Author: Web Desk

Gaza: Palestinian human rights organizations said that as Israel continues to threaten to launch a large-scale military ground attack on Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, the occupation forces have intensified their airstrikes on the city, which is crowded with hundreds of thousands of displaced people, including bombing houses, while their residents inside, without prior warning, killing 40 residents, including 13 children and 12 women, in less than 72 hours.

The organizations said in a statement on Monday that the intensification of Israeli airstrikes on houses comes in conjunction with the intensification of artillery shelling targeting the eastern area of Rafah in what appears to be part of the process of intimidation by killing and indiscriminate destruction against civilians to forcibly displace them again from the city, which is home to at least 1.3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and residents.

As a result of the repeated Israeli threats coinciding with the intensification of the bombardment,
researchers observed tens of thousands of displaced people from Rafah city to the Mawasi area west of the city and west of Khan Yunis, which led to massive overcrowding in this small area (about 12,000 dunums), where the IDPs resorted to setting up tents or nylon tarps in the lands, roadsides, and seashore, without the basics of life, and without any infrastructure suitable for the needs of hundreds of thousands of residents in the agricultural area.

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights, Al Mezan Center, and Al-Haq affirmed that the occupation continues to commit these horrific crimes as a result of the policy of impunity and the absence of executive mechanisms that bind it to the rules of international humanitarian law.

The organizations warned Israel’s partners in the crime of genocide, whether by their unlimited military and political support or by their silence, calling for practical steps to protect Palestinian civilians, stop the mass killing, and prevent the completion of the ongoing genocide.

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ource: Jordan News Agency

Dead Sea: Minister of Agriculture, Khaled Huneifat, Chairman of the 11th Asia-Pacific Cooperative Ministers’ Conference (APCMC), launched the “Jordan Declaration” at the conclusion of the conference on Monday.

The declaration included key recommendations emanating from the APCMC, which was held over two days in the Dead Sea region.

Huneifat, who is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jordan Co-operative Corporation (JCC), said that the APCMC recommended the need to support cooperatives in Palestine, especially in the Gaza Strip, and work to stop the war on the Gaza Strip, which is under Israeli aggression, and support Jordan’s efforts under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II to stop this war and help the Palestinian brothers.

The APCMC also recommended strengthening the dialogue between government bodies and cooperatives to understand the mutual goals, challenges, and opportunities for cooperation and to create an environment conducive to the development of cooperatives, in addition
to emphasizing the crucial role of cooperatives in promoting comprehensive development.

He added that the importance of the APCMC lies in promoting policies, legal frameworks, and strategies that support cooperative movements and facilitate their integration into national development plans, while recognizing cooperatives as key partners in achieving sustainable and inclusive growth.

According to Huneifat, the APCMC also recommended aligning efforts with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to address pressing global challenges such as poverty, gender equality, decent work, and climate action, by exploiting the potential of cooperatives to contribute to achieving these goals, in addition to accelerating steps for governments and cooperatives to deepen their partnership for comprehensive sustainable development, promoting cooperative identity and raising awareness about the cooperative business model, its values and principles, as well as encouraging regional and international cooperation b
etween governments, cooperatives and other actors, promoting an enabling environment for the resilience and growth of cooperatives and cooperatives.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: The European Union and the World Health Organization inked an agreement on Monday to bolster primary healthcare services in Jordan.

This support aligns with the project “Enhancing access to high-quality primary healthcare services for Syrian refugees and host communities in Jordan,” backed by a 15-million-euro allocation from the European Union to fortify the organization’s endeavors in Jordan.

Minister of Health Firas Hawari, overseeing the agreement’s signing, emphasized that this collaboration would aid in preparing primary healthcare centers, directly supporting the government’s quest for comprehensive health coverage.

Hawari highlighted the importance of enhancing healthcare workers’ skills, bolstering infrastructure, fortifying the health information system, and supplying health facilities. He expressed gratitude for the organization and the Union’s support in addressing health priorities in Jordan.

Patrick Lambrechts, the Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Jordan, unders
cored the crucial need to support Jordan’s commitment to fortifying primary healthcare and health systems, underlining that achieving universal health coverage and health-related Sustainable Development Goals demands steadfast efforts in strengthening primary healthcare.

Jamila Raabi, the World Health Organization’s representative in Jordan, said that primary healthcare is foundational for attaining universal health coverage and health-related Sustainable Development Goals. Through this initiative, the organization aims to enhance primary healthcare models, integrate health services, improve care quality, and expand access to primary healthcare for refugees and host communities, especially Syrians.

This project aims to enhance the efficiency of Jordan’s primary healthcare system, ensuring equitable provision of high-quality services to the entire population, including refugees. It aligns with the vision for a healthier and more prosperous future for all, funded by the European Union through the Neighborhood
, Development, and International Cooperation Instrument in response to the Syrian crisis. This 4-year program supports key actions outlined in the Ministry of Health’s strategic plan, aligning with Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Amman: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Director General Pierre Krahenbuhl said on Monday that the organization will not replace the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip.

He said in an interview with the Swiss newspaper Le Temps that the ICRC and the UN agency had completely different missions, as UNRWA had its mandate from the United Nations General Assembly and the ICRC from the Geneva Conventions.

Therefore, the ICRC will not take over UNRWA’s mission, and that it had enough work to do before replacing other organizations, he added.

A recent report by an independent group commissioned by the United Nations concluded that UNRWA is “indispensable and irreplaceable” for the Palestinians.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Paris – Moroccan filmmaker Asmae El Moudir has been appointed as a member of the jury for the Un Certain Regard selection of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. The 77th edition of the festival is scheduled to take place from May 14 to 25 this year, as confirmed by the organizers.

Un Certain Regard is a distinguished section within the Cannes Film Festival, dedicated to showcasing films with unique perspectives and fostering the discovery of emerging talents in the industry.

Under the presidency of Canadian actor and filmmaker Xavier Dolan, the jury for this year’s edition includes a diverse panel of industry professionals. Alongside Asmae El Moudir, the jury features French-Senegalese filmmaker Maïmouna Doucouré, German-Luxembourgish actress Vicky Krieps, and American film critic Todd McCarthy.

The jury’s responsibility will be to evaluate and recognize outstanding works within the section, which celebrates innovation and creativity in cinema, as stated by the festival organizers.

A total of 18 feature
films have been selected for this year’s competition, including eight debut films. Notable entries include Le Procès du Chien by Laetitia Dosch, The Shameless by Konstantin Bojanov, and September Says by Ariane Labed.

Asmae El Moudir, born in Salé in 1990, has established herself as a prominent figure in the Moroccan film industry. With a background in directing documentaries for various Moroccan and international television channels, she ventured into feature-length filmmaking with her debut documentary Postcard in 2020. The film garnered attention and was showcased at prestigious film festivals including the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) and the Marrakech International Film Festival (FIFM).

In 2023, El Moudir’s directorial prowess was further recognized with her film The Mother of All Lies, which received critical acclaim and numerous accolades. Notably, the film won the Best Director Prize in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival and the prestigious Éto
ile d’Or of the documentary category.

El Moudir’s achievements have earned her nominations at esteemed awards ceremonies such as the PGA Awards and the Film Independent Spirit Awards. She clinched the International Documentary Association (IDA) Award for Best Directing and proudly represented Morocco with her film’s nomination for Best Foreign Film at the 2024 Oscars.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse