In contrast to past years, there are almost no donations for Qurbani in the Gaza Strip this year due to the economic conditions and severe humanitarian crises in the besieged Strip. A cattle dealer and a government official told the Anadolu Agency that livestock markets are experiencing very low demands in spite of their being large numbers of animals available for slaughter. The power crisis has also reduced people’s abilities to store meat as refrigerators are unable to work. During Eid Al-Adha, which falls at the start of September this year, Muslims will sacrifice an animal and distribute its meat to those … Continue reading Siege leads Gaza’s Qurbani market to crash

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Ahead of World Humanitarian Day, to be marked on August 19th, as the United Nations (UN) prepares a global awareness campaign on the impact of conflict on humanitarian aid workers and the broader civil society, including children and families, the occupied Palestinian territory is facing a “worsening child protection crisis” brought on by 50 years of Israel’s military occupation, according to Jennifer Moorehead, director of Save the Children – Palestine. “Today, there are more than 2 million Palestinian children who face increasing violations of their rights: displacement and forcible transfer, the demolition and destruction of homes and schools, arbitrary arrest and … Continue reading NGO: Palestinian territory facing ‘worsening child protection crisis’

Hamas security officer Nidal al-Jaafari was killed Thursday morning in a suicide bombing attack GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — A Palestinian member of Hamas security forces in Gaza was killed and another was injured when an unidentified assailant blew himself up near the Egypt-Gaza border at dawn on Thursday. Spokesperson of the Gaza Ministry of Interior and National Security Iyad al-Bazm said that a “security incident” occurred early Thursday morning near the southern borders of the Gaza Strip, when two unidentified men, coming from the Egyptian side of the border, approached the two security officers station on the Gaza side of … Continue reading Hamas security officer killed, 1 injured in suicide bombing attack on Gaza-Egypt border

17 AUG 4:33 AM Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated threats against the Hamas movement, the de facto ruling party in the besieged Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, threatening further repressive measures should Hamas not unconditionally abide by the PA’s demands to resolve the decade-long intra-Palestinian conflict. Numerous attempts have been made in the past to reconcile Hamas and Fateh since they came into violent conflict in 2007, shortly after Hamas’ 2006 victory in general elections held in the Gaza Strip. However, Palestinian leadership has repeatedly failed to follow through on promises of reconciliations, as both movements have frequently blamed … Continue reading Abbas: Gaza to Face Further Cuts if Hamas Refuses PA “Reconciliation” Terms