Latest news with #Yaqeen
Gulf Today
18-07-2025
- Health
- Gulf Today
Al Jalila Children's Hospital crosses 100 treatments for Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Al Jalila Children's Hospital, part of Dubai Health, and the only children's hospital in the UAE, has completed over 100 treatments for patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Dr Mohamed Al Awadhi, Executive Director of the Dubai Health Women and Children's Campus, said, "Reaching more than 100 treated cases of SMA reflects Dubai Health's commitment to making world-class care accessible to all children. At Al Jalila Children's Hospital, we follow an integrated, patient-centred approach that supports every phase of the treatment journey. Every step is managed with precision and compassion to put the patient first. Yaqeen's case highlights the strength of our multidisciplinary model and our commitment to ensuring that children with complex conditions like SMA receive the highest standard of care under one roof.' Dr Haitham Elbashir, Consultant Pediatric Neurorehabilitation at Al Jalila Children's Hospital, said, "Zolgensma is a transformative therapy that offers children with SMA the chance to regain strength and function early in life.' The completion of over 100 SMA treatments at Al Jalila Children's reflects the strength of Dubai Health's specialised pediatric services and its commitment to delivering high-quality care for children with complex medical needs. WAM
NBC News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Israeli strike kills a 5-month-old girl and her parents in Gaza
Yaqeen was conceived in war. She died in a fireball. An Israeli bomb killed the 5-month-old in her family's apartment, next to a Carrefour Mall in Tal al-Hawa, a neighborhood in Gaza City. Her father, Ali Aoun Sbeita, 30, and mother, Saja Ammar Sbeita, 25, burned to death in the same strike. The next day, video taken by an NBC News' crew on the ground outside the morgue in Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City showed Yaqeen's grandfather, Ammar Shalah, 50, holding her body wrapped in a white sheet — pristine except for patches of blood. 'Was she striking Israel?' demanded 45-year-old Nasar Sbeita, Yaqeen's uncle. Referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he added: 'A 5-month-old baby girl: Here are Netanyahu's targets.' Yaqeen's grandmother (Shalah's wife) howled and relatives held her back. Between tears, she yelled that Saja was nursing her baby when the family was killed. Minutes later, the three bodies joined the stream of corpses carried from the hospital and through a crowd of distressed onlookers to a patch of paving stones where funeral rites were performed. Yaqeen's shroud was opened to show her face, gray and still. The Israeli military did not respond to NBC News' request for comment on why it had targeted the apartment where the family was staying. At least 60 Palestinians were killed Monday by Israeli airstrikes and gunfire, according to Marwan Al-Hams, the director of Gaza's field hospitals. The numbers include those captured by NBC News' footage on the ground. More than 56,000 people have been killed in Gaza and thousands more seriously injured since Israel launched its offensive there after the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks, according to health officials in the enclave. About 1,200 people were killed and around 250 taken hostage in Israel that day. More than 50,000 of those killed and injured in Gaza have been children, Edouard Beigbeder, Unicef's regional director for the Middle East and Africa, said in May. 'These children — lives that should never be reduced to numbers — are now part of a long, harrowing list of unimaginable horror,' he said in a statement. Israeli attacks in Gaza continued overnight on Wednesday, killing 58 people since dawn, including 45 in the city of Khan Yunis and several more who were waiting for aid, according to Al-Hams. In Washington, talks of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas resumed this week after Netanyahu met President Donald Trump at the White House. The two leaders discussed the war in Gaza, now in its 22nd month, including plans for a 60-day ceasefire proposed by Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff. Witkoff later told reporters at the White House that the two sides were close to reaching a deal that has so far remained deadlocked over whether it will lead to a permanent end to the fighting. After the meeting, Netanyahu said Israel's military campaign in Gaza would continue as negotiators worked on a ceasefire. 'We still have to finish the job in Gaza, release all our hostages, eliminate and destroy Hamas' military and government capabilities,' he said. A short distance from the Carrefour Mall, Amer Al-Katnani, 38, and his 14-year-old son, Ahmad, were inside a jeep parked near the gates of the maternity ward at Al-Shifa hospital when an Israeli drone struck the vehicle, setting it alight in a blazing inferno. Onlookers removed the bodies of four people killed in the blast, including the father and son. Their heads, exploded by the force of the blast, were reduced to clumps of flesh as their bodies partly melted inside the car. The father and son were food merchants, their family said. Afterward, children scavenged the blast site for junk, including the ripped cushion of the car seat.
Gulf Today
04-07-2025
- Health
- Gulf Today
Syrian child with rare genetic disease begins treatment at Al Jalila Hospital in Dubai
The family of Yaqeen Ibrahim Kanaker, a Syrian child, confirmed that she began treatment on Thursday at Al Jalila Children's Hospital, which is part of Dubai Healthcare City. This was a swift response to the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Yaqeen's father told "Al Khaleej", "We started Yaqeen's treatment at Al Jalila Hospital, where we found that the entire medical staff were treating her with a high level of care. They are working to complete all the necessary assessments in preparation for the treatment plan." He added, "His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum's humanitarian gesture will never be forgotten and will remain etched in our memories for as long as we live. This is not surprising given the UAE leadership's numerous urgent relief initiatives to assist those in need." He further pointed out that His Highness has always supported and backed every person in need in the country, setting an example in the fields of charity and humanitarian giving. Yaqeen's mother, whose little girl suffering from spinal muscular atrophy — a rare genetic disease requiring urgent treatment, expressed her happiness on the start of her daughter's treatment at Al Jalila Hospital. She thanked His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his generosity and for taking a noble and humanitarian stance in supporting Yaqeen's treatment. She also expressed her gratitude for the donation, saying that it reflects His Highness's commitment to alleviating suffering and his boundless support for humanity. She added that his initiatives have had a profound impact on the lives of many people in the UAE and beyond. With the support of friends, the Kanaker family launched a moving appeal through the International Charity Organisation. In a moving video, Yaqeen's uncle urged the UAE and Arab leaders to donate in order to save the child's life, emphasising that time is running out and treatment is urgent. In 2021, Sheikh Mohammed undertook to provide for the medical treatment of an 18-month-old Iraqi girl suffering from spinal muscular atrophy. The girl's mother had posted a video to Sheikh Mohammed, in which she asked him to provide for the treatment of her daughter in Al Jalila Hospital in Dubai. She said that her child was suffering from a rare disease and muscle atrophy that may reach the bronchi and turn her into a doll. According to preliminary information, the treatment is one of the most expensive treatments in the world and its cost may reach Dhs8 million. Linking her appeal to Sheikh Mohammed to the Hope Probe, the mother said: 'I arrived in the UAE when the Hope probe reached Mars. I hope that you can meet my need.' The generous Dubai Ruler has always stands up for humanitarian situation. In June 2020, Sheikh Mohammed covered the expenses of a surgery of an Indian child in Dubai. Pritvik Sinhad, 15, who was suffering from kidney failure. Sheikh Mohammed sent a message to Pritvik. He said, 'To my dear Pritvik, this is a small gesture from me to you to remind you that you are here at home and that you are in safe hands, and I will pray to God to keep you in good health and safe… keep smiling little warrior.' The message was accompanied by a bouquet of flowers and a personal gift. Pritvik said that the gesture of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid means a lot to him.
The National
03-07-2025
- Health
- The National
‘A father to all children': Sheikh Mohammed funds life-saving treatment for Syrian girl
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, will cover Dh7 million ($1.9 million) in medical treatment for a young girl suffering from spinal muscular atrophy. The announcement came after Yaqeen's uncle posted a video on social media appealing for help to save her life. In the video, he said the Syrian girl, who will soon turn two, suffers from a degenerative and debilitating disease. Doctors had diagnosed her with spinal muscle atrophy (SMA) – a genetic disorder that weakens and wastes muscles away, and her uncle asked for help in the cost of her treatment, which is available in only a few countries, including Al Jalila Hospital in Dubai. Yaqeen's father, Ibrahim Kankar, 27, told The National he couldn't believe it when someone from the office of Sheikh Mohammed informed him that the Ruler of Dubai would cover the costs in full. 'Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid is the father of all children. This action is not strange from the UAE and its rulers,' Mr Kankar said. 'I couldn't believe that three days after posting the video, with the help of the UAE's Charity International Organisation, my daughter will survive and live a normal childhood. You don't know how that feels.' Critical need Mr Kankar, who lives in Sharjah, said doctors gave Yaqeen only months to live if she could not undergo the expensive treatment. 'Her health condition is very critical and she needs urgent treatment which we can't afford,' he added. 'Me and her mother are thrilled and full of joy knowing she will now get it. These unforgotten moments will last long in our memory.' Yaqeen is Mr Kankar's only child. 'She has symptoms that we couldn't understand like not being able to interact with her surroundings. After many failed attempts to diagnose her disease, we came to the UAE where we found care and mercy,' he said. Dr Khaled Abdul Wahab Al Khaja, secretary general of the International Charity Organisation, praised the generous gesture. 'Sheikh Mohammed represents a model for unlimited humanitarian work,' Mr Al Khaja said. The organisation sponsored the girl's case by posting a plea on their website and social media. 'Her family has a poor income and it was impossible for them to pay the cost of treatment,' Mr Al Khaja added. "Sheikh Mohammed is the supporter for any person in need in the UAE." Looking to the future Dubai Health's Al Jalila Children Hospital welcomed Yaqeen on Thursday and examined her with the necessary tests. "The medical team has commenced essential diagnostic procedures, including genetic and antibody testing," a statement read. "All necessary evaluations are under way in preparation for administering gene therapy. Throughout this process, Yaqeen's condition will be closely monitored and managed to maintain the highest standards of paediatric care." SMA is a condition that affects the motor neurons (nerve cells that transmit impulses to the muscles) and weakens the limbs. It makes walking difficult or impossible and creates problems with swallowing, as well as breathing. The treatment offered by Al Jalila Children's Hospital, called Zolgensma, is given once and is a form of gene therapy. It was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration four years ago and has been described as the most expensive drug in the world.
Arabian Post
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Arabian Post
Israeli Genocide In Gaza Is A Reminder Of Atrocities Perpetrated By Nazis On Jews
By P. Sudhir Yaqeen Hammad, a 12-year-old Palestinian girl, was shredded into pieces by an Israeli missile attack on her residence. Yaqeen has been aptly called the Anne Frank of Gaza. Like Anne, who kept a diary in an attic in a Holocaust-ravaged, Nazi-occupied neighbourhood, Yaqeen documented the horrors around her. Her diaries – digital this time – became a record of the brutalities faced by her people. Ironically, the present-day Israeli Zionists, who invoke the Holocaust to justify their moral rationale for the State of Israel and recount their suffering, are now adopting similar oppressive attitudes. Yaqeen moved from one refugee camp to another, shot videos, and posted them on Instagram, bringing global attention to the gruesome realities in Gaza. More than a media activist, she was also involved in humanitarian aid, helping thousands of hapless Palestinians in war-ravaged Gaza. The phrase 'live-streamed genocide' has gained currency – coined by Amnesty International – thanks to brave social media activists like Yaqeen. The targeting of children in Gaza is not accidental; it is the outcome of a sinister ideology that labels even innocent children as collaborators of Hamas. This notion is deeply ingrained in the hysteria whipped up by Zionist politicians. Moshe Feiglin, a close associate of the Netanyahu government, even stated emphatically: 'Every baby in Gaza is an enemy.' The depravity of such statements is unprecedented. Some extremists have gone so far as to support wiping out all such children as a military objective. The latest Israeli plan reportedly involves deploying reinforced army units to capture and 'clean out' Gaza's 365 square kilometres – 70 per cent of which has already been turned into 'no-go zones' for Palestinians. Most of Gaza's population could be pushed to Rafah, the southernmost city, which has itself been virtually razed. Cities like Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah are now synonymous with daily destruction. Perhaps the most disturbing element of the Israeli plan is the forced relocation of Palestinians into Israeli-controlled zones, ironically termed 'humanitarian zones.' There, ration packets are distributed by private security contractors tied to Israeli-vetted aid organisations. Aid has been politicised and militarized – used as a tool for coercion. This design enables a protracted occupation, with Palestinians confined to increasingly smaller areas and Israel controlling all access to necessities. Reportedly, Donald Trump even involved himself personally in setting up an aid organisation outside UN oversight to carry out this militarised aid programme. Netanyahu's cabinet has code-named the military mission 'Gideon's Chariots.' Whether it is truly intended to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages or simply a cover for collective punishment is clear from the scale of destruction. However, the intensity of the military operation has forced some changes in western leadership's tone. In a joint statement, the UK, France, and Canada condemned the humanitarian crisis, calling it 'intolerable.' They questioned the inadequacy of the food aid plan and said: 'We condemn the abhorrent language recently used by Israeli government officials. Permanent forced displacement is a breach of international humanitarian law.' While initially supporting Israel's right to self-defense after Hamas' October 7 attack, they now strongly oppose the expansion of military operations in Gaza. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated: 'Humanitarian aid must never be politicised,' emphasizing that the only viable resolution is a two-State solution. Yet, in the absence of US pressure – especially with Donald Trump's silence – it is uncertain whether Netanyahu will heed this advice. Francesca Albanese, the UN's Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, was forthright: 'Most member states remain inactive at best or are actively aiding and abetting Israel's criminal conduct.' She referred particularly to western and some Gulf nations. She also warned that Israel risks becoming a pariah state, given its relentless assault not only on Palestinians but also on the United Nations. It is clear that this tragedy stems from the complicity – wilful or not – of nations that backed the 1948 UN plan creating Israel. The Zionist ideology of ethnic cleansing was evident from the outset. Jewish historian Ilan Pappé, whose family suffered during the Holocaust, detailed these intentions in his book The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine, beginning with the 1948 Nakba. This design is now unfolding – with Donald Trump's grandiose plan to turn Gaza into a tourist riviera adding insult to injury. We must understand why Israel is pursuing this hysterical campaign in Gaza post–October 7. Regardless of Hamas' military capacity, their actions challenged the myth of Israel's security invincibility. This campaign could not have proceeded without active western complicity – especially from the US. Without a civilized State-to-State relationship between Israelis and Palestinians, military might can never secure lasting peace. What we have witnessed in India is also unprecedented. Historically, Indian leadership – from Gandhi to Nehru – unambiguously supported the Palestinian cause. There was a national consensus. However, the rise of Hindutva forces has changed this completely. Hindutva and Zionism share a common ideology: religious identity-based nationhood morphing the very nature of the State. They are ideological soulmates. From the early days of the RSS, its leaders admired Zionist ideology. Contemporary Hindutva, fuelled by Islamophobia, is now supporting Israel's campaign of destruction. This alliance seeks to redefine the conflict – not as one for Palestinian liberation, but as a religious war between Jews and Muslim Palestinians. This narrative is bolstered by growing military and security partnerships between Modi's India and Netanyahu's Israel. The task ahead is clear: international solidarity with Palestine is growing. Signs of shifting western response suggest that in the 21st century, Gaza has become an existential test for modern civilization. Indian people must mobilise and pressure the Modi government to denounce Israel's intolerable actions. The responsibility rests with us all. (IPA Service)
