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Arab World

Sharp Rise in Virus Cases Muddles Containing Pandemic in Lebanon

Lebanon is home to tens of thousands of Palestinians in camps that over the decades have become bustling neighborhoods and at least 1.5 million Syrians who have fled the war next door. File/AFP
Lebanon is home to tens of thousands of Palestinians in camps that over the decades have become bustling neighborhoods and at least 1.5 million Syrians who have fled the war next door. File/AFP
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Sharp Rise in Virus Cases Muddles Containing Pandemic in Lebanon

Lebanon is home to tens of thousands of Palestinians in camps that over the decades have become bustling neighborhoods and at least 1.5 million Syrians who have fled the war next door. File/AFP
Lebanon is home to tens of thousands of Palestinians in camps that over the decades have become bustling neighborhoods and at least 1.5 million Syrians who have fled the war next door. File/AFP

Lebanon is facing exacerbating difficulties to stop a coronavirus outbreak after a sharp increase in the number of cases, including head of the Free Patriotic Movement Gebran Bassil and former minister Ghassan Atallah.

Head of the Health Parliamentary Committee Issam Araji warned from the scale of the outbreak with the number of COVID-19 patients and deaths being on the rise.

The MP warned that the number of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, and pre-care beds equipped with oxygen in state health institutions and some private hospitals are already full.

“There are more than 1,000 coronavirus cases among doctors and nurses,” Araji said.

He warned the Lebanese about the situation. “Be careful, the situation is dangerous. Deal with it responsibly because this virus is not a joke."

On Sunday, the Health Ministry announced the registration of 1012 new Coronavirus cases, thus raising the cumulative number of infected cases since February 21 to-date to 36,240. It also indicated that 7 death cases were reported during the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by the FPM’s media office said MP Gebran Bassil has tested positive for coronavirus.

The statement said Bassil will quarantine until he recovers, noting that the infection level is still "low and acceptable."

It added that the MP wished to inform all those who were in contact with him recently, and to apologize for not knowing about his condition earlier.

Also Sunday, the Crisis Cell in the north governorate announced in its daily report that 53 new cases have been recorded in Akkar, the highest number of infected cases recorded in one day since the pandemic's start.

Also, 14 cases were reported in Zgharta and 12 cases in Koura.

In the Beqaa, Governor Kamal Abou Jaoudeh urged municipalities to tighten their measures to prevent the spread of the pandemic while in the south, the Nabatiyeh municipality announced 23 registered cases of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, UNRWA announced Sunday that the number of coronavirus patients among Palestinian refugees has increased to 942 cases including 23 deaths.

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Arab World

EU Condemns Israel's West Bank Control Measures

The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP)
The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP)
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EU Condemns Israel's West Bank Control Measures

The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP)
The Israeli settlement of Har Homa, seen from the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP)

The European Union on Monday condemned new Israeli measures to tighten control of the West Bank and pave the way for more settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, AFP reported.

"The European Union condemns recent decisions by Israel's security cabinet to expand Israeli control in the West Bank. This move is another step in the wrong direction," EU spokesman Anouar El Anouni told journalists.

Arab World

Atrocities in Sudan's El-Fasher Were 'Preventable Human Rights Catastrophe'

Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
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Atrocities in Sudan's El-Fasher Were 'Preventable Human Rights Catastrophe'

Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Sudanese displaced people who left El Fasher after its fall, sit in the shade in Tawila at the Rwanda camp reception point on December 17, 2025. (Photo by AFP)

The atrocities unleashed on El-Fasher in Sudan's Darfur region last October were a "preventable human rights catastrophe", the United Nations said Monday, warning they now risked being repeated in the neighbouring Kordofan region.

 

"My office sounded the alarm about the risk of mass atrocities in the besieged city of El-Fasher for more than a year ... but our warnings were ignored," UN rights chief Volker Turk told the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

 

He added that he was now "extremely concerned that these violations and abuses may be repeated in the Kordofan region".

 

 

 

 

Arab World

Arab League Condemns Israel's Decisions to Alter Legal, Administrative Status of West Bank

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
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Arab League Condemns Israel's Decisions to Alter Legal, Administrative Status of West Bank

A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)
A general view shows the opening session of the meeting of Arab foreign ministers at the Arab League Headquarters (Reuters)

The General Secretariat of the Arab League strongly condemned decisions by Israeli occupation authorities to impose fundamental changes on the legal and administrative status of the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly in the West Bank, describing them as a dangerous escalation and a flagrant violation of international law, international legitimacy resolutions, and signed agreements, SPA reported.

In a statement, the Arab League said the measures include facilitating the confiscation of private Palestinian property and transferring planning and licensing authorities in the city of Hebron and the area surrounding the Ibrahimi Mosque to occupation authorities.

It warned of the serious repercussions of these actions on the rights of the Palestinian people and on Islamic and Christian holy sites.

The statement reaffirmed the Arab League’s firm support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost among them the establishment of their independent state on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.