Tunisia Court Upholds 18-month Sentence for Presidential Candidate Zammel

A poster of imprisoned presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel is displayed at the entrance of his electoral headquarters on September 16, 2024, in Tunis, ahead of presidential election. (Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP)
A poster of imprisoned presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel is displayed at the entrance of his electoral headquarters on September 16, 2024, in Tunis, ahead of presidential election. (Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP)
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Tunisia Court Upholds 18-month Sentence for Presidential Candidate Zammel

A poster of imprisoned presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel is displayed at the entrance of his electoral headquarters on September 16, 2024, in Tunis, ahead of presidential election. (Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP)
A poster of imprisoned presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel is displayed at the entrance of his electoral headquarters on September 16, 2024, in Tunis, ahead of presidential election. (Photo by FETHI BELAID / AFP)

A Tunisian appeal court on Thursday upheld an 18-month prison sentence handed down to presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel, his lawyer said, two days before the vote is held.

Zammel, who has been in prison for a month, is one of three candidates running for the presidency, along with current President Kais Saied and politician Zouhair Maghzaoui.

Tunisians head to the polls Sunday.

Fourteen hopefuls were barred from joining the race, after election organizers ruled they had failed to provide enough signatures of endorsement, among other technicalities.
Some have been jailed after being convicted of forging signatures.



Israel Says it Killed Senior Hamas Leader in Gaza Airstrike 3 Months Ago

Israeli soldiers take cover during a missile attack next to the border with Gaza, near Sderot, southern Israel, 09 October 2023 (reissued 02 October 2024). EPA/ATEF SAFADI
Israeli soldiers take cover during a missile attack next to the border with Gaza, near Sderot, southern Israel, 09 October 2023 (reissued 02 October 2024). EPA/ATEF SAFADI
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Israel Says it Killed Senior Hamas Leader in Gaza Airstrike 3 Months Ago

Israeli soldiers take cover during a missile attack next to the border with Gaza, near Sderot, southern Israel, 09 October 2023 (reissued 02 October 2024). EPA/ATEF SAFADI
Israeli soldiers take cover during a missile attack next to the border with Gaza, near Sderot, southern Israel, 09 October 2023 (reissued 02 October 2024). EPA/ATEF SAFADI

The Israeli military said Thursday that it killed a senior Hamas leader in an airstrike in the Gaza Strip around three months ago.

It said that a strike on an underground compound in northern Gaza killed Rawhi Mushtaha and two other Hamas commanders, Sameh Siraj and Sameh Oudeh.

There was no immediate comment from Hamas.

The military said the three commanders had taken refuge in a fortified underground compound in northern Gaza that served as a command and control center.

It said Mushtaha was a close associate of Yahya Sinwar, the top leader of Hamas who helped mastermind the Oct. 7 attack into Israel that triggered the war.

Sinwar is believed to be alive and in hiding inside Gaza.