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Hamas masterminds top Israel’s ‘dead man walking’ hit list
Israel has threatened that every Hamas member faces death when it invades Gaza but two accused masterminds of the October 7 attacks are at the top of its hit list. Military strategist Mohammed Deif and political leader Yahya Sinwar have already spent time in Israeli or Palestinian jails and been the targets of multiple attempts to kill them. The hunt for the two most senior Hamas leaders in the besieged Gaza Strip will be fierce this time. In the war of words leading up to the impending ground offensive, Israel has said that Sinwar is "a dead man walking" after Hamas fighters killed about 1,400 people and abducted more than 200 in the worst attacks suffered by Israel since its creation 75 years ago. Israel has responded with a withering bombardment of Gaza that has killed more than 3,700 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, and with a volley of deadly warnings. "Hamas terrorists have two options: Be killed or surrender unconditionally. There is no third option," Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said. Hamas spokesmen have responded that the Palestinian Islamist group is "not scared". Security sources outside Gaza say Deif and Sinwar are now embedded in a network of tunnels built to resist the bombing campaign launched after the brutal attacks on communities and military bases near the border shook Israel to its core. But the pair have spent years operating in the shadows. Israel has singled out the 61-year-old Sinwar, who was elected Hamas leader in Gaza in 2017 after Ismail Haniyeh became the movement's supreme leader. Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht called Sinwar the "face of evil" and declared him a "dead man walking". Sinwar was a founding member of Hamas in 1987 during the first Palestinian intifada or uprising and rose through the ranks as a fierce advocate of armed struggle. A graduate of the Islamic University in Gaza, he learned Hebrew during 23 years in Israeli jails. Sinwar was serving four life terms for the killing of two Israeli soldiers when in 2011 he became the most senior of 1,100 Palestinians released in exchange for French-Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. In the shadows Sinwar and Deif were both born in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in Gaza and added to the United States' list of most wanted "international terrorists" in 2015. Hamas is blacklisted as a "terrorist organisation" by the European Union as well as the United States. Much less is known about Deif, Israel's number one public enemy for the past two decades during which he has been accused of organising suicide attacks, kidnappings and other raids. There is only one known full-face photo of the commander of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's military wing. It is at least 20 years old. The others show him either in a mask or standing in the shadows to avoid identification. An audio message from Deif was transmitted by Hamas media on the morning of the attacks dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. "The rage of our people and our nation is exploding," he said. Deif was born Mohammed Diab al-Masri in 1965. His assumed name means "Guest" in Arabic and he reportedly never spends more than one night in the same place. Enemies have dubbed him the "cat with nine lives" as he has survived at least six attempts to kill him. Deif's wife and at least one child were killed in an Israeli air strike during the 2014 Gaza war. Deif has reportedly lost one eye and been left disabled by the attempts on his life but it has not weakened his influence. He has been involved with Hamas since the 1980s and was arrested at the start of the second intifada but escaped, or was released, from a Palestinian Authority prison in 2000. He became head of the Hamas military wing in 2002 and has been Israel's bete noire ever since. Israel has sent repeated warnings to the Hamas leadership since October 7. "Every member of Hamas is a dead man," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But experts say that eliminating Sinwar and Deif would severely weaken but not crush Hamas, which is Israel's declared aim. "Sinwar and Deif are clearly first priority leadership, the loss of which would damage Hamas, but one presumes that the group has contingencies about their loss," said H.A. Hellyer, an international security specialist at the Royal United Services Institute in London. The post Hamas masterminds top Israel’s ‘dead man walking’ hit list appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Medics recount shocking toll of child deaths in Gaza war
Eight sleeping children killed in one strike, doctors fighting but failing to save an unborn child -- such were the stories recounted by Gaza medics on Thursday as Israel stepped up its air strikes. Gaza's Hamas-run government said that children made up 1,524 of the 3,785 people killed since Israel launched a relentless barrage on Gaza in retaliation for the October 7 Hamas attacks. Grief-stricken parents carrying the bodies of children in white shrouds through Gaza streets have become a familiar sight since the war started. Doctors say they are fighting a losing battle against a lack of medicines, water and fuel to keep hospitals running. Eight children aged between two and five were among 10 people from the same family killed in an air strike on a house in the city of Khan Yunis, in southern Gaza, early on Wednesday, relatives said. "The children were asleep when they destroyed the house," their 67-year-old grandfather, Abu Mohammad Wafi al-Bakri, said. Father escaped Diyala, Ayman, Hamada, Zaher, Uday, Jamal, Nabil and Acil all came from one extended family and all slept on the ground floor. It took an hour after the raid to find their bodies, rescuers said. "None of my children were linked to Palestinian organisations and no men were in the house at the time," said Jihad al-Bakri, father of three of the children. He had left his home an hour before the missile hit to try to find water. At Najjar hospital in Rafah, doctors mourned the unborn child of a woman killed by a missile strike early on Thursday. Arij Marwan al-Banna, seven months pregnant, and her daughters, Sarah and Samya, both aged under 10, were killed on the spot, medical sources told AFP. Banna had fled to her parents' house from northern Gaza after Israel warned its 1.1 million people to head south. Doctors operated but could not save her child. She was posthumously named Fatima and her tiny body bag placed atop that of her mother, doctors said. The Israeli military said on Thursday it had carried out hundreds of air raids in 24 hours, targeting Hamas military infrastructure. Terrified Gaza residents have flocked to the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, the only possible escape route from the besieged territory, but it has remained closed. Scores of people waited forlornly about 100 metres (yards) from the crossing hoping that it would reopen to let aid in and refugees out. US President Joe Biden announced after visiting Israel on Wednesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to let some food, water and medicines into Gaza. He said some deliveries could be made on Friday. Wary inhabitants kept away from the gates fearing that they would again be a target for Israel's relentless strikes after the crossing was hit four times last week. "I have been waiting for three days with my family in a house 10 minutes away. We are ready with our bags but we just don't know if or when the crossing will open," said Mohammed, a 40-year-old working for an Italian group. Majed, 43, who works for a German organisation, told AFP: "I came on my own this morning. If the crossing opens, I will get my wife and family -- they're ready." He estimated there were about 400 foreigners, dual nationals and employees of international organisations waiting near Rafah. The Hamas government media office said it had no details on aid deliveries. It said the crossing's head of operations, Fuad Abu Btihan, had been killed in the Israeli strikes. Israel intensified its air strikes after Biden flew home and clouds of black smoke again rose over Gaza City. "It's been tough for three nights, but tonight was the hardest," 60-year-old Umm Mohamed Abu Ziada told AFP. The post Medics recount shocking toll of child deaths in Gaza war appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hundreds dead in Israel-Gaza war as Hezbollah launches attacks
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday warned of a "long and difficult" war, as fighting with Hamas left hundreds dead on both sides after a surprise attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group. The conflict's bloodiest escalation in decades saw Hamas carry out a massive rocket barrage and ground, air and sea offensive Saturday that Israel's army said had killed more than 200 Israelis and wounded 1,000, while soldiers and civilians were taken hostage. Gaza officials said intense Israeli air strikes on the coastal enclave had brought the Palestinian death toll to at least 256, with nearly 1,788 wounded. As fighting raged Sunday, Lebanon's powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah movement said it had fired "large numbers of artillery shells and guided missiles" at Israeli positions in a contested border areas "in solidarity" with Hamas. Israel's army had earlier said it fired artillery on southern Lebanon in response to a shot from the area without identifying the attackers. "We are embarking on a long and difficult war that was forced on us by a murderous Hamas attack," Netanyahu said on X, formerly Twitter, early Sunday. "The first stage is ending at this time by the destruction of the vast majority of the enemy forces that infiltrated our territory," he added, pledging no "respite" until victory. Overnight Israel battered the Gaza Strip with air strikes as rockets from the blockaded Palestinians territory rained on Israel. Sunday morning gun still battles raged between Israeli forces and hundreds of Hamas fighters in multiple locations, including at the Sderot police station across the border from Gaza. Police and Israeli army special forces "neutralized 10 armed terrorists" who were holed up inside the station, a police statement said. The bloody air, sea and land attack launched Saturday by Hamas came half a century after the outbreak of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, taking Israel and the world by surprise. As the UN Security Council called an emergency meeting for Sunday, President Joe Biden voiced "rock solid and unwavering" support for the US ally and warned "against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation". - Hostages and 'so many bodies' - The Israeli army said overnight its forces were still engaged in gun battles in a string of Israel locations, in an operation labelled "Swords of Iron", as reservists were being called up. Hamas earlier released images of several Israelis taken captive, and another army spokesman, Daniel Hagari, confirmed that soldiers and civilians had been kidnapped. "I can't give figures about them at the moment," he said late Saturday, adding there was also a "severe hostage situation" in the Negev desert communities of Beeri and Ofakim east of Gaza. According to Ynet Israeli news website "dozens of Israeli captives, including numerous women, children and elders, are believed to have been taken into the Gaza Strip". The fighting prompted Israel to cut off Gaza's electricity, fuel and goods supplies, Netanyahu said. The Islamist group started the multi-pronged attack around 6:30 am (0330 GMT) on Saturday with thousands of rockets aimed as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, some bypassing the Iron Dome defense system and hitting buildings. Hamas fighters -- traveling in ground vehicles, motorized paragliders and boats -- breached Gaza's security barrier and attacked nearby Israeli towns and military posts, opening fire on residents and passersby. "Send help, please!" one Israeli woman sheltering with her two-year-old child pleaded as militants outside opened fire and tried to break into their safe room, Israeli media reported. Bodies were strewn on the streets of the Israeli town of Sderot near Gaza and inside cars, the windscreens shattered by a hail of bullets. "I saw many bodies, of terrorists and civilians," one man told AFP, standing beside covered corpses on a road near Gevim Kibbutz in southern Israel. "So many bodies, so many bodies." AFP journalists witnessed Palestinian armed men gather around a burning Israeli tank, and others driving a seized Israeli military Humvee vehicle back into Gaza, where they were met by cheering crowds. - 'Gates of hell' - Israeli army Major General Ghasan Alyan warned Hamas had "opened the gates of hell". An AFP journalist in Gaza saw clouds of dust from the remains of bombed residential towers which Gaza's interior ministry said contained 100 apartments. Israel's military said it had warned residents to evacuate before targeting the multi-story buildings used by Hamas. The escalation follows months of rising violence, mostly in the occupied West Bank, and tensions around Gaza's border and at contested holy sites in Jerusalem. Before Saturday, at least 247 Palestinians, 32 Israelis and two foreigners had been killed this year, including combatants and civilians, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials. Hamas labeled its attack "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood" and called on "resistance fighters in the West Bank" as well as in "Arab and Islamic nations" to join the battle. Its armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, claimed to have fired more than 5,000 rockets, while Hecht said Israel had counted more than 3,000 incoming rockets. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said the group was on the "verge of a great victory", vowing to press ahead with "the battle to liberate our land and our prisoners languishing in occupation prisons must be completed". - 'Dangerous precipice' - Air raid sirens wailed across southern and central Israel, as well as in Jerusalem on Saturday, and there were major disruptions at Tel Aviv airport where many carriers canceled flights. Israel said schools would remain closed on Sunday which marks the start of the week. Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, leading to Israel's crippling blockade of the impoverished enclave of 2.3 million people. Israel and Hamas have since fought several wars. The last major military exchange, in May, killed 34 Palestinians and one Israeli. Violence also erupted across the West Bank, including annexed east Jerusalem, with five Palestinians killed and 120 wounded in clashes with Israeli forces and settlers, Palestinian medical services said. Countries around the world condemned the wave of attacks by Hamas, which Israel, the United States and European Union consider a terrorist group. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the attack "terrorism in its most despicable form". But Hamas drew support from other foes of Israel, with Iran's supreme leader declaring he was "proud". UN Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland warned of "a dangerous precipice" and called on all sides to "pull back from the brink". (Rosie Scammell with Adel Zaanoun in Gaza) az-rsc-jd/hkb © Agence France-Presse The post Hundreds dead in Israel-Gaza war as Hezbollah launches attacks appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Royal Blood’ GMA 7’s answer to ABS-CBN’s ‘Dirty Linen’?
The Dingdong Dantes-topbilled new drama-thriller series Royal Blood must be GMA 7’s match-up with ABS-CBN’s long-airing Dirty Linen, bannered by Janine Gutierrez and the network’s seasoned stars John Arcilla, Janice de Belen, Joel Torre, Zanjoe Marudo, Tessie Tomas and Angel Aquino. Just like Dirty Linen, Royal Blood is about a wealthy and largely contemptuous but glamorous family — except for Napoy (Dantes), a widower and illegitimate son of the Royales family patriarch, Gustavo (Tirso Cruz III) who insists on having Napoy and his very young daughter Lizzie (child actress Sienna Stevens, a Filipina-New Zealander) stay with the family and live with his siblings who are all younger than he is. [caption id="attachment_145497" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF GMA-7 | ‘ROYAL Blood’ cast (from left) Megan Young, Mikael Daez, Tirso Cruz III, Dingdong Dantes, Rhian Ramos, Dion Ignacio and Lianne Valentin.[/caption] Napoy has to learn to relate to the peculiarities of his half-siblings, headed by the competitive (or insecure) Kristoff (Mikael Daez), the witty and materialistic Beatrice (sultry Lianne Valentin), the conservative and mysterious Margaret (Rhian Ramos) and their respective spouses and children. (Sidebar: Ramos is the flatmate for a year now of new Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee, who has announced that she is bisexual.) Kristoff’s wife is Diana (Megan Young, Mikael’s real-life wife), who was once Napoy’s girlfriend-great love. They have a son, Archie (Aidan Veneracion), who constantly seeks his father’s approval. Andrew (Dion Ignacio) is the ambitious and business-savvy husband of Margaret. Andrew has a rebellious son, Louie (James Graham) with his first wife. Royal Blood premieres on 19 June as a replacement for the romance series Hearts on Ice, topbilled by Xian Lim and Ashley Ortega. Royal Blood is helmed by Dominic Zapata, who also directed Hearts on Ice. The new series airs weeknights at 8:50 p.m. on GMA 7 and at 11:30 p.m. from Monday to Thursday and at 11 p.m. every Friday on GTV. Global Pinoys can also catch the program via GMA Pinoy TV. ‘Dirty Linen’ fancon in US And what is Dirty Linen up to these days? It’s prepping for a fan convention (fancon) in Sacramento, California on 24 June. The venue is the Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. The first-ever Kapamilya convention will feature performances by Dirty Linen cast members Zanjoe Marudo, Francine Diaz, Seth Fedelin, Janine Gutierrez and John Arcilla. [caption id="attachment_145501" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF ABS-CBN | ‘DIRTY Linen’ stars (from left) Seth Fedelin, Francine Diaz, Janine Gutierrez and Zanjoe Marudo.[/caption] Dirty Linen has consistently been in the top 10 shows in cable and satellite, and on iWantTFC in the US since its launch on January 23, 2023, according to content maker ABS-CBN. The fancon will feature a variety of games and activities for guests to participate in immersive exhibits where guests can experience the world of Dirty Linen, an exclusive sneak peek of new episodes and so much more. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster, or fans may call the box office at 916-808-5181 Mondays–Wednesdays from 12 noon to 5 p.m. The event is presented by World Remit and MX3. ‘Love at First read’ Now also airing on GMA 7 is the network’s second collaboration project with Wattpad Webtoon: LUV IS: Love at First Read. The series is bannered by one of the most sought-after Sparkle loveteams today, Mavy Legaspi and Kyline Alcantara, who play the lead roles of Kudos and Angelica/Abby. [caption id="attachment_145498" align="aligncenter" width="525"] PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF gma-7 | MAVY Legaspi and Kyline Alcantara in ‘Luv Is: Love At First Read.’[/caption] Love at First Read is based on the hit Wattpad webnovel with the same title, which has amassed 23.3 million reads. Written by “Chixnita” (a pseudonym), it follows the story of Kudos, a secret romantic searching for the perfect girl. He finds a diary and believes that its owner, Abby, is the one for him. However, he also meets Angelica, a jaded girl who distrusts men and has no interest in love. They clash at first but as they get to know one another, their feelings begin to grow. Kudos is soon torn between Angelica and Abby — not knowing that they are actually one and the same person. Completing the cast of the adaptation are Josh Ford as Train; Pam Prinster as Hazel; Bruce Roeland as Risk; Larkin Castor as Shield; Therese Malvar as Abigail; Mariel Pamintuan as Sandy; and Gabby and Kiel Gueco as the mysterious Psalm and Philemon, who are Kudos’ cousins. Also starring are engaging thespians Maricar de Mesa as Yumi, Abby’s mom; Jestoni Alarcon as Hector, Kudos’ dad; and Jackie Lou Blanco as Truly, Kudos’ mom. LUV IS: Love at First Read is directed by Mark Sicat dela Cruz with Carlo Cannu as associate director. It airs Mondays to Fridays at 5:40 p.m. on GMA-7. With Maria Regina M. Amigo as head writer, the writing pool is composed of Liberty L. Trinidad, Benjamin Benson A. Logronio and Loi Argel R. Nova. Happily, there is no mayhem or murder in Love at First Read. The post ‘Royal Blood’ GMA 7’s answer to ABS-CBN’s ‘Dirty Linen’? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DILG seeks probe over ‘balete’ collapse
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. ordered the Bureau of Fire Protection to investigate incident on Thursday night where several houses near a creek in Recto, Manila collapsed after a tree fell on them. In a statement on Friday, Abalos directed the BFP to submit its recommendation as soon as possible to his office to prevent similar incidents from occurring anew. “I gave the BFP a directive to investigate the incident and I expect them to submit their report and recommendations in the coming days,’’ Abalos said. Initial reports from the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office disclosed that three persons died and nine others were injured from the incident that occurred at Alvarado Street in Barangay 294. The fatalities included a two-year-old child. Aside from the BFP and the MDRRMO, other fire volunteer groups responded to the incident and assisted in bringing the affected residents to safer grounds. Abalos sympathized with the families of the victims and instructed the local officials to provide the necessary assistance to them. “We condole with the family of the victims of this tradegy. We also call on the local officials to ensure that the affected residents are provided with the assistance and to do everything to make sure that similar tragedies of this nature do not happen or occur again,’’ Abalos said. The DILG chief also commended the BFP and the MRRDMO for their immediate response to the incident. The post DILG seeks probe over ‘balete’ collapse appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DILG lauds SPD on missing child case
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. commended the quick action of Southern Police District in the case of the missing 10-year-old child in Makati City. “With the quick action of Makati Police and Southern Police District led by Brig. Gen. Kirby John Kraft and the duty investigators SSgt. Benjamin Ian Gran and PEMS Dominador Robles, authorities were able to trace the whereabouts of the missing child and safely return him to his family,” Abalos said in a statement on Sunday. Based on the SPD report, the child disappeared on the morning of 10 May in Barangay San Antonio, Makati City where CCTV in their area caught the child leaving their house and authorities immediately conducted an investigation after the child’s parents sought help. At around 7:30 p.m., the child’s family and the police received a video from a concerned citizen regarding the whereabouts of the missing toddler, which prompted duty investigator Gran and Robles, who immediately went to the said location. The police arrived at the area around 8:30 p.m. and found the minor while being helped by a female concerned citizen who contacted the child’s relative. “Thank you so much for your immediate action. We salute the effective and reliable service of our police force for our people. This is the kind of public service that is needed to maintain order and safety in our communities,” Abalos said. The post DILG lauds SPD on missing child case appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Cebu topnotcher shares secret to success: Strong support system of family, friends
CEBU CITY, Philippines — A good support system of family and friends is Elijah Cabase’s secret to his placing 5th in the March 2024 Medical Technologists Licensure Examinations (MTLE). This 23-year-old University of Cebu-Banilad alumnus said that he was not even expecting to pass because he described himself as a confessed procrastinator — or one.....»»
Pertussis or whooping cough: 40 child deaths so far this year – DOH
MANILA, Philippines — Assistant Health Secretary Albert Domingo reported on Wednesday that as of March 16 this year, some 40 children had died of whooping cough — a respiratory infection also called pertussis. An increase in new pertussis cases nationwide had been observed nationwide, with 28 cases reported from March 10 to 16. READ: What.....»»
Pause
Like the biblical exodus, the Holy Week period has always ushered in so much travel of people going out of town, or trips abroad for the rich ones......»»
Davao police clueless on Quiboloy’s whereabouts
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 24 March) — Police authorities in the Davao region claim they are still clueless on the whereabouts of Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy. The Senate had earlier ordered the arrest of Quiboloy for his continued refusal to attend its investigation of alleged human trafficking and child abuse. Police major Catheine Dela Rey, Police […].....»»
Dating child star na si Krystal Reyes engaged na sa non-showbiz BF
ENGAGED na ang former child star na si Krystal Reyes sa kanyang non-showbiz boyfriend na si Lawrence dela Cruz. Ibinandera ni Krystal sa kanyang Instagram account kahapon, March 25, ang ginawang marriage proposal sa kanya ng partner. Makikita sa photo na ipinost ng dating child actress sa IG ang kanyang fiancé na nakaluhod sa harapan.....»»
Second graft case filed vs Magalong
Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong is facing another graft case before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the allegedly anomalous improvement and rehabilitation of a P50-million multipurpose building in Barangay Irisan......»»
AC gov t to strengthen child protection policies
AC gov t to strengthen child protection policies.....»»
The real pasaways
The local internet came down hard last week on an anonymous teacher who was caught on livestream giving her students a scorching tongue-lashing for what she claimed was their lack of respect and discipline. Almost hysterical, Teacher X called them good-for-nothings without a future. Predictably, netizens deplored her derogatory language, which they equated with child abuse, and called on the Department of Education to investigate the incident and impose some disciplinary measure on the teacher concerned......»»
Lent and a unifying faith
The value and meaning of Lent has, over time, evolved from my perspective as a child growing up in a Catholic household, to the lens of an itinerant who has lived in countries where religion is hardly spoken of or where the dominant faith is different from mine......»»
Abalos: P21 billion drugs seized since BIDA’s start in 2023
At least P21 billion worth of illegal drugs were confiscated since the start of the government’s BIDA or Buhay Ingatan, Droga ay Ayawan flagship program last year, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said yesterday......»»
MIAA sees over 1 million arrivals this Holy Week
The Manila International Airport Authority is expecting an influx of over one million passengers this coming Holy Week......»»
Abegail Rait donates Francis M photo memorabilia to Boss Toyo
After a few months of silence since revealing in the same online show that she has a child with the late Francis M, Abegail Rait has returned to Boss Toyo to give him six photos allegedly taken from her and Francis M's past trips. .....»»
Brigada News FM probes controversial child abuse interview
Brigada News FM probes controversial child abuse interview.....»»
Tell it to SunStar: Mother’s request for live interview with sexually abused 4-year-old child was no valid excuse
Tell it to SunStar: Mother’s request for live interview with sexually abused 4-year-old child was no valid excuse.....»»