Tunisian Forces Arrest Terrorist Sentenced to 48 Years in Prison

Tunisian security forces. (AFP)
Tunisian security forces. (AFP)
TT

Tunisian Forces Arrest Terrorist Sentenced to 48 Years in Prison

Tunisian security forces. (AFP)
Tunisian security forces. (AFP)

Counter-terrorism forces in Tunisia's Douar Hicher arrested a 30-year-old terrorist who got sentenced in absentia for 48 years.

The Interior Ministry noted that he has a security record at the Counter-terrorism forces, which had been tracking him and got him arrested at his house.

The condemned is involved in a number of terrorist operations in the Tunisian capital including the terrorist offensive against Bardo National Museum on March 18, 2015, and another terrorist attack that targeted a presidential bus on Nov. 24 of the same year.

The sources added that the condemned was proven to be involved in communicating with Tunisian leaders who joined ISIS years ago – he also provided logistic support to terrorist members several times.

Douar Hicher has been hosting since 2012 a conference for “Ansar al-Sharia” after its convention was banned in Kairouan.

In a related context, security bodies specialized in fighting terrorism dismantled a terrorist cell composed of three. They belong to terrorist groups, pledged allegiance to a terrorist group and adopted its extremism intellect.

The disclosed cell will be faced with the charge of belonging to a terrorist group -- the case will be referred to the judicial authority specialized in terrorism.

Meanwhile, the security bodies arrested a man who described the workers in the military institution and the state figures as “devils” – his age does not exceed 30 years.

Tunisian security reports affirmed that there are 300-400 sleeper terrorist cells still jeopardizing Tunisian’s security and stability.



Australia, NZ, Canada Call for ICJ Response from Israel, Gaza Ceasefire 

Israeli military troops prepare near the Israel-Gaza border, amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Israel, July 25, 2024. (Reuters)
Israeli military troops prepare near the Israel-Gaza border, amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Israel, July 25, 2024. (Reuters)
TT

Australia, NZ, Canada Call for ICJ Response from Israel, Gaza Ceasefire 

Israeli military troops prepare near the Israel-Gaza border, amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Israel, July 25, 2024. (Reuters)
Israeli military troops prepare near the Israel-Gaza border, amid the conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Israel, July 25, 2024. (Reuters)

Australia, New Zealand and Canada on Friday called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and asked Israel to respond to a United Nations court which last week ruled its occupation of Palestinian territories and settlements there were illegal. 

"Israel must listen to the concerns of the international community," the leader's statement said. 

"The protection of civilians is paramount and a requirement under international humanitarian law. Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hamas. It must end." 

The leaders also said Israel needed to hold extremist settlers accountable for ongoing acts of violence against Palestinians, reverse its settlement program in the West Bank and work towards a two-state solution. 

Israel's embassy in Australia on Thursday said it condemned acts of violence against Palestinian communities. 

Last week, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and its settlements there are illegal and should be withdrawn as soon as possible, its strongest findings to date on the Israel-Palestinian conflict. 

The leader's statement called on Israel to "respond substantively" to the ICJ. 

Israel's foreign ministry last week rejected the ICJ opinion as "fundamentally wrong" and one-sided, and repeated its stance that a political settlement in the region can only be reached by negotiations. 

Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem - areas of historic Palestine which the Palestinians want for a state - in the 1967 Middle East war and has since built settlements in the West Bank and steadily expanded them. 

Israeli leaders argue the territories are not occupied in legal terms because they are on disputed lands, but the United Nations and most of the international community regard them as occupied territory. 

The joint statement, the second since February, expressed concern about escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah and said the risk of a wider regional war made a ceasefire in Gaza all the more urgent. 

The statement came hours after US Vice President Kamala Harris pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to help reach a Gaza ceasefire deal that would ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians, striking a tougher tone than President Joe Biden.