Social Reform Society Mourns the Martyrdom of Sheikh Ismail Haniyeh
The Social Reform Society issued a press statement regarding the martyrdom of the Mujahid Sheikh Ismail Haniyeh, may Allah have mercy on him. The statement reads as follows:
Allah the Almighty said, “And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision.” (Al-Imran 169)
The Social Reform Society mourns Kuwait and the Arab and Islamic Ummah for the martyrdom of the Mujahid Sheikh Ismail Haniyeh, former Palestinian Prime Minister, one of the symbols of Islamic work, and a leader of the valiant national resistance in Gaza. The Society strongly condemns his assassination by the criminal gangs of the Zionist entity, which continue their crimes against humanity and the genocidal war in Gaza.
The martyr, may Allah have mercy on him, had made frequent official visits to Kuwait with high-level receptions during which he expressed his gratitude and appreciation for Kuwait's continuous support to the Palestinian people. The Social Reform Society and other associations and institutions in Kuwait were keen to meet and honor him during these visits as part of their efforts to raise awareness about the cause of Jerusalem and Palestine.
May Allah have mercy on the martyr Mujahid Ismail Haniyeh and raise his rank to the highest levels of Jannah. We ask Allah the Almighty to relieve the distress of the people of Gaza, accept their martyrs, heal their wounds, and grant them victory over their enemies.
Social Reform Society
Wednesday, 31/7/2024
Kuwait’s support for Palestinians unshakable
International community urged to shoulder its responsibility, end devastating war
Kuwait has been and continues to be a firm backer of the Palestinian people and their rights on the international stage, out of deep belief in the fairness of their cause and its importance for both the Arab and Muslim worlds. This Kuwaiti stance has been renewed by His Highness the Amir, the then Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, during his participation in the Cairo Peace Summit in October 2023. His Highness Sheikh Mishal stressed Kuwait’s unequivocal rejection of Zionist officials call for forcibly evicting Palestinians out of their lands.
He also urged the international community to shoulder its responsibility, provide protection for Palestinian civilians, and stop the occupation’s devastating war on the Gaza Strip. Kuwait also uses every regional and international platform to defend the Palestinian rights and call for ending the occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the pre-June 5, 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital.
Situation in Middle East
Delivering Kuwait’s speech before a UN Security Council session on the situation in the Middle East on July 17, Kuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya renewed Kuwait’s firm solidarity with the brotherly Palestinian people and support for their legitimate rights, topped with establishing their independent state and achieving a comprehensive and fair peace. “This will lead to achieving security, stability, and development in the region,” Al-Yahya said.
Kuwait’s top diplomat also condemned the massacres against Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. “Gaza has turned into a bleak landscape of destruction, with 40,000 deaths, mostly women and children. The total number of victims under the rubble is unknown,” he regretted. “Zionist entities have turned schools into battlefields and hospitals into landscapes of pain and powerlessness.” Despite the efforts to end these attacks, Zionists continue to cut lives short without any distinction, he noted.
He went on to say that the Zionist authorities are committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing. Calling for unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance across Gaza, Al-Yahya underlined the essential role of UNRWA in supporting the Palestinian people in their darkest hour. Al-Yahya further warned against double standards and expressed support for all initiatives to reach a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian question.
Criminal practices, violations
He highlighted Zionist continued criminal practices and violations of international law, referring to its unilateral decisions aiming to change the current legal and historic status of the occupied territories amid the failure of the UN Security Council to assume its responsibilities. On the sidelines of his participation in the Jordan-hosted international conference for the urgent humanitarian response for Gaza as a Representative of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya affirmed that Kuwait will remain a strong supporter of the Palestinian people and ready to do all in power to end their suffering.
“Kuwait will not hesitate to extend a helping hand to the brotherly Palestinian people and will continue to support them as they face injustice and aggression,” Minister Al-Yahya said. Kuwait Amir’s Representative highlighted Kuwait’s governmental and popular campaigns to collect and provide aid to Palestinian people. He pointed out that Kuwait, since the start of the offensive on Gaza, has launched an airbridge through which 50 aircraft loaded with 1.3 million tons of humanitarian and relief aid were dispatched to the Gaza Strip.
Relief supplies
Moreover, Kuwait has also organized a 100-land and sea aid convoy loaded with relief supplies and shelter materials for Palestinian people during the same period, the minister said. He added that Kuwait has also sent medical teams to the Gaza Strip to help support the collapsing healthcare sector there. “Kuwait acts out of a principled and firm position supporting the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights,” the minister said.
He stated that Kuwait will always be among the main defenders of the Palestinian cause and the leading advocates for a just and comprehensive peace in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions to meet the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, foremost of which is the establishment of their independent state on the borders of June 4, 1967. Minister Al-Yahya emphasized that the international community needs to realize that stability could not be reached in the Middle East region before a just, lasting, and final solution to the Palestinian cause.
He regretted that the people of Gaza have experienced unbearable suffering and reiterated Kuwait’s condemnation of the Zionist occupation’s insistence on obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid and on imposing a blockade and arbitrary measures at Gaza border crossings, which prevented the flow of sufficient vital supplies to the needy residents of the Gaza Strip and exacerbated the humanitarian crisis there. He stressed the need for international efforts to formulate clear visions for ensuring unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip and to end the Zionist occupation’s blatant violations of international laws and guarantee the right of peoples to obtain humanitarian aid during conflicts.
On June 10, Kuwait’s permanent representative to the UN, Nasser Al-Hayen, affirmed that Kuwait will continue to ratchet up aid for the Palestinians, which includes an annual sum worth $500,000 it provides the International Labor Organization. As per the “instructions” of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Kuwait-based charities were quick to shore up urgent aid for the Palestinians, the diplomat said amid a gathering of international donors for the Palestinians, co-organized by Kuwait and Belgium.
Kuwait has already churned out some $112 million worth of urgent aid for the Palestinians since the war against the Gaza Strip began, he said, underscoring that such assistance will continue unimpeded given the scope of their misery. Speaking to the 112nd International Labor Organization’s (ILO) conference on June 6, Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva Ambassador Nasser Al-Hayen told a special session on labor in occupied Arab lands that the current disastrous situation in the Gaza Strip should be addressed promptly to avoid further bloodshed.
Forced displacement
The forced displacement of millions of Palestinians is a heinous crime, which the Zionist occupation was solely responsible for, affirmed the Kuwaiti diplomat, who did not fail to mention the apocalyptic scenes of destroyed infrastructure throughout Gaza. The ILO’s impact of the war in Gaza on the labor market and livelihoods in the occupied Palestinian territory clearly showed the catastrophic humanitarian situation, which touched all Palestinians, specifically laborers there, he added. He revealed that the report suggested that over 200,000 Palestinians have lost their jobs, adding to the unending crimes committed by the Zionist occupiers.
Ambassador Al-Hayen insisted that the Zionist occupation had crossed all redlines and also violated all international laws and norms, including the ILO’s constitution. He pointed out that preventing laborers from across occupied territories to move freely and seek work was another criminal act carried out by the Zionist aggressors. While the world celebrated International Workers’ Day back on May 1, the occasion was marred by Zionist brutalization of Palestinian laborers, causing them to lose job security, stability, and peace, affirmed Ambassador Al-Hayen.
The Kuwaiti diplomat welcomed Article 177 of the ILO report that called for an immediate halt of the unjust war in the Gaza Strip and the end of occupation. On May 26, the State of Kuwait stressed its commitment to continue aid and humanitarian assistance to the people of Palestine and also praised UNRWA’s vital role to serve and help the Palestinians.
“I would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm Kuwait’s commitment to humanitarian and relief aid to the Palestinian people,” Kuwait’s Ambassador to Belgium and head of its missions to the European Union and NATO, Nawaf Al-Enezi, told an international meeting on Palestine in Brussels today. He stressed that “UNRWA represents the backbone of the humanitarian response to Gaza and plays a vital and indispensable role,” and noted that Kuwait recently made a voluntary contribution in the amount of $30 million to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
Al-Enezi welcomed the recent decision by Norway, Spain, and Ireland to recognize the State of Palestine and hoped that other countries will view similar decisions more favorably. He “strongly welcomed” the International Court of Justice’s latest decision ordering Zionists to immediately stop its military operation in Rafah. The Kuwaiti ambassador underlined the necessity to implement Security Council Resolution 2720 and allow the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid in a safe and unhindered manner and to create the necessary conditions for a ceasefire in Gaza.
‘Humanitarian catastrophe’
“And this happens against the verdict of the highest United Nations court—the International Court of Justice (ICJ)—that ordered Zionists to halt the military operation in Rafah and to open the border crossing for humanitarian aid,” said the EU foreign policy chief. He stressed that “we must do everything in our powers: to reach an immediate end of the hostilities; to achieve the immediate release of all hostages; and to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza.”
Referring to the West Bank, Borrell said, “There, we see an intensified spiral of violence and indiscriminate attacks by extremist settlers, who are more and more targeting humanitarian aid heading to Gaza.” Kuwait’s Ambassador Al-Enezi expressed his appreciation “for the detailed presentation made by the Prime Minister Mustafa of his government’s plans and substantial reform agenda in light of the economic, financial, and security challenges facing the new Palestinian government.”
Further, Norwegian foreign minister Espen Eide, in his remarks to the press, called for a ceasefire in Gaza and underlined that “there is no alternative in the long run to the two-state solution.” “We need to make sure that the Palestinian Authority will be able to survive and improve its service and plan for future return to Gaza,” he said. He called on the Zionist regime to transfer the Palestinian money that it collected on behalf of the PA and urged all donors to step up their financial support for Palestine.
At the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in Beijing on May 30, Kuwait Ambassador to China Jassem Al-Najem said the forum adopted three documents after discussion, including “the Joint Statement on the Palestinian Issue.” Kuwait’s Permanent Representative at the Arab League Ambassador Talal Al-Mutairi said during his participation in the 96th session of the Liaison Officers of Arab Regional Offices on Boycott of (Zionist) Occupation Conference that Kuwait called for boycotting Zionist entities and hosted a conference on this issue in 1958. He added that Kuwait also opened an office for the Palestinian Liberation Organization on its land in 1964. — KUNA
Kuwait partakes in global efforts to preserve the environment
‘Sustainable living environment’ in New Kuwait vision
Environmental awakening can largely be dated back to the middle of the past century, when the Greek capital Athens hosted the fourth conference of the International Congress of Modern Architecture (CIAM), proclaiming the Athens Charter for cohabitation between cities and nature. The charter, published by the French architect Le Corbusier in the aftermath of the Industrial Revolution and the two great wars, set the fundamentals for harmony between basic human needs and urban planning - the latest of which is based on greenery.
Since then, there has been a chain of initiatives to cope with the unprecedented environmental challenges and salvage humanity from the impact of the deteriorating nature. States around the globe have been holding annual conferences since 1995 to draw up plans for saving the environment from deterioration, soaring heat and pollution. In this respect, Kuwait is among the top advocates of sustainable urban development friendly to the environment, expanding greenery, stemming desertification, and tapering off repercussions of climatic change resulting from the planet’s overheating.
Kuwait has repeatedly affirmed its unwavering commitment to international, regional, and Gulf resolutions and initiatives, cooperating with the United Nations and its agencies regarding diverse initiatives to protect the environment. The “sustainable living environment,” in New Kuwait vision 2035, is a priority to secure the sustainability of the Kuwaiti climate - through which it also seeks to honor its international obligations at this level. For sake of a sustainable “green future,” Kuwait has executed several projects and plans to beautify plots of land, boost planting, and set up natural reserves.
It believes “carbon neutrality,” to be attained during the middle of the current century, will be quite helpful in the efforts to preserve the environment and create opportunities to launch mega economic projects. Kuwait declared, during the second edition of the Green Middle East Initiative Summit, held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, in November 2022, its full commitment to the initiative as a watershed for the region at the climatic level and a basis for regional cooperation in fighting the ramifications of the climate change.
Kuwaiti governments have put the environment among their priorities, seeking to limit pollution on the land, in the air, and at sea. The 2024-2025 annual development plan on rationalizing natural resources and setting up harmony between urban regions and nature aims at cutting contamination, improving citizens’ quality of life, and building green cities equipped with smart technology. The strategy’s fourth structural scheme (2040) also aims at constructing green buildings. Kuwait Council of Green Buildings, launched in 2009, seeks to secure a sustainable environment.
The Environment Public Authority (EPA) has embarked on various tasks in this regard, importing new beautifying plants and expanding the public green patches. Its plans also aim to stem sand movement and desertification and beautify the country with plants that can withstand severe weather conditions. Public parks are a major component of the greening tasks.
According to statistics declared by the EPA last year, the number of gardens reached 179 with a space of 2,695,993 square meters and 462,142 trees. EPA had planted 2,120,200 trees, and patches covered with flowers are estimated at 285,109 sq m. The number of planted palm trees amounted to 125,942. Moreover, it began in 2018 to plant mangroves that can absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide. Authorities have allotted huge budgets for beautifying the country, and private associations have been taking part in these efforts too. — KUNA
Awqaf signs agreement with Islamic Heritage
The general secretariat of Awqaf announced on Sunday the signing of a cooperation agreement with the Society for the Revival of Islamic Heritage on the project of the global technical learning system and useful science. Acting Secretary-General Nasser Al-Hamad told KUNA that “the agreement aims to spend the budget allocated for the project by the general secretariat of Awqaf to establish a technical learning system.”
“The agreement includes a set of programs and applications that facilitate the delivery of Islamic science, the Holy Quran, and its sciences to science students in Kuwait and around the world in a modern way,” he said. Al-Hamad explained that the project aims to provide specialized platforms that provide free courses and curricula in the fields of Sharia sciences, teaching and memorizing the Holy Quran, promoting moderate Sharia education, and achieving wide access to religious knowledge for all groups around the world. — KUNA
KOTC receives certificate of sustainability
Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC) announced on Tuesday that its headquarters, located in the Shuwaikh area received the certificate of Sustainability Assessment for Operation (Gold Level) - awarded by the Gulf Organization for Research and Development (GORD). Yusuf Al-Saqr, executive vice president of fleet operations at the company, told KUNA that this came after office evaluations and field visits from a specialized external team to compare building data and consumption patterns with environmental sustainability standards.
Al-Saqr added that the company’s achievement (Gold Level) reflects its commitment to its endeavors towards sustainability in line with KPC’s strategy of energy transformation and emission reduction. GORD is considered one of the leading Qatari institutions in the field of environmental sustainability in the Middle East and North Africa and is headquartered in Qatar. Through its diverse activities, the organization seeks to support the transformation of societies, institutional structure, and to build sustainable environment. It seeks to promote innovation and capacity development to enable sustainable low-carbon growth for current and future generations. — KUNA
KISR obtains new patent in nanofluid technology
The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) obtained a new patent in the field of nanofluid technology on Monday from the US Patent and Trademark Office of the US Department of Commerce. The institute said in a press statement on Monday that this invention works on developing a system capable of producing hydrogen gas and nanofluids using effervescent tablets, funded by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS). The project is titled “Dual Hydrogen and Suspension Production System Using Effervescent Tablets Containing Hydrogen Active Production Metallic Particles”.
The research was a joint achievement between Dr Nasser Al-Sayegh, a participating scientific researcher in the Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials Program at KISR, and Dr Husain Bahzad, professor of chemical engineering at the College of Technological Studies at the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training. Professor of mechanical engineering at the College of Engineering and Petroleum at Kuwait University Dr Nawaf Al-Juwayhel and a doctoral student on a scholarship from the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Planning Ali Al-Sayegh also participated in completing the project.
Dr Nasser Al-Sayegh pointed out the possibility of supplying vehicles with electricity through the hydrogen gas produced by the effervescent tablets, in addition to increasing the efficiency of cooling the internal combustion engine by the nanofluids resulting from the chemical reaction. He explained that this method of producing hydrogen is safer for hybrid vehicles than using hydrogen in its gaseous or liquid form in the event of traffic accidents, and it also requires much less storage space than that used to contain liquid or gaseous hydrogen. — KUNA
Martyrs Day reminder of Kuwaiti people’s allegiance to leadership
The anniversary of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait on August 2, also called Martyrs Day, is one of the most important days in the memory of Kuwaiti society because of it embodies the patience, sacrifice and resistance of the Kuwaiti people, Kuwait Martyr’s Bureau said Saturday.
Director General Salah Al-Oufan said in a press statement on Saturday that the day stands as a reminder of the strength of the Kuwaiti people and embodies the greatest confirmation of the Kuwaiti people’s allegiance to their political leadership, Al-Sabah family, who have for decades led the country towards prosperity.
He said that the martyrs of the Kuwaiti resistance recorded honorable contributions in Kuwait’s march towards liberation. The martyrs, he said, represent the determination of the Kuwaiti people to preserve the security, independence and unity of their homeland at every stage of history and showed the world the extent of their adherence to the great values of martyrdom for the sake of Allah and the defense of land and honor.
Oufan added that people who read the books and documents written about this difficult period need decades to absorb the great sacrifices made during that stage in the history of the people of Kuwait, who always prove their ability to face challenges and achieve ambitions and aspirations.
He stated that the historical sacrifices made by the sons of Kuwait for the sake of the homeland are fuel for future generations and represent a continuous hope for a better future under the leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and his faithful Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.
Regarding the events that will be launched during the Martyrs Day, Oufan said that exhibitions will be organized in some malls such as the Avenues Mall, 360 Mall, Salhiya and Khairan under the slogan (Kuwait remains) with an innovative design which introduces new simulation technology via smart devices that enables visitors to learn about the stories of these heroes. — KUNA
Innovation Nation summer camp empowers tech-passionate youths
In partnership between Zain, SACGC and in collaboration with Assima Mall
The second edition of the Innovation Nation (IN) summer camp concluded successfully, engaging over 1,600 young tech enthusiasts. This initiative, a strategic partnership between Zain and Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for Giftedness and Creativity (SACGC) - a KFAS center, and in collaboration with Assima Mall, aimed to enhance tech skills and inspire digital innovation. The camp, which was aimed at 7-14 year olds, featured 126 engaging workshops and hands-on sessions from July 15-21. It was widely received by parents, children, and youth who took the opportunity to learn new tech skills that inspired their passion for technology.
The IN Camp covered a variety of topics related to new technologies, like digital doodling and 3D printing, augmented reality (AR), robotics and programming, electronics, mechanical and software engineering and more. The workshops were facilitated by experts and certified trainers from Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for Giftedness and Creativity. The content was presented in an innovative and engaging manner that appealed to young people.
The workshops were organized and supervised by members of Zain’s FUN program and SACGC’s Talmatha initiative, both of which provide university students with a real-world, part-time work experience, fostering skills like project management, public relations, customer service, teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
This partnership between Zain, SACGC, and Assima Mall is part of the broader Innovation Nation initiative, which encompasses all of Zain’s innovation and entrepreneurship programs. The initiative focuses on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and primarily targets young people and entrepreneurs, aiming to foster a digitally capable generation.
