Month: November 2023

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Defence India News

IAF fighter squadron jettisons MiG-21s for Sukhoi-30 MKIs

The formal induction of the new aircraft was marked by a ceremony at Air Force Station Uttarlai on 30 October…reports Asian Lite News

The Number 4 Squadron known as “Oorials” of the Indian Air Force (IAF) based at Air Force Station Uttarlai (Barmer), Rajasthan is converting from the MiG-21 to the Su-30 MKI, marking a watershed moment in the history of the squadron which was operating the MiG-21 since 1966.

The MiG-21 was the first supersonic fighter in service of the IAF and was inducted in 1963 and has participated in all major conflicts since then. This change signifies the unwavering commitment of the Indian Air Force to modernise and at the same time protect the skies of the nation.

The formal induction of the new aircraft was marked by a ceremony at Air Force Station Uttarlai on 30 October. The ceremony featured a combined flypast by the MiG-21 and Su-30 MKI, which marked the last MiG-21 sortie for the squadron.

The ceremony was witnessed by the various military and civilian dignitaries in attendance. The conversion of this squadron to Su-30 MKI implies that the IAF now operates only two squadrons of the MiG-21. The IAF remains committed to phasing out the MiG-21 aircraft by the year 2025. (ANI)

ALSO READ-After 46 years, Navy’s Il-38SD reconnaissance plane retires

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-Top News UAE News Woman

PublisHer Founder Introduces Prestigious Awards for Women in Publishing

Al Qasimi described the awards as an extension of this support system, designed to honor, elevate, and encourage women who have forged their unique paths….reports Asian Lite News

Bodour Al Qasimi, the founder of PublisHer and Kalimat Group, has unveiled the PublisHer Excellence Awards, a prestigious recognition program aimed at honoring exceptional female professionals who have left a significant mark on the publishing industry.

The announcement was made during the Sharjah Publishers Conference, leading up to the Sharjah International Book Fair, reinforcing the commitment to celebrating and empowering female leaders in the field.

In her address at the conference, Bodour Al Qasimi stressed the importance of the PublisHer Excellence Awards in advancing the mission of PublisHer to recognize and support women in the publishing industry.

She emphasized the power of women forming support networks and uplifting each other, countering stereotypes to create a thriving community.

Al Qasimi described the awards as an extension of this support system, designed to honor, elevate, and encourage women who have forged their unique paths and illuminated the way forward through their resilience, ingenuity, and vision.

The PublisHer Excellence Awards are underpinned by a three-fold mission: to celebrate women’s professional accomplishments, champion diversity, equity, and inclusion, and promote their ongoing professional development. The awards are divided into three categories:

1. Lifetime Achievement Award: This accolade is reserved for a pioneering publishing doyenne with a career spanning at least 20 years, who has made a significant and lasting impact on the industry.

2. Emerging Leader Award: Recognizing a rising star in the publishing world, aged 35 or younger, who has displayed exceptional leadership skills, big-picture thinking, and the ability to drive positive change.

3. Innovation Award: Celebrating any woman who has made an innovative contribution to the publishing industry. This could encompass areas such as storytelling and content curation, editorial leadership, management strategies, company culture, and marketing campaigns, among others.

The call for nominations is open to all and can be submitted through the PublisHer’s social media channels on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook pages. Nominations will be accepted until January 15, 2024. Following the closure of the nomination period, a panel of distinguished judges will curate a shortlist of candidates and select the award winners.

The PublisHer Excellence Awards represent a significant step toward recognizing and celebrating the remarkable contributions of women in the publishing industry, promoting diversity and equity, and fostering professional growth.

This initiative, led by Bodour Al Qasimi, aligns with the broader goals of PublisHer to amplify the voices and accomplishments of women in the world of publishing.

ALSO READ: Global Publishing Industry Converges in Sharjah

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Defence India News

After 46 years, Navy’s Il-38SD reconnaissance plane retires

With its unique capabilities, striking prowess and extended reach covering the vast Indian Ocean region, the IL-38 SD has over the years proven itself to be a formidable force multiplier…reports Asian Lite News

The Ilyushin-38 Sea Dragon Long Range Maritime Patrol aircraft of the Navy bid adieu to the nation after 46 years of “glorious service” on Tuesday at INS Hansa, Dabolim.

The decommissioning ceremony was held at INS Hansa, Dabolim where Adm R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, dignitaries, and veteran officers and sailors of the IL-38 squadron graced the event with families reminiscing the yeoman service.

INAS 315 was commissioned on October 1, 1977, with the induction of IL-38 aircraft heralding a modern era of airborne Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance and Anti-Submarine Warfare in the Navy. With its unique capabilities, striking prowess and extended reach covering the vast Indian Ocean region, the IL-38 SD has over the years proven itself to be a formidable force multiplier.

During the occasion, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar addressed the program and said, “IL had a reputation and they did very well in the primary job of locating ships, locating submarines, and fulfill their missions to the best extent possible within the constraints of the weapons and sensors they have carried. With the upgrade to the IL 38 SB, the aircraft movement had gone up even more substantially,”

“The aircraft which has served us for over 46 years and various roles essentially maritime patrol aircraft, surveillance anti-submarine warfare has been supporting the fleet in surveillance and anti-submarine operations. It has clocked more than 51,000 hours in the last 46 years,” added Admiral R Hari Kumar.

The mighty ‘Winged Stallion’ that adorns the Squadron crest has been living up to the squadron motto of ‘Victory is my Profession’, keeping a sharp vigil over and beneath the seas, in its relentless pursuit to secure the nation’s maritime boundaries. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Maiden EU-India Navy Exercise in Gulf of Guinea

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-Top News Tech Lite

Apple alerts kick up a political storm

Vaishnaw said that the government is playing its role in protecting the privacy and security of citizens and will initiate a probe into the matter…reports Asian Lite News

Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday said that Apple has been asked to join its investigation into the ‘state-sponsored’ hacking allegations.

Vaishnaw said that the government is playing its role in protecting the privacy and security of the citizens and will initiate an investigation into the matter.

In a post on X, Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “We are concerned by the statements we have seen in media from some MPs as well as others about a notification received by them from Apple. The notification received by them as per media reports mentions ‘state-sponsored attacks’ on their devices.”

“However much of the information by Apple on this issue seems vague and non-specific in nature. Apple states these notifications may be based on information that is ‘incomplete or imperfect’. It also states that some Apple threat notifications may be false alarms or some attacks are not detected,” he added.

He stated Apple has also claimed that Apple IDs are securely encrypted on devices which makes it extremely difficult to access or identify them without the user’s explicit permission.

“In light of such information and widespread speculation, we have also asked Apple to join the investigation with real, accurate information on the alleged state-sponsored attacks,” he said.

Reacting to Apple’s ‘state-sponsored attack’ message to some Opposition leaders, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said, “First of all they are talking about an investigation, which means they have clearly said that there has been a breach. And they have not denied that the Apple notification received by the opposition leaders is wrong in any manner. And I want to know who have they spoken to.”

Pointing out that the investigation will reveal the real culprits behind this act, Chaturvedi said, “It is ridiculous that they want to target opposition leaders in India. Besides being opposition leaders, we are also Indian citizens and our fundamental right to privacy is being denied.”

Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal questioned calling Apple for the investigation and termed the probe “laughable”.

“Ashwini Vaishnaw, your bluff and bluster is not fooling anybody. Instead of sermonising the opposition about its role, your government must come clean. In your entire address, just like in 2021, you did not deny using spyware on opposition leaders. Your reluctance to issue a categorical denial itself shows you have a lot to hide in this matter. Your call to Apple to join an investigation is even more laughable. How can the criminal himself be the prosecutor?” Venugopal posted on X.

Apple, an American multinational, said it does not attribute the threat notifications to any specific state-sponsored attacker.

Various leaders from opposition parties said that they had received notification from Apple.

The leaders of the opposition parties including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Raghav Chadha have alleged that the Government was behind this attempt to breach their devices. The leaders shared the screenshot of the warning received on their devices.

However, according to the Apple support page on its website, State-sponsored attacks are highly complex, cost millions of dollars to develop, and often have a short shelf life. The vast majority of users will never be targeted by such attacks. Apple says if it discovers activity consistent with a state-sponsored attack, it will notify the targeted users in two ways.

A Threat Notification will be displayed at the top of the page after the user has signed in to appleid.apple.com. Additionally, Apple will send an email and iMessage notification to the email addresses and phone numbers associated with the user’s Apple ID.

Yechury writes to Modi

Meanwhile CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on alert he received from the US multinational company ‘Apple’ about the “state-sponsored snooping” of his communication devices and said any such move “constitutes a gross violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India to all its citizens”.

Yechury said he received an alert last night about his communication device.

“Apple believes you are being targeted by state-sponsored attackers who are trying to remotely compromise the iPhone associated with your Apple ID,” Yechury wrote in the letter citing the alert.

“A surveillance state is the antithesis of democracy. My work is an open book and there is nothing to hide. Hence, such snooping and the accessibility to remotely access the instruments that I use can only mean that the intention is to remotely plant some information on my devices and then to incriminate me on the basis of such planted fabricated material. Given the gross misuse of Central agencies by this government headed by you, such a possibility is very real,” the Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary said.

Several other political leaders also reported about similar alerts from Apple. TMC MP Mahua Moitra, Congress’ Pawan Khera, Shashi Tharoor and AAP MP Raghav Chaddha were among those who said they had received an alert from Apple.

ALSO READ-Apple unveils ‘Scary Fast’ iMac and Macbook Pro models

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-Top News Asia News Bangladesh

Violent Clashes and Arrests as Bangladesh’s Political Crisis Deepens

A senior Bangladesh opposition leader and dozens of members of his party have been arrested after violent anti-government protests in Dhaka…reports Sumi Khan

 At least four people died while more than 500 BNP-Jamaat men were arrested across Bangladesh on the first day of the Opposition’s nationwide 72-hour rail, road, and waterways blockade on Tuesday.

There were reports of 26 violent clashes in 14 districts across the country, during which more than 24 public buses were set on fire while 18 buses were vandalised.

The political turbulence, which erupted on October 28 after a senior BNP leader and dozens of members of his party were arrested following violent anti-government protests in Dhaka, has now spread into a five-day ordeal, leaving a trail of deaths, blood and mayhem with no resolution in sight. 

A senior Bangladesh opposition leader and dozens of members of his party have been arrested after violent anti-government protests in Dhaka.

The ruling Awami League promised to come down hard on the main opposition BNP and arrested more than 500 including two top leaders of the party.

With the time for the next election schedule approaching fast, the current situation bears a frightening resemblance to the period leading to the 2014 elections marked by violent clashes amid opposition boycott.

As of now, the ruling Awami League is determined to keep the situation under control while the opposition BNP wants to paralyse the administration to force the government to resign in favour of a polls-time government.

With both parties locking horns, political observers believe that the situation may continue to deteriorate before the announcement of the election schedule.

The Election Commission will hold dialogues with all 44 registered political parties on November 4 and the chief election commissioner is scheduled to meet with the president the next day to discuss the upcoming election schedule

The announcement of the election schedule is expected to follow the usual practice, likely in mid-November.

According to the Constitution, parliamentary elections must be held within 90 days before the end of the five-year term of the current parliament which ends on January 29. 

The 90-day count has begun from November 1.

ALSO READ-Bangladesh HC Imposes Life Imprisonment on Seven Holey Artisan Attackers

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-Top News Arab News USA

FBI Chief Urges Vigilance Amid Concerns Over US Security

The FBI chief told lawmakers that threats to the Jewish community in the US are “reaching in some way sort of historic level”…reports Asian Lite News

The ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict has heightened the potential threats of violence in the US to a high level not seen in several years, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray has warned.

“We assess that the actions of Hamas and its allies will serve as an inspiration the likes of which we haven’t seen since ISIS launched its so-called caliphate several years ago,” Wray said on Tuesday in his testimony at a congressional hearing, referring to the Islamic State group.

Wray said that multiple foreign terrorist organisations had called for attacks against Americans and the West since the beginning of the latest conflict in Gaza earlier this month, which raised the threat posed by homegrown US violent extremists, Xinhua news agency reported.

“Our most immediate concern is that violent extremists, individuals or small groups, will draw inspiration from the events of the Middle East and carry out attacks against Americans going about their daily lives,” Wray noted.

But he also said the FBI isn’t currently tracking an “organised threat” inside the country.

The FBI chief told lawmakers that threats to the Jewish community in the US are “reaching in some way sort of historic level”.

The White House delivered alarm on Monday over reports of anti-Jewish incidents at multiple US universities as rising tensions prompted university officials to tighten security.

During his testimony, US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas also said his agency had responded to an increase in threats against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab American communities across the country since the war started.

He highlighted that hate against Jewish students, communities and institutions “added to a preexisting increase in the level of antisemitism in the United States and around the world”.

The FBI has also opened a hate-crime investigation into the killing of a 6-year-old Muslim boy who police say was stabbed to death by his landlord.

“It is a time to be concerned. We are in a dangerous period,” Wray said. “This is not a time for panic, but it is a time for vigilance.” 

ALSO READ-Israel’s Airstrike in Jabaliya Refugee Camp

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-Top News Arab News

Israel’s Airstrike in Jabaliya Refugee Camp

The IDF spokesperson said that Biari’s activities go back to before 2004 when he “masterminded” an attack in Ashdod that led to the killing of 13 Israelis…reports Asian Lite News

The Israel military on Wednesday claimed responsibility for the airstrike on the Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza, the largest in the besieged enclave, and said that one of the top Hamas leaders who was responsible for the October 7 assault was killed in the attack.

In a post on X, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said: “IDF fighter jets eliminated Ibrahim Biari, Commander of Hamas’ Central Jabaliya Battalion. Biari was one of the leaders responsible for the murderous terror attack on October 7th.

“The strike damaged Hamas’ command and control in the area and eliminated a large number of terrorists who were with Biari. Additionally, underground terrorist infrastructure collapsed following the strike.

“The IDF reiterates its call to the residents of the area to move south for their safety.”

Jabalya is the largest of the Gaza Strip’s eight refugee camps, according to the UN.

Defending Tuesday’s airstrike which killed a large number of people and caused catastrophic damages, IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said the refugee camp was targeted to kill Biari, who was “pivotal to the planning and the execution of the October 7 attack”.

“He was actively coordinating, orchestrating, and leading combat activities against the IDF as he was targeted,” CNN quoted Conricus as saying to reporters.

The IDF spokesperson said that Biari’s activities go back to before 2004 when he “masterminded” an attack in Ashdod that led to the killing of 13 Israelis.

“Dozens” of Hamas combatants were also killed in Tuesday’s strike when underground tunnels beneath the camp collapsed, Conricus said, adding that the IDF is still working to obtain a precise number of casualties.

“I understand that that is also the reason why there are many reports of collateral damage and non-combatant casualties. We’re looking into those as well,” Conricus said.

Conricus said they are working to determine the number of civilians who were also killed in the strike, adding that the IDF had considered all factors when making the strike “including the possibilities of non-combatants being affected”.

The spokesperson noted that the military had notified civilians to leave the area through the distribution of leaflets, messages on social media and radio dispatches, CNN reported.

“I want to emphasize the strike was on a military target of significant military importance to the battlefield and for us to be able to be able to obtain our military objectives. That is why it was struck,” Conricus said.

Earlier on Tuesday, the IDF said that its troops on the ground had targeted a Hamas terrorist stronghold in Jabaliya “used for training and execution of terrorism activities”.

“During the ground activity, the troops eliminated approx. 50 terrorists, as well as destroyed entrances to terrorist tunnels and weapons,” it said on X.

Meanwhile, the Hamas has denied that a member was present in the camp during the aistrike.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem accused Israel of attempting to justify what he described as a “heinous crime against safe civilians, children, and women in Jabalya camp”.

According to the Gaza-based Interior Ministry, at least 20 homes were completely flattened as a result of the strike.

However, the number of casualties were not immediately confirmed.

Multiple Arab nations have condemned the airstrike on the Jabaliya camp.

While Jordan held “Israel, the occupying power responsible for this dangerous development”, Saudi Arabia “affirmed that the dangerous humanitarian conditions resulting from the continuous escalation cannot be justified at all”, reports CNN.

Iran “condemned in the strongest terms the barbaric attack” and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) warned that “indiscriminate attacks will result in irreparable ramifications in the region”.

Egypt and Jordan Denounce Attack on Refugee Camp

Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit has strongly condemned the deadly Israeli airstrike on the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip.

In a statement on Tuesday, the AL chief said that it was “a new crime” in Gaza and that the international community should no longer remain silent, Xinhua news agency reported.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement the attack was a “flagrant violation of international laws”.

Jordan’s Foreign Ministry also condemned the attack and said Jordan held Israel responsible for the dangerous development.

It also denounced Israel’s ongoing escalation of tension in the West Bank and Israeli settlers’ increasing attacks on Palestinian civilians.

It also called on the international community to assume its responsibility, stop the ongoing conflict, and provide international protection for Palestinians.

Israeli warplanes hit the densely populated Jabalia refugee camp on Tuesday. After the attack, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said in a statement that more than 50 people were killed, approximately 150 others injured, and “dozens” of others buried under the rubble.

ALSO READ-Bolivia severs diplomatic ties with Israel over Gaza conflict

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-Top News Arab News USA

Blinken to Meet Israeli Officials in Diplomatic Visit

Blinken has made multiple visits to Israel since the Hamas launched its unprecedented attack on October 7…reports Asian Lite News

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will again travel to Israel on Friday during which he is scheduled to hold meetings with government officials in the Jewish nation.

“Secretary Blinken will travel to Israel on Friday for meetings with members of the Israeli government, and then will make other stops in the region,” CNN quoted State Department spokesman Matthew Miller as saying to reporters on Tuesday.

Blinken has made multiple visits to Israel since the Hamas launched its unprecedented attack on October 7.

Besides Israel, Blinken made trips to Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt last month.

He had also accompanied President Joe Biden to meetings with Israeli government officials and victims his historic war-time visit to Tel Aviv on October 18.

Also on Tuesday, Blinken also spoke to Israeli President Isaac Herzog on the phone, during which he “reiterated US support for Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism consistent with international humanitarian law and emphasised the need to take feasible precautions to minimize harm to civilians,” the State Department said.

They also “discussed efforts to safeguard US citizens in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza; continue working tirelessly to bring hostages home; increase urgently the pace and volume of humanitarian assistance that is entering Gaza for distribution to Palestinian civilians; and prevent the conflict from spreading”, it added.

ALSO READ-Blinken, Cleverly hold talks on Israel-Hamas conflict

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-Top News EU News Europe

Bolivia severs diplomatic ties with Israel over Gaza conflict

In an official statement, the Bolivian government said the decision to sever ties came after President Luis Arce held a meeting with the Palestinian Ambassador in Bolivia, Mahmoud Elalwani on Monday…reports Asian Lite News

Bolivia has severed diplomatic ties with Israel “in repudiation and condemnation of the aggressive and disproportionate military offensive” in the Gaza Strip amid the Jewish nation’s ongoing conflict with the Hamas militant group.

“Bolivia decided to break diplomatic relations with the state of Israel in repudiation and condemnation of the aggressive and disproportionate Israeli military offensive taking place in the Gaza Strip,” Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Freddy Mamani said at a joint news conference on Tuesday with Minister of the Presidency Maraa Nela Prada.

On her part, Nela Prada said: “Bolivia demands an end to the attacks in the Gaza Strip, which have so far caused thousands of civilian deaths and the forced displacement of Palestinians; as well as the cessation of the blockade that prevents the entry of food, water and other essential elements for life, violating International Law and International Humanitarian Law in the treatment of the civilian population in armed conflicts.”

In an official statement, the Bolivian government said the decision to sever ties came after President Luis Arce held a meeting with the Palestinian Ambassador in Bolivia, Mahmoud Elalwani on Monday.

During the meeting, the President expressed his solidarity for the suffering of the Palestinian people, especially girls and boys, who have the right to live in peace, rejecting the war crimes being committed in the Gaza Strip”, the statement said. 

At Tuesday’s news conference, Nela Prada also said that “humanitarian aid will be sent from Bolivia to those affected in the Gaza Strip”.

“We demand an end to the attacks in the Gaza Strip that have so far caused thousands of civilian deaths and the forced displacement of Palestinians; as well as the cessation of the blockade that prevents the entry of food, water and other essential elements for life,” she added.

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-Top News Arab News

Anti-War Protesters Disrupt US Senate Hearing on Israel

Toward the end of his opening statement, Blinken drifted away from his prepared script to address the protesters directly…reports Asian Lite News

Multiple anti-war protesters demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip repeatedly interrupted a US Senate hearing held on the administration’s massive budget request for funding Israel and Ukraine amid the ongoing wars in the two nations.

The Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Tuesday, attended by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin as witnesses giving testimonies, was interrupted at least six times by the anti-war protesters, who called for an end to the brutality and condemned the US for “aiding the massacre”, reports Xinhua news agency

Minutes into Blinken’s opening remarks, a man in the audience was heard shouting “ceasefire now”. “save the children of Gaza” and “Where is your pride, America?” before he was escorted out of the room by Capitol Police.

Shortly after, Blinken was again cut off mid-speech, as several protesters were heard yelling at him and committee members.

“Ceasefire now!” they said. “Let Gaza live!”

In addition to those expressing their anger verbally, some other protesters in the audience raised their red-stained hands in the air, indicating that President Joe Biden’s administration had blood on its hands as it reiterated time and again its solidarity with Israel.

“The US is supporting a brutal massacre,” a female protester was heard lashing out during one of the disruptions.

“Not one senator is calling for a ceasefire! Shame on you all! Ceasefire now. Stop funding this brutal massacre,” she continued even when forced by the police to leave the room.

Blinken resumed his testimony each time one protester was evicted, only to be interrupted again by the ensuing protests.

He said the funding, totaling $106 billion, will support Israel and Ukraine in their respective wars with the Hamas and Russia; ameliorate the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza; help Washington outcompete its strategic rivals; and strengthen the protection of Americans’ security at home.

Toward the end of his opening statement, Blinken drifted away from his prepared script to address the protesters directly.

“I also hear very much the passions expressed in this room and outside this room,” the Secretary said, adding while the Biden administration is “determined” to see the sufferings of Gazans end, it is nonetheless “imperative” for the US to “resolutely” stand up with allies and partners.

Austin, who spoke from the perspective of the Pentagon following Blinken’s speech, said that by submitting the urgent supplemental budget request, the administration is asking Congress to “help fund America’s national security needs, stand by our partners, and invest in our defense industrial base”.

At one point during the question-and-answer session with the senators, Blinken said now is not the time to enforce a ceasefire, for doing so would play into the hands of Hamas, enabling them to “potentially repeat” the attacks on innocent Israeli civilians on October 7.

At the hearing, B linken and Austin are lobbied for lawmakers to support President Biden’s national security package, which also includes $61.4 billion for Ukraine’s defence; $9.2 billion for humanitarian assistance; $2 billiom for Indo-Pacific security; and $10.9 billion for southern border security and migrant issues.

ALSO READ-‘Killing of Children in Gaza Not Collateral Damage’