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Saudi Minister: Health Plan for Hajj Was a Success

Neither COVID-19 nor any other epidemic diseases reported among pilgrims. Photo: Bashir Salih
Neither COVID-19 nor any other epidemic diseases reported among pilgrims. Photo: Bashir Salih
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Saudi Minister: Health Plan for Hajj Was a Success

Neither COVID-19 nor any other epidemic diseases reported among pilgrims. Photo: Bashir Salih
Neither COVID-19 nor any other epidemic diseases reported among pilgrims. Photo: Bashir Salih

The health plan for this year’s Hajj was a success, with no coronavirus cases detected among pilgrims, Saudi Minister of Health Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah announced on Thursday.

“This Hajj was successful, with neither COVID-19 nor any other epidemic diseases reported,” he said.

Earlier this week, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization, hailed the Saudi leadership on the preventive measures it has taken to protect the pilgrims.

“As the faithful gather to perform Hajj this year, we welcome the public health planning and steps Saudi Arabia has taken to ensure the safety of pilgrims and their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said in a tweet.

Al-Rabiah said Thursday that all the government agencies serving pilgrims had made great efforts in executing the Hajj health plans to prevent any infections during the Hajj season.

He also thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their “unlimited support” to the Ministry of Health and its workers, as well as all government agencies which took part in organizing the Hajj.

This year's Hajj had been limited to 60,000 vaccinated Saudi citizens or residents of Saudi Arabia.

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Gulf

GCC Secretary-General Commends UN Resolution Extending UNRWA Operations

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
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GCC Secretary-General Commends UN Resolution Extending UNRWA Operations

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi welcomed the resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly renewing the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) for an additional three years, extending through 2029.

He stressed that UNRWA’s role is more vital today than ever, in light of the escalating challenges facing the Palestinian people, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

Albudaiwi reaffirmed the GCC’s firm support for the agency’s programs and initiatives, underscoring the Council’s unwavering commitment to the Palestinian cause, the protection of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, and the continuity and sustainability of UNRWA’s operations.

Gulf

KSrelief Delivers Shelter Aid to Palestinian People in Gaza

KSrelief delivers shelter aid to Palestinian people in Gaza. (SPA)
KSrelief delivers shelter aid to Palestinian people in Gaza. (SPA)
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KSrelief Delivers Shelter Aid to Palestinian People in Gaza

KSrelief delivers shelter aid to Palestinian people in Gaza. (SPA)
KSrelief delivers shelter aid to Palestinian people in Gaza. (SPA)

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) delivered a new shipment of shelter aid to the Gaza Strip on Saturday, targeting urgent winter needs for displaced residents and offering protection from increasingly harsh weather conditions.

The delivery forms part of the broader Saudi campaign to support the Palestinian people, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The latest consignment included fully equipped tents prepared by the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage, KSrelief’s executive partner in Gaza, ahead of distribution to affected families.

The Kingdom has so far established air and sea bridges that have transported more than 7,677 tons of food, medical supplies, and shelter materials aboard 74 aircraft and eight ships.

Saudi Arabia has also supplied 20 ambulances to the Palestine Red Crescent Society. In addition, the center has signed relief agreements for projects in the strip totaling $90.35 million and is conducting joint airdrop operations with Jordan to widen access to aid.

The latest delivery underscores the Kingdom’s continued efforts to ease the humanitarian crisis facing Palestinians in Gaza.

Gulf

Qatar’s PM Says Gaza Ceasefire at Critical Moment

Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, attends a session on the opening day of the Doha Forum, an annual diplomatic conference, in Doha on December 6, 2025. (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP)
Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, attends a session on the opening day of the Doha Forum, an annual diplomatic conference, in Doha on December 6, 2025. (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP)
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Qatar’s PM Says Gaza Ceasefire at Critical Moment

Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, attends a session on the opening day of the Doha Forum, an annual diplomatic conference, in Doha on December 6, 2025. (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP)
Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, attends a session on the opening day of the Doha Forum, an annual diplomatic conference, in Doha on December 6, 2025. (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP)

Qatar’s Prime Minister on Saturday said the Gaza ceasefire has reached a “critical moment” as its first phase winds down, with the remains of just one Israeli hostage still held in Gaza.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told an international conference in the Qatari capital that international mediators, led by the US, are working “to force the way forward” to the second phase to cement the deal.

“What we have just done is a pause,” he told the Doha Forum. “We cannot consider it yet a ceasefire.”

“A ceasefire cannot be completed unless there is a full withdrawal of Israeli forces, there is stability back in Gaza, people can go in and out, which is not the case today,” he said.

While the ceasefire halted the heavy fighting of the two-year war, Gaza health officials say that over 360 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the truce took effect in October.

The first phase of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan took effect Oct. 10. The fighting stopped and dozens of hostages held in Gaza were exchanged for hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli prison. Israel sent a delegation last week to Egypt for talks on returning the remains of the last hostage.

The next phase, which includes the deployment of an international security force in Gaza, formation of a new technocratic government for the territory, disarmament of Hamas and an eventual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, has not yet begun.

Sheikh Mohammed said that even the upcoming phase should be “temporary” and that peace in the region could only take place with the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state.

“If we are just resolving what happened in Gaza, the catastrophe that happened in the last two years, it’s not enough,” he said. “There is a root for this conflict. And this conflict is not only about Gaza."

He added: “It’s about Gaza. It’s about the West Bank. It’s about the rights of the Palestinians for their state. We are hoping that we can work together with the US administration to achieve this vision at the end of the day.”