Egyptian police kill 2 suspected militants in a shootout
The Interior Ministry said the suspected militants belonged to the Hasm movement, which is affiliated with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. Hasm is designed as a terrorist group by the United States.
A bystander also was killed and an officer wounded in the exchange of fire between the militants and security forces in Giza's densely populated neighborhood of Bolaq el-Dakrour, the ministry said in a statement.
According to the ministry, the militants were planning to carry out attacks in Egypt. Security forces in recent years have crushed an Islamist insurgency in the Sinai Peninsula, which at times spilled over into other parts of the country.
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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Drones increasingly being used to smuggle items from Sinai to Gaza
The context surrounding the smuggling into Gaza, however, may not be a surprise. Drones are increasingly being used to smuggle items from Sinai to Gaza, according to a report at The New Arab. While any kind of report like this should be greeted with some skepticism, it is clear that drones are increasingly being used to smuggle items not just in the Middle East, but worldwide. The New Arab is also known as Al-Araby Al-Jadeed and is a London-based pan-Arab news outlet. Several drone smuggling attempts from Egypt into Israel have been reported over the last year. In late October 2024, a drone carrying weapons from Egypt was downed. In November, a drone carrying weapons and ammunition crossed into Israel from Egypt. Arab News noted, 'The Israeli military said on Wednesday it shot down a drone that was carrying weapons and crossed from Egypt to Israel.' In January, another incident took place. 'IDF forces identified and thwarted a smuggling attempt from Egypt into Israel overnight,' The Jerusalem Post reported. In February, a drone was downed by the IDF while trying to smuggle weapons and ammunition into the Negev. In April, another two drones carrying weapons were also intercepted. This context illustrates that the new report about smuggling to Gaza may not be a surprise. What does the report say? It claims that recently, Gazans in Mawasi, the humanitarian area in Gaza, woke up to the sound of a drone crashing. 'It became clear that what had fallen was a drone carrying bags that had been hit by an Israeli missile while flying over the tents, coming from the direction of southern Gaza, the Egyptian-Palestinian border.' The report claims that drug smugglers have been involved in the drone operations. 'They opened fire on anyone who tried to approach the area, even ambulances and civil defense vehicles were not spared.' The report claims that one drone type can carry up to 50 kilograms of payload. That would seem like a lot for these types of drones. The report also claims that some of the drones have landed in various parts of Rafah. The report claims 'that a portion of these drones fall in the eastern areas of Rafah, specifically the neighborhoods of al-Shawka, Abu Halawa, Zalata, Sufa, and al-Nasr. These are areas where groups affiliated with Yasser Abu Shabab.' Clearly, the report is trying to portray Shabab, who has been under the spotlight recently in Gaza, as somehow linked to this issue. Recent reports in Israeli media have suggested that Shabab and his men fear reprisals if a ceasefire takes place. He has reportedly been backed by Israel, but it is not clear how much influence or control he has. 'Drones loaded with drugs and contraband fall in the western areas, including the al-Mawasi area, as well as in the eastern areas under the control of the occupation forces and Yasser Abu Shabab's gang,' the source told The New Arab. Clearly, the agenda here is to slander Shabab, more than it is to discuss the drones. THE REPORT goes on to say that smuggling via drones is not that new. It says that it began around the time of the October 7 war in 2023. 'This came after attempts to smuggle across the border, manually or through traditional methods, failed, and were completely exposed to the occupation army as well as to the Egyptian army forces active on the border and in Sinai in general.' The report then goes on to quote a source as saying that the smuggling is linked to larger smuggling networks that link Sinai to the Negev and possibly the West Bank, 'which includes smuggling weapons and drugs to gangs active in Israel.' The smuggling route to Gaza via this method is new, the source told The New Arab. 'He explained that with the closure of the Rafah crossing and the prevention of trucks carrying goods and aid from entering the Gaza Strip, smugglers have resorted to using drones, which are purchased from several sources outside Egypt and delivered to North Sinai, where they are loaded with narcotics such as hashish and Tramadol pills [opioids], and other substances.' The report then goes on to speak to a source who deals in mobile phones. The man told The New Arab that he was able to bring in 'mobile phones via a drone coming from Sinai, after weeks of coordination and waiting. He paid a huge sum of money for the shipment, but he was able to recover this amount due to the exorbitant prices of mobile phones in Gaza.' The report claimed that the drone carried 100 phones. Smuggling network dates back to over 10 years ago A security expert told the report that the smuggling networks in Sinai date back to the period of 2014. There was a war that year, and it should be recalled that the Mohammed Morsi government was overthrown in Egypt in 2013, ending the Muslim Brotherhood's brief rule of Egypt. That was an era of chaos in Sinai when massive smuggling of weapons occurred, fueling violence. 'Some gangs and groups within the Gaza Strip that participated in building smuggling networks through tunnels, especially during the period before 2014, are currently trying to exploit the situation to their advantage,' the report says. The issue of drone smuggling in Gaza is a concern. In April, a report at Israel's N12 indicated Hamas had attempted to get Bedouin in the Sinai to smuggle drones into Gaza. 'The drones are worth only NIS 100,000 to 150,000 each and can carry up to 70 kilogram of cargo,' the Post reported at the time. Solve the daily Crossword
Fox News
3 hours ago
- Fox News
Dispute over Christian groups' visas to Israel resolved after Huckabee threat
The diplomatic dispute triggered by a low-level clerk in Israel's Interior Ministry over visa applications for Christian organizations was resolved on Monday through "fruitful cooperation," attorney Calev Myers told Fox News Digital. "The Evangelical Christian organizations active in Israel, which represent the vast majority of Zionists in the world today, will receive all of the visas they need through a streamlined and efficient application process," he said. The issue burst into the news last week when U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee publicized a letter he wrote to Israeli Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, in which he expressed "great distress" over a halt to the "routine granting of visas for Christian organizations and workers, as has been practiced for decades." According to Huckabee, beginning in early 2025, the Interior Ministry's visa department stopped following the Ministry of Religious Affairs recommendations and began conducting its own investigations into each Christian organization to determine whether they should be recognized as "Religious Institutions" and remain eligible for visas. He cited as examples the Baptist Convention of Israel, Christian Missionary Alliance and Assemblies of God, noting that members of these groups have been denied renewals of their A3 clergy visas and are instead required to complete lengthy questionnaires about their religious beliefs. Huckabee said the status of their applications remains "under investigation." "When support for Israel around the world – and in the U.S. – is under pressure, backing from our Christian friends is extremely important" He also named the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem as another group whose visas were "being held up." He had threatened that unless changes were made, "I will have no choice than to instruct our Consular Section to review options for reciprocal treatment of Israeli citizens seeking visas to the United States." A source told Fox News Digital that the issue originated with a low-level clerk in Israel's Interior Ministry who was "not particularly friendly" toward Christian visa applicants. As a result, the visa process for clergy and volunteers had become "increasingly problematic" and filled with "barriers for years." A second source told Fox News Digital that elements within the Israeli Interior Ministry "are not sympathetic, they don't appreciate the relationship" with the Christian world. Former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren told Fox News Digital that he has been involved with helping to get visas for Christian organizations that do "extraordinary and important work" and there's no reason for them to be given a hard time. "When support for Israel around the world – and in the U.S. – is under pressure, backing from our Christian friends is extremely important," Oren said. "They are there through thick and thin – including when bombs are falling on us – and they contribute in so many ways. Whether it's picking grapes, attending to people in hospitals, or cooking meals for soldiers. We should do nothing but appreciate them and make them feel welcome." The Ministry of Interior, responsible for the Population and Immigration Authority, was led by the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, a member of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition, until it bolted from the government last week over the issue of conscription into the Israeli army of ultra-Orthodox men. According to the first source, leadership turnover at the Population and Immigration Authority has exacerbated the issue. Amos Arbel, the former head of the authority and the uncle of outgoing Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, stepped down some five years ago. His replacements rotated through the position in quick succession, and the role is currently vacant. "The absence of stable leadership has allowed a lower-ranking official – the head of the visa section – to make unilateral decisions," the source explained. "She routinely disregards recommendations, including those from the ministry's own religious affairs advisor." "It's a chronic problem, and it's disheartening," the source said. "It shouldn't take the intervention of someone like Ambassador Huckabee to resolve what should be a routine bureaucratic matter." In response, Moshe Arbel sent a letter to Huckabee, reaffirming his "commitment to reviewing such applications [for clergy visas] with the utmost efficiency." He wrote that "immediately following our meeting, I instructed all relevant professional bodies to act in accordance with the understandings we reached, and I assigned advisors from my office – headed by the chief of staff – to ensure a personal, continuous, and effective response to such requests." Arbel's office said in a statement to Fox News Digital: "There is no fear of diplomatic repercussions. The issue is being handled in a good and friendly manner." When contacted by Fox News Digital, the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem declined to comment. As of the end of 2024, Israel's Christian population was estimated at 180,300 – roughly 1.8% of the total population – reflecting a 0.6% increase from 2023, according to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics. Israel is the only country in the Middle East where the local Christian population is growing. David Parsons, vice president of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, told Fox News Digital that he is "very grateful that the U.S. ambassador has intervened on behalf of all the Christian organizations. "It's a shame that it takes this sort of action when the government and the minister of interior should have reined in the head of the visa section and corrected her wrong decisions," he said. Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman told Fox News Digital that he had spoken to individuals on both sides of the issue and believed it "was a misunderstanding and the Christian groups will get what they need. This does not at all speak to the very important relationship that Israel has with the Christian community," he said.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
High-profile Kenyan activist faces terror charges over anti-government protests
Prominent Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi is due in court on accusations of "facilitation of terrorist acts" during last month's deadly anti-government protests in which at least 19 people died. On Sunday, investigators said they had seized phones, a laptop, and notebooks from Mr Mwangi's Lukenya home on the outskirts of the capital, Nairobi, and hard drives, computers, tear gas canisters and a blank firearm round from his office in the city. His arrest has sparked a wave of condemnation, with human rights groups denouncing it was aimed at suppressing opposition voices. The activist has denied the accusations, saying in a post on X: "I am not a terrorist." According to the Kenya's Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Mr Mwangi stands accused of "offences related to facilitation of terrorist acts and unlawful possession of ammunition". The alleged offences are linked to the 25 June protests when, according to the state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), 19 people died as demonstrators clashed with police. Hundreds were also injured and property and businesses were damaged. In the aftermath, Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen described the demonstrations as "terrorism disguised as dissent" and an "unconstitutional attempt" to change the government. At least 38 more people were killed in subsequent protests earlier this month, the KNHCR has said. Since June last year, more than 100 people have been killed in successive waves of anti-government protests, with police accused of using excessive force to quell unrest. On Sunday, a coalition of 37 rights organisations condemned Mr Mwangi's arrest on "unjustified terrorism allegations", describing it as the "latest escalation in a systematic crackdown that has seen hundreds of young Kenyans detained on fabricated terrorism charges". "What began as targeted persecution of young protesters demanding accountability has metastasized into a full-scale assault on Kenya's democracy," they said in a joint statement. James Orengo, a veteran politician and governor of Siaya county, said it was "ridiculous to charge Boniface Mwangi and our children who have demonstrated a high level of political consciousness with terrorism". Mr Mwangi has been detained multiple times in the past, and has been at the centre of many protests. In May, he and a Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire were detained in Tanzania, where they had travelled to attend the trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is accused of treason. Following their release several days later, both said they had been abducted, tortured and sexually assaulted. They have since filed a case at the regional East African Court of Justice over the matter. You may also be interested in: Is William Ruto the most disliked president in Kenya's history? Why the death of a blogger has put Kenya's police on trial 'Shoot in the leg' - Kenyan leader orders police to curb violent protests Are East African governments uniting to silence dissent? BBC identifies security forces who shot Kenya anti-tax protesters Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts Focus on Africa This Is Africa
