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As thousands die and tens of thousands are infected by the coronavirus which emerged in China's Wuhan province in January, MEMO keeps you abreast of the latest developments and how the endemic is affecting the Middle East and North Africa
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This morning Israeli warplanes killed senior Islamic Jihad military leader Bahaa Abul-Ata and his wife after it targeted their home in Gaza. His children and neighbour were injured in the attack. The house of the movement's senior political figure Akram Al-Ajjouri was also targeted in Syria. MEMO will be blogging about the repercussions of Israel's latest aggression against Palestinians.
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Former army contractor Mohamed Ali has called for a million-man protest on the streets and in squares across Egypt today as discontent swells on the Egyptian street following accusations of corruption levelled at President Al-Sisi, his family and his inner circle.
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Marwa
The “Peace to Prosperity” conference has kicked off in Bahraini capital Manama. Called by Senior Advisor to US President Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, the conference is intended to unveil the economic elements of his long-awaited “deal of the century”. Kushner opened the conference last night with a speech lauding the deal as “a framework for a brighter future […] a vision of what is possible with peace.” With a packed schedule of speakers today, MEMO will be live blogging all the latest updates.
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As communities across the world prepare to begin the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the people of Gaza are preparing for funeral prayers. At least 10 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli air strikes on Gaza this weekend, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to continue air strikes. Follow the latest developments on the ground…
Marwa
Marwa
Earlier this week, Israel closed Jerusalem’s Bab Al-Rahma, sometimes known as Golden Gate, which leads to Al-Aqsa compound. Although Al-Rahma has long been out of use, Israel on Sunday installed new locks and metal chains on the gate. Under the status quo agreement - which declares Al-Aqsa compound to be under the jurisdiction of the Jordanian Waqf (Islamic endowment) - Israel is forbidden from making any changes to the holy site and its surroundings. Throughout the week, Israel has cracked down on Palestinians protesting against the move, attacking students and worshippers and raiding the Al-Aqsa compound. Jordan has issued a statement condemning the Israeli violations “in the strongest possible terms,” stressing that Israel should “act in accordance with international law and immediately reopen the gates”. Yesterday, leader of Hamas’ political bureau Ismail Haniyeh called Israel’s actions “extraordinarily alarming” and accused it of planning a “full takeover of the holy site”. Haniyeh called on Palestinians from across the occupied West Bank, Jerusalem and Israel “to gather on Friday [today] at Al-Aqsa Mosque and defend it in order to foil the newly imposed Israeli measures aimed at Judaising the compound”.
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This week has seen increased tensions and violence across the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt), with the Israeli army undertaking nightly raids, arresting scores of Palestinians and shooting several to death, citing a series of attacks against Israeli soldiers and illegal settlers as justification. In response, Hamas – which governs the besieged Gaza Strip – has called for a “day of rage”, while protests are also expected across the occupied West Bank. Stay tuned to our live blog for the latest updates.
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Last weekend, Israel banned the head of the Waqf, Sheikh Abdul-Azim Salhab, from Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque. Salhab was banned from entering the compound for 40 days, while Sheikh Najeh Bkerat, the deputy director of Muslim Endowments and Al-Aqsa Affairs, was also banned from the holy site for four months. Under the status quo agreement, the Waqf holds custodianship of the city’s Islamic and Christian holy sites. Israel is forbidden from making changes to the compound or its surroundings under the agreement. This week’s ban, however, was the latest in a string of Israeli violations of the status quo in recent weeks. Last month, Israel closed Jerusalem’s Bab Al-Rahma, sometimes known as Golden Gate, which leads to Al-Aqsa compound. Although Al-Rahma has long been out of use, Israel installed new locks and metal chains on the gate, before cracking down on Palestinians who protested against the move. The Waqf has called for Palestinians from Jerusalem, the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) and Israel to today hold a mass prayer and protest outside Al-Aqsa compound against the banning of its employees and leaders.
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