Ramadan volunteers at Makkah
Saudi Arabia has experienced the hottest Ramadan in the past 33 years. Day time scorching sun prevents people from changing their daily activities. The reality is that at the time when the temperature is above 44 degree Celsius in Makkah, thousands of young men wearing brown uniforms and blue jackets are trying hard to facilitate millions of people who come from every corner of the globe.
Sometimes these young people are working under the scorching sun at roads to control the massive rush of traffic and sometimes they try hard to make ways between rows of people. At the time of fasting and hard conditions, their efforts must be appreciated.
Now it is also the responsibility of everyone to follow rules and regulations provided by the authorities in holy places and cooperate with the thousands of young volunteers who are working hard to facilitate millions of people.
From Mr Khawaja Omar Farooq
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
False accusation
Giving no comment on any issue does not mean India is insensitive to the plight of Gaza (“BJP’s stand on Gaza crisis reveals insensitivity”, Gulf News, July 23). In fact, the Gulf News editorial itself is biased and tarnishes one particular nation for no wrongdoing! I personally condemn the person who wrote this editorial.
From Mr Joyveer Ashoke Dutt
Dubai
Don’t blame India
As from the news, you can see that only the ruling party – Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – is against condemning Israel, whereas all the other parties and millions of Indians are against the atrocities of Israel in Palestine. India being a democratic country, the ruling party has the power to make laws and decisions. This does not mean that the whole of India has to be answerable for what they are doing. There have been a lot of protests all over India. I wonder how many Arab countries were the first to condemn Israel?
From Mr Suresh Balakrishnan
UAE
Tolerant society
India is one of the few countries where I have found religious tolerance. Believe me, I am proud to be living here safely and peacefully, as a Muslim.
From Ms Heena Ajaz Seddiqi
India
Facebook comment
Neutral view
Why is India being dragged into this issue? India was neutral on Israel-Palestine even when Congress was ruling the country. India is one of the largest arms buyers of Israel and one of the biggest oil consumers from the Middle East. Therefore, it has to keep a neutral view. Those people asking to boycott Indian products – you better be ready to pay very high prices for your food items, as it would then have to be exported from places like Europe and the Far East! Such a biased report and such biased journalism.
From Mr Ashwin Ameen
Dubai
Guilty silence
The current ruling government in India is silent on Israel – not the people of India or other political parties. I don’t think it’s fair to say that India is against Gazans. What about the rest of the Arab world? Ignorance from their part is also equivalent to supporting Israel. None of them have taken active measures against this injustice. This itself proves that they are not doing enough for their brothers and sisters who are getting slaughtered.
From Ms Fatima Shabin
Sharjah
Change focus
If only Arabs would stand as one nation like they are supposed to, they would not need anything from anybody. Sudanese are doing the most complicated surgeries, Lebanese and Palestinians are some of the oldest merchants on earth, Egyptians are the people who taught civilization to the world, and the wealth of the earth is in the Gulf area. We are just one sleeping giant. I hope we wake up before it’s too late!
From Mr Ahmad Al Shaikh
Dubai
Facebook comment
Many impacted by loss
The death of family members, parents, children or siblings, causes heartache for any human (‘Israeli morale at a low with mounting military losses,’ Gulf News, July 23). One can’t imagine the number of lives getting impacted directly or indirectly by the disappearance of many hundreds of Palestinians. This has resulted in orphans and elderly parents without support. Only way to avoid pain is to keep conflicts away and live in peace while respecting the due rights of each human.
From Mr Junaid
Dubai
Website comment
UN leadership lacking
It is just sickening how mainstream media as well as high profile diplomats from all over the world, including the Arab world, are equating the victims to the criminals (‘‘Stop fighting,’ UN chief tells Israel, Palestinians,’ Gulf News, July 23). Ban Ki Moon, the Secretary General to the United Nations, should command Israel to stop its aggressions on Gaza. They need to stop settlement activities and get serious about the peace process. Only then can there be some sense of logic in what’s coming out of this man’s mouth. Or, even better, I suggest him to quit his job and stop worrying. After all, we only hear about how he has been saddened and that he is grieving way too much to count.
From Mr Wissam
Dubai
Website comment
Peaceful protests
As we send our prayers to our brothers and sisters of Palestine, in general I think peaceful street demonstrations globally will make countries see and feel the tragic life in Gaza.
From Mr Bashir Sali
Dubai
Website comment
Tragic circumstance
It is heartbreaking to separate a mother from their children when she has a few days to live (‘Sick and dying, mother of five faces pleads for mercy,’ Gulf News, July 23). The authorities should really look into this case from a family perspective.
From Mr Zahid Noor
Al Ain
Facebook comment
A special case
No one can feel the agony and pain other than a mother when she is separated from her children. Especially since her final days are numbered. The authorities should consider this as a special case.
From Ms Shiuly Ray
UAE
Facebook comment
Apartheid structure
The war crimes that Zionist Israel stands accused of will not end as long as the Israeli government perpetuates a violent military occupation that allows inequality and injustice to flourish. Israel’s recent actions, including attempts to discredit victims’ families and eyewitnesses, deliberately targeting civilians and pursuing a policy of collective punishment, epitomise the repression and systematic violations of human rights inherent in Israel’s occupation.
Israeli authorities must end its policy of collective punishment and ensure that Palestinian civilians are protected and not targets of violence. Over the past 65 years, Israel has conducted a systematic campaign against a civilian population to drive them out of their homeland. More than 500 villages have been destroyed and more than 70 per cent of the total land of Israel previously owned by Arab Palestinians has been taken from them.
There would be no need for violence if Israel were to respect international law and treat the Palestinians with justice. There would be no security problem for Israel if it did not oppress the Palestinian people. Peace is only possible if it is based on justice and respect for international law.
Ending the cycle of ongoing and systematic human rights violations perpetrated by Israel cannot be effective until the root causes of such violations are recognized and combatted. Parallels can be drawn between Zionist Israel and apartheid South Africa.
Apartheid is a crime. How Israel treats Palestinian citizens is a crime against humanity. Israel has deprived millions of Palestinians of their liberty and property. It has systematically imprisoned and tortured thousands of Palestinians, contrary to the rules of international law. It has, in particular, waged a relentless and cruel war against the brave children of Palestine.
From Mr Samaoen Osman
Cape Town, South Africa
Slaughter in Nigeria
Boko Haram, the extremist butchers of Nigeria, has been indulging in manslaughter without any rhyme or reason. First, they kidnapped around 200 school girls and some of the parents of these girls have died in desperation. One honestly fails to understand the basic reason for this aggression against their own brethren.
The international community seems indifferent. Perhaps thinking that they should rather treat this as an internal matter of Nigeria. But, when the violence becomes targeting girls and women it becomes a humanitarian issue. I feel that there should be instant relief given to the affected people in Nigeria, before Boko Haram commits more slaughter with impunity.
From Mr Thomas Matthew
Kerala, India
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