Mourners react outside the morgue of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on October 12, 2023 as raging battles between Israel and the Hamas movement continue for the sixth consecutive day. AFP
Mourners react outside the morgue of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on October 12, 2023 as raging battles between Israel and the Hamas movement continue for the sixth consecutive day. AFP


Israel-Gaza war: human rights violations must stop



October 13, 2023

With reference to Hamza Hendawi's report Egypt talking to Israel over safe corridors to deliver aid to Gaza (October 11): Civilians and entire neighbourhoods are getting bombed. Human rights cannot be given based on nationality. Gaza also needs water, food and electricity. World leaders must work to stop these unimaginable human rights violations. Medical supplies have to be allowed to reach Gaza to help save civilians.

Zahraa Khalil, Giza, Egypt

No peace for Palestinians

With regard to Nagham Mohanna's article 'Afraid to move, afraid to stay': Gazans tell of their plight as bombs fall (October 11): There is unlikely to be peace for Palestinians until the occupation finally ends.

Tuwan Suheib Careem, Galle, Sri Lanka

Protecting civilian life should be a priority for the world. The conflict has already claimed almost 2500 lives and displaced more than 338,000 people in Gaza, according to the UN.

Aid organisations should be allowed to access people, deliver food and medicines.

With the conflict becoming more aggressive, the damage is bound to be even more extreme. Besides the lives already lost, the violence has been inflicting immense trauma to the younger generation, especially children. A collective effort to stop this should be a priority for responsible countries. War brings agony beyond belief to ordinary people as they helplessly witness another humanitarian crisis.

Ramachandran Nair, Muscat, Oman

Devastation on both sides

With regard to the piece by Mina Aldroubi and Nada AlTaher Residents in Gaza and Israel are facing devastation, aid groups say (October 11): The war must end from both sides. There must be peace for all.

Wani Bilal, Srinagar, India

This violence may not be new but the scale of it this time is tragic. My unconditional support for the innocent civilians and the people of Gaza.

Mhmd Rharmed, Marrakech, Morocco

I imagine it's tough for world leaders to ask Israel for a ceasefire just yet. They were attacked first. However, I really do hope they reach a ceasefire deal. So many civilians dying is unbearably sad. I honestly sympathise with the people of Palestine. I hope this devastation can end soon.

Onyekachi Paulinus, Enugu, Nigeria

Palestinians have lived for decades under occupation, witnessing so much violence and death and misery. How can one have expected them to stay silent forever?

Alena Latalova, Kuwait

This conflict has been on for more than five decades. There has been no permanent solution and more violence is never the answer. Both parties have their reasons, but I pray for innocent victims on both sides, and wish the horror ends soon.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India

Election pledges on migration

CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections" 

SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom" 

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Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.

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The Kingfisher Secret
Anonymous, Penguin Books

In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

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A foster couple or family must:

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  • A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
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Match info

Karnataka Tuskers 110-3

J Charles 35, M Pretorius 1-19, Z Khan 0-16

Deccan Gladiators 111-5 in 8.3 overs

K Pollard 45*, S Zadran 2-18

Best Foreign Language Film nominees

Capernaum (Lebanon)

Cold War (Poland)

Never Look Away (Germany)

Roma (Mexico)

Shoplifters (Japan)

Updated: October 13, 2023, 4:40 AM