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Palestine

Hamas Responds to the Agreement Proposal

On the 123rd day of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, Hamas announced that it has given its response to the proposed exchange deal. The Qatari Prime Minister described the response as positive, and the US Secretary of State will discuss it with the Israeli government.

Escalation in the Red Sea

The Houthis, a group supporting the Palestinians in Gaza, carried out attacks on two ships in the Red Sea. One ship was damaged, and this action was seen as a response to the American-British aggression against their country.

Blinken is in the Region Again

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is currently touring the region to discuss the war in Gaza. He has met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and will also visit Israel to discuss hostage release negotiations and plans for post-war Gaza.

Refusal to Return to Gaza Strip

The settlers in the Gaza envelope settlements will not return to their homes until they are assured of full security. They expect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to work transparently with them to ensure a safe return.

Detainees in the West Bank

The occupation forces have arrested over 6,800 people in the West Bank since October 7. The detainees and their families have been subjected to attacks and severe beatings.

Mutual Bombing in Southern Lebanon

The Israeli occupation forces bombed several towns in southern Lebanon, while sirens sounded in Israeli areas after missiles were launched from Lebanon. Lebanese Hezbollah targeted Israeli military barracks and soldiers, causing direct hits.

The Number of Martyrs Rises

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that the toll from the Israeli war on the Strip has risen to over 27,500 martyrs and 66,900 injured. The ministry also mentioned that the Israeli occupation committed 12 massacres against families in the past 24 hours.

The Siege of Nasser Hospital Continues

The Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis is facing a shortage of food, surgical supplies, and fuel for the generators. The occupation is preventing the movement of ambulances, putting the lives of medical personnel, wounded individuals, and displaced people at risk.

For his part, the director of the Nasser Complex Surgery Hospital, Nahed Abu Taima, told Al Jazeera that the occupation forces are continuing heavy gunfire around the complex, adding that since the siege of the hospital about two weeks ago, 630 wounded have arrived, most of them seriously injured.

He explained that they are facing major and dangerous challenges, including a shortage of medical personnel and a severe shortage of fuel, which puts the lives of patients and injured at risk.

Source: Al Jazeera

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Science and Technology

An Existential Threat

The war in Sudan is causing concerns about the loss of thousands of diverse plant genetic strains for food and agriculture. The Genetic Resources Bank, also known as the Gene Bank, is being targeted, which could have serious consequences for agricultural biodiversity in Sudan.

The Importance of the Gene Bank

The Gene Bank, established in 1982, is a research center that preserves and maintains seed samples of over 15,000 accessions collected from various regions of Sudan. These samples include local, traditional, and ancient types of crops, as well as wild relatives of agricultural plants like corn, millet, sesame, peanuts, and more.

The Extent of the Damage

The Gene Bank has suffered significant damage due to the war. Refrigerators storing seed samples were looted, and the seeds were found scattered. The lack of optimal environmental conditions for their maintenance puts them at risk of deterioration and damage.

The Importance of Preserving Genetic Resources

Genetic resources are crucial for scientific research, breeding programs, and the development of resilient crops. They play a vital role in achieving food and nutritional security, environmental sustainability, and providing various resources for humans, such as shelter, medicine, clothing, and energy.

Future Risks and Urgent Plan

The loss of genetic resources from the Gene Bank could have a real impact on food security, especially in the face of future risks like climate change. To save the plant genetic resources, an urgent plan is needed. This plan involves temporarily transporting the samples to a safer place within Sudan, ensuring the necessary requirements for their preservation, and eventually sending them to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway for long-term storage.

It is crucial to support the transfer of the remaining seeds to safe areas and the Svalbard Global Seed Vault to protect Sudan's scientific infrastructure and ensure the availability of diverse and resilient crops for the future.

Details of the Deal

Israeli Channel 12 recently revealed some information about a potential exchange deal between Hamas and Israel. The deal, which is still being discussed, would involve the release of 35 Israeli detainees in the Gaza Strip, including women, the wounded, and the elderly. In return, there would be a truce for 35 days. After that, negotiations would continue for the release of more detainees, including young people and those whom Hamas considers to be soldiers.

Concerns about the Deal

The main concern on the Israeli side is not just the number of prisoners that would be released, but also their quality. Releasing a large number of prisoners who were involved in attacks against Israelis would be difficult for the public and politicians to accept.

Hamas' Response

The ball is now in Hamas' court. Mediators have presented the main points of the deal to Hamas, and they are waiting for a response. Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the Hamas Political Bureau, announced that they have received the proposal and are studying it.

The Prisoners Hamas Wants Released

Hamas insists that the deal includes three specific Palestinian prisoners. One of them is Marwan Barghouti, a leader in the Fatah movement who is considered a popular figure in Palestinian society. The second is Ahmed Saadat, the Secretary-General of the Popular Front. The third is Abdullah Barghouti, a member of Hamas and a leader of their military wing in the West Bank.

Netanyahu's Position

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear that he is willing to negotiate a new prisoner exchange deal, but there are red lines that cannot be crossed. He will not agree to stop the war, withdraw army forces from Gaza, or release thousands of Palestinian prisoners. Netanyahu wants to ensure the safety of Israel and eliminate the threat posed by Hamas.

Fears and Concerns

Some officials are worried that Netanyahu's strong statements may push Hamas to reject the deal. They fear that his words might encourage Hamas to take a harder stance and undermine the negotiations. This could allow Israel to continue fighting while blaming Hamas for the failure of the talks.

The Prisoner Situation

Currently, Israel estimates that there are around 136 Israeli prisoners in Gaza. On the other hand, they hold approximately 8,800 Palestinians in their prisons.

Source: Agencies

What is ECOWAS?

ECOWAS, or the Economic Community of West African States, is a group of fifteen countries in West Africa that work together to improve their economies and solve common problems. They started in 1975 and their goal is to help each other become self-sufficient by trading with each other.

ECOWAS also want to work together on important issues like poverty, education, and protecting the environment. It has done a lot of good things over the years, like creating a free trade area and making it easier to trade with other countries. However, they also have some challenges to overcome, like making sure their plans actually happen, dealing with political problems, and making sure everyone is treated fairly.

Why Did Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso Leave ECOWAS?

On January 28, 2024, three countries in Africa, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, announced that they were leaving ECOWAS.  

The decision to leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stemmed from a combination of geopolitical factors and concerns pertaining to regional integration.  Some officials felt that ECOWAS had failed in effectively addressing pressing issues and that leaving the organization would enable them to pursue more agile strategies in dealing with them. Additionally, disagreements over trade policies and economic disparities between member states also contributed to their decision to exit ECOWAS as they sought alternative arrangements that better aligned with their national interests.

Overall, while the departure from ECOWAS could be seen as a move towards greater autonomy for Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, it also underscored a need for stronger regional collaboration on various fronts including security, trade, and development initiatives in West Africa.

Leaving ECOWAS also shows that they don't want other countries telling them what to do, which might make their governments more popular.

 5 Reasons for the withdrawal

1. Disagreement over Sanctions

First things first, all three countries have had military coups in the past few years. ECOWAS, which is a group of West African countries, put sanctions on them to push for a return to civilian rule. But the military leaders in these countries think the sanctions are unfair. They say the sanctions hurt their economies and make life harder for regular people.

2. Insecurity Concerns

Another big reason is that these countries are dealing with a lot of security problems, especially from groups of extremists called jihadists. They feel like ECOWAS hasn't given them enough support in dealing with these threats. They think ECOWAS is not doing its job of keeping the region safe.

3. Straying from Founding Principles

The military leaders also say that ECOWAS has changed from what it was supposed to be. They believe that ECOWAS is supposed to be about African unity and working together as a region. But they think that some countries, especially former colonial powers like France, have too much influence in ECOWAS. They feel like their interests are being ignored.

4. Geopolitical Alliances

Now, here's something interesting. Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali have been getting closer to Russia lately. This has made them feel more distant from their usual Western allies. So, being part of ECOWAS, which has strong ties with the West, might not make them feel like they belong anymore.

5. Domestic Pressure

Lastly, the military leaders in these countries might be feeling pressure from their own people to show that they are in charge and independent. By leaving ECOWAS, they can make a bold move and show that they are putting their country first.

Some think that the military leaders are just using these excuses to stay in power and avoid being held accountable for their actions.  We still don't know what the long-term effects will be for both ECOWAS and the three countries that left it.

Israeli Army Commits Massacres in Gaza

The Israeli occupation army continues to commit massacres against the Palestinians in Gaza. In the past 48 hours, 38 new massacres resulted in the deaths of 350 civilians. Meanwhile, there are international calls for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Fierce Battles in Khan Yunis

Battles between the Palestinian resistance and the Israeli army are ongoing in the city of Khan Yunis in Gaza. The Al-Qassam Brigades and Al-Quds Brigades have been engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli soldiers. The resistance forces have destroyed Israeli military vehicles, seized drones, and destroyed the occupation forces' command headquarters multiple times.

Israeli Soldiers Injured

The occupation army announced that 8 soldiers were injured in the battles in Gaza in the past 24 hours. This brings the total number of injured Israeli officers and soldiers to 2,765 since the beginning of the war.

Withdrawal of Israeli Brigades

The 4th and 55th Brigades of the Israeli army have withdrawn from the Gaza Strip after completing their mission there. The 4th Reserve Brigade, known as "Kiryati," completed its mission in Khan Yunis and left the city.

Massive Arrests in the West Bank

The Israeli occupation forces launched a massive arrest campaign in the West Bank, targeting dozens of Palestinians. Armed confrontations also broke out between the Palestinian resistance and the occupation in Jenin and Tubas. So far, 22 Palestinians have been arrested, including a woman, a wounded child, and a father with his four children.

Kerem Shalom Crossing Closed

The Israeli occupation army declared the Kerem Shalom crossing a closed military zone. Israeli demonstrators have been obstructing the entry of humanitarian aid trucks into Gaza at the crossing for the fourth day in a row.

Raids on Southern Lebanon

The Israeli occupation army launched two raids on towns in southern Lebanon. Yesterday, Hezbollah announced that it carried out seven operations against Israeli sites off the southern border of Lebanon.

American Soldiers Killed in Jordan

Three American soldiers were killed and dozens wounded in a drone attack on a base in Jordan. This is the first time American soldiers have been killed in attacks on American interests since the start of the war on Gaza.

No Confidence Vote in Netanyahu's Government

The Israeli Knesset will vote on a proposal of no confidence in the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This is the second attempt this January. Opposition parties and blocs are calling for an end to the war on Gaza and a political path towards a peace process.

US Arms Shipment to Israel

The White House stated that its policy towards Israel has not changed, denying a report that arms shipments to Israel were being discussed to pressure Netanyahu to reduce the military operation in Gaza.

Demonstrations in America and Europe

Thousands of people demonstrated in France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Bulgaria, and the United States in solidarity with Palestine and to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Demonstrators in the United States set up tents in front of the home of Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, accusing the US of supporting Israel's crimes against humanity.

New Ceasefire Offer

The American Wall Street Journal revealed a new offer for a ceasefire in Gaza. The offer includes a 4-month ceasefire in exchange for the release of all Israeli prisoners. It also proposes a 6-week period of no Israeli attacks to release Israeli prisoners in need of urgent medical care, in exchange for the release of a large number of Palestinian prisoners and increased humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Source: Agencies