Amnesty International condemned on Tuesday (Israel’s) brutal and violent suppression of Palestinian worshippers and protestors in recent days. 

The rights group gathered evidence that points to repeated use of excessive and indiscriminate force by ‘Israeli’ authorities, and demanded the immediate halt of forced evictions and displacement of Palestinian families in the occupied East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah.

“ ‘Israeli’ security forces have used repeated, unwarranted and excessive force against Palestinian protesters in occupied East Jerusalem following four days of violence in which 840 Palestinians were injured,” Amnesty said in a statement.

“Evidence gathered by Amnesty International reveals a chilling pattern of Israeli forces using abusive and wanton force against largely peaceful Palestinian protesters in recent days. Some of those injured in the violence in East Jerusalem include bystanders or worshippers making Ramadan prayers,” it said.

The latest violence brought into focus Tel Aviv’s “sustained campaign” to increase forced evictions of Palestinian families, destroy Palestinian neighborhoods and build illegal settlements on Palestinian land, according to the group.

Through the collection of witness accounts, videos and photographs as well as a presence in occupied East Jerusalem, Amnesty gathered evidence about how ‘Israeli’ forces have repeatedly deployed unlawful, excessive and disproportionate force to violently disperse Palestinian worshipers and peaceful protestors in the Al-Aqsa compound and other areas.

“Israel must not be allowed to continue its rampage against Palestinians who are simply defending their right to exist and protesting against their forced displacement. Mere expressions of concerns about Israel’s utter disregard for its obligations under international law are not sufficient,” it said.​​​​​​​

“There must be clear and strong denunciations of the flagrant violations, including forced displacement, the expansion of illegal settlements and the and the brutal repression of people protesting against such grave violations.”

The group also urged the UN Security Council to convene an emergency open session to discuss ‘Israeli’ violence and aggression against Palestinians and demanded that Tel Aviv immediately cease its attacks against Al-Aqsa.

Palestinian authorities in the occupied and besieged Gaza Strip issued an ultimatum Monday for ‘Israeli’ forces to withdraw from the Al-Aqsa compound and cease attacks or action would be taken. Such warnings were ignored and as a result, rockets were launched from military positions in the Palestinian territory.

More than 300 Palestinians have been injured in the last week of ‘Israeli’ attacks on Al-Aqsa and other occupied areas of East Jerusalem.

Over 20 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip, including 10 children after the ‘Israeli’ air force launched airstrikes against the besieged territory. ​​​​​​​

A Turkish soldier was martyred and four others wounded in an attack on a supply convoy in northern Syria, Turkey’s National Defense Ministry said early Tuesday. 

"In the Operation Spring Shield zone, one of our hero fellow soldiers was martyred and four of our heroic fellow soldiers were injured in the rocket attack on our supply convoy on May 10, 2021," the ministry said on Twitter.

The injured were transferred to the hospital.

"We wish Allah's mercy on our hero martyr, condolences and patience to his family and the Turkish Armed Forces, and a speedy recovery to the wounded," it added.

Turkey announced the launch of Operation Spring Shield on March 1 in the wake of an attack by the Syrian regime on Turkish troops who were observing a cease-fire in Idlib on Feb. 27 which martyred 33, according to the nation’s defense chief./aa

The Turkish Red Crescent said Monday that it will provide nearly 600,000 Turkish liras ($72,700) worth of humanitarian aid to those affected by clashes at a disputed section of the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border.  

The border clashes erupted early last week between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan over control of the local water distribution network, according to Kyrgyz media.

Surveillance equipment was installed by Tajik officials at the Golovnoi water distribution center, which Kyrgyzstan says is located in a disputed area, according to Radio Free Europe.

Clashes broke out with the intervention of border troops from the two countries, and soldiers were sent to the region with armored vehicles from both sides.

Tensions over control of the water supply continued until April 29, with residents throwing stones at each other.

Noting that more than 30 Kyrgyz and eight Tajik citizens lost their lives during the clashes, the Turkish Red Crescent’s statement said at least 250 people were injured and a number of residential areas were destroyed.

"As a result of the support request by the Kyrgyzstan Red Crescent within the scope of the intervention to the humanitarian need emerging in the region, the Turkish Red Crescent will begin humanitarian aid activities by assigning two expert personnel in Kyrgyzstan," it said.

The aid, which will also include medical aid, will be distributed in coordination with the Kyrgyz Red Crescent./aa

Turkey’s communications director on Monday invited the international community to take responsibility and take a stand against Zionist entity's state terrorism in order to stop the massacres committed by Zionist entity.

In a series of tweets, Fahrettin Altun said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has always stood by Palestinian brothers and sisters in the just cause of Palestine.

"Our President, who has been carrying out a decisive struggle for the independent Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital, continues to defend the independent Palestine and our Palestinian brothers against Zionist entity, which is increasing its terrorist acts and occupation attempts.

"Our President, who held talks with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, Hamas Political Bureau Chairman Ismail Haniyeh, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, King Abdullah II of Jordan and Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf, continues his diplomatic traffic without interruption." Altun added.

He emphasized that they will not allow a step-by-step occupation of Palestine.

Zambia and Botswana Monday inaugurated a newly-built bridge linking the two countries to boost bilateral and regional trade.

The $260 million Kazungula Bridge jointly commissioned by Zambian President Edgar Lungu and his Botswana counterpart Mokgweetsi Masisi also comes with a one stop border infrastructure to facilitate trade between the two countries and the entire southern African region.

Lungu said the bridge was a monumental effort linking Zambia internally and externally to ease the movement of goods and services.

“I have held talks with my counterpart in Botswana that this project must run daily up to 22 hours as soon as possible and you the technocrats must not play ping-pong with us after making these public pronouncements,” Lungu said at Kazungula, south of the country Monday.

Masisi said his country regarded Zambia as a key strategic partner in development, adding the iconic project was a demonstration of the continued growing relations.

He said the route was historic as it was used as a safe exit during the struggle for independence.

The event was also witnessed by African Union (AU) Chairperson and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi.

Zambia and the DRC are in the process of putting up a similar facility on their border.

Other dignitaries to witness the event were Southern African Development Community (SADC) Chairperson and Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Also present were Namibia Vice-President Nangolo Mbumba and Eswatini Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku.

Tshisekedi said the project was in tandem with the AU goals and priority areas for Agenda 2063 which called for a prosperous Africa, based on inclusive growth and sustainable development.

Nyusi added that the project was in line with the SADC infrastructure development master plan.

Mnangagwa congratulated Botswana and Zambia for a milestone project, reiterating that his country will also join the project.

Lungu and Masisi also separately opened the one-stop border facilities on either side of their countries.

The 923-meter long rail and road bridge in Kazungula is a bilateral project between Zambia and Botswana, co-financed by the two governments.

The bridge across the Zambezi River is expected to boost trade and commerce between the two countries and increase economic activities and prospects of other countries in the SADC region such as Zimbabwe, Malawi, Namibia, DRC and Mozambique./aa

At least eight people, including an army officer, were killed in an ambush on Sunday night in Burundi, the Ministry of Public Security said on Monday.

The incident took place in Muramvya town, 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the political capital Gitega at around 7 p.m. local time (1700GMT), the ministry tweeted, adding the victims included Lt. Col. Onesphore Nizigiyimana and an employee of the Burundian central bank.

It was not immediately clear whether the attack, which reportedly left several other people injured and four vehicles torched, was orchestrated by the rebels fighting the government.

In a condolence message to the victims’ families on Twitter, Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye vowed “all the perpetrators will be apprehended to face justice”.

The ambush in Muramvya came less than a month after a similar attack by gunmen in Rusaka in Mwaro province of the East African country that left seven dead and three wounded./aa