US caught by surprise as Syria overthrows al-Assad: Analysis
Washington, DC – A lightning-quick offensive has seen Syria’s opposition take control of major cities and large swaths of territory, toppling the government of longtime leader President Bashar al-Assad and indelibly altering the war-torn country’s future. The events represent a remarkable reversal of fortunes in Syria and enlivened a multipronged civil war that appeared largely stagnant for years. The situation, analysts told Al Jazeera, also appears to have been largely unanticipated by the administration of United States President Joe Biden, and raises galling questions over how Washington will proceed in the weeks and months ahead. “I think everything that’s happening caught them by surprise,” Qutaiba Idlbi, a senior fellow at the Washington, DC-based Atlantic Council, told Al Jazeera. “So many of us analysts and Syria watchers have been wondering what’s going to come next.” “[The Biden administration] will need to recalibrate their approach to Syria,” added Idlbi, who is also a Syrian refugee. But that is all but assured to be constrained by Biden’s diminished power before he hands over the office in January to president-elect Donald Trump, he said. Advertisement “I feel that the events on the ground are moving way too quickly for them to catch up, especially in this lame-duck session.” ‘Historic opportunity’ or ‘risk and uncertainty’? Speaking on Sunday – hours after opposition groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) entered the Syrian capital of Damascus and sent al-Assad fleeing the country – Biden gave his first response to what he described as both a moment of “historic opportunity” and “risk and uncertainty”. Biden said the end of al-Assad’s presidency was in part due to US support for Israel’s war on Gaza and its fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as support for groups in Syria and Iraq that weakened Syria’s close ally, Iran. He also pointed to US support for Ukraine’s war against Russia’s invasion, which siphoned resources from Moscow, a close ally of al-Assad: “The upshot of all of this, for the first time ever, neither Russia [nor] Iran or Hezbollah could defend this abhorrent regime in Syria,” Biden said. Looking ahead, Biden said Washington would prioritise supporting Syria’s neighbours – including Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Israel. He said US forces would remain in northeast Syria, where they support the Kurdish-led Syrian Defence Forces against ISIL (ISIS). About 900 US troops are currently in the northeast of the country. Finally, Biden pledged to engage “with all Syrian groups”, while vowing to “remain vigilant”. “Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism,” he said. Advertisement A senior US official quoted by Reuters, however, said that HTS was “saying the right things”. ‘Six weeks left on the clock’ The first official response from the White House underlines several key questions that will determine the shape of US policy on Syria going forward. But Biden – during his short time left in office – is unlikely to provide those answers, according to Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a former Middle East analyst at the State Department. “You’re talking about an administration that has six weeks left on the clock,” he said. “And with six weeks left on the clock, I would just try to prevent and guard against potential complications or catastrophes.” That means most major decisions will likely be made by Trump. During his first term, Trump repeatedly sought to withdraw US troops from Syria. He appeared to re-up that effort on Saturday, writing on his Truth Social account that the US “would have nothing to do” with the country. The Biden administration has also not articulated how it will mediate its support for the SDF’s fight against ISIL with the evolving landscape on the ground. Like other rebel groups, the SDF has seized new territory – including the eastern city of Deir Az Zor and the Abu Kamal border crossing with Iraq – in recent days. Speaking to reporters last week, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said US forces were not “participating in combined arms manoeuvre with the SDF” in their offensive. Advertisement But the fluid situation on the ground could see more opportunities for escalation between the SDF and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) group, according to analyst Idlbi. “Of course, those questions are still pending,” he said. The Biden administration is also widely expected to revisit its designation of HTS as a “terrorist organisation”, which could restrict US engagement with any fledgling transitional government. Jabhat al-Nusra was formed in 2012 by ISIL but broke from the group a year later and pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda. It joined with other factions and broke from al-Qaeda in 2017, rebranding as HTS. Its leader, Abu Mohammed al-Julani, whose real name is Ahmad al-Sharaa, has since portrayed himself as a supporter of pluralism and equality, but wariness remains for how the group would treat the vastly diverse communities that make up Syria’s population. The US government continues to have a $10m bounty on his head. ‘Backburner’ Despite Biden’s celebration over al-Assad’s ousting, Idlbi said he remains wary that this was the outcome the administration wanted to see. At the very least, he said the Biden administration had been caught flat-footed between diverging schools of thought: One that supported keeping al-Assad in power to avoid a vacuum, while coaxing him away from Iran, and another that supported wider regime change. He pointed to a Reuters news agency report last week that said the US and United Arab Emirates had recently discussed the possibility of lifting sanctions on al-Assad if he agreed to pull away from Iran and cut off weapons routes to Hezbollah. Advertisement The principles of the Biden administration’s approach to the situation, with its deprioritisation of Syria since taking office in 2021, never fully took form, he added. “Syria has been put on the back burner for the last four years, and the burner has been turned off,” Idlbi said. In many ways, the
Ex-Syrian PM to supervise state bodies until transition, al-Julani says
Bashar al-Assad-appointed Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali says gov’t ready to ‘extend its hand’ to opposition, turn its functions over to a transitional government. The leader of the main armed opposition group in Syria says former Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali will supervise state institutions until they are handed over, as fighters declared an end to Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year rule. Opposition forces on Sunday said they had “liberated” the capital, Damascus, in a lightning offensive. They said al-Assad had fled the city. His whereabouts are unknown. In a statement, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) head Abu Mohammed al-Julani said al-Jalali, appointed prime minister by al-Assad in September, will remain at the helm until the transition. Signed in his real name, Ahmed al-Sharaa, al-Julani’s statement banned military forces in Damascus from approaching public bodies and prohibited the firing of guns in the air. For his part, al-Jalali said his government is ready to hand over power to any leadership chosen by the people. “I am not leaving and I don’t intend to leave. I expect in a peaceful manner to guarantee the continuity of the public authorities and the institutions and the state apparatus and to guarantee the safety and security for all citizens,” he said in a video statement. Advertisement “And we are extending our hands even to the opposition, who extended their hands and gave assurances they will not cause any harm to any citizens who belong to this Syria of ours.” In an interview with Al Arabiya, al-Jalali said he had been in contact with the HTS leader to discuss managing the current transitional period, and said Syria should hold free elections. He also said he did not know where al-Assad and his defence minister were, adding that he had lost communication with the president on Saturday night. Separately, Syrian Communications Minister Eyad al-Khatib, in an interview with Al Arabiya, said he had been contacted by an HTS representative responsible for telecoms services. They agreed that telecoms and the internet would continue to function, al-Khatib said. Adblock test (Why?)
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,018
Here are the key developments on the 1,018th day of the Russia-Ukraine war. Here is the situation on Sunday, December 8: Fighting: Ukraine’s air force said its air defence units shot down 28 of 74 drones launched by Russia overnight targeting Ukraine. In a statement on Telegram, it also said 46 of the Russian drones were “lost”, likely neutralised by electronic warfare. Russia’s Ministry of Defence said on Telegram that its air defence destroyed 46 Ukrainian drones overnight over five Russian regions. The ministry also said its forces had taken Berestky, a small village close to the embattled town of Kurakhove in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. Weapons: Politics and diplomacy: United States President-elect Donald Trump said Zelenskyy was keen for a deal to end the war with Russia after the pair met in Paris in a meeting hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that there should be an immediate ceasefire to be followed by negotiations. Zelenskyy said he had “a good and productive” meeting with Trump and Macron in Paris, and added, “We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just way. We spoke about our people, the situation on the ground, and a just peace.” US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced that the Biden administration will provide $988m in additional military aid to Ukraine. The package is separate from the $725m in military assistance announced on December 2. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told the Funke group of newspapers that he is confident he would be able to agree with Trump on a joint strategy for Ukraine after speaking to him on the phone. Advertisement Adblock test (Why?)
Opposition fighters seize al-Assad presidential palace in Syria’s Damascus
Syrian opposition fighters have taken over the presidential palace in Damascus after a rapid offensive that seized control of the capital and sent crowds into the streets to celebrate the end of the al-Assad family’s 53-year rule. State television on Sunday aired a video statement by a group of men saying President Bashar al-Assad had been overthrown and all prisoners had been set free. The man who read the statement said the opposition group, known as the Operations Room to Conquer Damascus, called on all opposition fighters and citizens to preserve the institutions of “the free Syrian state”. The opposition said al-Assad had left Damascus. His whereabouts remain unknown. Syria’s war erupted in 2011 as an uprising against al-Assad’s rule and quickly morphed into a full-blown conflict that dragged in foreign powers. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed while millions were forced from their homes in one of the world’s largest refugee crises. Adblock test (Why?)
‘Not our fight’: President-elect Trump distances US from Syria’s conflict
President-elect Donald Trump has signalled that, under his administration, the United States would cease any involvement in Syria’s long-running civil war, hinting at a possible end to support for Kurdish-led forces in the region. In a Saturday morning missive on social media, Trump addressed the surprise opposition offensive that has redrawn the battle lines in the Syrian conflict. “Syria is a mess, but is not our friend,” Trump wrote, before switching to all uppercase letters for emphasis. “THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!” Trump campaigned for re-election in November’s presidential race by pushing an “America First” platform, one that critics feared could destabilise US alliances abroad. In Syria, the US maintains no formal diplomatic relations with the government of embattled President Bashar al-Assad. But it does back the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led coalition based largely in the northeast, as an ally in defeating ISIL (ISIS). Advertisement The war in Syria has been raging since 2011, when “Arab Spring” protests erupted against al-Assad and the government responded with a heavy-handed crackdown. The situation sparked a multi-sided conflict, with four main groups holding territory in Syria. But the boundaries of the conflict shifted dramatically on November 27, when opposition fighters led by the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) made a push from their northwestern stronghold of Idlib. After reclaiming Aleppo in a lightning offensive, the opposition forces swept southward, capturing a string of government-held cities including Hama and Deraa and encircling other areas like Homs. By Saturday, they were kilometres from the capital, Damascus. Trump, a Republican, noted the rapidly changing nature of the conflict in his Saturday post, calling the opposition offensive “unprecedented”. He predicted a “big move toward taking out Assad”. Still, his post was largely focused on US relations with Russia and his ongoing rivalry with former President Barack Obama, a Democrat. He made no mention of the Kurdish-led coalition, which holds about a quarter of Syria’s territory in many oil-rich regions. Nor did Trump address the US troops currently in Syria, estimated to comprise fewer than 1,000 service members scattered across bases in places like Omar Oil Field and al-Shaddadi. Instead, Trump pointed to Russian military weakness in Syria, where it backs al-Assad’s government. “Russia, because they are so tied up in Ukraine, and with the loss there of over 600,000 soldiers, seems incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria, a country they have protected for years,” he wrote. Advertisement “But now they are, like possibly Assad himself, being forced out, and it may actually be the best thing that can happen to them.” Trump also used his post to take another jab at Obama, the predecessor to his first term. During his time in office, from 2009 to 2017, Obama had called for al-Assad to step down and called the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian conflict a “red line” that would result in “enormous consequences”. But Obama ultimately opted not to launch a full-scale military campaign, resorting instead to targeted air strikes against ISIL (ISIS). And ultimately the Syrian government agreed to dismantle its chemical weapons programme, as part of a deal brokered by Russia. “Obama refused to honor his commitment of protecting the RED LINE IN THE SAND,” Trump wrote on Saturday. “There was never much of a benefit in Syria for Russia, other than to make Obama look really stupid.” Still, US air attacks in the region have continued, even during the latest opposition offensive. Just a few days ago, on December 3, the US conducted air strikes in Syria against weapons systems described as a “threat to US and coalition forces in Syria”. But the administration of outgoing President Joe Biden, a Democrat, said the attacks against the weapons systems were no indication that the US was interested in joining the wider conflict. “To be clear, these self-defense actions successfully eliminated imminent threats to U.S. personnel and were not linked to any broader activities in northwest Syria by other groups,” Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder said in a statement. Advertisement Trump is slated to take over from Biden on January 20. But he has signalled he plans to disengage the US from overseas entanglements. He repeatedly told voters on the campaign trail, “I will prevent World War III from happening,” presenting himself as a candidate for peace. Experts say US leaders may have other incentives to stay away from the Syrian conflict. Speaking to Al Jazeera last week, Joshua Landis, a Middle East studies professor at the University of Oklahoma, said the US is slated to face pressure from Turkiye, which considers the Kurdish fighters a “terrorist” threat. “Turkiye is going to want the Americans to leave, and it’s going to want to attack the Kurds,” Landis said. “It’s likely that President Trump, the new incoming president, will choose Turkiye over the Kurds.” Adblock test (Why?)
Qatar says ‘momentum’ building back up in Gaza ceasefire efforts
A month after suspending its mediation bid, Qatar has said it sees “momentum” in efforts to reach a deal to end Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip, as dozens of Palestinians were killed in the Israeli military’s continued attacks on the besieged enclave. Speaking at the Doha Forum on Saturday, Qatari Foreign Minister and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the country took a step back from mediating Gaza ceasefire talks because it failed to see “a real willingness” to end the war. But the minister said that after the United States presidential election on November 5, Qatar has sensed “that the momentum is coming back”. “We have seen a lot of encouragement from the incoming administration [of US President-elect Donald Trump] in order to achieve a deal even before the president comes [into] office” in January, Al Thani said. “And that actually made us [try] … to put it back on track. We’ve been engaging in the past couple of weeks,” he added. Efforts to end Israel’s war on Gaza, which has killed more than 44,600 Palestinians since early October 2023, have foundered, with critics accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of stymying the negotiations. H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani @MBA_AlThani_ , Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, at a panel discussion in Doha Forum: Qatar stresses that reaching a lasting agreement depends on sincere willingness from all parties to end the war and finalize a… pic.twitter.com/sjGYthIY5i — Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) December 7, 2024 Advertisement The administration of outgoing US President Joe Biden, which has repeatedly said it is pushing for an end to the fighting in Gaza but refuses to condition US aid to Israel, also has faced criticism for failing to secure a ceasefire. The US provides Israel with at least $3.8bn in military aid annually, and the Biden administration has authorised $14bn in further assistance to its ally since the war began last year. Trump – who, like Biden, is a staunch supporter of Israel – this week warned that “there will be hell to pay” if captives held in Gaza are not released by the time he enters the White House on January 20. “Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!” he wrote on social media. Dozens killed across Gaza Meanwhile, medical sources in Gaza told Al Jazeera Arabic on Saturday that 39 Palestinians were killed since dawn in Israeli attacks across the bombarded territory, including a strike in the Nuseirat refugee camp that killed at least 26 people. Reporting from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum said the attack on the refugee camp targeted a building in a densely populated area housing displaced families. “People have been buried under tonnes of debris,” said Abu Azzoum, adding that rescuers and residents were still searching through the rubble for possible survivors as well as bodies that can be taken for burial. The Israeli military also has laid siege to Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza’s Beit Lahiya, as well as the surrounding area. Advertisement Footage verified by Al Jazeera’s Sanad fact-checking agency showed Israeli forces firing on a Palestine Red Crescent Society ambulance near the hospital. Amid intense bombardment and hostilities in close proximity of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern #Gaza yesterday, 33 people were reportedly killed just outside the facility. Given the volatile security situation, the international medical team —deployed by @WHO five days ago… — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) December 7, 2024 Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization (WHO), said an international medical team “was forced to self-evacuate” amid the deteriorating security situation at Kamal Adwan Hospital. He said in a social media post on Saturday that “displaced people, caregivers, and many injured patients began fleeing the hospital and panic spread” but that 90 patients and 66 medical staff remained at the facility. “Kamal Adwan is minimally functional, but this latest incident further threatens its ability to remain operational. It is one of the last lifelines for the people of northern Gaza. We urgently call for the immediate protection of healthcare facilities and an end to the hostilities!” he wrote. Back in Doha, the Qatari prime minister said the Gulf country was working to protect the negotiation process “to make sure that we can achieve a meaningful result”. “We hope to get things done as soon as possible. We hope that the willingness of the parties to engage in good faith continues in the same manner,” Al Thani said. Advertisement “It’s all about the main questions: Is there a willingness to end the war? Yes or no. Is there a willingness to have an exchange deal? Yes or no,” he added. “Those are two very simple questions with very simple answers. If the answers are yes on both questions then we have a deal.” Adblock test (Why?)
World leaders gather for reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris
French President Emmanuel Macron thanks all who ‘saved, helped, rebuilt’ beloved cathedral after devastating 2019 fire. World leaders have gathered in the French capital for the reopening of the Notre-Dame Cathedral, five years after the UNESCO World Heritage site was severely damaged in a fire that drew a global outpouring of support. Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich ceremonially opened the doors to Notre-Dame on Saturday evening at the start of a ceremony attended by French President Emmanuel Macron and other heads of state from around the world. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President-elect Donald Trump, who was making his first overseas trip since winning last month’s US election, were among the many leaders in attendance. “Tonight, I stand before you … to express the gratitude of the French nation – gratitude to all those who saved, helped, and rebuilt Notre-Dame,” Macron said during the ceremony. “Tonight, the bells of Notre-Dame will ring again.” Nous y sommes.Le monde nous regarde.Allons réouvrir Notre-Dame ! — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 7, 2024 [Translation: “Here we are. The world is watching us. Let’s reopen Notre-Dame!”] The 2019 fire brought the beloved, 12th-century gothic cathedral close to collapse, as flames engulfed Notre-Dame and sent massive plumes of smoke billowing into the sky above Paris. Hundreds of firefighters were deployed to extinguish the blaze. Advertisement Following the fire, nearly $1bn in donations poured in from around the world to help with reconstruction efforts. The cathedral has been meticulously restored, with a new spire and rib vaulting, its flying buttresses and carved stone gargoyles returned to their past glory and white stone and gold decorations shining brightly once again. French firefighters who helped fight the fire received a standing ovation during Saturday’s reopening ceremony. The word “merci” – French for “thank you” – was also illuminated on the front of the building. Parisian careworker Pascal Tordeux, who has a tattoo on his arm representing the cathedral, told the Reuters news agency that Notre-Dame “means everything”. “I saw the construction every day from my window, the spire being brought down, being brought back,” said Tordeux, who lives across the river from the cathedral. “I saw it burn, I saw it rise again. I followed it day by day.” The reopening comes as Macron faces a political crisis at home after parliament earlier this week pushed out his prime minister. Al Jazeera’s Natacha Butler, reporting from outside Notre-Dame on Saturday evening, said the French president – who had promised to rebuild the cathedral in five years – is hoping to distract from that political uncertainty. “We have also seen Macron use this as something of an opportunity for a bit of last-minute diplomacy,” Butler explained. Macron held talks with Zelenskyy and Trump at the Elysee before the ceremony. “It was behind closed doors, but no doubt, Macron will be rather pleased that he’s managed to get these two together before Trump is inaugurated in January,” Butler added. Advertisement Observers have raised concerns that Trump – who has questioned continued US support for Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 invasion – could cut off Washington’s assistance to Kyiv once he takes office. In a post on X, the Ukrainian president described Saturday’s meeting with Macron and Trump as “good and productive”. “We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just way. We spoke about our people, the situation on the ground, and a just peace,” Zelenskyy wrote. “We agreed to continue working together and keep in contact. Peace through strength is possible.” I had a good and productive trilateral meeting with President @realDonaldTrump and President @EmmanuelMacron at the Élysée Palace. President Trump is, as always, resolute. I thank him. I also extend my gratitude to Emmanuel for organizing this important meeting. We all want… pic.twitter.com/eKMtuhp2ZI — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 7, 2024 Adblock test (Why?)
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,017
Here is the situation on Saturday, December 7: Fighting: A Russian attack on the southern city of Zaporizhzhia killed at least 10 people and wounded 24 on Friday. The city’s governor, Ivan Fedorov, said the attack had set a car garage and service station on fire in the blast. Another attack on nearby Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s hometown, killed at least two people, according to the local governor. Moscow said its forces had captured a village near the embattled supply hub of Pokrovsk and another near the industrial town of Kurakhove, gaining ground in two key areas of the east Ukraine front line. Lithuanian Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius at the European Commission in Brussels, on December 6, 2024 [Simon Wohlfahrt / AFP] Military and diplomacy: Zelenskyy slammed Putin after the attacks, saying in a post on Telegram that “thousands of such strikes carried out by Russia during this war make it absolutely clear that Putin does not need real peace,” adding that “only through force can real peace be established”. The EU’s first-ever defence commissioner, Andrius Kubilius, has called for a “big-bang approach” in spending and policy changes to strengthen the bloc’s defences, warning that Russia could be prepared for military aggression against the EU or NATO by 2030. Ukraine unveiled a new domestically produced “rocket drone” called Peklo (Hell in Ukrainian) saying it can fly 700km (430 miles) – more than twice the longest range attributed to missiles supplied by Western allies. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in a broadcast interview that his country’s recent use of a hypersonic missile in the Ukraine war sought to make the West understand that Moscow was ready to use “any means” to stave off defeat. Zelenskyy is set to travel to Paris this weekend for the reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral, where he hopes to meet with the US president-elect Donald Trump. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in an interview published on Saturday that he believed he and Trump would be able to develop a “joint strategy” for Ukraine. Adblock test (Why?)
The Palestinian boy who wanted to be like Ronaldo, killed by Israel
Halhul, occupied West Bank – Like kids the world over, Naji al-Baba dreamed of becoming an international football player, “just like Ronaldo”. But – like his name, which means “survivor” – that was not to be the fate of a boy born in the occupied West Bank. Tall for a 14-year-old, Naji was always smiling and his family remember his kindness, calmness and helpfulness to everyone around him. He was passionate about football – practising for hours at the sports club in Halhul, just north of Hebron. A normal boy who loved to knock a football around with the neighbourhood children after school. Naji’s teammates hold up his football jersey as they remember their star player [Mosab Shawer/Al Jazeera] His mother, Samahar al-Zamara, remembers the moment she realised Naji had grown taller than her and how he never refused a request from a friend or loved one “He grew up before his age,” the 40-year-old says. “When he left us, I felt that I lost a part of me that we’ll never get back.” One month ago, Naji was killed by Israeli soldiers while he was doing the thing he loved – playing football with his friends. Naji’s mother, Samahar al-Zamara, centre, arrives at the hospital with other women from the family the day after her son’s killing to prepare his body for the funeral [Mosab Shawer/Al Jazeera] November 3 – the day Naji died – didn’t seem unusual, his father Nidal Abdel Moti al-Baba, 47, tells Al Jazeera. Advertisement “I went in the morning to work in Bethlehem and Naji went to school. When I returned from work at 12 noon, I found Naji near his school, leaving for home. He got into the truck with me to return home together.” Naji’s sisters had prepared his favourite meal – molokhia with chicken – for lunch. Afterwards, he asked his father to let him go out to play with his friends near his grandfather’s grocery store, which is close to their home. Naji was the fifth of six children, after Sondos, 23; Bashir, 21; Amira, 20; and Mohammed, 16; and ahead of Rataj, 13. He checked in at home after half an hour – a little after 3pm – and then set off to play again. It was the last time the family would see him alive. Nidal al-Baba’s hand was broken when he was violently assaulted by Israeli soldiers responsible for the killing of his 14-year-old son [Mosab Shawer/Al Jazeera] ‘The most difficult 40 minutes of my life’ Just moments later, at about 3:30pm, Naji’s cousin ran to the house, shouting: “Uncle Nidal! Uncle Nidal!” The family listened in horror. Israeli soldiers had arrived and started shooting at the children playing in a nearby wooded area – and Naji had been hit, he said. Desperately hoping he was merely injured – as many have been since the increase in illegal Israeli settlements and incursions by Israeli settlers and the army across the West Bank since Israel’s war on Gaza began – Naji’s father and uncle Samir rushed to the spot where a cluster of Israeli soldiers was standing. “I want my son! I want my son!” Nidal screamed before about 10 soldiers turned on him and his brother and beat them so violently they broke Nidal’s hand. Advertisement As he continued to demand to see his son, he was handcuffed, tied up and left on the ground for more than 40 minutes. The most difficult 40 minutes of his life, Nidal says now. “I heard an officer ask the soldiers to stand in two teams, five on the right and one on the left to carry the body. “That’s when I started screaming: ‘How can you kill a 14-year-old child? What did he do to you? What did he do to you?’” One of the soldiers replied that Naji had been in an area Palestinians are forbidden to enter. Family and friends arrive at the hospital to prepare Naji’s body for his funeral [Mosab Shawer/Al Jazeera] In this confusion: “For a moment,” Nidal says, “I thought: ‘Maybe this child isn’t my son.’ “I watched him being carried on the soldiers’ shoulders towards an army vehicle and… I could see it was Naji. “I recognised him from his shoes which I had bought for him only days before; a pair of black trainers he had longed for. All I could think about was how happy he was when I bought them for him.” The soldiers took Naji’s body away and ordered Nidal and Samir to leave immediately or they would be killed. The family found out later that a Palestinian ambulance was called after two hours and his body was handed over and taken to Halhul’s Abu Mazen Hospital overnight The forensic medical report found that Naji had been hit by four bullets – one in the pelvis, another in the foot, the third through his heart and the fourth in the shoulder. It also found that the boy was left for 30 minutes without medical attention after being shot. Advertisement The next morning, Naji’s family were able to visit the hospital to prepare him for his funeral. Despite his broken hand, Nidal insisted on carrying his son’s body on his shoulder for the funeral, which was attended by hundreds of people from Halhul. Al Jazeera contacted the Israeli Ministry of Defence for comment regarding the killing of Naji al-Baba, but did not receive a response. The funeral procession of Naji in Halhul, West Bank [Mosab Shawer/Al Jazeera] Remembering Naji The family was devastated and could not speak to anyone for nearly a month. In happier times, Naji was the one who took care of his family – fetching blood pressure medicine for his father and keeping an eye on the doses. “I have 20 grandchildren, but he was the most loving among them, affectionate, supportive and helpful,” his grandmother Intisar al-Baba, 70, remembers. In the winter, she says, Naji would keep an eye on the firewood and rush off
S Korea’s Yoon apologises for martial law crisis as impeachment vote looms
South Korean lawmakers are scheduled to vote on an opposition motion to impeach the president for declaring martial law earlier this week. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has made a public apology for his attempt to impose martial law this week but did not resign, defying intense pressure to step down – even from some in his own party – only hours before a planned impeachment vote. In a televised address to the nation on Saturday, Yoon said he would not seek to avoid legal and political responsibility for his decision to invoke the emergency measure of martial law for the first time in South Korea since 1980. He said his decision was born of “desperation”. “I am very sorry and would like to sincerely apologise to the people who were shocked,” Yoon said, promising there would be no second attempt. “I leave it up to my party to take steps to stabilise the political situation in the future, including the issue of my term in office,” he said, standing in front of the South Korean flag and bowing after he finished his brief remarks. The speech was the embattled leader’s first public appearance since he rescinded the martial law order early on Wednesday, just six hours after it was declared and after parliament defied an armed military raid and police cordons to vote against the decree, which forced the president to revoke his order. Advertisement Han Dong-hoon, leader of Yoon’s People Power Party (PPP), said after the address that the president was no longer in a position to carry out his public duties and his resignation was now unavoidable. On Friday, Han had said Yoon was a danger to the country and needed to be removed from power. On Saturday, Han met with the country’s Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to discuss the crisis, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported. Under the constitution, if Yoon resigns or is impeached then the prime minister, who was appointed by Yoon, becomes South Korea’s acting president. If Yoon leaves office before his single five-year term ends in May 2027, the constitution requires a presidential election to be held within 60 days upon his departure. Lawmakers are scheduled to vote at 5pm local time (08:00 GMT) on the main opposition Democratic Party’s motion to impeach Yoon. Opposition leaders said if the motion fails, they plan to revisit it again on Wednesday. Prosecutors, the police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials have all launched probes into Yoon and senior officials involved in the martial law decree, seeking to pursue charges of insurrection and abuse of power, among others. Many in South Korea are still reeling from the president’s shock announcement late on Tuesday night, which gave the military sweeping emergency powers in order to combat unspecified threats from “North Korean communist forces”, and “to eradicate the shameless pro-North antistate forces”. Advertisement Yoon said martial law was necessary, accusing opposition members in the National Assembly of launching an unprecedented number of impeachment efforts against members of his administration, effectively paralysing key operations of government, and of handling the budget in a way that undermined the fundamental functions of government, including public safety. Yoon’s move plunged Asia’s fourth-largest economy and key US military ally into its greatest political crisis in decades, and threatened to shatter South Korea’s reputation as a democratic success story. Adblock test (Why?)