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American woman and her Israeli husband, both of whom championed rights for Palestinians, killed by Hamas during attacks on Israel

OpIndia Staff
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American woman and her Israeli husband, both of whom championed rights for Palestinians, killed by Hamas during attacks on Israel

A person from Minnesota, who protested against Israeli military actions in Gaza, along with her husband (the son of Holocaust survivors), were tragically killed by Hamas terrorists at a kibbutz near the Gaza border, known for its association with the militants’ violent acts.

Cindy Flash, aged 67, and Igal Flash, aged 66, were killed in a secure room within their residence in Kfar Aza, a once idyllic farming community that was tragically transformed into a scene of extreme violence over the weekend as Hamas terrorists ran riot, killing and abducting civilians with abandon.

Keren Flash, the couple’s grown-up daughter, informed CNN on Thursday that she received a text message from her mother on Saturday, revealing that intruders had breached the safe room.

“That marked the final communication,” Keren stated. Over the following days, the fate of her parents remained uncertain, fueling concerns that they might have been abducted and taken to Gaza.

However, just before her conversation with CNN, Keren received the heartbreaking update of her mother and father’s passing. She expressed relief knowing that her parents had passed away swiftly, providing them a relatively painless end.

Cindy, originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, relocated to Israel many years ago after being captivated by the country during a visit, as reported by USA Today. She tied the knot with Igal, an Israeli citizen, and they established their home in Kfar Azar—a community situated a short distance from the Gaza border.

This community once had approximately 800 inhabitants before the tragic events of last Saturday, which witnessed the horrific loss of entire families and unspeakable violence towards infants.

Keren affectionately characterised her mother as “overflowing with compassion and empathy,” highlighting her strong advocacy for the rights of Palestinians.

She emphasised how her mother consistently protested during military operations, firmly believing in the equal treatment of all individuals regardless of their religious beliefs or ethnicity.

Keren also shared her deep regard for her parents, describing them as some of the most exemplary individuals she has ever encountered.

Israel-Hamas war: Reuters cameraman killed, six others wounded near Lebanon’s southern border

OpIndia Staff
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Israel-Hamas war: Reuters cameraman killed, six others wounded near Lebanon’s southern border

A Reuters video journalist named Issam Abdallah was killed and six other journalists were wounded on Friday, 13th October, in southern Lebanon when the area they were reporting from was struck by shelling according to the news agency Reuters. Two colleagues who spoke to the injured journalists in the hospital as well as an eyewitness also reported the incident.

Al Araby TV cameraman Charbel Francis said that the attack occurred when he was capturing an artillery assault on a hill roughly 50 feet away from the other journalists.

The group of reporters, which included representatives from Al Jazeera and Agence France-Presse, were on assignment in Alma al-Shaab, close to the Israeli border and the scene of altercation between the Israeli military and the Lebanese militia Hezbollah. The instance was attributed to Israel by the Hezbollah lawmaker and the prime minister of Lebanon Najib Mikati.

An inquiry for comment was not immediately answered by the Israel Defense Forces. Gilad Erdan, Israel’s representative to the United Nations stated in a briefing on the same day, “Obviously, we would never want to hit or kill or shoot any journalist that is doing its job. But you know, we’re in a state of war, things might happen.” He proclaimed that Israel would look into it.

Issam Abdallah reportedly died while delivering a live video signal to broadcasters. A powerful explosion rocked the camera filled the air with smoke and screams were heard as it was pointing at a hillside. The media network stated, “We are deeply saddened to learn that our videographer, Issam Abdallah, has been killed. We are urgently seeking more information, working with authorities in the region and supporting Issam’s family and colleagues.”

Thaer Al-Sudani and Maher Nazeh two other Reuters reporters were hurt in the incident and received medical attention before being released from a hospital. According to the latter, the deceased was hit by a missile while he was sitting on a low stone wall close to the rest of the group while Reuters and the other two news outlets were filming missile fire coming from the direction of Israel. A second rocket landed on the group’s vehicle moments later and ignited it.

Reuters was unable to confirm if Israel had in fact fired the missiles, despite the Associated Press and Al Jazeera reporting that the Jewish state was responsible. Two of Agence France-Presse’s journalists were injured, per the agency, but their names were not released.

Qatari media house Al Jazeera conveyed that two of its employees Elie Brakhya and reporter Carmen Joukhadar suffered injuries. It ascribed the attack to Israel and demanded that those responsible for “this criminal act” be held accountable. “The broadcast vehicle was bombed and completely burned despite the presence of our team close to/side by side with the rest of the international media crews in an agreed-upon location,” it alleged in a press release.

In a statement shared on social media, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), a mission established in 1978 to monitor the border between Lebanon and Israel, alleged that a “heavy exchange of fire” erupted in the region at 5:20 PM. Multiple media outlets broadcasted live footage of what seemed to be an hour-long artillery campaign into Lebanese territory. It asserted, “The potential for this escalation to spiral out of control is clear, and it must be halted.”

Issam Abdallah, a Beirut-based video journalist, has covered significant events including the earthquakes that wreaked havoc in southern Turkey this year as well as wars in Syria and Ukraine. His many coworkers, friends and supporters paid tribute to him online and attended a vigil for him in Beirut.

After the terror attack that massacred hundreds of Israeli civilians, Hamas uses Israeli infants they have taken hostage to garner sympathy: Watch

OpIndia Staff
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After the terror attack that massacred hundreds of Israeli civilians, Hamas uses Israeli infants they have taken hostage to garner sympathy: Watch

After committing unspeakable atrocities on Israeli civilians in the past one week, the Palestine Islamist terror organisation Hamas has now begun utilising Israeli infants and toddlers, which they have taken hostage, to garner sympathy. In an apparent effort to create an impression of how well the terrorist organisation is treating hostages, Hamas released a propaganda video in which armed terrorists play with and fondle Israeli infants and babies they have taken hostage after brutally killing their parents.

According to the Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post, this video was recorded when the Hamas terrorists barged into Be’eri Kibbutz on the Gaza border, unsettling the peaceful existence of this close-knit community on Saturday, October 8.

The Hamas group has circulated this propaganda video of armed men attending to Israeli infants they have held hostage on a channel in the instant messaging app Telegram. The official Israel Defense Forces (IDF) X account posted the video that was released by the Hamas terrorists on Telegram.

The video shows armed Hamas terrorists in tactical vests holding babies in their laps. Young Israeli children, not looking a day older than 4 to 5 years old, are shown being held by Hamas members while they sit around a table.

Notably, in every clip, the Hamas terrorists have blurred their faces while leaving the faces of the innocent toddlers exposed.

Source: New York Post

In one clip, a Hamas terrorist is shown carrying a crying baby, soothing him by patting his back. In another segment, one Hamas terrorist cradles a baby in one arm while holding an automatic weapon with the other.

Source: New York Post

In the same video, a group of terrorists is also seen pushing a pram to pacify a crying infant.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Near the end of the clip, a man wearing a balaclava and a green headband holding a child in each arm and directly addressing the camera in Arabic.

Source: New York Post

The video ends with, a Hamas terrorist encouraging a child to say “Bismillah” while offering him a cup of water. The child, who looks visibly petrified, obeys and repeats what he is being asked to say. He then lifts the cup and drinks from it. This is the same toddler who appeared at the start of the video, where he was sitting on a table and crying as a Hamas terrorist bandaged his wounded ankle.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Since October 7, when Hamas launched an unprecedented onslaught on Israel, the Palestinian Islamist terror group has committed horrific crimes against Israeli people, including rape, kidnapping, beheading, and barbaric killings. Umpteen videos and images have emerged depicting the extent of brutality and savagery members of the Islamist terror organisation Hamas have inflicted on Israeli civilians. Hundreds of Israeli civilians, including the elderly and infants, have fallen prey to the barbarity inflicted by the Hamas terrorists.

The numerous distressing visuals that have surfaced on social media, in fact, serve as evidence that Hamas terrorists have murdered over 1300 innocent Israeli people, including women, the elderly, and newborns, by shooting, stabbing, beheading, and even burning them alive. In fact, on Thursday, October 12, the Prime Minister’s Office in Israel took the extraordinary step of releasing gruesome photos of murdered babies to reporters and the public, seeking to underscore the atrocities carried out by Hamas in its savage rampage through southern Israel on Saturday. OpIndia also listed 15 such videos showing how Hamas targeted innocent civilians and inflicted brutalities in Israel.

Following all these horrifying acts of violence they have committed in the past week, the Palestinian terrorist organisation had the temerity to release such a video in order to show the world their ‘humane’ side. They should be aware, though, that most people are not gullible enough to believe their lies. The kidnapping of children during a war is one of the most heinous war crimes, according to the international community. Along with other atrocities like targeting hospitals or schools and enlisting children as soldiers, the UN has designated it as one of the six “grave violations” that it condemns.

Hamas Air Force chief Murad Abu Murad killed in airstrike on Gaza City: Israeli Air Force

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Hamas Air Force chief Murad Abu Murad killed in airstrike on Gaza City: Israeli Air Force

The Israel Air Forces has said that it has killed the head of Hamas’s Air Force Murad Abu Murad in the airstrike carried out overnight. The strike targeted a headquarters from which Hamas managed its aerial activity in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli Air Force said that Murad Abu Murad “was largely responsible for directing terrorists during the massacre on Saturday.”

In a post on X, the Israeli Air Force stated, “Also, during the last day, fighter jets of the Air Force attacked the operational headquarters of the terrorist organization Hamas, from where the organization’s aerial activities were managed. During the attack, Murad Abu Murad, the head of the air formation in Gaza City who took a large part and directed terrorists in the murderous attack on Saturday, was killed.”

In separate strikes carried out overnight, the Israeli Air Forces said that it had struck dozens of sites belonging to Hamas’s commando forces, who led the infiltration into Israel on October 7, The Times of Israel reported. The Israeli Air Forces said that the Israeli Defence Forces and the Israeli Air Forces will continue to operate “as required in order to defend the State of Israel against the Hamas terrorist organization.”

In a post shared on X, the Israeli Air Force stated, “Last night, IAF fighter jets conducted wide-scale strikes throughout the Gaza Strip. These included dozens of Hamas terror targets as well as “Nukhba” terrorist operatives that were in a staging ground in the Gaza Strip.”

The Israeli Air Force in another update on X informed, “A short while ago, IDF soldiers identified a terrorist cell which attempted to infiltrate from Lebanon into Israeli territory. An IAF UAV targeted the terrorist cell and killed a number of the terrorists.”

In the latest update on the Israel-Hamas conflict, Israeli Defence Forces Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus noted on Saturday that people in the Gaza Strip are listening to Israel’s warning and are doing the right thing, noting that there has been a significant movement of Palestinian civilians towards the South.

“We have seen a significant movement of the Palestinian civilians towards the south…we have seen people listening to our warning, understanding that they doing the clever thing, moving out of the dangerous area, and the right thing for their family…,” he said.

On Friday the Israeli military had called for the evacuation of all civilians from Gaza City. The IDF says that it had advertised its intentions as it did not want civilians to be affected by the war. The IDF further said that Israel was fighting against Hamas and its military infrastructure.

“We advertised our intentions in advance not because it has any military logic but because we want civilians not to be affected by the war. We didn’t put those civilians there and they are not our enemy. We are not trying to kill or injure any civilians, we are fighting against Hamas and its military infrastructure…that’s where we targeted around the Gaza strip and in the northern part of the Gaza strip,” he said.

Conricus highlighted that the end state of this war is the complete destruction of Hamas and its infrastructure. “We dismantle Hamas and its military capabilities and fundamentally change the situation so that Hamas never again has the ability to inflict any damage on Israeli civilians or soldiers,” the IDF spokesperson said.

The Israeli defence forces have said that more than 120 civilians have been held captive in Gaza by Hamas. 

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

‘They are here outside shouting in Arabic’: Whatsapp group of Israeli mothers shared live details of terror attack by Hamas. Read details

OpIndia Staff
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‘They are here outside shouting in Arabic’: Whatsapp group of Israeli mothers shared live details of terror attack by Hamas. Read details

Terror engulfed Israel on 7th October after terrorist group Hamas launched an unforeseen attack killing innocent Israeli civilians, taking many of them hostage and raping women. The Hamas terrorists barged into Be’eri Kibbutz on the Gaza border, unsettling the peaceful existence of this close-knit community.

The lives of Kibbutz residents turned into a nightmare as Hamas terrorists stormed in compelling the people to confine themselves inside their homes.

As evident from a WhatsApp group chat shared with BBC, terrified residents of the Kibbutz communicated snippets of information, their fears, desperate pleas for help and tips to help each other cope with the situation.

Messages exchanged in the WhatsApp group chat accessed by BBC

The ensuing incident commenced with a message that said, “We have a terrorist on the stairs. Call someone.” The women in the Be’eri mothers’ WhatsApp group found themselves in the middle of a day-long rampage, chronicling their horror, disarray and survival bids as gun-yielding Hamas terrorists walked the streets, torching homes, and taking local Israelis captive.

The terrorists were heard speaking in Arabic. From their safe rooms, the women and their families exchanged messages concerning the mayhem outside. They inquired as to why the army had not yet arrived, shared information about the terrorists’ locations, gave tips on how to cope with smoke-filled rooms, and continued to appeal for help.

“At some point, somebody changed the name of the group to “Be’eri Mothers Emergency,” BBC reported. While in their safe rooms, the Kibbutz residents sought help from each other about how to lock the doors and also combat smoke inhalation. “Entire house is full of smoke what should I do?” someone asked.

“Try to put a wet cloth on your face. Or urine,” another resident responded. Dafna Garster, who had come from Germany to stay with her family in Kibbutz told BBC that on 7th October, she heard a “sound we could not identify”.

IDF to the rescue

“Usually you have an alarm and a boom of the iron dome. This time, there was no alarm, and it was so loud. It’s a sound we could not identify,” Garster said. In the face of the horror, the WhatsApp group chat kept the morale and hopes of the people intact. 

They relied on code language and cooperation to coordinate attempts to distinguish soldiers from Hamas militants. The arrival of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) provided some hope, but ambiguity prevailed as people dealt with contradicting reports.

With the arrival of the IDF, the horrifying ordeal came to an end. The IDF soldiers took the affected locals to safe zones. The survivors of the Hamas’s horror said that they are driving strength from their broken community, but they cannot forget those whom they have lost.

According to a Telegraph report, the Hamas terrorists had taken the phones of some of the local residents and started texting on WhatsApp groups to lure out people hiding in the safe rooms.

Israel Hamas war

An unforeseen attack on Israel by Hamas dubbed ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Storm’ that combined gunmen violating security barriers with a barrage of rockets fired from Gaza was carried out at dawn on 7th October during the Jewish high holiday of Simchat Torah, killing at least 1,300 people, including children and the elderly, and injuring over 2000 others.

In one of the worst attacks in history, the terrorists also assaulted women and abducted hundreds. In response, Israel launched ‘Operation Iron Swords’ and used Article 40 for the first time since the Yom Kippur War in 1973, effectively declaring war.

Apart from striking Hamas targets, Israel has also cut power and water supply to Gaza, as well as preventing supplies from entering the landlocked coastal strip. It is worth noting that Hamas has declared Friday, 13th October, as the day for global Jihad and has incited antisemitic sentiments around the world. 

Terrorism has struck again in a school, says French President Emmanuel Macron after man yells ‘Allah hu Akbar’ and stabs teacher to death

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Terrorism has struck again in a school, says French President Emmanuel Macron after man yells ‘Allah hu Akbar’ and stabs teacher to death

Reacting to the fatal stab attack at a high school in Arras, French President Emmanuel Macron said that the country has been hit by the “barbarity of Islamist terrorism”, The New York Times reported on Saturday.

The incident occurred in Arras in northern France on Saturday, where a school teacher was killed and two students were left injured in a stabbing incident at Gambetta-Carnot public school.

The police quickly set up a security perimeter around the school, and the city announced that it was suspending all public events until further notice, The New York Times reported.

Speaking to reporters, here in Arras, Macron said, “France had been “hit by the barbarity of Islamist terrorism.” “Almost three years to the day after Samuel Paty’s murder, terrorism has struck again in a school,” President Macron said after rushing to the scene.

He further said that the victim was killed in a “brutal and cowardly way”. Macron also praised that teacher and the two people who were injured — another teacher and a school employee — for trying to stop the assailant, The New York Times reported. “We stand together and stand tall,” Macron added.

The Washington Post reported citing witnesses that the attacker shouted “Allahu akbar” (God is greatest) during the attack. Visegrad 24 news agency also reported, “Man yells “Allahu Akbar” before stabbing a teacher to death and wounding another 2 in a high school in the French city of Arras”.

Notably, the terror group Hamas has declared this Friday as the ‘Global Day of Rage’. This comes as Israel and Hamas are engaged in an intense battle after the latter launched a surprise attack on the former on October 7, launching a barrage of rockets into Israel, leading it to an even stronger counter-offensive.

Earlier, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin reacted over the incident stating that the stabbing happened in Arras, a city in northern France. “A police operation took place at the Gambetta High School in Arras. The perpetrator was arrested by the police,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).

The attacker was allegedly a man of Chechen origin and was known to the security services for his involvement with radical Islam, The Washington Post reported citing Europe 1, a radio station. It further reported citing French media reports that the attacker was a former student at the school.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Amid Israel-Hamas war, Modi govt evacuates second batch of 235 Indians from Tel Aviv under ‘Operation Ajay’

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Amid Israel-Hamas war, Modi govt evacuates second batch of 235 Indians from Tel Aviv under ‘Operation Ajay’

A second flight carrying 235 Indian nationals from Tel Aviv in Israel, under Operation Ajay, landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Saturday morning.

The evacuated Indian nationals were welcomed by Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, at the airport. He welcomed Indian nationals with a handshake and folded hands.

People were seen hugging and embracing their families and relatives as they arrived back in New Delhi with a feeling of relief but minds full of ordeal.
As many as 447 Indian nationals, who were stranded amid the raging Israel-Hamas war have been brought back to India under ‘Operation Ajay’.

“Second flight carrying 235 Indian nationals takes off from Israel’s Tel Aviv,” posted External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on X, on Friday-Saturday intervening night. The passengers were mainly those who were staying and working in Israel.

They applauded the government of India for the initiative and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking to ANI, before the second flight flew from Tel Aviv, an Indian passenger Ashish Kumar said, “I am going to India. Here, I am a post-doctoral student, at Agriculture Research Organisation. The situation in central Israel is quite normal, not like the Gaza border, Beersheba and nearby regions”.

“I think this is a very good initiative of the Indian government. I had seen only European countries evacuating their citizens. So, I appreciate the government for this,” he added. Wagesh Dwiwedi, another passenger also appreciated the initiative and recalled the tenure of former Minister Sushma Swaraj.

“I work as a visiting scientist at ARO. The situation is tense here because of the bombarding, and it will get even more serious. So, that’s why we are leaving. Everyone is scared at home. Operation Ajay is a very positive step and I really appreciate it. The government has been carrying out such missions since the time of Sushma Swaraj,” he said.

On Friday, the first flight under Operation Ajay carrying 212 Indian passengers landed in Delhi. Those who were evacuated after being stranded in Israel thanked the Indian government for bringing them back.

Chants of ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ were also seen by the passengers on the first flight, according to a video shared by a passenger. Earlier on Thursday, Indian Ambassador to Israel, Sanjeev Singla said that the Indian Embassy in Israel is working to ensure the well-being of Indian nationals in war-torn Israel and informed that under “Operation Ajay” the embassy will help Indians who want to return to India.

“Operation Ajay” was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring back around 18,000 Indians in Israel. Registration of Indians began on Thursday. The Indian embassy in Israel is providing assistance to Indian companies and has set up a helpline for Indian citizens in need of assistance.

The MEA had set up a 24-hour control room in view of the escalating conflict. The control room will help monitor the situation and provide information and assistance. Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs V Muraleedharan also visited the 24/7 control room set up in New Delhi as part of Operation Ajay.

He said India continues to monitor the situation in Israel and provide necessary information and assistance. He further said the government is always committed to the safety of Indians abroad.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Iranian embassy in Spain denies reports that Cristiano Ronaldo was convicted of ‘adultery’ and sentenced to 99 lashes in Iran for hugging a disabled woman

OpIndia Staff
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Iranian embassy in Spain denies reports that Cristiano Ronaldo was convicted of ‘adultery’ and sentenced to 99 lashes in Iran for hugging a disabled woman

Iranian embassy in Spain has denied reports that ace footballer Cristiano Ronaldo could face 99 lashes the next time he visits Iran after his picture hugging an Iranian painter went viral on the internet.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Iran’s embassy in Spain posted, “We strongly deny the issuance of any court ruling against any international athlete in Iran. It is a matter of concern that the publication of such unfounded news could overshadow crimes against humanity and war crimes against the oppressed Palestinian nation.”

They further added, “It should be noted that Cristiano Ronaldo travelled to Iran on September 18 and 19 to play in an official soccer match and was very well received by the people and the authorities. His sincere and humane meeting with Fatemeh Hamami was also praised and admired by both the people and the country’s sports authorities.”

The 38-year-old Portuguese Al-Nassr star, romantically linked with Georgina Rodriguez, hugged the Iranian painter recently during his visit to Tehran. It was during his trip to Iran in September for a match against Persepolis in the Asian Champions League, a game that CR7’s side emerged victorious from with a 2-0 score.

While in Iran, the soccer player presented painter Fatemeh Hamami with a signed jersey. He embraced her and planted a kiss on her cheek, expressing his appreciation for her gifting him two of her artworks crafted with her feet.

As per the Iranian press, multiple Iranian lawyers have lodged accusations against Cristiano Ronaldo for this conduct. Iran has strict laws for what it considers ‘adultery’ and in accordance with Iranian law, physical contact with an unmarried woman is considered akin to adultery.

Reportedly, the Iranian judiciary could have imposed a sentence of 99 lashes on Cristiano Ronaldo during his future visits to Iran. However, a judge can pardon the sentence if the actions are deemed non-punishable or if those involved express remorse.

Currently, the possibility of Ronaldo returning to Iran seems limited, given that Al Nassr has no immediate plans to play there.

Iranian Ambassador to India Iraj Elahi claims Iran played no role in Hamas terror attack on Israel, says “Hamas an independent player”

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Iranian Ambassador to India Iraj Elahi claims Iran played no role in Hamas terror attack on Israel, says “Hamas an independent player”

Responding to an email questionnaire sent by ANI on the recent Israel-Hamas war that has engulfed the Middle East region, the Iranian Ambassador to India, Iraj Elahi, distanced his country from Hamas’ recent attack on South Israeli communities along the border with Gaza. The full transcript of the email questionnaire is as follows:

ANI Question: What do you think about recent developments in Israel?

Iraj Elahi-Iranian Ambassador to India: What surprises me the most is that we still rarely see an accurate representation of what really happens in Palestine. Israel commits countless atrocities against innocent Palestinians in Gaza, yet a significant portion of the media continues to overlook the Palestinians. Instead, they choose to concoct new evidence against Hamas to justify the criminal actions of the occupiers and the siege of Gaza. The Zionists act as if Palestinians are not human, suggesting that no one should care about their ceaseless suffering. This behavior illustrates the sheer brutality Palestinians endure. Regrettably, their voices and demands continue to be overshadowed in the media. No one dares to question why they should be deprived of basic human necessities like water, power, medicine, and other essential needs. The vast majority of the media deliberately ignores the truth, turning a blind eye and deaf ear to the voices and faces of Palestinians whose only “fault” is being born in Palestine.

ANI: There are reports by Western media that Iran helped plot attack on Israel over several weeks? Your comment on that.

Iraj Elahi-Iranian Ambassador to India: Western media tries to deny the independent power of Hamas by attributing recent developments to Iran’s support. However, in truth, the strength of Hamas stands as an undeniable fact, and it remains an independent player that can steer the course of events on its own. As the Supreme Leader has stated, Hamas executed this operation without the assistance of Iran. Nonetheless, Iran will always support the Palestinian cause and the legitimate resistance of the Palestinians, consistently condemning the ruthless violence and occupation by the Zionists.

ANI: Iranian President and Saudi Crown Prince discussed the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on Wednesday, in the first telephone call between the two leaders since a China-brokered deal between Tehran and Riyadh to resume ties. If you can talk about the discussions?

Iraj Elahi-Iranian Ambassador to India: Iran and Saudi Arabia, like other Muslim countries, have already announced their staunch support for Palestine cause. However, they decided to engage in dialogue to better understand each other’s viewpoints and assessments regarding recent developments, with the aim of reaching a more common understanding. During the conversation, both sides emphasized the necessity of ending hostilities against innocent people and the crucial need for unity within the Muslim world in opposition to the criminal acts of Apartheid regime.

ANI: Iran is known to be one of Hamas’s biggest benefactors, contributing funds, weapons, and training. What will you say on that?

Iraj Elahi-Iranian Ambassador to India: The Palestinians have independently embraced the path of truth, and they have become an inspiration for everyone resisting oppression. We admire the Palestinians; our hearts are with them and we support their legitimate resistance against the apartheid regime.

ANI: What about the peace in the West Asia region and Middle East region? We have seen massive changes there. Like Abraham accords. Do you think that all is going to square 1 and this will have a fallout on the whole of the region and the world?

Iraj Elahi-Iranian Ambassador to India: Zionist extremism is the primary cause of instability in the region. As long as the basic rights of Palestinians are denied, no external solution can achieve stability. In other words, any plan that doesn’t address the root causes of the conflict is destined to fail. The wounds of Palestine continue to bleed, affecting the entirety of West Asia. I believe that stability is unattainable without recognizing the rights of Palestinians. External solutions proposed by outsiders may only destabilize the region and worsen the overall situation.

ANI: UK Foreign Secretary and USA Foreign Secretary are in Israel. President Biden said that his administration has warned Iran not to escalate the conflict between Tehran’s proxy Hamas and Israel. your comment?

Iraj Elahi-Iranian Ambassador to India: As we said Iran played no role in the recent developments. It was the inevitable and foreseeable response of the Palestinians to the continuous oppression by the apartheid regime. Western media tries to attribute this to external factors, especially Iran, to hide the role of Zionist regime as the primary cause of the conflict. Furthermore, the US and its allies are deeply concerned about the emergence of new conflict fronts, as they recognize the vulnerabilities of the Zionist regime.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Traders committee urges Karnataka govt to allow Muslim vendors on temple premises, files complaint against Mangaladevi Temple in Mangaluru

OpIndia Staff
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Traders committee urges Karnataka govt to allow Muslim vendors on temple premises, files complaint against Mangaladevi Temple in Mangaluru

Ahead of the Hindu festival of Navratri, the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Districts Religious Fair Businessmen’s Coordination Committee has demanded that Muslim vendors be allowed to carry out trade on the temple premises during the festive days even as the temple authorities have restricted them from doing so.

The committee members had filed a complaint with the District Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada over the boycott of Muslim vendors during the Navaratri celebrations at the renowned Mangaladevi Temple in Mangaluru, Dakshina Kannada district. The honorary presidents of the committee DK Imthiyaz and Sunil Kumar Bajal have claimed that Muslim vendors were excluded during the auction process undertaken to allot shops in the temple premises.

Contrary to the Imthiyaz and Bajal’s claims, the temple management said that there was no restriction on Muslim vendors adding that the auction process for 94 shops in the temple courtyard was open for all, however, no non-Hindu trader participated in the auction. The temple management said that the auction process was conducted in accordance with the guidelines laid by the District Collector.

It is worth noting that the Mangaladevi Temple comes under the state government’s Muzrai (Hindu religious endowment) department. Every year, a Navratri fair is organised at this temple dedicated to Goddess Shakti. This time the fair will take place between October 15 and October 24.

The temple management had decided not to allow Muslim traders to participate in the fair and had begun the process of allocating stalls to businessmen on Rathabeedi Street, which is owned by the Mangaluru City Corporation. However, the temple administration has been holding its fairs here for many years.

It is pertinent to note that Around 34,563 temples in the state are classified as Muzrai (Hindu religious endowment) grade A, B, or C depending on their revenue generation.

In all, a total of 207 temples with yearly revenue exceeding Rs 25 lakh fall into category A, 139 temples with annual revenue between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 25 lakh fall into category B, and 34,217 temples with annual revenue less than Rs 5 lakh go into category C. This categorisation was introduced by the Congress government in 2019.

Last year, a controversy had erupted over the issue of not allowing non-Hindu particularly Muslim traders to put up stalls near Hindu temples. The demand for the same was raised by Hindu rights organisations including Bajrang Dal.

According to the Hindu rights organisation, Rule 12 of the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 2002, is intended to prohibit non-Hindu traders. The law states that “No property, including land, building or sites situated near the premises shall be leased to non-Hindus.”

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