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Arab World

Gaza Hospital Chief Held by Israel Becomes Face of Crumbling Healthcare

Hossam Abu Safiyeh (C), director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital, supervises the treatment of a Palestinian man, injured in an Israeli strike on Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on November 21, 2024. (AFP)
Hossam Abu Safiyeh (C), director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital, supervises the treatment of a Palestinian man, injured in an Israeli strike on Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on November 21, 2024. (AFP)
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Gaza Hospital Chief Held by Israel Becomes Face of Crumbling Healthcare

Hossam Abu Safiyeh (C), director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital, supervises the treatment of a Palestinian man, injured in an Israeli strike on Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on November 21, 2024. (AFP)
Hossam Abu Safiyeh (C), director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital, supervises the treatment of a Palestinian man, injured in an Israeli strike on Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on November 21, 2024. (AFP)

Israel's raid on a major Gaza hospital and the arrest of its director over alleged links to Hamas have drawn global attention to the war-ravaged territory's crumbling healthcare system.

For weeks, as fighting escalated around the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza's Beit Lahia area, its head Hossam Abu Safiyeh made desperate appeals to the international community to intervene and stop the violence "before it is too late".

In the early hours of Friday, the Israeli military launched a major raid on the hospital, describing it as "one of the largest operations" it had conducted since the war in Gaza broke out in October last year.

The raid ended a day later, with the military announcing that it killed more than 20 fighters and arrested over 240, including Abu Safiyeh on suspicion of "being a Hamas operative".

Since then, the whereabouts of the 51-year-old pediatrician have been unknown.

The World Health Organization has said Kamal Adwan Hospital has been out of service ever since, a massive blow to the healthcare system in northern Gaza, where tens of thousands live under ongoing Israeli bombardment.

His family believes he is being detained at the Sde Teiman military base in the Negev desert, near Gaza.

- 'Deadly attacks' -

"This detention center is notorious for the mistreatment of prisoners," his son, Idris Abu Safiyeh, said in a video message on Monday evening.

"We have received testimonies from released detainees who reported that he was subjected to humiliation and abuse," he said. "He was reportedly forced to strip".

Despite repeated attempts by AFP, the Israeli military has declined to specify Abu Safiyeh's location. It has also not responded to allegations of his abuse.

Several other medical staff of Kamal Adwan Hospital were detained in the raid as well.

"There is no justification for these arrests other than a desire to destroy the healthcare system," Mahmud Bassal, spokesman for Gaza's civil defense agency, told AFP. He described the situation as "catastrophic and tragic."

On Tuesday, a United Nations report revealed that Israeli strikes on and near hospitals in Gaza have led to the near total collapse of the healthcare system in the Palestinian territory of 2.4 million people.

"Israel's pattern of deadly attacks on and near hospitals in Gaza, and associated combat, pushed the healthcare system to the brink of total collapse, with catastrophic effect on Palestinians' access to health and medical care," the UN human rights office said in a statement.

- 'Hero in a white robe' -

Israeli officials have repeatedly accused Hamas of using the territory's hospitals as command and control centers for launching attacks against Israeli forces.

Abu Safiyeh's family has urged the international community to pressure Israel for his prompt release -- and their message has resonated.

The World Health Organization led by its chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has called for the "immediate release" of the hospital director.

Rights group Amnesty International has echoed the call, saying Abu Safiyeh had been the "voice of Gaza's decimated health sector".

Healthcare professionals across the world have also urged for his release, rallying on social media under the hashtag #FreeDrHussamAbuSafiya.

He was praised as a "hero in a white robe" in several social media posts for continuing his work amid an intense Israeli military campaign in northern Gaza.

Since October 6, Israeli forces have intensified their land and sea assault on northern Gaza, saying it was aimed at preventing Hamas from regrouping there.

According to the US-based NGO MedGlobal, which employs him, Abu Safiyeh lost a teenage son in an Israeli air strike in late October, while he himself was injured in the leg days later.

From a hospital bed, he, however, declared in a video that the injury would not deter him from fulfilling his mission, "whatever the cost".

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Arab World

Israel Seeking Direct Military Coordination with Lebanon 

Lebanese soldiers and UNIFIL forces on patrol in Naqoura southern Lebanon. (Reuters file)
Lebanese soldiers and UNIFIL forces on patrol in Naqoura southern Lebanon. (Reuters file)
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Israel Seeking Direct Military Coordination with Lebanon 

Lebanese soldiers and UNIFIL forces on patrol in Naqoura southern Lebanon. (Reuters file)
Lebanese soldiers and UNIFIL forces on patrol in Naqoura southern Lebanon. (Reuters file)

Israel is seeking to alter the post-ceasefire coordination mechanism along the Lebanese border by establishing direct contact with the Lebanese army, bypassing the United Nations peacekeeping force deployed in the south, said Israeli media.

The proposal has reignited debate in Beirut over the future of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the role of international oversight in southern Lebanon, with Lebanese officials insisting that any modification must remain strictly within the United Nations framework.

Reports attributed to Israel’s security establishment say the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has recently adopted what Israeli officials describe as a “confrontational stance” toward the Israeli military.

Israeli media quoted officials as telling American counterparts that direct coordination between the Israeli military and the Lebanese army would be preferable to the current arrangement, which operates through UNIFIL. Some officials reportedly argued that the peacekeeping force now causes “more harm than benefit.”

The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation said Israel’s security establishment believes UNIFIL has grown increasingly “hostile” in recent weeks.

The force’s mandate in southern Lebanon is due to expire at the end of this year.

Lebanese officials have responded by underscoring that the country’s position remains anchored in international legality and UN authority.

Fadi Alame, head of the Foreign Affairs and Immigrants Committee in Lebanon’s parliament, said Israeli media discussions “do not bind Lebanon,” stressing that “Lebanon’s sole reference remains the international resolutions issued by the United Nations.”

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Alame reiterated Lebanon’s commitment to Resolution 1701 and expressed support for UNIFIL.

He said the force monitors implementation of the resolution and safeguards Lebanon’s rights and sovereignty within the UN framework.

“As long as there is a UN resolution in force, any amendment or termination must occur through the United Nations itself,” he stated. “International law requires an international monitoring body as long as the resolution remains in effect.”

Addressing speculation about replacing UNIFIL or shifting to direct coordination with the Lebanese army, Alame said Beirut’s official stance remains unchanged.

“Lebanon is committed to Resolution 1701 under a clear government decision,” he underlined. “For us, Resolution 1701 and other UN resolutions remain the foundation.”

He added that Lebanon is awaiting a report from the UN secretary-general in June that is expected to outline potential options. These could range from maintaining the current international force to introducing a European-led presence or increasing the number of international observers.

Any proposal, he stressed, would remain subject to UN approval.

Meanwhile, a Lebanese ministerial source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Israel’s proposal for direct coordination without UNIFIL “raises questions,” noting that the peacekeeping force is already embedded in the existing tripartite coordination mechanism.

Communication with Israel is conducted through UNIFIL under an established framework, the source explained, adding that Lebanon insists on maintaining an international sponsor and monitoring body as long as Resolution 1701 has not been fully implemented.

European proposals remain under discussion, including the possibility of a European-led force under French supervision or a mission focused on training and equipping the Lebanese army to assume expanded responsibilities. However, these ideas have yet to crystallize and remain tied to future political and security developments.

The debate follows a UN Security Council decision in August 2025 to extend UNIFIL’s mandate until December 31, 2026, with a coordinated drawdown planned to begin the following year.

UNIFIL has been deployed in southern Lebanon since 1978. It serves as a monitoring and buffer force, overseeing implementation of Resolution 1701 and supporting the Lebanese army’s deployment south of the Litani River.

Arab World

Gas, Transport and Charity Kitchens Deepen Ramadan Hardship in Gaza

Palestinians share the iftar meal amid homes destroyed by Israeli bombardment in Gaza on Sunday (EPA). 
Palestinians share the iftar meal amid homes destroyed by Israeli bombardment in Gaza on Sunday (EPA). 
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Gas, Transport and Charity Kitchens Deepen Ramadan Hardship in Gaza

Palestinians share the iftar meal amid homes destroyed by Israeli bombardment in Gaza on Sunday (EPA). 
Palestinians share the iftar meal amid homes destroyed by Israeli bombardment in Gaza on Sunday (EPA). 

As Ramadan enters its sixth day, residents of the Gaza Strip are grappling with mounting daily pressures amid a web of crises that extend well beyond soaring prices for basic goods.

For many families, access to essentials such as cooking gas, adequate food and transportation has become an exhausting struggle.

Among the most acute problems is the shortage of cooking gas, leaving most households reliant on firewood. But wood is also scarce and increasingly expensive, particularly during Ramadan, when demand rises, including from restaurants facing the same fuel shortages.

The Gaza Petroleum Authority distributes limited quantities of gas to residents — eight kilograms per household — without a fixed timetable. Distribution cycles are irregular due to the limited and inconsistent flow of supplies into the territory.

Hassan Al-Masri, 45, said residents can wait three or four months to receive just eight kilograms, less than the 12 kilograms or more typically held by a standard gas cylinder.

The shortage has severely affected families’ ability to prepare meals, particularly during Ramadan. Samar Abu Al-Jebin, from Jabalia and currently displaced at a shelter in the Al-Nasr neighborhood, said preparing food for her family of nine, especially the pre-dawn suhoor meal, has become increasingly difficult. On some days, she relies on meals distributed by charity kitchens for iftar.

Even those who manage to receive food aid say the quality has deteriorated.

In a camp on the outskirts of Al-Shati refugee camp, northwest of Gaza City, hundreds of tents shelter families displaced from northern Gaza. Residents say the meals provided by charity kitchens, many operating on behalf of international organizations, are often extremely poor in quality.

Ahmed Labad, 39, displaced from Beit Lahia, said that for nearly two months, even before Ramadan began, meals have been substandard. “Most of it is thrown away,” he said, explaining that only those with no alternative eat the food to feed their children. He questioned the level of oversight on kitchens operating for international and other institutions.

Firas Al-Kafarna, a resident of the camp, said that since the beginning of Ramadan, only the first day’s meal had been of acceptable quality. “After that, families have been throwing the food in the trash,” he said, adding that complaints are coming from displacement camps and shelters across the Gaza Strip due to the very poor meals being served.

Some families living in partially damaged homes also depend on the charity kitchens because of severe economic hardship. Yet residents say much of the distributed food ultimately ends up discarded.

Gaza’s Ministry of Social Development, run by Hamas, has issued instructions to all organizations providing meals — particularly to displaced people — to improve quality.

The ministry stressed that kitchens should not limit distributions to plain rice or thin stews without additions, and called for including meat and poultry, especially given the recent influx of frozen products allowed into Gaza.

According to Al-Kafarna, however, none of the organizations have complied with these directives so far.

Beyond food and fuel, transportation has become another daily burden. A shortage of vehicles — many destroyed during the war — combined with a severe liquidity crisis has complicated movement across the territory.

Anas Hamid, 21, displaced from the Shujaiya neighborhood east of Gaza City to Al-Nasr in the west, said drivers insist on cash payments and frequently vary fares from one location to another. “There is no unified fare,” he said, questioning the absence of effective oversight.

Driver Hassan Al-Hanawi said many drivers avoid electronic banking applications or digital wallets for several reasons, including unreliable internet access, the absence of bank accounts among some drivers, and fuel station owners who require payment in cash rather than electronically.

The Hamas-run government has issued several circulars instructing drivers to accept worn banknotes and encouraging the use of electronic payment systems. However, implementation has remained limited.

With vehicle shortages persisting, many residents have turned to bicycles — once uncommon in Gaza — to meet daily needs. Demand has surged, though supply remains limited and prices have risen sharply compared to pre-war levels.

Nabil Al-Tayef, 26, initially used his bicycle to run errands for his family before joining a delivery office as restaurants and shops gradually resumed operations.

Most delivery services now rely heavily on young men using their own bicycles. Motorbikes are rare, and electric bicycles — recently permitted into Gaza through a single trader — are prohibitively expensive, costing more than $3,500, compared with $500 to $700 before the war.

 

 

 

Arab World

Maliki Says Has ‘Absolutely No Intention’ to Withdraw PM Candidacy as Barrack Visits Iraq 

A handout picture made available by the Iraqi prime minister's office on February 22, 2026, shows US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack (L) meeting with Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (R) in Baghdad's Green Zone. (Handout / Iraqi Prime Minister’s Press Office / AFP)
A handout picture made available by the Iraqi prime minister's office on February 22, 2026, shows US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack (L) meeting with Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (R) in Baghdad's Green Zone. (Handout / Iraqi Prime Minister’s Press Office / AFP)
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Maliki Says Has ‘Absolutely No Intention’ to Withdraw PM Candidacy as Barrack Visits Iraq 

A handout picture made available by the Iraqi prime minister's office on February 22, 2026, shows US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack (L) meeting with Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (R) in Baghdad's Green Zone. (Handout / Iraqi Prime Minister’s Press Office / AFP)
A handout picture made available by the Iraqi prime minister's office on February 22, 2026, shows US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack (L) meeting with Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (R) in Baghdad's Green Zone. (Handout / Iraqi Prime Minister’s Press Office / AFP)

The leading candidate to become Iraq's next prime minister, former premier Nouri al-Maliki, told AFP on Monday that he will not withdraw his nomination after pressure from the US, while also seeking to allay Washington's concerns.

Since the US-led invasion that overthrew former ruler Saddam Hussein in 2003, Iraqi leaders have struggled to find a balance between two global powers competing for influence in the country: neighbor Iran and its arch-rival the United States.

Last month President Donald Trump intervened by issuing an ultimatum that if Maliki -- a two-time former premier with close ties to Iran -- was named Iraq's next prime minister, the US would no longer help the country.

"I have absolutely no intention of withdrawing out of respect for my country, its sovereignty, and its will," Maliki told AFP in an interview.

"No one has the right to say whom we can or cannot vote for," the powerbroker added.

"I will not withdraw until the end."

Trump's threat left Iraqi leaders at a loss, particularly within the Coordination Framework -- a ruling alliance of Shiite groups with varying degrees of links to Iran than nominated Maliki.

Maliki told AFP that "countries have the right to set conditions in their dealings with Iraq," but changing the nomination depends on the Coordination Framework, which still backs him.

Iraq’s former PM and candidate for the premiership, Nouri al-Maliki, speaks during an interview with AFP at his office in the Green Zone in Baghdad on February 23, 2026. (AFP)

- 'One army under one command' -

Maliki -- who is Iraq's only two-term prime minister, serving from 2006 to 2014 -- also rejected claims that his relationship with the US was bad during his previous tenure.

Maliki at first enjoyed support from the American occupation following the 2003 invasion, but later fell out with Washington over his growing ties with Iran and allegations that he pushed a sectarian agenda.

Iraq's new premier will be expected to address Washington's longstanding demand that Baghdad rein in Tehran-backed factions that are designated terrorist groups by the US.

Maliki said that Washington has conveyed several messages to Iraqi leaders.

"They seek changes in the state's policies," he said.

Washington's concerns include the future of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) -- a former paramilitary alliance that has integrated into the armed forces -- as well as disarming pro-Iran armed factions and accusations that some Iraqi entities are helping Iran evade US sanctions on oil exports.

Maliki sought to reassure the US on Monday.

"In fact, what America wants is not new. These are our demands," he said.

"We want weapons in the hands of the state. We want a centralized military force. We have said it repeatedly: we want one army under one command, directly under state authority.

"It's quite possible" to achieve a deal with pro-Iran armed factions, he added.

"There is a good basis for understanding with the factions" but this cannot happen "through force, war or confrontations," he said.

Maliki added that he believes factions "do not want to expose Iraq to any danger."

Washington has also demanded that the eventual Iraqi government exclude Iran-backed armed groups -- an issue that is under discussion, according to Maliki.

Some of these groups have increased their presence in the new parliament and have seen their political and financial clout increase.

"We want those who participate in the political process and the government to lay down their arms," Maliki said.

"Those who lay down their arms are welcome to be part of the next government."

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and US envoy Tom Barrack meet in Baghdad on Monday. (Iraq Foreign Ministry)

- No attacks -

After decades of conflict, Iraq has begun to enjoy some stability in recent years, yet its politics remain volatile, shaped not only by internal disputes but also by regional dynamics.

Today, all eyes are on negotiations between the US and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program, with a third round of talks scheduled for Geneva on Thursday.

With fears rising that Iraq could be dragged into a war if the US strikes Iran, Maliki vowed to prevent attacks on diplomatic missions in Iraq if he becomes prime minister.

"All countries can be assured that we will prevent any violation against their embassies or officially recognized interests in Iraq," Maliki said.

"We will not allow any party to target any country that maintains a diplomatic presence."

Previously, Iran-backed armed groups attacked US missions and troops in Iraq.

Maliki defended Iraq's relations with Iran, which he said "rest on the principle that Iraq's sovereignty is respected" and that "shared interests define this relationship".

"We share a 1,300-kilometer border and mutual interests with Iran," he added.

Despite its oil wealth, Iraq depends on imports from Iran to meet its energy needs.

Maliki warned that "if Iran cut off our natural gas supply... it would be a major catastrophe."

This handout picture made available by the Iraqi prime minister's office shows Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (top C), Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani al-Sawad (top R), US envoy Tom Barrack (top L), Chevron's Director of Business Development Joe Koch (bottom L), and the Basra Oil Company Director Bassem Abdul Karim (bottom R) attending the signing of agreements between Chevron Corporation and the Basra Oil Company at the government palace in Baghdad on February 23, 2026. (Iraqi Prime Minister’s Press Office / AFP)

- Barrack visits -

Meanwhile, US envoy Tom Barrack was in Iraq on Monday where he held talks with caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and President of the Supreme Judicial Council Faiq Zidan.

Sudani said the meeting with Barrack stressed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to resolve disputes.

The officials discussed bilateral ties between Iraq and the US and developments in the region, as well as Baghdad’s efforts to support regional stability, especially in Syria, read a statement from Sudani’s office.

They also tackled opportunities for economic cooperation.

For his part, Barrack described the meeting with Sudani as "fruitful".

In a post on the X platform, he said he discussed with Sudani "continued Iraqi goals and objectives to build a sovereign, stable, and prosperous future that aligns with Trump’s desire and plan for peace and prosperity in the region."

"The necessity of effective leadership that aligns itself with the policies and practices of further stabilization for Iraq and the Iraqi people is key to our mutual goals," he remarked.

Barrack later held meetings with President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region Nechirvan Barzani and Taqaddum Party leader Mohammed Halbousi.

During his visit, Iraq's foreign minister said Türkiye had agreed to take back Turkish citizens from among thousands of ISIS detainees transferred to Iraq from Syria when camps and prisons there were shut in recent weeks.

Also on Monday, Iraq and the US energy giant Chevron signed deals to manage and develop several oil fields, including one previously operated by Russia's Lukoil.

Sudani's media office said "two preliminary memoranda of principles" were signed with Chevron, the first of which was "concerning the transfer of management of the West Qurna 2 field," one of the world's largest oil fields.

The second agreement concerns the development of the Nasiriyah field and four exploratory blocks in Dhi Qar province in the country's south, as well as the Balad field in the northern province of Salah al-Din.

Sudani and Barrack attended the signing ceremony.