Arab League Warns of Israel's Violations at Aqsa Compound

Israeli security forces stand guard as Palestinians take part in Friday prayers in occupied East Jerusalem. (Getty Images file photo)
Israeli security forces stand guard as Palestinians take part in Friday prayers in occupied East Jerusalem. (Getty Images file photo)
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Arab League Warns of Israel's Violations at Aqsa Compound

Israeli security forces stand guard as Palestinians take part in Friday prayers in occupied East Jerusalem. (Getty Images file photo)
Israeli security forces stand guard as Palestinians take part in Friday prayers in occupied East Jerusalem. (Getty Images file photo)

The Arab League vehemently condemned Israel's decision to build more than 800 settlement units in occupied East Jerusalem.

Assistant Secretary-General for Palestinian territories and occupied Arab Lands Saeed Abu Ali warned of the Israeli settlers’ storming of the al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem, which took place under the strict protection of Israeli forces.

The forces had also fired rubber bullets and gas bombs at worshippers at the holy site.

He condemned the development as a new escalation that demonstrates Israel’s intention to “Judaize” the al-Aqsa.

Abu Ali stated that Israel’s approval to build new units is a resumption of the settlement besieging the occupied East Jerusalem and the displacement of Palestinian families, stressing that such measures violate all international resolutions, laws and conventions.

He castigated the international community's silence and the US support for Israel as encouraging the latter to continue its aggression against the Palestinians. He stressed that attempts to impose a status quo will not deter the Palestinians' will to fight the occupation and build an independent Palestinian state.

The Palestinian cause was a priority at last week’s three Makkah summits, which underlined support for Palestinian rights.



US Military Carries Out Airstrikes against Yemen’s Houthis

Houthi supporters hold their weapons up during an anti-US and anti-Israel protest in Sanaa, Yemen, 03 January 2025. (EPA)
Houthi supporters hold their weapons up during an anti-US and anti-Israel protest in Sanaa, Yemen, 03 January 2025. (EPA)
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US Military Carries Out Airstrikes against Yemen’s Houthis

Houthi supporters hold their weapons up during an anti-US and anti-Israel protest in Sanaa, Yemen, 03 January 2025. (EPA)
Houthi supporters hold their weapons up during an anti-US and anti-Israel protest in Sanaa, Yemen, 03 January 2025. (EPA)

The US military says it carried out a wave of strikes against what it said were underground arms facilities of Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militias.

The US Central Command said in a statement that Wednesday’s strikes targeted weapons used by the Houthis to attack ships in the Red Sea.

The Houthis said seven strikes targeted sites in the Houthi-held capital, Sanaa, and the northern Amran province, without providing further details. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The United States and its allies have carried out repeated strikes on the Houthis, who have continued to target shipping.

The militias say they target ships linked to Israel, the US or the UK to force an end to Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the conflict, including some bound for Iran.