Israel Demolishes Yasser Arafat's Gaza Residence

Side of the destruction of Yasser Arafat’s house in Gaza (Facebook page of the Palestinian Culture Ministry)
Side of the destruction of Yasser Arafat’s house in Gaza (Facebook page of the Palestinian Culture Ministry)
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Israel Demolishes Yasser Arafat's Gaza Residence

Side of the destruction of Yasser Arafat’s house in Gaza (Facebook page of the Palestinian Culture Ministry)
Side of the destruction of Yasser Arafat’s house in Gaza (Facebook page of the Palestinian Culture Ministry)

The Palestinian Culture Ministry on Thursday announced that Israel has destroyed the house of former Palestinian President Yasser Afarat in the Gaza Strip.
Culture Minister Atef Abu Saif said in a press release, “The occupation's targeting and destruction of the residence of the martyr and founding leader Yasser Arafat in Gaza is a continuation of its relentless assault,” according to Reuters.
Abu Saif said the Israeli attack was to “remove the symbols of dignity and the struggle of our people.”
At the same time, the Ministry shared photos on its official Facebook page showing the extent of damage in the house, where Arafat resided from 1995 to 2001.
The Israeli army did not comment on the incident as the war on Gaza enters its 140th day. The Israeli offensive started on October 7 after Hamas stormed across Gaza’s borders into Israel, killing about 1,200 Israelis.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said Monday that since the attack, Israel's assault in Gaza has killed more than 29,000 Palestinians.
Abu Saif emphasized that Arafat's residence “holds the personal and family belongings of the eternal leader and has witnessed numerous significant moments in our people's history during his presence in Gaza at the inception of the Palestinian Authority.”
“The house also contains exhibits showcasing various stages of Arafat's life, detailing his struggle and dedication to the freedom of his people, alongside other artistic works.”
“The house, with its historical significance and location, will remain a testament to pivotal moments in our history, while the occupation's acts of demolition serve as further evidence of its brutality,” Abu Saif asserted.
He continued, “The assault on Palestinian cultural heritage during the ongoing war on Gaza, including historical structures, mosques, churches, cultural centers, heritage sites, museums, libraries, publishing houses, and universities, is consistent with the occupation's destructive values and policies.”
Arafat passed away in 2004 after relocating his headquarters from Ramallah to France for medical treatment. He was laid to rest in the headquarters square in Ramallah, where he had remained since 2002.

 

 

 

 



Iraqi Oil Minister: Kurdistan Region's Oil Exports to Resume Next Week

A view shows the al-Shuaiba oil refinery in southwest Basra, Iraq April 20, 2017. Reuters
A view shows the al-Shuaiba oil refinery in southwest Basra, Iraq April 20, 2017. Reuters
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Iraqi Oil Minister: Kurdistan Region's Oil Exports to Resume Next Week

A view shows the al-Shuaiba oil refinery in southwest Basra, Iraq April 20, 2017. Reuters
A view shows the al-Shuaiba oil refinery in southwest Basra, Iraq April 20, 2017. Reuters

Oil exports from the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region will resume next week, Iraq's oil minister said on Monday, resolving a near two-year dispute as ties between Baghdad and Erbil improve.
The oil flows were halted by Türkiye in March 2023 after the International Chamber of Commerce ordered Ankara to pay Baghdad damages of $1.5 billion for unauthorized pipeline exports by the Kurdistan Regional Government between 2014 and 2018.

"Tomorrow, a delegation from the Ministry of Oil... will visit the Kurdish region to negotiate the mechanism for receiving oil from the region and exporting it. The export process will resume within a week," Oil Minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani told reporters.

According to Reuters, he added that Baghdad would receive 300,000 barrels per day from the region.

Erbil-based Rudaw TV earlier cited Kurdistan's natural resources minister, Kamal Mohammed, as saying oil exports could resume before March as all legal procedures have been completed.

The Iraqi parliament approved a budget amendment this month to subsidize production costs for international oil companies operating in Kurdistan, a move aimed at unblocking northern oil exports.

The resumption is expected to ease economic pressure in the Kurdistan region, where the halt has led to salary delays for public sector workers and cuts to essential services.