Headline

Tension in Jerusalem Ahead Of Israeli ‘Flag March’

Published

4 years ago

May 30, 2022

A tense Jerusalem braced for Israel’s “flag march” yesterday as Palestinian groups threatened retaliation over the annual rally that sparked a war last year.

Israel deployed 3,000 police on the day that marks its 1967 capture of east Jerusalem, home of the Al-Aqsa mosque compound located on what Jews revere as the Temple Mount.

Flag-waving Jewish nationalists chanting pro-Israel slogans, among them a far-right lawmaker, in the morning visited Al-Aqsa, where Israeli police said several Palestinians threw rocks toward the officers.

Isolated clashes also broke out at the Old City’s Damascus Gate where dozens of Jewish nationalists danced in front of Palestinians, one of whom raised his shoe in an Arab insult. Police reported 18 arrests over “disorderly conduct”.

Across annexed east Jerusalem, many Palestinian flags flew from rooftops ahead of the “Jerusalem Day” march due to start at 4:00 pm (1300 GMT).

The march last year sparked unrest that led the Islamist armed group Hamas to fire rockets from the blockaded Gaza Strip, triggering an 11-day war.

Hamas warned last week that marchers must not pass through the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, saying it would use all means to confront them.

The route of the march has never included Al-Aqsa, a site which Jewish groups are permitted to visit but where they are not allowed to pray.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Sunday the march would be held “along the regular route” and urged participants to be “respectful”.

Police said that in the morning some 1,800 people ascended to the compound during a regular visitation window — more than normal, but made up mostly of tourists.

Some Jews had “violated visitation rules” and several people were detained, police said without providing further details, before the day’s time window for visits concluded.

One group sang pro-Israel chants including “Yerushalayim rak shelanou” or “Jerusalem belongs to us only”.

Far-right nationalist lawmaker Itamar Ben Gvir, who was among those who went to Al Aqsa, later said his visit aimed “to reaffirm that we, the State of Israel, are sovereign” in the Holy City.

Most of the international community does not recognise Israeli control over east Jerusalem, which Palestinians see as the capital of a future state.

Some participants in Sunday’s march were set to pass through Damascus Gate on their way to the Western Wall, a controversial route for which police force Palestinians businesses to close.

Israel has since April been hit by a series of attacks targeting mostly civilians and has in turn launched military raids targeting armed groups in the occupied West Bank.

Despite the recent violence, tensions have been more muted in the run-up to Sunday’s rally compared to last year.

Security analyst Shlomo Mofaz judged that Bennett was betting the likelihood that for now “Hamas does not have any interest in another war”.

“The main policy of Hamas today is to encourage people inside Israel (to attack), while they continue to reconstruct the Gaza Strip,” said the former intelligence officer.

Some observers believe unrest could be fuelled by fallout from last week’s killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards colonel Sayyad Khodai in Tehran.

According to The New York Times, Israel has informed the United States that the Jewish state’s operatives were responsible for gunning him down.

Without addressing Khodai’s killing, Bennett said that “the era of the Iranian regime’s immunity is over … Whoever arms terrorists … will pay the full price”.

Iran backs Hamas, and Mofaz argued that Tehran may “encourage” Palestinian armed factions to launch rockets at Israel.

Gaza resident Mohamed Al Moughrabi, 20, said that although fear of a new war was high, he expected that “the situation will not be like last year”.

Headline

Xenophobia: FG To Repatriate Over 1,000 Nigerians From South Africa

Published

2 days ago

June 7, 2026

Editor

Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) says more than 1,000 Nigerians in South Africa have undergone screening for voluntary repatriation being facilitated by the Federal Government.

Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday.

Dabiri-Erewa said the screening was being conducted jointly by the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs.

According to her, Saturday marked the third day of the exercise for Nigerians intending to voluntarily return home from South Africa.

“The turnout at the High Commission of Nigeria in Pretoria has been truly impressive.

“The screening started early on Saturday, and Nigerians came out in large numbers to participate in the process.

“In spite of the emotional atmosphere surrounding the prevailing tensions and uncertainty, the exercise has been smooth, peaceful, organised, and highly professional under the supervision of the Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner, Amb. Olatunde Ajayi.

“More than 1,000 Nigerians have registered for the voluntary evacuation, and many more are registering.

“All things being equal, the flights are expected to commence next week through Air Peace, as President Bola Tinubu has approved funds for that purpose,” she said.

Dabiri-Erewa added that five flights are expected to be deployed for the repatriation, with the first batch of evacuees scheduled to depart for Nigeria next week.

NAN reports that the repatriation of Nigerians is coming amid safety concerns of foreign nationals following recent anti-immigrant protests in parts of South Africa.

Headline

Gunmen Shoot 12 People Near Ohio Festival In US

Published

2 days ago

June 7, 2026

Editor

At least 12 people were injured in a shooting near a community festival in the US state of Ohio, prompting a police search for those responsible.

The incident occurred on Saturday near the Old West End Festival in Toledo, according to the Toledo Police Department.

Police said officers responded to reports of gunfire at about 5:37 p.m. local time near the festival grounds.

In an update, authorities said 10 of the victims were in stable condition, while two remained in critical condition.

Speaking on the incident, Toledo Deputy Police Chief Joe said preliminary investigations suggest the shooting involved two individuals.

“It appeared that two people fired weapons and they were probably shooting at each other,” he said, adding that the victims range in age from 16 to 61 years.

Earlier, Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz told local broadcaster WTOL 11 that all of the victims were expected to survive.

The Old West End Festival is a two-day annual event that celebrates one of the largest historic districts in the United States. Activities include live music, food vendors, shopping, house tours, and other community attractions.

Police said investigators are focusing on the area around Delaware Avenue and Robinwood Avenue, where festival activities were taking place.

Videos shared on social media appeared to show festival attendees running for safety as multiple gunshots rang out. Other footage showed emergency responders attending to injured individuals and transporting some victims on stretchers. The videos have not been independently verified.

Reacting to the incident, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine expressed concern and offered support to those affected.

“I am deeply concerned about the situation in Toledo tonight,” he said.

“Summer festivals should be safe spaces for families to spend time together without fear of violence. Fran and I are praying for everyone impacted by the incident at the Old West End Festival, and we are confident that law enforcement will locate the suspects involved in this senseless crime.”

Police have not announced any arrests and continue to search for the suspects.

Headline

US Plans To Use Frozen Iranian Assets To Compensate Gulf Allies

Published

2 days ago

June 7, 2026

Editor

The United States (US) Treasury Department is considering the use of frozen Iranian assets to help Gulf allies recover from damage linked to attacks by Iran during the ongoing conflict, according to a source familiar with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s position.

The source told CBS News on Saturday that the Treasury intends to explore all available legal authorities to make Iranian assets accessible for rebuilding and repair efforts related to any future damage caused by Tehran.

According to the source, Bessent has directed the Treasury Department to obtain detailed estimates from Gulf allies on the costs of repairing damage attributed to Iran since the conflict began.

The department is also assessing whether Iranian assets could be used to fund repairs for damage already sustained by Gulf countries during the war.

The source, however, said it remains unclear which specific Iranian assets could be utilised. These could include frozen cash held in foreign bank accounts or physical assets such as oil tankers.

The development comes as indirect peace talks between the United States and Iran continue.

Iran has maintained that any agreement would require the removal of sanctions and the release of billions of dollars in Iranian assets frozen abroad.

Since the conflict erupted in late February, Iran has carried out intermittent missile and drone attacks targeting Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman.

The reported Treasury proposal signals a possible shift in how the United States may seek to address the financial impact of the conflict on its regional partners while discussions with Tehran continue.