Negotiations to secure a cease-fire in the besieged Gaza Strip and free hostages who remain there are 'moving forward', the White House said on Friday.

Talking to reporters, Kirby said that 'The process is actually moving forward. It's moving forward in the way we had outlined earlier in terms of these next rounds of talks. Now, what's critical is that everybody participate in these talks, and that the sides continue to work towards implementation', he said.

He denied reports that the talks are near collapse, saying they are 'not accurate'.

'Early signs in Cairo, and these are early signs, is that the discussions have been constructive, but there's more talks to come here over the course of the weekend. We need now for both sides to come together and work towards implementation', he added.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid called on Tuesday for an end to what he said are Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attempts to 'sabotage' the talks, urging him to strike a deal 'now'.

He urged Netanyahu to attend the Cairo talks in-person, saying 'the only reason he doesn't do it is because he no longer has a soul'.

Asked by Anadolu about suggestions that Netanyahu is negotiating in bad faith, Kirby said: 'We've had constructive conversations with our Israeli counterparts in the last few days' pointing in particular to a call US President Joe Biden held with Netanyahu on Wednesday.

'I would characterize those as constructive conversations, but as I said before, I'm happy to repeat, we're in Cairo. They're in Cairo. We need Hamas to participate, and we need to get down to the brass tacks of locking in these details. And that's what we're focused on here in the next, coming days here over the course of the weekend', he said.

The White House said at the time that during their conversation, Biden stressed to Netanyahu 'the urgency of bringing the cease-fire and hostage release deal to closure and discussed upcoming talks in Cairo to remove any remaining obstacles'.

The last round of mediated negotiations ended Friday in Doha, Qatar with the US presenting the parties with what the White House described as a 'final bridging proposal' that it put on the table for Israel and Hamas, claiming it is consistent with the principles supported by Biden on May 31. A senior Biden administration official said this week's talks would seek to conclude the months-long negotiations.

The details of the proposal the US put forward remain shrouded in secrecy. But Hamas has since rejected it, saying it aligns with new conditions set by Netanyahu.

Hamas said the 'proposal meets Netanyahu's conditions and aligns with them, particularly his refusal of a permanent cease-fire, (of) a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and his insistence on continuing the occupation of the Netzarim Junction, the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphi Corridor'.

The Palestinian group was referring to two strips of land in Gaza, one of which was recently built by Israel and separates the coastal territory into a northern and southern section. The Philadelphi Corridor follows the Gazan-Egyptian border. The Rafah border crossing sits along the Philadelphi Corridor.

Egypt has insisted that Israel withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor, and the Rafah border crossing, but Netanyahu's office said Thursday that he 'is committed to the principle that Israel will control the corridor to prevent the rearmament of Hamas'.

Hamas has long insisted on the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the permanent end to the war as part of any cease-fire deal. But Netanyahu has dismissed the conditions, maintaining his troops will remain in Gaza for as long as he deems necessary.

For months, the US, Qatar and Egypt have been trying to reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas to ensure a prisoner exchange and cease-fire and allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. But mediation efforts have been stalled due to Netanyahu’s refusal to meet Hamas’s demands to stop the war.

The talks are continuing amid concerns that Iran could soon retaliate for the assassination of Hamas' former political leader in Tehran late last month.

Kirby maintained that the US continues to believe Iran is 'still prepared to do something if, in fact, they choose to do something'.

'Therefore we got to be prepared, and we are. We have bolstered our military capabilities in the region, and we're watching it every single day',he said.

Over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 93,000 wounded in Gaza over the course of Israel’s over 10-month war, according to official figures. The vast majority of the dead have been women and children.

The true death toll, however, is feared to be significantly higher than the official tally, with many missing Gazans feared dead under the millions of tons of rubble, or buried in haphazard graves.

Doha, 22 August 2024

Hamad International Airport (HIA Doha) announced recently that July 2024 has become the busiest month in its operational history, by serving a remarkable 4.73 million passengers.

This milestone represents a significant 10.2% increase compared to July of the previous year, solidifying the airport’s status as a leading global aviation hub.

This surge in passenger numbers can be attributed to several key factors:

The airport's airline partners have increased their flight frequencies to cater to the heightened demand during the summer travel season.

Additionally, Qatar Airways, the national carrier, expanded its network of destinations and introduced seasonal summer operations, further enhancing the airport's connectivity. Total aircraft movement at Hamad International Airport in July increased by 3.9 per cent compared to the previous month.

The load factor, which measures how full flights are, stood at 82.8%, indicating a high occupancy rate for flights operating at Hamad International Airport. This high load factor reflects the efficient utilisation of capacity.

The previous record for the busiest month was set in January 2024, when Hamad International Airport served 4.5 million passengers.

The top destinations in July were London, Bangkok, Dubai, Riyadh and Jeddah; whereas the top countries are India, USA, UK, Saudi Arabia and UAE.

 HIA, a diverse lifestyle destination is designed to meet and exceed the expectations of global travellers with  a diverse lifestyle.

Housed in one expansive terminal, the airport integrates contemporary shopping and dining options, entertainment and relaxation facilities, and a world-class art collection from internationally acclaimed artists.

In 2024, Hamad International Airport has been named the 'World’s Best Airport' at the SKYTRAX World Airport Awards, winning the title for the third time.

The airport also collected the 'Best Airport Shopping' for the second year running, 'Best Airport in the Middle East' for the 10th time in a row, 'Best Airport 40 to 50 million Passengers' and the 'Cleanest Airport in the Middle East' for the second time.

Hamad International Airport has successfully completed the first Phase of its airport expansion project, which has significantly increased capacity and enhanced its multi-dimensional offering.

Delivering on its promise to be the ‘airport-of-the-future’, Hamad International Airport’s expansion features a refreshing environment of lush greenery, as well as contemporary retail and dining concepts among other leisure attractions and facilities.

Doha, 14 Aug. 2024

By Dr Wael Shadid

It is expected that there will be a strong diplomatic movement to stop the war, as Iran will link its non-response to stopping the war in Gaza.

I believe that the circumstances have become very suitable, as each party will consider itself victorious over the other.

Israel will consider itself victorious because it killed the head of Hamas, his deputy, and a group of the resistance's military leadership, destroyed Gaza, and set it back decades. The resistance will consider itself victorious because it was not broken, and the Palestinian people in Gaza did not emigrate and endured all this destruction and did not surrender; this is a global experience of steadfastness that will be recorded in history. The Iranian party will consider that it was a major reason for stopping the war of extermination, and Hezbollah will consider itself the only one that stood by the Palestinian people and that it stopped the clash with the occupation when Israel stopped the war on Gaza.

This is also the last chance for the United States to stop the war, as the circumstances and the pattern are now very appropriate, and it is its last chance to impose a ceasefire, especially since it realizes that Netanyahu has lost his political sanity and rationality, and that he himself seeks to destroy and dismantle Israel state, and that he has become a rebel, and that he has become an unbearable burden on the international community.

Europe also realizes that Netanyahu is no longer suitable to remain in power, as he is causing the region to ignite without any additional benefit for the Israel state, especially after 10 months of the unprecedented and embarrassing war of annihilation for all international policies and interests in the region.

This is the appropriate circumstance now and the pattern that will attract everyone so that each party comes out and declares its victory, and ends this unprecedented massacre that is shaking the whole world.

The loss of this chance will be catastrophic not only for the region but also at the international level.

(Dr. Wael Shadid is Head of the Leadership and Diplomacy Center (more…)

Rawalpindi, 12 Aug. 2024(Dawn)

Former intelligence chief Faiz Hameed has been taken into military custody and the process for his court martial has been initiated in connection with the Top City housing scheme scandal, the army’s media wing said on Monday.

The development is a first in the country’s history where a court martial has been initiated against a former spymaster.

“Complying with the orders of Supreme Court of Pakistan, a detailed court of inquiry was undertaken by Pakistan Army, to ascertain correctness of complaints in Top City case made against Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd),” said a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

It added: “Consequently, appropriate disciplinary action has been initiated against Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd), under provisions of Pakistan Army Act.”

 Arrest of a close ally of imprisoned former prime minister, fascist Imran Khan, who replaced then ISI Chief and present army chief Gen Syed Munir and handpicked General Hameed to serve as spy chief during his tenure. Gen Syed Asim Munir brought to the knowledge of Prime Minister Imran Khan involvement of his 3rd spouse Bushra Bibi in severe corruption. However, Imran Khan who himself is presently facing mega corruption cases pressurised then army chief Gen Qamar Bajwa to move Gen Syed Asim Munir and replace with Gen Faiz Hameed.

It is widely known and a number of times admitted by Imran Khan that he had been taking support of the superior agency to handle severely with political opponents and in running parliamentarian affairs in his favour.

Retd Gen Faiz Hameed is believed to be behind 9th May 2023 attacks on over 200 military installations in retaliation of Imran Khan's arrest and creating division among forces against army chief Gen Syed Asim Munir.

Failed agitations by Imran Khan against appointment of army chief Gen Syed Asim Munir is largely believed on back was Gen Faiz Hameed.

There is possibility that a number of other cases may be opened against Lt Gen (Retd) Faiz Hameed in military court.

Former cricketer turned 'politician' and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has admitted in superior court also that when he was arrested where people would have gone to protest other than power base of country.

Imran Khan through his video recorded protest call had sent message to his 'supporters' to move if he was arrested. Various groups across the country at a time attacked on sensitive armed forces installations including Air Force base destroying fighter jets, military headquarter, superior intelligence agency buildings to smashing of memorials of those sacrificed their lives in defending the country.

File Picture: Then Prime Minister Imran Khan (right) is seen with then ISI Chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed

Gaza City, Palestine, 06 August 2024

Palestinian resistance group Hamas on Tuesday appointed Commander Yahya Sinwar, 61, as head of the political wing 'succeeding the martyr Commander Ismail Haniyeh, may [God] have mercy on him', the group said in a brief statement.

Sinwar has been chosen after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, Head of the Political Wing on Wednesday, 31st July's early morning in Tehran. Shaheed Haniyeh attended the swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday of Iran’s new president Masoud Pezeshkian.

Hamas and Iran have accused Israel of assassinating Haniyeh, but Tel Aviv has not denied or confirmed its responsibility. However, Israel's involvement is confirmed from the immediate reaction on the newly appointment of Yahya Sinwar. Foreign Minister Israel Katz calls to “swiftly eliminate” Yahya Sinwar, who was appointed by Hamas as the terror group’s new political leader replacing Ismail Haniyeh who was killed in Tehran last week, The Times of Israel reported.

Tel Aviv has been accusing Sinwar as mastermind of October 7 attack,  is Israel’s most-wanted Hamas leader, with Tel Aviv accusing him of masterminding the Oct. 7 attack, which prompted Israel to launch a devastating military campaign in the Gaza Strip that killed around 40,000 Palestinians including children, elderly, women, patients since Oct. 7, 2023 as per the local health authorities. Israeli brutal and barbaric attacks has turned major part of Gaza into ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.

Sinwar was born in a Gaza refugee camp, south of Khan Younis, and was the former head of the Al-Majd security apparatus, tasked with eliminating Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel. He was appointed as Hamas leader for Gaza Strip in 2017.

Sinwar is one of several Hamas and Israeli leaders for whom the International Criminal Court (ICC) sought an arrest warrant over allegations of war crimes committed on October 7, including Netanyahu and Israeli defence chief Yoay Gallant, on alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Al Jazeera senior political analyst Marwan Bishara on newly appointment of Sinwar said that 'and of the fact that Hamas is not about to lose Gaza, that Hamas is going to remain a power within Gaza, and hence it's leader is there'.

Dr Ibrahim Hamami, a Palestinian Researcher commenting on newly appointment of Commander Yahya Sinwar as Hamas Political Wing Chief has said that Hamas announced tonight its "selection" of Yahya Sinwar as the head of its political bureau, succeeding the late Ismail Haniyeh, with unanimous agreement...