Hamas Aims for Joint Rule in Gaza Amid Conflict; Global Turmoil and Hope in 2024
Hamas eyes joint Palestinian rule in Gaza post-conflict; Israeli airstrikes lead to over 41,000 deaths.
A senior Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, announced on September 15, 2024, that Hamas is aiming for "joint Palestinian rule" in Gaza once the ongoing war with Israel ends. Despite enduring significant casualties and a protracted conflict, Hamdan emphasized Hamas's resilience and their recruitment of new fighters. Meanwhile, Israeli military actions have led to over 41,206 deaths in Gaza, increasing pressures on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a resolution.
In other news, a Russian-guided bomb struck an apartment building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, injuring at least 41 people, according to the region's governor, Oleh Syniehubov. President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the need for Western weapons and air defense systems to protect Ukrainian lives and called for long-range strike capabilities on Russian targets. This attack highlights the ongoing conflict where Russia continues to deny targeting civilians, despite past incidents since the 2022 invasion.
Shifting gears to some positive developments, Mosul in Iraq is experiencing a vibrant nightlife seven years after its liberation from Daesh in 2017. Residents like Amira Taha now enjoy evenings out with live music, a stark contrast to the time when music was banned and severe punishments were imposed. The city, now bustling with 1.5 million people, boasts new restaurants, amusement parks, and cruises along the Tigris River, reflecting its remarkable recovery.
Meanwhile, in Paris, hundreds marched on Sunday to advocate for women's rights and Iran's opposition, marking two years since the death of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian Kurd who died in custody for violating the Islamic dress code. Organized by about 20 human rights groups, the rally coincided with 34 women starting a hunger strike in a Tehran prison. Former detainees Benjamin Briere and Louis Arnaud, who attended, highlighted Iran's use of Western detainees as political leverage, while reports indicate at least 551 killed and thousands arrested in protest crackdowns.
In a tragic event at sea, eight migrants died early Sunday when their overcrowded vessel, carrying 59 people, capsized off the coast of Ambleteuse, France, while attempting to cross the Channel to England. This incident increases the death toll of migrants attempting the crossing this year to 46, as French and British authorities intensify efforts against smuggling operations. Among the six hospitalized survivors was a 10-month-old baby suffering from hypothermia, prompting renewed calls from charities for a policy overhaul.
On the economic front, Britain's Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Trade Policy Minister Douglas Alexander visited the Gulf region on Monday to discuss a potential trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The British government, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party, aims to bolster economic growth through trade agreements with the GCC, India, Switzerland, and South Korea. A free trade deal with the GCC could significantly enhance the UK economy, potentially boosting it by £1 billion.
In other news, a Russian-guided bomb struck an apartment building in Kharkiv, Ukraine, injuring at least 41 people, according to the region's governor, Oleh Syniehubov. President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the need for Western weapons and air defense systems to protect Ukrainian lives and called for long-range strike capabilities on Russian targets. This attack highlights the ongoing conflict where Russia continues to deny targeting civilians, despite past incidents since the 2022 invasion.
Shifting gears to some positive developments, Mosul in Iraq is experiencing a vibrant nightlife seven years after its liberation from Daesh in 2017. Residents like Amira Taha now enjoy evenings out with live music, a stark contrast to the time when music was banned and severe punishments were imposed. The city, now bustling with 1.5 million people, boasts new restaurants, amusement parks, and cruises along the Tigris River, reflecting its remarkable recovery.
Meanwhile, in Paris, hundreds marched on Sunday to advocate for women's rights and Iran's opposition, marking two years since the death of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian Kurd who died in custody for violating the Islamic dress code. Organized by about 20 human rights groups, the rally coincided with 34 women starting a hunger strike in a Tehran prison. Former detainees Benjamin Briere and Louis Arnaud, who attended, highlighted Iran's use of Western detainees as political leverage, while reports indicate at least 551 killed and thousands arrested in protest crackdowns.
In a tragic event at sea, eight migrants died early Sunday when their overcrowded vessel, carrying 59 people, capsized off the coast of Ambleteuse, France, while attempting to cross the Channel to England. This incident increases the death toll of migrants attempting the crossing this year to 46, as French and British authorities intensify efforts against smuggling operations. Among the six hospitalized survivors was a 10-month-old baby suffering from hypothermia, prompting renewed calls from charities for a policy overhaul.
On the economic front, Britain's Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Trade Policy Minister Douglas Alexander visited the Gulf region on Monday to discuss a potential trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The British government, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party, aims to bolster economic growth through trade agreements with the GCC, India, Switzerland, and South Korea. A free trade deal with the GCC could significantly enhance the UK economy, potentially boosting it by £1 billion.
