Abbas Mourns Arafat’s Sister

Khadija Arafat. Asharq Al-Awsat Arabic
Khadija Arafat. Asharq Al-Awsat Arabic
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Abbas Mourns Arafat’s Sister

Khadija Arafat. Asharq Al-Awsat Arabic
Khadija Arafat. Asharq Al-Awsat Arabic

Khadija Arafat, sister of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, died early Saturday morning at a hospital in Cairo where she had been receiving treatment, at the age of 86, according to the Palestinian WAFA news agency.

President Mahmoud Abbas reportedly mourned her passing and acknowledged her role in her brother’s revolutionary and nationalistic aspirations realized through the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). He offered condolences to her relatives, family and loved ones.

Fatah mourned with deep sorrow the death of Khadija, calling her “the Revolutionary Adult”.

Also, the Palestinian Embassy in Cairo announced that Arafat died while receiving treatment in a Cairo hospital, but no further information was given regarding her death.

Khadija was the only remaining sister of Arafat. She headed charity organizations offering services to Palestinians in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Gaza Strip.

Arafat died at the age of 75 in 2004 in a military hospital in Paris, after a long Israeli siege of his headquarters. Palestinians accuse Israelis of poisoning him, yet years after investigation no significant information was revealed.

The commission of inquiry, headed by Fatah member Tawfik Tirawi, summoned security men close to Arafat and questioned them. The commission also took samples from his body to confirm or deny the hypothesis of him being poisoned.

The commission didn’t issue any statement or outcomes, although Abbas said last year that he knew who killed Arafat but would wait for the results of the investigation. As he marked the 12th anniversary of the Arafat’s death, he said, “You ask me who killed him, I know — but my testimony alone is not enough. A commission of inquiry is digging into that, but you’ll find out at the earliest opportunity and be amazed when you know who did it.”



Lebanon Braces for Repercussions of Iran-Israel Conflict

Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Bukhari and Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian meet at Dar al-Fatwa. (Markazia)
Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Bukhari and Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian meet at Dar al-Fatwa. (Markazia)
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Lebanon Braces for Repercussions of Iran-Israel Conflict

Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Bukhari and Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian meet at Dar al-Fatwa. (Markazia)
Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Bukhari and Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian meet at Dar al-Fatwa. (Markazia)

Lebanon remained on high political alert amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, as officials worked to assess and contain the potential repercussions of the conflict on the country’s fragile stability.

Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Lebanon Waleed Bukhari and Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian emphasized the importance of Lebanon distancing itself from the conflict.

President Joseph Aoun is closely monitoring the unfolding situation and received briefings on the latest developments and the regional and international diplomatic efforts underway to defuse it.

Aoun is in continuous contact with security leaders, in line with the outcomes of a national security meeting held at the Baabda Palace on Saturday, said a statement from the Lebanese presidency.

The president also oversaw efforts to facilitate the return of Lebanese nationals stranded abroad after airlines canceled flights to Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport and neighboring countries closed their airspace due to the rising regional tensions.

Saudi Ambassador Bukhari met with Grand Mufti Derian at Dar al-Fatwa to extend Eid al-Adha greetings and congratulate him on performing the Hajj upon invitation from the Saudi royal protocol.

The meeting also served as an opportunity to discuss Lebanese and regional affairs.

According to a statement from Dar al-Fatwa’s media office, the officials stressed the need for Lebanon to disassociate itself from the Iran-Israel conflict.

They underscored the urgent need for intensified Arab and international diplomatic efforts to curb the language of war and restore rational dialogue. They warned of the dangerous political, economic, and environmental consequences the continued fighting could have on the region.

Despite ongoing Israeli attacks in parts of Lebanon and repeated violations of UN Resolution 1701, the country, they said, must pursue security, peace, and stability.