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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)
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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.

 

 

 

 

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Italy Plans to Return Ambassador to Syria to Reflect New Diplomatic Developments, Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
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Italy Plans to Return Ambassador to Syria to Reflect New Diplomatic Developments, Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)

Italy plans to send an ambassador back to Syria after a decade-long absence, the country’s foreign minister said, in a diplomatic move that could spark divisions among European Union allies.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, speaking in front of relevant parliamentary committees Thursday, announced Rome’s intention to re-establish diplomatic ties with Syria to prevent Russia from monopolizing diplomatic efforts in the Middle Eastern country.

Moscow is considered a key supporter of Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has remained in power despite widespread Western isolation and civilian casualties since the start of Syria’s civil war in March 2011.

Peaceful protests against the Assad government — part of the so-called “Arab Spring” popular uprisings that spread across some of the Middle East — were met by a brutal crackdown, and the uprising quickly spiraled into a full-blown civil war.

The conflict was further complicated by the intervention of foreign forces on all sides and a rising militancy, first by al-Qaida-linked groups and then the ISIS group until its defeat on the battlefield in 2019.

The war, which has killed nearly half a million people and displaced half the country’s pre-war population of 23 million, is now largely frozen, despite ongoing low-level fighting.

The country is effectively carved up into areas controlled by the Damascus-based government of Assad, various opposition groups and Syrian Kurdish forces.

In the early days of the conflict, many Western and Arab countries cut off relations with Syria, including Italy, which has since managed Syria-related diplomacy through its embassy in Beirut.

However, since Assad has regained control over most of the territory, neighboring Arab countries have gradually restored relations, with the most symbolically significant move coming last year when Syria was re-admitted to the Arab League.

Tajani said Thursday the EU’s policy in Syria should be adapted to the “development of the situation,” adding that Italy has received support from Austria, Croatia, Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Cyprus and Slovakia.

However, the US and allied countries in Europe have largely continued to hold firm in their stance against Assad’s government, due to concerns over human rights violations.