Latest news with #Kamel
Egypt Independent
6 days ago
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
‘Why are you not preventing settler terrorism': Palestinians call out IDF following beating death of American man
Mazra'a ash-Sharqiya, West Bank CNN — Saif Musallet was just weeks away from celebrating his 21st birthday, and as he visited his family here, the Florida native's thoughts began to turn toward marriage. 'I think it's time for me to get married,' Musallet told his father, Kamel, during a phone call last week. 'Hopefully while I'm here, I'm able to find a future spouse to get engaged to.' That phone call would be Kamel's last conversation with his son. Days later, Saif was beaten to death by Israeli settlers, according to his family and eyewitnesses. Musallet was one of two men killed that day by settlers, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, while they were in the neighboring town of Sinjil, where their families own farmland. Hundreds turned out on Sunday, braving the afternoon sun, for the funeral processions of the two men, carrying their bodies to their final resting place. Some mourners openly wept, burying their faces in the Palestinian flags wrapped around the bodies. People carry the body of Saif Musallet during his funeral near Ramallah, in the Israel-occupied West Bank on Sunday. Ammar Awad/Reuters They are among nearly 1,000 Palestinians who have been killed by the Israeli military or settlers since the region erupted into war on October 7, 2023, according to the United Nations. Their deaths mark the latest escalation in settler attacks in Sinjil, where Palestinian residents say settlers have encroached on their land over the last two months and terrorized Palestinians. Musallet was among dozens of Palestinians who drove to Sinjil together after Friday prayers seeking to reach their land. They say they were attacked by settlers wielding rocks, clubs and guns. Amid it all, a group of settlers came down on Musallet, beating him with sticks or clubs, eyewitnesses told CNN. Musallet's younger brother managed to reach him and called for help. He said Musallet was unconscious, but still breathing and needed an ambulance. But for at least two hours, no ambulance could reach him. Settlers were still roaming the area and had already shattered the windshield of an ambulance that day. On the other side, the Israeli military was firing tear gas to disperse the crowd of Palestinians and refusing to allow the ambulances to pass for hours. By the time the ambulance reached Musallet, his face was blue, and he had stopped breathing. 'Nobody could get to him,' Musallet's father, Kamel, said. Saif Musallet Musallet family Saif Musallet Musallet family He now says he holds the Israeli military just as responsible for his son's death as the settlers who beat him. 'They prevented the ambulance and allowed the settlers to do what they do anytime they want to,' Kamel Musallet said. 'I hold the Israeli military just as responsible as the settlers and the American government for not doing anything about this. You know, why are you not telling the IDF? Why are you not preventing settler terrorism?' The Israeli military has said it is investigating Musallet's death but did not respond to allegations that it prevented ambulances from reaching him. The Musallet family has called on the United States to investigate Musallet's killing. Beyond a condolence call from the US consulate, Kamel Musallet said he has heard nothing more from the Trump administration, which earlier this year lifted sanctions on Israeli settlers imposed by the previous administration. Saif Musallet was born and raised in Port Charlotte, Florida and owned an ice cream shop with his father in Tampa, where his father said Saif's 'gentle soul' shone through. 'Everyone loved him. Everyone loved Saif,' his father said. But Kamel Musallet says he believes there is a double-standard – that the US government would be taking his son's killing more seriously if he were American-Israeli. 'We want justice. We want the American-Israeli and the American-Palestinian to be in the same class,' Kamel Musallet said. 'These are Americans. But for some reason, the American-Palestinian is differentiated from the American-Israeli.' Hafez Abdel Jabbar, who is also a US citizen, was among the Palestinians on the scene that day. He said settlers and soldiers prevented ambulances from reaching Musallet for hours, until a vehicle with officers from COGAT, Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, showed up and agreed to escort him through. Abdel Jabbar believes Musallet could have been saved had they been allowed through earlier. 'Oh yes, of course,' Abdel Jabbar said. 'From the first minute, from the first call … he was breathing.' Settlers attack vehicle containing CNN crew CNN witnessed settler violence in Sinjil first-hand on Sunday, when we came under attack from a group of settlers who smashed the window of our vehicle. As Abdel Jabbar drove CNN to the site where he found Musallet's unconscious body, a white car began following the team. Inside were a group of at least four settlers, who covered their faces as they began pursuing our vehicle. As we approached a nearby intersection, the settlers got out of their car and tried to pelt our vehicle, but then turned around as CNN approached a nearby Israeli border police vehicle. The border police unit immediately headed out to search for the settlers after being alerted by CNN. But minutes later, our team was ambushed. The settlers had hidden out of sight of the border police and attacked. One assailant wielding some sort of club or mallet struck CNN's vehicle, shattering the rear window as our team sped off. Israel police said they opened 'a proactive investigation in pursuit of justice' into the attack and that such incidents are treated 'extremely seriously.' 'If it would've taken us five more seconds, we all would've been beaten,' Abdel Jabbar said. But for Abdel Jabbar, it is just a taste of the grim reality he is forced to face in the West Bank. His son, Tawfic, was killed in January 2024 by an Israeli settler. 'You scream to the whole world and the whole world is watching – simply silent – seeing all these mothers put their sons that they worked so hard to raise them up for 20 years,' Abdel Jabbar said. 'And you pick them up when you put them in the ground, under the sky. And the silence goes on and on and on.' 'What hurts you deeply is the silence of the whole world.'
Saudi Gazette
6 days ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
‘Why are you not preventing settler terrorism': Palestinians call out IDF following beating death of American
MAZRA'A ASH-SHARQIYA, West Bank — Saif Musallet was just weeks away from celebrating his 21st birthday, and as he visited his family here, the Florida native's thoughts began to turn toward marriage. 'I think it's time for me to get married,' Musallet told his father, Kamel, during a phone call last week. 'Hopefully while I'm here, I'm able to find a future spouse to get engaged to.' That phone call would be Kamel's last conversation with his son. Days later, Saif was beaten to death by Israeli settlers, according to his family and eyewitnesses. Musallet was one of two men killed that day by settlers, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, while they were in the neighboring town of Sinjil, where their families own farmland. Hundreds turned out on Sunday, braving the afternoon sun, for the funeral processions of the two men, carrying their bodies to their final resting place. Some mourners openly wept, burying their faces in the Palestinian flags wrapped around the bodies. They are among nearly 1,000 Palestinians who have been killed by the Israeli military or settlers since the region erupted into war on October 7, 2023, according to the United Nations. Their deaths mark the latest escalation in settler attacks in Sinjil, where Palestinian residents say settlers have encroached on their land over the last two months and terrorized Palestinians. Musallet was among dozens of Palestinians who drove to Sinjil together after Friday prayers seeking to reach their land. They say they were attacked by settlers wielding rocks, clubs and guns. Amid it all, a group of settlers came down on Musallet, beating him with sticks or clubs, eyewitnesses told CNN. Musallet's younger brother managed to reach him and called for help. He said Musallet was unconscious, but still breathing and needed an ambulance. But for at least two hours, no ambulance could reach him. Settlers were still roaming the area and had already shattered the windshield of an ambulance that day. On the other side, the Israeli military was firing tear gas to disperse the crowd of Palestinians and refusing to allow the ambulances to pass for hours. By the time the ambulance reached Musallet, his face was blue, and he had stopped breathing. 'Nobody could get to him,' Musallet's father, Kamel, said. He now says he holds the Israeli military just as responsible for his son's death as the settlers who beat him. 'They prevented the ambulance and allowed the settlers to do what they do anytime they want to,' Kamel Musallet said. 'I hold the Israeli military just as responsible as the settlers and the American government for not doing anything about this. You know, why are you not telling the IDF? Why are you not preventing settler terrorism?' The Israeli military has said it is investigating Musallet's death but did not respond to allegations that it prevented ambulances from reaching him. The Musallet family has called on the United States to investigate Musallet's killing. Beyond a condolence call from the US consulate, Kamel Musallet said he has heard nothing more from the Trump administration, which earlier this year lifted sanctions on Israeli settlers imposed by the previous administration. Saif Musallet was born and raised in Port Charlotte, Florida and owned an ice cream shop with his father in Tampa, where his father said Saif's 'gentle soul' shone through. 'Everyone loved him. Everyone loved Saif,' his father said. But Kamel Musallet says he believes there is a double standard – that the US government would be taking his son's killing more seriously if he were American-Israeli. 'We want justice. We want the American-Israeli and the American-Palestinian to be in the same class,' Kamel Musallet said. 'These are Americans. But for some reason, the American-Palestinian is differentiated from the American-Israeli.' Hafez Abdel Jabbar, who is also a US citizen, was among the Palestinians on the scene that day. He said settlers and soldiers prevented ambulances from reaching Musallet for hours, until a vehicle with officers from COGAT, Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, showed up and agreed to escort him through. Abdel Jabbar believes Musallet could have been saved had they been allowed through earlier. 'Oh yes, of course,' Abdel Jabbar said. 'From the first minute, from the first call ... he was breathing.' CNN witnessed settler violence in Sinjil first-hand on Sunday, when we came under attack from a group of settlers who smashed the window of our vehicle. As Abdel Jabbar drove CNN to the site where he found Musallet's unconscious body, a white car began following the team. Inside were a group of at least four settlers, who covered their faces as they began pursuing our vehicle. As we approached a nearby intersection, the settlers got out of their car and tried to pelt our vehicle, but then turned around as CNN approached a nearby Israeli border police vehicle. The border police unit immediately headed out to search for the settlers after being alerted by CNN. But minutes later, our team was ambushed. The settlers had hidden out of sight of the border police and attacked. One assailant wielding some sort of club or mallet struck CNN's vehicle, shattering the rear window as our team sped off. Israel police said they opened 'a proactive investigation in pursuit of justice' into the attack and that such incidents are treated 'extremely seriously.' 'If it would've taken us five more seconds, we all would've been beaten,' Abdel Jabbar said. But for Abdel Jabbar, it is just a taste of the grim reality he is forced to face in the West Bank. His son, Tawfic, was killed in January 2024 by an Israeli settler. 'You scream to the whole world and the whole world is watching – simply silent – seeing all these mothers put their sons that they worked so hard to raise them up for 20 years,' Abdel Jabbar said. 'And you pick them up when you put them in the ground, under the sky. And the silence goes on and on and on.' 'What hurts you deeply is the silence of the whole world.' — CNN
CNN
7 days ago
- CNN
‘Why are you not preventing settler terrorism': Palestinians call out IDF following American citizen beaten to death by Israel settlers
Saif Musallet was just weeks away from celebrating his 21st birthday, and as he visited his family here, the Florida native's thoughts began to turn toward marriage. 'I think it's time for me to get married,' Musallet told his father, Kamel, during a phone call last week. 'Hopefully while I'm here, I'm able to find a future spouse to get engaged to.' That phone call would be Kamel's last conversation with his son. Days later, Saif was beaten to death by Israeli settlers, according to his family and eyewitnesses. Musallet was one of two men killed that day by settlers, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, while they were in the neighboring town of Sinjil, where their families own farmland. Hundreds turned out on Sunday, braving the afternoon sun, for the funeral processions of the two men, carrying their bodies to their final resting place. Some mourners openly wept, burying their faces in the Palestinian flags wrapped around the bodies. They are among nearly 1,000 Palestinians who have been killed by the Israeli military or settlers since the region erupted into war on October 7, 2023, according to the United Nations. Their deaths mark the latest escalation in settler attacks in Sinjil, where Palestinian residents say settlers have encroached on their land over the last two months and terrorized Palestinians. Musallet was among dozens of Palestinians who drove to Sinjil together after Friday prayers seeking to reach their land. They say they were attacked by settlers wielding rocks, clubs and guns. Amid it all, a group of settlers came down on Musallet, beating him with sticks or clubs, eyewitnesses told CNN. Musallet's younger brother managed to reach him and called for help. He said Musallet was unconscious, but still breathing and needed an ambulance. But for at least two hours, no ambulance could reach him. Settlers were still roaming the area and had already shattered the windshield of an ambulance that day. On the other side, the Israeli military was firing tear gas to disperse the crowd of Palestinians and refusing to allow the ambulances to pass for hours. By the time the ambulance reached Musallet, his face was blue, and he had stopped breathing. 'Nobody could get to him,' Musallet's father, Kamel, said. He now says he holds the Israeli military just as responsible for his son's death as the settlers who beat him. 'They prevented the ambulance and allowed the settlers to do what they do anytime they want to,' Kamel Musallet said. 'I hold the Israeli military just as responsible as the settlers and the American government for not doing anything about this. You know, why are you not telling the IDF? Why are you not preventing settler terrorism?' The Israeli military has said it is investigating Musallet's death but did not respond to allegations that it prevented ambulances from reaching him. The Musallet family has called on the United States to investigate Musallet's killing. Beyond a condolence call from the US consulate, Kamel Musallet said he has heard nothing more from the Trump administration, which earlier this year lifted sanctions on Israeli settlers imposed by the previous administration. Saif Musallet was born and raised in Port Charlotte, Florida and owned an ice cream shop with his father in Tampa, where his father said Saif's 'gentle soul' shone through. 'Everyone loved him. Everyone loved Saif,' his father said. But Kamel Musallet says he believes there is a double-standard – that the US government would be taking his son's killing more seriously if he were American-Israeli. 'We want justice. We want the American-Israeli and the American-Palestinian to be in the same class,' Kamel Musallet said. 'These are Americans. But for some reason, the American-Palestinian is differentiated from the American-Israeli.' Hafez Abdel Jabbar, who is also a US citizen, was among the Palestinians on the scene that day. He said settlers and soldiers prevented ambulances from reaching Musallet for hours, until a vehicle with officers from COGAT, Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, showed up and agreed to escort him through. Abdel Jabbar believes Musallet could have been saved had they been allowed through earlier. 'Oh yes, of course,' Abdel Jabbar said. 'From the first minute, from the first call … he was breathing.' CNN witnessed settler violence in Sinjil first-hand on Sunday, when we came under attack from a group of settlers who smashed the window of our vehicle. As Abdel Jabbar drove CNN to the site where he found Musallet's unconscious body, a white car began following the team. Inside were a group of at least four settlers, who covered their faces as they began pursuing our vehicle. As we approached a nearby intersection, the settlers got out of their car and tried to pelt our vehicle, but then turned around as CNN approached a nearby Israeli border police vehicle. The border police unit immediately headed out to search for the settlers after being alerted by CNN. But minutes later, our team was ambushed. The settlers had hidden out of sight of the border police and attacked. One assailant wielding some sort of club or mallet struck CNN's vehicle, shattering the rear window as our team sped off. Israel police said they opened 'a proactive investigation in pursuit of justice' into the attack and that such incidents are treated 'extremely seriously.' 'If it would've taken us five more seconds, we all would've been beaten,' Abdel Jabber said. But for Abdel Jabber, it is just a taste of the grim reality he is forced to face in the West Bank. His son, Tawfic, was killed in January 2024 by an Israeli settler. 'You scream to the whole world and the whole world is watching – simply silent – seeing all these mothers put their sons that they worked so hard to raise them up for 20 years,' Abdel Jabbar said. 'And you pick them up when you put them in the ground, under the sky. And the silence goes on and on and on.' 'What hurts you deeply is the silence of the whole world.'
Channel Post MEA
08-07-2025
- Business
- Channel Post MEA
Microsoft Appoints Amr Kamel As General Manager, UAE
Microsoft has announced the appointment of Amr Kamel as General Manager, UAE, effective July 1, 2025. A respected and seasoned executive with nearly 20 years of experience at Microsoft, Kamel brings deep regional expertise, strategic acumen, and a strong track record of delivering business transformation and innovation at scale. In his new role, he will lead Microsoft's efforts to support the UAE's national digital and AI priorities, foster sustainable economic growth, and empower customers, partners, and developers to realize the full potential of cloud and Artificial Intelligence. Kamel most recently served as General Manager – Global Partner Solutions for Microsoft across Central & Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, where he was instrumental in accelerating the company's partner ecosystem and delivering cutting-edge solutions to organizations across the region. He also led the strategic relationship between Microsoft and UAE-based AI technology holding company G42, advancing secure, trusted, and responsible AI capabilities. This partnership has delivered a first-of-its-kind sovereign cloud offering that empowers the public sector and regulated industries with tailored AI innovation while ensuring data compliance and security. Amr will continue leading the G42 relationship as part of his new remit. Throughout his career at Microsoft, Kamel has held a series of impactful roles across the Middle East and Africa, including as Enterprise Commercial Leader for South Africa, where he transformed the enterprise business and drove significant business growth. He is known for his authentic and inclusive leadership style, commitment to people development, and passion for leveraging technology to drive lasting change. As he takes the helm in the UAE, Kamel will continue leading Microsoft's agenda to support the country's ambitious digital and AI transformation journey – driving innovation, empowering organizations, and championing Microsoft's commitment to responsible AI. His focus will include deepening the company's longstanding partnership with the UAE government – advancing national priorities by harnessing trusted cloud and AI technologies to accelerate innovation in critical sectors such as healthcare, energy, education, and finance, while supporting the country's strategic vision to build a knowledge-based, diversified economy beyond oil. Kamel will also drive efforts to empower the next generation of developers, entrepreneurs, and organizations, reinforcing Microsoft's bold goal to skill one million people in the UAE with essential AI capabilities by 2027. 'I've always believed in the power of technology to unlock human potential, drive innovation, and create meaningful, lasting impact – from education and employment to economic opportunity and quality of life,' said Kamel. 'It's both a passion and a personal mission to contribute to this transformation at scale. Having called the UAE home for a number of years, I've seen firsthand the incredible digital ambition here. I'm thrilled to now lead the Microsoft UAE team at such a pivotal time, enabling our customers and partners to harness cloud and AI to support the UAE's ambitious national agenda and deliver on Microsoft's mission to empower every person and organization to achieve more.'
Al Bawaba
08-07-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Microsoft Appoints Amr Kamel as General Manager, UAE
A respected and seasoned executive with nearly 20 years of experience at Microsoft, Kamel brings deep regional expertise, strategic acumen, and a strong track record of delivering business transformation and innovation at scale. In his new role, he will lead Microsoft's efforts to support the UAE's national digital and AI priorities, foster sustainable economic growth, and empower customers, partners, and developers to realize the full potential of cloud and Artificial most recently served as General Manager – Global Partner Solutions for Microsoft across Central & Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, where he was instrumental in accelerating the company's partner ecosystem and delivering cutting-edge solutions to organizations across the region. He also led the strategic relationship between Microsoft and UAE-based AI technology holding company G42, advancing secure, trusted, and responsible AI capabilities. This partnership has delivered a first-of-its-kind sovereign cloud offering that empowers the public sector and regulated industries with tailored AI innovation while ensuring data compliance and security. Amr will continue leading the G42 relationship as part of his new remit. Throughout his career at Microsoft, Kamel has held a series of impactful roles across the Middle East and Africa, including as Enterprise Commercial Leader for South Africa, where he transformed the enterprise business and drove significant business growth. He is known for his authentic and inclusive leadership style, commitment to people development, and passion for leveraging technology to drive lasting he takes the helm in the UAE, Kamel will continue leading Microsoft's agenda to support the country's ambitious digital and AI transformation journey – driving innovation, empowering organizations, and championing Microsoft's commitment to responsible AI. His focus will include deepening the company's longstanding partnership with the UAE government – advancing national priorities by harnessing trusted cloud and AI technologies to accelerate innovation in critical sectors such as healthcare, energy, education, and finance, while supporting the country's strategic vision to build a knowledge-based, diversified economy beyond oil. Kamel will also drive efforts to empower the next generation of developers, entrepreneurs, and organizations, reinforcing Microsoft's bold goal to skill one million people in the UAE with essential AI capabilities by 2027. 'I've always believed in the power of technology to unlock human potential, drive innovation, and create meaningful, lasting impact – from education and employment to economic opportunity and quality of life,' said Kamel. 'It's both a passion and a personal mission to contribute to this transformation at scale. Having called the UAE home for a number of years, I've seen firsthand the incredible digital ambition here. I'm thrilled to now lead the Microsoft UAE team at such a pivotal time, enabling our customers and partners to harness cloud and AI to support the UAE's ambitious national agenda and deliver on Microsoft's mission to empower every person and organization to achieve more.'
