04/10/2025
Gaza plan, 3 Oct. 2025
Friday 3 Oct. - 10pm GMT
- -Hamas has accepted several core provisions of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza, including the return of all captives, living or dead.
- -Hamas is firm that the plan cannot be implemented without negotiation and says that returning the captives in 72 hours is unrealistic.
- -Trump has responded to Hamas’s statement on social media, writing that “Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly!”
- -Some in the Israeli government see acceptance of the deal as a defeat, while some members of Hamas’s military wing also resisted it.
02/10/2025
Avaaz: 100 Civil Society Groups Appeal for Safe Passage for Civilians Under Siege in El Fasher
Avaaz
100 Civil Society Groups Appeal for Safe Passage for Civilians Under Siege in El Fasher
* Two consecutive RSF attacks on El Fasher kill 22 civilians in 48 hours *
* Reports indicate RSF shelling of the city is ongoing right now *
THU, 2 OCT -- 100 civil society organisations and humanitarian actors have called for urgent civilian protection in El Fasher, the besieged capital of North Darfur. Time is running out for the estimated 260,000 civilians, including 130,000 children, trapped in Darfur’s final battleground between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The call comes as conditions for people in El Fasher continue to deteriorate, with reports indicating the RSF is shelling the city right now. This follows a spate of recent attacks. On Wednesday, the Sudan Doctors Network reported that 16 civilians, including three women, were killed and 21 others injured, among them five children, in a deliberate drone attack on residential neighborhoods. El Fasher resistance committees coordination identified the location of the attack as a civilian gathering in Daraja Awlaa neighbourhood. Just a day earlier, at least six civilians were killed and dozens injured, when the RSF shelled one of El Fasher’s largest displacement shelters, striking as families gathered for breakfast.
These recent attacks are just the latest in a siege of the city by the RSF, which has now lasted over 500 days. The RSF has repeatedly used starvation as a weapon of war, by blocking food and lifesaving humanitarian assistance from entering. Meanwhile, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reports that there are no safe exit routes from El Fasher.
Given the critical situation, a statement coordinated by PAEMA and Avaaz, and signed by 100 groups including Refugees International, The Sentry and the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, urgently calls for safe humanitarian access, including voluntary safe passages for civilians trapped in El Fasher.
"Evacuation routes need to be secured without delay to provide civilians in El Fasher safe, voluntary, and dignified passage," the statement says. "The greatest solution to address civilian protection threats in Sudan is a comprehensive nationwide ceasefire.
Jamal, who helps run a local soup kitchen, told Avaaz on Wednesday: “The RSF targeted innocent displaced people inside the Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq shelter. Entire residential blocks were set ablaze. Two young children lost their mother in the attack. No one has yet identified them or found their families. They remain alone in the shelter. The humanitarian situation is catastrophic—famine, shelling, killing. Even the centers meant for safety are not spared.
"We beg for the siege of El Fasher to be broken and for humanitarian assistance to reach us. Civilians are starving, children are dying, and every day brings new massacres. Life here has become unbearable."
Over 470,000 people have been displaced from El Fasher and surrounding areas since the start of the siege in May 2024. In the past four weeks, the violence has sharply escalated, along with attacks on civilians. Men of fighting age are killed on the road. Leaving El Fasher is now more dangerous than staying despite the daily shelling and frequent drone attacks.
The joint statement lays out four core measures in order to avoid mass civilian casualties in El Fasher:
- Safe and voluntary routes must be immediately secured for civilians to leave El Fasher.
- An evacuation coordinator should be identified from a lead agency with operational capacity and a ground presence.
- Humanitarian access routes must be established and monitored using satellite imagery and surveillance UAVs, with daily reports provided to relevant UN bodies, agencies, and key stakeholders.
- Humanitarian access to El Fasher must be secured to provide life-saving assistance, including medical care, to these vulnerable populations. The humanitarian response across North Darfur must also be scaled up.
Many in El Fasher are not able to safely evacuate the city because they are starving, weak, sick, elderly, disabled, or injured. Humanitarian aid must include water, food, medicine and other essential supplies. Aid access is also urgent to counter confirmed famine and the worst cholera outbreak Sudan has seen in years, having already caused at least 350 deaths in Darfur.
“With famine spreading and daily bombardments killing civilians, the international community cannot sit by and watch another Rwanda or Srebrenica unfold." said Andrew Legon, Avaaz Campaign Director
Aidons à évacuer les universitaires gazouis
Lundi soir des avions au départ de Gaza transportant 15 enfants palestiniens malades et 66 membres de leur famille ont atterri en Italie.
Mais en France, toute évacuation de Gaza est suspendue depuis le 1er août, même dans le cadre du programme PAUSE qui depuis 2017 offre des visas temporaires pour des artistes et scientifiques en danger.
Certains député.es, dont Marie Pochon, Pouria Amirshahi, Karim Ben Cheikh, réclament la reprise des évacuations pour les lauréats de PAUSE.
Marie Pochon, députée EELV de la Drôme, se rend avec d'autres élu.es cet après-midi devant le Ministère des Affaires étrangères.
Il s'agit de soutenir Mathieu Yon, un citoyen français qui depuis mercredi dernier a pris place sur un banc en face du ministère pour demander la reprise des évacuations. Et notamment pour son amie Alaa al-Qatrawi qui a perdu ses 4 enfants lors d'un bombardement de Gaza.
Voici le communiqué de la députée :
INVITATION DE MARIE POCHON Rencontre avec Mathieu Yon Judi 2 octobre - 13h/13h30 sur le banc en face du 33 Quai d'Orsay
Depuis une semaine, un agriculteur drômois originaire de Dieulefit, Mathieu Yon, est assis
tous les jours sur un banc devant l'Assemblée nationale.
Il le fait pour alerter sur la situation d'une poétesse gazaouie, Alaa Al-Qatrawi, qui est en attente de la validation par le MAE de son dossier "PAUSE" (Programme national d'Accueil en Urgence des Scientifiques et des artistes en Exil) pour pouvoir se réfugier à Dieulefit.
Le collectif qui s'est formé pour l'accueillir lui a trouvé un logement, a élaboré un projet artistique et professionnel (editions, performances, lectures et post doctorat) et prévu un salaire pour garantir la subsistance de cette poétesse au cours de sa première année en France.
La somme d'argent nécessaire à financer ce projet a deja été réunie.
Mais ce programme a été interrompu brutalement cet été, suite à la décision des Ministères
des affaires étrangères et de l'Intérieur de couper, suite à un cas isolé, toute évacuation des
Gazaouis, niant le droit international et le droit d'asile par la punition collective.
Aujourd'hui le Ministère ne les a toujours pas reçus. Et aucune réponse n'est apportée aux
nombreux collectifs, partout en France, qui attendent la levée de ce gel injuste.
Pour venir en soutien de Mathieu Yon, plusieurs député-es iront à sa rencontre ce jeudi 2 octobre de 13h a 13130, a son banc, situe au niveau du pont de la Concorde, a droite
La presse est conviée à cette rencontre. Merci d'indiquer si vous souhaitez y participer.
>> Contact presse - Clothilde Baudouin : 06 59 46 66 31
30/09/2025
29/09/2025
Bristol Palestine Film Festival 2025
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27/09/2025
South Africans march in Cape Town to condemn violence in Gaza
Demonstrators march towards South Africa's parliament during a protest to show support to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, in Cape Town, South Africa, September 27, 2025. REUTERS/Esa Alexander
26/09/2025
Yamine Hamdan - interview
A trailblazing comeback: Yasmine Hamdan weaves memory, grief, and joy into her first album in six years
The New Arab Meets: Lebanese singer Yasmine Hamdan to discuss her musical comeback after burnout, Lebanon's collapse, and renewal in solitude
7 min read
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Read here:
https://www.newarab.com/features/poetic-powerful-and-personal-yasmine-hamdans-musical-return
23/09/2025
My report on the 3rd edition of DZ Fest, the Algerian festival in London!
DZ Fest showcases Algerian culture in the UK
DZ Fest held its third such festival in London in the latter half of September, celebrating the culture and unity of a growing Algerian anglophone community, with events in both the capital and Nottingham.
Founder and creative director Rachida Lamri - an artist at heart, musician, and member of the London-based Arabo-Andalusian orchestra - curated a programme showcasing Algerian music, traditions, and cuisine.
https://www.rfi.fr/en/video/20250923-dz-fest-showcases-algerian-culture-in-the-uk
21/09/2025
UK recognises Palestinian state, Starmer announces
Keir Starmer has announced the UK's recognition of a Palestinian state. "Today, to revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution, I state clearly - as prime minister of this great country - that the United Kingdom formally recognises the state of Palestine," he says in a video statement.
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You can listen to him on his social media:
"Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine," he said.
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Also on the BBC:
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cpw1qkyke4nt#player
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Starmer urges Israel to stop 'cruel tactics' and let 'aid surge in' as he warns hope of a two state solution is 'fading'
Starmer continued: "We have evacuated the first group of sick and injured children to the United Kingdom to be treated by the NHS, and we continue to increase our humanitarian support, but still nowhere near enough aid is getting through. We call again on the Israeli government to lift the unacceptable restrictions at the border, stop these cruel tactics, and let the aid surge in. With the actions of Hamas, the Israeli government escalating the conflict and settlement building being accelerated in the West Bank, the hope of a two state solution is fading. But we cannot let that light go out.
"That is why we are building consensus with leaders in the region and beyond, around our framework for peace. This is a practical plan to bring people together behind a common vision and a series of steps, including the reform of the Palestinian Authority, that takes us from a ceasefire in Gaza to negotiations on a two state solution. We will keep driving this forward. As part of this effort I set out in July the terms upon which we would act in line with our manifesto to recognise Palestinian statehood. That moment has now arrived.
"So today, to revive the hope of peace and a two state solution, I state clearly, as prime minister of this great country, that the United Kingdom formally recognises the state of Palestine. We recognise the State of Israel, more than 75 years ago, as a homeland for the Jewish people. Today we join over 150 countries who recognise a Palestinian state also, a pledge to the Palestinian and Israeli people that there can be a better future. I know the strength of feeling that this conflict provokes."
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Kristyan Benedict, Amnesty’s crisis response manager, has welcomed Starmer’s announcement, but said it will be a “hollow gesture” if the British government does not to take stronger action to help end Israel’s “genocide” against Palestinians.
Benedict said:
"Recognition is no doubt significant but will be a hollow gesture if the UK does not also seek to end Israel’s genocide, illegal occupation, and system of apartheid against the Palestinian people. For recognition or any ‘political solution’ to be effective, it must be firmly rooted in respect for human rights and international justice.
The UK needs to take action now to ensure Israel lifts the blockade on Gaza, dismantles illegal settlements, ends apartheid, respects Palestinians’ right to return, and upholds the rights of victims on all sides to justice and full reparation.
"Words alone won’t stop the atrocities. Recognition must be tied to real accountability: the UK must halt UK arms exports, divest from arms companies that continue to sell arms to Israel, sanction Israeli officials implicated in crimes under international law and stop trade with settlements. The occupation and apartheid system must be ended, and justice must be delivered – anything less while Palestinians continue to be slaughtered by Israeli forces in an ongoing genocide is just empty words."
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Palestinian President Says UK Recognition A Step Toward 'Lasting Peace'
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said Sunday that Britain's recognition of a Palestinian state was a necessary step toward lasting peace in the region.
"His excellency praised the United Kingdom's recognition of the independent State of Palestine, affirming that it constitutes an important and necessary step toward achieving a just and lasting peace in accordance with international legitimacy," Abbas's office said in a statement.
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Mohamad Elmasry, a professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, said Western countries are motivated by a desire to be seen to be doing something, but will not stop the genocide in Gaza.
“I think they’re under increasing pressure from the international community and also from their local populations to do something,” he told Al Jazeera.
“This is, I think, their way of doing something or saying that they did something without actually taking substantive action.”
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Later on Sunday, Portugal also recognised Palestine.
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