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Arab League Sec-Gen: No International Will to Stop Israel's Aggression on Gaza

The Arab League headquarters is seen in Cairo, Egypt (Reuters)
The Arab League headquarters is seen in Cairo, Egypt (Reuters)
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Arab League Sec-Gen: No International Will to Stop Israel's Aggression on Gaza

The Arab League headquarters is seen in Cairo, Egypt (Reuters)
The Arab League headquarters is seen in Cairo, Egypt (Reuters)

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said it was shameful that the Security Council failed to vote in favor of the two resolutions on the situation in Gaza.

Aboul Gheit stressed that the failure embodies a lack of genuine international will to end the Israeli military operation in Gaza despite the flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and the targeting civilians.

On Thursday, the Sec-Gen said the failure to reach a Resolution puts the Security Council's credibility and ability to maintain international peace and security to question.

He revealed that international forces reject a ceasefire and insist on giving Israel a license to destroy the Gaza Strip and target civilians claiming it was "right to self-defense."

Aboul Gheit warned that this situation contributes to the escalation of the conflict and expanding its scope.

The parties that insist on continuing this war, with all the tragedies and disasters it has produced, must review their positions and consider the consequences of granting Israel the green light to engage in killing and destruction, said the Sec-Gen.

The Arab League organized Thursday a session on "Arab Media in the Face of False Israeli Narrative about Gaza," asserting the need to strengthen media presence in support of the Palestinian cause, especially with "the increasing spread of violent speeches inciting hatred and ideological extremism.

The special session of the Arab Media Leaders Forum included the participation of several Arab media leaders and experts.

Speaking at the Forum, the Assistant Sec-Gen and Head of the Media and Communication Sector, Ahmed Rashid Khattabi, affirmed that the "destructive Israeli attacks" on the Gaza Strip have plunged the Palestinian-Israeli conflict into an extremely perilous state.

Khattabi asserted that the attacks underscored the urgent need to seek a political solution for this bitter conflict aimed at achieving a fair and sustainable resolution, the two-state solution, and the Arab Peace Initiative.

"Any delay or inaction in addressing the escalating tensions poses a significant threat to the security and stability of the Middle East region and global peace."

The forum aims to develop an Arab strategy to confront the Israeli narrative of the war.

The Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip has been ongoing since October 7.

"Beneath the tragic images of these brutal attacks on the Gaza Strip, a region already suffering from a severe blockade and ongoing Israeli incursions into the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem, we are witnessing a media war, or more accurately, a propaganda battle waged through social media networks,” Khattabi stated.

He noted Israel's utilization of algorithms and application software to suppress Palestinian content on social media and hinder its dissemination in digital spaces, adding that these efforts extend to elements within Western media that support Israel at the expense of freedoms and rights.

Furthermore, Khattabi cautioned that the situation resulted in the imposition of sanctions or warnings against media figures, influencers, athletes, and artists who sought to make the Palestinian voice heard.

The recent period witnessed criticism of Western media outlets and social networking sites for adopting the Israeli narrative.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) even referred journalists for investigation for showing support for Palestine on their social media accounts.

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Arab World

Lebanon: Four Former Army Generals Questioned as Defendants in Beirut Port Blast Probe

Families of victims of the 2020 Beirut port explosion and ambassadors from several countries commemorate the sixth anniversary of the blast (File photo: AFP). 
Families of victims of the 2020 Beirut port explosion and ambassadors from several countries commemorate the sixth anniversary of the blast (File photo: AFP). 
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Lebanon: Four Former Army Generals Questioned as Defendants in Beirut Port Blast Probe

Families of victims of the 2020 Beirut port explosion and ambassadors from several countries commemorate the sixth anniversary of the blast (File photo: AFP). 
Families of victims of the 2020 Beirut port explosion and ambassadors from several countries commemorate the sixth anniversary of the blast (File photo: AFP). 

The investigation into the Beirut port explosion took a new turn on Wednesday as judicial investigator Judge Tarek Bitar questioned four former Lebanese Army generals as defendants, expanding the scope of legal proceedings ahead of an indictment expected before the end of the year.

The hearing also marked the first attendance of a representative of the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of Cassation, Judge Mohammad Saab.

Those questioned during the lengthy session were former Lebanese Army Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Walid Salman, former Deputy Chief of Staff for Equipment Brig. Gen. Manuel Karjian, former head of the Ammunition Department Brig. Gen. Georges Moussa, and former director of the Equipment Directorate Brig. Gen. Munir Abou Zeid.

Their defense lawyers, lawyers representing the civil claimants and Cassation Advocate General Judge Mohammad Saab attended the hearing.

A judicial source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the officers had been summoned based on a substantive submission prepared by Saab, in which he brought allegations against them over suspicions that they had prior knowledge of the presence of ammonium nitrate at Beirut port.

The source explained that the questioning focused on “the suspicions outlined in the submission, in preparation for further investigation and a determination of the judicial position regarding each defendant, without the allegations necessarily establishing responsibility.”

Judicial Cooperation

Saab’s attendance marked the first time a representative of the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of Cassation had participated in an investigative hearing before Bitar in the case.

It also signaled cooperation between the judicial investigator and the prosecutor’s office, which had previously boycotted Bitar and suspended cooperation with him when Judge Ghassan Oueidat headed the office.

The questioning ended without any decision on whether the four officers would be detained or released, leaving their legal status unresolved.

“Bitar did not issue an arrest warrant against any of them, nor did he decide to release them or require them to sign a residence undertaking, leaving the matter unresolved,” the judicial source explained.

The source did not disclose the content of the officers’ statements or their responses to the allegations.

Previously Questioned Defendants to Be Summoned Again

Bitar’s next steps will extend beyond the four former officers.

According to the same judicial source, the investigator is preparing to summon all those he previously questioned without issuing decisions concerning their cases.

They include former Prime Minister Hassan Diab, former Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk, former General Security Director-General Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim and former State Security Director-General Maj. Gen. Tony Saliba, as well as judges and senior officials.

The move will bring previously deferred decisions back before Bitar as he continues investigating the allegations against the four officers.

The upcoming summonses will involve individuals whose procedural status remains unresolved, making the next round a crucial step in determining the measures to be taken before the indictment is finalized.

Those facing allegations will remain in a state of uncertainty over the judicial measures that await them.

Indictment Expected Before Year-End

Meanwhile, the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of Cassation will prepare a supplementary substantive submission concerning the four officers and forward it to Bitar as soon as possible, according to the judicial source.

The supplementary submission will be added to the case file Bitar is reviewing as he prepares his indictment, taking into account the latest questioning sessions and the statements obtained.

The source stressed that Bitar “is committed to issuing the indictment before the end of this year,” adding that he would soon devote his attention to reviewing the case file and drafting the indictment.

Arab World

Iraqi Investigation Accuses Armed Factions of Manipulating Airport Contracts

 Baghdad International Airport (Archive – Reuters) 
 Baghdad International Airport (Archive – Reuters) 
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Iraqi Investigation Accuses Armed Factions of Manipulating Airport Contracts

 Baghdad International Airport (Archive – Reuters) 
 Baghdad International Airport (Archive – Reuters) 

An Iraqi official source has disclosed suspected irregularities in airport contracts that may have benefited armed groups operating outside the law.

Separately, Kataib Hezbollah accused authorities in Baghdad of selling oil at discounted prices, while an informed source said Iraq had been forced to do so because of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and its lack of an oil tanker fleet.

The official source told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) on Wednesday that the Federal Commission of Integrity was scrutinizing contracts involving the Ministry of Transport and airports and had detected suspected manipulation linked to the financing of armed groups.

Some contracts had been manipulated “for the economic benefit of armed groups operating outside the law,” the source added.

The official did not identify the groups involved, explain the nature of the alleged manipulation or specify how much money was suspected of being directed to them.

The investigation comes amid growing questions about the relationship between the political influence of armed factions and their economic interests, as pressure continues on the Iraqi government to bring all weapons under state control.

The controversy over transport and airport contracts in Iraq recalls the experience of Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport, where Hezbollah’s influence within the airport’s security and administrative institutions has raised questions about the state’s ability to maintain effective oversight of vital facilities.

In Iraq, the influence of armed factions extends beyond their military presence. Groups linked to them hold political roles and positions within state institutions, while investigations into government contracts have raised questions about the extent to which these factions benefit from state resources and public spending.

Escalation Over State Control of Weapons

The disclosure of the investigation came amid escalating tensions between Iraq’s Kataib Hezbollah and the government and the Coordination Framework. The group is demanding the release of a draft agreement that it says the so-called “Islamic Resistance” reached with a Framework committee on placing weapons under state control.

An account on X under the name Abu Mujahid al-Assaf, whose holder identifies himself as a security official in Kataib Hezbollah, said the armed factions were still awaiting a copy of the agreement. He added that they had suspended all military operations inside Iraq until further notice.

Baghdad authorities had not previously announced receiving a copy of any agreement concluded by the factions. However, spokespeople for Shiite parties had disclosed that the groups were negotiating with a four-member committee from the Coordination Framework to reach an agreement on their weapons.

Al-Assaf criticized the government’s performance, accusing it of making promises it had failed to fulfill.

He also questioned oil sales contracts with a regional company, asking whether Coordination Framework members approved of selling oil at discounted prices and sharing the profits.

He claimed the profits exceeded 4.5 trillion Iraqi dinars a month, without providing details or evidence to support the figure. No comment could be obtained from the country’s relevant energy authorities.

An informed political source, however, explained that Iraq was selling oil shipments at discounted prices because of “the shipping crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, the transport and transit risks borne by buyers, and the pressure facing the country because it does not have its own tanker fleet.”

The escalation followed the failure to convene a regular Coordination Framework meeting on Sunday evening because several members were absent, amid continuing disagreements over the allocation of positions and ministerial portfolios in PM Ali al-Zaidi’s government.

Political researcher Falah al-Mishal attributed Kataib Hezbollah’s escalation to several factors, including the Coordination Framework’s approval of measures to close border crossings with Iran, pressure to bring factional weapons under state control, and objections to certain government foreign policy measures.

Al-Mishal told Asharq Al-Awsat that Iraq’s efforts to develop relations with Syria and Jordan, expand ties with the Arab world and honor its agreements with the United States had led Kataib Hezbollah to feel that the Coordination Framework, once its ally, had abandoned its previous commitments and pledges.

Divisions Within the Shiite Camp

Tensions have not been confined to Kataib Hezbollah. Asaib Ahl al-Haq, led by Qais al-Khazali, also criticized armed factions refusing to surrender their weapons, without naming them.

Ahmed al-Moussawi, a senior Asaib Ahl al-Haq figure and member of parliament, told the movement’s Al-Ahd television channel that these factions would produce nothing more than “a resistance with 10 rockets.”

Al-Moussawi questioned whom the factions were resisting, adding that those refusing to surrender their weapons were attacking Asaib Ahl al-Haq but were, in his words, “not worth responding to.”

The exchange of criticism reflects widening divisions within the Shiite political camp, at a time when the Coordination Framework had been expected to consolidate its position following the completion of the government formation process.

Instead, competition over positions and ministerial portfolios, coupled with conflicting interests among its members, has reignited disputes within the alliance and raised questions about its ability to coordinate the positions of armed factions.

Despite the escalating exchanges, security and political affairs expert Fadel Abu Ragheef does not necessarily believe efforts to bring weapons under state control are losing momentum.

Abu Ragheef told Asharq Al-Awsat that the issue “remains on the table as long as there is a final deadline extending into next year.”

He added that “US statements on bringing weapons under state control are increasing pressure on the Iraqi public and putting the government in a difficult position.”

Abu Ragheef also pointed to “cooperation from some factions on this issue, including parties that had previously refused to cooperate,” but warned that the outbreak of a regional war could change the situation.

Arab World

Charity Kitchen Closures Threaten Thousands of Families with Hunger in Khartoum

Women line up ahead of a food distribution (Asharq Al-Awsat). 
Women line up ahead of a food distribution (Asharq Al-Awsat). 
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Charity Kitchen Closures Threaten Thousands of Families with Hunger in Khartoum

Women line up ahead of a food distribution (Asharq Al-Awsat). 
Women line up ahead of a food distribution (Asharq Al-Awsat). 

Thousands of displaced people in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, are struggling to secure a daily meal as dozens of charity kitchens have closed or scaled back operations because of funding shortages, leaving growing numbers of families at risk of hunger.

Al-Sadiq Siddiq, who supervises a charity kitchen in Omdurman, said dwindling donations had forced organizers to reduce the number of meals provided to families.

“We are facing growing difficulties because of a shortage of financial support from donors and benefactors,” he said, warning that conditions were deteriorating as hunger spread among poor and vulnerable communities.

The scramble for food had reached distressing levels, he added, with some people resorting to physical fights over portions of beans or lentils.

“These conditions are pushing more families into hunger and leaving them unable to secure even the minimum amount of food they need,” he stated.

One Meal a Day

Abbas Mahjoub, a supervisor at a charity kitchen in the East Nile area, noted that the facility had served more than 800 families before it closed. Many residents now survive on a single meal a day, unable to meet their basic food needs.

Al-Bukhari Ishaq, who supervised a kitchen in eastern Al-Jarif, said it had shut down more than eight months ago after funding from the East Nile Emergency Response Room, which provided grants to charity kitchens, declined.

Ishaq told Asharq Al-Awsat that dwindling donations and reduced contributions from aid organizations, including the World Food Program (WFP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), had severely undermined the kitchen’s operations.

The facility had provided daily meals to around 400 families, he explained, and its closure deprived hundreds of households of an essential source of food amid worsening living conditions.

Altouma al-Jak, who supports a family of nine, told Asharq Al-Awsat that her grandchildren had dropped out of school because she could no longer afford breakfast, transportation or school supplies, including clothes, shoes, books and notebooks.

“Sometimes days go by when my children don’t have enough to eat,” she said sadly.

Her family had depended on a charity kitchen for food, and its closure amounted to “a slow death,” she explained, particularly as soaring prices had put basic food supplies beyond the reach of many households.

She expressed hope that the war would end and peace would return to Sudan, allowing people to live with dignity.

Hunger Deepens

Salwa Abdullah Adam lost her husband during the war when he was struck by a shell, leaving her solely responsible for seven children, the youngest a nine-month-old baby.

Standing in a long line outside a charity kitchen to collect a simple meal for her children, she described the mounting hardship.

“Life is getting harder day by day,” she remarked.

Her children go to school without spending money and return home to eat whatever corn porridge is available, while the family struggles to meet their daily needs.

Healthcare is another challenge. Adam said charitable doctors sometimes help her obtain medicines for her children from pharmacies, but when adults fall ill, they have little choice but to endure their illnesses and take painkillers.

A Lifeline for Families

Ali Abdullah Youssef faces similar difficulties to other families relying on charity kitchens, locally known as takaya, for their only daily meal.

“Conditions are extremely difficult. Without this charity kitchen, we wouldn’t be able to get food,” he said.

He warned that the closure of such kitchens would leave his family in a desperate situation, with no source of income and living costs continuing to rise.

Accounts from beneficiaries illustrate the hardship caused by the closures, particularly among families that have lost their livelihoods and now depend on meals distributed by charitable initiatives.

The struggle to obtain food comes amid mounting international warnings over Sudan’s worsening food crisis.

On October 26, dozens of countries, including the United States and major European nations, expressed concern over the continued deterioration of food security in Sudan and called on both parties to the conflict to remove all obstacles to humanitarian aid deliveries.

In June, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reported that approximately 5.1 million people in Sudan were facing acute hunger.

The crisis has been compounded by the war that erupted in 2023, which has damaged the agricultural sector and hampered farmers’ ability to harvest their crops, alongside a recent drought.