The Jewish community in Djerba is protesting against the authorities' decision to move the bodies of two Jewish civilians who were killed in a gun attack near a synagogue to the capital Tunis for an autopsy.
The victims’ families and relatives blocked the street outside Sadok Mkaddem regional hospital on the Tunisian island of Djerba, in objection to transferring the bodies from the hospital, which took place on Wednesday.
Five people were killed including two civilians in the shooting.
Aviel Haddad and Benjamin Haddad were caught in crossfire between police and the attacker. The cousins, who were dual citizens, were attending the annual Jewish pilgrimage at Ghriba synagogue and died on their way to watch a football match.
Their relatives voiced their anger at the latest move.
“They’ve worked their whole lives to build their homes here, now you don’t even allow them to enter it one last time,” said one of the protesters, who did not want to be named.
Protesters said the authorities had not allowed them to honour their traditions by reciting verses from the Torah in respect of those killed.
“Have some respect and let us at least have one good cry,” the protester added.
Djerba is home to the largest remaining Jewish community in North Africa.
The island is reeling from the fatal shooting in a place where Muslims and Jews have coexisted for years.
“It’s a tragedy … we were scared, we did not know what was going on as we kept hearing tens of military helicopters fly over our homes,” Fawzia told The National. The bystander has been living in Djerba with her family for 15 years.
“It [the pilgrimage] went really well and we had such a blissful time all together till the end,” she said.
The Ghriba pilgrimage is not only an occasion for local and Jewish visitors to fulfil a religious ritual, it is also a time when communities of various religious backgrounds come together to celebrate their coexistence.
Demanding the truth
An investigation into the attack, in which several others were injured, is under way.
A national guard reportedly shot his partner dead before opening fire on visitors and officers near the synagogue before being killed himself.
The motive and background of the gunman are not yet known.
“If something like that happens, you need to show yourselves and tell us what’s going on, you cannot hide,” Rabbi Levi, a French pilgrim of Tunisian descent, told The National. He said the Tunisian government had a responsibility towards the victims’ families.
“They deserve to know what happened,” he said.
Like many Tunisians in Djerba, Mr Levi said he had lost his faith in the system.
“You cannot hide the body or kidnap it … even if you do not respect the Jewish law, we are fine with that. Just let us know the situation,” he added.
For Amiel Diai, a long time friend of the two victims and a local jewish resident of Djerba, the shock of losing dear friends is amplified by authorities' seeming disregard to his community's grief.
“We did not ask for much, we just wanted to read Tehillim [Torah verses in Hebrew] on them but they did not let us,” Mr Diai told The National.
Mr Diai, who spoke to one of the victims, Aviel, just few minutes before the fatal shooting, said he has not been able to properly process the news or the loss he bore because of ensuing chaos and the lack of communication surrounding the incident.
“They [the police] are being rigid with us, it’s no longer worth living here to be honest,” he said.
Others from the Jewish community also expressed their frustration and hopelessness.
“There is no peace anymore in here [Djerba], one of us was killed by their [police] weapon and you’re telling me there is still peace,” Bingham, said a protester from Hara Kebira, the largest jewish neighbourhood in Djerba.
“When someone gets killed by a police weapon there’s no law but when asked to have a cry on the men in their father’s [ancestors] home, they suddenly remembered the law,” she added.
Like many others, Bingham said she felt that both the incident and its follow up made her feel no longer welcomed in Tunisia and staying in the country feels like a burden day after day.
Meanwhile, Tunisia’s President Kais Saied said in a meeting with the National Security Council on Wednesday that the parties behind the attack were “criminals who chose the Ghriba synagogue specifically, to sow discord, strike the tourism season and the state”.
Mr Said stressed Tunisia is a land of tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
It is not the first time the 2,500-year-old synagogue has been targeted.
In 2002, a bomb attack for which Al Qaeda claimed responsibility killed more than 20 people on the island.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Rooney's club record
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Fight card
1. Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) v Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
2. Featherweight: Hussein Salim (IRQ) v Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
3. Catchweight 80kg: Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Khamza Yamadaev (RUS)
4. Lightweight: Ho Taek-oh (KOR) v Ronald Girones (CUB)
5. Lightweight: Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) v Damien Lapilus (FRA)
6. Bantamweight: Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) v Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
7. Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
8. Flyweight: Shannon Ross (TUR) v Donovon Freelow (USA)
9. Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Dan Collins (GBR)
10. Catchweight 73kg: Islam Mamedov (RUS) v Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM)
11. Bantamweight World title: Jaures Dea (CAM) v Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
12. Flyweight World title: Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
RESULT
Los Angeles Galaxy 2 Manchester United 5
Galaxy: Dos Santos (79', 88')
United: Rashford (2', 20'), Fellaini (26'), Mkhitaryan (67'), Martial (72')
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 (PA) | US$95,000 | (Dirt) 2,000m
7.05pm: Meydan Classic Listed (TB) ) | $175,000) | (Turf) 1,600m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) ) | $135,000 ) | (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy Group 3 (TB) ) | $300,000) | (T) 2,810m
8.50pm: Curlin Handicap Listed (TB)) | $160,000) | (D) 2,000m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB)) | $175,000) | (T) 1,400m
10pm: Handicap (TB) ) | $135,000 ) | (T) 2,000m
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
The specs: 2018 Kia Picanto
Price: From Dh39,500
Engine: 1.2L inline four-cylinder
Transmission: Four-speed auto
Power: 86hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 122Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0L / 100km
Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
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About Seez
Company name/date started: Seez, set up in September 2015 and the app was released in August 2017
Founder/CEO name(s): Tarek Kabrit, co-founder and chief executive, and Andrew Kabrit, co-founder and chief operating officer
Based in: Dubai, with operations also in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon
Sector: Search engine for car buying, selling and leasing
Size: (employees/revenue): 11; undisclosed
Stage of funding: $1.8 million in seed funding; followed by another $1.5m bridge round - in the process of closing Series A
Investors: Wamda Capital, B&Y and Phoenician Funds
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RESULTS
1.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner: Dirilis Ertugrul, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Ismail Mohammed (trainer)
2.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,400m
Winner: Kidd Malibu, Sandro Paiva, Musabah Al Muhairi
2.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,000m
Winner: Raakezz, Tadhg O’Shea, Nicholas Bachalard
3.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,200m
Winner: Au Couer, Sean Kirrane, Satish Seemar
3.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m
Winner: Rayig, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,600m
Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,800m
Winner: King’s Shadow, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
