标签： Asia

In a recent escalation of violence in the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed two Palestinian teenagers during a raid on the town of Kafr Aqab, north of East Jerusalem. The Palestinian Ministry of Health identified the victims as Amr Khaled Ahmed al-Marbou, 18, and Sami Ibrahim Sami Mashayekh, 16. The incident occurred overnight on Friday, with Israeli forces deploying ground troops and snipers positioned on rooftops opening fire on civilian crowds, resulting in multiple injuries alongside the fatalities. The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported treating two young men severely wounded by live ammunition before they succumbed to their injuries at the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah. Israeli police claimed the operation targeted ‘hostile elements’ attempting to harm forces and disrupt public order, citing stone-throwing and fireworks as provocations. However, local residents disputed this narrative, alleging that Israeli soldiers initiated the violence. The killings have intensified tensions in the region, with hundreds attending funeral processions for the teenagers. Meanwhile, settler violence has surged, particularly during the olive harvest season, with reports of arson attacks on Palestinian properties, including farmland, tourist villas, and a vehicle scrapyard in Huwara. Over 350 vehicles were destroyed in the latter incident. The Israeli government has proposed educational programs for settlers, while Shin Bet, the domestic intelligence agency, called for a forceful response to settler violence. The ongoing conflict has claimed 244 lives in the West Bank and East Jerusalem this year, with over 1,076 Palestinians killed since the start of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

In a shocking revelation, Minni Arkou Minnawi, the governor of Darfur, disclosed to Middle East Eye that approximately 27,000 Sudanese were massacred in just three days following the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) capture of el-Fasher in late October. This staggering figure far exceeds earlier estimates of 2,500 deaths, highlighting the brutal scale of violence unleashed by the paramilitary group. Survivors recounted harrowing tales of summary executions, sexual violence, and widespread atrocities, painting a grim picture of the city’s fall after a 550-day siege. UN aid chief Tom Fletcher, after a weeklong visit to Darfur, described el-Fasher as an “absolute horror show” and a “crime scene.” The RSF, accused of war crimes and genocide, has been implicated in targeting ethnic communities, including the Masalit in West Darfur. Minnawi, speaking from his temporary headquarters in Port Sudan, criticized the international community for its inaction, particularly Britain, which has faced scrutiny for its role in the UN Security Council and alleged complicity in the crisis. He also pointed fingers at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for supplying advanced weaponry to the RSF, enabling their assault on el-Fasher. Despite mounting evidence, the UAE denies supporting the RSF, a claim Minnawi dismissed as “lip service.” He emphasized that peace negotiations must involve the UAE, not RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, whom he labeled a “puppet” of the Emirates. Minnawi, a veteran of Darfur’s decades-long conflict, warned that stopping the UAE’s support is crucial to ending the war, which has displaced over 13 million people and claimed tens of thousands of lives.

An Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet met with a tragic accident during a demonstration flight at the Dubai Air Show on Friday afternoon, marking a somber conclusion to the high-profile event. The incident unfolded at approximately 2:10 pm local time at Al Maktoum International Airport, the designated venue for the biennial air show, in front of a stunned audience. The pilot’s condition remains uncertain, with no immediate confirmation on whether the ejection mechanism was activated. Witnesses recounted seeing thick black smoke billowing from the crash site, followed by the urgent wail of sirens echoing across the Dubai World Central venue. The crash has cast a shadow over the otherwise celebratory atmosphere of the air show, raising concerns about the safety protocols and the future of such high-risk demonstrations. Authorities are expected to launch a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the accident and to implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.