Solidarity fund for Gaza and Lebanon announced at Arab League summit
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
13 minutes ago
- The National
In devastated Sweida, survivors tell of death, violence and despair
When five armed men in military fatigues stormed the guesthouse where Hatem Radwan and his family were sheltering in Sweida, he did what tradition dictated: he offered them coffee. His offer was met with bullets as the assailants opened fire, killing 11 members of the Radwan family, a long-established name in Sweida, in southern Syria. Mr Radwan miraculously survived. 'I was sitting right here,' he said, pointing to the centre of the room. A bullet had grazed his face, striking the portrait of one of the family's sheikhs hanging just above his head. 'I have no idea how I'm still alive,' he added. He recalled the gunmen shouting: 'You're all Druze pigs', smashing traditional decorations and playing with swords mounted on the wall, before opening fire. The Radwan family had taken refuge in the guesthouse that Tuesday morning, amid worsening clashes between Druze militias, Syrian troops and armed Bedouin. The violence was closing in. Unknown cars roamed the streets and the sound of gunfire drew nearer. But in the madafeh, they believed they were safe. This traditional communal guesthouse had historically served as a neutral and protected space for receiving guests, elders and mediators. Weapons are banned there. Videos filmed shortly after the massacre show bodies piled on top of one another, lying in pools of blood that still stained the floor more than a week later, when The National visited Sweida on Thursday. Mr Radwan said the corpses of his relatives, soaked in blood, were slipping from his hands as he tried to move them. Wave of violence The clashes erupted in Sweida last week, as attacks between Bedouin and Druze factions escalated into widespread violence, killing more than 1,000 people. Syrian government forces were deployed to contain the unrest, but Druze militias, who deeply distrust the new Syrian authorities and viewed them as siding with the Bedouin, mobilised to push them back. Mr Radwan's account is among many harrowing testimonies shared with The National by residents of the devastated provincial capital of Sweida. He said he could not identify who killed his family. Other Sweida residents said they saw men in official security force uniforms participating in the violence. The National could not independently verify all the witness accounts. A precarious calm has since returned to Sweida, after a ceasefire was reached between Druze leaders and Damascus on Wednesday. Syria's President Ahmad Al Shara, seen as more sympathetic to the Bedouin, vowed that those responsible for abuses would be held accountable, vowing to protect the Druze minority, while praising the tribes for their 'heroic actions' against Druze 'outlaw groups'. Stench of death Days of violence have turned Sweida into a war zone. Inside homes, bullets and children's toys meld on the ground. Many shops and houses, their walls blackened by fire, have been looted while shards of glass litter the streets. Charred Syrian army tanks line the roads, struck by Israeli forces. Israel, which distrusts the new Syrian government led by a disarmed faction formerly affiliated with Al Qaeda, has intervened in the conflict, claiming to defend the Druze, a religious minority which also has followers in Israel. Graffiti bears the names of tribal groups that fought against Druze militias inside the city. The conflict between Druze, considered heretics by some extremist Sunni militant groups, and Sunni Bedouin communities has deep historical roots but had never reached this level of brutality during the Syrian civil war. Sweida had largely been spared the worst of that conflict. But now a suffocating stench of blood hangs across the area, after bodies were left for days decomposing in the scorching heat. Counting the dead The Sweida National Hospital has been documenting the toll of the violence. Doctor Akraim Naim told The National that the facility has received 509 bodies 'so far'. Medical staff have photographed each victim they received. On his computer, Mr Naim showed some of the images, including the bodies of women and children. Among them was three-month-old Sirine Gharezzeddine, her round baby face covered in blood, and her mother, Dalal. Dr Naim said most of the victims were civilians. 'Is this man a fighter?' he said, showing a picture of a dead elderly man. 'Is this woman a fighter too?' he asked. On Monday, more than 100 bodies of Sweida residents were buried in a mass grave on the outskirts of the city. The corpses were lined up across a stretch of nearly 20 metres. Blood from the lorry that transported them stained the road in front of the burial site. At the Sweida hospital, six bodies from Bedouin communities remain in a room, lying in a dark pool of blood, still awaiting return to their families. Besieged city As survivors mourn their dead, they continue to suffer. While fighting has stopped inside the city of Sweida, residents remain trapped due to sporadic clashes on the outskirts. The situation remains volatile. Armed tribesmen from across Syria, mobilised by a call to arms against Druze factions, remain deployed around the city's periphery. Meanwhile, Sheikh Hikmat Al Hijri, one of the community's spiritual leaders, has refused to allow government forces to re-enter the city and has rejected the terms of the ceasefire. Residents said Sweida is under siege, with little humanitarian aid reaching the city. People were seen waiting in lines for hours, hoping to buy five litres of fuel, the capped limit. Inside Sweida, where residents had once celebrated the fall of the Assad regime, many now say they have lost faith in the new authorities. 'We had some trust in them,' said a relative of Mr Radwan. But after violence in Sweida, 'they didn't just destroy our trust, they shattered the Syrian identity', he said.
Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Middle East Eye
Exclusive: Lammy suggests UK decision on Palestinian state likely in autumn
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has suggested that British policy on recognising a Palestinian state will be decided in the autumn, Foreign Office sources have told Middle East Eye. Lammy's remarks appeared to suggest the UK may be aligning its timetable with France, after President Emmanuel Macron said Paris would recognise a Palestinian state at the UN in September. A UK minister told the Financial Times on Friday: 'It's very likely now that we will do the same thing. That is where we are heading.' Two Foreign Office sources told MEE that in a meeting with civil servants on Wednesday, Lammy remarked he had 'a feeling that in the autumn, this debate will settle in a particular place'. They added that the foreign secretary also noted he was not the sole decision-maker in UK government on the topic. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Senior Labour figures told the FT that Prime Minister Keir Starmer was blocking UK recognition of Palestine in order to maintain close ties with the US which has put pressure on the London and Paris to drop recognition plans. American officials quickly rejected Macron's announcement on Thursday, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling the decision "reckless" and saying it only served Hamas propaganda and set back peace. Exclusive: US warns UK and France not to recognise Palestinian state Read More » "It is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th," he posted on X. Meanwhile, pressure is mounting for the UK to recognise a Palestinian state, with over 100 MPs reportedly signing a cross-party letter, organised by Labour MP and International Development Committee chair Sarah Champion, on Friday demanding that Starmer make the move. In a report released on Friday, the UK's Foreign Affairs Committee also urged the government to immediately recognise a Palestinian state "while there is still a state to recognise". Committee chair Emily Thornberry told MEE that she would like to see the UK recognise Palestine alongside France. Even if the move may be 'only symbolic' in some ways, she said she believed it is an important first step to getting the UK 'back into the ring and saying: 'Right, let's play our part.'' 'It has a power because they were the countries behind Sykes-Picot, the secret agreement that carved up the Middle East in the first place," Thornberry said. MEE has asked the Foreign Office for comment.
Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
Saudi Arabia publishes new law allowing foreigners to own property
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has officially published the full details of its new law regulating real estate ownership by non-Saudis, following Cabinet approval earlier this month. The comprehensive law, released in the official gazette Umm Al-Qura on Friday, will take effect 180 days from publication and marks a major overhaul in the Kingdom's approach to foreign ownership of property. The new system grants non-Saudis — including individuals, companies, and non-profit entities — the right to own property or obtain other real rights over real estate within designated geographic zones to be determined by the Cabinet. These rights include usufruct (beneficial use), leaseholds, and other real estate interests, but will be subject to a range of controls and restrictions based on location, property type, and usage. The law preserves all real estate rights that were legally established for non-Saudis prior to the new regulation taking effect. However, it clearly states that ownership remains prohibited in certain locations and regions, notably in Makkah and Madinah, except under conditions for individual Muslim owners. A key provision in the law requires the Council of Ministers — upon a proposal by the Real Estate General Authority and with the approval of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs — to define the allowable zones for foreign ownership and set upper limits on ownership percentages and durations for usufruct rights. Foreign individuals legally residing in Saudi Arabia may own one residential property outside restricted areas for personal housing purposes. This does not apply to Makkah and Madinah. The regulation also includes provisions for corporate ownership. Non-listed companies with foreign shareholders, as well as investment funds and licensed special-purpose entities, will be permitted to acquire real estate throughout the Kingdom, including in Makkah and Madinah, provided the ownership supports operational needs or employee housing. Listed companies and investment vehicles may also acquire property in line with Saudi financial market regulations. Diplomatic missions and international organizations can also own premises for official use and residence of their representatives, subject to Foreign Ministry approval and reciprocity conditions. To ensure compliance, non-Saudi entities must register with the competent authority before acquiring property. Ownership or real rights become valid only after formal registration in the national real estate registry. The law introduces a real estate transfer fee of up to 5% for transactions involving non-Saudis, and outlines a penalty framework for violations. Sanctions include fines up to SR10 million and, in severe cases such as falsified information, the forced sale of the property with proceeds remitted to the state after deductions. A dedicated committee under the Real Estate General Authority will be formed to investigate violations and impose penalties. Decisions of this committee can be appealed to the administrative courts within 60 days. Additionally, the law repeals a prior rule that prohibited GCC citizens from owning property in Makkah and Madinah, effectively standardizing rules for all non-Saudi entities under a single framework. The executive regulations, which will detail implementation mechanisms and specify geographic boundaries and conditions, are expected to be issued within six months. The new law replaces the previous foreign property ownership legislation issued under Royal Decree No. M/15 in 2000. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
