTI President Gohar Ali Khan said the marriage law trial was “shameful” and the verdict was “expected”. He stated the party will appeal the sentencing in a higher court.

The series of convictions against Khan have cast a long shadow on the February 8 elections, which Khan is barred from contesting. The vote is also being held amid a severe crackdown on the PTI, which has also been barred from using its election symbol, forcing its candidates to contest as independents.

Yet, most surveys continue to show Khan as the country’s most popular leader.

Iraq says US attacks killed at least 16, including civilians

By
IFP Media Wire
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Us Attack Syria Iraq

The attacks in the Akashat area and the town of Al-Qaim, close to the border with Syria, including sites “where our security forces are stationed, alongside nearby civilian places”, the government statement said, calling it “aggression against Iraq’s sovereignty”.

Local authorities in Anbar province said the air raids targeted sites used by militias known as Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) or Hashad al Shaabi, including a PMU military base in the Akashat and houses used as weapon warehouses in Al-Qaim.

According to the mayor Rutba, Emad Al-Dulaimi, most killed and wounded in the Akashat area are PMU fighters.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stated the US informed the Iraqi government of its plans before carrying out the strikes. But the Iraqi government has denied that claim, stressing the United States is “misleading international public opinion”.

The US side “intentionally engaged in deception and distortion of facts, stating coordination with Iraqi authorities for the perpetration of this aggression—an unfounded claim crafted to mislead international public opinion and evade legal responsibility for this condemned act, in violation of international laws,” the statement read.

The government statement added such attacks “will push the security situation in Iraq and the region to the brink of the abyss, jeopardizing ongoing efforts to establish the necessary stability”.

Iraq has also summoned the US Chargé d’Affaires in Baghdad in the wake the air strikes.

“In protest against the American aggression that targeted Iraqi military and civilian locations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will summon Mr. David Bircher, the Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in Baghdad,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It continued that this is “due to the absence of the American Ambassador, to deliver an official protest note regarding the American aggression that targeted military and civilian locations in the areas of Akashat and Al-Qaim on the evening of last Friday, February 2, 2024”.

Iran FM to UN envoy: US attacks on Iraq, Syria result of “failed, wrong” policy

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
Iran FM and UN envoy

Hossein Amirabdollahian made the remarks in a meeting with the UN secretary general’s special envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg in Tehran on Saturday.

The two sides discussed the latest developments in the region, with their focus being on the Yemen issue.

Amirabdollahian underlined that the military approach of the US government, especially the attacks of the US and Britain against Yemen and Washington’s move to put Yemen’s Ansarullah movement on its so-called terrorist list, has made the situation more complicated and also made it difficult to find a political solution to the issue.

He also condemned the recent US attacks against targets in Syria and Iraq, saying the aggression is the result of the country’s continued wrong and failed approach to solving problems by resorting to force and militarism.

Referring to Iran’s continued support for establishing lasting peace and security in Yemen, Amirabdollahian stressed that efforts to establish stability throughout the region will benefit all regional countries.

The UN secretary general’s special envoy for Yemen, in turn, appreciated the Islamic Republic of Iran’s commitment to stability and security in the region, especially Yemen.

Grundberg presented a report on the efforts of the UN to restore peace in Yemen and reduce tensions in the country.

The UN chief’s special envoy for Yemen further underlined the necessity of resolving regional crises by using regional capacities.

AFC Asian Cup 2023: Iran eliminate Japan after late penalty by Jahanbakhsh

By
IFP Media Wire
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Iran Football Team

With the match tied at 1-1 and headed to extra time, Iran won a penalty in the fourth minute of added time and Jahanbakhsh stepped up to blast the ball into the top corner, drawing a loud roar from the Iranian fans in the arena.

When the final whistle blew, the Iran bench emptied onto the pitch and an emotional Jahanbakhsh dropped to the turf in relief while many players wept tears of joy.

Iran, who are seeking a record-tying fourth Asian Cup title, had not beaten Japan in 19 years while their victory also extended Amir Ghalenoei’s unbeaten streak to 16 matches since he took charge in March.

Iran will find out their semi-final opponents later on Saturday when defending champions Qatar take on Uzbekistan. Jordan play South Korea in the other semi-final.

After a cagey start to a physical contest, Japan had taken the lead through Hidemasa Morita who made a run past four defenders before beating Alireza Beiranvand in goal to silence the Iran fans in the stadium.

But the volume went up when Iran equalised 10 minutes into the second half with a sublime move where Sardar Azmoun played the ball through to Mohammad Mohebi, who ran around his marker before slipping his shot past Suzuki into the bottom corner.

Japan had dominated possession in the first half but it was Iran who controlled proceedings after the equaliser as they initiated wave after wave of attacks and the pressure finally paid off in second-half added time.

Japan’s Ko Itakura made a mess of a clearance in the 94th minute and as he tried to recover, he tripped Hossein Kanani in the box and the referee immediately pointed to the spot, with Jahanbakhsh converting to whip their fans into a frenzy.

Iran slams US attacks on Iraq and Syria as strategic mistake

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Nasser Kanaani

He said the strikes were in violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Iraq and Syria as well as international law, and a blatant breach of the UN Charter.

“Not to mention the United States’ all-out support for 4 months of relentless and brutal attacks by the Zionist regime against residents of Gaza and the West Bank as well as military strikes against Yemen and the violation of this country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, last night’s attack on Syria and Iraq was yet another adventurous move and strategic mistake by the U.S. government, which will have no result other than the escalation of tensions and instability in the region,” he explained.

Kanaani said the United States’ military attacks on Iraq, Syria and Yemen simply ensure the Zionist regime’s interests, adding, “Such strikes embroil the U.S. government in the region more than ever before and overshadow the Zionist regime’s crimes in Gaza.”

The spokesman once again warned against the danger of war and conflict spreading across the region, adding the continuation of such adventurous moves pose a threat to regional and international peace and security.

He said the Islamic Republic of Iran once again stresses the responsibility of the international community and the United Nations Security Council in preventing the United States’ illegal and unilateral attacks in the region and stemming the spread of the crisis.

“As the Islamic Republic of Iran has announced time and again, tensions and crises in the region are rooted in the Israeli regime’s occupation and perpetuation of this regime’s military operations in Gaza and the genocide against Palestinians with unlimited support from the United States, and that stability and security cannot be restored to the region without focusing on the root cause of the crisis and its settlement,” he added.

Nearly half of Israelis favor elections immediately after Gaza war: Poll

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Israel Protest

Israeli daily Maariv reported on the survey results published Friday, saying 45% of respondents would prefer to go to direct elections once a cease-fire is achieved in the enclave.

The newspaper noted that 28% of the respondents prefer to keep the political situation as it is, while 17% said they prefer expanding the government to include the Yair Lapid-led party, Yesh Atid, and the Yisrael Beiteinu party led by Avigdor Lieberman. The rest of the respondents did not have a specific opinion.

The latest poll, conducted by Lazar Institute on a random sample of 511 Israelis with an estimated error rate of 4.3%, revealed that if elections were to be held that day, Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party would lose nearly half of its current 32 seats in the Knesset, the country’s parliament.

Meanwhile, the National Unity Party, led by Benny Gantz, would obtain 38 seats compared to its current 12 seats, with the opposition securing a total of 69 seats against 46 held by parties supporting the government.

The poll revealed that only 32% of respondents “believe that Netanyahu is the most suitable for the premiership, while 49% said that the War Cabinet Member Gantz is more suitable for the position”.

Forming a government in Israel requires obtaining the confidence of at least 61 members of the Knesset.

Disagreements within the Israeli government are escalating between ministers supporting Netanyahu’s policies on the country’s onslaught on Gaza and others trying to push for a deal to ensure the return of hostages held by Palestinian group Hamas in the enclave.

Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by Hamas which Tel Aviv says killed 1,200 people.

More than 27,000 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 66,000 injured, according to Palestinian health authorities.

The Israeli offensive has left 85% of Gaza’s population internally displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure was damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Iran mission confirms military advisor killed in Israeli raid on Syria

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
Syrian People in Damascus

“A Zionist terrorist group violating international regulations and Syria’s sovereignty launched a missile strike on a residential neighborhood on the outskirts of Damascus, killing a military advisor of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” announced the Iranian Embassy in Syria.

The Israeli regime attacked numerous areas south of Damascus from the direction of the Golan Heights on Friday, wrote the mission on X social media platform on Friday night.

It added that the Zionist regime should wait for a response to “its crime.”

Upon an official request by Damascus, the Islamic Republic of Iran has deployed its military advisors in Syria to help its government fight terrorist groups like remnants of Daesh.

According to media reports, the Iranian military advisor with the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike on the southern outskirts of the Syrian capital Damascus early Friday.

The IRGC advisor, Saeed Alidadi, was a member of the Quds Force’s Holy Shrines Defenders in the south of Damascus to help the Syrian government in its anti-terror operations,

Israeli warplanes launched the aerial strikes on several locations in Sayyidah Zeinab district, causing material damage, the Syrian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The Israeli regime has upped the ante against Iranian forces in recent weeks.

Prominent IRGC Commander Razi Mousavi was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike in Syria on December 24.

Syrian military says US raid killed civilians, soldiers, caused “significant damage”

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Syria

“[The United States] launched a blatant air aggression against a number of sites and towns in the eastern region of Syria, and near the Syrian-Iraqi border, which led to the martyrdom of a number of civilians and soldiers, the injury of others, and the infliction of significant damage to public and private property,” the Syrian Ministry of Defense said in a statement early Saturday.

Syria’s state-run news agency SANA reported the airstrikes hit the areas of Deir Ezzor, Al-Bukamal, and Al-Mayadeen as well as their surroundings on the Syrian-Iraqi border.

The Syrian foreign ministry has also warned that the US strikes that targeted various locations in Iraq and Syria late on Friday “fuel the conflict in the Middle East in a very dangerous way.”

“[Syria] condemns this blatant American violation [and] it categorically rejects all the pretexts and lies promoted by the American administration to justify this attack,” it announced in a statement on Saturday.

The US announced it conducted major airstrikes on 85 targets across seven locations in Iraq and Syria on Friday in response to a drone strike by militants on a US military outpost in Jordan on Sunday, which killed three US service members and wounded more than 40 others.

Earlier on Friday, Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims, the director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated there will “likely be casualties” from the strikes in Syria and Iraq.

In a statement issued on Friday, President Joe Biden said he personally ordered the Pentagon’s response to last weekend’s deadly drone strike on a Jordanian military base housing US troops.

“Our response began today,” Biden stated, adding that retaliatory strikes would continue “at times and places of our choosing.”

US defense chief Lloyd Austin has also warned that the latest round of strikes is just “the start of our response”, adding that “the president has directed additional actions”.

Informed source: U.S. strikes in Iraq, Syria to have grave consequences for American forces

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
US Air Force

“We condemn the United States’ aggression [against Iraq and Syria] and reject the lies based on which those attacks took place,” said an informed security source at the Iranian Military Advisors’ Headquarters in Syria in an interview with a local news outlet.

The United States on Friday began a new bombing campaign in the Middle East aimed at what it called punishing Iran and affiliated militia groups for a series of drone and missile attacks on American military bases in the region.

“This attack will have serious repercussions for American forces in the region and will trigger further reactions to aggressive behavior,” Tehran-based Fars News Agency quoted the source as adding.

“The governments and nations of these two countries have never accepted, and will never accept the occupation of, and aggression against their territories,” said the same source.

“The Islamic Resistance in Iraq will undoubtedly and even more firmly move forward with its decision to counter the U.S. occupation to help Palestine,” the source said.
“We emphasize once again that Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and [its] Qods Force have no headquarters, base, garrison and facilities in Syria and Iraq. The United States’ claim is untrue and misleading, and this is something patently obvious,” the source noted.

“Resistance groups’ preventive measures in Iraq and Syria prevented the damage initially expected to be inflicted as a result of these strikes,” the source said.

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